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Ambassador vows legal framework for Vietnam- Guatemala ties
Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico and the Republic of Guatemala Le Linh Lan has pledged to accelerate the formation of a legal framework for the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
VNA Friday, May 13, 2016 19:21
Sympathies to Guatemala
Friday, November 09, 2012 21:44
Guatemalan President lauds VN’s development
Saturday, November 26, 2011 21:20
Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico and the Republic of Guatemala Le Linh Lan (Source: VNA)
Mexico City (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico and the Republic of Guatemala Le Linh Lan has pledged to accelerate the formation of a legal framework for the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, bringing pragmatic interests for their people.
The diplomat made the pledge while meeting with Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales Cabera after presenting credentials to him on May 12.
The Guatemalan leader expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s glorious history and his delight at the country’s dynamic development.
Guatemala attaches importance to enhancing its relations with Vietnam, he said, stressing that he will instruct Government agencies, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to help the ambassador perform her role as a bridge promoting the bilateral ties.
On this occasion, Ambassador Lan conveyed President Tran Dai Quang’s invitation to his Guatemalan counterpart to visit Vietnam.
Attending the event, Guatemalan Foreign Minister C.R.Morales showed his support for the establishment of a political consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries.
On May 11, the ambassador presented a copy of her credentials to Deputy Foreign Minister Alicia Castillo.
The two sides agreed on measures to step up the bilateral relations, including negotiations for the signing of an agreement on visa exemption for diplomat and public service passport holders and a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a political consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries.
They will also boost economic cooperation and cultural exchanges while coordinating with each other at international organisations and multilateral forums.
The Guatemalan side committed to considering Vietnam’s proposal to recognise it as a full market economy after the Southeast Asian country signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.-VNA
legal framework pragmatic interests glorious history dynamic development Ministry of Foreign Affairs political consultation mechanism Related stories Guatemala
InfographicImportant issues of Party Central Committee's 15th plenum
The 15th plenum of the 12th Party Central Committee convened in Hanoi on January 16. The event is of special significance as it discusses and makes decisions on remaining preparatory work for the successful organisation of the 13th National Party Congress.
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A Near-Fatal Accident Broke Her Body – But Ignited Her Spirit
A near-fatal accident and the loss of her closest confidantes only reinforced Anuradha Jhunjhunwala’s fighting spirit and zest for life.
By Rabia Sooch Khandelwal
One sultry day in June 2015, while returning to Kolkata from a weekend getaway in Puducherry, Anuradha ‘Anu’ Jhunjhunwala and her friends stopped their car on the way to the airport to have a coffee break. Anu, who had been sitting at the rear left window, exchanged seats with her best buddy, and as the journey recommenced, both dozed off. Moments later, the car crashed into the rear of the truck ahead of them.
Two days later, when Anu woke up in a local government hospital, she guessed that something had gone wrong but her immediate concern was the flight they were going to miss. It was one of her friends’ parents who told her what had happened. The girl in the front passenger seat died in the accident. Anu’s best friend – whom she had exchanged seats with – had slipped into a coma. Two others, besides Anu herself, had extensive injuries.
What makes a woman a superwoman? Her ‘never say die’ spirit. Even in the face of insurmountable odds, she never gives up and instead challenges the universe. Unknowing of what lay ahead, the young Kolkata girl turned superwoman almost overnight.
L-R: Before the accident; with her buddies who were in the car with her (one is still in coma)
Anuradha was moved to a private hospital in Bengaluru. All the while, she was sure that she would soon be patched up, and all the nonsense that doctors were telling her about not moving and using a bed pan was hype. Stubbornly, she tried to get up to go to the washroom – it was when she failed repeatedly that the extent of her injuries truly sunk in.
She had a dislocated hip, fractured spine in the neck, a broken nose and lots of wounds and bruises. Whether she would walk again was a big question mark. And yet, she did not for even a moment doubt her ability to recover 100 percent. Against medical advice, she flew back to Kolkata in two weeks. From there on, she fought every prognosis the doctors gave.
It was a lifelong habit for Anu. Born 20 years after her parents’ wedding, she had had to face all kinds of challenges right from childhood with health being the greatest. Diagnosed with bone tuberculosis at two, childhood thyroid disorder at five, and PCOD at puberty, life could not have been easy for a young girl, but Anu learned to live with pain and discomfort as companions.
L-R: Anuradha and her brother with their father; she was on bed rest for 10 months after her accident
Despite her parents being a generation older than the parents of her peers, she grew up in a liberal and modern environment to be an ever optimistic and confident girl. Always amongst the toppers, she passed out of La Martiniere Girls, Kolkata, graduated from Delhi’s Shri Ram College of Commerce, cleared her chartered accountancy exams and has been working in top advisories in the country for the past decade. Her work has taken her around the world and also brought along with it challenges of constantly maintaining her health.
When Anu was 28, her father passed away. She was heartbroken for she was Daddy’s little girl. “I remember my dad’s face after he passed away. He still had a smile on his face, like he did all his life. He always said, live life like it’s your last day and I make sure I make the most of every moment,” she says.
The loss set her back in her career path and thwarted her plans to launch her own startup. And then, just when she was getting back on track in her career, the car accident derailed her once again.
“Every doctor strongly recommended getting a hip replacement so that I could walk with a limp, if at all. But I knew, once I went under the knife, I was done for,” she narrates. One doctor was willing to give her body a fair chance to heal on its own provided she did not move even an inch for six months. “I agreed, but I had one condition: I wanted bathroom privileges. The bed pan was not for me,” says Anu with a brave smile.
Anuradha with her mother Sushila, whom she considers her greatest source of inspiration and support
And so, allowed to go to the bathroom twice a day, Anuradha lay absolutely still in braces for the next three months. As her body healed, she was allowed to go to the hospital in a wheelchair in the car once a month. “I always planned some short outing with friends after these visits. We’d go to a pub or restaurant. I needed to feel alive again. That one day of the month kept me going,” she recalls.
Ten months later, Anu was able to walk again. But the long convalescence took a toll on her fitness. “Nothing lasts forever. Good times or bad, they all come and go. And you only get better at life with each phase,” she philosophises. Through her tough times, she was supported wholeheartedly by her mother – who had fought adversities all her life and, at the age of 68, had started her own business. “My mother inspires me every day with her fighting spirit,” says Anu.
Today, at 33, Anuradha actively works out and is back to her fitness levels before the accident. She has moved to Delhi for a high-profile job with an MNC. She misses her best friend who till date is in coma and prays for his suffering to end.
There are activities she will never be able to do again, but that does not stop her from exploring life further. She is ever optimistic: “No one is going to come and fix your life. It is up to you to be happy, so keep your spirits up.”
First published in the June issue of eShe magazine
Tagsaccident • anuradha jhunjhunwala • back from the brink • broken bones • car crash • coma • daddy's girl • fracture • gurgaon • health • hospital • inspiration • inspirational stories • kolkata • mother • near fatal • overcoming obstacles • personal story • rabia sooch khandelwal • spirit
1 comment on “A Near-Fatal Accident Broke Her Body – But Ignited Her Spirit”
Suresh Sharma
Can I get her any contact number?
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The Maze of Bones
English, Hebrew
Children's novel
Adventure novel
The Maze of Bones was published by Scholastic on September 9, 2008.[1] The story arc of the series has been established by Riordan, but a collaboration of six other authors will continue to write the story through the next nine books.
1.1 Plot introduction
1.2 Plot summary
1.3 Major characters
2 Major themes
Plot introduction
Many of the well-known names in history are said to be part of the real-life Cahill family, making it "the most powerful family in the world." They currently live in Boston, Massachusetts in a glorious mansion called The Cahill Ranch. Names such as Marie Curie, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Napoleon Bonaparte were all in one of the four family branches -- the power-hungry Lucians, the strong and sporty Tomas, the inventive Ekaterinas, and the creative Janus. Dan and Amy are also warned to "beware the Madrigals," but what the Madrigals are is not revealed in this novel. While most of the characters in the book know which branch they belong to, the main characters do not.
Amy and Dan Cahill, the protagonists of the novel (who are their grandmother Grace's favorite grandchildren), attend Grace's funeral after her death. A choice is given to a select number of heirs: to find the 39 Clues, which will make the winner the "most powerful and influential person(s) on the planet", or to take a million dollars and walk away. Amy and Dan decide to accept the challenge. Their guardian, Aunt Beatrice, disowns them, and they receive the first Clue.
The first clue puzzles all of the competitors, and prompts Amy and Dan to check in the library for a man named Richard S-. They discover that Richard Saunders, the name they were looking for, is actually Benjamin Franklin—who was a Cahill. Amy and Dan, along with their friendly uncle, Alistair Oh, find an almanac by Franklin, which their relatives, like Alistair's father, Gordon Oh, and Dan and Amy's mother, Hope Cahill, have written in. Soon they realize there is a fire in the mansion, which ultimately burns it down. Alistair escapes with Poor Richard's Almanack and Dan and Amy are left with nothing but their grandmother's cat, Saladin, whom Dan rescued in their escape, and their grandmother's jewelry box.
They realize in order to travel to different places they will need adult supervision, so they enlist their au pair, Nellie Gomez, to accompany them on their journey. The Cahills find a lead in Philadelphia, prompting them to travel to Paris, France, where they learn more about Ben Franklin and their family.
After turning down a proposal from fellow competitor Jonah Wizard, whom they met after arriving in Paris, they follow Irina Spasky, who, due to a theft chain, now has the almanac. Irina lured them into a trap on an island, but they were later saved unpredictably by the Holts, a family who is also after the Clues. After their escape, Amy and Dan told Nellie all about the 39 Clues, and Nellie decides to help them.
With their information, the Cahills go to the Paris Catacombs. They find some bones which have numbers on them: a magic box number game, planted there by Franklin to give the coordinates to the next Clue. This leads them to a church where they find a room with a mural of the four original Cahills, after who the four Cahill branches are named.
Inside a vase is a small vial, with scrambled words on it. Dan solves the anagram, and they resolve to insert the vial into a lightning rod—one of Franklin's inventions—to charge it. Amy trades the vial with the enemy Kabras for an antidote for the supposedly poisoned Dan. Even though the Kabras stole the vial, Dan still has the important paper containing what they need, and solves the puzzle on the first clue they were given: iron solute. Amy's Internet searches for Franklin also have led them to the probable location of the second Clue: Vienna, Austria, the home of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Main article: List of The 39 Clues characters
Amy (age 14) and Dan Cahill (age 11) are the protagonists of the series. They are the grandchildren of Grace Cahill. They became orphans when their parents died in a fire seven years earlier. Since that time, they have been in the care of their aunt Beatrice, before traveling to find the 39 Clues. They both have jade-green eyes, but Amy has reddish-brown hair, while Dan has a dark blonde color. Dan and Amy's cards are #2 and #18, respectively, but both also appear in card #200, and plenty of retailer cards.
Grace Cahill is the Cahill's grandmother. She has traveled all over the world, and settled in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The Maze of Bones starts with a scene of her dying, and in the last minute, changing her will. Her cards are #59, #133, and #197 (all as a founder).
Alistair Oh is an aged, Korean inventor (most proud of his invention: microwavable burritos). He is from the Ekaterina branch. He is also Amy and Dan's "uncle", with his father being a half-brother with Grace's father. His cards are #34 and #96.
Ian (age 14) and Natalie Kabra (age 11) are both from London, UK.[2] Ian and Natalie both have cinnamon-complexion skin, amber eyes, and jet-black hair. They are both Lucians, with their parents, Isabel and Vikram, being the branch leaders. Ian and Natalie's cards are #178 and #112, respectively.
Irina Spasky is a former Russian KGB spy. Irina is known for her poison fingernails and for her sneakiness. She is also part of the Lucian branch. Her card is #74 (as an agent) and #107 (as a founder).
Jonah Wizard is a superstar singer/actor. He is never seen without his dad, Broderick Wizard. He had starred in the reality show "Who Wants to be a Gangsta?".
Eisenhower, Mary-Todd, Hamilton, Madison, and Reagan Holt are the strongest team in the quest. Eisenhower and Mary-Todd are the parents of Hamilton , Madison, and Reagan. Arnold, the family pit bull, is also considered as member of the family. Hamilton is fourteen years old while identical twins Madison and Reagan are both eleven. The whole family wears matching purple jogsuits, and they always travel with Arnold. Hamilton, Madison, and Reagan are considered as their school's bullies. They are all in Tomas. Their respective cards range from #145 (Eisenhower), #90 (Hamilton), #187 (Madison), and #123 (Reagan).
The Starling triplets consist of Ned, Ted, and Sinead Starling. They have freckled faces and they always wear identical preppy clothes. They were put out of the hunt on the second day, due to an explosion caused by the Holts in a Philadelphia museum. In an interview with Patrick Carman it was revealed that they are part of the Ekaterina branch.[citation needed]
Nellie Gomez is the Cahill's au pair. Amy and Dan enlists her to be their guardian on the 39 Clues, unknowingly at first, but she later decides to help the children. She is of Mexican and French decent. She does not have any cards yet.
William McIntyre is Grace Cahill's mysterious lawyer, advisor, and "closest confidant for half of her life". He is one of the Man In Black's most trusted ally. He told Amy and Dan to Trust No One but they didn't listen to him. But what Amy and Dan don't know, is that that counts for William McIntyre himself.
Major themes
The major themes of the novel are talent and power.[3] The historical members of the Cahill family are all talented. Each branch has specific talents in a certain area; for example the Ekaterina branch is talented in the area of technology. The members of each teams in the family are obviously talented or have some other edge and yet Amy and Dan are viewed as the main threats. Over the course of the book Amy and Dan discover their own unique talents.[3] The premise of the series is that the person to find the solution to the clues will come into an inordinate amount of power.[4]
The Maze of Bones met with a generally positive reviews and spawned optimism for the rest of the series. It entered the Children's Books New York Times Best Seller list at number one on September 28, 2008[5] and stayed on the list for children's chapter books for 24 weeks.[6] Publishers Weekly said it "mixes just the right proportions of suspense, perils, and puzzles" and that it was a "rollicking good read", while noting that "the story does not end so much as drop off a cliff."[7] School Library Journal said that "the book dazzles" and "stands solidly on its own feet and will satisfy while whetting appetites for more."[7] Mary Quattlebaum, writing for the Washington Post, said that "though the villainous relatives are rather flat, the historical tidbits and fast-moving plot will engage readers".[8] Austin Grossman, writing for The New York Times, gave a generally mixed review, saying the premise for the series was "dramatic and instantly engaging", although he commented that Amy and Dan were "agreeably flawed characters but have an undeniably focus-grouped, manufactured quality — as does, let’s face it, the whole book". He also found the supporting characters to be made up of stereotypes and the writing "carefully bland, as if it didn’t trust its readers enough".[9]
^ Amazon: The Maze of Bones Retrieved on 2009-04-27.
^ Natalie Kabra in The Cahill Web of The 39 Clues official website
^ a b Stockwell, Laura. "Curriculum Guide for The 39 Clues series". http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=37926#Book1. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
^ Riordan, Rick (September 9, 2008). The Maze of Bones. Scholastic. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-545-06039-4. OCLC 192081902. "If you accept, you shall be given the first of thirty-nine clues. These clues will lead you to a secret, which, should you find it, will make you the most powerful, influential human beings on the planet."
^ "Children's Books". The New York Times. September 28, 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/books/bestseller/bestchildren.html. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
^ "Children's Books". The New York Times. March 15, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/books/bestseller/bestchildren.html. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
^ a b "Reviews: The maze of bones BETA". 2008. http://catalog.dclibrary.org/vufind/Record/ocn192081902/Reviews. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
^ Quattlebaum, Mary (October 19, 2008). "For Young Readers: Books That Spook". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/16/AR2008101603380.html. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
^ Grossman, Austin (7 November 2010). "First Pize: World Domination". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/books/review/Grossman-t.html. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
Page on 39 Clues Official Website
Scholastic 39 Clues books page
Rick Riordan 39 Clues Official Page
Author of Book Series Sends Kids on a Web Treasure Hunt
The Maze of Bones at the 39 Clues Wiki
None The 39 Clues Series
Book 1 Succeeded by
One False Note by Gordon Korman
v · d · eThe 39 Clues and related series
Book 1: The Maze of Bones • Book 2: One False Note • Book 3: The Sword Thief • Book 4: Beyond the Grave • Book 5: The Black Circle • Book 6: In Too Deep • Book 7: The Viper's Nest • Book 8: The Emperor's Code • Book 9: Storm Warning • Book 10: Into the Gauntlet • Book 11: Vespers Rising • The Black Book of Buried Secrets • Agent Handbook
Rick Riordan • Gordon Korman • Peter Lerangis • Jude Watson • Patrick Carman • Linda Sue Park • Margaret Peterson Haddix
Cahills vs. Vespers
Book 1: The Medusa Plot • Book 2: A King's Ransom • Book 3: The Dead of Night
Gordon Korman • Jude Watson • Peter Lerangis
Collaborative fiction
2008 novels
American children's novels
Oslo Analyzer
The Balloon Vendor
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NATO’s Afghan Disaster: A Human Life is Worth 2,000 USD
World » Asia
Three hundred civilians killed in Kandahar alone in just two years, vast areas of Afghanistan out of control, NATO massacres and cover-ups… Had NATO invaded last year, the chaos would be understandable, but nearly nine years on? What is NATO doing in Afghanistan, apart from overseeing a massive spike in heroin production?
“If you have got an individual stepping out of a compound and if your assault force is there, that is often the trigger to neutralise the individual. You don’t have to be fired upon to fire back”.
Tangibly, what has NATO’s campaign managed to achieve in Afghanistan? There have been 1,685 deaths of NATO soldiers and CIA operatives, 259,308,000,000 USD (Two hundred and fifty-nine billion dollars) spent, thousands of civilian casualties, the wholesale discrediting of the Karzai regime which amounts to a gaggle of warlords, heroin traffickers and smugglers and an increase by 40 times of heroin production. Not bad. Oh, and NATO payments to the Taleban not to attack.
As the toll from Saturday’s bomb blasts in Kandahar reaches at least 35 dead and 57 injured, it becomes obvious that the Taleban have the capacity to carry out such attacks at will, striking where, when and as they wish. The latest attack comes in retaliation to a NATO offensive in southern Afghanistan. Taleban spokesperson Yousuf Ahmadi stated to AFP that “This was to sabotage the operation and to show we can strike anywhere, any time we want”.
So nine years after the attack was launched in 2001, exactly what is NATO doing? Has a credible government been installed? No, it is full of warlords, criminals and drugs traffickers. Has heroin production been wiped out? No, it has increased by 40 times. Is the civilian population protected? No, in Kandahar alone nearly 300 people have died in violence in the last two years.
NATO massacre and cover-up
Fresh evidence has been unearthed about an attempted NATO cover-up of a massacre of civilians on February 12 near Gardez, Paktia Province, Eastern Afghanistan. The Times newspaper reports interviews with civilians in the area who discredit the official NATO line that shortly after the operation, a “gruesome discovery” was made of women’s bodies tied and gagged.
What in fact happened, according to the newspaper report, was that NATO made a botched night-time raid (since then night raids and air strikes have been scaled down) using US and Afghan forces, which resulted in the slaughter of two pregnant women, a teenage girl and two male civilians.
The report was based on interviews with a dozen civilians in the area, including a police chief and a religious leader who stated that the “gruesome discovery” was not perpetrated by insurgents, but by NATO and Afghan troops. False intelligence or intelligence which has not been properly investigated have led to a series of NATO massacres in Afghanistan.
The male civilians were the police commander Dawood, Head of Intelligence in a district of Paktia and his brother Saranwal Zahir, mowed down as he stood in the doorway protesting their innocence. The women were cowering behind him and were all killed in the same burst of machine-gun fire: Bibi Shirin (22) with 4 children under 5 years of age, Bibi Saleha (37), with 11 children. Both were pregnant. Gulalai (18) was engaged to be married and the family had prepared the wedding meticulously.
NATO denies that its troops were involved and denies any attempt at a cover-up. However, according to The Times report, Rear Admiral Greg Smith stated, when interviewed about the incident, that he did not know if the “hostile” elements had fired any rounds, yet admitting that “they were not the targets of this particular raid” and justified the incident by claiming that “If you have got an individual stepping out of a compound and if your assault force is there, that is often the trigger to neutralise the individual. You don’t have to be fired upon to fire back”.
And if NATO was not to blame, then why was the family offered 2.000 USD per victim by the American compensation fund?
For NATO, a human casualty is worth 2.000 USD.
If after nearly nine years NATO is incapable of controlling Afghanistan, if after nine years senior NATO commanders admit the war is lost, if after nine years Afghanistan does not have a credible government, if after nine years the civilians in Afghanistan are neither safe from sectarian violence and certainly not safe from NATO massacres, if after nine years the heroin production is 40 times higher than it was, if after nine years NATO continues to perpetrate massacres and lie, then what exactly is NATO doing in Afghanistan, where a human life is worth 2,000 USD in American compensation?
And, while we are asking questions, what exactly is NATO?
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An FMI-based Framework for State and Parameter Estimation
Marco Bonvini: Simulation Research Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA Michael Wetter: Simulation Research Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA Michael D. Sohn: Simulation Research Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
10.3384/ecp14096647
This paper proposes a solution for creating a model-based state and parameter estimator for dynamic systems described using the FMI standard. This work uses a nonlinear state estimation technique called unscented Kalman filter (UKF); together with a smoother that improves the reliability of the estimation. The algorithm can be used to support advanced control techniques (e.g.; adaptive control) or for fault detection and diagnostics (FDD). This work extends the capabilities of any modeling framework compliant with the FMI standard version 1.0.
Keywords: Nonlinear State and Parameter Estimation; Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF); Smoothing; Functional Mockup Interface (FMI); Fault Detection and Diagnosis (FDD)
Marco Bonvini, Michael Wetter, Michael D. Sohn
http://dx.doi.org/10.3384/ecp14096647
[1] S. J. Julier and J. K. Uhlmann. A general method for approximating nonlinear transformations of probability distributions. Robotics Research Group Technical Report, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, pages 1–27, November 1996.
[2] S.J. Julier. The scaled unscented transformation. In American Control Conference, 2002. Proceedings of the 2002, volume 6, pages 4555–4559 vol.6, 2002.
[3] Simon S Haykin et al. Kalman filtering and neural networks. Wiley Online Library, 2001.
[4] D. Crisan and Arnaud Doucet. A survey of convergence results on particle filtering methods for practitioners. Signal Processing, IEEE Transactions on, 50(3):736–746, 2002.
[5] Modelon AB. PyFMI a package for working with dynamic models compliant with the functional mock-up interface standard, September 2013.
[6] E.A. Wan and R. Van der Merwe. The unscented kalman filter for nonlinear estimation. In Adaptive Systems for Signal Processing, Communications, and Control Symposium 2000. AS-SPCC. The IEEE 2000, pages 153–158, 2000.
[7] S. Sarkka. On unscented kalman filtering for state estimation of continuous-time nonlinear systems. Automatic Control, IEEE Transactions on, 52(9):1631–1641, 2007.
[8] S. Sarkka. Unscented rauch–tung–striebel smoother. Automatic Control, IEEE Transactions on, 53(3):845–849, 2008.
[9] Venkat Venkatasubramanian, Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Kewen Yin, and Surya N. Kavuri. A review of process fault detection and diagnosis: Part I: Quantitative model-based methods. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 27(3):293–311, 2003.
[10] Venkat Venkatasubramanian, Raghunathan Rengaswamy, and Surya N Kavuri. A review of process fault detection and diagnosis: Part II: Qualitative models and search strategies. Computers& Chemical Engineering, 27(3):313 – 326, 2003.
[11] Venkat Venkatasubramanian, Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Surya N. Kavuri, and Kewen Yin. A review of process fault detection and diagnosis: Part III: Process history based methods. Computers& Chemical Engineering, 27(3):327 – 346, 2003.
[12] Michael Wetter, Wangda Zuo, Thierry S Nouidui, and Xiufeng Pang. Modelica buildings library. Journal of Building Performance Simulation, (In press):1–18, 2013.
https://doi.org10.3384/ecp14096647
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The Figge is pleased to present a special exhibition of 27 priceless quilts from the collection of the American Folk Art Museum (AFAM), opening November 3, 2012, and continuing through February 3, 2013. Featured will be classic examples of many major quilt types from the beginning of the 19th century to the end of the 20th century, including wholecloth, whitework, pieced, appliqued and album quilts, and a selection of Amish and African-American pieces, all drawn from the AFAM’s celebrated collection.
As curator Elizabeth V. Warren explains, “The present exhibition highlights the best of the best, quilts that represent the finest examples in a variety of techniques, time periods and regions.” The Figge will present an array of public programs and films in conjunction with the exhibition.
The American tradition of quiltmaking dates back to colonial times when English immigrants sewed heavy woolen bedcovers for the New England winters. As a greater variety of fabrics and threads became available, and the practice of sewing bedcovers spread through the nation, quiltmaking evolved into a rich and diverse artistic tradition.
While countless quilts were used and washed into oblivion, many remarkable examples have survived, and are now admired both for their visual beauty and their extraordinary craftsmanship. The quilting tradition—using remnants of fabrics from clothing and other sewing projects, gathering together for the quilting bee, and adorning the bed with the finished quilt—has come to epitomize the domestic side of the “pioneer spirit” in America. Today, quilting is a vibrant art form practiced by an estimated 20 million men and women around the world.
Organized by the American Folk Art Museum, New York
This exhibition is on view through February 3, 2013.
Tours of Quilts will be offered every Sunday at 1:30 through January 20th
Quilters Appreciation Day
10 am–7 pm Quilt Appraisals
5-7 pm Warm up with Quilts
7 pm “Quilts as Art—or Not”
Celebrating Black History Month
Saturday, February 2
11 am Quilts: Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum Tour
Noon-2 pm Quilting a Community in the Figge Studios
2 pm Quilts Lecture
Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics (shown three episodes at a time)
See a video about this series.
Sunday, January 13, 2013 2:30–4 pm
Ep. 4: What is Art?
Ep. 5: Gee’s Bend: “The Most Famous Quilts in America
Ep. 6: How Quilts Have Been Viewed and
Ep. 7: Empowering Women One Quilt at a Time
Ep. 8: Quilt Nation: 20,000,000 and Counting!
Ep. 9: Quilt Scholarship: Romance and Reality
Lureca Outland (c. 1904–2009), Boligee, Alabama, Wedding Ring Interpretation Quilt, 1991, cotton, wool, and synthetics, 82 x 75", collection American Folk Art Museum, New York, Museum purchase made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, with matching funds from the
Great American Quilt Festival 3, 1991.13.5
Elizabeth Schumacher Leece (1867–1956), Kansas City, Missouri, Tulip and Rose Bouquet Quilt, 1930–1945, cotton, 100 1⁄4 x 84 1⁄2", collection American Folk Art Museum, New York, Gift of Marian Baer, 1984.11.2. Photograph by Gavin Ashworth, New York
New American Scene: Recent Acquisitions to the Figge Collection
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On today’s farm, B is for barn cat, E is for erosion, G is for grinding feed, and I is for… inoculate? In 26 beautifully detailed spreads in Country Road ABC: An Illustrated Journey Through America’s Farmland, the acclaimed illustrator Arthur Geisert takes readers on an intimate and often humorous journey—following Iowa County Road Y31—through the ins and outs of America’s farmland. Geisert’s artwork for Country Road ABC will be exhibited at the Figge this spring.
This isn’t your grandfather’s farm book. Sure, it features pigs, hay and other familiar symbols, but you’ll also see things relevant to present-day farm communities, such as the volunteer fire department, winter afternoons spent at the local bar, and the annual Fourth of July parade through town. Along the bottom of each page is a continuous panorama, totaling 45 feet of art, depicting the yearly cycle of life on a farm.
Geisert was inspired to create Country Road ABC by his neighbors in Bernard, an isolated farming community of 98 residents, located in northeast Iowa. “When I first moved to Iowa, I soon became aware that I was surrounded by people who had a firsthand experience with farming, and I wanted to make the most of their expertise,” Geisert said. “At the time I was completing another project but I began to think about how I could take advantage all of the first-rate farming knowledge of my neighbors. I didn’t know how to provide a framework for the information until I came up with the idea of the panorama.”
In creating Country Road ABC, Geisert relied on photographs, sketches and his memory; his neighbors ensured his sketches were accurate and relevant.
Geisert has created 22 children’s books and received numerous awards, including The New York Times Best Illustrated Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. His work has been exhibited in such places as the Art Institute of Chicago and the National Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C. The New Yorker and Horn Book magazine also have featured his illustrations.
In college, the native Californian majored in fine art, focusing primarily on sculpture and bronze casting. Etching, however, always interested Geisert, and when he finished school, he became a full-time artist and etcher. When he moved to Bernard, Iowa, he transformed an old bank into an etching studio and his home.
Not one to approach life too seriously, Geisert is currently working on “a book of silliness and nonsense” for a Paris-based publisher. “It describes through a series of images the adventures of a village of pigs that have to cope with an enormous dandelion and an erupting volcano,” he said.
He just can’t seem to get away from those pigs.
Exhibition sponsored by Butler Insurance Service, Inc.
Additional sponsorship provided in memory of Lesley H. Menninger
Learn more about Arthur Geisert and his work.
Seating By Design
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Parvez Sharma, A Jihad For Love
by Nick Dawson
in Director Interviews
a jihad for love, Documentary, islam, jihad, parvez sharma
GAY MUSLIM REFUGEES MEET IN DIRECTOR PARVEZ SHARMA’S A JIHAD FOR LOVE. COURTESY FIRST RUN FEATURES.
After a distinguished career as a print and television journalist, Parvez Sharma has made a notable transition to documentary filmmaker. Born and raised in India, Sharma studied English at the University of Calcutta before gaining three film and journalism related masters degrees at universities in India, Britain and the U.S. He spent the nineties as a newspaper reporter in India and then moved on to working for his country’s premier news network, Star News Channel, using his position to draw attention to human rights and LGBT issues. He also produced and edited the Sundance Grand Jury Award winner Silverlake Life (1993) and acted as assistant director on the award-winning Indian drama Dance of the Wind (1997).
A Jihad for Love, Sharma’s debut as a director, is a highly personal documentary informed by his own status as both Muslim and gay. It is a revelatory examination of the paradox of Muslims who remain devoutly within the religion despite Islam’s persecution of them because of their sexual orientation. Sharma presents a panoramic view of Islamic homosexuals throughout the world such as Muhsin, an openly gay Imam in South African; Mazen, an Egyptian refugee who was incarcerated because of his sexual preference; Ferda and Kiymet, a lesbian couple living in Turkey; and Amir, a young Iranian man forced to flee to Turkey. Shot in 12 countries over six years, Sharma’s film is an intelligent and eloquent exposition of a taboo subject that not only movingly pays tribute to the strength and integrity of the film’s embattled subjects but – despite its provocative title – maintains a reverent rather than critical attitude towards the Islamic religion.
Filmmaker spoke to Sharma about the difficulties involved in making the film, reclaiming the word “jihad,” and designing his own Bollywood film posters as a child.
PARVEZ SHARMA, DIRECTOR OF A JIHAD FOR LOVE. COURTESY FIRST RUN FEATURES.
Filmmaker: Was it a difficult decision to embark on this project?
Sharma: With documentary film, I think sometimes a filmmaker will go and look for a subject and sometimes a subject will find the filmmaker, or really be a part of them. In my case, [the latter] was really true. I am gay and Muslim myself and there was a strong political imperative post- September 11 to come out as a Muslim. (There’s always the act of coming out as gay, but I was done with that when I was 17.) I suddenly felt very conscious of my Muslim-ness, my Islam, post-September 11. I was teaching at that time at the American University in Washington, and it was a very interesting time because you were suddenly surrounded in the media by a completely new discourse about Islam that was being controlled primarily by either George Bush or Osama Bin Laden. I think it was and continues to be a problematic discourse because it does not allow for any other discussion of Islam, really, so you’re just constantly fed on that diet of stereotypes of the world. So the political objective as an activist – and I do feel I have an activist’s soul – was to inject into this climate something that was remarkably different, something that was made by a Muslim lens, and something that was taking responsibility for talking about what had been surrounded by a lot of silence.
Filmmaker: In the media’s discussion of Islam, so much seems to be propaganda but this film seems to be an exploration of a subject, rather than a documentary with a clear agenda.
Sharma: I did have an agenda, I had a political imperative to inject some responsible discourse into a discussion [that] does not get very far away from Al Qaeda or women wearing a hijab – that’s all you see of Muslim women, for example – and definitely does not give space to progressive voices in the community, which I think constitute the majority of Muslim voices in the world. So that impetus was there and I think many documentary filmmakers have that agenda. I believe in film as a tool for social change and engagement.
Filmmaker: The film is extremely intimate as well as political in a broader sense.
Sharma: It ended up in many ways becoming a very personal journey because any documentary filmmaker who says they’re not close to their subjects is lying. This act of bringing a camera into someone’s life is a very deliberate act and involves a process of very complex negotiations, within yourself and with the individual you are filming. It needs that establishing of a very strong personal bond, so much so that as a filmmaker you’re really working hard to deny the existence of the camera in the room. If I was a blonde, blue-eyed American boy and not who I am, I do not think I would have had this access into these lives or gotten them to be comfortable enough to talk to me.
Filmmaker: How did you find the people in the film?
Sharma: With each person, it was a different story. One of the things I always say is that my “gaydar” helped, but it was through emails, through underground networks of contacts in Muslim countries, hundreds of phonecalls. In many cases, I just went to a country, like Bangladesh or Egypt, and just spent a few weeks there and established contacts with people who were working there to get access to people who would talk to me. This involved many trips over years, going back again and again, for the initial meetings with people and then winning that critical trust. I think being Muslim, being of Indian origin, and being brown all helped, because I was not approaching a very personal subject from an outsider’s point of view, I was essentially doing it from the inside. The same Islam that makes me so visible when I’m crossing the border into America gave me a degree of invisibility in Muslim countries, where I could blend in with the other people.
Filmmaker: How did you build the necessary trust for your subjects to agree to be filmed?
Sharma: I think the hardest thing was to win the trust of each one of these subjects in the film. I think I had to become their shoulder to cry on, I had to learn how to become a friend to each one of them. Many times, I had to forget my personal agenda to make the film and spend a lot of time over months and years just holding people and being there for them. With Mazen, the Egyptian refugee in the film, I met him in 2003. He completely refused to be in this film but we became really close friends – I would go to Paris even sometimes four times a year to spend time with him, to talk to him. He let me do some interviews in silhouette and in the film you see him go from darkness into light. It was only a year ago that he actually agreed to finally show his face, but this was after years of us being really close. I was dealing with a person who’d been through immense trauma: he’d been imprisoned, he’d been tortured, he’d been raped for one year. At a very young age, not many people have had that intensity of experience – and he was a refugee living penniless in a foreign country. So many nights, he would sleep right next to me, crying all night long, and I just had to be there for him. That’s the intensity of the involvement I’m talking about. I’m not sure if every film needs that level of involvement from the documentary filmmaker, but when you’re dealing with pain, when you’re dealing with people coming out of trauma, when you’re asking people “Who do you pray to and who do you sleep with?”, you just have to become that rock and a part of someone’s life. And it happened in every case.
Filmmaker: A current trend in documentaries is to have the filmmaker at the center of the film, ala Michael Moore or Morgan Spurlock. Was that something you ever considered?
Sharma: The most intense discussions about keeping me in the film or not were with my editor, which were private but very intense. At some point with her, I realized I did not need to be in the film. To me, it was pretty clear: I wanted the subjects of the film to have agency, and I thought my experience of growing up was not as religious as most Muslims was. I grew up in a very secular environment; Islam was very much part of who I am and my life, but my parents did not send me to a madrasah, they sent me to Christian convent called St. Mary’s. I’m there in every frame, every question that was asked, in every intimate interaction that the subjects have, but I don’t think I needed to speak or be seen in it.
Filmmaker: Could you talk a little about the title because I think people who haven’t seen the film probably don’t realize the meaning of “jihad” is “struggle to achieve” and not “holy war.”
Sharma: It’s a very polarizing title, it’s a very deliberate act. Mazen was the one who first suggested the title, he said “Call it Love Jihad.” “Jihad” is such a contentious word. The sales agents, at one point, wanted to back out of the project when I said it was going to be called A Jihad for Love.
Filmmaker: It had a different title before, didn’t it?
Sharma: It used to be called In the Name of Allah, but the more I travelled in Muslim countries the more I realized that that title would be seen as a provocation by many Muslims. People thought it was good and challenging but too problematic [because] the Danish cartoons and all sorts of stuff was happening. So then we came up with A Jihad for Love, but then there was the battle fought within my own team [about the title] and I had my back to the wall, with every single person on the team disagreeing with me. But those fears that no distributor would pick up a film called A Jihad for Love in post-September 11 America disappeared over time. I am one of very few people in the Muslim world saying that “Jihad” needs to be taken back, that Al Qaeda doesn’t control that and they’ve got it all wrong. How do you make “jihad” fashionable and take it away from Osama and his gang? I’ve been thinking of great marketing ideas: the coolest new hipster t-shirt should be “Love Jihadi.”
Filmmaker: What’s the strangest experience you’ve had during your time in the film industry?
Sharma: When I first entered Saudi Arabia, I was at Jeddah Airport. It was the first time I was there, and it was a very fearful moment, a very emotional moment, a very cinematic moment. It’s a huge airport and you see the entire Muslim universe in this huge hall. You have these gates all going to different countries – Turkey, Indonesia, Arab, African and South Asian countries – and you just have this mass of humanity. Shi’ia, Sunni, old people in wheelchairs, entire families sitting on the floor just waiting to get on those flights to Mecca. It was really profound and the first time in my life I’ve seen that expanse of being surrounded completely by Muslims from every corner of the globe.
Filmmaker: What was your cinematic epiphany?
Sharma: Bollywood cinema is in my blood and I think my cinematic epiphanies have to do with that cinema. As a young kid,I knew all the lyrics to all the songs. There was this film called Sholay that came out in 1979, a remarkable film, a Bollywood film that established a whole new genre. I’ve seen that film about 46 times. So that’s been my sensibility. As a young kid, my mother used to subscribe to these Bollywood magazines with the film stars. There’s one called Stardust that was quite popular and I used to cut out the pictures of all the stars and design my own movie posters and it would say “A Film By Parvez Sharma.” At a very young age, I did want to make films and I think I wanted to make Bollywood films, so I certainly didn’t set out to be a documentary filmmaker. I think my next film is definitely going to be Jihad, the Musical, a Bollywood musical. All my friends at college have ended up in Bollywood and they’re doing really well making lots of money, creating a very different cinema that is still the musical genre.
Filmmaker: Finally, What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring filmmakers?
Sharma: Patience, I think. I really think you have to be patient and you have to be really strong. It’s not easy to get a film funded, it’s certainly not easy to make a film. And don’t go to film school – it’s a waste of time, money and resources and it’s all crap. I think film school is making a film, and you need that patience and you need that strength because a lot is going to come at you.
End of the Road: Jim Jarmusch on His Johnny Depp-Starring Western Death Trip, Dead Man by Scott Macaulay in Director Interviews, Features, Issues
Factory Outlet: Rose Troche Talks with Director Mary Harron about I Shot Andy Warhol by Rose Troche in Director Interviews, Features, Issues
“How Could the Film be Interesting if the Director Doesn’t Put Himself or Herself at Risk?”: Agnès Varda, The Beaches Of Agnes by Nick Dawson in Director Interviews
Watch: Lauren Minnerath’s Short, The Morning After By Sarah Salovaara on Dec 6, 2018
Cannes 2014: Maps to the Stars, Clouds of Sils Maria, The Tribe, Adieu Au Langage By Aaron Hillis on May 29, 2014
Werner Herzog on Tom Cruise and Harmony Korine By Scott Macaulay on Dec 21, 2012
The Future of Compression: Google Attempts to Replace H.26X… Again By Michael Murie on Feb 26, 2014
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Tania Bruguera and Others Are Demanding Their Works Be Removed From the Aichi Triennale After a Censorship Controversy
Earlier this month, the organizers of the 2019 Aichi Triennale in Japan abruptly closed one of the event’s exhibitions over a controversy stemming from one divisive sculpture. Now, a group of prominent artists are demanding that their own works be removed from the triennial in solidarity with the censored sculptors.
The closed exhibition, titled “After ‘Freedom of Expression’?,” was shut down just three days after it opened after curators received hundreds of complaints about Statue of a Girl of Peace by Korean artists Kim Seo-kyung and Kim Eun-sung. The sculpture depicts a “comfort woman”—one of many thousands of women sold into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II.
Some protesters even threatened violence because of the sculpture, such as one man who said he would bring a canister of gasoline to the Aichi Prefecture Museum of Art, where the show was held, and burn it down.
Ten artists have now released an open letter to the organizers of the Aichi Triennale expressing frustration over the fact that “After ‘Freedom of Expression’?” hasn’t yet reopened. The story was first reported by ARTnews.
Murayama Goro, The portrait to Umwelts & programs (2015), included in the 2019 Aichi Trienniale. Photo: Takafumi Kato.
“As a public gesture of solidarity with the censored artists, we demand that the organizers temporarily suspend the exhibition of our artworks in the Triennale while ‘After “Freedom of Expression”?’ remains closed to the public,” the letter reads. “Through this action, we sincerely hope that the organizers of the Aichi Triennale will reopen the section… and continue with their valuable work without thwarting freedom of expression by giving way to political intervention and violence.”
The letter, released on Wednesday, is signed by Tania Bruguera, Javier Téllez, Regina José Galindo, Mónica Mayer, Pia Camil, Claudia Martínez Garay, Minouk Lim, Reynier Leyva Novo, Park Chan-kyong, and Pedro Reyes. Reyes also served as a curator for the Triennale.
Representatives from the Aichi Triennale did not immediately respond to artnet News’s request for comment.
The letter follows a previous statement, which was issued on Facebook days after the show was closed and signed by 85 of the nearly 100 artists and collectives participating in the Triennale. In it, the artists requested that the show be reopened under proper security measures.
“Normally an exhibition space is meant to be an open, public site, but the closure of the exhibit just three days after the Triennale opening has robbed people of the opportunity to see the artworks and foreclosed any active discussion of them,” the Facebook letter states.
Last week, the 59-year-old man who allegedly threatened the Triennale with an arson attack was arrested after authorities discovered security footage of him sending the message, according to the Japan Times. For many, the threat evoked last month’s attack on the Kyoto Animation studio in Japan, which caused the death of 35 people.
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European Commission Sets Out EU Digital Finance Strategy
The European Commission has published a Communication on its EU digital finance strategy for the coming years. The global economy has been transformed by digital innovation, and this includes financial services. The Commission's strategic objective is to embrace digital finance for the benefit of consumers and businesses while ensuring digital transformation is soundly regulated. To achieve this objective, the Commission sets out four priorities for the digital transformation of the EU financial sector over the next four years and the actions it will take to achieve them. The priorities are:
Tackle fragmentation in the EU digital financial services market by allowing firms to scale up across borders, enabling them to access cross-border funding and provide genuine cross-border access to consumers. Actions will include greater harmonization of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules and passporting regimes, as well as an EU digital finance platform to encourage cooperation between private and public bodies.
Ensure the EU regulatory framework facilitates digital innovation while ensuring it is used in a responsible way. Actions will include new EU legislative frameworks on key aspects of digital finance, such as crypto-assets and regular guidance on the interpretation of the EU regulatory framework in the context of new and emerging technologies.
Create an EU financial data space which would provide enhanced access to data (such as financial and non-financial information on operations and products) published by financial firms. Actions will include establishing an EU-funded infrastructure for public disclosures and a legislative proposal for a new open finance framework.
Address new challenges and risks associated with the digital transformation, including the possibility of regulatory loopholes which do not yet cover the digitalization of financial services. Actions include the Commission's new proposed EU framework for strengthening operational resilience, published on the same date as the Digital Finance Strategy Communication.
The Commission has published a Q&A on the Digital Finance Strategy. It has also published a summary of the responses it received to its consultation on the proposed Digital Finance Strategy, which ran between April 3, 2020 and June 26, 2020. The consultation opened at the same time as the coronavirus pandemic was building in Europe. However, the Commission decided to go ahead with the consultation because it believed digital finance could help tackle issues arising as a result of the pandemic.
The Commission has simultaneously published a series of proposed Regulations on various aspects of digital finance, including crypto-assets, digital operational resilience and distributed ledger technology as well as a Directive amending certain related pieces of EU financial services legislation. It has also published a separate Communication to EU bodies on its EU retail payments strategy, which is relevant to the Digital Finance Strategy given the importance of digital payments to the EU financial and payments services sectors.
View the Commission's EU Digital Finance Strategy.
View the Commission's Q&A on the Digital Finance Strategy.
View the responses to the Commission's consultation.
View details of the Commission's consultation on its Digital Finance Strategy.
View details of the Commission's Communication on its Retail Payments Strategy.
View details of the Commission's proposed regulation for strengthening operational resilience and related amending Directive.
View details of the Commission's proposed regulation for markets in crypto-assets.
View details of the Commission's proposed regulation for distributed ledger technology.
TOPICS: COVID-19, FinTech
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Chaos Excerpt
The following is an excerpt from Chaos, which explores the consequences of the Velikovsky/Ackerman catastrophic scenario for the recent history and makeup of Jupiter, Saturn. Venus, Mars, Moon, Near Earth and Main Belt Asteroids.
Formation of the Terrestrial Planets
The second major effect of the impact of an intra-galactic traveler on the surface of Jupiter was the birth of proto-Venus. It contracted gravitationally from the rebounded cloud of glowing plasma which had initially expanded in volume to a thousand times that of Jupiter itself. This plasma cloud contained the mix of elements that are present in the bulk of Jupiter, not solar abundances. Its primordial composition was rich in heavy elements, as exemplified by the spectra of the massive, long-lasting plumes dredged up from the surface of jupiter by the impacts of the larger Shoemaker Levy 9 comet fragments. The hydrogen present was that frozen in the ices of water, ammonia, methane, most of which are imbedded in gas hydrates (clathrates) as are most of the heavier elements. It was this plasma cloud that collapsed gravitationally to form proto-Venus. As a result of its rapid contraction proto-Venus became the most radiant body in the solar system - like a small star. It entered a highly elliptical orbit that brought it relatively close to the Sun. At each perihelion passage the tidal force of the Sun, acting on the entire seething ball of plasma, distorted its shape and repeatedly increased its temperature to over 10,000 Kelvins. The heating was greatly increased by the interaction of the solar magnetic field with the plasma that comprised proto-Venus, a process that most planetary scientists have never considered. These processes very efficiently converted its orbital kinetic energy to heat and as a result its eccentricity was rapidly decreased. Further orbital energy was lost to priori-Mars as a result of >innumerable= interactions between the two planets [stated in the Rig Veda]. The combination of interactions reduced the aphelion of proto-Venus to less than the earth=s orbital radius in less than one century and increased the orbital energy of priori-Mars. Thus the more massive proto-Venus ejected priori-Mars from its ancient interior orbit only 6,000 years ago.
The repeated heating performed another function that is absolutely necessary for the formation of a terrestrial planet. The high temperature caused the expulsion of the bulk of the lighter atoms from the proto-planet, by Jeans (thermal) escape. The out-gassed material formed two dark tails that extended hundreds of millions of kilometers into interplanetary space. This preferential loss of lighter elements increased the average density of proto-Venus from close to 1.0 g/cm3, the average density of the material blasted from Jupiter, to over 5.0 g/cm3, the typical density of a terrestrial planet. Thus the very factors which rapidly reduced its eccentricity also increased its density.
The creation of proto-Venus was an example, in proto-historical times, of how a terrestrial planet is formed , that is, how all terrestrial planets were formed. This is why the proto-terrestrial planets are depleted in volatile elements. Moreover, the differentiation of the heavy elements within the proto-planets took place at the time of their creation and at the same time the naturally radioactive elements floated to the surface by fractionation, due to the heat of their radioactive decay.
This process also explains how the terrestrial planets obtained large complements of water, the only source of which is currently thought to be comets from the outer reaches of the solar system. The volatile material which out-gassed in this process, i.e. the bulk of the material which rebounded from Jupiter, was not permanently lost. Much of it remained in interplanetary space and was subsequently swept up by the proto-planet as it cooled or by other extant terrestrial planets. We maintain that this sweeping up of volatiles lost in the hot proto-planet phase was the primary means of acquiring the volatiles in the aenospheres of the ancient terrestrial planets priori-Mars and Earth. Perhaps the controversial house-sized >snowballs,= thought by some to be falling to Earth on a daily basis, are made up of the water left in space from the creation of proto-Venus.
Consequently, we maintain that the terrestrial planets were not formed by accretion as all the current theories claim, but by the mechanism so recently and conveniently demonstrated in the 'birth' of proto-Venus, and observed by millions of people in ancient times. Given this one example, and having no others, we must conclude that this is the means of creation of all terrestrial planets.
If the mineral complement of all the great ice planets is similar, the initial makeup of the terrestrial planets, including the Moon, would be expected to be fairly similar, regardless of which great planet was their 'mother'. If subtle differences exist in the elemental makeup of the great planets, say, due to their different distances from the Sun, it may be possible for future space probes to determine which great planet was the >mother= of each terrestrial planet. The possibility also exists that each terrestrial planet incorporates a small amount of exotic elements or isotopes from the respective galactic traveler which was its 'father'.
Modification of Terrestrial Planets
The V/A scenario reveals a number of ways in which terrestrial planets can be modified after their white-hot birth. While still much too hot to allow water on its surface, the more massive Venus 'stole' considerable water, oxygen and carbon dioxide from the smaller priori-Mars, which now resides in its sulfuric acid clouds. This occurred during their many transient encounters.
The Earth has undergone two pairs of very traumatic modifications in recent millennia. The earliest of these occurred around the time of the Upper Dryas. This consisted of two overturnings of the lithosphere within a thousand years. Because of the profound climatic change revealed by the Greenland ice cores at that time, we believe these were associated with the capture of the Moon into its present orbit. Many fauna species became extinct at that time. The second set of modifications were a consequence of the recent impact on Jupiter. Proto-Venus passed close to the earth while still a flaming ball of liquid magma, scorching and overturning of the Earth twice, early in the fourth millennium B.C. These encounters profoundly modified the Earth�s surface and caused great tidal waves to sweep across entire continents, killing 99 percent of the animal life on our planet. As discussed in Firmament, we believe that those events wiped the slate of earth clean in preparation for the introduction of Homo Sapiens Sapiens.
The Earth then underwent a long, less traumatic, enhancement, at the expense of the smaller priori-Mars during the 'dance encounters.' The entire complement of volatiles - atmospheric gases and liquids present on priori-Mars, was transferred episodically but gradually to the Earth over a period of some 3,000 years. This increased the terrestrial oceans to their present levels and added oxygen and carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Planetary scientists have never even entertained the idea of two planets orbiting one another at close range and therefore have no idea of the effects that the more massive primary can have on the secondary during such encounters. The role of the Moon was also crucial to the transfer of volatiles from priori-Mars to the Earth during the dance encounters. Its orbit was modified repeatedly, changing its period from 36 to 28 days, and its surface was profoundly modified by great storms of regolith, and the impacts of streams of bodies from priori-Mars, producing its mass asymmetry and the maria which dominate the near side. Finally, proto-Venus played an important role in the capturing and releasing of priori-Mars during the dance encounters.
Not only did three planets enter into synchronous or resonant orbits, but two 'danced' for years at time, broke off the dances like feuding lovers only to return time and time again under the influence of the third. Over a period of some fifteen years, tidal forces of the ensemble resulted in the separation of the core of priori-Mars from its lithosphere a hundred times, to be subsequently reunited and finally flung forever into different parts of the solar system. Priori-Mars and Mercury are the separate parts of a destroyed planet, and as such are not really complete planets. A great mass of material ejected episodically from priori-Mars subsequently fell onto the surfaces of the Moon and Mercury in the last 2,700 years, causing the two bodies to superficially resemble one another, but Mercury's very high density, dipole magnetic field and recent signs of shrinkage offer give evidence of its true nature.
Contact: email to angiras@firmament-chaos.com
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Archives - 2002, 2003
© John Ackerman
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Stylophorum diphyllum (Michx.) Nutt.
Yellow wood poppy, celandine poppy
Subclass Magnoliidae Includes magnolias, nutmeg, bay laurel, cinnamon, avocado, black pepper, and many others
Order Papaverales A group that includes buttercups and other poisonous plants
Family Papaveraceae Poppy family
Genus Stylophorum From the Greek words stylos, “style,” and phoros, “bearing” with reference to the long columnar style
Species diphyllum With two leaves or leaflets
It is not known whether celandine poppies originated in Europe or the southern United States. They prefer dry deciduous woodlands, bases of bluffs, and rocky stream banks.
Plants: Plants reach 12-18" (30-45 cm). Stems and leaves exude a bright yellow-orange sap when cut.
Leaves: This plant has basal leaves, as well as a pair of opposite leaves on the stem, both up to 6" (15 cm) × 4" (10 cm). Leaves are divided into 3-5 lobes which in turn are further divided, making them bipinnatifid. Leaf surfaces are dark green and hairless, while leaf undersides are pale as a result of fine hairs. Leaf stems (petioles) are up to 4" (10 cm) long.
Flowers: Each flower has four partially overlapping yellow petals, two sepals (which fall away early after flowering), a knobby stigma, and multiple yellow-orange stamens. They appear in groups of one to four, and are 1¼-2" (3.2-5.7 cm) around. Flowers May-June.
Fruits: Bristly blue-green ovoid seed pods, divided into four segments, ¾-1" (1.9-2.5 cm).
Sometimes these are confused:
5/16/2014 · Acton Arboretum, Action, Massachusetts
≈ 10 × 7" (25 × 16 cm)
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 12 cm)
5/27/2016 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Massachusetts
Stylophorum diphyllum
Ranunculus ficaria
Chelidonium majus
yellow wood poppy
lesser celandine
Plant Plants reach 12-18" (30-45 cm). Stems and leaves exude a bright yellow-orange sap when cut. Low-growing, 4-14" (10-35 cm) in height. It is a perennial that stores energy in numerous white finger-like tubers. Greater celandine reaches 18-24" (45-60 cm) in height, with ribbed stems. Leaves contain an irritating yellow-orange sap.
Flowers Each flower has four partially overlapping yellow petals, two sepals (which fall away early after flowering), a knobby stigma, and multiple yellow-orange stamens. They appear in groups of one to four, and are 1¼-2" (3.2-5.7 cm) around. Flowers May-June. Up to 1" (2.5 cm) around, with 7-12 glossy yellow petal-like tepals, and 3 sepal-like tepals (confused yet?). They appear as early as February, or, further north, from April-May. About ¾" (1.9 cm) around, with four yellow non-overlapping petals, a stiff green central style, and multiple yellow stamens.
Leaves This plant has basal leaves, as well as a pair of opposite leaves on the stem, both up to 6" (15 cm) × 4" (10 cm). Leaves are divided into 3-5 lobes which in turn are further divided, making them bipinnatifid. Leaf surfaces are dark green and hairless, while leaf undersides are pale as a result of fine hairs. Leaf stems (petioles) are up to 4" (10 cm) long. Thick, heart-shaped (cordate), spirally arranged, ¾-1½" (1.9-3.8 cm), on long stems (petioles). Leaves are sometimes mottled with darker green patches. Up to 8" (20 cm) long and 3" (7.6 cm) wide, compound in groups of 5 to 9, green with a slight bluish tint.
Fruit Bristly blue-green ovoid seed pods ¾-1" (1.9-2.5 cm). Achenes are spherical, up to ⅜" (1.3 cm) around. Seed capsules look like thin beans, ¾-2½" (1.9-6.3 cm) long, with black seeds.
Range/ Zones
USDA Zones: 4-9
Habitats Dry deciduous woodlands, bases of bluffs, and rocky stream banks. It prefers damp shady areas, and weedy places. It often carpets large areas. Moist or dry woods, thickets, fields, hedgerows, roadsides, railroads
Type Wild Wild Wild
Occurrence Common
Online References:
Stylophorum diphyllum at Illinois Wildflowers
Stylophorum diphyllum on Discover Life (Good photos)
Stylophorum diphyllum on nanps.org
Stylophorum diphyllum on Wikipedia
Stylophorum diphyllum at the Missouri Botanical Garden
Stylophorum diphyllum on Taste of the Wild
Stylophorum diphyllum on eFloras
Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 214
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)
Stylophorum diphyllum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.
≈ 21 × 14" (52 × 34 cm)
Range: Zones 4-9:
About this map...
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Noah’s Ark park fights with advocacy group over public school visits
Billy Kobin
Published 7:25 PM EST Jan 19, 2019
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ken Ham, the creationist founder of the Ark Encounter in Northern Kentucky, is sparring with a national group over whether public schools are legally allowed to visit his religious attractions.
Earlier this month the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which promotes the separation of church and state, sent letters to more than 1,000 public school districts in Kentucky and four other states saying that field trips to Ham’s Ark Encounter and Creation Museum are unconstitutional.
The letters, sent Jan. 8, were prompted by Ham encouraging public schools to visit his theme park, which features a 510-foot-long model of Noah’s Ark.
“It is unacceptable to expose a captive audience of impressionable students to the overtly religious atmosphere of Ham’s Christian theme parks,” wrote Annie Laurie Gaylor and Dan Barker, co-presidents of the Wisconsin-based foundation.
Ham is the founder of Answers in Genesis, a Christian creationist ministry that runs the Ark Park in Williamstown and the Creation Museum in Petersburg. Creationists reject the teaching of evolution and believe the Earth was created in a few days about 6,000 years ago, based on the Bible’s teachings in Genesis.
More: Visitation at the Ark Encounter in Kentucky falls below projections
More: What I learned from visiting Noah’s Ark: Column
The Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter show dinosaurs and humans living alongside each other. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, dinosaurs went extinct nearly 65 million years before people appeared on Earth.
The same day the letters were sent, Ham fired back by offering free admission to any public schools that take students on official field trips to the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum.
“And if the FFRF dares threaten or bully a public school, we have access to expert constitutional law attorneys who will provide their services to the school, pro bono, even if that means going all the way to the US Supreme Court,” Ham wrote in a blog post.
A phone call to the Ark Encounter seeking comment was not immediately returned Friday night.
This isn’t the first time Ham and the Freedom From Religion Foundation have gone head-to-head.
The foundation was one of several groups outraged when the theme park won more than $18 million in state tax incentives when it was being built in 2014. State officials tried to take the tax break away after learning the park would only hire Christians, but park officials sued in federal court and won.
After its first year, the Kentucky government cut the Ark Encounter a rebate check for $1.8 million.
The foundation’s letter – sent to 1,273 public school districts in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Illinois – said Ham “has been clear about the proselytizing nature” of the attractions.
In a June 2018 blog post, Ham wrote “the whole purpose of building these attractions was evangelistic. … We make no apology for the fact that AiG is an evangelistic, biblical-authority ministry.”
Andrew Seidel, the foundation’s director of strategic response, told the Courier Journal the group wants public schools “to understand that taking other people’s children to an amusement park that is dedicated to proselytizing for Christianity” violates the First Amendment.
“I don’t want to drag a public school district into court over this issue,” Seidel said. “We’re just trying to make sure they understand.”
Several legal experts told the Courier Journal that courts, citing the Constitution’s Establishment Clause in the First Amendment, have made clear that public schools cannot force religion on students.
However, the purpose of field trips to religious-themed places like the Ark Encounter is also key, experts said.
University of Louisville law professor Russell L. Weaver said if a field trip to the Ark Encounter is taken as part of a class on religion, and no attempts are made to convert students, then it may pass legally.
“Context, purpose and motive are all essential in evaluating whether something like this is an inappropriate endorsement of religion or not,” added professor Steve Sanders, who teaches constitutional law at Indiana University.
Corey Shapiro, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, said courts have also made clear that “public schools may not teach creationism or intelligent design – theories which the Ark Encounter espouses.”
“A public school field trip to this establishment is an unconstitutional government promotion of religious beliefs, which have no place in our public schools, and improperly proselytizes to students,” Shapiro said in a statement.
Seidel, with the Freedom From Religion Foundation, said it does not matter if such field trips are deemed “voluntary” or allow students to opt out, as courts have routinely rejected such arguments.
Seidel said the nonprofit has received complaints from parents and community members in the past about trips to the Ark Park and has stopped several local parks and recreation departments from taking publicly funded trips to the theme park.
At least one superintendent in Kentucky isn’t fazed by either argument.
Rick Ross, superintendent of the Mason County School District, said while there have been no plans to visit the theme park, he’s not intimidated by the foundation. Ross said he took the foundation’s letter and put it in the trash.
“The idea of an agency outside of the state threatening us more or less, it just doesn’t sit well with me,” Ross said.
Ross said feedback from parents and the school district’s attorney “would be vital” in deciding on any field trip to the Ark Encounter or Creation Museum.
“The letter itself would not be enough to deter us, but we are a long way from approving any trip at all,” Ross said. “We would have to make sure that the purpose of the trip is to educate, not indoctrinate.”
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Despite Going Through Ten Years of Conversion Therapy, She Finally Had the Wedding of Her Dreams September 8, 2014 Hännah Ettinger
Despite Going Through Ten Years of Conversion Therapy, She Finally Had the Wedding of Her Dreams
By Hännah Ettinger
The September issue of D Magazine features the story of Amanda Barbour, a woman who went through Exodus international and their ex-gay conversion therapy, but later came out for a second (and last) time and ended up (finally) marrying another woman with the support of her family.
“I am a lesbian,” Amanda told the pastor. “This is who I am.”
“I understand that you think that,” the pastor said. “But let’s just talk. Let’s talk about how you got into the situation. Let me get to know you.”
Amanda went back to school and told [girlfriend] Shannon that she couldn’t see her anymore. It was agonizing. Shannon cried so violently that she began to retch. Still, Amanda was firm.
“If I want my family,” she said, “if I want my dad, then I can’t have you.”
Amanda felt empty. Without Shannon, she felt like she’d never be strong again. For weeks, she subsisted on coffee and cigarettes. And when the semester was over, she left school and moved back in with her parents.
To them, this wasn’t too different from her brother’s addiction. They encouraged Amanda to meet with their church’s pastor again. The pastor introduced her to a local Exodus group, which taught that homosexuality is a sin and preached that with conversion therapy — also called “reparative therapy” — God can change your sexual orientation.
This story is important as the Christian community is slowly coming to a general consensus that conversion therapy (to “pray away the gay”) is counterproductive and useless. To date, the current modern Christian evangelical responses to LGBTQ identity issues have been one of three schools of thought:
Same-sex attraction (which is an imperfect phrase, but the only understanding of LGBTQ identity in most church communities) is a psychological disorder that can be cured with enough discipline, therapy, and focused self-control.
Same-sex attraction is something natural that can’t be helped, but acting on the attraction is clearly condemned by Scripture and so LGBTQ individuals must remain celibate or express themselves sexually only in heteronormative ways.
Same-sex attraction is something natural that can’t be helped, and the Bible isn’t clear about condemning it because of certain contextual facts about the worship rites in the communities to whom the apostles wrote the epistles. Therefore, while pedophilia and prostitution are obviously condemned, non-heternonormative sexual expression may not be. So it’s fine as long as it’s practiced ethically.
Position #1 is quickly fading from the modern church due to criticism from the medical and psychiatric communities and better public awareness of the issue, even though it has been the historical norm in recent centuries. (The debate about the early church’s position on LGBTQ identity and sexual expression is heated and involved.)
Position #2 was the more “liberal” position in recent decades, but it’s quickly becoming the default conservative stance. And position #3 is the current liberal stance and is becoming quickly more popular.
The D Magazine piece is an excellent #longread piece if you’re curious about what it might be like to come out to a family operating under the assumptions of position #1.
(Image via Shutterstock)
Fargo Officials Have Spent More Than $120,000 of Taxpayer Money to Defend a Ten Commandments Monument
September 8, 2014 American Humanist Association Launches Campaign Urging Students to Stay Seated During the Pledge of Allegiance
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Tag Archives: Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters
action, anime, dance show, drama, entertainment, fantasy, game show, live events, Philippines, reality show, Sports, talent show, talk show, television
FTT Year 2017 in Review: The Hot or Not Stories That Define the Year in Media (Part III)
December 21, 2017 ralphierce2016 Miss Universe, 2017 Miss Universe, ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN Sports, ALA Promotions, Albert Martinez, Aljur Abrenica, All-Star K, All-Star K GMA, All-Star Videoke, All-Star Videoke GMA, Allan K, Alyas Robin Hood, Alyas Robin Hood GMA, Alyas Robin Hood season 2, Ang Probinsyano, Ang Probinsyano ABS-CBN, Ang Probinsyano extended, Ang Probinsyano second anniversary, Ang Probinsyano two-year anniversary, Astig Authority, Awra Briguela, Bela Padilla, Betong Sumaya, Blow by Blow, Blow by Blow revived, Blow by Blow TV5, Daimos, Daimos GMA, Daimos redub, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, Eat Bulaga, Eat Bulaga GMA, Eat Bulaga TAPE, Encantadia, Encantadia 2016, Encantadia 2016 GMA, Encantadia GMA, Floyd Mayweather Jr., FPJ's Ang Probinsyano, FPJ's Ang Probinsyano ABS-CBN, France, GMA, GMA Astig Authority, GMA Network, I Can Do That, I Can Do That ABS-CBN, I Can See Your Voice, I Can See Your Voice ABS-CBN, I Can See Your Voice Philippines, Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin, Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin ABS-CBN, Iris Mittenaere, Jaya, Jeff Horn, Jolina Magdangal, Jona Soquite, Jose Manalo, Karla Estrada, Killer Karaoke, Killer Karaoke GMA, Kris Aquino, Lip-Sync Battle Philippines, Lip-Sync Battle Philippines GMA, Little Big Shots, Little Big Shots ABS-CBN, Lola Nidora, Lola Tidora, Lola Tinidora, Louise Delos Reyes, Magandang Buhay, Magandang Buhay ABS-CBN, Maja Salvador, Manny Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao Presents: Blow by Blow, Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn, Maxine Medina, Maymay Entrata, Melai Cantiveros, Mulawin vs. Ravena, Mulawin vs. Ravena GMA, Nonito Donaire, Paolo Ballesteros, Pinoy Big Brother, Pinoy Big Brother ABS-CBN, Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7, Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7 ABS-CBN, Pinoy Pride, Pinoy Pride ABS-CBN, Solar Entertainment, Solar Entertainment Philippines, Solenn Heussaff, South Africa, Super Ma'am, Super Ma'am GMA, TAPE In.c, The Lolas' Beautiful Show, The Lolas' Beautiful Show GMA, The Lolas' Beautiful Show TAPE, The Voice Teens, The Voice Teens ABS-CBN, The Voice Teens Philippines, The Voice Teens Philippines ABS-CBN, Top Rank Boxing, Top Rank Boxing ABS-CBN, TV5, Voltes V, Voltes V GMA, Voltes V redub, Wacky Kiray, Wally Bayola, Your Face Sounds Familiar, Your Face Sounds Familiar ABS-CBN, Your Face Sounds Familiar: Kids, Your Face Sounds Familiar: Kids ABS-CBN 24 Comments
Another year is about to end. But before the calendar flips to 2018, here is a look back at the year that was in television and radio. This article looks back at some of the Hot or Not moments that define the Philippine media this year.
If you missed out on Part I and Part II of this series, click on the highlighted link for more information.
Here is Part III of the four-part series. These stories are arranged in no particular order.
HOT: Ang Probinsyano
Year II of ‘Ang Probinsyano’ was no different from Year I. Despite questions surrounding its quality for a series that has run for two years and counting, ‘Ang Probinsyano’ continued to dominate the primetime landscape, often reaching 40% or better some nights.
Even as the likes of Maja Salvador, Bela Padilla and Albert Martinez depart, ‘Ang Probinsyano’ soldiered on with new additions such as former GMA stars Aljur Abrenica and Louise delos Reyes. The series was also rewarded with yet another extension that will last until an undetermined date in 2018 (barring another extension).
NOT: Ang Probinsyano’s Opponents
Meanwhile, four different opponents from the Kapuso network tried to take down ‘Ang Probinsyano’ and its lengthy run of excellence. Unfortunately, neither ‘Encantadia’, ‘Alyas Robin Hood’, ‘Mulawin vs. Ravena’ nor ‘Super Ma’am’ were able to take Coco Martin and company down.
None of the four teleseryes breached the 20% mark and worse, the disparity between ‘Ang Probinsyano’ and its opponent is around 20% or better. With such a large deficit GMA should start thinking of a new strategy this early or wait for ‘Ang Probinsyano’ to end in order to take advantage of this new opportunity (too bad there’s no end date yet).
HOT: 2016 Miss Universe
The 2016 Miss Universe was held in the Philippines last January 30 and was simulcast on ABS-CBN, TV5, GMA and Solar Entertainment channels. The collaboration marked just the second time that an event of national interest was aired in unison among the country’s broadcast giants; the last being the Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather boxing fight two years ago.
France’s Iris Mittenaere was crowned the 2016 Miss Universe while the host’s representative Maxine Medina finished among the top 6. However, she was unable to complete an entire year’s reign as this year’s Miss Universe was held last November 26 with South Africa’s Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters winning the said pageant.
NOT: Pacquiao vs. Horn and the sport of boxing
The declining interest in Manny Pacquiao continued as he fought Jeff Horn in July. The end result was a unanimous decision victory for Horn, some bloodshot eyes from Pacquiao and lukewarm reception from boxing fans in the country.
It was a poor year overall for boxing on Philippine television. Despite the efforts of ALA Promotions to promote the sport via its Pinoy Pride series, the year saw the end of ABS-CBN Sports’ partnership with Top Rank Boxing (coinciding with Nonito Donaire ending ties with Bob Arum’s promotion) and the expected cancellation of ‘Blow by Blow’ on TV5.
HOT: Magandang Buhay
2017 proved to be a coming-out party of sorts for ‘Magandang Buhay’ as the show became a ratings hit each and every morning. The news is an encouraging one for ABS-CBN despite the fact that the show airs at 8:00 a.m., which is typically ‘dead’ time for viewership.
With the trio of Melai Cantiveros, Jolina Magdangal and Karla Estrada, plus some impressive selection of guests, it is no secret that this talk show has become the talk of the town. With all due respect to Kris Aquino, the trio of Melai, Jolina and Karla should now inherit the ‘queens of talk’ mantra considering ‘Magandang Buhay”s success.
NOT: GMA’s Animes and The Lolas’ Beautiful Show
The traditional morning powerhouse that is GMA’s Astig Authority suddenly became vulnerable with the rise of ‘Magandang Buhay’. Even though the network redubbed ‘Voltes V’ and ‘Daimos’ this year with a host of celebrities from their stable, it failed to prevent the inevitable.
One talk show that would have helped is ‘The Lolas’ Beautiful Show’, hosted by Wally Bayola, Jose Manalo and Paolo Ballesteros in their alter-egos as Nidora, Tinidora and Tidora. However, the show’s status as a TAPE-produced show (TAPE programs are only allowed an 11:30-2:30 timeslot on GMA most afternoons) prevented it from seriously challenging ‘Magandang Buhay’.
It also didn’t help that ‘The Lolas’ Beautiful Show’ is losing to the morning drama ‘Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin’ on a regular basis. Perhaps GMA should loosen the reins a bit to give the lolas of ‘Eat Bulaga’ a chance to go up against the momshies of ‘Magandang Buhay’.
HOT: ABS-CBN Reality/Talent Shows
Reality and talent shows continue to give ABS-CBN plenty of reasons to celebrate. This year’s winners are:
Pinoy Big Brother Lucky 7 – Maymay Entrata
Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids – Awra Briguela
I Can Do That – Wacky Kiray
The Voice Teens Philippines – Jona Soquite
Currently on the network’s weekend primetime menu are ‘Little Big Shots’ and ‘I Can See Your Voice’, both of which continue to excel and trend among viewers. If 2018 is of any indication, then even more excitement awaits ABS-CBN as it introduces either new seasons of existing reality/talent shows or new programs.
