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Latham & Watkins Continues Bay Area M&A and Private Equity Practice Expansion
Navneeta Rekhi represents private equity funds and private companies in sophisticated corporate transactions
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Latham & Watkins LLP1 is pleased to announce that Navneeta Rekhi has joined the firm's Bay Area offices as a partner in the Corporate Department and member of the Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Practices. Rekhi represents private equity funds and private companies in a variety of matters, including mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, divestitures, distressed acquisitions and in-court and out-of-court restructuring, minority investments, recapitalizations, corporate governance, executive compensation and equity incentive arrangements, and general corporate matters.
Navneeta Rekhi, Partner, Latham & Watkins
"We are thrilled to welcome Navneeta to our premier Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Practices," said Marc Jaffe, Global Chair of Latham & Watkins' Corporate Department. "As a global leader in these practice areas, we remain focused on meeting our clients' needs by continuing to expand them across key markets around the world, including in the Bay Area. Navneeta's addition further underscores that deep commitment."
Kirt Switzer, Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins in San Francisco, added: "Throughout her past ten years practicing in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, Navneeta has built strong relationships and has an incredible reputation for her deal-savvy and commercial approach, which has earned the trust of clients who have engaged her repeatedly on deals. We look forward to Navneeta being a part of our Bay Area M&A and private equity teams, and know that she will be of tremendous benefit to our clients."
"Latham's reputation for premier M&A and private equity work, complemented by the firm's global platform and multidisciplinary approach is second to none. I am thrilled to be joining the team and look forward to helping continue to expand the M&A and private equity practices in the Bay Area offices," said Rekhi.
Rekhi joins Latham & Watkins from Kirkland & Ellis in San Francisco. She is the latest addition to an extensive group of prominent partners who have recently joined Latham's Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Practices, including Eric Schwartzman, who joined in the Bay Area in July. Rekhi received her JD, cum laude, from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.
About Latham & Watkins (lw.com)
Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world's largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability.
1 Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office. Latham & Watkins works in cooperation with the Law Office of Salman M. Al-Sudairi in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Marc Jaffe, Global Chair, Corporate Department, +1.212.906.1281
Kirt Switzer, Office Managing Partner San Francisco Office, +1.415.395.8885
Luke Bergstrom, Global Vice Chair, Mergers & Acquisitions Practice and Technology Industry Group, +1.650.463.3083
SOURCE Latham & Watkins
http://www.lw.com
Latham Continues to Build its Real Estate Team with Experienced...
Latham Adds Another Proven Litigator to its Market-Leading...
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Series: Foreclosure Crisis
Mortgage Aid Program Continues to Move Slowly, As Homeowners Try to Hang On
by Alexandra Andrews
June 30, 2009, 9:25 a.m. EDT
How Banks and Government Fail Homeowners
June 30, 2009 3:40 P.M. – This post has been updated.
The Obama administration estimates that it’s going to help as many as 4 million homeowners modify their loans. To date, "over 200,000" of these loan modifications have been offered, according to the Treasury Department. That leaves millions of homeowners waiting their turn.
Deborah Sherman from Oakland, Calif., is somewhere in that queue. She says she applied for a loan modification through the government’s program one day after it was announced on March 4. Since then, she says, all she’s heard from Chase, her loan servicer, is: It could take up to 90 days. Please keep waiting.
She’s still waiting.
Sherman’s story is hardly unique. As we reported in early June, the program got off to a chaotic start as hordes of homeowners nationwide jammed servicers’ phone lines and overwhelmed their staffs. Housing counselors and frustrated homeowners reported long delays and mixed messages about eligibility requirements.
Last Tuesday, President Obama expressed disappointment with the program’s progress, saying at a press briefing, "I think … our mortgage program has actually helped to modify mortgages for a lot of people, but it hasn't been keeping pace with all the foreclosures that are taking place." Obama said that he gets complaints from homeowners every day and is still asking his staff to tweak the program and make it more aggressive.
His remarks were echoed by Elizabeth Warren, chairwoman of the Congressional Oversight Panel, which oversees the Treasury Department’s response to the financial crisis, and Richard Neiman, superintendent of banks for the state of New York, at a congressional hearing on Wednesday.
At the hearing, Warren and Neiman grilled Herb Allison, the Treasury Department’s bailout overseer, about the administration’s mortgage plan, citing some of the same problems we’ve been hearing about. Allison said that it had taken a couple of weeks for the government and the banks to get the program off the ground, but that things are now "moving very rapidly."
But at times, Allison’s testimony seemed at odds with the reports we’ve been hearing from homeowners and housing counselors, a disconnect Warren was quick to point out.
For instance, Allison said: "I think it’s important that the public realize they don’t have to have missed a payment on their mortgage to get help. If they see that they have a problem … they should get in touch with their servicer."
Warren responded, "What we continue to hear is that you can’t get a servicer on the phone, or when you do get a servicer on the phone, you receive incorrect information." She said she’s heard from homeowners who say they were told by their servicers that they’re ineligible for the government’s program because they aren’t behind on their payments, which is incorrect. We’ve heard borrowers say the same thing.
Warren added: "I feel bad if what comes out of this is you say I want to tell Americans that they need to reach out to their servicers. They’re doing that."
Indeed, Sherman, the California homeowner we’ve been in touch with, has reached out to Chase by phone, by fax, by mail and in person at her local Chase homeownership center. But the "We’re here for you!" banner at the homeownership center was not for her, she says, it was only for customers who were facing foreclosure.
Sherman is a self-employed commercial photographer who purchased a condo in 2000. She started really struggling last year when her work dwindled to almost nothing. She’s now looking for work in a different field. She doesn’t owe more than her home is worth. When she heard about Obama’s plan, she thought, "This is perfect."
She passed all the eligibility hurdles on the government’s Web site, she says, and went to Chase’s Web site the day after the plan was announced. It had all the information and all the necessary forms. Sherman faxed in months of bank statements, two years of tax returns, a hardship letter, income statements and other financial documentation – more than 60 pages in all.
Sherman says she followed up consistently after that, but "I’ve received nothing. Not a phone call, not an e-mail, not a letter, nothing." Her loan officer’s voice mailbox is full, she says. Everyone she speaks to tells her it could take up to 90 days.
Tom Kelly, a Chase spokesman, says the bank first started processing loan modification applications for the government’s program on April 4 and that it has given highest priority to the most delinquent customers. It has also hired 950 new loan counselors since Jan. 1, he says. "We’re just working our way through the applications."
When Sherman spoke with a Chase representative in mid-June, she says, she was told she’d have to send in updated financial information since she’d now been waiting for three months.
Sherman complied, but she had a question for the Chase rep: "So all this time – these past 90 days – that I’ve been thinking an answer could come any day, no one was even looking at my file?"
She says that all the rep could say was that files were getting forwarded to a new department for processing.
In a New York Times article on Monday, Michael Barr, the assistant Treasury secretary for financial institutions, expressed frustration with loan servicers. “They need to do a much better job on the basic management and operational side of their firms,” he said. “What we’ve been pushing the servicers to do is improve their infrastructure to make sure their call centers are doing a better job. The level of training is not there yet.”
Barr estimated that by the end of August, the program would be churning out 20,000 loan modifications a week.
Update: Chase said today that it has approved 87,100 trial loan modifications through the government's program.
Alexandra Andrews
Alexandra Andrews was an assistant editor at ProPublica.
Millions of Americans Might Not Get Stimulus Checks. Some Might Be Tricked Into Paying TurboTax to Get Theirs.
Magistrate Judges Took Bribes, Stole Money and Mishandled Cases. South Carolina Officials Now Want Reform.
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Lisbon to hold Christmas parade at county fairgrounds
Tom Giambroni
tgiambroni@reviewonline.com
LISBON — The Chamber of Commerce is doing what it can to bring some normalcy to the Christmas season in the middle of a pandemic.
The chamber’s annual Christmas parade will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at the county fairgrounds instead of through downtown Lisbon. Because of the Covid-19 virus, the parade will be a drive-thru event featuring floats that remain in place while motorists drive through the fairgrounds.
Village council had asked the chamber to consider having the parade follow its traditional route through the downtown business district, but chamber president LaDawn Whitman said that was impossible with all of the pandemic restrictions in place.
“Of course, we would all like for it to be downtown and everything to be normal, but we can’t do it downtown and follow the rules,” she said.
The Christmas parade usually features 100 floats, one or two high school bands and other participants. Whitman said every person and group choosing to participate in the parade must be on a float. She believes about 30 organizations will have floats, with those on the float required to maintain social distancing.
Lisbon’s high school band indicated they were interested in participating but Whitman said that may no longer be the case since the school went to full at-home online instruction after three students tested positive last weekend.
Santa Claus will be featured on one of the floats and greet passing children, but neither he nor any of the other participants will be handing out candy.
The chamber is also hosting a free event called “Gnome for the Holidays” in the hopes of generating some extra Christmas shopping for local businesses.
The tickets can be obtained in advance and are redeemable at 12 participating businesses in exchange for a free gift. After a participant visits all 12 businesses and their ticket has been so marked, their name will be entered in a raffle that will be held following the Christmas parade. The winner will receive a basket with something from each business.
“We’re hoping that will bring some business to merchants in our town,” Whitman said.
Tickets can be obtained in advance at the chamber office and participating businesses. To ensure social distancing, the tickets can be redeemed at the businesses from Dec. 1-5 instead of just on Dec. 5.
“We’re just trying to think outside the box, and hopefully people will still come out,” Whitman said.
tgiambroni@mojonews.com
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Section 37.21
Public nuisances
State agricultural society
2010 37.21 Amended 2010 c 255 s 1
2007 Subd. 1 Amended 2007 c 89 s 1
2007 Subd. 1 Amended 2007 c 13 art 1 s 4
This is an historical version of this statute chapter. Also view the most recent published version.
37.21 SALE OF LIQUORS.
Subdivision 1.Liquor prohibited.
Except as provided in subdivision 2, no person may sell, barter, give away, or otherwise dispose of or introduce, have, or keep for barter, gift, or sale, any intoxicating liquors of any kind upon the State Fairgrounds, or aid and abet any of those acts. The presence and possession of any kind of these liquors, in any quantity, upon the person or upon the premises leased or occupied by any person within these limits is a public nuisance and is prima facie evidence of the purpose of the person to barter, give away, or sell the liquor. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Subd. 2.Exceptions.
The following exceptions apply:
(1) The State Agricultural Society may issue, under terms and conditions it chooses, licenses for the sale, possession, and consumption of intoxicating liquors at special events taking place on the fairgrounds at times other than during the annual fair including, but not limited to, family reunions, class reunions, weddings, conventions, and similar events.
(2) The State Agricultural Society may issue, under terms and conditions it chooses, consistent with state law, licenses for the sale, possession, and consumption of intoxicating malt liquors during the annual fair or at other times of their choosing, provided that at least one Minnesota brewed malt liquor is made available for sale at each allowed location within the grounds.
(3) The State Agricultural Society may issue a license for the sale and consumption of wine to a holder of a state fair concession's contract with the State Agricultural Society which authorizes the licensee to sell Minnesota-produced wine by the glass at the state fair in connection with the sale of food by the concessionaire. For the purposes of this subdivision, "Minnesota-produced wine" means wine produced by a farm winery licensed under section 340A.315.
(7880) RL s 3092; 1982 c 625 s 12; 1985 c 265 art 2 s 1; 2000 c 440 s 1; 2007 c 13 art 1 s 4; 2007 c 89 s 1,2; 2010 c 255 s 1
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Usually around this time of year, Ellison is shooting 300 arrows each day on a range he built with a tractor and features 50- and 70-meter targets.
Instead, he's scaled back the shooting and is taking care of house projects. He rebuilt the wood floor in his workshop, which also serves as his indoor facility. It's actually two sheds pushed close together in which he simply opens the doors to both in order to shoot.
He's also tending to a litter of piglets and squeezing in some bow fishing.
Anything to pass the time until competitions start back up. He's not feeling the crunch even though he relies on events for about 70% of his income. Over the years, he's been financially savvy with his earnings.
"I’ve always said that if I get hurt or anything, I want to still be able to pay all my bills and lose nothing if I have to go get a job at McDonald's,” he said.
Ellison sees himself competing through the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, if not longer.
Especially now, with his arm back to feeling better.
Shortly after capturing an Olympic bronze medal in the individual event at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, along with silver during the team competition, Ellison began experiencing pain in one of his fingers.
Steadily, it grew worse as the pain radiated from his fingertips through his arm.
“Felt like bolts of lighting when I shot,” he said.
The discomfort persisted into 2017 and ’18. He consulted medical experts and hand specialists.
“The doctors, they pretty much just all told me to quit,” said Ellison, who also earned a silver in the team event at the 2012 London Games.
His wife, Toja, competes in archery for Slovenia and heard of a natural healer back home. The healer specialized in helping those with thyroid conditions, which Ellison has dealt with and for which he takes medication. He went in the fall of 2018 for that reason.
He never mentioned his arm concerns.
First consultation: “He told me that I had an injury in my right hand,” Ellison said.
Ellison said the process was simple. The healer put his hands on Ellison's arm/hand and he almost instantly felt relief.
“Three days later I shot more arrows in a single day than I have in three years," said Ellison, who still visits the healer when he and his wife return to Slovenia. “No pain.”
In 2019, Ellison turned in a memorable season that included a world title and a return to the No. 1 spot in the world rankings for the first time since March 2013.
“In the back of your head, you’re a little afraid (the pain) could happen again,” Ellison said. “So you make every day count while you can. I didn’t take anything for granted like before.”
An image of Ellison went viral on social media during the Rio Games. A picture of a bearded Ellison ran alongside a shot of actor Leonardo DiCaprio from the movie “The Revenant.”
The resemblance was spot on. He was asked almost as much about that as his medals.
“All of a sudden people just showed up at the field and I’m asked, ‘Hey, what do you think about the comparisons with him?’” recalled Ellison. “And then I looked it up and I’m like, ‘OK, this really became a thing.’ It’s all fun.”
Now, there's even more in common with DiCaprio: Both appear in movies.
World Archery followed Ellison last season for a film titled “Believe: Brady Ellison.” He hasn't seen an edited version, but has watched the trailer of the documentary due out this summer.
He gives it a thumbs up.
“Hopefully it will get a lot of hits since no sporting events are going on right now,” Ellison said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing it.”
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by Refugees Reporting 3 years ago
Guest post. Europe Must Not Neglect its Responsibility for Refugees
Recent data, published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), reports a major decline in migrants and refugees who have taken the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea and arrived into Europe so far this year. This signifies over a fifty per cent reduction in those risking their lives to enter Europe, compared to the same period last year.
There have also been less fatalities this year, in comparison to last. During the summer, when travel conditions are more favourable and the sea is warmer, it is usually the case that there is a steep increase in those crossing the Mediterranean – so why the sudden decline?
It is not clear exactly what is behind this reduction, although it coincides with allegations that Italy is paying off Libyan militias in order to stop the smuggling of migrants across the Mediterranean. In return, they are allegedly receiving aid and financial support.
The Italian government has refused to respond to these allegations and has argued that highly changeable weather conditions are leading to the decline in arrivals. It has also been suggested that Libyan coast guards have been more effective at intervening in sea crossings, due to equipment and training being provided by the Italian navy. However, this contradicts reports that the Italian navy may be complicit in human rights abuses committed by Libyan coast guard.
Shifting Attention
Meanwhile, the world’s media coverage has shifted to focus on the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, where at least 400 people have died and almost 370,000 Rohingya Muslims have been forced to flee to Bangladesh.
The NGO Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS), which has been conducting search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean, has decided to suspend its European operations and redeploy to Southeast Asia, to assist in alleviating the plight of the persecuted Rohingya people. It is unclear, as of yet, what the impact of this decision is likely to be.
Solidarity is Essential
Despite the reduction in refugee arrivals, solidarity from the whole of Europe is essential. Whilst the crisis in Myanmar and the shifting international media attention has offered a welcome respite for EU governments, it is important that the European situation does not continue unchallenged simply because conditions have changed slightly. The temporary emergency relocation scheme, established by the EU in September 2015 to relocate people in need from Greece and Italy, is due to expire soon, with fewer than 30,000 people relocated in the two years since the scheme’s inception, falling far shorter than the commitment to relocating 98,255 people by September 2017.
As the European Commissioner for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos stated recently ‘When Europe works together in a spirit of responsibility and solidarity, we make progress and achieve concrete results, both inside and outside the EU.’ The current, somewhat deplorable, state of affairs in Europe, embodied by disputes and a lack of willingness to accept migrants and refugees is threatening this spirit of responsibility and solidarity.
If Europe is to achieve any kind of integrated approach to this issue, it needs to work in cooperation. European countries must adopt a position of compassion and empathy and combine this with an organised response, placing the lives of migrants and refugees at the heart of its approach. This must come in accordance with respect for international and regional legal obligations that European countries have signed up to – including the 1951 Refugee Convention.
With hostility and a sense of heartlessness still the prevailing attitudes adopted by parts of the European media, it is important that these views are not reflected on the European population. If we allow the media to dictate the narrative of the refugee crisis, we are displaying to those who desperately flee their homes in search of safety that they are not welcome here. This is surely a shameful position to take.
This article was written by Max Slaughter. Max worked as Media Monitoring Assistant on the Refugees Reporting project for the past two months. He has recently graduated with a MA in Media and International Development from the University of East Anglia and holds a BA (Hons) in International Relations and Politics. His professional interests include media, conflict, human rights and international development.
A conversation between journalists and refugees
Save the Date! Refugees Reporting report launch event
Refugees Reporting in the media
Project supported with funds from Otto per Mille of the Waldensian Church of Italy.
Sara Speicher
ss@waccglobal.org
+44 7885 276515
Webinar and report focuses on how to deal with hate speech online
By journalists for journalists: e-learning toolkit on migration reporting
Participate in survey on social media hate speech
WACC Europe project to address social media hate speech against refugees
Spaces of Inclusion: Refugees and migrants and media inclusion
A project of the World Association for Christian Communication Europe Region.
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Affordable Housing REIT CDT Expands into Charter Schools
Community Development Trust (CDT) has launched a new platform that provides long-term, fixed-rate financing for charter schools.
Founded in 1998, New York City-based CDT is a private, hybrid REIT that is active on the debt and equity side of affordable housing projects. CDT’s Charter School Lending Program, launched in September, aims to address the problems traditionally faced by charter schools in obtaining suitable financing, said Shelly Cleary, senior vice president of CDT.
“Unlike affordable housing, there has been limited availability for long-term, fixed-rate, well-priced capital. Given the strength of the asset class, that’s where we thought we could add value,” Cleary said in an interview with REIT.com.
CDT President and CEO Joseph Reilly added that the private REIT recognizes that there are more aspects to a successful community than just housing. Supporting charter schools, he said, “is a good way to use the CDT platform and the strength of our balance sheet.”
Cleary emphasized that the charter school lending model is structured the same as other CDT programs. She added that by expanding its mission, CDT is offering its shareholders a diversification of risk.
Second Try with Charter Schools
CDT joins EPR Properties (NYSE: EPR) in getting involved with charter schools. Whereas CDT is taking on a role in financing them, EPR has made investments in 64 public charter schools.
CDT briefly entered the charter school financing arena in the mid-2000s, but the retrenchment of available capital sources as a result of the financial crisis soon ended its involvement. However, after receiving $125 million in financing from the Community Development Financial Institutions Bond Guarantee Program in 2013, “we decided this was a good time to refocus on charter schools,” Cleary said.
Cleary explained that as the number of charter schools increases and the asset class becomes more accepted in the financing community, it has become evident that the underlying capital infrastructure needs to be shored up.
Data from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools show that the number of charter school students in the 2013 to 2014 school year rose to 2.57 million from 1.29 million in the 2007 to 2008 school year, a gain of 99 percent.
Generally, the CDT charter school program seeks to serve schools with permanent financing needs of $7 million or less. CDT also looks for schools with strong academic records, full enrollment and strong operational management. Schools also need to have had their charters renewed at least once.
Although Cleary did not offer a long-term estimate for growth in CDT’s charter school financing platform, she noted that the company has been “very heartened by the fact that there has been relatively rapid acceptance of the program.”
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Events/Competitions
Events/CompetitionsPress Release
Barry Beadle Starts in Second Row of 2011 Griffin King of the Hammers
RockCrawler.com
Posted onJan 18, 2011 at 7:13 AM
Updated onUpdated on Feb 22, 2015 at 12:02 PM
GRANBURY, TX JANUARY 18, 2011: The Rock Beadle Team, competing for the third year in a row, drew the 4th starting position for the 2011 Griffin King of the Hammers, putting them in the second row to get the checkered flag. “I couldn’t even believe it! When I was watching the show I thought maybe they didn’t get my entry form. I even asked my wife if she had sent it in!” exclaimed Barry Beadle. “It is pretty dang exciting to be starting in the second row. I couldn’t sleep that night.”
Beadle is very excited to be participating in the 2011 race. “We are competitors, if we didn’t think we had a chance to win, we wouldn’t do it,” said Beadle who thinks that there is a competitive advantage to being 4th off the line in front of the dust, and hopefully in front of all the bottlenecks. “The last two years we started pretty far back, so I think we won’t fell like we have to push as hard to fight through the pack, and hopefully not put as much stress on the car.”
The #4452 Ultra4 car will still feature the Red and Yellow paint scheme, but it will take on much different look from years past. Beadle will be driving a brand new Jimmy’s 4×4 car in the 2011 race that is “wider, lower and lighter than my old car that I drove the last two years,” said Beadle. “It was too tall and narrow to drive competitively through the off camber sections in last years race, but this one is low, lean and mean. Working with Jimmy’s 4×4 has been great, they have really got the car where it needs to be.” They will outfit the car with the BFGoodrich KRT 39” tires. “I have always used the BFGoodrich tires because there is nothing better.”
The Beadle Racing Team is not new to the King of the Hammers. In 2010, they were the last team to finish in time, placing 43rd. They started 46th, passed quite a few cars and was doing well until they cut a tire in Crowbar Canyon. They were re-passed by a large portion of the field, and as they tried to make up time, they had other issues with the car. Incredibly, they did finish. In 2009, they were not as lucky timing out at the last checkpoint after a broken driveline, and challenging multiple obstacles including Claw Hammer with only 2-wheel drive.
The Rock Beadle Team will start the 2011 season with the Griffin King of the Hammers along with On Track Racing teammates Dean Bulloch, Buzz Bronsema and Todd Stephensen who will together compete in a majority of the Ultra4 stops. Beadle will also compete in the Extreme Desert Racing Series and the MOROC Extreme Off Road Racing Series.
More Information: http://rockbeadle.com
Sponsors – BFGoodrich Tires, PSC Motorsports, Viking Offroad, Tom Woods Custom Driveshaft, B&H Transmission, Trail-Gear, Total Equipment and Service
About Barry Beadle: Barry Beadle has been racing Hot Wheels to shopping carts, and NHRA Super Comp to Rock Crawling and now will focus on the Ultra4 competitions. He has multiple wins associated with his name across multiple series. Beadle is the President and CEO of Total Equipment and Service specializing in the manufacturing and service of Oil Field Equipment in Granbury, Texas. He has been married for 17 years and has two junior rock crawlers Barry Jr, who joined the race team in early 2010, and Taelyn. Beadle has recently joined the On Track Racing Team putting more emphasis on Ultra4 racing and on supporting key marketing partners.
King of the Hammers (KOH)Rock Beadle TeamUltra4
PrevPrevLINE-X® PROTECTIVE COATINGS RANKS IN ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE’S 32nd ANNUAL FRANCHISE 500®
NextNextTeam GenRight is offering Two Chances to Win a Ride in a King of the Hammers Ultra4 Car!
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Open and Distance Learning in Secondary School Education in India
Potentials and Limitations
Jyotsna Jha
Neha Ghatak
Puja Minni
Shobhita Rajagopal
Shreekanth Mahendiran
Published November 17, 2019 by Routledge India
230 Pages 34 B/W Illustrations
Open and Distance Learning in Secondary School Education in India: Potentials and Limitations
This book examines the state of the Open and Distance Learning (ODL)-based secondary education in India. ODL-based education has been a key resource for children in India who can neither cope with nor avail of regular schooling opportunities due to economic, health and disability, or other constraints.
The volume uses large-scale empirical data collected from various Indian states and a sensitive theoretical framework to study the equity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and the State Open School (SOS). Highlighting the roadblocks and barriers in terms of its reach, inclusion, and delivery, particularly to the marginalised, this book explores whether ODL has a potential of being a sustainable and effective option at the secondary and senior secondary level in India. Thus, it seeks to generate policy discourse around delivery mechanisms and effectiveness of ODL in developing countries.
First of its kind, this comprehensive volume will be useful for scholars and researchers of education, education policy, public policy, and political studies.
1. Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Systems: Theoretical and Global Perspectives
2. Secondary School Education in India
3. Roadblocks and Barriers I: Reach, Inclusion, Efficiency and Effectiveness
4. Roadblocks and Barriers II: Delivery of Open and Distance Learning in Secondary Education
5. Open Fields: ODL as a Sustainable and Effective Option at the Secondary School Level
Jyotsna Jha presently heads the Centre for Budget and Policy Studies (CBPS), Bangalore, India. CBPS is an independent non-profit, non-governmental organisation that focuses on research in gender, education, social and economic policies, budgeting, decentralization, and governance issues.
Neha Ghatak is a research advisor at the Centre for Budget and Policy Studies, Bangalore, India.
Puja Minni is a research advisor at the Centre for Budget and Policy Studies, Bangalore, India.
Shobhita Rajagopal is Associate Professor at the Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Shreekanth Mahendiran is a research advisor at the Centre for Budget and Policy Studies, Bangalore, India.
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County confounded by CARES Act criteria
Written by Geoffrey Plant on September 9, 2020
The allocation of CARES Act funds to governments in Grant County had county commissioners scratching their heads Tuesday evening, and asking how the amounts awarded were actually worked out — and by whom.
“I wish I could explain it,” said Grant County Manager Charlene Webb. “We’ve asked for the scoring criteria again — no such luck. I have no earthly idea how they arrived at these amounts; that’s the million dollar question.”
“We’re all happy for Bayard,” quipped District 5 Commissioner Harry Browne.
Bayard received the county’s largest grant of $556,661, while the county government itself received just $118,125. Silver City received $489,375, Santa Clara was awarded $50,000 and Hurley was awarded $20,000 through the program.
The local government grants may be used to “reimburse expenses incurred due to the pandemic, like small business continuity grants, child care assistance, purchase of personal protective equipment that was required to conduct government business, expenses incurred to mitigate the spread — like sanitizing and public service announcements, and public health and safety personnel costs,” like senior programs, police, fire, EMS and corrections operations costs, according to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office, which announced the awards Sept. 1.
Commissioners were equally puzzled by the amounts of the small business grants awarded to the same local governments, which, with the exception of Santa Clara, will distribute the funds to businesses in their communities in coming weeks. The funds are intended to help reimburse businesses for pandemic-related costs like payroll, rent, scheduled mortgage payments, insurance, utilities and marketing. Costs associated with “business redesign” are also eligible for the grants. Those include reconfiguring physical space, installing plexiglass barriers, purchasing web conferencing or other technology to facilitate work at home, personal protective equipment for employees and temporary structures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
In the case of the small business grants, Bayard and Grant County received the same amount of money to disburse, $93,188. Hurley received $27,956, and Silver City received $359,438.
Both types of awards are to cover COVID-related expenses incurred from March 1 through Dec. 30 of this year, Webb said.
“Was there any consideration given to rural businesses and communities?” asked District 3 Commissioner Alicia Edwards. “What department in the state government decided this?”
“I have no idea what the scoring criteria was for this either,” Webb said. “It came from the Governor’s Office, and the Department of Finance administered it. I’m not sure which branch determined the scoring criteria. We’re not really getting much of a response as to how it works.”
According to the release from the Governor’s Office, the Department of Finance and Administration handled the awards: “DFA has vast experience in scoring applications and scoring them fairly,” acting Finance and Administration Secretary Debbie Romero said in the release. “We were able to complete an expeditious and equitable process, and we’ll keep working with local governments all across the state to make sure these essential funds get out the door.”
Still, officials felt Grant Countians in unincorporated areas had been slighted.
“There are a lot of businesses out in the county that are not in one of our municipal areas,” Edwards said. “There’s a lot of people in our county feeling this economic pain.”
“At this point, we’re just grateful to have this money,” Webb said, adding that both the local government money and the small business grants will have to be allocated quickly. “We have to have this spent by December 30, and the last reimbursement has to be in by the end of January. We’re confident we can spend this money.”
Webb noted that part of the county government’s award will be used to reimburse itself for money already expended during the pandemic, while another portion will be spent on improving safety at the Grant County clerk’s office in preparation for the upcoming general election.
Grant County, Silver City, Bayard and Hurley won’t be pooling the money that each received for the small business grants, but they will all use a common application process that employs the same criteria and scoring system to determine which business gets what size of award.
The Silver City Grant County Chamber of Commerce will help administer the program, according to Webb. An application is expected to be ready this week.
“We’ll appoint a committee that will have county representation, city representation — Bayard’s representation,” Webb said. “Whoever wants to be on that committee that scores and ranks those.
“And we will have scoring criteria,” Webb added.
—GEOFFREY PLANT
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What Is The “Google” Effect?
Updated on: 12 Dec 2019 by Akash Peshin
The Google effect is defined as our tendency to forget information which can be promptly Googled. It was first demonstrated by Betsy Sparrow, Jenny Liu and Daniel Wegner in a paper published back in 2011.
Richard Feynman, in one of his lectures, described the computer as a mindless librarian. When you enter a vast library with a torn note on which is written the book you are looking for, all the librarian does is tediously search for the book amongst the thousands of books the library houses. However, with the advent of the Internet, the library expanded exponentially. Eventually, to access this new, voluminous labyrinth of information, Google was developed. And finally, along with the library, the repertoire of capabilities possessed by its librarian also expanded, exponentially.
I use ‘Google’ rather than the generic term ‘search engine’, as today they seem to be one and the same. Google’s monopoly in search engine technology is so overwhelming that it is subject to no less than 3.5 billion inquiries every day. This includes conspiracies, trivia about film stars you love or loathe, comparisons, validating reviews, memes, science, restaurants in your vicinity, translations, an immensely constructive dictionary, newspaper articles criticizing Google itself, why we hate long lists, especially when the objects are distinguished by commas, as well as all the idiotic or sleazy things you search that make the employees of Google shake their heads in shame and question the conscience of the human race.
Thought-provoking.
What’s more, Google’s complex algorithms have rendered the librarian shockingly efficient. The autocomplete feature or its famous “suggestions” make it appear almost telepathic. The inquiry doesn’t even have to be correctly spelled; one can type like a slurring drunk and Google will still understand the intended message. This convenience further worsens our dependence on it. But is this dependence bad for us, like any other dependence? Four experiments have concluded that it might be. Other than its omnipresence and the constant surveillance that has actualized George Orwell’s worst nightmare, it might also be making us more stupid and forgetful. This ‘digital amnesia’ is popularly called the “Google” effect.
The Google Effect
The Google effect is defined as our tendency to forget information that can be promptly Googled. It was first demonstrated by Betsy Sparrow, Jenny Liu and Daniel Wegner in a paper published back in 2011. The experiment was conducted in four parts, where the subjects were instructed to perform different tasks in each part. The results revealed that people were less likely to remember information that they believed was saved and could be accessed at any time.
Convenience comes at a cost.
In the first experiment, subjects were asked a number of yes or no trivia questions. The questions would appear in blocks, categorized as either easy or difficult. After answering the question, the subjects underwent a modified Stroop test. A Stroop test is a very popular psychological test that I’m sure everyone has taken at least once in their lifetime. A subject is shown a list of words written in different colors. However, to confuse the subject, the colored word on the screen is chosen to be the name of a color different from the color it is printed with, for instance, the word “red” written in green letters. The subjects are then asked to name the color, rather than the word. The Stroop test gives us a measure of the processing speed or reaction time of our conscious mind.
Take the test with a stopwatch to measure your processing speed. Remember, you have to name the color and not the word.
However, Wegner’s test was different. The words his team flashed were a mix of non-technological and technological words, such as “screen” and “Google” printed in either red or blue. They observed that the subjects demonstrated a slower response time when they encountered technological words, especially when they occurred after they answered a difficult question. They found that the difficult trivia question disposed or primed them to think about computers. They concluded that “it seems that when we are faced with a gap in our knowledge, we are primed to turn to the computer to rectify the situation.”
In the second experiment, the subjects were asked to read 40 trivia statements. Half of the subjects were led to believe that the statements were saved and could be accessed later, while the other half was explicitly instructed to remember them, as the statements were going to be erased. When subjects were later asked to recall the statements, the ones who believed that the statements had been saved were highly unlikely to remember them. They displayed a higher tendency to forget, just like students who think that what they study for an exam will serve no later purpose.
The dark horse, perhaps?
In the third experiment, the subjects were asked to read and type trivia statements on a computer. A few of them were told the entry would be erased, a few were told that it would be saved, and the remainder were told not just that the entry would be saved, but also where it would be saved. The subjects were then put up to two tests. The first test required them to recognize whether a slightly altered statement presented on their screen was the same as the one they had typed. The second asked them whether this statement was saved or not, and if yes, where was it saved?
The team observed that people could either remember the content or the location where it was saved, but seldom both. In fact, most of them could only remember the saved information’s location, and not the information itself. The fourth experiment was similar to the third, except that all the statements were read, typed and saved in a folder with a generic name, such as “items” or “facts”. Now, they could either recall both the statement and location, either one of them, or neither of them.
You use it every day, but I bet you can’t even tell the order in which the letters are colored! You should be ashamed of yourself for taking it for granted! (Photo Credit: Google Inc.)
Their results were similar to the results of the third experiment: subjects were highly likely to remember the locations of the saved content, rather than the content itself. They would, as if by some subconscious laziness, choose to remember the locations even when the statements could be readily memorized. Of course, this feature allows us to save more time and memory space, but most importantly, it relieves us of conscious toiling.
What causes the effect?
The gut-wrenching, terrible anxiety of losing your phone.
While making a conscious effort to learn, we must make two choices: what information is important enough to remember and what details deserve our precious attention. However, knowing that an external memory drive is storing every speck of information out there, we tend to devalue both choices. We forgo the choices and the virtue of learning something new right along with them. This laziness or casualness extends beyond facts to personal information – when was the last time you remembered a phone number or didn’t set a reminder for an important event?
The researchers concluded that computers have become a part of our transactive memory. Transactive memories are useful in social groups where individuals of a certain expertise possess information that another member of the same group might lack. This individual, however, due to his own expertise in a different subject, might possess information the former individuals might lack.
All the members, like the team in The Italian Job, therefore share a symbiotic relationship where one can access new information by asking another member. It seems that we have incorporated computers into the same relationship, by way of expanding our distributed cognitive system. The paper reads: “one could argue that this is an adaptive use of memory—to include the computer and online search engines as an external memory system that can be accessed at will.”
Transactive memory has been beneficial for humans since we lived in caves. Eventually, we began jotting in notebooks, journals and diaries. The computer seems to be the next great addition to our myriad tools. This is no doubt lucrative – we have finally befriended someone who is an expert in everything. However, it also has its fair share of disadvantages. Studies have consistently shown that information learned through the Internet is recalled with less accuracy and confidence, as compared to learning through a hardcover book.
Of course, the page is blank. (Photo Credit: Pexels)
The former process showed less activity in parts of the brain associated with the conscious reconstruction of a stored memory. Lastly, we must be constantly plugged in to access the glut of information online. Without the wire, Google is just an 80s adventure video game about a T-Rex hopping and ducking in a forgotten, pixelated world. it may be fun, but it’s no more edifying than a blank textbook.
(Photo Credit : Amit Agarwal / Flickr)
The short URL of the present article is: http://sciabc.us/JGwwo
Akash Peshin is an Electronic Engineer from the University of Mumbai, India and a science writer at ScienceABC. Enamored with science ever since discovering a picture book about Saturn at the age of 7, he believes that what fundamentally fuels this passion is his curiosity and appetite for wonder.
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Can Cockroaches Really Survive A Nuclear Explosion?
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What Happens When Someone Falls Overboard From A Ship?
May 14, 2017 Eye Openers
Can Fire Burn Or Melt Everything?
The Zoo Hypothesis: Are Aliens Secretly Watching Us?
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May 3, 2019 Eye Openers
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January 13, 2017 Eye Openers
Why Do Sports Cars Have Such Low Ground Clearance?
September 24, 2016 Eye Openers
Tags: Psychology
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Drop Criminal Complaint Against Fortify Rights Senior
Friday, 31 January 2020, 8:48 am
Press Release: Fortify Rights
Thai authorities or Thai poultry company Thammakaset Company Limited should immediately drop criminal defamation complaints against Puttanee Kangkun and other human rights defenders, Fortify Rights said today. On December 6, Thammakaset filed a complaint against Puttanee with the Bangkok Southern Criminal Court for 14 social media engagements expressing support for human rights defenders.
Puttanee is a Senior Human Rights Specialist with Fortify Rights and the 21st human rights defender to face charges by the company.
“Puttanee is a well-respected human rights defender who works collaboratively with the authorities and Thai civil society to promote and protect rights in Thailand and the region,” said Amy Smith, Executive Director of Fortify Rights. “Her efforts and the efforts of others to defend rights in Thailand should be protected, not punished. Thai authorities need to take a stand against all these cases and prevent spurious complaints from proceeding.”
The complaint against Puttanee relates to three tweets, nine retweets, and two Facebook posts between January 25 and August 5, 2019. The content of the social media posts mentioned in the complaint involve expressions of support for human rights defenders Sutharee Wannasiri, Nan Win, and Ngamsuk Ruttanasatian, who are facing similar lawsuits from Thammakaset.
According to the 14 actions, Puttanee faces up to 28 years’ imprisonment and/or 2.8 million Thai Baht (US$ 93,300) in fines for alleged violations under Thailand Criminal Code sections 326 and 328. The Bangkok South Criminal Court scheduled a mediation session on February 2, 2020 and a preliminary hearing on March 3, 2020 if the mediation fails.
Five cases brought by Thammakaset since October 2018 relate to a 107-second film produced by Fortify Rights in October 2017 that called on the Thai government to drop criminal defamation charges against 14 former employees of Thammakaset. The company originally brought charges against 14 former employees of the company—all migrants from Myanmar—after the employees reported labor rights violations to the Thai authorities.
In January 2019, the Supreme Court of Thailand upheld an order for Thammakaset to pay 1.7 million Thai Baht (US$ 56,666) in compensation to the 14 former employees for violations of Thailand’s Labor Protection Act.
Most of the cases brought by Thammakaset since October 2018 involve social media posts or re-posts of the Fortify Rights’ film, and most of these cases are against women human rights defenders.
“These cases present a challenge to Thailand’s commitment to protect basic rights and the critical work of human rights defenders in Thailand,” said Amy Smith. “No one should face criminal penalties for sharing information on human rights concerns.”
Puttanee Kangkun joined Fortify Rights in October 2015 and has worked together with Thai authorities and members of Thai civil society to support displaced communities in Thailand and the region, including refugees and survivors of human trafficking. She currently serves on various committees and as a board member of national and international civil society organizations working to promote and protect the rights of refugees.
The Community Resource Centre (CRC) Foundation is providing Puttanee Kangkun with legal representation.
On February 14, 2019, 89 organizations, including Fortify Rights, submitted a joint letter to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha calling on the Thai government “to take immediate action to oppose and seek the dismissal of cases filed by Thammakaset” and to develop legislation “that fully protects employees, human rights defenders, and others from judicial harassment.”
The 2017 Constitution of Thailand protects the right to freedom of expression as does Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Thailand is a state party. Following its first official visit to Thailand in April 2018, the United Nations Working Group on business and human rights called on the Thai government to “ensure that defamation cases are not used by businesses as a tool to undermine legitimate rights and freedoms of affected rights holders, civil society organizations and human rights defenders.” On May 17, 2018, six U.N. human rights experts also issued a joint statement, calling on the Thai government “to revise its civil and criminal laws as well as prosecution processes to prevent misuse of defamation legislation by companies.”
In December 2018, the National Legislative Assembly amended Section 161/1 of the Thailand Criminal Procedure Code, allowing a court to dismiss and forbid the refiling of a complaint by a private individual if the complaint is filed “in bad faith or with misrepresentation of facts in order to harass or take advantage of a defendant.” However, Thai courts have continued to proceed with cases brought by Thammakaset.
On October 29, 2019, the Thai Cabinet under the Prime Minister’s Office also approved the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP), which includes an Action Plan for Human Rights Defenders. The Action Plan includes a provision to amend the legal structures to protect human rights defenders from judicial harassment.
“Puttanee has long worked to ensure rights and improve protections for others in Thailand, only to now face violations herself,” said Amy Smith. “It’s imperative that Thai authorities drop these cases, prevent similarly abusive cases from proceeding, and address the country’s problematic criminal defamation laws.”
The views shared in this statement do not necessarily reflect that of the AHRC.
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) works towards the radical rethinking and fundamental redesigning of justice institutions in order to protect and promote human rights in Asia. Established in 1984, the Hong Kong based organisation is a Laureate of the Right Livelihood Award, 2014.
Read this Forwarded Statement online
Visit our website with more features at www.humanrights.asia.
You can make a difference. Please support our work and make a donation here.
Find more from Fortify Rights on InfoPages.
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Through the Looking-Glass (Illustrated) (1000 Copy Limited Edition)
Publisher: Engage Books
Lewis Carroll and Sir John Tenniel
105 copies available
Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There is the sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Set some six months later than the earlier book, Alice again enters a fantastical world, this time by climbing through a mirror into the world that she can see beyond it. Through the Looking-Glass includes such celebrated verses as Jabberwocky, and The Walrus and the Carpenter, and the episode involving Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland began as a story told to three little girls in a rowboat, near Oxford. Ten year old Alice Liddell asked to have the story written down and two years later it was published with immediate success. Through the Looking-Glass was published six years later. Carroll's unique play on logic has undoubtedly led to the books' lasting appeal to adults, while remaining two of the most beloved children's tales of all time. This edition is complete with all 42 original illustrations by Sir John Tenniel, and is limited to 1,000 copies.
Other fairy tales, folk tales, legends & mythology books you might enjoy
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Gods of Jade and Shadow
Nordic Tales: Folktales from Norway, Sweden,...
Tales of Japan: Traditional Stories of Monsters and...
The Great Tales of Middle-Earth: Children of Húrin,...
Spinning Silver
The Penelopiad: The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus
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Seeing Stars: Award Shows
LIST OF GOLDEN GLOBE WINNERS & NOMINEES FOR 2007
(The names of the winners are in bold, underlined type.)
The /Awards/GoldenGlobes.shtml">Golden Globe Awards were presented on Monday, January 15, 2007.
(Click on the blue links to buy the DVD, book, or other related products.)
Picture, Drama: "Babel," "Bobby," "The Departed," "Little Children," "The Queen".
Motion picture, musical or comedy: Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," "The Devil Wears Prada," "Dreamgirls," "Little Miss Sunshine," "Thank You for Smoking".
Actress, Drama: Penelope Cruz, "Volver"; Judi Dench, "Notes on a Scandal"; Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Sherrybaby"; Helen Mirren, "The Queen"; Kate Winslet, "Little Children".
Actor, Drama: Leonardo DiCaprio, "Blood Diamond"; Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Departed"; Peter O'Toole, "Venus"; Will Smith, "The Pursuit of Happyness"; Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland".
Actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy: Annette Bening, "Running With Scissors"; Toni Collette, "Little Miss Sunshine"; Beyonce Knowles, "Dreamgirls"; Meryl Streep, "The Devil Wears Prada"; Renee Zellweger, "Miss Potter".
Actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy: Sacha Baron Cohen, "Borat"; Johnny Depp, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"; Aaron Eckhart, "Thank You for Smoking"; Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Kinky Boots"; Will Ferrell, "Stranger than Fiction".
Foreign Language: "Apocalypto," USA; "Letters from Iwo Jima," USA/Japan; "The Lives of Others," Germany; "Pan's Labyrinth," Mexico; "Volver" Spain.
Supporting Actress: Adriana Barraza, "Babel"; Cate Blanchett, "Notes on a Scandal"; Emily Blunt, "The Devil Wears Prada"; Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls"; Rinko Kikuchi, "Babel".
Supporting Actor: Ben Affleck, "Hollywoodland"; Eddie Murphy, "Dreamgirls"; Jack Nicholson, "The Departed"; Brad Pitt, "Babel"; Mark Wahlberg, "The Departed".
Director: Clint Eastwood, "Flags of Our Fathers"; Clint Eastwood, "Letters from Iwo Jima"; Steven Frears, "The Queen"; Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, "Babel"; Martin Scorsese, "The Departed".
Screenplay: Guillermo Arriaga, "Babel"; Todd Field and Tom Perrotta, "Little Children"; Patrick Marber, "Notes on a Scandal"; William Monahan, "The Departed"; Peter Morgan, "The Queen".
Original Score: Alexandre Desplat, "The Painted Veil"; Clint Mansell, "The Fountain"; Gustavo Santaolalla, "Babel"; Carlo Siliotto, "Nomad"; Hans Zimmer, "The Da Vinci Code".
Original Song: "A Father's Way" from "The Pursuit of Happyness"; "Listen" from "Dreamgirls"; "Never Gonna Break My Faith" from "Bobby"; "The Song of the Heart" from "Happy Feet"; "Try Not to Remember" from "Home of the Brave".
Animated Film: "Cars," "Happy Feet," "Monster House".
Drama Series: "24," "Big Love," "Grey's Anatomy," "Heroes," "Lost".
Actress, Drama: Patricia Arquette, "Medium"; Edie Falco, "The Sopranos"; Evangeline Lilly, "Lost"; Ellen Pompeo, "Grey's Anatomy"; Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer".
Actor, Drama: Patrick Dempsey, "Grey's Anatomy"; Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"; Hugh Laurie, "House"; Bill Paxton, "Big Love"; Kiefer Sutherland, "24".
Musical or Comedy Series: "Desperate Housewives," "Entourage," "The Office," "Ugly Betty," "Weeds".
Actress, Musical or Comedy Series: Marcia Cross, "Desperate Housewives"; America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"; Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives"; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine"; Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds".
Actor, Musical or Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"; Zach Braff, "Scrubs"; Steve Carrell, "The Office"; Jason Lee, "My Name is Earl"; Tony Shalhoub, "Monk".
Miniseries or Movie Made for Television: "Bleak House," Broken Trail," "Elizabeth I," "Mrs. Harris," "Prime Suspect: The Final Act".
Actress, Miniseries or Movie Made for Television: Gillian Anderson, "Bleak House"; Annette Bening, "Mrs. Harris"; Helen Mirren, "Elizabeth I"; Helen Mirren, "Prime Suspect: The Final Act"; Sophie Okonedo, "Tsunami, The Aftermath"
Actor, Miniseries or Movie Made for Television: Andre Braugher, "Thief"; Robert Duvall, "Broken Trail"; Michael Ealy, "Sleeper Cell: American Terror"; Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Tsunami, The Aftermath"; Ben Kingsley, "Mrs. Harris"; Bill Nighy, "Gideon's Daughter"; Matthew Perry, "The Ron Clark Story"
Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie Made for Television: Emily Blunt, "Gideon's Daughter"; Toni Collette, "Tsunami, The Aftermath"; Katherine Heigl, "Grey's Anatomy"; Sarah Paulson, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"; Elizabeth Perkins, "Weeds".
Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie Made for Television: Thomas Haden Church, "Broken Trail"; Jeremy Irons, "Elizabeth I"; Justin Kirk, "Weeds"; Masi Oka, "Heroes"; Jeremy Piven, "Entourage".
Cecil B. DeMille Award (for career achievement): Warren Beatty.
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Aces at War 2011: Talk Dog Fight R01
Update: May 15th, 2020
Original Post: February 10th, 2019
The first of three interviews found in Aces at War 2011, an Ace Combat art and canon information book released as part of the Japan-exclusive Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Special Edition (2011).
Those who reign over the sky, be magnificent--- How were the state-of-the-art fighter jets that grace the series brought to life?
Shoji Kawamori, the genius who designed the state-of-the-art (fictional) fighter jet that was introduced in the newest title, “Assault Horizon,” and Masato Kanno, who was heavily involved in all of the state-of-the-art fighter jets throughout the series. Along with these two creators, who have immeasurable influence on the series, we had active-duty Eagle driver (an F-15 pilot) Kenji Ogata join and talk passionately on the inside stories and mystique hidden behind aircraft design.
Masato Kanno
Head art director of Bandai Namco Games. Born on April 19, 1971, has worked mainly on the art direction, superweapon designs, and graphics of the scenery in the Ace Combat series. Is also knowledgeable in developments in space exploration, and his college art project that used the space shuttle as the theme was selected to be exhibited as part of the Joint 6 University Art Exhibition in the past. Also spares no trouble in getting real experience for the sake of [game] development, and has flown in Cessna aircraft and parachuted many times. Admits that he is a huge fan of Shoji Kawamori, and went all out in displaying his aesthetic “Kawamori-isms” in Assault Horizon.
Shoji Kawamori
A satellite senior managing director. Born on February 20, 1960. Excels at mecha design, creating original work, directing, production, screenplay, and storyboarding and calls himself a vision creator due to his comprehensive role. Supervised the mecha designs in media such as the TV series “Super Dimension Fortress Macross” (aired 1982), debuted as a director at the young age of 24 with the anime movie “SDF Macross Do You Remember Love” (released 1984), and still works at the forefront. Supervised the mechanical design of the state-of-the-art fighter jet (fictional aircraft) in Ace Combat Assault Horizon’s DLC.
Kenji Ogawa
An active-duty Eagle driver (F-15 pilot) that also serves as the JASDF Komatsu Air Base 6th Air Wing Supervision Department Public Relations/Communication Group/Communication Group Leader. His rank is Captain First Class. Born on July 2, 1976. As a man who knows what the sky is truly like, we had him join as a guest in this discussion. Hobbies include camping with his family, fishing, and ham radio. Very knowledgeable, especially with ham radio, and says that specific knowledge regarding radio waves is hugely beneficial in his current job. Always has a gentle smile when talking about subjects, but when the topic changes towards missions, his masculine face sharpens to resemble that of an eagle. He truly is a man of the sky.
Looking back at the paths each of them took and uncovering the origin of their hearts.
Kanno: When I was in middle school, my dad told me in the living room, “Masato, looks like there is an anime about airplanes that’s about to start,” and started recording the videos saying “maybe you should study airplanes with this.” That was with the latest VHS tapes of that era. And those happened to be the first two episodes of an anime Kawamori-san worked on.
Kawamori: Wait really? I couldn’t imagine it being used as teaching material. Your father is interesting (laughs).
Kanno: It might seem like a lie, but it’s a true story. My father was an English teacher, so maybe he wanted to show that “I also know what’s popular among the younger generations!” Anyhow, this is how I was introduced to Kawamori-san’s work, and it has really affected me as I engage in game development work currently. Where did your interest in design begin Kawamori-san?
Kawamori: I first became aware of me thinking “that design looks cool” around the time when the marionette show “Stingray” (started airing 1964) and “Thunderbirds” (started airing 1966) came out. I’ve always been incredibly curious, and when I was in the fifth grade, I traveled from Yokohama to Nagano alone to take pictures of a steam engine. I looked up the timetables, railroad magazines, and maps all by myself and figured out, “since it’ll be a certain time of day with this timetable, I should be able to take a great photo at the bridge in this gorge.”
Kanno: When you were in fifth grade, huh. You were really active.
Kawamori: And when I was in second grade, I saw an Isuzu 117 coupe and my mind was enchanted by its overall elegance and the bonnet’s delicate curves. I heard from my father that an Italian designed it, and I was impacted by that word, “design.” I realized “One design can make a car look this cool!” By the way, why did you want to be an Eagle driver, Ogawa-san?
Ogawa: I’ve been attracted by passenger planes since I was a child and thought, “how do they fly those things?” After that, I saw an F-104 fighting a monster in a rerun of the “Ultraman” series (started airing 1966) and was then attracted to airplanes that battled [things]. That feeling never went away even as an adult, and I chose this path once I learned Japan had an air self defense force. After studying again, my interest shifted to the F-15 which was being equipped with new technology, and now I’m an Eagle driver. I wasn’t always looking at the F-15.
Kawamori: I’m the same way. In the beginning, I said that I wanted to be an engineer/designer of real airplanes and spaceships. In that sense, I’ve strayed a little from that path (laughs).
Kanno: I also try to distance myself from actual game creation to experience things first-hand to try to bring that feeling to the game. Taking a ride in a Cessna in Hawaii or falling with a parachute. One time, the main parachute didn’t open and I had to open the reserve chute around 300m altitude and survived. A situation similar to that experience is also included in Assault Horizon. I heard you have lots of experience as well, Kawamori-san.
Kawamori: Yes, my intention has been to do those kinds of things as they come along. I’ve been to Air Combat USA, where after an hour of training on the ground, you get to fly an italian piston engine plane with an instructor. I didn’t know until I tried it, but you surprisingly don’t spend a lot of time looking forward during aerial combat.
Ogawa: In a real flight in an F-15 you have to maintain battle formation, look at the radar, look around when on alert against enemies, and change the direction we’re looking at continuously.
Kanno: It’s an incredible feat of multitasking, Also, the amount of Gs you pull likely doesn’t compare to that of a Cessna aircraft, but how is it like specifically?
Ogawa: Even with 2Gs or 3Gs, you can immediately feel your body getting heavier. Once you look to the side, moving your neck might be difficult since it’s too heavy. When it's 8Gs, it feels like your whole body is being squeezed. You can feel this the most in your toes. In these situations, G-resisting actions are vital, and we tense up our feet and abs to prevent the blood flow in the brain from being pushed down. We work on this with daily weight training, but it’s still really tough trying to fly when you’re being compressed so hard that it’s difficult to breathe.
Kanno: Making [players] feel Gs is one of the ultimate goals of our games, but just shaking the camera only makes people nauseated, and it’s still hard to present (laughs). It just further reminds me that there are physical and physiological phenomena that occur in the sky that cannot be experienced by humans going about normal life on land.
Ogawa: I even had this rare experience. One time while we were night flying, I saw what looked like a blue wave on the HUD. I first thought it was an instrument malfunction and adjusted the brightness, but even when I made the HUD completely dark, the blue thing didn’t disappear. I thought, “Huh?” and when I looked forward around the HUD, I saw that there was a hazy light coming from the area where the canopy and the nose joined and was covering the front half of the canopy. It was blue, pale, and pretty. I was startled at first but I was moved by this mystical sight. It's called “Saint Elmo’s Fire,” and is an extremely rare atmospheric-electromagnetic phenomenon that occurs on aircraft.
Kawamori: Amazing, that’s really amazing! I’ve heard of it in sailor’s legends, but this is the first time I’ve met someone who actually has seen it. How frequently can this be seen?
Ogawa: I’ve flown around 2600 hours including other aircraft, but I’ve only seen it twice. And that was only for a few minutes, so I don’t think it happens all that often.
Kanno: That’s a rare event for sure. Hearing stories of it only deepens the desire to see it. Until I see one, I can’t die as a creator! (laughs)
A state-of-the-art fighter distinctive of Director Kawamori. Its features and mechanisms revealed!
Kanno: The Ace Combat series originally focused mainly on real-world military aircraft, but there were calls by users that wanted something special. Our answer to that were the state-of-the-art fighters (fictional aircraft) shown in pages 62-77 of this book. And then for Assault Horizon, we decided to prepare a DLC specific state-of-the-art fighter and asked Kawamori-san to design it, but we were really impressed with the result.
Kawamori: I’m really happy. With an original design, I personally define it so that if it doesn’t include brand-new mechanisms that have never been seen before, you can’t call it original. For example, in works where there is a strong element of science fiction, you can include things like transformation mechanics, but if that doesn’t exist, you can only work with the aircraft’s styling. In the case where the setting is the real world like in Assault Horizon, you have to think about a new configuration that can also be used to create a real aircraft. Only then can it be called a “design.”
Kanno: Yes. Kawamori-san always mentions this whenever he gets the opportunity.
Kawamori: It was quite a while back, but a Harrier came to an airshow at Iruma, and that demo flight was really sensational for me at the time. That sight remained with me, and when designing this aircraft, I wanted to include VTOL capabilities. However, I thought it would be a waste and dead weight if it used a lift-fan like the F-35B. And combined with the thoughts of it being operated at sea, a single-engine was risky.
Kanno: “If we’re going to work together, I thought that we had to create an aircraft that had that ‘Kawamori-isms’.”
Kawamori: "When you think of a configuration that real designers haven’t used yet, only then can you call it a ‘design’.”
Ogawa: “This is nice, I really want to get in this thing.”
Ogawa: It’s just like you said. If it’s only one engine, it has the drawback that you can’t do anything if the engine fails, and also the thrust becomes important. If a strike aircraft is flying low, there’s not much of a difference in thrust with one engine or a pair of engines, but at higher altitudes, the air density decreases and the effectiveness of an engine is lowered, so a single-engined craft will always be at a disadvantage.
Kawamori: Yes. So that’s why I wanted it to be a twin-engined aircraft. But if you arrange a pair of engines next to each other, it’s really difficult to make it VTOL-capable due to center-of-mass related issues. Then I thought what if we have a layout where the engines are on top of each other with one offset to the rear. There is a real-life example of an aircraft with two engines simply on top of each other, but if we offset the driveshaft forward and back and create VTOL nozzles, it would result in a VTOL aircraft and have a pair of engines. This I can call a “design.”
Kanno: When I saw the design, there were 2 things that I thought were unique. One is the forward-swept wings that become evident when you look from above. It looked like it was really maneuverable and cool. The other was that the intake on the dorsal side looked awkward yet weirdly real at the same time.
Kawamori: Honestly, the two side intakes are enough, but if that’s the case, the aircraft is not as interesting. By putting an intake on the top as well, it can show that it is equipped with two engines better. In the case of sci-fi craft, I can make them sharp and cool looking, but then they don’t look as realistic. So for this design, I thought about not making it look too cool. By considering the required size if actual engines were used, distance from the intake, placement of the landing gear, where to put the center-of-mass, and wing area to accommodate the rest of these, it resulted in a design that wasn’t too “smart.” That’s where the sense of realism emanates from. It’s just that with this construction, the maintainability would be bad, so it’ll probably have a bad reputation among mechanics. That’s the drawback of this aircraft. (laughs)
Kanno: I think it resulted in a modern aircraft just as planned by Kawamori-san. What do you think Ogawa-san? Would you want to jump into it in reality?
Ogawa: This is nice, I really want to get in this thing. What I’m really curious about right now is how it moves.
Kanno: About that, since this time I was going to work together with Kawamori-san, I thought that we had to have what I call “Kawamori-isms,” and create an aircraft that “did not have a timid attitude.” If an enemy got behind it and it wanted to take the enemy’s rear, a kulbit would be too pretty. On the other hand, a barrel roll to the rear would be too magnificent.
Kawamori: That’s why we had it (while motioning with hand movements) climb a little with a slight [vertical] loop, then use both nozzles to nose forward into the center of that circle traced by the loop. We thought about this kind of unique trajectory.
Ogawa: So instead of a regular flight path, it’s moving into the circle?
Kawamori: Yes. I thought maybe with that, it wouldn’t lose too much speed.
Top: The DLC exclusive state-of-the-art fighter showing off maneuvers of a different dimension in the skies of Assault Horizon’s world. Designed by Mr. Kawamori, its form is brimming with coolness and realism and will capture the wonder of those who see it. With the unique structure such as the vertically arranged pair of engines, it has a fantastical level of maneuverability and is capable of special near-hover flight characteristics. It wouldn’t be strange if it existed in reality, but no one has seen anything quite like it. This is the “Kawamori-ism.” Let’s declare it right now, it’s a must-see.
