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Equity Mirror
Belgian Workers Renovating A Fountain Discovered A Small Box Containing A 180-Year-Old Human Organ
In the heart of the Belgian city of Verviers, an ornate fountain stands out against an unremarkable backdrop of chain stores and cafés. But when workers begin to renovate this beloved landmark, they discover something sinister hidden inside. Concealed within a rusted metal casket they find a gruesome relic — a human organ more than 180 years old.
Located in the province of Liège near the German border, Verviers has long been haunted by a troubled past. But back in the 19th century, there was one man who dedicated himself to improving the prosperity of this historic city. From 1830 until his death nine years later, Pierre David served as mayor, bringing about peace after a tumultuous revolution.
Almost two centuries after David’s death, the people of Verviers still tell stories about the former mayor — and share a gruesome legend about his burial. But the tale remained little more than a myth until August 2020, when renovation work was carried out on the fountain bearing his name.
While restoring this historic fountain, workers stumbled across a casket hidden within a hollow stone. And thanks to the inscription etched into its side, the truth about its grim contents soon became clear. In a moment, the strange legends surrounding Pierre David were confirmed — and the city uncovered a unique artifact from the past.
Located in the largely French-speaking Wallonia region of Belgium, Verviers has a long and fascinating history. Originally settled by the Romans, the area experienced an early taste of conflict in the 4th century, when Germanic tribes began pushing in from the east. Eventually, the Merovingian Franks and their king Clovis succeeded in occupying the land.
As the Roman Empire fractured, the people of Wallonia developed their own distinct dialects and cultures. Meanwhile, in Verviers, the heavily-forested land attracted the Merovingian kings, who used it as a hunting ground. But after three centuries of their rule they were overthrown by another Frankish dynasty, the Carolingians.
Under the Carolingians Wallonia was further fragmented and divided, sowing the seeds of political conflict that continues to this day. In Verviers, the population was gradually converted to Christianity due to influence of the monks of a local Abbey. And by the middle of the 11th century, the region had become part of the province of Liège.
Today, Verviers is known for its textile production, which is believed to have begun as early as the 15th century. Within 100 years it had become the main industry, fuelled by the Eighty Years War that raged in the Netherlands. Over the next century, the population boomed to the point that the town expanded to become a major city.
As Verviers grew, however, Wallonia continued to experience unrest, particularly during the French Revolution of the late 18th century. Eventually, in 1795, Liège was annexed to France, and the region’s fortunes took a turn for the worse. Driven into poverty, the citizens struggled to survive on the back of a failing industry.
It was against this bleak backdrop that Pierre David first became mayor of Verviers, elected to the office in 1800. Like many in the city, he was descended from textile workers, although he had worked as a police officer before his foray into politics. However, there was nothing in his background to suggest just how much he would be revered — and the startling legend that would develop after his death.
At the time, Verviers was under the control of the French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, and its citizens were obligated to follow his decrees. But David did not agree with these missives from a remote ruler, leading to his resignation in 1808. Despite no longer being mayor, however, he continued to be actively involved in the city.
Seven years later, in 1815, the French were defeated in the Battle of Waterloo and Verviers began to prosper once more. Now part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the city became a vital part of Wallonia’s industrial economy. But even this wasn’t to last, and the political unrest of the early 1830s brought yet more uncertainty to the region.
Along with their Flemish neighbors, the people of Wallonia wanted to secede from the Netherlands and form their own kingdom. Largely Roman Catholic by that point, many of them objected to being ruled by Protestants in the north, including the tyrannical King William I of the Netherlands. Eventually, on 25 August 1830, riots broke out in the city of Brussels, marking the beginning of the Belgian Revolution.
In Verviers, David supported the southern provinces’ bid for secession and the formation of an independent republic. But when it became apparent that this approach would not succeed, the committed Francophile spoke out in favor of a union with France. Eventually, however, the revolution culminated in the creation of the Kingdom of Belgium in October 1830.
That same year, David was re-elected mayor of Verviers, inheriting a city still reeling from the trauma of the revolution. And over the next decade, he set about improving conditions for the beleaguered population. Today, he is remembered as the man who finally provided stability after centuries of turmoil and unrest.
During his first stint as mayor, David had already established a fire brigade in Verviers — considered a trailblazing innovation at the time. And by the end of his tenure, he had also opened a secondary school in the city and pioneered a low-cost housing initiative. Decades later, his achievements are commemorated by the local streets and statues that bear his name.
Fast forward almost two centuries, and a fountain dedicated to David’s memory stands in the center of Verviers. In fact, it’s one of several water features that are scattered throughout the city. But quite unlike the others, this monument in the area known as Place Verte has been harboring a dark secret all these years.
At some point, a grim legend grew up surrounding the Fontaine David and the mayor who gave the monument its name. According to the tale, one of David’s organs had been removed from his corpse and entombed within the granite fountain. And although nobody knew exactly where this myth had come from, it has persevered throughout the ages.
Then, in August 2020, workers in Verviers made an incredible discovery. While carrying out renovation work on the Fontaine David, they stumbled upon a hollow stone. And when they examined it, they found something unexpected inside — a small, rusted casket made from metal and bearing a gruesome inscription.
According to the inscription, the casket contained Pierre David’s heart, proving that the rumors had been true all along. And even though reports claim that officials have yet to open the container, they are apparently confident about the grim relic lurking inside. So how exactly did the vital organ of a 19th-century mayor end up beneath a fountain in the middle of Verviers?
David’s tenure as mayor came to an abrupt end in 1839 when he suffered a fatal fall from a hayloft at his Verviers home. At 68 years old, the popular politician was dead. Keen to remember the man who had given so much to their city, some members of the local community hit upon an unusual idea.
After gaining permission from David’s family, a small team of medical professionals surgically removed the late mayor’s heart from his body. Next, they embalmed the organ, ensuring that it would remain preserved over the years. And after placing it in a container of alcohol, they sealed it inside a metal casket.
But what would the town of Verviers do with David’s heart now that they had preserved it? According to reports, the city was divided on how best to commemorate the beloved official. And while the debate continued, the late mayor’s organ was allegedly kept in storage at Verviers’ town hall.
At some point, it seems, the community decided that a specially designed water feature would be the best way to remember David in the years to come. But it took longer than they expected — more than four decades — to come up with the funds. Eventually, in 1883, the Fontaine David was inaugurated in Place Verte, a square in the center of the city.
Carved from red granite, the fountain is covered in ornate decorations including a bronze bust of the former mayor. And during its inauguration, officials added a grim finishing touch to the eye-catching memorial. Inside a hollow stone, they stashed the metal casket containing the preserved heart of David himself.
As the years passed, the story of Fontaine David and its hidden heart morphed from historical fact into legend. And for more than 100 years, it remained a tale told only in whispers and half-truths. But when workers eventually stumbled upon the relic in 2020 they were able to confirm what some had suspected all along.
As part of Verviers’ “ville conviviale” [friendly city] initiative, the Place Verte, along with a number of other landmarks across Verviers, was undergoing extensive renovation. And as the Fontaine David takes center stage in the square, its restoration had become a key part of the process. Beginning in May 2020 workers began removing and replacing each individual stone — not realizing that one contained a gruesome secret.
“A legend thus becomes reality,” Maxime Degey, the Verviers Alderman for Public Works, told the Belgian television station RTBF. “The box was in the upper part of the fountain, very close to the bust of Pierre David, behind a stone that we had removed as part of the renovation of the fountain.” But what state was the relic in after so many years hidden within the memorial?
According to reports, the casket containing David’s preserved heart had fared surprisingly well over the years. In fact, Degey told RTBF that the artifact was in “impeccable condition.” Although no harm appeared to have been done, however, officials temporarily decided against returning the organ to its place within the Fontaine David.
Instead, the heart was taken to the city’s Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics, where it formed part of an exhibition dedicated to the former mayor. Alongside the casket, visitors can also see a death mask taken of David soon after his accident, as well as another bust in his likeness.
Currently, the exhibition also boasts photographs of the Fontaine David taken during its inauguration ceremony and documents relating to the mayor’s time in office. But the star exhibit — the official’s preserved heart — will only be appearing on a temporary basis. At some point during the fall of 2020, the authorities plan to return the organ to its former resting place.
For those visiting the museum, the sight of David’s heart exhibited far from the rest of his mortal remains might come as something of a shock. But, historically speaking, burials such as these are actually far from rare. In fact, it’s a practice that has its roots in the times of the Crusades, when men often died in foreign lands thousands of miles away from home.
For practical reasons, men who perished under such circumstances could not have their entire bodies transported across continents. And so, it became common to just send the departed’s heart back home. By the 1100s the practice had become popular with French and English aristocrats.
Eventually, the concept of heart burial became more of a symbolic, rather than practical, idea. And even though the people who memorialized David in this way were a little late to the party, there are a great number of preserved organs still to be found in the world today. In fact, in some places, the practice has continued well into the 21st century.
Perhaps the most famous example is that of King Richard I of England — Richard the Lionheart. After dying in battle in 1199, his body was interred at Fontevraud Abbey in France. But before the royal funeral, the monarch’s heart was removed, sealed in a lead box and buried at Notre-Dame in Rouen, some 200 miles away.
Like David’s, the heart of Richard I languished in obscurity for centuries until it was rediscovered in the 1830s. Interestingly, experts were able to take a closer look at the relic in 2012, learning more about the process that was used to preserve it. Might a similar examination shed more light on Verviers’ own discovery in years to come?
Another legend apparently confirmed in 1837 was in the English village of Erwarton, once the childhood haunt of Anne Boleyn. When Henry VIII’s tragic second wife was executed in 1536 — so the story goes — her heart was removed and brought to the local church. And 300 years later, workers discovered a hidden casket that appeared to support this theory.
An even more dramatic tale surrounds Percy Shelley, who died in a boating accident in 1822. According to regulations at the time, his body was cremated on a pyre, although it’s claimed that one part of him would not burn. According to legend, the writer Edward Trelawny reached into the flames and plucked out the poet’s undamaged heart.
Eventually, Shelley’s heart was given to his widow, Mary, who kept it on her desk inside a silk bag. But not all of history’s preserved organs have wound up in such mundane surroundings. In the Polish city of Warsaw, for example, the heart of the composer Chopin is interred within a crystal urn. And in the village of Stinsford in Dorset, England, a similar relic belonging to the writer Thomas Hardy is buried in a dedicated grave.
On most occasions, it seems, heart burials were performed in locations that were dear or significant to the deceased. And so, it’s likely that David, who did so much for the city of Verviers, would have been happy to see his vital organ interred in the fountain that bears his name. When it is eventually returned to the monument, it looks set to remain for the foreseeable future — an urban legend brought to life at last.
Copyright © 2019 Battery Media Group – All Rights Reserved.
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June 1, 2019 November 24, 2019 by Eternality Tan
2013, Claire Denis, France
At times hypnotic yet disturbing, Claire Denis gives us a low-key mystery-noir that doesn’t settle for anything less than challenging.
Dir. Claire Denis
2013 | France | Drama/Mystery | 100 mins | 1.85:1 | French & English
R21 (passed clean) for sexual scenes and nudity
Cast: Vincent Lindon, Chiara Mastroianni, Michel Subor, Lola Creton
Plot: Marco returns to Paris after his brother-in-law’s suicide, where he targets the man his sister believes caused the tragedy – though he is ill-prepared for her secrets as they quickly muddy the waters.
Awards: Nom. for Un Certain Regard Award (Cannes)
Subject Matter: Mature
Audience Type: General Arthouse
(Reviewed at Alliance Francaise screening – first published 14 Nov 2015)
As usual for a Claire Denis picture, this may frustrate viewers who demand plot linearity and clarity, not to mention there’s no satisfaction gained except for the satisfaction of unraveling a sordid and chilling mystery through its lead protagonist Marco, played by Vincent Lindon who recently won the Cannes Best Actor award for The Measure of a Man (2015).
But Denis is only interested to peel off nothing more than a layer, never trying to help us to make sense of her work, yet enticing us to peel more layers on our own. What we find is what we get, but if the act of peeling is the satisfaction, then Bastards is an excellent film. I think this is a more interesting work than Denis’ previous film, White Material (2009), about white supremacy in a land of dark-skinned natives while a civil war looms.
In Bastards, Denis’ seductive mastery of form and style is evident as she constructs with intent, a loose narrative about Marco, who visits her sister after her husband committed suicide, leaving behind a daughter who would become the heart (or more accurately, the body) of the film’s mystery. We see her in a series of enigmatic nude shots in flashback, but as we work out the pieces, the explicit nudity becomes a precursor to something more shocking.
Claire Denis wrote the film specifically around Vincent Lindon. After telling him she wanted to work with him again, he told her that he would act in whatever she would write in.
Bastards echoes the noir pictures of old, particularly the low-key, grimy European arthouse thriller. It deals with a disturbing, if self-contained, underworld where power absolutely corrupts. Saying anything more would unnecessarily peel more layers, though it would not hurt to say that Denis’ film is provocative and doesn’t settle for anything less than challenging.
The music by Stuart Staples (of Tindersticks fame) is nothing short of hypnotic – atmospheric yet pulsating at times, excellently underscoring some of the film’s more disturbing scenes.
Bastards may not be a defining work from Denis, but her stylish if fragmented filmmaking style has evolved through a range of genres and subjects over the years. I am convinced that she is one of the most important female auteurs working in cinema today.
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Goodbye First Love (2011) | Eternality Tan December 12, 2019 at 10:54 pm
[…] Creton would go on to star in Olivier Assayas’ Something in the Air (2012) and Claire Denis’ Bastards (2013). […]
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Luxury and elegance: Director Elvira Gavrilova shot a commercial for the Hotel de Paris Odessa MGallery
Elvira Gavrilova, a producer, director, co-owner, and CEO in Europe of the international marketing company Amillidius, surprised everyone with her new work. This time, the luxurious Hotel de Paris Odessa MGallery By Sofitel was under the focus of Amillidius Production cameras.
It’s not a secret that many iconic filmmakers, such as Ridley Scott, David Lynch, or David Fincher, have inscribed their name not only in the history of world cinema but have left their mark in the advertising industry. Many top brands strive to attract only the best of the best to shoot their commercials. The successful director Elvira Gavrilova, who has created more than one commercial for world brands, shooting music videos and other works with the top segment, was invited to shoot a commercial for the luxury Hotel de Paris Odessa MGallery.
Every famous director has his muse. So, for Pedro Almodovar, it is Penelope Cruz, Uma Thurman for Quentin Tarantino, and Leonardo DiCaprio for Martin Scorsese. Apparently, Elvira Gavrilova’s ward model Anastasiia Bondarchuk is her muse. As the director said in one of her interviews, “It’s a great pleasure to work with Nastya. She feels the role at once and gives the right emotion.”
The commercial for Hotel de Paris, shot by Elvira Gavrilova starring Anastasiia Bondarchuk, is truly luxurious. The storyline of the video looks like a fairy tale. The hotel guest (Nastya Bondarchuk), during her entire stay at the Hotel de Paris Odessa MGallery, meets the same young man (Garik Gasparyan) in different roles at the entrance, at the reception, at the bar, in the restaurant. The female lead cannot understand who this mysterious stranger is and whether he is real at all. Or maybe he’s just a figment of her imagination? In parallel with the development of the storyline about two young people, the viewer’s attention is transferred to the luxurious interior details of the Hotel de Paris Odessa MGallery.
Elvira Gavrilova, as always, demonstrated an impeccable sense of style and high professionalism when shooting the commercial for the Hotel de Paris Odessa MGallery By Sofitel.
You could receive your $600 stimulus check as soon as tonight, Treasury says
The Most-Read ARTnews Stories of 2020: From Artist Anthony Hopkins to Pantone’s 2021 Colors and Beyond
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Ian Hogg (actor)
Ian Hogg (born 1 August 1937) is an English actor.
Ian Hogg
Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England, U.K.
2 Television, stage and film
Early lifeEdit
Hogg was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, the son of Ena Mary (Robinson) and Walter Alexander Hogg, a doctor.[1] He was educated at Durham School, Durham University and the Central School of Speech and Drama.[2] He then joined the Royal Shakespeare Company.[3] He has an older sister called Thelma Hogg (Hoggie).
Television, stage and filmEdit
He is best known for his lead role in the BBC1 television series Rockliffe's Babies and its follow-up Rockliffe's Folly, playing Detective Sergeant Alan Rockliffe.[4][5] However, he has played many television roles, appearing as Purishkevich in the film Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny (1996), as Mike Cherry in EastEnders (1999) and as Alois Hitler in Hitler: The Rise of Evil (2003).[6][7] Hogg played a chechaquo (newcomer) to the Yukon in To Build A Fire, the film of Jack London's short story, in 1969.[8] He played the role of Edmund in Peter Brook's 1971 film version of Shakespeare's King Lear, and his other film credits include Marat/Sade (1967), Tell Me Lies (1968), The Last Valley (1971), The Hireling (1973), Dead Cert (1974), Hennessy (1975), The Legacy (1978), Lady Jane (1986), Little Dorrit (1987) and The Pleasure Principle (1992).[6] He also appeared in the BBC's second dramatisation of Charles Dickens' Bleak House as Inspector Bucket (1985) and in the science fiction television series Doctor Who as the villain Josiah Samuel Smith in the 3-part serial Ghost Light (1989).[9][10] He has also been associated with Doctor Who by voicing the part of General Voshkar in The Sandman, a spin-off Doctor Who audio drama produced in 2002 by Big Finish Productions.[11] In 2002, he played the role of Ian Lane in the second episode of the first series of Foyle's War, entitled "The White Feather".[12] In the summer of 2008, he played in repertory in Scarborough, North Yorkshire at the Stephen Joseph Theatre under the artistic direction of Alan Ayckbourn.[13] In 2010, Hogg appeared as the sensitive protagonist Murray in the Student Academy Award nominated short, The Miserables.[14] He played Sam in the drama film Sink (2018).[15]
^ "Ian Hogg Biography (1937-)". www.filmreference.com.
^ Fettes, Christopher (June 13, 2002). "Yat Malmgren" – via www.theguardian.com.
^ "Search | RSC Performances | Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk.
^ "Rockliffe's Babies". February 13, 1987. p. 67 – via BBC Genome.
^ "Rockliffe's Folly (1988)". BFI.
^ a b "Ian Hogg". BFI.
^ "Meet the cast of The Miniaturist - 3". Radio Times.
^ "To Build a Fire (1969) - David Cobham | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
^ "Bleak House Episode 5 (1985)". BFI.
^ "BBC - Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide - Ghost Light - Details". www.bbc.co.uk.
^ "The Sandman | Doctor Who Reviews".
^ "White Feather (2002)". BFI.
^ "Theatre review: Life and Beth / Stephen Joseph, Scarborough". the Guardian. July 22, 2008.
^ "Film nominated for Hollywood student academy award | University of Westminster, London". www.westminster.ac.uk.
^ "Sink". Empire. October 11, 2018.
Ian Hogg on IMDb
Ian Hogg at the Internet Broadway Database
This article about an English actor is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ian_Hogg_(actor)&oldid=988893270"
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Official residence and office of the Governor of Puerto Rico
For the Club Atlético Lanús stadium, see Estadio Ciudad de Lanús – Néstor Díaz Pérez.
Palacio de Santa Catalina
Classical Revival, Other
63 Calle Fortaleza, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901
18°27′50″N 66°7′9″W / 18.46389°N 66.11917°W / 18.46389; -66.11917Coordinates: 18°27′50″N 66°7′9″W / 18.46389°N 66.11917°W / 18.46389; -66.11917
Official Govt. of Puerto Rico Site (in Spanish)
Designated
La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico
State Party
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
October 9, 1960[1]
U.S. National Historic Landmark
October 15, 1966[2]
La Fortaleza (The Fortress) is the official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. It was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the harbor of San Juan. The structure is also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina[3] (Santa Catalina's Palace). It is the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the New World. It was listed by UNESCO in 1983 as part of the World Heritage Site "La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site".
During the 1640 reconstruction, the chapel of Santa Catalina, which originally stood outside the walls, was integrated into the walls of the structure, resulting in the alternate name Santa Catalina's Castle.
1 The structure
The structure[edit]
Back of La Fortaleza as seen from the San Juan Harbor
La Fortaleza was the first defensive fortification built for the city of San Juan, and the first of a series of military structures built to protect the city which included the Fort San Felipe del Morro and the Fort San Cristóbal. The construction was authorized by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor as a defense against attacks from Island Caribs and the European powers of the time.
Initially, the structure consisted of four walls enclosing an interior patio with a circular tower known as the Homage Tower. From the top of the tower, the governor, following military tradition, would take oaths of fidelity at critical moments to the King and Queen of Spain. Later, a second tower named the Austral Tower was constructed.
At present, the complex consists of a few attached buildings with formal living quarters in the second floor, and private quarters in the third. It overlooks the high city walls that front the bay, and within the north perimeter of the house are sheltered gardens and a swimming pool.
Starting in 1529, Governor La Gama petitioned the emperor on the need to build defensive fortifications, "because the island's defenseless condition caused the people to emigrate." Construction started in 1533, with the use of stone, and concluded by 1540. Yet the fort had no guns, and Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés commented "if it had been constructed by blind men could not have been located in a worse location." Yet the structure has served as the governor's residence since 1544.[4][5]
La Fortaleza on a 1937 U.S. stamp
Since the 16th century, La Fortaleza has acted as the residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico, making it the oldest executive mansion in continuous use in the Americas.[6] On November 27, 1822, its traditional status as the executive mansion was made official. The fortress underwent a massive reconstruction in 1846 to change its military appearance into a palatial facade. La Fortaleza has been the residence of more than 170 governors of Puerto Rico and has hosted various dignitaries, including President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline Kennedy who stayed in La Fortaleza in 1961. King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Juliana of the Netherlands are among several heads of state who have stayed in La Fortaleza. In June 2011, U.S. President Barack Obama visited the mansion during a brief trip to the island marking the first visit of an in-office US President to the Fortaleza as well as the Island on official business since Kennedy, 50 years previously to that date. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain also visited La Fortaleza in 2016.
Shop near La Fortaleza, San Juan, Puerto Rico
La Fortaleza has been captured twice by invaders:
1598, George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland, attacked San Juan.
1625, General Boudewijn Hendrick (Balduino Enrico) of the Netherlands invaded the city and established himself at La Fortaleza. During the Dutch retreat, the fortress and the city were set ablaze.
In 1834, Colonel George Dawson Flinter described the fortress of Santa Catalina as having a chapel, stables and a cistern as well as an east wing with spacious apartments.[7]
According to tradition, in 1898, just before the United States invaded Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War, the last Spanish governor of the island, Ricardo De Ortega, struck a longcase clock in La Fortaleza with his sword, stopping the clock and marking the time at which Spain lost control over Puerto Rico.
On October 30, 1950, there was an attempt by a few nationalists to enter La Fortaleza in what is known as the San Juan Nationalist revolt, intending to attack then-governor Luis Muñoz Marín. The 5-minute shootout resulted in four Nationalists dead: Domingo Hiraldo Resto, Carlos Hiraldo Resto, Manuel Torres Medina and Raímundo Díaz Pacheco. Three of the guards of the building, among them Lorenzo Ramos, were seriously injured.
On October 9, 1960, La Fortaleza was designated a United States National Historic Landmark.[1][8]
In 1983, La Fortaleza, along with the San Juan National Historic Site, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.[9]
On May 26, 2004, a man armed with a knife entered the mansion's mailroom located just outside the palace gates and took a receptionist hostage. The 2½ hour stand-off ended after Governor Sila María Calderón entered the building and listened as the hostage-taker read a letter.
From July 13 to July 24, 2019, the surrounding streets around La Fortaleza were the scene of various protests as part of Telegramgate as a result of leaked messages involving Governor Ricardo Rosselló. As protesters continued to demand the governor to step down on July 24, 2019, Rosselló announced his resignation from office, effective August 2, 2019.
In literature[edit]
In 2011, Puerto Rican author Giannina Braschi wrote the dramatic novel United States of Banana, featuring climactic scenes of revolution at La Fortaleza.
Puerto Rico portal
Puerto Rico/Did you know-Puerto Rico? portal
List of United States National Historic Landmarks in United States commonwealths and territories, associated states, and foreign states
National Register of Historic Places listings in metropolitan San Juan, Puerto Rico
Government of Puerto Rico. Executive Mansion: Santa Catalina's Palace. San Juan, Puerto Rico. (in Spanish)
World Heritage Committee. Report of 7th Session, Florence 1983. Paris: UNESCO's Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. January 1984.
^ a b "La Fortaleza". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2007-08-09. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
^ Rivero Méndez, Ángel (2 September 2019). "Crónica de la guerra hispano-americana en Puerto Rico". Wikisource (in Spanish). p. 23. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
^ Van Middeldyk, R.A. (1903). Brumbaugh, Martin (ed.). The History of Puerto Rico: From the Spanish Discovery to the American Occupation. D. Appleton and Company. pp. 109-110. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
^ The Forts of Old San Juan. Washington, D.C.: Division of Publications, National Park Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior. 2018. pp. 24–27. ISBN 9780912627625.
^ "Collections". National Museum of American History. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
^ Flinter, George Dawson (23 October 2016). "An Account of the Present State of the Island of Puerto Rico". Internet Archive. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
^ McKithan, Cecil N. (August 1981). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: La Fortaleza". National Park Service. and Accompanying photos and diagrams, undated
^ "WH Committee: Report of 7th Session, Florence 1983". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to La Fortaleza.
Government of Puerto Rico - Executive Mansion: Santa Catalina's Palace (in Spanish)
UNESCO - World Heritage Center: La Fortaleza Historic Site Information
Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. PR-54, "La Fortaleza, Calle Fortaleza, San Juan, San Juan Municipio, PR"
United States governors' residences
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Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus
Infobox musical artist
Name = Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus
Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = classical_ensemble
Birth_name =
Alias = AGMC
Origin = flagicon|USA Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Instrument = 125 voices
Genre = Choral, Broadway, classical, jazz, popular
Occupation = Men's Chorus
Years_active = 1981-present
Associated_acts = Panache (small ensemble)
URL = [http://www.agmchorus.org www.agmchorus.org]
Current_members = Artistic Director
Kevin Robison
Travis Barton
Brenda J. Pruitt
Chris Bess
Principal Accompanist
Jeff Herndon
Assistant Conductor
David Artadi
Vocal Coach
T. N. Retif
The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus (AGMC) is a nonprofit performing arts organization based in Atlanta, Georgia. The AGMC's traditional concert season includes a Holiday Concert in early December, a Spring Concert in late March or early April, and a Pride Concert in late June.
The AGMC was founded in August 1981 by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, who served as its first Artistic Director. Auditions were held that month and the first rehearsal was held in September with a charter membership of 45 singers. By the time the newly formed AGMC gave its premier performance at First Metropolitan Community Church on North Highland Avenue on October 18, membership had increased to 48. More than 300 people attended. “We called that first show a ‘sneak preview,’” says McIntyre, “because we only had six rehearsals’ time to work up four songs.” Only six weeks later, the AGMC presented its first Holiday Concert, "Music of the Season", featuring ten decidedly Christmas songs, on November 29, 1981, at Grant Park United Methodist Church. Thus began the AGMC’s annual season of Holiday, Spring and Pride concerts that continues to this day. For over a quarter century, the AGMC has represented the gay and lesbian community as a voice for diversity and inclusiveness.
The AGMC was chartered in the State of Georgia as a domestic nonprofit organization on March 3, 1982, and was granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service in December 1982. The AGMC joined the Gay And Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses), an international organization of gay, lesbian and mixed choruses, on September 2, 1984. GALA has more than 185 member choruses with 10,000+ active members in 11 countries and hosts an international choral festival every four years (every three years in the 1980s). The AGMC has attended all but the first two, including Seattle, Washington, in 1989; Denver, Colorado, in 1992; Tampa, Florida, in 1996; San Jose, California, in 2000; Montreal, Québec, in 2004 and Miami, Florida, in 2008.
In 1984, the AGMC was the first gay organization to have a float in WSB-TV’s annual Independence Day Salute 2 America Parade, and was included again in 1985. In 1994, the AGMC commissioned its first major work, "Memento mori: an AIDS requiem" by James Adler, which was world-premiered in 1996. In 1997 and again in 1998, the AGMC presented concerts at the historic Fabulous Fox Theatre in Midtown Atlanta.
The AGMC has performed joint concerts with several other GALA choruses, including the New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus [http://www.nogmc.com/] in the late 1980s, One Voice (Charlotte, North Carolina) [http://www.onevoicechorus.com/] in 1993, the Gateway Men’s Chorus (St. Louis, Missouri) [http://www.gatewaymenschorus.org/] in 1994, le Choeur International Gai de Paris (the International Gay Men’s Chorus of Paris, France) [http://www.melomen.com/melomen/accueil/accueil/index.php] in 1996, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. [http://www.gmcw.org/] , in 1999, Turtle Creek Chorale (Dallas, Texas) [http://www.turtlecreek.org/] in 2003, and several performances over the years with the Atlanta Feminist Women’s Chorus (AFWC) [http://www.afwcchorus.org/] .
The AGMC has also performed joint concerts with several special guests, including the Derivative Duo (Seattle, Washington) in 1995, Dr. Maya Angelou in 1998, and the Atlanta Ballet in 1999. For many years, the AGMC was a regular performer in the annual Heartstrings fundraiser for AIDS [http://heartstrings.angiesarts.com/rainbow.html] , St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church’s annual Olde English Festival and, from 1996 to 1998, was also a featured performer at First Night Atlanta. The AGMC was the featured entertainment at the annual Southern Comfort Conference for the transgendered community for many years. In 2000, the AGMC presented a benefit concert for the Birmingham AIDS Network in Birmingham, Alabama. In 2001, the AGMC, AFWC and Atlanta Freedom Marching Band [http://www.atlantafreedombands.com/] hosted a benefit concert for the victims and survivors of the September 11 terrorist attacks on America. In 2002, the AGMC performed at the post-inaugural reception for City of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, the first time any GLBT organization had participated in such an event.
In 2001, a quartet from the AGMC performed the national anthem at an Atlanta Braves home game, and in 2002, the entire chorus returned to do the same. Mayor Shirley Franklin issued a proclamation declaring that day, June 5, 2002, as "Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus Day" in the City of Atlanta. The AGMC is the only openly gay performing arts organization to perform the national anthem at an Atlanta Braves game.
Mission, Diversity, Membership & Corporate Statements
* Mission Statement
The Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus exists to provide high-quality, professional performances as expressed through the time-honored tradition of male choral music in order to affirm the contributions and advance a positive image of the gay and lesbian communities within the community at large. The Chorus strives to provide a sense of inclusiveness, unity and pride in our audiences as well as in our membership. [http://www.agmchorus.org/about/]
* Diversity Statement
The Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus celebrates the human diversity found in our local and global communities. Our leadership and membership are committed to being cognizant of and sensitive to the diverse and overlapping communities of which we are composed and for whom we perform. We strive for our organization to be as sensitive to others as we would like others to be towards us. We will be receptive to hearing and responding to concerns related to diversity and cultural sensitivity in all Chorus activities.
* Membership Statement
The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus is a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors. Singing memberships are by audition and non-singing memberships are also available. All members are volunteers and pay dues to participate in Chorus activities. The AGMC is supported by member dues, ticket sales, donations, grants, in-kind services and other gifts.
* Corporate Statement
The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus is chartered in the State of Georgia as a domestic not-for-profit corporation and is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization under Paragraph 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, donations to the AGMC are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by federal law.
AGMC’s Artistic Directors
In its twenty-seven year history, the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus has performed under the baton of seven talented individuals holding the title of Artistic Director (or equivalent). [http://www.agmchorus.org/about/previous_directors/]
Jeffrey D. McIntyre
* Founding Musical Director, August 1981–June 1984
* Director, August–December 1990
* Artistic Director, August 1991–December 1994
* Interim Artistic Director, April 2006–March 2007
Jeffrey D. McIntyre, a native Atlantan, is the founder of the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus. In addition to directing the AGMC for a total of six seasons over the span of thirteen years, he has worked extensively with several Atlanta theatre companies, including such productions as "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", "Godspell" and the Atlanta premiere of "Sweeney Todd".
After studying music at the University of Georgia, Mr. McIntyre returned to Atlanta to serve as organist and choirmaster for several churches in the Atlanta area. He has sung with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus and the Choral Guild of Atlanta, and is currently serving as Minister of Music for the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Atlanta.
Neil Gregory
* Music Director, September 1984–February 1988
Neil Gregory (born Robert Neil Earwood), a native of Floyd County, attended Georgia State University, where he majored in Voice Performance and studied voice with Peter Harrower. In New York City, he performed as Pooh-Bah in an off-Broadway production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado", a role he also played in the PBS production of that show with the Southeastern Savoyards. He also played Judge Turpin in "Sweeney Todd", Captain Concoran in "H. M. S. Pinafore", Strephon in "Iolanthe", Louis in Holst's "The Wandering Scholar" and Simeon in DeBussy's "L'Enfant Prodigue". Mr. Gregory served as vocal coach for the New York City Gay Men's Chorus Carnegie Hall concert soloists.
Mr. Gregory was associated with Atlantis Productions, a national touring company, for whom he served as Music Director for shows including "An Irving Berlin Celebration: Say It with Music", "An Evening with Rodgers & Hammerstein" and "The Best of Broadway".
Mr. Gregory died of heart failure in May 1990 at the age of 40.
Richard D. Rechtin
* Artistic Director, March 1988–August 1990
Richard D. ("Rick") Rechtin of Dallas, Texas, graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music from Southern Methodist University. During his college years, Mr. Rechtin sang with the noted A Capella Choir of NTSU under Frank McKinley and the University Choir of SMU under the direction of Lloy Pfautsch, in addition to regular solo recitals and opera theater performances. He studied voice with Thomas Hayward, a former Metropolitan Opera tenor.
Mr. Rechtin sang professionally as section leader and soloist for Dallas area churches and with the Dallas Opera in Verdi’s "Aida". Other operatic and musical roles included Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof", Sir Lancelot in "Camelot", Silvano in Verdi’s "A Masked Ball", Monostatos in "The Magic Flute" and Gastone in "La Traviata".
Mr. Rechtin passed away in 1993.
David A. Puckett
* Artistic Director, April 1995–March 1999
David A. Puckett holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Master of Arts in Religion-Music from Asbury College and the Asbury Theological Seminary, respectively. Other graduate work included studies with Carl Orff prodigy Jos Wuytuk, Gil Lizzard at Florida State University and Robert Shaw at both the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and in Atlanta. Mr. Puckett is a published composer whose compositions include the commissioned choral and orchestral work "Te Deum", which was premiered in 1992. Performing to critical acclaim in many musical theatre productions across the country, Mr. Puckett has been in local productions at Onstage Atlanta, the Neighborhood Playhouse, Village Theatre of Roswell and the 14th Street Playhouse. Mr. Puckett also served as organist of Christ Covenant MCC in Decatur.
In March 1999, Mr. Puckett, who is nearly fluent in Chinese, accepted a job in China teaching music and English. Since then, he has opened an English language school with five campuses, published three English textbooks for Chinese students, directed and performed regularly on Chinese television and radio, including hosting a twenty-episode television series, and won a nationwide performing arts competition.
Gary W. Arnold
* Artistic Director, September 1999–June 2000
* Interim Artistic Director, April 1999–June 1999
* Principal Accompanist & Assistant Director, August 1993–August 1999
Gary W. Arnold holds a Bachelor of Music from Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee, and a Master of Church Music from Southern Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. An ordained minister, he has served as Minister of Music for churches in Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Georgia. He was a member of and recorded with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus for several seasons. Rev. Arnold served as the Assistant Musical Director and Accompanist of the Atlanta Lyric Theater for three seasons and is a former Minister of Fine Arts at Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Midtown, where he served at the keyboards, on the conductor’s podium, and administered the programs of the McDowell Fine Arts Center. Rev. Arnold is also Music Assistant at Cannon Chapel, Candler Theological Seminary at Emory University.
Leslie J. Blackwell
* Artistic Director, September 2000–March 2006
* Interim Artistic Director, January–April 1995 and June–July 2000
Leslie J. Blackwell is the director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Music and Music Education at Kennesaw State University, where she has taught since 1998. She earned her Associate in Music degree from Gordon College, her Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from West Georgia College, her Master of Music degree from Georgia State University and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky.
As a music educator, Dr. Blackwell has taught elementary and secondary music in the Griffin-Spalding County and Clayton County school systems and seven years at McIntosh High School in Peachtree City.
Dr. Blackwell previously served the AGMC as Interim Artistic Director for its 1995 Spring and GALA Festival 2000 concerts. Following six seasons as Artistic Director, the AGMC has presented more concerts under her baton than any other conductor.
* Artistic Director, August 2007–present
Kevin Robison joined the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus in the 2007-2008 concert season as its seventh Artistic Director. Formerly Assistant Conductor of the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles and Artistic Director of South Coast Chorale in Long Beach, California, Mr. Robison is the AGMC's first full-time artistic director. The Southern California resident previously served as Resident Director of Music for the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and on the faculties of Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal-Poly Pomona, and Cal-State Fullerton. Mr. Robison has been actively involved with ensembles associated with GALA Choruses (the international association of gay and lesbian choruses) for six years, and has become one of its most sought-after composers and arrangers. He has received commissions from some of the leading men's choruses in the nation, including the New York City Gay Men's Chorus, Seattle Men's Chorus, Turtle Creek Chorale of Dallas, San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus. Mr. Robison's arrangements have been sung on stage by a number of prominent performers, including Malcolm Gets, Jenifer Lewis, Lily Tomlin, Joanna Gleason, Susan Egan and others. He has also collaborated on productions with Del Shores of "Sordid Lives" fame, Kate Clinton and Miss Coco Peru. Much of his music for male voices has been performed and/or recorded by the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, including his tribute to the music of Kander and Ebb, "They Had it Coming", which received an OutMusic Award nomination for best new CD in 2005, and will receive its Atlanta premiere as part of the AGMC's 2007-2008 season. With roots in Alabama and Virginia, Robison is enjoying his return to the South.
1st Concert Season: 1981–1982
* The AGMC’s very first public performance, called simply "Sneak Preview", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on October 18, 1981, at (First) Metropolitan Community Church in Virginia Highland.
* The 1981 Holiday Concert, "Music of the Season", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on November 29, 1981, at Grant Park United Methodist Church.
* The 1982 Spring Concert, "Southern Knights", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on May 15, 1982, at the Peachtree Playhouse.
2nd Concert Season: 1982–1983
* The 1982 Holiday Concert, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on December 4, 1982, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church.
* The 1983 Pride Concert, "United in Song!", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on June 18, 1983, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
3rd Concert Season: 1983–1984
* The 1983 Holiday Concert, "Fanfare for Christmas", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on December 10, 1983, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
* The 1984 Pride Concert, "A Grand Night for Singing", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre and a joint performance with the Atlanta Feminist Women’s Chorus and the Atlanta Lambda Chorale, was presented on June 23 & 30, 1984, at the Dancers Collective.
* The AGMC, under the direction of Jeffrey D. McIntyre, performed in WSB-TV’s “Salute to America” parade in Atlanta on July 4, 1984, and was the first openly gay organization to do so.
4th Concert Season: 1984–1985
* The 1984 Holiday Concert, "Let Us Rejoice Together", directed by Neil Gregory, was presented on December 15, 1984, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
* The 1985 Spring Concert, "Spring", directed by Neil Gregory, was presented on April 12 & 14, 1985, at the Walter C. Hill Auditorium of the High Museum of Art.
* The 1985 Pride Concert, "Way Down South of Broadway", directed by Neil Gregory, was presented on June 29, 1985, at the Academy Theater.
* The AGMC, under the direction of Neil Gregory, performed in WSB-TV’s “Salute to America” parade in Atlanta on July 4, 1985.
* The 1985 Holiday Concert, "Celebrating the Season", directed by Neil Gregory, was presented on December 14, 1985, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
* The 1986 Spring Concert, "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea", directed by Neil Gregory, was presented on April 19, 1986, at the Richard H. Rich Theatre of the Woodruff Arts Center.
* The 1986 Pride Concert, "The Best of AGMC", directed by Neil Gregory, was presented on July 26, 1986, at the Academy Theater.
* The 1986 Holiday Concert, "Throw Up the Sash", directed by Neil Gregory, was presented on December 13, 1986, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
* The 1987 Spring Concert, "Red, White and Blues", directed by Neil Gregory, was presented on April 25, 1987, at the Walter C. Hill Auditorium of the High Museum of Art.
* The 1987 Pride Concert, "...When You’re Having Fun", directed by Neil Gregory, was presented on July 25, 1987, at the Walter C. Hill Auditorium of the High Museum of Art.
* The 1987 Holiday Concert, "The Stockings Were Hung", directed by Neil Gregory, was presented on December 12, 1987, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
* The AGMC, the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., presented "Brothers in Harmony", a joint performance under the direction Gary E. Keating, on February 20, 1988, at Victory Park Auditorium in North Miami Beach, Florida.
* The 1988 Pride Concert, "That’s Entertainment", directed by Richard D. Rechtin, was presented on July 30, 1988, at the Samuel Inman Middle School Auditorium.
* The 1988 Holiday Concert, "A Special Holiday Concert", directed by Richard D. Rechtin, was presented on December 7, 1988, at Onstage Atlanta.
* The 1989 Spring Concert, "Heart Theme", directed by Richard D. Rechtin, was presented on February 18, 1989, at the Walter C. Hill Auditorium of the High Museum of Art.
* The 1989 Pride Concert, "Look to Your Dream", directed by Richard D. Rechtin, was presented on June 10, 1989, at the Walter C. Hill Auditorium of the High Museum of Art.
* The AGMC, under the direction of Richard D. Rechtin, performed at GALA Festival III at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, in July 1989.
* The 1989 Holiday Concert, "A Gift of Song", directed by Richard D. Rechtin, was presented on December 2, 1989, at the June Cofer Auditorium at Southside High School.
* The AGMC, under the direction of Richard D. Rechtin, presented "The Gayest Event of the Season" on December 16, 1989, at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
* The 1990 Pride Concert, "In Harmony and Unity", directed by Richard D. Rechtin and a joint performance with the Atlanta Feminist Women’s Chorus, was presented on June 3, 1990, at the June Cofer Auditorium at Southside High School.
10th Concert Season: 1990–1991
* The 1990 Holiday Concert, "Carols, Toys & Sugarplum Fairies!", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on December 8, 1990, at the June Cofer Auditorium at Southside High School.
* The 1991 Spring Concert, "Spring Break", directed by Richard Ezell, was presented on April 6, 1991, at the June Cofer Auditorium at Southside High School.
* The 1991 Holiday Concert, "Men on Christmas", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on December 15, 1991, at the 14th Street Playhouse.
* The 1992 Spring Concert, "WGAY Radio", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on March 29, 1992, at the 14th Street Playhouse.
* The 1992 Pride Concert, "Tenth Anniversary Pride Concert", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on June 14, 1992, at the Alliance Theatre of the Woodruff Arts Center.
* The AGMC, under the direction of Jeffrey D. McIntyre, performed at GALA Festival IV in Denver, Colorado, in the summer of 1992.
* The 1992 Holiday Concert, "Home for the Holiday?", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on December 19, 1992, at Henry Grady High School.
* The 1993 Spring Concert, "Homecoming Hop", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on March 26, 1993, at Henry Grady High School.
* The 1993 Pride Concert, "Made in the USA: Homegrown Music", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre and a joint performance with One Voice from Charlotte, North Carolina, was presented on June 12, 1993, at Henry Grady High School.
* The 1993 Holiday Concert, "Carols of Splendor", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on December 17 & 18, 1993, at the William R. Cannon Chapel at Emory University.
* The 1994 Spring Concert, "An Evening with... Lenny, George, Steve & Fats", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on March 25, 1994, at Henry Grady High School.
* The 1994 Pride Concert, "When We No Longer Touch", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre and a joint performance with the Gateway Men’s Chorus of St. Louis, Missouri, was presented on June 18, 1994, at the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech.
* The 1994 Holiday Concert, "Christmas with Spirit", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on December 16 & 17, 1994, at the William R. Cannon Chapel at Emory University.
* The 1995 Spring Concert, "Songs from the Heart", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on April 8, 1995, at the Glenn Memorial Auditorium at Emory University.
* The 1995 Pride Concert, "WGAY Radio: Tune In Again!", directed by David A. Puckett, was presented on June 24, 1995, at the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech.
* The 1995 Holiday Concert, "Masters in This Hall", directed by David A. Puckett, was presented on December 8 & 9, 1995, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
* The 1996 Spring Concert, "Memento mori: an AIDS requiem", featuring the world premiere of the AGMC’s first major commissioned work by James Adler, directed by David A. Puckett, was presented on April 13 & 14, 1996, at Glenn Memorial Auditorium at Emory University.
* The 1996 Pride Concert, "The Atlanta Flames", directed by David A. Puckett and a joint performance with Le Choeur International Gai de Paris, France, was presented on June 29, 1996, at the Atlanta Civic Center.
* The AGMC, under the direction of David A. Puckett, performed at GALA Festival V in Tampa, Florida, in July 1996.
* The 1996 Holiday Concert, "Fa La La La La...", directed by David A. Puckett, was presented on December 13 & 14, 1996, at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip.
* The 1997 Spring Concert, "United We Stand", directed by David A. Puckett and a joint performance with the Atlanta Feminist Women’s Chorus, was presented on April 11 & 12, 1997, at the Rialto Center for the Performing Arts.
* The AGMC, under the direction of David A. Puckett, recorded three songs in studio for Gerald L. Stacy’s CD, "In Remembrance of Love", in May 1997. The CD was released later that year.
* The 1997 Pride Concert, "Are We in Kansas Yet?", directed by David A. Puckett, was presented on June 28, 1997, at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.
* The 1997 Holiday Concert, "Carols, Revels and Holiday Cheer", directed by David A. Puckett, was presented on December 11, 12 & 13, 1997, at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip. "Carols, Revels and Holiday Cheer" was subsequently released as the AGMC’s first commercially available CD.
* The 1998 Spring Concert, "Songs of Freedom and Celebration with Maya Angelou", directed by David A. Puckett, was presented on March 3 & 4, 1998, at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.
* The 1998 Pride Concert, "Decades of Divas", directed by David A. Puckett, was presented on June 27, 1998, at the Atlanta Civic Center.
* The 1998 Holiday Concert, "Simply... Peace", directed by David A. Puckett, was presented on December 17, 18 & 19, 1998, at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip.
* The 1999 Spring Concert, "The Gay ’90s", directed by David A. Puckett, was presented on March 19 & 20, 1999, at the Rialto Center for the Performing Arts.
* The 1999 Pride Concert, "S’wellegant Elegance", directed by Gary W. Arnold and a joint performance with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., was presented on June 19, 1999, at the Atlanta Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center.
* The 1999 Holiday Concert, "A Family of Lights", directed by Gary W. Arnold, was presented on December 10 & 11, 1999, at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip.
* The 2000 Spring Concert, "Cameras, Postcards & Places to Be", directed by Gary W. Arnold, was presented on March 25, 2000, at the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech.
* The 2000 Pride Concert, "Celluloid, Footlights & Videotape", directed by Gary W. Arnold, was presented on June 17, 2000, at the Rialto Center for the Performing Arts.
* The AGMC, under the direction of Leslie J. Blackwell, performed at GALA Festival 2000 in San Jose, California, in July 2000.
* The 2000 Holiday Concert, "Adeste Fideles", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on December 8 & 9, 2000, at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip.
* The 2001 Spring Concert, "Passions", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on March 31, 2001, at Saint Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church. "Passions" was subsequently released as the AGMC’s second commercially available CD.
* The 2001 Pride Concert, "Harmonic Convergence", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell and a joint performance with the Atlanta Feminist Women’s Chorus, was presented on June 23, 2001, at the Atlanta Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center.
* A quartet representing the AGMC, under the direction of Leslie J. Blackwell, performed the national anthem before an Atlanta Braves home game at Turner Field on August 8, 2001.
21st Concert Season: 2001–2002
* The 2001 Holiday Concert, "An Evening at St. Philip’s", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on December 14 & 15, 2001, at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip.
* The AGMC, under the direction of Leslie J. Blackwell, performed at the post-inaugural reception for newly elected Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin at the Atlanta Civic Center on January 7, 2002.
* The 2002 Spring Concert, "Of Men & Music", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on April 6, 2002, at Saint Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church.
* The AGMC, under the direction of Leslie J. Blackwell, performed the national anthem before a home game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets at Turner Field on June 5, 2002.
* The 2002 Pride Concert, "WGAY Radio Theatre", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on June 22, 2002, at Earthlink Live.
22nd Concert Season: 2002–2003
* The 2002 Holiday Concert, "Spirit of Lights", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on December 12, 13 & 14, 2002, at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip.
* The AGMC, under the direction of Leslie J. Blackwell, presented "Brothers in Song", a joint performance with Turtle Creek Chorale, on January 25, 2003, at the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech.
* The 2003 Spring Concert, "Livin’ La Dulce Vita", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on April 5, 2003, at the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech.
* The 2003 Pride Concert, "Babes in Boyland", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on June 20 & 21, 2003, at the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech.
23rd Concert Season: 2003–2004
* The 2003 Holiday Concert, "A Real Family Holiday", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on December 12 & 13, 2003, at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip. "A Real Family Holiday" was subsequently released as the AGMC’s third commercially available CD.
* The 2004 Spring Concert, "Spirited Away", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on April 3, 2004, at the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech.
* The 2004 Pride Concert, "Reel Men", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on June 18 & 19, 2004, at the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech.
* The AGMC, under the direction of Leslie J. Blackwell, performed at the 2004 GALA Festival in Montreal, Québec, in July 2004.
* The 2004 Holiday Concert, "Home for the Holidays", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on December 10 & 11, 2004, at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip.
* The 2005 Spring Concert, "One World", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on April 2, 2005, at the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech.
* The 2005 Pride Concert, "Babes in Boyland 2", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on June 17 & 18, 2005, at the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech.
* The 2005 Holiday Concert, "Candlelight at the Cathedral", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on December 9 & 10, 2005, at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip. "Candlelight at the Cathedral" was subsequently released as the AGMC’s fourth commercially available CD.
* The 2006 Spring Concert, "The Best of Times", directed by Leslie J. Blackwell, was presented on April 1, 2006, at the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech.
* The 2006 Pride Concert, "Beyond the Yellow Brick Road", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on June 16 & 17, 2006, at the Robert Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech.
* The 2006 Holiday Concert, "Wrapped in Light", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on December 8 & 9, 2006, at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip.
* The 2007 Spring Concert, "Liberty: Songs of Protest and Awakening", directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, was presented on March 23 & 24, 2007, at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church.
* The 2007 Pride Concert, "Let's Misbehave!", directed by Robert Glor, was presented on June 16, 2007, at Presser Hall at Agnes Scott College.
* The 2007 Holiday Concert, "Bells, Brass and Beyond", directed by Kevin Robison, was presented on December 7 & 8, 2007, at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip.
* The 2008 Spring Concert, "Divas & Dilemmas: Opera OUR Way", directed by Kevin Robison, was presented on March 29, 2008, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
* The 2008 Summer Concert, "They Had It Coming: The Music of Kander & Ebb", directed by Kevin Robison, was presented June 27 & 28, 2008, at the Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff Arts Center.
* Eighty members of the AGMC, under the direction of Kevin Robison, performed in the Knight Concert Hall in Miami, Florida, on July 15, 2008, during the weeklong GALA Choruses Festival 8.
* The 2008 Holiday Concert, "Holiday Inn--and Out!", to be directed by Kevin Robison, will be presented on December 7, 2008, at the Bailey Performance Center at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia, and on December 12 & 13, 2008, at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip.
* The 2009 Spring Concert, "Shaken, Not Heard: Stories of Gay Men, Faith and Reconciliation", to be directed by Kevin Robison, will be presented in April 2009 at a performance venue to be announced.
* The 2009 Summer Concert, "Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn", to be directed by Kevin Robison, will be presented in July 2009 at a performance venue to be announced.
History of the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus
The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus was formed in March 1981 by Jeffrey D. McIntyre, who was inspired by a recording of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and became the organization’s first Artistic Director. After a spring and summer of planning, auditions were held in August 1981, followed by their first concert in October with 48 singing members. That first concert, titled simply "Sneak Preview", opened with the number “Stouthearted Men” at the Metropolitan Community Church on North Highland Avenue.
In its October 22, 1981, issue, the local gay newspaper "Gazette" reported, “The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus is yet another example of the growing significance of the gay community in the Southeast, and is one of the most positive signs of a healthy and vital spirit amongst us. The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus promises to be one of the most exciting and important gay organizations ever to form in the city (their value as public relations and in helping to alter stereotypes of gay males is not to be minimized).” ["Gazette" Volume 2, Number 43, October 22-28, 1981.]
The reporter, Mike Jameson, had this to say about the upcoming Holiday Concert: “I don’t care if you have to postpone a date with the hottest number in the city or if you planned to wash your hair that evening, stop whatever it is you normally do and go see and hear this remarkable group! You want to know what ‘gay pride’ is all about? Let the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus tell you all about it.”
None of the men who sang at that first concert are still members of the Chorus. The AGMC’s most senior member, Dennis Nance, joined the following season for the 1982 Holiday Concert. In addition to Nance, current members of the AGMC who joined the Chorus during its first five seasons (in order of joining) include Ron Tuck, Al Whittington, Jerry Garrison, Neil Keener and Mikel Wilson. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 19, January 11, 2006]
Following the success of the AGMC’s debut concert in October 1981, there was great anticipation for their first Holiday Concert, just six weeks later. "Music of the Season" was performed on November 29 at Grant Park United Methodist Church on Boulevard Avenue. Under the direction of Jeffrey McIntyre and accompanied by Rob Cunningham, the Chorus provided a program of ten selections of mostly traditional carols.
To promote this concert and the one that would follow on December 20, the Chorus held a number of public performances. Previews at gay bars included a performance at P’s, the leather/Levi bar on Ponce de Leon Avenue. The Chorus performed at shopping centers as well, most notably Lenox Square. “The eager audience... filled the entire broad hall before the stage nearly as far as the eye could see, effectively cutting off passageways to those intent on getting to Rich’s or the other stores lining the hallway. It was nearly a mob scene of new fans for the Chorus,” reported Mike Jameson of "Gazette", covering the Lenox Square performance.
The gay community came out in force to support the Chorus and the organization was well-received by shoppers. "Gazette" quoted a Lenox Square security guard as saying the performance was the biggest crowd to gather at the mall for a staged eventl, ever. “We estimate there were well over 400—probably 500—Lenox Square customers being entertained here today,” said Lt. C. L. Johnson, the security guard.
Rehearsals for the Holiday Concerts were held at the First Metropolitan Community Church (FMCC) on North Highland Avenue and Trinity United Methodist Church in downtown Atlanta. These early concerts and rehearsals began a longstanding association between the FMCC and the Chorus which continues today. The AGMC offices and rehearsal space have been located at FMCC’s Tullie Road location since 2000. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 20, January 18, 2006]
The AGMC membership grew to 64 members by the time rehearsals resumed in January 1982, following the successful Holiday Concerts. Artistic Director Jeffrey McIntyre returned with a new principal accompanist, Henry Batten. The first AGMC logo was created from the AGMC letters in a simple art deco style and made its first appearance in the program for the first Spring Concert, "Southern Knights", in May 1982.
The momentum going into the spring cycle was strong, but the Chorus experienced an early setback when the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church learned the Holiday Concert was performed at Grant Park UMC and rehearsals were being held at Trinity UMC. The Conference threatened to withhold funding from the local churches if any further support was provided to the AGMC. The AGMC held no activities at United Methodist churches until St. Mark UMC in Midtown welcomed the Chorus for rehearsals in the 1990s.
Despite this early setback, the members’ commitment to the Chorus remained steady, rehearsals continued at FMCC and benefit concerts were held throughout the city to support the fledgling organization. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 21, January 25, 2006]
As the Chorus prepared for its first Spring Concert in May 1982, it continued a series of benefit concerts to raise funds for the new organization. Also that spring, a dialogue about the Chorus and its mission emerged in the pages of the local gay newspaper, "Gazette". Rick Maher, a reporter, wrote that he was frustrated by the traditional music being performed at these benefit concerts. “I became sick listening to traditional music like ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic.’ I was left limp by the musical selection.” “Be daring!” he challenged.
Maher also suggested the AGMC “forget the straight audience” and focus exclusively on gay expressions and gay liberation. Two weeks later, "Gazette" printed a response to Maher’s piece with the headline, “Defending the Chorus.”
“I believe the AGMC as well as member of gay men’s choruses in other cites demonstrate plenty of ‘daring’ by simply taking the stage as a self-proclaimed group of gay men. Their pride is eloquent and understated. It comes from their voices and their hearts. They are pioneers, doing what few gay brothers and sisters could do: rejecting anonymity and spreading gay pride. Their common goal is to provide musical entertainment and by their presence they made a bold political statement,” the reader wrote. “These men volunteer their time and their energy. Their only reward is the reaction from the community and their audiences. When the response is negative, even if it is infrequent, it hurts even the toughest of us. How much more wonderful it would be to report on the magical bond that forms between the AGMC and their audiences, a bond that defies all limits of space, time, and sexual orientation,” the writer continued.
"Southern Nights", the premiere Spring Concert, was performed May 15, 1982, at the Peachtree Playhouse, now the home of nightclub Eleven50. The concert included selections such as “Brothers, Sing On!,” “The Last Words of David,” “Simple Gifts,” He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” “One Voice” and “Vive L’Amour.” A note from Director Jeffrey McIntyre in the concert program stated simply, “We are Still Here.” [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 22, February 1, 2006]
In the fall of 1982, the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus entered its second season with rehearsals at Trinity United Methodist Church until permanent rehearsal space could be secured. Dennis Nance, currently the AGMC’s most senior singing member, joined and performed with the Chorus for the first time that December for the Holiday Concert.
Fifty-six members sang at the 1982 Holiday Concert, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year", at All Saints Episcopal Church under the direction of Artistic Director Jeffrey McIntyre. All Saints’ policy prohibited charging admission, but donations were accepted. Despite the success of this Holiday Concert, the AGMC has not returned to All Saints due to the need to charge admission. The Chorus has rehearsed there since that time on occasion, however.
Photos from that performance show the Chorus dressed in gray slacks, white shirts, navy vests and ties. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 23, February 8, 2006]
The Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus’ membership climbed to eighty after auditions in January 1983. Continued interest in choral music by gay men in Atlanta, along with acceptance and support of the community, encouraged the organization to expand its performance scope. Performances were held at the Atlanta Arts Festival, the Southeastern Conference of Lesbians and Gays, an AIDS awareness march and rally and the Dixie Bowling Tournament. The AGMC held a gala “Confederate Cotillion” benefit at the Atlanta Women’s Club instead of a traditional Spring Concert.
Rehearsals for the 1983 Pride Concert were held at The Moreland School on Euclid Avenue. The concert, "United in Song", was performed June 18 at St. Luke Episcopal Church on Peachtree Street with twelve instruments. The concert was directed by Jeffrey McIntyre and accompanied by Randal Gloves. AGMC Board of Directors President Ed Acre spoke to the audience.
A photograph of the AGMC entry in Atlanta’s 1983 Pride Parade show their members in blue jeans and burgundy t-shirts with the AGMC logo and holding white balloons. Two members led the group with a matching banner with the AGMC logo. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 24, February 15, 2006]
The 1983 Holiday Concert was performed at St. Luke Episcopal Church with Jeffrey McIntyre directing. A video of this concert includes a crowd-pleasing encore of “I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus.” Two longtime members of the AGMC took the stage at that concert: Rick Dent and Lee Hamel. Two other longtime AGMC members, Ron Tuck and Al Whittington, joined the Chorus in March 1984. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 25, February 22, 2006]
Most Atlantans are familiar with the Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points. In 1984, it was known as the Dancers Collective Theatre, and was the location for the AGMC’s Pride Concert, "A Grand Night for Singing." The Atlanta Feminist Women’s Chorus [http://www.afwcchorus.org/] (AFWC) and the Atlanta Lambda Chorale (ALC) joined the AGMC for this concert in June 1984. In the concert program, Ron Tuck was given credit for the theme and Randy Thomas for graphic design. The AGMC had 50 members, with 38 singing in the Pride concert.
The AFWC was founded in 1981 with six members and had grown to 30 members by the time of this concert. The ALC was a mixed chorus of women and men performing under the banner “United in Harmony.” The AFWC celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2007; the ALC no longer exists. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 26, March 1, 2006]
Wearing the “stars and stripes,” the AGMC became the first openly gay organization to participate in the nation’s largest Independence Day parade. As an entry in the 28th annual WSB-TV Salute 2 America Parade, the Chorus rolled down Peachtree Street on a float behind the U.S. Marine Corps. The float, 80% financed by supporting individuals and businesses, displayed the AGMC logo in burgundy and white. This historical first resulted from a meeting between WSB executives and local gay leaders regarding equality in the workplace. WSB executives also agreed to add sexual orientation to its written nondiscrimination policies. "Pulse", a gay magazine in Atlanta, featured the Chorus on the cover of its July 5, 1984, issue and said, "The Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus proved once again why they were invited to be a participant in WSB's Salute 2 America Parade on July 4th. On Saturday, June 23rd, they were billed as "A Grand Night for Singing" at Little Five Points Theatre and indeed it turned out to be just that. This talented group of singers continues to delight and entertain crowds wherever they appear. Under AGMC director, Jeff McIntyre, the chorus has rapidly grown into a very professional group which continues to receive high plaudits and respect from the entire community." ["On the Cover," "Pulse" Volume 1, Number 3, July 5, 1984.] Of the AGMC's presence in the parade, "The Atlanta Constitution" noted, "The Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus followed a float portraying George Washington leading his troops across the Potomac. The chorus prompted a few isolated murmurs of disapproval, which the singers greeted with a hearty rendition of 'My Country Tis of Thee.' [John Lancaster, "Atlanta's Fourth is fabulous," "The Atlanta Constitution", Thursday, July 5, 1984.] [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 27, March 8, 2006]
At the end of the 1983-1984 season, Jeffrey McIntyre stepped down from the position of AGMC Artistic Director to pursue other musical endeavors, such as singing in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, under the direction of Robert Shaw.
AGMC General Manager Lee Hamel and accompanist Randell Glover joined the Chorus in welcoming Neil Gregory as Artistic Director for the 1984-1985 season. Rehearsals began that fall for the Holiday Concert, "Let Us Rejoice Together", with 86 members on the roster. Longtime Chorus member Jerry Garrison made his AGMC debut that season and met Al Whittington, which sparked what would become a 20+ year partnership that continues to this day. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 28, March 15, 2006]
The High Museum of Art is the backdrop for the Chorus photograph on the cover of the April 12 and 14, 1985, program titled "Spring". It was at this concert that the AGMC gave its first matinee performance on a Sunday afternoon in the museum’s Walter Hill Auditorium. Jerry Garrison joined Randall Glover as accompanist under the direction of new Artistic Director Neil Gregory. Mezzo-Soprano Martha Scott, who achieved acclaim for her portrayal of the title role in Menotti’s “The Medium” with the Atlanta Civic Opera in 1984, joined the AGMC as a special guest artist.
With a roster of members numbering more than 80, the official photograph of 25 singing members shows evidence of the impact of change in artistic leadership. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 29, March 22, 2006]
Today, the Campanile Building stands at the corner of 14th and Peachtree Streets in Midtown. Before the Campanile, The Academy Theatre was located at this site and served as a venue for several AGMC concerts. The AGMC’s production of "Way Down South of Broadway" was performed at The Academy Theatre on June 29, 1985, for the Pride Concert.
In a concert program note, Artistic Director Neil Gregory states, “You see before you tonight a family of men who are bonded by their commitment to strive for a common goal, that being choral excellence. Their long rehearsal hours, their frustrations, their sacrifices, their sweat, their energy expended are all given voluntarily in order that we might experience together their elation at having reached yet another plateau toward absolute excellence in music.“ [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 30, March 29, 2006]
A “winter” concert in December 1985, "Celebrating the Season", began the AGMC’s yearlong celebration of its fifth season, returning for the third year to perform at St. Luke Episcopal Church. With a roster of 27 singing members, the concert included works of Mendelssohn, Thompson, Handel, Purcell and Menotti, and featured a Hebrew folk song. Pat Richardson was president of the AGMC Board of Directors and Neil Gregory was Artistic Director. Longtime AGMC members Neil Keener, Mikel Wilson, Walter Kennedy and R. “Bob” Garner Salo all first sang with the Chorus at this concert.
The AGMC was invited to return to the stage of Rich’s at Lenox Square on December 20, 1985, six days after the concert. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 31, April 5, 2006]
The Richard Rich Auditorium at the Memorial Arts Center, now the Woodruff Arts Center, hosted the AGMC’s Spring Concert, "Between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea." With only 22 members listed in the program, the Chorus sang selections of “sea-faring men”—songs of the ocean, captains, sailors, whaling, etc. This concert was the first to feature the graphic design of longtime member Bob Salo.
Returning to the Academy Theatre for the 1986 Pride Concert, the AGMC had just 18 members on stage for "The Best of AGMC". [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 32, April 12, 2006]
With only 16 singing members, Artistic Director Neil Gregory led rehearsals for the 1986-1987 season in a new rehearsal space, Morningside Presbyterian Church. The church became home for the AGMC for many years.
The Holiday Concert that season, "Throw Up the Sash!", was performed at St. Luke Episcopal Church on December 13. This program included the following note from Gregory:
“This concert tonight is the result of 19 weeks of strenuous and diligent rehearsal by the Chorus. Comprised of 16 singers, each with his own reason and determination for being a member. This particular assemblage of singers is unique in that each of them has contributed much more than his share of effort, concentration, diligence and commitment. They have worked unceasingly in order to present this concert so that the Community will be proud of its brothers who sing. These ‘hand-picked’ singers who appear before you tonight share a common bond which is unattainable in any other endeavor.”
This was the lowest membership in the AGMC’s history. The dedicated members who kept the organization alive at this time were Bob Burk, Phillip Coulson, Sam Davis, Jerry Garrison, Neil Keener, Tim Mutti, Shawn O’Harra, Bob Phillips, Van Pinson, Michael Pratt, Kevin Quick, Rick Radzisze, Errol Statum, Kirk Tellier, Ron Tuck, Al Whittington, Mikel Wilson and accompanist Claud Shirley. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 34, April 19, 2006]
The 1986 Holiday Concert premiered Claud Shirley as the AGMC’s new accompanist. The concert program for "Red, White and Blues," the Spring Concert that season, noted, “Mr. Shirley is a singer, a native Atlantan born of native Atlantans, and a lifetime resident. His talents in various capacities have been witnessed on many occasions. Mr. Shirley is a teacher of the choir monks at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers, GA, and principal accompanist for the AGMC.” The concert was held again at the Walter Hill Auditorium of the High Museum of Art. Neil Gregory, Artistic Director, led 21 voices performing American music of many genres by Copeland, Dorsey, Porter and Perkins.
The season ended with a concert of love, "When You’re Having Fun", on July 25, 1987, also at Walter Hill Auditorium. The program featured many kinds of love: the lovesick, first love, lovesickness, only love, puppy love, the other love, a mother’s love and a lover’s love. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 35, April 26, 2006]
The double entendre in the title of the 1987 Winter Concert, "The Stockings Were Hung", may have led AGMC patrons to expect a gay-themed concert; in fact, the program for the December 12 performance was composed of many classical numbers, with nothing whimsical at all. The concert was performed by 20 members at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Artistic Director Neil Gregory wrote in the concert program, “...while the AGMC represents the gay community with pride and dignity, the individual members of the Chorus also represent themselves in the same manner. We are not forced to adopt stereotypes in as much as music has no sex, no biases, no limitations. Music allows us to express what we are—souls.”
Not only was the organization faced with disappointing membership numbers at this time, but it also endured the loss of many of its members to AIDS. The AGMC suffered through the deaths of ten of its members leading up to the 1987 Winter Concert alone. Of that period in the AGMC's history, longtime member Ron Tuck recently said, “Every time you turned around, the Chorus was attending or singing for another funeral.“ [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 36, May 3, 2006]
January of 1988 found the AGMC stepping out in a big way. A joint concert with the Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida (now the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men's Chorus [http://www.fortlauderdalegaymenschorus.org/] ) and the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C. [http://www.gmcw.org/] , was planned for February in Miami as a benefit for people living with AIDS. Before the concert, in early February, Artistic Director Neil Gregory resigned. But the show went on, with 18 AGMC members performing under the direction of the Gay Men's Chorus of South Florida's Artistic Director Gary Keating on February 18, 1988. The combined choruses performed three numbers together: "Family" from "Dreamgirls", "Sing a Song with Me," and "The Testament of Freedom" with lyrics adapted from the writings of Thomas Jefferson and music by Randall Thomas.
In the AGMC newsletter "Frills & Thrills", longtime member Neil Keener reported the following in a story titled, “Wow! What a performance!”: “AGMC’s long-awaited winter getaway to the sunny region of Florida finally arrived. A myriad of sunburned faces stepped onto the boards of the North Miami Beach City Hall stage and musically captured hearts. Without the ‘Goliath’ efforts of Gary Keating, the perseverance of our own Jerry Garrison, Jim Peck and Bob Phillips, and the dedicated professionalism of each and every member of the AGMC, this incredible performance could NEVER have been attained. Kudos to all of you!“ [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 37, May 10, 2006]
Richard D. (Rick) Rechtin was hired in March as the AGMC's new Artistic Director. Longtime members Jerry Garrison became principal accompanist and Bill Paden served as his assistant. Four months later, the AGMC's 1988 Pride Concert, "That’s Entertainment", was presented on July 30, 1988, at the Samuel Inman Middle School Auditorium.
Very few records have survived from the AGMC's eighth concert season. The 1988 Winter Concert was called, simply, "A Special Holiday Concert", and the 1989 Spring Concert was titled "Heart Theme", both of which were directed by Richard D. Rechtin. Longtime members recall that a concert or benefit was presented at First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta sometime that season, but there was apparently no printed program.
The AGMC's 1989 Pride Concert, "Look to Your Dreams", was presented on June 19 at the Walter Hill Auditorium at the High Museum of Art. The concert featured performers Carolyn Mobley and The Daughters of Jezebel with Sue Buchholz at the keyboard. An evening of traditional and classical music, the program focused on the dreams of individuals, organizations and communities celebrating gay and lesbian pride in 1989.
Less than three weeks after this concert, one of the AGMC’s own dreams became a reality. Twenty-one singing members, Artistic Director Richard D. Rechtin, principal accompanist Jerry Garrison and general manager Jim Peck traveled to Seattle, Washington, for the third GALA Choruses Festival.
The AGMC's dream for its ninth season, as written by President Jerry Garrison, was to include audience expansion, broader community support, increased membership and continued growth in musicianship. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 38, May 17, 2006]
Under Mr. Rechtin’s artistic direction, 23 singing members presented the AGMC's 1989 Winter Concert, "A Gift of Song", on December 2 at the June Cofer Auditorium of Southside High School. Only the second half of the program included holiday music.
The Chorus closed out the decade on a high note, performing on the program of "The Gayest Event of the Season" on December 16 at War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The AGMC sang excerpts from Chris Cinque’s "Growing Up Queer in America". [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 39, May 24, 2006]
The Southside High School auditorium stage hosted the first collaboration between the AGMC and the Atlanta Feminist Women’s Chorus [http://www.afwcchorus.org/] in June 1990 with two performances of that year’s Pride Concert, "In Harmony and Unity". AFWC Director Linda Vaughn joined returning AGMC Artistic Director Richard D. Rechtin for concerts performed by 23 members of the AGMC and 61 members of the women’s chorus. “Bonding between our groups will strengthen our entire community,” the concert program noted.
Just six days later, the AGMC was hosted by the Gay Men's Chorus of Asheville at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina. Each chorus performed individually, followed by joint performances of "Georgia on My Mind" and "Men." This concert turned out to be Mr. Rechtin’s last as the AGMC's Artistic Director.
In the 1989-1990 season, the AGMC appeared at St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church’s Olde English Festival, a benefit concert for the Unitarian Universalist Metro Ministry for People with AIDS, and traveled to New Orleans, Miami, Seattle and Nashville. Composed entirely of volunteers, the AGMC was managed by an elected board of directors from its membership. The 1989-1990 budget of $11,000 was met through ticket sales, dues and donors. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 40, May 31, 2006]
10th Concert Season: 1990-1991
Still without a permanent Artistic Director at the beginning of its tenth season, the AGMC invited its founding director, Jeffrey D. McIntyre, to return and serve as interim conductor for the 1990 Holiday Concert, "Carols, Toys & Sugarplum Fairies!", presented at Southside High School. In his program notes, McIntyre said, “Though the Chorus has been larger in years past, I am convinced it has never sounded better. This is why I have scheduled exactly half of tonight’s concert with "a cappella" music. My hat is off to the two men who directed this Chorus since I left it in 1984. My thanks to the singers. As for me, I haven’t had such a wonderful time of the year since... well, 1984!"
The program also paid tribute and bid farewell to AGMC General Manager Jim Peck. His hard work, business skills and organizational skills were recognized in the “real world,” and in the summer of 1990, Peck was elected to the national board of GALA Choruses and given a golden career opportunity in Denver, Colorado. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 41, June 7, 2006]
Southside High School hosted the AGMC's 1991 Spring Concert, "Spring Break", on April 6, featuring the premiere of an original composition by accompanist Jerry Garrison titled "My Grandfather’s Tale." The piece reflected the Chorus’ desire to help remove the barriers in our communities and replace them with bridges. One of those bridges is to the hearing-impaired community. A solo by longtime member Al Whittington, the AGMC's resident sign language interpreter, was fitting and quite moving. The audience was invited to sing the last chorus: "For we need more bridges and fewer walls // We need more successes and fewer falls // We need peace among us and love all around // We need voices singing life’s joyous sound."
"Spring Break" was dedicated to two of America’s greatest composers: Aaron Copeland and Leonard Bernstein. Several of their works were performed. Interim Director Richard Ezell, also a singing member, conducted the concert for Artistic Director Jeffrey D. McIntyre. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XIV No. 42, July 14, 2006]
On June 1, 1991, the AGMC performed at Southern Danceworks in Birmingham, Alabama, presented by Phoenix Rising Productions, with Robin Tyler, special guest Martina Bevis and the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus ensemble. An internationally known comedic activist, this was Tyler's first appearance in Birmingham since 1984 when she appeared during the Southeastern Conference of Lesbians and Gay Men. “Tyler has been on the forefront of activism for gay/lesbian rights since 1959 and continues to be a significant voice in the movement,” read the program. Bevis was emcee for the evening and had lived in Birmingham since 1984, traveling extensively around the country doing comedy. Bevis said, “I’m a large women with a large purse. I have everything in it but a hammer and a nail.”
Artistic Director Jeffrey D. McIntyre, along with accompanist Jerry Garrison, led the AGMC in eight selections which featured an arrangement by John Young of "Surfin’ USA." The back of the program included a "Love Letter to the Movement": “Our courage, our will to live, and our strength through the struggles, while still maintaining our humor and our ability to love, has made us extraordinary. Like the phoenix, against all odds, we have risen again and again.” [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XV No. 1, August 18, 2006]
Preparations for the AGMC’s 10th anniversary season began a year beforehand, with hundreds of questions to be answered about how the milestone should be recognized. Returning Artistic and Founding Director Jeffrey D. McIntyre wrote, “Having been away from AGMC for several years, I wasn’t sure of the answers. After all, we ended the 1990-91 season with around ’20 singers.’ There were too many empty seats at concerts. The bank balance was too low.”
. People across the country had heard of the AGMC’s growth and their hard work and perseverence to become the voice Atlanta's gay and lesbian community. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XV No. 2, August 23, 2006]
The 14th Street Playhouse, once located at the corner of 14th and Peachtree Streets, hosted the AGMC’s 1991 Holiday Concert, "Men on Christmas", on December 15, directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre. Rehearsals were held at Morningside Presbyterian Church with 51 singing members. A highlight of the two-act program was longtime member Dennis Nance’s arrangement of “A Musicological Journey Through the Twelve Days of Christmas.”
The Playhouse also opened its curtains for the AGMC's 1992 Spring Concert, "WGAY Radio", on March 29, directed by Jeffrey D. McIntyre. His program note to the "studio audience" read, “We have asked ourselves what it would be like if we had an all-gay radio station with all of its programming intended for an all-gay audience sponsored by gay businesses?” The show featured four programs from a weekend broadcast beginning with Saturday evening. Love songs included up-front, out-proud dedications. Commercials from gay businesses—some real, some not—were featured along with a Sunday morning gospel program hosted by "Sister I. Nita Goodman" (a.k.a. longtime member Jerry Garrison) and her “Heavenly Hims.” Next, “a nickel in the juke box” for “oldies” featured special guests, the "Fabulous Supremes." The Sunday evening broadcast closed with “Our Gay Pride,” featuring the music of Holly Near, The Flirtations and local composer Patrick Hutchison.
To end its 10th anniversary season, the AGMC presented its 1992 Pride Concert, called, appropriately enough, "Tenth Anniversary Pride Concert", at the Alliance Theatre on June 14, with selections from the Chorus' first ten years. The program ended with an all-time favorite of the Chorus, “Somewhere Medley,” arranged by longtime member Jerry Garrison. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XV No. 3, August 30, 2006]
12th Concert Season: 1992-1993The AGMC presented its 1992 Holiday Concert, "Home for the Holiday?", at Midtown's Henry Grady High School Theatre on December 18 and 19. A well-received and often requested Nigerian Christmas song, "Betelehemu", was first performed by the AGMC at this concert, in addition to a variety of traditional classics and modern American favorites.
General Manager Larry Szuch wrote for the program: “No one ever said it would be SIMPLE! I have been the GM for the AGMC for the past six months. Now I confirm that statement, and it is UNDERSTATED. Each day is an exciting challenge. I love these guys! From board meetings to committee meetings, from signing contracts to signing purchase requests, from dealing with major crises to dealing with petty complaints, it’s all a part of my life and more. The reward? A successful performance, the applause, and you,” he continued. “Becoming a Chorus member is a huge commitment, not only musically, but timewise as well. Fortunately, I believe we have the cream of the crop, and we always welcome those who can be just as dedicated and committed,” he wrote.
The AGMC returned to the Henry Grady High School Theatre for its 1993 Spring Concert, "Homecoming Hop", on March 26 and 27, featuring teeny-bopper and Motown music from the late 1950s and early 1960s and other homecoming-themed hits such as "The Homecoming Queen’s Got a Gun," "Rock Around the Clock/At the Hop" and longtime member Jerry Garrison's "Follow Him Medley" and "Cry Medley." A video of “Royal Queen High,” featuring poodle skirts, bobbie socks and longtime member Bill Paden with teased-up hair, shows AGMC music composer and arranger John Young taking the crown as “Homecoming Queen” and slapping her runner-up with a bouquet of roses!
The AGMC presented its 1993 Pride Concert, "Made in the USA: Homegrown Music", at the Henry Grady High School Theatre on June 12 with One Voice, "the Gay, Lesbian and Gay-Affirmative Mixed Chorus" from Charlotte, North Carolina [http://www.onevoicechorus.com/] . Act One, including songs by Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland and Victor Young, was presented by One Voice under the direction of D. Jan McCoy. Act Two, including songs by Stephen Foster, Randall Thompson, Duke Ellington and Stephen Sondheim, was presented by the AGMC under the direction of Jeffrey D. McIntyre. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XV No. 4, September 6, 2006]
13th Concert Season: 1993-1994's "Choral Fanfare for Christmas" and James Adler's arrangement of "Carols of Splendour" (from The Oxford Book of Carols).
"An Evening with... Lenny, George, Steve and Fats" was the title of the Spring concert on March 25 and 26 at the Grady High School Auditorium. The program was made up of selections by Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Stephen Sondheim and Thomas "Fats" Waller. A video from the show captured a fine performance of "West Side Story"’s "Officer Krupke" by the late Ron Day, Ben Lewis, Dennis Nance and Steven Lyzenga, a major benefactor to the Chorus.
On June 18, 1994, the Gateway Men’s Chorus of St. Louis, Missouri, joined the AGMC for a performance of "When We No Longer Touch: A Cycle of Songs for Survival." The concert was held at the Georgia Tech Theatre for the Performing Arts under the direction of artistic directors Jeffrey McIntyre and James Nacy. Guest soloists were soprano Jeanne Brown and baritone Frank Miller.
Reviewing the program today, we find it to be a heavy reminder that HIV/AIDS is still very present in our organization, community, nation and world. The performance was dedicated to AGMC and Gateway members lost to AIDS. [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XV No. 5, September 13, 2006]
The AGMC's 1994-1995 season proved to be a year filled with transitions: three different artistic directors stepped up to three different podiums on three different stages, and rehearsal space moved to Virginia- Highland Baptist Church.
The AGMC's 1994 Holiday Concert, "Christmas with Spirit", was performed on December 16 and 17 at Emory University’s Cannon Chapel under the baton of founding, and departing, Artistic Director Jeffrey McIntyre. Unfortunately, the time constraints of his new music store required him to leave his AGMC post. A commissioned work by E. Lee Cobb, "Gloria", was performed.
The AGMC's 1995 Spring Concert, "Songs from the Heart", was presented on April 8 at the Glenn Memorial Auditorium at Emory University, directed by Interim Artistic Director Leslie J. Blackwell. Ms. Blackwell came to the AGMC with recommendations from Chorus members and patrons familiar with her work as music director of St. Mark United Methodist Church, and holds the distinction of being the AGMC's first female artistic director. However, in a sobering reflection of the political climate of times, because Ms. Blackwell was simultaneously employed as a music teacher in the public school system and not "out" to the public, her name did not appear in any of the AGMC's marketing or advertising for this concert, nor was it published on the cover of the concert program. Ironically, five years later, in 2000, when the AGMC once again began seeking a new artistic director, Ms. Blackwell's name was on the preliminary short list of potential candidates. She eventually won the position and, having since moved from the public school system to the faculty of Kennesaw State University, she went on to serve as the AGMC's longest-tenured artistic director, from 2000 to 2006.
The AGMC's 1995 Pride Concert, "WGAY Radio: Tune In Again!", was presented at the Georgia Tech Center for the Arts under the direction of newly hired Artistic Director David A. Puckett. A sort of sequel to the popular 1992 Spring Concert, "WGAY Radio", the show was presented as a day-long radio broadcast and featured guest artists The Derivative Duo from Seattle, Washington, who illuminated both the comic and bittersweet sides of gay and lesbian life in their opera parodies. Sixty-six members performed in the radio show featuring "Swinging to the Oldies," "Toe-Tappin’ Country Gospel Hour," "Saturday Night at the Opera" and "Singing with Pride!" An eight-member Panache ensemble brought down the house with "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." [Adapted from “Did You Know?,” a series of articles about the history of the AGMC, published in "Homo Voce", Vol. XV No. 6, September 20, 2006]
* The AGMC recorded three tracks for Gerald L. Stacy’s CD, "In Remembrance of Love", in 1997, including "Commencement" by Shelly Jackson, "Prayer for the Children" by Kurt Bestor, and "Irish Blessing," arranged by Robert Seeley. "Prayer for the Children" was performed by the AGMC's small ensemble, Panache; David A. Puckett, Artistic Director. Recorded and produced by Allgood Productions, Atlanta, Georgia.
* "Carols, Revels and Holiday Cheer" (1998)—a live recording of the AGMC's 1997 Holiday Concert at the Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip; David A. Puckett, Artistic Director. Recorded and produced by DiverseCity Records, Austell, Georgia.
* "Passions" (2002)—a live recording of the AGMC's 2001 Spring Concert at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church; Leslie J. Blackwell, Artistic Director. Recorded and produced by Gil Moor & Bill Brown, Atlanta, Georgia.
* "A Real Family Holiday" (2004)—a studio recording of music from the AGMC's 2003 Holiday Concert; Dr. Leslie J. Blackwell, Artistic Director. Recorded by Allgood Productions, Atlanta, Georgia; produced by Dr. Leslie J. Blackwell.
* "Live at the Cathedral" (2004)—a live recording of the AGMC's 2004 Holiday Concert at The Episcopal Cathedral of Saint Philip; Dr. Leslie J. Blackwell, Artistic Director. Recorded and produced by Allgood Productions, Atlanta, Georgia.
* [http://www.galachoruses.org/ GALA Choruses]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk6kGbxOciM Biebl's "Ave Maria" from the AGMC's 2007 Holiday Concert "Bells, Brass & Beyond" (December 2007) on YouTube]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1_tlw3RFds "The Boar's Head Carol" from the AGMC's 2007 Holiday Concert "Bells, Brass & Beyond" (December 2007) on YouTube]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDhShXMVkXs& OutTV segment featuring "Stormy Weather" from the AGMC's 2000 Pride Concert, "Celluloid, Footlights & Videotape" (June 2000), on YouTube; David G. Lowe, soloist]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yw0q3KkS4U& OutTV segment featuring "I’ve Written a Letter to Daddy" from the AGMC's 2000 Pride Concert, "Celluloid, Footlights & Videotape" (June 2000), on YouTube; Neil Keener, soloist]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYXS42v3yKo "Modern Girl" music video parody featuring members of the AGMC on YouTube; produced and directed by Michael McAllister]
Charlotta Liljenroth
Pleasantville, Ontario
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Energia Barcelona
Barcelona Energy
Transition to energy sovereignty
Barcelona Energy Agency
The Energy Observatory
Covid-19: Changes in energy consumption and GHG emissions
Energy Assessment
How to save energy?
Energy-saving advice
Renovating to save
Where you can find information on?
Getting around by electric vehicle
Energy Improvement Plan for Municipal Buildings
Lighting and heating and cooling networks
What is the Climate Emergency Marathon?
How to generate energy?
How can we generate energy in Barcelona?
How much energy can you generate?
We’ll help you to develop your renewable-energy project
The Incentive Programme for Generating Solar Energy
Generation in municipal buildings and spaces
Barcelona Solar Bye-law
Share the sun
How to get an energy supply?
How to purchase energy
Barcelona Energia, the municipal electricity company
Basic energy supply guaranteed
Understanding your electricity bill
Activities and training
Làbora Programme
Carrega’t d’energia programme
Steering committee for photovoltaic self-consumption in Catalonia
Energy Week
Energy Transition and the City Congress (CTEC)
Energy professionals
Solar Integration in Barcelona
Connecting Auto-Consumption Installations
Energy Glossary
Here you will find information on anything to do with the energy model, energy supply, energy saving and power generation, in fact, everything you need to know, in the three languages.
