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Election results 2020: How Georgia voted in the presidential election
just get it in. All right, There's your shot. Make sure that I'm in framed the entire time. My apology. Thanks again for coming. We waited just good afternoon. My name is Gabriel Sterling. I'm the voting system implementation manager for the state of Georgia. Had a few things to go over. One clarify from the last couple of press conferences. We threw it. We were talking about the number of cases that we're investigating for. 2020. And I realized we said 250. That was for all of 2020. What it really comes down to is about 101 cases from pre general election time. And right now, 132 cases that air involving the general election. Um, and obviously that volume of cases we have 23 investigators. We had an initial meeting with the G B yesterday, day before yesterday. I apologize. I'm not sure which day it was. Now, uh, I think it was day before yesterday and about how we're going to use it with personnel and how we're gonna work together moving forward, included in those or several items that are being discussed in the House Committee today. I know that I was just name checked up there that the secretary and I that we know all about this and have done anything. No way. Get in affidavits and we put them into our investigations unit. And then they are Law. Our post certified law enforcement investigators track them down. We do not walk in with a one way or the other knowing how they're going to be, because that's why you have investigations. So we are following the process of following the law for these, um, real quickly for January 5 were right now at 1,153,912 absentee ballots that have put into our voter registration system but requests we have 14,824. That is still in the dashboard from the from the online request. Uh, portal. It's for a total of 1,168,000, 736. So far, we've had 415,862 requests made through the portal for the January 5th election. And so far votes have been cast and accepted. We're at 179,741 now on signature verification. Uh, that has always been a publicly viewable process under the state law. The state party's air aware of this, um, we saw only one county on the coast is either Camden or Clinton. I can't recall right now which one? It was where we had one observed. We're going to watch the signature verification process on a petition drive, not on actual absentee ballots. That's the Onley request we've had this year that we're aware of in the counties. So that's a belt and suspenders. Um, we sent out an official election bulletin to remind the elections directors around the state That signature match is a public process, as are all the pieces and processes involved in the elections process. Um, David Shaffer, the chairman George Republican Party, um, requested we do this because he said counties had denied them this access way said, Okay, can you give us a list of those counties and we will investigate them? We've asked for this list. We have yet to receive it, but the second we do, we will begin an investigation of any counties that might have done that. It's like I said, we're still waiting for that list. Um, we'll see. We have an investigation right now on boat review panels into Cap County. How they were used, how they were, how they were staffed and the processes they use because we have a specific complaint that also came up in the House committee hearing. So we'll make sure that that is, in our litany of things, that we are investigating. Um, Coffee County. Two things on Coffee County. You saw the release we did yesterday explaining what happened in their recount process that they were the last county baby. We had been talking to them on Thursday about the situation where they were off by 50 50 votes. They had obviously two batches of 50 that they had scanned again. It was plainly obvious to us that they had double Scandal Batch and, um, the director down there it, for whatever reason, didn't like following the process. She had something else she wanted to dio. So on that day on Friday, finally we got a letter from in the morning continue to talk to them. She had unexplainable equipment issues a same time, 158 counties already finished. So And one thing I said through this entire process, that most fallible part of the system is human beings. And I am no different on that because when I had this press conference the other day, I said I inadvertently was said no one was in the office. That wasn't exactly correct. We talked to one young lady who was in the office but didn't have an awareness of what was happening. That was before the director, Miss Martin, had come in. So she was upset that I said they weren't there. So I'm making it clear that they had someone in the office. Miss Martin wasn't there yet. We also a member of our staff, talked to the county commission chairman in their county attorney, who we all had the letter but didn't quite understand what they're planning. Process waas because we were worried about getting re certification done. But since they submitted um and upload that had no change that did not have to have the board re certified. Um, we'll see another just clearing up. I am not, in fact, a Communist. I am not a commie. My my stepmother is actually from Cuba, so it's actually little more offensive than normal. Be called that, and in my early career, I was very much on the side of the contrast against the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. I was University of Georgia. I even met with a general, Adolfo Calero. So again, this is silliness and un seriousness in a very serious time. Um, I believe I could speak for the secretary of myself and luckily the governor. None of us ever seemed any money from the Chinese Communists. And as I'm saying this out loud, it seems even that much more ridiculous that I have to say it. But that's that's where we're at right now, So we'll continue to try to debunk these things again. Former Mayor Giuliani played the repeatedly and repeatedly debunked State Farm video in the House Committee today, but giving oxygen to this continued disinformation is leading to a continuing erosion of people's belief in in our elections and our processes. We have rules, we have laws. The president has filed an official election challenge in Fulton County Superior Court and if that is the proper venue for going through these continuing claims, I've seen the numbers that has submitted through that. We have begun our process of trying to investigate those where they say there's like 10,000 felons So far, our our initial investigations of potential felon voting is at less than 100. They say. There's people who are not even registered to cast a vote. There is no physical way to cast a vote unless you are in the voter registration system. You cannot get a ballot. You cannot get. There's. There's no way to process it. So it is in a possibility, UM, C 60 some odd 1000 people who are younger than 18 years old again it is. The system will not allow you to produce a ballot for that individual and the beginnings of the ones we saw all of the registered at 17.5, which you can in the state, and they're turning 18 before the election day. So they're legal voters. Of the ones we've looked at so far, I'm not sure how deep we've gotten into it. I know we began that process. I'll see there's just so much disinformation, I think. As I said the other day, we have a shovel or against an ocean It's an ocean is being perpetuated by the president of United States and his legal teams, and they have the rights to go through their due process. What they don't have a right to do is then bring them out in a way that they can't be questioned and they can't be, you know, even looked at in a really way and they give it the rule. They give it more heft than it deserves because the president is saying it, and I understand people are still emotionally raw. I still have family members who just want to. They cannot possibly imagine how Joe Biden has won the state of Georgia. He did through several different ways. The we had about over 20,000 people just skip the presidential race. This didn't vote in it. They went down about. Another race is if you take eight counties six in metro Atlanta. Um, in the two around University of Georgia, Clark and a Cockney David Perdue got more than 19,000 more votes than the president. If you look at this thing, we have a new report we're gonna be looking at from a federal lab showing that there was no fraudulent voting in the state by comparisons to a previous elections. Everything we saw here was relatively normal people who do not understand what's been happening in the state of the last 10 years, the ones who are really thrown by this. Guess what Gwinnett in Cobb County flipped to from very Republican years ago. Two very Democrat. Now The New York Times had a very good visual piece showing the way that the votes were cast in metro Atlanta in 1984 that Fulton County was the Onley Democrat County in that year. Then, in 2000, there were three Democrat County's. Then in 2016, I think they were all but all the two Democrat counties. This is a normal progression, you see, in politics sometimes, Um, DeKalb County was the hotbed heart of the Republican Party, from the sixties into the seventies and into the eighties. Now it is the heart bed heart of the Democrat Party. These things happen. If you pay attention, you know that the continuing disinformation is harmful. It's continuing to create a threat environment in the state. We've we've had people be followed. We've had elections Director Now I believe had a car window broken out after getting a threatening email. Two. In the morning. That's and we have people stalking outside of our elections offices in Cobb County. We've had a A warehouse, our warehouse manager. He was simply taking trash the dumpster, and he had somebody follow him with Cameron telling him he was gonna be going to prison this guy again. Just a guy with a regular job. We have to be responsible. We have to continue to be responsible. This office will continue to be responsible and follow the law and follow the rules. Yes. Be upset. Yes. Be ready to fight for January 5th because that's the important thing. And no, do not listen to those who tell you Don't vote on January 5th is a protest. That's silly. It's a silly thing to do to deny yourself the vote. And I've had to have this argument people I've known for 20 years. Um, the best argument I've had to get through the to some people who believe that their vote didn't count, I said, Okay, I'm telling you, theft didn't happen. But if you believe it happened, if you really believe somebody stole this from you don't make it easier on them to steal it. Next time, Go vote, Get your friends to vote, Overwhelm it If you really believe that's what's happening because we have to have faith in our system to the end of the day, we're gonna follow our laws. When follow our rules, we're gonna take all these investigations, 132 of them and they keep on growing. Every day we give to their conclusion. Bring a state election board as somebody to be prosecuted either by the attorney General's Office, the U S attorney's or local D. A s. We will refer them. That is the process here. But we have certified this election. The electors were going to vote on December 14th, and Joe Biden is going to be the president. United States Barring some miraculous courtroom thing And lastly on this Texas lawsuit, we agree with Attorney General car that it is constitutionally wrong, wrong on the law and wrong with the fax. So with that, I'll take any questions you might have you, John. Yeah, Yeah, hearing that mhm issue 1000 voters supposedly and there's a question they really did live, whether they should have been purged. Plaintiffs were saying, you illegal, purchase them and they want more. Okay, you come in and where the state is, I'm not totally positive. And where we are on that particular case. And I thought it was more than that way Have so many damn cases, John. I'm sure which one's which? But if this is the one based on the research done by Greg Palace, which I believe it is, this is again a fundamental misunderstanding of how list maintenance works and how Seo works. What happens is the list is live and active for about two years. Okay, so you heard now the national change of address. Okay, sorry. National your residency away. It's live and active for about two years, but as you know, you have to be made inactive. And then you have to miss two general elections. So we're talking about a process that could be 6 to 8 years. So if you're made an active on the A list over here, the n c o. L s continues to go for two year spates this way. So when you go back to see these people who are being removed due to an activity. And remember, we have to send him a postcard as well to remind him say, Hey, we're about removed from the list. We also put all 300 some odd 1000 out on the Internet. Nobody stepped forward to say, Oh, I shouldn't be on this list and they could have easily be registered So we have this 200,000 that are over here. So if you go back to when they were first made an active that co a list is gone, there's there's nothing to refer back Thio. So they're basically misunderstanding how this process works, and that's that's the underlying part of it. The point is that you believe they should have been purged or what is your? Well, I mean, they were properly properly followed the law based on the federal National Voter Registration Act that we have to do list maintenance. They were put on there because they were on the list. That's what that's what started the process. Then they missed, and they were given it. They were sent a mailing saying, Hey, we're gonna make you an active if you don't respond to this and then they have missed two general elections in a row and didn't have any contact. And then we sent another postcard and said, Hey, you're about to be canceled on the list if you do not respond to this or let us know and we took the extra extra or the extraordinary step of putting it all online for anybody to look at. And as you all know, I think I believe some members the media went door to door and could not find anybody who fit these things. So don't get too deep in the weeds in this, which I think I really just did. But But that is the explanation for a large part of that. Yes, sir. It mentioned Secretary of State. Mhm over. See, mhm is the cross message deposed. Mhm video. Uh, they have been That's totally opposed. They have been questioned. Um, I don't know if they were under oath, I don't believe they were, But this is one thing that's really kind of frustrating. We can't win for losing on this. The reason this all happened was at State Farm. Ralph Jones thought they were gonna finish up at 11 and go home. Yeah, that was he was the manager there. He was under that impression. If some of you are with us on election night, you may remember the secretary on 10 30 was pretty unhappy with Fulton County for knocking off early when the rest of the state was still working and he made that very clear. So Chris Harvey, our elections director, called Rick Barron, the Fulton County elections director who was at the English street warehouse where he was doing regular Election Day activities. Because it was Election Day, he said, What the heck are you doing? Knocking off and rich like we're not knocking off? What are you talking about? So that's what we just heard reports that you're closing up shop over there, he says. Oh, no, we're not gonna do that. We'll continue to work. So he calls Ralph. You could see on the videotape Ralph take the call and he's like his shoulders slumped slightly. And he's like you could see him standing over to a to the boxes continue to steal for a second cause he did not want to tell those people who had been there because if you watched the videotape, the same people that were there at 11 o'clock at night with the same ones that were there at seven in the morning. They had a long day. So because the secretary of state's office got onto them about continuing to work, then they decided we will continue to work. And now they're having this giant claim. There was some Oceans 11 type scheme that was put into place, as opposed to what is obviously happening in the real world, that people want to go home and they were exhausted and then their boss coming down on them saying, No, you gotta work some more And that's how that all happened because we asked them to continue to work. So you're it's Fulton County man. I don't know, e think Ralph just thought they were gonna stop it. 11. That's that's a good time to stop because they've been there all day. I have no specific rationalist why he thought that because Rick did not think that. But Ralph did. And that was where there was a disconnect at that time. Yeah, Mark a long time no see, everybody. Mark is obviously well paid vacation for three weeks. So too it felt like three. It feels like a month, but okay. I wanna look at early voting. We start Monday. Are what do you expect in terms of turnout and turn early voting ability? There have been some cutbacks. Fine. Other kind. A lot. Are there any change, General? Any improvements that, um, early voting was a very good process in the general election, with the exception of the first day when we had to slow down and in it, I guess, was the first two days that item was fixed. And since that point, we've seen nothing. Really? Slow it down. I know. Cobb County got some pressure because they went to five locations. I think they moved that back to seven now. Um, but for the most part, most counties are keeping a sufficient number open. We anticipate a lighter turnout than in the general election, which is what you normally expected to run off. But since we're already nearly 1.2 million requests and we had 1.3 million votes by absentee last time, I anticipate a pretty high up. Listen, we can't turn on the TV or turn on the radio without hearing a nad for these things. And I'm sure some people as a reminder to people, If you do go vote, the Republicans and Democrats get those lists and they will likely take you off the mailing list. So that is a big advantage to voting early so that you could get off those lists and stop getting the mail. So I anticipate we don't really know. It's hard to gauge these things until you have the first thing happened, as always on the first day of early voting. It's kind of like when the iPhone comes out, people want to go get the new iPhone at the Apple store. They're gonna stand in line for a while. I wouldn't do it, but I know there's a lot of people who will. So I anticipate we'll have some lines on the opening day of early voting. Yes, again, Yeah, serious to do a signature verification. Mhm different than the auditory. Will the secretary of State rand the as we've looked before and over this process, our investigatory powers, which is the normal way we do, this would be way. Have a specific investigation. We have a specific thing to look at. Um, with the continuing amount of discussion around this. There's I don't want to speak for the secretary because I don't think any decisions been made, but we've always been open to the possibility be able to do that if we could get the resource is to do it. Uh, the speaker has indicated they will get resource is to do that potentially. And if we know that the resource is going to be there, Of course they're not in session till January. We have to be going on faith. We did it any earlier than that. Um, there maybe maybe possibility of things like that. But I'm not ready to say for certain just yet, because again, the investigatory powers we have ours usually for specific allegations of something going wrong. And right now, of the 132 cases, I think 18 the 233 cases I have listed here, 18 of them have to with absentee ballots, many of them from the primary, but also some for the general election. Yeah, not only well, here's George stuff there, President Electric, but also January and just get into the if there. But let me again remind everybody no one has provided a shred a scintilla of evidence. The signatures weren't matched. No one. They made the allegation repeatedly. But there's zero evidence that that's the case. So when you say get to the bottom of it, I mean, here's Here's a few other things along those kind of lines when we're talking about. In fact, that reminds me, I apologize and go back to this in one second, some of your mom about adjudication. The moment there's going, we're gonna have to do some things, obviously, to re instill faith in the system because the president, United States and many of us enablers have undermined it through continuing this information and falsehoods that are based on nothing other than speculation. No evidence. So going back to one thing from Coffee County, I forgot. There's two things I said about Coffee County. I forgot the second one. Uh, y'all some of you may have seen a video today. We're in Miss Martin. Their director was showing people how they sheikhoun change votes. Okay, it's adjudication. You're supposed to have a voter review panel there to make decisions, and in that system there's an audit mark that goes along with it and log file so we can see who has done what. So that's kind of how adjudication works. I don't know what it looks like. I make a decision and I change it in the system so that we can actually cast that vote. What she showed was not that so. If I can go in the street and shoot someone that would be against the law, what she was doing would be against the law if that she did that. So it's a little disingenuous say, Oh, it's a massive hole in the system. No, it's how the system supposed to work. It is an improvement on the old system that if you had an overvote or unknown mark that that boat is just gone and this one human beings can then look at it to make the decision. And we had. When it gives, it means we're more likely to enfranchise people and get to that point the old system. Like I said, over vote, you're out And it was Miss Mark doesn't matter Now. We have a system that allows a neck stra level of review to protect each voter's vote and trying to turn into something that is somehow nefarious is again and undermining of the system that, uh, where we have opened an investigation into Coffee County over both how they handle the recount and that video. And just for security purposes, insanely she put this on YouTube or somebody did working, I believe, Miss Powell. She put her password on on YouTube, so we're gonna have to deal with her own security side for that as well. So again, it's frustrating to have to deal with a lot of these things. And I know you all are sick of having to have me come out here and debunk things over and over and over again. And it feels like a We're a little creek against the notion. Yes, you're much the moment station for me, Really? From fourth. What Harper or any just okay being well, the thing no one has made anything to say. The voting system is in some way not working properly. Let's keep that in mind. There's zero evidence to that effect. None. So the main thing we did in order to address the specific thing on signature matching was to remind everybody this is an open process. You have to be careful with that process, because when you're doing the signature match on the screen, there is personal identifying information which the counties are also legally obligated to protect. So way don't have process where a Republican and Democrat elector will stand over their shoulders to say, I challenge that That's not how this works. However, I will remind everybody and the majority of counties, except for the small amount of them that probate judges running these there are Republican and Democrat Election board members who have unlimited access to the process. They actually have jobs they can do. I mean these air, not honorary appointments. If you're really there for Republican Democrat Party, you should be in those meetings and on those processes to make sure the employees that you have hired those elections boards higher the elections director, the elections director, hires the staff. It is the obligation of Republican and Democrat board members alike to assure that the laws of the state of Georgia and the rules of the state Election board are followed. I strongly encourage every county's election board members to be an engaged from the time we begin this process for logic and accuracy testing for the B M D s will be used on December 14th, all the way through to when they do the final absentee ballot count after January 5th. They have a job, they have an obligation and they have a duty. And having those individuals engage in their local communities will be another step to help helping build trust again in the system. Yeah, John. Yeah. All 159 counties will have enough place would go go early. Enough people for those places. Work, foresight, stand. It was a proposal to expand, right? I'm going. Yeah, Delivery. I feel very confident everything's OK. We've got 33 weeks if you can't figure out sometime in three weeks when the lines are down and most of the big counties now actually have information on their website or on their APS showing what the lines are, each individual locations. So, by using technology, I think we're gonna make make better sure that people can vote and take advantage of that early voting option. So, for example, of course, 90 county Sorry. Listen, I say this repeatedly. Counties run elections. We encourage counties to have as many voting options as possible. We encourage counties to open new polling locations. We encourage them to keep his many available things open for their voters. Take advantage of. However, there are things called limited Resource is, and we have really stretched them a lot this year with This is the same time when we see county budgets shrinking due to Cove it so there. There's many things that have to squeeze on them on many different sides, and we're cognizant of that. We're still trying to figure out the best way to help pay for part of the costs they had from the hand tally and the recount. These elections directors in these elections workers are getting worked into the ground, and we're doing everything we can to support them. So I'm not gonna second guess some of these decisions that they have to make because of their own limited resource is and it all right, thank you all so much. If I don't see you have a good and safe weekend and go docks
Above video: Georgia Secretary of State's office responds to rumorsGeorgia election officials certified the results of the 2020 election on Dec. 7, which delivered the state's 16 electoral votes to President-elect Joe Biden.Georgia saw record-setting voter turnout in an election where both candidates eclipsed over 70 million votes across the country. Georgia's electoral votes were key to the former vice president's victory in the Electoral College.Biden received 306 electoral votes, while President Donald Trump received 232 electoral votes.We took a look at how each county voted in the election and looked at where each candidate made gains compared to the 2016 presidential election. You can view how your county voted along with searching within the table display for a breakdown of how your county and other Georgia counties voted.Mobile users, click here to interact with the maps and table view.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
Above video: Georgia Secretary of State's office responds to rumors
Georgia election officials certified the results of the 2020 election on Dec. 7, which delivered the state's 16 electoral votes to President-elect Joe Biden.
Georgia saw record-setting voter turnout in an election where both candidates eclipsed over 70 million votes across the country. Georgia's electoral votes were key to the former vice president's victory in the Electoral College.
Biden received 306 electoral votes, while President Donald Trump received 232 electoral votes.
We took a look at how each county voted in the election and looked at where each candidate made gains compared to the 2016 presidential election. You can view how your county voted along with searching within the table display for a breakdown of how your county and other Georgia counties voted.
Mobile users, click here to interact with the maps and table view.
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Infant at Children’s Hospital born with disorder gets $2.1 million, potential life saving drug
by: Susan El Khoury
Posted: Dec 13, 2019 / 10:06 AM CST / Updated: Dec 13, 2019 / 10:06 AM CST
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A Garland County infant born with a life-threatening genetic disorder gets a multi-million dollar treatment that could save her.
It’s also a big milestone since she’s the first baby in the state that had the pricey one-time injection paid for by insurance.
When Josephine Gilmore was 4-months-old, doctors found she was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, also known as SMA. It’s a rare genetic disorder that causes a person’s nerves to start dying before they’re born.
“How could I let this happen to my kid? Why didn’t I see the signs? But you don’t know,” said Josephine’s mom Casey Gilmore. “There’s not enough education about SMA and how horrible of a disease it is.”
The earlier doctors detect the disorder, the better the outcome. Unfortunately many times SMA is not found until a child is a few months old, and that can be too late.
“At 6 months nearly 90 percent of the motor neurons in a child’s body are dead,” Gilmore explained.
There is a gene therapy drug that can help reverse the effects of SMA. It’s a one time injection that costs around $2.1 million. Doctors call it life-saving.
“With the result that the nerve cells return to their normal health and their normal function,” said Dr. Kapil Arya, a Neurologist at Children’s Hospital who’s also an assistant professor at UAMS.
Dr. Arya was part of a team of doctors at Children’s Hospital who helped ensure Josephine could get the injection, and worked with Medicaid to get it paid for.
“We’re seeing her hands move again, we’re seeing her legs move again,” Gilmore said.
The injection isn’t an instant fix, so every day is about waiting to see what happens.
“We have a phrase around here, we’re in Josephine’s world and we live in it,” Gilmore said. “I have every belief in this world she’s going to do big things.”
Early treatment for SMA could soon be an option for more kids. As of next year, Arkansas will be one of a handful of states that will require all infants to be tested for SMA at birth.
More information about the Gilmore family’s #stronglikeJo movement, can be found by clicking here.
https://www.facebook.com/stronglikeJo/?ref=py_c
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Managing stress, prioritizing mental health during the holidays
By Katey Roshetko
Published: Dec. 9, 2020 at 5:19 AM EST
BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - The holidays are a stressful time even during non-pandemic years. So this year, it’s even more important to look at ways to prioritize your mental health.
“Stress levels do go up during the holiday season,” Caroline Mullins, behavioral wellness outreach specialist with New River Valley Community Services, said. “There’s a lot going on, there’s a lot of expectations. And lets add a pandemic to it and we have even more stress.”
She added simple lifestyle adjustments can alleviate some of that pressure people feel around Christmas time.
“One tip would be, of course, limiting your social media and news coverage,” she said.
Too much information or engaging in conflict on Facebook can be overwhelming.
Try not to start your day on your phone, but instead with gratitude, a good book, or even meditation.
“It really helps center you,” Mullins explained.
Focusing on things within our control also makes a big difference. And most things within our control is how we treat our physical body.
“I can go for a walk. I can eat right,” Mullins said. “I can do those things to keep myself together and my family together.”
And when it comes to making decisions in times of stress, Mullins says don’t forget to H.A.L.T.
“H.A.L.T. stands for hungry, angry, lonely, tired,” Mullins said. “So don’t let yourself become hungry, angry, lonely or tired.”
These factors can cloud our judgment and heighten our emotional sensitivity.
“We want to eat right. When we’re getting angry, we need to take a deep breath, take a walk, do what we need to do. Lonely? We need to reach out to people. They’re not always going to reach out to us. We need to take that step. And of course we need to work on sleep.”
Each of these are mostly within our control, so by prioritizing our physical health, we can be more open to welcoming positivity into our lives.
The coronavirus pandemic has increased the number of people experiencing anxiety, depression and even suicidal thoughts. However, it’s a myth that these diseases increase during the holidays. While some people might experience more stress or Seasonal Affective Disorder during the winter, mental health experts don’t see a huge increase in the number of suicides during the holidays.
Anxiety and depression can really affect anyone at any time.
“We need to be aware that that is always something we should be concerned about and we need to look for those signs and symptoms,” Mullins said.
There are regular stressors that come up in life and during the holidays, but prolonged feelings of sadness, fatigue, apathy, anger or pain need to be addressed.
“If someone is going through some sort of a crisis, we want to be aware of what that might look like and how we might want to talk to them about it,” Mullins said. “We definitely don’t want to sweep it under the rug.”
The New River Valley Community Services offers a wide variety of resources to get you or a loved one help.
“There is no shame in getting help,” she said. “It’s a humbling experience to realize that you need to talk to somebody, but once you do it’s freeing and it makes you feel so much better and you can really have control over things.”
Money can be a deterrent from getting help, but the NRVCS offers a lot of resources for free.
“We have a program called Mental Health First Aid and it’s a class you can take,” Mullins said. “It’s all virtual right now and its free. And it helps people understand the signs and symptoms. It de-stigmatizes a lot of things around mental health and suicide. It’s the CPR/First Aid of the mental health world.”
A class on mental health for youth and mental health for adults is offered every other month. Click here to sign up for a class.
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Kentucky House creating committee to consider impeaching Gov. Beshear
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Escaping the Nazis and learning English in Bulgaria
Becoming an Austrian citizen
Carl Djerassi Scientist
31. My parents and my early childhood 179 06:23
32. My family and my childhood in Vienna 129 04:35
33. School in Vienna and its renowned alumni 108 03:09
34. The area where I was born in Vienna 84 03:59
35. An Austrian stamp in my honour 88 04:53
36. Elias Canetti 139 06:02
37. A literary exhibition on Elias Canetti 77 03:39
38. Admitting to my children that I had a previous marriage 121 05:16
39. Becoming an Austrian citizen 87 02:53
40. Escaping the Nazis and learning English in Bulgaria 147 03:12
My mother, after the divorce... I learned that only much, much later, but... asked back for her Austrian citizenship, which she lost when she married my father, and during the divorce procedure asked for it. That now she’s not a Bulgarian anymore she wants to have her own citizenship back and got it back. And what I did not know and the Austrian government only informed me of this a few years ago when they then offered me Austrian citizenship is that she asked that I also become an Austrian citizen, and that was refused on the simple argument that there was no legal ground to do that because at that time the children had the citizenship of the father. It did not go by birthplace, but my mother had been an Austrian before so that was legitimate enough. She had broken off her relationship with a man. In my case he is still my father and, you know, there was joint custody and so on. Yeah. So, he’s a Bulgarian so why should we give him Austrian citizenship? So I never was an Austrian.
I didn’t know that until three or four years ago and then the Austrian government decided to offer me Austrian citizenship, which I accepted after some consideration primarily because of my partial residency in England. I really ought to say that because it’s an unadulterated pain in the neck to enter Heathrow and any other UK airport as an American where you stand in line. Sometimes in a very long line, in a very inefficient passport line, whereas people with a European passport breeze through this. And I’ve sometimes come from Frankfurt or... or Rome or Vienna just having gone for one or two days there and I arrive in London just after a plane from Nigeria had arrived. And there would be sort of 300 people from Africa and then the driblets of Americans behind them and you can spend more time in that slowly moving line when you have so many passengers from Africa who are really scrutinised very toughly here by the immigration people. Always have been. That you can spend more time and some time in that line than you can spend on the flight. And I thought, ha I will now break that. So, it was a very pragmatic reason for me to accept that, and it was even funnier that then at the same time the Austrians asked, does your wife want to become an Austrian? My wife wasn’t even there with me. I said, 'I have no idea. I’d have to ask her. She doesn’t speak a word of German'. They said, 'Oh she’s your wife'. That’s like the same reason my... my mother became a Bulgarian. So I asked her and she said, 'Why not?. So my wife is an Austrian now born in Pocatello, Idaho. There’s not enough room on the passport to spell Pocatello, Idaho and there’s probably no other Austrian born in Pocatello, but that’s our Austrian connection.
Austrian-American Carl Djerassi (1923-2015) was best known for his work on the synthesis of the steroid cortisone and then of a progesterone derivative that was the basis of the first contraceptive pill. He wrote a number of books, plays and poems, in the process inventing a new genre, 'science-in-fiction', illustrated by the novel 'Cantor's Dilemma' which explores ethics in science.
Title: Becoming an Austrian citizen
Listeners: Tamara Tracz
Tamara Tracz is a writer and filmmaker based in London.
Tags: Austria, England, America, Diane Helen Wood Middlebrook, Samuel Djerassi, Alice Friedman
Date story recorded: September 2005
Date story went live: 24 January 2008
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John Bunyan (1628-1688)
By Michael Penfold May 4, 2020 Christian Historybunyan, john, pilgrim's, progress
Bert Cargill of Scotland, co-author or Torchbearers of the Truth, writes a biographical sketch of the “tinker of Bedford” and author of Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan (1628-1688).
John Bunyan’s torch has shone brightly far and wide. Apart from the Bible itself, no book has been so influential in bringing the gospel to so many people in so many countries as his Pilgrim’s Progress. It was once the most widely read and translated book in the English language. Since its publication in 1678 it has never been out of print. It has been translated into over 200 languages. It was the first book foreign missionaries used alongside the Bible. Once read, who can forget the lines,
Blest cross! Blest sepulchre! Blessed rather be
The Man who there was put to shame for me?
Its full original title is The Pilgrim’s Progress From This World to That Which Is to Come Delivered Under the Similitude of a Dream. It is an extended allegory set in 17th century England with locations which match some parts of Bedfordshire, but the story is so graphic and realistic, the language so evocative and resonating that it has long outlived its times. Some more modern renderings have been made through the centuries and it has been simplified into children’s versions, but none is as good as the original.
It was once a standard textbook in British schools, and in great English literature it has been ranked by experts alongside John Milton’s Paradise Lost and Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. By 1692, four years after the author’s death, publisher Charles Doe estimated that 100,000 copies had been printed in England. By 1938, 250 years after Bunyan’s death, more than 1,300 editions of the book had been published.
What makes this all the more remarkable is that the author had very little formal education, was a tinker to trade, and wrote the book while he was in jail. And this author also produced over forty other books and pamphlets, notably Grace Abounding which is the story of the long road to his own conversion, and The Holy War, another allegory which tells of the recovery of the Town of Mansoul from Diabolus by Prince Emmanuel. His quaint but stirring hymn “Who would true valour see” comes from the later pages of Pilgrim’s Progress.
Bunyan’s Background
John Bunyan was born in November, 1628 at Elstow, about a mile from Bedford, England. His father, Thomas Bunyan was a tinker, making and mending pots and kettles; his mother was Margaret Bentley. Their family life was a struggle with poverty, but young John later wrote, “It pleased God to put it into their hearts to put me to school, to learn me both to read and write”. He also tells us that in his early years he was “filled with all unrighteousness”, and that he indulged in much “cursing, swearing, lying, and blaspheming the holy name of God”. At the same time, he was “greatly afflicted and troubled with the thoughts of the fearful torments of hell-fire”.
When he was sixteen, his mother died, and also his sister Margaret. His father married again soon afterwards, and a step-brother, Charles was born. John left home to spend the next three years as a soldier in the parliamentary army during the English civil war. An incident from that time made him think seriously about eternity: one night a fellow soldier who had taken his place on sentry duty was killed by a musket bullet.
After leaving the army he took up his tinker’s trade and in 1650 he got married to a pious woman called Mary. Of his wife he writes, “This woman and I, though we came together as poor as poor might be (not having so much household stuff as a dish or a spoon betwixt us both), yet this she had for her part, The Plain Man’s Pathway to Heaven and The Practice of Piety“. With these books and the help of his wife he recovered his almost lost ability to read. He also entered a period of deep spiritual struggle which he records in his Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (1666), and which formed the background to the earlier part of Pilgrim’s Progress.
John and Mary Bunyan had three daughters and two sons. Their first daughter Mary was blind and John always had a deep care for her until she died in 1680. In 1658, after the birth of Thomas, his wife died. A year later he married Elizabeth – they had a daughter, and then a son in 1672. During these years John Bunyan became a changed man, a persecuted follower of Christ, and a prolific writer who would leave behind him such a lasting spiritual legacy.
Bunyan’s Conversion
John Bunyan’s spiritual struggles centred around conviction of sin and fear of divine displeasure and punishment. He feared that he had committed the unpardonable sin. A sermon denouncing labour and sports on the Lord’s Day specially moved him. Some time later while passing through the streets of Bedford, he tells us that he heard “three or four poor women” sitting at a door “talking about the new birth, the work of God in their hearts, and the way by which they were convinced of their miserable state by nature. They told how God had visited their souls with His love in Christ Jesus”. He began to seek the Lord and read the Scriptures more earnestly. Sometimes he would find encouragement to trust Christ, frequently he would relapse into despair, seeking and not finding what he looked for. Later he recounts, “As I was passing into the field…fearing yet that all was not right, suddenly this sentence fell upon my soul, ‘Thy righteousness is in heaven’…for my righteousness was Jesus Christ Himself, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Now did my chains fall off…my temptations also fled away. Now I went home rejoicing for the grace and love of God”.
John Bunyan found a spiritual home in an independent congregation in Bedford led by John Gifford who baptized him (by immersion) in 1655. He continued to work as a tinker, but he soon became recognised by his friends as a gifted preacher. He preached with great fervour and power in towns and villages around Bedford. But with no “legal licence” to preach he was indicted in 1658. However, no record of any sentence exists and he just continued preaching.
Bunyan in Jail
In 1660 Charles II was restored to the throne of England and a clampdown on Nonconformists followed. A Bedford justice learned that Bunyan was to preach near the village of Lower Samsall and issued a warrant for his arrest. In the middle of the sermon a constable entered and arrested him and put him into Bedford Jail to await the next Quarter Sessions. He was charged with “being a common upholder of several unlawful meetings and conventicles to the great disturbance and distraction of the good subjects of this kingdom”. The sentence was three more months in jail, and if then he “should not submit to go to church and leave off preaching” he should be “banished the realm”. If found in the country after that, he should hang. This sentence was not carried through, but Bunyan was left in Bedford Jail for twelve years, during which time many of his books were written. He supported his family by making “long tagged laces”, and he had periods of relative freedom when his jailers allowed him out to preach. Inside he also preached regularly to around fifty prisoners at a time.
In 1672 the King suspended all the statutes against Nonconformists and Bunyan received royal authority to preach in the Bedford church where his congregation soon numbered 4,000. He also established over thirty new congregations nearby. His reputation extended as far as London, where great crowds gathered to hear him and where he became chaplain to the Lord Mayor.
This period of freedom was short lived, however, for in 1675 many licences to preach were withdrawn and soon a warrant was issued for the arrest of Bunyan on the charge of “having preached to or teached at a Conventicle meeting or assembly under colour or pretense of exercise of religion in other manner than according to the Liturgie or Practice of the Church of England”. He was imprisoned this time for six months, probably in the one-room jail on the bridge over the River Ouse and it is here that most of Pilgrim’s Progress was written. Once published it was so popular that Bunyan’s later years became very influential, with his services called upon all over England, though not entirely free from the danger of ecclesiastical interference.
Bunyan’s End
His life ended suddenly at the age of sixty. His extensive writing and publishing work were taking their toll on his health. In the summer of 1688 he was asked to go to Reading to resolve a dispute between a father and his son. On the way back to London he was soaked in a rainstorm and developed pneumonia. He died ten days later at the house of his friend, John Strudwick, in Holborn Bridge on 31st August. He was buried at Bunhill Fields cemetery.
So another pilgrim reached the Celestial City – “he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side”.
Chart: Thomas Newberry’s Diagram of Greek Prepositions
What is Hypostatic Union?
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Invests in Monolith Materials -- Leader in Innovative Technology for Reducing Environmental Impact --
- Investment will strengthen and diversify MHI Group’s hydrogen value chain through innovative technological addition to its energy transition portfolio
- Monolith’s plasma pyrolysis technology transforms natural gas into emissions-free "turquoise hydrogen" and production of high-purity carbon black
TOKYO, Japan – WEBWIRE – Monday, November 30, 2020
Monolith Process
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has completed a capital investment in Monolith Materials, Inc. (Monolith), a U.S. company with innovative technology enabling the production of hydrogen and carbon black from methane, which is abundant in natural gas, by the process of methane pyrolysis. The investment has been executed through Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc., MHI’s base of regional operations in the U.S. Monolith Materials is the first U.S. manufacturer to produce a clean, industry-transforming hydrogen known as “turquoise hydrogen” (Note) on a commercial scale.
By investing in Monolith, MHI Group looks to strengthen and diversify its hydrogen value chain - one of the key factors needed to reduce environmental impact and ensure the energy transition’s success - through technologies that can produce turquoise hydrogen, which does not emit CO2 in its production process, as well as high-purity carbon black. Specifically, this investment advances the production and supply of hydrogen through plasma-based methane pyrolysis technology, which uses renewable energy as its heat source.
As the importance of hydrogen to realizing a decarbonized society gains popularity, especially in Europe, the United States, and Japan, various clean hydrogen production technologies and supporting processes are required to make that vision a reality. Such technologies include the production of turquoise hydrogen derived by thermal decomposition of methane contained in natural gas, along with production of green hydrogen produced by water electrolysis technology using renewable energy, blue hydrogen derived from fossil fuels that do not emit CO2 and the supporting function of CCUS (carbon capture, utilization and storage). MHI Group is taking a proactive approach to creating and investing in technologies to meet this global demand.
“By solving the century-old problem of scaling methane pyrolysis to a commercial level, Monolith Materials has emerged as a leader in the manufacturing of emissions-free hydrogen,” said Yoshihiro Shiraiwa, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. “While we’re evaluating a number of clean-energy development options, Monolith offers great promise. We’re excited to be the first in a new wave of strategic investors supporting the development of their technology.”
“Successfully scaling Monolith’s technology to serve a global marketplace will benefit from the kind of investment that we have from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries” said Rob Hanson, co-founder and CEO of Monolith Materials. “This relationship will be a model for evaluating future investment opportunities to make emissions-free hydrogen the standard around the world.”
Monolith Materials, which was founded in 2012, developed a process technology that converts natural gas into clean hydrogen and a solid carbon material called carbon black, a critical raw material in the automotive and industrial sectors. The company is currently in the operating stage of Olive Creek 1 (OC1), its first commercial-scale emissions-free production facility designed to produce approximately 14,000 metric tons of carbon black annually along with clean hydrogen. In addition to producing carbon black and clean hydrogen, the company recently announced its plans to produce emissions-free ammonia at a second phase production facility known as Olive Creek 2 (OC2) in Hallam, Nebraska.
Combined, Monolith Materials’ production of turquoise hydrogen, emissions-free ammonia and carbon black are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 1 million metric tons per year compared to traditional manufacturing processes.
Through its capital investment in Monolith, MHI Group will enter the field of hydrogen production and supply supporting that company’s pyrolysis technology which enables use of renewable energy as the heat source. MHI will explore technological innovations to promote decarbonization throughout the industrial sector, using the produced hydrogen not only in power generation systems, but also in fertilizer production facilities, steelworks, etc.
Going forward, MHI will continue taking steps to contribute to the achievement of a decarbonized society and society’s sustainable development, and through such activities it will proactively pursue its corporate growth.
To facilitate identification of the level of hydrogen’s impact on the environment, it is becoming increasingly common around the world to denote the degree of environmental impact, such as CO2 emissions, in its production process using a color image. Green, turquoise, and blue are considered clean hydrogen.
About Monolith Materials
Monolith Materials is a next‐generation chemical and hydrogen company that uses renewable electricity as part of a proprietary process to convert conventional and renewable natural gas to carbon black and hydrogen in an environmentally advantaged manner. Monolith is backed by Azimuth Capital Management, Cornell Capital LLC, Imperative Ventures and Warburg Pincus. For more information on Monolith Materials visit www.monolithmaterials.com.
( Press Release Image: https://photos.webwire.com/prmedia/5/267208/267208-1.jpg )
This news content was configured by WebWire editorial staff. Linking is permitted.
Mining / Metals
Oil / Energy
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YLD default logo
Leadership Series — A day with a Stanford Professor
by Julie-Laure Mikulskis • July 26th, 2019 • 10min
Like learning a programming language or training in sport, building your leadership skills should be part of an ongoing practice.
Do you feel like you’re enabling your teams to do their best work? In today’s world, making sound decisions, harnessing collective wisdom, motivating others and fostering collaboration are among the most critical skills knowledge workers need to master.
Meet YLD Leadership Series: a series of events specially made for leaders willing to learn more about scaling leadership excellence.
A few weeks ago we hosted our very first event in partnership with Stanford University. This one-day workshop was lead by the excellent Frank J. Flynn — a professor of organisational behaviour at the Stanford Graduate School of Business who is a master at helping you unlock key insights and lodge learning in the most memorable way. We all agreed this was one of those rare work days you’ll remember in five, even 10 years…
We like to think we are open-minded and impartial, but there are tonnes of biases that constantly distort reality and lead us to poor decision-making.
Session 1 — Making Sound Decisions
Have you ever trusted your gut too much or over-complicated go or no-go decisions? Our first session was about “making sound decisions” using the case study of Carter Racing, which featured identical data to that used in the fateful decision to launch the disastrous Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986. In the study, Carter Racing was facing the dilemma of whether to race in the cold temperatures at Pocono or not. The stakes were high as it’s the final race of the season and millions of dollars of sponsorship are on the line. They were in the midst of diagnosing the root cause of their high engine failure ratio and, as a result, to weigh the implications of an engine failure during that specific race. There were a number of decisions that influenced the choice, all with pros and cons. We considered the theory that temperature influences failure, but the data showed it doesn’t. Were we missing something? As a group, we had to decide whether to race or not.
What did we learn?
All management functions require decision-making and the act of making sound decisions is the most crucial work of a manager. These decisions range from tactical to strategic, from planning to personnel. We like to think we’re open-minded and impartial, but there are tonness of biases that constantly distort reality and lead us to poor decision-making:
Confirmation bias — “I’ll see it when I believe it.” Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favour, and recall information in a way that confirms one’s preexisting beliefs or hypotheses. Indeed humans tend to see only what we want to see or hear only what we want to hear.
Default bias — (also known as status quo bias). Most decisions have a status quo option — doing nothing or maintaining one’s current or previous decision (e.g. racers want to race, rocket engineers want to launch rockets). The essential reason for this is a core principle of behavioural economics called ‘loss aversion’. Loss aversion is the principle that people have a tendency to prefer avoiding losses over acquiring equivalent gains. It is thought that the pain of losing is psychologically twice as powerful as the pleasure of gaining an equivalent amount.
Overconfidence — This should be no surprise, as most of us will have fallen victim to moments of overconfidence. Indeed, humans have a tendency to be over-optimistic in their own abilities and the state of the future. People naturally believe that their judgments and decisions are better than they really are (otherwise why would they reach that decision?).
How to make sound decisions? By asking lots of questions, staying humble, seeking out new perspectives and expecting to make mistakes along the way.
The big idea: before you make that big decision… D. Kahneman
The checklist manifesto: how to get things right Atul Gawande
Session 2 — Collective wisdom
“How can you soar like an eagle when you’re surrounded by turkeys?” — Anonymous
We all know meetings are necessary, but can be frustrating and inefficient. In this session, we learned techniques to better harness the collective wisdom of a team. Split into groups, we were given a case study about a company looking for their new CFO. Each of us in the group was given a different role in the company with a slightly different set of information about three potential candidates. After reading the case study we were asked to discuss the candidates and come to a consensus on who should be the next CFO.
When people were shown the complete set of information for the three candidates, the majority chose one particular candidate, but when the information was divided among group members asymmetrically, this particular candidate became a much less popular choice.
You might think it would have been a good idea to start the meeting with a straw poll, but this pressures anyone in the minority to change their preference. Doing a poll would have also led to what’s called ‘anchoring bias’. When people are trying to make a decision, they often use an ‘anchor’ or focal point as a reference or starting point. People have a tendency to rely too heavily on the very first piece of information they learn, which can have a serious impact on the decision they end up making. Straw polls remain popular in many situations because they feel fair, but often may not be.
In order to harness wisdom effectively, the group first privately collected their own relevant information and thoughts, before then gathering collectively to share their own piece of the puzzle.
The group could then discuss the information systematically. Finally, at the end of the discussion, the group members would have voted on tenable alternatives, when fully informed.
You may have guessed this already, but groups are terrible at sharing information and surfacing divergences while being great at deliberation. So, next time you’re in a meeting, remember that you don’t know what others know. Stop making assumptions and ask three simple but effective questions to the group:
What do we know?
A few other things on meetings:
How effectively are you using your time? Is your company in the habit of making meetings for literally everything? Watch out for meetings becoming a currency. Meaning that they become a cultural behaviour that’s rewarded, and thus perpetuated. Your people will feel compelled to have meetings, to be in meetings, and to be seen in meetings.
It seems obvious but make sure you always justify the meeting you’re organising.
A good way to help build this behaviour is to have a booking system in place that requests the goals of the meeting at the time of sending the request.
The benefits of collaboration come from secondary, not primary contacts.
Session 3 — Fostering collaboration
Everyone talks about fostering collaboration, but how do you really build a collaborative culture?
Generally, people like to help but don’t like asking for help. This can be because they fear rejection, but also fear being seen as weak, needy or incompetent. Another hurdle is around the feeling that you owe the person you ask for help; you incur a social debt. Asking for help takes self-awareness and courage. During this session, we performed a powerful exercise called the “Reciprocity Ring”, which sheds light on the secret barrier to effective collaboration, one that should occupy much of our attention as managers, but escapes us far too often.
Imagine standing shoulder to shoulder with a group of people and asking them to make a help request on a yellow post-it note. This can be a personal or professional request, but it needs to be meaningful. Everybody else in the group is then challenged to use their knowledge and their networks to try to figure out if they can help with the request (using blue, ‘giver’ post-its). This was such a simple, but inspiring exercise that’s also easy enough to implement within your organisation. Turns out of a lot of the requests for help could be satisfied by the people in our group. It was incredible to see so much collaboration and help being offered in such a short space of time and by people that we had only met in the morning. What a great way to tap into the collective knowledge, networks, and energy of a group to meet each person’s request. And what was crucial was that it showed that the request had to come first for the process to get started. In this situation that was forced, but often it just doesn’t happen. What was interesting was seeing the benefits of collaboration coming from secondary, not primary contacts.
where do the benefits of collaboration come from?
The key to develop healthy patterns of collaboration is to design your own physical and virtual collaboration environment that will help generate regular opportunities for “cross-firm” interactions. Don’t assume you know who and what people know. Instead, look to acquire, update, and disseminate information about your colleagues’ expertise and needs. It’s all about creating an environment where asking for help and advice is encouraged. As a leader, it’s in your power to be seen asking for and giving help on a regular basis. This should foster a culture of helpfulness.
The Reciprocity Ring: When Giving At Work Becomes An Act Not A Check
5 ways to get better at asking for help
Unexpected rewards release more dopamine than expected ones. Thus, a surprise bonus at work, even a small one, can positively impact your brain chemistry more than an expected pay rise.
Session 4 — Motivating others
How do you motivate your team to perform when you’re not around? In this session, we looked into several psychological levers that can help build employee motivation in a more sustainable way.
Frank started the session with a very simple and very effective way of demonstrating the fundamentals of motivation: Hold a £20 note up in front of a room of 50 people and say, “First to grab it, keeps it.” Of the 50 people at the workshop, only two got out of their seats to try to grab it! Crazy right? Why didn’t anyone even try? There are three key explanations:
First of all, people think they can’t do it; moral/ philosophical — in this case that it might be too good to be true or fake.
They are persuaded they don’t stand a chance so don’t bother; practical/ competence.
They judge that it’s not worth it; the value proposition is too low — incentive.
Typically we rely on the use of “carrots” to get more out of our best employees, or what we call extrinsic motivation (reward, praise, bonus…). When it comes to thinking about the effect of rewards on human psychology the neurotransmitter chemical Dopamine is crucial. Unexpected rewards release dopamine, but expected rewards do not! So it’s expectation that’s key.
Instead, an alternative is to focus on increasing intrinsic motivation, the motivation that comes from within and the desire to perform a behaviour because it provides a sense of achievement, and a feeling you’re doing something worthwhile. This is a much more sustainable way to motivate employees to excel in their assigned role while working hard to support the firm’s wider mission. And what’s more, we often underestimate the importance of intrinsic motivation to others, relying too much on extrinsic. Here are the biggest psychological levers that can help you build employee motivation:
Autonomy — What can I do to give members of my team more independence?
When individuals understand the worth and purpose of their jobs or tasks, feel ownership and autonomy in carrying them out, and receive clear feedback and support, they are likely to become more intrinsically motivated, reliably perform better and learn better.
Some companies have invited employees to ‘redesign’ their jobs in ways that they think will be more enjoyable and effective.
Mastery and learning — How can I help them improve/ demonstrate their competence?
People work harder when they believe they are getting better at their tasks. We all love it when things feel like they’re starting to click. The problem is that most managers don’t know what projects/ tasks their employees enjoy most or if employees feel challenged by their jobs. As managers, it’s our role to find ways to maximise learnings for our direct reports. It starts by asking questions, paying more attention to how employees are doing and how they feel about their tasks. It’s about appreciating the learning potential in them and giving them the space and support to reach a little higher, fostering improvement, continual mastery, and growth. People motivated by mastery see their potential as unlimited, and will constantly seek to improve their skills through learning and practice. We call them ‘maximisers’.
Relatedness — How can I help the members of my team feel connected to one another?
Relationships — People need to have a sense of belonging and connectedness with others; each of us needs other people to some degree (Deci & Ryan, 2008).
Responsibility — The need to care for others.
Recognition — When praising employees, it’s important to praise specifically, with clear reasons and letting them know how you feel.
Purpose — How can I remind each of them of the greater purpose?
To win, to impact, to help, to lead… Whatever the purpose, employees need to understand the ‘why’ behind their work and the value it delivers. Dan Pink says that it’s connecting to a cause larger than yourself that drives the deepest motivation.
Direct supervisors have the most influence over employee motivation — not peers, or subordinates, or even top leaders. (Buckingham & Coffman, 1999; Hogan, 2006, 2007).
Watch Dan Pink’s video ‘Drive; the surprising truth about what motivates us,’
Professor Frank Flynn from Stanford Graduate School of Business
We finished these amazing sessions with an action list to ensure we’d make the most of our investment in the day:
Send yourself an email identifying three things you want to do differently after today
Every other week for the next six weeks review the content (to allow it to settle in)
Teach three people something you learned here today (because articulation helps understanding)
This blog article could not do justice to the wonderful day with Professor Frank Flynn. He is such an inspiring, passionate professor. His style of delivery is both entertaining and refreshing. What made the day even more special was the diversity of the attendees. It’s not easy to take a day outside of the office, but it’s so valuable to share challenges and help each other find solutions based on the learnings of the day.
It was by far the best workshop and training day I have ever attended. And I still have so much to reflect on — and put into action!
Until next one. 👋
About Stanford: One of the seven schools at Stanford University, Stanford GSB is one of the top business schools in the world. The school’s mission is to create ideas that deepen and advance our understanding of management and with those ideas to develop innovative, principled, and insightful leaders who change the world. Stanford GSB is a private, accredited institution with four flagship programs — MBA, MSx, Ph.D., and Executive Education.
About YLD: YLD is software engineering, open-source and design consultancy, helping you succeed by moving your team beyond a culture of delivery to a culture of learning. Based in London and with offices across Manchester, Lisbon, and Porto, YLD works with some of the best engineers and digital product designers in Europe, helping FTSE100 enterprises such as Conde Nast, Thomas Cook, The Economist and Trainline outperform their competition.
Interested in Leadership topics? You may like this:
Management and Vision Are Two Separate Things
Culture of Learning
Written by Julie-Laure Mikulskis • July 26th, 2019
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What's happening at the Y?
Bay Area News - Y Learning Labs
With its regular after-school programs shut down due to COVID-19 restrictions, the YMCA of Silicon Valley has shifted to distance learning. The Y’s fall programs for students in grades TK-8 have been adapted to adhere to COVID-19 regulations at YMCA sites throughout Silicon Valley, including the Northwest YMCA in Cupertino.
Bay Area Businesses Try to Beat the Heat
Bay Area businesses forced to operate outdoors were forced to improvise Friday when it was more than 100 degrees outside. Scott Budman reports.
Masked Workouts and No Indoor Cardio
Starting Monday, gyms and fitness centers that have been shuttered for months throughout Santa Clara County will finally be allowed to reopen. But they're going to have to follow some pretty stringent rules that go far beyond what the state requires.
You are heard. We are listening.
You are heard. We are listening. We acknowledge the injustice, pain and tragedy experienced by Black people now and for generations before. It is intolerable. We stand with you against racism, inequity, and police brutality. #BlackLivesMatter. As an organization, as a community and as individuals, we can and will do better.
YMCA Supports Hospital Workers
Marissa Szyslowski, single mother of three and a nurse at El Camino Hospital, recalls panicking the moment she heard schools were closing due to the shelter-in-place orders. But the El Camino Health Foundation, in partnership with the El Camino YMCA, rapidly established a child care program to support essential workers at the hospital.
Help Your Community - Stay with the Y
We deeply appreciate the understanding and patience of our Y members as we navigate the challenging circumstances related to the Coronavirus. After closing our facilities on March 17, we have a limited number of staff still working, all of whom are doing their best to assist you, while supporting rising community needs.
Rachel Rufo
Associate Director of Marketing and Communications
YMCA of Silicon Valley Official Boilerplate
About the YMCA of Silicon Valley
YMCA of Silicon Valley is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, YMCA of Silicon Valley serves 250,000 individuals — regardless of age, income or background — by nurturing the potential of children and teens, improving health and well-being, and providing opportunities to give back and support our neighbors. The organization collaborates with 190 community partners and delivers programs and services at 10 health and wellness facilities, one resident camp and more than 300 school and community sites. Last year, YMCA of Silicon Valley leveraged more than $17 million in support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies to enrich the lives of children, adults and families who otherwise could not afford its services. For more information visit www.ymcasv.org.
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Yorkville Student and Activist Fights Stigma
Written by Erin Hatfield
For most of Valerie Remple’s life, she was told she was “slow” simply because she learns differently than other students.
“I spent my life hearing from others that I’m stupid because of dyslexia, and ‘thank God you’re pretty.’ And I still [hear] that,” Remple explained.
Despite these bleak predictions, Remple went on to become an acclaimed photojournalist and social-justice activist. She has traveled extensively in Haiti and Cambodia, and has dedicated much of her life to helping others. Now, Remple is taking her education and motivation to help to the next level by pursuing her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) at Yorkville University.
Remple had toyed with the idea of returning to school for some time, but it was during a trip to Cambodia that her decision to apply to Yorkville University was solidified.
“I was there, watching Cambodian women fighting for their lives, and fighting to put food on the table, and use doing everything they could to be better—better women, better mothers, better people, and the light went on. I thought, ‘I have to do it. I can’t make any more excuses,’” Remple explained.
But she had reservations, including an aversion to being ridiculed again as she had been earlier in her education.
“It’s not fun having dyslexia…but on the other hand, I think outside the box, and I know I look at things in a beautiful way,” she said.
However, her fears were soon put to rest upon enrolling at Yorkville University. With the help of her professors at Yorkville, combined with a steely determination and a resilience honed by surviving her share of adversity, Remple is finding creative ways to thrive as a student.
“Almost every single prof I’ve had has been phenomenal and has worked with me. Yorkville’s Registrar has been awesome, and so has Paul [Graham] the librarian,” she said. “Every person with learning challenges has to remember that you might hit one obstacle and you might find one person that doesn’t get it, but you’ll find fifty people that do get it, and that’s a lot more than I got when I was at university the first time.”
Remple’s goal is to become a therapist working with victims of sexual trauma and abuse, specifically those who have been involved in human trafficking.
“Ultimately, I want to inspire others. People like me with learning challenges—we have to be great investigators, great researchers. It can be exhausting, but I hope my story will be inspiring not just for students with different abilities, but for everyone. I have faith, and I trust my own skills. There is no one else like! I don’t mind being a trailblazer.”
Written by Yolande Clark. Originally from BC and now living in Fredericton, N.B., Yolande is Yorkville University’s Alumni Relations Officer. She loves to write and to share stories about Yorkville’s talented graduates. You can reach Yolande at [email protected]
Stay up to date with Yorkville University’s latest news and events
Yorkville University News
Copyright 2021 Site By Trew Knowledge
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Home News REVEALED: Minister of Defence Davies Chama in coronavirus quarantine
REVEALED: Minister of Defence Davies Chama in coronavirus quarantine
Ethel Chilufya
DEFENCE Minister Davies Chama says he is currently under quarantine after returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where he had gone on official duty.
In an interview, Chama explained that he was under quarantine for 14 days as advised by health officials.
When asked if he was one of the high-ranking government officials who were under quarantine as announced by Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya, Chama responded in the affirmative.
“Yes, I travelled to the DRC and upon arrival at the airport, the health authorities recommended that I am in the lock-down. I am now seven days in lock-down and I should be able to finish by Thursday next week. So, I want to confirm that I am under lock-down, but I am okay. I am very healthy. I am not moving, I am just at home. It is important to follow what our health specialists are advising us and what government has put in place so that we keep ourselves healthy and also protect other people in case, God forbid, someone contracted the virus,” Chama said.
“And [it’s also important] that you don’t pass it on to another person because once you pass it on to another person, another person will also pass it on to another person. The consequences are dire from the experience of other countries so we don’t want Zambia to be like other countries that lives are being lost because of this deadly disease. It is important to abide by the recommendations from the health authorities.”
Asked if government was considering deploying military personnel to various parts of the country in order to enforce social distancing and control people’s movements, Chama said that was a preserve of the President.
“That is the preserve of the Commander-In-Chief of the Defence forces [President Edgar Lungu], if he sees it fit. We cannot predetermine what will happen. So, let us not be speculative on these matters,” said Chama.
As at Thursday, April 2, Zambia had officially recorded a total of 39 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and one death. According to health authorities, a overwhelming majority of patients who imported the disease into the country were from Pakistan, while a few contracted the virus locally.
Previous articleFinance Minister Dr Bwalya Ngandu gets tested for coronavirus: Health Minister Chilufya reveals
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WIA Speaker Spotlight: Lucy MacMillan Stitzer
By Michelle Pelletier Marshall, WIA Media (March 2019)
What do people eat? How do we help consumers make educated decisions about what they put in their grocery cart? Where is the food grown? What is the most efficient and effective way to grow and transport food while feeding a growing population using existing land? How do we connect the farmer to the consumer? Every morning, these are the questions that the Dirt to Dinner team think about when they wake up.
Lucy MacMillan Stitzer, a member of the Cargill-MacMillan family, former Cargill board member, and founder of the Dirt to Dinner blog, has extensive experience in agriculture, banking, investments, and corporate governance. She began her career in banking, working at Citibank, Sandler O'Neill, and AmeriBank, respectively. She also served on Cargill Inc.’s Board of Directors for 18 years, contributing to the company’s future strategy and supporting efforts to advance the company's diversity and opportunities for women. Since 2011, Stitzer has been chairman of Waycrosse, Inc., the family office of the Cargill and MacMillan families, where her primary focus is to ensure a successful future for both Cargill and the family. Throughout her career she also has benefited from direct equity investments. Today, she lives in the New York metropolitan area and serves on the board of Hamlin Capital Management, as chair/owner of Rush Creek Golf Course, and as the founder of Dirt to Dinner.
Stitzer founded Dirt to Dinner in 2016. Frustrated by the disconnect between hard-working farmers, agriculture, and the dichotomy of what was being marketed in the grocery store, she created the consumer-based food blog. Under her direction, the site has emerged as a strong voice for the modern agricultural system and a primary resource for curious consumers. Dirt to Dinner connects both ends of that food chain – with a principal commitment to help consumers learn more about where their food comes from, as well as highlight the farmers who provide it.
The online publication focuses on global food, sustainable agriculture, and nutrition. The publication has a broad range of subject matter – from food trade and public policy, to genetic engineering and animal antibiotics, and everything in between. Perhaps the most distinctive accomplishment in our era of partisanship and hyperbole, is that Stitzer has made Dirt to Dinner a voice of solid, objective research, and sound, science-based reason, all to advance intelligent and informed consumer decision-making with regard to our global food system.
We got the chance to speak with Stitzer about her various roles in the sector.
ON DIRT TO DINNER
1. How did your experiences influence your desire to educate consumers about food through your blog, Dirt to Dinner? What goals have you set for this media platform?
I am the mother of three children, two of whom were born with a blood disorder, inherited from my side of the family. When I asked the pediatrician the best way to keep them healthy, he said “just feed them well”. I took this to mean eat organic. So I started my own vegetable garden, made homemade baby food, and felt that I was providing my children with the healthiest foods. But as I spoke to more people from large-scale agriculture, it became clear to me that there was a huge disconnect with my approach. Sometimes organic is better and sometimes conventional farming practices are better. Sometimes integrated pest management is best. In the big basket of agricultural chemicals, some are allocated to conventional farming and some are allocated to organic. The best food all depends on the farmer’s technique and individual practices. I came to the realization that in order to feed a growing population on the same amount of land, it was a combination of different farming practices that would prove the most effective and healthy for all.
Did you know that all meat is free from antibiotics? It is against the law to process any dairy or meat where the animal has antibiotic residue. Are cage-free hens really happier? Not necessarily. Are women maturing earlier because of the hormones in milk? No, they are not. From what I see as marketing tactics in the grocery store, and what we know about food – there is a disconnect.
At Dirt to Dinner, we are always searching for the facts behind our food. Lisa Hurst, Hillary Kaufman, Caroline Breed, Hayley Philip, Garland West, and I spend hours researching, discussing, and debating different topics.
Our goal is to educate the consumer on how food is farmed and processed, and also to educate the farmer on consumer trends and purchases. If you read Dirt to Dinner you will learn whether certain foods or diets are healthy, what sustainable agriculture means, and how food makes its way around the world to come to your grocery store.
Many times, food purchases are aspirational. Consumers want full transparency to know where their food originates. But at the same time, they have an idealized emotional view of where it should come from and the two don't always meet. You might have a farmer who grows both conventional and organic strawberries yet won’t feed his or her family GMOs because they really don’t understand what it’s all about.
Every farmer and processor has their niche and everyone looks at their ag world from their own perspective. At Dirt to Dinner, our goal is to broaden that view so that everyone understands the whole picture and can make an educated decision to ensure that we don’t have regulatory policies that prevent food from being grown and eaten in the most sustainable way.
ON WOMEN IN AG
2. In 1992, you and your cousin were the first women to serve on the Cargill board. Did this bring about any new practices? Has the board continued to include women representatives?
Yes, it’s very interesting. For 127 years, the Cargill Board consisted of about nine members which included both family and management representatives. Almost every day, they met for coffee and discussed the business. In 1992, we expanded the board to include our generation along with five independent directors. My cousin and I were the first of our generation, and the first women. I had come from a banking environment where we were obviously very numbers oriented– cash flow, balance sheets, income statements – and I had spent a lot of time comparing the bank financials of their peers. Additionally, my cousin had her own business so she was also very in tune with financials as well. We worked with the CFO at the time to establish a greater focus and more transparency on the financial health of the company.
I am not sure that this transition had much to do with being female; it had more to do with perseverance. However, we continue to have strong, independent females on the board – both from the family as well as independent directors.
3. How was diversity within the company addressed by the board?
I can't speak for the board today, however, I can confirm that Cargill is conscious of inclusion and diversity. We have to be and we want to be. We have 150,000 employees located in 70 countries around the world. We have come a long way since the traditional days of our grandfathers. Cargill represents diversity across the spectrum and we are inclusive of all religions, races, genders, and cultures.
During my time on the board, I was always an advocate for women and diversity. I also was supportive of different work-life options. Many employees take care of their children, as well as their aging parents. We looked to provide new work-life options so that employees could work part-time or do job sharing to ensure that, even if they were busy caring for their family, they could still have a fulfilling role and job at Cargill.
One area where we are not diverse is our values. Cargill is a very principle-based company. For 153 years, Cargill has operated under a consistent set of guiding principles. The family is very proud of that, and so is the company.
4. Our audience for WIA is 30 percent C-suite so many are on boards as well, but many aspire to this goal. Do you have any advice on being a board member?
Good relationships are critical for collaboration. Relationships are built on trust – I would say always be yourself. If you are authentic and true to yourself then you’ll come through as that and people will trust you. Don’t try to be like someone else – your co-worker or boss, or who you think people want to see. If you come across as someone else or have another agenda, others will always see right through that. Best to just be yourself and come forward representing the unique qualities that you bring to the table.
Ask questions and speak up. You can bet that any question you are thinking of asking, someone else is wondering the same thing but is afraid to ask. There’s never a dumb question. While that may seem cliché, it’s true. No one wants to be the one voice in the room that needs clarification on a subject or speaks on a controversial point – but it you don’t ask the question, you will not get the answer.
Personally, I never think of myself as a woman coming to the table. I am an expert in the field coming forward with relevant knowledge I can share with others. Don’t be afraid to have a voice and be who you are.
ON HER CARGILL EXPERIENCE
5. Over 20 years ago, you were instrumental in developing the first strategies to outline the future for Cargill. Now that you can look back on them, how have they positioned the business for success?
Our strategy has been to restructure and get closer to the consumer and the farmer and bring more added value to our end customers and ultimately the consumer. We’ve continued to focus on this over the last 20 years. It’s been a slow process, but a great one.
The most exciting part of this launched in 2010. For years we had a competitive edge because we sold a high volume of commodities. Over a period of time though, a commodity is a commodity and we did not necessarily differentiate ourselves from our competitors. We realized in 1996 that this wasn’t a long-term strategy and we needed to rethink our path.
We turned our focus to building stronger relationships with our customers. We moved from simply selling a commodity, to devising solutions. Being more relationship-oriented served the company very well delivering more success, and setting the framework for today.
6. During your time with Cargill and in the agribusiness sector, what have you seen as the foundation of success?
The biggest key to success is the ability to be adaptable, flexible, and open to change – whether this be as a company, senior manager, or board member. To always be prepared and solid with great earnings, great employees and culture – but always ready to accept change.
Finally, culture is the most important lasting feature. The top companies become top firms by having a distinct, powerful, and compelling culture – a set of values, beliefs, principles, and standards – not of just professional, but also personal conduct. The culture tells you how things really get done, and how decisions are made when treading on uncertain or new territory. Cargill’s culture allows us to do that extremely well.
Lucy MacMillan Stitzer will be a keynote speaker at the 2019 Women in Agribusiness Summit, which will be held in Minneapolis, September 25-27. Learn more at www.womeninag.com.
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'God sent his angels around me': Ohio woman's coronavirus story began with an earache and ended in a full recovery
Deon J. HamptonCincinnati Enquirer
Allison Brown hadn’t been feeling well, but life carried on for the Cincinnati mother of four. That’s what mothers do. Bills must be paid and dinner doesn’t cook itself.
So, Brown's daily routine continued until her body ordered her to stop.
On March 20, Brown had an earache and an unrelenting fever. She called and met with her doctor, who diagnosed her with an ear infection and prescribed antibiotics. She thought her condition would improve in a day or so. It didn’t.
Four days later, Brown wrapped her hair, put on a plaid shirt and leggings and called her doctor again, this time about her shortness of breath and the fever that still refused to retreat.
Her doctor set her up with an X-ray appointment at Mercy Health Jewish Hospital. The visit triggered a 12-day battle that now defines her life, one that she says is only explainable through faith.
“About five minutes after I took the X-ray, the radiologist came out and said I needed to go straight to the emergency room because I had viral pneumonia in both lungs,” Brown said.
Nobody said COVID-19. But she and her boyfriend, Jonathan Curtis, 40, headed nonetheless toward the ER.
There, doctors ran additional tests and diagnosed Brown with pneumonia, which couldn’t be treated for antibiotics. She also needed testing for influenza and coronavirus.
“I’m almost certain you do have COVID-19,” the emergency room doctor told her, she recalled.
“'OK, am I going to make it?'” the 37-year-old mother asked, fearing she was far more ill than originally expected.
“I can’t tell you if you’re going to make it or not, but it doesn’t look good,” she recalled the doctor telling her.
A positive coronavirus test: 'They wheeled her back and wouldn’t let me go'
The following day, there was more bad news: She was positive for coronavirus.
Doctors treated her with hydroxychloroquine, but her oxygen levels that had fallen the previous day still didn’t improve. The hospital staff recommended putting her on a ventilator and drew a conclusion: They needed to find out her next of kin.
Despite being with her live-in boyfriend of five years, those duties went to her firstborn – in this case, her 21-year-old son.
The doctors said to “get my family prepared for do not resuscitate,” Brown said. “I was so scared. I know when you put people on ventilators, they don’t make it out, and I just really want to make it to see my kids, my boyfriend and my family.”
On the other side of the hospital, Curtis worried about the love of his life.
“They wheeled her back and wouldn’t let me go,” he recalled.
What now? ‘All I could do was send her 'I love you’ text messages'
But, Curtis had an issue of his own: PHe’d lost his sense of smell and taste and had a slight cough.
When the waiting at Jewish became exhaustive, Curtis drove to his personal doctor, where he was tested for COVID-19, and eventually returned to the couple's apartment to care for their children.
“I cried myself to sleep. I had so many thoughts in my head. I wanted her to come back home to us,” Curtis said. “All I could do was send her 'I love you' text messages. I listened to Scriptures and sermons.”
Curtis leaned on his faith. Brown’s condition was yet to be determined.
The family’s troubles worsened days later when Curtis’ COVID-19 results came in positive. By then, he said, his symptoms had subsided and his cough was gone.
Still, Curtis self-quarantined in his bedroom to keep the children from becoming infected.
“Family dropped off food and cleaning supplies to disinfect the apartment,” he said.
She survived coronavirus: 'I was spared by a higher power'
Inside Jewish’s ICU, Brown said her doctors weren’t making any promises.
The medical staff said being young and resilient was in her favor for beating COVID-19. What wouldn’t help was lupus. Brown was diagnosed in 2003 with the long-term autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks normal, healthy tissue. People with autoimmune diseases are among those most vulnerable to coronavirus.
“The first few days (in the hospital) weren’t looking great, but let me tell you about God,” Brown said, acknowledging her faith. A deeply spiritual woman, she said she studied multiple religions before settling on Christianity.
“I was spared by a higher power," she said. "God definitely blessed me. So many people don’t make it back from COVID-19.”
While sleeping one night, Brown said she accidentally, or maybe while half-conscious, pulled out her ventilator.
“I excavated myself,” she said.
The next time she awoke, Brown said, “I was not on a ventilator anymore and my oxygen levels were coming up. My throat had no damage. The doctors hadn’t seen anything like it.”
That was the first inclination she was beating the odds. Each day thereafter, her conditioned improved. “It’s a testimony. God sent his angels around me,” Brown said.
After 12 days in the hospital, she returned home last weekend.
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Photo story: 1 of 10
Spot News, 2nd Prize
A kangaroo tries to escape a wildfire, near a burning house in Lake Conjola, New South Wales, Australia.
A man hoses a property to defend it from a fire in a neighboring house, in Lake Conjola, New South Wales, Australia.
A firefighting helicopter dumps water on a spot fire in Hillville, New South Wales, Australia.
People take refuge on a beach near a caravan park at Lake Conjola, New South Wales, Australia, as fire approaches.
Aluminum, which melts at 660.3℃, has streamed from a burning car in Conjola Park, a town where bushfires razed more than 89 properties, in New South Wales, Australia.
A Boeing 737 drops fire retardant in Hill Top, New South Wales, Australia.
Firefighters attempt to control flames in a burning house, as they threaten nearby properties, in Lake Conjola, New South Wales, Australia.
Firefighters abandon their vehicle and flee as flames crown eucalyptus trees, in Orangeville, New South Wales.
A firefighter gestures to colleagues to cut the water supply, as they try to stop a spot fire from jumping the Bargo River, in Buxton, New South Wales, Australia.
A property lies devastated by bushfire, in Balmoral, New South Wales, Australia.
Spot News,1st Prize
Panos Pictures, for The New York Times
2020 Photo Contest, Spot News, Stories, 2nd Prize
The annual fire season in Australia began early and was exceptionally severe—following months of record-breaking drought and fanned by strong winds. Far stronger wildfires than usual, mostly battled by volunteer firefighters, raged through New South Wales and Victoria as well as areas in South Australia and Queensland, laying waste to bushland and rainforest and destroying homes. By the end of January 2020, more than 30 people had been killed, 3,000 homes lost, and around 12.6 million hectares of land burned (nearly three times the size of the Netherlands). Wildlife was harshly hit. Local scientists estimated that up to one billion animals perished, and more than 50% of the Gondwana rainforest traversing New South Wales and Queensland was burned. In December, while the intensity and speed at which many bushfires were spreading increased, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison went on holiday to Hawaii, and was prompted to return only after the death of two volunteer firefighters. He continued to champion a pro-fossil-fuel policy and held back from linking the fires to the climate crisis.
Matthew Abbott (1984) is a documentary photographer based in Sydney, recognized for photographing social, cultural and political stories covering contemporary suburban and region...
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Netflix heads into showdown with slowing subscriber growth
by: MICHAEL LIEDTKE, Associated Press
This Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, photo shows the Netflix app on an iPhone in New York. Netflix reports financial results Wednesday, Oct. 16. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Netflix’s subscriber growth is bogging down even before the leading video streaming service confronts high-powered threats from Apple and Walt Disney Co.
The latest sign of the challenges the company is facing emerged Wednesday with the release of its third-quarter results. The numbers provided further evidence that Netflix’s salad days may be over, particularly in the U.S., where most households that want its 12-year-old streaming service already have it.
Netflix added 6.8 million subscribers worldwide from July through September, below the 7 million customers forecast by the Los Gatos, California, company. Just 520,000 of those subscribers were picked up in the U.S., below the 800,000 that management anticipated. The shortfall came after Netflix lost 123,000 subscribers in the U.S. during the April-June period, marking its first contraction in eight years.
The latest miss on U.S. subscriber growth “spells trouble for the company ahead of heightened competition,” said eMarketer analyst Eric Haggstrom. “The fourth quarter represents a completely new ballgame for Netflix.”
Uncertainty about Netflix’s future growth is the main reason the company’s stock had dropped by about 30% below its peak price of $423.21 reached 16 months ago. Netflix’s shares surged 10% in extended trading Wednesday, apparently because some investors had been bracing for an even bigger letdown in the third quarter.
Netflix said it expects to add another 7.6 million worldwide subscribers during the final three months of the year, down from 8.8 million during the same period last year in an acknowledgment of the fiercer competition.
“The launch of these new services will be noisy,” Netflix advised in its third-quarter letter to shareholders. “There may be some modest headwind to our near-term growth, and we have tried to factor that into our guidance.”
The big question now is whether some of Netflix’s existing subscribers will decide to cancel its service and defect to cheaper alternatives that Apple and Disney will launch within the next month.
Apple is charging only $5 per month for its service, set for a Nov. 1 debut, while Disney is selling a service featuring its vast library of treasured films and TV shows for just $7 per month beginning Nov. 12. Netflix’s most popular plan in the U.S. costs $13 per month.
Netflix is counting on the unique lineup of award-winning TV shows and movies that it has amass since expanding into original programming six years ago to help it retain its competitive edge and attract more subscribers.
It has taken advantage of its head start in video streaming to track the viewing interests 158 million subscribers around the world, giving it valuable insights into the kind of programming that is most likely to appeal to wide swaths of its audience.
That knowledge, in theory, will help Netflix and choose which TV shows and movies to back in the future as it bids for programming against the likes of Apple, Disney and existing rivals such as Amazon and AT&T’s HBO.
Even if Netflix keeps picking winners, some budget-conscious subscribers may be tempted to abandon its service and be content with the entertainment options being dangling by Apple and Disney.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings acknowledged Wednesday that a U.S. price increase imposed earlier this year is causing some current subscribers to cancel the service and perhaps causing some prospective customers to shy away.
“There’s a little more sensitivity, we are starting to see a little touch of that,” Hastings said during a discussion about the third quarter. “What we have to do is just really focus on the service quality, make us must-have.”
Apple is trying to make its new streaming service even more tempting by offering it for a year to anyone who buys an iPhone, iPad or Mac computer. And Disney already is heavily promoting on Twitter its forthcoming service by highlighting that it will feature classic films such as “Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs” and “The Lion King.”
Wedbush Securities analyst Daniel Ives said he is expecting Netflix to lose some of its appeal. He thinks the company could lose about 24 million subscribers, or about 15% of its customers, during the next 18 months.
As more competitors take aim at Netflix, some of them are also pulling their programming from the service. Disney is yanking its films from Netflix beginning next year. Beloved TV series “The Office” and “Friends’ will disappear from the service in 2020 and 2021 in separate decisions made by NBC and AT&T.
The losses of those popular shows may hurt Netflix even more than the competing streaming services from Apple and Disney, said Michael Pachter, another Wedbush Securities analyst.
“Netflix is going to lose 50% of its most viewed hours during the next two years,” Pachter said. “As that starts to happen, subscribers are going to start to notice and some may start looking elsewhere.”
Netflix has another problem: It has been borrowing billions of dollars to pay for most of its programming. With its debt load already standing at $12 billion and still likely to climb, Netflix probably can’t afford to cut its prices without risking bankruptcy, Pachter said.
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Shelter says it beat back rule it take transgender women
by: RACHEL D'ORO, Associated Press
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A faith-based Anchorage women’s shelter claimed victory Monday in a lawsuit against the city over a requirement that it accept transgender women.
The city has agreed to make permanent a judge’s recent order affecting the downtown Hope Center shelter, conservative Christian law firm Alliance Defending Freedom and city attorneys said in documents filed Monday in federal court. In August, U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason issued an injunction preventing the city from applying its gender identity law to the shelter.
The injunction showed the city it was unlikely to succeed in further litigation, Anchorage Municipal Attorney Becky Windt Pearson said. The consent decree filed Monday treats the shelter as a private accommodation, which means the public protection law does not apply to it, she said.
“We had a fairly clear message from the federal court through Judge Gleason’s order that she did not think that we would prevail in our argument that downtown Hope Center fell within the definition of public accommodation,” Windt Pearson said.
As part of the consent decree filed Monday, the city also has agreed to pay the shelter $1 in damages and $100,000 in attorneys’ fees and other costs.
Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents the shelter, said the agreement was the right outcome.
“Faith-based nonprofits should be free to serve consistently with their beliefs and mission,” alliance attorney Ryan Tucker said in a statement. “The end of this case means the center can continue its critically needed work to help the vulnerable women it serves and fulfill its duty to do everything it can to protect them.”
The shelter operators sued the city and its Equal Rights Commission last year, months after a transgender woman complained to the commission that she was denied entry at the shelter. The lawsuit said homeless shelters are exempt from the local law and that constitutional principles of privacy and religious freedom are at stake.
The complaint with the commission was dismissed after the August injunction, according to municipal lawyers.
Alliance attorneys have said many women at the shelter are survivors of violence and allowing biological men would be highly traumatic for them. They said biological men are free to use the shelter during the day, adding there are other shelters in the city where men can sleep.
The plaintiffs maintain the person identified only as “Jessie Doe” showed up inebriated after hours in January 2018 and was not turned away because of gender. The shelter officials even paid for a taxi to take her to a hospital for treatment of a forehead wound from fighting at another shelter, according to alliance attorneys.
The same individual showed up the following day and again was denied entry, according to the motion for a preliminary injunction. Plaintiffs say they want the federal court to make clear that the shelter is not violating the law.
Alliance Defending Freedom also represented a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. In a limited decision, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the baker, but it did not rule on the larger issue of whether businesses can invoke religious objections to refuse service to gays and lesbians.
Follow Rachel D’Oro at https://twitter.com/rdoro .
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Violeta Went to Heaven Film Review
The film, Violeta went to Heaven is about the life and times of Chile’s prominent singer and folklorist Violeta Parra. Using the script by Eliseo Altunaga, the film is directed by Chilean born director Andres Wood who is known for famed works like Machuca and Football Diaries. Andres Wood has made this film as a kind of biopic on Parra. Although certain creative liberties are taken, the film is closely based on the life events of Parra, particularly structured around an interview given by her to a TV channel in 1962. After going through a tumultuous childhood, Parra found solace in her musical avenues, which then diversified into other art forms as well. Although, Woods have shown this life path of hers in an out of sequence manner, he has arranged in such a way there is apt coherency. Having already won the Sundance World Cinema Dramatic Jury Prize, this film was screened at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival. This festival features films which are by and about artists in the fields of visual, literary as well as performing arts.
The gender perspectives in Violeta went to Heaven evolved as Parra life went on. That is, although, Parra faced a restrictive as well as discriminative childhood and adult life, her achievements in the later part of her life earned her more recognition. This is unlike the women characters featured in the work, Sea of Poppies, where almost all female characters had to suffer sexual abuse or enslavement. “…in spectacles that are injurious to the dignity of the fairer sex.” (Ghosh 118). As mentioned above, Parra had a tough childhood because of her alcoholic father, and then in her growing up years had conflicts with the Chilean elite, who were mainly descendants of the Spanish conquistadores. These Chilean elite were imbibed with male chauvinistic thoughts, and so they disliked and opposed any woman who is expressing her voice through art works. With Parra being a Leftist critic regarding issues of inequality, she faced more opposition. However, after the acclaim she got for her textile art at the Louvre museum in Paris, she was started to be recognized and feted by all the sections in Chile including the elite.
When it comes to identity aspects, Parra had a difficulty in finding her “place” in the Chilean society. Like the unnamed narrator in the work, Season of Migration to the North, who had difficulty in finding his identity in his homeland after a stint in foreign shores, Parra faced number of issues in Chile, starting with her ancestry. “I felt as though a piece of ice were melting inside of me, as though I were some frozen substance on which the sun had shone.” (Salih and Johnson-Davies 3). She belonged to the American Indian ancestry, and so had conflicts from the initial period with the Catholic Church, as she could not shed away her lineage and fall in line with what majority expected of her. This identity crisis of her also got exhibited in other facets of her life. Parra was woman endowed with wide range of interests, abilities and importantly passions for many artistic mediums. Due to this aspect, she was a musician-singer, painter, folklorist, etc, apart from playing the role of mother to her children. In Chilean society, people are categorized simply as housewives, teachers, doctors, engineers, etc. on the basis of their profession. With Parra involving herself in various vocations, people had difficultly in slotting her and also she had difficulty in finding her identity.
Arjun Appadurai in his work, Modernity at Large, had this to say about globalization and how the resultant modernity has created persons who wanted to become modern, physically as well as mentally, although this “self-fulfilling and self-justifying idea is provoking many criticisms and much resistance in both theory and every day life.” (Appadurai 1). This aspect of resistance is shown in the film, with Parra opposing modernism when it had negative impacts on the indigenous cultures. Among the many political activisms carried out by Violeta Parra, her struggle to protect the indigenous cultures forms a key part. With modernity, perpetuated by early aspects of globalization, causing sizable changes in Chilean communities, Parra resisted it and wanted to do something in that direction. “Modernism embodies a peculiar condition of being modern, which may not have true meaning without being related to an earlier alien culture” (Said 132). She traveled throughout Chile as well as other Latin American countries, and gave musical performances to instill in the people the need to protect their cultures, without giving into modernism.
The key irony that is visible in the film, which is applicable to many environments including my environment of Houston, is the aspect of how capitalism and commercial interests has ingrained into every aspect of human life. That is, the film begins paradoxically with a title card acknowledging a capitalist corporation BHP Billiton, although the film is about an anti-capitalist iconic figure Violeta Parra. This is line with the protagonist of the work, The Death of Artemio Cruz, who despite being a revolutionary soldier in the Mexican Revolution gives in to capitalism and indulges in dubious land reforms and exploitation of workers to become rich and powerful. (Fuentes and MacAdam). Thus, it is clear that capitalism has become an important and intricate part of life. Although, capitalism may not show its most virulent side in environments like Houston, it would show in a subtle manner.
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Red Cross Built Exactly 6 Homes For Haiti With Nearly Half A Billion Dollars In Donations
Wrong Kind of Green Oct 29, 2015 Non-Profit Industrial Complex, The Occupation of Haiti, Whiteness & Aversive Racism
by Justin Elliott and Laura Sullivan
The neighborhood of Campeche sprawls up a steep hillside in Haiti’s capital city, Port-au-Prince. Goats rustle in trash that goes forever uncollected. Children kick a deflated volleyball in a dusty lot below a wall with a hand-painted the logo of the American Red Cross.
In late 2011, the Red Cross launched a multimillion-dollar project to transform the desperately poor area, which was hit hard by the earthquake that struck Haiti the year before. The main focus of the project — called LAMIKA, an acronym in Creole for “A Better Life in My Neighborhood” — was building hundreds of permanent homes.
Today, not one home has been built in Campeche. Many residents live in shacks made of rusty sheet metal, without access to drinkable water, electricity or basic sanitation. When it rains, their homes flood and residents bail out mud and water.
The Red Cross received an outpouring of donations after the quake, nearly half a billion dollars.
The group has publicly celebrated its work. But in fact, the Red Cross has repeatedly failed on the ground in Haiti. Confidential memos, emails from worried top officers, and accounts of a dozen frustrated and disappointed insiders show the charity has broken promises, squandered donations, and made dubious claims of success.
The Red Cross says it has provided homes to more than 130,000 people. But the actual number of permanent homes the group has built in all of Haiti: six.
After the earthquake, Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern unveiled ambitious plans to “develop brand-new communities.” None has ever been built.
Aid organizations from around the world have struggled after the earthquake in Haiti, the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country. But ProPublica and NPR’s investigation shows that many of the Red Cross’s failings in Haiti are of its own making. They are also part of a larger pattern in which the organization has botched delivery of aid after disasters such as Superstorm Sandy. Despite its difficulties, the Red Cross remains the charity of choice for ordinary Americans and corporations alike after natural disasters.
One issue that has hindered the Red Cross’ work in Haiti is an overreliance on foreigners who could not speak French or Creole, current and former employees say.
In a blistering 2011 memo, the then-director of the Haiti program, Judith St. Fort, wrote that the group was failing in Haiti and that senior managers had made “very disturbing” remarks disparaging Haitian employees. St. Fort, who is Haitian American, wrote that the comments included, “he is the only hard working one among them” and “the ones that we have hired are not strong so we probably should not pay close attention to Haitian CVs.”
The Red Cross won’t disclose details of how it has spent the hundreds of millions of dollars donated for Haiti. But our reporting shows that less money reached those in need than the Red Cross has said.
Lacking the expertise to mount its own projects, the Red Cross ended up giving much of the money to other groups to do the work. Those groups took out a piece of every dollar to cover overhead and management. Even on the projects done by others, the Red Cross had its own significant expenses – in one case, adding up to a third of the project’s budget.
In statements, the Red Cross cited the challenges all groups have faced in post-quake Haiti, including the country’s dysfunctional land title system.
“Like many humanitarian organizations responding in Haiti, the American Red Cross met complications in relation to government coordination delays, disputes over land ownership, delays at Haitian customs, challenges finding qualified staff who were in short supply and high demand, and the cholera outbreak, among other challenges,” the charity said.
The group said it responded quickly to internal concerns, including hiring an expert to train staff on cultural competency after St. Fort’s memo. While the group won’t provide a breakdown of its projects, the Red Cross said it has done more than 100. The projects include repairing 4,000 homes, giving several thousand families temporary shelters, donating $44 million for food after the earthquake, and helping fund the construction of a hospital.
“Millions of Haitians are safer, healthier, more resilient, and better prepared for future disasters thanks to generous donations to the American Red Cross,” McGovern wrote in a recent report marking the fifth anniversary of the earthquake.
In other promotional materials, the Red Cross said it has helped “more than 4.5 million” individual Haitians “get back on their feet.”
It has not provided details to back up the claim. And Jean-Max Bellerive, Haiti’s prime minister at the time of the earthquake, doubts the figure, pointing out the country’s entire population is only about 10 million.
“No, no,” Bellerive said of the Red Cross’ claim, “it’s not possible.”
When the earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010, the Red Cross was facing a crisis of its own. McGovern had become chief executive just 18 months earlier, inheriting a deficit and an organization that had faced scandals after 9/11 and Katrina.
Inside the Red Cross, the Haiti disaster was seen as “a spectacular fundraising opportunity,” recalled one former official who helped organize the effort. Michelle Obama, the NFL and a long list of celebrities appealed for donations to the group.
The Red Cross kept soliciting money well after it had enough for the emergency relief that is the group’s stock in trade. Doctors Without Borders, in contrast, stopped fundraising off the earthquake after it decided it had enough money. The donations to the Red Cross helped the group erase its more-than $100 million deficit.
The Red Cross ultimately raised far more than any other charity.
A year after the quake, McGovern announced that the Red Cross would use the donations to make a lasting impact in Haiti.
We asked the Red Cross to show us around its projects in Haiti so we could see the results of its work. It declined. So earlier this year we went to Campeche to see one of the group’s signature projects for ourselves.
Street vendors in the dusty neighborhood immediately pointed us to Jean Jean Flaubert, the head of a community group that the Red Cross set up as a local sounding board.
Sitting with us in their sparse one-room office, Flaubert and his colleagues grew angry talking about the Red Cross. They pointed to the lack of progress in the neighborhood and the healthy salaries paid to expatriate aid workers.
“What the Red Cross told us is that they are coming here to change Campeche. Totally change it,” said Flaubert. “Now I do not understand the change that they are talking about. I think the Red Cross is working for themselves.”
The Red Cross’ initial plan said the focus would be building homes — an internal proposal put the number at 700. Each would have finished floors, toilets, showers, even rainwater collection systems. The houses were supposed to be finished in January 2013.
None of that ever happened. Carline Noailles, who was the project’s manager in Washington, said it was endlessly delayed because the Red Cross “didn’t have the know-how.”
Another former official who worked on the Campeche project said, “Everything takes four times as long because it would be micromanaged from DC, and they had no development experience.”
Shown an English-language press release from the Red Cross website, Flaubert was stunned to learn of the project’s $24 million budget — and that it is due to end next year.
“Not only is [the Red Cross] not doing it,” Flaubert said, “now I’m learning that the Red Cross is leaving next year. I don’t understand that.” (The Red Cross says it did tell community leaders about the end date. It also accused us of “creating ill will in the community which may give rise to a security incident.”)
The project has since been reshaped and downscaled. A road is being built. Some existing homes have received earthquake reinforcement and a few schools are being repaired. Some solar street lights have been installed, though many broke and residents say others are unreliable.
The group’s most recent press release on the project cites achievements such as training school children in disaster response.
The Red Cross said it has to scale back its housing plans because it couldn’t acquire the rights to land. No homes will be built.
Other Red Cross infrastructure projects also fizzled.
In January 2011, McGovern announced a $30 million partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. The agency would build roads and other infrastructure in at least two locations where the Red Cross would build new homes.
But it took more than two and a half years, until August 2013, for the Red Cross just to sign an agreement with USAID on the program, and even that was for only one site. The program was ultimately canceled because of a land dispute.
A Government Accountability Office report attributed the severe delays to problems “in securing land title and because of turnover in Red Cross leadership” in its Haiti program.
Other groups also run into trouble with land titles and other issues. But they also ultimately built 9,000 homes compared to the Red Cross’ six.
Asked about the Red Cross’ housing projects in Haiti, David Meltzer, the group’s general counsel and chief international officer, said changing conditions forced changes in plans. “If we had said, ‘All we’re going to do is build new homes,’ we’d still be looking for land,” he said.
The USAID project’s collapse left the Red Cross grasping for ways to spend money earmarked for it.
“Any ideas on how to spend the rest of this?? (Besides the wonderful helicopter idea?),” McGovern wrote to Meltzer in a November 2013 email obtained by ProPublica and NPR. “Can we fund Conrad’s hospital? Or more to PiH[Partners in Health]? Any more shelter projects?”
It’s not clear what helicopter idea McGovern was referring to or if it was ever carried out. The Red Cross would say only that her comments were “grounded in the American Red Cross’ strategy and priorities, which focus on health and housing.”
Another signature project, known in Creole as “A More Resilient Great North,” is supposed to rehabilitate roads in poor, rural communities and to help them get clean water and sanitation.
But two years after it started, the $13 million effort has been faltering badly. An internal evaluation from March found residents were upset because nothing had been done to improve water access or infrastructure or to make “contributions of any sort to the well being of households,” the report said.
So much bad feeling built up in one area that the population “rejects the project.”
Instead of making concrete improvements to living conditions, the Red Cross has launched hand-washing education campaigns. The internal evaluation noted that these were “not effective when people had no access to water and no soap.” (The Red Cross declined to comment on the project.)
The group’s failures went beyond just infrastructure.
When a cholera epidemic raged through Haiti nine months after the quake, the biggest part of the Red Cross’ response a plan to distribute soap and oral rehydration salts — was crippled by “internal issues that go unaddressed,” wrote the director of the Haiti program in her May 2011 memo.
Throughout that year, cholera was a steady killer. By September 2011, when the death toll had surpassed 6,000, the project was still listed as “very behind schedule” according to another internal document.
The Red Cross said in a statement that its cholera response, including a vaccination campaign, has continued for years and helped millions of Haitians.
But while other groups also struggled early responding to cholera, some performed well.
“None of these people had to die. That’s what upsets me,” said Paul Christian Namphy, a Haitian water and sanitation official who helped lead the effort to fight cholera. He says early failures by the Red Cross and other NGOs had a devastating impact. “These numbers should have been zero.”
So why did the Red Cross’ efforts fall so short? It wasn’t just that Haiti is a hard place to work.
“They collected nearly half a billion dollars,” said a congressional staffer who helped oversee Haiti reconstruction. “But they had a problem. And the problem was that they had absolutely no expertise.”
Lee Malany was in charge of the Red Cross’ shelter program in Haiti starting in 2010. He remembers a meeting in Washington that fall where officials did not seem to have any idea how to spend millions of dollars set aside for housing. Malany says the officials wanted to know which projects would generate good publicity, not which projects would provide the most homes.
“When I walked out of that meeting I looked at the people that I was working with and said, ‘You know this is very disconcerting, this is depressing,’” he recalled.
The Red Cross said in a statement its Haiti program has never put publicity over delivering aid.
Malany resigned the next year from his job in Haiti. “I said there’s no reason for me to stay here. I got on the plane and left.”
Sometimes it wasn’t a matter of expertise, but whether anybody was filling key jobs. An April 2012 organizational chart obtained by ProPublica and NPR lists 9 of 30 leadership positions in Haiti as vacant, including slots for experts on health and shelter.
The Red Cross said vacancies and turnover were inevitable because of “the security situation, separation from family for international staff, and the demanding nature of the work.”
The constant upheaval took a toll. Internal documents refer to repeated attempts over years to “finalize” and “complete” a strategic plan for the Haiti program, efforts that were delayed by changes in senior management. As late as March 2014, more than four years into a six-year program, an internal update cites a “revised strategy” still awaiting “final sign-off.”
The Red Cross said settling on a plan early would have been a mistake. “It would be hard to create the perfect plan from the beginning in a complicated place like Haiti,” it said. “But we also need to begin, so we create plans that are continually revised.”
Those plans were further undermined by the Red Cross’ reliance on expats. Noailles, the Haitian development professional who worked for the Red Cross on the Campeche project, said expat staffers struggled in meetings with local officials.
“Going to meetings with the community when you don’t speak the language is not productive,” she said. Sometimes, she recalled, expat staffers would skip such meetings altogether.
The Red Cross said it has “made it a priority to hire Haitians” despite lots of competition for local professionals, and that over 90 percent of its staff is Haitian. The charity said it used a local human resources firm to help.
Yet very few Haitians have made it into the group’s top echelons in Haiti, according to five current and former Red Cross staffers as well as staff lists obtained by ProPublica and NPR.
That not only affected the group’s ability to work in Haiti, it was also expensive.
According to an internal Red Cross budgeting document for the project in Campeche, the project manager – a position reserved for an expatriate – was entitled to allowances for housing, food and other expenses, home leave trips, R&R four times a year, and relocation expenses. In all, it added up to $140,000.
Compensation for a senior Haitian engineer — the top local position — was less than one-third of that, $42,000 a year.
Shelim Dorval, a Haitian administrator who worked for the Red Cross coordinating travel and housing for expatriate staffers, recalled thinking it was a waste to spend so much to bring in people with little knowledge of Haiti when locals were available.
“For each one of those expats, they were having high salaries, staying in a fancy house, and getting vacation trips back to their countries,” Dorval said. “A lot of money was spent on those people who were not Haitian, who had nothing to do with Haiti. The money was just going back to the United States.”
Soon after the earthquake, McGovern, the Red Cross CEO, said the group would make sure donors knew exactly what happened to their money.
The Red Cross would “lead the effort in transparency,” she pledged. “We are happy to share the way we are spending our dollars.”
That hasn’t happened. The Red Cross’ public reports offer only broad categories about where $488 million in donations has gone. The biggest category is shelter, at about $170 million. The others include health, emergency relief and disaster preparedness.
It has declined repeated requests to disclose the specific projects, to explain how much money went to each or to say what the results of each project were.
There is reason to doubt the Red Cross’ claims that it helped 4.5 million Haitians. An internal evaluation found that in some areas, the Red Cross reported helping more people than even lived in the communities. In other cases, the figures were low, and in others double-counting went uncorrected.
In describing its work, the Red Cross also conflates different types of aid, making it more difficult to assess the charity’s efforts in Haiti.
For example, while Red Cross says it provided more than 130,000 people with homes, that includes thousands of people who were not actually given homes, but rather were “trained in proper construction techniques.” (That was first reported by the Haiti blog of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.)
The figure includes people who got short-term rental assistance or were housed in several thousand “transitional shelters,” which are temporary structures that can get eaten up by termites or tip over in storms. It also includes modest improvements on 5,000 temporary shelters.
The Red Cross also won’t break down what portion of donations went to overhead.
McGovern told CBS News a few months after the quake, “Minus the 9 cents overhead, 91 cents on the dollar will be going to Haiti. And I give you my word and my commitment, I’m banking my integrity, my own personal sense of integrity on that statement.”
But the reality is that less money went to Haiti than 91 percent. That’s because in addition to the Red Cross’ 9 percent overhead, the other groups that got grants from the Red Cross also have their own overhead.
In one case, the Red Cross sent $6 million to the International Federation of the Red Cross for rental subsidies to help Haitians leave tent camps. The IFRC then took out 26 percent for overhead and what the IFRC described as program-related “administration, finance, human resources” and similar costs.
Beyond all that, the Red Cross also spends another piece of each dollar for what it describes as “program costs incurred by the American Red Cross in managing” the projects done by other groups.
The American Red Cross’ management and other costs consumed an additional 24 percent of the money on one project, according to the group’s statements and internal documents. The actual work, upgrading shelters, was done by the Swiss and Spanish Red Cross societies.
“It’s a cycle of overhead,” said Jonathan Katz, the Associated Press reporter in Haiti at the time of the earthquake who tracked post-disaster spending for his book, The Big Truck That Went By. “It was always going to be the American Red Cross taking a 9 percent cut, re-granting to another group, which would take out their cut.”
Given the results produced by the Red Cross’ projects in Haiti, Bellerive, the former prime minister, said he has a hard time fathoming what’s happened to donors’ money.
“Five hundred million dollars in Haiti is a lot of money,” he said. “I’m not a big mathematician, but I can make some additions. I know more or less the cost of things. Unless you don’t pay for the gasoline the same price I was paying, unless you pay people 20 times what I was paying them, unless the cost of the house you built was five times the cost I was paying, it doesn’t add up for me.”
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Quick links... Local News Florida Georgia National
Use of delivery apps a tough decision for restaurants weighing pros, cons
Some delivery app fees put restaurants in the red
By: Chloe Nordquist
Posted at 11:10 AM, Dec 10, 2020
For many restaurants, like Sam's No. 3 in downtown Denver, the experience is part of what they serve.
“We were built to serve people inside,” said Sam Armatas, owner of the restaurant.
But with ever-changing COVID-19-related dining restrictions and winter looming, delivery is becoming a more enticing option for customers. And for Sam’s No. 3, delivery apps make that easy.
“We’re able to continue to serve our product, try and stay relevant as far as people eating our food,” Armatas said.
The diner has three locations. At two of them. 90% of orders are now made through delivery apps. This can be convenient for customers, but costly for some of the restaurants. Exposure to consumers has it's price.
“There are negatives. I mean they take a commission but those commissions are now capped,” Armatas said. “You're pretty much at the mercy right now of the delivery services hoping to get your food out hot, tasty and attractive still.”
He chooses to stick with the apps to get his food out there to people, while for other restaurants, the cons of delivery apps outweigh the pros.
“At the moment, we will not use any third-party services at all for delivery,” said Giles Flanagin, Co-founder of Blue Pan Pizza.
Blue Pan relies on their team of 17 part-time in-house delivery drivers, instead.
“In-house delivery can work cost-wise, if the restaurateur is willing to put in the time and the effort to build that specific revenue stream,” he said. “If I use Doordash, Grubhub, or Postmates and I pay a 25% commission, not only am I losing all of my profit, but I’m in the red.”
Flanagin said Blue Pan has been using their own delivery since they opened in 2016. They tried a delivery app to serve areas farther away, but too many bad experiences led them to cancel.
“When a customer gets a pizza from a third-party delivery and it’s a poorly delivered experience, they don't look at Grubhub or those businesses. They call us and they're upset,” he said.
For him, the reputation of his business and their food is important.
“I think the best way I can summarize making a decision to use a third-party delivery service is buyer beware. This is our experience and I’m not saying it's everyone's experience,” Flanagin said.
It’s a balancing act for these apps like Uber Eats and Grubhub. They have a business to run, but they also have to consider the restaurant and the driver.
“Restaurants are just trying to find any possible ways to break even or minimize their costs,” said Alexandre Padilla, an economist and professor at the Metropolitan State University of Denver. “It’s a very complicated issue where the apps are providing a service where they are trying to attract drivers to meet the increase in demand due to the pandemic.”
As potential customers opted to stay home in March when lockdowns began, the demand for drivers went up.
Gig economy workers like Julian Rai almost completely switched from rideshare apps to delivery apps backs in March.
“Remember that we are basically waiters on wheels, we’re servers on wheels,” he said. “If it weren't for tips, we’re making less than minimum wage just from the delivery fee. Like a waiter, it’s very similar to what a server would make before tips. So at the end of the day, well over two thirds to three fifths of my income comes from tips.”
Rai explained they may spend 20 to 40 minutes on one single order so, reasonably, they ask for some compensation for that.
It’s a tough balancing act between restaurant, app, and driver.
“I don’t know that that balance has been struck yet,” Rai said.
For now, delivery is a means to an end for these restaurants that thrive on providing quality food and a great dine-in customer experience.
“Our business model isn't built to survive this way,” Armatas said. “We’re just trying to stay relevant, trying to survive. If we can get through winter great. That’s the hope, the dream, is that by March we’re still here.”
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SPIEGEL Interview with Angela Merkel – ‘In Everything I Do, I Aim to Strengthen Democracy’
Interview Conducted by Klaus Brinkbäumer and René Pfister
Angela Merkel is running for a fourth term in office. DER SPIEGEL speaks with the chancellor about the addiction of power, the influence on politics of Germany’s automobile industry and her attempts to win back voters on the right.
SPIEGEL: Ms. Chancellor, we would like to speak with you about power, but also about the nepotism engendered by power. Most politicians are aware that influence and power can sometimes be like a drug. Have you become addicted?
Merkel: I hope not. No.
SPIEGEL: Late former Chancellor Helmut Kohl proved unable to relinquish power and missed his opportunity for a dignified retirement. His fourth term in office wasn’t good for the country or the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Are you nevertheless stumbling into the same trap as Kohl?
Merkel: Until November of last year, I thought extensively about whether I should run again. In no way did I view the decision as self-evident, and concluded that, to the degree it is possible to determine such a thing, I have the necessary strength and that I am still curious – about people and about how life and the country are changing, and about the challenges that politics present. I think that is decisive, that you don’t think you already know everything.
SPIEGEL: Do you have strategies for preventing hubris and for keeping yourself from getting addicted to power?
Merkel: (laughs) I read critical articles in the press.
SPIEGEL: Oh really?
Merkel: As chancellor, I am – as it should be – constantly under the microscope from both the public and the media. It is also important to me that my staff tells me openly how they see things. And an additional good indicator is the mood in my own electoral district. When I am there, which happens frequently, no one is particularly excited or impressed anymore to meet the chancellor. People there tell me immediately what is going well and what isn’t.
SPIEGEL: On Sunday, the first and only televised debate between you and your center-left Social Democratic (SPD) challenger Martin Schulz will take place. The broadcasters had wanted to include a studio audience to liven things up a bit, and they wanted more latitude for the moderators. If you are so dedicated to freedom of the press, why did you reject all of those innovations?
Merkel: This TV debate is important to me, which is why I expressed my willingness to participate in such a debate in the first place. It presents an opportunity for millions of viewers to see for themselves the kinds of politics Martin Schulz and I are offering for the next four years. It is standard that the formal modalities of the show are discussed with the broadcasters. Since the debates in 2009 and 2013, there has been a well-tested structure for the show, one that will once again be applied this year. It allows Martin Schulz and myself to hold a discussion with each other and I am looking forward to it.
SPIEGEL: Nikolaus Brender, the former editor-in-chief of public broadcaster ZDF, says that the pressure applied on the broadcasters was excessive and that this year’s format is essentially the result of blackmail.
Merkel: I have great respect for press freedoms. At the same time, however, a politician also has the freedom to decide whether he or she will accept an invitation to appear on a show or not. We have reached agreement on a proven format and I hope that it will be interesting for the voters.