Bottom: Mr. Kawamori, enjoying the feeling of the wind passing through the hangar where the discussion is taking place, made available as a venue at the JASDF Komatsu Air Base (Ishikawa Prefecture). Inside the hangar are military planes, standing still majestically. A chance meeting between military aircraft that fly through the real sky and a creator who flies his works in the skies of a game was realized here.
Kanno: We recreated this special maneuver that Kawamori-san just explained in the game. The player can try this out by reducing thrust dramatically and pressing both yaw buttons simultaneously.
Ogawa: With that description, I’m guessing the canards or something move when it noses up, but the initial direction of the nozzle should be up instead of down, probably. Since you’re applying a moment.
Kawamori: Ah, that’s correct, yes, yes.
Ogawa: But if you do that, I’m predicting that it’ll go into an uncontrollable state, based on my experience.
Kanno: That’s the thing! So in the game, when it gets near a vertical, it returns to horizontal, or lowers its nose. Almost as if it’s saying “that’s a little too much.” Then, it accelerates and regains lift.
Kawamori: Oh, you put in those movements? That’s great.
On the table surrounded by the 3 men are the scale models of the well known X02 WYVERN, ADF-01 FALKEN, and ADFX-01 MORGAN. Mr. Kawamori inspected the detailed models in his hand while Mr. Kanno introduced the state-of-the-art fighter’s features.
Ogawa: Excuse me then. Wow that’s wonderful. When you’re returning to horizontal, you usually cannot avoid being really slow there.
Kanno: Then when we put in this “really slow” movement, it complimented the “Kawamori-ism” perfectly. When I was thinking where this “Kawamori-ism”-like movement was going to be, I thought it should be something that makes players exclaim, “there’s no way it could do-- wait, it recovered, it recovered!” I think the sight of it forcing the aerodynamics of the maneuver with its overbearing thrust in a “slightly unattractive but fascinating way” [is the “Kawamori-ism.”]
Kawamori: I’m happy, really. I was hoping that it would be able to move like that just now. I’m honestly really thankful.
The three professionals draw nearer to the secret of producing beauty without pursuing it
Kanno: There’s something I think is interesting, or rather wonder about as an art director. It’s especially true with military craft, but despite the designers only researching and developing functionality, you get something like an F-15 that is really cool and has a good form. Why is beauty produced from a design that doesn’t seek it? Do you have any thoughts, Kawamori-san?
Kawamori: I think it essentially has to do with the functional beauty of living things. Of course there are ones that are unsightly.
Kanno: Wow! Kawamori-san and my answer might be the same!
Kawamori: Wait, did our theories coincide? (laughs). Then let’s hear Kanno-san’s explanation first.
Mr. Kanno climbing in the pilot’s seat of a real F-15 and getting a feel for it with the five senses. Whenever there was something he was curious about, he would fire question after question and would listen intently to the explanations of Naasa Kikuchi (2nd Class NCO) Komachi Base. Thus the knowledge and passion absorbed by Mr. Kanno will likely be injected into future works and reach the hearts of distant future players.
Mr. Kawamori also got into the pilot’s seat of the F-15 and listened to Mr. Ogawa’s explanations enthusiastically. When he was heading towards the seat, Mr. Kawamori’s eyes lit up like a young boy who couldn’t hide his excitement, but the instant he lowered his back into the seat he had the eyes of a pro when looking at the instruments. I felt like I saw the source for the realism in his works.
Mr. Ogawa, climbing the familiar ladder and preparing to welcome the visitors on the side of the pilot’s seat. Occasionally, you can catch a glimpse of the deep affection and trust in his eyes when he gazes at the F-15. After collecting all materials, he casually answered “After this? I have a night flight” and his face gave off that feel of an otherworldly “man of the sky.”
Kanno: Alright then. So to humans, flying high in the sky is a dream that cannot come true without the aid of machines, right? So I think animals like birds that fly in the natural world naturally draw the admiration of humans. Then if you embody that as a vehicle, the wings of the bird become the wings of the airplane, and the shape of the bird’s head becomes the nose. The propeller bi-plane that the Wright brothers made looked like it had two planks put together, and looked completely different from a bird. And as time passes, the shape of airplanes are getting closer and closer to birds. I think the feelings of admiration for something universal made it that way, and that’s why it’s beautiful. I also designed a massive aerial weapon called the Arkbird that appears in the Circum-Pacific War, but it looks like a space shuttle that grew wings. I have my personal sentiments as well, but if something like this was made in reality, I think it would reflect the aspiration humans hold towards birds.
Kawamori: I see, I see. Design of airplanes conform to the rules of aerodynamics and fluid dynamics, but that might be a key to beauty. For example, air provides both lift and drag and works positively and negatively. I think that conflict is really interesting and believe that beauty is in aircraft that conform well to the various technologies throughout the ages and the ideas of engineers created to seek the optimal solution. That’s why piston-engined planes have their virtues and jet planes have their own virtues. There are some ugly aircraft among them, but that is also true in nature as there are cool-looking birds and ugly-looking birds. That aspect is really interesting and mysterious. What explanation do you have, Ogawa-san?
Ogawa: I feel like the answer to beauty is somewhere in the process of creating something from zero where there is no functionality. For example, even a katana looks beautiful to me. With a katana, you forge it to strengthen it from the original iron. Then since you can’t cut anything in that state, you sharpen it thinly. But then since it’s not strong enough you apply steel to the blade. It requires multiple cycles until the final functionality desired by humans is achieved. This ultimately finished katana is something made by humans, but is not something that was simply bent into shape, and instead carries a certain kind of “strength” from the process of adding in functionality. It’s the same with the F-15, but perhaps the “closer you get to what you desire,” the more beautiful it becomes. That’s the same with human beings too.
Kanno: My goodness, Kawamori-san and Ogawa-san’s explanations, both are splendid! As a single art director, I feel like I grasped important hints to what beauty is. For state-of-the-art fighter jets, we have two concepts: design it so it wouldn’t be unusual if it existed in real life, and to value the “romance” of the strength and uniqueness distinctive of fictional aircraft. I believe by playing Assault Horizon, there would be readers that think, “wow this series has changed,” but state-of-the-art fighters will continue to play an active role. I would like to show an interesting craft again using what I learned in this discussion.
Ogawa: If you’re able to fly an airplane in a game and think “airplanes are really cool,” it’ll make me really happy. JASDF Komatsu Air Base will be holding its 50th annual air festival on October 30th this year (2011), right after Assault Horizon’s release date, though we didn’t intentionally plan it that way. If there are people interested in “how does the F-15 in-game actually fly?” we’ll be showing them off, so please come visit.
Kawamori: I was able to take a tour due to this discussion, and was reminded that you don’t know how amazing the real thing is unless you actually see it and hear it. In my case, I focus a lot on emphasizing character traits in normal anime work. But when I was able to participate in this game’s development, I really pressed myself on “how much could we push the realism” and “how many layouts and configurations have we made that no other existing craft have.” And now the aircraft that I delivered to the world with Bandai Namco Games is almost ready to be delivered to the readers. I wonder how you (the readers) will fly it when you play the game. Just thinking about it makes me excited. If you devise tactics that we on the development side didn’t even think about, that would be the best. I’ll be expecting great things!
”I think the beauty of each era are the things that best follows the answers given by various technologies of their time.” -Kawamori
“I think they look beautiful because of the feelings of admiration to something universal.” -Kanno
“Perhaps the ‘closer you get to what you desire,’ the more beautiful it becomes.” -Ogawa
Talk Dog Fight R02 >>
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Loss and Damage
Poverty Eradication
Livelihood Development
Social Justice & Governance
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Workshop Series on Climate Risk and Risk Transfer
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Climate Migration: The New Wave of Refugees?
Iyanthi Kulatilaka
Climate change is considered the greatest threat that Earth has to counter in this century. Due to intensified human activity and unsustainable use of the planet’s resources, the percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased while the planet’s ability to absorb the excess carbon dioxide has decreased due to the elimination and degradation of natural carbon sinks such as forests and oceans. This imbalance in the atmosphere has led to increased global warming over a long period of time, and scientists have confirmed the existence of climate change.
The impacts of climate change are numerous and devastating in nature. Increasing average temperatures around the globe have led to significant melting of glacial ice, leading to a rise in global mean sea levels. Floods and storms are becoming more intense due to changes in weather patterns. The soaring temperatures have led to extreme heat waves and droughts.
All these phenomena threaten our sources of food, water, and shelter, which are fundamental for human survival. The consequences of climate change are so severe that it is increasingly contributing to migration, and this is likely to escalate much more in the years to come as climate change impacts become more serious. The World Bank reported that there are 140 million people identified as “climate migrants” who are forced to leave their homes and migrate within their countries borders, due to severe droughts, crop failures, and sea level rise.
Examples of climate refugees around the world
Maldives is one of the main countries that is most threatened by sea level rise as the island nation rises only 2.4 meters above sea level at its highest point. Sea level rise will likely create climate refugees because of changes in both economy and habitat. In 1995, Bhola Island which belongs to Bangladesh was half-submerged by rising sea levels which resulted in 500,000 people becoming homeless. Scientists predict Bangladesh will lose 17 percent of its land by 2050 due to flooding caused by climate change.
While rising sea levels threaten coastal regions, severe droughts as a result of climate change lead to crop failure and create climate displacement inland. In China, people living near the Gobi Desert are migrating to China’s urban areas, as the Gobi Desert expands more than 3,600 square kilometres every year and overtakes the grasslands. In Africa, countries like Somalia and Ethiopia are especially vulnerable to drought and desertification as most rural citizens engage in subsistence agriculture; that is, the farmers do not sell their produce on the market but only grow enough crop for themselves and for their families. As many subsistence farmers depend on their crops to feed their livestock, this becomes a problem as severe droughts prevent crops from growing, which in turn prevents livestock from being raised. As a result, thousands of Somalis and Ethiopians have fled to refugee camps in Kenya, threatened by starvation and poverty.
People who are forced to flee are usually already vulnerable and have limited options or powers to negotiate, as they may have lost whatever assets and savings as a result of the disasters and are now forced to accept whatever meagre options that are on offer just to survive. As in Bangladesh, when cyclone Aila hit the country, it left a lot of people destitute and unable to go back to their previous livelihoods. They were forced to migrate to urban areas in search of employment but they reported difficulty in finding employment with their limited skill sets and found it difficult to earn enough to recover from the losses of Aila.
Women face severe hardships in the face of climate migration when the men leave in search of employment to provide for their families. This results in many households being headed by women with additional burdens and challenges they have to overcome alone. Women must now not only take care of all household activities and children related responsibilities, but they also have the added responsibility of undertaking their husbands’ roles in agriculture.
Climate-induced displacement in Sri Lanka
During the end of May 2017, the island experienced heavy rains and wind which led to a series of flash floods and landslides and affected 15 districts. 879,778 people were affected by the disasters. 219 deaths were reported and 74 missing. 3,048 houses were destroyed and 76,803 houses partially damaged. The livelihoods of over 342,000 people were affected due to agriculture, trade, and industry being disrupted.
In the beginning of October an estimated 520,000 people were affected by a drought that spread across eight provinces. The drought continued with short intervals of heavy rain that caused flash floods but brought temporary relief to the drought ridden communities, but as of June 2017, the prolonged drought conditions had affected more than 850,000 people. Agricultural livelihoods were disrupted, water scarcity was severe, and whatever water supply that remained was affected due to salinisation. People faced food scarcity and economic hardships as they were forced to recover after such extreme events.
Sri Lanka as an island nation is extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels caused by climate change. Sea levels in the Indian ocean are thought to be rising at a rate of 3.2 mm per year and our country can be threatened by erosion and loss of coastal land to the sea and widespread salinisation of agricultural fields and water sources in the near future. As a country that consists of a large coastal population that is dependent on fisheries, ocean acidification caused by rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere leaves these communities vulnerable. Ocean acidification bleaches the coral ecosystems that provides the habitat and food source for many coastal fish species and this can reduce fish yields and incomes to coastal communities engaged in fisheries.
Sri Lanka is facing new opportunities for social and economic development and is fast becoming a middle-income country. But the disparities between regions and social groups remain high, and a considerable proportion of the population is considered just above the poverty line and highly vulnerable to climate related disasters and shocks that can drive them back to poverty. The disparities are even more evident because the recurrent occurrence of droughts, floods, and landslides affect particularly the impoverished sectors living in high risk conditions with reduced capacities for recovery. And this is one of the main drivers for climate migration as people are forced to leave their affected home regions in search of economic and safety stability in more urban areas of the country.
UN Convention on Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons
Climate refugees are not recognized under the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees which defines the term ‘refugee’ as a person who has a “well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.”
As such, people whose lands have disappeared underwater due to sea level rise, those who face water and food scarcity in face of droughts, or those whose homes have been destroyed by landslides, cannot be officially described as ‘refugees’. Thus, under the current framework, those displaced due to climate change induced extreme events are not legally granted the same rights and protections that are granted to those with refugee status.
Under the United Nations Human Rights Council lie the guiding principles on Internal Displacement, which defines Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as:
“Persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized State border.”
Although countries are encouraged to abide by these guidelines, they are not legally bound by them. So it is questionable whether the basic human rights of climate migrants are being protected by the respective governments.
Data records on people temporarily displaced by extreme weather events such as landslides, droughts, and flash floods exists but does not record the extent to which these numbers translate into permanent migration. The data also does not record the impact of migration due to slow-onset events such as crop failure, salinisation, coastal erosion, and changes in seasonal rainfall or temperature patterns which eventually drive people to give up on agriculture and move to urban areas.
UNFCCC process and climate migration
The evidence is clear; the increasing adverse impacts of climate change have become one of the main fuelling factors for migration and forced displacement. But the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is yet to recognize climate refugees, and as a result it does not provide sufficient protections and rights to those affected.
However, the “Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts”, which was established in 2013, is considered as a milestone event in addressing loss and damage associated with impacts of climate change, including extreme events and slow onset events, in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of the changing climate.
In March 2017, the Executive Committee (ExCom) of the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM), which is tasked with guiding the implementation of the functions of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage, established a Task Force on Displacement to develop recommendations to “avert, minimise and address displacement related to the adverse impacts of climate change”. It was established in accordance with their mandate outlined in COP Decision 49, adopted at the twenty-first Conference of the Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Paris in 2015.
Following the decision, a technical meeting was held between the WIM Executive Committee and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). During the meeting, experts shared views and a draft set of recommendations were developed to highlight key issues such as the need to protect the rights of those displaced by climate change; the need for a definition of climate displacement that can enable more effective data gathering and policies; and the need to identify new and emerging cross-border issues and formulate strategies to address them.
The Task Force is working to finalise its recommendations to the WIM ExCom in August 2018. Draft recommendations will be presented in December 2018 at the Katowice Climate Change Conference (COP24).
Climate change affects people’s’ livelihoods and safety, forcing them to leave their homelands in order to survive. This is only predicted to increase in the years to come. However, the rights of migrants are being threatened due to desperation and a lack of options caused by climate disasters. Thus, regional and international processes as well as local governments must take the opportunity to proactively address emerging challenges and to ensure protection for climate migrants.
The need for measures such as clear definitions, accurate data collection on the contribution of climate change towards migration, and the formulation of national policies that address these gaps are vital. It is also important to ensure the resilience of these vulnerable communities. Respective governments must implement effective adaptation measures that will result in reduced risk from climate disasters. All in all, since climate induced migration will be inevitable in the face of more frequent and more intense extreme events, the world needs to be prepared for it.
http://lk.one.un.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PDNA-Sri-lanka-2017.pdf
climate_change_migration_in_south_asia_web_version.pdf
http://www.unhcr.org/uk/3b66c2aa10
https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2015/cop21/eng/10a01.pdf
http://sdg.iisd.org/news/wim-excom-advances-work-on-risk-transfer-climate-displacement/
https://www.unescogym.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Climate-Change-and-Migration-Bangladesh.pdf
https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2015/sb/eng/03.pdf
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/indian-ocean-level-rising-faster-than-the-global-estimate/articleshow/59745270.cms
Women, Children and Climate Change: The Struggles of Vulnerable Groups Forced to Move
Lifelong Support: Autism Spectrum Disorder Beyond Childhood in Sri Lanka
Climate Displaced
SLYCAN Trust in Digital Space
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Ryan Peters Stands Out Among Republican Peers in 2019 State Elections
Posted by Phil Stilton
New Jersey Assemblyman Ryan Peters is doing something many of his peers and opponents running for state office are still trying to figure out, how to offer sensible solutions that might actually work to fix some of the problems facing the Garden State.
He’s also making a name for himself along the way.
“Last year, Trenton made a decision to redistribute funding to school districts, creating winners and losers and putting our school children in the crosshairs,” Peters said. “While some schools are finally getting the funding they deserve, others are being left out in the cold, staring at a future where they’ll have to undergo massive layoffs and cuts in programs.”
Related News: Smokers now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine in New Jersey, but good luck getting one
Peters, is tacking a topic that grossly affects schools across the state, including a high amount of districts here at the Jersey Shore, imbalanced school funding that sends taxes from suburban communities to New Jersey’s inner cities and struggling school districts.
“Providing adequate state funding for our children’s education should not be about having a ‘D’ or ‘R’ in front of your name,” Peters said. “It affects everyone, from the child all the way up to the senior whose property tax bill goes up because their town doesn’t get its fair share.”
Peters also doesn’t seem worried about getting the coveted political endorsement from the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) after calling for cutting costs.
Related News: Missed Phil Murphy's State of the State Speech? Here it is
“We owe it to our children to leave no stone unturned if it means adverting massive school layoffs, cutting programs and shutting down local schools,” he said.
Last week, he introduced a bill that seeks to change a sweeping overhaul of school funding passed by state Democrats last year that have stripped millions of dollars of state aid annually from suburban school districts.
The bill, unfortunately, is expected to die a slow death in the halls of Trenton as the Democrats retain the majority of seats in both the senate and legislature.
Peters was a member of the U.S. Navy Seal Team 18 and served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has been serving in the New Jersey Assembly since 2017.
Related News: Republican Chairman Holman Captained Lead Boat in Massive NJ Trump Boat Parade, Now Says it's Time to Move On, Accept Defeat, Come Together
Toms River High School East Football Team Off to 5-0 Start
Testa: Murphy Cares More About Planned Parenthood than Economic Development and Tourism in New Jersey
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Dr Sarah Smith
Doctoral School Manager
Sarah is the Doctoral School Manager in the Research and Innovation Office.
Working with the Director of the Doctoral School and colleagues across the University, her responsibilities include supporting PhD student recruitment and promotion of the University's doctoral offer; administrative oversight of the University's PhD scholarships, funding schemes and collaborative training partnerships, and contributing to activities on our support for researchers and the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.
Sarah also participates in the University's gender equality and Athena Swan activities.
Joining Sheffield Hallam in 2006 as Business Manager in the Research and Innovation Office, Sarah has been in the Doctoral School team since 2015. Prior to 2006, she worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher in universities and industry.
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‘Cream of the crop’- Barcelona should consider Willian free transfer
Chelsea’s Willian has been one of their most important players over the last few years. He might not have been consistent every season, but the Brazilian has proved his quality time and time again. Be it this season or his first, Willian has come up with important moments many times.
Amongst a new breed of Chelsea players, Willian is now the veteran in that side. The 31-year-old has, despite Frank Lampard bringing in many young faces, been key to the Blues’ success so far this season.
He has played as many as 11 times in the Premier League, scoring twice and assisting thrice. In the UEFA Champions League, he has scored once. That goal came in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Lille away from home.
While Willian did take some criticism under Maurizio Sarri last season, the former Anzhi man was crucial in dark times. Some key contributions came in Jose Mourinho’s last season at Stamford Bridge- the 2015-16 campaign. He scored five times, racking up six assists at that time.
Links with Barcelona have never really gone away too. From the summer of 2017 to as recent as this past summer, Barca have always kept a keen eye on the winger. Not just that, but the Catalans have had bids rejected by Chelsea too.
On paper, it will always sound like a weird move. That’s because of Willian’s age and how he isn’t quite the superstar anymore. But the winger still has a lot to give for a club that needs depth in attacking areas.
This season, Willian has registered the fourth-highest number of key-passes per game- 1.6. He has also completed the fourth-highest number of dribbles per game for the Blues too- 1.5 (via Whoscored). Both of them are the most prominent parts of Willian’s playing style.
He likes to dribble, stay wide and put crosses in. When playing on the right, the Brazilian sticks to the touchline and constantly creates opportunities for the strikers.
Despite having been criticised last season, Willian was second in the assists tally behind Eden Hazard. He played the second-highest number of key passes- 2.5. He also completed the highest number of crosses per game in the season- 1.2.
His versatility is also important. Willian can play at number ten or on either flank. But his key aspects remain the same.
As things stand, Barcelona have four experienced attacking players in Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Ousmane Dembele and summer signing Antoine Griezmann. They have younger players in Carles Perez and Ansu Fati slowly rising up the pecking order.
The club sold Malcom to Zenit, a season after signing him from Bordeaux. Willian’s Brazilian counterpart could play only 15 times in the La Liga, scoring once.
Dembele was linked with a move away from Barca over the last few transfer windows. He was expected to be part of the deal that could have brought Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain. His discipline and attitude issues make him a player that Barcelona have not always relied on.
At the age of 22, he will still be of high value. He certainly has the ability to change games and add a lot to any team in the world. But the off-field issues never help.
Willian, on the other hand, is a thorough professional. He has played 307 games in all competitions for Chelsea since joining and has stayed at the club, despite all the peaks and troughs. His numbers and contributions show that he still has a lot to give.
Mourinho has always been known to be a big fan of Willian. During his spell at United, reports claimed that Jose wanted Willian at Old Trafford. On Willian, Jose once said:
“Do you want to talk about Willian? Top, cream of the crop, he’s amazing.”
He is now 31 and his deal at the Bridge runs out in the summer. Barca have been linked with a free transfer for him, along with Inter. For a professional like him, that could be a big move for any club. If Dembele does leave the Nou Camp at some point, Willian could easily step up and contribute.
Tags barcelona chelsea Willian
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‘Ready for the next step’ – Canadian star suits Barcelona perfectly
14 games missed: Why Chelsea should move on from 28 y/o soon
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Home Nonprofit Nonprofit Ethics Ethics Scenario #45: Harristown Futures Fund
Ethics Scenario #46: Vintage Thrift Shop
Ethics Scenario #44: Harristown Early Music Consort
Ethics Scenario #45: Harristown Futures Fund
by Gary Grobman
45.. Doug is a well-healed philanthropist who has been making sizeable donations to one particular local charity whose mission is to restore historic buildings in Doug’s community of Harristown. Doug recently asked the executive director of the charity, Peter, to consider making a grant to restore one particular building, a hotel on main street that was owned at one time by Doug’s grandfather. Peter explained to Doug that this particular building did not meet the organization’s criteria, and that his board had voted 12-6 against accepting this project, although Peter agreed that it did make sense to keep the building from being turned into an indoor shopping mall, as was being proposed. Doug wasn’t happy with this answer, but understood that Peter’s organization had some constraints. Doug decided to do whatever was necessary to restore that old hotel, which brought back many memories to him whenever he passed it. He decided to create his own 501(c)(3) where he could make all of the decisions with how his donations would be used, rather than having to depend on decisions made by almost 20 local community members whom he did not know, and who were unlikely to share his love for that hotel. Doug hired a consultant to do all of the paperwork to create the organization, incorporate it, and apply for 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status. He wanted to make sure that he would retain complete control over how his donations would be used. So, in his first official act as Chair, he appointed to his board of directors himself, his wife, Ann; his son, Steve; Steve’s wife, Olivia; and his brother, Tom. With that board composition, it would be unlikely that Doug would be unable to see his dream of preserving the hotel from being destroyed.
a. Is Peter being ethical?
Nonprofit Ethics Scenarios board chair board philanthropy
About the Nonprofit Ethics Education Pages
The content on this page is part of the Nonprofit Ethics Education Pages of this site. This section provides full text of materials from the book, Ethics in Nonprofit Organizations, by Gary M. Grobman. Follow the link below to go back to the beginning of this section and for more information.
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Sonora’s Sister City
Historic Downtown Sonora
The City of Sonora entered into an agreement with Kirishima., Japan on July 24, 2000
The Sister City Agreement Reads:
The City of Sonora, California and the town of Kirishima, Kagoshima, Japan do hereby formally agree to enter into a Sister City relationship the aim of establishing positive international relations.
Both cities pledge to promote exchanges in areas such as education, culture and economics and will endeavor to bring about better understanding and closer cooperation with mutual prosperity and goodwill as their shared objectives.
We firmly believe that the sister city relationship will not only establish a long lasting friendship between the two cities but also help to foster mutual understanding and amity between the United states of American and Japan and make a contribution to world peace.
For confirming the above accord, the agreement shall be signed in the City of Sonora, California, United States of America on July 24, 2000
This document was signed by Mayor Liz Bass and Mayor Hisanori Yoshimura.
A Reconfirming agreement was made on July 27, 2007. By Mayor Hank Russell and Mayor Shuji Maeda
Below are a few pictures of Kirishima, Japan.
Guide to Kirishima City
94 N. Washington Street
Sonora, CA 95370
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Drainage Master Plans for Alameda County Flood Control Zones
Spin-A-Yarn Steakhouse
45915 Warm Springs Boulevard, Fremont, California (Directions)
The Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District began a program in 2008 to implement the Watershed Studies Program. The Program examines Alameda County watersheds rainfall-runoff characteristics on a holistic scale. It does so to determine how the District can best allocate its limited resources. The studies undertaken by the Program are used to establish the basis for the District's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and also refine District policy and design criteria for maintenance and land development projects. The Program's studies replicate the hydrological conditions and flood system performance throughout an entire watershed by employing sophisticated computer models. These comprehensive models realistically account for all critical elements in a drainage network and produce reliable assessments of the systems under stress including floodplains and severity of impacts.
The technology utilized by the Program includes a comprehensive GIS database, one- and two-dimensional hydrologic and hydraulic models that are calibrated using Doppler radar rainfall data and the Districts precipitation and stream gage data. Wood Rodgers was contracted by the District to conduct the studies, and helped the District develop and refine the techniques used.
The presentation will provide a summary of the overall concept, the approach and tools used to develop these studies in Zones 3A and in Zone 6.
Dan Matthies, PE, CFM,
Wood Rodgers Inc. Oakland CA
Dan Matthies has developed expertise in Water Resources Engineering with 26 years of experience as an engineering consultant in the private sector. He began working on federal Flood Insurance Study projects and on evaluating and remediating flood control facilities for local agencies in Northern California. Dan also coordinated flooding and drainage issues with land development projects throughout California. He has spent most of his career in the preparation of hydrologic analyses, one- and two-dimensional hydraulic analyses, storm drainage master plans, drainage and flood control project planning, and design of flood control facilities. He has also processed numerous CLOMRs, LOMRs; and Levee Certifications in California. Dan received his Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering from California State University, Sacramento, is a licensed civil engineer, and a certified floodplain manager.
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WATCH- Virat Kohli Hilariously Mocks Journalists Ahead Of Test Series
By Sportstime247
Team India is all set to play their first test match in India after a long wait. Virat Kohli and company are looking to give a solid start to the home Test season. India has already made a solid start in the ongoing ICC Test Championship by defeating West Indies with 2-0. And now Team India is looking to win the home series against South Africa.
South Africa is yet to play their first match of the ICC Test Championship. Since the World Cup 2019, South Africa has not played any Test and ODI match. And now their competition is with the team who is currently at the top of the points table in the ICC Test Championship with 120 points. Meanwhile, Team South Africa will be looking to open their account in the ongoing tournament.
However, in the last series against Sri Lanka, before the World Cup 2019, South Africa had lost with 2-0 at their home. It was a very shocking defeat for the SouthAfrica. The Proteas will definitely start the game as firm underdogs. However, India should guard against complacency.
By beating the host in the 3rd T20I against India, they have shown their potential of defeating the team at the host’s venue. Moreover, South Africa has several players who have the potential to change the game on their own. The likes of Faf du Plessis, Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock and others do have the potential to cause trouble for Team India.
Also Read: “Virat Kohli Should Bring Back These Two Match Winners”: Ganguly
Meanwhile, during the press conference ahead of the first Test match, Virat Kohli showed he is in a great mood. Actually, during the press conference, he took a dig at Journalists Hilariously manner. When Kohli enters the room of all Journalist, Virat immediately reacts, “Nobody (from the media) attends the press conference for the T20s. Everyone’s just chilling”.
Here is the video of the incident
We all know Test cricket is the real deal, @imVkohli 😉 #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/bhZfrKX9yN
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 1, 2019
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img source:cricket.com.au
Kane Richardson (Bowler)
Team: Australia
POB: Eudunda, South Australia
Follow Kane Richardson
Bowling style Right-arm fast-medium
Test Debut NA
ODI Debut vs Sri Lanka at Adelaide Oval, Jan 13, 2013
T20 Debut vs Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium , Oct 05, 2014
IPL Debut vs Delhi Capitals at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Apr 28, 2013
Australia U19
Pune Warriors
RR - Rajasthan
Kane Richardson overview
Kane Richardson is an Australian cricketer, who plays cricket for South Australia and Melbourne Renegades. It is said that since 2013 he is playing into the Australian squad with all his heart and soul.
Richardson is basically a right arm fast bowler and a right handed batsman who plays for his country. He is majorly appreciated for his white ball specialist nature as his success is mainly seen in shorter forms of the game.
Test 0 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
ODI 25 12 7 75 24 15.0 68 110.29 0 0 0 7 4
T20 18 2 0 9 9 4.5 8 112.5 0 0 0 0 0
IPL 14 4 1 36 26 12.0 39 92.31 0 0 0 2 1
Test 0 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
ODI 25 25 1312 1240 39 5/68 5/678 5.67 31.79 33.64 1 0
T20 18 18 390 505 19 3/18 3/18 7.77 26.58 20.53 0 0
IPL 14 14 317 443 18 3/13 3/13 8.38 24.61 17.61 0 0
Richardson was born on 12 february, 1991 in the city of Eudunda. He had spent his childhood in Darwin and in Northern Territory. He had moved back to South Australia o play for the one and only team over there that is Southern Redbacks in which the T20 debut was included for the year 2008-2009 Big Bash. His one day debut was in 2008-2009 with the Ford Ranger Cup, Richardson was lucky enough to be in the under19 cricket World Cup team. On a very good and surprising note, he scored a maximum of 5 wicket haul in the test series that was headed against India as well. In his youth matches he has played for about 3 matches in the tournament and in total he has played, two youth test matches and ten youth One Day Internationals.
He played about 25 ODIs in his career. When Mitchell Starc was injured for the second ODI against Sri Lanka at the Adelaide Oval in 2013 it was very tough for the team to cope up with the challenges that the team was facing.Therefore, Richardson was chosen for the replacement and he played the game till end, his first international game for his country was all that he needed.He has taken 39 wickets in his career.
He has played in 14 IPL matches till date. At the 2014 IPL auctions, he was bought by the RR - Rajasthan and took the field for them in a few games.Kane Richardson bowls with an incredible pace, aggression and well directed Yorker. It is said and seen that Pune Warriors bought him to play their best innings in the IPL.
It is said and seen from an unknown source that Richardson is set to play his first ever showpiece event. At that time the Australian pace attack team was very fragile that made the entire tournament go a little downslope but somehow he was always determined with his work towards the cricket well being and his form was up to the mark. He is most popularly known as Richo among the other cricketers on the pitch. He was signed by the Big Bash League for the 2010-2011 season. Kane Richardson limited over performance was up to the mark. However his vital contributions came in the next season. His elder brother is also a cricketer named as Callan Richardson, he basically represented the Northern Territory as the best man in the cricket. Major teams that is he is associated with are Kane Richardson has the distinction of presenting himself in several teams . Some of the prominent sides that he has represented are- Australia, Adelaide Strikers, Australia A, Australia Under-19s, East Torrens, Northern Territory, Northern Territory Under-19s, PINT Cricket Club, Pune Warriors, RR - Rajasthan, South Australia, South Australia Under-19s, South Australia Under-23s, Waratahs (Dalby), Woodville.
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Col. McLaren’s Civil War diary
He uncovered a treasure trove when the Minnesota History Center gave him access to McLaren’s Civil War diary. Many of these soldiers spent their time fighting or pursuing Native Americans, particularly during the Sioux Uprising of 1862. McLaren, who had previously served in the Minnesota Senate from Goodhue County, took part in four of these battles.
The diary begins on June 3, 1864 when McLaren, who had been the post Commander at Fort Snelling, arrived at Fort Ridgely, a three-day journey from St. Paul, during which he “met with nothing worthy of note…except foundering my fine horse, Prince.” Equipped with another animal, he left Fort Ridgely with two other companies.
The company, described as “an orderly set of men,” arrived at Camp Wood Lake on June 8. “There is a chain of lakes, a little timber skirts the shore. The shore is sandy and the men have enjoyed a bath in the clear water, much to their benefit in health and appearance.” They marched without incident to Camp Sibley. McLaren notes that his commanding officer “has resolved to lie by Sundays, and I rejoice that we can have a opportunity to acknowledge God. We can hope for success when we recognize Him, and not otherwise.” Since his regiment had no chaplain, there was no sermon.
They marched from camp to camp, sometimes through 105-degree weather. They survived a “most fearful tornado” which leveled almost every tent except McLaren’s, but sent his carriage through the sutler’s tent. They traveled down the Missouri River on steamers, then marched again, encountering heat in which “men were sun-struck; dogs died by the roadside; the oxen were left to die.”
The diary ends on October 1, when the battalion arrived at Ford Wadsworth in Dakota Territory. Professional fighting man though he was, McLaren’s sensibilities shine through his journal. He mentions the “beautiful white lilies,” a black, long-billed raven, the web-footed cormorants nesting in trees, the terrified antelope, flowers which he calls “cactus” in bloom, and the huge buffalo herds.
His fighting days over, McLaren negotiated Native peace treaties in Wyoming and served as both a federal and U.S. Marshall. He died in St. Paul in 1886, a victim of Addison’s disease, at the age of 59.
#1861NavyRevolver #CivilWar #ColonelRobertNMcLaren
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Perhaps the main thing the players can be thankful for is that they managed to only sign up for five more years of this, rather than eight as the owners wanted.
The "free agency" contained in the deal is virtually unrecognizable to fans of other sports. Even those who manage to wait until the cutoff - age 28, with eight years in the league - will only have the luxury of choosing which team to sign with. Their salary increases, moving from one team to another, will still be strictly controlled. Effectively, it's as if collusion - which baseball owners were fined huge sums for three times in the 1980s - had been legalized.
The waiting period for this limited free agency, too, is far more draconian than other sports. The NFL, NBA, and NHL all provide for some form of free agency after 3-4 seasons in the league; even baseball, which doesn't release players to free agency for six years, has an arbitration process provided for players after three years.
Some will argue that MLS is different than the other American pro leagues, and while it's by far the youngest, that's no reason to assume that it should be different, or that free agency would be a death knell. The unfettered free agency in soccer leagues around the world has yet to kill the sport in those places, and even the four-year-old NASL allows player movement at the end of contracts, with no real repercussions.
If anything, I could argue that the MLS owners got an even better deal - the ability to publicly pay lip service to the idea of free agency, while retaining cost control and preventing most players from ever reaching the ability to take advantage of that function.
The players' other achievement - getting more money for the league's lowest-paid players - is helpful, but also not exactly landmark. The league's minimum salary was raised from $36,500 per year to $60,000 per year, and the league's salary cap will go up from $3.1 million to $3.5 million (mostly, it must be said, to accomodate the minimum-salary increase). This is certainly helpful for the 15-20% of the league's players who were making the minimum, who now can live like college graduates instead of K-Mart employees. Given that the league is now charging $100 million for expansion fees, and paying past-their-prime stars like Kaka more than $7 million a season, though, the small change thrown toward the league's rank-and-file seems less like a generous increase and more like table scraps.
The league’s answer to all of this – that things are still tenuous for the league, and that centralized control is still necessary to ensure MLS’s success – does have a certain amount of merit. After all, Chivas USA folded at the end of last season, a fate that hasn’t befallen a franchise in any other North American pro sport for more than 30 years. The league also faces stiff competition from not only other, more traditional North American sports, but from other soccer leagues around the world; MLS trails Liga MX in popularity in America, mostly due to the Mexican diaspora, and arguably remains behind the Premier League and other European powerhouse teams in popularity, as well.
That said, though, this doesn’t make the new CBA any better for the players. And given that the owners didn’t give up much in the negotiation, it’s fair to say that labor is the loser in all of this.
The clear winners, however, are North American soccer fans, who narrowly avoided seeing a work stoppage at a time when soccer’s popularity is exploding. After watching every other North American sport shoot itself in the foot with work-stoppage issues, they have to be thrilled that this weekend’s coverage will be more about returning US national team stars and the debut of clubs in Orlando and New York City, rather than more talk about darkened stadiums.
The season kicks of Friday night. The players aren’t happy – seven teams reportedly voted against the deal – and the owners still fear for the future of the league. But at least the season will start on time.
Kawhi Leonard had 27 points and six assists in three quarters, Paul George scored 26 and the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers manhandled the Sacramento Kings 138-100 on Friday night.
Sherfield scores 23 to lead Nevada over Fresno St. 73-57
Grant Sherfield had 23 points as Nevada beat Fresno State 73-57 on Friday night.
LeBron James had 21 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, and Anthony Davis added 17 points against his former team in the Los Angeles Lakers' fifth consecutive victory, 112-95 over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
Gabriel Landeskog scored two goals to reach 200 for his career, helping the Colorado Avalanche rebound from an opening-night loss with an 8-0 rout of the St. Louis Blues on Friday.
Because of ongoing contact tracing within the Wolves organization, the team did not have the league-required eight players available Friday night. Star center Karl-Anthony Towns shared on social media he has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Now Wild fans mad at missing FSN; Sinclair executive gives update • Randball
Wild rookie Kirill Kaprizov on debut: 'It was an amazing moment for me' • Sports
2021 BWCA visitors will have to learn to 'leave no trace' of their visit • Outdoors
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Lisa Brice
21 November 2020 - 5 April 2021
KM21, the Hague, Netherlands
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“As a figurative painter it is significant that historical figuration seems invariably created by white men for an audience of predominantly white men.”
– Lisa Brice
This autumn KM21 presents Lisa Brice's first museum exhibition in the Netherlands. This follows the South African artist's major exhibition at Tate Britain, London in 2018 and her solo presentation at Stephen Friedman Gallery in 2019. Brice, who divides her time between London and Trinidad, paints and draws women, often naked and absorbed in everyday activities – lingering in front of the mirror, perhaps, or casually smoking a cigarette. Depicting them with sketchy faces and striking blue skin, Brice deliberately obfuscates their identity. The tension between revealing and concealing is a common thread running through the show in The Hague. The women’s poses in the paintings often refer to compositions by famous artists like Manet, Degas and Picasso, though Brice is rarely explicit in this. She lifts figures from their original context, offering new perspectives on the art historical tradition of the female nude. No longer submitting to the male gaze, these women are doing their own thing. As Brice...
This autumn KM21 presents Lisa Brice's first museum exhibition in the Netherlands. This follows the South African artist's major exhibition at Tate Britain, London in 2018 and her solo presentation at Stephen Friedman Gallery in 2019. Brice, who divides her time between London and Trinidad, paints and draws women, often naked and absorbed in everyday activities – lingering in front of the mirror, perhaps, or casually smoking a cigarette. Depicting them with sketchy faces and striking blue skin, Brice deliberately obfuscates their identity.
The tension between revealing and concealing is a common thread running through the show in The Hague. The women’s poses in the paintings often refer to compositions by famous artists like Manet, Degas and Picasso, though Brice is rarely explicit in this. She lifts figures from their original context, offering new perspectives on the art historical tradition of the female nude. No longer submitting to the male gaze, these women are doing their own thing. As Brice herself says, “This transposition rescues previously isolated figures of women from the lonely confines of a renowned art historical painting and gives them a new existence”.
Disguise as liberation
Brice also uses painterly techniques to achieve this. Her paintings, drawing and sketches are vivid and powerful thanks to the combination of loose brushwork and an almost analytical detachment. Specific shades of blue regularly recur. Brice’s fascination with this colour began with an attempt to capture the blue light of neon advertising, which led to experiments in which she sought to render the transition from day to night (the ‘blue hour’) in paint. The colour has now assumed many more meanings for Brice, including an association with the Trinidadian ‘Blue Devil’. The disguise of this local character, who announces the start of carnival at dawn, originally consisted of a layer of blue powder that was used in the laundry to make whites whiter. In the days when Trinidad and Tobago was colonised by Britain, this bleaching agent was available everywhere, and it was also associated with bleaching skin. In a broader sense, the colour symbolises for Brice the liberating effect of wearing a mask or disguise. When you are covered by another ‘skin’, prejudices based on appearance become redundant.
Female pioneers
Given Brice’s interest in the way female artists represent themselves, the self-portrait became an important theme in the exhibition. A new painting is devoted to Dutch artist Charley Toorop (1891-1955). Brice became intrigued by Toorop’s Self-portrait with Palette (1932-1933), in Kunstmuseum Den Haag’s collection, and she set about researching her life and work. She based her likeness of Toorop on a well-known photograph of Yayoi Kusama (b. 1929). She too, in her own unique way, managed to consolidate her position in an art world dominated by men. Other female artists also feature in Brice’s paintings. Photographs of American artists Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011), Elaine de Kooning (1918-1989) and Lee Krasner (1908-1984) formed the basis for a monumental new composition. Brice regards these artists as great pioneers, opening the way for the women who came after them.
Over the past few years museums have begun to focus increasingly on overlooked aspects of history. Brice’s work ties in well with this process, and also with the tradition at Kunstmuseum Den Haag, which includes KM21, of shining a spotlight on artists who have for many years received little attention. In 1935, for example, when the museum first opened, a chronological presentation of works from the collection introduced work from the twentieth century featuring only female artists. Throughout the twentieth century and until very recently, the museum has organised major exhibitions of work by artists like Suze Robertson (1942), Paula Modersohn-Becker (1952), Jacoba van Heemskerck (1982), Helene Schjerfbeck (2007) Louise Bourgeois (2010), Lee Bontecou (2017), Alice Neel (2017) and many others.
International painting
KM21 (formerly GEM Museum of Contemporary Art) has a long tradition of showcasing the work of international painters. Examples include its exhibitions of work by Hadassah Emmerich (2005), Daniel Richter (2007), Tjebbe Beekman (2008), Michael Raedecker (2009), Cecily Brown (2010), David Schnell (2010), Robert Zandvliet (2012), Mark Bradford (2015), Maaike Schoorel (2017) and Kati Heck (2020), which have allowed a wide audience in the Netherlands to discover the latest in international painting. Lisa Brice at KM21 continues this tradition.
Lisa Brice studied at the Michaelis School of Fine Art in Cape Town. In 1998, after a residency, she settled in London, where she still lives and works. She now also spends long periods in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, where she associates and collaborates with other artists, including Peter Doig, Chris Ofili and Embah until his death in 2015. Her work has recently been shown at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg (2015), Tate Britain in London (2018) and the Hepworth Wakefield (2020).
A catalogue in English will be published in conjunction with the exhibition. Containing essays by Jennifer Higgie (editor of Frieze and maker of the podcast Bow Down, Women in Art History), Aïcha Mehrez (curator at Tate Britain), Laura Smith (curator at Whitechapel Gallery, London) and Attillah Springer (author) it will be available at the KM21 museum shop from mid-December.
Reservation must be secured online before visiting. No tickets are available from the box office.
KM21/ The Hague Museum of Photography
Stadhouderslaan 41
After Embah, 2018
Lisa Brice’s work interrogates the male gaze by challenging and reinterpreting traditional depictions of the female nude from the perspective of a female artist. Working within the parameters of art...
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Gathering in the Cloud
While it isn't possible to meet face to face at the moment, TWiA will still be hosting the Gathering! This year's gathering will be online but still with a great line up of speakers, including Pip Courtney from ABC Landline and Todd Babiak from Brand Tasmania. We have also lined up some mini-virtual farm tours from our members so we can take a virtual walk around some beautiful locations across Tasmania, to see and hear what producers are up to.
We invite all TWiA members to join us for an celebration of the resilience, capacity and capability of women in Agriculture in Tasmania. If you are not a current TWiA member, you can still attend this event by becoming one. Our annual membership fee is $20 and will expire for new members on 30th June 2021. You can join us here - https://www.taswomeninag.org/shop-1
Pip Courtney
Pip is our key note speaker and will provide an insight into how businesses have been evolving during the disruption of COVID-19 and how these businesses have been telling their stories.
Pip has a long association with Australia's rural press. After beginning her career in news, she combined her love of journalism and agriculture when she joined Landline, moving to Brisbane in 2003. Pip has won numerous awards for her agricultural journalism including a Queensland Media Award for Excellence in Rural Journalism, the Rabobank Star prize for rural broadcasting (Qld), the National Rabobank Star prize and the International Star Prize for Rural Broadcasting for her 2011 two-part feature on the coal seam gas industry in Queensland. In 2018 Pip was inducted in the Queensland Press Club’s Rural Journalism Hall of Fame.
Todd Babiak
Will talk about how to develop your own brand, based on his experience with Brand Tasmania where he is currently the CEO.
Brand Tasmanian is an organization that both promotes this extraordinary island state and encourages and inspires Tasmanians, for the economic, social, and cultural benefit of everyone in this island state.
Minister Guy Barnett
Minister Barnett, who is Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Minister for Energy, Minister for Resources and Minister for Veterans' Affairs, will open the Gathering with a welcome and summary of government's focus in these COVID-19 times. Born and raised on a farm in the electorate of Lyons, attending Hagley Farm School, Guy Barnett has been advocating for the needs of rural and regional Tasmanians for most of his life. Guy gained a law degree and Master of Laws at the University of Tasmania and has a track record of achievement both in business and in Parliament.
After almost a decade representing Tasmania in the federal Senate, Guy was successfully elected to the Tasmanian State Parliament in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 with the highest Liberal vote in Lyons.
For those attending there will be lucky door prizes, including Brady's Cider, $100 voucher from Grazing Tasmania, lamb from Wilmores Bluff and more!
The Gathering in the Cloud will take place on Saturday 23rd of May 2020. Sign up to the event for FREE here - https://www.taswomeninag.org/events/twia-gathering-in-the-cloud
tasmanian farmers
All Together in the Paddock | 2020 AGM
All Together in the Paddock
A Great Success | Gathering in the Cloud
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Liga MX /
Club America Tickets
Looking for Club America outside the UK?
Club America venues
Dignity Health Sports Park
Deportivo Toluca F.C.
Pachuca FC
Team: Club America
Team Mascot: Eagles
Leagues: CONCACAF[2], Liga Mexico (Liga MX)
Major Rival: Guadalajara Chivas
Established in 1916, Club America competes in two leagues: Mexico’s professional league, Liga MX, and CONCACAF, one of FIFA’s regions that includes North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Based in Mexico City, the Club America Eagles call Estadio Azteca home. The third-largest soccer stadium in the world, Azteca has hosted two World Cups and functions as the home stadium to the Mexican national team. Formed on the US holiday of Columbus Day when two college soccer clubs merged, it originally competed as part of the Mexican Football League. The club took its name from the holiday also celebrated in Mexico, where it is known as Dia del Descubrimiento de America. The Eagles are one of the only two CONCACAF teams to have never been moved down to its second division. Club America has won more FIFA trophies than any other Mexican team. Grab Club America tickets today at StubHub.
Who are some noteworthy Club America players?
This powerhouse team shares some members of the Mexican national soccer team. Some of its best-known players include Luis Roberto Alves, who scored 11 goals in the 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup match, setting the world record for the most goals scored in a CONCACAF Gold Cup. Another well-known Eagles player is Hugo Sanchez, known in Mexico as the "greatest footballer of all time." In 2019, the Eagles signed Giovani dos Santos when his contract with the Galaxy expired. This high-performance player has played on three Mexican World Cup teams.
What is El Super Clasico (Super Classic)?
The annual Super Classic soccer match pits the Eagles against their archrivals, the Guadalajara Chivas. As two of the toughest soccer teams in the country, they provide an evenly matched battle. Both have more than 10 wins of the Liga MX title.
What is the Club America schedule?
Local teams play during the regular season to determine which 16 teams will compete for the Gold Cup in the CONCACAF championships. These games determine their regional ranks. The format of the CONCACAF season resembles that of NCAA basketball championships. The CONCACAF season lasts from mid-February to early May. It consists of four rounds: the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals. As teams advance through the rounds, some drop out of competition due to elimination. The soccer matches leading up to the CONCACAF championship season are Liga MX matches. This season of competition stretches year-round, so you can just as easily catch a match in December as you can in May or September. Due to this, the two seasons can overlap at times.
What is the tailgating scene like at Club America events?
Soccer fans worldwide are known for their epic pregame parties, known as tailgates, even when they travel for an away game. These parties often include homemade food, alcohol and loud music. In Mexico, this may include a banda or mariachi band, two common types of music. Although they include people of all ages, if you attend a match in Mexico, understand the culture that allows older children to drink beer or wine with dinner. Bring your own food, because Estadio Azteca has very few food vendors. You cannot bring the food inside the stadium, but you can consume it outside it in the parking lot. The stadium has a number of restaurants near it that locals frequent before and after the game.
Where can I buy Club America tickets?
Purchase Club America tickets at StubHub, including those to the Chivas de Guadalajara rivalry game and all four rounds of CONCACAF competition. The FanProtect guarantee protects your purchase.Back to Top
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Costco total paid household memberships at the end of Q1 reached 59.1 million, up from 58.1 million at the end of last quarter.
News>Retail & Financial
Costco net sales up nearly 17% in first fiscal quarter
Total e-commerce up 86%, with online grocery increasing 300%
Michael Browne | Dec 11, 2020
Continued pandemic-related demand for groceries and household supplies led Costco Wholesale to a strong fiscal first quarter 2021 ending Nov. 22, with net sales rising 16.9% over the year-earlier period, to $42.35 billion.
Comparable sales in the United States rose 14.6% (17% adjusted, excluding fuel and foreign exchange), while e-commerce sales rose 86.4% (86.2% adjusted).
Related: Costco builds holiday sales momentum with strong November
Reported net income for the quarter came in at $1.166 billion or $2.62 per share, compared to $844 million or $1.90 per diluted share last year. This year’s first quarter included tax benefits of $145 million or $0.33 per diluted share, $0.16 of which was due to the deductibility of the $10 per share special cash dividend, to the extent received by the company’s 401(k) plan participants; and $0.17 related to stock-based compensation. Last year’s first quarter included a $77 million or $0.17 per diluted share tax benefit related to stock-based compensation. This year’s results reflect an expense for COVID-19 premium wages of $212 million pre-tax or $0.35 per diluted share.
Related: Costco to pay stockholders $10-per-share special dividend
In a conference call with analysts late Thursday, Richard Galanti (left), executive vice president and chief financial officer at Costco, offered insights into the first-quarter performance, including memberships.
“Membership fee income came in at $860.9 million, up $57 million or 7.1%.,” he noted. “During the quarter, we opened eight new units. In terms of renewal rates, our U.S. and Canada renewal rate as of the end of Q1 '21 was 90.9%. That compares to a quarter ago of 91%. And worldwide, it was 88.4%, which was the same as it was a quarter ago.”
In terms of number of members at Q1 end, total paid households at Q1 end was 59.1 million, up from 12 weeks earlier Q4 end of 58.1 million. Total cardholders at Q1 end was 107.1 million, compared to 12 weeks earlier at 105.5 million.
“Looking at core merchandise categories in relation only to their own sales, core and core, if you will, margins year over year in the quarter were higher by 65 basis points,” Galanti said. “Fresh foods was again the biggest driver here. With strong sales in fresh, we benefited from efficiency gains in labor productivity and significantly lower product spoilage.
“Food and sundries, softlines and hardlines, the other three main core components, all had higher margins year over year in the quarter as well, but fresh foods was the driver.”
Total online grocery grew at a very strong rate in Q1, nearly 300%, according to Galanti, who noted that the 86.2% e-commerce figure follows Costco’s usual convention, “which excludes third-party same-day grocery programs as they come in themselves and shop in our warehouses and then deliver to our members. If we include the third-party same-day in our e-commerce comps, the 86.2% result would have been just over 100%,” he said.
“From a supply chain perspective, a 40,000-foot view, if you will, most factories are up and running at our suppliers, and in many cases, production capacity has been increased,” Galanti said. “However, even higher increases in demand of some products are still creating some supply issues. There are instances of 50%, 100% or even more sales increases of an item.”
He added, “In terms of food and sundries, demand and sales went up as COVID began spiking again. Our toughest areas are nitrile gloves, surface-cleaning wipes and sanitizing sprays. Also, in some cases, some paper goods. Overall, dairy items are in good shape, as well as proteins and produce on the fresh side.”
Costco currently operates 803 warehouses, including 558 in the United States.
For our most up-to-date coverage, visit the coronavirus homepage.
Albertsons keeps up sales momentum in third quarter
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Oil sanctions. Deadly violence. Dire economy. How the Venezuelan crisis could affect US
Deirdre Shesgreen
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration’s push to oust Venezuela’s embattled President Nicholas Maduro has wide-ranging implications for the U.S. – from a possible disruption in the oil market to a broader geopolitical confrontation pitting the U.S. against Russia and China.
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump tweeted about the crisis:
"Maduro willing to negotiate with opposition in Venezuela following U.S. sanctions and the cutting off of oil revenues. Guaido is being targeted by Venezuelan Supreme Court. Massive protest expected today. Americans should not travel to Venezuela until further notice."
Here’s a quick rundown of what's happening in Venezuela and four potential ripple effects for Americans and for U.S. foreign policy:
Will Trump order a U.S. military intervention in Venezuela?
The president and his top advisers have clearly stated they are considering “all options” to force Maduro out and to support opposition leader Juan Guaido, leader of Venezuela’s National Assembly, who has declared himself interim president.
Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, fueled speculation of a U.S. military deployment on Monday when he appeared at a White House briefing clutching a notepad with the words “5,000 troops to Colombia” scribbled on it. Colombia is Venezuela’s neighbor, and the country’s president, Ivan Duque, has joined the U.S. in pushing for Maduro’s ouster.
Such a move would significantly escalate U.S.-Venezuelan tensions and could fuel allegations of a U.S.-backed coup in a region long inured to American meddling.
It was not clear if Bolton, a defense hawk, meant for his notes to be visible to the assembled reporters – or if it was an inadvertent disclosure. But the White House did nothing to quiet speculation about U.S. military involvement.
“As the president has said, all options are on the table,” a White House spokesman responded when asked if Bolton’s note meant the U.S. was planning to send troops to Colombia. On Tuesday, Trump's acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan told reporters he had not discussed the issue with Bolton and declined to comment on the possibility of troop deployments to Colombia.
Russia, China and Turkey have firmly backed Maduro's regime, while Canada, the U.K., and many other countries have joined the U.S. in recognizing Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate leader.
U.S. sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry could hurt American-based refineries
The Trump administration slapped sanctions on Venezuela’s state-owned oil company Monday, effectively barring the country from exporting its crude oil to the U.S. in an effort to starve Maduro’s regime from that vital stream of revenue.
Venezuela has the largest amount of proven oil reserves in the world, and it ranks as one of the top sources of crude for the U.S. Gulf Coast refineries will be most directly affected, as they’re forced to find other sources of crude oil.
In announcing Monday’s action, Trump’s Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said some refineries had already begun to transition away from Venezuelan crude and the new sanctions would allow for an “orderly transition” with minimal impact.
“Gas prices are almost as low as they've been in a very long period of time. These refineries impact a specific part of the country,” Mnuchin said. “We don’t expect any big impact in the short term.”
Oil prices ticked up on Tuesday, but some energy experts agreed with Mnuchin’s assertion that the sanctions would not hit U.S. consumers. They noted that Venezuela’s oil production has been declining for years amid Maduro’s corrupt and chaotic rule.
“For the average consumer this will have no effect,” said Gianna Bern, a former Latin American energy analyst with Fitch Ratings and now an associate professor of finance at the University of Notre Dame. “Where this comes into play is at the refining level.”
Antoine Halff, a senior research scholar at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, said it’s too early to say for certain what the impact of the sanctions will be, but American consumers may see at least a small price increase at their local pumps.
“The crude from Venezuela is of a unique quality that is very well suited to U.S. refineries on the Gulf Coast,” Halff said. That type of crude is difficult to find right now, he said, because of declining oil production in Mexico and other problems. “There might be a little bit of a price premium” as Citgo, Chevron and others try to adjust to a new supply stream, he said.
More U.S. foreign aid will go to the region to address humanitarian crisis
Venezuelans are suffering from a spiraling economic and humanitarian crisis. A nationwide shortage of food and medicine has forced many Venezuelans to go hungry and caused an uptick in disease.
The country has also been wracked by hyperinflation, with consumer prices rising 1.3 million percent in 2018, according to the opposition-led National Assembly. Prices were doubling every 19 days on average by the end of last year, according to the BBC.
The dire conditions have prompted at least 3 million Venezuelans to flee their homeland, creating a refugee crisis in the region. Although most Venezuelans have fled to Colombia and other nearby countries, thousands of Venezuelans have applied for asylum in the U.S. in recent years, according to data from the Pew Research Center.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has promised at least $20 million in U.S. humanitarian aid to Venezuela but wants to channel the money to the opposition, not Maduro. “The United States has been working with all countries who are interested in helping relieve that pain to a get a good outcome for the Venezuelan people,” Pompeo said Monday in an interview with a Colombian TV channel.
Don’t book any flights to Caracas
The State Department warned Americans not to travel to Venezuela in a new advisory on Tuesday.
Citing "crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure, and arbitrary arrest and detention of U.S. citizens," the State Department's guidance cautioned that the U.S. government has limited ability to help American citizens in Venezuela.
Anti-Maduro protesters have taken to the streets amid a spate of deadly violence and a brutal government crackdown on the opposition. The United Nations says at least 20 people have been killed, allegedly shot by the Maduro-controlled security officers or other pro-government forces. The UN's human rights chief Michelle Bachelet warned on Friday that the situation in Venezuela could “rapidly spiral out of control with catastrophic consequences."
The State Department had already ordered all of its non-emergency personnel to leave Venezuela. But top U.S. embassy officials remain in the country despite threats from Maduro's regime to force them out.
John Bolton: Notes on '5,000 troops to Colombia' spark speculation about military intervention in Venezuela
Travel: State Department warns Americans not to travel to Venezuela
Oil: Trump administration slaps sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil company
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The New 3DS is everything the original should have been
New Nintendo 3DS & 3DS XL review
The New 3DS is a great handheld games console but is it worth the upgrade from the original 3DS or 3DS XL? We investigate in our New Nintendo 3DS review.
We review the New Nintendo 3DS & 3DS XL. What's new about the 3DS? Read on and find out.
By Ashleigh Macro, Head of Ecommerce | 18 Feb 2015
Should I buy the New Nintendo 3DS XL?
But if you consider the New 3DS's price from a broader perspective, taking into consideration the price of other games consoles, it does seem a bit pricey. You can buy the Sony PS Vita (2014 edition) for around £150, and even the Nintendo Wii U for £160.
For most gamers, though, its value lies in the games available, so for Monster Hunter fans, Pokemon fans or fans of Nintendo's many classics, paying the £150 or £180 for the New 3DS is a no-brainer.
New Nintendo 3DS XL full review
The New 3DS might not look much different from its predecessor at first glance, but it's a combination of several small hardware changes that makes this hand-held gaming console everything the original 3DS should have been. We explain in our New 3DS review.