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A B C D E F G H I L M N O P R S T U W Z
the adjustment of human and natural systems to new or changing environments.
a system used to control the air temperature and humidity level so that it feels pleasant to the human body in premises, a room, a vehicle or a closed space.
Air pollution zone
an area where the maximum values for the immission of substances or suspended particles are being exceeded and the competent authority has declared it as such.
a parameter that indicates the composition of the air, and which gradually falls as the concentration of pollutants increases. NB: air quality is evaluated by comparing imission levels with the maximum levels allowed by current legislation, which indicate the approximate level at which there might be a negative effect on health.
a type of electric current characterised by periodic changes in intensity or direction. The voltage varies between its maximum and minimum values in a cyclical fashion. It has a positive value half the time (positive semi-cycle or semi-period) and negative the other half.
Artificial light
the light produced by a lighting device.
the gaseous layer that surrounds the Earth. NB: the main gases that make up the atmosphere are nitrogen, oxygen, water vapour, argon and carbon dioxide.
pollution caused by the presence of some chemical compound in the atmosphere that is not part of its normal composition, or natural composites in a higher-than-usual concentration.
Battery / electric battery
an electrochemical generator that produces a continuous tension by means of a chemical reaction and which principally consists of an electrolyte and two electrodes, positive and negative. NB: used batteries are regarded as special municipal waste and are subject to separate waste collection.
a set of operating procedures for staff, management and the control of industrial activities that foster waste and emission minimisation. NB: appropriate procurement and stock management, efficient preventive or predictive maintenance and proper control of process variables are examples of best practices. These can generally be implemented at very little cost and, therefore, with a rapid return on investment. This is one of the most effective ways of minimising waste and emissions.
a synthetic liquid biofuel obtained from vegetable oil and animal fats.
energy obtained from biomass by fermentation, combustion or other processes, such as gasification or pyrolysis.
fuel derived from biomass, which is treated to obtain an aggregate with a high calorific value that comes directly or indirectly from the capture and fixation of solar energy in photosynthesis processes. NB: biofuels can be solid (wood, bricks, pellets or charcoal), liquid (biodiesel, bioethanol, biopropane or butanol fuel) or gaseous (biogas).
a combustible gas comprised of a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide that is produced by the anaerobic digestion (controlled or not) of biomass.
the total quantity of organic matter in a given area or ecosystem. NB: 1) dry matter weight per surface or volume unit is the measurement used for biomass. 2) in sanitation, the term biomass specifically refers to the active quantity of microorganisms in a biological reactor that carry out the biological oxidation of organic matter in sewage.
the layer of Earth where life develops and which includes parts of the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere, into which all human beings are integrated.
an electric light bulb consisting of a vacuum-packed glass globe with a metal filament (usually tungsten) that produces incandescent light when an electric current passes through it.
Calorific value
the parameter used to indicate the maximum amount of energy that can be generated by a fuel, or a waste product used as fuel, when it is burned.
a colourless, odourless, insipid gas formed by natural biological processes with complete carbon oxidation as a result of deforestation, or by the combustion of fossil fuels and organic matter with an excess of oxygen. NB: the principal effects of this atmospheric pollutant are the appearance of climate change and an increase in global warming.
an indicator of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the life cycle of a product, service or organisation.
Carbon monoxide (CO)
a colourless, odourless, toxic, inflammable gas that results from the incomplete oxidation of carbon by oxygen. NB: the main emission sources of this atmospheric pollutant are fuel-burning plants and cars. It is an asphyxiating substance that reduces the atmosphere’s self-cleaning capacity.
a flue that provides an outlet for smoke, gas and particles generated by combustion, a chemical reaction or product storage, or which responds to the ventilation needs of an activity.
an economic model based on reusing, repairing, remanufacturing and recycling products and materials, keeping the use of raw materials to a minimum, as an alternative to a linear model based on production, use and disposal.
energy which can be obtained and used without generating waste, has moderate to minimal environmental impact and produces no chemical or noise pollution. NB: examples are solar power, wind power and geothermal power.
a type of industrial production that minimises its environmental impact by means of careful resource management, proper product use and design, waste reduction and design, the use of clean technology and so on.
see ecotechnology.
Cleaner production
the continuous application of an environmental prevention strategy that is integrated into products and processes in order to reduce the risks that might affect people and the environment. NB: in production processes, the concept of cleaner production includes conserving energy and raw materials and reducing the amount and toxicity of waste and emissions. The UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) often uses this concept to point out that work in this field is continually under way and advancing.
a set of atmospheric conditions that characterise the weather in a specific region.
adjustments in the climatic characteristics of a specific place over a period of time. NB: climate change may be due to natural causes or phenomena resulting from human activity, which increases the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
a brown or black solid matter that results from the partial decomposition, distillation and incomplete combustion of organic matter, usually vegetable, which contains carbon. NB: coking coal, mineral coal and charcoal are distinguished by their production process.
the combined production of electricity (or mechanical energy) and heat energy from a primary energy source, such as natural gas, diesel or fuel oil, which is later reused. NB: the most common cogeneration systems are those based on steam turbines, combined cycle (gas turbine and steam turbine) and reciprocating internal combustion engines.
Cogeneration plant
a plant where a primary fuel such as natural gas, diesel fuel or fuel oil is used to generate thermal energy, which can be used later, and electric power.
a chamber built under specific conditions where fuel or waste used as fuel is burned to take advantage of its calorific value or heating power.
Combustion plant
an apparatus which is used to oxidise fuel in order to use the heat generated in this process.
Corrective measure
a measure designed to soften the environmental impact envisaged by a project or produced by a specific activity.
a colourless or slightly yellowish liquid fuel obtained by distilling petroleum fuel oil at a temperature between 220 and 360oC, which is mainly used as transport fuel though it has other uses. NB: diesel is the fuel used with diesel engines. When these engines are well-regulated they emit fewer pollutants than petrol, however, if they are not, they emit more suspended particles and black smoke.
Direct current (DC or Continuous current)
a type of electric current where the direction of the charge-flow circulation does not vary. The continuous current is normally used for applications that require a low voltage, especially where energy is produced by batteries or photovoltaic solar energy systems.
Eco-efficiency
a company’s capacity for minimising pollution and the use of resources, including energy resources, during the process of elaborating a product from the design stage to packaging and distribution, without reducing its quality.
Ecological impact
a set of changes that a natural process or human activity produces in an ecosystem.
the branch of biology that studies the relations between living beings and their environment.
a functional unit consisting of a biotope and the living organisms that inhabit it, with all the relations and exchanges of matter and energy that take place there.
Ecotechnology
a set of techniques that consist of rationalising the management of raw materials and energy sources in order to minimise pollution.
Education for sustainabilit
education designed to raise awareness and understanding, and encourage people to become involved in protecting and improving their surroundings and in the process of sustainable development.
Electric or accumulator battery
a group of electric accumulators connected in series or in parallel. NB: old car accumulator batteries are regarded as special municipal waste and are collected separately at municipal tips.
Emission inventory
the accounting and location of emissions discharged into the atmospheric in a specific area.
the quantity of pollutants released into the atmosphere during the course of a specific time period. NB: it is measured as mass per unit volume of pollutant.
Emission limit
the emission level that must not be exceeded, in accordance with current legislation.
a system’s capacity to produce external force. NB: it may take the form of mechanical, electrical or thermal energy, and chemical or physical bonds.
an energy-rating document that officially identifies and certifies the power consumption and energy efficiency of certain products, such as housing and electrical appliances. The rating is based on a scale of 7 letters, where A identifies maximum energy efficiency and G the least efficient products. NB: energy certificates are issued by an independent third party.
the amount of energy consumed in a specific period.
the degree to which an optimum relationship is achieved between the resources used in energy management and the results obtained.
Energy flow
energy that crosses a surface perpendicularly per unit of area and unit of time. NB: the unit for measuring energy flow in the international system of units is watt per square metre, W/m².
a voluntary rating system that officially identifies and certifies the energy consumption and efficiency of certain products. NB: energy labels are awarded by an independent third party.
Utilising waste to produce energy as an alternative to other sources.
Energy rights
the rights that establish energy as a commodity of prime necessity, with equal and universal access at a fair price guaranteed to ensure a decent life for everyone.
a procedure that allows a reduction in energy use and consumption while achieving the same result.
Energy self-consumption
the consumption of electrical energy that comes from power generation facilities connected within a real consumer grid or via a direct power line linked to a consumer. NB: definition according to the Electricity Sector Act, 24/2013, of 26 September
Energy self-generation
see energy self-consumption.
energy that can be turned into useful energy. NB: potential, kinetic, wind or chemical energy can be transformed into electrical or mechanical energy, and so on.
involves obtaining and distributing energy (gas or electricity) on a regular and reliable basis by means of a functional system of works, plants, facilities, grids and pipelines.
see energy supply.
Energy valuation
see energy recovery.
Engine biofuel
biofuel used in transport that is obtained by mixing hydrocarbons derived from biomass. NB: there are two types of biofuels for transport: bioethanol and biodiesel.
a set of biotic (fauna and flora) and abiotic elements (solar energy, water, air and mineral earth) that combine in a particular space and affect the development and survival of an organism, and also enable ecosystems to develop.
adverse effects produced by a project, work or activity on the characteristics of the environment.
the systematic monitoring of environmental conditions with a view to preventing harmful changes.
set of indicators that show the state of the environment at a specific time in a specific place.
Fluorescent lamp / light bulb
in a gas-discharge lamp light is mainly produced by the emission of a layer of fluorescent substances inside the lamp which are stimulated by the ultraviolet radiation of the discharge. NB: the waste treatment of fluorescent tubes is a public service offered by the regional Catalan government.
Fluorescent tube
a gas-discharge lamp where light is mainly produced by the emission of a layer of fluorescent substances inside the lamp which is stimulated by the ultraviolet radiation of the discharge. NB: the waste treatment of fluorescent tubes is a public service offered by the Catalan government administration.
see fluorescent lamp / bulb.
the fuel resulting from the partial decomposition of organic matter due to physical and chemical changes caused by pressure and heat over millions of years. NB: coal, oil and its derivatives, and natural gas are fossil fuels.
the reducing agent in combustion.
Fuel (petrol)
a liquid fuel used in combustion engines. NB: usually petrol or diesel but it might also be natural gas, fuel, kerosene, bioethanol or biodiesel.
Gas-discharge lamp / light bulb
a lamp that produces light by means of an electric discharge between electrodes in a gas or vapour at low or high pressure.
energy that comes from harnessing the thermal energy of the subsoil and geothermal deposits.
the acronym in Catalan for Gestor Integral de l’Ordenança Solar (Solar By-law Integral Manager), online software developed by Barcelona City Council to simplify the procedures for obtaining the municipal licences required by projects for installing thermal and photovoltaic solar energy facilities, in accordance with the procedure set out in the Barcelona Solar By-law.
a set of adjustments in natural, physical or biological systems, the impacts of which cannot be localised because they affect the whole of the planet.
the process whereby the Earth’s temperature is gradually increasing due to the intensification of the greenhouse effect.
an economic model that aims to improve human well-being and social equality, while significantly reducing the risks to the environment.
a phenomenon consisting of atmospheric warming, which is due to the fact that the atmosphere is transparent to solar radiation and its capacity to absorb the Earth’s infra-red radiation.
Greenhouse gas (GHG)
the natural or anthropogenic gas in the atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation on specific wavelengths of the infra-red radiation spectrum emitted by the Earth’s surface, the atmosphere and the clouds. NB: the GHGs include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
the total mass of greenhouse gasses released into the atmosphere in a specific period.
each of the electronegative, non-metallic chemical elements with the capacity to combine directly with a metal and a tendency to form monovalent anions (atoms or groups of atoms). NB: the halogen group includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and, less importantly, astatine.
Halogen lamp / light bulb
a lamp or bulb filled with gas that contains a certain portion of halogen or an organic halogen compound.
the manifestation of a system’s internal energy which is measured via temperature.
equipment or devices designed to heat a space. NB: it generally consists of a closed circuit through which air or water circulates at a temperature above room temperature. The fluid can be heated by combustion, which may involve pollutant emissions.
an organic compound formed by carbon and hydrogen. Its initials are HC. NB: the main sources for the emission of these atmospheric pollutants are incomplete fuel combustion, vehicle traffic, some organic matter combustion processes, oil refineries and organic dissolvents. The principal effect of hydrocarbon is the appearance of photochemical smog.
electrical energy produced by harnessing the potential or kinetic energy of water.
Hydroelectric power station
a power plant that captures the mechanical energy of falling water and converts it into electric power.
energy that comes from harnessing the potential energy of falling water or kinetic energy of fast-running water.
Illumination / lightin
the photometric magnitude that measures the luminous flux a surface receives. NB: 1) Lighting can be natural or artificial. 2) It is represented by the symbol E. 3) The unit of measure for illumination in the international system is the lux, which corresponds to 1 lumen per square metre (lm/m2).
Incandescent lamp / light bulb
an electric lamp consisting of a vacuum-packed glass globe with a metal filament (usually tungsten) that produces incandescent light when an electric current passes through it.
an engine powered by a fuel burned in a closed space inside the engine itself, which gives rise to a reciprocating motion.
the acronym for Light Emitting Diode. A semiconductor diode that emits incoherent light on one of the bands of the visible spectrum, infra-red or ultraviolet, when an electric current is passed through it in the direction allowed by the diode. NB: an electroluminescent diode consists of two semiconductor materials that form a p-n junction. When an electron passes through the junction from the negative side and finds a hole corresponding to a lower energy level, it emits energy in the form of a photon. The colour emitted by the diode depends on the energy jump between the materials in the p-n junction.
Liquid or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
a mixture of light hydrocarbons, principally propane and butane; gases under normal temperature and pressure conditions that are liquefied.
Low-energy bulb
see low-energy lamp.
Low-energy lamp / light bulb
a lamp based on fluorescent tube technology that is smaller and consumes less energy than an incandescent lamp.
Methanation
the biological process involving the anaerobic decomposition of organic compounds to obtain biogas.
Methane (CH4)
a saturated, gaseous, colourless, odourless and inflammable gas mainly formed during the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter. NB: the main anthropogenic emission source of this atmospheric pollutant is anaerobic decomposition at landfill sites, sewage treatment plants, animal-breeding farms and so on. The principal effect on methane is the intensification of the greenhouse effect.
the anthropogenic or human intervention to reduce emission sources and improve greenhouse gas sinks.
a fossil fuel found in underground deposits that is formed by a mixture of hydrocarbon gases, mainly methane, with a low molecular weight.
a light comprised of electromagnetic waves that vibrate on different wavelengths over time.
see Nitrogen monoxide.
Nitrogen (N2)
a non-metallic, gaseous, diatomic, colourless, insipid, odourless and chemically inactive chemical element that makes up approximately 80% of the volume of air in the atmosphere. NB: when it is combined with oxygen at high temperatures it forms nitrogen oxides.
a dense, colourless, pungent and highly irritant gas that comes from natural processes or is the result of burning fossil fuels that contain sulphur, especially coal and oil. NB: it is one of the basic indicators of atmospheric pollution. The principal effects of sulphur dioxide are acid rain and a reduction in visibility.
Nitrogen monoxide (NO)
an insipid, colourless, almost odourless and highly toxic gas formed by the direct combination of nitrogen and oxygen in the air at high temperatures. Also known as nitric oxide. NB: this gas oxidises in the atmosphere and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), with which it forms what are known as nitrogen oxides. It is highly toxic if inhaled and it irritates the skin and mucous membranes.
each of the gases that result from the oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen through combustion due to the effects of temperature and pressure. NB: the most important nitrogen oxides as regards atmospheric pollution are nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen oxide or monoxide (NO). The main sources of emissions of these atmospheric pollutants are combustion processes at high temperatures and certain industrial processes. The principal effects of nitrogen oxides are photochemical smog, the greenhouse effect and acid rain.
a type of fuel capable of undergoing a controlled fission reaction in a nuclear reactor that releases energy in the form of heat. NB: Uranium and plutonium are nuclear fuels.
a nuclear reaction in which new atomic nuclei are formed by existing nuclei combining with lighter ones lacking mass, releasing large amounts of energy. NB: this release of energy is explained by the equation E = mc2, where m is the difference in mass and c is the speed of light.
energy obtained from atomic nuclear fusion or fission.
Nuclear power station
a power plant that turns the energy released by atomic nuclear fission into thermal energy.
a complex of industrial facilities that use mixtures of hydrocarbons in crude oil or petroleum to produce petrol, lubricants, liquid gases, asphalt, etc.
a non-metallic, gaseous, diatomic, colourless, insipid, odourless chemical element found in its free state in the atmosphere, of which it makes up approximately 21% of the volume.
Ozone (O3)
a light blue, irritant gas, a triatomic allotrope of oxygen with a characteristically sharp smell that absorbs short wave ultraviolet radiation. NB: in the presence of atmospheric pollutants such as nitrogen oxides or some hydrocarbons, intense solar radiation can cause a strong concentration of ozone in the troposphere. In these conditions, ozone becomes a very toxic and corrosive photochemical oxidant that can intervene in atmospheric phenomena such as the oxidation of nitrogen.
the layer in the stratosphere, spanning altitudes between 20 and 50 km, where the concentration of ozone is at its highest at 25 km and lowest above 50, or 70 km, in certain areas of the planet. NB: the ozone layer filters some of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.
a small cylindrical or spherical body obtained from compressing finely divided dry materials. NB: wood and similar waste materials are used to make pellets in the energy sector.
Petrol / gasoline
a highly flammable, colourless liquid obtained by distilling petroleum at a temperature between 60 and 200 oC, or by cracking the heavy petroleum fractions, and which is mainly used as fuel for transport. NB: unleaded petrol contains antiknock organic compounds rather than leaded compounds.
a mineral oil formed by a mixture of hydrocarbons with diverse structures in highly variable proportions, depending on the oilfield of origin.
the ability of light to release electrons from a metal surface. This effect is applied to photovoltaic panels, to generate electricity from sunlight.
electricity generated by means of the photoelectric effect.
the introduction of disturbances, radiation or materials into an environment, generally as a result of direct or indirect human actions, that alter the properties and modify the structure and function of the ecosystems that are affected.
Power station / plant
a range of facilities where electric power is produced from another form of energy.
Preventive measure
a measure adopted during the planning, design or development stages of an activity to avoid the negative effect it might have on the environment.
Principle of self-sufficiency
the principle according to which a specific area has to be capable of accommodating the facilities and management systems to adequately handle the waste it generates.
Raising environmental awareness
a series of educational and communicative actions aimed at bringing about change in public consciousness so we can advance towards environmentally sustainable situations.
Refuse-derived fuel (RDF)
fractions with a high calorific or energy value produced from waste that is processed to recover energy or to be used as a substitute for fossil fuels.
energy obtained from inexhaustible or renewable sources. NB: for example, the energy obtained from charcoal and wood.
an ecosystem’s capacity to react positively to restore its properties and functions following the action of a disruptive process or agent such as acid rain, erosion or pollution. NB: in terms of individuals and society, resilience is the capacity to face up to an unfavourable situation or one that poses a risk, and to recover, adapt and develop positively in the face of adverse circumstances.
Self-sufficiency (principle of)
the principle requires that a specific area has facilities and management systems available to adequately handle the waste it generates.
a type of fog that contains air pollutants, principally from industry and transport emissions, the consequence of a large concentration of dust and smoke particles which act as condensation nuclei, causing the condensation of water vapour, even when air humidity is well below 100%.
Sodium light
a type of light used on public roads and streets which emits a yellow light, consumes less energy than ordinary lights and does not attract insects. NB: this is an alternative light to mercury, which emits white ultraviolet light and attracts those insects.
a device used to collect incident solar radiation to turn it into thermal energy for domestic and industrial uses.
a device with a large surface area used to capture solar radiation which is converted into heat (thermal solar energy) or electricity (photovoltaic solar energy) and can be used for domestic or industrial purposes.
radiant energy emitted by the sun in the form of electromagnetic waves.
Solar power station
a power plant that uses the energy radiated by the sun to produce electricity.
the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun, 90% of which has a spectrum that falls between 0,25 and 5 µm, approximately.
Solar-thermal power station
a solar power station that makes use of solar radiation to heat a fluid which, once vaporised, can be used to drive a set of turbogenerators.
Special protection zone
a zone where there is a situation that gives rise to a very high potential risk of exceeding the admissible limits, or where the admissible immission limits have already been exceeded, and where the actions and measures that can be adopted in situations where a special attention zone has been declared are considered to be insufficient.
Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
Sulphur oxides
each of the gases that result from the oxidation of sulphur and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in burning fossil fuels, in the decomposition and combustion of organic matter, and the aerosols over oceans and volcanoes. NB: the most significant sulphur oxides as regards atmospheric pollution are sulphur dioxide (SO2) and sulphur trioxide (SO3). The mains source of emissions of these atmospheric pollutants is the burning of fossil fuels in power stations, cars, heating systems and so on. The principal effect is acid rain.
Suspended particles
a set of solid or liquid particles less than 30 µm in diameter, approximately, with a low sedimentation speed and a relatively long residence time in the atmosphere, depending on their density. NB: 1) They are found in dust, emissions from industrial processes, smoke produced by burning wood and coal, vehicle exhaust fumes, etc. 2) Depending on how big they are, they can be classified as inhalable or non-inhalable.
a set of policies designed to make economic growth compatible with maintaining biodiversity and ultimately, preventing the degradation of the biosphere caused by human activity.
something that enables the regeneration of resources and the environment.
see sustainability.
heat energy produced by burning coal, oil, natural gas and other fuels in thermal machines.
Toxic cloud
a high concentration of particles in the form of a cloud that are dangerous to life and health.
describes a system of production and consumption that is not compatible with the rational exploitation of or respect for the environment.
Urban ecology
the branch of ecology that studies urban ecosystems and sees aggregate urban settlements as systems constituted by a community of organisms (of which mankind is the most important) and the environment they live in.
the exorbitant and uneconomic consumption of any kind of resource.
a set of wind turbines that work in parallel and use wind power to produce electricity which enters the distribution grid.
energy that comes from harnessing the kinetic energy of air.
Wind-power plant
a power plant that harnesses wind power.
Zero-energy building
a building where net energy consumption is close to zero in an average year. NB: the energy it uses comes from the building itself via renewable energy sources.
More efficient lighting
Barcelona’s public lighting only accounts for roughly 20 % of the municipal service's total energy consumption. It has over 146,000 light points which present a high disparity of criteria and models, resulting from years of various urban-planning renovations and isolated maintenance works.
Today’s management aims to generate a night-time image of the city that standardises aesthetic and functional criteria by incorporating LED technology into light points while reducing energy consumption.
If you would like to know more about Barcelona’s efficient lighting: LIGHTING MASTER PLAN
Centralised heating and cooling networks
Barcelona has two centralised urban air-conditioning networks: the east network, covering the Fòrum-22@ area and the west network, covering the Zona Franca and the La Marina del Prat Vermell neighbourhood. The networks supply buildings with hot and cold water for central heating and air-conditioning and sanitary hot water.
Centralisation in production enables better energy efficiency in relation to individual solutions with boilers and air-conditioning equipment. Buildings that are to be supplied are connected to the supply station through a network of pipes conveying hot or cold water produced in the station. The generation is carried out by making the most of the residual energy resources, such as those from the El Besòs revaluation plant, or by exploiting the residual cold generated in the regasification process of liquefied natural gas in Barcelona Port.
The two existing heating and cooling networks are currently over 24 km long. Between them, they supply thermal energy totalling 105 GWh/year and the goal is to continue expanding them.
The networks are managed by joint ventures that Barcelona City Council takes part in. If you would like to know more:
Fòrum-22@ eastern cooling and heating networks
Zona Franca-la Marina western cooling and heating networks
Ecology. Urban Planning, Infrastructures and Mobility
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File:Inspection Guide for PVVP 150524 (GIZ 2015).pdf
Go to page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55
English: In three consecutive years (2013 to 2015) the GIZ, through EnDev Indonesia project, recruited international consultants, supported by national technical inspectors, to undertake the technical inspection and baseline survey of 112, 110, and 83 (respectively) PV micro-grid systems installed in Indonesia, on behalf of the Directorate General for New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (DJEBTKE). The technical inspections are conducted at the specific written request of EBTKE and results are treated in the strictest confidentiality. Inspection findings were evaluated, summarised and submitted to DJEBTKE for further processing and follow-up.
Specialist technical inspection teams, comprising one (1) experienced technician and one (1) assistant, were recruited for this initiative to conduct 2-day site visits, complete pre-pared checklists and questionnaires and train the beneficiary communities on system operation, maintenance and administration. Findings of these inspections were summarised and submitted to DJEBTKE for subsequent follow-up with contractors. In addition, baseline data (through the EnDev Key Performance Indicator/KPI survey methodology) was captured for a comprehensive database on EnDev-supported rural electrification projects.
This Inspection Guide is the revised version from the previously published in 2013. It present the checklists, measurements form, and KPI questionnaire, as well as explanatory documentation compiled during this programme and adapted to capture essential lessons learnt.
Purpose of this Inspection Guide is to record the process and make templates available for future inspections by any interested third parties.
PV Mini-grid Inspection Guide
Retrieved from "https://energypedia.info/index.php?title=File:Inspection_Guide_for_PVVP_150524_(GIZ_2015).pdf&oldid=161794"
PV Mini-grid
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City keeps up rapid economic growth - City keeps up rapid economic growth - Website Ho Chi Minh City
City keeps up rapid economic growth
HCM City achieved robust economic growth in the first eight months, creating favourable conditions to fulfill its socio-economic targets for the full year, Chairman of HCM City's People's Committee, Le Hoang Quan, has said.
Speaking at a Committee's meeting on August 26, Quan said it provided economic figures for the period.
According to a report from HCM City's Department of Planning and Investment, the city's retail sales and services were worth over US$420.7 billion, a 12.7 per cent year-on-year rise. The biggest contributors to growth were household utensils, fuel, and transportation.
Exports totalled $18.56 billion, an increase of 2.3 per cent following August shipments of $2.24 billion.
Imports jumped 10.8 per cent in August though, at $15.6 billion, the value for the year-to-date fell 9.1 per cent.
Major decreases were reported in steel, milk and dairy products, computers, and electronics and components.
Imports from China dropped by 7.4 per cent in the first eight months while exports rose by 15.4 per cent.
The Industrial Production Index has been rising consistently this year with some major sectors like mechanical engineering, electronics, chemicals-rubber-plastics, and food processing reporting a 7.5 per cent increase year-on-year.
The city plans to restructure these industries by focusing on processing and manufacturing and reducing the contribution of mining.
So far this year city authorities have issued licences to 241 projects with a total investment of $1.06 billion, a 7.3 per cent decrease in number but an 80.3 per cent jump in value.
City's support for businesses
Chairman Quan lauded the figures, saying they indicated the great efforts made by the authorities and people.
But links between the banking system and businesses, especially those taking part in the city's price stabilisation programme, must be strengthened, he said.
Banks had unveiled plans to reduce loan interest rates, and this offered an opportunity for companies to boost production, he said.
However, credit growth in the city remained low — at about 4.7 per cent against a target of 10-15 per cent – he said.
Growth in foreign trade was not as high as expected, he added.
Tran Anh Tuan, deputy head of the HCM City Institute for Research and Development, said despite the decrease in import of technology-related products like computers and electronics and components, the big expansion in import of machinery and equipment and chemicals indicated the sectors' low competitiveness.
As of August 20 the city had issued licences to 15,071 new businesses, but 14,200 existing ones suspended operations, he said.
In the final four months of the year the city should help businesses cope with their challenges by providing financial and technological support, he said.
City authorities were expected to introduce more new policies and incentives to help businesses and improve the competitiveness of the city's industries.
(Source: VNS)
Xuất Chuyển đổi City keeps up rapid economic growth tới DOC
Xuất Chuyển đổi City keeps up rapid economic growth tới PDF
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Fanderson
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Licensees – can we help you?
Setting up your Fanderson account
Changing your membership address
Join as new member
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The Official Gerry And Sylvia Anderson Appreciation SocietySince 1981. By fans, for fans.
Lynne Frederick (1954 -1994)
Lynne Frederick, the actress who portrayed botanist Shermeen Williams in the Space:1999 episode A Matter Of Balancehas died in Los Angeles aged 39. Lynne Frederick was born in Hillingdon, west London on 12th July 1954. She left school at 15 to become an actress, and within three years had appeared in a number of television programmes and six films, among them Vampire Circus (1971), The Amazing Mr Blunden (1972) and Henry VIII And His Six Wives (1972).
In 1977, shortly after appearing in Space:1999, she married Peter Sellers, nearly 30 years her senior, and in 1979 they appeared together in a remake of The Prisoner Of Zenda. After Sellers’ fatal heart attack in 1980, Frederick inherited almost his entire wealth, some £4 million, while Sellers’ children by previous marriages received virtually nothing. Frederick married her old friend David Frost six months later but they were divorced within 18 months. Six months after that she married Californian heart specialist Dr Barry Unger but they separated in 1991. In 1984, Frederick sued the makers of The Trail Of The Pink Panther, a film composed of out-takes from the Pink Panther film series in which Peter Sellers had starred, describing it as an insult to his memory. The High Court awarded her more than $1 million in damages. She said at the time, “I hope this shows once and for all that I’m not a gold-digger. I’ve risked my entire fortune and that of my daughter to protect Peter’s reputation”.
Originally published in FAB 15.
Stingray and The Secret Service added to Britbox
Virtual Annual General Meeting 2021
Just in time for Christmas… Podcast 6
Fireball XL5 soundtrack CD, vinyl and 7″ single from Silva Screen
Ray Barrett dies aged 82
Space1999.org - Fred Freiberger
TV Zone Special #57: TV Zone Special #57: Gerry Anderson
Flickr: Fanderson Flickr's Photostream
Fanderson's TV21 - a set on Flickr
About Fanderson
© Fanderson 2021
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Share this Story: Why Xplornet likes its chances of succeeding as Manitoba’s fourth wireless carrier
Why Xplornet likes its chances of succeeding as Manitoba’s fourth wireless carrier
Taking on the Big Three is notoriously difficult, but here’s why this little-known carrier may have a fighting chance in Manitoba
Apr 05, 2018 • January 6, 2021 • 7 minute read
Xplornet chief executive Allison Lenehan. Photo by Peter J Thompson/National Post
Xplornet Communications Inc. isn’t exactly a famous telecom brand, not even in Manitoba where it will soon become the province’s fourth wireless carrier, but chief executive Allison Lenehan is okay with that.
The 15-year-old private company based in Woodstock, N.B., is used to operating on the periphery since it offers broadband service on the outskirts of big cities and in rural and remote regions, areas where residents aren’t wired to major networks and must rely on satellite and fixed-wireless service for connectivity.
Why Xplornet likes its chances of succeeding as Manitoba’s fourth wireless carrier Back to video
But Xplornet is getting ready to introduce itself to a more urban audience after stepping into the public spotlight last year by surprising industry watchers with a supporting role in BCE Inc.’s $3.9-billion acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc., one of the largest telecommunications deals in Canadian history.
BCE Inc. receives final approval to buy MTS in $3.9-billion deal, Xplornet enters Manitoba market
'We're almost a new entrant': Bell, Telus work to build wireless brands in Manitoba
To win approval from the competition watchdog, BCE (Bell) agreed to sell 24,700 wireless subscribers, six stores and 40 MHz of spectrum in Manitoba to Xplornet.
To give Xplornet a fighting chance at success, Bell must provide Xplornet with access to its mobile networks and towers for the next three to five years. Bell must also offer special roaming rates for five years and allow its customers to switch to the new entrant without penalty.
The spotlight will intensify this fall when Xplornet starts to compete against the Big Three of Bell, Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. for wireless customers in the prairie province’s biggest cities, Winnipeg and Brandon. It’s notoriously tough to start a new wireless carrier in Canada, but Lenehan believes the $100-million venture will pay off as customers clamour for more connectivity.
“It’s about what customers want,” he said in an interview at Xplornet’s Markham, Ont. office. “If they would like more broadband, be it fixed or mobile, then that’s what we want to pursue.”
If they would like more broadband, be it fixed or mobile, then that’s what we want to pursue
Allison Lenehan, CEO, Xplornet Communications
Taking that pursuit to Manitoba was a plot twist in Bell’s purchase of MTS. The Competition Bureau approved the deal in February 2017 on the condition that Bell divested a chunk of the business to Xplornet within a year of the March closing date.
The decision was in step with Ottawa’s decade-long push to have four wireless players in every market in the name of affordability and to counter any effects of co-ordination between the Big Three. Wireless prices in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec are markedly lower than other provinces and that’s likely due to the respective presence of MTS, Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. and Quebecor Inc.’s Vidéotron.
Still, opponents questioned why the bureau would approve the elimination of an existing strong fourth player, MTS, to usher in an untested cellphone provider. Xplornet has 350,000 internet and home phone customers nationwide, but has never offered cellphone service before.
Analysts viewed Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom Mobile as a more natural fourth player given the company’s presence in Western Canada. Ultimately, Shaw was not involved in the transaction.
But analysts expressed skepticism of Xplornet’s staying power, especially since wireless incumbents have a long history of swallowing any upstarts, including Fido Solutions, Clearnet Communications, Mobilicity, Wind Mobile and Public Mobile.
Xplornet starts this fall to compete against Bell, Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. for wireless customers in the Manitoba’s biggest cities, Winnipeg and Brandon. Photo by Tom Bateman/Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune/Postmedia Network
Wind Mobile founder Anthony Lacavera said the success of Xplornet or any fourth carrier hinges on regulators enforcing agreed upon access to the incumbents’ infrastructure, whether that’s in the form of tower sharing, roaming or terrestrial network access.
“It comes down to implementation and holding the incumbents’ feet to the fire with respect to those policies,” he said. “There are clear economic benefits associated with competition in telecommunications. I would be stressing that in Ottawa.”
But Lenehan said it’s no secret that Xplornet has long been interested in any government discussions around broadband and spectrum. He said he made sure the right decision makers were aware of Xplornet’s interest when Bell and MTS initially announced their merger plans in May 2016.
“It’s a natural continuation for us,” he said of the unique opportunity to acquire more spectrum and access to complementary facilities it didn’t have. “Whether people were surprised by the outcome … I would say for 15 years we continue to surprise people. I don’t think this would be any different and we’re okay with that.”
There are clear economic benefits associated with competition in telecommunications. I would be stressing that in Ottawa
Anthony Lacavera, founder, Wind Mobile
Lenehan said Xplornet will invest $100 million in Manitoba to set up as a facilities-based mobile provider for the long term.
“It’s not an inconsequential amount,” he said. “If there are any other questions as to our level of interest, hopefully, that gives you a sense of our commitment.”
The expansion comes amid reports of a potential sale or initial public offering. In March, Reuters reported Xplornet had hired two investment banks to help with the process. Xplornet spokesman James Maunder said the company goes out to capital markets to raise money at least once a year, but would not comment further on the report.
At least Xplornet is not starting completely from scratch in Manitoba. In October 2017, Xplornet bought NetSet Communications Inc., which provided high-speed internet to rural customers in the province over fixed wireless connections.
Add that to Xplornet’s existing operations in the province (it provides internet and home phone service to rural customers) and it now has roughly 100 employees, tens of thousands of customers and roughly 250 wireless towers, Lenehan said.
You’re seeing a pace of change, innovation, that is occurring much more rapidly than people may realize
Its wireless towers (2,000 nationwide) and spectrum holdings (it is the fourth-largest holder of spectrum licences after the Big Three, although most are for fixed, not mobile, frequencies) enable it to provide fixed-wireless internet from a tower to a home without fibre, copper or cable lines.
That service delivery method is getting more popular in both rural and urban centres because it’s less expensive than running wires to each building.
Coupled with satellite upgrades, Xplornet plans to deliver speeds of 100 Mbps in the “near future,” a speed that remains wishful thinking for many rural Canadians.
“You’re seeing a pace of change, innovation, that is occurring much more rapidly than people may realize,” Lenehan said. “There’s no limitation on urban versus rural; it’s just people getting comfortable with the idea that wireless-based solutions can rival wireline-based service delivery.”
Xplornet has not yet launched its wireless service in Manitoba, though it was supposed to do so by March, according to the consent agreement with regulators. It asked for more time to get ready and the Competition Tribunal in January granted the delay.
Anthony Lacavera is the founder of Wind Mobile, since purchased by Shaw Communications and renamed Freedom. The success of a fourth wireless carrier comes down to âimplementation and holding the incumbents’ feet to the fire with respect to those policies,â Lacavera said.
Xplornet wants to make sure its facilities can handle customers right out of the gate, Lenehan said, so it needs time to build traffic management components for its mobile network core to ensure the customers transferred from Bell continue to get good service. In his view, Xplornet has to earn every customer.
“In order to do this right, you need to do it a certain way,” Lenehan said. “Even if we acquire somebody, it really doesn’t matter unless we continue to deliver them the service they’re expecting from us and keep them as customers, because we’re investing so much into the infrastructure and that’s just to get us to the conversation.”
Lenehan wouldn’t say whether the network will be 3G, 4G or LTE, but said it’s not focused on legacy infrastructure and described it as “state of the art.” Nor would he reveal much about Xplornet’s intended wireless offering, although he indicated it will be a value brand.
“I can unequivocally tell you that we won’t be like anybody else,” he said. “It’s not our intention just to be the same as the Big Three in Manitoba.”
It’s not our intention just to be the same as the Big Three in Manitoba
For a sense of Xplornet’s strategy, Lenehan points to its entry into the home phone business even while others bemoan the decline of landlines. He got into that business anyway because he could offer people a $20 monthly service instead of a $50 one. There was good uptake, he said.
“Our customers are saying they want more value,” he said.
Now, Lenehan’s applying that logic to mobile, which is a massive growth category as demand for data skyrockets due to consumers’ increasing hunger for video.
“As long as we offer good value, and it is a growing marketplace, we will carve out a position with those who were interested in our offering,” he said.
It’s a safe bet that consumers will at the very least pay attention to a value brand. Bell, which launched its Lucky Mobile value brand in the province in March, promised a wireless service price freeze for its first 12 months as Bell MTS.
Prices remain lower in Manitoba than in B.C., Alberta and Ontario, but customers may be sensitive to increases after years of enjoying affordable rates compared to the rest of the country.
As of Wednesday, a Bell MTS bring-your-own-phone plan with unlimited nationwide talk and text and 10 GB of data cost $70. The same plan in Ontario cost $130.
Lenehan wouldn’t spell out the scale of Xplornet’s plans, declining to answer questions on whether it’s as ambitious as Vidéotron or Freedom Mobile, which have both expressed goals of grabbing a quarter of the market share where they operate. He said, however, the move is “well beyond a test investment.”
Xplornet will also evaluate whether to bid for more wireless spectrum in the 600 MHz auction next year.
“More is better if customers want more service from you,” Lenehan said. “Clearly in broadband we like our chances.”
• Email: ejackson@nationalpost.com | Twitter: theemilyjackson
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Five Races That May Not Be Decided Tuesday. Or Wednesday. Or Thursday …
Nov. 5, 2018 , at 11:55 AM
By Nathaniel Rakich
Filed under 2018 Election
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY FIVETHIRTYEIGHT / GETTY IMAGES
For exhausted candidates and campaign staff, Tuesday — Election Day — marks the end of a long journey and the start of a well-earned respite.
Or does it?
It’s very likely that at least a couple elections will be too close to call when we wake up1 on Wednesday morning. It happened in 2012, 2014 and 2016; heck, it’s happened twice this year already. And in at least five races, there is a possibility that no candidate will receive a majority of votes, kicking in special rules to decide the election at a later date. So, let’s take a look at some races where the election might go into extra innings:
Some races in California and Washington might not be called until later in the week. That’s because many or all voters in these two states vote by mail, and ballots only have to be postmarked by Election Day, not received by then. With thousands of ballots potentially outstanding, winners can’t be declared in neck-and-neck races until days, if not weeks, after Election Day. The Deluxe version of our forecast thinks that the California 25th, California 39th and California 48th will be among the closest contests in these two states, but, really, this delay could happen in any number of districts.
And, of course, there’s always the possibility that a random race anywhere in the country is so close that it goes to a recount, postponing the certification of a winner for weeks.
Then there are the races where a majority of the vote is required to win, starting with Vermont governor. Republican Gov. Phil Scott is strongly favored, but perhaps not by as much as some analysts assume. The Deluxe version of our gubernatorial forecast puts Scott at 54 percent of the vote and Democrat Christine Hallquist at 38 percent, with 8 percent going to other candidates. In the event that Scott fails to secure more than 50 percent of the vote, a joint vote of the state legislature would pick the winner. The last time this happened, four years ago, the Democrat-controlled legislature re-elected Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin.
In the Maine 2nd District, our model forecasts that Democratic state Rep. Jared Golden will finish ahead of Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin, 49 percent of the vote to 47 percent, but it doesn’t take into account Maine’s new ranked-choice voting system, which kicks in if neither candidate wins a majority of the vote. Maine used the system for the first time during this year’s primary elections, and the ranked-choice tabulations took place about a week after voters went to the polls. If the Maine 2nd proves to be the decisive district for control of the House — and it very well might — we could be waiting a long time to find out which party will run the chamber. And even then it may not be settled; Poliquin dodged a question about whether he would accept the results if he leads in the initial tally but loses the ranked-choice tabulations, so it may take even longer to finalize a winner in that race if he decides to challenge the results.
Then there are the three races that could go to more traditional runoff elections. The special U.S. Senate election in Mississippi is currently a battle royal between four candidates. As of Saturday morning, the Deluxe version of our model said there was a 95 percent chance that none would receive a majority of the vote, which would send the race to a Nov. 27 runoff between the top two finishers. According to our forecast, that’s likely to be appointed Republican incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and a Democrat, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy. If the other Senate races give the chamber 50 Democrats and 49 Republicans, this one runoff could decide control of the Senate.
Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp and Democratic former state House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams are locked in an incredibly close race for Georgia governor, raising the possibility that if Libertarian candidate Ted Metz receives even a tiny fraction of the vote, it could deny the first-place finisher a majority. Under Georgia law, Kemp and Abrams would then have to face off in another election on Dec. 4; the Deluxe version of our forecast gave this a 17 percent chance of happening as of Saturday morning.
Finally, as of Saturday morning, the Louisiana 3rd District has a 22 percent chance of going to a Dec. 8 runoff in our Deluxe model. Louisiana is the only state that doesn’t hold primaries before November; instead, the Bayou State holds a “jungle primary” in which all candidates, regardless of party, run on the same ballot in the general election. If no one gets a majority, then the top two vote-getters advance to a runoff. The 3rd District is solidly Republican, but incumbent Republican Rep. Clay Higgins could slip below 50 percent if GOP challenger Josh Guillory (who has been endorsed by Rudy Giuliani) peels off enough votes. Our model still thinks there’s a 99.6 percent that Higgins will win, but maybe not before he is forced into a runoff.
So keep your seatbelts buckled; if these last three scenarios come to pass, we could be in for as much as another full month of midterm campaigning.
If we ever go to sleep …
Nathaniel Rakich is an elections analyst at FiveThirtyEight. @baseballot
2018 Election (359 posts) 2018 House Elections (145) 2018 Senate Elections (128) Georgia (128) 2018 Governors Elections (68) Maine (67) Washington (54) Mississippi (34) Louisiana (33) Vermont (21) Califorina (1)
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The Last Shift (2020)
Watch The Last Shift (2020) Online
Stanley, an aging fast food worker, prepares to work his final graveyard shift after 38 years. When he’s asked to train his replacement, Jevon, Stanley’s weekend takes an unexpected turn.
Director: Andrew Cohn
Actors: Allison Tolman, Birgundi Baker, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Ed O'Neill, Richard Jenkins, Shane Paul McGhie
Tags:Added Today FMovies Movies 2020
Paperback Hero (1999)
Jack Willis is a handsome roadtrain driver with a secret – he has just become a top-selling romance novelist. However, being a ‘man’s man’ in the Australian outlook, to avoid…
After his wife falls under the influence of a drug dealer, an everyday guy transforms himself into Crimson Bolt, a superhero with the best intentions, though he lacks for heroic…
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama
Friends with Benefits (2011)
Dylan and Jamie think it’s going to be easy to add the simple act of sex to their friendship, despite what Hollywood romantic comedies would have them believe. They soon…
The House of Tomorrow (2017)
The film tells futurist, architect, and inventor R. Buckminster Fuller’s incredible story through two teens hoping to get laid, become punk gods, and survive high school.
Woody has always been confident about his place in the world and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie. But when Bonnie adds…
Tony Lip, a bouncer in 1962, is hired to drive pianist Don Shirley on a tour through the Deep South in the days when African Americans, forced to find alternate…
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama, Music
Hampstead (2017)
Emily Walters is an American widow living a peaceful, uneventful existence in the idyllic Hampstead Village of London, when she meets local recluse, Donald Horner. For 17 years, Donald has…
Country: Belgium, UK
Set in Canton, China in the 1940s, the story revolves in a town ruled by the Axe Gang, Sing who desperately wants to become a member. He stumbles into a…
Country: China, Hong Kong
Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy
The Santa Clause (1994)
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The film follows Will Chu whose true life passion is to become a stand-up comedian. He is given the opportunity to emcee a comedy show, opening for his hero, Billy…
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The University of Florida celebrated its 161st birthday on Jan. 6. In January, UF increased its push toward becoming a Top 10 national university by hiring new faculty and unveiled the first fully online, four-year degree program.
Elaine Turner has been appointed the interim dean of the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Turner has been recognized previously as Undergraduate Teacher of the Year, Undergraduate Advisor of the Year and one of two UF honors professors of the year in 2003.
Carolyne Salt has joined the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce as a membership account executive. Salt was previously the vice president of Results Management & Marketing, Inc., and an account executive for the Business Report and InSite Magazine.
Sharyn McPhail has joined the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce as a membership account executive. McPhail recently moved to Gainesville and previously worked as a sales consultant in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota area.
Rick Chin has been named the first chief information officer of Bosshardt Realty Services as the firm prepares to go paperless. Chin previously worked as an IT consultant for Bosshardt and has spent more than 25 years in marketing, accounting and information technology.
Avera & Smith has been recognized as one of “U.S. News” and “Best Lawyers’” Best Law Firms of 2014. The firm won the award based on their merits of civility, understanding of business practices and positive references. The firm was also recognized for integrity, work product and ranking among the competition.
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Pay-Off, Cancel, or Die: One Millennial’s Opinion on the Reality of Student Loan Debt
PSA from the School Board of Alachua County
Cracking the Code: Black Tie
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Bless Me Ultima Summary
Book: Bless Me, Ultima
Pages: 7 Words: 1601 Views: 499
The Gods of New Mexico: Bless Me, Ultima “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference” (Reinhold Niebuhr). In the novel Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya, a young boy name Antonio Marez has faith to go through his childhood life to perceive in learning new aspects and independence in Catholicism in which he goes in the real world in order to create and establish new ideas and acknowledge himself into adulthood.
Through the use of religious symbolism that connects to different cultural beliefs, the author, Rudolfo Anaya seeks to explain how New Mexico’s cultures can combine with each other to create a new culture with combined religious beliefs using knowledge. Antonio discovers more about the Lunas and how it relates to him and the world he is living in while also appreciating the Virgin of Guadalupe and the religious beliefs he has for the Catholic Church. Not only that, but also becoming a true believer and having struggles going through understanding religion as the golden carp appears.
Anaya does this in order to compare and contrast New Mexico with Antonio’s rite of passage into adulthood and with the growth of others during World War . The golden carp and the Virgin of Guadalupe are two different cultures, while the moon is the one that explain who Antonio really is. The Spanish word for Luna is the moon, which is representing The Virgin Guadalupe and the Virgin Mary in the Catholicism religion. In this novel, the moon shows up frequently expressing wisdom and how it relates to Antonio and the land he is living on.
Not only that but also how it relates to the Luna of his family. For example, Antonio goes to his uncle’s house and hears stories about the power of the moon because “…the moon ruled… almost every part of their lives. ” This is the reason why they are called the Lunas. At night, the moon would fill “the valley with her soft light… listening to the resting earth” (pg. 264). The land of the Lunas was once called El Puerto, which is a Spanish word meaning doorway. The quote “El Puerto de los Lunas” defines as the doorway of the moon, which is leading the way to the Virgin Mary.
Los Puerto can be used for the characteristics of a men and women also known as feminine and masculine describing the moon. When Antonio learns about the moon and its power, he gets a better understanding of Lunas which makes him stronger and it pushes him to grow into his adulthood as he learns more about the land he is living in. Anaya combines feminine and masculine to describe the moon involving other cultures as of an example of the Virgin Mary into the Catholic culture using religious symbolism and the symbol of moon during World War in New Mexico.
Since Antonio is a Luna, he is part of the moon culture. Not only that, the Virgin Mary is also part of the moon goddess and the Catholic culture meaning that the Virgin Mary is also part of Antonio’s religion. The mother of Antonio is named Luna. Luna, meaning moon, worships The Virgin of Guadalupe. There are many cultures Antonio is part of, and The Virgin of Guadalupe is one of them which is important to Antonio. The Virgin of Guadalupe is the goddess and righteousness that looks over and protects others, especially the Lunas.
In this novel, Antonio has many things on his mind as the Virgin of Guadalupe is the forgiveness and mercy that looks over and protects Antonio as he finds out the world he is living in between his mother and his father. For example, Antonio’s mother explains to Antonio how the Virgin brought miracles. She tells him “…the Virgin was the saint…” and “loved none as dearly as the Virgin…” As Antonio felt as if he, “was looking at a real person, the mother of God, the last relief of all sinners…” (pg. 47). Antonio believes that the Virgin of Guadalupe is more loving than God.
Saints have the power to perform miracles, so the Virgin of Guadalupe is the Saint that Antonio loves the most because of its miracles and loving power. The Luna family from the mother side is quiet people, so the Virgin of Guadalupe relates to them and to the culture they are since the Virgin of Guadalupe is quite. There is a reason why the Virgin of Guadalupe is forgiving, quiet, and peaceful. Antonio’s family are Catholic and so is the Virgin of Guadalupe, so worshiping her is what the Marez and Luna family do.
The Virgin of Guadalupe is a way to help and protect Antonio in the world he is living in. Since Antonio appreciates the Virgin of Guadalupe, the Virgin is going to appreciate Antonio. Antonio views the Virgin as an ameliorating in the world he is living in since he is living in two worlds, the Lunas and the Marez. This way, Antonio can grow into his adulthood and decide if he should be a quiet farmer like a Luna or become a priest since he worships and appreciates the Virgin of Guadalupe. Anaya ombines the symbolism of the moon and religious symbolism of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Antonio’s life and the world he is living in to describe the combination of the Catholicism of his mother and indigenous of his father during World War in New Mexico. In the world Antonio is living in, there are many cultural and religious beliefs. The Catholicism culture Antonio believes in and the Virgin of Guadalupe he loves and appreciates for the protection; the golden carp is another god seen by a true believer.
Antonio believes in God and the Virgin of Guadalupe, but does that mean he can change or combine his religious beliefs as he grows into his adulthood. The golden carp, a god, represents a Pagan religion and the struggle Antonio is going through in understanding religion. Antonio does not want to acknowledge any other God other than the god of Catholicism; however, Cico tells Antonio the story of the golden carp. Antonio responds that he is “Catholic”… and “can believe only in the God of the Church. ” (pg. 112). The golden carp is another god that can only be seen by a true believer and Antonio does eventually see the golden carp.
He ruled when the humans were destroyed for their sins. The golden carp lives in the water and rules the blue lakes in New Mexico. The reason why Antonio does not want to believe in the golden carp is because he only believes in the God in Catholicism, which makes him a true believer and a priest in the Catholicism religion. Cico was able to let Antonio see the golden carp by making a commandment and was swearing, which he never did before because if he brakes the swear then it would be a sin. Antonio’s mother wants him to become a priest while Ultima wants him to become a man of learning.
Believing in the golden carp would not make him a priest because he would be believing in the wrong god, but he will be a man of learning since he is learning new gods. Antonio is a good person and is acting like a priest, just like what his mother wants him to be. He is telling Cico that he only believes in the God of the church, as for Cico, he only believes in the god of the golden carp. Since Antonio is from the Catholicism religion and the golden carp is from the Pagan religion, it makes Antonio struggle going through understanding religion.
This makes Antonio struggle in going into adulthood since he is learning new religions and does not know which one he should believe in. So instead of making Antonio a priest, he might as well become a man of learning. Anaya uses the golden carp as a symbol of Pagan religion to show the struggle Antonio is having in the world he is living in. There are many religions, gods, and cultures that Antonio has to choose and believe in order to grow into his adulthood during World War in New Mexico with the family he is living with.
There are many religions Antonio learns and does not know if he should believe in it or no. Since he is Catholic, it is important for him to believe what he really is such as the Virgin of Guadalupe instead of the golden carp, as he is a Luna, the moon, and a Marez, the sea. The author, Rudolfo Anaya, expresses New Mexico’s cultures and Antonio’s culture in order to discover or create a new culture. Antonio learns more about the Lunas and how it relates to him and the world he is living in while appreciating the Virgin of Guadalupe and the religious beliefs he has for the Catholic Church.
Not only that, but also becoming a true believer and having struggles going through understanding religion as the golden carp appears. Anaya ends up showing Antonio’s rite of passage into adulthood in New Mexico during World War . Antonio Marez starts to learn more aspects about religion and Catholicism in the real world in order to create new ideas. Antonio goes into his life to change the ideas he can to understand the wisdom of religion that God seeks in order to know the difference.
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Latin Mass attracting a younger generation of parishioners
The Virginian-Pilot ^ | Dec. 21, 2003 | STEVEN G. VEGH
Posted on 12/31/2003 10:15:57 AM PST by tridentine
CHESAPEAKE — Common sense would suggest it’s only an ever-dwindling band of nostalgic, silver-haired Catholics who come to St. Benedict Chapel to hear the Rev. Damian A. Abbaticchio lead services in the dead language of Latin.
Yet Sunday mornings find youthful faces throughout the church. A steady trickle of newcomers in their 20s, 30s and early 40s has boosted St. Benedict’s membership to about 200, leading it to add a second Sunday service and expand its building. The chapel had about 80 members when it was founded in 1992.
Many of the young newcomers were restless Catholics who have found in the Latin Mass something tried and proven.“There’s a sense that the whole has been refined over centuries,” said 36-year-old Ron Weber, a Chesapeake resident who grew up going to English-only Masses. “It gives you the sense that God is always the same.” From the old Mass to the rosary, traditions that fell out of favor among their parents after the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s are making a comeback among many young Catholics. “They are a big trend in the church,” said Kathleen Cummings of the Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism, which is based at the University of Notre Dame.
The old practices include personal devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ; novenas, which are prayers said over nine consecutive days; and using prayer beads while reciting the rosary. Many of the practices can be done alone.
For the younger generation, which rarely experienced the traditions while growing up, the old practices can serve as a new way of connecting with the divine. “They enable people to pray in a certain way that helps their faith,” said the Rev. James Martin, who has written about the trend as associate editor of America, a Jesuit magazine.
St. Benedict and St. Joseph, established in Richmond in 1991, are the only two churches in the Catholic Diocese of Richmond that celebrate the Latin Mass regularly; both had to receive permission from then-Bishop Walter F. Sullivan. St. Benedict is a mission church operating under the auspices of St. Gregory the Great Church in Virginia Beach.
More than 100 dioceses across the country have parishes that celebrate the Latin Mass regularly. The rite also is know as the Tridentine Mass, because it was institutionalized by Catholic Church leaders at the Council of Trent in the 16th century.
What impresses Abbaticchio about the old rite is that, apart from the sermon, priests have little opportunity to inject themselves into the service. The Mass is scripted and predictable.
“There’s no personal interpretation at all,’’ he said. “The meaning is definite.” Some of the more obvious differences between a contemporary Mass and a Latin Mass were apparent on a recent morning at St. Benedict, which occupies a narrow, former bungalow in Chesapeake’s Princeton Halls community. “Chastity is a Lifestyle” advised a bumper sticker on one of the members’ cars; rosary beads hung from the rear-view mirror.
Inside the sanctuary, most women and girls covered their heads with lacy mantillas or round, doily-like pieces of satin.
During the service, the 86-year-old Abbaticchio, resplendent in a green and gold chasuble, prayed at times behind a wrought-iron railing that separated the altar from the congregational worship space. Some congregants followed along in red missals giving both the Latin text and an English translation, as well as instructions on when to stand or kneel.
“Dominus vobiscum,” Abbaticchio said, speaking to the crowd: The Lord be with you.
“Et cum spiritu tuo,” responded his flock: And with thy spirit.
In a modern Mass, a priest faces parishioners when he performs the sacrament of holy communion. In the Latin Mass, however, Abbaticchio’s back was toward the congregation, with a tinkling bell marking the moments at which the bread and wine became consecrated.
For older Catholics and many baby boomers at St. Benedict, the old liturgy has almost a nostalgic feel: It is the standard with which they grew up. But for some younger Catholics raised on English-only services, the Latin Mass is oddly fresh in its return to tradition.
Weber said he first learned about the Tridentine Mass while studying religion as a student at The College of William and Mary. After graduating and settling in South Hampton Roads, he visited St. Benedict out of curiosity.
He said he finds in the old Mass a quality of “immutability – the sense that God doesn’t change, and neither does the way you worship.”
Joe and Susan Kalis, who live near Smithfield, said they began learning about the traditional style of worship while giving their children religious instruction during home schooling.
“We were re-taught the faith when we taught our children, and suddenly realized we had missed an awful lot,” said Joe, who, like his wife, is 41. Echoing a comment common among their peers at St. Benedict, the couple said the Tridentine rite properly puts a heavier emphasis on the sacrament of communion.
Most typical was Leanne Smith’s view that the Latin Mass demands more reverence than is usually found at the standard worship service. Smith, 35, said she skipped from one church to another before stumbling upon a Latin service in Northern Virginia five years ago. “It opened my eyes,” she said. “This is what our Lord, the apostles, have passed down.”
Compared to the old rite, some younger members said, the contemporary Mass is too unpredictable and too much like Protestant services.
To some extent, interest by some young Catholics in devotional practices reflects a wider appreciation within Catholicism for time-honored ways. Pope John Paul II declared the period from October 2002 to October 2003 as the Year of the Rosary, and last month, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a document describing how traditional practices can fit into Catholic life.
Martin called the document an attempt to map a middle ground for Catholics with strong feelings about traditions like religious devotions.
“On the one hand, you have people, mostly liberals, who say, 'It’s baloney and superstitious,’ and you have other people who say, 'You’re not a real Catholic if you don’t pray the rosary,’ ’’ he said. Martin said the old traditions will continue to find young adherents.
“The most salient part is that for many young Catholics, these devotions and things like the Latin Mass are just sort of exotic, sensual, mysterious, very other, so it sort of fascinates them,” Martin said.
Additionally, he said, younger Catholics are less likely to be biased against traditional practices they haven’t experienced than some older Catholics who remain glad to be rid of ways that they found stifling or outmoded.
Some research indicates young Catholics are more conservative than their parents as well.
But Cummings said the old practices also appeal to some within the younger generation who are struggling to find ways of defining and demonstrating their Catholic identity.
“The Latin Mass would be one way to proclaim one’s self as distinctly Catholic,” she said.
TOPICS: Catholic; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholiclist; latinmass; romancatholic; tridentine; virginia
1 posted on 12/31/2003 10:15:58 AM PST by tridentine
To: dubyaismypresident; xsmommy
Hipster ping.
2 posted on 12/31/2003 10:24:19 AM PST by secret garden (Happy New Year!)
To: secret garden
I make the Latin mass about once a month, it's great. And my parish's in English the rest of the time.
3 posted on 12/31/2003 10:26:02 AM PST by NeoCaveman
To: tridentine
Two things this article doesn't mention:
1) The Dreadful Diocese of Richmond is one of the most dissident in the country, rife with liturgical abuse, lousy music, and nearly heretical sermons. Several Chesapeake parishes are among the worst I've ever seen. Unsurprisingly, vocations in the DDR are nearly nonexistant.
2) The St. Benedict chapel began life as "Our Lady of the Rosary" (or something very similar), an "independant" chapel served by SSPX and SSPV priests. Fortunately, they had the good sense to get right with the Bishop, and affiliate with the Benedictines who run St. Gregory.
4 posted on 12/31/2003 10:47:58 AM PST by ArrogantBustard
To: Diago; narses; Loyalist; BlackElk; american colleen; saradippity; Polycarp; Dajjal; ...
Bump for good news.
5 posted on 12/31/2003 11:29:57 AM PST by Maximilian
To: Maximilian
Common sense would suggest it’s only an ever-dwindling band of nostalgic, silver-haired Catholics who come to St. Benedict Chapel to hear the Rev. Damian A. Abbaticchio lead services in the dead language of Latin.
The utter irony is that as time goes on, it is becoming more apparent that the exact opposite is true -- the Latin Mass attracts people from every age group, while many parishes churches (particularly in older urban areas) end up closing their doors and selling the property once the last silver-haired parishioners pass on or move into nursing homes.
6 posted on 12/31/2003 11:35:41 AM PST by Alberta's Child (Alberta -- the TRUE North strong and free.)
To: dubyaismypresident
The Tridentine Mass will be celebrated tomorrow morning at Old Saint Mary's Church in Washington DC (9:00am). I'm planning to go.
7 posted on 12/31/2003 11:46:47 AM PST by COBOL2Java (If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, thank a soldier.)
To: Alberta's Child
it is becoming more apparent that the exact opposite is true -- the Latin Mass attracts people from every age group
It goes even beyond that. Traditional parishes often have an average age of around 10, as the pews are overflowing with large young families with an average of several children for each adult. Meanwhile the non-traditionalists are contracepting themselves into oblivion.
As you say, many Catholic parishes are following the main-line protestant example of serving a dwindling population of silver-haired elders. But these operations all stay in business for the same reason: that's where the money is. Main-line protestant congregations often have huge endowments and no parishioners -- an ideal situation for a vicar looking for a cushy sinecure. Same with more and more Catholic priests these days, especially those of a certain persuasion.
I'm for everything old being new again but in the language of the people. It's what I understand.
9 posted on 12/31/2003 11:49:23 AM PST by ex-snook (Americans need Balanced Trade - we buy from you, you buy from us. No free rides.)
To: COBOL2Java
The Tridentine Mass will be celebrated tomorrow morning at Old Saint Mary's Church in Washington DC (9:00am).
Isn't that where Pat Buchanan goes to Mass?
10 posted on 12/31/2003 11:50:13 AM PST by Maximilian
If we had Bishops who stopped suppressing the Traditional Mass these numbers would explode.
You can't desire something you don't know.
11 posted on 12/31/2003 11:55:50 AM PST by Canticle_of_Deborah
To: ex-snook
If you think about it, you may come to realize that's not really true. If the true reality of the Mass is that it's a mystery taking place on a supernatural plane, and that it's an act of sacrifice and worship directed to God, not to man, then which language helps you understand that reality?
The evidence all indicates that the Catholic faithful understood the reality of the Mass back when it was offered in Latin. Catholics used to understand that the Mass represented an "unbloody re-presentation of the sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary." Today when the service is in the vernacular, they haven't a clue.
13 posted on 12/31/2003 12:00:09 PM PST by NeoCaveman (Happy New Year)
Don't know if Pat goes there, but it wouldn't surprise me. It's a beautiful old church right smack in the middle of DC's Chinatown (click on graphic below to be taken to their website):
14 posted on 12/31/2003 12:02:54 PM PST by COBOL2Java (If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, thank a soldier.)
"If you think about it, you may come to realize that's not really true. If the true reality of the Mass is that it's a mystery taking place on a supernatural plane, and that it's an act of sacrifice and worship directed to God, not to man, then which language helps you understand that reality? "
Well I might be missing something but I do think this. Any language is not relevant in this inadequatcy. Even silence would suffice except for the Words of Consecration and the Liturgy of the Word.
15 posted on 12/31/2003 12:11:02 PM PST by ex-snook (Americans need Balanced Trade - we buy from you, you buy from us. No free rides.)
Sometimes. Justice Antonin Scalia also goes there.
16 posted on 12/31/2003 12:34:57 PM PST by Land of the Irish
The only authorized weekly Tridentine Masses in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany are celebrated at the Tridentine Parish of St. Peter and St. Paul (the only parish in the Diocese of Albany established for those attached to the Traditional Mass), located
17 posted on 12/31/2003 12:55:43 PM PST by NYer
To: Canticle_of_Deborah
How ironic ... that Bishop Sullivan was one of the worst supporters of liturgical abuse in the Novus Ordo ... perhaps he allowed these two chapels as an outlet for those totally disgusted with such abuse, in order to shut them up.
18 posted on 12/31/2003 1:05:19 PM PST by ArrogantBustard
To: NYer
Interesting ... Albany is another hotbed of Novus Ordo abuse. In Arlington, where the NO is almost universally offered "properly" there are no Tridentine parishes.
To: ArrogantBustard
In Arlington, where the NO is almost universally offered "properly" there are no Tridentine parishes.
Guess that would explain why my wife and I cross the Potomac most Sundays...
20 posted on 12/31/2003 1:43:11 PM PST by COBOL2Java (If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, thank a soldier.)
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Gone for 100 days: Three labour activists “disappeared” in China
Posted: Jun 27 2019 Categories: News Tags: Latest News Comment: 0
Three labour activists and citizen journalists have been detained for more than three months now simply for helping workers with occupational illness defend their rights.
Friday 28 June marks the 100th day since labour activists Wei Zhili and Ke Chengbing were detained by the authorities in Guangzhou. Along with their colleague Yang Zhengjun who was detained earlier, they are being held under “residential surveillance at a designated location” (指定居所监视居住) with no contact with their families or legal representatives.
The three men worked at iLabour, an independent news and advocacy platform established in 2013 to “promote economic democracy, safeguard labour rights, and build a just society.” Prior to their arrest, the iLabour journalists were actively involved in the long-standing struggle of a group of migrant workers from Hunan who were demanding compensation for their occupational disease, pneumoconiosis, contracted while employed on the construction sites of Shenzhen.
iLabour began supporting the Hunan workers’ struggle early in 2018, providing them with legal advice and posting regular updates of their petitioning activities in Shenzhen. The focus of the iLabour posts was the workers’ rights to health, a dignified life and freedom of assembly.
On 8 January, however, one day after around 50 petitioners were forcibly sent back to Hunan, iLabour chief-editor, Yang Zhengjun, was arrested in Guangzhou. Police told him that he was being held in connection with the Hunan workers’ protests. Two months later, Wei Zhili and Ke Chengbing, who had continued to help the Hunan workers, were arrested as well.
When the Hunan workers heard of Wei and Ke’s arrest, many of them attempted to visit Shenzhen to lobby on their behalf. However, they were intercepted at the local train station.
“We were all devastated when we heard the news,” said worker representative Gu Fuxiang. “They always stressed the importance of respecting the law, in fact Wei Zhili told us many times that in our struggle for justice, we should use the law to our advantage.”
The iLabour Three are all charged with “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” (寻衅滋事), a catch-all charge commonly used by the authorities for several years now to detain civil society activists. “Residential surveillance at a designated location” (RSDL), likewise is regularly used by the authorities to crackdown on dissent. Amnesty International defines RSDL as:
A form of secret incommunicado detention that allowed the police to hold individuals for up to six months outside the formal detention system, without access to legal counsel of their choice, their families or others, and placed suspects at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.
After Yang Zhengjun’s arrest on 8 January, he was initially taken to the Shenzhen No. 2 Detention Centre. He was then transferred to RSDL on 6 February. As of today, Yang has been held for more than five months. His lawyer made four requests to see him and all were refused. The police claim that Yang has written a statement that terminates the appointment of the lawyer hired by his family but this alleged statement has never been shown to his family.
Ke Chengbing was transferred to RSDL, one month after his initial detention, on 20 April. His family were harassed and threatened, and eventually they reluctantly agreed to terminate his lawyer’s appointment.
After publicising his arrest and disappearance on social media, Wei Zhili’s wife, the feminist activist Zheng Churan, was forced to leave her home in Guangzhou. Others who had spoken out in support of Wei were harassed or threatened by the police and some were reportedly beaten. All requests by Wei’s lawyer to meet him since his transfer to RSDL on 20 April have been refused. Wei had stated categorically before his arrest that he would never terminate the appointment of his lawyer but in mid-May, his parents were shown a note apparently in Wei’s handwriting rejecting the lawyer his family had appointed for him.
Zheng Churan’s campaign to free Wei Zhili is documented in the following RTHK program which aired this week. The program, in Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese, also features Xiao Hongxia, the ex-wife of another well-known labour activist, Zhang Zhiru who was detained in January and later charged with gathering a crowd to disturb public order (聚众扰乱社会秩序罪). Zhang is still in detention in Shenzhen.
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Holloway Prison
Islington as a Place of Refuge – Tour Stop 7
Significance: Location of interned German Jewish ‘enemy aliens’
Holloway Prison operated from 1852-2016, exclusively holding female and young offenders from 1903. Thousands of women were imprisoned there over its history. The story of women behind bars has long held the public imagination and many well-known prisoners have passed through Holloway’s doors. A vast array of experiences from Holloway were captured in Islington Museum’s 2018 project Echoes of Holloway Prison, including that of German Jewish refugees interned by the British government as ‘enemy aliens’. Eva Holmes was a small child when this happened to her family. They had sought a refuge and a new life in England, but the tense political climate ended up working against them. The diary of Eva’s mother and Eva’s letters help us to understand the hardships they faced.
Stop 7: Holloway Prison, Parkhurst Rd, N7 0NU
At the beginning of the twentieth century, tens of thousands of Eastern European Jews fleeing persecution in their homelands arrived in Britain. Anti-immigration and anti-Semitic feelings towards these new arrivals grew. In 1902 the Bishop of Stepney said Jews were ‘swamping whole areas once populated by English people’ and an editorial in the Manchester Evening Chronicle in 1905 proposed ‘that the dirty, destitute, diseased, verminous and criminal foreigner who dumps himself on our soil and rates simultaneously, shall be forbidden to land.’ The government’s response to this was to enact Aliens Act (1905). This was the first time legislation had been passed to restrict immigration into Britain.
Nationalism and anti-immigration sentiments grew with the outbreak of World War One. This was fuelled by the sinking of the passenger ship Lusitania on 7 May 1915. Anti-German protests and riots erupted across Britain, with anger and violence were directed towards German and Austrian residents. German owned businesses and shops were attacked. The government responded on 12 May forcing the internment of ‘enemy aliens’ under the Aliens Restriction Act (1914). By November 1915, over 32,000 people had been interned, though those who had become naturalised citizens were exempted. Following the end of World War One, this legislation was not repealed, rather a new piece of legislation was enacted, the 1919 Aliens Restriction Act which extended the powers of the wartime Aliens Restriction Act into peacetime; obliging foreign nationals to register with the police, enabling their deportation and restricting where they could live.
Anti-German Union poster, WW1
Anti-German Union badge, 1915
Following their defeat in World War One, Germany suffered harsh economic penalties, set out in the Treaty of Versailles; the peace treaty that officially ended the war. Many felt shame in Germany for losing the war and many citizens struggled to adapt to the Weimar Republic; the new democratic state established following the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II. This period of upheaval allowed many radical groups across the political spectrum to blossom. One such group was the National Socialist Party, or Nazi Party, which blamed communists, socialists and Jewish people for Germany’s economic and social problems. In 1929, Germany experienced a period of severe economic difficulty and unemployment, following the global great depression that started in the USA. The Nazis capitalised on this situation, scapegoating Jews for the crisis, and quickly began to win elections. By 1933 Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nazi Party, was appointed Chancellor and all political parties banned and opposition politicians imprisoned. A general boycott against Jews and Jewish businesses was quickly established, and by 1935 new laws came into force which stripped Jews of their German nationality, banned Jews from universities and key professions and public roles and forbade marriage with non-Jewish citizens. In 1938, Austria was annexed into Nazi Germany meaning the same anti-Semitic measures were introduced there.
As a result of this persecution, many Jews attempted to leave Germany and Austria from 1935 onwards. Leaving was not that easy, however, due to tighter immigration controls and difficulties in obtaining visas for many countries including Canada and the United States. In 1937, Britain introduced stricter immigrations controls in response to the increased demand of people wanting to enter the country. Despite this, around 74,000 German and Austrian refugees settled in the UK prior to start of World War Two in 1939. Shortly after the outbreak of war, all Germans and Austrians living in the UK were classed as enemy aliens and required to register their details with the authorities. The Home Office set up Alien Tribunals to examine the case of every registered alien and place them within one of three categories:
Category A – high security risk and interned
Category B – doubtful and subject to restrictions
Category C – ‘loyal to the British cause’ – free
The vast majority were initially classified as Category C. Category A aliens were interned in camps throughout the country, including the Isle of Man. Initially 500 people deemed high risk by the authorities were arrested; However, as the threat of invasion intensified, an additional 25,000 men and 4,000 women were interned between May and June 1940. This included many Jewish refugees escaping Nazi oppression.
Susi and Ludwig Liebermann, and their children Eva and Albert, were a German Jewish family who relocated to England in 1937, shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. In his native Germany, Ludwig worked as an industrial chemist but obtained employment at Fishers Foils, an aluminium foil factory in Wembley, on the advice of his German Jewish employer. In November 1939, Susanna and Ludwig appeared before the Aliens Tribunal and were subsequently classified as Category B aliens. Ludwig was immediately dispatched to a men’s internment camp on the Isle of Man.
Entrance to HMP Holloway, circa 1860’s
Susi, Eva and Albert were interned in HM Prison Holloway in June 1940. Eva shared her memories of Holloway Prison with Islington Museum in 2018; “…the only thing [I remember is] a sort of recreation space, there was a kind of closed in space…where we were allowed to spend some time during the day…it was rather bleak, I remember that, and there was no grass or anything, it was just a kind of exercise yard….” Mothers and their children were held together in the prison’s hospital wing; However, the prison was quickly deemed an unsuitable environment for children, who were taken away from their mothers and sent to alternative locations. Eva wrote of her wartime experiences on 8 June 1940, “On Saturday afternoon the (Principal) Sister said to mummy that my brother and I were going to a home. I cried a lot and so did mummy…”
Eva’s recollections on 8 June 1940
Eva and Albert were taken temporarily to the Ladywell Institute in Lewisham, then on to a children’s home in Kent. Susi was subsequently moved from the hospital wing to a cell within Holloway Prison, where she wrote a diary documenting her experiences. Susi’s diary only came to light after she had died. In it she notes her shock at the contact she had with the ordinary prisoners along with their language and their general attitude. These were people she would never normally have met or interacted with in her everyday life. She also feared, quite rightly, that some of the people she was incarcerated with were actually Nazis or Nazi sympathisers.
Prison and grounds at HMP Holloway.
3,600 women, half of whom were officially classified as refugees, were sent to Holloway Prison before being dispatched to special internment camps on the Isle of Man. Some were initially sent with their children; others were separated beforehand. Author and journalist Caitlin Davies in her book Bad Girls, A History of Rebels and Renegades describes this as “a shameful period of Holloway’s past. Thousands of women who had escaped persecution in Germany were labelled the enemy and separated from their children, not because of what they had done but because of who they were.”
Susi was able to write to her children, but with the family separated and held in different locations across the country, this offered little comfort. This changed in June 1940 when Susi and her children were sent to the same internment camp in the Isle of Man. Eva notes that “we were both on the Isle of Man together but [our father] was in a different place, the men and women were kept in separate camps.” She recalls seeing him only once during their time there.
By March 1941 the family was reunited and sent back to their home in Wembley. Eva said that she gets “very distressed when I see children in England put in refugee centres today, it seems to me we’ve learned nothing. My parents were aliens – enemy aliens. It’s the same now, when you’re at war you assume everyone is the enemy; it’s like the Middle East today and discrimination against Muslims. When there is such a degree of ignorance, then there is paranoia and people end up in prison.”
This article was produced for Islington as a Place of Refuge, an online tour developed by Islington Museum and Cally Clock Tower, in conjunction with Islington Guided Walks. Centred around Refugee Week 2020’s theme of ‘Imagine’, Islington as a Place of Refuge explores diverse stories from migrant history in relation to the London Borough of Islington.
We’ll Meet Again: VE-Day Celebrations
London’s Hidden Waterway: Regent’s Canal
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Agyapa agreement: NDC to take legal actions to abrogate deal
GH News
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it will take legal action to have the Agyapa deal abrogated arguing that the agreement is not in the interest of the state.
Additionally, the party has indicated that it would embark on a number of demonstrations, dubbed “Ye gye ye sika,” to wit: “We are taking back our money” to register their displeasure and press on government to terminate the agreement.
At its 16th weekly press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, the General Secretary of the party, Asiedu Nketia demanded that “President Nana Akufo-Addo retrieves for the state the billions of cedis illegally paid under the shady Agyapa deal to Databank, within the next seven days.”
Failure by the President to do so, he said, would “make the NDC and other like-minded progressive forces, embark on series of protests and legal actions to ensure that every pesewa paid are refunded to the state for nation building.”
The party further urged the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to conduct criminal investigation into the deal and ensure that anyone who directly or indirectly played a role in the Agyapa deal, which they described as scam, faced the full rigours of the law.
According to Mr Nketia, “that is the only way we can salvage the failing fight against corruption in our country.”
The NDC, he noted, had for long held the position that the Agyapa deal was fraught with illegalities and driven by corruption, cronyism and sheer greed.
An NDC government would investigate the agreement and also punish all the culprits and masterminds behind it through the Operation Sting crusade, he added.
Mr Nketia was optimistic that the NDC would win the 2020 elections and encouraged Ghanaians to turn out in their numbers on December 7 and vote for John Mahama.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament (MP) for Sekondi, Egyapa Mercer has indicated that the government, and as such the NPP was ready to respond to any court application regarding the contract.
Speaking at a media interview in Accra, he dared the NDC “to hit the street if they want. This transaction as the President has referred to parliament and when we come back in the eight parliament we will interrogate it and approve it if we have to.”
#Agyapa #agreement #NDC #legal #actions #abrogate #deal
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SFG organises night of poetry in memory Prof Okai and Nii Lamptey
August 5, 2018 Finance
Accra- The Socialist Forum of Ghana (SFG) at the weekend organised a Night of Poetry in memory of the late Professor Atukwei Okai and Nii Lantey Lamptey.
The event brought together the Socialist front, members of the diplomatic corps, families of the two deceased personalities and sympathisers.
There were poets at the ceremony who recited poems they have composed to express their shock and condolences to the families of the two deceased personalities.
Professor Edmund Delle, Chairman and Leader of the Convention People’s Party said Prof. Okai was one of the greatest people who stood for Ghana and the African descent.
He was a great man, teacher and peace loving person who teaching legacy, will forever remain in Ghana and on the African continent for all to take lessons from, he said.
Mr Kwesi Pratt Jnr, Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper and a member of the SFG said the late two personalities were very good friends of the SFG who believed and fought for the liberation of Africans in poverty.
He said the two personalities were exceptional and stressed that in building a new world devoid of any part being suffering under the shackles of slavery; racism, colonialism and the kind of apartheid that goes on in Palestine and other parts of the world.
Some Ambassadors, distinguished personalities, sympathisers and families of the deceased read tributes to memorised the late Prof Okai and Nii Lamptey.
Prof. Atukwei Okai was a Ghanaian poet, cultural activist and academic. He was Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers’ Association, and former president of the Ghana Association of Writers. His early work was published under the name John Okai. He was born in 1941 in Accra and died July 13, 2018.
Nii Lantey Lamptey was a member of SFG who also passed on this year.
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Minister Benn Supports Consumer Affairs Training
by admin | Oct 19, 2010 | Events
Training is key for the strengthening of regional consumer agencies.
This view from Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Senator Haynesley Benn, came today as he delivered the opening remarks at the CARICOM Secretariat’s regional seminar on Strengthening the Human Resources Capacity of Consumer Organizations.?? It was held at Grand Barbados Resort.
The seminar, which caters to middle managers in both the public and private sector, will see representatives from nine CARICOM countries receiving training and insight into the role of human resources in consumerism.
Minister Benn said the session was timely and crucial for regional development:
"Seminars such as these should be utilised to set the stage, since the commercial landscape has changed and continues to change dramatically.?? This changing environment has created challenges for the consumer.?? Some of these challenges facing regional consumers are health and safety, the price of goods, inadequate competition, inadequate credit facilities and lack of information on consumer issues," he noted.
The Minister added that government had illustrated its dedication to consumer issues, via the establishment of organisations such as the Fair Trading Commission, the Office of Public Counsel and improvements within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.?? Senator Benn acknowledged that consumer protection was vital and more encompassing than in previous times.
He stated: "It is known that consumer issues are broader than competitive policy development.?? Other issues include the priority areas of sustainable development, anti-poverty strategies and trade and the wider social issues.?? It is hoped that, in these recessionary times…the appropriate mechanisms will be developed and deployed to counter the rising cost of living."
This latter issue is of great concern to Minister Benn and he indicated that it served to reinforce the critical role that consumer organisations must play in society.
"The strengthening of the consumer affairs bodies could assist in further development of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), as this can be a major tool in the fight against poverty, the eradication of which is an objective of the CSME," the Commerce Minister maintained, emphasising that whilst price controls can be used to protect consumers, effective human resources could aid in the implementation of relevant policies.
Senator Benn expressed the hope that the issues discussed during the seminar will result in action being taken upon the return of participants to their home countries:
"You leave the seminars and workshops full of energy and enthusiasm…when you get back you seem to have forgotten what took place …I would like …?? that you can break down some barriers…and get things done," he urged.
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University of Phoenix and Give an Hour created an alliance that provides free, confidential mental health care and support for military-affiliated students, more than 125,000 military alumni, and their loved ones. The organizations are aligned in their understanding of the challenges that come with having served and transitioning out of the military life, and are united by a shared commitment to providing support to service members, veterans, and their dependents.
The University of Phoenix Office of Military and Veteran Affairs
The University of Phoenix Office of Military and Veteran Affairs helps empower military-affiliated students, alumni, and their families to pursue success academically, professionally, and personally within their communities. They do this, in part, by establishing alliances with organizations such as Give an Hour to provide veterans with the tools, support, and resources they need and deserve.
University of Phoenix offers a variety of options to make education accessible to active and veteran service members including flexible online and ground programs, personalized support and other tailored resources. Learn more information about the University of Phoenix and the Office of Military and Veteran Affairs today.
“We are proud to work with University of Phoenix to continue our mission to connect those who need help with those who can provide it.”
– Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, Founder & Former President of Give an Hour
Questions about this partnership or how to get involved on your campus? Email Kristin Richardson at krichardson@giveanhour.org
Read our press release.
Join our organizational volunteers.
Share our social media messages.
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Book Review: “The Goldfinch,” and the Meaning of Life
Tartt, Donna, “The Goldfinch.” Little Brown, New York, 2013
The old story goes that a guy sought the meaning of life. So he had to climb the highest mountain to ask the Great Guru “What is the meaning of life?”
It wasn’t easy climbing the mountain. There were a rock slide, an avalanche, and several mountain lions before, exhausted, he climbed up to the Great Guru. With all the breath he could still muster, he finally got to ask his question, “Oh Great Guru, what is the meaning of life?”
The Guru answered solemnly, “Spinach.”
The guy went berserk. He screamed, “I climbed this high mountain, I faced mountain lions and a rock slide and an avalanche to get up here, and now you tell me that the meaning of life is spinach?”
Distraught, and with tears beginning to form in his old eyes, the Guru said, “You mean it’s not spinach?”
“The Goldfinch” comes highly recommended. Wikipedia says it was a big hit when it first came out in Dutch, and the English version took the Pulitzer prize for 2014. In it, Theo Decker ages from 13 to mid-twenties and interprets the meaning of life as he experiences it, particularly from his love of the fine arts. One particular painting, of a small bird chained to its perch, becomes the axis around which the rest of his experiences revolve.
It’s not the same as climbing a mountain, but it seems like a very very long book to try to figure out Theo’s ideas on the meaning of life, especially because there were so many references to the fine points of fine art of which he seems to know just about everything and I know almost nothing. I had to look up “aesthete”: es-theet or, esp. British, ees-] noun.
1. a person who has or professes to have refined sensitivity toward the beauties of art or nature.
a person who affects great love of art, music, poetry, etc., and indifference to practical matters.
I decided that Theo, or at least author Donna Tartt, may be an aesthete and I’m not.
In my thinking, an aesthete is someone who would go ga-ga over a painting of a bird for decades, but would walk right by a dozen mockingbirds without looking nor listening. Without all the painted beauty that he describes so exquisitely, life would be pretty meaningless, or at least that’s what Theo seems to think.
I like paintings ok, but real birds are terrific, too. What I really like is everyday living. I like fixing oatmeal in the mornings for my wife. I sing a little song sometime, as I slice the apples and pour on the cinnamon, “Fixin’ breakfast for you!”
My wife has never once complained about my oatmeal. She always eats it. When I brag that I have some special talent and refer to myself grandly as the “Oatmeal King of the South,” she never contradicts me. In fact, she’s told other people that I make really good oatmeal.
So “The Goldfinch” book may be a good way to learn how to comment on some of the fine arts, and maybe it will interest people searching for the meaning of life. But it’s a long uphill climb to find out.
It’s like the guy who climbed up the mountain and was disappointed at the end. I could have told him that the meaning of life is not to be found in “The Goldfinch.” It’s not spinach, either.
It’s oatmeal.
Click here for more of these ideas
aesthete
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Difference between revisions of "Valentine Augustus Walker"
From Magicpedia, the free online encyclopedia for magicians by magicians.
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[[Valentine Augustus Walker]] (February 14, 1890 - March 18, 1969) born in England, was an English magician (also known as "Val Enson"), escape artist and illusion designer. He served in the navy and billed himself as the "Wizard of the Navy".
{{See also|[[Henry Barton Turner]], The Wizard of the Army}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Val walker 1918.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = (1918)
| birth_name =
| birth_day = February 15
| birth_year = 1890
| birth_place = England
| death_day = March 17,
| death_year = 1969
| death_place =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality =
| known_for =
| notable works =
| flourished =
| awards =
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'''Valentine Augustus Walker''' (February 15, 1890 - March 17, 1969) born in England, was an English magician, escape artist and illusion designer. He served in the navy and billed himself as the "Wizard of the Navy".
Walker is credited as the designer of the [[Radium Girl]] illusion and John Bull Straitjacket, which was created for a challenge to Houdini in 1926.