SPIEGEL: The campaign would have been much livelier if there were more than one televised debate. Why were you against that?
Merkel: Because the campaign in the media takes place in many different formats, such as in citizens forums or town-hall shows. And because we don’t have a presidential system in Germany, people vote for parties instead of specific candidates. From the perspective of smaller parties, even one single televised debate is a detested anomaly, because only the lead candidates from the conservatives and the SPD take part.
SPIEGEL: Your concern for the smaller parties is touching.
Merkel: The plurality of our campaign formats, including the televised debates, reflect that we in Germany don’t directly vote for a person like in the United States or in France, but for parties. We have a different system.
SPIEGEL: Is it okay for government employees, such as your spokesman Steffen Seibert and aide Eva Christiansen, to lead the negotiations with the broadcasters? Shouldn’t your political party be responsible for doing so?
Merkel: Because we wanted to cleanly separate work done on behalf of the government from that done for the CDU, we decided for the duration of the campaign to adopt the model of a clearly denoted and approved second job for three Chancellery employees. The goal is transparency. As such, I welcome the intention of Germany’s Supreme Audit Institution to take another look at everything. At the same time, though, it is essential for the government spokesman to take part in discussions pertaining to interview formats and television debates. It was no different when Gerhard Schröder was chancellor. His spokesman also took part in discussions ahead of the televised debates in 2002 and 2005.
SPIEGEL: Is it really a valid argument to say that your predecessor did the same thing?
Merkel: Yes, it is common practice.
SPIEGEL: Why do you rely on German military planes to travel to your campaign appearances?
Merkel: I also take advantage of the ability to fly with helicopters belonging to the federal police force, and both privileges are consistent with rules that have been in place for decades. A chancellor must be accessible at all times and be in a position to execute their duties as best they can. I must have the ability to immediately return to Berlin if necessary. There are also security considerations. Of course, the party must bear the costs of these flights in accordance with the rules, and the Budget Committee in German parliament is also aware of these things. Everything is transparent. In 2005, when I was the challenger to Chancellor Schröder, who was able to take advantage of military aircraft, I used a plane belonging to a private company and didn’t take advantage of the legally guaranteed ability as party chair to likewise use military aircraft.
SPIEGEL: Still, using such aircraft is an extreme advantage enjoyed by incumbent chancellors.
Merkel: I don’t agree. I am always on duty, even when I am at party events or on vacation. I don’t complain about it, on the contrary. You could also say that it is a competitive advantage for a challenger to be able to focus exclusively on campaign appearances. It all evens out.
SPIEGEL: You think so?
Merkel: Time management for candidates without government functions is different than it is for me. No matter where I am, I always have to have my duties as chancellor in mind.
SPIEGEL: The world is your stage while your challenger has to make due with visiting factories and market squares.
Merkel: I am quite enjoying this campaign, but I still have to take care of the duties associated with my office, which I also very much enjoy.
SPIEGEL: Your former government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm became chairman of the public broadcaster BR shortly after leaving the Chancellery. Your media advisor Eva Christiansen was a longtime member of a ZDF advisory board. Your spokesman Steffen Seibert came from ZDF and has a guaranteed right of return. Everyone talks about the critical distance that state broadcasters allegedly maintain from the state. Does it really exist?
Merkel: There are many examples of politicians moving into business and of people moving between journalism and politics. Former SPIEGEL journalists, for example, have advised German foreign ministers – something that should actually fill you with pleasure because it shows the degree of respect we have for quality journalism. Guaranteed rights of return also exist in public service, it’s nothing special.
SPIEGEL: If Mr. Wilhelm had worked for a Social Democratic chancellor, do you think he would have been hired by BR?
Merkel: That is something you have to ask BR.
SPIEGEL: Let’s continue on the subject of nepotism for just a moment. Matthias Wissmann, with whom you once served in Helmut Kohl’s cabinet, is president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry. Eckart von Klaeden, who used to serve in the Chancellery as a state minister, is now Daimler’s chief lobbyist. Your former head of strategic planning in CDU party headquarters, Joachim Koschnicke, became head lobbyist for Opel for a time and is now once again managing your campaign. Another top party official, Michael Jansen, is now a lobbyist for VW …
Merkel: … and don’t forget: Thomas Steg, former deputy government spokesman and a member of the SPD, is also working for VW.
SPIEGEL: Correct. Are you surprised that the German automobile industry has the feeling that it exerts significant control over German politics?
Merkel: If it really does have such a feeling, it is mistaken. We are back to where we just were a few minutes ago: Should someone who used to work in politics be allowed to move to private industry? I think they should. At the German post office and at Deutsche Telekom, such exchanges have a long tradition. If, for example, certain environmental regulations for the automotive industry are being introduced, expert exchange with the industry is helpful. It’s not the contacts that are decisive, rather it is decisive what politicians ultimately do with the information provided by the industry and with the requests they make before then taking independent action. From the introduction of the catalytic converter onwards, we have repeatedly made political decisions that have demanded quite a bit from the automobile industry.
SPIEGEL: At the so-called “diesel summit” in early August, it was decided that companies would only have to carry out software updates, the cheapest solution for the automobile industry. It won’t be sufficient to bring down nitrogen oxide emissions. Why does the German government always let the automobile industry off the hook so quickly?
Merkel: I don’t think it does. It is more about enforcing our own ideas regarding how the automobile industry must regain the trust that they have destroyed.
SPIEGEL: The automobile industry systematically cheated German politicians. They developed computer systems to produce fictitious emissions test results. When the deception was discovered, the diesel summit was convened, which only decided to impose software updates – even as everyone at the table knew that it wouldn’t be sufficient. How are Germans supposed to conclude that politicians are standing up to the automobile industry?
Merkel: Your version of events is extremely truncated. We made it clear from the beginning that the software update was just a first step, no more, but also no less. It is undeniable that this software optimization has had an effect, because it eliminated what you correctly refer to as cheating – namely that the emissions systems were controlled by the software in a way that meant they only worked properly in a very narrow range of temperatures and under extremely specific driving conditions. Following the update, the full capability of the exhaust system will always be deployed, and not just partially.
SPIEGEL: Do you trust them? Do you think they will suddenly be honest?
Merkel: I am just as disgusted with this deception as you are, with this cheating of customers. Starting on September 1, new regulations will finally be in effect calling for emissions tests to be performed under real driving conditions. We also need premiums for the trading-in of old diesel vehicles for new ones. At an additional summit this fall, we will examine whether the measures taken by the automobile industry have had the desired effect and whether additional measures will have to be taken. In addition, I have invited representatives from those municipalities most affected by nitrogen oxide emissions to come to the Chancellery on Sept. 4 to discuss how best to use the fund established jointly by the automobile industry and the German government to change traffic patterns in our cities and to improve infrastructure for electric vehicles. Everything we do must ultimately be aimed at regaining the trust of drivers, at ensuring that strict emissions regulations are being observed and at ensuring that our automobile industry offers models that are suitable to our climate standards and our future.
SPIEGEL: Are you in favor of retrofitting hardware in the automobiles affected?
Merkel: Hardware updates are expensive and extremely technically complex. As such, we must consider very carefully whether such a retrofitting requirement for engines would really bring the results that we need because doing so would eliminate significant scope for the automobile industry to invest in new and more modern technologies. I think we should consider all other options first.
SPIEGEL: Once again, you are of the same opinion as the automobile industry.
Merkel: That’s not the point. I look at what is best for the future of the vitally important German automobile industry, because it provides 800,000 people in Germany with good jobs. I look at what is good for the people who currently own a diesel vehicle and are concerned about their resale values. And I look at what is good for climate protection and for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions. Sometimes I reach conclusions that the automobile industry likes, and sometimes I don’t. The government must carefully weigh all sides, because I don’t want the automobile industry to regress from where it is today. That wouldn’t be good for our country. I am interested in ensuring that a strong branch of our economy remains strong and innovative.
SPIEGEL: In the U.S., customers that were cheated have received up to $16,000 in damages. Why hasn’t the German government required companies in the country to make similar payments?
Merkel: Our warranty and liability laws are fundamentally different than they are in the United States. The goal of the measures we have taken is to make sure carmakers make the necessary repairs to the vehicles. Emissions systems have to work as they were envisioned when the car models were approved. That is why we required companies to carry out recalls. That must take place without additional costs to the customers.
SPIEGEL: You have said that the end of the combustible engine is in sight, but you declined to offer any kind of a timeline. Isn’t that enough to completely confuse drivers?
Merkel: No. At the Paris climate conference, we resolved that the 21st century would be the century of decarbonization. We adopted national goals to be reached by 2050: We want to cut CO2 emissions by 80 to 95 percent. This century, we will reach a point when the vast majority of cars will emit no CO2 at all, but we have to be open about the technology that gets us there: electromobility, synthetic fuels or hydrogen fuel cells could ultimately end up being decisive. The transformation is already underway when it comes to hybrid automobiles and purely electric vehicles. We must continue energetically down that path. We will continue to need combustible engines as a bridge technology for decades to come. The focus shouldn’t be on bans, but on the next stages of innovative development.
SPIEGEL: If we were to translate that for regular people, what you mean is: If you form a coalition with the Green party after the Sept. 24 parliamentary elections, the combustible engine will quickly be passé, but if you form a government with the business-friendly Free Democrats, it will take a bit longer.
Merkel: I am not talking about coalitions. I am talking about the CDU campaign platform.
SPIEGEL: Ms. Merkel, in the U.S., the president shows disdain for the judiciary and for the media – and, more broadly, for democratic values. Is democracy losing momentum around the world?
Merkel: I hope not. For my part, in everything I do, I aim to strengthen democracy in Germany and beyond. The United States is also a strong democracy. As we are seeing in Poland, for example, and also in Hungary, it is important that we have counterweights in democratic systems, and I believe they are still strong in America.
SPIEGEL: When Barack Obama was here in November, he referred to you as a guarantor of democracy and also as a defender of Western values. But since you have been chancellor, voter turnout has been historically low. How can you explain that?
Merkel: Happily, recent state elections have seen higher turnout than in previous elections. When people have the impression that an important decision must be made, they go out and vote. And voter turnout in general elections tends to be much higher than in state elections.
SPIEGEL: Ever since you have been chancellor, turnout has stalled. Some say that you have lulled democratic debate to sleep. Do such accusations bother you?
Merkel: To be more precise, turnout in 1998 was 82.2 percent, in 2002 it was 79.1 percent, in 2005 it was 77.7 percent, in 2009 it was 70.8 percent and then it climbed again in 2013 to 71.5 percent. I am predicting that turnout will rise once again this year. For me, a campaign is the opportunity to present my party’s ideas about our country’s future. In interviews and at campaign appearances, I speak exhaustively about these ideas, about the challenges facing us and about the political solutions we propose. Campaigning is more than just attacking and insulting one’s opponent. People see how quickly the world is changing and that we are facing huge problems and uncertainties. And now they are deciding which parties and which politicians they would like to work with in shaping the future.
SPIEGEL: Helmut Kohl and Franz Josef Strauß, the late governor of Bavaria, didn’t agree on much, but they were united in the belief that German conservatives could not allow a party that was to the right of them on the political spectrum to win seats in German parliament. Now, it looks as though the right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is going to do exactly that. Were you unable or unwilling to prevent that from happening?
Merkel: I am fighting to ensure that the CDU is as strong as possible. We had huge problems to confront: first coming to terms with the euro crisis and then, in 2015, the admission of the many refugees who came to us. We would now like to use good arguments to win back voters who may have turned away from us during those years. That is what I am trying to do at the many appearances I am making these days. But in the euro crisis and in refugee policy, to name two examples, I took necessary decisions in accordance with our country’s interests – and in accordance with the values that we have invoked in so many speeches and which now had to be lived out concretely.
SPIEGEL: The CDU always said that immigration has to be carefully controlled. Is the rise of the AfD not an inevitable consequence of your policies?
Merkel: In the summer of 2015, we were faced with an extremely difficult humanitarian situation. I am convinced that our reaction was reasonable and correct. But because the CDU stands for orderly and controlled immigration, we have begun addressing the causes of flight and combatting migrant smuggling – and we have taken corresponding measures in the form of the EU-Turkey deal.
SPIEGEL: Do you believe there was ever a moment when you left too much room for the AfD on the right wing of the political spectrum?
Merkel: No. If you take a look at our domestic security policies, for example, you will see that we have done everything necessary within the framework of our values.
SPIEGEL: Do you see it as a compliment when people say that you are the best Social Democratic chancellor that Germany has ever had?
Merkel: If I listen to the SPD’s chancellor candidate, it doesn’t seem as though I have earned that title. But seriously: Voters have no use for such categorizations. They rightly expect us to do our work as best as we possibly can. And that is what I am doing.
SPIEGEL: Ms. Chancellor, we thank you for this interview.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/angela-merkel-in-everything-i-do-i-aim-to-strengthen-democracy-a-1165680.html
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Bruce Grobbelaar: ‘How many people did I kill? I couldn’t tell you’
Donald McRae –The Guardian
The former Liverpool goalkeeper on his traumatic experiences in Zimbabwe’s war of independence, Heysel and Hillsborough, and the match-fixing trials which tainted his reputation
Before we reach the match-fixing trials which ruined his reputation, or remember the 13 major trophies he won as Liverpool’s goalkeeper in 14 staggering years, we start with war in Africa. Bruce Grobbelaar was a teenager when he was conscripted into the Rhodesian army in 1975 and plunged into Zimbabwe’s war of independence. His booming laughter fades and, as haunting memories cloud Grobbelaar’s face, it becomes easier to understand the eccentricities and mistakes which defined him.
He winces as he remembers how one of his fellow white soldiers mutilated the bodies of black freedom fighters. “This guy would cut an ear off every man he killed. He kept the ears in a jar. And he had quite a few jars. His family had been brutalised so he wanted revenge.”
The 60-year-old pauses before describing the moment he first killed a man. “My first time was at dusk. As the sun sinks you’re seeing shadows in the bush. You cannot recognise much until you see the whites of their eyes. It’s you or them. You shoot, you drop and there’s overwhelming gunfire. You hear voices on your side: ‘Hey, corporal, I’m hit.’ You whistle to shut them up otherwise we’re all getting killed. When the firefight is finished you see bodies everywhere. The first time everything in your stomach comes up through your mouth.”
How many people did he kill? “I couldn’t tell you.”
It sounds like he killed many men? “Yes. This is why I’ve always lived my life for today. I can only say sorry for the past. I can’t change it.”
The psychological trauma was acute and Grobbelaar describes how two soldiers he knew took their own lives when, after completing their conscription, they were all told to do another six-month tour. “They killed themselves simultaneously in adjoining toilets in the barracks. They couldn’t face it.”
Grobbelaar believes that football “saved” him. “It kept me away from the dark thoughts of war.”
The Rhodesian army were fighting to preserve minority rule but Grobbelaar was different to most white soldiers. Football had made him a cult hero in the black townships. “The fans called me Jungleman. They said this young guy’s not white. He’s black in a white man’s skin.”
After he played for clubs in Durban and then Vancouver he fulfilled his dream of finding his way into English football. He was transferred to Crewe and yet, hearing that Bob Paisley was coming to watch him before possibly signing him for Liverpool, he did not temper his warm-up routine. Grobbelaar ran out with an umbrella, walked on his hands and jumped on the crossbar.
Why didn’t he compromise and at least leave the umbrella? “It was raining. I asked the tea lady, Mavis, if I could borrow her umbrella.”
Grobbelaar was devastated when Crewe’s manager, Tony Waddington, told him Paisley had left the ground in disbelief before the game even started. Yet Liverpool’s scouts were so impressed by the madcap keeper they badgered Paisley into buying Grobbelaar. Despite winning six league championship medals, three FA Cups and the European Cup, Grobbelaar was derided often as a clown. Yet he was a good goalkeeper at his most concentrated and Liverpool would have discarded him if they did not believe in his talent.
Liverpool’s “Scottish mafia”, Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness and Alan Hansen, were mercilessly witty and unforgiving. Hansen would not talk to Grobbelaar for a week after he made an error while the “ruthless” Paisley delayed telling him that his dad had died five days previously.
“I still scratch my head as to why he kept it from me until after the game [the Intercontinental Cup final against Brazil’s Flamengo in Toyko]. Bob said: ‘You can go to your father’s funeral, but be back by Friday.’ The funeral was on the Thursday. I flew business class from Tokyo to Paris to Johannesburg and back to Heathrow. When I got my next pay cheque there was nothing left. I paid for my own trip to the funeral. That’s how ruthless they were. Not much compassion.”
Grobbelaar, however, captures Liverpool’s great camaraderie. He describes sharing a room with Steve Nicol who would spend the night before every game drinking beer and eating crisps in bed. “Nicol was a phenomenal player. We all played hard, lived hard. Terry McDermott would have umpteen pints of lager. But next day at training he’d be at the front.”
When Liverpool were at their most majestic they were drinking quantities which would shock any Premier League team today. If they won away, as they usually did, Grobbelaar would restrict himself to three beers. Yet if they lost he would sink a dozen beers on the long journey home “to quench the anguish, to kill the sorrow”.
Before the European Cup final against Roma in 1984 they went on a break to Tel Aviv and a drunken brawl among the Liverpool players was seen as evidence of a broken team by the Italian press. Yet in the tunnel, waiting to play the Italians in their own intimidating stadium in Rome, Souness roused his teammates into singing Chris Rea’s I Don’t Know What It Is, But I Love It. The Roma players were stunned when the singing became even more raucous as they emerged.
In the penalty shootout Grobbelaar produced his famous spaghetti-legs dance on the goal‑line. Francesco Graziani missed his penalty and Grobbelaar raced across the pitch in celebration. Liverpool only had to score their final penalty to win the European Cup. Amid the delirium Joe Fagan instructed Alan Kennedy to take the kick assigned to Grobbelaar. “I thank my lucky stars I wasn’t the fifth penalty-taker as planned. If I had missed it, I would have been the fall guy.”
In the bush you knew what could happen. At Heysel it was innocent people
His happiness and success at Liverpool was blighted by the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters. Heysel, when 39 Juventus fans died before the 1985 European Cup final, affected him even more than war. “It was worse. In the bush you knew what could happen. At Heysel it was innocent people. To hear the crumbling wall and the falling bodies was terrible.”
Grobbelaar was scarred deeply by Hillsborough in 1989. His book offers a distressing account of everything he saw – as the player closest to the 96 Liverpool fans crushed and suffocated to death. “I was near gate number 13 and there was this soft sound – like air coming out. I saw the faces squashed against the fence. I went to get the ball and shouted to the policewoman: ‘Open the effing gate.’ She said: ‘I haven’t got the key.’ When the ball came back a second time, I shouted again. I saw they had a key and people spilled on to the ground. I kicked the ball out and ran to the referee. That’s when the barrier went over and the bodies came down. I could hear the air coming out of them. One of the faces squashed against the fence belonged to a girl called Jackie. I had given her that ticket but luckily she survived. I saw her last night at the book signing.”
Perhaps he saw so much carnage and death that Grobbelaar lost his bearings. His book offers a detailed rebuttal of the Sun’s match-fixing allegations against him in 1994. After two protracted trials which failed to deliver a verdict, Grobbelaar, John Fashanu and Hans Segers were cleared in 1997. Grobbelaar then sued the Sun successfully for libel – only for his winning settlement to be reduced from £85,000 to £1 on appeal. He also had to pay the newspaper’s £500,000 legal costs which left him bankrupt.
I am not convinced entirely by Grobbelaar’s account. A conman called Chris Vincent had already cost him millions in a skewed business deal. Yet, because they shared a past in the Rhodesian Army, he met Vincent again. Once Vincent started proposing match-fixing, as a ruse to entrap Grobbelaar, why did he not walk away? “He came to me with a proposal to get my money back. After a while he starts talking about two guys in Hong Kong who will give [me] money to throw a game. I thought: ‘Let’s see where he’s going with this.’ I tried to be Inspector Clouseau. You know how Clouseau gets it wrong? So did I.”
Was he tempted by Vincent’s match-fixing talk? “Absolutely. I was tempted to hear what he was saying, tempted to get him to tell me who the people were. Once I had the names I was going to the authorities. But he got there first.”
We’re on safer ground considering Liverpool’s hopeful prospects this season. “Apart from when I’m away, I see every home game,” Grobbelaar says. “If the players are the same as we were then the aim, first and foremost, is the league. Everything else is a bonus.”
Grobbelaar was Liverpool’s goalkeeper when they last won the league in 1990. The African Jungleman celebrated by walking the lap of honour on his hands. Could he have believed then that, 28 years later, Liverpool would be waiting for their next title? “No. I blame the witch-doctor who came to Anfield because he’s the one who put stuff on my goal and said: ‘If you don’t have Jungleman, you’re not going to win again.’ They haven’t.”
He laughs when I ask how the witch-doctor’s spell can be broken. “The only way is to urinate on all four posts. I’ve done two but I got caught going down Anfield Road and removed. That’s when Liverpool came second [in 2014]. If we don’t win the title this season I’m going down Anfield Road and doing those two other posts.”
Grobbelaar only stops chuckling when he reveals that the president of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, called him recently. “He said: ‘Hello, Jungleman, how are you?’ I’m going back in November. As I told him, I would love to be the ambassador to sport, recreation and reconciliation. I still have a lot of hope for Zimbabwe and I would like to make a difference.”
Life in a Jungle, by Bruce Grobbelaar, is available from www.guardianbookshop.com.
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Why fighting corruption in Italy matters for economic growth
Alessio Terzi Affiliate Fellow, Hertie School of Governance
Forum in focus
World is 100 years away from gender parity but these countries are speeding things up
Read more about this project
In line with its National Reform Programme for the period 2015-16, Matteo Renzi’s government obtained parliament’s approval on a new anti-corruption law on May 21. We document the sheer size of corruption in Italy and argue that tackling it is not only a matter of fairness, but also crucial to boost the country’s potential output after three years of recession and almost two decades of stagnation. Experience from past success cases suggests that only forceful and comprehensive actions will succeed in bringing corruption under control.
The problem of corruption[1] in Italy is real and large. Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, the most widely used indicator of corruption, shows how Italy occupies the last place in Europe and 69th in the world, on par with Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece. This picture is confirmed by other organisations. The World Bank’s indicator for Control of Corruption ranks Italy 95th out of 215 countries, again neck and neck with Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria. The WEF ranks Italy 102nd out of 144 countries on indicators related to ethics and corruption.
The economic consequences of corruption can be dissected in two classes: static and dynamic. Statically, corruption leads to the creation of deadweight losses, as it drives prices above their marginal cost of production. This implies a loss for both the public (e.g. in the form of investment projects being more expensive) and the private sector (e.g. in a bureaucratic procedure costing more to execute). TheItalian Court of Auditors estimates these direct costs of corruption to be in the order of magnitude of €60bn per year, equivalent to roughly 4% of the country’s GDP.
However, dynamically, corruption also distorts economic incentives and, in turn, weighs on potential output. The literature has identified several channels through which corruption affects a country’s medium- and long-term growth potential. The most relevant ones for an advanced economy like Italy are:
1. Domestic investment: Corruption not only reduces investment profitability, but also generates uncertainty in the returns to investment. This in turn will affect a country’s total factor productivity and potential output. Empirically, Mauro (1996), Dreher and Herzfeld (2005), Pellegrini and Gerlach (2004), only to mention a few, test this channel and all find a statistically significant negative effect of corruption (however measured) on investment.
2. Foreign Direct Investment: for the same reasons mentioned in point 1, corruption also directly reduces inward FDI, as argued by OECD (2013a). This is particularly problematic as the latter is associated with the international transfer of technology and management know-how, and hence the rate of technical progress – all crucial contributors to long-term growth.
3. Competition: Corruption can weaken antitrust enforcement, create barriers to new entry, or generate other barriers that preserve the privileges of established firms, as documented by OECD (2010). Weaker competition will affect productivity growth and innovation, as spelled out in Mariniello et al (2015).
4. Entrepreneurship: As rewards from entrepreneurial activity shrink, potential entrepreneurial talents might be diverted to alternative carriers in rent-seeking activities, as argued by Murphy et al (1999). The result will be less entrepreneurs, less start-ups, less innovation, and ultimately, lower growth. The validity of this channel in developed economies was recently tested and confirmed by Avnimelech et al (2011) by using a unique LinkedIn-based dataset.
5. Quality of government expenditure: Corruption will impact the level and composition of government expenditure. Firstly, it will increase the cost of goods and services purchased by the public sector, reducing the funds available for productive government use. Secondly, it will affect the composition of expenditure, as resources will be diverted to headings where corruption can be more easily concealed (see IMF, 1998).
Figure 1. Transmission channels of corruption on potential output
Source: Bruegel
And indeed the symptoms summarised in Figure 1 are all there. Although these might be individually due also to other factors, their joint reading seems to suggest that corruption might be weighing on long-term growth precisely through the channels identified by the literature.
Figure 2. Share of affirmative answers in a 2014 Eurobarometer Survey
Source: Special Eurobarometer 397
In terms of competition, 90% of Eurobarometer survey respondents agreed that corruption is part of the business culture in Italy: the highest value in the EU28 (see Figure 2 above[2]). Similarly, and perhaps more worryingly, 75% believe the only way to succeed in business is to have political connection: the second highest value in the EU28, after Cyprus. This is perhaps unsurprisingly paired with one of the lowest (and declining, even pre-crisis) shares of start-ups among OECD EU economies, as displayed in Figure 3 below.
Figure 3. Fraction of start-ups (less than 3 year old) among all firms
Source: C. Criscuolo, P. N. Gal and C. Menon (2014), “The Dynamics of Employment Growth: New Evidence from 18 Countries”, OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Papers no. 14
Gross fixed capital formation is close to a 20-year low[3]. The stock of FDI inflows was around 20% of GDP in 2013, the smallest figure in the OECD EU after Greece (11%)[4].
Regarding the quality and composition of Italy’s government expenditure, I will only report one striking number: for large public works alone, the Italian Court of Auditors estimates corruption (including indirect losses) to amount to as much as 40% of total public procurement value.
It must be acknowledged that a niche (largely model-based) literature suggests that corruption might be beneficial to growth in so far as it allows to bypass overburdening government regulation (e.g. Leff, 1964). However, this is not of great relevance to the Italian case as these studies were focused on developing and least developed countries, where institutional quality is extremely poor. Furthermore, the empirical literature is quite unanimous in acknowledging a strong and negative relationship between long-term growth and corruption (for a review of the empirical literature, see Campos and Dimova, 2010).
Over the past few years, a wave of corruption scandals has pushed successive Italian governments to take policy action. In November 2012, Mario Monti passed a large anticorruption law, aiming at preventing and prosecuting corruption in the public administration. Renzi’s government has largely been pushing for a toughening of those provisions. However, past success cases suggest that more forceful action will be needed if corruption is to be significantly curtailed.
Seeking to reduce corruption mainly by punishing corruptors and corrupted, without changing the institutional arrangements that made it possible for corruption to emerge, is unlikely to prove successful (OECD, 2013b). Past cases like Singapore[5] and Hong Kong show how the key words of an effective and radical anticorruption campaign should be: i) simplification, ii) transparency, and iii) clear accountability[6].
Extrapolating these principles to an Italian context could mean, for example, adopting a wide-ranging Freedom of Information Act, regulating lobbyism[7], restructuring public examinations with the aim of improving bureaucratic quality, furthering the use of job rotations within the public sector, abridging government formalities and paperwork[8], privatising public utility companies or, at least, reducing their monopoly power. To codify and ingrain these key principles in all levels of government activity, “persistent political will and vigilance, including at the highest level of government” will be needed (OECD, 2013a).
Tackling corruption in Italy is not only a matter of fairness, at a time when citizens are being asked to tighten their belt, but is likely to have major repercussions on the country’s private and public investment, FDI, competition, innovation, and ultimately, long-term growth. All of which, Italy is in dire need of.
[1] Throughout this contribution, corruption is defined in the broadest of senses as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain”, in line with Transparency International.
[2] Spain is also depicted, as a country that is currently undergoing a wave of corruption scandals.
[3] See “Boost for Italian economy as investment climate starts to warm” – Financial Times, 8 April 2015.
[4] See “Recent trends in FDI activity in Europe” – Deutsche Bank, 21 August 2014.
[5] “The origins of the country’s persistently superior performance in corruption control can be traced to the radical reforms designed and implemented by the People’s Action Party (PAP) during the period 1959/60, which transformed the country from one plagued by corruption to one of the ‘cleanest’ in the world” (OECD, 2013a).
[6] Bianco (2012) shows how factors particularly associated with corruption are, inter alia, excessive bureaucratic burdens and low quality of the bureaucracy.
[7] Without a specific lobbying regulation, nor an established registrar of lobbyists, Italy ranks as one of the worst countries in Europe in terms of transparency of lobbying, and is hence at high risk of suffering from an undue influence of the private sector on public decision-making (see Transparency International, 2015).
[8] For example, the World Bank’s 2015 Doing Business survey shows how dealing with construction permits (for a warehouse) takes on average 233 days (against 150 days in the OECD), putting Italy on the 116th place in the world.
This article was originally published by Bruegel, the Brussels-based think tank. Read the article on their website here.
Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum.
To keep up with the Agenda subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Author: Alessio Terzi is an affiliate fellow at Bruegel.
Image: Italian Carabinieri stand guard at the Justice Palace in Milan April 11, 2011. A defiant Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi arrived in court on Monday to face the latest in a series of trials over the coming weeks on charges ranging from tax fraud to paying for sex with a minor. “I will not be convicted,” Berlusconi told reporters confidently as he entered the courthouse, with a crowd of supporters cheering him on. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo (ITALY – Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW)
Alessio Terzi, Affiliate Fellow, Hertie School of Governance
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Syria / Turkey
Donations for Refugees
Syria/Turkey
Ensuring survival in Syria
Humanitarian Assistance read more
After years of civil war, Syria is now experiencing one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises since World War II. Almost half of the entire Syrian population was displaced by the fighting. Millions of people are refugees in their own country and in the neighbouring states of Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq. And after years of violence, an end is still not in sight.
Catastrophic humanitarian situation due to years of conflict
Welthungerhilfe has been providing emergency aid to civil war victims in Syria since 2013. With the large number of refugees to Turkey and northern Iraq and with additional displacements within Iraq, Welthungerhilfe also became involved in these countries.
Number of people reached in Syria in 2017 © Welthungerhilfe
Coordinated by the country office in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, civil war victims and displaced persons in the region have been receiving support since the summer of 2014. Since November 2016, Welthungerhilfe has been operating another country office in the city of Dohuk in northern Iraq.
Bread for Syrian families Around 7 million people in Syria are currently affected by food insecurity. Welthungerhilfe supports families by distributing bread and food vouchers,...
Welthungerhilfe's efforts in Syria are focusing on the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo. Most people have hardly any opportunities to earn money: Factories are shuttered, trade with neighbouring countries has dried up and the agricultural industry has broken down. Together with its partners Hand in Hand for Syria, IHSAN and People in Need (PIN), Welthungerhilfe is supporting the most vulnerable families in Syria with urgent humanitarian assistance and reconstruction of infrastructure for food security.
How Welthungerhilfe is helping
Bread distribution and support of bakeries in the administrative regions of Aleppo and Idlib (through our partners PIN and IHSAN)
Food vouchers in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib (through PIN and IHSAN)
Installation and maintenance of latrines in three IDP camps in Idlib
Distribution of vouchers for seeds, fertiliser and tools to internally displaced persons in Aleppo and Idlib to help boost local food production. In addition, a small number of people are being trained in vegetable cultivation so that they can transmit their knowledge to others (in collaboration with PIN and IHSAN).
Institutional donors: Federal Foreign Office (AA)
Your donation works
Your donation will be used according to the principle of "help to self help": Help people free themselves from hunger and poverty.
Syrian refugees in Turkey
Samar Abdulateef - a Syrian refugee in Kilis, Turkey Kilis is a city in Turkey. At the end of 2015, it has a population of 100,000 - plus 112,000 Syrian refugees. Samar Abdulateef is one of them.Learn...
More than 3.5 million Syrian refugees had found refuge in Turkey (UN-OCHA: March 2018). The refugee camps don't have sufficient capacity for them, and many people don't want to live in camps. The majority therefore lives elsewhere, mostly in the country's southeast or in metropolises such as Istanbul, Ankara or Izmir. Welthungerhilfe supports the refugees and provides essentials for their survival:
How Welthungerhilfe is helping in Turkey
Providing individual support and facilitating access to existing social and protection services
Improving the social cohesion between Syrians and Turkish host communities by supporting community centres in Istanbul, Mardin and Kızıltepe. The centres are operated by Welthungerhilfe as well as by local Turkish partners.
Food security through cash assistance, including cash cards and cash for work initiatives
Supporting vulnerable families in income-generating vegetable production through agricultural training
Providing additional assistance during winter which enables people to buy warm cloths, blankets, heaters, fuel or other heating material
Supporting Arts Anywhere, a local organisation that organises art projects, workshops and events for children and adults
Institutional donor: Federal Foreign Office (AA), Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), UNICEF, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), ECHO
Syrian farmers grow peppers and tomatoes on Turkish soil to sell at the local market. © Martin Stollberg/Welthungerhilfe
Alliance2015 for Optimal Help
The people affected by the conflicts in Syria and Iraq are in desperate need of support. Welthungerhilfe is working hand in hand with other organisations to meet the needs of the suffering population as well as possible. Alliance2015 is a strategic alliance of seven European development organisations. Since 2012, Welthungerhilfe has been on location, supporting people in the region along with alliance partners ACTED, Cesvi, Concern Worldwide, Hivos and People in Need.
The current annual report offers a summary of Alliance2015’s activities in Syria and the surrounding countries affected by the conflict.
18.06.2020 | Press Release Growing Hunger Crisis in Syria
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Rain, cold, hunger, rising prices – the situation for refugees from the civil war in north-west Syria is becoming increasingly dire.
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Leon Ware
> Artists > W > Leon Ware
Leon Ware (born February 16, 1940) is an American music artist, songwriter and composer.
He was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Besides a solo career as a performer, Ware is best known for producing hits for other artists including Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Maxwell, Minnie Riperton and Marvin Gaye, co-producing the latter music artist’s album, I Want You.
Leon Ware started his career as a songwriter in 1967. He co-wrote along with Ivy Hunter and Steve Bowden for The Isley Brothers recording of “Got to Have You Back”. In 1971, Leon would collaborate with Ike & Tina Turner, co-writing six songs on their United Artist album called Nuff Said. The album reached the top 40 of the R&B charts and also appeared in the pop charts. Later that year, Ware began collaborating with Arthur “T-Boy” Ross, younger brother of Diana Ross. One of the songs they wrote was ‘I Wanna Be Where You Are’ recorded by Michael Jackson for his album, Got To Be There.[1] The single reached the runner-up position of the R&B charts and peaked at 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. Ware’s songwriting success led to a contract as an artist to United Artists, releasing his self-titled debut album.
Ware wrote for numerous artists during this period including Donny Hathaway and The Miracles. In 1974, Quincy Jones booked Ware as songwriter and performer for two songs off Jones’ Body Heat album. The song, “If I Ever Lose This Heaven”, hit the R&B charts in September of the year and was covered by the Average White Band. Ware worked with Riperton on Jones’ album and collaborated again on Riperton’s album, Adventures in Paradise album, composing Riperton’s R&B hit, “Inside My Love”. Ware and T-Boy Ross worked on demos for Ware’s second album, this one to be issued on Motown Records and also for T-Boy Ross to win a deal.[1] One of the demo recordings, “I Want You”, was heard by Berry Gordy, who decided the song would be a good fit for Marvin Gaye. Gaye heard the other demos and decided to record much of it on what would be his next album, I Want You.[1] Buoyed by the number-one title track, the album peaked at number-one on the R&B charts and reached the top ten of the Billboard 200 selling over a million copies.
Having given away the material for his album, Ware began again on a solo effort for Motown. The result would be Ware’s second album, Musical Massage. Released in September 1976, the album failed to generate similar success and was not properly promoted.[1] Ware continued his songwriting and producing career while also releasing solo albums between 1979 and 2008. During that period, Ware wrote for Teena Marie, Jeffrey Osborne, Loose Ends, James Ingram, Melissa Manchester, Krystol, Bobby Womack and Lulu, co-writing the latter’s European hit, “Independence” in 1993. Ware helped to produce singer Maxwell’s debut album, Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite, released in 1996, and considered one of the landmark albums of the neo-soul genre. At the same time of that success, Ware’s earlier work became a heavy source of samples in hip-hop music.
As of 2009, Ware was recovering from treatment for prostate cancer, and credited his friend and fellow songwriter Adrienne Anderson with directing him to appropriate medical care.
Elektra Records 1982
Tracks: Slippin´Away, Lost In Love With You, Shelter, Why I Came To California, Depper Than Love, Can I Touch You There, Words Of Love, Miracles, Somewhere & Where Are They Now.
Musicians on the Leon Ware album: Leon Ware, Jeff Porcaro, James Gadson, Nathan East, Chuck Rainey, Abraham Laboriel, Dean Parks, David T. Walker, Steve Lukather, David Paich, David Foster, Geoff Leib, Sonny Burke, Marty Paich, Bill Champlin, Lenny Castro, Airto Moreira, Laudir de Oliveira, Kurt McGettrick, Gato Barbieri, Tamara Champlin, Rita Coolidge, Bonnie Bramlett, Chris Bennett, Joann Harris, Janis Siegel & Flora Purim.
Rockin´You Eternally
Tracks; A Little Boogie (Never Hurt No One), Baby Don´t Stop Me, Sure Do Want You Now, Our Time, Rockin´You Eternally, Got To Be Loved, Don´t Stay Away & In Your Garden.
Musicians on the Rockin´You Eternally: Leon Ware, James Williams, Chet Willis, William Beck, Marcos Valle, Michael Boddicker, Ludir de Oliveira & Shadow.
Inside Is Love
Fabulous Records 1979
Tracks: What´s Your Name, Inside Your Love, Love Is A Simple Thing, Love Is A Simple Thing, Small Café, Club Sashay, Try It Out, Love Will Run Away, On The Island & Hungry.
Musicians on the Inside Is Love Album: Leon Ware, James Gadson, Graham Jarvis, Ed Greene, Scott Lipsker, Eddie Watkins, David T. Walker, Wah Wah Watson, Bruce Fisher, Chris Rae, Sonny Burke, Michael King, Peter Robinson, Paulinho Da Costa, Holden Raphael, Oren Waters, Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Deborah Thomas & Melissa Manchester.
Musical Massage
Motown Records 1976
Tracks: Learning How To Love You, Instant Love, Body Heat, Share Your Love, Holiday, Phantom Lover, Journey Into You, Musical Massage, French Waltz, Turn Out The Light, I Wanna Be Where You Are (Bonus Track CD), Comfort (Bonus Track CD), Long Time No See (Bonus Track CD), Don´t You Wanna Come (Bonus Track CD) & You Are The Way You Are (Bonus Track CD).
Musicians on the Musical Massage album: Leon Ware, James Gadson, Chuck Rainey, David T. Walker, Ray Parker Jr., Sonny Burke, John Barnes, Jerry Peters, Bobbye Hall, Gary Coleman, Eddie Brown, Jessie Smith, Merry Clayton, Felicia Griner, Minnie Riperton, Marvin Gaye & Bobby Womack.
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FIRST DAY TOUGH FOR ANGLERS STRUGGLE DURING SOUTHERN OPEN DEBUT
CITGO Bassmaster Southern Open
DECATUR, Ala - Wheeler Lake proved to be a challenge for the anglers at the first day of the Bassmaster Southern Open presented by Busch Beer in Decatur. Out of 417 anglers, both pro and amateur, only 19 brought in double-digit weights today. Illinois' Travis Loyd from Illinois ended the day atop the leaders with a total weight of 13-2. Georgia's Jim Murray Jr. was second with 12-12 and Alabama's own Tim Horton brought in 12-11 for third.
"This is my first BASS tournament," Loyd said, "I guess I'm what you would call a rookie. I've fished in other tournaments before, but this is my first BASS tournament."
Loyd, who has been fishing practicing here for the last two weeks, practicing said he stayed mainly to the middle of the lake on south and got lucky today from the high water.
"There was a spot where the water got high and I had been catching a lot of fish in that spot and the water kind of messed that spot up," he said. "So I went to another spot and was trying to get in there and practice. I felt like there were some fish in there and I got in there because of the high water and they were there. I caught them. Now, ironically enough they had been pulling all day and it took everything in me to get out of that spot.
"I don't think I'll get back in there tomorrow unless Guntersville dumps and Wheeler stops, but nonetheless, there they're still there. I lost a 5 and a 4(-pounder) today in there."
Jim Murray Jr. was the leader through most of today's weigh-in.
"My day started out slow," he said. "I started fishing grass beds on flats early hoping to get some easy ones. I didn't do much there, I was only out there for about an hour and a half or so and I knew it wasn't going to happen. I ended up finding a spot where two ditches came together at a flat and fished there. That's where I caught the majority of the fish. I caught seven keepers and a few shorts."
Tim Horton worked a Booyah buzz bait and a Yum six inch green pumpkin lizard in areas that had been good for him in the past. "The areas I was fishing today had some bigger fish in there, I don't know what happened to them, I didn't catch any of them today, I didn't catch anything really good the first hour and then it kind of got better as the day went on.
Todd Tucker and Danny White, both hailing from Georgia, rounded out the top five for the day with 12-1 and 12-0 respectively.
Homer Guffey of South Carolina topped the leader board on the non-boater side after being paired with third-place angler Tim Horton.
"I was just happy to catch a few fish today," Guffey said, "but (Tim Horton) and I had a really good day today. He caught a bunch of fish and I caught ten10. Seven of them measured, but I just did what he told me to do. I couldn't have had a better pro."
Daily weigh-ins will begin at 2:45 p.m. at Riverwalk Marina and are free to the public.
BASS is the world's largest fishing organization, sanctioning more than 20,000 tournaments worldwide through its Federation. The CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail is the oldest and most prestigious pro bass-fishing tournament circuit and continues to set the standard for credibility, professionalism and sportsmanship as it has since 1968.
Sponsors of the CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail presented by Busch Beer include CITGO Petroleum Corp., Busch Beer, Chevrolet Trucks, Yamaha Outboards, Mercury Marine, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Lowrance Electronics, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, Kumho Tires, Progressive Insurance, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Diamond Cut Jeans, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, and BankOne.
Associate Sponsors include Bryant Heating and Air Conditioning and G3 Boats.
Local sponsors include Decatur Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (334) 551-2375 or visit http://www.bassmaster.com. BASS is the world's largest fishing organization, sanctioning more than 20,000 tournaments worldwide through its Federation. The CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail is the oldest and most prestigious pro bass-fishing tournament circuit and continues to set the standard for credibility, professionalism and sportsmanship as it has since 1968.
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Obamacare May Not Be Signing Up Enough Young Adults
More than 250,000 people in the Carolinas have signed up for health insurance through the federal marketplace or exchange that's part of the Affordable Care Act. But there may not be enough young people signing up for the law to work as intended.
Through the end of February, about 200,000 North Carolinians have used the federal marketplace to sign up for health insurance, and so have about 56,000 South Carolinians. That's according to a new federal report, and it doesn't specify how many of those people were previously uninsured.
But there's another number that experts say may be even more important to whether the law works: the percentage of young adults signing up. The idea is to have a good mix of younger, healthier people to balance out the costs of older folks.
The Obama administration wants young adults to make up about 40 percent of enrollees. But in the Carolinas and nationally, the percentage at the end of February was well below that: about 25 percent.
When Massachusetts enacted similar changes in the 2000s, young adults were among the last to sign up. The administration expects that to be the case here, too, and open enrollment ends March 31.
HealthNC marketplaceN.C. health insurance marketplaceAffordable Care ActCharlotte Mecklenburg Schools EnrollmentHealth
Obamacare Enrollment Surges In December In Carolinas
Insurance Commissioner Goodwin Discusses Obama's Extension Of Canceled Health Policies
Sen. Rucho Stands By Controversial Tweet
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Sarasota boy, 16, killed in crash that seriously injured 3 other teens
by: WFLA 8 On Your Side Staff
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A 16-year-old Sarasota boy was killed in a crash that seriously injured three other teens Friday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 17-year-old boy was driving east on University Parkway in Sarasota with three other male passengers — ages 16, 16, and 15.
The teens were approaching Blithe Avenue when the driver lost control of the vehicle, traveled off the road and crashed. Two rear passengers were ejected from the car during the crash, but it was the right front passenger that was killed.
The vehicle came to a rest at a property on University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch.
FAIR HAVEN, Vt. (AP) — A goat and a dog who were each elected mayor have helped raise money to renovate a Vermont community playground.
The oddball idea of pet mayor elections to raise money to rehabilitate the playground and to help get local kids civically involved came from a local town manager.
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See photos of Antonio Banderas
Facts about Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas is 60 years old
Birthplace: Malaga, Spain
Best known as: The handsome Spanish leading man of Pain and Glory and Spy Kids
Buy from Amazon.com: Antonio Banderas DVDs and streaming video
Antonio Banderas News
Wonderful page of new and archived stories from The Guardian
GQ: The Antonio Banderas Interview
He talks about Pain and Glory in this 2019 interview
Antonio Banderas Shows His Dramatic Side in 'Picasso'
2018 interview with The Los Angeles Times
Antonio Banderas Filmography
Fandango's big simple list of his films
Antonio Banderas Biography
Name at birth: José Antonio Dominguez Banderas
Spanish actor Antonio Banderas is a stylish leading man of stage and screen who won an Oscar nomination in 2020 for his role as an aging film director in the drama Pain and Glory.
Before making his Hollywood debut in in 1992’s The Mambo Kings, Antonio Banderas appeared in dozens of Spanish movies, including director Pedro Almodovar’s Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988) and Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1990). He received critical praise in the U.S. for Philadelphia (1993, starring Tom Hanks), then proved himself an able action hero in the Robert Rodriguez film Desperado (1995). The Mask of Zorro (1998, with Catherine Zeta-Jones) made him a box office star.
Long one of the busiest actors in filmdom, Banderas has starred in movies including Spy Kids and its sequels (2001-03), Shrek (2002) Shrek 2 (2004) and Shrek the Third (2007) as the voice of Puss in Boots, The Legend of Zorro (2005), Take the Lead (2006), The Other Man (2008), The Code (2009, with Morgan Freeman), The Expendables 3 (2014, with Sylvester Stallone) and the TV miniseries Genius: Picasso (2018, with Banderas as artist Pablo Picasso).
Antonio Banderas directed his then-wife, actress Melanie Griffith, in the 1999 movie Crazy in Alabama, and in 2006 he took another turn behind the camera for Summer Rain. He received his first Oscar nomination for the 2019 film Pain and Glory, in which he played a thinly-disguised version of his old friend and director Pedro Almodovar.
Antonio Banderas was married to Ana Leza from 1987 until their divorce in 1996, and to Melanie Griffith from 1996 until their divorce in 2015. He and Griffith have a daughter, Stella del Carmen Bandera, born in 1996… Antonio Banderas was born in Malaga, Spain — the same city as Pablo Picasso.
Something in Common with Antonio Banderas
Actors born in Spain (2)
Oscar Nominees 2020
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South Shore reactions mixed to MBTA cuts
Joe Difazio
The Patriot Ledger
QUINCY – Just before 7 a.m Wednesday., as the sun was rising over the South Shore, traffic had already started on the northbound side of the Southeast Expressway headed to Boston. Congestion on Interstate 93 had already started in the city, and the slowdown was creeping into East Milton Square.
Despite the traffic, however, not a single person headed to work was avoiding the gridlock a short time later by hopping on the 7:37 a.m. commuter rail train at the West Hingham station. The parking lot, which would have been full of commuters pre-pandemic, held about 15 cars full of Boston College High School students and their parents avoiding the cold until the last minute before the train came. The students and one retiree heading into the city to see friends were the only people catching the train.
With ridership and fare revenue at a brutal low and the pandemic raging, the MBTA's Fiscal and Management Control Board voted on Monday to temporarily cut service, further reducing the frequency of buses, commuter rail trains, subway cars and ferry service.
The cuts, pared back from an original proposal, spared some ferry service and let the ferry's fierce advocates breathe a small sigh of relief. With fewer cuts, riders and South Shore leaders saw a small victory, but they don't necessarily have anything to celebrate.
"They had to do something. There haven't been many people riding on the trains," Eugene Griffin, of Hingham, said.
Griffin, who is retired, was the only one not going to school who hopped on the train at the West Hingham Station just before 8 a.m. Wednesday. He said his heart goes out to any T workers who may lose their jobs, but he understood why the agency had to cut back.
T officials said there was a potential for job loss, but that they were still working with labor leaders this week.
"My biggest concern is reducing the number of trains going to JFK Station. The train acts as a school bus for B.C. High," said Mike Clair, of Hingham, who was dropping his son off Wednesday morning.
Clair said it could be a hassle for parents to drive students up to the Red Line if there is no commuter rail train at the right time, especially for any students coming from farther south.
At the same time, Clair said he understood he was in a better position than many. He said he can put up with some inconvenience if it means more service for people who are struggling or more reliant on a particular MBTA service.
"You understand the plight of the T. It's a dilemma," Clair said.
Under Monday's plan, the MBTA will be reducing service on nonessential bus routes by 20 percent and essential bus routes by 5 percent. The 212 and 221 bus routes in Quincy and Weymouth will be cut, and the 212 and 214 bus routes through Quincy's Germantown and Houghs Neck will be consolidated.
Red Line service, along with most other rapid transit lines, will be cut about 20 percent. That will add a few minutes between Red Line cars.
The frequency of commuter trains will be cut, and they won't run on weekends for the Greenbush, Kingston/Plymouth and Middleboro/Lakeville lines. The T initially said the service would no longer run after 9 p.m., but the board approved vaguer language, promising to optimize night service.
South Shore ferry service also will be reduced, and geared toward peak commuter times. The Hingham to Boston direct line was cut, leaving only the Hingham/Hull ferry. The T has yet to work out the specifics of when service will be available.
Because of the pandemic, the MBTA said the commuter rail has about 13 percent of normal ridership, with ferry service at about 12 percent, the subway at about 24 percent and buses at about 41 percent.
The cuts will start in January for the commuter rail and ferry, and March for the bus and subways.
The MBTA has said ridership may not come close to returning to pre-pandemic levels for several years, if ever. MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said this week that ridership peaked during COVID-19 at the end of September, but has slightly declined since. The T is facing a possible $580 million fiscal 2022 deficit.
The MBTA had initially proposed ending ferry service altogether, causing a stir among riders and elected officials.
Jason McCann, a founding member of the ad-hoc Save the Ferry group, said the T's decision to preserve some ferry service was a relief, with some group members doing a virtual celebratory toast after the T fiscal board's meeting.
"I feel like our group and others made an impact with our advocacy, but there's work to be done," McCann said. "At least we have something to build back from."
McCann said his concern was that if the service was axed entirely, it would be hard to bring back. McCann said he will stay vigilant, watching how the T implements the cuts.
State Sen. Patrick O'Connor, R-Weymouth, whose district covers the South Shore from Weymouth to Duxbury, said he was thankful his constituents and a coalition of stakeholders fought the proposed steep cuts.
"What they're doing now makes sense. The ridership numbers don't justify status quo service," O'Connor said in an interview. "I think it's a very good outcome for the South Shore. In my opinion, it's because people made their voices heard."
O'Connor said it would've been a huge mistake to completely shut down the ferry, especially because of all the investment poured into the transit option and areas it serviced.
Ameila Sutton, of Hull, said she wrote letters to MBTA officials to save the ferry. She was heading to work in Boston on Wednesday morning using the Red Line stop in Quincy Center.
Sutton said she had been a regular ferry user, but when it was shut down earlier in the pandemic, she started borrowing a car from a family member when she needed to get to work and sometimes took the Red Line. She said she plans to go back to the ferry and is glad it will be there when she does.
Sutton was one of thousands of people who gave the T feedback on the cuts, and those voices made the difference, said state Rep. Joan Meschino, D-Hull.
"I'm pleased by the tremendous amount of public dialogue," Meschino said. "But, the devil is in the details. I will continue to follow through on what this will look like."
Meschino, whose district covers Hull, Cohasset and most of Hingham, said she will continue to advocate for "as much service as we can make the case for." She said having at least some ferry service gives the T something to work back from.
Peter Forman, who heads the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, said the ferry cuts still may be too steep, but he is happy the MBTA backed off wholesale cuts.
"For the suburbs, it's about real estate development," Forman said. "With more transit, you're going to see more housing production. If you eliminate some service, you undercut other state and economic interests."
The state has looked to the Boston area to create more housing stock amid a statewide housing crunch and rapidly rising costs. Forman said that without the necessary mass transit, housing production could suffer. He said huge investments had been made at the Hingham Shipyard around the ferry, for example.
Richard Prone, the Duxbury representative to the MBTA Advisory Board and a longtime commuter rail advocate, said he was surprised none of the South Shore lines would have weekend service while other lines would.
"It's just not right, and it's not good for the railroad, it's not good for the equipment," Prone, a former locomotive engineer, said. "The cost would be minimal. You would have two crews working on each weekend day, making three round trips each, and you would keep the line alive."
Prone said he wasn't a fan of running empty trains, but that shutting the South Shore lines down over the weekends would strand people who had no other way of getting to Boston for work and risk winter damage to commuter rail components.
Prone also echoed a sentiment raised by Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack, who said the MBTA has a credibility problem in terms of people fearing that once service is cut, it won't come back.
"You're just going to have to work too hard to get these late (night) trains back on like we fought for for years and years and years," Prone said about a previously axed later night commuter rail service. "Everyone's naturally paranoid that once these things come offline, they're not going to come back."
The service cuts will affect the rest of the fiscal year ending in July, but the board promised to revisit the cuts by March 15 and adjust them if ridership starts to increase. That decision was intended to assure riders the T was serious about bringing back service when it was prudent.
The board also pushed off some decisions until it begins planning for fiscal 2022 in February and March, hoping for a clearer financial and ridership picture.
The T already got a boost last week when Gov. Charlie Baker signed the state's fiscal 2021 budget and his administration upgraded its tax revenue projections. Under the latest figures, the T could receive another $52 million in sales tax revenue this spending year that it did not anticipate.
The T did not have a savings figure for the approved cuts, but said they would be less than the over $90 million in savings expected from the original plan.
Also unclear is what, if any, additional federal aid there will be for the MBTA. Congress has been in negotiations for a COVID-19 stimulus package, and on Thursday things were looking up for a roughly $900 billion package that would include money for public transit systems. A deal had still not been struck as of Friday night.
O'Connor said that if a bill had come sooner, the MBTA might have been able to avoid the cuts.
"What the federal government has done is a disgrace," O'Connor said. "Decisions like this didn't need to be made if we had a better partner in the federal government."
O'Connor said his criticisms didn't extend to the state's delegation.
On Tuesday, the MBTA called on Congress to cut a deal to help save public transit systems, which are hurting everywhere.
"Adding back service will depend on a number of factors, including public health guidance (including the continued need for social distancing), the timing of the commonwealth’s post-vaccination reopening plan, and the return of durable ridership," the T said in a statement. "With emergency federal funding, the MBTA can avoid the potential for additional service reductions and may be able to restore some service sooner than anticipated. These federal funds will also allow the MBTA to maintain service, avoid cuts to its state of good repair efforts, and support future service in the face of ongoing low projected ridership."
Another issue that may affect South Shore riders is awareness of the cuts. Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch in an interview earlier this month said he was concerned about commuters not finding out about cuts until they show up at a bus stop and no bus comes.
More than a dozen commuters interviewed by a Patriot Ledger reporter at the Quincy Center MBTA station on Wednesday morning said they didn't know anything about the upcoming service cuts.
Troy Fowler said he wasn't aware of the cuts and that he takes several buses and subways from Randolph into Boston, where he works as a concierge.
He said any reduction in service is a concern for him because he already faces a 2-hour commute.
In the end, Brian Kane, acting director of the MBTA Advisory Board, said the pared-back cuts were "better, but not ideal."
He said that a concern, aside from environmental issues and trust in the MBTA, was a "death spiral" in which the MBTA cuts back during budgetary crises, leading to fewer people using public transit, which leads to more cuts, and so on.
Poftak has pushed back against this notion, pointing to steeper cuts at transit authorities in other parts of the country.
Kane said the T swerving away from eliminating certain services, and toward reducing frequency instead, was the right way to go.
"What the T offered was acceptable," Kane said. "Like any good compromise, no one is exactly happy."
This story was updated to correct Richard Prone's former career. He was a locomotive engineer in the past. Material from State House News Service was used in this report. Joe Difazio can be reached at jdifazio@patriotledger.com.
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Climate Explained
How climate change is making hurricanes more dangerous
By Jeff Berardelli | Jul 8, 2019
Stronger wind speeds, more rain, and worsened storm surge add up to more potential destruction.
By Jeff Berardelli | Monday, July 8, 2019
Hurricane Florence on September 12, 2018 as seen from the International Space Station. (Credit: NASA)
Major hurricanes are by far the world’s costliest natural weather disasters, in some cases causing well over $100 billion in damage. There’s now evidence that the unnatural effects of human-caused global warming are already making hurricanes stronger and more destructive. The latest research shows the trend is likely to continue as long as the climate continues to warm.
Whether called hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, typhoons in the western Pacific Ocean, or cyclones in the Indian Ocean, strong tropical cyclones are an example of nature’s fiercest fury.
The criteria that conspire to form tropical cyclones are rather simple. It all starts with a small atmospheric disturbance located in or near a tropical ocean. If water temperatures are warm enough, generally more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and atmospheric conditions are supportive with moisture and uniform winds, a tropical system can evolve. In the Atlantic the system first becomes a tropical depression. As it gets stronger the system graduates to a tropical storm and then finally, when winds rise over 74 mph, it is termed a hurricane.
Are hurricanes becoming more frequent?
Generally speaking, the warmer the water temperatures, the more heat energy is available and the higher the potential for tropical cyclones to develop. So it’s reasonable to assume that as humans continue to release planet-warming greenhouse gases, the likelihood of tropical cyclone activity increases.
By and large, that is true, but in the real world it’s a little more complicated than that. The conventional wisdom is that storm intensity will increase but storm frequency will either decrease or remain unchanged.
Finding trends in either the number or intensity of tropical cyclones is complicated because reliable records date back only as far as consistent and complete global satellite observations. Since 1985, a remarkably consistent average of approximately 80 tropical cyclones has formed each year, ranging from a low of 65 to a maximum of 90.
In terms of frequency, studies have consistently shown “no discernible trend in the global number of tropical cyclones.” In addition, authors of a 2013 study found no human-caused signal in annual global tropical cyclone or hurricane frequencies.
Are hurricanes getting stronger?
The authors of that same 2013 study found a substantial regional and global increase in the proportion of the strongest hurricanes – category 4 and 5 storms. The authors attribute that increase to global heating of the climate: “We conclude that since 1975 there has been a substantial and observable regional and global increase in the proportion of Cat 4-5 hurricanes of 25-30 percent per °C of anthropogenic (human-caused) global warming.”
Interestingly, the increase in those most powerful of storms is balanced by a similar decrease in category 1 and category 2 hurricanes. The authors put forth this intriguing theory: “We suggest that this [balance] arises from the capped nature of tropical cyclones to a maximum value defined by the potential intensity, which increases only slightly with global warming.”
Are hurricanes intensifying more rapidly?
Rapid intensification, defined as an increase of wind speed of at least 35 mph in 24 hours, has recently garnered a lot of attention as a result of hurricanes like Harvey, Irma, Maria and Michael in 2017 and 2018. Examining the hurricane record in the Atlantic basin from 1986 to 2015, a recent study found rapid intensification increased 4.4 mph per decade. The study’s authors attribute most of the gains to a shift into the warmer phase of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, a natural cycle.
But the authors of a 2019 paper led by scientists at NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory suggest that global warming also plays a role. Using simulations from one of the most advanced climate models available, called HiFLOR, the team of researchers concludes that recent increases in rapid intensification “is outside HiFLOR’s estimate of expected internal climate variability which suggests the model’s depiction of climate oscillations like the AMO cannot explain the observed trend.”
So while the team cannot attribute the rapid intensification gains to human-caused warming, they do say human-caused warming significantly increases extreme tropical cyclone intensification rates in the HiFLOR model.
Are hurricanes producing more rain?
When it comes to the link between a warming world and weather, one of the most well-understood and robust connections is increased rainfall. Simply put, the warmer the air is, the more moisture it can hold and the more rain it produces. Generally, the increase in rainfall follows the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, which dictates that for every one degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) increase, the atmosphere can hold 7% more moisture.
This increase in moisture and rainfall does not fall uniformly; in tropical cyclones this effect is boosted. In a 2018 paper about the link between increasing ocean heat content and hurricanes, lead author Kevin Trenberth of the National Center for Atmospheric Research explains that “the convergence of moisture into a storm not only leads to higher precipitation but also, for certain storms, greater intensity and growth.” So we can see that a combination of warmer air and water lead to increases in rainfall beyond the simple Clausius-Clapeyron relationship.
A good example of that is the unprecedented 60 inches of rain that fell in 2017 in southeast Texas in Hurricane Harvey. Researchers have concluded that a repeat of rainfall that intense is predicted to happen only once every 9,000 years. A majority of the rain was caused by Harvey’s extremely slow movement. But multiple attribution studies conclude that a significant amount of rain can be traced to human-caused warming, with various estimates ranging from 15% to 20% to 38%. Using the term “biblical” to describe Harvey’s rainfall, MIT’s Kerry Emanuel calculates a six-fold increase in the probability of an event of that magnitude since just the late 20th century.
A team investigating extreme rainfall in Hurricane Maria reached a similar conclusion: “[E]xtreme precipitation, like that of Hurricane Maria, has become much more likely in recent years and long‐term trends in atmospheric and sea surface temperature are both linked to increased precipitation in Puerto Rico.” That paper finds the probability of rainfall of Maria’s magnitude has increased by a factor of almost five in the most heavily impacted areas.
Does climate change affect the forward speed of hurricanes?
Some climate scientists theorize that slower steering currents resulting from a warmer climate may have contributed to Harvey’s lethargic movement. At this point, that question remains unanswered.
But a 2018 study by NOAA’s James Kossin discovered a 10% global reduction in forward speed of tropical cyclones since 1949. Even more concerning – because of the impact on flooding – is the heightened slowdown detected over land areas: 21% in the western north Pacific and 16% in the North Atlantic. Authors of another study support these concerns, finding a significant positive trend over the past several decades in coastal rainfall from tropical cyclones that stall. That study does not, however, reach a conclusion on the reason for the increased stalling.
Will hurricanes become more common in the future?
In a comprehensive 2015 paper, lead author Thomas Knutson of NOAA GFDL and co-authors examined a middle-of-the-road warming scenario using computer model simulations. Along with many other studies, their projections show a general future decrease in the overall number of tropical cyclones.
This decrease in number of storms is generally believed to be a byproduct of increasing wind shear – hostile environmental winds – expected in the tropics. But there may be another, more significant reason for the anticipated decrease in storm number.
According to Emanuel of MIT, an increase in saturation deficit of the atmosphere at cloud level is the culprit identified on model simulations. In simpler terms, the saturation deficit just means the atmosphere has a tougher time reaching its capacity of moisture.
While many models do forecast a decrease in number, Emanuel’s 2013 study, using a higher-end warming scenario, found that the frequency of tropical cyclones increased in most locations. And that study is not alone. A more recent study Kieran Bhatia from NOAA GFDL, using the high-resolution HiFLOR model, shows a global increase in storm frequency of 9% and a 23% increase in the Atlantic basin by the end of the 21st century.
When asked about the conflicting research findings on cyclone frequency, Emanuel said by email: “My own view is that we really do not know at this point whether the overall global frequency of [tropical cyclones] will increase, decrease, or stay the same. It is an area of active research.”
But Emanuel stresses that the frequency metric is dominated by weak storms that typically do not do much damage, making frequency much less consequential than nailing down future intensity and rainfall.
“There is a strong consensus in the tropical cyclone climate community that the incidence of high-category events will increase, and that storms will precipitate more,” Emanuel said.
Will hurricanes become more intense in the future?
According to NOAA, 85% of all damages from hurricanes come from category 3, 4, and 5 storms. That’s the case in part because of their intense winds. Incredibly, a hurricane with 150-mph wind speed has 256 times the damage potential of a hurricane with 75-mph winds.
In a 2015 paper using future model simulations, Knutson found an “increase in average cyclone intensity, precipitation rates, and the number and occurrence days of very intense category 4 and 5 storms.” Specifically, the simulations calculated a 28% increase in category 4 and 5 storms globally, with a 335% increase in the northeast Pacific and a 42% increase in the North Atlantic.
In Bhatia’s 2018 study, the intensity gains are even more alarming. The HiFLOR simulations project the number of major cyclones (category 3, 4, and 5) to increase by 20% globally and 29% in the Atlantic by 2081-2100. But HiFLOR suggests a significant increase in major systems even sooner.
The numbers really spike when isolating just category 5 storms, with an 85% global jump and 136% Atlantic basin leap. Of these findings, Bhatia says, “HiFLOR climate change experiments signal that tropical cyclones will more routinely reach wind speeds that are well above the category 5 threshold, hinting that the Saffir–Simpson scale might need to be extended to include higher categories in the early 21st century.”
How will hurricane rainfall change in the future?
Projections of future rainfall increases in tropical cyclones are also notable. Knutson’s study finds a global rain rate increase of 14% by the end of the 21st century.
Emanuel’s 2017 study of Hurricane Harvey calculates that hurricane rains of 20 inches in Texas will evolve from a once-in-100-year event at the end of the 20th century to a once-in-5.5-year occurrence by 2100. Given that the vast majority of damage from storms like Hurricanes Harvey and Florence come from rainfall, these findings raise concerns.
Will hurricanes intensify more rapidly in the future?
Rapid intensification is one of the least well-predicted tropical cyclone processes and also one of the most dangerous, because storms that intensify quickly tend to catch people off guard. Rapid intensification is another aspect of tropical cyclones characterized by broad agreement among researchers.
Along with various aspects of intensity, the 2018 HiFLOR study “signals that climate change could allow TCs [tropical cyclones] to rapidly intensify over a larger portion of the world’s oceans and increase TC intensification rates dramatically.”
A 2017 paper by Kerry Emanuel finds that “the incidence of storms that intensify rapidly just before landfall increases substantially as a result of global warming.” To illustrate just how large the changes are, Emanuel quantifies them: “These results suggest that a storm that intensifies 70 mph in the 24 hours just before landfall, occurring on average once per century in the climate of the late twentieth century, may occur every 5-10 years by the end of this century.”
Is there a danger to people or property?
Given the expected boost in intense cyclones, society faces growing threats. With a combination of stronger storms, sea-level rise, increased coastal populations, and infrastructure exposure, damages and disruptions will continue to mount.
Since 1970, the global population exposed to tropical cyclone hazards has increased threefold – a figure expected to continue to increase over the next few decades. Tropical cyclone damages, adjusted for inflation, are rising by approximately 6% per year since 1970.
The vast majority of deaths are caused by the most lethal storm systems, and in fact more than half of tropical cyclone-related deaths in the U.S. since 1900 have been caused by just three storms. Although those mortality numbers are decreasing because of better warnings and preparation, it is easy to see that a future with more intense storms will cause more serious societal impacts.
Storm surge is one the deadliest aspects of landfalling tropical systems, responsible for nearly 50% of deaths since 1963. Experts estimate that global sea-level will rise between a couple to a few feet by the end of the century. In itself, even without stronger cyclones, sea-level rise will cause exponential damages and exposures.
In a prophetic paper published just before Hurricane Sandy, four researchers warned that sea-level rise and changes in storm climatology would increase the risk of disastrous floods in New York City. Specifically, they calculated that a present-day 1-in-100-year flood will occur once every three to 20 years, and a 500-year flood will happen once every 25-240 years by 2100.
A warmer climate will also bring some shifts in storm locations. For example, the authors of a 2014 paper discovered that tropical systems increasingly are reaching maximum intensity farther north or south from the equator as warmer waters expand towards the North and South Poles. In the Atlantic basin, this prospect puts areas of the U.S. northeast coast and maritime Canada in greater danger of a stronger hurricane.
This recent paper also forecasts an elevated threat of land-falling tropical cyclones in Taiwan, the Philippines, Hawaii, and the southeastern United States.
Using 21st-century climate model projections, a more recent study led by Mingfang Ting of Columbia University concludes that human-caused warming may lead to a weakening of disruptive vertical wind shear during active Atlantic hurricane cycles. Recall that “wind shear” refers to hostile environmental winds that act as a barrier to storms, helping to weaken and sometimes steer storms away from land. If this research pans out, wind shear will be less able to weaken future storms along the U.S. East Coast during periods of heightened hurricane activity.
This weakening of wind shear is likely to result in more rapid intensification of storms as they near landfall. On a massively populated coast with a heavily built environment, this combination will be dangerous and destructive.
Assessing the risk from both wind and storm surge, the author of a 2017 paper concludes: “In combination, climate change and coastal development will cause hurricane damage to increase faster than the U.S. economy is expected to grow. In addition, we find that the number of people facing substantial expected damage will, on average, increase more than eight-fold over the next 60 years.”
It’s clear from the research presented above that threats from tropical systems, and in particular from the most intense cyclones, are increasing. This trend will continue for the foreseeable future. Although some of these anticipated impacts are already baked into our warmer climate, the most serious escalations can still be averted. The only remedy is a rapid decarbonization of our economy and a society that is better prepared for threats coming our way.
Jeff Berardelli is a meteorologist and climate contributor to CBS News in New York City.
Topics: Weather Extremes
Hurricanes, wildfires, and heat dominated U.S. weather in 2020
By Bob Henson on Jan 12, 2021
Critical readings on Colorado River Basin
By SueEllen Campbell on Jan 12, 2021
By Jan Ellen Spiegel on Jan 12, 2021
By Jeff Masters, Ph.D. on Jan 4, 2021
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Our First Round of 2019 Endorsements
by ydma | Aug 21, 2019 | Uncategorized | 0 comments
The Young Democrats of Massachusetts are proud to endorse the following candidates for local office this year:
Bryan Barash – Ward 2 – Newton
The Young Democrats of Massachusetts are proud to endorse Bryan Barash for Ward 2 City Councilor in Newton. Bryan has been a critical part of the Young Democrats of Massachusetts for years, serving as the organization’s representative on the Democratic State Committee. In his work in building up and representing YDMA, he has shown the skills required for both strong constituent services and forward-thinking policy leadership. In his years of public service and advocacy, Bryan has shown himself to be passionate leader on issues that matter to younger people, from housing affordability to climate justice. He is the right person for the job, and we hope to be able to help him get elected on November 5th.
Cinda Danh – Ward 6 – Lynn
The Young Democrats of Massachusetts are proud to endorse Cinda Danh for Ward 6 City Councilor in Lynn. At a young age, Cinda was thrust into activism by her family’s experience with foreclosure, and since then, she has dedicated her life to working to correct injustices. She has been steadfast in her support for affordable housing, environmental justice, and comprehensive sex education. Not only is Cinda a passionate fighter for issues that matter to younger people, she has the experience and knowledge to translate that passion into real, meaningful action. For those reasons, and many more, we strongly support Cinda and will work to help her win the upcoming preliminary election on September 3rd and then the general election on November 5th.
Erica Scott Pacheco – Mayor – Fall River
The Young Democrats of Massachusetts are proud to endorse Erica Scott Pacheco for Mayor of Fall River. Erica is a long-time activist and advocate for some of the most vulnerable members of the community. She is a champion of change who will fight for affordable housing, good-paying jobs, and high-quality public education. Erica is up for the challenge of leading the city of Fall River towards a brighter future, and we look forward to working with her to realize it. That is why we strongly support Erica, and will work to help her in the upcoming preliminary election on September 17th, and then the general election on November 5th.
Cara Berg Powers – School Committee – Worcester
The Young Democrats of Massachusetts are proud to endorse Cara Berg Powers for School Committee in Worcester. Cara brings a wealth of experience and a passion for positive social change. The school committee has the power to change the fates of entire generations of students, which is why having someone like Cara, who has been fighting to improve the lives of young people, in office is so important. She has been on the front lines of fighting for racial and social justice and for comprehensive, evidence-based sex education. We strongly support Cara, and will work to help her in the upcoming preliminary election on September 10th, and then the general election on November 5th.
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Label: GRAND PIANO
Piano Works
Artist: Chukhajian / Ayrapetyan
Tigran Chukhajian is highly significant in the history of Armenian music: he was the first composer to combine Western and Eastern cultures, and was referred to as the 'Armenian Verdi' amongst his contemporaries. Persecution under the repressive Ottoman Turkish regime led to his music being suppressed, but these piano works are a sophisticated testament to Chukhajian's Romantic inclinations, absorbing the influences of Chopin and Liszt, and enriching them with Oriental nuances and descriptive themes. Mikael Ayrapetyan is a pianist, composer and producer. He is also the founder and artistic director of the music project Secrets of Armenia, which aims to increase international awareness of Armenian classical music, and actively organizes concerts featuring Armenian music in venues around the world, for which he is producer, artistic director and pianist. Born in 1984 in Yerevan, Armenia, he studied at the Moscow Tchaikovsky State Conservatory, and continues to uphold the performing traditions of the Russian piano school, of which Konstantin Igumnov, Samuel Feinberg and Lev Oborin are luminaries. His repertoire ranges from the Baroque to the contemporary and includes rarely performed works by Armenian composers.
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The Zimbabwe People's Charter
February 09, 2008 The Zimbabwe People's Charter adopted at the Peoples’ Convention, Harare, on the 9th of February 2008 We, the People of Zimbabwe, After deliberations amongst ourselves and with the full knowledge of the work done by civic society organizations and social movements; With an understanding that our struggle for emancipation has been drawn-out and is in need of a people-driven solution; Hereby declare for all to know that: - 1. Political Environment
In the knowledge that our political environment since colonialism and after our national independence in 1980 has remained characterised by: a) A lack of respect for the rule of law; b) Political violence, most notably that which occurred in the early to late 1980s in the provinces of Midlands and Matabeleland, and that which occurred in the years from 1997 to present day, where lives were lost as a result of government actions undertaken with impunity; c) A lack of fundamental rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression and information, association and assembly, all characterised by the militarization of arms of the state and government. d) The People shall have a political environment in which: All people in Zimbabwe, including children, are guaranteed without discrimination the rights to freedom of expression and information, association and assembly, and all other fundamental rights and freedoms as provided under international law to which the state has bound itself voluntarily. e) All people in Zimbabwe live in a society characterised by tolerance of divergent views, cultures or religions, honesty, integrity and common concern for the welfare of all. f) All people in Zimbabwe are guaranteed safety and security, and a lawful environment free from human rights violations and impunity. g) All national institutions including the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, state security agencies, electoral, media and human rights commissions, are independent and impartial and serve all the people of Zimbabwe without fear or favour. h)There exists a free and vibrant media, which places emphasis on freedom of expression and information and a government, which guarantees independent public media as well as a vibrant and independent private media. i) All people in Zimbabwe live in a society, which is the embodiment of transparency, with an efficient public service and a belief in a legitimate, people-centred state. And hereby further declare that never again shall we let lives be lost, maimed, tortured or traumatised by the dehumanising experiences of political intolerance, violence and lack of democratic government. 2. Elections Fully believing that all elections in Zimbabwe remain illegitimate and without merit until undertaken under a new democratic and people-driven constitution, The People shall have all elections under a new people-driven constitutional dispensation characterised by: a) Equal access to the media. b) One independent, impartial, accountable and well-resourced electoral management body. c) A process of delimitation, which is free from political control, which is accurate, fair, transparent and undertaken with full public participation. d) A continually updated and accurate voters’ roll, which is open and accessible to all. e) Transparent and neutral location of polling stations, agreed to through a national consultative process devoid of undue ruling or opposition party and government influence, which are accessible to all including those with special needs. f) Voter education with the full participation of civic society that is both expansive and well-timed in order to allow citizens to exercise their democratic right to choose leaders of their choice to the full. g) International, Regional and Local Observers and Monitors being permitted access to everyone involved in the electoral process. h) An Electoral Court, which is independent and impartial, well-staffed and wellresourced to address all issues relating to electoral processes, conduct, conflicts and results in a timely manner. 3. Constitutional Reform Holding in relation to constitutional reform that a new constitution of Zimbabwe must be produced by a people-driven, participatory process and must in it guarantee: - a) That the Republic of Zimbabwe shall be a democracy, with separation of powers, a justiciable Bill of Rights that recognises civil, political, social, economic, cultural and environmental rights; b) Devolution of government authority to provinces and to local government level; c) A multi-party system of democratic government based on universal suffrage and regular free and fair elections and the right to recall public officials; d) The right to citizenship for any person born in Zimbabwe. Birth certificates, national identity documents and passports shall be easily available for all citizens; e) A credible and fair election management body and process; f) An independent, impartial and competent judiciary; g) The protection of labour rights and the right to informal trade; h) The protection and promotion of the rights of people living with disabilities; i) Independent and impartial commissions which deal with gender equality, land, elections, human rights and social justice; j) An impartial state security apparatus; The People shall have a constitutional reform process, which is characterised by the following: k) Comprehensive consultation with the people of Zimbabwe wherein they are guaranteed freedom of expression and information, association and assembly. l) The collection of the views of the people and their compilation into a draft constitution that shall be undertaken by an All-Stakeholders’ Commission composed of representatives of government, parliament, political parties, civil society, labour, business and the church with a gender and minority balance. m) A transparent process of the appointment of the All-Stakeholders’ Commission members as well as their terms of reference. n) The holding of a national referendum on any draft constitution. 4. National Economy and Social Welfare Holding in relation to the national economy and social welfare that because the colonial and post colonial periods resulted in massive growth in social inequality and marginalisation of women, youths, peasants, informal traders, workers, the disabled, professionals and the ordinary people in general, we hereby make it known that our national economy belongs to the people of Zimbabwe and must serve as a mechanism through which everyone shall be equally guaranteed the rights to dignity, economic and social justice which shall be guided by the following principles: a) People-centered economic planning and budgets at national and local government levels that guarantee social and economic rights b) The obligation on the state, provincial and local authorities to initiate public programmes to build schools, hospitals, houses, dams and roads and create jobs. c) Equitable access to and distribution of national resources for the benefit of all people of Zimbabwe. d) A transparent process of ownership and equitable, open and fair redistribution of land from the few to the many. e) The right of the people of Zimbabwe to refuse repayment of any odious debt accrued by a dictatorial government. f) Protection of our environment from exploitation and misuse, whether by individuals or companies. g) Social and Economic justice as a fundamental principle that guides a new people driven constitution and in particular the specification of the people’s social-economic rights in the Bill of Rights. And in particular, we hold that the national economy shall ensure: · h) Free and quality public health care including free drugs, treatment, care and support for those living with HIV and AIDS. i) A living pension and social security allowances for all retirees, elderly, disabled, orphans, unemployed and ex-combatants and ex-detainees. j) Decent work, employment and the right to earn a living. · Affordable, quality and decent public funded transport. k) Food security and the availability of basic commodities at affordable prices, where necessary, to ensure universal access. · l) Free and quality public education from crèche to college and university levels. · m) Decent and affordable public funded housing. n) Fair labour standards including: A tax-free minimum wage linked to inflation and the poverty datum line and pay equity for women, youth and casual workers, safe working places and adequate state and employer funded compensation for injury or death from accidents at work, protection from unfair dismissal, measures to ensure gender equity in the workplace, including equal pay for work of equal worth, full and paid maternity and paternity leave. o) Access to trade within and without the national borders and removal of all obstacles on the right of small traders, small scale producers and vendors to trade and earn a living. 5. National Value System: Believing that we must commit ourselves to a national value system that recognises the humanity of every single individual in our society which we shall call ubuntu, hunhu, The People shall commit to: - a) Provide solidarity wherever needed to those that are less privileged in our society as individuals or in any other capacity. · b) Equally respect people of all ages. c) Challenging intolerance by learning and respecting all languages and cultures. d)An inclusive national process of truth, justice, reconciliation and healing. e) Recognising all people involved in the liberation struggle. And that this be done with an emphasis that ubuntu/hunhu is passed on from one generation to the next at national and community level. 6. Gender: Holding in relation to gender that all human beings are created equal, must live and be respected equally with equitable access to all resources that our society offers regardless of their gender, and that gender equality is the responsibility of women and men equally, we recognise the role that our mothers and sisters played in the liberation of our country from colonialism and their subsequent leading role in all struggles for democracy and social justice. a) The People state that these fundamental principles must be observed and upheld at all levels of the Peoples’ Charter, both on paper and in practice, where decisions are made about the following: i) Our national budget and economy. ii) Our legislative and government processes in order to allow representative quota systems. iii) Provision by the state of all health care and all sanitary requirements of women. iv) An understanding that women bear the brunt of any decline in social welfare security, economic and political systems. 7. Youth Believing that at all given times the youth, both female and male, represent the present and the future of our country and that all those in positions of leadership nationally and locally must remain true to the fact that our country shall be passed on from one generation to the next, The People state that, in order for each generation to bequeath to the next a country that remains the epitome of hope, democracy and sustainable livelihoods, the following principles for the youth must be adhered to and respected: a) The youth shall be guaranteed the right to education at all levels until they acquire their first tertiary qualification. b) The youth shall be guaranteed an equal voice in decision-making processes that not only affect them but the country as a whole in all spheres of politics, the national economy and social welfare. c) The youth shall be guaranteed access to the right to health. d) The youth shall not be subject to political abuse through training regimes that connote political violence or any semblance of propaganda that will compromise their right to determine their future as both individuals and as a collective. e) The youth have the right to associate and assemble and express themselves freely of their own prerogative.
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EXPLOREMY LIBRARY
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coronavirus briefs
New variants of the disease that are more infectious than the original strain were reported in Brazil and Ohio. Two cabinet ministers in Malawi died after contracting covid-19 as a second wave of the pandemic sweeps across sub-Saharan Africa. Hospitals in South Africa’s major cities have been overwhelmed, leading the government to close 20 border crossings. London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, declared a “major incident”. The death toll from covid in the city passed 10,000; 7,600 are being treated in hospital. British police toughened the use of new powers targeting a “stubborn number of people” wilfully flouting the rules. Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, promised to increase vaccination rates in his state, but also warned that “We simply cannot stay closed until the vaccine hits critical mass…We will have nothing left to…
Politics Protected by National Guard troops, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Donald Trump for inciting the recent mob attack on Congress, the first time that an American president has been impeached twice. It is uncertain if and when the Senate will hold an impeachment trial. Meanwhile, the FBI has reportedly warned officials of further armed protests ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20th. Pro-Trump demonstrations are apparently being planned for all 50 state capitals as well as Washington, DC. Mr Biden nominated William Burns to head the ciA. Mr Burns is a career diplomat who has been an ambassador to Russia and was instrumental in forging the nuclear deal with Iran in 2015, which Mr Trump pulled America out of. The Trump administration announced that it was banning the import…
IN 230 YEARS the House of Representatives voted for the president to be impeached just twice. In only 13 months it has doubled the total by indicting Donald Trump twice more. Now the Senate should issue another historical rebuke by making him the first American president in history to be convicted. The article of impeachment that passed on January 13th accuses Mr Trump of inciting an insurrection (see United States section). Stand back, for a moment, and consider the enormity of his actions. As president, he tried to cling to power by overturning an election that he had unambiguously lost. First, he spread a big lie in a months-long campaign to convince his voters that the election was a fraud and that the media, the courts and the politicians who clung…
the roaring 20s?
FOR MUCH of the past decade the pace of innovation underwhelmed many people—especially those miserable economists. Productivity growth was lacklustre and the most popular new inventions, the smartphone and social media, did not seem to help much. Their malign side-effects, such as the creation of powerful monopolies and the pollution of the public square, became painfully apparent. Promising technologies stalled, including self-driving cars, making Silicon Valley’s evangelists look naive. Security hawks warned that authoritarian China was racing past the West and some gloomy folk warned that the world was finally running out of useful ideas. Today a dawn of technological optimism is breaking. The speed at which covid-19 vaccines have been produced has made scientists household names. Prominent breakthroughs, a tech investment boom and the adoption of digital technologies during the…
THE FIRST reaction of many people was one of relief. On January 6th, with 14 days remaining of his term, the social-media president was suspended from Twitter after years of pumping abuse, lies and nonsense into the public sphere. Soon after, many of his cronies and supporters were shut down online by Silicon Valley, too. The end of their cacophony was blissful. But the peace belies a limiting of free speech that is chilling for America—and all democracies. The bans that followed the storming of the Capitol were chaotic. On January 7th Facebook issued an “indefinite” suspension of Donald Trump. Twitter followed with a permanent ban a day later. Snapchat and YouTube barred him. An array of other accounts were suspended. Google and Apple booted Parler, a small social network popular…
reaping what you sow
WHEN MOST of India’s laws on farming were adopted, in the 1950s and 1960s, the country was often on the brink of famine. In 1966 mass starvation was averted only by the arrival of 10m tonnes of American food aid. Small wonder that a Himalayan range of regulations rose up, to boost output and stop hoarding. Happily, much has changed since then. In 2020 India exported 14m tonnes of rice alone. The government has amassed grain stores of around 50m tonnes. Yet even as the food has piled up, the rules have remained the same. The bill for the subsidies has risen dramatically. So have the environmental costs, in the form of sinking water tables, for example, and choking smoke from the burning of stubble. The prime minister, Narendra Modi is…
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Memorial service for Sago miners preaches fatalism and submission
By Jerry Isaacs
An official memorial service was held on Sunday at the West Virginia Wesleyan College for the 12 coal miners killed after an explosion January 2 at the Sago Mine in nearby Upshur County, West Virginia. Some 2,000 people, including surviving relatives, co-workers and miners from several states, attended the event held at the Methodist school and messages of sympathy came from throughout the world.
It is no disrespect to the miners and their families who came to pay their respects to the lost miners—and try to make sense out of this tragedy—to tell the truth about the political calculations that went into this event. The memorial service was organized by the West Virginia governor’s office, broadcast live around the state and widely reported in the national media to promote a sense of “closure” and resignation among the miners and their families.
Rather than honoring their memories by telling the bitter truth about the Sago Mine disaster—that these men lost their lives needlessly because of the criminal negligence of the mine owners and federal and state authorities—this fact was concealed behind a parade of American flags, evangelical pronouncements and paeans to the age-old sacrifice of coal miners. Their message was unmistakably clear: it is the religious and patriotic duty of miners to accept their lot in life, including periodic fatal disasters at the hands of the coal operators.
The theme of the memorial service—conceived of by the state’s Democratic governor Joe Manchin and local preachers who kept vigil with the families of the trapped miners—was “Honor, Hope and Healing.”
Several of the tributes to the dead miners pointed to their unmistakable self-sacrifice and devotion to their families. The miners’ decision to work in a dangerous occupation, however, was presented as “heroic” and likened to soldiers motivated by patriotism.
Such false claims do nothing to honor the fallen miners and serve only to obscure the reality of social conditions in Appalachia. The Sago miners and many like them have no love for dangerous working conditions, but have little choice because of economic desperation and the fact that they would be fired if they spoke out. This fact has been pointed out by several family members and co-workers. (See “Coal miners denounce deadly conditions—‘The government is giving a green light to the coal operators to violate safety’”)
The “hope” was presumably provided by Governor Manchin and the presence of US senators Robert Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, as well as officials from the Mine Safety and Health Administration who were present in the audience. State and federal officials have assured the families that the miners “did not die in vain” and that a thorough investigation into the causes of the Sago Mine disaster will lead to improvements in mining safety.
This is no less cynical. Each of these politicians has been bought and paid for by coal interests in West Virginia. Rockefeller, whose name is synonymous with Big Coal and the repression of coal miners, dispatched hundreds of state police against striking miners when he was West Virginia governor during the 1977-78 walkout by 120,000 miners. Manchin, a former coal broker, received more money from coal interests for his 2004 election campaign than any other politician in state history.
Any investigation by these corporate-controlled politicians will at best result in a slap on the wrist for the owners of the Sago Mine, while the pro-business policies of deregulation pursued by both political parties—Democratic and Republican—will only assure that such disasters will be repeated in the future.
Acknowledging the widespread public skepticism in such investigations, Manchin promised it would be “open” and not take as long as the probe into the 1968 Farmington, West Virginia explosion that killed 78 miners, including the governor’s own uncle. That case took more than two decades to resolve with little or no repercussions for the coal operators.
Finally, there was the “healing.” No doubt this was aimed at dissipating the anger miners and their families feel for International Coal Group, which maintained the deadly conditions at the Sago Mine, as well as for the federal and state authorities who allowed it to continue operating, despite a record of safety violations and falsified reporting.
Sitting behind the mourning families were officials from International Coal Group, including CEO Ben Hatfield, who just last week declared that the Sago Mine was a “safe operation.” In order to deflect any criticism of the coal bosses, Manchin declared in his opening remarks that the state of West Virginia had become “one family in its grief.”
In this self-serving presentation of reality there is no class struggle. Billionaire coal operators and big business politicians “share the pain” with mourning families, an investigation is promised, the miners go back to work and the coal industry can continue to make its profits. Everybody is healed.
The fact that the coal operators and big business politicians can get away with posturing as supporters of the coal miners is a measure of the betrayal of the United Mine Workers bureaucracy and the ideological disorientation the union officialdom has created with its policy of labor-management collaboration and support for the Democratic Party.
In the 1960s and 1970s mine disasters such as Farmington and the systematic poisoning of miners with Black Lung disease provoked a widespread rebellion across the coalfields, leading to national strikes, mass demonstrations and the active participation of tens of thousands of union and nonunion miners and community residents.
The isolated and betrayed strikes of the last 25 years and the virtual collapse of the UMWA have left miners without any mass organization to defend themselves and susceptible to the type of demagogy heard at Sunday’s memorial service. Significantly, one of those lending his support to this travesty was UMWA President Cecil Roberts, who sat in the audience and has publicly urged workers to place their trust in the government investigation into the disaster.
History has demonstrated time and again that the same politicians and news media that claim to sympathize with the coal miners would turn in an instant to denounce them if they waged a struggle against the coal bosses. The only genuine way to honor the Sago miners is to recognize that they were victims of all of these forces, and that a struggle must be waged against the entire political and economic system that sacrifices the lives of the working class for corporate profit.
Free COVID-19 whistleblower Rebekah Jones!
City of Detroit files lawsuit attacking protesters’ basic democratic rights
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Higher Committee discuss UAE Tour TV coverage
Source: ADSC 9/26/2018 12:00:00 AM Share this:
The Higher Organizing Committee of the 2019 UAE Tour in February discussed with both the Abu Dhabi and Dubai Sports channels on the television broadcast for the world audience at the sports council headquarters in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
in February 2019
HE Aref Hamad Al Awani, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) and Vice Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee Organising chaired the meeting.
In attendance were Mr. Yaaqoub Al Saadi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sports Channels, Hassan Habib, Vice President of Dubai Sports Channel, Abdul Rahim Al Batih and Nasser Al Zaabi, both from Abu Dhabi Media and Abdul Khaliq Khamis, Director of Dubai Sports Channel.
The committee reviewed the television coverage and the technical aspects utilised for each stage of the tour which will be flagged off in Abu Dhabi and finish in Dubai.
Also under discussion were the television production plan and the quality of cameras to be used in the event. It will include promotional advertisements and television programs in support of the success of the first edition of the UAE Tour.
At the conclusion, HE Al Awani thanked the Abu Dhabi Sports Company, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Dubai Sports Channel for their roles and cooperation with the Supreme Organizing Committee of the UAE Tour to make the event a success.
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NPC, the great uncertainty: no growth target, increase in military spending
by Wang Zhicheng
At the opening of the National People's Congress, Premier Li Keqiang makes many promises: support for the recovery; fight against unemployment; openness to foreign investments, "mutual benefit" projects in the "Belt and Road initiative". In the general crisis, the budget for the Armed Forces grows by 6.6%. Taiwan's independence struggle and national security law for Hong Kong.
Beijing (AsiaNews) - For the first time in the history of the National People's Congress (NPC), the Chinese parliament, the government has not set any economic growth targets, due to the difficulties resulting from the pandemic. This was announced by Premier Li Keqiang at the opening of the annual NPC meeting this morning.
In the first quarter of this year, the Chinese giant recorded a negative growth of 6.8%. The prime minister promised a commitment from the leadership to support growth, the recovery of businesses and reabsorb unemployment, which threaten to undermine social stability.
On the other hand, Li Keqiang said that the army's budget will grow 6.6%. The increase is the lowest in the past 20 years. In total, since 1999, the budget of the Armed Forces has grown at least 12 times. Li defends this expenditure, claiming that it is below 2% of the total state budget, but international organizations such as the Sipri (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) claim that the official figures do not consider many other elements, such as operations in the islands of the South China Sea.
In his report on the work of the government, said the central government would “accurately” implement the “one country, two systems” and the principle of “the Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong”.
It also said a sound legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong special administrative region should be established by the NPC.
As for Taiwan, Li condemned separatist attempts to independence on the island, and renewed the commitment to peaceful reunification. Just in recent days, at the inauguration of President Tsai Ing-wen's second term, Beijing had threatened the use of force if the "rebel" island dared to move towards independence.
He also promised them to implement the trade agreement with the United States from next January, following President Trump's threats to put tariffs on countless Chinese export products. Li also said that China wants to work for a multilateral trading system and reforms of the world trade organization, and that it will push for a free trade agreement between China, Japan and South Korea.
He promised them to open up more space for foreign investment, guaranteeing equal treatment to Chinese and non-Chinese companies; he said his government will be busy tackling the unemployment crisis; he assured that the "Belt and road initiative" projects will continue with "mutual beneficial results". Many African countries, together with Pakistan and Sri Lanka have denounced Beijing for leading them into a "debt trap", promising them loans for gigantic infrastructure projects, which these countries cannot repay.
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Charles D. Cuttler Papers
Identifier: RG99.0001
The Charles D. Cuttler papers relate to his professional career as professor of art and art history. This material includes correspondence, seminar information, department administration records, and material about his work as a consultant to the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Cuttler, Charles D. (Person)
Charles David Cuttler was born April 8, 1913, in Cleveland, Ohio. He received his B.F.A. degree in 1935 and M.A. in 1937, both from Ohio State University. In 1952 he received his Ph.D. from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University.
Cuttler was an assistant art instructor at Ohio State University from 1935 to 1937. During the summer in 1938 he was an instructor in art history at the University of Colorado. He worked in Detroit as an engineering designer from 1940 to 1947. He served as assistant professor of art at Michigan State University from 1947 to 1957. Dr. Cuttler was assistant professor of art history at Indiana University during the summer in 1952 and 1953.
He joined the faculty of the State University of Iowa in 1957 as associate professor of art history and became full professor in 1965. He was a co-founder of the Midwest Art History Society in 1973. He was chairman of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) Art History subcommittee from 1968 through 1977. He was appointed as consultant to the National Endowment for the Humanities in November 1973 through 1980. Dr. Cuttler retired in 1983.
Charles D. Cuttler married Mary Cecilia Fuller in December 1941 and had one daughter, Judith Ann.
Professor of art and art history. Consultant to National Endowment for the Humanities. Correspondence, administrative records.
These materials were donated to the University Archives by Mr. Cuttler in December 2005. Finding aid created January 2008.
Folder, "Cuttler, Charles D. ," Faculty and Staff Vertical Files collection (RG01.0015.003)
Papers of Lester D. Longman (RG99.0031)
Records of the School of Art and Art History (RG06.0007.001)
Lafore, Laurence Davis
Manuscripts (documents)
Reviews (documents)
University of Iowa -- Publishing
University of Iowa. Department of History
Denise Anderson, January 2008
Charles D. Cuttler Papers, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa.
Charles D. Cuttler Papers, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa. http://aspace.lib.uiowa.edu/repositories/3/resources/1208 Accessed January 17, 2021.
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Search All Windcrest Homes
Windcrest is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area. Windcrest is located in northeastern Bexar County. It is bordered to the north, west, and south by the city of San Antonio and to the east by unincorporated neighborhoods in Bexar County. Windcrest is 11 miles (18 km) northeast of downtown San Antonio.
The median income for a household in the city was $60,596, and the median income for a family was $69,156. Males had a median income of $38,545 versus $32,457 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,120. About 4.6% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 0.4% of those age 65 or over.
The city is served by North East Independent School District. Windcrest Elementary School in Windcrest, Ed White Middle School in San Antonio, and Roosevelt High School in San Antonio serve the city.
source: wikipedia.org
Find Your Way Around Windcrest
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Official Website of NBA Champion Dwyane Wade. Get the latest news, videos and pictures of Dwyane Wade and more.
One Last Dance Events
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Mar 17, 2013 ⇢ By: IAN HARRISON (Associated Press)
Heat pull away from Raptors, win 22nd straight
TORONTO (AP) — Back where their winning streak started on Super Bowl Sunday, the Miami Heat kept rolling right into March Madness.
Now it’s on to Boston to face the rival Celtics – the team who ended the last streak this long.
The Heat equaled the second-longest winning streak in NBA history, pulling away in the fourth quarter Sunday to beat the Toronto Raptors 108-91 for their 22nd consecutive victory.
”It’s a special ride right now that we’re on,” LeBron James said. ”The best thing about it is we’re doing it together.”
James had 22 points and 12 rebounds for his career-best 32nd double-double of the season, Dwyane Wade had 24 points and nine assists, and Ray Allen scored 16 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter for the defending NBA champions.
Chris Bosh finished with 18 points as the Heat matched the 22 consecutive wins recorded by the 2007-08 Houston Rockets. The NBA’s longest streak is 33 games, set by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.
Miami will try to move into sole possession of second on Monday when it visits the Celtics – who ended the Rockets’ run five years ago and have won 11 in a row at home.
”If there’s any group that would be motivated in a circumstance like this, it’s that team in green,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. ”I don’t know if the streak will be a big factor but they love playing against us, and vice versa. That’s what happens when you meet a team consecutively in the playoffs. There’s a history there, and that’s what makes these games special.”
The Heat have faced the Celtics twice so far this season. They blew out Boston 120-107 in Miami on opening night, then lost 100-98 in double-overtime on the road on Jan. 27, the day Boston learned that Rajon Rondo needed knee surgery.
”They played better than us for a large part of that game,” Spoelstra said.
Winners of two straight, the Celtics may be without veteran forward Kevin Garnett on Monday. The 15-time All-Star sat out Saturday’s victory over Charlotte with a strained left thigh and is day-to-day.
”We have to treat them with the respect they deserve,” Spoelstra said. ”Regardless of who plays for them, that’s a team that will come out with an incredible amount of urgency.”
Wade called the looming matchup with Boston ”a great challenge.”
”I think we’ll be ready for it,” he said. ”We’ve got to get our rest and we’ve got to know we’re going to have a dog fight on our hands.”
Heat forward Shane Battier, who played on the 2007-08 Rockets, inspired his teammates with a speech after their Feb. 3 win over Toronto. The 11-year veteran spoke again after Sunday’s victory, an address that Spoelstra called ”passionate” and ”pure.”
”Coach Riley gets paid close to six figures for his speeches,” Spoelstra said, referring to former Heat coach and current team president Pat Riley. ”I don’t know what Shane should charge now, but he should get something.”
Miami blew it open Sunday behind Allen’s 3-point shooting after Toronto tied it at 77 early in the fourth quarter.
”Those (3-pointers) are what we feared for so many years (when Allen was with Boston),” Spoelstra said. ”He can turn a game around just like that.”
Toronto is the third team with multiple losses to the Heat during the streak. Miami has beaten Philadelphia three times and Atlanta twice.
”You talk about a well-oiled machine, those guys are efficient both offensively and defensively,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. ”They do it in a classy way. They are well put together.”
Rudy Gay scored 27 and Amir Johnson had 18 points and 18 rebounds as the Raptors lost their 11th straight against Miami, extending their longest active losing streak against a single opponent.
”We just ran out of gas,” Johnson said.
Jonas Valanciunas scored 18 points, and Terrence Ross and DeMar DeRozan each had 12 for the Raptors, whose last victory over the Heat was a 111-103 home win on Jan. 27, 2010 – when Bosh still played for Toronto and James was in Cleveland.
Toronto tied it at 77 on a pair of free throws by Gay less than a minute into the fourth but, even with James on the bench, Miami answered immediately. Allen hit a jumper, Norris Cole threw a half-court lob pass to Wade for an alley-oop dunk and Allen made a 3-pointer, giving Miami an 84-77 lead.
”It was a perfect pass,” Wade said. ”I don’t really show a lot of emotions nowadays too much, but I got a little pumped up after that one.”
After a Raptors timeout, Chris Andersen converted a three-point play and Wade made two free throws, capping a 12-0 run that put the Heat up 89-77 with 7:42 left.
James scored eight points and Bosh had seven in the first and Miami closed the quarter with an 8-2 run to lead 27-19 after one.
A layup from Bosh gave Miami a 49-33 lead with 2:37 left in the half. Toronto closed the gap with a 6-0 run, but a 3 by James with less than 3 seconds left put the Heat up 55-43 at the break.
Miami called timeout at 6:49 of the third after a layup by DeRozan cut it to 66-59, but Bosh answered with a 3 from the corner, restoring Miami’s double-digit advantage.
Toronto fought back again in the final minutes of the third. After a dunk by Gay, DeRozan converted a three-point play with 1:52 left, making it 76-69. DeRozan, who missed 10 of his first 12 shots, made two jumpers in the final 1:14 as the Raptors cut it to 76-73 heading into the fourth.
NOTES: James narrowly missed a triple-double, finishing with eight assists. … The Raptors outrebounded the Heat 51-26. … Toronto has lost five straight home meetings with Miami. … Former Raptor Morris Peterson attended the game.
© 2021 Dwyane Wade
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Weibo.com/DwyaneWade
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Janaswamy Publishes Pioneering eBook on Engineering Electrodynamics
Professor Ramakrishna Janaswamy of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department recently released his groundbreaking eBook, Engineering Electrodynamics: A collection of theorems, principles, and field representations, published by IOP Publishing (Institute of Physics). Janaswamy celebrated the eBook release with a live 45-minute webinar held on December 2, during which he explained why he wrote his book and the research behind it, what the...
Joseph Bardin and Sanjay Raman Secure $500,000 DARPA Grant
Joseph Bardin (l) & Sanjay Raman (r)
Professor Joseph Bardin (principal investigator) of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at UMass Amherst and College of Engineering and Dean Sanjay Raman (co-principal investigator) have received a $500,000 grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), administered by the Office of Naval Research. The title of this DARPA project is “Cryogenic T-MUSIC Circuits for Quantum Computing.” T-MUSIC is a technology that combines advanced silicon-germanium with advanced CMOS to enable ultra-wide bandwidth...
Amir Arbabi Receives Manning / Institute for Applied Life Sciences Award
Amir Arbabi
Assistant Professor Amir Arbabi and his Post Doctoral Research Associate Andrew McClung of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department have received a Manning/Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) Award from the UMass Applied Proof-of-Concept Seed Fund Program. The main objective of the funded project is to demonstrate prototypes of a solid-state, low-cost, miniature lidar system with high resolution, low power consumption, and large field-of-view. Such lidar systems are highly desirable for multiple applications,...
ECE Researcher Jun Yao Establishes Himself as Pioneer in the Field of Green Electronics
Jun Yao
Despite the pandemic, the year 2020 has proven to be an amazingly productive year for Jun Yao, an assistant professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department and an adjunct faculty member in the Biomedical Engineering Department. During 2020, his groundbreaking work on new biomaterials harvested from the humble microbe Geobacter has inspired articles in such renowned scientific journals as Nature, Nature Communications, and NanoResearch and subsequently stoked international media...
Raytheon Technologies Produces Three On-location Videos of MIRSL Storm-chasing
Raytheon Technologies has just released three interrelated videos of the storm-chasing research carried out by faculty and students of the Microwave Remote Sensing Laboratory, or MIRSL, in collaboration with faculty and students from Purdue University while chasing tornadoes and severe thunderstorms throughout the Midwest and deploying a sophisticated Raytheon radar prototype unit known as Skyler.
Watch the videos under the umbrella title of Radar Reimagined: Chasing the Storm; ...
CASA Provides Weather Alerting Technology for Successful NASA Unmanned Aircraft Systems Demonstration Flight
Researchers at the Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA) contributed to a recent successful joint demonstration in Fort Worth, Texas, of an unmanned aircraft system by Bell Textron Inc. and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The CASA team provided an intuitive, integrated display to give remote pilots of the Bell Autonomous Pod Transport 70 (APT 70) enhanced weather risk awareness, including weather data from CASA’s X-band radar network, which is deployed in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. CASA was...
ECE Emeritus Professor David Pozar Receives IEEE Field Award for Distinguished Achievement
David Pozar
Professor Emeritus David Pozar of the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department has received the 2020 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) Field Award for Distinguished Achievement. Pozar was selected by the AP-S “for significant contributions to the electromagnetic analysis, development, and design of microstrip phased arrays and reflectarrays, and for educational leadership and service to the electromagnetics community.”
The Field Award for Distinguished Achievement is the highest honor given by the AP-S...
Yao heads NSF Project to Create Ultra-Low-Power Electronic Components Based on Biological Electrical Systems
Jun Yao, an assistant professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and an adjunct professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department at UMass Amherst, is the principal investigator on a very significant, $1,474,272 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Yao’s project is developing ultra-low-power electronic components and systems for signal retrieval, processing, and storage with power consumption similar to biological systems in living organisms, which require much less power than currently available in...
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Sarah Catt: when we've stopped pointing the finger let's ask ourselves how much we care
Sarah Catt faces an eight year jail sentence after taking abortion medication purchased over the internet to end her pregnancy at 39 weeks. I don’t know if she had any idea that she was putting her life and her liberty at risk when she did this. There is speculation as to both her motivation and her mental state, but the only fact of the matter is that for some reason the idea of giving birth to a living baby, which she almost certainly would have done within just a couple of weeks, was intolerable to her.