If you're tempted by the New 3DS, but not sure which model to opt for, take a look at our 3DS buying guide to help you decide.
New Nintendo 3DS review: 3D face tracking
I've been using the 3DS for more than a year now, and I love it, but there have always been several annoying quirks about it that I wished Nintendo would address. Enter the New 3DS, which eradicates pretty much every one of those issues thanks to some much-needed tweaks and improvements.
The first thing that annoys me about my 3DS is the actual 3D element. I often find myself switching it off completely and playing in 2D because it's so difficult to keep the 3DS in just the right place for the 3D to look good whilst you're playing a game, and that surely defeats the point of owning a 3DS in the first place.
When I picked up the New 3DS, which Nintendo says has 3D face tracking to help improve the 3D experience, I was dubious, but within seconds I was cranking the 3D slider up to maximum. It's fantastic.
For the first time, I was able to play Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate with the 3D turned on and become fully immersed in the game rather than constantly getting frustrated about the viewing angles, which meant those nasty monsters were getting slayed in no time.
The 3D improvements have been made possible thanks to the introduction of a tiny camera next to the 3DS's main front-facing camera, which tracks where your face is and adjusts the image accordingly.
New Nintendo 3DS review: C Stick & new buttons
The second of the main changes that comes with the New Nintendo 3DS is the introduction of the C Stick and two new buttons: ZL and ZR.
Many gamers have been crying out for a second joystick on the 3DS, particularly for games that require you to rotate the screen in addition to moving your character – it can get tiresome having to reposition your hand to use the touchscreen for screen rotation, that's for sure.
Nintendo offered a solution for original 3DS and 3DS XL owners in the form of the Circle Pad Pro, an attachment that added a second joystick and two additional buttons but also added bulk and weight to the otherwise super-portable device, so it's less than ideal.
The New 3DS, however, has a tiny C Stick built-in, something we really wish Nintendo had thought of four years ago when the 3DS came out (it really has been that long).
I'm so used to playing without the C Stick now that I found myself completely forgetting about it when I was playing Monster Hunter, one of the games that the C Stick should be particularly beneficial for (which is probably part of the reason the release of the new Monster Hunter game coincides with the New 3DS).
It's brilliant that the C Stick has finally been built-in to the 3DS, but for me it's already too late. If you don't own a 3DS yet then you'll probably find that you'll use the C Stick from the get-go, and if you've been using the 3DS with a Circle Pad Pro attached then this is a much better solution, but for me it's not a big reason to upgrade to the New 3DS because it's likely the C Stick will just get neglected.
The ZL and ZR buttons, which you'll find fall beneath your index fingers beside the already present L and R buttons, are another extra that isn't particularly useful right now, but we imagine that when developers begin integrating the buttons into their games they could be a real boon and offer further control and gameplay features.
New Nintendo 3DS review: Speed
Here's another change that you won't notice at first glance, but begin using the New 3DS and you'll find that it's much faster than its predecessor. Opening and closing apps is now super-speedy.
That's thanks to improved CPU performance, which means loading times have been reduced too. What's more, Nintendo says that "several upcoming games" will be built from scratch specifically for the New 3DS to take advantage of the power boost it's been given.
New Nintendo 3DS review: New browser
Nintendo has updated the 3DS's web browser to allow for a better browsing experience when using the internet (something I admittedly don't find myself using my 3DS for but I'm sure some people do).
You'll be able to use the ZL/ZR buttons to switch tabs, and use the C Stick to zoom in on pages, which I found to be quite intuitive.
New Nintendo 3DS review: Camera
The camera in the original 3DS isn't brilliant, and nor is the New Nintendo 3DS's offering, though it has been slightly improved for photographs in low-light conditions. There's a camera on the front of the device for 2D images, or you can capture 3D images viewable on the device's display using the dual rear-facing cameras.
New Nintendo 3DS review: NFC
The New Nintendo 3DS now has NFC built-in, which means you'll be able to play with Amiibo figures on your 3DS as well as your Wii U, simply by placing the figure on the lower 3DS display. Amiibo figures work with various different games to help you add new characters or customise them, get special bonuses, level up characters and more.
Compatible games are growing, with Super Smash Bros for 3DS and Xenoblade Chronicles 3D (exclusive to New 3DS) set to arrive soon.
Figures available include Pikachu, Kirby, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Link, Mario, Zelda, Sonic, Pac-Man, Charizard and more, and they're constantly being added to as Nintendo creates more. These games companies sure do know how to entice more money out of you, don't they?
New Nintendo 3DS review: Design
Aside from the aforementioned new buttons and C Stick, the overall design of the 3DS is essentially the same. There are two models available: the New 3DS with a 3.53in top display and a 3.02in bottom display, and the New 3DS XL which is slightly less portable but offers bigger screens at 4.88in and 4.18in so arguably a better experience overall.
Colours available for the New 3DS XL include a metallic red, black or blue, but there are some special edition models available from some retailers including a Majora's Mask Edition with a gold cover.
The New 3DS is available in white or black.
For the smaller model, there are replaceable cover plates available to allow you to completely customise your device.
The other slight differences in design between the original 3DS models and the new models are the coloured buttons, repositioned game slot, stylus and volume slider, and repositioned Start and Select buttons.
New Nintendo 3DS vs original 3DS: Is it worth the upgrade?
The New Nintendo 3DS will cost you £149.99, while the 3DS XL will set you back £179.99, and that's if you want to buy the console by itself rather than as part of a bundle. Remember that 3DS models don't come with a charger, so if you haven't got one already you'll need to factor that into the cost too.
The good news is that you'll be able to play all of your old 3DS games as well as the DS and DSi games that came before it, so you don't need to fork out for new games right away if you don't want to.
For current owners of the 3DS XL, upgrading to the new model is quite a large expense for some tweaks that I'm not convinced are essential for enjoyment. Yes, you'll get a significantly better 3D experience and it's slightly speedier, but aside from that it's £179.99 for what is, at its core, a device that will allow you to play the same games.
If, as a 3DS owner, you've been considering investing in a 3DS XL, now is the time to do it – not only will you get the bigger screen with the New 3DS XL but the other improvements will make it a better upgrade overall.
See also: Nintendo NX release date, price and specs UK
New Nintendo 3DS XL: Specs
80.6x142x21.6mm (when closed) 253g Upper screen: 3.88in, 800x240 pixels Lower screen: Touch screen LCD, 3.33in, 320x240 pixels XL: 93.5x160x21.5mm (when closed) ?Upper screen: 4.88in, 800x240 pixels (400 pixels per eye when using 3D) Lower screen: Touch screen LCD, ?4.?18in, 320x240 pixels ?Both have 0.3mp resolution cameras, WiFi, stereo speakers, Infared communication, NFC, microSD slot, AC adapter, Audio jack.
Author: Ashleigh Macro, Head of Ecommerce
Providing expert buying advice you can trust is Ashleigh's forte, helping you to find the most reputable consumer tech products and services, and ensuring you don't spend a penny more than you should.
Recent stories by Ashleigh Macro:
How to make a Tarantula Island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
How to grow a money tree in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
The best Minecraft games, toys & gifts 2020
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Sharp increase
By Linda Bock TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
Sep 14, 2011 at 12:32 AM Sep 14, 2011 at 6:05 PM
Allergies of all sorts, especially food allergies, are on the rise among school-age children. As a result, school nurses are being asked to manage greater numbers of epinephrine auto-injectors, known by the brand name EpiPens.
All three of Stacey Lavigne's children have food allergies, but her 7-year-old son's condition is severe.
“He's actually so severe he's off the chart,” the Dudley mother said. “It posed some issues starting school.”
Her son Will just started second grade, and his doctor prescribed extra EpiPens so he would always have access if the need arose. Will carries two EpiPens with him at all times, his teacher has one in a locked drawer and the school nurse also has one.
In addition to treating children with more specialized health needs, including children with diabetes and cancer, school nurses are responsible for keeping track of students with prescriptions for EpiPens, as well as other medications.
“This is a huge, huge issue because there are so many kids with allergies,” said Dr. Beverly Nazarian, a pediatric primary care physician at Worcester-based UMass Memorial Medical Center and the school physician consultant for the Worcester public schools. “For school nurses, EpiPens is one of the hottest issues out there.”
EpiPen and EpiPen Jr. auto-injectors, according to the manufacturer, Mylan Inc., are used for the injection of epinephrine, the first-line treatment for allergic emergencies (anaphylaxis). EpiPen auto-injectors are used to treat signs and symptoms of an allergic emergency, some of which include hives, redness of the skin, tightness in the throat, breathing problems and/or a decrease in blood pressure. Allergic emergencies can be caused by triggers such as food, stinging and biting insects, medicines, latex or even exercise.
“You want to have one everywhere the child needs it,” Dr. Nazarian said. “It's really important that the school knows if a child has allergies or has EpiPens.”
When a child requires short-term or long-term medication during the school day, parents are required to contact the school nurse and provide a physician's order, a parental consent form and the medication. At the start of the school year, nurses are busy collecting and updating students' medical information.
“Absolutely, there's an increase in allergies, the most common are peanut and nut allergies,” said Ellen Capstick, nurse at Sullivan Middle School in Worcester. She said the school is also noticing a rise of environmental allergies the past few years.
About 3 million American children are suffering from food allergies.
The number has increased 18 percent since 1997, according to a recent study for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Students in Worcester brought 364 EpiPens to schools last year, and those were the ones that health officials were aware of in a student population of approximately 24,000.
“It's old-school to think it's Band-aids and ice packs,” Ms. Capstick said. Two nurses at Sullivan Middle School were responsible for 78 EpiPens last school year. Parents send their child's EpiPen in a clear plastic bag with the child's name clearly marked.
The EpiPens are stored in a large plastic bin in the nurses' office.
“It's important that they're not locked — and accessible,” she said.
In addition, Ms. Capstick said schools stock an extra EpiPen and EpiPen Jr. in the event a child with unknown allergies has an allergic reaction.
According to the state Department of Public Health, 175 administrations of epinephrine for the treatment of allergic reactions in schools were reported during the 2008-2009 school year.
Of those, in 38 cases, or 22 percent, the student was not known to have an allergic condition at the time of the anaphylactic event.
In Fitchburg, Pamela Rivers, district nurse leader, reported an increase in allergies in children, and a corresponding increase in the number of EpiPens being brought to city schools.
She said the increase in allergies might be partially because of increased awareness and testing in children. In the past couple of years, there was an average of 90 EpiPens for a student population of 5,000 in Fitchburg.
Ms. Rivers said she has had to administer EpiPens twice, one to a child with a food allergy and one to a student allergic to an insect. If a child with an unknown allergy has his or her first allergic reaction in school, Ms. Rivers said, “The only person who can administer an EpiPen is the nurse.”
In the Northboro-Southboro regional school district, each of the schools has a nurse, and there are two nurses at the high school, according to Superintendent Charles E. Gobron. The school district sends out a complete description of the policy on the dispensation of medications at the beginning of the school year.
From January through July this year, approximately $224 million in single-shot epinephrine pens were sold, according to Danbury, Conn.-based IMS Health, a health care information company.
Donna M. Hoey, nurse and coordinator of nursing services for Worcester public schools, said school nurses review EpiPen training at the beginning of every school year.
“Sometimes nurses have a problem getting an updated EpiPen, or even an EpiPen from some families,” Ms. Hoey said. “They're expensive.”
She said nurses also accompany students on field trips, or make sure another teacher or staff member is trained to administer an EpiPen.
Many students with known allergies carry their own EpiPens with proper permissions in place.
“For the younger children,” Ms. Hoey said, “we try to have the EpiPen follow them through the day. We try to pass them to whatever (gym or recess) teacher is in charge.”
If a child has an allergic reaction on a school bus, Ms. Hoey said drivers are instructed to safely pull over and call 911. That is the same procedure for other area school districts.
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Roger Federer, Nadal and Djokovic THE KINGS of a special statistic
by LORENZO CIOTTI | VIEW 5744
The world of professional tennis has experienced a real dominance since the early 2000s, when a talented youngster named Roger Federer triumphed for the first time on Wimbledon lawns in the summer of 2003. A few weeks later, at the beginning of the following season, the Swiss reached the top of the ATP ranking, which he would have kept for the beauty of 237 consecutive weeks (absolute record), until July 2008: the Spaniard Rafael Nadal ousted him, winner of 13 Roland Garros titles today.
In the same period, a 20-years-old Serbian named Novak Djokovic, champion at the Australian Open 2008 and immediately a very tough opponent of Federer and Nadal, also made his way on the Tour. The Big 3, as they have been called over time, still occupy the top positions of the world rankings today, although the oldest Federer has dropped to fifth place.
A truly exceptional dominance, unprecedented in tennis and among the greatest in the entire world of sport.
The incredible figure that confirms the dominance of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic
A special ranking, based on the percentage of points won in the entire career of each player, shows us once again the greatness of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, who respectively occupy the first three positions: the Spaniard with 54.55%, the Serbian with 54.40% and the Swiss with 54.17%.
Followed by the Americans Pete Sampras (53.51%) and Andre Agassi (53.4%), as well as Andy Murray (53.17%), Andy Roddick (53.07%), Stefan Edberg (52.79%), Richard Krajicek (52.57%) and Jim Courier (52.57%). A curious fact, especially if we consider that the Big 3 - at the top of this ranking - all play in the same era.
The next tennis season will start as usual in Australia, grappling with the difficult precautionary measures to ward off the risk of contagion from Coronavirus. The terrible virus has claimed more than one and a half million victims across the planet, infecting over 80 million people.
The Wimbledon tournament has not been held: it is the first time since 1945, during the Second World War. The greatests tennis stars on the planet, like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Ashleigh Barty, Simona Halep and all the others, will come back for the upcoming Australian Open 2021, which will be held in Melbourne from 8 February: it will be the most awaited sports event of the first part of the new season.
It will be a very spectacualr season, and all of us hope without the problems of the last one, with some presence of the crowd in the courts across the world. Roger Federer, after he said he will not play the Australian Slam, should come back on the court, for the joy of his fans, at the end of February or at the beginning of March.
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What is Loving Day? June 12 marks landmark Supreme Court decision for interracial marriage
N'dea Yancey-Bragg USA TODAY
June 12 is Loving Day, a celebration marking the day the Supreme Court struck down state bans against interracial marriage.
The day is named for the monumental case, Loving v. Virginia, and the interracial couple at its center, Richard and Mildred Loving. The 1967 Supreme Court decision struck down 16 state bans on interracial marriage as unconstitutional.
"Over the long haul, it changes America," said Peter Wallenstein, author of "Race, Sex, and the Freedom to Marry: Loving v. Virginia. "It’s just a stunning case."
In the five decades since the decision, interracial marriage has increased dramatically. In 2015, one in six newlyweds had a spouse of a different race or ethnicity which is more than five times higher than the number of intermarried newlyweds in 1967, according to Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.
What happened to Richard and Mildred Loving?
In 1958, Mildred got pregnant and the couple traveled to Washington, D.C. to get married, Wallenstein said. They then returned home to Caroline County, Virginia, and not long after they were woken in the middle of the night by policeman who informed them they were breaking the law.
They were jailed on charges of unlawful cohabitation and offered a choice: either continue to serve jail time or leave Virginia for 25 years. The couple chose the latter and left the state.
Wallenstein said Mildred Loving reportedly wrote a letter to then-Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy pleading their case, and he directed her to the American Civil Liberties Union. A lawyer from the ACLU took their case, which eventually made its way to the Supreme Court where it was unanimously overturned on June 12, 1967.
Wallenstein described Mildred Loving as instrumental in getting the case overturned, but she never considered herself a hero.
“It wasn’t my doing,” she told The Associated Press, in a rare interview in 2007. “It was God’s work.”
Richard Loving died in a car crash 1975 and Mildred Loving died in 2008.
Their story is chronicled in the 2016 movie "Loving" as well as the 2011 documentary "The Loving Story."
More than 30 years after the Loving v. Virginia decision, designer Ken Tanabe learned of the monumental ruling while in graduate school at Parsons School of Design. He said he was intrigued by the case because of his own interracial heritage and made it the subject of his graduate thesis project.
That project grew into Loving Day, a holiday Tanabe said is celebrated around the country and the globe. Loving Day has been officially recognized by a handful of states and cities including Virginia, Vermont, New York City and Los Angeles and civil rights organizations like the Anti-Defamation League.
Tanabe said the name is "not just a reference to a real couple who fought racial injustice, it also represents the love that we give to each other."
How do people celebrate Loving Day?
A small group of volunteers typically coordinates a flagship event in New York City, and Tanabe said he's been in contact with people in the Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Taiwan and Spain.
Tanabe said people often celebrate with a backyard barbecue, community events, panel discussions or cultural performances. Some people even select June 12 as their wedding date because of its significance.
How will Loving Day be different this year?
Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the protests occurring around the country in the wake of George Floyd's death, celebrations will likely look a lot different.
Although the day is historically centered on "joy and connection and community," Tanabe has asked that people take "a meaningful pause" to stand in solidarity with the black community in light of the national conversations about racism.
He added that there is a list of ways to support the black community during the holiday and beyond, including facilitating community conversation, voting and donating on the Loving Day website.
"We’ve been asking folks to continue that tradition of observing Loving Day in meaningful and personal ways but also by joining us in coming together in support of black lives and justice," he said.
Reflecting upon the cases' relevance amid nationwide protests against racism and police brutality, Wallenstein said Floyd's death epitomizes how half a century after the Loving decision and other civil rights milestones of the 60's "the toxic residue of Jim Crow across the centuries continues to make its way down the streets and into people's lives."
"It really is quite remarkable how much can change and it’s just as remarkable how little does," Wallenstein said.
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I might have cancer: Philippines' Duterte
By Jim Gomez
October 5, 2018 — 5.02pm
Manila: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte says he might have cancer and added that "I don't know where I'm now physically" as he awaits the result of recent medical tests.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte last month. Credit:AP
Duterte said in a speech in Manila that he underwent an endoscopy and colonoscopy about three weeks ago but his doctor was advised this week to repeat the tests. Both tests aim to diagnose any abnormality in the digestive tract and colon.
"I don't know where I'm now physically but I have to wait for that. But I would tell you if it's cancer, it's cancer," the 73-year-old Duterte said to a Philippine Military Academy alumni group and top security officials.
Duterte added that "if it's third stage, no more treatment. I will not prolong the agony in this office or anywhere."
Rumours have swirled for some time that Duterte, known for his deadly crackdown on illegal drugs, might have a serious illness.
He and his aides, however, repeatedly said he was generally fit although he had grown tired of politics after serving for about 40 years in different government posts.
"I really don't want it because I'm tired and I know that time's up for me," Duterte said, adding that physical limitations usually come at around age 70.
"I can't say now if I really got hit or not," he said, noting that he has other illnesses such as Barrett's oesophagus, a condition thought to be caused by stomach acid washing up into the oesophagus.
He has said in the past that he has sustained other ailments as a result of a motorcycle accident and drinking. "I did not stop drinking but no more, regret is like that. It always comes late. So it got worse," he said.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque told reporters earlier on Thursday that Duterte is fine but will inform the public if he has a serious ailment as required by the constitution.
"The President is a lawyer. He will inform and conform with the constitution if there's a serious health ailment, but there is none," Roque said.
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Antonio Canova, life and works
Monday June 20th, 2016 , Artists Caterina Stringhetta
Antonio Canova was born in Possagno, near Treviso, on November 1st 1757.
Antonio’s father was a stonecutter and his paternal grandfather led him into the art of sculpting.
Canova soon showed great talent, and was sent to Venice where he spent some time at the most important sculptures’ studios, and created his first works.
Among these works there’s Dedalo e Icaro (Dedalus and Icarus) I’ve showed as his early masterpiece. Thanks to this sculpture, Canova managed to earn money to go to Rome in order to complete his training, and become the most important sculpture of his time.
In Rome Antonio Canova was fascinated by the beauty of the Greek and Roman sculpture, but he had also the opportunity to draw attention on the international art scene.
Here he studied the ancient sculpture, which he studied in details also through a trip to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Paestum. But he met artists and intellectuals who theorised a new classical revival. At the Museo Correr in Venice there’s a room which describes how Canova became the main exponent of Neoclassicism, and I described that in the post about the way that would bring Antonio Canova from Venice to Rome.
The success arrived thanks to the sculpture Teseo sul Minotauro (Theseus and the Minotaur), commissioned by the Venetian ambassador on visit in Rome, and that introduced Canova to high society and the ecclesiastic world, and therefore allowed him to get important commissions and gain international fame.
Canova’s sculptures were appreciated and sought after all over Europe.
When the French occupied Rome in 1798, Antonio Canova came back to Veneto and devoted himself to painting. But in 1800 he returned to Rome, and he was chosen to be Napoleon’s official portraitist. In 1802 Canova was assigned the post of “Inspector-General of Antiquities and Fine Arts of the Papal State”; in addition, he was commissioned to safeguard and promote the artistic heritage.
Thanks to Antonio Canova several works smuggled by Napoleon in Italy were recovered, and in 1815 the English Government asked him for his opinion on the authenticity of some marble sculptures coming from the Parthenon.
Besides, Antonio Canova was given the title of Marquis of Ischia by Pope Pius VII, as a reward for his defence of Italian art, alongside with an annual pension of 3,000 crowns. Canova decided to donate this sum of money to support Fine Arts Academies.
Those requests proved that Antonio Canova’s value was recognized by any government, but also that he managed to move deftly even in the most ambiguous situations, and that he firmly believed that future generations of artists were supposed to be supported.
READ ALSO: Pauline Bonaparte: who she was and where you can see Canova’s sculpture
Antonio Canova would be attached to the Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice for all his life, and still today the Gallerie dell’Accademia house models and sculptures he sent there with the aim of being a didactic instrument for the students.
A new outfitting has been dedicated to these works and as I described in a special post about Canova at the Gallerie dell’Accademia.
Antonio Canova died in Venice on October 13th 1822, and his body was buried in Possagno inside the parish church he himself planned, known as the Tempio Canoviano (the Temple of Canova).
A Possagno still finds its birthplace to which is annexed the Gipsoteca Canosa , with the sketches of all the artist’s works .
Antonio Canova, Venere e Adone (1789 – 1794)
Fondazione Canova onlus
Via Canova 74
31054 Possagno – TV
http://www.museocanova.it
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How to Break Out of a Binge
By Sally Chew 04/01/11
Are you stuck in a vicious cycle you can't escape? Here's how to wean yourself away from the bottle before your last call.
Nicolas Cage picks his poison in the 1995 classic "Leaving Las Vegas."
It should come as no surprise that swallowing a shit-load of booze in a single evening can wreak havoc on both your life and your health. Many alcoholics who drink regularly build up a certain physical tolerance that allows them to function on a day-to-day basis. But weekend warriors and binge drinkers are much more at risk for serious trouble. These are the people responsible for most of America's DUI arrests and bar brawls, not to mention those full-on blackouts that neatly erase memories of everything (and everyone) you'd never consider doing sober. And when they drown in their own vomit or pass out from alcohol poisoning, it’s not a big stretch to assume that a long line of shot glasses or wine bottles were emptied along the way.
But if you only binge on weekends, you’re much better off than the run-of-the-mill cocktail-hour alkie, right? It’s true that daily drinkers suffer more liver damage than bingers and that most people who binge are not technically alcoholic—that is, physically addicted to booze. Also: Who’s to say how much alcohol constitutes a “problem”? “Every time I drank, I drank to the point of blacking out, and when I woke up the next day, I could never remember how I got home,” says Roger Winthrop, a professional New Yorker in his 50s. “But I only drank on Friday nights, and I could count the number of binges I went on each year on two hands—which is how I rationalized my behavior.” That’s 40-odd sober weeks a year!
College students are notorious binge drinkers—indeed, getting trashed once or twice a week with their peers is practically a rite of passage at many American high school and universities. According to recent research, afull quarter of the teenagers and young adults in the US admit to being binge drinkers, and they’re starting younger every year—at a time when their adolescent brains are extra vulnerable to damage of the sort that can affect memory and learning. A recent CDC survey on America’s drinking habits found that two out of three high school students, and one out of three adults, admit to regularly bingeing on alcohol. Almost 90% of the booze imbibed by high school students, and more than half downed by their elders, is consumed during a binge, according to the survey. About 70% of binge drinking episodes involve adults 26 or older. The most common demographic is white males ages 18 to 34 with median incomes above $75,000. What’s with America’s overindulgence?
Most addiction experts we consulted agree that there are a few basic responses you should consider if you think your drinking is getting out of hand. Different people exhibit different levels of tolerance, of course. But most physicians officially defined binge drinkers as women who down more than four drinks in two hours, or men who swallow more than five. You may also have a problem if your pattern of drinking regularly boosts your blood alcohol concentration to a level above 0.08%. Robert Huebner, PhD, acting director of the Division of Treatment and Recovery Research at the fed’s National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), recommends starting with an online tool like the NIAAA’s own “Rethinking Drinking.” “There’s a fun drink calculator in there that people can play with,” he says. “And where they can learn techniques like ‘pacing and spacing. If people simply sipped a glass of water after every alcoholic drink they consumed, it would make a huge difference in how they felt the next day. Or it could be as simple as having something to eat before you go to a party.”
Others insist the counting and learning should take place in a supervised setting instead. “You’d be surprised how much people can spin things to put themselves in one category or another,” says Joseph Lee, MD, medical director at the Hazelden Center for Youth and Families. “I think the individualization of care needs to be done with professional help. I’ve heard all sorts of things: gulp down water between drinks, drink Coke or alternate your alcohol use with caffeine—but none of these solutions are research-based at all.” He says that your best bet is talking with an addiction professional—and your worst is consulting other drinkers: “If you have a bunch of bar buddies, it’s probably not a good idea to ask them if you have a problem.”
Often, both Huebner and Lee say, the most useful advice will come from your primary doctor (the NIAAA’s “Clinicians Guide” provides lots of tips about how to discuss alcohol use with physicians). Shrinks can also be very helpful. Recalls Winthrop, “My therapist said very simply, ‘You have reached the point where you are putting your life in danger with your drinking’—this was after I woke up from a binge with broken ribs. Those words, coming from her, chilled me to the bone.”
What isn’t helpful is “binary” thinking of the sort that qualifies drinking as either alcoholic or not, because it stops people from exploring the vast range of boozing habits and patterns in between. While in any give year, about 30% of the population can be said to have a problem with booze, only 4% of those people exhibit severe dependence, according to the NIAAA. The lifetime prevalence of dependence, however, is 13%.
Our generally appalled attitudes about alcoholism often prevent people from recognizing that they have a problem. “The stigma is certainly a barrier,” says Hazelden’s Lee. “In some Midwestern states, up to 10% of the population above the age of 12 qualify as alcohol abusing or dependent. That’s a big chunk of people. They’re not the only ones who have problems with binge drinking—and it doesn’t mean they have an addiction—but they definitely shouldn’t be their own judge.”
OK, so once you’ve found someone to help evaluate your excessive drinking, what do you do? If the usual tricks prove insufficient (counting cocktails, rearranging your social life, listing the pros and cons of drinking), you probably are suffering from some kind of dependency—and/or another condition requiring medical help, such as depression. Treatment options for alcohol abuse range from abstinence-based therapies like Alcoholics Anonymous and harm-reduction approaches like Moderation Management to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and even prescription meds. Three of these are FDA-approved for reducing alcohol cravings: naltrexone (Vivitrol), acamprosate calcium (Campral) and disulfiram (Antabuse).
While it has proven to be an effective deterrent for some people, Antabuse, a drug that has been around for decades, is notorious for its harrowing side-effects. If you dare to down a few drinks after taking the pills, the alcohol almost immediately induces the symptoms of your worst-ever hangover—vomiting, tremors and dizziness that while rarely lethal, are often dangerous enough to send you to a hospital. Other medications such as Naltrexone and Campral,which usually cause few adverse side-effects, are often prescribed together because they work on different aspects of a patient's drinking problem. Campral cushions the blow of detoxing, notably lessening the physical and emotional distress many people experience after withdrawal. Naltrexone dulls both the “high” of the effects of alcohol, while aimultaneously quelling cravings after you stop drinking. When the drug first debuted, patients were required to take Naltrexone every day to achieve maximum results, but many patients could not keep up with the schedule. As a result, the drug is now also available as a monthly injectable called Vivitrol that you can’t “forget” to swallow every morning. While some insist that both of these drugs work wonders, others claim their benefits are modest, at best. To know for sure, you should probably try them out for yourself. Others credit everything from massage to lemon oil and hypnosis for allowing them to cut down or quit.
For those few souls who choose to break out of a binge while they're still engaged in one, most doctors insist that you do so only under medical supervision. Which means if you’re going to try to quit cold turkey, you may need to get your ass to your local ER (unless you happen to have a bed in a rehab ready and waiting for your arrival). No matter where you choose to detox, withdrawal from drugs and alcohol can take anywhere from three to nine days, and can present a plethora of serious health risks. Check out "From Blackout to Breakout: A Detox 411” for helpful tips on how to manage a safe and successful detox.
“There is no set certain solution or timetable for this problem,” says Lee. Many binge drinkers are well on their way to full-blown alcohol addiction, he says, but the whole abominable cycle can be stopped in its tracks for even for the heaviest drinkers if they receive the proper treatment.
Ultimately, the most essential tool in breaking out of a binge-drinking routine is your desire (or desperation) to do so. Roger Winthrop stopped his binging episodes after he was treated for depression. With help from therapy and anti-depressant drugs he suddenly found himself disgusted with his self-destructive behavior. “I now associate the taste of alcohol with hangovers and a physically gross feeling,” he says. “That has become as visceral as the craving. I don’t know if there’s a concept for that—maybe you could call it an anti-craving—it almost feels like my entire experience as a binge drinker also acted like aversion therapy. But the whole process took so long and cost me so much. And it almost cost me my life."
Sally Chew was an editor at Time Inc.’s Health.com as well as at Vibe, Out and POZ magazines. She also authored a true crime book and was a wire-service reporter overseas.
Robert Huebner
Vivitrol
Campral
Sally Chew
Sally Chew was an editor at Time Inc.’s Health.com as well as at Vibe, Out and POZ magazines. She also authored a true crime book and was a wire-service reporter overseas. She last wrote about marijuana, the way our ancestors smoked it and which drugs belong on the suicide list. You can find Sally on Linkedin and Twitter.
What really works to keep coronavirus away? 4 questions answered by a public health professional
6 Ways to Stay Sane and Not Despair During a Pandemic
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Lives Lived
Newspaper publisher Jean Morrison shone in a role typically filled by men
Anderson Charters
Contributed to The Globe and Mail
Published February 12, 2020 Updated February 12, 2020
Jean Morrison.
Courtesy of family
Jean Morrison: Publisher. Leader. Mother. Grandmother. Born June 7, 1922, in Wilmot Township, Ont.; died Oct. 6, 2019, in Napanee, Ont., of natural causes; aged 97.
Jean Morrison’s tenure as a newspaper publisher in Canada is perhaps unmatched. She was in control of her newspapers, The Napanee Beaver, founded in 1870, and The Picton Gazette, Canada’s oldest community newspaper, until her death. Jean was co-owner of the Beaver from 1953, and publisher of both papers since 1978. She was a woman of grace, compassion, strength, integrity and indomitable to the end – traits that allowed her to shine in a role typically filled by men.
Jean Bier was raised in a German Canadian farming family of four children in New Hamburg, Ont. Her mother was determined that her children would escape the hard life of farming through education. After obtaining her degree from the University of Western Ontario, she taught math at a high school in Napanee until she met and married the local newspaper editor, Earl Morrison, in 1950.
The most moving story of Jean’s life was never published. In 1973, a trio of birth siblings, ages 13, 11 and 9, then living in a foster home, were hustled into a car and driven to a restaurant. They ate lunch with a social worker, who provided no explanation for this unusual outing. Unknown to the children, a middle-aged couple sat in the next booth observing them. A few months later Chris, Tracey and Leslie were taken to Napanee, where they were introduced to their adoptive parents, Jean and Earl Morrison. “We would love it if you called us Mom and Dad,” Jean said. Eleven-year-old Tracey agreed, saying she wouldn’t say those words unless they were going to be with them forever.
Jean loved golf, sang in a church choir, skied and played clarinet in a band into her early 80s and curled until she was 90. As a community builder, Jean sat on various boards and supported numerous causes, somehow maintaining that fine line between engagement and journalistic objectivity, so important for community newspaper publishing.
Jean Morrison at The Napanee Beaver in 1957. She was in control of The Napanee Beaver, founded in 1870, and The Picton Gazette, Canada’s oldest community newspaper, until her death.
Jean rarely complained when life threw obstacles in her way, though Earl’s fatal heart attack at the kitchen table was tough. Jean was heartbroken and overwhelmed in the days that followed. “We went for many walks down our long country lane,” Leslie remembers. By then, she was the mother of three teenagers with two newspapers to run. “We will carry on and be strong,” she told her family, and plunged ahead as publisher of both papers. This was typical of Jean’s can-do approach to business and to life.
She once left her university-aged daughters to a trial by fire when she bought them a used car. In the car lot, they pointed out neither knew how to drive a stick shift, but Jean responded with her usual go-to line: “Oh don’t be silly, you’ll learn quickly enough.”
Jean never really retired but Tracey joined the newspaper’s management team part-time in 2016 to help. She continued to go into the office, taking part in decision making and signing cheques right up until her death. In later years, Jean’s son Chris moved in to help out and become her chauffeur, when she wasn’t enjoying walks along the Napanee River or gardening. Jean was delighted with the arrival of her grandchildren and great grandson.
Just as her mother once encouraged her, Jean was a strong advocate of the importance of travel and adventure as a means of education for both her children and grandchildren.
Anderson Charters was Jean’s acquaintance.
To submit a Lives Lived: lives@globeandmail.com
Lives Lived celebrates the everyday, extraordinary, unheralded lives of Canadians who have recently passed. To learn how to share the story of a family member or friend, go to tgam.ca/livesguide
Submit a Lives Lived column
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Label(s)
Swan Song Records
Associated acts
The Honeydrippers
Page and Plant
Music World → Lyrics → L → Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin Overview
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, formed in 1968, consisting of Jimmy Page (guitar), Robert Plant (vocals, harmonica), John Bonham (drums, percussion) and John Paul Jones (bass guitar, keyboards, mandolin). With their heavy, guitar-driven blues-rock sound, Led Zeppelin are regularly cited as one of the progenitors of heavy metal and hard rock, even though the band's individualistic style drew from many sources and transcends any one music genre. Led Zeppelin did not release songs from their albums as singles in the United Kingdom, as they preferred to develop the concept of "album-oriented rock".
Dazed And Confused (From The Song Remains The Same)
Stairway To Heaven (From The Song Remains The Same)
No Quarter (From The Song Remains The Same)
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
Since I've Been Loving You
Steven Tyler: I'd Never Have Left Aerosmith For Led Zeppelin
Steven Tyler has said he would never have left Aerosmith to join Led Zeppelin. In 2008, the singer was one of a number of musicians who sang for Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham when they were looking for a frontman to replace Robert Plant. Read more
Kanye West, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones To Play At Kate Moss' Wedding?
Kanye West, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones could be set to play at Kate Moss' wedding, it has been reported. Kate Moss, who is planning to marry The Kills' Jamie Hincethis summer, is said to have asked some of her celebrity friends to provide the entertainment at the wedding. Read more
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler Turned Down Opportunity To Be In Led Zeppelin
Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to join Led Zeppelin. Tyler turned down the chance to replace Robert Plant as Led Zeppelin's frontman. The singer was asked to audition for the band by Jimmy Page's manager Peter Mench. Read more
Robert Plant 'Can't Relate' To Led Zeppelin Anymore
Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant has said he can no longer relate to the band. In an interview with Rolling Stone, the singer all but ended fans hopes of another reunion following the group’s one-off gig in London in 2007. Read more
Led Zeppelin Reunion Gig Was Inspired By Elton John
Led Zeppelin's one-off reunion gig at London's O2 Arena three years ago was inspired by a performance by Sir Elton John, it has emerged. The band were initially uncertain about using the venue, but were won over when they were taken to watch one of Sir Elton's gigs there. Read more
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NPPC Urges Priority Review of Mexican Industry
28 October 2008, at 10:07am
WASHINGTON - After meetings this week with Mexican government officials on market access issues, the National Pork Producers Council has called on the US government to make a top priority completion of risk assessments for Classical Swine Fever in a number of Mexican states.
On behalf of its pork producers, Mexican officials in Washington raised concerns about reciprocal market access to the US pork market because some Mexican states have yet to be declared disease-free by the US Department of Agriculture. The Mexican government has said the states are free of Classical Swine Fever, or hog cholera, a highly contagious viral disease of pigs.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has cleared a number of Mexican states and is conducting risk assessments on eight others that have pork operations.
"NPPC supports a science-based decision regarding the importation of Mexican pork and pork products into the United States, and we have urged APHIS to make completion of its risk assessments for the remaining Mexican states a high priority," said NPPC President Bryan Black, a pork producer from Canal Winchester, Ohio.
"We also have urged APHIS to quickly begin the rule-making process to allow Mexican pork imports once the risk assessments have been completed."
In 2007, Mexico exported $34.5 million of pork products to the United States, while the US shipped nearly $450 million of pork to Mexico, making the country the No. 3 destination for US pork. Through August of this year US pork exports to Mexico were $417 million.
NPPC is a consistent and strong supporter of the North American Free Trade Agreement and supports science-based decisions related to international animal health and food safety issues.
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Types of Spinal Cord Injury
Legal support, empathy and expertise when you need it most
Understanding the spine
Spinal cord injuries can occur for a variety of reasons including falls from height, sporting injuries, road traffic accidents, and work accidents.
The level of recovery a patient will be able to achieve after a spinal injury will depend on where the damage has occurred on the spine and whether the injury is complete or incomplete.
The Spinal Cord
The spinal cord is a thick bundle of nerves extending from the brain which travels through the vertebrae, carrying electrical messages to all parts of the body. If the spinal cord is damaged loss of movement and sensation can occur.
The parts of the body affected by a spinal cord injury will depend on the location of the injury
The spine consists of 33 vertebrae (bones) which surround and protect the spinal cord, and provide support for the upper body. The spine is held together with ligaments which stabilise the backbone and tendons which connect to spinal muscles.
Injury to the spinal cord may result in varying levels of loss of function. More severe injuries may result in tetraplegia or paraplegia.
Types of Spinal Cord Injury Spinal cord injuries can occur for a variety of reasons including falls from height, sporting injuries, road traffic accidents, and work accidents.The level of recovery a patient will be able to achieve after a spinal injury will depend on where the damage has occurred on the spine and whether the injury is complete or incomplete.The SpineThe spine consists of 33 vertebrae (bones) which surround and protect the spinal cord, and provide support for the upper body. The spine is held together with ligaments which stabilise the backbone and tendons which connect to spinal muscles.The spinal cordThe spinal cord is a thick bundle of nerves extending from the brain which travels through the vertebrae, carrying electrical messages to all parts of the body. If the spinal cord is damaged loss of movement and sensation can occur.The parts of the body affected by a spinal cord injury will depend on the location of the injury. C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T10 T11 T12 L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 S2 S1 S3 S4 S5 Coccyx
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Science, Tech, Math › Science
Electron Definition: Chemistry Glossary
Science Photo Library - MEHAU KULYK, Getty Images
Chemical Laws
Projects & Experiments
Medical Chemistry
Famous Chemists
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
An electron is a stable negatively charged component of an atom. Electrons exist outside of and surrounding the atom nucleus. Each electron carries one unit of negative charge (1.602 x 10-19 coulomb) and has a small mass as compared with that of a neutron or proton. Electrons are much less massive than protons or neutrons. The mass of an electron is 9.10938 x 10-31 kg. This is about 1/1836 the mass of a proton.
In solids, electrons are the primary means of conducting current (since protons are larger, typically bound to a nucleus, and thus more difficult to move). In liquids, current carriers are more often ions.
The possibility of electrons was predicted by Richard Laming (1838-1851), Irish physicist G. Johnstone Stoney (1874), and other scientists. The term "electron" was first suggested by Stoney in 1891, although the electron was not discovered until 1897, by British physicist J.J. Thomson.
A common symbol for an electron is e-. The electron's antiparticle, which carries a positive electric charge, is called a positron or antielectron and is denoted using the symbol β-. When an electron and a positron collide, both particles are annihilated and gamma rays are released.
Electron Facts
Electrons are considered to be a type of elementary particle because they are not made up of smaller components. They are a type of particle belonging to the lepton family and have the smallest mass of any charged lepton or other charged particle.
In quantum mechanics, electrons are considered to be identical to each other because no intrinsic physical property may be used to distinguish between them. Electrons may swap positions with each other without causing an observable change in a system.
Electrons are attracted to positive-charged particles, such as protons.
Whether or not a substance has a net electric charge is determined by the balance between the number of electrons and the positive charge of atomic nuclei. If there are more electrons than positive charges, a material is said to be negatively charged. If there is an excess of protons, the object is considered to be positively charged. If the number of electrons and protons is balanced, a material is said to be electrically neutral.
Electrons can exist free in a vacuum. They are called free electrons. Electrons in a metal behave as if they were free electrons and can move to produce a net flow of charge termed an electric current. When electrons (or protons) move, a magnetic field is generated.
A neutral atom has the same number of protons and electrons. It can have a variable number of neutrons (forming isotopes) since neutrons do not carry a net electric charge.
Electrons have properties of both particles and waves. They can be diffracted, like photons, yet can collide with each other and other particles, like other matter.
Atomic theory describes electrons as surrounding the proton/neutron nucleus of an atom in shells. While it's theoretically possible for an electron to be found anywhere in an atom, it is most probably to find one in its shell.
An electron has a spin or intrinsic angular momentum of 1/2.
Scientists are capable of isolating and trapping a single electron in a device called a Penning trap. From examining single electrons, researchers have found the largest electron radius is 10-22 meters. For most practical purposes, electrons are assumed to be point charges, which are electrical charges with no physical dimensions.
According to the Big Bang theory of the universe, photons had sufficient energy within the first millisecond of the explosion to react with each other to form electron-positron pairs. These pairs annihilated each other, emitting photons. For unknown reasons, there came a time when there were more electrons than positrons and more protons than antiprotons. The surviving protons, neutrons, and electrons began to react with each other, forming atoms.
Chemical bonds are the result of transfers or sharing of electrons between atoms. Electrons are used in many applications, too, such as vacuum tubes, photomultiplier tubes, cathode ray tubes, particle beams for research and welding, and the free-electron laser.
The words "electron" and "electricity" trace their origins to the ancient Greeks. The ancient Greek word for amber was elektron. The Greeks noticed rubbing fur with amber caused the amber to attract small objects. This is the earliest recorded experimentation with electricity. The English scientist William Gilbert coined the term "electricus" to refer to this attractive property.
Atom Definition and Examples
Subatomic Particles You Should Know
How Many Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons in an Atom?
Basic Model of the Atom and Atomic Theory
What is the Difference Between an Atom and an Ion?
Ion Definition in Chemistry
Nucleus Definition in Chemistry
Atoms and Atomic Theory - Study Guide
Chemistry Quiz - Atom Basics
Make an Atom Model
11th Grade Chemistry Notes and Review
Chemistry Definitions: What are Electrostatic Forces?
Nuclear Structure and Isotopes Practice Test Questions
The Most Basic Unit of Matter: The Atom
10 Interesting Facts About Atoms
The Difference Between a Cation and an Anion
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Nov. 23, 2011 / 3:30 AM
Today is Wednesday, Nov. 23, the 327th day of 2011 with 38 to follow.
The moon is waning. The morning stars are Mercury, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter and Venus. Evening stars are Saturn and Mars.
Those born on this date are under the sign of Sagittarius. They include Edward Rutledge, signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence in 1749; Franklin Pierce, 14th president of the United States, in 1804; U.S. outlaw Billy "The Kid" Bonney in 1859; Mexican artist Jose Clemente Orozco in 1883; actor Boris Karloff in 1887; comic actor Harpo (Adolph Arthur) Marx of the Marx Brothers in 1888; Romain de Tirtoff, the fashion designer and artist known as Erte, in 1892; and actors Michael Gough in 1916, Franco Nero in 1941 (age 70) and Susan Anspach in 1942 (age 69); composer Johnny Mandel in 1925 (age 86); screenwriter Robert Towne in 1934 (age 77); radio personality Tom Joyner in 1949 (age 62); musician Bruce Hornsby in 1954 (age 57); television personality Robin Roberts in 1960 (age 51); and actor/singer Miley Cyrus in 1992 (age 19).
On this date in history:
In 1644, John Milton's treatise Areopagitica was published.
In 1889, the first jukebox was placed in service in the Palais Royal Saloon in San Francisco.
In 1890, the independent Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was separated from the Netherlands.
In 1919, the first play-by-play football game broadcast by radio in the United States described Texas A&M's 7-0 shutout of the University of Texas.
In 1936, Life magazine made its debut.
In 1943, the U.S. Marines took control of the Gilbert Islands from Japanese forces following a fierce 76-hour battle.
In 1945, World War II rationing ended in the United States on all foods except sugar.
In 1954, China announced it had convicted 11 U.S. airmen and two civilians of espionage.
In 1980, an earthquake in Naples, Italy, killed 4,800 people.
In 1992, the United States lowered its flag over the last U.S. base in the Philippines, ending nearly a century of military presence in its former colony.
Also in 1992, country music legend Roy Acuff, who rode the "Wabash Cannonball" to fame and fortune, died of congestive heart failure at age 89.
In 1993, U.S. President Bill Clinton signed legislation repealing U.S. sanctions against South Africa.
In 1996, a hijacker forced an Ethiopian jetliner to fly until it ran out of fuel. The aircraft crashed into the sea, killing 125 of the 175 people on board.
In 2001, Israelis killed Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abu Hudnud, head of the extremist group Hamas, in a helicopter attack in Jerusalem.
In 2002, the Bush administration eased anti-pollution regulations that required older coal-fired refineries to upgrade facilities with modern clean air equipment in an effort to spur expanded construction of power plants.
In 2003, an early morning dormitory fire at a Moscow university killed at least 18 students and injured 80 others.
In 2004, in the disputed Ukraine election, the day after opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko declared himself the winner election officials declared that the Kremlin-backed Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych was the real winner.
In 2005, John Bolton, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, warned the United Nations that unless steps were taken to stay relevant and rid itself of corruption and incompetence, the United States is likely to begin bypassing the organization.
In 2006, Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian spy who defected to Britain, died in a London hospital, three weeks after his alleged poisoning. Friends and others blamed the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin.
Also in 2006, the last of 23 coal miners killed in an underground gas explosion at Ruda Slaska, Poland, were removed by rescue workers.
In 2008, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama began nominating members of his Cabinet with attention first to economic matters, choosing Timothy Geithner to be treasury secretary. Obama also selected former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers as the head of the White House Economic Council.
In 2009, in an escalation of Philippine election-related violence, about 100 gunmen killed 57 members of a group en route to register a gubernatorial candidate for the May provincial election on southern Mindanao Island.
Also in 2009, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who made headlines earlier with the report of an extramarital affair, was charged with 37 counts of using his office for personal financial gain by the state ethics commission.
In 2010, North Korea unexpectedly bombarded South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island, killing two civilians and two marines and injuring 18 others, in an apparent effort to discourage the upcoming U.S.-South joint military exercises. Two days later, South Korea's defense minister resigned and new defense measures went into effect.
A thought for the day: there's a proverb that says, "Before you trust a man, eat a peck of salt with him."
Adolph Arthur
Romain de Tirtoff
Susan Anspach
Roy Acuff
Viktor Yanukovych
Timothy Geithner
Lawrence Summers
Mark Sanford
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« Gangs of Wasseypur, Part 1: French Trailer | Main | Malayalam Movies 2012: July 12th and 13th »
Trishna (dir. Michael Winterbottom, 2011)
This is the truth.
The truth love has taught me.
My love, you showed me how the world really is.
(from one of Amit Trivedi’s very fine original songs from Trishna)
Michael Winterbottom’s latest film, Trishna, is an adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Winterbottom, of course, is no stranger to Hardy’s stories, having previously adapted both Jude the Obscure (Jude) and The Mayor of Casterbridge (The Claim). Whereas Jude was a fairly faithful retelling of the book, at least as far as the setting was concerned, The Claim played with the setting, moving it to California during the 19th century gold rush. And such is the case with Trishna, too. Winterbottom retains the essential theme, that of a young woman whose life is controlled by social constraints and the vagaries of fate, but he takes the brilliant step of moving it to modern day India with its social and economic divides, a place where the tensions between rural society and modern cities exist because of urbanisation and industrialisation, and where double standards exist for men and women.
What took me by surprise was that I honestly didn’t expect Trishna to turn out to be my favorite adaptation of Hardy’s work; nor did I expect it to be my favorite of all of Winterbottom’s films. I wouldn't say I love all of Winterbottom's films, but I would say they never fail to intrigue me in some way. There’s Code 46, where all sorts of lines are blurred, where language is a mish-mash and where controlling genetic code becomes primordial because genes are also so blurred that people risk not knowing someone they sleep with could very well be a close genetic relative. It’s a film in which the lines between reality and fiction are also blurred, as they are in The Trip, which gives us a slightly fictionalized version of the relationship between the comedians Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan.
Winterbottom’s films frequently have intriguing, challenging portraits of women, often marginalized or transgressive, and for whom things often end badly, whose lives are often ruined by their relationships with the men they become involved with. Maria in Code 46, who is forced into exile. Elena in The Claim, sold by a husband lured by gold. And now, Trishna.
Trishna (Freida Pinto) meets Jay Singh, the son of a wealthy London-based hotelier with business interests in Jaipur, when he and some friends, travelling around India before Jay settles in to work for his father, turn up at a hotel in rural Rajasthan, where she lives. Jay is smitten with the pretty Trishna; he offers her and a friend a ride home, and when Trishna’s father is injured in an accident which destroys the Jeep which is their livelihood, it’s Jay who arranges for Trishna to come to Jaipur to work in his father’s hotel.
Jay is certainly helpful and solicitous towards the young woman, telling her there’s a course she might be interested in, a diploma in hotel management, and offering to give her a couple of mornings off a week to attend it, which she accepts.
But it is clear from the start that Jay has other motives for helping her than simply being kind and supportive. One evening, Trishna’s friends plan on going out after celebrating the wedding of another friend. She decides not to go, and heads back to the hotel on her own. She is accosted by some men, and when Jay happens along on his motorcycle, she accepts a ride from him.
Jay takes her to a secluded spot, kisses her, and Trishna responds to him. We know nothing of what happens after, but we may well suspect, because when Trishna returns to her room, she is distraught. Guilt-ridden, she decides to leave the hotel early the next morning, and returns home to her family, leaving behind a well-paying job. It soon becomes obvious that Trishna is pregnant as a result of her tryst with Jay. In Hardy’s original, Tess has the baby, who dies not long after he’s born. In Winterbottom’s film, Trishna undergoes an abortion, after which she is sent to work at an Uncle’s factory, against her will, as she doesn’t wish to leave home a second time. Home, for Trishna, is a place where she feels safe, a refuge she returns to whenever fate deals her a bad hand.
Jay tracks her down, and gives her another chance at a better life when he brings her to Mumbai to live with him, a place where, as he tells her, no one will care if they're together. Jay dabbles in producing films. Trishna takes dance classes, and hangs out on the fringes of Bollywood, but her life revolves around and is controlled by Jay, who doesn’t want her dancing in movies. The Mumbai section of the film is almost an oasis in their relationship, though. We can almost believe that Jay loves Trishna and that everything will be all right for her from now on, that their relationship just might transcend the class and social issues that could undermine it.
When Jay’s father has a stroke, Jay decides to return to London; before he leaves, Trishna reveals the fact that she’d had the abortion, a revelation that Jay takes very badly. So badly, in fact, that he abandons Trishna in Mumbai without even telling her, simply not renewing the lease on the flat they were living in.
Eventually he returns, though, this time to take over his father’s hotel in Jaipur, arranging to have Trishna work at the hotel and become his personal servant, a job which serves as a cover for their relationship. But it’s a relationship in which the balance of power tips ever more surely in Jay's favour, and it's to Riz Ahmed's credit that he makes me see what draws Trishna to him, even as I want to shake her and make her see what a selfish cad he is, as he grows ever more boorish and dissolute, gradually stripping Trishna of every last shred of her dignity. His actions de-humanize Trishna, and we see it in her face, and in her eyes. Freida Pinto shows us Trishna’s naiveté, her sadness, her suffering, her resignation, and finally, her frustration, unleashed in a final act of desperation.
Here’s the thing: if you're going to give me an Indian setting, glimpses into Bollywood, songs by Amit Trivedi, and cameos by Kalki Koechlin and Anurag Kashyap, there's a good chance your film will intrigue me. But it's one thing to do that, and quite another to make a film that moves me, that is so beautiful visually (frequent Winterbottom collaborator Marcel Zyskind’s cinematography is lovely) and especially aurally – with Shigeru Umebayashi’s elegant score, and dialogues delivered a breath above a whisper – that it makes me feel gutted at the sadness of a young woman's lot in life, at her vulnerability, and at the only way she can find to take control over her circumstances.
One of the criticisms frequently levelled at Hardy’s work is a frustration with the passivity of his heroine, who, for the most part, accepts what fate dishes out for her, and who does little to assert herself. Winterbottom’s re-interpretation – for it is, truly, a re-interpretation rather than a close adaptation of Hardy’s novel – will do little to dispel that sense of frustration, at least until the closing moments of the film. His Trishna is passive, silent, submissive. But Winterbottom’s re-interpretation is also inventive and thought-provoking. Combining the characters of Angel and Alec into one character, Jay, places the focus squarely on the relationship, which is one of domination and double-standards, with little place for love. Setting the film in India shows us that Hardy’s themes transcend time and place. It throws his ideas into relief, forcing us to re-examine them. It also makes the film brutal and challenging to watch, especially as it progresses.
Where Winterbottom remains remarkably faithful to Hardy’s work is in the arc of his heroine. For Hardy, Tess is a maiden, and then a maiden no more. For Winterbottom, she is, as Jay puts it, three women – the maid, the single lady, the courtesan – rolled into one. And in Winterbottom’s film, as in Hardy’s novel, the consequences remain the same: in the end, the woman pays.
Posted on Friday, 13 July 2012 at 08:39 in 2011 Films, TIFF2011 | Permalink
Tags: Amit Trivedi, Anurag Kashyap, Freida Pinto, Kalki Koechlin, Marcel Zyskind, Michael Winterbottom, Riz Ahmed, Shigeru Umebayashi, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy, Trishna
The curious case of Frieda Pinto, love her or hate her, she is working. Personally I don't believe she is an actress at all but I do give her credit for making a name for herself even with all the criticism.
Posted by: Hindi Films And What Not | Sunday, 15 July 2012 at 02:19
You know, I've been mulling her over since watching Trishna. I suspect this film was a case of the right role, the right situation, and a director who knew how to tap into what she does have for the film. For her sake, I'd like to believe it's some sort of growth finally, but I'd be no less surprised to find that this film is the exception. But as you say, she is working, and for many actors that's the key thing.
Posted by: katherine | Sunday, 15 July 2012 at 10:24
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HomeGenerationRoughly 200 MW of new generation came online in July
Roughly 200 MW of new generation came online in July
August 12, 2013 Wayne Barber Generation
Only 199 MW of new electric generating capacity entered service in the United States during July, according to the latest update from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
During the first seven months of 2013, roughly 9,060 MW of new generating capacity has come online nationally. During the first seven months of 2012, however, 12,397 MW of power generation was commissioned, according to the FERC data.
Natural gas accounted for 144 MW of the total, according to the Energy Infrastructure Update for July by FERC’s Office of Energy Projects.
The Lansing Board of Water & Light’s 100 MW natural gas-fired Reo Town Cogeneration Plant in Ingham County, Mich., was the largest single project to come online during the month. BWL has said that the project is its first new power plant in 40 years. The gas plant is reportedly valued at $182m.
In addition, NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG) has brought its 44-MW gas-fired Dover Energy Phase expansion online in Kent County, Del. NRG worked for a year to convert the coal-fueled plant to a natural gas facility. NRG said July 26 that it took an innovative approach to repowering the facility by taking one of the existing gas turbines and adding a heat recovery steam generator and reusing the existing 16-MW steam turbine to create a combined cycle power plant.
Here’s a rundown of the other power projects that started commercial operation during July.
• Delta-Montrose Electric Association’s 3.5 MW South Canal Hydroelectric Phase 2 in Montrose County, Colo., is online. The 4 MW Phase 1 came online in June. The South Canal mainly serves irrigation in the Uncompahgre Valley and will only generate power seven months of the year.
• Four solar projects in North Carolina are online. 1) FLS Energy’s 2 MW Dunn Solar Farm II in Harnett County, has a long-term contract with Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) subsidiary Progress Energy Carolinas; 2) Kenansville Solar 2 LLC’s 2 MW Kenansville Solar 2 in Duplin County, has a long-term contract with Progress Energy Carolinas; 3) Loy Farm Solar LLC’s 2 MW Loy Farm Solar in Alamance County, has a long-term contract with Duke Energy Carolinas; 4) Strata Solar LLC’s 1.8 MW Peanut Farm Solar in Chowan County, has a long-term contract with North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency.
• Limerick Road Solar LLC’s 2.2 MW Limerick Road Project in Chittenden County, VT is online. The power generated is sold to Vermont Electric Power Producer, Inc. under long-term contract.
• Soitech SA’s 1.5 MW Newberry Springs Solar Phase 1 in San Bernardino County, Calif., is online. Phase 2 with an additional 1.5 MW is expected to be online in June 2014. The power generated is sold to SoCal Edison under long-term contract.
• Graphic Packaging International’s 40 MW Graphic Packaging Biomass plant in Macon County, Ga. is online. The biomass system is fueled by logging residual at the Macon paperboard mill. The power generated will be used onsite.
About Wayne Barber 4201 Articles
Wayne Barber, Chief Analyst for the GenerationHub, has been covering power generation, energy and natural resources issues at national publications for more than 20 years. Prior to joining PennWell he was editor of Generation Markets Week at SNL Financial for nine years. He has also worked as a business journalist at both McGraw-Hill and Financial Times Energy. Wayne also worked as a newspaper reporter for several years. During his career has visited nuclear reactors and coal mines as well as coal and natural gas power plants. Wayne can be reached at wayneb@pennwell.com.
Lansing, Mich., brings new REO Town cogen on-line
NRG completes conversion of Dover coal unit to gas
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Paycheck Protection Program Changes: What Businesses Should Know
Calvin Neeman
Since the March 27 passage of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as part of the massive CARES Act, the Small Business Administration (SBA), which administers the program, has approved some 4 million loans totaling $511 billion through May 23. At that time, according to an article released by the AICPA, about $138 billion remained available for additional lending to small businesses.
As with any government program that rolls out as quickly as the PPP, applicants reported numerous glitches and uncertainties while navigating the application process through their approved business lenders. Additionally, many questions surrounded certain aspects of the loan forgiveness provision, one of the principal attractions of the PPP. In its original form, the program offered forgiveness of the loan as long as at least 75% of the proceeds were used for payroll purposes (including certain employee benefit programs). But many small businesses and industry groups advocated for greater clarity in how the provisions of the loans would be interpreted and enforced. They also wanted to see some changes in the terms of the program.