== Biography ==
Also known as "Val Enson", Walker is credited as the designer of the [[Radium Girl]]<ref>http://www.valwalker.com/index.php/the-illusions/the-radium-girl</ref> illusion and John Bull Straitjacket<ref>http://www.houdini-connections.co.uk/4-info/Topics/sj-John%20Bull.htm</ref>, which was created as a challenge to [[Houdini]] in 1926.
His escapology started while serving in the Royal Navy<ref>http://www.flickr.com/photos/109352745@N04/11117793176/</ref> by escaping from a Standard Issue Navy Tool Chest<ref>http://www.valwalker.com/index.php/the-illusions/the-original-tank</ref> on board HMS Invincible.
He repeated this escape on the 20th August 1920 from the deck of the 'Northampton' (The Sea Scouts Training Ship) in front of General Sir R. Baden-Powell and Mr Nevil Maskelyne.<ref>http://www.valwalker.com/index.php/the-illusions/tank-in-the-thames</ref>
He Returned to the stage in 1938 with The Aquamarine Girl<ref>http://www.valwalker.com/index.php/the-illusions/the-aquamarine-girl</ref> but unfortunately World War II closed most Theatres shortly after and Walker never performed again.
[[Category:Biographies]]
[[Category:Escapes]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker}}
{{References}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker,Valentine}}
See also: Henry Barton Turner, The Wizard of the Army.
Valentine Augustus Walker
March 17, 1969 (age 79)
Valentine Augustus Walker (February 15, 1890 - March 17, 1969) born in England, was an English magician, escape artist and illusion designer. He served in the navy and billed himself as the "Wizard of the Navy".
Also known as "Val Enson", Walker is credited as the designer of the Radium Girl[1] illusion and John Bull Straitjacket[2], which was created as a challenge to Houdini in 1926.
His escapology started while serving in the Royal Navy[3] by escaping from a Standard Issue Navy Tool Chest[4] on board HMS Invincible.
He repeated this escape on the 20th August 1920 from the deck of the 'Northampton' (The Sea Scouts Training Ship) in front of General Sir R. Baden-Powell and Mr Nevil Maskelyne.[5]
He Returned to the stage in 1938 with The Aquamarine Girl[6] but unfortunately World War II closed most Theatres shortly after and Walker never performed again.
↑ http://www.valwalker.com/index.php/the-illusions/the-radium-girl
↑ http://www.houdini-connections.co.uk/4-info/Topics/sj-John%20Bull.htm
↑ http://www.flickr.com/photos/109352745@N04/11117793176/
↑ http://www.valwalker.com/index.php/the-illusions/the-original-tank
↑ http://www.valwalker.com/index.php/the-illusions/tank-in-the-thames
↑ http://www.valwalker.com/index.php/the-illusions/the-aquamarine-girl
Retrieved from "https://geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php?title=Valentine_Augustus_Walker&oldid=69626"
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Bloomberg: The Simple Trick to Blend In Anywhere You Travel
Travel magnate Pauline Frommer knows women sometimes feel unsafe in a new country, and has a trick to help handle it—and more clever hacks.
by Mark Ellwood
June 5, 2017, 4:17 AM EDT
Courtesy of Pauline Frommer
At Bloomberg Pursuits, we love to travel. And we always want to make sure we’re doing it right. So we’re talking to globetrotters in all of our luxury fields—food, wine, fashion, cars, real estate—to learn about their high-end hacks, tips, and off-the-wall experiences. These are the Distinguished Travel Hackers.
Pauline Frommer is co-president of Frommer Media LLC, alongside her legendary father, guidebook pioneer Arthur Frommer; this year is the 60th anniversary of his first book. There are now more than 100 titles in the Frommer’s series; Pauline has written eight books herself.
She’s lost count of the number of miles she logs each year, but she is no slavish loyalist to a particular airline. Instead, Frommer follows the best deal. “My favorite carrier, at least in the U.S., though is JetBlue,” she says. “I like the legroom, and the staff seem to have a better sense of humor than many other carriers.”
She is married to Columbia University professor Mahlon Stewart; they have two daughters. Here are her travel secrets:
This simple safety hack will help you blend in almost anywhere.
Evelyn Hannon of Journeywoman gave me one of the best pieces of practical advice I’ve ever heard. Because female travelers are more likely to be harassed in some countries if they’re seen to be outsiders, the first thing she does when she gets to a new destination is shop for something small in a very local grocery store or pharmacy. And then she carries the bag that her purchases came in around with her, because she knows that, no matter how different she looks from others in the place, the bag will mark her as a local—and possibly provide some protection. I used this trick recently in Chennai; I even insisted my teenage daughters did it when they went out alone. It’s kind of like a security blanket. I’m assuming it works, but it may just give me more confidence.
Here’s the one thing you didn’t know you needed for a family trip.
Never travel without a headphone splitter—that’s my mom tip. It allows two or three people to plug in their headphones and watch the same movie at once. It’s been a lifesaver for me. My kids and I can gather round one laptop or iPad, then discuss the movie afterwards. It makes them play nice, and it also lets you keep another iPad fully charged, instead of running down the battery on several devices.
Read Full Article >>
GRUBPASSPORT LUNCH SERIES: Dominican
USA Today: 2014’s most ‘Xtreme’ restaurant meal is a ‘monster’
Bloomberg: The Best-Selling Beer in the World Isn’t What You Think
GrubOff: Thai Landing vs. Thai Arroy
Bloomberg: These Are the World’s 50 Best Restaurants
Skift: Dining Is Quickly Becoming the Main Attraction for Global Travelers
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Magoebaskloof
Magoebaskloof takes its name from Makgoba, chief of the Tlou people.
Magoebaskloof is one of the country’s most spectacular scenic drives. The story of the ravine is one of resolute resistance by Chief Makgoba and his Tlou (Tlau) tribe against taxes and relocation imposed by the Transvaal government. Makgoba’s people had occupied the area for centuries and he resisted when the Transvaal tax collectors called. Matters came to a head when the government announced plans to move the tribe to another location. Makgoba refused to move, arguing that he could not leave the graves of his ancestors.
When the government in 1894 sent a punitive force to the area, all tribes capitulated except Makgoba who fled into the forest. In 1895 the government sent in a commando of 800 burgers and about 6 000 tribesmen, mostly Swazi. Swazi warriors tracked Makgoba down and beheaded him and presented his head as proof of his death. During this long period of conflict the name Makgoba was corrupted to Magoeba.
Jock of the Bushveld
Jock of the Bushveld, written by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, is a unique story woven about the life and...
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Eugene Marais Afrikaans poet, journalist, naturalist and advocate was the youngest of 13 children....
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Origins and History The 'Ethiopian-type' churches were the first African Independent Churches in...
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The British takeover of the short-lived Republic of Natalia convinced the majority of Voortrekkers...
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This period starts with the arrival of the first Europeans to visit the Soutpansberg Mountain...
Mapungubwe & the Greefswald Archeological Sites
About 70 km west of Musina, where the Shashi River merges with the Limpopo - this being the place...
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Globalocal Talks
Epsiode 4: Celebrating Literature with Namita Gokhale
In the fourth episode of Globalocal Talks Series, Namita Gokhale, Festival Director of what The Guardian calls the "world's greatest literary event", the Jaipur Literature Festival, author of several best-selling books and publisher of Yatra Books, shares her insights on literature festivals in India and her journey as an author.
The rippling of waters, the whisper of leaves, a song in the greens... it's a symphony here. Anandvann has the perfect blend of nature and man.
Free stilt parking
Expansive rooftops
Therapeutic family gardens
Seniors park
Banquet / community hall
Kids park & play areas
Local Attractions and Activities
Vallone Vineyards
Trimbakeshwar
Bhandardhara dam
Mahindra Track
Dhamagiri Meditation Center
Trekking and Hiking range
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Dr. Aniruddha Rajput
Advocate, Supreme Court of India
Member, United Nations International Law Commission (2017-2021)
Dr. Aniruddha Rajput is a Member of the UN International Law Commission (2017-21). He was the Chairperson of the Drafting Committee for the 69th Session of the ILC in 2017. He was elected to the UN International Law Commission in 2016 with the highest number of votes in the Asia-Pacific Group. He has recently joined Withers' Public International Law and International Arbitration Groups as a consultant at London.
His areas of expertise are general international law, dispute resolution, boundary disputes, law of the sea, international investment law and international trade law. He has advised governments on proceedings before the International Court of Justice, private clients on proceedings under the Alien Tort Claims Act before the US Courts, and human rights and other public international law litigation in the Supreme Court of India. Dr. Rajput is a highly respected specialist in public international law disputes and investor-state arbitrations.
He has taught courses in international law at several Universities and presently serves as a member of the Board of Studies of the South Asian University created by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries. He was a member of the Study Group Constituted by the Law Commission of India on the 2015 Draft Indian Model Bilateral Investment Treaty and a member of the 5th Haryana State Finance Commission constituted under Article 243 I and Y of the Constitution of India. His recent book 'Protection of Foreign Investment in India and Investment Treaty Arbitration' was published by Kluwer International. During 2017, he was a Practitioner-in-Residence at the Berlin Potsdam Research Group International Rule of Law -Rise or Decline? based at the Humboldt University Berlin.
Manuj Bhardwaj
Founder & Managing Partner
BSM Legal Advisors & Strategy Consultants LLP
Manuj is a young International Advocate pursuing masters in Public Policy & Human Development at United Nations University and is currently based in The Hague. He is the Founder & Managing Partner of BSM Legal Advisors & Strategy Consultants LLP which is an emerging international legal advisory, strategy consultancy and investment solutions firm. His areas of expertise are Foreign Policy, Governance, Climate Change, International Trade & Investment Law, International IPR Law and Human Rights. He is also the Indian Representative of Commonwealth Youth Human Rights & Democracy Network at The Commonwealth Secretariat. Manuj is the Co-Chair of The India-UK Legal Exchange Programme. He is the recipient of "Youth Icon of India 2016" and "Best Global Young Entrepreneur 2015" awards; he has been a speaker in various international & national conferences and was the youngest member of the Commonwealth diplomatic election observer mission to Sierra Leone in March 2018.
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IOC accused of ignoring human rights for 2022 Beijing Games…
Posted on 17 Diseembar 2020 by Admin in English // 0 Comments
FILE - In this Dec. 3, 2018, file photo, people line up at the Artux City Vocational Skills Education Training Service Center at the Kunshan Industrial Park in Artux in western China's Xinjiang region. Groups representing ethnic minorities in China are again accusing the International Olympic Committee of ignoring widespread human rights abuses as the country prepares to hold the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Rights groups representing Tibetans, Uighurs, and others have sent an open letter to IOC President Thomas Bach and IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch, who oversees preparations for the Beijing Games.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)
STEPHEN WADE
AP . Thu, December 17, 2020, 3:59 AM GMT+1
A coalition representing ethnic minorities in China is again accusing the International Olympic Committee of ignoring widespread human rights abuses as the country prepares to hold the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Rights groups speaking for Tibetans, Uighurs and others representing Hong Kong have sent an open letter to IOC President Thomas Bach and IOC member Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., who oversees preparations for the Beijing Games.
Obtained by The Associated Press, the letter says the IOC has “turned a blind eye to the widespread and systematic human rights violations being committed by the Chinese authorities.”
Rights advocates are asking to see evidence — which the IOC says it has received — that China will abide by human rights commitments that it made when it was awarded the games in 2015. It also says that China has promised to allow unfettered reporting and to permit demonstrations or protests.
Athletes around the world have been pressing for more latitude to express themselves at the Olympics and argue that lobbying for human rights is not a political issue.
Representative of rights groups met two months ago with IOC leaders but say their requests have been largely ignored. They also sent an open letter three months ago asking the IOC to take the Olympics away from Beijing.
China is widely reported to have incarcerated more than a million Uighurs, a mostly Muslim ethnic group, in the western Xinjiang region. China at first denied the existence of the camps, but now says they are training and education centers.
Forced labor, torture and forced sterilization and abortion are being widely reported in Xinjaing. The treatment of the religious minority has been termed “cultural genocide” or “ethnic cleansing.”
The campaign staff of President-elect Joe Biden suggested several months ago the treatment amounted to “genocide.”
“History has shown us that the IOC has made an active decision to continue with the charade of political neutrality to justify its inaction towards China’s human rights violations,” the letter said. “This willful ignorance is shameful and fails to value the personal experiences of all of us struggling under this repressive regime.”
The IOC has repeatedly said it runs a sports event and is not responsible for domestic policies in the host country.
The Associated Press has sought comment from the IOC over the letter, but a reply was not immediately received.
Beginning with the 2024 Olympics in Paris, cities will have to adhere to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. However, China is not subject to these rules because the IOC mandated the provision after picking Beijing for 2022.
The Olympics open on Feb. 4, 2022. Beijing was chosen in a final vote over Almaty, Kazakhstan after several European venues dropped out over costs, or after referendums were rejected to hold the games.
China and other authoritarian states have become favored venues for Olympics and other mega events since they never face public opposition and seldom openly question the costs.
The IOC awarded the 2008 Summer Olympics to Beijing, arguing the event would improve human rights in China. The coalition has reminded the IOC that human rights conditions are worse than they were 12 years ago with China operating what it described as an “Orwellian” state.
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Flyleaf Announce Departure of Singer Lacey Sturm
A&M/Octone recording group Flyleaf announce the departure of long time singer Lacey Sturm today. The band’s final album with Lacey, New Horizons, will be out on October 30th on A&M/Octone Records and is available now for pre-order.
Flyleaf are pleased to announce that Kristen May formerly of the band Vedera will be stepping in as the band’s lead singer for future tour dates in support of New Horizons. Fans can direct questions to the band on Twitter (@flyleafmusic) for a live Q&A tonight at 8pm ET using the hashtag #NewHorizons.
“When listening to New Horizons, I would hope that fans would be able to lose themselves in the story of each of these songs and form their own connections to them—as we have in the band,” remarked bass player Pat Seals. “There is a great deal of our souls laid bare on this record, and I feel like it really comes through on the tracks.”
Seals also commented on Lacey’s departure, “As Flyleaf begins this new cycle to introduce our third record New Horizons, we feel our fans should know that Lacey has stepped down as lead vocalist of the band. Her statement below expresses her reasons for leaving. In order to continue on with New Horizons, Sameer, Jared, James, and myself have selected Kristen May, formerly of Vedera, to assume lead vocal duties for future tour dates. We are excited for this new chapter in the history of Flyleaf, and hope that our fans will accompany us as we continue on this journey to bring hope and inspiration through our music. We would like to thank everyone who has supported us over the years and we are looking forward to playing for you again soon.”
Lacey commented on her departure, “I have been beyond blessed to be in Flyleaf for the past ten years, touring with 4 amazing men and the Flyleaf crew, whom I love like my flesh and blood family. They have all given so much. It took everyone on our team to make the beauty in Flyleaf possible. I am honored to have met so many wonderful people who love Flyleaf music all over the world. Your incredible stories continue to inspire me. I am very thankful to have recently become a mom to one of the greatest blessings of my life, my son Jack. You may have also heard that we recently lost our brilliant sound engineer, Rich Caldwell, in a devastating car accident. Now, more than ever, I understand the phrase Memento Mori. I understand that, for me, living life to the fullest in this season means to step down as the lead singer for Flyleaf. I wish the best to Jared, Pat, Sameer and James and I know that as I continue to pursue the highest heights of what I am created for, it will free them all to pursue that for themselves too.
The guys will continue to tour and write music together. I’m so very grateful that they are able to do what they desire and that there is a beautiful and talented, warm hearted girl like Kristen May to sing for them. Because of this, you will all get a chance to see a new Flyleaf show and support the new album.
As I take this first step on a new journey, I pray that each one of you would pursue your highest calling with reckless abandon as well, understanding that sometimes the fullness of life comes in doing things that are only understood by you, God, and the special people God has put in your life that truly love you for you… not for what you do, but for who you are. I love you guys so much and in many ways, I will stay in touch. May God bless you all with healthy hearts, full of courage to weather the journey to your own New Horizons.”
Flyleaf has also just released the second single from the album titled “Call You Out.” The song is the follow up to the title track from the new album.
Their debut self-titled album has now sold 1.4 million units and is certified Platinum. “All Around Me” reached the Top 10 on Top 40 Radio. Flyleaf has also charted six singles at modern and rock radio.
Flyleaf’s last album, Memento Mori, debuted at #8 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart. “Again” from the album went all the way #2 at Modern Rock Radio (Breaking through the #1 and #3 spots held by Muse).
New Horizons is available for pre-order beginning today on iTunes, Amazon and Official Band Store Pre-Order is going on now. CD booklets include a fold out poster with artwork inspired by Pat Seals’ woodcarving. iTunes pre-order includes exclusive bonus track “Mama” and an instant download of “Call You Out.”
New Horizons Pre-order on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/5b6f39
New Horizons Pre-order on Amazon: http://smarturl.it/c2eeqd
“Call You Out” Audio Stream: http://youtu.be/SXi1dVphnis
Changing Focus
When Weathered wrote their debut album, 'Stranger Here,' it was an introspective take on life as they knew it. The appropriate way to follow it up? Turn the mirror around and tell the stories of those around you.
Full Feature More from Weathered
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Gold for the Orange Team, Victory in the Mercedes-Benz Prize
SHOW JUMPING DAILY
EURO NEWS | FEI EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Aachen, (GER)- The team medals of the show jumpers have been awarded at the FEI European Championships Aachen 2015. Gold in the Mercedes-Benz Prize goes to the team from the Netherlands, silver to the German host nation and bronze to the Swiss equipe. "It was a perfect day for me, full of emotions and with top sport – my congratulations to all teams," said an impressed Dr. Carsten Oder, Chairman of the Executive Board of Mercedes-Benz Cars Sales Germany and Director, MBVD.
Top sport and lots of excitement! The tension rose among the 38,000 spectators in the Main Stadium in Aachen, the decision lay with the last rider of the German team. Daniel Deußer was the final rider of the German team. He picked up four faults with Cornet d’Amour. That meant the team victory went to the Netherlands. The Dutch love winning, especially in Germany. They won their last European Championships team gold in 2007 in Mannheim and World Championships team gold the year before at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen. So, it is no surprise that the Chef d'Equipe of the gold-winning team, Rob Ehrens, explained: "Aachen is the ideal venue for my riders. I can only say: Organise more Championships in Aachen!" 'His' riders in Aachen were: Jeroen Dubbeldam, who jumped double clear for his team with Zenith in the Mercedes Benz Prize. Jur Vrieling only had one time fault on his account after both rounds of the Nations' Cup with Zirocco Blue. Maikel van der Vleuten, picked up four faults in the first round and jumped clear in the second round. The final rider, Gerco Schröder, jumped clear in the first round, but collected 14 faults in the second round. This means Ehrens travelled to Aachen with the same four riders, who competed at the World Equestrian Games in Caen last year – following the motto: "Never change a winning team!" However, only the Olympic gold medallist Dubbeldam and van der Vleuten had saddled the same horses.
Carl Meulenbergh (President Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein, left), Dr. Carsten Oder, Chairman of the Executive Board of Mercedes-Benz Cars Sales Germany and MBVD Director (2nd f.t.l.) and FEI President Ingmar de Vos (right) congratulating the teams
As in 2013, the German show-jumpers won the silver medal. The Chef d'Equipe of the German silver-winning team, Otto Becker, admitted: "At first, I was a little disappointed. We tried our hardest, it was a tough battle and my team was super." In the end, it didn't quite suffice for gold. With a sidewards glance to the Dutch team, Becker added: "Incidentally, I am of the same opinion as my colleague, Ehrens: We should organise more Championships in Aachen." And then he added with a grin: "Perhaps without the Dutch though…" Becker's team comprised exclusively of experienced riders: Ludger Beerbaum, who competed at his eleventh European Championships here in Aachen, it was his twelfth European Championships medal. Christian Ahlmann, who was double European Champion in 2003 with Cöster. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who was the first lady rider to be nominated for a German Championships jumping team (1990 in Hickstead). And Daniel Deußer, who was part of the German team that won European Championships silver in Herning.
The last rider in the Mercedes Benz Prize, the French show-jumper Kevin Staut, decided who won the bronze medal. Up until then, the French team were still on course for bronze. However, Staut picked up eight faults, which meant his team slipped down to fifth place. If he had only knocked one fence, the French team would still have won bronze. So, the bronze medal went to the Swiss team, the European Champions from 2009. "We had a fantastic season," explained Chef d'Equipe, Andy Kistler. "I was so happy after our last rider that we had succeeded in qualifying for the Olympic Games, that everything was decided for me and the jumping competition was over. So, I went away and was totally happy." He was ultimately completely surprised that his team had won a medal. "For us this medal is a huge extra gift!" The Swiss team comprised of Romain Duguet with Quorida de Treho, Martin Fuchs with Clooney, Janika Sprunger with Bonne Chance and Paul Estermann with Castlefield Eclipse.
The competition for the show-jumpers continue on Sunday with the individual classification of the European Championships, the Rolex European Champion. The top 25 show-jumpers after the first three rounds qualify for this competition.
www.aachen2015.de
Belgium Wins Two at Chantilly
TJ O'Mara Wins Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Final in Pennsylvania
Eric Navet and Catypso Dash to Win in $35,000 1.50m Tryon Challenge CSI 3*
John D. Ammerman Inducted into Show Jumping Hall of Fame
Jaguar 2 - Rare and Unique!
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Only just the beginning of the end of hepatitis C
This The Lancet Editorial remind us that the hepatitis C virus (HCV). infection continues to be a major global health problem.
2014 marks the 25th anniversary of the identification of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV infection continues to be a major global health problem. Unlike many chronic diseases, hepatitis C can be cured, but it is difficult to treat, not all patients are responsive, side-effects can be severe, and progression to end-stage liver disease and liver cancer is common. Over the past few years, new medicines for HCV infection have begun to transform the treatment landscape, and, just in the past few months alone, the development of new regimens has been so successful that disease experts are heralding an era where all patients can be cured, even debating whether eradication is possible.
HCV has six major genotypes and the infecting genotype determines the treatment response and duration. Genotypes 1–3 have a worldwide distribution, but genotype 1 predominates in North America, Europe, and Japan, hence pharmaceutical research to treat this genotype has been preferred to others.
The new treatment modalities are once-daily oral combination regimens with optional inclusion of ribavirin and are pegylated interferon (peginterferon) free, so multiple tablets and injections are no longer needed. The novel agents are known as direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). In two phase 2 clinical trials published last week, the DAAs, sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, and the investigational DAAs, ABT-450, ABT-267, and ABT-333 in combination with known protease inhibitors, were shown to achieve high viral clearance response rates (83–100%) in previously treated and previously untreated patients with HCV genotype 1 with a short duration of therapy (12 weeks vs 48 weeks), together with a favourable safety profile compared with the current standard peginterferon based treatments.
Patients with HCV genotypes 2 and 3 also responded well to treatment and there was minimal need for clinical and laboratory monitoring. Testing of other promising DAAs is underway. Results are expected within the next 2 years. Rapid regulatory approval of sofosbuvir in the USA and Europe (and an expedited review of daclatasvir) have been accompanied by reports of promises from companies to ensure that access is achieved as quickly as possible. But given 90% of the estimated 184 million people with hepatitis C live in low-income and middle- income countries, how available and accessible will these new medicines be globally?
The main drawback of these new agents is the huge price tag, which will make treatment out of reach for people in the developed and developing world. Indeed, current treatment uptake is also impeded by cost. One 12 week course of sofosbuvir will cost US$84000, even though the scientist involved in formulating sofosbuvir, Raymond Schinazi, estimates costs at just $1400. An even lower price was shown by Andrew Hill and colleagues in a recent study. Based on the fact that the new hepatitis C treatments are comparable in molecular structure and chemistry to HIV antiretrovirals, the authors used the same market dynamics to determine the minimum cost to manufacture them, which was $100–250 per 12 week treatment course; they concluded that at these low prices, widespread access to these new medicines is feasible within 15 years. Although manufacturers are likely to offer low-income countries steep discounts, around 75% of people with hepatitis C live in middle-income countries regarded as emerging markets by companies, and so are unlikely to benefit from the kind of discounts needed to make treatment available. Interestingly, the sofosbuvir patent application is currently under challenge in India, and if upheld will allow Indian generic drug companies to enter the market and drive major price reductions as seen with HIV/AIDS medicines.
The other concern is the limited testing of these new treatments on less common genotypes and marginalised populations disproportionately affected by HCV infection. For example, there has been minimal testing among those co-infected with HIV. Although the field is likely to see pan-genotypic treatments that clear all genotypes, and will also remove the need for a complex diagnostic, many countries are still years away from these scenarios.
The need for a global plan for hepatitis C is imperative. It should include research and operational priorities, and establish global funding mechanisms. Countries are only likely to develop national plans for hepatitis C when treatments become more affordable. Last year, Tido von Schoen-Angerer and colleagues in a Lancet letter rightly argued that UNITAID—which has successfully lowered prices of HIV treatments—should do the same for hepatitis C medicines. Lessons from HIV/AIDS will be instructive for the hepatitis C field, as will political and community mobilisation to ensure these treatments reach those in most need
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S P Thompson and his Challenge to the Edison/Bell Telephone Patents
Silvanus Phillips Thompson (1851-1916) is perhaps best known as a professor of physics at the City and Guilds Technical College in Finsbury, London, and for his work as an electrical engineer and author. What is possibly less well known is his involvement with the manufacture of telephones and his, ultimately unsuccessful, challenge to the telephone patents of Dr Graham Bell and Thomas A Edison. Some recently discovered letters, found amongst S P Thompson’s pamphlet collection in the IET Archives, has helped to bring this story to life.
S P Thompson’s Involvement with ‘Telephone Instruments’
Thompson’s early researches included the subject of ‘binaural audition’ or ‘hearing with two ears’. During these researches he made use of the telephone invented by Graham Bell in 1876 and Thompson tried to work out a mathematical theory for it which led to him corresponding with Bell in 1878 and 1879. Thompson also invented an instrument which he called a Pseudophone which helped him to investigate the laws of binaural audition.
In 1882 Thompson took out a patent for ‘improvements in telephone instruments’ at a time when he was considered an expert on the subject as a result of him lecturing on the subject of telephony in various parts of the country. He also wrote the book, ‘Philipp Reis: Inventor of the Telephone’, which was published in 1883.
Challenge to Bell and Edison Patents
In the early 1880s the United Telephone Company (UTC) was endeavouring to create a monopoly in Great Britain with the patents of Bell and Edison. As UTC refused to sell its instruments, and charged a very high rent for them, many business people were interested in obtaining a cheaper form of telephone which could be used between their private homes and offices, and their factories.
By 1884 Thompson produced a new telephone with a valve transmitter and Reis receiver, both of his design, and this resulted in the formation of a syndicate to buy the patents from Thompson. The Attorney-General of the day gave his opinion that the telephones invented by Professor Silvanus Thompson did not infringe any patent rights held by UTC. The New Telephone Company (NTC), was the company set up to take over Thompson’s patents (paying Thompson a royalty), and it published its prospectus in November 1884 and began to advertise its instruments which it sold outright to its customers under licence from the Postmaster-General.
One of the newly discovered letters (image below), written in May 1886 by J W Barnard, the Secretary of NTC, and sent to Thompson, shows the headed paper of NTC and includes the sentence, ‘under license from the Postmaster-General’.
Another letter dated June 1886 and sent to Thompson by the Darlington based firm of Cox-Walker & Co (electrical engineers and manufacturers), illustrates the corporate tensions between the players involved in the telephone business. Cox-Walker asks Thompson to persuade NTC to sell them receivers alone not just NTC’s complete telephone. Cox-Walker’s problem was that its customers, who were using receivers not made by UTC, were receiving ‘threats’ from UTC who were demanding that those receivers be sent to UTC (part of letter shown below).
Once NTC’s instruments began to be installed and its commercial prospects appeared bright, UTC brought an injunction against NTC for infringement of its patents. Then followed a lawsuit in Chancery in which NTC was defeated. This was taken to the Appeal Court where Lord Justice North gave the decision against NTC. This decision killed NTC’s prospects and its directors soon wound up its affairs and the company went into bankruptcy which was finally settled in 1889.
Justice North’s decision focussed on Thompson’s transmitter which used a valve rather than a diaphragm for the transmission of speech, and Justice North judged that, “every surface which can vibrate is a diaphragm”. This was a view that Thompson could not understand and thought was “most monstrously unfair”.
A Footnote!
One of the other ‘newly discovered letters’, shown below, was sent from Lord Thurlow at his home Dunphail, Scotland, to Thompson (dated August 1886). The letter discusses an NTC shareholder whose shares Lord Thurlow wanted to buy out or have cancelled, and also talks about methods of paying to achieve this end such as selling NTC’s foreign patents which Lord Thurlow didn’t think were being exploited by NTC.
Clearly Lord Thurlow was not the most successful person when it came to business and financial affairs and associations. Not only did NTC go bankrupt in the late 1880s, but he was made personally bankrupt in 1894 (assets £30,000, liabilities £430,000). Lord Thurlow (Rt. Hon. Thomas John Howell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce), 5th Baron Thurlow (1838-1916), was a British Liberal politician who became Paymaster-General briefly in 1886 in William Gladstone’s Ministry, which was returned to power in February 1886, but which lost power again in August 1886. Later in 1886 Thurlow was appointed Lord High Commissioner of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and also appointed a member of the Privy Council.
For those interested in reading more about S P Thompson’s life and his telephone research, the book, ‘Silvanus Phillips Thompson: His Life and Letters’, By J S Thompson and H G Thompson, published in 1920, can be consulted in the IET Library. A physical example of S P Thompson’s ‘valve’ telephone can be found in the collections of the Science Museum and is described on its website.
S P Thompson, Telephones
Alexander Graham Bell, patents, S P Thompson, Telephones, Thomas Edison
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In Hungary began a campaign against the EU
April 3, 2017 IMMWorld
In Hungary began a campaign against the European Union. This was reported by “Polish radio”.
In the questionnaire under the heading “Stop Brussels”, which officials sent to all households, the government asked citizens how to relate to EU policy. The questionnaire consists of six questions concerning the relationship of Hungarians to migration and the economic policy of the European Union.
The government is asking the international non-governmental organizations, in particular, whether they have the right to support illegal immigration, or to intervene in the internal Affairs of Hungary.
A survey of the government of Viktor Orban called “National consultations 2017”. This is a response to the introduction last week of new principles that allow you to keep migrants in the border camps for an unlimited time.
Recall that a similar survey in Hungary was conducted in 2015. Then the authorities asked citizens about migration and terrorism. The UN high Commissioner criticized the survey, osteriga that it may lead to increased xenophobia.
Also recall that the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban declared attempt of Brussels to undermine the independence of European countries and called upon to defend the borders from the influx of migrants.
The girl was puzzled by the Internet hidden foot: puzzle with an optical illusion
Died writer, Michael bond, author of Paddington bear
Losing a job is afraid of one in four Ukrainians – poll
Shoigu made clear that Russia will continue to deploy troops and equipment to the Ukrainian border
Hassan Rouhani elected President of Iran
The end of the strike: Lufthansa concluded a multi-year dispute with the Union
The US administration appreciates the new national security Advisor
New Scientist (USA): the whole universe ever spinning like a top
Ukraine will not give bezviz because of the elections in France – media
The U.S. is ready to resolve the problem of North Korea without China – tramp
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A Systematic Review of Water and Gender Interlinkages: Assessing the Intersection With Health
Pouramin P, Nagabhatla N and Miletto M (2020) A Systematic Review of Water and Gender Interlinkages: Assessing the Intersection With Health. Front. Water 2:6. doi: 10.3389/frwa.2020.00006
Background: Significant developmental challenges in low-resource settings limit access to sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). However, in addition to reducing human agency and dignity, gendered WASH inequities can also increase disease burden among women and girls. In this systematic review, a range of challenges experienced by women relating to inadequate WASH resources are described and their intersection with health are explored. We further assess the effectiveness of interventions in alleviating inequalities related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) three (health), five (gender), and six (water).
Methods: We searched the MEDLINE database to identify research articles related to water (i.e., WASH), gender, and sustainability. An analysis of both observational and interventional studies was undertaken. For each study, content analysis was performed to identify the relevant WASH, gender, and health related outcomes, and the main conclusions of the study.
Results: Key themes from our search included that women and girls face barriers toward accessing basic sanitation and hygiene resources, including a lack of secure and private sanitation and of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) resources. In total, 71% of identified studies reported a health outcome, suggesting an intersection of water and gender with health. Half of the research studies that included a health component reflected on the relationship between WASH, gender, and infantile diseases, including under-5 mortality, waterborne parasites, and stunting. In addition, we found that women and girls, as a result of their role as water purveyors, were at risk of exposure to contaminated water and of sustaining musculoskeletal trauma. A limited number of studies directly compared gender differences in accessing WASH resources, and an even smaller fraction (N = 5, 8.5%) reported sex-disaggregated outcomes. Educational, infrastructural, and programmatic interventions showed promise in reducing WASH and health outcomes. Indeed, infrastructural WASH interventions can be successful if long-term maintenance is ensured.
Conclusions: Significant WASH inequities in women and girls further manifest as health burdens, providing strong evidence that the water-gender-nexus intersects with health. Thus, addressing gender and water inequities holds the potential to alleviate disease burden and have a significant impact on achieving the SDGs, including SDG three, five, and six.
Peace as a Strategy for Planning Water Secure Futures
Water supply and sanitation services in small towns in rural–urban transition zones: The case of Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, Uganda
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Evangelicals bolster Cruz in Iowa
Iowa of the Tiger in Uncategorized January 6, 2016 January 6, 2016 833 Words
By Katie Gagliano
WINTERSET, Iowa — Iowa’s evangelicals seem to be behind Ted Cruz.
The Texas senator hosted a rally here Monday to conclude the opening day of his six day “Cruzin’ to the Caucus” campaign. Cruz will tour 36 counties in Iowa as part of his commitment to visit all 99 Iowa counties ahead of the Feb. 1 caucuses.
For Cruz, the tour is about tying up Iowa’s evangelical and social conservative vote. His Monday rally appealed to the evangelical base in attendance and solidified his stance as the most thoroughly Christian and conservative candidate in the race.
Cruz’s efforts in the state seem to be paying off.
Cruz rose in The Des Moines Register’s Dec. 12 poll, winning 31 percent of likely Republican caucus goers to Donald Trump’s 21 percent, Ben Carson’s 13 percent and Sen. Marco Rubio’s 10 percent. Cruz also earned the support of 45 percent of evangelicals polled.
Supporters filled the aisles and stood shoulder to shoulder to see Cruz. The Bontrager Family Singers, a Christian group from Iowa, began the evening with a performance of traditional Christian songs and Ted Cruz campaign anthems.
“Support Ted Cruz. Lead by integrity, not by every policy…” the Bontragers sang.
Matt Wells, Cruz’s Johnson County lead chairman, said the evangelical branch has been a key demographic driving Cruz’s success in the state.
“We’ve seen a lot of movement in that group,” Wells said. “It’s an area of the state where we’ve seen a lot of coalescing around Cruz.”
Cruz is the obvious representative for socially conservative values, Wells said.
“It’s what he’s been fighting for, not for political expediency, but for a long time since he started out,” Wells said.
Cruz’s passion has attracted volunteers from across the country, Wells said. The campaign is renting apartments in downtown Des Moines for out-of-state volunteers who come to support Cruz’s caucus campaign.
Cruz’s support isn’t limited to outsiders. The 99 Iowa Pastors movement is working to commit at least one pastor from each of Iowa’s 99 counties to organize their communities around Sen. Cruz. So far, 32 pastors in 19 counties have committed.
“We have the organization to crush the state of Iowa,” Wells said. “No one in Iowa has ever seen anything like this from a Republican.”
Endorsements from local leaders in conjunction with support from national evangelical and political leaders has helped Cruz in the state, Wells said.
U.S. Representative Steve King, of Iowa’s fourth district, is considered by many as a kingmaker in Iowa politics. He announced his endorsement of Cruz on Nov. 14.
“I prayed that God would raise up a leader that he will use to restore the soul of America, and I believe that man is Ted Cruz,” King said.
King was not the only social conservative leader who turned out to support Cruz Monday. Bob Vander Plaats, CEO of the conservative Christian advocacy group The Family Leader, spoke about Cruz and introduced the evening’s facilitator, Dr. James Dobson.
“There’s not a more trusted voice in all of America on family than Dr. James Dobson,” Vander Plaats said.
Dobson is a socially conservative evangelical leader who founded the non-profit Focus on the Family in 1977 and is currently hosting the radio talk show “Family Talk.” His radio broadcasts and books are widely distributed, and his “Focus on the Family” film series has been viewed 80 million times.
Dobson served as the mouthpiece for the social conservative movement, asking Cruz issue-based questions related to the key beliefs of many socially conservative evangelicals. The well-rehearsed exchange between Cruz and Dobson highlighted Cruz’s commitment to family values , faith and social conservatism at every opportunity.
Dobson has been politically active in lobbying for social conservative values since the 1980s and has previously endorsed George W. Bush in 2004, Mike Huckabee in 2008 and Rick Santorum in 2012.
Dobson’s formal endorsement of Cruz on Dec. 17 confirmed Cruz as the right choice for many socially conservative Christians.
Cecil Stinemetz, 60, of Urbandale, Iowa, has seen the effect of evangelical support on Cruz’s Iowa performance.
“The endorsements from Steve King and Vander Plaats helped a lot,” Stinemetz said. “That usually doesn’t happen. Dobson rarely endorses candidates. A lot of these people look up to these guys.”
Such is the case for Barb LaGrange, a 45-year-old teacher and mother of three from Winterset, Iowa. LaGrange is a strong Roman Catholic and was drawn to Cruz for his social policies and commitment to repeal Obamacare and end Common Core.
“His pro-life stance and his stance on the family are two of the reasons I think he’s a great choice,” LaGrange said. “He’s really bringing the focus back to families.”
The endorsements from prominent evangelicals reaffirmed the quality of Cruz’s character, LaGrange said.
“The people that support you are going to have the same values as you,” LaGrange said. “That’s going to say a lot about you, more than being surrounded by people with money and status.”
Commotion with Carson
Photos: Presidential hopeful Rubio woos crowd in Marshalltown with strong rhetoric
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Medienberichterstattung 24. September 2010
„Whether you believe in the Baha’i faith or not, you have to respect this faith as a religion“
Selmar Kassir schreibt auf Lebanon NOW über die schwerwiegenden und systematischen Menschenrechtsverletzungen an den Bahá’í im Iran. Lebanon NOW ist die Internetpräsenz des New Opinion Workshop, einer überparteilichen und unabhängigen Organisation, die seit 2005 Demokratie und Menschenrechte im Libanon zu fördern sucht.
According to Professor Touraj Atabaki, head of the Department of the Middle East and Central Asia at the International Institute of Social History in the Netherlands, Iran’s “mass campaign orchestrated against the Baha’is,” while outwardly targeting this specific community, indirectly addresses other religious communities in the country. In Iran’s attempt to promote “homogenous Shiism,” the Baha’is are scapegoats, he said.
“The main problem the Iranian government is facing is to have a clear legal definition of who is Iranian, the definition of citizenship.” As long as religion remains the defining criterion of citizenship, Atabaki said, Baha’is are likely to remain the weakest among the victims of this policy.
Even before issuing a statement of support on Ebadi’s request, Ayatollah Montazeri, in an unprecedented move, issued a fatwa in May 2008 saying that even though Baha’is are “unbelievers,” they are entitled to the right of citizenship.
For Khalaji [Mehdi Khalaji, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy] the question goes beyond citizenship rights. “We need the whole society to take the responsibility for what’s happening to the Baha’is. We need lots of work for introducing the Baha’i faith to Iranians… and make society understand that whether you believe in the Baha’i faith or not, you have to respect this faith as a religion.”
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Hearing - How the Ear Works
Normal ear functions
Hearing is an important sense to your everyday life. From alarms to important conversations throughout the day, our sense of hearing is important to communicating information. The way the auditory system works is incredibly complex and requires a number of functions to work properly, including:
Sound is transmitted through the air as sound waves from the environment. The sound waves are gathered by the outer ear and sent down the ear canal to the eardrum.
The sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate, which sets the three tiny bones in the middle ear into motion.
The motion of the three bones causes the fluid in the inner ear, or cochlea, to move.
The movement of the fluid in the inner ear causes the hair cells in the cochlea to bend. The hair cells change the movement into electrical impulses.
These electrical impulses are transmitted to the hearing (auditory) nerve and up to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound.
The outer ear
The visible part of the outer ear is called the pinna, or auricle. The pinna, with its grooves and ridges, along with the ear canal provide a natural volume boost for sounds in the 2000-3000 Hz frequency range, where we perceive many consonant sounds of speech.
The ear canal, also called the external auditory meatus, is the other important component of the outer ear. The ear canal is lined with only a few layers of skin and fine hair, and is a highly vascularized area. This means that there is an abundant flow of blood to the ear canal. Wax (cerumen) accumulates in the ear canal and serves as a protective barrier to the skin from bacteria and moisture. Earwax is normal and varies in amount based on the person. It only becomes problematic if it completely blocks the ear canal.
The eardrum, or tympanic membrane (TM), is the dividing structure between the outer and middle ear. Although it is an extremely thin membrane, the eardrum is made up of three layers to increase its strength.
The ossicles are the three tiny bones of the middle ear located directly behind the tympanic membrane. These three bones form a connected chain in the middle ear. The ossicles take mechanical vibrations received at the tympanic membrane, increase the strength of these vibrations and transmit them into the inner ear.
The Eustachian tube is the middle ear's air pressure equalizing system. The middle ear is encased in bone and does not associate with outside air except through the Eustachian tube. This tubular structure is normally closed, but it can be involuntarily opened by swallowing, yawning or chewing. It can also be intentionally opened to equalize pressure in the ears, like when flying in an airplane. When this happens, you might hear a soft popping sound.
The inner ear
The inner ear is an organ located deep within the temporal bone, which is the bone of the skull on both sides of the head above and to the sides of the outer ear. The inner ear has two main structures: the semicircular canals and the cochlea.
The semicircular canals do not contribute to hearing, but assist in maintaining balance as we move. The cochlea is the hearing organ of the inner ear, which is a fluid-filled structure that looks like a snail. The cochlea changes the mechanical vibrations from the tympanic membrane and the ossicles into a sequence of electrical impulses. Sensory cells, called hair cells, bend in the cochlea as the fluid is disrupted by the mechanical vibrations. This bending of the hair cells causes electrical signals to be sent to the brain by way of the auditory nerve. The cochlea is arranged by frequency, much like a piano, and encodes sounds from 20Hz (low pitch) to 20,000Hz (high pitch) in humans.
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Carmaker Daimler plans to double sales of its luxury Maybach vehicles, buoyed by strong demand in China.
Daimler, which also owns Mercedes-Benz, sold a record 12,000 luxury Maybachs last year.
They are used widely as limousines in China, the car’s most popular market.
Prices start at $173,000 (£130,000) for the latest model. However, this can rise to more than $250,000 with the addition of optional extras like silver champagne flutes.
Buyers also often go for gadgets such as massaging calf rests and automated rear doors.
The new Maybach model, based on a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, is designed for chauffeured trips, and will compete with the likes of the Bentley Flying Spur and the Rolls-Royce Ghost.
Daimler says it wants to have a stronger focus on large luxury vehicles like the S-Class as part of its strategy to improve profits.
The growth rate in China for Maybach was in double figures while Russia, South Korea and the US have shown strong sales, according to its chief executive Ola Kaellenius.
Other luxury carmakers have also seen strong sales in China. Rolls-Royce’s parent company BMW said earlier this month that its third-quarter profits grew almost 10% due to pent-up demand, primarily from Asia.
In September, Rolls-Royce unveiled its new Ghost model, which is expected to retail at around £250,000.
The carmaker’s boss Torsten Müller-Ötvös told the BBC that markets in Asia, Europe and the US were now “more or less back to normal”.
Daimler also plans to make a range of fully electric Maybach models, which are likely to do well in China.
A shift to EVs will save governments $250bn a year in oil imports and cut expected growth in global oil demand by 70%, according to a new report from the financial think tank Carbon Tracker.
China, the world’s largest luxury car market, wants new energy vehicle (NEV) sales to reach around a quarter of all car sales in 2025.
Other carmakers are revising their electric vehicle ambitions with General Motors (GM) the latest to reveal new targets.
media captionHow are VW, BYD and Jaguar trying to crack the Chinese market?
GM plans to launch 30 all-electric models worldwide by 2025, while increasing its investment in those vehicles by more than a third.The US company now plans to invest $27bn in electric vehicles by 2025, compared to the $20bn it announced in March.
VW-owned Bentley is also pushing hard to convert to electric vehicles. By 2026, all of its cars will be either hybrid or battery-electric powered. By 2030, all new models will be pure electrically powered.
Djay is coming to Arm-based Macs and getting a big update
YouTube adds ads but won’t pay all content-makers
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Compassion – Where does it come from?
Compassion is defined as a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune. It is accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. This desire, it is said, can be so strong that some people are willing to sacrifice their own basic comforts to help others.
One view is that people act with compassion because of a future benefit to themselves. For example they hope for the reward of heaven or the prize of good karma. However, I would ask, is it not possible for one to feel selfless compassion for the sake of those in need rather than for any advantage to oneself?
If you doubt that this is possible, just read a book like the City of Joy by Dominique Lapierre. This is an amazing true story about the Anand Nagar slum in Calcutta in the 1970’s. Based on thorough research, including two hundred interviews in various languages, it has a fascinating authentic ring.
The reader discovers the plight of peasants who came from famine-struck rural areas in India. Death from malnutrition was a very real possibility. They slept on the city streets and, if they were lucky, worked very long hours in appalling conditions to scrape together survival rations.
I found this to be a tough book to read but it demands the reader’s attention. Its power comes from the vivid detailed non-stop descriptions of the terrible hardship yet compassion of the inhabitants. There are amazing accounts of a generosity of spirit of those, themselves, in dire need.
Mehboub
Head of a Muslim family, Mehboub lived with his wife, 4 children and his mother in a single room, six feet by four, with no window, water or electricity. He was a wiry, muscular little man in his thirties with shaggy eyebrows. After 14 years of employment at the naval yard, it was no longer possible to put off giving him a contract of employment. And so he was laid off. With no income, this sturdy man began to waste away. His stomach racked with hunger, he walked miles each day in search of any way of earning a crust of bread. The family had to survive on the 20 rupees that the eldest boy, only aged 10, earned each month in a sweat shop. There, the child for 12 hours per day, dipped the clips for ballpoint pens into a chrome bath, whilst inhaling toxic vapours from the metal under electrolysis.
At night, when the cries of his youngest daughter’s empty stomach could not be distracted with a song or story, Mehboub would take her in his arms and go into the neighbouring courtyard to beg for a piece of chapatti. A poor person would never close his door to him. Despite their desperate lives, they helped each other when they could. That level of compassion was often found among these extremely poor people. Perhaps, if you have experienced help, you acquire a sense a duty to help others in the same plight as yourself.
Blind Christian widow
The blind widow was so thin that her shrivelled skin accentuated the angles of her bones. Leprosy had reduced her hands to stumps and eaten away her face. In a corner of her room, her four grandchildren, aged between two and six years, slept on a piece of threadbare matting. Her neighbours were all extremely poor Hindu. Yet, everyday they took turns bringing this Christian woman a dish of rice and vegetables, helping her wash, doing her housework, looking after her grandchildren. Helping someone in need because of wanting what is best for them is loving others as oneself. This broken woman suffered from no lack of love.
Bandona
Bandona was four years old when her family set out for Calcutta. Five years later her father died. Alone, her mother brought up four children by retrieving metal objects from the rubbish heaps and selling them to a metal scrap dealer. From the age of twelve, after a two-hour bus ride and walking three miles, Bandona worked in a workshop that turned out parts for trucks. She went out at five o’clock in the morning and rarely got back before ten o’clock at night. Earning just four rupees a day, she become her family’s only support when her mother was struck down with tuberculosis. This was just enough to pay the rent and guarantee the family a bowl of rice or two chapatis once a day.
On Sundays and feast days, instead of resting, Bandona would prowl the slum looking for distressed people to help. She knew how to listen to the confessions of the dying, how to pray with the families of the dead, wash the corpses, or go with the deceased to the cemetery or the funeral pyre. No one had ever taught her, yet she knew it all through intuition derived from friendship and love. Her extraordinary capacity to communicate enabled her to go into any compound, any hut, and sit down among people without encountering any prejudice of caste or religion. When you really have compassion for others you have concern for their well-being more than your own comfort. This is an act of selfless love.
Source of compassion
Kind-heartedness and generosity may come naturally to many people but is not compassion that amounts to self-sacrifice, a gift? I believe it is a transforming one that can only come from the humanity of the Divine Being of Love.
“It is a great consolation for me to remember that the Lord, to whom I had drawn near in humble and child-like faith, has suffered and died for me, and that He will look on me in love and compassion.“ (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, composer)
Copyright 2016 Stephen Russell-Lacy
Author of Heart, Head & Hands Swedenborg’s perspective on emotional problems
Posted on 10th November 2016 Author editor18 Categories Healing emotions, Latest post, Spiritual healing Tags Calcutta, City of Joy, compassion, desperation, malnutrition, poverty,slums
Posted on February 1, 2017 by havau22 | 2 Comments
The Lord’s Ascent from Galilee
A Sermon by the Rev. James P. Cooper
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11)
Over the past few weeks we have been focusing our attention on the doctrine of the Lord because our minds are naturally led to think about the Lord and His Divinity as we celebrate the Easter season. And even though we go to more trouble, in a natural way, about Christmas, Easter really is the most important date on the Christian calendar, because it was during His last week on earth, and His few brief post-resurrection appearances, that the whole nature and purpose of His Advent were revealed. It has taken us another two thousand years to begin to see the depth in the truths that He gave to us then.
Having covered His entrance into Jerusalem as a king, His arrest, trial and crucifixion, His resurrection, and His early post-resurrection appearances, it only remains to examine the events surrounding His final ascent into heaven from Galilee.
Our text for today is taken from the book of Acts because it is there that Luke gives the fullest description of the Lord’s actual ascent into heaven, and these are the passages that the Heavenly Doctrines refer to most often in regard to this subject.
The Lord said in John, No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven (3:13). He said this here, and in several other places, because He was trying to teach the disciples, and us, that the Divine Human which had been born from eternity, was also born in time. And He was also teaching that that which had been born in time was the same as that which was glorified. In other words, He was trying to establish the Divine identity of Jesus Christ. He was saying that the aspect of Jehovah that loved to teach and to save men, which is called the Son from eternity, became visible to men in the world when it clothed itself with a physical, human body at a particular place and time, and through the process of conquering in temptation, that body was glorified and taken back to heaven. The Son of Man came down, was known to men in the world, and then ascended into heaven. (See AC 2803:3)
Some people have trouble with the idea that the Lord was born “from eternity” or that the Lord has existed from eternity. In order to understand this idea we need to remember that it was the Lord who spoke through the prophets, and that both for this reason, and the fact that Divine Truth came from Him, He was called the Word “Which was made flesh.” In order for that to be true, He must have pre-existed the flesh. The Word, that is, Jesus Christ from eternity, the Son of Man, stands for all truth in heaven and on earth which comes from the Divine. (See AC 3704:12)
Once the Word had become flesh, once that aspect of the Divine had finited Itself in that particular place and time, It immediately began the process of re-uniting the Human with the Divine. This is what was meant by the Lord when He said that He had come forth from the Father and had come into the world, and that He would be going again to the Father. Another way of putting it would be to say that His coming forth from the Father means that the Divine itself had taken on the Human; His coming into the world means that He was as a human being; and His going again to the Father means that He would unite the Human Essence to the Divine Essence. (See John 6:62, AC 3736)
Like everything else in the Word, these teachings about the nature of the Divine also have their application on other levels, and in other series. For example, the Doctrines teach in the Arcana Coelestia that the ‘Son of man’ denotes the Divine truth in the heavens for this comes down, and therefore ascends, because no one can ascend into heaven unless Divine truth comes down into him from heaven, because the influx is Divine, and not the other way about. (AC 9807:9)
The Lord appeared to the disciples about 12 different times over a period of 40 days after His resurrection. We might note in this connection that 12 represents ‘all the goods and truths of the church’ while 40 stands for a period of temptation which has been successfully overcome. Through His appearances to the disciples He taught them that He was God, and that they should go out into the world and follow His example and His commandments. We know that the two essentials of the church are the acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as the one God of heaven and earth, and to do good in His name; and so we can see that all the goods and truths of the church were contained in His final instructions to the disciples. We also know that this was time when the Lord was drawing all things concerning His glorification to a conclusion, bringing His 33 years of temptation to a close, and so, symbolically, He appeared 12 times to the disciples over a period of 40 days.
At the end of the 40 days, the Lord met the disciples in Galilee. Luke reports in his gospel that
He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God (Luke 24:50-53).
The disciples had seen Him eat; they had seen Him offer to allow Thomas to touch His wounds, He had walked with them, and talked with them, and they were convinced by this that He was in fact, no longer dead. And yet He had also entered and left rooms where the doors were closed, and had done other things that were very much things that only a spirit could do. And now, in their plain sight, He was carried up into heaven. They were now beginning to understand that He was both God and Man, they could now understand that they had daily walked and talk with and been instructed by Jehovah God Himself, and they were overcome with the joy of their realization. In their newly born and rapidly growing understanding, they were compelled to return to Jerusalem, in spite of the danger that they faced there, and went into the temple to praise God for the blessings they had received.
The Lord ascended to Heaven in their presence specifically to teach them these things, to show them that the body that He had taken on in the world from Mary had been drastically changed, that He had accomplished His goal of glorifying the Human so that He could rise, unlike any man, with His glorified Human.
Our understanding of exactly what happened to His physical body is not complete, but certain spiritual principles and open statements of the Heavenly Doctrines allow us to see the big picture, even if some of the details remain clouded.
The Lord rose with the whole body, unlike any man (Lord 35:9,10). This is the clear and frequent teaching of the Heavenly Doctrines. Yet there are also many passages which speak of how the Lord had put off the human from the mother. He cannot have both put off the human and risen with it. How are we to understand this apparent contradiction?
A possible resolution of this question lies in a passage that speaks in more detail about what it was that the Lord put off:
As men rise again after death, therefore the Lord willed to undergo death and to rise again the third day, but to the end that He might put off every thing human that He had from the mother and might put on the Divine Human; for every thing human that the Lord took from the mother He rejected from Himself by temptations, and finally by death. (AE 899:14)
Since you cannot reject flesh and bones by temptation, something else human that He received from His mother must be meant.
There is not the time to go deeply into the doctrine of heredity at this point, so it must suffice to say that the heredity we receive from our mother is different than that which we receive from our father. The heredity from the father is part of the soul itself, and even though we may conquer an evil from our paternal heredity, it is not removed, but rather encapsulated. The heredity we receive from our mother, being associated with the physical body, is entirely removed through regeneration.
As far as we are concerned as we go about our daily lives, there is no difference between the two types of heredity. The heredity from both of our parents has an equal influence on our lives, the evils there are equally difficult to repent of, and once they are removed by the Lord through the process of repentance, reformation, and regeneration, they are equally gone. So practically, to us, there is no difference.
But for the Lord there was a world of difference. The hereditary evils which He received from Mary could be completely removed, put off, as He conquered them in temptation. This could not have happened with hereditary evils from an earthly father. This is why He had to have been born of a virgin – so that the heredity from His father would be completely pure of evil because His father was God.
This also answers the question of what it was from Mary that He put off as He glorified Himself: He put off the evils of His maternal heredity, He put off the misconceptions and falsities learned in His childhood; while the body, being incapable of harboring evil, was glorified and thus made Divine.
By putting on a Human from the Divine Itself that was in Him, He glorified Himself, that is, made His Human Divine; therefore in the spiritual sense His death and burial do not mean death and burial, but the purification of His Human, and glorification. He taught this when He spoke about the grain of wheat that must first die and be buried in the earth so that it might rise again and bear fruit (See John 12:24). The Lord then gathered His disciples to witness His ascent into heaven because in the spiritual sense ‘To ascend to His Father’ means the uniting of His Human with His Divine, the human from the mother being fully rejected. (See AE 899:14)
While the Lord was careful to ascend into heaven in such a way as to clarify the nature of His mission in the world, He was also preparing the way for His second coming. Recall how Luke described the ascension in the second lesson:
While they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11).
As the Lord ascended into heaven and was lost to their view as He entered the clouds, two angels announced to the disciples, and thereby to us, that the Lord would return in the same manner as they had seen Him go, that is, in the Glorified Human, not a physical body, and in the clouds, that is, in the literal sense of the Word.
John tells us that in the beginning “The Word was made flesh … and dwelt among us” (1:1,14), and we see that at the end of His time on earth, He returned to the Word as represented by the clouds of heaven. (See TCR 764:3)
The work that He had set out to do was accomplished. He had been born of a virgin; He had received the temptations from every hell and defeated them with His own power; He had glorified His human; every aspect of His life on earth was the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Old Testament; and in the act of fulfilling the prophecy of the Old, He was laying down the prophecy of the New, preparing the way for His return, not in the body, or in the world, but into men’s minds through their understanding of the spiritual sense of the Word. Amen.
First Lesson: Acts 1:1-11
The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, {2} until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, {3} to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. {4} And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; {5} “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” {6} Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” {7} And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. {8} “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” {9} Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. {10} And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, {11} who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Amen.
Second Lesson: TCR 764
As the successive states of the church in general and in particular are described in the Word by the four seasons of the year, spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and by the four divisions of the day, morning, noon, evening, and night; and as the present church in Christendom is the night, it follows that the morning, that is, the beginning of a new church, is now at hand. That the successive states of the church are described in the Word by the four states of the light of day, can be seen from the following passages:– An end has come, the end has come; it has dawned for you; behold, it has come! (EZE 7:6)
[2] In these passages “evening” and “night” mean the last time of the church, and “morning” the first. The Lord Himself is also called the morning in the following passage:– “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” (REV 22:16).
Because the Lord is the morning, He arose from the sepulcher early in the morning, being about to begin a new church (MAR 16:2,9)
[3] That it is the Lord’s coming that is to be waited for can be clearly seen from His prediction respecting it in Matthew:– Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the consummation of the age?” (MAT 24:3)
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (MAT 24:29-30)
[4] In the Acts of the Apostles:– Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, Who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (ACT 1:9-11)
In the Apocalypse:– And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. “Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to his work. (REV 22:6,7,12)
Copyright © 1982 – 2008 General Church of the New Jerusalem.
Page constructed by James P. Cooper
Page last modified September 27, 2009
Posted on October 31, 2016 by havau22 | Leave a comment
A Sermon by Rev Terry Schnarr Preached in Sydney, Australia December 1990
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emanuel, which, being interpreted, is God with us” (Matt. 1:23).
The virgin birth of the Lord is a hard thing to believe. Yet the Word teaches it so clearly and vividly that there can be no doubt that the claim of the Bible is that the Lord, Jesus Christ, was conceived from God and born of a virgin woman. Scholars of the Christian Church have claimed that the Greek word for virgin really means young woman and not necessarily one that has not had intercourse with a man. But the Bible also clearly states that Mary had not known a man, which obviously makes her a virgin. This is a fact that must be accepted if we are going to know and love the Lord as the one and only God of heaven and earth, yet we find it so incredible.
The Lord’s soul, from His conception in the womb to His resurrection from the sepulcher, was God Himself, the Infinite and Omnipotent Creator of the universe. It is of paramount importance to the New Church concept of God that He was born into the world of a virgin. He could not have united the Divine and the Human if He had taken a soul from conception by a natural father. In order to save the human race from the damnation of the hells, it was absolutely necessary for God Himself to come into the world, take on an infirm human covering, then put it off again by combating and conquering the hells, and thereby subjugating them to His own omnipotent eternal control. To attain this end, He had to be conceived in a virgin and born of a virgin. The virgin birth is essential to the New Church concept of Jesus Christ as the one and only God of heaven and earth.
It is prophesied in Isaiah that the Lord would be born of a virgin, and it is recorded as a fact in Matthew. Joseph was betrothed to Mary, and betrothal was considered a legal marriage. But before the marriage had been consummated, before they had been bodily conjoined, Mary “was found with child of the Holy Spirit.” Joseph did not at first know of this, and it is said that “being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, he was minded to put her away privately” (Matthew 1:19). But the angel of the Lord came to him in a dream and told him that the child she bore was conceived of the Holy Spirit, adding, “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, `Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emanuel, which, being interpreted, is God with us'” (Matthew 1:23).
Even though Joseph was not the father of the Lord, it was important that in the eyes of men it should appear that he was. It was necessary that He be born under the protection of a legal marriage. Joseph was needed as a guardian, provider, and instructor. It was Joseph who led them to safety in Egypt when Herod sought to kill the baby Jesus. It was Joseph who worked to provide Mary and Jesus and their other children with food, clothing, and shelter. And it was Joseph, as the head of the household, who was responsible for the instruction of his children. The Lord as an infant and child was helpless and dependent, as all of us are, on His natural guardians.
The miracle of the virgin birth is perhaps the hardest to believe of all the miracles recorded in the Word. Other miracles, even though they seem improbable, can be grasped by our natural minds as being remotely possible. We can see with most of them how there could be natural explanations for them even though we believe that the miracle was that they happened at the right time or in the right place. We can see, for example, the possibility that God could string a number of natural phenomena together to produce the miracle of the crossing of the Red Sea at the right time. We are familiar with occasions where people have been pronounced dead and have come back to life. We are familiar with circumstances where people have seemingly been miraculously cured of incurable diseases and ailments. Because of our familiarity with these events, and our knowledge of natural science, we can naturally envision the possibility of these miracles taking place, and we can therefore easily believe them. But the miracle of a virgin birth is utterly inconceivable to our natural minds. It is something we are not at all familiar with. It is unprecedented in history, and it has not been repeated. Our natural minds cannot, therefore, conceive of it. The result is that in general we either blindly accept it, ignore it, doubt it, or deny it. The New Church presents us with another idea rational understanding and belief.
We are thinking in the wrong way when we think in such a way as to accept these miracles only when we can understand them as natural possibilities. As we heard in the third lesson, this type of thinking leads to all folly and insanity. We ought to first believe in the Word, or in the doctrine therefrom, and then confirm that doctrine by rational things of natural science and sense experience. “He who assumes as a principle,” we read, “that nothing is to be believed until it is seen and understood can never believe, because spiritual and celestial things cannot be seen with the eyes or conceived by the imagination. But the true order is for man to be wise from the Lord, that is, from His Word, and then all things follow . . . . It is by no means forbidden to learn the sciences, since they are useful . . . but it must be from this principle to believe the Word of the Lord, and, as far as possible, confirm spiritual and celestial truths by natural truths, in terms familiar to the learned world. Thus man’s starting-point must be the Lord and not himself; for the former is life, but the latter is death” (AC 129, emphasis added). In other words, we ought to believe that the miracles recorded in the Word actually took place simply because the Lord in His Word says they did, and then merely confirm our belief by natural reasonings and explanations which seem to make them possible.
The virgin birth is a case in point. We ought to believe it because the Lord says it is so in His Word. We can try to confirm it by natural reasonings and explanations. For example, we are taught that the soul of every man is a graft, or an offshoot, from his father’s soul. It consists of finite, spiritual substances, so formed as to receive life from the Lord. Carried in the sperm from the father at conception, the mind, disposition, nature, inclination, and affection of the father’s love dwell in the souls of his offspring, from generation to generation (see TCR 103). Thus, we read, “the hereditary evil from a father is internal and remains to eternity. For it cannot possibly be eradicated” (AC 1573).
If Joseph, or any other natural man, had been the father of the Lord, He would have had such a finite soul, with hereditary evil inclinations that could not be eradicated to eternity. It would not have been possible for Him to unite His human to the Divine Soul. He would not have been God Incarnate. This is why it is so important that we believe that He was born of a virgin. His soul was Jehovah God Himself. It was Life Itself, infinite and uncreated. His soul had no evil tendencies, but only infinite love for all mankind. It was not a finite substance, formed to receive life. And in no sense was His soul a graft, or an offshoot, of the Divine, for the Divine is one and indivisible. Therefore, we are not to think of the Divine as being limited, or confined in any way, by the Lord’s body as an infant, as a boy, as a man, or at any time during His life on earth.
We might wonder how God could rule and sustain order in the universe while He was living in the world as a child or a grown man; but this is to think of His Essence from His Person, limited by His physical person, and we are taught to think of His Person from His Essence, nevertheless to think of and approach the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In other words, God’s omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience were no way limited by the material body of the Lord. His soul was unchanged. His soul was infinite and unobstructed in its operation at all times, continually recreating and sustaining the universe as it always has and always will. The Lord’s soul was God Himself, the Creator and Ruler of the entire universe, life itself, infinite love, and infinite wisdom. His soul was the indivisible God of heaven and earth in its totality. He called His soul “Father” and spoke to it even as David speaks to his soul in the psalms.
However, the Lord’s body which was formed of natural substances from the womb of Mary was full of the hereditary evil tendencies of the human race. Through this infirm human the hells could approach and tempt the Lord during His life on earth. He combated them from His own power in His Divine Soul, and was victorious, subjugating them to His eternal control. He thus put off the infirm human nature from His mother, and glorified His Human by uniting it to the Divine which was His soul.
In states of glorification, then, He was Jehovah God Himself on earth, fully aware of all that His soul was doing. In states of temptation or exinanition, however, God appeared as someone separate from Him, and He was then not consciously aware of what His soul was doing. When He was fully glorified there was nothing left of the infirm human nature He had taken on in the womb of Mary. He was God-Man, Divine and Human, Emanuel, God with us. Thus He denied His mother from the cross.
The infant Jesus was born of a virgin so that He could become “God with us.” The purpose of His coming into the world was so that He could be in direct contact with people in the world forever after. How is He immediately present with us here today?
He is here in His Word, but His Word is not a book. Before He came into the world in His own Human, He was mediately present by means of a book. But now, the Word, which was in the beginning, which was with God, which was God, and by which all things were made, became flesh and dwelt among us (see John 1:lff). Jehovah God Almighty came into the world to manifest the true form of the Word the Divine Human. He came into the world to show His true nature in physical ultimates. He came into the world to become visible in His own Human form, which is Divine in Essence. He came into the world so that people could know and love Him as He really is, Divine and Human, Divinely Human. God is the one and only Divine Human Being. He is Divine Love in human form.
The form He is visible in today, the form in which He is immediately present with us today, is as Divine love in Human form. The book upon our altar, and the books upon our shelves, are not in Human form. He is not then immediately present and visible there. But when the contents of His Word have been brought into the forms of human minds and have been loved, thought about, and lived, His Divine love is then received and is immediately present in a visible human form.
When the Word becomes flesh and dwells within people like you and me, the speech and actions of our lives will manifest an image and likeness of the Lord’s Divine Human. The miracle of the virgin birth will be repeated in each one of us, and we “shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emanuel, which being interpreted, is God with us” (Matt. 1:23). Amen.
Lessons:
Matt. 1:18-25; 2:1-16
AC 2568 (portions)
Arcana Coelestia 2568
[2] As regards man, it is one thing to regard the doctrine of faith from rational things and altogether another to regard rational things from the doctrine of faith. To regard the doctrine of faith from rational things is not to believe in the Word, or in the doctrine thence derived, until one is persuaded from rational things that it is so; whereas to regard rational things from the doctrine of faith is first to believe in the Word, or in the doctrine therefrom, and then to confirm the same by rational things.
[4] There are therefore two principles, one of which leads to all folly and insanity, and the other to all intelligence and wisdom. The former principle is to deny all things or to say in the heart that we cannot believe them until we are convinced by what we can apprehend or perceive by the senses: this is the principle that leads to all folly and insanity, and is to be called the negative principle. The other principle is to affirm the things which are of doctrine from the Word, or to think and believe within ourselves that they are true because the Lord has said them; this is the principle that leads to all intelligence and wisdom, and is to be called the affirmative principle.
[5] The more they who think from the negative principle consult things rational, the more they consult memory knowledges, and the more they consult things philosophical, the more do they cast and precipitate themselves into darkness, until at last they deny all things. The causes of this are that no one can apprehend higher things from lower ones, that is, spiritual and celestial things, still less Divine things, from lower ones, because they transcend all understanding, and moreover everything is then involved in negatives from that principle. On the other hand, they who think from an affirmative principle can confirm themselves by whatever things rational, by whatever memory knowledges, and whatever things philosophic they have at command; for all these are to them things confirmatory, and give them a fuller idea of the matter.
[6] Moreover, there are some who are in doubt before they deny, and there are some who are in doubt before they affirm. They who are in doubt before they deny are they who incline to a life of evil; and when this life carries them away, then insofar as they think of the matters in question, they deny them. But they who are in doubt before they affirm are they who incline to a life of good; and when they suffer themselves to be bent to this by the Lord, then insofar as they think about those things, so far they affirm.
Posted on October 16, 2014 by havau22 | 2 Comments
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Basketball Development
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The Hawkeyes Are Going Dancing
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IMPORTANT NOTES FOR TICKET HOLDERS AND THOSE SEEKING TICKETS: For season ticket-holders, the Iowa ticket office will start accommodating requests at 9 a.m. CST on Monday. Please call 1-800-IA-HAWKS or visit the ticket office website via the above link. For non-season ticket-holders, visit the Ticketmaster website via the above link.
Iowa’s game, inside the RCA Dome, will be at approximately 1:50 p.m. CST on Thursday. Television information is unavailable at this time.
Those who buy “all-sessions” tickets from either vendor for $150 (for lower-level seating) or $90 (for upper-level seating) will have tickets available for them if Iowa wins and advances to Saturday’s game.
For those interested in single-game-only tickets, those tickets will go on sale at 8 a.m. CST on Wednesday. Those tickets cost $50 for lower-level seating and $30 for upper-level seating. Single-game tickets will be available for purchase at the Ticketmaster website (www.ticketmaster.com).
Buy now, though, tickets are going fast.
The roar that erupted from the Iowa men’s basketball locker rooms could be heard throughout Carver-Hawkeye Arena Sunday and that said it all: the Hawkeyes are headed to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years.
“There’s nothing like 20 men jumping up and down screaming as loud as they can,” forward Greg Brunner said in a press conference following the announcement. “I had tears in my eyes I was so scared and so nervous.”
“It was awesome,” point guard Jeff Horner said. “It was just one of the most exciting moments in our career. It’s just an awesome feeling knowing that we’re going to be going there.”
It was a marked change of pace for a Hawkeye locker room that has seen some difficult times this season, according to Head Coach Steve Alford.
“We know our locker room has been through an awful lot, and I know our guys and I couldn’t possibly be any happier for our entire basketball team,” the coach said. “Obviously we’re very excited, and in our locker room it was a lot of fun. We didn’t like waiting for the final bracket and the third to the last line – that wasn’t a lot of fun – but it probably built up our enthusiasm even more.”
Iowa (21-11) is seeded tenth in the Austin bracket and will face seventh-seeded and No. 21 Cincinnati (24-7) on Thursday inside the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Ind. The game will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of the 11:20 p.m. Kentucky-Eastern Kentucky game.
The trip to the RCA Dome will certainly not be Alford’s first. In the 1987 season, Alford played at the venue twice, picking up wins against Fairfield and Auburn, before his Indiana Hoosiers won the NCAA Championship that year.
“It’s a lot fun for me to go back to that same building as a coach rather than as a player,” said Alford.
But after the year that his Hawkeyes have had, Alford is just happy to be able to play in the tournament at all.
“We’ve had good times, ugly times and bad times, and I think you can make positives out of all three of those things,” the coach said. “That’s what we’ve worked towards. This is fifth-straight winning season. It’s only happened two other times in the 102 years of Iowa basketball. There are a lot of positives and those are the things I always look towards.
“I think we’re making progress and these guys have made it a lot of fun for us,” Alford added.
Iowa lost leading scorer Pierre Pierce following legal trouble in February and then had to play Michigan State, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Illinois. That stretch, where Iowa went 1 for 4, nearly killed all hopes of a NCAA berth.
“Coach just kept telling us in the locker room that something big is going to happen. Something big is going to happen. And here it is. We’re just waiting for it now.”
Junior point guard Jeff Horner
Following losses at Purdue and Minnesota, Horner thought that the only way the Hawkeyes could make the tournament is by winning the Big Ten Tournament.
“It was tough,” the point guard said. “We would have to win four games in a row, and we ended up winning five games in a row. It was just tough after that game because everybody counted us out and then we lose to Minnesota and everyone said we had to win our last four to get in.
“And our heads were down, but then we said, `To heck with it.’ We’re just going to go out and have fun and do our thing.”
Horner said that Alford consistently reminded the team that the troubles and adversity it faced would eventually lead to a happy ending.
“I had a feeling that just with everything bad that’s happened to this program that something good had to come out of it,” Horner said. “Coach just kept telling us in the locker room that something big is going to happen. Something big is going to happen. And here it is. We’re just waiting for it now.”
Alford said Iowa would have been hard for the NCAA Selection Committee to pass over considering its play in the Big Ten Tournament, beating Purdue, 13th-ranked Michigan State, and nearly beating No. 23 Wisconsin in the semifinals.
“That really solidified our chances,” Alford said. “I think we were under consideration after Purdue, but I think being a top-10 team and playing another top-25 team down to the wire, I think, really solidified what we’ve done.”
For sophomore Adam Haluska, the tournament selection is the crowning moment of a long-executed plan and the ultimate goal of the season.
“We battled through a lot and I think the main thing is that we always just stuck to the plan. We’ve never deviated from that,” the guard said. “We just stayed right on course with what the coaches had planned out for us. I think good things happen to a good program like this. I couldn’t be happier for the other players and the coaching staff because of what we’ve been through and just the way we’ve handled ourselves.
“And I think we’re very deserving of this opportunity.”
Barry Pump, hawkeyesports.com
No. 5 Iowa Routs Northwestern for 5th Straight Win
Men's Basketball / January 17, 2021 No. 5 Iowa Routs Northwestern for 5th Straight Win
PHOTOS: Iowa Men's Basketball at Northwestern - 1.17.21
Men's Basketball / January 17, 2021 PHOTOS: Iowa Men's Basketball at Northwestern - 1.17.21
Game Notes: Iowa Travels to Northwestern
Men's Basketball / January 14, 2021 Game Notes: Iowa Travels to Northwestern
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The U.S. Patent Game: How to Change It
20 Dec 2004Research & Ideas
by Ann Cullen
Innovators and society are paying too high a price in the current patent system, says a new book by Adam B. Jaffe and Harvard Business School’s Josh Lerner. A book excerpt and Q&A with Lerner.
When lawyers fare better than inventors and entrepreneurs where U.S. patents are concerned, you know injustice is being done. The current system makes patents easier to acquire, sure, but renders them less prestigious as well, and less likely to attract valuable financing. In addition, older firms that are feeling threatened have learned how to bully younger upstarts by wielding licenses and patent law like a weapon. It certainly doesn't encourage the spirit of innovation, does it?
However, it isn't just the inventors and fledgling businesses that suffer. The economy as a whole does too, in ways that are often invisible.
A provocative new book by economists Adam B. Jaffe and Josh Lerner describes what's wrong, but shines a light on ways to fix the system, too. Their book, Innovation and Its Discontents: How Our Broken Patent System is Endangering Innovation and Progress, was published in November 2004 by Princeton University Press. Jaffe is professor of economics and dean of Arts and Sciences at Brandeis University. Lerner is the Jacob H. Schiff Professor of Investment Banking at Harvard Business School.
In Innovation and Its Discontents, Jaffe and Lerner say the patent system is the product of three elements that are required to interact: technology, people, and government. The interaction, which they describe in detail, "ultimately affects us all, and so should concern us all," they write.
In the following interview for HBS Working Knowledge, Lerner explains what's wrong and how to fix it.
Ann Cullen: How did you come to write this book with Adam B. Jaffe? What sparked your interest in this research?
Josh Lerner: Adam and I have done research, together and separately, over the past decade on issues related to patent policy. While this work explored a variety of interesting issues, the limited circulation of the periodicals in which the works appeared and the necessarily technical nature of the articles meant their impact was limited. Meanwhile, in many settings—from panel discussions to consulting projects to congressional hearings—we were hearing about the increasing severity of the patent system's problems, and the negative effects that they were having on firms.
While these issues had been widely recognized by practitioners, and had been the subject of weighty, footnote-laden reports by such bodies as the Federal Trade Commission and the National Academy of Sciences, there had been little popular attention to this issue. (The only trade books on the topic seemed to either be "war stories" about memorable patent disputes or exhortations to executives to get rich by exploiting the patent system's weaknesses!) These circumstances led us to decide to write this book. We sought to write a volume that would be readily accessible for business and government practitioners, and which conveyed clearly the system's problems and some steps to solving them.
Q: What are the current barriers to fixing the patent system? What reforms to this system do you suggest?
A: Why is reform of the patent system so hard? An extensive body of work, often described as "political economy," provides an answer to this question, at least at a broad-brush level. These writings have emphasized the danger of "capture" of government programs. [Editor's note: In a nutshell, regulatory capture refers to the tendency of regulators to favor, in effect, the interest of the industry they are supposed to be regulating rather than the public interest.] Any program that assigns subsidies or assigns property rights is prone to the distortions that may result as interest groups or politicians seek to direct the public programs in a manner that benefits them.
While the most dramatic effects are seen in the U.S., this is a global problem.
The patent system has many features that make the problem of capture likely. The most important of these relate to the complexity of these laws. The set of lawyers who understand these issues is unlikely to be large. While probably few are inclined to intentionally perpetuate an inefficient system, the substantial gains that they enjoy from the current system's complexity—e.g., lengthy and lucrative assignments—is likely to have a subtle effect on many practitioners' reactions to proposals for radical change.
Moreover, the negative effects of bad patent policy are very diffuse, and very difficult to see and understand. Consumers are unlikely to get excited about the extent to which subtle shifts in abstract judicial doctrine will affect the amount they pay for new products. Even CEOs are not apt to give these arcane issues the same kind of attention as something like tax policy, which affects a corporation's bottom line in a direct and transparent way.
Q: How have the changes in the patent process you document affected entrepreneurial finance?
A: Young, innovative firms are hurt in two ways by a poorly-operating patent system. First, as patents become easier to get, their value for the truly innovative firms—such as those backed by venture capitalists—decreases. Just as excellent students no longer can stand out if "grade inflation" at a college leads to almost all students getting A's, so too, innovative companies find it increasingly difficult to get the visibility and recognition they deserve if the patent system does not work efficiently.
Second, young firms are frequently targets of patent litigation. In many cases, an established firm, frequently one whose competitive position and innovative activity are declining, realizes it has a valuable stockpile of issued patents. This firm then approaches rivals, demanding that they take out licenses to its patents. In many cases, they will target smaller and young firms who do not have extensive financial resources to engage in protracted patent litigation. The small, young firms are often forced to capitulate.
Q: Given the changes you document to the U.S. patent process, do you think that if the current system is not fixed, more innovation will move overseas?
A: While the most dramatic effects are seen in the U.S., this is a global problem. As Dominique Guellec, the chief economist at the European Patent Office in Munich, observes, "patent offices are under incredible pressure" worldwide. Many offices have had to grapple with an influx of patents, and many nations are strengthening patents—often in response to pressure by American politicians. So this is not a uniquely American problem.
Nonetheless, to the extent that the problems are most severe in the U.S., I agree that this will tend to depress the share of the U.S. in innovation.
Q: Your book talks about the "pauperization of the patent system." Can you elaborate on what you mean by this?
A: Beginning in the early 1990s, Congress converted the United States Patent and Trademark Office from an agency funded by tax revenues, which collected nominal fees for patent applications, into one funded by the fees it collects. Indeed, the patent office has become a profit center for the government, collecting more in application fees than it costs to run the agency! In some years, as much as $200 million, or about 15 percent of total revenues, have been diverted from the patent office to the U.S. Treasury.
This change has had important consequences. Increasingly, the patent office views itself as an organization whose mission is to serve patent applicants. And, of course, what applicants want is for their applications to be granted! Furthermore, the new orientation creates strong incentives for the patent office to process applications as quickly as possible, and at the lowest possible cost. As a result, there has been a widely perceived decline in the rigor with which patent applications are reviewed. This, in turn, encourages more people to apply for dubious patents.
Josh Lerner
Jacob H. Schiff Professor of Investment Banking
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E-MU Proteus 64 by G-Boy at 6:28 AM EDT on July 11, 2016
I'm sure that the E-MU Proteus 2 module was used in Star Fox 64.
Just listen to a demo of it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk9LZHLdF78
edited 7:13 AM EDT July 11, 2016
I'm also sure it was used in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.
edited 11:50 AM EDT July 11, 2016
ORAS Omnisphere by PokeMusic at 9:37 AM EDT on July 11, 2016
I hear a lot of Omnisphere in ORAS. I heard a demo.
Also, I thought a lot of the Pokemon music was made on a bunch of keyboards, not VSTs, which confuses me.
Sega 90's Piano by G-Boy at 12:35 PM EDT on July 11, 2016
Sample: Piano 16
Synthesizer: KORG M1
Game: Sonic CD (European/Japanese soundtrack)
Songs: All songs with a piano instrument
edited 12:36 PM EDT July 11, 2016
by icecream at 4:26 PM EDT on July 11, 2016
@PokeMusic: I think the music itself is composed on a keyboard type workstation (so the notes punched in are inserted into their DAW), but all of the instruments (save for what I think is a live guitar in some gen 6 songs) come from romplers and VSTs.
by PokeMusic at 4:45 PM EDT on July 11, 2016
@icecream
Thank you for clarifying, I knew there was stuff like Massive/Kontakt/Omnisphere/HALion/EWQLSO/EWQL Goliath as well as Sound Canvas 88.
by alexnaveira at 1:23 AM EDT on July 12, 2016
For BW I think most lead notes and percussion are punched in through the actual DAW though, as with XY and ORAS. Piano/acoustic guitar tracks are definitely played with a keyboard to some extend though. That's judging by the MIDIs though.
*cricket sound* by G-Boy at 4:37 AM EDT on July 15, 2016
What happened to this thread? Is it dead?
Pokemon ORAS uses PianoTech in many of it's tracks. Default grand preset. Including...
Ending Theme
Littleroot Town
Verdanturf Town
Trainer's School
Lots of tracks done by Shota Kageyama with a piano
This piano is also used in the Black/White OST's N's Farewell remaster done by Kageyama, also featuring Kontakt instruments that would later be used in XY/ORAS.
https://soundcloud.com/pokemon-style-music/ns-farewell-remaster
by Ghignarda at 10:10 AM EDT on July 15, 2016
Does anyone know what Totaka used for Luigi's Mansion and Mario Artist: Polygon Studio? Particularly the orchestral hit, drums and vocal samples?
Mario Artist: Polygon Studio by G-Boy at 5:24 AM EDT on July 17, 2016
@Ghignarda
I don't know, but the instruments sound very EarthBound-ish to me. Maybe Nintendo used the same synthesizer for both games?
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New On Netflix: Rock ‘n’ Roll High School
By Bryan Enk
Updated Feb 22, 2012 at 10:15am
[BoxTitle]Rock ‘n’ Roll High School[/BoxTitle] [Trailer]http://youtu.be/y1001xArPVk[/Trailer] [Netflix] [NetflixAdd id="70136828"/] [NetflixWatch id="70136828"/]
Remember, your “PrinciPAL” is your “pal” — unless you go to Vince Lombardi High School, where most of them have suffered nervous breakdowns due to the students’ fervent love of rock ‘n’ roll music and their desire to just party all the time. The students’ unofficial leader, Riff Randall (P.J. Soles of Carrie and Halloween), happens to be the biggest Ramones fan on the planet and waits in line for three days to get tickets to see them in concert, with high hopes for a chance to meet frontman Joey Ramone so she can give him a song she wrote especially for her favorite band to record, “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School”; unfortunately, Riff may have finally met her match in the latest Vince Lombardi principal, Miss Evelyn Togar (Mary Woronov), who confiscates the tickets in an attempt to destroy rock ‘n’ roll and fun forever. The alternate plan that Riff and her best friend Kate (Dey Young) conjure up with which to meet their musical heroes eventually leads to the Ramones becoming honorary Vince Lombardi students themselves — and to a rather, shall we say, “explosive” finale. Described by at least one fan as the “last great drive-in flick,” this Roger Corman-produced cult classic is a must-see for fans of The Ramones, fans of rock music in general, fans of having fun and fans of‚ well, suffice to say that if you’re a human being, you’ll probably find something to love about Rock ‘n’ Roll High School. Besides, of course, the Ramones, the soundtrack also features Fleetwood Mac, The Velvet Underground, Paul McCartney and even Brian Eno.
Published Feb 22, 2012 at 10:15am
Brian Eno, Fleetwood Mac, Movies, Netflix, New On Netflix, Paul McCartney, Rock, The Ramones, The Velvet Underground
Sheena is a punk rocker and this Roger Corman-produced musical comedy featuring the Ramones is a piece of punk cinema that you shouldn't miss.
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Who Is Darcey Silva (90 Day Fiance Star) and How Much Is She Worth?
If there’s anything to thank Darcey Silva for, it would be that she made the reality show, 90 Day Fiance very interesting to viewers. Darcey, on different times on the show, try to prove that the best could happen when you give love a chance. Although things did not go exactly the way she wanted, her adventures on-screen encouraged others out there to take that chance. Dating a younger guy on the show was not the only thing that made Silva popular. Find out more about the reality TV star as you scroll through.
The 90 Day Fiancé star was born on 23rd September 1974, in Middletown, Connecticut, in the United States. The only available information about her family is that she has a twin sister named Stacey. Even as she considered love an indispensable part of life, Silva also had a business in mind and went about it in the most significant way. Before her 90 Day Fiance journey started, Darcey gained grounds as a businesswoman. She partnered with her twin sister to launch various ventures in clothing lines and others. You’ll get to know more on that as you read through but first, let’s check out the other things that brought Darcey Silva to the spotlight.
Darcey is known mostly for her chaotic relationships with men; a notion which she successfully proved in the popular 90 Day Fiance reality show. The reality star is often in the news for reasons revolving around exploitation, cheating and whatnots. Silva is also in the spotlight for her previous marriage.
Before the reality show and the boyfriends, Darcey was married to Frank Bollok. It is not known exactly when they got married and where their marriage took place. They had two daughters – Aniko Bollok and Aspen Bollok during the marriage. Bollok remarried in April 2019 to Kristell Mapelli.
Darcey Silva’s Factsheet
Her 90 Day Fiance Experience
For those who do not know, It was the first season of the show – a fall in love and tie the knot in 90 days or separate – kind of scenario. On the 90 Day Fiance show, people who are not American and have their K-1 visa, are given three months to decide if they’ll marry their partners who are American citizens. Well, that was the condition and Darcey was more than willing to try her luck on the platform.