Speculation about whether she is a monster or just desperately ill and unhappy will, no doubt, be rife. Arguments will rage to and fro about whether she should have received such a long sentence. Others will ask whether the current time limit for abortion is right, whether there should be time limits at all or whether our focus should be on doing everything we can to make abortion as accessible as possible, as early as possible. Some people will say that this case demonstrates an argument for taking abortion out of the sphere of criminal law altogether, others that this proves we need legal limits on abortion provision because we simply cannot trust women not to go running around choosing late term abortions.
For me this case is so unusual that I’m not sure if it can helpfully inform debates about abortion law. They say that hard cases make bad law and this is probably a case in point.
If we can draw any lessons from this it might be about the support that we can provide to those women who consistently struggle to control their fertility, to choose and use an appropriate contraceptive method, and to manage relationships. There are many reasons why women who feel negative or at least ambivalent towards pregnancy still get pregnant repeatedly including complex personal circumstances. Easy as it is to blame individual women for making bad decisions (we rarely blame their partners) we also have to ask ourselves whether sometimes repeat unintended pregnancies do highlight a shortfall in services. Did Sarah ever seek or was she ever offered any support to think about her fertility, to clarify her own feelings about pregnancy and parenthood and to make informed choices about future relationships and contraceptive use?
Did she have the emotional and practical support she needed after she placed a child for adoption? Or did that process contribute to her belief that it was better to go through the potential pain and danger of labouring alone to have a stillbirth, than to give birth safely and retain the option of placing the baby for adoption? When she was turned down for abortion after 24 weeks did anyone offer her the opportunity to think about ‘what next?’ Did anyone offer to help her talk to her husband and think through the possible consequences (good and bad) of having this conversation in terms of her safety, their relationship and the future of their family?
When a healthy woman with a healthy pregnancy seeks abortion after the legal time limit, it is likely that her circumstances and her feelings about the pregnancy are pretty desperate. For good or ill, a woman in this situation cannot have an abortion after 23 weeks and 6 days. What do we offer these women to address the circumstances they find themselves in, in which continuing the pregnancy is intolerable? Are they made aware of the dangers both medical and legal of trying to induce an abortion themselves? Is there anything we can offer to make the next 16 weeks of pregnancy tolerable, safe and manageable for them...let alone the next 20 years of parenthood?
I don’t know what kind of support is available to the handful of desperate women who are turned away from abortion because they’re just too late. Later abortion is a divisive issue, but whatever anyone feels about it, we must all feel some duty of care towards women who want one, but can’t have one.
Posted by Education For Choice at 15:38 1 comments
Labels: 1967 Abortion Act, abortion law, abortion on the web, contraception, Family Planning, fertility information, information on abortion, Later Abortion, pregnancy decision-making, Safe Abortion, Sarah Catt
"Shocked to the core": Parents' and Carers' Views on the Teaching of SRE in Catholic Schools
This guest blog has been sent to us by Georgie, one of our young volunteers, who is currently undertaking academic research into Catholic parents’ reactions to their children’s sex education.
The Catholic Church promotes sexual activity only within marriage, with the purpose of procreation. Therefore, Catholicism does not endorse lesbian, gay or bisexual sexual identities, abortion or the use of contraception. In principle it is at the discretion of a parent whether their child receives SRE at school due to their right to withdraw. So, do parent/carers want their children to be taught about SRE in school? If so, do they want it to be taught from the Catholic point of view or an unbiased perspective?
I decided to investigate this further for my Masters dissertation by conducting a small number of in depth interviews with the parents and carers of young people who attended Catholic schools. The SPUC ‘Safe at School’ campaign which states; ‘parents are worried that contraception and abortion services are being promoted in secondary schools' was challenged by the findings from my research.
Overall, I found that these parents disagreed with the current teaching of SRE in Catholic schools and felt that all children have a right to unbiased and fact-based information in SRE. Unsurprisingly, the topic of abortion arose on a number of occasions during each interview. It seemed parents kept returning to this subject to explain or evidence their opinions/experiences.
One interviewee felt that only parents should teach certain topics within SRE because of an experience she had where her daughter was shown a ‘graphic’ anti-abortion video* at her Catholic secondary school;
I just remember one of my daughters coming home and breaking their heart and saying…“I can’t believe what’s been shown to me”…they showed my daughters a video about abortion that shocked them to the core but I wasn’t aware they were going to do that. (Theresa )
A second parent agreed:
I think it should be everybody’s own choice, it is up to the individuals, not up to pro-life groups to say no… I think it’s unfair, obviously I know you send them to a religious school and that is part of the religion but I still think it’s your choice. Because you’re a Catholic you know it’ll be pro-life, you know abortion is wrong… but there are extenuating circumstances which they won’t even look at …one is rape and… you do have a choice, it is your body. (Linda)
Another parent agreed that SRE should provide impartial information and suggested a joint effort by all those involved in teaching SRE that would be beneficial for young people;
I believe that children are entitled to the full facts when it comes to sex education including contraception and abortion. If they are guided by their parents, parish and school in a caring way to lead their life according to a Christian ethos then these adults should have confidence that their wonderful children will be capable of making the right moral choices when the time comes. (Helen)
I found parents of children attending Catholic schools to be no different to other parents; they feel their children should be entitled to unbiased information and the ‘full facts' about abortion and sex and relationships in general. These parents' opinions echo those of young peoples'; reinforcing the demand for compulsory SRE in state schools, including Catholic schools. Consequently, teaching materials used in SRE would need to be the same in Catholic and non-faith schools. This would result in the graphic, biased and (often) misinformed materials currently being used in some Catholic schools being abandoned and no more young people being adversely "shocked to the core."
*I later found out that the film shown was 'The Silent Scream'.
Sarah Catt: when we've stopped pointing the finger...
"Shocked to the core": Parents' and Carers' Views ...
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# of Words: 1721
A misdemeanor is any offense punishable by up to one year in Jail. Normal misdemeanors are: driving under the influence of alcohol / drunk driving (dui / dwi), shoplifting, domestic assault, Second (2nd) offense refusal to take the breathalyzer, driving on a suspended license, writing bad checks, domestic vandalism, simple assault and battery, domestic chaotic, reckless driving, disorderly conduct, etc.
There are various rules that apply to driving with suspended licenses and this article does not fully address those provisions. If you cannot afford an attorney to represent you then you should contact the Public Defender. The Rhode Island Office of the Public Defender represents qualified clients in criminal law issues (misdemeanors / felony) for no charge.
Do not use this article as a substitute for seeking legal advice from an attorney. It is a very bad idea for a person to represent themselves (pro-se) in a criminal case. Please note that this article only applies to Rhode Island misdemeanor crimes and does not apply to some other nations! In the arraignment, A person should state not guilty and hire an attorney. If a person cannot afford a lawyer then the person needs to go to the Public Defender. After the arraignment the issue will be set for a conference a few weeks afterwards. A person could work out a plea deal in the arraignment.
It is typically a bad idea for a person to enter into a plea agreement without an attorney. In the pretrial conference a person could change their request following meeting with the prosecutor and also the judge and after finding out what the prosecutor is supplying to get a sentence. A defendant could negotiate with the prosecutor by using their attorney. If a plea agreement cannot be worked out in the pretrial conferences the issue will be set for the trial. The issue also could be scheduled for all motions prior to the trial when motions are asked. A person should never alter their plea from not guilty to nolo contendere or guilty without a plea deal from the prosecutor.
In Rhode Island, a defendant could enter one of four pleas: guilty, not guilty, nolo contendere or a "alfred plea". And Not Guilty Pleas. The pleas of and not guilty are evident. If the plea is not guilty then the issue will probably be scheduled for a trial on the merits in which the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person is accountable for the alleged offense. The person will be presumed innocent and it's the prosecutions burden to prove that the person is guilty. Typically, it is a really bad idea to take a plea! Guilty pleas or a finding of guilt after a trial is almost always a conviction in Rhode Island.
Nolo Contendere Plea. Nolo contendere implies a person is not contesting the charges. When a defendant takes a nolo contendere plea in Rhode island, the defendant is indicting that he does not want to contest the charges, but is basically admitting to the costs. What is the distinction between a plea and a nolo contendere plea in Island? There is a difference! A plea is almost always a conviction under Rhode Island law. A criminal conviction has unwanted implications especially when a person uses for employment. A plea of nolo contendere might never constitute a conviction . A plea of nolo contendere is only a conviction in Rhode Island when there is a sentence of confinement (such as the ACI or home confinement), a suspended sentence or a fine imposed.
By way of example, A plea of nolo contendere with a sentence of probation as well as a contribution to the violent crimes indemnity fund or court costs will not constitute a conviction under Rhode Island law! By way of example, A plea of nolo contendere with a sentence of a filing along with a contribution to the violent crimes indemnity fund (vcif) doesn't constitute a conviction under Rhode Island law. But anything with a nice attached to it will be a conviction under Rhode Island law.
Therefore, it's essential that the defendant gets either not any good or a contribution to the victims fund or court charges rather then a good. All misdeameanor plea arrangements in Rhode lsland ought to be nolo contendere with court expenses or a contribution towards the sufferers indemnity fund rather then guilty pleas! Alfred Pleas. Alfred Pleas are strongly disfavored by judges in Rhode Island (RI) and therefore are difficult to get. Alfred pleas derive from a United States Supreme Court case. Within a Alfred custody, a defendant will probably admit that the country has sufficient proof to convict him or her when the case went to trial, but will not admit to anything.
DUI / Drunk Driving charges. In Rhode Island, some request to drunk driving, driving under the influence, DUI/ DWI is a conviction under Rhode Island law. Even a breathalyzer refusal plea of guilty or "admitting to adequate facts" is not a criminal conviction because a breathalyzer denial is a civil case. For more information concerning Rhode Island drunk driving / dui and breathalyzer refusal law please see => http://ezinearticles.com/?Rhode-Island-DUI---DWI-Law-Should-I-Refuse-The-Breathalyzer? amp'id=48665 9.Violation of conditions of filing. Please note, that a person who has a filing could be held for up to ten days in the ACI if arrested for a fresh charge / crime.
A person who's on a filing must be very careful that he / she stays out of trouble. In case the person has been violated from the terms and conditions of the then hypothetically the filing could become a conviction because that person has already admitted to the costs by pleading nolo contendere and giving up his right to contest the charges. Court costs will be imposed if there is a nolo contendere filing in a case. Probation in Rhode Island. If a person receives probation then they have to comply with the conditions of the probation and consent to keep the peace and be of good behavior.
If a person violates hisor her probation by being arrested for a new crime then the person might be held in Jail in the ACI as a probation violator. After ten days per person has the right to a hearing. In the probation violation hearing, the prosecutor should only convince the so that the judge is "reasonably satisfied" that the person violated the probation by committing the new offense. In addition, the person will be prosecuted to get the new offense as another charge from breaking up the probation. There is an excellent likelihood that if a person has been violated due to his that the probation which was initially not a conviction will ripen into a conviction.
A probationary period is a time of risk for a and a defendant must be careful to remain out of trouble! A person can also be broken because of his probation for a variety of infractions which might not be criminal acts, but that violate the conditions of probation such as not maintaining probation informed of new addresses, leaving the state without permission, not paying court fees or restitution, not reporting to the probation officer, etc. When a person is under probation in Rhode Island, he or she is basically is in a contract with the country to keep the peace, be of good behavior and comply with the conditions and principles of probation.
What is a probation with a suspended sentence in Rhode Island? . In the event the charges are serious or the person has a criminal record of has already been put on probation before then in addition to the probation, the judge could hook a suspended sentence. A person who has a suspended sentence is within a period of threat because a new offense could lead to considerable jail time! A suspended sentence is always a conviction under Rhode Island law. A person with probation and a suspended sentence will not spend anytime in prison unless the person violates the conditions of their probation as set forth previously.
The period of the sentence that is suspended is the most time that a person can invest in prison if the person violates the conditions of the probation or commits a new offense. If the person violates the probation, the judge may sentence the person up to the quantity of time that's suspended. Please note that the person could get additional sentence and or penalties as a result of the fresh fee. It is in the defendants best interest to get the period of sentence to be as short as possible. The sentence that is suspended typically is for the identical period of time as the period of probation.
Please note that in case the offense is driving on a license that is suspended there are particular rules apply that are set forth in the statutes. Many prosecutors and judges believe that each sentence needs to be more intense then the last. A person's initial offense is likely to lead to only a filing which is the lowest type of punishment in Rhode Island. A person generally will only be allowed one filing. Could I be incarcerated in the aci or serve time in jail as a result of a misdemeanor cost? . Yes. A serious misdemeanor could lead to incarceration in the Adult Correctional Institution (ACI).
The Vast majority of misdemeanor cases do not result in an expression of incarceration! A offender can eventually face jail time. A person convicted of a second or third offense dui / dwi faces a minimum mandatory sentence to the ACI . A person with a probation violation or suspended sentence could face incarceration based on the circumstances. At a Misdemeanor District case the Court only has jurisdiction to sentence a person to a year in jail. In some instances a person might qualify for Home confinement instead of a sentence in the ACI. Please be advised that there are distinct considerations linked to Felony criminal charges which are not addressed within this article such as, but not restricted to sentences. Please consult the Rhode Island Public Defender's website for information linked to felony charges and for an explanation of a Deferred sentence. It is essential that this criminal law article be utilized for informational purposes only and not as a substitute for seeking legal advice from a Rhode Island attorney.
Argument to Increase Minimum Wage
If policy makers and voters really understood the fundamentals of economics, they might find themselves on the other side of the now-popular debate to increase the minimum wage. Liberals use a raft of studies and a few arguments to back up their minimum-wage-raising position, touting them as proof that hiking the minimum wage helps both workers and the broader economy. This Huffington Post article cites a study projecting that the economy would grow by $22 billion and make 85, 000 new jobs, all......Read More
After experiencing considerable wage earnings throughout the shared-growth decades of the new era workers have increasingly confronted labor economies of jobs that pay too much to offer a minimally decent standard of living. What we do know is that a $15 wage could have impacts on the living standards of millions of working households. Every worker should be ensured the minimum wage that will enable them to maintain a becoming normal of lifestyle for himself and his loved ones. The antidote is......Read More
An Introduction and an Analysis of the Minimum Wage in the United States
The Pros and Cons of Raising the Federal Minimum Wage
The Minimum Wage Should Be Eliminated
Congress Should NOT Raise Minimum Wage
The Federal Minimum Wage
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Gong — You Remixed
(Purple Pyramid CLP0118-2, 1997, 2CD)
Hawkwind — Future Reconstructions - Ritual of the Solstice
(Emergency Broadcast Records , 1996, CD)
by Dane Carlson, Published 1998-07-01
It's a prog chill-out! Phew! I made it. The disc is over! God be praised! What we have here is a techno / ambient version of Gong's masterpiece, You. 16 different "bands" have used the master tapes to add their own stamp to these tracks. As I listen to this, the impulse to just put on the actual album is almost overwhelming. In my mind 16 "bands," 2 CDs, over 120 minutes of this stuff (four versions of "Master Builder," three "Isle of Everywhere") borders on excessive. It does have System 7 on it, but Steve sticks to his word. Now a re-mastered You with a bonus CD of remixes like this would have been great. I may be judging this collection unfairly — if I were to hear this is in a club, cranking, the lights going, the bass warping your sternum, I might find this pretty wild. As it is, it borders on boring. The most successful track was "Master Builder" by The Shaman, but then this track really lends itself to this, and isn't any better. A lot of the original music is used here, so I can only ask, what's the point?
Future Reconstructions has been out a while. Like the above, master tapes were used by these "dance / mix" bands. In this case it's used a lot more inventively, The rhythms are more prominent and not as much of the original music is used. It's not just Hawkwind with a drum machine. By far the best track here is Optic Eye's "Forge of Vulcan," some classic Star Trek ("There is no force I can use on a Vulcan...") soundbites combined with the pulsing, throb of the music. This rocks. You had best be into this stuff or you'll be very unhappy. As a techno dance mix it's way better than the Gong simply because the groups have been far more creative here (and many of the same groups are involved). As a novelty item this is not bad, cool at times, and is only a single CD, unlike the Gong, which lasts a lifetime.
Filed under: New releases, Issue 15, 1997 releases, 1996 releases
Related artist(s): Didier Malherbe, Hawkwind / Hawklords, Nik Turner, Steve Hillage / System 7, Gong, Daevid Allen, Pierre Moerlen, Dave Brock
Monolith - Monolith – At first listen this k/b/d band delivers up derivative progressive rock of the highest order. However, I discovered that a good chunk of this was written in 1977, nearly predating the sound they lean... (1999) » Read more
Oregon played "Icarus" in 1979
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Telephone conversation with President of France Emmanuel Macron
As part of coordinating the actions of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron Macron EmmanuelPresident of France , during which the two leaders discussed certain issues related to the upcoming trilateral meeting of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia scheduled to take place on January 11 in Moscow. Given the consistent implementation of the joint Statement of November 9, 2020, and the stabilisation of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, it was noted that at the upcoming meeting its participants will focus primarily on outlining the next steps to establish peace in the region.
The President of France expressed his support for Russia’s efforts to facilitate settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh. He also emphasised the importance of a prompt provision of humanitarian aid to people who have suffered from combat operations, including through relevant international organisations.
Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron congratulated each other on Christmas and New Year holidays.
It was agreed to maintain contacts at various levels.
Statement by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and President of the Russian Federation
Macron Emmanuel
Published in section: News
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GERD: The Washington briefing
In the US capital, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia agreed to continue their discussions to reach an agreement regarding their differences over GERD, reports Doaa El-Bey
Doaa El-Bey , Tuesday 10 Dec 2019
Shoukri and Pompeo
The three countries in the middle of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) have been meeting in Washington to find an equitable solution over how much Nile water each country will receive.
“The foreign ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan agreed that the strategic direction of the next two technical meetings should be the development of technical rules and guidelines for the filling and operation of the GERD, the definition of drought conditions, and drought mitigation measures to be taken,” a joint statement issued by the three countries, plus the United States and the World Bank, after meeting in Washington on Monday, said.
The meeting was one of two follow-ups designed to take stock of progress in the negotiations over GERD. They are part of an agreement reached in November, under US sponsorship, that the three countries hold four meetings to resolve technical issues on the filling and operation of the dam. The agreement includes two more meetings to be held in the US to follow up on the negotiating process.
“The rules and guidelines will include drought mitigation measures based upon the natural flow in the given year and water release rates from the GERD,” the statement added.
The meetings held so far, under US sponsorship, are mere introductory meetings that have not led to an agreement, according to Tarek Fahmi, a professor of political science at the American University in Cairo.
“Keeping the negotiations going on is a target. And although the US road map drawn last month put the negotiations on a certain track, so far it did not come up with results or certain stands that will help us reach an agreement before or in the last round,” he said.
Mohamed Hegazi, a former deputy to Egypt’s foreign minister, saw this week’s meeting as a manifestation of the commitment of not only the three countries, but also the US to take up its role as a third party.
“Now, the tripartite mechanism under the auspices of the US has proven to be successful. The continuous meetings have proven to be useful. But what is discussed has to be followed up in the presence of the observers by an agreement and an operational manual that will hopefully lead the three parties to sit together to reach what I call the new Nile Basin Authority that will coordinate relations in the future,” Hegazi said.
This week’s meeting was the first to be held in Washington after that between Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, the US and the World Bank last month.
The ministers agreed that the second meeting in Washington will be on 13 January 2020 to review the results of the upcoming technical meetings in Khartoum later this month and in Addis Ababa next month with the goal of finalising an agreement.
All the meetings have been held under the sponsorship of the US treasury secretary and the World Bank.
In another statement issued by Egypt’s Foreign Ministry after this week’s meeting, the ministers of foreign affairs and irrigation underlined the importance of engaging in the negotiations with the intent of realising the interests of the three states and guaranteeing the full implementation of the Declaration of Principles signed in 2015 in a way that allows Ethiopia to generate electricity without harming Egypt’s water interests.
On the sidelines of this week’s meeting, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri met his US counterpart Mike Pompeo. Shoukri expressed his appreciation for the positive and constructive role played by the US administration, especially with regards to the GERD negotiations, which reflects the strategic relations between Egypt and the US, while expressing aspirations that this would contribute to reaching a just and balanced agreement on the filling and operation of the dam, and in a manner that fosters stability and development in the East African region.
In another development, Ethiopian newspapers revealed this week that the country’s military will build a naval base on the coast of Djibouti, by the Strait of Eden.
In October, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Gelle during a visit to Djibouti where the two leaders discussed the building of the new naval base.
AUC’s Fahmi said that although the development was not directly related to the dam’s talks, the timing of it was significant. “Ethiopian media disclosed that matter immediately before the Washington talks,” he added.
In September and October, two rounds of talks in Cairo and Khartoum ended in stalemate, prompting Cairo to declare that the negotiations had failed, and to seek international mediation.
In an attempt to mediate, the US sent an invitation to the three countries to meet in Washington to resume the talks. Meetings were held with the ministers of foreign affairs and water of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. US Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin and a representative from the World Bank attended one meeting on 6 November.
The foreign ministers of the three countries reaffirmed their joint commitment to reaching a “comprehensive, cooperative, adaptive, sustainable, and mutually beneficial agreement” on the filling and operation of the dam and to establish a clear process for fulfilling that commitment in accordance with the 2015 Declaration of Principles.
The first round was held in Ethiopia on 15-16 November and the second in Cairo on 2-3 December.
The third round will be held in Sudan on 21 December while the last, expected to be the most decisive, is scheduled for 9-10 January in Addis Ababa.
Recent proposals put forward by Egypt for a flexible reservoir-filling process over seven years that guarantees an annual flow of 40 billion cubic metres have been rejected by Ethiopia which said the proposals echoed colonial-era laws that did not take into account the rights of upstream countries. Ethiopia offered to guarantee a flow of 31 billion cubic metres annually.
Egypt has also proposed linking the filling process to the hydrology of the dam. That means that amounts of water stored can increase or decrease according to the level of rainfall in any given season.
In 2015 Egypt and Ethiopia signed the Declaration of Principles which states that the three countries should cooperate to reach an agreement on guidelines for filling the dam’s reservoir and its annual operation. After four years of negotiations, agreement seems as far away as ever.
A 1959 treaty stipulates that Egypt’s share of Nile water is 55.5 billion cubic metres and Sudan is 18.5 billion cubic metres. The treaty reaffirmed Egypt’s right to veto any construction projects that could impede the flow of Nile water.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 12 December, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
Doaa El-Bey
US capital
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Iran Population: 83,024,745
43 VISITORS FROM HERE!
Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza PAHLAVI was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces led by Ayatollah Ruhollah KHOMEINI established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader who, according to the constitution, is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts (AOE) - a popularly elected 88-member body of clerics. US-Iranian relations became strained when a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 and held embassy personnel hostages until mid-January 1981. The US cut off diplomatic relations with Iran in April 1980. During the period 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world and remains subject to US, UN, and EU economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement in terrorism and concerns over possible military dimensions of its nuclear program. Following the election of reformer Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad KHATAMI as president in 1997 and a reformist Majles (legislature) in 2000, a campaign to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction was initiated. The movement floundered as conservative politicians, supported by the Supreme Leader, unelected institutions of authority like the Council of Guardians, and the security services reversed and blocked reform measures while increasing security repression. Starting with nationwide municipal elections in 2003 and continuing through Majles elections in 2004, conservatives reestablished control over Iran's elected government institutions, which culminated with the August 2005 inauguration of hardliner Mahmud AHMADINEZHAD as president. His controversial reelection in June 2009 sparked nationwide protests over allegations of electoral fraud, but the protests were quickly suppressed. Deteriorating economic conditions due primarily to government mismanagement and international sanctions prompted at least two major economically based protests in July and October 2012, but Iran's internal security situation remained stable. President AHMADINEZHAD's independent streak angered regime establishment figures, including the Supreme Leader, leading to conservative opposition to his agenda for the last year of his presidency, and an alienation of his political supporters. In June 2013 Iranians elected a centrist cleric Dr. Hasan Fereidun ROHANI to the presidency. He is a longtime senior member in the regime, but has made promises of reforming society and Iran's foreign policy. The UN Security Council has passed a number of resolutions calling for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities and comply with its IAEA obligations and responsibilities, and in July 2015 Iran and the five permanent members, plus Germany (P5+1) signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) under which Iran agreed to restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Iran held elections in 2016 for the AOE and Majles, resulting in a conservative-controlled AOE and a Majles that many Iranians perceive as more supportive of the ROHANI administration than the previous, conservative-dominated body. RUHANI was reelected president in May 2017. Economic concerns once again led to nationwide protests in December 2017 and January 2018 but they were contained by Iran's security services. In May 2018, the US withdrew from the JCPOA and reinstituted economic sanctions on Iran in November.
Strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Area: total: 1,648,195 sq km
land: 1,531,595 sq km
Size comparison: almost 2.5 times the size of Texas; slightly smaller than Alaska
Land Boundaries: total: 5,894 km border countries (7): Afghanistan 921 km, Armenia 44 km, Azerbaijan 689 km, Iraq 1599 km, Pakistan 959 km, Turkey 534 km, Turkmenistan 1148 km
Coastline: 2,440 km - note: Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf
continental shelf: natural prolongation
Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
permanent crops: 1.2% (2011 est.) permanent pasture: 18.1% (2011 est.) forest: 6.8% (2011 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes
Current Environment Issues: air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization
International Environment Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Nationality: noun: Iranian(s)
adjective: Iranian
Ethnic groups: Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen and Turkic tribes
Languages: Persian (official), Azeri Turkic and Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Gilaki and Mazandarani, Luri, Balochi, Arabic
Religions: Muslim (official) 99.4% (Shia 90-95%, Sunni 5-10%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian) 0.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2011 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24.23% (male 10,291,493 /female 9,823,838)
65 years and over: 5.48% (male 2,111,390 /female 2,437,655) (2018 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 7.1 (2015 est.)
female: 31 years (2018 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 8.896 million TEHRAN (capital)
3.097 million Mashhad
2.041 million Esfahan
1.605 million Shiraz
1.585 million Karaj
1.582 million Tabriz (2018)
Infant mortality rate: total: 15.5 deaths/1,000 live births male: 16.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 77.4% (2010/11)
total: 90% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 60,000 (2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,500 (2017 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.1% (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 28.4% male: 24.2% female: 43.7% (2017 est.)
Country name: conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran
conventional short form: Iran
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
local short form: Iran
former: Persia
etymology: name derives from the Avestan term "aryanam" meaning "Land of the noble [ones]"
Government type: theocratic republic
Capital: name: Tehran
time difference: UTC+3.5 (8.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins fourth Wednesday in March; ends fourth Friday in September
Administrative divisions: 31 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Alborz, Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi (West Azerbaijan), Azarbayjan-e Sharqi (East Azerbaijan), Bushehr, Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Jonubi (South Khorasan), Khorasan-e Razavi (Razavi Khorasan), Khorasan-e Shomali (North Khorasan), Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Bowyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed);
notable earlier dates: ca. 550 B.C. (Achaemenid (Persian) Empire established); A.D. 1501 (Iran reunified under the Safavid Dynasty); 1794 (beginning of Qajar Dynasty); 12 December 1925 (modern Iran established under the PAHLAVI Dynasty)
National holiday: Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
Constitution: history: previous 1906; latest adopted 24 October 1979, effective 3 December 1979 amendments: proposed by the supreme leader – after consultation with the Exigency Council – and submitted as an edict to the "Council for Revision of the Constitution," a body consisting of various executive, legislative, judicial, and academic leaders and members; passage requires absolute majority vote in a referendum and approval of the supreme leader; articles including Iran’s political system, its religious basis, and its form of government cannot be amended; amended 1989 (2016)
Legal system: religious legal system based on secular and Islamic law
Executive branch: chief of state: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)
head of government: President Hasan Fereidun ROHANI (since 3 August 2013); First Vice President Eshagh JAHANGIRI (since 5 August 2013)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval; the supreme leader has some control over appointments to several ministries elections/appointments: supreme leader appointed for life by Assembly of Experts; president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term and an additional nonconsecutive term); election last held on 19 May 2017 (next to be held in 2021)
election results: Hasan Fereidun ROHANI reelected president; percent of vote - Hasan Fereidun ROHANI (Moderation and Development Party) 58.8%, Ebrahim RAI'SI (Combat Clergy Association) 39.4% , Mostafa MIR-SALIM Islamic Coalition Party) 1.2%, Mostafa HASHEMITABA(Executives of Construction Party) 0.5%
note: 3 oversight bodies are also considered part of the executive branch of government
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majles-e Shura-ye Eslami or Majles (290 seats; 285 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by 2-round vote, and 1 seat each for Zoroastrians, Jews, Assyrian and Chaldean Christians, Armenians in the north of the country and Armenians in the south; members serve 4-year terms); note - all candidates to the Majles must be approved by the Council of Guardians, a 12-member group of which 6 are appointed by the supreme leader and 6 are jurists nominated by the judiciary and elected by the Majles
elections: first round held on 26 February 2016 and second round for 68 remaining seats held on 29 April 2016; (next full Majles election to be held in 2020)
election results: percent of vote by coalition - List of Hope 37.2%, Principlists Grand Coalition 25.9%, People's Voice Coalition 4.5%, joint Hope/People's Voice 4.1%, joint People's Voice/Principlist 0.3%, religious minorities 1.7%, independent 26.4%; seats by coalition - List of Hope 108, Principlists Grand Coalition 75, People's Voice Coalition 13, joint Hope/People's Voice 12, joint People's Voice/Principlist 1, religious minorities 5, independent 76; composition - men 273, women 17, percent of women 5.9%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the president andn/ajudges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the head of the High Judicial Council (HJC), a 5-member body to include the Supreme Court chief justice, the prosecutor general, and 3 clergy, in consultation with judges of the Supreme Court; president appointed for a single, renewable 5-year term; other judges appointed by the HJC; judge tenure NA
subordinate courts: Penal Courts I and II; Islamic Revolutionary Courts; Courts of Peace; Special Clerical Court (functions outside the judicial system and handles cases involving clerics); military courts
Political parties and leaders: Combatant Clergy Association Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front Executives of Construction Party Followers of the Guardianship of the Jurisprudent [Ali LARIJANI] Front of Islamic Revolutionary Stability [Morteza AGHA-TEHRANI, general secretary] Islamic Coalition Party Islamic Iran Participation Front [associated with former President Mohammed KHATAMI] Militant Clerics Society Moderation and Development Party National Trust Party National Unity Party Pervasive Coalition of Reformists [Ali SUFI, chairman] (includes Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front, National Trust Party, Union of Islamic Iran People Party, Moderation and Development Party) Principlists Grand Coalition [Ali Reza ZAKANI] (includes Combatant Clergy Association and Islamic Coalition Party, Society of Devotees and Pathseekers of the Islamic Revolution, Front of Islamic Revolution Stability) Progress, Welfare, and Justice Front Progress and Justice Population of Islamic Iran or PJP [Hosein GHORBANZADEH, general secretary] Resistance Front of Islamic Iran [Yadollah HABIBI, general secretary] Steadfastness Front Union of Islamic Iran People's Party Wayfarers of the Islamic Revolution
International organization participation: CICA, CP, D-8, ECO, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, SAARC (observer), SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
National symbol(s): lion;
national colors: green, white, red
National anthem: name: "Soroud-e Melli-ye Jomhouri-ye Eslami-ye Iran" (National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran)
lyrics/music: multiple authors/Hassan RIAHI note 1: adopted 1990; Iran has had six national anthems; the first, entitled Salam-e Shah (Royal Salute) was in use from 1873-1909; next came Salamati-ye Dowlat-e Elliye-ye Iran (Salute of the Sublime State of Persia, 1909-1933); it was followed by Sorud-e melli (The Imperial Anthem of Iran; 1933-1979), which chronicled the exploits of the Pahlavi Dynasty; Ey Iran (Oh Iran) functioned unofficially as the national anthem for a brief period between the ouster of the Shah in 1979 and the early days of the Islamic Republic in 1980; Payandeh Bada Iran (Long Live Iran) was used between 1980 and 1990 during the time of Ayatollah KHOMEINI note 2: a recording of the current Iranian national anthem is unavailable since the US Navy Band does not record anthems for countries from which the US does not anticipate official visits; the US does not have diplomatic relations with Iran
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007;
telephone: [1] (202) 965-4990; FAX [1] (202) 965-1073
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note - the US Interests Section is located in the Embassy of Switzerland, No. 39 Shahid Mousavi (Golestan 5th), Pasdaran Ave., Tehran, Iran; telephone [98] 21 2254 2178/2256 5273; FAX [98] 21 2258 0432
Iran's economy is marked by statist policies, inefficiencies, and reliance on oil and gas exports, but Iran also possesses significant agricultural, industrial, and service sectors. The Iranian government directly owns and operates hundreds of state-owned enterprises and indirectly controls many companies affiliated with the country's security forces. Distortions - including corruption, price controls, subsidies, and a banking system holding billions of dollars of non-performing loans - weigh down the economy, undermining the potential for private-sector-led growth. Private sector activity includes small-scale workshops, farming, some manufacturing, and services, in addition to medium-scale construction, cement production, mining, and metalworking. Significant informal market activity flourishes and corruption is widespread. The lifting of most nuclear-related sanctions under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in January 2016 sparked a restoration of Iran’s oil production and revenue that drove rapid GDP growth, but economic growth declined in 2017 as oil production plateaued. The economy continues to suffer from low levels of investment and declines in productivity since before the JCPOA, and from high levels of unemployment, especially among women and college-educated Iranian youth. In May 2017, the re-election of President Hasan RUHANI generated widespread public expectations that the economic benefits of the JCPOA would expand and reach all levels of society. RUHANI will need to implement structural reforms that strengthen the banking sector and improve Iran’s business climate to attract foreign investment and encourage the growth of the private sector. Sanctions that are not related to Iran’s nuclear program remain in effect, and these—plus fears over the possible re-imposition of nuclear-related sanctions—will continue to deter foreign investors from engaging with Iran.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.64 trillion (2017 est.) $1.581 trillion (2016 est.) $1.405 trillion (2015 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.7% (2017 est.) 12.5% (2016 est.) -1.6% (2015 est.)
Gross national saving: 37.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 37.6% of GDP (2016 est.) 35.2% of GDP (2015 est.) GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 49.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 14% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.6% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 14.5% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 26% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -24.9% (2017 est.) GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 9.6% (2016 est.) industry: 35.3% (2016 est.) services: 55% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products: wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, sugarcane, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, gas, fertilizer, caustic soda, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous and nonferrous metal fabrication, armaments
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 30.5 million (2017 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 16.3%
Unemployment rate: 11.8% (2017 est.) 12.4% (2016 est.) note: data are Iranian Government numbers
highest 10%: 29.6% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 44.5 (2006)
Budget: revenues: 74.4 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 84.45 billion (2017 est.)
note: includes publicly guaranteed debt
Fiscal year: 21 March - 20 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.6% (2017 est.) 9.1% (2016 est.) note: official Iranian estimate
Current account balance: $9.491 billion (2017 est.) $16.28 billion (2016 est.)
Exports: $101.4 billion (2017 est.) $83.98 billion (2016 est.)
Exports - commodities: petroleum 60%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets, cement, ore
Exports - partners: China 27.5%, India 15.1%, South Korea 11.4%, Turkey 11.1%, Italy 5.7%, Japan 5.3% (2017)
Imports - commodities: industrial supplies, capital goods, foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services
Imports - partners: UAE 29.8%, China 12.7%, Turkey 4.4%, South Korea 4%, Germany 4% (2017)
Debt - external: $7.995 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $8.196 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: $50.33 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $46.02 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: $5.226 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $4.656 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares: $89.43 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $116.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $345.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IRR) per US dollar - 32,769.7 (2017 est.) 30,914.9 (2016 est.) 30,914.9 (2015 est.) 29,011.5 (2014 est.) 25,912 (2013 est.)
Electricity - production: 272.3 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 77.6 million kW (2016 est.)
Crude oil - production: 4.469 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 750,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 157.2 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 1.804 million bbl/day (2016 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 11.64 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 3.993 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 33.72 trillion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: 638.3 million Mt (2017 est.)
Cellular Phones in use: total subscriptions: 87,106,508
Telephone system: general assessment: opportunities for telecoms growth, but the disadvantage of lack of significant investment; one of the largest populations in the Middle East with a huge demand for services; mobile penetration is high with over 125% accessing 2G & 3G; 4G LTE becoming available; Iranian-net, is currently expanding a fiber network to have 8 million customers by 2020 (2018)
domestic: 38 per 100 for fixed-line and 106 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions; heavy investment by Iran's state-owned telecom company has greatly improved and expanded both the fixed-line and mobile cellular networks; a huge percentage of the cell phones in the market have been smuggled into the country (2018)
international: country code - 98; submarine fiber-optic cable to UAE with access to Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from Azerbaijan through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with expansion to Georgia and Azerbaijan; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; satellite earth stations - 13 (9 Intelsat and 4 Inmarsat)
Broadcast media: state-run broadcast media with no private, independent broadcasters; Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the state-run TV broadcaster, operates 19 nationwide channels including a news channel, about 34 provincial channels, and several international channels; about 20 foreign Persian-language TV stations broadcasting on satellite TV are capable of being seen in Iran; satellite dishes are illegal and, while their use is subjectively tolerated, authorities confiscate satellite dishes from time to time; IRIB operates 16 nationwide radio networks, a number of provincial stations, and an external service; most major international broadcasters transmit to Iran (2019)
Internet country code: .ir
Internet users: total: 36.07 million
Airports: 319 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 135 (2013)
Pipelines: 7 km condensate, 973 km condensate/gas, 20794 km gas, 570 km liquid petroleum gas, 8625 km oil, 7937 km refined products (2013)
(2014) standard gauge: 8,389.5 km 1.435-m gauge (189.5 km electrified) (2014) broad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gauge (2014)
Roadways: total 223,485 km
(2018) paved: 195,485 km (2018)
unpaved: 28,000 km (2018)
Waterways: 850 km (on Karun River; some navigation on Lake Urmia) (2012)
by type: bulk carrier 31, container ship 25, general cargo 336, oil tanker 17, other 311 (2018)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Bandar-e Asaluyeh, Bandar Abbas, Bandar Emam container port(s) (TEUs): Bandar Abbas (2,607,000) (2017)
Military branches: Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (Artesh): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force (IRIAF), Khatemolanbia Air Defense Headquarters; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enqelab-e Eslami, IRGC): Ground Forces, Navy, Aerospace Force, Qods Force (special operations); Law Enforcement Forces (2019)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 17 years of age for Law Enforcement Forces; 15 years of age for Basij Forces (Popular Mobilization Army); conscript military service obligation is 18-24 months; women exempt from military service (2019)
Military expenditures: 5% of GDP (2017) 4.4% of GDP (2016) 4.4% of GDP (2015) 3.3% of GDP (2014) 4.3% of GDP (2013)
Disputes - International: Iran protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed Helmand River tributaries during drought; Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island, which are occupied by Iran; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on a one-fifth slice of the sea; Afghan and Iranian commissioners have discussed boundary monument densification and resurvey
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 2.5-3.0 (1 million registered, 1.5-2.0 million undocumented) (Afghanistan) (2017); 28,268 (Iraq) (2018)
Illicit drugs: despite substantial interdiction efforts and considerable control measures along the border with Afghanistan, Iran remains one of the primary transshipment routes for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe; suffers one of the highest opiate addiction rates in the world, and has an increasing problem with synthetic drugs; regularly enforces the death penalty for drug offences; lacks anti-money laundering laws; has reached out to neighboring countries to share counter-drug intelligence
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Board index Comments World Politics
News from Sweden.
Discuss world politics in relation to Islam and Muslims.
Post by Ariel » Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:38 pm
Swedish employment office to open in Ethiopia
The Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) plans to open an office in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa in an effort to prepare emigrating Somalis for life in Sweden.
The purpose of the pilot project is to assist Somalis who have received a Swedish residence permit on family reunification grounds but who have not yet arrived in Sweden.
In 2012, a Swedish Migration Court decision opened the door for many Somalis to join family members who have permission to stay in Sweden. The Swedish embassy in Addis Ababa processes these applications.
By mapping out the residency applicants’ professional and educational backgrounds, the Public Employment Service hopes to find suitable places in Sweden where they can apply for work.
“If we can help prepare them we believe we can win time, quite simply, when it comes to their establishment in Sweden,” Mattias Wahlsten, operations coordinator at the Public Employment Service, told Sveriges Radio (SR).
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The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of the fool to the left.
Re: News from Sweden.
Somalis in Sweden demand free housing and more money. Take a minute of you time to look at this video.
Post by Ariel » Fri Feb 22, 2013 12:28 am
Sweden: 6.7% (primary Muslim) pop welfare burden so high local council has to cut meals in elderly care
The end of bread, butter and milk for the elderly in Härjedalen
Härjedalen is reducing all accessory food deliveries in their home care. From now on there will be no more bread, butter or dessert to the elderly. But they must still pay the same fee for food, reports Swedish Radio.
The municipality has recently had a sharp priority to receive the ever increasing flow of immigrants.
In Sveg an existing accommodation for young immigrant, which since its inception has been characterized by fights and turmoil, has been supplemented with additional accommodation at a cost of 5.5 million Swedish Kroner. The accommodation served the men around the clock by a staff that is as large as the number of immigrants.
The municipality has also seen a large increase in the number of refugees, especially from Syria. In Hede it was recently decided to provide free houses to all Syrians granted residence permits.
According to the municipality, immigrants prove to be a predictive pension savior.
- We need to see this in the longer term where we already know we will have many retirements in different occupational groups. We should see this as a resource, says municipal manager Inger Lagerquist to our question on the free apartments to Syrians.
Swedish Radio
Local Council Statistics (below): The township of Härjedalen in Sweden has a mere 6.7% immigrant population, of which the overwhelming majority is Muslim, who now over represent government handouts to such extent they have passed the entire local native population. This massive cost in payouts to immigrants, who tend to be intentional permanent welfare recipients with no active employment, has forced the local council to cut expenses in other services such as food servings to the elderly in elderly care.
Graph: Light Green = Foreign born, 6.7%. Dark Green = Swedish born, 93.3%. Red = amounts in payments overrepresented. (Within Swedish born is included children of migrants). Immigrant cost in 2012 was 51.4% of the entire annual budget for the township of Härjedalen covering a mere 6.7% population.
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Post by Jimi » Fri Feb 22, 2013 6:07 pm
We have to be careful. Sometimes it can sound like immigrate bashing when we look at Muslim immigration problems. This does not help us attack Islam. It only contributes to Muslims playing the role of the victims. The anti Islam people should not side with anti immigrating groups. We need to focus on the message of real Islam and sharia law in the west.
We need to expose the lies of Islam for western consumption. We need to show how Islam is the source of many of the problems facing newly arrived Muslims in the west. And we need to avoid being labeled as anti immigration. We are pro people and freedom. We want the best for everyone. And we don't think Islam is the answer to any of the problems we face today. In fact in many cases Islam is the problem, not immigration.
Exsposing the danger of Islam and the sharia should be what we focus on.
May the example of pbuh guild you to the truth.
StrongLove
Post by StrongLove » Fri Feb 22, 2013 10:08 pm
Agreed! But I don't think thats what Ariel was getting at.
Immigration is not a bad thing. My home, Canada wouldn't exist as it is without it. Everyone here, including aborigines, came from elsewhere. One of my grandparents, one of my Great Grandparents & my Wife are all immigrants.
If this becomes about race then we are the haters instead of those who are defending against aggressors.
"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you."
We must always be careful that the outrage we all feel about islamic aggression not turn into hate.
" The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men."
Post by Ariel » Sat Feb 23, 2013 1:07 am
Jimi wrote:
Yes Jimi. Immigration is not a bad thing when you have immigrants who integrate, but most Muslims in Europe don't intergrate you know . Immigration here has to stop. More than 23 million Muslims reside in Europe. That is a lot, because in Europa we do not have the space you have in the USA and Canada.
The growing Muslim presence in Europe has tended to cluster geographically within individual states, particularly in industrialized, urban areas within clearly defined, if not self-encapsulated, poorer neighborhoods such as Berlin’s Kreuzberg district, London’s Tower Hamlets, and the banlieues in France. Some suburbs in Belgium we don't recognize anymore. It is as if you walk in Morocco or in an other Islamic country.
This is Brussels.
What I wanted to do, was tell you of some of the problems our countries experience with the muslims immigration .
But I won't bother you anymore with stories from here.
Post by StrongLove » Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:01 am
They don't integrate well here either. While they only make 2.8 % of our population we hear Canada mentioned way to often in connection with terrorists. They immigrated here or their parents do & when they grow up they're off to Pakistan for training.
In 2006 "The Toronto 18" were arrested for
"They were accused of planning to detonate truck bombs, to open fire in a crowded area, and to storm the Canadian Broadcasting Centre, the Canadian Parliament building, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) headquarters, and the parliamentary Peace Tower to take hostages and to behead the Prime Minister and other leaders"
Last year it was
" The Algerian government claims two Canadians of Arab descent were part of the assault on the Sahara desert facility, which ended with 38 workers dead along with more than two dozen of the hostage takers"
And we have"The notorious Khadr family was closely involved with Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda before and after the 9/11 terror attacks. Patriarch Ahmed Said Khadr, a bagman for the terror group, was killed by Pakistani forces near the Afghan border in 2003. His four sons were all involved and second-youngest Omar Khadr spent a decade imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay for murder before being transferred to Canadian custody last September"
And it goes on "As recently as last summer, the National Post reported William Plotnikov, a 23-year-old Canadian Muslim convert from Toronto, had been killed by Russian forces battling Islamists in Dagestan, which borders Chechnya"
Muslims do not integrate, they infest and they infect the society they inhabit with a savage & violent ideology.
Post by Ariel » Sat Feb 23, 2013 11:01 am
StrongLove wrote:
True. They want to bring their home country with all its idiotic ideology and habits to the country they immigrate to. And you know Stronglove, I can't blame them. In Europe they get free money, free houses, free everything, and they are treated by the left-wingers like precious, innocent ,fragile children you have to take care of.
I blame our governments who encourage those people to come. EU sold it's soul to OPEC in 1975. Oil for immigration.
For years I have wondered how our government, without acception, all use the same sweet, milky clichés concerning issues about the now so troubling muslim-immigration. Not only here in Holland but on the entire west-European continent! Never before I've heard them speak about the "enrichment of our society" or "education with retention of native culture and language" and all of a sudden, they all spoke with the same tongue, like they where magically enchanted.
Obama is doing to the U.S. what the European Commission did to Europe with the Stassburg convenant of 1975. He is opening the doors for MASS-MUSLIMISATION. We cannot change or go back to how it was here in Europe, but it seems the same tactics and strategy is used by mr. Obama these days.
Post by ringmaster » Thu Mar 28, 2013 9:51 pm
StrongLove wrote: They don't integrate well here either. ......................
Ariel wrote: ......................
Yes Jimi. Immigration is not a bad thing when you have immigrants who integrate, but most Muslims in Europe don't intergrate you know . ........................
Why would you or anyone else expect muslims to integrate? It has been tried over and over again and it never works.
To paraphrase Einstein, if you you try the same thing again and again, and expect a different result, you belong in a mental hospital.
Besides, to integrate would be against the teaching of their religion. To integrate would fly into the face of supremacist verse 9-29.
Post by Ariel » Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:56 pm
SWEDEN: Muslim Socialist leader wants Swedish Defense Forces to “bomb Israel and exterminate Jews”
Arab Muslim refugee to Sweden, Omar Mustafa, who is a close friend of Muslim jihadists, was elected to the board of the largest political party in Sweden, Socialdemokraterna, the Socialist party.
And no one in the Socialist party, or in any of the other parties, has condemned his incendiary remarks.
http://www.barenakedislam.com/2013/04/1 ... nate-jews/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
More wonderful news from Sweden. Although, nothing new. In the Netherlands mosques are also allowed to make prayer call from all mosques throughout the whole country, and I guess in England it is normal too.
GOODBYE SWEDEN: Police allow eardrum shattering Islamic Call to Prayer from Stockholm mosque
A mosque in the south of Stockholm was given the all-clear by Swedish police to make prayer calls from its minaret, the first time such permission has ever been granted in the country. Now it’s once a week for 5 minutes. Soon it will be five times a day for 5 minutes each time.
The Stockholm police removed the final hurdle for prayer calls, ruling that the call to prayer would be allowed for between three to five minutes on Fridays between midday and 1pm. Local councillors had already approved the move in principle.
“I’m happy, very happy,” Ismail Okur, chair of the Botkyrka Islamic Association (Islamiska föreningen i Botkyrka), told Sveriges Radio (SR). ”It means a great deal for our association and above all for our religion, and for the prayer,” he added.He added that despite the long process of getting the process allowed, he was never worried that the plans would not be approved.
In September, the Botkyrka municipality’s city planning committee voted in favour of scrapping a 1994 prohibition on allowing prayer calls, which dates back from before the construction of the mosque. The mosque was built in 2007 in the municipality’s Fittja district and has over 1,500 members.
Post by Ariel » Mon May 13, 2013 11:31 pm
And it is even worse now.
The New York Times and Sweden: The Dark Side of Paradise
Robert Spencer and Hugh Fitzgerald of Jihad Watch have a nickname for newspaper the New York Times, which they prefer to call “the New Duranty Times” owing to what they perceive as its poor coverage of the global Islamic jihad. The name, of course, comes from Walter Duranty, former Pulitzer Prize winner and Moscow correspondent for The New York Times in the 1930s. Duranty repeatedly denied the existence of a Ukrainian famine in 1932–33. In an article in NYT, August 24 1933, he claimed “any report of a famine is today an exaggeration or malignant propaganda,” while millions of people were dying. According to Spencer and Fitzgerald, this spirit of denial seems to be alive and well at the NYT 70 years later.
In the New York Times May 10, 2006, Alan Cowell wrote an article from Sweden entitled “An Economy With Safety Features, Sort of Like a Volvo.” Now, in all fairness, Mr. Cowell does mention potential problems in Sweden, not the least that massive immigration is rapidly changing what was once a very ethnically homogeneous nation state. “Up to 10 years ago it was very homogeneous as a country. Everything was very alike. Up until then all Swedes looked the same; almost thought the same. Because we are all so equal, we can share the pain of the problems.” However, at the same time Cowell indicates that Scandinavia may need even more immigration to finance its welfare state, and quotes a report by the European Policy Center, a research institute in Brussels, saying that “Scandinavia’s “negative approach towards immigration” might “represent the biggest threat to the long-term survival” of the Nordic model, since Scandinavian economies need “a constant flux of foreign talent and workers in general.” Still, despite these objections, Cowell concludes that “the economy prospers — even though taxes here remain high and big government administers cradle-to-grave social programs that absorb more than half of the national output” and that “compared with some other parts of Europe, there is still some optimism here.” This is sloppy journalism. If Cowell had done anything more than scratching the surface, he would have found that Europe is in the midst of massive waves of Muslim immigration that are in the process of transforming the continent into a post-Western entity some call “Eurabia.” Sweden is one of the leading countries in this process, quite possibly the worst of them all, and yet freedom of speech in debating these topics in public has become de facto so curtailed that one could question whether Sweden in 2006 is still a functioning democracy.
Cowell states that “Sweden’s official unemployment rate of 4.8 percent, many economists say, is distorted by the omission of people in government-financed retraining programs. The labor unions calculate the real figure at closer to 8 percent.” In fact, some Swedes believe that the real unemployment rate may be three times as big as even this higher estimate. Hans Karlsson, a leftwing heavyweight, concluded that true unemployment was more in the ballpark of 20-25%, not 5% as the government was claiming. Even the official numbers show that the Swedish economic model is in serious trouble. Young adults born in the 1980’s have an appreciably lower standard of living in Sweden than older generations. We can already see some major cracks in the Swedish welfare state. Sweden is struggling to pay the bills for the tens of thousands of workers on long-term disability and an expanding group of young people leaving the workforce altogether on so-called “early retirement.” 500,000 people are on early retirement in Sweden today, 68,000 of whom are between the ages of 20 and 40. “If the sick-leave levels in Sweden really were an indicator of how sick we are, we would be facing a plague here,” as one commentator put it.
High unemployment in Sweden will be tackled by creating more public sector jobs, even if that means breaking the government’s spending limits. That was the message from Göran Persson, Swedish Social Democratic prime minister. The jobs will be targeted mainly at young people and the long-term unemployed. They will be given jobs in government agencies, mainly doing desk jobs or looking after old people. Proposals that were highlighted by Persson included using the long-term unemployed to “help old people to hang curtains.”
Johnny Munkhammar of Timbro, a free market think-tank of Swedish Enterprise, explains that the Scandinavian model is not all it’s cracked up to be. Sweden had the second highest growth rate in the world from 1890 to 1950, but since the tax rate rose from 20 % in 1950 to 50 % in 1980 it had fallen behind. For example, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Sweden was the fourth richest country per capita in the world in 1970 whereas now it is down to number 14, and falling. Maybe the welfare state only seemed to be a success in Scandinavia because these nations had been dynamic capitalist countries prior to this, ethnically homogeneous and based upon a Protestant work ethic. While this legacy kept the welfare system afloat for some time, it is now rapidly being eroded.
More immigrants should be allowed into Sweden in order to safeguard the welfare system. That’s the view of Pär Nuder, Sweden’s finance minister. However, in reality estimates indicate that immigration costs Sweden at least 40 to 50 billion Swedish kroner every year, probably several hundred billions, and has greatly contributed to bringing the Swedish welfare state to the brink of bankruptcy. An estimated cost of immigration of 225 billion Swedish kroner in 2004, which is not unlikely, would equal 17.5% of Sweden’s tax income that year, a heavy burden in a country where the overall tax burden between 1990 and 2005 on average was 61%, almost one and a half times the OECD average.
In neighboring Denmark, right-wing politicians are already debating the threat of a spillover of immigrant “welfare tourists,” should the Swedish system collapse. At the same time, statistics indicate that native Scandinavians will become a minority in their own countries within a couple of generations, if the current immigration trends continue. One thousand years ago Scandinavians were the barbarians of Europe, spreading fear and extracting “Danegeld” from their more civilized neighbors. In the 21st century Scandinavians are peaceful and soft-spoken, and the roles seem to have been reversed with certain newly arrived immigrants. While their political elites insist that immigration is “good for the economy,” Scandinavians are in reality funding their own colonization. Although the cost of welfare is significant, it pales in comparison to the price paid through rapidly declining social harmony and increasing insecurity caused by Muslim immigration. Some of the increase in insecurity is due to the rise of mafia groups and organized crime, but most is mainly due to terror threats and intimidation of critics of Islam and Muslim immigration.
Children in the Swedish city of Gothenburg are to become the first in the world to be given the vote in a referendum. Two official referenda will be held in which only children between 5 and 12 will be eligible to vote. The results of the polls will decide two local issues - the appearance of a new tram and the design of a new library card. A country that even gives the vote to 5-year-old children must be a model of democracy, right? Well, not necessarily, if the political elites treat the rest of the population as children, too. Jens Orback, Democracy Minister in the Social Democratic government, is worried about people who threaten and harass politicians and want these to face tougher penalties. Nearly three out of four Riksdag (parliament) deputies say that they have been subjected to harassment, threats or violence because of their positions. For elected representatives in local government the figure was around one in three. The minister blamed threats and violence against elected representatives “on the public’s lack of faith in politicians.”
But if Sweden is such a paradise, why are so many people angry with their politicians? Perhaps there is something going on beneath the surface? Maybe ordinary citizens feel that the political elites don’t want to deal with the issues they care about? Sweden is a semi-totalitarian country. It’s all about façade. On the surface, Sweden is a tolerant nation and peaceful democracy. In reality, there is massive media censorship by a closed elite that is scared of having a debate about immigration. Opinion polls have revealed that two out of three Swedes doubt whether Islam can be combined with Swedish society, and a very significant proportion of the population have for years wanted more limitations on immigration. Yet not one party represented in the Swedish Parliament is genuinely critical of the Multicultural society or the current immigration policies. The Swedish elite congratulate themselves that they have managed to keep “xenophobic” parties from gaining a foothold while the country is sinking underneath their feet.
Jonathan Friedman is a New York Jew, now living with his Swedish wife in the southern Swedish city of Malmö where he teaches socio-anthropology. According to him, “no debate about immigration policies is possible, the subject is simply avoided. Sweden has such a close connection between the various powerful groups, politicians, journalists, etc. The political class is closed, isolated.”
Two Swedish girls were sent home from school for wearing sweaters showing a tiny Swedish flag. The headmaster was concerned that this might be deemed offensive by some immigrants. Helle Klein, political editor of the newspaper Aftonbladet, boasts: “If the debate is going to be about whether there are problems with immigrants, we don’t want it.” Hans Bergström, former editor-in-chief of the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, worries that Sweden has become “a one-party state.” According to Friedman, the elites are nervous and worried to see their power slip away. And therefore they want to silence critics, as for instance the Sweden Democrats, a small rightist party outside parliament opposed to immigration. “It is a completely legal party, they just aren’t allowed to speak. It is absurdly undemocratic. They are marginalised. They are isolated and ridiculed. . . . and then they are called undemocratic.
In reality, the basis of democracy has been completely turned on its head. It is said: ‘democracy is a certain way of thinking, a specific set of opinions, and if you do not share them, then you aren’t democratic, and then we condemn you and you ought to be eliminated. The People? That is not democratic. We the Elite, we are democracy.’ It is grotesque and it certainly has nothing to do with democracy, more like a kind of moral dictatorship.”
Before the national elections in the fall of 2006, members of all the established parties, including the so-called right-wing opposition, are cooperating in efforts to boycott any collaboration with the Sweden Democrats or other “xenophobic” parties after the elections. This is widely applauded by the Swedish media establishment. The majority of headmasters in Stockholm’s high schools want to block the Sweden Democrats from participating in pre-election debates at their schools because they disagree with their “perspective on humanity.” Party members can seldom hold meetings without being hassled by political hooligans, who make noise, destroy equipment or even resort to violence. Violent assaults and life threatening attacks against members of the Sweden Democrats, by Muslims or “anti-Fascists,” have taken place many times, but are rarely mentioned in the media. No dissent is tolerated in Sweden.
In one such attack, which extreme Leftists were later openly bragging about on the Internet, around 30 members of the Sweden Democrats were attending a private party outside the town of Växjö. “To clearly demonstrate that the Sweden Democrats are not welcome in our area, about 20 anti-Fascists chose to attack the party.” “The Sweden Democrats were attacked with knives, axes, iron bars and other weapons. After that, their cars were destroyed.” The brave Leftists then smashed the windows and threw tear gas into the building, forcing people outside, where they were again attacked and beaten with iron bars and axes. Several of the people were hospitalized after the attack. This was a peaceful, private party by unarmed members of a perfectly legal political party that just happens to be critical of the country’s immigration policies. These brave Leftists or “anti-Fascists” do, for some curious reason, seem to behave pretty much like, well, Fascists, a bit like the Brown Shirts in the 1930s, physically assaulting political opponents to silence them. In another incident in Stockholm, members of the Sweden Democrats handing out leaflets for the party were attacked by a group of extreme Leftists, who started beating and kicking them. One of them got tear gas sprayed in his face. According to Oscar Sjöstedt from the Sweden Democrats in Stockholm, this was the third tear gas attack against them in a few months.
Seemingly encouraged by the silence over these attacks from the police and the political establishment, who seem in no rush to stop these assaults on troublesome political opponents, the extreme Leftists have recently stepped up their attacks to also include mainstream parties represented in parliament. Two windows were smashed at the Centre Party’s offices in Stockholm. Several of the Centre Party’s offices around the country have been vandalised. A party representative said that they suspected that the attacks were in protest against the party’s proposal for special labour agreements for newly employed young people. Similar attacks have been carried out elsewhere. On the Internet and at demonstrations, a ‘faction of the Invisible Party’, a group said to be extreme left anarchists, has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
While critics of immigration are demonized in Sweden, Communists are much more accepted. The Left Party is a support party for the current Swedish Social Democratic government, whose party does not hold a majority in parliament by itself. Leader of the Left Party, Lars Ohly, has called himself a Communist after he was elected party leader. In 1999, a decade after the fall of the Berlin Wall, he stated that: “I stand for a modern Leninism based on class struggle.” He has also said that “we must never accept a conception of democracy elevated far above the class struggle.” Senior party members had close contact with the repressive regimes in Eastern Europe during the Cold War. In Sweden, it is OK to openly support an ideology that killed 100 million people during the 20th century and enslaved millions more, but “undemocratic” to call for limitations in Muslim immigration.
The website “The Local”, a good source of Swedish news translated to English, notes that it looks increasingly likely that any government led by the Social Democrats will also include the Left Party in a formal coalition after this fall. Apart from quoting approvingly from Marx’s Communist Manifesto, “the party’s economic policy document contains such gems as a six hour working day, renationalization of previously state-owned companies, and policies for large companies to be taken over by workers or the state.” For the past two parliaments, the Social Democrats have ruled with support from the Greens and the Left Party, but neither party has been given a formal place in government. Soon, Sweden “could have cabinet ministers arguing for large tax increases in a country which already has one of the world’s highest tax burdens. Alternatively, they could be demanding nationalization of industry in a country where the state already owns mining companies, mortgage lenders, drinks makers, pharmacies and betting companies.” The leader of the Left Party is putting his foot down before national elections this September. If the Left Party doesn’t get a ministerial post, Lars Ohly told newspaper Dagens Nyheter his party might not support a Social Democrat-led minority government.
Swedish blog the Stockholm Spectator comments on the strong support for these “reformed” Communists among Swedish journalists, documented by opinion polls: “Unlike the American media landscape, where accusations of bias are routinely leveled and ritually denied, it isn’t uncommon in Sweden to admit that coverage is lop-sided. Left-wing journalist Jan Guillo, responding to a study showing a disproportionate amount of Left Party (former Communist party) voters in Stockholm newsrooms, admitted that “The statistics are true…There is a definite overrepresentation of leftists in the media world.” The same Guillo has also bragged about the fact that unlike Scandinavian neighbors Norway and Denmark, Sweden doesn’t have a significant political party critical of Muslim immigration. This is, according to him, because Swedish intellectuals have stuck together to prevent this from happening. “Swedish Radio correspondent Ceclia Udden who, when accused of systematic bias in covering the American election, blithely agreed with her critics and expressed bewilderment as to why anyone would be bothered by such trivialities. “On such issues as the US right and Israel…there was a Swedish…consensus, and any reporting had to be based on that,” she said.”
Ethnologist Maria Bäckman, in her study “Whiteness and gender,” has followed a group of Swedish girls in the suburb of Rinkeby outside Stockholm, where native Swedes have been turned into a tiny minority of the inhabitants due to rapid immigration. The subjects of the study were “teenage girls, living in the suburbs, who are identified both by themselves and by others as Swedish. But they are Swedes living in what is usually called an immigrant suburb. Thus they are seen as different.” “They may encounter prejudices such as the idea that Swedish girls act and dress in a sexually provocative way or that blonde girls are easy.” Bäckman relates that several of the girls she interviewed stated that they had dyed their hair to avoid unwanted attention and sexual harassment. They experienced that being blonde involves old men staring at you, cars honking their horns and boys calling you “whore.” We thus have a situation where being blonde in certain areas of Sweden means being a target of harassment. The Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten visited Rinkeby to find out if the rumors were true. They spent several hours there, in a suburb of the Swedish capital, without finding a single blonde, Swedish girl. Almost all the inhabitants there are of immigrant background. Virtually none of them referred to themselves as Swedish, they usually said they came from somewhere else. Many of them also asked the journalists questions about Swedes, to hear what they are like. They thought Swedes were idiots, but they hardly ever met any of them.
A report from organization Save the Children tells of how being a young Swedish girl today means feeling unsafe. The girls are scared of being raped, a possibility that appears very real to them. Many girls are planning how to go home at night, how to pretend to be talking on the mobile phone, how to keep their keys in their hand to defend themselves or how to simply run all the way home. Both the fear and the choice of strategies indicate that many girls feel genuinely unsafe outdoors during certain hours of the day. The fear is well founded. A striking number of girls have experienced harassment from boys or men. Most frequently, the harassment comes from boys of the same age as the girls. Being called “whore” has become so common in some schools that several of the girls say the teachers no longer react to this.
Tensta is a suburb in northern Stockholm with a very high concentration of immigrants. Nalin Pekgul, a member of parliament between 1994 and 2002, recently left Tensta because she thought it had become too unsafe. “I understood then that many are wearing bulletproof vests here. What has happened here, I wondered. Is this Tensta?” Pekgul, who is a Muslim herself, has also noted that fundamentalistic variants of Islam are growing stronger in Tensta. Her children come home and wonder why their mother doesn’t wear a hijab or why their family don’t go to the mosque. “I don’t like it when my son comes home and says that ‘Mom, we Muslims don’t lie, but Christians do, because they don’t have God.’ He hasn’t got that from us,” she says. Actress Ylva Törnlund has visited several schools in Tensta, and was alarmed by the harsh atmosphere she discovered there. “The attitudes we meet in the schools are frightening. One boy talked about how girls should be f**ked to pieces until they bleed,” Törnlund said. She decided to visit the area after a rape that took place in a public bath nearby in broad daylight. A 17-year-old girl was raped, and none of the other guests did anything to stop this. The girl was first approached by a 16-year-old boy. He and his friends followed her as she walked away into a grotto, and inside the grotto he got her blocked in the corner, ripped off her bikini and raped her, while his friend held her firm.
“It is not as wrong raping a Swedish girl as raping an Arab girl,” says Hamid, in an interview about another gang rape involving a Swedish girl and immigrant perps. “The Swedish girl gets a lot of help afterwards, and she had probably f**ked before, anyway. But the Arab girl will get problems with her family. For her, being raped is a source of shame. It is important that she retains her virginity until she marries.”“It is far too easy to get a Swedish whore…… girl, I mean;” says Hamid, and laughs over his own choice of words. “Many immigrant boys have Swedish girlfriends when they are teenagers. But when they get married, they get a proper woman from their own culture who has never been with a boy. That’s what I am going to do. I don’t have too much respect for Swedish girls. I guess you can say they get f**ked to pieces.” The number of rape charges in Sweden has quadrupled in just above twenty years. Rape cases involving children under the age of 15 are six times as common today as they were a generation ago. Resident aliens from Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia dominate the group of rape suspects. Lawyer Ann Christine Hjelm, who has investigated violent crimes in one court, found that 85 per cent of the convicted rapists were born on foreign soil or by foreign parents.
The official explanation given by Swedish authorities to this increase is that much of it is a “technical” increase due to the fact that more victims of rape now report this crime to the police. There is not a hint of evidence for this explanation. On the contrary, intimidation of people reporting any kind of crime to the police has rapidly worsened in Sweden during the same time period. Threats against witnesses in Swedish court cases quadrupled between 2000 and 2003 alone. Besides, there is a lack of trust among the general public in the efficiency of their police force. Street violence of all kinds is soaring on a national level. Private security companies are in great demand in major Swedish cities, as a serious lack of police to combat rising crime has made many citizens tired of being robbed. The number of reported cases of physical abuse/assault in Stockholm has tripled in three decades. The number of people under the age of 18 who are serving sentences in juvenile detention centres has risen sharply over the last five years. Gangs of 14- and 15-year-olds raping and robbing is now common in many Stockholm suburbs. Mafia networks demanding protecting money from private businesses are increasingly common. Organized crime is no longer just a problem in the major cities. It has now spread throughout most of Sweden. At the same time, the underfunded and undermanned Swedish police officers feel “unmotivated” to fight crime, according to a study made by police researcher Stefan Holgersson, who interviewed 2000 Swedish police officers.
One person who seems to have a better grasp than Mr. Cowell of what’s happening with Muslim immigration in Sweden and Europe is Christopher Caldwell, who has written several articles about the topic, including one in the New York Times in February 2006 called “Islam on the Outskirts of the Welfare State.” Visting the Stockholm immigrant suburb of Rinkeby, Caldwell asked whether something like the French riots of the fall of 2005, with burning cars and rampaging gangs, could happen in Sweden. “Absolutely,” said one lanky boy near the window. “People burn cars here all the time. Not because they’re angry — because they think it’s fun.” In January, former Swedish MP Nalin Pekgul had a public discussion with the French feminist Fadela Amara about changes in France. “Whenever she talked about France,” Pekgul recalls, “it sounded like we were undergoing the same changes France did, only 10 years behind. It was the first time I had thought: I’m going to have to leave. It’s not going to get better.” Caldwell also noted, while mentioning the fact that immigrants still tend to marry someone from their original homeland, that in Sweden, unlike Denmark, “public discussion of this kind of endogamy is muted, although Swedes complain in private that it slows integration and unacceptably widens the number of potential new immigrants. “It’s nothing you can talk about,” says one educator at a Million Program school. “In general, we despise the Danes for raising this.” The rise of a right-wing anti-immigrant party, along the lines of the Danish People’s Party, appears unlikely in Sweden.”
Meanwhile, the Islamization of Sweden is proceeding apace. In the spring of 2006, Sweden’s largest Muslim organisation demanded in a letter, signed by its leader Mahmoud Aldebe, that Sweden introduce separate laws for Muslims. The proposals included allowing imams into state (public) schools to give Muslim children separate lessons in Islam and their parents’ native languages. The letter also said that boys and girls should have separate swimming lessons and that divorces between Muslims should be approved by an imam. The letter was a list running over several pages with aggressive demands for just about everything; separate family laws for Muslims, regulating marriage and divorce, that public schools should employ imams to teach homogeneous classes of Muslims children in their religion and the language of their original homeland, and a “mosque in every municipality to be built through interest-free loans made available by the local municipalities.” This to “demonstrate “Islam’s right to exist in Sweden” and to “heighten the status of and respect towards Muslims.” Sweden’s Equality Minister Jens Orback called the proposals “completely unacceptable.”
That sounds encouraging. However, it looks increasingly as if the election in September will be a very close race, and the Leftist parties will be dependent upon the support of immigrants, who tend to vote for Leftist parties all over Europe, to remain in power. As Nima Sanandaji points out in FrontPage Magazine, “Swedish public television exposed that the leading Social Democratic party had started fishing for votes with the help of radical Muslim clergies.” For several years the Christian wing of the Social Democratic party, called The Brotherhood, has been working with the influential Muslim leader Mahmoud Aldebe, president of Sweden’s Muslim Association. Already in 1999, Aldebe proposed that sharia, Islamic law, should be introduced in Sweden. After an honor killing of a Kurdish girl in 2003, Aldebe did not condemn the murderers. Aldebe sees the entire debate regarding honor-related murders as an attack against the Islamic religion and claims in a letter that a public debate regarding these acts of murder risks “encourag[ing] immigrant girls to revolt against the tradition of the families and their religious values.” After the last election in 2002, Sweden’s Muslim Association sent a congratulation letter to the re-elected Social Democratic Prime minister Göran Persson, congratulating him on his victory and hoping that Persson would work for implementing some of the demands of the Association in the future. The Muslim Brotherhood has earlier stated that for them, “Sweden is in many ways an ideal country, [and it] shares the ideals of the [Swedish] Social Democrats in their view of the welfare society. Leading figures in Muslim congregations are also active within the Social Democratic [Party], and have very good relations with Sweden’s Christian Social Democrats. “The Social Democrats have, in turn, and perhaps as thanks for the support they receive from the mosque leadership, shown a tendency to shy away from the fact that there is extremism in some of our mosques. This has given the Muslim Brotherhood the freedom to force its ideology upon [the mosque’s worshippers].”
During the spring of 2006, by granting a visa to Hamas “refugee minister” Atef Edwane, Sweden enabled the terrorist representative to visit any other European country who had signed the Schengen Accord. Atef Edwane visited Norway and Germany as part of a European tour, despite a European Union policy of no contact with the radical movement. As sensible Swedish blogger Dick Erixon pointed out, it seems as if the Social Democratic Swedish government are more willing to be dealing with Islamic terrorist organizations such as Hamas than with the Sweden Democrats or native Swedes wanting to limit Muslim immigration. At the same time, PM Göran Persson stated that “the government made an error when it allowed the Swedish Air Force to undertake exercises together with Israel.” The Air Force took part in exercises with Israel in 2005 in Canada. Sweden also decided to withdraw from an international air force exercise to be held in Italy in May 2006, after learning that units from the Israeli air force would participate. After the Hamas visa story, Israeli authorities called Sweden “the most anti-Israeli country in Europe,” which in the Eurabia of 2006 is quite an achievement. Sweden is a neutral country, and its concept of “neutrality” has in the past frequenly implied appeasing the anti-democratic forces of the day. In a process we might label “Swedish jumping,” Sweden appeased the Nazis in the 1930s and later the Communists and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Sticking to form, it is appeasing the Islamic world now.
Earlier in 2006, Swedish Chancellor of Justice Mr Göran Lambertz decided to discontinue his department’s pre-trial investigation into the Grand Mosque of Stockholm, where audio cassettes with highly inflammatory anti-Semitic content were being sold. After Swedish radio programme Dagens Eko unveiled the contents of the cassettes in November 2005, a charge of racial incitement was filed. The Swedish Chancellor of Justice responded by closing the pre-trial investigation on the grounds that “the lecture did admittedly feature statements that are highly degrading to Jews (among other things, they are consistently referred to as the brothers of apes and pigs)” but pointing out that such statements “should be judged differently – and therefore be regarded as permissible – because they were used by one side in an ongoing and far-reaching conflict where calls to arms and insults are part of the everyday climate in the rhetoric that surrounds this conflict.” In Sweden, an anti-Semitic crime is reported to the police once every three days. The Jewish congregations in major cities Stockholm, Göteborg and Malmö are forced to spend up to 25 percent of their membership fees on security and hired guards. And most of these hate crimes are perpetrated by Muslims. There are reports of Swedish Jews who have signed up for service in the Israeli Defence Forces to escape harassment and persecution in Sweden. Even some non-Jews from Sweden say they feel “liberated” when they go to Israel. In Israel, you know who the country’s enemies are, and you are prepared to fight for your country and for your convictions. It is hard to overstate the extent to which Sweden is a politically repressed nation, thanks to self-proclaimed guardians of the Multicultural Truth. Swedish historian of religion Matthias Gardell claims that Islamophobia is perhaps the greatest threat to democracy in the Western world today. Swedish writer and leftist intellectual Jan Guillou has stated that the rhetoric employed by the Nazis against Jews is now used to target Muslims.
In a Sociological survey entitled “Vi krigar mot svenskarna” (“We’re waging a war against the Swedes”), young immigrants in the troubled city of Malmö have been interviewed about why they are involved in crime. Malmö, Sweden’s third largest city, and set to become the first major Scandinavian city with a Muslim majority within a decade or two, has got nine times as many reported robberies per capita as Copenhagen, Denmark. The wave of robberies the city has witnessed is part of a “war against Swedes.” This is the explanation given by young robbers with immigrant background on why they are only robbing native Swedes, in interviews with Petra Åkesson. “I read a report about young robbers in Stockholm and Malmö and wanted to know why they are robbing other youths. It usually doesn’t involve a lot of money,” she says. She interviewed boys between 15 and 17 years old, both individually and in groups. Almost 90% of all robberies that are reported to the police were committed by gangs, not individuals. “When we are in the city and robbing, we are waging a war, waging a war against the Swedes.” This argument was repeated several times. “Power for me means that Swedes shall look at me, lie down on the ground and kiss my feet.” The boys explain, laughingly, that “there is a thrilling sensation in your body when you’re robbing, you feel satisfied and happy, it feels as if you’ve succeeded, it simply feels good.” “It’s so easy to rob Swedes, so easy.” “We rob every single day, as much as we want to, whenever we want to.” The immigrant youth view Swedes as stupid and cowardly: “The Swedes don’t do anything, they just give us the stuff. They’re so wimpy.” The young robbers don’t plan their crimes: “No, we just see some Swedes that look rich or have nice mobile phones and then we rob them.”
A high school teacher in Malmö discovered that about a dozen Arab students were laughing and shouting “Allahu Akbar!” while watching a DVD of infidel hostages being beheaded in Iraq. The headmaster didn’t think the incident was such a big deal.
At least 139 schools in Sweden suffered arson attacks during 2002 alone. Björn Vinberg from the fire department in Kroksbäck in the Malmö area says it’s humiliating and degrading to put out fires again and again in the same immigrant areas, with school kids laughing at them and lighting a new one just afterwards. His colleagues have been to the same place no less than twenty times, all totally unnecessary. In the spring of 2006, a section of a school in Malmö was decided to be closed, due to “lack of security, vandalism and poor study results”. The school had been vandalised several times and in January part of it was damaged in an arson attack. “It’s the first time a school in Sweden has been closed because it is too rowdy,” said Jan Björklund, who saw the decision as giving in to discipline problems.
While this was going on, the number one priority for the political class in Sweden seemed to be demonizing neighboring Denmark for “xenophobia” and a “brutal” debate about Muslim immigration. During the Jihad riots in France in the fall of 2005, Sweden’s Social Democratic Prime Minister Göran Persson criticised the way the French government handled the unrest in the country. “It feels like a very hard and confrontational approach.” Persson also rejected the idea of more local police as a “first step” in Sweden. “I don’t believe that’s the way we would choose in Sweden. To start sending out signals about strengthening the police is to break with the political line we have chosen to follow,” he said. Meanwhile, as their authorities have largely abandoned their third largest city to creeping anarchy, there is open talk among the native Swedes still remaining in Malmö of forming vigilante groups, armed with baseball bats and concern for their children’s safety. At the same time, Muslim immigration to the country is not just continuing, but growing. Sweden’s population was growing faster in 2006 than at any time during the last twelve years. Statistics Sweden calculated that immigration increased by almost 85% compared with the first quarter the previous year. Most of these people came from Muslim countries such as Iraq, Somalia and Bosnia Herzegovinia.
What happened to the famous Swedish nanny state, you say? Don’t Swedes pay the highest tax rates in the world? Yes, they do. But tens of billions of kroner, some say several hundred billions, are being spent every year on propping up rapidly growing communities of Muslim immigrants. Sweden has become the entire world’s welfare office, because the political elites have decided that massive Muslim immigration is “good for the economy.” Pretty soon, Sweden could have an “army” of just 5000 men. That’s five thousand troops to defend a nation that is geographically more than three times the size of England. And it may take up to a year to assemble all of them, provided they are not on peacekeeping missions abroad. That Sweden could soon need a little peacekeeping at home seems to escape the establishment. In 2006, the celebrated Swedish welfare state has become the world’s largest pyramid scheme, an Enron with a national flag. Just as the country was in the midst of the worst crime wave in modern Scandinavian history, with a desperately underfunded police force, the Swedish Social Democrats announced that cheaper public dental care would be a major issue in the election campaigns. There could hardly be a better symbol of Europe’s love affair with the welfare state and “social security” in an age where physical security is rapidly disappearing through runaway Muslim immigration. “Eurabia: You may get your teeth kicked in, but at least you have cheap dental care” could become the slogan for the entire continent. The Swedish elites, especially the Socialists who are supposed to represent “the people,” seem to care little for the well-being of their own citizens, and much more for clinging on to power and polishing their image abroad. As Jonathan Friedman, professor of social anthropology at the University of Lund outside Malmö puts it: “In Sweden, it’s almost as if the state has sided with the immigrants against the Swedish working class.”
Yet despite of all of this, Alan Cowell writes in the New York Times that Sweden is full of “safety features, sort of like a Volvo.” Why didn’t he also ask some of the political dissidents about the state of the country, such as Ulf Nilson, challenging censorship through his essays at the Expressen newspaper, Jan Milld of the website Blågula frågor or Danish blogger Steen writing at Snaphanen, with great coverage of developments in Sweden? The reality is that the “Swedish model” in 2006 no longer refers to a stable and peaceful state with an advanced economy, but increasingly to a Eurabian horror story of utopian Multiculturalism, Socialist mismanagement and runaway immigration. The strains caused by immigration are now so large that unless something serious is done about this, pretty soon Sweden will face the same kind of riots we have recently seen in France, and will approach the point of permanent ethnic and religious strife.
Swedish politicians and media need to put the well-being of their sons and daughters above that of Political Correctness and their own Multicultural, ideological vanity, and it is shocking that they actually need to be reminded of this. It is an international embarrassment to Sweden as a nation that Swedes travel around the world to lecture about women’s rights, and at the same time their own young women are finding that their most basic rights, such as being able to go outside wearing normal clothes without being harassed, are slipping away. Unless Swedish authorities are able to provide basic security to a population that pays some of the highest tax rates in the world, the cabinet of Prime Minister Göran Persson should publicly admit its inadequacy and resign from office. At the very least, it should be honest enough to tell Swedish citizens that they must provide security for themselves, and stop making it difficult for people to do this.
The Swedish general elections are just a few months away, and this time, Muslim immigration needs to be raised to the very top of the public agenda. Failing to do so now could have potentially disastrous consequences later. Time is running out, both for Sweden and for much of Western Europe.
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.co.at/200 ... de-of.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Post by manfred » Tue May 14, 2013 12:29 am
The number of REPORTED rapes per 100,000 inhabitants in 2010, the ten highest figures for European nations are as follows:
Sweden 63.5
United Kingdom 28.8
Belgium 27.9
Norway 19.2
Finland 15.2
Ireland 10.7
Austria 10.4
Germany 9.4
Netherlands 9.2
Switzerland 7.1
France reported 16.2 in 2009, but did not publish the figures after that. Why not? Similarly, Italy reported 17.0 in 2009, but nothing since.
Greece only had 1.9 rapes per 100,000 inhabitants in 2010, so why is a woman 30 times more likely to get raped in Sweden than in Greece?
Why would the figure for Sweden be almost nine times higher than Switzerland?
Needless to say, in countries with Shariah law there are pretty much no reported rapes at all, and we all know the reason...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_statistics" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Post by pr126 » Tue May 14, 2013 8:50 am
Towards a More Multicolored Sweden
Sweden’s minister of Finance, Anders Borg is visiting Africa. He is giving an interview with Expressen [Swedish tabloid newspaper] on the bus in Lagos. Borg looks out the window, sees all the colours and looks forward to the day when Sweden will become just as multicoloured.
It is one thing that he believes that Africa will become more influential in the global market, and that economic growth will occur on the African continent. It is something completely different to wish for Africa to come to Sweden. It is reminiscent of Mona Sahlin’s comments about ‘corny’ Sweden. Swedish culture was nothing compared to foreign cultures; hence one should simply be grateful for the enrichment. Borg’s comments have similar connotations.
“Look at all the beautiful colours the women here are wearing. Within ten years this is what it is going to look like all over Europe. Back home it’s so bleak and dreary the colours are devoid of life. When our children grow up there will be between 1.5 to 2 billion people in Africa and we will continue to be 500 million. That is going to have a huge impact on our trends.
“Europe will become a better place, a more multicultural place,” he continues.
“That Africa is becoming more influential can be observed in popular music among other areas. But I think it will really dawn on us when we start to see African fast food chains in Stockholm.”
Anders Borg has visited three African nations and met with politicians, CEO’s of the national banks and CEOs in the private sector.
But has Borg asked the Swedes whether they want Sweden to look like Africa?.
Islam: an idea to kill and die for.
Post by Ariel » Tue May 14, 2013 3:04 pm
pr126 wrote:
I am sure not.
“Look at all the beautiful colours the women here are wearing. Within ten years this is what it is going to look like all over Europe. Back home it’s so bleak and dreary the colours are devoid of life.
Let's travel to Sweden.....How bleak....
Post by ringmaster » Thu May 16, 2013 5:41 pm
StrongLove wrote: ………………………….
We must always be careful that the outrage we all feel about islamic aggression not turn into hate…………..
Haven’t you noticed? It has turned into hate. The hate is coming from muslims because that is what the Koran teaches.
Verse 7:166
Ariel wrote:
Yes Jimi. Immigration is not a bad thing when you have immigrants who integrate, but most Muslims in Europe don't intergrate you know . ……………….
Nor will they ever integrate. If they were to integrate, they would contravene the supremacist teachings of their religion.
Verse 9-29.
Post by Ariel » Sat May 18, 2013 11:12 am
A Muslim on Trial for Assault in Malmo, Sweden
This is an excerpt from a letter to Ali Sina from Alan in Sweden, a victim of Muslim assault in Malmo.
In September last year (2012), Muslims demonstrated in Malmö against freedom of speech. I protested and was kicked and beaten by Muslims. And as I ran to police for safety, they arrested me, not my assailants. The assault on me as well as was my detention by police was filmed as can be seen here:
(For non-Swedish speakers, the officer says he does not want a riot on his hands, to which I respond that I am one person and that the riot is over there.)
What a happened on that day
It was a Sunday afternoon. As I was walking to the cinema to see a French film, a Muslim mob approached me, bearing the usual Muslim banners – “to hell with free speech” etc. – and screaming that those who defame the mighty prophet should be killed.
Apparently they dislike a film about the great man. It is not a Swedish film and none in Sweden had anything to do with it.
This is an attempt to frighten and intimidate ordinary Swedes.
I shouted to them that freedom of speech is guaranteed by the constitution and that their self-proclaimed prophet was a pedophile, rapist, mass-murderer and terrorist (see Ali Sina’s Challenge).
It was my freedom of speech right to point that out.
I was promptly set upon by several Muslim thugs who knocked me to the ground, punched me and kicked me.
I managed to get up and run to a police car with a howling gang of religionists behind me, clearly determined to kill me (see above).
The police promptly arrested… why me of course!
Passers-by protested that I had been assaulted, kicked and punched and that they had filmed everything. To no avail.
There was no attempt to apprehend my assailants.
I was thrown in the cells and am to be charged with disturbing the peace(!) and “hets mot folkgrupp” which could be translated as “inciting racial hatred”
The local newspaper, Sydsvenska Dagbladet, prides itself on being “independent liberal”.
There was a big article in the paper about freedom of speech being more important than religious feelings.
Does the paper mean what it says? Will it really stand up for liberal values? It did little to support Jyllands-Posten in Denmark, just a few kilometres away, when they published cartoons of the mighty prophet.
Personally, I think Pat Condell has got it right in his video, A Word to Rioting Muslims:
I went to the newspaper office and said I was not happy with the reporting and the description of myself as “screaming insults” at the demonstration.
Trial of my assailant at last
The man wearing the red armband and kicking me in the head in the assault video is Ali Abdul Karim Cheaib.
And eventually, he will be on trial for the assault in Malmö District Court tomorrow, Thursday 16 May, at 0900 (case B12079-12).
Hopefully, during the trial, I shall have the opportunity to say something about Islam and Muhammad.
The Religion of Peace is stalking the streets of Malmö.
Reminds me of the 1930’s and the rise of Nazism…
http://www.islam-watch.org/authors/63-l ... weden.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Post by manfred » Sat May 18, 2013 11:54 am
Hell will freeze over before you are allowed to even mention the words Islam or Muslim in a court like that... The court will have a peculiar disinterest in the motives for the assault, completely unlike other cases; an old lady shop caught shoplifting will have to undergo a social and probation report before the case is even heard. Here, relevant background information is avoided like a dog turd in the street, to the point that any good defence lawyer could appeal against any possible conviction on the grounds that mens rea has not been established.
A perceived "provocation" is no excuse. At least so the theory goes. Possibly that does not apply to Muslims and he may even go free. We don't quite have Shariah as the offical legal system yet, but we certainly do treat Muslims differently from other people.
We once had a similar demonstration here in London, near to where I live, and I wrote a letter of complaint to the mare and to my local councillor, who happens to be Jewish and appreciated very well what I was saying. I also enclosed a petition signed by some 500 people locally. It took two months before I received a very guarded reply from the mare, but most strangely, there have been no further such demonstrations locally. It seems they moved to different areas. I guess my threat that on the next occasion I would gather a similar size group to protest against them got them worried.
Similarly, after a lot of the adverse publicity about the "Muslim patrol" in Tower Hamlets and some decisive police action (they don't like any kind of vigilante at all), there have been no more incidents.
So the point is this: these people are stoppable. But they will only respect superior force. A single man making a point, however valid, will be answered with a kick and a punch. But they soon back down when they find that their actions will have negative consequences for them, or they are met by a show of strength.
Most Muslims are not interested in facts, or in truth; they are only interested in who is stronger.
Post by Ariel » Sat May 18, 2013 12:50 pm
I guess we are too tolerant, and Europe still suffers the "never again"syndrome.
Return to “World Politics”
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Struggling With CPAP for Sleep Apnea? Surgery May Help
TUESDAY, Sept. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may be the go-to treatment for sleep apnea, but many people struggle to use it every night. For those who cannot tolerate CPAP, new research finds that a combination of surgical techniques may bring relief.
The "multilevel" treatment includes removing the tonsils, repositioning the palate (roof of the mouth) and using radiofrequency to slightly reduce the size of the tongue. In combination, these procedures open up the airway and reduce breathing obstruction, the researchers said.
The study found that the multilevel surgery technique reduced the number of times people stopped breathing (apnea events) during sleep and improved daytime sleepiness. People also reported better quality of life after the treatment.
"Obstructive sleep apnea is common and many people cannot use the main treatments, like CPAP masks. Surgery is a valid option when an expert surgeon is involved, and it can improve outcomes," said the study's lead author, Dr. Stuart MacKay. He's an honorary clinical professor of otolaryngology, head and neck surgery at University of Wollongong, in Australia.
The researchers said that nearly one billion people worldwide suffer from sleep apnea. The airway becomes blocked during sleep, and as a result people stop breathing for short periods of time, multiple times throughout the night. People with sleep apnea have a higher risk of daytime sleepiness, motor vehicle crashes, and heart disease and stroke.
CPAP does a good job at keeping your airway open as you sleep, but the treatment -- including a mask and a long tube -- can be hard to get used to. The study authors said only about half of people with sleep apnea try CPAP.
For the new study, the researchers recruited 102 overweight or obese people with sleep apnea from six clinical centers in Australia, who were in their 40s, on average. The goal was to see if surgery could help adults with moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea who weren't able to tolerate or adhere to CPAP devices.
Half of the volunteers were randomly assigned to receive the sleep apnea surgery, while the other 51 continued with medical treatment. Medical management consisted of encouraging weight loss, drinking less alcohol, changing sleep posture and medical treatment for nasal obstruction.
MacKay said the multilevel surgical technique is widely available in many parts of the world. For the patients in this study, surgeries were performed by seven experienced surgeons.
Six months after the surgical procedures, volunteers in the surgery group had about a 27% decrease in the number of apnea events at night. Those on medical treatment had just a 10% decrease.
People in the surgical group also had major improvements in levels of snoring and daytime sleepiness, as well as a boost to quality of life.
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks.
"The main risks of pain and bleeding are confined to the two weeks after surgery. Bleeding occurs in about one in every 25 patients. Long-term risks related to taste disturbance, feeling of sticking in the throat, swallow dysfunction are very rare, although they do occur transiently in some," MacKay said.
Dr. Steven Feinsilver is director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. He said, "Sleep apnea is a very common disease, about as common as diabetes, and similar to diabetes is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events, such as stroke and heart disease."
He added that "CPAP works, but is a difficult treatment."
Feinsilver said that surgery that could provide a permanent cure has long been the goal for treatment.
"This study shows that relatively minor surgery, performed in a standardized fashion by skilled surgeons, can significantly improve sleep apnea compared to 'medical treatment' (essentially no treatment)," he said.
But he noted that even though people reported improvement, their nighttime breathing wasn't back in the normal range.
"This is certainly a major improvement, but it remains unclear whether outcomes (such as cardiovascular risk) will be significantly impacted," Feinsilver said. Also, he suggested that this multilevel surgery may only be an option for a select group of patients.
The report was published online Sept. 4 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Learn more about sleep apnea treatments from the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
SOURCES: Stuart MacKay, MD, honorary clinical professor, otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, University of Wollongong, Australia; Steven Feinsilver, MD, director, Center for Sleep Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Journal of the American Medical Association, Sept. 4, 2020, online
A Vocabulary for Sleep
Apnea of Prematurity
Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn
Caffeine injection
Caffeine oral solution
Sleep: Test Your Knowledge
Patient Safety: Don't Assume a Medical Professional Is Incapable of Making Mistakes
Premature Babies: A Pediatrician's Story
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22 Nov How a Brief Bali Escape Changed One Woman’s Life
Posted at 07:38h in Press & Media by janet 0 Comments
by : Joni Sweet | November 06, 2012
What started as a brief holiday in Bali in 1984 ended up transforming Janet DeNeefe’s life. She fell in love, not only with a man she would marry five years later, but also with the community, culture and especially cuisine of the island oasis. Almost 30 years later, Janet proudly calls Ubud — where she runs a cooking school, a cafe, two restaurants, a popular guesthouse and the famed Ubud Writers and Readers Festival — her home.
DeNeefe will share her knowledge of Balinese cooking in a talk hosted by Jakarta’s Indonesian Heritage Society at Erasmus Huis on Tuesday at 7 p.m. She will discuss how she turned the island into a hands-on classroom by training in the kitchens of her husband’s family and becoming a “village cook.”
“I’d watch my husband’s sister and her helper cook breakfast and I was totally absorbed in it. I’d later come back to Ubud in the afternoon and then hang around his brother’s restaurant and just sit in their kitchen,” she said. “It was sort of my PhD in Balinese cooking.”
While she said she laments her lack of formal culinary training, that hasn’t stopped the “grandma-style cook” from publishing a memoir with recipes, “Fragrant Rice” in 2003, and a Balinese cookbook, “The Food of My Island Home” in 2011. She has also taught thousands of students the art of balancing spices and how to properly understand and honor the traditions behind the dishes.
“Initially I thought I was just recording recipes, but I came to realize that I was unraveling aspects of the culture and maybe the fundamental principle that the Balinese have of harmony and balance. Everything they make is sort of this extraordinary balance of a thousand ingredients,” she said.
In her classes, students can learn how to make dishes such as spiced fish in banana leaves; gado-gado, a boiled-vegetable salad with a peanut sauce dressing; smoked duck and chicken satay. DeNeefe also takes them one step further into Bali with tours of neighborhood markets.
“Asian markets are very romantic and that is where you get the most exciting food because it’s catering for the local community and there’s a lot of color and excitement and Asian ambiance,” she said.
With the belief that good food can break down cultural borders, the 53-year-old makes a point to highlight not only the cuisine, but also Balinese society and its Hindu culture.
“It’s a really beautiful religion,” she said. “There’s a lot of ritual involved, but it’s really poetic and beautiful, so it’s hard not to be attracted to that. But also within the culture is the way the communities operate and their attention to relationships, to family, community, to the way they care about people.”
The inexhaustible woman, who was originally trained as an art teacher, hosts cooking classes at the Casa Luna Cooking School seven days a week. In addition, she runs the Casa Luna and Indus restaurants, Honeymoon Guesthouses, the Bar Luna cafe, and a homewares emporium.
The mother-of-four somehow still finds time to travel around Indonesia in search of gastronomic inspiration for new recipes. She is particularly interested in writing a book about Sumatran food, which she calls “the queen of Indonesian cuisine.”
DeNeefe added that she hoped to expand her culinary repertoire by offering food tours as early as next year, a project she began planning in the early 2000s, but put on hold after the Bali bombings in 2002. The following year, her ambition took a literary turn: to ease the blow of the terror attack on Bali, she founded the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival.
“I knew it had to be something that attracted international names and audience alongside Indonesians, something that brought people together,” she said. “It had to be something of that magnitude that brings in the world’s greatest writers, thinkers, great minds that can make a difference, because terrorism is something that has such a negative impact, so it had to be something that could dissolve that negative impact with something that would transpire into a really positive thing.”
DeNeefe is planning the next literary festival, which will take place from Oct. 2-6, 2013 and again celebrate the theme of the first festival, “Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang” (“Through Darkness to Light”), in honor of a milestone year.
DeNeefe has made it her mission to nourish herself, her family and her students with the rich colors, striking flavors and depth of Balinese food and culture. The tools of her trade merely consist of “a mortar and pestle, a knife, a wok, a stirring spoon and a flame,” along with a passion, know-how and an array of simple yet satisfying ingredients.
“Cooking for people is one of the greatest joys and it’s not just about food,” she said. “It’s about pleasing people and looking after people, which for me is really important.”
Food Ways of Bali: A Love Story
Discussion with Janet DeNeefe
Hosted by Indonesian Heritage Society
Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 7 p.m.Erasmus Huis
Jl. Rasuna Said, Kav. S-3, adjacent to the Dutch Embassy
Original article taken from : THE JAKARTA GLOBE
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/lifeandtimes/how-a-brief-bali-escape-changed-one-womans-life/554206
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Eggsistentialism
In Two Minds
Joanne Ryan
“Ryan is a natural comedienne with a line in self-deprecating delivery.” – The Magic Bulletin
Ryan has natural wit, charisma & vulnerability.” – Fest
Actress & Theatre Maker
“Impeccable comic timing and captivating stage presence.” – The Irish Times
Eggsistentialism Strollers Network Tour – Nov 2019
In November 2019 we take Eggsistentialism on tour, this time to the 10 Strollers Network venues around Ireland. And as well as an evening performance in each venue there is also a series of parent-friendly performances that you can bring your little ones to.
A modern woman’s comical quest to uncover the ifs, hows and whys of reproducing her genes…
A new piece of ambitious and affecting theatre currently being developed by Joanne which looks at the realities of living with bipolar disorder and its effects on relationships.
Joanne is a multi-award winning Irish actor, voice over artist and playwright. She has an Associate Diploma in Performance from Trinity College London, has been working in the arts for almost a decade and loves to make quality, ambitious work.
Her solo multimedia show Eggsistentialism, (written and performed by Joanne, directed and developed by Veronica Coburn) premiered at Belltable, Limerick and Dublin Fringe Festival in 2016 and was presented as part of Culture Ireland’s Showcase at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it enjoyed critical acclaim and won a Lustrum Award, a Best Storytelling Bouquet and The Melbourne Fringe Tour Ready Award.
Since then the show has toured the show to Cyprus, London, Liverpool, Malaysia and Australia, won a Critics’ Pick Award at Sydney Fringe and was nominated for Best Performance at Melbourne Fringe. In November 2019 it will tour to 10 venues around Ireland.
In addition to her work as a playwright and maker, Joanne has performed on stage with many companies in Ireland. In 2014 she was nominated for an Irish Times Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in What Happened Bridgie Cleary.
She played bunny boiler Grace Gallagher in Irish soap opera Ros na Rún and other film and TV work includes Malartú Intinne and An Chúirt (TG4), Sgt Mattie, A Rebel Act (RTÉ) and Day Off (Behind the Scenes).
Join our mailing list to be sure you don’t miss out on any of our news or upcoming events…
© Copyright - Joanne Ryan - powered by Enfold WordPress Theme
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Maritime Labor Market Demand and Career Path in Latvia
Inese Barbare
Seafaring profession has traditionally been considered a romantic profession among young people, but in today’s labour market has dramatically changed priorities of career choices. At present, the maritime industry has more than 40 thousand vacancies, in addition to the growing trend - the shipping officers with University level are particularly difficult to recruit for crew shipping companies.
The methodology: an analysis of policy documents, statistical data analysis, a secondary analysis of previous research, database analysis, surveys. The motives of choosing profession of young people were determined by economical (good salary, possibility to maintain family welfare, career possibilities and etc.), social (wish to acquire education, seafarers are valuated as specialists, and etc.) and psychological (seafarer’s work seemed to be very interesting, dream to become a captain, and etc.) factors. Both external and internal factors predetermine the choice of seafarer’s profession.
The conclusion can be done that maritime education and training institutions have to explain young people all merits of maritime profession and show possibility for them to find emotional attractiveness and realization of their interests if they choose maritime professions.
maritime; employment; career path; higher education
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Berden, K.G., Francois, J., Tamminen, S., Thelle, M., Wymenga, P. (2009). Non-Tariff Measures in EU-US Trade and Investment an Economic Analysis. Rotterdam: ECORYS Nederland BV. Source: http://ntm.ecorys.com/images/downloads/ntm_book_final.pdf [Skatīts 16.03.2015.]
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Gailitis, R., Jansen, M. (2012). Development of the Latvian Maritime Policy; A Maritime Cluster Approach. The International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, Vol. 6 (2), pp. 287-292.
Glen, D. (2008). What do we know about the labour market for seafarers? Marine Policy, Vol. 32, pp. 845-855.
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Magramo M., Gellada L. (2009). A Noble Profession Called Seafaring: the Making of an Officer. TransNav, the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 475-480
Mitrossi, K. (2004). “The ship owners’ stance on third-part ship management: An empirical study”, Maritime Policy and Management, 31(1), pp. 31-45.
Mitroussi, K. Employment of seafarers in the EU context: challenges and opportunities. Marine Policy, Vol. 32 (6), 2008, pp. 1043-1049.
Moreby, D.H., Springett, P. (1990). The UK shipping industry: Critical levels study. London: British Marine Charitable Foundation
Pettit, S. et. al. (2005). Ex-seafarers shore-based employment: the current UK situation. Marine Policy, Vol. 29, pp. 521-531.
Shinohara, M. (2010). Maritime cluster of Japan: implications for the cluster formation policies. Maritime Policy & Management, The Flagship Journal of International Shipping and Port Research, Vol. 37, pp.377-399.
Sornn‐Friese, H., Hansen, C. Ø. (2005). The Blue Denmark: Is it a maritime labour mobility cluster? Copenhagen: Center for shipping economics and innovation.
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http://www.latja.lv
Latvian Maritime Academy
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Zawles Releases New Album For Life's Flow
Posted by ArtistPR on August 4, 2020 at 4:57pm
New Album And Single Will Turn it Up
Toronto, Ontario – August 4, 2020 – All the way from Canada, Zawles is bringing that cool sound to listeners around the globe. His new album “The G-Flow Symphony” is ready to drop on August 12 following the release of the single “Loose Woke.”
“The G-Flow Symphony” is a mix of Zawles’ unique hip hop style with Jamaican influences from his childhood. The blend of culture is present in each track and beat, showing the artist’s inspiration. The album will be available on all major music streaming platforms. “Loose Woke” has an upbeat sound mixed with raw emotional lyrics. It is gaining fast popularity on major digital platforms.
Zawles comes from a proud Cuban/Jamaican background where he got the nickname. Growing up in different places has inspired Zawles’ musical style.
He has been making music professionally since 2008. Zawles hopes to continue to share his amazing talent with a larger audience.
To listen to more of his music, or to contact Zawles for an interview on your site, podcast, or radio show you can reach out via the information provided below.
For more music from Zawles, please visit:
https://zawles.com/
Eric 'DIG' Totton
Booking@megacityvip.com
Album Preview & Pre-Order Link: http://smarturl.it/gflowsymphony/
“Loose Woke”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsznAuIsoFw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Zawlesmusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zawles/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zawles
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/zawles
Reverbnation: https://www.reverbnation.com/zawles
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2013 Four Continents Championships
Duhamel & Radford Take Big Lead in Pairs Short Program.
by Doris Spicer Pulaski
Pairs is perhaps the most physically demanding event in figure skating. The crashes are spectacular. The injuries are catastrophic. The 2013 Four Continents Pairs Championship is now down to only seven entries. Of those teams, four of them are making their first appearance at an ISU Championship.
Many pairs who would have been favorites here are injured and not competing. The fourth place team from the 2012 Four Continents Championship, 2013 Canadian National Champions Meagan Duhamel & Eric Radford, had the highest placement last year of the two teams who have returned to compete here this year.
Duhamel & Radford, whose short program to "La Boheme" has scored the highest base value of any team in the world this season, 33.20 points, completed an eye-popping display of technical virtuosity to win the Short Program with a score of 70.44. The team's most unusual skill is their side-by-side triple Lutzes, which they have landed for positive grades of execution at almost every event at which they have competed this year. No other top team in the world even attempts it. The triple Lutz has a base value of 6.00 points, 1.80 more than the triple Salchow and 1.90 points more than the triple toe loop, that other top pair teams attempt.
While other teams have struggled to meet the new requirements to earn a level one or two for a back outside death spiral, the Canadian National Champions earned a level four here in Osaka. Their most impressive element may not be their Lutzes.. Their back outside death spiral, entered from a dance lift, where Duhamel cartwheels around Radford's neck, completes two revolutions with her head lower than her knee, and then exits immediately into an illusion is definitely a show-stopper.
The students of Richard Gauthier, Bruno Marcotte, and Sylvie Fullum have a high base value that may put them potentially more than two to three points ahead of the competition before they even begin to skate, but their stellar execution of their difficult program is what won them the Short Program. Every one of their difficult elements was completed with positive grades of execution.
Kirsten Moore-Towers & Dylan Moscovitch, the 2011 Canadian Champions and 2013 Canadian National Silver Medalists, who failed to qualify for the Canadian Four Continents team in 2012, earned the second spot in the Short Program. While Duhamel & Radford excelled in technical execution, Moore-Towers & Moscovitch impressed with a combination of sound technical execution coupled with the most charming program of the evening, a whimsical and very musical interpretation of "Motley Crew" by R. Beau from the "Micmacs" soundtrack. The film "Micmacs" is billed as meaning "non-step shenanigans," and the team's choreographer, Mark Pillay, has included plenty of interesting material that qualifies as shenanigans. The students of Kristy and Kris Wirtz managed to interpret the music, rather than just executing an assembly of tricks, and completely captivated the audience to earn a total of 66.33 points, a season's best score for themselves, and earned the highest “Interpretation” and “Choreography and Composition” PCS components of the event.