NOT: All-Star Videoke
A poor man’s version of the popular ‘All-Star K’ was introduced to GMA last September. Unfortunately, ‘All-Star Videoke’ failed to live up to the standards of its more successful sibling.
GMA could have used this opportunity to bring back ‘Lip-Sync Battle Philippines’ or acquire ‘Killer Karaoke’. Instead, they rehashed an original Filipino concept that did not work out, and with all due respect to Betong Sumaya and Solenn Heussaff, they are no Allan K and Jaya in that regard.
Part IV of this four-part series is coming up tomorrow. Stay tuned.
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Tag Archives: Rita Ora
December 21, 2014 ralphierceAriana Grande, Avicii, Billboard, Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Hot 100 Hit Singles of 2014, Billboard Hot 100 Hits of 2014, Billboard Hot 100 Singles of 2014, Billboard Hot 100 Songs of 2014, Billboard Year-End, Chris Brown, Disclosure, French Montana, Idina Menzel, Iggy Azalea, Imagine Dragons, Jessie J, Lil Wayne, Maroon 5, Nicki Minaj, One Direction, Rita Ora, Sam Smith, Sia, Too $hort, Top 100 Hit Songs of 2014, Top 100 Hits of 2014, Top 100 Singles of 2014, Top 100 Songs of 2014, Tyga 1 Comment
Here are the songs from 21-30 in the 2014 Billboard Hot 100 Year-End singles charts. For songs 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90 and 91-100, click on the highlighted numbers.
21. Idina Menzel – Let It Go.
22. Avicii – Wake Me Up!. No. 19 last year.
23. Imagine Dragons – Demons. No. 62 last year.
24. One Direction – Story of My Life.
25. Sia – Chandelier.
26. Iggy Azalea feat. Rita Ora – Black Widow.
27. Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj – Bang Bang.
28. Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – Latch.
29. Maroon 5 – Maps.
30. Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne & French Montana or Too $hort or Tyga – Loyal.
Billboard Hot 100 – November 22, 2014
November 14, 2014 ralphierceAriana Grande, Billboard, Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Top 10 Hits, Bobby Shmurda, Hozier, Iggy Azalea, Jeremih, Jessie J, Maroon 5, Meghan Trainor, Nicki Minaj, Rita Ora, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Top 10 Hit Singles, Top 10 Hit Songs, Top 10 Hits, Top 10 Singles, Top 10 Songs, Top 40, Tove Lo, YG 2 Comments
Here are the Top 10 songs from the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of November 22, 2014.
1. Taylor Swift – Shake It Off. No. 1 last week.
2. Meghan Trainor – All About That Bass. No. 2 last week.
3. Maroon 5 – Animals. No. 4 last week.
4. Tove Lo – Habits (Stay High). No. 3 last week.
5. Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj – Bang Bang. No. 5 last week.
6. Bobby Shmurda – Hot Boy. No. 8 last week.
7. Ariana Grande & The Weeknd – Love Me Harder. No. 24 last week.
8. Hozier – Take Me to Church. No. 10 last week.
9. Iggy Azalea feat. Rita Ora – Black Widow. No. 6 last week.
10. Jeremih feat. YG – Don’t Tell ‘Em. No. 7 last week.
November 7, 2014 ralphierceAriana Grande, Billboard, Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Top 10 Hits, Bobby Shmurda, Ed Sheeran, Hozier, Iggy Azalea, Jeremih, Jessie J, Maroon 5, Meghan Trainor, Nicki Minaj, Rita Ora, Taylor Swift, Top 10 Hit Singles, Top 10 Hit Songs, Top 10 Hits, Top 10 Singles, Top 10 Songs, Top 40, Tove Lo, YG Leave a comment
7. Jeremih feat. YG – Don’t Tell ‘Em. No. 7 last week.
9. Ed Sheeran – Don’t. No. 11 last week.
10. Hozier – Take Me to Church. No. 9 last week.
Billboard Hot 100 – November 8, 2014
November 4, 2014 ralphierceAriana Grande, Billboard, Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Top 10 Hits, Bobby Shmurda, Hozier, Iggy Azalea, Jeremih, Jessie J, Maroon 5, Meghan Trainor, Nicki Minaj, Rita Ora, Sam Smith, Taylor Swift, Top 10 Hit Singles, Top 10 Hit Songs, Top 10 Hits, Top 10 Singles, Top 10 Songs, Top 40, Tove Lo, YG Leave a comment
Here are the Top 10 songs from the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of November 8, 2014.
10. Sam Smith – Stay With Me. No. 8 last week.
October 24, 2014 ralphierceAriana Grande, Billboard, Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Top 10 Hits, Bobby Shmurda, Ed Sheeran, Iggy Azalea, Jeremih, Jessie J, Maroon 5, Meghan Trainor, Nicki Minaj, Rita Ora, Sam Smith, Taylor Swift, Top 10 Hit Singles, Top 10 Hit Songs, Top 10 Hits, Top 10 Singles, Top 10 Songs, Top 40, Tove Lo, YG Leave a comment
7. Maroon 5 – Animals. No. 7. last week.
8. Sam Smith – Stay With Me. No. 9 last week.
9. Bobby Shmurda – Hot Boy. No. 10 last week.
10. Ed Sheeran – Don’t. No. 13 last week.
Billboard Hot 100 – October 25, 2014
October 17, 2014 ralphierceAriana Grande, Billboard, Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Top 10 Hits, Bobby Shmurda, Iggy Azalea, Jeremih, Jessie J, Maroon 5, Meghan Trainor, Nicki Minaj, Rita Ora, Sam Smith, Taylor Swift, Top 10 Hit Singles, Top 10 Hit Songs, Top 10 Hits, Top 10 Singles, Top 10 Songs, Top 40, Tove Lo, YG Leave a comment
Here are the Top 10 songs from the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of October 25, 2014.
8. Nicki Minaj – Anaconda. No. 5 last week.
10. Bobby Shmurda – Hot Boy. No. 12 last week.
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Inicio Noticias Timbers Face Islanders in Regular-Season Home Finale Thursday
Timbers Face Islanders in Regular-Season Home Finale Thursday
August 31, 2010 – U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2) Portland Timbers
OurSportsCentral
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers look to continue their five-game unbeaten streak as they play host to the Puerto Rico Islanders on Fan Appreciation Night Thursday in their regular-season home finale at PGE Park; kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Tickets for the Timbers’ final Miller Lite Thursday of the 2010 season are $12 in advance and are available for purchase through the PGE Park box office, area Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
Thursday’s match marks Timbers final regular-season home game at PGE Park as a member of the USSF Division-2 Pro League. The Timbers are joining Major League Soccer and will play their inaugural season in North America’s top flight in a newly remodeled PGE Park in 2011.
Fan Appreciation Night features a host of events. The first 2,000 fans receive a Timbers MLS pennant, while the first 6,000 fans in attendance receive a raffle ticket and will be entered to win a variety of premium prizes, merchandise or autographed memorabilia during the evening.
Additionally, the Timbers will play host to their annual Jersey-Off-Our-Back auction. Through a special silent auction, fans can take home their favorite player’s game-worn jersey, with proceeds benefiting the Portland Timbers Community Fund. Those with a winning bid will be presented their jersey directly from the player on the field following the match.
Portland enters Thursday’s match on a five-match unbeaten streak (3-0-2). The Timbers are in third place in the USL Conference and sit in fourth place overall in the USSF D-2 Pro League table. The top eight clubs in the league – regardless of conference alignment – advance to the postseason, with the two conference leaders occupying the top two seeds.
The Timbers and Islanders (8-7-8, 32pts) square off for the first time this season and in the first of two matchups over the final month of the regular season. Portland is 6-4-3 against Puerto Rico since the Islanders joined the league in 2005, including a 5-1-1 mark at PGE Park. Last season, the Timbers were 2-0-1 against the Islanders, which included a scoreless draw in their only meeting at PGE Park on July 23, 2009.
For Thursday, the Timbers will be without defender Mamadou Danso, who has called up by the Gambia National Team earlier this week for an Africa Cup of Nations qualification match Saturday in The Gambia. Additionally, the Timbers and forward Mandjou Keita have come to a mutual agreement for the player to return to India to finish the season.
The match against Puerto Rico will be broadcast live on Newsradio 750 KXL, with a Spanish-language broadcast on 910AM+1390AM ESPN Deportes. A live video webcast will be available online at www.portlandtimbers.com/live.
Portland plays its final four regular-season matches on the road. The USSF D-2 Pro League playoffs begin in early October.
ABOUT PUERTO RICO ISLANDERS
On a nine-game unbeaten streak, the Islanders visit PGE Park this week, where it has a 1-5-1 record since 2005. Puerto Rico ranks fourth in the USL Conference and sixth in the overall league standings. The Islanders’ current unbeaten run includes wins over the top two teams in the league – the Austin Aztex and Rochester Rhinos. In its last match, Puerto Rico defeated the Carolina RailHawks 3-2 on Aug. 28; forward Nick Addlery recorded a goal and an assist in that match. The Islanders’ last loss was July 11 to Carolina.
Artículo anterior¿Posible cambio de los Islanders?
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Training and Consultancy
Thanksgiving – Home away from home
We may think that in this difficult year, people aren’t in the mood of celebrating any holiday.
Actually, we strongly believe that holidays are made for thinking about what we are grateful for.
In this episode of our Home away from home series, we will talk about the perfect holiday for being thankful: Thanksgiving. We’ll talk about this unique American celebration with a special guest, Angie Snowball-Thompson who is an English communication and culture coach and also founder of Living in America.
United States of America: a melting pot.
USA is a really big country, so you would expect to have more than one culture. In fact, there are many studies about this variety. Angie told us that her favourite one is the “Eleven American cultures”. We can define the USA as a melting pot: so the cultural differences are due to the origin of each person, that means that it depends on where they came from.
On the other hand, if we consider behaviour and manners we can observe some differences between big cities such as New York and LA. Plus, we can identify differences between people from Southern and the Northern states. Angie explained that Southern people are generally kinder, slower and “more colourful”.
The real meaning of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is the only proper celebration of the USA, that’s because they use to celebrate a lot of holidays that come from other countries like Cinco de Mayo or Christmas and they really enjoy that. Americans really feel the spirit of Thanksgiving. It represents the origin of the United States and all the controversial history behind it. For Angie, on a personal level, it’s like Christmas but without any stress and any gifts, so just family time and food.
Food and family, the common denominator.
When we asked Angie to list the main elements for a real Thanksgiving. Without hesitations, she said just three things: food, family and football. The tradition says that every family during Thanksgiving has to prepare a lot of delicious dishes such as turkey, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberries sauce, pumpkin pie and corn and of course the best moment is when the family eats together. Another element that makes people be together is football: friends and family enjoy watching the most important football match of the season or to play a family game. One fact we have to put the lights on is that even if Americans have eleven different cultures, they all have common traditions for Thanksgiving and that’s the only holiday with this peculiarity.
Thanksgiving far from home.
Angie has a particular experience of celebrating Thanksgiving outside the USA. Since she was married to a German man, a few years ago she had to spend this holiday abroad. That was the time she discovered that in any other country of the world people don’t care about Thanksgiving. They don’t sell a proper turkey, or any other ingredient useful to cook traditional dishes. That was the saddest Thanksgiving of her life. Since then, she started to appreciate this holiday more and more. That’s why when she moved back to the USA she was really grateful to be able to cook traditional dishes, and especially to be with her family that she missed the most.
This difficult year should be a great occasion to be deeply grateful for something we never appreciated before. We agree with Angie when she told us she really wishes people could be grateful. Particularly in these hard times when political and cultural reasons can divide people, we really hope that Americans could be united, proud and stronger together.
To discover more about how people celebrate their traditions abroad, read our articles about
– Diwali in Malta
– Blumenau: The Brazilian Oktoberfest
Follow us to find out more stories!
Future of Cultural Diversity & Business
Emily in Paris between stereotypes and cultural dimensions
JobsPlus IIS
CSR and SDGs
Supporting the
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Plans for a Walking Festival in 2021 continue...
Happy New Year to all our walking friends, wherever you may be. Life is very different at the moment, and very hard for us all. We know you share our love of walking, and we hope despite everything, to inspire you to continue walking, to tell us all about where you have been and what you've been doing, and to offer some new ideas for getting out into the countryside and - having fun!
If you have been watching Robson Green walking along Hadrian's Wall, you will be reminded that Northumberland is still here, and still beautiful! You may have caught a glimpse of us, but we do hope to feature more towards the end. Keep watching!
Our Haltwhistle Walking Festival could not happen last year because of "you know what" - but we intend to bring it back in 2021, albeit in a one off, virtual format. Over the next few weeks, we will introduce many ideas that may help you plan some walks during the Festival period, and to take part by sharing your experiences with us all. The more people who do participate, the greater connection we can feel with each other.
Channel 5, Thursday 14th January!
Stop Press! Watch Channel 5 this Thursday, January 14th at 9pm for the first episode of a series showing Robson Green walking the length of Hadrian's Wall. Walk Leaders John Johnson, Catriona Mulligan, Kevin Jones & Anne Palmer may (we hope!) feature. We spent a day filming at the Solway in August, as Robson was ending his trek, so we expect to make an appearance in the last of the three episodes. (January 28th)
The whole programme will be of interest to you all, and will remind you of the places you cannot, currently, visit!
Haltwhistle Rings - Update
We are continuing to re-Walk, revise, re-write and review The Haltwhistle Rings. Even as the weather worsens, and daylight hours shrink to almost nothing, our intrepid volunteers are out and about, clambering over stiles and trudging through bogs, to make sure the Rings are ready for the Spring Festival.
so far, 12 Rings have been completed and re-written, with many more partially completed. We are making a note of “defects”, such as broken stiles and unsafe bridges, and are reporting these to the County Council. We are hoping remedial action will be taken by spring. Below: Joss Mahon checking the route north of Greenhead.
The Haltwhistle Rings
The Haltwhistle Rings are a collection of 22 circular walks of between 4 and 9 miles, all centred on Haltwhistle and its neighbouring parishes. They were devised, tested, mapped and described by keen local walker John Dixon (now deceased) and Mike Swann, with the assistance of other local walkers. In her recently published book, More Than Just a Walk – The Story of the Haltwhistle Walking Festival 2003 – 2020, Maureen Hart describes the significance of the Haltwhistle Rings for the Walking Festival – early festivals were based upon them, and many of the team who helped with their development were the founders of the Festival.
The Rings date back to 2003, when they were first published. They were drawn up as 22 separate leaflets, and were sold locally. Each leaflet includes photographs of significant features, and a map of the route. They were intended to stimulate interest in the beautiful countryside around Haltwhistle, and to encourage people to return to it following the devastation caused by the outbreak of foot and mouth in 2001/02. They were very successful in this.
The leaflets sold well, and have been very well used in the years since their publication. They are no longer available as leaflets, although there are rumours of sets still available in Charity shops and second hand bookshops! However, all 22 walks appear in their original form on the Haltwhistle Partnership website – https://haltwhistle.org/index.php/miscellaneous-pages/28-walks
In preparation for the 2021 Walking Festival, which will be a “virtual” Festival, the Haltwhistle Walking Festival Committee has decided to revisit the popular Rings, and to use them once again as the basis for encouraging people to visit the beautiful countryside around Haltwhistle, following the effects of Corona Virus. There is a painful symmetry to this, the Rings functioning again as a path to hope after devastating disease.
As a first step, the Committee – in conjunction with the festival volunteers and the regular Wednesday walkers – is carrying out a review of the routes. It is 17 years since they were first collated, and much has changed in that time. New roads, new bridges, footpath diversions; new plantations planted, and old ones harvested, development of routes such as the South Tyne Cycle path, and new buildings such as The Sill - all have made a difference to the routes and their descriptions. We are hard at work now, and hope to have a brand new set of revised Rings ready for the Spring. We hope that they will appear on our website in downloadable, and easy to follow format, for you all to venture back into the beautiful Haltwhistle countryside.
Watch this space for more news!
More than just a walk - The story of the Haltwhistle Walking Festival 2003 - 2020
The Festival Welcomes Support from...
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Tag: African-American
Book Discussion: The Proudest Blue
Posted on September 23, 2019 by hijabilibrarians
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family. By Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (9780316519007)
Faizah admires older sister Asiya’s new, strikingly blue and beautiful first-day-hijab, finding inner strength and pride when facing bullies at school who make fun of it.
This book discussion was conducted on May 12, 2019 and was based on the fold & gather, received from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. The conversation has been edited for clarity.
Ariana: My first appreciation is seeing multiple Muslims involved in the process of this book from the author, Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali and illustrated by Hatem Aly. The cover clearly conveys the concepts and themes– beauty of the blue hijab, ocean and sky, the endless possibilities.
Mahasin: For me it is still unusual to see African American Muslim representation in children’s books and seeing people who look like me and my family. To see both faces of the sisters…I think just seeing the cover will just make a lot of little girls in particular really happy.
Ariana: When I went to a presentation for this, there was a reading of the text by Ibtihaj. At that point I had only heard the name Asiya pronounced Aah-si-ya or Aa-si-ya. In the audio recording, her name is pronounced A-see-yuh; it was interesting for me to hear how Asiya’s name is pronounced in her family. I thought about how it would create a different experience for readers listening to the book and reading the text and how it’s another point of identity that would make the experience of the story richer in this case.
Mahasin: That is not an uncommon pronunciation of the name, especially in African-American communities. I find the ritual of going to the store as a family so powerful, because I think that there’s this idea often times that wearing a scarf is forced upon girls and if they had the choice they wouldn’t choose to wear it. Right at the beginning it’s established that this is a moment of pride, a moment of togetherness, a moment of consent, a moment of choice, and a moment of affirmation.
Ariana: I like differentiation in the scarf style preference between Asiya and her mother, her mother in an abaya and a long khimar, a hint of how they might differ in hijab style. I also like that Asiya’s style without hijab is distinctive and cool.
Mahasin: I love the details of Asiya’s hairstyle. She clearly has cornrows or braids and colorful rubber bands, which are common hairstyles for Black girls. I also appreciate the details of her earrings and jacket. I think of the book Under My Hijab by Hena Khan, and that so often the question that women who wear headscarves get is “What’s going on underneath there? Do you have hair underneath there? Are you bald?”
This image is important because it normalizes the idea that the person wearing the scarf and not wearing the scarf are the same person. While the scarf has symbolism, it’s simultaneously a piece of clothing and there’s still that person with all the things that humans have underneath. As obvious as that sounds, it is an important statement.
Hadeal: I really enjoyed seeing things from Faiza’s perspective, and her clear admiration of her sister. But even though we don’t get a lot of written explanation of Asiya’s feelings, we can see that she sure herself, with no hesitation, she knows what she wants, and Faiza knows that too.
Ariana: I appreciate that throughout the book you can still clearly see aspects of Asiya’s personality, like her headphones dangling under her hijab, still there. And as they move through the setting you see more of Faizah, counting her steps with each light up of her shoes, walking with a princess. So she doesn’t think of herself as a princess yet.
Mahasin: In my bio for the blog I referred to my scarf as a crown. I had debated whether that was cheesy, but decide that it is my truth. This crown on top of my head, regardless of terminology, is an accessory or accent to Blackness, and “Black is beautiful,” that utilizes the language of royalty and recalls “kings and queens” in Africa. It is a common phrase connected to the African American community, the African African Muslim community, Islamic liberation theology, and social and political awareness around Blackness. In my lived experience, Faizah thinking of herself as a princess-in-training, in terms of the headscarf, rings true to me.
Ariana: Thank you, Mahasin for that clarity. I love the joy of the color blue in the smile of the hijab as Faizah watches Asiya head to sixth grade. The spread that follows has Faizah claiming her joy back from whispers of doubt about Asiya’s scarf. That self-realization and sense of agency was subtle but something that people of color and communities that have experienced oppression have had to do, carrying the idea back to the title of Proud.
Mahasin: I am thinking about the continuum of Ibtihaj going from Proud to the Proudest Blue. I think the theme of not being embarrassed, ashamed or feeling like you have to hide, it stands out to me in conversations about Islam, assimilation and race. It harkens back to being Black and proud and standing up for who you are not feeling like you need to cower.
Hadeal: In the author’s notes, Ibtihaj Muhammad mentions moments when they would wear a scarf as preparation for wearing hijab full-time. This was true in my community, and I appreciated that this story is about self-identifying as Muslim, knowing that you might be treated differently because of your expression of faith, and possibility of being othered. Children picking up will see this story and know that the author went through this, and be encouraged to still be who they are and know who they are, for whatever reason makes them different, in this case hijab. I appreciate the inclusion of Asiya’s friends, not just in activity but their smiling, supportive faces, not making a big deal out of the change but still reacting when another kid points at Asiya. It’s really important to include, because in my own experience you might not know how to talk about it with your friends and to see that Asiya’s friends are on her side is powerful.
Ariana: The spread with Asiya’s wondering face and friends angry on her behalf held was particularly meaningful in modeling the difference between bystanders, upstanders and allies.
Asiyah’s experience in hijab is still new, but it is a quick-to-learn lesson that there will always be haters. Hijabis learn to be quick with the brush-off and can become desensitized. But people on the outside seeing hateful experiences can get angry, showing acknowledgment when you might be gaslighting yourself just to cope, because you don’t always have the energy or audacity to be angry, even if you know you have the strength and pride to walk away. They remind you of your right to feel angry and that you deserve to be in a space without feeling othered. The children as shadows without names and faces is also powerful, because many naysayers will be anonymous approachers, people who don’t even know you. And between Asiya’s friends, the naysayers, and the wondering child, there is the underlying question of “who are you in that spectrum?” letting that resonate with the reader, and asking “what would you do in this situation?”
Mahasin: While I don’t want to pit books against each other, I can’t help but think of the joy of this book, Faizah’s happiness in the boat looking at the blue of Asiya’s scarf and the ocean, in juxtaposition to Saffron Ice Cream and the expressions of the anger there. I know we struggled with that book, though it was an own voices story and told a truth that is worth being told, but there are just so few stories that everything becomes prominent. I’m just so happy to see another story with an ocean and a Muslim woman in a scarf, and there is another image that doesn’t convey force, but instead joy.
Ariana: The page with the sky and clouds that talks about hijab being special and regular, is so deliberate. I like that normal isn’t used. So that even if it’s something that is a regular occurence, it’s always going to be special. I like the perspective also, of Asiya’s face in the spread you mentioned, that it just keeps going forward. It’s different from the cover image and the expression of being proud, kind of squared off, while this one is more rounded, comforting and content.
Mahasin: She’s just riding the waves.
Ariana: Yes! And coupled with their mother’s quote where it says, “‘some people won’t understand your hijab,’ Mama had said. ‘But if you understand who you are, one day they will too.” It’s so beautiful and powerful – it’s becoming my new daily positive affirmation.
Hadeal: Reading this book I thought about kids going through changes, especially girls wearing hijab, and instructions and affirmations they might receive from family about being strong and being proud, but not about treatment from outsiders. So I’m hoping that this book reaches readers who want to learn more, but also parents, adults, and role models who can touch on different things happening in this book but still help affirm identity and prepare a child.
Mahasin: I struggled a little bit with this and with Yo Soy Muslim by Mark Gonzales because they are picture books that deal with the negativity of how people might respond to us as Muslims. I think about when I would read this to my four-year-old: before an experience or after, and read it as a response. No negativity towards either of the books, but as a parent I’m not really sure…do I protect them from that? Inevitably they end up learning that not everyone likes Muslims. This is a book that I can definitely read in a class visit right or storytime, but if children haven’t had an experience like this am I introducing and idea that might be hurtful or am I addressing something that’s already there? I think of the potential for a child or class who might be working through this or is nervous about it, but I wonder about the child who hasn’t had any negative experiences, what does seeing that in a book do? Does it address something necessary or create a conversation that is unnecessary? I really don’t know.
Hadeal: I see it one of two ways. I think about first day of school books and, whatever level, it is preparing a child to go. I see where you are coming from. But in this situation, at least in my experience, women who didn’t talk about it with their families may have wanted to be warned or introduced to examples, and then affirmed by words like Asiya and Faizah’s mothers, “be who you are and be proud.” It’s a loving book and it’s affirming. It says, “I’m proud to be a Muslim and to wear hijab, and I still have all these friends around me.”
And it can be used in different ways. Caregivers and teachers often ask for books about bullying when noticing issues and use books or situations to model behavior. It of course is whatever you are comfortable with as a parent, but there are things that children may need or want to know ahead of time. I think of other concepts of safety that you talk to a child about and, for their safety, it would be something that I would want to talk to my child about. And the mother didn’t mention specific examples, but she did warn them that there were always going to be haters, and she had mentioned that to her daughters, but as long as they knew who they were things would work out and I see power in at least being touched upon in the book.
Ariana: We talk about preparation as necessary–the idea of having to prepare your child or even student something hateful–as BIPOC educators as opposed to white educators, or white parents as opposed to Black parents or other IPOC parents. Our kids have to be prepared for a certain level of something. It’s beyond what white children might see or if it’s anything their parents want them to see. There are still so many parents who believe in the color-blind paradigm, that makes part of the world completely invisible and gaslights people, telling them that it’s not really a big deal, and it is, it is a big deal and it’s something we deal with daily.
I think about hearing things as a young girl and policing of bodies, whether it’s covering or not, unwelcome comments or comments in general that are made about women’s bodies–their size, what they’re wearing–when do we prepare these young women? There is a barrage of negative imagery that women face everyday and that’s just advertisements. This book is a window for readers who are not Muslim or who don’t wear hijab, including Muslim boys and men, to get an understanding of what it’s like to wear hijab and the complexity, because of course there is a lot of policing of women’s bodies in Muslim communities too.
I think about what kids have already seen, aftermath of Islamophobic events, and never knowing when to expect them. Do we go in prepared or try to maintain innocence as long as possible? In the context of race, avoiding these conversations can uphold white privilege and supremacy. So with hijab, I think it’s expecting discrimination even if you live in an excepting community, or a bubble. Do you keep your kids in Islamic school for as long as possible where they have affirmation of their identity, or do you take them out and they may have to constantly think about their identity and protect their identity, and how do you reinforce that strength and keep giving them that strength so they go out into the world? I know it’s a difficult question and I think it’s a question that’s always going to be difficult.
Ariana: Moving on, I enjoy Faizah’s drawing and the poetry of picnic on an island where ocean meets sky, and their crowns and matching hijabs. The change in attitude of the little girl who asked Faizah about Asiya’s hijab in line, from questioning to admiration, creates hope.
Mahasin: I love that spread. It’s so representative–Faizah and her brown skin and afro-puffs, her classmate with red hair and green eyes, and their teacher with her olive-tone skin and brown hair. There is so much diversity in that spread but also throughout the book. Each person has a sense of individuality and personality. There are different skin tones and body types and Asiya is just another person that is part of the diversity in their community.
Ariana: And you can have a very diverse population of students in your school, community or workplace, but if you don’t talk about it, you can still have kids who say, “take that tablecloth off your head” because children won’t be equipped with the language or the understanding to know that it’s wrong, not inclusive, and not acceptable.
Mahasin: I do wish that this book had been around when I was a kid. I am very conflict averse and I don’t like to call a lot of attention to myself, and I grew up in the South in the 80s. So even though my mom wore a scarf, I can remember going to Piggly Wiggly after Sunday school and telling a little white girl that I had it on because my hair wasn’t done. I think I was just worried about being seen as different and not wanting to stand out. I don’t think that my parents really got it, and wondered why I cared about what other people thought, but it’s powerful seeing someone my age feeling proud about it, so I’m glad the book exists.
Hadeal: Touching again on the details, I appreciated that the bullies were shadows without faces that they walk away or cartwheel away from, and ultimately they are just shadows that are not given much power or weight to. There is so much symbolism there.
Ariana: Right. How much do we let the shadows interfere with who we are? It’s kind of like djinn in a way. All these little formless whispers that creep at you that make you question yourself. And again there are those power words of preparation from their mother to not, “carry around the hurtful words other say. Drop them they’re not yours to keep. They belong to those who said them.” It’s giving others accountability, not taking in these messages and internalizing them, not just as Muslims or as women but as human beings– that it’s not that there’s something wrong with you. But it’s about being able to take space and make space. It seems so simple but there is power in asserting yourself and being proud and standing up who you are and making people recognize that you deserve to be in a space and you deserve space.
Hadeal: Isn’t it sad that we have to think that way? You find yourself in a space and have to take inventory and be aware of who you are in that space and what is making you “the other?”
Mahasin: So it’s a good reminder for adults too to be proud, don’t worry about the people in the shadows, live your life out loud and keep it moving.
Ariana: Faizah is so strong and defiant against the boy, and later looks for those whispers and shouts which goes back to your point Hadeal about feeling out spaces and preparing yourself for the possibility of confrontation. And Faizah is protective of her sister, of her community, her family but then she sees Asiya, “waiting for me like it’s a regular day. She’s smiling. She’s strong.” And in that moment she recognizes that Asiya doesn’t really need Faizah to protect her or her feelings, but having her back and having her there, it doesn’t mean it’s not appreciated. And then the whole relationship between the sisters like ocean and sky with no line in between them, it was just a lovely sentiment.
Mahasin: I like the end notes that show there is support from both parents.
Ariana: That’s the only time you see the father, and that’s powerful too. The conversation and wisdom and instruction is in the voice of the mother and it’s so warm.
Hadeal: I just really like this book and I’m glad that it exists. I’m glad that there are more books like this coming out.
Posted in Author Interviews
Interview with Author Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Posted on February 10, 2019 February 13, 2019 by Mahasin
Mommy’s Khimar was one of our favorite books published in 2018. We had the wonderful opportunity to have a conversation with the author, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, this past fall.
What follows is a transcript of our conversation, which has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
Hadeal: We talk a lot about windows and mirrors for marginalized readers and readers of color. Where and when did you first see yourself in literature?
Jamilah: When did I first see a book that mirrored me? I think I was in fourth grade when I felt that I really found a book that reflected my experience, it was called The Shimmershine Queens, I don’t think it’s very well known but I kept it for a long time, it’s by Camille Yarbrough. And I liked that book because it dealt with different things like colorism. It’s about two black girls and one black girl was getting picked on a lot; she had even gotten into a fight. It was in an urban environment as well, which was something that I could connect to – knowing kids who got into fights and went to urban schools and lived in apartments and were black.
I hadn’t seen a book like that before. Before that, in all the books that I read, there were white kids who lived in the ‘burbs and not using the kind of language that was in the book it just changed my worldview for a little bit. So that was my first experience.
Then a lot in high school, when I first discovered Maya Angelou — I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and Toni Morrison – those books helped me to see myself.
One thing I didn’t see when I was growing up were books about Muslims. It was just not something that I saw at all. Some titles that are out right now that coincide with my identity, definitely Saints and Misfits is one that represents a young Muslim teen. I still remember that scene where she is feeling embarrassed in the opening of the book because she was in a burkini and she’s swimming at the beach and she doesn’t want to come out and be stared at. I know that feeling, so that is definitely one. Ilyasah Shabazz has a few things out that I think are good mirrors as well. Jacqueline Woodson always, she always has some great work that reflects that experience of being a Black girl. I love Brown Girl Dreaming very much. I’m sure I’m missing so much I could name; we could be here all day going from picture books to YA.
Judy Blume also wrote a lot of books that I loved growing up. I read everything by her. I could connect and relate to the characters, but those books were definitely windows for me in a lot of ways because of their living situations; they were always white, so it wasn’t something I was used to.
Mahasin: I wish I had known about The Shimmershine Queens because I was reading Sweet Valley High. (laughs) When did you decide to be a writer and what inspired you to write Mommy’s Khimar?
Jamilah: I always had in the back of my mind that I wanted to be a writer someday, growing up, as a child, but I just kind of shoved that dream away as not being very practical. And so I didn’t really do it for a long time. I published a few things here and there but it was nothing serious. But then I was diagnosed with a chronic illness, with lupus, and it made me focus a lot, I had to focus my energy on what I wanted to do with my time. I hadn’t thought about writing for children until I was actually in a Facebook group. This story is a little weird to me because I feel like I should have some mind-blowing, great source of inspiration. But actually, my inspiration was being in a Muslim Moms group where most of the moms were African American and the moms just complaining about a lack of books for Muslim black kids that they could share with their children, books that talked about our history and stuff like that. It was just the weirdest feeling because all of a sudden I started having all of these ideas, thinking, “I could write a book about this or that” and kept jotting down different ideas for books that I wish I had as a kid or that I wanted for my own children.
Mommy’s Khimar was one of my ideas – and I felt like I needed to do something related to hijab. It’s one of the most seen things but one of the least understood aspects of Islam. I felt like people would want a book about hijab, but it kind of was bothering me that I felt like you had to write a book about hijab, there was an urge to write it – that you have to write it because I know all of the things, there is so much pressure to write the book and the conversation is often fraught. And writing a book about hijab, what kinds of expectations would people have about it? What kind of language would they want us to use? Do I have to defend it? Do I really feel like defending it? I came to a point in my life where I was like, “I just like wearing hijab and I am going to wear it anyway.” And even the language, you know, “khimar,” there were just a lot of those things. When I sat down to write it I was just like, “what if I wrote a story that didn’t really match the expectations that people wanted in a book about hijab. What if I just wrote a story about it as if I’m writing it for the Muslim kids that I know, especially the Black Muslim kids I know and ignore the other pressures and expectations?” That’s where Mommy’s Khimar came from. I thought, who was I as a little girl and how did I look at khimar, and as a little girl we called it a khimar. So how did I look at that? And I remembered playing with my mom’s khimars and seeing it that way, there wasn’t all this political stuff around it, it was just these beautiful pieces of cloth and I thought, I wanted to write the story I wanted to write. I don’t really want to write a defense or something like that.
Mahasin: I think that’s what makes the book so great is that it’s not a defense. I think I wrote that up in my review of the book, is that what is left out of it is also what makes it so great because it just is. You don’t have to defend it. You don’t have to make it an issue. It just is.
That leads into the next question which is. We have read about some of your work as an anti-racist advocate with MuslimARC and we were wondering how your activism is translated into your writing? We noticed that there a few points in the book that challenged stereotypes about Muslims, for example, the Arabic teacher being a Black woman. I was thinking, “Yes! We can be Arabic teachers! So I was hoping you could talk about if that work translated into the content of the book if it did.
Jamilah: It did. So, one of the reasons I joined MuslimARC, of the different reasons, was because I felt like there was erasure of Black Muslims, within the conversation around American Muslims whenever there is any representation of Muslims, it is as if we don’t even exist. There are always immigration stories and not people who are African American and that legacy. So I wanted it to be the blackest thing ever. I wanted there to be no doubt whatsoever. I was so happy to see that the mother and daughter are dark-skinned, the family is dark-skinned and yes, there is no doubt, no question that these characters are Black Muslims with textured hair. You know, some of the things I wanted to put in with the way of putting on khimar with all of the plaits, I wanted it to be unmistakably Black.
Mahasin: It is a beautiful thing.
Hadeal: That leads into the next question, like we have said what is great about Mommy’s Khimar is the text and illustrations and how well they work together. In a way you can’t have one without the other, it is almost impossible to read them separately because they compliment each other and flow so well. Can you tell us a little bit about your collaboration with Ebony Glenn. You had mentioned that you wanted your characters to be unmistakably Black. Did you have to emphasize this to the illustrator? How did you work on this together? A separate question is: the color yellow stands out so much throughout the text and the illustrations. Did you choose that?
Jamilah: So the first question, the answer to which, is always shocking to people is there isn’t really much collaboration with the artist at all. This is my first children’s book so I didn’t realize how much of a lack of collaboration there would be. The process is really that I had my editor and there is the art director, and they really act as the mediators who are having the conversation and they did not want me to direct. Which is common with these big publishing houses is that they don’t want the author to direct much and the reason why is because you have to see the illustrator as an artist too and at times an author can be very limiting.
I think if I had had more ability to talk about what I wanted it would not have come out as well because I am not a visual artist, I’m a writer. I was very surprised by how well she did and how much she got it. And really it was just a couple of times that I gave a little bit of feedback and that was to the editor who talked to the art director who talked to Ebony. So they just kind of kept us separate so she could create in her own space and it just worked out really well. Zareen Jaffery who is the editor at Salaam Reads is just an amazing editor, she really listened. She really wants to depict the diversity of the Muslim community with Salaam Reads and I think that is why it came out the way that it did.
The yellow color, I chose yellow because it was sunshiney. That was pretty much it. When I had first started out with the book I had chosen read because I like red. But it felt stalling, like, no this book isn’t going anywhere. But when she wears mommy’s khimar she can be the sun and that really changed a lot, there was so much she could do with the color yellow.
Mahasin: I would have never guessed that you and Ebony had been so limited in contact. In my mind, you two were on the phone, like, vibing off both being Black. That’s really interesting. Thank you for that. So our next question is: how do you hope that your work can impact the Muslim community? And how do you hope that it may affect perceptions of Muslims?
Jamilah: For me, I really do write for Muslim kids, especially Black Muslim kids. I’m just hoping that they have books. That I can give them more books. That they can see themselves as worthy as being celebrated and that our stories are worth being told. And a lot of times kids may not feel like their stories are worth being told or are as important as people from mainstream and dominant culture, because all the stories seem to be about them. When I think back to when I was a little girl, and I wanted to be a writer then and I was writing a lot of stories about white kids, because what I was reading in books was white kids. They were never Muslim because that was not what happened in books, right? And it was very important to me to have our books, not only in Muslim shops but also in the public library, at Barnes & Noble, in those places to kind of say, “you know what? This is an acceptable identity, and your story is worth being told.” So that’s really the hope with the writing that I do, that our kids see themselves there. And you know, the book is a window and I do want to let other people in to see this culture and to appreciate it as well.
Mahasin: What is the best feedback that you have received from a reader and what has been the reception in your community?
Jamilah: So, the best feedback was someone who told me that they got emotional when they read the part about the grandmother and that the grandmother also got emotional reading the book. People saw themselves and cried. This was their book. This was their family’s book and that was special to them.
Mahasin: That is one of my favorite parts in the book. I loved all of the book but I was at work when our copy came in and I was flipping through it and when I got to the part with the grandmother saying, “Sweet Jesus,” I started to tear up because it felt so personal. I felt like, this is somebody who gets my story and gets my life. So I’m not surprised to hear that. Sorry, I sort of cut into your answer. Has the reception in the community been very positive?
Jamilah: It’s been positive. It’s a little surreal because I have been waiting for that really negative review to come in and someone saying something about it and I haven’t gotten that. I’m sure that there are some Islamophobes and bigots, that if they see it, they have comments for it but I haven’t gotten that from, pretty much anyone. It’s been so amazing to get that much positive feedback and really with some of the major critics, like starred reviews and things like that. I keep waiting for something to happen, but wow, I am in awe of the whole thing.
Hadeal: How did you decide which settings/vignettes to include, for example, the masjid, with the little girl and all the Muslim ladies looking at her and her hijab, her khimar, and there is also the scene at home with her father, who is embracing her and holding her up.
Jamilah: I just wanted to show this girl going through her day. And this is why the settings came about, thinking about the people a child would be interacting with. I wanted people to see everything, to see her father and the people in the mosque, that was really important to me and the settings really fall into place with those things. In a lot of ways I wrote this book as a poem at first, and there was a pattern to the little girl interacting with people and then those things start to take on settings, so that is really where that came from.
So as far as being based on people, the grandmother is definitely is my kids’ grandmother, my mother-in-law. She says, “sweet Jesus” all of the time. She was the person that I had in mind for that character. The little girl is really kind of me as a little girl. I was really very active (laughs). And the dad is kind of my father, he was really the kind of dad that would snatch me up and give me a kiss, that kind of thing. The mother…so this is the thing that people don’t expect, my mother didn’t actually wear hijab full-time, she wore khimar to the mosque, so it’s a little weird to write about a mother wearing khimar every day, since it wasn’t really my experience, so she wasn’t really based on my mother. Though my mother had a lot of nice khimars and I did play with those.
Mahasin: You told us a little bit about the publishing process with the artists, but we were wondering if you could tell us about whether you intended to publish with a mainstream publisher or did you consider self-publishing or publishing with an Islamic publishing company? Were there other publishers that you looked at? How did you come to work with Salaam Reads?
Jamilah: A friend told me about Salaam Reads because she knew that I was writing children’s books at the time and I was kind of experimenting with my writing and ideas. And then there was the call from Salaam Reads, so I submitted directly to them. I had talked about a few things and they accepted Mommy’s Khimar. And that was really how I got started.
I didn’t really go through the process like a lot of writers do, applying and submitting and then getting rejection after rejection. I am kind of in that phase right now. There are some things that are coming down the pipeline and I can’t talk about them yet, but in 2020 I think you might see some cool things coming out. Having my work accepted by Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster really made me feel like I should continue to submit to mainstream publishers. Kids deserve to see their books on library shelves and in bookstores, not just on Amazon. They deserve to have their books illustrated by the best illustrators that are out there, that are in the industry. That is really why I have stayed on this sort of path and in that direction.
I think that there is always a space for self-publishing and I am considering doing some more Islamic books through self-publishing – when you are doing things for the mainstream, you’re doing anything that proselytizes or is Islamically pedagogical, so that is a reason why I would do something in self-publishing/Islamic publishers. But as far as telling stories about Muslims with Muslim kids in them, it is worth trying; it is worth the effort to get it into the mainstream.
Hadeal: Definitely. And thank you for that, whether it is independent or big publishing, to keep trying is so important. As a child, I would have loved to see Muslim characters and really anything to do with Islam. We’re seeing some Ramadan books in younger children’s books, going to the mosque, and we are seeing more voices in YA, but this is amazing and I hope that it continues to grow and that more people see the need for it.
Paired with that question, we understand that you had to work closely with Zareen Jaffery (editor at Salaam Reads/Simon& Schuster) but not with the illustrator. Was there anything you had to edit out of the book or in general, that you feel that there are specifics that Muslim writers are pressured to include or not include in their narratives?
Jamilah: I don’t think Zareen is someone who wants you (the writer) to edit out that Muslim voice. She was really encouraging in including that “Muslimness.” Salaam Reads is very clear that they don’t want proselytizing books, and I wanted to write that book to be a representation of a Muslim family, and didn’t want to write in things like, “Allah commands us to wear hijab and read the Qur’an,” but that is not the place for it. There is a place for that and a place of just being. I guess there is that pressure if that is your intention, but I understand that that is not going to be a mainstream, general thing. Just like I wouldn’t go to a bookstore and expect to see books on display in the Children’s section that are encouraging my kids to be Christian, that’s not really what’s going to be on the bookshelves there.
Mahasin: What books are on your #Muslimshelfspace? Are they books that you would encourage others to check out? And it’s fine if they are not published by a major publisher.
Jamilah: The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi is on my shelf. Going to shout out all the Salaam Reads people! Salaam Alaikum (Harris J), Rashad’s Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr (Lisa Bullard), Bashirah and the Amazing Bean Pie (Ameenah Muhammad-Diggins), Golden Domes and Silvers Lanterns (Hena Khan) such a beautiful book! I have a lot of children’s books because I love reading Children’s books and it’s part of being a children’s writer. Muslim Cool: Race, Religion, and Hip Hop in the United States by Su’ad Abdul Khabeer is an adult title that I have. Also, children’s X by Ilysah Shabazz.
Mahasin: Have you read Betty before X yet? Ilysah Shabazz’s newest book.
Jamilah: No, not yet! I will check it out.
Hadeal: What do you hope the literature world looks like for Muslims in the coming years?
Jamilah: I just hope that there is a broad array of literature for Muslims, even books that I might not necessarily like and care for, but they are different expressions of Muslimness. There may be some books that don’t really go along with how I express or view Islam or being a Muslim. But I think that there should be a variety, a diversity of texts, diversities of the cultures that are represented by American Muslims, the diversity of the practices. There should not be a single story all the time about what Muslims are. So if we could get that, that range, that would make me happy.
Mahasin: Are there any words of wisdom that you would like to pass down to young writers or other Muslim writers?
Jamilah: Shoot high. Submit your work to the big five publishers. Your stories are worth being in these places. Don’t lower the bar or your standards. Take your time to learn craft and industry standards of writers. Muslim people deserve high-quality books, just as any other people do. There are so many resources, especially free resources, that are available for those who want to write children’s books, picture books, and novels. You don’t necessarily need to invest thousands of dollars to learn how to do it. Take it seriously though. You can write those books, you never know if they will be best sellers but we need to shoot high.
Hadeal: This interview may be read by librarians and other library professionals. Is there anything you want to say to those librarians that are responsible for getting books into the hands of children?
Jamilah: Fight for the kids that are in your libraries, your readers, fight to have them be represented. Buy those books; support those books. Care about those kids that come in every day and think about what they might not be seeing on the bookshelves.
*Photograph by Michael E. Gray, Jr.
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The Silent Killer of Big Companies
The problems faced by Nokia, BP, and Enron were all different. But their cause was the same.
Boris Groysberg and Michael Slind
A leading mobile-phone maker falls out of step with its market — and struggles to catch up.
An energy-trading company rises high — and then suddenly implodes.
A luxury cruise ship takes a wrong turn — and the parent cruise-line company finds itself on troubled waters.
A mighty oil company presides over an environmental disaster — one that spills over to become a PR disaster as well.
The board of an airline hires a CEO — and then cancels his contract after just three years.
Five big companies. Five big problems. One of these companies is a high-tech manufacturer, two of them are in the energy sector, and two of them are in the consumer transport business. Otherwise, they have almost nothing in common. The problems that each company has faced vary widely, too.
Or so it might seem. In fact, each of these cases of organizational failure involves — right at the crux of the matter — a grievous lapse in communication. Let’s look further at these five companies and their problems.
Nokia: For more than a decade, Nokia was the world’s largest mobile-phone manufacturer. But when the smartphone became the next big thing within the mobility market, the company lost its competitive edge. According to an in-depth account of why Nokia has “struggle[d] to turn its good ideas into products,” much of the problem stems from habits of communication that favor unfocused discussions about strategy over clear plans to bring new phone models to market.
Enron: A scholarly investigation into the problems that led to Enron’s collapse pinpointed several “communication-based leader responsibilities” that senior managers failed to meet — responsibilities such as “communicating appropriate values” and “maintaining openness to signs of problems.”
Star Princess Cruise Lines: In April 2012, passengers on the cruise ship Star Princess told members of the ship’s crew that they had spotted a fishing boat that showed signs of being in distress. Yet the ship didn’t stop to provide aid, and two people on the fishing boat later died of dehydration. Later, the cruise-line company issued a statement that cited a “breakdown in communication in relaying the passengers’ concern.”
British Petroleum: The blowout of the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig, in April 2010, resulted in a massive crisis for BP and its partners. Among the key factors that contributed to the disaster were “poor communications” and a failure “to share important information,” according to a report on the White House commission that studied the incident.
Thai Airways: When Piyasvasti Amranand lost his job as CEO of Thai Air, in May 2012, the reason for his dismissal was somewhat elusive. After all, he had held the post for a mere three years, and the company’s board had recently given him a positive annual review. According to one media report, however, the chairman of the airline said that “communication problems between Piyasvasti and the board were hampering the company’s effort to meet [its] profit target.”
We didn’t select these examples entirely at random. But neither did we work very hard to find them. Even a cursory survey of high-profile organizational failures will turn up numerous stories that fit the same pattern. Thumb through the business pages of your daily newspaper. Or browse the virtual pages of a business news Web site. Very often, if you didn’t know better, it would be easy to conclude that you were reading case notes from the field of communication studies.
Every leader keenly understands the consequences of taking a lax approach to financial management. And most leaders today recognize how dangerous it can be to take a lax approach to people management. But how many leaders appreciate the risks that come with taking a lax approach to communication management — with failing to manage the way that ideas and information flows within their organization?
Those leaders who do effectively manage the flow of information within their company tend to share a certain outlook — and a certain set of practices. They adopt communication methods that enable them to get closer to employees. They put in place communication systems that promote dialogue, as opposed to monologue. They engage employees by allowing them to become active participants in the communication process. They rigorously pursue an agenda that aligns their communication efforts with organizational strategy.
They put a premium on ensuring that people in their organization talk with each other, and not just to each other.
Read more on Leadership or related topic Communication
Boris Groysberg (bgroysberg@hbs.edu) is a professor of business administration at Harvard Business School. Michael Slind (mike@talkincbook.com) is a writer, editor, and communication consultant. They are co-authors of the book Talk, Inc.: How Trusted Leaders Use Conversation to Power Their Organizations (HBR Press, 2012).
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Heber Valley Life - History in the Making
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Abram Hatch: a Historic Heber Home
By Alice Defriez Last updated Nov 13, 2019
One of the most beautiful historic buildings in Wasatch County is located at 81 East Center Street in Heber. Over the decades, it has been a private residence, a bank and a real estate sales office. The building’s official name is the Abram Hatch House; however, most local residents remember it as the old Zions Bank building.
Abram Hatch was a local businessman and farmer who also served in various leadership positions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. From 1864 to 1867 Hatch went on a mission to the United Kingdom, and upon his return to Utah, became the presiding bishop of Wasatch County. When the Wasatch Stake was created in 1877, Hatch became the first local Stake President for the church. He held that calling until 1901.
Hatch also served as the probate judge in Wasatch County and was a member of the Utah Territorial Legislature for 23 years. He was the first representative to support Utah’s women’s right to vote, which was granted in 1870 — a victory, however, that was overturned in 1887 by the federal Edmunds-Tucker Act.
Hatch died in Heber in 1911 at the age of 81.
Victorian With A Pioneer Twist
Hatch’s Victorian-style house was built in 1892 with red sandstone quarried just east of Heber. The house was used as a private residence for almost a century, and in the early 1970s there was talk about tearing down this beautiful, historic building to make room for a parking lot. Thankfully, in 1973, Zions First National Bank acquired the building to establish a Heber branch.
The company spent time and money to restore the building to its previous glory, and in 1975, the Abram Hatch House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Those who once banked at Zions Bank or have seen the building’s interior can attest to the charm, architecture and spectacular history of this building.
The one-and-a-half story Victorian boasts a symmetrical front façade, which is commonly found in earlier pioneer architecture. The front porch features Victorian spindles, lathe-turned posts, decorative brackets and balusters, and the roof is covered with diamond hatch and fish scale patterned shingles. The main entrance has a small tower with two bay windows, and the interior features many intricate wood carvings and details, as well as various colored glass panes.
When it was a private residence, a small rear wing comprised the service rooms and the upstairs had sleeping rooms on either side of the center hall.
Up For Sale
As the Abraham Hatch House once again changes ownership, maybe the magic of this building will remind our community of the importance of keeping our heritage alive. Just because it is on the National Register of Historic Places does not mean there are any restrictions or requirements placed on whoever purchases the property. It is up to local laws and ordinances to protect historic buildings.
If we want to preserve our valley’s past and keep these historic buildings around for generations to come, we should focus just as much on restoring, renewing and protecting our historical landmarks as we do on building new.
While the Abram Hatch House is on the market, stop by and ask to take a look inside. You won’t regret taking a few minutes to admire the unique architecture of this piece of Wasatch County history while you’re still able.
Courtesy of Wasatch County Library
Wasatch County Library strives to provide our community with an expanding collection of resources to improve lives. 465 East 1200 South, Heber City, Utah | 435-654-1511
@wasatchcountylibrary or wasatch.lib.ut.us
Alice Defriez 1 posts
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Fort Heber
A Look At Jordanelle Development
Welcome to Tom’s Cabin
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Bentley Classic Cars
Brief History of Bentley
In 1919 Walter Owen Bentley founded Bentley Motors in order to make a quality, fast car… the best in its class. That aspiration remains at the core of Bentley ever since. W.O. Bentley presented a car chassis and a dummy engine on the London Motor Show stand prior to introducing his new four valve per cylinder engine. Introduced to the market in 1921, Bentley quickly became a symbol of performance and status.
The Bentley Boys, a group of British motor enthusiasts that drove Bentley sports cars, would build on the cars fine reputation by taking it racing. In 1929, Henry Birkin, one of the Bentley Boys, helped develop the 4 ½ Litremodel. Despite its size, large wheelbase and weight, the sporting character of the car remained and it won races. Today, Bentley is remembered as a 4-time winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After producing 720 copies of different variations, naturally aspirated and supercharged, Bentley ceased production of the model.
After the 4 ½ Litre, came the Bentley 6 ½ Litre& Speed Six. The Speed Six was introduced as a sporting version of the 6 ½ Litre Bentley and became the most successful racing Bentley. Even the Criminal Investigation Department of the Western Australia Police operated two Speed Six saloons as patrol cars. Famously, Wolf Barnato, another of the Bentley Boys, raced a Speed Six against the Blue Train, from the Côte d’Azur to Calais, and won.
Bentley 8 Litre
Bentley 8 Litre was a luxury car intended to be the finest chassis for the most luxurious coachwork. It was the last all new model designed by W. O. Bentley, before the company was sold to Rolls-Royce Ltd. The 8 Litre had a straight-six engine with four valves per cylinder and twin-spark ignition and it featured an entirely new four-speed gearbox. The 8 Little could be driven at high speeds without much fuss. Due to its releasing at the start of the Great Depression, the car didn’t sell well and only 100 were ever made. Today, these cars are some of the most desirable vintage Bentleys.
After Rolls-Royse acquired Bentley, the company planned on revealing the new Mark V on September 1939, but war was declared, and Bentley announced that it will cease production. Back at that time, you could only buy a Mark V as a bare chassis fitted with the owner’s choice of coachbuilder. The new straight-6 F-head was a completely different engine from its predecessors however very few Mark V cars were produced.
Mark VI
After the war, Bentley released the Mark VI using much of the Mark V engineering. This was actually the first car which was completely assembled and finished at Rolls-Royce’s factory. The Mark VI standard saloon was also the first all-steel coachwork, however, independent coachwork remained available. This model was very successful and Bentley would sell over 5000 of them across seven years of production.
Bentley Type-R
The Bentley R Type was the second post-war model built by Bentley under Rolls-Royce, replacing the Mark VI. There was no real difference between the RType and Rolls-Royce’s Silver Dawn, apart from the radiator grilles and the carburation. Despite that, the RType was a much more popular model than the Silver Dawn andover 2,300 units were built over four years.
The Bentley S series
Bentley S1 or commonly known as simply ‘Bentley S’ and was derived from a redesign of Rolls-Royce’s Silver Cloud. The S1 had a completely new look, and even though it shared the radiator grille with the R Type, the cars differed with a longer wheelbase, lower stance without compromising on the headroom, softer suspension and better maneuverability.
The Bentley S1 was replaced with the Bentley S2 in 1959. This model featured the L Series V8 engine and improved air conditioning which was made possible by the engine’s larger output. Power steering was also standard across the range and also a new steering wheel and dashboard were introduced. The L Series V8 engine replaced the S1’s straight-6 and offered improved performance.
The Bentley S3 was produced between 1962 and 1965. It was similar to the S2 but the with 4 headlamps (originally introduced on the Rolls-Royce’s Silver Cloud III). The interior was also improved with separate front passenger seats and better legroom for rear passengers. The aforementioned V8 engine was still present, although with minor modifications and improvements.
Purchased by Volkswagen Group in 1998, the Bentley brand lives on today, produced luxury grand touring vehicles in Crewe, England.
Our Previously Sold Bentleys
1922 Bentley 3 Litre
1930 Bentley Speed Six
1948 Bentley Mark VI
1959 Bentley S1 Continental
1960 Bentley S2 Wendler
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Iranian Revolution and Austria
Feb 3, 2019 adminGovernment
Through growing of age, we sometimes face inner or external conflict.
These conflicts can be a result of a society we are not comfortable in, or just fate. The comical movie “Persepolis”, written by Marjane Satrapi, is a memoir displaying different conflicts between a girl and the society she lives in. Marjene Satrapi is shown as a young girl born in Iran.
She grows up with the start of the Islamic revolution in Iran. Her parents then decide to send her to Austria to study in a safer and more suitable environment. While she grow up in Austria, she slowly adjusted to their customs and became more comfortable.But after graduating she decided that she should move back to Iran, even if she has to face the religious constrictions that are enforced in Iran. Because she had lived in two very different societies, Austria and Iran, while growing up, she realized that the laws enforced in Iran are unjust to women compared to western societies. As Marjene Satrapi lived in two contradicting societies, her living in Austria has caused her to feel that women in Iran are facing harsh discrimination. When Marjene’s parents sent her away to Austria, It took her a while to adjust.
As she adjusted, she slowly began to accept the culture there. As she meet more people, she was introduced to things she never experienced back home. This made her feel like she is given complete freedom to do whatever she wants. She starts to go out with guys, drink, smoke and have sex.
These acts, which are strictly prohibited to girls in Iran, became normal to her. But even growing up in Austria was difficult for her. She faced lots of difficulties as she tried to adjust. As Marjene begins to face more difficulties while in Vienna, she starts to feel homesick.She even gets to the point of trying to commit suicide, but her attempt fails. After she recovers, she decides to contact her parents and move back to Iran.
When she moves back to Iran, she realizes that things have changed there and are not what they used to be. For most of the first year, she lived in isolation and refused to speak to anyone. After her grandmother speaks to her, she slowly begins to accept the society she now lives in. She goes to art school and gets married. But even though she has accepted to live in Iran, she is still strongly against the unfair treatment f women in Iran. She continued to speak out against this unfair treatment she faced.Although Marjene did “adjust” to the changed customs of Iran, she still could not stand how different women were treated. After the death of Khomeini, life becomes even more difficult for her as she feels more restricted on what she can or cannot do.
After a long process of thinking, she decides to move away from Iran for good. The decision was mainly imposed upon her by her mother and she tries to protect her from the new government.
The veiled and separated from their friends” (Satrapi
Discussion to do with himself. Rick has no
Pan-Slavism: the Cause of Wwi
The in the political sphere and reshape the
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SMALL BIZ SLAM DUNK
BBVA Compass and the Rockets team up to launch revamped startup contest
The winner of the contest will be announced at a Rockets game in early April. Courtesy of Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau
This article originally appeared on InnovationMap and was written by Natalie Harms.
Houston startups have a chance at $10,000 thanks to the Houston Rockets and BBVA Compass' LaunchPad Contest. The application process begins on February 19 and concludes on March 5.
In its third installment, the contest is doing things a little differently this year. Previously, small businesses had to respond to questions about their organization and what they would do with the prize money. This year, with a special focus on startups, applicants are also being asked about using new technology to increase productivity.
"BBVA Compass is in a unique position and we want to leverage that to help elevate entrepreneurship through digital capabilities," says BBVA Compass Houston CEO Mark Montgomery in a release. "We are a leader in the financial industry's digital transformation, and have won multiple awards because of our innovative products and services in that realm. We want to create ample opportunities for a rising business through that industry-leading expertise. The Rockets are excellent teammates, and we are excited to unveil this new version of our collaborative contest with them."
Following the application process, BBVA and the Rockets will select four finalists before opening the contest up to fans to pick their favorite. The winner will then be announced at a game in early April. The winning company will receive, in addition to the $10,000, consultations with both BBVA and the Rockets executives.
"We are excited to partner with BBVA again for this annual contest," says Rockets Chief Revenue Officer Gretchen Sheirr in the release. "They have been best in class in their industry with their digital strategy, so it's fantastic that they will be providing an opportunity for other businesses to thrive in this space. We look forward to reviewing our fans' contest submissions and seeing the great work being done by startup businesses in our great city."
Continue reading on InnovationMap to learn about last year's Launchpad winner.
startup rockets
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You are here: Home / The Village History Website / Village Museum and Archive
The Hook Norton Village Museum and Archive was set up in 2003 by the Local History Group but although still closely involved with the History Group, is now run independently by a Management Committee assisted by a team of volunteers.
The Museum is situated at the rear of the Brewery Museum above the Visitor centre on the Brewery site and although not manned on a regular basis can be accessed daily when the Visitor centre is open.
There are a number of interesting displays and photographs showing life in Hook Norton as it was in past centuries and depicting a way of life which is unfamiliar to us today. Many of the local industries such as the railway and ironstone quarrying have disappeared from the village whilst the Brewery and production of ales have undergone a revival over the past decades.
The archive contains over 1500 photographs, a large number of old maps and copies of local wills and deeds, many of which have been transcribed. In addition the store holds many additional artefacts which have been donated through the generosity of villagers and the wider community.
Visitors wishing to research the history of their properties or family will find that we are able to access a wealth of information from the archives and help is available from one of the volunteers if requested.
If you need further information, would like a volunteer to meet you at the Museum or would like to become involved then please contact the Secretary, Jackie White at Jackie@jackiewhite.me.uk
Other Museum officers are Bridget Shepherd, Curator; Elaine Griggs, Chairman and Barbara Summerell, Treasurer
The Village History Website
If you would like to find out more about the history of Hook Norton, you can view a wealth of information by visiting the Village History website.
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Exhibition to Feature “The Printed Image”
February 11, 2009 — by Hope PR
The gallery of De Pree Art Center at HopeCollege is featuring the exhibition "The Printed Image" through Friday, March 13.
There will be a reception on Friday, March 6, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The public is invited to both the exhibition and the reception. Admission is free.
The exhibition highlights several etchings and engravings collected by Dr. Richard Wunder and generously made available to Hope by Dr. Maurice Kawashima, two dedicated friends of HopeCollege. The exhibition was curated and the prints were researched by participating students in the advanced art history seminar conducted in the fall semester 2008 under the direction of Dr. Anne Heath, assistant professor of art history.
On Friday, March 6, from 9 a.m. to 1p.m. the students will present the results of their research at an exhibition symposium at the De Pree Art Center. The symposium will also include keynote addresses by Dr. Timothy Smith of Birmingham Southern College and Dr. Hope Saska of the Detroit Institute of Art.
The De Pree Art Center is located at 160 E. 12th St., on Columbia Avenue at 12th Street. The regular gallery hours are Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.; and Sundays from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Gallery hours may be reduced during breaks and holidays. The gallery is handicapped accessible.
Hope Jazz Ensembles to Perform on Feb. 25
Hope College jazz ensembles will perform on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m. in Dimnent Memorial Chapel.
Research to Examine Elderly Care in Japan
A Hope College professor is hoping that his research into how Japan is caring for its burgeoning elderly population will provide insights as the U.S. copes with the same need as the "baby boomer" generation ages.
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Giving to the IFR
Scholarship / Research / Community
Donate to the IFR
Caption line 1
Argentina: Uspallata
Ireland: Blackfriary
The IFR is a nonprofit charitable organization that is tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code and operates under tax ID 27-5556305. Consult with your financial adviser as your donation may be fully tax deductible.
The Gift of Education
Education is a gift that keeps giving. It is essential to the makings of capable, fulfilled, and giving individuals. Our field schools in the social and natural sciences offer an education in both the subject and of the self. They require students to engage in physical work, in an intensive and immersive fashion. At our programs, students often live in remote areas and work in small teams for extensive periods of time, creating collaborative communities of learners. Students develop intellectual capacity, as well as physical and emotional resiliency. They become researchers, team members, and global citizens. The IFR strives to make our programs available to everyone, regardless of financial barriers. We welcome you to join us in our mission by making field school education accessible and attainable to students of all backgrounds and income levels.
The IFR offers a number of scholarships and we seek your help to support those. Our scholarships target merit, financial need, military veterans, and first generation scholars. Scholarship applications are rigorous and are awarded to deserving and qualified students who can benefit from an intensive field experience.
Scholarships serve a two-fold cause: the funds help to pay tuition for deserving students and support the production of quality research. Students help leading scholars in a range of disciplines to engage in scientific, evidence-based research, collect data, and begin preliminary analysis while still in the field. In many cases, students continue to engage with research and publish papers as co-authors with field schools directors. To support such students, the IFR has put forward academic conference travel awards, as well as awards for best paper and best poster where field school students are first authors.
We believe science is a public good. We also believe that without good science, we cannot have good public policy. IFR field schools generate vast quantities of research in a range of disciplines. Supporting students is about transforming young people from learners and consumers to producers of research. Our programs not only teach students about different areas of the world, they also produce stewards of the environment and cultural heritage in those places. The research IFR students help to produce is a significant contribution to the collective understanding of our world and species, past and present.
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Home / Resources / News / Latest News / ILGA-Europe welcomes Frattini statement on rights for same-sex partners
ILGA-Europe welcomes Franco Frattini, Commissioner-Designate for Justice, Freedom and Security, statements on rights for same-sex partners in the EU.
Posted: 17 November 2004
During the hearings at the European Parliament (LIBE and JURI Committees) on 15-16 November 2004, Franco Frattini, responding to the questions from the members of the European Parliament, stated that same-sex partners who are legally recognised in one of the EU member states should enjoy the same legal recognition throughout the European Union.
Franco Frattini pointed to the sensitivity over the issue of homosexuality in different EU member states and acknowledged the difference between how EU member states recognise the rights of same-sex partners. At the same time he stressed the importance for all EU member states to uphold the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. He said that freedom of movement is a basics right which must be guaranteed irrespective of that fact that some member states have or do not have legal rules regarding same-sex couples.
Ensuring the principles of freedom of movement and family unification for same-sex partners in the EU and is one of the ILGA-Europe’s current campaigns. If Franco Frattini is approved as a Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security, ILGA-Europe will closely follow up and scrutinise his action to ensure his statement at the Parliament are implemented in practice.
Juris Lavrikovs
Information & Communications Officer
Telephone: +32 – 2 609 54 16
E-mail: juris@ilga-europe.org
Notes to the editors:
ILGA-Europe is a European NGO for national and local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups and works for human rights and against sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination at European level. ILGA-Europe is the European Region of the International Lesbian & Gay Association (ILGA).
European Charter of Fundamental Rights (Article II-21) prohibits discrimination based on grounds of sexual orientation and is a part of the European Constitution signed last October. When ratified by all EU member states, it will be binding on all of them.
Two EU member states (Belgium and the Netherlands) allow same-sex marriage and nine provide various forms of legal recognition of same-sex partners (Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK).
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The week in good news: a superman, a super businesswoman, and a super dog
By Ana Iliescu
A superman, a super businesswoman and a super dog: here are our picks of good news from the past week.
Young homeless man becomes role model
Chris Channon proves that anything is possible if you’re determined to take a leap of faith.
Chris was homeless and not very hopeful when he came for a job interview with Cream’s Café back in May; but franchise owner Izzy Shanaz says she was more inclined to hire him because she knew about his background.
“I think I probably have more respect for him because I knew about his circumstances than I probably have for anybody else. I just think it’s amazing that he’s been able to take that initial step forward and he’s actually carried on with it.”
Nine months later Chris has completely changed his life, having raised enough money to get a flat, and even plans to go on holiday.
The best thing about his job is the people, he says. “Everyone gets on with each other. We all work really well together and we all click. I enjoy the job itself too. It’s nice to actually be able to make a product that people enjoy and have them come back. Great when I get some good feedback from customers too. It’s good for the confidence.”
Chris is now also trying to encourage people who are on the streets to try and turn their life around.
“I try to explain without preaching to them. I try to say that it is possible and you can see a lot of the time it just goes in deaf ears because they’re so resigned to being on the streets. Because there is so little hope out there. But there is. You just need to find the determination to look for it.”
“If you’re working for the money you earn, you feel like you’ve achieved something. You have earned your money while you’re giving something back. And you can also reward yourself.”
Health Food Brand LoveRaw Makes TV Debut
Altrincham-based entrepreneur, Rimi Thapar made her TV debut on Sunday on BBC’s Dragon’s Den.
Mrs Thapar, 34, introduced the investors to her range of organic, gluten-free and dairy-free products during a pitching session, and was looking for a cash injection in return for a stake in the £1 million business she founded five years ago.
Rimi created the company in 2013 after leaving a career in banking, using just £600 of her own money to buy ingredients and a blender and then hand-making products in her in-laws’ kitchen. Since then, LoveRaw has grown to be an international success.
Speaking about the show, Rimi, who manages the company with her husband, Manav, 34, says: “Being part of the show was an amazing experience – and a great opportunity to show people what we do and the philosophy behind our products. We are passionate about creating wholesome food that makes people feel good. The Dragons are great at what they do; having the chance to pitch to them is invaluable.”
Although Debra Meaden loved the range of organic, gluten and dairy-free products and wanted to invest in it, Mrs Thapar declined when she was asked for a 30 per cent stake in the company.
Based in the UK, the LoveRaw brand is dedicated to producing unprocessed food and it is sold in more than 21 countries across Europe and beyond.
Four-legged friend saved his owner’s life a hundred times
The Manchester Evening News told the story of Jade, the Golden Retriever who has detected that her diabetic owner’s blood glucose levels were low thousands of times.
Chris Gardner, 34, from Pendlebury was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 22 and needs to constantly pay attention to his blood sugar levels as they fluctuate dangerously high or low. His condition is so severe that he even enquired about a pancreas transplant, but has been told it would be too risky for him to undergo surgery.
Three years ago, Chris was introduced to golden retriever, Jade, by the charity Medical Detection Dogs. If his blood sugar drops below a certain level, Jade will place a paw on Chris if he’s sitting down, or jump up at him if he’s standing up, the MEN reported.
Over the course of three months, Jade warned Chris about dangerous blood sugar levels around 400 times, helping him take action and prevent becoming sick.
Chris said: “Her attachment to me is phenomenal, she is always by my side. She sleeps beside my bed and even when she is out running free on a walk she prefers to keep by my side.”
He added: “At the moment I am taking things slowly but steadily as my confidence grows. I still struggle on bad days but most days I try to cram in as much as possible with my wife and son with trips to the beach and museums. I’d like to get back to work – perhaps something in IT where an employer will accept a dog.”
The week in good news
Tampopo Corn Exchange
Tasty East Asian food
Unit 3A The Corn Exchange
Bhaji Pala
serving some of Manchester’s best curries – and it’s all completely vegan
2 Old Hall Road
1 First St
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Home » Hawaii Small Business Fair, Leeward Community College, News, Small Business Fair, Small Business Support » Register Now For FREE Small Business Advice
Register Now For FREE Small Business Advice
Posted on May 2, 2017 in Hawaii Small Business Fair, Leeward Community College, News, Small Business Fair, Small Business Support
2017 Small Business Fair: “Launch Your Dreams into Reality”
Presented by DBEDT and Leeward Community College
Leeward Community College
96-045 Ala Ike Road, Pearl City
7:30 am Registration begins
8:30am -12:15pm Free workshops
7:30am -1:00pm Exhibitor booths open
Organizing Committee: Leeward Community College, Dept of Business Economic Development & Tourism, Business Action Center, Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Internal Revenue Service, SCORE Hawaii, and Honolulu Community College.
Exhibitors: US Small Business Administration, Dept of Taxation, Dept of Ag, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Dept of Commerce & Consumer Affairs, US Postal Service, Pacific Gateway Center, Ewa Beach CDBO, Financial Institutions and many more.
Register online for the event. Online registration closes May 2, 2017. Afterwards, walk-ins are welcome.
Call 808-945-1430 or 808-694-8332.
Click through the Flickr album below to view photos of the previous fair.
ED 101 Researching Your Market for Success. Utilize free research tools and data to maximize success in your market segment and monitor market changes.
Eric Coyle, Jan Nakamoto Websites: Your 24/7 Sales Person. What are the features of an effective website? How much does it cost to design one; and how do I maintain it?
Steve Sue
View the website Worksheet and Presentation Social Media Marketing. Learn how to utilize the most effective ways to reach your customers through various social platforms.
Melissa Chang, Russ Sumida
View the Social Media Marketing Presentation
ED 102 General Excise Tax, Demystified. Very different from income tax, GET applies to all Hawaii businesses. Learn when, how, and what to report, file, and pay.
Gordon Zane, Casey Cook, Jason Lai Accounting Concepts Made Easy. Learn about the elements on a financial statement. Empower yourself with a working vocabulary of accounting terms and concepts.
Shawn Hasegawa Federal Income Tax Basics. Learn income tax fundamentals pertinent to small business owners.
Jerry Hiromoto
View the Federal Income Tax Presentation
ED 103 QuickBooks: Overview of the Basics and Beyond. After learning basic tips on how to use the program, learn more advanced tricks for small businesses.