First, There Was Jesse Meester
Silva hooked up with her Amsterdam boyfriend Jesse Meester and hoped for the best. Like every other couple, they met on the show and their relationship seemed like it was made in heaven. Jesse, a personal trainer and psychologist from Amsterdam, Netherlands, was also enthused and was willing to give love a chance. There was so much to raise eyebrows for; Jesse was much younger than Darcey. This factor alone, coupled with Silva’s relationship history, made her the centre of attraction during the show.
Things seemed to be going smoothly until it started going sour between them. It wasn’t clear why they went their separate ways but reports had it that shortly after the show, Meester went back to his country.
Silva and Jesse (image source)
Darcey Gives Tom Brooks A Chance
Darcey did not give up after the break-up, instead, she took another chance with love and participated in another season of the reality show. It was the second season; 90 Days Fiance: Before the 90 Days, and this time around, it was with Tom Brooks, a British. Again, it seemed there was no end to the love they shared. Like every other couple on the platform, the two were communicating through the internet before they met on the show.
Darcey flew to England to see how things would go with Brooks after the show but unfortunately, things did not go as she anticipated. The couple gradually grew apart as a result of what was believed to be a lack of communication which Darcey said was the fault of her ‘too busy’ partner. Several efforts by Darcey to make it work proved futile and the relationship later came to an end.
What Is Darcey Silva’s Net Worth?
One thing worthy of emulation about Darcey is her sound business acumen. She is known for various establishments which cut across fashion, modelling, music, and even acting. Yes! acting; Darcey has starred in a comedy movie titled, White T, though this was way back in the year 2013.
The reality TV star and her twin sister have grown to become an unstoppable duo as they both team up to establish many businesses together and this is why many have wondered if her net worth is measured with that of Stacey. Darcey and Stacey are co-founders of House of Eleven, (Hof11) a popular fashion brand known for its unique style. The duo also founded the entertainment label, Eleventh Entertainment.
If you’re wondering how Silva would fit into entertainment, it may interest you to know that the reality TV star, alongside her twin, ventured into music in 2018, following the release of their first single Lock Your Number. All these contribute to Silva’s financial status which is not publicly known at the moment. Her business endeavours are many and her income hasn’t been calculated.
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Can you collect hazard pay if you are exposed to coronavirus? Here's everything you need to know
If you have been exposed to coronavirus while working, there's a chance you can get money for it.
Amanda Chatel
Updated May 18, 2020 @ 4:21 pm
Welcome to #Adulting, the ultimate breakdown for all your grown-up needs. These articles are here to help you feel less alone and answer all your personal, financial, and career questions that weren’t answered in school (no judgment, we get it!). Whether you’re looking to find out how to tackle laundry or you want a deep breakdown on how to collect hazard pay—we’ve got you covered. Come back every month to find out what life skills we’re upgrading next and how.
As major cities have come to a halt, unemployment for people who can’t work from home has skyrocketed. Because of this, our economy—as well as the life we knew before coronavirus (COVID-19)—has changed drastically. As of Thursday, March 26th, over three million American workers filed for unemployment last week alone, according to The New York Times. According to the Labor Department, that number is the highest in history, far surpassing the previous high in 1982 during the early ’80s recession, when 695,000 people filed for unemployment. And while that three million figure is extraordinarily high, it also doesn’t take into account the week before or the weeks that will follow.
If you’re one of the millions of people in the U.S. who are suddenly without a job, or if you’re still working under hazardous conditions due to the coronavirus, and you’re wondering how you can be compensated, there are a few things you should know. Unemployment and hazard pay are not the same, and this explainer will help you figure out how and where to seek the financial compensation you deserve.
In addition to unemployment benefits, people who have certain types of jobs that are considered hazardous and dangerous are eligible for hazard pay as well. “Hazard pay is designed to give employees additional money as compensation for dangerous risks that they are taking on,” Kimberly Palmer, personal finance expert at NerdWallet, tells HelloGiggles. “It’s most common in jobs where people’s lives are at risk, such as in construction or in war zones.”
Unlike with unemployment, you don’t have to be laid off or injured on the job in order to receive hazard pay. “Some jobs come with hazard pay built into their pay structures,” Palmer says. “For example, if you work in a dangerous construction job, it could come with a 10% additional pay for hazard pay.” However, the percentage cannot exceed 25% of a person’s daily pay rate.
Hazard pay is structured into your hourly pay rate. What this means is that for any day—or even partial day—within the calendar year that an employee is exposed to hazardous conditions recognized by the company, hazard pay will be reflected in paychecks for the time the employee was exposed. But just because someone has hazard pay doesn’t mean that every hour they work is necessarily hazardous. If a worker spends half the day in the office, then half the day outside doing construction work that is deemed dangerous, the employee would only receive hazard pay for the latter half of the day.
While the government does require that there be unemployment benefits for those who lose their job through no fault of their own, the government doesn’t require hazard pay, no matter how risky the position for injury or health. According to the Department of Labor, the Fair Labor Standards Act “does not address the subject of hazard pay, except to require that it be included as part of a federal employee’s regular rate of pay in computing the employee’s overtime pay.” In other words, if you work at a federal job, like at the post office, and you work overtime, hazard pay is included. But anyone who actually works under hazardous conditions, for non-federal jobs, has to negotiate hazard pay themselves with their employer or work for a company that includes it. As Palmer points out, if companies have their employees risking their lives in war zones or on construction sites, hazard pay comes with the territory, and responsible owners of these types of companies know that.
“[Hazard pay] is typically negotiated by employees or unions,” Palmer says. “If it’s something you think you should have because your job is risky, then you can talk to your employer about it,” adding that the best time to negotiate hazard pay is before you accept a job. This way, if you know you’re doing a job where the risk of hazardous conditions is high, you can be compensated accordingly.
With coronavirus, we’re dealing with a whole new type of hazardous condition that many employees are working under, which can redefine hazard pay in some instances, but not in all.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), there are a lot of stipulations involved when trying to claim hazard pay in relation to the coronavirus. First, you have to prove that you’re being exposed to it, which can be difficult given the shortage in testing. If you come down with coronavirus, you likely won’t be able to pinpoint that you got it from your job, making it nearly impossible to prove that you’re eligible for hazard pay in the eyes of HUD. There’s also the fact that even if you contract coronavirus because your job didn’t provide protective gear to prevent it, that doesn’t mean you’re currently eligible to receive hazard pay.
Even in instances of delivery workers, as well as doctors and nurses who are on the front lines fighting coronavirus, there’s no current law mandating hazard pay. According to Palmer, “It’s up to employees or unions to negotiate for it. Traditionally, healthcare workers do not generally earn hazard pay.”
But, due to COVID-19, the Democrats vowed to make hazard pay mandatory for anyone who might be exposed to the virus, something the Senate didn’t want to be included in the stimulus package. Currently, the package that Trump has approved and put into law does not include considerations for hazard pay compensation for workers exposed to COVID-19. But Democrats hope to include hazard pay in upcoming coronavirus legislation for federal employees who are treating patients who have the virus—like the TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Whether that will be pushed into law is still not certain.
Fortunately, there are some companies who have been stepping up to the plate voluntarily. “Amid the coronavirus pandemic, some companies have offered additional pay to workers who are taking on risks by coming to work,” Palmer says. “For example, CVS has offered bonuses to some of its workers, [and so have] Amazon, Walmart, and Kroger.” Amazon, for example, is raising their hourly wage by $2.00 for both warehouse and delivery drivers through the month of April.
As Palmer explains, these companies aren’t necessarily calling these bonuses “hazard pay,” but the people who are putting their lives (and their families’ lives) in jeopardy by taking these risks absolutely deserve to be compensated. As Palmer says, “The additional pay can help offset some of the stress of working.”
Although Palmer does point out that hazard pay should be something that’s discussed before you start a job, considering the predicament we’re in right now, there may be some leeway. If you’re working in a job that puts your safety at risk and your company isn’t providing extra money, then it’s time to talk to your boss.
“If you are asking for more [money], you need to define the problem you want the company to solve, and [also] tell them what you need to solve it,” Professor Alexandra Carter, director of the Mediation Clinic at Columbia Law School and author of Ask for More: Ten Questions to Negotiate Anything, tells HelloGiggles in regards to talking to your boss about hazardous conditions you’re working in due to coronavirus. Carter suggests giving your boss an example: “’As you know, we at X company have been working overtime during the most dangerous time in history to make sure we can keep serving our customers. This is what we need to protect our employees’ financial and medical health at this time.’”
If this falls on deaf ears, Carter says not to give up. Instead, ask questions about their concerns in regards to a raise or hazard pay. Once you hear the reasons, this can give you the opportunity to propose something else, like additional sick leave. Carter also suggests asking the company to participate in a search for a solution that will work out for everyone. “And if that still doesn’t work, I’d try focusing them on what they have to lose,” Carter says.
If you can’t negotiate hazard pay, a raise, or additional sick leave, then maybe it’s time to find another place to work. As of last week, Amazon was looking to hire 100,000 workers. They’re planning to start these new workers at a higher salary, and Amazon is also on the list of employers offering bonus pay. For many, having a job is the difference between having food and going hungry, having electricity or falling behind on bills. It’s important to know your rights as an employee, and what you’re entitled to, especially during these uncertain times.
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College of Humanities and Sciences / Department of Political Science
When Bad Policy Makes Good Politics: Running the Numbers on Health Reform (Studies in Postwar American Political Development)
Author: Robert Saldin
Since the 1960s, America's policymaking system has transitioned from one in which leaders like Lyndon Johnson could simply disparage the concept of budget projections to one in which policymakers consciously manipulate cost estimates. Paradoxically, the very safeguards put in place to thwart economically unsound legislation now cause chaos by incentivizing the development of flawed, even blatantly unworkable, policies. As Robert Saldin shows in When Bad Policy Makes Good Politics, the pathologies of the new system are illustrated by the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act and its role in aiding passage of President Obama's landmark health reform law. CLASS was supposed to bring much needed relief of America's dysfunctional long-term care system, but critics argued that its flawed design rendered the program unviable.
Link to Purchase Publication
Robert Saldin
Email: robert.saldin@umontana.edu
Office: Liberal Arts 354
Tuesdays 10-12 and by apppointment
I am the Director of the Mansfield Center's Ethics and Public Affairs Program and a Professor of Political Science. My most recent book is Never Trump: The Revolt of the Conservative Elites (Oxford University Press, 2020), co-authored with Steven Teles. I am also the author of When Bad Policy Makes Good Politics (Oxford University Press, 2017) and War, the American State, and Politics since 1898 (Cambridge University Press, 2011). My scholarly articles have appeared in outlets such as The Journal of Politics, Political Science Quarterly, Journal of Policy History, Political Research Quarterly, and Presidential Studies Quarterly. I've also written extensively for the popular press, including The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Republic, and National Affairs. Previously, I was a Robert Wood Johnson Scholar at Harvard University, the Patrick Henry Scholar at Johns Hopkins University, a Fellow at the Miller Center of Public Affairs, and a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies.
Recent pieces include “Overcoming the Democrats’ Rural Problem,” together with co-author Kal Munis in The Hill.
Never Trump has been well-received across the political spectrum, including reviews in The National Review, The New Yorker, and The Nation.
Ph.D., University of Virginia, 2008; B.A., Davidson College, 2000
Never Trump: The Revolt of the Conservative Elites (Oxford University Press, 2020), with Steven Teles.
"The Future is Faction,” National Affairs, with Steven Teles, Fall 2020 (forthcoming).
“Don’t Blame Never Trumpers for the Left’s Defeat,” The New Republic, with Steven Teles, Aug. 7, 2020.
“Our Takeaways from the Salvatori Center Symposium,” Joint Niskanen Center/Salvatori Center Symposium on Never Trump, with co-author Steven Teles and contributors Megan McArdle, Johnathan Rauch, George Thomas, and David Karol, Aug. 3, 2020.
“The Never Trumpers’ Next Move,” The Atlantic, with Steven Teles, May 2020.
“These Conservatives Knew Trump Would Be a Disaster in a Crisis,” New York Times, with Steven Teles, March 20, 2020.
"The Future is Faction," Niskanen Center, Dec. 2019.
When Bad Policy Makes Good Politics (Oxford University Press, 2017).
"[An] important new book...There are at least two distinctly profitable ways of reading (and teaching) Saldin’s book. First, the book’s focus on the minutiae of the legislative process—the role of committees, budgetary forecasting, the reconciliation process, and parliamentary rulings, for example—make the book useful for teaching congressional procedure in a way that standard approaches rarely capture...Second, Saldin’s book is essential reading for those seeking to understand the historical and procedural contexts within which health care policy, in
particular, is made...When policymakers return to the question of long-term care—and they will, because they must, especially in an aging United States—Saldin’s book should be one of their first stops." - Daniel Skinner, Political Science Quarterly, 2018
"Rob Saldin has written the kind of book that I wish I had authored, the kind that is an instant 'classic'....Saldin's most important contribution is to provide a broad understanding of American politics, from the inner-workings of committees in Congress, to Congressional members' relationships with each other and advocates, to the machinations of the executive branch...It does what many books and articles cannot -- explain not only how advocacy groups or Congressional committees or executive agencies work, but how they work in relation to one another, and why." - Patricia Strach, The Forum, 2018
"Saldin's policy tracing is first-rate and is a core strength of [the book]...Saldin's attentive and thorough contribution improves our understanding of how budget politics are ubiquitous and likely to produce counterintuitive and counterproductive public policy." - Glenn Beamer and Tyler M. Gibbons, Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, June 2018
"Lovely...strongly institutionalist, focusing on the impact of institutions and legislative design...[An] interesting and important contribution to answering the question of why American public policy is so very complex, with implications for scholarly research as well as for political action." - Scott Greer, Perspectives on Politics, June 2018
"Excellent." - Elizabeth Popp Berman and Daniel Hirschman​, Contemporary Sociology, April 2018
"Solid scholarship and clear, jargon-free writing. Summing Up: Highly recommended." - R.E. O'Connor, Choice, July 2017
"As it made its way through Congress in 2009 and 2010, the Affordable Care Act basically took shape through a long series of back-and-forth adjustments between the relevant committees and the Congressional Budget Office, intended to tweak the coverage and cost scores of the bill to accord with the idiosyncrasies of CBO’s modeling. Some forms of this gaming were cynical and reckless — the foremost example must be the CLASS ACT, a long-term-care program known from the start to be completely unsustainable, which was included in the bill purely to manipulate its cost score and then abandoned before it actually took effect. But almost every facet of the legislative design of Obamacare was a product of this kind of back and forth, so that the law in some respects was built to achieve a certain result in CBO’s model even more than in the world outside it. (On this subject, I’d highly recommend political scientist Robert Saldin’s recent book When Bad Policy Makes Good Politics: Running the Numbers on Health Reform.)" - Yuval Levin, National Review, June 2, 2017
"In When Bad Policy Makes Good Politics, University of Montana political scientist Robert P. Saldin makes the case that CLASS was a crucial part of why Obamacare made it through Congress despite the fact that just about everyone knew it was completely unworkable....Obamacare’s champions were hardly alone in working the CBO process to make expensive policies look cheap. Saldin cites the Bush tax cuts as a sterling example of how this particular game is played....There are lessons in all of this for policymakers whether they’re on the left or the right.... The fault here lies not with the CBO, which does the best it can with its narrowly circumscribed role. It’s with all of us, on the left and right, who fixate on making the numbers look good and pay little heed to how a policy is actually going to work." - Reihan Salam, Slate, March 15, 2017
"A remarkable book that illuminates how government really works. Saldin guides us through the Congressional wonderland: Shrewd legislators organize a much needed reform that 'scores' well in the all important budget analysis and, as a result, enables the entire Obamacare proposal--even though everyone knows it cannot possibly work. Along the way we learn about Congress, health care, policy, liberals, conservatives, Washington, DC, and America itself. Fascinating, elegant, important and highly recommended." - James A. Morone, Brown
"Come for the story of long-term care reform, stay for the critique of CBO scoring! Saldin makes a provocative argument about the incentives for politically viable if economically unviable policymaking encouraged by the budget process reforms of the 1970s. Not all will agree, but all will learn a lot from this absorbing account of the CLASS Act and the contemporary policy process." - Andrea Louise Campbell, MIT
"Every student of health policy or disability should read When Bad Policy Makes Good Politics, the best account of the CLASS Act's implosion, a tragic, oddly overlooked, episode in the history of health reform." - Harold Pollack, University of Chicago
"The Schism Between Reagan and the Modern GOP," Washington Monthly, Aug. 3, 2017.
“Why Presidents Sometimes Do Not Use Intelligence Information,” Political Science Quartery (with Patrick S. Roberts) 131:4 (Winter 2016 - 2017).
"Trump and the Intelligence Community: The Costs of Ignoring Intelligence," The American Interest (with Patrick S. Roberts), Jan. 31, 2017.
"Meet the Trump Appointee Liberals Might Not Hate," The Washington Post, Dec. 16, 2016.
War, the American State, and Politics since 1898 (Cambridge University Press, 2011; paperback, 2013).
"Saldin's work is a smart and fresh look at a key topic. It is rich with interesting information. It places wars at the center of American political development. From Manila Bay through Vietnam, the wars have fed into politics and policymaking in lasting ways. The implications for understanding our current era are clear and important." - David Mayhew, Yale
"War, the American State, and Politics since 1898 is an essential corrective to the notion that all politics is domestic. Paying close attention to the institutional state, to democratic rights, and to partisan politicking, Rob Saldin instead finds the tendrils of foreign combat absolutely everywhere." - Byron Shafer, University of Wisconsin
"It has long since become an accepted truism that 'war made the state,' as Charles Tilly famously remarked. Scholars of comparative politics are not surprised by this assertion, and have devoted much attention to understanding this important relationship. Yet the study of American politics is just beginning to grapple with its implications, both for state building and political development more broadly. A good place to start is this ambitious, well-written book by Robert Saldin, a successful effort that helps us better understand the impact that wars had on the American political system in the twentieth century....[His] linkage of international events to domestic developments is quite illuminating for those interested in [American political development], as well as those who study foreign policy....Saldin has written an important book that should be read widely." - William D. Adler, Perspectives on Politics
"Saldin sheds new light on transformations in American state building during war....Students of international and domestic politics will find this book valuable in showing how international variables affect domestic outcomes." - Sean Kay, Political Science Quarterly
"War and democracy have been linked since the Peloponnesian War, and the modern state's ability to make war has been inextricably linked to its ability to incorporate large numbers of citizens as taxpayers and especially as soldiers. Robert Saldin's new book offers an important account of these dynamics in the context of American political development, and it is an account that surely warrants serious attention from students of American democracy. And of democratization more generally." - Jeffrey C. Isaac, Indiana University
“Foreign Policy on the Homefront: War and the Development of the American Welfare State,” in Warfare and Welfare: Military Conflict and Welfare State Development in Western Countries, Herbert Obinger, Klaus Petersen, and Peter Starke, eds., Oxford University Press.
“For Nobility, Justice, Right, ‘and Besides, Because it Will Pay’: The Spanish-American War and the Debate on American Imperialism,” in War, Justice, and Peace in American Political Thought, Bryan-Paul Frost, Paul Carrese, and Stephen Knott, eds., Johns Hopkins University Press (forthcoming).
“Ignoring the Not-So-Obvious in Obama’s Negotiations with Iran,” The Hill, with Patrick S. Roberts, July 16, 2015.
“Not Such a CLASS Act: America’s Long-Term Care Problem,” The Forum (Spring 2015).
"Gaming the CBO," National Affairs (Fall 2014).
“What War’s Good For: Minority Rights Expansions in American Political Development” in New Directions in American Politics, Raymond La Raja, editor (Routledge, 2013).
“Strange Bedfellows: War and Minority Rights,” World Affairs (March/April 2011).
“William McKinley and the Rhetorical Presidency,” Presidential Studies Quarterly 41:1 (2011).
"Healthcare Reform: A Prescription for the 2010 Republican Landslide?" The Forum 8:4 (2010).
"Foreign Affairs and Party Ideology: The Case of Democrats and World War II," Journal of Policy History 22:4 (2010).
"World War I and the 'System of 1896,'" Journal of Politics 72:3 (2010).
"Foreign Affairs and the 2008 Election," The Forum 6:4 (2008).
“American State Building in the Post-9/11 and Iraq Era,” PS: Political Science and Politics 41:1 (2008).
Harvard University. Fellow. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Scholars Program. 2010 – 2012.
Johns Hopkins University. Patrick Henry Postdoctoral Fellowship. Departments of Political Science and History. 2007 – 2008.
Miller Center of Public Affairs. Fellow. Governing America in a Global Era Program. 2006 – 2007.
University of California, Berkeley. Visiting Scholar. Institute of Governmental Studies. 2005 – 2007.
http://www.umt.edu/mansfield/
Peter Koehn
karen.boice@mso.umt.edu
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Indiana Plant Atlas » About the Plant Atlas
About the Atlas - Introductions
The Indiana Plant Atlas (IPA) was initiated in 2014 and is currently managed by the Friesner Herbarium of Butler University. Initial funding was provided by Butler University’s Innovation Fund in 2012. The goal of the IPA is to compile and present data on county-level occurrence of Indiana’s spontaneous flora – plants that grow outside of cultivation. Our master list of what grows in Indiana is from Yatskievych, Dolan, Moore, King and Kartesz Indiana Vascular Plants Catalog (in prep.) Nomenclature in the IPA is based on the Catalog. For a plant to be included in the Catalog, its occurrence in Indiana must be documented by at least one herbarium specimen.
The last comprehensive treatment of Indiana’s vascular plants is Charles Deam’s 1940 Flora of Indiana. That work contains county distribution records. A lot has changed since then. Floras are dynamic. The IPA brings together historic and contemporary herbarium specimen records from various institutions, compiling disparate data into a new electronic resource so that people can access it and use it in new ways. The IPA will be routinely updated as new digital records become available and new botanical discoveries are found in the Hoosier State.
The IPA is initially being populated by ca. 45,000 Friesner Herbarium specimen records. We have commitments from The University of Notre Dame, V-plants – Vascular Plants of the Chicago Region, and The New York Botanical Garden’s holdings from the Wabash College and DePauw University to contribute their Indiana records to the IPA.
Plans are to expand the Indiana Plant Atlas to include records published in peer-reviewed journals.
Herbarium specimen records in the IPA carry more information than just plant names and counties in which they are found. They also include blooming times and habitats. Many specimens have been imaged. The IPA contains many photographs taken in Indiana of live plants in their natural habitats.
The Indiana Plant Atlas project is part of the University of South Florida family of Plantatlas.org sites which provided the web development for this site. All Indiana plant data is curated by the membership herbaria of the Indiana Herbarium Consortium.
We are very thankful for the funding and infrastructure provided by Butler University and further funding from The Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society and Indiana Academy of Science which made the Atlas possible.
Distribution information compiled from herbarium specimens and the nomenclature are entered into a Microsoft SQL Server database management system (PlantDB). Atlas web pages are generated directly from the PlantDB database using the ASP program language served from Microsoft's Internet Information Server. Maps are generated directly from PlantDB using ESRI MapObjects 2.0 technology residing on a Microsoft NT server. Because the Atlas web site is generated directly from PlantDB, all web pages and maps are as up to date as the information entered into the database. All data is maintained on servers at the University of South Florida. The PlantDB database management system was designed by Shawn Landry of the Florida Center for Community Design and Research (FCCDR) with the help of Jeb Holub (Axis Technologies, Inc.) and Bruce Hansen of Institute of Systematic Botany (ISB). All ASP programming was developed by Jeb Holub under the direction of the FCCDR and ISB. Web page graphic design was created by Kristin Parker (FCCDR) with assistance from Kevin Kerrigan. Questions regarding the technology behind the Alabama Plant Atlas can be directed to Shawn Landry at the Florida Center for Community Design and Research at the University of South Florida.
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Marin Perez
Opera Finalizes Browser For Android
The release version of Opera Mini for Android includes the ability to save files on an SD card, resources for video playback, and other improvements.
T-Mobile G1 users who want an alternative to the "Chrome light" browser are in luck, as Opera Software said it has released a finalized version of Opera Mini for the Android platform.
Unlike the on-board browser, Opera Mini is a Java ME-based browser that works by rendering pages on an Opera server, and the data is then sent to the handset. This is designed to ease the connectivity demands of the phone to provide faster access to the Internet no matter what devices or network speed the user has.
Opera Mini for Android has a host of improvements over the beta version that was released late last year. The finalized version enables users to access an SD card for uploading, downloading, and saving pages and to double tap to zoom in and out of pages. The browser also can hand off video playback to the operating system, and Opera has fixed problems with the "back" function.
"Our support of the Android platform helps fulfill our mission to be available on more platforms, for more devices, and reach more users, anywhere in the world," Opera CEO Jon von Tetzchner said in a statement.
Opera Mini continues to grow, and the company said there were 21 million unique Mini users in October, a 490% increase from the year before. Many users are drawn to the browser because it's available on a wide variety of handsets, including Java-enabled handsets, Windows Mobile devices, and BlackBerry handsets. The browser can be downloaded onto Android devices from the Android Market.
But don't look for an Opera browser on Apple's iPhone 3G any time soon because Apple has been wary of allowing programs in the App Store that duplicate existing functionality. Although it has allowed a few third-party browsers in, these merely use a different user interface on top of the iPhone's WebKit rendering engine.
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ukshadez
ukshadez is not a fan of any works.
Become a fan of your favorite classical works to automatically track new recordings & performances in your area.
Most popular works
Beethoven: Symphony no 9 in D minor, Op. 125 "Choral"
Mahler: Symphony no 5 in C sharp minor
Rachmaninov: Concerto for Piano no 2 in C minor, Op. 18
Handel: Messiah, HWV 56
Dvorak: Symphony no 9 in E minor, Op. 95/B 178 "From the New World"
Mozart: Requiem in D minor, K 626
Mahler: Symphony no 2 in C minor "Resurrection"
Barber: Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K 492 (The Marriage of Figaro)
Beethoven: Symphony no 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Beethoven: Symphony no 7 in A major, Op. 92
Beethoven: Symphony no 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 "Eroica"
Holst: The Planets, Op. 32/H 125
Mahler: Symphony no 1 in D major "Titan"
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 (German Requiem)
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Op. 35
Tchaikovsky: Concerto for Violin in D major, Op. 35
Rachmaninov: Concerto for Piano no 3 in D minor, Op. 30
Mahler: Symphony no 8 in E flat major "Symphony of A Thousand"
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CIGNA & Nataline: A Broader Perspective
The Industry Radar has compiled an impressive round-up of posts and perspectives from around the blogoshere.
It's a well-balanced, comprehensive look at a no-win situation.
UPDATE/BREAKING: My contact at Cigna just emailed me about a new statement, just posted, from Dr. Jeffrey Kang (their CMO).
In it, Dr Kang seeks to clarify three issues about the case:
■ Cigna's role. This is crucial to the whole discussion. It appears that the group plan under which Nataline and her family were insured was a self-funded (ERISA) plan. As Bob has pointed out to me "(t)he plan sponsor cannot in any way obligate the reinsurance carrier to fund a claim. It would appear that Cigna's role in this matter was more of a consulting role than one as a front line carrier. Cigna could have authorized payment of the claim and the plan sponsor could have still refused to cover the transplant. Or, the plan sponsor could have authorized the benefit and Cigna refused to cover it under their reinsurance policy.
In other words, Cigna is pretty much removed from the decision on paying the claim as far as Nataline's family is concerned. Cigna is not their carrier, they are the reinsurer for the employer loss fund."
■ How these decisions are made. We've already touched on this issue, including the use of outside sources. What's new in this release is that it appears that Cigna consulted with three such experts (not two, as originally reported).
■ Why they offered to pay anyway. This is also key: Nataline's doctors still had the final say (which puts the lie to those that claim the carrier withheld treatment; that's always been specious), and Cigna was willing to pay if the providers decided (against overwhelming medical evidence) to go ahead.
I'm still not convinced that this was wise, but I also understand the humanity involved in the decision.
By all means, please read it yourself (available in .doc form here).
NHS progress on Electronic Medical Records
The NHS in U.K. continues on its path toward an electronic data base for medical records. In theory, this endeavor (or, endeavour?) is expected to result in improved quality of care and lower costs. This theory is also widely touted by health care observers in the U.S.
The poll reported in this article measures disagreement among British doctors whether the theory can be implemented satisfactorily. The article reports that, among doctors polled, “more than two thirds (70 per cent) agree that such records will improve patient care”. [i.e., agree with the theory] but, at the same time, doctors polled are almost evenly split “whether the benefits of electronic patient records will outweigh the risks.” [i.e., have doubts about how it will work in real life].
As with all theory, the true test is whether it works in real life. No better way to tell than to try it out. And - maybe - the best place to try it out is somewhere else not here.
Meanwhile, the NHS has lost medical data on millions of families; nine separate NHS trusts have lost patient data. In addition, the system development is reportedly years behind schedule. Understandably confidence in the security of patients’ records is mixed at best among doctors – and low with the public.
I think we should all root for the system to work and at the same time not hold high hopes until or unless positive, real-life experience emerges. Definitely worth watching.
Hey, some GOOD news for a change!
On December 26, the EEOC announced a very important final administrative rule under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. More background here.
This final rule protects group retiree health benefits by allowing group plan sponsors that provide retiree health benefits to continue their longstanding practice of coordinating benefits with Medicare. This rule was first proposed many years ago but was delayed due to a parade of litigation. That litigation has now been resolved, clearing the way for EEOC to issue the final rule.
What this means is that plan sponsors may continue to offer two distinct levels of retiree benefits (1) Medicare “pays first” for Medicare-eligible retirees and (2) no Medicare offset for pre-Medicare retirees.
Plaintiffs in the earlier litigation had claimed that coordination of health plan benefits with Medicare violated ADEA because it resulted in lesser group benefits for Medicare-eligible retirees - and less cost for those benefits - than for pre-Medicare retirees. They also argued that EEOC did not have authority to issue the proposed rule.
The plan sponsors argued that disallowing coordination with Medicare would significantly increase their cost for retiree benefits and would result in termination of many retiree health plans not only for Medicare retirees, but for pre-Medicare retirees as well.
The U.S. Court of Appeals agreed that EEOC could proceed to implement the proposed rule, which it is now doing. In effect, the rule creates a narrow exemption within ADEA regulation for the practice of “coordinating employer-sponsored retiree health benefits with eligibility for Medicare.”
There seems to be little media attention on this development. I think that's odd, because both the new rule and the settlement of the litigation that blocked it for years, are quite significant.
Posted by Mike Feehan at 8:55 PM View Comments Links to this post
A (Mandatory) Harbinger?
[Welcome Bluegrass Institute readers!]
Some time ago, The City by the Bay enacted a little provision that requires employers to provide health insurance to their employees or face fines (Sound familiar?). While that may have seemed like a good idea at the time, turns out that it faces a non-trivial challenge:
It's illegal.
Says who, you ask?
Says US District Judge Jeffrey White, "who found that the city was intruding into federal regulation of employee benefits."
And that may become an even bigger oops: his "ruling Wednesday invalidating part of San Francisco's landmark attempt to extend health care coverage to all uninsured adult residents cast new doubt on the viability of a statewide program for covering the uninsured that is now pending in the Legislature."
Apparently, both the local and state laws have run into the mammoth buzz-saw that is ERISA (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act). Being a federal law, ERISA preempts such attempts by local and/or state governments. If this stands (and that may be a big "if"), look for the ripple effect to impact new efforts in Delaware, as well as current ones in The Bay State (how's that for irony?).
h/t: RedState
9/11, The Mick and Nataline
On September 11, 2001 foreign terrorists struck American soil. The attack claimed 2,551 lives and injured hundreds more.
Shortly after the attack, Congress established the Victim's Compensation Fund and authorized a payout to the surviving family members of the 9/11 attack. Total payout is just shy of $16 billion.
On June 8, 1995 one of the most popular baseball players in the last 50 years received a liver transplant at Baylor University Hospital. Years of drinking had worn down the body of "The Mick" resulting in Hepatitis and cirrhosis damage to his liver.
Mickey Mantle died on August 13, 1995 taking with him his recently implanted liver.
More recently the case of Nataline Sarkisyan has made headlines because she was (some say improperly) denied a liver transplant following a failed bone marrow transplant. The insurance carrier (Cigna) originally denied payment for the liver transplant and then later reversed that decision.
How are these stories related, if at all?
In the case of 9/11, Congress authorized payout of taxpayer monies to the victim's families. There was no legal precedent for the payout, nor was there Constitutional authority to make the payout. Instead, they reacted to public sentiment.
At the time, many questioned why Mickey Mantle was moved to the head of the transplant waiting list. Sure, he was an American sports hero and a wildly popular public figure even long after his playing days. But was someone who willfully abused their body and destroyed their liver deserving of a new liver? Should they be placed ahead of someone younger, who also needed a liver, but had developed liver disease through no fault of their own?
It appears that public sentiment may have played a part in efforts to keep alive a popular sports figure.
Then we have the case of Nataline. After years of battling Leukemia she received a bone marrow transplant the day before Thanksgiving. Her body reacted negatively to the transplant and her organs started to deteriorate, including her liver.
Her insurance carrier was asked to authorize a liver transplant, which was initially denied after consulting with outside medical authorities. They later reversed that decision, perhaps in response to a public outcry.
Congress had no authority to establish the Victim's Compensation Fund but bowed to public sentiment.
Those attending to the needs of Mickey Mantle moved him to the top of the waiting list, perhaps not because his situation was more needy than others, but because of who he was.
Cigna authorized an extra-contractual medical procedure because of media publicity and public reaction.
We are a nation of laws, but we are also a nation that strives to do what is right in the wake of public sympathy. The cold facts of these situations say the victim's of 9/11 were not legally entitled to any monies, the "Mick" was not entitled to special treatment, and Nataline was not entitled to coverage for a second transplant. Yet in each case, the powers that be made decisions that went beyond the bounds of their authority.
There are no clear winners in these situations. Someone will feel short-changed while others will feel justified in their position.
All of these situations and many others will continue to be played out in the court of public opinion as long as there is human suffering and limited resources.
If You Knew Sushi (Like I Knew Sushi), II
A few months ago, we reported on a tragic episode concerning the (nationalized) Japanese health care system. Since our visitors who admire such systems fret that we seem to always pick on the MVNHS©, and that there are other systems that apparently can do no wrong, let's examine the latest from the Land of the Rising Sun:
"An 89-year-old woman died after an ambulance crew spent two hours trying 30 hospitals before finding one that would accept her for treatment, Japanese officials said Friday."
After several hours, during which the poor woman was bleeding and suffering from diahrea, the ambulance crew was finally able to locate a hospital that would treat her. Not could treat her, as if she had some exotic and rare condition, but would treat her, as in "gosh, what a bother."
During the trip, her heart actually stopped; the EMT's were able to temporarily revive her, but she died soon after.
But hey, at least the care was free.
Fraud vs Moron: Conclusion
A while back, we discussed the strange case of the life insurance company that didn't seem to care whether or not an applicant was blatently committing fraud. I was notified this morning that the other agent has enticed the "client" to file an Agent of Record letter, thereby letting me off the hook.
To a point.
First, an AOR is a means by which one can specify that a particular agent be assigned exclusively to you. Often, one will see this in a group situation, where it helps to both "cut out" competition and also guarantee a certain amount of continuity on one's behalf. Less often, one will see this with life insurance, usually for service-related issues. I can't recall a time where I've either asked for (or been on the receiving end of) an AOR while a life insurance application was in process.
As to "letting me off the hook," well, it's true that I'm no longer faced with the potential problem of the policy actually being issued "on my watch." This relieves me of some major ethical dilemnas, not the least of which is "what will I do if this thing is ever actually issued?"
On the other hand, I know, and the other agent knows, and the carrier knows that there was fraud committed in the application process. If and/or when a claim is actually submitted on this policy, it will be interesting to see if the carrier actually pays it. In the (entirely likely) event that it contests the claim, I may well be in the rather dubious position of being a witness for both sides. In the event, I'm certainly glad that I sent a note to the underwriter reiterating the sequence of events and my concern about them.
There is no "happy ending" here: both the underwriter and the carrier have lost my respect. I don't know the other agent well, so there was no respect to lose, but I don't envy his position: he knows that I know, and he lobbied for the AOR, thus putting any future onus completely on himself.
The client, of course, is both a moron and a fraud.
Next week's Cav ushers in 2008. Please make sure to get your submissions in to our host, Jonathan Pletzke, by Monday (the 31st). Jonathan requests that you PLEASE include:
You can submit them via Blog Carnival or email.
We have slots available for the New Year - just drop us a line to reserve yours.
Nataline: A Physician's Perspective
Once again, Dr John Ford proves his indispensibility in bringing order out of chaos. This time, he brings his experience and insight to bear on the Nataline Sarkisyan story, offering some much needed calm and perspective.
He asks what is, IMHO, the most important question: "The facts of this case are unquestionably grim but can those advocating the public hangings at least imagine the possibility that some technologies may in fact be futile or at best experimental?"
MedBlog Awards
Hot on the heels of the 2007 Weblog Awards comes this year's edition of the MedBlogger Awards. While the former was open to the entire blogosphere, the latter is specifically for those of us who blog on health care related issues.
We are very proud to have been nominated in two categories: Best Health Policies/Ethics Weblog and Best Medical Technologies/Informatics Weblog. In the first category, we're competing with bloggers like Joe Paduda and Bob Laszewski, stiff competition indeed.
We'll let you know when the actual voting is announced.
Some futures are not much fun to contemplate
This is an anecdote about the Japanese health care system. It is only an anecdote. It could never happen here.
You can read background here, here and here. In Japan about 10,000 citizens have contracted hepatitis C from blood plasma products containing fibrinogen. Fibrinogen is a blood coagulation agent produced by the liver. At one time, blood plasma products containing added fibrinogen were used by obstetricians, gynecologists and surgeons as a means to control hemorrhaging. The U.S. government canceled its approval for such blood products in 1977 because of concern for the risk that fibrinogen obtained from donated blood could be infected by hepatitis C. Japan banned use of fibrinogen for similar reasons in 1988.
OK, back to present day. Many Japanese are infected with Hepatitis C from blood plasma containing fibrinogen. It turns out the government, specifically the ministry of health, was aware of the problem but failed to take any steps to warn those most at risk for infection:
In October [2007], the government was embarrassed when Health Ministry officials admitted to having data that would have helped identify or warn hundreds of hepatitis patients before their illnesses worsened.
Even worse,
Many patients cannot fight in court because their medical records were destroyed by their doctors.
But - - please, not to worry. As I said, this is just an anecdote about another nation’s government-run health care system and an unfortunate lapse in the health ministry. This could never happen here.
More on Nataline...
[Welcome CraigsList and California Medicine Man readers!]
If you're just tuning in, a teenager in California died recently, and there is quite a controversy surrounding the circumstances. The biggest problem so far is the lack of adequate information; while the parents are free to cast whatever accusations they want, the insurer (Cigna) is constrained by HIPAA (as well as the pending litigation).
The issue is whether Cigna "killed" Nataline.
Bloggers and commenters on both sides have weighed in, but with only one side's take on the matter, it's difficult to really understand what happened. In an effort to clarify some of the issues, I contacted Cigna. I introduced myself, explained what we were doing, and asked some questions to help get a better picture. Although I knew that I was most likely to get a "Thanks, but we can't comment on pending litigation," I figured it was worth the effort. And sure enough, my first response basically echoed that demurral. I was disappointed, but not surprised.
What did surprise me was a follow-up email sent a few hours later, which included an email that the President and CMO of Cigna had sent to employees. It explained a few facts that had not been available before. Rather than post the whole thing (it's pretty long), I'll excerpt the relevant pieces for comment. The full text is here. Here are the relevant passages:
"Transplants are an enormously complex and emotional societal issue, in particular because of the scarcity of organs and the experimental and unproven nature of some of the treatments involved. In all circumstances, a completely independent national organization controls the allocation of organs for transplant based on a number of important considerations independent of any decision involving insurance coverage.
What is often misunderstood is that most health benefit plans, whether public or private, do not cover unproven and experimental treatment related to transplants or other treatments...At CIGNA, we facilitate payment for more than 90% of all requested transplants and specifically more than 90% of the liver transplant requests made to us.“
In other words, it’s not the “greedy corporate culture” that others might have one believe, but a rigorous and medically-sound process designed to maximize the potential for a successful operation.
“In this case, rather than going through our standard method of appeal, we went directly to not one, but two, independent experts in the field who agreed that the procedure in question, given the patient’s particular circumstances, would not have been an effective or appropriate treatment.“
This tracks with what we already know from the physicians involved on Nataline’s end, and actually goes above and beyond the SOP. There was apparently no reluctance to authorize based on “bean counting” mentality.
“Based on the unique circumstances of this situation, and although it was outside the scope of the plan’s coverage and despite the lack of medical evidence regarding the effectiveness of such treatment, CIGNA decided to make an exception.“
One may argue under what rationale that exception was made (I’m personally sure that public scrutiny probably paid a part), the fact is that companies do make these kinds of exceptions when warranted. In fact, I can speak from personal experience in that regard.
The bottom line here is that, absent more facts than have thus far made it into the public discourse, folks decrying the “heinous attitude” of carriers exhibit much wind and fury, but precious little insight. All we really know for sure is that two parents are grieving, and our hearts and prayers are with them.
Merry Christmas to all of our readers. May you be blessed with the joy of the season.
A Holly, Jolly Grand Rounds
A joyous and festive 'Rounds is up at MedGadget. With over 3 dozen posts to unwrap, all with helpful context and neatly categorized under the tree (literally), it's a real treat!
One of the best parts of blogging is the comments: who's reading, what do they think of your post, that kind of thing. At Running a Hospital, Paul Levy (who, not coincidentally, runs a hospital) takes to task a U S News and World Report article on hospital rankings. The really cool part? The editor of USNWR responds in the comments, and it's off to the races from there.
Carnival of Personal Finance: Magical Christmas Edition
Over at The Digerati Life, SVB hosts an entertaining and informative Carnival of Personal Finance. With almost 80 entertaining and informative entries, you're sure to unwrap at least one treat.
Since this can be such a stressful time, why not stop by Mad Kane's place for a little yuletide cheer?
Miracles can happen any time of year, but they seem almost magical when they happen during the Christmas season. Miracles are, by definition, something supernatural, that cannot be explained by logic or science. Some will simply dismiss a miracle as happenstance. Others will say it is evidence of God or some other higher power at work in our lives.
No matter what your religious beliefs, miracles are something positive that happens during times of stress, emotional turmoil, financial worries or ill health. Even those who do not hold to a belief in a higher power still will marvel at positive happenings even though they may stop short of terming them as miracles.
For Christians everywhere, the true meaning of this season has nothing to do with gifts, reindeer or Santa Claus. Rather, the focus is on a baby, born to a virgin, in a stable in the town of Bethlehem.
Baby's are miracles in their own right. They grow inside their mothers womb, starting out as two small cells and in a few months enter the world as part of the process we call the miracle of birth. Anyone who has witnessed the birth of a child, particularly their own child, will confess it is a humbling, and sometimes frightening occurrence.
Most of us have been blessed with healthy children, but some have experienced the birth of a child who is forced to deal with the complexities of life early on.
Such is the case of baby Wilson (Wil) as related at InsureBlog a few weeks ago.
You will be glad to know that baby Wil is progressing and thanks to the work of the doctors in attendance, and the prayers of many, is showing improvement.
If you would like to track the progress of baby Wil, you can do so by clicking this link and registering. You may also post a message of hope if you wish.
For the parents of baby Wil, the miracle of Christmas is an ongoing event. And that is the way it should be.
God bless. Peace to all.
Bad (Risk) Santa?
FoIB Julie Ferguson of Workers Comp Insider points us to independent insurance agent Sam Friedman's risk assessment of Jolly Ol' St Nick.
I wonder if Hanukkah Harry would get better rates.
Heads Up: Comments on the Fritz
A quick note to IB readers: HaloScan (our comments hosting service) seems to be experiencing some pre-Holiday madness. If you're having trouble leaving a comment, please drop us a note, and we'll post it for you when things are back to normal.
UPDATE (12/23): At the risk of jinxing it, it appears that HaloScan is back up and running.
This is a Toughie
Perhaps you've heard this:
"The family of a 17-year-old girl who died hours after her health insurer reversed its previous decision and said it would pay for a liver transplant planned to sue CIGNA HealthCare, their attorney said Friday."
As the parent of both a 20 year old and a 16 year old, my heart goes out to these parents. Having known others who've lost a child, there are no adequate words of consolation.
But their insurance company didn't kill her.
The harsh reality is that the insurer can only promise to pay for (part of) a procedure. Whether or not a given procedure is actually performed is up to the patient (or, in this case, the parents of the patient) and the health care providers. The insurer has no say in whether or not a transplant (for example) takes place.
Yes, this is hard.
And yes, there will be those who fault "the system:" the health care providers who want to be paid for their efforts (and to cover their malpractice premiums), the "heartless" insurance company that had misgivings about paying for the procedure.
But the actual choice belonged solely to the parents and the provider.
Nataline (the 17 year old at the heart of this tragedy) apparently received a bone marrow transplant from her brother. Did Cigna (the insurer) pay for this? Was it considered experimental? We just don't know.
And we don't know the particulars of the liver transplant issue, either. Many policies now limit such procedures to specific "centers of excellence," for example. Was this the case here? Again, we just don't know.
At the last minute, Cigna rethought their decision and made an exception for Nataline. And once again, we don't know why (although we can guess). Insurers make these decisions every day. It's called risk assessment and management, and it goes to the heart of the matter. Absent real data to support a procedure's efficacy, the carrier is bound - by contract - to deny payment. Yes, this is difficult, and yes, it is painful, but it is, in the end, reality.
As the company pointed out, there was little to suggest that the procedure would have helped in any case; we'll obviously never know. What we do know is that, despite the rhetoric and the pain, the insurance company didn't kill Nataline. The folks who refused to treat her or to have her treated, regardless of payment, did.
ADDENDUM: In rereading this story, I realized that I had missed some key points. None of them change my conclusion, but they do perhaps explain a little more why Cigna may have balked at paying for the additional procedure (liver transplant).
For starters, Nataline suffered from leukemia, a type of blood cancer. In an attempt to treat it, she received a bone marrow transplant from her brother. Unfortunately, she subsequently developed complications from this procedure, resulting in liver failure. Things went downhill from there; in fact, she was in a "vegetative state" since shortly after Thanksgiving. After researching this for quite a while, I couldn't find anything that indicated one way or the other whether folks in this condition are considered good risks for such a procedure.
Bob pointed out to me that, if she had had the transplant, the doctors involved admitted that "patients in similar situations who undergo transplants have a six-month survival rate of about 65 percent." That's not particularly good odds; we also don't know whether or not she was physically "up" for such a procedure. Perhaps that information will come to light.
Finally, lest those who would argue that the insurer's greed contributed (or caused) Nataline's death, and that a government-run system would have saved her life, I refer you here.
MORE: Attorney (and CPCU) Brad Ford has some interesting insights into this tragic situation. Money quote: "I don't believe it was unreasonable to have a 2nd opinion before spending an enormous amount of money on a treatment that may not work."
UPDATE: We've received some additional information from Cigna.
A Christmas Salute to our Troops
One of the interesting subsets of the blogosphere is "milblogs" (military blogs), and one of the most popular of these is BlackFive. With the help of a number of other bloggers, they've put together a moving and gracious video thanking our brave men and women who serve in the armed forces:
Year End Updates
■ Folks who participate in HSA (Health Savings Account) plans will see their max contribution limits increase, up as much as 2.5% (even more for catch-ups):
[Graphic courtesy of Golden Rule Ins Co]
■ And for our seasoned citizens, news from the Medicare Part D front. The 2008 Open Enrollment season begins on January 1st, and runs through the end of March. Changes there, as well; beneficiaries (Medicare participants) can elect:
[Graphic courtesy of Anthem BC/BS]
■ Finally, from the MythBusters Dept comes this helpful test. True or false:
Eating turkey makes you sleepy
Reading in a darkened room will ruin your eyesight
You should drink at least 8 glasses of water a day
The answers may surprise you; they certainly surprised the physicians who tested them.
Snapshot of Uninsured in America
I had a brief conversation with another agent earlier. We were trading war stories about some of the frustrations we face in our business. Here is one of his.
He had been working with a family for 3 months. Husband, wife, 2 kids. Good income. Nice neighborhood.
No health insurance.
Yesterday he made another follow up phone call to see if they wanted to put in an application before rates go up in January.
No, he was told. They can't afford health insurance now. They just purchased a 2008 Suburban so it will be a while before they can fit health insurance in their budget.
Fat Boat
Al Gore will love this. Save the earth and lose weight at the same time.
The fastest eco boat on the planet will attempt to break the round the world speed record using fuel made from human fat.
Fastest boat powered by fat? Must mean there are slow boats powered by fat.
Bethune underwent liposuction and donated enough to produce 100ml of biofuel, while two other, larger volunteers also had the procedure, making a total of 10 litres of human fat.
For the rest of us, 10 litres (British spelling) equals a little over 2 gallons of fat.
That converts into a little over 1.5 gallons of fuel.
Enough to travel 15km or 9 miles . . give or take.
Earthrace is fuelled on 100 per cent biodiesel and has a net zero carbon footprint.
See? I told you Al would love it.
But there is a problem.
Circumnavigating the globe represents the pinnacle of powerboat challenges, and more than 24,000 nautical miles is the world's longest speed challenge.
If they have a 24,000 mile journey and they start with enough fuel to travel 9 miles with "fat donations" from 3 volunteers, how many more fat people will it take to complete the journey?
Don't you just love these kind of math problems?
Happy eating over the holidays!
And from the parallel universe of medical malpractice insurance . . .
Last month,
[New York Insurance] Superintendent Eric Dinallo said that to fill a $500 million deficit . . . the 30,000 physicians in the state who get malpractice insurance through two large nonprofit companies could owe $50,000 each.
Well, THAT’s one way to get your doctors’ attention!
This latest insurance crisis shows once again that it does not much matter whether an insurance company is for-profit or “nonprofit”. What matters most is that both types of companies get their premiums right. This requires correctly assessing the cost of the malpractice liabilities that they insure. After all, the cost of premiums is mostly driven by the cost of the liabilities. [Sound familiar? Anyone? Anyone?]
Even a not-for-profit insurance company that underprices its liabilities will sooner or later have to charge higher premiums, reduce benefits, or go out of business. Predictably, the doctors and the trial lawyers and the insurance companies and the state regulators disagree about what the real problem is. Of course that means they disagree how to solve this crisis they can't quite define. And, predictably, our governor has ordered another “study”. [Sound familiar? Anyone? Anyone?]
Is there a call to establish a state-run, single-payer med mal insurance mechanism so this crisis could be fixed without curtailing our right to sue and without requiring anyone to pay more? I haven't seen such a call but that's probably just due to inattention on my part.
Posted by Mike Feehan at 9:53 AM View Comments Links to this post
Hear, Hear! (A Doc Who *Gets* It)
When I first started blogging (almost three years ago!), one of my first "finds" was the California Medicine Man. A practicing physician, he writes about complex issues in an amazingly readable way. Recently, he asked my opinion about why insurance companies don't (generally) pay for hearing aids. I'd never really given the subject much thought, but Dr Ford certainly has.
In this thoughtful post, he offers his well-researched opinion about the "why," and offers an intriguing suggestion about changing that situation.
Good S-CHIP News (Finally!)
The massive expansion of this program originally touted as "for the children" was taken off life support and expired early this morning, according to sources close to the "patient:"
"After coming up short in their efforts to enact a $35 billion expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) — enduring two presidential vetoes along the way — congressional Democrats signed off on Republican demands to extend the program until 2009."
This is good news for poor children, whose health coverage was jeopardized by congressional efforts to cover middle class adults. With this new agreement, it looks like our Fearless Leaders on the Potomic (FLotP©) have kicked this particular can a little farther down the road.
Of course, this doesn't mean an end to congressional efforts to gut the point of the program, but it certainly buys the children, and taxpayers, some time.
[H/T: Michelle Malkin]
Cavalcade of Risk #41 is up!
Matthew Paulson, who runs American Consumer News blog, hosts this week's edition of risky posts. Be sure to check it out.
And don't forget, you can host a Cav, too. Just drop us a line to claim your date!
California Here I Come...I Mean, Go!
At the risk of scooping our west coast co-blogger, I bring you news of Massachusetts-West:
"The state Assembly on Monday approved a massive health care reform plan that will expand coverage to nearly 70 percent of the state's uninsured and require most Californians to buy health insurance."
The brilliant Golden State legislators, egged on by The Governator, have passed a bill that (unbelievably) surpasses even the Bay State's ginormous sinkhole [ed: okay, enough already with the hyperbole]. As passed, implementing the bill is anticipated to cost some $14 billion (yes, with a b). Of course, this is really just the floor.
My favorite line comes from Assembly Speaker (and bill author) Fabian Nunez:
"Fundamentally, health care is a right and not a privilege."
Perhaps the California constitution contains such language; that of the United States, of course, does not. And again, we see the conflation of health care and health insurance, two completely different animals.
So, who pays for this largesse?
Well, smokers for starters. I'm still convinced that the only way that that will work is simultaneous legislation requiring non-smokers to begin lighting up. But that's not all:
"The bill would require all employers to spend a minimum amount on employees' health care or contribute to a state-run insurance pool."
These contributions are set up on a sliding scale, requiring employers to fork over up to 6.5% of payroll if they don't offer coverage. Depending on the group, this may well represent a significant savings; a particularly unhealthy group may be better off jettisoning their group cover and jumping into the new state pool.
A more cynical person might presume that this is exactly the intent of the bill's sponsors.
[h/t: Junk Yard Blog]
DTC: Helpful PSA
[Welcome Team Pointless readers!]
As we've discussed before, DTC (Direct To Consumer) advertising is a big deal for big pharma. To some extent, it exacerbates the ever-increasing cost of health care, and thus health insurance.
On the other hand, we've also discussed how certain food group items can actually help promote good health (although preferably in moderation).
You'll no doubt be glad to learn that we've found an intriguing and helpful PSA (Public Service Announcement) which helps to resolve that dilemna:
Mailbag: Group HSA's and Medicare
One of our readers recently emailed us with an interesting problem. Seems that his group insurance at work was upgrading to a High Deductible HSA-compliant plan. The challenge is that a handful of his co-workers, including the boss, are post-65 and on Medicare.
So what, you ask?
So this:
"You are not eligible for an HSA after you have enrolled in Medicare. If you had an HSA before you enrolled in Medicare, you can keep it. However, you cannot continue to make contributions to an HSA after you enroll in Medicare."
That is, if you're on Medicare, then you can't set up a Health Savings Account (HSA), nor can you continue putting money into an existing one. This poses a problem for our reader's group: it seems that the employer was going to "seed" the account to help pre-fund some expenses.
The problem was actually even more specific: the Medicare-covered employees were enrolled only in Part A, not B (physician's expenses) or D (debacle, er...drugs). Would this make a difference?
Now that is a great question. As an aside: I am continually pleased and amazed at the level of discussion that we're able to generate here. Our readers are generally informed and ask intelligent, insightful questions (even those readers with whom we occasionally disagree). Very cool.
After consulting with Bob and Bill, it was determined that whether or not one had enrolled in Parts B and/or D made no difference: those employees just weren't eligible to participate in the HSA plan. The employees could, of course, enroll in the HDHP (high deductible plan), which may or may not be appropriate. Bill also mentioned that at least one CA insurer offers a multi-plan option, where employees in a group plan can choose different types of benefits (ala "cafeteria plans"). Unfortunately, that wasn't an option in this particular case.
In the event, it looks like our reader's employer is going to use a direct reimbursement plan. Although this route lacks some of the advantages of an HSA, it's simple and effective.
We're always glad to help out, and appreciate the opportunity to do so, even when the answer isn't what we'd prefer.
I was disappointed that the Medicare-enrolled employees weren't able to fully participate in the HDHP/HSA arrangement. That seems a shame, and a waste. Some years ago, Medicare proposed adding an HSA-type option. Unfortunately, that never got off the ground. But if you're interested in that sort of thing, the folks at Kaiser did an interesting "white paper" on the idea. It's available here.
I'm ambivalent about whether or not this would really work. Obviously, I'm a big proponent of HSA's, but I have to wonder about the Medicare market for them right now. Down the road, as they (hopefully/presumably) gain market share, and more folks "age into" Medicare, they'll become attractive.
Poppin' News
Waaay back in August of last year, Bob reported on an employee in a popcorn manufacturing facility who had won a large judgment against one of his employer's suppliers. He claimed that the additive which provided that "buttery flavor," diacetyl, had ruined his lungs.
Earlier this fall, a Denver physician warned various federal agencies about the dangers of this product, urging them to investigate possible links between the chemical and increased risk of pulmonary disease.
Which brings us to today's news that "ConAgra has removed a controversial chemical from its microwave popcorn that gives the snack a buttery, creamy taste, citing concern for its workers' health." Although the DOL's "Occupational Safety and Health Administration does not have specific regulations regarding" the chemical, it did issue a special bulletin discussing the potential problem.
As for me, I'm still sticking with Alton Brown's method.
Carnival of the Capitalists is up
Rob Sama, one of the originators of the Carnival, hosts this week's edition. Rob took a major scalpel to his version, and we're treated to a simple 15 posts. Rob says (and I agree) "the Carnival has become dominated by sole practitioners offering silly how-to type entries in blogs that have extraordinarily few entries to begin with...and submissions that seemingly have been made to every...carnival under the sun." Hear, hear! Thank you, Rob, for injecting some sanity and common sense back into the CotC.
As a big fan of common sense, I really appreciated Super Saver's post on some simple ways to fix (or at least adjust) our tax code. He takes a look at both major parties' ideas and finds them wanting.
Hoosier HSA
In an attempt to raise awareness for HSA's (Health Savings Accounts) while addressing health care coverage for the poor, the White House has proposed a new HSA test program for the Hoosier state.
Under the Indiana program, eligible residents can pay up to 5 percent of their incomes into state-subsidized "Personal Wellness and Responsibility Accounts" that cover their initial medical expenses up to $1,100. Once that deductible is reached, private insurance purchased by the state kicks in.
Personal Wellness and RESPONSIBILITY Accounts.
Personal responsibility. I like that concept.
How could anyone object to requiring adults to act like adults?
Well, apparently some can . . .
Judith Solomon, senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said she doubts that many people making $10,000 a year can afford to pay $500 for health insurance. She said that about 50,000 people lost Medicaid coverage in Oregon after that state got permission to raise insurance premiums to $20 a month.
The state increases the premium from $0 to $20 per month and 50,000 LOST their coverage?
Lost their coverage?
They chose not to pay $20 for something that was previously free.
They didn't lose anything.
Just the next station on the line . . .
Remember please, the rules are there to help everyone.
UPDATE (from HGS): Mike beat me to the punch on this one, but I'd like to add a couple of my own thoughts:
■ This is but another in a (very) long string of "gotcha's" perpetrated by the MVNHS©.
■ It's been said that our system has inequalities, and that it is therefore "broken." Indeed, one of our "regulars" is on record as stating that such things happen "only in America." And yet we see the British "system" failing its patients time, after time, after time. And because it is nationalized, there are few alternatives left when such egregious failures (such as the plight of Ms Mills) come about.
First do no harm
Recently I came across the following comment on a physician’s health blog. I saved the link, but am not posting it because the specific source is not really important. But the point of view it expresses is important because it is common among physicians. Here is the comment:
"unless the physicians are vigilant in correcting [policy wonks’] fantasies, the absurdities will press on unabated."
This is the beginning of an important insight. But it’s left unfinished.
Meanwhile, and in reality, such absurdities have grown for 40 years and IMO are likely to become even worse.
Let's keep in mind that health care policy wonks do not fall out of the sky. It's trite, but true: nature abhors a vacuum. The policy vacuum in health care sucks in people who become health policy wonks, when otherwise most of them would pursue more useful vocations.
And how have these wonkish folk gained significant control within our "system?" IMO, because physicians have increasingly failed to assert control.
The resulting vacuum of physician leadership has become especially harmful during the past 40 years.
Moses found a way out of the wilderness in 40 years. OK, health care is a more difficult problem. But still . . .
Regrettably physicians by their inaction cede leadership on far too many fundamentals of health care management. If physicians want health care to be managed differently, they must find ways to exert more significant and direct leadership.
Physicians’ attempts to correct others' fantasies won’t work. Physicians' attempts to persuade policy wonks to lead, but in a manner agreeable to physicians rather than to policy wonks, won’t succeed. Physicians’ complaints about others’ poor leadership is not leadership. In fact, none of these behaviors is leadership. What to do? Well, I’m no wonk. I don't know for a fact what will work. If I knew I’d be very rich. But my opinion is that physicians must assert much more direct influence on health care policy and management in this country.
“First, do no harm” is sometimes a call to take action, rather than to refrain from taking action. If now is not one of those times to act – then when?
Cavalcade #41: Submissions Due
Next week's Cav wraps up a tremendous 2007. Please make sure to get your submissions in to our host, Matthew Paulson, by Monday (the 17th). Matthew asks that you PLEASE include:
A Taxing (Health) Problem
Once again, our favorite tax-blogger, Joe Kristan, has indispensable year-end news:
"S corporation shareholders need to make sure that their premiums are included on their 2007 W-2s."
What's the point, you ask?
Simply this: if you own a business, and you want to (legally) deduct your health insurance premiums (usually a non-trivial amount), there are some new rules, and you need to know about them.
Fortunately, Joe has all the sordid details, which he generously shares with those of us who don't count (or even necessarily know) beans.
Health Wonk Review: Final '07 Edition
HealthBlawger David Harlow presents an outstanding EOY edition, successfully integrating his chosen theme (light) with a potpourri of policy posts. I especially like how he creates a kind narrative.
Each HWR seems even better than the last.
One post that caught my eye was Dr Adam Fein's on how Medicare Part D is playing out. Regular IB readers know that I'm no fan of the program, but Dr Fein has an interesting take on how it can actually drive down some costs.
S-CHIPping Away
The original intent of the S-CHIP program was to offer affordable health insurance coverage to poor children. Along the way, the definition of both poor and children has blossomed to include middle class adults who would rather rely on the government than take responsibility for themselves (and their families). We saw this with the S-CHIP kerfluffle this past fall, and our fearless leaders in Washington (DC) decided to trot it out again.
President Bush wisely smacked down the latest version, which again included adults. The President summed it up nicely:
"Ultimately, our nation's goal should be to move children who have no health insurance to private coverage, not to move children who already have private health insurance to government coverage."
Misdirection
Republican presidential candidates have called for a greater reliance upon the individual health insurance market. But many of these same candidates have had cancer and wouldn't have been able to get individual coverage under their own health reform plans at the time of their treatment.
Close, but no cigar.
All have called for a more robust individual health insurance market. But that market today relies upon medical underwriting--people who have had cancer will have great difficulty finding an insurance company to underwrite them. As the Times reports, "Cancer survivors -- even if they have been free of disease for several years -- are routinely denied health insurance when they try to purchase it as individuals."
True, at least to an extent. Some cancers with good remission/cure rates are given a free pass.
If coverage is offered, it often comes with restrictions on the disease the person suffered with or high premiums.
If coverage is offered.
Tempering the headline?
First they cannot get coverage. Now the author opts to qualify his contention.
But when individual coverage costs thousands of dollars a year, many can't afford to get it.
And many cannot afford COBRA either.
Or, for that matter, risk pool premiums.
So the issue is not one of AVAILABILITY as it is AFFORDABILITY.
Several dynamics come in to play here. One is a reliance and expectation that the carrier should cover items that are routine, such as primary care. Stripping out primary care as part of a health plan goes a long way toward reducing premiums, often by 30% or more.
The other issue that no one wants to address is that Americans as a whole are not savers. Most live paycheck to paycheck. When the check stops they go into a crisis mode.
If the taxpayer wants forced health care for everyone (regardless of the funding) then they should also require forced saving accounts. If you cannot support yourself and your family for 6 months without a paycheck then perhaps you should not be eligible for subsidized health insurance.
At some point the taxpayer needs to accept the responsibility of adulthood.
John Dillinger is reported to have said "you get much more with a gun and a smile than just a smile alone".
Dillinger was wrong.
Dillinger never heard of Medicare.
A recent report by NBC News reveals an estimated $60B in fraud committed on the taxpayers by virtue of Medicare fraud.
A recent report by the inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services noted that 72 percent of the Medicare claims submitted nationwide for HIV/AIDS treatment in 2005 came from South Florida alone. That percentage is of great concern to authorities, since only eight percent of the country's HIV/AIDS Medicare beneficiaries actually live in South Florida,
And no one noticed?
Who's minding the store?
"For every one owner we arrest, another one pops up, maybe even two, tomorrow. It's so lucrative that we have yet to turn the tide."
Stealing from taxpayers. Lucrative.
One of the most common schemes is the illicit billing for DME, or durable medical equipment, such as oxygen generators, breathing machines, air mattresses, walkers, orthopedic braces and wheelchairs. This scheme involves billions of dollars a year in illegal claims.
And let's not forget the Medicare scooters heavily advertised on TV.
federal officials in Miami pointed to a red electric wheelchair they seized from an illicit company. Normally it would cost about $5,000. But by billing Medicare over and over, nor ever delivering the wheelchair to an actual patient, criminals charged a total of $5 million for that one item alone.
That's some wheelchair.
Here's a bit of trivia. Most folks know that Lyndon Johnson instituted Medicare with a stroke of a pen. But who was the first Medicare beneficiary?
In honor of (Harry) Truman's leadership foresight, Johnson enrolled him as the program's first beneficiary and presented him with the nation's first Medicare card.
So how much does Medicare fraud cost the taxpayer?
thieves now steal an estimated $60 billion a year in taxpayer money that is supposed to finance health care for 43 million American seniors and the disabled.
$60B out of a total $408B spent on Medicare.
That's 15% of the budget lost to fraud.
So who wants "Medicare for all"?
If John Dillinger were alive, he probably would be in the thick of it. He might even be willing to make a go of it with just a smile . . .
Fertility Chair
An inexpensive alternative to IVF?
Stupid Carrier Tricks #143
Of all the types of claims we see in the life and health business, a natural death claim on a 20 year old policy would seem to be the least likely to be a problem.
After all, such a policy is well past the contestable period, and there's no foul play (my client died of cancer). It's tailor-made for prompt settlement.
Unless, apparently, the carrier's Time Insurance (aka Hartford Life).
The facts are pretty straightforward: we wrote a universal life insurance policy on a gentleman in 1988, and he died of cancer on October 28, 2007. I contacted the carrier immediately, and they responded to the request for paperwork quickly.
And that was the last thing they did "quickly."
I met with the widow a week or so later, and we submitted the completed paperwork on November 9th. Then we waited.
Eventually, I called Kelly Wanovich, the "claim analyst" who had initially responded to our request on October 31st. He told me that it can take up to 10 business days for a claim to be processed and paid. It's now over a month since we filed the claim (for those keeping track at home, that's 20 business days, if we presume that the obviously overworked staff at Time Insurance took off Thanksgiving and "Black Friday"), and still no check. I did receive a call late last week indicating that it was being "processed" and would soon be on its way, but "the check is in the mail" doesn't put food on the widow's table, or make the mortgage payment for a roof over her head.
I even emailed Mr Wanovich last Friday:
"Got your voice mail, and was pleased to hear that the check is (finally) on its way.
I still don't understand why it's taken almost a month (including some 20 business days) for this to happen. I'd like to be able to explain this to [redacted], his widow, as well. Can you help with that?"
Of course, I have yet to receive a response.
There is simply no excuse for such an egregious abuse of the claims process. Trust me, if my client had been a day late with his premium payment, he would have quickly received a "reminder" notice from the carrier. But when it's time to pay, where is that state-of-the-art system to be found? Certainly not in the Claims Department.
It's one thing when there's a legitimate question about a claim; after all, we all suffer when carriers are defrauded. But it is quite another to deliberately withhold money on a straightforward, no-brainer claim such as this.
Unless, of course, you're a carrier, and the term "no brain" fits a little too well.
UPDATE 12/12/07: O Frabjous Day! The death claim check arrived this afternoon, a month after the claim was submitted. On the one hand, this is terrific news for the widow. On the other, it does not mitigate or negate the agregiously long time it took for this to happen.
An Enigmatic Conundrum
Group term life insurance is the ugly stepchild of "real" life insurance. Typically sold as part of a group medical plan, it pays a minimal amount (often multiplied in the case of accidental death) and is owned not but the insured, but the employer (who has the right to cancel or change the plan).
Which is not to say that GTL is a bad or unnecessary thing; simply that it is a poor substitute for personally owned life insurance.
So what brought that on?
Well, even though GTL is not my favorite product, it does serve a very important purpose: for many, it is the only life insurance they own. For these folks, it may actually mean bread on the table for the family they leave behind.
There's one other interesting difference between "regular" (underwritten) life insurance and GTL, as well: terrorism coverage. Almost all* individual life policies have clauses about war and (especially) "acts of war" which could be a problem in the event of a terrorist attack.
Most GTL plans lack this distinction.
Which brings us to the conundrum:
"The industry, in the event of a severe act of terrorism, is vulnerable to insolvency because high concentrations of covered employees work in the same locations, because primary group life insurers do not exclude terrorism risks while most catastrophic reinsurance does exclude such risks, and because a large-scale loss of life would fall outside of actuarial expectations of death.”
At least according to the text of a new terrorism bill being debated in the House. The challenge is that carriers face huge losses, many of which are apparently not reinsured, in the event of another 9/11. By placing the treasury of the United States as a "backstop" against this kind of loss, it lessens the likelihood of any one (or several) carrier from going down the tubes. And that would be important to the beneficiaries, those left behind.
On the other hand, this is the nature of business, and particularly the insurance business: risk management. If the risk of terrorism is of concern (as it obviously should be), then it seems to me that the industry is obligated to come up with solutions on its own. It shouldn't count on the gummint (which is to say, the taxpayer) to bail out carriers who made poor choices.
No easy answers.
*I'm not aware of any that don't, but there may well be.
An Aesthetic Grand Rounds
First time GR host Dr G C George presents a gorgeous collection of interesting posts from around the medblogosphere. He presents the 20-plus entries as a sort of Caribbean cruise, somplete with marine flora and fauna. It's both visually and intellectually appealing.
Prudence, MD has an interesting post on the relationship of religion and health. Her backdrop is a rather disturbing recent episode in the Philippines which saw a fundamental clash between providers concerned about the spread of AIDS, and a religious hierarchy vehemently opposed to safe sex education.
HSA News: Breaking
CPA Extraordinaire Joe Kristan has some interesting news for those who either itemize their medical expenses or (more likely) participate in Qualified Alternative Benefits (FSA/HRA/HSA).
While some of the changes affect a broad spectrum of participants, those who are pregnant (or think they might be) definitely need to "read the whole thing."
Carnival Monday!
The folks at Money $mart Life present a tremendous Carnival of Personal Finance, complete with an introductory YouTube preview. Very unique, very cool. And there are almost 70 interesting submissions, all neatly categorized and annotated.
Paid Twice has an interesting post on how our priorities and measures change as we mature. It's a very timely reminder.
UPDATE: A tad late, but welcome nonetheless, Jay at Blogblivion hosts this week's edition of the Carnival of the Capitalists. With some 28 posts, all celebrating the capitalist system, you're sure to find something helpful.
Ever eaten a square watermelon? With a post that's truly "outside of the box," take a taste of Financial Hack's report on a great solution to a vexing problem.
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David Sloan Wilson is SUNY Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University. He is widely known for his fundamental contributions to evolutionary science and for explaining evolution to the general public. His books include: Darwin’s Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society; Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin’s Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives; The Neighborhood Project: Using Evolution to Improve My City, One Block at a Time; and Does Altruism Exist? Culture, Genes, and the Welfare of Others..
In addition to his own research, Dr. Wilson manages programs that expand the scope of evolutionary science in higher education, public policy, community-based research, and the study of religion.
Wilson holds a BS in Biology from the University of Rochester and a PhD in Zoology/Animal Biology from Michigan State University.
Evolving a Multi-Cellular Society
David Sloan Wilson and Ken Wilber
A fascinating discussion of conscious, cultural, and biological evolution — and how we can use the fundamental patterns running through all three in order to create a more adaptable and sustainable future.
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Home > IV Online magazine > 2013 > IV459 - April 2013 > Upon contact with reality at boiling point: positive chemical (...)
Tunis World Social Forum
Upon contact with reality at boiling point: positive chemical reaction
Tuesday 9 April 2013, by Éric Toussaint, Sergio Ferrari
The World Social Forum (WSF) wound up its ninth centralized edition on Saturday, 30 March in the Tunisian capital with a significant quantifiable end result. More than 50,000 participants, almost one thousand activities of many kinds; an opening march on Tuesday the 26th that brought out 25,000 people and a tightly-packed closing march in solidarity with the Palestinian people. “A very positive forum” according to the analysis of Belgian historian and activist Eric Toussaint, coordinator of the Committee for the Abolition of the Third World Debt (Comité pour l’Annulation de la Dette du Tiers Monde – CADTM) member of the FSM International piloting committee since its inception.
Sergio Ferrari: What were the most important aspects of this new edition of the WSF?
Eric Toussaint: There was a strong Tunisian presence in many activities. For example, we observed this in the workshops and activities on the debt. Also in the Social Movements Assembly on Friday the 29th. The great interest youth and social movements showed towards this initiative was obvious. This is a very positive aspect of our evaluation.
Q: Does this mean that the WSF comes out of this Maghrebi session strengthened ?
E.T: No doubt about it. WSF has been going through an obvious crisis for some years now. In particular, its International Piloting Committee, as a facilitating body, has faced huge difficulties finding a new dynamic. At the same time, the Social Forum indisputably remains the only worldwide arena and framework where social movements can meet. In this sense, in the absence of an alternative, the WSF remains very important. Since Tunisian and the region’s civil society remain actively mobilized, this is a breath of fresh air and renewal for this international occasion. The Social forum, in coming into contact with a society in movement, in ebullition, has produced a chemical reaction; a very interesting interaction that we have observed during this edition.
Q: According to your assessment, holding the WSF in a country and region in turmoil could also be a future antidote against any risk of institutionalizing this global occasion…
E.T: Precisely. We could imagine an upcoming edition of the WSF in Egypt if a group of organizations there proposed to host it. In fact, Egypt is experiencing a completely electric situation with a trade union movement proportionally stronger in the industrial sector than in Tunisia, with a peasantry hard-hit by the World Bank’s neoliberal policies and land privatization; but social explosions could take place in other parts of the world and different scenarios are imaginable.
Q: How can the difficulties and the sort of paralysis faced by the WSF International piloting committee be unblocked?
E.T: I don’t have these solutions. I see that a series of forces on the committee want to continue to play this role. Tunis teaches us that a certain point we have to free the terrain and make way for new forces. The CADTM will continue to be a member of the International committee, there are very interesting and dynamic players within it, with whom we collaborate closely. We also know that there is a series of very institutionalized forces that manage the Social Forum “Brand” according to their interests.
Q: Despite all this, you think that we should continue to strengthen it?
E.T: Without a doubt the WSF is useful. We can see, as happened here, that a very positive dynamic is developing independently of operational problems.
Q: Within this optimistic assessment, what are the negative aspects that emerge from this edition?
E.T: USAID was among the organizations that set up stands. It is a US cooperation agency present in all destabilization operations around the planet. It is an instrument of US government international policy. This organization has no reason to be at the Forum. This is cause for concern, all the more so as it involves a violation of the 2001 Charter of Principles. So I understand the participants who ejected this organization from the perimeter of the El Manar university campus where the Forum was taking place.
We have also seen – just as happened during the earlier 2011 Social Forum in Dakar – that the Moroccan monarchy sent a hundred or so individuals paid to pose as members of non-governmental and social organizations. Some of these were police, whose mission was to prevent anyone from raising the demand for an independent Sahrawian State We saw that in Dakar, and it happened once again on Friday the 29th at the social movements assembly… Provocateurs linked to the Moroccan regime swarmed the floor in an attempt to prevent any reference being made, in the Social Movements declaration, to the necessary solidarity with the Sahrawian people. This was another negative aspect, though it was not the WSF’s responsibility. In particular, we have to find ways of defending Moroccan activists who have the courage to speak out for the democratic right to national sovereignty.
From Tunis, 30 March 2013
Translated by Marie Lagatta and Mike Krolikowski.
upon-contact-with-reality-at-boiling-point-positive_a2940.pdf (PDF - 354.1 kb)
The abuses of the World Social Forum: Towards the end of the process?
Rights to Water and Land, a Common Struggle Movements
“The people, united, will never be defeated!”
Declaration of the Assembly on Debt
From the World Social Forum to the Arab revolts
Éric Toussaint
Eric Toussaint is a historian and political scientist who completed his Ph.D. at the universities of Paris VIII and Liège, is the international spokesperson of the CADTM (Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt) , and sits on the Scientific Council of ATTAC France.
He is the author of Debt System (2019), Bankocracy (2015); Glance in the Rear View Mirror. Neoliberal Ideology From its Origins to the Present, Haymarket books, Chicago; “Debt, the IMF, and the World Bank, Sixty Questions, Sixty Answers”, Monthly Review Press, New York, 2010. He has published extensively in this field. He is a member of the Fourth International leadership.
Sergio Ferrari
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Robb Flynn: Drive-In Concerts Are the ‘Stupidest F–king Sh-t I’ve Ever Seen’
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
As the world attempts to adjust to a new normal since the coronavirus pandemic took over, drive-in concerts are something the entertainment industry is experimenting with. While some artists are willing to do just about anything to put on a show, Machine Head's Robb Flynn doesn't quite fall into that category.
Without naming the particular artist, Flynn recently explained to Kerrang! that he watched a drive-in show, and he wasn't pleased. "It was the stupidest fucking shit I’ve ever seen," he declared.
"If cover bands want to do that shit, it’s cool. They should have fun. But the whole point of a Machine Head show is having those 5,000 people screaming every word, pressed against the barrier, getting sweaty and piling into giant circle pits – just that cathartic release of energy."
The frontman added that if drive-in concerts are the only way for him to play, he'll wait until there are more options. But he doesn't think that's going to be for at least a couple of years.
“I don’t know if things will ever go back to ‘normal’ again,” he continued. "I think this pandemic could go on for at least two years – coming in waves, getting better in summer and worse as we go back into flu season – then it could take another two years for people to get over that shell-shock of having been locked down for so long."
The 50 Best Metal + Hard Rock Live Bands of All Time
Source: Robb Flynn: Drive-In Concerts Are the ‘Stupidest F–king Sh-t I’ve Ever Seen’
Filed Under: machine head, Robb Flynn
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A state-space stock assessment model for American plaice on the Grand Bank of Newfoundland
NAFO posted on October 15, 2020 14:07
J. Northw. Atl. Fish. Sci., Vol. 51: 45–104
Publication (Upload) date: 15 Oct 2020
Andrea M.J. Perreault
Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research, Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University,
St. John’s, NL, Canada, A1C 5R3
andrea.perreault@mi.mun.ca
Laura J. Wheeland
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada,
PO Box 5667, St John’s, NL, Canada A1C 5X1
laura.wheeland@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
M. Joanne Morgan
joanne.morgan@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Noel G. Cadigan
noel.cadigan@mi.mun.ca
Perreault, A.M.J, Wheeland, L.J., Morgan, M.J., and Cadigan, N.G. A state-space stock assessment model for American plaice on the Grand Bank of Newfoundland . J. Northw. Atl. Fish. Sci., 51: 45–104. https://doi.org/10.2960/J.v51.m727
The current stock assessment model for American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides) on the Grand Bank of Newfoundland (NAFO Divisions 3LNO) is a virtual population analysis (VPA). This model does not account for the considerable uncertainty about the landings data for this stock. Retrospective patterns have also been noted in the current assessment with overestimation of spawning stock biomass (SSB) and underestimation of fishing mortality (F). Via a thorough model selection process, we develop a state-space stock assessment model (SSM) for this stock that accounts for the uncertainties in the landings data and reduces the retrospective patterns. Our SSM fit the data well, with overall trends in SSB and average F (ages 9–14) similar to those estimated from the current VPA. The retrospective patterns for the SSM were reduced for both SSB and average F which should lead to the provision of better scientific advice for the management of this stock. An important result from our analysis suggests that the current assumption for natural mortality (M) in the stock assessment model may be too low. The lack of recovery of the stock of American plaice on the Grand Bank has often been attributed to overfishing, however fixing M within the model to be lower than is reasonable may be over-estimating the relative impact of F and subsequently over-stating the contribution of fishing mortality to the lack of recovery of the stock.
Keywords: American plaice, Grand Bank of Newfoundland, state-space models, retrospective patterns, landings data uncertainty
©Her Majesty the Queen, in right of Canada, 2020
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American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoideson the Grand Bank of Newfoundland (NAFO Divisions 3LNO) supported an important commercial fishery historically, accounting for over ten percent of the Canadian groundfish fishery in the 1950s (DFO, 2011). The population size declined rapidly in the 1980s due mostly to overfishing and, although there has been no directed commercial fishing since 1994, there has since been little improvement in the state of the population (see e.g. Wheeland, 2018). The lack of recovery has been attributed to overfishing, which has occurred mainly through bycatch in the yellowtail flounder, skate, redfish, and Greenland halibut fisheries (Shelton and Morgan, 2005). It has also been suggested that an increase in the natural mortality rate due to changing ocean temperatures may also be contributing to the lack of recovery (COSEWIC, 2009).
The current stock assessment model for Grand Bank American plaice is an ADAPT virtual population analysis (see e.g., Lassen and Medley, 2001) that was introduced in the late 1990s. This model is based on catch-at-age data that are derived in part from landings estimates and does not account for the considerable uncertainty about the landings data (Wheeland et al., 2018). Sources of uncertainty include landings recorded as “unspecified flounder” by some countries in the earliest years of available data (see e.g. Pitt, 1972) and an increase in foreign catch outside the 200 mile economic exclusive zone in the mid-80s (e.g. South Korea reporting “non-specified flounder”, Brodie, 1986).More recently, the lack of scientific observer data in the NAFO Regulatory Area has resulted in the need to estimate landings via various methods, including effort ratios and daily catch records (Dwyer et al., 2016). As a result, the landings data may be under-estimated and a stock assessment model that incorporates uncertainty in these data may therefore provide a better assessment.
Another issue that has been noted in the current assessment for American plaice are retrospective patterns, which are consistent directional changes in estimates of stock size as years of data are removed from the assessment model (Mohn, 1999). Retrospective patterns are caused by changes in the accuracy of the data over time and/or spatial and time-varying population processes that are unaccounted for or mis-specified in the model (see e.g. Legault, 2009). Systematic retrospective patterns can lead to poor management advice as important population processes (e.g. biomass and fishing mortality) may be over- or under-estimated and can result in unsustainable or sub-optimal harvesting advice (Szuwalski et al., 2017). To promote sustainable management advice for American plaice on the Grand Bank of Newfoundland, a stock assessment model that reduces or eliminates retrospective patterns is valuable. State-space stock assessment models are ideally suited for this purpose as they can include random errors in the underlying population dynamics model (i.e. for population abundance and fishing mortality rates) thereby accounting for underlying time-varying population processes that contribute to retrospective patterns. Additionally, state-space models allow for errors in the data (see e.g. Nielsen and Berg, 2014; Cadigan, 2015; Albertsenet al., 2016), which is an improvement to the current VPA that treats the catch-at-age data as known with negligible error. In this paper, we present a state-space stock assessment model for American plaice on the Grand Bank of Newfoundland that reduces the retrospective problem and allows for errors in the landings data.
There are two components to a state-space stock assessment model: the process model and the observation model. The process model describes how the state of the unobserved fish stock abundance and fishing mortality rates at a given time depend on previous states. The observation model describes how the survey and commercial data depend on the unobserved states (see e.g. Aeberhard et al., 2018).
American plaice Process Model
The model runs for the years y = 1960, ..., 2017 and for ages a = 1, ..., 15 +, where 15 + represents the oldest ages grouped together from ages 15 onwards, called the plus group (see Table 1 for model equations). For simplicity, we will refer to model ages a = 1, ..., A +, and years y = 1, ..., Y. The process model describes how the abundance at age a in year y (i.e. N y,a) and the fishing mortality, F y,a change over time. The N y,a for all ages and years are treated as random effects, with the cohort abundance model modelled as:
where Z y,a = M y,a + F y,a is the total mortality rate given by the sum of the natural mortality rate, M y,a (i.e. all mortality unrelated to fishing) and F y,a. Here, M y,a is assumed to be known and fixed at 0.50 for ages 1–3, 0.30 for age 4 and 0.20 for all ages 5 and above, except during 1989 to 1996, where it is fixed at 0.53 for all ages 5 and above, as recommended by Morgan and Brodie (2001), 0.83 for ages 1–3 and 0.63 for age 4. This formulation for M y,a for ages 5 and greater is identical to the formulation for the most recent stock assessment model for Grand Bank American plaice. Here we also include ages 1–4, which are not currently used in the stock assessment VPA, with values for M at these ages selected through peer consultation. F y,ais set to zero for ages 1–4, as reported catch at these ages is considered negligible. The γ y,a are the process errors, assumed to be independent and normally distributed with variance σ pe 2 to be estimated. The numbers at the first age N y,1 are modelled as:
where μ R y=μ R 1for y < 1993 and μ R y=μ R 2for y ≥ 1993, and the two mean recruitment parameters μ R 1, μ R 2 ∈ (− ∞, ∞) account for the large differences in recruitment between the two time periods and are fixed effect parameters to be estimated. The deviations from the mean recruitment δ R y are assumed to follow a normal distribution with AR(1) correlation across years, with the AR parameters σ 2 R and ϕ R to be estimated across the entire time series, as we expect recruitment to be more alike in years that are closer together.