Third place went to the newly-crowned 2013 U.S. National Champions, Marissa Castelli & Simon Shnapir, with a score of 53.06; far below their season's best short program performance of 61.85, earned at the NHK Grand Prix. The team from the Skating Club of Boston is competing in their first ever ISU championship; and the effects of the size and pressure of the event showed in their skating. Castelli & Shnapir have really worked to upgrade everything about their skating this year, which showed in their best skills, their beautifully landed side-by-side triple Salchows, which both took off and landed in perfect unison, and a nicely executed, high triple twist. However, the NHK bronze medalists seemed rattled by their problems with their side-by-side spin, and Castelli was unable to hold her edge on their huge triple Salchow throw and fell. The pair was able to regroup and perform their exciting crisscrossing step sequence and final lift well, but the due had such problems in their routine to "Stray Cat Strut" by the Brian Setzer Orchestra & "Pink Panther" by Henry Mancini, beautifully choreographed by Julie Marcotte and Mark Mitchell, that they are far behind the leaders, entering the Free Skate.
Several U.S teams that would have been expected to compete at the 2013 Four Continents Championships are not here. The highest placed U.S. team in the 2012 competition, John Coughlin & Caydee Denney, the 2012 National Champions and 2012 Four Continents Silver Medalists, are on the injured list. Coughlin is recovering from surgery on his left hip for a torn labrum. He has returned to training, and the team has petitioned USFSA for one of the two spots on the U.S. team for the 2013 World Championships.
Coughlin & Denney's chances for a place on the U.S. 2013 World Championships team are looking better, as Alexa Scimeca & Christopher Knierim, the 2013 U.S. Pairs Silver Medalists, have withdrawn from the 2013 Four Continents Championship. Scimeca tweeted that she is experiencing severe pain in her right foot, and that the team has returned to the United States to have the injury evaluated by their doctors.
Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig, last year's sixth place Four Continents finishers from the USA, may have split up, but Evora is at the 2013 Four Continents Championships as one of the coaches of the 2013 U.S. National Bronze Medalists, Felicia Zhang & Nathan Bartholomay, who are currently in fourth place, in easy reach of the bronze medal, with a score of 52.98.
Evora seemed very happy with the performance of her students, who train in Ellenton, FL, and who are competing at their first ISU Championship; despite Zhang’s fall on their throw triple Lutz. The team executed their other five elements well. Coach Evora had reason to be happy. With Knierim & Scimeca injured, if Coughlin & Denney do not recover in time, Zhang & Bartholomay are the second U.S. world team alternates for the 2013 World Championships. The team had not yet achieved the TES minimum score to qualify to compete at Worlds. When the score flashed up, Zhang & Bartholomay had received a TES score of 29.60 points. They now have all the qualifications they need for the 2013 championships, since they earned the minimum TES for the Free Skate at the 2012 U.S. International Ice Skating Classic in Salt Lake City, UT.
The Chinese pair program has also been decimated by injuries. The 2012 Four Continents Champions, Wenjing Sui & Cong Han, are sidelined. Sui is reported to have Osgood Schlatter disease, an over-use injury that young athletes are prone to. They are expected to return to competition at the 2013 Worlds, and were originally listed on the 2013 Four Continents entry list, but their names were withdrawn before the competition.
The long time stars of the Chinese team, two-time World Champions Qinq Pang & Jian Tong, also are not competing at the 2013 Four Continents championships. Jian Tong has been competing injured this season; the team is hoping to skate at the 2013 World Championships, and is giving the injury some time to heal by declining to skate here.
Cheng Peng & Hao Zhang, a new team this year, are in fifth place. Although the twenty-eight-year-old Zhang won an Olympic Silver Medal for China with his former partner Dan Zhang, and is a three-time World Silver Medalist, when his partner retired, Zhang decided to continue skating. He joined forces with Cheng Peng this year.
The students of famed Chinese coach Bin Yao and Yu Sun are also very close to the bronze medal position with a score of 52.46. Performing to "Live & Let Die" by Paul McCartney, the experienced Zhang made no major errors. The couple's triple twist was really the best of the competition, scoring 7.50 points. However, the fifteen-year-old Peng, in her first ISU senior level championship, popped her triple toe loop to a double toe loop. She was also unable to land the throw triple loop cleanly, and pitched forward and put both hands on the ice.
Zhang & Peng have a good chance for the bronze medal. The team has plans a quad twist in the free skate, which they performed cleanly at 2012 Trophee Bompard, where they already earned the qualifying TES scores for the 2013 World Championships. Peng & Zhang are eligible for the 2013 World Championship because, although Peng is only fifteen years old, her fifteenth birthday was prior to July 1, 2012.
Wenting Wang & Yan Zhang, the current Chinese National Silver Medalists, earned the sixth place position in the Short Program, with a score of 51.26, skating to the soundtrack from the movie "Dracula." They, too, are within striking distance of the bronze medal. The sixteen-year-old Wang and the twenty-four-year-old Zhang have been partners for three years, but this is the first year they have had either a Grand Prix assignment or have earned a spot at an ISU Championships. Their TES in the Short Program qualifies them to compete at the 2013 World Championships. The students of Bo Luan also completed a high quality triple twist and a throw triple flip. However, Yan Zhang popped her side by side triple Salchow to a double, and the team also could only manage a level one on their back outside death spiral.
In last place are Paige Lawrence & Rudi Sweigers, the three-time Canadian Bronze Medalists, who are Four Continents competitors for the third consecutive time. American skating fans may remember that it was Rudi Sweigers who lent his skate to American Mark Ladwig during the 2011 Four Continents Championships when Ladwig's skate broke. The popular Canadian team skated a routine to the "Robin and Marion" soundtrack which they call "Prairie Skies" and is a tribute to their Saskatchewan and Manitoba roots. Unfortunately, they experienced a lot of problems in the Short Program at 2013 Four Continents Pairs Short Program, scoring only 48.76 points. However, the rest of the competition, other than Duhamel & Radford and Moore-Towers & Moscovitch also struggled so much, that the bronze medal is not our of the question for Lawrence & Sweigers either.
Lawrence fell on her triple toe loop, and also fell on the landing of the throw triple Lutz. Additionally, their back outside death spiral had no change of hand, and only one revolution, and so received only a level one. The team also had the weakest triple twist in the competition, earning only a Basic level, and marred by the catch not being clean when Lawrence landed on Sweigers' shoulders.
While the gold and silver medals seem to be out of reach, any of the teams in place three through seven could win the bronze medal.
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2012 European Championships: Preview
PLUSHENKO IS BACK!
SUNDAY JAN 22: This is a new event for Sheffield, but the arena is familiar with skating. It has housed shows, including one featuring the men’s favorite here, Evgeni Plushenko, and Sinead and John Kerr. It was also the site of the British ice dance championship when Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean returned to competition after ten year’s absence in 1994. They hoped then to win a second ice dance Olympic gold medal, but ended up with bronze. On this Sunday evening, an episode of their hugely popular series of contests was being aired. In this version of Dancing on Ice, which is classed as celebrity reality show, Robin Cousins and Kati Witt are two of the judges.
The European championships were last held in Britain at the National Exhibition Centre in 1989, and prior to that, in 1939 in London when Britain claimed a sweep of the medals in the Ladies event. Cecilia Colledge, who taught for most of her life at the SC of Boston, won this title for the third successive year. Megan Taylor was second for the third time, and Daphne Walker took bronze. Colledge and Taylor had been second and third behind the great Sonja Henie when she won the last of her European titles in 1936 (and went on to a remarkable Hollywood career later that year after winning her tenth world title and third Olympic gold.)
Evgeni Plushenko is back – again! At 29, the blond-haired twice Olympic silver medalist (2002, 2010), who won gold in 2006, seems to have mellowed. His interest in politics waned and he stopped attending endless, unproductive meetings that are a part of that life.
Instead, he began spending more time with coach Alexei Mishin and, in late December, easily won his ninth Russian title by almost ten points, although he did not get the best technical score.
The Russian Federation immediately requested exemption for Plushenko from having to qualify for the ISU championships by posting a certain score in a recognized international. Almost immediately, the US issued a statement approving the entry of the popular, twice-married, father of a five-year-old.
Plushenko said he wasn’t bothered by having to "qualify" by skating his Free on Monday while his teammates, Artur Gachinski and Sergei Voronov, are part of the 18 "Direct" entries who get to skip the preliminary round and go straight into the Short Program. Gachinski was the top Russian in the European championships last year, dropping from third after the Short to fifth overall with a Free which was sixth best.
Plushenko must place in the top 10 of the 16 men attempting to qualify to go through to the Short. Those marks are then discarded, although the skating order draw goes according to their placement.
On Sunday afternoon, the blond tall Plushenko stepped onto the ice at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield for his first practice. Although he stayed for the full forty-five minutes and showed that he can still do the quad toe and triple Axel, it was not an exhausting work-out and he was obviously just getting the feel of the ice. He merely "walked through" his four-minute thirty-eight second Free to Tango de Roxanne, which he skated last of the five in his group. (For the 2010 Olympic season, Plushenko used a different Tango for his Free.)
Later, in the early evening, on the practice rink at iceSheffield which is almost next door to the Arena, he showed more energy. He skated the same routine in a plain, short-sleeved, light grey T-shirt, identical to the one he had worn earlier, second of the five on that 40-minute session. He did more jumps in this run-through, in a slightly colder atmosphere than the warm arena, on ice that was slightly harder.
He was obviously well above the standard of the others in this round and he clearly wants to win a seventh European title. (He previously won in 2000. 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006 & 2010.) But he says he has yet to make a commitment as to whether he will also go to the world championships, which will be held at the end of March in April. That is a title he has "only" won three times.
His main opposition could be a surprise. Javier Fernandez, a 20-year-old from Spain, who has made a spectacular improvement this season. This is his fifth European championship. He was 8th in 2010 and 9th last year. But, this season, he won silvers in both his Grand Prix events and the bronze in the Final.
The defending champion is Florent Amodio of France, who won the Short last year and held onto the lead despite a third place in the Free. This season, he did not do well in the Trophy Bompard Grand Prix in his home country, so he has come up with two new programs for this event.
Last year’s silver was claimed by his teammate, Brian Joubert, who had a disaster in the opening round in which he placed seventh. The veteran won the Free which gained him bronze overall. He was European champion in 2004, 2007 and 2009.
Tomas Verner, of the Czech Republic, who won this European title in 2008 and has been fourth in the past two world championships, was fifth after the Short last year but pulled up to take the bronze by taking second place in the Free. Kevin van der Perren of Belgium was very close to Gachinski after the Short program, and some, including this correspondent thought her should have been third, but he was fourth and kept that place although his Free was judged fifth best.
At this point it is uncertain whether the defending champions, Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany, will compete. The four-time European and three-time world champions, who failed to win gold in those events in the Olympic season, plan to arrive in Sheffield on Monday. They will decide whether to compete shortly before the Short Program is scheduled to start on Wednesday afternoon.
They have been trying a throw triple Axel all season with varying results. A week ago Saturday, she fell badly injuring her left thigh. They have not been able to practice throws since then.
That leaves the way clear for Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov, who are competing in their first European championship together. He won two bronzes and a silver for Russia in European championships with his previous partner, Maria Mukhortova. Voloszhar and Trankov teamed up after the Vancouver Olympics in which they competed with their previous partners. In their first world championship, in 2011, they took the runnerup spot to the Germans and just lost the recent Grand Prix Final to them by a very narrow margin.
Yuko Kawaguchi and Alexander Smirnov, who won this title for Russia in 2010, have withdrawn because of his appendicitis.
Defending champions, Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat, France, are the clear favorites after taking bronze in the recent Grand Prix Final in Quebec (behind the Olympic gold and silver medalists, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Canada, and Meryl Davis and Charlie White, USA.)
After winning the recent Grand Prix Final in Quebec City, Carolina Kostner looks likely to win her fourth European title. The Italian won in 2007, 2008 and 2010. Last year’s title holder, Sarah Meier, skating in home country, retired immediately after her win in Bern where the arena will long be remembered as the coldest indoor site ever. (It was built as with openings at its corner under the roof and had lorry and truck access roads into the basement which were never closed off to the elements. This was despite the ISU ruling that all international championships be held indoors, which went into effect after 1967.)
The 2009 winner, Laura Lepisto from Finland, has not entered due to a continuing injury which happened last summer. She has said, however, that she will be in a Champions on Ice show which will play for three days in Pjongjang, the capital of North Korea. This is the annual show for which Tomas Verner received enormous criticism in his home country, the Czech Republic. North Korea is a closed society with a strict dictatorship with many people believed to be on the border of starvation. Lepisto said Plushenko would also be on the tour.
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Communication as a Link to Health and Happiness
HASA uses health care grant to provide charitable care services to children and adults in Maryland
A 65-year-old woman named Dolores was referred to HASA (formerly known as the Hearing and Speech Agency) by her ENT for hearing aids. She had profound hearing loss. Even though her family knew she needed hearing aids, they could not afford the cost. They came to HASA for help.
About HASA
Founded in 1926, HASA’s mission is to connect people to their worlds. Recognizing the critical role of communication in life, HASA provides clinical, educational, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation services to children and adults with the vision “to help them understand and be understood.”
“HASA is Baltimore’s best resource to support individuals with communication differences and disorders like autism, developmental language disorder, and hearing loss,” explains Erin K. Stauder, CEO of HASA. “Left untreated, these conditions can have wide-ranging devastating effects on people’s lives, causing academic problems, social difficulties, and challenges in the workplace.”
Charitable Care
“We never turn anyone away due to their inability to pay,” states Ilana Glazer, External Relations Director at HASA. In 2020, this meant that nearly 1,000 people received assistance from the HASA Charitable Care Fund, supported with a grant from the Knott Foundation, to access comprehensive audiology, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy.
The importance of charitable care has heightened with insurance coverage challenges. For example, stuttering treatment is not covered when it occurs spontaneously during childhood (which it most often does), and under Maryland law, hearing aids are provided for those on Medicaid, but not others who might not be able to afford them (like Dolores).
A Positive Outcome
At HASA, Dolores was fitted for hearing aids at a reduced fee. At her two-week follow-up appointment, she was found smiling and laughing in the clinic waiting room, heavily engaged in a conversation with her son and daughter-in-law. Her family reports that they were not even aware of how much she was missing in life until she got them.
“HASA’s Charitable Care program helps hundreds of people like Dolores to afford the services they need every year, preventing the serious long-term effects of untreated communication challenges,” states Glazer. Indeed, Dolores’ experience of reconnecting with family and friends is just one example of how important HASA’s mission and services are.
“Effective commination is vital to the health of individuals and communities,” concludes Stauder.
Baltimore’s Catholic Woman of the World
Oblate Sisters of Providence use Catholic activities grant to replace the roof on their Chapel and Sacred Heart Hall
Sister Rita Michelle Proctor, OSP, serves as the Superior General of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, an order that she has been a part of for more than 50 years. “I’ve come to understand that God calls us to different walks of life. I felt called to religious life with the Oblates. I remember being attracted by their sense of genuineness and hospitality,” she reflects.
About the Oblate Sisters of Providence
Formed in 1829, the Oblate Sisters of Providence are the first religious order in the Roman Catholic Church founded by women of African descent. In the early years, the Sisters educated youth and provided a home for orphans. Slaves who had been purchased and freed were educated and, at times, admitted into the congregation.
Mother Mary Lange is the Order’s Foundress and was born in Santiago de Cuba in 1784. Despite the racial hardship around her, Mother Lange began St. Frances Academy, a Catholic school in Baltimore City, and attracted African American women to join her as servants of God.
The order currently consists of approximately 80 Sisters in parishes and schools located in Maryland, New York, Florida, and Costa Rica. Their Motherhouse is in the Baltimore area, where almost 40 Sisters reside. “Our Sisters struggled to build this house,” says Sister Rita Michelle. “They sold aprons to build it. We are proud of that heritage and are glad to have a place to call home.”
Many supporters
The Knott Foundation awarded Oblates a challenge grant to replace the roof on their Chapel and Sacred Heart Hall, which are located at the center of the Motherhouse and serve the Sisters and community on a daily basis. The Sisters more than doubled the Foundation’s grant by raising money from the Bunting Family Foundation, the Mother Mary Lange Guild, and the Sisters themselves.
“The roof was leaking. We knew it would take a miracle to raise the money to fix it,” states Sister Rita Michelle. She laughs remembering the Order’s 190th anniversary celebration where the Sisters creatively placed potted plants in various locations to catch the drips of water.
“I would describe Mother Lange as a woman of color, deep faith, great courage, and a desire to serve God’s people,” says Sister Rita Michelle. “She trusted in God’s providential care, a trust that has permeated our community for 191 years now. She also had an inner joy that could only come from God.”
As testament to that great faith, trust, and joy, Mother Mary Lange is being considered for sainthood. Her life’s journey has been documented and is being examined by the Congregation of the Causes for Saints in Rome.
Dr. Camille Brown, President of the Mother Lange Guild, concludes, “Mother Lange is not just a Sister from Baltimore. She is a Catholic woman of the world.”
Towards a Better Life
SBLC/Learning Works uses education grant to upgrade technology and expand their digital literacy agenda for adult learners
“We give individuals a second chance to take the first step towards a better life,” proclaims Sid Wilson, Executive Director of SBLC/Learning Works.
About SBLC
SBLC/Learning Works (formerly South Baltimore Learning Center) began 30 years ago as a tutoring program for adults learning to read. Since then, the organization has grown to serve approximately 700 adults each year by providing pathways to educational advancement and workforce readiness.
“What’s unique about SBLC/Learning Works,” explains Wilson, “is our 1:1 tutoring model via the support of our dedicated volunteers. Whether it’s distance learning or a traditional classroom, our learners can progress at their own pace.”
A digital agenda
The Knott Foundation awarded SBLC/Learning Works a grant to upgrade their technology inventory, including new computers, a mobile Chromebook cart, and software licenses.
“The advantages leveraged from new hardware and software were beyond what we anticipated and created a significant shift in the scope and depth of our digital agenda,” says Brandy Carter, Assistant Executive Director of Literary Education.
A pre-grant survey of learners found that nearly 60% did not know how to operate a computer. While SBLC/Learning Works sought to change that figure, the technology upgrades they made showed success on a number of other fronts: increasing access to devices; improving instruction with just-in-time curriculum based assessment measures; and creating new partnerships for fulfilling career pathways for students.
Pathways to the future
SBLC/Learning Works recently cultivated a relationship with Byte Back, a nonprofit career pathways program in the information technology sector. Their learners now have the opportunity to learn essential computer skills, earn industry certifications, and eventually be placed as Help Desk support technicians or other technology-related positions.
“Partnerships like the one we have with Byte Back are so important,” states Wilson. “They are willing to meet our learners where they are and guide them in the direction of their goals.”
For one learner at SBLC/Learning Works – Odith Sandoval – that goal is to improve her English language skills so she can help her two daughters with their schoolwork. Her teachers describe her as a motivated learner and a natural with virtual tools. Her sister also recently enrolled at SBLC/Learning Works and is working towards earning her high school diploma.
Odith has a positive outlook for the future: “Thank you for everything you guys do for us,” she reflects. “I know this is going to help me in my whole life. From here on, everything is going to be different.”
Divine Restoration
Walters Art Museum uses arts & humanities grant to tell a story about one saint’s humility, kindness, and simple living
The St. Francis Missal is a 12th-century manuscript and beloved to be a relic of touch of St. Francis of Assisi – founder of the Franciscan Friars and the patron saint of Italy, animals, and merchants. The Missal is housed at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore and was recently exhibited with the support of the Knott Foundation and other funders.
The Story of the Missal
In the year 1208, St. Francis of Assisi and two of his followers were debating what God’s plan was for them. Unable to come to agreement, they sought answers at the Church of San Nicolò in Assisi, where Francis often attended. Legend has it that they approached the Missal sitting on the Church’s altar – opened it three times at random – and every time the text on the page implored them to renounce all earthly goods and follow the Lord. This pivotal moment laid the foundation for the Franciscan order.
"The St. Francis Missal is our most frequently requested manuscript,” comments Lynley Anne Herbert, Ph.D., Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts & Curatorial Chair. “Franciscans from around the world regularly make pilgrimages to the museum to be in its presence.”
The restoration of the St. Francis Missal is one of the most extensive conservation treatments on a manuscript completed in the 85-year history of the Walters’ Conservation and Technical Research Lab. Decades of use took a toll on the book’s fragile binding, so there was an urgency to restore it. Overall, the project took two years under the careful direction of Abigail Quandt, Head of Book and Paper Conservation, and Cathie Magee, a Fellow funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
The project’s numbers are impressive: 5,000 conservation hours logged; 599 images digitized; 285 manuscript pages preserved; and 30 Walters staff assisting on the project. “We are thrilled to share these scholarly discoveries and to have been able to make this incredible object accessible to all, both onsite and online,” comments Julia Marciari-Alexander, Ph.D., Andrea B. and John H. Laporte Director of the Walters.
“Through this exhibit we can tell the story of St. Francis and his followers, St. Clare and St. Anthony, and the impact that they had worldwide," shares Quandt. The exhibition features the legendary Missal along with 17 other objects, including manuscripts, paintings, ivories, ceramics, and documentation of the Missal’s restoration.
Nearly 6,000 visitors came to witness the story of St. Francis and view the Missal during the six weeks the exhibition was open to the public. (The exhibition was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.) After the exhibition, the St. Francis Missal returned to its home in the Walter’s Rare Book Library. It can also be viewed cover-to-cover on the Walters’ manuscript website, Ex Libris.
“This extensive reconstruction really brought the book back to life, now and for future generations,” concludes Herbert.
Enoch Pratt Free Library uses human services grant to support its Mobile Job Center, helping Baltimore residents find employment
“One great thing about the library is that it’s a place people trust,” comments Meghan McCorkell, Marketing Director of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, “so they feel comfortable coming to us for help.”
Mr. McQueen was one of those people. Through the Social Worker in the Library program, he was introduced to the Pratt’s Mobile Job Center for employment counseling. There, he got help writing a resume and applying for jobs. He’s now a Peer to Peer Recovery Coach with one of Baltimore’s major hospitals.
About Enoch Pratt Library
Founded in 1882, the Enoch Pratt Free Library is one of the oldest free public library systems in the United States. It serves Baltimore City residents at its Central location and 21 branches across Baltimore. Their mission is “to empower, enrich, and enhance the quality of life for all through equitable access to information, services, and opportunity.”
The Pratt’s programs extend far beyond books. They offer free legal assistance, career services, and access to social workers, both inside the Library and through outreach programs in the community. “For the longest time the Library has been bordered by its walls, but that has changed,” notes Marlyn Norton, a Librarian with the Mobile Job Center. “We now go to the community that needs us and give them the services they want.”
The Mobile Job Center
The Mobile Job Center opened in 2017 and takes skilled employment specialists on the road to neighborhoods with high unemployment, and where access to an existing Pratt location may be challenging. The Center visits laundromats, barber shops, and even stops when people hail them along the road.
Once inside, people have access to one dozen computers, printers, and the Library’s experienced staff. Approximately ten people cycle through the Center every hour. “We help people no matter what stage they are at in the job search process,” says Ryan O’Grady, Mobile Job Center Director. He and his staff teach small classes and offer one-on-one assistance with resume writing, job searches, interviewing skills, and application submissions.
When the Knott Foundation supported the Mobile Job Center with a grant, the Center reached its goal of serving 15,000 people in the first 6 months of the yearlong award period. In the nine months preceding the closures due to COVID-19, the Center had helped 19,500 customers, answered 11,000 questions, and assisted with 687 resumes and 428 job searches.
A Welcome Surprise
“I love the people who don’t know what the Mobile Job Center is, who walk by, get invited inside, and 30 minutes later walk out with a resume on a flash drive and having applied for a few jobs,” reflects McCorkell. “It’s wonderful to see the smile on their face and their surprise to find out the service is available, and that it’s available for free, in their neighborhood.”
St. Clare Parish uses Catholic activities grant to renovate convent for Baltimore area Catholic school teachers to live in a community of faith and friendship
“Our mission is the spread the Word of God and be the Light of Christ for the Essex community in this day in time,” proclaims Father Richard Gray, Pastor of St. Clare Parish in Baltimore County.
To further that mission, St. Clare Parish goes beyond offering Mass, sacramental rites, and fellowship programs. Each year, up to ten graduate students who are teaching in Baltimore-area Catholic schools call the Parish’s convent “home.”
“It’s great to have them on our campus,” shares Fr. Gray. “They bring youth and energy to our 11:00 a.m. mass every Sunday, and from a practical perspective, their presence means we don’t have an empty building on our property, and the parish benefits from the added rental income.”
About St. Clare Parish
Opened in 1956, St. Clare Parish serves over one thousand families in the Essex community. The church has been renovated twice – once after a massive fire in 1970, and again in 2016, partly with funds from the Knott Foundation.
In 2018, the church received another Knott grant to upgrade various features of the convent where the graduate education students are housed. The renovation improved the kitchen, added a full bathroom, and addressed some longstanding maintenance issues.
About Operation TEACH
Operation TEACH is a two-year post-graduate service program at Notre Dame of Maryland University, with the goal to develop a corps of highly committed educators to meet the needs of children in Baltimore area Catholic elementary and secondary schools.
Students in Operation TEACH live on a stipend of $14,000/year, teach full-time in a local Catholic school, attend graduate classes on evenings and weekends, and live in community with their fellow teachers. There are currently 16 students in the program who live at St. Clare Parish and St. Thomas Aquinas Church. They teach first grade through high school at 14 different Catholic schools in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Harford Counties.
“Operation TEACH participants have lived in a lot of old convents throughout our 20-year history,” reflects Angela Simmons, Director of Operation TEACH. “St. Clare Parish’s convent is among the best residential facility we have be able to utilize. The facility is in good shape, especially with the recent renovations, and the location is convenient to an abundance of schools across the Archdiocese.”
A Convent Called Home
Monica is from Scranton and teaches middle school language arts at St. Joe’s Fullerton. She describes Operation TEACH as a “bundle deal – with housing, education, a job, and a support system on top.” This is her second year in the program, and when she reflects on the recent convent renovations, she remarks, “My favorite thing is that there’s always someone cooking in the kitchen this year – it’s a great joy to see and makes it feel more like home.”
Fr. Gray concludes with a serendipitous connection to his own life story: “I was a teacher before I was a priest. I taught for eight years in Delaware before going to Seminary. If a program like Operation TEACH had been around back then, I would have been in it.”
Exercise & Excellence
Mother Seton Academy uses education grant to support their 25th anniversary building campaign
“It’s so great to see the kids watching the new gym being built,” observes Sister Peggy Juskelis, President of Mother Seton Academy. “They see this as a sign of people’s belief in them. To the kids, it’s not just a steel structure, it’s a symbol of the great promise the future holds and the transformative effect of education.”
About Mother Seton Academy
Located in the Greenmount neighborhood of Baltimore City, Mother Seton Academy was founded in 1993 by a group of six Roman Catholic religious orders. It was named in honor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint and the foundress of the country’s first free Catholic school for girls.
Mother Seton Academy’s 83 boys and girls in grades 6-8 are all on full scholarships. They come to the school through a competitive admissions process, where it is typical to have 80 students applying for only 30 seats. To date, the school has graduated 470 students who have since gone on to become police officers, professional educators, members of the armed services, and more.
“The kids are with us beyond the three years they are here,” comments Sister Peggy. Mother Seton’s graduate support program follows the students through high school, ensuring a near perfect 100% graduation rate every year.
Building a Gym
Before this new gym was under construction, Mother Seton Academy’s students practiced basketball on a makeshift court obstructed by two poles. “They never had a full court to run,” explains Sister Peggy. “Now they will feel like real athletes in a true, high-quality middle school gymnasium.”
The gymnasium will also include a music and community room. “The local community is very pleased with what we’re doing,” shares Sister Peggy. The school plans to offer the community room to the adjacent parish, St. Ann’s Catholic Church, as well as local associations for neighborhood events.
Fundraising for the Project
“The Knott Foundation was the first grantor to support the project,” comments Rachel Trask, Development Director. After the Foundation’s support, Mother Seton Academy’s campaign total grew from $1.3 million to over $3 million. Beyond the capital campaign, Mother Seton Academy also raises approximately $1.5 million each year to fund the school’s day-to-day operations.
Sister Peggy concludes: “The philanthropic community is foundational to the success of Mother Seton Academy and our students. Your faith in our students helps them to believe in themselves.”
A Partnership with Unbridled Potential
B&O Railroad Museum uses arts and humanities grant to build a home on their campus for the Baltimore City Mounted Police Unit
A class of kindergartners from James McHenry School walks out of the B&O Railroad Museum abuzz with excitement. As the first school group to tour the First Mile Stable – an innovative partnership between the Museum and the Baltimore City Police Department – the children had spent the morning meeting horses and talking to Sargent Russ Robar, the head of the City’s Mounted Police Unit.
About the B&O Railroad Museum
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum is recognized as the birthplace of American railroading. The Museum holds the oldest and most comprehensive collection of railroad history in the Western Hemisphere.
Located on a 40-acre campus in southwest Baltimore, the Museum is both a cultural anchor for the local community and a destination for more than 185,000 guests each year from around the world. Tours include regularly scheduled train rides, demonstrations of historic equipment, access to the Museum’s fully operational restoration shop, admission to numerous galleries and exhibitions, and a robust educational program for school children that focuses on transportation, history, and innovation.
The First Mile Stable Project
For the past three decades or more, the hard-working horses from Baltimore City’s Mounted Police Unit have lived in a former car dealership beneath a major highway in the City. The B&O recently raised over $2 million to build a stable and paddock for the horses on their 40-acre campus, naming the project “The First Mile Stable.” The term “First Mile” refers to its location where the first mile of long-distance rail was laid and the first passenger station was built.
Visitors to The First Mile Stable will enjoy talking to Sgt. Robar or one of his police officers, as well as meeting the horses themselves. The Unit currently consists of four horses and four officers, but has the capacity to more than double in size in the future. The Unit’s horses are selected for their ability to interact with people and to perform police work. “Big D,” the lead horse for the Unit, has even received an international award for bravery and was just inducted into the Horse Star Hall of Fame.
A Community Builder
“A major purpose of the project is to better integrate the police and the community through educational activities and positive bonding,” states Kris Hoellen, Executive Director. She cites the First Mile Stable’s community classroom and demonstration area as resources for groups to spend time learning about the Mounted Unit and witnessing first-hand how the horses are cared for. School children will be exposed to equine studies, law enforcement, and transportation as potential career pathways.
“The whole project is a way to help reach into the community,” concludes Francis Smyth, Board Chair of the B&O. “Our hope is to help spark community economic development for this area, act as a deterrent for unsafe activity, and ultimately bring more visitors to the B&O as a cultural anchor for the neighborhood.”
The Dentist Is In
Mission of Mercy uses health care grant to launch new mobile dental clinic
A group of 50 people or so sit in a church hall, waiting for their name to be called so they can see a doctor or a dentist. “Just look at them waiting here, and then look at their faces when they get off the van,” one patient remarks.
About Mission of Mercy
Started 25 years ago and operating in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Arizona, Mission of Mercy attracts hundreds of medical volunteers who see patients at local sites that host the organization’s traveling medical and dental clinics.
“Mission of Mercy is a medical home for patients who do not have insurance or cannot afford care,” shares Jennifer White, Development Director. For example, 70% of patients at the four clinic sites in Maryland have chronic health issues that require regular care and monitoring, and Mission of Mercy will provide all of their medications, lab work, and doctor’s visits free-of-charge.
Responding to the Need for Dental Care
“We have a real dental crisis in the United States,” explains Linda Ryan, Mission of Mercy’s Executive Director. Dental care is not included in the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, or Medicaid, and supplemental dental insurance is expensive. Combine that with a dearth of general dentistry practitioners, and people are putting off regular dental care until a crisis emerges.
In responding to this need, Mission of Mercy recently launched a new mobile dental clinic, complete with three patient chairs and professional dental equipment, to double the number of patients they serve. The Knott Foundation contributed to the $1 million fundraising campaign, which included purchasing and fully outfitting the mobile dental clinic and funding its first two years of operations.
With the new mobile dental clinic, Mission of Mercy is able to see more patients, as well as store and utilize more high-end instrumentation.
Restoring Smiles
Enter Dr. Roslyn Kellum, DDS, the Dental Director at Mission of Mercy, and a team of volunteer dentists from the communities the clinic serves. Dr. Kellum (who is both a dentist and registered nurse) and the volunteer dentists provide dental care to their patients, but also refer them to the medical clinic for issues such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. “You can tell a lot about somebody’s health just by looking in their mouth,” Ryan remarks.
Looking at the faces of patients climbing down the stairs of the new dental van, their smile says it all: “I get pleasure and great joy in restoring patients’ smiles because all smiles matter,” concludes Dr. Kellum.
Revenue for Results
Baltimore Child Abuse Center uses human services grant to grow its grants management team in order to help heal and protect more children
How do you double your grant revenue in a year by applying for fewer grants? Ask the Baltimore Child Abuse Center.
Since 1987, Baltimore Child Abuse Center has helped children who have been abused, sexually assaulted, victimized, or witnesses to homicide. The Center, which recently joined LifeBridge Health as a wholly owned not-for-profit subsidiary, provides free services to more than 1,800 children and their non-offending caregivers every year, including medical treatment, forensic interviews, and mental health treatment.
“The violence and trauma a child suffers at the hands of adults takes its toll on their lives and social outcomes,” states LaDonna Morgan, Chief Operating Officer at Baltimore Child Abuse Center. “We are in the fight to protect them and help them on their path to healing.”
Increasing Grants Capacity
The Knott Foundation has supported the Center for more than 20 years. Most recently, the Foundation awarded a grant to increase the Center’s capacity to research, apply for, and administer grants.
One unexpected lesson the Center learned during the grant period: “It’s not as much about the number of grants you win, but the size of those that you do,” states Morgan. The Center actually applied for fewer grants but doubled their grant revenue in just one year, from $1.3M to $3.1M. They did this by seeking larger, multi-year grants, seeing their average award increase from just under $40,000 to $150,000 in 12 months.
“We also developed a new grant strategy, improved our data collection and tracking, implemented program improvements and quality assurance measures, and successfully administered larger and more complex grants than ever before,” comments LeeAnne Woods, Director of Grants Management. “Without the addition of the Grants Coordinator, through the support of the Knott Foundation, we would not have been able to achieve these goals,” continues Woods.
A Path to Healing
More grant funding has allowed the Center to establish a mental health department to better serve children.
“We used to refer children and families to therapists in the community, but we found there was a very low connection rate,” notes Morgan. Grant funding helped the Center hire two therapists and create a therapy department, and in three years the Center has grown the department to six therapists, meaning they can see children immediately, without having to put them on a wait list.
Clearly, Baltimore Child Abuse Center has been successful at turning revenue into results: “Our grants capacity is directly tied to our programmatic ambitions for the organization,” concludes Morgan. “That revenue ensures our doctors, nurses, therapists, and social workers can do the important work they do and positively impact the lives of the children they see.”
Concrete Progress
St. Bernardine Catholic Church in Baltimore City uses Catholic activities grant to launch capital campaign and renovate Church’s entrance
Situated in the Edmondson Village neighborhood of West Baltimore, St. Bernardine Catholic Church has a storied history. As one of the largest Catholic parishes in the City in the 1950s, it nearly closed 20 years later when it struggled to adapt to changing demographics and a changing Catholic Church.
In 1975, Msgr. Edward Miller arrived and chose to see opportunity in the face of the Church’s challenges. He worked with the community to grow St. Bernardine’s into the largest African American parish in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Today, under the leadership of Msgr. Richard Bozzelli, the parish serves 900 households and is celebrating its 90th anniversary year.
A Pillar of the Community
“Father Miller was a pillar of the community,” reflects Msgr. Bozzelli. “His philosophy was, let’s look at who the neighborhood is and put a Church together for the neighborhood.’ He knew everybody and was highly respected.”
The legacy of Msgr. Miller lives on at St. Bernardine’s. Multiple generations of families remain active in the parish, including the family of one of the first African American parishioners. Even the Church’s leadership is inspired by Msgr. Miller’s approach. The current Pastor was mentored by Msgr. Miller for more than 20 years. He became Pastor of St. Bernardine’s in 2014, a year after Msgr. Miller died, and helped the parish emerge from its grief.
Msgr. Bozzelli’s focus on the community has been a steadying force: the parish is active in the local community association, 40 West Ministries; they host an ongoing food pantry; they provide Christmas gifts and dinner to 100 families each year; and they host an annual neighborhood walk on Martin Luther King Day in honor of their late pastor.
A New Capital Campaign
Built in 1928, St. Bernardine’s Church continues to have a strong spiritual presence, but a deteriorating structural one. Msgr. Bozzelli recently launched a capital campaign, Destined Under the Dome, to make some much-needed repairs and upgrades. The initial campaign goal was $800,000, and the Church has pledges just shy of $900,000.
A grant from the Knott Foundation, designated to repair the exterior steps leading up to the Church, helped kick-off the campaign. With the Foundation’s funds as well as help from parishioners and the Archdiocese, the entrance to the Church was renovated to include new steps, a landing with a small courtyard, and multiple access points from the Edmondson Avenue and Mt. Holly Street.
“When people can see concrete progress – and in this case, it was literally concrete – they are energized,” shares Fr. Rich. “The funding the Knott Foundation gave us really launched our campaign. I’m not sure we would’ve had the same result without it.”
Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School uses education grant to send students from two all-girls Catholic schools in Baltimore City on a character-building expedition
“Ships are safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for,” says Leanna Powell, Fundraising Manager at Baltimore Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School.
She uses the ship metaphor to describe the organization’s work: “We prepare students to leave the safe harbor of their home, their family, and their community. We give them authentic challenges to confront, on wilderness expedition trips or our Baltimore City ropes course. Then they return home safely – mentally stronger and with the confidence that they can overcome challenges in their own lives.”
About Outward Bound
Outward Bound has been serving the Baltimore community for 32 years. As an educational organization and expedition school, people of all ages and backgrounds participate in active learning expeditions that inspire character development, self-discovery, and service both in and out of the classroom.
“We think of ourselves as a partner to schools,” explains Powell. “Where the traditional classroom might be limited, we can step in with our curriculum and outdoor classrooms to teach kids how to overcome very real challenges, hone their own leadership skills, and develop a greater sense of compassion for others.”
Character & Leadership Initiative for Girls
The Knott Foundation funded the Catholic Girls Character & Leadership Initiative at Outward Bound, which offered programs for two Catholic girls schools in Baltimore City.
The partnership included Sister’s Academy, a tuition-free middle school, and Mercy High School. Nearly 200 students from these schools participated in Insight days, which include a rigorous outdoor challenge course and character education curriculum. Small groups of students from each school also participated in 5-day expedition trips – canoeing on the Potomac and hiking the Appalachian Trail.
Notably, 100% of the girls participating showed gains in emotional self-efficacy, conflict resolution, problem solving, and perseverance. “Ultimately, all teens are at risk, and the window to make an impact on their development is short. What we do helps them make decisions that chart a course for the rest of their lives,” states Ginger Mihalik, Executive Director.
The girls who participated in the expedition trips were challenged and changed by their experience. At the end of the trip, their comments ranged from, “Thank you for giving me this opportunity to experience a different environment other than my house,” to, “I got to know myself in ways I may have never seen without this trip. I am now able to trust myself that I am able to do more than what I think.”
Perhaps one participant summed up her transformation the best: “Entering the expedition I was closeminded, not confident, and completely unwilling to try new things. Through this week, I made new friends and hiked more than I ever thought I could, volunteered to be a navigator twice, and ate food of all kinds. I would never exchange this experience for anything.”
A Healthy Connection
Charm City Care Connection uses health care grant to help marginalized residents in Baltimore link to high-quality medical care and social services
When Macy showed up at Charm City Care Connection’s clinic in East Baltimore, she wanted help getting medical insurance coverage. The case management team signed her up for Medicaid and reconnected her with her primary care doctor. They also recommended she do some preventative health screenings their medical team was offering that day – which was how they found her blood pressure was dangerously high.
Without insurance for several months, Macy had been cutting her blood pressure pills in half to save money. Now facing a health crisis, the clinic staff rushed her to East Baltimore Medical Center where a medical team got her blood pressure under control and restarted her on the correct dosage of medication. Crisis averted.
About Charm City Care Connection
Founded in 2009 by Hopkins students in collaboration with the East Baltimore community, Charm City Care Connection (CCCC) helps Baltimore’s poorest families access high-quality medical care and social services. CCCC staff and volunteers meet with clients through walk-in clinic hours at two community locations and build long-term relationships with them through home visits, phone calls, text messages, and hospital visits.
“Macy’s case is a wonderful example of how we connect residents to the health care they need and want, and also find undetected health issues that could easily get out of hand,” says Wynn Engle-Pratt, Executive Director of CCCC. Macy is now working with CCCC’s medical student volunteers on long-term goals to continue to improve her health and wellbeing.
Expanding to Meet the Needs
CCCC received a Knott Foundation grant in 2017 to expand its services and open a second clinic location. Using neighborhood indicators, the organization selected Dee’s Place as their second site. Dee’s Place is one of the only 24-hour-a-day addiction programs in Baltimore, and research shows addiction issues have a strong correlation with chronic health and social service needs.
With two locations in East Baltimore that residents know and trust – Dee’s Place, and one at The Men and Families Center – CCCC has seen its client base grow by more than 40% and has been able to make even more referrals to social services. Most often, clients need help getting dental care, finding affordable stable housing, and enrolling in medical insurance. Access to mental health treatment is a rising need as well.
“Overall our success rate is about 75% for meeting a client’s individual need for services,” notes Engle-Pratt. The most common barriers are dental care (which is often not covered by insurance) and access to mental health treatment.
New Ways to Promote Health and Well-Being
CCCC hasn’t stopped growing. The organization just piloted a community training program for Naloxone use in emergency situations and is now looking to develop a healthy cooking and lifestyle class. They are also preparing to welcome a group of new nursing student volunteers from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing to complement the teams of medical residents and students already dedicating their time to CCCC.
“My future interest lies in how to incorporate Charm City Care Connection’s comprehensive model for meeting patients’ needs into the wider healthcare system,” reflects Engle-Pratt. “There is a real opportunity for primary care to provide day-to-day, long-term case management and address people’s needs for housing and other services that so greatly impact their health.”
Baltimore Center Stage uses arts and humanities grant to provide access for all
When he’s not running the Front of House at Baltimore Center Stage, you might find Alec Lawson, Audience Services Manager, narrating one of the theater’s productions for a visually impaired audience member.
The audience member wears an earbud, with Alec (or another trained member of his staff) providing a detailed, live audio description of the set, costumes, entrances and exits of each actor, and action on stage. “Doing a good audio description is tricky,” says Lawson. “You have to watch the show many, many times to learn how to break it down, and you have to share information strategically since you can’t talk while an actor is talking.”
About Baltimore Center Stage
Founded in 1963, Baltimore Center Stage is the City’s leading professional producing theatre, named the State Theatre of Maryland in 1978. It welcomes nearly 100,000 people each season from all 24 Maryland counties.
In 2017, the theatre completed a $33 million renovation, which included upgrades to the technology and services available to patrons with special access needs. The Knott Foundation supported Baltimore Center Stage with this work, awarding a grant for new assistive listening devices, improved captioning services, American Sign Language interpreted performances, increased audio description offerings, and more availability of Braille and large print programs.
An Enhanced Theatre Experience
Audiences are putting the new services and equipment to good use.
Approximately 750 people each season benefit from assistive listening devices and captioning services, and another 15 members subscribe to the American Sign Language interpreted performance of the mainstage productions. Braille and large print programs continue to be printed at 20 per show.
An average of 100 people also attend “touch tours” of the theatre each season, where they learn about a particular performance by touching props, costumes, and stage items. While staff originally designed the tours for the visually impaired, a large number of attendees have been children. “By opening the touch tours to everyone and attracting lots of kids, it has created a really nice sense of community where we can all interact together to experience theatre,” comments Lawson.
A Commitment to Diversity and Access
“Diversity and access are key priorities for Baltimore Center Stage,” notes Brandon Hansen, Institutional Giving Coordinator. He points to the evidence: One quarter of their audience identifies as a race other than white, and over a third of households have an annual income below $75,000. The newly renovated Head Theater is equipped with removable seats accessed immediately from the entrance ramp, with wheelchair accessible seats built into the theater’s design. Anyone can email access@centerstage.org with a question and one of eight staff members trained in accessibility issues will respond.
Baltimore Center Stage’s accessibility program has achieved national recognition, so much so that Lawson and a colleague have been invited to present at the Leadership Exchange for Arts and Disabilities. Their presentation will address how to create inclusive programs that reflect diverse communities, how diversifying opens perspectives and opportunities, and the role volunteers play in a successful accessibility program.
“Access for all applies to everyone,” emphasizes Lawson. “We often talk about access in the context of race or socioeconomic status, but access needs exist across a wide spectrum.” That could include people who have low vision, are hard of hearing, or have a family member with autism. “These groups with special access needs have often been taught to hide,” Lawson continues. “Here at Center Stage, we want to make theater a welcome place for everyone, to come as you are.”
Partners In Care uses human services grant to harness the talents of its members to support the independence of older adults
“It’s my heart and soul, and the most phenomenal place I’ve ever worked,” declares Mandy Arnold, President & CEO of Partners In Care in Anne Arundel County. Reflecting on her 23-year career in healthcare, she is thankful to be in a place where community members come together to help one another, with a special focus on the senior population.
About Partners In Care
For 25 years, Partners in Care (PIC) has helped older adults remain independent and an active part of their community, through the exchange of the time and talents of its membership. Its membership has grown dramatically since its founding, from 13 volunteers helping roughly a dozen seniors, to more than 900 volunteers helping upwards of 1,000 older adults.
PIC’s services mostly consist of transportation and home repairs, both of which support seniors aging in place. Members do not pay money for these services, but rather give their time and talent in exchange for them. The membership process includes an application, orientation, and background check. Whether a member is a provider or receiver of services, everyone is considered a member, and no one is turned away.
The Knott Foundation has awarded PIC five grants over the past 15 years, most recently for general operating support. “We could not do what we do without this type of support,” shares Mandy.
One PIC member drove a patient to her chemotherapy appointments for an entire first round of treatment. When the patient needed a second round of treatment, the member rearranged her schedule so that she could be the one to continue driving her. The patient’s cancer is now in remission.
Another member had been driving a 94-year-old woman to the grocery store for some time, when a new PIC volunteer took the shift. The member called to check-up on the new volunteer and make sure he was “doing everything right,” Mandy laughs. “She wanted to make sure the new volunteer was going into the store with the woman, getting everything on her list, stopping to buy her and her husband a sub on the way home, and putting all the groceries away in the cupboard once they were home.”
A Talent Bank
When asked how PIC has managed to grow over the years and still maintain such a personal touch, Mandy states, “Everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Their value is based on the time they can commit, not monetary net worth. Members feel it is a give and take, and not a charity.”
Leveraging the time and talent of members is a serious part of PIC’s service model. Some members provide home repairs. Other members write birthday cards to the general membership. Recently, 25 members baked deserts for a local fundraising event.
“Everyone has their own talent and all of these talents together is what we were created to be – an organization of neighbors helping neighbors,” Mandy concludes.
Making Science Fun
Port Discovery Children’s Museum uses arts and humanities grant to make science fun for students at four Catholic schools in Baltimore City
“Science is the way we learn about everything in the world,” wrote one student. She was responding to the question, “How do you feel about science?” after partaking in the Port Discovery Children’s Museum STEMventures program. “Port Discovery’s research-based, proven philosophy is that playful, joyful learning broadens children’s horizons, builds their self-esteem, sparks their creativity, and piques their lifelong interest in subjects like science,” explains Bryn Parchman, President and CEO.
Mission and Outreach
The mission of Port Discovery Children's Museum is to connect purposeful play and learning, with the goal to develop smarter, healthier, engaged kids. Port Discovery is counted among the country's top children's museums and has served nearly five million visitors, or about 270,000 people annually.
In 2016, Port Discovery teamed up with the four Catholic community schools in Baltimore City. Archbishop Borders, Cardinal Shehan, St. James and John, and Holy Angels Schools serve children in grades pre-K-8 from at-risk neighborhoods. “Our relationship with these schools is really an extension of our efforts to reach kids in as many low-income, urban schools as possible,” shares Christina McLoughlin, Grants Director.
Meeting Content Objectives
The Knott Foundation awarded Port Discovery a grant to offer its STEMventures after-school program to students at the Catholic community schools, as well as on-site workshops and field trips.
After participating in five-week program series on themes including primates, nanoscience, and engineering, students from the Catholic community schools showed respectable gains in knowledge. For example, the percentage of students who knew primates are a group characterized by a large brain, 3D vision, and opposable thumbs grew from 46% to 90%. And 88% of students identified the correct image of a DNA molecule, a 60% increase from before the program.
Equally as important, the students had fun. In Nanoscience Exposed, students learned about things too small to see and enjoyed a theatrical performance by New Moon Theater called “Alice in Nanoland.” The Everyday Engineers session taught about the five main branches of engineering – civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical, and aerospace – and allowed students to perform experiments, build structures, and create the ultimate slime.
Beyond this content area knowledge, Port Discovery strives to create a comfortable atmosphere where children feel they can explore science. That feeling of comfort starts with the people in the room when the program is happening. With the same facilitators from the Museum running all of the programs at each school, students looked forward to their arrival and developed strong bonds with them.
These relationships – coupled with the exciting content of each program series – ultimately helped create more positive attitudes about science. At the conclusion of the program, one student described it best when she exclaimed, “Science is my life!”
40th Anniversary Video Series: Suporting the Mission of Caroline Center
A short video celebrating the work of Caroline Center and our relationship with them
In celebration of our 40th anniversary year, the Knott Foundation is releasing three short video stories about our grantees.
This video features Caroline Center, an education and health care career skills training program for women in Baltimore City dedicated to helping each woman see and achieve their potential in their personal and professional life.
Structure and Fun
Druid Heights Community Development Corporation uses education grant to support programs for youth in west Baltimore
A list of rules sits on every table in Druid Heights Community Development Corporation, where a group of approximately 20 young people are gathered afterschool. “Be respectful to everyone,” and “don’t destroy things” are two points on the list. “The kids came up with these rules themselves,” explains Anthony Pressley, Executive Director, “so they’re worded the way they would talk.”
About Druid Heights CDC
Established in 1974, Druid Heights Community Development Corporation (Druid Heights CDC) seeks to cause, encourage, and promote community self-empowerment in west Baltimore through economic, educational, employment, and affordable housing opportunities.
“We’ve built more than 100 homes as a community developer,” states Pressley. “And this year we helped 28 families transition from renting to owning their own home. Our key to making this community more successful is home ownership,” he adds.
Enriching the lives of young people
In addition to helping house a wide spectrum of people – from seniors to young families – Druid Heights CDC hosts a variety of youth programs, which the Knott Foundation has supported.
A popular program is the summer camp, which is the only free camp in the neighborhood. The mandatory parent orientation for the camp showcases a video about the disparity between a child growing up in the county and one in the city. “The film helps parents buy in to the program – because if what we’re doing at camp isn’t supported at home, then ultimately we won’t get the kids where we want them to be,” reflects Pressley.
This past summer Druid Heights CDC hosted 86 youth and 40 YouthWorks students in its summer camp, with evaluations showing positive results in preventing summer learning loss, the camp’s primary goal.
“In the afterschool program, we have to be more creative,” says Pressley, explaining that parents often take a more relaxed approach to afterschool and allow their kids to do what they want. “We make it fun so the kids want to come back,” he says, “and provide supper so the parents don’t have to worry about it.”
Creating community partnerships
A large part of Druid Heights CDC’s successful programming for youth comes from community partnerships: the Maryland Food Bank (free supper), the Peabody Conservatory (twice weekly harp classes for youth), the Baltimore Policy Department (mentoring), and St. Peter Claver Catholic Church (gym space), to name a few.
Often these partnerships bear witness to the organization’s commitment to building community and breaking down racial barriers. For example, during the grant period, Druid Heights enhanced its cultural enrichment program for youth by forging a relationship with Beth Am Synagogue, bringing together ten African American teens and ten Jewish American teens for two weekends per month for discussions, lunch, and travel.
“We couldn’t do all this without the support of the community,” Pressley concludes. “Our programming and our partnerships really show our direct impact on families and children in our neighborhood.”
For People Like Melvin
Gilchrist Center Baltimore – Joseph Richey Hospice uses health care grant to provide compassionate, personalized care in Baltimore City
When Melvin came to Joseph Richey Hospice, he likely did not expect a party thrown in his honor. It turns out Melvin loved to fish, and he often spoke to the hospice staff about taking a fishing trip before he reached the end. When a trip with a friend fell through, the staff decided to take matters into their own hands: they threw a fishing party for Melvin in the backyard of the house, complete with a kiddie pool, fishing poles, and party hats.
For people like Melvin, Joseph Richey Hospice is often the only place to find quality, end-of-life care. “There are no other residential options in Baltimore City for people who don’t have the resources or a strong support system,” remarks Ted Blankenship, Director of Development.
About Joseph Richey House
Joseph Richey House is a 19-bed hospice in Baltimore. No one is turned away due to an inability to pay. Like Melvin, patients often do not have a caregiver at home, or even a stable living environment. Some have experienced homelessness, incarceration, or addiction, and many have been underserved medically.
Patients are referred to Joseph Richey by a physician because they suffer from a terminal illness and have less than six months to live. What they find when they get there, however, is a deeply compassionate medical team and support system, including a social worker, bereavement counselor, chaplain, and more than 20 physicians who volunteer their time to treat patients at the House.
A Baltimore blessing
Joseph Richey was founded in 1987 by The All Saints Sisters of the Poor and Mt. Calvary Church. Since that time, approximately 8,000 patients and their families have been served. The Knott Foundation has supported the organization for ten years.
In 2014, Joseph Richey was acquired by Gilchrist Center Baltimore to bolster its financial standing and prospects for future success. “Both Joseph Richey and Gilchrist saw a need that existed for end-of-life care in Baltimore, that otherwise wasn’t being filled. Joining forces ensured that commitment to serving the City and the underserved,” comments Blankenship.
Gilchrist’s relationship with Joseph Richey has helped the hospice serve more medically complex patients, as well as cover the uncompensated care cost that the small nonprofit faces each year due in large part to the fact that Medicaid does not cover patients’ food and lodging. “We really depend on grants and donations from individuals to be able to deliver the care we are providing,” shares Blankenship.
“With a strong organizational structure in place, recent capital renovations, and a burgeoning fundraising campaign, we are all very pleased with the growth that’s been happening at Joseph Richey House,” says Blankenship.
“We may be a small nonprofit, often flying below the radar screen,” he notes, “but we always find a way to serve those who need it most… and do so in a way that brings compassion, dignity, and a personal touch to their final life celebration.”
40th Anniversary Video Series: Supporting the Mission of St. Francis Neighborhood Center
A short video celebrating the work of St. Francis Neighborhood Center and our relationship with them
This video features St. Francis Neighborhood Center, a community-based organization located in Reservoir Hill dedicated to ending generational poverty and strenthening connections in the Baltimore community.
40th Anniversary Video Series: Supporting the Mission of St. Elizabeth School
A short video celebrating the work of St. Elizabeth School and our relationship with them
This video features St. Elizabeth School, a Catholic school for students with special needs.
Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) uses Catholic activities grant to help Towson University students find fulfillment through faith and friendship
Four out of five people who leave the Catholic Church do so between the ages of 18 and 23. Meanwhile, the American College Health Association routinely reports widespread unhappiness among college students in this age range. So how does the Church find those who are lost and ultimately show them a path to a more fulfilling life?
Connecting College to Christ
Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) is the largest and fastest growing apostolate dedicated to the evangelization of college students. Its purpose is to engage a generation of young adults – those most at risk for disconnecting from their faith – as active participants in the Church through small group bible studies, large group leadership training, one-on-one discipleship, and social gatherings.
Founded in 1998, FOCUS missionaries now serve more than 100 college campuses across the United States, including four in Maryland: Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, the University of Maryland in College Park, the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, and most recently, Towson University.
In just two short years at Towson University (and a grant from the Knott Foundation), FOCUS has helped the Catholic community expand from a handful of students involved in planning their own activities, to a group of more than 70 students, missionaries, and student leaders engaged in community outreach, interfaith dialogue, religious practice, and social events. In the words of a vice president in administration at the college: “It’s great that Catholic campus ministry has awoken again.”
“When you go to college, you want to belong somewhere,” says Nan Leahy, Philanthropy Officer. “FOCUS provides that environment for these students and becomes their support system outside of their family.”
Amber Cybulski graduated from college interested in the field of college ministry but unaware of FOCUS. She learned about the organization from a friend, applied to become a missionary, and then took part in an intensive 5-week training program for new staff. Today Amber meets with Towson students one-on-one and helps to lead the Newman Center’s campus ministry activities. Through this discipleship, she has witnessed positive developments in students’ friendships, compassion, willingness to lead, and ability to make good choices.
“So much comes down to good choices,” adds Father Matt Buening, Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at Towson University. “Having the guidance of faith, a community to support them, and good friendships to help them make good choices is so important during college.”
A Time for Conversion
“In a way college is actually the easiest time for conversion,” shares Cybulski, “because you are not yet tied to a spouse, children, job, profession, or way of life, and perhaps for the first time you are charged with making decisions without the influence of your parents.”
Indeed, the culture of FOCUS has proven to be a powerful catalyst for conversion and discernment. Fr. Matt was recently contacted by an unbaptized student interested in exploring the Catholic faith. Simultaneously, FOCUS has inspired two recent Towson graduates to enter the seminary.
“When you fall in love with Christ, it just transforms everything,” says Fr. Matt. “This growth in the human person then translates into effective servant leadership, renewed dedication to the important things in life, a true commitment to helping the community, and a more fulfilling journey through life.”
Speaking Up for Foster Kids
CASA of Allegany County uses human services grant to be a voice for more foster children
“While the number of children in foster care is declining in Maryland, the number in Allegany County has nearly doubled over the last four years, largely due to the drug epidemic,” says Misty Raines, Executive Director of CASA of Allegany County. Citing one of many examples, Raines shares the story of a young mother in Cumberland who recently died from an overdose, leaving her two young children with no options other than foster care.
Located in rural western Maryland, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Allegany County was founded in 2012 by two local citizens who had seen the results and benefits of CASA programs in nearby towns in West Virginia. The organization hired Raines as Executive Director in 2013, and in 2014 their first CASA was appointed by the court.
CASA of Allegany County has trained approximately 40 CASAs since its founding. These volunteers are currently advocating for approximately 25 foster children, speaking to everyone on the child’s behalf in order to create the best life situation for them – whether that is adoption, kinship care, or other living arrangements.
“People in Allegany County are really starting to recognize our program and see the benefits,” comments Raines. “We actually had to waitlist a number of volunteers at our most recent training, because interest was so high.”
Being There for Kids
The Knott Foundation has awarded CASA of Allegany County two grants since it opened its doors. “When I think of where we were in the very beginning with our first grant – wondering what the next year would look like for all these kids in the foster care system – to where we are today with so many active CASAs, it is a testament to all the great people who have worked so hard to make a difference in our community,” shares Raines.
CASA is a serious volunteer commitment in the life of a child, and volunteers are trained accordingly. CASAs go through a rigorous 5-week training program based on a national curriculum. All are asked to commit to 12 months of service, or the life of the case to which they are assigned. For some volunteers, this can mean several years of service.
Such is the case for CASA Don, who has served his child for three years. Once or twice a month, CASA Don drives more than three hours to visit the child in a special group home setting. They go out for lunch, shop for things the child might need, see a movie, or celebrate birthdays together. CASA Don is his only visitor; the boy’s mother died of cancer, his father was his abuser, and he has no siblings.
CASA Roni Ringler sums it up like this: “Albert Einstein said, ‘Only a life lived for others is worth living.’ Through my decades of adulthood, I have tried to live by this – as a teacher, crisis counselor, friend, and now, a CASA. Becoming a CASA has made me a better person, a more determined person, with the hope my child will be reunited with parents, foster parents, or adoption that will regain a stable and happy home life for them. It is my honor to be a CASA and I am thankful for this.”
A Network for Moving Beyond Poverty
St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore uses human services grant to upgrade information technology across 13 program sites serving the poor
As one of the region’s larger human service organizations, St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore provides a path from poverty to self-sufficiency for many residents of Baltimore. A continuous focus on program quality recently led the organization to investigate ways to use information technology to enhance the services delivered to those in need.
About St. Vincent de Paul
St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore’s mission is to ensure those impacted by poverty have the skills and resources to achieve their full potential. More than 150 years after its founding at the Basilica of the Assumption in Baltimore, St. Vincent de Paul’s programs remain inspired by its Catholic roots. Today, in the tradition of its founder, Frederic Ozanam, the organization continues to help people move beyond hunger, homelessness, unemployment, and childhood poverty.
With 13 programs – including a homeless resource center, Head Start, housing services, family homeless shelters, and employment training – St. Vincent de Paul reaches thousands of men, women, children, and families each year, moving them beyond poverty to achieve a better future. These numbers represent significant growth over the past decade: In that time, St. Vincent de Paul has doubled its number of employees and added multiple new site locations and programs.
Such exponential growth creates challenges and opportunities. “We recognized that in order to be a better, higher functioning, more informed organization, we needed to put some time and resources into information technology,” states Matthew Kurlanski, Director of Foundation Relations & Grants and a member of the Information Technology Architecture Steering Committee.
Technology as a Tool
The Knott Foundation awarded St. Vincent de Paul a grant in 2015 for the first phase of its technology upgrade. “Very few funders will support the back-office infrastructure that enables the front-line case managers and program staff to do their jobs better,” remarks Kurlanski. “If we hadn’t received the Knott grant as a first investment, we wouldn’t have gotten the momentum we needed to get the project off the ground.”
Grant funds were spent on upgrades to the network infrastructure at 13 program sites, on a virtual Chief Information Officer, and on a network backup solution. The changes, however small, have begun to increase cross collaboration between programs and have made St. Vincent de Paul’s operations more streamlined and cost effective. For example, during a Baltimore City audit last year, documentation about programs was collected electronically utilizing the Office 365 cloud functions from multiple sites. This lessened the burden on front-line staff to sort and organize large volumes of paper and helped auditors to quickly and thoroughly review the organization’s program performance.
Future efforts include transitioning from using four different data management systems to track progress across all programs, to a single tracking and evaluation system. “Our goal is to use information technology to lay the foundation for becoming a more collaborative, more unified, more outcomes-focused organization,” concludes Kurlanski.
University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center uses health care grant to renovate and expand Mother Baby Unit
Special deliveries arrive each day at University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center: more than 2,200 babies are born at the Catholic hospital in Towson every year.
St. Joe’s recently completed a campaign to renovate and expand its Mother Baby Unit, where the arrival of new life is celebrated in fine fashion. “Each birth is a sacred event,” describes Judy Rossiter, MD, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of the Perinatal Center. “The mother is an integral part of the team and decisions are made with her input. We do what is best for the baby and the mother, in body and spirit.”
For more than 150 years, University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center has provided loving service and compassionate care to the greater Baltimore community. Notably, the 238-bed hospital in Towson is the only Catholic hospital in Baltimore County providing obstetric services.
“That is what sets us apart – our commitment to our faith-based mission,” states Jill Huey, Executive Director of the UM St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation. Daily prayers are said over the intercom. Brahms Lullaby plays every time a baby is born. A memorial service is held for all babies who are lost each year. “Our faith sets the tone for everything that happens in this institution,” Huey recounts.
In 2012, the hospital became part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS). Because UMMS is a privatized system, St. Joe’s was able to remain a Catholic hospital operating under the ethical and religious directives of the Church. “After nearly four years in UMMS, we have returned to profitability, have received numerous awards for excellence and, most importantly, our patients have come back, drawn by the loving care they experience,” comments Senator Francis X. Kelly, Jr., Chairman of the medical center’s Operating Board.
Raising Standards… and Money
That loving care is especially evident in the Mother Baby Unit. Yet the physical space has not always matched the superior level of service that families receive. Until recently, parts of the unit had remained untouched since the hospital was built in 1965.
In 2015, St. Joe’s embarked on a capital campaign, Building For Our Future, to address the facility’s needs. The total cost to renovate the Mother Baby Unit was $2 million, and all $2 million was raised from public and private support – in just one year. The Knott Foundation awarded the largest foundation grant to the campaign, funding the design schematics for the renovated space.
When finished in 2017, there will be a new welcome area with better signage, improved triage space, renovated postpartum rooms, and a bereavement room for families who experience a loss. With these enhancements, the hospital will be able to provide enhanced care for families, including a faster and more private experience for expectant mothers when they arrive at St. Joe’s to give birth.
In the meantime, more special deliveries arrive each and every day as St. Joe’s joins new moms and dads in celebrating the birth of their children.
Dyslexia Tutoring Program uses education grant to help low-income children learn to read
“One of the things we always say is, ‘If you can’t read, you can’t do anything,’” states Marcy K. Kolodny, CEO of the Dyslexia Tutoring Program. “Many times children come to us in the third grade and have already started to lose their self-esteem simply because they can’t read.”
An estimated 15-20% of the population is dyslexic or has a language-based learning disability (International Dyslexia Association). Couple that statistic with the fact that only half of all third graders in Baltimore can read at grade level, and the need to intervene becomes clear.
Dyslexia Tutoring Program (DTP) was founded in 1982 by a group of concerned citizens who sought to demonstrate that with a small investment of time and energy, the chain of dyslexia could be broken.
DTP works with approximately 200 children and adults in Baltimore and surrounding counties who are dyslexic or have a language-based learning disability and can’t afford private tutoring. DTP’s volunteer tutors are trained in the 22-hour Orton-Gillingham method of teaching reading, writing, and spelling. They come from a variety of backgrounds including lawyers, teachers, stay-at-home moms, retired men and women, and business people. And they all want to give something back to their communities.
“As far as we know, we’re one of the only organizations in the country to provide these services free of charge,” Kolodny says. Private tutoring can cost between $70 and $100 an hour, far out of reach for students and their families.
Providing Opportunity and Hope
“A lot of our students are very bright. It’s just that they can’t read,” Bob Morton, Program Director, says. To learn to read, a student meets with his or her DTP tutor for one hour at least once a week. DTP then re-screens the student after every 30 hours of tutoring to measure improvement in areas such as word identification, word attack, spelling, fluency, and comprehension.
While assessments and scores can show a student’s improvement throughout the school year, the greater impact comes later and is perhaps more difficult to measure: “By increasing a student’s reading ability, research says you increase his or her self-esteem, develop character, and create skills needed for future success in high school, college, vocational school, the workplace, and other life endeavors,” says Kolodny.
Ten of DTP’s students are now in college, and three just graduated. Of the five DTP students who finished high school this year, all of them plan to attend college.
One of the program’s students, Tavon, called one day to ask if Kolodny could help him get a part-time job. The Marriott Waterfront Hotel offered him a job as a busboy. He then became a waiter and was accepted into their management training program, where he soon became a Captain, and last summer was promoted to Assistant Manager of the Catering and Events Department. “If it were not for DTP,” he says, “this would never have happened.”
Hard Work for Soft Skills
Art with a Heart uses arts and humanities grant to prepare formerly homeless youth for the workplace
Fifteen new employees – all formerly homeless youth – are seated in an art studio for their new job orientation. “This is not just about making art. It’s about job readiness,” says the orientation director. She explains that they will be learning many different artistic techniques throughout their employment, but if they are late for work by only ten minutes, they will not get paid that day. “Punctuality is important on the job, and docking your pay may seem harsh, but at least you keep your job.”
About Art with a Heart
Founded in 2000, Art with a Heart provides classes in visual arts to underserved Baltimore area children, youth, and adults. Their mission is to enhance the lives of people in need through visual art.
Part of Art with a Heart’s programming includes the Youth Entrepreneurship Program, which employs cohorts of youth in the spring, summer, and fall to create marketable art to sell in Art with a Heart’s retail store, HeARTwares. Youth complete a variety of art projects, such as designing table and chair sets in teams and learning other artmaking skills like wire and beading, wood burning, ceramics, and mosaics.
Teaching Soft Job Skills
In 2015, the Knott Foundation supported the Youth Entrepreneurship Program’s expansion from summer to year-round programming. This has not only grown the number of youth participating, it has also helped 83% of older youth working in the spring and fall cohorts to secure part-time or full-time employment after completion of the program.
Moreover, by partnering with Youth Empowered Society, a drop-in center for youth age 14-25 experiencing homelessness, Art with a Heart is able to engage at-risk teens and young adults in the HeARTwares space for a real job experience. The youth make marketable art for the store and help run the retail operations.
“Often this may be their first work experience,” mentions Christina Ralls, Director of Workforce Development and Social Enterprise for Art with a Heart, “so we’re all about teaching soft job skills they will need now and in the future.”
Overcoming Barriers to Success
“Art with a Heart is one of the most effective workforce development programs for youth in Baltimore City,” proclaims Maia Gibbons, Workforce Development and Education Coordinator for Youth Empowered Society.
“Many programs focus on hard skills such as learning a trade or teaching how to format a resume, but fall short on the soft skills development that our youth need – social skills, time management, conflict resolution, and communication skills,” explains Gibbons. By employing compassionate and committed educators to lead and mentor the youth, Art with a Heart creates a consistent connection with them and helps instill habits that translate into other areas of life.
“The artmaking is therapeutic for our youth,” Ralls says. “All of them are hard workers. All of them want to work. But there are obstacles for them to even get to work. Art can help them process traumatic experiences and overcome those obstacles to become productive employees and leaders in their communities.”
The Grace of the Charge
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur use Catholic activities grant to care for aging Sisters
“It is a gift to be a part of an international order. You can’t be on the side of the poor only in your head. To have their firsthand experience is just such a gift and very moving,” reflects Sr. Carol Lichtenberg, SNDdeN, Provincial of the Ohio Province for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
About the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
More than 175 years ago, eight Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur came to the United States from Belgium to help teach immigrant children. They brought with them their dedication to making known God’s goodness, especially among the poorest and most abandoned.
Since then, the Sisters have served the poor on five continents – in classrooms, in halfway houses, in inner-city community centers, and in rural village communities. The Sisters have taught in hundreds of schools across the United States. They arrived in the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1934 and have staffed 15 different schools, reaching thousands of students from kindergarten to college.
“One of the things we often say is, ‘Where any Sister of Notre Dame is, each of us is,’” explains Sr. Carol. “So you feel like you are able to be helping in that place in the Congo, or in the new school in the Nigerian province, no matter where you are ministering.”
Caring for Others… and for One Another
The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur receive no support from any diocese where the Sisters live and serve. This means they are entirely responsible for their mission and ministries, which includes caring for the frailest Sisters.
Last year, the Knott Foundation awarded a grant of $100,000 to support the retirement needs of the approximately 30 elderly Sisters residing at the Villa Julie Residence in Stevenson, Maryland where the median age is 85. The residence was purchased by the Order in 1947 as a place to care for Sisters who were sick and is now used as a facility for retired Sisters before they require skilled care.
With a portion of the grant funds, the Sisters purchased reclining chairs with electric lifts for each room at Villa Julie. The chairs are designed to help with mobility, comfort, and overall health. When asked about the new chairs, one sister smiled widely and proclaimed, “They’re great! I sleep in mine too much!”
For women who have dedicated their lives to serving others, it is only fitting that they receive the same love and attention in their own times of need.
Sustained and Persevering Efforts
“Our foundress St. Julie Billiart’s most characteristic virtues were simplicity, obedience, charity, and confidence,” states Sr. Carol. St. Julie was a strong woman and followed God’s call to serve others with conviction, saying: “God asks of us not promises, but efforts – sustained and preserving efforts.”
Today the Sisters continue to embody the virtues of their foundress and live out the charge of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in their work as teachers, as ministers to the poor, and as prayerful ambassadors. They remain humble servants of the Lord who accept “the grace of the charge” with incredible passion and joy, from beginning to end.
Expanding their Tribe of Patrons
Everyman Theatre uses arts and humanities grant to find new ways to serve deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons
“What we strive for on stage is truth – finding a way to present something that is authentic,” proclaims Jonathan K. Waller, Managing Director of Everyman Theatre in Baltimore.
That sense of authenticity reached new heights in Everyman’s production of Tribes in 2014, where a deaf actor portrayed Billy, a deaf protagonist, in a coming-of-age story about being deaf in a hearing world. Notably, the show came to represent a coming-of-age for the Theatre itself and an opportunity for them to reach new audiences.
A Locally Grown Gem
Founded in 1990, Everyman Theatre has grown significantly over the past decade. In 2012 Everyman moved from an old converted bowling alley on Charles Street to the Bromo Tower Arts & Entertainment District. Today, the Theatre brings six productions to nearly 50,000 patrons each year.
Amidst this tremendous growth, however, Everyman remains deeply rooted in Baltimore’s local landscape: they employ a professional, equity-level resident company of actors who live in City neighborhoods, who send their children to neighborhood schools, and who are very much a part of the fabric of the community.
Technology as a Connector
For a number of years, Everyman experimented with ways to better serve deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons. Providing live sign language interpretation for select performances and investigating full service captioning for the entire theatre were two such options. As a small, local theatre company, the challenge became finding a more permanent and sustainable solution.
Everyman leveraged the production of Tribes to do just that. With a discretionary grant from the Knott Foundation and support from individual donors, the Theatre licensed cutting edge closed-captioning software, purchased 20 iPod touch devices, and began offering closed-captioning for all theatre performances.
“Closed captioning is definitely a game changer in how numerous people can experience live theatre, whether they are deaf or hard-of-hearing,” states Waller. Patrons now have a direct experience with the actors, instead of having to rely on an interpreter who is often positioned away from the main action of the stage. And Everyman’s commitment goes beyond technology to encompass staffing, training, and culture shifts. For example, an employee has been added to the Theatre’s production staff exclusively to operate the captions during each performance, and the Theatre teamed up with the Hearing and Speech Agency to help train house staff on basic sign language skills.
Strengthening Community Engagement
“The whole experience with Tribes has really become a case study for Everyman in how to reach new audiences and enhance inclusivity,” shares Alexandra Price, Director of Development. “Since then we have created a whole new department around community engagement with a dedicated staff position.”
Adds Waller, “Everyman Theatre’s name harkens back to the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool, England, which was founded on the principle of taking stories of kings and queens and making them accessible to the masses. In that tradition, our mission to make theatre accessible to everyone was pushed forward in a significant way with Tribes.”
In the meantime, Everyman Theatre continues to bring truth to the stage. The only difference is more people are able to join in that experience.
A Brighter Future
Marian House uses human services grant to create a brighter future for women and the world
When Marian House opened its doors 33 years ago, their vision was to provide a brighter future to homeless women coming out of the prison system. Today, while Marian House has expanded to serve homeless women coming from multiple avenues, that vision has stayed true: to transform society by unlocking the potential of women who need a supportive place to live and heal.
A Positive Transformation
The women living in Marian House’s transitional housing program are more than residents; they help run the organization. Residents staff the reception office – answering the phones and greeting visitors at the door – and they also cook dinner for each other every night and clean-up the kitchen afterwards.
“There are so many ways we’re trying to teach the women positive habits, from having dinner together, to recycling, to taking time to focus on their own personal development,” says Katie Allston, Executive Director.
Marian House’s rigorous program starts with an application, interview, and intake process, and women stay for an average of 11 months. “The women who come here are motivated to change their lives for the better,” adds Libby Keady, Grant Writer. “They have to demonstrate a capacity and drive to be a part of a structured program.”
Headquarters Upgrades
Marian House’s headquarters was built in 1928. It originally was used as a convent for nuns teaching at St. Bernard’s Catholic School across the street. The building now contains 29 single rooms, 4 family apartments, an education center, a commercial kitchen, a meeting room, and a large dining room for the women in Marian House’s transitional housing program, as well as space for approximately one dozen staff.
The Knott Foundation made a grant to Marian House to help install a new roof fitted with a state-of-the-art solar photovoltaic system on their headquarters building. Marian House’s headquarters now produces 75%-100% of its own energy. Any surplus energy is sold back to the power company, thereby creating a new revenue stream for the organization.
Rooted in the Catholic tradition of their founders, the Sisters of Mercy and the School Sisters of Notre Dame, the work that Marian House does both to help homeless women and to be good environmental stewards has a broad positive impact.
“The focus of Marian House is to help women get back on their feet again, because women are often the primary teachers for their children. In that way, the ripple effect of Marian House is really quite extraordinary,” states Pete McIver, Director of Operations.
When talking about her time in the program, one resident reflects: “I now want a career, not just a job. It’s the first time I’ve had a chance to do that. ” Marian House has clearly helped her unlock her potential and envision a brighter future for herself.
A Roof for the Masses
Saint Margaret Parish uses Catholic activities grant to replace aging roof
Upon entering Saint Margaret Church, a magnificent prism of colorful stained glass shines over the baptistery. A large portion of the glass was actually closed off to direct sunlight until Saint Margaret replaced its roof and opened up the feature to natural light. “It has made such a difference for the presentation of this space,” proclaims Sandy Laird, Facilities Manager. “It was dark, and now it’s light and much more spacious.”
Each weekend, 3,000 people attend Mass at Saint Margaret Parish, a Roman Catholic community with two locations in the heart of Bel Air, Maryland. As the largest parish in Harford County – and one of the largest in the Archdiocese of Baltimore – Saint Margaret serves as the center of Catholic spiritual life for thousands of families.
The pastor, Monsignor Michael Schleupner, explains the overall design of the worship space: “When you’re walking from the narthex into the sanctuary, the surrounding stained glass panels have a water-like effect. It’s as if you’re walking through the waters of baptism, which you need before entering the church to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist.”
Raising Support
Replacing the 30-year-old roof of the church was the first phase of a larger renovation project at Saint Margaret, partially funded by an even larger campaign for the entire Archdiocese. “We raised a record amount of money from this parish for the Archdiocesan campaign, while also raising money for our own capital needs,” shares Monsignor Schleupner.
“While we’re a large parish, we’re still a working class parish,” Monsignor Schleupner states. Support for the campaign is evident among a wide base of donors, who have all contributed what they can to make the church’s dream a reality. Among those donors, Saint Margaret received a capital grant from the Knott Foundation to help replace the aging roof. In this case, the construction project not only fortified the building, but also brought a new element of light and beauty to the entrance of the church.
Community building is an integral part of the Catholic Church’s mission, and the campaign and renovations of Saint Margaret have brought the parish community together in multiple ways. For a time, parishioners attended Mass in the school gym, which the Liturgy Committee transformed into a worship space. People not only continued to come to Mass at Saint Margaret throughout the renovations, but many made personal gifts to the campaign.
With a new roof and other infrastructure upgrades, Saint Margaret Parish has turned its attention to enhancing the feeling of fellowship in the interior church. It is this strong feeling of communion with God and one another that makes Saint Margaret the spiritual home for so many Catholic families throughout Harford County.
One Room at a Time
Brook Lane Health Services uses health care grant to construct a new hospital wing for children
When a single mother whose six-year-old son was in need of inpatient mental health services in Hagerstown and there was no bed available at Brook Lane, the child and his mother were taken by ambulance to the next nearest in-patient facility, 75 miles away. Once the child was admitted there, the mother had to find affordable transportation back to Hagerstown, and then negotiate trips back and forth to Baltimore to be with her child, all while keeping her job.
Kids Need Room Campaign
Located in Hagerstown, Maryland, Brook Lane offers a continuum of mental health services for children, adolescents, and adults. It is the only inpatient psychiatric facility for children and adolescents in the Western Maryland region.
In 2013, Brook Lane turned away 732 children and adolescents because all of their beds were full. A child who is turned away must remain in the emergency room until a bed is available, travel an hour or more to the nearest alternative facility, or return home without treatment.
To help kids get the specialized care they need and better serve families in the region, Brook Lane launched the Kids Need Room campaign. The campaign’s cornerstone was the construction of a new hospital wing with 14 single occupancy rooms for children. Brook Lane raised just over $2 million for the project, including a capital grant from the Knott Foundation.
More Room to Help People
When the new hospital wing opened in 2015, the number of beds available at Brook Lane increased from 43 to 57. Twenty-five staff were added to accommodate the growth in patient census and facility upkeep. This extra capacity allows them to care for 400 to 500 more children and adolescents each year, greatly reducing those who must be turned away.
Intakes at Brook Lane are done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, where patients receive crisis stabilization in a safe and therapeutic environment. Kids most often come directly from the emergency room at a hospital with diagnoses of bipolar disorder or major depression, and they stay an average of six to eight days before being released with a treatment plan.
Saving Lives One Room at a Time
Over the past 65 years, Brook Lane has provided education and treatment to improve patients’ emotional and behavioral well-being. “We’re saving lives. We’re making lives better for people who are dealing with mental illness, whether it’s a coping skills issue, a behavioral issue, or a chemical imbalance,” says Kay Hoffman, Director of Development.
“When they find out where I work, people often joke by saying, ‘Save me a room!’” says Hoffman. “I always respond, ‘Do you know how lucky you are that we even have a room?” Indeed, the mother from Hagerstown whose son ended up in Baltimore is a fitting depiction of how Brook Lane can make a difference, one room at a time.
Notre Dame Prep uses education grant to construct a new center on campus dedicated to science, technology, engineering, art, and math
Two students, Francesca Zink ’16 and Victoria Niller ’16, stand in a room full of students and talk excitedly about robotics. They explain that last year they teamed up and designed a robot named Tank the Shark. While it took only three days to design Tank, it took months to construct him, wire him to a control panel, master how to power his movements, and give him a distinctive personality. This year they have teamed up again, and their robot’s movements are automated by a computer program they wrote. (In a show of Maryland pride, he’s a racehorse with a Preakness theme.)
About NDP and STEAM
At Notre Dame Preparatory School (NDP), a Catholic school for girls in grades 6-12 sponsored by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, students have a multitude of opportunities to interact with the worlds of science, technology, engineering, art, and math, or STEAM.
In 2014, the Knott Foundation helped to fund the construction of a new STEAM center on campus. The center is a glass-enclosed space peppered with state-of-the-art equipment and bustling with activity. “At least once a day someone stops in front of the glass to see what’s happening,” shares Patrick Cusick, Engineering Teacher.
Interest in engineering at NDP has skyrocketed in recent years. In 2012, 11 students were enrolled in Introduction to Engineering. Four years later that number is projected to be 54 students in the introductory class and an additional 12 in Design/Build Engineering, the more advanced course.
Fostering Teamwork
Yet engineering is not a singular effort. It is about teamwork, including understanding and communicating the team’s product and process for getting there. Francesca adds, “Engineering isn’t just math and science. It’s also people skills. You really need to explain what you’re doing, and NDP prepares us well for that.”
“Everyone puts their part into the team,” Francesca notes. “I think that’s so cool about engineering. You’re not just in your cubicle; you’re bouncing ideas off each other.”
Engaging Students
The teamwork at NDP goes beyond the students and encompasses the faculty and academic departments as well. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, STEAM subjects are incorporated into the humanities (for example, students 3D print the skull of Yorick from Hamlet) and the theatre program, where engineering students conceptualize and construct set designs for the theatre program.
While the STEAM program and center at NDP provide the skills, awareness, and confidence for girls to excel in these subjects, the benefit extends beyond these areas. “What strikes me the most is the joy,” declares Marianne Reichelt, Acting Principal. “The students in the STEAM center are always energetic and engaged. It’s the classroom where the students are the most excited.” Victoria agrees: “The engineering class is the reason I decided to come to NDP.”
Seeds of Hope Bear Fruits of Success
Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore uses education grant to inspire, empower, and nurture scholars to succeed in school and in life
Living up to the organization’s tag line to “inspire, empower, nurture, succeed,” Boys Hope Girls Hope was founded by a Jesuit priest in 1977 to help academically capable and motivated children-in-need meet their full potential by providing them with an excellent education and a nurturing home. The Knott Foundation has supported their work since Boys Hope Girls Hope came to Baltimore in 2002, most recently with a grant to help pay educational expenses for their 16 scholars, including books, uniforms, field trips, and transportation.
Scholars are referred to Boys Hope Girls Hope (BHGH) by teachers, guidance counselors, and social service agencies who see both potential in a child and barriers to their success, such as economic hardship, domestic abuse, or poor supervision. After extensive psycho-educational evaluations, several visits to the BHGH homes, and in close partnership with the child’s parents, the student moves in.
This year, two new scholars joined BHGH. With the encouragement of her middle school guidance counselor, Brianna, now a freshman at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, lobbied her family to allow her to join the program. While she admits it was hard to leave her mom, grandmother and sister, after just four months at BHGH Brianna already feels at home: “I see Boys Hope Girls Hope as a second family. The other girls in the house are my big sisters.”
Once a new scholar moves in, BHGH staff helps identify a private college-preparatory school in the Baltimore area that best fits the scholar’s academic needs and interests. Outside of school, scholars are encouraged to expand their horizons through service, job opportunities, sports, travel, and music.
“The community service we do comes from our foundation of faith,” says Jennifer Meyerhoff, Development Director. Scholars volunteer at local nonprofits including Beans & Bread and First Fruits Farm, and they work at places like Downtown Sailing Center and WYPR. In addition, they take part in many extra-curricular activities. Joshua, a freshman at Gilman School, plays four instruments and also plays lacrosse with a program called Next One Up.
A typical day at BHGH begins with a 6:00 wake-up call. All the scholars leave for school at 6:45. Dinner is at 6:30, followed by two hours of required study time. Lights are out by 9:30 for middle schoolers and 10:30 for high schoolers.
While their days are highly structured, building scholars of character and compassion also comes from nurturing one another. As the oldest of five children, Noe, a junior at Calvert Hall College High School, grew up caring for his younger siblings. “Noe is now a leader among the boys in the house and takes his role as the oldest male scholar very seriously,” says Meyerhoff.
Scholars from BHGH go on to achieve great things in life. Dwayne, a junior at Loyola University Maryland, recently became BHGH’s first scholar to study abroad. Another scholar, David, recently graduated from Morgan State University with a Master’s Degree in Social Work and is working full-time. A current scholar, Cierra, is a senior at the Institute of Notre Dame with hopes of studying engineering in college. She sums up the program like this: “Boys Hope Girls Hope is like co-parenting. It is truly a partnership between the program, the parent, and the scholar.”
Photo Credit: Stevie T. Photography
Much More Than a Museum
Fire Museum of Maryland uses arts and humanities grant to put a spotlight on technology, democracy, and heroism
Standing in front of the new Fire Alarm Office at the Fire Museum of Maryland, a group of school children chant, “911, fire! 911, fire!” They clearly know who to call and what to say when they see a fire.
A Story about Saving Lives
Founded in 1971, the Fire Museum appears to be one of Baltimore’s best kept secrets. It is one of the largest fire museums in the country and holds some of the oldest pieces of fire equipment. “Together our 41 pieces tell the story of American urban firefighting,” shares Steve Heaver, Director and Curator of the Museum. “It is the story of how people help people. How they save their lives.”
Each year more than 12,000 people come to the Fire Museum to tour its collection, conduct research in its archives, participate in a special event, or even celebrate a birthday party. The Museum relies on a team of approximately 25 people, half of them volunteers, to keep things running smoothly.
Even with a small budget and a small staff, Heaver has a big vision: double the number of visitors to the Fire Museum to 25,000. He estimates that they can achieve this goal without increasing staffing or overhead, simply by taking advantage of economies of scale. “It’s not beyond the realm of possibility,” he says with a smile.
A Path of Technological Innovation
Walking through the museum is like taking a step into the history of fighting fire. Visitors follow a path of technological innovation from the earliest years of hand drawn firefighting (1654 – Civil War), through the horse drawn period (1852 – World War I), and then finally the motorized era (1906 – present). Each piece of the collection is cared for and restored by the staff and speaks to the ingenuity of humankind. Many pieces in the collection are even from our own backyard – Baltimore City, Boonsboro, Ellicott City, and the Violetville neighborhood, to name a few.
The Knott Foundation recently helped the Fire Museum renovate lighting for its exhibit space. With this grant and gifts from multiple other donors, the Museum replaced all of its 1971 fluorescent lamp fixtures and installed new LED lights as well as some track spot lights. “The new lights not only save energy and keep the artifacts from fading, they are much more visually pleasing,” Heaver comments.
By telling the story of American urban firefighting, the Fire Museum manages to be so much more than a museum: It becomes a lesson in democracy and making decisions. It serves as an example of technology improving peoples’ lives. And it ultimately stands as a witness to heroism.
Caring for Nurses and Patients
Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital uses health care grant to “grow their own” pediatric specialty nursing workforce
Caring and nursing are synonymous in our society. Yet to be caring specialists for patients, nurses need a support system of their own. That is how the Grow Your Own program at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital in Baltimore got its start.
What is Grow Your Own?
Grow Your Own (GYO) is a pediatric nursing professional development program that includes a year-long residency for new nursing graduates or those new to pediatrics. It includes an orientation curriculum with classes like “Flu and Electrolytes” that utilize case studies and a simulation lab to foster problem solving, critical thinking, and technical skills. Interdisciplinary team building is another component of the program. Once a month, a “Mock Code” takes place in the simulation lab to improve communication between healthcare team members. Finally, GYO supports ongoing professional development for nurses at all levels by providing accredited continuing education courses and preparation for pediatric specialty certification.
“Change is constant in health care,” remarks Sharon Meadows, MS, RN-BC, Director of Education & Professional Development. “There is always new knowledge and new evidence out there to be integrated into practice.” Add to that the hyper-specialized nature of pediatric transitional care, and the need to “grow your own” team of highly-trained nurses becomes even more important.
About Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital
Founded in 1922, Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital was one of the first healthcare institutions in the United States devoted solely to the care of children. In their early years, they saw children suffering from rheumatic fever, polio, and influenza. Today, they serve 7,500 children each year for conditions such as feeding disorders, congenital challenges, diabetes, and more.
In many ways, Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital is the bridge between a child’s stay in a more medically-intensive environment, like the ICU, and the child’s home. This transitional care environment means that the hospital’s medical staff work closely with parents to make sure each child’s healing continues well beyond the hospital stay.
From Pilot to Permanent
Since beginning as a pilot in 2009, the GYO program has exhibited impressive results in helping the more than 100 nurses at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital learn and grow.
During the year the Knott Foundation supported GYO, the 12-month retention rate for new nurses was 100%, compared to just 50% prior to GYO’s founding. Meanwhile, 10 nurses received their specialty certification. These positive results have persisted. The hospital now boasts nursing retention of 100% at 6 months, 95% at 12 months, and 83% at 18 months. Also, the number of certified nurses has grown to reach 30% of their nursing workforce.
With a track record of consistent, positive results, the GYO program has gone from being a pilot program supported by grant funding to being a permanent program sustained by the hospital’s budget. “Grant funding allowed us to build the program and demonstrate success for a few years. We couldn’t have done what we did without grant support,” Meadows recalls.
Reflecting on the GYO program’s impact, Meadows says: “The whole Grow Your Own program has really increased the level of expertise in our hospital and helped us retain our new nurses. This helps improve the quality of care and safety of our patient population – which is really what we aim to do in the education department. We help our staff be experts at what they do.”
Walking With Mother Seton
The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton uses Catholic activities grant to build a successful retreat program
“Sacredness is a big part of why people like to come to Mother Seton’s Shrine,” says Rob Judge, Executive Director of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. “That sense of peacefulness and sacredness permeates this place.”
About the Shrine
Located in Emmitsburg, Maryland, the mission of the Shrine is to promote the life and legacy of Mother Seton, the first native-born Catholic American saint, as a source of inspiration and encouragement for all people. The Shrine is home to a museum and historical grounds that pay tribute to the life and work of Mother Seton, and a Basilica where she is laid to rest.
Today, the Shrine welcomes more than 45,000 visitors each year. Additionally, approximately 60 religious sisters reside on the campus of the Shrine. “Through our work, the sisters hope that more people will be drawn to the Shrine, that their experience will bring them closer to God, that they will see Mother Seton’s witness of charity to the poor, and that they will go home and want to live that out in their own lives,” Judge says.
Building the Retreat Program
To further its mission, the Shrine recently expanded its day retreat program with support from the Knott Foundation. From large confirmation retreats with 80 eighth graders, to faculty and staff retreats from area Catholic schools, to small parish groups, the Shrine is now a bustling retreat center.
During the grant period, the Shrine held 29 retreats, up from 6 retreats the previous year. With an average retreat size of 35 people, the program also brought many new visitors to campus. Overall visitorship to the Shrine increased significantly during the grant period. The upcoming 40th anniversary of the canonization of Mother Seton will offer a unique opportunity to continue to grow the retreat program.
“When the groups are here, they’re able to spend time in the museum, watch the orientation film about Mother Seton, take a walking tour through the historic campus, attend Mass in the Basilica, and make private devotions in the chapel,” remarks Erica Colliflower, Retreat Coordinator. Notably, most organizers indicate that they would have hosted their retreat at a hotel, or not at all, if it were not for the Shrine’s retreat facilities.
“Being able to take advantage of all of these different services we offer really connects the dots for our retreatants,” Colliflower continues. “They see the whole picture and are able to walk with Mother Seton along her journey as a convert, a mother, a widow, a foundress, and a saint.”
Beyond Foster Care
Adoptions Together uses human services grant to help foster children in Baltimore City find permanent connections as they age out of the system
Turning 18 is a rite of passage for any young person, but it can be especially perilous for those in foster care.
“Studies show that kids aging out of foster care without a permanent point of contact are much more likely to end up homeless within 18 months, have interactions with the justice system, face lower job prospects, and have fewer future educational opportunities,” shares Jeanette Stoltzfus, Manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations.
Adoptions Together and the Family Find Program
With a mission to build healthy, lifelong connections between children and families, Adoptions Together launched a program in 2011 to connect youth in Baltimore City aging out of foster care to a permanent relationship. The program, called Family Find Step Down, intersects the fields of social work, law enforcement, and investigations to produce the best result for a child.
“Every person needs someone to celebrate a holiday with and someone who will support them when they need it,” Stoltzfus explains. Adoptions Together begins that search by asking the child who they want that person to be. Sometimes it is a family member, and sometimes it is a teacher, a mentor, or a friend. For children who have been in the foster system for a long time, locating that person can be time consuming.
The Process of Finding People
Enter Dana Smoot, retired Maryland State trooper and criminal investigator. Through a grant from the Knott Foundation, Smoot was brought on to launch an “extreme recruitment” program where Adoptions Together works with Baltimore City Department of Social Services to link foster children to lifelong family connections.
“Basically, my job is to find people,” Smoot says. “While social workers provide direct services to children and families and law enforcement officers are out on the street, I am at my desk and able to devote my time to being analytical and persistent in locating the right people.” Smoot then passes along contact information of the people she has found to social workers who begin the process of engagement and building a permanent connection for the youth in care.
Producing Results
Her work has paid off. During the year-long grant period, Smoot conducted more than 2,300 searches and provided more than 300 prospective leads to child welfare professionals, which eventually helped to link 50 foster youth to a healthy, lifelong connection. After the Foundation’s funding expired, Adoptions Together, Baltimore City Department of Social Services, and the State of Maryland all recognized the benefits of the position and agreed to invest in the Family Find Step Down program.
Seventeen-year-old Daryl entered foster care at age two and is one of Adoptions Together’s clients. Daryl longed to connect with his birth family but didn’t know much about them, much less how to find them. Using a variety of medical records, court documents, and private and public databases, Smoot located Daryl’s mother and three of his siblings. Since then, Daryl and his mother are in weekly phone contact.
Daryl turns 18 soon and is lucky to have a new family to celebrate holidays with: his own.
Measuring Success in a SMART Way
St. Elizabeth School uses education grant to purchase SMART Boards
The hallways of St. Elizabeth School bustle with activity as students return to class after lunch in the cafeteria. In some ways, it seems like a typical school, but in other ways, it feels more special than that.
St. Elizabeth School, a ministry sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, opened in 1961. Today, the School serves 120 students in the Baltimore metro area, ages 6-21, who have been diagnosed with disabilities such as autism, traumatic brain injury, emotional disabilities, intellectual disabilities, orthopedic or other physical impairments, or multiple disabilities.
“Every child with special needs deserves an appropriate education, and at St. Elizabeth School, we do more than that,” affirms Christine Manlove, Ed.D., Executive Director. Oftentimes students have struggled in other environments but flourish at St. Elizabeth, benefiting from skilled teaching, onsite clinical and therapeutic services, integrated use of assistive technology, a robust workforce development and transition program, and above all, an atmosphere of mutual respect and a sense of belonging.
Investing in SMART Infrastructure
The Knott Foundation has awarded St. Elizabeth School more than $100,000 over the past decade for capital needs, academic programs, and technology purchases. Most recently, the School received a $45,000 grant to install SMART Boards in seven classrooms, which advanced their focus on integrating technology to improve students’ learning experience.
Witnessing a lesson on the SMART Board, it is clear that the interactive animation and instant feedback that the SMART Board offers captivates the students. “Hearing automatic applause in front of the whole class when choosing the right answer is uplifting and encouraging,” Dr. Manlove observes. “It’s different than a teacher simply saying ‘right answer’ or ‘good job.’”
SMART Measurement
St. Elizabeth approached measuring the impact of the SMART Boards in their classrooms in a unique way. Through pre- and post- surveys, and comparisons to behavioral incident reports filed through the national School-Wide Information Systems (SWIS) database, they were able to observe measurable improvements in both student behavior and time devoted to educational tasks when the SMART Boards were in operation.
For example, when a SMART Board is being used in the classroom, the number of behavior incident reports decreases by 28.5%. And better behavior means more time focused on task. St. Elizabeth estimates that they earn back nearly seven educational days from the use of the SMART Boards over the course of an academic year.
Dr. Manlove concludes: “Without technology, our students would be isolated from the world in so many ways. No one would know how brilliant they are. Technology has allowed us to give them the tools they need to realize their full potential.”
The Star Spangled Banner Flag House uses arts and humanities grant to showcase Baltimore’s role in our nation’s history
Sometimes we forget the importance that Baltimore plays in this nation’s history… and sometimes we can forget the role that museums, like the Star Spangled Banner Flag House, play in reminding us of this history.
Touring the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House is like taking a 200-year journey through time and back again. On the Flag House’s campus in downtown Baltimore sits both a home built in 1793 and a modern museum that opened in 2004. Together, these buildings tell the story of the American flag that Mary Pickersgill sewed, which inspired the poem that became our National Anthem.
“Flags were a very important means of communication,” explains the museum’s docent. “They would signal everything from a company name, to a ship’s cargo, to a country’s land.” The American flag that Mary Pickersgill sewed came with special instructions: make a flag so large that the British could not miss it.
When it was finished, the flag measured 40 feet by 32 feet. Today, the Flag House’s campus contains a two-story Great Flag Window, which is the same size and design as the original.
Visiting the Flag House
Each year 12,000 visitors come to the Flag House to learn about domestic life in early America, the making of the Star-Spangled Banner, the War of 1812, and the writing of the National Anthem. More than half of these visitors are students from Baltimore City and Baltimore County. “In 2012, we saw a large uptick in the number of classes coming to the Flag House due to the bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812. Since then, our numbers have remained high,” shares Annelise Montone, Executive Director.
Over the past several years, the Knott Foundation has awarded the Flag House multiple discretionary grants to support the organization’s general operations and exhibits. The Foundation’s discretionary grant program provides awards between $500 and $2,500 and serves as a way for trustees to support organizations that most interest them – such as telling the story of Baltimore’s role in our nation’s great history to students and families who live here.
A New Exhibit
While telling a story that is 200 years old, the Flag House also has its eyes set on the future. On February 12, 2014, the birthday of Mary Pickersgill, a new permanent exhibit detailing Mary’s creation of the most famous flag in American history will open on campus. “It will be the first of its kind,” relays Montone. “There has never been a museum exhibit exclusively focused on this extremely important moment in history. We think it is high time there was.”
Patient-Centered and Volunteer-Driven
Shepherd’s Clinic uses health care grant to serve those who need it most
Since 1991, Shepherd’s Clinic has grown from a small medical clinic located in the basement of Seventh Baptist Church to an integrative health center recording, at its height, 18,000 volunteer hours and 9,440 patient visits in one year.
The Clinic serves patients whose income falls below 200% of the federal poverty index, and their catchment area includes the Waverly, Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello, Hampden and surrounding neighborhoods of Baltimore City.
A Mission Connection to Union Memorial Hospital
“The Clinic was originally founded to help the many non-urgent, uninsured patients going to Union Memorial’s emergency department,” shares Melissa DeLong, M.D., Medical Director. The connection to Union Memorial became deeper when Dr. William H.M. Finney, former Chief of Staff at Union Memorial, became the Clinic’s first volunteer Medical Director. “Dr. Finney set the tone for the Clinic, bringing an inspiring spirit of service and steadfast dedication to patient care,” DeLong remarks.
Today, Shepherd’s Clinic’s holistic approach to serving patients is a hallmark of the Clinic. Their campus includes a medical clinic, lab, as well as a full-service wellness center. The Joy Wellness Center offers psychiatric consultations, massage therapy, acupuncture, yoga classes, walking groups, and cooking lessons, among other things.
A Volunteer-Driven Clinic
Notably, all of Shepherd’s Clinic’s direct patient care services are provided by a vast and committed volunteer base. Volunteers range from the enthusiastic pre-med students from Johns Hopkins University manning the front desk, to the pharmacy students from Notre Dame of Maryland University’s School of Pharmacy, to the nurses, primary care physicians and specialists seeing patients every day.
The Knott Foundation has provided Shepherd’s Clinic with more than $180,000 since 2000, largely to support the Clinic’s general operations. During the most recent grant period, the Clinic saw record growth in patient visits – so much that the organization had to reaffirm its service area in the neighborhood to ensure continuation and quality of care as well as organizational stability.
Reform on the Horizon
Healthcare reform will mark another defining point in the Clinic’s growth and history. Many of Shepherd’s Clinic’s patients will be eligible for medical assistance under new federal guidelines, and others will be eligible for products on the healthcare exchange.
Even with these new measures in place, however, it is still expected that patients will experience gaps in coverage. Care will not be seamless, and people will still need an advocate to help them understand the system and reassure them that they will be taken care of. Shepherd’s Clinic will continue to meet the demand for free and affordable health care by adapting into a hybrid model that includes the existing free clinic for the uninsured, a new fee-based clinic, and a navigation service to help people acquire health coverage.
DeLong concludes, “While our model may shift some in the coming years, our mission to provide quality comprehensive care in the community to those who need it most will remain constant.”
A Different Kind of Retirement
Ignatian Volunteer Corps uses Catholic activities grant to grow the number of volunteers in Baltimore
Love is shown more in deeds than in words,” St. Ignatius wrote. Today, the Ignatian Volunteer Corps lives out this principle by serving the poor, by working for a more just society, and by imparting the Catholic tradition of Ignatian spirituality.
A national network, headquartered in Baltimore, the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) provides retired men and women opportunities to volunteer in their local communities while deepening their faith. Volunteers typically work two days per week in a social service agency and also participate in
organized group meetings and spiritual reflection exercises.
Growing the Number of Volunteers in Baltimore
The Knott Foundation made an early investment in IVC to help test their plans for dramatically increasing the organization’s number of volunteers. The grant allowed IVC’s Baltimore regional office – which had been in danger of closing – to hire a Regional Director who, in just one year, demonstrated significant results: Ten new volunteers recruited. Seven partner agencies added. An extra 4,500 hours of service performed. $20,000 in new partnership fees secured. And nearly $13,500 in individual gifts and fundraising event income raised.
These results, along with important data about the retiring population and rising social service needs, led IVC to launch a national campaign to raise $1 million and double the number of IVC volunteers over three years.
Launching a National Campaign
“The Magnify! Campaign recognizes the tremendous talent and opportunity that exists in the growing retired population,” states Mary McGinnity, National Executive Director. “Every day over the next two decades, 10,000 Baby Boomers will celebrate their 65th birthday. IVC is a great outlet for them to stay active, give back to the community, and grow in their faith.”
“Many IVC volunteers have lived their lives without really having known or worked with the poor,” continues Mary. “When they come to us, they are transformed through their experience.”
The Volunteer Experience
One such couple is George and Mary Jean Schuette, married 39 years, who joined IVC last year. George, a former Social Security employee, now works at Project PLASE, a housing and support services provider for the homeless. Mary Jean, a former Catholic school teacher, tutors GED students at Christopher Place Employment Academy, an intensive residential program for formerly homeless men. Each night George and Mary Jean recall the discerning question of their spiritual reflector, “Where do you find God in your work with these men?”
Sr. Marilyn Dunphy, MHSH, Baltimore’s Regional Director, sums it up: “Volunteer service in and of itself is wonderful. Volunteer service rooted in faith, like Ignatian spirituality, has a deeper meaning. Prayer and reflection allow our volunteers to take back a new understanding of, and a new perspective to, their work and their lives.”
Socially Enterprising
The League for People With Disabilities uses human services grant to generate jobs and revenue
Words like “variable data printing” and “tray sequence numbers” are standard vocabulary at League Industries, a program of The League for People with Disabilities. As a full-service print and mail house operation, League Industries utilizes an array of commercial-grade automated equipment and an affirmative business model employing people with and without disabilities to do over $1 million of business every year.
Taking League Industries from Small Shop to Big Business
League Industries was founded in 1933 to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Over the past 80 years, the operation has evolved from a small workshop where people with disabilities constructed lampshades, to an affirmative, social enterprise that has successfully secured major direct mail and printing contracts from local, state, and private business entities.
The League for People with Disabilities (“The League”) offers individuals the opportunity to gain independence, increase self-sufficiency, and improve their overall quality of life through rehabilitative and support programs. League Industries is a special program of The League that provides employment for skilled individuals with physical, cognitive and neurological disabilities, while also helping to subsidize The League’s general programming.
“League Industries was founded as a way to keep people employed and perform job training. But it’s become a real social enterprise,” shares David A. Greenberg, CEO of The League. Indeed, League Industries’ business has grown 35% over the last two years. It generated nearly $170,000 for The League last year. “Frankly, the financial support from this operation helps us run important programs like our state-of-the-art wellness center and provide more scholarships to Camp Greentop, which are important to both our clients and the broader community,” remarks Greenberg.