Ted Ketcham Incubators & Accelerators. Business incubators and accelerators offer workspace, business mentoring, entrepreneurial training, and some financing. Learn about Hawaii’s programs available to your start-up biz.
Robbie Melton
View the Incubators & Accelerators Presentation Export/Import Businesses. Learn how to expand your business internationally and grow your profits. Find out how the Foreign Trade Zone program works and the benefits it offers.
David Sikkink
ED 104 Business Plans – Road Map to Success. Discover the elements of a solid business plan: mission statement, management, competition research, budget, marketing and more. This is a 2-hour class.
Rebecca Justine ‘Iolani Soon Design Think. Inspired hands-on session to learn how to problem-solve using a creative method that focuses on human needs and empathy.
Ian Kitajima
View the Design Thinking Presentation
ED 112 Hiring & Retaining Great Employees. Learn the basics on how to interview and hire employees the right way using best practices for candidate recruitment and appropriate job-related interview questions to avoid poor hiring decisions and legal liability.
Mike Vasper, Jr. Legal Expert: Top 10 Service Contract Issues. Learn the most important issues to consider in contract negotiations for services, including how to determine if the contract is fair/appropriate, and how to protect your business if the other party fails to perform.
Duane R. Fisher Legal Expert: Patent, Trademarks & Copyrights. A discussion on the biggest Intellectual Property mistakes businesses make and how to avoid them.
Martin Hsia
View the Intellectual Property PDF and common business mistakes
ED 113 Entrepreneur’s Guide. Thinking about opening a business? What does it take to be successful? This class helps you determine if you’ve got the right stuff.
Terri Funakoshi Starting A Food Business & Health Regulations. Tips on how to start a food business and how to successfully comply with important health regulations.
Poni Askew Financing Options for Small Business. Get a handle on the various types of loans available; how to qualify and put a loan package together.
Donovan Koki
ED 114 Business Counseling. By Confirmed Appointment with SCORE Only.
SCORE Business Counseling. By Confirmed Appointment with SCORE Only. Business Counseling. By Confirmed Appointment with SCORE Only.
Class Presenters
Eric Coyle, U.S. Census Bureau
Eric Coyle is a Data Dissemination Specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau for the western region of the US. He conducts data access workshops and presentations every month to a variety of organizations, local governments, businesses, media, and universities.
Jan Nakamoto, DBEDT
Jan Nakamoto is a Research Statistician with the Research and Economic Analysis Division of DBEDT. She is the Coordinator of the Hawaii State Data Center, a federal-state cooperative program with the U.S. Census Bureau, and has worked with the Bureau for 26 years.
Steve Sue, President of StoryManager, Inc., a creative consulting firm
Mr. Sue holds a BA in Design from UCLA and a law degree from UC Berkeley. He has built and designed homes, multi-family, commercial, foodservice and entertainment environment experiences from California to Las Vegas. He is also the creator of BizGym.com, a cloud-based entrepreneur growth software, and the founder of Lemonade Alley, a biz challenge event for kids.
Melissa Chang, AdStreamz, Inc.
Melissa Chang is Vice President of AdStreamz, Inc. and has more than 25 years of experience in marketing and public relations, including work with Starr Seigle Communications, as the marketing director for Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties, and as the marketing director of Aloha Tower Marketplace.
Russ Sumida, AdStreamz, Inc.
Russ Sumida is the President of Adstreamz, Inc., a social media firm with more than a dozen clients from Outrigger Waikiki and Pearlridge to the GoAkamai traffic app and Chart House Waikiki.
Gordon Zane, HI Dept. of Taxation
Gordon Zane received a BA from the University of Hawaii, and a JD-MBA from the University of Santa Clara. He spent a number of years as a financial analyst, contracts supervisor, and Financing Manager for a computer firm. Currently, he is a Special Enforcement Investigator at the HI State Tax Department.
Casey Cook, HI Dept. of Taxation
Casey Cook received an AS in Paralegal studies and a BA in Criminal Justice Administration. With a long career in law enforcement, he worked for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on criminal investigations. Currently, Casey is a Special Enforcement Investigator at the HI State Tax Department.
Jason Lai, HI Dept. of Taxation
Jason Lai received a BA in Political Science and Masters in Public Administration from the University of Hawaii. He worked as a legal assistant for a law firm and as a fingerprint/criminal background check specialist for a contracting company. Currently, Jason is a Special Enforcement Investigator at the HI State Tax Department.
Shawn A.K.O. Hasegawa, Fukuya Hasegawa Partners
Shawn Hasegawa is a partner with Fukuya Hasegawa Partners, LLC. She has been assisting clients for more than 21 years and was previously a Manager at Deloitte and Touche LLP. Shawn has experience providing business, personal, trust and fiduciary tax, consulting, and financial reporting services.
Jerry Hiromoto, U.S. IRS
Jerry Hiromoto is a career employee with the IRS. He has worked in several positions including Revenue Agent. Jerry, as a federal employee, is a non-practicing CPA.
Ted Ketcham, Island Life Hawaii
Ted Ketcham is a former Certified Financial Planner. Since 1996 he has done private accounting, tax and consulting work through his firm, Island Life. He has owned several businesses and has had as many as 30 employees at a time. He is a QuickBooks Pro Advisor and takes a very practical business owner’s approach to accounting and record keeping.
Robbie Melton, Exec. Dir. & CEO, Hawaii Technology Development Corp.
Prior to HTDC, Ms. Melton was Director for Entrepreneurial Innovation for the Maryland Technology Development Corp. and portfolio manager for 35 technology companies. Robbie is the co-founder and past president of Women In Bio, a non-profit organization dedicated to career development for women in life sciences. She received her MA in Science, Technology and Public Policy from the George Washington University.
David Sikkink, Administrator of the Hawaii Foreign Trade Zone No. 9, a division of DBEDT
Mr. Sikkink has been involved with the FTZ9 program since 2008 and has served as Administrator since 2011. Prior to that, he owned two companies in which he was instrumental in developing of one of the first commercially available multimedia software programs on the market. He is also a SAG-AFTRA actor who has appeared in several US and international television shows and movies.
Rebecca Justine ‘Iolani Soon, Chief Operating Officer of the government consulting and planning company, Solutions Pacific
Ms. Soon is passionate about local, home-grown, small business as a way to empower and enrich communities. She works on policy, programs, and financing to support community-based sustainability, with focus in the Native Hawaiian community. A graduate of the UH William S. Richardson School of Law, Rebecca sits on the board of KEY Project, RED Manīnī Loan Fund, and the Lighthouse Project.
Martin Hsia, Chair of the Intellectual Property Practice Group and the Technology and Electronic Commerce Practice Group at Cades Schutte LLLP
Mr. Hsia is a registered patent attorney, one of the few patent attorneys in Hawaii. Mr. Hsia practices patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, right of publicity, computer, licensing, Internet and entertainment law at Cades Schutte. His practice includes advising clients about all aspects of US, foreign and international intellectual property rights.
Mike Vasper, Jr., HR consultant at Hawaii Employers Council
Mr. Vasper is a Senior HR Consultant at the Hawaii Employers Council and has 20+ years of Human Resources experience in the healthcare, retail, insurance and staffing industry. Mike supports HEC members with HR best practices, compliance issues, and training programs on topics such as discrimination and harassment, ADA, performance management, and supervisory skills.
Duane R. Fisher, founding director of Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher, a law corporation
Mr. Fisher has negotiated, drafted, reviewed and analyzed literally thousands of contracts for business of all sizes. Over the course of his 25-year legal career, he has worked with business owners and executive teams advising them on how to create a fair and appropriate contract for each client circumstance.
Ian Kitajima, Director of Corporate Development and “Technology Sherpa” at Oceanit
Oceanit is a “Mind to Market” lab of 160 scientists, engineers, designers, and dreamers conducting advanced research for government and private clients – like Q’s lab from the James Bond movies. A proud graduate of the public school system (Castle HS, Windward CC, and UH Manoa), Mr. Kitajima also serves on several boards, including the Public Schools of HI Foundation and Design Thinking HI.
Terri Funakoshi, Director of Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership
Retail Executive, Entrepreneur, Professional Leader, Teacher, Guide and Mentor. Terri has several years of experience in the Travel Retail industry and gives back to the community by volunteering her time to a variety of causes and charities in Hawaii. She enjoys mentoring young entrepreneurs.
Poni Askew, Street Grindz
Poni Askew is the Founder and Co-owner of Street Grindz, a platform for Hawai’i’s Mobile Food Industry, offering a long lasting program that will include the production of events, marketing and social media support and the continued effort to remain viable as an industry.
Peter Oshiro, HI Dept. of Health
Peter Oshiro is the State Department of Health Sanitation Branch Chief. He instructs the public on food safety in Hawaii.
Erin Villanueva, HI Dept. of Health
Erin Villanueva is the State Department of Health Sanitation Standards Officer. She instructs the public on food safety in Hawaii.
Donovan Koki, Senior Vice President at Bank of Hawaii’s Credit Training Manager
Mr. Koki earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a finance emphasis and a certificate of accountancy from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and Leventhal School of Accounting, respectively. He also earned and Masters of Business Administration from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business. His banking career spans approximately 35 years.
SCORE Hawaii is a chapter of the national nonprofit association of SCORE, dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small businesses. It provides free professional counseling, education, and mentoring to our community and our members serve all islands. It also offers workshops for a modest fee.
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Shoal Games Licenses Rooplay and Provides Corporate Update
ANGUILLA, B.W.I., September 9, 2016 / Shoal Games Ltd. (TSXV:SGW) (OTCQB:SGLDF) http://www.shoalgames.com (“the Company”), owner of Trophy Bingo (http://www.trophybingo.com), a mobile game live in the Apple, Google and Amazon App Stores, and Garfield’s Bingo, currently in production and scheduled for a Q4 2016 release, today announced it is entering into a licensing arrangement with Rooplay Inc. to commercialize its innovative cloud-based gaming platform and consumer brand Rooplay. Initially developed in London, UK, the technology platform will be advanced by Shoal Games to prepare a unique product for launch in 2017. According to TechNavio cloud gaming will experience a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 29.33% during the period 2016-2020. Shoal Games will release more information on the development of its cloud gaming initiative in the coming months.
As part of the terms of the agreement, the co-founders of Rooplay, John Streit and Amir Shadmand, will assume advisory roles in Shoal Games to assist in the advancement of the technology and the launch of the product. John Streit has over 17 years of technology leadership, strategy, project management, technical architecture and digital production expertise. Until recently, John was the CTO OgilvyOne worldwide, London where he led local and dispersed teams of more than 100 members in the development and delivery of software applications to large commercial organisations. Amir Shadmand holds a PhD degree in mobile telecommunications from the King’s College London where he received a number of awards and grants in his research. Amir is an expert in mobile cloud gaming technologies and is the co-founder and CEO of SUPENTA, the makers of Flitchio which is the world’s first smartphone case with a built in game controller.
“With the addition of Rooplay, Shoal Games will have three upcoming product launches, in addition to Trophy Bingo, and the team is excited,” commented Jason Williams, the Company’s CEO. “The first launch, Garfield’s Bingo in English, Spanish, and Portuguese (Brazilian) will arrive in the App Stores in just a couple of months. Garfield’s Bingo will be a first for mobile bingo games as no other bingo game features such a world-renowned brand ambassador. We anticipate bingo players will be excited to engage with Garfield, Odie, and the rest of cast in a challenging bingo-puzzle adventure. Second to market will be Garfield’s Bingo China which provides an immense opportunity for Shoal Games to leverage the Garfield brand in a new region and distribute a proven product to the millions of Garfield fans in the country. Third to market will be Shoal Games’ entry into the cloud gaming space with Rooplay. Rooplay will provide an additional strategic option for the Company in a burgeoning and exciting market. Myself, and the entire Shoal Games team are thrilled to have three new products entering the market in the coming quarters each with the potential to amplify our revenues and put Shoal Games into a strong financial position.”
The Company’s primary focus remains the development and growth of its mobile free-2-play bingo platform. Trophy Bingo has been live in the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Amazon App Store for 12 months and has received more than 600,000 downloads generating over CAD $500,000 in gross revenue and more than 10,000 player reviews averaging a strong 4.4 on Google Play. Trophy Bingo has achieved these milestones because Shoal Games has built a robust game platform with industry leading monetization and retention features. Garfield’s Bingo, built on the same mobile platform as Trophy Bingo, is scheduled for release in early Q4 2016. The significance of the Garfield license lies in the global popularity and recognition of the Garfield brand. Brand licenses of Pokemon, Star Wars, Marvel Heroes, and more, have helped to propel new mobile game releases into the Top Downloads and Top Grossing charts many times to date. Garfield (like Pokémon) has launched many products around the world and Garfield’s Bingo will be ideally positioned to capitalize on the brand power of the famous cat. With over 200 million readers worldwide, Garfield is one of the most recognizable brands in existence. Garfield is close to ubiquitous in large countries such as America, Mexico, and Brazil. Shoal Games will be positioning Garfield’s Bingo to climb the charts in each of these countries, and more, from its initial launch in Q4.
One country that is particularly infatuated with Garfield and presents a unique opportunity for Shoal Games, is China. As China is one of the world’s most buoyant mobile games markets, the Company is developing a bespoke version of Garfield’s Bingo for launch in China in early 2017. Another Garfield game, Garfield Chef, launched in China in early 2016 and has received over 6,000,000 downloads to date. Shoal Games is seeking to engage a local distribution partner to launch Garfield’s Bingo in the region. The opportunity to distribute Garfield’s Bingo in China, and dozens of other large countries around the world, is immense and Shoal Games’ management intends to maximize the potential of the Garfield brand to speed distribution.
Additionally, Shoal Games has begun a re-structure of its development personnel in order to maximize the efficiency of the teams creating Trophy Bingo, Garfield’s Bingo, and Rooplay. Under the guidance of Shoal Games’ new VP of Development, Kirsten Forbes, the in-house teams will share programming, art, design, production and analytics resources to collaborate in a way that will ensure the Company’s product development milestones are met. Kirsten has been making games since 1997. As Executive Producer at Radical Entertainment she made AAA console titles, shipping 11 high-profile games including CSI and Crash Bandicoot. Following Radical, Kirsten co-founded Silicon Sisters Interactive, Vancouver’s first female led game development studio, where she shipped three premium titles. Prior to Shoal Games, Kirsten was VP Product Development at Roadhouse Interactive.
Shoal Games Ltd. also announced today that it has entered into a Line of Credit and Loan Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Pendinas Ltd. (“Pendinas”) and Mr. Tarrnie Williams, the Company’s Executive Chairman for the provision of up to $5.0 million USD. The Company may draw upon the facility in increments as needed for the support and development of Trophy Bingo, Garfield’s Bingo, new business initiatives, and for general corporate purposes. Interest on outstanding advances will be charged at the Bank of Canada’s prevailing rate plus two percent. No bonus shares or other securities are issuable under the Agreement. Pendinas and Mr. Williams are principal shareholders of the Company.
About Shoal Games Ltd
Shoal Games Ltd. (TSXV:SGW) (OTCQB:SGLDF) http://www.shoalgames.com is the parent company of the group of companies, which owns Trophy Bingo (http://www.trophybingo.com), live in the Apple, Google and Amazon App Stores, and Garfield Bingo, in production and scheduled for a Q4 2016 release. Both games are built on the Company’s innovative proprietary free-to-play mobile game system that brings unique gameplay and industry leading monetization techniques to the bingo category which is both high growth and high value. Garfield Bingo, once released, and Trophy Bingo are free to download and earn revenue through in-app purchases and in-game advertising. Shoal Games Ltd. trades on the TSX Venture exchange in Canada and the OTCQB venture marketplace for companies that are current in their reporting with the U.S. regulator. Investors can find real time quotes and market information for the Company at http://web.tmxmoney.com/quote.php?qm_symbol=SGW and http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/SGLDF/quote.
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Certain information included in this press release (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by the company) contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to anticipated future success of the company. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the company. For a description of additional risks and uncertainties, please refer to the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Specifically, readers should read the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2016, and the prospectus filed under Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act on March 9, 2005 and the SB2 filed July 17, 2007, and the TSX Venture Exchange Listing Application for Common Shares filed on June 29, 2015 on SEDAR, for a more thorough discussion of the Company’s financial position and results of operations, together with a detailed discussion of the risk factors involved in an investment in Shoal Games Ltd.
ir@shoalgames.com
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Why I canceled my wedding as coronavirus spread
10 months ago SAM BURTONS
One of our engagement pics (Christina Farr and Jarred Colli)
Christina Farr
After a year of planning, I made the decision last week to cancel my wedding.
When the news started surfacing about a flu-like illness, my fiancé and I remained cautiously optimistic that the virus wouldn’t spread across the globe and to San Francisco, where we live. Even through February and early March, as the first reports surfaced about the rise of cases in the U.S., we naively hoped that we could go ahead with our nuptials but with reduced attendance.
But once the CDC issued guidelines advising against gatherings of more than 50 people, we immediately looked at each other and we just knew. It was time to call the whole thing off.
Zoom wedding?
Dismantling a wedding is no joke. If you’ve done it before for any reason, I empathize. In our case, we had some help. We had hired a wedding planner, and immediately arranged to get on the phone with her to come up with a game plan. Once we had a minute to breathe and shoot out an email to our guests, the three of us started emailing vendors to let them know that our plans had changed.
The first question we asked ourselves was whether the cancellation would be temporary. Would we pick another date? And if so, when?
When we started reaching out to our vendors, they seemed eager to work with us in the future so they wouldn’t lose our business. We’re hoping to postpone, rather than cancel altogether. It’s a huge hit to the business of our baker and florist, too, as all these spring weddings are now off. New Orleans, where we’re getting married, is a big hotspot for hospitality and tourism.
It hasn’t been smooth sailing, though. One of our vendors offered us some openings in July and August, but that seemed far too soon to put something together and highly optimistic given the current models around how long Americans will be battling the virus. They told us we’d incur an additional charge if we selected a date in 2021.
So that’s up in the air, but we’re also thinking through whether to get married in the next few months or to wait until we can schedule a wedding next year. But getting married soon would require an available friend who’s a justice of the peace and can step up while maintaining the requisite level of social distance.
Another idea that’s on the table is a Zoom wedding, followed by a post-nuptial party next year. Our friends could tune in while we exchanged some vows, and hopefully remember to hit the mute button during the important parts. But I’ve had a few calls on Zoom this week, and it has been spotty at times likely given the flood of new users. Lots of people dropping off mid-vows because of an IT failure doesn’t seem all that romantic.
So it turns out that there’s a lot of logistical difficulty in getting married during a pandemic.
Living with uncertainty
The honeymoon is also a question mark. Ours is planned in Portugal in early July. Currently there are more than 1,000 cases in the country. I know this because I’ve been obsessively checking each morning. It’s a weird new thing that I now do.
If we were to cancel that in a few months, which is looking increasingly likely, it’ll take a few days to contact all the hotels and the airlines. I’m anticipating that we could be out hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, at the end of this. There’s not much we can do about that, so we’re making our peace. Everyone is hurting. Most airlines aren’t providing refunds for economy tickets, so at best we’ll get a flight credit.
We’ve talked about taking some of the time off that’s already on the calendar, but we haven’t come up with many good ideas yet about where we’d go. A few friends have suggested a camping trip in a super remote place, which seems to meet the criteria as for flattening the curve. It could be great for the right couple, but I’m not particularly rugged or outdoorsy. If I’m being honest, I’m more of a glamper.
Some friends have reminded us that the wedding is just an event and it’s the marriage that counts. I wholeheartedly agree with that, but we were genuinely excited about the opportunity to bring our friends and family together in May. So it is a letdown. But it’s also important to have some perspective. Our community is healthy and safe, and we’re incredibly grateful for that above all else.
We’ve realized through this experience is that our community is here for us. Our nearest and dearest have reached out to tell us that they’ll be there for us, whenever we decide to get married. And that’s meant a lot.
Did you cancel a wedding? Let us know about your experience at @CNBCTech.
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CLIENT VICTORIES
NEWS FROM JCC, PC
Follow the Yellow Brick Road! Gay Marriage, Death Penalty Abolition, and Legislation Oh My!
This week, the world witnessed two advances in the fields of human and civil rights from the most surprising of sources.
As you may have read, the Irish recently voted in a referendum to allow for same sex marriage, after a most humanizing and charming pr campaign. It was an entirely welcome and expected outcome, given the generosity of the Irish towards civil rights, especially in the wake of the sex crimes of the Catholic Church. What was noted by media throughout the world, however, was that this was the first time any civil rights of the sort were advanced by an electoral endeavor. Ever. In any country.
In Pennsylvania, for example, gay marriage was legalized by virtue of a court decision – a method of crafting law that is the bane of existence for many hateful, conservative legal theorists, and very different from laws created by electoral fiat. But this is why we have courts, to serve as a check against the excesses – often hateful, and unconstitutional – of our most unsavory politicians, such as former Senator Rick Santorum, who try to advance discriminatory legislation for their own twisted views of religion and morality. And this is why, by contrast, we have civil rights lawyers, to file these lawsuits for the enforcement of the Constitution’s equal protection guarantees.
Similarly, in Nebraska, that state’s legislature voted to outlaw the death penalty. It was an incredible development, in a part of the United States not well known for its considered jurisprudence on this issue, let alone for its progressive politics. And yet, a weird amalgamation of Nebraskan legislators, inspired by Christian social justice themes and in coalition with traditional lefty abolitionist prerogatives, somehow got the abolitionist measure approved.
One waits with some hope as to whether similar efforts may be successful in Pennsylvania, given Governor Wolf’s recent moratorium on the matter. We now have Lincoln, Nebraska, of all places, to admire as a model for civil rights legislation in Harrisburg. A strange benchmark, to be sure, but a welcome one. The arc of the moral universe can be quirky indeed, but it bends towards justice, after all.
2019-08-20T01:26:50+00:00May 29th, 2015|
About the Author: Conor Corcoran
We Have Made Our Union a Little More Perfect
First Amendment Rights for Your Weekend
Preventable Amtrak Catastrophe at 100MPH in Philadelphia
©2020 J. Conor Corcoran
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My Discussions With A European Sex Doll Brothel: Perspectives And Insights
When you write a lot about sex robots and sex dolls, like I do, you tend to attract attention. It’s not always the fun kind of attention, but it’s still attention and I welcome it. I’ve been discussing this topic, and writing sexy short stories about it, long enough to make clear that my interest is serious. It really pays off when you connect with others who are equally serious.
That happened recently when some people from an actual sex doll brothel in Europe saw some of my articles. One of their representatives actually reached out to me and we organized a Skype call. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but I was genuinely curious. It’s one thing to write about sex dolls and sex robots. It’s quite another to get actual insight from someone working in that field.
I’m grateful for the opportunity because the discussion we had was incredibly revealing. For the record, and in the interest of full disclosure, the sex doll company in question is called Naughty Harbor. Before you look them up, please note that their website has plenty of NSFW content. They work with sex dolls. That should be a given.
They currently operate out of the Czech Republic. They have facilities for both the manufacturing of sex dolls and for operating a small sex doll brothel. They haven’t been in business for very long, but they have been on the front line of this emerging industry.
The individual I spoke to, whose name I won’t disclose out of respect for his privacy, works closely with the founder and the owner of Naughty Harbor. He shared a great deal of information on the basics of the industry, the people who use it, the challenges of operating in 2020, and the emerging trends. Among the many issues that came up, here are some key highlights.
Issue #1: The Taboos And Stigma Of Sex Dolls Still Very Strong
This was probably the largest and most pressing challenge for Naughty Harbor and companies like it. Like most things related to sex, there are a host of taboos about sex dolls. From the people to use them to the people who buy them to the people who develop genuine connections with them, the stigma surrounding them is still incredibly strong.
At the same time, the demand for companionship and sexual experience is also strong. That’s never going away, no matter how much taboo or stigma is heaped upon it. Just ask the Catholic Church. That’s what drives the sex doll industry. With sex doll brothels now starting to emerge, the taboo is starting to wane to some degree.
The individual from Naughty Harbor explained how big a deal privacy was for customers. Some wanted absolutely no face-time with anyone. They wanted what amounted to a no-contact experience. They just call ahead of time, have someone set up a room with a sex doll, and have all the transactions occur behind a computer screen with complete anonymity.
It’s not unlike the type of no-contact deliveries that have become so common during the ongoing pandemic. It’s not like walking into a legal brothel, standing in front of a bunch of sex workers, and doing business out in the open. Even in places with liberal sex work laws, like Europe, the desire for privacy is still critical.
That’s likely to remain the same as more sex doll brothels open up. However, this is also where our discussion brought up other key insights.
Issue #2: The Pandemic’s Effect On The Industry
Like any industry, the ongoing that same pandemic I mentioned earlier is affecting the sex doll industry. The representative said outright that there has been a noticeable uptick in interest and sales. That makes sense too. People who have been stuck at home for weeks on end are bound to get lonely. Even if you live in a place with legal sex work, a pandemic is kind of a mood killer.
These sex dolls are suddenly seen as both a viable option and one that’s safer. You can clean a sex doll. In fact, Naughty Harbor reported that they’ve developed a very diligent process for sanitizing their sex dolls. It’s at a point where these sex dolls, including the ones being used at the brothel, are cleaner than your hands are this very instant.
For those who’ve become very conscious of germs and disease, as most of us have been under the pandemic, this is key. It’s an element of control and assurance you can’t get with a flesh and blood sex worker. It’s not even something you can get with a typical partner. There’s value in that and it outweighs any stigma or taboo.
While I wasn’t privy to exact numbers, Naughty Harbor did indicate that business has been strong for sex doll brothels during the pandemic. They’re expected to remain strong, even after the pandemic passes. If anything, it has shown people that this industry can provide a legitimate sexual outlet and that can be very beneficial for people.
Issue #3: Research And Benefits
Another interesting issue that came up was the ongoing research surrounding the use of sex dolls. Naughty Harbor is playing an active role in that effort. According to the representative, both manufacturers and sex doll brothel owners are coordinating with researchers who are interested in this field.
Make no mistake. The interest is growing and not just because of the pandemic.
Even before people were isolating in the name of public health, research into the effects of loneliness were painting some pretty bleak conclusions. Considering that humans are a social species, which I’ve belabored before, this makes a lot of sense. Can sex dolls help with this?
Naughty Harbor believes that it can. Researchers are interested in just how much or how little help that a sex doll can provide. Even though they’re not alive, the mere facsimilia of human companionship is certain to have a tangible impact on someone’s psyche. The nature and extent of that impact remains unknown, but will be a key point of interest.
Between social isolation due to pandemics and the emerging concerns regarding the incel phenomenon, sex dolls could provide key points of interest. We’ll need that perspective, especially as sex dolls become more lifelike and eventually become sex robots.
Issue #4: They’re Getting More Lifelike
In addition to the social impact, we also talked quite a bit about the technology. The sex dolls of Naughty Harbor are quite lifelike, but you’d never mistake them for an actual person from afar. They’re still getting incredibly close, though. They’re just on the edge of that uncanny valley in which most sex dolls and sex robots operate at the moment.
The fact they still look artificial may be part of what fuels the taboo, but the technology is changing rapidly. The individual I spoke to says it’s getting both better and faster. Companies like Naughty Harbor are already using technology like 3D printing to both build and repair sex dolls. They’re also using better silicone blends that better mimic the feel of real human flesh.
They’re getting to a point where they can look like real people. They’re also at a point where they can be made to look exceedingly unreal for those with specific fantasies. That was something Naughty Harbor said is a growing trend. Those who seek the use of sex dolls don’t just want sex. They want an experience and they’re willing to pay for it.
Accommodating those fantasies is currently a niche market, but one that’s getting easier as the manufacturing processes are improving. It’s getting to a point where the only issue is scale, which is more a logistics challenge than a technical challenge.
Issue #5: They’re Getting Cheaper
Five years ago, if you wanted to buy a well-made sex doll, chance are you’d have to spend upwards of $5,000 to $7,000. There are used cars that cost less than that. That kind of cost is also a major barrier for those seeking an experience with a sex doll. It’s also helped keep the industry shrouded in taboo.
Today, that cost is not nearly as big a barrier as it once was. While many high-end sex dolls still cost thousands, many quality models now can be bought for less than $3,000. It’s less the cost of a used car and more the cost of a large appliance, like a refrigerator or washing machine. The models offered by Naughty Harbor range between $3,000 and $1,800.
That’s still not cheap, but it’s trending in a cheaper direction. In our conversation, we both agreed that once the price drops below $1,000, then the market will start to expand. I think there’s a psychological component to seeing something that costs less than four figures that makes it seem less daunting as a purchase. If you’re lonely, that may be a price you’re more willing to pay.
Like I said, the main issue now is scale. It’s hard to make a quality sex doll and charge a low price for it. Manufacturing is still quite labor intensive, especially for those who want to customize their dolls. That process will need refinement, but once that happens, it could become as easy and routine as ordering a pizza.
Issue #6: They’re Being Customized In Unexpected Ways
Another issue that came up, which I actually brought up, was the kind of customization that people are asking for. Naughty Harbor does offer customization options for their sex dolls, as most other companies doo. However, the customization requests haven’t been too extreme.
One common request is for dolls that look like ex-lovers. That is apparently more popular than those who want sex dolls resembling their favorite anime characters, which is a niche field in and of itself. That surprised me, but it probably shouldn’t. I can understand someone missing the physical intimacy once provided by an ex-lover, even if the relationship didn’t work.
It helps affirm that there’s a real emotional component to those who use sex dolls. Again, it’s not just about the sex or the sweet release that comes with it. There’s a deeper connection at play and it’s different than the release someone gets with a typical sex toy.
This led us to discuss whether anyone has requested a sex doll resembling a celebrity. At the moment, Naughty Harbor says that has not been a very common request, but they expect that to change. It’s only a matter of time before someone requests a sex doll that looks exactly like a popular Marvel, Disney, or DC Comics character.
Since the size of the industry and the market isn’t that large just yet, we couldn’t do more than speculate what kind of impact that might have. Some companies do stipulate that they cannot make dolls resembling real people for legal reasons. However, that hasn’t stopped some porn stars from licensing their likeness for an extra revenue stream.
If there’s money to be made, the industry will find a way. However, that will send it into some legally contested territory. While American sex doll manufacturers cannot make dolls out of real people, other countries don’t have those same restrictions. According to Naughty Harbor, the Czech Republic has no such laws on the books. I doubt that’ll remain true for long.
That brought us to the last issue that is sure to become prominent at some point.
Issue #7: The Legal Issues Are Just Beginning
At the moment, the laws in both Europe and the Americas designate sex dolls as sex toys. They’re basically classified as a far more elaborate version of a vibrator. For now, given their current place in the uncanny valley, that makes sense. The question is what happens when sex dolls become both more lifelike and more accessible to the general public.
The number of sex doll brothels popping up all over the world is growing. The industry as a whole is evolving. With that come some significant legal challenges, some of which have prevented some sex doll brothels from opening. Those challenges are likely to gain greater complications in the coming years.
Can you classify a sex doll brothel the same way you would a traditional brothel?
Can you make the act of essentially renting a sex toy illegal?
How do you even classify and regulate a service like producing sex dolls?
Those questions cannot go unanswered because there have already been some issues. One of the biggest involves the sale of sex dolls that resemble children. That’s an issue that Naughty Harbor acknowledged is a growing concern. At the moment, those kinds of sex dolls are illegal to make in many parts of the world, but there is an emerging black market for them, mostly out of Asia.
Like with any black market, there will be nefarious customers seeking nefarious providers for an illicit service. Naughty Harbor did say they work with the authorities on addressing this issue. At the same time, they too are trying to figure out the best way to deal with it. Like with many issues involving the sex industry, there’s always a chance that one particular effort could do more harm than good.
It’s a serious issue, but one that is making clear that sex dolls are here to stay. There is a demand for them and that’s not going away anytime soon. The law is very behind the curve right now. Naughty Harbor and I both agreed on that. At the same time, it may also be what’s driving the industry.
As concerns about sex work and human trafficking remain highly contentious, sex dolls might emerge as both a recourse and a complication. If the demand for human prostitution goes down while the demand for sex doll brothels goes up, then is that something the public and the politicians they vote for will accept?
Only time will tell. Naughty Harbor is just one of many companies in this emerging field. They’ll certainly have a part to play, especially as the industry matures and more research is conducted. Once it gets to a certain point, lawyers will get involved. That’s sure to complicate the industry, but after talking to Naughty Harbor, I’m fairly certain it cannot be stopped.
Once again, I’d like to thank Naughty Harbor for taking the time to speak with me about this issue. I hope to have more like them in the future. The sex doll industry is growing and evolving alongside other emerging technologies. It’s going to happen faster than most of us expect. Are we ready for it? That remains to be seen. I have my doubts, but I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on this issue. A pandemic may have tempered our collective libidos, but our desires will eventually return. Like it or not, sex dolls may be a larger part of the sexual landscape from here on out.
Filed under gender issues, health, Marriage and Relationships, political correctness, politics, prostitution, sex in media, sex in society, sex robots, sexuality, technology
Tagged as custom sex dolls, Czech Republic, future of love, future of sexuality, future of society, futurism, human sexuality, legal prostitution, lifelike sex dolls, lifelike sex robots, Naughty Harbor, Naughty Harbor sex dolls, prostitution, prostitution in Europe, sex, sex doll brothel, sex dolls, sex industry, sex robots, sex toys, sexuality
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Spartan Hockey Preview: Penn State
Photo: Brian Bobal/Impact
Jason Ruff
After falling to the Penn State last night, Michigan State looks to salvage a split on the road against the No. 4 Nittany Lions this evening.
Place: Pegula Ice Arena, University Park, Pa.
Date and Time: Saturday, Jan. 14 at 7:00 pm
TV & Radio: Big Ten Network, Spartan Sports Network
This is a matchup of two different teams in two very different places. Everything has come together for the Nittany Lions in their fifth year as a Division I collegiate hockey program. They rank first in the PairWise, second in both team offense and defense, and boast the best penalty kill unit in the country. Statistically speaking, they are the team to beat in the Big Ten.
Michigan State, on the other hand, is in the midst of an eight-game losing streak and remain winless in five conference games. Perhaps the biggest area of weakness for MSU is the special teams. The Spartan power play has been wildly inconsistent, though Mason Appleton is tied for ninth in the country power-play goals six, and the penalty kill has dropped to dead-last in the country at 68 percent. Defense was also an issue last weekend against Wisconsin, as the Badgers put up 10 goals on the Spartans. Clearly, MSU needs some sort of spark in order to start a second half rally. There may not be a better opportunity than a win on the road against one of the country’s best teams.
Friday night’s game was close after two periods. The Spartans benefited from getting the first goal of the contest and managed to stay within striking distance for most of the game. Issues arose in the third period as the Nittany Lion offense got going and surged ahead with two unanswered goals. It also didn’t help that the Spartans were outshot 46-26.
Keep an eye on freshman Denis Smirnov and sophomore Andrew Sturtz for Penn State. These two underclassmen have been dynamic for a Nittany Lion offense that has been potent all season long. Sturtz leads Penn State in goals with 14, though Smirnov leads his team in total points with 28.
For Michigan State, Mason Appleton has been one of the most consistent players on the ice this season. Appleton’s 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) lead the team. If the Spartans have any hope of earning their first conference victory this weekend, No. 27 will have to have a strong performance.
Penn State has only lost one home game this year, against St. Lawrence in the first weekend of the season. The Nittany Lions have since become one of the main stories of the season. Their offense, defense and special teams are just on another level right now. Unless that changes, it’ll be tough for MSU to win in Pegula.
Penn State will complete the sweep of Michigan State this weekend, and the Spartan losing streak will extend to nine games.
Jason Ruff, Author
City Pulse on the Air | 1.10.21
City Pulse on the Air | 12.13.20
The State – 12/11/20
City Pulse on the Air | 12.6.20
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The Stories Behind The Top 20 Most Famous Car Logos
20/08/2008 - 16:55 | Logos, car logos, brand logos explanation, Specials
The four rings which make up the Audi logo represent the four companies that were part of the Auto-Union Consortium in 1932. They were DKW, Horch, Wanderer and Audi. After the war, the Audi name (which in Latin means “to hear”) disappeared, but in 1965 it reappeared, using the four rings as its logo. The name Audi is also the Latin version of Horch, which in German means also “to hear”.
The BMW medallion represents a propeller of a plane in motion, and the blue represents the sky. This is because BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke - Factories engine of Bavaria) has built engines for the German military planes in World War II.
The symbol chosen by Andre Citroen for his cars comes from the auto industry, the first activity of the french manufacturer. Citroen started by producing tractors transmissions, the two up side down V representing the “teeth” of those wheels.
The prancing stallion held today by the Ferrari cars has been at the top of a famous logo of an Italian airplanes pilot from World War I, Francesco Baracca, died in a mission. His mother, Countess Paolina, convinced Enzo Ferrari to take on its racing cars the symbol of her son.
Harold Wills, a friend of Henry Ford, won lots of money by printing business cards, and when Henry was looking for a logo to mark his car in 1903, Wills was on the job. The type of letter from Ford logo is the same used by Wills on his business cards. The oval appeared in 1912, and the blue background in 1927, along with the launch of Model A.
The Lamborghini logo is easy to decipher: it is a reckless bull. Ferruccio Lamborghini loved bullfights. This is shown not only on the logo, but also in the name of Lamborghini models in time. Nearly all cars have held the names of famous bulls or the noble race of the bulls.
The letters at the top of the logo are the initials of the founder of Lotus, Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman. It is not known why Chapman chose the Lotus name for the company. The Green is the famous British Racing Green, worn by British racing cars, and the yellow background symbolizes the sunny days Chapman wanted for his company.
As in the case of Alfa Romeo, the Maserati logo represents the town of the mark. The trident is the traditional symbol of the city of Bologna, where Maserati cars were built before.
The Mazda logo was designed by Rei Yoshimara, the creator of a famous picture for corporations, the V representing a large pair of wings. For Mazda, the logo symbolizes “creativity, sense of mission, delicacy and flexibility characteristic of the mark”.
The star in three corners represents the Mercedes-Benz dominance on land, sea and air. The star appeared for the first time in 1909 on a Daimler. In 1926 the crown of laurel was added to mark the union with Benz.. The current logo star in a circle, was used for the first time in 1937.
The three diamonds (or three rhombus) of the Mitsubishi logo represent the propeller of a ship, recalling the first activity of the Nippon manufacturer.
The lion from the logo of Peugeot comes from the Belfort city emblem, the place where was built the first Peugeot model. The author of the Belfort city logo, Bartholdi, is the same with the sculptor who designed the Statue of Liberty in New York.
The Porsche logo is almost identical to that of Stuttgart city, built on a stallion farm - that explains the horse on the logo. The horns of deer and the red-black stripes came from the flag of Wurtemberg Kingdom (currently the Land Baden-Wurtemberg).
The Renault rhombus was in the beginning only a logo located on hood. Behind the rhombus was the horn, and since 1922 the center logo was cut to allow the sound to exit. It started with a circular shape and in 1924 became rhombus.
The feathered arrow mark on the Czech cars logo doesn’t have a specific meaning, besides the fact that suggests speed.
Subaru was the first Japanese brand that has used a name derived from the Japanese language. It refers to a group of six stars of Taurus constellation, and known in Japanese as “mutsuraboshi.” They are the Pleiades.
The Toyota logo contains three ellipses which represent the heart of the customer, the heart of the product and the heart of technological progress and limitless opportunities of the future. In Japanese, “Toyo” signifies abundance, and “ta” means rice. In some Asian cultures, the rice represents wealth.
The Volkswagen’s logo story is simple. It contains the letters V and W: “volks” means “people” and “wagen” means “car”.
Volvo means “I go” in Latin, and the circle with the arrow is a conventional sign for iron - the best known richness of Sweden. The circle represents a shield and the arrow is the arrow of Mars, another symbol for iron.
Source- Autolemming
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January 14, 2018 by Kington History Society
The Lugg Navigation. by Alan Stoyel
This is a brief summary of a talk I gave, beset by technical difficulties with the projector, to the Society on Friday November 17th. A.S.
There had long been a dream of bringing commercial traffic up the rivers Wye and Lugg as far as Hereford and Leominster respectively. In 1695 an Act was passed which made both these projects possible at last. This was followed, two years later, by a survey by Daniel Denell, who specified nineteen problem locations on the River Lugg. These sites were taken in hand, and, within a few years, the whole length of the river was navigable from just below Leominster down to the River Wye at Mordiford. To achieve this a number of mills and weirs were demolished, and the bridges modified in order to provide arches, sufficiently high and wide to take the river traffic. In many cases the central arch of a bridge was broken out, and a temporary drawbridge installed, until a permanent, higher arch was built, usually many years later.
Two of the mills survived, at Hampton Court and Tidnor (below Lugwardine), together with their weirs. Therefore two locks had to be provided to enable boats to pass up- or down-stream. Other locks were constructed just upstream of where the Lugg joined both the Arrow and the Wye, in order to deal with changing differences in the water levels. However, after all this work had been carried out, there appears to have been very little traffic. One new mill was even constructed after the navigation work had been completed – Lugg Bridge Mill, just downstream of the main Hereford to Worcester road. Alongside this a fifth lock had to be built.
At Tidnor, the mill was converted to an iron foundry, and this must have relied on river transport for conveying heavy loads in and out. Lugg Bridge Mill expanded in the early 19th century to become the largest in the county, and is thought to have shipped much grain in and flour out by boat.
Goods on the Lugg Navigation would have been conveyed primarily by trows. These were specialised sailing craft, broad in the beam and with almost flat bottoms. Propelled by sail or hauled by men, the trow had a mast which could be lowered for passing under bridges. The trow was purpose-made for the job. “The Hereford Bull”, built for the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012, is a modern example.
Use of the Navigation upstream of Lugg Bridge Mill appears to have ceased by the 1830s. The last phase of the Gloucester to Hereford Canal was completed in 1845 and an aqueduct to carry it across the Lugg was built with low arches, thus finally sealing the fate of navigation upstream. Some river transport downstream of Lugg Bridge Mills continued for a while, but the river gradually reverted to its former state. To a casual observer there is little to be seen now of the River Lugg’s former adaptation and use as a commercial waterway.
There is still much field evidence remaining, however. The old road bridges, viewed from the riverside, show arches which had to be raised, and maybe widened. The locks, too, have all left their traces. These are testament to an extraordinary amount of hard work and ingenuity which never really resulted in a satisfactory link between Leominster and the navigable River Severn.
Bulletin 418 →
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KippsDeSanto & Co. Advises GenNx360 Capital Partners on its acquisition of Precision Aviation Group, Inc.
July 15, 2018 /in Aerospace/Defense /by kippsdesanto
KippsDeSanto & Co. is pleased to announce the acquisition by its client, GenNx360 Capital Partners (“GenNx360” or the “Company”) of Precision Aviation Group, Inc. (“PAG”), a portfolio company of PNC Riverarch Capital. GenNx360 is a New York City-based private equity firm established in 2006 focused on acquiring middle market business services and industrial companies with proven and sustainable business models.
Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, with nine additional locations across the globe, PAG is a leading provider of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (“MRO”) and global supply chain network solutions for fixed and rotary-wing operations across a range of diverse end markets. As the exclusive provider of its trademarked Inventory Supported Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (“ISMRO®”) capability focused on multi-site logistics and full lifecycle support, PAG delivers comprehensive support to varied general aviation, commercial, and military platforms. In addition, the Company maintains its status as one of only a few companies, outside of Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEM”), to collectively hold unlimited ratings granted by the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”).
The acquisition is expected to integrate GenNx360’s industry experience, OEM relationships, and operational expertise alongside PAG’s technical proficiency and talented management team to create new growth opportunities. The partnership allows PAG to leverage GenNx360’s resources to enhance its current suite of products and services, providing PAG with multiple avenues to pursue growth within the aviation MRO services market. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
We believe this transaction demonstrates several key trends in the aerospace and defense M&A environment:
Highly-fragmented aviation aftermarket, including distribution of parts and MRO services, provides opportunistic buyers diverse and numerous opportunities to consolidate the industry through tuck-in acquisitions
Significant value can be unlocked from acquisition targets with proprietary / differentiated technologies, such as Parts Manufacturer Approval (“PMA”) components and Designated Engineering Representative (“DER”) repairs
Attractive aviation market fundamentals, driven in part by increasing traffic demand, utilization, and commercial fleet size, are expected to continue into the foreseeable future
Sophisticated private equity buyers with intimate knowledge of target industries and explicit growth strategies can successfully compete against strategic buyers for coveted assets
GenNx360 Capital Partners (“GenNx360”), a New York-based private equity firm which invests in middle market business services and industrial companies is pleased to announce its acquisition of Precision Aviation Group, Inc. (“PAG” or the “Company”), effective July 26, 2018. PAG, established in 1993, is a leading provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and supply chain solutions for fixed and rotary-wing aircrafts serving diverse end markets. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the Company operates out of nine locations in the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil and Singapore.
“PAG is a leading provider of MRO services with a talented management team and a lot of growth potential.” said Daphne Dufresne, the GenNx360 Managing Partner who led the transaction. “PAG operates in a space that we know well and can add value through our industry relationships and operating initiatives. We look forward to working alongside management to capitalize on future growth opportunities.”
David Mast, President & CEO of PAG, commented, “We are excited about partnering with GenNx360. Their industry experience, OEM relationships, and operational expertise will allow us to quickly enhance our current suite of products and services. Additionally, we are now poised to pursue the multiple avenues of growth available to us and expand on our mission of providing industry leading Aviation MRO services.”
About GenNx360 Capital Partners
GenNx360 Capital Partners is a private equity firm focused on acquiring middle market business services and industrial companies. We invest in companies with proven and sustainable business models in expanding industries with the objective of implementing the required operating changes to deliver cost efficiencies, accelerate growth, and generate strong financial returns. Target industries include industrial and environmental services, packaging, food and agricultural products and services, logistics and supply chain solutions, industrial machinery and components, infrastructure equipment and services, specialty chemicals, and aerospace and defense. GenNx360 was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in New York City. For more information on GenNx360 Capital Partners, please visit www.gennx360.com.
About Precision Aviation Group, Inc.
Precision Aviation Group (PAG) is a leading provider of products and value-added services to the worldwide aerospace and defense industry. With nine locations and more than 260,000-square-feet of sales and service facilities in the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, and Singapore, PAG uses its distinct business units and customer-focused business model to serve aviation customers through two business functions – Aviation Supply Chain, and its trademarked Inventory Supported Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (ISMRO®) services. For more information on Precision Aviation Group, please visit www.precisionaviationgroup.com
For media inquiries about this press release, please contact:
GenNx360 Capital Partners
Carmen Rojas, Investor Relations Manager
Email: investorrelations@gennx360.com
https://kippsdesanto.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/GenX-tombstone.png 735 460 kippsdesanto /wp-content/uploads/2018/10/KDCo-Blue-Logo-300x52.png kippsdesanto2018-07-15 12:00:372019-01-03 15:13:55KippsDeSanto & Co. Advises GenNx360 Capital Partners on its acquisition of Precision Aviation Group, Inc.
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The experts in contemporary and pop culture
Catalogue Store
JULIEN'S AUCTIONS IS PROUD TO PRESENT OUR "ICONS & IDOLS: HOLLYWOOD" AUCTION TAKING PLACE IN BEVERLY HILLS AND LIVE ONLINE AT JULIEN'S LIVE ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 16TH.
Icons & Idols: Hollywood offers over 400 items taken out of the vault and production archives of Hollywood’s greatest films from the Golden Age of Hollywood to today’s modern and new box office classics as well as important artifacts, rarely seen or coming to the auction block for the first time.
The top coming attractions on the auction marquee are two original iconic props with tremendous provenance that were featured in two of Hollywood’s biggest film franchises of all time: The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the original Superman starring Christopher Reeve.
An original tobacco pipe used by Sir Ian Holm Cuthbert CBE (Ian Holm) in his iconic role as the hobbit Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, with documents from both Peter Jackson and the Academy Award-winning Animation Supervisor, Randall William Cook. Jackson personally gifted this production artifact to animation supervisor Randall William Cook in celebration of Cook’s 50th birthday during the making of the film. Included with the prop is the original birthday card from Jackson to Cook when the gift was presented to Cook on his birthday as well as a letter of authenticity from Cook.
An original cape worn by Christopher Reeve in his iconic role in Superman makes only its second auction appearance after 40 years. This costume piece was part of a world-wide contest to promote the movie’s release in 1978 with the grand prize being one of the six original capes made for and used in the film. The winner was personally selected by Christopher Reeve himself, and the cape includes a 1979 letter from DC Comics' President and their Editor and Publisher and a copy of a photo of Reeve choosing the winner and more. This is one of the few costume artifacts that can be positively attributed to the first film of the series and worn on screen by Reeve.
Steve McQueen's acquisition and use of the 1968 Husqvarna Viking 360 motorcycle in this auction – another top highlight of this sale – was a pivotal moment in the history of motocross and its increased popularity in the coming decade.
Julien’s Auctions is pleased to present one of the most impressive collections of costumes, props, memorabilia and models from the Star Trek TV and film franchise to ever to come to auction, including some of the finest offerings from the official CBS and Paramount Studios auction in 2006, with a total of nearly 50 lots. Included is a Starfleet officer's jacket worn by William Shatner in his legendary role as Captain Kirk in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan along with a letter of authenticity from the film's director, Nicholas Meyer, marking only the second time it has come up for auction since the release of the film in 1982. Also featured are two rare visual effects starship models from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as well as an array of principal cast costumes from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Other top highlights of the auction include a custom made “Captain America” chopper used in the publicity for the film Easy Rider, an original Ghostbusters II jumpsuit worn by Dan Aykroyd as Dr. Raymond Stantz, an original painting by Norman Mingo used for the cover of MAD magazine #79 in June 1963, an early prototype of The Maltese Falcon statuette, a cream pinstripe suit worn by Michael Keaton in Johnny Dangerously, a box of Fidel Castro’s personal cigars, an 18K white gold open face pocket watch by Paul Ditisheim circa 1930 that belonged to Andy Warhol, an original Emmy Award presented to The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in the 70s, and costumes and other memorabilia from Stranger Things, Westworld, Forrest Gump, The Godfather, Ben Hur, Gone With the Wind, Return of the Jedi, Rosemary's Baby, The Ten Commandments, and more.
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ICONS & IDOLS: HOLLYWOOD
Monday, December 16th
Session I: (Lots 1-216) 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time
Session II: (Lots 217-417) 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time
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Historic dress worn by Marilyn Monroe when she sang Happy Birthday to You to President Kennedy.
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phoenix program
Imperialist War, Mass Murder, and Torture, But Did September 11th Change ?Everything?? (tags)
"Americans watched in horror as the World Trade Center collapsed. Yet it was a horror no different from what the U.S. government has done with it's bombing of civilian populations in Iraq, Yugoslavia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Korea. The U.S. bombings of just these countries, not to mention many other U.S. acts of war, murdered millions of civilians. Terror against civilians is never justified. Now the U.S. government is preparing to terror bomb Afghanistan?" -Liberation News, September 11, 2001
US-Committed Atrocities in Afghanistan (tags)
Afghan atrocities greater than ever
Afghanistan's Operation Phoenix (tags)
America's dirty war
Remembering the past to change the future – We must hold the torture state accountable (tags)
“Get the good old syringe boys and fill it to the brim We’ve caught another nigger and we’ll operate on him Let someone take the handle who can work it with a vim Shouting the battle cry of freedom” A U.S. Army marching song composed during the Philippine War entitled “The Water Cure” to celebrate a version of waterboarding used on Filipinos “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Poet and philosopher, George Santayana
ANSWER Coalition: The Logic of War Crimes in a Criminal War (tags)
ANSWER Coalition Statement (June 2): The Logic of War Crimes in a Criminal War
Bush's Torture Tort Reform: Don't Sue, Don't Get Sued (tags)
So why did the Bush administration go to court and oppose a judgement ordering Iraq to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in damages to 17 captured Americans tortured by Saddam back in the first Gulf War? He had to! If he’d gone along, hundreds of people tortured by U.S. forces in the current “War on Terror” could turn around and sue the U.S. government. ---------------------------------------
Dispelling the Darkness (tags)
What are these towers for? Concentration camps in America?
Gulag, USA?? (tags)
Concentration camps in America? Feds set to toss millions of innocent Americans into gruesome factories of torture and death?… Could it be? Sounds preposterous. Yet…in this video, Texe Marrs marshals overwhelming evidence so convincing it boggles the mind.
Predictable Torture of Iraqi Prisoners (tags)
The occurrence of torture is a deliberate strategy of counterinsurgency warfare and not the isolated acts of deranged, sadistic soldiers.
BTL:Vietnam War Era-style "Phoenix" Assassination Program Implemented in... (tags)
...U.S.-Occupied Iraq Interview with Douglas Valentine, author of "The Phoenix Program," conducted by Between the Lines' Scott Harris
BTL:Pentagon's Operation Iron Hammer in Iraq Could Foster More Support for... (tags)
...Anti-U.S. Insurgency. Interview with Rahul Mahajan, author of "Full Spectrum Dominance: U.S. Power in Iraq and Beyond," conducted by Between the Lines' Scott Harris
What ''Homeland Security'' is all about. (tags)
Please circulate:
Homeland Security: When The Phoenix Came Home To Roost (tags)
In order to institutionalize his "legally criminal" social structure, Bush signed the Homeland Security Act on 25 November 2002, creating the Department of Homeland Security under former Pennsylvania Governor, Tom Ridge. The Department's job is to coordinate the anti-terror elements of dozens of federal agencies, and secure the US "from terrorist threats or attacks," be they genuine or provoked by the Bush Régime for black propaganda purposes.
Informers for a Day (tags)
15.04.2003 - In war-torn Saravena, a town of 30,000 in Arauca department in eastern Colombia, soldiers dressed as clowns befriend local children by offering them candy, rides on armored personnel carriers, and the use of the army's swimming pool in return for the opportunity to pummel them with pro-army and anti-rebel propaganda. Read the article by Garry M. Leech at Colombia Report.
The Evils of Low Intensity Warfare (tags)
The imperialist rationale for low intensity warfare
Oil coup-strike-lockout is for the rich. Help President Chavez! Search Venezuela news. (tags)
In 1974 80% of oil income went to the state. Today 80% of Venezuelan oil income goes to the rich, and to "operating costs." Only 20% goes to the state. Chavez reforms will help reverse this in January 2003. This is why the coup-plotters, "strike"-promoters, and corporate media are in such a hurry to overthrow the fairly-ELECTED Chavez government. They want to prevent these reforms, and reverse others already-implemented. Reforms that help the poor and lower middle class. Massive corporate-media disinformation, destabilization campaign going on inside Venezuela. Support President Chavez! Please forward widely.
The Long History of U.S. Counterinsurgency in Colombia (tags)
This well-researched article shows that the United States provided the leadership for the Colombian counterinsurgency strategy in the late 1950s and early 60s, which were also the early years of the Phoenix Program in Vietnam. It may not be too long when we will all have to make the decision to support national liberation in Colombia and protest invasion just as we did in Vietnam, or, ignore the crimes of U.S. imperialism as most of us have been doing due to the ideological disease in western society called anti-communism from decades of political indoctrination.
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Submit to LandLinks
What is Land Tenure?
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USAID and IUCN Partner to Advance Gender in the Environment
Photo by: IUCN
By Lorena Aguilar, Global Senior Gender Advisor and Director a.i. for the Global Programme on Governance and Rights, International Union for Conservation of Nature
By Corinne Hart, Senior Advisor for Gender and Environment, USAID's Office for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment
Noting World Water Day and reflecting on International Women’s Day movements and Women’s History Month in a number of countries, USAID and IUCN examine their partnership on Advancing Gender in the Environment (AGENT), which aims to improve development outcomes by strengthening environmental programing through gender integration and achieving gender equality outcomes.
Originally published on IUCN’s blog.
Around the world, women play a critical role as natural resource managers –often tilling land and conserving biodiversity while managing household food and energy needs. This close relationship with the environment also means that women face higher risks and suffer disproportionate burdens from environmental impacts and degradation. This is due also in large part to entrenched socio-cultural biases, such as women and girls being primarily responsible for the majority of unpaid care work like cooking and water collection.
These considerations emphasize that gender equality and women’s empowerment–particularly when it comes to ensuring that women and men have equal opportunities in accessing, benefiting from and participating in environmental decision-making–are essential for effective conservation and sustainable development.
A few weeks ago, marking International Women’s Day, IUCN’s Director General made a strong statement on the importance of women in conservation and sustainable development. Today, we are joining advocates from around the world to also mark Women’s History Month and noting the importance of women on World Water Day. We’ve recently expanded our USAID-International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) partnership into a broader program that enhances environmental programming in a wide range of sectors through the robust integration of gender-responsive approaches and actions throughout USAID programs focused on biodiversity, energy, land rights, urbanization and forestry, among others.
Through Advancing Gender in the Environment (AGENT), USAID Transforms communities by ensuring that environmental programs advance a more sustainable and equitable future for all by recognizing women as agents of change; valuing the diverse knowledge, experiences and capacities of women and men alike; and working to bridge gender gaps.
Over the last year, USAID and IUCN conducted research, and created knowledge products and tools, on the status of women and relevance of gender issues across the environmental sector. When studying national energy policies and frameworks, we found that less than a third of 192 frameworks from 137 countries identified issues that have gender dimensions–i.e. some policies note that women suffer from energy poverty disproportionately–and/or included objectives and strategies that have gender considerations. Furthermore, when women are mentioned, they are often characterized as potential stakeholders or beneficiaries and seldom as innovators or leaders in solutions.
AGENT is underscored by the knowledge that gender equality and women’s empowerment are powerful levers for change: women are vital to conservation and resilience-building efforts and contribute valuable perspectives. For example, in Malawi, when local communities were asked what trees they would like to have planted, men were the majority of respondents, and they requested trees that provide non-renewable sources of income like timber and charcoal. However, when efforts were made to ensure women were surveyed, they asked for fruit-bearing and medicinal trees that provide added nutrition, health benefits and income–all without cutting down trees, thereby helping ensure the success of reforestation objectives.
We know from these kinds of experiences that gender equality and women’s empowerment are intrinsically linked to achieving sustainable development. Yet, as highlighted, critical gender inequalities and gaps persist that limit the ability of women to access markets, capital, training and technologies.
Women also do not have the same rights as men when it comes to customary or legal rights to land, property and resources. This reduces their access to critical means for survival and resilience. Data demonstrate a solemn reality on this issue; women do not have the same legal rights as men to own and access land in over 100 countries. Also, in 90% of 143 economies studied have at least one law restricting women’s economic equality.
Women are often underrepresented or restricted from participating in environmental decision-making and their contributions, innovations and leadership are frequently overlooked. The result is a lost opportunity for environmental initiatives to achieve multiple benefits, scale impacts and increase effectiveness.
Over the next year, AGENT will build new evidence on many important topics, such as why women’s empowerment and participation matters in the power sector, the connections between gender-based violence and the environment, and which gender issues are most prevalent in urban services. Platforms and curated resources are supporting forest and biodiversity programs, and networks of experts will be convened to share best practices and identify new areas of research.
USAID and IUCN are committed to filling critical information gaps on gender and environment, and will work to ensure that strategies and approaches for environmental sustainability are more effective and benefit all people. We are equipping our projects, programs and partners with data, analysis and tools. By doing this, we are working to ensure USAID Transforms by advancing a sustainable future — one that delivers gender equality and women’s empowerment outcomes.
Read the original article on IUCN’s blog.
Land for Prosperity
Private Actors Making Public Efforts
USAID Brief Reveals Linkages between Gender-Based Violence and Documentation of Women’s Land Rights
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Join the conversation: #LandRights
See USAID http://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/agency-policy/series-500.
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Guide My Feet: Prayers and Meditations on Loving and Working for Children
Buy online ($)
Edelman ( Marian Wright )
Self-Help, Parenting, Education, Inspirational, Meditations, Prayerbooks
The founder of the Children's Defense Fund and author of The Measure of Our Success presents prayers and meditations to inspire all those, such as parents, teachers, and ministers, who work on the behalf of children. Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund, is one of the most important moral leaders in America. Her first book, The Measure of Our Success was a #1 New York Times bestseller—spending 16 weeks on the list, selling more than 450,000 copies and garnering spectacular praise from Hillary Clinton, Maya Angelou, and Oprah Winfrey. Guide My Feet continues her crusade for the well-being of America's children by providing a counterweight to the lesson society is teaching this generation of children—to be soulless takers instead of empowered givers.Guide My Feet is a collection of prayers and meditations gathered from Edelman's own holiday rituals and experiences and the writings of such inspiring leaders as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, and Frederick Douglass. It urges readers to commit to and pray for strength and patience, and offers solace and direction for parents troubled by the commercialism and violence running rampant in today's society. Filled with wisdom, compassion and understanding, it provides an important spiritual and moral resource all caregivers can turn to as they strive to instill values, integrity, self-discipline and faith in children. - from Amzon
Main 2013 BV283.C5E14 1995 1 Yes
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A Perceived Burden of Intolerable Evils
John Quincy Adams. By: John Singleton Copley.
After the American Revolution and after the war with Britain, America was suffering what appeared to be a crisis.
America was in a crisis of sorts, perhaps exaggerated, but still a crisis. John Quincy Adams in a speech at Harvard College in July 1787, he said that America was “groaning under the intolerable burden of . . . accumulated evils.” Gordon Wood, The Creation of the American Republic: 1776-1787, 393 quoting Robert A. East, John Quincy Adams: The Critical Years, 1785-1794 (N.Y., 1962), 85.
One American observed that “[a] foreigner could hardly believe we were that brave people who so nobly struggled for our Independence.” Gordon Wood, The Creation of the American Republic: 1776-1787, 393 quoting Boston Independent Chronicle, Aug. 31, 1786; Providence Gazette, Oct. 6, 1787; Charleston S.C. Gazette and General Advertiser, Aug. 9, 1783.
Undoubtedly, there were significant changes occurring, both good and bad. America was recovering from the Revolutionary War while dealing with social changes, financial confusion, geographic expansion, and public debt. See Gordon Wood, The Creation of the American Republic: 1776-1787, 394.
Americans asked themselves: “Have we fought for this?” and “Was it with these expectations that we launched into a sea of trouble, and have bravely struggled through the most threatening dangers?” Id. at 396. Charles Backus concluded that Americans simply “had too high expectations from the world.” Charles Backus, A Sermon Preached at Long Meadow, April 17th . . . (Springfield, 1788), 7.
The country knew the stakes. If America did not succeed, “the consequence will be, that the fairest experiment ever tried in human affairs will miscarry; and that a revolution which had revived the hopes of good men and promised an opening to better times, will become a discouragement to all future efforts in favour of liberty, and prove only an opening to a new scene of human degeneracy and misery.” Richard Price, Observations on the Importance of the American Revolution . . . (Dublin, 1785), 85.
Perhaps the weight of expectations were too much after the Revolution, as Americans began to sense that the task of building a great country was not easily or quickly achieved. It is also possible that through all the excitement and progress of the Revolution and the drafting of the state constitutions, Americans were too preoccupied to formulate such doubts.
This is perhaps one of the best examples in American history where the excitement and accomplishments have led to a period of perceived crisis. To some extent, the drafting and ratification of the Constitution would change this mood of the 1780s, ensured by the presence of George Washington as President, given his enormous leadership influence. In other words, a cure had come for the ills, justified or not, that Americans believed they were suffering from.
Posted in The RevolutionTagged American Revolution, Britain, Charles Backus, Constitution, Early Republic, George Washington, John Quincy Adams, President of the United States
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Next Americans in Line for Vaccine: People over 75, Essential Workers
Boxes containing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are moved to the loading area for shipping at the McKesson distribution center in Olive Branch, Miss., Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, Pool)
U.S. health officials have identified the next Americans who should receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Among the groups are people 75 years and older, as well as essential workers such as firefighters, teachers and food store employees.
The guidance was issued Sunday by a group of medical experts who lead the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The committee is part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Leaders of the group take a vote to decide.
The nation’s first COVID-19 vaccination effort began one week ago, when the first doses were sent to vaccination centers throughout the country.
The CDC committee decided earlier this month that the first shots should be given to health care workers and people living in care centers. That group is estimated to include about 24 million people.
Boxes containing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are prepared to be shipped at the McKesson distribution center in Olive Branch, Miss., Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, Pool)
The CDC said that, as of Sunday, about 556,000 Americans had been given vaccine shots.
The first COVID-19 vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration was developed by American drug maker Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech. A second vaccine, developed by Moderna and the U.S. National Institutes of Health, was approved last week and began shipping on Sunday.
The groups the CDC committee identified as next in line for the vaccine make up an estimated 50 million people.
Those considered essential workers include firefighters and police, teachers and other school employees. It also includes individuals working in food, agriculture and manufacturing industries, as well post office and public transport workers. The groups are considered at very high risk of infection because their jobs are critical and require them to be in contact with other people.
Dr Michelle Chester from Northwell Health prepares to administer a Pfizer coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York, U.S., December 14, 2020. (REUTERS/Brendan Mcdermid)
Officials say it is not clear how long it will take to vaccinate those groups. Vaccine doses have been produced slower than earlier estimates. Some experts also note that some people in the groups may choose not to get vaccinated.
The CDC committee has also voted on the next groups it thinks should be vaccinated. Among them are people aged 65 to 74, and those aged 16 to 64 at higher risk because they have medical conditions like obesity and cancer.
The expert committee’s recommendations will be used by U.S. states as they create they own vaccination programs.
Federal officials have said they expect vaccine doses to be limited for several months. CDC officials say up to 20 million people are predicted to start getting shots this month, another 30 million next month, and 50 million in February. That would be 100 million out of a population of more than 330 million.
Vials with a sticker reading, "COVID-19 / Coronavirus vaccine / Injection only"
Public health experts say the shots -- and others still being developed -- are the only way to stop a virus that has been spreading uncontrollably. Nationwide, more than 219,000 people per day on average test positive for the virus. COVID-19 has killed over 317,000 people in the United States and nearly 1.7 million worldwide.
The first doses of Moderna’s vaccine left a factory in Mississippi on Sunday and the first shots were to be given on Monday. The moves came just three days after the Food and Drug Administration approved the Moderna vaccine for emergency use.
I’m Bryan Lynn.
The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.
essential – adj. very important and necessary
dose – n. the amount of a medicine or vaccine that is needed to be effective against disease
obesity – n. extremely fat
positive – adj. in a medical test, positive means the person being tested has a disease or condition
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COVID-19 Vaccination Begins in Historic US Effort
Vaccine May Not Bring Americans Back to Offices
Poor Countries Face Long Wait for Vaccines
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Covid-19 and homelessness applications
Posted on April 23, 2020 April 23, 2020 by lee.mcconnell
By Prof Dave Cowan, Professor of Law and Policy (University of Bristol Law School)
The onset of Covid-19 gave rise to a massive effort to provide health care services and accommodation for homeless persons. This includes not just those people who are rough sleeping, but also those otherwise at risk without a home, such as those living in hostels and B&B accommodation. A range of organisations have assisted in this process, from medical health professionals to local authorities, who have procured empty hotels and other spaces for homeless persons to self-isolate as well as acted on the government’s guidance to keep temporary accommodation open.
In this post, I consider whether homeless persons who come to the attention of the local authority should be regarded as having made an “application” for homelessness assistance. The homelessness legislation is one of the most litigated areas in public law, and I have recently drawn attention to the supposed cultural change brought about by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2018. It is particularly relevant to students taking our unit in Rich Law, Poor Law, or engaging in work with our law clinic.
What constitutes an application is a critical question both for now and after the lockdown ends because, if an application has been made, the local authority comes under a range of duties, including: to provide (either itself or another provider) “suitable” accommodation to the homeless person pending a decision as to the duty owed to them by the local authority (which may be a longer term obligation); to store their possessions; to provide the person with a personalised housing plan; to relieve the applicant’s homelessness; to notify the applicant of the accommodation duties which are owed to them. It will mean that, if an application has been made, then the applicant cannot be chucked out of their accommodation willy-nilly until the authority has made a proper decision on their application – there is an ongoing duty, irrespective of lockdown provisions.
In short, the key to unlock a range of obligations is whether the person has made an “application”, which is made in the following circumstances:
The following provisions of this Part apply where a person applies to a local housing authority in England for accommodation, or for assistance in obtaining accommodation, and the authority have reason to believe that he is or may be homeless or threatened with homelessness (s. 183(1), Housing Act 1996)
An applicant is simply a person making such an application (s. 183(2)).
The starting point is that no form is required for an application, and the person does not need to say they are explicitly seeking homelessness assistance. The Code of Guidance, to which the local authority must have regard, states, “As long as the communication seeks accommodation or assistance in obtaining accommodation and includes details that give the housing authority reason to believe that they might be homeless or threatened with homelessness, this will constitute an application” (para 18.5). As Collins J put it in Aweys v Birmingham CC [2007] EWHC 52 (Admin); [2007] HLR 27, [8],
If it is apparent from what is said by an applicant (for there is no requirement that an application be in writing) or from anything in writing that he may be homeless or threatened with homelessness, the duty is triggered. Thus if a person complains to a Council that the conditions in his existing accommodation are so bad that he wants a transfer or needs to find somewhere else, it is likely that the duty will arise … even if there is no application based specifically on homelessness.
So, if a person approaches the local authority for social housing through the waiting list, and adverts to the fact that they are (or will be) homeless, will be regarded as making an application, because “People who become homeless or threatened with homelessness, and who go to their local housing authority for accommodation or help, are likely to include some of the most vulnerable members of society and unlikely to be familiar with the statutory provisions”: R v Northavon DC ex p Palmer (1994) 26 HLR 572, 582; approved on this point in Bury MBC v Gibbons [2010] EWCA Civ 327; [2010] HLR 33, [31], Lewison LJ; R Men(Edwards) v Birmingham CC [2016] EWHC 173 (Admin), [8], Hickinbottom J. In other words, the suggestion that the statutory phrase “applies to a local housing authority” requires action on the part of the person in seeking out the authority’s homeless persons unit is incorrect; rather, the question is whether it comes to the authority’s attention (ie “has reason to believe”) that the person is homeless.
Consequently, when a local authority makes provision (whether of accommodation or otherwise) under the Covid-19 emergency guidance for a person who they know is homeless, it comes to their attention that the person requires homelessness assistance, and an “application” has been made. They may not tell the authority that they are, or will be homeless, but that will be obvious from their circumstances, and it cannot be regarded as an extension of the existing jurisprudence to regard such a situation as constituting an application for homelessness assistance – the authority will have reason to believe (a low threshold) that the person is homeless. It does not matter which part of the authority makes that provision, and nor under what power accommodation is provided. If a local housing authority’s park keeper were to discover a person sleeping rough in the park, arguably an application would be made. Of course, the applicant themselves does not need to pursue the application, but the key point is that the authority’s obligations begin at that point. This reflects a wider point about rough sleeping, and the much criticised rough sleeping count, in more regular times.
Certain persons who lack the capacity to comprehend or evaluate an offer of accommodation made by the authority cannot make an application. However, an application could be made either by another member of their household with whom they can reasonably be expected to live; or by a deputy appointed by a Court of Protection under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. There is an open question as to whether a person with a lasting power of attorney could also make an application.
Alterations to the legislation made by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2018 – which was supposed to lead to a bureaucratic “cultural change” – place a duty on certain public authorities to refer individuals who are homeless or threatened with homelessness to a local authority, with the person’s consent. Whether such a referral constitutes an “application” for these purposes is an open question, but it is notable that the leading text on homelessness law submits that it is (HHL Luba, L. Davies, C. Johnston & T. Buchanan, Housing Allocation and Homelessness: Law and Practice, (LexisNexis, 2018, 5th ed: para 8.33); and, as I suggested in my Modern Law Review article, that must be right if one follows the logic of Palmer and Gibbons, although it depends on the information provided by the referring agency. However, the Code of Guidance suggests that a referral will not constitute an application, although, if that is the case, its suggestion that “housing authorities should always respond to any referral received” is counterintuitive (para 4.19).