We assume that the fishing mortality rates increase with age, i.e.,
for a= 7,..,15. (1.3)
For ages 5 and 6, F y,a= μ F y,a + δ F y,a, where μ F y,a is the mean fishing mortality rate, a fixed effect parameter to be estimated. A separate μ F y,a is estimated for ages 5 and 6, for two blocks: 1960–1994 and 1995–2017 (i.e. four fixed effect μ F y,a parameters). The age blocking of the μ F y,a’s was chosen to reflect overall fishery selectivity patterns, and the year blocks were chosen to account for the closure of the commercial fishery in 1994. The δ F y,a are positive deviations from the fishing mortality rate at the previous age and are treated as random effects. The δ F y,aʼs are assumed to follow a normal distribution, with the deviations at the first age, δ F y,5, assumed to have AR(1) correlation across years with parameters σ F 5 2 , ϕ F 5to be estimated. We treat the δ F y,aʼs separately for age 5 fish as visual inspection of the catch-at-age data indicated that age 5 fish were not actively targeted in the earliest years of the fishery. The δ F y,aʼs at ages 6–15+ were treated as a correlated AR(1) process, separable across ages and years, with parameters σ F6 + 2 , ϕ F A6 +, ϕ F Y6 +to be estimated. We fit an AR(1) process across ages and years for age 6–15+ because fish that are closer in age and time are expected to have δ F y,athat are more similar than those that are further apart. The final formulation for the AR(1) parameters were determined via a model fitting process described in the exploratory process below.
Observation model
The observation model includes data from the commercial fishery and scientific research trawl surveys. There are two basic types of fishery information: total landed weight, and the size (length, weight) and age composition of the landings. Both these sources of information are used to derive annual fishery catch numbers-at-age. In the integrated assessment model philosophy, these data sources should enter into the assessment model fitting via separate observation models (i.e.one likelihood component for the age composition and one for the landings). We particularly want to focus our model estimation to include uncertainty in landings. Therefore, for pragmatic reasons, we used landings information (1960–2017) and the catch proportions-at-age (ages 5–15+ during 1960–2017) as independent data sources for model estimation. We only use commercial data from 1960 onwards as there was insufficient sampling before 1960. The current assessment model also does not use data prior to 1960. Age-based indices of stock abundance (i.e. numbers) are derived from the Canadian fall and spring research surveys in NAFO Divs. 3LNO (see Dwyer et al., 2014 for details) and the Spanish research survey in the portions of NAFO Divs. 3NO outside of the Canadian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ; González-Troncoso et al., 2017) were also used in model estimation. Indices were for ages 1–15+ for all surveys, for years 1990–2017 for the fall survey (2004 and 2014 omitted due to poor survey coverage), 1985–2016 for the spring survey (2006 and 2015 omitted due to poor survey coverage) and 1997–2016 for the Spanish survey.
Catch age composition data
We fit the age composition data using the continuation ratio logit (crl) transformation (see e.g. Cadigan, 2015; Berg and Kristensen, 2012; Agresti, 2003). A direct observation model for the matrix of observed catch proportions each year is complicated because of the constraints P oa ≥ 0 and ∑ P oa = 1. We use the crl which maps P a for a = 1, ..., A max into X a ∈ ( − ∞ , ∞) for a = 1, ..., A max − 1. The unconstrained crls are derived from the multiplicative logistic transformation,
where A max is the plus group. Recall that there is no catch data for ages 1–4. The inverse transformation of (1.4) is:
The crls for the observed catch proportions-at-age data (i.e. X oy,a) are calculated from (1.4) and the observation model we use is based on assuming the model residuals (X oy,a − X y,a) have a normal distribution with AR(1) correlation separable across ages and years with parameters ϕ C A, ϕ C Y, σ C y,a 2 to be estimated, as we expect the crl errors to be similar for fish that are closer in age and time. Various age and year formulations were explored for σ C y,a 2 and are described in the exploratory process below.
Landings data
Dwyer et al. (2016) reported uncertainties about the reliability of the landings data for Grand Bank American plaice. To account for this, we treat reported landings as a lower bound for true landings (i.e. not all catches are reported). We assume that there is an upper bound for landings that varies with the reliability of data (see Table 2 for details). We used a censored likelihood approach in which the bounds are treated as the only information about landings (see e.g. Hammond and Trenkel, 2005; Bousquet et al., 2010; Cadigan, 2015; Van Beveren et al., 2017). We assume the true landings could be accurately estimated with a CV of 5%. Let <Bly and Buy denote the lower and upper bounds and σ L = 0.05. The negative loglikelihood (nll) for the landings bounds data is:
where L 1, … , L Y are the model predicted landings. We fixed σ L at a small value to ensure that the estimates of landings are between the bounds for most years.
The Baranov catch equation is used to model commercial catch as a function of N, Fand Z,
Model predicted catch proportion at age (P a = C a / ∑ a C a) were fit to observed proportions, as described in the previous section. Commercial average weights-at-age (W y,a) were calculated by Rivard’s method (Rivard, 1980) and are used to calculate model predicted landings each year, L y = ∑ a W y,a C y,a.
The model-predicted catch for survey s is:
where f represents the fraction of the year the survey takes place (0.460 for the Canadian spring and Spanish surveys and 0.875 for the Canadian fall survey). As in our treatment of the fishing mortality rates, we model the survey catchabilities, q s,a, as increasing with age for each survey:
Here, the δ q s,a are positive deviations from the q s,ain the previous year and are treated as fixed effects. We note that the δ q s,a are always positive to ensure that the q’s increase with age and are treated as fixed effects since they are part of the observation equation and not the unobserved population process. For age 1 fish, the q s,a parameters are freely estimated, with no added deviation. In 1995 the trawl used in the Canadian surveys changed from the Engel to the Campelen (see e.g. Dwyer et. al., 2016). Although Engel catch data were adjusted based on information from comparative fishing to match the Campelen catches, in our model ages 1–4 are given a separate q for each gear period due to issues in conversion of survey catches at these ages (Dwyer et. al., 2016). The indices are assumed to follow a normal distribution, with mean I s,y,a and standard deviation σ s,a = cv s,a ∙ I s,y,a, where CV s represents a separate coefficient of variation (CV) parameter for each survey, to be estimated. Various age formulations for each survey CV were explored and are detailed in the exploratory process below. We treated each survey as from an AR(1) process across ages with independent parameters ϕ s to be estimated. A constant CV variance model for I is approximately the same as assuming log(I) has constant variance; however, an advantage of our approach is that we can use observed zero indices directly in the model whereas in other assessment packages these index zeros are typically excluded which is not appropriate when there are many zeros which occur non-randomly over time.
The fixed-effects parameters to estimate (i.e. θ) are listed in Table 3. The unobserved states (i.e. δ F y,a, N y,a) are integrated out of the joint likelihood function and the estimation of θ is based on maximizing the marginal likelihood L(θ):
where Ψ is the vector of all random effects, f θ(D|Ψ) is the joint probability density function of the data (D; commercial landings, catch proportions at-age, commercial average weights-at-age, and Canadian fall, Canadian spring and Spanish survey indices) and g θ(Ψ)is the joint probability density function for the random effects. The TMB (Kristensen et al., 2016) package in R is used to integrate the marginal likelihood (1.9), which is performed via the Laplace approximation (see Skaug and Fournier, 2006 for details). The nlminb package in R is used to minimize the negative log likelihood function provided by TMB.
The final model formulation was determined via a thorough exploratory process. The overall goal of the exploratory process was to determine the best model formulation for the survey CVs, the crl σ C y,a 2 (sds) and the q age-aggregating (detailed below). The Bayesian information criterion (BIC) was used in model selection since BIC penalizes more heavily for extra parameters when the sample size is large. Previous work has shown that the correlation parameters can be difficult to estimate reliably (see, e.g., Johnson et al., 2016; Xu et al., 2019), thus for our exploratory process, we conducted four exploratory runs with fixed AR(1) parameters: S1) ϕ s freely estimated for each survey, all ϕ F= 0.90, ϕ C A= 0.9, ϕ C Y= 0.75; S2) ϕ s freely estimated for each survey, all ϕ F= 0.90, ϕ C A= 0.9, ϕ C Y= 0; S3) all ϕ s, ϕ F, ϕ C = 0.50; S4) all ϕ s, ϕ F, ϕ C = 0. In all cases, the exploratory process began with the simplest model: with one sd parameter estimated for the crls, and one CV parameter per survey <(see Table 3) and followed the 6 steps below. Within each step, the model was refit for each assumption (e.g. in step 1 the model was refit 10 times, for q age-aggregating 5,..,14):
1) q age-aggregating: for each age 5,..,14 fix survey δ + q s,a = 0 for all subsequent ages (e.g. q5+ is one run with δ + q s,a fixed at 0 for ages 6+). q age-aggregating selected from run with lowest BIC1.
2) CV combinations: for each survey using q age-aggregating from 1) fit all combinations (pooled and unpooled; see Supplementary Materials 1 for details) of CV ages while keeping one CV parameter for other two surveys. Survey CV formulations for each survey selected from run with lowest BIC.
3) re-check q: with survey CVs from 2), re-run 1) to check that q age-aggregation is the same as in 1)
4) crl sd ages: with survey CVs from 2) and q from 1), fit all combinations of crl sd ages. crl sd age formulation selected from run with lowest BIC.
5) crl sd years: with q from 1), survey CVs from 2), and crl sd ages from 4), fit two scenarios:
a. pre/post moratorium split: fit a separate age sd parameter pre/post moratorium for year split start ∈ (1990, 1999)
b. moratorium gap: fit one separate sd parameter (no age splitting) for 10-year mortarium gap for year gap start ∈ (1990, 1999).
crl sd year formulation selected from run with lowest BIC from both a and b
6) re-check q: with survey CVs from 2), crl sd ages and years from 4–5, re-do 1) to check that q age-aggregation is the same as in 1)
The best fitting model was selected from step 6 for each of the four runs (i.e. one best fitting model for runs S1-S4 selected via lowest BIC from step 6) and model fit compared across all four via a detailed examination of model residuals and BIC. Evidence of patterns in residuals (i.e. blocks of ages and years having residuals of the same sign, and whether or not overall residual variability matches assumption) was used to evaluate potential model mis-specification. The survey and continuation ratio logit residuals, which are correlated in our observation models, were standardized using the Choleski factorization of their estimated covariance matrix. We did not use the one-step ahead residual method (see e.g. Thygesen et al., 2017) because it does not allow for correlations in the observations. A final model was selected from the four S1–S4 best fitting runs (i.e. via BIC and residual fits) and in the final step, two extra runs were fit; one with all ϕ F parameters freely estimated and all ϕ C fixed and one with all AR(1) parameters freely estimated (O2). These two runs were compared to the run with the fixed AR(1) parameters (O1), and a final model selected from the three. In all subsequent text, SSM will refer to the final model.
The SSM fit was also assessed through retrospective model fitting for the years 2011–2017. Each retrospective model fit used one less year of data (i.e. model for year 2011 used data up to 2011) and predicted abundance, biomass, spawning stock biomass and average F’s were examined for systematic patterns and the severity of retrospective pattern was assessed using Mohn’s rho (see Mohn, 1999). Ideally, no discernable directional patterns will be present in the retrospective plots.
Biomass-at-age was calculated by multiplying predicted numbers at age (i.e. N y,a) and stock weights-at-age, which were estimated externally via a spatiotemporal biphasic Von Bertalanffy growth model (see Kumar et al., 2020). Length and age data are collected for American plaice from research survey vessels using a length-stratified age sampling design and Perreaultet al. (2019) showed that ignoring this sampling design can lead to biased growth model parameter estimates. Kumar et al.’s method (2020) accounted for the length-stratified age sampling design. The 3LNO stock weights were combined for each division by weighting the values for each division by the average abundance index at age during 1975–2017. Stock weights prior to 1975 were fixed at the mean values for 1975–77. Estimates of maturity-at-age were taken from Wheeland et al.(2018).
Simulation and sensitivity testing
A full simulation study is beyond the scope of this paper; however, we conducted a simple self-simulation test and jittered start on the SSM to examine the reliability of the model estimates see e.g. Cadigan, 2015; Nielsen and Berg, 2014). The self-simulation test randomly generates survey indices and continuation ratio logit catch proportions from the model predictions and assumed distributions detailed above. Process errors and other random effects are treated as fixed when generating the data and the model is re-fitted to the simulated data. This process is repeated 1000 times and estimates of SSB, average fishing mortality rates (ages 9–14), recruitment, variance and autocorrelation parameters are stored. We calculated the relative difference of the estimates for each year (i.e. (simulation SSBydata-based SSBy)/ data-based SSBy) for comparison.
The jittered start test re-fits the model with random noise added to the starting parameter values, generated from N(0,0.25 ∙ ˆ μ ), where ˆ μ is the model predicted parameter of interest. The model is re-optimized 100 times and the negative log-likelihood is stored for each iteration. Ideally, we expect an identical model fit from the jittered starting parameter values.
We also examined the model sensitivity to our assumptions about M and catch bounds. A profile likelihood was constructed for a range of M a,yʼs; that is, M a,y = M + ΔM, where M is the SSM M model formulation and ΔM ∈ ( − 0.1, 0.35). We also re-fit the model with upper catch bounds fixed at half the original model formulation upper bounds (M2) and with the upper catch bounds fixed (M3) at 1% of the reported bounds (i.e. “fixed landings”). Model fit for the catch bounds was assessed using BIC and an examination of the retrospective plots.
For brevity, we provide a summary table of the exploratory process that describes the final model from each run (Table 4); additionally, only the full exploratory process results from the best fitting run (S2) are given in see Supplementary Materials 1 (SM1) and discussed. For exploratory step 1 (run S2), the model with an age-aggregation of 7+ (δ + q s,a = 0 for ages 8+) had the lowest AIC and this was selected as the age-aggregation for step 2 (see footnote 2 for details and SM1 Table 1). Overall, the BIC for the fall model fits ranged between approximately 9970 and 9890, 9940 and 9860 for the spring survey and 9970 and 9900 for the Spanish survey, indicating the grouping of the Spanish survey coefficient of variations (CVs) provided the least improvement in model fit (SM1 Tables 2–5). This is not surprising since the data for the Spanish survey do not cover the entire 3LNO region and are not as informative as the fall and spring surveys (see, e.g. Wheeland et al. 2018 for more details). Rechecking the q age-aggregation in Step 3 confirmed that the age-aggregation of 7+ provided the lowest AIC and BIC with the new survey CV formulations (SM1 Table 6). The continuation ratio logit (crl) age exploratory runs in Step 4 had BICs that ranged from approximately 9600 to 9570, and the age aggregation of (5–6)(7–11)(12–14) was selected as the final crl sd age formulation (SM1 Table 7). For Steps 5a and 5b, the BICs ranged from approximately 9560 to 9480 (SM1 Table 8). Rechecking the q’s in Step 6 confirmed that the age-aggregation of 7+ provided the lowest AIC and BIC with the new survey CV and crl sd formulations (SM1 Table 9). The AIC and BIC from Step 1 with a q age-aggregation of 7+ were 9690 and 9922 in comparison to the Step 6 run that were 9194 and 9481 respectively, indicating a substantial improvement in model fit.
In all four exploratory model scenarios, q7+ was the best formulation for the survey catchabilities (q; Table 4). Overall, the survey CV formulations were similar for all four model formulations. For example, for the fall survey, models S1–S3 provided identical formulations, with S4 (all AR(1) parameters fixed to zero) providing a better fit with an extra CV parameter for ages (2–4). Both the spring and Spanish CV formulations were similar for all four runs, providing the best fit with separate parameters at the oldest and youngest ages. In all formulations, the best fit for the crl sd parameters had a separate variance parameter from 1990–1999, with various formulations for the age groupings. For example, S1 provided the best fit with separate sd parameters for ages 5–7,14, and pooled for ages (8–13), whereas S4 pooled the sd parameters for ages (5–11) and (12–14). Overall, S2 had the lowest BIC, and had the best residual fits for both the surveys and the crls (see Supplementary Materials 2), and we selected this model as the best fitting model. For the final exploratory step (i.e., one run with all ϕ F parameters freely estimated and all ϕ C fixed and one run with all AR(1) parameters freely estimated), the lowest BIC was for the model with all but the crl AR(1) parameters freely estimated (SSM; Table 5), and this was selected as the final state space model.
The SSM fit the data well with no patterns in the survey or continuation ratio logit residual plots (see Supplementary Materials 3). In 2017, recruitment, abundance and spawning stock biomass (SSB) were estimated near the lowest historical levels (Fig. 1). The model predicted landings were estimated within the upper and lower bounds, with the predicted landings closest to the upper bound in the early 80s, and again in 2010 (Fig. 2) and closest to the lower bound in the early 1990s. At ages 1–4, the catchability pattern (Fig. 3) for the fall and spring surveys was lower for the Engels than the Campelen trawl. The differences were most pronounced for ages three and four, with the catchability estimates for the Campelen trawl almost twice as large as for the Engels trawl. For ages 1–5, the process errors (Fig. 4) were close to zero until the mid-nineties. Overall, there were no noticeable trends in the process errors at the older ages. Mohn’s rho for the full retrospective run (Fig. 5) was 0.30 for abundance and -0.19 for recruitment. In comparison to the most recent stock assessment model for Grand Bank American plaice (which we refer to as the VPA), the SSM had a lower Mohn’s rho for SSB at 0.43 compared to 0.69 for the VPA (Fig. 6). Mohn’s rho for aveF for the SSM was almost half the VPA Mohn’s rho, at -0.27 for the SSM and -0.45 for the VPA.
The overall trends in SSB and aveF were similar for the SSM and the VPA (Fig. 7). Noticeable differences included the SSM predictions of historical SSB (i.e. years 1960–1972) that were larger (but with high uncertainty) than the historical SSB predictions from the VPA. The VPA model also predicted a higher average fishing mortality rate in the early 1990s, at approximately 1.1, with the SSM prediction at approximately 0.80 for the same period.
The self-simulation study lower 2.5% and upper 97.5% intervals for both SSB and aveF covered zero until the mid-1990s,(Fig. 8), indicating that the simulated samples produced estimates that were similar to the SSM estimates in those years. In the earliest years (1960–1972), the median of relative differences for aveF was mostly positive, with the converse for SSB. After 1990, there was a consistent positive bias in aveF and a negative bias in SSB, except in the final years, where aveF was underestimated and SSB overestimated. The boxplots of parameter estimates (Fig. 9) showed that the largest range were for estimated μ F 5_Pre1995. TMB has an option (see Thorson and Kristensen, 2016) to reduce bias in nonlinear random effects models, and we implemented this method in a self-simulation run as a potential fix to the bias in our self-simulation study (see M4; Table 5). The bias across the entire time series for both SSB and aveF was much larger with the bias-correction turned on (see Supplementary Materials 4) than without. The jittered-start test did not converge for 5% of the simulations, with 100% of the converged models producing negative log-likelihoods that were identical to the original formulation.
The minimum negative log-likelihood from the M profile likelihood plot was 4472, with an associated Δ M of 0.30 (Fig. 10). For this model fit, the average fishing mortality rate in 2017 was estimated at 0.01 with SSB in 2017 at 100.83 hundred thousand tons. Results from the sensitivity tests (Table 5) showed that the SSM had a lower BIC than the runs that halved the catch bounds (M2) and “fixed” the landings (M3). This is expected because more narrow catch bounds restrict the flexibility of the model. Mohn’s rho for both M1 and M2 for aveF were slightly larger than the Mohn’s rho from the SSM at -0.29 (Fig. 11). Similarly, Mohn’s rho for M1 and M2 for SSB were slightly larger than for the SSM at 0.39.
Overall, our state-space model (SSM) that accounted for uncertainties in the landings data and allowed for process errors fit the data well, with no obvious patterns in the survey and continuation ratio logit residual plots (see Supplementary Materials 3). The retrospective patterns were reduced for spawning stock biomass (SSB) and greatly reduced for average fishing mortality for ages 9–14 (aveF) compared to the most recent stock assessment model (VPA).
The M profile plot provided the best fit when M was increased by 0.30, suggesting that the values we used for M’s may be too low. Previous research found evidence that M’s during 1989 to 1996 (Morgan and Brodie, 2001) had increased to 0.53 and the current VPA model and our SSM include this increase. However, since the closure of the commercial fishery, estimates of total mortality rates have remained high for some periods (e.g. Fig. 7 for years 2000–2006), and this may suggest that M is higher than 0.20 in recent years. This is supported by preliminary work that suggests that M has increased since the mid-1990s (COSEWIC, 2009; Morgan et al., 2011). The lack of recovery of the stock has largely been attributed to overfishing, however the mis-specification of M not only in the SSM but in historical assessment models could be over-estimating the relative impact of F. Thus, although a thorough study of M is beyond the scope of this paper, research that improves our understanding of M for this species should be of high priority as we may be fixing M within the model to be lower than is reasonable and subsequently over-stating the contribution of fishing mortality to the lack of recovery of the stock.
Mohn’s rho from the SSM retrospective analyses for both aveF and SSB were closer to zero than Mohn’s rho from the VPA retrospective analysis, which is a key improvement compared to the current assessment model. Including process error in the population dynamics model helped account for underlying time-varying population processes (e.g. M) that were not accounted for in the VPA, thereby reducing retrospective patterns. There is still evidence of slight retrospective patterns, and this may be caused by underlying spatial or time-varying processes that are mis-specified in the observation model since process errors can only account for misspecifications in the process equations.
The estimate for survey catchabilityq is defined as the value required to scale swept-area abundance to the population abundance (see e.g. Dickson, 1993; Fraser et al., 2007). An estimate of q less than one implies that fewer fish are caught than occupied the area of the trawl, and a value greater than one implies that more fish are caught than occupied the area. Bryan et al. (2014) found evidence of herding behavior in over 90% of observed flatfish in the presence of survey trawls and this herding underestimates the width used in area swept calculations and can result in q estimates that are greater than one. Therefore, larger q estimates are not unrealistic for American plaice; however, the q estimates from the SSM are very large, with the maximum at 6.7. The maximum q estimate from the SSM is however much smaller than the maximum q estimated from the VPA at 13.62 (Table 26, Wheeland et al. 2018). Additional research is required to better understand why the stock assessment model estimates are so high.
A difference to note between the SSM and the VPA is that the SSM assumes that the survey indices have a normal distribution with a constant coefficient of variation (CV) whereas the VPA assumes that the log of the survey indices have a lognormal distribution. The lognormal distribution does not allow for zeros in the survey data; however, this assumption may not be appropriate when there are many zeros in the data or when zeros are “true” zeros (i.e.no fish available to be caught). The assumption of normality with a constant CV avoids the problem of dropping zeros altogether. However, the normal distribution assumption supports negative indices which are infeasible. A solution to this problem is to use a truncated normal distribution in place of the normal distribution (e.g. Albertsen et al., 2016). However, a normal distribution with constant CV is virtually identical to a truncated normal distribution when the CV is small. Consider two random variables (e.g.Xand Y) that both have mean μ and a constant coefficient of variation, τ = σ / μ. If X~N(μ, σ = τμ) and Y~TN(μ, σ = τμ; Y > 0) has a truncated normal distribution then their density functions differ by a multiplicative constant that only depends on τ and does not depend on μ. The constant is ∫ 0 ∞ φ(z − 1 _ τ ) dz where φ(∙) is the density function for Z~N(0,1). The constant is close to 1 for τ < 0.5. Hence, for our model, using the truncated normal distribution instead of the normal distribution will only affect estimation through differences in the weighting of survey indices with differentτ’s, especially when τ ≫ 0.5. For our SSM we only have large τ’s for the Spanish survey and ages 1–2 for the Canadian surveys, thus in our case there should be little difference in model fit for the truncated normal vs the normal. However, although the approaches are theoretically similar, future research is needed to compare the performance of the three methods.
Fitting the age composition and landings data separately is in line with the integrated model philosophy, but our treatment of stock and catch weights is not. Ideally, each source of data should enter independently into the likelihood equation; however, the stock and catch weights at age data for American plaice are collected in complex length-stratified sampling designs and how to model these likelihoods is difficult and beyond the scope of this paper. In the future, state-space stock assessment models will ideally fit to the raw data (e.g., maturity at age, weights at age) and this will require complex stock assessment models that can account for the spatial nature of the stock assessment data.
The self-simulation study lower 2.5% and upper 97.5% did not cover zero for years 2006–2010 and again in 2013–2015. This bias was also present in models O1 (fixing all crl and F AR(1) parameters) and O2 (freely estimating all AR(1) parameters; (see Supplementary Materials 4). In a self-test simulation the model is specified exactly so stock size estimation bias cannot be the result of model misspecification, but rather it must be related to estimation bias and possibly related to nonlinear modelling of random effects. Our self-simulation run that implemented the TMB bias correction option had larger bias than the SSM self-simulation run without (see Supplementary Materials 4), which provides evidence that the bias is related to estimation bias. Also, preliminary research that fit the SSM with an increase in M (both across the entire time series, and another run increasing M only in the later years) did not produce the self-simulation bias in SSB and aveF in these later years (see Supplementary Materials 4). Hence, it seems that the bias is related to the particular settings of the model, and perhaps the magnitude of variance parameter estimates, and this requires additional research to better understand this type of bias.
Although M profile plots are useful in providing a general picture of the role of the M assumption, it is also useful to examine which data sources are more informative about M, and Lee et al. (2011) suggested that informative length or age composition data is needed to reliably estimate M. Data-specific M profiles are commonly produced by more traditional stock assessment models without random effects and process error (e.g.SS3; Methot and Wetzel, 2013) but in a state-space stock assessment model it is not straight-forward how to do this because the integrated log-likelihood cannot be split into a sum of log-likelihoods due to various data sources and other model assumptions. Further development of diagnostics designed to detect M misspecification (e.g.Cadigan and Farrell, 2002) also seems useful.
While overall trends in stock trajectory are similar, our new SSM is an improvement to the current stock assessment model that is used to inform the management of American plaice on the Grand Bank of Newfoundland as it allows for errors in the landings data and reduces the retrospective patterns. Additionally, the thoroughness of our model selection process has the potential to increase the confidence in the selected final model and thereby in the assessment output that is being provided to fisheries managers. Our results also suggest that the current values used for natural mortality rates may be too low as our diagnostic model fitting found the best model fit when M was increased by 0.30. This is an important note not only for American plaice, but for all stocks that are managed under the assumption of a fixed M. We suggest that M profile plots (and/or alternative diagnostics) should be routinely provided to facilitate a better understanding of model behavior for various assumptions about M. This can provide motivation for research into more realistic values of M for future stock assessment models. Overall, this model is a valuable first step in improving our understanding of the stock of American plaice on the Grand Bank of Newfoundland as the flexibility of state-space models are an ideal foundation to build more realistic models.
Research funding was provided by the Ocean Frontier Institute, through an award from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. Research funding to NC was also provided by the Ocean Choice International Industry Research Chair program at the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland. Funding to AP was also provided by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Master’s Graduate Scholarship. Many thanks are also extended to Dr. Anders Nielsen, Danish Technical University, for advice on more computationally efficient ways to implement our model in TMB and to the associate editor and two reviewers for their comments and suggestions that greatly improved the final version of this paper.
Aeberhard, W. H., Mills-Flemming, J. and Nielsen, A. 2018. A review of state-space models for fisheries science. Annual Review of Statistics and its Application, 5: 215–23. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-statistics-031017-100427
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Perreault, A. M., Zheng, N., and Cadigan, N. G. 2019. Estimation of growth parameters based on length-stratified age samples. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 77(3): 439–450. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2019-0129
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Van Beveren, E., Duplisea, D., Castonguay, M., Doniol-Valcroze, T., Plourde, S. and Cadigan, N. 2017. How catch underreporting can bias stock assessment of and advice for northwest Atlantic mackerel and a possible resolution using censored catch. Fisheries Research, 194, 146–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2017.05.015
Wheeland, L., Dwyer, K., Morgan, M. J., Rideout, R. and Rogers, R. MS 2018. Assessment of American plaice in Div. 3LNO. NAFO SCS Doc. 18/039, Serial No. N6829.
Xu, H., Thorson, J. T., Methot, R. D. and Taylor, I. G. 2019. A new semi-parametric method for autocorrelated age-and time-varying selectivity in age-structured assessment models. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 76(2): 268–285. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2017-0446
1 Note for q exploratory purposes (i.e. Step 1), the lowest AIC (Akaike information criterion) was used for model selection, since in all cases, the BIC selected the model with the fewest q parameters, and this was considered unrealistic for this stock
2 Note that the survey index from the NAFO assessment is in millions and the catch is in thousands; to get the qs on the same scale as the SSM we multiplied the NAFO q estimate by 1000
Citation: Perreault, A.M.J, Wheeland, L.J., Morgan, M.J., and Cadigan, N.G. A state-space stock assessment model for American plaice on the Grand Bank of Newfoundland . J. Northw. Atl. Fish. Sci., 51: 45–104. https://doi.org/10.2960/J.v51.m727
Posted in: Volume 51 - 2020
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Izvestiya Akademii nauk SSSR. Fizika atmosfery i okeana
URL: https://journals.eco-vector.com/0002-3515/issue/view/1082
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31857/S0002-3515555
Dynamical-stochastically parametrization of cloudiness in the atmospheric general circulation model
Galin V.Y., Dymnikov V.P.
In the paper dynamical-stochastically method of the non-convective cloudiness parameterization in the general circulation model is formulated. This algorithms is evaluated on the basis of general circulation model with given see surface temperature of oceans. The results of calculations were compared with observational data and the results simulations with sophisticated couple GCM full filled in frame of CMIP5 program. These results showed the perspectives of suggested dynamical-stochastically approach.
Известия Российской академии наук. Физика атмосферы и океана. 2019;55(5):3-8
Effect of changes in global temperature and radiative forcing on general atmospheric circulation
Bogdanov M.B., Morozova S.V.
Possible connections are studied between the monthly average values of the wind angular moment module and anomalу of the globally averaged surface temperature and change in radiative forcing. The existence of statistically significant positive linear correlation between these characteristics is shown. The results obtained are in accordance with the conclusions of the theory of similarity of planetary atmospheres.
Известия Российской академии наук. Физика атмосферы и океана. 2019;55(5):9-12
Modeling of the heat island in the period of extreme frost in Moscow in January 2017
Yushkov V.P., Kurbatova M.M., Varentsov M.I., Lezina E.A., Kurbatov G.A., Miller E.A., Repina I.A., Artamonov A.Y., Kallistratova M.A.
Using the example of an analysis of an extreme lowering of temperature in Moscow in January 2017, the horizontal and vertical extent of the urban heat island against the background of a strong stable stratification of the atmospheric boundary layer is studied. The possibilities of measuring and monitoring the vertical structure of the atmosphere by means of ground-based remote sensing are investigated. The capabilities of the mesoscale model WRF, adapted for a detailed description of mixing processes in the atmospheric boundary layer, in reproducing the spatial dynamics of the temperature anomaly are demonstrated. The numerical estimates of the amplitude and vertical extent of the urban heat island are compared with the measurement accuracy and the total errors of the numerical predictions. Comparison of measurement data and numerical simulation results on the WRF model, using the example of a winter urban heat island in January 2017, showed that mesoscale synoptic models so far only capture the main features of the urban heat island. But deviations between model and observed temperature fields can reach 5 °C.
Известия Российской академии наук. Физика атмосферы и океана. 2019;55(5):13-31
Influence of North Atlantic oscillation on Moscow climate continentality
Alexandrov G.A., Ginzburg A.S., Golitsyn G.S.
Natural variability of regional climatic conditions poses certain difficulties in detecting global climate change at a local scale. The question about the ratio between the contribution of human forcing, induced by the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, and the contribution of natural variability in atmospheric and oceanic circulation arises in each particular case. The purpose of the study reported in this article was to evaluate the contribution of the North Atlantic Oscillation to decrease in Moscow’s climate continentality during the period of 1951-2000. The results of this study show that a significant part of the decrease in continentality could be attributed to increase in the North Atlantic Oscillation index observed during this period.
Interaction of Rossbi waves with a jet flow: basic equations and verification for Antarctic circumpolar current
Gnevyshev V.G., Frolova A.V., Kubryakov A.A., Sobko Y.V., Belonenko T.V.
The article focuses on the interaction of Rossby waves in the ocean with zonal jet flows. A new approach is proposed to show that nonlinearity in the long-wave approximation exactly compensates the Doppler shift. A new dispersion relation for the Rossby waves interacting with the jets is deduced from the nonlinear theory. The conclusion is verified using satellite altimetry data of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). For the ACC area, we compare empirical velocities obtained from the altimetry data with theoretical phase velocities of Rossby waves calculated from nonlinear dispersion relation using the equivalent beta effect. The comparison shows that the new dispersion relation based on the nonlinear approach is capable of describing both the westward and the eastward propagation of mesoscale eddies in the field of sea level anomalies that can be identified as manifestation of Rossby waves in the ocean.
On pressure perturbations caused by a moving heat source of the frontal type (hydrostatic mode)
Kalashnik M.V., Kulichkov S.N.
The problem of perturbations of the surface pressure caused by a moving nonstationary frontal heat source (localized along one horizontal coordinate) is considered. Pressure disturbances are associated with internal gravity waves (IGWs). It is shown that when a source moves in a finite-height atmospheric layer (atmospheric waveguide) when a discrete set of vertical IGW modes is excited, there are three types of temporal variation of surface pressure at a fixed observation point. These types correspond respectively to the time signal with amplitude modulation, the signal with frequency modulated Doppler type and the signal that occurs only after passing through the source. Each type is implemented for specific values of the oscillation frequency of the source and the Mach number (the ratio of the speed of the source to the phase velocity of the IGW). At Mach numbers less than one, an oscillating source always excites wave precursors – disturbances observed before the source arrives. The movement of the source in a semi-infinite atmosphere leads to additional excitation of waves that transfer energy to the upper layers of the atmosphere.
On the algebraic perturbations in atmospheric boundary layer
Chkhetiani O.G., Vazaeva N.V.
A simple model for the development of submesoscale perturbations in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is proposed. The growth of perturbations is associated with the shear algebraic instability of the wind velocity profile in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). For the scales of optimal perturbations (streaks) in the lower part of the ABL, estimates of their sizes were obtained – about 100-200 m vertically and 300-600 m horizontally. Similar scales are noted for experimental data on the structure of the wind field in the lower part of the ABL, obtained in 2017, 2018 in the summer at the Tsimlyansk Scientific Station at the acoustic sounding of the atmosphere by the Doppler three-component minisodar of high resolution.
Simulation of seasonal dynamics of the global electric circuit diurnal variation
Ilin N.V., Shatalina M.V., Slyunyaev N.N.
Based on the ionospheric potential (IP) parameterization, the seasonal dynamics of the diurnal variation of IP for 2016–2017 were modeled for the first time using the numerical weather forecast model WRF-ARW. The diurnal variation of the IP, averaged over the annual simulation periods, shows good agreement with the classical Carnegie curve. The proposed parametrization correctly reproduces the basic characteristics of the stationary global electric circuit generators. The annual variation does not show a precise repeatability from year to year, but in the winter season of the Northern Hemisphere a lower IP value was obtained, and in the summer - an increased one. The model diurnal variation demonstrates stable seasonal trends, and in the northern hemisphere, the variation is characterized by only one strongly distinguished maximum IP in the 16-18 UTC area of ~120% of the average value, while in the summer season the daily variation curve has two maxima with smaller value (~ 107% of average): morning at 8–9 UTC and evening at 18–20 UTC. The model annual variation of the diurnal variation agrees with the experimental data of the surface field measuring in Antarctica in the period 2006–2011. The proposed parametrization and modeling technique made possible the accurate reproduction of the IP variation maximums times, their seasonal variability, and decreasing of the amplitude of variation in the summer period of the Northern Hemisphere.
Transfer of lightning optical radiation into space through the cloud layer
Busygin V.P., Krasnokutskaya L.D., Kuzmina I.Y.
We have developed mathematical models and performed simulations of transfer of short optical impulses through the cloud layer into space. The main cloud layer variables chosen are its vertical optical and geometrical depths. The physical processes behind the time-amplitude characteristics of the radiative field are studied. It is shown that the presence of a cloud layer results in a formation of a secondary source at the upper boundary of a cloud and in substantial distortions in the temporal pattern of the initial impulse.
Tsunami hazard assessment at Mediterranean coast of Egypt
Zaytsev A.I., Babeyko A.Y., Kurkin A.A., Yalciner A., Pelinovsky E.N.
Possibilities of forecasting of a tsunami characteristics for areas with small base of historical tsunami are discussed. The PTHA method (Probabilistic Tsunami Hazard Assessment), which cornerstone the statistical analysis of real and predictive earthquakes which number is rather big, with the subsequent calculation of waves of a Tsunami from possible earthquakes is for this purpose used. This method for assessment of long-term tsunami danger on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt is used. It is shown that the predicted wave heights change along the coast that is caused by heterogeneity of topography of a coastal zone and features of the chart of radiation of a tsunami in the sea. The predicted wave heights for 1000 years change within 0.8–3.4 m.
Известия Российской академии наук. Физика атмосферы и океана. 2019;55(5):94-102
Sensitivity of the ocean circulation model to the k–omega vertical turbulence parametrization
Zalesny V.B., Moshonkin S.N.
Ocean general circulation model (OGCM) of the INM RAS with embedded k – ω turbulent model is developed. The solution of the k – ω model equations depends on the frequencies of buoyancy and velocity shift which are generated by the OGCM. The coefficients of vertical turbulence in OGCM depend on k and omega. The numerical algorithms of both models are based on the splitting method for physical processes. The model equations are split into two stages, describing the three-dimensional transport-diffusion of the kinetic energy of turbulence and frequency and their local generation-dissipation. The system of ordinary differential equations arising at the second stage is solved analytically, which ensures the efficiency of the algorithm. Analytical solution also written for the vertical turbulence coefficient equation. The model is used to study the sensitivity of the model circulation of the North Atlantic–Arctic Ocean to variations in the parameters of vertical turbulence. Experiments show that varying the coefficients of the analytical model solution can improve the adequacy of the simulation.
Известия Российской академии наук. Физика атмосферы и океана. 2019;55(5):103-113
On the revealing closed circulations on satellite maps of dynamic topography of the ocean surface
Tarakanov R.Y.
An algorithm for revealing closed multi-core circulations on digital maps of dynamic topography (DT) is described. The algorithm consists in the expansion of eddies over the area from their cores (local maxima/minima of the DT) until the DT sills corresponding to these cores are reached, and is carried out in several iterations until the points belonging to the closed circulations are completely exhausted. The algorithm is an exact numerical solution of the problem of determining the value of the DT for a closed loop, the most distant from the core of circulation. The algorithm takes into account the problems of nesting into each other circulations of a different sign, the possible intersection with each other of the circulation of a different sign on the numerical grid, as well as the possible existence of islands or floating ice inside the circulations. A method is described for gluing smaller DT maps with the circulations revealed on them to larger maps.
The rate of the turbulence dissipation in a water layer under wind waves based on the data of laboratory experiment
Polnikov V.G., Baidakov G.A., Troitskaya Y.I.
The aim of the work is to obtain estimates and parameterization of the dissipation rate of the turbulence kinetic energy of (TKE-dissipation) ε in the upper water layer, induced by the presence of wind waves at the surface. For this purpose, data from the laboratory measurements of the wind waves and three components of currents at six horizons in the upper water layer and four different winds, performed in the wind-wave channel of IAP RAS [1, 2], were used. It was established that for a majority of horizons, the frequency spectra, SUz( f ), for the vertical component of the flow velocity, Uz, induced by wind and waves, have the Kolmogorov-type ranges of the kind: Using the algorithms described in [3, 4], this fact allows us to obtain estimates of the TKE-dissipation at the corresponding horizons, and then establish the dependence of ε on the friction velocity, u*, the height of waves at the surface, a0, the peak frequency of the spectrum, ωp, and the depth of the horizon, z. The analysis of the obtained results allows (for the available data) to propose a parameterization of the form ε ≈ 0.00025 for which a physical interpretation is proposed.
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« SLCR #311 – Sloan (April 6, 2018)
SLCR #313 – “Weird Al” Yankovic – June 1, 2018 »
SLCR #312: Donovan Woods (April 29, 2018)
There are some gaps in my SLCR history and it’s really satisfying when I can fill one of those in. I like finally writing up the bands that I first saw before starting these reviews, or bands whose concerts I missed for one reason or another (laziness, social anxiety, and it’s chilly out being chief among the reasons). Donovan Woods is one of those folks.
I had a ticket to see Woods at a sold-out gig at the Artful Dodger in 2016. I was really looking forward to the show but it didn’t work out for me. The Artful Dodger had the potential to be a great place to see smaller shows – I remember raving about it after the first few times I was there – but they had a tendency to sell more tickets than there were places to sit. I’m not opposed to standing for the length of a show, but the layout of the place meant that you couldn’t really stand anywhere without blocking someone’s view. Plus, it was also a restaurant, so if you weren’t having dinner there, there were limits to how early you really wanted to show up. Long story short, I got there close to the advertised start time and wound up with no place to sit. I tried to get over to the side and be as inconspicuous as possible, but a table of other folks were… how would I describe them? They were shitheads about it. Let’s go with that. Rather than escalate the situation and have it turn into a whole thing – especially since the opener, Joey Landreth, had already started playing – I just went home. Made it about halfway through the opener’s first song, which I’m pretty sure is a personal best in whatever the opposite of endurance is.
This wasn’t even an isolated incident; all the way back in SLCR #216 (or June 13, 2015 if you measure time the old way), I talk of leaving a Danny Michel concert halfway through because of similar issues (though to be fair, people weren’t shitheads to me, they were just shitheads near me, which it turns out is actually better).
I reached out to the Artful Dodger after the incident. The owner seemed sympathetic and upset over what had happened, which I appreciated. She made a point of telling me that all ticket money went directly to the musicians (which I took as a way of saying that she wasn’t going to reimburse me for my ticket – not that I asked for that in the first place). Ultimately, the tone of the reply was… it’s hard to describe. Kind of melodramatic, kind of all over the place, really. Mostly, I left our interaction thinking “how are you even in business?”
I decided I’d never go back, which sounds like a big protest on my part, but the number of concerts I wanted to see there was never that high and my resolve was only ever tested once. Sorry, Shotgun Jimmie. Please come back and play somewhere else.
And actually, it would have to be somewhere else. The Artful Dodger closed last year when the building was put up for sale. The owner created a crowdfunding page trying to raise $70,000 to renovate and move into a new location. Seven months in, and they’re up to $925.
Anyway, this show – the one I actually stuck around for, the one I’m supposed to be telling you was really good – was at the Exchange. It holds a fair bit more people than the Artful Dodger did and though they were still selling tickets at the door when I got there, it wouldn’t surprise me if it sold out by the end. It had to be close, the place was pretty full. I was on my own for this one (though I did briefly chat with Rob and Karen when they happened past), so I found a decent spot to stand at the back near the sound guy, only mildly preoccupied with the idea that there’d be another confrontation. Brains are GREAT you guys, they’re always laser-focused on things that are definitely important and real.
The opener was Wild Rivers, a four-piece folk group from Ontario. Three guys and a girl; guitar, bass, and drums; nothing groundbreaking, but all very well done and enjoyable. I may be underselling things; though they joked about playing sad songs and about how none of us knew who they were, the reaction for them was really positive. Not just polite applause, the kind of ovation where it’s obvious people were really into it. There wasn’t even a ton of talking during their set and I was at the back near the bar where you’d expect people to not care. I don’t have a ton to say about them, as evidenced by the fact that I wrote everything above this sentence nearly two weeks ago, but they were good and I’d go see them again.
Donovan Woods describes himself as “Canada’s answer to Paul Simon, only taller and not as good.” That’s a better description than I could come up with and it gives you some insight into his sense of humour. As well as his height, I suppose, but Paul Simon is 5’2″ so it really doesn’t narrow things down much.
So yeah, Woods writes pretty, often very sad songs, but also has a really dry wit – so, basically, right up my alley. Remember when I saw Port Cities opening for David Myles last year and I mentioned “On the Nights You Stay Home” as being one of my favourites of theirs? Because you memorize these things? Turns out that was Woods’ song, which probably everyone knew but me. I only figured it out when I listened to (what was then) his most recent album, Hard Settle, Ain’t Troubled, before the show, and was all “hey, this song is real good and also surprisingly familiar.” Turns out he writes lots of songs for people who aren’t him.
He apologized for not being able to bring the complete show with him – he brought his full band, The Opposition, but unfortunately, The Exchange didn’t have enough wall space to hang his banner. So he described it instead. It has his name on it and it cost $1700. You, too, can get a banner with your name on it as long as you have $1700. “They don’t ask if you’re a super cool rock star or anything, they’re just like, it’s $1700.”
There was a lot of talking between songs and I won’t wreck everything for you in case you go to one of his shows. I definitely wasn’t the only one who enjoyed them. When I go to a show, I try not to be that asshole who has his phone out all the time, so I pick a point early on in the show, take a half-dozen pictures, and then I’m done. But I had to do this a few times at this show, because the woman standing in front of me was swaying back and forth and it kept messing up the focus. Which is fine – I complain about loud talkers but I have no beef with anyone enjoying the show. Except she wasn’t swaying to the music, she was swaying to Woods listing his top 5 zoo animals. I guess the right voice can make anything melodic.
In the two weeks from when I listened to Woods’ newest album and saw this show, he put out a whole new newest album, Both Ways. Though I’m pretty sure it’s been released at least three different ways. Either way, I’m not sure how I can ever be expected to keep up with this release schedule if he’s going to put out an album every time I finally get around to listening to the last one. Anyway, he played lots from the new album; Our Friend Bobby was a particular highlight, if that’s the correct word for something that dismal. Of his older songs, What Kind of Love is That got a big reaction, as did On the Nights You Stay Home (so it’s not just me).
So yeah, this was all really good. Charismatic guy, great songwriter, quality band too. A new favourite, we can add Woods to the list of people I need to see every time they’re in town. Maybe we can even crowdfund him a slightly smaller banner for next time.
• “Weird Al” Yankovic w/Emo Philips (June 1)
• BA Johnston w/Johnny 2 Fingers & The Deformities (June 15)
• The Flaming Lips (June 22)
• Gateway Festival feat. Kathleen Edwards, Steven Page, John K. Samson, Elliott BROOD, more (July 28)
• Arkells (August 2)
• Regina Folk Festival feat. Neko Case, Tanya Tagaq, more (August 11)
• Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls (September 12)
• The Fred Eaglesmith Show Starring Tif Ginn (September 23)
• Crash Test Dummies (October 11)
• They Might Be Giants (October 20)
Tags: concerts, donovan woods, music, regina, slcr, the exchange, wild rivers
This entry was posted on May 14, 2018 at 9:37 pm and is filed under Music reviews: 1996-present. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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NEEDTOBREATHE ANNOUNCE LIVE FROM THE WOODS VOL. 2
LIVE ALBUM TO BE RECORDED DURING SOCIALLY DISTANCED OUTDOOR CONCERTS AT THE CAVERNS IN PELHAM, TN ON MARCH 13 AND 14
PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM NOW HERE
TICKETS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON FRIDAY HERE
NEWS SOURCE: Elektra Music Group
GRAMMY® Award-nominated rock band NEEDTOBREATHE has announced the release of a brand new live album, Live from the Woods Vol. 2, on April 16, 2021. The album is available to pre-order physically and digitally now HERE via Elektra Records. NEEDTOBREATHE has welcomed fans to witness the live recording of the album during two socially distanced outdoor concerts at famed venue The Caverns in Pelham, TN on March 13 and 14. Pre-sale tickets will be available for The Insiders Fan Club beginning Wednesday, January 13 HERE, and general on sale begins this Friday, January 15 at 12:00pm CT HERE.
Live from the Woods Vol. 2 follows NEEDTOBREATHE’s 2015 live album Live from the Woods and marks one of the band’s first concerts in front of a live crowd since January 2020. NEEDTOBREATHE decided to invite local audiences to experience these unforgettable shows, while simultaneously capturing them for listeners worldwide. Fans can expect electrifying performances of tracks from the platinum-selling group’s catalog, songs off their chart-topping new album Out of Body, and more.
The band and venue also ensure the utmost adherence to COVID-19 guidelines for maximum safety. As such, the venue is following guidance provided by the CDC and the State of Tennessee’s ‘Tennessee Pledge’ for reopening. Guests will arrive at staggered times, be asked COVID-19 screening questions, receive a temperature check, and enjoy the show from 2-person, 4-person and 6-person socially-distanced pods. Pods are spaced with a minimum of 6’ distance between each other with wide foot paths between pods to maintain social distancing. The concerts are “bring your own chair.”
Masks will be mandatory, except when guests are in their pods. All concessions and merchandise will be ordered through an app and delivered contactless to pods eliminating lines and limiting the need for guests to leave pods. While the music plays on above ground, restrooms will be used inside The Caverns to give guests an opportunity to duck below the surface to see the world-famous, subterranean music venue. Restrooms will be continuously cleaned with limited capacity.
NEEDTOBREATHE’s critically acclaimed 2020 studio album Out of Body is available physically and digitally via Elektra Records/Centricity Music nowHERE. In October, the band unveiled a brand new version of the album’s current single “Who Am I” featuring vocals from multi-platinum recording artist, Elle King. “Who Am I” (feat. Elle King) is available to stream and download as an official Out of Body bonus track now HERE. NEEDTOBREATHE closed out 2020 by surprising fans with a take on the iconic Christmas song “Silent Night”. Listen HERE.
Out of Body debuted in the top 5 across three Billboard charts, and received critical acclaim from Billboard, People, Spin, Taste of Country, and more. American Songwriter commended the band's “phenomenal and dedicated songwriting”, and Southern Living crowned the group “our favorite Southern rock band.” All Music praised Out of Body as “their tightest and most consistent set in years,” adding “this is an album designed to empower and motivate through life’s tough times." In September, NEEDTOBREATHE took the stage at CBS This Morning Saturday to deliver the network television debut performances of “Hang On”, “Who Am I”, and “Survival”.
For more info on NEEDTOBREATHE, visit the JFH Artists Database.
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PLO, AKA the Palestinian Authority, has not changed its platform
by themiddle
One of Yitzhak Rabin’s primary demands in order to launch open talks with the Palestinian leadership in 1994 was that the PLO change its platform by modifying its Charter and removing the passages that deny a Jewish connection to the Land of Israel as well as the sections that call for Israel’s and Zionists’ destruction.
Eventually, after a lot of pushing, the Palestinians went into a closed door parliamentary session and claimed they had modified the Charter appropriately. Of course, nobody could prove or disprove their claims. In subsequent talks, the Palestinians wrote open letters claiming that the charter had been modified, but real evidence such as the minutes of that closed door sesssion have never been made public.
Of course, there are many skeptics who didn’t believe the Palestinians changed anything and were simply playing the game the way it needed to be played. So, for example, when the PNC took formal votes in 1996 and 1998 (in front of Clinton) that supposedly changed the Charter, it seemed too good to be true and many people remained on the sidelines.
These skeptics and many of us who wanted to believe the change had taken place were given additional reason to doubt when Arafat rejected Barak’s offer of a Palestinian state in 2000, then launched a war against Israel and eventually refused to change Palestinian positions that would destroy Israel when the Israeli government revisited their Camp David offer at Taba in 2001. Israel had offered much more to gain a permanent peace at Taba but the Palestinians did not budge on the core demands that would change Israel into Palestine. If somebody wants peace and resolution, they negotiate and the Palestinians did not intend to negotiate away the very details that would fall into accord with their supposed change in the Charter.
Then in 2001,
…the Palestinian leadership made it clear that its hostile intentions against Israel remained unchanged. Although the Palestinian National Council (PNC) has twice taken formal decisions to revise the Palestinian National Covenant (1996 and 1998) calling for Israel’s destruction, the PNC Chairman, Salim Za’anoun, stated on 3 February 2001, in the official Palestinian Authority newspaper, that the Palestinian Covenant remained unchanged and was still in force.
Okay, that was then, in 2001, when the war the Palestinians had launched had become bloody and painful to both sides. But now, once again, Israel is negotiating with the Palestinians under American auspices. Too bad, then, that we now we have the PA ambassador to Lebanon in what appears to be an open and semi-informal question and answer period with students, explicitly stating that the Palestinians are continuing to seek Israel’s destruction through its “Phases” plan which calls for the Palestinians to continue to gain in increments what they cannot gain in war until finally they have the advantage they need to take over Israel. Not news to anybody, but important to have documentation.
This is from MEMRI:
Following are excerpts from an interview with Abbas Zaki, Palestinian Authority representative in Lebanon, which aired on NBN TV on April 9, 2008:
Abbas Zaki: We believe wholeheartedly that the Right of Return is guaranteed by our will, by our weapons, and by our faith.
Interviewer: Do you still believe in weapons, not just in negotiations?
Abbas Zaki: The use of weapons alone will not bring results, and the use of politics without weapons will not bring results. We act on the basis of our extensive experience. We analyze our situation carefully. We know what climate leads to victory and what climate leads to suicide. We talk politics, but our principles are clear. It was our pioneering leader, Yasser Arafat, who persevered with this revolution, when empires collapsed. Our armed struggle has been going on for 43 years, and the political struggle, on all levels, has been going on for 50 years. We harvest U.N. resolutions, and we shame the world so that it doesn’t gang up on us, because the world is led by people who have given their brains a vacation – the American administration and the neocons.
Young Palestinian: As I recall, the invasion of 1982 and the destruction of South Lebanon was not just in response to missile attacks, but in response to operations as well. Israel does not use only the missiles as a pretext. It uses any activity of the resistance as a pretext.
Abbas Zaki: The important thing is that in any operation, Israel will pay a price. We don’t want cases in which you don’t kill even a chicken, but Israel kills 20 of you. I salute any operation that makes Israel pay a heavy price.
The P.L.O. is the sole legitimate representative [of the Palestinian people], and it has not changed its platform even one iota. In light of the weakness of the Arab nation and the lack of values, and in light of the American control over the world, the P.L.O. proceeds through phases, without changing its strategy. Let me tell you, when the ideology of Israel collapses, and we take, at least, Jerusalem, the Israeli ideology will collapse in its entirety, and we will begin to progress with our own ideology, Allah willing, and drive them out of all of Palestine.
The clip itself can be viewed here.
Ambassador Zaki looks handsome in his suit.
themiddle
Latest posts by themiddle (see all)
I held up a mirror to Jewish Voice for Peace and Naomi Dann and Found the Anti-Semitic Right - 8/20/2017
The US State Department and Its Shameful Behavior Toward Israel - 10/23/2014
Founder of Jewlicious is Getting Married. Like, This Week! - 10/21/2014
@George_Simkin Oh yeah.
So THIS is what I'm missing on Parler? Azealia Banks is on fire... Not saying I approve, but yikes! https://t.co/y7XgLyaTY5
@naltiw2 @CotlerWunsh @Ostrov_A Oh we should definitely call them out - that's *our* job, really. The decision to b… https://t.co/p40XJeQxbq
@Shwarmaonthesp1 @michaeldickson @Ostrov_A @CotlerWunsh @kayleighmcenany Yes, and as an Israeli, I am directly in h… https://t.co/SssPI8YykE
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Steve Solot signs Letter of Intention for audiovisual cooperation between the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Los Angeles
On November 3 in Los Angeles, Steve Solot, on behalf of the Rio Film Commission which he presides and in representation of Cláudia Pedrozo, president of RioFilme, and Kevin James, Director and Chief Liaison for Film and Television Production of the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office, signed a Letter of Interest.
The objective of the agreement is to promote cooperation between the respective entertainment industries, and encourage on-location shooting in Rio de Janeiro, as well as to stimulate growth in the audiovisual sector of both cities.
The agreement was signed during the Seminar, “The Future of the Audiovisual Industry in Brazil” sponsored by the Brazil-California Chamber of Commerce (BCCC) with support by the Motion Picture Association of America-MPAA, during the American Film Market (AFM). See press release in Portuguese: RioFilme/Rio Film Commission assina acordo de cooperação com a cidade de Los Angeles.
Kevin James, Steve Solot
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Mr Adam Smith
“ No, because the correspondenc...”
Longest speech
Hearing, 25 May 2012
11:06 a.m., May 25, 2012
Link in context Link
That's my understanding -- I didn't know that at the time. From looking at the emails afterwards, that's my understanding of it, yes.
No. And actually the Permanent Secretary who brought me that statement, when I said I want "believe" removed, he agreed that that was the right thing to do.
I think the emails that I got from the emails, which I've put in one of those bundles, shows that it came from the Cabinet Secretary's office.
It was a suggestion that the first line was changed to "While I believed it was my role to keep News Corporation informed", I objected to the word "believed" because it had been self-evident and the department had known that that's what my role had been, so I didn ...
That's right, yes.
Well, I think I was -- I thought by this stage that the perception had been created that something untoward had gone on and therefore, I mean, that was sort of why I'd offered my resignation the evening beforehand and, "Everyone here thinks you need to go", I suppose was ...
Yes. I didn't have anybody sort of sit me down and say anything specific like that, no.
We did discuss how we'd enjoyed working with each other and how it was going to be tough and it wasn't just a one-line conversation, no.
To the best of my recollection, "Everyone here thinks you need to go", is what he said, yes.
Yes, that's right.
I think I was aware it may have been one meeting or others, but Mr Hunt was certainly having meeting that I wasn't present at.
Yes. That was the reflection of the conversation between myself, the other special advisors and Mr Hunt, but that wasn't a relaxed sort of manner.
No, not at all. It was very pressured and one of the most stressful days that I'd certainly had to deal with.
45 minutes maybe.
Yes. It was sort of lots of discussions between especially when, as I say, later on I had a drink with him and the other special advisers to say that it was me doing my job and not to worry.
Yes. I suppose at that stage I didn't realise I would be appearing before the Inquiry.
Yes. I mean essentially along the lines that I've said in the statement, that they were a one-sided reflection and in many cases exaggerated and that he, as in Mr Hunt, when he came before this Inquiry would be able to give a defence of them.
I can't remember verbatim but it was something along the lines of, "It won't come to that", but I couldn't say that that was exactly the words that he used.
Yes, I'd say roughly about that, yeah.
Yes, it was whenever the Inquiry put the KRM 18 and the schedule online, which I've put in my statement was at about 4.30, but that may be slightly wrong. I thought it was after the evidence had finished they went up online.
On the TV, actually. I think it was broadcast live.
Yes. He could certainly have taken advice from -- I mean as it happens, the advice that he wanted most was from Ofcom and the OFT.
I do, and I think because he was the individual taking the decision, I think that as well as the convenience factor it was also important for him to be seen to be only having some of those meetings with them, yes.
If they'd taken place with a civil servant, I don't think so, because I think the civil servants were in some cases sending similar stuff, like the statements and things like that, so I didn't think there was any difference between myself and the officials. I think ...
I think, in hindsight, the tone of the language that I used was not appropriate but I think in terms of the content of what I said to Mr Michel it was all -- had either been expressed to Mr Murdoch through meetings, letters or was known to Mr Michel from ...
It got quite annoying to me, yes.
Well, it may well have been if he'd been constantly badgered to the extent that I was, that might have got to him.
Not material that I was necessarily -- because I can't think -- the material that I received were lengthy correspondence between Ofcom, the OFT and News Corporation. I don't think that would -- I mean that was just far too detailed, and Mr Hunt had outsourced that work, if you like ...
Yes, I suppose so, but for him to send the statements that News International were making is not a private matter as such.
Yes, certainly. If this was a conversation with me, it's quite possible that I asked him to let me know what steps News International was taking in response to the phone hacking situation, mainly because the department is obviously responsible for the media sector, so that would be interesting ...
Generally? Yes, yes, he would discuss with me if he'd been in meetings in Number 10 or I did quite often go to meetings in Number 10 with him.
On this particular issue?
I wouldn't have been aware, any further than whatever the press reportings on the Cabinet divisions were. I've never attended Cabinet or spoken to any other Cabinet Minister about it so that was either self-evident from press coverage or something Mr Michel was just putting down as fairly ...
-- I don't remember imparting it, mainly because I don't quite know that I knew it, which would make it quite strange for me to be able to impart it.
Well --
Yes, I would say so, yes.
I don't know that I did know about it, but he may well have shared it, yes, but I don't remember at this stage.
I don't know who else -- I mean lots of other people would presumably have known only far more than I would have done by this stage because -- but I don't know who --
I would agree that that is a possible inference, yes.
Yes, I may well have done but I can't remember whether I did, but I think most of the discussions were -- most of those conversations were being dealt with by Number 10 but I don't know --
I'm not sure that I would necessarily be the only source of that information. I can't remember, at that stage, whether I knew that that was the case. I may well have done.
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Thank you for your interest in the Kearns Community Center project!
We receive many questions about the project and wanted to share our answers with you as best we can. If you have further questions after reading this as well as our proposal and budget, please feel free to contact us. We may even update this FAQ with your questions!
If you would like to see the finished 2016 Kearns School Report, which was commissioned by the town upon closing the school, you can see that here.
Why is Kearns School closed?
The Board of Education decided to move from five schools to four due to declining enrollment and budgetary considerations. As the oldest facility, Kearns School closed at the end of the 2015-2016 school year.
Would Granby reopen Kearns as a school?
Unlikely. According to school administrators, Kearns is not viable as a school in the future. It is simply more cost effective to build additions onto the other schools if needed; those properties have the land and the staff to handle any future expansion.
How has the Kearns facility been used since it was closed in 2016?
It has been vacant. The Town spends between $30-50,000 in maintenance costs annually. The Kearns School Study Committee estimated the total annual maintenance cost to be closer to $50,000.
Can the building and land be sold?
The property has certain issues that make it less attractive to a potential buyer. First, the property is mostly wetlands and unavailable for development. Second, there is no access to the building from Salmon Brook Road (and the traffic pattern can’t be changed to allow for it since the stoplight went in). Third, most businesses don’t need that much space (40,000 square feet). Fourth, the building, while in decent shape, requires a significant financial investment to get it up to code.
What does the Town get for leasing the property to a nonprofit?
The nonprofit Kearns Community Center has proposed revitalizing the 40,000 square foot space as a community center. We would lease the property for 10 years at $1 annually. At the end of ten years, we would have the option to purchase the property at a fair market value, which we plan to do. In the meantime, we would refurbish the building and landscaping, create a financially viable, regional community center, and maintain the property ourselves at no cost to the taxpayer.
Was the property assessed?
The assessment for Kearns as a school is $2.6 million. However, decommissioned schools typically sell for about one-quarter of their assessed value, meaning that the Town could expect to receive approximately $650,000 for this asset. Notably other area decommissioned schools have remained vacant for three to ten years and are still not sold or utilized.
What do other towns do with decommissioned school buildings?
Looking at our region, Windsor, Suffield, and Enfield all have school buildings that have sat empty for 3-10 years. Enfield does use the former Fermi High School as a small scale community center: adult education, polling place, and community pool use. The others, including Granby, are vacant, draining town resources, decreasing neighborhood property values, and not using a valuable asset.
Why is Granby considering a community center in the former Kearns School?
With the building empty, the Town did a study of possible uses and identified several needs: artist studio, GCTV studio and office space, conference rooms, adult education, youth services, robotics, etc. Building on this study, the Kearns Community Center steering committee spoke with area businesses, nonprofits, service organizations, schools, and individuals about how to best develop programming that area residents need and want without competing with existing services. To our knowledge, no other organization or group has come forward with a plan and budget for the 40,000 square foot space.
Will this plan increase my taxes?
The Board and leadership of the Kearns project emphatically do not want money from any of the towns in the service area (Granby, East Granby, Suffield, Windsor, Windsor Locks, Hartland, Barkhamsted, Simsbury, and Canton). We have no interest in raising our own taxes, much less those of our family, friends, and neighbors. We are deeply committed to creating a regional resource that is viable financially, responsive to both community and market needs, and creates economic vibrancy in our region.
How will a community center be viable?
Kearns Community Center programming is designed to be responsive to community needs, unique to the area, and fiscally self-sustaining. Once the center is open, we will have several revenue drivers: the adult day care program; the community cafe; the commercial and teaching kitchens; rentals of the performance space and conference rooms; and program fees for events, classes, and activities. We will also offer families and individuals varying membership levels. While membership isn’t necessary to use the center, it will afford access to special events, breaks on program fees, etc. Please review our current budget projections here.
How will you pay construction and start-up costs?
For the center to be fully operational, we need $2.75 million in construction and start-up money. We have been working with the region’s local governments, state representatives and senators, and the state Department for Economic and Community Development to obtain a one-time $2 million grant for this purpose. This grant will bring our tax dollars back to the region, revitalize an empty school, and create a community center with economic development, education, and social opportunities for over 120,000 residents.
We are working with a professional fundraiser to begin a capital campaign for the other $750,000. Several businesses, service organizations, foundations, and others have expressed interest in funding various rooms and programs in the center. We are confident that we can raise the funds needed to make the center fully operational.
What about the liability of a community center?
As a nonprofit, Kearns Community Center will carry its own insurance and have waivers for participants to sign, especially in higher risk areas like the woodshop. We are working with AIM insurance, a Granby company, to cover all of our insurance needs: Directors & Officers, general liability, fleet, property, and workers compensation.
How would you staff a community center?
The plan calls for nine full-time paid staff members, and a larger number of additional part-time staff. Their responsibilities will range from facility maintenance and volunteer management to fundraising and community engagement. Their proposed salaries and benefits are in line with current nonprofit standards.
Many of the spaces will be coordinated and run by partner nonprofits. For example, Resilience Grows Here, a veterans’ organization dedicated to mental health, will staff the veterans’ space, develop the programming, run the workshops and support groups, and refer veterans and their families to other resources within the center as appropriate (job training, entrepreneurship opportunities, STEM learning, etc). While Kearns staff would certainly work with RGH to provide optimal services, as the expert RGH would be responsible for the content and trained staff.
We’ll also be partnering with programs that provide job training for adults with disabilities, recognizing that as an unmet need in this region.
Will there be employment opportunities at the community center?
Yes! We are thrilled that so many people have inquired about employment with us. As we move forward in the process, we will keep the community posted about what opportunities may be available.
How does a community center benefit Granby or any of the surrounding towns?
Kearns Community Center would bring many benefits to the region:
Develop programs which are responsive to community needs
Produce high quality adult day care for seniors with dementia and social needs
Centralize support services for families and seniors, including the durable medical closet, the food pantry, and the community gardens
Create spaces for groups which often feel marginalized, including veterans, seniors, people with special needs, people with physical disabilities, families with young children, and more
Develop the local economy, including job training, coworking space for entrepreneurs, youth employment, and commercial kitchens for rent
Boost existing small businesses (restaurants, gas station, car wash, etc) by attracting people to Granby
Attract new businesses to the area due to educated workforce and opportunities to partner with the center
Create a vibrant space for arts performances
Explore STEM through the woodshop, makerspace, and recording studios
Build a teen center with study space, board gaming space, a media center, and communal hangout areas.
Construct a large indoor park reminiscent of the best urban parks, which includes greenery, space to play, and places to mingle – drawing adults and children when it’s too hot, too cold, or too wet outside.
How is the Town of Granby government making this decision?
The Town has been considering the fate of the Kearns property since it closed in 2016. The Kearns Community Center steering committee based its initial proposal on the community needs mentioned in the first Kearns School Study Committee report. Since that time, the Board of Selectmen appointed a town advisory committee to study the community center proposal and budget. Over six months, they closely examined the information and asked for a professional nonprofit business consultant to audit the plan. TVA Consulting completed its report and the findings were incorporated into the plan and explained to the committee. Satisfied that the plan is financially viable, the committee unanimously endorsed the Kearns Community Center with a few recommendations – that no construction begin until enough money is in-hand to complete construction, that the lease be for 5 years at $1 annually with the option to renew for another 5 years, and that murals are preserved to the largest extent possible. We hope to purchase the building for a fair market price at some point in the future.
At this point, the BOS will hear from the advisory committee about its work and recommendations. The BOS will take some time to hear from the community and review all of the information before deciding what to do with this empty school building. No timeline for a decision has been announced.
Where do I find current versions of the community center proposal, budget, map, and audit?
Our website, www.kearnscommunitycenter.org, always has current information about the project with links to all of the resources listed above. We are always happy to answer questions as they arise and will incorporate them into our FAQ and thinking as quickly as we can. Any files uploaded to the town’s servers are not guaranteed to be current.
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Bits and Pieces for the Holidays - Revisited!
It’s been quite a while since our last “bits and pieces” article - 9 years to be exact. That article included some not-so-random thoughts about then-current retail topics as we headed into the New Year. We decided to take another shot at it and follow the same Twelve Days (uh…thoughts) of Christmas theme from nearly a decade ago. So here we go…
On the first day of Christmas, my true love said to me: Who in the world would buy groceries online before examining the goods first? I am now finding out the answer - many people. I thought Grocery would be the last category standing when it came to shopping online, but Ahold Delhaize just announced that it plans to double its e-commerce sales by 2020.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love asked me: So what do you think? Will Sears be around a year from now? Probably so, based on the company’s sheer magnitude and its considerable real estate holdings. At the same, Sears recently announced its biggest loss in more than four years, and its 20th consecutive quarterly decline in sales. Expect more store closings and possible brand sales in the coming year.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love asked me: When is that acquisition going to occur between Walgreens and Rite Aid? Well, they have to find buyers for the excess stores first. With Kroger, Fred’s, and Albertsons as the latest possible purchasers mentioned, it could be getting close, with the merger coming to fruition in 2017.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love said to me: As if Amazon hasn’t caused enough chaos within the retail industry, it’s now coming directly to the battlefield to face brick-and-mortar retailers. First we saw Amazon Books, and now Amazon Go. While Amazon recently denied a report of a 2,000 store expansion for Amazon Go, the success of the concept will likely determine what that number really is.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love asked me: Would you rather shop online or in a store? Well, that depends on the purchase. You read many articles strongly indicating that shoppers prefer the physical store experience. After all, 90% of retail sales, give or take, are rung up through brick-and-mortar cash registers. But it has been over two years since online book sales surpassed brick-and-mortar. Nonetheless, a recent report shows that physical stores remain the go-to location for cosmetic and grooming purchases. It seems as if there’s no single answer to this question.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love asked me: What about Target’s small store strategy? Target announced last month that “hundreds” of small stores were planned. Dense, urban areas and college towns are Target’s focus for these small-format locations. For years Target wouldn’t even think about opening a store concept in which its full assortment could not be offered. Times have certainly changed.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love said to me: “Malls are becoming scary places!” I said, “You want to see scary? Come back in 10 years and I’ll show you scary.”
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love said to me: So what’s the next big thing in retail development? For sure everything has its day, as we’ve seen with lifestyle centers. While outlet centers, mixed-use, and urban retail are experiencing a renaissance of sorts, in due course the spigot will run dry with these venues as it has for others. As far as the next big thing, an educated guess might be something focused on omnichannel retailing. Does anyone remember Service Merchandise and Best Products, catalog showrooms where the customer saw the item in-store, and then placed an order at the front desk? Well, what if shoppers could touch and feel the merchandise before placing an online order, eliminating the guess work and possibly a big disappointment? Watch for it!
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love asked me: Can Barnes & Noble make a comeback with its new concept store? While it looks like a great presentation, it’s finally all about price: can you say Amazon?
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love asked me: Is Best Buy in the clear or in the eye of the hurricane? Just like B&N, it’s all about the price, baby!
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love asked me: Are millennials having as much influence on retail as baby boomers did back in the 60s? It’s interesting that millennials, or echo boomers as some call them, are actually the children of boomers. And I would answer that question by saying yes, and then some. Boomers influenced retail fashion in the age of bell bottoms and miniskirts. Millennials, now overtaking baby boomers as the largest generation in history, are definitely changing the way people shop and retailers sell.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love asked me: Are you headed out to the store, or looking for your laptop? I couldn’t make up my mind!
Bob Sheehan, Vice President of Research
Happy Holidays, and best wishes for the New Year from all of us at KeyPoints!
Labels: Commentary
Mark Becker
Partner/CFO/Editor-in-Chief
Bob Sheehan
Vice President of Research
Chris Cardoni
Shoppers increased retail spending just slightly in November, a possible sign of a lackluster holiday season. Retail sales rose only 0.1% in November, after a downwardly-revised 0.6% growth in October, the Commerce Department announced. Consumers bumped up purchases at restaurants and home furnishers, but also trimmed spending at auto dealers and department stores. Online and mail-order retailers posted a lukewarm 0.1% gain, compared to a robust 11.5% increase so far this year. Clothing sales were flat in November.Among retailers still reporting monthly same-store sales, L Brands was up 1.0%, Gap was down 1.0%, and Costco was up 1.0%. See our sales reports on Page 4... GNC Holdings is changing its pricing structure and marketing, and adding tech enhancements to its store environment. The company announced that all corporate stores will close on Dec. 28 and reopen on Dec. 29, when GNC will offer customers a “dramatically improved experience. ” The new initiative will launch in all 4,464 US owned and franchised locations.
Labels: National, Retail Sales
Adidas opened a new, 45,000 s/f four-story flagship store on the corner of 5th Avenue and 46th Street in New York City, the largest store ever for the company…Barnes & Noble opened new-concept stores in NY and MN this month. The stores have a smaller footprint and feature a full-service restaurant and bar. Others will open soon in CA and VA…Starbucks unveiled an ambitious 5-year strategy that calls for approximately 12,000 new stores globally by 2021, including two new formats. The expansion will bring Starbucks’s total store portfolio to approximately 37,000 locations…Apparel rental company Rent the Runway opened its biggest store yet, a 5,000 s/f store in Manhattan that will replace its current Flatiron District flagship…Sweaty Betty, the London-based retailer of activewear for women, opened its 9th US.store and 3rd in Los Angeles. Sweaty Betty plans at least 50 US stores over the next five years, with eight to 10 locations opening during the next 12 months... Casey’s General Stores, Inc. plans to build or acquire 77 to 116 stores, replace 35 existing locations, and complete 100 major remodels in 2017…Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores have been opening inside existing Ace Hardware locations around the country. The latest is in Santa Paula, CA, inside the Heritage Ace Hardware. This is the 16th new Sears Hometown Store this year. The format makes major Sears brands available to customers in smaller communities... Lidl has acquired an industrial building in Philadelphia in preparation of its upcoming US launch. Lidl, operates nearly 10,000 stores in 27 countries, and plans to open between 120 and150 stores on the US east coast by the end of 2017... PetSmart opened 20 stores across the US and Canada for the quarter ending October 31, 2016. This adds to the 23 stores it opened in the first and second quarters, bringing the total number for the year to 43 new locations. PetSmart is also testing new formats. PetSmart Pet Spa and PetSmart at the Beach are concept stores in which the company is testing innovative ways to combine pet services and an enhanced pet lifestyle experience in a smaller retail footprint. The stores feature a unique, modern design with 5,000-8,000 s/f footprints, smaller than PetSmart’s typical 18,000 -20,000 s/f stores. In addition to brick-and-mortar expansion, PetSmart launched an improved web site, with one-page checkout and new home delivery options such as recurring subscription-based shipping, as well as same-day and scheduled delivery in 16 US markets... Caleres owner of Famous Footwear, has acquired 100-year-old men’s footwear and accessories brand Allen Edmonds from private equity firm Brentwood Associates for $255 million. Caleres operates over 1,200 stores under a variety of banners. Its brands include Naturalizer, Sam Edelman, Via Spiga Vince, Dr. Scholl’s Shoes and George Brown Built... Childcare franchise leader Discovery Point is primed to grow with 47 locations in operation, and five more set to open in 2017, Discovery Point plans to expand in North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas…Rise Biscuits Donuts announced the signing of a multi-state development agreement that will introduce the Rise concept to Georgia, South Carolina, and Kentucky. MDO Holdings, an investment and management firm with a current portfolio of over 30 companies including such brands as O2 Fitness, Happy+Hale, and Cyclebar, joined the Rise franchise system in June to develop locations in Georgia and South Carolina. In November, MDO Holdings increased their development commitment to include Kentucky, bringing the total to almost 30-units. Their first store is projected to open in early 2017... Shreve & Co. has opened a two-level, 15,000 s/f flagship store in its San Francisco home town, its first new, permanent location in 110 years. The centerpiece is a semi-spiral staircase that offers sweeping views of the store. A waterfall chandelier of lights and crystals is suspended inside the arch of the stairway. A cascade of crystals and lights hangs from the 30-foot ceiling.The store features in-store boutiques, private viewing suites for personalized consultations and an entertainment room. It also houses an array of services, from a dedicated watchmaker to an estate jewelry appraiser and consultant…Mall of America is adding a 40,000 s/f arcade called Smaaash that includes a multilevel go-cart track, virtual reality and video games, and a restaurant and bar.The venture represents one of the largest investments ever made by a company inside the mall, and means that the mall’s fourth floor - its least-visited floor, which has seen many ventures come and go - is fully leased for the first time in years... Best Buy opened five outlet locations dedicated to major appliances this month in TX, NC, DE, and CA
American Apparel received approval to close nine under-performing stores in New York, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Atlanta, Dallas, Memphis, Santa Cruz, Calif., Evanston, Ill., and Burlington, Vt., by Dec. 31.U.S. Bankruptcy court approved an agreement with liquidators Merchant Resources LLC and Gordon Brothers Retail Partners LLC, that gives the company permission to begin “going out of business” sales for the next two weeks. .. CVS Health has embarked on a streamlining initiative which will include the closing of 70 stores in 2017. The store closings should provide a $265 million benefit to CVS, mostly in 2017.
Shinola, retailer of high-end watches, bicycles and leather goods, opened its first Boston store in this month in the Prudential Center... Target will open one of its flexible format stores at the Redstone Shopping Center in Stoneham, MA. The 48,000 s/f store will open in July. Flexible format stores are substantially smaller than standard Target locations, less than 50,000 s/f compared to an average 170,000 s/f or more. Target is planning to open 27 flexible format stores in the next 3 years.
Retail sales rose 0.1% in November, after a downwardly-revised 0.6% growth in October, the Commerce Department said. Purchases at restaurants and home furnishers were up slightly, but spending at auto dealers and department stores was lower, limiting the overall advance in retail sales.
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had declined in October, increased significantly in November. The Index now stands at 107.1 (1985=100), up from 100.8 in October. The Present Situation Index increased from 123.1 to 130.3, while the Expectations Index improved from 86.0 last month to 91.7.
Manufacturing expanded in November as the PMI® registered 53.2 percent, an increase of 1.3 percentage points from the October reading of 51.9 percent, indicating growth in manufacturing for the third consecutive month. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.
Is The End Getting Closer for the Little Guy?
For many years we have published the KeyPoint Reports, macro-level compilations of retail real estate trends and analysis in the three New England regions that we cover in our GRIID™ database: Eastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, and Greater Hartford, CT. One area on which we focus in these reports is the change in inventory and vacancy rate by store size classification - without question the most salient finding during the past decade was the impact on small stores less than 2,500 square feet.
Let’s focus on Eastern Massachusetts, the largest region we cover: since 2006 total retail inventory has increased from 176.5 million square feet to 194.2 million square feet, a 10% increase during the past 10-year period. At the same time we’ve seen a rise in the vacancy rate from 5.6% to 9.0%, with vacant space increasing an alarming 76% in the past ten years. The modest gain in total space and the dramatic rise in vacancy relative to prior decades can be attributed largely to 1.) the abrupt slowdown in new retail construction resulting from the Great Recession, and 2.) the mounting effect of online shopping on brick- and-mortar retailing.
No one has paid the price more than the small store owners. While modest growth has occurred in total inventory between 2006 and 2016, stores less than 2,500 square feet experienced a negligible decline of 1.0%. Of more concern, however, is that during the same time frame, vacant space in that size category increased from 2.5 million square feet to 5.7 million square feet, a whopping 124% upsurge, more than 1.5 times the rate of the entire region. The table below illustrates this change relative to the overall region:
For a while the vacancy trend had started to turn the corner. Similar to the region overall, the vacancy rate in this small store category began to decline from a high of 14.1% in 2010 to 12.4% in 2013. But that was as good as it got; since then, small store vacancy has increased each year and now stands at a new high of 14.7% in 2016. The rate could have been even higher were it not for some demolition and conversion to non-retail space among small stores.
While the direct impact from the recession has past, the retail industry continues to see a consumer shift away from brick-and-mortar to online spending. The just-released Forrester’s Holiday Retail Sales Forecast estimates that online sales will account for 13% of retail sales, up slightly from its 12% share of annual retail sales, while the best forecasts of overall holiday sales increases have been in the 3-4% range. Every quarter it is commonplace for national retailers to report sales gains in the low single-digit range, but then enthusiastically report e-commerce sales of double-digit gains. It should be no surprise, then, that for years now the industry in general has been budgeting fewer dollars toward physical store expansion while reallocating capex toward improving e-commerce platforms and enhancing the overall omnichannel retail experience.
But wait a minute: how does the little guy compete in the world of e-commerce? We’re talking about the independents, the mom-and-pop operators with no more than a couple of stores. How do these guys compete with Amazon? The vast majority can’t. But does that fact really have much impact on the retail real estate layout in the region? Within Eastern Massachusetts, our data indicates that there are more than 46,000 individual tenants. Surely the small-space category accounts for only a portion of that total. Well, you’d better take a seat when I tell you the next part: Are you ready? Approximately 22,600 tenants, or roughly one-half, are one- or two-store operators with stores under 2,500 square feet.
I wish I could tell you what is going to happen in the longer term to the little guys in the smaller stores. Let me just say that we should hope for the best and plan for the worst!
BSheehan@KeyPoint Partners.com
Labels: Commentary, retail trends
New Business: KeyPoint Partners has been awarded the management and leasing of University Mall in South Burlington, VT, the state’s largest enclosed mall, by the new owner. The mall management staff has joined KPP, and Vice President of Leasing Don Mace is handling leasing. KPP will also manage and lease Lorden Plaza in Milford, NH. New Leasing Assignment: Silver Sands Plaza, an 85,400 SF Stop & Shop-anchored shopping center on Bridgeport Avenue in Milford, CT. Sr. Associate Michael Branton is handling the assignment...New Employee: Andrea Suba joined the Plymouth, MA office as an Administrative Assistant.
Meet with us in New York: KSmith@KeyPointPartners.com
Retail sales increased by 0.9% over September and grew 2.2% year-over-year, according to the National Retail Federation’s measure. The calculations excluded automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants. The NRF said all sectors were strong except furniture, home furnishing and department stores. The Commerce Department said October sales rose 0.8%. Among retailers still reporting monthly same-store sales, L Brands was up 1.0%, Gap was down 1.0%, and Costco was up 2.0%. See our sales reports below.
Dick’s Sporting Goods won a bankruptcy auction with a $70 million bid this month to take over Golfsmith International’s US business. Dick’s will keep at approximately 30 Golfsmith stores open and shutter the rest with the help of liquidators Hilco Global and Tiger Capital Group. The auction is awaiting the approval of a US bankruptcy court judge...Spence Diamonds will open its first US store in Austin, TX next month, soon to be followed by stores in CA and AZ, with additional markets to be announced soon. Spence features “artisan created diamonds,” which are created in a plasma chamber instead of being dug out of the ground...PGA TOUR Superstore signed leases for three new stores in 2017. PGA TOUR recently acquired a Sports Authority location in Glendale, AZ, and is also planning new stores in Hilton Head, SC and Jacksonville, FL (later next year). This November, PGA TOUR will open a 45,500 s/f store in Woodland TX, its 27th store...Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its first Tasty Made burger restaurant in Lancaster, OH, last month...Modell’s Sporting Goods is opening a flagship store at a 2-level, 20,000 s/f former Sports Authority store in Manhattan this month...Online men’s clothier J.Hilburn is opening a showroom in Dallas’ Inwood Village shopping center. If it goes as planned, the company will open 10 to 15 showrooms over the next 5 years in major US cities...Amazon is planning more physical stores. There will be Amazon book stores, Amazon food stores, Amazon pop-up stores and maybe even Amazon fashion stores. Amazon is preparing a grocery store pilot program - by the end of 2018, 20 grocery units are slated to open in various US cities... Petco will celebrate the grand opening of 9 new stores nationwide in November and December, part of the company’s growth plan, which includes 63 new Petco stores and one new Unleashed by Petco store year-to-date... Saks Fifth Avenue has opened its 3rd store in Miami, a 107,550 s/f full-line store at Brickell City Centre; this is Saks 7th new store opening year-to-date... E-commerce apparel company Bonobos is seeking to expand its brick-and-mortar operations. Bonobos launched in 2007 predicated on the idea that men don’t enjoy shopping and that all menswear would eventually be sold online. Since then, the company has opened close to 30 “guideshops” nationwide. Bonobos has expanded its partnerships with other retailers, and has plans to open 100 stores of its own by 2020... Toys “R” Us has opened a new prototype in Santa Ana, CA. At 25,000 s/f, the store is smaller than the chain’s traditional stores. It also has more interactive features. 3 additional locations are planned... Regency Centers and Equity One have signed an agreement to merge. Regency will continue as the public company. The transaction, which was approved by the boards of both companies, will create a national portfolio of 429 properties totaling more than of 57 million s/f... PetSmart opened its 1,500th store, in Sheridan, CO, one of approximately 80 new stores the retailer is opening in 2016 in new markets as well as current markets.
Labels: Accelerating, Acquisition, Expansion, retail news
American Apparel is preparing its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in roughly a year. American Apparel, which emerged from bankruptcy as a private company in February, has brought in strategic advisory firm Berkeley Research Group to oversee its restructuring efforts. American Apparel hasn’t been able to get its feet on solid ground since its controversial split from founder Dov Charney, who was ousted by the board in 2014...Office Depot will close 300 stores over three years, including 65 locations to close in the fourth quarter. Office Depot closed 7 stores during the third quarter, and with the 4th quarter closings will bring the total to 125 stores by the end of this calendar year.. Macy’s Inc. has sold five stores to General Growth Properties for $46 million. 4 of the locations will be closed by spring 2017. Macy’s currently operates about 880 stores... Fossil Group is planning an overhaul of its business that includes closing some of its 284 US stores; the company did not announce how many stores will close... Ignite Restaurant Group closed 14 Joe’s Crab Shack restaurants and 1 Brick House Tavern + Tap unit in the 3rd quarter. Ignite has closed 17 Joes and the one Brick House already this year. Ignite has 138 restaurants, down from 154 at the end of the same quarter last year including 113 Joe’s and 25 Brick House units...Store closing sales have started at 59 US Golfsmith stores. Golfsmith gift cards and merchandise credits will be honored at all closing stores through November 11, 2016...Noodles & Company will consider closing some of its under-performing stores or converting company-owned restaurants to franchised properties. The chain closed 16 restaurants at the end of 2015. Noodles currently has locations in 35 states. The company will slow growth to 10 or 15 new restaurants in 2017 and will concentrate those new stores in more established markets... Hhgregg has exited the Wisconsin market, closing its five “under performing stores in the state... Kenneth Cole is closing its 63 outlet stores within the next six months. After the closings, the retailer will only have two-full priced stores left in the US - in New York and Arlington, VA.