How a Grant Augmented the Capacity of the Enterprise
The Knott Foundation has awarded more than $150,000 to The League since 2000. The most recent grant allowed League Industries to hire a Customer Service Representative and purchase commercial-grade mail house equipment, including a high capacity paper cutter, binding machine, printer and envelope inserter.
With the help of the added staff, League Industries was able to focus on more intense business development activities. Thanks to the Knott Foundation’s support, the added staff and machinery enabled League Industries to secure new, multi-year contracts worth over $250,000. Meanwhile, the new staff person was able to implement a more regular billing system, which reduced the number of outstanding account balances four-fold and increased the cash flow of the operation.
The benefits, however, extend far beyond financial subsidies. “Seeing League Industries makes you think about how important work is to life. In the typical workplace, you tend to hear people complain about work. But here, people love to work. Here, work is like gold,” says Greenberg.
Math and Money in the Real World
Junior Achievement of Central Maryland uses education grant to build financial literacy among Catholic school students
How many young people can calculate the value of a stock portfolio or define the difference between gross and net income? Nine in ten Catholic school seventh and eighth graders could, after participating in Junior Achievement of Central Maryland’s Finance Park program.
Making Smart Academic and Economic Choices
“At Junior Achievement, we give young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices,” remarks Jennifer Bodensiek, President of Junior Achievement of Central Maryland (JA). JA’s programs are designed to deliver hands-on experiences that give young people the knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship.
“JA helps students by supplying a real-world perspective that complements classroom learning,” Bodensiek says. “This approach is especially important given so many young people drop out or perform poorly in school because of boredom. This sense of boredom often stems from a disconnect between the classroom and the skills they perceive needing in the real world. The goal of JA programs and our cadre of trained corporate and community volunteers is to share life lessons to make learning come to life and be that connector between the classroom and the real world,” she adds.
Connecting with Young People
When it comes to connecting with more young people, JA has had great success. The organization currently serves 33,000 students annually in 12 Maryland counties, a 64% increase from the previous year. Over the last 15 years, the Knott Foundation has invested nearly $100,000 to support JA’s work in Catholic schools in particular. Most recently, a grant enabled more than 3,000 middle grade students and 800 elementary students to participate in JA’s two capstone programs, JA BizTown and JA Finance Park Virtual.
JA BizTown is an interactive experience where students visit a simulated town, work at assigned jobs, receive paychecks, buy and sell goods and services, and manage their business and personal finances. When students are older, they participate in JA Finance Park Virtual – a computer simulation where a student receives a unique profile (such as a married woman with two children making $40,000/year) and then plays the game of life, budgeting and investing her own money as various situations arise.
Taking the Program System-Wide in the Archdiocese
Notably, the Foundation’s grant was a key ingredient to helping take the JA Finance Park Virtual program system-wide in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The program is now taught to all seventh grade math students throughout the Archdiocesan school system. Students’ reactions have been positive. A recent graduate of St. Stephens School in Kingsville who took part in JA Finance Park Virtual even told her former teacher, “Keep doing Finance Park because it has already helped me in high school!”
Technology for Learning
Mother Seton School uses education grant to educate teachers and students
Some students use the classroom computer to print their homework because they don’t have a printer at home. Others need the computer for assistive technology to accommodate their learning needs. And yet others might use it to access an online dictionary and challenge a friend’s word during a heated Scrabble game. In all cases, students at Mother Seton School in northern Frederick County use technology in the classroom every day.
About Mother Seton School
Mother Seton School (MSS) is an independent Catholic school established by the Daughters of Charity in 1957. The School traces its roots back to St. Joseph Academy and Free School in Emmitsburg, which was founded 200 years ago by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton herself.
Today, MSS serves approximately 300 students in pre-k through eighth grade. The School is committed to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s legacy of providing Catholic education to students from families of diverse economic backgrounds, and as such, tuition is the lowest among all private schools in Frederick County.
From a Technology Grant…
With a grant from the Knott Foundation, Mother Seton School installed interactive ceiling mounted projectors in their remaining four classrooms without this equipment, purchased computer workstations for student use in each of the 16 classrooms, and provided staff development in instructional technology.
“The way I look at our school,” Principal Sr. JoAnne Goecke, D.C. shares, “is that it’s okay to take baby steps. The most important factor is to put real thought and planning into the purchases, and then to foster a culture among teachers of excitement and flexibility when it comes to new technology.”
To a Graduate Technology Course…
During the grant period, seven MSS faculty (which equates to one-third of their faculty) enrolled in a three-credit graduate course through Mount St. Mary’s University called “Integrating Technology into Instruction.” The course was offered on-site at the School. “We realized it would probably be more appropriate for the teachers in this building to have training using the technology they have here,” shares Laura Frazier, Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Education at Mount St. Mary’s University and MSS Technology Committee member.
To Technology Utilization in the Classroom
“The class inspired me to use more equipment and not be afraid of it,” one teacher who completed the course comments. Dr. Frazier adds that graduate instruction goes well beyond teaching the technology tools used in today’s classrooms: “We look at how each technology tool enhances student learning, and we talk extensively about instructional decision-making. Using technology for the sake of using technology is not a good reason to use technology,” she affirms.
Sr. JoAnne ends by offering a striking analogy to using differentiated technology tools in the classroom: “It’s somewhat like a chalkboard. Are you going to use colored chalk or plain white chalk? That was the question long ago. Today the question is, ‘What tools are we going to use to help the children facilitate their learning?’”
What Does it Mean to Be a Red Devil?
The Red Devils use health care grant to support breast cancer patients in need
The name itself references the chemotherapy drug Adriamycin, commonly used in the treatment of a wide range of cancers including breast cancer.
It is also the title of Katherine Russell Rich’s spirited memoir about her own breast cancer treatment entitled The Red Devil: To Hell with Cancer and Back (Metheun, 2002). The book inspired the mother of breast cancer patient Jessica Cowling, and she later adopted the team name The Red Devils for the Susan G. Komen Race. When Jessica and her friend Ginny Schardt died of breast cancer, the organization The Red Devils was founded in their honor.
Serving Breast Cancer Patients throughout Maryland
Ten years later, The Red Devils serves nearly 700 breast cancer patients and their families each year. The organization’s geographic reach has grown from one hospital in Baltimore to 39 hospitals across Maryland. Notably, they are able to serve all of these patients with only two staff members and a network of hospital coordinators, namely nurses and social workers. “It’s a brilliant business model that was created by our founders and has served us well,” shares Janice Wilson, Executive Director, explaining that the organization dramatically limits its overhead by vesting certain decisions with professional staff at the hospital level.
The Knott Foundation has awarded The Red Devils $60,000 in operating support over the past five years, ultimately helping the organization grow from serving 500 patients in 2008 to nearly 700 in 2011. On average, The Red Devils provides each patient or family with $300 for critical needs, including transportation to treatment, family support, and medical costs.
Enhancing the Quality of Life
The support provided by The Red Devils enhances patients’ quality of life and promotes normalcy in a most traumatic time. “The Red Devils made it possible for survival. The pressure that I carried impacted my healing process. Your kindness and thoughtfulness gave me peace to heal,” commented one patient. Another simply stated, “I could not afford to go to my treatments without your support. You were a God send for me as I didn’t know what I was going to do.”
So what does it mean to be a Red Devil? It means a life-giving helping hand to someone in need. It means hope above despair. “Until there’s a cure for breast cancer, we need to be here,” Wilson concludes. “That’s why, for now, it’s great to be a Devil.”
Sisters Academy of Baltimore uses education grant to support girls well beyond their years at the Academy
In 2004, four congregations of religious women came together to respond to the community’s call for an all girls’ tuition-free middle school in southwest Baltimore. The result was Sisters Academy of Baltimore – founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Sisters of Bon Secours, Sisters of Mercy, and Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur – which now serves 63 girls in grades 5-8.
Working Together to Foster a Welcoming Spirit
“It has been a once in a lifetime opportunity, to work together as educators and begin something from nothing,” comments Delia Dowling, SSND, President. She describes the collaborative effort of the four congregations of sisters as “the wave of the future and the Church,” in that religious communities are “stepping beyond themselves” to help meet unmet needs in the world. In Sisters Academy’s case, the needs are especially poignant: the students primarily come from west and southwest Baltimore, low-income neighborhoods where nearly half of the adult population has less than a 12th grade education.
A welcoming spirit embodies the Academy. Every morning, the girls begin their day in the gathering space for prayer. One empty chair always sits in the corner. “It is there to show that we always have room for someone else, that we will always welcome a newcomer,” explains Kafui Anthony, an 8th grade student.
The Knott Foundation’s Deeply Rooted Support
Since Sisters Academy opened eight years ago, the Knott Foundation has provided $130,000 to the school in grant support, most recently awarding $40,000 in October 2010 to support three priorities – the graduate support program, technology instruction, and salaries for masters-level teachers.
The graduate support program is integral to Sisters Academy’s graduates’ success, helping them in the selection and application process for high school and college while also guiding them through life after Sisters Academy. Notably, during the grant period, all fifteen 8th graders were accepted to Catholic high schools and received adequate financial aid to attend. In addition, 2012 marks a special year for the school with its first class of alumnae finishing high school. These 10 young women have been accepted to such colleges as Notre Dame of Maryland University, Stevenson University, Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, and Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania.
The Knott Foundation’s recent grant also supported the development of an integrated technology curriculum plan with specific learning goals by grade level. This planning helped, in part, to leverage $53,000 more in technology funding from sources such as the Abell Foundation and the University of Maryland BioPark.
Meanwhile, the grant supported two teachers who completed Operation TEACH, a post-graduate service program offered through Notre Dame University of Maryland where teachers earn their master’s degree while working in local Catholic schools. “In addition to developing capable and committed teachers, the program gave me a large teacher support system that doesn’t always exist in schools,” comments Regina Fabbroni, an Operation TEACH graduate who now teaches mathematics and social studies at Sisters Academy.
Transformative Education at its Best
In the end, Sisters Academy is about transforming girls’ lives, one at a time. One student who experienced particular hardships during her time at the Academy recently wrote to Sister Delia: “I look at where I am in my life today – the opportunities I have and doors that are opening up for me, and I ask myself ‘why me?’ …When I analyze just what was the pivotal factor in my life that set my success in stone – I know it was me attending and graduating from Sisters Academy.”
And so Sisters Academy’s mission of empowering girls to become agents of transformation in their families, communities, and society continues each day, with an open chair and a welcoming spirit for all who enter the school.
Celebrating a Child’s Life
Gilchrist Hospice Care uses health care grant to support pediatric hospice
“To live – that’s really what we’re about. We don’t focus on the dying. We focus on enjoying what time remains,” declares Brenda Blunt, Gilchrist Kids Program Manager.
Gilchrist Hospice Care is the largest hospice provider in Maryland and serves 600 patients every day. Gilchrist Kids is a special program that serves pediatric patients. “One of the reasons we deliberately called the program ‘Gilchrist Kids’ and even created a different logo than the one used for our adult program is so that families didn’t have to see the word ‘hospice’ every day,” explains Brenda. Understandably, hospice is associated with the end of life and represents an especially difficult development for any family whose child is suffering from a terminal disease.
A Founding Supporter of Gilchrist Kids
The Knott Foundation was one of the founding supporters of the Gilchrist Kids program when it began in 2010. During the grant period, Gilchrist Kids grew from serving 4 patients to 15 patients per day.
The patients are most often referred from pediatric units at large Baltimore area hospitals such as Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland Medical Center, and Sinai Hospital. Approximately half of them have cancer, while the other half suffer from conditions including congenital anomalies, degenerative neurological diseases, AIDS, traumatic injuries, end-stage organ diseases, or rare genetic disorders.
Kids Just Want to Be Kids
Even though they are ill, most of the pediatric patients “still just want to be kids,” says Brenda.
So Gilchrist’s strong corps of volunteers helps each family to maintain a happy home life and sense of normalcy. A volunteer might decorate a child’s bed, bake cupcakes for school, cook dinner for the family, or even walk the family dog.
Beyond these volunteer efforts, the professional support Gilchrist Kids provides to families is exceptionally comprehensive: 24-hour on-call nursing visits; pain and symptom management; healthcare benefit navigation assistance; medication and medical supply delivery to the home; a child life specialist to work through complicated emotions with parents and siblings; bereavement support; and family and community outreach and education.
Pediatric Hospice Care – A Specialized Operation
It is important to note that the financial burden of running this type of comprehensive program is not light. Gilchrist Kids employs a team that includes a medical director and two medical consultants to oversee the staff: a neonatologist, a pediatric oncologist, and a general practice pediatrician, all with very specialized knowledge.
Moreover, their team of nurses, aides, counselors, and volunteers must travel to each child’s home to provide care. When compared to adults, it is estimated that these visits to pediatric hospice patients are twice as frequent and last twice as long.
The price of pediatric equipment is also very high – a pediatric hospice bed, for instance, can cost $12,000, and specially designed chest vests that help with breathing and secretions are $15,000. To help cover the multitude of uncompensated costs that arise, Gilchrist Kids must raise up to $200,000 every year.
Helping Those Who Need It Most
Yet all of these resources are priceless to each patient and family in the program. Brenda recalls one baby that Gilchrist Kids recently served:
When the baby was born, they didn’t expect him to go home. Two days later, the mom was ready to be discharged but she didn’t want to leave the baby in the NICU. She and her husband decided to call Gilchrist Kids, and we helped them bring their baby home. A couple days later, the mom said to us, “Wow, this is kind of fun – being a parent.” It turns out they had not prepared for being just “mom and dad.” They were first-time parents and were very grateful for all the help the nurses were providing, including education on normal baby care and how to bond with your baby. In the end, their baby lived for 12 days. When he died, the mom hugged me and whispered, “Thank you for taking something that could have been so horrible, and for making it not be.”
And that is the power of Gilchrist Kids: focusing on life and celebrating it until the very end.
A Faith Community at Work
Catholic Community at Relay uses Catholic activities grant to create a new entrance to their church
On the day of First Holy Communion, friends and family of the Catholic Community at Relay bounded up the steps to the small church to see their children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren receive this important sacrament. Yet not all family members were able to climb the stairs, so some used the newly constructed ramp leading to the church’s entrance.
Building the Ramp
As with any church built in 1880, the Catholic Community at Relay (CCR) was peppered with steps and narrow passages until they embarked on a major renovation project to make the church more accessible to those with disabilities. The Knott Foundation helped fund the construction of a ramp leading up to the church’s entrance, which provides people in wheelchairs, with walkers, on crutches, or even those pushing strollers easy access to the worship space.
“A large part of my healing is being back in my faith community,” lifelong CCR member, Elise Cole, proclaims. Due to a knee injury, the young mother of three has relied on crutches for nearly a year, so she is especially grateful for the ramp.
In addition to solving a physical access issue, the construction project served as a community building experience for CCR. All 100 households belonging to the faith community, representing more than 250 individuals in total, contributed volunteer time and/or financial resources to the effort. Notably, CCR exceeded its fundraising goal for the work by 30%. And one CCR member even recruited a local Boy Scout to undertake the landscaping and hardscaping surrounding the new ramp as his Eagle Scout project.
Being an Intentional Eucharistic Community
CCR is an intentional eucharistic community located in the historic village of Relay, Maryland. It is ecclesiastically approved by the Archdiocese of Baltimore but different than a traditional parish. Visiting priests, usually from religious orders such as the Franciscans, Jesuits, or Trinitarians, celebrate mass on Sunday. Beyond that, each member of the community takes full responsibility for running CCR. “An underlying theme is that every member has a vested interest in the church. We are all responsible, from managing the finances, to emptying the trash, to cleaning the church. Volunteerism is something we see in every aspect of what we do,” states Greg Bean, CCR member.
Connie Maas, CCR member, concludes: “The words ‘faith community’ really sum it up. We are bounded by our faith, and we work together as a family to support each other, our own spiritual growth, and our commitment to actively carry out the message of Christ.”
A Second Chance for People and Things
Second Chance uses human services grant to turn lives around
52,000 labor hours created. $3.2 million consumer dollars saved. 11 million pounds of landfill waste diverted. And that was just in one year!
Founded in 2001, Second Chance provides people, materials, and the environment with “a second chance.” The organization deconstructs buildings and homes, salvages usable materials, and then sells them to the public. The sales proceeds funnel into their workforce development program, which provides job training and placement to those with employment obstacles in the Baltimore region.
Turning Job Training Into Social Benefit
“It was hard to fully appreciate the social benefit of what we do until the first four guys graduated from our job training program,” Mark Foster, Founder and Executive Director, says with emotion in his eyes. “Then I saw what it actually meant – to watch four guys completely turn their lives around.”
Yet the turn is not an easy one. Job trainees must pass a rigorous two-week evaluation and qualifying period, which includes life and safety skills development, and then embark on 16 weeks of on-the-job technical instruction in how to use numerous types of power tools, hand tools, and equipment. Upon completion of the program, qualified trainees receive additional, specialized training in lead abatement and other hazardous materials removal and handling, as well as forklift operation. And those motivated to advance further can go on to receive certificates in carpentry, restoration, manufacturing, plumbing, electrical and masonry. In the end, trainees are placed in green jobs at companies such as Hirsch Electric and Waste Management System.
Expanding All Under One Roof
With funding from the Knott Foundation, Second Chance expanded the capacity of its job training program from 10 new trainees in 2010 to 30 in 2011, and they grew to reach more than 50 in 2012. Even more impressive are the outcomes from the program: During the grant period, for example, Second Chance boasted a 100% graduation rate. Every graduate was placed into a green job, and 97% remained in their jobs after one year. Moreover, ten workforce trainees were promoted, resulting in a combined annual pay increase of $52,000.
Second Chance’s new headquarters located at 1700 Ridgely Street in South Baltimore has brought the organization’s retail operations, job training program, and central office all under one roof – a meaningful achievement for the growing nonprofit and social enterprise. “The general public comes to Second Chance to shop in the warehouse for home furnishings, architectural salvage materials, building materials, and kitchen and bath elements,” shares Foster. “What they may not know is the whole story of our organization – what we accomplish for the universal good of us all.”
Connecting People Through Green Space
Friends of Patterson Park uses cash flow loan to boost operations
You might see them in chest waders scooping debris out of the lake with pool skimmers. Or mulching trees. Or inspecting playground equipment for safety. In all cases, the Friends of Patterson Park will be helping to steward the resource that is near and dear to their hearts: Patterson Park.
The Past and the Present
The first known resident of what is now Patterson Park arrived in 1669. A lot has happened in the last 340 years, and now Friends of Patterson Park, which was founded in 1998, is working with more than 600 volunteers to preserve and enhance all that the Park offers.
Kathy Harget, who joined Friends of Patterson Park as the new Executive Director in the summer of 2011, sees how the mission extends beyond the physical space: “The green spaces in our city are a perfect connector to bring neighborhoods together. Hosting the right programs can attract a whole lot of diverse people who otherwise may not have met each other.”
Transition to the Future
The Knott Foundation stepped in to help Friends of Patterson Park in late 2011 through a Program-Related Investment (PRI). PRIs, also referred to as cash flow loans, provide nonprofits with access to capital at lower interest rates and at shorter turnaround times than might otherwise be available. For Friends of Patterson Park, some of their fundraising activities, including a major event for corporate donors, had been delayed with the leadership transition, so the organization needed a boost to carry them through the fall.
The result? Friends of Patterson Park received a $25,000 loan from the Knott Foundation. With
sufficient financial footing, they were able to meet or exceed all of their fundraising goals, including hosting a corporate fundraiser that brought in $10,000 more than budgeted; receiving increased
annual grants from two foundations; exceeding individual giving goals with the help of the State’s tax credit program; and meeting a $15,000 matching grant from the Meyerhoff Foundation in just 45 days. The year finished with a cash surplus, and the Friends paid the loan back to the Knott Foundation early.
“This is a new chapter in the history of the Friends of Patterson Park,” states Harget. Indeed it is, and the Knott Foundation is honored to be a part of it.
Much More Than a Meal
Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland uses human services grant to feed the hungry and homebound
Imagine if your shopping list included 1,250 lbs. of meat. Every day. That is the reality for Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, the largest and longest continually operating Meals on Wheels program in the country.
Feeding Those in Need
The central mission of Meals on Wheels is to feed those in need. Every day, more than 250 committed volunteers deliver a hot lunch and refrigerated dinner to approximately 1,500 people living in the Metro Baltimore area. These include the elderly and chronically disabled, as well as the temporarily disabled, such as those on bed rest during pregnancy or recovering from major surgery. Many times, the client’s only social contact outside the house is the Meals on Wheels volunteer who comes to visit each day during the week.
Fostering Life-Saving Relationships Between Volunteers and Clients
In fulfilling its core mission, Meals on Wheels is often so much more than just a conduit for sustenance – it’s a lifeline to the homebound. On Labor Day this year, a Meals on Wheels driver was delivering lunch and dinner to a woman living at home in a wheelchair. When he arrived at her house, she did not answer the door, and he could hear her crying out for help from inside the house. She had fallen out of her wheelchair on Saturday, and when he found her on Monday, she had gone 48 hours with no food, no water, and no ability to move or reach a phone to call for help. “The sad truth is that she probably would have died there, had it not been for Meals on Wheels,” relates Barbara Levin, Client Services Director.
“The volunteers and clients become quite attached to each other,” explains Ellen Falk, Volunteer Retention and Recruitment Coordinator. Volunteers often shop for clients, bring in their mail, take out the trash, and talk to them about their families. After excitedly telling clients about her daughter’s upcoming wedding, one volunteer brought her daughter and the wedding pictures on her route to share with clients. Then there is the exceptionally dedicated gentleman who volunteers all five days a week. He recently retired, and his wife of nearly 60 years told him he “needed to get out of the house and find something productive to do with his time.” Thank goodness for Meals on Wheels!
Starting in the Kitchen
Yet the good work that Meals on Wheels does out in the community starts inside the warehouse kitchen. In 2010, the Knott Foundation awarded a grant to meet a funding challenge from the France-Merrick Foundation, which enabled the organization to purchase a Cook-Chill System.
This impressive piece of machinery cooks large quantities of food and then chills it immediately. Meals on Wheels uses it to cook almost anything, most recently discovering that it is both cheaper and healthier to cook beans in the Cook-Chill System instead of purchasing the higher-sodium canned varieties. “And the best part is,” shares Kathleen Tinker, Food Services Manager, “the system can even cook overnight when no one is here.”
Meeting Ever-Growing Needs
Even with these advances, Meals on Wheels is still faced with the daunting task of meeting growing needs. With the aging population, the organization is projecting an explosion of demand over the next ten years. “The goal is to double the number of clients served by 2020,” states Toni Gianforti, Grant Writer.
The Cook-Chill System is one way they are increasing their capacity to produce more meals. Another way is through a new tray sealing process, funded by a $100,000 grant from The Walmart Foundation and the Meals on Wheels Association of America. Notably, the grant required a quick turnaround of a 10% match, and the Knott Foundation provided the initial $1,000, with the Board pledging the remaining $9,000. “The Knott Foundation provided the weight and leverage we needed to secure the rest of the funds,” Gianforti adds.
Thus, with an impressive history in Maryland and an ambitious charge for the future, Meals on Wheels continues to help homebound people eat well, live independently, and enjoy peace of mind.
More Power to the Students
St. Francis Neighborhood Center uses education grant to empower students
When Shawn came to St. Francis Neighborhood Center two years ago, he was failing the fourth grade. He was a bully at school. And he was generally angry at the world and uncomfortable in his own skin. What he needed was to be given back the power to choose his own direction in life – essentially, the mission of The Power Project, a youth development program at St. Francis.
The Power Project
The past two years in The Power Project have helped Shawn to regain his self-confidence. Surprisingly, he now breezes through his math lessons, thanks in part to his mentor in The Power Project, a Ph.D. candidate in mathematics at Johns Hopkins University.
The Power Project began two years ago with a $30,000 grant from the Knott Foundation and recently received $45,000 from the Foundation earlier this year. With 30 children, the program operates at full capacity and has a waiting list.
“Power is truly the formative word in this program,” shared Sarah Tarighi Murphy, Executive Director. At The Power Project, the Center’s staff works with each child and his or her family to develop a Power Plan to identify a child’s Power Goal (their ultimate life goal; i.e., “I want to be a teacher”), short-term and long-term objectives, and the resources needed to achieve their goals. Participants even eat a Power Snack – a healthy meal that the children prepare alongside volunteers once a week.
A Cornerstone of Reservoir Hill
For almost 50 years, St. Francis Neighborhood Center has been a cornerstone of Reservoir Hill in Baltimore City. Founded by two Catholic churches in 1963 – both aptly named St. Francis – the Center began as a Catholic outreach ministry where young Jesuit priests were assigned to work. Enter Father Tom Composto in 1965.
Father Tom became the lifeblood of St. Francis Neighborhood Center. “He gave the word ‘service’ meaning,” declared Murphy. “He lived it with every action and every word.” Indeed, Father Tom was closely connected to the people of Reservoir Hill and kept his promise to serve them every day of his life.
Sadly, on March 16, Father Tom passed away at the age of 72. More than 100 people attended his funeral in the chapel of St. Francis Neighborhood Center, with crowds spilling out onto the porch, into the street, and down the entire block. Tom Hall, a resident of Reservoir Hill, voiced a touching tribute to Father Tom on NPR’s Maryland Morning: “He’s not an ordinary man who did extraordinary things… He’s an extraordinary man who did ordinary things.”
Leadership in Transition
Sarah Tarighi Murphy currently serves as the Executive Director of St. Francis Neighborhood Center. After initially pursuing a career in the advocacy and public policy arena, she felt instinctively drawn to the positive and powerful feeling inside the walls of the Center. Through her work, she witnesses how people change themselves every day as a result of the Center’s mission.
Being a young leader in the Baltimore nonprofit community, Murphy was honored to participate in the first cohort of the Leaders Circle, which the Knott Foundation founded in 2009 in partnership with Maryland Nonprofits and University of Baltimore. The Circle consisted of nine Executive Directors who met monthly to problem-solve and share stories. “It was amazing how so many different people from different organizations were dealing with the same issues,” expressed Murphy.
So, under bright new leadership, the mission of St. Francis Neighborhood Center to break the cycles of poverty continues. And Father Tom’s legacy lives on in the seemingly ordinary, yet heroic, work that is done. And Shawn, in The Power Project? He is finally able to just be a kid.
Compost! Wood Chips! Hoses!
Civic Works uses human services grant to enhance Real Food Farm
It took three tries for the fifth-grade students from Baltimore City’s Green Charter School to identify a component of Real Food Farm that actually cost the organization money. Tyler Brown, or “Farmer Brown” as he is called by the kids, shared that Whole Foods and other companies deposit their trash at Real Food Farm to serve as composting material. And the wood chips came from a tree company that otherwise would have taken them to the dump. But the hoses, well, those did cost money.
Fueled by Volunteers
Real Food Farm is a project of Civic Works, an organization focused on giving people meaningful opportunities to serve their community. The Knott Foundation has supported Civic Works for a number of years, most recently awarding a $50,000 grant to the Real Food Farm Project in 2010.
From farming, to tutoring and mentoring, to learning how to construct a green, energy-efficient roof, Civic Works acts as a bridge between human capital and community needs. While the majority of volunteers are in the 17-24 age range, the organization also employs elementary-age and senior volunteers, and they come from many different parts of the country.
Building Hoop Houses on Real Food Farm
On a sunny April afternoon amongst fields of freshly planted garlic, onion, carrots, and spinach (and four scarecrows!), a group of high school volunteers from Detroit was helping to build a hoop house. A hoop house is basically a low-cost greenhouse. Real Food Farm has five hoop houses and hopes to grow that number to 20 in the future. The hoop houses allow the Farm to cultivate fruits and vegetables year-round and therefore provide fresh produce to the communities of South Clifton Park, Darley Park, Belair-Edison, and Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello on a regular schedule.
Civic Works recently received a van that will be painted to feature Real Food Farm’s mobile produce market. “The great thing about the Farm is that it not only provides fresh, organic produce to the local community, but it also reduces the transportation costs for the goods and provides an educational platform for kids to see how fruits and vegetables are grown and how they can be prepared in healthy meals,” stated Earl Millett, Director of Volunteer Services.
About Civic Works
Founded in 1993, Civic Works is headquartered in Clifton Mansion, a structure dating back to the late eighteenth century that is still being carefully restored by Civic Works and the Friends of Clifton Mansion. With additional resources, Civic Works plans to further renovate the Mansion in order to enhance its programs. Even Real Food Farm would be able to use a renovated kitchen to expand its cooking classes, since not all residents of the neighborhood are familiar with how to prepare fresh produce and preserve the nutrients.
In the meantime, it seems that Civic Works is still operating at full capacity, and the volunteers just keep calling. So many volunteers, in fact, that Millett explained he sometimes must find alternative opportunities for them with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Blue Water Baltimore, Paul’s Place, Baltimore Reads, or Baltimore City Recs and Parks.
If you call and happen to have any garden hoses, however, Civic Works will take them.
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M-32.2 - Act respecting the Ministère du Travail
Table of contents Occurrences0
Updated to 1 October 2011
This document has official status.
chapter M-32.2
Act respecting the Ministère du Travail
LABOUR06June 20 199606June 20 1996
The Ministère du Travail is designated under the name of Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale. Order in Council 1292-2018 dated 18 October 2018, (2018) 150 G.O. 2 (French), 7385.
ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT
1. The Ministère du Travail shall be under the direction of the Minister of Labour appointed under the Executive Power Act (chapter E-18).
1996, c. 29, s. 1.
The Minister of Labour is designated under the name of Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity. The Ministère du Travail is designated under the name of Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale. Order in Council 1292-2018 dated 18 October 2018, (2018) 150 G.O. 2 (French), 7385.
2. The Government, in accordance with the Public Service Act (chapter F-3.1.1), shall appoint a person as Deputy Minister of Labour.
3. Under the direction of the Minister, the Deputy Minister shall administer the department.
The Deputy Minister shall also perform any other functions assigned to him by the Government or the Minister.
4. In the discharge of his functions, the Deputy Minister has the authority of the Minister.
5. The Deputy Minister may delegate the performance of his functions under this Act, in writing and so far as he indicates, to a public servant or to the holder of a position.
The Deputy Minister may, in the instrument of delegation, authorize the subdelegation of such functions as he indicates; where applicable, he shall identify the public servant or holder of the position to whom the subdelegation may be made.
6. The personnel of the department shall be composed of the public servants necessary for the exercise of the functions of the Minister; they shall be appointed in accordance with the Public Service Act (chapter F-3.1.1).
The Minister shall determine the duties of the public servants of the department so far as they are not determined by law or by the Government.
1996, c. 29, s. 6; 2000, c. 8, s. 242.
7. The signature of the Minister or of the Deputy Minister authenticates any document emanating from the department.
No deed, document or writing binds the Minister or may be attributed to him unless it is signed by him, by the Deputy Minister, by a member of the personnel of the department or by the holder of a position, and in the last two cases, only so far as determined by the Government.
8. The Government, on such conditions as it may fix, may permit the signature of the Minister or the Deputy Minister to be affixed by means of an automatic device to such documents as it determines.
The Government may also permit a facsimile of the signature to be engraved, lithographed or printed on such documents as it determines. The facsimile must be authenticated by the countersignature of a person authorized by the Minister.
8.1. The Minister may generally or specially delegate, in writing, the exercise of the powers conferred on the Minister under this Act or an Act under the Minister’s administration to a personnel member of the department or to the holder of a position.
9. Every document or copy of a document emanating from the department or forming part of its records, if signed or certified true by a person referred to in the second paragraph of section 7, is authentic.
FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE MINISTER
10. The Minister shall perform his functions in the areas of labour relations, labour standards, the management of conditions of employment, occupational health and safety, as well as the safety of buildings and of equipment and facilities intended for public use.
11. The Minister shall devise and propose to the Government policies and measures relating to the areas within his competence, in particular to
(1) encourage the establishment or maintenance of harmonious relations between employers and employees or the associations representing them;
(2) adapt labour relations administration and labour standards to changes in the needs of persons, the labour market and the economy;
(3) facilitate the management of workforce and of conditions of employment;
(4) promote the evolution of work organization methods on the basis of the needs of persons, the labour market and the economy;
(5) foster protection of the health, safety and physical integrity of workers;
(6) promote the quality of the construction of buildings and of the equipment and facilities intended for public use as well as the security of the persons having access to them.
The Minister shall see to the implementation of the policies and measures, supervise their administration and coordinate their execution.
The Minister is also responsible for the administration of the Acts under his authority and he shall perform any other function assigned to him by the Government.
The Minister shall also, in collaboration with the bodies concerned, conduct or commission studies on changes in conditions of employment in Québec and make such studies available every five years.
1996, c. 29, s. 11; 2002, c. 80, s. 85; 2007, c. 3, s. 72.
12. The Minister shall encourage the participation of representatives or spokespersons of the employers and workers in the establishment of policies and measures that concern them in the areas within his competence.
12.1. The Minister shall establish a labour and workforce advisory committee under the name “Comité consultatif du travail et de la main-d’oeuvre” to advise the Minister on any question that the Minister submits to it respecting matters within the Minister’s competence. It shall also advise any other minister on any question related to labour or the workforce that the Minister submits to it, at the request of the other minister, respecting matters within the competence of that other minister.
The advisory committee may also study any matter relating to labour or the workforce and, with the Minister’s approval, commission studies and research it judges conducive to or necessary for the achievement of its objects.
12.2. The advisory committee shall release the general policy that guides it in advising the Minister in respect of the list of arbitrators referred to in section 77 of the Labour Code (chapter C-27) and advising the Minister under this section. The policy may include criteria for the appraisal of the arbitrators’ qualifications and conduct.
The Minister shall examine complaints about the remuneration and expenses claimed by arbitrators on the list, and about the conduct and qualifications of those arbitrators.
The Minister shall endeavour to resolve complaints to the satisfaction of the complainant and the arbitrator. If a complaint cannot be so resolved, the Minister may ask the advisory committee for its opinion before making a decision on the complaint.
12.3. The advisory committee may solicit opinions and suggestions from the public on any matter it is studying or about to study, and may submit recommendations on the matter to the ministers referred to in section 12.1.
12.4. The advisory committee may form special committees to study specific questions, gather pertinent information and report to the committee on their findings and recommendations.
A special committee is composed of an equal number of committee members appointed under each of subparagraphs 2 and 3 of the first paragraph of section 12.6.
At the request of the advisory committee, the Minister may appoint persons who are not members of the committee as temporary members of a special committee. These persons are not remunerated; however, they may be compensated for the costs they incur to attend meetings and may receive an attendance allowance and the fees set by the Government.
12.5. The members of the advisory committee may not be prosecuted by reason of an act performed in good faith in the exercise of their functions under section 12.2, section 77 of the Labour Code (chapter C-27) or section 216 of the Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases (chapter A-3.001).
12.6. The advisory committee is composed of the following members, appointed by the Minister:
(1) a committee chair;
(2) six persons chosen from among those recommended by the most representative employee associations;
(3) six persons chosen from among those recommended by the most representative employer associations.
The Deputy Minister of Labour or the Deputy Minister’s delegate is a member of the committee by virtue of office but is not entitled to vote.
12.7. The members of the advisory committee, other than the chair and the Deputy Minister of Labour or the Deputy Minister’s delegate, are appointed for three years; the chair is appointed for five years.
12.8. The members of the advisory committee remain in office, despite the expiry of their term, until they are replaced or reappointed.
12.9. A vacant position on the advisory committee, except that of the Deputy Minister of Labour or the Deputy Minister’s delegate, is filled in the manner prescribed for the appointment of the member to be replaced.
12.10. The chair of the advisory committee directs the committee’s activities, prepares meeting agendas, calls and presides at meetings, coordinates and ensures the continuity of the committee’s work, sees to the preparation of files, provides members with information on the matters to be studied and serves as liaison between the committee and the Minister of Labour or any other minister referred to in section 12.1.
The Minister sets the chair’s fees, allowances, salary and, if warranted, additional salary.
12.11. The chair of the advisory committee, if absent from a meeting, is replaced on an alternating basis by one of the members appointed under subparagraphs 2 and 3 of the first paragraph of section 12.6, after being designated for this purpose by the other members present.
12.12. The members of the advisory committee other than the committee chair and the Deputy Minister of Labour or the Deputy Minister’s delegate are not remunerated. However, they are entitled to a reimbursement of expenses incurred in the exercise of their functions, on the conditions and to the extent determined by the Minister.
13. For the purposes of the performance of his functions and the administration of the Acts under his authority, the Minister may, in particular,
(1) at any time, designate a person to promote the establishment or the maintenance of harmonious relations between an employer and his employees or the association representing them. Such person shall report to the Minister;
(2) carry out or cause to be carried out, and disseminate, such studies, research and analyses as he considers useful, including comparative analyses of the development outside Québec of matters within his competence;
(3) collect, compile, analyze and disseminate available information on labour relations, labour standards, work organization, the labour market, conditions of employment and any other activity carried on by his department or the bodies under his authority;
(4) in accordance with law, enter into agreements with any government, department or body.
14. The Minister, in the performance of his functions, may inquire, or designate a person to inquire, into any matter within his competence.
15. No conciliator, mediator or mediator-arbitrator of the Ministère du Travail and no person designated by the Minister to help parties settle a disagreement may be compelled to disclose or produce, before a court or an arbitrator or before a body or a person exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions, anything made known to or learned by them, or any document prepared or obtained, in the performance of their functions.
Notwithstanding section 9 of the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information (chapter A-2.1), no person shall have access to such a document.
16. The Minister shall table a report of the activities of the Ministère du Travail in the National Assembly for each fiscal year, within six months from the end of that year or, if the Assembly is not sitting, within 30 days of resumption.
CHAPTER II.1
TARIFFING
16.1. The Government may determine, by regulation, a tariff of administrative fees, professional fees or other charges attached to applications filed with or services provided by the Ministère du Travail relating to the application of this Act or any other Act. The regulation may also
(1) provide that administrative or professional fees and charges may vary according to the applications or services or according to the categories or subcategories of persons;
(2) determine the persons and categories or subcategories of persons who are exempt from the payment of administrative or professional fees and charges and the applications or services to which the exemption applies;
(3) prescribe, for the applications or services it designates, the terms and conditions of payment of the administrative fees, professional fees and charges.
AMENDING PROVISIONS
ACT RESPECTING THE CONSEIL CONSULTATIF DU TRAVAIL ET DE LA MAIN-D’OEUVRE
17. (Amendment integrated into c. C-55, s. 2).
18. (Amendment integrated into c. C-55, s. 2.1).
20. (Amendment integrated into c. C-55, ss. 5, 7).
22. (Amendment integrated into c. C-55, ss. 9, 15, 16).
ACT RESPECTING MANPOWER VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION
23. (Amendment integrated into c. F-5, s. 1).
24. (Amendment integrated into c. F-5, s. 41).
ACT RESPECTING THE MINISTÈRE DE L’EMPLOI
29. (Amendment integrated into c. F-3.1.1.1, title).
30. (Omitted).
31. (Amendment integrated into c. F-3.1.1.1, Division II, heading).
32. (Amendment integrated into c. F-3.1.1.1, s. 13).
ACT RESPECTING THE SOCIÉTÉ QUÉBÉCOISE DE DÉVELOPPEMENT DE LA MAIN-D’OEUVRE
36. (Amendment integrated into c. S-22.001, s. 17).
37. (Amendment integrated into c. S-22.001, ss. 18, 93, 96).
ACT RESPECTING NORTHERN VILLAGES AND THE KATIVIK REGIONAL GOVERNMENT
38. (Amendment integrated into c. V-6.1, s. 379).
ACT TO FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF MANPOWER TRAINING
39. (Amendment integrated into c. D-7.1, s. 22).
42. (Amendment integrated into c. D-7.1, ss. 39, 41, 65, 67).
43. The words “Minister of Employment”, “Deputy Minister of Employment” and “Ministère de l’Emploi” are replaced by the words “Minister of Labour”, “Deputy Minister of Labour” and “Ministère du Travail”, respectively, wherever they appear in the following provisions:
(1) (amendment integrated into c. A-20.01, s. 6);
(2) (amendment integrated into c. A-29, ss. 54, 65);
(3) (amendment integrated into c. B-1.1, s. 298);
(4) (amendment integrated into c. C-27, ss. 1, 23, 27, 151);
(5) (amendment integrated into c. C-59, s. 7);
(6) (amendment integrated into c. D-2, s. 1);
(7) (amendment integrated into c. D-10, s. 14.1);
(8) (amendment integrated into c. E-1.1, ss. 4, 17, 18);
(9) (amendment integrated into c. E-18, s. 4);
(10) (amendment integrated into c. E-20.1, ss. 7, 66, 69, 70);
(11) (amendment integrated into c. F-1.1, s. 17.2);
(12) (amendment integrated into c. I-12.1, s. 2);
(13) (amendment integrated into c. I-13.01, s. 2);
(14) (amendment integrated into c. M-3, s. 1);
(17) (amendment integrated into c. M-34, s. 1);
(18) (amendment integrated into c. N-1.1, s. 1);
(19) (amendment integrated into c. R-8.2, ss. 46, 50, 62, 96);
(20) (amendment integrated into c. R-20, ss. 1, 126.1);
(21) (amendment integrated into c. S-3, ss. 10, 44);
(22) (amendment integrated into c. S-40, s. 25);
(23) (omitted);
(26) (omitted).
TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS
44. Unless the context indicates otherwise, in any Act not referred to in sections 17 to 43 of this Act and in any regulation, order in council, order, proclamation, contract, agreement or other document,
(1) a reference to the Minister or Deputy Minister of Employment or to the Ministère de l’Emploi is, according to the matter concerned, a reference to the Minister or Deputy Minister of Labour or to the Ministère du Travail, or to the minister designated by the Government under section 13 of the Act respecting certain fonctions relating to manpower and employment (chapter F-3.1.1.1);
(2) a reference to the Act respecting the Ministère de l’Emploi (chapter M-15.01) is, according to the matter concerned, a reference to the Act respecting the Ministère du Travail (chapter M-32.2), the Act respecting certain functions relating to manpower and employment or to the corresponding provision of either of the said Acts.
45. Any regulation or order made under the Act respecting the Ministère de l’Emploi (chapter M-15.01) shall remain in force until replaced or repealed.
REPEAL SCHEDULE
In accordance with section 9 of the Act respecting the consolidation of the statutes and regulations (chapter R-3), chapter 29 of the statutes of 1996, in force on 1 March 1997, is repealed, except paragraphs 23 to 26 of section 43 and section 46, effective from the coming into force of chapter M-32.2 of the Revised Statutes.
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Mario R. Rodriguez Esq, LLC
Meet the Attorney
Mario R. Rodriguez
Mario R. Rodriguez has over ten years of experience serving the residents of New Jersey. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and received his law degree from Rutgers Law School – Camden. While at Rutgers, he was an associate editor for the Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion and served an externship in the chambers of Justice Virginia Long for the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
Mario resides with his wife and kids in Mount Laurel and enjoys movies, karaoke, and trying to keep up with his wife and kids.
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SportsCar Feature: The Heart of It All
Andrea Wolfe
This article first appeared in the August, 2020 edition of SportsCar Magazine. Everyone can read the current and past editions of SportCar digitally here. To become an SCCA member and get SportsCar mailed to your home address monthly in addition to the digital editions, click here.
by Rick Beattie
SCCA RoadRally in the 1970s was very different from today, but deep down, it remains the same
From 1970-’78, southeast of Huntsville, Ala., what contestants thought were SCCA’s best Time-Speed-Distance rallies drew upward of 100 teams at each event to the most difficult TSD rallies. RoadRally stalwart Scott Forehand describes it best as “a different time” and “a very big deal back in the ’70s.”
Clarence Westberg begins the story. “They started at a resort in Lake Guntersville,” he says. “They managed to get the resort the week before the general public so there were no locals. The hospitality was the best, including huge bowls of fresh shrimp.”
Forehand agrees. “The hospitality was wonderful, and the field was huge.”
Dave Weiman also remembers the huge bowls of shrimp. He had moved to Texas, so he knew how to eat shrimp with the heads on and not peeled. “It was fun to watch the Yankees trying to figure out how to get to the meat of the shrimp,” he smiles.
Being that the event was about 16 hours away, Land O’ Lakes Region teams had to solve the problem in getting there. Gary Starr joined Westberg and Forehand as “a bunch of us caravanned down together to HOD [and other far away Nationals] in a group of our rally cars. We were called the LOL Traveling Circus [being from Land O’ Lands Region].”
“The trip to Alabama was accomplished in one very long day,” Forehand recalls. “If you weren’t driving, you were sleeping. It didn’t seem impossible at the time.” It was worth it.
“The rallies were incredible,” Westberg shares. “HOP was considered the hardest and best rally of the year. They drew 60 to 100 cars. The rallymasters were Clark Thorp and Dave Flannigan.”
“The rallies were the toughest I have ever run, and I enjoyed them greatly,” Weiman agrees. “Nobody came close to running clean.”
He won one year with six or seven maxes. “[I] watched the paper fly, and the protest committee debated and debated finally throwing out several legs and most of our maxes. Proud of that run.”
Back then “confidence legs,” where the teams would suddenly have a leg that continued for miles, formed part of the test. Weiman remembers spending more than 20 miles looking for “Rabbits for Sale.” He went “on and on [into] Northern Alabama and then crossed into Tennessee, which was a bit disconcerting, and the main road took us back into Alabama and there was the sign: ‘Yes We Have No Rabbits for Sale.’”
Another Land O’ Lakes competitor, Dave Fuss, ran his first National RoadRally there in 1976 with his brand-new Zeron 550 in a Datsun 240Z driven by Brian Jacobson. “We were car 91,” says Fuss. “I think there were 102 starters.”
They never found the last three checkpoints. “[We] finished something like 15th and got the Novice A award,” he says. “I still have that big stuffed dog right behind me in the office. I believe Brian’s became a favorite plaything for his young daughter.”
Fuss also ran with Bob Shapiro in 1977 when they encountered their confidence leg “with an instruction that read ‘Right at 5th protected intersection.’” They also drove into the next state, but stopped for gas, turned around, and followed another car to eventually get to the checkpoint.
“Max late of course,” he says. “We had been right, we just ran out of confidence.”
Fuss remembers about 17 pages in the General Instructions that controlled those events, “But the guys were very creative,” he notes. He’s almost sure that the “concepts of initiation, execution, and completion originated in those Generals.”
Starr, meanwhile, is sure that HOD introduced the rule that “signs quoted in the route instructions must be on the right of the route the contestant would follow in the absence of that sign.”
Forehand with Don Andrews won the 1977 rally. “I see that the 4th-place car that year was Mike McGraw and Casey Kronson with car No. 71,” he says. He remembers it as a one-day event that attracted somewhere around 90 cars, adding, “These events were typically very hard with some very original concepts.”
There isn’t enough paper to record the executions on the course or the other goings-on at the event. For Forehand, it was, he says, “Pretty much the high popularity point of TSD rallying.”
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Dominicans Celebrate 800 Year Jubilee
Two local Dominican Sisters travelled to Rome to join the larger Dominican family.
Margaret Cameron PUBLISHED January 29, 2016
Members of the Order of Preachers − Dominicans − around the world have begun a year of celebration marking the 800th anniversary of the official approval of the Order by Pope Honorius III in December, 1216. This celebration coincides with that of the extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy announced by Pope Francis - how fitting that our founder, Dominic de Guzman, prayed frequently, “My God, my Mercy”, asking God to give him and his followers eyes of deep compassion to see the world so that they might become reflections of divine mercy in every situation.
The solemn opening of the Dominican Jubilee took place on the Feast of All Saints of the
Order (7 November 2015) at Santa Sabina Basilica, Rome, within the Eucharist − a celebration of the whole Dominican Family not only in Rome but locally in other countries and regions of the world.
Sister Ann Keys OP and I had the privilege of travelling to Rome to represent our Australian Dominican Family at the celebration. We were advised to arrive very early to get a seat. This we did and were amazed to see the gold carpet for the occasion still in the process of being laid! About 1,000 participated in the celebration with many being Italian Sisters who were so intent on rejoicing in each other’s company, getting ‘good’ seats and taking photos that they were totally unaware of our presence. Despite our initial efforts to greet some of them, the only contact was their crawling over us time and again to get to the aisle for the best photos! We, however, relished being part of the international celebration and remembered in prayer everyone at home knowing that our own celebration at Santa Sabina, Strathfield, would also be very special.
Despite experiencing the culture of our Italian Dominican Sisters for the first time, the Eucharist being celebrated in Italian except for the First Reading and the General Intercessions, it was a deeply moving religious experience. The singing, especially of the Jubilee Hymn, was uplifting while the Ritual of Light and the Entrance Procession of 100 Dominican Friars from different countries, some Dominican Sisters and Nuns together with lay members of the Order, were truly inspiring.
At the conclusion of the Eucharistic celebration everyone received an 800 Year Jubilee souvenir of
Rosary Beads and a little booklet of the Nine Ways of Prayer of Dominic. Then we all spilled into the convent cloisters to share what appeared to be a beautifully festive supper. As people were five deep getting to the tables and not wishing to be jostled in the crowd, we took our chance when the opportunity presented itself to enjoy a slice or two!
During supper Ann, determined to speak to the Master of the Order, Bruno Cadore, whom she had met when he visited Australia in 2014, finally managed to reach him and let him know we were there from Australia. He was delighted we had come so far and was happy to have a photo with us to bring home. At that moment our Italian Sisters swooped! A very tall Dominican Friar saw our plight and took the photo for us from above the mayhem that ensued.
It was a wonderful celebration – although different from our Australian way − concluding with a concert back in the basilica.
The celebration of this 800 Year Jubilee brings me to marvel that for eight centuries the legacy of Dominic has been transmitted from one culture to another during the extraordinary historical changes and is even now being given new expression in our own times. What was the charism, the favour, with which Dominic was gifted by the Holy Spirit?
To identify and describe the Dominican charism or gift involves discovering who and what manner of man Dominic was, the kind of world he inhabited and his response to the needs of the time.
DOMINIC DE GUZMAN (1170 - 1221)
Dominican friar and writer, Simon Tugwell, tells us Dominic was a man of deep joy and compassion, always cheerful and companionable. He wanted his followers to use time profitably as the occasion presented itself rather than make time by legislation or rigid discipline − flexibility and spontaneityare hallmarks of Dominic’s way. Dominic was eminently approachable and lovable, frank in his dealings with others and firm in taking decisions.
He was passionately devoted to the Church and to the truth of the gospels, sensitive to real values which could be found in movements on or beyond the fringe of the official Church. He was a man “present to God”, “present to the world” and in touch with his times.
He was a coy saint hiding behind the works which live after him and the ideals he prompted others to follow. His individual personality made less impression on the Church’s memory. He is like a signpost pointing away from himself - the Church may forget such saints as individuals but it cannot escape for long the ideas for which he stood. He lives on in the Church not as a striking individual but in the work of preaching the gospel, for which he instituted his Order.
THE WORLD OF DOMINIC DE GUZMAN - 13TH CENTURY EUROPE
The thirteenth century was a time of transformation in the world and in the Church. There was a movement from a rural to an urban culture accompanied by the rise of universities and the mobility of students and merchants bringing new ideas from the East, together with a kind of mutation in the whole economic process.
The Albigensian heresy, based on the double principle of good and evil at the moment of creation, was widespread and ravaging Europe. People were being taught that all life on earth, indeed everything material, was evil, and that only the life of the spirit was good. The official Church was very much in disarray. Clergy and religious were acquiring wealth and power, living lives of affluence rather than bringing the Gospel to the people. The Albigensians, on the other hand, preached by word and the austerity of their lives.
DOMINIC’S RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF HIS TIME
As Dominic, a Canon of St Augustine, travelled with his bishop through southern France he became acutely aware that the Word of God was not being preached well or forcefully. To be loyal to his original choice of life as a canon of St Augustine, when confronted with these new needs, he had to change his direction and begin a new way of life. It was Dominic’s charism to begin to do something about the situation.
The compassionate Dominic began his innovation and inheritance by welcoming a group of marginalised women. He made their prayer and welcoming of other disowned Albigensian women the basis for his preaching outreach. He began by relating to people, by being pastorally present, by accompanying them and listening to their stories. They first preached their reality to him, thus he contemplated with others, listened to them and took his place on the side of those struggling for meaning in life.
The public charism that was to flower out of Dominic’s compassion was a passion for truth that must find voice and be proclaimed. It cannot stay silent in the face of human injustice.
We find in Dominic’s response to the needs of men and of women his time the critical reflection which is the hallmark of the Dominican charism. This ‘critical reflection’ enabled him to recognise that what was needed to preach the gospel to his contemporaries was something entirely new. This radical “new thing” conceived in the mind of Dominic was quite revolutionary, for at that time those who wandered around begging and preaching were largely members of heretical groups. ‘Serious religious’ were supposed to stay in one place. Dominic and his followers saw themselves firstly as followers of Christ preaching the gospel in the manner of Jesus and the apostles and living a mendicant, itinerant lifestyle. This was Dominic’s unique vision − his charism. Thus with his followers he founded the Order of Preachers.
A contemporary Dominican theologian, Edward Schillebeeckx, is quick to remind us that to be faithful to the Dominican story today we are called to live life contemplatively, critically appraising what is happening in our society and engaging in the quest for truth that leads to justice, peace and freedom. Our response to this challenge will determine whether the charism bequeathed to Dominic is kept alive in the Church for future generations.
You may wish to visit www.opeast.org.au
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Margaret Cameron
Sr Margaret Cameron OP is a member of the Dominican community at Waratah.
Can We Give Up on the Perfect?
A Film Every Adult Catholic Should See
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Tag Archives: Franklin Roosevelt
Pearl Harbor December 7 1941
“And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD Is My Banner,”
“. . .a date which will live in infamy. . .”
JAPANESE ATTACK PEARL HARBOR
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~prsjr/wars/wwii/pharbor/np_pg1.jpg
Text of FDR’s closing statements from this address appear below.
Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VqQAf74fsE
In the aftermath of the sneak attack on December 7, President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his radio address to the nation, reported 2086 United States Navy and Marine Officers and Men were killed and 749 wounded, and 194 Army Officers and Men killed and 360 wounded, at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese Navy attacked without warning – without a state of war existing between our nations – on December 7, 1941.
Following are a few photos and details on some of the ships that suffered major damage, and in the case of USS Arizona, the greatest loss of life.
USS Utah was the first ship hit and sunk. Note the half-raised American Flag; the attack came at the raising of the Colors that Sunday morning. A total loss, along with USS Arizona, she still lies in Pearl Harbor with 58 of her crew still “on-duty.” For the text of the Oral History record of Pharmacist’s Mate Second Class Lee Soucy, of the Utah: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq66-3a.htm
Foreground, left to right: USS Nevada, USS Arizona with USS Vestal outboard, USS Tennessee with USS West Virginia outboard, USS Maryland with USS Oklahoma outboard, USS Neosho and USS California.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm
[USS Nevada was among the ships sunk, but she was raised and repaired. She returned to service in October, 1942. My father, Seaman Second Class William Brooks Courtney, Jr., enlisted in February, 1942, at barely 18-years-old, and served on her through 7 major battles, from 1942, to February, 1945.]
Arizona State Flag
[Image: www.amazon.com/Arizona-US-Flag-Polyester/dp/B0013C5SKG ]
USS Arizona‘s forward magazine explodes after a bomb pierced the deck, instantly igniting aviation fuel and black powder. This was the worst destruction from the attack. 1177 men died, many of them instantaneously from the enormous explosion. The fire burned two-and-a-half-days! The ship was a total loss and remains buried in the Harbor, along with many of the dead who could never be recovered; they are officially buried at sea. [For more, see below.]
http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/npswapa/gallery/albums/album13/PH23colorflames.htm
Photo: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm
USS Arizona Memorial, built over the sunken hull of the battleship that remains the tomb of many of the 1177 members of her crew who died that day. Those who survived have the right to choose interment inside the ship; rejoining their shipmates at the end of their lives.
“Crewmembers who were assigned to the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941, have the right to have their cremated remains interred inside the barbette of gun turret four by National Park Service divers. If you were a crewmember before that infamous day, you have the right to have your ashes scattered over the ship. In both cases, the common thread is that these men were at one time in their navy careers assigned to the USS Arizona. This policy is strictly enforced by the USS Arizona Reunion and Survivor Association. (In addition, any Pearl Harbor survivor can have their ashes scattered over the place in the harbor where their ship was located during the attack). On April 12, 1982, the ashes of retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Stanley M. Teslow were interred, becoming the first USS Arizona survivor to return to his ship. By mid 2006, 28 surviving crewmembers have rejoined their shipmates in simple and private ceremonies, complete with a two-bell ceremony from the Fleet Reserve Association; a rifle salute from the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps; and a benediction with the echo of Taps being played across the harbor. The services are conducted inside the memorial and consist of an invocation, funeral ceremony, and a flag presentation to the family. Following the ceremony, the urn is carried from the memorial to the dock area and presented to divers, who swim the urn into the open barbette of gun turret number four and proceed to a large open “slot” that measures approximately 6″ x 5′. The urn is placed into this slot and slides into the ship.” http://www.nps.gov/valr/faqs.htm
For more details on the Arizona, and photos from the attack, see the National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/usar/index.htm
The USSARIZONA.ORG website is an excellent site for information on the Arizona and her crew.
USS West Virginia took two bombs and two torpedos, and was sunk, but returned to service in July, 1944.
Although USS Shaw took three bombs, she returned to service in June, 1942.
“I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant…“
Japan’s Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Indeed you had, Admiral!!!
And, the American Flag still waves
over Hickam Field in the aftermath!!!
Photo: http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/npswapa/gallery/albums/album13/PH17flagflies.htm
With Gratitude for all who fought to defend our Fleet
at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, December 7, 1941.
I don’t know the history of this monument, nor who took the photo.
But, for me,
it symbolizes
who courageously step-up
Our Nation under God,
and say,
“Send me.”
[The monument insignia says, “Special Forces Airborne.” The inscription is from Isaiah 6:8]
Source not known. I received it in an Email message.
RE: Photos with this source link: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm. You can also find more photos with details of each image, overview of the attack and links to other pages on this webpage. This is a very large website; for a longer overview and links, including oral histories, also see the site’s page at: http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq66-1.htm
For an excellent blogsite on Naval Warfare and Naval History, with detailed biographies of our warships: http://navalwarfare.blogspot.com/2013_06_01_archive.html
“…No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph — so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.”
Closing statements of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his “Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation,” December 8, 1941, to the Joint Session of Congress. http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/186485-pearl-harbor-address-to-the-nation-delivered-on-december-8
This entry was posted in Foreign Invasion, In Memoriam, Memorable Days, One Nation Under God and tagged 1941, a date which will live in infamy, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, American Flag still flies over Hickam Field, Battleship Row, December 7, December 8 1941, Franklin Roosevelt, God Bless America, I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant, Isaiah 6 8, Itasca, Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor, Our Nation under God, Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation, Remember Dec 7th, SEND ME, United We Stand, USS Arizona, USS Arizona Memorial, USS California, USS Maryland, USS Neosho, USS Nevada, USS Oklahoma, USS Shaw, USS Tennessee, USS Utah, USS Vestal, USS West Virginia, WHO WILL GO SEND ME, William Brooks Courtney Jr on December 7, 2013 by Itasca Small.
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About Pacifica
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Episode 4: The Weight of the World
What we know as Juneau has been the home of the Aak’w Kwaan since time immemorial. Some cruise ship tourists are curious about the people who were here long before Cruise Town and long before Juneau. In this episode, we’ll meet the cultural interpreters with the difficult task of explaining their history, their...
Episode 3: Camp Cruise Town
Juneauites are a lot like whales. Some are year-round residents -- enduring or even thriving during the cold and wet off-season. But some migrate in for the summer -- making a splash when they arrive and then leaving again, chasing prey or love or something else equally magnetic. On this episode, we’ll meet some of...
Episode 2: The Whale and the Head Tax
Juneau has a new park featuring a life-size statue of a humpback whale breaching from a reflecting pool, complete with water works. The statue was privately funded, but the park where it lives was almost entirely paid for by a controversial per-person tax on cruise ship passengers. It was one of the first taxes of its...
Episode 1: The Making of a Cruise Town
On this episode, we go back -- not to the 1880s when Juneau was founded and steamships started coming north, but to the 1980s when Juneau made a conscious decision to change its destiny. We meet two people who were there when an old mining town sold its history and transformed itself into Cruise Town.
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VI All-Diaspora Council
Articles & Correspondence
Upcoming Liturgy Service in the State of Florida
With the Blessing of His Eminence Andronik, Archbishop of New York and North America, a Liturgy will be held in the state of Florida on June 21, 2020 on the feast of All Russian Saints.
For those interested in more information, please call (845) 709-1312.
Despite protests from within the ranks of bishops, clergy, and laypeople, on May 17, 2007, a large part of the ROCA entered into Eucharistic communion with the MP with the signing of the “Act of Canonical Communion” and is now known as the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (MP). A smaller part chose to remain loyal to the historical Russian Orthodox Church and continue the mission of the ROCA.
Australia & New Zealand Diocese
St. Petersburgh Diocese
If you would like to receive our newsletter, please provide us your e-mail address:
© 2016, Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. Dioceses of Syracuse-St. Nicholas and Ottawa-Canada.
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Home Entertainment The Word welcomes Kevin Barry
The Word welcomes Kevin Barry
Sligo Weekender Reporter
SPEAKER: Author Kevin Barry.
IN recent years, it is nigh on impossible to speak of fiction in Ireland without mentioning Kevin Barry.
A truly unique literary voice, his novels ‘City Of Bohane’ and ‘Beetlebone’ have won a plethora of prizes both in Ireland and abroad and he is a highly respected writer of short stories worldwide with anthologies of his own works as well as being published in the New Yorker.
Kevin spoke to The Sligo Weekender ahead of his appearance at The Word, a local literary event at Sligo Library, next Wednesday, April 25.
He spoke of City of Bohane, as his first novel and the fact that it he pulled from many places for inspiration for the book.
“City of Bohane was really just an experiment with language – it struck me that the working class language of actual Irish cities, like Limerick and Cork, where I grew up, had never really found its way into Irish literature, and I thought it was a great opportunity. As a novel, it’s a bit of a mash-up, with lots of different influences. Probably TV shows like Deadwood and The Wire were the main influences,” he said.
Kevin went to a very different topic for his second novel, ‘Beetlebone’, in which an alternative world sees John Lennon of the Beetles fame survive and move to west coast Ireland.
“I enjoyed the good days [writing that book]! It took nearly four years, though, and they weren’t all happy-clappy days. But I felt like I got close enough to a voice for John Lennon for the book to be believable, and I was satisfied with that,” he said.
Kevin has had many successes in terms of prizes for his novels and he enjoys both critical acclaim and a loyal reader base.
“There’s nothing not to love about winning prizes. But yeah, I would say the most gratifying thing is to hear from readers that the work has connected with them at some level,” he commented.
Many readers are familiar with Kevin’s work in shorter fiction. For him, stories have rhythm and it is this rhythm which dictates what form his stories take either as a novel or a shorter piece.
“Short stories are very hard to get right – you have very little time and space, you really have to capture the reader quickly. In a novel you can be kind of looser and wilder really, as long as you have the tune or the melody of the book right. I do think of prose fiction as almost a musical form,” he said.
For budding writers who are going along to listen to what Kevin has to say in the Q and A part of the night on April 25, he has simple advice.
“Write at the same time every day. Even if it’s only for half an hour. The sub-concious is where all fiction comes from and you can kind of train it to start giving you ideas,” he said.
Also, for fans of his work, there is plenty on the horizon to look forward to in the coming months and year.
“I’ve been writing plays and screenplays and a novel. The latest play is called Autumn Royal and is touring in May and June. The film is called Dark Lies The Island, based on my short stories, and will come out in the second half of the year. I’m hoping to have a novel ready for next year,” he said.
Ahead of The Word event this month, Kevin has said “I can’t wait. It looks like a great event and I’m sure we’ll have a hoot with it.”
The Word is on April 25 at Sligo Central Library. Admission is free and it starts at 6.30pm.
An additional interview with Sligo author Julianna Holland can be found in this week’s paper- out now.
The Word welcomes Kevin Barry, 4.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating
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St. Patrick’s Day Festival Arrests and Successes
SAVANNAH, GA (March 20, 2017) – Law enforcement officers made a total of 54 arrests in the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day “Festival Zone”. Forty-four of the arrests were misdemeanors and 10 were felony arrests.
The “festival” began at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 14 and ended at 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 20.
The arrests are up slightly from 2016; last year officers arrested 39 individuals in the festival area during the festival period.
Twenty-three of the arrests this year were alcohol-related, including 8 for underage drinking. In 2016 only 13 arrests were alcohol related.
“This year we made it very clear to the public that our focus was going to be on alcohol related issues like underage drinking and overconsumption, and that’s exactly what we did,” said Special Operations Commander Major DeVonn Adams who served as the daytime incident commander of the festival. “The officers did a great job identifying problems early on to keep situations from escalating.”
In addition the SCMPD’s HEAT Unit (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) which combats impaired and aggressive drivers made 12 DUI arrests, one in the festival area. The HEAT Unit was primarily assigned to patrol the feeder roads and highways which led to Downtown Savannah such as President Street, the Truman Parkway, Whitaker and Drayton streets.
The Georgia State Patrol sent more than 100 Troopers and Motor Carrier officers to the Savannah area to assist with traffic enforcement. Troopers conducted 845 traffic stops in the Savannah Metropolitan area during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. These traffic stops resulted in the issuance of 611 citations. The total includes 60 arrests for Driving Under the Influence.
This year three individuals were cited for swimming in the Savannah River; in 2016 only one person made that mistake. SCMPD officers, Counter Narcotics Team agents and other officers working the festival area netted 11 drug-related arrests.
“I want to thank the citizens and visitors who let our officers know when they saw a problem, whether it was a disorderly person or underage drinking. This shared responsibility is critical to ensuring the St. Patrick’s Day festival is a family-friendly event, said Management Services Commander Major Robert Gavin, the nighttime incident commander. “I also want to thank all of our civilian employees, sworn officers and the hundreds of other law enforcement officers from across the state who worked long hours to and helped us provide security for this event.”
By Michelle Gavin|2017-03-20T13:43:07-04:00March 20th, 2017|BREAKING NEWS|1 Comment
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« Tal Golan’s Preliminary History of Epidemiologic Evidence in U.S. Courts
Daubert Approaching the Age of Majority »
Pin the Tail on the Significance Test
Statistical significance has proven a difficult concept for many judges and lawyers to understand and apply. See Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence (3d edition) on Statistical Significance. An adequate understanding of significance probability requires the recognition that the tail probability that represents the probability of a result at least as extreme as the result obtained if the null hypothesis is true could be the area under one or both sides of the probability distribution curve. Specifying an attained significance probability requires us to specify further whether the p-value is one- or two-sided; that is, whether we have ascertained the result and the more extreme results in one or both directions.
Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence
As with many other essential statistical concepts, we can expert courts and counsel to look to the Reference Manual for guidance. As with the notion of statistical significance itself, the Manual is not entirely consistent or accurate.
Statistics Chapter
The statistics chapter in the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence provides a good example of one- versus two-tail statistical tests:
“One tail or two?
In many cases, a statistical test can be done either one-tailed or two-tailed; the second method often produces a p-value twice as big as the first method. The methods are easily explained with a hypothetical example. Suppose we toss a coin 1000 times and get 532 heads. The null hypothesis to be tested asserts that the coin is fair. If the null is correct, the chance of getting 532 or more heads is 2.3%.
That is a one-tailed test, whose p-value is 2.3%. To make a two-tailed test, the statistician computes the chance of getting 532 or more heads—or 500 − 32 = 468 heads or fewer. This is 4.6%. In other words, the two-tailed p-value is 4.6%. Because small p-values are evidence against the null hypothesis, the one-tailed test seems to produce stronger evidence than its two-tailed counterpart. However, the advantage is largely illusory, as the example suggests. (The two-tailed test may seem artificial, but it offers some protection against possible artifacts resulting from multiple testing—the topic of the next section.)
Some courts and commentators have argued for one or the other type of test, but a rigid rule is not required if significance levels are used as guidelines rather than as mechanical rules for statistical proof.110 One-tailed tests often make it easier to reach a threshold such as 5%, at least in terms of appearance. However, if we recognize that 5% is not a magic line, then the choice between one tail and two is less important—as long as the choice and its effect on the p-value are made explicit.”
David H. Kaye and David A. Freedman, “Reference Guide on Statistics,” in RMSE3d 211, 255-56 (3ed 2011). This advice is pragmatic but a bit misleading. The reason for the two-tailed test, however, is not really tied to multiple testing. If there were 20 independent tests, doubling the p-value would hardly be “some protection” against multiple testing artifacts. In some cases, where the hypothesis test specifies an alternative hypothesis that is not equal to the null hypothesis, extreme values both above and below the null hypothesis count in favor of rejecting the null. A two-tailed test results. Multiple testing may be a reason for modifying our interpretation of the strength of a p-value, but it really should not drive our choice between one-tailed and two-tailed tests.
The authors of the statistics chapter are certainly correct that 5% is not “a magic line,” but they might ask what does the FDA do when looking to see whether a clinical trial has established efficacy of a new medication. Does it license the medication if the sponsor’s trial comes close to 5%, or does it demand 5%, two-tailed, as a minimal showing? There are times in science, industry, regulation, and law, when a dichotomous test is needed.
Kaye and Freedman provide an important further observation, which is ignored in the subsequent epidemiology chapter’s discussion:
“One-tailed tests at the 5% level are viewed as weak evidence—no weaker standard is commonly used in the technical literature. One-tailed tests are also called one-sided (with no pejorative intent); two-tailed tests are two-sided.”
Id. at 255 n.10. This statement is a helpful bulwark against the oft-repeated suggestion that any p-value would be an arbitrary cut-off for rejecting null hypotheses.
Chapter on Multiple Regression
This chapter explains how the choice of the statistical tests, whether one- or two-sided, may be tied to prior beliefs and the selection of the alternative hypothesis in the hypothesis test.
“3. Should statistical tests be one-tailed or two-tailed?
When the expert evaluates the null hypothesis that a variable of interest has no linear association with a dependent variable against the alternative hypothesis that there is an association, a two-tailed test, which allows for the effect to be either positive or negative, is usually appropriate. A one-tailed test would usually be applied when the expert believes, perhaps on the basis of other direct evidence presented at trial, that the alternative hypothesis is either positive or negative, but not both. For example, an expert might use a one-tailed test in a patent infringement case if he or she strongly believes that the effect of the alleged infringement on the price of the infringed product was either zero or negative. (The sales of the infringing product competed with the sales of the infringed product, thereby lowering the price.) By using a one-tailed test, the expert is in effect stating that prior to looking at the data it would be very surprising if the data pointed in the direct opposite to the one posited by the expert.
Because using a one-tailed test produces p-values that are one-half the size of p-values using a two-tailed test, the choice of a one-tailed test makes it easier for the expert to reject a null hypothesis. Correspondingly, the choice of a two-tailed test makes null hypothesis rejection less likely. Because there is some arbitrariness involved in the choice of an alternative hypothesis, courts should avoid relying solely on sharply defined statistical tests.49 Reporting the p-value or a confidence interval should be encouraged because it conveys useful information to the court, whether or not a null hypothesis is rejected.”
Id. at 321. This statement is not quite consistent with the chapter on statistics, and it introduces new problems. The choice of the alternative hypothesis is not always arbitrary, there are times when the use of a one-tail or a two-tail test is preferable, but the chapter withholds its guidance. The statement that “one-tailed test produces p-values that are one-half the size of p-values using a two-tailed test” is true for Gaussian distributions, which of necessity are symmetrical. Doubling the one-tailed test value will not necessarily yield a correct two-tailed measure for some asymmetrical binomial or hypergeometric distributions. If great weight must be placed on the exactness of the p-value for legal purposes, and whether the p-value is less than 0.05, then courts must realize that there may alternative approaches to calculating significance probability such as the mid-p-value. The author of the chapter on multiple regression goes on to note that most courts have shown a preference for two-tailed tests. Id. at 321 n. 49. The legal citations, however, are limited, and given the lack sophistication in many courts, it is not clear what prescriptive effect such a preference, if correct, should have.
Chapter on Epidemiology
The chapter on epidemiology appears to be substantially at odds with the chapters on statistics and multiple regression. Remarkably the authors of the epidemiology chapter declare that “most investigators of toxic substances are only interested in whether the agent increases the incidence of disease (as distinguished from providing protection from the disease), a one-tailed test is often viewed as appropriate.” Michael D. Green, D. Michal Freedman, and Leon Gordis, “Reference Guide on Epidemiology,” in RMSE3d 549, 577 n. 83 (3d ed. 2011).
The chapter cites no support for what “most investigators” are “only interested in,” and they fail to provide a comprehensive survey of the case law. I believe that the authors’ suggestion about the interest of “most investigators” is incorrect. The chapter authors cite to a questionable case involving over-the-counter medications that contained phenylpropanolamine (PPA), for allergy and cold decongestion. Id. citing In re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Prods. Liab. Litig., 289 F. Supp. 2d 1230, 1241 (W.D. Wash. 2003) (accepting the propriety of a one-tailed test for statistical significance in a toxic substance case). The PPA case cited another case, Good v. Fluor Daniel Corp., 222 F. Supp. 2d 1236, 1243 (E.D. Wash. 2002), which explicitly rejected the use of the one-tailed test. More important, the preliminary report of the key study in the PPA litigation, used one-tailed tests, when submitted to the FDA, but was revised to use two-tailed tests, when the authors prepared their manuscript for publication in the New England Journal of Medicine. The PPA case thus represents a case which, for regulatory purposes, the one-tail test was used, but for a scientific and clinical audience, the two-tailed test was used.
The other case cited by the epidemiology chapter was the District of Columbia Circuit’s review of an EPA risk assessment of second-hand smoke. United States v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., 449 F. Supp. 2d 1, 701 (D.D.C. 2006) (explaining the basis for EPA’s decision to use one-tailed test in assessing whether second-hand smoke was a carcinogen). The EPA is a federal agency in the “protection” business, not in investigating scientific claims. As widely acknowledged in many judicial decisions, regulatory action if often based upon precautionary principle judgments, and are different from scientific causal claims. See, e.g., In re Agent Orange Product Liab. Litig., 597 F. Supp. 740, 781 (E.D.N.Y.1984)(“The distinction between avoidance of risk through regulation and compensation for injuries after the fact is a fundamental one.”), aff’d in relevant part, 818 F.2d 145 (2d Cir.1987), cert. denied sub nom. Pinkney v. Dow Chemical Co., 484 U.S. 1004 (1988).
In the securities fraud class action against Pfizer over Celebrex, one of plaintiffs’ expert witnesses criticized a defense expert witness’s meta-analysis for not using a one-sided p-value. According to Nicholas Jewell, Dr. Lee-Jen Wei should have used a one-sided test for his summary meta-analytic estimates of association. In his deposition testimony, however, Jewell was unable to identify any published or unpublished studies of NSAIDs that used a one-sided test. One of plaintiffs’ expert witnesses, Prof. Madigan, rejected the use of one-sided p-values in this situation, out of hand. Another plaintiffs’ expert witness, Curt Furberg, referred to Jewell’s one-side testing as “cheating” because it assumes an increased risk and artificially biases the analysis against Celebrex. Pfizer’s Mem. of Law in Opp. to Plaintiffs’ Motion to Exclude Expert Testimony by Dr. Lee-Jen Wei at 2, filed Sept. 8, 2009, in In re Pfizer, Inc. Securities Litig., Nos. 04 Civ. 9866(LTS)(JLC), 05 md 1688(LTS), Doc. 153 (S.D.N.Y.)(citing Markel Decl., Ex. 18 at 223, 226, 229 (Jewell Dep., In re Bextra); Ex. 7, at 123 (Furberg Dep., Haslam v. Pfizer)).
One of the leading texts on statistical analyses in the law provides important insights into the choice between one-tail and two-tail statistical tests. While scientific studies will almost always use two-tail tests of significance probability, there are times, especially in discrimination cases, when a one-tail test is appropriate:
“Many scientific researchers recommend two-tailed tests even if there are good reasons for assuming that the result will lie in one direction. The researcher who uses a one-tailed test is in a sense prejudging the result by ignoring the possibility that the experimental observation will not coincide with his prior views. The conservative investigator includes that possibility in reporting the rate of possible error. Thus routine calculation of significance levels, especially when there are many to report, is most often done with two-tailed tests. Large randomized clinical trials are always tested with two-tails.
In most litigated disputes, however, there is no difference between non-rejection of the null hypothesis because, e.g., blacks are represented in numbers not significantly less than their expected numbers, or because they are in fact overrepresented. In either case, the claim of underrepresentation must fail. Unless whites also sue, the only Type I error possible is that of rejecting the null hypothesis in cases of underrepresentation when in fact there is no discrimination: the rate of this error is controlled by a one-tailed test. As one statistician put it, a one-tailed test is appropriate when ‘the investigator is not interested in a difference in the reverse direction from the hypothesized’. Joseph Fleiss, Statistical Methods for Rates and Proportions 21 (2d ed. 1981).”
Michael Finkelstein & Bruce Levin, Statistics for Lawyers at 121-22 (2d ed. 2001). These authors provide a useful corrective to the Reference Manual‘s quirky suggestion that scientific investigators are not interested in two-tailed tests of significance. As Finkelstein and Levin point out, however, discrimination cases may involve probability models for which we care only about random error in one direction.
Professor Finkelstein elaborates further in his basic text, with an illustration from a Supreme Court case, in which the choice of the two-tailed test was tied to the outcome of the adjudication:
“If intended as a rule for sufficiency of evidence in a lawsuit, the Court’s translation of social science requirements was imperfect. The mistranslation relates to the issue of two-tailed vs. one-tailed tests. In most social science pursuits investigators recommend two-tailed tests. For example, in a sociological study of the wages of men and women the question may be whether their earnings are the same or different. Although we might have a priori reasons for thinking that men would earn more than women, a departure from equality in either direction would count as evidence against the null hypothesis; thus we should use a two-tailed test. Under a two-tailed test, 1.96 standard errors is associated with a 5% level of significance, which is the convention. Under a one-tailed test, the same level of significance is 1.64 standard errors. Hence if a one-tailed test is appropriate, the conventional cutoff would be 1.64 standard errors instead of 1.96. In the social science arena a one-tailed test would be justified only if we had very strong reasons for believing that men did not earn less than women. But in most settings such a prejudgment has seemed improper to investigators in scientific or academic pursuits; and so they generally recommend two-tailed tests. The setting of a discrimination lawsuit is different, however. There, unless the men also sue, we do not care whether women earn the same or more than men; in either case the lawsuit on their behalf is correctly dismissed. Errors occur only in rejecting the null hypothesis when men do not earn more than women; the rate of such errors is controlled by one-tailed test. Thus when women earn at least as much as men, a 5% one-tailed test in a discrimination case with the cutoff at 1.64 standard deviations has the same 5% rate of errors as the academic study with a cutoff at 1.96 standard errors. The advantage of the one-tailed test in the judicial dispute is that by making it easier to reject the null hypothesis one makes fewer errors of failing to reject it when it is false.
The difference between one-tailed and two-tailed tests was of some consequence in Hazelwood School District v. United States,4[433 U.S. 299 (1977)] a case involving charges of discrimination against blacks in the hiring of teachers for a suburban school district. A majority of the Supreme Court found that the case turned on whether teachers in the city of St. Louis, who were predominantly black, had to be included in the hiring pool and remanded for a determination of that issue. The majority based that conclusion on the fact that, using a two-tailed test and a hiring pool that excluded St. Louis teachers, the underrepresentation of black hires was less than two standard errors from expectation, but if St. Louis teachers were included, the disparity was greater than five standard errors. Justice Stevens, in dissent, used a one-tailed test, found that the underrepresentation was statistically significant at the 5% level without including the St. Louis teachers, and concluded that a remand was unnecessary because discrimination was proved with either pool. From our point of view. Justice Stevens was right to use a one-tailed test and the remand was unnecessary.”
Michael Finkelstein, Basic Concepts of Probability and Statistics in the Law 57-58 (N.Y. 2009). See also William R. Rice & Stephen D. Gaines, “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose: Testing Directional Alternative Hypotheses in Ecological and Evolutionary Research,” 9 Trends in Ecology & Evolution 235‐237, 235 (1994) (“The use of such one‐tailed test statistics, however, poses an ongoing philosophical dilemma. The problem is a conflict between two issues: the large gain in power when one‐tailed tests are used appropriately versus the possibility of ‘surprising’ experimental results, where there is strong evidence of non‐compliance with the null hypothesis (Ho) but in the unanticipated direction.”); Anthony McCluskey & Abdul Lalkhen, “Statistics IV: Interpreting the Results of Statistical Tests,” 7 Continuing Education in Anesthesia, Critical Care & Pain 221 (2007) (“It is almost always appropriate to conduct statistical analysis of data using two‐tailed tests and this should be specified in the study protocol before data collection. A one‐tailed test is usually inappropriate. It answers a similar question to the two‐tailed test but crucially it specifies in advance that we are only interested if the sample mean of one group is greater than the other. If analysis of the data reveals a result opposite to that expected, the difference between the sample means must be attributed to chance, even if this difference is large.”).
The treatise, Modern Scientific Evidence, addresses some of the caselaw that faced disputes over one- versus two-tailed tests. David Faigman, Michael Saks, Joseph Sanders, and Edward Cheng, Modern Scientific Evidence: The Law and Science of Expert Testimony § 23:13, at 240. In discussing a Texas case, Kelley, cited infra, these authors note that the court correctly rejected an expert witness’s attempt to claim statistical significance on the basis of a one-tail test of data in a study of silicone and autoimmune disease.
The following is an incomplete review of cases that have addressed the choice between one- and two-tailed tests of statistical significance.
First Circuit
Chang v. University of Rhode Island, 606 F.Supp. 1161, 1205 (D.R.I.1985) (comparing one-tail and two-tail test results).
Second Circuit
Procter Gamble Co. v. Chesebrough-Pond’s Inc., 747 F. 2d 114 (2d Cir. 1984)(discussing one-tail versus two in the context of a Lanham Act claim of product superiority)
Ottaviani v. State University of New York at New Paltz, 679 F.Supp. 288 (S.D.N.Y. 1988) (“Defendant’s criticism of a one-tail test is also compelling: since under a one-tail test 1.64 standard deviations equal the statistically significant probability level of .05 percent, while 1.96 standard deviations are required under the two-tailed test, the one-tail test favors the plaintiffs because it requires them to show a smaller difference in treatment between men and women.”) (“The small difference between a one-tail and two-tail test of probability is not relevant. The Court will not treat 1.96 standard deviation as the dividing point between valid and invalid claims. Rather, the Court will examine the statistical significance of the results under both one and two tails and from that infer what it can about the existence of discrimination against women at New Paltz.”)
Third Circuit
United States v. Delaware, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4560, at *36 n.27 (D. Del. Mar. 22, 2004) (stating that for a one-tailed test to be appropriate, “one must assume … that there will only be one type of relationship between the variables”)
Fourth Circuit
Equal Employment Opportunity Comm’n v. Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, 698 F.2d 633 (4th Cir. 1983)(“We repeat, however, that we are not persuaded that it is at all proper to use a test such as the “one-tail” test which all opinion finds to be skewed in favor of plaintiffs in discrimination cases, especially when the use of all other neutral analyses refutes any inference of discrimination, as in this case.”), rev’d on other grounds, sub nom. Cooper v. FRB of Richmond, 467 U.S. 867 (1984)
Hoops v. Elk Run Coal Co., Inc., 95 F.Supp.2d 612 (S.D.W.Va. 2000)(“Some, including our Court of Appeals, suggest a one-tail test favors a plaintiff’s point of view and might be inappropriate under some circumstances.”)
Fifth Circuit
Kelley v. American Heyer-Schulte Corp., 957 F. Supp. 873, 879, (W.D. Tex. 1997), appeal dismissed, 139 F.3d 899 (5th Cir. 1998)(rejecting Shanna Swan’s effort to reinterpret study data by using a one-tail test of significance; ‘‘Dr. Swan assumes a priori that the data tends to show that breast implants have negative health effects on women—an assumption that the authors of the Hennekens study did not feel comfortable making when they looked at the data.’’)
Brown v. Delta Air Lines, Inc., 522 F.Supp. 1218, 1229, n. 14 (S.D.Texas 1980)(discussing how one-tailed test favors plaintiff’s viewpoint)
Sixth Circuit
Dobbs-Weinstein v. Vanderbilt Univ., 1 F.Supp.2d 783 (M.D. Tenn. 1998) (rejecting one-tailed test in discrimination action)
Seventh Circuit
Mozee v. American Commercial Marine Service Co., 940 F.2d 1036, 1043 & n.7 (7th Cir. 1991)(noting that district court had applied one-tailed test and that plaintiff did not challenge that application on appeal), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 113 S.Ct. 207 (1992)
Premium Plus Partners LLP v. Davis, 653 F.Supp. 2d 855 (N.D. Ill. 2009)(rejecting challenge based in part upon use of a one-tailed test), aff’d on other grounds, 648 F.3d 533 (7th Cir. 2011)
Ninth Circuit
In re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Prods. Liab. Litig., 289 F. Supp. 2d 1230, 1241 (W.D. Wash. 2003) (refusing to reject reliance upon a study of stroke and PPA use, which was statistically significant only with a one-tailed test)
Good v. Fluor Daniel Corp., 222 F. Supp. 2d 1236, 1242-43 (E.D. Wash. 2002) (rejecting use of one-tailed test when its use assumes fact in dispute)
Stender v. Lucky Stores, Inc., 803 F.Supp. 259, 323 (N.D.Cal. 1992)(“Statisticians can employ either one or two-tailed tests in measuring significance levels. The terms one-tailed and two-tailed indicate whether the significance levels are calculated from one or two tails of a sampling distribution. Two-tailed tests are appropriate when there is a possibility of both overselection and underselection in the populations that are being compared. One-tailed tests are most appropriate when one population is consistently overselected over another.”)
District of Columbia Circuit
United States v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., 449 F. Supp. 2d 1, 701 (D.D.C. 2006) (explaining the basis for EPA’s decision to use one-tailed test in assessing whether second-hand smoke was a carcinogen)
Palmer v. Shultz, 815 F.2d 84, 95-96 (D.C.Cir.1987)(rejecting use of one-tailed test; “although we by no means intend entirely to foreclose the use of one-tailed tests, we think that generally two-tailed tests are more appropriate in Title VII cases. After all, the hypothesis to be tested in any disparate treatment claim should generally be that the selection process treated men and women equally, not that the selection process treated women at least as well as or better than men. Two-tailed tests are used where the hypothesis to be rejected is that certain proportions are equal and not that one proportion is equal to or greater than the other proportion.”)
Moore v. Summers, 113 F. Supp. 2d 5, 20 & n.2 (D.D.C. 2000)(stating preference for two-tailed test)
Hartman v. Duffey, 88 F.3d 1232, 1238 (D.C.Cir. 1996)(“one-tailed analysis tests whether a group is disfavored in hiring decisions while two-tailed analysis tests whether the group is preferred or disfavored.”)
Csicseri v. Bowsher, 862 F. Supp. 547, 565, 574 (D.D.C. 1994)(noting that a one-tailed test is “not without merit,” but a two-tailed test is preferable)
Berger v. Iron Workers Reinforced Rodmen Local 201, 843 F.2d 1395 (D.C. Cir. 1988)(describing but avoiding choice between one-tail and two-tail tests as “nettlesome”)
Segar v. Civiletti, 508 F.Supp. 690 (D.D.C. 1981)(“Plaintiffs analyses are one tailed. In discrimination cases of this kind, where only a positive disparity is of interest, the one tailed test is superior.”)
This entry was posted on Saturday, July 14th, 2012 at 6:08 am and is filed under Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, Rule 702, statistical evidence. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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Macau and Asian Gambling
Posted by on Thursday, July 15, 2010
LIKE its sister property in Las Vegas but twice as large, the Venetian Macao is built for MICE—meetings, incentives, conventions (or conferences) and exhibitions. It has 3,000 hotel suites, a 15,000-seat arena that has hosted concerts by Lady Gaga and the Police, expensive shops and restaurants and a warren of immense gaming rooms. Next door is the Plaza Macao, featuring yet more gaming, shops and spas, as well as a Four Seasons hotel and the grand residential Plaza Mansions.
Mr Adelson, the owner of the complex, rejects the traditional “hub and spokes” casino-hotel design that forces guests to pass through the gaming floor to do anything outside their hotel room, just in case they feel a sudden urge to chuck some money into a slot machine. His Plaza Macao has a separate entrance to the Mansions and Four Seasons, a long way from the gaming floor. This is for the benefit of Chinese government officials, who may not be photographed in a gambling environment.
Macau is the world’s biggest gambling market, and until 2001 it was entirely controlled by one company, Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau (STDM), headed by Stanley Ho. Mr Ho’s garish pair of casinos, the flagship Casino Lisboa and the newer Grand Lisboa, remain the most prominent gambling establishment in central Macau, but he now faces stiff competition from a pair of seasoned Las Vegas companies, Wynn Resorts and Sands China, a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands, as well as China’s Galaxy Entertainment Group.
The contrast between Mr Ho’s flagships illustrates the way that Macau’s gambling market has evolved. Casino Lisboa is small, tightly packed, loud and smoky. Nearly all of the gaming floor is taken up by tables offering Macau’s two most popular games: baccarat—in which punters bet on the turn of a card—and sic bo, in which they bet on the value of three rolled dice. Both involve about as much skill as betting on coin flips. The Grand Lisboa, by contrast, has craps and blackjack tables, a poker room, a sports book, a number of restaurants ranging from the upmarket to an excellent noodle shop, and hundreds of slot machines. However, on a recent visit the sportsbook stood empty and unattended; a single poker table was occupied; blackjack action was scant; four employees stood around a craps table enticing passers-by to try their luck. By contrast baccarat and sic bo were going at full tilt. Old gambling habits die hard.
The competition from Messrs Adelson and Wynn ended Mr Ho’s monopoly (though his company still accounts for about one-third of the territory’s gambling market) and boosted Macau’s overall revenue. Last year the island’s 30-odd casinos generated income of around $15 billion. According to GBGC, a consultancy that specialises in the gambling industry, its overall gambling revenue in that year rose by nearly 10%, whereas North America’s fell by 7% and Europe’s by 12%. And Macau is going from strength to strength: in the first quarter of 2010 its gambling revenues were 57% up on a year earlier.
Mainlanders’ playground
The Chinese are known as passionate gamblers, and Macau is where they come to play. Steve Jacobs, the head of Sands China, reckons that four-fifths of his visitors hail from the mainland and the rest mainly from other Asian countries, notably Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam and India. Most of the Venetian Macao’s revenue comes from wealthy guests, many of whom are on junkets organised by businesses in China that market them to visitors, plan the travel and extend credit to gamblers. The casinos provide the gaming and generally split the proceeds with the junket operators.
Chinese visiting rights, however, are tightly controlled by the government. Mainlanders need a visa to go to Macau, and the authorities are apt to change the frequency and duration of permitted visits on a whim. Last year, after a number of embarrassing stories about government officials using public funds to bet in Macau, mainlanders were limited to one visit every three months. Even so, Mr Jacobs said that visa restrictions are “one of the things I think least about”: the Chinese government is clearly happy maintaining Macau as a source of steady gambling revenue, close to but politically separate from the mainland. And with a population of over 1 billion, mainland China has enough people to keep the visitors coming despite the restrictions.
In fact, Macau draws so many punters that casinos are literally rising from the sea: the Venetian and the Plaza anchor a development known as the Cotai Strip, built on a five-kilometre piece of reclaimed land that links the two Macanese islands of Coloane and Taipa. The “Cotai” part of the new plot’s name comes from the first syllables of the two islands; the Strip part of it is clearly meant to evoke Las Vegas. Galaxy opened the Grand Waldo, the first resort there, in 2006; the Venetian and Plaza followed soon after and will be joined by two more Sands developments. There will also be new hotels from Raffles, Conrad, Hilton, Sheraton, Swissotel and St Regis.
Busting out all over
The Cotai Strip may be the most high-profile gambling development in Asia, but there are plenty of others. In the past few months Singapore has seen the opening of two large integrated resorts, Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands, which cost about $10 billion. The Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has launched a hotel-and-casino complex on a large chunk of reclaimed land in Manila Bay. According to PAGCOR, its partners in the venture—Australia’s Bloomsbury Investments, Malaysia’s Genting Group and Aruze, a Japanese company known mainly for its pachinko and slot machines—each stand ready to invest $2 billion-3 billion in the venture.
In 2008 the government of Vietnam granted Asian Coast Development, a Canadian company, the right to construct five integrated resorts on 169 hectares of beachfront land near Ho Chi Minh City. The first of them, the MGM Grand Ho Tram, is scheduled to open in 2013. In Bavet, Cambodia, south-east of Phnom Penh, the $100m Titan King Casino opened in February this year. It joins a number of other Cambodian casinos near the country’s borders with Vietnam and Thailand. In Japan the only legal forms of gambling at the moment are pachinko, the lottery and horseracing, but that could soon change. Mr Jacobs predicts that if the Japanese market were to open up, it would be five to ten times the size of Macau’s.
Yet many Asian governments, for all their eagerness to get their hands on more tax revenue, still remain ambivalent about gambling. Singapore charges its own citizens S$100 ($72) to enter its casinos but foreigners pay nothing. Only one of South Korea’s 14 casinos is open to the locals. Egyptian and North Korean casinos too will happily take foreigners’ money yet bar their own citizens. China rations mainlanders’ access to Macau. On the Chinese mainland the only legal form of gambling is a thriving lottery.
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Facebook apologizes over psychological experiments
Facebook has issued an apology over the controversial psychological experiments carried out on 689,000 users without their consent in 2012.
The experiments, conducted with two US universities, only came to light with the recent publication of the study report, prompting outrage from Facebook users, academics and regulators.
Earlier this week, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office said that it planned to investigate whether the experiments broke data protection laws.
Labor MP Jim Sheridan, a member of the Commons media select committee, has called for a parliamentary investigation into how Facebook and other social networks manipulate the emotional and psychological responses of users by editing information supplied to them.
The 2012 experiments filtered the news feeds of users to study the effects of positive and negative emotional content from Facebook friends, prompting concerns about the effect such studies could have.
The study has also raised fears that the process could be used for political purposes or to boost social media advertising revenues.
In the face of growing criticism, Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg said the experiments were part of ongoing product research by companies.
“That is what it was; it was poorly communicated,” she said while on a visit to New Delhi. “And for that communication we apologize. We never meant to upset you.
“We take privacy and security at Facebook really seriously because that is something that allows people to share opinions and emotions.”
Sandberg’s statement marks a climbdown by Facebook given the company’s earlier insistence that the experiment was covered by its terms of service, as the Guardian newspaper pointed out.
The social networking firm insisted there had been “no unnecessary collection of people’s data” and that “none of the data used was associated with a specific person’s Facebook account”.
However, the Guardian noted that Facebook changed its terms and conditions to allow data to be used for research only four months after conducting the mood-influencing experiments.
Those changes were made after Facebook settled a complaint from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about “unfair and deceptive” privacy practices.
Facebook responded with a statement that said: “When someone signs up for Facebook, we’ve always asked permission to use their information to provide and enhance the services we offer. To suggest we conducted any corporate research without permission is complete fiction.
“Companies that want to improve their services use the information their customers provide, whether or not their privacy policy uses the word ‘research’ or not.”
As Facebook now seeks to quell the criticism, a former employee has revealed that the social network’s data science department operated with few boundaries.
“There’s no review process, per se,” Andrew Ledvina told the Wall Street Journal. “Anyone on that team could run a test. They’re always trying to alter people’s behavior.”
Ledvina, a Facebook data scientist from February 2012 to July 2013, recalled a minor experiment in which he and a product manager ran a test without telling anyone else at the company.
Since its creation in 2007, Facebook’s data science group is believed to have run hundreds of tests, exploring topics such as how families communicate and the causes of loneliness.
But Facebook told the Wall Street Journal that since the controversial study on emotions, the company has implemented stricter guidelines for research and introduced a review panel.
Via: computerweekly
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TV Pilots - clearing the smoke - part 4 (final)
This is the fourth part of the 2015 autumn TV series pilot review. See parts 1,2 and 3 before this one.
The Frankenstein Chronicles is a terrible title. Inspector John Marlott investigates a series of crimes in 19th Century London, which may have been committed by a scientist intent on re-animating the dead. Sounds like a mix between Sherlock Holmes and Frankenstein. Interesting enough it stars Sean Bean, who is also the lead in Legends. Does that mean Legends is on its way to cancellation? Anyway, Bean seems determined to not die in movies anymore!
The beginning is quite well done, with Sean Bean being some sort of police officer in a London plagued by crime and corruption. He finds a corpse, apparently made of pieces of several other bodies, and then he is tasked to find the responsible, not out of civic duty, but because it clashes with a planned legislation against unlicenced medical professionals. Quite gritty and quite interesting set up. If the rest of the pilot is as good, I guess this will remain in the list of shows to watch.
Unfortunately, the show is not as good as I would have liked. It tries to shove all too many clichés down your throat, while being slow in pace and low in entertainment. I will keep watching it, like I do Jekyll and Hyde, but I think they both will not be worth watching.
The Last Kingdom. The year is 872, and many of the separate kingdoms of what we now know as England have fallen to the invading Danes, leaving the great kingdom of Wessex standing alone and defiant under the command of King Alfred. Against this turbulent backdrop lives our hero, Uhtred. Born the son of a Saxon nobleman, he is captured by the Danes and raised as one of their own. It sounds like an attempt to follow on the success of Vikings, which I have to say has more to do with casting and music than the story. Anyway, time to watch.
Well, it is with Matthew McFadyen, well known to me from The Pillars of the Earth and Ripper Street, but I believe he will only be in the first episode. Rutger Hauer is also in, however still for one episode only. It smells like bait-and-switch.
The pilot starts with Vikings attacking Northumbria and killing everybody due to their superior training and tactics. They take away a boy and a girl to serve them, the boy being the lord's son. Soon he will become the Dane's earl adopted, but that will change when he is a man. That is his story. Damn it, I wish I had reasons not to watch it, but... I find none. This one stays.
Two to go: The Romeo Section Lies, corruption, murder - welcome to the world of The Romeo Section where spies are recruited to seduce for secrets. I hope it is not another government agency that solves crime thing. The description leads to some pretty dark thoughts in my head, but it might just as well be beautiful people acting all sexy the entire thing. James Bond without the action or the brain, that sort of thing. Personally I expect people who get recruited as spies in order to seduce secrets away to be soulless sociopaths or tortured souls looking for redemption... or both. Let's see which one is it.
The episode starts with an exotic location: Hong Kong, a well aged gentleman at the horse races and people watching him or giving him "subtle" hints in conversations. Funky jazzy music (almost like a heist movie one - oh no!). 15 minutes and nothing happened other than posturing and fancy musical themes. 10 minutes later some sex scenes in which not even boobs are being shown. That's really brave... More and more talking, posturing, meaningful looks. At the end of the pilot I wasn't interested in the section, the head of the section, the members, the cute girls they are banging without showing their bodies or the fucking heist music that is telling me "wait, this is cool" without actually showing me anything cool.
Conclusion: no way! Dark enough for me to like it, but damn slow, badly acted, horrendously edited and plain dull.
Wicked City. A pair of LAPD detectives track down serial killers terrorizing the Sunset Strip. Cop show. I will watch 10 minutes and if I don't like it by then, it's a no.
The interesting thing is that it is set in 1982. The actors, I quite like: Jeremy Sisto as the cop and Ed Westwick as the first killer. Some more boobless sex... Police investigating, killer wiggling around, killer's girlfriend that may or may not be killed at any moment...
I actually watched two episodes on fast forward. I was still waiting for something to happen. It's better than most cop shows, I guess, but kind of slow and bringing nothing terribly new to the table. I will not watch it.
So, final list of autumn 2015 TV series pilots.
Liked: Blood and Oil, Into the Badlands, London Spy, Jessica Jones, The Expanse, The Last Kingdom
Undecided: Flesh and Bone, From Darkness, Heroes Reborn, Jekyll and Hyde, Limitless, The Frankenstein Chronicles
Discarded: Agent X, Quantico, River, The Player, The Art of More, The Bastard Executioner, The Coroner, The Romeo Section, Wicked City
Ignored: all the rest
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Best coffee shops in the world
Famous coffee chains
admin 6 February, 2016 0 Best coffee shops in the world
Most coffee shop owners dream of a successful business that can help them provide for themselves and their families, but some take it a step further and build an empire from that dream.
The kings of coffee
There are several large coffee chains in the world, but one of the most successful of all times is the Seattle born Starbucks. The coffee chain was founded in 1971, and was floated on the stock market in 1992. At that point the chain had 140 outlets, and was valued to $217 million. Today you’ll find a Starbucks on pretty much every corner no matter where you go, and with over 23,000 outlets, the chain’s value is now set to a whopping $51 billion. Starbucks has been called out on lacking quality of their coffee beans, but because they constantly provide what customers want in terms of the most popular trends, this has taken a back seat. However, many coffee connoisseurs still avoid Starbucks as well as other large chains as a matter of principle.
Costa Coffee is another global coffee chain that was founded as early as 1971, but this coffee house originated in London. Costa Coffee won “Best Coffee Chain in Europe” four years in a row, from 2011 to 2014, and is the world’s second largest coffee chain behind Starbucks. The chain has its own roastery where they produce their “Mocha Italia”, which is a blend of 30% robusta and 70% Arabica.
Coffee and a bite
Another competitor entered the market in 1997, under the name Caffè Nero. The chain now has 600 outlets in the UK alone, and also operates in several other countries around the world. Caffè Nero focuses on beans sourced from fair and sustainable farms and traders, and they offer a wide range of different coffee drinks, as well as typical Italian café foods, such as paninis and pasta.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning a chain that most people might associate with donuts rather than coffee. Dunkin’ Donuts is in fact one of the world’s largest coffee chains, and has been around since 1950, when it was founded in Canton, Massachusetts. Today you’ll find Dunkin’ Donuts in 33 countries, and the chain has over 11,000 outlets. Donuts are obviously contributing to a large part of the revenue at Dunkin’ Donuts, but there’s no doubt that people come for the coffee as well. For many, it’s the combination that does it – who can say no to a coffee and a donut?