In response, the bipartisan Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (PPPFA) of 2020 was passed by both houses of Congress and signed by President Trump on June 5. Reacting to advocacy by industry groups, the bill makes some significant changes to the existing PPP, including:
Extending the period of time for borrowers to expend the funds from eight weeks to 24 weeks, or December 31. Borrowers who choose to retain the eight-week period have the option to do so;
Lowering the requirement that 75% of funds be used for payroll purposes in order to receive forgiveness to 60%. However, the new law requires that the entire 60% be expended on payroll expenses in order to receive forgiveness; formerly, the amount forgiven was reduced by however much the expenditures were less than 75%;
Borrowers have the entire 24-week period to restore their staffing levels to pre-COVID-19 levels. Previously, the deadline was June 30;
The new program provides two exceptions by which employers can still achieve full forgiveness of the loan even if they do not restore their employment to pre-pandemic levels: In addition to previous guidance, which provided that employees who refused a good-faith offer to return to work at their previous wage levels could be excluded from calculations for forgiveness, the new law provides adjustments for employers who are unable to find enough qualified employees to reach pre-pandemic levels and also for businesses that can demonstrate inability to return to pre-pandemic levels of operation because of economic hardships imposed by the pandemic;
The repayment period has been extended from two to five years (still at a 1% interest rate);
The new law allows for delayed payment of payroll taxes.
There is also a new, 11-page application for loan forgiveness. Additional information is available on the SBA website here.
These changes have been generally welcomed by industry observers. However, uncertainties still remain. In a June 8 interview with ThinkAdvisor, attorney Veena Murthy indicated that the SBA should clarify whether, in addition to retaining the eight-week period for expending loan funds, employers can also retain the eight-week period for completing the rehiring process. “If the point of the law was ‘flexibility,’” she says, “then keeping the eight-week period should mean the borrower can also keep other aspects related to that period on which they’ve been making decisions all along.”
Additionally, questions have arisen about certain enforcement policies that will be used by the SBA. On June 1, the SBA released a statement in the Federal Register stipulating that loans of any size may be audited at the SBA’s discretion. If the documentation reveals that the recipient may not be eligible for the program, for the loan amount granted, or for the amount of loan forgiveness applied for, the SBA can direct the lender to refuse the application for loan forgiveness. It is likely that this wording is intended to signal that the SBA will be on the alert for possible fraud and that borrowers with good documentation who made an innocent mistake in their application will receive the benefit of the doubt. But this still points to the importance of applicants maintaining complete documentation for both the application and the communications around it.
We’ll be sure to update you with additional information that may be released regarding PPP changes, and how they may affect business owners specifically. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns you may have.
Aaron Thompson, CPA
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Survival of a Different Type from Discovery
Discovery’s Bear Grylls will soon be offering survival tips for viewers who never venture into the wild, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
The host of "Man vs. Wild" is returning in a new series called "Worst Case Scenario," based on the books of the same name. The original show had the host demonstrating outdoor survival skills; the new one, which will debut in the spring, will cover urban tight spots, as well, such as how to survive a falling elevator.
The network ordered six episodes of the new series.
Sheen’s Legal Problems Could Mean Shortened Season For ‘Two and a Half Men’
ABC Contemplates Midday News Program
C. Carvalho
Wasn’t/Isn’t there a show hosted by Cade Courtley (former navy seal) on Spike that simulates disasters and how to survive them?? I think it’s called “Surving Disaster.”
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You Have To Admire the Risks They Take At AMC. Their Latest: Giving A Full Series Order To a Post-Civil War Western
The post-Civil War Western "Hell on Wheels" received a full season order from AMC, adding to the network’s line-up of genre series, reports the Los Angeles Times’ ShowTracker blog.
The show is about a Confederate soldier who goes west to get revenge for his wife’s death and finds work on the first Transcontinental Railroad, the story says. The soldier will be played by Anson Mount, while rapper Common will play a freed slave looking for a job.
"AMC’s commitment to the western is long standing, and the genre is an important part of our brand and history as a channel," said AMC senior vice president of original programming and digital content Joel Stillerman in a statement, referring to the movies AMC shows.
Three Weeks From Tonight. MTV. The Third Season. Return With Them. To Jersey. To the Shore. This is the Official First Preview
How Much are 140 Characters Worth? Investors Say $3.7 Billion (Which Breaks Down to $26.4 Million Per Character)
Love all the opinions expressed here! How is everyone? Love how everyone expresses whatr they feel 🙂
Regina Guerreiro
December 26, 2010 at 11:21 am, Reply
*Whats happening
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Bravo Signs Outspoken Comedian for Talk Show, Is Also in Discussions With Jenny McCarthy
Jan 9, 2012 • Post A Comment
Bravo has tapped an outspoken comedian for a weekly talk show, according to the Associated Press. The cable network plans to debut “Kathy,” starring Kathy Griffin, in the spring, the story reports.
According to the report: “Bravo promised that ‘this will be the destination to get Griffin’s thoughts on everything pop culture as she rants on the week’s biggest headlines and tabloid gossip.’ The show will also feature stand-up comedy, celebrity interviews and taped segments.”
The network is also in talks with Jenny McCarthy about a talk show, reports the New York Post.
McCarthy, 39, made a pilot last year at NBC’s Connecticut studios, where "Maury" and "Jerry Springer" are taped, the story points out.
Video: Mariska Hargitay to Return to ‘Law & Order: SVU,’ Plus She’ll Get Love Interest
Fox to Create Programming Block to Go Head-to-Head With NBC’s ‘SNL’
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New ‘Flintstones’ TV Series Suffers Setback
A new TV series update of “The Flintstones” has hit a snag, Deadline.com reports. The project has been pushed back because the driving force behind it, Seth MacFarlane, has too much on his plate.
Given his current four TV series, a movie and his music career, MacFarlane hasn’t been able to give the project the time it needs, prompting a mutual agreement with Fox, 20th Century Fox TV and Warner Bros. TV to put the project on hold, the story notes. MacFarlane’s and the studios’ representatives confirmed the decision, but declined further comment.
The project was announced at Fox’s upfront presentation last year, with a debut slated for 2013, the story notes. But to make that debut the show would have had to start production last fall, which didn’t happen given MacFarlane’s directorial debut on "Ted," his three animated Fox shows and an updated version of Carl Sagan’s "Cosmos," the piece points out.
"Ted," a live-action/CGI comedy, will open July 13, while his three animated shows — "Family Guy," "American Dad" and "The Cleveland Show" — have all been renewed for next season. "Cosmos: A Space-Time Odyssey," a 13-part docu-series, is slated to debut in 2013, the report notes.
A&E Declares ‘Wars’ — All Three of Them — to Be Fit for Renewal
Fox News Playing Hardball With Gawker Mole
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Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Reports Q1 Loss
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia on Tuesday reported a slightly narrowed loss for the first quarter, but a persistent advertising slump at its magazines and the absence of the daily syndicated television continued to take their toll on revenue.
The company reported a first-quarter loss of $19.2 million, compared with red ink of $19.5 million a year ago. Revenue tumbled more than 13 percent to $38.7 million.
The television division’s weakness proved to be a factor in the overall results. For the quarter, the TV division’s revenue sank 81 percent to $797,000 from a year-earlier figure of $4.2 million. The operating loss for the quarter was $2.2 million, versus $1.9 million a year ago.
The company attributed the decline to the absence of the flagship syndicated TV show, which ended production in September 2004. The company is gearing up to launch a new syndicated show featuring Martha Stewart this fall, with production set to begin sometime in the second quarter.
Separately, the company announced it has struck a multiyear agreement with Warner Home Video to produce a line of DVDs based on the company’s television library. The first set of releases are expected to go on sale in the fourth quarter.
McGraw Hill TV Stations Report Q1 Loss
ABC’s ‘primetime’ to Delve Behind the Scenes of ‘Idol’
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Emmis Exploring Sale of Stations
May 10, 2005 • Post A Comment
In a move designed to jump-start its flagging stock price, Emmis Communications said Tuesday it is exploring the sale of its 16 television stations. The move could be a step toward reviving the TV station mergers-and-acquisitions market.
The Indianapolis-based company said it hired The Blackstone Group as its financial adviser to evaluate strategic alternatives for its television assets. Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Smulyan said during a conference call Tuesday that he is open to all options, including a possible buyout by the management of the TV station operation.
The news sent Emmis shares soaring Tuesday morning. By midday Emmis’s stock was up 20 percent, or more than $3 per share, to trade at more than $18.50, after trending downward for the past six months.
A possible sale of the TV assets comes as the company launches a stock buyback program to repurchase up to 20.25 million shares.
Both strategies are designed to jump-start Emmis’ stock price, which has languished for quite a while.
Mr. Smulyan said the challenges facing station groups these days forced the company to rethink its commitment to the business.
“We hope we can find our group a home that will allow them to continue and grow,” he said during the conference call. “It’s a difficult decision, but it’s a right decision, and it sets us on a course that gives us the best opportunity to go forward in the future.”
Roy Disney, Stanley Gold Sue Disney Co. Over Iger Selection
‘Current Affair’ Adds 10 Markets
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‘Dancing’ Helps ABC Win Week in Adults 18-49
ABC’s new reality series “Dancing With the Stars,” plus the NBA finals, helped give the network a win in the adults 18 to 49 demographic for the week ended June 12, but CBS still prevailed in total viewers.
“Dancing” was the top-rated show of the week in adults 18 to 49 with a 4.8, according to Nielsen Media Research. Game 2 of the NBA finals was second with a 4.5, followed by game 1 of the finals with a 4.4. A special Tuesday edition of ABC’s “primetime>live” scored a 4.2, followed by Fox’s “Family Guy” with a 4.1.
In total viewers “Dancing” took the top spot with 15. 1 million viewers, followed by CBS’s “CSI” (12.7 million), CBS’s “Two and a Half Men” (11.5 million), a special 10 p.m. (ET) “Men” (11.4 million) and “primetime>live” (11.2 million).
ABC won the week in adults 18 to 49 with a 2.4, followed by Fox and NBC (both 2.3), CBS (2.2), and The WB and UPN (both 1.0).
In total viewers CBS won the week with 8.2 million, followed by NBC (6.8 million), ABC (6.6 million), Fox (5.3 million), UPN (2.6 million) and The WB (2.3 million).
Nielsen Acquires AudioAudit
Viacom Announces Plan to Split Company
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Courtyard by Marriott opens in Edinburgh
Iuliia Tore January 6, 2017
Marriott International today announces the upcoming addition of Courtyard Edinburgh to its portfolio in Scotland. Opened on 28 December, the city centre hotel is set within a historic Georgian terrace located in the heart of Edinburgh’s new shopping and entertainment hub at the east end of Princes Street. The flagship property has been part of a £30m restoration project to combine both heritage and contemporary style.
With a total of 240 rooms, Courtyard Edinburgh extends through three adjoining Georgian townhouses and into a new building connected by glassed walkways to the rear, offering a variety of views of Calton Hill, Edinburgh’s New Town and across the Firth of Forth.
The renovation cleverly mixes efficient design and contemporary interiors to create a refreshing and inviting hotel experience. The Lantern Room all-day bar and restaurant with private dining area will serve local fare with a modern twist. Additional facilities include a boardroom for up to 16 people, designated media pods, a 24/7 market and a fitness centre. There is also free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel as well as Courtyard by Marriott’s signature GoBoard touch-screen technology to helps guests get the most out of their stay.
It is, however, the property’s links to the past that make Courtyard Edinburgh so distinct. The hotel’s Baxter’s Place address was once home to Robert Stevenson, the famous Scottish lighthouse engineer and the grandfather of ‘Treasure Island’ author Robert Louis Stevenson. References to its heritage, carefully presented with the help of the Stevenson family and the Northern Lighthouse Board, appear in the public areas and in every room, through images, technical drawings and maps.
The Lantern Room restaurant and bar, in the hotel’s bright ground floor lobby, takes its inspiration from Scotland’s sea-faring history. A vibrant and modern space to meet for coffee or cocktails, working lunch, pre-theatre dinner or late night supper, it also extends on to an outdoor terrace where drinks will be served.
The hotel is owned and has been developed by Edinburgh-based real estate company Chris Stewart Group, which specialises in complex urban regeneration and heritage projects. The hotel will be managed and operated by Redefine|BDL Hotels, the UK’s leading independent hotel management company.
Courtyard Edinburgh is the third Courtyard by Marriott in Scotland and follows the opening of Courtyard Glasgow Airport earlier in 2016 and Courtyard Aberdeen Airport, which opened in 2013.
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Hilton to open hotel in Santiago, Chile
Iuliia Tore October 5, 2016
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) and Parque Arauco S.A. today announced the signing of a management agreement to operate a new build 401-room Hilton hotel in Santiago, Chile – bringing the company’s flagship brand to the country. Hilton Santiago Las Condes will form part of the Parque Arauco Kennedy Shopping Mall complex expansion project scheduled to begin construction next year and debut in 2021. The project, owned and developed by Parque Arauco S.A., will include a Convention Center, new retail outlets, 700 parking spaces and the Hilton managed hotel.
“Hilton remains focused on expanding our industry leading brands throughout Latin America and we are thrilled to bring the company’s flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand to Chile,” said Eduardo Rodriguez Suarez, managing director development, Brazil and the Southern Cone Region, Hilton. “We have been working diligently to bring this project to fruition and we are proud to announce this milestone deal with Parque Arauco S.A. as partners.”
Strategically located in one of the city’s most iconic shopping destinations, offering retail, entertainment, dining and more, Hilton Santiago Las Condes will serve as an ideal base for both business and leisure travelers visiting the city for events or a sophisticated city escape. The new hotel, designed by Gensler Architecture, Benkel Larraín Architects, and Enrique Concha & Co interior design, will offer guests two restaurants and three bars; spa with heated indoor swimming pool; 30th floor terrace with outdoor swimming pool and sky bar overlooking the city; 29th floor fitness center; executive lounge; and access to the city’s largest hotel convention center with more than 32,000 square feet of flexible space to host events for more than 2,800 guests. The hotel’s seventh floor will be home to outdoor gardens offering a privileged view of Parque Araucano – an expansive natural setting in Las Condes area of Santiago.
“Our more than US$200 million investment in this development consolidates mixed-use as a business focus of the company, not only including commercial space, but further enhancing hotel supply with a new and complete offering. We are pleased with this project’s progress as it strengthens our position in an industry where we have been pioneers and innovators,” said Andrés Torrealba, general manager, Chile division, Parque Arauco S.A. “The location of our shopping center, along with the addition of a full-service Hilton hotel managed by a leading global hospitality company will allow us to successfully meet a growing demand for this type of space in the city.”
“With its diverse tourism and cultural attractions, Chile is an exciting new destination for Hilton as we expand our global portfolio,” said Shawn Mcateer, vice president, global brand management, full-service hotels, Hilton. “We look forward to the debut of our Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand in Santiago – Chile’s capital and largest city, and welcoming travelers with our renowned hospitality.”
The hotel will participate in Hilton HHonors®, the only hotel loyalty program that allows members to earn Points & Miles® on the same stay and No Blackout Dates on reward stays. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels receive instant benefits, including an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else, free standard Wi-Fi and digital amenities like digital check-in with room selection and Digital Key available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app.
Hilton currently has a portfolio of more than 90 hotels and resorts open and welcoming travelers in Latin America. The company is actively pursuing additional Latin American growth opportunities and currently has a robust pipeline of more than 50 hotels throughout the region.
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Riga Airport strengthens a leading position in the Baltics
Iuliia Tore February 14, 2017
In 2016, Riga International Airport reached a record-high number of passengers by handling almost half of the total number of the passengers going through the Baltic airports.
The Airport forecasts that this year the number of passengers will continue to increase.
Last year, Riga Airport handled 5.4 million passengers, almost by 5% more than in 2015. The most passengers were handled by the Airport in August of the last year, when Riga was used for travels by more than half a million passengers.
From the total number of passengers, more than 50% were carried by the national airline airBaltic; 18.3% by Ryanair, and 8.5% by the company WizzAir.
“Growth indicators show that the business strategy purposefully implemented by Riga Airport has been fruitful. Ambitious investments made by the Airport within last years in order to upgrade the airfield infrastructure by expanding the passenger terminal and offering new services and comforts to the passengers, have increased the competitiveness of the airport and created a favourable business environment for the airlines, including for development of strategically significant distant routes,” emphasised Ilona Līce, the Chairperson of the Board of Riga International Airport.
The most popular destinations for the travellers departing Riga Airport still remain London, Moscow, Oslo, Frankfurt and Helsinki. In comparison with 2015, last year the most growth was experienced in the air routes from Riga to Berlin (+84.7%), St Petersburg (42.8%), Kiev (+20.7%), Moscow (18.5%), Stockholm (+10.3%), Amsterdam (+9.8%), Tallinn (+9.3%), Milan (+8.8%), and London (+8.3%).
The number of transfer/transit passengers in 2016 increased by 15.3% and made up 27.3% of the total number of passengers handled last year, thus proving that Riga Airport has a role of the regional transit hub in the Baltics. Last year, the most popular destinations where the passengers most often travelled through Riga Airport were Tallinn, Vilnius, Moscow, Helsinki and St Petersburg.
In 2016, the Airport experienced a rather historic moment for the whole development of aviation, providing the first home to the new airBaltic aircraft Bombardier CS300.
Riga International Airport is the largest air traffic hub in the Baltic States, handling 44% of the Baltic air passengers. In winter season, the passengers can travel to 60 destinations from Riga Airport, and in summer season to 80 destinations. Flights are provided by 20 airlines.
In 2017, the number of destinations to be reached from Riga will continue to increase. Plans have been made to open new routes to nine destinations: Tampere, Aberdeen, Stavanger, Geneva, Catania, Gothenburg, Odessa, Madrid, and Copenhagen.
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Debate rages over ‘Sopranos’ existential ending
Jocelyn Noveck
AP Photo/HBO,Craig BlankenhornEdie Falco portrays Carmela Soprano and James Gandolfini is Tony Soprano in a scene from one of the last episodes of the hit HBO dramatic series "The Sopranos."
NEW YORK ” And so on the first day of Year One A.T. ” After Tony, that is ” the “Sopranos”-viewing world was split in two camps.
One was muttering bitterly into its morning coffee at the open-ended conclusion of the epic series, a banal family moment over onion rings that would have delighted existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre, author of “Being and Nothingness.”
The other was lavishly praising the iconic HBO drama for capturing life’s essential ambiguity and disorderliness.
Forget Tony for a minute ” the guy’s been psychoanalyzed for years. Does all this say anything about US?
For some popular culture critics, the two reactions speak to the difference between entertainment and art, and which of them we want. If we wanted pure entertainment, there was obvious disappointment ” no, aggravation ” in a finale that set up threats to Tony’s life in that last diner scene, then ended abruptly.
But if we see it as art, they say, then why should we object to the artist ” series creator David Chase, said to be vacationing in a French chateau Monday ” painting final brush strokes on his masterpiece as he wishes? And in retrospect, aren’t unanswered questions in perfect keeping with the moral ambiguity that’s infused the whole series? And aren’t loose ends a huge part of life?
“In our popular culture, we’ve come to expect things to get tied up neatly,” said Jerry Herron, a professor at Wayne State University in Michigan, who found the ending brilliant. “The claim that Chase is making as an artist here is, real life doesn’t have neat endings.
“You want Tony blown away? You want him in jail? Chase is saying, ‘Fine, you write that script,”‘ Herron said. “He’s saying that life goes on, and art goes on, and he’s just going to end it right here.”
Brilliant wasn’t a good enough word for screenwriting professor Richard Walter, of the UCLA Film School, to describe Sunday night’s finale. “That’s too tame,” he said. “This was genius!”
“Sure, I was frustrated,” Walter said of the final cut-to-black as Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” played on the jukebox. “But you don’t want everything tied up with a neat ribbon on it. I don’t know what’s going to happen in MY life. Do you know what’s going to happen in yours?”
One thing was clear: around office watercoolers, on blogs and on message boards, people wanted to talk about the finale. Their most immediate question: had the cable gone on the fritz? (The final cut was followed by a few seconds of darkness and silence before the credits rolled.) For some watching on DVRs or TiVo, there was also a moment of fear that the show had run over and they’d missed the ending ” a frustration that occurred with this year’s “American Idol” finale.
Nielsen Media Research didn’t immediately have ratings information. However, preliminary estimates indicated viewership at the four biggest broadcast networks was down in double-digit percentages compared to last year. And HBO said its Web site crashed shortly after the episode due to the volume of people checking in and posting messages. There were 364,000 page views a second at its peak ” “just astronomical,” said spokesman Jeff Cuson. It took a half hour to get the Web site up again, and an hour for the bulletin boards.
The blogosphere was buzzing as well. On technorati.com, a site that monitors blog activity, the second-most popular term Monday morning was “Sopranos,” after “YouTube.” (It even beat out Paris Hilton, down to No. 4.)
For many fans, there was disappointment, befuddlement, even rage. “YOU GUYS GOT ROBBED ” MAJOR BIG TIME!!!!!”, one wrote on HBO’s message board. “David Chase left way too many loose ends dangling in the air, and too many questions unanswered.”
Some critics agreed. “Tony and Gang Whack Fans,” read the front-page headline of the New York Post, which pronounced the finale “spectacularly disappointing.” Yet others argued the opposite. “Chase was true to himself, and that’s what made ‘The Sopranos’ brilliant on Sunday night, and the 85 episodes that went before,” wrote The AP’s Frazier Moore.
Some suspected that Chase had an ulterior motive for pulling his punches, plotwise: a future “Sopranos” movie.
“The line to cancel HBO starts here,” wrote Hollywood analyst Nikke Finke on her Deadline Hollywood Web site. “What a ridiculously disappointing end … Even if David Chase … was demonstrating the existential and endless loop of Tony’s life or the moments before the hit that causes his death, it still robbed the audience of visual closure. And if it were done to segue into a motion picture sequel, then that kind of crass commercialism shouldn’t be tolerated. There’s even buzz that the real ending will only be available on the series’ final DVD. Either way, it was terrible.”
As Monday wore on, however, there was the sense among some people that the ending, so frustrating at first viewing, was a lot more plausible after a night’s sleep.
“I was really annoyed watching it,” said Marlene Windmiller, a New York attorney and mother. “But now as I think about it, it makes more sense. You know, it was what it was. There really was no more left to say.”
To one of the nation’s top television analysts, critiquing the “Sopranos” finale seemed a little like picking apart a famous work of literature ” for example, by James Joyce or T.S. Eliot ” and saying parts of it don’t work.
“Every critic says this is one of the greatest works of art ever made for the small screen,” said Robert Thompson, of Syracuse University’s Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture. “You can’t second-guess the artist.”
He compared the ending to that of another popular HBO drama, “Sex and the City,” in which Carrie Bradshaw finally got her man, Mr. Big. “Now, that was satisfying,” Thompson said. But was it real? “You had these independent women pairing off like Noah’s ark,” he said.
“This was disappointing, sure,” said Thompson, who initially thought that Chase, who’d been rumored to have shot three endings, simply forgot to add one of them on. “But you could also say this is what the show needed to do to stay true to itself.”
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Garfield GOP official in running for Senate seat
Glenwood Springs Post Independent
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado – Shannon Stowe, the current vice chair of the Garfield County Republican Party and wife of former County Commissioner Walt Stowe, is among the candidates to fill the vacant Colorado Senate District 8 seat.
The Republican District 8 Vacancy Committee will meet at 2 p.m. Monday at the Moffat County Courthouse in Craig to interview nominees and select a replacement for Sen. Al White, R-Hayden.
“I was called on by some people who felt that with my business background, and my background in the Republican Party, that I would be a good candidate,” Stowe said Thursday. “I feel I have something to offer our District 8, and I want to do what I can to serve.”
Stowe is president the family business Ace Roofing, and formerly owned SDS Mortgage in Glenwood Springs. She also co-owned the former Toy Nook store in downtown Glenwood prior to that.
In addition, she has been active in numerous human service and nonprofit organizations, including Healthy Beginnings, Healthy Mountain Communities, the Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts and the Kiwanis Club.
Also in the running for the vacancy are White’s wife, Jean White of Hayden, and a former Republican candidate for the 3rd Congressional District seat, retired Col. Bob McConnell of Steamboat Springs.
A fourth candidate, Jeff Frye of Hayden, has also expressed an interest in being considered for the vacancy, said Philip Vaughan of Rifle, who is chairman of the Senate District 8 Republican Vacancy Committee.
The vacancy committee includes the Republican Party chairmen from the six counties in the district, including Milt Blakey from Garfield County, Randy Milhoan from Eagle County, David Smith from Rio Blanco County, former state Sen. Jack Taylor from Routt County and Dick Snabely from Jackson County.
The remaining three members are Vaughan, along with Audrey Danner, a party official from Craig, and Jean White, who is expected to recuse herself from the selection process since she is one of the nominees.
Vaughan said other nominees could come forward prior to Monday’s committee meeting, or at the meeting itself, which is open to the public.
“We run it just like a normal Republican assembly, with a draft agenda, establishment of a quorum, committee reports and presentation of the rules,” he said.
The candidates will then be nominated and given a time for introductions, followed by individual question-and-answer sessions, Vaughan said.
It’s possible the selection process could continue more than one day, although the goal is to make a decision by Monday, he said.
The Colorado General Assembly 2011 session is scheduled to begin Jan. 12.
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Google raises concerns about new Microsoft browser
SEATTLE – Google Inc. is hoping to pressure Microsoft Corp. into changing a new Internet Explorer browser feature that could direct more people to Microsoft’s online search engine instead of Google’s far more popular offering.Google has informally complained to U.S. and European antitrust regulators about what it says are biased settings on Microsoft’s latest Web browser, marking the latest spat between two companies whose business models are increasingly bumping up against one another.Mountain View, Calif.-based Google regards Microsoft as the biggest threat to its continued success, and Microsoft has conceded that Goggle is a formidable competitor as well.The next version of Internet Explorer, available now in test form, includes a box in the corner that lets people perform an Internet search without going to a separate Web page, much like what’s available from Google’s downloadable “toolbar.”Users who download IE 7 will be assigned a search engine preference based on the AutoSearch function from the previous version of IE, which is likely to be MSN Search. Google says it’s concerned that Microsoft’s own search engine is getting favored treatment, and said research it has sponsored shows that it’s difficult to change the settings in the new browser to a rival search engine.”The market favors open choice for search, and companies should compete for users based on their quality of search services,” Marissa Mayer, Google’s vice president of search products and user experience, said Monday.Gary Schare, director of product management for Internet Explorer, said Redmond-based Microsoft’s goal is to let users choose the search engine they want. He also said Microsoft’s feedback has shown that it’s not difficult to change to a different search engine.”MSN has a certain amount of (market) share. This is not designed to change this,” Schare said. “This is designed to essentially keep the status quo.”Internet Explorer’s main competitors, Firefox and Opera, both include similar boxes with the default search engine set to Google, although users can change to another provider.Google said it has talked about the browser feature with the U.S. Department of Justice and European Union regulators, although it has not filed any formal complaints.Microsoft fought a long-running antitrust case with the Justice Department, and is awaiting a ruling on its appeal of an EU antitrust ruling against it. In both cases, competitors claimed that the company was using the dominance of its Windows operating system to wield influence over other markets, squelching competition. IE 7 will ship with the next version of Microsoft’s Windows operating system, and also will be available for free download.Analyst Rob Enderle said he thinks Google’s complaints signal that the company is getting more aggressive in its competition against Microsoft, although he doesn’t think the search box poses any serious threat to Google’s business.He added that Google’s move was interesting in that, while Microsoft dominates the computer operating system market, Google is the dominant search engine provider. Nielsen/Net Ratings reported that Google had 49 percent of the U.S. search market share in March, compared with nearly 11 percent for Microsoft’s MSN Search.”Once you start raising unfairness questions, and you’re the dominant player, then it would be very easy for somebody to use those arguments against you,” Enderle said.—AP Business Writer Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to this report.
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NFL briefs for Nov. 7
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) – Aaron Rodgers threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns, Brandon Jackson scored twice and the Green Bay Packers routed the free-falling Dallas Cowboys 45-7 on Sunday night.
It was a new nadir in a lost season for the Cowboys (1-7), who came into 2010 with Super Bowl aspirations. And it’s sure to kick off a new round of speculation about the future of coach Wade Phillips, despite recent statements from team owner Jerry Jones that a midseason firing was unlikely.
James Jones caught eight passes for 123 yards and a touchdown for the Packers (6-3), who have won three straight.
Green Bay’s Clay Matthews added a final dose of embarrassment in the fourth quarter, picking off a pass from Jon Kitna and running it back 62 yards for a touchdown.
Dallas fell behind 28-0 late in the second quarter, giving up three long touchdown drives before fumbling away a kickoff that was returned for a TD by Nick Collins.
Return man Bryan McCann appeared to be down before he gave the ball away – but the Cowboys didn’t have any timeouts left, so they weren’t able to challenge the call.
Browns 34, Patriots 14
CLEVELAND (AP) – Rookie quarterback Colt McCoy scrambled for a touchdown, Peyton Hillis ran for a career-high 184 yards and two scores and Cleveland pounded the New England Patriots.
Two weeks after stunning New Orleans, the Browns (3-5) pulled off another shocker. Well rested after their bye week, they ended New England’s five-game winning streak and did it decisively, outplaying one of the NFL’s top teams for all 60 minutes.
This was no fluke. The Patriots (6-2) were battered, baffled and beaten badly.
It had to be particularly satisfying for Browns coach Eric Mangini, who defeated Bill Belichick, his former friend and mentor. The pair’s relationship was damaged years ago and they ignored each other during pregame warmups despite being just a few feet apart.
After the game ended, Mangini, his jacket drenched from a late-game Gatorade shower, shared a brief handshake with Belichick.
Vikings 27, Cardinals 24 OT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Brett Favre rallied the Vikings from 14 points down to tie it with 27 seconds to play, then drove them into position for Ryan Longwell’s 35-yard game-winning field goal.
Favre threw for a career-high 446 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Vikings (3-5), who fought back cheers of “Fire Childress!” early in the game to pull out the win.
The Cardinals (3-5) led 24-10 with 4:39 to play thanks to a 96-yard kick return by LaRod Stephens-Howling and a 30-yard fumble return by Michael Adams on another kickoff.
But Favre directed scoring drives of 40 and 77 yards in regulation and Adrian Peterson’s 30-yard run in overtime keyed the winning drive.
Raiders 23, Chiefs 20 OT
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Jason Campbell threw a 47-yard pass to rookie Jacoby Ford in overtime to set up a 33-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski that gave the Raiders their biggest win in eight years.
Campbell and Ford hooked up on a 29-yard pass in the closing seconds of regulation to set up Janikowski’s tying 41-yard field goal. The Raiders (5-4) then won it in overtime for their most significant victory since winning the 2002 AFC championship.
By winning their third straight game for the first time since that season, Oakland heads into its bye week just a half-game behind Kansas City (5-3) in the division.
Jets 23, Lions 20 OT
DETROIT (AP) – Mark Sanchez threw a 52-yard pass to Santonio Holmes to set up Nick Folk’s game-winning 30-yard field goal 2:18 into overtime.
Sanchez scored on a quarterback sneak with 2:46 left in regulation and led a nine-play drive that set up Folk’s 36-yard kick to send the game into OT.
Matthew Stafford threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score to give Detroit a 10-point lead before re-injuring his right shoulder and leaving the game with 5:19 left.
Lions coach Jim Schwartz gave Sanchez extra time to work with on the game-tying drive when he called a pass on third down and Drew Stanton threw an incompletion, giving the Jets the ball with 1:40 left.
The Jets improved to 6-2; the Lions are 2-6.
Eagles 26, Colts 24
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Michael Vick threw for 218 yards and one touchdown, ran for 74 yards and a score, and the Eagles beat Peyton Manning and the Colts.
The Eagles (5-3) are 12-0 after a bye since Andy Reid became coach in 1999. They hadn’t beaten Manning in three previous tries.
The Colts (5-3) had to make a quick turnaround after beating Houston on Monday night. It certainly seemed the Eagles were the fresher team, especially early.
The Colts lost wide receiver Austin Collie after a hard – illegal – hit by Kurt Coleman forced him to leave on a stretcher in the second quarter.
Collie lay on the ground for several minutes as the crowd fell silent. Soon afterward, the announcement came he had movement and was alert.
Saints 34, Panthers 3
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Drew Brees threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns, Jabari Greer returned an interception for a touchdown and New Orleans became the latest team to shut down Carolina’s NFL-worst offense.
The Saints (6-3) overcame the loss of tight end Jeremy Shockey to a rib injury after his touchdown catch to keep pace in the competitive NFC South. Rookie tight end Jimmy Graham caught his first NFL TD in Shockey’s absence and the Saints held Carolina to 195 yards.
Things just keep getting worse for the Panthers (1-7). They lost quarterback Matt Moore and running back Jonathan Stewart to first-half injuries. Rookie QB Jimmy Clausen was later benched and the Panthers finished with 195 yards.
Giants 41, Seahawks 7
SEATTLE (AP) – Eli Manning threw for three first-half touchdowns, Ahmad Bradshaw added a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Giants.
Manning and the Giants (6-2) jumped to a 35-0 halftime lead, overwhelming the banged up Seahawks and staking claim as maybe the best team in the NFC halfway through the season.
Manning threw touchdowns of 46 yards to Hakeem Nicks, 6 yards to Steve Smith and 5 yards to Kevin Boss. Bradshaw scored on runs of 2 and 4 yards.
The Giants rolled up 487 yards of offense against the Seahawks, who gave up 545 total yards last week to Oakland.
Charlie Whitehurst made his first NFL start for Seattle (4-4) and struggled. He was 12 of 23 for 113 yards and two interceptions.
Bears 22, Bills 19
TORONTO (AP) – Jay Cutler threw two touchdown passes, including one to Earl Bennett late in the fourth quarter to give Chicago a win and keep the Bills winless.
Chester Taylor also scored on a 1-yard plunge for the Bears (5-3), who came out of their off week to end a two-game skid. Tim Jennings’ interception came early in the fourth quarter, and with Chicago trailing 19-14.
Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick went 31 of 51 for 299 yards with a touchdown to Roscoe Parrish and two interceptions. Fred Jackson also scored for the Bills (0-8), who are off to their worst start in 26 years.
The game was Buffalo’s third regular-season game in Toronto as part of a five-year deal. The Bills are winless in Canada, too.
Falcons 27, Buccaneers 21
ATLANTA (AP) – Michael Turner scored two early touchdowns and Atlanta held off Tampa Bay with a gutty goal-line stand to take over sole possession of first place in the NFC South.
Turner rushed 24 times for 107 yards, including scoring plays of 2 and 10 yards that gave the Falcons (6-2) an early 14-0 lead. Atlanta was hanging on at the end against the Buccaneers (5-3), whose coach, Raheem Morris, had proclaimed his team the best in the NFC.
Not on this day. Tampa Bay had fourth-and-1 from the Atlanta 2 with less than 3 minutes remaining, but LeGarrette Blount was stuffed by Thomas DeCoud on a run over right tackle. Turner picked up the necessary first down to run out the clock on the Falcons’ fourth straight win over the Bucs.
Chargers 29, Texans 23
HOUSTON (AP) – Philip Rivers threw four touchdown passes against the NFL’s worst pass defense, and San Diego earned its first road win of the season.
Rivers completed 17 of 23 passes for 295 yards. He used eight different receivers in the absence of tight end Antonio Gates, who was out with a right foot injury.
Rookie Seyi Ajirotutu and backup tight end Randy McMichael caught two touchdown passes apiece. Ajirotutu was just moved up to the active roster Oct. 23, when linebacker Kion Wilson went on injured reserve.
The Chargers (4-5) have won two in a row for the first time this season.
Arian Foster rushed 27 times for 127 yards and two touchdown for the Texans (4-4), who have lost three of their last four home games.
Ravens 26, Dolphins 10
BALTIMORE (AP) – Billy Cundiff made four field goals, and Baltimore cranked up the defense after halftime to hand Miami its first road loss.
Baltimore (6-2) won its seventh straight at home behind Cundiff and a defense that blanked Miami (4-4) in the second half. Cundiff connected from 26, 39, 20, 24 yards, and the Ravens held the Dolphins to 24 yards rushing over the final 30 minutes.
Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne went 22 for 34 for 231 yards and three interceptions. Miami came in 4-0 on the road.
Joe Flacco completed 20 of 27 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns for the Ravens, who are 6-0 at home since 2001 after a bye.
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Vail’s Baskins qualifies for Grand Prix finals
Edward Stoner
estoner@vaildaily.com
VAIL – Patty Baskins stacked pretty well against the best in the world Wednesday at Copper Mountain.
The Vail 19-year-old finished 11th in a field of 71 halfpipe skiers at the U.S. Halfpipe Grand Prix, advancing to Friday’s finals.
“I’ve been working hard on a lot of things for the last four years, and they’re all finally starting to come together,” Baskins said. “I got to ski the most this year than I have any other year. I’ve been feeling pretty strong and confident with everything I’ve been doing.”
The 2009 Battle Mountain High School graduate is coming off a fifth-place finish in the New Zealand Open in August.
Baskins’ two runs in Wednesday’s qualification rounds were identical. He dropped into the 22-foot halfpipe backwards and did a switch 900 reverse tail grab, landing backwards. A 900 is two and a half rotations.
He followed that with a switch 720 safety grab, a cork 900 blunt grab, and an alley-oop flat 540 blunt grab. He finished with a 720 indie grab.
He scored 41.60 points on his first run and 40.60 on his second.
“I feel really good about it,” Baskins said. “There’s a superstar field over there. Just to qualify for the finals, I was happy with it.”
Baskins’ training partner, Taylor Seaton, of Edwards, finished 53rd.
Simon Dumont, of Bethel, Maine, and Jen Hudak, of Salt Lake City, Utah, led the qualification rounds for U.S. men and women in third and second, respectively.
Ski halfpipe is making its debut at the Halfpipe Grand Prix this year. Halfpipe skiers are lobbying to be included in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
“It’s big for us. I feel that our form of skiing is getting viewed as a little more legitimate,” Dumont said. “It’s cool to be in a contest incorporated with snowboarders and it’s also nice because it’s a FIS and USSA event. Hopefully we will get a little better organization to make that push to the Olympics.”
As athletes make the push for a ski halfpipe debut in 2014, young riders like 17-year-old Devin Logan, of West Dover, Vt., and 15 year old Torin Yater-Wallace, of Basalt, will look to shine on the Grand Prix stage. Both Logan and Yater-Wallace will compete in Friday’s finals, vying for a World Championship spot.
“It’s been really tough in the past because we’ve only had a few events over the last few years. A lot of open events went away so we’ve been competing at only invitationals – there weren’t opportunities for new girls to get their foot in the door,” said Hudak. “It’s so good for us right now because it is an open event we had over 30 girls competing today and everyone was doing tricks and skiing really well. There is definitely a huge depth in the field now that I don’t think people knew existed.”
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association contributed to this report. Staff Writer Edward Stoner can be reached at 970-748-2929 or estoner@vaildaily.com.
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Tim Sutherland Sr. likes to go down to Harbour Quay and feel the breeze on his face. On stormy days when the wind whips the rain into his face, he thinks of his son Tim Sutherland Jr., and wonders whether he is warm and dry. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Finding shelter from the storm
Search for housing a journey of false hope for Alberni father and adult son
Rain from a southeasterly storm is whipping sideways as Tim Sutherland Sr. sits at a picnic table at Harbour Quay, the full fury of the storm at bay behind plexiglass barriers for the moment. Despite the weather, Sutherland Sr. smiles.
“I can say it’s a beautiful morning because my son finally has a roof over his head,” he says.
His son, Tim Sutherland Jr., has been living in a trailer beside Randy Brown’s Wintergreen Apartments on Fourth Avenue for nearly a month. Before that, the 35-year-old Ahousaht First Nation member had been part of the tent city outside the Our Home on Eighth shelter.
Life hasn’t been easy for either father or son. Sutherland Jr. has been living on his own or on the streets for several years now. He deals with both mental and physical challenges, and he uses illicit drugs. Getting him mental health help that he will accept has been difficult. He cannot live at home with his father, who lives in a seniors’ complex, and all Sutherland Jr. wants is a place of his own.
That hasn’t been an easy request. Sutherland Jr. used to live in an apartment at the Wintergreen, and was at the Carlson Building when residents were evicted so the new owner could renovate. He hasn’t received a call yet to go back there.
“He thrives to be independent. He wants to have his own place. There’s been a lot of false hopes for my son,” Sutherland Sr. said. He and Sutherland Jr.’s siblings and other family members look out for him as best as they can, searching the streets for him and buying him meals when they find him.
“The whole system seems to be against these people who are out on the street.”
A month ago, Brown offered him one of the trailers he brought onto his property in a move, he says, to give the hard-t0-house somewhere to get out of the rain. Brown plans to have as many as 15 trailers or motorhomes on his property, all hooked into power from the apartment and to the city’s sewer line.
None of it is legal: he has received numerous tickets for contravening zoning bylaws, building and fire codes. He has been given 30 days by the City of Port Alberni to remove the trailers and complete a long list of remediation to his building.
READ: Another Port Alberni property slapped with remediation order
READ: Port Alberni property owner tickets for using motorhomes as shelters for homeless
Sutherland Sr. is under no illusion that the trailer where his son resides with a friend right now is a palace. But it’s warm and it keeps him out of the cold, wet weather. Knowing he is not sleeping rough outdoors eases Sutherland Sr.’s mind. “Since he’s been in that trailer it’s the happiest I’ve seen my son in years,” he said.
“Being in the trailer, it’s not about drugs for him. He’s been very clear-eyed. We host conversations both he and I can relate to. I think that place is doing him good—not only him, I’m happier.”
Sutherland Jr. is one of an unknown number of people living in the trailers on Fourth Avenue.
Brad Broadbent moved his small motorhome onto Brown’s property two weeks ago after he was asked to leave the property next door. “This was the only place I could go where bylaw wouldn’t tow my home away from me,” he said. “Bylaw was threatening to take my home away.”
Broadbent said he has lived in the motorhome for four or five months now. He has parked it across the alley or in the lot next to Brown’s property, “just wherever I could put it that wasn’t on the street. I was playing the shell game, moving it wherever I can.”
Broadbent said he began living in the motorhome “because rent is too expensive and I can’t afford it. I’m a single guy, I work part time, I can’t really afford an apartment. It just seemed right to live in the motorhome. It’s a place to live; I can’t get kicked out of it.”
“(Randy’s) giving me a place where I’m safe. I can leave my motorhome knowing it’s going to be here when I get back, it’s not going to get towed on me. I can’t afford the fees if it gets towed—I would lose everything.”
He said he has a couple of friends who spend nights with him as well, to get out of the weather. “It’s all we’ve got. A lot of my friends are homeless and they need somewhere to be.”
The city is working with BC Housing to find spots for people who will be displaced if the trailers are taken away. Officials are calling on BC Housing to open up more emergency housing for the city’s growing homeless population.
“The people who live at this site are at the forefront of our thoughts while we take this action,” Mayor Sharie Minions posted on her Facebook page. “I personally believe that every person should have access to safe, accessible and affordable housing. While this housing may be affordable, it certainly does not meet the standard for safety,” she wrote. “And while we never want to see people displaced from existing low barrier housing, we cannot knowingly allow people to live where clear and imminent fire and safety risk exists.
“Regardless of personal situation, no person in our community should ever have to live in these conditions. Property owners have a responsibility to maintain and properly manage their buildings to not get to this point. The condition of this property is simply unacceptable in our community.”
Sutherland Sr. was not immediately aware the city had issued a remediation order on Brown’s property that includes removing the trailers within 30 days. “Where can they move them to?” he asked. He worries that the 30-day deadline is impossible for Brown to get the work done, or to find housing for people like his son.
“One month is right in the heart of Christmas. Not a very good Christmas if it happens then.”
susie.quinn@albernivalleynews.com
Housing and HomelessnessPORT ALBERNI
Earlier this year Randy Brown built a fence around his property on Fourth Avenue across from the bottle depot; he would like to build his fences higher as he moves in trailers to provide housing for Port Alberni’s homeless. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
B.C.’s COVID-19 infection count climbs back up to 656
Nuu-chah-nulth nations on Vancouver Island hit hard by COVID-19
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First Human Trial of Potential COVID-19 Vaccine Underway in Australia
Phil Mercer
FILE - In this April 28, 2020, file photo, surfers walk along Bondi Beach in Sydney as coranavirus pandemic restrictions are eased. U.S. biotechnology company Novavax began injecting a coronavirus vaccine candidate into people in Australia with…
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA —
The southern hemisphere's first human trials of a potential coronavirus vaccine have started in Australia. 131 people aged between 18-59 are involved in the program in Melbourne and Brisbane.
The potential vaccine, NVX-CoV2373, is being developed by the American biotech company Novavax. It started working on the drug in January when the COVID-19 outbreak began in China. It aims to boost the body’s immune response and stimulate high levels of neutralizing antibodies.
If the vaccine works, researchers hope 100 million doses can be made by the end of this year and 1.5 billion next year.
Researchers say that “vaccines are miracles and have a great way of protecting populations against these severe diseases.”
Dr Paul Griffin is an infectious diseases expert who is involved in the Australian COVID 19 trial. He hopes the drug will successfully attack the virus and be ready for use within months.
“We look for antibodies and the type and number of antibodies, and then we take some things out of the subjects through those blood tests and do a lot of laboratory experiments to show that it neutralizes the virus. The company manufacturing the vaccine have already started that scaling-up process, so they are already making a lot of doses of this vaccine. So if we can prove it is safe and effective then, potentially, by the end of the year there will be significant number of doses available,” Griffin said.
Australian authorities say the trial is a significant step forward in the global race for a coronavirus vaccine. Some participants will receive a placebo while others will be administered Novavax’s drug.
Early results are expected in July, and scientists expect “some conclusive results by the end of this year”. Phase two trials would take place with thousands of volunteers in several countries. Volunteers are still needed, and the research team has stressed that no live coronavirus is used in experiments on people.
Novavax has received $388 million from the Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. There are more than 100 potential coronavirus vaccines in development, and about a dozen have made it to the human trial stage.
It is a global race potentially worth billions of dollars to those who can find a safe and reliable treatment for a virus that has killed almost 350,000 people around the world.
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Khmer Rouge Tribunal Split Over Possible Trial of Former Regime Governor
Hul Reaksmey
FILE - Im Chaem, the former Khmer Rouge secretary of Preah Net Preah district, Banteay Mean Chey province, with VOA Khmer's reporter Sok Khemara in her home, August 11, 2015. (VOA Khmer)
In a statement released on December 6, the co-prosecutors said they were only granted a remit to prosecute high-ranking members of the regime and those most responsible for decision-making.
PHNOM PENH —
Cambodian prosecutors at the Khmer Rouge tribunal have found themselves once again at odds with their international counterparts, this time over whether the court has jurisdiction to take to trial Im Chaem, a former district governor in the ultra-communist regime.
However, the Cambodian prosecutors said this meant Chaem’s was “not in the personal jurisdiction of the court to be subject to trial,” while the international prosecutors argued her case would fall within the latter category as she was one of “those most responsible” for the crimes against humanity committed in Democratic Kampuchea.
Observers of the tribunal agreed with the international side.
Latt Ky, a human rights worker with local NGO Adhoc, said there was widespread agreement that the court should “bring those most responsible to face the law.”
Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, said the public should continue to support the justice process and provide “freedom and independence to the court to make proper judgments in alignment with the evidence.”
The international prosecutors explained in the statement that Chaem had played an important role in the regime and had been selected by the party to lead a “cleansing” campaign in the northwest of the country.
They claimed her crimes ranged from murder, mass killing, enslavement and detention, to torture and persecution and included other acts such as forced marriage, rape and enforced disappearances.
Sap Sam Ath, Chaem’s nephew, declined to comment.
Chaem’s lawyer, Bit Seanglim, said he supported the finding of the Cambodian prosecutors.
Tribunal Singles Out Khmer Rouge Suspect for Separate Case
Khmer Rouge Leaders Found Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity
Interview with Dr. Alexander L. Hinton, Author of “Man or Monster? The Trial of a Khmer Rouge Torturer"
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Informatics Infrastructure
Home / Internal Departments / Informatics Infrastructure
The Informatics Infrastructure team designs, develops, implements, and maintains applications and databases for the collection, storage, and reporting of cancer research data to support scientific research. The team has successfully implemented Data Tracking Systems for use in the Clinical Breast Care Project (DTS-CBCP) and the Murtha Cancer Center Biobank program (DTS-MCC). Most recently we are leading the efforts of the Informatics Infrastructure Task Force of the Applied Proteogenomics OrganizationaL Learning and Outcomes Consortium (APOLLO IITF). The main goals of the IITF are to develop and implement the Data Tracking System for the APOLLO project (DTS-APOLLO), as well as a Data Warehouse for Translational Research for APOLLO (DW4TR-APOLLO).
Each data tracking system was designed and implemented using a similar system architecture. The user interface and business logic were constructed using the Microsoft MVC framework. A harmonized data dictionary was created and the data design was established using an Oracle database. A role-based security system has been implemented to control access and functionality for the applications.
DTS-CBCP
The Clinical Breast Care Project (CBCP) collects tissue and blood samples, as well as clinical, pathologic, treatment, and outcome data at three clinical facilities using a Case Report Form (CRF). The participant’s data is captured during initial and follow-up visits. The samples are shipped from the clinical facilities to our institute for long-term storage. To facilitate the sample tracking and participant data collection, we developed a Data Tracking System for the Clinical Breast Care Project (DTS-CBCP).
The DTS-CBCP supports multiple data collection methods for initial and follow-up visits. Users may input data using desktop computers, laptops, or tablets. The data may be entered in real-time or CRFs may be inputted at a later time. Copies of the data can also be printed when required. DTS-CBCP also has built in multiple levels of Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) functions to improve data integrity within and between visits.
DTS-MCC
The John P. Murtha Cancer Center Biobank (MCCB) coordinates patient enrollment and biospecimen collection at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and a number of other military treatment facilities, medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and civilian medical centers. The collected biospecimens including blood, tissue, urine, and saliva are shipped to our biobank for long-term storage. Biospecimen annotations and patients’ clinical, pathologic, treatment, and outcome data are also collected. To manage all these activities, CSSIMMW and MCCB collaboratively developed a Data Tracking System for the John P. Murtha Cancer Center (DTS-MCC).
The system captures pathologic data by providing CAP eCC forms for completion, uploading of de-identified pathology reports, and the entry of histologic annotations. Pathologists have the ability to view electronically scanned images of H&E slides using a link to the Aperio ImageScope from Leica. The DTS-MCC also includes data extraction and formatting for submission to the Oncology Research Information Exchange Network (ORIEN) Avatar program for research collaboration and identification of cases eligible for clinical trials.
DTS-APOLLO
Development of DTS-APOLLO is based on the successful implementation of DTS-CBCP and DTS-MCC. An APOLLO pathology queue was developed to allow the pathologists at the Joint Pathology Center (JPC) to view a list of cases that require expert review, along with functions to perform the review of the pathology reports and histologic annotations. A sample processing module will provide functions for the selection of samples for experiments, sample request and approval, sample tracking in laboratories, sample shipment and handling between laboratories and biobank, and experimental results handling. Additional data, such as images and CLIA testing results, will be tracked.
DW4TR-APOLLO
Development of the DW4TR-APOLLO will be based on the successful implementation of the Data Warehouse for Translational Research (DW4TR). It will provide a platform for researchers to view and analyze validated, harmonized data from disparate sources including Level 3 data integration. It will include QA/QC of APOLLO data and provide for the export of harmonized data to current and future external data commons . Functionality will include tools for cohort selection and data queries.
APOLLO Informatics Infrastructure Task Force (IITF)
The goal of the IITF is to produce secure, user-friendly, flexible, and reliable informatics infrastructure software products and utilities to support and facilitate APOLLO operations. Tasks include:
Manage the design and implementation of APOLLO clinicopathologic data collection and tracking (including CLIA testing, Images, and Patient-reported data) (DTS-APOLLO).
Manage the design and implementation of APOLLO sample processing (blood samples, tumor blocks, QA, and shipment) in Windber (DTS-APOLLO).
Manage the design and implementation of APOLLO data collection for genomics and proteomics labs (sample receiving, metadata, and status of samples in major steps of the pipeline for projection of data availability, and Level 3 data) (DTS-APOLLO).
Manage the design and implementation of APOLLO Data Warehouse for Translational Research (DW4TR-APOLLO) including APOLLO data sharing and output for external research projects.
The task force kick-off meeting was held 10 August 2018, and weekly teleconferences are held to address the targeted tasks.
Breast Cancer Translational Research
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To Sharpen Nike's Edge, CEO Taps 'Influencers'
House Built by Athletes Hires a Tattoo Artist;
Mr. Parker and the Twins
By Nicholas Casey and Bruce Orwall
Oct. 24, 2007 11:59 pm ET
BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Nike's iconic co-founder Philip H. Knight built the company by sealing endorsement deals with sports heroes such as Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. But under current Chief Executive Mark Parker, Nike is also depending on lesser-known figures -- like a Los Angeles tattoo artist known as Mister Cartoon.
Though far from mainstream, Mr. Cartoon rivals Nike's high-profile jocks for influence among a certain crowd that is young, Latino and hip-hop. His ink-on-flesh flourishes are popular with rappers like Eminem and 50 Cent. Born Mark Machado, Mr. Cartoon has also written comic-book style graphic novels and created a brand called Joker to sell T-shirts and baseball caps with his designs. Nike's Mr. Parker, who met Mr. Cartoon several years ago, calls him an "aesthetic influence and a friend."
So far, the artist has designed six lines of limited- edition shoes for Nike, ranging in price from $70 to $130. They include a version of the company's classic Air Force One basketball shoe that nods to what Mr. Cartoon calls the "old icons of the gangsters": skulls and roses, dark tenements and "sexy, female clowns." The heel of one model is adorned with the initials "L.A." rendered in Gothic letters.
Athletes still rule at Nike. But the game is changing. Nike's traditional endorsement strategy has taken a few hits recently. It dumped NFL star Michael Vick from its lineup in the wake of his August guilty plea in a criminal dog-fighting case. More recently, one of its most prominent former pitchwomen -- track star Marion Jones -- admitted to using performance-enhancing steroids after years of staunch denials.
Meanwhile, delivering the sales growth Mr. Parker has promised Wall Street -- a 50% increase in revenue, to $23 billion by 2011 -- means expanding Nike's hold on fickle, style-conscious consumers.
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Report: Australian Open arrivals hit by positive COVID tests
AP: Feds probing in-custody death of Black man in Louisiana
by: JIM MUSTIAN, Associated Press
Federal authorities are investigating the death of a Black man during what Louisiana State Police described as a struggle to take him into custody following a rural police chase last year, officials told The Associated Press.
The death of 49-year-old Ronald Greene remains shrouded in secrecy because State Police have declined to release body-camera footage related to the May 2019 chase north of Monroe, Louisiana. Troopers say it began when Greene failed to stop for an unspecified traffic violation.
Greene’s death drew new attention after his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit this year alleging state troopers “brutalized” Greene and “left him beaten, bloodied and in cardiac arrest” before covering up his actual cause of death.
Greene’s family said authorities initially claimed Greene died after crashing into a tree but omitted what State Police now acknowledge was the “struggle” preceding his death. The lawsuit, drawing on witness accounts, alleges officers pinned Greene to the ground and used a stun gun on him even after he apologized for leading them on a chase.
Greene’s mother, Mona Hardin, said her family has not been able to grieve because so many questions remain unresolved. She said her son had been a well-liked barber who lived in West Monroe and had a “giving spirit.”
“This has gutted our family,” Hardin told AP. “How do people live with themselves after doing something like this?”
The investigation comes amid heightened racial tensions within Louisiana State Police, an agency that has been plagued by misconduct cases in recent years. Earlier this month, Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, said it was “unacceptable” that State Police had failed to discipline a trooper recorded using a racial slur on duty.
The handling of Greene’s death has eroded the agency’s credibility even further, said Eugene W. Collins, president of the Baton Rouge branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
“The public has a right to know what happened to Mr. Greene that day,” he said, “and the concealing of this information by the Louisiana State Police is not only disgusting but immoral.”
State Police spokesman Capt. Chavez Cammon said the agency is “cooperating with federal officials” even as it conducts its own internal investigation.
Two law enforcement officials familiar with the case said State Police are investigating whether one of the responding troopers improperly turned off his body camera during Greene’s arrest. They spoke to AP on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
Edwards “is aware of the investigation and expects that there will be a comprehensive and fair evaluation of the facts,” spokeswoman Shauna Sanford wrote in an email. “He has not seen the video.”
Greene’s death was ruled accidental and attributed to cardiac arrest, said Renee Smith, the Union Parish coroner who was not in office when that determination was made. Smith said her office’s file on Greene attributed his death to a car crash and makes no mention of a struggle with State Police.
“The physical evidence we’ve been able to review is inconsistent with the manner of death that they’ve described,” said Lee Merritt, a prominent civil rights lawyer representing Greene’s family.
Local prosecutors did not bring charges against the responding troopers but referred Greene’s death to the U.S. Justice Department for a civil rights investigation, said Laurie James, first assistant district attorney in Union Parish.
Asked for his reaction to footage of Greene’s death, John Belton, the Union Parish district attorney, said it would be “inappropriate for me to comment because of the ongoing federal investigation.”
The FBI declined to comment. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Shreveport confirmed the federal investigation into Greene’s death but declined further comment.
State Police have released few details about Greene’s death. A crash report says troopers attempted to pull him over for an unspecified traffic violation shortly after midnight May 10, 2019, about 30 miles south of the Arkansas state line. Greene “refused to stop,” the report says, and “a pursuit ensued.”
A single-page police report released by State Police says the chase ended when Greene crashed his vehicle.
“Greene was taken into custody after resisting arrest and a struggle with Troopers,” the report says, adding that he “became unresponsive” and died on the way to a local hospital. The report doesn’t describe any use of force by troopers.
Greene’s family contends the crash was not serious enough to account for his fatal injuries. Their lawsuit says his vehicle “did not make impact with a tree and his airbag did not deploy.”
Greene “was not injured and could walk, speak and otherwise function in a healthy manner after the crash,” the lawsuit says, adding an autopsy found cuts and “blunt-force injuries” to Greene’s head and face.
“Obviously the body cam footage is critical,” said Mark Maguire, a Philadelphia attorney also representing Greene’s family.
by Hector Ramirez II / Jan 15, 2021
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) -- New Britain firefighters were dispatched to a house fire late Friday night.
According to the New Britain fire chief, a single-family house fire took place at 22 Osgood Avenue. Officials say the heavy fire has caused the residents to be displaced.