For these purposes, relevant public authorities include social services departments, emergency departments, urgent treatment centres, and hospitals in their function of providing inpatient care. The local housing authority is responsible for setting up and managing the referral process. If those other public authorities are aware that a household is or will become homeless, then they have a duty to make the referral, and such a duty is enforceable in the usual way. In a situation of need for hospital and emergency beds, it is in everyone’s interest for the referral to operate in as streamlined a way as possible.
Posted in Bristol ScholarsTagged Application, Aweys v Birmingham CC, Bury MBC v Gibbons, Code of Guidance, coronavirus, covid19, Dave Cowan, Homelessness, Homelessness Reduction Act 2018, Mental Capacity Act 2005, R (Edwards) v Birmingham CC, R v Northavon DC Ex p Palmer
A Prime Minister in Hospital: the Constitutional Implications
As the Corona pandemic worsens, EU borders shut down: “A new low point for the EU’s respect for refugee rights and international law”
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Freyne Land
NO JOKE, UNFORTUNATELY
by Peter Freyne
Back to Reality - Meet the Mess, er, Press!
The pants of the current Attorney General of the United States of America, Alberto Gonzales, a George "WMD" Bush political crony from his days as Texas governor, are absolutely, positively on fire!
The only question is how much damage the GOP will allow the current shameless occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. to inflict on his own political party before ending his self-absorbed delay of the inevitable.
This from Vermont U.S. Sen. Patrick J. Leahy's appearance this morning on NBC's Meet the Press:
MR. RUSSERT: Senator Leahy, a very serious question, do you believe the chief law enforcement official in this country, the attorney general, has lied?
SEN. LEAHY: "I believe he has not been accurate. I believe—I believe he has not been truthful.
"In fact, when some of these statements came out, first in the press, which indicated he had not been accurate, he came up to me at a meeting at the U.S. Supreme Court and said, 'I, I want to come up and clarify this, have another meeting.' I told him I didn’t want any more of these private meetings where we’re told either half truths or untruths.
"I said, 'Our next meeting will be in public under oath.' Quite frankly, Tim, I’m fed up about it. I really am. Just tell the truth. You know, in the long run, telling the truth is the best thing to do."
MR. RUSSERT: But if the president says, “I’m sorry, Senator Leahy, this is executive privilege. I need honest, unfettered advice from my staff. Karl Rove was not confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He’s not going before your committee. You can do whatever you want, he’s not going,” what do you do?
SEN. LEAHY: "Well, first, the president hasn’t claimed executive privilege yet, and, according to the testimony, the president was not involved directly in these things, so it wasn’t a question of advice going to the president. It was more of a, a question of orders coming from Karl Rove, Harriet Miers to the attorney general, who seems to act as though he’s still a member of the White House staff instead of being of the attorney general of the United States. Entirely different thing.
"I, I think the most important thing, especially in light of the fact that in two years we’re going to have a new president, new attorney general, let’s establish exactly what went wrong here. We know a lot of things went wrong. With the idea that at least with the next president, whoever the next president might be, won’t make these mistakes again."
MR. RUSSERT: But what if Mr. Rove refuses to come before your committee?
SEN. LEAHY: "Well, let’s see if that happens."
MR. RUSSERT: Do you believe he will?
SEN. LEAHY: "Let’s see if that happens."
MR. RUSSERT: Do you have indications he might?
SEN. LEAHY: "No, I don’t. No, in fact, they’ve given us a take it or leave it. They said we’ll—the White House said we’ll only allow a discussion behind closed doors with no transcript and a limited agenda and not under oath. Everybody knows that’s a nonstarter.
"There’ve been so many misstatements back and forth by people within the administration, I want it in public under oath. I want both Republicans and Democrats to be able to ask questions.
MR. RUSSERT: Senator Leahy, do you believe that Alberto Gonzales will resign?
SEN. LEAHY: "I don’t know. You know, it’s going to be up to—this is up to the president. If the president feels that Mr. Gonzales sets the highest standard that he wants to show for his administration, then he stays on.
""If the president feels that this is what he wants as the state of law enforcement is, he’ll stay on.
"Now, Senator Hatch says he’s always found him to be truthful. Unfortunately, he was not truthful before the United States Senate, and that is why he’s coming back.
"Previous administrations have looked for ways to cooperate with the Congress. This administration goes out of its way to find ways not to cooperate, and I think that’s why the stonewalling has come up."
Ask yourself this - if you were a Democrat running for President in 2008, wouldn't you want Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to hang in there?
Wouldn't you wish, hope and pray that the man who made him attorney general would show the world he's a real man by ignoring any and all calls - even those from Republicans - that Alberto hit the showers ASAP?
Please, Mr. President!
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Measures and References: Inhibition
Return to Inhibition factor page.
Numerous measures exist to gain a full picture of a student's learning strengths and challenges. Following are examples of measures used to assess this Learner Factor. These measures should be administered and interpreted by experienced professionals.
Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) (Gioia et al, 2000): Parent and teacher questionnaire assessing Self-regulation and executive function, including Inhibition, in students five to 18 years old
NEPSY-II Inhibition Subtest (Korkman et al., 2007): Subtest that requires students aged three through 16 to name items with its opposite (e.g. name "circle" for squares)
Aite, A., Berthoz, A., Vidal, J., Roell, M., Zaoui, M., Houde, O., & Borst, G. (2016). Taking a third-person perspective requires inhibitory control: Evidence from a developmental negative priming study. Child Development, 87(6), 1825-1840.
Altemeier, L. E., Abbott, R. D., & Berninger, V. W. (2008). Executive functions for reading and writing in typical literacy development and dyslexia. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 30(5), 588-606.
Anderson, M. C., Green, C., & McCulloch, K. C. (2000). Similarity and inhibition in long-term memory: Evidence for a two-factor theory. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 26(5), 1141-1159.
Arrington, C. N., Kulesz, P. A., Francis, D. J., Fletcher, J. M., & Barnes, M. A. (2014). The contribution of attentional control and working memory to reading comprehension and decoding. Scientific Studies of Reading, 18(5), 325-346.
Barkley, R. (1997). Behavioural inhibition, sustained attention, and executive functions. _Psychological Bulletin, 121, _65-94.
Berninger, V. W. (2001). PAL: Process Assessment of the Learner, Test Battery for Reading and Writing. Psychological Corporation.
Berninger, V., Abbott, R., Cook, C. R., & Nagy, W. (2017). Relationships of attention and executive functions to oral language, reading, and writing skills and systems in middle childhood and early adolescence. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 50(4), 434-449.
Best, J. R., & Miller, P. H. (2010). A developmental perspective on executive function. Child Development, 81(6), 1641-1660.
Borella, E., Ghisletta, P., & De Ribaupierre, A. (2011). Age differences in text processing: The role of working memory, inhibition, and processing speed. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 66(3), 311-320.
Caldwell, B., & Bradley, R.H. (2005). HOME inventory administration manual, standard edition. Little Rock: University of Arkansas.
Cameron Ponitz, C. C., McClelland, M. M., Matthews, J. S., & Morrison, F. J. (2009). A structured observation of behavioral self-regulation and its contribution to kindergarten outcomes. Developmental Psychology, 45(3), 605-619.
Delis, D., Kaplan, E., & Kramer, J. (2003). Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corp.
DePrince, A. P., Weinzierl, K. M., & Combs, M. D. (2009). Executive function performance and trauma exposure in a community sample of children. Child Abuse & Neglect, 33(6), 353-361.
Drijbooms, E., Groen, M. A., & Verhoeven, L. (2017). How executive functions predict development in syntactic complexity of narrative writing in the upper elementary grades. Reading and Writing, 30(1), 209-231.
Duan, X., Wei, S., Wang, G., & Shi, J. (2010). The relationship between executive functions and intelligence on 11- to 12-year- old children. Psychological Test and Assessment Modeling, 52(4), 419-431.
Duncan, G. J., Dowsett, C. J., Claessens, A., Magnuson, K., Huston, A. C., Klebanov, P., ... & Sexton, H. (2007). School readiness and later achievement. Developmental Psychology, 43(6), 1428-1446.
Dunn, L. M., & Dunn, D. M. (2005). Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III-NL. Nederlandse versie Liesbeth Schlichting. Handleiding. Amsterdam: Harcourt Test Publishers.
Eriksen, B.A., & Eriksen, C.W. (1974). Effects of noise letters upon the identification of a target letter in a nonsearch task. Perception & Psychophysics, 16(1), 143-149.
Filippi, R., Morris, J., Richardson, F. M., Bright, P., Thomas, M. S., Karmiloff-Smith, A., & Marian, V. (2015). Bilingual children show an advantage in controlling verbal interference during spoken language comprehension. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 18(3), 490-501.
Geelhoed, J. W., & Reitsma, P. (1999). PI-dictee. Lisse: Swets & Zeitlinger.
Gerstadt, C. L., Hong, Y. J., & Diamond, A. (1994). The relationship between cognition and action: performance of children 3 1/2-7 years old on a stroop-like day-night test. Cognition, 53(2), 129-153.
Gioia, G. A., Isquith, P. K., Guy, S. C., & Kenworthy, L. (2000). BRIEF: Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.
Golden, C.J. (1978). Stroop Color and Word Test: A manual for clinical and experimental uses. Chicago: Stoelting Co.
Gordon, M., & Barkley, R. A. (1998). Psychological testing and observational measures. In R. A. Barkley (Ed.), Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders: A handbook for clinicians. New York: Guilford Publications.
Hoffmann, W., Schmeichel, B. J., & Baddeley, A. D. (2012). Executive functions and self-regulation. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 16(3), 174-180.
Kapa, L. L., & Colombo, J. (2013). Attentional control in early and later bilingual children. Cognitive Development, 28(3), 233-246.
Kaplan, S., & Berman, M. G. (2010). Directed attention as a common resource for executive functioning and self-regulation. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 5(1), 43-57.
Korkman, M., Kirk, U., & Kemp, S. (2007). NEPSY—Second Edition (NEPSY-II). San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Assessment.
MacArthur Research Network on Socioeconomic Status and Health. (2000). John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Research Network on Socioeconomic Status and Health Sociodemographic Questionnaire.
MacGinitie, W. H., MacGinitie, R. K., Maria, K. & Dreyer, L. G. (2000). Gates MacGinitie Reading Tests. Rolling Meadows, IL: Riverside.
McAuley, T., & White, D. A. (2011). A latent variables examination of processing speed, response inhibition, and working memory during typical development. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 108(3), 453-468.
McClelland, M. M., Cameron, C. E., Connor, C. M., Farris, C. L., Jewkes, A. M., & Morrison, F. J. (2007). Links between behavioral regulation and preschoolers' literacy, vocabulary, and math skills. Developmental Psychology, 43(4), 947-959.
Pelco, L. E., & Reed-Victor, E. (2007). Self-regulation and learning-related social skills: Intervention ideas for elementary school students. Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth, 51(3), 36-42.
Sadeh, A., Gruber, R., & Raviv, A. (2002). Sleep, neurobehavioral functioning, and behavior problems in school‐age children. Child Development, 73(2), 405-417.
Sarsour, K., Sheridan, M., Jutte, D., Nuru-jeter, A., Hinshaw, S., & Boyce, W. T. (2011). Family socioeconomic status and child executive functions: The roles of language, home environment, and single parenthood. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 17, 120-132.
Schretlen, D., Bobholz, J. H., & Brandt, J. (1996). Development and psychometric properties of the Brief Test of Attention. Clinical Neuropsychologist, 10, 80-89.
Stroop, J. R. (1935). Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 18(6), 643-662.
Torgesen, J. K., Wagner, R., & Rashotte, C. (1999). Test of Word Reading Efficiency. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed.
Van Waelvelde, H., De Mey, B., & Smits-Engelsman, B. C. M. (2008). Handleiding SOS. Systematische opsporing van schrijfmotorische problemen. Ghent: Revalidatiewetenschappen en Kinesitherapie Gent.
Wechsler, D. (2003). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (4th ed.). Psychological Corporation.
Wechsler D. (2009). Wechsler Individual Achievement Tests (3rd ed.) San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
Williford, A. P., Vick Whittaker, J. E., Vitiello, V. E., & Downer, J. T. (2013). Children's engagement within the preschool classroom and their development of self-regulation. Early Education and Development, 24(2), 162-187.
Wolf, M., & Denckla, M. (2005). RAN/RAS Rapid Automatized Naming and Rapid Alternating Stimulus Tests. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.
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Home / Community / Sponsored / Giving the Gift of Family with Surrogacy Center of Philadelphia
Giving the Gift of Family with Surrogacy Center of Philadelphia
“There are so many people who worked hard to make you come true.”
It takes a very special kind of person to become a surrogate. To help someone realize their dream of having a family when they’re incapable of doing so themselves is perhaps the most precious, selfless gift you can give.
It is a powerful experience that requires the utmost care, both for the gestational surrogate and the intended parents. Director of the Surrogacy Center of Philadelphia, Andrea Hoshmand McAfee tells us, “This is a lifelong relationship, and we have to get it right—for everyone’s well-being.” She prides herself on creating these meaningful matches, and has been doing so for over a decade. “Each program has a different culture. We facilitate these journeys in a very personal way. If people are looking for a more impersonal, transactional process, I tell them they’re not a good fit and refer them to a different agency.”
The matchmaking process is very thorough, and McAfee tells us it’s not simply based on who’s been on the waitlist the longest—everyone really has to click in terms of personality, beliefs, goals, and more. It may take one meeting, or it may take four—what is important is that both sides feel informed, safe, and excited to embark on this journey. “People usually come out of our matchmaking meetings giddy, like in another world they would have been besties.”
Unlike larger surrogacy agencies, the Surrogacy Center of Philadelphia keeps things local and intimate. Both the intended parents and the surrogate live in the Philadelphia area, so the families can retain that involvement and open relationship for as long as they wish. “We attend appointments, and we know how to refer people to local resources for additional services. If people are scattered all over, an agency can’t provide that care.”
Some surrogates continue to pump breastmilk for the newborn and check in. Some remain very close to the parents and child their whole lives, as a kind of honorary family member, acknowledging that “There are so many people who worked hard to make you come true.”
So, what does it take to be a surrogate? For starters, a surrogate must be in good physical and mental health, age 21 – 38 years old, and must have carried and actively parented at least one child. Adhering to the strictest clinic standards assures that a surrogate can safely proceed through the process and can do a surrogacy cycle at any fertility clinic in the area. But being a surrogate requires more than checking these boxes, says McAfee: “You have to be someone who’s got some fire in you, and will persevere and want to help others.”
She also noted that the women who become surrogates are the kind of people who love to be pregnant—and while they may not wish to add to their own families, they want to carry that dream for someone else. “Some surrogates are very passionate about it, and do repeat journeys.”
It was very important to McAfee that the surrogate is taken care of in every way throughout the process. In addition to compensation, the very detailed contract spells out everything the surrogate can expect—including covering of all medical costs, legal representation (with a separate attorney), psychological care, and follow-up. They are clear that surrogates should never have to pay out-of-pocket for medical expenses, and cover insurance premiums, medical copayments, and even childcare costs so surrogates can attend doctor visits.
“I want women to know they have choices and they should be treated with respect, treated well during this process, and spoken to honestly.”
With that goal in mind, the Surrogacy Center of Philadelphia has developed exceptional resources to help along the way. While it is important for all parties that surrogates are screened for physical and mental health, this includes an extensive one-on-one session with a therapist familiar with surrogacy and all the unique stressors that go with it.
An independent attorney reviews the contract with the surrogate, and since that cost is covered by the agency is no worry about rushing to keep hourly legal fees down. “We wanted to take that pressure off because this is not something you want to rush through. People should ask all the questions they want and get a complete understanding of what they’re signing.” The attorney will also help with the pre-birth order, which gives parental rights to the intended parents in advance of birth.
And while compensation is certainly only part of surrogacy, McAfee wanted to make sure the process would not only create a family for the intended parents, but also help surrogates and their families achieve their own goals. So, every surrogate in the program has a financial advisor that helps them understand their compensation package and works with them to set and achieve their financial goals – whether that is paying off debt or saving for college. Compensation is held in an account with a professional escrow firm that releases monthly payments.
In describing the extraordinary decision to become a surrogate, McAfee explains that when intended parents opt for this route, they have already tried everything else and experienced so much heartache—from unsuccessful fertility treatments to miscarriages, but:
“You’re it—you’re the one who’s going to give them that chance to have the family they’ve wanted to have for so long. When you give someone the gift they’ve been hoping for forever, you’re making someone’s dream come true. I really want other women to experience that.”
Main LinePhiladelphiasponsored
Surrogacy Center of Philadelphia
The Surrogacy Center of Philadelphia was started out of the desire to offer Intended Parents and Surrogates in the Greater Philadelphia area something different. We believe that family is personal, and you deserve the best process we can offer: in-person support, financial transparency, open and honest communication.
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Nivagen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 6 May 2020
HYDRALAZINE- hydralazine hydrochloride tablet
Nivagen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Rx only
HydrALAZINE hydrochloride USP, is an antihypertensive, for oral administration. Its chemical name is 1-hydrazinophthalazine monohydrochloride, and its structural formula is:
C8 H8 N4 .HCL. M.W. 196.64
HydrALAZINE hydrochloride USP is a white to off-white, odorless crystalline powder. It is soluble in water, slightly soluble in alcohol, and very slightly soluble in ether. It melts at about 275°C, with decomposition.
Each tablet for oral administration contains 25 mg, 50 mg or 100 mg HydrALAZINE hydrochloride USP. Tablets also contain mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, stearic acid and FD&C Yellow #6.
Although the precise mechanism of action of hydrALAZINE is not fully understood, the major effects are on the cardiovascular system.
HydrALAZINE apparently lowers blood pressure by exerting a peripheral vasodilating effect through a direct relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. HydrALAZINE, by altering cellular calcium metabolism, interferes with the calcium movements within the vascular smooth muscle that are responsible for initiating or maintaining the contractile state.
The peripheral vasodilating effect of hydrALAZINE results in decreased arterial blood pressure (diastolic more than systolic); decreased peripheral vascular resistance; and an increased heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output. The preferential dilatation of arterioles, as compared to veins, minimizes postural hypotension and promotes the increase in cardiac output. HydrALAZINE usually increases renin activity in plasma, presumably as a result of increased secretion of renin by the renal juxtaglomerular cells in response to reflex sympathetic discharge. This increase in renin activity leads to the production of angiotensin II, which then causes stimulation of aldosterone and consequent sodium reabsorption. HydrALAZINE also maintains or increases renal and cerebral blood flow.
HydrALAZINE is rapidly absorbed after oral administration, and peak plasma levels are reached at 1 to 2 hours. Plasma levels of apparent hydrALAZINE decline with a half-life of 3 to 7 hours. Binding to human plasma protein is 87%. Plasma levels of hydrALAZINE vary widely among individuals. HydrALAZINE is subject to polymorphic acetylation; slow acetylators generally have higher plasma levels of hydrALAZINE and require lower doses to maintain control of blood pressure. HydrALAZINE undergoes extensive hepatic metabolism; it is excreted mainly in the form of metabolites in the urine.
Hydralazine Indications and Usage
Essential hypertension, alone or as an adjunct.
Hypersensitivity to hydrALAZINE; coronary artery disease; mitral valvular rheumatic heart disease.
In a few patients hydrALAZINE may produce a clinical picture simulating systemic lupus erythematosus including glomerulonephritis. In such patients hydrALAZINE should be discontinued unless the benefit-to-risk determination requires continued antihypertensive therapy with this drug. Symptoms and signs usually regress when the drug is discontinued but residua have been detected many years later.
Long-term treatment with steroids may be necessary.
(See PRECAUTIONS, Laboratory Tests.)
Myocardial stimulation produced by hydrALAZINE can cause anginal attacks and ECG changes of myocardial ischemia. The drug has been implicated in the production of myocardial infarction. It must, therefore, be used with caution in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.
The “hyperdynamic” circulation caused by hydrALAZINE may accentuate specific cardiovascular inadequacies. For example, hydrALAZINE may increase pulmonary artery pressure in patients with mitral valvular disease. The drug may reduce the pressor responses to epinephrine. Postural hypotension may result from hydrALAZINE but is less common than with ganglionic blocking agents.
It should be used with caution in patients with cerebral vascular accidents.
In hypertensive patients with normal kidneys who are treated with hydrALAZINE, there is evidence of increased renal blood flow and a maintenance of glomerular filtration rate. In some instances where control values were below normal, improved renal function has been noted after administration of hydrALAZINE. However, as with any antihypertensive agent, hydrALAZINE should be used with caution in patients with advanced renal damage.
Peripheral neuritis, evidenced by paresthesia, numbness, and tingling, has been observed. Published evidence suggests an antipyridoxine effect, and that pyridoxine should be added to the regimen if symptoms develop.
Patients should be informed of possible side effects and advised to take the medication regularly and continuously as directed.
Complete blood counts and antinuclear antibody titer determinations are indicated before and periodically during prolonged therapy with hydrALAZINE even though the patient is asymptomatic. These studies are also indicated if the patient develops arthralgia, fever, chest pain, continued malaise, or other unexplained signs or symptoms.
A positive antinuclear antibody titer requires that the physician carefully weigh the implications of the test results against the benefits to be derived from antihypertensive therapy with hydrALAZINE.
Blood dyscrasias, consisting of reduction in hemoglobin and red cell count, leukopenia, agranulocytosis, and purpura, have been reported. If such abnormalities develop, therapy should be discontinued.
Drug/Drug Interactions
MAO inhibitors should be used with caution in patients receiving hydrALAZINE.
When other potent parenteral antihypertensive drugs, such as diazoxide, are used in combination with hydrALAZINE, patients should be continuously observed for several hours for any excessive fall in blood pressure. Profound hypotensive episodes may occur when diazoxide injection and hydrALAZINE are used concomitantly.
Drug/Food Interactions
Administration of hydrALAZINE with food results in higher plasma levels.
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
In a lifetime study in Swiss albino mice, there was a statistically significant increase in the incidence of lung tumors (adenomas and adenocarcinomas) of both male and female mice given hydrALAZINE continuously in their drinking water at a dosage of about 250 mg/kg per day (about 80 times the maximum recommended human dose). In a 2-year carcinogenicity study of rats given hydrALAZINE by gavage at dose levels of 15, 30, and 60 mg/kg/day (approximately 5 to 20 times the recommended human daily dosage), microscopic examination of the liver revealed a small, but statistically significant, increase in benign neoplastic nodules in male and female rats from the high-dose group and in female rats from the intermediate-dose group. Benign interstitial cell tumors of the testes were also significantly increased in male rats from the high-dose group. The tumors observed are common in aged rats and a significantly increased incidence was not observed until 18 months of treatment. HydrALAZINE was shown to be mutagenic in bacterial systems (Gene Mutation and DNA Repair) and in one of two rats and one rabbit hepatocyte in vitro DNA repair studies. Additional in vivo and in vitro studies using lymphoma cells, germinal cells, and fibroblasts from mice, bone marrow cells from chinese hamsters and fibroblasts from human cell lines did not demonstrate any mutagenic potential for hydrALAZINE.
The extent to which these findings indicate a risk to man is uncertain. While long-term clinical observation has not suggested that human cancer is associated with hydrALAZINE use, epidemiologic studies have so far been insufficient to arrive at any conclusions.
Teratogenic Effect
Pregnancy Category C
Animal studies indicate that hydrALAZINE is teratogenic in mice at 20 to 30 times the maximum daily human dose of 200 to 300 mg and possibly in rabbits at 10 to 15 times the maximum daily human dose, but that it is nonteratogenic in rats. Teratogenic effects observed were cleft palate and malformations of facial and cranial bones.
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Although clinical experience does not include any positive evidence of adverse effects on the human fetus, hydrALAZINE should be used during pregnancy only if the expected benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Also by this Manufacturer
Additional medications in the ‘Prescription Medications’ section by Nivagen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Or get Nivagen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. product information by RSS.
Within the ‘Prescription Medications’ section:
Brand names beginning with the letter ‘H’ (Hydralazine).
Medications with generic name beginning with the letter ‘H’ (HYDRALAZINE HYDROCHLORIDE).
Medication information from May 2020, newest first or May 2020, earliest first.
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Mariner News and Events
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International Rescue Committee Visits Mariner
From https://www.rescue.org/
Yarimar Feliz Polanco, Writer
In celebration of the International Day of the Girl (Friday, October 11), Mrs. Marquardt was able to get some members of the IRC (International Rescue Committee) to talk about what they do and the immigration crisis on Wednesday 9th after school. Around forty people showed up with a desire to help and were eager to hear what the ladies had to say. We got to watch the film Brave Girl Rising as well as an inspiring video made to raise awareness of the issues that many girls face around the world.
The IRC is a humanitarian aid that works in other countries and helps resettle immigrants, refugees, and people devastated by disasters. There are about 244 million immigrants in the world, 65.6 million being refugees.
These refugees are forced to leave their homes in search of asylum because they aren’t safe where they currently are. Many of these refugees are forced to live in refugee camps, and some are even born there. The conditions of those camps are horrible, people are usually crammed into one small space, and not all these places offer education. Some refugees haven’t been able to attend a school or have access to education for years. Once they’ve finally settled into a home, which can take up to three years or more, they’re usually expected to know English, get a job, and attend school and understand the material at the same level a student that has been getting an education their whole life does.
Right here, at Mariner, there are refugees and immigrant students that have had to go through those things, and the best way to help them is by having patience. At the end of the day, refugees are just humans like everyone else and shouldn’t be treated differently. Even if it’s not International Day of the Girl, I encourage you all to raise some awareness to the people who don’t have it as easy as us. From the girls that can’t get an education to the refugees who’ve suffered, and to the people who can’t have what we take for granted, even the smallest thing can make a significant change.
What do you want to see more of in this paper?
Student Talent Profiles
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Apr 17 / Baseball
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Chief Sealth
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Education Changes in the Last Decade
A Tribute to Kobe Bryant
Rhonda Marquardt and the Nicaragua Library
History of the Stinky Shoe Game
Breaking Down Walls With a Game of Basketball
The Student Mental Health Crisis: A Hidden Epidemic
Political Awakening
Technology At Mariner City
Writing Woes? Don’t Struggle alone.
The Student News Site of Mariner High School
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Where Were You When…
by Mohana
In Blog, Uncategorized
1 Comment on Where Were You When…
Photo by Scott Hudson
There’s an Alan Jackson song Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning? that was released shortly after the day that we all now refer to as 9/11. The media this week has been in a frenzy of reflections, recollections, and other reminders in case we forgot that it’s been 10 years since our lives as people on this planet changed. Where you.. people used to ask about first finding out about Pearl Harbor, the announcement of Victory in Europe, or Kennedy’s assassination. This generation’s version of moments in history is that morning of orchestrated chaos.
I was in the chair at my eye doctor’s wondering why the doctor came in gasping “They said on the news someone hit the twin towers, I feel like someone just robbed me.” I hadn’t been to New York yet on my own, only with family, so we never did the tourist sites because our family friends had said “Oh, you don’t want to go there (Statue of Liberty, downtown), it’s so boring.” So I didn’t know what exactly she meant but I got into my car and NPR said something had crashed into the Pentagon. There was another missing plane somewhere in Pennsylvania. This is the end of the world, I thought to myself, as I cancelled a meeting and drove back to campus where I was a Hall Director for undergraduate students. On campus I watched with other staff and worried students as the second plane slammed into the tower. And then we went to an session of chapel, when everyone one campus, staff, faculty, or student who may have never before darkened its door, crammed into the wooden rows for information, comfort, protection against being alone.
We still talk about 9/11 in a way that makes it feel hot, immediate, the rush of those first moments that morning of incredibility not because what happens in America affects everyone else (though the recent sub prime mortgage crisis triggering a global economic meltdown might make a forceful argument for us that this true) but because as the result of the actions of a few, the rest of us had to rethink our approach to the safety of airline travel, communication with loved ones, and those who took issue with the Great Satan, all things American.
In addition to two wars, a new kind of prejudice, heartbreak, and shock, we gained a new vocabulary around that day: Ground Zero is the site of where the buildings known as the World Trade Center once stood. Al Qaeda, then a fringe group of radical extremists, was the subject of more discussions world wide than any boy band; led by a breaded Yemeni cave dweller, their leader was catapulted as a household name.
The sight of each of people jumping from the 100+ stories of the World Trade Center to avoid a fiery death – including a couple holding hands – put a new slant to the party game “Would You Rather.” All human life is precious and the nearly 3000 people who lost their lives going about their daily business while others decided to draw them into a global fight between two philosophies of life and religion, were what security services would call “collateral damage” in a growing open sore that was now center stage. After all, this was not the first time the World Trade Center had been under attack. The car bomb in the 1993 killed 5 people but left the towers standing.
What Al Qaeda had miscalculated was that the very act they intended in full cinematic Hollywood style, to be their postcard of hate, slamming one jet into a building so that all international media were covering it live by the time the second jet arrived, was also the same memento used to galvanize military, public opinion, and knee jerk reactions. The image of that day, of papers flying, smoke rising from downtown Manhattan are still used (absent from this blog on purpose) to refresh the sense of shock, injustice, sensationalism. Al Qaeda succeeded in drawing out their enemy by throwing down a pictorial gauntlet that could not be refused into a war that glamorized their self-described “martyrdom”, a martyrdom the majority of other followers of their religion not only disagreed with but abhorred.
Photo by Jayel Aherem
Yet the 4 trillion dollars that could have been spent on a flagging economy, Iraqis trapped in their homes without access to medical care, the hundreds of amputees and PST survivors amongst the service men and women do not have the same media profile. And the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan in the 10 years of war to quell Al Qaeda seems to another form of collateral damage that will largely go unrecorded in the collective memory. People like Rudy Guiliani won’t come right out and say is acceptable, but come close, with statements such as “there is no limit to defending oneself, unless it’s irresponsible spending” on a recent interview with Hard Talk on the BBC World Service.
Ten years on, let’s remember them, the innocents who have gotten in the cross-hairs of this brawl not just in those towers but also on the streets of Iraq, the villages of Afghanistan; soldiers following orders, civilians living their lives.
Other things happened on 9/11 before 2001. Let’s remember them as well, untainted by this scar of history; babies were born, couples were married. And others died — in other places — even in other places in that very city. Not to diminish the losses of those on that day, but rather to put them in perspective of a life, of human history, of all suffering and celebration. This is not only what they deserve but also what the rest of our lives demand if we are going to move forward to fashion a new kind of relationship between ourselves and those around us: Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu, American, Saudi, Iraqi, Afghani. We the living must do something different if our lives were spared for no other reason than to course correct.
What’s important is that we do not rehearse our anger or struggle against the regrets that come with hindsight. Rather that we draw together in remembrance that but for the grace of God we could have been on one of those planes, one of those floors, one of those villages, or streets.
If Al Qaeda was counting on America’s media machine to make this a fight that had to be entered; the rush to print memorabilia with the towers on it even in the first 3 days after they came down; the emphasis on the stories of the individuals — workers, firefighters, police officers — then every day that we draw together as a group to look ahead to the world we want to live in is a day that the extremists on both sides can’t claim as a victory.
Where were you? And what other important things have happened in your life on this day?
Sunday Supper: Black Bean Quinoa Burgers
Mo's Unwishes for 2013
Friday Fiction: Evolution Trilogy by Vanessa Wester
10, 33, 60 — Nothing But Numbers
The One Where I Self-Publish an Ebook
Li @FlashFiction
Commented on September 21, 2011 – Reply
I must say, a very heartfelt, clear and balanced post.
Welcome to the REN3 blogfest, and I hope you will enjoy yourself.
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Raúl Baz Harvill
Grupo Petroquímico Beta
Decisive Role of Mid-Sized Petrochemical Producers
In the transformation currently underway in the Mexican petrochemical sector, it is important to foster the healthy growth of Mexican petrochemical producers. These companies are most familiar with Mexico’s petrochemical processing capabilities and are best equipped to deal with its notorious logistical characteristics. Their size grants them the agility and the dynamism necessary to address the relevant issues and solve the problems that stand in the way of the industry’s resurgence. Many companies fit that profile during the golden age of Mexico’s petrochemical industry in the 1960s and 1970s, but unfortunately that is no longer the case.
Grupo Petroquímico Beta (GPB) is one of these companies. Established in 2005 as a manufacturer of water-soluble cellulose ethers, it has grown into an internationally competitive business that has expanded beyond Mexico’s borders through its exporting capacity and its strategic alliances, such as that achieved with HCS Group last year. “GPB is in a unique position, since there are not too many medium-sized petrochemical companies in the world that are invoicing US$40-50 million as we do. This gives us the unique advantage that our corporate structure is much thinner. We have a turnover of around US$500,000 per employee, which is very substantial,” says Raúl Baz Harvill, CEO of GPB. “The manageable size of our corporate structure combines with our effective in-house engineering and manufacturing strategy to create a competitive option for the creation of custom petrochemical solutions. One of our advantages is that we are not geared towards high volumes of products. We are more flexible, and we adjust our volume requirements to produce smaller quantities of the specific products demanded by our clients. We also have the ability to build plants at a lower cost and faster than our competitors in the US, which provides a substantial advantage in terms of our cost structure. The petrochemical industry is capital intensive, so the more efficient you are in the use of capital, the more profitable and competitive you will be, with the corresponding possibility to confront larger corporations.”
Although GPB continues to rely on growth in the cellulose ethers market, it has diversified beyond this initial niche. It is now close to its goal of becoming a dominant supplier of refined pentanes for Mexico and Latin America. Baz Harvill lays out the circumstances that will make this possible. “We want to accomplish this goal through our association with HCS, thanks to which we will control almost all of the market. The only other supplier in Latin America is Repsol, but that situation changed after the involvement of the Argentine government. We also understand that important clients like BASF were not satisfied with them.” GPB is also becoming an important producer of carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, or CMHEC, a chemical essential in the process of shale gas fracturing.
A major issue in the Mexican petrochemical industry is the shortage of raw materials. This deficiency limits the country’s production and processing capabilities, thus inhibiting its international competitiveness and attractiveness to private investors. This is an issue that GPB has been raising awareness of for many years and is now actively trying to solve, as Baz Harvill explains. “What we need is ethylene. Most of our colleagues agree that it would make sense to build a plant with a capacity of 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes, but ethylene has to be available. PEMEX has announced that it is going to build a plant expansion able to provide 80,000 metric tonnes of ethylene oxide annually. The new environment resulting from the Energy Reform has the potential to change how and where that investment will take place. In any event, I expect the outcome to be positive for ethylene oxide consumers.” Baz Harvill believes that the new paradigm created by the transformation of the Mexican petrochemical sector and the Energy Reform will facilitate the increase in raw material availability, which only a year ago seemed much more distant.
The company’s size also allows it to easily implement new environmental practices, processes, materials, and equipment, such as a recent switch from fuel oil to natural gas for its boilers. “We have never had a single problem with SEMARNAT and we have a perfect record on wastewater and chemical treatments. Our environmental advantage when competing with larger chemical companies is quite substantial in itself,” says Baz Harvill. “Right now, most of the petrochemical industry in Mexico is environmentally safe and sound.”
natural gas petrochemical
Raúl Baz
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Home MirandaNet Team: Advisers & Co-Researchers
MirandaNet Team: Advisers & Co-Researchers
MirandaNet Advisers and co-researchers
Core Team Advisers and Co-Researchers Consultants
Ros Asher
Ros works with organisations to develop creative approaches that can improve learning, performance and life chances. Before becoming freelance, Ros was an Education Director and Project Director at Partnerships for Schools, the company set up to deliver the UK’s Building Schools for The Future programme, where she led the ‘Leading Learning’ programme. She has been a Children’s Services Improvement Adviser at the Department for Education, a Local Authority Chief Officer with responsibility for school improvement, development, inclusion and arts services, and an education adviser in four local authorities. Extensive teaching experience covers a range of schools, colleges, higher education and other education settings. She has worked with public, private, third sector and education industry partners, contributed to BBC and Channel 4 music education projects, and been a visiting university lecturer and external examiner.
Contributions to conferences and training in Europe and the USA include sessions on leadership, creativity, change management, improving learning, curriculum development, music and the arts. Ros’s work with voluntary, community and charitable organisations focuses on increasing educational impact. She was Chair of Trustees for WebPlay and is a Trustee with icould, both organisations incorporating innovative use of ICT to inspire learners. She was a founder Trustee of ‘Music for Life’ a programme now run by the Wigmore Hall and Dementia UK, is a Trustee of the New Mozart Orchestra, and a member of the Cultural Learning Alliance steering group, which champions the power of high quality arts and cultural education for all learners.
Patricia Charlton
Dr Patricia Charlton
Dr. Patricia Charlton, co-founder of Creative Digital Solutions, is a knowledge engineer and a researcher on artificial intelligence, cognitive science, education and technology-enhanced learning. She is the author of several papers on artificial intelligence, education, ubiquitous computing, learning analytics and intelligent context-aware designs.
As well as expert in AI and education, she is a senior consultant in designing resources for teaching and learning for all sectors, evaluating digital learning experiences and designing and executing impact evaluation studies. Patricia, in partnership with education stakeholders, designs, develops and shares innovative and effective teaching and learning experiences.
Publications and details: https://creatingtodiscover.wordpress.com
Creative Digital Solutions: http://creativedigitalsolutions.org
Rajvir Cheema
Rajvir Cheema is currently working as a part-time tutor at De Montfort University supporting students with dissertations and placement module. She continues her voluntary work from last year as a mentor at DMU in supporting and guiding students who are currently in process of planning and writing their master’s dissertations. She is also working on an in-depth study as a research assistant funded by the Leicester City Council and led by Sarah Younie as the principal investigator. The research explores using the Eye Gaze Technology as an assessment tool with pupils working at P levels 1-3.
Rajvir has gained a BA and an MA in Education from DMU which has developed her interest and skills in educational research. She has had the opportunity to publish her research on MirandaNet last year and gained a fellowship from the network. The research focused on ‘Engaging young learners through Digital Game Based learning’.
Rajvir aims to continue her interest in education research and explore different aspects of learning. Some key research areas of interest include, technology enhanced learning and use of different technologies to support learners including SEN, English as an Additional language, the curriculum and Assessment.
Jan Lepeltak
Jan was was a senior curriculum developer for ICT at the National Institute for Curriculum Development SLO in Enschede and a professor at the NHL-University of applied science in Leeuwarden (the Netherlands) at the Institute for Education and Communication. For almost 20 years he was editor-in-chief of a Dutch monthly educational magazine on educational technology (COS) and still writes about ICT in several magazines and national newspapers. In 2013 he was a member of the National Organizing Committee of the WorldRoboCup Junior games 2013 in Eindhoven. He is also a representative of NGI (the Netherlands Association for Informatics) in the EU education network CEPIS in Brussels. He is a Senior MirandaNet Fellow and has participated since 1992 in the network. He gave in 2014 several keynotes in conferences about social media, coding and education.
As a freelance consultant Jan continues to do research and development in new pedagogies and ICT. His projects include: e-learning; using social media in small schools; action research; and language development enhanced with ICT. He works as an independent consultant and is founder of LearningFocus.
Sanaa Nusrat
Sanaa has just completed her undergraduate degree in Economics with Mathematics at the University of East London. She has also been engaged in a business project in Bahrain. She began her work with MirandaNet in 2013 when she volunteered to run the team of student stewards in the MirandaNet lounge at BETT13 and 14. She is a valued member of the MirandaNet team as Christina Preston’s personal assistant, organising and running meetings and events; managing the accounts; liaising between consultants and clients; data collection for research projects; and dealing with the unexpected. In the future she will combine this work with post graduate studies that will further her ambitions.
Atisha Parmar
Atisha Parmar has gained her BA from the University of Northampton in Education and went on to doing her MA in Education Studies at De Monfort University. Atisha gained her fellowship last year on MirandaNet and published an article, which was based on ‘the use of data management systems for e-leadership and school improvement’.
Atisha is currently working as mentor at De Monfort University; in this role she works to support students with their Masters thesis. As well as this Atisha works in the primary education sector as a cover teacher. The primary school she works at leads by example in Leicester represented by their state of the art building, facilities and equipment. Furthermore, she also works closely with Christina Preston and Sarah Younie to provide support with research projects.
Atisha’s aims are to develop her research experiences and contribute towards a variety of educational developments. Technology is one of the key aspects, as it is continuously developing with the demand of society and has a huge impact on the learning and development of the education system. Some key areas of research Atisha has undertaken are the benefits of speech and language, parental involvement and reading, using technology with EAL pupils as well as in-ear coaching.
Malcolm Payton
Malcolm’s is a highly respected educational leader and consultant who delivers effective transformation programmes at a local and national level. His experience includes the direct management of schools as an Executive Head and a Director of Education, the creation of leadership resources used by national agencies in the UK and elsewhere, speaking at conferences and training events in a number of countries.
In this work, Malcolm has been at the forefront of the use of ICT in schools. He has established ICT departments in schools, created communities of practice and led a number of innovative projects at classroom level. As a result of this work, he was seconded to a Professional Advisor role with the Scottish Government for three years, leading the Digital Content programme and helping set up GLOW, the world’s first national intranet for schools. He was subsequently engaged as head of transformation for a large education authority in England and then led the Digital Content procurement programme for the Supreme Education Council in Qatar, working with Qatari schools to create and procure digital content that would support 21st century learning. He was also Head of E-strategy at Becta (the UK agency for ICT in education), where he managed a portfolio of over fifty ICT in education projects.
Joanna Wild
Joanna Wild is digital experience and evaluation consultant and researcher. Currently she works on two projects: 1) ESRC- KEO funded ‘Building Community Knowledge‘ project led by Diana Laurillard from the Institute of Education. University of London, and 2) JISC-funded Digital Student study.
From 2010 to 2013 Joanna was researcher attached to the Academic IT Education Enhancement Team at the University of Oxford. She has worked in a number of JISC-, HEA-, and ESRC-funded projects in the field of TEL, specialising in digital experience research and evaluation, learning design (LDSE project), Open Educational Resources (OER Impact Study), Open Practice (OER Engagement Study) and Open Access (Open Access at Oxford).
Before joining Academic IT Services she worked first as e-learning course designer and staff developer at the Centre of e-Learning of AGH-University of Science and Technology in Krakow, and then as scientific project manager and educational researcher in the Technology & Knowlege Unit at the Centre for Social Innovation researching in several TEL projects funded by EC FP7 and Lifelong Learning Programme.
Joanna tweets as @askawild
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INDYCAR to return to Watkins Glen International on Labor Day weekend
Motorsports Tribune May 13, 2016
INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, May 13, 2016) – INDYCAR announced today that the Verizon IndyCar Series will return to Watkins Glen International for an event on Sept. 1-4. Tickets for the Labor Day weekend event – which will also feature Indy Lights – will go on sale next week and will be available for purchase at TheGlen.com and by calling (866) 461-RACE. The race will be the 15th event on the 16-race schedule and will likely play an integral role in the chase for the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series championship.
“It’s great to have the Verizon IndyCar Series return to Watkins Glen,” said Jay Frye, INDYCAR President of Competition and Operations. “A tremendous amount of thanks goes to track President Michael Printup and his entire staff for their efforts in helping make this a reality in such a short time frame. Obviously, Watkins Glen has great racing history and it’s a track that will showcase the on-track competition and overall excitement level of our series. Our season is off to a great start and we can’t wait to bring the Verizon IndyCar Series back to our fans at Watkins Glen.”
Watkins Glen joins Phoenix International Raceway and Road America in a 2016 schedule that returns INDYCAR to fan-favorite venues with deep history in the sport. The 60-lap event will be held on the track’s 3.4-mile permanent road course and broadcast live on NBCSN and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network, XM 209 and Sirius 212.
“We’re excited to welcome INDYCAR back to The Glen,” said Watkins Glen International President Michael Printup. “The fact that we could put this deal together so quickly shows how motivated each party was to make this happen for the fans and the competitors. I know our team has the capability to make this a premier event for INDYCAR, and I believe the drivers are really going to love the new asphalt and that translates into an exciting weekend for the fans. It’s truly a win-win for everyone.”
Watkins Glen International has hosted nine past Indy car races, from 1979-81 and again from 2005-10. The first two events were run on the 2.4-mile short course and were both won by Bobby Unser. The race moved to the 3.4-mile long course in 1981 when another Indy car legend, Rick Mears, drove to victory.
“We’d also like to thank Governor Andrew Cuomo for his support and diligence in bringing this international event back to Watkins Glen International,” Printup continued. “Tourism in the Finger Lakes Region and across New York State will benefit from this exciting addition to our 2016 schedule.””
The Verizon IndyCar Series returned to the historic circuit in 2005, with Scott Dixon winning three straight years before Ryan Hunter-Reay won in 2008 for Rahal Letterman Racing, Justin Wilson secured the first-ever Indy car win for Dale Coyne Racing in 2009 and Will Power took the checkered flag for Team Penske in 2010.
The 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season continues with the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 14 (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET) and includes the highly anticipated 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil on May 29 (ABC, 11 a.m. ET). For information on the series, its 16-race schedule and the 100th Running of the Indy 500, visit www.indycar.com.
Tags : Bobby Unser, Dale Coyne Racing, IndyCar, Justin Wilson, Michael Printup, Scott Dixon, Team Penske, Watkins Glen, Watkins Glen International
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Home » Movies » What's New on DVD in November: 'Schitt's Creek,' 'Weathering With You,' 'Essential Fellini,' and More
What's New on DVD in November: 'Schitt's Creek,' 'Weathering With You,' 'Essential Fellini,' and More
11/29/2020 Comments Off on What's New on DVD in November: 'Schitt's Creek,' 'Weathering With You,' 'Essential Fellini,' and More
Alonso Duralde’s monthly column spotlights the best Indie, foreign, doc, grindhouse, classic and TV releases on DVD and Blu-ray
Photo credit: PopTV
New Indie
Big month for Charlie Plummer, as the young star of “Lean on Pete” has lead roles in two critically-acclaimed films making their way to DVD and Blu-ray: “Words on Bathroom Walls” (Lionsgate) stars Plummer as a teenager overcoming a mental-illness diagnosis to chase his dreams of becoming a chef, in a drama with an impressive ensemble that includes Taylor Russell (“Waves”), Andy Garcia, AnnaSophia Robb, Beth Grant, Molly Parker and Walton Goggins. In the YA adaptation “Spontaneous” (Paramount Home Entertainment), Plummer and Katherine Langford (“13 Reasons Why”) play high school seniors who manage to find love despite the fact that many of their classmates seem to be unexpectedly exploding.
New Foreign
The team behind the global anime smash “Your Name” return with another transcendent love story in “Weathering With You” (GKIDS/Shout Factory), an epic saga of rain, young love, and potato-chip fried rice. Director Makoto Shinkai once again marries breathtaking visuals with a brain-bending plot, and the results are swoon-worthy. This release includes the English-language dub that features the voices of Lee Pace, Alison Brie, and Riz Ahmed, and the deluxe Collector’s Edition (a swell gift for the adult-animation fan in your life) features the film in 4K UHD and Blu-ray, with an additional Blu-ray that includes a feature-length making-of documentary, along with a soundtrack CD, 104-page book, stickers, and much more.
Also available: Joseph Le Fanu’s influential horror tale has been filmed many times, but this latest “Carmilla” (Film Movement), directed by Emily Harris, is an exquisitely Gothic coming-of-age chiller; a Latvian teenager is forced by circumstance to quickly become the head of household in Berlinale prize-winner “Mellow Mud” (Corinth Films); “Hero on the Front” (Omnibus Entertainment) tells the story of Anibal Milhais, a Portuguese hero of World War I; reclusive academic Gemma Arterton opens her home to a displaced child during WWII in “Summerland” (IFC Films), and the experience unlocks a connection to her hidden past.
In Kôji Fukada’s thriller “A Girl Missing” (Film Movement), a home-care nurse’s life begins to unravel after it is revealed that the daughter of her employer has been kidnapped by the nurse’s nephew; an American backpacker (Nat Wolff, “Body Cam”) could spell trouble for a Norwegian village in “Mortal” (Lionsgate), from director André Øvredal (“Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark”); a Korean attorney comes up with an unorthodox plan to save a failing animal park in “Secret Zoo” (Capelight).
Synthesizers are “Le Choc du Futur” (Cleopatra Entertainment) in this tale of the 1978 music industry in Paris and the disruptive arrival of electronic sounds; shot in stunning black and white, “The Chronicles of Melanie” (Corinth Films) tells a brutal tale of survival set against Stalin’s ethnic cleansing of WWII-era Latvia; two shipwrecked knights on a mission of religious conversion face off against each other in the bloody medieval tale “Sword of God” (Film Movement).
New Doc
“The Donut King” (Greenwich Entertainment) contains multitudes: It’s an American success story; it’s a saga about immigrants helping to make this country greater; it’s a look at refugees making their way in a new country and extending a hand to allow others to do likewise; it’s a story about Southern California and cars and food and independent ownership taking on the big national chains. Director Alice Gu tracks the saga of Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian refugee who became a successful donut-shop owner and expanded his empire by helping fellow refugees to open their own shops. It’s a dizzying saga of ups and downs and one of this nation’s most beloved sweet treats, and a fascinating tale of sacrifice, success, and hubris.
Also available: The intimate documentary “Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda” (Mubi) follows the legendary musician back into the studio following a cancer diagnosis; critical hit “Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets” (Utopia) captures the last night of a legendary Vegas dive bar; get to know the popular Americana band with “Delta Rae: Coming Home to Carolina” (Cleopatra Entertainment); documentarian Catherine Gund explores both her mother’s life and the power of art to create social change in “Aggie” (Strand Releasing).
“Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President” (Greenwich Entertainment) examines how the post-Watergate White House became a haven for American roots music; taking on the controversial subject of whether or not mammograms leads to an over-diagnosis of cancer, “bOObs: The War on Women’s Breasts” (Cinema Libre) examines other testing methods with an eye toward improving women’s health; the heartbreaking Alzheimer’s documentary “You’re Looking at Me Like I Live Here and I Don’t” (IndiePix Films) celebrates its tenth anniversary with a new DVD reissue.
“The Adventurers of Modern Art” (Icarus Films Home Video) takes viewers on an animated exploration of some of the 20th century’s most pioneering creators; Werner Herzog’s latest documentary “Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin” (Music Box Films) explores the life of his friend, the author and explorer; treatments for traumatic brain injury are examined in “Quiet Explosions: Healing the Brain” (Cinema Libre); “Harry Chapin: When In Doubt, Do Something” (Greenwich Entertainment) examines both the musicianship and the philanthropy of the legendary activist singer-songwriter.
New Grindhouse
Most attempts at movie franchises based on video games sputter out after a single outing, but The “Resident Evil” Collection (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) celebrates the six films in the series with this lavish release that includes 4K UHD remasters of all the films, as well as an unrated extended cut of “Resident Evil: Apocalypse,” rare archival featurettes, hours of special features and much more.
Also available: Festival fave “Hosts” (Dark Sky Films) warns that inviting the neighbors to Christmas dinner could go murderously wrong; if you like your genre titles with a lot of hyphens, 1982’s “Burst City” (Arrow Video) is a punk-rock-musical-sci-fi-action cult classic; one of the first films to pump up the superhero volume, “Kick-Ass” (Lionsgate) gets a 4K reissue; a kidnap victim discovers she may be the victim of a twisted psychological experiement in “Sleepless Beauty” (Dread).
Peter Cushing returns as Van Helsing in the Hammer horror hit “The Brides of Dracula” (Scream Factory), featuring a new 2K scan and audio commentary; 1971’s “The Other Side of Madness” (The Film Detective) sprinted onto screens to be the first cinematic depiction of the Manson murders; there’s a plague in the streets and a monster afoot in the Korean import “Monstrum” (Shudder/RLJE).
Award-winning Hong Kong horror tale “The Untold Story” (Unearthed Films) just might put you off pork dumplings for life; Kodi Smit-McPhee might be Earth’s only hope in the dystopic future of “2067” (RLJE Films); in “Lake Michigan Monster” (Arrow Video), low-budget regional filmmaking meets affectionate genre tribute; decades before he went down Fury Road, “Mad Max” (Kino Lorber Studio Classics) was a motorcycle-riding out to avenge the death of his family in the 1979 original, available for the first time in 4K.
Four years have passed, but the zombies are still everywhere in “Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula” (Well Go USA Entertainment); a devout community fights back against disease, devastation, and “The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw” (Dread); infamous cult legend “I Spit On Your Grave” (Ronin Flix) gets the deluxe treatment in a new box set, including a new 4K scan and restored mono soundtrack for the original film, plus discs devoted to its sequel and a feature-length documentary, along with mini-posters and promo magnets; He Came from the Swamp: The William Grefé Collection (Arrow Video) celebrates the wonderful, awful oeuvre of one-of-a-kind Florida auteur “Wild Bill” Grefé, including legendary “Jaw” rip-off “Mako: Jaws of Death” and seven more along with commentaries, documentaries, and plenty of extras.
On the heels of their extraordinary Ingmar Bergman box set in 2018, The Criterion Collection celebrates another legendary 20th century filmmaker with the handsomely mounted Essential Fellini. It’s not an entirely complete set — “Casanova” and “Ginger and Fred” are some of the 70s and 80s titles that didn’t make the cut, for whatever reason — but fans will devour the new 4K restorations of 11 of the 14 features included, the new digital restoration of his short film “Toby Dammit,” the hours and hours of documentaries and commentaries, and two new books, featuring essays by, among others, critics Stephanie Zacharek and Bilge Ebiri and novelist Colm Tóibín. Put this at the top of the gift list for the cinéaste in your life.
Also available: No less essential to the history of cinema is that wascally wabbit whose exploits are celebrated in the Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), boasting 60 theatrical shorts and a collectible glitter Funko, the perfect tribute to this drag icon; an often-neglected corner of film gets the spotlight in the five-disc The Jewish Soul: Classics of Yiddish Cinema (Kino Classics/Lobster), featuring ten titles, ranging from legendary classics like “The Dybbuk” to more obscure programmers from the 1930s; Alfre Woodard makes an early screen appearance in 1984’s organized-labor classic “The Killing Floor” (Film Movement Classics), recently restored to 4K; for two exceedingly different looks at addiction, check out the new Blu-ray of Billy Wilder’s Oscar-winning “The Lost Weekend” (Kino Lorber) and the 20th anniversary 4K of Darren Aronofsky’s “Requiem for a Dream” (Lionsgate).
The “Riders of Death Valley” (VCI Entertainment) saddle up for this legendary 15-chapter Western serial; “Moonstruck” (The Criterion Collection) remains a luminous standard among romantic comedies, and this new Blu-ray features an essay by critic Emily VanDerWerff; ecological space saga “Silent Running” (Arrow Video) gets new commentaries, interviews, and visual essays alongside a 2K restoration approved by director Douglas Trumbull.
Alpine residents James Stewart and Margaret Sullvan face “The Mortal Storm” (Warner Archive Collection) when the Nazis come into power in Germany; Kino Lorber offers a trio of Clint Eastwood 1970s classics on Blu-ray: “The Beguiled,” “The Eiger Sanction,” and his directorial debut, “Play Misty for Me” (Kino Lorber); Allison Anders 1960s pop-music epic “Grace of My Heart” (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment) at last makes its North American Blu-ray debut; even streaming titles belong on physical media, and this Blu-ray of “The Irishman” (The Criterion Collection) beautifully captures Martin Scorsese’s latter-day masterpiece.
Essential Fellini from Criterion Collection on Vimeo.
New TV
Bingeing a TV series via streaming has its advantages, but you can’t display ones and zeroes on your shelf. (And more important, you can’t binge a show that disappears into the digital ether because of rights conflicts or other impediments.) So give yourself, or the TV fan in your life, the gift of permanence this holiday season, with fun sets like “Schitt’s Creek”: The Complete Collection (Lionsgate), “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”: The Complete Collection (Kino Lorber Studio Classics), “Saturday Night Live”: The Early Years (Time Life), “Josie and the Pussycats”: The Complete Series (Warner Archive Collection), and for the first time in 4K, “Game of Thrones”: The Complete Collection (HBO).
Also available: The new Branagh adaptation may have been pushed back, but that just gives you more time revel in David Suchet’s Poirot solving the “Death on the Nile” (Acorn); “The SpongeBob Musical”: Live on Stage! (Paramount/Nickelodeon) dazzled Broadway audiences before becoming this acclaimed TV special; before he was a talk-show host, he was a no-nonsense superhero, as “Space Ghost & Dino Boy” (Warner Archive Collection) reminds us.
Troubled married couples swap partners platonically — or do they? — in “Monogamy”: Season 1 (UMC); not to be confused with the similarly-titled film of the same name, “The Nest” (Acorn) is an acclaimed thriller about a couple and their surrogate; after the baffling second season, “Westworld”: Season Three: The New World (HBO) bounced back with an exciting new set of episodes that still managed to maintain the mystery.
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publicenter » Jazz » Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Rodgers And Hart Song Book
Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Rodgers And Hart Song Book mp3 flac
Performer: Ella Fitzgerald
Title: Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Rodgers And Hart Song Book
Format: AA MP1 MOD AU DXD MP2 MIDI
Ella Fitzgerald Vocal 1957
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Song Book, Vol. 1 - Ella Fitzgerald. Открывайте новую музыку каждый день. Лента с персональными рекомендациями и музыкальными новинками, радио, подборки на любой вкус, удобное управление своей коллекцией.
1991 Из-за проблем со здоровьем вынуждена была прекратить студийную деятельность.
1996 Умерла в возрасте 79 лет в Беверли-Хилс, Калифорния, 15 июня 1996 года.
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Song Book - Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy Bregman Orchestra. Открывайте новую музыку каждый день
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Song Book is a 1956 studio album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, with a studio orchestra conducted and arranged by Buddy Bregman, focusing on the songs written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. This album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, which is a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least twenty-five years old, and that have "qualitative or historical significance.
The second of Ella Fitzgerald's famed Songbook series features her singing 34 of the best songs co-written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. With such songs as "You Took Advantage of Me," "The Lady Is a Tramp," "It Never Entered My Mind," "Where or When," "My Funny Valentine," and "Blue Moon," it is not too surprising that these recordings (originally.
Ella Fitzgerald - Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered (07:01, 320Kb/s). Ella Fitzgerald - My Funny Valentine (03:52, 320Kb/s). Ella Fitzgerald - The Blue Room (02:28, 320Kb/s). Ella Fitzgerald - I Could Write A Book (03:37, 320Kb/s). Ella Fitzgerald - Ev'rything I've Got (03:20, 320Kb/s). On this page you can listen to the album, get information about the album, see the list of songs and much more. Listen online and stay in a good mood. Org Album: Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook (2018).
With A Song In My Heart. On Sides 1 and 2, a 'V-402' is indicated below 'MG V-4002-2'. On Sides 3 and 4, a 'V-403' is indicated below 'MG V-4002-2'. 1956-1960 early repressing. Other Versions (5 of 30) View All.
This album has an average beat per minute of 104 BPM (slowest/fastest tempos: 63/174 BPM). See its BPM profile at the bottom of the page. Tracklist Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Song Book. 1. Give It Back to the Indians. Album starts at 170BPM, ends at BPM (-170), with tempos within the -BPM range. Try refreshing the page if dots are missing). Recent albums by Ella Fitzgerald. 100 Songs For a Centennial. Jazz At The Philharmonic: The Ella Fitzgerald Set. 2016. I Am Ella Fitzgerald. The Best of the BBC Vaults.
Send "Ella Fitzgerald" Ringtones to your Cell. Album: Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Rodgers And Hart Song Book, Volume 2. 0.
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Third consecutive victory in Xfinity for Christopher Bell
By Nate RyanJul 28, 2018, 8:15 PM EDT
Christopher Bell became the first full-time Xfinity Series driver in 19 years to win three consecutive Xfinity Series races, capturing Saturday’s U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway.
MORE: Results, points standings
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver, who was coming off wins at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Kentucky Speedway, has four wins on the circuit this season.
“When it’s your day, it’s your day,” Bell told NBCSN’s Parker Kligerman in victory lane. “I’ll take them any way I can get them.”
Bell won on the second overtime restart after losing the lead to Justin Allgaier. Restarting behind Allgaier and Brandon Jones, he passed both to lead the final two laps.
Allgaier finished second, followed by Kyle Benjamin, Ross Chastain and John Hunter Nemechek.
In an NBCSN interview with Kligerman, Allgaier wasn’t happy about Bell’s winning moves, saying he was “salty” because he had raced Bell clean all day.
Bell was cruising toward the win when the caution flew with 15 laps remaining for a spin by Chase Briscoe directly in front of the leader off Turn 4. Bell’s No. 20 Toyota made slight contact with Briscoe’s No. 60 Ford.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the last full-time Xfinity driver to win three straight on the circuit, triumphing at Dover, South Boston and Watkins Glen in June 1999.
STAGE 1 WINNER: Cole Custer
STAGE 2 WINNER: Bell
NEXT: 3 p.m. Aug. 4 at Watkins Glen International, NBC.
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Former Child Farmworker Advocating for Change – National Consumers League
October 12, 2009 /in imported from_the_experts /by Ryan Morgan
By Reid Maki, Child Labor Coalition Coordinator
Norma Flores (left) speaks with Labor Secretary Hilda Solis at the 2009 Trumpeter Awards Dinner.
At the National Consumers League‘s (NCL) annual Trumpeter awards dinner earlier this month, I watched a young women with a surprising background mesmerize nearly 500 people with her story. We heard terrific speeches by award recipients U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, CBS News’ Steve Kroft, and California Business Reporter Lynn Jimenez, but the most surprising speech to me was from Norma Flores Lopez, who spoke about her childhood harvesting fruits and vegetables in American fields.
Norma, who is now in her mid-20s, was one of the hundreds of thousands of farmworker children who toil daily in American fields to feed us consumers. She began working with her four sisters in the fields when she was only 12 because of loopholes in United States child labor law that allow children working in agriculture to work at younger ages than children in other industries.
“I can still remember waking up at four in the morning, sitting at the edge of my bed, lacing up my muddy boots, grabbing my hoe and walking towards the old school bus waiting for us in the [migrant] camp parking lot,” said Norma. Because of the heavy morning dews, she often started work in a raincoat. A few hours later, the blazing sun made her sweat like crazy.
“I hated it,” said Norma. “I hated to work in the fields. I hated getting sweaty and dirty. I hated getting blisters and cuts and sunburns. I hated finishing my row of work only to see there was no water to drink at the end. I hated to have to walk half a mile to go to a dirty portable toilet. I hated how the work affected me outside of the fields. I hated having to enroll in school late every year, to have to make up months of assignments and have to fight to get my school credits. More than anything, I hated knowing my parents needed me out there to make ends meet, because it meant I couldn’t say no. Even though I was only a kid, I knew I didn’t belong there. I knew I could do more than hoe weeds for 70 hours a week.”
“Child labor in agriculture wears you down emotionally and physically, and is one of the most dangerous occupations,” added Norma, who now works on the Children in the Fields Campaign for the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs based in Washington, DC. NCL and the Child Labor Coalition, which NCL co-chairs, are partners on the campaign, which seeks to remove the loopholes that allow children like Norma and her sisters to work at very young ages in the fields.
An estimated 400,000 children help harvest our food. Norma is aware she is one of the lucky survivors of the years of hard work. She worked hard to get into a prestigious high school in Texas, did well, and went on to graduate from college. Many farmworker kids are not so lucky. Advocates believe the school dropout rate for migrant children is between 50 and 80 percent.
Norma worries about the kids left to work with their families, and she urged her attentive audience to help pass the Children’s Act for Responsible Employment, a bill introduced by Representative Lucille Royball-Allard of California this September. The CARE Act will address the inequities and harsh conditions faced by children currently employed in agriculture in the United States by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to remove the exemptions that allow children in agriculture to work at younger ages than other industries — unless they are working on their family’s farm, noted Norma. It will also increase the penalties for violators of the child labor laws and require greater data collection from the Department of Labor.
With Secretary of Labor Solis listening on, Norma thanked the cabinet member for her co-sponsorship of an earlier version of CARE when she was in Congress, as well as her work on behalf of farmworkers.
“Although I am married now and working in DC, thousands of miles away from the fields I grew up working in, I am still very connected to the migrant farmworker community, said Norma. “My parents are currently working in Iowa’s corn fields, and my two younger sisters continue to help them by working by their sides. I continue to see the problems that have plagued the farmworker communities—from the housing conditions, to the working conditions, to the plight of child labor in agriculture.”
“Changes need to be made now to ensure all children have a healthy childhood and access to quality education,” Norma urged.
Anyone interested in being placed on a listserve to get updates about the Children in the Fields Campaign and the progress of the CARE Act should email NCL at reidm@nclnet.org.
https://nclnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/NCL-logo.png 0 0 Ryan Morgan https://nclnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/NCL-logo.png Ryan Morgan2009-10-12 17:06:472020-07-07 10:59:07Former Child Farmworker Advocating for Change – National Consumers League
Consumerist.com Honored With Consumer Education Leadership Award – National... Challenging Times for USPS – National Consumers League
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The future of Fifth Harmony
Tajae Thompson | Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Ruby Le
In 2012, on the U.S. version of “The X-Factor,” five teenage girls from across the country were put together by Simon Cowell, who also founded One Direction and Little Mix. Fifth Harmony went on to achieve a massive amount of success and garner a large following.
The original five were Ally Brooke, Camila Cabello, Dinah Jane, Lauren Jauregui and Normani Kordei. Each member of the group is not only a strong vocalist but also a great dancer. All five were contestants on “The X-Factor” and were originally called Lylas. While they did not win, they took home third place and would get signed to Simon Cowell’s label Syco Records, which housed artists such as One Direction, Leona Lewis and James Arthur.
Fifth Harmony released two studio albums together, “Reflection” and “727.” The group experienced some success, their most notable songs being “Work From Home,” “Worth it” and “Boss.” They have also worked with artists such as Ty Dolla Sign, Gucci Mane and Kid Ink.
Fans of Fifth Harmony, who call themselves “Harmonizers,” were shocked in December of 2016 when Camila Cabello announced she would be leaving the group. Both musical acts went on the create great music. Cabello released her own solo album “Camila,” while the remaining four girls released their third and final album “Fifth Harmony.”
In March of 2018, the remaining four members of Fifth Harmony announced their hiatus, so that Kordei, Brooke, Jane and Jauregui could work on their individual careers. While it was still heartbreaking to fans, many saw this coming, as both Jauregui and Kordei began releasing solo music even before the group announced their hiatus.
In February of 2018, Kordei released “Love Lies” a collaboration with Khalid for the movie “Love, Simon.”
Jauregui released “In Your Phone,” with boyfriend, Ty Dolla Sign, was featured on Halsey’s song “Strangers” and provided vocals for the song “All Night” on Steve Aoki’s album in 2017.
While it did not receive as much attention, Brooke and Jane both released solo music in 2017 as well. Brooke joined ASAP Ferg on “Look at Us Now” and Jane partnered with Daddy Yankee and French Montana for “Boom Boom.”
After the group’s hiatus, all of the girls have begun to tease their fans regarding new music. Jauregui and Kordei have released new music, but Brooke and Jane are still in the studio perfecting their songs.
With the success of “Love Lies,” Kordei had high expectations for her new music. In October of 2018, Kordei released “Checklist” and “Slow Down” in collaboration with DJ Calvin Harris. While both songs are very good, they differ from the music she did in Fifth Harmony. During her Fifth Harmony days, the songs were pop and choreography-heavy. Now as a solo artist, Kordei has delved into rhythm and blues, and it definitely suits her.
Similarly to Kordei, Jauregui released her first song since the group’s hiatus, called “Expectations.” Her raspy vocals were absolutely amazing on this R&B track. “Expectations” is the first song to be released from her debut solo album, and expectations are high.
Now that Fifth Harmony is on hiatus, it appears the girls are exploring their own artistic freedom and trying new genres. It is very interesting to see how they have grown over the past six years since their “X-Factor” days. Due to their immense talent, there is no doubt that future projects released by Dinah, Ally, Normani and Lauren will be exceptional.
Tags: Fifth Harmony, RnB, Simon Cowell, The X-Factor
About Tajae Thompson
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The state of female pop music
Girls and pop music are no longer here to arouse visions of pillow fights...
Camila Cabello seeks solo success with uneven debut
Baking With Brenna
The Dandy Warhols return to roots in ‘Distortland’
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Arthur Kennedy’s Conquest of the Screen Blogathon — Peyton Place (1957)
February 17, 2019 February 17, 2019 Samantha Ellis
NOTE: This article discusses a multitude of sensitive subjects, so please read at your own risk.
During the golden age of cinema, Hollywood boasted more stars than there were in the sky. Still, for every actor whose name made its way above the title, there were dozens whose names remained on the tip of audience’s tongues and those who never quite received the recognition that they deserved. Arthur Kennedy comes to mind as one of these actors, but what I’ve always found unique about him is that he was too good-looking to make it as a character actor, yet at the same time too imperfect in his onscreen persona to get by as a leading man. So Arthur Kennedy found himself somewhere in between stardom and obscurity for decades, receiving five Academy Award nominations yet not winning a single one. That’s why it makes me truly glad that my friend Virginie of The Wonderful World of Cinema realized Kennedy’s underutilized potential enough to honor him with Arthur Kennedy’s Conquest of the Screen Blogathon on what would have marked his 105th birthday! Choosing an Arthur Kennedy movie to review for the blogathon was seemingly as simple as it could be. I looked up his filmography and discovered that he was in Petyon Place (1957), a film which I own on DVD yet still hadn’t seen, and instantly made it my choice without reading too much more into it. I’ll admit that going into this blogathon, I knew the bare minimum about the plot of the movie and absolutely nothing about Arthur Kennedy’s role in it. Needless to say, I was in for quite a shock.
Original theatrical poster for Peyton Place (1957).
If you aren’t already aware, the setting of Peyton Place (1957) is an idyllic New England town during the early 1940s that shares a name with the picture. On the surface it might seem perfect, like nothing at all could happen to you there, but in reality that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The film’s nearly three hour screen time is divided amongst its assortment of residents, but all of the separate plotlines share one theme: that idle gossip and opinions can have a hurtful and lasting impact on others, and ultimately threaten their livelihood. I would argue that our main progtagonist is Allison MacKenzie (Diane Varsi), an aspiring writer and high school student who hopes to learn about the facts of life and leave the town, particularly to get away from her denunciatory mother Constance (Lana Turner). While most of her peers are exploring themselves and others sexually, like rich boy Rodney Harrington (Richard Coe) who’s in the process of fighting his urges for the local “good time” girl Betty Anderson (Terry Moore), Allison is on the cusp of a healthy and intriguing relationship with Norman (Russ Tamblyn), who’s also been left in the dark about sex. They find themselves having to fight accusations, including those from their own mothers, at every turn. At the same time, Allison’s mother is having trouble practicing what she preaches about chastity as she’s pursued by Michael Rossi (Lee Phillips), the new man in town who’s become the local high school principal.
Hope Lange, Betty Field, and Arthur Kennedy as we first see them in a scene from Peyton Place (1957).
Each person who lives in Peyton Place is struggling with their own personal issues, but none of these conflicts come even close to the burdens that Allison’s best friend Selena Cross (Hope Lange) bears. She lives in a shack on the outskirts of town with her mother Nellie (Betty Field), who works as the MacKenzie’s maid, and her younger brother Joey (Scotty Morrow). Also residing with them is her stepfather Lucas (Arthur Kennedy), the town drunkard who does very little other than drink and abuse his stepdaughter. Selena attempts to make the best of the situation, finding comfort in Allison and her boyfriend Ted Carter (David Nelson), who hopes to become a lawyer, but from the beginning of the film, it’s obvious that Lucas is too close for comfort to Selena, and eventually he rapes her. Weeks later, Selena discovers that she’s pregnant with his child, which she reveals to the trusted Dr. Swain (Lloyd Nolan). An attempted second attack from Lucas causes her to miscarry, and Selena forces Dr. Swain to keep her pregnancy a secret out of fear of her own reputation in town along with her boyfriend’s, but the doctor still threatens to kill Lucas unless he leaves Peyton Place. Lucas obliges and joins the navy, but his lack of explanation to his family causes Nellie to commit suicide. He doesn’t stay away for long either, and as Selena manages to pick up the pieces of her life and turn the shack into a real home, Lucas returns with a desire to make the place, and her, his own. Finally Selena has had enough and beats Lucas to death, but will she be able to explain her crime without revealing the full extent her stepfather’s abuse, or will she serve a life sentence for a case of self defense?