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Fox news live。 Watch Fox News Live Stream
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Fox News Live Stream FNC or Fox News Channel is an American News Channel that focuses on breaking, political and business news. The news network has become famous for its live televised debates, where more liberal guests put forward their views on controversial topics such as abortion, drawing in viewers from all sides of the political spectrum. There are many out there to be had. This may be the secret to its success, though. That said, we encourage you to check out the live stream. But, often an all inclusive vacation includes all of this at a discounted rate. Some hotels require credit cards at check in for any hotel charges, such as telephone usage, room service, meals in the hotel, or even take -out arranged through the hotel with area restaurants, etc. One way to limit the expense that all of this creates, is to book an all inclusive vacation. 5 million viewers per night in 2019, and that was more than ESPN, which came in as the second most-watched network. Individuals who are really looking for the best deal should take the time to find out if all inclusive vacations they have found are a better deal. Rupert Murdoch is the current chairman and acting CEO of Fox News. -Web Studio, NY used for FOX News Live internet shows. Foxnews continues to be the number one news source for most Americans. Watch Fox News live stream it is one of the most watched news station in America. Eliminating these extras can lead to extra cash in your pocket. That is not to say that an individual can not find great deals on these items individually. In total, Fox News is transmitted to over 86 countries as of this year. The best way to get deals on these is to plan ahead. Cutting out extra charges on things you don't need, or won't use, also helps. Rolling news on the whole day consists of 20 minutes single topic like Fox on Politics, Fox on Crime and headlines In evening Fox presented the opinion shows. It would be nice to see some new destinations as well. These kinds of broadcasts are the reason that the Fox News channel was able to take the top spot as most-watched cable news channel with an average audience of 2. We've detected that you are using AdBlock Plus or some other adblocking software which is preventing the page from fully loading. This is due to the high level of shows, interviews and accuracy of information provided by FNC. This is a feature which has since stayed and other news outlets have adopted it. Fox News Channel is an American satellite and cable television network. Compare the different offers each company has. If considering an all inclusive vacation, one should check out the deals that are available. The channel is the major news and information source in the United States, nearly 1. is also available to paid internet TV services across the world. With Shannon Bream fox news live stream online free 123 usa tv gramps ustv. The loss of highly popular hosts like Bill Oreily or Eric Bolling, due to scandals, has not changed the ratings of the news station, in fact it appears the channel has become even more popular since. This format is available on all major cable and satellite providers. We need money to operate the site, and almost all of it comes from our online advertising. Fox News Live Stream With the rise of the internet, there is a Fox News Live Stream on a number of internet platforms which gives viewers the chance to watch their favorite Fox News Channel shows whilst on the move. In 2015 February almost 94,700,000 US households can watch FOX News. Saving on airfare is all about shopping around. There are so many different ways you can find great deals but online appears to be the best way. It may take a while to load the channel programming. These debates are usually between guests who have a range of political and ideological backgrounds, which can cause friction and therefore entertain for their many viewers. Since its launch, the channel has been able to grow its audience figures to an impressive 100 million households that tune in to watch Fox News live at one point or another. If any special requests are made, verify them and if possible get them in writing. If one is not offered - ask about them. To find an all inclusive vacation that fits the needs of an individual, several things should be taken into consideration. Any disputes a guest may have with the hotel, or with the billing can more easily be rectified through the credit card company. They may accept a letter from the credit card holder authorizing use, and a copy of both the front and back of the card. 11:00pm The O'Reilly Factor Hard-hitting, and in your face! LIST OF MOST POPULAR FOXNEWS SHOWS: 11:00am Happening Now Hosts Jon Scott and Jenna Lee will take YOU to the news when and where it happens. Please add to your ad blocking whitelist or disable your adblocking software. Specifically, people will change their attitudes when people around them have different thoughts and feelings about a topic, such as same-sex marriages, affirmative action, and climate change. Fox News Live Stream Fox News or the Fox News Channel FNC for short is a subscription-based US television channel dedicated to providing news and opinion on the latest national and global current affairs. You can shop around for the best airline deals or even hotel deals which can save you hundreds on your trip. Murdoch gained experience in 24 hours business Sky News. With Neil Cavuto The Five: Roundtable discussion program With Kimberly Guilfoyle, Greg Gutfeld, Dana Perino, Jesse Watters, and Juan Williams Special Report with Bret Baier Bret Baier Political news and roundtable currently hosted by Bret Baier. In January 2009, former CNN commentator Glenn Beck was added to Fox's weekday lineup; his last FNC show was June 30, 2011. Studio J, NY used for America's Newsroom, America Live with Megyn Kelly, Hannity and FBNs Money with Melissa Francis. Fox News Channel Programming Fox News is live on air for at least 15 hours per day, and is based at its New York City studio on Sixth Avenue. The FNC is from its beginning headquartered in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Whether you are going to visit family or you plan to take your family to a ski vacation or travel abroad. or the Fox News Channel FNC for short is a subscription-based US television channel dedicated to providing news and opinion on the latest national and global current affairs. Saving money on travel doesn't need to stop there. com enables you to watch Fox News Live on your computer, mobile or tablet! Web Studio, NY used for FOX News Live internet shows. Make sure all numbers are kept in a safe place until credit cards are billed and all charges are verified. During the election cycle of 2016 Fox News has gained a larger audience due in part to the phenomenon of Donald Trump. VACATION TIPS Do you have some vacation time coming up? Take the time to compare different companies, then choose the best option for you. Bill breaks down the day's big stories in the "No Spin Zone! He acts as executive chairman, whilst Suzanne Scott is the current CEO. The Channel was established by the Australian American media tycoon Rupert Murdoch who traded the NBC executive Roger Ailes as the first CEO of this broadcasting medium. It was formed Australian-American media mogul Rupert Murdoch and CEO of the channel was CNBC executive Roger Ailes. Out of every 24-hour cycle, at least 15 hours are dedicated to reporting news and current affairs. Wait for few seconds, stream is just loading in the Player. DESTINATIONS• Fox News Scheduling Similar to its competitors, much of the scheduled programming is focusing on straight news reporting. Saving some extra cash can truly make your vacation more worthwhile. For a network that is attacked for supporting one side, they sure are getting attacked from the side they are supposedly on. The January 2017 concluded the top ranked news FNC in its 145 th consecutive month from its founding. But, in the end, they can find all this information and do so from their home. INFO• Some of th most popluar show hosts are Tucker Carlson Sean Hannity, Brit Hume, Shepard Smith and Neil Cavuto. Social psychology tells us that they are trying to encourage people to vote for the Republican party by showing that other people are voting for it. FOXNEWS FACTS: One of the most interesting things about Foxnews is that more people in the United States watch Fox News Live Stream and trust it more as a reliable source of news. A study by French psychologists Serge Moscovici and Marisa Zavalloni revealed this phenomenon when participants discussed a specific topic in a group vs. Fox News Channel Coverage Fox News has covered a wide range of issues since its inception in 1996. Producing a variety of programming, FNC has a number of program hosts, news anchors, correspondents and contributors who appear daily on the channel. Most programs broadcast from its New York headquarter 1211 Avenue of America and other programs broadcast from Fox studio in Washington D. Since so many people just don't get enough vacation time, getting the most out of what they do get is key. When reservations are made, changed and cancelled-confirmation numbers are given. The remaining slots are taken up predominately by political commentary programming that has a conservative slant such as the Greg Gutfeld Show. And with this reporting, what does it mean for the election? So, we are always in search for a deal. Some of the Studios most popular on Fox News are: -Studio B, NY FOX Business Network shows. And, it may just save some money! Hosts include Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Greta Van Susteren, Mike Huckabee, Shepard Smith and Neil Cavuto, all of whom host programs on the top-ten list of the most-watched programs on cable news. While this will not alleviate all of the things an individual has to think about, it will help to reduce the amount of planning that is needed. Fox News first launched on October 7, 1996. Live debates have also helped to send its popularity into overdrive. There have been many reservations lost because of inaccurate spelling and guests have been told they did not have rooms when a hotel or an entire city was booked to capacity. Sometimes, they can also include attractions, airfare, and transportation as well. That said, whether you agree with these critics or not, it is in your interest to at least check out the Fox News live stream. Schedule of the Best Fox News Show:• Fox News Notable Events This news channel has experienced recent boom in popularity thanks to several public endorsements made by President Trump. In terms of its scheduling, it runs news-only programming from 9 am to 4 pm and again from 6 pm to 8 pm. Murdoch still plays a role in the conservative-focused channel, despite the fact he is approaching his 90th birthday. The development of the network started in May 1985 when Marvin Davis announced to develop an independent stations to compete with ABC, CBS, NBC. With the rise of the internet, there is a Fox News Live Stream on a number of internet platforms which gives viewers the chance to watch their favorite Fox News Channel shows whilst on the move. Fox News grew during the late 1990s and 2000s to become a dominant cable news network in the United States. That number has since grown to at least 100 million customers who receive Fox News, making it one of the most dominant news channels in the USA. No matter what you choose to do you can find great deals on your trip. Whoever their Pollster is, they suck. 9 PM - Sean Hannity - Political issues of the day from a fiscally and culturally conservative point of view. We heard from many Democrats that It promotes the President trump agenda, so the channel may be concluded to be a pure Republicans station. Also make sure to get the name of the employee. 6 PM - Special Report with Bret Baier - Political news and discussion program. So, take some time and find the best travel deals out there for yourself. Please consider reading this notice. Can you fly in mid week and avoid weekend charges and busy times? You can save money on travel in just about every aspect by planning and research. Content outside of those hours often takes the form of opinionated commentary. To help avoid these things from happening, there are a few helpful hotel reservation tips seasoned travelers recommend: Always use a credit card when making a hotel reservation. Could their reporting influence the race? During the elections of 2016: GOP, Democratic, Republican Debates and super Tuesday are being broadcast periodically, so everyone can easily have access to watch Presidential debates easily here. In fact, ratings studies released in 2009 revealed that Fox News was responsible for 9 out of the top 10 cable news programs, further demonstrating its dominance. Those viewer numbers make it one of the leading news channels in America, as well as in other prominent Western countries. 10 PM - The Ingraham Angle - The Ingraham Angle cuts through the Washington chatter speaking directly with unexpected voices and the actual people who are impacted by the news of the day. The wilderness of Alaska• Just do a quick search and you will find what you are looking for which will save you money! Fox News came to dominate cable news providers due to its extensive coverage of the 2016 US Presidential election, with Donald Trump coming out on top. Discuss hotel policies prior to making reservations, and verify them at check-in. In same way the Republicans thinks that CNN and MSNBC promotes Democratic ideologies. 2 PM - The Daily Briefing Dana Perino - Focuses on news of the day. In July 1985 20th Century Fox confirmed the Murdoch purchased of 50 percent Fox Filmed Entertainment. Along the same lines, you probably won't have time to watch all those movies on cable either. Whenever breaking news occurs, you can be sure that Fox News is on top of it. The move to include online platforms has boosted the Fox News Channel dramatically. Viewership has continued to rise as Fox News host controversial figures who help to fuel healthy debate amongst their panel and guests. NEWS• Using a credit card offers the guest some level of protection should the hotel stay go awry. If making reservations online, look for internet-only rates and shop various websites to find the best deals. If you make a trip you will need to make some plans such as flight arrangements or hotel reservations. There are many more who work day and night to deliver the news to you. The accumulation was done in August 2013 reveals a number as much as 97,186,000 of American homes having the channel in their consistent watches. INSURANCE• Fox News is a 24-hours news station available through all paid-for cable and a selection of satellite television providers. CNN and MSNBC has seen a dramatic loss of viewers since Foxnews has taken the number one spot. The Story with Martha MacCallum: A program focused on news analysis and newsmaker interviews. Fox News Channel began broadcasting in the 720p resolution format on May 1, 2008. The close relation with the President has also granted them privileges to many exclusive one-on-one interviews driving up demand for Fox News live streaming services. Remember, they report and people decide. Finally, It was launched on 7 October 1996. Its influence in the United States cannot be overstated. The channel was created by Australian-American media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who hired former Republican Party media consultant and CNBC executive Roger Ailes as its founding CEO. The Anti-Trump news can be seen on CNN, MSNBC and other liberal media oulets shows a contrast between Fox News and the other networks. The Fox News Group produces Fox News Sunday, which airs on Fox Broadcasting and re-airs on FNC. Studio B, NY FOX Business Network shows. Whether or not you agree with the political slant of Fox News, it has unquestionably become a force that shapes domestic and international news. Fox News usually takes a conservative view on current and political events, their news personalities have helped to shape it as one of, if not the most, watched news channels on the planet. Making reservations ahead of time can be the best way to lower your cost. Whether by internet, through a travel agent, or by telephone, it pays to research the hotel and be meticulous when making arrangements. Once you get to your destination, you'll need a place to stay and a car to drive. That number has since grown to at least 100 million customers who receive Fox News, making it one of the most dominant news channels in the USA. Remember these hotel reservation tips when scheduling your travel plans. , , , and others have the ear of President Donald Trump and the millions of conservatives throughout the United States. On 31st January 1989, Murdoch announced the 24 hours News channel on satellite and cable in the U. The local family diner may have some great food at reasonable prices but is overlooked because of all those glaring signs in tourist's face. These are just two well-respected journalists at Fox News. If the card does not belong to the person staying at the hotel, notify the desk before leaving home prior to arrival and ask what their identification procedure is. Studio D, NY is the only studio with an area for a studio audience. We have largest collection of and fox news is being ranked as 2nd most popular viewed news station. In February 1996, after former U. The Power of Fox News Channel Fox News Channel is not without its critics. Travel agents can often secure unadvertised specials or late check-in opportunities which can translate into huge savings. -Studio G, NY FOX Business Network shows and FNC show Justice with Judge Jeanine. We heard from many Democrats that It promotes the President trump agenda, so the channel may be concluded to be a pure Republicans station. Cable news stations such as Fox News may have indeed according to the left began leaning more and more to the right. The same could be said for political views. Flying at night or at odd times can also increase your changes of getting a deal. The rapid progress in late 90s and 2000s gave the station a dominant recognition all over the United States. is a legendary journalist in his own right. , , and host the show for three hours every Monday through Friday. Beck was replaced on Fox News by The Five on July 11, 2011. The Fox News Channel is also available on digital radio via the satellite radio providers Sirius and XM. All inclusive vacations wrap the cost of all these expenses into one. We do not OWN the stream but the live preview is available. This political lean may also be true of the competition such as CNN and MSNBC which according to the right may be leaning more and more to the left everyday. Audio simulcasts of the channel are aired on SiriusXM Satellite Radio. 5 PM - The Five - Roundtable discussion program. With Bill Hemmer and Sandra Smith Happening Now: Late morning newscast. The studio is located at 1211 Avenue of America; New York City, NY. Still if you want a news website with web ad free subscribe to our ad free website. Fox News is known for having some of the most well-known and influential hosts and pundits on television today. It breaks news on a consistent basis, whether the news is occurring on Capitol Hill or in the Middle East. It is used by The Five and Huckabee. Also, take a box of cereal and pick up a gallon of milk instead of spending a ton on breakfast. Fox News programming attracts millions of viewers per day because of its straight news coverage and its popular opinion shows. When making reservations speak clearly and repeat spelling of all names. All inclusive vacations usually include accommodations, meals, tips, and taxes are included in the package. Fox News also produces occasional special event coverage that is broadcast on FBC. Either way, we want to do a lot but don't always have the funds. Fox News is attracting the attention of most cable watching Americans. Watch Fox News Live Streaming Online [HD] Livenewsmag is telecasting FNC in HD quality for free. When you tune in to the Fox News live stream, you will be able to get informed from some of the best journalists on television today. Anyway who follows the network will find that they have people discussing all sides, despite what Trump has said on Twitter. Schedule of programs given in the table. Sometimes known as the Fox News Channel shortened to the acronym FNC , this channel focuses on providing the latest news and opinion from a selection of right-leaning analysts. For more information you can visit the official website. With Martha MacCallum Tucker Carlson Tonight: Evening current affair talk program. However, it makes no such claims for its other broadcasts, which primarily consist of editorial journalism and commentary. No need for that car to come with a DVD player if you only plan to drive short distances. 7 PM - The Story with Martha MacCallum - Each night at 7 pm EST, Martha MacCallum will take you deeper than ever before into the stories that matter to you. -Studio D, NY is the only studio with an area for a studio audience. "FOX Report" rips through the day's top stories at the "speed of live" 8:00pm 11:00pm The O'Reilly Factor Hard-hitting, and in your face! With Tucker Carlson Hannity: Political issues of the day from a fiscally and culturally conservative point of view with guests. Most big attractions have all inclusive vacations planned for them. It broadcasts from its studio on Sixth Avenue in New York City, and goes out to over 86 separate countries and territories worldwide. FOX News has 7 studios in NYC and 1 in DC used by FOX News Channel and FOX Business Network. If you want to get informed about current events while understanding how the right-leaning side of America thinks, Fox News is for you. A little pre-planning when making reservations can save major headaches when traveling away from home. LOANS• Cancellation and confirmation numbers are often the difference between being charged for a hotel reservation that was cancelled, the possibility of a free upgrade when the hotel overbooks and you can prove when your reservation was made, and being stranded away from home without a room for the night. 2 million people daily prefer to watch news on FNC Live. Fox News Channel was founded by entrepreneur Rupert Murdoch back in 1996 to a subscriber base of over 17 million cable customers. The card company will act as a mediator once their client can show effort to resolve the dispute. We don't have any banner, Flash, animation, obnoxious sound, or popup ad. An all inclusive vacation may be just the thing to help make planning a vacation less of a struggle and more of an enjoyment. The Internet is a great tool in planning a vacation, including an all inclusive vacation. Often times we want to take our children to see the things we saw when we were younger. The son of legendary journalist Mike Wallace, Chris Wallace is the host of , a Sunday morning political talk show where Wallace interviews newsmakers in American politics. 3 PM - The way we gather it, break it and deliver it.。 。 。 。 。
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The restaurant offers international cuisine and 26-foot panoramic windows. Here you can enjoy a cocktail and meal at the Main Tower Restaurant & Lounge, located on the upper floor of the tower. Location: Hessen, Germany. 2. frankfurt germany romerberg downtown german hessen roemer romer summer architecture beautiful blue building center city cityscape europe european facade hall historic historical history house landmark main medieval old people sky square tourism tourist town traditional travel urban vintage. On the opposite side of the Main is the district of Sachsenhausen.. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. Originally built in Carolinian times, its columns and roof are of particular importance and it is well-known by lovers of organ music as its original piping system gives it a very special sound, with concerts taking place throughout the year. 32U E 477301 N 5550829. Photo by Daniela Frendo. Download royalty-free Old traditional buildings in Frankfurt, Germany stock photo 6385337 from Depositphotos collection of millions of premium high-resolution stock … "We liked a lot visiting the Old Opera House in Frankfurt, this is nice building and the plaza is also very nice as you can walk, eat and have a drink." Limburg. #83888885 - Frankfurt, Germany Old Town skyline. Packing in a mighty 53 storeys, Frankfurt Commerzbank is hailed as Europe's tallest building and can be clearly seen from across the city, towering above the skyline. Views: 8 Download this waymark:.GPX File.LOC File.KML File … Published By: jhuoni. Romer: Old German style buildings reconstructed from the ruins - See 6,334 traveller reviews, 5,077 candid photos, and great deals for Frankfurt, Germany, at Tripadvisor. No need to register, buy now! Find the perfect old buildings in frankfurt stock photo. Churches in Frankfurt They are among the oldest buildings in the city and full of history and stories. Frankfurt's reconstructed old town. The Old St. Nikolai church was dedicated to St. Nikolai of Bari the patron saint of boatmen. in Superlatives. Download this stock image: Haus Wertheym, oldest restaurant in Frankfurt, historic centre, Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany - EYC8J8 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. Description of the rental property: Top refurbished old style building in Frankfurt Bornheim near Berger Street and the subway U4. The garden is located between the Römerberg and the cathedral. The style of architecture is early Gothic. From 1984 until 1993, Frankfurt went through another building boom, during which time the city's second-tallest building, Messeturm, and the third-tallest building, Westendstraße 1 , were completed. You can browse pictures by various categories and destinations The Old Town was mostly destroyed by Allied bombing campaigns in 1944, however, and was subsequently rebuilt with multistory office buildings and other modern structures. Find the perfect frankfurt historic buildings stock photo. Designed by architect Paul Wallot during the reign of Emperor Wilhelm I, the Reichstag building contained several pioneering architectural elements, including a steel and glass copula which was the first of its kind. Frankfurt’s old town was once a massive centre of trade and commerce, with the Römer – today’s city hall – having been an indoor marketplace for Roman merchants. Old buildings, made of stone and mud bricks, on September 25, 2017 at the abandoned village of Mileones in the area of Prespes Lakes in Greece The Liston area at Corfu island in Greece FRANKFURT, GERMANY - MAR 15: Historic buildings at the Roemerberg in Frankfurt … Germany's oldest trade fair town, Frankfurt is currently the most important commercial center in the Federal Republic. "Very close to our hotel, a free evening for us in the City coincided with an excellent concert by the Frankfurt Radio Orchestra, which was an unexpected musical treat for us." Add to Likebox #86387464 - Vector illustration of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany... Vector. Emperors’ Hall at the Römer. Set in a historic building from the 19th century, with the Bear and the Bull statues in front, the 400-year old Deutsche Börse, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, welcomes interested visitors and offers a glimpse into its daily business. The Hauptwache (Main Guard), a former 18th-century police station, is at the edge of the official old town. Old Sachsenhausen. Posted by: bluesnote. Justin’s is now the oldest building still standing in Frankfurt, and the oldest church in the state of Hesse. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. The Old St. Nikolai Church or Old Nicholas Church was the chapel used by the imperial court from 1290 to the 14th century. The one that will grab your attention is the Römer, the middle of a group of three gabled buildings housing Frankfurt’s city hall since 1405. Old traditional buildings in Frankfurt, Germany in a summer. ... a major event where skyscrapers are open to the public and spectacular laser and fireworks shows highlight the buildings at night. The Archaeological Garden contains small parts of the oldest recovered buildings: an ancient Roman settlement and the Frankfurt Royal Palace (Kaiserpfalz Frankfurt) from the 6th century. Take the elevator up to the 650-feet high platform to enjoy sweeping views of Frankfurt’s skyline. No need to register, buy now! Old Nicholas Church (Alte Nikolaikirche): One of the oldest buildings in Frankfurt - See 401 traveler reviews, 514 candid photos, and great deals for Frankfurt, Germany, at Tripadvisor. No membership needed. The quaintest square in the city is walled by photogenic medieval houses, a church and historic administrative buildings. Farben House (built 1928-1931, today the main building of the Goethe University) and the Gewerkschaftshaus (built 1930-1931). St. Bartholomew Cathedral. Bartholomew ( Dom St Bartholomaus ) ,also known as The Imperial Cathedral Of St Bartholomew is a fantastic and beautiful old cathedral that is always a joy to visit on any holiday you take to this vibrant city." Add to Likebox #89402313 - Semperoper opera building at night in Dresden. The old town of Limburg. PowerPoint Template With Old Traditional Buildings In Frankfurt Themed Background And A Teal Colored Foreground Design N 50° 06.557 E 008° 40.953. The Altstadt is located on the northern Main river bank. Browse our large gallery of Historic Buildings pictures in Frankfurt, Germany. Waymark Code: WMX2GM. Hauptwache in Frankfurt am Main . Parquet; bath with tub and space for washing machine and dryer. old and modern buildings in Frankfurt - Buy this stock photo and explore similar images at Adobe Stock Looking back, the historical dimensions of the old town are truly far-reaching. The Altstadt (old town) is a city district of Frankfurt am Main, Germany.It is part of the Ortsbezirk Innenstadt I.. Download Old buildings in frankfurt stock photos at the best stock photography agency with millions of premium high quality, royalty-free stock photos, images and pictures at reasonable prices. freely accessible / always open. Until World War II, Frankfurt’s Old Town, which had grown up around the imperial castle, was the largest medieval city still intact in Germany. Date Posted: 11/17/2017 1:53:50 PM. It is completely surrounded by the Innenstadt district, Frankfurt's present-day city centre. Add to Likebox #92243906 - Hanover City Hall at evening. The building is named after the German river Main, which runs through Frankfurt's city center. Lower Saxony. The old town is small and flat making historic Frankfurt a pleasant city to explore on foot. The oldest tall buildings in Frankfurt are the Mousonturm (built 1923-1926), the I.G. These three buildings are up to 35 meters (115 feet) high and stand even to this day. Frankfurt’s reconstructed old town is sure to become a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. The Reichstag Building started its life in 1894, when it served as the seat of the German Parliament. Frankfurt went through a first high-rise building boom in the 1970s; during this time, the city saw the construction of nine buildings over 110 metres (360 ft). It was discovered after World War II when the area was heavily bombed and later partly rebuilt. One of the city's most noteworthy landmarks, this magnificent structure was designed by Sir Norman Foster and is famous for being the first ecologically-friendly office tower in the world, due to its low levels of energy consumption. Similar Images . Balcony facing the street, to the garden floor-to-ceiling-windows. Similar Images . You can take part in guided tours and then watch the bustling trading floor of the third largest trading exchange in the world. The building is located near the Romerberg Square in Frankfurt. OLDEST -- Building in Frankfurt - Frankfurt, HE. Similar Images . Quick Description: The oldest building in Frankfurt dates back to the 1100s. The ground floor levels of the buildings will feature shops and stores, while the upper floors will consist of flats. Similar Images . Situated on the banks of the Lahn River, the old town of Limburg is one of the best preserved historic sites in western Germany. “This new old town is a very hybrid building,” says Peter Cachola Schmal, longtime director of the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) in Frankfurt. AN eight-year-old boy was run over by a train and killed after a man pushed him and his mother onto the tracks at Frankfurt’s main station this morning, cops … Eurotower is a 40-storey, 148 m (486 ft) skyscraper in the Innenstadt district of Frankfurt, Germany.The building served as the seat of the European Central Bank (ECB) until 18 March 2015, at which point it was officially replaced by a new purpose-built building.It now hosts the European Central Bank's Single Supervisory Mechanism.. S. By S-F. Related keywords. "While visiting Frankfurt had landed to this amazing place surrounded by modern yet historical building n structure Great place to roam around with friends n family with superb view of cathedral nearby and food joi..." "Römer ( Roman ) is most certainly the jewel in the crown of the magnificent Romerberg which is the beautiful square in the beautiful Altstadt ( Old Town ) of Frankfurt." Old buildings in frankfurt - download this royalty free Stock Photo in seconds.
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Tag Archives: framskrittspartiet
Could Norway benefit from the oil price decline?
December 17, 2014 Kevin Lees 1 Comment
When she was elected in September 2013 as Norway’s new conservative prime minister, one of Erna Solberg’s top priorities was to bring down the value of the Norwegian currency, the krone.
Boosted by its spectacular oil wealth, Norway is today one of the world’s wealthiest countries, so strong that it’s shunned not only eurozone membership but accession to the European Union altogether. Like many other oil-producing countries, however, the sudden drop of oil prices since July from over $100 per barrel to nearly $60 today has adversely affected Norway’s economy. If prices drop even lower, or the $60 level sustains itself through 2015 or beyond, it could endanger Solberg politically, who leads a minority government consisting of her own center-right Høyre (the ‘Right,’ or the Conservative Party) and the more controversial Framskrittspartiet (Progress Party), a more populist, anti-immigrant party that has its roots in the anti-tax movement. The Progress Party’s leader, Siv Jensen, now holds the unenviable task of serving as Norway’s finance minister as oil prices tumble. Solberg ousted the popular two-term prime minister Jens Stoltenberg, who is now NATO secretary-general.
But for a country that was facing inflationary pressure when the rest of Europe continues to battle deflation, the fall in oil prices may bring additional benefits to a country long topping the list of the world’s most expensive places. As of July 2014, Norway still led The Economist‘s ‘Big Mac Index‘ — the price of the iconic McDonald’s sandwich was a whopping 61% higher in Norway than in the United States.
There’s no doubt that a sustained fall in oil prices will harm Norway’s bottom line. It will reduce the revenues available for public spending (already estimated to fall by over $9 billion because of the price drop), and it could easily cause Norwegian GDP growth to fall in 2015 from estimates of 2% or so (still robust compared to the eurozone), thereby causing the country’s relatively low 3.4% jobless rate to climb.
But it’s also caused the krone to fall to a 13-year low, declining to parity with neighboring Sweden’s currency, the krona, for the first time since 2000. As recently as May, one US dollar was worth 5.8 Norwegian kroner. Today, that’s skyrocketed to 7.5 kroner and, as Russia and other oil-exporting countries see their own currencies tanking, investors could push the krone even lower.
Photo credit to Bloomberg.
Aside from reducing concerns about inflation, the krone‘s fall could provide all kinds of benefits to Norway. For now, Solberg remains incredibly popular with Norwegians. Also for now, Jensen and the government doesn’t seem panicked, though the central bank cut interest rates from 1.5% to 1.25% last week. The current 2015 budget cuts taxes, while holding social welfare spending steady and increasingly spending on the country’s infrastructure. Continue reading Could Norway benefit from the oil price decline? →
big mac indexbreakeven pointconservative partyexportsframskrittspartiethøyrejensenkronenorth sea oilnorwayoil boomprogress partysolbergstoltenberg
Tsunis nomination draws scorn from Norwegians
Not only does George Tsunis not speak Norwegian, he’s never even set foot in Norway.
Yet, even as he stumbled through an embarrassingly poor performance at a hearing on Thursday before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Tsunis is set to become the next US ambassador to Oslo.
As US senator John McCain asked Tsunis about the ‘anti-immigration’ Framskrittspartiet (Progress Party), which is the junior member in Norway’s center-right governing coalition, the future ambassador stumbled with his answer or, as Norway’s newspapers phrased it, tråkket i salaten (trampled through the salad bowl).
“You get some fringe elements that have a microphone and spew their hatred,” he said in the pre-appointment hearing. “And I will tell you Norway has been very quick to denounce them.”
McCain interrupted him, pointing out that as part of the coalition, the party was hardly being denounced.
“I stand corrected,” Tsunis said after a pause. “I would like to leave my answer at… it’s a very,very open society and the overwhelming amount of Norwegians and the overwhelming amount of people in parliament don’t feel the same way.”
Good grief. This came after Tsunis referred to Norway’s ‘president’ — of course, there’s no such office because Norway is a constitutional monarchy. By way of background, Tsunis is an attorney and a businessman from Long Island. He founded Chartwell Hotels, which operates properties for InterContinental Hotels and other hotel chains. Though he supported McCain, a Republican, in the 2008 US presidential election, he bundled nearly $1 million in contributions for US president Barack Obama, a Democrat, in the subsequent 2012 presidential election, and he personally donated $267,244 to the Democratic Party in 2012 and $278,531 in 2010. Tsunis is an active member of the Greek-American community and the Greek Orthodox Church, which begs why anyone in the Obama administration would send him… to Norway.
McCain, not thrilled with the response, thanked Tsunis and the ‘incredibly highly qualified group of nominees.’ But perhaps McCain should leave aside the snark himself — Norwegians might also take issue with his characterization of the Progress Party solely as an anti-immigration party. In fact, the party has its genesis in the anti-tax movement of the 1970s. It’s certainly in favor of tougher immigration restrictions, and it’s probably Norway’s most controversial major party. But it’s not nearly as xenophobic as some of Europe’s other parties (e.g., Marine Le Pen’s Front national in France), and it represents something greater in Norway as a party of rupture.
Other mainstream center-left and center-right parties largely support Norway’s social welfare state, just as they support the relatively fiscal conservative steps to limit spending from Norway’s oil largesse. The Progress Party wants to break away radically from the state-heavy welfare model, and it wants to spend more of Norway’s oil fund today.
That’s why Erna Solberg, the leader of Høyre (the ‘Right,’ or more commonly, the Conservative Party) is Norway’s prime minister today instead of Progress Party leader Siv Jensen. Solberg pulled the Conservative Party toward a more moderate policy path that’s essentially the center-right analog to the long-governing Arbeiderpartiet (Labour Party), which lost the September 2013 elections after two terms in power under former prime minister Jens Stoltenberg.
It doesn’t seem like it would be so incredibly hard for the Obama administration to bring even someone woefully uniformed about Norway’s political, cultural and economic basics up to speed — even Tsunis! That the Obama administration chose not to do so is perhaps the most egregious oversight of all.
The previous ambassador to Norway, Barry White, who served from 2009 to 2013, had at least some basis in international affairs as the longtime managing partner of Foley Hoag LLP, and as the chair of Lex Mundi, a global association of international, independent law firms. His predecessor, Benson Whitney, served from 2005 to 2009 under former president George W. Bush. A native of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Whitney came from the US state with the greatest number of Norwegian-Americans by far. As then-president of the Minnesota Venture Capital Association, he could argue that his experience in venture capital and investments would bode well to serve as a representative to the country with the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund.
It’s not just Tsunis. The Obama administration’s nominee to serve as the ambassador to Hungary, by the way? Colleen Bradley Bell, a television producer and — you guessed it — philanthropist and top Obama campaign donor. At a time when Hungary faces some of the most troubling accusations of democratic backsliding within the European Union, and with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán set to win another majority under a new (troubling) electoral system in April, the United States is sending the producer of television daytime soap opera ‘The Bold and the Beautiful.’
I wrote last June that the nomination of James Costos, a Hollywood executive and Obama donor with no Spanish language skills and no apparent ties to Spain, to become the US ambassador of Spain was a prime example of why the current practice of sending wealthy donors (instead of career diplomats from the US state department) is so flawed: Continue reading Tsunis nomination draws scorn from Norwegians →
ambassadorarbeiderpartietbarry whitebenson whitneybondevikbradley bellchristian democratsconservativecostosframskrittspartiethungaryhøyrelabourmccainnorwayobamaorbanosloprogress partysenatesocial welfare statesolbergstoltenbergstortingtsunis
Norway’s new center-right minority government is official
October 8, 2013 Kevin Lees Leave a comment
Having narrowed coalition talks from four to two parties last week, it didn’t take long for Norway’s new government to emerge formally on Monday.
As I wrote late last week, Norway is set to have a minority government that will likely be its most right-wing government in postwar history:
As widely anticipated, the leader of the center-right Høyre (literally the ‘Right,’ or more commonly, the Conservative Party), Erna Solberg, will become Norway’s next prime minister, but she’ll lead a minority government in coalition with just one of Norway’s three other political parties, the controversial anti-immigrant Framskrittspartiet (Progress Party) after two smaller center-right parties pulled out of coalition talks earlier this week.
I wrote before the election that pulling together all four parties on the Norwegian right might prove problematic. Sure enough, both the Kristelig Folkeparti (Christian Democratic Party) and Venstre (literally, ‘the Left,’ but commonly known as the Liberal Party), which will hold 10 and nine seats, respectively, in the next parliament, will not join the government. Though both parties have agreed to provide support to Solberg from outside the government, it’s not an auspicious start for the broad four-party coalition that Solberg hoped to build after last month’s victory.
It was no surprise on Monday to see Erna Solberg, the leader of the Conservatives and Norway’s likely next prime minister (pictured above, right) and Siv Jensen, the leader of the Progress Party (pictured above, left) announce their governing agenda.
That agenda came with few surprises from the general framework largely set forth last week — a push to tightening Norway’s immigration laws (for non-Europeans), lowering Norway’s tax burden and, importantly, an agreement not to deviate from the ‘4% rule’ that prohibits more than 4% of the country’s massive $790 billion oil fund to be used in the annual Norwegian budget, and a commitment to avoid exploration for resources in protected Arctic areas.
Both parties generally hope to unlock economic growth and modernization through tax cuts and decentralization of power from Norway’s central government.
But perhaps the most ambitious item is a plan to develop a new infrastructure fund of up to 100 billion kroner ($16.75 billion) for what Solberg and Jensen hope will a five-year mission to improve Norway’s roads and railroads — as well as its educational system:
Kristin Skogen Lund, director-general of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise, welcomed the “shift in direction for Norwegian politics”….
Ms Skogen Lund also welcomed the shift in focus of the oil fund from consumption to investment. The outgoing government had spent only about 14 per cent of annual proceeds from the fund, she said, when all of it was supposed to be directed into infrastructure, education and tax reduction.
That’s important in light of Solberg’s goal to reduce the value of the krone, Norway’s currency — inflation, along with high labor costs that have made Norway’s exports relatively uncompetitive, are the largest challenges to an economy that’s at risk of overheating (to the contrary of much of the rest of Europe). Though the ‘investment’ will surely stimulate Norway’s economy, it will do so for long-term benefits. That makes the Solberg ‘investment fund’ plan unlike, say, the 2009 US stimulus package enacted into law by US president Barack Obama designed to do the opposite — boost short-term aggregate demand.
Solberg’s government will also explore the possibility of splitting the country’s oil fund, the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, into two smaller entities to encourage competition and maximize Norway’s investment returns.
The two parties remain at odds over cabinet posts, though it’s widely expected than Jensen will hold the finance portfolio.
By way of background, the Conservative/Progress coalition will hold 77 seats — and all four center-right parties will hold 96 seats — in the 169-member Storting, Norway’s parliament. Though the center-left Arbeiderpartiet (Labour Party) of outgoing prime minister Jens Stoltenberg won more seats than any other party in the September 9 election, its coalition allies suffered huge losses — the Conservatives placed a close second and the Progress Party finished third, and a broad center-right government had been widely expected even before the election.
Top photo credit to Vegard Grøtt / NTB scanpix.
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Norway’s new government will be more right-wing and more fragile than expected
October 4, 2013 Kevin Lees 1 Comment
Just less than a month after Norwegians went to the polls, the contours of Norway’s new government are taking shape — and it’s not exactly what everyone expected.
The difference is that instead of a 96-seat majority in the 169-member Storting, Norway’s parliament, Solberg’s government will hold just 77 seats, eight short of an absolute majority:
I wrote before the election that pulling together all four parties on the Norwegian right might prove problematic. Sure enough, both the Kristelig Folkeparti (Christian Democratic Party) and Venstre (literally, ‘the Left,’ but commonly known as the Liberal Party), which will hold 10 and nine seats, respectively, in the next parliament, will not join the government. Though both parties have agreed to provide support to Solberg (pictured above) from outside the government, it’s not an auspicious start for the broad four-party coalition that Solberg hoped to build after last month’s victory. The absence of the Christian Democrats is particularly difficult, given that they led the last center-right Norwegian government — that of prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik between 1997 and 2000 and 2001 to 2005.
The Progress Party, meanwhile, will enter government for the first time since its foundation in the 1970s. Founded as an anti-tax movement determined to roll back the Norwegian social welfare state, the Progress Party has also become increasingly anti-immigrant. While it’s certainly tame compared to many of Europe’s more xenophobic anti-immigrant parties, it’s easily the most controversial party in Norway (not least because mass killer Anders Behring Breivik was once among its members). Anxiety about the Progress Party’s new, unprecedented role in government is one of the reasons that the Christian Democrats and Liberals may have been wary of formally joining Solberg’s coalition, which will now become Norway’s most right-wing government in a century.
Solberg, on the other hand, slowly gained the trust of Norwegians after rebranding the Conservatives into a more welcoming, more national party that’s transcended its base catering to business interests in Oslo. Although the Conservatives and the Progress Party agree on economic policies like tax cuts, the Conservatives have positioned themselves as an ever-so-slightly right-of-center party who would leave in place much of the mainstream policy preferences of the outgoing center-left Arbeiderpartiet (Labour Party) — you can characterize ‘mainstream’ in Norway as full commitment to a generous social welfare state, mixed with strict fiscal discipline that diverts much of Norway’s oil largesse into its $780 billion investment fund, the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund.
Given that the Labour Party, led by the popular outgoing prime minister Jens Stoltenberg, still managed to win more votes than any other party — and seven more parliamentary seats than the Conservatives — last month (a feat Labour has repeated in every national election since 1918), that’s a wise move on Solberg’s part. But balancing the moderation that Norwegians expect from her with the Progress Party’s expectations was always going to be difficult, and Solberg’s dream of a broad four-party coalition will be the first casualty of those competing expectations.
That balancing act informs much of the resulting agreement between the Conservatives and Progress and, more generally, among the four right-wing parties that Solberg will need to satisfy to keep her minority coalition in government — it’s more notable for what the government won’t do than what it will. The government faces a much different challenge than the rest of Europe — with GDP growth holding steady at around 2%, it’s overheating, not recession, that threatens the economy. Solberg’s challenge is how to keep the Norwegian krone from further appreciating, given that the country’s high wages are already making exports less competitive.
Notwithstanding the election campaign, lowering the value of the krone might ultimately be the Solberg’s most pressing policy imperative.
Here are the highlights of how Norway’s next government will unfold under Solberg’s leadership: Continue reading Norway’s new government will be more right-wing and more fragile than expected →
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European Union, Norway
Despite the success of pro-EU parties in Norway, don’t expect EU membership anytime soon
One of the odder results of this week’s Norwegian election is that while it boosted the numbers of seats for the two parties that are most in favor of membership in the European Union, Norway is today less likely than ever to seek EU membership.
Together, the center-left Arbeiderpartiet (Labour Party) and the center-right Høyre (the Conservative Party) will hold 103 seats as the largest and second-largest parties, respectively, in the Storting, Norway’s 169-member parliament — that’s a larger number of cumulative seats than the two pro-European parties have won since the 1985 election.
But EU membership is firmly not on the agenda of Norway’s likely new prime minister, Erna Solberg, just like it wasn’t on the agenda of outgoing prime minister Jens Stoltenberg during his eight years in government.
One of the obvious reasons is that EU membership is massively unpopular among Norwegians — an August poll found that 70% oppose membership to just 19% who support it.
Proponents of EU membership argue that because Norway is part of Europe’s internal market, it is already subject to many of the European Union’s rules. (Norway is also a member of the Schengen free-travel zone that has largely eliminated national border controls within Europe) But until Norway is a member of the European Union, it has absolutely no input on the content of those rules. Stoltenberg (pictured above left with European Council president Herman Van Rompuy) has called the result ‘fax diplomacy,’ with Norwegian legislators forced to wait for instructions from Brussels in the form of the latest directive.
Since 1994, when Norwegians narrowly rejected EU membership in a referendum, Norway has been a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), an agreement among the EU countries, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein that allows Norway and the other non-EU countries access to the European single market.
Opponents argue that Norway, with just 5 million people, would have a negligible input in a union that now encompasses 28 countries and nearly 508 million people. They also argue that with one of Europe’s wealthiest economies, Norway would be forced to contribute part of its oil largesse to shore up the shakier economies of southern and eastern Europe. There are also sovereignty considerations for a country that didn’t win its independence from Sweden until 1905 — and then suffered German occupation from 1940 to 1945. Though Norwegians also often cite the desire to keep their rich north Atlantic fisheries free of EU competition, Norway already has a special arrangement with the European Union on fisheries and agriculture, and it’s likely that it would continue to have a special arrangement as an EU member, in the same way that the United Kingdom has opted out of both the eurozone and the Schengen area and has negotiated its own EU budget rebate.
Though Solberg herself is from Norway’s western coast, her party’s base is comprised largely of business-friendly elites in Oslo and Norway’s other urban centers, where support for EU membership runs highest. But that enthusiasm doesn’t always flow down to voters who support Solberg, and it certainly doesn’t extend to Norway’s other right-wing parties. Continue reading Despite the success of pro-EU parties in Norway, don’t expect EU membership anytime soon →
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Solberg set to lead broad center-right coalition in Norway after today’s election
September 9, 2013 Kevin Lees 3 Comments
Erna Solberg, the longtime leader of Norway’s Conservative Party, will become Norway’s next prime minister after results from today’s Norwegian parliamentary election showed all four of Norway’s center-right parties winning enough seats to form an absolute majority in Norway’s Storting (parliament).
Prime minister Jen Stoltenberg has conceded defeat, and will resign shortly after presenting Norway’s next budget in mid-October.
The result’s a lot more complicated than that — for starters, Stoltenberg’s party, the center-left Arbeiderpartiet (Labour Party) actually won more votes than Solberg’s party, the center-right Høyre (literally the ‘Right’) — so much so that Labour will have around 55 seats to just 48 for the Conservatives. It’s not an unexpected result because while polls earlier this summer showed the Conservatives leading Labour, support for Labour has increased as Norwegians focused on the campaign. Moreover, Labour has emerged in every election since 1924 with more support and seats than Norway’s various opposition parties, and its long pedigree as the natural party of government means that it has a deeper wellspring of support among the Norwegian electorate.
Here’s the breakdown of voter support with nearly all the votes counted:
Here’s the projected allocation of seat in Norway’s new parliament:
But that wasn’t enough to pull off a victory for two reasons. First, Labour’s support — around 30.9% — is smaller than the 35.4% it won in the September 2009 election, natural enough for a party that’s been in power for eight years and is seeking a third consecutive term. Secondly, the two small parties that comprise the ‘red-green’ coalition that Stoltenberg heads, Sosialistisk Venstreparti (Socialist Left Party) and the Senterpartiet (Centre Party), did incredibly poorly, so the ‘red-green’ coalition is projected to win just a cumulative 72 seats in the 169-member Storting.
Meanwhile, Solberg’s Conservatives cannot govern by themselves, but must form an alliance among the four major center-right parties that will join parliament. That includes the Kristelig Folkeparti (Christian Democratic Party), a moderately conservative party that led Norway’s last center-right government under prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik between 1997 and 2000 and again from 2001 to 2005, and it includes Venstre (literally, ‘the Left,’ but commonly known as the Liberal Party). All three parties worked together in government between 2001 and 2005 and all three parties generally accept the fait accompli of the Norwegian social welfare state and Labour’s rules to stash much of Norway’s annual budget surplus in the country’s massive oil wealth fund. The Conservatives, in particular, have spent the election arguing for slight changes to the status quo, such as lower business taxes and tweaks to Norway’s health care system, after a major rebranding exercise to grow beyond their base of Oslo business interests.
But the coalition must also include the more controversial Framskrittspartiet (Progress Party). Most reports highlight that the party is relatively populist and anti-immigrant, and that it was the party of Norway’s Anders Behring Breivik, who was responsible for the deadliest killings in Norway’s history in twin attacks in 2011. That’s all true, but the party’s roots are in the anti-tax movement of the 1970s, and its goal is a massive rupture from the status quo — it would claw back many of Norway’s social benefits, drastically reduce the role of government in Norwegian life, but it would also push to spend more of the Norwegian oil surplus (or return it in the form of lower taxes). Continue reading Solberg set to lead broad center-right coalition in Norway after today’s election →
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Despite doubts about far-right Progress Party, no talk of Norwegian ‘grand coalition’
August 20, 2013 Kevin Lees 2 Comments
Though the Høyre (‘Right,’ or Conservative Party) consistently leads polls as the party mostly likely to emerge with the most support in Norway’s September 9 elections, there’s still uncertainty about the future of Norway’s government.
That’s because while Conservative leader Erna Solberg is very likely to become Norway’s next prime minister and the Conservatives are widely tipped to win on September 9, the policies that her government will pursue will depend on the relative strength of the other center-right parties — notably the populist, anti-government, anti-immigration Framskrittspartiet (Progress Party), which remains the most controversial of Norway’s major parties. If it joins the Conservatives in government as predicted, it will be the first time that the Progress Party has joined any government since it was founded in the 1970s.
If the election unfolds as polls predict, the Conservatives would win the largest share of the vote, around 32% and around 56 seats, which would be a historical victory against the Arbeiderpartiet (Labour Party), which is polling around 29% and around 51 seats. The Progress Party currently polls as the third-most popular party with around 14.5% support and around 27 seats. That means that the next government will require some kind of coalition between two of those three parties.
So while it’s not surprising that tensions are emerging during the campaign between Solberg and Progress Party leader Siv Jensen (pictured above) and that it’s clear coalition negotiations among the Conservatives, the Progress Party and other center-right allies are likely to be incredibly difficult, it is perhaps surprising that no one has really suggested a ‘grand coalition’ between Labour and the Conservatives as an alternative. While there’s no real precedent of ‘grand coalitions’ in recent Norwegian history, neither is there precedent for a Conservative-Progress government — both options would mark new ground for Norway.
Solberg is riding high in polls today after a long stint in the wilderness for the Conservatives and a rebranding exercise designed to pull the Conservatives more fully to the center and expand the party’s relevance beyond its traditional image as a party solely for Norway’s business elite. That means that it has moved more closely to Labour’s position on many issues and it’s much closer to Labour than to the Progress Party on both economic and social issues alike. Nonetheless, there’s curiously little discussion about a ‘grand coalition,’ even as Norwegians assume that the Conservative-Progress coalition is virtually a done deal. That means that the Conservatives, a party that favors continuity over rupture, will govern with the Progress Party, which has historically favored rupture over continuity. It will also likely mean that Jensen will become Norway’s next finance minister, an outcome that could scare moderate voters otherwise disposed to a Solberg-led government into supporting Labour instead.
If, for some reason, the Conservatives win the election and don’t form a coalition with Progress, because negotiations stall or because Progress’s vote collapses, the Conservatives would more likely form a coalition with two smaller center-right parties or even try a minority government before pairing up with Labour, not least of which because Labour prime minister Jens Stoltenberg has spent much of his campaign warning about all the damage that a right-wing government would cause to Norwegian society.
But on policy terms, there’s a lot to recommend a Norwegian ‘grand coalition.’ And if it can happen in Germany, Austria and Italy, why not in Norway too? Continue reading Despite doubts about far-right Progress Party, no talk of Norwegian ‘grand coalition’ →
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Four reasons why cab-driving Stoltenberg has a chance at winning Norway’s election
Though he’s making headlines this week for his stunt as a barely-disguised cab driver cruising the streets of Oslo to get a sense of the frustrations of Norwegian voters less than a month before Norway’s parliamentary elections, prime minister Jens Stoltenberg has long seemed destined to lose the September 9 vote.
Stoltenberg, who leads the Arbeiderpartiet (Labour Party) and has served as Norway’s prime minister since 2005, is running for a third consecutive term, and poll shave consistently shown his party running behind the Høyre (literally the ‘Right,’ or Conservative Party), and Norway has braced throughout the year for the likelihood that its voters will elect a center-right government. It’s not unprecedented for Norway to have a right-leaning government — most recently, the Conservatives were part of a governing coalition led by Kjell Magne Bondevik and the Kristelig Folkeparti (Christian People’s Party) from 2001 to 2005. But if polls today are correct, the Conservative Party will actually win more votes than the long-dominant Labour Party, and therefore hold more seats in the Storting, Norway’s parliament, and that hasn’t happened in a Norwegian election since 1924.
But the polls are narrowing — the Conservative Party still leads the Labor Party, and taken together, the broad center-right parties expected to form Norway’s next government hold a double-digit lead over the broad center-left parties that currently comprise Stoltenberg’s governing coalition. One recent poll from TNS Gallup over the weekend showed the Conservatives with just 31.6% to 30.1% for Labour, much narrower than the five-point lead the Conservatives held only in July. Here’s the latest August poll-of-polls data:
As I wrote earlier this summer, Erna Solberg, the leader of the Conservative Party since 2004, became the frontrunner in next month’s elections by rebranding the Conservatives as an acceptably moderate alternative to Labour. In many ways, Solberg’s Conservatives today share more in common with Labour than with their largest presumptive coalition partner, the more populist, far-right Framskrittspartiet (Progress Party), a party. But there’s still more or less a month to go before voting begins, and many Norwegians are still focused on their summer holidays than on the late-summer campaign. That means there’s more than enough time for Labour to make up the difference before September 9.
While that doesn’t necessarily mean that Labour will return to government, it does mean that Labour has a shot at retaining its place as the largest parliamentary party in Norway and, in a best-case scenario, could potentially form a new, broader coalition, perhaps even with the Conservatives, to keep the Progress Party out of government.
Here are four reasons why that outcome isn’t as farfetched as it seems:
Continue reading Four reasons why cab-driving Stoltenberg has a chance at winning Norway’s election →
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How Erna Solberg became the frontrunner in Norway’s upcoming election
July 12, 2013 Kevin Lees 2 Comments
Norway kicks off a busy month of elections in Europe with parliamentary elections on September 9, and if the past year’s worth of polls are to be trusted, Norwegians seem set to take a right turn, despite one of the best economies in Europe.
If they do so, Norway is likely to have only the second female prime minister in its history — Erna Solberg, who since 2004 has been the leader of the Høyre (literally the ‘Right,’ or more commonly, the Conservative Party).
With less than two months to go, Solberg’s Conservatives have built a growing and steady lead over the governing Arbeiderpartiet (Labour Party) and prime minister Jens Stoltenberg, a popular prime minister who’s governed Norway since 2005.
A familiar face as the Conservative leader for nearly a decade, Solberg served previously as a minister of local government and regional development from 2001 to 2005 in Norway’s previous center-right government, a role that earned her the nickname of ‘Jern-Erna,’ or ‘Iron Erna,’ and she bears some similarity to the other, more familiar center-right leader who’s running for reelection in September as well (catch an English interview with Solberg from April on the U.S.-based CNBC here).
Winning a third consecutive term in office is difficult for any government because, as years go by, the front line of policymakers either leave government or become increasingly fatigued, and governing parties, who have an increasing political stake in the status quo, don’t often regenerate the same quality of new ideas that outside parties do while in opposition.
But it’s hard to understand just why Labour seems so likely headed out of government, especially in light of Stoltenberg’s continued popularity. It’s even more baffling when you consider that Norway is one of the best governed states in Europe, let alone the world. Despite the fact that most of Europe is in recession or zero-growth mode, Norway grew by an estimated 3% in 2012, and the unemployment rate is a laughably low 3.5%. Thanks to its oil wealth, it has had balanced budgets for nearly two decades, the government routinely banks its surplus (an estimated 15% of GDP in 2012) in investment funds for future use, and Norway’s GDP per capita now exceeds $60,000.
That leads to two questions: why are Norwegian voters so adamant about voting out its current government? And how did Solberg and the Conservatives become such clear frontrunners?
Background: politics in the Stoltenberg era
The 2005 election (and the ensuing 2009 election) brought about the balance that’s largely held steady for the past eight years. Stoltenberg currently governs with the support of a ‘Red-Green’ coalition dominated by Labour and its two smaller allies, the democratic socialist Sosialistisk Venstreparti (Socialist Left Party) and the Senterpartiet (Centre Party), a chiefly agrarian party that’s moved from the political right to the political left in recent years. Note that ‘green’ in Norway’s Red-Green coalition indicates the Center Party’s roots in rural life, not its environmental activism.
The 2005 fall of the previous center-right government of prime minster Kjell Magne Bondevik brought a drop in support for both Kristelig Folkeparti (Christian Democratic Party) and his coalition partners, the Conservatives. That left the Framskrittspartiet (Progress Party), a relatively populist party known chiefly for its opposition to much of the Norwegian social welfare state, its advocacy of lower taxes, smaller government and deregulation, and its controversial anti-immigration stance, as the second-largest party in Norway’s parliament. Unlike Labour and the Conservatives, both of which were founded in the late 19th century, the Progress Party emerged only in the 1970s as a modern conservative anti-tax movement. Though it’s grown to become a major force in Norwegian politics over the 1990s and 20o0s, Progress has never formally joined any government, though that seems likely to change, as Solberg is expected to bring Progress into government if her party maintains its polling lead on September 9.
Though if Solberg’s Conservatives win their expected landslide, they will do so in large part by consolidating left-leaning moderates that have supported Labour and right-leaning moderates that have supported Progress.
The latest July 2013 poll-of-polls shows the Conservatives with nearly 32% of the vote, which would give them around 58 seats in the Storting, Norway’s unicameral 169-seat parliament:
That’s a huge jump from the 30 seats the Conservatives hold now, and it’s a massive jump from their 2005 debacle, when they won just 14.1% of the vote and a measly 23 seats.
Even more striking is that Labour might not win the largest plurality of votes and the largest bloc of seats in parliament — for the first time since 1924. Continue reading How Erna Solberg became the frontrunner in Norway’s upcoming election →
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Pastoral Letter of Cardinal John Tong Electoral Reform and the Wellbeing of Hong Kong Society
“Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer” Romans 12:12
The peace of the Lord be with you!
The wellbeing of Hong Kong society includes all the things, material and spiritual, that contribute to integral human development and the common good.
As I said in my Pastoral Letter of August 15 last year, electoral reform and universal suffrage are also our concerns as Christians because “a sound political system is intimately linked with the well-being of society.” 1
The day is fast approaching when the Government’s controversial electoral reform package for the election of the Chief Executive will be put to the vote in the Legislative Council, with or without amendments.
There is widespread concern over the package and the current impasse. The community’s anxieties are aggravated by pressing livelihood and other social issues which the Diocese has, more than once, identified as also requiring urgent attention and action.2
At this critical moment, I find it especially necessary to entrust ourselves to God through prayer. That is why two weeks ago I already invited the faithful to attend a solemn Evening Prayer for the wellbeing of Hong Kong society to be held at our Cathedral, Caine Road, at 8:00pm on this coming Sunday (Trinity Sunday). Once more I urge the faithful to join us on this occasion. Indeed, in good times or bad we are called upon to pray always. As St. Paul has taught us: “Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12). Likewise, we have to give thanks to God, who is rich in mercy, for the hope given to us in Christ Jesus. St. Paul has assured us: “the God of all comfort … comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1: 3-4).
Furthermore, the Diocese believes that through earnest dialogue and responsible action “it is possible to implement in Hong Kong an electoral model that is genuinely democratic, whereby we can break the present electoral reform deadlock, promote the common good, and further the people’s love of Hong Kong and of the country” 3
In line with Gospel values, the Diocese has affirmed that that “justice cannot be achieved by confrontation or violence, but by mutual dialogue and the concerted, peaceful efforts of all parties concerned”4.
At the same time, the Diocese believes that there can be no true or sustainable peace and stability in society without justice. Thus, on the matter of electoral reform, the Diocese has made it clear that the “ultimate aim” of universal suffrage as mandated by the Basic Law cannot be realised unless, among other things, the nominating committee is truly “broadly representative” and the procedures adopted are genuinely “democratic”.5 There should be no unreasonable or unjust restrictions to the choice of candidates.
In taking such a stance the Diocese is focusing on broad general principles rather than on the specifics of any particular model. It has made it plain that “it is for individual members of the faithful to choose their own options … through prayers and personal reflections, in the light of the Gospel and in line with the social teaching of the Catholic Church”6.
As Pope Francis has emphasised recently, whilst Catholics are strongly encouraged to participate in politics, “the Church is not a political party”.7 The Diocese accordingly sees its role quite differently from that of a political party.
Thus, in the prevailing circumstances, instead of asking Lawmakers to reject outright or “pocket first” any specific package as the case may be, the Diocese wishes to make three recommendations:
First, that positive encouragement be given to all concerned to work together to address the causes behind the polarised positions, including misunderstanding, misrepresentation and distrust.
Second, that a concerted effort be made to remedy the democratic deficit and other perceived deficiencies in the current electoral reform package.
Third, regardless of whether the package is passed or rejected, that our faithful continue to pray for and support fresh efforts to find constitutionally sound and morally just solutions that will contribute to the peace and well-being of Hong Kong society.
I therefore humbly ask you to join me in reflection and prayer, invoking God’s merciful help and blessing on the Hong Kong SAR at a critical juncture of its history. I extend this invitation to all Christians and indeed to all people of good will who believe in the power of prayer. Never underestimate the power of prayer!
Pray for wisdom and discernment, that we may see what is truly good for Hong Kong society, have the strength to pursue it and the courage to speak the truth with clarity and charity.
Pray that those in authority will always use their power in the service of all people but especially the powerless, the marginalised, the disenfranchised and those most in need.
Pray that the young, who are the future of Hong Kong, will not be feel cheated and betrayed by their elders or those in authority or be driven to despair and desperation by a sense of hopelessness and helplessness.
Pray that when it comes to that crucial vote, our Lawmakers will act in accordance with their conscience and what they honestly and reasonably believe to be for the common good, and that their judgment be right and true.
Pray that whatever the outcome of the vote, there will still be hope for a better tomorrow.
May God bless you all!
+ John Card. TONG
1 Para. 1, Section A of Pastoral Letter of 15 August 2014.
2 See, for example, Public Statements of Diocese of 19 February 2012 and 13 September 2012.
3 Para. 6 of Section A of Pastoral Letter of 15 August 2014.
4 Para. 3 of Section A, Pastoral Letter of 15 August 2014.
5 The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong Statement Regarding Universal Suffrage and Civil Disobedience; see also paras. 1, 4 , 5 and 6 of Section A of Pastoral Letter of 15 August 2014; see also Section B, ibid., which says: “We fully agree that the building up of a truly democratic and accountable system of government will certainly enhance the legitimacy of the SAR Government and its effective governance”.
6 See opening 2nd para. of Pastoral Letter of 15 August 2014.
7 Papal Audience with members of Italy’s Christian Life Community and the Student Missionary League, 30 April 2015; see Sunday Examiner, 10 May 2015, p.1.
Previous: Fellowship and sharing the faith
Next: The suffering Christ is among us in the sick
John Tong
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New college puts emphasis on adult students
September 2, 2010 | News, UToday
By Meghan Cunningham
A new college has been created at The University of Toledo to meet the educational needs of adult students.
The College of Adult and Lifelong Learning will welcome and support the growing number of adults seeking higher education for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the state of the economy requiring retraining for new careers.
The college offers educational services, degree completion, and career and life planning specific to their needs for academic achievement, said Dr. Dennis Lettman, dean of the College of Adult and Lifelong Learning.
The Office of Educational and Lifelong Learning Services will offer ways for adult learners to earn college credit through life experiences. This system of documenting college-level learning, called prior learning assessment, uses portfolios, standardized testing and industry certification to determine college credit. University faculty are involved in the process.
“Prior learning assessment is a key component and a high priority for adult students,” Lettman said. “It gives credit for life experience through work, volunteerism, military and more through which people have learned skills and competencies. To be clear, it’s not giving away credit. University faculty are the content experts who help evaluate and match learning outcomes.”
The Office of Career and Life Planning provides additional services for adult students to make a smooth transition to college and overcome barriers unique to returning adults. The staff can help adult learners identify goals, explore career options, and work through academic and life management issues. Specific services also are available for veterans and senior citizens.
University College, which has served nontraditional students since 1970, will be transitioned into the new College of Adult and Lifelong Learning.
“This is an important evolution of University College as we continue to reach out to our community and assist everyone interested in higher education to achieve their goals,” said Dr. William McMillen, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “In today’s world, more and more adult students need similar attention. This is our conscious effort to assist those adult students interested in what our University has to offer.”
Students already in University College will have no changes to their programs or requirements during the transition, and the change will have no effect on their ability to graduate in their current program, said Lettman, who previously was dean of University College.
The College of Adult and Lifelong Learning will serve and support adults currently enrolled or interested in attending UT. They can choose to study in the existing individualized degree program or adult liberal studies undergraduate degree programs in University College, or enroll in another UT college that meets their interests and goals.
So who would be considered an adult student best served by this college? Adult students are considered those who are financially self-supporting, have been out of high school or college for at least one year, have military or veteran status, or are 25 years or older.
For more information, contact the College of Adult and Lifelong Learning at 419.530.3072.
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Home Health & Fitness Covid-19 vaccine: Former Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton to get the vaccine...
Covid-19 vaccine: Former Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton to get the vaccine publicly to prove it’s safe
Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are volunteering to get their Covid-19 vaccines on camera to promote public confidence in the vaccine’s safety once the US Food and Drug Administration authorizes one.
The three most recent former presidents hope an awareness campaign to promote confidence in its safety and effectiveness would be a powerful message as American public health officials try to convince the public to take the vaccine.
Freddy Ford, Bush’s chief of staff, says the 43rd President had reached out to Dr. Anthony Fauci — the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the nation’s top infectious disease expert — and Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, to see how he could help promote the vaccine.
“A few weeks ago President Bush asked me to let Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx know that, when the time is right, he wants to do what he can to help encourage his fellow citizens to get vaccinated,” Ford told CNN. “First, the vaccines need to be deemed safe and administered to the priority populations. Then, President Bush will get in line for his, and will gladly do so on camera.”
Clinton’s press secretary told CNN on Wednesday that he too would be willing to take the vaccine in a public setting in order to promote it.
“President Clinton will definitely take a vaccine as soon as available to him, based on the priorities determined by public health officials. And he will do it in a public setting if it will help urge all Americans to do the same,” Angel Urena said.
Obama, in an interview with SiriusXM host Joe Madison scheduled to air Thursday, said that if Fauci said a coronavirus vaccine is safe, he believes him.
“People like Anthony Fauci, who I know, and I’ve worked with, I trust completely,” Obama said. “So, if Anthony Fauci tells me this vaccine is safe, and can vaccinate, you know, immunize you from getting Covid, absolutely, I’m going to take it.”
“I promise you that when it’s been made for people who are less at risk, I will be taking it,” he said.
“I may end up taking it on TV or having it filmed, just so that people know that I trust this science, and what I don’t trust is getting Covid,” he added.
In a statement, former President Jimmy Carter’s foundation said that he and his wife support vaccine efforts.
“Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, said today that they are in full support of COVID-19 vaccine efforts and encourage everyone who is eligible to get immunized as soon as it becomes available in their communities,” the Carter Center said in a statement Wednesday on Twitter.
TThe Bush family has a history of banding together with other presidents to promote major causes. Bush’s father and mother, the late former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush, took a commercial flight in the days after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to promote public confidence in flying again. George H.W. Bush and Clinton worked together on fundraising for areas struck by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and for other charitable causes in the years after their presidencies.
Obama now also aims to use his post-presidency perch for a public awareness campaign.
UK mobilizes $1 billion to support vulnerable countries to access coronavirus vaccines
Pope Francis set to have coronavirus vaccine next week, says opposition to the vaccine is ‘suicidal denial’
HIV/AIDS: Long-acting injectable treatment approved- this removes the need to take daily oral tablets
UK commits £3bn to climate change solutions that protect & restore...
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Ukraine and Russia discuss settling $3 billion arbitration dispute using gas
Ukraine and Russia are discussing the possibility of Gazprom paying the $3 billion owed by it according to the Stockholm Arbitration Institute’s ruling using gas, said Naftogaz executive director Yuriy Vitrenko in a broadcast of Radio NV.
“[Russian Energy] Minister Novak, who was at the talks, admitted that they are discussing the matter of implementing the arbitration ruling by supplying the corresponding amount of gas. We see some progress in the public statements. We’re talking about $3 …
Kyiv demands seizure of Gazprom’s assets in Latvia
Saturday, November 30, 2019 9:00:07 AM
According to Gazprom's reports, Naftogaz of Ukraine filed a motion to the Latvian court to enforce the decision of the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (SCC) in the case against the Russian gas giant Gazprom. The company is determined to recover $3 billion from the Russian gas giant.
According to Gazprom, the court hearing on this claim is scheduled for the end of April 2020. At the moment, the company is considering ways to protect its interests.
"On November 5, 2019 …
Naftogaz director on Nord Stream 2: Germany facilitating economic strangulation of Ukraine
Friday, November 29, 2019 4:00:34 PM
Naftogaz group executive director Yuriy Vitrenko believes that by participating in Russia’s Nord Stream 2 project, Germany is facilitating the economic strangulation of Ukraine and creating threats to the stability of the gas supply to Eastern Europe.
He explained his view to Deutsche Welle in an interview when asked whether Germany will be taking away Ukraine’s role as the primary transiter of Russian gas to Europe.
“It’s not taking over the role of primary transiter, it’s that there won’t …
Ukraine and Russia hold bilateral gas talks
Friday, November 29, 2019 10:00:30 AM
Russia and Ukraine conducted bilateral gas negotiations in Vienna on November 28, the Russian media reported, citing the Russian Ministry of Energy.
The consultations were reportedly attended by Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller, Ukrainian Minister of Energy and Environmental Protection Oleksiy Orzhel, and the directors of Naftogaz of Ukraine and the Operator of the Gas Transport System of Ukraine.
“The parties discussed Russian-Ukrainian collaboration in the …
Russia's Gazprom warns Ukraine that it will ‘shut off the gas pipe’ on January 1
Friday, November 29, 2019 8:07:00 AM
Naftogaz executive director Yuriy Vitrenko said that the company has already received a warning from Gazprom that, without a new gas transit contract, it will stop supplying gas to Ukraine’s gas transportation system (GTS).
“In a letter which Gazprom sent to Naftogaz it is written in black and white that on January 1 at 10:00 Moscow time (09:00 Kyiv time) Gazprom will have no reason send gas to Ukraine,” Vitrenko told Deutsche Welle in an interview. He explained that, in saying this, Gazprom …
Ukraine willing to accept gas in lieu of Gazprom’s $3 billion debt
Tuesday, November 26, 2019 11:00:00 AM
Naftogaz of Ukraine has responded to Gazprom’s official one-year gas transit proposal, Yuriy Vitrenko, executive director of the Naftogaz group, wrote on Facebook.
He effectively confirmed that Ukraine finds the proposal unacceptable, and pointed out that “Gazprom has every opportunity to sign a new long-term contract for gas transit through Ukraine” according to European regulations. Ukraine is hoping that Russia will reserve transit capacity for 10 years.
Vitrenko remarked that even if it …
Berlin: gas transit through Ukraine should continue after 2019
Wednesday, November 20, 2019 10:21:22 AM
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that Germany believes that the transit of Russian gas through the territory of Ukraine should continue after 2019, reports Interfax-Ukraine.
During a joint briefing with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko in Kyiv, Maas said that "we [Germany] support negotiations on gas transit through Ukraine. We believe that transit should continue after 2019."
Maas stressed that he wants to dispel certain speculations around the "gas" topic that have recently …
Gazprom officially offers Ukraine one-year gas transit contract
Tuesday, November 19, 2019 9:00:37 AM
On Monday, Gazprom sent Naftogaz of Ukraine an official offer to extend the current gas transit contract by one year or to sign a new one-year contract, Interfax reports.
As a precondition, all lawsuits and claims in international arbitration courts must be withdrawn.
This would also include the withdrawal of the Ukrainian Anti-Monopoly Committee’s fine against Gazprom for economic competition violations and of Naftogaz’s motion to have the European Commission investigate the Russian company. …
Russian Gazprom cancels eurobond placement due to Ukraine's lawsuit
Thursday, November 14, 2019 10:00:30 AM
The Kremlin’s gas strategy in the last few years, designed to deprive Ukraine of revenue from gas transit to Europe by replacing the Ukrainian gas transport system with the Nord Stream 2 and Turkish Stream pipelines, appears to be backfiring on Gazprom.
Already faced with a legislative ban on utilizing more than half of Nord Stream 2’s capacity, and having lost one third of Nord Stream 1’s capacity due to a ruling by the European Court of Justice, the Russian gas company has now sustained …
Ukraine’s Naftogaz strikes again at Gazprom
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 12:01:00 PM
Naftogaz of Ukraine has managed to have the accounts of GazAsia Capital S.A., the company that placed Gazprom’s yen-denominated eurobonds, frozen, Interfax reports, citing a memorandum on the Russian company’s new eurobond placements.
GazAsia Capital S.A. is an SPV company, created for a specific purpose. Through it, Gazprom placed 10-year bonds for 65 billion yen (approximately $595 million) in December last year. Now, GazAsia does not have the right to make payments to Gazprom, Lenta.ru …
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Yellowstone Summers
Wyoming Range War
American Confluence
The Oatman Massacre
The Native Ground
Madam Belle
Confederate Daughters
The Chisholm Trail
The Life and Times of the Steamboat Red Cloud
American History 1800-1899
Spies/Intelligence
Gunsmoke and Saddle Leather
Firearms in the Nineteenth-Century American West
Charles G. Worman
Narrated by Micah W. Lee
Book published by University of New Mexico Press
The gun, like the axe and the plow, was an essential tool in the exploration and settlement of the trans-Mississippi West. It provided food for the cooking pot as well as protection against two- or four-legged marauders. As the century progressed, firearms also provided various forms of recreation for both men and women, primarily target and competition shooting.
Of course the employment of the gun, whether for good or evil, depended upon the user. The men and women who lived the nineteenth-century western experience sometimes described in detail the role firearms played in their lives. Such accounts included a trapper in the 1830s, a woman crossing the plains by wagon in the 1850s, a drover ("cowboy" in modern terminology) enduring the dangers of a long cattle drive, a professional hunter engaged in the slaughter of the once seemingly endless herds of bison, or a soldier campaigning against American Indians. Each account adds to our knowledge of firearms and our awareness of the struggle faced by those who were a part of the western experience. Gunsmoke and Saddle Leather describes the gun's impact on the lives of those in the West — men and women, whites and American Indians — using their own words to tell that story wherever possible.
Charles G. Worman spent more than thirty years with the National Museum of the U. S. Air Force, retiring as deputy director. He has written extensively on antique guns, is a fellow of the Company of Military Historians, and has served as a firearms consultant to museums.
“This is not a book to be taken lightly..but one that will literally provide hours of reading pleasure...It is representative of extensive detailed research, great writing and all that a fine book should be. It is a tremendous addition to anyone's library, or living room!”
—The Gun Report
“This massive book with expert text... is a 'must have' for gun collectors, historians of the American West and fans of western stories, movies, and TV shows.”
—Salem Statesman Journal
“Worman is an able and entertaining guide, a scholar with no real agenda aside from the communication of his passion. His book is a skilled and valuable addition to a difficult genre.”
“This is a book not only for gun fans, but also for anyone interested in the Western frontier as it advanced and the people who pushed it west during a violent time.”
—The Norman Transcript
“This book is a compelling look at the history of firearms usage in the trans-Mississippi West, often told in the words of the men and women for whom the firearm was an essential part of daily life.”
—New Mexico Magazine
“This is a most impressive work. It is a huge volume, yet the binding is solid, photographs reproduced clearly, captions clear, type not too small-those elements that sometimes mar large books are here to benefit us all... This is a very worthwhile addition to our NOLA library, whether an avid gun collector or just appreciate the weaponry used by outlaws and lawmen, and virtually all other populations who lived in the west.”
—NOLA: Quarterly of the National Association for Outlaw and Lawmen History, Inc.
“The reader has only to open this large volume at any page to immediately find things of interest...This is a coffee-table book of the best kind because you will want to keep it handy, with a pot of cowboy coffee alongside. And, you will find yourself coming back to it time after time.”
—The Journal of Arizona History
“Anyone who wants to know the role of the gun in the nineteenth-century West can do no better than this massive and important reference work by Charles G. Worman.”
—New Mexico Historical Review
“If you have an interest in antique firearms of the nineteenth century American West, and enjoy first-hand accounts by the very people who used them, then you are in for a real treat with this huge book....a good, enjoyable and entertaining read for just about anyone.”
—The Texas Gun Collector
“Worman's attention to detail, use of a surprisingly large number of primary sources, and encyclopedic coverage of firearms in the West would benefit even the most knowledgeable 'gun guy' in a search for information.”
—Annals of Wyoming: The Wyoming History Journal
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Since bursting onto the world stage with John Lennon in the Plastic Ono Band at the "Give Peace a Chance" tour in Toronto, Alan White has developed a reputation as a musical innovator, both in his role as drummer for Yes, and as a collaborator with the likes of George Harrison and Joe Cocker. As an important contributing songwriter, Alan has helped take Yes to great heights with radio hits such as 'Owner of a Lonely Heart,' 'Changes,' 'Love Will Find a Way,' 'Rhythm of Love,' 'Wondrous Stories,' 'Tempus Fugit,' 'Leave It,' 'The Calling', and 'In the Presence Of.'
His latest musical project is the group White, a vehicle for cutting-edge, progressive modern music performed with a world-class band. Vocalist Robyn Dawn provides soulful, touching vocals; Steve Boyce holds down the bottom end with a dance-inducing groove and soaring vocal support; Karl Haug truly is a master guitarist, equally comfortable on delicate acoustic, driving electric and searing electric laptop slide; Jonathan Sindelman, ties the resulting soundscape together with punchy keyboard work, exhilarating orchestrations, and scorching solos.
Steeped in sonic variety, White evokes an emotional response from its audience, and is certain to build a strong word-of-mouth buzz.
The band's debut album, White, was released in 2006 and is available in both the US and Europe. Download two full songs for free, listen to samples, then buy the album.
Group Photo © Jerry & Lois Photography. Used by Permission.
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Epic Relations Agreement Between Israel and UAE
By: Denise Simon | Founders Code
© Mandel Ngan Image: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (Mandel Ngan / Pool via AFP – Getty Images)
The agreement, to be known as the Abraham Accord.
While the election(s) of Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel has been contentious for years, and there is a convoluted shared leadership role with Benny Gantz, this new agreement launched by President Trump 3 years ago and now completed is a significant achievement for Netanyahu. The relation agreement continues to reshape the Middle East. Israel had signed peace agreements with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.
Arab nations merely by history are not supposed to work with or have relations with the Jewish nation but some Gulf States in the Middle East are moderating including the United Arab Emirates. This relations agreement does put other nations on notice including Qatar, Iran, and Turkey. The UAE has been a great ally of the United States in the war against al Qaeda and Islamic State. There is at least one stipulation however to the agreement and that is any new or additional housing construction in certain areas of the West Bank are again put on hold. Still, Palestinian leaders, apparently taken by surprise, denounced it as a “stab in the back” to their cause.
The UAE, which has never fought Israel and has quietly been improving ties for years. Israel, the UAE and other Gulf countries that view Iran as a regional menace have been cultivating closer ties in recent years. Turkey has had diplomatic relations with Israel for decades, but under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has positioned itself as a champion of the Palestinians. Turkey and the UAE support rival camps in the conflict in Libya.
Israel and the UAE are expected soon to exchange ambassadors and embassies. A signing ceremony is due to be held at the White House.
Delegations from Israel and the United Arab Emirates will meet in the coming weeks to sign agreements regarding investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecommunications, and other issues, the joint statement said.
“Everybody said this would be impossible,” Trump said.
“Now that the ice has been broken, I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates’ lead,” Trump added.
Read the statement here:
President Donald J. Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates spoke today and agreed to the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
This historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders and the courage of the United Arab Emirates and Israel to chart a new path that will unlock the great potential in the region. All three countries face many common challenges and will mutually benefit from today’s historic achievement.
Delegations from Israel and the United Arab Emirates will meet in the coming weeks to sign bilateral agreements regarding investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare, culture, the environment, the establishment of reciprocal embassies, and other areas of mutual benefit. Opening direct ties between two of the Middle East’s most dynamic societies and advanced economies will transform the region by spurring economic growth, enhancing technological innovation, and forging closer people-to-people relations.
As a result of this diplomatic breakthrough and at the request of President Trump with the support of the United Arab Emirates, Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty over areas outlined in the President’s Vision for Peace and focus its efforts now on expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world. The United States, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates are confident that additional diplomatic breakthroughs with other nations are possible, and will work together to achieve this goal.
The United Arab Emirates and Israel will immediately expand and accelerate cooperation regarding the treatment of and the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus. Working together, these efforts will help save Muslim, Jewish, and Christian lives throughout the region.
This normalization of relations and peaceful diplomacy will bring together two of America’s most reliable and capable regional partners. Israel and the United Arab Emirates will join with the United States to launch a Strategic Agenda for the Middle East to expand diplomatic, trade, and security cooperation. Along with the United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates share a similar outlook regarding the threats and opportunities in the region, as well as a shared commitment to promoting stability through diplomatic engagement, increased economic integration, and closer security coordination. Today’s agreement will lead to better lives for the peoples of the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and the region.
The United States and Israel recall with gratitude the appearance of the United Arab Emirates at the White House reception held on January 28, 2020, at which President Trump presented his Vision for Peace, and express their appreciation for United Arab Emirates’ related supportive statements. The parties will continue their efforts in this regard to achieve a just, comprehensive, and enduring resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As set forth in the Vision for Peace, all Muslims who come in peace may visit and pray at the Al Aqsa Mosque, and Jerusalem’s other holy sites should remain open for peaceful worshippers of all faiths.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan express their deep appreciation to President Trump for his dedication to peace in the region and to the pragmatic and unique approach he has taken to achieve it.
Posted in Authors, Denise Simon, History, News, Politics |
4 Tankers Headed to Venezuela, Stopped by US
MIAMI — The Trump administration has seized the cargo of four tankers it was targeting for transporting Iranian fuel to Venezuela, U.S. officials said Thursday, as it steps up its campaign of maximum pressure against the two heavily sanctioned allies.
Last month, federal prosecutors in Washington filed a civil forfeiture complaint alleging that the sale was arranged by a businessman, Mahmoud Madanipour, with ties to Iran‘s Revolutionary Guard Corps, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization. At the time, sanctions experts thought it would be impossible to enforce the U.S. court order in international waters.
A senior U.S. official told The Associated Press that no military force was used in the seizures and that the ships weren’t physically confiscated. Rather, U.S. officials threatened ship owners, insurers, and captains with sanction to force them to hand over their cargo, which now becomes U.S. property, the official said.
Prosecutors alleged the four ships were transporting to Venezuela 1.1 million barrels of gasoline. But the tankers never arrived at the South American country and then went missing. Two of the ships later reappeared near Cape Verde, a second U.S. official said.
Both officials agreed to discuss the sensitive diplomatic and judicial offensive only if granted anonymity.
Iran’s ambassador to Venezuela, Hojad Soltani, pushed back on what would appear a victory for the U.S. sanctions campaign, saying Thursday on Twitter that neither the ships nor their owners were Iranian.
“This is another lie and act of psychological warfare perpetrated by the U.S. propaganda machine,” Soltani said. “The terrorist #Trump cannot compensate for his humiliation and defeat by Iran using false propaganda.”
It is not clear where the vessels — the Bella, Bering, Pandi, and Luna — or their cargoes currently are. But the ship captains weeks ago turned off their tracking devices to hide their locations, said Russ Dallen, a Miami-based partner at brokerage Caracas Capital Markets, who follows ship movements.
The Bering went dark on May 11 in the Mediterranean near Greece and has not turned on its transponder since, while the Bella did the same July 2 in the Philippines, Dallen said. The Luna and Pandi were last spotted when they were together in the Gulf of Oman on July 10 when the U.S. seizure order came. Shipping data shows that the Pandi, which also goes by Andy, is reporting that it has been “broken up,” or sold as scrap, Dallen said.
As commercial traders increasingly shun Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro’s socialist government has been increasingly turning to Iran.
In May, Maduro celebrated the arrival of five Iranian tankers delivering badly needed fuel to alleviate shortages that have led to days-long gas lines even in the capital, Caracas, which is normally spared such hardships.
Despite sitting atop the world’s largest crude reserves, Venezuela doesn’t produce enough domestically refined gasoline and has seen its overall crude production plunged to the lowest in over seven decades amid its economic crisis and fallout from U.S. sanctions.
The Trump administration has been stepping up pressure on ship owners to abide by sanctions against U.S. adversaries like Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea. In May, it issued an advisory urging the global maritime industry to be on the lookout for tactics to evade sanctions like dangerous ship-to-ship transfers and the turning off of mandatory tracking devices — both techniques used in recent oil deliveries to and from both Iran and Venezuela.
One of the companies involved in the shipment to Venezuela, the Avantgarde Group, was previously linked to the Revolutionary Guard and attempts to evade U.S. sanctions, according to prosecutors.
An affiliate of Avantgarde facilitated the purchase for the Revolutionary Guard of the Grace 1, a ship seized last year by Britain on U.S. accusations that it was transporting oil to Syria. Iran denied the charges and the Grace 1 was eventually released. But the seizure nonetheless triggered an international standoff in which Iran retaliated by seizing a British-flagged vessel.
According to the asset forfeiture complaint, an unnamed company in February invoiced Avantgarde for a $14.9 million cash payment for the sale of the gasoline aboard the Pandi. Nonetheless, a text message between Madanipour and an unnamed co-conspirator suggested the voyage had encountered difficulties.
“The shipowner doesn’t want to go because of the American threat, but we want him to go, and we even agreed We will also buy the ship,” according to the message, an excerpt of which was included in the complaint.
Posted in Authors, Denise Simon, Military, News, Politics |
Hat tip to NSA FBI for Cracking Drovorub
The National Security Agency and the FBI are jointly exposing malware that they say Russian military hackers use in cyber-espionage operations.
Hackers working for Russia’s General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate’s 85th Main Special Service Center, military unit 26165, use the malware, which the Russians themselves call “Drovorub,” to target Linux systems, the NSA and FBI said Thursday in a detailed report.
The hackers, also known as APT28 or Fancy Bear, allegedly hacked the Democratic National Committee in 2016 and frequently target defense, government, and aerospace entities. The Russian military agency is also known as the GRU.
While the alert does not include specific details about Drovorub victims, U.S. officials did say they published the alert Thursday to raise awareness about state-sponsored Russian hacking and possible defense sector vulnerabilities. The disclosure comes just months before American voters will conduct a presidential election.
“Information in this Cybersecurity Advisory is being disclosed publicly to assist National Security System owners and the public to counter the capabilities of the GRU, an organization which continues to threaten the United States and U.S. allies as part of its rogue behavior, including their interference in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election,” the NSA and FBI said in the report.
The U.S. intelligence community has assessed that multiple foreign governments may “seek to compromise our election infrastructure.” It was not clear if the Russian hackers were using Drovorub malware in any ongoing interference efforts related to the 2020 presidential elections.
The NSA and FBI urged national security personnel, including the U.S. Department of Defense, to be on the alert for Drovorub attacks.
“The malware represents a threat because Linux systems are used pervasively throughout National Security Systems, Department of Defense, and the Defense Industrial Base,” the statement said. “All stakeholders should take action as appropriate.”
The announcement comes nearly one year after the NSA stood up a new cybersecurity directorate aimed at sharing more adversary threat intelligence with the public, and in recent weeks the NSA has worked to expose a spate of Russian campaigns, including Russian hackers’ efforts to target coronavirus research.
Senior Vice President of Intelligence at CrowdStrike, Adam Meyers, told CyberScoop the release shows these hackers are not easily deterred.
“Most importantly it demonstrates that FANCY BEAR has more tools and capabilities that are still being identified. This actor didn’t pack up and go home, they still have tricks up their sleeve,” Meyers told CyberScoop, adding that the news should raise alarm bells about Linux security. “Another important take away is that Linux is an area that organizations need to keep in mind from a malware perspective, many have not invested in similar security tools for this platform as they have for user platforms.”
Attacks employing Drovorub may be linked with previous Russian military efforts against connected devices, according to the NSA and the FBI. An APT28 attack that Microsoft security researchers identified last year against devices such as an office printer or a VOIP phone, for instance, was linked with an IP address that has also been used to access the Drovorub command and control IP address, the NSA and FBI said.
In such attacks, the hackers appeared interested in exploiting the so-called internet of things devices in order to gain access to broader networks, other insecure accounts, and sensitive data, according to Microsoft.
The joint NSA and FBI release also has the effect of alerting the Russian government that U.S. officials are capable of tracking some of their work. The 780th Military Intelligence Brigade, which currently works with the Pentagon’s offensive cyber arm, Cyber Command, tweeted information out about the malware, and tagged a state-funded media outlet, RT, to flag the news for them.
The Drovorub malware consists of several components, the NSA and the FBI said, including an implant, a kernel module rootlet, a file transfer tool, and an attacker-controlled command and control server.
“When deployed on a victim machine, the Drovorub implant (client) provides the capability for direct communications with actor-controlled C2 infrastructure; file download and upload capabilities; execution of arbitrary commands as ‘root’; and port forwarding of network traffic to other hosts on the network,” the NSA and FBI said.
More detail from ZDNet:
“Technical details released today by the NSA and FBI on APT28’s Drovorub toolset are highly valuable to cyber defenders across the United States.”
To prevent attacks, the agency recommends that US organizations update any Linux system to a version running kernel version 3.7 or later, “in order to take full advantage of kernel signing enforcement,” a security feature that would prevent APT28 hackers from installing Drovorub’s rootkit.
The joint security alert [PDF] contains guidance for running Volatility, probing for file hiding behavior, Snort rules, and Yara rules — all helpful for deploying proper detection measures.
Some interesting details we gathered from the 45-page-long security alert:
The name Drovorub is the name that APT28 uses for the malware, and not one assigned by the NSA or FBI.
The name comes from drovo [дрово], which translates to “firewood”, or “wood” and rub [руб], which translates to “to fell”, or “to chop.”
The FBI and NSA said they were able to link Drovorub to APT28 after the Russian hackers reused servers across different operations. For example, the two agencies claim Drovorub connected to a C&C server that was previously used in the past for APT28 operations targeting IoT devices in the spring of 2019. The IP address had been previously documented by Microsoft.
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History > Presidents >
Born February 9, 1773
Died April 4, 1841
In Office 1841-1841
Vice President John Tyler
Political Party Whig
"Give him a barrel of hard cider and settle a pension of two thousand a year on him, and my word for it," a Democratic newspaper foolishly gibed, "he will sit ... by the side of a 'sea coal' fire, and study moral philosophy. " The Whigs, seizing on this political misstep, in 1840 presented their candidate William Henry Harrison as a simple frontier Indian fighter, living in a log cabin and drinking cider, in sharp contrast to an aristocratic champagne-sipping Van Buren.
Harrison was in fact a scion of the Virginia planter aristocracy. He was born at Berkeley in 1773. He studied classics and history at Hampden-Sydney College, then began the study of medicine in Richmond.
Suddenly, that same year, 1791, Harrison switched interests. He obtained a commission as ensign in the First Infantry of the Regular Army, and headed to the Northwest, where he spent much of his life.
In the campaign against the Indians, Harrison served as aide-de-camp to General "Mad Anthony" Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, which opened most of the Ohio area to settlement. After resigning from the Army in 1798, he became Secretary of the Northwest Territory, was its first delegate to Congress, and helped obtain legislation dividing the Territory into the Northwest and Indiana Territories. In 1801 he became Governor of the Indiana Territory, serving 12 years.
His prime task as governor was to obtain title to Indian lands so settlers could press forward into the wilderness. When the Indians retaliated, Harrison was responsible for defending the settlements.
The threat against settlers became serious in 1809. An eloquent and energetic chieftain, Tecumseh, with his religious brother, the Prophet, began to strengthen an Indian confederation to prevent further encroachment. In 1811 Harrison received permission to attack the confederacy.
While Tecumseh was away seeking more allies, Harrison led about a thousand men toward the Prophet's town. Suddenly, before dawn on November 7, the Indians attacked his camp on Tippecanoe River. After heavy fighting, Harrison repulsed them, but suffered 190 dead and wounded.
The Battle of Tippecanoe, upon which Harrison's fame was to rest, disrupted Tecumseh's confederacy but failed to diminish Indian raids. By the spring of 1812, they were again terrorizing the frontier.
In the War of 1812 Harrison won more military laurels when he was given the command of the Army in the Northwest with the rank of brigadier general. At the Battle of the Thames, north of Lake Erie, on October 5, 1813, he defeated the combined British and Indian forces, and killed Tecumseh. The Indians scattered, never again to offer serious resistance in what was then called the Northwest.
Thereafter Harrison returned to civilian life; the Whigs, in need of a national hero, nominated him for President in 1840. He won by a majority of less than 150,000, but swept the Electoral College, 234 to 60.
When he arrived in Washington in February 1841, Harrison let Daniel Webster edit his Inaugural Address, ornate with classical allusions. Webster obtained some deletions, boasting in a jolly fashion that he had killed "seventeen Roman proconsuls as dead as smelts, every one of them."
Webster had reason to be pleased, for while Harrison was nationalistic in his outlook, he emphasized in his Inaugural that he would be obedient to the will of the people as expressed through Congress.
But before he had been in office a month, he caught a cold that developed into pneumonia. On April 4, 1841, he died--the first President to die in office--and with him died the Whig program.
Martin Van Buren John Tyler
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England Win Dubai Rugby Sevens
Search ASIA Travel Tips .com Send to Friend ASIA Travel Tips.com Latest Travel News Monday, 6 December 2010
After a weekend of dramatic twists and turns, England emerged triumphant to be crowned Cup champions at the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens.
The English side rose from a defeat to Portugal on day one of the competition to take the title in a thrilling final against Samoa. England were first to put points on the board, thanks to a try from Oliver Lyndsay-Hague, who crossed the line again just before the break. Two successfully converted tries from the Samoans, however, saw them going into half time 14-12 up.
Samoa then managed to score just once in the second half before England surged ahead to claim a 29-21 win - their first in Dubai since 2005.
"We dug ourselves out of a great big hole and played really well. I'm delighted," said England coach Ben Ryan afterwards. "For whatever reason - whether the penny dropped or having their backs against the wall, suddenly they started to listen and understand what we were trying to do ... I didn't think we would win anything after the Portugal game but I got all the guys together last night and just said we need to make the most of our chances and I felt really confident and relaxed today and just tried to enjoy it."
Samoan coach Stephen Betham, added, "Of course it is disappointing to lose in the final but I think England deserved it in the end.. I'm very happy with how our boys lifted their game. It's great progress for us."
England had earlier booked their spot in the final after a 19-14 victory over defending champions New Zealand in the semi-final, while Samoa got the better of Fiji, winning 24-21 in another closely contested semi.
Earlier in the day, Commonwealth Games silver medallists Australia and 2008 Dubai champions South Africa were knocked out of Cup contention at the quarterfinal stage. Both lost out in the final minutes - South Africa to Fiji by 21-19 and Australia to England 24-21.
South Africa went on to win the Plate competition, defeating Australia 19-12 in the final, while Argentina won the Bowl with an emphatic 21-0 victory over Zimbabwe and Kenya the Shield after defeating France 26-0.
See: HD Videos from the 2010 Hong Kong Rugby Sevens
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Wichita County Sheriff's Office
official site of the WCSO
Crime Briefs
Records / ID Division
Timeclock Employee
Daily Crime Brief, December 29, 2020
On Monday December 28, at approximately 7:38 pm, Sergeant Cole McGarry and Deputy Matthew Ferguson responded to the 900 block of Schmoker Road in reference to a Family Disturbance. Upon arrival, a 60-year-old male and a 59-year-old female were placed under arrest. They were transported to the Wichita County Detention Center. The male was charged with Assault/Family Violence Impeding Breathing. The female was charged with Aggravated Assault/Family Violence.
On Monday December 28, at approximately 7:52 pm, Deputy Hunter McCain made a traffic stop in the 2700 block of F.M. 369. The 48-year-old female driver was placed under arrest. She was transported to the Wichita County Detention Center and was charged Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1 under one gram. She was also issued a citation for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Tuesday December 29, at approximately 1:12 am, Lieutenant Greg Wilson made a traffic stop in the 7400 block of Seymour Hwy. The 32-year-old male driver was placed under arrest. He was transported to the Wichita County Detention Center and was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 2nd Offense.
THE WICHITA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS NOW HIRING:
The Wichita County Sheriff’s Office is now hiring Detention Officers. If you are interested in a fun and rewarding career, you can pick up an application at the Sheriff’s Office located at 2815 Central Frwy. East or contact the Training Unit at 940-766-8100, ext. 4013.
Disclaimer: Wichita County Sheriff Deputies respond to multiple events every day. This information is just a sampling. Information is subject to change as case investigation proceeds. Individuals arrested on the basis of probable cause have not been charged. All suspects charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
By Brien Conner
Crime Brief
On Wednesday December 23, at approximately 9:01 pm, Deputy Hunter Deason responded to the intersection of U.S. 82 and Old State Road in reference to a grass fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
On Thursday December 24, at approximately 10:04 pm Deputy Darrell Waddleton and Deputy Johnny Routon made a traffic stop at the intersection of East Scott and North Rosewood. A 46-year-old female passenger was placed under arrest. She was transported to the Wichita County Detention Center and was charged with two outstanding warrant for Theft under $2,500.00 and Possession of Marijuana. She was also issued a citation for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Friday December 25, at approximately 1:34 am, Corporal Jason Vandygriff and Deputy Phillip Morris responded to the 8600 block of Seymour Hwy. in reference to a Disturbance. Upon arrival, the Reporting Person reported that she had gotten into a verbal and physical altercation with her boyfriend earlier on this date.
On Saturday December 26, at approximately 11:48 pm, Deputy Hunter Deason checked on an unoccupied vehicle that was parked in the traffic lane at the intersection of North Scott and Lincoln. The vehicle was impounded.
On Saturday December 26, at approximately 9:49 pm, Deputy Darrell Waddleton and Deputy Johnny Routon made a traffic stop in the 2900 block of Jacksboro Hwy. A 28-year-old male passenger was issued a citation for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Saturday December 26, at approximately 1:15 pm, Wichita County Deputies were assisting the Wichita Falls Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers who were looking for a subject that had fled on foot from officers in the area of Hines Blvd. The suspect was seen in the passenger seat of a vehicle that was leaving the 1900 block of Windthorst Road. The 63-year-old male driver of the vehicle returned a short time later and was placed under arrest. He was transported to the Wichita County Detention Center and was charged with Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution.
On Sunday December 27, at approximately 12:54 am, Deputy Jorge Ramirez made a traffic stop at the intersection of Pleasant View and Sheppard Access Road. The 26-year-old male driver was issued a citation for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
ollidaHTHE WICHITA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS NOW HIRING:
On Wednesday December 16, at approximately 11:31 pm, Deputy Jorge Ramirez made a traffic stop at the intersection of Iowa Park Road and Central Frwy. The vehicle was impounded after the 52-year-old male driver was found not to have a valid drivers license, proof of financial responsibility and the vehicle displayed expired registration.
On Thursday December 17, at approximately 7:13 pm, Deputy Jorge Ramirez responded to the 1200 block of Harris Road in reference to a Check Welfare. Upon arrival, the Reporting Person reported that a 17-year-old female had made threats to harm herself, however she was not at the residence at this time. The female was located in the 900 block of Kramer by Burkburnett Police. She was transported to the North Texas State Hospital for a medical evaluation.
On Thursday December 17, at approximately 2:16 pm, Corporal Jeff Penney made contact with a subject at the intersection of U.S. 287 and F.M. 2384. The subject advised a vehicle he had been towing had become detached from his RV. The towed vehicle was located on U.S. 287 between Midway Church Road and F.M. 2384. The subject had left the scene prior to the vehicle being located and was later found in the 2800 block o9f W.W. Access Road. The 33-year-old male was issued a citation for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Thursday December 17, at approximately 10:00 am, Deputy Roy Biter and Deputy Matthew Ferguson made a traffic stop in the 2500 block of Seymour Hwy. The 32-year-old male driver was placed under arrest. He was transported to the Wichita County Detention Center and was charged with two outstanding warrants for Off Bond-Possession of a Controlled Substance PG1 over four grams under two hundred grams and Off Bond-Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance PG 1 over four grams under two hundred grams.
On Friday December 18, at approximately 7:45 am, Deputy Christopher Bashford responded to the 400 block of Cashion Road in reference to a Theft. Upon arrival, the Reporting Person reported that an unknown person(s) entered the property and stole a Generac 5500 watt generator from the bed of his pickup.
On Friday December 18, at approximately 3:59 am, Corporal Jason Vandygriff and Deputy Phillip Morris responded to the 2100 block of F.M. 367 East in reference to subject not breathing. Upon arrival a 36-year-old female was pronounced decease. The incident is under investigation by the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division.
On Friday December 18, at approximately 12:14 am, Deputy Jorge Ramirez made a traffic stop at the intersection of Kemp and Ave. O. The 37-year-old male driver was placed under arrest. He was transported to the Wichita County Detention Center and was charged with Driving While Intoxicated.
On Saturday December 19, at approximately 12:47 am, Corporal Jason Vandygriff and Deputy Phillip Morris made a traffic stop at the intersection of Central Frwy. Access Road and Cimarron Trail. The 47-year-old male driver was placed under arrest. He was transported to the Wichita County Detention Center and was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1.
THE WICHITA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS NOW HIRING
David Duke, Sheriff
On Thursday December 10, at approximately 4:20 am, Deputy Darrell Waddleton responded to the 8300 block of S.H. 258 in reference to a Burglary of a Building and Criminal Mischief. Upon arrival, the Reporting Person reported that a subject entered two vehicles parked on the property and stole items from them as well as damaged the interior. The subject also entered a storage building and stole several items. The suspect vehicle was stopped in the 7900 block of Headquarters Road. The 41-year-old female driver, a 17-year-old male passenger and a juvenile male passenger were placed under arrest. The female and 1-year-old male were transported to the Wichita County Detention Center. The juvenile male was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center. The female was charged with Burglary of a Building, Burglary of a Motor Vehicle, Criminal Mischief over $2,500 under $30,000.00, Possession of a Dangerous Drug and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The 17-year-old male was charged with Burglary of a Building, Burglary of a Motor Vehicle and Criminal Mischief over $2,500 under $30,000.00. The Juvenile male was charged with Burglary of a Building, Burglary of a Motor Vehicle and Criminal Mischief over $2,500 under $30,000.00.
On Saturday December 12, at approximately 3:35 pm, Sergeant Jeff Lee responded to the 3100 block of Midwestern Pkwy, in reference to a Theft. Upon arrival, an 18-year-old male was issued a citation for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and was barred from the property.
On Saturday December 12, at approximately 2:35 pm, Deputy Matthew Schenck, Deputy Brett Brasher and Deputy Johnny Routon responded to the 1300 block of Holliday to serve an arrest Warrant. Upon arrival, a 27-year-old male was placed under arrest. He was transported to the Wichita County Detention Center and was charged with outstanding warrants for two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1 over one gram, Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information and two counts of Theft of Property over $100.00 under $750.00.
On Saturday December 12, at approximately 12:25 am, Deputy Jorge Ramirez made a traffic stop at the intersection of Kemp and Ave. Q. The 51-year-old male driver was issued a citation for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
The Wichita County Sheriff’s Office is now hiring Detention Officers. If you are interested in a fun and rewarding career, you can pick up an application at the Sheriff’s Office located at the Wichita County Courthouse, 900 7th Street or contact the Training Unit at 940-766-8100, ext. 4013.
On Wednesday December 9, at approximately 2:22 pm, Deputy J.T. Mitchell checked on an unoccupied vehicle parked in the roadway in the 2900 block of Central Frwy. East. The vehicle was impounded after the owner could not be contacted.
On Thursday December 10, at approximately 4:20 am, Deputy Darrell Waddleton responded to the 8300 block of S.H. 258 in reference to a Burglary of a Building and Criminal Mischief. Upon arrival, the Reporting Person reported that a subject entered two vehicles parked on the property and stole items from them as well as damaged the interior. The subject also entered a storage building and stole several itmes.
Daily Crime Brief, December 8, 2020
On Sunday December 6, at approximately 7:03 am, Wichita County Deputies responded to the 4100 block of Business 287 J. in reference to a Burglary of a Building in Progress. Upon arrival, the Reporting Person reported hearing persons walking around in the attic of the business upon opening up. Upon Deputies arrival, it was revealed that the metal roof had been pried open.
On Tuesday December 8, at approximately 10:11 pm, Deputy Sean Bigham made a traffic stop at the intersection of Windthorst and Hatton. The 20-year-old male driver was issued a citation for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Thursday December 3, at approximately 10:10 am, Corporal Jeffrey Penney observed a vehicle blocking the entrance to Burnett Park. The vehicle was impounded after the registered owner could not be located.
On Thursday December 3, at approximately 11:48 pm, Corporal Jason Vandygriff and Deputy Phillip Morris made a traffic stop at the intersection of Central Freeway and Maurine. The 21-year-old female driver was placed under arrest. She was transported to the Wichita County Detention Center and was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 2 over four grams under 400 grams and Possession of Marijuana under two ounces.
On Thursday December 3, at approximately 11:23 pm, Deputy Daniel Jacobson made a traffic stop at the intersection of U.S. 287 and Bell Road. The 21-year-old female driver was issued a citation for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Friday December 4, at approximately 11:58 pm, Corporal Jason Vandygriff and Deputy Phillip Morris made a traffic stop at the intersection of Central Freeway and North 8th. The 26-year old male driver was placed under arrest. He was transported to the Wichita County Detention Center and was charged with Driving While Intoxicated.
On Saturday December 5, at approximately 12:10 pm, Deputy J.T. Mitchell and Deputy Josh McGuinn responded to the intersection of North Shallowfield and Daniels Road in reference to a Theft. Upon arrival, the Reporting Person reported that an unknown person(s) entered the property and stole a 3211 Salt Water Pump that was on a vehicle parked on the property.
Daily Crime Brief, January 8, 2021
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Supermarine Stranraer
Maritime Reconnaissance
R. J. Mitchell
1957 (civilian use)
Out of production, out of service
Primary users
Developed from
Supermarine Scapa
The Supermarine Stranraer was a flying boat designed and built by the British Supermarine Aviation Works company. It was developed during the 1930s on behalf of its principle operator, the Royal Air Force (RAF).
Derived from the Supermarine Scapa, the aircraft's design was heavily shaped by Specification R.24/31. While initially rejected by the Air Ministry, Supermarine persisted with development as a private venture under the designation Southampton V. During 1933, a contract was placed for a single prototype; it was around this time that the type received the name Stranraer. First flown on 24 July 1934, the Stranraer entered frontline service with the RAF during 1937; most examples of the type were in service by the outbreak of the Second World War.
The Stranraer's typically undertook anti-submarine and convoy escort patrols during the early years of the conflict. During March 1941, it was withdrawn from frontline service, but continued to be operated in a training capacity up until October 1942. In addition to the British-built aeroplanes, the Canadian Vickers company in Montreal, Quebec, also manufactured 40 Stranraers under licence for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). These Canadian Stranraers served in anti-submarine and coastal defence capacities on both Canada's Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and were in regular service until 1946. Following their withdrawal from military service, many ex-RCAF Stranraers were sold off to fledgeling regional airlines, with whom they served in various commercial passenger and freighter operations into the 1950s.
1 Design and development
1.2 Prototypes and production
2.1 Military use
2.2 Civilian use
3 Operators
3.2 Civilian
4 Specifications (Stranraer)
5 Surviving aircraft
The Stranraer was directly derived from the Supermarine Scapa.[1] Development commenced during the early 1930s with Supermarine's design team, headed by the aeronautical engineer R. J. Mitchell. The project was pursued in a response to the Air Ministry's issuing of Specification R.24/31, which called for a general purpose coastal reconnaissance flying boat for the Royal Air Force (RAF).[1] This specification listed various requirements, including a payload capacity 1,000lb greater than that of the Scapa and the ability to maintain level flight on a only single engine, both of which were not within the capabilities of the Scapa without enlargement. Thus, Supermarine submitted its initial response to the specification as a larger model of the Scapa; the company competed against a rival bid from Saunders-Roe.[1]
The Air Ministry favoured Saunders-Roe's proposal and rejected Supermarine's design).[1] However, Supermarine opted to continue development work on the design as a private venture, which was first known as the Southampton V. As it progressed, the design deviated to a greater extent from the Scapa, opting for an alternative thin-wing arrangement around a two-bay structure.[1] The wing's span, area, and weight were 12 percent greater; the elevator was also 7 percent larger, while the rudders featured trim tabs capable of holding the aircraft straight under single-engine flight. While some consideration towards adopting the Rolls-Royce Kestrel was made, the moderately supercharged Bristol Pegasus IIIM radial engine was selected instead.[2]
While the airframe was broadly similar to the Scapa, its was cleaner in terms of its aerodynamics.[3] Much of the airframe was composed of alclad, while detailed fittings were fabricated from stainless steel; metallic objects were anodised as an anti-corrosion measure. While the hull had a sheet metal covering, the wings were covered with fabric.[3] For additional structural strength over the preceding Scapa, a pair of interplane struts were introduced.[4] The hull was considerably larger, its cross-section being increased by 18 percent, yet still achieving virtually identical hydrodynamic performance. The forward gun was redesigned to be retractable, the middle gunner's position was lowered, and a tail gunner position was added just aft of the control surfaces, completed with a hooded windshield.[4] In general, the equipment of which the aircraft was to be fitted with were the result of lessons learnt from operations of the earlier Supermarine Southampton.[3]
Prototypes and production
During 1933, a contract was placed for a single prototype powered by two 820 horsepower (610 kW) Bristol Pegasus IIIM engines and the type became known as the Stranraer. On 27 July 1934, the first prototype, K3973, conducted its maiden flight, piloted by Joseph Summers.[3] Over the following months, a relatively intense initial flight test programme was conducted. On 24 October 1934, the Stranraer prototype was delivered to the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment (MAEE) at RAF Felixstowe for official trials.[5] On 29 August 1935, quickly after the completion of proving flights, an initial order was placed for 17 aircraft (serial numbers K7287 to K7303) was placed by the Air Ministry to fulfil Specification 17/35.[6]
The production model of the Stranraer different in a few aspects from the first prototype, chiefly of which being the installation of the more powerful 920 horsepower (690 kW) Pegasus X engine.[6] The first production standard aircraft made its first flight during December 1936, and entering service operation with the RAF on 16 April 1937. An additional order for six aircraft (K9676 to K9681) was placed in May 1936, but subsequently cancelled. The final Stranraer was delivered on 3 April 1939. In addition, a total of 40 Stranraers were manufactured under licence in Canada by Canadian Vickers Limited; Supermarine and Canadian Vickers being subsidiaries of Vickers-Armstrongs.