Rain Precip: 90%
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Live coverage: Donald Trump becomes America's 45th president
Updated: 11:29 PM EST Jan 20, 2017
By Julie Pace, AP White House Correspondent
AP/Matt Rourke
SOURCE: AP/Matt Rourke
Mobile users, tap this link to view live inauguration coverage from ABC News. --WASHINGTON (AP) - Pledging to empower America's "forgotten men and women," Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday, taking command of a deeply divided nation and ushering in an unpredictable era in Washington. His victory gives Republicans control of the White House for the first time in eight years. Looking out over the crowd sprawled across the National Mall, Trump painted a bleak picture of the nation he now leads, lamenting crime, shuttered factories and depleted American leadership. He vowed to stir "new national pride," bring jobs back to the United States, and "eradicate completely" Islamic terrorism. "From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it's going to be only, 'America First," Trump said in a 16-minute address, echoing one of the core messages of his improbable presidential campaign. Trump was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts, reciting the 35-word oath with his hand placed upon two Bibles, one used by his family and another during President Abraham Lincoln's inauguration. Light rain began to fall as the new president stepped forward to address America. Trump's journey to that moment was as unlikely as any in recent American history. He defied his party's establishment, befuddled the media and toppled two political dynasties on his way to victory. His message, calling for a resurgence of white, working-class corners of America, was packaged in defiant stump speeches railing against political correctness. He used social media to dominate the national conversation and challenge conventions about political discourse. After years of Democratic control of the White House and deadlock in Washington, his was a blast of fresh air for millions. But Trump's call for restrictive immigration measures and his caustic campaign rhetoric about women and minorities have also infuriated other millions. He assumes office as one of the most unpopular incoming presidents in modern history. The pomp and pageantry of the inaugural celebrations were also shadowed by questions about Trump's ties to Russia, which U.S. intelligence agencies have determined worked to tip the 2016 election in his favor. Trump's inauguration drew crowds to the nation's capital to witness the history. It repelled others. More than 60 House Democrats refused to attend his swearing in ceremony in the shadow of the Capitol dome. One Democrat who did sit among the dignitaries was Hillary Clinton, Trump's vanquished campaign rival who was widely expected by both parties to be the one taking the oath of office. At 70, Trump is the oldest person to be sworn in as president, marking a generational step backward after two terms for Barack Obama, one of the youngest presidents to serve as commander in chief. Trump takes charge of an economy that has recovered from the Great Recession but has nonetheless left millions of Americans feeling left behind. The nation's longest war is still being waged in Afghanistan and U.S. troops are battling the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The American health care system was expanded to reach millions more Americans during Obama's tenure, but at considerable financial costs. Trump has vowed to dismantle and rebuild it. Trump faces challenges as the first president to take office without ever having held a political position or served in the military. He has stacked his Cabinet with established Washington figures and wealthy business leaders. Though his team's conservative bent has been cheered by many Republicans, the overwhelmingly white and male Cabinet has been criticized for a lack of diversity. Officials expected hundreds of thousands of people to flock to the National Mall to witness the inauguration of the 45th president, though the crowds appeared smaller than past celebrations. Demonstrations unfolded at various security checkpoints near the Capitol as police in riot gear helped ticket-holders get through to the ceremony. In a show of solidarity, all of the living American presidents attended the swearing-in ceremony, except for 92-year-old George H.W. Bush, who was hospitalized this week with pneumonia. His wife, Barbara, was also admitted to the hospital after falling ill. While Trump came to power bucking convention, he wrapped himself in the traditions that accompany the peaceful transfer of power. Following a morning church service with his family, Trump and his wife, Melania, had tea at the White House with Obama and outgoing first lady Michelle Obama. The two couples greeted each other with handshakes and hugs, and Mrs. Trump presented Mrs. Obama with a gift. Following their private gathering in the executive mansion, the Trumps and Obamas traveled together to the Capitol for the swearing in ceremony.
Mobile users, tap this link to view live inauguration coverage from ABC News.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Pledging to empower America's "forgotten men and women," Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday, taking command of a deeply divided nation and ushering in an unpredictable era in Washington. His victory gives Republicans control of the White House for the first time in eight years.
Looking out over the crowd sprawled across the National Mall, Trump painted a bleak picture of the nation he now leads, lamenting crime, shuttered factories and depleted American leadership. He vowed to stir "new national pride," bring jobs back to the United States, and "eradicate completely" Islamic terrorism.
"From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it's going to be only, 'America First," Trump said in a 16-minute address, echoing one of the core messages of his improbable presidential campaign.
Trump was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts, reciting the 35-word oath with his hand placed upon two Bibles, one used by his family and another during President Abraham Lincoln's inauguration. Light rain began to fall as the new president stepped forward to address America.
Trump's journey to that moment was as unlikely as any in recent American history. He defied his party's establishment, befuddled the media and toppled two political dynasties on his way to victory. His message, calling for a resurgence of white, working-class corners of America, was packaged in defiant stump speeches railing against political correctness. He used social media to dominate the national conversation and challenge conventions about political discourse. After years of Democratic control of the White House and deadlock in Washington, his was a blast of fresh air for millions.
But Trump's call for restrictive immigration measures and his caustic campaign rhetoric about women and minorities have also infuriated other millions. He assumes office as one of the most unpopular incoming presidents in modern history.
The pomp and pageantry of the inaugural celebrations were also shadowed by questions about Trump's ties to Russia, which U.S. intelligence agencies have determined worked to tip the 2016 election in his favor.
Trump's inauguration drew crowds to the nation's capital to witness the history. It repelled others. More than 60 House Democrats refused to attend his swearing in ceremony in the shadow of the Capitol dome. One Democrat who did sit among the dignitaries was Hillary Clinton, Trump's vanquished campaign rival who was widely expected by both parties to be the one taking the oath of office.
At 70, Trump is the oldest person to be sworn in as president, marking a generational step backward after two terms for Barack Obama, one of the youngest presidents to serve as commander in chief.
Trump takes charge of an economy that has recovered from the Great Recession but has nonetheless left millions of Americans feeling left behind. The nation's longest war is still being waged in Afghanistan and U.S. troops are battling the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The American health care system was expanded to reach millions more Americans during Obama's tenure, but at considerable financial costs. Trump has vowed to dismantle and rebuild it.
Trump faces challenges as the first president to take office without ever having held a political position or served in the military. He has stacked his Cabinet with established Washington figures and wealthy business leaders. Though his team's conservative bent has been cheered by many Republicans, the overwhelmingly white and male Cabinet has been criticized for a lack of diversity.
Officials expected hundreds of thousands of people to flock to the National Mall to witness the inauguration of the 45th president, though the crowds appeared smaller than past celebrations. Demonstrations unfolded at various security checkpoints near the Capitol as police in riot gear helped ticket-holders get through to the ceremony.
In a show of solidarity, all of the living American presidents attended the swearing-in ceremony, except for 92-year-old George H.W. Bush, who was hospitalized this week with pneumonia. His wife, Barbara, was also admitted to the hospital after falling ill.
While Trump came to power bucking convention, he wrapped himself in the traditions that accompany the peaceful transfer of power. Following a morning church service with his family, Trump and his wife, Melania, had tea at the White House with Obama and outgoing first lady Michelle Obama.
The two couples greeted each other with handshakes and hugs, and Mrs. Trump presented Mrs. Obama with a gift. Following their private gathering in the executive mansion, the Trumps and Obamas traveled together to the Capitol for the swearing in ceremony.
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Are You On A "Feedback Loop" When It Comes To Your Ex?
If you can't seem to shake your ex, learn more about what a feedback loop is.
I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one, who can absolutely attest to the fact that, if there's one thing 2020 provided, it was the opportunity to go totally ham when it comes to checking out what various forms of media provides. What I mean by that is, you've probably never been on Twitter as much, binge-watched television shows as often or checked out movies that you never ever would've considered otherwise, had it not been for this pandemic.
Well, a movie that I personally, that actually serves as the inspiration for this piece, is entitled Open Tables. It's basically about a whole bunch of white people, who sit around dinner tables, in order to share tales of their relational experiences. Out of all the stories, there was one, in particular, that had me be like "wow". See, there was this couple who were basically on the verge of breaking up. Then, the guy ended up having an accident that caused him to have a bout of very short-term memory loss (kinda like the movie 50 First Dates when Drew Barrymore's character could only remember a day; then she would go to sleep, wake up and mentally start the same day all over again). The woman, his ex, took on the challenge to be his temporary caregiver; since his short-term memory was shot, he was perfectly fine with that. The woman then decided that she would take advantage of his injury by getting him to do all of the things that she wished he had done when they were "officially" together. Pretty soon, she realized that she had fallen for the man she "made up", only for him to eventually regain his memory and want nothing to do with her. Why? Because they had already broken up and he remembered it. Finally.
When the woman went back to the doctor to share how absolutely devastated she was to know that her relationship—the one she had manipulated into becoming just how she wanted it—had once again come to an end, the physician said something that was super on-point. "He was on a feedback loop. You all were on a feedback loop". Then the doctor followed that question up by looking the woman directly in the eyes and asked, "My question is, what made you stay so long?"
Feedback loops. Y'all, won't it preach? Some of us are still caught up in cyclic patterns with our own ex (sometimes, it's even more than one ex) and it's all because of our own customized feedback loops. Are you ready for me to break this down even further so that you can fully and finally get free?
How a “Feedback Loop” Plays Out in a Lot of Relationships
Listen, if anyone is a top candidate to rock a "Feedback Loop" T-shirt, it would definitely have to be me, chile. Articles that I've written on this site like, "Why Every Woman Should Go On A 'Get Your Heart Pieces Back' Tour", "Why Running Into Your Ex Can Be The Best Thing Ever" and even "You Love Him. You Prefer Sex With Your Ex. What Should You Do?" are just three documented examples of how I know what it's like to be in this kind of pattern with a man from my past. That said, even though I've already provided you with a fictionalized example of what a feedback loop is, perhaps you're curious about how it tends to play out in the real world? I get that, so let's start with looking at two definitions of the word "feedback", OK?
Feedback: the furnishing of data concerning the operation or output of a machine to an automatic control device or to the machine itself, so that subsequent or ongoing operations of the machine can be altered or corrected; a reaction or response to a particular process or activity
Alright, so since we're human beings rather than machines, for the sake of where I'm going with this, when it comes to the definitions that I just provided, swap out the word "machine" for "experience" and the word "device" for "mind". Then, you're able to better understand that feedback is data that comes directly from an experience, that goes into the mind, so that the experience can then be altered or created. While we're here, it's also worth noting that feedback is the reaction or response that comes out of when this happens too.
Whew. Let's now present this in a way of dealing with an ex. Every single relationship that we have collects data. Our mind collects data. Our heart collects data. If we were sexually active with them, our body collects data too (check out "We Should Really Rethink The Term 'Casual Sex'"). OK, well when we're on a feedback loop with someone, it means that the data that our mind, heart and body collects is oftentimes altered. Altered by whom? Altered by us.
We may alter it by only reflecting on the good times with our ex.
We may alter it by focusing on how great the sex was while ignoring how bad the relationship was.
We may alter it by minimizing how unhealthy the dynamic actually was.
We may alter it by telling ourselves that we were the only one with the problem or issue (or they were).
We may alter it by telling ourselves that it's better to be with him than to be alone.
And when we manipulate data in this way, it's very easy to then get a call from our ex or even want to reach out to them—you know, in order to react or respond—because we aren't working with all of the info that we should. We're only seeing what we want to see while ignoring the parts that caused us to end it with them in the first place.
Again, I know exactly what it's like to be caught up in this because, one some level, I've been going around and around with my first love for a couple of decades. No joke. Matter of fact, just last month, we spoke again and there was a part of me, for the billionth time that was like, "maybe…just maybe" (what in the world?!). The good news is I've learned to love myself more than him (that hasn't always been the case) and so, when he told me, also for the billionth time now, that he still loved me and wanted me in his life and we even broached the subject of trying to be friends, I actually considered it. Yet when I told him what I expected from my friendships and again he did not follow through, I realized that what was really going on is I was getting over my feedback loop. Well, kinda.
What I mean by that is, the way he was even able to get 30 minutes of my time, yet again, is due to my own feedback loop that I still need to silence more than I thought. Because he was my first everything, there is a 19-year-old part of me who still giggles at his jokes and finds comfort in our incomparable familiarity, even all these years later. But y'all—there ain't enough time in today or tomorrow to tell you all of the reasons why we needed to break up—and stay broken up. I will always have profound feelings for him (virgins, be careful who you give it up to; the bond tends to be indescribably profound) yet the loop has to break. Once and for all. Because while he continues to be fine and some mo' fine and there is a chemistry that is bar none, I now get that the manipulated data is the ONLY THING that truly catches me up. It's also what's caused me to waste a lot of time, pondering irrelevant "what ifs" too.
So now that I've put some of my business out in front street in order to paint a clearer picture, ask yourself—are you currently in a feedback loop with someone? Is there a person who you share data, in the form of experiences and memories with, who you keep manipulating/editing the reality of the situation, in order to justify still involving—or even lightly engaging—yourself with them? If so, what really are you getting from that? How is "running around in a loop" getting you anywhere?
How You Can Prevent Using a “Feedback Loop” with an Ex
If you after seeing a feedback loop for what it is, your immediate response is "F—ck! I am most definitely in a feedback loop. What do I do now?" first, don't beat yourself up about it. Chile, it happens to the best of us. Second, I'll lightly touch on a few tips that can hopefully break you totally free—so that you can create better and more beneficial data with someone else.
Write a goodbye letter about the relationship. To yourself. In order to break free from the manipulated data that you've been feeding yourself, the first thing that I recommend is writing a goodbye letter to and for yourself; not so much about the break-up as the feedback loop that you've been in as a direct result of it. Make sure to include why you're in the loop, the experiences and memories that you've been leaving out about the relationship, and why that man is your ex for a reason. Then conclude it with why you deserve more and better (because you do). Store the letter somewhere where you can access it, each and every time you are tempted to "get back in the loop" again, so that it can serve as your reality check, when all common sense and discernment are totally out of the window.
Stop rehearsing the past; with yourself, friends or with him. I've gotta admit that, probably the main thing that keeps me and my ex going through over and over…and over again, is the fact that whenever we do speak, it's only a matter of time before we find ourselves walking back down memory lane (editing out most of the icky stuff, of course). That ends up feeling so good that we both tell our friends about it and, based on who that is, sometimes they feed into the feedback loop by talking about how precious or romantic all of the reminiscing is. Then, once get the cosign, we keep playing it back over and over…and over in our minds until we convince ourselves that it's meant to be. Somehow, someway, we're gonna make it work.
Listen, we rehearse things either to get better at them or to not forget them. So, if you want to truly break out of the feedback loop with your ex, that means you're gonna have to start a new narrative. Yep, you're going to have to leave the past in the past—right where it belongs. With you, your friends and with him.
When engaging with your ex again, be clear about why. It would be unfair to not put on record that there are people who are able to stay friends with their ex. Issa (from Insecure) even tried to make us believe that it's possible to be friends with an ex's new boo. Shoot, back in the day, our managing editor even said she could handle still having sex with her ex. To all of these scenarios, the main thing to keep in mind before even considering them, is why you would do it. It needs to be more than because you miss ole' boy. When you're in a relationship with someone, it changes you. You need to consider how having any kind of "realness" with him will benefit the person you are now—the one you've become, in part, as a direct result of the relationship and it coming to an end. If you can find five good clear reasons, along with a male and female friend who can see the sense in it as well (because sometimes we need folks to see our matters from the inside out), then it is possible that you can keep an ex in your life and not run in a feedback loop with them. Tricky yet possible.
Be honest about what is required to fully move forward. One more tip. I'm gonna be honest with you—while I don't think that it's impossible to keep your past in your present, it does usually require some extraordinary finessing; especially if one or both of you have some sort of strong attraction or feelings for one another. Back to my ex, because there are always things, even about his personality, that I'm always gonna adore, I'm honestly playing myself to say that we can be "just friends". And it's the lack of honesty that gets me caught up in the feedback loop, no matter what, oftentimes when I absolutely least expect it. Yet isn't it interesting that a feedback loop is all about manipulating data? Therefore, doesn't it make perfect sense, that the way to break out of the loop, would be by being as genuine, sincere and honest with oneself as possible?
Sis, do you need your ex in your life? If so, why? Because if keeping him around is going to leave you stagnant in some way, being "stuck" in never good. The people in your life should help you to move forward. Otherwise, you really should strongly consider leaving them behind.
Listen, this pandemic led me to that movie and that movie brought me to a phrase that I'll be using for a really long time. Feedback loops are manipulated data that we tend to respond to—and you deserve to not be manipulated by anyone; including yourself. Some exes suck forever. Some ex dynamics can be restored. Yet no relationship should have you running around in a loop that will get you absolutely nowhere. If you're in a loop, download ALL the data and react accordingly. A feedback loop might seem beautiful at first but it's not the total truth and a lie is just that—a lie. Choose wisely, sis.
Featured image by Giphy
Eliminating Feedback Loops at Our Peril | Psychology Today ›
How To Get Out Of The Relationship Negative Feedback Loop | by ... ›
Is there a way to create a positive feedback loop in your relationship? ›
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Sophie Ellis-Bextor reveals 'The Masked Singer' judges' correct guesses were cut
Sophie Ellis-Bextor attends The Forth Awards 2019 at Usher Hall on November 14, 2019 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Roberto Ricciuti/Redferns)
Sophie Ellis-Bextor has said there were scenes of The Masked Singer judges correctly guessing she was disguised as Alien that didn't make it to the final edit of the programme.
The Murder on the Dancefloor hitmaker was the first celebrity to be voted off in last week's Boxing Day premiere after landing in the bottom three but none of the show's judging panel, which is made up of Mo Gilligan, Rita Ora, Davina McCall and Jonathan Ross, were shown mentioning her.
“They didn’t put it in the edit but actually three of the judges said my name as well on the day," Ellis-Bextor, 41, revealed. "So I already knew I’d been rumbled very quickly.”
Read more: Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s son gatecrashes BBC interview
Sophie Ellis-Bextor was revealed to be Alien. (ITV)
The mother-of-five had tried to disguise her distinctive voice while singing Dua Lipa's Don't Start Now.
She added: “I suppose it’s a compliment, the fact that as soon as I opened my mouth, even just as the Alien, my one year old, I literally don’t know how he did this, pointed at the telly and said ‘mummy’.
Watch: Rita Ora says The Masked Singer clues are harder for second season
“And then Richard, my husband, was watching on Twitter and was like ‘Yeah, everybody is saying it’s you’. My kids found it absolutely hilarious that I put on such a weird accent. They were like, ‘Why on earth did you do that?’”
Read more: The most searched for shows of 2020
Ellis-Bextor found herself in the bottom three alongside Swan and Badger, who made it through to the next stage with Sausage, Dragon and Robin. Saturday will see six more concealed celebrities compete against each other.
The Masked Singer continues Saturday at 7pm on ITV.
With additional reporting by PA.
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Disney confirms ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ is a ‘Mandalorian’ spin-off series
Nathan Ingraham
·Deputy Managing Editor
When the season two finale of The Mandalorian dropped last week, it teased something called The Book of Boba Fett in a post-credits scene. It was clear that Boba Fett was going to get some time in the spotlight, we didn’t know if this was a movie, a new series, an arc on The Mandalorian or something else entirely. Today, Disney clarified that The Book of Boba Fett will be a full new series debuting in December of 2021. Furthermore, we know that it’ll take place in the same general timeframe as The Mandalorian, so it wouldn’t surprise us to see some crossover between these shows.
The Book of Boba Fett, a new Original Series, starring Temuera Morrison and @MingNa Wen and executive produced by @Jon_Favreau, @Dave_Filoni, and Robert @Rodriguez, set within the timeline of #TheMandalorian, is coming to #DisneyPlus Dec. 2021. pic.twitter.com/vAoPWpxquq
— Disney+ (@disneyplus) December 21, 2020
The tweet also confirms that the show will be executive produced by Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau along with Dave Filoni (executive producer of Star Wars Rebels) and prolific writer / director Robert Rodriguez (who recently directed episode 14 of The Mandalorian). Temuera Morrison and Ming-Na Wen will their roles as Boba Fett and Fennec Shand, which they played in recent episodes of The Mandalorian. There isn’t much else to go on yet, most specifically who’ll be running the show, but given that it’s only a year away from debuting, we should hear plenty about it in the months to come. Another big question is when The Mandalorian will return for its third season — but with a big new series to debut, it wouldn’t surprise us to see season three pushed back a bit into 2022.
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Samsung vice chairman Jay Y. Lee faces nine-year sentence in bribery case
Catherine Shu
Samsung Electronics vice chairman Jay Y. Lee leaves Seoul High Court after a hearing on November 09, 2020 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Chris Jung/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Samsung Electronics vice chairman Jay Y. Lee faces a nine-year prison term in the bribery case that contributed to the downfall of former president Park Guen-hye. Prosecutors argued that the length of the sentence is warranted because of Samsung’s power as the largest chaebol, or family-owned conglomerate, in South Korea.
"Samsung is a group with such overwhelming power that it is said Korean companies are divided into Samsung and non-Samsung," they said during a final hearing on Wednesday, reports the Korea Herald. The final ruling is scheduled for January 18.
The bribery case is separate from another trial Lee is involved in, over alleged accounting fraud and stock-price manipulation. Hearings in that case began in October.
Hearings begin in Samsung vice chairman Jay Y. Lee’s accounting fraud trial
The bribery case dates back to 2017, when Lee was convicted of bribing Park and her close associate Choi Soon-sil and sentenced to five years in prison. Prosecutors allege the bribes were meant to secure government backing for Lee's attempt to inherit control of Samsung from his father Lee Kun-hee, then its chairman. The illegal payments were a major part of the corruption scandal that led to Park’s impeachment, arrest and 25-year prison sentence.
Lee was freed in 2018 after the sentence was reduced and suspended on appeal, and returned to work as Samsung's de facto head, a position he took after his father had a heart attack in 2014.
In August 2019, however, the Supreme Court overturned the appeals court, ruling that it was too lenient, and ordered that the case be retried in Seoul High Court.
The elder Lee, who was reportedly South Korea’s wealthiest citizen, died in October. He was worth an estimated $20.7 billion and under the country’s tax system, he and his heirs could be liable for estate taxes of about $10 billion, reported Fortune.
TechCrunch has contacted Samsung for comment.
Samsung chairman dies at age 78
American Magic had back-to-back losses on a bizarre day of light winds in the America's Cup challenger series at Auckland on Saturday to remain without a win after three races. The United States team first failed to finish a race against Italy's Luna Rossa, then sustained its second loss to British challenger INEOS Team UK which leads the Prada Cup series with a 3-0 record. In both races American Magic made pre-start errors and struggled to recover in conditions for which it seemed unprepared and which favored its opponents.
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La Maison du Whisky, a family business, guided by passion
Discover the LMDW website
Founded in 1956 by Georges Bénitah, La Maison du Whisky has established itself as one of the largest French specialists in the importing and distribution of rare whiskies. A leader in the sector, its dynamism has played an important role in the evolution of the French market for premium whiskies, and now also fine spirits. This expansion into fine spirits led to the opening of the new LMDW Fine Spirits shop at Carrefour de l’Odéon, in Paris. It is the result of an approach in this domain that is both international and artisanal.
The family business’s first shop was created in 1968, at 20 rue d’Anjou, Paris. This magnificent space, with its wooden paneling, is just a stone’s throw away the Place de la Madeleine and is entirely dedicated to malt whisky. It has also just launched a new Collector’s space, which is set to revolutionise the French market for rare spirits and whiskies. Two other Maison du Whisky shops have also been opened, one in Saint Denis de la Réunion in 2002, and another in Singapore, some four years ago.
An avant-garde approach
Since it was first established, La Maison du Whisky has never stopped its quest to explore every aspect of the world of whisky. It is a passionate family business built on a foundation of high standards, curiosity and daring. It is with this same insatiability that La Maison du Whisky now explores the world of fine spirits and mixology.
A genuine pioneer, Georges Bénitah was, in the 1970s, one of the first to import Scottish malts to France. As for Thierry Bénitah, he is an expert in unearthing rare products and largely contributed to the recognition of Japanese whiskies amongst enthusiasts. And he is about to introduce these same enthusiasts to fine spirits such as rum, cognac and tequila, as well as mixology, whose popularity is intimately linked. All of which proves that La Maison du Whisky knows no boundaries and delights in pushing limits.
Excellence as a guiding theme
It is with sometimes almost excessively high standards, but also a huge amount of wisdom, that La Maison du Whisky continues its never-ending search for high-quality spirits. To do this, the company always strives for excellence with authenticity and is engaged in constant re-assessment.
At the heart of our activity lies the selection of new products, each revealing an original story, authentic savoir-faire and genuine personality. It is with a deeply-ingrained desire for completeness and exceptionally high standards that samples from all over the world are tasted every day. We also take a great interest in the new trends in drinking when searching for new products. And La Maison du Whisky never forgets the importance of introducing enthusiasts to these various drinking trends.
An adventure that values the human factor
It has to be said that La Maison du Whisky has evolved from being a master of the art to anticipating new trends and offering new sensory experiences. But that’s not all. Great importance is placed on human interaction and the relationships that are built, over the years, from generation to generation, with the greatest craftsmen in the world of spirits. The men and women whose products La Maison du Whisky is is keen to showcase. And not only their products, but also their skill, talent and commitment.
La Maison du Whisky’s core business: immersion in the world of spirits.
Unfalteringly passionate about the world of spirits, La Maison du Whisky is indisputably one of the largest French companies involved in the importing and distribution of whiskies and, more recently, fine spirits. Over the last twenty years La Maison du Whisky has selected numerous official bottlings as well as a plethora of whiskies from independent bottlers. A special selection of casks complemented by official releases bottled especially for La Maison du Whisky by the distillery owners themselves. Suffice to say, these releases are highly sought-after by collectors.
Thus, over time, its expertise and high standards in selection have led La Maison du Whisky to create its own collections and move towards the independent bottling profession. This has led to French enthusiasts being introduced to cask strength, un-chillfiltered and Japanese whiskies. And now, to all fine spirits!
Distribution: Pro/Retail/Export
La Maison du Whisky owns four shops: La Maison du Whisky, rue d’Anjou, specialised in collector’s bottlings and whiskies; LMDW Fine Spirits, Carrefour de l’Odéon, the new temple of fine spirits; La Maison du Whisky in Saint Denis de la Réunion and in Singapore. An online shop was also created in 1999: www.whisky.fr.
2,500 independent wine sellers, large retailers such as Nicolas, and the supermarkets Auchan, Carrefour, Casino and Monoprix have all become special partners. A precious distribution network that also includes over 700 cafés, hotels and restaurants. This has meant that in 15 years, thanks to its perfect knowledge of the market, La Maison du Whisky has become the exclusive distributor in France for many of the major names in whisky, including Auchentoshan, The Dalmore, Glendronach, Jura, Compass Box and even Nikka.
In recent years La Maison du Whisky has also developed its portfolio of fine spirits, becoming the exclusive distributor for many top names in the world of rum, cachaca, calvados, cognac, armagnac, gin and vodka.
Furthermore, La Maison du Whisky is the exclusive distributor of Nikka whiskies, present in 32 countries in all four corners of the globe. Like its expansion into the world of spirits, its presence in the international scene is now undeniable.
The internet adventure
A genuine internet pioneer, La Maison du Whisky was, in 1999, one of the very first French businesses to create an online store: www.whisky.fr. It is still the no.1 e-commerce site for whiskies and spirits, with 90% of its sales (in volume) coming from France and 10% abroad.
La Maison du Whisky also has a strong community presence through Facebook. La Maison du Whisky, LMDW Fine Spirits, Whisky Mag France and Whisky Live: the number of members grows every day. As does the intensity of these connections.
Communication and publishing
Every year since 1968, La Maison du Whisky has published its new catalogue in September. This has become an important reference work for the whisky and spirits industry. As has its Professional brochure which is published twice yearly. The first 12 page edition published in 1995 has grown to today’s catalogue with more than 150 pages. This publication is a unique, unparalleled tool for all professionals in the industry.
In 2010, in collaboration with the Flammarion publishing house, La Maison du Whisky published “Whisky l’Indispensable” a must-have for any whisky enthusiast, with 30,000 copies printed. La Maison du Whisky also organises an average of 10 major events every year. Whether these are trips, dinners or tastings, the aim is always to invite the enthusiast on a journey of discovery, whilst encouraging high quality and responsible drinking.
Thanks to its capacity for innovation, an international vision of the spirits market and genuine freedom in its discoveries, La Maison du Whisky has gained a reputation for anticipating trends. Its skills now also extend to consultancy and packaging.
When whisky and fine spirits go on show
La Maison du Whisky has demonstrated its expertise in top-of-the-range spirits, and is never lacking in projects or innovative ideas. Which is what led to the creation of Whisky Live in 2004. A show entirely dedicated to the world of whisky, which has fast become an unmissable event for the general public and professionals in France and abroad.
Whisky Live Paris
LMDW Group
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Dane Cook To Voice Lead Role In Disney’s Planes
Get ready for the first Disney film to be attended by more frat boys than children.
Get ready for the first Disney film to be attended by more frat boys than children. Yesterday we showed off the first trailer for Disney’s Planes, the spin-off of Pixar’s Cars. Today, we have an announcement on who will be playing the lead in the film… none other than frat boy favorite comedian, Dane Cook.
Official Synopsis
PLANES takes off with an international cast of the fastest air racers around, in a comedy packed with action and adventure starring Dusty, a small town dreamer who longs to enter the most epic around-the-world air race … despite his fear of heights. With the help and support of a fleet of new and hilarious characters, Dusty wings his way into the biggest challenge of his life.
Here’s the official release:
DANE COOK TAPPED TO VOICE DUSTY IN “DISNEY’S PLANES”
High-Flying Animated Comedy Adventure Soars into Theaters August 9, 2013
BURBANK, Calif. (February 28, 2013) – Dane Cook has been tapped to voice the lead character Dusty, a plane with high hopes in “Disney’s Planes.” Inspired by the world of “Cars” and directed by Disneytoon Studios veteran and aviation enthusiast Klay Hall (“King of the Hill,” “The Simpsons”), “Disney’s Planes” is an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure about Dusty’s dream of competing as a high-flying air racer—and his decidedly unfortunate fear of heights. The film takes off in theaters in 3D on Aug. 9, 2013.
“Dane Cook brings unmatched charisma and brilliant comedic timing and instincts to the character,” said Hall. “He gives Dusty a great edge.”
Cook is well known for his appearances on Comedy Central and HBO specials, and for his successful comedy albums. He recently guest starred on “Louie” opposite Louie C.K., and his film credits include starring roles in a host of films, including “My Best Friend’s Girl” opposite Kate Hudson, “Dan In Real Life” opposite Steve Carell, and “Mr. Brooks” opposite Kevin Costner. The actor/comedian just signed a deal with NBC Entertainment and Universal Television to develop a new project starring Cook.
The all-new story offers an exciting cast of characters and centers on Dusty’s high-flying dream. But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing, so he turns to a seasoned naval aviator who helps Dusty qualify to take on the defending champ of the race circuit. Dusty’s courage is put to the ultimate test as he aims to reach heights he never dreamed possible, giving a spellbound world the inspiration to soar. The film is produced by Traci Balthazor-Flynn and executive produced by John Lasseter. For more information, check out Disney.com/Planes, like us on Facebook: facebook.com/DisneyPlanes and follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/DisneyPictures.
Tagged in : dane cook Disney's Planes
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American National Standards Institute
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI /ˈænsi/ AN-see) is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States.[3] The organization also coordinates U.S. standards with international standards so that American products can be used worldwide.
"American Standards Association" and "ANSI" redirect here. For the film speed scale, see ASA film speed. For other uses, see ANSI (disambiguation).
An official logo of the American National Standards Institute
October 19, 1918 (1918-10-19)[1]
501(c)(3) private
38°54′14″N 77°02′35″W
125,000 companies and 3.5 million professionals[2]
ansi.org
ANSI accredits standards that are developed by representatives of other standards organizations, government agencies, consumer groups, companies, and others. These standards ensure that the characteristics and performance of products are consistent, that people use the same definitions and terms, and that products are tested the same way. ANSI also accredits organizations that carry out product or personnel certification in accordance with requirements defined in international standards.[4]
The organization's headquarters are in Washington, D.C. ANSI's operations office is located in New York City. The ANSI annual operating budget is funded by the sale of publications, membership dues and fees, accreditation services, fee-based programs, and international standards programs.
ANSI was originally formed in 1918, when five engineering societies and three government agencies founded the American Engineering Standards Committee (AESC).[5] In 1928, the AESC became the American Standards Association (ASA). In 1966, the ASA was reorganized and became United States of America Standards Institute (USASI). The present name was adopted in 1969.
Prior to 1918, these five founding engineering societies:
American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE, now IEEE)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
American Institute of Mining Engineers (AIME, now American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers)
American Society for Testing and Materials (now ASTM International)
had been members of the United Engineering Society (UES). At the behest of the AIEE, they invited the U.S. government Departments of War, Navy (combined in 1947 to become the Department of Defense or DOD) and Commerce[6] to join in founding a national standards organization.
According to Adam Stanton, the first permanent secretary and head of staff in 1919, AESC started as an ambitious program and little else. Staff for the first year consisted of one executive, Clifford B. LePage, who was on loan from a founding member, ASME. An annual budget of $7,500 was provided by the founding bodies.
In 1931, the organization (renamed ASA in 1928) became affiliated with the U.S. National Committee of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), which had been formed in 1904 to develop electrical and electronics standards.[7]
ANSI's members are government agencies, organizations, academic and international bodies, and individuals. In total, the Institute represents the interests of more than 270,000 companies and organizations and 30 million professionals worldwide.[2]
Although ANSI itself does not develop standards, the Institute oversees the development and use of standards by accrediting the procedures of standards developing organizations. ANSI accreditation signifies that the procedures used by standards developing organizations meet the Institute's requirements for openness, balance, consensus, and due process.
ANSI also designates specific standards as American National Standards, or ANS, when the Institute determines that the standards were developed in an environment that is equitable, accessible and responsive to the requirements of various stakeholders.[8]
Voluntary consensus standards quicken the market acceptance of products while making clear how to improve the safety of those products for the protection of consumers. There are approximately 9,500 American National Standards that carry the ANSI designation.
The American National Standards process involves:
consensus by a group that is open to representatives from all interested parties
broad-based public review and comment on draft standards
consideration of and response to comments
incorporation of submitted changes that meet the same consensus requirements into a draft standard
availability of an appeal by any participant alleging that these principles were not respected during the standards-development process.
In addition to facilitating the formation of standards in the United States, ANSI promotes the use of U.S. standards internationally, advocates U.S. policy and technical positions in international and regional standards organizations, and encourages the adoption of international standards as national standards where appropriate.
The Institute is the official U.S. representative to the two major international standards organizations, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), as a founding member,[9] and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), via the U.S. National Committee (USNC). ANSI participates in almost the entire technical program of both the ISO and the IEC, and administers many key committees and subgroups. In many instances, U.S. standards are taken forward to ISO and IEC, through ANSI or the USNC, where they are adopted in whole or in part as international standards.
Adoption of ISO and IEC standards as American standards increased from 0.2% in 1986 to 15.5% in May 2012.[10]
Standards panels
The Institute administers nine standards panels:[11]
ANSI Homeland Defense and Security Standardization Collaborative (HDSSC)
ANSI Nanotechnology Standards Panel (ANSI-NSP)
ID Theft Prevention and ID Management Standards Panel (IDSP)
ANSI Energy Efficiency Standardization Coordination Collaborative (EESCC)
Nuclear Energy Standards Coordination Collaborative (NESCC)
Electric Vehicles Standards Panel (EVSP)
ANSI-NAM Network on Chemical Regulation
ANSI Biofuels Standards Coordination Panel
Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP)
Each of the panels works to identify, coordinate, and harmonize voluntary standards relevant to these areas.
In 2009, ANSI and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) formed the Nuclear Energy Standards Coordination Collaborative (NESCC). NESCC is a joint initiative to identify and respond to the current need for standards in the nuclear industry.
American national standards
The ASA (as for American Standards Association) photographic exposure system, originally defined in ASA Z38.2.1 (since 1943) and ASA PH2.5 (since 1954), together with the DIN system (DIN 4512 since 1934), became the basis for the ISO system (since 1974), currently used worldwide (ISO 6, ISO 2240, ISO 5800, ISO 12232).
A standard for the set of values used to represent characters in digital computers. The ANSI code standard extended the previously created ASCII seven bit code standard (ASA X3.4-1963), with additional codes for European alphabets (see also Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code or EBCDIC). In Microsoft Windows, the phrase "ANSI" refers to the Windows ANSI code pages (even though they are not ANSI standards).[12] Most of these are fixed width, though some characters for ideographic languages are variable width. Since these characters are based on a draft of the ISO-8859 series, some of Microsoft's symbols are visually very similar to the ISO symbols, leading many to falsely assume that they are identical.
The first computer programming language standard was "American Standard Fortran" (informally known as "FORTRAN 66"), approved in March 1966 and published as ASA X3.9-1966.
The programming language COBOL had ANSI standards in 1968, 1974, and 1985. The COBOL 2002 standard was issued by ISO.
The original standard implementation of the C programming language was standardized as ANSI X3.159-1989, becoming the well-known ANSI C.
The X3J13 committee was created in 1986 to formalize the ongoing consolidation of Common Lisp,[13] culminating in 1994 with the publication of ANSI's first object-oriented programming standard.[14]
A popular Unified Thread Standard for nuts and bolts is ANSI/ASME B1.1 which was defined in 1935, 1949, 1989, and 2003.
The ANSI-NSF International standards used for commercial kitchens, such as restaurants, cafeterias, delis, etc.
The ANSI/APSP (Association of Pool & Spa Professionals) standards used for pools, spas, hot tubs, barriers, and suction entrapment avoidance.
The ANSI/HI (Hydraulic Institute) standards used for pumps.
The ANSI for eye protection is Z87.1, which gives a specific impact resistance rating to the eyewear. This standard is commonly used for shop glasses, shooting glasses, and many other examples of protective eyewear.
The ANSI paper sizes (ANSI/ASME Y14.1).
In 2008, ANSI, in partnership with Citation Technologies,[15] created the first dynamic, online web library for ISO 14000 standards.[16]
On June 23, 2009, ANSI announced a product and services agreement with Citation Technologies to deliver all ISO Standards on a web-based platform. Through the ANSI-Citation partnership, 17,765 International Standards developed by more than 3,000 ISO technical bodies will be made available on the citation platform, arming subscribers with powerful search tools and collaboration, notification, and change-management functionality.[17]
ANSI, in partnership with Citation Technologies, AAMI, ASTM, and DIN, created a single, centralized database for medical device standards on September 9, 2009.[18]
In early 2009, ANSI launched a new Certificate Accreditation Program (ANSI-CAP) to provide neutral, third-party attestation that a given certificate program meets the American National Standard ASTM E2659-09.
In 2009, ANSI began accepting applications for certification bodies seeking accreditation according to requirements defined under the Toy Safety Certification Program (TSCP) as the official third-party accreditor of TSCP's product certification bodies.
In 2006, ANSI launched www.StandardsPortal.org, an online resource for facilitating more open and efficient trade between international markets in the areas of standards, conformity assessment, and technical regulations. The site currently features content for China, India, and Korea, with additional countries and regions planned for future content.
ANSI design standards have also been incorporated into building codes encompassing several specific building sub-sets, such as the ANSI/SPRI ES-1, which pertains to "Wind Design Standard for Edge Systems Used With Low Slope Roofing Systems", for example.[19]
Accredited Crane Operator Certification
ANSI ASC X9
ANSI ASC X12
ANSI C
Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST)
Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM)
ISO (to which ANSI is the official US representative)
19 October 1918, Minutes, American Engineering Standards Committee (AESC), p. 1
"ANSI Membership – A Value Proposition". ANSI. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
ANSI 2009 Annual Report
"ANSI: Historical Overview". ansi.org. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
ANSI history- Retrieved 2011-09-27
"Welcome to the IEC - International Electrotechnical Commission". www.iec.ch.
"Value of the ANS Designation brochure" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 22, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
ISO founding member- Retrieved 2011-09-27
Choi, Dong Geun; Puskar, Erik (2014). "A Review of U.S.A. Participation in ISO and IEC". National Institute of Standards and Technology: 29. doi:10.6028/NIST.IR.8007. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
Overview. Ansi.org. Retrieved on 2013-08-12.
"Microsoft Glossary".
"X3J13 Charter". www.nhplace.com.
"DMOZ - Computers: Programming: Languages: Lisp". dmoztools.net.
Archived December 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
"ANSI iPackages: New Website Helps Organizations to Share, Annotate, and Personalize ISO 14000 Environmental Standards". www.ansi.org.
"Citation Technologies and ANSI Partner to Bring Full Collection of ISO Standards to Market on Robust citation® Web-based Platform". www.ansi.org.
Medical Device Standards Database Press Release 09/09/09
"The ANSI/SPRI ES-1 Standard Explained". Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
International Organization for Standardization
Specifications
ISO/PAS 28007:2012
ISO/TS 80004
ISO/IEC TR 12182
Member bodies
Algerian Institute of Standardization
ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB)
Instituto Argentino de Normalización y Certificación
ASC X9
Austrian Standards International
Brazilian National Standards Organization
Bureau of Normalization
Committee for Standardization, Metrology and Certification of Belarus
Cyprus Organisation for Standardisation
Deutsches Institut für Normung
Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione
Finnish Standards Association
Indian Register Quality Systems
Badan Standardisasi Nasional
Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran
Japanese Industrial Standards Committee
Korean Agency for Technology and Standards
Korean Standards Association
National Standards Authority of Ireland
Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority
South African Bureau of Standards
Sri Lanka Standards Institution
Standardization Administration of China
Standards Australia
Standards Council of Canada
Standards Institute of Israel
Standards Norway
State Committee for Technical Regulation and Consumer Policy
Swedish Standards Institute
Swiss Association for Standardization
UN CEFACT TBG5
Vinçotte
Countries in the International Organization for Standardization
Information Technology Task Force
ISO Development Environment
List of International Organization for Standardization standards
List of International Organization for Standardization technical committees
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Boeing Delivers First Reusable 3D-Printed Face Shields for COVID-19 Response
Face shields to be donated to healthcare professionals fighting COVID-19
FEMA will direct initial shipment to Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas
Chicago | April 10, 2020–Boeing today will deliver the first set of reusable 3D-printed face shields to support healthcare professionals working to stop the spread of COVID-19. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) accepted the initial shipment of 2,300 face shields this morning. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will deliver the shields to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, which has been established as an alternate care site to treat patients with COVID-19.
Boeing is set to produce thousands more face shields per week, gradually increasing production output to meet the growing need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the United States. Distribution of additional face shields will be coordinated with HHS and FEMA based on immediate needs. Boeing is producing face shields with additive manufacturing machines at company sites in:
China Lake, El Segundo, and Huntington Beach, California
Puget Sound region of Washington state
Boeing subsidiaries Argon ST in Smithfield, Pennsylvania, and Aurora Flight Sciences in Bridgeport, West Virginia, are also participating in this project.
Solvay, a long-time Boeing supplier, provided the clear film for the face shields. Another supplier, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, donated the elastic used for the adjustable headband.
Face shield production and donations are part of a larger Boeing effort to leverage company and employee resources to aid with COVID-19 recovery and relief efforts. To date, the company has donated tens of thousands of units of PPE – including face masks, goggles, gloves, safety glasses and protective bodysuits – to support healthcare professionals battling COVID-19 in some of the hardest-hit locations in the United States.
Boeing has also offered use of its unique airlift capabilities, including the Boeing Dreamlifter, to help transport critical and urgently needed supplies to healthcare professionals. The company is coordinating closely with government officials on how best to provide airlift support.
“Boeing is proud to stand alongside many other great American companies in the fight against COVID-19, and we are dedicated to supporting our local communities, especially our frontline healthcare professionals, during this unprecedented time,” said Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun. “History has proven that Boeing is a company that rises to the toughest challenges with people who are second to none. Today, we continue that tradition, and we stand ready to assist the federal government’s response to this global pandemic.”
Posted by Patricia on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 3:27 pm
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with 3D-printed, Boeing, COVID-19, face shields
Boeing to 3D-Print Face Shields, Offers Dreamlifter for Pandemic Response
Boeing taps into additive manufacturing expertise and offers up Dreamlifter to help respond to COVID-19 crisis.
March 30, 2020–Boeing announced it is activating its additive manufacturing network to 3D-print face shields for health care workers, and is offering up the Dreamlifter to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boeing employees will 3D-print the personal protective equipment (PPE) using additive manufacturing machines in St. Louis, Missouri; El Segundo, California; Mesa, Arizona; Huntsville, Alabama, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – as long as those facilities remain in operation, consistent with federal, state and local health orders.
Depending on the size of the machine, up to 24 face shield frames can be 3D-printed each day. The company announced it is targeting an initial production rate of several thousand a week.
“We have open capacity, goodwill and a multitude of eager employees waiting and wanting to help in this crisis,” said Melissa Orme, vice president of Boeing Additive Manufacturing (BAM).
The design includes a 3D printed frame with an adjustable headband that allows a clear plastic face shield to be easily snapped onto the frame. Boeing is evaluating the best way to quickly cut the plastic needed for the face shields, leveraging advanced cutting technology used for aircraft parts.
Face shields and other PPE have been in such short supply that some doctors and nurses have turned to swimming goggles and other homemade options.
“This is a first-step solution to do what we can right now to help,” said Carlton Washburn, a program manager in BAM. “I’ve only seen positive behavior and amazing support from people – both inside of Boeing and externally – trying to offer help. It makes Boeing’s mission to protect people very real to me.”
The 3D printed face shields solution was developed by employees from Boeing Additive Manufacturing; Boeing Research & Technology; Boeing Defense, Space & Security; Supply Chain and HorizonX; along with support from Accenture, hospitals and universities.
“Boeing employees are always ready and willing to step up and help in times of need, and this is just another incredible example of that,” said Tim Keating, executive vice president of Government Operations. “I’m proud of all the work being done to support our communities during this challenging time. We hear you, we’re listening, and keep the ideas coming.”
The company also announced its intent to offer the use of the Boeing Dreamlifter, one of the largest cargo carriers in the world, to help transport critical and urgently needed supplies to health care professionals.
The Dreamlifter fleet consists of four specially adapted Boeing 747s with a max cargo weight of 63,000 pounds per plane. Boeing is coordinating closely with government officials on how best to provide support.
To date, Boeing has donated tens of thousands of masks, gloves and other equipment to hospitals in need.
The company is also analyzing several other ways it can engage its engineering, manufacturing and logistics expertise to help the cause. Additional details, including ways in which Boeing employees can continue to give back, will be communicated soon.
Filed under News Releases · Tagged with 3D-print, Boeing, COVID-19, Dreamlifter, face shields, PPE
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Robin Hood: Legend of Sherwood v1.1 Patch - Free Download.
Just place it inside the install folder of Robin Hood - Legends of Sherwood and run it every time you want to play Robin Hood. (This program installs older and only for the game working versions of ddwrapper and DXWnd just for Robin Hood - these programs give a massive performance boost.) My program will install fixed fonts and fix the resolution on some monitors and save you the hassle to.
Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood Demo Aug 19 2015 Demo 1 comment. Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood is a 2002 stealth-based real-time tactics video game developed by Spellbound Studios.
Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood, game files.
Join Robin Hood on her quest to defeat the evil Sheriff and save the townsfolk! Make combinations of three or more to create bigger and better objects while earning gold and resources along the way. Enjoy triple the strategy and fun of your typical match 3 game in this brand new puzzle adventure!His name; Robin Hood. Roam the dense foliage of Sherwood, come face to face with royal trouble and battle against Prince John’s forces as you take on the role of legendary nobleman, Robin Hood. Team up with Little John and the rest of the Merry Men as the battle for the King’s throne ensues in this stealth-based, real-time strategy game.Trusted Windows (PC) download Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood 4.12. Virus-free and 100% clean download. Get Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood alternative downloads.
Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood is a 2002 stealth-based real-time strategy video game developed by Spellbound Studios. It is similar to games such as Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive and the Commandos series. In the game, the player controls up to five characters in a setting based on the stories of the protagonist, Robin Hood. The player can also control Robin Hood's Merry Men, including.Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood Crack Download Crack Rating 7.3 (4733 votes) Description. Another tactical strategy spirited by fascinated Interactive, the creators of Desperados. Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood takes localise in the mediaeval England and its story focuses on the most celebrated illegalise in history and his defend for honour and justice against the local authorities.
Roam the dense foliage of Sherwood, come face to face with royal trouble and battle against Prince John’s forces as you take on the role of legendary nobleman, Robin Hood. Team up with Little John and the rest of the Merry Men as the battle for the King’s throne ensues in this stealth-based, real-time strategy game.
Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood is a 2002 stealth-based real-time strategy video game developed by Spellbound Studios. It is similar to games such as Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive and the.
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View member and mission information for the Council on Aging Board.
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The Attleboro Council on Human Rights, under the supervision and control of the mayor, works to promote mutual respect and understanding among individuals and groups in the city by improving the quality of public discourse and eliminating unlawful discrimination.
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Chloe E. Jones ’15 on “Who’s Hungry” (Sept. 27 & 28)
September 25, 2013 by Andrew Chatfield
CFA Arts Administration Intern Chloe E. Jones ’15 discusses Dan Froot and Dan Hurlin’s “Who’s Hungry,” which will receive its Connecticut premiere at Wesleyan on Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 8pm in World Music Hall.
Dan Froot and Dan Hurlin’s “Who’s Hungry.” Photo by Rose Eichenbaum. Pictured (left to right): Rachael Lincoln, Darius Mannino, Zach Tolchinsky.
This weekend in World Music Hall four puppeteers will gather around a 24-foot-long dinner table, transformed into a runway-style puppet stage, for the Connecticut premiere of Who’s Hungry, a work of experimental theater.
From Los Angeles performance artist Dan Froot and New York puppet artist Dan Hurlin comes a story about the struggle of hunger across America and the strength of community. A deeply collaborative endeavor, Who’s Hungry weaves together the oral histories of five residents of Santa Monica, California who have faced either hunger, homelessness or both. To bring their stories to the east coast, Wesleyan’s Center for the Arts and Theater Department have partnered with two remarkable organizations: the New England Foundation for the Arts and St. Vincent de Paul Middletown.
A grant from the Expeditions program of the New England Foundation for the Arts has made it possible for Who’s Hungry to tour the region. Each of the partner organizations hosting the performance interviewed members of their community who have either experienced hunger first-hand or seen it up close. The interviews were compiled into the sound score Who’s Hungry New England, which will be incorporated into each performance. At Wesleyan, this sound score, a powerful montage of voices meant to raise awareness about the impact of hunger in New England, will play as the audience gathers before the performances begin.
Wesleyan is also partnering with St. Vincent de Paul Middletown, an organization that provides food to individuals and families through their community Soup Kitchen and the Amazing Grace Food Pantry. The Soup Kitchen serves nearly 250 prepared meals each day to Middletown residents. The Food Pantry provides food to more than 1,000 households every month.
Representatives from St. Vincent de Paul Middletown, including community members who frequent the Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry, will be on hand at both performances of Who’s Hungry. They will have a table in the lobby where people can learn more about their work and pick up a copy of Soup Stories, a booklet they’ve created from local stories. Following each performance there will be a live Skype discussion with some of the residents of Santa Monica whose stories are featured in Who’s Hungry. Representatives from St. Vincent de Paul Middletown will be there as the voice of the local community. As St. Vincent de Paul’s Executive Director Ron Krom said, “Hunger is not just a Cali problem; it’s a local problem, too.”
Additionally, St. Vincent de Paul Middletown loaned a series of portraits to the CFA depicting guests of the Soup Kitchen to be displayed before each performance. The simple yet stunning pencil sketches are the work of illustrator/artist and Wesleyan alumna Abby Carter ’83. As a long-time Soup Kitchen volunteer, Ms. Carter chronicled her experience using a camera and a sketchpad. Over 50 of her portraits are now on display at the Soup Kitchen, a gallery of local faces and a beautiful representation of the community. Mr. Krom says the gallery continues to grow as new people arrive and want their portrait proudly displayed on the wall of the Soup Kitchen.
Born of two strong and generative partnerships, the Connecticut premiere of Who’s Hungry is an opportunity to engage with an important issue on a local, regional, and national scale. A product of great collaboration, Who’s Hungry is a catalyst for continuing to work together in confronting hunger within our own communities and across the country. Grab a seat at the table this weekend.
Dan Froot and Dan Hurlin: “Who’s Hungry”
Connecticut Premiere
Friday, September 27 & Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 8pm
World Music Hall
$23 general public; $19 senior citizens, Wesleyan faculty/staff, non-Wesleyan students; $6 Wesleyan students
A Outside the Box Theater Series event presented by the Theater Department and the Center for the Arts.
Please note that this performance contains mature themes and language that may not be appropriate for all audiences.
Categories TheaterTags 40th Anniversary Season, Outside The Box Theater Series, Theater Department, World Music Hall1 Comment
Center for the Arts Stories: Amy Crawford ’05
Amy Crawford ’05. Photo by Julia Stotz.
Center for the Arts Story: Meeting Center for the Arts Director Pamela Tatge, interning at the CFA and learning the ropes of arts administration under her incredible leadership. I responded to an ad in the Argus for the CFA arts administration intern opportunity. Prior to that I didn’t know much about Pam and what the rest of the CFA staff were accomplishing. The internship gave me a different perspective on what happens at the CFA and also set me up with the skills to work in arts administration and produce concerts and projects in NYC after I graduated. Pam provided me with invaluable guidance and advice during my first year in the professional world – she is a gem and I will always consider her a mentor!
Favorite Course: Not a course, per se, but the independent study opportunities that Jay Hoggard offered me (I would receive early wake-up calls from Jay on lesson mornings to make sure I was on my way to the CFA!), and playing jazz standards with Anthony Braxton outside of class were some of my favorite and most formative musical experiences at Wesleyan.
Favorite Professor: James McGuire.
Thesis Title: My major was Government, and the title of my thesis was “Cold War, Hot Jazz: American, German and Soviet Policy Responses to Jazz Music Pre- and Post-World War II.” But I completed a senior music recital under the supervision of Jay Hoggard, “just for fun,” as well.
Categories MusicTags Celebrating 40 Years, Center for the Arts Stories, Music Department, This Is Why
“SPILL” performances in New York, Louisiana
An update from Pamela Tatge, Director of the Center for the Arts, about exciting developments for “SPILL,” a work that the Center for the Arts commissioned from playwright Leigh Fondakowski which had a workshop performance at Wesleyan in February 2012.
“SPILL” portraits and photos by Reeva Wortel.
For those of you who don’t know SPILL, in 2010, playwright and director Leigh Fondakowski teamed up with Wesleyan Professor and Environmental Studies chair Barry Chernoff to co-teach an interdisciplinary course bringing together documentary theater and science. Students traveled to the Gulf Coast to conduct interviews and scientific research on the devastating British Petroleum (BP) oil spill that occurred earlier that year. Upon returning to campus, students developed original performances and visual art based on their research findings. Ms. Fondakowski too went on to create an original performance from her own research conducted in the Gulf, a work created with visual artist Reeva Wortel entitled SPILL.
Originally commissioned by the Center for the Arts at Wesleyan University, SPILL tells the story of the BP oil disaster through a deeply personal lens. Over the course of two years, Ms. Fondakowski interviewed oil rig workers, clean-up volunteers, community leaders, fishermen, scientists, environmentalists, oil industry proponents, families who lost loved ones in the explosion, and others—chronicling their stories into one compelling narrative that asks us to consider the true cost of oil. Much like The Laramie Project—Ms. Fondakowski’s wildly successful previous play (co-written with Moises Kaufman and Tectonic Theater) about the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, an openly gay student from the University of Wyoming—SPILL engages its audience in a challenging but vital dialogue about critical issues.
While the first half of SPILL focuses on the oil rig explosion, the second deals with the aftermath and its effects on the people and land of south Louisiana. After each performance, the audience is invited to view an art installation comprised of life-sized portraits of the interviewees, painted by visual artist and collaborator Reeva Wortel. The striking installation creates a colorful space in which the conversation can be continued long after the performance itself has ended. In this way SPILL goes well beyond the average play. It is also an art installation, a conversation, a history, and a starting point for social change.
Following the workshop performance at Wesleyan in February 2012, the work went on to have several work-in progress showings including presentations/discussions at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, Louisiana State University, and the Women Center Stage Festival at Culture Project in New York. In the spring of 2014, SPILL will return to the place where the project was first conceived, taking the stage at theaters across Louisiana for its world premiere and a five-city tour.
Click here to read an article about SPILL from the New Orleans Gambit newspaper.
To learn more about SPILL or make a contribution, click here.
Categories Art & Art History, TheaterTags Feet to the Fire, Performing Arts Series
Center for the Arts Stories: Kelly Quinn ’93
Within the open and accepting microcosm of the CFA, I had the tremendous privilege of studying under Ron Kuivila in the electroacoustic music studio. In that studio, I found the voice that was deep within me but unable to speak using conventional ‘language.’ Ron and the CFA—and Wesleyan as a whole—enabled me to finally find *my* language—not one of words, but one of sound: The one language that makes sense to me.
Naya Samuel ’14 on Doug Varone and Dancers (Sept. 12 & 13)
Wesleyan Dancelink Fellow Naya Samuel ’14 discusses her experience with Doug Varone and Dancers, who will present “Stripped/Dressed,” featuring “Rise” and the Connecticut premiere of “Carrugi,” on Thursday, September 12 and Friday, September 13, 2013 at 8pm in the CFA Theater.
Through the Center for the Arts Dancelink Fellowship program, I got the opportunity to intern with Doug Varone and Dancers in New York this past summer, and I’ve become a huge fan of their work. The company was founded in 1986, and is the resident company at the 92 Street Y Harkness Dance Center, which has been home to some of the biggest names in modern dance, from Martha Graham to Merce Cunningham to Alvin Ailey. Since its founding, Doug Varone and Dancers has toured extensively across the United State and in Europe, Asia, Canada, and South America. They’ve won 11 New York Dance and Performance Awards, also known as Bessies, and just celebrated their 25th anniversary. The New Yorker noted that “few choreographers can move people around the stage like Varone can. He is able to see overlapping and intertwining groups clearly, and to create movement for them that turns them into breathing organisms.” After spending a summer with the company I agree that Doug’s work is an astonishing blend of touching humanity and complex detail.
One of my favorite nuances of this company is their Stripped/Dressed performance format. This unique method is a beneficial and inventive way to make a specific art vocabulary less foreign to someone who is not immersed in that field. The first half of the program, Stripped, offers a bare version of a performance that focuses on the choreography and the creation of a piece as explained by Doug. This section is performed with the dancers in rehearsal clothes and with minimal lighting. At Wesleyan, the company will start by performing Rise, which premiered in October 1993 and represented a huge choreographic shift for Doug. It’s a high-energy, demanding piece requiring great physicality from its dancers, and it always leaves me excited about the work. The costumes in the piece have become well known, so it’ll be an interesting reflection on the theatrics of putting a piece on stage to see it without them, and how this change affects the way it is perceived.
Doug Varone and Dancers. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.
The second half of the program, Dressed, has the company performing Carrugi fully produced, with costumes, lighting and sound. Doug will have walked us through its conception and creation before intermission. It’s pretty exciting for me to watch or rewatch a piece once Doug has walked us through it. He gives us a context that we otherwise lack while watching most dance companies perform. Carrugi premiered in March 2012, and was inspired by the winding pathways in between small towns on the hillside of Italy’s Liguria region. Set to music by Mozart, the piece is intricate and attentive to detail, and ultimately satisfying both in its dynamic musicality and the relationships between dancers.
The focus of my Dancelink Fellowship was marketing and promotion, especially via social media, but during my time with the company I became familiar with almost all of the necessary components of running a non-profit. The internship was completely immersive. The company had been preparing for their summer intensive in Brockport, New York, and when I started interning the workshop was about two weeks away. Along with another intern, Ellyn, and my supervisor and company member Eddie Taketa, I headed up to Brockport, six hours away, to stay for about a month with 70 dancers and the company.
In addition to running the company’s social media campaign, I also got to participate in classes, which was thrilling. It’s a small company, eight dancers, which made for an intimate class setting. It felt like we really got to know all of the dancers as crucial components of the company as well as as individual artists. Everyone was so open and eager to share their knowledge of the field, which was helpful to the handful of us there who were getting ready to graduate and trying to figure out what we wanted to do in the dance field. It was an incredible experience to switch back and forth between watching rehearsals and performances, which gave me a much deeper insight into what I was watching, as well as the different ways in which choreographers work.
I was able to learn about Doug’s method, and his use of choreographic games and dancer participation. The company members were so passionate about everything they were doing that it was impossible to not feel energized. I can’t think of a better finale to my Dancelink Fellowship than to be in the CFA Theater to welcome Doug Varone and Dancers to Wesleyan.