Labels: Closings, Contracting, Decelerating, Industry News
Harvard Square icon Cafe Algiers on Brattle St. is closing for good this month after 45 years in business. The two-floor cafe was known for its selection of coffee, tea and Middle Eastern delicacies...Boloco sold five of its 16 restaurants this month. Boloco co-founder and owner John Pepper sold the chain’s locations in Burlington, Concord, Natick, Wellesley, and near Northeastern University in Boston to burger chain b.good. The chain’s Hanover location will not be affected by the sale. b.good has 45 locations and plans to have 60 by March...Flour Bakery opened its 5th location at 114 Mount Auburn St. in Harvard Square. A 2nd Cambridge location is expected to open in December, with another Boston location, behind the Prudential Center, coming in January 2017...Bon-Ton Stores Inc. plans to close a department store in Hamden, CT, marking at least the 6th closing announcement by the retailer over the past two years. Bon-Ton said the CT store will shut down when its lease expires Jan. 31.... Under Armour debuted its 19,000 s/f, two-level Boston store at Prudential Center this month. This is the company’s largest flagship opening of the year... The Sears store in Corbin’s Corner, West Hartford, CT will close in January 2017. After Sears’ closing, the space will be developed for REI, along with additional junior box and small shop retailers and restaurants... The sale of The Shops at Somerset Square, Glastonbury, CT to Rouse Properties for $42 million has been completed. The 114,106 s/f property is anchored by Ann Taylor, Café Max, MAXFISH, Starbucks, Talbots and Victoria’s Secret...Two retail properties in Beverly and Duxbury MA sold for over $8.9 million in total: Dodge Crossing located along Enon St. in Beverly, and Duxbury Marketplace on Depot St. Occupying 30,100 s/f of frontage along Enon St., Dodge Crossing is anchored by Sleepy’s with additional tenants Learning Express Toys, Mathnasium, Triad Driving Academy, and others. Duxbury Marketplace consists of 5 separate buildings on 3 acres in the middle of the retail area. Tenants include Coldwell Banker, Eastern Bank, Duxbury Dogs, and others.
Labels: Indicators, Retail Sales
US retail sales rose more than expected in October as households bought motor vehicles and a range of other goods, pointing to sustained economic strength: retail sales increased 0.8% last month, the Commerce Department said.
Labels: Indicators, Treasury Yields
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had increased in September, declined in October. The Index now stands at 98.6 (1985=100), down from 103.5 in September. The Present Situation Index decreased from 127.9 to 120.6, while the Expectations Index declined from 87.2 last month to 83.9.
Manufacturing expanded in October as the PMI® registered 51.9 percent, an increase of 0.4 percentage point from the September reading of 51.5 percent, indicating growth in manufacturing for the second consecutive month. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.
Preview : Hartford, CT 10-Year Retail Category Special Section
Dramatic Changes in Retail Tenant Store Count and Square Footage Reflect Changes in Lifestyle and Shopping Habits:
In earlier Special Sections we’ve explored long-term changes in the Grocery and Restaurant categories. This year we’ve analyzed 10 years of data on occupancy changes in all retail tenant categories in Greater Hartford, and as we saw in Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire, the social values, shopping habits, and lifestyle choices of shoppers in this region have clearly influenced the retail real estate landscape to a high degree.
During this time period, consumers were hit with the Great Recession and emerged on the other side as more value-conscious shoppers. As a result, the past ten years has offered significant opportunity for dollar store development. Among the big three-Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Family Dollar-store count has gone from 21 to 43 units, making Variety Stores the fastest growing segment of retail space.
As noted earlier in this report, Medical & Dental Services is increasingly becoming a common tenant in shopping centers as demand for traditional retailers has eased somewhat. This trend is certainly reflected in its number two ranking, with this category more than doubling in space since 2006. Ironically, Drinking Places and Health & Fitness Services ended in a virtual tie, each category upping space by about one-half.
While the recession caused shoppers to be more cautious in their shopping in a number of categories, they were less willing to cut back when it came to pets. Consequently, the Pet Shops & Pet Supply Stores category increased its store count by more than 25% in the past decade, good enough to top the list among merchandise categories.
Medical & Dental Services and Drinking Places also finished in second and third place in the growth rate of new units just as they did in square footage.
The charts below track percentage changes in expansion and contraction by major retail tenant categories from 2006 through 2016 by square footage.
The 2016 KeyPoint Report for Greater Hartford, CT will be available very soon. The 2016 KeyPoint Reports for Eastern Massachusetts/Greater Boston and Southern New Hampshire are available now at KeyPointPartners.com.
Labels: Connecticut, Hartford, KeyPoint Report, retail trends
Retail Leasing: Vice President of Leasing Don Mace has negotiated a lease with Mr. Mac’s Macaroni & Cheese for 3,971 square feet of space at Tyngsboro Crossing, Tyngsboro, Massachusetts. Congratulations to our leasing team for completing new, renewal, and temporary leases at shopping centers in MA, RI, and CT totaling more than 103,000 SF with tenants such as Spirit Halloween, Gentle Dental, Webster Bank, Best Buy, Olympia Sports, Mooyah Burgers, and others... New Employees: Cheryl MacDougall joined the Burlington, MA office as an Accounts Payable Data Entry Clerk.
US retail sales rose 0.6% in September, a rebound after sales slipped 0.2% in August, the Commerce Department said. Department stores suffered a 0.7 % sales decline in September, part of a broader, long-term setback for anchor tenants at many malls that are competing with online outlets for customers. Stabilizing oil prices meant sales rose 2.4% at gas stations. Spending at restaurants improved 0.8%, while auto dealers, building materials stores and furnishers showed gains of 1% or more. During the first nine months of the year, retail sales have increased 2.9% over 2015. Among retailers still reporting monthly same-store sales, L Brands was up 3.0%, Gap was down 3.0%, and Costco was flat. See our sales reports below.
The parent company of 7-Eleven wants to more than double its US store portfolio. 7-Eleven Japan Co. is looking to open thousands of new stores in the US, increasing its current total of app. 8,500 locations to 20,000...ZIPS Dry Cleaners has signed leases for its next 4 stores, in California, Texas, Maryland and Pennsylvania. ZIPS operates nearly 50 stores in the Mid-Atlantic region...Dairy Queen is looking to the Buffalo Niagara area as a prime expansion market, adding 100 stores. Dairy Queen has more than 6,700 locations worldwide...Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom has signed franchise development agreements with three of its existing franchise partners to open nearly two dozen new restaurants across eight states. Old Chicago operates in 24 states with more than 100 restaurants nationwide... Fun Eats and Drinks LLC, a company formed by private-equity firm Kelly Investment Group, won an auction last week to acquire Last Call Guarantor LLC, the owner of sports bar chains Fox & Hound and Champps, out of bankruptcy with a bid of $26.8 million. Last Call operates 37 Fox & Hound restaurants, 14 Champps units and 4 Bailey’s locations....Club Pilates is projected to have 150 US studios before the end of 2016, and announced the sale of 300 new franchised locations in 27 states...Tractor Supply Company has paid $116 million to acquire Petsense LLC, a specialty retailer of pet supplies and services with 136 stores across 25 states...Cabela’s Inc agreed to be bought by Bass Pro Shops in a deal valued at $5.5 billion. The combined company will own 184 stores in the US and Canada... ThreeSixty Group has acquired FAO Schwarz from Toys “R” Us. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Toys “R” Us purchased FAO Schwarz in 2009. ThreeSixty has designed a portfolio of owned and licensed brands including Sharper Image, Black Series, Discovery Kids, Smithsonian, and Animal Planet. FAO Schwarz was the oldest toy store in the US when its sole remaining store, on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, closed in 2015. A new FAO Schwarz toy collection, designed by ThreeSixty, will be available at select retailers in the fall of 2017... Ross Stores is opening 25 Ross Dress for Less stores and 9 dd’s Discounts stores across 16 different states by the end of October, part of a plan to add approximately 90 locations in 2016. The company currently operates 1,342 Ross locations in 36 states, the District of Columbia and Guam, along with 193 dd’s Discounts stores in 15 states...Macy’s plans to open LensCrafters stores inside 280 locations by the end of 2017. The eyewear retailer is owned by Luxottica, as is Macy’s existing in-store partner Sunglass Hut. Macy’s currently operates about 675 full-line stores, but has announced it will be closing 100 stores by early 2017...Ulta Beauty raised its outlook for US store expansion to a range of 1,400 to 1,700 stores, with new stores targeted to smaller markets and urban markets. As of October 1, 2016 the company operates 928 retail stores across 49 states...Save-A-Lot plans to open 75 new stores in fiscal 2017, and believes the US can eventually support more than 3,500 stores. Save-A-Lot currently has 1,368 stores nationwide.
Golfsmith International Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy, hoping to reorganize or attract a buyer. Golfsmith said it would try to sell part of the chain while shutting some stores. If that fails, the Austin, Texas-based company will liquidate. The company blamed an aggressive plan that began in 2011 to open bigger stores that cost more to operate just as golf began to lose popularity...Kmart is closing 64 locations, in addition to a decision in April by parent Sears Holdings Corp. to close about 68 Kmart stores this year... Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp., owner of Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes, has filed for bankruptcy. The company plans to close locations and put itself up for sale. Garden Fresh plans to close 20 to 30 underperforming locations. The company has 124 units, primarily on the West Coast and in the Southwest. The brands are known as Souplantation in Southern California and Sweet Tomatoes elsewhere....Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. has closed 9 of its fast-casual Burger Works locations and is rebranding the remaining 3 as Red Robin Express...Walmart will slow the pace of new store openings to focus on online sales, improve existing stores, and invest in tech. Walmart now plans to open 130 US stores this year, less than the 135 to 155 stores it had forecast previously (and compared to 230 last year), and only 55 stores next year. Walmart operates about 4,500 US stores... Supervalu is selling its Save-A-Lot supermarket chain for $1.37 billion to Canadian private equity firm Onex Corp. The deal is expected to close before the end of January. There are more than 1,300 Save-A-Lot grocery stores.
Labels: Closings, Contracting, Decelerating, retail news
Boston’s second Trader Joe’s, the first within city limits to sell alcohol will open in Allston next year at the Continuum, a 335,000 s/f residential/retail project 219 Western Ave. The first Boston Trader Joe’s opened in 2001 in Back Bay. Trader Joe’s operates 18 MA stores. Nationwide, the company operates 455 stores in 41 states...H&M closed its 35,000 s/f store in Boston’s Downtown Crossing. H&M has stores on Newbury Street and in Cambridge...Krispy Kreme is opening 3 stores in Maine and 4 in New Hampshire under the franchise name NH Glazed LLC. The first will be completed this fall... Fast casual chain Cosi, Inc. filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions in the US Bankruptcy Court. There are currently 45 company-owned and 31 franchise restaurants...Nordstrom Rack opened last month at Braintree (MA) Marketplace in part of the building that had housed a K-Mart store. Also moving into the building is a Saks Off 5th Outlet store, which should be open in time for the holiday shopping season...L.L. Bean will establish its first urban location outside Maine in November. The retailer will open a 150 s/f kiosk in the Shops at Prudential Center in Boston, selling Bean Boots as well as a selection of outerwear and accessories. The company has three Boston-area stores, in Burlington, Dedham and Mansfield... Sephora opened its 16th Boston area store this month, a 3,800 s/f store will open at the Van Ness, a mixed-use development on Boylston St. The Van Ness includes a 232,000 s/f office and 174-unit residential tower atop a 165,000 s/f retail base anchored by Target...Rita’s Italian Ice and frozen custard opened its first MA location in Chelsea this month. The company has over 600 US locations around the country. Roxbury native Patricia Shelton plans up to 30 Boston area locations...Wegmans signed a lease for a 120,000 s/f store in Medford’s Meadow Glen Mall, to open in fall 2017. There are Wegmans locations in Burlington, Chestnut Hill, Northborough and Westwood, and plans for stores at the Natick Mall and Boston’s Landmark Center... Ohio-based REIT Phillips Edison grew its Bay State footprint with a purchase of the 732,000 s/f Hanover (MA) Mall from CWCapital. The regional mall opened in 1971 and was modernized in 2004. Tenants include Sears, Macy’s, Walmart’s, Office Max, Petco, Sleepy’s and Trader Joe’s. A 59,000 s/f stand-alone Dick’s Sporting Goods store opened in 2012 and Buffalo Wild Wings opened in an outparcel earlier this year.
Labels: New England, retail news
Labels: Indicators, Monthly Sales, Quarterly Sales, Retail Sales
Sales at retail stores, online retailers, and restaurants rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6% in September from the prior month, the Commerce Department reported. Spending excluding gas and autos rose a more modest 0.3%, though that was still the best gain in three months.
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had increased in August, improved further in September. The Index now stands at 104.1 (1985=100), up from 101.8 in August. The Present Situation Index rose from 125.3 to 128.5, while the Expectations Index improved from 86.1 last month to 87.8.
Labels: CCI, Consumer Confidence Index, Indicators
Manufacturing expanded in September as the PMI® registered 51.5 percent, an increase of 2.1 percentage points from the August reading of 49.4 percent, indicating growth in manufacturing following one month of contraction. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.
PREVIEW: The KeyPoint Report for Greater Hartford, CT
With the releases of The KeyPoint Reports on Eastern Massachusetts/Greater Boston and Southern New Hampshire behind us, it’s time to move on to the report for Greater Hartford, Connecticut, based on our proprietary GRIID™ retail database. As with the other reports, our modus operandi is to share some of the regional highlights while the complete version is still “baking”. In Greater Hartford, the 2016 retail market traveled further down the road to stability:
Retail Inventory and Vacancy: Total retail space in Greater Hartford currently totals 37.6 million square feet, a modest increase of 380,800 square feet from last year - in today’s environment, limiting new development should be regarded as a good thing. Most of the incremental gain can be attributed to the new 156,000 square foot Costco in Farmington.
At the same time the region added 421,000 square feet of vacant space, increasing the vacancy rate from 10.1% to 11.1%, which is higher than the 11.0% level experienced in 2014. As a result, absorption in the region turned negative this year by 40,200 square feet. NOTE: The other regions we study, Eastern Massachusetts/Greater Boston and Southern New Hampshire, also experienced a rise in vacancy rates this year.
Size Classifications: During 2016 the only retail size category to show a significant reduction in the vacancy rate was the 5,000-9,999 square foot range, from 12.4% to 11.3%. Macy’s closing in Enfield caused the 100,000-199,999 square foot bracket to jump up to a 5.8% vacancy rate after showing full occupancy last year. After experiencing the highest vacancy rates a year ago, the rates for two categories under 5,000 square feet went even higher this year; small independent retailers are largely to blame. However, the largest increase in vacancy rate occurred in the 50,000-99,999 square foot range, with Macy’s again playing a role with the closing of a second Enfield unit.
Town Rankings: The top ten among Greater Hartford towns, based on square feet of retail space supply, remains unchanged. It should be no surprise that the top three towns are Manchester, West Hartford, and Enfield, all regional retail hubs serving Greater Hartford. Manchester dominates the region with 5.4 million square feet of retail space; West Hartford comes in a distant second with 3.0 million square feet. However, it should be noted that the 1.3 million square foot Westfarms regional mall, which straddles the West Hartford/Farmington line, has a Farmington address but is very much rooted in the West Hartford retail hub. Consequently, West Hartford is effectively a 4.0 million square foot market.
Regarding vacancy, lowest rates were found in Rocky Hill, Newington, and Plainville, all below 6.0%. Rocky Hill was the only town below 5.0%. Farmington and West Hartford complete the top five. Among towns with the highest vacancy rates, only East Windsor was above the 20% level, an improvement from last year when three towns were above that threshold. Vacant Walmart and Showcase Cinema buildings are primarily responsible for the considerably high rate in East Windsor. East Hartford, Berlin, New Britain, and Hartford fill out the top five.
Retailer Activity: The largest retail development in Greater Hartford last year was the opening of a new 156,000 square foot Costco in New Britain. By acquiring Sleepy’s, Mattress Firm entered the Greater Hartford region and now occupies 99,600 square feet, putting them in second place. Ashley Furniture Homestore opened a 42,600 square foot store in Newington in the space formerly occupied by T-Bowl Lanes bowling alley to round out the top three retailers adding square footage in the region. In the ranking of retailers by added stores, Mattress Firm is at the top with 16 recently acquired units. Advance Auto Parts netted four stores via the Carquest acquisition. O’Reilly Auto Parts and Sport Clips followed, each adding three new units.
As previously mentioned, Macy’s closed two stores in Enfield at Enfield Mall totaling 237,700 square feet, the largest contraction of space in the region. The acquisition by Mattress Firm removed 116,100 square feet of Sleepy’s store space from the region. Walmart closed its only Neighborhood Market location in the region, a 59,700 square foot store in West Hartford. Among retailers reducing store count in the region, Sleepy’s led the way with 19 locations. Carquest Auto Parts contracted by five stores as a result of the Advance Auto Parts acquisition. Radio Shack also reduced its store count by three units.
The KeyPoint Report examines the retail real estate marketplace for Greater Hartford, Connecticut, with a focus on changes between August 2014 and July 2015. This report provides an analysis of changes in the region’s retail activity and examines supply, vacancy and absorption, retailer activity, and market composition by store size and retail categories.
The Greater Hartford market includes 26 cities and towns and represents more than 835 square miles. The complete report contains much more detailed information on these categories and more, and will be available soon at KeyPointpartners.com.
KeyPoint Partners’ GRIID™ database maintains detailed information on virtually all retail properties in three key regions: Eastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire and Greater Hartford, Connecticut. These markets encompass approximately 44% of all retail space in New England. GRIID™ has information on nearly 262 million square feet of retail space and approximately 60,000 retail establishments. The KeyPoint Reports contain a summary and analysis of market trends and activity for each studied area.
Labels: Connecticut, Hartford, KeyPoint Partners, KeyPoint Report, New England, retail trends
New Business: The leasing team added the following retail leasing assignments: An additional Shaw’s Disposition property: the 68,337 s/f former Kmart at 1465 Woodbury Avenue in Portsmouth, NH; Buttonwoods Plaza, a 60,000+ s/f center in Warwick, RI anchored by Ocean State Job Lot, with 10,486 s/f available. VP of Leasing Don Mace is handling the assignment; Shoppes at Long Pond, 55-69 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA ( managed by KPP) VP of Leasing Rob Grady and Sr. Associate Michael Branton are handling...VP of Research Bob Sheehan appeared on the New Hampshire’s Business segment hosted by Fred Kocher on WMUR TV, New Hampshire’s ABC station to talk about our 2016 KeyPoint Report on Southern New Hampshire: VIDEO
Sales at US retailers declined 0.3% in August, Commerce Department figures showed. Core sales, which exclude such categories as autos, gasoline stations and building materials, declined 0.1%. Purchases at auto dealers dropped 0.9% and those at service stations fell 0.8%. Purchases fell 1.4% on building materials, sporting goods, books and music. Food and beverage spending was up 0.3% and clothing gained 0.7%. Among retailers still reporting monthly same-store sales, L Brands was up 2.0%, Gap was down 3.0%, and Costco was up 2%. See our sales reports below.
Aldi is building a divisional headquarters and distribution center in VA. Aldi has opened 7 stores in the Richmond region in the past year, and plans at least 2 more this year. Aldi has 32 stores in VA, and plans to open up to 60 more across the state in the next 5 years... Bob’s Discount Furniture will expand into St. Louis with two new showrooms, and add two Chicago stores, during the first quarter. Bob’s operates 73 stores...Cato Corporation opened 1 store and relocated 2 stores in the second quarter. The Company now expects to open 12 new stores during 2016, down from an estimated 23 stores. As of July 30, the Company operated 1,373 stores in 33 states....Tops Friendly Markets opened 6 stores last month in NY and MA that it recently acquired from Stop & Shop and Hannaford Supermarkets...West Elm opened its 100th store, at Empire Stores, in Brooklyn, NY, the first tenant to open in the restored 19th-century coffee warehouse. West Elm will open a location in Wayland Square, Providence, RI this month, and another that will anchor the Downtown Palm Springs (CA) Revitalization Project....5 Frank’s Auto Supermarket stores in PA have become part of national chain O’Reilly Auto Parts. As of June 30, O’Reilly Auto Parts had 4,660 locations in 44 state...Cookware chain Southern Season was sold at auction last month to Calvert Retail LP. Calvert owns 6 Kitchen & Company stores and 2 Reading China & Glass stores. Southern Season filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 24...Modell’s Sporting Goods opened two stores in metro New York last month, bringing its total store count to 156 locations. The openings include Modell’s 11th location in Brooklyn, and a store in in Mount Kisco...DSW Inc. will open 21 stores nationwide between August and October. The footwear retailer currently operates 482 stores in 42 states...Sears is launching an in-store shop concept, called Showcase at Sears, which will feature 10 European and Latin American men’s, women’s and children’s apparel brands,most available for the first time in the US. The concept will initially launch in 5 New York-area stores this fall. Sears is building 10,000 to 15,000 s/f Showcase boutiques in each location...Ben’s Soft Pretzels plans to bring 15 new eateries to the Milwaukee area by 2021. The growth is part of a national expansion effort with more than 20 stores in development for 2016 and a master license agreement to open inside every newly constructed Meijer location. It has a similar master lease agreement with Wal-Mart to open a pretzel bakery in any open Walmart store tenant space. Ben’s Soft Pretzels has more than 75 locations in 8 states...Amazon Books has confirmed plans for a 7,200 s/f store in Chicago. Amazon Books opened its first store last fall in Seattle, and plans a store in San Diego this summer, 1 in Portland, OR later this year, and one at Legacy Place in Dedham, MA - no opening date has been announced...True Food Kitchen will open its first Northern CA location in Palo Alto next month. True Food Kitchen has 12 locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas, Georgia and Virginia, with 4 more planned throughout the country in 2016...Nordstrom has entered into a deal with J. Crew to sell an assortment of J.Crew apparel in 16 select full-line Nordstrom stores and on its website this month. In 2015, Nordstrom entered into an arrangement with J. Crew’s Madewell brand. The collection was recently expanded to 20 additional stores, and is now available at 76 Nordstrom locations and at Nordstrom.com...Five Below opened a store in Lower Macungie Township, PA this month, the company’s 500th store and its 59th in PA... Boston’s Restaurant & Sports Bar is on its way to its goal of 100 locations by 2019 with several recent openings and franchise signings, including a deal for 2 units in El Paso, TX and recent openings in Arizona, Michigan, Maryland, and Virginia. Boston’s has 29 locations in 22 states...Fantastic Sams has been approved for a franchisee lending program through The Bancorp Bank which provides start-up funding for franchisees, as well as expansion and remodel funding for existing franchisees. Fantastic Sams has more than 1,100 locations...Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes opened its 100th restaurant this month, a franchised unit in Tuscaloosa, AL... J. Crew plans to open 36 new stores this year, including 3 flagship J. Crew retail locations, 23 factory stores and 10 Madewell stores...Crown & Ivy, the private label brand launched by Belk in 2014, is opening its first standalone store in Raleigh, NC. Private equity firm Sycamore Partners bought Belk last year...Roark Capital Group has acquired a majority stake in Jimmy John’s Sandwiches. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The sandwich chain joins a list of concepts controlled by Roark Capital: CKE Restaurants, Arby’s, and Naf Naf Grill. Once the Jimmy John’s deal is completed, Roark Capital will have acquired 56 franchised or multi-unit brands with 25,000 locations...Petco will open 13 new Petco stores across the country and relocate 1 store in September. The company will also transition 31 existing Unleashed by Petco stores to smaller format Petco stores this month... Aeropostale Inc. won court permission to sell its assets to buyers led by Simon Property Group Inc. and General Growth Properties Inc. The group prevailed at auction with a $243 million bid and a plan to keep open at least 229 stores...American Finance Trust Inc. (AFIN) acquired all outstanding common stock of American Realty Capital/Retail Centers of America Inc. (RCA) for approximately $1.4 billion. The merger creates a retail REIT with an enterprise value of approximately $3.9 billion. The combined company will retain the AFIN name and continue to be led by AFIN’s management team. The combined portfolio includes 494 properties totaling 20.8 million s/f of single-tenant net lease, power center, and lifestyle center assets...Amazon opened 21 pop-up electronics stores in 12 states.
Perry Ellis will close 15 underperforming stores over the next 18 months as it shifts its focus to e-commerce...The owner of sports bar chains Fox & Hound and Champps closed 25 locations, as the company received a lifeline from Kelly Investment Group that will enable it to operate through an expected auction next month. Last Call’s bankruptcy is its second since 2013. Going into the bankruptcy, Fox and Hound had 48 locations, Bailey’s had 9 and Champps 23. Last Call now operates 37 Fox & Hound locations, four Bailey’s and 14 Champps.
Labels: Closings, Contracting, Decelerating
The biggest New Hampshire State Liquor Store ever opened in Nashua last month. The 33,000 s/f store offers over 7,000 kinds of wine and hard liquor...Electric car maker Tesla Motors already has a store at Prudential Center in Boston, but plans to move to newer space on the ground floor of the new tower at 888 Boylston St. by the end of the year.. Cosi, the Boston-based restaurant chain, fired its CEO amid declining sales, continuing losses and a declining share price. The company has 76-company-owned and 31 franchisee-owned stores in 16 states...The closing of the Howard Johnson restaurant in Bangor, ME this month leaves only 1 restaurant in a chain that once numbered more than 800. Howard Deering Johnson started the business in 1925, when he inherited a soda fountain outside Boston. That evolved into a chain of restaurants featuring comfort food and 28 flavors of ice cream. The remaining restaurant is in Lake George, NY... Buffalo Wild Wings is opening at the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua next month, its 5th NH location. Buffalo Wild Wings runs about 1,200 restaurants globally...New Balance’s real estate arm will start construction soon on its 295-unit apartment building and the Boston Celtics’ new practice facility in Brighton. All three projects are part of Boston Landing, NB Development Group’s 15-acre, mixed-use development that includes the brand’s new global headquarters. Five new eateries will also open at Boston Landing next spring or early summer, including Seaport Grill. Names of the other restaurants were not disclosed.
Labels: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New England, New Hampshire, retail news, Rhode Island
US retail sales declined 0.3% in August, the Commerce Department said. It was the first decline in retail sales since March. Sales increased 0.1% in July, a small upward revision from an initial flat reading. Excluding autos, retail sales last month fell 0.1%.
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had decreased slightly in July, increased in August. The Index now stands at 101.1 (1985=100), compared to 96.7 in July. The Present Situation Index rose from 118.8 to 123.0, while the Expectations Index improved from 82.0 last month to 86.4.
Labels: Consumer Confidence Index, Indicators
Manufacturing contracted in August as the PMI® registered 49.4 percent, a decrease of 3.2 percentage points from the July reading of 52.6 percent, indicating contraction in manufacturing for the first time since February 2016 when the PMI registered 49.5. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.
Labels: Indicators, Purchasing Managers Index
Preview : So. NH 10-Year Retail Category Special Section
In earlier Special Sections we’ve explored long-term changes in the Grocery and Restaurant categories. This year we’ve analyzed 10 years of data on occupancy changes in all retail tenant categories in Southern New Hampshire, and as we saw in Eastern Massachusetts, the social values, shopping habits, and lifestyle choices of shoppers in this region have clearly influenced the retail real estate landscape.
The 2011 entry of Ulta Beauty into the region lifted Beauty Supplies and Cosmetics to the top of the square footage growth chart during the past decade, with space in that category increasing by a whopping 177%.
Another category showing phenomenal growth was Variety Stores, which grew by 133%; Dollar General and Dollar Tree both entered the region, driving this merchandise segment into second place. And even with the recent demise of Sports Authority, Sporting Goods managed to add 50% to its space inventory. This was attributable to the opening of three new Dick’s stores, and the fact that Sports Authority opened and closed two of its four units during this time frame.
The liquidation of several chains, including Circuit City, Tweeter, and Cambridge Sound Works, as well as some Radio Shack closings, had a hand in reducing Electronics Stores space by 50%, the most of any category. Furniture Stores also experienced a significant decline, currently occupying 31% less space now than in 2006. Office Supplies was marginally better, with category space reducing by 29%. Although Staples store count remained stable in the region, square footage was reduced by more than 50,000 square feet as the company opted for smaller stores.
Beauty Supplies and Cosmetics not only led the pack in percentage gain by total space, but also in store count with a gain of 78%. Medical and Dental Services came in second with a gain of 30%, as non-retail users become a more viable option when canvassing for shopping center replacement tenants. Drinking Places increased by 29% during the past decade.
At the opposite end of the chart, Electronics Stores experienced the largest setback with a reduced store count of 54%. Gift Shops and Florists were far behind, experiencing store count declines of 34% and 33%, respectively. These categories, which are comprised largely of independent, mom-and-pop operators, have struggled to remain in business during the past decade.
The chart below tracks percentage changes in expansion and contraction by major retail tenant categories from 2006 through 2016 by square footage.
The 2016 KeyPoint Report for Southern New Hampshire will be available very soon.
The 2016 KeyPoint Report for Eastern Massachusetts/Greater Boston is available now at KeyPointPartners.com (click on Research Reports).
Labels: Commentary, New England, New Hampshire, Retail Research, retail trends
New Business: The leasing team added the following retail leasing assignments: Red Rock Plaza, 1385 South Washington Street, North Attleboro, MA; 308 Walnut Street, Newtonville, MA; and 145-165 Rhode Island Avenue, Fall River, MA. Senior Leasing Associate Michael Branton is handling. With these latest assignments, the current leasing portolio consists of 78 retail properties totaling almost 7.5 million s/f in 4 states. The leasing team has completed transactions totaling nearly 56,000 s/f in June and July at shopping centers in MA and CT, new leases and renewals, with such tenants as Outback Steakhouse, Spirit Halloween, Santander Bank, GNC, CVS, Lady Grace, Angelo’s Coal Fired Pizza, and others.
US retail sales were flat in July, a potential stumbling block for an economy that has relied on healthy consumer spending to propel growth. Sales climbed 0.8% in June, revised up from an earlier estimate of 0.6% growth. From a year earlier, total retail sales were up 2.3%. Sales at auto and parts dealers rose 1.1% in July. Among retailers reporting monthly comp-store sales, L Brands was up 2.0%, Gap was down 4.0%, and Costco was down 2%. See our sales reports below...Newly formed entity Ahold Delhaize revealed a new logo combining the crown and lion iconography of its respective partners. The new visual identity was revealed as part of a new website for the company, which completed their $29 billion merger. Ahold Delhaize will operate 2,000 US stores under the Stop & Shop, Giant, bfresh, Martin’s, Hannaford and Food Lion banners, as well as the Peapod e-commerce brand.
Labels: Industry News, National, Retail Sales, retail trends
Target will open a 42,367 s/f 2-level store in Manhattan’s East Village...PizzaRev announced a franchise agreement to develop the chain throughout the northern part of Louisiana. There are more than 200 PizzaRev locations in various stages of development across the country. The brand currently operates 42 corporate and franchise locations in 11 states...Versa Capital Management has formed a new holding company, called Eastern Outfitters, which will continue the restructured operations of Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) and Bob’s Stores. The news comes several months after Vestis Retail Group LLC, an entity of Versa that operated Bob’s, EMS and Sport Chalet, filed for Chapter 11. The company subsequently shut down Sport Chalet. EMS and Bob’s will now operate as business units of Eastern Outfitters. Other retailers in Versa’s portfolio include Avenue Stores, The Wet Seal and Black Angus Steakhouses...Chipotle’s burger concept, Tasty Made, will make its debut in Lancaster, OH this fall. The new concept will specialize in burgers, fries, and milkshakes...Dollar General bought 41 former Walmart Express stores in 11 states. The company will relocate 40 of its existing Dollar General stores into these new, slightly-larger locations by October. The retailer will also operate gas stations in 37 of the locations. In January, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. shut down all 102 of its Walmart Express stores, part of an effort to shutter 269 underperforming stores worldwide and 154 in the US...GameStop Corp. acquired 507 AT&T wireless stores in 26 states as part of a plan to diversify... Steinhoff International Holdings will acquire Mattress Firm, the largest mattress retailer in the US, whose assets include Sleepy’s. Steinhoff is an integrated retailer that manufactures, sources and sells furniture, household goods and clothing in Europe, Africa and Australia. It operates more than 40 brands in 30 countries. The acquisition is expected to create the largest multi-brand mattress retail distribution network in the world. Mattress Firm operates more than 3,500 stores in 48 states. The acquisition is expected to close by or around the end of the third calendar quarter, subject to regulatory approvals... Abercrombie & Fitch has been developing a new prototype. The chain will unveil its new look early next year, at Polaris Fashion Place, in Columbus, OH, with a new aesthetic and updated merchandise selections...Dick’s Sporting Goods will open six stores this fall in the Houston area, up from the five it had previously announced...Fazoli’s, fast casual Italian chain, announced the signing of nine multi-unit and single-unit franchise agreements to develop 22 new restaurants nationwide. Fazoli’s has nearly 220 restaurants in 24 states..Domino’s Pizza celebrated the grand opening of its 13,000th store in the world, located outside of Seattle... Flying Tiger Copenhagen is expanding its US footprint. The discounter Danish-designed goods is set to open its fourth NYC location. Flying Tiger opened its first store in 1995, in Copenhagen. In 2015, the retailer opened more than two new stores every week. It currently operates more than 650 stores in 28 countries...Fast casual restaurant Newk’s Eatery is expanding into Virginia with a development agreement to open 10 locations in Fairfax and Arlington counties over the next 6 years. Newk’s currently operates and franchises more than 100 units in 13 states...Children’s salon Snip-its will open 16 CA locations in the next five years. The chain currently has 63 locations in the US, including 3 in California... Blaze Pizza, the fastest-growing restaurant chain in 2015, according to research group Technomic, has expanded to 150 locations, with 350 more slated to open by 2020...Buffalo Wings & Rings has grown to 70 franchises across the globe. In 2016, the brand opened new franchises in South Dakota and Texas, and has signed franchise agreements for up to 5 more locations before year’s end. Another 8- 10 locations are expected in 2017...Mission BBQ will open a location in King of Prussia, PA. The company has five PA restaurants, and will open at least two more next year...Jinya Ramen Bar has 12 franchised restaurants in California, Texas, Washington, Chicago Las Vegas, and Canada. 10 more will open before the end of the year...TJX increased its store count by 14 stores in the quarter, bringing its total store count to 3,675 locations...Skechers opened a flagship store at the new World Trade Center in Manhattan. With 1,545 stores worldwide, Skechers anticipates more than 1,600 locations by year end....Tuesday Morning opened an updated prototype at two Texas locations. The format feature new fixtures, flooring, improved lighting and a redesigned layout, as well as an expanded assortment of goods. Since January 1, Tuesday Morning has opened 8 new locations and relocated or expanded 34 stores. The company plans to upgrade more than 35 additional locations by year-end...Michaels purchased the rights to Hancock Fabrics’ brand and intellectual property for $1.3 million from US Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. Hancock was in the process of closing 70 stores when it filed for bankruptcy in February. Unable to locate a buyer for the remaining 185 units, it shuttered them in April. Michaels has 1,300 locations.
Labels: Accelerating, Acquisition, Expansion
Fired Up Inc., operator of casual dining chain Johnny Carino’s Italian, filed for its second bankruptcy in three years this week and is looking for a buyer. Carino’s has been closing locations in recent years, and currently owns 36 company stores and franchises another 48...Office Depot Inc. will close about 300 more stores in the next three years to help cut annual costs by $250-million by the end of 2018. The company had closed 400 stores by the end of the second quarter...Macy’s Inc. announced that it will close 100 full-line namesake stores. Macy’s said it plans to concentrate resources on its best-performing locations. The majority of the 100 stores will close in early 2017, with the balance closing as leases expire or are amended or waived. Macy’s will announce the locations of the stores to be shuttered at a later date. Over the past six years (2010 through 2016 to date), approximately 90 Macy’s stores have been closed and 13 new Macy’s stores have been opened. In addition, six new Macy’s Backstage off-price locations opened in fall 2015. Macy’s currently operates about 880 stores under the names of Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Bloomingdale’s Outlet, Macy’s Backstage and Bluemercury, including 728 Macy’s stores... Ruby Tuesday Inc. will close about 95 underperforming restaurants, 15% of its company-owned restaurants, by September. At the end of the fourth quarter, Ruby Tuesday had 646 company-owned restaurants.
NAI Entertainment Holdings LLC, an affiliate of National Amusements, has sold off a Home Depot store in West Roxbury for $34 million...Del Frisco’s Grille will open a 3rd MA location at Westwood’s University Station next year... American Realty Advisors acquired the shops at University Station in Westwood for $206 million. Wegmans anchors the retail portion of University Station. Other tenants include Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls and PetSmart. The property is situated across the street from the Amtrak/MBTA commuter rail station, which transports 1.3 million travelers annually. New England Development will continue to serve as the management and leasing agent for the retail center.
US retail sales were flat in July, the Commerce Department said. Sales had climbed 0.8% in June, revised up from an earlier estimate of 0.6% growth.
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had increased in June, was relatively unchanged in July. The Index now stands at 97.3 (1985=100), compared to 97.4 in June. The Present Situation Index increased from 116.6 to 118.3, while the Expectations Index edged down to 83.3 from 84.6 in June.
Manufacturing expanded in July as the PMI® registered 52.6 percent, a decrease of 0.6 percentage point from the June reading of 53.2 percent, indicating growth in manufacturing for the fifth consecutive month. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.
Preview : KeyPoint Report for Southern New Hampshire
While the 2016 KeyPoint Report for Southern New Hampshire, based on our proprietary GRIID™ retail database, is in production, we will again share some of the early results:
Inventory and Vacancy Rate: The retail inventory in Southern New Hampshire included 29.8 million square feet in 2016. This represents a net decline of 109,400 square feet, or 0.4%, resulting largely from retail demolitions and conversions to non-retail space. There were significant new store additions, however, negating most of the reduction in square footage within the region. The single largest new development was Walmart Supercenter in Manchester, replacing a nearby traditional store which will be converted to Carmax. The largest demolition in the region was the former Macy’s building in Bedford. This site will be redeveloped as a mixed-use project dubbed Bedford Place, including retail, office, medical and restaurant space.
Another major change that will occur is the planned 10-screen Chunky’s theater that will occupy a significant portion of the former Lowe’s in Manchester. The former Lowe’s has been available since 2011. A number of closings in Southern New Hampshire during the past year resulted in an increase of 256,700 square feet of unoccupied space in the region, jumping the vacancy rate from 9.6% to 10.5%, about the level experienced in 2014. Two-thirds of the incremental gain can be attributed to the recent closing of four Sports Authority stores.
Size Classifications: Looking at vacancy rates by store size, it was not encouraging to see all categories less than 100,000 square feet showing a rise in vacancy rates between 2015 and 2016. However, the 50,0000-99,999 square foot segment was impacted by a reduction in vacant square footage in the 135,197 square foot Lowe’s vacancy (noted above), resulting from Chunky’s commitment to occupy a portion of this unit. Consequently, the 100,000-199,999 square foot classification now has less vacancy than last year. Not surprisingly, the vacancy rate in the 25,000-49,999 square foot bracket showed the sharpest rise with the four vacant Sports Authority stores included in this size range. Vacancy among smaller independent retailers continues to troublesome as both classifications less than 5,000 square feet have significantly higher vacancy rates this year versus last.
Regional Submarket Rankings: There has been no change in the top ten largest regional markets: Nashua continues to rank first with 6.3 million square feet of inventory; Manchester follows at 5.3 million square feet; and Salem is a distant third at 3.8 million square feet. Seabrook and Bedford follow with 2.0 million square feet and 1.6 million square feet, respectively.
Among towns with at least 500,000 square feet of retail space, Salem tops the rankings for lowest vacancy rate at 4.8%. Bedford, last year’s top-ranked community, dropped out of the top five as a result of the closing of a Hannaford store, which relocated to the former Stop & Shop in Bedford. Hudson is this year’s runner-up at 6.8%. Nashua, Derry, and Exeter complete the top five. Seabrook continues to have the highest vacancy rate in the region at 17.8%, although this figure will decline if the vacant Walmart store at Seacoast Shopping Center is acquired by Ocean State Job Lot, which has been reported. Manchester remains in second place and North Hampton moved up one spot to third.
Retailer Activity: Fitlab Fitness Club led the way in incremental space in Southern New Hampshire by acquiring and rebranding the five Gold’s Gym locations in Southern New Hampshire. A new Dick’s Sporting Goods store in Salem moved this retailer into second place. Walmart was third following a Manchester relocation of its traditional store to a supercenter prototype, netting 65,300 square feet of new retail space. Mattress Firm tied Fitlab Fitness Club for the most new store locations, both adding five units. No other retailer added more than two locations, Aldi and Orangetheory Fitness among these. The demolition of Macy’s in Bedford caused this retailer to lose the most retail space in the region. The liquidation of Sports Authority placed this retailer in second place. Gold’s Gym was a distant third with all locations converting to Fitlab Fitness Club. Gold’s Gym was also the leader in the number of stores closed with five. Sports Authority was second with four stores and 7-Eleven followed with three units. The complete report contains more detailed information on these categories and more, and will be available soon at KeyPointpartners.com.
This KeyPoint Report examines changes in supply, vacancy and absorption, retailer activity, and market composition by store size and retail categories during the period from June 2015 to June 2016. The study area includes 39 cities and towns, representing more than 835 square miles and approximately 550,300 permanent residents (42% of the state population). KeyPoint Partners’ GRIID™ database maintains detailed information on virtually all retail properties in three key regions: Eastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire and Greater Hartford, Connecticut. These markets encompass approximately 44% of all retail space in New England. GRIID™ has information on approximately 263 million square feet of retail space and approximately 59,700 retail establishments. The KeyPoint Reports contain a summary and analysis of retail market trends and activity for each studied market area.
New Leasing Assignments: Burlington Center Village, Burlington, MA, a new development on the site of the former Building #19 on Route 3A. Sr. Associate Michael Branton and VP of Leasing Rob Grady are handling the assignment. Shaw’s Disposition: The Leasing Team will lease multiple vacant former Shaw’s Supermarkets locations in New England, and sell a parcel of land in southern New Hampshire. Rob Grady, VP of Leasing Don Mace, and Sr. Leasing Associate Michael Branton will handle the assignments. The available spaces range in size from approximately 48,100 to 68,700 square feet. The parcel of land for sale consists of approximately 9.78 acres at the intersection of Route 107 & Route 101 in Raymond, New Hampshire. Complete information about these opportunities, including site plans, photos, and market information, can be found at KeyPointPartners.com (click on Shaw’s Disposition).
US retail sales rose sharply in June, a sign consumers are spending at a healthy clip and propping up the economy after a slow start earlier in the year. Retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6% to mark the third straight strong gain.The surge in spending was led by home-and-garden centers and online stores. Sales at stores that sell building materials and garden supplies soared 3.9% to mark the biggest increase since 2010. These purchases accounted for about 42% of the total increase in retail sales last month. Gas stations and even department stores also recorded strong sales. Gas prices increased in the spring and early summer, though prices have since leveled off. Sales at apparel stores fell 1%, restaurants lost business and sales at purveyors of electronics and appliances were flat. Among retailers reporting monthly comp-store sales, L Brands was up 6.0%, Gap was up 2.0%, and Costco was flat See our sales reports below...Dick’s Sporting Goods was the victor at the bankruptcy auction for Sports Authority. Dick’s bid $15 million for the brand name and other intellectual property, beating Sports Direct International PLC’s $13 million bid. Dick’s also had the winning bid for 31 Sports Authority store leases, for an additional $8 million. The bids are subject to the approval of the US Bankruptcy Court.
Labels: National, Retail Sales, retail trends
Brookshire Grocery Co. will open 26 locations this summer under its new Spring Market banner. The stores will be on the sites of former Walmart Express stores that Brookshire is in the process of acquiring. The locations range from southern Louisiana to west Texas...Tesla has entered a partnership with Nordstrom department stores, and will open a “gallery” in Nordstrom at The Grove, Los Angeles. The 400 s/f display will feature a Model X electric crossover, and Tesla will offer test drives outside the store. The mini Tesla Store will remain open through the end of the year as a pilot...Amazon plans to open a third Amazon Books this fall, at Washington Square Mall just outside of Portland Oregon. Amazon debuted the concept in Seattle in November. It is scheduled to open a second location this summer, at Westfield UTC Mall, an open-air center near the University of California’s San Diego campus. Amazon Books is also slated to open in Hudson Yards, the planned retail, commercial and residential development in NYC. Hudson Yards stores are projected to open in late 2018 or early 2019....ALDI is expanding in New Jersey. The supermarket chain opened a store in Bloomfield, its 37th location in the state, and several more will open later this year. The company has more than 1,500 stores in 34 states, and plans to open about 130 new stores each year in the future...Ross Stores opened 8 new dd’s Discounts stores this month, bringing its total to near 190 units. Ross Stores operates 1,274 off-price apparel and home goods units in 34 states...Bridgestone Retail Operations LLC is looking to expand its retail reach, which currently includes 2,200 company-owned stores in 48 states, which operate under four brands: Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires Plus, and Wheel Works. The company plans to get to 3,000-3,500 stores via new store openings, as well as acquisitions. Bridgestone is adding 25 new stores in 2016, probably 40 stores in 2017, and as many as 60 or 65 stores each year after that... PetSmart Inc. opened 12 net new stores for the quarter ending May 1, 2016. The company opened 50 net new stores in 2015 and expects to open approximately 80 in fiscal year 2016. PetSmart operates 1,466 stores in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico...Barnes & Noble Inc. is set to unveil four concept stores in the next year that will feature restaurants serving alcohol. The chain, which owns 640 bookstores nationwide, aims to combat weak store traffic with expanded cafes serving beer and wine, as well as a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, with waiter service...Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza announced that its 150th restaurant is set to open next month in Houston, its fourth location in this Texas market, with restaurants now open in 31 states and development underway in 48 US markets. The company is planning to open an average of one new restaurant every four days, with its 500th location projected to open in about three years...Fast-casual seafood restaurant chain Slapfish has signed a multi-state franchise deal which will introduce the chain in Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Texas... Kellogg’s will open Kellogg’s NYC, its first-ever permanent café, at 1600 Broadway this month. The café will serve dishes featuring Kellogg’s cereals available with an array of unique ingredients. Customers can customize their dishes by choosing from dozens of toppings. The café will have dine in or carry out options and there are plans to launch a delivery service later in the year...Fresh Thyme market opened its 40th store, the first in Omaha, last month. Two other Omaha stores will open shortly after the new year. Fresh Thyme plans to open 20 to 25 stores a year, for a total of 150 across the Midwest in the next four years, and may look to an initial public offering a few years down the road...Westfield Garden State Plaza is rebuilding one of its entrances and remodeling a prime corner of the Paramus mall to create a showcase space for luxury furniture seller Design Within Reach. DWR will move into a new 12,000 s/f store in October. Design Within Reach started as a catalog company and later began opening retail stores. The company has an outlet store in Secaucus and 3 stores in Manhattan... PGA Tour Superstore will open a 45,500 s/f store at Woodlands Shopping Center, Houston, in a former Sports Authority location, this fall. PGA Tour recently took over another Sports Authority location, in Glendale, AZ, which will open in 2017...Convenience store chain Sheetz is opening 4 stores this month in 4 different states: WV, NC, OH, and PA. Sheetz, operates more than 500 stores... uBreakiFix, which specializes in repair of small electronic such as smartphones, game consoles, tablets, and computer, announced significant growth for the second quarter of 2016: a total of 27 new stores, 3 of which were in new markets for the brand. The company ended the second quarter with 212 locations across North America. Between July 1 and Sept 30, uBreakiFix plans to open 31 new stores in existing markets and new markets including Boston, and plans to have 275 corporate and franchise locations in operation by the end of 2016... Petco will open five new Petco stores across the country this month, and is remodeling 12 stores. Petco operates more than 1,430 Petco locations and more than 115 Unleashed by Petco locations...Delhaize Group and Ahold have reached agreements with buyers to divest 86 US stores. The companies’ merger is set for completion at the end of July, pending final approval by the FTC. The divested stores are in a limited number of locations in which the companies’ subsidiaries both operate, and represent 4.1% of the Ahold and Delhaize Group companies’ total combined US store count. When the merger is complete, Ahold Delhaize will operate some 6,500 stores.
Preview : Hartford, CT 10-Year Retail Category Sp...
Preview : So. NH 10-Year Retail Category Special ...
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Viewpoints: Strong Push Needed To Help More Smokers Kick The Habit; That Was An OxyContin Settlement?
Opinion writers weigh in on these public health issues and others.
New England Journal of Medicine: Redoubling Efforts To Help Americans Quit Smoking — Federal Initiatives To Tackle The Country’s Longest-Running Epidemic
The 2020 U.S. Surgeon General’s report on smoking cessation1 is the first such report to focus on this topic since 1990. Its release came as the Department of Health and Human Services was investigating an outbreak of deadly lung injuries linked to the use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Although these products pose a new public health challenge, we cannot lose sight of the fact that the burden of death and disease associated with tobacco use in the United States is still overwhelmingly caused by combusted tobacco products, especially conventional cigarettes. The rate of cigarette smoking among U.S. adults is 13.7%, its lowest point since monitoring of smoking rates began in 1965, yet smoking remains the country’s leading preventable cause of death and disease, and it costs the United States more than $300 billion annually. Increasing smoking-cessation rates among adults is the fastest way to reduce this health and economic burden. As leaders of three of the federal agencies responsible for reducing tobacco-product use, we are committed to intensifying our efforts to help Americans quit smoking. (Robert R. Redfield, Stephen M. Hahn, and Norman E. Sharpless, 10/21)
Los Angeles Times: OxyContin Settlement No Fix For Harm Purdue Pharma Has Caused
The prescription opioid crisis that has taken well over 100,000 American lives and ruined hundreds of thousands more wasn’t just an accident of time or the byproduct of a dysfunctional society. It was in good part the deliberate result of unethical and occasionally illegal machinations by the pharmaceutical industry, particularly by Purdue Pharma, which paid kickbacks and willfully misled physicians and the public to boost sales of its addictive signature drug, OxyContin. The company has now pleaded guilty to criminal charges in a federal settlement that doesn’t even begin to make up for the harm Purdue has caused. It takes back hardly any of the billions the company has made while addicting a nation. In fact, despite Purdue’s admission of guilt and a settlement purportedly worth $8.3 billion, the agreement is a whole lot less than it seems. (10/22)
Dallas Morning News: New Rules For Texas Social Workers Allow Discrimination And Imperil Those In Need
The Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners recently changed its Code of Conduct to no longer prohibit social workers from turning away clients on the basis of disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. This new rule is not only inhumane but also contradicts what social work professionals stand for. As social workers, we have a responsibility to serve everyone in need and to uphold the dignity of all. It is not often that the deans of a leading school of social work in Texas object publicly to a decision made by a state licensing board. But this decision warrants it. This decision threatens the practice of licensed professional social workers and the many Texans they are dedicated to serving. This is a moment that calls for us — and all Texans — to speak out. (Luis H. Zayas and Allan Hugh Cole Jr., 10/22)
Los Angeles Times: Why The Pope's Words About Civil Unions For Gay Couples Matter
No sooner had it been reported that Pope Francis had endorsed civil unions for same-sex couples that Vatican-watchers started arguing about whether this was a big deal. The answer is yes, but not because it’s a sign that the Roman Catholic Church will change its mind about same-sex marriage or renounce its teaching that “man and woman were created for one another.” Catholics and others who see the pope’s comments as a harbinger of such a dramatic change in doctrine will be disappointed. (Michael McDough, 10/21)
Stat: It's Time To Map Medicine's Sexual And Gender Harassment Iceberg
Gender harassment happens every day in health care organizations, academic medicine, research labs, and other corners of the science, technology, engineering, and math worlds. It’s largely hidden — except to those experiencing it — unlike its more egregious counterpart, sexual harassment, which often makes headlines. (Holly G. Atkinson, Anu Anandaraja and Stella Safo, 10/21)
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Kılıç Ali Paşa Mosque
This elegant mosque was built on an artificial island by the Bosphorus Strait as a result of a rivalry between two Ottoman Paşa's.
Kılıç Ali Paşa Camii (Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque)
Perhaps one of the least visited of legendary architect Mimar Sinan’s great mosques, Kılıç Ali Paşa Camii (Kilic Ali Pasha mosque), is well worth seeking out, and is particularly convenient for visitors staying in Taksim, Beyoglu, Karakoy, and Galata. Although it is now set back from the water, in the industrial port of Tophane, it was originally built ‘on the sea’
Kilic Ali Pasa History
Commissioned by the eponymous Kilic Ali Pasha, an ambitious 16th century Italian privateer who converted to Islam, and was named Uluç Ali Reis. He rose up the ranks from slave to captain of his ship, later going on to become the Kapudan-i Derya (Grand Admiral) of the Ottoman navy. The name Kılıç (meaning sword) was conferred upon him on his appointment.
Rumours have it that when he announced he would endow a mosque, his rival, the Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha (who commissioned Rustem Pasha Mosque), said that, "Since he is the admiral, let him build his mosque on the sea." The ever-determined Kilic Ali Pasha simply had an artificial island built in the Bosphorus strait, and the mosque went on top of that. (The later creation of the modern port, means the mosque is now well inland.)
Kilic Ali Pasa Mosque Complex and Architecture
Although designed by Sinan almost as a replica of the Hagia Sophia, the mosque is still a fine example of Ottoman Islamic architecture, decorated with some beautiful Islamic art including calligraphy and tiles.
The Kılıç Ali Paşa külliyesi (mosque complex) includes a medrese (religious school), türbe (tomb), a fountain, and a hamam (Turkish baths). The Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamam has recently undergone extensive restoration, works and now is the height of luxury, offering a chance to get scrubbed in true, Ottoman style.
Interior of Kilic Ali Pasa Hamam (Turkish bath)
Spanish writer Miguel Cervantes, Kilic Ali Pasha are said to have crossed paths. One story tells how the Admiral freed the writer when he was enslaved in Algiers. Another tells how Cervantes was forced to work on the building of the mosque when he was captive. Either way, Cervantes paid tribute to him in his famous novel Don Quixote de lar Mancha, referring to him as Occhiali, or Oggiali.
What else is nearby?
Also in the area is the fantastic Istanbul Modern, the Ottoman Rococo style Tophane Fountain, the Tophane nargile (shisha/hookah/water pipe) cafes, and the trendy bars and restaurants of hip, young Karakoy.
Istanbul Modern Museum is only five minutes walk from Kilic Ali Pasa Mosque
How to get to the Kilic Ali Pasa Mosque
The easiest way is to take the tram to Tophane, and then it just across the road. There is no Kilic Ali Pasha ticket price, but donations are welcome.
Have you checked Rüstem Paşa Mosque?
Tophane
Donation based
Kılıç Ali Paşa Mosque ON ISTANBUL MAP
The Magnificent Ottomans
Anyone forgetting the camera at Kilic Ali Pasa Mosque will not be happy.
Kilic Ali Pasa Mosque (Kılıç Ali Paşa Camii), built by Ottoman architect Sinan, is one of the finest examples of classical Ottoman period architecture located at Tophane negihbourhood of Istanbul. https://istanbultourstudio.com/tours/kilic-ali-pasha-mosque
Kilic Ali Pasa Mosque (Kılıç Ali Paşa Camii), built by Ottoman architect Sinan, is one of the finest examples of classical Ottoman period architecture located at Topha...
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Ricerca dell' Acido Ipocloroso per Industria - Risultati Industry: Food Application: Meat
Ricerca > Industria > Food > Applicazione: Meat
Risultati: 12 articoli pubblicati
Foods 5.2 (2016): 42
Evaluation of Electrolytically-Generated Hypochlorous Acid (Electrolyzed Water) for Sanitation of Meat and Meat-Contact Surfaces.
Microbe(s): Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Salmonella sp.
Electrolyzed water generators are readily available in the food industry as a renewable source of hypochlorous acid that eliminates the need for workers to handle hazardous hypochlorite concentrates. We applied electrolyzed water (EW) directly to multi-strain cocktails of Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7, and Salmonella sp. at 250 ppm free available chlorine (FAC) and achieved greater than 6-log reductions in 2 min. Lower EW values were examined as antimicrobial interventions for fresh meat (beef carcasses), processed meats (frankfurters), and food contact surfaces (slicing blades). Little or no reduction relative to controls was observed when generic E. coli-inoculated beef carcasses or L. monocytogenes-inoculated frankfurters were showered with EW. Spray application of EW (25 and 250-ppm FAC) onto L. monocytogenes-inoculated slicing blades showed that greater reductions were obtained with clean (3.6 and 5.7-log reduction) vs. dirty (0.6 and 3.3-log reduction) slicing blades, respectively. Trials with L. monocytogenes-inoculated protein-EW solutions demonstrated that protein content as low as 0.1% is capable of eliminating FAC, reducing antimicrobial activity against L. monocytogenes. EW appears better positioned as a surface sanitizer with minimal organic material that can otherwise act as an effective reducing agent to the oxidizing solution rendering it ineffective.
Food control 60 (2016): 505-510
Disinfection efficacy and mechanism of slightly acidic electrolyzed water on Staphylococcus aureus in pure culture.
Microbe(s): Staphylococcus aureus
Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW), considered as a broad-spectrum and high-performance bactericide are increasingly applied in the food industry. However, its disinfection mechanism has not been completely elucidated. This study aims to examine the disinfection efficacy and mechanism of SAEW on Staphylococcus aureus, compared with that of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and hydrochloric acid (HCl). SAEW treatment significantly reduced S. aureus by 5.8 log CFU/mL in 1 min, while 3.26 and 2.73 log reductions were obtained with NaClO and HCl treatments, respectively. A series of biological changes including intracellular potassium leakage, TTC-dehydrogenase relative activity and bacterial ultrastructure destruction were studied following disinfection treatment of S. aureus. The results showed that SAEW decreased the relative activity of TTC-dehydrogenase by 65.84%. Comparing intracellular potassium leakage, the SAEW treatment caused a greater percent of protein leakage (108.34%) than the NaClO (18.75%) or HCl (0.84%) treatments. These results demonstrated the potent impact SAEW had on the permeability of cell membranes. In addition, the ranking of partly agglutinated cellular inclusion formation was HCl > SAEW > NaClO. It appeared that HCl, along with its low pH value, are responsible for most of the cytoplasmic disruptions. Overall, this study demonstrated that the disinfection mechanism of SAEW was disrupting the permeability of cell membrane and the cytoplasmic ultrastructures in S. aureus cells.
Polymers 7.12 (2015): 2638-2649
Physicochemical and antibacterial properties of carrageenan and gelatine hydrosols and hydrogels incorporated with acidic electrolyzed water.
Microbe(s): Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli
The article focuses on investigation of the effects of usage of acidic electrolyzed water (AEW) with different sodium chloride concentration (0.001, 0.01, and 0.1) for the preparation of carrageenan and gelatine hydrosols and hydrogels. To determine physiochemical properties of hydrosols, the pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), available chloride concentration (ACC) and rheological parameters such us gelation and flow temperatures were measured. The samples were also 0.1 w/v). These results suggest that hydrogels and hydrosols incorporated with AEW may be used for food preservation.
Comparative study on the efficacy of bacteriophages, sanitizers, and UV light treatments to control Listeria monocytogenes on sliced mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus)
Microbe(s): MNV-1, Norovirus, HAV, Hepatitis A
The ability of acidic electrolyzed oxidizing water (AEO) and neutral electrolyzed oxidizing water (NEO) to inactivate the murine norovirus (MNV-1) surrogate for human norovirus and hepatitis A virus (HAV) in suspension and on stainless steel coupons in the presence of organic matter was investigated. Viruses containing tryptone (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0) were mixed with AEO and NEO for 1 min. In addition, stainless steel coupons containing MNV-1 with or without organic matter were treated with AEO or NEO for 3, 5, and 10 min. AEO was proven effective and generally killed more MNV-1 and HAV in suspension than NEO. Depending on the EO water generator, free chlorine concentrations are required to inactivate MNV-1 and HAV by 3-log PFU/mL or greater ranged from 30 mg/L to 40 mg/L after a 1 min contact time. The virucidal effect increased with increasing free chlorine concentration and decreased with increasing tryptone concentration in suspension. Both AEO and NEO at 70100 mg/L of free chlorine concentration significantly reduced MNV-1 on coupons in the absence of organic matter. However, there was no significant difference between these two treatments in the presence of organic matter. In addition, the efficacy of these two EO waters on stainless steel coupons increased with the increasing treatment time. Results indicated that AEO and NEO can reduce MNV-1 and HAV in suspension. However, higher free chlorine concentrations and longer treatment times may be necessary to reduce viruses on contact surfaces or in the presence of organic matter.
Combined effects of slightly acidic electrolyzed water and fumaric acid on the reduction of foodborne pathogens and shelf life extension of fresh pork
Microbe(s): Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella Typhimurium
This study evaluated the efficacy of the individual treatments (slightly acidic electrolyzed water [SAcEW] or fumaric acid [FA]) and their combination to reduce Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella Typhimurium in fresh pork as well as to study the shelf life and sensory quality (color, odor, and texture) of pork during storage at 4 and 10 C. The inoculated pork samples (10 g) were dipped for 3 min in each treatment (tap water [TW], SAcEW, strong acidic electrolyzed water [StAEW], 0.5% FA, or SAcEW + 0.5% FA) with or without mild heat (40 C). Decontamination of fresh pork with SAcEW +0.5% FA at 40 C for 3 min showed greater bactericidal effect compared to other treatments, which significantly (P < 0.05) reduced E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, and S. Typhimurium by 2.59, 2.69, 2.38, and 2.99 log CFU/g, respectively. This combined treatment significantly (P < 0.05) yielded in a longer lag time of naturally occurring bacteria (TBC) on pork stored at 4 C. This combined treatment also prolonged the shelf life of pork up to 6 days and 4 5 days when stored at 4 C and 10 C, respectively, compared to those of the untreated pork. The results suggest that the combined treatment of SAcEW + 0.5% FA has potential as a novel method to enhance the microbial safety and quality of fresh pork.
The bactericidal activity of acidic electrolyzed oxidizing water against Escherichia coli O157: H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes on raw fish, chicken and beef surfaces
Microbe(s): Escherichia coli O157:H7 Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes
The bactericidal efficacy of acidic electrolyzed oxidizing water (AC-EW) (pH = 2.30, free chlorine = 38 ppm) and sterile distilled water (DW) on three pathogens (Escherichia coli O157:H7 Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes) inoculated on raw trout skin, chicken legs and beef meat surfaces was evaluated. The decontaminating effect of AC-EW and DW was tested for 0 (control), 1, 3, 5 and 10 min at 22 C. AC-EW significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the three pathogens in the inoculated samples compared to the control and DW. The level of reduction ranged between ca.1.5 1.6 logs for E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium in the inoculated foods. However, AC-EW exhibited less bactericidal effect against L. monocytogenes (1.1 1.3 logs reduction). AC-EW elicited about 1.6 2.0 log reduction in the total mesophilic count. Similar treatment with DW reduced pathogens load by ca. 0.2 1.0 log reduction and total mesophiles by ca. 0.5 0.7 logs. No complete elimination of the three pathogens was obtained using AC-EW possibly because of the level of organic matter and blood moving from food samples to the AC-EW solution. This study demonstrates that AC-EW could considerably reduce common foodborne pathogens in fish, chicken and beef products.
Food Control 30.1 (2013): 176-183
Synergistic effect of low concentration electrolyzed water and calcium lactate to ensure microbial safety, shelf life and sensory quality of fresh pork
Microbe(s): Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of low concentration electrolyzed water (LcEW) and other carcass decontaminants against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes in fresh pork and to conduct the shelf life/sensory study of pork. Pork samples were inoculated with approximately 5 log cfu/g of afore mentioned pathogens and dip treated with distilled water (DW), aqueous ozone (AO), 3% lactic acid (LA), 3% calcium lactate (CaL), sodium hypochlorite solution (NaOCl), LcEW, strong acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW), and LcEW + CaL for 5 min at room temperature (23 2 C). The greatest reduction (3.0 3.2 log cfu/g) was achieved with LcEW + CaL against pathogens and significantly differed (p < 0.05) from other treatments. This combination also extended shelf life of pork up to 6 days at 4 C storage.
Food Science and Biotechnology 21.6 (2012): 1549-1555
Modeling the response of Listeria monocytogenes at various storage temperatures in pork with/without electrolyzed water treatment
Microbe(s): Listeria monocytogenes
The objective of this study was to develop a model of the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in pork untreated or treated with low concentration electrolyzed water (LcEW) and strong acid electrolyzed water (SAEW), as a function of temperature. The experimental data obtained under different temperatures (4, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 C) were fitted into the modified Gompertz model to generate the growth parameters including specific growth rate (SGR) and lag time (LT) with high coefficients of determination (R2 >0.97). The obtained SGR and LT were employed to develop square root models to evaluate the effects of storage temperature on the growth kinetics of L. monocytogenes in pork. The values of bias factor (0.924-1.009) and accuracy factor (1.105-1.186), which were regarded as acceptable, demonstrated that the obtained models could provide good and reliable predictions and be suitable for the purpose of microbiological risk assessment of L. monocytogenes in pork.
Meat Science 71.1 (2005): 79-91
Post-harvest interventions to reduce/eliminate pathogens in beef
Microbe(s): Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli
In 1999 the foodborne pathogens Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli (both O157 and non-O157) were estimated to cause more than 6 million illnesses and approximately 9000 deaths each year. However, the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on the sources and incidence of foodborne disease, released in 2004, has shown a dramatic decrease in E. coli O157:H7 infections. Since raw beef products are the most frequently foodborne sources of these pathogens, the results of this report demonstrate that the microbiological quality of raw beef has improved greatly. During the intervening years, post-harvest interventions have continually improved, with new attention to hide decontamination and innovative treatments of carcasses. In addition, a system to hold and test beef trim or ground beef for E. coli O157:H7 before its release into commerce has provided an even greater level of safety. In this paper, we review the latest information on the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 and other pathogens on beef, the evidence identifying the hide as the primary source of pathogens on beef carcasses, the efficacy of various hide and carcass interventions, and other developments that have led or have the potential to lead to even greater improvements in the microbial quality of beef.
Meat Science 71.2 (2005): 327-333
Application of electrolyzed oxidizing water to reduce Listeria monocytogenes on ready-to-eat meats
Experiments were conducted to determine the effectiveness of acidic (EOA) or basic electrolyzed oxidizing (EOB) water, alone or in combination, on ready-to-eat (RTE) meats to reduce Listeria monocytogenes (LM). Frankfurters or ham surfaces were experimentally inoculated with LM and subjected to dipping or spraying treatments (25 or 4 C for up to 30 min) with EOA, EOB, and other food grade compounds. LM was reduced the greatest when frankfurters were treated with EOA and dipped at 25 C for 15 min. A combination spray application of EOB/EOA also resulted in a slight reduction of LM on frankfurters and ham. However, reductions greater than 1 log CFU/g were not observed for the duration of the study. Even with a prolonged contact time, treatments with EOA or EOB were not enough to meet regulatory requirements for control of LM on RTE meats. As such, additional studies to identify food grade antimicrobials to control the pathogen on RTE meats are warranted.
Comparison of electrolyzed oxidizing water with other antimicrobial interventions to reduce pathogens on fresh pork
Microbe(s): Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, Campylobacter coli
To date, the effectiveness of electrolyzed oxidizing (EO) water against bacteria associated with fresh pork has not been determined. Using a hand-held, food-grade garden sprayer, distilled water (W), chlorinated water (CL; 25 ppm), 2% lactic acid (LA), acidic EO water (EOA), or aged acidic EO water (AEOA; stored at 4 C for 24 h) was sprayed (15 s) onto pork bellies inoculated with feces containing Listeria monocytogenes (LM), Salmonella typhimurium (ST), and Campylobacter coli (CC). Remaining bacterial populations were determined immediately following treatment, after 2 days of aerobic storage, and again after 5 days of vacuum-packaged, refrigerated storage (day 7). While LA and EOA significantly reduced (p<0.05) populations of CC at days 0 and 7, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between antimicrobial treatments when applied to pork inoculated with ST or LM. This study demonstrates that a 15-s spray with EOA has the ability to reduce CC associated with fresh pork surfaces. However, longer contact times may be necessary to reduce other microbial contaminants.
Journal of Food Science 66.5 (2001): 729-733
Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes in recirculated brine for chilling thermally processed bacon using an electrochemical treatment system
An electrochemical treatment system consisting of a pulsed electrical power supply and an electrical treatment chamber was designed and evaluated for inactivation Listeria monocytogenes in recirculated brine for chilling processed bacons. The brine was tested under different currents and temperatures. An average D-value of 1.61 min in the storage tank could be achieved at 7 mA/cm3 current with the fresh brine (t = 0 h). For the spent brine (t = 20 h), the D-value was 2.5 min in the treatment chamber at 35 mA/cm3. The average D-values in the treatment chamber were approximately 2.5 min at all three temperatures (4, 0, -8 8C) at 35 mA/cm3.
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← Ivy Tech invites prospective students to exploratory events
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Ivy Tech hosting “Now Read This! Community Book Read,” offering chance at $1,000 scholarship
Posted on October 17, 2012 by Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne
Ivy Tech Community College–Northeast is launching its third-annual community reading initiative, Now Read This! 2013. Residents of northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio are encouraged to read, discuss and respond creatively to “The Story of Beautiful Girl” by Rachel Simon.
This community book read, to be conducted during the next several months, promotes literacy, dialogue about the literary work and the enjoyment of reading the same book as a community.
Ivy Tech−Northeast will also award one or more scholarships worth up to $1,000 for the best creative responses to the book. Entries can include essays, music, dance, multimedia and visual art submissions. Visit ivytech.edu/northeast/read for more information about the scholarship competition. The deadline for submissions is March 8, 2013.
Simon is the critically acclaimed author of six books, including “Riding the Bus with My Sister,” which was adapted into a TV movie in 2005 that starred actress/comedian Rosie O’Donnell. “The Story of Beautiful Girl” focuses on characters with disabilities, as it features the adventures and sometimes tragic events surrounding Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man. Both are left to languish in the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded until they escape the institution—with Lynnie’s newborn baby in tow. The three are aided by Martha, a widowed schoolteacher, who befriends them and hides the baby from law enforcement authorities and officials at the institution. This friendship begins a 40-year epic journey of lives that are divided but come together to make a compelling tale of those who are frequently forgotten or ignored in American society.
The community book read will begin with a creative writing workshop, book-signing and reading by Simon at 5 p.m. Nov. 2 at the college’s Keith E. Busse Steel Dynamics Technology Center on the North Campus (4900 St. Joe Road) in Room 1225. Creative writers at the high school level and beyond (including all teaching faculty) are invited to attend and participate in this interactive writing workshop, which is at 5 p.m. The author will introduce some creative writing activities and discuss her own writing process. The book-signing and reading will begin at 7 p.m.
Paperback copies of “The Story of Beautiful Girl”and “Riding the Bus with My Sister” are available for purchase at the college’s bookstore, The New Edition Bookstore, on the North Campus in lower level of Harshman Hall. Copies will also be available on loan or for purchase at Ivy Tech’s library on the Coliseum Campus (3800 N. Anthony Blvd.), several area libraries, and other area bookstores.
Contact English instructors Gail Grieser at 260-481-2283 or ggrieser@ivytech.edu or Susan Howard at 260-481-2203 or showard62@ivytech.edu for more information about Now Read This! 2013.
Visit ivytech.edu/northeast/locations for directions to Ivy Tech’s North Campus.
About Rachel Simon
Simon is a best-selling author, public speaker and advocate on helping people with disabilities. “Like many siblings of people with disabilities, I first heard about institutions as a young child,” Simon writes. “My sister, Beth, had an intellectual disability, and my parents would talk about how some children like Beth were ‘put away’ in institutions. They didn’t elaborate but were emphatic that Beth would not live in one.” This piqued Simon’s curiosity about such facilities and informs her latest book, “The Story of Beautiful Girl.” It is the story of two patients from the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded and the people who either aid or take advantage of them.
While some of the antagonists of the book are officials from the mental institution, some are heroes. Kate is one such staff person. “I’d known several direct support professionals (DSPs) through my sister, and I had a lot of respect for them. I’d also come to realize they tend to be misunderstood, maligned or unacknowledged in most books, so for years I’d had a side project of collecting their stories,” she has said. “I learned that the best DSPs are deeply dedicated to the individuals they serve and strive to support them in the choices they make to live, work and participate in the community.” While there is a decline in mental institutions in the United States, Simon cautions that “institutions are not a thing of the past.”
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Tag Archives: Archaeological sites
The Spondylus Route to archaeology, Ecuador
Posted by winifredcreamer in Ecuador
Archaeological sites, Museums
Romantically named, the Ruta del Spondylus highway borders the the ocean in places, then dips inland around high hills, making its way from northern Peru to northern Ecuador. It is named after the spondylus shell, brilliant orange or deep purple species that were used to make beads and jewelry by the ancient people of both Ecuador and Peru. These mollusks are only found in warmer waters–no spondylus were harvested in the waters off Peru, but the bright colored shell was traded south from Ecuador into Peru by 3000 BC, or perhaps even earlier.
Over-harvesting resulted in a crash of spondylus and today it is in danger of extinction. The Ecuadorian government is supporting experiments in repopulating these species. We found no trace of spondylus in the many tourist souvenir stands along the roadway, though we found a local monument to these lovely shells. Jewelry made from spondylus shells is very popular among tourists visiting Peru, though the shell comes from all over the world. The romance of having something made from shell that was valuable to the Inca and their even earlier ancestors still captivates visitors.
In Ecuador, however, the greatest enchantment is in the beaches that line the route. There are well-known stops such as Playa Los Frailes or Playa Rosada (pinkish sand), and lesser known beaches that lack umbrellas and chairs for rent, but provide long stretches for a walk or a swim. We are visiting during the off season, the dark of winter to many Ecuadoreans because of the cloudy weather. It has not rained, but the sun has been out only two days of our first seven here. The Santa Elena peninsula, where we are located, is one of the driest places on the Ecuadorian coast. In GoogleEarth, it shows up as a grayish brown finger of land pointing out into the Pacific.
Part of the attraction to us is the deep history of the area. Ecuador was home to very early villages that formed by 3800 BC in places like Real Alto. We visited the museum at that site on one of our first days in the area and walked around. It’s a difficult sell for tourism, however, because there is nothing to see on the surface. The raised area where people built their houses is barely distinguishable from the surroundings, and even when the excavations were first being carried out, the astonishingly early remains consisted of the stones that formed the base of clusters of houses. There was never anything on the surface. You need a good imagination to build a circle of oval thatched houses in the brush that covers the area today. We enjoyed chatting with the young woman excavating some test units as part of a thesis project at ESPOL (Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral).
Our next archaeology stop was the Museo des Amantes de Sumpa, just down the street from our house, in the town of Santa Elena. We wanted to see the famous skeletons of a young couple buried together in an embrace. What we found was an excellent local museum with information on the ancient people of the region that was never boring or preachy (as a lot of museum text seems to be). In addition to the archaeological exhibits there was a recreation of a local house from a century ago that showed the very simple possessions people are likely to have had. Having heard a lot about hat-making in Ecuador (home of “real” Panama hats), we were interested to see that the equipment for making straw hats is unchanged between today and the 19th century. It was a lovely visit–I only wished they had a gift shop! We were impressed by the entire museum, which is carefully tended. The exhibits are not complex or high tech, yet they are absorbing. The meeting room of the museum was in use during our visit with a training program (according to the guard). It is nice to see the public spaces of a museum in use.
Our next stop was the museum at Valdivia, site of the oldest pottery in the New World when it was originally reported in the 1970s. Jonathan and I studied archaeology when this site was the next big thing, and Betty and Clifford Meggers and their Ecuadorean colleague Emilio Estrada, proposed that Validivia showed a connection between Japan’s ancient Jomon culture and the earliest ceramic-makers, as early as 4000 BC. Today this seems like an unlikely proposal. The similarities between Jomon and Valdivia pottery are related to the fact that there are only so many ways you can decorate pottery that is made and decorated by hand with no tool more complex than a pointed stick.
The Valdivia Museum is run by the community and has almost no budget. There are volunteer docents who were pleasant and knowledgeable, but there was almost no labeling and many of their photographs had disappeared or disintegrated. We enjoyed our visit. I was astonished to hear that the museum is built right on the middle of the excavated site. The town has grown up on and around it, covering up the site entirely. We stared at a low dirt embankment in the parking lot as though potsherds would be lying there waiting for us. Since none appeared, we asked whether anyone sold replicas of ancient pottery and were referred to a house around the corner, the home and studio of Juan Orrala, master replica-maker. We chatted and looked at his work, all the copies stamped with “Replica-Juan Orrala” in the clay of the base. His contemporary work inspired by ancient designs is beautifully made, so we took home some of each. What you see below is the replica figurine we purchased (8 in long), a whalebone figurine in the museum (about 24 in long) and a monument outside the town of Valdivia (about 6 ft. high). The museum holds hundreds of fragments of smaller clay versions of the “goddess.”
We also bought a matching plate and bowl set that we are already using as serving ware. We are happy to have met the talented Sr. Orrala.
Tihuanaco/Tiwanaku
Posted by winifredcreamer in Bolivia
Most people visit Tiwanaku on a day trip from La Paz, spending about two hours at the site. We set aside two and a half days. After talking to visitors in our La Paz hotel we wondered whether we’d regret booking two nights at the Akapana Hotel around the corner from the site entrance. We could have used another half day beyond the two days we were there. We stayed at the Akapana Hotel, a block from the site. Our room was fine, the top floor restaurant was (grilled llama one night, trout the next). The enclosed parking is a must for us, and we were very comfortable in this miniscule town.
Tiwanaku was an ancient empire that controlled southern Peru and northern Bolivia for centuries (AD 400-900). The capital city lies on the altiplano, a high altitude (3850 m) open plain on the south shore of Lake Titicaca. The lakeshore has receded from the site leaving the gigantic buildings stranded. We began our visit in the afternoon of the day we arrived, starting with the ceramic museum and then following the path to the large pyramid in the center of Tiwanaku, the Akapana. The Akapana looks like a natural hill though some of the terracing used to build it has been reconstructed. From the top you can look out over the other structures. From the ground these are not immediately impressive but they make a satisfying meditative stroll. The upper picture is a reconstruction of the step-sided Akapana. The lower picture is a photo of it today. We followed the paths out to smaller areas, enjoying the view across the landscape and imagining what it was like when it was first occupied. The modern town of Tiwanaku lies on top of what was the living area of the site in ancient times, so not much is known about daily life.
The next day we visited the large enclosure called the Kalasasaya a low platform that was originally walled. On one corner is the best known artifact of Tiwanaku, the Gateway of the Sun. This portal was originally a massive piece of stone heavily carved and inscribed on one side. It was identified in the mid 19th century, already broken into two pieces as it is today. No one is sure where it was originally located and 19th century drawings show that it has been broken into two pieces for at least the past 150 years. The carving is quite detailed, showing the Andean deity often called the Sun God. The image can be traced back through many ancient Andean civilizations.
The semi-subterranean temple has the most distinctive decoration, with more than 100 tenon heads projecting from the four interior walls of this structure.
Tiwanaku is known for a number of monumental stylized human figures, El Fraile and the Ponce Monolith among them. The biggest and best preserved is the Bennett monolith. Identified by the American archaeologist Wendell Bennett in 1932, this statue is over 20 ft high and so impressed people that it was carried off to La Paz and set up in several locations between 1932 and 2002 when it was returned to Tiwanaku. Today it can be seen in the Lithic Museum at Tiwanaku where it dwarfs the room that houses it.
Bennett Monolith, fine carvings all over the surface
Ponce Monolith, fine carvings all over the surface
Both the Bennett and Ponce Monoliths (R, L) have fine designs carved over their entire surface, like the Gateway of the Sun.
Heading North
Posted by winifredcreamer in Peru
Archaeological sites, Huanchaco, Landscape, Piura
We decided to visit northern Peru, and headed for Playa Los Organos, on the coast between Piura and Tumbes, stopping for two nights on the way. The first day was familiar territory where we passed familiar archaeological sites. Just north of our home in Barranca is the Fortaleza de Paramonga, southernmost outpost of the Chimu empire. The Chimu are not as well known as the Inca, because in the great battle between opposing empires in 1470, the Chimu lost, and as we all know, the victors write history.
Just outside the Casma Valley is Chankillo, a fortress and ancient observatory built around the 4th c. BC where 13 small towers align with the annual movement of the rising and setting sun. Cerro Sechin is nearby, its main structure lined with carvings of warriors and victims. More sites line each valley until you arrive in the Moche Valley home to two of the great ancient societies of ancient Peru, the Moche and the Chimu. The Huaca de la Luna is the iconic capital of the Moche, who controlled this region from about 100-700 AD. They built vast adobe brick pyramids with brightly colored figures painted on each tier. Its twin, the Huaca del Sol, was mined for the gold in tombs by the first Spanish explorers, by diverting the Moche river to wash away the adobe. Fortunately for us, they left a portion for us. The site museum, completed just a few years ago, displays the trappings of Moche power. Burials found within the pyramid were dressed in wide beaded collars, gold crowns and masks, surrounded by pottery molded into plants, animals, and people, or painted with detailed scenes of ceremony and battle. It is fantastic.
Before leaving town you have to visit the other great empire of the Chimu at one of the royal enclosures of Chan Chan. Each ruler built a new palace, a huge enclosure of adobe with walls more than 15 feet high, sculpted with figures of fish, pelicans and other creatures. Within each royal enclosure was everything the ruler needed, meeting rooms, living space, even a reservoir dug into the water table to provide water. Chimu elite were buried with masks of gold and elaborate pottery. The scale of these buildings is what’s most impressive, and the range of shapes sculpted into the adobe. The Chimu empire developed around 900 AD and died out after the defeat by the Inca in 1470.
When we stop in this area we always stay at the Hotel Bracamonte in Huanchaco. It is on the beach outside Trujillo and a relaxing stop after a day of visiting archaeological sites. It has a lovely garden by the dining area that you can enjoy while having breakfast. The fruit, yogurt and granola combo is always my choice. Our only mistake this trip was failing to enjoy one of the excellent restaurants in Huanchao for seafood at lunch time. When we went out in the evening for dinner, most places were closed and we ended up eating cake and ice cream for dinner. We won’t let that happen again.
The next morning we headed into new territory. We’ve driven as far north as Chiclayo to see the Museo Tumbes Reales de Sipan, where the golden burial of the “Senor de Sipan” is displayed. This is one of the most elaborate tombs we’ve ever seen. The tomb was found by grave-robbers, taken over by archaeologists who had to camp at the mouth of the tomb and patrol 24/7 until the Peruvian government acted to protect the treasure. The hero of the story is Peruvian archaeologist Walter Alva, who spearheaded the site protection and stuck with the site until the museum was built about ten years later. There are fantastic objects in the museum including beads on a burial necklace shaped like peanuts made of gold and silver. The site where the tomb was discovered, Huaca Rajada, is also worth a visit. Late Moche tombs like Sipan though not quite as large are still being uncovered periodically. A site museum is usually built for each one, like the Senora de Cao. Once you’ve seen the Sipan museum, though, you’re spoiled by the amazing wealth on display and none of the others is quite as rich.
Beyond Chiclayo was new territory for us. There are many other sites along the way, though for us it was a case of so many sites/so little time. We passed Pampa Grande, where Jonathan excavated for part of his dissertation research, Bataan Grande, Tucume, and many others as we drove toward Piura. It took all day to get there with only a stop for gas. The landscape turned dry, and we saw more of the damage done by the 2016/2017 El Nino. Sections of road are washed out and rebuilding is underway but not completed. River basins are scoured out and though you cannot tell from the road, thousands of people still need new housing.
In Piura we stopped at an oasis, the Casa Andina Premium Hotel. Our room had air conditioning, the pool was a great contrast to the heat that was building all day long. We went out for dinner to Tayanti, a restaurant near the hotel with many positive reviews. We had delicious cocktails but found that the menu included only two “fish.” Fish of the day was conger eel, a soft white fish that is the cheapest in the market. Neither of us like it much. The other choice was salmon imported from Chile. We finished our drinks and went to the opposite side of the courtyard to Tao, where we ordered sushi that proved to be delicious with neither conger or salmon involved. We returned to our air conditioned oasis for the night.
Wari, Peru’s First Empire
We couldn’t pass up a visit to the ancient capital of Peru’s oldest empire, Wari. The site is northeast of Ayacucho and not difficult to find. The site is huge, covering 1800 h (about 4,500 acres). As a capital city, Wari was home to rulers, priests, bureaucrats, craftspeople, and farmers. Circular spaces were probably for ritual activities, perhaps with statues in each of the niches. Lots of stone was used to build high walls and small rooms, and there is a similarity among Wari sites no matter where they are found. They were probably pretty forbidding places.
There are still a lot of questions about Wari. This group of people was considered to have formed an empire. Larger than a state-level society, empires incorporate unrelated groups of people in an extensive territorial political unit. The Wari included settlements from the Moquegua Valley in far southern Peru to the Cusco area, and as far north as Cerro Patapo near Chiclayo in the north. That is almost as large an area as the much later Inca Empire. The Wari built some of the network of roads that the Inca took over and made famous. The Wari also introduced terracing hillsides to expand agricultural land, another innovation that is attributed to the Inca.
Some excavated areas are covered and walking paths connect the excavated areas.
Most of Wari is covered by a thick growth of cactus making it difficult to see areas that have not been excavated or cut down. It keeps people on the path! This huge site would be a great candidate for LIDAR, the technique of mapping with aerial sensors that has been used to map sites in the Maya area covered with heavy plant growth.
The site represents only a small part of the Wari empire, and the small site museum holds only a few items of Wari material culture. Elsewhere there are spectacular weavings, stonework, metalwork, and ceramics. From Feb. 28 – May 28, 2018, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has an exhibit, Golden Kingdoms, that showcases Andean art, including some from Wari. Here’s an example of a four cornered hat. Wari designs are highly stylized though you can make out the bird heads on this hat. There is elaborately painted Wari pottery and stone tools made from obsidian. During our visit to the site, we found fragments of decorated pottery and of obsidian lying on the path.
Jonathan bought a cap embroidered with the Wari figure of the staff god from one of the vendors outside the site entrance. Most of what was for sale were crates of “tuna” the fruit of the opuntia cactus. They are pretty but neither of us is interested in eating them. Too many seeds, too little flavor. We returned to Ayacucho from the land of cactus.
Fall Blows in to Sicily
Posted by winifredcreamer in Sicily
It’s often breezy at the beach. We got out of the car and crossed the fringe of dunes, arriving at the shore to see small waves crashing and the wind rushing east along the sand. Walking into the wind, we started our beach combing, finding smooth oval pebbles and beach glass.