Operational history
Military use
RCAF Stranraer in wartime camouflage
In RAF service, only 17 Stranraers were operated between 1937 and 1942; the type serving primarily by No. 228, No, 209 and No. 240 Squadrons along with limited numbers at the No. 4 OTU.[6] Generally, the aircraft was not well-received, with numerous pilots considering its performance being typically marginal.[7] Others noted that it had superior seaworthiness to several aircraft in common use, such as the Consolidated PBY Catalina.[8] As early as 1938, some Stranraer squadrons had begun to reequip themselves with other aircraft, such as the Short Sunderland and Short Singapore flying boats.[6]
Early on in its career, the Stranraer performed several challenging long distance flight; one such flight, covering 4,000 miles, was performed during a single exercise during September 1938.[6] During September 1939, immediately following the outbreak of the Second World War, patrolling Stranraers begun to intercept enemy shipping between Scotland and Norway. Aircraft assigned to such duties were typically armed with bombs underneath one wing and a single overload fuel tank underneath the other; use of the Stranraer for such patrols came to an end on 17 March 1941.[6] The final Stranraer flight in RAF service was conducted by K7303 at Felixstowe on 30 October 1942.[6]
Having acquired a less than favourable reception by flight and ground crews alike, the Stranraer gained a large number of derisive nicknames during its service life. It was sometimes referred to as a "whistling shithouse" because the toilet opened out directly to the air and when the seat was lifted, the airflow caused the toilet to whistle. The Stranraer also acquired "Flying Meccano Set", "The Marpole Bridge", "Seymour Seine Net", "Strainer", "Flying Centre Section of the Lion's Gate Bridge", as well as a more genteel variant of its usual nickname, "Whistling Birdcage".[9]
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Stranraers were exact equivalents of their RAF counterparts. In Canadian service, they were usually employed in coastal patrol against submarine threats in a similar role to the British Stranraers. Aviation author Dirk Septer stated that no enemy action was ever recorded by the RCAF's Stranraers.[10] However, the crew of a 5 Squadron Stranraer, flown by Flight Lieutenant Leonard Birchall, were responsible for the capture of an Italian merchant ship, the Capo Nola, in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, hours after Canada issued its declaration of war on Italy on 10 June 1940.[11][Note 1]
The Canadian Vickers-built Stranraers served with the RCAF throughout the war, the last example being withdrawn on 20 January 1946.[12]
Civilian use
Thirteen examples were sold through Crown Assets (Canadian government) and passed into civilian use following the end of the conflict; several served with Queen Charlotte Airlines (QCA) in British Columbia and operated until 1958.[13] A re-engine project by the airline substituted 1,200 horsepower (890 kW) Wright GR-1820-G202GA engines in place of the original Pegasus units.[8]
Queen Charlotte Airlines became at one point the third largest airline in Canada; however, it was popularly known as the Queer Collection of Aircraft. With limited money, it flew an eclectic mixture of types that were often the cast-offs of other operators. However, in QCA use, the Stranraer gained a more suitable reputation and was "well liked" by its crews.[14] A total of eight surplus Stranraers were also sold to Aero Transport Ltd. of Tampa, Florida.[15]
Supermarine Stranraer 912 of the RCAF at RCAF Station Jericho Beach
Royal Canadian Air Force – Operational Squadrons of the Home War Establishment (HWE) (Based in Canada)
Eastern Air Command
No. 5 Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Nov 38 – Sep 41)[16]
No. 117 Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Sep 41 – Oct 41)[17]
Western Air Command
No. 4 Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Jul 39 – Sep 43)[18]
No. 6 Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Nov 41 – May 43)[19]
No. 7 Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Feb 43 – Mar 44)[20]
No. 9 Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Dec 41 – Apr 43)[21]
No. 13 (OT) Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Oct 41 – Nov 42)[22]
No. 120 Squadron RCAF Used Supermarine Stranraer (Nov 41 – Oct 43)[23]
(OT)-Operational Training;
No. 201 Squadron RAF
No. 240 Squadron RAF[24]
Aero Transport Ltd. (United States)
Pacific Western Airlines (Canada)
Queen Charlotte Airlines (Canada)
Wardair (Canada)
Specifications (Stranraer)
Data from Supermarine aircraft since 1914,[25] Database: Supermarine Stranraer [26]
Crew: 6-7
Wing area: 1,457 sq ft (135.4 m2)
Empty weight: 11,250 lb (5,103 kg)
Gross weight: 19,000 lb (8,618 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Bristol Pegasus X nine-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 920 hp (690 kW) each
Propellers: 3-bladed variable-pitch metal propellers
Maximum speed: 165 mph (266 km/h, 143 kn) at 6,000 ft (1,800 m)
Alighting speed: 58.5 mph (50.8 kn; 94.1 km/h)
Cruise speed: 105 mph (169 km/h, 91 kn)
Range: 1,000 mi (1,600 km, 870 nmi) at 105 mph (91 kn; 169 km/h) and 5,000 ft (1,500 m)
Service ceiling: 18,500 ft (5,600 m)
Rate of climb: 1,350 ft/min (6.9 m/s)
Time to altitude: 10,000 ft (3,000 m) in 10 minutes
Wing loading: 13 lb/sq ft (63 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.097 hp/lb (0.159 kW/kg)
Guns: Three × 0.303 in (7.70 mm) Lewis guns
Bombs: 1,000 lb (454 kg) of bombs or depth chargeson external racks under the mainplanes
Eight × 20 lb (9 kg) bombs housed in internal bays in the lower mainplanes
Surviving aircraft
The RAF Museum's Stranraer, 2015
A single intact Stranraer, 920/CF-BXO, survives in the collection of the Royal Air Force Museum London.[27] This aircraft was built in 1940, one of 40 built by Canadian Vickers. In service with the Royal Canadian Air Force, it flew with several squadrons, on anti-submarine patrols, as a training aircraft and carrying passengers. In 1944, it was disposed of. In civil service, it was flown by Canadian Pacific Airlines until 1947, then Queen Charlotte Airlines, who replaced its original British engines with American Wright R-1820 engines. Queen Charlotte Airlines flew it on passenger flights until 1952, flying from Vancouver along the Pacific coast of British Columbia. It flew with several other private owners until damaged by a ship in 1966. In 1970, it was bought by the RAF Museum and transported to the UK.[28]
Parts of a second Stranraer, 915/CF-BYJ, are owned by the Shearwater Aviation Museum, Halifax, Canada. This aircraft also operated with Queen Charlotte Airlines until it crashed on Christmas Eve 1949 at Belize Inlet, British Columbia. Most of the aircraft was recovered in the 1980s, with the exception of the forward fuselage and cockpit.[28]
Short Knuckleduster
Aviation portal
Related development
Supermarine Southampton
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Saro London
List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force
List of aircraft of World War II
^ Flight Lieutenant Birchall had been tasked with locating any Italian vessels still in Canadian waters as war became imminent. On 10 June, he located the Capo Nola, which had recently departed from Quebec. Birchall had been informed of the declaration of war by radio and so made a low pass over the freighter, as if making an attack. This panicked the captain into running his vessel aground against a sandbank. Birchall then touched down nearby and waited until Royal Canadian Navy vessels reached the scene. The Capo Nola's crew were the first Italian prisoners taken by the Allies during the war.
^ a b c d e Andrews and Morgan 1981, p. 134.
^ Andrews and Morgan 1981, pp. 134-135.
^ a b c d Andrews and Morgan 1981, p. 136.
^ a b Andrews and Morgan 1981, p. 135.
^ a b c d e f g Andrews and Morgan 1981, p. 137.
^ Morgan 2001, pp. 58–59.
^ Septer 2001, p. 60.
^ Septer 2001, pp. 60–61.
^ Pigott 2003, p. 61.
^ Kostenuk and Griffin, 1977, pp. 25–26
^ Kostenuk and Griffin, 1977, p. 50
^ Bowyer 1991, p. 161.
^ Andrews and Morgan 1981, pp. 128–140.
^ Morgan 2001, pp. 54-56.
^ London 2003, p. 176.
^ a b Simpson, Andrew (2007). "Individual History: Supermarine Stranraer 920/CF-BX)" (PDF). Royal Air Force Museum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914. London: Putnam, 1981. ISBN 0-370-10018-2.
Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Supermarine Aircraft Since 1914. London: Putnam Books Ltd., 2nd revised edition 2003. ISBN 0-85177-800-3.
Bowyer, Michael J.F. Aircraft for the Few: The RAF's Fighters and Bombers in 1940. Sparkford, Nr. Yeovil, Somerset, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1991. ISBN 1-85260-040-3.
Kightly, James and Roger Wallsgrove. Supermarine Walrus & Stranraer. Sandomierz, Poland/Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications, 2004. ISBN 83-917178-9-5.
Kostenuk, S. and J. Griffin. RCAF Squadron Histories and Aircraft: 1924–1968. Toronto: Samuel Stevens, Hakkert & Company, 1977. ISBN 0-88866-577-6.
London, Peter. British Flying Boats. Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: Sutton Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0-7509-2695-3.
Morgan, Eric. "Database: Supermarine Stranraer." Aeroplane, Volume 29, no. 4, issue 235, April 2001.
Pigott, Peter (2003). Taming the Skies: A Celebration of Canadian Flight. Dundurn. ISBN 1550024698.
Septer, Dirk. "Canada's Stranraers." Aeroplane, Volume 29, no. 4, issue 235, April 2001.
Shelton, John (2008). Schneider Trophy to Spitfire - The Design Career of R.J. Mitchell (Hardback). Sparkford: Hayes Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84425-530-6.
Taylor, John W.R. "Supermarine Stranraer." Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.
Thetford, Owen. British Naval Aircraft Since 1912, Fourth Edition. London: Putnam, 1978. ISBN 0-370-30021-1.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Supermarine Stranraer.
Royal Air Force Museum: Supermarine Stranraer
Canada's Air Force: Supermarine Stranraer
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Larry Fitzgerald catches a pass at the 2009 Pro Bowl
Football, gridiron
First played
November 6, 1869, Princeton vs. Rutgers
Full-contact
Both teams can substitute players freely between downs
Team sport, ball game
Pads (shoulder and knee)
Football field (also known as the field or the gridiron)
Worldwide (most prominent in North America, Europe, and Japan)
No; demonstrated at the 1932 Summer Olympics[1]
American football (also known as football or gridiron) is a sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with control of the football (an oval-shaped ball), attempts to advance down the field by running with or passing the ball, while the team without control of the ball, the defense, aims to stop their advance and take control of the ball for themselves. The offense must advance at least ten yards in four downs, or plays, or else they turn over the football to the opposing team; if they succeed, they are given a new set of four downs. Points can be scored by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone for a touchdown, kicking the ball through the opponent's goalposts for a field goal, or tackling the ballcarrier in his own end zone for a safety. The team with the most points at the end of a game wins.
American football evolved in the United States, originating from the sport of rugby football. The first game of American football was played on November 6, 1869, between two college teams, Rutgers and Princeton, under rules resembling a mix of rugby and soccer. A set of rule changes drawn up from 1880 onward by Walter Camp, the "Father of American Football," established the snap, eleven-player teams, and the concept of downs; later rule changes legalized the forward pass, created the neutral zone, and specified the size and shape of the football.
American football as a whole is the most popular sport in the United States; professional football and college football are the most popular forms of the game, with the other major levels being high school and youth football. As of 2012, nearly 1.1 million high school athletes and 70,000 college athletes play the sport in the United States annually. The National Football League, the most popular American football league, has the highest average attendance of any sports league in the world; its championship game, the Super Bowl, ranks among the most-watched club sporting events in the world, and the league has an annual revenue of around USD $10 billion.
Etymology and names 1
Early history 2.1
Evolution of the game 2.2
The professional era 2.3
Teams and positions 3
Offensive unit 3.1
Defensive unit 3.2
Special teams unit 3.3
Rules 4
Scoring 4.1
Field and equipment 4.2
Duration and time stoppages 4.3
Advancing the ball and downs 4.4
Kicking 4.5
Officials and fouls 4.6
Leagues and tournaments 6
Minor professional leagues 6.1
International play 6.2
Popularity and cultural impact 7
Variations and related sports 8
Footnotes 10
Etymology and names
In the United States, American football is referred to as "football."[2] The term "football" was officially established in the rulebook for the 1876 college football season, when the sport first shifted from soccer-style rules to rugby-style rules; although it could easily have been called "rugby" at this point, Harvard, one of the primary proponents of the rugby-style game, compromised and did not request the name of the sport be changed to "rugby".[3] In countries where other codes of football are popular, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the terms "gridiron" or "American football" are favored.[4][5]
American football evolved from the sport of rugby football.[6] Rugby, like American football, is a sport where two competing teams vie for control of a ball, which can be kicked through a set of goalposts or run into the opponent's goal area to score points.[7]
The first American football game was played on November 6, 1869 between Rutgers and Princeton. The game was played between two teams of 25 players each, used a round ball, and resembled a combination of rugby and soccer in its rules; the ball could not be picked up or carried, but it could be kicked or batted with the feet, hands, head or sides, with the ultimate goal of advancing it into the opponent's goal. Rutgers won the game 6-4.[8][9] Collegiate play continued for several years in which matches were played using the rules of the host school. Representatives of Yale, Columbia, Princeton and Rutgers met on October 19, 1873 to create a standard set of rules for all schools to adhere to. Teams were set at 20 players each, and fields of 400 by 250 feet were specified. Harvard abstained from the conference, as they favored a rugby-style game that allowed running with the ball.[9]
An 1875 Harvard-Yale game played under rugby-style rules was observed by two impressed Princeton athletes. These players introduced the sport to Princeton, a feat the Professional Football Researchers Association compared to "selling refrigerators to Eskimos."[9] Princeton, Harvard, Yale and Columbia then agreed to intercollegiate play using a form of rugby union rules with a modified scoring system.[10] These schools formed the Intercollegiate Football Association, although Yale did not join until 1879. Yale player Walter Camp, now regarded as the "Father of American Football,"[10][11] secured rule changes in 1880 that reduced the size of each team from 15 to 11 players and instituted the snap to replace the chaotic and inconsistent scrum.[10]
Evolution of the game
A photograph of Walter Camp, the "Father of American Football", taken from 1878 when Camp was captain of Yale's football team
The introduction of the snap resulted in unexpected consequences. Prior to the snap, the strategy had been to punt if a scrum resulted in bad field position. However, a group of Princeton players realized that, as the snap was uncontested, they now could hold the ball indefinitely to prevent their opponent from scoring. In 1881, both teams in a game between Yale-Princeton used this strategy to maintain their undefeated records. Each team held the ball, gaining no ground, for an entire half, resulting in a 0-0 tie. This "block game" proved extremely unpopular with the spectators and fans of both teams.[10]
A rule change was necessary to prevent this strategy from taking hold, and a reversion to the scrum was considered. However, Camp successfully proposed a rule in 1882 that limited each team to three downs, or tackles, to advance the ball five yards. Failure to advance the ball the required distance within those three downs would result in control of the ball being forfeited to the other team. This change effectively made American football a separate sport from rugby, and the resulting five-yard lines added to the field to measure distances made it resemble a gridiron in appearance. Other major rule changes included a reduction of the field size to 110 yards long by 53.33 yards wide, and the adoption of a scoring system that awarded four points for a touchdown, two for a safety and a goal following a touchdown, and five for a goal from field; additionally, tackling below the waist was legalized.[10]
Despite these new rules, football remained a violent sport. Dangerous mass-formations like the flying wedge resulted in serious injuries or even death.[12] A 1905 peak of 19 fatalities nationwide resulted in a threat by President Theodore Roosevelt to abolish the game unless major changes were made.[13] In response, sixty-two colleges and universities met in New York City to discuss rule changes on December 28, 1905, and these proceedings resulted in the formation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States, later named the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).[14]
The legal forward pass was introduced in 1906 after its suggestion by John Heisman, although its impact was initially limited due to the restrictions placed on its use. Other rule changes introduced that year included the reduction of the time of play from 70 to 60 minutes and the increase of the distance required for a first down from five to 10 yards. To reduce infighting and dirty play between teams, the neutral zone was created along the width of the football.[15] Scoring was also adjusted: field goals were lowered to three points in 1909[11] and touchdowns were raised to six points in 1912.[16] The field was also reduced to 100 yards long, but two 10-yard-long end zones were created, and teams were given four downs instead of three to advance the ball 10 yards.[17] The roughing-the-passer penalty was implemented in 1914, and eligible players were first allowed to catch the ball anywhere on the field in 1918.[18]
The professional era
William "Pudge" Heffelfinger, widely regarded as the first professional football player
The first instance of professional play in American football was on November 12, 1892, when William "Pudge" Heffelfinger was paid $500 to play a game for the Allegheny Athletic Association in a match against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. This is the first recorded instance of a player being paid to participate in a game of American football, although many athletic clubs in the 1880s offered to help players attain employment, gave out trophies or watches that players would pawn for money, or paid double in expense money. Despite these extra benefits, the game had a strict sense of amateurism at the time, and direct payment to players was frowned upon, if not outright illegal.[19]
Over time, professional play became increasingly common, and with it came rising salaries and unpredictable player movement, as well as the illegal payment of college players who were still in school. The National Football League (NFL), a group of professional teams that was originally established in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, aimed to solve these problems. This new league's stated goals included an end to bidding wars over players, prevention of the use of college players, and abolition of the practice of paying players to leave another team.[20] By 1922, the NFL had established itself as the premier professional football league.[21]
The dominant form of football at the time was played at the collegiate level, but the upstart NFL received a boost to its legitimacy in 1925 when an NFL team, the Pottsville Maroons, defeated a team of Notre Dame all-stars in an exhibition game.[22] A greater emphasis on the passing game helped professional football to further distinguish itself from the college game during the late 1930s.[20] Football in general became increasingly popular following the 1958 NFL Championship game, a match between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants that is still referred to as the "Greatest Game Ever Played". The game, a 23–17 overtime victory by the Colts, was seen by millions of television viewers and had a major impact on the popularity of the sport. This helped football to become the most popular sport in the United States by the mid-1960s.[23]
A rival, the American Football League (AFL), arose in 1960 and challenged the NFL's dominance. The AFL began in relative obscurity but survived for several years due to a television contract with the ABC network. Competition for players heated up in 1965, when the AFL New York Jets signed rookie Joe Namath to a then-record US $437,000 contract. A five-year, $40 million NBC television contract followed, which helped to sustain the young league. The bidding war for players ended in 1966, when the two leagues agreed on a merger that would take full effect in 1970. This agreement provided for a common draft that would take place each year, and it instituted an annual championship game to be played between the champions of each league. That game began play at the end of the 1966 season and came to be known as the Super Bowl.[24]
College football maintained a tradition of postseason bowl games. Each bowl game would be associated with a particular conference, and earning a spot in a bowl game was the reward for winning a conference. This arrangement was profitable, but it tended to prevent the two top-ranked teams from meeting in a true national championship game, as they would normally be committed to the bowl games of their respective conferences. Several systems have been used since 1992 to determine a national champion of college football. The first was the Bowl Coalition, in place from 1992 to 1994. This was replaced in 1995 by the Bowl Alliance, which gave way in 1997 to the Bowl Championship Series (BCS).[25] The BCS arrangement has been controversial, and will be replaced in 2014 by a four-team playoff system.[26]
Teams and positions
A football game is played between two teams of 11 players each.[27][28][29] Playing with more on the field is punishable by a penalty.[27][30][31] Teams may substitute any number of their players between downs;[32][33][34] this "platoon" system replaced the original system, which featured limited substitution rules, and has resulted in teams utilizing specialized offensive, defensive and special teams squads.[35]
Individual players in a football game must be designated with a uniform number between 1 and 99. NFL teams are required to number their players by a league-approved numbering system, and any exceptions must be approved by the Commissioner.[27] NCAA and NFHS teams are "strongly advised" to number their offensive players according to a league-suggested numbering scheme.[36][37]
Offensive unit
The role of the offensive unit is to advance the football down the field with the ultimate goal of scoring a touchdown.[38]
A diagram of a typical pre-snap formation. The offense (red) is lined up in a variation of the I formation, while the defense (blue) is lined up in the 4-3 defense. Both formations are legal.
The offensive team must line up in a legal formation before they can snap the ball. An offensive formation is considered illegal if there are more than four players in the backfield or fewer than five players numbered 50-79 on the offensive line.[28][39][40] Players can temporarily line up in a position whose eligibility is different from what their number permits as long as they immediately report the change to the referee, who then informs the defensive team of the change.[41] Neither team's players, with the exception of the snapper, are allowed to line up in or cross the neutral zone until the ball is snapped. Interior offensive linemen are not allowed to move until the snap of the ball.[42]
A quarterback under center, ready to take the snap
The main backfield positions are the quarterback (QB), halfback/tailback (HB/TB) and fullback (FB). The quarterback is the leader of the offense. Either he or a coach calls the plays. Quarterbacks typically inform the rest of the offense of the play in the huddle before the team lines up. The quarterback lines up behind the center to take the snap and then hands the ball off, throws it or runs with it.[38]
The primary role of the halfback, also known as the tailback, is to carry the ball on running plays. Halfbacks may also serve as receivers. Fullbacks tend to be larger than halfbacks and function primarily as blockers, but they are sometimes used as runners in short-yardage situations[43] and often are not used in passing situations.[44]
The offensive line (OL) consists of several players whose primary function is to block members of the defensive line from tackling the ball carrier on running plays or sacking the quarterback on passing plays.[43] The leader of the offensive line is the Center (gridiron football) (C), who is responsible for snapping the ball to the quarterback, blocking,[43] and for making sure that the other linemen do their jobs during the play.[45] On either side of the center are the guards (G), while tackles (T) line up outside of the guards.
Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss catches a pass over two Atlanta Falcons defenders.
The principal receivers are the wide receivers (WR) and the tight ends (TE).[46] Wide receivers line up on or near the line of scrimmage, split outside of the line. The main goal of the wide receiver is to catch passes thrown by the quarterback,[43] but they may also function as decoys or as blockers during running plays. Tight ends line up outside of the tackles and function both as receivers and as blockers.[43]
Defensive unit
Dallas Cowboys defensive players force Houston Texans running back Arian Foster to fumble the ball.
The role of the defense is to prevent the offense from scoring by tackling the ball carrier or by forcing turnovers (interceptions or fumbles).[38]
The defensive line (DL) consists of defensive ends (DE) and defensive tackles (DT). Defensive ends line up on the ends of the line, while defensive tackles line up inside, between the defensive ends. The primary responsibilities of defensive ends and defensive tackles is to stop running plays on the outside and inside, respectively, to pressure the quarterback on passing plays, and to occupy the line so that the linebackers can break through.[43]
Linebackers line up behind the defensive line but in front of the defensive backfield. They are divided into two types: middle linebackers (MLB) and outside linebackers (OLB). Linebackers are the defensive leaders and call the defensive plays. Their diverse roles include defending the run, pressuring the quarterback, and guarding backs, wide receivers and tight ends in the passing game.[47]
Cornerback Brent Grimes of the Hamburg Sea Devils intercepts a pass.
The defensive backfield, often called the secondary, consists of cornerbacks (CB) and safeties (S). Safeties are themselves divided into free safeties (FS) and strong safeties (SS).[43] Cornerbacks line up outside the defensive formation, typically opposite of a receiver so as to be able to cover him, while safeties line up between the cornerbacks but farther back in the secondary. Safeties are the last line of defense, and are responsible for stopping deep passing plays as well as running plays.[43]
Special teams unit
The special teams unit is responsible for all kicking plays. The special teams unit of the team in control of the ball will try and execute field goal (FG) attempts, punts and kickoffs, while the opposing team's unit will aim to block or return them.[38]
Kicker Jeff Reed of the Pittsburgh Steelers executes a kickoff.
Three positions are specific to the field goal and PAT (point-after-touchdown) unit: the placekicker (K or PK), holder (H) and long snapper (LS). The long snapper's job is to snap the football to the holder, who will catch and position it for the placekicker. There is not usually a holder on kickoffs, because the ball is kicked off of a tee; however, a holder may be used in certain situations, such as if wind is preventing the ball from remaining upright on the tee. The player on the receiving team who catches the ball is known as the kickoff returner (KR).[48]
The positions specific to punt plays are the punter (P), long snapper, and gunner. The long snapper snaps the football directly to the punter, who then drops and kicks it before it hits the ground. Gunners line up split outside of the line and race down the field, aiming to tackle the punt returner (PR) - the player that catches the punt.[49]
A player (dark jersey) scores a touchdown while a defender (in white) looks on. The goal line is marked by the small orange pylon.
In American football, the winner is the team that has scored the most points at the end of the game. There are multiple ways to score in a football game.
The touchdown (TD), worth six points, is the most valuable scoring play in American football. A touchdown is scored when a live ball is advanced into, caught in, or recovered in the end zone of the opposing team.[38] The scoring team then attempts a try or conversion, more commonly known as the point(s)-after-touchdown (PAT), which is a single scoring opportunity. A PAT is attempted from the two- or three-yard line, depending on the level of play. If scored by a placekick or dropkick through the goal posts, it is worth one point, and is typically called the extra point.[50] If it is scored by what would normally be a touchdown, it is called the two-point conversion[50] and is worth two points. No points are awarded on a failed extra point or two-point conversion attempt.[51][52][53] In general, the extra point is almost always successful in professional play and is only slightly less successful at amateur levels, while the two-point conversion is a much riskier play with a higher probability of failure; accordingly, extra point attempts are far more common than two-point conversion attempts.[50]
A field goal (FG), worth three points, is scored when the ball is placekicked or dropkicked through the uprights and over the crossbars of the defense's goalposts.[54][55][56] After a PAT attempt or successful field goal the scoring team must kick the ball off to the other team.[57] A safety is scored when the ball carrier is tackled in his own end zone. Safeties are worth two points, which are awarded to the defense.[38] In addition, the team that conceded the safety must kick the ball to the scoring team via a free kick.[58]
Field and equipment
A football field as seen from behind one end zone. The tall, yellow goal posts mark where the ball must pass for a successful field goal or extra point. The large, rectangular area marked with the team name is the end zone.
Football games are played on a rectangular field that measures 120 yards (110 m) long and 53.33 yards (48.76 m) wide. Lines marked along the ends and sides of the field are known respectively as the end lines and side lines, and goal lines are marked 10 yards (9.1 m) inward from each end line. Weighted pylons are placed on the inside corner of the intersections of the goal lines and end lines.
White markings on the field identify the distance from the end zone. Inbound lines, or hash marks, are short parallel lines that mark off 1 yard (0.91 m) increments. Yard lines, which run the width of the field, are marked every 5 yards (4.6 m). A one yard wide is placed at each end of the field; this line is marked at the center of the two-yard line in professional play and at the three-yard line in college play. Numerals that display the distance from the closest goal line in multiples of ten are placed on both sides of the field every ten yards.[59][60][61]
Goalposts are at located at the center of the plane of each of the two end lines. The crossbar of these posts is ten feet (3 meters) above the ground, with vertical uprights at the end of the crossbar 18 feet 6 inches (6 m) apart for professional and collegiate play and 23 feet 4 inches (7 m) apart for high school play.[62][63][64] The uprights extend vertically 35 feet on professional fields, a minimum of 10 yards on college fields, and a minimum of ten feet on high school fields. Goal posts are padded at the base, and orange ribbons are normally placed at the tip of each upright.[62][63][64]
The football itself is an oval ball, similar to the balls used in rugby or Australian rules football.[65] At all levels of play, the football is inflated to 12 1⁄2 to 13 1⁄2 pounds per square inch (psi) and weighs 14 to 15 ounces (397 to 425 grams);[64][66][67] beyond that, the exact dimensions vary slightly. In professional play the ball has a long axis of 11 to 11 1⁄4 inches, a long circumference of 28 to 28 1⁄2 inches, and a short circumference of 21 to 21 1⁄4 inches, while in college and high school play the ball has a long axis of 10 7⁄8 to 11 7⁄16 inches, a long circumference of 27 3⁄4 to 28 1⁄2 inches, and a short circumference of 20 3⁄4 to 21 1⁄4 inches.[64][66]
Duration and time stoppages
Football games last for a total of 60 minutes in professional and college play and are divided into two halves of 30 minutes and four quarters of 15 minutes.[68][69] High school football games are 48 minutes in length with two halves of 24 minutes and four quarters of 12 minutes.[70] The two halves are separated by a halftime period, and the first and third quarters are also followed by a short break.[68][69][71] Prior to the start of the game, the referee and team captains for each team meet at midfield for a coin toss. The visiting team is allowed to call 'heads' or 'tails'; the winner of the toss is allowed to decide from between choosing whether to receive or kick off the ball or choosing which goal they want to defend, but they can also defer their choice until the second half. The losing team, unless the winning team decides to defer, is allowed to choose the option the winning team did not select, and receives the option to receive, kick, or select a goal to defend to begin the second half. Most teams choose to receive or defer, because choosing to kick the ball to start the game would allow the other team to choose which goal to defend.[72] Teams switch goals following the first and third quarters.[73] If a down is in progress when a quarter ends, play continues until the down is completed.[74][75][76]
Games last longer than their defined length due to play stoppages - the average NFL game lasts slightly over three hours.[77] Time in a football game is measured by the game clock. An operator is responsible for starting, stopping and operating the game clock based on the direction of the appropriate official.[68][78] A separate clock, the play clock, is used to determine if a delay of game infraction has been committed. If the play clock expires before the ball has been snapped or free-kicked, a delay of game foul is called on the offense. The play clock is set to 40 seconds in professional and college football and to 25 seconds in high school play or following certain administrative stoppages in the former levels of play.[74][79][80]
Advancing the ball and downs
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (number 17) in the motion of throwing a forward pass.
There are two main ways that the offense can advance the ball: running and passing. In a typical play, the quarterback calls the play, and the center passes the ball backwards and under his legs to the quarterback in a process known as the snap. The quarterback then either hands the ball off to a back, throws the ball or runs with it himself. The play ends when the player with the ball is tackled or goes out of bounds, or a pass hits the ground without a player having caught it. A forward pass can only be legally attempted if the passer is behind the line of scrimmage.[57] In the NFL, a down also ends if the runner's helmet comes off.[81]
The offense is given a series of four plays, known as downs. If the offense advances ten or more yards in the four downs, they are awarded a new set of four downs. If they fail to advance ten yards, possession of the football is turned over to the defense. In most situations, if the offense reaches their fourth down they will punt the ball to the other team, which forces them to begin their drive from further down the field; if they are in field goal range, they might also attempt to score a field goal.[57] A group of officials, the chain crew, keeps track of both the downs and the distance measurements.[82] On television, a yellow line is electronically superimposed on the field to show the first down line to the viewing audience.[83]
Green Bay Packers Placekicker Mason Crosby attempts a field goal by kicking the ball from the hands of a holder. This is the standard method to score field goals or extra points.[84][85]
There are two categories of kicks in football: scrimmage kicks, which can be executed by the offensive team on any down from behind or on the line of scrimmage,[86][87][88] and free kicks.[89][90][91] The free kicks are the kickoff, which starts the first and third quarters and overtime and follows a try attempt or a successful field goal, and the safety kick, which follows a safety.[87][92][93]
On a kickoff, the ball is placed at the 35-yard line of the kicking team in professional and college play and at the 40-yard line in high school play. The ball may be drop-kicked or place-kicked. If a place kick is chosen, the ball can be placed on the ground or on a tee, and a holder may be used in either case. On a safety kick, the kicking team kicks the ball from their own 20-yard line. They can punt, drop-kick or place-kick the ball, but a tee may not be used in professional play. Any member of the receiving team may catch or advance the ball, and the ball may be recovered by the kicking team once it has gone at least ten yards or has been touched by any member of the receiving team.[94][95][96]
The three types of scrimmage kicks are place kicks, drop kicks, and punts. Only place kicks and drop kicks can score points.[54][55][56] The place kick is the standard method used to score points,[84] because the pointy shape of the football makes it difficult to reliably drop kick.[84][85] Once the ball has been kicked from a scrimmage kick, it can be advanced by the kicking team only if it is caught or recovered behind the line of scrimmage. If it is touched or recovered by the kicking team beyond this line, it becomes dead at the spot where it was touched.[97][98][99] The kicking team is prohibited from interfering with the receiver's opportunity to catch the ball, and the receiving team has the option of signaling for a fair catch. This prohibits the defense from blocking into or tackling the receiver, but the play ends as soon as the ball is caught and the ball may not be advanced.[100][101][102]
Officials and fouls
Officials discuss a call on the field.
Officials use the chains to measure for a first down. Here, the ball is just short of the pole and therefore short of a first down.
Officials are responsible for enforcing game rules and monitoring the clock. All officials carry a whistle and wear black-and-white striped shirts and black hats except for the referee, whose hat is white. Each carries a weighted yellow flag that is thrown to the ground to signal that a foul has been called. An official who spots multiple fouls will throw his hat as a secondary signal.[103] The seven officials on the field are each tasked with a different set of responsibilities:[103]
The referee is positioned behind and to the side of the offensive backs. He is charged with oversight and control of the game and is the authority on the score, the down number, and any and all rule interpretations in discussions between the other officials. He announces all penalties and discusses the infraction with the offending team's captain, monitors for illegal hits against the quarterback, makes requests for first-down measurements, and notifies the head coach whenever a player is ejected.
The umpire is positioned in the defensive backfield. He watches play along the line of scrimmage to make sure that no more than 11 offensive players are on the field prior to the snap and that no offensive linemen are illegally downfield on pass plays. He monitors the contact between offensive and defensive linemen and calls most of the holding penalties. The umpire records the number of timeouts taken and the winner of the coin toss and the game score, assists the referee in situations involving possession of the ball close to the line of scrimmage, determines whether player equipment is legal, and dries wet balls prior to the snap if a game is played in rain.
The back judge is positioned deep in the defensive backfield, behind the umpire. He ensures that the defensive team has no more than 11 players on the field and determines whether catches are legal, whether field goal or extra point attempts are good, and whether a pass interference violation occurred.
The head linesman is positioned on one end of the line of scrimmage. He watches for any line-of-scrimmage and illegal use-of-hands violations and assists the line judge with illegal shift or illegal motion calls. The head linesman also rules on out-of-bounds calls that happen on his side of the field, oversees the chain crew and marks the forward progress of a runner when a play has been whistled dead.
A modern down indicator box is mounted on a pole and is used to mark the current line of scrimmage. The number on the marker is changed using a dial.
The side judge is positioned twenty yards downfield of the head linesman. He mainly duplicates the functions of the back judge.
The line judge is positioned on the end of the line of scrimmage, opposite the head linesman. He supervises player substitutions, the line of scrimmage during punts, and game timing. He notifies the referee when time has expired at the end of a quarter and notifies the head coach of the home team when five minutes remain for halftime. In the NFL, the line judge also alerts the referee when two minutes remain in the half. If the clock malfunctions or becomes inoperable, the line judge becomes the official timekeeper.
The field judge is positioned twenty yards downfield from the line judge. He monitors and controls the play clock, counts the number of defensive players on the field, and watches for offensive pass interference and illegal use-of-hands violations by offensive players. He also makes decisions regarding catches, recoveries, the ball spot when a player goes out of bounds, and illegal touching of fumbled balls that have crossed the line of scrimmage.
Another set of officials, the chain crew, are responsible for moving the chains. The chains, consisting of two large sticks with a 10 yard-long chain between them, are used to measure for a first down. The chain crew stays on the sidelines during the game, but if requested by the officials they will briefly bring the chains on to the field to measure. A typical chain crew will have at least three people - two members of the chain crew will hold either of the two sticks, while a third will hold the down marker. The down marker, a large stick with a dial on it, is flipped after each play to indicate the current down, and is typically moved to the approximate spot of the ball. The chain crew system has been used for over 100 years and is considered to be an accurate measure of distance, rarely subject to criticism from either side.[104]
A player wearing a helmet. Shoulder pads and thigh pads are visible under his uniform.
Football is a full-contact sport, and injuries are relatively common. Most injuries occur during training sessions, particularly ones that involve contact between players.[105] To try to prevent injuries, players are required to wear a set of equipment. At a minimum players must wear a football helmet and a set of shoulder pads, but individual leagues may require additional padding such as thigh pads and guards, knee pads, chest protectors, and mouthguards.[106][107][108] Most injuries occur in the lower extremities, particularly in the knee, but a significant number also affect the upper extremities. The most common types of injuries are strains, sprains, bruises, fractures, dislocations, and concussions.[105] Repeated concussions can increase a person's risk in later life for chronic traumatic encephalopathy and mental health issues such as dementia, Parkinson's disease, and depression.[109] Concussions are often caused by helmet-to-helmet or upper-body contact between opposing players, although helmets have prevented more serious injuries such as skull fractures.[110] Various programs are aiming to reduce concussions by reducing the frequency of helmet-to-helmet hits; USA Football's "Heads Up Football" program is aiming to reduce concussions in youth football by teaching coaches and players about the signs of a concussion, the proper way to wear football equipment and ensure it fits, and proper tackling methods that avoid helmet-to-helmet contact.[111]
Leagues and tournaments
The National Football League (NFL) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) are the most popular football leagues in the United States.[112] The National Football League was founded in 1920[113] and has since become the largest and most popular sport in the United States.[114] The NFL has the highest average attendance of any sporting league in the world, with an average attendance of almost 70,000 persons during the 2011 NFL Season.[115] The NFL championship game, the Super Bowl, is among the biggest events in club sports worldwide.[116] It is played between the champions of the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC), and its winner is awarded the Vince Lombardi Trophy.[117]
Collegiate football ranks third in overall popularity in the United States, behind baseball and pro football.[118] The NCAA, the largest collegiate organization, is divided into three Divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III.[119] Division I football is further divided into two subdivisions: the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).[120] The champions of Division I-FCS, Division II and Division III are determined through NCAA-sanctioned playoff systems, while the Division I-FBS champion is largely determined by various polls and ranking systems (see related article); the latest effort being the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). Division I-FBS will switch to a four-team playoff system in 2014.[121]
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American football strategy
Comparison of American football and rugby union
Fantasy football (American)
List of American football players
List of American football stadiums by capacity
List of leagues of American and Canadian football
Steroid use in American football
There are several non-contact variants of American football, such as flag football.[169] In flag football the ballcarrier is not tackled; instead, defenders aim to pull a flag tied around his waist.[170] Another variant, touch football, simply requires the ballcarrier to be touched to be considered downed. A game of touch football may require that the player be touched with either one or two hands to be considered down, depending on the rules used.[171]
Below the Arena Football League are what New York Times writer Mike Tanier described as the "most minor of minor leagues:" indoor football leagues. Like in arena football, teams in indoor football leagues play in arenas, but games are only attended by a small number of fans, and most players are semi-professional athletes. Indoor football leagues are unstable, with franchises regularly moving from one league to another or merging with other teams, and teams or entire leagues dissolving entirely. The Indoor Football League, Southern Indoor Football League, Ultimate Indoor Football League, Continental Indoor Football League and American Professional Football League are examples of prominent indoor leagues.[168]
A major variant of football is arena football, played by the Arena Football League (AFL).[166] Arena football has eight-player teams and uses an indoor field 50 yards (46 m) in length, excluding end zones, and 28.3 yards (25.9 m) wide. Punting is illegal, and kickoffs are attempted from the goal line. Large overhead nets deflect forward passes and kicks that hit them, and deflected kicks are live balls that may be recovered by either team.[167]
Canadian football, the predominant form of football in Canada, is closely related to American football - both sports developed from rugby, and the two sports are considered to be the chief variants of gridiron football.[162] Although the two games share a similar set of rules, there are several key rule differences: for example, in Canadian football the field measures 150 yards (137 m) by 65 (59 m) yards, including two 20-yard end zones (for a distance between goal lines of 110 yards),[163] teams have three downs instead of four, there are twelve players on each side instead of eleven,[164] fair catches are not allowed, and a rouge, worth a single point is scored if the offensive team kicks the ball out of the defense's end zone.[165] The Canadian Football League (CFL) is the major Canadian league and is the second-most popular sporting league in Canada, behind only the National Hockey League.[165]
Men playing a game of flag football
Variations and related sports
Super Bowl XLVI was the most watched television program ever in the United States. The game had an estimated 111.3 million viewers, and 2012 was the third straight year the Super Bowl broke the record.[159] In 2014, Super Bowl XLVIII broke Super Bowl XLVI's record for viewers with 111.5 million viewers.[160] Nine of the top 10 most watched television programs of all-time in the United States are Super Bowls.[161]
Outside of North America and Japan, Europe is a major target for expansion of the game. The sport is played in European countries such as Switzerland, which has American football clubs in every major city,[157] and Germany, where the sport has around 45,000 registered amateur players.[154] The sport had a degree of popularity in the United Kingdom in the 1980s - in 1986, the Super Bowl was watched by over 4 million people. or about 1 out of every 14 Britons. However, the sport's popularity faded over the 1990s. According to BBC America, there is a "social stigma" surrounding American football in the UK, with many Brits feeling the sport has no right to call itself 'football' due to the small emphasis on kicking.[158]
In Canada, the game has a significant following - according to a 2013 poll, 21% of respondents said they followed the NFL "very closely" or "fairly closely", making it the third-most followed league behind the National Hockey League (NHL) and Canadian Football League (CFL).[151] American football also has a long history in Mexico, which was introduced to the sport in 1896. American football was the second-most popular sport in Mexico in the 1950s, with the game being particularly popular in colleges.[152] The Los Angeles Times notes that the NFL claims over 16 million fans in Mexico, which places the country third behind the US and Canada.[153] American football is played in Mexico both professionally and as part of the college sports system.[154] Japan was introduced to the sport in 1934 by Paul Rusch, a teacher and Christian missionary who helped establish football teams at three universities in Tokyo. Play was halted during World War II, but began to grow in popularity again after the war. As of 2010, there are more than 400 high school football teams in Japan, with over 15,000 participants, and over 100 teams play in the Kantoh Collegiate Football Association (KCFA).[155] The college champion plays the champion of the X-League (a semi-pro league where teams are financed by corporations) in the Rice Bowl to determine Japan's national champion.[156]
Football also plays a significant role in American culture. The Super Bowl is considered a de facto national holiday,[143] and in parts of the country like Texas, the sport has been compared to a religion.[144][145] Football is also linked to other holidays; New Year's Day is traditionally the date for several college football bowl games, including the Rose Bowl. However, if New Year's Day is on a Sunday, the bowl games are moved to another date to not conflict with the typical NFL Sunday schedule.[146] Thanksgiving football is an American tradition,[147] hosting many high school, college, and professional games.[148] Steve Deace of USA Today wrote that Americans are passionate about football "because it embodies everything we love about American exceptionalism. Merit is rewarded, not punished. Masculinity is celebrated, not feminized. People of various beliefs and backgrounds — a melting pot, if you will — must unify for a common goal for the team to be successful".[149] Implicit rules such as playing through pain and sacrificing for the better of the team are promoted in football culture.[150]
According to ESPN.com's Sean McAdam, "Baseball is still called the national pastime, but football is by far the more popular sport in American society".[138] In a 2014 poll conducted by Harris Interactive, professional football ranked as the most popular sport, and college football ranked third behind only professional football and baseball; 46% of participants ranked some form of the game as their favorite sport. Professional football has ranked as the most popular sport in the poll since 1985, when it surpassed baseball for the first time.[139] Professional football is most popular among those who live in the eastern United States and rural areas, while college football is most popular in the southern United States and among people with graduate and post-graduate degrees.[140] Football is also the most-played sport by high school and college athletes in the United States. In a 2012 study, the NCAA estimated there were around 1.1 million high school football players and nearly 70,000 college football players in the United States; in comparison, the second-most played sport, basketball, had around 1 million participants in high school and 34,000 in college.[141] The Super Bowl is the most popular single-day sporting event in the United States,[24] and is among the biggest club sporting events in the world in terms of TV viewership.[116] The NFL makes approximately $10 billion annually.[142]
Popularity and cultural impact
Football is not an Olympic sport, but it was a demonstration sport at the 1932 Summer Olympics.[1] The IFAF was seeking recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and finally received provisional recognition in December 2013 with a vote expected to take place by 2017 and could be a medal sport by the 2024 Olympics.[137] Several major obstacles hinder the IFAF goal of achieving status as an Olympic sport, such as the predominant participation of men in international play, and the short three-week Olympic schedule. Large team sizes are an additional difficulty, due to the Olympics' set limit of 10,500 athletes and coaches. These issues are similar to those that rugby union faced prior to being admitted into the Olympics in the form of rugby sevens, a modified version of the sport, but football also has the issue of global visibility. Nigel Melville, the CEO of USA Rugby, noted that while rugby union has a major international presence through the International Rugby Board, "American football is recognized globally as a sport, but it's not played globally". In order to solve these concerns, major effort has been put into promoting flag football, a modified version of American football, at the international level.[135]
[135] At the international level, Canada, Mexico, and Japan are considered to be second-tier, while Austria, Germany, and France would rank among a third tier. All of these countries rank far below the United States, which is dominant at the international level.[136] The
American football leagues exist throughout the world, but the game has yet to achieve the international success and popularity of baseball and basketball.[129] NFL Europa, the developmental league of the NFL, operated from 1991 to 1992 and then from 1995 to 2007. At the time of its closure, NFL Europa had five teams based in Germany and one in the Netherlands.[130]
Players with one of the youth divisions of the Borregos Salvajes football program of the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Mexico City.
The most successful minor league was the American Football League (AFL), which existed from 1960 to 1969. The AFL operated as a minor league from 1960 to 1964 and then signed a five-year, US$36 million television deal with NBC and competed directly against the NFL. AFL teams signed NFL players to contracts, and their popularity grew to challenge that of the NFL. The two leagues merged in the 1970 season, and all AFL teams joined the NFL. An earlier minor league, the All-America Football Conference, was in play from 1946 to 1949. Two AAFC teams, the Cleveland Browns and the San Francisco 49ers, became members of the NFL.[128]
Several football leagues have been formed as rival leagues to the NFL. The XFL was created in 2001 by Vince McMahon and lasted for only one season. Despite television contracts with NBC and UPN and high expectations, the XFL suffered from poor television ratings and a low quality of play.[124] The United Football League (UFL) suspended its 2012 season, its fourth, due to financial issues.[125] The United States Football League (USFL) operated for three seasons from 1983 to 1985 but collapsed due to poor business decisions and monetary problems. A subsequent USD $1.5 billion antitrust lawsuit against the NFL was successful in court, but the league was awarded only three dollars in damages.[126] The World Football League (WFL) played for two seasons, in 1974 and 1975, but faced monetary issues so severe that the league could not pay its players. In its second and final season the WFL attempted to establish a stable credit rating, but the league disbanded before its second season could be completed.[127]
Minor professional leagues
Gridiron football
Canadian football, American football, Association football, Indoor American football, National Football League
Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Super Bowl XLVIII, Kansas City Chiefs
List of University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees
American Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track & Field, Wrestling
Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
American football, Baseball, Basketball, San Francisco International Airport, Stanford University
December 2010 in sports
Germany, France, United States, Russia, Canada
American Football, Cricket, 2007 NFL season, Basketball, United States
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Miami Marlins 2020 Season Preview
From The Athletic
The NL East was hyped up to be the best division in baseball entering 2019. Every team but one was a serious contender to win the division. That one exception was the Marlins. Miami was still in a rebuilding phase after their firesale prior to 2018 that saw them deal their entire outfield and infielder Dee Gordon. A year later, the Marlins are still the worst team in the division, but they might not be the worst in the National League anymore. They acquired some low cost veterans to hold down the fort while their young talent develops. It won't be the most entertaining season of Marlins baseball, but the trade deadline will see a lot of the new acquisitions go.
Offseason additions: IF Jonathan Villar, 1B Jesus Aguilar, OF Corey Dickerson, C Francisco Cervelli, OF Matt Joyce, RHP Brandon Kintzler, RHP Yimi Garcia, LHP Stephen Tarpley, RHP Brad Boxberger, SHP Pat Venditte, OF Matt Kemp, UT Sean Rodriguez, IF Gosuke Katoh.
Offseason subtractions: 2B Starlin Castro, OF Curtis Granderson, IF Neil Walker, IF Martin Prado, OF Austin Dean, C Bryan Holaday, OF Rosell Herrera, LHP Jarlin Garcia, RHP Tyler Kinley, LHP Wei-Yin Chen, RHP Austin Brice, LHP Brian Moran, RHP Hector Noesi.
The rotation won't see much changes from its 2019 form, as Nick Neidert and Sixto Sanchez are not ready yet to hold a spot. Sandy Alcantara was the Marlins only all-star in 2019, and was still technically a rookie. He lead the league with 14 losses, but had a 3.88 ERA with 151 strikeouts in 197.1 innings, with two complete game shutouts. He allowed 3.7 walks per nine innings, a lot but an improvement from his previous 14 career games. Caleb Smith had a great first half, but injuries derailed his season and finished with a 4.52 ERA with 168 strikeouts and 33 home runs allowed in 153.1 innings. Jose Urena was considered a closer, but will likely return to the rotation to start the year. In 24 games (13 starts), Urena made three saves in 84.2 innings with a 5.21 ERA. He throws hard but is not a strikeout guy. He only hit two batters after leading the league in that category in 2017 and 2018. Pablo Lopez was limited to 21 starts by a shoulder injury. He struck out 95 batters in 111.1 innings. His 5.09 ERA was awful. Jordan Yamamoto was not bad in his 15 start debut. He struck out 82 batters in 78.2 innings with a 4.46 ERA. He allowed 36 walks, so that is a problem. Elieser Hernandez had a 9.3 K/9 in 21 games (15 starts), but had a 5.03 ERA. At 24, he is still young enough to go to AAA to improve.
Brandon Kintzler will likely be the one that moved Urena from closer back to starter. He only had one save last year, but had a 2.68 ERA in 57 innings with a 7.6 K/9, his highest since 2015. He has 49 saves in his career, with a career best 29 in 2017. Ryan Stanek, acquired at the deadline from the Rays, can be an opener and a starter. He had a 3.40 ERA in 41 games before the trade, but struggled as a Marlin, with a 5.48 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 21.1 innings. His struggles are due to an abnormally high 8.0 BB/9. Drew Steckenrider was in the mix for a closing role entering 2019. he allowed six home runs in his 15 games before going on the IL with elbow inflammation. He never got Tommy John surgery, but also never returned. He has a career K/9 of 11.2. The Marlins scooped up Yimi Garcia after the Dodgers non-tendered him. He had a 3.61 ERA with 66 Ks and a 0.866 WHIP in 62.1 innings. It will be hard for him to keep up with his very low 5.8 H/9 rate. Adam Conley was solid as a reliever in 2018, but was terrible last year, with a 6.53 ERA in 60.2 innings. He had a 1.731 WHIP and a 65 ERA. Thanks to his struggles, the team will want to carry another lefty in Stephen Tarpley. Acquired from the Yankees, Tarpley struck out 34 batters in 24.2 innings. Nothing else went right, as he had a 6.93 ERA with a 12.4 H/9 and 5.5 BB/9. His slider is a plus pitch. Rule 5 pick Sterling Sharp (not that one) will get a good chance to make the team. He had a 3.53 ERA in 58.2 innings in the Nats system. He had a 1.50 ERA in 24 games in the Arizona Fall League. Former Rays and D-Backs closer Brad Boxberger has a 3.59 ERA and 77 saves in his career. He was awful for the Royals last year, with a 5.40 ERA with 27 Ks in 26.2 innings. He will try to beat out Jeff Brigham, who had a 4.46 ERA in 32 games last year.
Right before the season, the Marlins traded away all-star catcher JT Realmuto to the Phillies. They got back Jorge Alfaro. He hit 18 home runs, with four stolen bases, hit .262 and had a decent .736 OPS for a catcher. Francisco Cervelli comes in as an experienced catcher. He hit 12 home runs with an .809 OPS in 2018. He had a .649 OPS for the Pirates and Braves last year.
Infielders
The Marlins claimed Jesus Aguilar off waivers from Tampa Bay after a disappointing 2019. He hit 12 home runs with a .714 OPS coming off a year with 35 home runs, an .890 OPS and an all-star appearance. Isan Diaz, a top-100 prospect in the MLB, hit .305 with 26 home runs and a .973 OPS at AAA. He did not fare well in the big leagues, with a .173 average, five home runs and a .566 OPS in 49 games. The second base job is his to lose. He can start at AAA. If he does, Jonathan Villar will be the second baseman. Acquired from the Orioles, Villar can play all around the field, but will likely be the Opening Day center fielder. He played in all 162 games last year, with a .274 average, .792 OPS, 24 home runs and 40 stolen bases. The Marlins signed shortstop Miguel Rojas to a multi-year extension, something the team rarely does. He hit .284 last year with nine stolen bases and two defensive runs saved. Brian Anderson played a lot of third base and right field last year. Maybe the best player on the team, Anderson hit 20 home runs with a career high .811 OPS last year. He is very underrated.
Outfielders
The Marlins signed 2017 all-star Corey Dickerson to a two year deal. Dickerson hit just 12 home runs last year, his lowest since 2015. He played in just 78 games, but had a .304 average, the second best of his career. He played for both Pennsylvania teams last year, the Pirates and Phillies. Right field will be a shared job between Garrett Cooper, Harold Ramirez and Matt Joyce. Joyce will be more of a bench bat while Cooper is also the backup first baseman. Cooper hit .281 with a .791 OPS and 15 home runs in 2019, his first full season. A 24 year old rookie, Harold Ramirez hit 11 home runs with a .276 average and .728 OPS. A former 25 home run hitter, Joyce hit seven last year, with a .295 average and an .858 OPS. Jon Berti can play the infield as well as the outfield. A 29 year old rookie, Berti stole 17 bases in 20 attempts, with six home runs and a .348 OBP. The final spot is between former top prospect Lewis Brinson and Magneuris Sierra. In 15 MLB games, Sierra hit .350 with three stolen bases. Brinson played in 75 MLB games and more at AAA. He was awful, with a -2.2 bWAR. He hit no home runs, and had a .173 average and .457 OPS. The clock is ticking for the almost 26 year old to prove he is more than an AAA player.
Projected Opening Day Lineup
CF Jonathan Villar (S)
3B Brian Anderson (R)
LF Corey Dickerson (L)
1B Jesus Aguilar (R)
C Jorge Alfaro (R)
RF Harold Ramirez (R)
2B Isan Diaz (L)
SS Miguel Rojas (R)
Projected Rotation
Sandy Alcantara (R)
Caleb Smith (L)
Jose Urena (R)
Jordan Yamamoto (R)
Pablo Lopez (R)
Projected Bullpen
Brandon Kintzler, closer (R)
Yimi Garcia (R)
Drew Steckenrider (R)
Ryne Stanek (R)
Adam Conley (L)
Stephen Tarpley (L)
Brad Boxberger (R)
Sterling Sharp (R)
Projected Bench
C Francisco Cervelli (R)
1B/RF Garrett Cooper (R)
OF Matt Joyce (L)
UT Jon Berti (R)
OF Lewis Brinson (R)
The Marlins are still years away from contention. They have done a decent job this offseason acquiring vets to supplement their young players. They still have a lot of work to do, and are still the worst team in the NL East.
Posted by Carter at 5:36 PM No comments:
Los Angeles Dodgers 2020 Season Preview
From Getty Images
All eyes were on the Dodgers to start 2019, as they had come off of back-to-back World Series losses. Then, Cody Bellinger became an MVP winner, and Walker Buehler got better, plus Hyun-Jin Ryu had an ERA under 2.00 for most of the year. But, the Dodgers failed to even make in to the fall classic, falling to the eventual champions, the Nationals, in the NLDS. The offseason started off with the loss of Ryu and no big acquisitions. However, they traded for former MVP winner Mookie Betts and former Cy Young winner David Price days before the start of camp. With Betts and Price in the fold, expectations might be higher than last year.
Offseason additions: OF Mookie Betts, LHP David Price, LHP Alex Wood, RHP Blake Treinen, RHP Jimmy Nelson, RHP Brusdar Graterol, OF Terrance Gore, RHP Edubray Ramos, RHP Zach McAllister.
Offseason subtractions: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu, OF Alex Verdugo, RHP Kenta Maeda, RHP Yimi Garcia, LHP Rich Hill, C Russell Martin, RHP JT Chargois, 3B David Freese, IF Jedd Gyorko.
The Dodgers will have Clayton Kershaw starting on Opening Day for the 9th time, barring injury. He didn't start on Opening Day last year for that reason. He made his 8th all-star team, but his 3.03 ERA was the worst of his career since he was a 20 year old rookie in 2008. He struck out 189 batters in 178.1 innings, so it is good to see his strikeout rate go back up after it was below 9.0 for the first time in awhile in 2018. His 1.043 WHIP was his highest since 2010. He allowed a career high 1.4 homers per nine. The Dodgers have another emerging ace in 25 year old Walker Buehler. Buehler was an all-star for the first time and received Cy Young votes after striking out 215 batters in 182.1 innings with a 3.26 ERA. He had a 1.0 HR/9, very low for 2019 standards. David Price comes in as a five-time all-star, although he hasn't made the team since 2015. He made just 22 starts for the Red Sox last year, with a 4.28 ERA. It was his worst ERA since 2009. He struck out 128 batters in 107.1 innings for a career high 10.7 K/9. Julio Urias is still only 23, but missed almost all of 2017 and 2018 after debuting in 2016 as a 19 year old. In 37 games (eight starts), Urias had a 2.49 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 79.2 innings, with a 0.8 HR/9. Alex Wood returns to the Dodgers after allowing 23 earned runs in 35.2 games over seven starts with the Reds. He was successful in four seasons with the Dodgers, capping in 2017 with a 2.72 ERA and 16 wins. Jimmy Nelson missed all of 2018 and most of 2019 with injuries. He had a 3.49 ERA in 29 starts in 2017 with the Brewers. Top pitching prospect Dustin May will likely make it as a reliever. In 14 games (four starts), May had a 3.63 ERA in 34.2 innings with a 0.5 HR/9. Another pitching prospect, Tony Gonsolin, may need to start in AAA. He had a 2.93 ERA in 40 innings last year.
The bullpen is a big question after closer Kenley Jansen had his worst season in 2019. It could be filled with lots of starters as well. Jansen had a career worst 3.71 ERA with 33 saves in 63 innings, striking out 80. Still, his 11.4 K/9 was the second worst of his career, only beating his 2018 mark. Pedro Baez has been very consistent for the Dodgers in his six season career. He has a 3.10 ERA with 69 Ks in 69.2 innings. He has a career ERA of 3.03. Joe Kelly was very inconsistent in his first season in L.A. He had a career high 10.9 K/9, but also had a 4.56 ERA in 51.1 innings. Swingman Ross Stripling was rumored to be in a deal that would send him and Joc Pederson to the Angels, but Halos owner Arte Moreno called it off after being annoyed with the length of the time taken for the Betts trade to be completed. In 32 games (15 starts), Stripling had a 3.47 ERA with 93 Ks in 90.2 innings. He has a 3.51 ERA in his four year career. Former A's closer Blake Treinen had a 0.78 ERA with 38 saves over 80.1 innings in 2018. Nothing went right for him last year, as he had a career high 4.91 ERA with 59 Ks in 58.1 innings. He comes in on a low risk, one year deal. The last three spots are up for grabs with May likely getting one and Gonsolin in on another. The team will likely carry only one of Adam Kolarek and Scott Alexander. Both are lefties that will be hurt by the three batter minimum rule. In 28 games last year Alexander had a 3.63 ERA in 17.1 innings. After coming over at the deadline from Tampa Bay, Kolarek had a 0.77 ERA in 11.2 innings. They both struck out nine batters. Dylan Floro pitched in 50 games last year, with a 4.24 ERA. He had a 2.25 ERA in 64 innings in 2018.
The Dodgers and their fans got jiggy with rookie catcher Will Smith. He hit 15 home runs in 54 games with a .907 OPS. Even with Smith in the fold, the Dodgers will not trade top catching prospect Keibert Ruiz, who could debut in 2020. Austin Barnes was great in 2017, but has been awful at the plate since. In 75 games last year, Barnes hit .203 with a .633 OPS and five home runs.
Max Muncy almost copied his surprise 2018 season, hitting exactly 35 home runs again. He finished exactly 15th in MVP voting once again, this time with an all-star appearance. His .889 OPS was a big drop-off from his .973 mark in 2018. Gavin Lux will be the biggest prospect to play in 2020, with Wander Franco years away. MLB Pipeline's 2nd best prospect in the league, Lux hit two home runs, stole two bases and had a .705 OPS in 20 MLB games late last year. He had a .347 average and 1.028 OPS in AA and AAA last year. Corey Seager is still the Dodgers shortstop, although I personally would shop him for a superstar like Francisco Lindor. He hit 19 home runs with 44 doubles last year, the latter tied for the league high. He had an .817 OPS which is good but a little underwhelming after his last full season of 2017. Justin Turner has only made one all-star team, but he is the heart and soul of the team. He hit 27 home runs with a .290 average and an .881 OPS in 135 games last year. He was even willing to change positions if the team could sign Anthony Rendon in free agency (they couldn't). Utility infielder Enrique "Kike" Hernandez can also play center field. He hit 17 home runs in 130 games, but he had a very low .715 OPS. In his rookie season Matt Beaty hit nine home runs with five stolen bases and a .775 OPS. He can play first base and left field.
While the addition of Betts is exciting, he is not even the Dodgers' best outfielder. Cody Bellinger won MVP, as well as a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, while hitting 47 home runs with 15 stolen bases, a .305 average and a 1.035 OPS, making him a bona fide superstar. Betts, the 2018 AL MVP, had a down year for his standards, with 29 home runs, 16 stolen bases (almost half of his 2018 total), a .295 average and .915 OPS. He won his fourth consecutive Gold Glove and third Silver Slugger in those four years. The Dodgers will move either Betts or Bellinger, both right fielders, to center. Joc Pederson was insane at the Home Run Derby, and hit a career high 36 home runs while in Bellinger's shadow. His .249 average and .876 OPS were also career highs. AJ Pollock is set to be the best and most expensive fourth outfielder in the league. Signed prior to 2019 to a four year, $55 million deal with an option, Pollock hit 15 home runs with five stolen bases and a .795 OPS last year. He has an .804 OPS in his career. Chris Taylor can also play second base and shortstop. He hit 12 home runs with eight stolen bases and a .794 OPS last year.
RF Mookie Betts (R)
CF Cody Bellinger (L)
1B Max Muncy (L)
3B Justin Turner (R)
LF Joc Pederson (L)
C Will Smith (R)
SS Corey Seager (L)
2B Gavin Lux (L)
Clayton Kershaw (L)
Walker Buehler (R)
David Price (L)
Julio Urias (L)
Alex Wood (L)
Kenley Jansen (R)
Pedro Baez (R)
Joe Kelly (R)
Ross Stripling (R)
Blake Treinen (R)
Adam Kolarek (L)
Dustin May (R)
Tony Gonsolin (R)
C Austin Barnes (R)
UT Kike Hernandez (R)
UT Chris Taylor (R)
1B/LF Matt Beaty L)
OF AJ Pollock (R)
The Dodgers will undoubtedly be one of baseball's top teams in 2020. They have a great lineup, great rotation and a good bullpen, with great depth and a great farm system. They will take the NL West title again, and lose to the Yankees in the World Series.
Every season is the same when it comes to the Angels. They have Mike Trout, the best player on the planet. They have Albert Pujols, one of the most overpaid players on the planet. They have multiple pitchers who are recovering from Tommy John surgery, and they don't have any decent starters. The Tommy John train has already started, as Griffin Canning isn't officially having the surgery yet, but has an elbow injury, which could eventually lead to TJ. The Angels have a plethora of young pitchers, but they need to figure out who is good and who is not.
Offseason additions: 3B Anthony Rendon, RHP Dylan Bundy, RHP Julio Teheran, C Jason Castro, RHP Matt Andriese, LHP Jose Quijada, RHP Mike Mayers, RHP Parker Markel, LHP Ryan Buchter, RHP Neil Ramirez.
Offseason subtractions: OF Kole Calhoun, C Kevan Smith, 1B Justin Bour, IF Zack Cozart, RHP Luis Garcia, RHP Nick Tropeano.
The Angels traded away four prospects for Dylan Bundy. The 4th overall pick in 2011 struck out 162 batters in 161.2 innings, but he allowed 86 earned runs for a 4.79 ERA for the lowly Orioles. He allowed 29 home runs and 58 walks. Andrew Heaney struck out 118 batters in 95.1 innings for a 11.1 K/9. He had a 4.91 ERA, his worst in a full season (it was only his third "full" year). Former Braves ace Julio Teheran was signed to a one year deal. He struck out 162 batters in 174.2 innings with a 3.81 ERA. He allowed just 7.6 hits per nine. Griffin Canning's elbow will be in question as he is shut down. In 18 games he had a 4.58 ERA with 96 Ks in 90.1 innings. Shohei Ohtani will be a starter when he gains eligibility to be a two-way player. He only DH'd last year due to Tommy John surgery. He had a 3.31 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 51.2 innings in 2018. He hit 18 home runs with 12 stolen bases and an .848 OPS last year at the plate. The Angels have young pitchers in Patrick Sandoval, Jaime Barria, Dillon Peters and Jose Suarez attempting to be a swingman. Due to his seniority, Felix Pena could be the one to make the team. Pena probably had the best year out of all of them last year, with a 4.58 ERA plus 101 strikeouts in 96.1 innings over 22 games (seven starts). He would also follow openers in games.
The Angels found their closer in Hansel Robles. In his first full season with the club Robles posted a career best 2.48 ERA in 71 games. He saved 23 games with 75 strikeouts in 72.2 innings. His walks per nine were down to a career low 2.0, as was his 0.7 HR/9. Ty Buttrey entered 2019 looking for the closer role. He had to settle as a set-up man. He struck out 84 batters in 72.1 innings with a 3.98 ERA. Keynan Middleton, who was the closer early in 2018 before undergoing Tommy John surgery, returned late to post a 1.17 ERA in 11 games. He has 85 strikeouts in 83.2 career innings. Noe Ramirez had a 3.99 ERA, and struck out 79 in 67.2 innings, with a career low 2.7 BB/9. Cam Bedrosian had a 3.23 ERA, the second best mark of his career. He struck out 64 batters in 61.1 innings, while allowing only seven hits per nine innings. Justin Anderson has been a workhorse for the Angels the past two years, playing in 111 games. He has a career ERA of 4.75 with 127 strikeouts in 102.1 innings. The Angels traded a top-30 prospect in Jeremy Beasley to the D-Backs for Matt Andriese. Andriese averaged about 1.1 innings per outing over 54 games last year, with 79 Ks and a 4.71 ERA.
The Angels signed former Astros and Twins catcher Jason Castro to a one year, $6.85 million deal. Castro had his best offensive season in a long time last year, hitting 13 home runs in 79 games with a .435 slugging percentage and .767 OPS. It was his best slugging and OPS since he was an all-star in 2013. The backup is Castro's old Houston teammate in Max Stassi. A seven year veteran with only 183 MLB games, Stassi hit eight home runs in 88 games in 2018. He was terrible last year, with a .136 average and .378 OPS in 51 of those games. 20 of them were with the Angels, where he had a .071 average and .235 OPS, and did not record an extra base hit.
Albert Pujols will be forced to play a lot of first base due to Ohtani. A first ballot Hall-of-Famer, Pujols will see his career average dip below .300 this year, a sad thing considering he did not hit under .300 in a season until he hit .299 in his 11th year. He hit 23 home runs with a .244 average and .734 OPS. A three time MVP, six time Silver Slugger, two time Gold Glover and 10 time all-star, Pujols has made one all-star team with no other awards since he joined the Angels in 2012. Tommy La Stella was a surprise all-star, though an injury cost him his chance to play in the game, and it limited him to 80 games. He hit 16 home runs with a .295 average and .832 OPS. He can play third and first base, as well as second. David Fletcher was the starting third baseman, but he won't play much there due to a big free agent signing. He will be a super utility player. In 154 games last season, Fletcher hit .290 with six home runs and eight stolen bases. Andrelton Simmons is still probably the best defender in the game, though Matt Chapman has a case. Simmons played in 103 games last year, hurting his case to win the Gold Glove. He has won four in his career. He saved 12 defensive runs. At the plate, he had one of his worst seasons, with a .264 average and .673 OPS. He hit seven home runs and swiped 10 bags. Anthony Rendon is the aforementioned big free agent signing. After finishing third in MVP voting, winning his second Silver Slugger and the World Series, the Angels gave Rendon $245 million over seven years. He had a career year at the plate in 2019, with 34 home runs, a league leading 126 RBIs and 44 doubles, plus a .319 average, .412 OBP and .598 slugging percentage for a 1.010 OPS. Luis Regnifo was almost traded in the offseason. He played in 108 games last year with a .685 OPS. Matt Thaiss is in a battle with Regnifo for the final spot. The corner infielder hit eight home runs in 53 games last year, with a .714 OPS.
What can you not say about Mike Trout. The best player in baseball signed a monster contract before the start of the season, and had another great year, winning his third MVP and 7th Silver Slugger. He hit a career high 45 home runs, with 11 stolen bases and a .291 average. He led the league in OBP (.438), Slugging Percentage (.645) and obviously OPS (1.083) in 134 games. He edged out Houston's Alex Bregman for the trophy. He also had a 185 OPS+, leading the league for the fifth consecutive time. His career OPS rounds up to exactly 1.000. He will soon receive another outfield buddy, with top prospect Jo Adell primed to debut this year, but probably not for Opening Day. Justin Upton, the first overall pick in 2005, had a terrible injury filled year. He played in just 63 games, hitting 12 homers. However, he had a .215 average and .724 OPS, and he is not a good fielder in left. With Kole Calhoun off to Arizona, Brian Goodwin will hold the starting right field job until Adell comes from AAA. Goodwin hit 17 home runs with seven stolen bases, a .262 average and .796 OPS in 136 games. Goodwin will then take the job of Michael Hermosillo. In 18 MLB games Hermosillo hit no home runs with a .527 OPS. He had an .802 OPS in AAA.
SS Andrelton Simmons (R)
CF Mike Trout (R)
3B Anthony Rendon (R)
DH Shohei Ohtani* (L)
LF Justin Upton (R)
2B Tommy La Stella (L)
1B Albert Pujols (R)
RF Brian Goodwin (L)
C Jason Castro (L)
*On non starting days only
Andrew Heaney (L)
Shohei Ohtani (R)
Dylan Bundy (R)
Griffin Canning (R)
Hansel Robles, closer (R)
Ty Buttrey (R)
Cam Bedrosian (R)
Justin Anderson (R)
Felix Pena (R)
Keynan Middleton (R)
Matt Andriese (R)
Noe Ramirez (R)
C Max Stassi (R)
1B/3B Matt Thaiss (L)
IF David Fletcher (R)
OF Michael Hermosillo (R)
The Angels have a very scary lineup. No team will want to face Trout and Rendon back-to-back. Their bullpen may lack a lefty, but all of their pitchers are very good and underrated when healthy. Their rotation is lacking, but they have the depth and bullpen to cover for it. I predict the Angels will finish 2nd in the AL West, and grab the first Wild Card spot in the American League.
Kansas City Royals 2020 Season Preview
It was another progressive year for the Royals in 2019. The 2015 World Series champions have hit rock bottom. The picked second overall in June, going with high school infielder Bobby Witt Jr. The Royals have a fast team, with 43 base stealer Adalberto Mondesi Jr. Outfielder Jorge Soler also set the franchise record in home runs. The team has some decent players, but they need to build around their core better.
Offseason additions: 3B Maikel Franco, RHP Chance Adams, RHP Greg Holland, RHP Trevor Rosenthal.
Offseason subtractions: UT Cheslor Cuthbert, 1B Lucas Duda, RHP Brad Boxberger, RHP Wily Peralta, LHP Brian Flynn.
Former Rule-5 pick Brad Keller was great in his rookie season of 2018, with a 3.08 ERA. He regressed last year, but still had a respectable 4.19 ERA with 122 strikeouts in 165.1 innings. His 0.8 HR/9 and 8.4 H/9 were very solid compared to the average pitcher. However, his 3.8 BB/9 was high. Danny Duffy has a career ERA of 3.98, but 2017 was his last season with an ERA under 4. He had a 4.34 ERA with 115 strikeouts in 130.2 innings. His 23 starts were his least since he made five in 2013. Jakob Junis had a career high 8.4 K/9, but he also had career worsts in ERA (5.24), BB/9 (3.0), H/9 (9.9) and WHIP (1.426). The Royals brought back their 2008 first round pick in Mike Montgomery, who had never played with the club prior to 2019. A World Series winning swingman, Montgomery made 13 starts with Kansas City, posting a 4.64 ERA with 51 Ks in 64 innings. The final spot is an open battle with an opener as a possibility. Glenn Sparkman made 23 starts last year, but posted a horrid 6.02 ERA. Oft-injured righty Jesse Hahn is back. He allowed seven runs in 4.2 innings late last year. The most starts he made in a season is 16, coming in his 3.35 ERA year of 2015.
Former starter Ian Kennedy emerged as an unlikely closer. Prior to 2019 he had made just two relief appearances, both coming with the Yankees from 2008-2009. He converted 30 saves last year, with a 3.41 ERA that was his best since 2011. His 10.4 K/9 was a career high. His 2.4 BB/9 rate was his best in a long time. Scott Barlow struck out 92 batters over 70.1 innings, allowing just six home runs with a 4.22 ERA. Lefty Tim Hill had a solid 3.63 ERA with 39 strikeouts over 39.2 innings. Lefties hit just .186 against him with a .465 OPS. Jorge Lopez had a rough year as a swingman. In 39 games (18 starts), Lopez had a 6.33 ERA with 109 strikeouts in 123.2 innings. He was hurt by the long ball, allowing 27 home runs. Greg Holland, a three time all-star and Kansas City's closer when they won the World Series, is back as a non-roster invitee. Holland saved 17 games for Arizona last year, with a 4.54 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 35.2 innings. His 6.3 H/9 might have been his most impressive stat last year. Jake Newberry had an encouraging season. He played in 27 games, posting a 3.77 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 31 innings, but allowed seven home runs. Kevin McCarthy had a 4.48 ERA in 56 games last season, but was great in 2018, pitching in 65 games with a 3.25 ERA. He is not a strikeout guy, with a 5.7 career K/9. The Royals can go a lot of different ways for the final spot. Josh Staumont was a 25 year old rookie with a 3.72 ERA in 16 games last year. Randy Rosario is a lefty who posted a 4.40 ERA in 19 games for the Royals and Cubs last year. He did not allow a run in 3.2 innings in the KC portion. Trevor Rosenthal has not allowed a run with eight Ks in four Spring Training innings so far. His 2019 was terrible. He allowed 23 earned runs in 15.1 innings (13.50 ERA) over 22 games for the Nats and Tigers. While he struck out 17 batters, he walked 26 batters and hit four of them. His 15.3 BB/9 has to be some sort of bad record. If he can get his control together, and judging by his no walks issued in Spring so far, he can, he can be a dangerous relief option.
Salvador Perez missed all of 2019 with an injury sustained in Spring Training. A five time Gold Glover and two time Silver Slugger, Perez hit 27 home runs with 80 RBIs in both 2017 and 2018. He had a weak .235 average and .713 OPS in 2018, but he still won the Silver Slugger at catcher. Before the injury, he was one of baseball's best catchers. Cam Gallagher and Meibrys Viloria are in a battle for the backup spot. Gallagher played in 45 games last year, three more than Viloria. Both have options, so that is not a factor. Gallagher is four years older with 28 more games of MLB experience. Gallagher had a .677 OPS compared to Viloria's .544.
Ryan O'Hearn and Ryan McBroom are in a battle for first base. Both can make the team, but that would rule out a backup infielder, which the Royals don't necessarily need as Nicky Lopez, Hunter Dozier, Adalberto Mondesi and Whit Merrifield can all play multiple positions. O'Hearn hit 14 home runs last year, but he also had a .195 average and a .650 OPS. He had a .950 OPS in 44 games in 2018. McBroom debuted late last year, with six RBIs and a .293 average in 23 games (83 PAs). For AAA Scranton (Yankees system), McBroom hit .315 with a .976 OPS and 26 home runs. Nicky Lopez hit .353 with a .957 OPS in 31 AAA games, earning himself the second base job in the majors. He played in 103 MLB games, with a .240 average and .601 OPS with two home runs. He had three defensive runs saved at second base. Adalberto Mondesi stole 43 bases, with a .263 average and a league leading 10 triples, tied with teammates Whit Merrifield and Hunter Dozier. He had a .715 OPS, 89 points lower than his 2018 mark. The Royals gave inconsistent power hitter Maikel Franco $3 million to play third base. He hit 17 home runs last year. It was his first season without at least 20 home runs since his 80 game 2015 season. He had a .234 average and .705 OPS for the Phillies last season, both below his career average.
The Royals' starting outfield will compose of two former starting infielders. Whit Merrifield led the league in hits and stolen bases in 2018, as well as stolen bases in 2017. He stole just 20 bases in 2019, getting caught a league leading 10 times. He led the league in hits again, with 206. Also, his 681 at-bats were the most in the league. He had a .302 average and a career high .811 OPS, making his first all-star team while making a transition from second base to right field to accommodate Lopez's arrive. He will move again, to center field. Hunter Dozier, a natural third baseman who can play first base and right field, broke out in 2019. He hit 26 home runs with 84 RBIs, a .279 average and an .870 OPS in 139 games. He made improvement defensively as well, going from -13 DRS in 2018 to -4 in 2019. Alex Gordon returns for his 14th season as a Royal. A seven time Gold Glover (winning them in the last eight years), Gordon hit 13 home runs with a .266 average and .741 OPS. While he isn't the offensive player he once was, Gordon's average and OPS were his highest since 2015, when he was an all-star for the third time. The team will likely carry both Bubba Starling and Brett Phillips, both of whom are out of options. The 5th overall pick in 2011, Starling finally debuted in 2019, hitting four home runs with a .215 average and .572 OPS. Brett Phillips is a classic AAAA player. He has good AAA numbers, with 18 home runs, 22 stolen bases and an .883 OPS last year. He is not a good MLB player, with a career .203 average and .620 OPS. Jorge Soler finally had his big season, hitting a franchise record 48 home runs, which also led the league. He led the league in strikeouts too, with 178. He hit .265 with a career best .922 OPS. He is a terrible fielder, and with the Royals' plethora of outfielders, I'd be surprised if he saw much fielding time in 2020.
CF Whit Merrifield (R)
SS Adalberto Mondesi (S)
DH Jorge Soler (R)
RF Hunter Dozier (R)
C Salvador Perez (R)
LF Alex Gordon (L)
3B Maikel Franco (R)
1B Ryan O'Hearn (L)
2B Nicky Lopez (L)
Brad Keller (R)
Danny Duffy (L)
Jakob Junis (R)
Mike Montgomery (L)
Jesse Hahn (R)
Ian Kennedy, closer (R)
Scott Barlow (R)
Tim Hill (L)
Jorge Lopez (R)
Greg Holland (R)
Trevor Rosenthal (R)
Jake Newberry (R)
Kevin McCarthy (R)
C Cam Gallagher (R)
OF Brett Phillips (L)
OF Bubba Starling (R)
1B Ryan McBroom (R)
Now is a time for the Royals to figure out who is a part of their future, and who is not. They have a solid lineup, but their pitching staff needs a big upgrade. While they are not the worst team in the AL Central, they are certainly not the best. The Royals will see another 4th place finish in 2020, and another playoff miss.
Houston Astros 2020 Season Preview
It was not a fun offseason for the Astros. It started with their World Series loss, and the reality that ace Gerrit Cole was leaving. It got even worse when it was revealed by former pitcher Mike Fiers revealed that the Astros stole signs in their championship season of 2017. In a well documented scandal, fans and opposing players ripped the Astros players and staff. The Astros ended up parting ways with manager AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnhow over the cheating. With Dusty Baker now at the helm, the Astros will look to prove everyone wrong.
Offseason additions: RHP Jared Hughes, RHP Austin Pruitt, C Dustin Garneau.
Offseason subtractions: RHP Gerrit Cole, OF Jake Marisnick, C Robinson Chirinos, LHP Wade Miley, RHP Collin McHugh, RHP Aaron Sanchez.
With Cole gone, the Astros will rely on Justin Verlander, who was their second best starter last year, but still won his second Cy Young award. Verlander struck out 300 batters over a league leading 223 innings, with a 2.58 ERA. He lead the league with a low 5.5 hits allowed per nine and a .803 WHIP. Like many pitchers around the league, the long ball haunted Verlander. He allowed 36 home runs, and only allowed 66 runs in total. The Astros traded for Zack Greinke at the deadline to almost be Cole's replacement. Greinke had a 3.02 ERA in 10 games for the Astros after the trade. Combined for Houston and the Diamondbacks, Greinke had a 2.93 ERA with 187 strikeouts in 208.2 innings. He won his sixth consecutive Gold Glove and his second consecutive Silver Slugger. Lance McCullers Jr. is back after missing 2019 with Tommy John surgery. When we last saw him in 2018 McCullers had a 3.86 ERA with 142 strikeouts in 128.1 innings. Mexican 24 year old Jose Urquidy debuted last year, with a 3.95 ERA in nine games (seven starts). He struck out 12 batters with a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings in the playoffs. Swingman Brad Peacock will likely move to the bullpen, opening up the competition for the 5th rotation spot. Josh James was primarily a reliever last year, striking out 100 in 61.1 innings over 49 games. However, he had a 5.1 BB/9 and a 4.70 ERA. In 14 games (two starts) for the Rays last year, Austin Pruitt struck out 39 in 47 innings.
Roberto Osuna remains with the team, even after the controversial postseason situation that ended up getting Assistant GM Brandon Taubman rightfully fired. On the field, Osuna had another great season, with 38 saves, leading the league. He also had a 2.63 ERA and a .877 WHIP with 73 strikeouts in 65 innings. Ryan Pressly started off really strong, not allowing his first until his 20th appearance. His ERA was as low as 0.81 in late June. Injuries derailed his season, but he still had great final numbers, with a 2.32 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 54.1 innings. The Astros brought back Joe Smith after the soon-to-be 36-year-old posted a 1.80 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 25 innings last year. Peacock will return to the bullpen, where he entered the game from in eight of his 23 games. He had a 4.12 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 91.2 innings. Chris Devenski had a sub-3 ERA from 2016-2017, but has been awful since. 2019 was his worst year, with a 4.83 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 69 innings over 61 games. Joe Biagini had a 3.78 ERA in 50 games for the Blue Jays last year before being traded to Houston at the deadline with Aaron Sanchez. Biagini had a 7.36 ERA in 14.2 innings for the Astros. The Astros did not have a lefty on their playoff roster, which could help Blake Taylor's roster case, especially with Wade Miley gone. Acquired from the Mets for Jake Marisnick, Taylor has allowed two hits in 5.1 innings this Spring. He had a 2.16 ERA with 10 saves and 74 strikeouts in 66.2 innings in the minors. However, only 0.1 of those innings were at AAA. Righty Bryan Abreu had a 1.04 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 8.2 games last year. He did not have good minor league numbers, though. Trusty veteran Jared Hughes is in camp as a non-roster invitee. He appeared in 72 games for the Reds and Phillies last year, with a 4.04 ERA, but just 54 strikeouts. He has recorded a save in four consecutive seasons, but has only 12 in his career.
Robinson Chirinos left to return to the other Texas team. Martin Maldonado, Houston's trade deadline acquisition for two years in a row, will finally stay with the club, signing a two year deal in the offseason. An elite defender, Maldonado has mainly been a backup in his career, explaining him only winning one Gold Glove. He hit 12 home runs for the Royals, Astros and Cubs last year. Six of them came in his 27 games for the Astros, where he posted a .781 OPS. The Astros brought in Dustin Garneau as a backup. For the rival Angels and A's last year, Garneau hit .244 with a .757 OPS. Garrett Stubbs, who played in 19 games last year, can play the outfield as well as catcher. He is an intriguing option with rosters expanding to 26.
The Astros have the best infield in the league. They had a really good infield entering 2019, but Yuli Gurriel's breakout season completed it. While he had hit over .290 in two seasons leading up to 2019, his power came along. He had a career high 31 home runs and 104 RBIs, swiping five bags with a .298 average and .884 OPS. Jose Altuve's 2017 MVP has come into question. While he hit a career high 31 home runs in 2019, he did not make the all-star team for the first time since 2013. A six time 30 base stealer, Altuve stole just six bases last year. He hit .298, his lowest mark since 2013. It was also the first time since that 2013 season that he did not receive an MVP vote. After a bad 2018 season, Carlos Correa was valuable when healthy in 2019. That was not often, as he played in just 75 games. However, he still hit 21 home runs with a .279 average and .926 OPS. Alex Bregman played a lot of shortstop (his natural position) when Correa was injured. He had his best season, with an 8.4 WAR, with 41 home runs, 112 RBIs, five stolen bases, a .296 average and a 1.015 OPS. He won his first Silver Slugger award, but finished just short of the MVP award. He led the league with 119 walks. Aledmys Diaz was a valuable utility piece. He can play all over the infield, with the outfield mixed in too. He started to walk more, with a career high walk rate. He hit nine home runs with an .823 OPS in 69 games. Yordan Alvarez is technically a first baseman but will mainly be a DH. He won Rookie of the Year last year, hitting 27 home runs with a .313 average and 1.067 OPS in only 87 games.
George Springer had career highs in home runs (39), RBIs (96), average (.292) and OPS (.974) among other things. He did that while playing in only 122 games. With Jake Marisnick on the Mets now, Springer will get more time in center field. Four time all-star Michael Brantley was a great addition to the team. He hit a career high 22 home runs with a .311 average and .875 OPS in his first year away from Cleveland. Josh Reddick did not have a great year. While he hit .275, he had a weak .728 OPS with 14 home runs. Top prospect Kyle Tucker is coming for Reddick's job. The 5th overall pick in 2015 hit four home runs with five stolen bases with an .857 OPS in 22 games last year. He had a .909 OPS with 34 home runs and 30 stolen bases in AAA. However, Reddick should be the right fielder to start. Myles Straw is fighting with Stubbs for the last roster spot. Straw is one of baseball's fastest players. In 56 games last year, Straw stole eight bases in nine attempts. He had a .269 average, which is fine for a speed/defensive replacement.
CF George Springer (R)
LF Michael Brantley (L)
2B Jose Altuve (R)
3B Alex Bregman (R)
DH Yordan Alvarez (L)
SS Carlos Correa (R)
1B Yuli Gurriel (R)
RF Josh Reddick (L)
C Martin Maldonado (R)
Justin Verlander (R)
Zack Greinke (R)
Lance McCullers Jr. (R)
Jose Urquidy (R)
Josh James (R)
Roberto Osuna, closer (R)
Ryan Pressly (R)
Joe Smith (R)
Brad Peacock (R)
Blake Taylor (L)
Chris Devenski (R)
Joe Biagini (R)
Jared Hughes (R)
C Dustin Garneau (R)
IF Aledmys Diaz (R)
OF Kyle Tucker (L)
OF Myles Straw (R)
The Astros are still a good team. The cheating scandal may not be great in the press, but it could actually motivate the players to prove people wrong. The Astros are still the best team in the AL West by far, trash cans or not. They win once again win the division in 2020.
Detroit Tigers 2020 Season Preview
Nothing went right for the Tigers in 2020. While everyone thought the Orioles would finish last in the MLB, the Tigers proved everybody wrong, going 47-114. They will have the first overall pick in June. The lineup is terrible, and the rotation is even worse. They missed their chance to trade away Matthew Boyd at the deadline, costing them valuable assets. It will be another rough season for the Tigers.
Offseason additions: 1B CJ Cron, 2B Jonathan Schoop, C Austin Romine, RHP Ivan Nova, OF Cameron Maybin, RHP Zack Godley, OF Jorge Bonifacio, LHP Hector Santiago.
Offseason subtractions: UT Brandon Dixon, UT Ronny Rodriguez, C John Hicks, LHP Daniel Stumpf, IF Gordon Beckham, IF Josh Harrison, LHP Matt Moore.
Matthew Boyd emerged as one of baseball's top strikeout starters. He has three more years left under contract, He struck out 238 batters in 185.1 innings. However, he allowed a league leading 39 home runs, and 94 earned runs in total, for a 4.56 ERA. Spencer Turnbull had an ERA under 3.00 in June. Injuries and poor play hurt that as the year went on. He went 3-17, leading the league in the latter category. He had a 4.61 ERA in 148.1 innings. He also hit a league leading 16 batters. Veteran starter Ivan Nova had one of his worst seasons for the White Sox last year. He allowed 225 hits, a league high. He had a 4.72 ERA with just 114 strikeouts in 187 innings for a 5.5 K/9, which was not the lowest of his career. Expensive veteran Jordan Zimmermann has been terrible in all four of his seasons in Detroit. He had a 6.91 ERA in 23 starts last year. In his Tigers career Zimmermann has a 5.61 ERA and 6.4 K/9 in 508.2 innings. Daniel Norris is always injured. He is still only 26, and the lefty had a 4.49 ERA in 144.1 innings last year. It was the most he's pitched in an MLB season, in his sixth year overall.
There are not many guaranteed spots in the Tigers bullpen. After Shane Greene was traded at the deadline, Joe Jimenez stepped in. A 2018 all-star, Jimenez converted nine saves with a 4.37 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 59.2 innings. Former starter Buck Farmer had a productive season as a reliever. He pitched in 73 games, striking out 73 in 67.2 innings with a 3.72 ERA. Nick Ramirez is in camp as a non-roster invitee, but he was a vital part of the bullpen last year. Ramirez pitched in 79.2 innings over 46 games as a 29 year old rookie last year. He struck out 74 and had a 4.07 ERA. Swingman Gregory Soto played in 33 games (seven starts), with a 5.77 ERA and 7 K/9. Him being a lefty helps his case for the roster. He was one of seven AL pitchers to commit three errors. Jose Cisnero played for the Astros from 2013-2014, and made his return to the MLB in 2019, with a 4.33 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 35.1 innings. Alex Wilson is back as a non-roster player. he had a 3.36 ERA for the Tigers in 2018. In his one year in Milwaukee Wilson had a 9.53 ERA in 11.1 innings. The Tigers used the first overall pick in the Rule-5 draft on Rony Garcia. He had a 4.01 ERA with 129 strikeouts in 130.1 innings for High-A Tampa and AA Trenton (Yankees system). The last spot is between Tyler Alexander and Zack Godley. Both are the starter/reliever type. Alexander is a lefty, while Godley has more experience. Alexander had a 4.86 ERA in 53.2 innings. Godley had a 6.39 ERA for the D-Backs last year, but joined the Blue Jays late last year. He had a 3.94 ERA in 16 innings for Toronto. He had a 3.37 ERA with 165 strikeouts in 155 innings in 2017.
The Tigers signed Austin Romine to a one year deal so he will finally get his chance to be a starting catcher. He had a career high .281 average and .748 OPS for the Yankees last year. With John Hicks gone, the catching depth is not as good as it used to be. Jake Rogers is an elite defender but hit .125 in 35 games last year. Grayson Greiner played in 58 games last year, with a .202 average and .559 OPS. He may be the backup to start as Rogers gets more playing time in the minors.
Miguel Cabrera will be a Hall of Famer and the Tigers will eventually retire his number 24. The two time MVP and Triple Crown winner had a .937 OPS and .315 average in 1680 games for the team. Unfortunately, that is on the decline. Cabrera had a respectable .282 average last year, but he hit just 12 home runs in 136 games, and his .744 OPS was the second lowest of his career. The Tigers signed a pair of veterans from the Twins in CJ Cron and Jonathan Schoop. Cron and Cabrera will alternate at first base and DH. Cron hit 25 home runs with a career high 78 RBIs last year. He hit .253 with a .780 OPS. His OPS+ was barely above average, at 103. Schoop, a former 32 home run hitter, hit 23 bombs last year, with a .256 average and .777 OPS. Schoop and Cron are very welcome additions who have played in the division before. The rest of the infield is where things get tricky. Jordy Mercer hit .270 with a .747 OPS last year, but he may not make the team. Utility man Niko Goodrum is trying to settle on one position, and that may be at short. Goodrum hit 12 home runs and stole 12 bases with a .743 OPS last year. The third base job is between Jeimer Candelario and Dawel Lugo, who are both out of options. Candelario hit 19 home runs in 2018, but hit just eight last season, with a .203 average and .643 OPS. Lugo hit six home runs with a .652 OPS last year. Harold Castro seems to be a lock as a utility infielder. He hit .291 with five homers and six stolen bases in 97 games, but he had a .689 OPS.
If Mercer makes the team, the Tigers can only carry four outfielders. They brought back Cameron Maybin on a one year deal. The journeyman is entering his third stint as a Tiger. He hit a career high 11 home runs with nine stolen bases, a .285 average and .858 OPS in 82 games for the Yankees last year. In 88 games JaCoby Jones also hit 11 home runs, with seven stolen bases and a .740 OPS last year. Victor Reyes had a solid season. The 25-year-old played in 69 games, hitting three home runs with nine stolen bases, plus a .304 average. Former first rounder Christin Stewart hit 10 home runs last year, but still had a .693 OPS. Travis Demeritte was acquired for Shane Greene at the deadline. He started off his Tigers career strong, with a .291 average and .822 OPS 22 games in. He struggled the rest of the way, with three home runs, three stolen bases and a .225 average plus a .630 OPS. He played in 48 total games. He has four hits in 13 Spring Training at-bats so far, all home runs.
RF Cameron Maybin (R)
2B Jonathan Schoop (R)
DH Miguel Cabrera (R)
1B CJ Cron (R)
SS Niko Goodrum (S)
C Austin Romine (R)
LF Victor Reyes (S)
CF JaCoby Jones (R)
3B Jeimer Candelario (S)
Matthew Boyd (L)
Spencer Turnbull (R)
Daniel Norris (L)
Ivan Nova (R)
Jordan Zimmermann (R)
Joe Jimenez, closer (R)
Buck Farmer (R)
Alex Wilson (R)
Gregory Soto (L)
Jose Cisnero (R)
Nick Ramirez (L)
Zack Godley (R)
Rony Garcia (R)
C Grayson Greiner (R)
SS Jordy Mercer (R)
UT Harold Castro (L)
OF Travis Demeritte (R)
The Tigers are really bad. This isn't Major League, where really bad teams can easily become good teams. The Tigers will once again finish 5th in the AL Central, missing the playoffs by 30+ games.
Colorado Rockies 2020 Season Preview
2019 was not a fun year for the Rockies. The team could not win away from Coors Field, with a 28-53 road record. They had an overall record of 71-91, skidding to 4th in the NL West, 35 games behind the first place Dodgers. The offseason was even less fun, as the Rockies did not sign anyone to a major league contract, and trade rumors ended up angering face-of-the-franchise third baseman Nolan Arenado. The Rockies will look to put the offseason behind them, and focus on their biggest issue. For about every year in franchise history, that is pitching.
Offseason additions: RHP Tyler Kinley, C Elias Diaz, UT Chris Owings, OF Mike Gerber, RHP Ubaldo Jimenez.
Offseason subtractions: 1B Mark Reynolds, C Chris Iannetta, RHP Chad Bettis, RHP Seunghwan Oh, LHP DJ Johnson, LHP Chris Rusin.
The Rockies entered 2019 with an actually decent looking rotation. That all fell apart in season, thanks to Kyle Freeland. Freeland finished 4th in Cy Young voting in 2018, with a 2.85 ERA in 202.1 innings, and having a 0.8 HR/9 ratio, very low for a Rockies starter. German Marquez struck out a franchise record 230 batters in 2018. He struck out just 175 in 174 innings, with a 4.76 ERA. While he only walked 35 batters, he threw a league leading 14 wild pitches. The only starting pitcher with a good season was Jon Gray, picked 3rd overall in 2013. Gray had a 3.84 ERA. He struck out 150 batters in 150 innings, and his 9.0 K/9 was still below his career average. The rest of the rotation is open for tryouts. Antonio Senzatela made 25 starts, but he had a 6.71 ERA in 124.2 innings with a terrible 5.5 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9. Chi Chi Gonzalez was a spot starter last year. In 15 games (13 starts) Gonzalez had a 5.29 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 63 innings. Peter Lambert made 19 starts, but he was just as bad as Senzatela, with a 7.25 ERA and a 5.7 K/9. Jeff Hoffman had a 6.56 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 70 starts.
Wade Davis might have had the worst season for a closer in recent memory. He lead the league with 43 saves in 2018, but converted just 15 last year, with an 8.65 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 42.2 innings. It was his first time with a K/9 under nine since he was a starter in 2013. His 1.5 HR/9 was a career worst and his 10.8 H/9 was close to one. His 1.875 WHIP was 198 points higher than his previous career worst. However, he still looks like the Opening Day closer. Scott Oberg had a second consecutive encouraging season, with a 2.25 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 56 innings, to go along with five saves. He allowed just 6.3 hits per nine innings. Jairo Diaz has had a pattern of not playing in the MLB every other year. That will change in 2020, barring serious injury. Diaz appeared in 56 games, also making five saves, with a 4.53 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 57.2 innings. Carlos Estevez appeared in a team high 71 games, with a 3.75 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 72 innings. He made 11 saves for the team in 2016 as a 23 year old rookie. Expensive veterans Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee will take up two more roster spots. Shaw, who has lead the league in games played by a pitcher three times, had a 3.11 ERA in five seasons for Cleveland before joining the Rockies. He has a 5.61 ERA in two seasons in Colorado. He struck out just 58 batters in 72 innings last year. It was his lowest K/9 rate since 2012. McGee, a lefty, has had success as a Rockie before, coming in 2017. He wasn't so bad in 2019, with a 4.35 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 41.1 innings. Once a high strikeout guy for the Rays, McGee has lost his ability to punch batters out. Tyler Kinley was the one 40-man roster addition, coming via waiver claim from Miami. Kinley had a solid 3.65 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 49.1 innings over 52 games for the Marlins last year. James Pazos could be favored as an extra lefty. Pazos played in 12 games last year, striking out 10 in 10.1 innings allowing two runs for a 1.74 ERA. He had a 2.88 ERA in 60 games in 2018. Yency Almonte is out of options, helping his case. he had a 5.56 ERA in 28 MLB games last year.
In his first as a full time starter, Tony Wolters had a career high .262 average, with a .666 OPS. He hit just one home run in 121 games, two less than he had in 2018, when he played in 47 less games. He did improve defensively. The backup job is a three way competition. Dom Nunez has the advantage of being on the 40-man roster. He debuted late last year, hitting two home runs in 16 games, with a .179 average. Veterans Elias Diaz and Drew Butera are non-roster invitees. A World Series winner in 2015, Butera has a .200 average with a .554 OPS in his 513 game career, spanning over 10 seasons. Elias Diaz hit 10 home runs with a .792 OPS for Pittsburgh in 2018. He hit just two homers last year, with an OPS of .603. His .241 average is better than Butera and Nunez's last year, though in a bigger sample size.
Daniel Murphy did not adjust to Coors Field and first base as well as the Rockies had hoped. The two time Silver Slugger winner hit 13 home runs with 78 RBIs. His .279 average was his lowest since 2009, and he had an 87 OPS+, the lowest of his career and just his second time under 100. Ryan McMahon took over at second base, hitting 24 home runs while stealing five bases, plus finishing with a .779 OPS. Trevor Story has established himself as one of the best power hitting shortstops. He hit 35 home runs with a .294 average and .917 OPS, while swiping 23 bags. He finished 12th in MVP voting, and won his second consecutive Silver Slugger award. Nolan Arenado has been an all-star in five consecutive seasons, and has won a Gold Glove in all seven seasons of his career. He won a Silver Slugger from 2015-2018. He hit 41 home runs with 118 RBIs, with a .315 average and a .962 OPS. He finished 6th in MVP voting. Garrett Hampson can play the outfield and middle infield. He hit eight home runs with 15 stolen bases in 105 games last year, with a .247 average and .686 OPS. Top prospect Brendan Rodgers is recovering from shoulder surgery, and it is not clear when he will be healthy, but it should be sometime near the start of the season. The former 3rd overall pick debuted last year, with a .224 average and .522 OPS in 25 games.
In his first season as a full-time right fielder Charlie Blackmon hit 32 home runs with a .314 average and .940 OPS in 140 games. His speed has declined. Once a 42 base stealer, Blackmon stole just two last season, getting caught five times. He has been an all-star in four consecutive seasons. The 10th overall pick in 2012, David Dahl made his first all-star team, hitting 15 home runs with a .302 average and a career best .877 OPS. Despite hitting 20 home runs, Ian Desmond's defense was so bad he had a -1.7 bWAR. A six time 20 base stealer, Desmond stole just three in 2019. He hit .255 with a .788 OPS. The good news is that his OPS was his best since 2012. Raimel Tapia also had a negative WAR, with a weak 74 OPS+. He hit nine home runs and stole nine bases. He had a .275 average with a .724 OPS. Sam Hilliard got a 27 game trial last year. He hit seven home runs with a 1.006 OPS, helping his case for a roster spot in 2020. Yonathan Daza also debuted in 2019, but was less successful offensively, with a .206 average and .494 OPS. He had just two extra base hits (no homers) in 44 games.
Projected Opening Day Roster
CF David Dahl (L)
RF Charlie Blackmon (L)
3B Nolan Arenado (R)
SS Trevor Story (R)
1B Daniel Murphy (L)
LF Ian Desmond (R)
2B Ryan McMahon (L)
C Tony Wolters (L)
German Marquez (R)
Jon Gray (R)
Kyle Freeland (L)
Antonio Senzatela (R)
Chi Chi Gonzalez (R)
Wade Davis, closer (R)
Scott Oberg (R)
Jairo Diaz (R)
Carlos Estevez (R)
Jake McGee (L)
Bryan Shaw (R)
Tyler Kinley (R)
James Pazos (L)
C Elias Diaz (R)
UT Garrett Hampson (R)
SS Brendan Rodgers (R)
OF Sam Hilliard (L)
OF Raimel Tapia (L)
The Rockies regressed badly in 2019. To stop that, management did nothing and made their superstar unhappy. That is not a good thing. The Rockies are still better than the Giants, and are more talented than the Padres. But, it looks like another 4th place finish is going to happen for the Rockies in 2020.
Cleveland Indians 2020 Season Preview
Entering 2019, the Indians were the favorites for the AL Central title. They saw the Twins surprise them, and run away with the division. The Indians were forced to settle with a wild card berth, except they missed the playoffs entirely. The Indians finished three games back of the Rays, and four back of the A's for both spots. The Indians traded away Trevor Bauer at the deadline, and two time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber in the offseason. Superstar Francisco Lindor is a free agent in two seasons, and the Indians seem more likely to trade him than pay him. Things in Cleveland can blow up very fast.
Offseason additions: IF Cesar Hernandez, OF Domingo Santana, OF Delino DeShields Jr., RHP Emmanuel Clase, C Sandy Leon, RHP Dominic Leone, C Cameron Rupp.
Offseason subtractions: RHP Corey Kluber, OF Yasiel Puig, RHP Tyler Clippard, 2B Jason Kipnis, OF Leonys Martin, C Kevin Plawecki, LHP Tyler Olson, RHP Dan Otero, RHP Nick Goody, RHP AJ Cole.
Mike Clevinger has a partially torn meniscus, and his availability by Opening Day is in question. Clevinger missed the beginning of 2019, but he dominated when he returned. He struck out 169 batters in 126 innings with a 2.71 ERA. His 1.056 WHIP and 2.49 FIP were career highs. Shane Bieber broke out in his second season, winning all-star MVP, and finishing 4th in AL Cy Young voting. He struck out 259 batters in 214.1 innings with a 3.28 ERA. His 1.7 BB/9 was the best in the league. Carlos Carrasco had an emotional return from leukemia in September. He acted mainly as a reliever after his absence. He will be a starter again in 2020. Even though he had a bloated 5.29 ERA, he still had a 10.8 K/9, tying his previous career high. Zach Plesac debuted with a 3.81 ERA in 115.2 innings. His 6.8 K/9 was low, but he had a very good 7.9 H/9. Aaron Civale's debut was only 10 starts, but he had a 2.34 ERA. He also is not a strikeout pitcher, with a 7.2 K/9. He had a 6.9 hits per nine ratio. Swingman Adam Plutko was mainly a starter last year. He had a 4.86 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 109.1 innings.
On June 20, closer Brad Hand had an ERA of 0.86. He struggled the rest of the year, ending with a 3.30 ERA. That was his highest ERA since he was a Marlins swingman in 2015. He struck out 84 batters with a career high 34 saves in 57.1 innings. Nick Wittgren's first year with the Indians was very good, with a 2.81 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 57.2 innings with four saves. James Karinchak had a 2.67 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 30.1 MiLB innings, for a whopping 22 K/9. However, he still had a 5 BB/9. He was a September call-up, striking out eight in 5.1 innings, allowing one run. Submariner Adam Cimber's first full season in Cleveland did not go well. He had a 4.45 ERA with a 6.5 K/9 and 8.9 H/9. He pitched in just 58.2 innings despite playing 68 games. He will be one of the few right handers affected by the three batter limit rule. Another player affected by the rule will be lefty Oliver Perez. He had a 1.39 ERA in 2018, but regressed with a 3.98 ERA in 2019. He struck out 48 batters in 40.2 innings over 67 games. Emmanuel Clase came over in the Corey Kluber trade. He will miss the first month of the year with a back strain. He possesses a 102 miles per hour fastball. Hunter Wood came over from the Rays midseason. He had a 2.98 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 45.1 innings combined. The final two spots are up in the air. Plutko can get one as a swingman when Clevinger returns. That would leave Logan Allen, Phil Maton and James Hoyt up for the final spot. They combined to play in just 18 games for the Indians last year. A former top prospect for the Padres, Allen is a lefty starter that would move to the pen. Acquired midseason for Trevor Bauer, Allen played in one game in Cleveland, striking out three in 2.1 innings, not allowing a run. Maton and Hoyt are standard relievers. Maton had a 2.92 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 12.1 innings, while Hoyt had a 2.16 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 8.1 innings.