Hope Lange and Arthur Kennedy in a scene from Peyton Place (1957).
I must admit that if I had known the details about Arthur Kennedy’s role in Peyton Place (1957), I probably would not have chosen to analyze it. It’s incredibly difficult for me to lavish praise onto Arthur Kennedy’s performance because I don’t want any positive review to be misconstrued as me condoning the character, who I truly find to be the most despicable human being that I’ve ever seen portrayed onscreen, which is saying a lot because I’ve previously written about Bette Davis in In This Our Life (1942). However, at the same time I think it’s for the best that I have this sort of emotional response to his portrayal, because it seems that it was exactly what he and director Mark Robson intended. It’s fitting that his mannerisms and the way that he puts emotion into the role make the audience believe that he’s the scum of the Earth, because his actions show that that’s exactly what he is. In fact, each film that Arthur Kennedy and Mark Robson completed together went on to become a highlight of his career, as he directed Kennedy in the first four of his five Academy Award nominated features: Champion (1949), Trial (1955), and this film, as well as one of his rare critically acclaimed leading roles in Bright Victory (1951).
Publicity photo of Arthur Kennedy, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Peyton Place (1957).
I almost feel bad for enjoying Peyton Place (1957) as much as I do because of the harrowing experiences that Selena goes through, but ultimately it’s so well-acted and gripping that it’s impossible for me not to be entertained by it. While the characters are full of faults, you won’t find any in the actors, though I think it was a mistake to cast Lana Turner as Connie MacKenzie. I’m a huge fan of hers, but she doesn’t exude the maternal persona that she would later bring in full force to Imitation of Life (1959), and I think it was misleading for the studio’s promotional department to give her top billing and imply that she had a leading role in the film. I would have loved to see someone more matronly and more believable in the part without stealing too much of the spotlight, like Olivia de Havilland, who was also considered for Connie. Still, each and every star pulls their own weight and then some, lending themselves to an unforgettable ensemble that makes for an expert adaptation of the bestselling novel by Grace Metalious. For every scene that depresses me, there’s one with an actor that I really admire like Russ Tamblyn or the unbelivably captivating Terry Moore to distract me and lift my spirits, and overall I couldn’t recommend this film enough. Clocking in at nearly three hours of pure melodrama, Peyton Place (1957) miraculously held my attention all the way through. While it’s not for everyone, if you’re a fan of soap operas, shows like Twin Peaks (1990), or any of these talented performers, this is a must-see.
Arthur Kennedy Arthur Kennedy Blogathon Betty Field Bright Victory Champion David Nelson Diane Varsi Hope Lange Imitation of Life Lana Turner Lee Phillips Lloyd Nolan Mark Robson Olivia de Havilland Peyton Place Richard Coe Russ Tamblyn Scotty Morrow Trial Twin Peaks
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12 thoughts on “Arthur Kennedy’s Conquest of the Screen Blogathon — Peyton Place (1957)”
palewriter2 says:
What an insightful, balanced review, Samantha. I’ve been meaning to watch this film, but I’ve been putting it off because of the subject matter. You’ve convinced me that I should give it a try.
Samantha Ellis says:
I had no idea about the subject matter going into it! 😖 All I knew was that there was a small town with dark secrets, and I implied that someone was murdered, but that’s about it. It was definitely shocking and completely unlike anything else they were doing at the time, but in a great way. Thanks so much for your compliments as always, and do let me know what you think of the movie if you see it!
Erica D. says:
I can only agree with Gabriela’s words; you’ve done a tremendous job talking about the she story in a frank and just manner. This certainly must have been a bit shocking to watch having had no warning. I felt the same at a certain point when watching ‘The Story of Esther Costello’, which also involves rape. It hits you hard both emotionally and physically but perhaps that is the intention — to show you just a small fraction of what the real victims incur. These stories need to be told though it’s never an easy thing sitting through them. I commend your effort. 🙂
I completely agree; I think this might actually be the first time I’ve had no warning about that kind of subject matter in a movie, usually the plot on IMDB leaves me better informed beforehand. But thank you for all of your kind words, and I was definitely captivated by the film for the reasons that you listed!
For the era this was a film filled with scenes and subject matter that I’m surprised made it past the censor! I totally get and agree with your opinion on Arthur Kennedy’s performance and the character. This is one twisted film!
I thought the same thing when I watched it! It really is a twisted film, but the cast couldn’t have handled it better, especially Hope Lange. I really believed that she’d gone through everything that Selena did.
As one of Arthur Kennedy’s acclaimed performances, I am glad you chose to bring this movie to the blogathon so we could enjoy your reaction and insights.
Peyton Place works on so many levels. The engrossing and emotional lives of the characters, the breathtaking scenery, and cinematography, and Franz Waxman’s score. Oh, Franz Waxman’s store always brings tears to my eyes.
Thank you! I think this was an instance where the plot and everything going on made me forget about the score a little, but it undoubtedly had a subconsious effect on me as I watched it as no movie is complete without a score! Next time I watch this, I’ll pay more attention to Franz Waxman’s great work!
Excellent review Samantha! Very thoughtful. When you say that Arthur Kennedy is a bit between character actor and leading actor it made me think of Earl Holliman’s situation. He said he kind of felt that way in an interview. Anyway, I watched Peyton recently as I knew you were going to write about it for the blogathon and pretty much felt the same about it as you do. It’s true that Arthur Kennedy’s character is truly bad, but he was excellent at playing it and, luckily, he was a versatile actor and played better persons in his career which can console us! Thanks so much for your contribution to the blogathon!
Pingback: The Arthur Kennedy’s Conquest of the Screen Blogathon is here! – The Wonderful World of Cinema
You said it – Arthur Kennedy plays a despicable person. He makes your skin crawl when he’s on the screen, which shows he did his job. Still, this can be a difficult movie for some people to watch, and I’m glad you were sensitive to that when writing your review. Nicely done, you.
Le Magalhaes says:
I’ve watched Peyton Place many years ago, and didn’t realize until now that Kennedy plays the disgusting Lucas here. As you said, it’s weird to praise him, but he manages to cause only anger in the audience. This character is one that leaves a lasting bad impression in us – a reverse highlight of a very good movie.
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1,344 pledged delegates at stake on Super Tuesday
March 3, 2020: One-third of the Democratic pledged delegates are at stake on Super Tuesday. Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, and Beto O’Rourke endorsed Joe Biden on Monday.
Poll Spotlight
“But inside the Democratic Party there is a debate not unlike the one that divides the two main parties about the breadth of change that Washington should pursue. The Democrats’ moderate wing, which is now anchored by older black voters in the south, remains deeply skeptical of Sanders-style socialism, while the New New left, powered by young radicals in big cities, is repelled by the incrementalism of Biden.
This divide between Sanders’s and Biden’s bases might not be easily bridgeable, and if a clear delegate winner fails to emerge, the party’s convention in Milwaukee could be as messy as anything since 1968, when supporters of anti-war candidate Eugene McCarthy took to the streets to protest the establishment-led victory of vice president Hubert Humphrey. How the eventual nominee wins the nod, and how he (or she) handles the inevitable bruised feelings in the other camp, will matter more this year than it has in decades.”
– Ryan Lizza, chief Washington correspondent for Politico
Fifteen states and territories hold Democratic presidential primaries on Super Tuesday—including the nation’s most populous states, California and Texas. The jurisdictions voting March 3 are:
Democrats Abroad—the Democratic political party affiliate representing U.S. citizens living outside the United States— also begin their primary on March 3 and conclude voting on March 10.
Forty percent of the U.S. population has a Democratic primary event on Super Tuesday. A total of 1,344 presidential pledged primary delegates will be awarded, not including the 13 delegates from Democrats Abroad. That’s 34% of the pledged delegates at stake in the whole Democratic primary process.
With 4% of pledged delegates awarded so far, 38% of all available pledged delegates will have been awarded after Super Tuesday.
Former 2020 presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, and Beto O’Rourke endorsed Joe Biden in Texas on Monday. He also received endorsements from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (Ill.) and Reps. Bennie Thompson (Miss.), Collin Peterson (Minn.), Jerry McNerney (Calif.), Marcia Fudge (Ohio), and Veronica Escobar (Texas). Biden will hold his primary night rally in Los Angeles.
The editorial boards of several newspapers in Massachusetts, including The Boston Herald, endorsed Michael Bloomberg on Monday. Bloomberg spoke at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee convention in Washington, D.C., where he said he opposed the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. He is holding a rally in South Florida on Tuesday night.
Tulsi Gabbard is holding a town hall in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday night.
Democracy for America and the editorial board of The Nation endorsed Bernie Sanders on Monday. Sanders is hosting an election night rally in Vermont on Tuesday.
EMILY’s List, National Organization for Women PAC, and Utah House Minority Leader Brian King endorsed Elizabeth Warren. She is voting in Massachusetts before holding a campaign event in Detroit, Michigan.
Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee jointly raised $86 million in February. Trump held a campaign rally in North Carolina on Monday
In an interview with Reason, Bill Weld said he would remain in the race after Super Tuesday. “Steve Bannon said that if the president loses four percent of the traditional Republican vote, he cannot be re-elected. If that’s true, that’s a marker I can meet,” Weld said.
CNN: The 5 most likely Super Tuesday scenarios
Politico: Super Tuesday heralds an epic Democratic Party clash
RealClearPolitics: Anti-Sanders Coalition Forms as Buttigieg, Klobuchar Back Biden
Flashback: March 3, 2016
Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Marco Rubio, and Donald Trump participated in the eleventh Republican presidential primary debate in Detroit.
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Law enforcement arrives Saturday outside a Safeway grocery store in Tucson, Arizona, after several people were shot.
Witness: Arizona gunman 'was ready for war'
More coverage on the shootings from affiliates KOLD, KVOA, KMSB, KPHO and KGUN.
[Updated at 10:30 p.m. ET] A man who helped subdue the gunman in Saturday's Arizona shooting spree said the man was trying to reload when he was tackled to the ground.
"He was ready for war. He was not playing around," Joe Zamudio told CNN. "He was going to keep shooting. It was not over. He had just ran out of bullets."
The gun, which another bystander had wrestled from the gunman, was empty and cocked open, and the shooter had another magazine at the ready, Zamudio said.
Zamudio pinned him to the ground until police showed up. The suspect, 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner, is in custody of the Pima County Sheriff's Office, and authorities are obtaining search warrants for a residence and his vehicle. Authorities also are seeking a person of interest but his suspected connection to the incident is unclear.
Loughner is accused of shooting 18 people, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a third-term Democrat who had organized the "Congress on Your Corner" meet and greet. Authorities believe the gunman had specifically targeted Giffords. She is in critical condition after undergoing surgery for a single gunshot wound to the head, but doctors said they are optimistic over her prospects for recovery.
Watch a timeline of events
Eleven others were wounded in the shooting and six are dead, among them U.S. District Court Judge John Rolls, a friend of Giffords' who had stopped by the event to say hello after attending Mass, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said.
Also killed was Giffords staffer Gabe Zimmerman, director of community outreach who had coordinated the event to introduce Giffords to her constituents.
A 9-year-old girl also was killed.
The shooting sent shock waves through Washington, where Giffords was regarded as gracious and kind, a moderate Democrat known for her dedication to her constituents and willingness to work across party lines.
In light of the shootings, all legislation on the House schedule for the coming week has been postponed, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced in a statement.
Americans also struggled to come to terms with the event. Many of them showed up to a vigil at the Arizona State Capitol to pray together and share their thoughts.
In the Twitterverse, theories abounded as to the gunman's motivation. Meanwhile, while speaking to the press , the sheriff lamented "the vitriolic rhetoric" in American political discourse, suggesting it played a role in the shooting.
"This has not become the nice United States of America that most of us grew up in and I think its time we do the soul-searching," he said.
"The anger, the hatred the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous and unfortunately, Arizona has become the capital. We have become the mecca of prejudice and bigotry."
[Updated at 10:00 p.m. ET] A House vote scheduled for Monday on whether to repeal health care legislation has been postponed after Saturday's shooting.
All legislation on the House schedule for the coming week has been postponed in a decision by leaders of both political parties in the House so "we can take whatever actions may be necessary in light of today's tragedy," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said in a statement.
Read more on CNN.com
[Updated at 9:13 p.m. ET] Some who knew Giffords and others who just wanted an outlet for emotions in the wake of the shooting rampage gathered on Capitol Hill Saturday night to honor the victims.
More than 50 marchers braved subfreezing temperatures and gusty winds to march to the Capitol and up the west steps to hold the vigil.
[Updated at 8:55 p.m. ET] A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation says the Glock model 19 used in the shootings was purchased legally. The official did not have details at this time as to when and where the gun was purchased.
The gun was loaded with a 30-round magazine. The official said it is likely the extended magazine used in the shooting was purchased separately and at a different time. The official said such a magazine does not automatically come with a weapons purchase and that it would be extremely rare for them to be sold together in one purchase.
The official said the suspect had purchased another gun a few years ago but this person did not know the details about what happened to that weapon and if the alleged shooter still owned it.
[Updated at 8:23 p.m. ET] Officials are not convinced that the suspected gunman acted alone, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik told reporters.
Law enforcement is actively searching for a "person of interest" who is a white male in his 50s believed to have assisted the suspect in a shooting, Dupnik said.
A suspect who Dupnik would not name is in the custody of the Pima County Sheriff's Office, he said. The suspect has had previous contact with law enforcement "regarding threats" to kill, Dupnik said, and described him as having a "troubled past."
CNN has confirmed that the suspect's name is Jared Lee Loughner, 22, whose apparent online footprint professes an distrust of government and a fondness for books such as "Mein Kampf," "The Communist Manifesto," "Peter Pan" and "The Republic."
"There's reason to believe this individual has a mental issue and I think that people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol," he said.
"Vitriol" in public debate was a recurring theme in Dupnik's remarks as he blasted the media for "the vitriolic rhetoric" heard on television and radio.
[Updated at 7:57 p.m. ET] Gabe Zimmerman, director of community outreach for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was among those killed in Saturday's shooting at a constituents meeting outside a Tucson Safeway, Gifford press secretary CJ Karamargin said.
Zimmerman was the staff member who set up today’s event in Giffords’ district, Karamargin said. The Tucson native was engaged to be married.
[Updated at 7:43 p.m. ET] The Army said in a statement that the suspect in the shooting was never in the Army.
"He attempted to enlist in the Army but was rejected for service. In accordance with the Privacy Act, we will not discuss why he was rejected," the Army said in a statement.
[Updated at 7:21 p.m. ET] Jared Lee Loughner, the suspect, had a limited presence on social-media sites, including YouTube and MySpace. Here's a sampling of some of the messages that CNN found on Loughner's pages:
December 26, 2010: I'm not going to change the mistakes, you don't know – funny! (I think the CIA watches my-space)
December 30, 2010: I now understand a certain word - Cult!
December 15, 2010: If I define terrorist then a terrorist is a person who employs terror or terrorism, especially as a political weapon.
I define terrorist.
Thus a terrorist is a person who employs terror or terrorism, especially
as a political weapon.
If you call me a terrorist then the argument to call me a terrorist is Ad hominem.
You call me a terrorist.
Thus the argument to call me a terrorist is Ad hominem.
December 15, 2010: The majority of citizens in the United States of America have never read the United States of America's Constitution.
You don't have to accept the federalist laws.
Nonetheless, read the United States of America's Constitution to apprehend all of the current treasonous laws.
You're literate, listener?
Read more about Loughner's digital footprint on CNN.com
[Updated at 7:12 p.m. ET] The University of Arizona's men's basketball game against Stanford University has been postponed following the shootings.
"The University feels the game should be delayed with deep respect to the victims and families impacted by this tragedy," Arizona athletics director Greg Byrne said.
The game will be played at 12:30 p.m. MST Sunday.
[Updated at 6:48 p.m. ET] Saturday's deadly shootings at an Arizona constituency meeting outside a Tucson Safeway appear to have “no nexus to terrorism," a law enforcement official said.
This official did not know if there had been any recent threat against Rep Giffords but said there are frequent threats to various members of Congress, mostly via phone calls or e-mails, or mailed threats.
[Updated at 6:30 p.m. ET] U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts released this statement on the death of U.S. District Court Chief Judge John Roll, who was killed in the shootings:
"Chief Judge John Roll was a wise jurist who selflessly served Arizona and the nation with great distinction, as attorney and judge, for more than 35 years. I express my deepest condolences to his wife Maureen and his children, as well as the other victims and their families. Chief Judge Roll’s death is a somber reminder of the importance of the rule of law and the sacrifices of those who work to secure it."
[Updated at 6:16 p.m. ET] The Tea Party released this statement regarding the shootings:
“We at the Tea Party Express are shocked and saddened to hear about the terrible tragedy that took place in Tucson today. It is appalling that anyone would commit such unthinkable violence against Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford, her staff, a sitting federal judge and the many other victims and families impacted.
"These heinous crimes have no place in America, and they are especially grievous when committed against our elected officials. Spirited debate is desirable in our country, but it only should be the clash of ideas. An attack on anyone for political purposes, if that was a factor in this shooting, is an attack on the democratic process. We join with everyone in vociferously condemning it."
Read the full story on CNN.com
[Updated at 5:41 p.m. ET] Who is Gabrielle Giffords? She's a Democrat who was first elected in 2006. She has served as chairwoman of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee and also holds seats on the House Science and Technology and Armed Services committees.
She won her third term in a closely contested race against a Tea Party-sponsored candidate and was one of three Democratic legislators who reported vandalism at their offices following the March vote on health care reform.
She is married to Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, a NASA astronaut who is scheduled to lead a space shuttle mission to the International Space Station. The two married in 2007, after meeting four years prior in China, as young leaders selected by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, Giffords told the New York Times in her wedding announcement.
The article described their courtship as a drawn-out affair between two deeply committed civic servants who slowly found their way to each other. When they met, Giffords was seeing someone and Kelly was married.
After Giffords split from her boyfriend, she invited Kelly to join her on a tour of the Arizona State Prison in Florence.
"I’d been working on legislation dealing with capital punishment. Mark is the son of police officers — well, he just really wanted to sit in ‘the chair,' " she told the newspaper.
The two married three years later, they married at an organic produce farm in Amado, Arizona, called Agua Linda. An avid recycler, Giffords wore a Vera Wang gown borrowed from a friend.
"To a bride who moves at a velocity that exceeds that of anyone else in Washington, and a groom who moves at a velocity that exceeds 17,000 miles per hour," a wedding guest said in a toast to the couple.
[Updated at 5:20 p.m. ET] Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer expressed condolences for the shooting victims - 6 are dead and 12 injured.
"I am just heartbroken. Gabby (Giffords) is more than just a colleague she is a friend. She has always been a noble public servant," an emotional Brewer said, pausing for composure.
"I ask the people of Arizona and the people of America to keep the victims and their families in their prayers, and pray for their recovery and pray that in Arizona we never have to experience a tragedy like this ever again."
Giffords publicized the "Congress on Your Corner" meet-up at the Safeway in her southern Arizona district on her Twitter account.
Judge John Roll, the chief judge on the U.S. District Court for Arizona, was among 6 people killed, along with a 9-year-old girl, officials said.
Witnesses said the gunman shot Giffords at point blank range through the head and then continued firing. The suspect, identified by law enforcement sources as Jared Lee Loughner, has been taken into custody.
[Updated at 4:52 p.m. ET] Chief Judge John Roll was among 6 people killed at an Arizona constituent meeting outside a Tucson grocery store Saturday.
[Updated at 4:30 p.m. ET] The suspect in a shooting at an Arizona constituent meeting outside a Tucson grocery story is a white male born in 1988, CNN's Jeanne Meserve has confirmed from a federal law enforcement source.
Six people have died, including a 9-year-old girl, and 12 were injured, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, authorities said.
[Updated at 4:07 p.m. ET] Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is in critical condition and a young child has died after a shooting at a political meeting at an Arizona grocery store, a hospital spokesman said Saturday.
Giffords, who was hosting the event, is under anesthesia after undergoing surgery for a single gunshot wound to the head "through and through," said Dr. Peter Rhee, Trauma Director at the University Medical Center in Tucson.
"The Congresswoman is not deceased. She is in critical condition," Rhee said in a press conference. "I am very optimistic about recovery."
[Updated at 3:40 p.m. ET] Six people have died and 12 - including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords - were injured in a shooting at a political meeting at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store Saturday, according to Rick Kastigar of the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
[Updated at 3:20 p.m. ET] A suspect is in custody in the shootings of at least 12 people, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, at a constituent meeting at an Arizona grocery store, the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement.
"The suspect is in custody. No further details on the motive or other victims are available at this time," the statement said. "The U.S. Capitol Police are directly involved in this investigation. As more information is developed, it will be provided. In the interim, all Members and staff are advised to take reasonable and prudent precautions regarding their personal security."
A statement from President Obama confirmed that some people had died.
"This morning, in an unspeakable tragedy, a number of Americans were shot in Tucson, Arizona, at a constituent meeting with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. And while we are continuing to receive information, we know that some have passed away, and that Representative Giffords is gravely wounded," he said.
"We do not yet have all the answers. What we do know is that such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society. I ask all Americans to join me and Michelle in keeping Representative Giffords, the victims of this tragedy, and their families in our prayers."
[Updated at 3:00 p.m. ET] Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is currently undergoing surgery for a gunshot wound to the head, a spokeswoman for the University Medical Center in Tucson said.
Nine patients were brought to the hospital, including a child. All of them are in either serious or critical condition and are undergoing surgery, spokeswoman Darci Slaten said.
A federal judge was also among those shot, a law enforcement official said. It is not clear whether he was among those taken to the hospital.
[Updated at 2:43 p.m. ET] There were conflicting reports Saturday about the condition of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords following a shooting Saturday at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store. Giffords' press secretary said the congresswoman remains in surgery for her injuries, disputing an earlier report from a law enforcement source saying she had died.
[Updated at 2:23 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords died Saturday after a gunman opened fire at a Tucson, Arizona grocery store, a law enforcement source said. Giffords, who had been holding a meeting with constituents, was among at least 12 people shot.
[Updated at 1:51 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was among at least 12 people shot at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store, a Democratic source told CNN's Dana Bash. The source called her injuries "pretty serious."
[Updated at 1:41 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was meeting with constituents at a Safeway grocery store in Tucson, Arizona, where at least 12 people were injured in a shooting shortly after 10 a.m. MST Saturday, a spokesman for the Pima County sheriff's Department said. It is unclear whether Giffords was among those hurt.
"Several" people were shot Saturday at a grocery store in Tucson,
Arizona, a spokesman for the Pima County Sheriff's Department said. No other details were immediately available.
Post by: The CNN Wire and CNN's Emanuella Grinberg
Filed under: Arizona • Crime • Gabrielle Giffords
Sarah Palin Your Right-Wing Terriorists Are Now Reloading As You Adviced And she Is Seriously Thinking Of Running For President? Its Just Crazy!
Why are People Not Debating Sarah Palin And Exposing Her For Who She Is. I guess It Is Impossible To Debate Ignorance. Because Sarah Palin Is Ignorant!!!
January 8, 2011 at 7:25 pm | Report abuse |
Judge John Roll was a wonderful man. He was a very good mentor to young lawyers, a polite, gentleman-like jurist and kind to everyone in his court. Years ago I had jury duty in his court. As a lawyer, being called for jury duty is a waste of time because you know that sooner or later you will be struck from the panel. No attorney wants another attorney on the jury. I had to keep standing up and answering "yes" to the standard questions because I had law enforcement experience, legal training and had worked in another office with the prosecutor who was trying the case. At the end of the day Judge Roll asked the jurors to look around and see if they knew anyone else on the jury panel. A young man raised his hand and said, "I think I used to date that girl" (indicating me). When Judge Roll asked me if I knew the other juror, I looked him like a deer in headlights and shrugged my shoulders. The man then said, "I think we only went out once or twice." Judge Roll, quick on his feet with something that would make everyone feel better, said, "don't worry sir, there have been women on the jury panel I took out more than twice... and they did not recognize me either!" Not true, of course, since he was married for years, but just his way of smoothing over an awkward situation.
Sarah Palin is disgusting. I'm going to pray to God tonight for her and her family's death. This is ridiculous incitement of political hate gone disturbingly wrong - and everything Palin wanted as well. RIP Judge Roll and Sarah Palin, hope you die a painful death...
Jim Brieske
Vince. You have jealousy issues and should see a counselor soon. Your obvious inadequecy as a man means you might want to have your penis removed also and get breast implants. But do not get the same size as Sarah Palin. That would not be healthy.
Gwyneth Paltrow's are very very nice.
talk about political hate gone wrong...vince
Do you realize Vince, you are exactly what you claim to despise. Criticizing someone for incitement in the same breath you assert you will be praying for the death of an entire family is not only oxymoronic, not only idiotic, it is also blasphemous.
My prayers have to been to the killed, the injured, and their families. Maybe I should add you to the list – obviously you need them.
January 10, 2011 at 8:07 am | Report abuse |
One man turned this planet upside down. Buckle your seat belt America; turbulence is coming our way just like it has through third world countries. It still baffles me that 55 million stupid people voted for him the second time around...
Tejana
It took about eight hour for the news media to mention the name of the gunman, why? because he was white. If he had been black or hispanic, they would have mention it every time they would take a breath. what a bunch of racist.
I agree with you, and what is making me more upset is that they aren't discussing those that died, showing their names or pictures, to have breaking news like this throughout the day and to keep showing the Congresswoman ( who I am praying survives and is ok ) just doesn't seem right
...This congressperson was singled out by the gunman because she is female. ..... So what does CNN do? ...Bring out a WHITE MALE to anchor the story...Wolf Blitzer was RUDELY AWOKEN from his weekend nap to news-read reports that so-called newspeople in the CNN "newsroom" are ripping off the internet, a "job" anyone could do for minimum wage....."She 's fine...She's going to be ok." I..Yeah, ok when you're shot in the face & the brain. Right. ..The truth is, it's just too much for the white male dominated media to admit that men are out to – – not just yell at or scream at – – but KILLl women who disagree with them, who don't fit the uneducated, unenlightened Sarah Palin mold they idolize, both consciously & unconsciously......Also notice how Wolf didn't come onto the scene till about 3 hours after the shooting spree. As I recall, CBS acted the same way with the fatal Princess Diana crash. Not bothering to do any coverage till a few hours had passed because she was a female life you're talking about, & therefore of lesser interest, of lesser value.
This is what happen when gulible people listen to what they hear on conversative talk radio and tv show (you know who I'm talking about and who I'm talking to). I do not understand those who defends the action of this 22 year old who killed among those he doesn't like, a 9 year old? This kid does not deserve the death penalty, he should be made to suffer in prison for the rest of his idiotic life.
You're crazy. You probably say the same thing every time something, anything, happens. It's all because of race. Ridiculous.
Martman
Nothing more need be said. Let Mrs. Palin's blog speak for itself. Left, right or center it is time to recognize how dangerous this woman is to our nation. To all of the victims and their families, please know that our hearts go out to you.
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2011/01/palins_gun_targ/
Jay in NC
Where where you when protesters had a signs saying “Kill Bush” and advocating that the White House be bombed, at the March 18, 2007 anti-war rally in San Francisco.
you guys are all wrong. according to his facebook page the shooter was a fan of obama and hated conservatives. he shot someone he thought was a republican. just goes to show you, some people should not have guns.
also, a young girl was killed, a federal judge was killed and many people and their families are affected. stop ranting like fools now.
ummm....what???....you are very scary too!!!
Judge Roll , who was killed, was a 1991 Bush appointee to the federal bench.
The shooter did not have a Facebook page. The Facebook page you either viewed or were told about is fake. You are a gullible idiot.
Sara Palin and the Tea Party should be held responsible for in sighting this type of violence. The no party has become the party of hateful murders.
Ignorance is only hightened by the intended twist of truth to fit a hardened belief system. But ignorance is still a cess pit to wallow in... carry on.
Jen06
No matter how hard the Left and media (redundancy alert!) try to spin this as a Tea Party attack, no Tea Party supporter agrees with either Mein Kampf or the Communist Manifesto. Those two books belong on a shelf with the ravings of William Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, and other anti-American writers favored by the current White House and the Left (redundancy alert!), not those who support the Tea Party. 22-year old anarchists who “favorite” flag burning, the Communist Manifesto, and Mein Kampf are not part of the Tea Party. The link below contains verification: " Here’s a screengrab of CaitieParker’s Twitter acccount. She’s been talking about Jared Lee Loughner and his Leftist political views. The guy was clearly a Leftist Democrat who hated conservatives, and especially conservative Democrats like Gabrielle Giffords.
http://hillbuzz.org/2011/01/08/my-congresswoman-voted-against-nancy-pelosi-and-is-now-dead-to-me-eerie-daily-kos-hit-piece-on-gabrielle-giffords-just-two-days-before-assassination-attempt-on-her/
Palin is a poor excuse for a "Human Being" and unfortunately there are those that think she is brilliant. She is a disgrace to this country and should not be allowed to participate in the Government in any way. Her ideologies and her actions are nothing short of being a terrorist!! She is one sick individual and is setting this country on a very dangerous course!!
VeryOldMan
Some of the Republicans have commented that there were "kill Bush" sign during his administration. There is a huge difference here. No Democratic leaders have ever said those things. On the Republican side, Sara Palin is the past VP candidate and leading candidate for the 2012 election. Rush and Glen are in the mainstream of Republicans. Those Republican leaders give those "unstable" people reasons to act.
January 8, 2011 at 10:02 pm | Report abuse |
You are 100% right. The loss of civility–with attacks, not constructive ideas–has gone WAY too far. This was bound to happen. How said that a 9 year old girl–among others–got caught in the crossfire. Vitriol doesn't solve anything; it just inflames those who do not have the mental capacity to sort it out or put it in context. Palin's incrediblly weak statement shows that the neural disconnect is still there; she lost her soul a long time ago to money and power. Running this country is a team situation; Palin is infatuated with the letter I –which is not in team.
Boy, are you clued-in. Dimwit. This guy was an extroverted example of ANY leftist radical.
ThusItBegins
Steve Lyons must be prohibited from carrying a firearm
Are we going to learn who those are that died? Their names? Photos? I'm certainly praying for our Congresswoman and all families involved but to have breaking news about this story throughout the day and not show names and/or photos of those that passed is not right, it's just wrong, report the news and report it all CNN and all other news stations that are covering this as it unfolds
Bob Lamey
I agree. Are the reporters telling us that the others who were killed or wounded are not important because they're not politicians? Are the reporters telling us that they don't believe that anyone would care about the others? I know that the congresswoman's husband is an astronaut but I don't know if any of the other wounded required surgery or are in critical condition. Are they not worth mentioning because they're not astronauts? If you're fatally shot do you have to be a judge to deserve mention?
They will not release the names until the next of kin have been notified. Think about it, how would you like to first hear your parents were killed by way of the local news?
Had you listened to the news, they said they didn't want to mention any names or give out any sort of identifying information until they were certain that all the families had been notified.
They will not release the names until the next of kin have been notified. Think about it, how would you like to first hear your husband or brother were killed by way of the local news?
Tom - I agree. I know names are withheld until family is notified and with would be terrible to here of a family members death on the news. However I did notice that the names of the congresswoman and the judge were reported immediately after the shooting. Hardly enough time to be sure the families were notified. The others were still not mentioned on the evening news hours laters. Surely enough time to notify. It still seems that some are worthy and others are not.
@Bob. No, that's just the life of a public figure. Think of all the other public figures and/or celebrities whose deaths or injuries are reported before their families have time to be notified.
They can't release the names until all families have been notified.
January 9, 2011 at 12:13 am | Report abuse |
As soon as I heard the news, I said to my Wife "Watch all the hate and malice come in from the Democrats.". And sure enough, here U all are! Doing what you do best, pointing fingers and spewing hate when you don't even have the facts. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.... you hater libs are the biggest hipocrits on the Planet. Do ya think you could shut up till we find out the facts?? I guess not. Typical libs.
Steve, you had something to do with this, to blame the victims
Joanne Hope
I blame the programs such as Beck, Limbaugh and Oreilly, Hannity and Palin. They are INCITERS to commit violence and hatred in this country. They get the weak and disturbed all fired up with hatred to be the HERO to go out and do these horrible things. I blame them strongly. The KOCH BROTHERS are behind all the groups and people fighting this administration.
What are you going to say when you find out he was a left loonie? Seems to me you are jumping to conclusions based on your hate.
You are very well informed as well as correct although there are others.
I agree completely Joanne, and so does the sheriff leading the investigation. Sarah Pailin had a hit list with this woman on it, she bragged about it. She of course took it down today, which shows she feels guilt. The father of Congresswoman Giffords said today, when asked if his daughter had any enemies "yes, the tea party". I hope you are all proud. This man wasn't a liberal, those talking about his facebook page are lying, there isn't one that can be viewed. Also the sheriff stated the Judge was there by chance, and the "target" was Gabriell Giffords, so that's another lie I've read here, he wasn't the target. As far as the signs someone here said called for Bush's death, didn't anyone do that, is George Bush, happy and doing fine at his ranch. Man up and denouce the violence you leaders try to incite.
There are kooks all across the political spectrum. No one knows what particular comment or action will set them off. What happened to civil dialogue in this country? What has replaced it? I think we all know. We can tune it in or out every day on the radio, or television, or the tabloids. We are closer to anarchy now than we have been since the assassination Spring of 1968 and as there are a lot more of us there are also a lot, and I mean, A LOT, more guns in the hands of the lunatic fringe.
VRWCMama
That's correct, only the Right uses rhetoric and vitriol. Nobody on the Left has ever said a "mean thing" about conservatives and they are always the epitome of respect and courtesy during political debates. Let's not even get into the Bush years.... It's all on record from both sides. Calling one side out without acknowledging the Lefts contribution is obscene and delusional.
Cam Thomson
My best guess,...I think that the authorities will find that Jarrod is so 'disturbed'– that he (Jarrod) was trying to impress Bristol Palin by acting on Sarah Palin's 'target' & 'cross hairs' comments on her website and 'tweets'. Politically motived yes, only to the extent that Jarrod was 'obsessed' with Bristol. Since Sarah Palin has 'put her family–out there', we can expect more such incidents of disturbed individuals doing crazy things to try and impress people in the Palin Family.
You can't be serious!!! There is absolutely no evidence WHATSOEVER linking this disturbed man to any political organization. It's completely unfounded comments like yours that continue the divisiveness found in this country...
Didn't know Mein Kampf was a left winged piece of literature.
Mein Kempf is extreme right-wing propaganda....it would be a great training manual for Fox News employees, especially their so-called "journalists."
durb in ak
susan, you can honestly say you believe the right is not the more powerful polarizing source in politics currently? Well...... that's too bad. not very sensible.
Palin targeted Giffords in an ad, placing her in the crosshairs of a gun. A couple of months later, Giffords is shot in the head. Big coincidence there! Palin and her billionaire Koch brothers funders are likely doing victory dances over the shootings....didn't even have to pay a hit man, just managed to incite a total loon to do it!
Joanne ... you are 100% correct and the people commenting that he might have been a liberal are as crazy and theogically blind as the shooter. The only person I can think of that has done this kind of violence who MIGHT have been liberal is John Hinkley, Jr. and I don't know that he was liberal ... I think he shot Reagan to prove his love for Jodie Foster. It's all twisted ... Glenn Beck, Jan Brewer, et al ... Sleep well tonight with the blood of a 9 year old girl's dead body on your hands. It just goes on and on ... when progressives criticized Bush we were told to "respect the president" but now Obama get's posters of him as a Nazi and the Joker from Batman. These people can't be reasoned with.
To Brian, ever here of Lee Harvey Oswald????? If ever there was a lefty her was one. Visited Cuba, the Soviet Union, etc. Please don't show you ignorance on a national website. Saying lefties never do something like this is completely untrue. Ever here of Stalin? Murdered millions of his own people. Real nice guy, big lefty too. So, there are plenty of wackos in the world. left and right. If you're going to speak lies, then you're almost as bad as they are.
John Q. Public
This is a case of radical-left violence on moderates if anyone cares to stop the spin, and look reality square in the eye.
Alaska Dawn
Jared Loughner, Alleged Shooter in Gabrielle Giffords Attack, Described by Classmate as "Left-Wing Pothead", by school friends as "a flag burning, radical liberal, atheist, and obsessed with the world ending in 2012".
So now what lies you gonna spout?
I think that people really need to stop blaming people who have had nothing to do with the shooting. Marilyn Manson did not cause the Columbine shootings and Palin and Beck didn't cause this one. The people who pulled the triggers are responsible for their own actions. Period. We live in a free society where dialogue is encouraged, even if you disagree with what is being said. I have never heard any of the people tell anyone to go start shooting politicians.
Silverstrk
It is people like you Joann who jump to conclusions, are worse than Rush, Beck, and Palin put together,
because you hate the TRUTH that you don't get from ABC,CNN,MSNBC, AND OTHER LEFT WING RADICALS!.
Durb in Ak,
I suggest you read all the hate speak being espoused by the Tea Party/ right wing
haters on this blog to get an answer to your question...
Seriously?? Arrest Palin. Fox news is defending the murders?? Ugly, angry, people...
And you are RIGHT. I hope they can live with themselves. This guy posted we should be using Gold...now where did that come from? This is probably only the beginning. Palin, Beck, FoxNews, Rush they all are inciting violence. Everyone who has been watching the news media has seen this coming. Poor people that got killed and hurt...my prayers goes out to them and their families. The new media knows this disgusing act has to do with the media. The above people Palin, Beck, FoxNews and Rush has been trying to target President Obama every since he has been in office. I also blame the GOP...they back the above people and the tea party movement. This is a shame. The media should put the blame where it go....ALL OF THE ABOVE.
I blame the likes of Keith Olbermann, Ed Schultz, Joy Bayhar and Dylan Ratigan for all their hate spewing that warps and twists young minds into committing acts like this.
This is actually for Jim 50. He certainly wasn't a left wing loon. Can we at least bury the dead first before we start blaming the ghost of "the left," I suppose you think the communist manifesto led him to be a loony left? what about his peter pan reading, what would that make him, what does his reading schedule have to do with anything. He presumably hated the government because of currency. He is most likely deeply psychopathic, which means he probably knows what he did was wrong, but did it anyway because he has mental problems, however, when you have vitrolic media figures point the finger at politicians for the evils in our world, then I suppose it is possible for psychopathic people to take their deranged anger out on the innocent.
tonybinca
Joanne, look up MK Ultra and learn that these things are staged events designed to forward the police state agenda. Where was security?
wammy130
It's disturbing that yourself and the "good" sheriff would immediately place blame for the actions of a disturbed individual on your political enemies. This type of reaction is a desperate attempt to change the subject because you can not compete in the arena of ideas. You and the sheriff are the hate mongers not the majority of Americans.
My heart goes out to the congress woman, the judge, the child, all of the unnamed victims, and their families.
stormsun
All of us bear some responsibility for the state of our society. We have sat passively while the rhetoric has grown increasingly hate-filled, perhaps shaking our heads while one group of Americans demonized and berated another group of Americans for the "sin" of having differences of opinion and expressing them...two of our most cherished rights. Isn't it time we expect and require civil discourse in our society? Or do we want to become another nest of hate-filled, fratricidal extemists, the very thing we lament in other corners of the world.
MiMiRetta
We have seen the result of extreme and fanatic media and public figures who only care about their egos, power and money. When people like Limbaugh, Beck, Palin and others like them spout out their intolerant rhetoric and foster cult-like followers, they not only divide this country in a way that is dangerous to the survival of democracy, their rantings are bound to incite the unstable to commit acts of hate and carnage such as today. I'm sure their love of themselves will not allow them to consider it, but Limbaugh, Beck, Palin and others such as them may as well had their fingers on the trigger. The blood of these innocent people is on their hands.
James A.
Your comments can be summed up in one word: SEDITION! Google this word and you'll see what I mean. Spread this around.
January 9, 2011 at 2:24 am | Report abuse |
Jim, sounds like you are in the same category of this animal who killed these people. I could not stand Bush, but I never wish him harm. Our president should be respected, because we are the United States. With that said, I would like to beat your ass, and I wouldn't run!
You falsely accuse a group of inciting violence and then threaten violence... how wonderfully typically liberal.
I have a feeling that one day we will read about Louis rants on the internet.
Well congratulations to Sarah Palin, She got this woman in her crosshairs!! What a tradegy!! Actions and words DO have consequences.
This really sucks now you cant walk into a store with out having to watch your back.. But a white shooter in state where there blaming hispanics for the violence. Not good at all..
No Kidding. I thought Jan Brewer, the HateMonger, told us that Mexican's were be-heading white's in the AZ desert ... but had no proof. I know Sarah Palin personally from college and I don't think she would want this ... but the Tea Party better wake up and speak out against violence ... but they won't. It's disgraceful.
I am shocked , but not surprised at all –
I am also shocked at the Reublican response – SO this is a wake up call they say, they evidently are just beginning to
realize that this could happen to any of them
I truly hold the Republican right and Tea Party responsible for this senseless shooting
They have for months now by their silence which infers and implies their complete agreement the vitriolic hateful and open threats that have been openly stated by people in their parties. These threats some carried out – by throwing items at Democratic Congressmen as they entered their offices, Bricks, stones and letters mailed to Democratic Congressmen and the posts on blogs and comment sections all across the country. Actually encouraging the discontent and fanning the flames. Limbaugh Beck O Reilly ( and yes, Palin, who has Congressmen names and districts they she personally disagrees with posted with maps on her site) and others on Fox news have for months and months and months encouraged the "" people " to rise up and do something – and on and on and on
I don't see why some of the comments on this post and CNN has not mentioned or made this connection
It is pretty clear to me. and others
I hold them accountable and yet I suspect they will come forward and say something to the effect that this senseless shooting is just the result of the unrest of the populace and they told us so. They won't take any responsibility for it all all and it sickens me to the core
Goodnesss, Ann. What are you going to say when you find out this was a left loonie? Seems you just hate too much.
d spencer
TOTALLY agree with you Ann....
You are absolutely right Ann...now the republicans are postponing voting against the health care bill because they know in their hearts that they are indirectly responsible for this terrible tradgedy...They are trying to distance themselves from this incident, but you cannot preach hate and revenge and not realize that there are going to be some unstable people who will try to act out these thoughts...The tea party needs to be outlawed as they are just a bunch of hate mongers being led by the likes of Sarah Palin,Glen Beck,Rush Limbaugh, Faux news with a nod from the republican party....
Right on! Limbaugh listeners would say "DITTO", but they are too ashamed to speak right now.
Well said Ann, totally agree, and those that won't denouce this kind of violence are sick individuals.
Laurie Reeves
Thank-you Ann.....I have been to several other threads today attempting to say the same thing.....but the moderators are not accepting much. Palin...Beck.....Hannity and Limbaugh......enough said.
Thank you Ann, for telling it like it is. There are a lot of SCARY people in this country right now.
Very well stated Ann. Astute, articulate and most correct.
Jeb60
Funny how all the far lefties here take a sick opportunity like this to blast conservatives. Remember all the Bush hate a few years back? How dare Conservatives speak up against the radical left's attempt to remake this country! This reminds me of the Kennedy assassination when all the liberals claimed it was a right wing "climate of hate" in Dallas that was responsible. Then come to find out the assassin was a Communist, ex-defector to the Soviet Union who supported Fidel Castro.
Oh please Ann,
Get off your condescending high horse and just try to allow an original thought into your head. Both sides of the political spectrum are guilty of the vitriol and when you write the drivel espoused here you just continue to be part of the problem.
Couldn't agree with you more!
Ann you are a retard! How can you blame the tea party or republicans for a crazy person? How the hell do you know that this physco is a tea party person, a republican, or a democrat?
He likes Mein Kampf and the communist manifesto. If you want to fly off the handle and blame some one blame Hitler and Lenin.
Get a clue.
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Auction to benefit KSG students committed to public service
Harvard researchers map newform of genetic diversity
Eight days at a private vacation home in Greece, five days at the Maui Marriott, dinner for six cooked by Kennedy School of Government (KSG) Dean David Ellwood, or dinner for four with former KSG Dean Graham Allison are just a few of the big-ticket items up for bid at the 21st annual Summer Internship Fund (SIF) auction, Dec. 7 at KSG. A silent auction, featuring autographed books, dinners at local restaurants, and gift certificates, among other items, will begin at 5:30 p.m., to be followed by a live auction for the bigger prizes.
This year, the live auction (including appearances by Ellwood and other Kennedy School faculty) will be Webcast live for the benefit of all to participate. In addition, telephone and absentee bidding alternatives will be offered for both the silent and live auction portions of the evening for those who are unable to attend the auction in person. Those wishing to utilize telephone or absentee bidding must preregister by 5 p.m. on Dec. 6. Space for these services may be limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Access the auction Web site http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/sif for further details, including the telephone/absentee bid form and auction terms and conditions.
All proceeds from the SIF auction enable KSG students to pursue unpaid public service internships (government or nonprofit) in summer 2007. These internships provide invaluable opportunities for students to develop their skills, contribute to communities locally and globally, and acquire a taste for the contribution of public service employment.
“My internship experience lent a fresh perspective to my work in the second year [of my program] and crystallized my commitment to international development. [It allowed] me to take the skills I had acquired [at the Kennedy School] and see their applications in real field environments,” said Kristen Himelein, a master in public administration in international development candidate who served as a 2006 summer intern with the World Bank in Dar es Saleem, Tanzania, and Kampala, Uganda.
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Choral director honors tradition
Star count of the universe may triple, new study suggests
Before coming to Harvard, Andrew Clark spent seven years at Tufts University, where he presided over a quadrupling of choir membership, led students on international tours, and engaged in creative collaborations with other universities and ensembles. Clark has also served as chorus master and assistant conductor of Opera Boston, associate conductor of the Boston Pops Esplanade Chorus, and assistant conductor of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh (the chorus of the Pittsburgh Symphony), to name just a few of his posts.
Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer
New leader looks to the past for fresh performing ideas
By Paul Massari Harvard Staff Writer
Date December 2, 2010 March 12, 2019
Ask the members of Harvard’s Holden Choirs — the Harvard Glee Club, The Radcliffe Choral Society, and the Harvard Radcliffe Collegium Musicum — to describe their new director, Andrew Clark, and their answers usually include the same word: energy.
“Andy brings an energy and freshness,” said Jason Varnell ’12, a glee club member. “We just had a retreat when we rehearsed for three days straight. We were tired on the second day, but Andy was directing us. He was dancing around, talking to us, anything to get a chuckle out of the choir. He gives so much, and we use that energy for singing.”
Clark’s enthusiasm may come in part from his youth. Barely 34, he was named director of choral activities last May. The move came after Clark spent seven years at Tufts University, where he presided over a quadrupling of choir membership, led students on international tours, and engaged in creative collaborations with other universities and ensembles. Clark has also served as chorus master and assistant conductor of Opera Boston, associate conductor of the Boston Pops Esplanade Chorus, and assistant conductor of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh (the chorus of the Pittsburgh Symphony), to name just a few of his posts.
Clark hopes to bring fresh energy and vision to choral music at Harvard. One of his top priorities is to leverage digital technology to bring the Holden Choirs to the world.
“We have a treasure trove of recordings on vinyl, tape, even eight-track that I would like to digitize,” he said. “It can be a challenge to fill Sanders five to six times a year for a performance, but there are over 30 million amateur choir members in the U.S. Many of them have iPods and laptops. Our groups are too talented not to figure out how to disseminate our performances around the world.”
Clark also hopes to bring new programming to Harvard’s choirs, often by looking to the past.
“I’m interested in the rediscovery of neglected American pieces,” he explained. “I recently found a piece by the 20th century composer Ross Lee Finney at Harvard’s Loeb Music Library, one of the few places in the world that has a copy. Finney took 14 hymns from the Ainsworth Psalter [that was] brought to America by the pilgrims in the 17th century and wrote arrangements for them so they sound fresh and familiar at the same time. The glee club will perform them in our March 5, 2011, show, and we hope to be the first to record this composition in studio.”
The choirs’ most-challenging program will come at the end of the year. “On the Transmigration of Souls” is John Adams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning composition for chorus and orchestra, written as a tribute to the victims of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Modern and emotionally intense, Adams’ piece includes prerecorded sounds and spoken word, as well as a children’s choir, which sings fragments from missing-persons signs posted at ground zero in the days after the attack. Clark said he chose “On the Transmigration of Souls” because it shows students how art can respond to violence and human tragedy.
“I struggled with the decision to program the piece because it’s so difficult,” he said. “It brings back a terrible experience. But art serves not only as a balm, but also as a way to confront the world we live in.”
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, a complex composition that Clark describes as “the antidote” to Adams’ piece and “an incomparable expression of the joy and connectivity of human experience,” will follow “On the Transmigration of Souls.”
A bit of a production spectacular, the spring show will include close to 300 student singers, the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra, and the Boston Children’s Choir.
Clark hopes that students and audiences are excited by the new programming. At the same time, he hopes to honor the choirs’ 150-year history of excellence. “Every tradition — including the annual retreats — has proven itself to be extremely effective,” he said.
Above all, Clark wants to honor the legacy of his predecessor, Jameson Marvin, who was choral director at Harvard for more than 30 years, and under whom Clark served as an assistant conductor from 2001 to 2003.
“The spirit, the sense of purpose, and the expectations of students for excellence speaks volumes about Jim Marvin and his legacy,” Clark said. “Jim viewed his career as an investment. It’s my job to make sure that investment continues to flourish.”
Upcoming holiday concerts
Haydn’s “Maria Theresa Mass”
The Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus performs “Theresienmesse” with the
Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston at Sanders Theatre.
Kevin Leong, conductor
Dec. 4, 8 p.m. Admission is $20 (general)/$10 (students & senior citizens), and tickets are available through the Harvard Box Office.
Christmas on the Common
The
Radcliffe Choral Society and the Harvard Glee Club perform at First Church Congregational in Cambridge, 11 Garden St.
Andrew Clark and Kevin Leong, conductors
Dec. 10, 8 p.m. Admission is $20 (general)/$10 (students & senior citizens), and tickets are available through the Harvard Box Office.
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Amanda Fowler-Woods and Dr. Anna Chudyk are both first-time recipients of the SPOR national training fellowship.
Early career researchers awarded CIHR fellowships for patient-oriented research
April 22, 2020 —
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) recently awarded fellowships to two Rady Faculty of Health Sciences researchers as part of a newly launched Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) – Transition to Leadership program.
Both researchers are located in Max Rady College of Medicine departments and are advised by Dr. Annette Schultz of the College of Nursing.
Dr. Anna Chudyk, a postdoctoral fellow in the department of family medicine, and Amanda Fowler-Woods, a PhD candidate in community health sciences, are both first-time recipients of the SPOR national training fellowship.
Both said they are honoured to have their work recognized by CIHR and receive their fellowships, which were created to support development of leaders in the field of patient-oriented research.
Dr. Anna Chudyk
Chudyk was awarded $70,000 per year plus a research stipend for three years for her work on the theory and application of patient-oriented research, which she is leading in collaboration with patients, the departments of family medicine and surgery, College of Nursing, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management and St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre researchers.
“My current projects are focused on developing a deep theoretical understanding of patient-oriented research and applying this knowledge to enhance capacity for patient-oriented research, both within St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre and the broader Canadian patient-oriented research community,” she said.
Chudyk began her research career by obtaining a master’s degree in epidemiology and biostatistics from the University of Western Ontario. While at the University of British Columbia, she found an interest in applying her research skills to helping people in the community through participatory research, which brought her to UM last year.
“I truly believe that those affected by a problem should be actively involved in the generation of solutions to it, and that individuals’ reflections on their first-hand experiences are essential to effecting individual and social change,” she said.
While this is her first SPOR fellowship, her master’s and PhD studies were also supported by national CIHR scholarships through the Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship and Vanier Canada Graduate scholarship programs.
Amanda Fowler-Woods
Fowler-Woods received $50,000 per year for two years for her Indigenous health research. A two-time UM alumna who works regularly with Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, she said this is the first time she’s received CIHR funding for work that she leads, although she has worked on several other CIHR-funded projects.
“This fellowship will allow me two years to finish my dissertation research project, which is part of a larger project initiated through Shared Health which involves the development of a system for the collection of racial and ethnic identifier data within the Manitoba health-care system. This is something we don’t do consistently in Canada, but is being done in other countries, like the U.S., New Zealand, Australia and the U.K.,” she said.
She said the award will also help with her work at UM’s George & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation, where she is working to incorporate Indigenous health perspectives throughout its various platforms.
“As an Indigenous researcher, it has always been important to me that my work is focused on the health of Indigenous peoples,” said Fowler-Woods, who grew up in Thunder Bay, Ont. “I have a very strong connection to my Ojibwe culture and I feel very fortunate that this fellowship will allow me to continue my work in this area.”
Indigenous, Kinesiology and Recreation Management, Max Rady College of Medicine, Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Research and International
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Tramel: NFL likely to play Saturday games if college season goes dark
Published: Mon, August 10, 2020 4:00 PM
The college football season seems to sit on the brink of collapse. The headwinds are blowing towards a postponement of the 2020 season until perhaps spring 2021, because of the pandemic.
But if college football indeed plugs the pull on having a season, that doesn’t necessarily mean we won’t have football in the autumn. The NFL could stand in the void.
As early as April, the NFL reportedly was looking at Saturday games, should the college season be canceled. And over the weekend, when the Mid-American Conference canceled fall sports, increasing speculation that even the Power 5 conferences would do the same, the NFL/Saturday possibility rose again.
Profootballtalk.com reported Saturday that the NFL likely would move games to Saturday, if college gridirons are empty on their traditional day.
What’s not clear is how the NFL would distribute those games. The easiest way would be adjusted contracts with their current broadcast partners, the television networks.
Some have speculated that the NFL could put Saturday games on a streaming service or pay-per-view, but doing that outside the realm of NBC, CBS, Fox and ESPN would damage the viewership of those networks. Moving a Patriots game, for example, to pay-per-view or streaming would mean fewer New England eyeballs for the networks. That is content the networks have paid for. Hard to see pay-per-view or streaming working without the networks being involved or being compensated for their loss.
A more traditional arrangement would be Saturday tripleheaders. Early afternoon, late afternoon, night.
How to divide those windows among the four networks, and how much extra they pay, would have to be negotiated.
Or how about this idea: NFL quadrupleheaders. Start at noon back East, 11 a.m. Oklahoma time. Play just like we do in college: 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 9:30 p.m., with West Coast games.
NFL games finish in a more timely manner than do college games, so you could go 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m. That would mean a 9 p.m. Eastern start and catch a lot more viewers. It also would bring Central Time zone kickoffs into play – Dallas or Kansas City or Chicago starting at 8 p.m. Saturday is not a crazy kickoff time.
Four windows, four networks. Rotate them, giving each access to the preferred slots. Or sell them all to the highest bidder(s).
Of course, all this is dependent on the NFL season managing to launch. But most people think it will. The NFL has myriad coronavirus problems, but appearance is not one of them. The NFL is a business and has never said it’s not.
Profootballtalk.com also reported that the NFL would “need a one-year dispensation from the broadcast antitrust exemption, which allows the NFL to sell TV rights in a league-wide bundle but prevents the NFL from televising games on Friday or Saturday from Labor Day through early December.”
Such approval would seem to be easily obtained. The exemption is to allow college football to thrive on Saturdays. Increasingly, that looks unlikely in 2020.
FILE - In this Dec. 8, 2019, file photo, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) works in the pocket against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game in Atlanta. Ryan joined other Falcons players in a video that noted the legacy of the civil rights icon John Lewis,...
FILE - In this Dec. 8, 2019, file photo, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) works in the pocket against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game in Atlanta. Ryan joined other Falcons players in a video that noted the legacy of the civil rights icon John Lewis, whose death last month reacquainted Americans with an enormously consequential figure in the fight for voting rights and social justice. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
CommentsTramel: NFL likely to play Saturday games if college season goes dark
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Wild sign Palmieri to a one-year, two-way deal
By Mike HalfordJan 16, 2013, 2:28 PM EST
The Minnesota Wild have agreed to terms with RFA forward Nick Palmieri on a one-year, two-way contract.
Palmieri, 23, was taken by New Jersey in the third round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He came to Minnesota last season as part of the Marek Zidlicky trade and appeared in nine games for the Wild, averaging over 10 minutes per contest.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound winger has been playing with AHL Houston, where he racked up 9G-10A-19PTS in 36 games — and according to Mike Russo of the Minnesota Star-Tribune, Palmieri’s now fighting for the Wild’s final spot at forward heading into this season.
According to Capgeek, Palmieri will make $577,500 at the NHL level this year and $65,000 in the AHL. So, as you can imagine, he’s probably quite motivated to stick in Minnesota.
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WATCH LIVE: USA versus Denmark, World Hockey Championship
By Adam GretzMay 7, 2017, 9:38 AM EDT
The United States is back on the ice at the 2017 World Hockey Championship on Sunday when it takes on Denmark.
Puck drop is scheduled for 10 a.m. ET and you can watch all of the action here on NBCsports.com.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE
Even though the United States has put together a solid roster led by Jack Eichel, Johnny Gaudreau, Dylan Larkin, Jacob Trouba and Brock Nelson they were on the losing end of a 2-1 decision against Germany in their first game of the tournament earlier this week.
They look to rebound from that loss on Sunday morning.
Denmark lost its first game of the tournament, 3-0, to Latvia.
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Golden Ring attractions
Yaroslavl was founded by the Prince Yaroslavl the Wise in the middle ages.
The historical part Yaroslavl, a World Heritage Site, is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Kotorosl Rivers. The most popular sights are the Spaso-Preobrazhensky ("Transfiguration of the Saviour") Monastery, the Church of Ilya Prophet, the Tolgsky Monastery.
Historical Centre of the City of Yaroslavl is enlisted in the UNESCO's World Heritage List.
The Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery
The Spaso-Preobrazhensky ("Transfiguration of the Saviour") Monastery is an ancient construction on the territory of the city. In the 16th century the monastery was surrounded by the stone wall. At the end of the 18th century the monastery became a residence of Archbishops. The ancient Russian poem "The Lay of Igor's Raid" ("Slovo o polku Igoreve") was found in the rich library of the monastery.
The Church of Elijah the Prophet
The real pearl of Old Russian architecture can be named the church of Elijah the Prophet, the earliest of the Yaroslavl churches of XVII century. In spite of its simple forms this solemn temple with five cupolas is extraordinary beautiful. Its composition is supplemented with two snow-white tents. The Church is also famous for its interior decoration. Walls, arches, slopes of windows are decorated with beautiful ancient frescoes.
The Tolgsky Monastery
The most unique ensemble of the Tolgsky monastery (XVII-XIX centuries) is located on the left bank of the Volga River on the territory of the city. The Tolgsky Monastery is one of the most ancient in Russia and was founded at the beginning of XIV century by the Rostov bishop Trifon, when the icon of The Holy Virgin appeared to him.
Now the Tolgsky Monastery is a nunnery with more than 100 nuns. The architectural centre of the ensemble is Vvedensky Cathedral (1681-1688), to the south from the cathedral the most ancient construction - Crestovozdvizhenskaya Church with a refectory survived till our days. One of the most interesting constructions is the Spasskaya Church with hospital chambers. It is considered to be a significant monument of the "Moscow baroque" style in all Yaroslavl architecture.
Sergiev Posad (during the Soviet period Zagorsk) is a town in Russia, located in about 71 km from Moscow. The town was founded in the 14th century by the Saint Sergy Radonezhsky who was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. The most important sight of Sergiev Posad is the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, which is enlisted in the UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Kostroma is a medium-sized historical town located by the Volga River. It is famous for the Monastery of St. Ipaty first mentioned in the 15th Century, picturesque city centre and old churches.
Suzdal is a historic town and a very important tourist centre. It has numerous places to see - medieval churches, monasteries and traditional wooden houses.
City of Vladimir
vladimir is a historical city of the Golden Ring of Russia. It is famous for ancient cathedrals and churches.
Rostov Veliky
Rostov Veliky is one of the oldest towns in Russia, it is nearly three centuries older than Moscow.
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AP Sources: Doug Pederson Out As Eagles Head Coach
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Two people familiar with the move told The Associated Press that the Philadelphia Eagles have fired coach Doug Pederson less than three years after he led them to the franchise's only Super Bowl title.
Both people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't announced Pederson's dismissal. The NFL Network was first to report the news Monday. Pederson was 42-37-1 in five seasons.
He led the Eagles to two division titles and three playoff appearances before going 4-11-1 in 2020.
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Tag Archives: Red Hook Initiative
Red Hook Residents Say Big-Box Stores Broke Job Promises
By Kieran K. Meadows
Red Hook residents were deeply divided eight years ago over the building of a large Fairway supermarket on the waterfront. Proponents said it would bring jobs. Opponents said it would be the beginning of the end of the historic waterfront and would bring tons of traffic to quiet streets.
A similar battle erupted four years ago when the Swedish furniture giant Ikea eyed a 340,000 square former shipyard down the street. The argument came down to economic development and the promise of jobs, versus environmental concerns and neighborhood preservation.
“The people in here, in the projects, everybody wanted Ikea to come here, cause they wanted jobs,” said Alisa Pizarro, an 18 year resident of the Red Hook Houses, a public housing project just blocks from the store. “They said they’d give us jobs so we’d say, ‘Yeah come to the neighborhood.’ ”
More than six months after Ikea opened and four years after Fairway, some residents say that the promises of jobs for local residents—pledges that Fairway and Ikea made central to their case for building the giant big-box stores along the Red Hook waterfront—have been broken.
While some local jobseekers were hired, the residents say the stores let many go in favor of people from outside the community. This situation has only served to exacerbate the unemployment dilemna in Red Hook, particularly in the Houses, the largest public housing project in Brooklyn.
Filed under NYC
Tagged as BJ's Wholesale Club, Brooklyn, Fairway, Ikea, Jobs, Kieran K. Meadows, Red Hook, Red Hook Houses, Red Hook Initiative, Unemployment
Despite Obstacles, Community Organization Remains Upbeat
Rebecca Fishburne waited outside a large brick-red building on Valentine’s Day morning in Red Hook, Brooklyn. She was waiting for a mobile HIV testing van to arrive, but the van was running an hour late. Despite the bitter cold, Fishburne, the organizer of the free “HIV Testing Day,” wasn’t discouraged.
Instead, she remained calm, determined to hold a successful community event.
“You just have to take a deep breath, relax, and keep it moving,” said Fishburne, a community health coordinator with the local organization and sponsor of the event, the Red Hook Initiative. “If you don’t, then you’ll freak over everything.”
Fishburne’s calm and positive attitude while waiting for the van is a perfect analogy for the Red Hook Initiative’s own current situation. The organization lost its Clinton Street headquarters of five years last November, and is now waiting to move into a larger space in the heart of the neighborhood. But the new space needs to be renovated before the group, which provides numerous programs and services to hundreds of youth and adults each month, most of whom live in public housing, can move in. The cost of the renovation is over $300,000. Fundraising that much money takes awhile, even in better economic times.
Despite the obstacles resulting from the upcoming move, the Initiative’s employees are coping well and spirits are strong.
“The Red Hook Initiative does a lot for the community,” said Debbie Jackson, a diabetes health educator. “We’re going to survive no matter what. We’re making it happen.”
Tagged as Brooklyn, Hope & Anchor, Jill Eisenhard, Kevin's Restaurant, Kieran K. Meadows, Long Island College Hospital, Police Athletic League, Rebecca Fishburne, Red Hook, Red Hook Initiative, Red Hook Senior Citizens Center, Rocky Sullivan's, The Good Fork, Tini's, Turning Point, Valentine's Day
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On Airstrikes by James Butler
Articles : Long Read
On Airstrikes
by James Butler
@piercepenniless
Estimated read time: 12 mins
Crispin Blunt MP: Is that not an argument for not getting involved in the first place?
Lt Gen Sir Simon Mayall: Not for a country like ours, Chairman, surely.
– Oral evidence: UK Policy on Syria, Foreign Affairs Select Committee, 8 October 2015
On 2 December, the British parliament voted to extend anti-ISIS airstrikes to Syria as part of the US-led coalition operating in the region. Within hours of the vote, RAF fighters carried out strikes on oilfields in Omar in eastern Syria, in an ongoing effort to cut off one of ISIS’ chief sources of funding: black market oil production. The strikes were launched so quickly because British military forces are already active in the area, carrying out strikes in Iraq, and surveillance and reconnaissance missions in Syria. Further, British pilots embedded in allied military forces have been conducting strikes in Syria for the last two years, with government approval and despite parliamentary resolution against airstrikes in Syria in 2013. The vote, then, was less a fundamental change in British stance than an incremental shift towards full military engagement, yet it possessed serious symbolic weight as a sign of British commitment to what the defence secretary has already signalled will be a long and complex war.
Much comment has already passed on the Commons debate, which tottered between terminological irrelevance, domestic point-scoring, intoxicated praise of military hardware and nostalgic invocation of yesterday’s certainties: this reached its nadir with Hilary Benn’s vapid analogy between the International Brigades and the RAF’s Tornado bombers. Yet press infatuation with Benn’s speech – long on sentiment, short on analysis – and the divisions in the Labour party have left the prime minister’s thin and patchy case for war largely unscrutinised. The justifications for British intervention in Syria break down along three lines: that decapitating ISIS in Syria will reduce a real and active threat to British citizens; that air strikes will tip the balance of the war in Syria in the favour of ‘moderate’ anti-ISIS forces; that the destruction of ISIS is a prerequisite for a political settlement in Syria, and that airstrikes will hasten such a solution.
To these, a fourth may be added, which in the course of the commons debate sometimes seemed to override and replace them: the crimes of ISIS (the murder of gay men and minorities, rape, enslavement, torture) amount to an overwhelming moral case for intervention, and not to act is tantamount to complicity. In effect, these three justifications, each of which rests on questionable assumptions, were subordinated to the moral case against ISIS, such that one might get the impression the airstrikes are being pursued as a form of humanitarian intervention. Not so: the government’s legal case for action rests on doctrines of self-defence, bolstered by UN Security Council Resolution 2249, and it is careful not to found its claim on any exclusively humanitarian basis, because of its controversial status in international law. Yet the repeated denunciations of ISIS’s ‘evil death cult’ and recitations of its crimes leave a clear impression that ISIS represents both a unique moral evil, and (though it cannot be openly expressed) the UK’s action against the group, though justified by domestic security concerns, is primarily a humanitarian one.
Does this matter? As we can all agree that ISIS’s crimes are extensive and real, what does it matter if humanitarian intervention is justified by other legal pretexts? On the level of argument, this matters because the horrifying abuses are used to cover less credible sections of the case for strikes; the image of the ‘evil death cult’ presents ISIS as beyond either analysis or understanding. The problem is that the humanitarian case is used to answer criticism of the strategic and political wisdom of further military involvement in the Syrian war.
This takes the form of a series of somewhat forced conclusions: the humanitarian crisis is so severe that it requires immediate action, the action we can take is military in nature, therefore it is incumbent on parliament to authorise military action immediately. The urgency supersedes other questions which might be brought in at any other step of the argument: such as, is military action the only action we can take? Does it in fact work? Against whom is it actually taken? And will it alleviate the crisis or exacerbate it? Far from ‘doing nothing’, financial action and diplomatic pressure on ‘allies’ might be the better route out of this crisis. We’ll never know – it was scarcely mentioned.
At war with what exactly?
The new resolve on the part of the British government to proceed with strikes in Syria comes in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris, and President Hollande’s declaration that France is at war with ISIS terrorists. Though this does not sound odd to British ears, which have had years to become familiar with repeated declarations of war on terror from Washington and London alike, it is a somewhat unusual move for a French state which has historically avoided designating terrorist conflicts as ‘wars’, believing it a propaganda victory for the other side. Remembering some of the derision that greeted Bush’s war on terror allows us to see one of the major slippages in Cameron’s argument: it moves between treating ISIS as a conventional state-like enemy and as the latest, territorial form of a larger, less easily categorised enemy; one primarily defined by ideology, engaged in asymmetric warfare, as much a set of ideas and political-theological responses as an infrastructure. The rationale for bombing in Syria runs along the former lines, that it strikes at the terrorist centre and weakens its various tendrils throughout the world: thus to bomb Raqqa secures the safety of London.
This holds true only if we can treat ISIS like a conventional state, with an ‘external operations unit’ – as Alan Johnson MP put it in his speech – directing its agents’ activities abroad, and training them during visits. Yet when the prime minister speaks of the seven plots foiled by the intelligence services in Britain since last year, or of the attacks in Tunisia, or in Paris, he uses vague words like ‘inspired’ or ‘linked’ to describe the relationship between ISIS and the attackers. This is because, though travel to and from Syria and direct contact with ISIS did distinguish some among them, the common factor was that they were almost all homegrown. That Raqqa exists as a destination and a training centre for would-be terrorists is beyond doubt; so have various locations in Sudan, Somalia, Pakistan and Afghanistan in the past. What it is not is the source of those attacks, nor their chief cause, nor does flattening it reduce their likelihood. Given recent attacks come over a year into coalition strikes in Syria, including Raqqa, it is clear no such mechanical causal relationship exists.
Moreover, as I have argued previously to focus on terrorism as ‘inspired’ by ISIS serves to cloud the political antagonisms that nurture Islamist jihadi politics, and the insufficiency of a ‘counter-radicalisation’ framework for dealing with them. Again, listening to what those who travel to join ISIS or similar organisations say about their motives, and studying their backgrounds, suggests that domestic xenophobia, surveillance, foreign policy and military action abroad are key motivators. Against hamfisted dissuasion techniques, like the American Think Again Turn Away campaign – which aims to tell potential ISIS fighters that the group likes beheading, a fact one assumes is by now relatively common knowledge – Scott Atran and Nafees Hamid cite the words of one young American woman trying to fly to Syria: “Well, what about the barrel bombings that kill thousands? Maybe if the beheading helps to stop that.” It is the ability of groups like ISIS to articulate personal experiences of racism, frustration and alienation, along with anger at regular military atrocities, into a framework of universal war between the West and Muslims, which accounts for much of its attraction. The pedlars of cultural war, of immiscible alien cultures, of ‘enemy within’ narratives about Muslim communities, do much to strengthen ISIS’s claim.
The standard techniques, legal mechanisms and strategic options governing Western military power are geared to war between states, and have limited use when applied to less conventional entities like ISIS. In part, Cameron’s wavering, flickering and contradictory definition of ISIS – one moment a geopolitical terrorist stronghold, the next a spectral, decentralised network, the next a thin and ramshackle kleptocratic organisation ripe for disruption – comes from attempting to fit together different military and intelligence definitions, linking domestic terror plots with the self-proclaimed Caliphate. The link is needed in part because it is the justification for the strikes: security at home requires action abroad. The prime minister knows that very little evidence can be adduced in defence of this position, and much against it – not least the preponderance of evidence that bombing campaigns are disastrous for civilian populations in target areas. Yet the combination of military inertia, Atlantic imperative and an unwillingness to tackle the real political antagonisms at work in terrorism (from the legacy of the war on terror through to ‘culturalised racism’ and the failures of state-led multiculturalism) render it the de facto position.
Our friends, the ‘moderates’.