Ow, ow, ow! It wasn’t sand flies or hot feet, but the sand stinging our ankles, whipped along by stronger wind than we had felt before. I only remember the bite of the first gusts, though the wind kept up so strongly I almost lost my footing a couple of times. The sun was as bright as ever, and the water felt warmer than usual. We could feel the seasons changing.
The light is more slanting as fall comes on. Morning and evening shadows are long and last longer every day, as though the sun is resisting Apollo’s horses dragging it upward. One evening I said, “You didn’t need to close the shutters so early”… then realized that they were open and it was already dark. The wind was still blowing in the change of seasons at Morgantina the next day. I had to give up on wearing my hat or it would have flown miles away. Morgantina is another of the mammoth ancient sites in Sicily that had a long and varied history before being sacked by the Romans in 221 BC. Though it continued to be occupied, the city never regained prominence. It’s been a couple thousand years since then and Morgantina is still sitting on its hilltop out of the mainstream.
Heating pipes of a Greek bath house
In the bath house
A large kiln
The wind blew away most of the visitors. We saw a busload of students from a distance and after they disappeared we saw only one or two other visitors at this vast site. (It is 30 minutes each way from the Palermo-Catania highway, and not close to either Catania or Palermo, a bit out of the way.)
The fall scenery is spectacular, silver-brown furrows in the recently plowed fields that curve and dip across the rounded landscape. Mt. Etna sits in the far distance, volcanic ash like snow on the upper slopes and clouds covering the peak. The wind blew clouds overhead, creating patches of light and dark that changed constantly, shifting a hill into sunlight then into shadow as we watched. It was a captivating landscape, half New Mexico’s stony ridges, half midwestern farmland, and definitely its own thing.
Where the Greeks were
Posted by winifredcreamer in Lillian, Sicily
Sicily was the largest colony established by Greece. What that actually means sinks in about the third time you visit a vast, partially excavated archaeological site and find a temple, or several, that appear to be transplanted straight from the Acropolis in Athens.
The temples may the most impressive sights, but there are lots of other features. Like a big amphitheater at Segesta.
Amphitheater, Segesta
Huge roof supports shaped like gods (telamon):
The Greeks were supplanted by the Romans, and then Arabs, then Normans, then others. The Romans left paved main streets (Decumani), like this one in Lilybaeum (Marsala) and elaborate mosaic floors at Villa Romana de Casala (Piazza Armerina), see the previous post for these.
Off topic but interesting: This recent article tells about a New York City resident and art dealer who had a section of mosaic from a ship that belonged to Caligula (Roman emperor 37-41 AD), It was finally repatriated to Italy this week after spending about 40 years as a coffee table.
Mosaic from Caligula’s ship returned to Italy
As if all this were not enough, we’re off to Morgantina, another great pre-Roman site in Sicily, followed by Syracuse (the one in Sicily). I’ll add more from those stops. However, I can say without a doubt that the Greeks were everywhere in Sicily, and in many ways they are still here.
Piazza Armerina–Roman mosaics at their best
Archaeological sites, Mosaics
We didn’t know much about Piazza Armerina until we looked for archaeological sites to visit within driving distance of us in Sicily. The guidebook indicated interesting mosaics at the Villa Romana de Casale near the town of Piazza Armerina. The mosaic floors of this villa, owner unknown but possibly the Emperor Maximian (250-310 AD), are wonderfully detailed. We’ve never seen anything like them in all our Italian travels. Why isn’t this site better known? OK, there were ten tour buses parked at the site when we left at 3:30 pm. But seriously, I had heard very little about this particular site and the mosaics are unparalleled.
Hunting is a major theme, especially in the Great Corridor where a scene over 200 ft long shows the capture of exotic African animals that were shipped to Rome. There is detail in the shapes and colors of the animals, the individuals capturing the animals, and their transport (the elephant is wrapped in a net). Within the long scene are vignettes that accompany the tale. A slave is whipped, a tiger’s cub is stolen while she is distracted by a reflection. It is remarkable.
One of the most interesting rooms in the Villa Romana shows women competing in sports and being awarded prizes (crown, olive branch) for running and other games. I have not seen another depiction of woman in a palestra (gymnasium) or competition. Nicknamed “the bikini room”, this is popular even though the Blue Guide notes it is of “inferior artistic quality compared with the others.” I think it’s great.
Other mosaics include various ways of hunting (nets, clubs), cherubs fishing, boats, children riding animal-drawn carts, children being chased by the animals they were pursuing, and the legend of Anios, who won a music contest in Sicily, was robbed by sailors on his trip home and thrown overboard only to be saved by a dolphin. Areas that were closed during our visit show people getting a massage in the bath complex, and the twelve labors of Hercules in a large atrium.
Here are a few details. There are over 4,000 sq meters of mosaic floors in the Villa Romana. Some mosaics are so fine that they average 36,000 tesserae (pieces) per sq meter. The mosaics at the Villa Romana are considered to be Romano-African in style, and some may have been made in sections in north Africa (Libya, where there were large Roman colonies, for example) and shipped by boat to Sicily. The putative owner of the villa, Maximian, was known as a soldier and hunter rather than a statesman, interests that the mosaics support.
Another piece of evidence that is used to associate the structure with an emperor is the decoration of the room called “The Circus”. It depicts horse races around a track from the perspective of the emperor’s box at the end of the arena, where nobles look on from the sides.
What I love about Pompeii
Posted by winifredcreamer in Salerno
As an archaeologist, I was amazed, surprised, and delighted by Pompeii. Other sites may be bigger (Tenochtitlan, Mexico), have larger temples and pyramids (Moche, Peru), or more spectacular settings (Machu Picchu, Peru), but more is known and brings the city to life in Pompeii than anywhere else.
There are lots of buildings, walls and streets. The owner is often known and many are marked .
Pompeii is so big there are addresses (e.g. Region VI, Insula 3). They are very helpful when you are trying to find a specific house, since some are open 9:30-1:30 pm. Others are open 1:30-7:00 pm.
Archaeologists know a huge amount about Pompeii from inscriptions, objects and documents. We stopped and chatted with an international team (French, Spanish, Italian) excavating in the Necropolis of Porta Nocera and they showed us their work. They have uncovered three individuals, one under the wall and two in the funerary structure, including a woman who was marked by the small tombstone on the right, above. They now know her name and that it was a family burial plot for some time before the tomb structure was added. A man was buried near the woman and they believe it may have been a couple, but he did not have a marker to tell us his name. The archaeologists dig very slowly, removing narrow layers. We also saw all the digital gear that is now standard in excavations.
The level of preservation is a real knockout. The Villa of the Mysteries is at one end of the park. All of the house but its roof was preserved and the walls are decorated with complex mythological scenes. The wall art is painting or fresco.
There are more than forty houses that are named and visible, many with spectacular preserved wall painting like the Villa of the Mysteries above.
Three things I noticed in the elaborate houses–
The two lower panels are imitation marble.
People used a lot of painting to imitate decorative marble (R).
People often painted rooms very dark colors, black or dark red.
People liked trompe l’oeil painting (making walls look three-dimensional). There were a lot of skilled painters.
The villas are not all of the story at Pompeii. People fled, taking jewelry or a sack of coins, if anything. Thus, businesses and homes were abandoned completely furnished, bakeries had loaves in the ovens, horses were in their stalls, grapes and pomegranates on the vine. Everything was covered with volcanic ash so rapidly that their form was preserved even after the physical remains burned up. Scientists have identified the trees and plants in the gardens from casts of their carbonized roots. The casts of family members who tried to hide from the explosion are among the most poignant features of the site.
Jonathan could have worked at the thermopolia–take out restaurants. Only the wealthiest people cooked their own food. Most people bought hot meals to go. He also liked the kitchens and the bakeries.
All food was farm to table back then. Each bakery had stones to grind grain to make flour, then they made and baked bread. Amphorae held oil, wine and even garum, the smelly fermented fish condiment that Romans loved. The artifact storage spaces hold hundreds of amphora, and countless others were removed from Pompeii over the years before the site was well protected.
I was impressed by the respect people at Pompeii had for their household gods. Most houses had a niche, a lararium, and these ranged from simple to glorious.
I knew that Pompeii would have great things to see. What I learned is that Pompeii has a lesson for great sites, it’s openly a work in progress. This has its good and bad sides. The good part is that as new buildings are restored and conserved, they are opened to the public, even when they are not yet on all maps and posters. We found this with the Taverna Hedones. Since I don’t read Latin, I don’t understand why the mosaic in its floor is a bear and the word “Have”.
You can spend two full days at Pompeii as we did and still not see all there is to see. It’s vast. You pass maintenance staff, people working on restoration at all levels, from measuring a pillar in a gated area to moving rock with mini-backhoes. There is storage of artifacts in some of the spaces along the side of the Forum. It’s not ideal artifact storage, but it shows some of the many amphora, casts, even a strongbox that used to be built into a Pompeiian house.
Open-air storage with a strongboxfrom a Pompeiian house.
Open-air storage
There isn’t room to hide anything backstage at Pompeii. Some areas are blocked with metal gates covered in images of the site. You have no idea how long it has been or will be like this. It all changes as it goes. If you are on a tour, your guide should know what’s available and you will barely notice streets and buildings that are blocked.
If you are on your own, and especially if you’ve done a bit of planning in order to see specific houses at Pompeii, you need to factor in buildings at Pompeii that are open at different times. Neighboring structures may be open at opposite times, requiring a visitor to pass the same spot twice at different hours in order to see both places. There are online lists of which houses are open and at what times and this can change at any time. It’s a tough place to keep together.
Sometimes the walls fall down.
In 2014, a chunk of temple wall collapsed after heavy rains and there was a lot of ranting in the press about whether Pompeii was mismanaged. Everyone knew it was underfunded, so there was a lot of finger-pointing.
Wall collapses at Pompeii after heavy rains
Today the funding situation seems to have improved and there is a master plan in the works (Grande Progetto Pompeii). Restoration is underway in several areas and there is general bustle. I like that. When we visited there were also interesting exhibits, one on Pompeii and the Greeks in the Grand Palestra and two smaller exhibits in the Antiquarium exhibit area near the gift shop. One exhibit was on looted items that have been recovered, including a section on fakes being sold as ancient artifacts from Pompeii. The second exhibit is on the House of the Golden Bracelet that is not presently open to visitors.
My personal gripes are small ones. There is only one cafe in the center of the city and it seemed like every time I wanted coffee we were at the other end of Pompeii. The other is that the gift shop isn’t very extensive, and not a single ball cap. I guess Italians don’t wear a lot of hats. I’ll end with a few more of my favorite images from Pompeii.
After Ferragosto
Archaeological sites, Paestum
Ferragosto is the annual down time for all of Italy. During the two weeks from mid-August until the first of September almost everyone takes a holiday, and every desirable hostelry in the country is jammed to the doors. That’s why we left for Ireland. We returned to Italy when order was restored on Sept. 1. Our first trips were to the beach and a major archaeological site, Paestum.
At the beach, the shift was dramatic. There were only two or three umbrellas in use at beachfront businesses with 40-60 umbrellas. Staff members were hosing off equipment, taking down cabanas and stacking the parts for storage. We had a lovely afternoon enjoying the sun and the breeze. No babes in bikinis, just other retirees and a few families with preschoolers.
The next day we tackled a real challenge, Paestum. This huge archaeological site was home to Greeks, Lucanians (ancient Italians), Romans, Lombards, pretty much everyone who passed through. The Greek temples are the best preserved portion of the site, though the museum holds the remains of painted tombs and artifacts from later periods. We chatted briefly with one of the archaeologists working at Paestum this year and we watched a staff member running ground penetrating radar across a section of grassy field that is probably full of ancient houses.
There is also a very large amphitheater and other round buildings that were used for meetings of different sized groups.
Excavations at Paestum recovered hundreds of painted tombs, four walls and sometimes a ceiling panel (the most famous, the Diver, was a ceiling panel.)
There were not many visitors, and since Paestum is so large, we passed very few people as we walked around. There may have been more lizards than tourists. We could tell that the high season is over. One tour bus was parked in the lot beside a scattering of cars. Everyone else was back at work.
12 hours of madness, and incidentally, New Grange
Posted by winifredcreamer in Ireland, Lyra, Peggy
(Things got a bit out of order and this should have appeared before the previous)
We left Bundoran on Aug. 30 and embarked on 12 hours of madness as we tried to get me in and out of the outpatient unit at University Hospital, Sligo for a shot in my eye to treat my macular degeneration and on to the destination we actually had planned, New Grange. We sat for what seemed like forever in the waiting area at the hospital, yet were able to cross Ireland and make it to New Grange in time to get on the second to last tour of the day. New Grange is an amazingly impressive site and sight. Its sheer size outdoes anything else in Europe. Purists may balk at the reconstruction, but the unreconstructed interior brings all kinds of images of past religious activities to mind (Photography is no longer allowed inside). The 93 or so huge stones encircling the mound at New Grange, as well as those on the inside, have been pecked with spirals, circles, undulating lines, cup marks and other symbols. I admit I did not enter the annual lottery–winners get 2 tickets to see the light of the winter solstice come in the upper window of New Grange on one of 5 days that this occurs each year.
Lyra rolling down the hill at New Grange. It was that kind of day.
As if that weren’t enough, we had decided to return our rental car and stay overnight in the city of Dublin. Leaving New Grange around 6 pm, the thought of driving into the city, disgorging the luggage of four travelers at the hotel and returning to the airport gave us visions of the 9th circle of hell. Around that moment, we discovered that the Dublin airport is on the route from New Grange into the city, so we stopped in, dropped the car, picked up a big taxi and arrived at our hotel for less than the cost of four bus tickets from the airport into town. Not only that but our 6’5″ retired army medic taxi driver told us his best stories of taxi driving. (Unfortunately, the one where the guy pulled a gun on him took place in Chicago….uh oh.) By 8 pm we were seated at dinner, having triumphed over all hurdles, visited a truly world class attraction, and were ready for our last day in Ireland. I am grateful for the patience of my traveling companions that allowed us to make this all happen.
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Winds In SoCal Could Reach 75 MPH By Tuesday, Forecasters SayGusty Santa Ana winds will impact portions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Sunday afternoon and will return by Monday evening through Tuesday.
‘Russell Wilson Shows Up When It Counts’ CBS2’s Greg Wolf On Why Seahawks Will Beat Rams
Filed Under:Greg Wolf, Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Rams News, NFL Picks, Russell Wilson, Ryan Mayer, Seattle Seahawks
(CBSLA)- The Los Angeles Rams find themselves in the precarious position of potentially going from Super Bowl runner-up to missing the playoffs. With just four weeks left in the season, the Rams are a game back of the Minnesota Vikings for the final Wild Card spot in the NFC.
In theory, they aren’t completely eliminated from the division race yet, but they are three games back of the Seahawks and 49ers, so a Wild Card spot is the most likely path to the postseason. Unfortunately for Sean McVay’s squad, their NFC West rivals are the main speed bump looming in their path. Beginning with this Sunday’s matchup with the Seahawks, the Rams face divisional opponents in three of the next four weeks. The game sandwiched in between? A matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. Not exactly the friendliest end-of-season slate.
The good news is, following an embarrassing 45-6 loss to the Ravens, the Rams rebounded last week in a big win over the Arizona Cardinals. CBS2 sports anchor Greg Wolf immediately points to that win as a hopeful sign moving forward.
“They’re still playing for the playoffs. And I think it was so huge, not just for McVay, but also for Jared Goff. He went the entire month of November without throwing a touchdown. So for him to throw for over 400 yards, throw for a couple of touchdowns was huge for this offense It’s not the juggernaut we’ve seen the last couple of seasons. But for them to get back on track was big for them.”
Stream your local NFL on CBS game live with CBS All Access.
That win, while important for team morale, did come against the Cardinals, who are currently 3-8-1 and playing with a rookie quarterback and head coach. The step up in competition is quite a bit steeper this week, with a quarterback in conversation for the league’s MVP award coming to the Coliseum for the Sunday night prime-time affair. The previous matchup between the two teams saw Seattle escape 30-29, thanks to a late Russell Wilson touchdown pass. Wolf sees this game being more of the same.
“Russell Wilson didn’t have his best game in that win against Minnesota. But the thing about him, he shows up when it counts, when the game is on the line, in the biggest moments, on the biggest stage. That’s when he delivers and he’s at his best,” said Wolf. “I think he’s most dangerous when defenses actually are getting to him and it looks like he’s in trouble. And all of the sudden he creates something out of nothing. The Seahawks, they’ve won five in a row, they’ve not lost on the road all season long. With Russell Wilson, in prime-time, I think the Seahawks get the win.”
The Rams and Seahawks cap off a Sunday full of NFL action with their prime-time matchup set for 5:20 p.m. Pacific Time.
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Gladstone Matt Hancock.Gladstone Port City Power vs Townsville.
It’s back to the future for a shooting guard at the Power
Nick Kossatch
12th Nov 2019 6:51 PM | Updated: 6:52 PM
BASKETBALL: "It's time to put Gladstone on top."
That's the attitude returning shooting guard Matt Hancock wants to convey to the Port City Power "The Capricornian" Surge for season 2020.
RELATED STORY: Port City Power add another to the roster
RELATED STORY: Competition leaders too strong for Walmsley's men
Hancock, who played for the Power in 2018, said he was excited about returning to a team that will play in the soon-to-be-established Queensland State League - the second tier to the NBL1-North (formerly QBL) competition.
Matt Hancock in 2018
"I'm looking forward to coming back to the Gladstone region," he said. "I can't wait to get back to working with Brady (Power coach Brady Walmsley) and the rest of the team.
"I'm enthusiastic about helping the program make strides forward under the new competition structure in Queensland."
Hancock averaged 14 points, four rebounds and two assists per game in his first stint at the Power and represented the Waverly Falcons in the NBL1 competition this season.
Before that, Hancock was an NBL development player with Melbourne United and the Illawarra Hawks.
Walmsley said Hancock would offer plenty.
"I'm excited about having the opportunity to work with Matt again," he said.
"He is an ambitious, motivated and professional person who will help elevate the standards and expectations of the program.
"We aim to be a force in the Queensland State League and this signing - as well as the others still to announce - reinforce our intentions to be taken seriously as a threat to the competition.
"Matt is an elite shooter and we look forward to putting him in a position to do what he does best."
basketball queensland state championships gladstone amatuer basketball association grafton basketball port city power
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MassWoods
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Hepler Family (Pelham, MA)
Donating or Selling Conservation Restrictions
Margaret and Peter Hepler live on a 40 acre, 18th century farm in Pelham, Massachusetts, which they acquired in 1977. They decided to place a conservation restriction on 37 acres of their land to preserve its natural, scenic and historic qualities. This decision also allowed them to take advantage of conservation tax incentives, which were only available for a short window of time by the federal government through an experimental tax bill, but which have been extended through 2009. This case study demonstrates how everyday people can take actions to conserve land.
The Conservation Restriction
Uncertainty of future financial needs that could be realized through development of one’s land as well as the finances needed to hire professionals for an official appraisal, formal survey, and legal documents work to make the donation of conservation restrictions seem like an unrealistic option for perhaps all but the wealthiest. However, federal tax incentive provisions provide an opportunity through 2009 to help individuals of modest incomes, farmers, and ranchers to place conservation easements on their land.
Individuals who donated conservation restrictions to a qualified organization (a governmental unit or a publicly supported charity) in 2006 and 2007 were allowed to deduct from their annual tax payments fifty percent of their taxable incomes versus the former level of thirty percent. Qualified farmers and ranchers could take up to one-hundred percent of their income. In addition, the period during which a donor could take the tax deduction for his or her voluntary conservation agreement was extended from five to fifteen years. These benefits remain in affect through 2009. The benefits of this change to a donor are illustrated below.
This tax law was considered experimental because the expanded conservation easement tax incentives expired on December 31st, 2007. However, thanks to groups like the Land Trust Alliance these tax incentives have been extended through 2009. Learn more about the conservation tax incentives.
The forty-acre property can be roughly divided into three components: farmstead, meadow, and forest, all of which contain strong historic, scenic, and natural features. Margaret Hepler, a historian by training, compiled an extensive historical account of the property. The property is intricately tied to Pelham’s historical development. The farmstead was settled in 1740 by John Gray, who was one of several Scotch-Irish Presbyterians that relocated to Pelham after experiencing religious persecution by Congregationalists in Worcester, Massachusetts. Gray and his group had tried to erect a Presbyterian church in Worcester, but members of the Congregationalist church promptly tore it down. The group rebuilt their church in Pelham and, amusingly, made it a condition that every resident of Pelham must be a member of the Presbyterian Church in ‘good standing.’
Three generations of the Gray Family lived at this farmstead, located just northeast of the town center in Pelham. The property still retains many historical components. The six-acre meadow dates back to the original settlement of the property. This meadow, a defining feature of the property, includes a potato field terraced into the earth at its eastern end. Subsequent residents of the property began operating a rock quarry in the early 1800s located just off the property to the east. Several college buildings in Amherst feature rocks drawn from this quarry. As a result, the property contains several pieces of stonework. The existing farmhouse and barn are believed to date back to 1835. According to the Heplers, traces of former barns and fences can be found elsewhere on the property.
The property also contains additional natural and scenic features. Two brooks run through the property. Gates Brook is at the front of the property, running somewhat parallel to Valley Road. The much larger Buffman Brook runs north-south on the western portion of the property. Forest covers most of the property, which is actively managed under the State’s Forest Stewardship Program. The Hepler’s have blazed several walking trails throughout their property to facilitate the enjoyment of wildlife. One of these trails crosses Buffman Brook at a self-made bridge. A few of these trails lead off their land to places such as the above-mentioned rock quarry.
Vision and First Steps
Peggy and Peter Hepler wanted to become more active in the land conservation efforts in the Pioneer Valley. Peggy, a historian by training, views landscape preservation to be as important as the preservation of historic structures. Peter, a botanist, values the preservation of natural features in the region. Peggy became active with the Kestrel Trust by becoming a board member in 2000. The Kestrel Trust is a regional land trust dedicated to protecting forests, farms, fields, and wetlands in nine communities in western Massachusetts (Hadley, South Hadley, Granby, Belchertown, Pelham, Amherst, Sunderland, Leverett, Shutesbury).
The Heplers felt strongly about protecting the land from becoming developed in the future. Currently the couple gardens and grows many of their own fruits and vegetables. They wanted to maintain the opportunity for future generations to manage a sustainable farm, a need that may be realized with the increasingly detrimental effects of climate change. This vision also upholds the historical use of the land, which Peggy feels is an important step in honoring the Town’s past. An integral part of bringing this vision to fruition was the act of placing their land in long-term protection.
The property was already enrolled in the State’s Current Use Forest Tax Law Program (Chapter 61), which means that the land is assessed at a less-than-market value. To qualify for Chapter 61 incentives, the Hepler’s also had to enroll their property in its companion Forest Stewardship Program, which requires owners to develop an active forest management plan. Despite the incentives through Chapter 61 to keep one’s property in active forest use, enrollment does not guarantee long-term protection against development.
The couple began to consider placing a conservation restriction on their property. Peggy attended a conference in the spring of 2007 and heard about the benefits available to individuals of modest incomes through the federal government’s expanded conservation easement tax incentive program. They were intrigued by this type of conservation restriction, which required donating a conservation easement to a qualified organization. Peggy’s positive volunteer experience with the Trust added to the couple’s confidence that donating an easement to the Kestrel Trust would safely ensure the future protection of the property.
The Hepler property also fit into the Kestrel Trust’s regional land protection vision. Although the Hepler parcel is not contiguous to the Quabbin Resevoir (see maps), its preservation is important to achieving the Trust’s long-term goals of preserving land around the Quabbin Reservoir.
For all of these reasons, the Hepler’s decided to embark on the process to obtain a conservation easement for their property.
Conservation Restriction-Process
The Heplers worked alongside Kristin DeBoer, Executive Director of the Trust, and under the consultation of an attorney to create the conservation easement. Extensive baseline documentation on the history and current status of the land was also completed. The significant expenses associated with the process included: attorney fees as well as the appraisal and survey work. The Hepler’s children, who supported the preservation of the land, were given the opportunity to comment on the easement once it was drafted. The group was working under a compressed timeline in order to take advantage H.R. 4, the experimental tax law, which expired December 31st, 2007.
After the conservation restriction was completed, the State of Massachusetts required approval from the local conservation commission, the town’s board of selectman, and finally the State Secretary of Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The Heplers encountered some opposition to the donation of the conservation restriction from Pelham’s Board of Selectman, who hold a pro-development perspective. Following the completion of some revisions recommended by the Town’s attorney, the Hepler’s conservation restriction was registered in mid-December of 2007.
Conservation Restriction-Specifics
The Hepler’s conservation easement pertains to 37.14 of the 40.03 acres of their property. The remaining land (2.89 acres) is where the Hepler’s home and accessory structures are located.
The donation of the conservation easement to the Kestrel Trust does not mean that the property is open to public use in the sense that it is public property. The Hepler’s have many friends and neighbors that frequent the property with permission, but, importantly, the easement retains the owners’ right to deny access to the property.
The easement allows for ‘light use’ of the land, particularly with regard to the established walking trails. Equestrian activity and the use of all-terrain vehicles are expressly prohibited on the property. The conservation restriction also prohibits the construction and addition of structures, grading or plowing or any activities that would disturb the natural features of the meadow, mining excavating or dredging soil, dumping or filling, the removal or cutting of trees, any activities detrimental to the drainage, and flood control or erosion of the soil. Again, the Hepler’s and subsequent owners reserve the final say regarding any activities they feel would impair the scenic and conservation interests of the property.
Peggy and Peter Hepler are individuals committed to preserving historical, natural, and scenic landscapes in the Pioneer Valley. They hope that their actions inspire others to place similar conservation restrictions on their properties. The couple actively discusses their decision with neighbors and others who are interested in the process. Peggy also acts as a spokeswoman on behalf of the Ketsrel Trust, which is how we heard about this case!
Donated land, like other income producing mechanisms of land conservation, requires a series of steps that lead to final approval
Although the donation of land is technically a gift, the burden rests on the donor, to negotiate the approval process
Land trust volunteers and board members who have had personal land conservation experiences can inspire everyday people to conserve their land
Land trust organizations and individual property owners can work together to further a regional and an individual vision of land protection
Creative use of tax laws can assist everyday people in the overall protection of a community’s cultural resources for future generations
Tax programs that preserve the active use of agricultural land can help to ensure that future generations can live in sustainable way
Land protection does not have to extract property from the tax rolls
State of Massachusetts Government Department of Recreation and Conservation
Kestrel Trust
Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition
Land trusts, foresters, estate planning professionals and neighbors with conservation training working in your town.
Stay up to date with news from MassWoods
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Decision Provides Successor Liability Warning for Employers
NLRB: Termination Over Emails Violated NLRA
NJ Enacts Pay Equity and Paid Sick Leave Laws
Ninth Circuit Weighs In on Title VII Timing
Inability to Work Rotating Shifts Dooms ADA Suit
A federal court sided with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on the question of successor liability with respect to an employer who may now be responsible for alleged actions by its predecessor in a Title VII action. The agency’s complaint asserted that Mister Car Wash—through a previous corporation, Maritime Autowash—subjected Hispanic employees to a hostile work environment. The successor began the purchase negotiations during the EEOC investigation, although the extent of its knowledge of the actual facts remains in dispute. Mister moved to dismiss the EEOC lawsuit, but a Maryland federal court denied the motion. Finding both standing by the agency to bring the suit and jurisdiction over the defendant, the court held that Mister had actual and constructive notice of the EEOC’s charges before purchasing Maritime. While the successor made a concerted effort to contract away any liability for its predecessor’s actions, that contract did not include the EEOC, the court said, leaving open the possibility that Mister will be on the hook for Maritime’s actions. The decision provides a cautionary tale for employers about the dangers of successor liability.
Detailed discussion
The dispute began in 2013, when agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted an audit of Maritime Autowash, which owned two car washes in Maryland. ICE informed Maritime that 39 of its employees were not authorized to work in the country and that, unless they could provide valid identification and employment eligibility documentation, Maritime would face civil—and perhaps criminal—penalties.
According to nine of the former workers, Maritime’s general manager held a meeting and provided each of those employees who lacked proper documentation with $150 to obtain new papers and be rehired under new names. A few months later, the nine workers submitted intake questionnaires to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The employees alleged that they were subjected to harassment and discrimination while working at Maritime, required to work longer hours with shorter breaks than their non-Hispanic counterparts, denied proper equipment for their jobs, and paid less than their non-Hispanic counterparts. The EEOC initiated an investigation.
The agency served Maritime with a subpoena and, when the company did not respond, the EEOC went to court to enforce it. Maritime argued that because the charging parties were not legally authorized to work in the United States, they could not seek relief under Title VII and, therefore, the EEOC could not enforce its subpoena. The district court agreed, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit reversed.
While the EEOC’s investigation was occurring, Mister Car Wash began the process of purchasing Maritime’s assets. After signing a letter of intent with a purchase price of $15 million, the parties engaged in due diligence. Mister made every effort to protect itself from potential liability arising from Maritime’s actions, listing all assumed liabilities in a schedule attached to the asset purchase agreement (APA).
The schedule made no mention of any employment discrimination liability matters, although Maritime forwarded the EEOC-related position statements prepared by its counsel in response to the charging parties’ statements and sent a letter stating that it had an insurance policy with $1 million in coverage, adding that it would be a surprise if the charging parties’ damages exceeded that amount.
In January 2015, the parties closed the deal, and Mister took ownership of Maritime’s assets. Maritime subsequently formed a new corporate entity, Phase 2 Investments.
The EEOC then concluded its investigation and sent both Phase 2 and Mister a Letter of Determination stating that Maritime had violated Title VII, inviting the parties to conciliate. When that attempt failed, the EEOC filed suit against both defendants, alleging that Hispanic employees at Maritime were “relegated” to lower-paid positions, denied overtime and their fair share of tips, and subjected to verbal harassment.
Both defendants filed motions for summary judgment. U.S. District Court Judge James K. Bredar began with Mister’s preliminary challenges addressing whether the EEOC had proper standing to bring the suit against them and jurisdiction over them in this situation.
Although Mister argued that it never employed the charging parties, and no traceable connection existed between their alleged injuries and it as the successor, the court was not persuaded. The EEOC brought the case, not the charging parties, the court stated.
“And the EEOC has standing to bring it. The EEOC is bringing this case under the statutory authority granted to it by Title VII, to vindicate the public’s interest,” the court wrote. “The EEOC has named Mister as a Defendant under the theory that it is a successor to Maritime for purposes of liability under Title VII, and thus the injury—Maritime’s alleged violation of Title VII—is fairly traceable to Mister.”
Jurisdiction was similarly not a problem, the court found, because Mister was named as a successor to Maritime and sufficient jurisdictional facts existed to satisfy Title VII. “A federal court has jurisdiction over a Title VII claim against a defendant-employer who was not named in an administrative charge of discrimination when the theory of liability rests on the actions of a different employer who was named in the charge of discrimination, and the defendant-employer had notice of the charge and an opportunity to voluntarily comply prior to the plaintiff bringing the claim in court,” Judge Bredar wrote.
Mister was given “ample notice” of the charges of discrimination underlying the EEOC lawsuit and was provided with an opportunity to conciliate, the court held. Requiring the charging parties or the agency to file an additional, identical charge against Mister “would be simply a useless exercise in technical nicety.”
Turning to the substantive issue of successor liability, Judge Bredar performed a balancing act between the needs of discriminatees and the national policy against discrimination evinced by Title VII on the one hand, and the unfairness of holding an innocent purchaser liable for another’s misdeed and the possible chilling effect on the corporate marketplace on the other hand.
Beginning with notice, the court found that Mister had some notice of the EEOC charges prior to purchasing Maritime’s assets. While the extent of the notice was unclear, Mister “knew that Maritime was facing potential employment discrimination liability,” the court noted. “At the very least, Maritime had constructive notice.”
Further, as “a fairly sophisticated consumer” in the purchase, Mister “could have acted upon the red flags thrown up by Maritime’s counsel,” the court noted. Although the defendant emphasized the lengths it went to protect itself from incurring liability, this argument worked against it.
“Unfortunately for Mister, its evidence and argument demonstrating due diligence, careful contracting and ironclad indemnification does not move the Court in the direction it had hoped,” the court wrote. “First, the APA is an agreement between Mister and Maritime. … Second, the lengths to which Mister went to protect itself from liability, such as structuring the sale as an asset purchase, inquiring into Maritime’s liabilities, listing the assumed liabilities in a schedule and including an indemnification clause, actually demonstrate the fairness of holding Mister liable as a successor. … Mister had the opportunity to protect itself, and, it seems, did so.”
Should the EEOC prevail, Mister may be able to look to the APA to seek recourse against Maritime, the court added, but that did not help Mister vis--vis the EEOC.
Other factors—that Mister had the ability to provide relief while Phase 2 did not and that Mister continued in the car wash business—also tipped in favor of finding successor liability.
“The Court finds that Mister had some actual notice as well as constructive notice of the pendency of the EEOC’s charges against Maritime when Mister purchased Maritime’s assets, that neither Maritime nor Phase 2 is capable of providing all the relief that the EEOC has requested and that Mister is running largely the same business as Maritime,” the court observed. “For these reasons, the Court finds it equitable to hold Mister jointly and severally liable for any liability that Maritime, i.e. Phase 2, may incur in this case.”
Finally, the court answered the question of whether discrimination against an undocumented alien is an unlawful employment practice under Title VII, answering in the affirmative.
“[T]here is nothing in the text of Title VII that precludes application to discrimination against undocumented aliens, and enforcement of the statute in that context does not necessarily undermine the Congressional policy evinced in [the Immigration Reform and Control Act],” Judge Bredar wrote.
“Taking the EEOC’s allegations as true but applying Phase 2’s legal theory, Maritime received a sizable benefit by hiring the Charging Parties—it was able to pay them less, make them work longer hours and make them perform additional duties, all without violating Title VII. Even if Maritime was unaware of the Charging Parties’ immigration status when it hired them, if the Court were to ‘sanction the formation of [that] statutorily declared illegal relationship’ by shielding Maritime (and its successor) from Title VII scrutiny, other employers may well find an incentive to look the other way when potential employees are unable to provide proper documentation.”
However, the immigration status of the charging parties may “cabin the nature of the relief that the EEOC may seek in this case,” the court noted, as the agency cannot seek to have Mister rehire the charging parties or pay them back pay.
To read the memorandum in EEOC v. Phase 2 Investments, Inc., click here.
Employees who responded in support of a group email complaining about working conditions at a restaurant engaged in protected concerted activity under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and, therefore, their termination violated the statute, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) declared. A former employee sent a group email to the managers and owners, as well as former employees, at Mexican Radio restaurant that complained about wages, work schedules, tip policies, working conditions and management’s treatment of employees. When four other workers responded in support of the email, they were fired. An administrative law judge found that their terminations violated Section 8(a)(1) of the NLRA because the employees were engaged in protected concerted activity. On appeal, a three-member panel of the NLRB agreed, additionally finding that the employees’ replies were not so egregious as to cause them to lose the protection of the Act.
In August 2015, the owners of New York City restaurant Mexican Radio hired a new general manager (GM). Within weeks, a waitress emailed the owners to complain about the new GM and the way she treated the employees, including her making discriminatory remarks and cursing.
Problems continued, however, with the GM making changes to the scheduling. When the employees objected, she told them, “If you don’t like it, you can go.” Frustrated with the scheduling—and the imposition of a tip pool that the wait staff felt was unfair—several of the employees filed a complaint with the New York City Health Department. After violations were uncovered, another manager threatened to “find out” who had reported the restaurant.
One of the bartenders resigned and sent an email to the managers, the owners and several employees at the restaurant. The email discussed the changes at Mexican Radio, detailing the workers’ repeated complaints about scheduling, wages, the tip pool and the unsanitary conditions, as well as the lack of response on the part of management and ownership.
Four of the employee recipients responded to the email. One stated, “Wow, Anette, gracias, Thank you for standing up for us. We will miss you,” while another wrote, “Just finished reading and I agree. Sad that things have to be this way.” A third answered, “I’m glad you said what you felt was right. I understand your point of view 100%. Thanks [sic] you for being voice for us all!” and the fourth wrote, “I agree a 100% as well.”
The managers and owners then terminated all four of the workers, telling one, “I don’t think you can work here any longer” if she agreed with the contents of the email. When the workers filed for unemployment benefits, the employer objected, telling the Department of Labor that the employees were terminated for insubordination.
After the workers filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the agency charged the restaurant with interfering, restraining and coercing employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), in violation of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act.
At trial, the employer argued that the email was an expression of the individual author’s personal gripe and not a protected concerted activity. Simply responding to a group message did not merit protection under the statute, Mexican Radio told the administrative law judge (ALJ).
But the ALJ reached a different conclusion. “The email was a culmination of the complaints made by the [employees] to [the managers and owners],” the ALJ wrote. “Concerted activity includes not only activity that is engaged in with or on the authority of other employees, but also activity where individual employees seek to initiate or to induce or to prepare for group action, as well as individual employees bringing truly group complaints to the attention of management.”
If the employee or employees who are acting in concert are seeking to improve terms and conditions of employment, their actions are for mutual aid and protection of all employees within the meaning of Section 7, the ALJ added. “Actions taken by the [employees] were for mutual aid or protection and include activity to ‘improve terms and conditions of employment or to otherwise improve their lot as employees.’”
The ALJ further determined that the workers were not insubordinate and did not lose the protections of the Act, rejecting the employer’s contention that the email was “pretty nasty” and “deeply insubordinate.”
“Here, the four discriminatees merely agreed to a nonpublic email from a former employee,” the ALJ said. The four discharged employees did not add to the email with any negative comments of their own, the email was part of an ongoing dialogue between the workers and managers/owners, the email itself contained little profanity and was not insubordination but “a critique of the management style.” In addition, the nonpublic message did not cause a loss of reputation or business, and there was no disruption of business resulting from the email.
The ALJ ordered the employer to cease and desist from violations of the NLRA, to offer the four terminated employees full reinstatement and to make them whole for any loss of earnings.
Mexican Radio appealed, and a three-member panel of the NLRB affirmed.
“We agree with the judge that [the four employees] engaged in protected concerted activity when they replied in agreement to a group email written by a former employee … that complained about wages, work schedules, tip policies, working conditions and management’s treatment of employees,” the Board wrote.
“We further agree that their replies were not so egregious as to cause them to lose the protection of the Act. As the judge noted, the email was part of an ongoing dialogue between the workers and the Respondent and was a reaction to the Respondent’s failure to correct the problems perceived by the employees; the email contained little profanity and was merely a critique of the Respondent’s management style; the employees did not add to the email with any negative comments of their own; the email was nonpublic and did not cause a loss of reputation or business for the Respondent; and there was no disruption of business.”
Concluding that the employer violated Section 8(a)(1) of the NLRA, the NLRB affirmed the ALJ’s order.
To read the decision and order in Mexican Radio Corp., click here.
Lawmakers in New Jersey have been busy recently, enacting an expansive new equal pay law in the state, as well as a paid sick leave law. Governor Phil Murphy signed the pay equity bill into law in late April, amending the state’s discrimination statute to forbid discrimination on the basis of any protected class “for substantially similar work when viewed as a composite of skill, effort and responsibilities.” Employers have the burden of proving that any difference in pay is due to a bona fide seniority system, merit pay or other reason not based on a protected classification. The statute also extends the time period for compensation discrimination actions, with each paycheck resetting the statute of limitations going back six years, and makes treble damages available for successful plaintiffs. Just a few days later, New Jersey became the tenth state to enact a paid sick leave statute. Beginning on Oct. 29, 2018, employers will be required to provide workers with one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, at the same rate of pay with the same benefits normally earned. Annual accrual, use and carryover of earned sick leave—which can be used for multiple reasons, including care for a family member—are capped at 40 hours each year.
Greatly expanding the protections for equal pay in the state, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed the Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act into law on April 24. The measure amends the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) to forbid discrimination in “compensation or in the financial terms or conditions of employment” on the basis of any protected class “for substantially similar work when viewed as a composite of skill, effort and responsibilities.”
Pursuant to the law, employers shoulder the burden of proving that any difference in pay is based on the delineated exceptions for, for example, a bona fide seniority or merit pay system, with wages and other compensation compared across “all of an employer’s operations or facilities.”
Under a third exception, employers would need to prove the difference in pay is based on one or more legitimate, bona fide factors other than characteristics of the protected class (such as training, education or experience, or the quantity or quality of production); that these bona fide factors do not perpetuate a differential in compensation based on sex or any characteristic of members of a protected class; that each of the factors is applied reasonably; that one or more of the factors account for the entire wage differential; and that the factors are job-related with respect to the position in question and based on legitimate business necessity.
Employers are prohibited from reducing rates of compensation to higher-paid employees to comply with the statute.
In addition to broadening the scope of protection, the law also extends the time period for plaintiffs to bring suit. Similar to the federal Equal Pay Act (EPA), the state law permits the statute of limitations to reset with each allegedly discriminatory paycheck and then goes one step further, allowing back pay for not just two years (like the EPA) but up to six years.
Successful plaintiffs are automatically entitled to treble damages under the new law, which also forbids the contractual shortening or waiving of any rights provided to employees.
The statute—which takes effect on July 1, 2018—also contains expanded protections for whistleblowers. Employees who share relevant information with governmental entities or legal counsel, or disclose or discuss pay information with co-workers, are protected from retaliation.
Just a few weeks later, Governor Murphy signed a second bill into law impacting New Jersey employers, creating the right to paid sick leave in the state. Effective Oct. 29, 2018, the Paid Sick Leave Act requires employers to provide employees with one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, “at the same rate of pay with the same benefits as the employee normally earns.”
Annual accrual, use and carryover of earned sick leave is capped at 40 hours per year.Nothing in the law mandates that employers pay employees for accrued but unused sick leave upon the worker’s separation from employment.
Sick leave may be used for “the diagnosis, care, or treatment of, or recovery from an employee’s mental or physical illness or injury” as well as preventive medical care and care for a family member. “Family member” is broadly defined to include children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, civil union and domestic partners, and “any other individual related by blood to the employee or whose close association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship.”
Other permitted uses of sick leave include school-related conferences or functions in connection with a child, circumstances related to domestic or sexual violence, and leave taken when the employee is unable to work because of a public health emergency.
If the use of earned sick leave is foreseeable, employers may require advance notice; if the reason for using earned sick leave is not foreseeable, employers can require notice “as soon as practicable.” Employers may require reasonable documentation that the leave is being taken for a permitted purpose where three or more consecutive days off are requested.
In addition to containing specific recordkeeping and notice requirements, the law also prohibits discrimination or retaliation based on the use of paid sick leave.
To read the Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act, click here.
To read the Paid Sick Leave Act, click here.
When does the 90-day period referenced in Title VII for filing a civil action begin—when the aggrieved person becomes eligible to receive a right-to-sue notice from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), or when the person is actually given the notice? According to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the time period begins when the individual is actually given notice of the right to sue by the agency. The case before the federal appellate panel involved Taylor Scott, who sued her former employer for sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of Title VII. A district court judge granted summary judgment for the employer, finding her suit to be time-barred because the acts she identified against the employer fell outside the statutory time period for filing suit. The Ninth Circuit partially reversed, writing that a plaintiff’s 90-day time limit to file suit begins when the aggrieved person is given notice of the right to sue by the EEOC, and that claims under the statute may be based on alleged acts outside the relevant time period to the extent that such acts are part of a single unlawful employment practice. Scott could, therefore, base her claims on the employer’s alleged acts occurring after she received notice of her right to sue from the agency only if she could show the acts were part of a single hostile work environment claim. The panel upheld summary judgment in favor of the employer with regard to claims based on discrete discriminatory or retaliatory acts that fell outside the relevant time period.
Taylor Scott began working for Gino Morena Enterprises (GME) in April 2011 at a barbershop located on the United States Marine Corps Base at Camp Pendleton. In November 2013, Scott filed a charge with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), alleging that her manager and general manager sexually harassed and retaliated against her.
On Nov. 25, 2013, the DFEH issued a letter providing Scott notice of her right to sue, giving the reason as “Administrative Dismissal—Waived to Another Agency.” The DFEH right-to-sue letter explained that Scott’s DFEH charge had also been filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and that Scott had a right to request the EEOC perform a review of the DFEH’s findings of insufficient evidence to support that a violation had occurred. The following month, her manager issued what was, in reality, a first warning but which was described as a “second” warning. Scott subsequently left GME’s employ. Scott did not follow up on her first administrative charge until October 2014, when she reached out to the EEOC.
Scott then hired a lawyer and filed a second charge with the DFEH in November 2014, adding allegations about retaliation that she said was a result of her filing the first DFEH charge. She received a second DFEH right-to-sue letter on the same date and filed suit in California state court on Nov. 20.
GME removed the case to federal court and then filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings, seeking dismissal of the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) claims as being preempted by federal law. Scott obtained a right-to-sue notice from the EEOC associated with her first charge. Issued on June 3, 2015, the EEOC notice stated that “[m]ore than 180 days have passed since the filing of this charge” and “[t]he EEOC is terminating its processing of this charge.” The EEOC notice also stated that Scott’s lawsuit under Title VII must be filed in federal or state court within 90 days of receipt of the notice.
Scott then filed an amended complaint in court, which included only federal claims arising under Title VII and no state law claims. GME countered with a motion to dismiss, arguing that the Title VII claims were untimely and, therefore, time-barred. Although the court denied that motion in order to allow the parties to pursue discovery, it subsequently granted GME’s motion for summary judgment, ruling that all of Scott’s claims were time-barred. Scott appealed.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit explained that there are effectively two limitations periods for Title VII claims. “First, a claimant must exhaust administrative remedies by filing a charge with the EEOC or an equivalent state agency, like the DFEH, and receiving a right-to-sue letter,” the court said. “The charge must be filed within 180 days after the allegedly unlawful employment practice occurred. Second, after exhausting administrative remedies, a claimant has 90 days to file a civil action.”
This second time limit—found at 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e-5(f)(1)—was the issue GME raised against Scott. If the 90-day period to file a civil action begins when the plaintiff receives a right-to-sue notice from the EEOC, then Scott’s claims were timely. If the period, in contrast, starts 180 days after the charge is filed with the EEOC, regardless of when the agency issues a right-to-sue notice, then her time to file an action expired before she sued.
The Ninth Circuit determined that the former interpretation was a better fit with the statute, which requires the EEOC to give notice to the aggrieved person of the person’s authorization to file a civil action. “The statute does not expressly state when the EEOC must give such notice,” the court said. “However, it clearly contemplates the giving of notice sometime after 180 days have expired from the date the charge is filed.”
Section 2000e-5(f)(1) “plainly ties the 90-day period to the ‘giving of [the right-to-sue] notice,’ not eligibility for a right-to-sue notice,” the panel wrote, finding the contrary conclusion counterintuitive.
“The district court’s conclusion is not only contrary to the language of the statute, it arguably would render right-to-sue notices meaningless. If the mere passage of time triggers not only the claimant’s right to sue … but also the deadline by which the claimant must sue (the district court’s conclusion), the EEOC’s giving of notice after 180 days becomes an idle act.”
To hold that a plaintiff may sue when the EEOC has not acted on a charge for 180 days but is not required to do so until after receiving a right-to-sue notice is entirely consistent with the different purposes of the administrative exhaustion requirement and the statute of limitations, the court added.
“The purpose of the exhaustion requirement ‘is “to provide an opportunity to reach a voluntary settlement of an employment discrimination dispute,”’” the court said. “The purpose of a statute of limitations, on the other hand, ‘is to require diligent prosecution of known claims, thereby providing finality and predictability in legal affairs and ensuring that claims will be resolved while evidence is reasonably available and fresh.’”
Allowing an aggrieved person to wait for the agency’s investigation to conclude—even if it takes more than 180 days—furthers the purpose of the administrative exhaustion requirement without undermining the purpose of the 90-day limitations period, the Ninth Circuit wrote.
GME’s concerns about an indefinitely open limitations period were adequately addressed by existing doctrines, such as laches (undue delay in pursuing), the panel said, and the employer lacked any authority for its position that the issuance of a right-to-sue letter by either the EEOC or the DFEH trigged the 90-day clock.
“Accordingly, the district court erred in concluding that the 90-day clock for Scott to file suit began when she became eligible to receive a right-to-sue notice, rather than when she received her right-to-sue notice from the EEOC,” the court said.
However, the timing did have an impact on some of the allegations in Scott’s complaint. Her retaliation claim was based in large part on later conduct, as she maintained that management retaliated against her by issuing a sham warning in an effort to set her up for termination. She argued that the continuing violations doctrine allowed her to base her retaliation claim on conduct that occurred after she filed her first administrative charge, as her second administrative charge was untimely.
“The applicability of the continuing violations doctrine depends on the nature of the plaintiff’s claim,” the court said. “To the extent Scott’s claims are based on discrete acts occurring after she filed her first DFEH charge—for example, retaliation for filing the first administrative charge—the district court did not err in granting summary judgment. But Scott may base her Title VII claims on GME’s alleged acts occurring after she filed her first DFEH charge to the extent she can show such acts are part of a single hostile work environment claim.”
To read the opinion in Scott v. Gino Morena Enterprises, LLC, click here.
Where working rotating shifts is an essential job function, the plaintiff cannot move forward on his Americans with Disabilities (ADA) action for the failure to accommodate his request for a fixed schedule, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit recently determined. While making a bank deposit on behalf of his employer, Burger King, Victor Sepulveda-Vargas was attacked at gunpoint, resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder. He then requested a fixed work schedule at a Burger King located in a safer neighborhood. The employer initially granted the request but later told Sepulveda-Vargas he would need to resume working rotating shifts, as all assistant managers at the franchises are required to do. Sepulveda-Vargas sued, alleging that the employer failed to accommodate him with a fixed work schedule in violation of the ADA. Affirming summary judgment in favor of the employer, the First Circuit called the case “a lesson straight out of the school of hard knocks. No matter how sympathetic the plaintiff or how harrowing his plights, the law is the law and sometimes it’s just not on his side.” Sepulveda-Vargas was unable to perform the essential job functions required of assistant managers because he could not work a rotating schedule, the court said, ending his ADA action.
An assistant manager for Caribbean Restaurants, LLC, the operator of the Burger King franchise throughout Puerto Rico, Victor Sepulveda-Vargas went to make a bank deposit on behalf of his employer. He was attacked at gunpoint, hit over the head and had his car stolen. As a result, he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression disorder.
Sepulveda-Vargas requested a fixed work schedule at a Burger King located in a safer neighborhood. The employer initially acquiesced but later told him he would need to resume working rotating shifts (one from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., another from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and the last from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.), as all assistant managers are required to do.
Instead, Sepulveda-Vargas resigned and sued, alleging that the employer failed to reasonably accommodate him with a fixed work schedule in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and that employees of Caribbean engaged in a series of retaliatory actions against him as a result of his request for the accommodation.
A district court granted summary judgment in favor of the employer, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed, finding that Sepulveda-Vargas was not qualified to perform the essential job functions required of Caribbean assistant managers because he could not work rotating shifts.
The employer explained that the ability to work rotating shifts was necessary for the equal distribution of work among the managerial staff, a point Sepulveda-Vargas conceded in his deposition.
“[A]ccommodating Sepulveda-Vargas permanently would have had the adverse impact of inconveniencing all other assistant managers who would have to work unattractive shifts in response to Sepulveda-Vargas’s fixed schedule,” the court wrote. “We have previously explained that such ‘idiosyncratic characteristics as scheduling flexibility’ should be considered when determining the essentiality of a job function.”
In addition, a newspaper advertisement for the job listed the need to work rotating shifts as a requirement, and the job application the plaintiff filled out and signed when he was hired made clear that all Caribbean managerial employees had to be able to work different shifts in different restaurants, the court noted.
Although the employer initially granted Sepulveda-Vargas the accommodation on a temporary basis, that fact did not mean that rotating shifts was a nonessential function, the court added, as to find otherwise would unacceptably punish employers for doing more than the ADA requires, and might discourage such an undertaking on the part of employers.
Turning to the retaliation claim, the court disagreed with Sepulveda-Vargas that the actions listed were materially adverse. For example, allegedly being accused by his direct supervisor of taking four pills of unnecessary medication, which made him feel embarrassed, was insufficient to sustain an adverse employment action, the court said, while being called a “cry baby” on multiple occasions—even assuming the comments were related to a protected activity—fell into the category of “simple teasing, offhand comments, and isolated incidents.”
To the extent Sepulveda-Vargas argued that the actions should be considered materially adverse when looked at together rather than individually, the court concluded otherwise, finding that the incidents amounted to nothing more than “petty insults and minor annoyances.”
To read the opinion in Sepulveda-Vargas v. Caribbean Restaurants, LLC, click here.
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Musical Interlude: April Showers sung by “The World’s Greatest Entertainer” – Al Jolson (1949)
Posted by meappropriatestyle in music notes, musical interlude
"The World's Greatest Entertainer", 'April Showers' - song, Al Jolson, musical interlude
The song
published in 1921, music written by Louis Silvers and lyrics by B. G. De Sylva-
was a favoured tune of a past generation.
First performed in the Broadway musical Bombo by
legendary vaudeville, jazz, blues singer Al Jolson-
the song became a Jolson signature.
Al Jolson was an American stage/cinema actor and singer.
At the height of his career, he was called
“The World’s Greatest Entertainer”.
In the 1930s he was America’s most famous and highest-paid performer.
Widely remembered as starring in the first talking motion picture
The Jazz Singer, 1927-
he was first in other circumstances as well.
During World War II, he was the first celebrity
to entertain American soldiers overseas.
In 1950, he would repeat this generous action
as the first entertainer to perform for
military personnel during the Korean War.
His show schedule was ardurous, 42 performances in just 16 days.
He died a few weeks after returning to the United States
from the Korean War tour.
Al Jolson was later honored with the Medal of Merit,
which was given to his family by then Secretary of Defense George Marshall.
(image from newsday.com):
Al Jolson (1886 – 1950)
strikes his classic pose
He often performed in ‘blackface’ makeup-
a controversial theatrical tradition dating back to the mid-19th century.
Yet, from early on in his career, he was known to
actively champion the rights of Black performers on the Broadway stage
and for speaking out against discriminatory practices against
Black actors.
sings April Showers
Chicago Soldiers Field concert, 1949
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Home / News / Health
People without symptoms have same amount of coronavirus in their bodies as those with signs of disease: Study
The study also supports the theory that patients showing no signs of infection may also transmit the disease but offers no evidence to justify it
By Rohini Krishnamurthy
Updated On : 21:10 PST, Aug 6, 2020
Tags :Coronavirus (Covid-19)
People infected with Covid-19, regardless of whether they show signs of the infection or not, have the same amount of virus in their bodies, suggests a new study. The finding indicates that isolating asymptomatic patients may help control the spread.
"Many individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection remained asymptomatic for a prolonged period, and viral load [amount of virus] was similar to that in symptomatic patients. Therefore, isolation of infected persons should be performed regardless of symptoms," researchers from South Korea wrote in their study. The researchers know that people who show symptoms, including delayed ones, are more likely to drive the spread. As for asymptomatic patients, information on how the disease develops and the viral load is limited.
The current study fills these knowledge gaps. It also supports the theory that patients showing no signs of infection may also transmit the disease but offers no evidence to justify it. Further studies will have to evaluate if asymptomatic patients can pass on the infection to others. South Korea researchers studied 303 Covid-19 patients between March 6 and March 26, 2020. These participants — aged between 22-36 years — were isolated in a community treatment center in a city named Cheonan. Of them, 66.3% were women, and 3.9% of the patients had underlying health conditions such as hypertension, cancer and asthma.
Among the 303 isolated patients, 110 were asymptomatic at the start of the study and 21 eventually developed them. Patients showing delayed signs of infection are called presymptomatic. It took them an average of 15 days to develop symptoms, according to the study. As for the commonly reported symptoms, nearly 56% had a cough, 46% had nasal congestion, 28% had sputum production, 27% had a sore throat, 10% had an altered sense of smell, 5% had diarrhea, 4% reported a distortion in taste and 2% had abdominal pain.
The team of experts then collected samples from the nose, mouth and the mucus from the lower respiratory tract and analyzed the genetic material of the virus. The team also compared the amount of RNA between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. Tests revealed that symptomatic and asymptomatic patients hold similar levels of the virus. But because symptomatic patients get more attention, countries could be underreporting infections. Isolating asymptomatic patients may help control the spread of the new coronavirus, the researchers suggested.
Ian Jones, professor of virology at the UK's University of Reading who was not involved in the study, told Newsweek: "All individuals were isolated and transmission was not tested so it is impossible to know if, generally, asymptomatics would transmit less virus to others, for example, because they do not cough or more as a result of freedom of movement." He added: "However, the study serves to reinforce the point that control of Covid-19 in the community requires regular widespread testing and that anyone positive should self-isolate whether they are symptomatic or not."
Daniel Davis, professor of immunology at the University of Manchester, told Newsweek that a "track and trace" system might not catch the infection in a significant number of people who do not show any symptoms. "However, this study didn't look at the transmission of the virus directly. It's hard to infer rates of transmission from the types of measurements done here," he said.
The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
For more information and statistics on the coronavirus pandemic, click on the Newsbreak tracker here
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CTM Outlines on the Standard Epistle Series 35-4
by John H. Elliott Rev. Dr. Martin H. Franzmann William Albert Buege
Acts 1:1Acts 1:2Acts 1:3Acts 1:4Acts 1:5Acts 1:6Acts 1:7Acts 1:8Acts 1:9Acts 1:10Acts 1:11James 1:16James 1:17James 1:18James 1:19James 1:20James 1:21James 1:22James 1:23James 1:24James 1:25James 1:26James 1:271 Peter 2:111 Peter 2:121 Peter 2:131 Peter 2:141 Peter 2:151 Peter 2:161 Peter 2:171 Peter 2:181 Peter 2:191 Peter 2:201 Peter 2:211 Peter 2:221 Peter 2:231 Peter 2:241 Peter 2:251 Peter 4:71 Peter 4:81 Peter 4:91 Peter 4:101 Peter 4:11
Ascension Day sermons.Easter--Sermons.Eastertide--Sermons.Lectionary preaching.
CTQ Homiletical Studies 50-3,4
by Rev. Dr. Stephen J. Carter Rudolph A. Haak Norbert H. Mueller William G. Thompson Lowell F. Thomas Lawrence W. Mitchell Rev. Luther George Strasen Rev. Dr. James G. Bollhagen Rev. Dr. Ken Schurb Rev. Dr. Harold Zietlow Paul E. Cloeter Dr. Gerhard Aho Lloyd Strelow Edmond E. Aho Rev. Dr. Arthur A. Just Jr. David F. Seybold Rev. Dr. G. Waldemar Degner Mark R. Oien Rev. Dr. Daniel Preus Jonathan E. Shaw Rev. Dr. James W. Voelz Rev. Warren E. Messmann Rev. David Schlie Rev. Klemet Preus Rev. Dr. Jeffrey A. Gibbs
Acts 10:34Acts 10:38Romans 1:1Romans 1:2Romans 1:3Romans 1:4Romans 1:5Romans 1:6Romans 1:7Romans 3:21Romans 3:22Romans 3:23Romans 3:24Romans 3:25Romans 3:27Romans 3:28Romans 4:1Romans 4:2Romans 4:3Romans 4:4Romans 4:5Romans 4:13Romans 4:14Romans 4:15Romans 4:16Romans 4:17Romans 5:6Romans 5:7Romans 5:8Romans 5:9Romans 5:10Romans 5:11Romans 5:12Romans 5:13Romans 5:14Romans 5:15Romans 5:16Romans 5:17Romans 5:18Romans 5:19Romans 6:1Romans 6:2Romans 6:3Romans 6:4Romans 6:5Romans 6:6Romans 6:7Romans 6:8Romans 6:9Romans 6:10Romans 6:11Romans 7:15Romans 7:16Romans 7:17Romans 7:18Romans 7:19Romans 7:20Romans 7:21Romans 7:22Romans 7:23Romans 7:24Romans 7:25Romans 8:1Romans 8:2Romans 8:3Romans 8:4Romans 8:5Romans 8:6Romans 8:7Romans 8:8Romans 8:9Romans 8:10Romans 8:11Romans 8:12Romans 8:13Romans 8:14Romans 8:15Romans 8:16Romans 8:17Romans 8:18Romans 8:19Romans 8:20Romans 8:21Romans 8:22Romans 8:23Romans 8:24Romans 8:25Romans 8:26Romans 8:27Romans 8:28Romans 8:29Romans 8:30Romans 8:35Romans 8:36Romans 8:37Romans 8:38Romans 9:1Romans 9:2Romans 9:3Romans 9:4Romans 9:5Romans 11:13Romans 11:14Romans 11:15Romans 11:29Romans 11:30Romans 11:31Romans 11:32Romans 12:1Romans 12:2Romans 12:3Romans 12:4Romans 12:5Romans 12:6Romans 12:7Romans 12:8Romans 13:1Romans 13:2Romans 13:3Romans 13:4Romans 13:5Romans 13:6Romans 13:7Romans 13:8Romans 13:9Romans 13:10Romans 13:11Romans 13:12Romans 13:13Romans 13:14Romans 14:5Romans 14:6Romans 14:7Romans 14:8Romans 14:9Romans 15:4Romans 15:5Romans 15:6Romans 15:7Romans 15:8Romans 15:9Romans 15:10Romans 15:11Romans 15:12Romans 15:131 Corinthians 1:261 Corinthians 1:271 Corinthians 1:281 Corinthians 1:291 Corinthians 1:301 Corinthians 1:311 Corinthians 2:11 Corinthians 2:21 Corinthians 2:31 Corinthians 2:41 Corinthians 2:51 Corinthians 15:201 Corinthians 15:211 Corinthians 15:221 Corinthians 15:231 Corinthians 15:241 Corinthians 15:251 Corinthians 15:261 Corinthians 15:271 Corinthians 15:282 Corinthians 3:112 Corinthians 3:122 Corinthians 3:132 Corinthians 3:14Galatians 4:4Galatians 4:5Galatians 4:6Galatians 4:7Ephesians 1:3Ephesians 1:4Ephesians 1:5Ephesians 1:6Ephesians 1:15Ephesians 1:16Ephesians 1:17Ephesians 1:18Ephesians 5:8Ephesians 5:9Ephesians 5:10Ephesians 5:11Ephesians 5:12Ephesians 5:13Ephesians 5:14Philippians 1:1Philippians 1:2Philippians 1:3Philippians 1:4Philippians 1:5Philippians 1:6Philippians 1:7Philippians 1:8Philippians 1:9Philippians 1:10Philippians 1:11Philippians 1:19Philippians 1:20Philippians 1:21Philippians 1:22Philippians 1:23Philippians 1:24Philippians 1:25Philippians 1:26Philippians 1:27Philippians 2:5Philippians 2:6Philippians 2:7Philippians 2:8Philippians 2:9Philippians 2:10Philippians 2:11Philippians 3:12Philippians 3:13Philippians 3:14Philippians 3:15Philippians 3:16Philippians 3:17Philippians 3:18Philippians 3:19Philippians 3:20Philippians 3:21Philippians 4:4Philippians 4:5Philippians 4:6Philippians 4:7Philippians 4:8Philippians 4:9Philippians 4:10Philippians 4:11Philippians 4:12Philippians 4:13Colossians 3:1Colossians 3:2Colossians 3:3Colossians 3:41 Thessalonians 2:81 Thessalonians 2:91 Thessalonians 2:101 Thessalonians 2:111 Thessalonians 2:121 Thessalonians 2:131 Thessalonians 3:71 Thessalonians 3:81 Thessalonians 3:91 Thessalonians 3:101 Thessalonians 3:111 Thessalonians 3:121 Thessalonians 3:13Titus 3:4Titus 3:5Titus 3:6Titus 3:7James 5:7James 5:8James 5:9James 5:101 Peter 1:31 Peter 1:41 Peter 1:51 Peter 1:61 Peter 1:71 Peter 1:81 Peter 1:91 Peter 1:171 Peter 1:181 Peter 1:191 Peter 1:201 Peter 1:211 Peter 1:221 Peter 1:231 Peter 2:41 Peter 2:51 Peter 2:61 Peter 2:71 Peter 2:81 Peter 2:91 Peter 2:101 Peter 2:191 Peter 2:201 Peter 2:211 Peter 2:221 Peter 2:231 Peter 2:241 Peter 2:251 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:161 Peter 3:171 Peter 3:181 Peter 3:191 Peter 3:201 Peter 3:211 Peter 3:222 Peter 1:162 Peter 1:172 Peter 1:182 Peter 1:192 Peter 1:202 Peter 1:21
Advent sermons.Christmas sermons.Easter sermons.Eastertide--Sermons.Epiphany season--Sermons.Lenten sermons.Palm Sunday--Sermons.Pentecost season--Sermons.Pentecost sermons.Trinity--Sermons.
CTQ Homiletical Studies 53-3
by Rev. Steven C. Briel Andrew E. Steinmann Rolf Preus Norbert H. Mueller Rev. Dr. Walter A. Maier IIIRev. Jonathan Naumann Rev. Dr. Harold Herman Buls Rev. Dr. Charles J. Evanson Rev. Dr. Arthur A. Just Jr.Rev. Luther George Strasen Rev. Prof. John T. Pless Thomas G. Bartels Armand J. Boehme john Kaiser Charles E. Froh Mark K. Schoen Stanley J. Zyskowski Daniel J. Vogel Robert A. Dargatz Mark Boxman Rev. Dr. Walter A Maier IIRev. Steve O. Scheiderer Edmond E. Aho Rev. Warren E. Messmann Rev. Dr. Cameron A. MacKenzie
Acts 10:36Acts 10:37Acts 10:38Acts 10:39Acts 10:40Acts 10:41Acts 10:42Acts 10:43Romans 1:1Romans 1:2Romans 1:3Romans 1:4Romans 1:5Romans 1:6Romans 1:7Romans 4:1Romans 4:2Romans 4:3Romans 4:4Romans 4:5Romans 4:13Romans 4:14Romans 4:15Romans 4:16Romans 4:17Romans 5:12Romans 5:13Romans 5:14Romans 5:15Romans 5:16Romans 5:17Romans 5:18Romans 5:19Romans 8:1Romans 8:2Romans 8:3Romans 8:4Romans 8:5Romans 8:6Romans 8:7Romans 8:8Romans 8:9Romans 8:10Romans 8:11Romans 8:12Romans 8:13Romans 8:14Romans 8:15Romans 8:16Romans 8:17Romans 8:18Romans 8:19Romans 13:11Romans 13:12Romans 13:13Romans 13:14Romans 15:4Romans 15:5Romans 15:6Romans 15:7Romans 15:8Romans 15:9Romans 15:10Romans 15:11Romans 15:12Romans 15:131 Corinthians 1:11 Corinthians 1:21 Corinthians 1:31 Corinthians 1:41 Corinthians 1:51 Corinthians 1:61 Corinthians 1:71 Corinthians 1:81 Corinthians 1:91 Corinthians 1:101 Corinthians 1:111 Corinthians 1:121 Corinthians 1:131 Corinthians 1:141 Corinthians 1:151 Corinthians 1:161 Corinthians 1:171 Corinthians 1:261 Corinthians 1:271 Corinthians 1:281 Corinthians 1:291 Corinthians 1:301 Corinthians 1:311 Corinthians 2:11 Corinthians 2:21 Corinthians 2:31 Corinthians 2:41 Corinthians 2:51 Corinthians 2:61 Corinthians 2:71 Corinthians 2:81 Corinthians 2:91 Corinthians 2:101 Corinthians 2:111 Corinthians 2:121 Corinthians 2:131 Corinthians 3:101 Corinthians 3:111 Corinthians 3:161 Corinthians 3:171 Corinthians 3:181 Corinthians 3:191 Corinthians 3:201 Corinthians 3:211 Corinthians 3:221 Corinthians 3:23Galatians 4:4Galatians 4:5Galatians 4:6Galatians 4:7Ephesians 5:8Ephesians 5:9Ephesians 5:10Ephesians 5:11Ephesians 5:12Ephesians 5:13Ephesians 5:14Philippians 2:5Philippians 2:6Philippians 2:7Philippians 2:8Philippians 2:9Philippians 2:10Philippians 2:11Hebrews 1:1Hebrews 1:2Hebrews 1:3Hebrews 1:4Hebrews 1:5Hebrews 1:6Hebrews 1:7Hebrews 1:8Hebrews 1:9James 5:7James 5:8James 5:9James 5:101 Peter 1:31 Peter 1:41 Peter 1:51 Peter 1:61 Peter 1:71 Peter 1:81 Peter 1:91 Peter 2:41 Peter 2:51 Peter 2:61 Peter 2:71 Peter 2:81 Peter 2:91 Peter 2:101 Peter 2:191 Peter 2:201 Peter 2:211 Peter 2:221 Peter 2:231 Peter 2:241 Peter 2:252 Peter 1:162 Peter 1:172 Peter 1:182 Peter 1:192 Peter 1:202 Peter 1:21
Advent sermons.Christmas sermons.Easter sermons.Eastertide--Sermons.Epiphany season--Sermons.Jesus Christ--Transfiguration--Sermons.Lenten sermons.Palm Sunday--Sermons.Transfiguration sermons.
Homiletical Studies
by Rev. Dr. Henry J. Eggold Jr.Rev. Edwin H. Dubberke Dale Knutsen Ronald Irsch Rev. Dr. Jeffrey A. Gibbs Rev. Dr. Erwin J. Kolb David L. Bahn Rev. Dr. Harold Zietlow Rev. Steven C. Briel Dr. Gerhard H. Bode Jr.Dr. Gerhard Aho Lowell F. Thomas Lawrence W. Mitchell Bruce J. Lieske David F. Seybold David F. Seybold
Acts 2:1Acts 2:2Acts 2:3Acts 2:4Acts 2:5Acts 2:6Acts 2:7Acts 2:8Acts 2:9Acts 2:10Acts 2:11Acts 2:12Acts 2:13Acts 2:14Acts 2:15Acts 2:16Acts 2:17Acts 2:18Acts 2:19Acts 2:20Acts 2:21Acts 10:34Acts 10:35Acts 10:36Acts 10:37Acts 10:38Romans 1:1Romans 1:2Romans 1:3Romans 1:4Romans 1:5Romans 1:6Romans 1:7Romans 4:1Romans 4:2Romans 4:3Romans 4:4Romans 4:5Romans 4:13Romans 4:14Romans 4:15Romans 4:16Romans 4:17Romans 8:1Romans 8:2Romans 8:3Romans 8:4Romans 8:5Romans 8:6Romans 8:7Romans 8:8Romans 8:9Romans 8:10Romans 8:11Romans 8:12Romans 8:13Romans 8:14Romans 8:15Romans 8:16Romans 8:17Romans 8:18Romans 8:19Romans 13:11Romans 13:12Romans 13:13Romans 13:14Romans 15:4Romans 15:5Romans 15:6Romans 15:7Romans 15:8Romans 15:9Romans 15:10Romans 15:11Romans 15:12Romans 15:131 Corinthians 1:101 Corinthians 1:111 Corinthians 1:121 Corinthians 1:131 Corinthians 1:141 Corinthians 1:151 Corinthians 1:161 Corinthians 1:171 Corinthians 1:261 Corinthians 1:271 Corinthians 1:281 Corinthians 1:291 Corinthians 1:301 Corinthians 1:311 Corinthians 2:11 Corinthians 2:21 Corinthians 2:31 Corinthians 2:41 Corinthians 2:51 Corinthians 2:61 Corinthians 2:71 Corinthians 2:81 Corinthians 2:91 Corinthians 2:101 Corinthians 2:111 Corinthians 2:121 Corinthians 2:131 Corinthians 3:101 Corinthians 3:111 Corinthians 3:161 Corinthians 3:171 Corinthians 3:181 Corinthians 3:191 Corinthians 3:201 Corinthians 3:211 Corinthians 3:221 Corinthians 3:231 Corinthians 11:231 Corinthians 11:241 Corinthians 11:251 Corinthians 11:26Galatians 4:4Galatians 4:5Galatians 4:6Galatians 4:7Ephesians 1:3Ephesians 1:4Ephesians 1:5Ephesians 1:6Ephesians 1:15Ephesians 1:16Ephesians 1:17Ephesians 1:18Ephesians 1:19Ephesians 1:20Ephesians 1:21Ephesians 1:22Ephesians 1:23Ephesians 3:2Ephesians 3:3Ephesians 3:4Ephesians 3:5Ephesians 3:6Ephesians 3:7Ephesians 3:8Ephesians 3:9Ephesians 3:10Ephesians 3:11Ephesians 3:12Ephesians 5:8Ephesians 5:9Ephesians 5:10Ephesians 5:11Ephesians 5:12Ephesians 5:13Ephesians 5:14Philippians 2:5Philippians 2:6Philippians 2:7Philippians 2:8Philippians 2:9Philippians 2:10Philippians 2:11Colossians 3:1Colossians 3:2Colossians 3:3Colossians 3:4Titus 2:11Titus 2:12Titus 2:13Titus 2:14Hebrews 4:14Hebrews 4:15Hebrews 4:16Hebrews 5:1Hebrews 5:2Hebrews 5:3Hebrews 5:4Hebrews 5:5Hebrews 5:6Hebrews 5:7Hebrews 5:8Hebrews 5:9Hebrews 5:10James 5:7James 5:8James 5:9James 5:101 Peter 1:31 Peter 1:41 Peter 1:51 Peter 1:61 Peter 1:71 Peter 1:81 Peter 1:91 Peter 1:171 Peter 1:181 Peter 1:191 Peter 1:201 Peter 1:211 Peter 2:41 Peter 2:51 Peter 2:61 Peter 2:71 Peter 2:81 Peter 2:91 Peter 2:101 Peter 2:191 Peter 2:201 Peter 2:211 Peter 2:221 Peter 2:231 Peter 2:241 Peter 2:251 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:161 Peter 3:171 Peter 3:181 Peter 4:131 Peter 4:141 Peter 4:151 Peter 4:161 Peter 4:171 Peter 4:181 Peter 4:192 Peter 1:162 Peter 1:172 Peter 1:182 Peter 1:192 Peter 1:202 Peter 1:21
Advent hymns.Ascension Day sermons.Christmas sermons.Easter sermons.Eastertide--Sermons.Epiphany season--Sermons.Epiphany--Sermons.Good Friday sermons.Lenten sermons.Maundy Thursday--Sermons.Palm Sunday--Sermons.Pentecost sermons.Transfiguration sermons.
Para una convención femenil
1 Peter 2:11 Peter 2:21 Peter 2:31 Peter 2:41 Peter 2:51 Peter 2:61 Peter 2:71 Peter 2:81 Peter 2:91 Peter 2:101 Peter 2:111 Peter 2:121 Peter 2:131 Peter 2:141 Peter 2:151 Peter 2:161 Peter 2:171 Peter 2:181 Peter 2:191 Peter 2:201 Peter 2:211 Peter 2:221 Peter 2:231 Peter 2:241 Peter 2:25
Bible study.Women in the Lutheran Church.
© 2021 - Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN
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Michael Novakhov - SharedNewsLinks℠
FBI, DHS Ignored Far-Right Dangers Ahead of Trump Riot | Time
FBI, DHS Ignored Far-Right Dangers Ahead of Trump Riot
Rioters objecting to the certification of President-elect Joe Biden by Congress were briefly blocked by police outside the Capitol before gaining entry on Jan. 6. They wreaked havoc before being expelled.
Peter van Agtmael—Magnum Photos for TIME
W.J. Hennigan
January 7, 2021 10:35 PM EST
One day after the U.S. Capitol building was raided by far-right rioters, the fallout in Washington, D.C. has begun. On Thursday, federal and local authorities publicly traded blame and demanded accountability for how the pro-Trump mob so easily overran police, invaded the U.S. Congress and forced an evacuation, despite weeks of widespread warnings on social media that suggested the protests might turn violent. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund resigned, while the House Sergeant at Arms and the Senate Sergeant at Arms were told by Democratic leadership to step down.
But even as Congress’ law enforcement and security officials were held accountable for what they did, or perhaps didn’t do, attention turned to the lack of apparent response from immense federal agencies run by President Trump, like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or FBI.
It’s not like these agencies, which after 9/11 were granted sweeping authorities and capabilities to unearth terror plots and suspects, weren’t aware of the threat. On Oct. 6, DHS issued its first-ever “Homeland Threat Assessment” that said far-right extremists pose the largest threat to the U.S. homeland, other than adversarial nation-states. In what now reads like an ominous warning, the 26-page document said that domestic extremists “might target events related to the 2020 Presidential campaigns, the election itself, election results, or the post-election period” and that they “could mobilize quickly to threaten or engage in violence.” It identified open-air events, “such as campaign-associated mass gatherings” as “the most likely flash points for potential violence.”
It was an unusually pointed statement by DHS, which under the Trump Administration has been pressured to downplay the threat posed by rightwing and white supremacist groups, according to former intelligence officials and whistleblowers. DHS and FBI did not return requests for comment, but security analysts say the federal government must prioritize far-right violence among homegrown threats.
According to a 2020 study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, right-wing extremists perpetrated two-thirds of the U.S. terror attacks and plots in 2019 and more than 90% between Jan. 1 and May 8, 2020. Far right extremists “are taking advantage of the fact that we’re all turning a blind eye to it,” said Elizabeth Neumann, who resigned from leading the DHS office that oversees responses to violent extremism last April. Domestic terrorism is not even a federal crime, forcing prosecutors to charge suspects under other laws, such as hate-crime laws. “A lot could be helped by some clear-cut messaging much as we did after the 9/11 attacks, defining the enemy, defining the threat and saying, ‘We’re not going to stand for this,’” Neumann said.
“The Turner Diaries,” the 1978 race-war novel that has inspired generations of right-wing extremists, features a mortar attack on the Capitol, she said. “So, the events this week are like a fantasy come true,” Neumann said. “We’re likely to see adherents of this ideology use the storming of the Capitol as a rallying cry. We’re in a dangerous moment for the next few weeks leading to, and after, the upcoming Inauguration.”
Ken Rapuano, the assistant secretary of defense for homeland security, told reporters Thursday that the Justice Department and local law enforcement repeatedly told Pentagon brass that there weren’t any indications of “significant violent protests,” before the Capitol was seized. This came despite many instances last year when crowds of pro-Trump demonstrators had overcome police and stormed the Michigan and Idaho statehouses during the summer.
But by Thursday, it appeared the message had been received by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser who requested support from the National Guard. The U.S. military mainly supports local authorities through the National Guard, which is under the control of state governors, who respond to requests from local leaders. D.C. does not have a governor, so the Secretary of Defense has that responsibility, which has been delegated to the Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy by statute.
“Yesterday was a horrible and shameful day here in the capital, and the nation at large,” McCarthy told reporters. “The District of Columbia asked the Army for help, and our National Guard responded.”
McCarthy said 6,200 National Guard members from D.C. and six states–Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania–are converging in the national capital region by this weekend. A 7-foot “non-scalable fence” has been erected around the U.S. Capitol and should remain in place for the next 30 days, he said, which means it will still be up when Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President.
← 12:36 PM 1/8/2021 – M.N.: Coronavirus transmission via mink hats in Orthodox Jews – Is this the explanation for the higher rate? The Hypothesis. → Trump accuses Twitter of ‘banning free speech’
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Migrations sans frontières / Migration Without Borders
Etude critique d'un droit commun de l'inhumanité / Critical Study of a Common Law of Inhumanity
A propos / About this Blog
Billets et notes de travail de Migrations sans frontières
Norway Builds Fence Along Border with Russia to Deter Refugees and Migrants
Publié le 5 décembre 2016 par Jean Matringe
A new wall and a new restrictive policy regarding refugees:
In recent months, Norway has moved to tighten the influx of migrants crossing its border with Russia. Norway’s latest move has been the construction of a fence along the border to deter refugees and other migrants from crossing into the country. This decision to build a fence—even as a symbolic message to deter migrants—directly implicates Norway’s commitment under the Refugee Convention to refrain from engaging in refoulement. The building of the fence also follows Norway’s troubling implementation of a fast-tracked refugee status determination (RSD) process that effectively rejects most asylum seekers coming through at the border between Norway and Russia.
As a signatory to the Refugee Convention, Norway is bound by the Article 33(1) prohibition against refoulement. The building of fences may be considered refoulement when doing so results in the return of refugees to their country of origin, to a third country where the refugee’s acquired rights will not be respected, or to an unsafe third country. Once refugees reach a country’s border, they are considered to be within the state’s jurisdiction and are also considered to be physically present within the state.[1] Refugees physically present within a state’s territory are entitled to certain rights under the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.[2] The most important of these rights include the right to not be sent back to the country that persecuted them (Article 33(1)), the right to be free from discrimination (Article 3), and the right to administrative assistance (Article 25).[3]
The fence is especially troubling when coupled with Norway’s fast-track RSD process implemented earlier this year. In the past year, thousands of refugees—mostly Syrian—took the arctic route through Russia to arrive at Norway and claim asylum. Norway adopted a fast-track process that results in the automatic rejection of claims from certain refugees coming through Russia, without any real examination of whether these refugees will have their claims fairly examined in Russia or whether their acquired rights as refugees will be respected.
The fast track procedure is a result of an amendment to Norwegian law deleting a provision that would have required Norway to first ensure that asylum seekers’ claims be examined in the country from which they arrived before denying their claim and sending them back. The primary issue with the fast track procedure is that it results in the denial of entry and recognition of status for refugees passing through Russia who come from areas considered “safe,” without any substantive inquiry into whether they may be sent back to their country of origin or whether Russia has guaranteed the refugee their acquired rights. Some of the places that are considered safe countries of origin include Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Turkey and regions like Kurdistan in Iraq and Kabul in Afghanistan. If the applicant is deemed to have come from an area where the situation is considered unsafe, the decision maker would further assess the specific risk of return.
While Russia is a signatory to the 1951 Convention and its 1967 protocol, there is mounting evidence suggesting that Russia’s asylum procedures are inadequate, resulting in both refoulement and the failure to provide refugees with their acquired rights under the Refugee Convention. Russian laws provide for the denial of refugee status applications from individuals who do not file within one day after entering illegally[4] or from individuals who have received a denial from another contracting state.[5] In practice, these provisions have served as the basis for denying substantive review of asylum seekers’ applications.[6] Moreover, individuals who have passed through one of Russia’s neighboring states may be denied “substantive examination” even if they were only in one of those countries for a few hours.[7]
Further, Norwegian immigration authorities have even recognized that Russia’s policies can lead to refoulement. Landinfo, an independent body within Norway’s immigration authority, recently released a report detailing deficiencies within Russia’s asylum policies. According to the report, 115,000 people were deported from Russia in 2015 including both asylum seekers who have had their applications denied and individuals who were expelled for violating administrative offenses. Landinfo reported that Russia had deported three Syrian nationals back to their country in 2015. The Landinfo report also noted that there have been forced expulsions of Syrians in 2014 and 2013. A UNHCR report also indicated that there have been at least twelve cases of refoulement by Russia to Syria. UNHCR representatives have also criticized Norway’s policy of sending asylum seekers back to Russia, calling it a “cause for concern” that Norway considers Russia a safe asylum country.
Insofar as the building of the fence is an attempt to ensure that refugees with valid claims remain in Russia where they may be deported back to their country of origin, Norway is complicit in the violation of the Refugee Convention’s prohibition against refoulement.
[1] Hathaway, The Rights of Refugees under International Law, 172.
[2] Id., 171-172.
[4] The law does not mandate denial, it appears discretionary, and requires good cause to be shown if the individual faced an unavoidable obstacle that prevents them from coming forward with their claim within 24 hours. Russian Migration Law, Article 5 (7) and Article 4(1).
[5] Russian Migration Law Article 5 (3) and (7), respectively, provide that the grounds for refusing the consideration of an application includes “[i]f a person is justifiably denied refugee status in any of the contracting states to the [Refugee Convention], assuming that the law in that [other] state does not contradict the Russian law;” and “[i]f the person is compelled to cross into Russia illegally with the intention to apply for recognition as a refugee, and if that person does not apply/petition using the method specified in subparagraph 3 of paragraph 1 of Article 4 of this statute”).
[6] Ahoura Afshar, Refugees in Russia the Law on Refugees and its Implementation, 18 J. Refugee Stud. 468, 473 (2005).
[7] Id., at 472.
By Sarah Alsaden, Graduate of the University of Michigan Law School (2016) and former Notes Editor for reflaw.org; currently admitted to the Ohio Bar.
Source : Norway Builds Fence Along Border with Russia to Deter Refugees and Migrants
Publié dans Archives, Flux migratoires/Migration flows, Réfugiés-Asile/Refugees-Asylum
UN report finds no evidence migration causes terror attacks and warns anti-refugee laws could worsen risk
2e séminaire du Projet Camps et Droit
Apatridie / Statelessness Archives Conférences, colloques, séminaires Criminalisation des migrants et aidants/ Criminalization of migrants and caregivers Diasporas Droits de l'homme/Human rights Déplacés environnementaux-Changement climatique/Environmental Displaced-Climate Change Déplacés internes/Internally displaced persons Détention-Camps/Detention-Camps Economie-Développement-Travail/Economy-Development-Labour Enfants/Children Expulsion-Refoulement-Eloignement/Expulsion-Refoulement-Deportation Externalisation/Externalization Familles/Families Flux migratoires/Migration flows Frontex Frontières-Murs/Borders-Walls Gouvernance/Governance Intégration/Integration Libre circulation/Free circulation Morts-Naufrages/Deaths-Shipwrecks Nationalité-Apatridie/Nationality-Stateless Offres stages et emplois Réfugiés-Asile/Refugees-Asylum Traite-Trafic/Smuggling-Trafficking Visas
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If you're going to be at a job environment, you should love it. You shouldn't do it just for money. You should do it because you love it. And the money comes naturally.
Debbi Fields
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I've never felt like I was in the cookie business. I've always been in a feel good feeling business. My job is to sell joy. My job is to sell happiness. My job is to sell an experience.
Number one, I absolutely love making chocolate chip cookies. I mean, it's fun. It's exciting. Beyond the fact that I love making them, I love eating them.
Good enough never is.
You do not have to be superhuman to do what you believe in.
I use nothing but the best ingredients. My cookies are always baked fresh. I price cookies so that you cannot make them at home for any less. And I still give cookies away.
The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it.
What we've proven is that you can protect the environment, use it wisely and grow the economy and that there is no conflict between the two.
Bruce Babbitt
I think the human body is beautiful, and I don't really have a huge problem in dealing with it, but it's the context, the environment and what I feel about it that that makes the difference for me.
Organized Christianity has always represented immortality as a sort of common heritage; but I never could see why spiritual life should not be conditioned on the same terms as all life, i. e., correspondence with environment.