Roberto Perez had a big breakout year in his first season as a full-time starter. He hit 24 home runs, crushing his previous career high by 16. He also had a .774 OPS, and won his first career Gold Glove. Sandy Leon hit .310 with an .845 OPS for the Red Sox in 2016, but has regressed offensively since. He hit five home runs with a .192 average and .548 OPS in his last of five seasons in Boston. The Indians acquired Leon in a trade, but not for former backup Kevin Plawecki, who signed in Boston.
The Indians will have something that is very, very rare. They will have an all switch hitting infield, not including a backup. In his return to Cleveland Carlos Santana tied his career high in home runs with 34, while walking 108 times with a .281 average and .911 OPS. He won a Silver Slugger and was 16th in MVP voting. The Indians signed Cesar Hernandez after the Phillies non-tendered him. He has hit for power, average and has stolen bases, but not all at the same time. He stole 15+ stolen bases a season from 2015-2018, but stole just nine in 2019. He hit .294 in both 2016 and 2017, but that lowered to .279 in 2019. He hit 14 home runs, one off of his career high 15 set in 2018. Superstar Francisco Lindor won his second Gold Glove. He finished 15th in MVP voting, which was actually his worst ranking since he didn't receive a vote in his rookie season. "Mr Smile" hit 32 home runs with 22 stolen bases with a .284 average and an .854 OPS. He has two Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers, but he has never won both of them in the same year. Jose Ramirez finished third in MVP voting in 2017 and 2018. He started off slow, with a .198 average and a .586 OPS on June 12. He went on a tear in the second half, finishing with 23 home runs and 24 stolen bases. His .806 OPS might seem low, but it is a huge improvement. While outfield auditions will go on, the Indians will likely carry just one backup infielder. That will likely be former top prospect Christian Arroyo, acquired from Tampa Bay in the same midseason trade as Hunter Wood. Arroyo has played in just 70 career games, with six home runs, a .215 average and a .622 OPS. He did not play for the Indians after the trade.
The Indians are without three clear candidates for an outfield spot. The only lock to start is Oscar Mercado. The now 25-year-old center fielder played in 115 games, hitting 15 home runs and stealing 15 bases with a .269 average and .761 OPS. He finished 8th in Rookie of the Year voting. Domingo Santana hit 30 home runs in 2017 before regressing in 2018. He was traded to Seattle for last year. He hit 21 home runs with a .770 OPS and 108 OPS+. Tyler Naquin will make it close to Opening Day after tearing his ACL late last year. He hit 10 homers with a .288 average and a .792 OPS in 89 games. Jordan Luplow had a good first season in Cleveland. He hit 15 home runs with a .923 OPS in 85 games. If Naquin is healthy then either Jake Bauers or Delino DeShields Jr. will lose their roster spot. Coming over for Kluber, DeShields is a great fielder with 106 stolen bases in 539 career games. However, he also has a career OPS of .668. Bauers hit 12 home runs last year, but struck out 115 times and had a .683 OPS. Greg Allen and Bradley Zimmer have outside chances at a spot. Allen is a speedy outfielder who stole 21 bases in 91 games in 2018. However, he is also a bad hitter, like DeShields. A former first rounder, Zimmer has a .652 OPS in 144 career games. Franmil Reyes will likely be regulated to DHing duties. He hit 37 home runs for the Indians and Padres last year, with an .822 OPS.
CF Oscar Mercado (R)
SS Francisco Lindor (S)
1B Carlos Santana (S)
DH Franmil Reyes (R)
RF Domingo Santana (R)
2B Cesar Hernandez (S)
C Roberto Perez (R)
LF Jordan Luplow (R)
Mike Clevinger (R)
Shane Bieber (R)
Carlos Carrasco (R)
Zach Plesac (R)
Aaron Civale (R)
Brad Hand, closer (L)
Nick Wittgren (R)
James Karinchak (R)
Oliver Perez (L)
Adam Cimber (R)
Hunter Wood (R)
Adam Plutko (R)
Phil Maton (R)
C Sandy Leon (S)
IF Christian Arroyo (R)
OF Tyler Naquin (L)
OF Delino Deshields Jr. (R)
The Indians are regressing. They can still develop pitchers, and while Terry Francona is a great manager, the ownership is still cutting salary. They traded away Kluber for no impact pieces, and the Bauer trade hurts too, even if it got them Reyes. I predict that the Indians will finish 3rd in the AL Central, missing the playoffs.
Posted by Carter at 10:30 PM No comments:
Cincinnati Reds 2020 Season Preview
Yesterday's season preview was the new and improved White Sox. However, no team improved more than the Reds this offseason. They dished out big deals to improve their lineup and pitching staff. Playing in a tough NL Central, it will not be easy for the Reds to jump up in the standings.
Offseason additions: IF Mike Moustakas, OF Nick Castellanos, OF Shogo Akiyama, LHP Wade Miley, RHP Pedro Strop, RHP Justin Shafer, OF Travis Jankowski, RHP Nate Jones, RHP Tyler Thornburg, IF Matt Davidson.
Offseason subtractions: IF Jose Peraza, SS Jose Iglesias, LHP Alex Wood, RHP Kevin Gausman, RHP David Hernandez.
The Reds have their ace in Luis Castillo, a 27 year old with a hard fastball. Castillo made his first all-star team in 2019, striking out 226 batters with a 3.40 ERA in 190.2 innings. However, he also allowed 22 home runs and walked 79 batters. Sonny Gray was an all-star for the first time since 2015. He allowed just 6.3 hits per nine innings, striking out 205 batters with a 2.87 ERA in 175.1 innings. The Reds traded Taylor Trammell, one of their top prospects, at the deadline in a package for Trevor Bauer. Bauer was awful in Cincinnati, making 10 starts with a 6.39 ERA. Overall, Bauer made 34 starts with a 4.48 ERA and 253 strikeouts in 213 innings. He is a free agent after the season. Anthony DeSclafani has had issues staying on the field. He made 31 starts in 2019, his most since he made the same number of starts in 2015. He struck out 167 batters in 166.2 innings with a solid 3.89 ERA. He will be a good 4th starter. The Reds have Wade Miley $15 million over two years to be their 5th starter. A journeyman lefty, Miley had a 3.98 ERA in 33 starts for the Astros last season. He is the only Reds starter with less strikeouts than innings pitched last year.
Former starter Raisel Iglesias had his worst season yet as Reds closer. While his 34 saves were as career high, his 4.16 ERA was a tick higher than his 2015 starting numbers. On the plus side, Iglesias' 12 K/9 ratio was a career high. His 8.2 hits per nine was a career worst. So was his 1.224 WHIP. It was a drama filled season for Amir Garrett, topped with some fights, including his man vs everybody performance against the Pirates late in the season. On the field, Garrett had a career season. He had a 3.21 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 56 innings. His main issue is the walks. He walked 5.6 batters per nine innings. Michael Lorenzen has gained traction as a two-way player. As a pitcher, Lorenzen had a 2.92 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 83.1 innings, with seven saves. He played in 100 games total. His outfield numbers are not good. He hit one homer with a .581 OPS in 53 Plate Appearances. Entering 2019, Pedro Strop had gone five consecutive seasons with a sub-3 ERA, and seven out of eights seasons. He bombed with the Cubs last year, with a 4.97 ERA in 41.2 innings. His 10 saves was the second most of his career to 2018, and his 10.6 K/9 was his most since 2016. Now 34, Strop will have to work his way up from a middle relief role. Robert Stephenson had a career season, with a 3.76 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 64.2 innings. Justin Shafer pitched in 39.2 innings for Toronto last year. He struck out 39 batters with a 3.86 ERA. Non-roster invitee Nate Jones is always hurt. In his first eight seasons, all with the White Sox, Jones had a 3.12 ERA with 318 strikeouts in 291.1 innings. The final spot could be between Cody Reed and Lucas Sims. Reed, a lefty, played in just three games last year, allowing one run in 6.1 innings. Sims is more of a swingman. In 24 games (4 starts) Sims had a 4.60 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 43 games.
Tucker Barnhart is more of a defensive catcher. But, he hit a career high 11 home runs in 2019. He still had an 82 OPS+, and his total extra-base hits was his lowest since his 81 game 2015 season. Curt Casali hit eight home runs with a .251 average and .741 OPS. While he hit more home runs than he did in 2018, everything else seemed to get worse offensively.
Former MVP and six time all-star Joey Votto is not at his best anymore. He walked 76 times last year, his first time in a full season not walking at least 100 times since 2012, when his 94 walks still led the league. His .357 OBP was the worst of his career. So was his .768 OPS. He struck out 123 times, his most since 2015. His 15 home runs was more than his 2018 total, but his power seems to be gone. 2020 might actually be Votto's last shot at the playoffs while he is still a league average player. The Reds gave Mike Moustakas $64 million over four years to play second base. Moustakas played second base for the first time in the MLB in 2019, playing 47 games for the Brewers. Moustakas hit 35 home runs with a career high .845 OPS. That was due to a .329 OBP, the second best of his career. Freddy Galvis had 18 home runs in 115 games for the Blue Jays when the Reds claimed him off waivers late last year. Galvis struggled afterwards, with five homers in 32 games with a .696 OPS. His 23 total homers were a career high. Eugenio Suarez had an insane season that went mostly unrecognized. Suarez hit 49 home runs, the most ever for a Venezuelan. However, he struck out a league leading 189 times. He had a .930 OPS and a .572 slugging percentage. Kyle Farmer played in 97 games at six positions, including pitcher and catcher. Farmer hit nine home runs with a .410 slugging percentage. He walked just 10 times in 197 Plate Appearances.
The Reds might have eight MLB outfielders. The team gave Nick Castellanos a four year, $64 million deal. Castellanos hit a career high 27 home runs with an .863 OPS. His 58 doubles with the Tigers and Cubs lead the MLB. He took off after a trade deadline deal to Chicago. He hit 16 home runs with 21 doubles in 51 games, with a 1.002 OPS. The team gave 31 year old Shogo Akiyama $21 million over three years for him to come over from Japan. Akiyama hit .303 with a .864 OPS and 20 home runs for the Saitama Seibu Lions last year. Former top prospect Nick Senzel made his league debut. An infielder that was moved to center field, Senzel hit 12 home runs with a .742 OPS in a mediocre 104 game season. Jesse Winker has a .285 average with an .845 OPS in his three year career. He hit a career high 16 homers last year. Aristides "The Punisher" Aquino pummeled baseballs, hitting 19 home runs in 56 games. With the Reds' crowded infield, he isn't even a guarantee to make the team. He also stole seven bases with an .891 OPS. Scott Schebler hit 30 home runs in 2017, but hit .123 with a .475 OPS in 30 games last year. Phil Ervin had a career high .271 average and .791 OPS in 94 games, with an OPS+ over 100 for the first time last year.
CF Shogo Akiyama (L)
1B Joey Votto (L)
3B Eugenio Suarez (R)
2B Mike Moustakas (L)
RF Nick Castellanos (R)
LF Jesse Winker (L)
SS Freddy Galvis (S)
C Tucker Barnhart (L)
Luis Castillo (R)
Sonny Gray (R)
Trevor Bauer (R)
Anthony DeSclafani (R)
Wade Miley (L)
Raisel Iglesias, closer (R)
Amir Garrett (L)
Michael Lorenzen (R)
Pedro Strop (R)
Robert Stephenson (R)
Justin Shafer (R)
Nate Jones (R)
Cody Reed (L)
CF Nick Senzel (R)
C Curt Casali (R)
OF Aristides Aquino (R)
OF Phil Ervin (R)
UT Kyle Farmer (R)
The Reds are a much better team than they were last year. Their rotation is complete, their bullpen is alright, and their lineup can mash. They will finish 2nd in the NL Central, but ultimately fall short of a playoff birth.
Chicago White Sox 2020 Season Preview
Every year, there is a team that sticks out to everyone in Spring Training. That might be the White Sox this year. They already have a talented farm system, with former first rounders and international players coming up to join the team this year. They have supplemented their young talent by signing veterans stars. They big issue will be the bullpen, but if Chicago can figure that out, they are legitimate AL Central contenders.
Offseason additions: C Yasmani Grandal, LHP Dallas Keuchel, DH Edwin Encarnacion, OF Nomar Mazara, RHP Steve Cishek, LHP Gio Gonzalez, LHP Adalberto Mejia, RHP Bryan Mitchell, UT Cheslor Cuthbert, UT Andrew Romine.
Offseason subtractions: RHP Ivan Nova, LHP Josh Osich, RHP Juan Minaya, C Welington Castillo, OF Ryan Cordell, OF Jon Jay.
The White Sox might have found their ace in Luca Giolito. A former 1st rounder who was once baseball's top pitching prospect, Giolito struggled in his first full season, with the worst ERA in baseball. He rebounded in 2019, with a 3.41 ERA and 228 strikeouts in 176.2 innings. He also had three complete games with two of them being shutouts, both the most in the league. He made the all-star team and finished 6th in AL Cy Young voting. The White Sox signed former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel to a four year deal. In his one year in Atlanta, Keuchel had a 3.75 ERA and a 121 ERA+ in 112.2 innings. A great fielder, Keuchel is a four time Gold Glove winner. Twelve year veteran Gio Gonzalez is in his third stint with the White Sox, but had not played with the team yet. He made just 17 starts last year with two relief appearances for the Brewers, posting a 3.50 ERA. Reynaldo Lopez had an encouraging 3.91 ERA in 2018, but struggled in 2019, finishing the season with an ERA of 5.38 over 33 starts. He allowed a league leading 110 earned runs. Dylan Cease, acquired with Eloy Jimenez for Jose Quintana in 2017, had a rough debut. He had a 5.79 ERA in 14 starts, but he did finish with a 10 K/9. Top pitching prospect Michael Kopech is back from Tommy John surgery. He made his debut at the end of 2018, making four starts. He will likely start the season back in AAA.
The White Sox acquired Alex Colome last offseason and held onto him at the trade deadline in hopes of being competitive this year. Colome posted a 2.80 ERA with 30 saves and 55 strikeouts in 61 innings. The White Sox locked up set-up man Aaron Bummer, signing the southpaw to a five year deal. Bummer had a breakout 2019 season, limited both righties and lefties to an average under .200, and posting a 2.13 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 67.2 innings. The team poached Steve Cishek from the cross-town Cubs. Cishek saved seven games last year, striking out 57 with a 2.95 ERA in 64 innings. Evan Marshall was a good set-up man, with a 2.49 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 50.2 innings. Lefty Jace Fry struck out 68 batters in 55 innings, and while his 7.2 H/9 was good, his 7.0 BB/9 was among the worst in the league. It lead to an inflated 1.582 WHIP. Former Royals closer Kelvin Herrera hasn't been the same since leaving Kansas City midway through 2018. He had a career worst 6.14 ERA for the White Sox last year. He is still only 30 years old. The White Sox claimed Jimmy Cordero from the Mariners in June. He was solid the rest of the way, pitching in 30 games with a 2.75 ERA and 31 Ks in 36 innings. Ian Hamilton had a AAA ERA of 1.71 in 2018, but allowed 18 runs in 16.1 AAA inning last year before missing the rest of the season with an injury. Carson Fulmer was picked 8th overall in 2015, but has a 6.56 ERA in 44 career games (15 starts).
The White Sox went out and signed Yasmani Grandal to a four year deal. One of the best catchers in the game, Grandal is a good defender, and hit 28 home runs with a career high .848 OPS last year, his only season with the Brewers. James McCann was a surprise all-star, with career highs in home runs (18), batting average (.273) and OPS (.789). However, betting on a regression would be wise, especially after a transition from starter to backup.
Jose Abreu was a free agent, but took the qualifying offer before signing an extension. There was no chance he was leaving. He hit 33 home runs with a league leading 123 RBIs, plus a .284 average and .834 OPS. However, his batting average and OPS were actually lower than his career numbers. Second base will be Nick Madrigal's spot very soon. He will likely be called up six weeks into the season for service time purposes. He has Gold Glove potential and stole 35 bases with a .311 batting average in High-A, AA and AAA last year. For now, 26 year old utility infielder Danny Mendick will hold down the fort. He hit two home runs with a .308 average and a .787 OPS in 16 games last year, his first time in the majors. Tim Anderson was a 20-20 player in 2018, and while he didn't reach 20 home runs or 20 stolen bases in 2019, his improvements were more important, raising his batting average by 95 points, up to .335 to win the batting title. His .865 OPS was also a career high by over 100 points. He stole 17 bases and hit 18 home runs. Yoan Moncada, once MLB's top prospect, also saw major improvements. His 217 strikeouts in 2018 led the league, but he rebounded with a career high 25 home runs, with 10 stolen bases, a .315 batting average and a .915 OPS. Andrew Romine is worth having around because he can play every position. His hitting needs improvement. He did not hit a home run in 72 games for Seattle last year, and his .210 batting average and .504 OPS were the worst of his career in a full season. Edwin Encarnacion can spell Abreu a day at first, but will be a primary DH. Encarnacion has hit at least 32 home runs in eight consecutive seasons. He has a career .851 OPS with 414 homers.
Eloy Jimenez made the Opening Day roster last year as the club's top prospect. He hit 31 home runs with an .828 OPS. He finished 4th in Rookie of the Year voting. Luis Robert is in a very similar situation. The club's top prospect this year, Robert had one interesting twist from Jimenez's situation. He already signed an extension, before his first MLB game. In three different minor league levels Robert hit 32 home runs, stole 36 bases, had a .328 batting average with an OPS of 1.001. Robert and Jimenez will be in center and left field for a long time. The White Sox acquired Nomar Mazara from the Rangers. A 24 year old with four years of MLB experience, Mazara hit exactly 20 home runs in his first three seasons, but hit only 19 in 2019. However, his .268 average and .786 OPS last year were career highs. Mazara always starts strong but dies off midseason. Leury Garcia can play the infield as well as the outfield. He led the league with 11 sacrifice hits last year. A seven year veteran, Garcia played in over 100 games for the first time in 2019. He stole 15 bases and his .279 batting average was a career best. Adam Engel is very fast and has a great glove in centerfield. However, he stole just three bases last year. Engel's .242 average was a career high.
SS Tim Anderson (R)
2B Yoan Moncada (S)
1B Jose Abreu (R)
DH Edwin Encarnacion (R)
C Yasmani Grandal (S)
LF Eloy Jimenez (R)
CF Luis Robert (R)
RF Nomar Mazara (L)
2B Danny Mendick (R)
Lucas Giolito (R)
Dallas Keuchel (L)
Gio Gonzalez (L)
Reynaldo Lopez (R)
Dylan Cease (R)
Alex Colome, closer (R)
Aaron Bummer (L)
Evan Marshall (R)
Steve Cishek (R)
Jace Fry (L)
Kelvin Herrera (R)
Jimmy Cordero (R)
Ian Hamilon (R)
C James McCann (R)
UT Leury Garcia (S)
OF Adam Engel (R)
UT Andrew Romine (S)
The White Sox have a lot of young talent. Their rotation is getting better, and while the bullpen does not have a lot of household names, it can hold up. However, they are still a year away from being serious contenders. I think the White Sox are going to finish second in the AL Central, but miss the playoffs.
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Home » Magazine » Do You Think the World Revolves Around You?
Do You Think the World Revolves Around You?
by Rabbi Zvi Homnick
One of the most infuriating things about Lubavitch and its belief system to those on the outside looking in, whether they identify as Misnagdim or Chassidim of other denominations, is the casual certitude that their role is such that their actions are the central determining factor as to the fate of the entire Jewish people and the world. One of the harder to swallow manifestations thereof is the fact that they have their own holidays, even as they insist that these holidays are universal in nature and should be celebrated by all Jews. We always knew that you couldn't blame the Chassidim for this, since it was coming from the top, but that didn't make it any easier to tolerate.
You couldn't ask for a better example of this than the letter written by the Rebbe Rayatz in the year 5688/1928 in honor of the one year anniversary of his release from captivity on 12-13 Tammuz 5687/1927. There he writes, “It is not only me that Hashem redeemed on the twelfth of Tammuz, but all those who hold the Torah dear, those who observe Mitzvos, and even those that are called with the name Yisroel as a sobriquet...” In a letter from 1932, he refers to 12 Tammuz as the day that was established as the moed hamoadim (holiday of all holidays). Yes, we knew that the first year there were some other great people who proclaimed this a day of celebration, such as Reb Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld in Eretz Yisroel, but beyond that it all seemed too exaggerated and even delusional.
Oddly enough, the knowledge that Lubavitchers believe that their Rebbe is Moshiach actually made them seem a little more reasonable. If you believe that a certain somebody is going to redeem the Jews and the world as the anointed scion of the House of Dovid, it makes a little more sense to believe that every move he makes and every event in his life has global impact and significance, although it makes it no less annoying to those who are not quite convinced.
Of course, that very belief provided more ammunition for debate when encountering Lubavitchers, especially after the Rebbe came out with a sharp statement discouraging the promotion of that belief. Within a few hours of the end of Shabbos Parshas Bereishis 5745, the fellows in the yeshiva where I hung out during the holiday break that Tishrei were up to speed on the latest news from 770. I remember clearly standing on the corner of Coney Island Avenue and Avenue M, across from the yeshiva and a block away from home, as one of the guys who assiduously followed the goings on in Lubavitch quoted the Rebbe's statement, emphasizing that the Rebbe did not deny the belief, but rather addressed the possible negative public relations repercussions.
This perception, that the Rebbe actually endorsed the belief while discouraging its broad dissemination was the prevalent view in the yeshiva circles that I traveled in. In fact, I knew a few guys that got their kicks at that time from confronting Lubavitchers as to whether they believed the Rebbe is Moshiach, and found it hilarious when they hemmed and hawed as a result of the Rebbe's strong statement. One year later, on Simchas Torah 5746, when the Rebbe seemed to pull back from his earlier restraining order, I was learning in Eretz Yisroel in a yeshiva that was less involved in such issues so I didn't get the news until I returned to New York the following Pesach.
I could list any number of ideas and statements that broadcast loudly and clearly the worldview that the Chabad Chassidic movement is the driving force of implementation of the Divine Plan, which I was aware of this before I considered the serious study of Chassidus and possibly entertaining the outrageous premise that these ideas and statements might even be valid. As disturbing as that possibility was to me, my previous perusal of general Chassidic texts had prepared me for the idea that metaphysical truths are not readily corroborated by human logic and rational thought, and that one had to pray that G-d open his eyes to recognize spiritual truths beyond the ken of finite intellectualism. What intrigued me most was the claim that Chabad Chassidus makes it possible to take those beliefs that one could access only through the soul's inherent spirituality and “bring them down” so as to be grasped by the human mind.
ORIGINS OF THE WORLD
As mentioned previously, I never really struggled with issues of faith even as I struggled mightily with the issues of love and fear of G-d, as well as the need for submission to divine decree and divine authority, that is, my own personal relationship with G-d. Thus the theory of evolution was to me nothing more than ignorant nonsense and I didn't have the patience or the interest to bother reading those Jewish works that tried to debunk and disprove said theory. I had even less patience for those who approached me claiming that they were struggling with the possibility that evolution was true, as opposed to the Torah account in Bereishis. On the other hand, I was fascinated by the spiritual dynamics that allowed such a patently absurd notion to gain such a degree of universal credibility that the term “creationist” became an extreme pejorative.
Even more disturbing was the direct link between the development of that theory and the theories of the existentialist philosopher whose views on men and supermen inspired the ideas behind the final solution. Additionally, there was a similar link to the theories of the Jewish apostate who inspired the worker's revolution that became a superpower committed to uprooting any vestiges of Jewish faith and practice. And although it took a longer time for that theory to worm its way into the American consciousness, as America had and has a much stronger faith base than Europe, it ultimately became the foundation for the licentiousness and profligacy that has become endemic in American life. Having been exposed to certain Kabbalistic principles early on, such as the idea that the forces of evil mirror the realms of holiness in opposition, the fact that this one fatuous theory played such a prominent role in the death and persecution of so many of my fellow Jews and the abandonment of Jewish belief and practice by so many others, intrigued me to no end.
Over time, I worked out a possible explanation for this phenomenon, only to discover later that same idea in Chassidus with far greater clarity. The basic idea is that there are two aspects to creation. There is the clearly miraculous act of creation of “something from nothing” by an omnipotent being, and then there are the “laws of nature” that govern the everyday running of the world in a manner of “cause and effect.” G-d's role in creating “something from nothing” is something that is completely hidden from the created beings. In fact, Chassidus explains that that is why it is described as creating “from nothing” despite the fact that we know that, in the words of Dovid HaMelech, “since everything is from You.” The same is true for G-d's hand in the everyday affairs of the world that seem to operate under the rules of cause and effect.
However, although we have no way of “seeing” the act of creation itself in our world, by accepting that premise on faith (and even more so when understanding that creative process to the degree that is humanly possible as it is explained in Chassidus) we do have the capacity of discerning Divine Providence in the everyday events in our lives and the world. As the Ramban explains regarding the miracle of splitting the sea and the other miracles of the exodus from Egypt, the purpose of miracles that are above nature is so that we realize and discern that what we call nature is nothing more than ongoing miracles. The way in which we can do so on a regular basis, even when there are no obvious miracles is through constantly looking to see the hand of Divine Providence in everything.
This is in fact the deeper dynamic of the “exile” and “redemption” of the Jewish Nation. “Exile” is when we live in a state where G-d's presence and involvement in our world and our lives is concealed from our eyes and our consciousness. Thus, in Egypt, we were enslaved to Pharaoh who proclaimed, “The Nile is mine, and I made myself,” “Who is G-d (YHVH) that I should listen to His voice.” In order to “break” that concealment, there was a two-step process. The first step is when Pharaoh is confronted by Moshe (both in his palace and at the side of the Nile when doing his business) and visited by plagues so that it becomes clear that the Nile is not his and “so that you will know that I am G-d (YHVH)...” Initially, before he is broken, Pharaoh fights back even harder by enslaving the Jews even more deeply. Finally, he is forced to concede and “let My people go.” The next step is when he tries to make a last ditch effort to re-enslave the people until he is finally destroyed in a miraculous fashion when it becomes fully manifest that “I am G-d your G-d who took you out of Egypt.”
Later in the desert, even after the Giving of the Torah, it becomes clear that experiencing a high degree of divine revelation by way of regular miracles in everyday life is not sufficient to undo the tendency to separate the “Creator” from the “normal” everyday “cause and effect” system of the world. In fact, during the era of the First Temple when they experienced the “ten miracles in the Temple” and a much higher degree of divine revelation, they made it clear that they wanted G-d to be less involved in their lives and preferred to live in the “normal” world of “cause and effect.” This was actually predicted in advance in the “rebuke,” where they were told that if they prefer to live in a world of “happenstance,” Hashem would give them just that although the consequences would be horrible and they would be forced to experience “exile” again and again.
FIXING THE WORLD
The process whereby we are to extricate ourselves from the final exile, requires that we overcome both the inability to “see” G-d in creation and our everyday lives and that we embrace His involvement and welcome His presence. As we entered into the era universally recognized as the final days before Moshiach, or in Talmudic terms, “the footsteps of Moshiach,” there was tremendous push-back from the forces of evil which presented in various forms but all based to some degree on the idea of rejecting G-d in his role as the Creator, and embracing the idea that the world runs in random fashion with the only order imposed on the world being by human agency. “The Nile is mine, and I made myself,” “Who is G-d that I should listen to His voice.”
The response to this is also a two-step process, albeit played out over a much longer period of time. The first step was that the “Moshe” of that time had to confront “Pharaoh” in his “palace,” the most feared Communist prison, representing the seat of power from which this heartless colossus wreaked havoc on its own citizens and the world at large. On the night of his arrest, hundreds of religious leaders, Jewish and otherwise, were simply taken out and shot. And yet, he stood up to them by completely ignoring their authority, and ultimately they had to bow in defeat and release him to freedom. Just as in Egypt, the first response was for the forces of evil to fight back even as they knew that this was the beginning of the end of their being broken entirely. They threw everything they had at us, from holocausts to relentless persecution, from forced apostasy to the seduction of everything goes, but the core was already broken. So yes, 12 Tammuz is a “day of redemption” for all Jews, whether they know it or not, whether they appreciate it or not.
This time around, the second step of the process, unlike in Egypt, is to synthesize the miraculous and the mundane, so that we not only “see” and appreciate the hand of Divine Providence in world events and our everyday lives, but we yearn for the degree of revelation when it will be obvious to all “and all flesh will see that the Mouth of G-d has spoken,” and happily accept it when it comes. Every aspect of Jewish life today is a clear testament to the transition from the concealment of “exile” towards the revelation of “redemption” where the miraculous becomes an everyday reality. This is the case with the existence of the State of Israel and its survival, and the tremendous growth of the yeshiva world with tens of thousands learning in Kollel and endless more examples. Those people may not recognize or even actively reject the idea that this is all an outgrowth of the mesiras nefesh of the Rebbe Rayatz, and the work of the Shluchim in bringing G-dliness into every place in every corner of the world, but that doesn't change the spiritual and physical reality.
Those of us who have been privileged to be shown the inner workings of the Divine Plan and our role therein, and having been told that we have completed the job of “bringing the One (G-d, as He is above nature) into the Ten (G-d, as He operates within nature)” as well as “elevating the Ten to the level of the One (so that nature itself proclaims the Oneness of G-d),” cannot allow ourselves to be distracted by the last vestiges of exile, which is our own inner resistance to accepting G-d within every facet of our beings and every aspect of our lives. We need to “accept Moshiach” and prepare the world to “accept Moshiach,” so that we “see” G-d Himself revealed in our world, immediately, NOW!
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Crisis in Yarmouk camp in Syria unites Palestinians
Published by at 1:20 pm under Articles,Palestinian politics
Never in recent memory has any single issue or location unified Palestinians as much as the starvation of the besieged Yarmouk refugee camp just outside Damascus.
The camp, one of the biggest in Syria, has been a target of the internal Syrian conflict, with some opposition forces holed up inside and government forces keeping a tight siege on the camp.
For weeks, Palestine TV has been covering nonstop the siege of Yarmouk. Political leaders are paraded, news of the status of the food shipment updated every hour and a fund-raising campaign has also been initiated. The save Yarmouk drive was not confined to official Palestinian TV. Social media, local groups, demonstrators and communities inside Palestine and out and on both sides of the Syrian crisis have all been recruited to give attention to the besieged camp. The name Yarmouk was even publicly stated during the opening sessions of the Geneva II conference in Switzerland.
What is remarkable is that the save Yarmouk initiative has infiltrated all fields and has been adopted and picked up by political groups that have not seen eye to eye. While Fatah seems to be the lead faction paying attention to Yarmouk and its destiny, supporters of other Palestinian groups, including Hamas, have also joined the bandwagon, collecting donations and making public declarations. Palestinians and their supporters in Jordan, the Gulf and other diaspora locations have also experienced public rallies and fund-raising campaigns.
UNRWA, the international organization responsible for Palestinian refugees, also initiated its own campaign to help Yarmouk. The UN agency carried out a successful three-day social media campaign; according to an UNRWA news release, it has generated “more than 31.6 million ‘impressions’ and reached tens of millions of people around the world.â€
A New York newspaper falsely claimed that UNRWA was not doing anything about Palestinian refugees in Syria. Palestinian activist Ali Abunimah quickly replied to the false report in the New York Post by giving specific details of how UNRWA has been leading in the campaign to address the status of Palestinian refugees in Syria and especially Yarmouk.
It is not clear what has made the save Yarmouk story so unifying. The image of a Palestinian child in Yarmouk holding a loaf of bread with the words Yarmouk has gone viral. In addition, the fact that Palestinian refugees are forced to search again for shelter after years of living in refugee camps has broken even the toughest of hearts.
Politically, the timing of the campaign is convenient for various groups. Fatah feels that leading the campaign shows that it is still the leading Palestinian national movement and that despite rumors about selling out the refugees in current talks with the Israelis, it hasn’t given up on the rights of refugees, including those in Syria, to return.
The Islamist movement Hamas called on all militias to leave the besieged camp. Hamas, which lost its footing in Syria after it became clear that the movement could no longer stay neutral, has jumped on the bandwagon to show that it still cares about fellow refugees in Syria.
Ironically, while Hamas was once a close ally of the Syrian regime before reversing its position, the PLO and its affiliates have remained more neutral in the Syrian conflict and thus have had better success at getting food into the camp, which had once numbered as many as 150,000 inhabitants, but currently has less than 50,000.
Palestinian anger and frustration has produced some relief for the besieged Palestinian camp, but that relief was short-lived. According to the Associated Press, after a number of convoys succeeded in entering, shots targeted the aid trucks, making it clear that this is all that will be allowed in for the time being. This sudden slowdown of humanitarian aid has not stopped the popular campaign to save Yarmouk. While the campaign has produced food and funds for the camp, its biggest success has been that it has refocused for many the Palestinian tragedy, which is personified by Palestinian refugees still living outside their homes and without the shelter, protection and support of their own state.
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"What to do when your boat is stranded in the middle of the ocean having been seized by a sea creature, the like of which no-one has seen before?"
On digital release now and DVD/Bluray from April 27th, thanks to Signature Entertainment, Ren Zelen watched Sea Fever...
https://www.thedreamcage.com/2020/04/film-sea-fever.html
"And yet the US’s war on drugs policy being shown to be an empty promise is perhaps one of the more interesting features of both the Narcos’ shows"
Marc Nash headed south of the border and binge watched Narcos Mexico, Series 1 & 2...
https://www.thedreamcage.com/2020/04/tv-narcos-mexico-series-1-2.html
"for the first three years Community was exactly what I had been looking for in a television show."
Steve Taylor-Bryant remembers how he came to the show, why he loved it, and how he ended up really disappointed...
https://www.thedreamcage.com/2020/04/tv-community.html
"So Alex Garland, he of The Beach, Ex-Machina et al, has penned an 8-part scifi series for the BBC."
With major spoilers if you haven't binge-watched all of it on BBC iPlayer yet, Marc Nash delves into Devs...
https://www.thedreamcage.com/2020/04/tv-devs.html
Thursday was St George's Day and to celebrate [oh - Ed], we sent [oh, no - Ed] Susan Omand, our token [we didn't think this through, did we? - Ed] Scottish person, hunting for her top five favourite film dragons [wait a minute, what? - Ed]...
https://www.thedreamcage.com/2020/04/films-here-be-dragons.html
"the things that are bringing comfort during the end of days may also help you"
Steve Taylor-Bryant shares some of his go-to comfort reading/viewing during Lockdown ...
https://www.thedreamcage.com/2020/04/bookstv-steves-lockdown-survival-kit.html
On 26th December 2019, 627 pieces of Classic Doctor Who content were made available to Britbox subscribers. Every Sunday in 2020, our Doctor Who expert, Tony Cross, looks back at some of the classic stories.
Here are Tony's thoughts on...
The Curse Of Peladon (4 Episodes)
The Sea Devils (6 Episodes)
The Mutants (6 Episodes)
If you're looking for something suitably arty-ish, surprisingly informative and incredibly entertaining, Susan Omand suggests you indulge in a few of Marek's Mediocre Masterpieces on YouTube...
https://www.albiemedia.com/2020/04/aotd-mareks-mediocre-masterpieces.html
"This year saw her move onto a path nobody foresaw and gave us glimpses of the amazing creative force she’d become."
This week's #SotD80 choice from Jimmy Hunter is by Kate Bush...
https://www.albiemedia.com/2020/04/sotd80-kate-bush.html
"it didn’t care about tuneful vocals, it just cared that the words were heard."
Thirty years on, Steve Taylor-Bryant looks back at the Inspiral Carpets album, Life...
https://www.albiemedia.com/2020/04/turn-that-noise-down-inspiral-carpets.html
@21stCScribe
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Bush nominates new Homeland Security chief
Chertoff is federal appellate court judge
Judge Michael Chertoff
President Bush makes the official announcement.
Gallery: The Bush Cabinet
MICHAEL CHERTOFF
Age: 51, born November 28, 1953
Harvard University, A.B. degree, 1975
Harvard University, J.D. degree, 1978
3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 2003-present
U.S. Department of Justice, assistant attorney general, 2001-2003
Latham & Watkins, partner, 1994-1996
U.S. Senate special counsel for Whitewater committee, 1994-1996
• Bush: Politics stalling Bolton vote
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• Special Report
Tom Ridge
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush on Tuesday nominated federal appeals court Judge Michael Chertoff to replace Tom Ridge as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Bush made the announcement from the Roosevelt Room of the White House.
"When Mike is confirmed by the Senate, the Department of Homeland Security will be led by a practical organizer, a skilled manager and a brilliant thinker," Bush said.
He praised Chertoff as a strong and decent man, saying that he had an impressive record of cutting through red tape as an assistant attorney general.
Chertoff, 51, sits on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which handles appeals from New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and the Virgin Islands.
Before becoming a judge, he was assistant attorney general in the Department of Justice's criminal division from 2001 to 2003.
Chertoff argued the government's case against terror suspect Zacarias Moussaoui's request for access to other al Qaeda suspects in U.S. custody. Allowing such access, Chertoff said, would create "immediate and irreparable harm" to U.S. security.
Bush called Chertoff a good leader in the war against terror and said that he played a key role in linking the September 11, 2001, attacks to al Qaeda.
"He understood immediately that the strategy on the war on terror is to prevent the attacks before they occur. His energy and intellect put him at the center of many vital homeland security improvements ...," Bush said. "He's faced countless challenging decisions and has helped to protect his fellow Americans while protecting their civil liberties."
Bush established the Homeland Security Department after the 2001 attacks, appointing Ridge to oversee the department's attempts to prevent another strike on U.S. soil.
On Tuesday, the president heaped praise on Ridge, saying he had "the gratitude of the nation" for his work.
Chertoff said he was "deeply honored" by the nomination. "Tom Ridge ... leaves some very big shoes to fill," he said. "If confirmed, I pledge to devote all my energy to promoting homeland security and all our fundamental liberties."
Bush's first choice for the post, former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, withdrew his name from consideration last month after discovering that a former household employee had a questionable immigration status.
In the week after his nomination, questions also were raised about some of his business dealings and about accusations that he misused resources while head of the New York Police Department. (Full story)
More than half of Bush's 15-member Cabinet announced their resignations following his re-election in November.
GOP counsel on Whitewater panel
Chertoff received his law degree from Harvard University and was a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice William H. Brennan Jr. in 1979 and 1980. He first stepped into a prosecutorial role as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York from 1983 to 1987.
From there, he moved to the District of New Jersey and was assistant U.S. attorney from 1987 to 1990 and U.S. attorney until 1994.
Between 1994 and 1996, Chertoff was counsel to the GOP Whitewater committee investigating the business dealings of President Clinton and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is now New York's junior senator.
The Whitewater investigation eventually led to Clinton's impeachment in the House of Representatives, but the bid to remove him from office failed in the Senate.
An independent counsel later determined that the Whitewater investigation did not uncover sufficient evidence to warrant any criminal charges against the Clintons.
As a senator, Mrs. Clinton cast the only vote against Chertoff when he was nominated for the appeals court in 2003.
New York's other senator, Charles Schumer, quickly gave a qualified endorsement of Chertoff's nomination.
"Judge Mike Chertoff has the resume to be an excellent Homeland Security secretary, given his law enforcement background and understanding of New York's and America's neglected homeland security needs," Schumer said.
"I look forward to sitting down with him and fleshing out his views, but at the outset, he appears to be a strong choice."
Panel: Spy agencies in dark about threats
• White House calls pope inspiration for millions
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• Former Clinton adviser Berger to plead guilty
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« Saudis Warn France About Possible Terrorist Attack
Strikes and Civil Unrest in France »
Germany’s Merkel: Multiculturalism a Total Failure
Germany is starting to decide that it wants all its residents to assimilate into a Judeo-Christian culture:
BERLIN—German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined her country’s increasingly acrimonious debate about immigration over the weekend, declaring that multiculturalism in Germany had been a “total failure.”…
Ms. Merkel’s party has railed against multiculturalism for years, arguing for the primacy of German Leitkultur, a term that evokes the country’s Judeo-Christian traditions, as well as the principles of the age of the enlightenment.
Yet the timing of Ms. Merkel’s comments, which come in the midst of a public debate over what Germany can do to better integrate immigrants, many of whom are Muslim, has drawn attention. Polls indicate that a growing number of Germans believe that too many of the country’s foreigners live in what are often referred to as “parallel communities” with little or no connection with German culture…
Though immigration has been a hot political topic in Germany for years, the latest debate began in August after the publication of a book by Bundesbank official Thilo Sarrazin in which he warned against the growing Islamization of Germany…
Last week, Horst Seehofer, the leader of the Christian Democrats Bavarian sister party, said Germany should consider cutting off immigration from Turkey and Arab countries altogether, an idea Ms. Merkel has opposed.
The balancing act Ms. Merkel is trying to pull off by trying to appeal to both conservative and mainstream voters was apparent in her weekend speech. Even as she attacked multiculturalism, Ms. Merkel endorsed a recent speech Germany’s president in which he said that Islam is “a part of Germany.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304250404575558583224907168.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
The reality is that most Germans do not consider that Islam is part of Germany. The stage is being set for a more forceful German leader (perhaps Karl Guttenberg) to rise up and take this to the next level. If, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared, multiculturalism is a total failure and those from Islamic countries will not totally integrate, the next step may be to insist they integrate or leave. Of course, to do this, the Germans may follow the lead of others in Europe such as France that banned burqas, and Switzerland that banned the construction of Islamic minarets.
Now, a nation cannot simply be against something, it is also helpful to be for something. As the article above indicates Judeo-Christian traditions are one such idea. And the Vatican is working on that:
Pope Benedict XVI signed a “motu proprio” that officially promulgated the mission of a pontifical council dedicated to preaching the Gospel anew and restoring the Catholic way of life to societies which have turned against their sacred heritage. Through this document — “Ubicumque et semper” — the Holy Father is declaring a spiritual campaign to restore the heart of Christendom. Unlike the other wings of the Holy See, which are dedicated to missionary work in the developing nations or to evangelization in a general sense, the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization will focus largely on Europe and the United States…As the Holy Father’s writings and trips have made clear, he is thinking of the cultural and spiritual rot that besets Europe and the Americas. (Fahey WE. New Pontifical Council to Combat Spiritual Decay in the West. “Holy Father Calls for the Faithful to Support This New Work”. MERRIMACK, New Hampshire, OCT. 17, 2010. Zenit.org http://www.zenit.org/article-30678?l=english)
I should point out that it is Europe, and not the United States, that really is the focus of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization. Notice the following:
The president of the new Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization says that Europe will have to be the dicastery’s first priority, since that is the continent suffering the most aggressive process of dechristianization.
Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella said this today at a press conference to announce Benedict XVI’s “Ubicumque et Semper,” a decree issued “motu proprio,” which officially establishes the new council. (Villa CE. Work Gets Under Way in Curia’s Newest Council. President Says Europe Must Be 1st Priority. VATICAN CITY, OCT. 12, 2010. Zenit.org http://www.zenit.org/article-30623?l=english)
It is an interesting “coincidence” that right after the Vatican declares that it needs to re-evangelize Europe, that the Chancellor of Germany admits that “multiculturalism”, really meaning Islamic incursions to Germany, is a “total failure”.
Events for end time prophecies to be fulfilled are lining up.
The final European beast power is in the process of re-emerging and it will have many indications of its German connections.
The time for the final European leader, known as the King of the North, to emerge is getting closer.
Some articles of possibly related interest may include:
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? What is ahead for Europe?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the German Defense Minister one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2010, 2011, or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
This entry was posted on Monday, October 18th, 2010 at 6:14 am and is filed under Religious News.
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WATERCOOLER CHAT: CHAOS IN COACHING
January 14th, 2010 | Category: Uncategorized
In between NFL playoff weeks, the college football world has been up in arms. Pure chaos.
First off, the Seattle Seahawks were in search for a new head coach. Instead of picking from potential offensive and defensive coordinators in the pros, they went headhunting in the college ranks — approaching none other than USC superhero Pete Carroll. Carroll has coached in the NFL before (the Patriots before the Belichick era), but has refused multiple pro coaching opportunities since turning USC into a powerhouse. In fact, the 49ers approached him just a few seasons ago, and he said he was staying put.
However, USC just had an awful season, and recovering in college football isn’t easy. Once you slip up (i.e. go from being undefeated almost every season to losing to multiple teams within your conference), it’s hard to recover. Some of the star recruits don’t want to be a part of your program any more. With this being said, Carroll took the opportunity and bolted for the NFL. Perhaps he saw a slump coming in the USC program and got out while he could. It’s tough to say if Carroll’s success at USC will transfer to Seattle (after all, success in college sports is very dependent on a solid recruiting team), but it’s definitely a new era in Seattle now. With Carroll as the head coach, it’s very likely that the Seahawks will move on from the Matt Hasselback era. After all, Hasselbeck was former head coach Mike Holmgren’s QB. You might see a bunch of changes in Seattle next season.
Furthermore, upon Carroll’s departure to the Seahawks, it left a coaching vacancy at USC. A very coveted job. And guess who took it immediately? Former USC offensive mastermind Lane Kiffin. Kiffin was the offensive coordinator at USC under Carroll, and he took a head coaching job with the Raiders just 2 seasons ago. Now here’s where things get controversial. Kiffin signed a big deal to be the head coach at the illustrious University of Tennessee. He was brought in to reignite their prestigious program (they have been average this decade). Well, after just one average season at Tennessee, Kiffin jumped ship and went back to his comfort zone — USC. Perhaps Kiffin knew the SEC is just too competitive to go undefeated, and that USC would be a better place to shine. After all, USC has practically dominated the Pac 10 this year, and they easily get the best High School recruits on the west coast. However, Tennessee is not happy about this, and feel that Kiffin betrayed them. It’s a very shady move, especially because it’s now possible that some of Kiffin’s most notable blue chip recruits might decide to play elsewhere. This has financial implications for the University after all. But… what’s done is done. Kiffin is the man at USC, and there is a (huge) vacancy at Tennessee.
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Making Construction a Stronger Industry
Construction Industry Ethics and Compliance Initiative (CIECI)By Jessica Ferlaino
This year, the Construction Industry Ethics and Compliance Initiative (CIECI) is celebrating its tenth anniversary as a leading non-profit organization dedicated to improving the compliance and ethics practices of the construction industry. Members are leading construction industry companies that are dedicated to the highest standards of ethical behavior.
CIECI has 48 members that are representative of design-build firms, architects, engineers, general contractors, specialty contractors, and subcontractors. The initiative was established with the mission to develop a process by which the industry could promote and encourage the adoption of methods that ensure legal compliance and high ethical standards.
“It was started by a number of CEOs of 13 major construction companies some years ago. We were concerned that the industry did not have a centrally focused entity where we could express best practices with one another and talk about industry trends and concerns,” explained Matt Walsh, co-chairman of The Walsh Group.
“The 13 founding members represent a major component of the U.S. construction industry with almost $50 billion in annual revenue between us combined,” he continued. “So it’s a substantial number of businesses who are having a major part of the industry’s focus.”
“We wanted to make sure that we brought ethics and compliance to a higher level, and we thought if we could do that, we would be helping the industry,” added Robert E. Alger, president and CEO of Lane Industries. “We looked at the defense industry’s model and used it as a starting point to develop our program.” This helped get the organization off the ground.
CIECI accepts new members who meet the organization’s established criteria, requiring them to have and adhere to a written code of business conduct. Prospective members are vetted by a Steering Committee to confirm they meet the CIECI’s guiding principles which include a commitment to training personnel to achieve personal responsibilities in accordance with the established code of conduct.
Mr. Walsh noted that this is important on a corporate and personal level for firms like his that have a family name attached to the company’s reputation. “If you think about our members, many of them have the names of the founding families in the company name. So certainly at our firm, at Walsh Group or Walsh Construction, that is absolutely the case. That is our family name, and we want to be absolutely certain with our 10,000 employees across North American that all of them are acting every day in a manner our wives and children and parents would be proud of, and that’s not an easy thing to do.”
“We turned down some prospective members. We didn’t think they acted in the best interest of the organization or the industry, and we have not allowed them to become members. It’s not easy to get in. You have to show that you’re willing to ‘walk the walk’ in order to get into this organization,” said Mr. Alger of the rigorous application process.
One of the ways that CIECI works to achieve a better industry is through the organization’s annual best practices forum which will take place October 1 and 2, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. “We have two events a year: one in Washington, DC in the spring and one in the fall, and they are the principal means by which we attract our peers and our members together,” Mr. Walsh noted. The forums offer members a way to share best practices, and resources are made available to help members adapt to changing regulations and standards as the industry evolves, enabling them to address and mitigate the risks that are characteristic of the construction industry.
“There are really two mechanisms to support that dialogue: one is members talking to other members about challenges, best practices, pitfalls and lessons learned, so it’s a lot of facilitating a setting where that kind of dialogue and learning can take place,” explained Peter Eyre, CIECI’s coordinator.
“The second is bringing in speakers, thought leaders – some from the government, some from other industries – so we can learn about how others are doing it, because we don’t pretend to have all the answers for this industry. Nor do we pretend to be aware of all the challenges. So it’s important to have that outside force as well to help us move forward on this journey.”
CIECI’s 2018 spring conference took place May 2, 2018, in Washington, DC. The event drew record attendance and strong CEO participation. It featured a guest speaker, and focused on: cybersecurity and strategies and techniques to mitigate risk; and how to deter and detect sexual harassment while creating a culture in which people are not afraid to speak up.
The initiative facilitates the flow of information and works to educate its members about industry trends and changes at the corporate, compliance, and government/legislative levels. As Mr. Alger stated, “I don’t think there is anyone that can keep up with everything, but with everybody doing their homework and coming to these meetings prepared, we all learn something we can implement back into our companies.”
“One of our purposes is to make sure that all of our members are well informed about what is going on in Washington or state governments in the various venues that might affect our members. And first, make sure they are out there and secondly, what they need to do to be actively participating to make sure they are doing the right thing,” said Mr. Walsh.
“Our consistent goal is to heighten the effectiveness of all of our members in terms of their ability to be compliant and to act in an ethical fashion across their entire organization and to be a sounding board and a learning environment for our members where we can learn from one another and teach each of us to be more effective,” he continued.
CIECI does not lobby the government or endeavor to influence the laws and regulations to which the industry and its members are subject, but it does take a leadership role in various issues that are pertinent to its members and the future of the industry. These issues can vary from larger corporations to smaller entities.
It covers issues related to small business challenges, disadvantaged enterprise regulations, reporting and compliance, how to deal with social media, and how to make training more effective for the benefit of its members and the industry.
“If there is an issue that comes up where you either have a whistleblower or someone else making allegations of non-compliance, you deal with that investigation coherently and purposefully,” Mr. Walsh explained.
While its mission has remained steadfast throughout the years, the issues it turns its attention to have changed as the industry changes. “I think the CEO focus and the core mission has remained unchanged. Obviously there was been evolving priorities and issues and topics that we continue to assess, but the purpose and structure has been without change,” said Mr. Eyre.
“The original charter was written to be flexible enough so that if new issues or new concerns came up in the industry, we would be able to address those, and that seemed to work out well,” Mr. Walsh explained.
One of the organization’s greatest strengths its chief executive focus. Especially as a volunteer organization, CIECI gains great strength from the chief executives who are actively engaged in its vision for a better industry.
“The CEO commitment and the tone that is set by having involvement at that level means that when people come, they invest more. When people talk, there is more active listening. It shows the attendees that this really matters and makes a difference,” said Mr. Eyre.
“That is a key thing that separates this organization from others: it’s been effective. When I have an opportunity to talk with members about their compliance and ethics journey, there is a lot of taking the CIECI teachings and learnings and putting them into practice, so it really does have a day-to-day impact, and it’s something we are all very proud of.”
CIECI works to create a model of what ethical leadership looks like. “One of our principal objectives is not only to learn and teach one another but to be an industry spokesman for smaller firms that may not have the same level of resources or sophistication so they can learn from us,” said Mr. Walsh.
“It’s not proprietary,” Mr. Alger noted. “What we’re all trying to do is to make the industry better so we can share some best practices from some of the larger companies that are involved and are a lot more evolved.” CIECI can help morality be embedded into the very culture of its members and of the industry.
After ten years of proven success, CIECI looks to continue its good work making the construction industry a better industry for all. Its focus helps it to strengthen the integrity of its members for the benefit of both the industry and the end-users of the projects members build.
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Home / Christian / Motivation / How God Initiates a Man
How God Initiates a Man
June 29, 2017 Christian, Motivation
A man needs to know his name. He needs to know he’s got what it takes.
And I don’t mean “know” in the modernistic, rationalistic sense. I don’t mean that the thought has passed through your cerebral cortex and you’ve given it intellectual assent, the way you know about the Battle of Waterloo or the ozone layer — the way most men “know” God or the truths of Christianity. I mean a deep knowing, the kind of knowing that comes when you have been there, entered in, experienced firsthand in an unforgettable way. The way “Adam knew his wife” and she gave birth to a child. Adam didn’t know about Eve; he knew her intimately, through flesh-and-blood experience at a very deep level. There’s knowledge about and knowledge of. When it comes to our question, we need the latter.
In the movie Gladiator, set in the second century A.D., the hero is a warrior from Spain called Maximus. He is the commander of the Roman armies, a general loved by his men and by the aging emperor Marcus Aurelius. The emperor’s foul son Commodus learns of his father’s plan to make Maximus emperor in his place, but before Marcus can pronounce his successor, Commodus strangles his father. He sentences Maximus to immediate execution and his wife and son to crucifixion and burning. Maximus escapes, but too late to save his family.
Captured by slave traders, he is sold as a gladiator. That fate is normally a death sentence, but this is Maximus, a valiant fighter. He more than survives; he becomes a champion. Ultimately he is taken to Rome to perform in the Colosseum before the emperor Commodus (who of course believes that Maximus is long dead). After a remarkable display of courage and a stunning upset, the emperor comes down into the arena to meet the valiant gladiator, whose identity remains hidden behind his helmet.
COMMODUS: Your fame is well deserved, Spaniard. I don’t believe there’s ever been a gladiator that matched you... Why doesn’t the hero reveal himself and tell us all your real name? (Maximus is silent.) You do have a name?
MAXIMUS: My name is Gladiator. (He turns and walks away.)
COMMODUS: How dare you show your back to me?! Slave! You will remove your helmet and tell me your name.
MAXIMUS: (Slowly, very slowly, he lifts his helmet and turns to face his enemy.) My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius; Commander of the Armies of the North; General of the Felix Legions; loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius; father to a murdered son; husband to a murdered wife; and I will have my vengeance, in this life or in the next.
Gladiator: Commodus & Maximus
His answer builds like a mighty wave, swelling in size and strength before it crashes on the shore. The man knows who he is, what he’s made of.
Where does a man go to learn an answer like that — to learn his true name, a name that can never be taken from him? That deep heart knowledge comes only through a process of initiation. You have to know where you’ve come from; you have to have faced a series of trials that test you; you have to have taken a journey; and you have to have faced your enemy.
But as a young man recently lamented to me, “I’ve been a Christian since I was five — no one ever showed me what it means to really be a man.” He’s lost now. He moved across the country to be with his girlfriend, but she’s dumped him because he doesn’t know who he is and what he’s here for. There are countless others like him, a world of such men — a world of uninitiated men.
The church would like to think it is initiating men, but it’s not. What does the church bring a man into? What does it call him out to be? Moral. That is pitifully insufficient. Morality is a good thing, but morality is never the point. Paul says the Law is given as a tutor to the child, but not to the son. The son is invited up into something much more. He gets the keys to the car; he gets to go away with the father on some dangerous mission.
Where do we go? To whom can we turn? To a most surprising source.
A number of years ago, at a point in my own journey when I felt more lost than ever, I heard a talk given by Gordon Dalbey, who had just written Healing the Masculine Soul. He raised the idea that despite a man’s past and the failures of his own father to initiate him, God could take him on that journey, provide what was missing. A hope rose within me, but I dismissed it with the cynicism I’d learned to use to keep down most things in my soul.
Several weeks, perhaps months later, I was downstairs in the early morning to read and pray. As with so many of my “quiet times,” I ended up looking out the window toward the east to watch the sun rise.
I heard Jesus whisper a question to me: “Will you let Me initiate you?” Before my mind ever had a chance to process, dissect, and doubt the whole exchange, my heart leaped up and said yes.
“Who can give a man this, his own name?” George MacDonald asks. “God alone. For no one but God sees what the man is.” He reflects upon the white stone that Revelation includes among the rewards God will give to those who “overcome.” On that white stone there is a new name. It is “new” only in the sense that it is not the name the world gave to us, certainly not the one delivered with the wound. No man will find on that stone “mama’s boy” or “fatty” or “seagull.” But the new name is really not new at all when you understand that it is your true name, the one that belongs to you, “that being whom He had in His thought when He began to make the child, and whom He kept in His thought throughout the long process of creation” and redemption. Psalm 139 makes it clear that we were personally, uniquely planned and created, knit together in our mother’s womb by God Himself. He had someone in mind and that someone has a name.
That someone has also undergone a terrible assault. Yet God remains committed to the realization of that same someone. The giving of the white stone makes it clear — that is what He is up to.
The history of a man’s relationship with God is the story of how God calls him out, takes him on a journey and gives him his true name. Most of us have thought it was the story of how God sits on His throne waiting to whack a man broadside when he steps out of line. Not so. He created Adam for adventure, battle, and beauty; He created us for a unique place in His story and He is committed to bringing us back to the original design.
So God calls Abram out from Ur of the Chaldees to a land he has never seen, to the frontier, and along the way Abram gets a new name. He becomes Abraham. God takes Jacob off into Mesopotamia somewhere, to learn things he has to learn and cannot learn at his mother’s side. When he rides back into town, he has a limp and a new name as well.
Even if your father did his job, he can only take you partway.
There comes a time when you have to leave all that is familiar, and go on into the unknown with God. Saul was a guy who really thought he understood the story and very much liked the part he had written for himself. He was the hero of his own little miniseries, “Saul the Avenger.” After that little matter on the Damascus road he becomes Paul; and rather than heading back into all of the old and familiar ways he is led out into Arabia for three years to learn directly from God.
Jesus shows us that initiation can happen even when we’ve lost our father or grandfather.
He’s the carpenter’s son, which means Joseph was able to help him in the early days of his journey. But when we meet the young man Jesus, Joseph is out of the picture. Jesus has a new teacher — his true Father — and it is from Him He must learn who he really is and what he’s really made of.
Initiation involves a journey and a series of tests, through which we discover our real name and our true place in the story.
Most of us have been misinterpreting life and what God is doing for a long time.
“I think I’m just trying to get God to make my life work easier,” a client of mine confessed, but he could have been speaking for most of us. We’re asking the wrong questions. Most of us are asking, “God, why did you let this happen to me?” Or, “God, why won’t you just...” (fill in the blank — help me succeed, get my kids to straighten out, fix my marriage — you know what you’ve been whining about). But to enter into a journey of initiation with God requires a new set of questions:
What are You trying to teach me here? What issues in my heart are You trying to raise through this? What is it You want me to see? What are You asking me to let go of?
In truth, God has been trying to initiate you for a long time. What is in the way is how you’ve mishandled your wound and the life you’ve constructed as a result.
Credit: John Eldredge
How God Initiates a Man Reviewed by E.A Olatoye on June 29, 2017 Rating: 5
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Home › 2020 elections › Looking Back, Looking Forward
January 1, 2018 — No Comments ↓
Posted in 2020 elections, Climate, Russia, US elections, US politics Tagged with: BuzzFeed, John Hudson
It’s been quite a year. Here I take a quick look back at a few of the stories I wrote about last year and expect to follow next year.
Like everyone else, I was surprised and shaken by the election result. It seemed clear enough to EP – if not to the editors of The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The New Yorker – that Donald Trump had defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton fair and square, winning the supposedly safe states of the Old Northwest – Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio – as well as Pennsylvania and Florida. The Russian cyber-mischief that was gradually revealed to have taken place throughout the year was interesting mainly as a gauge of Vladimir Putin’s mood and expectations. He, too, was expecting Clinton, whom he loathed, to win. Not even Trump, I suspected, seriously expected to emerge victorious.
That Russian interference tipped the scale didn’t seem plausible. Neither did the proposition that James Comey altered the election outcome with his last-minute disclosure that a few more Clinton emails had been discovered, his hand having been forced by rebellious FBI agents. Nor was I especially worried about the clumsy attempts at collusion that had been made by various actors before the election, except as an index of their intentions (though the possibility of obstruction of justice charges against the president now seem very real). It was the opportunities for mischief going forward that gave me pause, given the myriad conflicts that existed with the president’s business dealings: the emoluments clause writ large.
For that reason, I was especially interested in the FBI, especially after President Trump fired Comey, and the now former director reported the president’s repeated requests that he discontinue the investigation of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. The dissension that clearly existed within the ranks of the law enforcement agency at the time of the election still hasn’t come to the fore, but that is a tribute to the leadership under directors Comey and successor Christopher Wray. Their determination to prevent the president from rewarding his allies in the Bureau helps explain their swift transfer of agent Peter Strzok out of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office over the summer, after text messages he wrote criticizing then-candidate Donald Trump came to light. The pursuit of even-handedness requires being equally tough on both factions.
The principle of banding together to stabilize governmental affairs is apparent on a broader front. John Hudson, star diplomatic reporter for BuzzFeed, in October surfaced a report of a so-called “suicide pact” among Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary James Mattis, and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, whereby each agreed to leave in the event that the president moves against one of them. Add the nomination of Jerome Powell to a four-year term as chair of the Federal Reserve Board, and Trump is, at least in certain respects his administration, so far, an ordinary Republican president.
Energy Department and Environmental Protection Agency? If you believe the science underlying the concern about climate change, as I do, then the Trump-Bannon wing of the Republican Party is doomed to extinction as the ill effects of global warming become inarguable and, alas, in many instances, irreversible. Health care? The next Congress will begin the arduous task of remedying the effects of a decade of GOP sabotage. Monetary policy once again will soon be at center stage. Of the two candidates for nomination as Fed vice-chair whose interviews have been announced, both are moderate: Richard Clarida, of Columbia University, studied under Benjamin Friedman at Harvard; Lawrence Lindsey, of the Lindsey Group, was a Martin Feldstein protégé there two years later.
Meanwhile, foreign policy, at least toward Russia, remains gripped by a kind of paralysis, as symbolized by the President’s inability to establish a joint cyber- security unit with Russia, as reported last summer by Reuters. BuzzFeed’s Hudson reported earlier this month on the collapse of broader secret talks with Russia. Thus both nations face important elections with no explicit common ground. That is all the more reason for both parties to rethink their foreign policy premises as they prepare for the US 2020 presidential election campaign. That’s where EP plans to spend some time when not writing about the economics profession. Onward and upward to 2018!
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Rodrigo Garcia Dutra: Abstract Ground Paintings, Bronzes, Video & Drawings
23 mei 2014 martien
Opening : Saturday, 15th March 2014, from 4-6 pm
The opening speech will be held by Reinier W.L. Russell, honorary Consul of Brazil in Amsterdam in the presence of the artist.
Marian Cramer Projects is pleased to present the first solo exhibition by the London based Brazilian artist, Rodrigo Garcia Dutra (Rio de Janeiro, 1981) who is currently in his final year of an MA in Sculpture at the Royal College of Art, London.
Garcia Dutra is interested in the origin of ideas and how form travels in time and space. He also looks into objects overseeing the complex relationship in how we shape aesthetics and how they shape us in return. He sees this changes of paradigm as a cultural projection that mutates values in the course of time. The new aesthetic layer no longer represents the original intentions of its creation.
For his first site-specific show in Amsterdam, Rodrigo Garcia Dutra explores the tension between representation and abstraction in his paintings. He creates an ambiguity between the painterly figurative and the photographic device. The geometric patterns of Moroccan stone pavements are captured, as a stand up snapshot and after being painted resembles aerial views of an abstract landscape. The lexicon of abstraction is embedded then through the painting of real places. The subject is the Jamaa el Fna Square, a market place in Marrakesh’s medina. It remains the main square of Marrakesh and is used by locals and tourists. It’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. During the day it is predominantly occupied by orange juice stalls, youths with chained Barbary apes, water sellers in colourful costumes with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups as well as snake charmers who will pose for photographs for tourists.
The show will also feature his charcoal tracings from the motifs found in a West African Kente cloth. Those works titled TABOM CONCRETO (When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade) were shown in July 2013 in the show ‘Open Cube’, at White Cube Mason’s Yard. He references the Brazilian Constructivism and Neo-Concretism through the European avant-garde myth itself being inspired by the aesthetic of other cultures. Also cites a book on Japanese aesthetics embracing darkness and shadows.
Complementing is a video piece titled ‘Abstract Eruption’ made through overlay of an animation that suggests a breathing of circles and squares over a compilation of found footage of volcano eruptions from youtube.
Rodrigo Garcia Dutra lives and works in London. He holds an MA in Fine Arts from Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design, London (2009) and is currently in his final year for a MA in Sculpture at the Royal College of Art, London. In 2010, he was awarded the Fundação Bienal de São Paulo, Programa Brasil Arte Contemporânea. Recent exhibitions include ‘Notes to Self’, Royal College of Art, London (2013); ‘Outras Coisas Visiveis Sobre Papel’, Galerie Leme, São Paulo (2012); ‘Theory of the City or the Possibilities of an A4’, ISCP, New York City, USA (2011) and ‘17 Ingredients: Measures of Autonomy’, BASH Studios, London (2009).
By appointment until 30th April 2014:
Marian Cramer Projects
Chopinstraat 31
1077 GM Amsterdam
T: +31 (0)6 147 80 171
info@mariancramer.com
www.mariancramer.com
Vorig berichtEen nieuw contact formulierVolgend berichtGod is een Braziliaan
Wie zij we
Il Guarany
15 januari 2014 martien
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*Yet* is a little disingenuous, the Shi Lang is just about complete.
I think it's the other way around; the addition of the "yet" implies that the Chinese are on their way to a carrier, where its omission would not.
James Tiberius Kirk
Nope, not tonight. Not that it matters - the Senate will not pass it, and the President will not sign it. He just had to push the Boehner bill in order to save face now. Meanwhile, the interests of individual Tea Party members contradict the best interests of the GOP (and the country) as a whole. I guess there's just enough of them for this to be a problem.
Should be a fun day on Wall Street tomorrow.
Wall Street won't freak out more than 200 to 400 points.
They will get paid no matter what.
The BOND HOLDERS are priority #1.
Lol, they called that hunk of junk the Shi Lang?
Yup, and its hardly a hunk of junk. You gotta start somewhere. The navy goons at SA are excited about it, now they'll finally have someone to play with.
To quote one of em:
As I've said more times than I can count, underestimate China at your peril. The PLAN has a helluva lot more assets than a "rusted hulk of a carrier and a frigate." They don't want to or have to play on our turf, but we have to be able to convince them we can play on theirs. The Great J-20 freakout of 2010 was really a shame, because the overblown concerns over what is at most a prototype overshadowed two much more important developments: the continued buildup of the PLAN and the estimation by Adm Willard (PACOM Commander) that the DF-21D has achieved IOC.
Buying a carrier like that, even in terrible condition, is actually pretty shrewd of the Chinese. It may be worth little more than scrap to anyone else, but to the Chinese, it's a treasure-trove of lessons learned; little things that the Russians discovered through years of trial and error that never would have taken them decades to figure out on their own.
Are you saying that the Адмирал Кузнецов-class is something to shrug at? They're no Nimitz, but still...
It's still a cheap as hell way to get a carrier. $30 million plus repairs and completion. Even if they had to spend about a billion to finish it that's still a quarter the cost of a Nimitz, and probably competitive with what it'd cost to build one themselves.
Again, it doesn't particularly matter if she's a preexisting design if all they use her for is training pilots and practicing how to work a CVBG.
[ July 29, 2011, 02:22 AM: Message edited by: Blayne Bradley ]
Yup, and its hardly a hunk of junk. You gotta start somewhere.
Yes, evidently. With a pile of junk.
(keep in mind, also, that if I hated China, I would love more than anything to watch them sink billions into carriers this late in the game)
Mucus
Personally, I think that the carrier is pretty much a white elephant.
The consolation is that the military-industrial complex will probably convince the US to spend way more than the carrier is worth in order to "counter" it, and given the current financial state of the US, that is a game the CCP would be more than happy to play.
salcedocine
Just out of curiosity, does anybody think there's an actual chance of war with China if the U.S defaults on its debt?
Posts: 40 | Registered: Jul 2011 | IP: Logged |
You can't collect money from a pile of radioactive ash*
* Besides, with a total guess-estimate, the interest China collects on the roughly 1 trillion in USD debt it holds is "only" 10 billion over a year (using a rough guess of 1%). The Olympics cost four times that while they're spending roughly ten times that per year on high speed rail.
It simply wouldn't be cost effective to have a war over such a small amount of money.
Why would there be a war with China? There's no motivation at all. I mean, maybe if we did something ultra stupid like defaulting on China's debt, they'd just make a big (justified & successful) fuss at world organizations and get a lot of political leverage out of it.
Mucus: China's carrier is pretty much a non-issue for the US military. We can already counter it almost effortlessly, plus the strong rumors are that it will be used as a training platform so when they have better carriers (that one isn't really a typical carrier in the first place, but is for a sort of odd strategic positioning) they have some people who know what they're doing. Very useful long term, but nothing to change anything in the short term.
Originally posted by Mucus:
Eh, I think that's rather silly. History proves rather convincingly that military buildups favor economies with access to resources. It really doesn't matter how poorly the us economy seems to be doing at this moment. The us still owns the largest manufacturing sector in the world, and access to more material resources than china, and a far better geographical defense posture. One thing the cold war showed fairly convincingly, I think, is that attempting to compete directly with US naval power is a losing bet for almost any nation. W have access to all the sealanes in the world, major ports thousands of miles apart in different oceans, and the means to move enormous resources across them. China couldn't match that. They depend on the streength and stability of our economy to begin with. Competing with us would be biting the hand that keeps their lifelines open, even a thy are very aware that we could close down on them if we needed to.
But really, I just think talking about short term market economics when discussing military potential is taking large account of minute factors. Look at the state of the soviet economy when hitler invaded, for example. It didn't matter. Russia had more resources, and given time to amass forces, they ground the Germans down. Economics change when military competition comes into play.
Yeah, what fugu said. China getting a couple of several decade old designed carriers isn't really that big a game changer. It gives China the opportunity to project power far more broadly, which makes them a bigger player on the world stage, but it's hardly significant in a hypothetical war. Leaving aside the fact that, for the moment, China's naval forces aren't nearly as well trained as America's are, there's also the fact that we have like ten carriers, dozens of destroyers and cruisers, hundreds of fighters, and dozens of submarines.
What exactly would the United States need to build to counter this new "threat?" We're nowhere near an arms race. We've already finished the race and are enjoying extremely expensive cocktails in the race lounge. China and others are just now moving into the starting blocks.
Originally posted by salcedocine:
No. For every dollar that china recieves in interest from the US on debt service, 50 flow through the Chinese economy in trade. You don't attack the source of your wealth, and your biggest trading partner over interest rates.
Also, considering that china has no other larger markets for her products, she depends on the US to keep her economy from imploding. If we stop buying their products, they have to stop making them. Meaning they have to stop growing. If they stop growing, they collapse.
Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
What exactly would the United States need to build to counter this new "threat?" We're nowhere near an arms race.
I think looking at it in terms of "need" is clearly wrong. The US didn't "need" to continue to spend billions on weapons that are really meant to counter a Soviet-era style military. It also doesn't "need" to spend billions on wars against a rag-tag group of terrorists who have only really killed a couple of thousand people.
Terrorism is just a good bogeyman and the fact is that Congressmen and politicians are already looking toward China as the next boogeyman for all sorts of issues and to justify any number of silly things.
So the way to look at it is not whether the US "needs" more arms, clearly it hasn't needed much of what it currently purchases for many decades now. But whether China can scare or give justification for a few tea party politicians to vote for more military spending. In the case that China decides to train its pilots by flying them up and down the US coast, I think its inevitable that politicians already leaning toward buying more arms due to job concerns can easily be persuaded into buying a few more toys. The attack ads against politicians "soft on China" almost write themselves.
One thing the cold war showed fairly convincingly, I think, is that attempting to compete directly with US naval power is a losing bet for almost any nation.
"Directly" is probably also the wrong way to look at it. I think its clear that China has no real intention of competing directly with the US military. China will continue spending much more on internal security than external for a long time.
Rather, I look at it in terms of what the US feels it has to do to maintain an overwhelming military advantage in all cases.
The US doesn't merely match China's military spending, it spends more than the rest of the world combined. When China ramps up its spending, India ramps up its spending, so does Europe, and the US is going to have to pace the combined sum. Its also going to have to spend much more than 1:1 in order to both maintain an overwhelming advantage and in order to do research and development on how to do that (while China can just steal and copy the results).
And this at a time when the US is looking at cutting things like education, social security, healthcare while leaving defence spending relatively unscathed.
Pres. Obama is set to address the nation about negotiations live in just a few minutes.
Should be very informative.
Destineer
Great ending to Krugman's column today:
But making nebulous calls for centrism, like writing news reports that always place equal blame on both parties, is a big cop-out — a cop-out that only encourages more bad behavior. The problem with American politics right now is Republican extremism, and if you’re not willing to say that, you’re helping make that problem worse.
Word on the street is freshmen Republican congressmen are insisting a balance budget amendment be included in the Boehner bill before they will vote for it.
Two minutes until Obama's comments.
As expected mostly conciliatory in tone. Obviously it's an attempt to appear rational and compromising, sorta like Clinton in the 90s when a similar thing happened.
I just do not see how a deal can be reached when Republicans cannot even reach an internal deal about what they want. Unless Republicans break ranks in large numbers with Democrats I just can't see this happening this weekend.
Republicans can't unite behind their own plan, so they are left with only two options: Break ranks and join the Democrat plan or essentially accept blame for a default. The reasonable Republicans won't do the latter, so I think option one is the most likely outcome now.
Krugman is absolutely right though. Much of the problem here stems from the media and the way we draw conclusions about the political world - from the fact that Republicans have gotten away with creating an alternative fictional conservative reality where you can default on your debt and yet end up with a happy ending where our budget is balanced. This has happened because there exist Republican outlets like talk radio or Fox News willing to create and sell that reality, while more reputable news sources are too concerned with looking balanced or politically correct to call them out on it every time. In reality, there is a truth, and if we pretend that there are alternative truths that we can pick and choose from on things like this, we'll end up in a situation like the one we are in.
But China didn't significantly ramp up its spending for the carrier. It spent a pittance on the beast originally, didn't do squat with it for years, and is throwing maybe $1 billion at it over the past few years/current period. That's hardly a changing balance of power, and it doesn't seem to reflect some major new priority in their military; if they hadn't spent a billion on it, they very likely would have spent the billion on something else, rather than the carrier. I mean, it took maybe a third of a percent of their military budget this year. In terms of the sums of the military budgets you indicate (which I don't think the US is tracking as closely as you seem to, but even so), or the US military budget, that's a rounding error. It'd take a much more major military building initiative (like an entire carrier program) to stimulate noticeably more US military spending.
Originally posted by fugu13:
But China didn't significantly ramp up its spending for the carrier. It spent a pittance on the beast originally, didn't do squat with it for years, and is throwing maybe $1 billion at it over the past few years/current period.
I agree, and I think that is part of the beauty of it. Between the Varyag and the high speed rail, I think we can establish that the upcoming Chinese carrier program will be a) fast b) provocative c) cutting corners
Thus, while useless in actual combat, for a pittance, China has gone from no carrier to carrier, and has gone from buzzing Taiwan every once in a while to buzzing Hawaii or California.
So the next Republican president isn't merely going to say that "Xi Jinping is rearing his head," he/she will be able to point at actual Chinese planes flying around (outside) the USA.
In that environment, are they really going to be able to oppose something like this?
New ones, even bigger and more expensive, are on the way. The new supercarrier Gerald R. Ford, due to join the navy in 2015, will cost $5.1-billion, not including warplanes, it’s fleet of escorts and operating costs over a half-century life. Eventually, the U.S. Navy wants 11 Ford-class ships to replace all 11 of the existing supercarriers.
But China didn't significantly ramp up its spending for the carrier. It spent a pittance on the beast originally, didn't do squat with it for years
This isn't quite correct, it spent 1.5 years towing it to China, about 4 years studying it and official repairs began in 2005 when it was finally moved to a dry dock and reconstruction efforts began.
They bout 4 landing and take off sets from Russia, the plan seems to be 1 land based training mockup carrier and three for actual carriers since 3 is the minimum number to have 1 CVG out at any one time.
Of course China was going to get carriers at some point; you can't be a global power without them, and China wants at least the trappings of a global power.
And I'm quite in support of the supercarrier replacements even if China doesn't have a counter . The threat of the US projecting overwhelming power on short notice has been a major factor in the relatively peaceful last several decades (yes, even including wars the US has been involved in). That is the among the last parts of our military capacity we should allow to be impaired.
That's completely compatible with what I said. And the repairs weren't going at much of a pace for at least the first couple of years after 2005.
Krugman's claim that the main problem in American politics today is "Republican extremism" is based on a distorted view that anyone taking a stand must be at fault for disrupting business as usual.
America's problem is certainly not that it is undertaxed. Rather, it is overtaxed. The real problem any time anyone's budget is unbalanced is overspending. Thus the conservative Republican, Tea Partier stand against the Democrat desire to raise taxes, and their insistance upon real, meaningful spending cuts, is the most ultimately sane and responsible viewpoint in American politics.
That said, I do not think that allowing the country to go into default on paying its bills is a sensible way to get to the desired goal of fiscal reform. If the government defaults, the interest rates the government has to pay will be raised, which right there will greatly increase the amount of interest that needs to be paid, thus putting the country further behind in any hope of balancing its budget.
The reality that the Tax and Spend Democrats still control the Senate must be taken into account. So a compromise that includes many spending cuts but also a few tax increases, is probably the only way that any progress can be made before the next election gives Republicans control of the Senate and the White House as well.
It is vain to wait for the amateurs in the White House to exercize any effective leadership whatsoever. Republicans will have to compromise with Democrats, irresponsible as the Democrats are.
Be sure to call your representatives and tell them that, Ron.
Call me crazy, but I think the most sane viewpoint on this issue is a combination of tax code changes (closing loopholes, rate hikes if necessary) with spending cuts.
Across the board.
No one gets out of it, not the rich, poor, corporations, mom&pop shops. Not SS, Medicaid, defense, subsidies, education.
We're the country of E Pluribus Unum, for crying out loud; despite what right-wing reactionaries say, we are all on same team. So lets come up with a compromise.
Ron:
America's problem is certainly not that it is undertaxed. Rather, it is overtaxed.
Wrong. At best you can say there are some inefficiencies in specific parts of the tax code, but looking at all federal taxes (income, capital gains, FICA), all income levels are experiencing SOME OF THE LOWEST TAXATION LEVELS IN DECADES. And if we went back to Clinton-era tax levels we would still be at SOME OF THE LOWEST TAXATION LEVELS IN DECADES. At this point, if tax cuts aren't stimulating the economy, more of the same ain't going to change anything. The Laffer Curve is a freaking curve, after all, not a straight line.
I love it when the democrats are referred to by the coached label "Tax and Spend Democrats" or "Tax and Spend Liberals" — it's amusing that this is an effective, manipulative language framing despite being, well, sound policy.
Far better than, in contrast, "spend and spend conservatives." Or whatever you want to call them.
*rubs The Link in everyone's face again*
Dana Milbank on John Boehner.
At this point it's clear he has to basically capitulate to these Republican holdouts by putting still more unacceptable proposals into his bill, just so he can say the House passed it and the Senate blocked it. Either way, the real lesson here is that Boehner can't whip the Republican party into the feight train it used to be, previous speakers did not have this problem.
I don't necessarily blame him for being unable to, none of the previous speakers were dealing with the Tea Party caucus, but I do blame him for not being able to then bypass that caucus by dealing with the Democrats. It's clear the Republican party does not have its house in order, and while that gives us a lot to jeer about, to me it merely demonstrates our government is unable to function properly.
I believe the system will adjust, it always does, but it's so stupid that this time all of us have to endure a big mess, before sheer rage forces our representatives to act like adults.
Oh also, I'd like to apologize on behalf of representatives Chaffetz and Lee of Utah for their roles in this crisis.
They are idiots, and extremely inexperienced in politics, especially Lee.
Samprimary, still riding that horse, I see.
I don't know of many conservatives who supported Bush's spending policies. In fact, most conservatives were so fed up with his spending, they didn't bother voting for another mediocre republican (John McCain) in 2008.
Five years from now, I'd like to see how accurate the projected spending of Obama's policy changes compare to his actual spending--provided he gets elected to another term.
There's a lot of horses to ride here. We're in the middle of a manufactured crisis. Unless someone wants to ride out in the opposite direction or seriously contest that this is the 'fault of both parties equally,' (A time-honored favorite here) I'd say the guilty party (bad conservatives fixated on bad policy) gets the hooves.
Bleh. I hate false apologies, especially those that are really insults.
Much better to just say that you're ashamed of them.
I don't think BlackBlade is falsely apologizing, though it is also an insult.
Rakeesh
Where were these so-many conservatives, to the point that few conservatives know any other conservatives who supported those policies, at the time?
He's in no position to give an apology on behalf of them. It's not a real apology at all.
It is, though, better than false apologies that are insulting the person being apologized to, like "I'm sorry that you're such a poopy head.".
BB, sorry for just coming out and so directly criticizing your posting style like that. It was pretty obnoxious of me.
Porter: I absolutely am in a position to apologize on behalf of two men who represent me in Congress. I think they are doing a terrible job representing me. I completely understand there are others in Utah, more numerous than I, who may feel they are doing exactly what they want, I think they are wrong.
Further, my readings about Rep. Lee based on statements he's made in public lead me to believe that he is extremely naive and inexperienced at working on Capital Hill, and that inexperience has lead him to bad conclusions about what he ought to be doing.
edit: Also no hard feelings, you're entitled to be as brittle as you feel you should be when I write things. I like participation in this thread. You have a knack for saying things that give me pause as to how I am acting.
Porter: I absolutely am in a position to apologize on behalf of two men who represent me in Congress.
No you're not, any more than you are in a position to speak on their behalf. You have neither been given authority to represent them, nor can you honestly think the apology accurately reflects their thoughts and feelings on the matter.
you're entitled to be as brittle as you feel you should be when I write things.
No I'm not.
Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head:
Of course my apology does not reflect their feelings and thoughts on the matter. I'm offering the apology they should be offering.
And what's this about whether or not I represent them? I can't represent my own representatives.
Bella Bee
BB - I'm staying out of the whys and where-with-alls (I have actually no idea who these people even are), but I will say that if you didn't vote for them you don't have to apologize for what they get up to. It's not your fault or your responsibility because you just happen to live there.
And I say that as someone who has only had the chance to vote for the winner of local representation one time! My entire life has been spent going 'It's nothing to do with me what they've done!'
I was one of them. Well, I don't know that I really fit into the "conservative" box, but I am deeply concerned with fiscal responsibility and was a registered Republican at the time.
It was a very lonely time. Fiscal responsibility - and let's be clear, this isn't just a Bush issue. It was largely a problem of ridiculous behavior and policies by the Republicans in Congress. - was thrown out the window. It was a non-starter in many circles and considered "treasonous" questioning the President in others. There were some people concerned with it, but I wish that there were a tenth of people who are so worked up about it now who made it a primary concern then.
Also, alongside with it being a serious problem with the Republican legislators, you do know that most of them from that period are still in office, right? If people were really fed up with the spending during Bush's term, I'd expect them to have maybe voted out the people most responsible for it.
From what I have seen and heard of Lee, while I think he is dangerously wrong, I would not call him an idiot. Not at all. I suspect he will be a force for a long time.
If you have authority to represent me in some capacity, you can speak in my behalf, offer apologies on my behalf, make promises on my behalf, etc..
You have no such authority with your two representatives.
Or, if you're confident that you know my mind on the matter, you can do similar things. ("I'm sure I speak on behalf of everybody here when I say that we really appreciate...").
But you cannot in good faith say something on behalf of somebody else that you know they would disagree with.
"On behalf of our gracious host, OSC, and our tireless moderator, JB, I want to apologize for allowing the wrong sort of riff-raff to register on these forums."
Even if I thought that this were an apology that you guys should be making, claiming that I'm making it on y'all's behalf is utterly dishonest.
Of course, you're not being dishonest like that, because it's understood that it's a fake apology that you're offering.
On behalf of the human race, I want to apologize to all the animals who have been slaughtered as they innocently tried to cross the road, by our speeding cars and trucks.
(This apology excludes chickens, who have inspired way too many absurd jokes.)
Originally posted by natural_mystic:
Very well, he's a forceful idiot.
He may be knowledgeable in some things, but understanding this issue is not one of them as far as I have seen.
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Forest Law
Title: Forest Law
Subject: Magna Carta, Poaching, Pollarding, River Trent, Penkridge, England in the Middle Ages, Brewood, Inglewood Forest, Free warren, Charter of the Forest
A royal forest is an area of land with different meanings in England, Wales and Scotland; the term forest does not mean forest as it is understood today, as an area of densely wooded land. There are also differing and contextual interpretations in Continental Europe derived from the Carolingian and Merovingian legal systems. [1]
In Anglo-Saxon England, though the kings were great huntsmen they never set aside areas declared to be outside (Latin foris) the law of the land.[2] Historians find no evidence of the Anglo-Saxon monarchs (c.500 to 1066) creating forests.[3] However, under the Norman kings (after 1066), by royal prerogative forest law was widely applied.[4] The law was designed to protect the venison and the vert, the "noble" animals of the chase – notably red and fallow deer, the roe, and the wild boar – and the greenery that sustained them. Forests were designed as hunting areas reserved for the monarch or (by invitation) the aristocracy (see medieval hunting). The concept was introduced by the Normans to England in the 11th century, and at the height of this practice in the late 12th and early 13th centuries, fully one-third of the land area of southern England was designated as royal forest; at one stage in the 12th century, all of Essex was afforested, and on his accession Henry II declared all of Huntingdonshire forest.[2]
Afforestation, in particular the creation of the New Forest, figured large in the folk history of the "Norman Yoke", which magnified what was already a grave social ill: "the picture of prosperous settlements disrupted, houses burned, peasants evicted, all to serve the pleasure of the foreign tyrant, is a familiar element in the English national story .... The extent and intensity of hardship and of depopulation have been exaggerated", H. R. Loyn observed.[2] Forest law prescribed harsh punishment for anyone who committed any of a range of offences within the forests; by the mid-17th century, enforcement of this law had died out, but many of England's woodlands still bear the title Royal Forest. At that time, the practice of reserving areas of land for the sole use of the aristocracy was common throughout Europe during the medieval period.
Royal forests usually included large areas of heath, grassland and wetland – anywhere that supported deer and other game. In addition, when an area was initially designated forest, any villages, towns and fields that lay within it were also subject to forest law. This could foster resentment as the local inhabitants were then restricted in the use of land they had previously relied upon for their livelihoods; however, common rights were not extinguished, but merely curtailed.[5]
1 Forest law
1.1 Offences
1.2 Rights and privileges
1.3 Officers
1.4 Courts
2.1 The Great Perambulation and after
2.2 Disafforestation, sale of forest lands and the Western Rising
2.3 After the Restoration
3 Surviving ancient forests
3.1 Forest of Dean
3.2 Epping Forest
3.3 New Forest
4 Royal forests in England
William the Conqueror, a great lover of hunting, established the system of forest law. This operated outside the common law, and served to protect game animals and their forest habitat from destruction. In the year of his death, 1087, a poem, "The Rime of King William", inserted in the Peterborough Chronicle expresses English indignation at the forest laws.
Offences in forest law were divided into two categories: trespass against the vert (the vegetation of the forest) and the venison (the game). The five animals of the forest protected by law were given by Manwood as the hart and hind (red deer), boar, hare and wolf. (In England, the boar became extinct in the wild by the 13th century, and the wolf by the late 15th century.) Protection was also said to be extended to the beasts of chase, the buck and doe (fallow deer), fox, marten, and roe deer, and the beasts and fowls of warren: the hare, coney, pheasant, and partridge.[6] The rights of chase and of warren (i.e., to hunt such beasts) were often granted to local nobility for a fee but are a quite separate concept.
Trespasses against the vert were rather extensive: they included purpresture, the inclosure of a pasture or erection of a building on forest lands, assarting, clearing forest land for agriculture, and felling trees or clearing shrubs, among others. Note that these laws applied to any land within the boundary of the forest, even if it were freely owned; although the Charter of the Forest in 1217 established that all freemen owning land within the forest enjoyed the rights of agistment and pannage (see below).
In addition, inhabitants of the forest were forbidden to bear hunting weapons, and dogs were banned from the forest; mastiffs were permitted as watchdogs, but they had to have their front claws removed to prevent them from hunting game.
Disafforested lands on the edge of the forest were known as purlieus; agriculture was permitted here and deer escaping from the forest into them was permitted to be killed if causing damage.
If these laws happened to be broken, offenders would either have their hands struck off, or would be blinded in both eyes.
Rights and privileges
The kings rapidly discovered that abridging their rights in the royal forests could provide a useful source of income. Local nobles could be granted a royal licence to take a certain amount of game. The common inhabitants of the forest might, depending on their location, possess a variety of rights: estover, the right of taking firewood, pannage, the right to pasture swine in the forest, turbary, the right to cut turf (as fuel), and various other rights of pasturage (agistment) and harvesting the products of the forest. Land might be disafforested entirely, or permission given for assart and purpresture.
The justices of the forest were the Justice in Eyre and the verderers.
The chief royal official was the Warden. As he was often an eminent and preoccupied magnate, his powers were frequently exercised by a deputy. He supervised the foresters and under-foresters, who personally went about preserving the forest and game and apprehending offenders against the law. The agisters supervised pannage and agistment and collected any fees thereto appertaining. The nomenclature of the officers can be somewhat confusing: the rank immediately below the constable were referred to as foresters-in-fee, or, later, woodwards, who held land in the forest in exchange for a rent, and advised the warden. They exercised various privileges within their bailiwicks. Their subordinates were the under-foresters, later referred to as rangers. The rangers are sometimes said to be patrollers of the purlieu.
Another group, called serjeants-in-fee, and later, foresters-in-fee (not to be confused with the above), held small estates in return for their service in patrolling the forest and apprehending offenders.
The forests also had surveyors, who determined the boundaries of the forest, and regarders. These last reported to the court of justice-seat and investigated encroachments on the forest and invasion of royal rights, such as assarting. While their visits were infrequent, due to the interval of time between courts, they provided a check against collusion between the foresters and local offenders.
Blackstone gives the following outline of the forest courts, as theoretically constructed:
Court of attachment, sometimes called the Forty-Day Court or Woodmote. This court was held every forty days, and was presided over by verderers and the Warden, or his deputy. The foresters attached persons who had committed crimes against the forest law and brought them before this court to have them enrolled; however, it did not possess the power to try or convict individuals, and such cases had to be passed upwards to the swainmote or the court of justice seat.
Court of regard, held every third year to enforce the law requiring declawing of dogs within the forest.
Swainmote or Sweinmote was held three times a year: the fortnight before the feast of St. Michael, about the feast of St. Martin, and the fortnight before the feast of St. John the Baptist. It was presided over by the Warden and verderers, the foresters and agisters being in attendance. The first two occasions were to regulate agistment and pannage, respectively; the third was for the purpose of trying offenders before a jury of swains, or freemen of the forest. (The name of the court is sometimes said to be derived from swine, probably a misapprehension through its regulation of pannage.)
Court of justice-seat or eyre was the highest of the forest courts. It was to be held every three years, to be announced forty days in advance, and was presided over by a Justice in Eyre. It was, in theory, the only court that could pass sentence upon offenders of the forest laws.
In practice, these fine distinctions were not always observed. In the Forest of Dean, swainmote and the court of attachment seem to have been one and the same throughout most of its history. As the courts of justice-seat were held less frequently, the lower courts assumed the power to fine offenders against the forest laws, according to a fixed schedule. The courts of justice-seat crept into disuse, and in 1817, the office of Justice in Eyre was abolished and its powers transferred to the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests. Courts of swainmote and attachment went out of existence at various dates in the different forests. A Court of Swainmote was re-established in the New Forest in 1877.
Henry II.
text of Magna Carta):
(44) People who live outside the forest need not in future appear before the royal justices of the forest in answer to general summonses, unless they are actually involved in proceedings or are sureties for someone who has been seized for a forest offence.
(47) All forests that have been created in our reign shall at once be disafforested. River-banks that have been enclosed in our reign shall be treated similarly.
(48) All evil customs relating to forests and warrens, foresters, warreners, sheriffs and their servants, or river-banks and their wardens, are at once to be investigated in every county by twelve sworn knights of the county, and within forty days of their enquiry the evil customs are to be abolished completely and irrevocably. But we, or our chief justice if we are not in England, are first to be informed.
(52) To any man whom we have deprived or dispossessed of lands, castles, liberties, or rights, without the lawful judgement of his equals, we will at once restore these. In cases of dispute the matter shall be resolved by the judgement of the twenty-five barons referred to below in the clause for securing the peace (§ 61). In cases, however, where a man was deprived or dispossessed of something without the lawful judgement of his equals by our father King Henry or our brother King Richard, and it remains in our hands or is held by others under our warranty, we shall have respite for the period commonly allowed to Crusaders, unless a lawsuit had been begun, or an enquiry had been made at our order, before we took the Cross as a Crusader. On our return from the Crusade, or if we abandon it, we will at once render justice in full.
(53) We shall have similar respite [to that in clause 52] in rendering justice in connexion with forests that are to be disafforested, or to remain forests, when these were first afforested by our father Henry or our brother Richard; with the guardianship of lands in another person's `fee', when we have hitherto had this by virtue of a `fee' held of us for knight's service by a third party; and with abbeys founded in another person's `fee', in which the lord of the `fee' claims to own a right. On our return from the Crusade, or if we abandon it, we will at once do full justice to complaints about these matters.
After the death of John, Henry III was compelled to grant the Charter of the Forest (1217), which further reformed the forest law and established the rights of agistment and pannage on private land within the forests. It also checked certain of the extortions of the foresters. An "Ordinance of the Forest" under Edward I again checked the oppression of the officers, and introduced sworn juries in the forest courts.
The Great Perambulation and after
In 1300 many (if not all) forests were perambulated and reduced greatly in their extent, in theory to their extent in the time of Henry II. However, this depended on the determination of local juries, whose decisions often excluded from the Forest lands described in Domesday Book as within the forest. Successive kings tried to recover the "purlieus" excluded from a forest by the Great Perambulation of 1300. Forest officers periodically fined the inhabitants of the purlieus for failing to attend Forest Court or for forest offences. This led to complaints in Parliament. The king promised to remedy the grievances, but usually did nothing.
Several forests were alienated by Richard II and his successors, but generally the system decayed. Henry VII revived "Swainmotes" (forest courts) for several forests and held Forest Eyres in some of them. Henry VIII in 1547 placed the forests under the Court of Augmentations with two Masters and two Surveyors-General. On the abolition of that court, the two surveyors-general became responsible to the Exchequer. Their respective divisions were North and South of the river Trent.
Disafforestation, sale of forest lands and the Western Rising
See also: Western Rising
By the Tudor period and after, forest law had largely become anachronistic, and served primarily to protect timber in the royal forests. James I caused enquiries to be made into assart lands of various forests. The commissioners appointed raised over £25000 by compounding with occupiers, whose ownership was confirmed, subject to a fixed rent. Under Charles I, several forests were disforested, the king receiving a portion of the waste land of the forest, which he then sold. The last serious exercise of forest law by a court of justice-seat (Forest Eyre) seems to have been in about 1635, in an attempt to raise money. The disafforestations caused riots in a number of West Country forests, including Gillingham, Braydon and Dean, as well as Feckenham. The events were known as the Western Rising.[7]
After the Restoration
A Forest Eyre was held for the New Forest in 1670, and a few for other forests in the 1660s and 1670s, but these were the last. From 1715, both surveyor's posts were held by the same person. The remaining royal forests continued to be managed (in theory, at least) on behalf of the crown. However, the commoners' rights of grazing often seem to have been more important than the rights of the crown.
In the late 1780s, a Royal Commission was appointed to inquire into the condition of Crown woods. North of the Trent only Sherwood Forest survived. South of it there were the New Forest and three others in Hampshire, Windsor Forest in Berkshire, the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, Waltham or Epping Forest in Essex, three forests in Northamptonshire, and Wychwood in Oxfordshire. Several of these no longer had swainmote courts, so that there was no official supervision. They divided the remaining forests into two classes, according to whether the Crown was or was not the major landowner. In certain Hampshire forests and the Forest of Dean, most of the soil belonged to the Crown and these should be reserved to grow timber, to meet the need for oak for shipbuilding. The others would be inclosed, the Crown receiving an allotment in lieu of its rights.
In 1810, responsibility for woods was moved from Surveyors-General (who accounted to the Auditors of Land Revenue) to a new Commission of Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues. From 1832 to 1851 "Works and Buildings" were added to their responsibilities. In 1851, the commissioners again became a Commissioner of Woods, Forests and Land Revenues. In 1924, the Royal Forests were transferred to the new Forestry Commission.
Surviving ancient forests
Main article: Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean was used as a source of charcoal for ironmaking within the Forest from 1612 until about 1670. It was the subject of a Reafforestation Act in 1667. Courts continued to be held at the Speech House, for example to regulate the activities of the Freeminers. The sale of cordwood for charcoal continued until at least the late 18th century. Deer were removed in 1850. The forest is today heavily wooded, as is a substantial formerly privately owned area to the west, now treated as part of the forest. It is managed by the Forestry Commission.
Main article: Epping Forest
The extent of Epping Forest was greatly reduced by inclosure by landowners. The Corporation of London wished to see it preserved as an open space and obtained an injunction to throw open some 3,000 acres (12 km2) that had been inclosed in the preceding 20 years. In 1875 and 1876, it bought 3,000 acres (12 km2) of open waste land. Under the Epping Forest Act 1878, the forest was disafforested and forest law abolished in respect of it. Instead the corporation was appointed as Conservators of the Forest. The forest is managed through the Epping Forest Committee.
Main article: New Forest
An Act was passed to remove the deer in 1851, but abandoned when it was realised that the deer were needed to keep open the unwooded "lawns" of the forest. An attempt was made to develop the forest for growing wood by a rolling programme of inclosures. In 1875, a Select Committee of the House of Commons recommended against this, leading to the passage of the New Forest Act 1877, which limited the Crown's right to inclose, regulated common rights, and reconstituted the Court of Verderers. A further Act was passed in 1964. This forest is also managed by the Forestry Commission.
Royal forests in England
Forest of Accrington, Lancashire
Alice Holt Forest and Woolmer Forest, Hampshire
Allerdale Forest, Cumberland
Amounderness, Lancashire (including Bleasdale, Fulwood and Myerscough)
Forest of Bere including Bere Ashley and Bere Porchester, Hampshire
Bernwood Forest, Buckinghamshire (including Brill and Panshill) and Oxfordshire
Blackmore Forest, Dorset
Bolsover Forest, Derbyshire
Forest of Bowland, Lancashire and Yorkshire
Forest of Braden, Wiltshire (including parish of Minety, Gloucestershire)
Brewood Forest, Staffordshire
Burrington Forest
Cannock Chase, Staffordshire
Charnwood Forest
Chute Forest, Hampshire and Wiltshire, included Finkley and Digerley Forests
Clarendon Forest, Wiltshire (including Panchet and Milchet Park), with the associated Forest of Buckholt, Hampshire
Forest of Dartmoor, Devon
Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire
Duffield Frith A group of six royal forests in mid Derbyshire
Forest of East Derbyshire [8]
Epping Forest part of Waltham Forest
Exmoor Forest, Somerset
Farndale Forest, Yorkshire
Feckenham Forest, Warwickshire and Worcestershire
Freemantle Forest, Hampshire
Forest of Galtres, Yorkshire, disafforested 1629
Gillingham Forest, Dorset
Groveley Forest, Wiltshire
Guildford Park, Surrey
Hatfield Forest
Hay of Hereford
Forest of High Peak, North Derbyshire
Forest of Huntingdonshire (including Forests of Weybridge, Sapley and Herthey)
Inglewood Forest, Cumberland
Irchenfield Forest, Herefordshire (disafforested 1251)
forestry management district of the same name.
Keynsham Forest, Somerset
Kingswood, Gloucestershire
Kinver Forest, Staffordshire formerly extending into Worcestershire
Knaresborough Forest, Yorkshire
Langwith Hay, Yorkshire
Long Forest, Shropshire
Long Mynd or Strattondale, Shropshire
Lonsdale (including Wyresdale and Quernsmore), Lancashire
Macclesfield Forest, Cheshire
Malvern Forest, Worcestershire was strictly only a chase.
Mara et Mondrum, Cheshire (Delamere Forest is a remnant)
Melksham and Chippenham Forest, Wiltshire
Mendip Forest, also known as Cheddar, Somerset
Forest of Middlesex, London & South East (Middlesex)
Morfe Forest, Shropshire, lying east and southeast of Bridgnorth
Needwood Forest in east Staffordshire was parcel of the Duchy of Lancaster
Neroche Forest, Somerset
New Forest, Hampshire
North Petherton, Somerset
Forest of Northumberland (disafforested 1280)
Pamber Forest, Hampshire
Forest of Pendle, Lancashire
Pickering Forest, North Yorkshire
Poorstock Forest, Dorset (see Powerstock)
Purbeck, Dorset
Rockingham Forest, (including Brigstock, CliffeTemplate:Dn, Geddington and Northampton Park) Northamptonshire
Forest of Rossendale, Lancashire
Forest of Rutland, with Sauvey Forest, Leicestershire
Salcey Forest, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire
Savernake Forest, Berkshire and Wiltshire
Selwood Forest, Somerset and Wiltshire
Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire
Shirlett Forest, Shropshire, whose final extent was a small area northwest of Bridgnorth
Shotover Forest (including Stowood), Oxfordshire
Forest of Skipton, Yorkshire
Somerton Warren, Somerset
Stapelwood, Shropshire (including Buriwood, Lythewood and Stepelton)
Forest of Trawden, Lancashire
Windsor Forest, Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey
Forest of Wirral, Cheshire (disafforested 1376)
Whittlewood Forest, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire
Woodstock Forest, Oxfordshire
Wrekin Forest (more strictly Mount Gilbert Forest), Shropshire (including Wellington and Wombridge), and the associated Forest of Haughmond
Wychwood Forest, Oxfordshire
Wyre Forest, Worcestershire and Shropshire was strictly only a chase
English Lowlands beech forests
Perambulation
Margaret Ley Bazeley, 'The Extent of the English Forest in the Thirteenth Century', Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, 4th Ser., Vol. 4. (1921), pp. 140–172.
Gilbert, J.M. Hunting and Hunting Reserves in Medieval Scotland Edinburgh: John Donald Ltd 1979
Manwood,John. Manwood's Treatise Of The Forest Laws 1717[9]
Turner, G.J. Select Pleas Of The Forest 1901[10]
Grafton Regis Millennium Project. Grafton Regis History and Heritage CDROM (2004) disc 1. in the Forests and Parks section gives information on the law and management of Whittlewood and Salcey forests.
Template:Americana Poster
St. John's College project: Forests and Chases in England and Wales, c. 1000 to c. 1850.
China, Endangered species, Africa, Philippines, South Africa
Pollarding
Forestry, Wood, United Kingdom, Epping Forest, London
River Trent
Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottingham
Staffordshire, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, Stafford, Civil parishes in England
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Merchants Of Air
Merchants Of Air releases
Logos and banner
Litfiba – The Amazing Power of Authorial Italian Alternative Rock
Litfiba is an alternative hard rock Italian band with amazingly melodic elements, active since 1980. Exceedingly prolific, with a discography consisting of an enormous body of work, that contemplates full lengths, EP’s, compilations, live albums and many more, Litfiba is a highly regarded, powerfully sustaining and exceedingly original band, that has seen little success outside of Italy, perhaps due to the fact that their songs are sung mostly in the Italian language. With almost forty years of existence, the band consists of founding members Ghigo Renzulli and Piero Pelú, with a revolving cast of additional musicians.
Despite their metal outfit and influences, the sound of Litfiba fluctuates between hard and alternative rock, with the prominence of melodic elements, solidified by massive and highly concentrated doses of guitar lines. In their early days, punk and new wave influences mostly shaped the sound of the group, that, over the years, evolved to a more distinct rock sound.
An indisputable representative of a diversified and stylish authorial sound, Litfiba has yet to be regarded beyond borders. Little success outside their native Italy, however, apparently never was a source of concern. Despite their international potential, Litfiba acquired such a large fan base in their home country, that little effort was put on a prospective career outside their homeland. This feature probably made them more and more confortable over the years with their own language, since singing in English became rarer, as years passed by. Today, singing in their native Italian language has become a distinctive feature of their style.
The sound of Litfiba is somehow difficult to define or categorize. Aligned in a mostly alternative rock “indulgence”, their style seems to fluctuate into the heaviness of metal, without becoming metal de facto. Melodic guitar lines serves as the basis of a characteristic style, easily identifiable, that for a long time now serves as a recognizing sonorous feature for the band.
Being such an incredible act, it is a shame that they are so little known outside their home country. With such a remarkable potential, Litfiba should have been bigger, but they had preferred to remain authentic! Singing in a native language other than English is a genuine act of courage and non-conformity, that not only will limit the scope and the achievements of a band, but will greatly diminish its potential throughout the course of its career. In a predominantly anglophile world, to sing in English is an easier way to become mainstream, and specially, radio friendly. But being an impressive, highly skilled and exceedingly authentic band, Litfiba shunned all of these features, in favor of creating and building a conceivably genuine artistry, which shows that they are not just amazingly skilled musicians, but brave and original artists as well!!
Desertfest
Fanboying
Rik's Rarities
Songs With Stories
The Metal Deck
What's In A Bandname
minds
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