The rationale offered by the government is that intervention against ISIS in Syria will tip the balance of the civil war in favour of ‘moderate’ forces which have, it is claimed, 70,000 fighters ready to take up the fight against ISIS and Assad’s regime. This figure, which comes without much explanation from the Joint Intelligence Committee, looks likely to be Cameron’s equivalent to Blair’s ‘dodgy dossier’: on close inspection it begins to fall apart. The prime minister’s repeated invocation of this figure leads to conclusions about the Syrian civil war which simply do not add up. The implicit suggestion is that, between Assad and ISIS there are a more-or-less homogeneous body of forces ready to capture ISIS-held territory and, eventually, become key players in a peace settlement and transition away from the Assad regime. Yet this schematic view of the conflict omits key parts of the picture, and is largely an exercise in wishful thinking. It omits the many thousands of fighters organised by jihadist organisations like Ahrar al-Shams, and as many as half of the 70,000 can be classified as ‘radical islamists’. It is an unpalatable truth that there may be no organisations or forces in Syria which meet all the desired criteria of either Western centrists or indeed left-wingers. Where ‘moderate’ groups have been backed by the US or other powers, it has typically led either to their deaths or using that backing for criminality; that is, when those groups are engaged in Syria at all. As the journalist James Harkin told the Foreign Affairs Select Committee “The secular or moderate groups that we support are still ensconced in hotels in Istanbul, having nice lunches three or four years later. These people are largely meaningless to any political settlement, and that really should not be the question we are asking.”
That action against ISIS has been largely lifted out of the context of the Syrian civil war is a remarkable feat on the part of pro-war voices. It is salutary to recall some of the numbers: over 7m people internally displaced, a quarter of all refugees worldwide are Syrian, over a quarter of a million people have been killed in the course of the conflict. As Jeremy Corbyn suggested in the course of the debate, regime forces are responsible for the majority of these deaths; no lasting solution in Syria will be found without Assad’s departure. Yet Syria has also become a theatre for global and regional conflicts: between the US and Russia, as is often remarked, but also between Iran and Saudi Arabia, an internal Sunni conflict between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and one between Turkey and Kurdish forces. Of these, it is the latter that is the most volatile and unpredictable, but each interest sponsors and encourages particular factions in the war. Even this sketch is somewhat attenuated: a fuller history of the civil war in Syria would account for the activities of the ‘deep state’, which the French diplomat Jean-Pierre Filiu holds accountable for much of the early manoeuvring of the regime around ISIS, using it to shore up its weak position. The multiple (sometimes conflicting) interests of the US in the region are also worth noting, along with its enduring anxiety about a possible recrudescent pan-Arabism founded, this time, on a fundamentalist Islam.
It is the complexity of this war that led the Select Committee to treat the government’s push for airstrikes as a “distraction from the much bigger and more important task of finding a resolution to the conflict in Syria,” for which no credible strategy seemed apparent. This perspective has proved inconvenient for the British government. While not feeling the need to exculpate the Kurdish forces from serious accusations of ethnic cleansing – which they have denied many times – or the dangers of strategic alliance with the US, it is inarguable that international proscription of PKK-related organisations and indulgence of brutal Turkish repression of Kurds hobbles any serious attempt to recapture ISIS’s Syrian territory.
In its own right, the political experiment in Rojava ought to command the Western left’s interest and support. Any settlement in Syria will have to address the claims of Kurds not just in its borders, but in Turkey as well: since 1984, over 40,000 Kurds have been killed by the Turkish state, and the trajectory of the ruling AKP under Erdoğan towards a more authoritarian Turkish nationalism promises little resolution. Turkey’s positioning towards the US, and as a buffer zone for the EU, has boosted its expectations that it will be able to continue its repressive policy towards its Kurdish citizens without much interference.
Civilians: dead and fled.
An apparently major argument for the deployment of British bombers in Syria is the precision Brimstone missile system, which will, it is claimed, minimise civilian casualties – the absence of civilian casualties in engagements in Iraq have been touted by the government as a major justification for action. Yet this absence is hard to credit; the government may be unaware of civilian categories simply because neither the Ministry of Defence nor the US Central Command keep a record of civilian casualties. However, one of the best groups tracking the number of civilian deaths in the strikes, Airwars, offers a conservative figure of up to 977 civilian deaths from airstrikes up to December of this year – very few of which are acknowledged, let alone investigated, by coalition forces. Where Brimstone missiles have been most effective in Iraq, they have been combined with accurate on-the-ground intelligence. Such intelligence simply does not exist in Raqqa, and the ability of coalition forces to bomb hospitals or schools even where those co-ordinates have been given in advance ought to give Brimstone’s advocates serious pause.
But quibbling about technical accuracy misses a larger strategic question of whether external military intervention of this kind can ever really achieve its ends, especially in separating out extremist leaders from civilian populations of towns in which they live: the US drone strikes in Pakistan post-2007 offer a decidedly sombre picture, serving to solidify popular fear and anger against the intervening power, with civilian deaths serving to bolster the position of extremists even when they are hated by the civilian population. Little argument has been made that Raqqa would prove different. But civilian non-combatants do not only die in conflict: they are also displaced, or flee as refugees. Current estimates suggest at least 3m more refugees are likely to flee to Europe from Syria in the next year. They are met by policy that wants to place them in camps outside of Europe, leave them to die at its borders, or offer a strictly limited and temporary resettlement. The fake Syrian passports found on the Paris attackers have been used as a pretext for hardening sentiment against refugees, despite much commentary warning that such a response is valued by ISIS as a sign of sharpening contradictions and the disappearance of the ‘grey zone’ of cohabitation. Despite the inevitable and progressing degradation of infrastructure and shattering of civil society in Syria, the government’s refugee plan, as expressed in the course of debate, amounts to little more than ‘send them back as soon as possible’.
Watching what seems like an inevitable slide to war – the Commons debate being window-dressing for a fait accompli – it has been easy to feel the absence of a strong and coherent anti-war left. Each side can call on Syrian voices to argue its case: precisely because of the complexity of the civil war, and the number of foreign interests involved, it is hard to see any solution. We may hold to old nostrums: that wars of this kind should be opposed as exercises in slaughter by ruling classes; that wars are carried out in the interests of Raytheon, BAE Systems, and national influence – far more than in the virtues by which they are sometimes justified. Before entangling ourselves with foreign wars, it is said, we should deal with our own government’s many abuses and those of its allies. All of these are true, yet can sound hollow: they are not sufficient answers to the situation in Syria. The argument for humanitarian intervention possesses such force among so many people not because they are deceived, but because the crisis is so severe that it might seem to justify it. We may argue that military intervention by a US-led coalition will further destabilise the region, but that is a second-order response, true enough in its assessment of intervention, but lacking a powerful alternative to it in answer to the question: well what would you do?
There might be no such clear answer; non-intervention, far from being an option of moral and political clarity, may simply be the least worst of possibilities. Though one might dissent from their wider pessimism, the editors of radical quarterly Salvage are, I think, correct when they suggest that “political combat by those who offer a better vision, of emancipation” is the only real solution to the problem, and that such an alternative is as much lacking in the West as elsewhere. Surveillance and emergency laws are as much a part of the political problem as foreign policy. It is precisely the absence of such ‘political combat’ or any vision of emancipation with purchase beyond the very left fringes of society that has been most keenly felt during this march to war.
It is typical to end articles such as this with a series of calls to action or strategic prescriptions. These, especially in this case, can only ever be partial. Recognising that there are a number of companies that profit directly from war, we should consider taking action against their offices, installations and factories; political action against MPs close to the arms trade and who voted for airstrikes would also be useful. Yet part of this must also be a recognition that an argument needs to be made about the function and danger of intervention in public forums, in our political organisations, and in our everyday lives. Though the vote has passed, the pattern of historic military interventions has been one of mission creep: given the defence secretary is already prophesying a lengthy war, and William Hague is lobbying for ground deployment, resisting any attempt to take this vote as authorising any action beyond its specific legal scope is essential.
Above all, there is an urgent need for Britain to take its duty to refugees seriously: not only expanding the number taken, but resisting attempts to confine them to camps – the ‘prisons of the stateless’ – or to offer them only temporary refuge. This is action that requires cross-Europe coordination and the opening of routes of safe passage out of Syria. The immediate political focus of such efforts will be the forthcoming London donors’ conference in which we must insist that our governments do not only throw money at the problem, but provide routes to resettlement and full political rights for refugees. Additionally, pressure to rescind the domestic proscription of Kurdish groups and quash the convictions of those supporting them is absolutely necessary. These do not exhaust the scope for domestic action by any means – they are the bare minimum.
Photo: Matthew Bruch/DVids Hub/Flickr
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Analysis: The Road to Moria: How Greece’s Refugee Disaster Became Business As Usual
The fires that destroyed a refugee camp on the island of Lesbos and displaced 13,000 people have prompted international concern about the treatment of migrants at Europe's borders. Yet in Greece, the horrors of Moria are filtered through a terrifying banality which makes them seem like business as usual, explains Yannis-Orestis Papadimitriou.
Opinion: David Graeber Was Right to Recognise the Importance of the Kurdish Struggle
David Graeber was an early and committed supporter of the Kurdish freedom movement. We can remember him the way he remembered the people of Rojava who gave their lives in the fight against Isis, writes Giran Ozcan - by living out our ideas in practice and making a commitment to solidarity that goes beyond words.
Report: Italy’s Migrants Are Being Attacked From Left and Right. They Aren’t Going to Take It Lying Down
As regional elections approach later this month, and with a second wave of coronavirus expected, the Italian far right and centre are engaged in a race to the bottom on immigration. Alice Figes looks at the latest chapter in Italy's long history of xenophobia.
Report: ‘We’d Prefer to Die in the UK Than Go Back’: The Refugees on Hunger Strike Against Deportation
22 refugees at notorious immigration removal centre Brook House have gone on hunger strike in protest of their imminent deportations. Laith Saad reports.
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Sorry, Päivi Räsänen, but your homophobia isn’t Christian
By Cameron Doody September 18, 2019
Päivi Räsänen is a Finnish politician currently under police investigation for an alleged homophobic hate crime.
The Christian Democrat member of the Finnish Parliament and former Interior Minister is the subject of a probe over social media posts in June that criticised the involvement of her Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (ECLF), in Helsinki LGBT Pride events.
“How does the foundation of the church’s teachings, the Bible, fit with elevating sin and shame as reasons for pride?”, Räsänen posted.
Her posts were accompanied by screenshots of the New Testament text of Romans 1:24-27, which Räsänen believes describe homosexual acts as “sinful”, “shameful” and “unnatural”.
In the wake of police confirmation of the investigation, the politician attempted to justify her homophobia in a September 11 interview with Evangelical Focus.
Here we examine some of her claims in that interview.
Räsänen’s quotes
My analysis.
Freedom of religion is in principle strongly guaranteed and protected both in our Constitution and in the International Human Right Treaties. In practice, a major threat for the freedom of religion is that we don’t use this right.
The Constitution of Finland indeed sets out that “everyone has the freedom of religion and conscience”:
“Freedom of religion and conscience entails the right to profess and practice a religion, the right to express one’s convictions and the right to be a member of or decline to be a member of a religious community.
“No one is under the obligation, against his or her conscience, to participate in the practice of a religion”.
However, there are limits. The Constitution of Finland also says:
“No one shall, without an acceptable reason, be treated differently from other persons on the ground of sex, age, origin, language, religion, conviction, opinion, health, disability or other reason that concerns his or her person”.
Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights sets out well the limits to freedom of religion:
“1. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
“2. Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others”.
European Court of Human Rights case law has set a number of principles to guide the application of Article 9, including:
Article 9 protects views that attain a certain level of cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance; but
every act which is in some way inspired, motivated or influenced by a belief does not necessarily constitute a “manifestation” of that belief; however
the existence of a sufficiently close and direct nexus between an act and the underlying belief must be determined on the facts of each case.
Is Räsänen’s homophobia sufficiently cogent, serious, cohesive and important from a Christian point of view so as to attract Article 9 protection?
I’ll consider this point below, but for now I’d like to suggest her anti-gay tweets impact on the “rights and freedoms” of homosexual people, including their right to respect for private and family life, their freedom of assembly and association (in the context of the Gay Pride Parade), and their freedom from discrimination.
Many, especially the young people, are afraid that if you are labelled as a Bible-believing Christian, it will hinder your career and social acceptance.
To be a “Bible-believing Christian” is not necessarily to be homophobic.
One of the best rebuttals I have seen of Biblical-based homophobia – for its elegant simplicity – is this approach by ‘Andy’, a former Southern Baptist Minister and now Pastor in the United Church of Christ.
It’s a two-pronged approach:
“1) The first option is simply to discard the texts the way most Christians disregard biblical references to obvious cultural prejudices from the past. The proscription of homosexual behavior is no more valid than that against jewelry, or mixed fabric, or long hair on men. All these things are condemned in the Bible. Mary Douglas, for example, in her book Purity and Danger, does a good job of relativizing biblical rules along this line.
“2) The second option is to take the texts seriously—especially when dealing with more conservative Christians—by pointing out that the kind of same-sex behaviors that are being condemned in these texts are all relationships involving one person dominating over another, whether it be a pederastic monopoly over boys or some form of sexual slavery.
“Robin Scroggs, in his book New Testament and Homosexuality, has demonstrated through his meticulous research that the kind of loving and mutual relationship between equal partners of the same sex we are fighting for today has no parallel in the culture that generated the New Testament.
“In other words, the texts cannot be used to excoriate contemporary same-sex relationships because the texts don’t speak to consensual relationships. They speak only to inequality. One might even make the case that because the texts condemn domination, they really support—in a sense—gay marriage. To deny rights to those who have mutual love for one another is a form of domination”.
We are living at a time when the effect of Christian culture on society is narrowing. Although many Finns still belong to Christian churches and denominations, the basic teachings of the Christian faith are no longer views of the majority. The breaking of the Christian worldview is visible both in the societal discussions and in the decision making, whether we are thinking of pro-life issues and the protection of life both in the beginning and in the end of life, or views related to marriage. Having a traditional view of marriage has become a politically incorrect view in public discussions.
“The basic teachings of the Christian faith” are hardly limited to “pro-life issues” in the sense Räsänen understands that term: that is, as encompassing only “the protection of life both in the beginning and in the end of life, or views related to marriage”.
Is it really necessary to point out that Christianity is so much more: love for one’s neighbor, for example?
Moreover, although Finnish religious studies expert Jere Kyrrö agreed in an interview with Novena that Finland is becoming increasingly more secular, that doesn’t mean Christian views no longer resonate at all with mainstream Finns.
As Kyrrö put it:
“When looking at the mainstream media presence of the ELCF, it is mainly treated positively, when the speakers represent mainstream, liberal Lutheranism. The media presentation of conservative Christianity is more negative.
“The views of the ELCF are important to many, even though they would disagree”.
My purpose was in no way to insult sexual minorities. My criticism was aimed to the leadership of the church. Also, I believe that every person has the right to hear the whole truth of God’s Word, both the Gospel and the Law. Only people who recognize their sins recognize they need Jesus, the propitiation for our sins. Therefore, we also must have the courage to call homosexual relations sinful.
Räsänen says she never meant to “insult” sexual minorities, but later, in this very same interview, she says “questionable themes such as homosexual relations have to do with guilt”.
“Guilt cannot be solved by denying it, but only by confessing it and receiving mercy and the message of forgiveness in Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins at the cross”, she explained.
But how can the imputation of “guilt” be anything other than an insult, and affront to the rights and freedoms of homosexuals?
Räsänen also says “my criticism was aimed to [sic] the leadership of the church”. In response to her criticisms of the Church’s affiliation with Pride Week, ECLF Archbishop Tapio Luoma said: “It’s not a question of taking a stance on marriage laws but rather [the idea] that the church’s message is for everyone… and same-sex couples are welcome at all church activities”.
Luoma wrote an open letter to Räsänen to explain that the Church’s affiliation with Pride Week had been a collegial decision.
As opposed to Räsänen’s tweets and later explanations, which seem to have been motivated more by personal piety than by the collective, ecclesial sense inherent to Christianity.
In a statement on its website, the ECLF added that the Pride Week message of openness to all is in full consonance with the Church’s message.
“The foundation of the Church’s existence, the message of grace, love and forgiveness is for everyone. Therefore, the Church welcomes all people”, that message said.
“The church wants to live close to all its people. The theme of the Helsinki Pride partners ‘open to all’ is in harmony with the church’s basic message that grace and love exist for everyone and that there is room for everyone in the church”.
Furthermore, the ECLF recommended that Church members discuss issues around Gay Pride and same-sex marriage “respectfully”, including with people of different opinions.
That’s another Christian mandate – to speak always with love and respect – that it could hardly be said that Räsänen complied with.
gays in the churchhomophobialgbt+ rightssocial justice
Author Cameron Doody
PhD in ancient Jewish/Christian history and philosophy. University ethics lecturer with 4 years' experience in religion journalism.
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Nordic Lutheran, Catholic bishops cry out on corona, migrant crises: “A virus must be combated, but not people seeking refuge”
Eight parishes in 300,000 square kilometres: Finnish Catholic Church struggles for survival
Graffiti appears on Finnish church: “Stop hiding the paedophiles”, “Liars”
Pope tells Finnish Lutherans: “Those who show hospitality grow richer, not poorer”
Moldovan Orthodox Church accuses Bill Gates of "Antichrist" plot to develop coronavirus vaccine, control people with 5G
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Home > SolarWinds Update on Security Vulnerability
SolarWinds Update on Security Vulnerability
By SolarWinds
December 17, 2020 | SolarFocus
On Saturday, December 12, our CEO was advised by an executive at FireEye of a security vulnerability in our Orion Software Platform which was the result of a very sophisticated cyberattack on SolarWinds. We soon discovered that we had been the victim of a malicious cyberattack that impacted our Orion Platform products as well as our internal systems. While security professionals and other experts have attributed the attack to an outside nation-state, we have not independently verified the identity of the attacker. Immediately after this call, we mobilized our incident response team and quickly shifted significant internal resources to investigate and remediate the vulnerability. Know that each of our 3,200 team members is united in our efforts to meet this challenge. We remain focused on addressing the needs of our customers, our partners, and the broader technology industry. To accomplish that, we swiftly released hotfix updates to impacted customers that we believe will close the code vulnerability when implemented. These updates were made available to all customers we believe to have been impacted, regardless of their current maintenance status. We have reached out and spoken to thousands of customers and partners in the past few days, and we will continue to be in constant communication with our customers and partners to provide timely information, answer questions and assist with upgrades. We are solely focused on our customers and the industry we serve. Our top priority has been to take all steps necessary to ensure that our and our customers’ environments are secure. We are taking extraordinary measures to accomplish this goal. We shared all of our proprietary code libraries that we believed to have been affected by SUNBURST to give security professionals the information they needed to do their research. We also have had numerous conversations with security professionals to further assist them in their research. We were very pleased and proud to hear that colleagues in the industry discovered a “killswitch” that will prevent the malicious code from being used to create a compromise. Here are a few important things to know:
This was a highly sophisticated cyberattack on our systems that inserted a vulnerability within our Orion® Platform products. This particular intrusion is so targeted and complex that experts are referring to it as the SUNBURST attack. The vulnerability has only been identified in updates to the Orion Platform products delivered between March and June 2020, but our investigations are still ongoing. Also, while we are still investigating our non-Orion products, to date we have not seen evidence that they are impacted by SUNBURST.
The vulnerability was not evident in the Orion Platform products’ source code but appears to have been inserted during the Orion software build process.
We swiftly released hotfix updates to impacted customers, regardless of their maintenance status, that we believe will close the vulnerability when implemented.
After our release of Orion 2020.2.1 HF 2 on Tuesday night, December 15, we believe the Orion Platform now meets the US Federal and state agencies' requirements. We are providing direct support to these customers and will help them complete their upgrades quickly.
We are continuing to take measures to ensure our internal systems are secure, including deploying the Falcon Endpoint Protection Platform across the endpoints on our systems.
We have retained industry-leading third-party cybersecurity experts to assist us with this work and are actively collaborating with our partners, vendors, law enforcement and intelligence agencies around the world.
We are providing our customers, experts and others in the IT and security industries detailed information regarding the incident to aid with identifying indicators of compromise and steps they can take to further harden their systems against unauthorized incursion. These tools can be found on our Security Advisory page at www.solarwinds.com/securityadvisory which we are updating as we learn new information. Our shared goal is to better understand and protect against these types of malicious attacks in the future. As we’ve noted, the attacks on our systems were incredibly complex, and it will take some time for our investigative work to be complete. We are committed to being deliberate as we take this on. At the same time, of course, we know that we are the subject of scrutiny and speculation. In order to be as clear as possible, we want to highlight that the exploration by SolarWinds of the potential spinoff of its MSP business and the departure of our CEO, were announced in August 2020. Finally, all sales of stock by executive officers in November were made under pre-established Rule 10b5-1 selling plans and not discretionary sales. We understand and share our customers’ and the industry’s concerns, and we are grateful for the continued support and understanding that we have received. We will continue to investigate these matters and share what information we can to continually find ways to improve our collective security from these types of attacks. Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains “forward-looking” statements, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding SolarWinds’ understanding of the vulnerability that was inserted within its Orion monitoring products, the potential sources of these security incidents, SolarWinds’ response to the security incidents and related investigations, the status of and facts uncovered in its investigations to date, SolarWinds’ efforts to improve the security of its products and its customers and its environments. These forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management, which may change as the investigations proceed and new or different information is discovered. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and may be identified by terms such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “seek,” “should,” “feel,” “expect,” “will,” “would,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “continue,” “may,” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Our investigations are still at their early stages and are on-going, including the work required to understand the root cause analysis of the attack and to ensure that our and our customers’ environments are secure and to fully assess and, if required, remediate any vulnerabilities within the Orion Platform products and to assess whether other vulnerabilities exist with the Orion Platform products or in SolarWinds’ other products and services. Factors that could cause or contribute to actual results, performance or achievements to be different include, but are not limited to, (a) the discovery of new or different information regarding the vulnerability within SolarWinds’ Orion Platform products or of additional vulnerabilities within, or attacks on, the Orion Platform products or any of SolarWinds’ other products, services and systems, (b) the discovery of new or different information regarding the exploitation of the vulnerability in the Orion Platform products, (c) the possibility that SolarWinds’ mitigation and remediation efforts with respect to its Orion Platform products and/or internal systems may not be successful, (d) the possibility that customer, personnel or other data was exfiltrated as a result of the vulnerability in the Orion monitoring products, (e) numerous financial, legal, reputational and other risks to SolarWinds related to the security incidents, including risks that the incidents may result in the loss, compromise or corruption of data, loss of business, severe reputational damage adversely affecting customer or vendor relationships and investor confidence, U.S. or foreign regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, litigation, indemnity obligations, damages for contractual breach, penalties for violation of applicable laws or regulations, significant costs for remediation and the incurrence of other liabilities, (f) risks that SolarWinds’ errors and omissions insurance coverage covering certain security and privacy damages and claim expenses may not be available or sufficient to compensate for all liabilities SolarWinds incurs related to the incidents and (g) such other risks and uncertainties described more fully in documents filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by SolarWinds, including the risk factors discussed in SolarWinds’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2019 filed on February 24, 2020, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 filed on May 8, 2020, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 filed on August 10, 2020 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 filed on November 5, 2020. All information provided in this communication is as of the date hereof and SolarWinds undertakes no duty to update this information except as required by law.
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Author: Artur Shahnazaryan
Soghomon Soghomonian, ordained and commonly known as Komitas, (26 September 1869 – 22 October 1935) was an Armenian priest, musicologist, composer, arranger, singer, and choirmaster, who is considered the founder of Armenian national school of music. He is recognized as one of the pioneers of ethnomusicology.
Orphaned at a young age, Komitas was taken to Etchmiadzin, Armenia's religious center, where he received education at the Gevorgian Seminary. Following his ordination as vardapet (celibate priest) in 1895, he studied music at the Frederick William University in Berlin. He thereafter "used his Western training to build a national tradition". He collected and transcribed over 3,000 pieces of Armenian folk music, more than half of which were subsequently lost and only around 1,200 are now extant. Besides Armenian folk songs, he also showed interested in other cultures and in 1904 published the first-ever collection of Kurdish folk songs. His choir presented Armenian music in many European cities, earning the praise of Claude Debussy, among others. Komitas settled in Constantinople in 1910 to escape mistreatment by ultra-conservative clergymen at Etchmiadzin and to introduce Armenian folk music to wider audiences. He was widely embraced by Armenian communities, while Arshag Chobanian called him the "savior of Armenian music".
During the Armenian Genocide—along with hundreds of other Armenian intellectuals—Komitas was arrested and deported to a prison camp in April 1915 by the Ottoman government. He was soon released under unclear circumstances and experienced a mental breakdown and developed a severe case of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The widespread hostile environment in Constantinople and reports of mass-scale Armenian death marches and massacres that reached him further worsened his fragile mental state. He was first placed in a Turkish military-operated hospital until 1919 and then transferred to psychiatric hospitals in Paris, where he spent the last years of his life in agony. Komitas is widely seen as a martyr of the genocide and has been depicted as one of the main symbols of the Armenian Genocide in art.
Author(s) Artur Shahnazaryan
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World Literature. Nikolay Gogol
“World literature” series presents the works by the dramatist, novelist and satirist Nikolai Gogol. “Taras Bulba”, “The Overcoat” (Shinel), “The Inspector General” (Revizor) are respectively included in the book. These works are of major significance not only in Russian and Ukrainian literature, but in the history of world literature.
Nikolay Vasilievich Gogol (31 March [O.S. 19 March] 1809 – 4 March [O.S. 21 February] 1852) was a Russian dramatist, novelist and short story writer of Ukrainian ethnicity. Russian and Ukrainian scholars debate whether or not Gogol was of their respective nationalities.
Considered by his contemporaries one of the preeminent figures of the natural school of Russian literary realism, later critics have found in Gogol's work a fundamentally romantic sensibility, with strains of Surrealism and the grotesque ("The Nose", "Viy", "The Overcoat," "Nevsky Prospekt"). His early works, such as Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka, were influenced by his Ukrainian upbringing, Ukrainian culture and folklore.[13][14] His later writing satirised political corruption in the Russian Empire (The Government Inspector, Dead Souls), leading to his eventual exile. The novel Taras Bulba (1835) and the play Marriage (1842), along with the short stories "Diary of a Madman", "The Tale of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich", "The Portrait" and "The Carriage", round out the tally of his best-known works.
Author(s) Nikolay Gogol
Publisher(s) Edit Print
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The need to combat match-fixing
Assembly debate on 25 April 2012 (14th Sitting) (see Doc. 12891, report of the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media, rapporteur: Ms Brasseur). Text adopted by the Assembly on 25 April 2012 (14th Sitting). See also Recommendation 1997 (2012).
1 Sport provides a fundamental way of expressing culture and is a factor which helps to structure our democratic societies. Practicing sport in a healthy way and on a regular basis helps to keep people in good physical condition, prevent certain diseases and improve mental balance. Spectator sport and sport as a leisure activity are enjoyable for people of all ages. Thus sport contributes to the well-being at both individual and social levels. It is of significant economic importance, for not only are sports events generating ever-increasing revenue (ticket sales, television broadcasting rights, advertising, sponsorship, merchandising), but the world of sport also creates jobs and invests in the development of facilities.
2 Nevertheless, the greater commercialisation of sport and the lure of financial gain have encouraged the development of new forms of corruption. The considerable sums of money spent on sports betting are of growing interest to criminal groups. The Parliamentary Assembly is concerned about the present scale of match-fixing. This problem and the illicit profits from sports betting are jeopardising public order and the rule of law; they are tainting sport’s values and the reputation of sportsmen and women, the sports movement, international sport organisations and betting operators. Therefore, match-fixing must not be regarded as a minor offence.
3 In Resolution 1602 (2008) on the need to preserve the European Sport Model, the Assembly emphasised that “recent scandals in several European countries, involving illegal betting and manipulation of results, have seriously damaged the image of sport in Europe. A number of mutually-reinforcing mechanisms are needed to reduce the risk of match-fixing, illegal betting or other forms of corruption.”
4 Four years on, the situation has got worse. Only 10 countries in the world have passed legislation sanctioning sports frauds as such. States should adapt their legislative frameworks and ensure their harmonisation. At international level, greater efforts need to be made to bring to a rapid conclusion the work on introducing measures enabling match-fixing to be combated successfully, including – ultimately – the introduction of a binding international legal instrument and of a stable co-operation platform to preserve sport’s integrity and values.
5 The United Nations Conventions against Transnational Organized Crime (General Assembly Resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000) and against Corruption (General Assembly Resolution 58/4 of 31 October 2003) should cover in clear terms cases of manipulation of sport results and corruption among sportspeople and match officials.
6 The Assembly therefore asks the member States of the Council of Europe to:
6.1 apply without delay the measures recommended in the appendix to Recommendation CM/ Rec(2011)10 on the promotion of the integrity of sport against manipulation of results, notably match-fixing, and to take due account of the recommendations by international and European organisations, such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and SportAccord;
6.2 if they have not already done so, accede to the Council of Europe’s Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS);
6.3 if they have not already done so, ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism (CETS No. 198) and ensure that, in their respective legal systems, the mechanisms for which this convention provides are applicable to illegal betting and to the profits from manipulation of sports results;
6.4 ensure that training and awareness-raising programmes for young amateur and professional sportspeople (in accordance with the kind of programmes developed by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for the under-17 and under-19 age groups or SportAccord education programme) are introduced, and that these effectively teach those sportsmen and women about the risks of accepting money in return for altering their performance;
6.5 prohibit betting on those competitions most vulnerable to attempted corruption, namely: specific youth competitions (for sportspeople aged under 18), amateur competitions and, for some sports such as football, lower-division professional competitions;
6.6 establish a national betting-regulatory authority in every country and consider setting up in each country an “integrity of sport” monitoring centre and a “sports betting” working group, the activity of which should be co-ordinated by the national regulatory authority, with a view to Europe-wide networking of information;
6.7 develop, in co-operation with sports institutions, appropriate rules and mechanisms to ensure that any disciplinary penalties imposed by federations’ committees and any criminal law penalties for corruption are a sufficient deterrent and are effectively applied;
6.8 promote mutual recognition of criminal, administrative, disciplinary and sports penalties by States and sports federations;
6.9 ensure co-operation between judicial authorities and national and international police, particularly Interpol, Europol and Eurojust, to enhance the effectiveness of investigations into and the prosecution of match-fixing cases;
6.10 work with national and international betting operators to introduce effective procedures for detecting suspicious betting;
6.11 call for an extension to match-fixing of the United Nations Conventions against Transnational Organized Crime and against Corruption, with a view to encouraging the reforms needed to enable this problem to be effectively combated worldwide.
7 Furthermore, the Assembly calls on international sports federations to:
7.1 act together in a co-ordinated manner to combat match-fixing, while defining the expected contributions and specific role of each international federation, of SportAccord and of the IOC, which should continue to co-ordinate actions;
7.2 adopt a code of ethics drawing on the IOC Code of Ethics and on the “Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance of the Olympic and Sports Movement”;
7.3 draw up guidelines to ensure that sportsmen and women undergo awareness raising and training, with particular attention being paid to young sportspeople;
7.4 set up a supervisory body within each sports federation, with proper powers and means;
7.5 co-operate actively with government agencies, facilitate the access of the competent national authorities to disciplinary files and report to them any suspicious operations;
7.6 develop a set of progressive, but deterrent, penalties and apply these unhesitatingly when offences are proven;
7.7 ensure harmonisation of disciplinary and sports sanctions;
7.8 prohibit sportspeople and officials from betting on competitions in which they are involved.
8 The Assembly also calls on national sports federations to:
8.1 conduct a regular examination of the decisions taken by match officials and judges;
8.2 appoint persons responsible for matters relating to “sports betting and the integrity of sport” (a kind of ombudsperson) and establish links with outside companies which monitor sports betting;
8.3 set up a telephone assistance service for sportspeople subjected to pressure or blackmail.
9 Finally, the Assembly recommends that sports betting operators:
9.1 co-operate with public authorities, sports authorities and bodies by systematically reporting any suspicious operations;
9.2 refrain from offering opportunities to place bets regarded as “very risky”, with high initial stakes and long odds, and limit those bets already regarded as “risky”;
9.3 clarify any situations of conflict of interests in which they may find themselves, and adopt a common position on this subject;
9.4 contribute a proportion of their profits towards financing the setting up and operation of supervisory bodies responsible for ensuring the integrity of sport and the prevention of the manipulation of sports results.
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Mr Sokratis FAMELLOS
SY.RIZ.A
House of Parliament
GR - 10021 - Athens
s.famellos@parliament.gr
Member: Group of the Unified European Left since 30/09/2019
since 30/09/2019 Substitute-Greece
Full Member: Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development (since 30/09/2019)
Full Member: Sub-Committee on Integration (from 02/12/2019 to 28/01/2020)
Full Member: Sub-Committee on Public Health and Sustainable Development (since 02/10/2019)
Alternate of Mr Theodoros ROUSOPOULOS (Full Member): Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons (since 03/10/2019)
Alternate of Ms Foteini PIPILI (Full Member): Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons (from 30/09/2019 to 02/10/2019)
Alternate of Mr Kyriakos VELOPOULOS (Full Member): Sub-Committee on the Europe Prize (since 02/10/2019)
03/10/2019 | 18:03:14 Thank you, Mr Chairman, Dear colleagues, The climate crisis is rapidly evolving. There are commitments, but no true action. We are not moving as fast as we can to stop or deal with the changes that are happening to the Earth's ecosystems. The report on the legal status for climate refugees is based on solid research, and reaches a balanced position with which we agree, and we congratulate the rapporteur. But we must remember that the climate crisis is here. We are dealing with a violent...
08/12/2020 | Doc. 15193 | Motion for a resolution Finding solutions for marital captivity 04/12/2020 | Doc. 15190 | Written declaration Members of the Parliamentary Assembly ask Iran not to carry out the death penalty of Ahmadreza Djalali 16/11/2020 | Doc. 15184 | Motion for a resolution Review of the partnership for democracy in respect of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic 07/10/2020 | Doc. 15162 | Motion for a resolution The impact of Brexit on human rights on the island of Ireland 05/10/2020 | Doc. 15160 | Motion for a resolution Safeguarding peace and stability in the East Mediterranean Sea
30/01/2020 | Doc. 15023, vote on the draft text for resolution Concerted action against human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants 30/01/2020 | Doc. 15023, vote on the draft text for recommendation Concerted action against human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants 30/01/2020 | Doc. 15026, vote on the draft text for resolution Missing refugee and migrant children in Europe 30/01/2020 | Doc. 15026, vote on the draft text for recommendation Missing refugee and migrant children in Europe 03/10/2019 | Doc. 14971, vote on the draft text for resolution Saving lives in the Mediterranean Sea: the need for an urgent response
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Author Wednesday – Kevin Brennan
March 26, 2014 P. C. Zick Author Wednesday, Ramblings of a Writer 10 comments
Welcome to Author Wednesday! One year of posts introducing authors and their work to the followers of this blog has been a most pleasant journey. Today I welcome Keven Brennan, the author of several works of literary fiction. In his latest work, Yesterday Road, a “coming-of-old-age” tale, Jack Peckham finds himself on a journey into his distant past, helped along the way by Joe Easterday, a young man with Down syndrome, and Ida Pevely, a middle-aged waitress with her own mountain of regrets. According to Kevin, “We all tow our histories behind us as we make our way down Yesterday Road.”
Welcome to Author Wednesday, Kevin. I’m so glad you dropped by today to tell us a bit about Yesterday Road. What’s your pitch for this book book?
Jack Peckham is trying to find his way home. Home’s a tough nut to crack.
If Jack is the protagonist, who or what is the antagonist in your book?
The real antagonist in this book is memory. I have two characters struggling with it: one, Jack Peckham, who has a form of dementia that is preventing him from remembering anything about his past life, and the other, Ida Pevely, who wishes she could escape some of her more troubling memories.
So, though memory isn’t a character per se, I enjoyed playing with its possibilities, such as the way it isn’t always reliable or accurate and how it is always embedded in us even if we can’t call something up on demand. Jack has his entire history in his mind, but his mind has built a wall around certain painful things.
That’s so very true. We store away the emotion, if not the actual memory. I believe that all memory is fiction; just sit in on any family reunion of people raised in the same household. What type of research did you do in the writing of this book?
I did quite a bit of research about Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of memory loss, since that’s Jack’s main characteristic. I also have a character with Down syndrome, thirty-year-old Joe Easterday, so I did a lot of research on that, too. I wanted to make sure I was creating a realistic character, but one who could also carry some weight in scenes and dialogue.
Without giving us a spoiler, tell us a little bit about your favorite scene in this book.
I have quite a few favorite scenes, actually. There are a lot of funny, poignant moments. But I think the first one a reader will come across is a scene where Jack and Joe get abducted by a hapless carjacker named Steve, who’s trying to get out of the reach of his bookie. That scene kind of sets the tone for the middle of the novel.
That sounds great. I just downloaded to my Kindle, so I look forward to that scene and others that I’m sure are equally enticing. What is the best thing someone could say about this book?
The best I’ve heard so far from a number of readers is that they didn’t want the book to end. That’s a fantastic feeling.
I agree that hearing those words from a reading keeps me going. It’s always interesting to hear when other authors find their voice. Do you know when first discovered yours?
Though I was already writing fiction in high school, I don’t think I really landed on my own voice or approach until I dug in and began a novel in my late twenties. Until then, I was probably emulating my favorite writers too much, but attempting a novel showed me how I could use different techniques and tones to get the effects I wanted. I discovered the possibilities of multiple points of view, nonlinear narrative, and use of thematic motifs, and that’s when I understood I had to be a novelist.
That’s not unusual to emulate at first. But at some point, it’s time to put down what others have done and pick up our own voice. Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring said she never chose a subject because as a writer, the subject chose her. Has this ever happened to you?
Quite a while ago now, I stumbled upon a small factoid in the newspaper that described something I would never have thought to write about (baseball in prisons). I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and over the years I’ve been working on a novel based on it.
That’s an interesting one. I think you’re supposed to write that book. Do you have similar messages or themes that you try to convey to your readers?
I keep gravitating to identity themes, for some reason, especially the idea that we are what other people see us as. I don’t happen to believe that as a philosophy of life, but it’s really ripe territory for fiction.
Does setting play a role in your books?
Sometimes it has a very large role, as in my first novel, Parts Unknown. There the setting of Sonoma dairy country has had a major influence on the characters, between the stark beauty of the place and the harsh working conditions for dairy farmers back in the ‘40s. The main character, Bill Argus, has also banished himself to the California desert, which suits his assessment of himself.
Other times, the setting is more of a backdrop, as is San Francisco in my next book. It simply provides the right urban vibe for the action.
Both settings sound very powerful. All of your books are in the genre of literary fiction. Do you plan to continue writing in the same genre?
Well, I always write what I like to think of as literary fiction, but I also like to apply the techniques of literary fiction to other genres. My next book is essentially chick lit. I also have a dystopian novel, and I’m developing a thriller, a couple more comedic novels, and a historical novel. I don’t like to repeat myself!
Chick lit, huh? That’s quite a leap. Be sure to stop by when you’ve published that one. What’s the best thing said about one of your books by a reviewer?
People have said a lot of nice things about my latest book, Yesterday Road, but I always go back to a reviewer of Parts Unknown (from the Denver Post) who said I had proved that male authors can write female characters convincingly. It really bolstered my confidence and reassured me that it’s not a big risk to attempt that. Characters are people, after all. And they should also be unique, so that stereotypes and gender roles are often off the table.
That’s quite high praise. How about your preferences when writing? Do you listen to music while you write?
I do listen to music, and it can be anything from classical to jazz to indie to electronic. I tend to prefer instrumental music while I write though. Lyrics seem to distract.
I’m the same way. I love lyrics, and I tend to sing along and I can’t do that when I’m writing. What do you do during your down time?
I’m trying to get better at jazz guitar. I bought a very nice Gibson last year, and I feel I owe it some dedicated practicing.
Good luck with that. Thank you so much for stopping by Kevin. I look forward to reading Yesterday Road and your other books.
Readers: From April 1 through April 7, Yesterday Road will cost $1.99 instead of the regular $3.99.
About Kevin Brennan: Kevin, author of Parts Unknown (William Morrow) has rung in the new year in Red Square, performed as a busker in the London Underground, wandered the California desert, and auditioned unsuccessfully for a chance at stardom on reality television. He and his wife live in Northern California.
Yesterday Road (October 2013, literary fiction/humor)
Our Children Are Not Our Children (August 2013, flash fiction)
Parts Unknown (January 2003, literary fiction, William Morrow/HarperCollins)
Direct from author (signed & inscribed)
Alzheimer'samazon.comauthorsbook reviewscharactersDown syndromefictionjourneysliterary fictionSan Francisco
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Next Post: Book Review Friday – Yesterday Road
This looks very interesting, I just downloaded it. Thanks for introducing us to this find!
It’s a powerful book. My review of it will be out on Friday.
haridasgowra says:
well said………keep going……#wordpress!
Reblogged this on What The Hell and commented:
Many thanks to Patricia Zick for this interview opportunity at Writing Whims!
Excellent review! I believe you will enjoy Yesterday Road. I certainly did 🙂
Yes, my review will appear tomorrow. I enjoyed getting to know Kevin through this interview, which made the reading of his novel even more interesting.
Hazy Shades of Me says:
Ha ha…love that he calls his next book Chick Lit! I’m lost in that genre because I feel that’s where my writing probably falls and I’ve learned we’re not supposed to call it that anymore. So what is it then?!
Great interview, PC.
Women’s literature, seriously.
Leave a Reply to P. C. Zick Cancel reply
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Jennifer Karre
Social Science Research Institute (SSRI)
Dive into the research topics where Jennifer Karre is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
father Social Sciences
Fathers Medicine & Life Sciences
Military Family Medicine & Life Sciences
Military Social Sciences
Mothers Medicine & Life Sciences
Empathy Business & Economics
Aggression Medicine & Life Sciences
Supporting Military Family Resilience at the Transition to Parenthood: A Randomized Pilot Trial of an Online Version of Family Foundations
Feinberg, M. E., Boring, J., Le, Y., Hostetler, M. L., Karre, J., Irvin, J. & Jones, D. E., Feb 1 2020, In: Family Relations. 69, 1, p. 109-124 16 p.
Similarities and differences in program registers: A case study
Zack, M. K., Karre, J. K., Olson, J. & Perkins, D. F., Oct 2019, In: Evaluation and Program Planning. 76, 101676.
Research on Fathers in the Military Context: Current Status and Future Directions
Karre, J. K., Perkins, D. F. & Aronson, K. R., Sep 2018, In: Journal of Family Theory and Review. 10, 3, p. 641-656 16 p.
Fathering Behavior and Emerging Adult Romantic Relationship Quality: Individual and Constellations of Behavior
Karre, J. K., Sep 17 2015, In: Journal of Adult Development. 22, 3, p. 148-158 11 p.
Gender-based attitudes and father involvement: Amount, assessment, and desires for more
Karre, J. K., Dec 1 2015, In: Fathering. 13, 3, p. 231-244 14 p.
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Utah’s population rose 18.4% over past decade but growth is beginning to stabilize, new report says
December 3, 2020 by performresours
SALT LAKE CITY — It’s believed Utah’s population grew by more than half a million over the past decade, but there are signs of growth stabilization, according to a new report released Thursday.
University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute released its annual state and county population estimates, which projected there were about 3.273 million people living in Utah as of July 1. If that’s true, it would be an increase of 509,115 people in the span since the 2010 Census was completed. It’d be an increase of 18.4%
Of course, the findings of the report are more of a placeholder as the Census Bureau completes information from the 2020 Census. The enumeration for all states is expected by the end of the month, which is when an official count of the population of all the states is revealed. The enumeration for all counties in the country is expected in the spring.
The institute’s report provides a possible sneak peek as to what to expect when the census information is released. Although it’s still too early to know what it would mean for one of the most important byproducts of the decennial census: congressional apportionment.
Inside the statewide growth
2020 threw a curveball for researchers on the project just like anyone else. The annual report typically looks at data to make the estimate for July 1 every year. This year, about three-fourth of the information came pre-pandemic while the remaining quarter came afterward.
As a result, researchers looked at multiple data sources before and after the start of the pandemic to come up with a possible answer. Ultimately, they projected a population of 3.273 million, which is an increase of 52,829 people, or 1.64%, from the 2019 estimate.
This graphic shows Utah population estimates following the 2010 Census. Estimated growth has stabilized since 2018, according to University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. (Photo: University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute)
It’s believed that the state’s population has grown every year since 2010 but the growth has slowed down a bit. The 1.64% increase in 2020 would be the lowest year-over-year increase since it was 1.37% in 2014, according to the report. The largest growth rate of the decade came in 2017, at 1.93%. It was listed at 1.69% in both 2018 and 2019.
“Utah closed out the decade with another year of strong population growth, a consistent pattern since 2013, although this growth has mostly stabilized since 2018,” researchers wrote in the report.
There are two factors for the population rise, which also help pinpoint this stabilization.
First, there were more babies born in Utah than total deaths reported but the data indicate the gap — known as natural increase — is slowly shrinking. That’s because the number of new births has slowed down while the number of deaths in the state has increased.
There were 52,899 births and 14,302 deaths in 2010, the report said, citing Utah Department of Health data. It estimated 46,510 births and 18,937 deaths in 2020, as births have declined and total deaths have gone up in the years between 2010 and 2020. The birth decline is a trend that’s existed since 2008 and exists nationwide, as well, researchers also pointed out.
As a result, the projected natural increase for 2020 was 27,573, which is down from 38,597 in 2010. In fact, it’s the lowest it’s been since the mid-1990s, the report finds.
The second reason for the growth is more people arriving in Utah than departing. Net migration, which is the number of people moving to the state compared to the number of people moving out, continues to remain high. This figure was estimated at 25,256 on July 1.
This graph shows net migration, natural increase and population change in Utah over the past 30 years. (Photo: University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute)
This statistic, experts said, shifts yearly, but it has remained consistent over the past few years. 2020 is the sixth-straight year Utah has ended up with a number between 20,000 and 30,000 new people through net migration.
Most counties experienced massive growth over past decade
Southern Utah, northern Utah and the south portion of the Wasatch Front highlighted year-over-year growth, according to the report. No county saw more percentage growth from 2019 to 2020 than Washington, which grew an estimated 4.06%.
It was followed by Daggett County in northeastern Utah at 3.11%. Utah (2.98%), Iron (2.67%) and Tooele (2.54%) counties rounded out the top five. Utah County’s population increased by an estimated 19,437 people from July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2020, which led all counties in total growth.
“Net migration is contributing the majority of growth in the fastest-growing counties in the state, such as Utah, Washington, Tooele and Iron counties, a notable shift in sources of growth for Utah County in particular,” the report stated. “Natural increase remains positive and contributes more than half of the state’s population growth, but continues to decline across the state and nation.”
Emery and Grand counties experienced population decreases of a combined 21 people.
But what about trends over the past 10 years?
All but three of Utah’s grew in population over the past decade, according to the estimates. More impressive, it projects that 20 of the state’s 29 counties experienced double-digit percentage growth over that period of time.
Percentage-wise, Wasatch County experienced the largest population boom in the span of 10 years. The report lists its growth at 42.1% or 9,914 more residents from 2010. Washington (36%), Morgan (31.2%), Utah (29.9%) and Tooele (24.9%) counties round out the top five, according to the report.
Utah County is believed to have the largest population increase in terms of total people added since 2010. Researchers believe it grew by 154,280 people over that time. In fact, Wasatch Front counties continued to outgain the rest of the state in sheer population.
Salt Lake (135,204) and Davis (53,446) and Weber (24,232) counties were listed as second, third and fifth in that category.
Washington County, in southern Utah, had the largest projected population increase outside of the Wasatch Front. The report estimated that its population grew by 49,763 people in 10 years.
Meanwhile, Daggett County, which experienced the second-highest year-over-year growth from 2019 to 2020, was still listed with a 3.3% decrease from 2010 to 2020. Emery (-2.8%) and Wayne (-0.3%) were the two counties projected to have lost residents since 2010. All three combined, it’s an estimated drop of 358 people.
Carter Williams
Utah\’s population rose 18.4% over past decade but growth is beginning to stabilize, new report says /p>
Filed Under: Coronavirus Live Updates
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Phil Sports News
Home Top Stories Entertainment Orange Is The New Black Season 8: Why Was The Netflix Series...
Top StoriesEntertainment
Orange Is The New Black Season 8: Why Was The Netflix Series Cancelled?
By: - Dhiraj Yadav
Friday, 4 December 2020, 01:25 EST
Modified date: Friday, 4 December 2020, 01:25 EST
The seventh season of Orange is the New Black is available on Netflix from Friday, July 26, and according to the official synopsis, the ladies of Litchfield come to terms with the fact that prison has changed them forever. Piper struggles with life on the outside, while Max, as corrupt and unfair as ever, continues without her.
Taystee’s friendship with Cindy is still on the line as her sentence looms, Gloria and her kitchen staff face the harsh truth of Polycon’s new source of profit, while others chase drugs or dreams and face reality. of his place in this world.
However, this will be the last installment in the series created by Jenji Leslie Kohan. “ Seven seasons later, the time has come to get out of jail. I will miss all the tough girls in Litchfield and the amazing team we’ve worked with. My heart is orange and it melts to black , “Kohan said in a statement last year.
For her part, Netflix’s Vice President of Original Content , Cindy Holland, said: “ During the production of Season 1, everyone involved in Orange Is The New Black felt we knew a special secret that we couldn’t wait to share with the rest of the world. world. Since then, we’ve laughed, cried, enraged, and roared with the women of Litchfield, and every moment spent with them felt like borrowed time too good, forever… We’re sad to say goodbye, but we will definitely close on top ”.
Read More "Riverdale" has simultaneous premiere of season 5
Production on the final season of Orange is the New Black , a drama that premiered in July 2012 and garnered six Golden Globe Award nominations and four Emmy nominations, wrapped in late February. At the time, actress Taylor Schilling, who plays Piper Chapman, wrote, “ My heart is full and aching and so full of gratitude, I’m a little lightheaded. These extraordinary people have changed me forever. Privilege of a lifetime ”.
Read More Boba Fett TV Show Announced During Mandalorian Season 2 Finale
Jenji Kohan shared on Instagram an image of the entire final cast on the set in New York, which was accompanied by the following phrase, ” this is an Orange is the New Black family .”
Before last season’s announcement, the creator spoke to The New York Times about the end of the prison series. ” I haven’t made a final decision yet, but I’m leaning toward the end in season seven, even though the nature of the show is that it can go on and on as it can bring new people to prison .”
Will “Orange Is The New Black” Have A Spin – Off ?
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lionsgate Television Group Chairman Kevin Beggs said during an earnings call that he had discussions with creator Jenji Kohan about creating another series.
” We are really proud of the long history Orange is the New Black had, ” said Beggs. “_It continues to be one of the most watched shows on Netflix . We are ending on a high note. Please note that we are the owners of that series and will distribute it for years to come. We are already in talks and, when the time is right, we will talk more with Jenji about a possible sequel . ”
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If a spin-off of Orange is the New Black were to be made it would likely feature an entirely new cast of characters, perhaps with a few crossovers.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter last year, producer Tara Herrmann shared some of the spin-off ideas that had come up, including a Broadway production or a deep dive into the lives of Piper, Larry (Jason Biggs), and his now-wife Polly. (Maria Dizzia).
Orange Is The New Black Season 8 cast
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Orange Is The New Black Season 8 plot
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Orange Is The New Black Season 8 trailer
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Dhiraj Yadav
The United States Adds Xiaomi To Its Blacklist For Alleged Links With The Chinese Military
Technology Saturday, 16 January 2021, 10:42 EST
The United States government added Xiaomi to its dreaded blacklist for alleged links with the Chinese military. The president of the North American country,...
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Italy fined Apple 10 million euros for misleading advertising about the water-resistance of the iPhone. The National Competition Authority (AGCM) discovered that Apple's claims...
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As reported by TorrentFreak, The Mandalorian became the most pirated series of 2020. The popular Disney + series dethroned Game of Thrones, who dominated...
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Pontifical Orders
Recognition of Orders
Past Members Gallery
The Association may be contacted through its Secretary,
Peter F Durnin, KC*SG, KM, GCHS, "Rosaire", Moneymore, Drogheda, Co Louth. A92 RF6F
email: secretary@papalorders.ie
Google Map in jQuery dialog box
Grand Cross Pian Order, 7 March 1956
Born 1920 – 4 Oct 2017. Taoiseach 1974-77. Received the honour as Minister for Foreign Affairs; his father WT was also a papal knight. Leader Fine Gael 1965 and resigned 1981. His father, WT Cosgrave, had presided over successive Cumann na nGaedheal governments for 11 years. He was born in Dublin on April 13th, 1920 while his father, William, was serving one of his periods in prison for his active role in Sinn Féin. At 17 he joined Fine Gael and campaigned beside his father in the 1937 election. He studied law at UCD but interrupted his studies to join the Army in 1940 following the declaration of the EmergencyFollowing the 1948 election, Fine Gael formed part of an unwieldy coalition of five parties and Independents to keep Fianna Fáil out of power. Cosgrave was appointed a parliamentary secretary to the new taoiseach, John A Costello, also a papal knight. ould otherwise suffer economically from the change of government. He led a very private life during his long retirement, rarely appearing at public functions and never commenting on political matters.
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Friends in need: Parsis care for their elderly in Calcutta
Friends in need: Parsis care for their elderly
A group of caregivers headed by Sam Medora has been looking after elderly Parsis in Calcutta for nearly two decades
When Ava Mehta flew down from England to visit her parents in the city during Navroz last month, her mother Tina Mehta hosted a tea party for her to meet the people who look after the octogenarian couple when she is away.
By Arundhati Bhattacharya | The Telegraph
Dara and Meher Hansotia who manage the dharamshala and its kitchen Pictures by Biswajit Kundu
A group of caregivers headed by Sam Medora, the former CEO of the Calcutta Zoroastrian Community’s Religious & Charity Fund, has been looking after elderly Parsis in Calcutta for nearly two decades. From helping them on their hospital visits and check-ups to taking care of salon appointments or even an occasional visit to the movies, the caregivers do everything for the senior citizens, most of who live alone.
The city at present has just over 400 Parsis, according to a survey conducted on March 31, 2019. “We conduct surveys twice a year and according to the latest one there are 405 Parsis in Calcutta, 150 of them over the age of 70 and 238 over the age of 60,” said Noshir S. Wadia, CEO of the Zoroastrian charity fund.
The trust has seven caregivers at present who look after 20 elderly members of the community, aged 60 to 96.
The caregivers are always on the alert, responding to every phone call and rushing to the aid of the elderly at all times. They pay monthly visits to the homes of the elderly to ensure that things are running smoothly in the household.
The corridor overlooking the rooms of Parsi Dharamshala, home to some elderly members of the community Pictures by Biswajit Kundu
Not just during emergencies, the caregivers also meet the elderly for lunch or to just spend time with them. It is a free service and a few of the elderly also receive financial assistance from the trust.
The Mehtas strongly recommend Calcutta as the perfect city for an ageing Parsi to live in. “Our children, settled outside the city, can live peacefully as they know we are looked after well,” Tina said .
The trust or members of the community also organise group outings and sponsored trips to clubs or restaurants for the elderly. “We celebrate Elders’ Day where we have pick-up and drop facilities for senior citizens. The trust has also lent us a car for hospital and other duties,” Medora said.
The elderly care service was initiated in 2001. “In 2004-05, we built a team to take care of the elderly and lonely,” Medora said. The caregivers receive a stipend from the trust.
The Manackjee Rustomjee Parsi Dharamshala on Bow Street is also involved in the endeavour, providing a home to some of the elderly. The building is more than a century old and over the years has been serving not just travellers but also doubled as a resting place for recuperating patients. It is now a home to a few from the community.
If needed, the community trust also bears the expenses of the elderly people living at the dharamshala.
Pilloo Sutaria and Shirin Bhattacharya have been living at the dharamshala for the past five years, while Zarine Katrak and Roshan Singh have moved in recently.
Sutaria, 78, was herself a caregiver for elderly Parsis after she retired as a stenographer at Tata Iron and Steel Company, where she had served for 41 years.
Now, Sutaria is looked after by caregivers like Navaz Gherda and Katy Sabawalla, among others. “We are glad to be able to pay back to her by taking care of her,” Gherda said.
In charge of the dharamshala are Dara and Meher Hansotia. “If somebody falls ill or there is an emergency, the first initiative comes from us, after which the caregivers are alerted,” Meher said.
The couple also look after the dharamshala kitchen. “Every day there is a change in the menu for the elderly residents,” said Dara, the manager of the dharamshala.
The kitchen offers a home delivery service as well. “We cater to around six to eight families from the community at present. We deliver lunch and dinner at their doorstep,” said Dara, who also runs Meher Caterers, that serves authentic Parsi delicacies at community dinners and kitty parties.
← Global Working Group Renews Amelioration And Welfare Scheme of Senior Mobeds And Widows of Senior Mobeds
Jamshedji Framji Madan: The Indian Theatre Magnate →
Avan N. Cooverji on September 16, 2019 at 2:24 AM
Way to go ! Well done.
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← STREETS OF GOLD (Film, 1986)
“ARENA BRAINS” (Short Film, 1987) →
“BAD” (Short Film, 1987)
Posted on October 21, 2014 by Matt
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Screenplay by Richard Price
Michael Jackson’s music videos (or “short films,” as he’d apparently insist you call them) are one of the best arguments out there for the music video as popular art. From the seedy dreamscape of “Billie Jean” to the kooky horror antics of “Thriller” to Macaulay Culkin rapping in “Black or White,” you’d be hard-pressed to find more entertainingly freewheeling funhouse mirror visions of society and popular culture.
And when you think kooky funhouse mirror dreamscapes, you think ultra-realistic urban novelist Richard Price, right? No? Well, someone did!
Actually, the people putting together the “Bad” video thought of Martin Scorsese, who in turn brought on Price, the two of them having worked together on The Color of Money. Even Scorsese was a bit of a weird match for the youth-oriented surrealism built up around Jackson’s image, though; the Scorsese films that seemed to fit that mold most (relatively speaking) were minor works like the coolly received musical New York, New York and dark comedies like The King of Comedy and After Hours. But MJ was looking to toughen up his image during the emergence of hip-hop, and, more importantly, Scorsese was widely recognized as one of America’s greatest filmmakers, and was therefore one of very few people deemed worthy of directing the world’s biggest pop star.
And the funny thing is that most of the 18-minute “Bad” video, constructed as a follow-up to John Landis’s extended “Thriller” short film, actually fits comfortably into Price and Scorsese’s respective bodies of work–in fact, it looks much more like what you’d expect from a collaboration between them than The Color of Money did. Race aside, the story could’ve been drawn straight from the worlds of The Wanderers and Bloodbrothers: Jackson plays Darryl, a prep school student from a rough area of New York City who returns home on vacation to find that his old neighborhood pals think he’s gone soft–that he’s no longer, you know, “bad”–and are hellbent on making him prove them wrong. (According to Spike Lee’s Bad25 documentary, Price based his script to some extent on the story of Edmund Perry, a 17-year-old black honor student from Harlem who was shot and killed by a police officer.)
Darryl (Michael Jackson) and friends
Price’s voice can be hard to make out in some of the higher-profile projects he’s worked on, but here the style is as Price-ish as the subject matter, with the dialogue turning on oblique yet to-the-point phrases (“How many guys proud of you?”) and seemingly mundane conversations that conceal deep insecurities and resentments (tortoise-shell glasses becoming a flashpoint of class conflict). Scorsese’s direction is equally as on point, DP Michael Chapman’s gliding camera emphasizing the icy cool of the young guys’ mean-mugging as effectively as it does Darryl’s shaky anxiety about a would-be robbery. Jackson’s high-pitched, breathy voice and cherubic, newly light-toned face do seem a bit out of place, but his performance hits the right emotional notes.
And then, nine minutes in, everybody breaks into a dance number.
Darryl and his other friends
From the interviews he’s given since, one gets the impression that Price isn’t all that happy with the actual music video section of “Bad” and its effect on the piece overall. “The thing is,” he’s said, “you can’t do a realistic script starring Michael Jackson, which is going to end in a song anyhow. It’s like [all the talent involved] was great and the whole thing somehow was not. At the time, it was upsetting. At this point, it’s like comedy is tragedy plus time.”
And yes, in contrast to everything that’s preceded it, the dance number–in which Darryl suddenly dons black leather and spikes and jumps around a subway station with a bunch of street punk back-ups–is ludicrous. It’s absurdly out of step with both the ideas explored in the video’s first half and the subtlety of their execution, and the only thing keeping it from becoming overt comedy is that Wesley Snipes and the other guys playing Darryl’s friends weren’t allowed to play their reactions for the laughs the moment so clearly deserves.
But it’s also, in itself, a pretty bitchin’ dance number. And that’s the thing: While I can understand why Price would be disappointed with the end result of his work, the “Bad” video is still great, both because of Price’s work and because of how that work is totally tossed out the window in the second half. Being annoyed that “Bad” is, in the end, more funny than affecting is like being annoyed that “Thriller” is, in the end, more funny than scary. The point wasn’t really to create a societal critique worthy of sober reflection; the point was to throw a bunch of creative influences into a blender and come out with some kind of spectacle grand enough to hold America’s attention for half an hour of primetime CBS. And that’s what we got. The fact that Scorsese and Price’s brand of dark urban realism was treated with the same amount of respect that “Thriller” showed to monster movie tropes is, in a sense, flattering, because while there are few things as frequently ridiculed as monster movies, there are also few things as iconic.
A few other notes:
• “Bad” was of course the big launching point of Wesley Snipes’s career, but he had already appeared in some features, including 1986’s Streets of Gold, also co-written by Price. Other Streets of Gold personnel who worked on “Bad” include producer Harry Ufland, who helped make Price’s version of Night and the City, and actor Adam Nathan, who plays “Tip” here and was “Grisha” in Streets.
• No Obligatory Richard Price Cameo this time around, but the train conductor was voiced by one “Dennis Price.” Don’t know if he’s any relation or not. [UPDATE: Apparently not.]
Next week: Price co-writes a somewhat more obscure short film, Robert Longo’s “Arena Brains” (1987).
This entry was posted in Films and tagged bad, martin scorsese, michael jackson, music videos, richard price, wesley snipes. Bookmark the permalink.