Click here to watch an interview with Doug Varone and company members Xan Burley and Alex Springer, conducted by Wesleyan DanceLink Fellow Naya Samuel ’14.
Doug Varone and Dancers: “Stripped/Dressed” featuring “Rise” and “Carrugi”
Thursday, September 12 & Friday, September 13, 2013 at 8pm
CFA Theater
Pre-performance talk by Wesleyan DanceLink Fellow Naya Samuel ’14 on Thursday, September 12 at 7:30pm in the CFA Hall.
Free master class with Doug Varone and Dancers Company Member Eddie Taketa on Friday, September 13 at 2:45pm in Bessie Schönberg Dance Studio, 247 Pine Street, Middletown. Please call 860-685-3355 to register in advance.
Only one spot left for Dine/Dance/Discover on Friday, September 13 at 5:30pm—add $15 to your regular ticket price above. Please call 860-685-3355 to purchase.
Categories DanceTags 40th Anniversary Season, Breaking Ground Dance Series, CFA Theater, Dance Department, Performing Arts Series, Ring Family Performing Arts Hall (former CFA Hall)2 Comments
Center for the Arts Stories: Christopher Andrews ’97
Christopher Andrews ’97. Photo by John McCormick.
In my years at Wesleyan, the majority of my life was spent lurking behind the scenes around the CFA. I played a role in virtually every theater and dance production and good number of the music performances as well. While I had good relationships with my professors, and I was part of a number of interesting performances, what remains with me is the time I spent working and, well, not working, with Nelson Maurice and Charlie Carroll and their occasional co-conspirator Mark Gawlak. They were, if you can pardon a Star Trek reference, my Boothby. I considered them to be both mentors and friends. I think working with Nelson during a summer program on campus is what convinced me to come to Wesleyan in the first place. They provided the connections that got me first an internship at the Goodspeed Opera House and then later my job with fellow alum John Cini at High Output in Boston. It is even my connection with Charlie that led to my wife and I getting together. I certainly learned a lot about technical theater and practical problem solving working with them—skills that continue to serve me well long after I left the theater. Of course, Nelson would be the first to admit that he didn’t keep up with the technology, and in the end I think I was teaching him things, but the great thing about him was that the reversal never seemed to bother him. He was more like a proud grandfather than a teacher trying to maintain intellectual dominance, and I really respect him for that, especially now that I am a teacher myself.
But for all that, what I remember most is the quiet times, just hanging around the shop listening to them gossip and tell jokes of variable quality, or sitting up in the booth teaching Nelson how to navigate the nascent Internet so he could look up web pages about Panama, Maine, peddle cars and Moxie. I gained from them a certain pragmatism that is lacking in many theatrical environments (and elsewhere). They worked hard, but they never took anything too seriously – nothing is really an emergency, and there is a fix for everything. Of course, this led to one of my fondest memories, watching Nelson emerge onstage and start sweeping the stage in the middle of a curtain call because it had been a long day and he was ready to go home. For all their pragmatism, and the admittedly hard time they gave anyone who came in range, they are some of the Good Guys, dedicated to what they do, and above all dedicated to their students.
This was my Wesleyan.
Categories Dance, Music, TheaterTags Celebrating 40 Years, Center for the Arts Stories, CFA Theater, Dance Department, Music Department, Summer at the CFA, Theater Department, This Is Why
Crafting “The Alumni Show II” Exhibition (Through Dec. 8)
September 6, 2013 by Andrew Chatfield
Director of the Center for the Arts Pamela Tatge ’84, P ’16 discusses “The Alumni Show II” and guest curator John Ravenal ’81, P ’15. The exhibition is on view in Wesleyan University’s Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery through Sunday, December 8, 2013.
At Homecoming/Family Weekend last year, I spoke with John Ravenal ’81, P ’15 about curating The Alumni Show II as part of the celebration of the CFA’s 40th anniversary. John is the Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. Despite the swift timetable, he agreed and began the daunting task of crafting from the rich and wide-ranging body of art by Wesleyan alumni a selective and cohesive exhibition of seventeen artists. I’m excited for the extended Wesleyan family and the community-at-large to engage with the work and eager to hear the conversations that follow. As John writes in the exhibition catalogue, reflecting on his own experience, an experience shared by many who have passed through Wesleyan in some capacity:
“The building of the CFA and the value it conferred on the study and practice of the arts, while not uncommon for a liberal arts college, underscored Wesleyan’s commitment to education conducted in a spirit of free inquiry, without consideration for vocational utility, but rather dedicated to increasing the understanding of the human and natural worlds we inhabit. This lofty ideal, ever under attack as impractical, unaffordable, and even elitist, is precisely what has opened the door for generations of young adults to expand their minds far beyond what they even knew to anticipate, and to consider the arts as a valid path for a lifetime of intellectual as well as creative pursuit. The broad spectrum of themes and subjects explored by the artists in this exhibition underscores the wisdom of this attitude. It doesn’t seem a stretch to see in their complex, sophisticated, critical, and beautiful work a confirmation of Wesleyan’s core values.”
Join us in celebrating and expanding this vibrant tradition. The official opening reception for The Alumni Show II is Tuesday, September 10 from 5pm to 7pm, followed by a performance/installation [“Centrifugal March”] by Aki Sasamoto ’04 at 7:30pm in Art Studio North. We look forward to seeing you!
“The Alumni Show II”
Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery
Friday, September 6 through Sunday, December 8, 2013
Tuesday-Sunday, Noon-5pm
Opening Reception: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 from 5pm to 7pm. Performance by Aki Sasamoto ’04 at 7:30pm in Art Studio North.
Homecoming/Family Weekend Reception: Saturday, November 2, 2013 from 2pm to 4pm. Talk at 2:30pm by Guest Curator John Ravenal ’81, P ’15, Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond; Special Gallery Hours: Noon to 6pm.
Closed Wednesday, November 20 through Monday, November 25, 2013.
Categories Art & Art History, Dance, Music, TheaterTags 40th Anniversary Season, Art & Art History, Dance Department, Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery, Music Department, Theater Department
Center for the Arts Stories: Jonathan Kalb ’81
September 3, 2013 September 3, 2013 by Andrew Chatfield
Jonathan Kalb ’81 at Machu Picchu. Photo by his wife Julie Heffernan.
My story is about an annual ritual of storing a god-awfully heavy upright piano that I stubbornly insisted on keeping with me all four years at Wesleyan. I’m sure a psychiatrist, if I ever asked one, would have a lot to say about why I lugged this absurd, quarter-ton, beaten-up, wooden instrument around during the most unsettled and itinerant time of life, hauling it from The Gingerbread House, to In-Town, to off-campus rentals on Washington and Pine Streets. More than three decades on, I can barely remember a time so innocent that moving seemed novel and fun. In any case, because Wesleyan housing had to be vacated over the summers, I had to find a place for my behemoth to stay every year from May until September. Full of freshman chutzpah in the spring in 1978, I walked into the Music Department, where I’d never taken a class, and asked a professor I didn’t know (I think it was Jon Barlow) if by chance I might leave my piano in a CFA practice room. He graciously answered: “Sure, if you can get it here.”
Thus began my yearly rite of bribing four or five friends with a case of beer to help push the damn thing across multiple streets and up and down long paths and sidewalks, on its rickety castors, to and from its summer sanctuary in the CFA. The asphalt pathways by the Music Department never looked the same after these operations and neither did my friends. The piano, however, was in great shape every fall (except for the castors) and I could play it in my room any time of the day or night, which is what mattered to me. Graduation inevitably forced me to focus on the merits of lightening up, and when a friend who had helped push (Joel Kreisberg) offered to buy the beast for fifty bucks, I reluctantly agreed. I saw it a few years later at his country house, nicked, faded, hulking, defiant—a proud old rusty ship just daring us to take it out on one more voyage.
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Reality in flames: modern Australian art and the Second World War
31 August – 20 October
Reality in flames explores the different ways in which Australian modernist artists responded creatively to the war, producing work which sought to comprehend cataclysmic events. It also provides a visual history of the period, revealing the war as a transformative force that altered Australia and the world.
The exhibition consists of 88 works of art drawn from the Australian War Memorial’s collection, which forms one of the most diverse and comprehensive accounts of Second World War Australian modernist art. Many were created through the official war art scheme, where artists were commissioned to record the experience of Australians fighting overseas or of home-front wartime activity – a tradition that began during the First World War and continues today. The Memorial has continued to enhance its collection of works from this period through an active program of acquisitions and donations, and the collection is now one of the most diverse and comprehensive accounts of this period in Australian military, social, and art history.
This is the first exhibition dedicated exclusively to exploring the reactions of Australian modernist artists to the Second World War. Artists have always played a crucial role in recording and interpreting the Australian experience of war, and the works in this travelling exhibition explore both the dangers soldiers faced abroad and the challenges war brought to the home front and to Australian society itself.
An Australian War Memorial Touring Exhibition.
Image: SYBIL CRAIG Girls working in the Container Production Room (Commonwealth Explosives Factory, Maribyrnong) 1945, oil on artist’s board. ART23507, Image courtesy of the Australian War Memorial.
Inspired by Art with Clare Delaney
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Tag: Robert Hornung
Pigs fly as oil industry and environmental groups endorse NDP’s ambitious Made-in-Alberta Climate Change Plan
16 Comments on Pigs fly as oil industry and environmental groups endorse NDP’s ambitious Made-in-Alberta Climate Change Plan
Premier Rachel Notley and Environment Minister Shannon Phillips release Alberta's climate change plan in November 2015.
Pigs continued to fly in Alberta politics today as energy industry leaders and environmental groups joined Premier Rachel Notley and Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips at a press conference to release Alberta’s much anticipated plan to take action against Climate Change. The Alberta government received the final report from the independent panel led by University of Alberta economics professor Andrew Leach and announced its plans to phase out coal burning electricity plants, phase in a price on carbon, introduce a limit on overall emissions from the oil sands and introduce an energy efficiency strategy.
Ms. Notley will now take the report and the made-in-Alberta plan to address climate change to a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers tomorrow and to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris next week.
Here is what energy industry executives, environmental leaders and opposition politicians had to say about today’s climate change announcement:
“Responding to climate change is about doing what’s right for future generations of Albertans – protecting our jobs, health and the environment. It will help us access new markets for our energy products, and diversify our economy with renewable energy and energy efficiency technology. Alberta is showing leadership on one of the world’s biggest problems, and doing our part.” – Rachel Notley, Premier of Alberta (full release)
“I thank the panel members and the many Albertans, including Indigenous people, industry, environmental groups, municipalities and other partners and stakeholders for their contribution. This is the right plan for our province, and now is the right time to implement it.” – Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment and Parks (full release)
“The announcement is a significant step forward for Alberta. We appreciate the strong leadership demonstrated by Premier Notley and her government. The framework announced will allow ongoing innovation and technology investment in the oil and natural gas sector. In this way, we will do our part to address climate change while protecting jobs and industry competitiveness in Alberta.” – Murray Edwards, Chair, Canadian Natural Resources Limited (full release)
“Today we are making history, with Alberta taking its rightful place as a leader on the world stage. Premier Notley promised Albertans leadership on the issue of climate change and she and her government have delivered. This is the right thing to do for both for our environment and our economy. The world needs more of this kind of leadership from major energy producing jurisdictions if we are to avoid dangerous climate change.” – Ed Whittingham, Executive Director, Pembina Institute (full release)
“We fully support the Government’s new climate policy direction. It enables Alberta to be a leader, not only in climate policy, but also in technology, innovation, collaborative solutions and energy development. I believe it will lead to Albertans and Canadians receiving full value for their oil and natural gas resources, while addressing climate change.” – Brian Ferguson, President & Chief Executive Officer of Cenovus Energy (full release)
“After a string of pipeline victories and over a decade of campaigning on at least three different continents, the Alberta government has finally put a limit to the tarsands. Today they announced they will cap its expansion and limit the tarsands monster to 100 megatonnes a year.” – Mike Hudema, Greenpeace (full release)
“This new carbon tax will make almost every single Alberta family poorer, while accelerated plans to shut down coal plants will lead to higher power prices and further jobs losses. Wildrose will be looking at every detail of this plan closely, and we will speak out against policies that hurt Albertans and the economy.” – Brian Jean, leader of the Wildrose Party (full release)
“Canadians have high expectations of themselves when it comes to protecting the environment and managing economic growth, and the world expects much of Canada. Alberta’s new climate change policy sends a clear message that Alberta intends to live up to those expectations. Today’s announcement sets Canadian oil on the path to becoming the most environmentally and economically competitive in the world.” – Lorraine Mitchelmore, President and Country Chair Shell Canada and EVP Heavy Oil for Shell (full release)
“Now it’s time for the government to unapologetically promote Alberta’s emissions reduction successes to date and clearly articulate support for the long-term growth of Alberta’s energy industry, including the oil sands, conventional production, natural gas power, cogeneration and renewable energy.” – Greg Clark, leader of the Alberta Party (full release)
“Today we reach a milestone in ensuring Alberta’s valuable resource is accompanied by leading carbon policy. It’s time that Alberta is seen as a climate, energy and innovation leader. This plan will make one of the world’s largest oil-producing regions a leader in addressing the climate change challenge.” – Steve Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer, Suncor (full release)
“On a public policy Richter scale, Alberta’s new Climate Leadership Plan is an 11. It is enormously positive and forward-looking and will yield measurable benefits for the health and quality of life of Albertans. Significantly, the new plan is supported by oil industry leaders, environmental organizations and other important stakeholders.” – Rick Smith, executive director of the Broadbent Institute
“Alberta’s decision to move away from coal-fired electricity generation and dramatically increase its use of renewable energy reflects a trend happening in countries all over the world. More renewable energy in Alberta will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, clean the air, and produce significant new investment and jobs – particularly in rural areas of the province.” – Robert Hornung, President of CanWEA (full release)
“As Premier Notley said today, we expect today’s announcement to further enhance the reputation of our sector and improve our province’s environmental credibility as we seek to expand market access nationally and internationally. As well, the province’s climate strategy may allow our sector to invest more aggressively in technologies to further reduce per barrel emissions in our sector and do our part to tackle climate change. That’s what the public expects, and that’s’ what we expect of ourselves.” – said Tim McMillan, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (full release)
Tags Alberta Climate Change Plan, Alberta NDP, Alberta Party, Andrew Leach, Brian Ferguson, Brian Jean, Broadbent Institute, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, CanWEA, Climate Change, COP21 Climate Change Conference, Ed Whittingham, Greg Clark, Justin Trudeau, Lorraine Mitchelmore, Mike Hudema, Murray Edwards, Oil Sands, Pembina Institute, Phase out Coal, Rachel Notley, Rick Smith, Robert Hornung, Shannon Phillips, Steve Williams, Suncor, Tim McMillan, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Wildrose Party
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Criminal Charge For Sending Flashing Tweet To Epileptic
A man has been arrested after he alleged tweeted a flashing animated strobe-style picture, which triggered an epileptic seizure in the recipient.
US police found (after searching sender 29-year-old John Rayne Rivello’s computer) that he had been researching the triggers of epileptic seizures online.
Part of a Planned Hate Campaign?
Further forensic searches of Maryland-based Mr Rivello’s computer by police found more evidence that the sending of the flashing image to the victim, Texas-based Kurt Eichenwald, appeared to be part of simmering and pre-planned hate campaign. Among the digital evidence, police discovered:
Messages sent to other Twitter users about Mr Eichenwald, with some suggesting a plan for a virtual attack. One such message from Rivello was found to say "I hope this sends him into a seizure".
A screenshot of an altered Wikipedia page for Mr Eichenwald in Mr Rivello’s iCloud account. The alterations, allegedly made by Mr Rivello’, included a death date for Mr Eichenwald of the day after the (allegedly) malicious tweet had been sent.
A message, allegedly sent by Mr Rivello to Mr Eichenwald, saying “You deserve a seizure for your post”.
The victim (Mr Eichenwald) is a s+enior writer at Newsweek magazine, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and a best-selling author of four books. One book, ‘The Informant’ (from 2000), was made into a film in 2009. Since 1986, Mr Eichenwald has been employed by The New York Times since 1986 and primarily covered Wall Street and corporate topics.
It was widely known that Mr Eichenwald suffered from epilepsy because he had written articles about the condition and his struggles with it, since being diagnosed at the age of 18 in 1979. He was awarded a journalism prize from the Epilepsy Foundation of America for his 1987 article about the condition.
After seeing the flashing image tweeted by Mr Rivello, Mr Eichenwald reportedly suffered an epileptic seizure that has had long lasting effects on his health.
The Motivation?
The motivation for the attack is not clear, although some commentators have alleged that it may be down to Mr Eichenwald’s public criticism of President Donald Trump.
Flashing & Seizures
There is medical evidence to suggest that flashing images that fill the field of vision and that change abruptly in light intensity and luminance could trigger seizures in an epilepsy sufferer.
Technical commentators have pointed out that a seizure-triggering image would have to be very carefully constructed to take account of the visual limitations of Modern LED screens and to make sure that the flash rate of the image fell within the most sensitive range of 15-25 flashes per second.
Cyber Stalking Charge
According to the New York Times, Mr Rivello now faces a charge of criminal cyber-stalking and could face a 10-year sentence.
This story illustrates how the form of cyber-attacks can be wide and varied, and how determined individuals can use information about victims that they find online to target their attacks. Cyber criminals use similar research and information gathering processes to attack company systems. Most attacks on companies, however, arrive via email in the hope that opening emails and clicking on bogus links can enable the loading of malware onto the victim’s computer. In addition to having anti-virus and email filtering protection, staff should be educated on how to spot and deal with potentially dangerous emails and suspicious contacts. Businesses should also be aware that attacks can also come from disgruntled ex-employees for example, with insider knowledge of IT and data systems.
Car Costs Could Skyrocket
If car manufacturers are given sole access your modern car’s digital data records (and not third party repair businesses), this could mean that manufacturers will recommend their own repair centres and spare parts, which would very likely mean higher bills and less choice for you.
The argument between car manufacturers / manufacturer-owned businesses and independent / third party car repair and other businesses over who has access to your car’s data is now well under way.
What Data?
Today’s car engines contain sensors and mini-computers (as required by European law) and they have an onboard diagnostic (OBD) port, which allows mechanics to plug in a cable and access the data stored in the car's computer or electronic control unit (ECU).
As well as giving access to diagnostic performance data, this port gives access to emissions data, which enables them to check whether vehicles comply with pollution regulations.
The mini-computers and sensors (which are now important parts of modern engines) measure, collect and send data to car manufacturers about wear and tear on your car’s parts, your car’s fuel efficiency, and how far and fast your car has been driven, among other things.
Your engine’s computer also transmits other potentially lucrative data to your manufacturer such as when your service is due.
Unfair Advantage For Manufacturers?
Third-party car repair and car parts retailers, supported by the FIGIEFA, British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), Cecra, FiA, ADPA, and Leaseurope are arguing that:
Since manufacturers are the only ones with access to the data being sent from their cars, they can recommend their own spare parts and repair shops. This is an unfair advantage that distorts the market. Consumers are given less choice and face having to travel further than they would like (to manufacturer-owned / endorsed repair shops), and may face higher bills if manufacturers are allowed to only recommend their own parts and repair businesses.
The use of cloud-based programs called hypervisors could enable the widespread use of a vehicle interoperable, standardised, secure and open-access platform. This could provide a way for third-party companies to securely access car data, and could create fair competition in the market.
The other side of the argument comes from the car manufacturers, supported by The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). This point of view states that:
Allowing direct third-party access to vehicular electronic systems will jeopardise safety, cyber security (because vehicle electronic systems could be hacked) and vehicle integrity.
Allowing third-parties access to car computer systems is a threat to trade-secrets and aspects of those systems that are covered by intellectual property rights.
It does seem as though there is little scope for competition and a possible unfair advantage for car manufacturers while they retain sole access to car computer data. Economics, and the experiences of other markets would suggest, therefore, that servicing bills for your business vehicles are likely to be higher while the power rests with a relatively small group of manufacturers. It could also mean less choice, and more inconvenience.
Robots Helping The Elderly
In an age when people are living longer, healthcare systems and resources are being strained, with elderly people facing challenges like loneliness, more research is being carried out into how robots could bridge the care gap.
The global population is ageing. In the UK alone for example, people are having fewer children and living longer lives. By 2040, nearly one in seven people is projected to be aged over 75 (UK Government figures) and this will mean that public spending will need to increase, and already stretched care systems will be under unprecedented pressures. Meeting the caring and or nursing needs of the elderly, as well as addressing companionship issues, are likely to be major issues facing us all in years to come.
How Can Robots Help?
Research into (and the development of) ‘robo-nurse’ and ‘robo-carer’ devices has been taking place over several years now. Examples include:
A robot receptionist called Nadine at the Institute of Media Innovation, in Singapore's Nanyang Technological University. Nadine uses AI, and is capable of autonomous behaviour. The ability to recognise people and human emotions, and make associations using a knowledge database could mean that this type of robot has potential as a nurse for elderly people.
A robo-pet ‘baby seal’ called ‘Paro’. Developed in Japan, the units (5,000 of which are already in use) respond to touch and are designed to make eye contact. The therapeutic effects of these pets have been reported to include the improvement of symptoms such as depression, anxiety and stress in dementia patients. There is also evidence that ‘Paro’ units have helped non-verbal patients to speak again. Medical commentators have highlighted the potential for robo-pets like Paro to help with treatments for post-traumatic stress disorders, neuro-cognitive rehabilitation for stroke patients, help for children on the Autism-spectrum, and help with pain management or palliative care patients.
Robot units that can monitor aspects of patients’ health, administer some aspects of care and medication, and send alerts when needed.
Ethical And Security Issues
Some security and technology commentators have highlighted possible ethical and security issues with the use of robotic solutions. Protection, and the ethical use of the personal data gathered about individuals by robots may be a cause for concern. There is also an argument that the use of robots may simply mean that elderly patients are more isolated, and will miss out on many of the factors that real human contact can bring.
IBM Favours IoT
IBM has been reportedly looking more at IoT rather than robot solutions as a more immediately viable option. For example, the company is reported to have experimented with IoT sensors and how they can be used to identify changes in physical conditions or anomalies in a person's environment. The purpose of this kind of sensor is to understand a person's habits and to spot potentially significant changes to those habits remotely. This will enable the care provider to respond accordingly.
Costs Of Robots A Big Concern
Health and care budgets here in the UK are stretched anyway. With the current likely costs of individual robots running into thousands of pounds, the idea of providing robot nurses and carers on a large scale may still be some way off.
The development and merging of technologies such as AI, robotics, IoT and smart technologies, could present a realm of new business opportunities and opportunities for innovation within existing markets. There appears to be a broad consensus that the need for all kinds of scalable care solutions for the elderly and the sick exists, and will become greater over time. This represents major potential markets for the right technology-based products and services.
£8M Funding For ‘Sell In 90 Days’ London Estate Agent
The innovative London-based start-up Nested, which guarantees to sell your house within 90 days, has raised a further £8 million in funding from investors.
Launched in January last year, the company has now raised a total of £11 million thanks to backing by venture capitalist groups and individuals.
The ‘Win-Win’ USPs
The big difference between Nested’s and other estate agent’s offerings is that Nested guarantees to sell a client’s house for 95-98% of market value within 90 days. It also says that, if it does achieve a higher sale price than the one it guaranteed/offered, either before or after the 90 days, it will split the difference, up to 70/30 in favour of the property owner.
The big benefit to customers that these USPs provide is to take away the uncertainty that the house selling process brings, particularly where the presence of a chain is concerned, or where the house has been on the market with an agent for a few months or longer, and nothing has happened. In both cases, the seller is essentially looking for speed in what has become a crowded housing market, as well as getting a good price, and the USPs that Nested offers appear to be a way to achieve those aims.
Technology Behind The USPs
How the company uses technology and data to accurately price property in the first place are the competencies that have enabled them to build and deliver upon their USPs.
Who Has Invested?
The recent round of investment saw contributions from Passion Capital, GFC (Rocket Internet’s venture arm), and Tim Bunting, who is a partner at Balderton Capital and former Vice-Chairman of Goldman Sachs International.
Broke-Even In Month Four
So far, Nested have proven to be very popular, and figures from the company show that they have an average of 5 clients per month. This translates into an annual run-rate of more than £1 million, and helped the company to reach the break-even point in only the fourth month of trading.
The founders of Nested are reported to believe that, with the funding, and with their unique position in the estate agent marketplace, they are able to achieve 1,000+ sales per month in the not-too-distant future. This, no doubt, will make them even more attractive to any future investors and potential stakeholders, and could trigger a round of me-too offerings from existing and new competitors.
Companies such as Purple Bricks have already paved the way for customers to be more accepting of (and more likely to consider) different types of less traditional estate agent models.
This story illustrates how technology-fuelled innovations in existing markets that provide solutions to long-standing challenges can be incredibly attractive to both investors and customers. It also highlights how the technology and the web, and the success of innovative, other technology-fuelled companies have given more options for funding, and have speeded-up the process of bringing new products to market. This creates more potential opportunities for all companies, including start-ups. This story also highlights the fact that, if your company can be particularly smart in how it uses data and technology, it may be possible to create a hard-to-copy competitive advantage.
Facebook Social Data-Sharing & Surveillance Bans
Facebook and Instagram privacy policies are reported to have been updated with the intention of stopping developers and businesses from using the data they find there to provide surveillance tools.
Facebook, which acquired Instagram in 2012, has reportedly been concerned, particularly in recent months, about how data posted by users of its social networks, such data posted by activists / protesters and other targeted communities, has been the subject of surveillance by developers, businesses and governments.
Facebook also appears to be making the move in response to accusations from rights and pressure groups that Facebook (and Instagram) have allowed these activities to happen too easily. This is one of the main reasons why Facebook has been working with leaders from the Civil Liberties Union of California, Color of Change, and the Center for Media Justice in order to create Privacy Policy changes that meet with the approval of some of its more high-profile critics.
A Commercial Example
One example of a way in which an Insurance Company was almost allowed to use surveillance of Facebook profiles (Facebook said no at the eleventh hour) of individual users was Admiral Insurance. Back in November 2016, Admiral wanted to trial a scheme, with the approval of Facebook, whereby the contents of the Facebook profiles of young drivers would be used in order to judge their safety as drivers (and thereby influence their insurance premiums). It was reported that the insurance company wanted to look at the posts and likes on a young driver’s Facebook profile and to use them in deciding the level of risk of that the driver. These collected details would, therefore, form part of the personality profile that the company would use as a commercial price setting tool.
Some critics of Facebook’s old Privacy Policy have also said that it allowed the promotion of payday loans to Facebook users, and provided another tool to enable the payday loan companies to decide whether they would approve or deny someone a loan.
The New Privacy Policies
There have been reports that enforcement action has been taken in recent months against some developers who have created and marketed tools meant for surveillance, in violation of the existing Privacy Policies.
The new Privacy Policies, which have been described as a “first step” by Malkia Cyril, executive director of the Center for Media Justice, have made it even clearer that developers and businesses cannot use the data obtained from the platforms to provide tools that are used for surveillance, and more enforcement action looks likely.
Businesses and other organisations hoping to create, provide or use tools that are used for surveillance will now have to be more inventive about where and how they obtain their data, although this change from Facebook is essentially good news for customers. The policy changes could potentially influence other companies e.g. tech companies to better protect users’ privacy, and to refuse to share data for the purposes of wide-scale government surveillance.
Timely Content ... Or A Sneaky Advert?
Google recently removed an unprompted audio advert from its Google Home smart speaker / digital assistant system after accusations that the piece was simply an unrequested advert.
The controversial incident occurred when 'Google Home' users were played some unprompted, unrequested audio about the opening date of the new film Beauty and the Beast. The announcement about the film, which was broadcast just after the time and weather listings and the travel update, was reportedly regarded by many listeners to have resembled a short advert.
The 41 second video of the audio piece was posted on Twitter, and prompted accusations from other Twitter users that this could be an example of an attempt to ‘monetize’ the system, and that Google Home users could end up paying someone to advertise to them in the privacy of their own homes.
The video can be found here: https://mobile.twitter.com/brysonmeunier/status/842358950536318976
Google Says It Is ‘Content’
According to Google, the piece that Google Home users heard was not an advert, but was an example of "seasonal timely content". The audio piece was part of "My Day" feature, the idea of which is to let the digital assistant provide users with an update, which can include calendar events and news bulletins.
Could Do Better
Google has stated that it has been experimenting with new ways “to surface unique content”, and that the Beauty and the Beast feature “wasn't intended to be an ad”. A Google spokesperson has been publicly quoted as saying that the tech giant “could have done better in this case” in terms of ‘surfacing’ the ‘content’.
Intrusive
Technical commentators have pointed out that unlike TV, where we expect to see and tend to naturally ‘filter out’ adverts, with an audio digital voice assistant, adverts tend to stand out much more and can be seen as intrusive.
Not Unless Requested
One of the benefits of the Google Home system that is valued by users is that they are able to choose and request what they listen to on a system that is offering something quite different to a pre-prepared, commercial radio programme.
Google Home and Amazon Echo
The Google Home digital assistant, which is not yet available outside the US, is similar to the Amazon Echo but it appears to be based on a different business model. Whereas the Amazon Echo digital assistant is funded by the Amazon sales that it helps to drive, Google products tend to be based on a model that relies partly upon funding from advertising.
This is an example of how businesses need to be very clear about (and stick to) the offering that they make to customers about a product or service. Any change that has not been communicated to customers adequately and which appears to ‘move the goalposts’ can result in negative publicity, lost customers, and damage to sales revenue. This also illustrates how many customers dislike interruptive and intrusive advertising. It also shows what a fine-line companies have to tread and how careful they have to be when choosing to promote 3rd party products / services within their own services and channels. It is the view and perception of the customer that is ultimately the most important and most powerful one.
Robot Lawyer For Refugees
A UK student has developed a chatbot computer program that can be used to provide refugees with legal advice and help, via the Facebook Messenger app.
The program was originally launched in March 2016 by a 20-year-old British man, Joshua Browder, who is currently studying at Stanford University. The program was named “DoNotPay” because it was originally designed to help users to get out of parking or speeding tickets. Mr Bowder was inspired to develop the program after his own experiences of receiving tickets as a young driver.
A version of the chatbot was also altered from helping drivers, to helping those in need of emergency housing in August 2016.
Inspired to Adapt the Program by Family History
Mr Browder said that the inspiration for changing his original chatbot into something that could provide help to refugees came from the fact that his grandmother was a refugee from Austria during the Holocaust.
The chatbot is primarily designed to help refugees to the UK and the US complete their immigration applications and it has been developed using the help of lawyers in both countries.
Users of the chatbot are asked a series of questions which are designed to discover whether they are eligible for asylum protection under international law. As well as capturing the personal details needed to automatically fill in the application form for the user, the program uses AI to provide feedback, and makes suggestions as to how an asylum seeker can best answer questions to maximise their chances of having their application accepted.
In addition to enabling users to complete an application, the chatbot also provides other location specific instructions, documentation and resources.
The chatbot is available through the Facebook Messenger app, and can be used on both Android and Apple devices. There are plans to make the chatbot available in other languages in future, including Whatsapp.
Although the intention of helping vulnerable people has been widely praised, some critics have pointed out that refugees are often among the least internet-connected groups in society, and only 39% of them have mobile internet access (UN figures).
The use of AI chatbots is becoming much more widespread in many different business sectors (e.g. banking) because they can play a useful, cost-saving and quality-maintaining role in some aspects of customer service. This story also shows how they are being applied to 3rd sector projects and organisations and AI chatbots represent an opportunity that has not yet been fully explored for organisations of all kinds.
Google’s New Simpler Captcha
A new Captcha system, developed by Google, will secretly study how your interact with a web page rather than asking questions or setting puzzles in order to prove that you are a ‘human’ visitor.
Why Captchas?
‘Captcha’ is actually an acronym (dating back to 2000) for ‘Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart’. Captchas are used to stop automated bots accessing and using websites and other online resources. If Captchas are not used, some of these bots can post spam comments in blogs, sign up for thousands of email accounts every minute e.g. on Yahoo, buy multiple tickets from ticket sites, gather email addresses (written in text) from web pages, distort online polls, and launch dictionary attacks on password systems. The use of Captchas can also offer full protection to pages that you don’t want indexed by search engines, and offer worm and spam protection.
Captchas are also useful to search engines in training their AI bots to recognise aspects of photographs.
Typical Types
Typical Types of Captchas include puzzles (when logging into a website) that ask you to tick the boxes in picture puzzle grid that show e.g. parts of a shop-front or road signs, or asking you to enter a series of letters and numbers that you can see displayed in a Captcha-generating box.
Google’s New ‘reCaptcha’ System Is ‘Invisible’
The important difference about Google’s new system ‘reCaptcha’, from a user perspective, is that it is invisible i.e. it no longer sets puzzles or asks the user to record their interpretation of visual or audio cues (in most cases).
Tick A Box First
Instead, reCaptcha asks users to tick a check box on the website they are using. It then runs in the background, monitoring the behaviour of user on the web page, and therefore relies upon its ability to be able to tell the difference between human and robot behaviour. For example, humans may take longer to complete online forms, will move the mouse around, and will need to interact with elements of them, such as the submit button. Robots on the other hand can complete this kind of process quickly, and with little or no mouse use.
Where the new system is particularly suspicious that web page activity is robot-like, it can still choose, at that point, to deploy a puzzle.
What Does It Mean For Your Business?
For web users i.e. potential or existing business customers, although they may be used to being met with a Captcha when accessing many services online, it can still be an irritation, a possible deterrent, and can have a negative impact on the experiences of customers on business websites. The reduced impact and interruption of the new system could therefore allow businesses to strike a better balance between providing good online experiences, while providing effective protection from spammers, and other problems that unlimited bot access can create.
Company Tracked Customer Sexual Activity Via ‘Smart’ Sex Toy
Worries about the security vulnerabilities in ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) devices just reached a new level after a Canadian ‘adult sensual lifestyle products’ manufacturer was found to have been secretly tracking their customers’ use of their sex toys.
Big Turn-Off
Customers of start-up firm Standard Innovation, manufacturers of ‘We-Vibe’ products, have been left red-faced and angry after the company was judged by a court to have been guilty of covertly gathering data about how (and how often) customers used their Wi-Fi enabled sex toy.
Why Wi-Fi Enabled?
The We-Vibe product was made Wi-Fi enabled because it was designed to be controlled via a smartphone app over long distances and via Bluetooth over shorter distances, thereby offering users a new kind of shared but distant experience.
What Kind Of Data Was Collected?
The kind of data that was collected via the smartphone by Standard Innovation, reportedly without the knowledge or consent of their customers was when customers had been using the sex toys, information about the intensity of the vibration settings used, and the email addresses of customers.
After being found guilty in class action lawsuit brought by two anonymous females at the North District of Illinois Eastern Division District Court, Standard Innovation agreed to pay £2.4 million to those who had purchased the smartphone app-controlled We-Vibe products. As a result of the ruling, those persons who used the app to control their We-Vibe device prior to 26 September 2016, will be entitled to £6,120 compensation, while those did not use the app will be entitled to £120.
Despite the payouts and the bad publicity, Standard Innovation seems set to woo customers back with new and improved products in the future. The company has reportedly stated that it will improve security in the products, and provide customers with more choice in the data they share.
IoT Paranoia
This story comes hot on the heels of a week where there seemed to be an outbreak of IoT paranoia in the US after comments made by President Trump’s senior counsellor Kellyanne Conway suggesting that microwaves have been used for spying, and we heard news that we could also be monitored via our smart televisions.
Although there is a light-hearted element to this story, continual media reports about anything from wearable fitness devices to household appliances being vulnerable to misuse or hacks, are evidence and manifestations of the kinds of worries and hopes that we have about the IoT and how it can best be safely used.
Where businesses are concerned, back in July 2016 a Vodafone survey showed that three quarters of businesses saw how they use the Internet of Things (IoT) as being a critical factor in their success. Many technology commentators have also noted that the true extent of the risks posed by IoT device vulnerabilities are unknown because the devices are so widely distributed globally, and large organisations have tended not to include them in risk assessments for devices, code, data, and infrastructure.
It has also been noted by many commentators that not only is it difficult for businesses to ascertain whether all their hardware, software, and service partners are maintaining effective IoT security, but there is also still no universal, certifiable standard for IoT security.
Businesses therefore may wish to conduct an audit and risk assessment for known IoT devices that are used in the business. One basic security measure is to make sure that any default username and passwords in these devices are changed as soon as possible.
Security experts also suggest that anyone deploying IoT devices in any environment should require the supply chain to provide evidence of adherence to a well-written set of procurement guidelines that relate to some kind of specific and measurable criteria.
Microsoft has also compiled a checklist of IoT security best practice. This highlights the different areas of security that need to be addressed by the organisations involved throughout the lifecycle of an IoT system e.g. manufacturing and integration, software development, deployment, and operations.
Amazon Drone Shot Down With Patriot Missile
At the recent Association of the United States Army (AUSA) symposium, General David Perkins told the audience about an incident where a close ally of the U.S. used a £2.5 million patriot missile to shoot down $200 drone purchased from Amazon.
The incident, which has been described by commentators such as Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute as “overkill”, was recounted to an audience of military personnel and military supply company representatives. News of the incident was used by the General in his speech in order to illustrate the kinetic / economic challenge facing military commanders (of all nations) where cheap technology is now being used by adversaries for attacks.
Quadcopter From Amazon
The drone was reported to be a $200 quadcopter purchased from Amazon, but the details of exactly which ‘close’ US ally chose to fire such an expensive, sophisticated and powerful weapon at the shop-bought drone has not been revealed.
Five Times the Speed of Sound Vs 80km/h
Patriot missiles typically fly at five times the speed of sound, whereas the top speed of a quadcopter drone is approximately 80km/h. Whilst the General pointed out, as may be expected, that the missile was extremely effective at eliminating the drone (the kinetic exchange ratio was good), he was eager to point out that the ‘economic ratio’ of this kind of response was not good.
The General expanded the point by saying that, as a strategy, this would be at least disastrous economically if an enemy decided, for example, to purchase and use multiple and cheap drones, knowing that they would be attacked with missiles costing hundreds of millions of dollars.
Electronic Warfare and ‘Cyber’ Approach
General David Perkins highlighted the fact that faced with attacks using cheap, widely available and evolving technology, military commanders will soon have to employ a wider variety of tactical defence options available to them, including electronic and cyber warfare, to enable a response that is effective, proportionate, and economically viable.
Drones Common Sight in the Near Future
There was a 20m ‘near miss’ of an Airbus A320 carrying 165 passengers on its approach to Heathrow Airport on 18 July last year. Amazon has also been widely reported to have successfully tested, and be hoping to introduce drone parcel delivery services in the UK. It could therefore mean that drones may be an increasingly popular sight in the skies in some parts of the UK in the near future.
This story helps to illustrate how different kinds of fairly sophisticated and often unregulated technologies (not just drones) are now becoming available, for relatively low prices, and can be used for wrong-doing.
This problem is now something that is being faced by businesses which have the threat of cyber criminals using very cheap, but advanced and often effective attack methods to steal data and money. A server-crippling DDoS attack for example, can be bought off-the-shelf and can cost the criminal just £30 to execute (presumably excluding labour costs), but the financial costs to the company that has been targeted can be huge, and potentially fatal for a business. Companies, therefore need a budget to provide a good level of cyber and data security, which may include spending on staff training to spot threats early, guarding against human error and fending off multi-vector attacks.
BT to Separate From Openreach
Last week Ofcom (the telecoms regulator) announced that BT has agreed to legally separate from Openreach, which owns and operates the UK's broadband infrastructure.
Why The Split?
Through Openreach, BT owns (and is responsible for providing) the vast majority of the UK’s telecoms network infrastructure, not just for itself, but also for any competitors such as TalkTalk, Sky, and Vodafone (and BT's own retail arm). This has led to competition problems, and rivals have argued that, since BT has a third of the country's broadband market, a company from its own group should not be providing the infrastructure
There is has also been an argument in recent years that greater investment is needed in the network, and that action needs to be taken to improve broadband and phone services across the UK.
Also, in July 2016, Ofcom recommended that Openreach should be run as a separate company from BT, and in November 2016 Ofcom ruled that it would force a separation via the European Commission. BT has also faced pressure from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to separate the two businesses.
Jumped, Rather Than Pushed
The agreement by BT to separate itself from Openreach means that potentially costly and damaging legal battles and imposed regulations can now be avoided.
The deal to separate the two companies, which took two years to complete, will actually mean that Openreach will have its own board, and will make its own investment decisions, but the BT board will still set the annual budget.
General Approval
The announcement by Ofcom has been met with general noises of approval by rivals Sky, TalkTalk and Vodafone (all users of the Openreach network) who had long argued that the link between BT and Openreach had been bad for competition and had impacted upon the levels of service that competitor companies had been able to offer their customers.
On the face of it, the potential for business broadband services to improve for all of us is, of course, a good thing. Telecoms commentators have, however, pointed out that expecting a sudden investment of billions more in fast fibre broadband connections just because there is a new, independent Board is unrealistic. There is also the small matter of how BT's shareholders will feel about seeing an important part of the business going, although, shortly after the announcement of the impending separation, shares in BT jumped 4.3% to 344.2p in the morning trading.
Windows 10 Programmable Updates
In response to complaints by Microsoft Windows 10 ‘Home’ edition users that the enforced reboots required for some updates are disruptive, Microsoft is enabling users to choose when their updates are installed, as from next month.
Schedule Your Updates Days In Advance
Microsoft has announced, via one of its many blog posts, that at any time within 3 days of being informed of when a security update (and perhaps a reboot) is required, Windows 10 (Home) users will very soon be able to schedule when that installation actually takes place.
More Convenient If Users Are Prepared
This is likely to be a lot more convenient for users and could go some way towards addressing concerns and complaints that date back to the Anniversary Update of August 2016.
This update took away the configurable option relating to the scheduling of updates (for Windows 10 ‘Home’ users) and instead instructed the software to apply patches overnight, automatically restarting devices to enable the updates to take effect. The big problem was that users who left their computers running overnight were often unprepared to have their computer re-started.
Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions have the ability to prevent and re-schedule forced updates anyway.
Part of the Creators Update
The change to security (and privacy) features will be rolled-out next month as a small part of the wider ‘Creators Update’. The main focus of this new update will be upon 3D, game broadcasting and tournaments to gamers across Xbox and Windows 10 PCs, and improvements to popular apps and Microsoft Edge.
Downloads Less Disruptive Too
As part of the announcement about ‘Home’ users being able to schedule update reboots, Microsoft’s Michael Fortin (CVP of Windows and Devices Group Core Quality) has stated that after the Creator Update, downloads will have less impact on device performance while they are in progress.
Privacy Changes.
Fortin also announced that leading on from an announcement made by Microsoft’s Terry Myerson in January, the Creator Update will also bring new features that will make it easier for users to choose their own privacy and diagnostic data collection settings.
Security Risks In Delaying Updates
Security commentators have been quick to point out that giving users the chance to delay security updates (which often contain critical security fixes) could make them more vulnerable to hackers and other cyber-security risks.
If you are a business user who has a ‘Home’ edition of Windows 10 on your device(s), the Creator Update will mean that you have some control over when your computer is re-booted and updated. This could mean less disruption during working hours and the chance to plan updates so that no vital work is interrupted / disrupted ... or lost. It is, however, important to understand that you may be exposing your business to a degree of risk by delaying vital security updates for days rather than minutes or hours.
IBM To Offer Quantum Computing Service
IBM is preparing to offer a service that gives access to (and use of) a powerful, universal quantum computer, via the cloud, thereby enabling users to solve complex problems and innovate.
More Power, Greater Capabilities
The service, which will be called IBM Q, will be the first time that a universal quantum computer has been commercially available.
The big advantage of quantum computers is that they are exponentially more capable than existing ‘classical’ computers and they are able to solve highly complex problems.
Examples of ways in which the power of quantum computers have been / can be applied to and can benefit businesses and society include:
Dramatically speeding up the process of discovering new and innovative drugs and materials by providing the ability to work through large amounts of complex molecular and chemical data, formulae and variables.
Advancing the development of artificial intelligence (AI) features in products and services.
Solving complex supply chain logistics problems.
Modelling financial data and multiple global risk factors to enable better investment choices.
Applying the laws of quantum physics to computer systems could improve security.
Building The Interfaces
IBM are currently reported to be at the stage of introducing the application programming interface (API) that will enable developers to begin building the interfaces that will be necessary for a five quantum bit (qubit) cloud-based quantum computer to talk to traditional computers. The company has also recently upgraded the IBM Quantum Experience simulator.
Development Kit Released Soon
A software development kit on the IBM Quantum Experience is scheduled to be released in the first half of this year. The kit will enable users to build simple quantum applications and software programs, connect to IBM’s quantum processor through the Cloud, study the tutorials, and start running algorithms, experiments and simulations on the quantum computer.
The use of a quantum computer will give businesses and organisations of all kinds a chance to solve many of their most complex problems, develop new and innovative potentially industry-leading products and services and perhaps discover new, hitherto unthought-of business opportunities. If IBM Q lives up to its promise, it could offer businesses to chance to develop products that could provide real competitive advantage in a shorter amount of time and at much less cost than their traditional computer architecture and R&D practices previously allowed.
Sage 50% Price Hike In April
Sage One customers have reportedly received letters informing them that as of April 1st this year, the price for the service will be increased by 50%, from £10 per month to £15 per month.
Greater Value From Enhancements = Pay More.
According to the letter, the stated reasons for the accounting-as-a-service company dramatically increasing the price of its SaaS Sage One (including Sage Intelligence Reporting) service include:
Price / value re-alignment. Sage appears to be saying that product portfolio evolution and enhancements, which are giving greater value to customers, now need to be reflected in the pricing.
Continued investment for more improvements needs to be paid for. The price rise can help Sage to invest in the technologies that can enable more product / service improvements in the future.
What Kind of Enhancements?
According to recent media reports, the kind of product enhancements that could be delivering enough extra value to Sage One customers to justify a 50% price increase could include the increased quality of statements that could help businesses to get paid quicker.
According to Sage however, one key element of their service that sets them apart from competitors (the 24hr telephone and email support provided all UK customers) comes at no extra cost.
Evidence of Sage Investing.
One area where there is clear, recent evidence of Sage investing in the future of a product is in its acquisition of cloud human-capital-management provider Fairsail in order to upgrade its ‘Sage People’ service. Farsail’s more famous customers are reported to include Aveva, Paddy Power Betfair and Trainline. ®, and the integration of Fairsail’s technology into the ‘Sage People’ service could, therefore, provide significant product improvements.
Irony?
Ironically, an article posted on the Sage One blog from a week ago (around the time of the letters informing customers of the price hike) gives customers advice on “Raising prices: 5 steps to take that won’t lose you customers”. As well as suggesting that offering new features could help justify an acceptable price rise (as in the case of Sage One), advice includes “plan meticulously” and “raise the issue in advance”. The article states that a price rise is more acceptable to customers if they know that are getting something extra in return and if an honest approach is taken in informing them.
Expected?
If FSB figures are anything to go by, Sage One customers could (like one in five small firms) have expected an increase of 44% for the price of service from April.
April may be the time for many price increases but for many businesses, a price rise of 50% with no immediate, perceived increase in value received may be viewed as excessive. The saving grace for Sage, in this case, may be that it is not easy for businesses to switch accounting systems, and that the monthly costs at £15 are still relatively low. This also serves an example to businesses that clear and regular communication of the ‘value’ that services / improved services offer to customers can go some way to softening the blow of any price rises.
Bitcoin More Valuable Than Gold
The value of a unit of the web-based crypto currency ‘Bitcoin’ has exceeded the value of an ounce of gold for the first time.
Last week, the markets recorded the value of a unit of Bitcoin at $1,268, compared to a troy ounce of gold at $1,233. A troy ounce is an imperial unit measure of the mass of a precious metal.
Bitcoin is a digital web-based currency that operates without the need for central banks and uses highly secure encryption (a crypto-currency) to regulate the currency units and to verify transfers of funds. Bitcoin uses the ‘Blockchain’ technology. Blockchain is an open and programmable technology that can be used to record transactions for virtually anything of value that can be converted to code and is often referred to as a kind of ‘incorruptible ledger’.
There are approximately 15 million Bitcoins in existence, and in order to receive a Bitcoin, a user must have a Bitcoin address (of which there is no central register). This address consists of a string of 27-34 letters and numbers, which act like a virtual post-box, to and from which the Bitcoins are sent.
The Benefits of Bitcoin as a currency for users are that payments can be transferred easily and quickly and anonymously (because it is outside of central banks and government control), across borders, continents and time-zones.
Relatively New and Fluctuating
As a relatively newly introduced(2009) model of currency, Bitcoin has taken some time to gain popularity.
After a tenfold increase in its value in only two months and a surge in value to $1,163 back in 2013, Bitcoin has had its share of turbulent waters.
Predictions of its possible demise and a fall in the value of Bitcoin were fuelled by its collapse on the MtGox exchange in Japan in 2014 as a result of a hack.
Despite a crack-down on Bitcoin trading by Chinese authorities who feared that it was being used to channel money out of the country illegally, Bitcoin surged to reach new heights.
In January this year, the value of 1 Bitcoin received a 2.5% boost and jumped above $1,000 (£815) for the first time in 3 years. Bitcoin’s recent boost in value means that its total worth of $16 billion is around the same value as that of a FTSE 100 company.
Currency experts attribute the latest big rise in Bitcoin’s value to a big increase in demand in China due to the fall in the value of the Yuan in 2016. This has been the Chinese currency's weakest performance in more than 20 years.
Bitcoin is also now looking like a viable alternative to cash in countries that have a shortage of it (e.g. India, which had high denomination bank-notes removed from circulation in November).
For businesses, Bitcoin has many attractive advantages such as the speed and ease with which transactions can take place due to the lack of a central bank and traditional currency control.
Using Bitcoin also means that cross-border and global trading is simpler and faster and the ‘crypto’ aspect of the currency makes it secure. Bitcoin’s decrease in volatility in recent times, plus the widening of popularity and potential uses for its underlying technology ‘Blockchain’ mean that Bitcoin looks increasingly attractive to businesses and governments in 2017.
Old Phones Making a Comeback
The launch of the revamped Nokia 3310 handset, 17 years after its debut, and unveiling of a new Android-powered Blackberry with an old-school physical keyboard show how phone companies are using nostalgia to their advantage.
Looking Back For A Better Future.
With new product launches in the technology and communications markets, it’s often the case that the styling, as well as the features, is forward looking. Unfortunately, this can mean that competing products can look similar and many of the positive associations that people have with older models can be lost. Particularly with the re-vamped Nokia 3310 re-launch, and with the new Android-powered Blackberry, mobile phone companies appear to be trying to achieve ‘contrast’ and therefore grab attention and headlines and re-ignite positive past associations.
Customers are, therefore, being offered two things in one - modern features, coupled with a styling and simplicity that they have emotional (and therefore engaging) connections with.
The Nokia 3310
The new version of the Nokia 3310 (unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona) is actually being released under licence by Finnish start-up HMD Global because Nokia now manufactures telecoms equipment but doesn’t actually make phones.
Nevertheless, Nokia's original 3310 was the first mass-market mobile, and by re-introducing a version of it (updated inside), HMD Global could expect to take advantage of “Restorative nostalgia” (refer Svetlana Boym) i.e. a kind of positive rebuilding of a ‘nostos’ or lost brand (and brand values) home in the minds of customers.
In terms of the features it offers, users may be most impressed by its long battery life, as the colour-screened phone has up to a month's standby time, and can deliver more than 22 hours of talk time.
Technical commentators have pointed out that users may be less impressed by its 2.5G connectivity, relatively small range of apps, and two megapixel camera. Some commentators have already pigeon-holed it a kind of ‘holiday phone’ i.e. one that is just for essential but would spend most of its time turned off.
One thing the new 3310 has been very successful at is grabbing attention and headlines.
The Blackberry.
The newly unveiled Blackberry, which is also being made under licence (by Chinese phone-maker TCL Communication) is using similar visual tactics by having an older look and a physical keyboard. Tapping into the strong brand values of the Blackberry glory days makes a lot of sense when trying to revive a brand.
What Does This Mean To Your Business?
If you’re a phone retailer for example, these models may be good attention grabbers for your business and may perform well in terms of sales, perhaps attracting older or less technically knowledgeable customers to your store. For any other business, this story illustrates how powerful old, positive, product and brand associations can be in terms of nostalgia, and emotional engagement. This is often the reason why many companies re-release old adverts that remind customers of the company’s history, and of their own associations with a well-loved brand. Simplicity and ease of use are also things that customers like e.g. an old-style keypad phone. Simple products can be non-threatening, attractive, and can enable customers to more easily their advantages.
Slow-Mo-Phone
The newly launched Sony Xperia XZ Premium smartphone enables users to film smooth, slow motion footage at rates that top-end smartphones are currently unable to match.
How Slow?
According to technical commentators, the slow motion footage available with the Xperia XZ Premium is four times the rate possible on competing models from the likes of Apple, Samsung and Huawei.
Why Slow Motion?
Much of the point of the Xperia XZ Premium is to show off the abilities of the camera, as Sony only has very small market share of the smartphone market (around 1%), but makes its image-sensors available to its rivals a year after they debut. In other words, Sony appears to make more money from selling phone cameras to its competitors than selling its own smartphones.
The 960 frames per second shooting ability of the video on the phone is what enables the camera to capture a broadcast-quality smoothness and detail in slow motion. This unrivalled ‘experience’ (due to its superior relative slo-mo quality), is in keeping with Sony’s aim of being able to deliver a clear differentiator in terms of “experiences” that connect with users in emotional and meaningful ways.
For example, at the launch of the Xperia XZ Premium in Barcelona, the audience was treated to a video showing a skateboard topped with glitter, where the skateboarder performed a jump. The idea was to impress, and engage with a display that related to more to what marketers know as the the 'experiential hierarchy of effects'.
What Else Is Great About It?
As well as the slow motion filming abilities, the Xperia XZ Premium offers the world's first 4K high dynamic range (HDR) screen. This means that the resolution is therefore four times better than high definition displays and (for example) blacks are blacker and whites whiter on screens, thus creating an image with more depth.
The phone can also offer a very high download capacity and speed. For example, its 1 gigabit per second download capabilities means that whole films can be downloaded to the phone in a matter of seconds.
There is a generous size 5.5 inch screen that has ultra-high definition and colour contrast, thus making for a better experience for the viewer.
What Are the Drawbacks?
According to technical commentators, the two big drawbacks of the phone are that:
The user is required to press the button at the exact moment the action is taking place in order to get the super slow motion video capture.
Only a small amount of content that can be viewed on a 4K HDR screen is currently available.
The phone is due to go on sale later in the spring, but the price is not yet public knowledge.
For other mobile phone manufacturers, they now know that the technology for the next generation of mobile phone cameras has been developed and will soon be available to them. For phone retailers, Xperia XZ Premium is a product that technology early adopters, film consumers and those with particular visual, film-making, and multi-media interests (and jobs) will like. Other businesses could use this phone to make broadcast quality videos / films that could be used for promotional purposes on and offline.
The Psychology of Your Security
At Cybercon 2017 in Plymouth, an independent cyber security consultant and human behaviour specialist told attendees that Teaching IT and cyber security teams about psychology and sociology is key to enabling better cyber security practices.
Users Are A Mixture of ‘Spock’ and ‘Homer’
Consultant Jessica Barker made the point that instead of IT and cyber security teams in businesses being trained by security professionals to expect users to always behave rationally and logically (like “Spock”), they should also be trained to expect that users can also behave like “Homer” (Homer Simpson). This acknowledgement of (and understanding among staff ) of a more rounded model of user behaviour could lead to businesses being better protected against cyber and data security threats.
Protection From Homer
One key point that Barker made was that when people are in a so-called ‘hot-state’ of decision-making, the less rational and more visceral impulses in them tend to overtake the their more rational impulses i.e. ‘Homer’ wins over ‘Spock’. In marketing, a hot-state and the impulsive urge to act can be induced by promotions that tap in to the ‘Id’, and urge people to reduce self-control and act immediately without thought e.g. a slogan like “Hungry? Grab a Snickers’®”
In terms of cyber and data security, training could educate employees to the fact that in social engineering attacks, the attacker is trying to induce this state in the staff member in order to make them divulge information. An awareness that this happens, and the building in of a process that staff can use to a allow rational thought and checking (e.g. empowering them to ask and be rewarded for asking questions) could therefore provide vital protection against costly and disruptive malware data breaches.
Not Just Technical Aspects.
Barker pointed out that in order to provide maximum value to businesses and to deliver maximum effectiveness, IT security trainers need to teach security teams and all relevant staff about relevant psychology, sociology and communication, as well as the technical aspects of cyber and data security.
So-called ‘Techies’ in a company, who are traditionally viewed as being happier with ‘process’ should also be taught about ‘people’ in order to give them a more balanced and effective cyber security skill-set.
Just as an understanding of ‘buyer behaviour’ is important in successful marketing of products and services, by giving all staff a grounding in human behaviour as it relates to cyber criminals and those dealing with potential attacks, you could dramatically improve your organisation’s resistance to attacks.
According to Verizon DBIR research last year, human error accounted for most security incidents experienced by organisations. For example, 30% of phishing messages sent that year were opened (by staff), 12% of those people who opened the messages carried on to click on the attachment or link in the email.
If staff are therefore trained to spot the risks, encouraged to ask questions, and able to re-engage the ‘Spock’ in them at the right moment, it could save your business a lot of money, time, disruption, and possible reputational damage.
Cloudflare Scare
Security company Cloudflare have revealed that a leak of sensitive data (nicknamed ‘Cloudbleed’), which was made possible by a bug in their code, could mean that many users of popular services may need to change their passwords.
A bug in the code of California-based Cloudflare’s software appears to have leaked data from perhaps as many as four million domains of the six million websites that using Cloudflare’s performance enhancement, SEO and security services.
Any requests to websites with the HTML rewrite features enabled, triggered the software bug, which then leaked personal data from any other Cloudflare proxy customers that were in memory at the time, to random requesters.
What Kind of Data Was Leaked?
The kind of personal customer data that was leaked included session tokens, passwords, private messages (perhaps including private messages sent on dating sites), API keys, and possibly even credit card details. The full scope of the leaked data is not yet known.
When ... and For How Long?
The problem, which was discovered and reported by Tavis Ormandy (a Google researcher), resulted in data being leaked (accidentally) over the last six months by data-crawlers and regular website users downloading files and visiting sites. The worst period for the leak is thought to have been between February 13th and February 18th. During this time, it is believed that a memory leakage took place for 1 in every 3,300,000 HTTP requests through Cloudflare.
Complicated Clean-Up.
Although the leak itself was bad enough, it has been compounded and made much more difficult to clean up because :
The leak contained cookies and authentication codes. This means that users can’t clean all of up the mess by themselves, but need website administrators to take action too.
Search engines cached the leaked data, thus making it a lot more difficult and time consuming to clean up. For example, authentication cookies for sites affected by ‘CloudBleed’ can be found in web searches. These could potentially allow someone to log into a website without a password, posing as a regular user. To their credit, it has been reported that many search engines including Google, Yahoo, and Bing did what they could to scrub the data before news of the bug was publicly announced.
Popular Websites Affected.
Data from many popular websites is believed to have been leaked. Websites affected include Uber, Fitbit, Ok Cupid, and Yelp.
Do Hackers Have The Leaked Data?
Security commentators say that, to this point, there is no evidence to suggest that the data has fallen into the wrong hands or is being used by hackers.
What Does This Mean For My Business?