Albert J. Nock
When on the set of a film, you have to play natural for entire scenes in a very unnatural environment. You have to express emotions and interact with other actors and also use your voice.
An organization's reason for being, like that of any organism, is to help the parts that are in relationship to each other, to be able to deal with change in the environment.
The only way to save a rhinoceros is to save the environment in which it lives, because there's a mutual dependency between it and millions of other species of both animals and plants.
In fact, because of their connection to the land, farmers do more to protect and preserve our environment than almost anyone else. They are some of the best environmentalists around.
Ike Skelton
We don't have to sacrifice a strong economy for a healthy environment.
You get elected, often, if you're a woman, on the strength of the women's vote; then you get into office, and you have to adapt to an overwhelmingly male environment.
But the idea of a man making his living by writing seemed, in that hardy environment, so fantastic that even today I am sometimes myself assailed by a feeling of unreality.
Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.
Well, you know I have an office, my film offices. So I know that syndrome. I fancy offices, so there must be something wrong with me. Even the window cleaner intrigues me. It's a very sexy environment.
Small businesses are the number one job creators in America. Therefore, it is important that the federal government creates an environment that helps them succeed, not one that sets them up to fail.
Randy Neugebauer
History in its broadest aspect is a record of man's migrations from one environment to another.
Ellsworth Huntington
When asked if I consider myself Buddhist, the answer is, Not really. But it's more my religion than any other because I was brought up with it in an intellectual and spiritual environment. I don't practice or preach it, however.
One of the best kept secrets in America is that people are aching to make a commitment, if they only had the freedom and environment in which to do so.
John Naisbitt
I certainly don't live in a kosher home although I was raised in a kosher environment.
Nature favors those organisms which leave the environment in better shape for their progeny to survive.
I want to do very useful buildings and I would like to find a method of producing these buildings through our technology because I think that this is the only way that we will gain wonderful environment easily in the future.
Minoru Yamasaki
Well they do have a use, but we should never believe that any international conference is going to suddenly solve problems like the condition of the global environment.
This is a tough environment, and it's tough for everybody.
Brit Hume
The nature of the task needs to be renewed so people just don't feel that all the hard work is in the same groove all the time, under the same circumstances and in the same environment.
Timothy White
We're failing our children with education, we're failing our environment.
Carol Moseley Braun
The spoken word was the first technology by which man was able to let go of his environment in order to grasp it in a new way.
I mean, there was a portion, of course, that I think, when I look back now, that there was a portion of what attracted me must have been the awe of him being a powerful man in this environment, not to take away from who he is as a real person.
The business of art is to reveal the relation between man and his environment.
David Herbert Lawrence
I grew up in a mostly Buddhist environment.
That's where I began to ask questions that maybe don't have one specific answer. And the more people you get answers from, the richer the environment becomes.
Since this was the first and only series I had ever produced, I was unaware of what the "Normal" environment was for a studio. I tried to run it as I did in my SF studio.
Joe Murray
The excitement of vitamins, nutrition and metabolism permeated the environment.
Paul D. Boyer
Hierarchy works well in a stable environment.
It's obvious that the key problem facing humanity in the coming century is how to bring a better quality of life - for 8 billion or more people - without wrecking the environment entirely in the attempt.
E. O. Wilson
Our role is to develop techniques that allow us to provide emergency life-saving procedures to injured patients in an extreme, remote environment without the presence of a physician.
When I was in the seventh grade I did a report about the environment and the loss of species. It was supposed to be only a few pages, but ended up being nearly 50.
Energy consumption matters both to our environment and our economy.
John Baldacci
Your background and environment is with you for life. No question about that.
The election in Iraq clearly demonstrates that Iraqi people are like people everywhere. They desire to create a future in an environment that is safe and allows them to reach their full potential as human beings, whatever that potential may be.
John Ensign
Freedom was conditioned by man's physical body, heredity, and environment.
Kenneth Scott Latourette
Bankers cannot afford to be concerned with only the economic aspects of projects. There may be serious implications on the natural environment, the urban environment, on human culture.
I mean that the time where we need International agreement more than ever on the environment and the rest, poverty we are breaking up our International Institutions and the rule of law and Tony Blair is part of it.
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Marsico Study Provides a Roadmap for North Dakota Lawmakers
Joshua Davies Carrie Germeroth, College of Education, Colorado, Dr. Carrie Germeroth, DU, early childhood education, Education, Grand Forks, Grand Forks Herald, impact, Kristen Baesle, Marsico, Marsico Institute for Early Learning and Literacy, Michael Nathe, MIELL, Morgridge, Morgridge College of Education, NDDPI, North Dakota, North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, Research, Senator, University of Denver
The Marsico Institute for Early Learning and Literacy (MIELL) is assisting the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) in conducting a state-mandated study. This study centers on the development, delivery, and administration of comprehensive early childhood care and early childhood education in North Dakota. Dr. Carrie Germeroth, Assistant Director of Research at Marsico and the project director, works closely with a State Advisory Committee to provide insight on early childhood needs. The Marsico study “has really given us a roadmap, I think last session we didn’t have enough information to really make some changes,” said Senator Michael Nathe in the Grand Forks Herald. The state funding would cover approximately half of the cost of pre-kindergarten education for an estimated 6,000 children through annual grants of $1,000 per student. “With just 36 percent enrollment among 3- and 4-year-olds, the state ranks fifth from the bottom in early childhood education,” said Kirsten Baesle, State Superintendent. Under the legislation, communities would have to organize coalitions of early childhood education providers, both public and private. Dr. Germeroth also works closely with the State Advisory Committee developing a state Early Care and Education Framework and Parent Brief to support further legislative efforts.
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Tag: Target Audience
Strategic Communication & Influence Operations: Do We Really Get It?
August 11, 2010 ~ Matt Armstrong
Strategic Communication & Influence Operations: Do We Really Get It? by Dr Lee Rowland & Cdr Steve Tatham, RN. published at Small Wars Journal.
The last 2-3 years have seen an explosion in interest in the application of influence as a tool for achieving military objectives. This is not new, the military have always sought to exert influence – albeit at times unwittingly. However, two significant events have brought the issue to further prominence – the publication of JDP3-40 and the deployment of 52 Brigade to Helmand Province in 2007/8. This article does not intend to debate either in any detail – a quick search of inter and intra nets will provide plenty of information for the curious reader – but there are two issues worthy of slightly more discussion.
The first concerns 52 Brigade’s deployment. When Brigadier Andrew Mackay led 52 Brigade to Helmand Province2 he did so having examined previous kinetic based deployments and concluded that these, for various reasons, had not achieved the effects that he envisaged for his mission. For him the consent of the population was utterly key and would not, nor could it, be achieved by hard power alone or even with hard power primacy; as he developed his operational design he felt frustrated that existing doctrine did not adequately prepare him to operate within the influence arena. The second is that Andrew Mackay subsequently became one of the driving forces behind JDP3-40 and in particular the forceful articulation of the ‘centrality’ of influence. However, the ‘how to do it’ guidance still lags behind the emphasis on and enthusiasm for, its use. …
This paper seeks to provide greater clarity in two key areas – Target Audience Analysis (TAA) and Measurements of Effectiveness (MOE). …
Influence has become the ‘must have’ accessory for the battlefield. Good. But think at how difficult it is to influence, say, your teenage kids, into a particular course of action. You know them. They have grown up in your house. You know the groups they belong to, their interests, their likes and dislikes. Yet as every parent knows influencing a 16 year old into a particular course of action can be difficult. Now apply this thinking to an Afghan whom you do not know, who has grown up in a completely different culture with different values and beliefs anchored in a wholly different world from our own. You want to influence them? Wow! This is hard stuff to do and whilst the UK’s capability and understanding has leapt forward in the last couple of years there is still much work to do – particularly in the reinforcement of TAA and understanding MOE. Above all else doctrine needs to manage expectations.
GAO and US Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy discuss evaluation tools
Psychological Operations by another name are sweeter by Chris Paul
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Lou Cormack
Lou Cormack had lived in some of the most remote places Australia has to offer but was still shocked by the isolation of Doro, a village and refugee camp in Maban County, South Sudan. She shares her experiences from nine months as a field coordinator responsible for more than 300 Médecins Sans Frontières staff.
“Like many Médecins Sans Frontières logisticians and coordinators, I’ve had a mix of professions. I have a business degree and have worked in farming, resources and adventure tourism. I’ve worked in remote communities – including rural Northern Territory and Western Australia – but South Sudan certainly offered a new challenge. This was my fourth assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières and my first as a field coordinator. I’d worked as a logistician on an HIV project on Lake Victoria in Kenya, and then on Ebola missions in Sierra Leone and Liberia. As a logistician, my day might involve coordinating the purchase and transport of supplies, maintaining vehicles and communications systems, interacting with local authorities and organisations or implementing security protocols. The field coordinator role is more about leading and managing project activities and teams.
"I’ve worked in some of the most remote places Australia has to offer but was still shocked by the isolation of Doro"
Doro is a big project – with around 300 South Sudanese staff and 30 International staff – so my role was very human resources-driven. Security and context analysis were intensive too, so I was continuously talking to people to keep on top of that. There was a lot of community engagement and a lot of making sure processes and procedures were maintained. There were certainly some challenges along the way. At one point we were fighting the worst malaria outbreak in South Sudan in years and we ran out of rapid diagnostic tests. Another time we ran out of paracetamol – almost unbelievable. It is hard to imagine a country with more severe logistics challenges around getting what you need to where it is needed at the time it is needed.
There are around 130,000 Sudanese refugees in four camps in Maban Country. Their arrival put additional strain on the already strained host community (the Mabanese) and although there is a long history of good relations among these communities, tensions do arise. It’s an extremely isolated place and both the refugee and host communities have limited access to basic services such as health and education. On top of this, after a very dry year, food supplies are limited and people are surviving on one meal a day. The situation is desperate. Physically it’s the most challenging place I’ve ever worked and very demanding on the body. In February and March it was over 40 degrees Celsius in my office every day. I had two fans on; it was like sitting in a 40 degree hurricane.
Médecins Sans Frontières has been on the ground in Maban Country since 2011, providing care to the refugee and host populations. We work with Doro Primary Health Care Centre and we also support Maban County Hospital Outpatient Department. The medical needs can be quite cyclical. In the second half of the year – the wet season – malaria is rife. When I arrived, our clinic was running at 250 per cent capacity because malaria was sweeping through the communities. We were also treating numerous lower respiratory tract infections and cases of pneumonia. Then you come into the dry season and patients start presenting with conditions such as eye infections, hepatitis and a lot of diarrhoeal diseases.”
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Julien Dionne, Jen Grant Bring Laughs To Moncton
Did you hear the joke about the financial advisor turned comedian?
Well, it’s not actually a joke. It’s the way life has played out for Moncton native Julien Dionne.
Returning to his hometown for a show at the Empress Theatre on Friday night, Dionne traded his briefcase for the stage many moons ago. A Canadian Comedy Award nominee, Dionne regularly travels coast-to-coast to deliver his unique brand of humour to audiences looking for a chance to laugh.
These are exciting times for Dionne: In addition to hosting a regular comedy night in Downtown Toronto, he has also launched a twice-weekly podcast, The Julien Dionne Comedy Hour.
Perhaps most significantly, Dionne is also a free agent for the first time in eight years. After a successful partnership with the Yuk Yuk’s comedy chain, the comedian is now steering his own ship.
“My relationship with Yuk Yuk’s was terrific – all positive stuff,” Dionne says from his Toronto home. “I had just reached a point in my career where I wanted to try doing my own thing. I had the opportunity to perform a lot of shows but felt like there was potentially something else out there for me to explore. It is an exciting time, especially at this stage of my career.”
He says that a fear of career complacency was also a motivating factor.
“When you’re working with a nationally-renowned company, it is just way too easy to become complacent and wait for opportunities to fall in your lap,” Julien says. “Being in charge of your own empire is completely different. Knowing it’s up to you to book your next shows and stay on top of all aspects of your career is a huge but welcome change of pace. It really lights a fire under you.”
Part of that fire comes from branching out into previously unexplored territory. While he has been well versed in performing stand-up comedy over the last decade, Dionne took on a different kind of challenge in his adopted hometown of Toronto. He began hosting bi-weekly comedy nights at popular Toronto nightclub C’est What. He says that the shows have forced him to constantly revamp his act and come up with new material, both of which help keep his creative juices flowing.
“Hosting the shows at C’est What has forced me to be constantly writing and coming up with new material, especially because you could have some people showing up each time and you don’t want to be relying on the same material,” he says. “You never want to get too comfortable with the material in your act.”
Also helping keep Dionne on his toes is his podcast, which he writes and records twice each week. Available for free download via iTunes, Dionne says that each podcast follows roughly the same format. “I kick off each podcast with a 15- or 20-minute monologue and then go into a feature interview with a guest in which the podcast isn’t specifically about comedy. I think the last thing anybody would want to listen to is two people trying to out-funny one another. I always encourage my guests to just be themselves and not worry about entertaining as much as simply having a discussion.”
After spending a couple of years living and working in New York City earlier this decade, Dionne says that he has a great appreciation for being a comedian in Canada. He understands that television opportunities may not be as frequent as if he was based of the United States, but he feels confident about the prospect of building his career at home.
“Getting into television and film would be a bonus. For the time being, I’m happy to focus on my stand-up routines and podcasts over which I have a little more control. There are comedians like Steve Patterson and Gerry Dee, both of whom have made great careers in comedy for themselves in Canada. Things just seem to be getting better and better for me,” he says. “I’m doing something I love.”
Performing alongside Dionne on Friday night is Ottawa native Jen Grant. A veteran performer of major Canadian comedy festivals including Just For Laughs as well as the Halifax and Winnipeg Comedy Festivals, Grant has also performed alongside comedy legends Louis CK and Robert Klein.
“I started pursuing comedy in my hometown around 15 years ago,” Jen says. “I decided to get up on stage during an amateur night but was also terrified of doing so. I had essentially memorized my act, got up there and got off stage giving myself the worst pep talk all the time. But I did end up getting some laughs and kept getting better with the occasional bomb of a performance in between.”
Early in her career, Grant departed her hometown in favour of Vancouver, a move which afforded her more opportunities to pursue and refine her craft. She then moved onto the Big Apple, living in New York City for a few years where she continued to impress audiences.
“My experience in New York City is that it is a great city to be a comedian but it is insanely competitive,” she says. “It was completely normal to perform a show with people that had been on the David Letterman show and it wasn’t that big of a deal. In Vancouver, a good comedy show would earn you a buzz that would sustain itself for a while (whereas) in New York, you are only as good as your last set. It’s really true what they say – if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.
“My experience there was great though. I have a pretty great life.”
Like Dionne, Grant returned to Canada where, among other career highlights, she finally recorded and released her debut album of comedy, Nobody Likes Your Homemade Wine, 16 years after she first set foot on stage.
She notes that her performance at Moncton’s Empress Theatre on Friday night will be recorded for what she anticipates will be her second audio release.
“After getting my first recording done and released, it makes me wish I had done it five years sooner,” she says. “I don’t want to waste any time following it up.”
What: Julien Dionne & Jen Grant
When: Friday Dec. 19, 8:30 p.m.
Where: Empress Theatre, 199 Robinson Court, Moncton
Tickets are $23. Advance tickets are available at the Capitol Theatre Box Office, by phone at (506) 856-4379 and online at capitol.nb.ca
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A Star is Born: Sidney Williams
Meet respected civic leader, educator, curator, humanitarian, and new Palm Springs Walk of Stars recipient Sidney Williams.
“Creative people inspire me.”
For Sidney Williams, finding inspiration is as simple as that. The former curator of architecture and design for the Palm Springs Art Museum has been known for her visionary ideas, team-centric leadership, and graceful gravitas. Next month, she will be receiving a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars during a special dedication ceremony on October 20, 2017.
Even with a lifetime of notable achievements (serving as a Modernism Week board member for 8 years; launching the Architecture and Design Council in 2003; and championing the restoration of the former 1961 Santa Fe Federal Savings & Loan building into today’s Architecture & Design Center, to name a few), she humbly attributes her success to the work of those who have come before, and have walked alongside, her.
Some of the most significant influences of art and architecture in Williams’ life include her father (artist John Koerner) and father-in-law (architect E. Stewart Williams).
“My father was an artist. He spent his life painting and drawing, and I grew up in a community in Vancouver knowing other artists and being aware of good architecture,” Williams explains. “Then of course, I married into the Williams family and became even more connected to architecture. It’s been part of my life since I was a child.”
Today, Williams is widely recognized as a civic leader, educator, curator and humanitarian. Modernism Week had the privilege of sitting down with the newest Palm Springs Walk of Stars honoree to learn more about her past, the exciting endeavors of her present, and her thoughts on the architectural future of Palm Springs.
You were originally born and raised in Vancouver, B.C. How did you end up in Palm Springs?
My father-in-law [E. Stewart Williams] designed a house in Palm Springs for my great uncle, Leon Koerner – his house still exists in Deepwell. It was through the completion of that house and my parents vacationing in Palm Springs that they became friendly with my husband Erik’s parents. Quite a few years later, [Erik] and I met. Our parents were friends for many years before we made our acquaintance. It’s funny, because my parents would come from Vancouver to Palm Springs in the winter for vacation, and of course we didn’t accompany them because we were in school. It wasn’t until the summer of 1968, when my husband and his father went fishing in Alaska and stopped in Vancouver to visit our family, that I first met Erik, so that’s how that whole thing started. It almost seemed like an arranged marriage! We then moved to Palm Springs in 1973 after Erik [a retired ophthalmologist] finished his medical residency.
What was your reaction when you were told you would be receiving a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars?
My first reaction was shock! My second reaction was, I was very grateful for this kind of recognition, and really thrilled because I think Palm Springs has an amazing community and I’ve been very lucky to be a part of it.
What has been one of your most fulfilling career achievements to date?
Certainly, the purchase and restoration of the 1961 Santa Fe Federal Savings & Loan building, because of the Architecture and Design Museum. To see it thrive now has been a really remarkable experience. That’s a highlight. From the time the idea was generated until we opened the building in 2014, it was an eight-year process. It took a lot of persistence and a lot of people that worked together to make it happen. It was a huge team of enthusiastic supporters, generous donors, community activists and preservationists who all worked together to achieve it. I may have had the idea, but it caught fire.
It was one of the most challenging experiences as well. Initially there were some people who immediately grasped the vision, and others were skeptical about whether it was going to have enough support. When you have something that is going to be successful, there is also the other side of it, trying to educate and promote and excite others to see that vision.
Having a number of people immediately respond was very helpful, because they’re leaders; they’re also creative people, who can inspire others. It becomes a much broader circle as people share their excitement and knowledge, and that certainly makes it doable for the long term.
What are some of your favorite examples of midcentury architecture in the city?
We have so many wonderful examples by the architects have also been recognized on the Walk of Stars: Albert Frey, E. Stewart Williams, William F. Cody, Donald Wexler – they were all amazing in their work, and each one contributed a series of buildings that have become incorporated into the fabric of Palm Springs, making it the midcentury mecca that it is.
When I first moved to Palm Springs, a number of buildings stood out to me: Palm Springs City Hall; the Palm Springs airport; the bank buildings (Coachella Valley Savings & Loan, Santa Fe Federal Savings & Loan); Frey House II; the Cody structures around the city. It’s hard to imagine the city without these great resources to appreciate the midcentury. Now, we have excellent contemporary architects who are practicing, building, and designing structures. The legacy of the midcentury is that we have these creative minds to contribute to the fabric of Palm Springs design. That becomes a challenge for practicing architects now, to not just be influenced by, but to continue the legacy of great architecture in this city.
Where do you see the architectural future of Palm Springs headed?
Each generation has access to different technologies, and now sustainability, energy efficiency, landscaping…there are so many aspects to designing now that are very different than they were in the midcentury, when it was such a building boom. There wasn’t a concern about energy then, and different technology with aluminum, glass, hardware, and other materials. Today we have amazing, computer-designed structures that also have to take into account the ecological footprint. So architects today have different challenges, but many are coping with that within a beautiful aesthetic. This is new, as it relates to midcentury, but with a contemporary aesthetic.
Because we have this strong legacy and tradition, we’ll continue to see excellent architecture practiced in the desert, and hopefully attract more clients here. That’s what you need, insightful clients who are interested in great design – not just with building and construction, but really making a structure sing with new ideas and concepts.
What were some memorable highlights from your time as a Modernism Week board member?
I worked on a lot of programs and attended a lot of events! It was such an exciting time, to see the response (first of all, it was a small response, and now it’s a huge one!) in tourism, and how people became so excited about the home tours, bus tours, lectures, the exhibitions…there are so many aspects to it that it was a joy to be involved in it.
I worked more on the lecture series and bringing outstanding people to Palm Springs to talk about architecture, design, the landscape…I enjoyed engaging with these experts from around the country. It was really thrilling to bring them into Palm Springs. One person in particular was Jack Lenor Larsen, who came on several occasions to Palm Springs, and has now become a friend and an incredible giant of the 20th century design world. He’s certainly an example. There are many other curators, writers, and preservationists from around the country – I’ll have to go back and look at my lists, because there were so many!
With Fall Preview coming up next month, are there any Modernism Week events you’re looking forward to?
I always look forward to Gary Johns’ lecture, “Lost, Saved & Endangered: Modernist Architecture in Palm Springs.” He does such a wonderful job of documenting what’s happened year to year in the community.
I hope people continue to support and enjoy the variety of Modernism Week events, because I know how hard the board members and staff work on creating challenging and exciting new events, and it’s always fresh. I hope people continue to attend and support their efforts!
Tags: e stewart williams, palm springs architecture and design center, Palm Springs Walk of Stars, sidney williams
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The United States reduced the number of deployed strategic carriers of nuclear weapons
The United States from September 2019 to March 2020, has reduced the number of deployed strategic carriers of nuclear weapons in 10 sea missiles and three bombers, follows from the data of the us state Department.
According to information published yesterday on the website of the state Department, on March 1, 2020, the US had deployed 398 Intercontinental ballistic missile Minuteman-3, 210 sea-launched ballistic missiles Trident-2 and 47 heavy bombers B-2A and B-52H.
Thus, as of September 1, 2019, States the number of deployed Minuteman 398-3, 220 Trident-2 and 50 B-2A and B-52H. Thus, for six months, the number of carriers deployed U.S. strategic nuclear weapons decreased by ten Trident-2 and three B-52H.
Mutual monitoring of nuclear arsenals Russia and the United States are under the start-3 Treaty, which entered into force in 2011. Under this agreement, the parties undertake to limit its Armed forces 700 carriers of nuclear weapons to 1,550 warheads and 800 launchers.
Start-3 remains the only current agreement between Russia and the USA on the limitation of armaments. The agreement expires in February 2021. Russia has repeatedly urged the United States to prolong it, but so far the us administration has not announced whether Washington intends to do it.
#B-52
#B-2 (Northrop Grumman B2 Spirit)
#The U.S. Department of state
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Greenmantle
0 0 5 Forfatter: John Buchan
Greenmantle is the second of five novels by John Buchan featuring the character of Richard Hannay, first published in 1916 by Hodder & Stoughton, London. It is one of two Hannay novels set during the First World War, the other being Mr Standfast (1919), Hannay's first and best-known adventure, The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915), is set in the period immediately preceding the war.
Hannay is called in to investigate rumours of an uprising in the Muslim world, and undertakes a perilous journey through enemy territory to meet his friend Sandy in Constantinople. Once there, he and his friends must thwart the Germans' plans to use religion to help them win the war, climaxing at the battle of Erzurum.
The book was very popular when published, and was read and enjoyed by Robert Baden-Powell and by the Russian imperial family as they awaited the outcome of the Revolution in 1917.
According to Patrick McGilligan's 2003 biography, Alfred Hitchcock, who directed the 1935 film adaptation of The 39 Steps, preferred Greenmantle and considered filming it on more than one occasion. He wanted to film the book with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman in the lead roles, but Buchan's estate wanted too much money for the screen rights. However no such project ever materialised in Hitchcock's lifetime and Greenmantle itself has yet to be filmed.
The first chapter of Greenmantle, A Mission is Proposed, was chosen by Graham Greene for his 1957 anthology The Spy's Bedside Book.
The book has been adapted for broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It was for instance broadcast on BBC Radio4 Extra in two episodes on 27 and 28 August 2013 with David Robb as Richard Hannay and James Fleet as Sandy Arbuthnot, forced to be Greenmantle.
Major-General Sir Richard Hannay, KCB, OBE, DSO, Legion of Honour, is a fictional secret agent and army officer created by Scottish novelist John Buchan. In his autobiography, Memory Hold-the-Door, Buchan suggests that the character is based, in part, on Edmund Ironside, from Edinburgh, a spy during the Second Boer War.
Richard Hannay was one of the first modern spy thriller heroes and as such has heavily influenced the genre. Today, considered in the light of mainstream espionage fiction, Hannay appears to be badly clichéd, although, as he was created well before his attributes became clichéd, Hannay could be more accurately described as a seminal character of the spy thriller genre.
Richard Hannay continued his adventures after the initial "Thirty-Nine Steps" (1915) in four books. Two were set during the war when Hannay continued his undercover work against the Germans and their allies the Turks in Greenmantle (1916) and Mr Standfast (1919). The other two stories, The Three Hostages (1924) and The Island of Sheep (1936) were set in the post war period when Hannay's opponents were criminal gangs.
John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir PC GCMG GCVO CH (1875-1940) was a Scottish novelist, historian and Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 15th since Canadian Confederation.
After a brief legal career Buchan simultaneously began both his writing career and his political and diplomatic career, serving as a private secretary to the colonial administrator of various colonies in Southern Africa. He eventually wrote propaganda for the British war effort in the First World War. Once he was back in civilian life Buchan was elected Member of Parliament for the Combined Scottish Universities, but he spent most of his time on his writing career, notably writing The Thirty-Nine Steps and other adventure fiction.
Sprog: Engelsk Kategori: Krimier Serie: The Richard Hannay Series: 2 Oversætter:
Forlag: Anncona Media AB
CatManDo
The Chaos Conundrum
Sydney and Fanny
Augustus Baltazar
Joe Bev Loves Lorie
Sherlock in the Spring Time
Freak Show Without a Tent - Swimming with Piranhas, Getting Stoned in Fiji and Other Family Vacations
Streets of Staccato
Tired of London
Leah's Children
The Do-It-Yourself Bailout
Zandernatis - Volume Two - Destination
Daws Butler Workshop ’76
Lorie’s Book Nook, with Lorie Kellogg
Today's Authors Series: A Discussion between Katherine Kellgren and LA Meyer
Cops & Robbers: Dragnet #47
Audio Book: Dragnet #77
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Literature and Ideas
A digital exhibition about one of the most important and influential figures of the American abolitionist movement.
Welcome to MoLI.
The Museum of Literature Ireland is a new home for the world's greatest storytellers.
Exhibitions, café and gardens
SOMEBODY: Nuala O’Faolain and a book that changed us
A new video installation, curated by author June Caldwell, has opened at MoLI
Visit when MoLI reopens
A digital radio station for Irish literature
An Historic Partnership
MoLI is a collaboration between the National Library of Ireland and University College Dublin, two great institutions with an incredible shared literary history.
A digital radio station for Irish literature.
listen live and on demand
Welcome to MoLI – a museum of literature for the world’s greatest storytellers.
Discover Ireland’s rich literary heritage from past to present here in the historic UCD Newman House on St Stephen’s Green in the heart of Dublin.
Experience immersive exhibitions, view treasures from the National Library of Ireland, or relax amid the birdsong in our tranquil gardens and café.
MoLI is a partnership between University College Dublin and the National Library of Ireland.
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Dangote Cement rakes in N162.9bn profits in 6 months……as Winners emerge in consumer promo
Africa’s largest cement producer, Dangote Cement plc has announced a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N162.90 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2020 even as two block makers have emerged winners in its ongoing Spell and Win a million national consumer promo.
According to the unaudited results of the company released on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the declared profit was 4.7 per cent higher than N155.49 billion in the corresponding period of 2019. The results indicate a resilient half-year 2020 performance despite the impact of COVID-19.
The Group revenue went up to ₦476.9 billion, Group Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) was ₦218.1 billion representing a 45.7 per cent margin while Pan-Africa EBITDA was up by 31.6 per cent to ₦31.5 billion; a margin of 21.7 per cent.
The period under-review saw the maiden clinker shipment from Nigeria via the Apapa Export Terminal to Senegal in June while plans are on track to ship more vessels of clinker to West and Central Africa in the second half of 2020.
Speaking on the results, Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement, Michel Puchercos, said: “I am humbled by the fact that we continue to be in a strong position despite the economic downturn that the world is facing due to COVID-19. Although April was greatly impacted by lockdowns and restrictions across our operations, we experienced a strong quarter. We achieved a record high volume and EBITDA margin in Pan-Africa of 4.7Mt and 21.7 per cent respectively. Group EBITDA was up slightly despite the impact of COVID-19.”
He added, “I am particularly pleased to announce that Dangote Cement shipped its first clinker cargo to Senegal from our new cement terminal in Apapa, Lagos. It has been a long journey for Nigeria, from being one of the largest bulk importers of cement, to being self-sufficient in cement production, and now an exporter of clinker.
“We are on track to ensure West and Central Africa are cement and clinker independent, with Nigeria as the main supply hub. We want to continue developing regional and continental trade between the ECOWAS countries and beyond.”
On the company’s measures against the COVID-19 pandemic, Puchercos stated, “We are committed to protecting our team members and communities by being fully compliant with health and safety measures. We remain focused on adapting to the rapidly evolving markets in which we operate. We continue to deploy our efforts to maintain our cost competitiveness while ensuring that our balance sheet is resilient.”
Barely a week after its launch, two Block makers from Lagos and Oyo States have become first star prize winners of N1 million each in the ongoing Dangote Cement Bag of Goodies Season 2 Consumer Promo.
The promo, which the management said was partly to reward loyal customers and ameliorate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on consumers, offered the winners cash prizes apart from other commercial and household items, and it is expected to run from July 15 to November 15, 2020.
A block maker based in Lanlate, in Ibarapa East local government area of Oyo State, Ojediran Kayode Stephen, who emerged the first N1 million winner in the “Spell Dangote and be a millionaire” promo, said he got the winning letters from among the 500 hundred bags of cement, which he bought to make blocks for customers.
Apart from the N1million, Ojediran said that he also won several recharge cards and extra N2,000 in the promo.
On what he would do with his winnings, he explained that he is going to invest the N1 million to expand his block making business. Said he: “I am very happy for becoming one of the first sets of people to win in the Dangote Cement Promo. I intend to use the money to expand my business. I am going to buy more bags of cement to produce more blocks.
“I thank Dangote Cement company for organizing this promo in this era of COVID-19 and I believe the money will go a long way to reduce the pain of the pandemic in the country”, he added.
Another lucky winner, the Managing Director of Afolabi Adefila Block Industry, said that he has been a user of Dangote Cement since the inception of his business, which he started several years ago.
According to him, he buys over 300 bags of Dangote Cement weekly for his block factory located in Lagos. “I patronize only Dangote Cement. This money is timely, most especially during this era of COVID-19. Dangote has been doing a lot to ameliorate the challenges of COVID-19 on Nigeria. I am aware of what the company has been doing to reduce hardship in Nigeria. The promo is just an added effort to what Dangote has already done in terms of poverty alleviation”, he said.
Reacting to the news of the first winners, the Block Makers’ association Secretary, Mr. Aina said that he is excited that members of his association have emerged as the first set of winners of the ongoing Dangote Cement promo.
He described Dangote Cement as best in terms of quality, saying the promo would help improve the association’s members’ revenue. He lauded the company’s innovate efforts at producing the best products for building construction from the stable of Dangote cement.
Previous Captain Hosa’s Generosity Is Incomprehensible!
Next UBA Hosts MSME Workshop, Reiterates Importance Of Small Businesses
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Coronavirus: where the self-employed can turn for help
Freelancers and the self-employed should check what help they may be eligible for.
by: David Prosser
As MoneyWeek went to press, government insiders were letting it be known that more help would soon be announced for self-employed and freelance workers. It looks increasingly as though self-employed workers who lose their incomes will be able to access a package providing them with a guaranteed 80% of their average earnings over the past three years, up to a maximum of £2,500 a month. That would be broadly equivalent to the support offered for employees.
However, freelancers and the self-employed should check what other help they may already be eligible for. Those who are registered for VAT will benefit from the right to defer their latest bill until the end of June. If you’re covered by the self-assessment income tax system, you can also defer the payment due at the end of July until January 2021. Where you have other tax liabilities you’re worried about meeting, contact HMRC’s Time to Pay scheme.
As for direct financial support, check what you can get from the benefits system. The Chancellor has already suspended the minimum income floor on Universal Credit for the self-employed. As a result they can access benefits worth the equivalent of statutory sick pay (though they get no official sick pay), which starts at £94.25 a week. In practice, you may be able to claim substantially more than this, depending on your individual financial circumstances. There could also be additional help from this Employment and Support Allowance. There is more information on benefits eligibility at Gov.uk, but you can also call the Universal Credit hotline (0800 328 5644).
By David Prosser
The coronavirus is scary – but it's irrelevant to your investments
The spread of the coronavirus is causing alarm around the world. And, while it could be a serious short-term threat to human health, it’s not somethin…
Small business: how to chase late-paying customers
Many small business have trouble getting their customers to pay up on time. Here's what you can do about it.
How to make sure your business doesn't lose out in lockdown
Money is still available via government schemes to help small companies cope with the latest Covid restrictions. David Prosser outlines what you can g…
Three women CEOs who prove that diversity is the key to success
Tom Saunders looks at how three very different women – Shahrzad Rafati, Trinny Woodall and Anne Boden – have grown successful businesses.
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Yves Mettler
Yves Mettler is an artist with degrees in art and social sciences whose works have been shown internationally. He has previously published the book My Flowers Aren't Always Hiding Secrets.
Author's Website Small Arrow
Atlas Europe Square
Yves Mettler 2021
An artist examines the plethora of Europe Squares, Europa Places, Places de l'Europe, and Europaplatzes and what they tell us about the ideality of “Europe.”
If the built environment is a record of our modes of organization and the compromises we make in order to live together, then what are we to make of the plethora of Europe Squares, Europa Places, Places de l'Europe, and Europaplatzes? Public spaces that connect numerous disparate towns and cities through a “supersite” called Europe, they may appear as avatars of an idea in crisis, as “eurocentric values” and the concept of Europe as a unified political space are attacked and eroded from all sides.
Atlas Europe Square documents a body of work by Swiss artist Yves Mettler who, since 2003, has engaged in an ongoing mapping and documentation of these sites, along with a series of projects triangulating between particular squares, interrogating their differing architectural, environmental, and public functions, and what they tell us about the ideality of “Europe” and the (im)possibility of its concrete instantiation.
Here this work is extended into reflections on the relationship between art and public space, site-specificity, and the artist's own implication in the imaginary of Europe as he becomes enmeshed in a network of projects, funds, and public bodies that seek to promote "European culture" through art.Alongside extensive photographic documentation, Atlas Europe Square contains texts by the artist alongside essays by Reza Negarestani, Teresa Pullano, Laurent Thévenot, and Stephen Zepke, discussing Mettler's work.
When Site Lost the Plot
Robin Mackay 2015
This collection charts some of the ways in which site continues to be a concern for contemporary practice, and introduces the concept of “plot” as an alternative.
The critical concept of site-specificity once seemed to harbour the potential for disruption. But site-specific work has become increasingly assimilated into the capitalist logic of regeneration and value creation. The materialist critique of the art object has been shortcircuited by the franchised idiosyncrasies of international nomad flâneurs. And on a planet whose entire surface is mapped and apped, the concept of “site” itself becomes ever more problematic.
How can we do justice to the particularity of local sites while unearthing their material conditions? What do a contemporary “geo-philosophy” and the historical legacy of site-specific art have to offer each other? Can we develop methods for the controlled unpacking of the local into the global, avoiding trivial reconciliations between local sites and their global conditions? When Site Lost the Plot charts some of the ways in which site continues to be a concern for contemporary practice; and introduces the concept of “plot” as an alternative approach.
Alongside artists discussing their practice and their approach to site and plot, contributors from various disciplines introduce concepts from cartography, mathematics, film, fiction, design, and philosophy.
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Lyle Overbay “talking to” Brewers about minor league deal
By Aaron GleemanJan 28, 2013, 3:12 PM EST
In an effort to add some first base depth following Corey Hart’s knee surgery the Brewers are “talking to” free agent Lyle Overbay, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com.
Rosenthal reports that Overbay has other teams interested besides the Brewers, but he played in Milwaukee in 2004-2005 and probably won’t find a better opportunity for playing time with Hart expected to miss 3-4 months.
For now Mat Gamel is expected to be the starting first baseman in Hart’s absence, but he’s unproven in the majors and has a lengthy injury history of his own. Overbay hit .259 with a .727 OPS in a part-time role for the Braves and Diamondbacks last season at age 35.
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When research is not Research
Speech by Theo Muller to the Rotary Club of Eastern Hutt on 2 November 2009
President Judy, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I appreciate the invitation to present to you today. Thank you.
Before I get into the topic of today's presentation, I need to tell you that I will be using the term research fairly frequently. Please, do not think of me as the man in a white coat concerned with physics or scientific laboratory research. Research in the context it is used today means market research or social research. As you have heard from the introduction, I am a market researcher; I study people's behaviour, attitudes and actions on behalf of the many clients we have in the public and private sectors of this country.
Several weeks ago, Councillors of The Hutt City Council approved a budget item of $2.2 million for the upgrade of the dilapidated bus garage at Korohiwa at the southern end of Eastbourne. Two Councillors voted against. How it arrived at that decision is a story worth telling.
Enter ERI or Eastbourne Rights Inc. - a small group of Eastbournites who felt, rightly or wrongly, that Eastbourne got a raw deal from HCC and they threatened to start secession procedures aimed at breaking away from Hutt City and joining Wellington City. A bold move, but it certainly got the attention of the Council and particularly the Mayor. He was not interested in losing millions of dollars in rates and handing it over on a silver platter to Kerry Prendergast. From a person who was accused of not paying enough attention to Eastbourne's needs, overnight, he became an Eastbourne advocate. You and me would probably find that difficult to understand, but let's not forget that it is a politician's prerogative to swing with the mood of his constituents. That's how you stay in power.
ERI have never formally called off the secession process as they are keeping a wary eye on every move of the Council, particularly the Mayor, and there is no doubt that they have created a bit of clout, in fact a substantial counter weight to the whims of Mayor and Councillors. And they have not been afraid to use that power when they were amongst the prime movers of having the Korohiwa bus garage classified Category Two of The Historic Places Trust. And, as I said earlier, the Council has set aside $2.2 million for its refurbishment and resource consent for the work has been granted and tenders are being let.
I am not qualified to argue whether this should have happened or not - my interest in this saga lies in the way in which the decision of setting aside a budget of $2.2 million for the refurbishment of the bus garage appears to have been made.
Max Shierlaw, City Councillor, wrote in the Hutt News of 20 October 2009, and I quote "Council has allocated $2.2 million to this project, largely on the grounds that they have been advised that it had significant support from the Eastbourne community".
Now, I want you to remember the words "significant support". Councillor Shierlaw continues, "... feedback presented to the Council has been solely from the Eastbourne Community Board, who have been content to limit their consultation to a handful of people, who support the project". Again, remember the words "consultation of a handful of people".
Ladies and Gentlemen, I will now tell you what my talk will be about. For the next fifteen minutes or so, I would like to address the question "When is research not research?"
In the Hutt News of 13 October 2009 a lone contributor to the "Your Views" section of this newspaper, Mr Greg Dellabarca, called it economic lunacy to spend that sort of money on, what is essentially, a dilapidated building suitable only for demolition. He may not have realised it, but his letter to the Editor unleashed a mini flood of reactions, including Mr Shierlaw's piece of prose cited earlier.
The project should not proceed; the money should be spent on other more worthwhile causes. These were the views of some of the letters to the Editor of the Hutt News of the 20th of October.
Now, these are not necessarily my view. My view on this matter is entirely irrelevant, particularly for the purpose of today's presentation. I am looking at this issue from a researcher's perspective, so my personal view shall remain concealed.
The decision to refurbish the bus garage was entirely based on assumption; the assumption that the Eastbourne community and the rate payers of Lower Hutt wanted this building preserved and refurbished. A handful of individuals (remember that phrase), and I mainly refer to ERI and the Eastbourne Community Board, who felt that this was a worthwhile cause, pushed ahead under the guise of "significant support from the Eastbourne community" - the other phrase that I wanted you to remember. They bent the Mayor's ear, both of which were very pliable, because he wanted to be seen to do good for Eastbourne and thus maintain his power base.
How often have you heard the phrase "research has shown ..." - politicians use it all the time in order to advance their own cause or pet projects. Or they say "people in my electorate come and talk to me all the time ... or I talk to people every day", suggesting or inferring that what they hear is the collective opinion of (the vast majority) in their constituency, when in fact it is nothing more than the opinion of a handful of people. This is what is happening in Eastbourne with the bus barn. It is a handful of people who infer that the majority of the people in the community share their enthusiasm for having the bus barn refurbished. Whilst not saying in so many words that they have done their research, they certainly put a spin on things to suggest as such.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is not research; this is nothing more than a small group of enthusiasts abusing the basic principles of democracy. Whilst they have every right to get in behind a project or issue; it is devious or at least disingenuous to suggest that they are acting on behalf of the collective will of the wider community. They have not done their research, but they infer that they have.
I can cite another issue that also involves the Eastbourne Community Board, who have asked the Hutt City Council to reduce the speed limit on a stretch of Marine Parade from 70K down to 50K.
Under the guise of "this is what the community wants" where in fact it was just a handful of people who have a bee in their bonnet on this issue. There has not been any proper research and community consultation has been very poor, resulting in this awful mess. It now looks like the status quo (70K) will remain.
I am well aware that it is impractical to research the community on every proposed change that affects that community. The central government agrees with this notion having just vetoed Rodney Hide's proposal for local authorities to conduct non-binding referenda on rate rises. In a democracy when constituents elect their representative, they automatically give this person a mandate to act on their behalf. However, it is plainly mischievous and deceiving, if that representative then pushes ahead on his or her agenda, inferring that they have done their research, when in fact they have not - they have spoken only to a few people who agreed with their agenda, and if there were people who did not agree, they conveniently forget to mention them.
Ladies and gentlemen, be very aware next time when you hear a politician utter the words "research has shown that ... or this is what the people want". Demand to see the research or at least demand an explanation on how the research was carried out, how many people did they in fact speak to, how was the data analysed, how many were for and how many were against and does the research truly support the proposed action to be taken. Be critical and do not allow yourself to be bamboozled by those official sounding phrases such as "research has shown that ... or it is the collective will of my constituents".
Deception is not the prerogative solely of politicians. The media are also very skilled in this area. How often have we been invited by Paul Holmes, Mark Sainsbury or John Campbell to call this number if you agree and that number if you disagree on a particular issue with the promise that the results of "this survey or poll" will be revealed at the end of the show. Calls cost $1.99 and children, ask your parents first.
This is not research, even though they give the impression that it is. Issues subject to this type of treatment are often very polarising and have a strong emotional element - there are those who are strongly in favour and those who are equally strongly opposed. Both groups of people however are strongly driven by their emotions and personal convictions, in fact so strongly, that they pick up the phone and spend the money. These tactics were often used at the time when the anti-smacking legislation went through the House.
True research, on the strength of which investment decisions are to be made, is all about obtaining the opinion of a representative sample of the wider population or, as we call it in research jargon, the target audience. Those strongly opinionated people, driven by powerful personal convictions at either end of the issue, were so motivated that they grabbed the phone and cast their vote. Do those people represent the wider population? The answer is a resounding no.
Yet, the information we have just gleaned from our TV screens make us believe that X% of New Zealanders agree and Y% disagree. Ladies and gentlemen, like in politics, this was nothing more than the vote of a very small minority of driven individuals.
Am I suggesting that politicians should not talk to people, should not be interested in their opinion, should not canvas their constituency? Of course not. They need to keep their ears very close to the ground and listen very carefully to what people say. Smart politicians hold regular community clinics, attend meetings of the local business community and other community groups and conduct focus groups on topics of local, regional and national interest. That's how they stay in touch with the people.
Whilst it could be argued that, in the broadest sense of the word, they are conducting research, this type of obtaining community feedback - we call it qualitative research - should never be used to support important investment decisions. Investment decisions can only be supported by what we in the trade call, quantitative research. The type of research I referred to earlier that involves obtaining the opinion of a representative sample of the wider population.
In conclusion, partly in support of this presentation to you today and partly to satisfy my own curiosity as a researcher, I would like to demonstrate to you with a practical example, of how the people of Eastbourne feel about the upgrade of the bus barn and the Council spending $2.2 million of rate payers' money.
In a small telephone survey carried out between 30 October and 2 November 2009, we have asked 100 residents of Eastbourne and the bays two simple questions.
1. Do you agree with the Council's plan to upgrade the bus garage, including three flats?
2. Do you think that the allocated $2.2 million for the bus garage upgrade is good use of rate payers' money?
The margin of error on this survey is ±9.7%.
Before giving you the results - and you are the privileged few who get to hear the results before anybody else - I would like to tell you how we collected the information.
We obtained a random sample from the most recent Hutt Valley telephone directory, which is simple to do as addresses in the directory are followed with the abbreviated name of the bay or local area, like Muritai, Days Bay or Lowry Bay. Businesses, local politicians and individuals with a known perspective on the issue, were excluded. Individuals who had no knowledge or awareness of the issue were also excluded.
Secondly, we asked one resident per household 18 years or over if they were willing to participate in a confidential survey by introducing the survey with the following sentence: "The Korohiwa bus garage is located at the southern end of Muritai Road in Eastbourne. It has a category 2 classification of The Historic Places Trust. Earlier this year, the Hutt City Council agreed to spend $2.2 million on the upgrade of the bus garage, including three flats, which are currently in a dilapidated condition."
Thirdly, participation in the survey was voluntary and completely anonymous. Only, if the person agreed to participate, we asked them the two questions mentioned earlier.
Lastly, we recorded the response to the questions, the area the person lives in and the gender. The reason for the last two items is so that we obtained balanced result. We were limited by the available listings in the telephone directory*.
And now for the results.
Question 1: Do you agree with the Council's plan to upgrade the bus garage, including three flats?
32% agree, 64% disagree and 4% Don't know/have no opinion.
Question 2: Do you think that the allocated $2.2 million for the bus garage upgrade is good use of rate payers' money?
18% agree, 72% disagree and 10% Don't know/have no opinion.
So, where to from here? Councillor Baird, who also sits on the Eastbourne Community Board, claims that it is too late to make objections and reverse the decision made by the Council to proceed with the upgrade. She argues that residents should have spoken sooner during the consultation process.
Reversing the decision is fraught with obstacles. As I mentioned earlier, the bus garage has a Category Two classification of The Historic Places Trust. If the Eastbourne community and the wider Lower Hutt community don't want this to go ahead and want the building demolished, they will first have to make a visit to the Historic Places Trust and negotiate approval of the Category Two listing to be lifted.
What are the lessons here?
I asked you to remember the phrases "significant support from the Eastbourne community" and that the Eastbourne Community Board seemed "content to limit their consultation to a handful of people". I believe that, whilst this was only a small survey in terms of sample size, it does provide a reasonably strong indication that the Eastbourne Community Board and the Hutt City Council may have misread the collective opinion of the people of Eastbourne on this issue.
Secondly, be critical. Don't allow politicians or pressure groups make representations on your behalf under the guise of research.
Thirdly, as individuals and communities, we need to participate in the democratic process of consultation and decision making. Stand to be counted.
Thank you. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
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Notorious music producer Phil Spector dead at 81
The New Yorker on Sunday published 12 minutes of new, surreal footage from inside the Capitol during the mob rampage that left five people dead earlier this month. The video, recorded by veteran war correspondent Luke Mogelson, captures the mob breaking into the building, walking through hallways and taking over the Senate chamber. “If you will not stand down, you are outnumbered,” a man tells a Capitol Police officer after the rioters broke inside.
"Kill him with his own gun:" Cops describe attack from Capitol mob
It has administered 24.5 doses per 100 persons, nearly double the next-best country (the United Arab Emirates) and about 8 times as many people per capita as in the U.S. and the U.K. Israel's per capita vaccination rate is 24 times that of the normally efficient Germans and 50 times better than the world average. Only three other countries in the world — the U.S., China, and the U.K. — have administered more vaccines. Why is Israel doing so much better than anyone else?
UK to give airports aid after COVID rules tightened
Britain's government said on Saturday it would give financial aid to airports before the end of March, after the industry called for urgent support as tighter COVID-19 rules for international travellers start on Monday. Aviation minister Robert Courts said the government would launch a new support program this month. "The Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme will help airports reduce their costs and we will be aiming to provide grants before the end of this financial year," he announced on social media, adding that more details would follow soon.
Government pledges airport support scheme following travel corridor curbs
Yahoo Finance UK
Luke Mogelson, a veteran war correspondent and contributing writer for The New Yorker, captured what appears to be the "clearest" footage yet of the deadly riot at the United States Capitol earlier this month. Mogelson attended (in a journalistic capacity) President Trump's rally on Jan. 6, which preceded the pro-Trump mob's march to and breach of the capitol. He followed the rioters into the building and filmed a group that entered the empty Senate chamber.
Capitol rioters aimed to 'capture and assassinate' officials, federal prosecutors allege
After four years of being relentlessly targeted by a Republican president who worked overtime to bait, punish and marginalize California and everything it represents, the state is suddenly center stage again in Washington's policy arena. California is emerging as the de facto policy think tank of the Biden-Harris administration and of a Congress soon to be under Democratic control. There is no place the incoming administration is leaning on more heavily for inspiration in setting a progressive policy agenda.
Brazil's health regulator on Sunday approved the urgent use of coronavirus vaccines made by Sinovac and AstraZeneca, enabling Latin America's largest nation to begin an immunization program that's been subject to delay and political disputes. Brazil currently has 6 million doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine ready to distribute in the next few days and is awaiting the arrival of 2 million doses of the vaccine made by AstraZeneca and partner Oxford University. This is good news for Brazil, but 6 million doses are still very few.
Immediately after the attack on the U.S. Capitol, all corners of the political spectrum repudiated the mob of President Donald Trump's supporters. In one of the ultimate don't-believe-your-eyes moments of the Trump era, these Republicans have retreated to the ranks of misinformation, claiming it was Black Lives Matter protesters and far-left groups like antifa who stormed the Capitol — in spite of the pro-Trump flags and QAnon symbology in the crowd. Others have argued that the attack was no worse than the rioting and looting in cities during the Black Lives Matter movement, often exaggerating the unrest last summer while minimizing a mob's attempt to overturn an election.
Based on our analysis, President Donald Trump would enjoy an almost-certain early favorite status in an open 2024 Republican primary and an equally almost-certain defeat in the 2024 general election. The poll also shows that there was a statistically significant drop in Trump's 2024 support between December and January, following the incident at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Let's start with the 2024 Republican primary.
NASA's newest deep space rocket built by Boeing might have to stay grounded a little while longer. The Space Launch System was designed to return US astronauts to the moon by 2024 as part of NASA's Artemis Program. During an engine test on Saturday, all four of the Space Launch System's engines were ignited together for the first time, but that only lasted over a minute, well below the roughly eight-minute target for the test, designed to simulate the internal conditions of a real liftoff.
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Officer-involved shooting in Auburn Bay
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has been called in to investigate following an officer-involved shooting earlier this evening.
At approximately 4:30 p.m., a stolen vehicle was observed in southeast Calgary. HAWCS and the Tactical Unit were called in to assist after the vehicle went mobile, driving throughout the city. After approximately six hours, the vehicle went into the community of Auburn Bay where Tactical Unit members attempted to affect an arrest, at which time a second vehicle, also believed to have been stolen, arrived. At approximately 10:35 p.m., in the 0-100 block of Autumn View S.E., the situation escalated and a Tactical Unit member discharged his firearm, striking one person.
The affected person was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Two other people were taken into custody.
No officers were injured as a result of the incident.
More information is expected to be available tomorrow, Friday, July 13, 2018.
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1958 New York Convention Guide
V [Introduction]
V(1)(a)
V(1)(b)
V(1)(c)
V(1)(d)
V(1)(e)
The New York Convention
II(1)
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IV(1)(a)
IV(1)(b)
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VIII(1)
IX(1)
X(1)
XI(a)
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Signatories' Map
Article I(1)
1. This Convention shall apply to the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards made in the territory of a State other than the State where the recognition and enforcement of such awards are sought, and arising out of differences between persons, whether physical or legal. It shall also apply to arbitral awards not considered as domestic awards in the State where their recognition and enforcement are sought.
2. The term “arbitral awards” shall include not only awards made by arbitrators appointed for each case but also those made by permanent arbitral bodies to which the parties have submitted.
3. When signing, ratifying or acceding to this Convention, or notifying extension under article X hereof, any State may on the basis of reciprocity declare that it will apply the Convention to the recognition and enforcement of awards made only in the territory of another Contracting State. It may also declare that it will apply the Convention only to differences arising out of legal relationships, whether contractual or not, which are considered as commercial under the national law of the State making such declaration.
United States / 24 August 2020 / United States, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia / Pao Tatneft v. Ukraine / 17-582 (CKK)
United States / 01 June 2020 / United States, U.S. Supreme Court / GE Energy Power Conversion France SAS, Corp., formerly known as, Converteam SAS v. Outokumpu Stainless USA, LLC et al. / 18-1048
United States / 16 September 2019 / United States, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia / Customs and Tax Consultancy LLC v. The Democratic Republic of the Congo / 18-1408 (RJL)
United States / 23 August 2019 / United States, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia / LLC Komstroy, as successor in interest to LLC Energoalliance v. Republic of Moldova / 14-cv-01921 (CRC)
Ukraine / 14 June 2019 / Ukraine, Київський апеляційний суд (Kyiv Court of Appeal) / International Transit S.A.L. (Offshore) v. Dniprovskyi Metalurhiinyi Kombinat, Industrialna Spilka Donbasu / 824/239/2018
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This website was created to host information on the implementation of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, signed in New York on 10 June 1958, with a view of promoting its uniform and effective application throughout the world.
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Justia › US Law › Case Law › Texas Case Law › Texas Court of Appeals, Twelfth District Decisions › 2002 › Norman Crittenden v. Tony Green, et al--Appeal from 87th District Court of County
Norman Crittenden v. Tony Green, et al--Appeal from 87th District Court of County
MARY'S OPINION HEADING NO. 12-02-00266-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
NORMAN CRITTENDEN,
APPEAL FROM THE 87TH
JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF
TONY GREEN, ET AL.,
APPELLEES
ANDERSON COUNTY, TEXAS
MEMORANDUM OPINION (1)
This appeal is being dismissed for want of jurisdiction pursuant to Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(a). The trial court's judgment was signed on May 16, 2002. Under Tex. R. App. P. 26.1(a), unless Appellant timely filed a motion for new trial or other post-judgment motion that extended the appellate deadlines, his notice of appeal was due to have been filed "within 30 days after the judgment [was] signed," i.e., June 17, 2002. A motion for new trial must be filed "prior to or within thirty days after the judgment... is signed." Tex. R. Civ. P. 329b(a). Therefore, the motion for new trial was untimely and the time for perfecting Appellant's appeal was not extended. Tex. R. App. P. 26.1(a). Appellant filed a motion for new trial on June 20, 2002 and a notice of appeal on September 13, 2002. However, because neither the motion for new trial nor the notice of appeal was filed on or before June 17, 2002, this court has no jurisdiction to consider the appeal. (2)
On September 24, 2002, this court notified Appellant pursuant to Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(a) that his notice of appeal was untimely, and it informed Appellant that unless the record was amended on or before October 9, 2002 to establish the jurisdiction of this court, the appeal would be dismissed. On October 10, 2002, Appellant requested an extension of time until October 29, 2002 to establish this court's jurisdiction, citing "some technicality in the trial court records" as creating a question regarding the jurisdiction of this court. However, Appellant admits in his docketing statement that he did not mail his notice of appeal to the trial court until September 9, 2002.
This court is not authorized to extend the time for perfecting an appeal except as provided by Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure 26.1 and 26.3. The information filed with this Court shows that Appellant's notice of appeal was not timely filed with the trial court, and as of October 22, 2002, Appellant has provided no satisfactory response to our September 24 request. Accordingly, we deny Appellant's motion for extension of time and dismiss this appeal for want of jurisdiction. Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(a).
Opinion delivered October 23, in the Year of our Lord 2002.
Panel consisted of Gohmert, Jr., C.J., Worthen, J., and Griffith, J.
(DO NOT PUBLISH)
1. See Tex. R. App. P. 47.1.
2. Even if Appellant's motion for new trial had been timely filed, his notice of appeal would have been due not later than August 27, 2002. Tex. R. App. P. 26.1(a)(1) (notice of appeal due within ninety days after judgment signed if party timely files a motion for new trial).
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Webb & Taylor, LLC
Brandon R. Taylor
Brandon R. Taylor - Peachtree City , GA
400 Westpark Court Suite 100Peachtree City , GA 30269- 3571
Peachtree City Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Brandon's practice focuses primarily on medical negligence, wrongful death and personal injury litigation. A mainstay of his education, experience and career has been a concentration on litigation. While in law school, he clerked with the United States Attorney's Office, helping to bring civil lawsuits against individuals and businesses defrauding the government. Since law school, he has handled hundreds of personal injury cases and works closely with Jim Webb in the areas of medical and...
Brandon's practice focuses primarily on medical negligence, wrongful death and personal injury litigation. A mainstay of his education, experience and career has been a concentration on litigation. While in law school, he clerked with the United States Attorney's Office, helping to bring civil lawsuits against individuals and businesses defrauding the government. Since law school, he has handled hundreds of personal injury cases and works closely with Jim Webb in the areas of medical and professional negligence and personal injury. Currently a Professor of Litigation at Georgia State University College of Law. See article 'Mid Trail Settlement Halts Med-Mal Case'.
Prior to law school, Brandon represented over 150 Georgia cities and counties, negotiating telecommunications and cable franchise agreements and advising municipalities and counties on rights-of-way management and policy.
He lives within golf-cart-distance of the Firm's office in Peachtree City and is the Firm's Managing Partner.
Law Firm Info
About Brandon R. Taylor
Current Employment Position(s)
Peachtree City/Atlanta/Georgia Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Trucking Accidents and Products Liability
U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia
U.S. District Court Middle District of Georgia
Other Affiliations
Georgia State Bar
Fayette County Bar Association
Fayette County Chamber of Commerce (Government Affairs Committee)
Fayette County Republican Party- Chairman of Rules Committee (Vice Chairman)
Georgia State University College of Trial Mock Trial Program (Coach)
Northgate High School Mock Trial Program, 2005 - 2008 (Coach)
McIntosh High School Mock Trial Program, 2009 - Present (Coach)
National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, 2000 - 2004
Student Trial Lawyers Association, 2004 - 2005 (Vice President)
National Trial Lawyers Top 100 (Member)
Attorney and Practice Magazine, 2019 - Present (Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys )
Super Lawyers, 2020
National Champion and Co-”Best Advocate:” William W. Daniel National Mock Trial Competition, 2004
CALI Award Winner: Litigation, 2004
Pupil, Bleckley Inn of Court, 2004-2005
Adjunct Professor of Litigation, Georgia State University College of Law
Affirmative Civil Litigation Division, United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia, Law Clerk, 2004 - 2005
Georgia State University College of Law, Atlanta, Georgia
Major: Management
Georgia State University Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Offers Free Initial Consultation
Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 5:30pm
https://www.webbfirmattorneys.com
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AIDS Scientists Meet in Brazil
I'm Faith Lapidus with the VOA Special English Health Report.
Scientists from more than one hundred countries met in Brazil last week for a conference of the International AIDS Society. Three days of meetings took place in Rio de Janeiro to discuss recent findings.
There was a lot of interest in a study of the relationship between male circumcision and H.I.V. H.I.V. is the virus that causes AIDS. The study supports the idea that removing the loose skin covering the tip of the penis might help protect men from the virus. The study took place in South Africa with French support.
Experts say H.I.V. rates in Africa and Southeast Asia are lower in populations where males are traditionally circumcised. But the United Nations AIDS program notes that cultural and social influences, not just biology, could play a part. It says more study is needed. Two American-supported studies are taking place in Uganda and Kenya.
AIDS is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The body loses its defenses against deadly infections. Researchers say there were around five million new cases and three million deaths last year.
An estimated forty million people are infected with H.I.V. The virus is spread through bodily fluids. There is no cure, but medicines can slow the effects.
The U.N. AIDS program says Brazil is the first developing country to guarantee free treatment for H.I.V. The government supplies costly H.I.V. drugs as well as lower-cost versions made by public and private manufacturers. Experts say Brazil's efforts are helping AIDS patients to live longer. Brazil is also considered a leader in H.I.V. testing campaigns and research into a vaccine to prevent infection.
The infection rate in Brazil is estimated at seven-tenths of one percent of adults.
Southern Africa has the highest H.I.V. rates. Caribbean nations have the second highest. But East and Central Asia and Central Europe have had the biggest increases in the past ten years.
The U.N. AIDS program says only about fifteen percent of people in developing countries are on AIDS medicines.
Conference organizers praised Brazil as an example for developing countries. The World Bank expected Brazil to have one million two hundred thousand people with H.I.V. by the year two thousand. Yet, with aggressive prevention and treatment efforts, Brazil says it has only half that many cases.
This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Cynthia Kirk. Our reports are on the Web at voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Faith Lapidus.
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Minnesota Elects First Female Somali American Lawmaker
Ilhan Omar gives a victory speech after winning a key primary in Minneapolis with a goal of becoming the first Somali-American state legislator, Aug. 9, 2016. (M. Olad Hassan/VOA)
History was made this week when a 34-year-old former refugee was elected to the Minnesota state legislature.
The woman, Ilhan Omar, will become the country’s first Somali-American lawmaker.
Omar was the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidate for the legislature in Minnesota’s 60th district. She easily defeated her Republican opponent on Tuesday.
Omar told supporters Tuesday night that her victory means a lot. "My success is not only for me but for every Somali, Muslim and minority, particularly the young girls in the Dadaab refugee camp where I lived before coming to the U.S.," she said.
From Refugee to Representative
As a girl, Omar fled her home in Somalia because of the country’s civil war. She spent four years at the Dadaab Camp in Kenya, before moving to the United States with her family. She was 12 years old at the time.
Her family first began their new life in Arlington, Virginia, and then settled in their current home in Minneapolis.
Omar began her career as a community activist. She is currently director of policy at the Women Organizing Women Network. The group works with immigrant women, helping them become engaged citizens and community leaders.
Concerns about Trump
Minnesota is home to the largest population of Somali refugees and immigrants in the United States. Many Somalis who spoke to VOA before the election said they were supporting Hillary Clinton for president because they felt that Donald Trump was anti-Somali.
Earlier, Trump has said there are problems in Minnesota caused by poor vetting of refugees. He said there were large numbers of Somali refugees entering the state, and that this was unknown to state officials. He also said that some of the refugees had joined the Islamic State group. He accused them of spreading their extremist ideas “all over our country and all over the world.”
Asha Ahmed, a Somali American, said "We are shocked that Trump is president, but we got relief that Ilhan will be representing us at our state House of Representatives. For me, America is my country, it is where my future and dreams always depended on and the only home for my children... [Omar's] success means a lot to me and my family, three children and a husband."
Jibril Mohamed, a lecturer at Ohio State University, expressed satisfaction at Omar’s election to the Minnesota state legislature.
"It is like an anti-pain relief for the Somalis, who voted against Trump because of Trump's anti-Somali rhetoric that continued even to the last days of the election campaign," he said.
Ahmed Hirsi, Omar's husband, told VOA that the campaign was a long struggle for his family to witness this day.
"It is a big historic day for us and Ilhan, a symbol and role model for many Somali refugee girls. It is a success that came through hard work and the support of our Minnesota people," he said.
I’m Phil Dierking.
Mohamed Olad Hassan wrote this story for VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted his report for Learning English. He also used information from other media. George Grow was the editor.
What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.
concentration – n. a large amount of something in one place
engage – v. to get and keep someone's attention or interest
relief – n. a pleasant and relaxed feeling that someone has when something unpleasant stops or does not happen
rhetoric – n. the art or skill of speaking or writing formally and effectively especially as a way to persuade or influence people
vet – v. to check something carefully to make sure it is acceptable
Female Genital Mutilation Continues in Somali-American Community
Twitter Teaches American Reporter How to Eat Somali Food
Young U.S. Muslims Want To Be Judged as Individuals
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How do I Compare OSHA to Canada Safety?
By: Alex Moyher
How to Find a DEA Number
••• safety lable image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
How to Calculate the OSHA Recordable Rate
How to Report Unsafe Working Conditions to OSHA
How to Check Federal Tax Payment Status
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is part of the Department of Labor, and ensures safe and healthy working conditions for employees in the U.S.. The Centre for Occupational Health and Safety is the Canadian equivalent of OSHA. Because a wealth of information is available on both agencies, when comparing the two agencies select specific factor(s) you would like to consider.
Gather information about OSHA via its website. If any of the information collected requires further clarification or if you can't find what you're looking for, select the "contact us" tab at the bottom of OSHA's home page.
Gather information about CCOHS via its website. elect the "contact us" tab near the top of the home page if you have any questions.
Read More: OSHA Requirements for Schools
Compare the information gathered about OSHA and CCOHS. Group the information by topic similarity such as each agency's date of inception, how many employees work for each agency, or the average fiscal budget. To make a comparison, look at the similarities and differences between the information collected on the two agencies.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: About CCOHS
United State Department of Labor: About OSHA
Alex Moyher has been writing professionally since 2008. He has writing expertise on topics of motorcycle safety and operation, gaming, consumer electronics, administrative office experience, college life and social networking, and has work published on eHow. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in international affairs from the University of Georgia.
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The Anti-Trump FBI’ers Bought Liability Insurance, no REALLY
Hoorah for Sidney Powell. Text messages sure tell interesting facts.
Professional liability insurance? Really?
The Federalist: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents tasked by fired former Director James Comey to take down Donald Trump during and after the 2016 election were so concerned about the agency’s potentially illegal behavior that they purchased liability insurance to protect themselves less than two weeks before Trump was inaugurated president, previously hidden FBI text messages show. The explosive new communications and internal FBI notes were disclosed in federal court filings today from Sidney Powell, the attorney who heads Michael Flynn’s legal defense team.
“[W]e all went and purchased professional liability insurance,” one agent texted on Jan. 10, 2017, the same day CNN leaked details that then-President-elect Trump had been briefed by Comey about the bogus Christopher Steele dossier. That briefing of Trump was used as a pretext to legitimize the debunked dossier, which was funded by the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign and compiled by a foreign intelligence officer who was working for a sanctioned Russian oligarch.
“Holy crap,” an agent responded. “All the analysts too?”
“Yep,” the first agent said. “All the folks at the Agency as well.”
“[C]an I ask who are the most likely litigators?” an agent responded. “[A]s far as potentially suing y’all[?]”
“[H]aha, who knows….I think [t]he concern when we got it was that there was a big leak at DOJ and the NYT among others was going to do a piece,” the first agent said.
While the names of the agents responsible for the texts are redacted, the legal filing from Powell, quoting communications from the Department of Justice (DOJ), states that the latest document production included handwritten notes and texts from Peter Strzok, Andrew McCabe, Lisa Page, and FBI analysts who worked on the FBI’s investigation of Flynn.
Agents also said they were worried about how a new attorney general might view the actions taken against Trump during the investigation. Shortly after then-Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) was confirmed to be Trump’s new attorney general, congressional Democrats, media, and Obama holdovers within DOJ immediately moved to force Sessions to recuse himself from overseeing the department’s investigations against Trump.
“[T]he new AG might have some questions….then yada yada yada…we all get screwed,” one agent wrote.
The FBI agents also discussed how the investigation’s leadership was consumed with conspiracy theories rather than evidence.
“I’m tellying [sic] man, if this thing ever gets FOIA’d, there are going to be some tough questions asked,” one agent wrote. “[A]nd a great deal of those will be related to Brian having a scope way outside the boundaries of logic[.]”
“[REDACTED] is one of the worst offenders of the rabbit holes and conspiracy theories,” an agent texted. “This guy traveled with that guy, who put down 3rd guy as his visa sponsor. 3rd guy lives near a navy base, therefore…[.]”
Several texts show that the order to close the criminal investigation against Flynn came as early as Nov. 8, 2016, the same day as the 2016 presidential election. It was later re-opened in early January of 2017.
“We have some loose ends to tie up, and we all need to meet to discuss what to do with each case (he said shut down Razor),” one agent texted, referring to Crossfire Razor, the FBI’s internal code name for the investigation of Flynn.
“[S]o glad they’re closing Razor,” an agent responded.
The new disclosures made by DOJ also show that the FBI used so-called national security letters (NSLs) to spy on Flynn’s finances. Unlike traditional subpoenas, which require judicial review and approval before authorities can seize an innocent person’s property and information, NSLs are never independently reviewed by courts. One of the agents noted in a text message that the NSLs were just being used as a pretext by FBI leadership to buy time to find dirt on Flynn after the first investigation of him yielded no derogatory information.
“[T]he decision to NSL finances for Razor bought him time,” one agent said nearly two weeks after the initial order to shut down the anti-Flynn case. It is not known to whom the agent was referring in that text.
“What do we expect to get from an NSL[?]” an agent texted on Dec. 5, 2016. “We put out traces, tripwires to community and nothing.”
“[B]ingo,” another FBI agent responded. “[S]o what’s an NSL going to do – no content.”
“Hahah this is a nightmare,” an agent said.
“If we’re working to close down the cases, I’m not sure what NSL results would do to help,” one agent wrote.
“[E]xactly that makes no sense,” an agent wrote back.
The explosive new text messages also show agents believed the investigation was being run by FBI officials who were in the tank for Hillary Clinton.
“[D]oing all this election research – I think some of these guys want a [C]linton presidency,” one agent wrote on Aug. 11, shortly after the FBI opened the Crossfire Hurricane investigation against Trump.
In one series of texts sent the same day as the infamous Jan. 5 Oval Office meeting between Obama, Biden, Comey, Sally Yates, and Susan Rice, one agent admits that “Trump was right” when he tweeted that the FBI was delaying his briefings as incoming president so they could cook up evidence against him. As The Federalist first reported last May, that Jan. 5 meeting was the key to understanding the entire anti-Trump operation run out of Obama’s FBI.
“The ‘Intelligence’ briefing on so-called ‘Russian hacking’ was delayed until Friday, perhaps more time needed to build a case,” Trump tweeted on January 3. “Very strange!”
“So razor is going to stay open???” an agent wrote on Jan. 5.
“[Y]ep,” another FBI agent responded. “[C]rimes report being drafted.”
“F,” the first agent wrote back.
“[W]hat’s the word on how [Obama’s] briefing went?” one agent asked, referring to the Jan. 5 meeting.
“Dont know but people here are scrambling for info to support certain things and its a mad house,” an FBI agent responded.
“[J]esus,” an agent wrote back. “[T]rump was right. [S]till not put together….why do we do this to ourselves. [W]hat is wrong with people[?]?
A week later, the FBI agents also wrote that they suspected that the illegal leak of top secret information about Flynn’s phone calls with Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergei Kislyak to the news media came directly from the White House.
“FYI – someone leaked the Flynn calls with Kislyak to the WSJ,” the agent wrote.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” another FBI agent responded sarcastically. “I’ll resume my duties as Chief Morale Officer and rectify that.”
“Published this morning by Ignatius,” an agent said, referencing the Jan. 12 column from Washington Post writer David Ignatius that included leaked top-secret information about Flynn’s calls with Kislyak.
“It’s got to be someone on staff,” an agent wrote. “[Presidential Daily Briefing] staff. Or WH seniors.”
To date, not a single person has been charged with illegally leaking that information to the Washington Post as a way of damaging Flynn and the incoming Trump administration.
Following a review of the federal government’s investigation by U.S. Attorney Jeff Jensen, which was ordered by Attorney General William Barr, the government moved to dismiss all charges against Flynn that had been previously brought by former Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Documents unearthed during Jensen’s review showed that before the FBI was tasked by the Obama White House in early 2017 with re-targeting Flynn, the agency closed a previous investigation against him because there was no proof of any criminal wrongdoing. Jensen’s review also uncovered evidence that the FBI’s interview of Flynn, which later led to charges that he lied to FBI investigators, had no legal basis and that the FBI agents who interviewed Flynn did not believe that he had lied.
Contrary to claims by Mueller’s office that Flynn had lied about discussing financial sanctions against Russia during post-election phone calls with Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergei Kislyak, declassified transcripts of those conversations confirmed that Flynn spoke to Kislyak only about expulsions of Russian diplomats and that the two men never discussed financial sanctions against Russia that had previously been levied by the Obama administration. Jensen’s review of Flynn’s case file also revealed handwritten notes from the FBI’s top counterintelligence official that admitted a primary goal of the FBI’s anti-Flynn operation was “to get him to lie so we can prosecute him or get him fired.”
Despite the overwhelming evidence that Flynn did not lie to agents, the FBI had no legal basis to interview him, that the FBI later hid exculpatory documents from Flynn’s defense team, Flynn did not discuss financial sanctions during his phone calls with Kislyak, and the FBI agents who interviewed Flynn did not believe he lied, federal trial Judge Emmet G. Sullivan has refused to dismiss the case against Flynn.
Instead, Sullivan personally appointed a left-wing shadow prosecutor, whose partners represent former DOJ official Yates, to smear Flynn and attempt to continue the baseless criminal case against him. At one point last April, Sullivan even tried to order the DOJ to stop producing and publicly filing exculpatory evidence for Flynn or evidence of FBI misbehavior during its investigation of Flynn.
Sullivan, who called Flynn a traitor during court proceedings and suggested that Flynn — a decorated Army combat veteran — be charged with treason, has refused to recuse himself from the case despite his obvious personal animosity toward Flynn.
Posted in Authors, Denise Simon, News, Politics |
Should the Nation Mourn Ginsburg?
By: Cliff Kincaid
The New York Times headline, “As Nation Mourns Ginsburg, Trump Vows Nomination,” has two distortions. First, while many people are sorry to see her passing, the expression of deep sorrow is not something pro-life people would feel about someone whose rulings denied the humanity of the unborn. Second, the Times’ contrast of the “mourning” for Ginsburg with Trump’s vow to nominate a successor is designed to convey the notion that Trump is hard-hearted. But one could argue that “women’s rights,” as taken to an extreme by Ginsburg and other feminists, have been used to sanction the deliberate and savage murder of a human being.
Trump issued a “Proclamation on the Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg” and visited the Supreme Court to pay respects. But Senator Jesse Helms called her “callous” toward the unborn when she was up for a confirmation vote in 1993. His warning wasn’t taken seriously by most fellow Senators. Indeed, he was one of only three to vote against her confirmation. Since then, 30 million abortions have taken place, making a total of more than 60 million since the Roe v. Wade decision of 1973.
Ginsburg, known as RBG, is being promoted by the Times as a cult figure, as a result of fighting sexist bias when she was on her career path. She did achieve her dream. The problem is that she denied the American dream to millions of Americans. Many cannot excuse or forgive her.
In her book, The Supremacists, Phyllis Schlafly noted that Ginsburg even endorsed funding of abortions as a constitutional right. That was too extreme for the Supreme Court, which rejected that idea in the 1980 decision, Harris v. McRae.
A major tragedy in the career of Ginsburg is her failure to understand the religious principles that she claimed to be following.
Liberal Fox News commentator Leslie Marshall said that Ginsburg, who was Jewish, “died on one of the holiest days in Judaism, Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. One of the themes of the holiday suggests that very righteous people would die at the end of the year because they were needed until the very end.”
But Thomas Jacobson of the Global Life Campaign notes that while Ginsburg quoted the Torah on the duty to do justice, she contradicted the Torah by supporting “the innocent bloodshed of babies in the womb, violating the justice requirements of the Law of God and the U.S. Constitution.” He added, “In God’s eyes, our greatest national sin may be the innocent bloodshed of more than 61.3 million babies. Can you imagine standing before the Creator, Lawgiver, and Judge of the world and being held to account in part for that? It is our prayer that she did repent before her death, and received mercy and forgiveness from Jesus Christ.”
Randy Engel, the traditionalist Catholic writer and founder and director of the U.S. Coalition for Life, said, “One can always pray for her immortal soul and wish her the same merciful judgment that we all desire from God at our own death. However, I believe that judgment will likely be tempered by the ritual lack of mercy she showed to the millions of unborn children who met their untimely death under Roe v. Wade which Ginsburg faithfully worshipped.”
Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, of course, won’t be commenting directly on the Roe v. Wade decision which led to their deaths. The ruling will be treated as a “precedent” of the Court that a judge must address objectively. Yet, a recorded conversation with possible Trump nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett about raising a family and adopting children makes the pro-life case. “What greater thing can you do than raise children?” she says. “That’s where you have your greatest impact in the world.”
A campaign has already been started to portray Barrett as a religious zealot with too many children and too devoted to “Catholic values.” As if that wasn’t enough, the media have “discovered” she belongs to a Christian group, and this has now become a “scandal.”
While commentators praise Ginsburg for her Jewish faith, Christian judges like Barrett, a Notre Dame Law School alumna and member of the Law School’s faculty since 2002, are being opposed for having pro-life tendencies and favoring adoption over abortion.
Francis Boyle, a law professor at the University of Illinois, goes further, asking, “Has Barrett taken any kind of pledge that’s relevant to her being on the Court? She is being positioned for the Supreme Court to do a job and overturning Roe v. Wade will be part of it.”
He says that when he interviewed with Notre Dame Law School, which describes itself as the nation’s oldest Roman Catholic law school, he was told by the dean that law professors took a required pledge that they had to conduct themselves consistent with Catholic values, “which I took to mean I would not teach, write or advocate in favor of abortion rights.”
But even belonging to a pro-life group is grounds for suspicion. In 2018, Senator Kamala Harris, now the Democratic Party vice-presidential nominee, questioned whether Brian C. Buescher should be seated as a federal district judge because he was a member of the pro-life Catholic group the Knights of Columbus. (He was confirmed 51-40).
“Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion,” the Catholic Catechism declares. “This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable.”
Harris’ running mate, Joseph Biden, claims to be Catholic but was denied communion at a Catholic church in South Carolina over his pro-abortion stance. The 2020 Democratic Party platform declares they believe in “safe and legal abortion” and full federal funding for Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider. It was founded by Margaret Sanger, a revolutionary socialist and anti-Christian activist who favored government programs to eliminate what she called “human weeds.”
Father James Altman, pastor of St. James the Less Catholic Church in La Crosse, Wisconsin, comments, “You cannot be Catholic and be a Democrat. Period. Their party platform absolutely is against everything the Catholic Church teaches. So just stop pretending that you’re Catholic and vote Democrat. Repent of your support of that party and its platform or face the fires of hell.”
The Altman video, in which he seems to suggest that Catholics who vote Democrat will go to hell, has gone viral.
His popularity with traditional Catholics suggests that attacks on Barrett’s Catholic faith if she is the nominee, may backfire and drive more Catholics who take their faith seriously into the arms of President Trump.
*Cliff Kincaid is president of America’s Survival, Inc. www.usasurvival.org.
Posted in Authors, Cliff Kincaid, News, Politics | 1 Comment
What Has Happened to our Senior Military Officers?
By: Retired General Paul Vallely | CCNS
The anti-Trump political moves by disloyal left-wing (Democrats) retired Generals and Admirals are wrong and should not be tolerated. These are the same senior officers that could not win a war. America lost so many of its proud soldiers, sailors, and airman and thousands wounded because of their flawed war-fighting strategies and policies (all documented). They have destroyed their reputation and credibility among the ranks and the Constitutional Patriots of America.
It became clear to many of us that the Obama administration (with some help from Bill Clinton’s presidency) had seeded the Pentagon with leftist generals whose allegiance was to the Deep State, to cultural leftism, and to the infamous and profitable “military-industrial complex” that Eisenhower warned about in 1961. In only five years, Obama had conducted a major Pentagon purge, firing almost 200 senior officers who held the old-fashioned belief that the military exists to protect America and should not be a social justice institution with limited firepower.
The upper-level officers who remained were hardcore Democrats. Several were assigned to our Military academies at US Military Academy at West Point, The Naval and Air Force Academies. bringing their liberal, left-wing philosophies with them. All the above says there is something rotten happening in the Pentagon. The implications are not just in the past. They are also in the future. Michael Anton has written the best article spelling out the fact that the Democrats are openly planning a coup if Biden doesn’t win. One of the crucial points about this planned coup is that the Democrats have been explicit about military involvement.
The statement “using the military to fight Americans” was clearly misstated and misinterpreted by a few of these senior officers, especially General Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Cities, businesses, private property, and innocent civilians were being attacked and citizens being maimed and murdered by Antifa forces and other insurrectionists. The Governors and Mayors backed down as well as senior police chiefs and were not enforcing the laws. Cowards and lambs to say the least! The President simply said to America that if the Governors and Mayors could not control the insurrections, he would take action to Federalize the National Guard and insert Active Duty Forces to quell and neutralize the insurrections and criminals. By the way, the President of the United States has all the right and duty to protect the American people.
Consider the options the President had to assist the Governors and Mayors and local police. What would you do if you were in his position? Stand by, do nothing, or plan and execute viable solutions to neutralize the insurrectionists? If the local police and sheriffs could not control the situation, the President’s duty would be to provide Active, Reserve, and Federalized National Guard units/troops to assist State and Local Police. Believe me, the outcomes would be different, and the insurrections of 2020 would be neutralized.
Some charged that The Constitution was under threat from the President. Another General stated Trump was a threat to National Security when in fact, the President was trying to enforce National Security. Even weak and RINO Republicans jumped on the bandwagon to attack the President. One said, “our Republic is under attack from the President” and that President Trump was working to destroy the nation.” Fabrication and deception by the media and Socialists were prevalent, thus, adding confusion among the American people. Do not believe for a moment that our international enemies were not looking on and would take advantage of a weakening America. And why would General Milley need to apologize for accompanying POTUS to a Church that was set on fire by rioters in walking-distance from the White House?
The press would blather about racial injustice when it was the rioters and insurrectionists who set the fires and destroyed millions of dollars of personal and government properties. The President and his national security team were tasked with the mission to develop solutions to the crisis. They call it “crisis planning and management.”
“Enough is enough” America! The Deep State is still filled with anti-Trump political appointees, senior Generals and Admirals, and staffers, who need to be removed from the ranks. Patriotic Americans know in their hearts what is needed to keep the Republic from crumbling. We have a President now who fights for them and this great country and will not permit anarchists and Socialists to destroy what our forefathers created.
We recommend that the President convene a meeting immediately at the Pentagon to be attended by the senior Defense leaders, Secretaries, and four-star Generals and Admirals. The President can then determine and sound out their concerns. He can, then, determine their loyalty and commitment to the Trump team. Those that cannot commit to the President should be asked to submit their resignations by close of business. Selected Retired Generals and Admirals who are apart of a Trump coup should be called back to Active Duty and tried by Court Martial.
The laughable Atlantic article about Trump disrespecting the military was intended not just to get military votes on November 3, but to get military coup participants after November 3. Critical Race Theory training and eight years of Obama’s social justice policies appear to have shifted many of the enlisted ranks from strong conservatives to equally strong Democrats.#
Gen. Paul Vallely is a member of the Citizens Commission on National Security
Released by the Stand Up America US Foundation.
Website: standupamericaus.org
Posted in Military, News, Politics | 1 Comment
9/11 Remembered
By: Steve Emerson | CCNS
Nineteen years later, this day is still considered a watershed moment in the lives of hundreds of millions of Americans. We still remember the 2,977 innocent souls in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania who died at the hands of Islamic extremists operating underneath the loose radar and wide cracks dividing our law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
In those 19 years, we have tried to fix the scandalous technical holes and gaps that existed in the very agencies designed to protect us. Looking back, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security’s record stopping Islamist terrorist attacks—although far from perfect – has stymied the dreams of al-Qaida, ISIS, and others to execute an attack of a similar magnitude.
At the same time, there remains an unwillingness within the media, law enforcement, and other government agencies to speak candidly about the ideological motivation driving the threat – radical Islamism – and an unhealthy embrace of activist groups that whitewash that threat.
This country is playing with fire. For if you can’t even mention who your enemy is, then you will never defeat it. Yes, we all recognized what al-Qaida stands for and stated that it was our enemy. We defeated the core group and took out its leader. The same with ISIS.
After 9/11, I re-released my documentary, “Jihad in America: Terrorists Among Us” in memory of all those who perished. I chose today to release it on our website, as a reminder that the seeds of the attack were planted years before any hijackings. May the memories of those who perished on Sept. 11, 2001, and in all subsequent terrorist attacks, be forever remembered as our nation’s heroes.
Jihad in America: Terrorists Among Us –
This film tracks down a network of Islamic Extremists among us in New York, Boston, New Jersey, Texas, California, Oregon, Florida, and Kansas, detailing their hatred and violent intentions against Christians, moderate Muslims, and Jews in the United States.
Listen to Islamic radicals, telling their followers to carry our Jihad on U.S. soil.
See the fundraising structure in America that supports terrorists and the legitimization of radical Islamic groups. hiding behind “charitable” fronts.
This video is an educational call to action for the American public, to provide U.S. law enforcement authorities with the tools they need to deal with this real threat to the American way of life.
The Islamic extremists who promote and carry out Jihad, are as great a threat to moderate Muslims as they are to Christians, Jews, and to all Americans.
This article was originally published at The Investigative Project on Terrorism.
Steve Emerson is a member of the Citizens Commission on National Security.
Posted in History, News, Politics, Terrorism |
Video: 9/11 Came From Riyadh & Tehran – Interviews with Clare Lopez
By: Citizens Commission on National Security
Disturbing – and frightening – revelations come to the surface.
With the 19th anniversary of 9/11 having just passed, Frontpage Mag editors have deemed it vital to run the special Glazov Gang episode in which Clare Lopez unveils how 9/11 Came From Riyadh & Tehran, revealing the many highly disturbing and frightening facts that we are simply not allowed to know.
And make sure to watch our 2-Part-Special with Clare on Post-9/11 – Helping Saudis Slip Away and Revealed: Osama’s Post-9/11 Safe Haven in Iran.
[1] Post-9/11 – Helping Saudis Slip Away.
[2] Revealed: Osama’s Post-9/11 Safe Haven in Iran.
These were originally posted at FrontPage Mag.
Posted in Military, News, Politics, Terrorism |
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