8 Responses to “BAD” (Short Film, 1987)
Pingback: STREETS OF GOLD (Film, 1986) | Priced Out
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THE NIGHT OF (TV Series, 2016)
INTERVIEW: Richard Price on THE NIGHT OF and More
CHILD 44 (Film, 2015)
THE WHITES (Novel, 2015) – Review
THE WHITES (Novel, 2015)/Epilogue
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CMA PolicyBase
Policies that advocate for the medical profession and Canadians
Ethics and medical professionalism 2
Health information and e-health 1
Pharmaceuticals/ prescribing/ cannabis/ marijuana/ drugs 1
Population health/ health equity/ public health
Parliamentary submission 1
Policy resolution 13
Health equity and the social determinants of health: A role for the medical profession
https://policybase.cma.ca/en/permalink/policy10672
1 document
Health equity is created when individuals have the opportunity to achieve their full health potential; equity is undermined when preventable and avoidable systematic conditions constrain life choices.1 These conditions are known as the social determinants of health. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines the social determinants of health as the circumstances in which people are born, develop, live and age.2 In 2002, researchers and policy experts at a York University conference identified the following list: income and income distribution; early life; education; housing; food security; employment and working conditions; unemployment and job security; social safety net; social inclusion/exclusion; and health services. 3 Research suggests that 15% of population health is determined by biology and genetics, 10% by physical environments, 25% by the actions of the health care system, with 50% being determined by our social and economic environment.4 Any actions to improve health and tackle health inequity must address the social determinants and their impact on daily life.5 THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND HEALTH STATUS Social status is one of the strongest predictors of health at the population level. There is a social gradient of health such that those with higher social status experience greater health than those with lower social status. The social gradient is evident not only when comparing the most disadvantaged to the most advantaged; within each strata, even among those holding stable middle-class jobs, those at the lowest end fare less well than those at the higher end. The Whitehall study of civil servants in the United Kingdom found that lower ranking staff have a greater disease burden and shorter life expectancy than higher-ranking staff.6 Differences in medical care did not account for the differences in mortality.7 This gradient has been demonstrated for just about any health condition.8 Hundreds of research papers have confirmed that people in the lowest socio-economic groups carry the greatest burden of illness.9 In 2001, people in the neighbourhoods with the highest 20% income lived about three years longer than those in the poorest 20% neighbourhoods (four years for men; two years for women).10 Dietary deficiencies, common in food insecure households, can lead to an increased chance of chronic disease and greater difficulty in disease management. It is estimated that about 1.1 million households in Canada experience food insecurity, with the risk increasing in single-parent households and in families on social assistance.11 Studies suggest that adverse socio-economic conditions in childhood can be a greater predictor of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in adults than later life circumstances and behavioural choices.12 Effective early childhood development offers the best opportunity to reduce the social gradient and improve the social determinants of health,13 and offers the greatest return on investment.14 Low income contributes not only to material deprivation but social isolation as well. Without financial resources, it is more difficult for individuals to participate in cultural, educational and recreational activities or to benefit from tax incentives. Suicide rates in the lowest income neighbourhoods are almost twice as high as in the wealthiest neighbourhoods.15 This social isolation and its effects are most striking in Canada's homeless population. Being homeless is correlated with higher rates of physical and mental illness. In Canada, premature death is eight to 10 times higher among the homeless.16 The gradient in other social determinants can have an adverse impact as well. A study conducted in the Netherlands estimated that average morbidity and mortality in the overall population could be reduced 25-50% if men with lower levels of education had the same mortality and morbidity levels as those men with a university education.17 Employment status also follows this gradient, such that having a job is better than being unemployed. 18 Unemployment is correlated with increased blood pressure, self-reported ill health, drug abuse, and reductions in normal activity due to illness or injury.19 Unemployment is associated with increases in domestic violence, family breakups and crime. Finally, job security is relevant.20 Mortality rates are higher among temporary rather than permanent workers.21 Canada's Aboriginal people face the greatest health consequences as a result of the social determinants of health. Poverty, inadequate or substandard housing, unemployment, lack of access to health services, and low levels of education characterize a disproportionately large number of Aboriginal peoples.22 The crude mortality rate for First Nations is higher and life expectancy lower than the Canadian average.23 Aboriginal peoples experience higher rates of chronic disease, addictions, mental illness and childhood abuse.24 Aboriginal peoples have higher rates of suicide, with suicide being the leading cause of potential years of life lost in both the First Nations and Inuit populations.25 THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND CANADA'S HEALTH SYSTEM These differences in health outcomes have an impact on the health care system. Most major diseases including heart disease and mental illness follow a social gradient with those in lowest socio-economic groups having the greatest burden of illness.26 Those within the lowest socio-economic status are 1.4 times more likely to have a chronic disease, and 1.9 times more likely to be hospitalized for care of that disease.27 Chronic diseases such as diabetes account for 67% of direct health care costs and 60% indirect costs.28 Research has shown that Canadians with low incomes are higher users of general practitioner, mental health, and hospital services.29 People in the lowest income group were almost twice as likely as those in the highest income group to visit the emergency department for treatment. 30 Part of this may be caused by differences in access to care. Low-income Canadians are more likely to report that they have not received needed health care in the past 12 months.31 Those in the lowest income groups are 50% less likely than those in the highest income group to see a specialist or get care in the evenings or on weekends, and 40% more likely to wait more than five days for a doctor's appointment.32 Barriers to health care access are not the only issue. Research in the U.K.33 and U.S.34 has found that compliance with medical treatment tends to be lower in disadvantaged groups, leading to pain, missed appointments, increased use of family practice services and increased emergency department visits, and corresponding increases in cost. In the U.S., non-adherence has been attributed to 100,000 deaths annually.35 Researchers have reported that those in the lowest income groups are three times less likely to fill prescriptions, and 60% less able to get needed tests because of cost.36 These differences have financial costs. In Manitoba for example, research conducted in 1994 showed that those in the lowest income decile used services totaling $216 million (12.2%). In the same year, those in the highest income decile consumed $97 million (5.5%) of expenditures. If expenditures for the bottom half of the population by income had been the same as the median, Manitoba would have saved $319 million or 23.1% of their health care budget. 37 According to a 2011 report, low-income residents in Saskatoon consume an additional $179 million in health care costs than middle income earners.38 To reduce the burden of illness and therefore system costs, Canada needs to improve the underlying social and economic determinants of health of Canadians. However, until these changes have time to improve the health status of the population, there will still be a large burden of illness correlated to these underlying deficiencies. As a result, the health system will need to be adequately resourced to address the consequences of the social determinants of health. AREAS FOR ACTION The WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health identified four categories through which actions on social determinants can be taken. These include: * reducing social stratification by reducing inequalities in power, prestige, and income linked to socio-economic position; * decreasing the exposure of individuals and populations to the health-damaging factors they may face; * reducing the vulnerability of people to the health damaging conditions they face; and * intervening through health care to reduce the consequences of ill health caused by the underlying determinants.39 All of these areas offer possibilities for action by the physician community. The following section provides suggestions for action by the medical profession through: CMA and national level initiatives; medical education; leadership and research; and clinical practice. CMA and national level initiatives Despite the strong relationship between the social determinants of health and health, little in the way of effective action has resulted. CMA and its partners can and should, advocate for research and push for informed healthy public policy, including health impact assessments for government policies. Additionally, targeted population health programs aimed at addressing the underlying determinants should be supported. All Canadians need a better understanding of the health trends and the impacts of various social and economic indicators. Information about the differences in specific health indicators, collected over time,40 is essential to the task of describing underlying health trends and the impacts of social and economic interventions. Data within primary care practices could be assembled into (anonymous) community-wide health information databases, to address this need. CMA recommends that: 1. The federal government recognize the relationship of the social determinants of health on the demands of the health care system and that it implement a requirement for all cabinet decision-making to include a Health Impact Assessment. 2. Options be examined for minimizing financial barriers to necessary medical care including pharmaceuticals and medical devices necessary for health. 3. Federal and provincial/territorial governments examine ways to improve the social and economic circumstances of all Canadians. 4. Efforts be made to educate the public about the effect of social determinants on individual and population health. 5. Appropriate data be collected and reported on annually. This data should be locally usable, nationally comparable and based on milestones across the life course. Medical education Medical education is an effective means to provide physicians with the information and tools they require to understand the impact of social determinants on the health of their patients and deal with them accordingly.41 In 2001, Health Canada published a report in which they stated that the primary goal of medical education should be the preparation of graduates who know how to reduce the burden of illness and improve the health of the communities in which they practice.42 Among the report's recommendations was a call for greater integration of the social determinants in medical curricula.43 Although the CanMEDS framework has been a part of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada's accreditation process since 2005, challenges to the integration of these competencies remain.44 The report called for a greater emphasis on providing medical students with firsthand experiences in the community and with distinct populations (service learning),45 which addresses the difficulties in teaching the social aspects of medicine within a traditional classroom or hospital setting.46 Many such programs exist across the country.47 However, these programs are still limited and there is a need to increase the availability of longitudinal programs which allow students to build on the skills they develop throughout medical school. Increasingly residency programs which focus on the social determinants of health are being offered.48 These programs are a means of providing physicians with the proper tools to communicate with patients from diverse backgrounds49 and reduce behaviours that marginalized patients have identified as barriers to health services.50 It also provides residents with physician role models who are active in the community. However, medical residents note a lack of opportunities to participate in advocacy during residency.51 Further, while experiential programs are effective in helping to reduce barriers between physicians and patients from disadvantaged backgrounds, greater recruitment of medical students from these marginalized populations should also be explored and encouraged. Finally, physicians in practice need to be kept up to date on new literature and interventions regarding the social determinants. Innovations which help address health equity in practice should be shared with interested physicians. In particular, there is a need for accredited continuing medical education (CME) and a means to encourage uptake.52 CMA recommends that: 6. Greater integration of information on the social determinants and health inequity be provided in medical school to support the CanMEDS health advocate role 7. All medical schools and residency programs offer service learning programs, to provide students with an opportunity to work with diverse populations in inner city, rural and remote settings, and to improve their skills in managing the impact of the social determinants on their patients. 8. CME on the social determinants of health and the physician role in health equity be offered and incentivized for practising physicians. Leadership and research Within many communities in Canada, there are physicians who are working to address social determinants and health equity within the patient populations they serve. This is done in many cases through collaboration with partners within and outside of the health care system. Providing these local physician leaders with the tools they need to build these partnerships, and influence the policies and programs that affect their communities is a strategy that needs to be explored. Evidence-based research about health equity, the clinical setting and the role of physicians is underdeveloped. Interested physicians may wish to participate in research about practice level innovations, as a means of contributing to the evidence base for 'health equity' interventions or simply to share best practices with interested colleagues. Further, physicians can provide the medical support to encourage the adoption of early childhood development practices for example, which support later adult health. In time, research will contribute to training, continuing medical education and potentially to clinical practice guidelines. Physicians can provide leadership in health impact assessments and equity audits within the health care system as well. Data is essential to identify health equity challenges within a program, to propose and test measures that address the issues underlying the disparities. Formal audits and good measurement are essential to develop evidence-based policy improvements.53 Innovative programs such as those within the Saskatoon Health Region and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto are examples of using these tools to improve access and reduce inequities. CMA recommends that: 9. Physicians who undertake leadership and advocacy roles should be protected from repercussions in the workplace, e.g., the loss of hospital privileges. 10. Physician leaders explore opportunities to strengthen the primary care public health interface within their communities by working with existing agencies and community resources. 11. Physician leaders work with their local health organizations and systems to conduct health equity impact assessments in order to identify challenges and find solutions to improve access and quality of care. 12. Physicians be encouraged to participate in or support research on best practices for the social determinants of health and health equity. Once identified, information sharing should be established in Canada and internationally. Clinical practice In consultation with identified health equity physician champions, a number of clinical interventions have been identified which are being undertaken by physicians across the country. These interventions could be undertaken in many practice settings given the right supports, and could be carried out by various members of the collaborative care team.1 First, a comprehensive social history is essential to understand how to provide care for each patient in the context of their life.54 There are a number of tools that can be used for such a consultation and more are in development.55 However, consolidation of the best ideas into a tool that is suitable for the majority of health care settings is needed. There is some concern that asking these questions is outside of the physician role. The CanMEDS health advocate role clearly sees these types of activities as part of the physician role.56 The 'Four Principles of Family Medicine' defined by the College of Family Physicians of Canada, affirms this role for physicians as well.57 Community knowledge was identified as a strategy for helping patients. Physicians who were aware of community programs and services were able to refer patients if/when social issues arose.58 Many communities and some health providers have developed community resource guides.59 For some physicians, developing a network of community resources was the best way to understand the supports available. As a corollary, physicians noted their work in helping their patients become aware of and apply for the various social programs to which they are entitled. The programs vary by community and province/territory, and include disability, nutritional supports and many others. Most if not all of these programs require physicians to complete a form in order for the individual to qualify. Resources are available for some of these programs,60 but more centralized supports for physicians regardless of practice location or province/territory are needed. Physicians advocate on behalf of their patients by writing letters confirming the medical limitations of various health conditions or the medical harm of certain exposures.61 For example, a letter confirming the role of mold in triggering asthma may lead to improvements in the community housing of an asthmatic. Additionally, letters might help patients get the health care services and referrals that they require. As identified leaders within the community, support from a physician may be a 'game-changer' for patients. Finally, the design of the clinic, such as hours of operation or location, will influence the ability of people to reach care.62 CMA recommends that: 13. Tools be provided for physicians to assess their patients for social and economic causes of ill health and to determine the impact of these factors on treatment design. 14. Local databases of community services and programs (health and social) be developed and provided to physicians. Where possible, targeted guides should be developed for the health sector. 15. Collaborative team-based practice be supported and encouraged. 16. Resources or services be made available to physicians so that they can help their patients identify the provincial/territorial and federal programs for which they may qualify. 17. Physicians be cognizant of equity considerations when considering their practice design and patient resources. 18. All patients be treated equitably and have reasonable access to appropriate care, regardless of the funding model of their physician. CONCLUSION Socio-economic factors play a larger role in creating (or damaging) health than either biological factors or the health care system. Health equity is increasingly recognized as a necessary means by which we will make gains in the health status of all Canadians and retain a sustainable publicly funded health care system. Addressing inequalities in health is a pillar of CMA's Health Care Transformation initiative. Physicians as clinicians, learners, teachers, leaders and as a profession can take steps to address the problems on behalf of their patients. REFERENCES 1 A full review of the consultations is provided in the companion paper The Physician and Health Equity: Opportunities in Practice. 1 Khalema, N. Ernest (2005) Who's Healthy? Who's Not? A Social Justice Perspective on Health Inequities. Available at: http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/chps/crosslinks_march05.cfm 2 World Health Organization (2008) Closing the gap in a generation: Health equity through action on the social determinants of health: Executive Summary. Available at: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2008/WHO_IER_CSDH_08.1_eng.pdf 3 Public Health Agency of Canada (N.D.) The Social Determinants of Health: An Overview of the Implications for Policy and the Role of the Health Sector. Available at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ph-sp/oi-ar/pdf/01_overview_e.pdf 4 Keon, Wilbert J. & Lucie Pépin (2008) Population Health Policy: Issues and Options. Available at: http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Committee/392/soci/rep/rep10apr08-e.pdf 5 Friel, Sharon (2009) Health equity in Australia: A policy framework based on action on the social determinants of obesity, alcohol and tobacco. The National Preventative Health Taskforce. Available at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/preventativehealth/publishing.nsf/Content/0FBE203C1C547A82CA257529000231BF/$File/commpaper-hlth-equity-friel.pdf 6 Wilkinson, Richard & Michael Marmot eds. (2003) Social Determinants of Health: The Solid Facts: Second Edition. World Health Organization. Available at: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/98438/e81384.pdf 7 Khalema, N. Ernest (2005) Who's Healthy?... 8 Dunn, James R. (2002) The Health Determinants Partnership Making Connections Project: Are Widening Income Inequalities Making Canada Less Healthy? Available at: http://www.opha.on.ca/our_voice/collaborations/makeconnxn/HDP-proj-full.pdf 9 Ibid 10 Wilkins, Russ; Berthelot, Jean-Marie; and Ng E. [2002]. Trends in Mortality by Neighbourhood Income in Urban Canada from 1971 to 1996. Health Reports 13 [Supplement]: pp. 45-71 11 Mikkonen, Juha & Dennis Raphael (2010) Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts. Available at: http://www.thecanadianfacts.org/The_Canadian_Facts.pdf 12 Raphael, Dennis (2003) "Addressing The Social Determinants of Health In Canada: Bridging The Gap Between Research Findings and Public Policy." Policy Options. March 2003 pp.35-40. 13 World Health Organization (2008) Closing the gap in a generation... 14 Hay, David I. (2006) Economic Arguments for Action on the Social Determinants of Health. Canadian Policy Research Networks. Available at: http://www.cprn.org/documents/46128_en.pdf 15 Mikkonen, Juha & Dennis Raphael (2010) Social Determinants of Health... 16 Ibid. 17 Whitehead, Margaret & Goran Dahlgren (2006) Concepts and principles for tackling social inequities in health: Levelling up Part 1. World Health Organization Europe. Available at: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/74737/E89383.pdf 18 Wilkinson, Richard & Michael Marmot eds. (2003) "Social Determinants of Health... 19 Ferrie, Jane E. (1999) "Health consequences of job insecurity." In Labour Market Changes and Job Security: A Challenge for Social Welfare and Health Promotion. World Health Organization. Available at: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/98411/E66205.pdf 20 Marmot, Michael (2010) Fair Society Healthy Lives: The Marmot Review: Executive Summary. Available at: http://www.marmotreview.org/AssetLibrary/pdfs/Reports/FairSocietyHealthyLivesExecSummary.pdf 21 World Health Organization (2008) Closing the gap in a generation... 22 Aboriginal Healing Foundation, Frequently Asked Questions (Ottawa: Canadian Government Publishing Directorate, 2009) Available at: http://www.ahf.ca/faq 23Health Council of Canada, "The Health Status Of Canada's First Nations, Métis And Inuit Peoples", 2005, Available at:http://healthcouncilcanada.ca.c9.previewyoursite.com/docs/papers/2005/BkgrdHealthyCdnsENG.pdf 24 Mikkonen, Juha & Dennis Raphael (2010) Social Determinants of Health... 25Health Council of Canada, (2005)"The Health Status Of Canada's First Nations, Métis And Inuit Peoples... 26 Dunn, James R. (2002) The Health Determinants Partnership... 27 CIHI/CPHI (2012) Disparities in Primary Health Care Experiences Among Canadians with Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions. http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/products/PHC_Experiences_AiB2012_E.pdf 28 Munro, Daniel (2008) "Healthy People, Healthy Performance, Healthy Profits: The Case for Business Action on the Socio-Economic Determinants of Health." The Conference Board of Canada. Available at: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/Libraries/NETWORK_PUBLIC/dec2008_report_healthypeople.sflb 29 Williamson, Deanna L. et.al. (2006) "Low-income Canadians' experiences with health-related services: Implications for health care reform." Health Policy. 76(2006) pp. 106-121. 30 CIHI/CPHI (2012) Disparities in Primary Health Care Experiences Among Canadians... 31 Williamson, Deanna L. et.al. (2006) "Low-income Canadians'... 32 Mikkonen, Juha & Dennis Raphael (2010) Social Determinants of Health... 33 Neal, Richard D. et.al. (2001) "Missed appointments in general practice: retrospective data analysis from four practices." British Journal of General Practice. 51 pp.830-832. 34 Kennedy, Jae & Christopher Erb (2002) "Prescription Noncompliance due to Cost Among Adults with Disabilities in the United States." American Journal of Public Health. Vol.92 No.7 pp. 1120-1124. 35 Bibbins-Domingo, Kirsten & M. Robin DiMatteo. Chapter 8: Assessing and Promoting Medication Adherence. pp. 81-90 in King, Talmadge E, Jr. & Margaret B. Wheeler ed. (2007) Medical Management of Vulnerable and Underserved Patients... 36 Mikkonen, Juha & Dennis Raphael (2010) Social Determinants of Health... 37 Dunn, James R. (2002) The Health Determinants Partnership... 38 Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership (2011) from poverty to possibility...and prosperity: A Preview to the Saskatoon Community Action Plan to Reduce Poverty. Available at: http://www.saskatoonpoverty2possibility.ca/pdf/SPRP%20Possibilities%20Doc_Nov%202011.pdf 39 World Health Organization (2005) Action On The Social Determinants Of Health: Learning From Previous Experiences. Available at: http://www.who.int/social_determinants/resources/action_sd.pdf 40 Braveman, Paula (2003) "Monitoring Equity in Health and Healthcare: A Conceptual Framework."Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition. Sep;21(3):181-192. 41 Royal College of Physicians (2010) How doctors can close the gap: Tackling the social determinants of health through culture change, advocacy and education. Available at: http://www.marmotreview.org/AssetLibrary/resources/new%20external%20reports/RCP-report-how-doctors-can-close-the-gap.pdf 42 Health Canada (2001) Social Accountability: A Vision for Canadian Medical Schools. Available at: http://www.medicine.usask.ca/leadership/social-accountability/pdfs%20and%20powerpoint/SA%20-%20A%20vision%20for%20Canadian%20Medical%20Schools%20-%20Health%20Canada.pdf 43 Ibid. 44 Dharamsi, Shafik; Ho, Anita; Spadafora, Salvatore; and Robert Woollard (2011) "The Physician as Health Advocate: Translating the Quest for Social Responsibility into Medical Education and Practice." Academic Medicine. Vol.86 No.9 pp.1108-1113. 45 Health Canada (2001) Social Accountability: A Vision for Canadian Medical Schools... 46 Meili, Ryan; Fuller, Daniel; & Jessica Lydiate. (2011) "Teaching social accountability by making the links: Qualitative evaluation of student experiences in a service-learning project." Medical Teacher. 33; 659-666. 47 Ford-Jones, Lee; Levin, Leo; Schneider, Rayfel; & Denis Daneman (2012) "A New Social Pediatrics Elective-A Tool for Moving to Life Course Developmental Health." The Journal of Pediatrics. V.160 Iss. 3 pp.357-358; Meili, Ryan; Ganem-Cuenca, Alejandra; Wing-sea Leung, Jannie; & Donna Zaleschuk (2011) "The CARE Model of Social Accountability: Promoting Cultural Change." Academic Medicine. Vol.86 No.9 pp.1114-1119. 48 Cuthbertson, Lana "U of A helps doctors understand way of life in the inner city." Edmonton Journal Dec 22, 2010. Available at: http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/cityplus/story.html?id=943d7dc3-927b-4429-878b-09b6e00595e1 49 Willems, S.; Maesschalck De, S.; Deveugele, M.; Derese, A. & J. De Maeseneer (2005) "Socio-economic status of the patient and doctor-patient communication: does it make a difference?" Patient Education and Counseling. 56 pp. 139-146. 50 Bloch, Gary; Rozmovits, Linda & Broden Giambone (2011) "Barriers to primary care responsiveness to poverty as a risk factor for health." BioMed Central Family Practice. Available at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2296-12-62.pdf; Schillinger, Dean; Villela, Theresa J. & George William Saba. Chapter 6: Creating a Context for Effective Intervention in the Clinical Care of Vulnerable Patients. pp.59-67. In King, Talmadge E, Jr. & Margaret B. Wheeler ed. (2007) Medical Management of Vulnerable and Underserved Patients. 51 Dharamsi, Shafik; Ho, Anita; Spadafora, Salvatore; and Robert Woollard (2011) "The Physician as Health Advocate... 52 UCL Institute of Health Equity (2012) The Role of the Health Workforce in Tackling Health Inequalities... 53 Meili, Ryan (2012) A Healthy Society: How A Focus On Health Can Revive Canadian Democracy. Saskatoon: Canada. Purich Publishing Limited. pp.36 54 UCL Institute of Health Equity (2012) The Role of the Health Workforce in Tackling Health Inequalities... 55 Bloch, Gary (2011) "Poverty: A clinical tool for primary care "Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto. Available at: http://www.healthprovidersagainstpoverty.ca/system/files/Poverty%20A%20Clinical%20Tool%20for%20Primary%20Care%20%28version%20with%20References%29_0.pdf ; Bricic, Vanessa; Eberdt, Caroline & Janusz Kaczorowski (2011) "Development of a Tool to Identify Poverty in a Family Practice Setting: A Pilot Study." International Journal of Family Medicine. Available at: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfm/2011/812182/ ; Based on form developed by: Drs. V. Dubey, R.Mathew & K. Iglar; Revised by Health Providers Against Poverty (2008) " Preventative Care Checklist Form: For average-risk, routine, female health assessments." Available at: http://www.healthprovidersagainstpoverty.ca/Resourcesforhealthcareproviders ; Based on form developed by: Drs. V. Dubey, R.Mathew & K. Iglar; Revised by Health Providers Against Poverty (2008) " Preventative Care Checklist Form: For average-risk, routine, male health assessments." Available at: http://www.healthprovidersagainstpoverty.ca/Resourcesforhealthcareproviders 56 Frank, Dr. Jason R. ed. (2005) "The CanMEDS 2005 Physician Competency Framework: Better standards. Better physicians. Better Care." Office of Education: The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Available at: http://rcpsc.medical.org/canmeds/CanMEDS2005/CanMEDS2005_e.pdf 57 Tannenbaum, David et.al. (2011) "Triple C Competency-based Curriculum: Report of the Working Group on Postgraduate Curriculum Review-Part 1 58 UCL Institute of Health Equity (2012) The Role of the Health Workforce in Tackling Health Inequalities... 59 Doyle-Trace L, Labuda S. Community Resources in Cote-des-Neiges. Montreal: St Mary's Hospital Family Medicine Centre, 2011. (This guide was developed by medical residents Lara Doyle-Trace and Suzan Labuda at McGill University.); Mobile Outreach Street Health (N.D.) Pocket MOSH: a little MOSH for your pocket: A Practitioners Guide to MOSH and the Community We Serve. Available at: http://www.cdha.nshealth.ca/mobile-outreach-street-health 60 Health Providers Against Poverty (N.D.) Tools and Resources. Available at: http://www.healthprovidersagainstpoverty.ca/Resourcesforhealthcareproviders 61 Meili, Ryan (2012) A Healthy Society: How A Focus...pp.61; UCL Institute of Health Equity (2012) The Role of the Health Workforce in Tackling Health Inequalities... 62 Rachlis, Michael (2008) Operationalizing Health Equity: How Ontario's Health Services Can Contribute to Reducing Health Disparities. Wellesley Institute. Available at: http://wellesleyinstitute.com/files/OperationalizingHealthEquity.pdf
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Restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children and youth in Canada: A Canadian health care and scientific organization policy consensus statement
Restricting Marketing of Unhealthy Foods and Beverages to Children and Youth in Canada: A Canadian Health Care and Scientific Organization Policy Consensus Statement POLICY GOAL Federal government to immediately begin a legislative process to restrict all marketing targeted to children under the age of 13 of foods and beverages high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars or sodium and that in the interim the food industry immediately ceases marketing of such food to children. PURPOSE OF STATEMENT This policy consensus statement was developed to reflect the growing body of evidence linking the promotion and consumption of diets high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars or sodium1 to cardiovascular and chronic disease (hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, cancer, and heart disease and stroke)— leading preventable risk factors and causes of death and disability within Canada and worldwide. (1-3) (1) For the remainder of the document, reference to foods high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars or sodium will be framed as foods high in fats, sugars or sodium. The current generation of Canadian children is expected to live shorter, less healthy lives as a result of unhealthy eating. (4) Canadians’ overconsumption of fat, sodium and sugar, rising rates of childhood obesity, growing numbers of people with cancer, heart disease and stroke, and the combined strain they exert on the health care system and quality of life for Canadians necessitates immediate action for Canadian governments and policy-makers. Restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages directed at children is gaining increasing international attention as a cost-effective, population-based intervention to reduce the prevalence and the burden of chronic and cardiovascular diseases through reducing children’s exposure to, and consumption of, disease-causing foods. (2,5,6) In May 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO released a set of recommendations on the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children (5) and called on governments worldwide to reduce the exposure of children to advertising messages that promote foods high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars or sodium and to reduce the use of powerful marketing techniques. In June 2012, the follow-up document, A Framework for Implementing the Set of Recommendations on the Marketing of Foods and Non-Alcoholic Beverages to Children, (7) was released. The policy aim should be to reduce the impact on children of marketing of foods high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars, or sodium. WHO (2010): Recommendation 1 What this policy consensus statement offers is the perspective of many major national health care professional and scientific organizations to guide Canadian governments and non-government organizations on actions that need to be taken to protect the health of our future generations, in part by restricting the adverse influence of marketing of foods high in fat, sugar or sodium to Canadian children and youth. SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE AND RATIONALE -Young children lack the cognitive ability to understand the persuasive intent of marketing or assess commercial claims critically. (8) in 1989 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that “advertisers should not be able to capitalize upon children’s credulity” and “advertising directed at young children is per se manipulative”.(5) -The marketing and advertising of information or products known to be injurious to children’s health and wellbeing is unethical and infringes on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which stipulates that, “In all actions concerning children … the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.” (9) - Unhealthy food advertising during children’s television programs in Canada is higher than in many countries, with children being exposed to advertisements for unhealthy foods and beverages up to 6 times per hour. (10) - Unhealthy food and beverage advertising influences children’s food preferences, purchase requests and consumption patterns and has been shown to be a probable cause of childhood overweight and obesity by the WHO. (1,8,11) - The vast majority of Canadians (82%) want government intervention to place limits on advertising unhealthy foods and beverages to children. (12) - The regulation of food marketing to children is an effective and cost-saving population-based intervention to improve health and prevent disease. (13,14) - Several bills have been introduced into the House of Commons to amend the Competition Act and the Food and Drug Act to restrict commercial advertising, including food, to children under 13 years of age. None have yet been passed. (15) - Canada’s current approach to restricting advertising to children is not effective and is not in line with the 2010 WHO recommendations on the marketing of foods and beverages to children, nor is it keeping pace with the direction of policies being adopted internationally, which ban or restrict unhealthy food and beverage marketing targeted to children. (16,17) LEGISLATIVE RULING The Supreme Court of Canada concluded that “advertising directed at young children is per se manipulative” Irwin Toy Ltd. v. Québec (AG), 1989 FOOD MARKETING TO CHILDREN: A TIMELY OPPORTUNITY FOR CANADA Childhood obesity and chronic disease prevention are collective priorities for action of federal, provincial and territorial (F/P/T) governments. (3,5,18,19) Strategy 2.3b of the 2011 Federal, Provincial and Territorial Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights stipulates “looking at ways to decrease the marketing of foods and beverages high in fat, sugar and/or sodium to children. “(5, p. 31) The 2010 Sodium Reduction Strategy for Canada has also identified the need to “continue to explore options to reduce the exposure of children to marketing for foods that are high in sodium" as a key activity for F/P/T governments to consider. (19, p. 31) In their 2010 set of recommendations, the WHO stipulated that governments are best positioned to lead and ensure effective policy development, implementation and evaluation. (6) To date, there has been no substantive movement by the federal government to develop coordinated national-level policies that change the way unhealthy foods and beverages are produced, marketed and sold. Current federal, provincial and industry-led self-regulatory codes are inconsistent in their scope and remain ineffective in their ability to sufficiently reduce children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing, nor have they been adequately updated to address the influx of new marketing mediums to which children and youth in Canada are increasingly subjected. Quebec implemented regulations in 1980 restricting all commercial advertising. (20) Although the ban has received international recognition and is viewed as world leading, several limitations remain, in part due exposure of Quebec children to marketing from outside Quebec, weak enforcement of the regulations and narrow application of its provisions. Accordingly, the undersigned are calling on the federal government to provide strong leadership and establish a legislative process for the development of regulations that restrict all commercial marketing of foods and beverages high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars or sodium to children. Strong federal government action and commitment are required to change the trajectory of chronic diseases in Canada and institute lasting changes in public health. Specifically: Efforts must be made to ensure that children…are protected against the impact of marketing [of foods with a high content of fat, sugar and sodium] and given the opportunity to grow and develop in an enabling food environment — one that fosters and encourages healthy dietary choices and promotes the maintenance of healthy weight. (7, p. 6) Such efforts to protect the health of children must go beyond the realm of federal responsibility and involve engagement, dialogue, leadership and advocacy by all relevant stakeholders, including all elected officials, the food and marketing sector, public health, health care professional and scientific organizations, and most importantly civil society. The undersigned support the development of policies that are regulatory in nature to create national and/or regional uniformity in implementation and compliance by industry. “Realizing the responsibility of governments both to protect the health of children and to set definitions in policy according to public health goals and challenges — as well as to ensure policy is legally enforced — statutory regulation has the greatest potential to achieve the intended or desired policy impact.” WHO (2012), p. 33 POLICY/LEGISLATIVE SPECIFICATIONS The following outline key definitions and components of an effective and comprehensive policy on unhealthy food and beverage marketing to children and should be used to guide national policy scope and impact. - Age of Child: In the context of broadcast regulations, the definition of “age of child” typically ranges from under 13 years to under 16 years. In Canada, Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act (20) applies to children under 13 years of age. Consistent with existing legislation, this report recommends that policies restricting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages be directed to children less than 13 years of age at a minimum. While the science on the impact of marketing on children over 13 is less extensive, emerging research reveals that older children still require protection and may be more vulnerable to newer forms of marketing (i.e., digital media ), in which food and beverage companies are playing an increasingly prominent role. (21-23) Strong consideration should be given to extending the age of restricting the marketing of unhealthy food and beverage to age 16. - Unhealthy Food and Beverages: In the absence of a national standardized definition for “healthy” or “unhealthy” foods, this document defines unhealthy foods broadly as foods with a high content of saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars or sodium, as per the WHO recommendations. (5) It is recommended that a robust and comprehensive definition be developed by an interdisciplinary stakeholder working group. - Focus on Marketing: Marketing is more than advertising and involves: …any form of commercial communication or message that is designed to, or has the effect of, increasing the recognition, appeal and/ or consumption of particular products and services. It comprises anything that acts to advertise or otherwise promote a product or service. (6, p. 9) This definition goes beyond the current legal definition of advertisement outlined in the Food and Drug Act as “any representation by any means whatever for the purpose of promoting directly or indirectly the sale or disposal of any food, drug, cosmetic or device.” (24) - Marketing Techniques, Communication Channels and Locations: Legislation restricting unhealthy food marketing needs to be sufficiently comprehensive to address the broad scope of marketing and advertising techniques that have a particularly powerful effect on children and youth. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: . Television . Internet . Radio . Magazines . Direct electronic marketing (email, SMS) . Mobile phones . Video and adver-games . Characters, brand mascots and/or celebrities, including those that are advertiser-generated . Product placement . Cross-promotions . Point-of-purchase displays . Cinemas and theatres . Competitions and premiums (free toys) . Children’s institutions, services, events and activities (schools, event sponsorship) . “Viral and buzz marketing” (25,26) . Directed to Children: The criteria used by the Quebec Consumer Protection Act (20) to determine whether an advertisement is “directed at children” offers a starting point in developing national legislation regarding child-directed media. The loopholes in the Quebec Consumer Protection Act criteria, namely allowing advertising of unhealthy foods and beverages directed at adults during children’s programming, will necessitate the development of an alternative approach or set of criteria that reflects the range of media to which children are exposed and when they are exposed, in addition to the proportion of the audience that is made up of children. Quebec Consumer Protection Act Article 249 To determine whether or not an advertisement is directed at persons under thirteen years of age, account must be taken of the context of its presentation, and in particular of: a)the nature and intended purpose of the goods advertised; b)the manner of presenting such advertisement; c)the time and place it is shown. ACTION RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Federal Government Leadership 1.1 Immediately and publicly operationalize the WHO set of recommendations on the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children. In working toward the implementation of the WHO recommendations, the federal government is strongly urged to accelerate implementation of the WHO Framework for Implementing the Set of Recommendations on the Marketing of Foods and Beverages to Children. To this end, the Government of Canada is urged to: 1.2 Convene a Federal, Provincial and Territorial Working Group on Food Marketing to Children to develop, implement and monitor policies to restrict unhealthy food and beverage marketing to children. As stipulated within the WHO Implementation Framework: The government-led working group should ultimately reach consensus on the priorities for intervention, identify the available policy measures and decide how they best can be implemented. (7, p.13) 1.3 In developing policies, it is recommended that the working group: - Develop standardized criteria and an operational definition to distinguish and classify “unhealthy” foods. Definitions should be developed using objective, evidence-based methods and should be developed and approved independent of commercial interests. - Develop a set of definitions/specifications that will guide policy scope and implementation. Consistent with the WHO recommendations, the working group is encouraged to apply the policy specifications identified above. - Set measurable outcomes, targets and timelines for achievement of targets for industry and broadcasters to restrict unhealthy food marketing to children in all forms and settings. It is recommended that policies be implemented as soon as possible and within a 3-year time frame. - Establish mechanisms for close monitoring and enforcement through defined rewards and/or penalties by an independent regulatory agency that has the power and infrastructure to evaluate questionable advertisements and enforce penalties for non-compliance.(2) (2) Such an infrastructure could be supported though the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), similar to the authority of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency or the Food and Drug Act via the development of an advertising investigation arm. The nature and extent of penalties imposed should be sufficiently stringent to deter violations. Enforcement mechanisms should be explicit, and infringing companies should be exposed publicly. - Develop evaluation mechanisms to assess process, impact and outcomes of food marketing restriction policies. Components should include scheduled reviews (5 years or as agreed upon) to update policies and/or strategies. To showcase accountability, evaluation findings should be publicly disseminated. 1.4 Provide adequate funding to support the successful implementation and monitoring of the food marketing restriction policies. 1.5 Collaborate with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and other granting councils to fund research to generate baseline data and address gaps related to the impact of marketing in all media on children and how to most effectively restrict advertising unhealthy foods to children. (27) 1.6 Fund and commission a Canadian economic modeling study to assess the cost-effectiveness and the relative strength of the effect of marketing in comparison to other influences on children’s diets and diet-related health outcomes. Similar studies have been undertaken elsewhere and highlight cost– benefit savings from restricting unhealthy food marketing. (13,14) 1.7 Call on industry to immediately stop marketing foods to children that are high in fats, sugar or sodium. 2. Provincial, Territorial and Municipal Governments 2.1 Wherever possible, incorporate strategies to reduce the impact of unhealthy food and beverage marketing to children into provincial and local (public) health or related strategic action plans, and consider all settings that are frequented by children. 2.2 Pass and/or amend policies and legislation restricting unhealthy food and beverage marketing to children that go beyond limitations stipulated in federal legislation and regulations and industry voluntary codes. 2.3 Until federal legislation is in place, strike a P/T Steering Committee on Unhealthy Food Marketing to Children to establish interprovincial consistency related to key definitions and criteria and mechanisms for enforcement, as proposed above. 2.4 Collaborate with local health authorities, non- governmental organizations and other stakeholders to develop and implement education and awareness programs on the harmful impacts of marketing, including but not limited to unhealthy food and beverage advertising. 2.5 Call on industry to immediately stop marketing foods to children that are high in fats, sugar or sodium. 3. Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), Health Care Organizations, Health Care Professionals 3.1 Publicly endorse this position statement and advocate to all Canadian governments to restrict marketing of unhealthy foods to children and youth in Canada. 3.2 Collaborate with governments at all levels to facilitate implementation and enforcement of federal/provincial/municipal regulations or policies. 3.3 Wherever possible, incorporate and address the need for restrictions on unhealthy food and beverage marketing to children into position papers, strategic plans, conferences, programs and other communication mediums. 3.4 Support, fund and/or commission research to address identified research gaps, including the changing contexts and modes of marketing and their implications on the nutritional status, health and well-being of children and youth 3.5 Call on industry to immediately stop the marketing of foods high in fat, sugar or sodium. 4. Marketing and Commercial Industry 4.1 Immediately cease marketing foods high in fats, sugar or sodium. 4.2 Amend the Canadian Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CAI) nutrition criteria used to re-define “better-for-you products” to be consistent with currently available international standards that are healthier and with Canadian nutrient profiling standards, once developed. BACKGROUND AND EVIDENCE BASE Non-communicable diseases (diabetes, stroke, heart attack, cancer, chronic respiratory disease) are a leading cause of death worldwide and are linked by several common risk factors including high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity. (1,2,3 28) The WHO has predicted that premature death from chronic disease will increase by 17% over the next decade if the roots of the problem are not addressed. (2) Diet-related chronic disease risk stems from long- term dietary patterns which start in childhood (8,28). Canadian statistics reveal children, consume too much fat, sodium and sugars (foods that cause chronic disease) and eat too little fiber, fruits and vegetables (foods that prevent chronic disease). (3) There is evidence that (television) advertising of foods high in fat, sugar or sodium is associated with childhood overweight and obesity. (6,11) Children and youth in Canada are exposed to a barrage of marketing and promotion of unhealthy foods and beverages through a variety of channels and techniques – tactics which undermine and contradict government, health care professional and scientific recommendations for healthy eating. (10,26) Available research indicates that food marketing to children influences their food preferences, beliefs, purchase requests and food consumption patterns. (8,29) A US study showed that children who were exposed to food and beverage advertisements consumed 45% more snacks than their unexposed counterparts. (30) Similarly, preschoolers who were exposed to commercials for vegetables (broccoli and carrots) had a significantly higher preference for these vegetables after multiple exposures (n=4) compared to the control group. (31) Economic modeling studies have shown that restricting children’s exposure to food and beverage advertising is a cost effective population based approach to childhood obesity prevention, with the largest overall gain in disability adjusted life years. (13,14). Canada has yet to conduct a comparable analysis. Marketing and Ethics Foods and beverages high in fats, sugars or sodium is one of many health compromising products marketed to children. It has been argued that policy approaches ought to extend beyond marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to one that restricts marketing of all products to children, as practiced in Quebec (7,26,32). Article 36 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Canada is a signatory, states that, “children should be protected from any activity that takes advantage of them or could harm their welfare and development.” (9) Restricting marketing of all products has been argued to be the most comprehensive policy option in that it aims to protect children from any commercial interest and is grounded in the argument that children have the right to a commercial-free childhood (7, 25,26,32). The focus on restricting unhealthy food and beverage marketing was based in consultations with national health organizations whose mandates, at the time of writing, were more aligned with a focus on unhealthy foods and beverages. This policy statement is not opposed to, and does not preclude further policy enhancements to protect children from all commercial marketing, and therefore encourages further advocacy in this area. In order to inform the debate and help underpin future policy direction, further research is needed. Canada’s Food and Beverage Marketing Environment Television remains a primary medium for children’s exposure to advertising, with Canadian children aged 2–11 watching an average of 18 hours of television per week. (26) In the past two decades, the food marketing and promotion environment has expanded to include Internet marketing, product placement in television programs, films and DVDs, computer and video games, peer-to-peer or viral marketing, supermarket sales promotions, cross- promotions between films and television programs, use of licensed characters and spokes-characters, celebrity endorsements, advertising in children’s magazines, outdoor advertising, print marketing, sponsorship of school and sporting activities, advertising on mobile phones, and branding on toys and clothing. (25,26) A systematic review of 41 international studies looking at the content analysis of children’s food commercials found that the majority advertised unhealthy foods, namely pre-sugared cereals, soft drinks, confectionary and savoury snacks and fast food restaurants. (33) In an analysis of food advertising on children’s television channels across 11 countries, Canada (Alberta sample) had the second-highest rate of food and beverage advertising (7 advertisements per hour), 80% of which were for unhealthy foods and beverages defined as “high in undesirable nutrients and/or energy.” (10) Illustrating the influence of food packaging in supermarkets, two Canadian studies found that for six food product categories 75% of the products were directed solely at children through use of colour, cartoon mascots, pointed appeals to parents and/or cross-merchandising claims, games or activities. Of the 63% of products with nutrition claims, 89% were classified as being “of poor nutritional quality” due to high levels of sugar, fat, or sodium when judged against US-based nutrition criteria. Less than 1% of food messages specifically targeted to children were for fruits and vegetables. (34,35) Food is also unhealthily marketed in schools. A recent study of 4,936 Canadian students from grades 7 to 10 found that 62% reported the presence of snack-vending machines in their schools, and that this presence was associated with students’ frequency of consuming vended goods. (36) In another Canadian analysis, 28% of elementary schools reported the presence of some form of advertising in the school and 19% had an exclusive marketing arrangement with Coke or Pepsi. (37) Given children’s vulnerability, a key tenant of the WHO recommendations on marketing to children is that “settings where children gather should be free from all forms of marketing of foods high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, and free sugars or sodium.” (6, p.9) and need to be included in development of food marketing policies directed at children. The Canadian public wants government oversight in restricting unhealthy food marketing to children. A nation-wide survey of over 1200 Canadian adults found 82% want limits placed on unhealthy food and beverage advertising to children; 53% support restricting all marketing of high-fat, high-sugar or high-sodium foods aimed directly at children and youth. (12) Canada’s Commercial Advertising Environment Internationally, 26 countries have made explicit statements on food marketing to children and 20 have, or are in the process of, developing policies in the form of statutory measures, official guidelines or approved forms of self-regulation. (38) The differences in the nature and degree of these restrictions is considerable, with significant variation regarding definition of child, products covered, communication and marketing strategies permitted and expectations regarding implementation, monitoring and evaluation. (38,39) With the exception of Quebec, Canada’s advertising policy environment is restricted to self-regulated rather than legislative measures with little monitoring and oversight in terms of measuring the impact of regulations on the intensity and frequency of advertising unhealthy foods and beverages to children. (39) Federal Restrictions Nationally, the Food and Drug Act and the Competition Act provide overarching rules on commercial advertising and (loosely) prohibit selling or advertising in a manner that is considered false, misleading or deceptive to consumers. These laws, however, contain no provisions dealing specifically with unhealthy food advertising or marketing to children and youth. (26) The Consumer Package and Labeling Act outlines federal requirements concerning the packaging, labeling, sale, importation and advertising of prepackaged non- food consumer products. Packaging and labels, however, are not included under the scope of advertising and therefore not subject to the administration and enforcement of the Act and regulations. (26) Such loopholes have prompted the introduction of three private member's bills into the House of Commons to amend both the Competition Act and the Food and Drugs Act. Tabled in 2007, 2009 and 2012, respectively, none of the bills have, to date, advanced past the First Reading. (15) Industry Restrictions The Canadian Code of Advertising Standards (Code) and the Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children (BCAC) together cover Canadian broadcast and non- broadcast advertising. (23) While both have explicit provisions/clauses to cover advertising directed to children (12 years and younger), neither address or explicitly cover unhealthy food and beverage advertising. Further excluded are other heavily used and persuasive forms of marketing directed to children, including in-store promotions, packaging, logos, and advertising in schools or at events, as well as foreign media. (40) Formed in 2008, the Canadian Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CAI) defines marketing standards and criteria to identify the products that are appropriate or not to advertise to children under 12 years old. Under this initiative, participating food companies (N=19) are encouraged to direct 100% of their advertising to children under 12 to “better-for-you” products. (41) In 2010, the scope of CAI was expanded to include other media forms, namely video games, child- directed DVDs and mobile media. Despite reportedly high compliance by CAI participants, (41) several fundamental loopholes undermine its level of protection and effectiveness, namely: - Participation is voluntary, exempting non- participators such as President’s Choice, Wendy’s and A&W, from committing to CAI core principles. - Companies are allowed to create their own nutrient criteria for defining “better-for-you” or “healthier dietary choice” products. (32) A 2010 analysis revealed that up to 62% of these products would not be acceptable to promote to children by other countries’ advertising nutrition standards. (16) - Companies are able to adopt their own definition of what constitutes “directed at children” under 12 years. (32) Participants' definitions of child audience composition percentage range from 25% to 50%, significantly more lenient than current Quebec legislation and other international regulatory systems. (7,42,43) - The initiative excludes a number of marketing and advertising techniques primarily directed at children, namely advertiser-generated characters (e.g., Tony the Tiger), product packaging, displays of food and beverage products, fundraising, public service messaging and educational programs. (26,27) Provincial Restrictions The Quebec Consumer Protection Act states that “no person may make use of commercial advertising directed at persons under thirteen years of age.” (26) Despite its merits, the effectiveness of the Quebec ban has been compromised. In its current form, the ban does not protect children from cross-border leakage of child-directed advertisements from other provinces. (40) One study found that while the ban reduced fast food consumption by US$88 million per year and decreased purchase propensity by 13% per week, the outcomes primarily affected French-speaking households with children, not their English-speaking counterparts. (44) A more recent study looking at the ban’s impact on television advertising arrived at similar conclusions and found that Quebec French subjects were exposed to significantly fewer candy and snack promotions (25.4%, p<0.001) compared to the Ontario English (33.7%) and Quebec English (39.8%) groups. (40) The ban has further been criticized for having a weak definition of “advertisement”, which allows adult-targeted advertisements for unhealthy foods during children’s programming (37) and having weak regulatory and monitoring structures. (37,40) In assessing the effectiveness of Quebec’s legislation in reducing children’s exposure to unhealthy food advertising, it is important to note that the ban was not developed to target or reduce the marketing of foods and beverages specifically, but rather to reduce the commercialization of childhood. (27) Public Policy: The Way Forward Several legislative approaches have been undertaken internationally to restrict unhealthy food and beverage marketing. (7,43,45) While more research is needed with regards to the impact of restricting unhealthy food and beverage marketing on child health outcomes (i.e., obesity), a US study estimated that between 14-33% of instances of childhood obesity could be prevented by eliminating television advertising for unhealthy food. (46) An Australian study found that a restriction on non-core-food advertisement between 7am and 8:30pm could reduce children’s exposure to unhealthy food advertising by almost 80%. (47) An evaluation of the UK regulations which restricts television advertising of all foods high in fat, sugar and sodium found that since its introduction there has been a 37% reduction in unhealthy food advertisement seen by children. (25) Restrictions on food marketing are being increasingly advocated internationally. A 2011 International Policy Consensus Conference identified regulating marketing to children as a key policy strategy to prevent childhood obesity. (48) A similar recommendation was made at the September 2011 United Nations high-level meeting on the prevention and control of non- communicable diseases. Restrictions on television advertising for less healthful foods has also been identified as an effective (Class I; Grade B) population-based strategy to improve dietary behaviors in children by the American Heart Association. (49) Within Canada, non-governmental and other health organizations are assuming an equally active role. Among others, the Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada, the Dietitians of Canada, the Alberta Policy Coalition for Chronic Disease Prevention, the Simcoe Board of Health, the Thunder Bay and District Board of Health and the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Board of Health have issued position papers or statements urging the federal government to implement more stringent regulations on food and beverage marketing to children. (26,42,48) Conclusions The current voluntary, industry self-regulated and ineffective system of restricting the marketing and advertising of foods and beverages fails to protect Canadian Children and thereby contributes to the rising rates of childhood obesity and the likelihood of premature death and disability in our children’s and future generations. Strong federal government leadership and nationwide action from other levels of government and other key stakeholders are needed. Regulation restricting unhealthy food advertising is internationally supported, with a growing evidence base for expanding such regulation to all forms of food marketing. This policy statement offer an integrated, pragmatic and timely response to the national stated priorities of childhood obesity and chronic disease prevention in Canada and supports the F/P/T vision of making Canada, “…a country that creates and maintains the conditions for healthy weights so that children can have the healthiest possible lives.” (4) This policy statement was funded by The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC) and the Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health (CIHR) Chair in Hypertension Prevention and Control, prepared with the assistance of an ad hoc Expert Scientific Working Group, reviewed and approved by the Hypertension Advisory Committee and endorsed by the undersigned national health organizations. HYPERTENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Manuel Arango, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Norm Campbell, Canadian Society of Internal Medicine Judi Farrell, Hypertension Canada Mark Gelfer, College of Family Physicians of Canada Dorothy Morris, Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses Rosana Pellizzari, Public Health Physicians of Canada Andrew Pipe, Canadian Cardiovascular Society Maura Rickets, Canadian Medical Association Ross Tsuyuki, Canadian Pharmacists Association Kevin Willis, Canadian Stroke Network STAFF Norm Campbell, HSFC/CIHR Chair in Hypertension Prevention and Control, Chair Tara Duhaney, Policy Director, Hypertension Advisory Committee REFERENCES 1. World Health Organization. Diet, Nutrition, and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases. WHO Technical Report Series No. 916. Geneva, WHO; 2003. Available at: http://www.who.int/hpr/NPH/docs/who_fao_expert_report.pdf. Accessed December 2011 2. World Health Organization. 2008-2013 Action Plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases. Geneva: WHO; 2008. Available at: http://www.who.int/nmh/Actionplan-PC-NCD- 2008.pdf. Accessed December 2011 3. Public Health Agency of Canada. Tracking Heart Disease and Stroke in Canada. Ottawa, 2009. Available at: http://www.phac- aspc.gc.ca/publicat/2009/cvd-avc/pdf/cvd-avs-2009- eng.pdf. Accessed January 2012 4. Olshansky SJ, Passaro DJ, Hershow RC et al. A potential decline in life expectancy in the United States in the 21st century. N Engl J Med. 2005; 352:1138-45 5. Public Health Agency of Canada. Curbing Childhood Obesity: A Federal, Provincial and Territorial Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights. Ottawa, PHAC; 2011 Available at: http://www.phac- aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/hl-mvs/framework- cadre/2011/assets/pdf/co-os-2011-eng.pdf. Accessed January 2012 6. World Health Organization. Set of recommendations on the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children. Geneva: WHO; 2010. Available at http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/recsmarketing/en/index.html. Accessed December 2011 7. World Health Organization. A Framework for Implementing the Set of Recommendations on the Marketing of Foods and Non-Alcoholic Beverages to Children. Geveva: WHO; 2012. Available at: http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/MarketingFramework2012.pdf. Accessed June 2012 8. Kunkel D, Wilcox B, Cantor J, Palmer E, Linn S, Dowrick P. Report of the APA Taskforce on Advertising and Children. Washington: American Psychological Association; 2004. Available at: http://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/advertising-children.pdf. Accessed January 2012 9. United Nations. Convention on the Rights of the Child. Geneva: United Nations, 2009 Available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/crc.htm. Accessed February, 2012 10. Kelly B, Halford JCG, Boyland E, Chapman K, Bautista- Castaño I, Berg C, et al. Television food advertising to children: A global perspective. Am J Public Health. 2010;100:1730-5. Available at: http://www.studenttutor.ca/resources/Television%20Food%20Advertising- %20a%20Global%20Perspective.pdf 11. McGinnis JM, Gootman JA, Kraak VI (Eds.) Food Marketing to Children and Youth: Threat or Opportunity? Committee on Food Marketing and the Diets of Children and Youth. Washington, DC: IOM; 2006. 12. Ipsos Reid. Canadians’ Perceptions of, and Support for, Potential Measures to Prevent and Reduce Childhood Obesity. Prepared for the Public Health Agency of Canada. Ottawa, November 2011. Available at: http://www.sportmatters.ca/files/Reports/Ipsos%20Obesity%202011.pdf. Accessed February 2012 13. Cecchini M, Sassi F, Lauer JA, Lee YY, Guajardo- Barron V, Chisholm D. Tackling of Unhealthy Diets, physical inactivity, and obesity: Health effects and cost-effectiveness. Lancet 2010; 376 (9754): 1775- 84 Available at: http://www.who.int/choice/publications/Obesity_Lancet.pdf 14. Magnus A, Habby MM, Carter R, Swinburn B. The cost-effectiveness of removing television advertising of high fat and/or high sugar food and beverages to Australian children. Int J Obes.2009; 33: 1094-1102. Available at: http://eurobesitas.ch/articles/pdf/Magnus_ijo2009156a.pdf 15. Parliament of Canada. Private Member’s Bills. Available at: http://www.parl.gc.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?billId=4328259&Mode=1&View=3&Language=E. Accessed April 2012 16. Conrad S. Innovations in Policy Evaluation: Examining the food and beverages included in the Canadian Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative. Ottawa: Public Health Agency of Canada; 2010 17. Alberta Policy Coalition for Cancer Prevention. Using Public Policy to Promote Healthy Weights for Canadian Children. Submission to the “Our Health, Our Future – National Dialogue on Healthy Weights” consultation, 2011. 18. Public Health Agency of Canada. The integrated pan- Canadian healthy living strategy. 2005. Available at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hl-vs- strat/pdf/hls_e.pdf. Accessed January 2012 19. Health Canada. Sodium Reduction Strategy for Canada: Recommendations of the Sodium Working Group. Ottawa, Ontario, July 2010. Available at: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2010/sc-hc/H164-121-2010-eng.pdf. Accessed December 2011 20. Quebec Consumer Protection Office. The Consumer Protection Act: Application Guide for Sections 248 and 249. Quebec, 1980 21. Montgomery K, Chester J. Interactive Food and Beverage Marketing: Targeting Adolescents in the Digital Age. J Adolesc Health. 2009: S18-S29. Available at: http://digitalads.org/documents/PIIS1054139X09001499.pdf 22. Harris JL, Brownell KD, Bargh JA. The Food Marketing Defense Model: Integrating Psychological Research to Protect Youth and Inform Public Policy. Soc Issues Policy Rev. 2009; 3(1): 211-271. Available at: http://www.yale.edu/acmelab/articles/Harris%20Brownell%20Bargh%20SIPR.pdf 23. Pechman C, Levine L, Loughlin S, Leslie F. Impulsive and Self-Conscious: Adolescents' Vulnerability to Advertising and Promotion. Journal of Public Policy and Marketing. 2005; 24 (2): 202-221. Available at: http://www.marketingpower.com/ResourceLibrary/ Publications/JournalofPublicPolicyandMarketing/2005/24/2/jppm.24.2.202.pdf 24. Health Canada. Food and Drugs Act . R.S., c. F-27. Ottawa: Health Canada; 1985. Available at: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/F-27/. Accessed February 2012 25. Mackay S, Antonopoulos N, Martin J, Swinburn B. A comprehensive approach to protecting children from unhealthy food advertising. Melbourne, Australia: Obesity Policy Coalition; 2011. Available at: http://www.ada.org.au/app_cmslib/media/lib/1105/ m308363_v1_protecting-children- email1%20final%2013.04.11.pdf. Accessed January 2012 26. Cook B. Policy Options to Improve the Children’s Advertising Environment in Canada. Report for the Public Health Agency of Canada Health Portfolio Task Group on Obesity and Marketing. Toronto; 2009. 27. Toronto Board of Health. Food and Beverage Marketing to Children. Staff Report to the Board of Health. Toronto: Board of Health; 2008. Available at: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2008/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-11151.pdf. Accessed January 2012 28. The Conference Board of Canada. Improving Health Outcomes: The Role of Food in Addressing Chronic Diseases. Conference Board of Canada, 2010. Available at: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/temp/be083acf- 4c96-4eda-ae80-ee44d264758a/12- 177_FoodandChronicDisease.pdf. Accessed June 2012 29. Cairns G, Angus K, Hastings G, Caraher M. Systematic reviews of the evidence on the nature, extent and effects of food marketing to children. A retrospective summary. Appetite. 2012 (in press). Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666312001511 30. Harris JL, Bargh JA, Brownell KD. Priming Effects of Television Food Advertising on Eating Behavior. Health Psychol. 2009; 28(4):404-13. Available at: http://www.yale.edu/acmelab/articles/Harris_Bargh_Brownell_Health_Psych.pdf 31. Nicklas TA, Goh ET, Goodell LS et al. Impact of commercials on food preferences of low-income, minority preschoolers. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2011; 43(1):35-41. 32. Elliott C. Marketing Foods to Children: Are We Asking the Right Questions. Child Obes. 2012; 8(3): 191-194 33. Hastings G, Stead M, McDermott L, Forsyth A, Mackintosh AM, Rayner M, Godfrey C, Caraher M, Angus K. Review of research on the effects of food promotion to children. Final Report to the UK Food Standards Agency. Glasgow, Scotland: University of Strathclyde Centre for Social Marketing; 2003. Available at: http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/promofoodchildrenexec.pdf. Accessed February 2012 34. Elliott C. Marketing fun foods: A profile and analysis of supermarket food messages targeted at children. Can Public Policy. 2008; 34:259-73 35. Elliott C. Assessing fun foods: Nutritional content and analysis of supermarket foods targeted at children. Obes Rev. 2008; 9: 368-377. Available at: http://www.cbc.ca/thenational/includes/pdf/elliott2.pdf 36. Minaker LM, Storey KE, Raine KD, Spence JC, Forbes LE, Plotnikoff RC, McCargar LJ. Associations between the perceived presence of vending machines and food and beverage logos in schools and adolescents' diet and weight status. Public Health Nutr. 2011; 14(8):1350-6 37. Cook B. Marketing to Children in Canada: Summary of Key Issues. Report for the Public Health Agency of Canada. 2007. Available at: http://www.cdpac.ca/media.php?mid=426. Accessed January 2012 38. Hawkes C, Lobstein T. Regulating the commercial promotion of food to children: a survey of actions worldwide. Int J Pediatr Obes. 2011; 6(2):83-94. 39. Hawkes C, Harris J. An analysis of the content of food industry pledges on marketing to children. Public Health Nutr. 2011; 14:1403-1414. Available at: http://ruddcenter.yale.edu/resources/upload/docs/ what/advertising/MarketingPledgesAnalysis_PHN_5.11.pdf 40. Potvin-Kent M, Dubois, L, Wanless A. Food marketing on children's television in two different policy environments. Int J of Pediatr Obes. 2011; 6(2): e433-e441. Available at: http://info.babymilkaction.org/sites/info.babymilkaction.org/files/PotvinKent%20IJPO%202011.pdf 41. Advertising Standards Canada. Canadian children’s food and beverage advertising initiative: 2010 compliance report. Available at: http://www.adstandards.com/en/childrensinitiative/ 2010ComplianceReport.pdf. Accessed March 2012 42. Dietitians of Canada. Advertising of Food and Beverage to Children. Position of Dietitians of Canada. 2010. Available at: http://www.dietitians.ca/Downloadable- Content/Public/Advertising-to-Children-position- paper.aspx. Accessed January 2012 43. Hawkes C. Marketing food to children: a global regulatory environment. World Health Organization. 2004(b). Available at: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2004/9241591579.pdf. Accessed February 2012 44. Dhar T, Baylis K. Fast-food Consumption and the Ban on Advertising Targeting Children: The Quebec Experience. Journal of Marketing Research. 2011; 48 (5): 799-813. Available at: http://www.marketingpower.com/aboutama/documents/jmr_forthcoming/fast_food_consumption.pdf 45. World Health Organization. Marketing of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages of Children. Report of a WHO Forum and Technical Meeting. Geneva: WHO; 2006. Available at: http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/Oslo%20meeting%20layout%2027%20NOVEMBER. pdf. Accessed January 2012 46. Veerman JL, Van Beeck, Barendregt JJ, Mackenbach JP. By how much would limiting TV food advertising reduce childhood obesity? Eur J Public Health. 2009; 19(4): 365-9. Available at: http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/content/19/4/365. full.pdf+html 47. Kelly B, King L, Mauman A, Smith BJ, Flood V. The effects of different regulation systems on television food advertising to children. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2007; 31(4): 340-343. 48. Alberta Policy Coalition for Chronic Disease Prevention. Canadian Obesity Network - International Consensus: Take Action to Prevent Childhood Obesity (Press Release). 2011. Available at: http://www.abpolicycoalitionforprevention.ca/ 49. Mozaffarian D, Afshin A, Benowitz NL et al. Population Approaches to Improve Diet, Physical Activity, and Smoking Habits: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2012;126(12):1514-1563
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Pop Music Notes
From the Pop side of the tracks
All posts tagged alison krauss
In Between Times
Posted by John on February 12, 2009
Posted in: awards, commentary, music industry. Tagged: adele, alison krauss, jennifer hudson, pet shop boys, robert plant, sugarland. 6 Comments
There are some pretty cool things going on here in the non-virtual world, so updates won’t be coming quite as regularly for the next week. Without going into too much detail, there are a couple of cool professional/academic challenges that need to be met, along with a top-secret mission in the personal life that will be accomplished by Sunday night. I’m hoping that I can fill y’all in next week. [BTW, the clock is in tribute to PSB, who are now up for pre-orders for their upcoming CD. It’s a good time to be a fan of pop music.]
What I would like to mention really quick is that, while folks were initially talking about Alison Krauss & Robert Plant, Jennifer Hudson, and Sugarland being the recipients of bumps, it looks like Adele really came out the big winner. Krauss & Plant’s current #1 is a given, but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a Best New Artist pick up this much momentum off of a Grammy win without having significant success prior to the show. After having been blown away by the response that she received off of the Saturday Night Live performance, it looks like the record company did a perfect job of positioning her to peak at just the right time. The challenge at this point is how do you capitalize on this, because I’ve felt all along that “Chasing Pavements” was the only song that really stood a chance on pop radio here in America. Could “Hometown Glory” be a hit? I hope so, but I just don’t know.
My Own Private Twitter
Posted by John on February 8, 2009
Posted in: awards, commentary. Tagged: adele, alison krauss, carrie underwood, cyndi lauper, estelle, jennifer hudson, kanye west, katy perry, lil wayne, m.i.a., ne-yo, radiohead, robert plant, sugarland, t-pain, u2. 3 Comments
Okay…I actually don’t have a Twitter account, but if I did, it would have looked like this during the Grammys tonight, as I chatted with a good friend in Atlanta:
I’m just not feelin the U2 song. Escape Club did it so much better
DAAAAAAAAAAAAMN…she looks GOOD! (referring to Whitney)
yay, J Hud!
Al Green and JT!
Keith Urban got better billing than Boyz II Men on an R&B tribute
Carrie looks kinda slutty tonight
yay, Sugarland!
ugh, Kid Rock
OMG…SO bad Miley & Taylor. Can we just ship Miley off to the trailer park now?
damn…I liked the Jonas Bros/Stevie collab
ugh…Katy Perry. nauseating
yay, Estelle! she looks hot. Kanye, meanwhile, is bringing back the mid 80s R&B look
okay…New Artist
ADELE!
(my friend) i can’t believe i didn’t hear your scream of joy all the way from denver
I stifled it
MIA is HUGE!
well, Record of the Year confirms that Plant and Krauss will win album of the year
Swagga Like Us was HOT
John Freakin’ Mayer? Srsly? There were four more worthy songs
yay, Sugarland and Adele!
Cyndi had a mohawk!
Radiohead is really good tonight
isn’t TI supposed to go to jail sometime before the next decade?
this Four Tops performance is KILLER
Jordin Sparks sitting behind Paul McCartney. that’s funny
okay…I’m gonna skip Neil Diamond
did Ne Yo perform solo? all the other Album of the Year artists did. although maybe that’s the producers’ way of saying that even they know he was out of his league in that category
did T-Pain say “that’s f*&#in awesome”? when they announced Lil Wayne, he said that just off mic, but enough to get through
Gimme A Grammy
Posted in: awards, commentary, music industry. Tagged: adele, alison krauss, coldplay, cyndi lauper, daft punk, duffy, estelle, hot chip, jason mraz, jazmine sullivan, jonas brothers, kylie minogue, lady antebellum, lady gaga, leona lewis, lil wayne, m.i.a., madonna, moby, ne-yo, radiohead, rihanna, robert plant, robyn, sam sparro, sara bareilles. 6 Comments
It’s time to do the Great Swami predictions for the Grammy Awards, and while I have some clear favorites, this year seems to be just a tad more difficult to predict, due to some bizarre wins over the past few years. I’ll give it a go here, but please let me know what you all think.
Alison Krauss & Robert Plant, Raising Sand (Prediction)
Coldplay, Viva La Vida (Pick)
Ne-Yo, Year Of The Gentleman
Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III
Radiohead, In Rainbows
While I gave the Ne-Yo CD a great review this past year, I just feel like he’s in over his head in this category. Lil Wayne pulled a great collection of tracks together, and Radiohead did their thing, but I really think this is going to be between the ubiquitous Coldplay and the critical darlings Krauss & Plant. The Nashville voting block has become much stronger over the past few years, so Raising Sand gets the edge.
Adele (Prediction) (Pick)
The Jonas Brothers
My concerns of Adele and Duffy canceling each other out have faded, as Adele’s popularity peaked at exactly the right time. Everyone else’s efforts really feel like debuts, while Adele’s 19 has the soul of a veteran, and should triumph.
Adele, “Chasing Pavements”
Leona Lewis, “Bleeding Love”
M.I.A., “Paper Planes” (Prediction)
Robert Plant and Alison Kraus, “Please Read The Letter”
Since Record of the Year addresses production, you really have to give credit to Coldplay, who took their usual formula and gave it enough of a tweak to result in a truly uplifting record, but I have a hunch that M.I.A. will be the hipster pick of the night.
“American Boy,” William Adams, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, John Stephens, Estelle Swaray & Kanye West, songwriters
“Chasing Pavements,” Adele Adkins & Eg White, songwriters (Pick)
“I’m Yours,” Jason Mraz, songwriter
“Love Song,” Sara Bareilles, songwriter
“Viva La Vida,” Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters (Prediction)
The hardest category for me to pick, since all of the songs on this list appeared on my Top Songs of 2007 and 2008. From a songwriter’s standpoint, voters will be hard-pressed to vote for Estelle’s seven songwriters. I’m not sure that Adele and Sara have enough clout with their records, so the prediction comes down to Coldplay and Jason Mraz. Edge definitely goes to Coldplay, although Mraz was still on the radio when the voters got their ballots.
And to mix things up a bit…
BEST DANCE RECORDING
Daft Punk, “Harder Better Faster Stronger” (Prediction)
Hot Chip, “Ready For The Floor”
Lady Gaga & Colby O’Donis, “Just Dance”
Madonna, “Give It 2 Me” (Pick)
Rihanna, “Disturbia”
Sam Sparro, “Black & Gold”
With Kanye’s “Stronger” having been everywhere at the end of 2007, I fear that this live version of Daft Punk will get the nomination, but for my money, the true dance song on the list is Madonna. Having said all of this, Sam’s record seemed to be the hip “go-to” record at wildly different concerts throughout the year, so I’m wondering if there might not be an edge in there.
BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ALBUM
Brazilian Girls, New York City
Daft Punk, Alive 2007
Cyndi Lauper, Bring Ya To The Brink (Pick) (Prediction)
Kylie Minogue, X
Moby, Last Night
Y’all know I love me some Robyn, and the album is terrific, but Cyndi’s record IS a dance album. Brilliant album, and should grab the Grammy. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kylie pick this up, though. Dance seems to be the only category she can win in.
Grammy Got Run Over By Lil Wayne
Posted by John on December 3, 2008
Posted in: commentary, music industry. Tagged: adele, alison krauss, coldplay, duffy, jazmine sullivan, jonas brothers, kanye west, leona lewis, lil wayne, ne-yo, robert plant. 4 Comments
So if Kanye decrees that it’s Lil Wayne’s Year, does that make it so? Apparently it does, as Wayne picks up a crowd-leading 8 nominations for work associated with “Tha Carter III”. Close behind at seven is Coldplay, whose “Viva La Vida” not only scored a number one album, but also nabbed the group their biggest single to date with the title cut. Kanye, Ne-Yo, and Jay-Z all picked up six nominations to make this a very hip-hop Grammy year.
One nice surprise for me was seeing Adele not only get a Best New Artist nod, but also a hat tip for “Chasing Pavements”, which a year later still feels like a fresh blast, compared to most of the cookie-cutter music on the radio right now. Duffy also got a Best New nom, and Lady Antebellum received some well-deserved recognition. Honestly, I don’t get the Jonas Brothers personally, but I’m not gonna hate on the notice. I WILL hate on Jazmine Sullivan’s FIVE nominations, though. The talk about her being compared to Lauryn Hill is galling enough, but after seeing her open for Maxwell in October, she doesn’t even deserve to be in the same time zone with most of these artists. How many favors did Clive have to pull in for this one? And how did she get the nod over Leona? I mean, “Spirit” isn’t revolutionary, but give the people what they want, ya know? It was all but a given that Leona Lewis would be up in that piece, but someone seems to have forgotten how many records her debut sold.
Chart Notables – 10-23-08
Posted by John on October 23, 2008
Posted in: charts, music industry, singles, songs. Tagged: adele, alison krauss, beyonce, celine dion, christina milian, jason mraz, katy perry, keane, kenny chesney, mariah carey, michelle williams, robert plant. 3 Comments
– Adele did indeed take a big jump up the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, from 129-46, with a 145% increase over last week’s sales. Because there was only one reporting day after her performance on SNL, and given that the record is still #2 (behind the High School Musical 3 soundtrack), I’m guessing there will be another up week next week to reflect the rest of her sales. “Chasing Pavements” moves up a spot to #19 at Hot AC radio. This could be the make-or-break week for that single.
– Another album that takes a huge leap this week is the long-released duet CD from Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, “ChasingRaising Sand”. That record sees a 125% increase in sales, and jumps to #50. Heading in the other direction is the unexpectedly good “Unexpected” from former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams. It drops 75% of last week’s sales, and plummets to #190. Notable debuts include Kenny Chesney at #1, and Keane, whose “Perfect Symmetry” bows at #7, but with only close to half of the sales of “Under the Iron Sea”.
– In other radio news, the big news at Pop Radio is the huge debut this week for Beyonce’s “If I Was A Boy”. The track roars onto the top 40 at #26, tying Britney’s “Womanizer” debut two weeks ago. That track is at #16 in its third week, with a good head of steam on it. “Boy” also moves up the Hot 100 at a good clip, moving from 100 – 68, while “Single Ladies” hops on the chart at #72.
– Pop programmers finally seem to have recognized that Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” is a hit, and it picks up over 900 additional spins this week, and moves up to #13 on the Hot 100. (Paul, I told you it would rebound) Number 1 at Pop Radio this week is Pink for a second week with over 10,000 spins total (#3 on the Hot 100), and Katy Perry’s “Hot N Cold” is a distant second place (#5 on the Hot 100). Songs going for adds this week include Mariah’s “I Stay In Love” and the twelfth attempt at a hit for Christina Milian with “Us Against the World” on MySpace Records.
– A note for chart followers…you’re seeing a lot of huge debuts, followed by steep declines, and you might be saying to yourself “it never used to do this in the past.” Well, for the most part, you’re right. But this is a new age. With the advent of electronic forms of distribution, coupled with illegal downloading, labels are rushing singles out quickly to recapture as much revenue as possible before tracks end up on the Internet by other means. In the past, record companies would release the single early on, but the airplay would be the primary thing pushing the sales. It was in the 90s that companies started withholding singles, and then releasing them when airplay was dominant, in order to get a big debut (along with big headlines…see image). Oh…and 99 cent singles didn’t hurt, either.
Chart Rigger
duanemoody.com
FizzyPop!
MileHighGayGuy.com
Olga Loves Yuri
Pop Muse
Popservations
Set To Shuffle
Strike Curious Poses
ww_adh
XOLondon
Check the Tweets
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With all that's going on in this world, I need shiny music to help lighten things up. This @BearlyDisco mashup fits… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 5 days ago
RT @CollectorKylie: Hard to believe this song is 20 years old this September. Wonder if @parlophone are planning a special anniversary rele… 5 days ago
It seems weird to tweet about Drag Race this week, but @TheOliviaLux was robbed last night in broad daylight. 1 week ago
I had high hopes for @MorganWallen's #dangerousthedoublealbum, and halfway through I'm pleased. Not a single song t… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 week ago
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Working in Quantafuel
From day one, Quantafuel’s fundamental idea has been to solve the world’s plastic waste problem by transforming soiled plastic into new products. This is our contribution to the circular economy of plastic waste. What makes Quantafuel unique is that we have developed technology that purifies the gas that forms in the process and alters the molecules. This allows us to produce a chemically recycled, attractive product that satisfies a huge need in the market.
The process in our industrial plant takes place as follows:
We receive plastic waste in bales of 6-700 kilograms, which are inspected for quality before being pressed into a screw and heated in a reactor furnace to 450 degrees without oxygen. This results in a gas and the process is called pyrolysis. Several other companies also do this, but they stop here and are left with a complex oil with numerous impurities such as chlorine, sulphur, nitrogen and oxygen that make it difficult to process further.
However, Quantafuel’s process continues. What is unique is that we have built a miniature refinery after the heating, so our factory starts where the others stop. We purify the oil by removing chlorine and other impurities such as ash, sulphur, nitrogen and so on, and process this through the catalysts, as has been done by large refineries for a century. Hydro cracking itself is nothing new, but we are only ones who have designed a catalyst to perform hydro cracking in gaseous form. The gas is purified, we alter the molecular structure and achieve a light, a medium and a heavy fraction that constitute recycled raw material for new plastic products.
Here you can read about our Danish project.
Plant projects
Quantafuel built its first test facility in Mexico in 2014. The purpose of the factory was to thoroughly test the technology so that we had all the necessary experience to build the first plant. The facility was tested with all types of plastic and provided us with the necessary proof that our technology for the chemical recycling of different plastic types actually works.
Quantafuel is proud to have started our first and brand-new production facility in Skive, Denmark. Quantafuel’s Plastic-to-liquid (Ptl) plant is the first of its kind in the world, and the start-up is an incredibly important milestone for the company.
The factory is presently scaled to process 20,000 tons of mixed plastic waste per year, waste that would otherwise be incinerated or disposed of in landfills. We receive waste from households in Norway and Denmark.
All products manufactured in Skive will be shipped to BASF in Germany, who will upgrade the raw material to new plastic products and chemicals. We have sourced more than enough plastic waste – which we are paid to receive – and everything we produce has already been sold to BASF.
Plant in Skive, Denmark.
Quantafuel on local TV news in Denmark.
The next phase will be to build more and significantly larger facilities across Europe. Large consumer companies have pledged to step up their use of recycled materials. To respond to the demand, we will need to escalate our production capacity. All our new plants will be built to meet the highest sustainability standards.
Quantafuel’s purpose is to end wasteful and unsustainable handling of our planet’s resources, by drawing on 50 years of industry experience and over 10 years of technological development. By converting almost all kinds of plastic waste into environmentally friendly fuel and chemicals, we contribute significantly to lower pollution and emissions, while creating long term local jobs.
2019 © Copyrights QuantaFuel
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Forbes crowns Sean 'Diddy' Combs as highest-paid entertainer with Beyoncé coming in second - as former champ Taylor Swift drops all the way to 49
Sean 'Diddy' Combs is the top earner on Forbes' list of the 100 highest-paid celebrities.
The magazine says the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy brought in $130 million from June 1, 2016, to June 1, 2017.
Forbes says Diddy's Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour, a stake in Ciroc vodka and the $70 million sale of one-third of his Sean John clothing line all contributed to his earnings.
No. 2 on the list is Beyoncé, with $105million in earnings.
'I’ve never met anyone that works harder than me in my industry,' Beyoncé told the magazine in 1999. She is currently on break from touring as she gets ready to have twins,
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling brought in $95 million, while rapper Drake and Portuguese soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo round out the top five.
Last year's top earner, Taylor Swift, dropped to No. 49. The singer brought in $44million, down from $170million - but she hasn't put out an album or toured since 2015.
All 100 celebrities on the list made a combined $5.15billion, but that doesn't account for the fees they pay agents, managers or lawyers.
Swift's downfall on the list had a huge impact on the combined amount that the women on the list made this year.
Last year, all of the women on the list made $892.5million, a fifth of the money coming from Swift.
This year, that amount dipped down to $522.5million, despite the fact that there was one more woman on the list.
In fact, women make up just 16 per cent of the list, a reflection of the gender pay gap.
This is seen in the film industry, which has 10 male actors on the list but not a single actress.
The list includes 12 celebrities from the UK and four from Canada. Twenty per cent of the celebrities are European and five per cent are from Asia.
Kylie Jenner was among some of the newcomers on the list this year. The youngest member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, Kylie made $41million last year thanks to endorsements, the family's reality TV show and her cosmetics and clothing lines.
Also new on the list is comedian Amy Schumer, TV host Steve Harvey, Irish UFC fighter Conor McGregor and Chance The Rapper.
The figures were determined using data from Nielson, NPD Bookscan, Pollstar, Box Office Mojo, Songkick, D'Marie and IMDB.
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Meryl Streep, 68, receives her 21st Oscar nomination for The Post..
Meryl Streep has received her 21st Oscar nomination.
The actress was given a nod for her turn in the drama The Post, even though her co-star Tom Hanks and the film's director, Steven Spielberg, were left out in the cold. If the 68-year-old Yale graduate wins, it will be her fourth Academy Award.
The star, who is the most nominated actress in Oscar history, said of her nod: 'I'm honored beyond measure by this nom for a film I love, a film that stands in defense of press freedom & inclusion of women’s voices in the movement of history.'
Streep added: 'Proud of the film & all her filmmakers. Thank you from a full heart.'
She will be competing against Sally Hawkins for The Shape of Water, Frances McDormand for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Margot Robbie for I, Tonya and Saoirse Ronan for Lady Bird.
In The Post, Meryl stars as Washington Post publisher Kay Graham.
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Funny headlines for a dating profileFunny headlines for a dating profile
Home » Dating » Virginia’s Age of Consent Laws
Virginia’s Age of Consent Laws
Age-of-consent laws don’t reflect teenage psychology. Here’s how to fix them.
What is the Florida “Romeo & Juliet” Law?
Legal Age of Consent in All 50 States
Statutory Rape in Florida: Frequently Asked Questions
What Romeo and Juliet Laws Mean for Teens
Florida Statutory Rape Law: What is age of consent?
Child Entertainment Laws As of January 1, 2020
Ages of consent in the United States
What’s the Romeo and Juliet Law? Jaime Halscott Criminal Defense Attorney
Early in the legislative session, Sen. A companion bill — HB — was also introduced in the House. Unfortunately, the legislature adjourned its session in March without taking action on the bills, and an effort to put legalization on the ballot for voters to decide on in also failed. The focus now shifts to Ask your lawmakers to follow the will of the majority of Floridians and support legalizing, taxing, and regulating cannabis for adult use! To qualify, a patient must be a permanent or seasonal resident of Florida, be entered into the medical marijuana use registry, and obtain a medical marijuana ID card. You can learn more about the requirements to become a patient here.