The advice from security commentators is to first check whether details of you / your business may have been leaked by checking the list of domains for that appear to have been affected by the Cloudflare leak. These domains have been posted online here : https://github.com/pirate/sites-using-cloudflare
Other actions that you can take include :
Ask your vendors and sites to reset / rotate all session tokens.
If you use websites that have a link / button that allows you to log out of all active sessions, click on it. Then, do the same thing again in week or two week’s time.
Check your password managers and change all of your passwords, especially those on the named affected sites.
Make sure that you set up two-factor authentication on important accounts.
Rotate API keys and Secrets.
From Ad-Free to ... Ads
Israeli ad-blocking software company Shine is re-positioning itself as a trusted online ad verification hub for both consumers and advertisers.
Ad Verification & Filtering Service
Shine’s new, free ad filtering and verification service provides a way for consumers to agree to receive adverts that meet quality and relevance criteria, and therefore give advertisers a co-operative way to get around the 'stone wall' that consumer ad-blocking software presents.
What’s The Problem For Consumers?
For consumers, online advertising has proven to be a problem and an annoyance where:
There’s a feeling of being bombarded and interrupted i.e. there are too many online adverts, and consumers lives are interrupted, time is lost, data consumption is eaten up, and extra effort has to be made e.g. having to wait due to advert loading / playing and having to actively close or navigate away from adverts. For example, estimates at the amount of a mobile user’s data consumption used up by adverts range from anywhere between 20% and 50%.
There’s a lack of relevance in the adverts that are displayed.
The adverts are too large, unwieldy and awkward to deal with.
There’s a feeling of being 'followed around' by adverts for products that a person may have searched for some time ago.
Turning To Ad Blockers
One option for consumers has been to use ad blocking software. The ease of doing so was aided by companies such as Apple and Samsung allowing the apps on their mobile browsers.
After an announcement in February 2016, the ‘Three’ network also trialled a network-level block on advertising (in partnership with Shine) last summer because it was believed to be more effective than ad blocking apps (many of which were banned from some app stores anyway).
Although advertisers and publishers feared a huge uptake of ad blocking software, Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) figures from last year show only 22% of UK adults were using ad blocking software.
The Problem For Advertising Publishers
The problem for advertising publishers and content providers is that ad blockers essentially cut off the source of revenue that they use to fund much of the content they produce.
The response from advertising publishers over the last year has therefore been to deny access to content to people who use ad blockers.
This situation of consumers realising that they cannot view free content unless they turn ad blockers off, and of publishers accepting that they should produce adverts that consumers are more happy to receive, has led to the current acceptance of the need for a ‘value exchange’ between all parties.
Shine’s New Role
After working with mobile carrier Three, an advertising agency and a media firm for the past six months, Shine’s new role in the value exchange will therefore be to sit between consumer and publisher to offer a mutually beneficial service. Shine’s ‘Rainbow’ platform will therefore mean that ad agencies will send their adverts to the Rainbow platform to be verified and validated. Consumers who sign up to Shine will then only see adverts that have been verified through Shine’s Rainbow platform. Shine will then provide feed back to advertisers and publishers about their adverts. Shine’s platform will be introduced later this summer.
What’s In It For Shine?
Shine stands to benefit from the branding benefits, from occupying a unique and almost essential positioning and from an insights and analytics product based on the data produced that can be sold on to advertisers.
For businesses wanting to beat the ad-blockers and get commercial messages through to more receptive consumers, the Rainbow platform is a potential opportunity, and a chance to gain competitive advantage. For those of us in business who have been frustrated by online and mobile advertising (but who don’t want to lose out on accessing favoured content) Shine’s Rainbow platform could offer a more acceptable middle ground.
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Brain Scans Reveal Ads That Work
A team of Dutch researchers have used brain scans of consumers to discover what makes adverts most effective in terms of prompting a person to seek out a product online.
The Research.
The researchers (at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University RSM) showed a group of consumers 11 different adverts, all for the same brand of pain-relieving muscle and joint gel. The research was intended to gain insights into both the reactions of the brain to advertising stimuli, and the resulting online search behaviour.
The researchers studied both the data from the click-through rates and the combination of elements in the adverts for the whole audience group.
From the results of this data, a smaller sub-group of participants were then selected for brain scans, to provide a deeper understanding of the advertising thought-behaviour process.
Why Brain Scans?
Brain scans (also know as magnetic resonance imaging fMRI), were used because the researchers believed that this was the best method to enable them to understand why certain elements of adverts are effective in causing consumers to take to the web to look for a brand / product.
The Results.
Somewhat predictably, the researchers concluded that the effectiveness of a marketing message cannot be explained by simply isolating just one simple brain process, and that a much more complex combination of processes in the brain is actually at the heart of consumer responses to adverts.
The researchers were, however, able to identify some elements that appeared to be present in adverts that got the best responses.
Adverts that communicated the advantages of products were found to trigger the part of the brain that is commonly associated with recognising and identifying objects. The triggering of this area is believed to make people begin thinking about how objects could be used, thereby providing a vital link to behaviour.
The researchers also found that adverts / elements of adverts that appeal to a person’s imagination, or deliver a message in an imaginative way, appear to activate more complex through processes, such as sustained attention, creative thinking, and working memory.
There has already been a great deal of research into advertising and its effects and we already know that appealing to human emotions and traits rather than just presenting cold facts, coupled with repetition can help marketing messages to be more effective.
The interesting fact about this research is that it focused directly upon the brain itself, and how the responses to advertising stimuli elements translated into specifically ‘online’ behaviour. This makes the results more current and relevant to businesses, most of which now need to achieve online visibility.
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Accueil / JEHRHE #4 / Rubrique : Dossier / Les transitions dans l'histoire de l'énergie. L'histoire dans les transitions énergétiques / Lost in transition. The world’s energy past, present and future at the 1981 United Nations Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy
Lost in transition. The world’s energy past, present and future at the 1981 United Nations Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy
Duccio Basosi
Ca' Foscari University of Venice
duccio.basosi@unive.it
After four years of preparations, in the summer of 1981 Nairobi hosted the United Nations Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy. A diplomatic exercise bringing together more than one-hundred governments from North and South and East and West, the conference did not produce either startling or binding decisions. However, the characteristics of the meeting were also such that the conference’s final Programme of Action can be seen as a sort of summa of official thinking about energy at the beginning of the 1980s. After briefly presenting the making and the outcomes of the Nairobi conference, the article focuses on both the novelty and the limitations of the language of “energy transition” that was adopted on the occasion.
The Nairobi conference and its origins
Results and assessments
Energy transition: a new phrase in town
Dubious certainties
One, none, and one-hundred thousand transitions
Plan de l'article1) Introduction2) The Nairobi conference and its origins3) Results and assessments4) Energy transition: a new phrase in town5) Dubious certainties6) One, none, and one-hundred thousand transitions7) Conclusions
Scholars have long dealt with the changes in the thinking about energy after the “oil shocks” of the 1970s.1 This essay contributes to the literature by focusing on the United Nations Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy that was held in Nairobi in the summer of 1981. Usually the object of a short reference in the histories of renewable energies, the Nairobi conference is seldom mentioned in more general works on the UN or energy history. Such lack of attention is in many ways understandable: a diplomatic exercise bringing together more than one-hundred governments (not to mention the dozens of international organizations and UN agencies which took part in the works), the conference did not produce either startling or binding decisions. As is shown below, as far as the promotion of “new and renewable” sources of energy was concerned, to many observers the conference outcomes proved even below their already low expectations. Nevertheless, the Nairobi conference has at least two main reasons of interest. On the one hand, it was virtually the only attempt to tackle “energy” at the level of the entire “international community” – North and South, East and West – in the context of the deep changes produced in the international political economy by the hikes in oil prices of 1973 and 1979-1980. While its formal agenda included only the “new and renewable” sources of energy (a quite ambiguous terminology, by the way, as I will discuss below), de facto Nairobi was the only truly global forum at which governments debated the energy past, present and future of the planet in the wake of the “oil shocks”. The making and outcomes of the conference are discussed in sections one and two below, on the basis of UN official documents, newspaper commentaries, and secondary literature.
On the other hand, it is precisely from its global nature that derives the second reason of interest of the Nairobi conference: the conference’s resulting “Programme of Action”, adopted by consensus, can be seen as a sort of summa of the official energy thinking of the time, a minimum common denominator of what was acceptable to all parties involved. Thus, a critical analysis of its language allows us to grasp how the world’s energy situation was conceptualized in global official public discourse at the beginning of the 1980s. The third section of the article highlights how the Programme (and the conference works more broadly) reflected the change in the language about energy that had occurred during the 1970s, one for which the world’s condition needed to be understood in terms of an “energy transition”.2 The adoption of such language in Nairobi provided a kind of stamp of global officialdom to the greater awareness of the historical contingencies governing energy which characterized the post-1973 years. But, as I will discuss in sections four and five, this also came with a set of ambiguities and contradictions that made the phrase “energy transition” little more than a buzzword good for any use. The sixth section concludes.
Between 10 and 21 August 1981, the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi hosted more than 4000 delegates from 125 countries and dozens of international organizations for the United Nations Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy.3 This was not the first UN conference entirely dedicated to energy (as sometimes mistakenly reported), but both the number of participants and the level of the delegations put it on a wholly different plane from its predecessor, held in Rome exactly twenty years earlier.4 The UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim opened the conference with an inspired speech, followed by a similar performance by Kenya’s strongman Daniel arap Moi.5 Four foreign heads of state and government, including India’s Indira Gandhi and Canada’s Pierre Trudeau, addressed the delegates, while other heavy-weights of world politics, including US President Ronald Reagan, China’s Premier Zhao Ziyang and Mexican President José López Portillo, sent well-wishing messages.6 Many national delegations were headed by ministers. Outside the conference center, local social movements – such as Wangari Maathai’s Green Belt Movement – as well as representatives from international social movements and NGOs staged street demonstrations and held a parallel forum aimed at exerting pressure on the delegates for the adoption of clear objectives and financing schemes concerning both the promotion of “new renewables”, such as solar and wind power, and the safeguarding of “old renewables”, such as the forests which had come increasingly under threat in the context of the less affordable prices of petroleum products.7
“Energy” had quickly climbed up the international agenda in the aftermath of OPEC’s 1973 quadrupling of oil prices.8 With oil then supplying roughly 50% of the world’s total commercial energy, OPEC governments presented their organization as the developing countries’ spearhead to redress the world’s economy in their favor.9 Their success was on display the following year, when a cohesive common front of Third World governments – oil importers and exporters alike – obtained the adoption by the UN General Assembly of two resolutions promoting the establishment of a New International Economic Order (NIEO).10 As far as the capitalist “West” was concerned, in the same year 1974 a group of seventeen countries led by the United States founded the International Energy Agency (officially to promote mutual cooperation in the field, and possibly to serve as a counterweight to OPEC’s power).11 Starting in 1975, sections on “energy” of various length also featured regularly in the final communiques of the yearly summits of the seven most industrialized capitalist countries (the so-called G7, itself a product of the “energy crisis” to an extent).12 But the hike in oil prices also had reverberations in the “East”, where energy-related trade was both a useful instrument in the Soviet “charm offensive” with Western Europe, and a reason of growing mutual bitter recriminations within the Eastern bloc.13 In the latter half of the 1970s, against the backdrop of growing oil-imports-related indebtedness for many a Third World country, “energy” remained a major topic at the Conference on International Economic Cooperation (CIEC), which ran in Paris from 1975 to 1977 and supposedly incarnated a “North-South dialogue” between the (western) industrialized and the developing countries: to be sure, in the context of what proved to be a “dialogue of the deaf” on the general rules of the international economy, no agreement was found on substantial issues such as the principles on which to base oil pricing, the maintenance of OPEC’s purchasing power, and financial assistance to oil-importing developing countries.14 Nevertheless, CIEC participants were able to agree on the importance of energy availability and of cooperation in the energy field, with particular concern for the diversification of energy resources in the developing countries.15
Thus, at its 1978 session, the UN’s General Assembly passed Resolution 33/148 “to convene an international conference on new and renewable sources of energy under the auspices of the United Nations in 1981”.16 The designation of Nairobi as the conference venue came at the following session of the General Assembly, together with the indication that ECOSOC’s Committee on Natural Resources should act as the conference’s preparatory committee.17 In the same year, the Tunisian diplomat Mohamed Habib Gherab was chosen as the conference’s secretary-general, a position in which he served until early 1981, when he was replaced by Uruguayan diplomat Enrique Iglesias.18
According to several commentators, the emphasis on “new and renewable sources” had been motivated by the desire to relaunch international dialogue and avoid the serious political confrontation that could be expected to occur over oil and oil prices.19 In fact, it was precisely a new redoubling of oil prices in 1979-80 that lent the conference a greater political character, at a time when Mexico’s President Portillo made bold proposals for a “World energy plan”, the G7 promised to “break the existing link between economic growth and consumption of oil”, and the Carter administration proclaimed that the Persian Gulf was a “vital interest” of the United States of America.20 Not surprisingly, the conference was thus “welcomed” by the Non-Aligned Movement at its 1979 Havana summit, and looked at with hope in the well publicized report of the semi-official Independent Commission on International Development Issues chaired by the former German chancellor, Willy Brandt.21 But by 1981 the wind had also started to blow in a direction averse to gatherings like the one which was to take place in Nairobi: years of little progress over North-South issues had led to generalized weariness toward large UN conferences, US-Soviet relations had turned bitter again, and the coming to power of the new Reagan administration in the US promised to bring an even more radical wave of skepticism on the whole notion that “economic issues” should be settled in diplomatic forums.22
As had occurred with similar conferences convened by the United Nations in the previous decade, the ten days of negotiations ended with the adoption by consensus of a “Programme of Action”, which was devoted to “the Development and Utilization of New and Renewable Sources of Energy”.23 Later in the same year, the UN General Assembly adopted the Programme, again by consensus, with a resolution that “not[ed] with satisfaction the agreement reached on some issues”, “express[ed] deep concern that no final decisions were taken on some other important questions”, and urged in any case all governments “to take effective action” for its implementation.24
The Nairobi Programme was a 43-page document, divided in three main parts. The first part presented the intellectual and international political framework in which the conference had taken place and attempted – without much success, as I will discuss below – to frame a common language in which disparate national and regional priorities could be understood as part of a shared effort of the whole international community.25 The second part listed the actual “measures for concerted action”: for each of the fourteen sources of energy eligible as “new and renewable”, the measures consisted in assessment and planning, research and development, and eventually technological transfer and adaptation, to be undertaken “at the national, subregional, regional and international levels”.26 The third part dealt with the identification of the areas of priority action and with the institutional arrangements for the implementation and monitoring of the program.27
This last part was the one that attracted most of the commentaries after the conference. As most commentators noted, despite the demands by Third World countries, no new international body was created to promote energy cooperation and financing, nor was there any financial target to meet by the member states in support of “new and renewable” energies. The New York Times wrote that the conference had ended “with a billion-dollar plan to end dependence on fossil fuels but no money to carry it out” and reported the comment of a delegate from an unspecified Third World country who allegedly dubbed the Programme “the Nairobi plan of inaction”.28 The Boston-based Christian Science Monitor confirmed that
the agreement was hardly welcome to the third-world countries and their friends [who] had hoped for the setting up of a thoroughgoing UN energy secretariat and a financial energy institution (preferably linked to the World Bank) that would be able to channel large funds to poor nations for the development of suitable renewable energy sources.29
During the conference, some national delegations had made public announcements concerning their will to increase their international energy aid,30 but the final document only stated that “investments in new and renewable sources of energy will account for a substantial and growing proportion of [energy] investment needs” (the latter were estimated to be “in the order of $54 billion” for the developing countries only).31 In regard to the “measures for concerted action”, the Programme indicated, in what was reportedly a last-minute deal, that “there should be an intergovernmental body in the United Nations specifically concerned with new and renewable sources of energy and entrusted with guiding and monitoring the implementation” of the recommendations included in the Programme itself, but left it to future arrangements to define its nature.32 The conservative Times of London wrote of a “dawn stint” with “compromises” and the left leaning French Le Monde reported the comment of an unspecified “European diplomat” according to whom “the result was not glorious, but allowed everybody to save their face”.33 But the Jamaican Kingston Gleaner, which had followed the conference works with a keen interest in the performance of Prime minister Edward Seaga, wrote that it was not clear how “this plan of action […] is to be implemented”, and San Paulo’s Folha was even more direct in writing of the “total collapse” of the UN conference.34
The press was also quick to recognize in the final outcome the visible hand of the US delegation, particularly averse to international bodies and public programs after the inauguration of the Reagan administration earlier in the year. The Soviet Pravda represented the US government as intent in putting “opjat' palki v kolesa” of the conference (literally “again the sticks in the wheels”).35 While not particularly surprising, given the bad state of US-Soviet relations at the time, such assessment was also somewhat hypocritical, since the delegations from the Eastern bloc had actually been in basic agreement with the US one, if with a lower profile.36 But even the conservative Italian La Stampa wrote of Reagan’s “veto”.37 On its part, the US delegation did little to conceal its satisfaction for the eventual minimalist arrangements: James Stromeyer, the US chief negotiator, was actually the only delegate claiming to be “very, very thrilled” at the outcomes.38 As a confidential briefing paper for President Reagan spelled out some weeks after the conference:
the success of UN conferences should not be measured in terms of new funds created. […] The Principal value of the [Nairobi] Conference was in highlighting awareness of the current and potential use of [new and renewable sources of energy] and demonstrating that certain energy issues can be fruitfully discussed in UN forums. […] It is particularly significant that the Program of Action […] gives appropriate emphasis to the role of the private sector.39
In the following months, specialized magazines confirmed the basic disappointment expressed by the daily press, with the environmentalist UK-based New Scientist concluding that the whole effort, which had consumed “over 100 billion sheets of paper”, had been “a waste of energy”.40 For some years, invoking the Nairobi Programme remained a respected diplomatic activity: two years after the conclusion of the conference, the New Delhi summit of the Non Aligned Movement still lamented that “little progress” had been made on the subject41, and the General Assembly of the United Nations passed another resolution (38/169) demanding the “immediate implementation” of the Programme.42 After the mid-1980s, however, the Nairobi meeting fell into virtual oblivion for all practical purposes.43
Whatever its achievements (or lack thereof) in terms of actual cooperation in “new and renewable” sources, the Nairobi conference is an extremely interesting event in order to understand how the question of energy was thought about in the aftermath of the “oil shocks” of the 1970s. The result of an effort that was both more global in scope, and more specific in focus than the contemporary meetings of the “North-South dialogue”, the conference stands out for its attempt to frame a new language on energy, in particular by providing the stamp of officialdom to the notion that the world was engaged in an “energy transition”.44
In the 43 pages of the Programme, the term “transition” occurred 25 times (19 times in the phrase “energy transition”). Often – and, as will be discussed below, not without contradictions – the “energy transition” was presented in highly prescriptive terms, as a goal to be “ensured” through appropriate “technological, commercial, financial and monetary modalities”.45 Indeed, “achiev[ing] an orderly and peaceful energy transition” was presented as “the challenge and opportunity” of the time since the very first line of the document.46 Borrowed from physics and re-signified to designate a change in the patterns of energy production and consumption of a given population, the phrase had showed up only sporadically in English from the 1950s to the early 1970s, mainly in publications intended to promote the civilian use of atomic energy.47 In adopting it, Nairobi reflected and formalized at the highest international level the widespread change in the ways of thinking about energy that characterized the second part of the 1970s, after the 1973 “oil shock” had acted as an eye-opener into the temporary nature – indeed the frailty – of the previous energy order.48
The 1970s were not the first time when academics or policy planners reflected on the historically-contingent nature of the human use of specific energy sources: from William Stanley Jevons’s The Coal Question (1865) to the OEEC’s “Robinson report” (1960), such considerations punctuated the history of the modern uses of energy.49 But rarely did they step into the limelight outside of specialist or government circles, and even more rarely were they conceived as systematic reflections on world energy history.50 After 1973 instead, the studies of energy in the past began to flood history journals, the field of “energy policy” quickly became a hot topic in ordinary debates, and publications envisioning some “energy future” attracted wide readerships in multiple languages: less radical than “energy revolution” and less technical than “energy substitution” (two expressions with which it often came in association), in such a context “energy transition” became the key phrase to indicate both that energy practices had often changed in the past, and that they could – or should – change again in the present and in the future.51
The United States, the country where the phrase first gained wide circulation, was also the one where it first became part of the political jargon: on 18 April 1977, the democrat President Jimmy Carter used it in a televised speech to the nation, during which he told the public that “twice in the last several hundred years, there has been a transition in the way people use energy” (from wood to coal in the 19th century and from coal to oil in the 20th), and that “we must prepare quickly for a third change”.52 In the same months, 1970 “Earth Day” promoter Denis Hayes set up to organize a “Sun Day” aimed at ensuring a “transition to a post-petroleum world” based on what, in a successful book, he had called “the rays of hope”.53 By the end of the decade, several countries saw equivalent expressions appear in national political debates.54
Three documents testify to the spreading of the term in international forums before Nairobi: José Lopéz Portillo’s aforementioned 1979 “energy plan”, where he proposed “the adoption of a world energy plan that covers all nations [...] and has as its fundamental objective the assurance of an orderly, progressive, and just transition from one age to man’s history to the next”;55 the same “Brandt report” cited above, presented to the UN Secretary General in February 1980, which recommended “an orderly transition [...] from high dependence on increasingly scarce nonrenewable energy sources”;56 and finally, the General Assembly’s Resolution 35/56 of 5 December 1980, which affirmed that “the international community will have to make substantial and rapid progress in the transition from the present international economy based on hydrocarbons”.57
In view of the Nairobi conference, government officials from all over the world, as well as representatives from international organizations and NGOs were thus explicitly invited to think in terms of the “awareness of the role of new and renewable sources of energy in the energy transition of mankind” during the sessions of the Preparatory Committee.58 In that connection, the Group of 77 submitted a proposal that the conference promote the “concerted action of the international community in order to contribute to the process of energy transition”.59 The delegation of the Netherlands, speaking on behalf of the European Community, similarly stressed “the importance of energy transition, a concern common to the whole of the international community”,60 and the US delegation submitted a proposal to rephrase the objectives of the conference so as “to increase the quantity of energy that can be derived from new and renewable sources of energy and the pace of transition to those technologies”.61 So widespread had become the circulation of the expression, that in Nairobi virtually all major speeches spoke that language, while the speakers who did not use it – the Soviet delegation and the OPEC representative, for instance – did not object to its use.62 In a sense, at the beginning of the 1980s, the “international community” formalized nothing less than its acceptance of the historicity of the human use of energy: this was no longer to be thought of as a transcendent phenomenon, but as a fully historical one, evolving along with needs, science, technology, and availability of resources.
On a more critical note, Jean-Baptiste Fressoz has written that the phrase became popular in the mid-1970s to ward off the much more depressive notion that an “energy crisis” had taken hold of the oil-importing countries.63 Indeed, it is difficult to put in doubt that its success owed much to the oil price shock of 1973, the evident critical consequences of which it contrasted with the positive language of opportunity and change. But the language of “the energy transition” came also embedded with a problematic assumption that was typical of the 1970s: coming on top of a new redoubling of oil prices in 1979-80, the Nairobi conference did not only promote the abstract notion that social arrangements concerning energy were transient, but also the much more specific notion that “the transition” was necessitated by the prevailing high prices of “conventional” resources.64
This was a view that compounded in a single conclusion two distinct forecasts about the future that were popular in the 1970s: that oil prices would remain high forever, and that their increase reflected the coming scarcity of the precious hydrocarbon. The Programme spelled out the problem clearly in its first pages:
In view of the often wasteful and inefficient utilization of hydrocarbon resources by some countries as well as their finite supply and depletable nature it has become clear that the previous assumption of abundant and cheap energy is not valid any longer.65
Today, standard textbooks on energy history recognize that many factors contributed to the steep price increases of the 1970s much more than their “finite supply”.66 But one need only to take a rapid look at the official conference report to notice that there was a common thread running through the debate in Nairobi:
It was underlined that the world had entered a period of transition during which concentrated efforts at all levels, national and international, would be needed to lessen the consequences of the diminishing resources of conventional and traditional energy, especially of hydrocarbons, and to pave the way for effective new sources of energy. […] The view was widely held that the limited resources of fossil fuels constituted a problem of global dimensions and may produce unforeseen global consequences. [...] It was recognized that, without a similar concentration of efforts at the international level, the shortage of energy resources might have the consequence of accentuating world economic disorder.67
Several of the major speeches explicitly made the same point. For instance, UN Secretary-General Waldheim opened his inaugural speech by declaring that “until recently, supplies of energy had been taken for granted [...], the underlying assumption being that of a cheap and inexhaustible supply of oil and gas. The reality had disproved the assumption”.68 The host, Daniel arap Moi claimed that “a great deal had changed” since the 1961 Rome conference, when “oil had been cheap and seemingly plentiful”.69 In what the Nairobi Daily Nation hailed as “a frontal attack to the rich nations”, Indira Gandhi charged that “as a consequence of excessive exploitation the supplies of fossil fuel – a depleting asset – ha[ve] become precarious”.70 In opening the general debate, the Director General of the UN’s Committee for Development and International Cooperation claimed that “according to various studies, a continuation of current energy consumption policies would lead to serious scarcity of oil and to mounting uncertainties regarding assured supplies at required levels”.71 In short, the language at the conference – providing the rationale both for “the energy transition” and for the conference itself – was to a large extent that typical of most of the literature of the 1970s, which interpreted the “oil shocks” mainly as a symptom of the coming exhaustion of oil (and other hydrocarbons in perspective).72
In reality, the 1970s debate was more composite. The notion that the United States had reached its “peak oil” and that the world was about to follow, famously advanced by geologist M. King Hubbert, was severely criticized by other specialists who noted that the regime of low oil prices of the pre-1973 period had dramatically slowed down the pace of exploration, implying that the latter would catch up in a high price context.73 According to such critics, several reasons, other than exhaustion, justified using the prevailing high prices of the time as a springboard for “the transition”: these included considerations of “energy security” (given the uneven distribution of known oil reserves on the world map), the need to shift to “modern renewables” (solar and wind, in particular) to counter the observed “greenhouse effect” and “acid rains” deriving from the burning of (actually overabundant) hydrocarbons, the premium associated with the “democratic” nature of dispersed energy sources, the doubts about the longer term prospects of relying on finite energy sources.74 In some cases, these same motives appeared next to the “coming exhaustion” argument, but it was nevertheless the latter that caught the spirit of the time.75
In Nairobi, a note of caution on the subject came by the Soviet delegation, whose technical paper deposited with the conference materials included, quite ironically, a straightforward lesson in market economics: “high world oil prices create economic conditions propitious to developing that part of the resources of ‘ordinary’ oil fields which are not extracted by conventional oil production methods”.76 On that basis, the Soviet paper announced that “in the USSR preparations are being made for the industrial implementation of several methods for improving oil output”.77 Eventually, the Programme avoided making clear statements, such as those that Jimmy Carter had openly made in the US, about when the effects of “scarcity” would actually be felt in terms of exhaustion.78 In partial contradiction with the urgency communicated by the opening lines, a passage in the Programme even took the more relaxed view that, even if with problematically high prices, “in the foreseeable future, hydrocarbon supplies will continue to play a very important role in meeting the global energy demand”.79 Yet, in hindsight, having chosen a rigid conception of “transition”, which posited so strongly one and only one rationale for the effort, the Nairobi Programme also laid the bases for its own demise after 1985, when a true “oil glut” and a price “countershock” on the world market came to last until the beginning of the 21st century.80
The greatest paradox of the language of “the transition” of the 1970s was that the more it was used, the less its content was defined.81 While most of those who used it agreed that “the energy transition” would imply a lesser role for conventional oil in the future, disagreement reigned on virtually every other aspect of the supposedly shared concept. Environmentalists would usually indicate solar and wind energy as their preferred endpoints, but influential think tanks with widespread global reach campaigned for coal, nuclear, or simply for “non-conventional” oil. Combinations of all the above were often to be found in influential policy prescriptions. Careful government planning was required according to some authors, while the process would proceed almost spontaneously according to others. The time horizons for the process to be completed varied from extremely detailed to completely absent. As also noted by Fressoz, few publications bothered to clear whether by “transition” from one energy source to another they implied an absolute “substitution” or simply a relative one (which could be obtained by an actual “addition” of new sources to the existing mix, without necessarily reducing absolute consumption levels of any one source).82 From this standpoint, Nairobi only compounded the ambiguities of the intellectual debate, by carefully avoiding to make a clear choice for any of the divergent available conceptions of “the transition”. If anything, the globalization of a phrase that had originally been re-signified in “western” industrialized countries led to further inconsistencies when applied to Third World countries, for most of which hydrocarbons covered only a minor portion of national energy consumption. In short, it seems possible to extend to the 1970s the judgment reserved to a later phase by political scientist Joseph Szarka, according to whom “energy transition” is a particularly “problematic example of the vagueness that surrounds much of the energy lexicon”.83
The opening statement of the Programme indicated that the world was up to achieving an “energy transition from the present international economy based primarily on hydrocarbons to one based increasingly on new and renewable sources of energy”.84 But, on the one hand, it was impossible to find in the Programme any clear indication of what “increasingly” meant, or of the deadlines after which the “increase” could be measured. On the other, to the extent that Nairobi did promote “new and renewable” energies as part of a not-better-specified “more balanced energy mix”, the list of fourteen energy sources considered at the conference came immediately into conflict with the opening statement: as noted, perhaps ironically, in a paper prepared by the Economic Commission for Western Asia, with fuel-wood, charcoal, peat, energy from draught animals, oil-shale and tar sands all included in the list, “clearly not all sources are new, and equally clearly, not all sources are renewable”.85
Nor did the conference ever confront – at least explicitly – the question whether there would be a true “substitution” of hydrocarbons or a simple “addition” of other energy sources to an expanding mix. Given that “the transition” rested ostensibly on the increasing price and growing scarcity of hydrocarbons, one would expect an emphasis on their actual substitution. In reality, with the lonely exception of the Swedish Prime minister, Thorbjörn Fälldin, who celebrated his country’s attempts “to reduce the consumption of oil” (as opposed to vague talk of “efficiency”),86 the entire conference and preparatory works were geared toward redoubling the “efforts designed to explore and develop conventional energy resources”.87 As far as new and renewable energies were concerned, they could “make a significant contribution, but their role and potential in the short term should not be overstated”.88 If there was to be a “transition”, it was obtorto collo.
Of course, one could expect that it would be difficult to design a common “energy future” for so many countries, which not only started from very diverse conditions but had often also identified different energy sources as strategic for their own national energy policies. If one looks at the energy policies that were being pursued at the national level by some of the main participants in the Nairobi meeting, it is hard to see how any specific indication could come out of the conference: the Soviet Union aimed at completing its domestic transition from coal to oil and gas89; France had invested heavily in nuclear energy, Brazil had made a substantial bet on nuclear and bio-ethanol, the Scandinavian countries pushed for “green” technologies as wind and geo-thermal power90; Japan’s “Sunshine program” included heavy investments in solar research next to those in nuclear energy91; China was about to pass its Sixth Five-Year Plan, keenly focused on energy conservation and mostly aimed at the substitution of coal for oil;92 the Third World governments, which depended on “old renewables” for most part of their energy needs, showed interest for the technologies of what we would call today the “new renewables”, but also consistently used their periodic summits to affirm their right to the peaceful development of civilian nuclear energy.93
Echoes of such different situations and choices resounded throughout the conference, and brought to light the obvious political and power-related aspects of any official international discourse on energy: on the one hand there were countries that could plan an “energy transition” away from hydrocarbons with relative ease; on the other end of the spectrum, in Indira Gandhi’s words, the calls for a more balanced energy mix “should not be an excuse for diverting attention from the immediate task of the equitable sharing of conventional energy”.94 Similarly, in conclusion of a lengthy passage in which he warned that “the destruction of the forests and of the natural vegetative cover [...] would disrupt the cycles and balances of the biosphere”, Daniel arap Moi formulated a proposal for “a two-tier price system which would enable the poor countries to import oil at lower prices than those charged to industrialized ones”, synthesized by Nairobi’s Daily Nation under the title “Sell us cheap oil”.95
Finally, a position sui generis on “the transition” was the one expressed by the US delegation after the switch from Carter to Reagan. Headed by a republican lobbyist without any experience in the field of energy, Reagan’s team in Nairobi was entrusted with one main task, which it pursued relentlessly: to celebrate the contribution that the “private sector” and “the market” could make to a “successful transition”.96 In practice, of course, this meant that the US government was pursuing in Nairobi the international portion of its domestic agenda of cancellation of any form of public support to renewable energies.97 More generally, it could also be said that Nairobi was a first testing ground for the US administration’s “neoliberal” shift over international economic issues, that the President would soon personally promote at the “North-South summit” which took place in Cancún only weeks after the energy conference.98 But in this connection the Reagan team also operated on a “philosophical” plane: by definition, a “transition” left to private actors could only be intended as an open-ended process, irrespective of what the Programme said about the goal to promote “new and renewable” sources.99
There are three main conclusions from the analysis conducted above. The first is that Nairobi, as a major event organized by the United Nations, reflected and formalized a new language about energy that had begun to spread in the 1970s and which presented the post-1973 world energy condition as one of “transition”. To the extent that this implied greater awareness of the “historicity of energy” (in policy-making as well as in individual or corporate decisions), this was by no means a minor fact. The second is that the conference reflected a typical misconception of much of the literature and the political discourse of the 1970s about energy, which affirmed the necessity of “the transition” on the basis of the widespread expectation that oil prices would remain high forever (ostensibly reflecting an incipient scarcity of the raw material, even though the Programme was not very clear as to what this meant in practice): four decades later, with concerns for “global warming” quickly on the rise, historians correctly see the 1970s as a period when the awareness of the link between fossil fuels consumption and the “greenhouse effect” became popular among environmentalists, but “official” international politics at the time expressed little interest in this topic and the Nairobi conference was no exception. Finally, while extremely prescriptive in indicating the rationale for “the transition”, the conference language was much more indeterminate in pointing out what “transition” actually meant in practice. Ostensibly the world was engaged in a shift from hydrocarbons toward “new and renewable” energies, but the term “transition” came with multiple and potentially contradictory meanings (and the ambiguity of the phrase “new and renewable” did not help). The koiné with which the international community tried to speak in Nairobi was largely superficial, and concealed the reality of extremely diversified national conditions and intentions with respect to energy and energy policy.
1. A necessarily incomplete list of general references includes Jean-Claude Debeir, Jean-Paul Deléage and Daniel Hémery, Histoire de l’énergie (Paris: Flammarion, 2013 [original ed. 1986]), chap. 7; Vaclav Smil, Energy in World History (Boulder: Westview, 1994), chap. 6; Fiona Venn, The Oil Crisis (London: Routledge, 2002); Giuliano Garavini, The Rise and Fall of OPEC in the Twentieth Century (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019), chap. 4-6.
2. This aspect of the energy debates of the 1970s has been emphasized in Christophe Bonneuil and Jean-Baptiste Fressoz, The Shock of the Anthropocene. The Earth, History, and Us (London: Verso, 2016), chap. 5; Kathleen Araújo, Low Carbon Energy Transitions. Turning Points in National Policy and Innovation (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018); Duccio Basosi, “A Small Window. The Opportunities for Renewable Energies from Shock to Counter-Shock”, in Duccio Basosi, Giuliano Garavini and Massimiliano Trentin (eds.), Counter-Shock. The Oil Counter-Revolution of the 1980s (London: IB Tauris, 2018). On the notion of “energy transition” in general: Jean-Baptiste Fressoz, “Pour une histoire désorientée de l’énergie”, Entropia, vol. 15, 2013; Vaclav Smil, Energy Transitions: History, Requirements, Prospects (Santa Barbara: Praeger, 2010); Bruce Podobnik, Global Energy Shifts: Fostering Sustainability in a Turbulent Age (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2006), chapter 6.
3. The list of the governmental delegations in attendance is in the official conference report: United Nations (UN), Report of the United Nations Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy, Nairobi, 10 to 21 August 1981 (New York: United Nations, 1981), 48. As to the number of delegates, it was “about 5000” according to Nairobi’s Daily Nation, while both Le Monde and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung gave the more conservative estimate of 4000. Respectively: “Sell us cheap oil, says Moi”, Daily Nation, 11 August 1981; “Les deux crises”, Le Monde, 11 August 1981; “Energie-Konferenz”, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 10 August 1981.
4. While featuring an address by Pope John XXIII, the Rome conference had had a mainly “technical” and academic character, and had seen the attendance of “447 persons from seventy-four countries and territories”: UN, New Sources of Energy and Energy Development. Report of the United Nations Conference on New Sources of Energy, Rome, 21 to 31 August 1961 (New York, United Nations, 1962).
5. UN, Report, 52-55 (cf. note 3).
6. Ibid., 56, 110-114.
7. “More light than heat”, New Scientist, 20 August 1981, 460; “Les pays en développement s'élèvent contre le prix excessif du pétrole”, Le Monde, 12 August 1981. Also: Wangari Maathai, Replenishing the Earth: Spiritual Values for Healing Ourselves and the World (New York: Doubleday, 2010), 97
8. Recent assessments are in Elisabetta Bini, Giuliano Garavini and Federico Romero (eds.), Oil Shock: The 1973 Crisis and its Economic Legacy (London: IB Tauris, 2016).
9. Christopher Dietrich, Oil Revolution. Anticolonial Elites, Sovereign Rights, and the Economic Culture of Decolonization (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2017); Giuliano Garavini, “From Boumedienomics to Reaganomics: Algeria, OPEC, and the International Struggle for Economic Equality”, Humanity, vol. 6, n° 1, 2015.
10. Giuliano Garavini, After Empires: European Integration, Decolonization and the Challenge from the Global South, 1957 – 1986 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012), chap. 5-6.
11. Henning Türk, “The Oil Crisis of 1973 as a Challenge to Multilateral Energy Cooperation among Western Industrialized Countries”, Historical Social Research, vo. 39, n° 4, 2014. Two “classic” accounts are in Fiona Venn, The Oil Crisis (London: Routledge, 2002); and Daniel Yergin, The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power (New York: Touchstone, 1991), chap. 29-33.
12. Nicholas Bayne, “The foundations of summitry”, in Emmanuel Mourlon-Druol and Federico Romero (eds.), International Summitry and Global Governance: the Rise of the G7 and the European Council, 1974-1991 (London: Routledge, 2014).
13. Jeronim Perović, “The Soviet Union’s Rise as an International Energy Power: A Short History”, in Jeronim Perović (ed.), Cold War Energy. A Transnational History of Soviet Oil and Gas (London: Palgrave, 2017), 14-19; Andrei Keller, “‘Muzhskaja druzhba’? Villi Brandt i Leonid Brezhnev v kontekste jenergeticheskogo dialoga mezhdu FRG i SSSR v 1970–1973 gg.” [‘Masculine Friendship’? Willy Brandt and Leonid Brezhnev in the Context of the Energy Dialogue between West Germany and the USSR, 1970–1973], The Soviet and Post-Soviet Review, vol. 44, n° 2, 2017.
14. Garavini, After Empires, chap. 6 (cf. note 10).
15. Jahangir Amuzegar, “A Requiem for the North-South Conference”, Foreign Affairs, vol. 56, n° 1, 1977.
16. UN, General Assembly, Res. 33/148 of 20 December 1978.
17. UN, Report, 45 (cf. note 3).
18. Id.
19. “Les pays en développement” (cf. note 7); S. Odingo, “Prospects for New Sources of Energy”, GeoJournal, vol. 3, supplement 1, 1981; Ursula Wasserman, “UN Energy Conference in Nairobi”, Journal of World Trade, vol. 16, n° 1, 1982.
20. Portillo’s bold energy speech at the 1979 UN General Assembly is briefly discussed in Guia Migani, “The road to Cancun. The life and death of a North–South summit”, in Mourlon-Druol and Romero (eds.), International Summitry (cf. note 12). An intellectual history of “energy decoupling” is in Stephen Gross, “Reimagining Energy and Growth: Decoupling and the Rise of a New Energy Paradigm in West Germany, 1973-1986”, Central European History, vol. 50, n° 4, 2017. On the “Carter doctrine” in the Persian Gulf, see Luis da Vinha, Geographic mental maps and foreign policy change: re-mapping the Carter Doctrine (Berlin: De Gruyter Oldenbourg, 2017).
21. Respectively: 6th Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (Havana, Cuba, 3 – 9 September 1979), 112, available at http://cns.miis.edu/nam (accessed 4 July 2018); and North/South: A Program for Survival (Boston: MIT Press, 1980), 169-171.
22. A synthesis of the effects of these processes on the UN is in Mark Mazower, Governing the World. The History of an Idea (London: Penguin, 2012), chap. 12, which however does not mention the Nairobi conference. The changes are also discussed in Michael Schechter, United Nations Global Conferences (London: Routledge, 2005), 83-86.
23. Schechter, United Nations, 83 (cf. note 22). The full text of the Programme is reproduced in UN, Report, 1-43 (cf. note 3).
25. UN, Report, 1-8 (cf. note 3).
26. Ibid., 8-21.
28. “UN Energy Talk Ends with Plea for Money”, New York Times, 23 August 1981.
29. “UN Energy conference fell far short of Third World expectations”, Christian Science Monitor, 24 August 1981.
30. “Britain and Canada pledge energy aid”, The Times, 12 August 1981.
33. “Dawn stint at energy conference”, The Times, 22 August 1981; “La fin de la conférence de Nairobi”, Le Monde, 24 August 1981.
34. “Carib. Energy Parley in the Making”, Kingston Gleaner, 20 August 1981; “Conferência da ONU fracassa”, Folha, 22 August 1981.
35. “Opjat' palki v kolesa”, Pravda, 21 August 1981.
36. The position of the Bulgarian delegate, speaking for the entire Eastern block, is reported in UN, Report, 102-103 (cf. note 3). When the United Nations General Assembly, in 1982, created the Committee on the Development and Utilization of New and Renewable Energy Sources (Res. 37/250 of 21 December 1982), the Soviet Union and the United States were among the only ten countries to cast a negative vote. Voting record available at http://unbisnet.un.org:8080/ipac20/ipac.jsp?profile=voting&index=.VM&te… (accessed 4 July 2018).
37. “Nairobi, tra ricchi e poveri nessun accordo sull’energia”, La Stampa, 22 August 1981.
38. “UN Energy Talk” (cf. note 28).
39. Briefing paper on “Energy”, attached to memorandum from Paul Bremer to Richard Allen, “Cancun Economic Summit Briefing Papers”, 6 October 1981, Confidential, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library (RRL), Norman Bailey Files, Box 2, Cancun Summit.
40. “Waste of Energy”, New Scientist, 27 August 1981, 506; Odingo, “Prospects” (cf. note 18); Ursula Wasserman, “UN Energy” (cf. note 7); André van Dam, “Renewable energy: renewable hope”, Futures, February 1982.
41. 7th Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (New Delhi, India, 7-12 March 1983), 79, available at http://cns.miis.edu/nam (accessed 4 July 2018).
43. The conference is briefly mentioned in Bernd Hirschl, “International renewable energy policy—between marginalization and initial approaches”, Energy Policy, vol. 37, 2009; Johannes Urpelainen and Thijs Van de Graaf, “The International Renewable Energy Agency: a success story in institutional innovation?”, International Environmental Agreements, vol. 15, 2015; Peter Dauvergne, Handbook of Global Environmental Politics (Cheltenham: Elgar, 2012), 80-81; Sylvia Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen, “The UN, Energy and the Sustainable Development Goals”, in Thijs Van de Graaf et al. (eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of the International Political Economy of Energy (London: Palgrave, 2016). All these works cite Nairobi either as an event of no consequence, or as the far antecedent of later gatherings. In this same spirit, IRENA’s website traces the agency’s origins back to “the proposal for an international agency dedicated to renewable energy” made in Nairobi in 1981: see http://www.irena.org/about/aboutirena/history (accessed 1 Macrh 2020). As for (the lack of references in) general histories of energy, see for example: Smil, Energy in World History (cf. note 1); Debeir, Deléage and Hémery, Histoire (cf. note 1).
44. Energy Transition was the title of the Programme’s first chapter: UN, Report, 3 (cf. note 3).
45. UN, Report, 5 and 3 (cf. note 3).
46. Ibid., 3.
47. See, for example, Harrison Brown, The Challenge to Man’s Future (New York: Viking, 1954).
48. “The eruption of oil prices since 1973 […] had shattered the settled regime of cheap and reliable energy as an unfailing resource”, in the words pronounced by the Jamaican Prime minister Seaga in Nairobi: UN, Report, 57 (cf. note 3).
49. A survey of early 20th century critics of the reliance on fossil fuels is in Hermann Scheer, Energiautonomie (München: Verlag Antje Kunstmann, 1999), chap. 2; an analysis of the “scarcity syndrome” in the US is in Roger Stern, “Oil Scarcity Ideology in US National Security Policy, 1909-1980”, Oil, Energy & the Middle East Program, Working Paper, Princeton University, 2012; commentary about the 1950s debates in the OEEC up to the “Robinson report” is in George Gonzalez, Urban Sprawl, Global Warming, and the Empire of Capital (New York: SUNY Press, 2016), 78-81.
50. As concerns the latter point, a possible exception from the first half of the 20th century is Lewis Mumford, Technics and Civilization (London: Harcourt, 1934).
51. A survey is in Basosi, “A Small Window” (cf. note 2).
52. Jimmy Carter, “Address to the Nation on Energy”, 18 April 1977, available at https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/address-the-nation-energy (accessed 1 March 2020). Also: “Excerpts From ‘Overview’ Section of President's National Energy Plan”, New York Times, 30 April 1977.
53. “‘Earthday’ backer planning ‘Sun Day’”, New York Times, 16 October 1977. Hayes would soon be called by Carter to direct the Solar Energy Research Institute.
54. See for example “Controle da política energética”, Folha, 4 November 1978; “Nucléaire: le gouvernement français est moins seul”, Le Monde, 12 June 1979; “Jansen fordert ‘Energiewende’”, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 5 September 1979.
55. Address by Mr. José Lopéz Portillo, United Nations General Assembly, Official Records, Thirty-Fourth Session, 11th Plenary Meeting, 27 September 1979, 202.
56. North/South, 171 (cf. note 21).
57. UN, General Assembly, Res. 35/56 of 5 December 1980.
58. Such was the invitation by the conference’s Secretary-General Enrique Iglesias at the third session of the preparatory committee, which was held in early spring 1981: UN, Report of Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on New and Reneawable Sources of Energy (New York: United Nations, 1982), 7.
62. Summaries of the speeches given in Nairobi by heads of state or government and delegates are in UN, Report, 52-62 and 67-77 (cf. note 3).
63. Fressoz, “Pour une histoire”, 173-187 (cf. note 2).
64. By an established convention, “conventional” resources are to be intended here, quite paradoxically, as the hydrocarbons and nuclear energy that had fueled the industrialization of a portion of world since the 19th century.
65. UN, Report, 3 (cf. note 3).
66. Francisco Parra, Oil Politics. A Modern History of Petroleum (London: IB Tauris, 2004), 175-276.
67. UN, Report, 67-68 (cf. note 3).
70. Ibid., 56. And “Indira calls for energy revolution”, Daily Nation, 11 August 1981.
72. A survey of the international literature is in Basosi, “A Small Window”, 348-350 (cf. note 2).
73. See in particular: Tyler Priest, “Hubbert’s Peak: The Great Debate over the End of Oil”, Historical Studies in the Natural Sciences, vol. 44, n° 1, 2014.
74. “Energy security” considerations (for the US) were prominent, for example, in the widely read Ford Foundation Energy Policy Project, A Time to Choose: America’s Energy Future (Cambridge, MA: Ballister, 1974). The “energy democracy” and “global warming” rationales were already prominent in the works of ecologists, such as Barry Commoner, The Poverty of Power (New York, 1976), chap. 3, but it took the 1990s for such themes to break into mainstream international politics. See Spenser Weart, The Discovery of Global Warming (Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press, 2003), chap. 7.
75. Matthew Connelly, “Future Shock. The end of the world as they knew it”, in Niall Ferguson, The Shock of the Global (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2010). One of the most sophisticated and influential works of the 1970s aimed at promoting solar energy, Rays of Hope stressed the risks stemming from the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels, but with an awkward language also concluded that “regrettably, America’s oil is now almost certainly half gone”: Denis Hayes, Rays of Hope. The Transition to a Post-Petroleum World (New York: Norton, 1977), 35.
76. Nacional'nyj doklad, predstavlennyj Sojuzom Sovetskih Socialisticheskih Respublik [National report, submitted by the USSR], 10 June 1981, available at https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/22577/files/A_CONF-100_NR_51-RU.pdf (accessed 1 March 2020), 13.
78. In Carter’s presidential address: “Each new inventory of world oil reserves has been more disturbing than the last. World oil production can probably keep going up for another 6 or 8 years. But sometime in the 1980's, it can't go up any more. Demand will overtake production. We have no choice about that”. See Carter, “Address to the Nation” (cf. note 52).
80. On the “glut” of the 1980s Garavini, The Rise, chap. 7 (cf. note 1).
81. A more detailed analysis of the international literature synthesized in this paragraph is again in Basosi, “A Small Window” (cf. note 2).
82. Fressoz, “Pour une histoire” (cf. note 2).
83. Joseph Szarka, “Towards an evolutionary or a transformational energy transition? Transition concepts and roadmaps in European Union policy discourse”, Innovation, vol. 29, n° 3, 2016, 223.
85. Economic Commission for Western Asia, Regional Preparatory Expert Group Meeting for the United Nations Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy, 20 March 1981, 1, available at https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/25399?ln=es (accessed 1 March 2020).
89. Perović, “The Soviet Union’s Rise” (cf. note 13).
90. A recent work on these cases is in Araújo, Low Carbon (cf. note 2).
91. See Daniel Yergin, The Quest: Energy, Security and the Remaking of the Modern World (New York: Penguin, 2011) 534-536.
92. In a significant passage the Plan read that “oil consumption in 1985 is to be 10 million tons less than that of 1980. To substitute coal for petroleum in the power stations, the state plans to increase coal supply in the five years and appropriate funds to expand related engineering work”: “The Sixth Five-Year Plan (1981-85) for the National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China”, Chinese Economic Studies, vol. 17, n° 1, 1982, 25.
93. See for example: 6th Summit Conference, 73-74 (cf. note 21); and 7th Summit Conference, 166-168 (cf. note 41).
95. “Sell us cheap oil, says Moi” (cf. note 3). To be sure, while most likely instrumental, Moi’s words expressed the ideas elaborated by several social movements in Third World countries in those years: if promoting “renewables” as an alternative to oil meant to rely on fire-wood, the ecological consequences of renewables could be even more devastating than those of burning hydrocarbons. Also thanks to a large street demonstration in the conference days, these reflections impressed the international press, which dedicated several reports and articles to the topic: “Zwei Milliarden Menschen brauchen täglich Brennholz”, Franfurter Allegemeine Zeitung, 25 August 1981; “Quest for future energy puts biology in harness”, The Times, 17 August 1981. Eventually, the conference passed a resolution presented by Kenya and India which called for “the immediate acceleration of programmes of reforestation and afforestation […] as part of the effort to achieve a fivefold increase in the annual tree-planting rates by the year 2000”, possibly the only portion of the Programme with a clear objective-cum-deadline: UN, Report, 40 (cf. note 3).
96. Summary of the National Report Submitted by the United States of America, 2 July 1981, available at https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/22567?ln=en (accessed 4 July 2018). The speech by the head of the US delegation is reproduced in “Ambassador Stanton Anderson, 13 Aug. 1981”, Department of State Bulletin, vol. 82, n° 2058, 1982, 63-66.
97. See Victor McFarland, “The United States and the Oil Price Collapse of the 1980s”, in Basosi, Garavini and Trentin, Counter-Shock (cf. note 2).
98. Vanessa Ogle, “State Rights against Private Capital: The ‘’New International Economic Order’’ and the Struggle over Aid, Trade, and Foreign Investment, 1962–1981”, Humanity, vol. 5, n° 2, 2014; and, again, Migani, “The road to Cancun” (cf. note 20).
99. On neoliberal “rationality”: Pierre Dardot, Christian Laval, La nouvelle raison du monde. Essai sur la société néolibérale (Paris: La Découverte, 2009). More specifically: Szarka, “Towards an evolutionary” (cf. note 83).
“The Sixth Five-Year Plan (1981-85) for the National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China”, Chinese Economic Studies, vol. 17, n° 1, 1983, 3-64.
Amuzegar Jahangir, “A Requiem for the North-South Conference”, Foreign Affairs, vol. 56, n° 1, 1977, 136-159.
Araújo Kathleen, Low Carbon Energy Transitions. Turning Points in National Policy and Innovation (Oxofrd: Oxford University Press, 2018).
Basosi Duccio, “A Small Window. The Opportunities for Renewable Energies from Shock to Counter-Shock”, in Duccio Basosi, Giuliano Garavini and Massimiliano Trentin (eds.), Counter-Shock. The Oil Counter-Revolution of the 1980s (London: IB Tauris, 2018), 336-356.
Basosi Duccio, Giuliano Garavini and Massimiliano Trentin (eds.), Counter-Shock. The Oil Counter-Revolution of the 1980s (London: IB Tauris, 2018).
Bayne Nicholas, “The foundations of summitry”, in Emmanuel Mourlon-Druol and Federico Romero (eds.), International Summitry and Global Governance: the Rise of the G7 and the European Council, 1974-1991 (London: Routledge, 2014), 23-38.
Bini, Elisabetta, Giuliano Garavini and Federico Romero (eds.), Oil Shock: The 1973 Crisis and its Economic Legacy (London: IB Tauris, 2016).
Bonneuil, Christophe and Jean-Baptiste Fressoz, The Shock of the Anthropocene. The Earth, History, and Us (London: Verso, 2016).
Brown Harrison, The Challenge to Man’s Future (New York: Viking, 1954).
Connelly Matthew, “Future Shock. The end of the world as they knew it”, in Niall Ferguson, The Shock of the Global (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2010), 337-350.
da Vinha Luis, Geographic mental maps and foreign policy change: re-mapping the Carter Doctrine (Berlin: De Gruyter Oldenbourg, 2017).
Dardot Pierre and Christian Laval, La nouvelle raison du monde. Essai sur la société néolibérale (Paris: La Découverte, 2009).
Dauvergne Peter, Handbook of Global Environmental Politics (Cheltenham: Elgar, 2012).
Debeir Jean-Claude, Jean-Paul Deléage and Daniel Hémery, Histoire de l’énergie (Paris: Flammarion, 2013).
Dietrich Christopher, Oil Revolution. Anticolonial Elites, Sovereign Rights, and the Economic Culture of Decolonization (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2017).
Ford Foundation Energy Policy Project, A Time to Choose: America’s Energy Future (Cambridge, MA: Ballister, 1974).
Fressoz Jean-Baptiste, “Pour une histoire désorientée de l’énergie”, Entropia, vol. 15, 2013, 173-187.
Garavini Giuliano, After Empires: European Integration, Decolonization and the Challenge from the Global South, 1957 – 1986 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012).
Garavini Giuliano, “From Boumedienomics to Reaganomics: Algeria, OPEC, and the International Struggle for Economic Equality”, Humanity, vol. 6, n° 1, 2015, 79-92.
Gonzalez George, Urban Sprawl, Global Warming, and the Empire of Capital (New York: SUNY Press, 2016).
Gross Stephen, “Reimagining Energy and Growth: Decoupling and the Rise of a New Energy Paradigm in West Germany, 1973-1986”, Central European History, vol. 50, n° 4, 2017, 514-546.
Hayes Denis, Rays of Hope. The Transition to a Post-Petroleum World ((New York: Norton, 1977).
Hirschl Bernd, “International renewable energy policy—between marginalization and initial approaches”, Energy Policy, vol. 37, 2009, 4407-4416.
Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen Sylvia, “The UN, Energy and the Sustainable Development Goals”, in Thijs Van de Graaf et al. (eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of the International Political Economy of Energy (London: Palgrave, 2016), 115-138.
Keller Andrei, “‘Muzhskaja druzhba’? Villi Brandt i Leonid Brezhnev v kontekste jenergeticheskogo dialoga mezhdu FRG i SSSR v 1970–1973 gg.”, The Soviet and Post-Soviet Review, vol. 44, n° 2, 2017, 99-132.
Mazower Mark, Governing the World. The History of an Idea (London: Penguin, 2012).
McFarland Victor, “The United States and the Oil Price Collapse of the 1980s”, in Duccio Basosi, Giuliano Garavini and Massimiliano Trentin (eds.), Counter-Shock. The Oil Counter-Revolution of the 1980s (London: IB Tauris, 2018), 259-277.
Migani Guia, “The road to Cancun. The life and death of a North–South summit”, in Emmanuel Mourlon-Druol and Federico Romero (eds.), International Summitry and Global Governance: the Rise of the G7 and the European Council, 1974-1991 (London: Routledge, 2014), 174-197
Mumford Lewis, Technics and Civilization (London: Harcourt, 1934).
Odingo R. S., “Prospects for New Sources of Energy”, GeoJournal, vol. 3, supplement 1, 1981, 103-108.
Ogle Vanessa, “State Rights against Private Capital: The ‘’New International Economic Order’’ and the Struggle over Aid, Trade, and Foreign Investment, 1962–1981”, Humanity, vol. 5, n° 2, 2014, 211-234.
Parra Francisco, Oil Politics. A Modern History of Petroleum (London: IB Tauris, 2004).
Perović Jeronim, “The Soviet Union’s Rise as an International Energy Power: A Short History”, in Jeronim Perović (ed.), Cold War Energy. A Transnational History of Soviet Oil and Gas (London: Palgrave, 2017), 1-47.
Podobnik Bruce, Global Energy Shifts: Fostering Sustainability in a Turbulent Age (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2006).
Priest Tyler, “Hubbert’s Peak: The Great Debate over the End of Oil”, Historical Studies in the Natural Sciences, vol. 44, n° 1, 2014, 37-79.
Schechter Michael, United Nations Global Conferences (London: Routledge, 2005).
Scheer Hermann, Energiautonomie (München: Verlag Antje Kunstmann, 1999).
Smil Vaclav, Energy in World History (Boulder: Westview, 1994).
Smil Vaclav, Energy Transitions: History, Requirements, Prospects (Santa Barbara: Praeger, 2010)
Stern Roger, “Oil Scarcity Ideology in US National Security Policy, 1909-1980”, Oil, Energy & the Middle East Program, Working Paper, Princeton University, 2012.
Szarka Joseph, “Towards an evolutionary or a transformational energy transition? Transition concepts and roadmaps in European Union policy discourse”, Innovation, vol. 29, n° 3, 2016, 222-242.
Türk Henning, “The Oil Crisis of 1973 as a Challenge to Multilateral Energy Cooperation among Western Industrialized Countries”, Historical Social Research, vo. 39, n° 4, 2014, 209-230.
Urpelainen Johannes and Thijs Van de Graaf, “The International Renewable Energy Agency: a success story in institutional innovation?”, International Environmental Agreements, vol. 15, 2015, 159-177.
Venn Fiona, The Oil Crisis (London: Routledge, 2002).
Wangari Maathai, Replenishing the Earth: Spiritual Values for Healing Ourselves and the World (New York: Doubleday, 2010).
Wasserman Ursula, “UN Energy Conference in Nairobi”, Journal of World Trade, vol. 16, n° 1, 1982, 83-86.
Weart Spenser, The Discovery of Global Warming (Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press, 2003).
Yergin Daniel, The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power (New York: Touchstone, 1991).
Yergin Daniel, The Quest: Energy, Security and the Remaking of the Modern World (New York: Penguin, 2011).
Duccio Basosi, « Lost in transition. The world’s energy past, present and future at the 1981 United Nations Conference on New and Renewable Sources of Energy », Journal of Energy History/Revue d'Histoire de l'Énergie [En ligne], JEHRHE #4, mis en ligne le 20 mars 2020, consulté le
L’impossible transition ? La fatalité du charbon au Royaume-Uni
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How human evolution has shaped epilepsy genes
Posted on June 21, 2012 by Ingo Helbig (Kiel)
Man and ape. Comparative genomics is relating the differences between species in the genome to the phenotype. When the first comparisons between human and chimpanzee were published in 2005, neuroscientists were excited that this comparison would show what makes our brain human. A glance at the genes clusters that rapidly evolved during human-specific evolution was sobering. Many of the genes that rapidly evolved are immune-regulatory genes, highlighting our constant struggle with some parasites, bacteria and viruses and our arrangement with the microbiome, the cloud of microbes contribute ten times as many cells to our bodies than we do. Prominent genes such as FOXP2, a gene found to be disrupted in patients with developmental language problems, and most other brain genes barely show up as a group in comparative genomics.
Segmental duplications and human evolution. Recent human evolution did not only leave traces at the single-base pair level that allows for the discovery of individual sequence differences but also larger structural genomic variants including segmental duplications. Recurrent microdeletions such as the 15q13.3, 16p13.11 or 15q11.2 microdeletions occur relatively frequently because the genomic sequence of these deletions is located between segmental duplications (Figure 1). These segmental duplications are so similar that the DNA replication machinery sometimes mistakes one duplication for the other (e.g. the “right flanking duplication” for the “left flanking duplication”). Thereby, the intervening sequence is either deleted or duplicated. Segmental duplications are relatively human-specific, for example a paralogue region for the 15q13.3 microdeletion is not present in rodents. Even in chimpanzees, the segmental duplications that give rise to Prader-Willi-Syndrome, Williams-Syndrome or Spinal Muscular Atrophy are not present, indicating that something very human-specific must have happened here that resulted in these segmental duplications, which give rise to so-called genomic disorders. While many of the epilepsy genes identified through family studies including SCN1A or GABRG2 are conserved in animals, microdeletions are not.
Figure 1. The human genome is a complicated meshwork of duplications and deletions that are lineage-specific, i.e. only occuring in human. One example of this is the genetic architecture of human chromosome 16. When comparing baboon and man, the human chromosome 16 is a complicated puzzle of deletions, duplication, duplications-within-duplications etc. This is the reason why there are at least five different microdeletions syndromes on chromosome 16, resulting from accidental genomic rearrangements between these duplications. This image is modified from a figure on the web page of the Eichler lab.
The SRGAP2 story. Two recent publications on the SRGAP2 gene illustrate the problems with reasoning around the human-specific changes. Saitsu and colleagues describe a female patient with epileptic encephalopathy and a balanced translocation in SRGAP2, a gene highly expressed in the developing forebrain. Balanced translocations are very rare and might provide insight into monogenic epilepsy syndromes. The function of SRGAP2 is still unknown. The second paper by Dennis and collaborators describes the evolution of the SRGAP2 family, hypothesizing that the evolution paralleled neocortical expansion at the transition of Australopithecus to Homo.
How human is our SRGAP2? While the suggestion that disruption of a human-specific gene results in West Syndrome carries some appeal, comes with an almost philosophical flaw. Epileptic encephalopathy, a severe neurodevelopmental disease, may be conceptualized as a disruption of basic cellular or network processes, e.g. large malformations, neurometabolic disorders or fundamental disruptions of synaptic function rather than defects in the subtle differences between man and ape that make us human. In fact, the Toronto Database of Genomic Variants lists several intragenic deletions and duplications in SRGAP2, suggesting that disruptions of this gene may be seen in apparently healthy individuals. Possibly, the genetic architure in SRGAP2 might predispose to deletions, duplications or more complicated rearrangements that even result in balanced translocations. Evolution has merely generated a complex human-specific gene prone to recombination events rather than a genuine epilepsy gene.
Evolutionary genomics and EuroEPINOMICS. So-called hotspot microdeletions including variants at 15q13.3, 16p13.11, 15q11.2 are the immediate result of recent genomic changes that allowed us to be human. Segmental duplications rather than changes on the base-pair level might have been the main driver for human evolution, and the occurence of microdeletions may be conceptualized as a “trade-off” for the fragile human genomic architecture. Microdeletions already help us explain approximately 3% of cases of epilepsy. It can be hypothesized that similar effects on a smaller genomic level are still to be discovered and may help explain additional genetic findings seen in epilepsy patients.
This entry was posted in 2012, Epileptic encephalopathy, Papers and tagged 15q11.2, 15q13.3, 16p13.11, comparative genomics, evolution, SRGAP2. Bookmark the permalink.
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Coordination difficulty and internalising symptoms in adults: A twin/sibling study
Waszczuk, M.A., Leonard, H.C., Hill, E.L. et al. (2 more authors) (2016) Coordination difficulty and internalising symptoms in adults: A twin/sibling study. Psychiatry Research. ISSN 0165-1781
Increased anxiety and depression symptoms have been reported in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, and have been found to be associated with motor coordination difficulties, but little is known about the aetiology of these associations. This study aimed to assess genetic, shared (making twins/siblings alike) and non-shared (individual-specific) environmental influences on the association between poor coordination and symptoms of anxiety and depressed mood using a sample of adult twin and sibling pairs. Participants were asked about their coordination skill and anxiety and depression symptoms. About half of the variance in coordination difficulty was explained by familial (combined genetic and shared environmental) influences, with the remaining variance explained by non-shared environmental influences. Phenotypic associations between coordination and anxiety (r = .46) and depression symptoms (r = .44) were largely underpinned by shared familial liability for the three traits. Non-shared environment accounted for about a third of the phenotypic association. Results suggest that both familial and non-shared environmental influences play a role in the aetiology of coordination difficulty and its association with internalizing symptoms. The current study highlights that both biological and environmental pathways shared between these symptoms should be examined in future research to inform prevention and treatment approaches in clinical settings.
Waszczuk, M.A.
Leonard, H.C.
Hill, E.L.
Rowe, R.
Gregory, A.M.
© 2016 Elsevier B.V. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in Psychiatry Research. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. Article available under the terms of the CC-BY-NC-ND licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Anxiety; Coordination; Depression; Developmental Coordination Disorder; Twin study
Published (online): 19 February 2016
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2016.02.044
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2016.02.044
Filename: WRRO_95390.pdf
Licence: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0
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Erin Misaki (’99)
Playing Career
(WUSA) Woman’s United Soccer Association
The Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) was the world’s first women’s soccer league in which all the players were paid professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United…
Erin Misaki….Philadelphia Charge, 2003
The Philadelphia Charge was a professional soccer team that played in the Women’s United Soccer Association. The team played at Villanova Stadium on the campus of Villanova University near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The team began play in 2001….
NCAA Soccer Career
Erin Misaki- University of Portland Profile College 2000
Hart High School 99′
Goal-Oriented Misaki Thrives in Spotlight November 27, 1998
Midfielder Erin Misaki Led Hart to the Southern Section Division II Co-Championship to Earn The Times’ Regional Player of the Year
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Jan 13 2021 admin News Environment and Nature
Polish zoo welcomes first baby rhino in 155 years
Earlier this week, for the first time in it’s 155-year history, Wroclaw Zoo has welcomed a baby rhino to the family. After a long 16-month pregnancy the baby girl was born on January 6.
“It is the first rhino in the history of the zoo, the first Indian rhino, in general the first that was born here. It’s a great joy for us but also a great challenge,” said Justyna Nowicka, an animal keeper at Wroclaw zoo, on Sunday.
Indian rhinoceros are a rare species to find. These mammals are kept in only 66 zoos worldwide.
The species is also rare to find in the wild. A few decades ago the species was close to extinction because their long horn, which can grow up to 57cm, made them a poaching target. But strict protection rules enforced since the 1970s have helped the population increase to an estimated 3,600.
“We are very pleased about this (the birth) because the species is threatened, like all rhinos. It only lives in several national parks … in India. And these parks are increasingly built upon, unfortunately with human settlements, which cause problems, especially in the event of floods,” said Radoslav Ratajszczak, president of Wroclaw Zoo.
The species rarity makes this birth of great significance and to make good news even better, zoo keepers are speculating that this is not the only rhino to be born in Wroclaw zoo, since the parents are still young and likely to mate again.
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Robert & MeiLi Hefner’s Berlin Wall Sections Have Returned to the USA from Singapore
By Metra Nichols, September 26, 2013
Robert and MeiLi Hefner’s “Kings of Freedom” Berlin Wall sections have returned to the United States after three years on display at Bedok Reservoir Park in Singapore. The wall was on loan to Singapore by Robert and MeiLi Hefner and was unveiled to the public on January 10, 2010. There were over 200 guests present at the unveiling including George Yeo, Singapore’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lim Hwee Hua – former Minister in the Prime Minister’s office – and government officials from the German Embassy. The wall served as a backdrop for creative activities and community gatherings establishing the Wall as an inspirational and historical icon.
The Wall was on display in the sculpture garden area of the park and housed in a 1,400 sq meter glass enclosure in the eastern part of Bedok Reservoir Park. Painted on one side of the Wall, which once faced West Berlin, the murals depict a bright and joyful king representing freedom and a colorless, blindfolded king who is oblivious to the wishes of his people. The side of the Wall which faced East Berlin remained unpainted.
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Government Shutdown Now Longest in History
ACA Lawsuit Update
House Passes PAHPA/OTC Legislation
Democrats Introduce Package of Drug Pricing Legislation
Klobuchar, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Prescription Drug Cost Legislation
Bipartisan Request for Greater CMMI Transparency
Budget Chairman Requests Single-Payer CBO Report
NIH Responds to Research Integrity Concerns
House Dems Push for Prioritization of Opioid Crisis
Democratic Health Leaders Request Info on Short-Term Plans
Dems Inquire on ACA User Fees
Medicaid Block Grant Plan Underway at CMS
The partial government shutdown, in its fourth week, has set the record for the longest funding lapse in modern history – surpassing a 21-day shutdown between December 1995 and January 1996. Negotiations between congressional Democrats and President Trump remain at an impasse over the President’s demand for border wall funding with no clear path forward. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has reportedly made preparations for the shutdown to continue through the end of February. It remains unclear whether President Trump will declare a national emergency on the boarder in an attempt to circumvent Congress and fund the construction of a wall on the southern border.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, stating that the shutdown is one of the “most significant operational challenges” in the agency’s history, announced that the agency would use its limited resources to address the most critical safety work – moving funding from the pre-market review of new drugs to post-market drug safety surveillance. The FDA can’t operate using government funding during the shutdown, and it cannot accept new user fees, but it can use carry over fees from before the shutdown. Gottlieb also made assurances that the FDA is not experiencing any delays in its review of medical devices imported into the U.S.
Congress has passed legislation that would give federal workers back pay for work during the shutdown. The Senate passed S. 24 by voice vote last week; the bill was subsequently passed by the House by a vote of 411-7 and sent to President Trump for his signature. President Trump has signaled that he plans to sign the legislation.
In an attempt to jumpstart negotiations, Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced legislation (S. 108) that would create a $25 billion fund for the provision of border security measures that are aligned with the President’s requests and codify protections for individuals currently covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This proposed approach for ending the government shutdown has been rejected by Vice President Mike Pence. A group of Senate Republicans have also introduced legislation (S. 104) that would prevent a government shutdown should budget negotiations fail to meet spending deadlines in the future. In such cases, the bill would create an automatic continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open. It was introduced by Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).
The House of Representatives advanced legislation (H.R. 265) to fund the Agriculture Department and the FDA by a vote of 243-183. The bill would appropriate spending through the end of the current fiscal year (Sept. 30) and is based on legislation passed by the Senate last congress. It is a part of a package of bills House Democrats hope to use to pressure the Senate to vote to end the partial government shutdown. Senate Democrats withheld support for a Middle East policy measure as a protest of the partial government shutdown last week. Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) has called on the chamber to take up House-passed legislation that would re-open the government. The Senate is not expected to act because the White House has threatened to veto such spending measures if they do not include funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall.
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Game Show News Update #2…
Good evening, and welcome. It’s time now to do a quick check on what’s new in the world of game shows….
Firstly, there’s a nationwide US casting call for families, for a brand new family game show. It’s all a bit mysterious, but we do know that it’s called Wall of Fame, and it’s brought to us by Endemol, the huge Dutch production company behind Deal Or No Deal, Big Brother and many other smash hits… so it’s certainly got a good pedigree.
Next, there are reports all over the net about NBC’s new celebrity game show Hollywood Game Night, which is hosted by Glee‘s Jane Lynch. Being in Australia, I haven’t had a chance to see this one yet, but it sounds like fun. NBC have also launched The Winner Is..., which is described as “a combination singing competition and game show”. There’s a top prize of $1 million in this one, so it’ll be interesting to see how it goes.
And now, from our ‘That’s-So-Crazy-It-Just-Might-Work’ department… American Idol‘s Ryan Seacrest looks set to host a bizarre new concept in game shows called Million Second Quiz. It features a gigantic hourglass, and a “living leader board” of 4 people competing in a quiz for 12 days straight, in front of a studio audience… and Manhattan passers-by. I kid you not. Perhaps that’s what Elvis meant, when he sang “The Edge of Reality”.
For our friends in the UK, evergreen game show darling Carol Vorderman’s new show Revolution – which saw contestants competing to win up to £3 million – has been axed, before it even began. Despite high hopes for the show in the Saturday evening timeslot, apparently network executives were unimpressed with the pilot, and decided not to take the concept any further. I hope none of the contestants in the (non-broadcast) pilot were counting on receiving their prize money….
And finally, some news of a game show winner really doing their bit for science. It seems that the IBM Supercomputer Watson – who won $1 million on Jeopardy in 2011, defeating former champions Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings – has been pressed into service in the arena of healthcare. This is a brilliant development, and it is always nice to see a former winner giving something back.
That about wraps it up for this week’s quick news flash. See you next time.
This entry was posted in Updates by Stephen. Bookmark the permalink.
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Review by Kelly McHugh, Florida Southern College
Friended at the Front: Social Media in the American War Zone
By Lisa Ellen Silvestri
Lawrence: Univ. Press of Kansas, 2016. Pp. xv, 239. ISBN 978–0–7006–2136–1.
Descriptors: Volume 2017, 21st Century, Iraq, Afghanistan Print Version
In Friended at the Front, Lisa Ellen Silvestri (Gonzaga College), a specialist in communications studies, tackles a familiar topic—the use of social media by people in their twenties—but in an unfamiliar arena: the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. This subject has received scant scholarly attention. In the introduction, she asks
What challenges do military personnel face as they negotiate the institutional and cultural expectations for social media use? How do they communicate their deployment experiences, if at all, with social network members? What discourses do they draw from in order to sustain conversations across multiple publics and collective audiences? When, why, how, and to whom are particular utterances intelligible? (13)
To address these questions, Silvestri employs the concept of "technological agency," which
neither reduces technologies to what humans designed them to do nor claims agency for the technology itself. To be sure, there are values built into technologies, but they do not determine use of these technologies. They do, however, constrain those uses…. Supposing that human behavior changes to suit new technologies' forms and processes, the very act of using Facebook generates patterns of activities that soon become second nature. (5)
The body of the book consists of four case-studies, each essentially a fascinating stand-alone essay. Chapter 1, "Incongruities across Social Media and Military Cultures," concerns the regulation of social media usage by the Department of Defense. Three succeeding chapters—"From Posting Mail to Posting Status," "Photos from the Field," and "Marine Corps Video Memes"—discuss, respectively, posting on Facebook, creating Facebook photo albums, and creating and sharing internet "memes" or viral videos. (The chapter on Internet memes is the least effective in the volume. Apart from several humorous examples of viral videos created by active-duty Marines, it has little relevance to the broader themes of the book.) Silvestri finds that social media are fast evolving and democratic in nature and have profoundly affected the deployment experiences of US military personnel. Beyond that, they also shape the broader public's understanding of what it means for the United States to be "at war."
Silvestri adopted a two-pronged approach to her research: first, she conducted three sets of on-base interviews with Marines following their deployments to Iraq or Afghanistan, particularly in the period 2008–12, when social media use became commonplace among military personnel. To supplement these interviews, she did "online fieldwork," analyzing the Facebook pages of nine Marines.
The author acknowledges that her sample size is small, relative to the number of troops who served overseas. Nonetheless, she has found evidence that social media have transformed their experience of war, not always for the better.
The widespread use of personal computers, internet accessibility, and the proliferation of social network sites pose fundamental challenges to the maintenance of dualities between work and leisure. When communication takes place over non-physical networks, it complicates distinctions between work and home as well as the social roles that go along with them. Applying these ideas to U.S. troops in a theater of war significantly raises the stakes for these types of dilemmas. (6)
Specifically, soldiers who used social media were "tethered to the home front" in an unparalleled way; in previous conflicts, communication between the war zone and home had been sporadic and one-sided. While all the Marines Silvestri interviewed appreciated their ability to connect in real-time with their loved ones, this also involved them in the everyday challenges faced by their families back home: worries over sick children, home repairs, or family disputes increased the daily stresses borne by the Marines. One who served in Afghanistan told Silvestri that his frequent Facebook use made him feel he had "one foot over there and one here" (45).
Silvestri explores this dynamic most fully in chapter 3, which contrasts present-day Marines' communications with those of soldiers in past wars, who communicated mainly by handwritten letters. She finds that, in the era of social media, frequency of contact has replaced depth of contact (68). The messages the Marines posted to Facebook tended to be prosaic; the perceived obligation to post frequently left them describing the weather, food, and humorous occurrences. By contrast, letters written during past wars, which took weeks or months to reach their recipients, were often emotionally rich and focused only on significant events that had occurred on the home front.
Since social media not only facilitate communications among individuals, but also make them public, Silvestri considers the "audience" impact of the social media activity of military personnel. She notes that the Pentagon has attempted to regulate social media use by active duty personnel, fearing that a "nightmare reader" (enemy operative) might mine soldiers' Facebook feeds to gain intelligence.
In her interviews, however, Silvestri found that the Marines were more concerned about hiding wartime images, not from the enemy, but from their loved ones. Many of them engaged in self-censorship when posting on Facebook to avoid alarming family and friends with images of violence, carnage, and danger. Thus their photos and messages often reported on day-to-day life on their bases, offering a sanitized "social media-friendly version of war—shiny happy people holding guns" (161).
Finally, the author considers how members of the military use social media to make sense of their combat experiences. The young Marines she encountered were struggling to grasp their role in a new kind of war, which looked nothing like past conflicts they knew of. In fact, she found, "Marines rarely used the term 'war' as a frame of reference for their deployments. Instead, they invoked discourses associated with everyday life and used 'war' to describe specific moments during their deployments" (163). In effect, the Marines were generating content that, while publically accessible, was meant for their fellow soldiers.
One subset of such self-restricted communication was "motivational photographs," or "moto photos." These were usually variants of the sort of photographs taken before the advent of social media, depicting soldiers in combat poses, in full military gear, often holding weapons. Interestingly, Silvestri finds that the moto photos, which comprised over half the photos she examined, mimicked the aesthetics of popular combat-based videogames like "Call of Duty." She argues that the proliferation of these photos on Facebook, and the approving comments of their comrades, suggest that Marines in Afghanistan were seeking to "recreate the fiction of war in part for their social network audience and in part for themselves" (165).
The book is written for an academic audience; it includes a detailed survey of pertinent literature in communication studies as well as many source citations and much technical jargon. It provides a well executed preliminary examination of the intersection of media studies and military history and opens several avenues for further research. In a time when a historically small percentage of Americans serve in the armed forces, accounts and images of war shared on Facebook now shape most civilians' conception of modern warfare.
Lisa Silvestri's engaging prose style (jargon aside) will make Friended at the Front accessible to general readers and specialists curious about its subject. By studying twenty-first-century troops as technological agents, she forces her audience to consider the outsized role that social media play in both their lives and our own.
Purchase Friended at the Front
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Intermedia, Fluxus Artist
Larry Miller's installation "Mom-Me" 1973
"The Third Mind: American Artists Contemplate Asia"
at the Guggenheim Museum from January to April 2009
COPYRIGHT YOUR DNA! download here Homage to Nam June Paik - James Cohan Gallery April 14, 2007
41 Main Street, Unit 757 New Paltz, NY 12561
Larry Miller is an intermedia artist whose work has been presented extensively in global venues since his initial solo exhibition in New York in 1970. He was active in the development of multi-media and performance-based works in SoHo's earliest alternative spaces, and was associated with developing new configurations in the period that gained critical currency in being described as "installation art". Knives (1973), his renowned installation of found objects and photographs regarding homeless men on New York's Bowery, was included in New York ca. 1975, an exhibition of defining works from the period at David Zwirner Gallery, New York in 2001.
As a kindred spirit to artists who view their work less as a profession than as a form of pure research into the nature of experience, Miller was to become a core associate of the group of artists known as Fluxus. Miller's early work as research artist is characterized as much by his provocative approach to subject matter and telling humor as by his implementation of unconventional means and materials not familiar to the territory of traditional art. To explore the invisible biology of the mind, he worked with professional hypnotists, "psychic" mediums, healers and ritual magic. He has implemented novel strategies to address ambiguities of inner experience and its outward manifestation. Drawing upon a background in music, theater and the visual arts, he composes configurations that merge diverse media and participatory elements, cutting across disciplines to blend ironic humor and poetic contemplation.
Maintaining his spirit of art-as-experiment, Miller was in the forefront of artists focusing on the potential of DNA and genetic technologies. Following his exhibitions and performances concentrating on issues of human lineage, identity and the coding of DNA, his pioneering work became an essential component in a series of exhibitions concerning the "Genetic Revolution." In "Corbet's Studio", the installation by Tony Oursler at Musee D'Orsay, Paris and at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2005, Miller's "Genetic Code Copyright Certificate" was shown within a collection of works that Oursler cited as inspirational to his own work.
Whether presented as live performance, specific site installation, or gallery exhibition, Miller considers all of his works -- as well as himself -- to be "performing objects." In this view, there are no fixed boundaries between objects, events, time and space, or between definitions that societies offer for science, art, and religion. Since the late 1980s, he has questioned such boundaries in works exploring issues raised by genetic science. Basing lines of conceptual inquiry on his 1989 "copyright" claim to his personal genome, he focused on questions of the ownership of DNA, and of the commercial applications of genetic technology. In 1992, Miller launched an international public action, which has since facilitated thousands of individuals in making claims to their genetic rights. Miller created the Genetic Code Copyright Certificate and published it in several languages. This simple fill-in form provides a declaration of copyright of one's own genome. Subsequent works springing from this notion have further speculated on the applications of genetic science. His Genomic License series postulates that DNA is a malleable material which, like clay or digital information, can be shaped into novel products -- bought, sold, and distributed like any other commodity. His Genetic Code Copyright certificate can be downloaded for personal use from the Creative Time DNAid website, www.creativetime.org.
Miller has been associated with the international Fluxus group of artists since 1969. In addition to his numerous original compositions which have joined the collective's catalog of works , he has been active as an interpreter of the "classic" scores - bringing the group's works to a wider public and attracting media coverage such as the worldwide CNN coverage of Off Limits exhibit at Newark Museum, 1999. Miller's activities as organizer, performer and presenter within the Fluxus milieu include: Performance in Fluxus Continue 1963-2003 at Musee d'Art et d'Art Contemporain in Nice; Fluxus a la Carte in Amsterdam; and Centraal Fluxus Festival at Centraal Museum, Utrecht, Netherlands. In 2004, For Critical Mass: Happenings, Fluxus, Performance, Intermedia and Rutgers University 1958-1972, Miller reprised and updated the track and field events of the Flux Olympics, first presented in 1970. Along with Alison Knowles, he organized a Fluxus Concert with students at University of Maryland, for the exhibition, Intermedia: The Dick Higgins Collection at UMBC. In Do-it Yourself Fluxus at AI - Art Interactive - in Cambridge, Mass. Miller worked as the curatorial consultant for an exhibit of works that allowed viewers hands-on experience. A major component of the show was the reconstruction of several sections of the historic Flux Labyrinth -- a massive and intricate maze that Miller originally constructed with George Maciunas at Akademie Der Kunst, Berlin in 1976. To punctuate the exhibit at AI, Miller directed a "classic" concert of Fluxus scores with local performance artists. A documentary television program on CA-TV (Cambridge Community Television) covered the several aspects of the show. For the opening of George Brecht - A Heterospective at Museum Ludwig, Cologne in 2005, Miller organized an opening night program to be performed along with Alison Knowles, Ben Vautier and other original Fluxus performers to demonstrate the scope of Brecht's concept of events; the following day he organized a rare performance of Brecht's 1960 Motor Vehicle Sundown (Event) For John Cage, which featured more than 40 vehicles in Cologne's historic Dom Platz adjacent to the famed cathedral. The performers followed Brecht's classic score utilizing a variety of vehicles as instruments of sound, including fire trucks, police and military vehicles and vintage automobiles. A large public audience attended, and the event spectacle was broadcast live on German television.
Larry Miller's work has been exhibited and performed in museums, galleries, and institutions around the world, including The Whitney Museum of American Art, The Museum of Modern Art, The Guggenheim Museum, The New Museum, Gallery LeLong, Stux Gallery, and Emily Harvey Gallery in New York; Walker Art Center in Minneapolis; Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; La Biennale di Venezia; Akademie Der Kunste, Daadgalerie and Bonner Kunstverein, Germany; Ecole Nationale Des Beaux-Arts, Paris, and other venues in Europe, Korea, Japan, Australia, Canada and the USA. His work is represented in numerous public and private collections. He has published texts and videos on art and Fluxus artists -- most notably, Interview With George Maciunas, the group founder, which has been screened internationally and translated into numerous languages. In 1994, he co-curated the first Fluxus Online website.
Exhibitions related to genetics include: Paradise Now: Picturing the Genetic Revolution, Exit Art, NYC, 2000 (touring U.S. through 2004); From Code to Commodity: Genetics and Visual Art, New York Academy of Science, NYC, 2003; Gene(sis): Contemporary Art Explores Human Genomics, Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, 2002 to 2005), Codes and Identity, Clifford Art Gallery, Colgate University, New York, 2003, How Human: Life in the Post Genome Era, International Center of Photography, New York, 2003 and DNA[do not assume], Bowling Green State University, Ohio 2005. Miller has received individual artists fellowships and exhibition grants from the New York State Foundation for the Arts, Creative Artists Program and the National Endowment for the Arts. A native of Missouri, Miller earned his MFA degree at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1970.
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Palmer School of Library and Information Science
LIU Master's degree in Library and Information Science with locations in NYC at NYU and at LIU Post ; ALA accredited
The Dual Degree
Future Master’s Degree Students
Calendars and Class Schedules
Student/Alumni/Faculty News
Palmer School e-Portfolio
Admitted and Continuing Students: Start of Term Details
Category Archives: Archives
The Palmer School at LIU Post Embarks on the Robert Moses Collection Project
Posted on October 15, 2019 by Alice
By: Jaime Karbowiak
With the assistance of a $695,000 grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, the Palmer School at LIU Post has embarked on an ambitious three-year project to create widespread public access to historic records produced during the era when Robert Moses developed and created most of Long Island’s state parks and parkways. The Robert Moses Collection Project is a rare initiative under which both private and public entities have come together with a commitment to bring to light this previously hidden collection of documentation related to one of the most significant figures in New York history. Long Island University and the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, along with the New York State Department of Parks and the New York State Archives, are working to ensure this seldom seen treasure-trove of administrative correspondence and memoranda, photographs, maps, architectural drawings, and financial and legal documents dating from the Moses period is made digitally accessible to all on the New York State Archives website.
This exciting and important project is being completed under the direction of the Palmer School’s Dr. Gregory S. Hunter, who has assembled a team of archivists to inventory, arrange, describe, and digitize the collection. Beginning in May 2019, Palmer School alumnae Jaime Karbowiak (Senior Archivist) and Emily Antoville (Processing Archivist) spent three months mining the recesses and vaults of the Long Island State Parks Regional Headquarters building at Belmont Lake State Park in Babylon and identified close to 450 cubic feet of archival records dating from the Moses era. Now in the second stage of the three-part project, the archivists are currently preparing the items for research and eventual digitization at the Long Island Parks Regional Archives state-of-the-art facility at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay.
As the “Master Builder” of the 20th century, Robert Moses was responsible for the creation of many of New York State’s public parks, in addition to thirty-five highways, twelve bridges, two hydroelectric dams, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the United Nations complex, Shea Stadium, the 1964 New York World’s Fair, and a revitalization of the Central Park Zoo. As President of the Long Island State Park Commission from 1924-1963, his building projects largely shaped Long Island as we know it today. Enabling access to these previously unavailable Long Island State Parks records is sure to greatly advance scholarship and enhance understanding of the development of Long Island’s infrastructure and public spaces, in addition to providing further insight into the public figures and individuals involved. The project is scheduled for completion — and the Robert Moses Collection will be open for research — in Spring 2022.
Posted in Archives, DLHS, Dr. Greg Hunter | Tagged DLHS, Dr. Greg Hunter, Emily Antoville, Grant, Jaime Karbowiak, Robert Moses
“Digitizing Local History Sources” Project Enters its Third Year
By: Dr. Greg Hunter
The Palmer School of Library and Information Science is in the third year of the “Digitizing Local History Sources (DLHS) Project,” which is funded by a $1.5 million grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. The project is directed by Dr. Gregory S. Hunter, Professor and Director of the Certificate of Advanced Study in Archives and Records Management (CARM).
The goal of the project is to digitize historical materials found in local communities across Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Since 2017, the Palmer School has assisted 35 local historical societies. Our goal is to help 80 historical societies by 2022.
The Gardiner Foundation funding enabled the Palmer School to establish an on-campus Digitization Lab with state-of-the-art equipment. The School also purchased six mobile digitization units for scanning materials in local communities. To date, DLHS has digitized over 40,000 images totaling 10 terabytes of data. Digitization meets the highest professional standards and images are stored in Preservica, a world-leading cloud-based digital preservation system.
Project activities are conducted by Palmer School students, who receive the practical, hands-on experience that will be essential for their careers as archivists and librarians. Master’s students scan historical documents and create basic descriptive information about the materials. Ph.D. students perform quality control and image editing tasks, as well as refine the descriptive information create by the master’s students. To date, the Palmer School has awarded 60 Gardiner Foundation Fellowships totaling $445,000.
The Palmer School of Library and Information Science has been part of the local community since 1959. Digitizing Local History Sources is deepening the partnerships that have long been a hallmark of the school. For additional information see: www.liu.edu/dlhs
Posted in Archives, DLHS, Dr. Greg Hunter | Tagged Archives, DLHS, Dr. Greg Hunter, Grant
From Newsday: LIU Post Project Digitizes Pieces of Long Island History
Posted on July 9, 2018 by Alice
Newsday: LIU Post project digitizes pieces of Long Island history
Students and staff at the university’s Palmer School are scanning documents, some more than a century old, from historical societies and museums across the Island
LIU Post Professor Gregory Hunter, left, shares some Long Island history — and how it will be digitally archived — with PhD student Sultan Aljehani, at the B. Davis Schwartz Library at LIU Post on Friday. Photo Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
By Kadia Goba kadiagoba@newsday.comUpdated July 6, 2018 5:38 PM
The yellowed, handwritten receipt from a Rockville Centre mortuary gives a glimpse into the Long Island of more than a century ago.
In 1907, a family paid $200 to Petitt Brothers and Clayton Funeral Service. The limousine to carry the deceased cost another $5 and the pallbearers came with the price tag of $1.50.
The 5-by-7-inch piece of paper had been tucked away for decades in a file cabinet in the Museum of the Village of Rockville Centre. Today, the note and many other relics in the museum’s collection have been digitized as part of an initiative by the Palmer School of Library and Information Science at LIU Post. The project is financed by a $1.5 million grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, a nonprofit organization that aims to promote the history of Long Island and New York State.
Kelsey Renz, 24, of Kings Park, speaks at the Gardiner Symposium at Bayard Cutting Arboretum on June 26. The LIU Post student was one of the first students to work on the Long Island history digitization project. Photo Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
A staff of 10 at the university, including eight graduate students, is digitizing the archives of 26 historical societies, and plans are in the works to expand the project. So far, they have scanned nearly 15,000 historical documents in the digital laboratory at LIU Post and at area historical societies.
The Palmer School has already met with 17 more historical societies on Fire Island and intends to increase the number of students to 14 a semester.
“With digitizing, our job is just to capture images at high resolution, but I found it difficult not to get lost in the material,” said Aliki Caloyeras, 44, who is pursuing a master’s degree in library and information science.
In exchange for her work, Caloyeras is learning skills that will allow her to work on her own digital preservation project. She and her fellow students also receive six free credits for each semester they participate.
Work on the Rockville Centre collection started more than a year ago. The museum’s president, Frank Seipp, has played a key role in the project.
“We have a good filing system,” said Seipp, 85, adding that students were impressed when they saw the museum’s collection.
One of the documents at the Huntington Historical Society that made a lasting impression on Caloyeras was the diary of Amelia Sammis Brush, who kept a daily journal for six years during the Civil War.
“Well, she’s doing as well as can be expected,” wrote Brush of a friend she was visiting who had just given birth.
For Caloyeras, a mother of two, Brush’s words signaled that the friend might have had postpartum depression.
Other treasures processed through the project were a page from the 1783 receipt book of Robert Townsend, a Revolutionary War spy, and a scrapbook documenting the unsuccessful 1911 senatorial campaign of Isidor Straus, the co-owner of Macy’s department store, who died a year later with his wife aboard the Titanic.
Olena Zozulevich worked with the Oyster Bay Historical Society to digitize President Theodore Roosevelt’s burial records, but it was the 1858 records from Lockwood Marbleworks, a tombstone manufacturer, that caught her attention.
“I draw and when I looked at these sketches, I noticed the hands were really bad,” said Zozulevich, 23, referring to the sketches of praying hands to be etched onto a tombstone. “Even back then, people still couldn’t draw hands.”
Receipts from the Lockwood Marbleworks show tombstones were purchased from $6 and $21 in 1858.
Kelsey Renz, 24, of Kings Park, was one of the first students to work on the digitization project. So far, she has scanned dozens of photos of the Gardiners, the family responsible for the Palmer School grant.
“As a Suffolk County resident, a snapshot into people’s lives and how they presented themselves in a portrait is interesting,” said Renz. “Participating in the project, you know your work will be viewed by so many years after the project.”
Other documents scanned in the digitization project:
1749: A page from daybook of Dr. George Muirson
1783: Receipt book of Robert Townsend
1817: A page from the Daniel Underwood shipping ledger
1915: Capital Stock Report for the South Side Realty Company
1927: Cruise passenger list aboard the S.S. Veendam
1935: An Irish sweepstakes ticket
1937: First issue of the Nassau County Historical Journal
1942: Greenport Basin and Construction Company newsletter
Posted in Archives, DLHS, Dr. Greg Hunter, Uncategorized | Tagged Archives, DLHS, Dr. Greg Hunter, Grant
“Digitizing Local History Sources” Funded by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation
Posted on March 5, 2018 by Alice
A generous five-year grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation is enabling the Palmer School to digitize materials in local historical societies, with an emphasis on Suffolk County. The $1.5 million grant provides fellowships for master’s and doctoral students to assist with the project.
“Digitizing Local History Sources” began on February 1, 2017 and will end on January 31, 2022. The goal of the project is to digitize materials in 80 local historical societies. At the start of the project, the Palmer School established an on-campus Digitization Laboratory featuring two scanners:
A “DT Atom Digitization System” manufactured by Digital Transitions
An Epson Expression 12000XL with transparency adapter
The Palmer School also created two mobile digitization units, each containing an Epson Perfection V800 scanner and a Dell laptop computer. Students use these mobile units to digitize materials on-site at historical societies.
Scanned images are stored in Preservica Cloud Edition, a leading digital preservation system. Each historical society retains ownership of and controls access to its materials stored in Preservica.
The Project Director is Dr. Gregory Hunter. He may be reached at 516-299-2171 or ghunter@liu.edu
Gardiner Foundation Master’s Fellowship
To be eligible for a Gardiner Foundation Master’s Fellowship, a student must be matriculated in either the Master of Science in Library and Information Science (MSLIS) or the Certificate of Advanced Study in Archives and Records Management (CARM).
Gardiner Foundation Master’s Fellows receive six credits of tuition remission for each semester in which they are a fellow. At this point in the project, there is a maximum of nine Master’s Fellows per semester.
First-time Master’s Fellows must enroll in LIS 693, “Gardiner Foundation Internship.” LIS 693 is open to all Palmer School students at any point in the program. Students may only register for LIS 693 once. Students may apply for fellowships in additional semesters, subject to the availability of funds.
Master’s Fellows spend 120 hours during the semester assisting with the grant project. Fellows must be able to spend two days per week on the project, each day consisting of five hours. Some historical societies may be open on Saturday.
Master’s Fellows digitize historical images and create metadata for the images. Most of the digitization takes place at the local historical societies; fellows must travel to the historical societies to conduct on-site project activities. Fellows also use the digitization equipment in the on-campus laboratory.
Gardiner Foundation Doctoral Fellowship
To be eligible for the Gardiner Foundation Doctoral Fellowship, a student must be matriculated in the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Information Studies.
Gardiner Foundation Doctoral Fellows receive six credits of tuition remission for each semester in which they are a fellow. There will be a maximum of two Doctoral Fellows per semester. Students may apply for fellowships in additional semesters, subject to the availability of funds. A student may receive a Doctoral Fellowship for a maximum of four semesters.
Doctoral Fellows spend 120 hours during the semester assisting with the grant project. Doctoral Fellows perform quality assurance on scanned images and metadata, and enter items into Preservica. Most project activities are conducted in the on-campus Palmer School Digitization Laboratory.
Please see the application for the master’s level fellowship here:
Application for Master’s Fellowship
Please see the application for the doctoral level fellowship here:
Application for Doctoral Fellowship
Completed applications should be returned to the Palmer School Scholarship Committee via email to Heather.ranieri@liu.edu.
Posted in Archives, DLHS, Dr. David Jank, Dr. Greg Hunter | Tagged Archives, DLHS, Dr. David Jank, Dr. Greg Hunter, LIS, Scholarships
LIU Post Announces $1 Million Grant from Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation to Expand Project to Preserve LI History
Posted on December 5, 2017 by Alice
Grant Expands Partnership with LIU Post’s Acclaimed Palmer School
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (December 4, 2017) –LIU Post’s Palmer School of Library and
Information Science was awarded a $1 million grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation to expand an important project to both preserve Long Island’s history and make it more accessible.
The $1 million grant comes on the heels of an initial $500,000 grant from the Foundation in 2016 to launch the Digitizing Long Island History project. The project has received a far greater response than anticipated from historical societies, both in terms of the number of participants and volume of material. Under the initial grant, the Palmer School is partnering with 28 historical societies. The additional $1 million grant will expand the project to 80 historical societies over 4 years.
“We are proud to expand the successful partnership between the nationally-recognized Palmer School and the Robert David Lion Gardner Foundation to help protect our region’s rich history,” said LIU President Dr. Kimberly R. Cline. “This project to preserve vital historical documents and make them accessible will have a lasting impact on our region, now and for future generations.”
The following historical societies are taking part in the program this semester–
Freeport Historical Society Museum, Southold Historical Society, Historical Society of the Massapequas, Stirling Historical Society of Greenport, Sagtikos Manor Historical Society, Museum of the Village of Rockville Centre, and the Three Village Historical Society.
The Palmer School works with the historical societies to do some work on location, and other work at LIU Post. Fragile, oversized, and bound items are brought to the Palmer School’s Lab for scanning on a large, DT Atom tabletop digitization platform. The School also has two portable digitization units that students are able to take to the historical societies for the other material.
The Palmer School is a national leader in library science and one of just 62 schools accredited by the American Library Association. It offers the only Ph.D. program in Information Studies in the New York metropolitan area and is the only library sciences school in our region to be admitted into membership in the prestigious iSchools Consortium.
The project is led by Dr. Gregory Hunter, Professor of Library and Information Science, who heads the doctoral program at the Palmer School. Dr. Hunter is a nationally-recognized expert who was a key member of the team that designed and implemented the Electronic Records Archives for the National Archives and Records Administration. A Certified Archivist and a Certified Records Manager, Dr. Hunter is the Editor of the leading peer-reviewed journal in the field, The American Archivist, and his award-winning book is the standard text in the field.
“The Gardiner Foundation’s grant will allow us to preserve Long Island’s history and ensure that the next generation of archival professionals has the skills to preserve history in the digital age,” said Dr. Hunter. “This continues the important work of the Palmer School, which is our region’s leading information school.”
The grant includes significant scholarship support for masters and Ph.D. students at the Palmer School, in addition to opportunities for long-term fieldwork placement that benefit both the historical societies and Palmer School students.
“Due to the overwhelming response and success of this project, we are pleased to be able to award this new grant to expand our partnership with the Palmer School,” said Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. “The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation’s mission is to promote our regional history. The artifacts and archives of historical societies are untapped treasure troves for researchers and scholars. It is our hope that this award will make these collections available as vital part of local historic study. The Palmer School is our region’s leading institution to offer the expertise and resources to accomplish this goal.”
The funding will also allow for an annual Gardiner Symposium to begin next year, which will showcase progress and feature historical documents.
Posted in Archives, DLHS, Dr. David Jank, Dr. Greg Hunter, LIS | Tagged Archives, DLHS, Dr. David Jank, Dr. Greg Hunter, Grant
Gardiner Foundation Fellowships
Posted on May 24, 2017 by Alice
A generous two-year grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation will enable the Palmer School to digitize historical materials in local historical societies, with an emphasis on Suffolk County. Beginning in Fall 2017, the grant provides fellowships for master’s and doctoral students to assist with the project. The descriptions of the fellowships are below. A separate application form will be available soon. Questions about the project should be directed to Dr. Gregory Hunter (greg.hunter@liu.edu).
Master’s Fellows will enroll in LIS 693, “Gardiner Foundation Internship.”
Master’s Fellows will spend 120 hours in the semester assisting with the grant project. Activities include digitizing historical images, creating metadata for the images, performing quality assurance, and adding the images to a digital archives. Most of the digitization will take place at the local historical societies. Fellows will be expected to travel to the historical societies to conduct project activities. Students will receive a fellowship for 6 credits of tuition (LIS 693 plus another course of the student’s choosing). There will be a maximum of 9 Master’s Fellows per semester.
Here are some great courses to take in the fall to help you prepare!
LIS 657, #3074 Intro. to Preservation; Holmes: SA: Sept 16, 23, 30; Oct. 7; 10-4; Post
LIS 714, #2186 Archives and Manuscripts; Hunter: TU 4:30-6:20; NYU Bobst Rm. 745
Posted in Archives, DLHS, Dr. David Jank, Dr. Greg Hunter, grant, Scholarships | Tagged Archives, DLHS, Dr. David Jank, Dr. Greg Hunter, Grant, LIS, Scholarships
Sandy Enriquez, Spectrum Scholar
Palmer Student Joneil James Selected As ARL Digital Scholarship Institute Participant
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The 10 Principles
Longevity Books
Longevity Coaching
Longevity Blog
MKEttingtonbooks
Healthy lifestyle may slow aging in our cells
by Martin Ettington | Sep 25, 2013 | Aging, Anti-Aging, Cell Regeneration, Healthy Aging, Longevity, Longevity & Health, Longevity Article, Longevity Q&A, Science Research, Telomeres | 0 comments
By Michelle Castillo / CBS News/ September 17, 2013, 3:44 PM Healthy lifestyle may slow aging in our cells- It’s no secret that paying attention to diet, exercise, stress levels and getting social support may extend your life. But a new study shows healthy living may even reverse aging deep in our cells. A small study shows that positive lifestyle changes lead to longer telomeres, which are protective caps at the end of chromosomes that help protect a cell from aging. Telomeres are made of DNA and protein, and they work as a shield for chromosomes and help keep them stable. Over time they become shorter and weaker, leading the cells to age quicker and eventually die. Scientists have compared telomeres on chromosomes to protective plastic caps at the end of shoelaces. Telomere length has been linked to risk for diseases including some cancers, stroke, vascular dementia, cardiovascular disease, obesity, osteoporosis, diabetes and even the common cold. “Telomere shortening increases the risk of a wide variety of chronic diseases,” senior author Peter R. Carroll, professor and chair of the department of urology at University of California, San Francisco, said in a press release.
“We believe that increases in telomere length may help to prevent these conditions and perhaps even lengthen lifespan.” For the study, researchers tracked 35 men with localized, early-stage prostate cancer for five years. Even though the study involved cancer patients, the researchers said because they looked at telomeres in the patient’s blood and not their cancerous tissues, they felt the results could apply to the general population. Ten of the subjects were asked to eat a plant-based diet high in fruits, vegetables and unrefined grains, but also low in fat and refined carbohydrates. They were also told to exercise moderately (meaning walking 30 minutes a day, six days a week) and reduced their stress through yoga, breathing and meditation.
The subjects in this group were required to attend a weekly group support meeting. The remaining 25 study participants were not asked to make any major lifestyle changes. The group that made the alterations significantly lengthened their telomeres by about 10 percent. The more positive changes they made, the longer their telomeres were at the end of the study period. The control group who didn’t change their lifestyles had 3 percent shorter telomeres by the end of the five years. Lead author Dr. Dean Ornish, a clinical professor of medicine at UCSF, pointed out that the genes and telomeres we are born with aren’t always an accurate predictor of what’s going to happen in our lives. “So often people think ‘Oh, I have bad genes, there’s nothing I can do about it,'” Ornish said in a press release. “But these findings indicate that telomeres may lengthen to the degree that people change how they live. Research indicates that longer telomeres are associated with fewer illnesses and longer life.” Ornish lends his name to a diet he has researched that incorporates healthy eating, aerobic activities along with meditation and yoga for stress relief. Dr. Lynne Cox, a biochemistry lecturer at the University of Oxford who was not involved in the study, told the Telegraph that the study shows the importance of a healthy lifestyle, but it might lead to a longer life. “Perhaps too soon to judge whether this increase in telomere length will correlate with increased longevity or healthspan,” she said. Previous research has linked telomere length to longevity, including a June 2012 paper that found older dads may pass longer telomeres to their children. Healthy lifestyles have been shown to reduce risk for chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. A recent paper found eating healthily helped some women avoid endometrial cancer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also reported that at least 200,000 deaths each year from cardiovascular disease could be prevented if people kept their weight, drinking, diet, blood pressure and cholesterol under control, in addition to engaging in physical activity. Dr. Nan-Ping Weng, an investigator with the National Institute on Aging, told NPR that the study was “intriguing,” but also cautioned that telomeres aren’t the only factor when it comes to longevity. “Can we demonstrate that cells with shorter telomeres have weaker immune function? The answer from our data is yes,” Weng says. “But I don’t believe the telomere is the only parameter that determines aging. There are many other things.” The study was published on Sept. 16 in the Lancet Oncology. © 2013 CBS Interactive Inc.
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Academy Awards 2014 – And the Oscar Goes to…
RIVIERA BUZZ
The annual Academy Awards ceremony took place last night at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles with all the usual celebrity pomp and circumstance.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hosted its 86th annual awards ceremony in Los Angeles last night, the biggest night of the awards season and the industry in general. The ceremony was hosted by talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres.
The big news of the night was the award for the Best Picture which went to ‘12 Years A Slave‘, directed by Steve McQueen – this was the first time that the Academy honoured the work of a black director. The biggest winner on the night was ‘Gravity‘, which won seven Oscars in total.
So, without any further ado, here are the winners in the major categories.
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
BEST DIRECTING
Gravity, Alfonso Cuaron
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Great Beauty, Italy
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If only Bradley’s arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars pic.twitter.com/C9U5NOtGap
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 3, 2014
What’s left to say, except roll on the Festival de Cannes!
Lead image credit: zkruger / 123RF Stock Photo
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The premier lifestyle magazine for the Côte d'Azur, truly the world's favourite playground. Read it, and you'll feel like you're there!
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Home » Microgrids » Community » New Jersey to Offer Funds for Community Microgrids
New Jersey to Offer Funds for Community Microgrids
August 12, 2016 By Elisa Wood 2 Comments
Hoboken is among the NJ cities planning community microgrids.
New Jersey has kicked off a plan to incentivize community microgrids with $1 million in funds for feasibility studies.
The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) is circulating a draft application to be used in the competition. The board seeks stakeholder input on the application by August 30.
New Jersey has mapped 24 communities in 17 municipalities hard hit by Superstorm Sandy that could benefit from the microgrids.
The BPU will offer up to $200,000 per feasibility study for 5-10 community microgrids. The state expects to issue a second round of funds for engineering work at a later date. The budget for that part of the program has yet to be approved.
By definition community microgrids serve critical facilities, such as hospitals, police and emergency shelters. In this case the microgrids will serve clustered critical facilities in a small radius, generally no more than a mile, within what the state calls town centers. Community members could go to the town centers for shelter and services during a storm or power outage.
To be eligible for the study funds, the microgrids must be able to operate in both grid-connected and island mode in a cost-effective manner, connecting multiple customers across multiple rights-of-way.
The draft application requires that a government entity serve as lead applicant. The project also must have the support of the local utility to be eligible for the funds.
The BPU worked with the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) to map the storm-vulnerable communities in need of microgrids. The state sought out low to moderate income communities with important public buildings and an anchor critical facility, such as a waste water treatment plant. Buildings were evaluated for both their electric and heat requirements, paving the way for combined heat and power units to be included as part of the microgrids.
The town centers are within nine areas heavily affected by Superstorm Sandy. The NJIT report noted, however, that the value of distributed generation within microgrids goes beyond serving communities during a crisis.
“DG technologies generate power locally, minimize line losses, allow for greater cost control, and enable islanding and black start capabilities. Together, these benefits can provide New Jersey with reliable and resilient energy to keep the lights on during ‘blue sky’ days and emergencies alike,” said the report “New Jersey Town Centers Distributed Energy Resource Microgrids Potential.”
Credit: New Jersey Institute of Technology
The New Jersey program stems from the state’s 2015 Energy Master Plan that calls for installation of more microgrids to improve grid resiliency in storms. New Jersey was one of the hardest hit among the 20 states affected by Superstorm Sandy, with 2.6 million outages.
The state already has about 45 microgrids, but most are campus microgrids or single building microgrids with a one type of distributed energy resource, according the BPU.
Free Resource from Microgrid Knowledge Library
New Jersey also is home to Princeton University’s sophisticated microgrid, often held as an industry model. Princeton’s microgrid serves the campus both in a crisis and on a normal day-to-day basis, and acts as a resource for the central grid with sale of services into the PJM wholesale market.
Since Superstorm Sandy, New Jersey has worked to develop microgrids on more than one front. In addition to the community microgrid plan, the state is working with the U.S. Department of Energy on a microgrid to serve the northeast portion of the state’s transit system. The DOE also is assisting with a microgrid under development in the city of Hoboken.
New Jersey joins several other states that have offered seed money to kick-off microgrid development, including California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.
The NY Prize is the most prominent among them with $40 million available in funds. That first phase of that competition resulted in 83 projects that received $100,000 each for feasibility studies. The NY Prize is now soliciting applications for the second phase of the competition, which offers $1 million for eight demonstration studies.
The NJ BPU plans to hold a meeting on its community microgrid application from 10 a.m. to noon (ET), August 23 at its offices in Trenton. Stakeholders also may participate by conference call at 877.873.8018, access code 8722756.
The state is accepting written comments on the draft application, submitted to TCDERmicrogrid@bpu.nj.gov, through August 30, 2016. A copy of the draft application is available here.
Read about how one New Jersey seaside community kept the power on during Superstorm Sandy. Download the free Microgrid Knowledge report, Reciprocating Engine Generators and Microgrids: The Last Defense Against a Power Outage,
New Jersey Offers Initial $65M from Resilience Bank for Microgrids at Water Plants
Funding and Financing Community Microgrids
Microgrids Made Easier: How Hoboken is Creating a Resilient Microgrid… and How Your City Can Too
Updated: New York Launches Next Stage of $40M NY Prize
Why Microgrids? Why Now?
Filed Under: Community, Economics, Editor's Choice, Google News Feed, Markets, Microgrids, North America, Policy, Regions, Reliability, RFPs, x ~ Main Features Tagged With: Microgrid Newsletter Article
New Jersey to roll out $1M to fund community microgrid feasibility studies says:
[…] Garden State got hit with 2.6 million outages during Sandy in 2014, according to Microgrid Knowledge, leading to a focus on microgrids in the state’s […]
Energy Democracy Media Roundup – week of August 22, 2016 | Indieconomy says:
[…] New Jersey to offer funds for community microgrids by Elisa Wood, Microgrid Knowledge […]
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Employment / Labor Law
Want to Arbitrate? Not So Fast. California Court of Appeals Decision Illustrates Limits to Contractual Obligation to Arbitrate
On December 27, 2016, the California Court of Appeals published a decision on the enforceability of an Alternative Dispute Resolution Agreement (the "Agreement") in the context of an employee-employer relationship. The issue before the California Court of Appeals was whether or not a former employer could compel arbitration under the Agreement signed by the employee. The Court's decision further illustrates California's history of closely examining agreements to arbitrate in the context of employee-employer relationships, and its reticence to enforce such agreements.
In its published opinion, Flores v. Nature's Best Distribution, the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's order denying defendants' (plaintiff's former employer) petition to compel arbitration. Defendants' appeal contended that the trial court erroneously concluded that defendants failed to establish an agreement to arbitrate existed and that the arbitration provision was unconscionable and therefore unenforceable.
The matter arose after plaintiff Julie Flores ("plaintiff") was terminated from employment at Nature's Best. She subsequently sued Nature's Best and affiliated companies ("defendants") for wrongful termination and violations of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. In response to the suit, defendants filed a petition to compel arbitration pursuant to the Agreement.
The provision at issue provided for a multi-step alternative dispute resolution process, which is common in many agreements, employment and otherwise. The dispute resolution process involved an initial internal resolution process, followed by mediation, and ending with arbitration. As to the arbitration provision, it stated that either party may elect arbitration and that the cost was to be shared equally by the parties. It further provided that the arbitration was to be conducted in accordance with rules of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA").
In opposition to defendant's petition to compel arbitration, plaintiff argued that: 1) she did not recall signing the Agreement; 2) the Agreement was ambiguous because it did not specify which set of AAA rules applied; and 3) that the Agreement was unconscionable because it was a take-it-or-leave it condition of employment, plaintiff was required to pay unlawful fees, and denied plaintiff's appeal rights.
The Court of Appeals' analysis started and ended with the following: "[W]hen a petition to compel arbitration is filed and accompanied by prima facie evidence of a written agreement to arbitrate the controversy, the court itself must determine whether the agreement exists." (Rosenthal v. Great Western Fin. Securities Corp.) In this case, the Court of Appeals found that no Agreement was reached on multiple levels. While the Agreement seemingly bore the contested signature of the plaintiff, a signature from a company representative was absent from the Agreement. This would seemingly be sufficient because the employer never signed the Agreement to which it was a party, but the Court went further in its analysis. The Court of Appeals went on to find that the agreement was ambiguous because it failed to: 1) specify which disputes would be subject to arbitration; and 2) which of the multiple sets of AAA rules would apply to arbitration. In affirming the trial court's order, the Fourth District Court of Appeals found that the Agreement was ambiguous at best and that defendants failed to prove that the parties reached a "final and binding" agreement on arbitration of claims. The Court of Appeals declined to analyze the issue of unconscionability because there was no agreement to begin with.
Although some may consider such an arbitration provision to be boilerplate in the context of the overall agreement, this case illustrates the importance of consulting an attorney to facilitate and assist in the execution of your company’s standard employee agreements in an effort to avoid situations such as this.
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Deborah Roffman is a master teacher who is a constant learner. Her most important teachers are her students. What she has learned about young people and what they think, wonder, worry, and feel about sexuality could fill several volumes. From the day she first entered a classroom in 1971 she has spent her time outside the classroom continuously speaking, writing, and passing on her knowledge about young people and their needs to parents, teachers, counselors and the general public. What drives her is a single vision: that one day it will be families and schools―not media, merchandisers, entertainers, peers, and popular culture―who become the primary, as in first and most important, resources for young people about a topic so essential to life, health, and happiness.
It is within the independent school community ― settings where exciting and creative new ideas thought up on Monday can be in place by Wednesday ― that she has found her professional home since 1975. Currently teaching grades 4-12, inclusive, in several independent schools in the Baltimore area, she finds herself constantly in the position of teaching about development while watching it unfold in front of her. A veteran of the fledgling sexuality education movement in the 1970’s, she was one of the handful of early pioneers whose “see one, teach one, train the next person” determination established this important field.
Ms. Roffman is in constant demand as a presenter and workshop leader across the United States and has provided training and consultation for hundreds of public and private schools and youth serving organizations. Her earlier books have become “must reads” and even required reading for parents and faculties at many schools. Parents find her books and articles life altering and describe her influence on their family life profound. Ms. Roffman’s cutting edge commentaries in the Washington Post (focused primarily on parenting issues) are hugely popular, one of them holding the all time record for the most online hits of any single opinion piece published in the paper’s Sunday Outlook section. Reporters regularly seek out her counsel and expertise, and her work has been featured in most of the nation’s major newspapers, including the Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Washington Times. Recently she was quoted, and her books cited, in both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal on the same day. (In a somewhat more dubious honor, hers was the “quote of the day” in the New York Times on 9/11.) In 2005, she served as the lead expert in a US News and World Report cover story on teen sexuality, and she frequently lends her expertise to articles in major parenting magazines.
Especially since the publication of Sex and Sensibility Ms. Roffman has enjoyed stellar relationships with other media. She has been interviewed on Nightline by Ted Koppel, by Bryant Gumble and other interviewers on the CBS Early Show, and has also appeared on the O’Reilly Factor. In 2003, she was the featured expert―and helped shape―a highly acclaimed segment on teen sexuality with John Stossel for 20/20. Her radio credits include multiple appearances on the Diane Rehm Show and Talk of the Nation, and she also appears (it runs several times a year) in the acclaimed HBO documentary for parents entitled, “Middle School Confessions.” She has provided background for a variety of stories on ABC News, and for 60 Minutes.
Among her professional peers, Ms. Roffman is viewed as an articulate and powerful advocate for children and a revered and singularly effective spokeswoman for her field. In 2003, former Surgeon General David Satcher appointed her (the only educator on the panel) to serve on the National Advisory Council for Sexual Health (Center for Primary Care, Morehouse College of Medicine). She presented a keynote address, as she does at many national and regional health and education conferences, at the NAC’s national symposium in Washington, DC in 2004 on changing the national dialogue around sexuality and sexuality education. She contributes regularly to professional journals, serves as an editor for the American Journal of Sexuality Education, and is the former Associate Editor for Education of the Journal of Sexuality Education and Therapy.
What is perhaps most remarkable about Ms. Roffman’s work is her ability to speak the language of common ground around topics often fraught with controversy and conflict. With uncommon good sense and unshakable commitment to core, universal values, hers is the voice that most often cuts through the rhetoric, the politics, and the false polarities that keep adults focused on their needs and interests, rather than squarely on children. She also understands that the issue at stake is parenting, not politics. The proof lies in her wide appeal to parents of all political stripes, religions, and backgrounds, and the national recognition she has received from such seemingly diverse groups as the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (the coveted Mary Lee Tatum Apple Award) and the National Federation of Republican Women (Favorite Teacher Award).
Deborah and her husband, David, were high school sweethearts and have been married for 40 years. They live in Baltimore, Maryland, and have two grown sons.
Roffman Resume
Permanent link to this article: http://sexandsensibility.net/about/
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