This section focuses on laws addressing sexual intercourse. As the first column in Table 1 shows, the age of consent varies by state. In the majority of states 34 , it is 16 years of age. In the remaining states, the age of consent is either 17 or 18 years old 6 and 11 states, respectively.
and Open Meetings Laws GOVERNMENT IN THE SUNSHINE LAW could be deemed to be either the date specified by a court in an election case, election.
When Shakespeare brought Romeo and Juliet to life, he was intentional in choosing two young characters as his protagonists. Then as now, two teenagers having consensual sex is perfectly understandable. On the other hand, an adult molesting a child is reprehensible. The difference between the two situations would seem obvious. An older teen who has sex with his younger girlfriend can be arrested, prosecuted, and jailed for the act.
Even worse, they may carry the stigma of being labeled a sex offender for the rest of their life. The problem typically arises when the male is 18 or 19, the female is between 14 and 16, and the parent of the younger teen presses charges.
In Florida, it is illegal for a person age 18 or older to have sex with someone under the age of 18, even if the sex is consensual. The reason for this is that minors are not capable of giving informed consent to sex in the eyes of the law. Those who break this law have committed the crime of statutory rape. Statutory rape is still a serious offense that requires an experienced criminal defense attorney. The law does not make sex with a minor legal; it simply stops the accused person from having to register as a sex offender.
Information on the ages used historically in western age of consent laws is not readily available. By , the first date chosen, many western nations had established an age of consent for the first time, typically of 12 or Florida, 10, 18,
In the United States , the age of consent is the legal age at which a person is considered mature enough to consent to sex. However, the actual age is set by individual state laws. In some jurisdictions, this is true even if both partners are themselves younger than the age of consent and both parties could technically be prosecuted. The severity of the criminal charge e. Class A felony, Class B felony, misdemeanor, etc depends on the specific acts committed and the relative ages of the perpetrator and victim.
The states laws do differ and the minimum age of consent in the United States is sixteen and the maximum is eighteen years old. From time to time, states do update their laws, including the age of consent. For example, from to , Wyoming and New Mexico raised their age of consent from sixteen to seventeen.
In some states, there is a close-in-age exemption. This is stipulated by some states to allow an exception when consensual sex involves an individual, or individuals, who are underage and the partners are close in age. This age-dependent exemption is also known as the “Romeo and Juliet law” and is designed to prevent the prosecution of underage couples who engage in consensual sex when:.
As of July , there are twenty-five states, as well as the District of Columbia, that have a close-in-age of exemption, and twenty-five states that do not.
Federal government websites often end in. The site is secure. Extensive requirements for theatrical employment. Regulations also establish hours of work, working conditions, and prohibited practices.
Laws of Florida (LoF) – Chapter Number and Summary. SB Senator of legal custodian, within a reasonable time after the date of filing the petition.
WomensLaw is not just for women. We serve and support all survivors, no matter their sex or gender. Important: Even if courts are closed, you can still file for a protection order and other emergency relief. Please see below for state-specific laws that might be useful for victims and survivors of domestic violence. You can also reach us at our Email Hotline if you have more specific questions.
Florida state law provides employment protections for domestic violence victims who need to take time off from work to handle issues related to domestic violence.
In Florida, the age of consent is Persons below the age of consent cannot legally consent to having sex, which means that anyone over the age of consent who engages in sexual relations with someone below the age of 18 — even if the minor gives his or her consent — is in violation of the law, and may be charged with statutory rape. An individual charged with statutory rape in Florida faces several harsh punishments, and must deal with additional consequences for the rest of his or her life.
and pass the Florida Laws and Rules Examination developed by the FSBPT. Passing scores Sexual misconduct in the practice of physical therapy.
In the age of cell phones, texting has become ubiquitous. Everywhere you go, someone is on their phone texting someone. Some are even sexting, which involves sending sexually explicit messages and photos to others. Sexting is used to flirt with others and is especially common among high school and college students. Sexting among adults is not illegal, but there is some gray area when the sexting occurs between minors and adults.
A person can unknowingly be charged with child pornography , which refers to the possession of photographic images of minors—those under the age of However, in Florida, the law allows someone as old as 23 an adult to date someone as young as 16 a minor , so you can see where the laws can get confusing. Read on to learn more about Florida laws regarding sexting and child pornography. In Florida, the age of consent is 18 years old.
However, under Florida Statute This allows a minor who is age 16 or 17 to legally consent to sexual activity with someone between the ages of 16 and In these cases, an adult can legally have sex with a minor.
Florida statutory rape law makes sexual relationships between persons of certain ages illegal, even if both parties are consenting. Learn what the law says about age of consent, close-in-age laws, and prohibited defenses. Whatever the circumstances, make sure you have legal representation.
These exceptions are known as the “Romeo and Juliet” laws. Under Florida Statute § , if a person is under the age of 24, he may legally.
The Romeo and Juliet law is a relatively new statutory law that was passed in Under this law, teenagers can now be tried and convicted of sex offenses by engaging in sexual relations with teenagers younger than themselves. Receiving the label of a sex offender can have a significant impact upon a teenager’s life. Sex offender status limits housing, job employment opportunity, and personal life. As such, the law has become fairly notorious. Unfortunately for offenders, while the Romeo and Juliet law does differentiate teenage offenders from adult offenders who prey on children, the sex offender registry does not.
Before the Romeo and Juliet law was passed in , a year-old teenager and an year-old teenager could have consensual sexual relations.
Statutory rape is a strict liability crime, meaning that the consent of the younger person or mistake about their age is not a defense. For example, a state might set the age of consent at In these states, such as Texas, the age of consent is determined by age differentials between the two persons and limited by a minimum age.
If you need a quick guide for each state, a chart is provided below. Be aware that the law may be more complex than the chart shows and that the information given is subject to change. You can refer to our reviews page if you want to know what our clients have to say about us.
Chart providing details of Florida Legal Ages Laws. Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your life. Enter your email address to subscribe.
In Florida, the age of legal consent is This means that once an individual turns 18 years old, he or she may have a sexual relationship with any other adult except for in certain situations where one adult has authority over the other, such as an inmate and a guard in a prison. But this does not tell the whole story of who may have sex with whom under Florida law. Certain protections exist to prevent individuals who engage in consensual sexual relationships with peers close to their age from being convicted of sex crimes.
A sex crime conviction carries steep penalties, such as fines, jail time, and the requirement that the defendant register with the Florida Sex Offender Registry. In Florida, it is legal for an individual between the ages of 16 and 23 to have a sexual relationship with an individual aged 16 or Lewd and lascivious battery is often known as statutory rape. This can be through persuasion, coercion, or manipulation, and the sexual act does not actually have to occur for the adult to be charged with lewd and lascivious battery.
It is a second degree felony in Florida, punishable by 7. Generally, if the defendant is under the age of 21 when he or she is sentenced, his or her age may be considered. Age of consent in a sexual relationship can be a tricky topic. If you have been accused of any type of sexual misconduct involving an individual below the age of 18, work with an experienced criminal defense lawyer to defend your case. Do not wait to get started — contact our team to schedule your initial legal consultation with us today.
They were always
We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Every year thousands of adults sexually exploit teenagers — though rarely do these predators receive the notoriety that Roy Moore has achieved.
The age of consent is the legally recognized age when an individual is believed capable of making decisions regarding sexual activity. In Florida.
Table of Contents. General Information About Adoption Procedures. What Is The Adoption Registry? Lawyers and judges receive many inquiries from people who wish to adopt a child. This pamphlet has been prepared to help you understand adoption laws and procedures and complete an adoption in a safe way. Adoption laws and procedures in Florida reflect the interests of the state and the community in protecting the child, the birth parent and the adoptive parents in adoption proceedings.
Adoption is a serious matter for all concerned. It determines the future of the child, because it permanently severs ties with birth parents and relatives and transfers the child into a new family where the child will remain permanently. The new family is responsible for providing the care and guidance that will determine the kind of adult that child will become.
However, in some types of adoptions, called open adoption, birth parents retain the right to communicate or visit the child.
Under Florida Statute Section Unfortunately, those accused of this sex offense may be found guilty even if you believed the minor was 18 or older. If you have been arrested for unlawful sexual activity with a minor or are under investigation, we urge you to contact our office immediately.
The states laws do differ and the minimum age of consent in the United States is sixteen and the Florida has four statutory sexual abuse charges on the books.
Florida child labor laws regulate the employment of youth in the state of Florida. These laws dictate the ages and the times as well as the types of work they may perform. Generally, speaking children 13 years old or younger may not work in Florida, except in some limited situations. Youth who are 14 and 15 years old may work in a broader range of jobs, but are significantly limited in the number of hours per day and per week they may work, especially when school is in session.
Youth who are 16 and 17 years old may work in a broad range jobs, but cannot work in those jobs that have been explicitly deemed to be too hazardous. Back To Top. Florida child labor laws define a child or minor as any person who is 17 years old or younger unless one of the following applies:. FL Statute Employers may meet this required by obtaining and retaining:.
Code 61L
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Home / Events / Setting The Record Straight
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by Re-Imagine Europe13 February 2019
Sonic Acts
The Otolith Group (UK), Annie Fletcher (IE), Emily Pethick (UK/NL), and Emma Wolukau-Wanambwa (UK)
WebsiteFacebook event
Setting the Record Straight deals with legacies of Julius Eastman (1940–1990), the queer African-American avant-garde composer, pianist, vocalist and conductor; and Amy Ashwood Garvey (1897–1969), the political activist.
Their pioneering and important work has been revived in the new artworks by The Otolith Group, “The Third Part is the Third Measure” (2017), and Emma Wolukau-Wanambwa in “Carrying Yours and Standing Between You” (2018). Sonic Acts welcomes Annie Fletcher to this panel, a curator from the Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, who is preparing a large solo exhibition of The Otolith Group in May 2019.
The talks take place in De Brakke Grond (Grote Zaal) in Amsterdam, and will be moderated by Emily Pethick.
Eastman is the Matter at Hand
24 February 2019, 10:00 – 11:00
With The Otolith Group, Annie Fletcher, and Emily Pethick
From the late 1960s until his death in 1990 at the age of 49, Julius Eastman, the queer African-American avant-garde composer, pianist, vocalist and conductor, wrote and performed compositions whose ecstatic militant minimalism initiated a black radical aesthetic that revolutionised the East Coast’s new music scene of the 1970s and 1980s. No recordings of Eastman’s compositions were released during his lifetime. In January 1980, Julius Eastman was invited by the Music Department at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois to present his compositions Crazy Nigger (1978), Evil Nigger (1979) and Gay Guerrilla (1979).
A number of African-American students and one faculty member objected to the titles of Eastman’s compositions. The titles were redacted from the concert programme. Before the concert on 16 January 1980, Eastman delivered a public statement that responded to these objections. The speeches delivered by two speakers in The Otolith Group’s video, The Third Part is the Third Measure (2017) – on display as the installation at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam during the festival – are based on each performer’s adapted transcription of Eastman’s Northwestern statement. This talk by The Otolith Group – Anjalika Sagar and Kodwo Eshun – who will be joined by Annie Fletcher, will focus on the importance of this Afrofuturist artist and expand on ideas in making the film.
In May 2019, the Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, will present the first large scale solo exhibition of The Otolith Group. The exhibition is curated by Annie Fletcher.
Carrying Yours and Standing Between You
With Emma Wolukau-Wanambwa
During her talk, Emma Wolukau-Wanambwa will be reflecting on the similarities and differences between the contexts and research processes that led her to produce the 2015 video Promised Lands and Carrying Yours and Standing Between You, a research/installation recently created for the exhibition Women on Aeroplanes at the Showroom Gallery in London. The opportunity to view these works so close together (Promised Lands was shown at both the Berlin Biennale and the London Film Festival last year) and to observe responses to them has given rise to a new set of questions for the artist about her artistic/research practice that have implications for how she wants her work to develop and what her ‘position’ is (or might be).
Emily Pethick
Emma Wolukau-Wanambwa
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Govt allots 333% more funds for urban infrastructure
An investment potential of about Rs 18 lakh crore has been created of which, an investment of Rs 1.8 lakh crore has already been approved over the last one year.
Dipak K Dash
September 02, 2016, 13:30 IST
NEW DELHI: The government has committed Rs 1.13 lakh crore assistance for improving urban infrastructure, which is a 333% increase from Rs 33,902 crore that UPA had approved during its tenure of 10 years under JNNURM, Union urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Thursday.
He claimed that during 2004-14, the government had approved the construction of 13.7 lakh houses for the urban poor whereas the new government has approved the construction of 9 lakh houses during the last one year. Naidu also said the central government has “mainstreamed“ the urban agenda by ending the longstanding neglect to improve living conditions in cities and towns.
Under the new urban missions, an investment potential of about Rs 18 lakh crore has been created of which, an investment of Rs 1.8 lakh crore has already been approved over the last one year.
Naidu said that so far, the total central assistance of Rs 53,747 crore to states and urban local bodies has already been approved for release. This is almost at par with the total central assistance of Rs 54,974 crore that was approved during the entire UPA regime.
The minister also said that 34 countries, including the US and the UK, have so far evinced an interest in investing in ‘smart cities’ programme announced by the Centre.
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Louisville to Announce Multimillion-Dollar Settlement with Breonna Taylor’s Family
by Caitlin Bassett
in Crime, News
The City of Louisville is expected to announce later this afternoon a multimillion-dollar settlement with Breonna Taylor’s family, six months after her death during a no-knock warrant.
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Taylor’s family filed the wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Louisville on April 27th.
“The city’s response in this case has been delayed and it’s been frustrating,” Sam Aguilar, the Taylor family’s attorney told CNN, “but the fact that they’ve been willing to sit down and talk significant reform was a step in the right direction and hopefully a turning point.”
On March 13th, officers executed the no-knock warrant just after midnight at Taylor’s residence. While police reports stated that police knocked and announced themselves, Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, has stated that neither he nor Taylor heard the announcements.
Walker has stated that he was in fear that someone was breaking into their apartment. When officers entered the apartment by use of force, Walker – a legal gun owner – shot one of the officers in the leg. Officers returned fire, striking Taylor and killing her.
Taylor was aged 26 and was an EMT in Louisville. Her death – coinciding with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis while an officer knelt on his neck during an arrest – has been the spark of protests and riots nationwide throughout the summer, demanding massive reforms in law enforcement and promoting racial justice.
Social media and protests have been filled with Breonna Taylor’s pictures and name, with a movement using the hashtag “Say Her Name” to raise awareness of her death. The movement has been consistent in demanding that criminal charges be filed against the three officers involved in the shooting.
The City of Louisville has taken several steps in the weeks and months that have followed in response to the incident. On May 29th, Mayor Greg Fischer suspended the use of no-knock warrants, and then he signed the order into law (named after Breonna) on June 12th.
On June 23rd, Officer Hankinson was fired for “wantonly and blindly” firing 10 shots into the apartment. The other two were placed on administrative reassignment. No criminal charges have been filed as of yet.
According to the City of Louisville’s website, “Mayor Fischer does not have the legal authority to criminally charge the officers.” That legal authority, instead, rests on the Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and the U.S. Department of Justice.
The announcement of the settlement is expected to come later this afternoon in a joint press conference between Mayor Fischer and the Taylor family’s attorneys.
Some news outlets have refrained from reporting a number, while others (like the New York Times) are saying the settlement amounts to $12 million, along with city agreements to move toward police reforms.
The FBI began an independent investigation on May 21st, which is still ongoing.
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Roberto Sao Tac Do
June 01, 1924 - December 15, 2020
Obituary For Roberto Sao Tac Do
Mr. Sao Tac Do of Raleigh, NC passed peacefully in his home on December 15, 2020 surrounded by his beloved family. Mr. Do was born in Vietnam on June 1, 1924 and was a devoted catholic. As a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather he greatly enjoyed spending time with his children and seeing all of his family at gatherings. He was very proud of his grandchildren and never short of praise for them.
Born in Ha Dong province in North Vietnam, Mr. Do lived a full life. He witnessed and participated in many significant events that shaped Vietnam's political turmoil in the 20th century. This included the nationalist uprisings against French colonial rule that led to the Geneva Accord of 1954, where Vietnam was divided into two countries, and the Fall of Saigon in 1975. Nine years after the Fall of Saigon, in 1984 Mr. Do, his wife, and their five children immigrated to the United States, settling first in Miami, Florida and later in Raleigh, North Carolina.
As a US citizen, Mr. Do followed politics with a passion. He was an active leader in social, cultural, and civic activities at local churches. He was a strong supporter of cultural events celebrating Vietnamese Heritage, and assisted many Vietnamese families as they settled in the United States. Mr. Do is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 62 years, Xuyen Thi Dao, and his children. He also has loving extended family in the United States and Vietnam. He lived a full, happy life and is forever loved and cherished by family and friends.
A Visitation will be on Friday, December 18, 2020, 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Renaissance Funeral Home and Crematory, 7615 Six Forks Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615.
Mass will be held at One o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, December 19, 2020 at Our Lady of La Vang, 11701 Leesville Rd, Raleigh, NC 27613.
Cremation will follow immediately after mass at Renaissance Funeral Home and Crematory.
Viewing and Visitation
Renaissance Funeral Home
Our Lady of La Vang
11701 Leesville Rd
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Burger King India’s IPO Opens Today: Everything You Need to Know
02 Dec 2020 by Pradeep U
The maiden issue public issue of Burger King India, a national master franchisee of the Burger King brand in India has opened for subscription today and will be available for subscription till the 4th of December 2020.
One of the fastest-growing international quick-service restaurants (QSR) chain in the country, Burger King India has an exclusive right to develop, establish, operate Burger King brand restaurants in India. The company intends to use the proceeds on rolling out of new company-owned Burger King restaurants and repayment of outstanding borrowings.
Here are some quick facts about the Burger King India's IPO:
The price band for the IPO is set at Rs 59-60.
The minimum lot size is of 250 shares. An individual retail investor can bid for a maximum of 3,250 shares.
The issue size for Burger King India IPO is Rs 810 crore at the higher price band.
Shares of Burger King India are expected to be listed around December 14, 2020.
Key opportunities for the company
Despite a temporary disruption due to COVID -19 pandemic, India's QSR market has tremendous potential for growth due to a variety of reasons such as including a rising number of nuclear families, increasing disposable incomes, growing millennial population, urbanisation, changing consumption patterns.
Widespread mobile usage and high-speed internet connectivity, the rise of tech-savvy customers along with the convenience of online food ordering through delivery aggregators such as Swiggy and Zomato, offers enormous opportunity for companies operating in the QSR industry.
Key challenges to consider while investing in Burger King India's IPO
In its Red Herring Prospectus, Burger King India has stated that the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on its operations since the last week of March, resulting in a temporary shutdown of 201 restaurants. Due to the pandemic, sales of the company had declined to Rs 134.6 crore for the period between April to September 2020 as compared to Rs 419.3 crore the corresponding period in the previous year.
As of September 20, a total of 261 restaurants of Burger King India were running across the country.
The Red Herring Prospectus filed by Burger King India with SEBI also states that termination of the master franchise and development agreement would have a material adverse effect on their business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Comparison with peers
As compared to the 261 restaurants operated by Burger King India, its peers in the QSR space in India, Domino’s Jubliant Foodworks operates 1354 outlets in the country while Westlife Development’s MacDonalds operates 481 outlets.
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Respect the Blankie
Thumbsucking at the Intersection of Mental Health, Politics, and Pop Culture
A Personal Promise
Category Archives: Bipolar Disorder
Welcome to Me (and My BPD?)
Posted on August 14, 2015 by jcschildbach
JC Schildbach, LMHC
How important is it that movies and television shows get “academic” concepts right?
Sure, superhero movies, action flicks, and even horror movies routinely violate the laws of physics to create interesting visual sequences, and frequently make up pretend science-y explanations for strange phenomena.
But what about when the academic concept is a mental health diagnosis that is supposed to be central to a character’s actions?
Okay, there are numerous representations of people with mental illness in television and film that are just as ludicrous as, say, toxic chemicals causing superpowers, a plague of giant ants, or an out-of-shape ex-cop (or really anybody) outrunning an explosion.
So what about when the academic concept is a mental health diagnosis that is supposed to be a driving force behind all of the main character’s actions in a film that is comedic, but with serious intent? It would probably behoove the movie-makers to get that right? Right?
In Welcome to Me, written by Eliot Laurence, and directed by Shira Piven, Kristen Wiig stars as Alice Klieg, a lottery-winner who decides to channel her newly-won millions into a sort of variety show all about herself, ostensibly due to the effects of her Borderline Personality Disorder.
Wiig, to her credit, plays a fairly credible person with traits of Borderline Personality Disorder. And the film does not shoot for a lot of cheap laughs or cheap thrills at the expense of those with mental health issues (of course, feel free to disagree with me on those points all you want).
Unfortunately, the film botches some really big clinical points in a really big way.
Spoiler alert! Spoiler alert!
The first truly jarring error is when Klieg describes her history of mental illness (to a TV audience assembled for an infomercial on nutritional supplements). She says, “When I was 16, I was diagnosed with Manic Depression. In my 20s it was called Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder. Now it’s just called Borderline Personality Disorder.”
Now, it’s true that “Manic Depression” was once the common term for Bipolar Disorder. But “rapid cycling” is a modifier or course specifier for Bipolar Disorder that generally means a person is having abbreviated episodes of depressive and manic states that are running fairly close together. And by “fairly close together” I mean four or more episodes of mania, hypomania, or depression in one year—not “mood swings” multiple times a day.
As the good people at PsychEducation explain, once mood shifts get close enough together, they can become indistinguishable from relatively normal emotional states. Bipolar Disorder is not just some condition of simple emotional lability or emotional dysregulation, although plenty of people use the term “bipolar” incorrectly in this fashion (hopefully not anyone who is actually diagnosing and treating people, though).
Emotional dysregulation is, however, a common component of Borderline Personality Disorder. It is also relatively common for people who are ultimately diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder to have been incorrectly diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder prior to the Borderline Personality Disorder diagnosis.
So, if Klieg, had said “First I was diagnosed with Manic Depression, which is now called Bipolar Disorder. Then they diagnosed me with Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder. Then they determined the appropriate diagnosis for my condition is Borderline Personality Disorder,” then the explanation would have made a great deal more clinical sense.
As it is, Klieg’s dialog implies that Borderline Personality Disorder is just the new name for Bipolar Disorder. This is completely wrong.
Klieg (played by Kristen Wiig) intrudes on her own skit, startling the actors and the audience.
Another major problem with the film is the portrayal of the treatment that Alice is receiving from Dr. Daryl Moffet (played by Tim Robbins). It’s troubling enough that Dr. Moffet repeatedly mentions the brand-name drug Abilify—in the sense that a movie about a person with a mental illness essentially uses dialog as a form of pharmaceutical product placement. But what’s even more disturbing is that Borderline Personality Disorder is not itself treated with medication.
Sure, plenty of people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder are prescribed various medications to address other things they might be dealing with, like anxiety, depression, or poor impulse control. They may even be prescribed mood stabilizers depending on the severity of their emotional dysregulation, or anti-psychotic drugs, depending on the severity of their thought disturbances. But the personality disorder itself is not going to respond to a specific drug.
No doubt, plenty of people suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder would love it if there were a drug that would make all their symptoms go away. Different forms of ‘talk therapy’–most notably Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan–can help people with the disorder develop coping skills to address the various fears, emotional disturbances, and behaviors that are common to the disorder, much better than any pill or cluster of pills is going to manage the range of symptoms.
Beyond the issues of medication, there is a scene where Dr. Moffet tells Klieg that he tried to have her put on a psychiatric hold because he thinks she is a danger to herself. Surprisingly, and probably just to get in a bit of expository dialog, Klieg has to ask him what a psychiatric hold is—despite the ongoing implication that Klieg’s decision to stop taking her medication will lead her to be forcibly hospitalized–an implication that wouldn’t generally exist if such a thing hadn’t happened previously.
Perhaps even more surprising is that Moffet thinks Klieg has done something to warrant psychiatric detention. I can’t imagine there are many places where wasting one’s lottery winnings on a self-indulgent TV talk show would be seen as evidence of being a danger to oneself, even if one is doing things like illegally broadcasting phone calls during that show, or otherwise slandering people. But, really, the people running the TV show should have been aware of the legal problems in all that, and should have put a stop to it.
Still, Klieg’s having gone off her medications is a theme throughout the movie, and one which causes great alarm each time someone hears her speak of it—as if the other characters really know what she is being medicated for, and with, and what the obvious, disastrous consequences will be. It is a theme that culminates in a scene, where Klieg dazedly takes a nude stroll through a casino, apparently in some psychotic, or perhaps dissociative, state. She has to be subdued by cops and hospitalized.
And while such a situation is arguably possible for a person with Borderline Personality Disorder, such occurrences are not generally core features of the disorder, and portrayals of such are certainly not going to contribute to greater understanding of the disorder, particularly when they are shown as a natural consequence of not taking one’s medications—I mean one’s Abilify.
Overall, Moffet’s connection to Klieg is largely unexplored. Mostly he just harps on her about how she should get back on her medication—I mean her Abilify. When he (rightly) gets irritated at her for including him in her TV show, Moffet terminates his services with Klieg, by simply handing her a list of other providers.
One would think Dr. Moffet would, at the very least, try to make sure Klieg was actually in contact with another provider, after trying to process with Klieg about how she violated what should have been some clear boundaries, and why he cannot continue to treat her. Given that a fear of abandonment is a core component of Borderline Personality Disorder, and that self harm, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts are common among people with Borderline Personality Disorder (in fact, it would have been much more clinically accurate for Klieg to end up in the hospital due to a suicide attempt or self-harm episode after feeling abandoned by her best friend, and her treatment provider, and possibly lashing out at them, than due to a psychotic episode—or whatever that was—from quitting her medications), Moffet’s ‘here’s-a-provider-list-and-a-few-snippy-comments’ therapy termination seems grossly incompetent. Due dilligence anyone?
And while I’m not advocating for depicting people with a particular mental illness in some format that allows viewers to check the symptoms off a list—that’s ‘disorder of the week’ TV-movie territory—the portrayal of Klieg suffers from being too timid in presenting her struggles. While Klieg is fairly off-putting to many of the people in her life, the filmmakers seemed wary of making her too off-putting. For the most part, she really only lashes out at people from her past through skits on her television show, while recklessly upsetting those around her by being self indulgent or impulsive. The filmmakers tried to keep Klieg quirkily unpleasant, in the kind of realm where one might believe that the right medications can keep her likable enough.
It strikes me, though, that the particular diagnosis is largely unimportant to the story, particularly considering how botched the presentation of the diagnosis-specific information is, and how the “off her meds” theme plays out. The film would have worked just as well (or just as poorly, depending on one’s view) knowing that Klieg was in treatment, and on medications, without having to name a particular psychiatric problem. I don’t think the movie would have suffered if, rather than naming any specific disorder, the characters referred only to Klieg having been in therapy, or hospitalized, or on medications. Hell, without the specific diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, the repeated mentions of Abilify might have been at least slightly less problematic.
At the very least, avoiding the naming of a diagnosis could have provided grad students and armchair psychologists with an exercise in identifying possible diagnoses and rule-outs. As it is, I suppose the film could at least provide valuable material for discussion about whether the Borderline Personality Disorder diagnosis seems correct, the kinds of errors Dr. Moffet makes, and about the need to make sure that clients and the people comprising their support system understand their diagnoses and treatments—that whole ‘psychoeducation’ piece that therapists are supposed to do.
Of course, I suppose having a character with a non-specified mental illness would open up the filmmakers to other complaints—such as portraying people with any old form of “mental illness” as psychotic and needing to be on medications, lest they burn through millions of dollars producing a TV show and end up running around naked in public—rather than suggesting that such a problem is specific to lottery winners with Borderline Personality Disorder.
All that said, I didn’t hate the movie. I adore Kristen Wiig. And, like I said, she does a credible job with the material. The movie also mostly avoids the more exploitative angles of both comedies and dramas involving people with mental illness. It’s just that they could have had a much richer story if they hadn’t relied so heavily on the medication angle. Coping adequately with Borderline Personality Disorder takes a great deal of personal work, not just popping a pill–I mean, an Abilify.
And one last thing. I noticed that there was no clear indication from the credits that anybody had been consulted about the accuracy of the Borderline Personality Disorder information. So, I just wanted to float it out there that I’m willing to accept some of that Hollywood money in order to go over scripts and make sure they don’t make a mess out of their clinical details.
*Welcome to Me is currently available streaming on Netflix and Amazon.com, as well as in a variety of other places.
Posted in Abilify, Alice Klieg, Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Pesonality Disorder, BPD, Film, Kristen Wiig, Movies, Psychiatric Medications, Television, Tim Robbins | Tagged Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, comedy, Drama, Kristen Wiig, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Movies, Psychoeducation, Welcome to Me | 1 Reply
Really Lowes? and Sherwin Williams? and HGTV? Mocking Mental Illness as an Ad Strategy
Posted on May 17, 2015 by jcschildbach
Lowes decided to announce its rollout of Sherwin Williams’ line of “HGTV Home” paint by crafting an ad that plays on popular ideas about some of the most well-known artists in history (and pop culture), each jealously challenging the notion of who is “the most legendary name in paint.”
Well, okay, “Mr. Happy Little Trees” Bob Ross doesn’t come across as jealous.
But Leonardo da Vinci, Andy Warhol, and Michelangelo all do.
Vincent van Gogh just comes across as…well, you can watch it here:
Get it? It’s funny because you think he’s saying “what?” because he cut off his ear. But then you realize it’s actually funny because van Gogh is suffering from psychosis or whatever would make him talk to a pigeon.
Hilarious—right?
He talks to pigeons. How clever.
Of course, nobody diagnosed van Gogh with a particular mental illness during his lifetime, particularly not from a current understanding of mental illness. Perhaps the most popular theory of van Gogh’s troubles is that they stemmed from Bipolar Disorder. Whatever the case, eventually van Gogh died of complications from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, following numerous other episodes of emotional difficulties and self-harm.
I want to be clear that I don’t have any particular axe to grind with any of the businesses in question (even if I should for one reason or another). I shop at Lowes regularly. And even though Sherwin Williams has that terrible “Cover the Earth” logo, all of the paint we’ve used in our home has come from our neighborhood Sherwin Williams store, except for the paint in the upstairs bathroom, and the stain on the deck, which we got at Lowes. And I watch HGTV (and the DIY Network) enough that M wishes I would just get off the damn couch and make our house more beautiful (or at least just quit talking about all those projects and do them).
Still, it’s disappointing to see that the big punchline for the combined Lowes-Sherwin Williams-HGTV commercial involves mocking, specifically, somebody who suffered from mental illness, and, more generally, the idea of psychosis, particularly given that the commercial was rolled out at the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month: NIMH’s “Mental Health Awareness by the Numbers”
I suppose I could also point out that all of the artists in the commercial are white males. But given how the myriad options for art “jokes” involving white male artists were handled, I don’t have a lot of faith that a woman artist, or a non-white artist, would have fared much better when reduced down to a humorous reference that might be commonly understood.
Posted in Alleged Comedy, Andy Warhol, Bipolar Disorder, Bob Ross, Comedy, HGTV, Humor, Leonardo da Vinci, Lowes, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Michelangelo, Sherwin Williams, Treatment, Vincent van Gogh | Tagged Art, Art History, Artists, Cultural Competence, HGTV, Lowes, Mental Health, Mental Health Awareness Month, Mental Health Month, Mental Illness, Psychology, Sherwin Williams, Stigma | 5 Replies
Yes, Gina, There is a Bipolar Disorder: Tom Sullivan’s Pretend Apology
Posted on February 12, 2015 by jcschildbach
by JC Schildbach, LMHC
I have a hard time believing anybody really cares about anything Fox News Radio Host/Fox Business News Anchor Tom Sullivan said two weeks ago, or a week ago, or ten minutes ago. But, after a segment on his radio show, wherein Mr. Sullivan expressed his belief that Bipolar Disorder is a made up malady, Mr. Sullivan got a bit more attention than he maybe wanted. And then he apologized.
I feel compelled to share Sullivan’s apology in all of it’s glory, because it is such a perfect example of a non-apology, the kind that one writes when one is drunk, and mad at the people to whom one is being made to apologize–the kind of apology that would properly elicit a playground response of “If you were really sorry, you wouldn’t have said it in the first place.”
You can hear the questionable five minute clip of Mr. Sullivan’s rant–mind you, on the web site for his own show–here: Bipolar “not a problem” and “not a disability” says Tom Sullivan.
To access his apology, you need only scroll down through the Facebook-linked comments on the same page.
Sullivan’s apology starts off thusly: “Gina, Thank you for your email.” From the get-go, it’s just plain weird. Sullivan is apologizing via Facebook to an (alleged) email that nobody can see. I’m not sure if Gina’s email is presented somewhere on Sullivan’s Facebook page, or elsewhere. I have the feeling he doesn’t want anybody to see the alleged email he is pretending to respond to, because Sullivan isn’t actually addressing any concerns that any real person has about what he said. He’s interested in presenting himself as the victim in the ruckus he started, as a means to reiterate some of the same obnoxious points he made in his original rant.
He continues: “May I tell you I have received a number of similar messages but usually laced with profanity. Your message stood out for the kindness of your words.” Oh, poor Mr. Sullivan, bombarded with bad language from nasty people. But, lo—here is one kind soul, just one person moved to express words of concern and seek clarification about just what happened in this horrible controversy that was visited upon the abused Mr. Sullivan.
“First,” Mr. Sullivan goes on (in sharp contrast to his original words for which he is now apologizing), “I need to tell you I do believe in bipolar disease.” I won’t hammer on Mr. Sullivan too much for not using the proper term “Bipolar Disorder” rather than “bipolar disease.” But I do have to question what he means when he says that he ‘believes in’ Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder isn’t some mythical creature like the Yeti or the Easter Bunny to entertain or scare people or to serve as a fun part of some childhood tradition. It’s not, as Mr. Sullivan says in his audio clip, some disease made up by pharmaceutical companies and the mental health industry for the purposes of financial gain. But, I suppose when you work for a network that promotes the idea that climate change is a hoax, and white privilege is mythical, your sense of reality can get knocked out of whack.
And speaking of having problems with reality, Sullivan then writes, “There is a two minute clip going around of my comments out of a two hour discussion. It is easy to take comments out of context.” Sullivan’s complaint of a two-minute, out-of-context clip is just a few scrolls down from a five minute clip, again, on the web site for his own show, in which he says he does not believe Bipolar Disorder is a real thing, but a ‘created’ illness.
He then repeats his newly-found belief system: “Of course I believe bipolar is real and is a mental illness that needs to be treated.” Well, of course, Tom! Why would anybody think you would have any other view–I mean, aside from the five-minute (not two-minute) clip where you repeatedly say that Bipolar Disorder didn’t even exist 25 years ago, and is completely made up?
Sullivan does a 180 and becomes a champion for those with mental illness–asks why people think he said things he plainly said.
Sullivan clarifies: “The program began with the subject being the huge increase in disability claims made to the Social Security Disability Fund which is going broke in 2016.” Never mind that what Sullivan means is that the Social Security Disability Fund could be insolvent as early as 2016 if changes aren’t made to the structure or funding of benefits—saying it is going broke in 2016 is much more alarmist and easier for his audience to understand, so that they can get angry like he wants them to.
Then, explaining (well, sort of) why he chose to target people with Bipolar Disorder, Sullivan writes, “The increase in claims is startling and the number one reason for the big increase in claims is mental illness and a subset (according the way Soc Security categorizes) of mood disorder.” Sullivan doesn’t bother to explain that what now comes under multiple categories of “Mental Disorders” used to be categorized as two separate categories: “Mental Retardation” and “Neuroses and Psychoses.” It wasn’t until 2010 that Social Security broke down those two categories any further, to include numerous items, including the “mood disorders” that so irk Sullivan.
Sullivan pouts, “All I was trying to do was to point out that out of that big increase I suspect there are people who are not sick but looking for a disability check.” Yes, “all” Mr. Sullivan was doing was accusing people on disability of trying to cheat the government. No big, deal. Everybody likes to take pot shots at people on disability, right? But Mr. Sullivan didn’t just voice his ‘suspicions.’ He outright said that Bipolar Disorder is “not a disability.” In other words, Mr. Sullivan said that anybody receiving disability payments due to a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder is cheating the government. In fact, the title of the same page of Tom’s website where he posted his pretend apology is “Bipolar Woman Says She DESERVES Disability Benefits. Tom Tells Her She’s WRONG!”
The pout goes on: “My further point was by doing so, those people were hurting those who really are sick and need help, i.e. funding, treatments, etc.” In other words, people who get disability payments for mental illness are not really sick—people who can’t walk, or who have cancer are sick!! This is perhaps the best part of Sullivan’s whole apology—the part where he truly demonstrates that he’s learned nothing from the reaction he provoked with his ignorant comments by engaging in the exact type of behavior/speech/thinking that demonstrates classic stigmatization of people with mental health issues: the ‘you don’t really have an illness, you just feel bad’ way of thinking.
And then comes the righteous indignation of a true champion for those with mental illness: “I have for years advocated on my program for more funding and insurance coverage of mental illness. Too many have ignored it and as a result our jails are now the ‘mental institutions’ where the people get zero help.” First of all, if you have advocated so long for “more funding and insurance coverage of mental illness” but are now mad that there is more funding and insurance coverage of mental illness, what is it you really want? Where is this funding and insurance supposed to come from? What form is it supposed to take. Oh…I get it. You mean that when there have been mass shootings, you’ve complained that we do not need gun control, but we need more funding for mental illness. Got it. The jails…right. So, yeah, more mental health funding to stop people who might go on a shooting rampage—but anybody else can step off. Way to advocate, Tom.
Sullivan then writes, “I apologize to those who were hurt by the clip of my comments.” I think he might be apologizing to himself right here, as he seems to think he’s the victim in all of this, and the only one who was really hurt by the unfair “clip” of his comments—which he maintains is all out of context. It’s one of those classic ‘I’m sorry you got upset about what I did’ apologies. He doesn’t actually say he’s sorry for what he said—he says he’s sorry if you had a stupid reaction to it.
Mr. Sullivan then explains that he is just misunderstood: “I am a somewhat jaded person who thinks some people are gaming our system due to their greed.” Yes, plenty of people are out there pretending to have Bipolar Disorder because of their all-powerful greed–the kind of greed that drives them to want to live off of an $1100/month disability check. I can see how life as a corporate accountant and media figure has caused you to see the true evils in life and become hardened by them, Tom.
“But,” he goes on, returning to his sensitive side, “I also believe mental illness is a very serious problem that is ignored by too many.” Well, at least you aren’t ignoring it, Tom, like those “many” others.
Quick switch back to victim: “This episode shows how easy it is to distort a persons (sic) comments, especially when the subject is very important.” Wait, where’s the distortion, Tom? You do realize that there is a five-minute audio clip of you talking smack about people with Bipolar Disorder and mental health professionals, right on your web page, just slightly above your apology—don’t you?
Then, he brings the powerful close: “It will and has reinforced my commitment to making mental illness on a (sic) equal par with physical illnesses instead of the stigma it currently receives. Again, thank you for your email and your concern, Tom Sullivan.” Well, it’s a good thing Tom’s had his commitment reinforced, because in that five-minute clip there, it sounded a whole lot like he was super-supportive of stigmatizing people with mental illness—especially phony mental illnesses like Bipolar Disorder. And, really, could that sentence about stigma be any worse? It’s like somebody read over the rough draft and said—‘Not bad, just make sure you add in some bullshit about stigma and how mental illness is just as important as physical illness in there at the end,’ but Tom wasn’t quite sure how to properly use the word “stigma” in a sentence, and didn’t feel like taking the time to look it up.
In the end, Sullivan wants to be viewed as someone who is just the victim of vicious attacks, with his words taken out of context. Unfortunately, it’s hard to have much sympathy for someone claiming his words were taken out of context when, well, they weren’t, but also when he made no effort to provide any context for anything he said in the first place, such as by touching on the way Social Security disability operates, the different categories now used, and why those changes were made. The simplest explanation (although there are a wide range of factors) is that there has been an evolution in the way “disability” is viewed and understood—in terms of both physical and mental illnesses. And, in terms of Social Security disability, there have been changes in the ways statistics have been kept and various issues have been categorized.
To give some credit, there is support for Sullivan’s complaints that the number of disability claims for “mood disorders” is increasing substantially. However, that increase is not grossly out of proportion to the increase in overall numbers of disability cases, particularly when one considers that mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder and various forms of Depressive Disorders are more widely understood today than they were 25 years ago (when Mr. Sullivan apparently thinks the mental health community, in cahoots with pharmaceutical companies, fabricated the idea of Bipolar Disorder as a way to make money).
So, as I said in an earlier piece about Sullivan’s original comments (which you can read here), we can either find legitimate ways to address issues like the funding of Social Security disability, and support those suffering from mental illness, or we can demonize them and…uh…let them…er…receive stigma like always. And now, at least we all know where Mr. Sullivan stands—right, Gina?
Posted in Bipolar Disorder, Cultural Competence, Depression, Fox News, Gun Control, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Politics, Psychiatric Medications, Psychology, Stereotypes, Stigma, Therapists, Therapy, Tom Sullivan, Treatment | Tagged Bipolar Disorder, Fox News, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Politics, Psychology, Television, Therapist, Therapy, Tom Sullivan | Leave a reply
Bipolar Illusion: Tom Sullivan, Rand Paul, and the Economics of Disability
Posted on February 8, 2015 by jcschildbach
Back on Wednesday, January 28, in a discussion of Social Security disability benefits on his Fox News Radio show, Tom Sullivan, who also serves as an anchor for Fox Business Network, said some incredibly stupid things about Bipolar Disorder. Sullivan, or whoever is responsible for the content of his web page, then proudly promoted Sullivan’s ignorance by posting what I can only hope is the worst part of that day’s show in a brief written piece, and a 5-minute audio clip, which you can see here: Tom Sullivan argues that Bipolar Disorder is a myth.
Among his statements, Sullivan called Bipolar Disorder “the latest fad,” adding, “We all have good days and we all have bad; and I don’t consider that an illness; and I don’t consider it a disability.”
Sullivan said plenty of other amazingly idiotic things, like suggesting people are talked into thinking they have Bipolar Disorder, and that it is a “made up” condition, as well as vilifying the entire “mental health business” and “big pharma.” (Wait–I thought Fox “News” liked big pharma.)
Broadcasting live from the Fox studios in the depths of hell, it’s the Tom Sullivan Show. Today’s topic: Yes, you should hate and fear your neighbors.
On top of that, Sullivan asked a question that anyone with the most rudimentary knowledge of psychology, or the skill to do an Internet search, could answer: “What were these people called 25 years ago before they came up with this Bipolar diagnosis?” (He didn’t mean that as a question that had an actual answer, but in the sense that he believes Bipolar Disorder was dreamed up by psychologists and drug companies 25 years ago).
I could let Jimi Hendrix answer Sullivan’s question in a song from 48 years ago, but I’ll let the good people at Healthline take this one. Read their answer here: Bipolar Disorder just may have been recognized more than 25 years ago.
In case you didn’t bother to check the Healthline article, it basically notes that the first modern diagnosis of the illness that was eventually deemed “Bipolar Disorder” was first established in the mid-1800s, but that the basic condition was recognized in one form or other going as far back as the time of Aristotle and even before. And prior to the Bipolar Disorder moniker, it was common to call the condition Manic Depression or Manic Depressive Illness, among other, similar things.
Sullivan’s staggering ignorance of mental health issues (and classic rock) aside, the truly insidious question that he asked in all of this was, “So what are you going to do when the money runs out?” By “the money,” Sullivan meant the Social Security disability fund, which he claimed will be bankrupt by 2016.
Beyond the more obvious stigmatizing of people with mental health issues, Bipolar Disorder in particular, Sullivan’s big question, and his chosen targets, may just be another entry into the vast library of right-wing fear-mongering about Social Security, and why it needs to be privatized. I’m sure it is. But it’s also part of a discussion that’s (once again) rumbling up about “entitlements” and poor people defrauding the government.
In fact, it appears Sullivan’s ill-informed rant about Bipolar Disorder may have been inspired by earlier comments from Rand Paul. As “support” for the items on Sullivan’s show that day, Sullivan’s website features a clip of Rand Paul, Republican Senator from Kentucky/compassionate ophthalmologist, speaking to a crowd in New Hampshire about how at least half the people on disability payments are collecting those payments fraudulently. You can see the clip (from CNN of all places) on Sullivan’s website here: Rand Paul is a medical expert who knows you’re not hurt, you crybaby!
Paul tells the (New Hampshire) crowd that, “everybody in this room knows someone who’s gaming the system.” Now, I’m not the kind of person to show up at a Rand Paul event, but I have to wonder about the people who do, if they all know somebody who is “gaming” the disability system. Then again, maybe Paul is just jaded, since his home state of Kentucky ranks third among the states in terms of the percentage of total population collecting disability payments. (I got that information from looking at the actual source of some of the Social Security Administration stats that were posted in an incomplete image on the same page of Sullivan’s website with the Rand Paul video) One might also ask what those stats, and Paul’s claims of fraud, could possibly say about doctors in Kentucky, who are signing off on all those disability claims.
Among those actually deserving of disability payments, Paul counts only paraplegics, quadriplegics, and the “horrifically disabled,” noting that “half the people on disability” are no worse off than anyone else, only “anxious, or their back hurts.” Paul’s standard for not deserving any kind of disability payments: “if you look like me and you hop out of your truck.” So, I guess a whole lot of white males with trucks are headed toward losing their disability payments, unless they’re careful to avoid getting caught hopping out of said trucks.
One would think that Paul’s background in medicine, as well as his position as an elected official might lead him to realize it’s his job to productively address problems with the way government systems work—particularly if those systems are tied to an area of his expertise. Likewise, Sullivan’s background in economics, along with his national platforms on both radio and television, should mean that a discussion of how to fix the Social Security disability system’s funding problem might be in Sullivan’s wheelhouse.
But rather than seeking out ways to tackle, say, the potential of those receiving Social Security disability payments to find work through job training programs; or promoting ways of obtaining additional funding, like removing the income cap on Social Security taxes, we get more condemnation of the poor–calling them lazy thieves.
Instead of having an informed discussion about the needs of those on disability, and why somebody who doesn’t “look disabled” might actually be struggling with things that many of us take for granted, we get accusations that people coping with mental illness are faking it and claiming to have conditions that don’t even exist.
Hell, Sullivan and Paul could even look into ways to make the disability system more functional by addressing the ways disability payments are established and rewarded.
But, no—we get wealthy white guys complaining that people with disabilities are a bunch of cheats, stealing from their neighbors. We get those with tremendous privilege trying to pit the poor and middle class against those with disabilities—’Hey! Let’s all pile on people who’ve been injured! Let’s knock down those who suffer from mental illness!! Get ‘em!!’
There are plenty of other things absent from these discussions of the Social Security disability system, like that those receiving the payments have to periodically have their status as “disabled” validated by doctors or mental health professionals, or that many of them end up assigned to a “payee” who controls the way their money can be spent, or that they have limits on things like what portion of their disability check can be used for housing. They are often confined to extremely limited options for government-approved housing, where their homes are subject to inspections, including being warned with ‘corrective actions’ if they aren’t keeping things clean enough.
Perhaps Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Paul think that those taking in, say, $1100 a month for being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder (which is roughly the average monthly payout) are scamming us all, and stealing our tax dollars because they’re lazy. But the amount of money one can earn is hardly worth the effort that goes into obtaining it in the first place, or keeping it over time. It might be a fun and entertaining exercise to have either Paul or Sullivan attempt to live on that amount of money for a month, and under the same restrictions.
Yet when one is so completely ignorant or out of touch as to think that Bipolar Disorder is make believe, or that we are surrounded by people stealing from the government through the Social Security disability system, then one has given up any credibility in the discussion of how to address the problems of vulnerable populations in our society–or even the discussion of how to address the possibility of fraud in the Social Security disability system.
Demonizing fellow citizens by claiming they have phony injuries or fabricated mental illness is a great way to stir up righteous anger among the poorly-informed. It may even achieve the goals of getting votes, or making disability requirements even harder to meet, or of having Social Security privatized or partially privatized.
So, don’t be surprised if you start hearing more and more about scammers bankrupting the Social Security disability system, or even more about mental illnesses being phony. Even if Sullivan did attract the ‘wrong’ kind of attention with his obnoxious comments, all he needs to do is get the poison in the stream. Then, Rand Paul and his ilk can still seem educated and rational and folksy enough that they appear sensible by comparison.
Posted in Bipolar Disorder, Cultural Competence, Depression, Fox News, Manic Depression, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Politics, Psychiatric Medications, Psychology, Rand Paul, Stigma, Television, Tom Sullivan, Treatment | Tagged Bipolar Disorder, Disability, Fox News, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Politics, Psychology, Rand Paul, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Suicide, Tom Sullivan | 1 Reply
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Big Lots finds new CEO
Months after the retirement of its former CEO, Big Lots has finally found its new leader.
Big Lots brings finally finds new leadership after the company’s former Chief Executive Officer’s retirement in April.
The company announced that Bruce K. Thorn, 51, has been named Chief Executive Officer and President of Big Lots, Inc. Thorn was most recently the President and Chief Operating Officer of Tailored Brands, Inc., a specialty retailer of men's tailored clothing and men's formalwear. Tailored Brands announced Thorn's resignation today. Following a transition period with Tailored Brands, he is expected to be formally appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Big Lots at the end of September, at which time he will also be appointed as a director to fill the vacancy created at the time of David Campisi's retirement.
Campisi, 62, who had been on a leave of absence for medical reasons since December, has decided to retire in order to focus fully on his health, according to a statement from Big Lots.
"Bruce Thorn is a strong strategic thinker in addition to being an accomplished retail executive and operator," said Cynthia T. Jamison, Chair of the Nominating / Corporate Governance Committee and of the Board's search committee. "We were fortunate to be able to consider a couple of very capable internal candidates in addition to a broad range of external candidates. Bruce's combination of strategic vision, leadership skills and history of operational success impressed all of us and the search firm that we used in the process. We believe that he will be able to build on the Company's transformation into a community retailer while also nimbly navigating the rapidly changing and disrupted retail environment."
Thorn joined Tailored Brands in 2015 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In March 2017, he was named President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining Tailored Brands, he held various enterprise level roles with PetSmart, Inc. since 2007, most recently as Executive Vice President, Store Operations, Services and Supply Chain. His other experiences include leadership positions with Gap, Inc., Cintas Corp, LESCO, Inc. and The United States Army.
Big Lots currently operates 1,416 stores in 47 states.
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India upholds Caste System at the UN
Amar Khade
[A compilation of news and commentary]
Recently the Special Rapporteur on minority issues Rita Izsák, of United Nations Human Rights Council Published a report on minority issues. The report was presented and discussed in the UN Human Rights Council on 15th March 2016. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues was established by the Commission on Human Rights in its resolution 2005/79, as an independent expert. It was renewed by the Human Rights Council in its resolutions 7/6 of 27 March 2008, 16/6 of 24 March 2011 and 25/5 of 28 March 2014. This report was the "first comprehensive UN report on caste-based discrimination" to the United Nations Human Rights Council.
About the Special Rapporteur
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name for the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either country-specific situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent of any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. Ms. Rita Izsák-Ndiaye (Hungary) was appointed as Independent Expert on minority issues by the Human Rights Council in June 2011 and her mandate was subsequently renewed as Special Rapporteur on minority issues in March 2014. She is tasked by the UN Human Rights Council, to promote the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, among other things.
Some Key Issues from Report's Findings
1) The Special Rapporteur recognizes the complexity of addressing this topic within the minority rights framework, as there exists the view that caste systems are a way to organize society without the domination of majority groups, and that therefore, "lower caste" groups may not strictly fall under the category of minority groups. However, she believes that, while many caste-affected groups may belong to the same larger ethnic, religious or linguistic community, they often share minority-like characteristics, particularly their non-dominant and often marginalized position, stigma, and the historic use of the minority rights framework to claim their rights. She further acknowledges that caste and caste-like systems are present in other groups, including some indigenous communities. Moreover, she highlights that minority groups who are characterized by their non-dominant position and whose members possess ethnic, religious or linguistic characteristics differing from those of the rest of the population are also, in many cases, caste-affected groups, and therefore face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination on the grounds of both their minority status and descent. Consequently, she believes that a minority rights approach can provide a valuable platform for the protection of the rights of caste-affected communities and that minority rights standards, including equality, non-discrimination, consultation, participation and special measures, should be applied to combat discrimination based on caste and analogous systems.
2) There are common characteristics to caste and caste-like systems that inherently contradict the principles of human dignity, equality and non-discrimination, through a particularly differentiated social status whereby individuals placed in the lowest positions are regarded as "inferior" and "non-human". The resulting extreme exclusion and dehumanization of caste-affected groups translates into individuals and communities often being deprived of, or severely restricted from enjoying their most basic civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
3) Caste and analogous forms of discrimination are a major cause of poverty and perpetuate poverty in affected communities. As stressed previously, the relationship between inequality, discrimination and poverty and their impact on disadvantaged minority groups cannot be ignored or underestimated. Targeted attention to the situation of the poorest and most socially and economically excluded and marginalized communities is essential to break the vicious cycle of discrimination, exclusion, poverty and underdevelopment.
4) Estimates indicate that over 250 million people suffer from caste-based discrimination worldwide. Though the highest numbers of affected communities are concentrated in South Asia, particularly India and Nepal, discrimination on the grounds of caste or analogous status is a global phenomenon and can be found in other geographical contexts, including in Africa, the Middle East and the Pacific region, as well as in diaspora communities. Although the examples given are not exhaustive, they aim to be illustrative of caste-affected communities in different regions.
5) Dalits constitute the largest caste-affected group in South Asia. They comprise a myriad of sub-caste groups and although many communities are subjected to similar forms of discrimination across the region, the situation of Dalits in caste-affected countries differs for historical and political reasons. Dalits represent the victims of the gravest forms of caste discrimination, are often assigned the most degrading jobs, subjected to forced and bonded labour, have limited or unequal access to resources (including economic resources, land and water) and services, and are disproportionately affected by poverty. In India, according to official data, Dalits (referred to as "scheduled castes") constitute more than 201 million people. This figure does not include Dalits who have converted or are born and raised within non-Hindu religious communities, such as the Dalit Muslim and Christian communities; unofficial statistics estimate the actual number of Dalits in India to be much higher.
6) The caste system migrated with the South Asian diaspora to other regions, including Africa (Mauritius, South Africa), Europe (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), the Americas (United States of America, Canada and Suriname), the Middle East (Bahrain, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates), Malaysia, Australia and the Pacific (Fiji).
7) The Committee identified several factors that could indicate the existence of discrimination on the basis of caste and analogous systems of inherited status in affected communities, including "inability or restricted ability to alter inherited status; socially enforced restrictions on marriage outside the community; private and public segregation, including in housing and education, access to public spaces, places of worship and public sources of food and water; limitation of freedom to renounce inherited occupations or degrading or hazardous work; subjection to debt bondage; subjection to dehumanizing discourses referring to pollution or untouchability; and generalized lack of respect for their human dignity and equality". It also made specific recommendations, including in the areas of preventing hate speech in the media, administration of justice, political participation and the right to education.
8) Discrimination based on caste increases the vulnerability of affected groups to contemporary forms of slavery. Dalits comprise the majority of people subjected to domestic bonded labour, and a large number of victims of trafficking in persons, sexual slavery and other forms of labour exploitation are members of low castes.
9) Suppression of Political and Civil rights, Economic and Social Cultural rights due to various forms of Caste based discrimination.
10) Caste is one of the factors that result in multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination against certain groups of women. Women and girls from low castes are particularly vulnerable to violation and denial of their rights in both public and private life.
Some Key Recommendations in the Report
1) Discrimination based on caste and analogous systems is deeply embedded in interpersonal and communal relationships in caste-affected countries. Therefore, overcoming it will require not only legal and political responses, but also community-based approaches aimed at changing the mindsets of individuals and the collective conscience of local communities. In this regard, formal and informal community education and open dialogue from an early age are essential elements to ensure that the principles of human dignity and equality are generally accepted and respected.
2) Discrimination on the basis of caste and analogous systems is a major cause of poverty, inequality and social exclusion of affected communities. In the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, States should consider including caste-specific indicators to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals and their targets address the situation of affected groups.
3) The Special Rapporteur acknowledges that further in-depth studies of caste-affected communities, particularly outside of South Asia, are needed in order to comprehensively assess the situation of, and specific challenges facing such groups and implement adequate measures to combat caste-based discrimination that affects them. To that end, the collection of data - disaggregated by, among other things, caste, sex, ethnicity, religion and language - is essential to adequately map affected groups in caste-affected countries. Data collection programmes should allow for diverse forms of self-identification and comply with international standards regarding the right to privacy.
4) States should adopt specific legislations prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of caste and/or analogous systems. Existing legal frameworks to combat caste discrimination must be adequately and fully implemented and include appropriate penalties for acts of caste-based discrimination.
5) States should conduct awareness-raising campaigns at the national and local levels, targeting both affected communities and the wider public to sensitize them against caste discrimination and analogous forms of such discrimination. These campaigns should inform the public about the various manifestations, legal prohibitions and penalties associated with caste discrimination, and victims should be informed of their rights and available means of legal recourse to bring to light caste-based discriminatory practices and obtain redress.
6) Comprehensive national action plans and budgets to combat discrimination based on caste and analogous systems should be urgently developed and implemented in caste-affected countries. Plans should have clear objectives and measures in a wide range of areas, including poverty reduction strategies, employment, health, housing, education and access to basic services, including water and sanitation. They should include specific focus on the issues of caste-affected women, be developed in coordination with affected groups and local organizations working with them and be provided with sufficient funding. Their progress should be regularly monitored.
7) Special measures, including reservations, quota systems and/or schemes, should be put into place and enforced in specific areas, including employment, education, and public and political institutions - in order to guarantee the effective participation and representation of affected communities in public life.
8) Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to caste discrimination, as they suffer from multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination owing to both their gender and unprivileged caste status. They are disproportionately subjected to dire human rights violations, including violence and, particularly, sexual violence, trafficking, early and/or forced marriage and harmful traditional practices. They face obstacles in accessing justice and redress and are excluded or relegated to a secondary or subordinate role in decision-making processes. Caste-affected States should urgently take robust action to eradicate such violations through, inter alia, the enactment and effective implementation of specific legislation and the adoption of special measures and policies and programmes to address the entrenched situation of marginalization and exclusion experienced by women and girls owing to their caste status.
9) Ad hoc supervisory bodies or specific departments in national human rights institutions should be established to address and monitor caste-based discrimination, where relevant. They should analyze existing domestic legislation, recommend programmes and provide advice on public policies to enhance the implementation of non-discrimination legislation. They should provide complaint-handling services, by receiving complaints, conducting investigations and initiating or pursuing legal actions in relation to cases involving caste-based discrimination. These bodies should be independent and provided with sufficient funding, resources and staff to adequately fulfill their mandate.
10) Law enforcement officers should receive training to identify and adequately respond to cases of caste-based discrimination, particularly those involving caste-based violence. Rapid-response protocols should be developed and implemented by police officers to attend to victims and conduct in situ investigations. Criminal penalties should be established for law enforcement officers who neglect or intentionally decide not to investigate and/or prosecute complaints filed by individuals regarded as "low caste". Recruitment of members of affected communities into law enforcement agencies should be encouraged, including through the establishment of a quota system for caste-affected individuals.
11) Human rights education in schools should be a mandatory subject. Language in school textbooks should be revised to eliminate stereotypical and prejudicial portrayals of caste-affected communities and contest the social construction of caste and caste-like systems and related notions, including untouchability and segregation.
12) Specific measures should be developed to tackle discrimination, including on the grounds of caste, in all development and disaster recovery actions and programming. Implementation of caste-analysis methodology in the humanitarian assistance framework to adequately identify affected communities, as well as the implementation mechanisms to ensure that humanitarian relief is equally distributed, is fundamental to prevent caste-based discrimination from being replicated in humanitarian response actions.
13) States should extend invitations to special procedure mandate holders to assess the situation of caste-affected communities in their respective countries and request their assistance for technical cooperation.
14) The draft United Nations principles and guidelines for the effective elimination of discrimination based on work and descent should be promoted by States and endorsed by the Human Rights Council.
Response by the Government of India's Representative to the UN
The Senior Indian Diplomat Ajit Kumar, India's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, said that the report "was a breach of the SR's mandate". He pointed out that when Izsák-Ndiaye's 'mandate' was extended on March 2015, caste was not covered as per the categories of minorities. "It would have been preferable for the SR to take the guidance of the relevant resolutions that led to the establishment of the SR's mandate rather than to seek to extend it. Despite the SR's own acknowledgement of the weakness of this aspect, the SR has gone ahead to make a series of sweeping judgments," said Kumar. Kumar pointed out that the justification of "minority-like characteristics" was not convincing, as it could cover almost every group in society.
"This is a questionable proposition, because in some context or the other all categories of persons could well be classified as minorities, and hence, is there any section of society over which the SR's mandate will not be applied?" he asked. If "incentives" for each SR to go "beyond" and reinterpret their mandates were allowed, it would have the "potential for calling into question the seriousness of the work of this council", India argued. Kumar termed the publication of the report as an "opportunity" to address the entire issue of "role and responsibility of UN special procedures mandate holders".
"There were no signs that such a report was in the works. It does not seem that the report was done based on any field studies based on country visits. It seemed more like a research compilation," said an MEA official.
He noted that India had never recognized caste groups as being equivalent to "religious or other minority groups". "By this definition, 25% of the Indian population would become minorities in one stroke," he added.
India has a "standing invitation" to all special procedures mandate holders to visit the country since 2011, but officials said that there were no requests from Izsák-Ndiaye so far.
Reply by Special Rapporteur Izsák-Ndiaye to Government of India's Representative to the UN
Izsák-Ndiaye gave a statement to the media that she had not requested a visit to India as the report was not country-specific, but based on a theme. "I have not requested a country visit before the preparation of the thematic report as it is not a standard practice (unlike with country reports which are only issued after an actual visit had taken place). Also kindly note that this is a global report with global tendencies, challenges and [the] recommendations are not specifically on India," she said. On the criticisms by the Government of India's Representative in UN she said "it is not unusual at the human rights council to have disagreement between the member states and the mandate-holders on the approach they take and the actual content of their reports. I respect India's opinion and as I highlighted, 'lower caste' groups often self-identify as minorities (and in many situations they are indeed clearly religious or ethnic minorities in classic terms) and have historically used the minority rights framework and therefore sought the support of my mandate since its establishment to claim their rights".
In her defense regarding the "Breach of SR's Mandate", she gave the reference from the "Guidance Note" of the UN secretary general on racial discrimination and the protection of minorities in March 2013 which "explicitly recommended that the UN should focus attention on caste-based discrimination and related practices".
She further argued from the report that, the SR's report notes that "CASTE DISCRIMINATION AND CASTEISM" directly affects the health of the discriminated, citing an Indian study which "demonstrated stark disparities between Dalit and non-Dalit women in terms of life expectancy and access to prenatal and postnatal care".
India's Pathetic Position on Issues of Caste in the International Arena
During the 2001 World Conference against Racism in Durban, there was a major effort by Indian NGOs to include Caste and Caste based discrimination on the agenda of the Conference. The then Minister of State for External Affairs, Omar Abdullah (from the ruling NDA Government) highly criticized "Raising the issue of Caste in International Forum". "Issue of caste was not an appropriate subject for discussion at this conference", he said.
In 2004, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Doudou Diène had included the caste system in the list of "political platforms which promote or incite racial discrimination". Doudou Diène from Senegal was United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, from 2002—2008.
This report states that "Racism subsumed in the caste system still plays a role in violence and social displacement in India. The 3,000-year-old caste system of social hierarchy still excludes millions of Dalits ("untouchables"). Even though the nation's 1950 Constitution outlawed discrimination and introduced quotas for government jobs, thereby promoting millions of former untouchables and members of indigenous tribes, the system still leaves much to be desired. Even the real gains registered by affirmative action programmes are eroded by politicians' campaigns of expediency."
The issues of race and xenophobia as applied to India have been challenged by governmental authorities on the grounds that claimed (a) caste is not race, (b) caste is based on internal conditions, and (c) time should be allowed to resolve the problem. The CERD (Committee on the Elimination of racial Discrimination) has, however, explicitly replied: "The Committee states that the term 'descent' mentioned in Article 1 of the Convention does not solely refer to race. The Committee affirms that the situation of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes falls within the scope of the Convention." International bodies such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the International Labour Organization (ILO) also have identified caste as the basis for human rights violation. Advocacy groups, policy analysts and civic organizations have broadened the concept of racism and xenophobia to incorporate all acts of exclusion and discrimination that might be based on narrow cultural, religious and regional traditions or interpretations. The argument that such issues as caste must be considered internal matters and given generations to change is also deemed unacceptable on the basis of accepted international principles. Gross violations of human rights abuses against caste groups such as the burning of individuals or killing of caste members because of alleged cultural violations are no longer matters of apology and internal law and order, but rather serious human rights violations to be judged by the sovereignty of the human community and not just State or local authorities. Human rights groups and advocacy organizations have always been part of the universal quest for justice and equal opportunity.
Statements Made by Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India at the 60th Session of the Commission on Human Rights, Geneva
"We have seen the study presented by the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Doudou Diène contained in document E/CN.4/2004/61. We cannot see how the reference to the caste system in India fits into a study on 'Political platforms which promote or incite racial discrimination'. The national platform on which the Indian freedom struggle was based, and on which the Constitution of India rests, is entirely to the contrary. If anything, the evolution of Indian political thought, and that of the legal and administrative framework in the last more than five decades has been precisely in the direction of proscribing discrimination on any ground, including race and caste.
The magnitude and scale of the affirmative action that has been undertaken, and the policy instruments developed by the Indian Government to address the caste issue has no parallel in the world. There is no dearth of findings which illustrate the progress that has been achieved in the social, educational, economic and political spheres as a result of these multi-pronged efforts. There is similarly acknowledgement that a lot more has to be done.
There is similarly a high level of Government commitment to address the welfare of the Scheduled Tribes in India. Apart from the myriad legal and administrative instruments and provisions that have existed and been further strengthened since independence, a separate Ministry for Tribal Affairs was created in 1999 and a Department of Development of North Eastern Region was created in 2001.
The Tenth Five Year Plan of the country for the period 2002-2007 indicates the extent of resources that have been earmarked for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes since the start of the planning process, the progress achieved in the economic, social and political indicators, and the programmes and targets for the next five years.
It also bears clarification that the term 'caste' denotes a 'social' and 'class' distinction which has its origins in the fundamental division of Indian society during ancient times. The use of the term 'descent' in the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination refers to 'racial descent'. Communities which fall under the definition of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are unique to Indian society and its historical process, and do not come under the purview of Article 1 of the Convention."
At a 2006 international conference on Dalit rights in The Hague, Chin-Sung Chung, special rapporteur on discrimination on the basis of work and descent noted: "In 2002, CERD General Reccommendation XXIX stated: 'The Committee strongly condemns descent-based discrimination such as discrimination on the basis of caste and analogous systems of inherited status, which is a violation of the Convention'."
Three years ago, the European parliament adopted a resolution that called on the European Commission to recognize casteism as a "distinct form of discrimination rooted in the social/or religious context".
Stand of Dalits' Civil Rights Organizations
From the historical past, various Dalit Civil Rights Organizations have been critical of the many policy measures adopted by various Governments as part of handling the issues regarding Caste and Caste based discrimination. The position adopted by the Government of India in handling the problems of Caste and Caste discrimination is largely outdated and does not stand with the Human Rights perspective of the Globalized and civiler world.
N Paul Divakar, General Secretary, National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights said, "Nobody wants the sovereignty of the country to be challenged. We don't want superpowers to dictate to us. But, if we are part of the UN and are aspiring to be a candidate for the Security Council, we should follow the rules. The report showed how caste and analogous discrimination was happening even in places like Japan. This shows that it happens everywhere. In Senegal, I saw how the Neenos had a separate graveyard and also sat in another terrace. Incidentally, Izsák-Ndiaye, who describes herself as being from "Hungary/Senegal" lives in Dakar and has also referred to discrimination against the Neenos in her report."
The Dalit Civil Right activist also said that internationalization would only show how far India has gone in supporting Dalit rights within the legislative and legal framework. "I think India leads the world... That's why instead of perpetuating old positions, India could have showcased its programs and acted as a role model by engagement".
The Indian position, he felt, was the "stance of the bureaucracy, not the government".
Ashok Bharti, Chairperson of the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations said, "The whole government suffers from a mindset of the upper castes, who are victims of their own guilt and will therefore try to hide their faults. If the Indian government had done so well in supporting Dalits, "why have there been thousands of cases of atrocities in the past 25 years? How many perpetrators have been punished? If domestic pressures and remedies do not work, internationalization was a viable option to seek improvement in the status of Dalits."
"The report will not remain as just a document. We will use it for advocacy work, and it will carry a lot of weight in our discussions with national human rights institutions," said Henri Tiphagne, a leading Indian human rights advocate and IDSN board member.
Regarding the pathetic stand of the Indian Government during discussions on Caste-based Discrimination in various International Forums, Henri Tiphagne narrated his observation as follows:
"I have been in Geneva in the UN Sub commission on human rights in August 2000 when a resolution on caste based discrimination had to be stated as discrimination based on work and descent; also in Durban when India refused to allow caste to be discussed in the World Conference Against Racism in August 2001 and now on 15th March 2016 when Ms. Rita Izsák-Ndiaye, the present UN SR on Minorities presented her report exclusively on caste-based discrimination, followed by India's strong objections. Dalit Rights are Human Rights. The struggle continues."
"This report is a very courageous effort. It raises the hopes of millions of Dalits who are subjected to inhuman forms of discrimination based on caste, work and descent. We dream that this could be a step on the way to a UN Convention on the elimination of caste-based discrimination," said Manjula Pradeep, Executive Director of the Indian Dalit Rights organization Navsarjan.
Media Blackout of the Report and its aftermath
This important issue related to the social fabric of the country was completely blacked out by the Indian media on account of avoiding the "Superimposing of Westernized Human Rights Agenda using the Dalits as shield on the Indian State". There was minimal reporting on this particularly important issue, given that around 15 % of the Indian Population who are ex-untouchables i.e Dalits, continue to suffer due to caste based discrimination in their day to day life from cradle to grave. Even the state-sponsored news channels likes Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV which conduct and highlight various programmes on the plight of various marginalized sections of the Indian society, did not air any program or conduct any panel discussions on the "first comprehensive UN report on caste-based discrimination to the United Nations Human Rights Council".
1) https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G16/013/73/PDF/G1601373.pdf?OpenElement
2) http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Minorities/SRMinorities/Pages/SRminorityissuesIndex.aspx
3) http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=53511#.Vv0V8px95dg
4) http://thewire.in/2016/03/25/stung-by-un-report-on-caste-discrimination-india-hits-back-25909/
5) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Justice-For-Vemula-gets-global-support-at-UN-human-rights-council-meet/articleshow/51577533.cms
6) http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=18497&LangID=E
7) http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/Minorities.aspx
8) http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/UN-Caste-Systems-Violate-Human-Rights-of-250-Million-Worldwide-20160323-0022.html
9)http://www.justiceandpeace.nl/public/Publication/20/download/Human%20Rights%20and%20Dignity%20of%20Dalit%20Women.pdf
10) http://www.mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?3124/Statements+Made+by+Mr+Hardeep+Singh+Puri+Ambassador+and+Permanent+Representative+of+India+at+the+60th+Session+of+the+Commission+on+Human+Rights+Geneva
11) https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G04/106/20/PDF/G0410620.pdf
12) "Global Caste Discrimination", Human Rights Watch World Report 2001: India, 29 August 2001, www.hrw.org.
13) John Lancaster, "India's New Politics of Preference: Upper Castes Seek Inclusion in Quota System to Offset Lost Privileges", The Washington Post, 14 July 2003.
14) http://idsn.org/un-expert-calls-on-states-to-end-caste-discrimination/
Amar Khade is a self-employed engineer by profession and an anti-caste activist by choice.
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