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Russia 2.7
Compendium of Cultural Policies & Trends / Country Profiles / Russia 2.7
Until recently, public opinion surveys or governmental programmes did not explicitly create a link between cultural policy and social cohesion, which remained an issue mainly of research. However, there are “hot spots” that could be influenced by targeted cultural policies, e.g. splashes in negative attitudes to ethnic migration from the former Soviet Republics, North Caucasus, etc. In 2009, the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation proposed to foster inter-ministerial activities to support social cohesion and to elaborate special cultural policy measures supporting tolerance, expanding inter-ethnic communication, and challenging xenophobia.
Surveys of a general nature have revealed a decrease in feelings of trust and a devaluation of co-operation, reciprocity principles and mutual respect in modern Russia. Comparative VCIOM (see chapter 9.1) research into interpersonal trust (2005) discovered that it is lower in Russia than in the EU (45% compared to 54% of those who always or often trust people, and 23% compared to 11% of those who almost never trust). The wider public does not place full reliance on rich people, especially if they are given strong positions in cultural matters. A sociological survey that followed the culture Minister’s proposal to involve maecenats in museum management (2008) revealed that 42% of respondents are wary of the possibility of plundering public property (see http://old.wciom.ru/arkhiv/tematicheskii-arkhiv/item/single/10414.html).
Almost all current surveys demonstrate a belief in the direct correlation between high culture and social ethics and show aspirations to state support and promotion of cultural institutions and values as a means to strengthen moral values. These results can be understood as a symptom of the general social need for active support for moral values and practical cultural programmes facilitating social cohesion, particularly in view of strained inter-ethnic relations.
Establishing relations of tolerance became the objective of many regional programmes including the Tolerance Programme implemented in St. Petersburg. This programme aimed at harmonisation of inter-cultural, inter-ethnic, and inter-religious relations for the period of 2011-2015 was developed as a follow-up to the earlier “Tolerance” programme and targeted to build up and strengthen a tolerant environment in St. Petersburg based on the values of a multi-ethnic Russian society, all-Russian civil identity, and a St. Petersburg social and cultural self-identification (see: http://eng.spbtolerance.ru/). It also presupposes support for successful social integration and cultural-linguistic adaptation of migrants. Its goals are to be achieved by:
building a culture of tolerance through the system of education;
interreligious communication and assistance to intercultural communication;
promotion of tolerance values in the media community of St. Petersburg; and
establishing an “intolerant” attitude to xenophobic and racist ideas among the youth.
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Beyond Planet X – Are There Actually Two Undiscovered Giant Planets in the Outer Solar System?
By Gregon Saturday, June 14th
Back in March some astronomers were touting a new discovery that hinted at the existence of a ‘Planet X‘ lurking in the outer Solar System, far beyond our ability for direct observation. Now, in a paper on arXiv.org, Carlos and Raul de la Fuente Marcos at the Complutense University of Madrid in Spain have asked whether strange patterns in the orbital alignments of the dwarf planets beyond Pluto suggest the existence of not one, but two giant planets:
Small groups of the objects have very similar orbital paths. Because they are not massive enough to be tugging on each other, the researchers think the objects are being “shepherded” by a larger object in a pattern known as orbital resonance.
For instance, we know that Neptune and Pluto are in orbital resonance – for every two orbits Pluto makes around the sun, Neptune makes three. Similarly, one group of small objects seems to be in lockstep with a much more distant, unseen planet. That world would have a mass between that of Mars and Saturn and would sit about 200 times Earth’s distance from the sun.
Some of the smaller objects have very elongated orbits that would take them out to this distance. It is unusual for a large planet to orbit so close to other bodies unless it is dynamically tied to something else, so the researchers suggest that the large planet is itself in resonance with a more massive world at about 250 times the Earth-sun distance – just like the one predicted in the previous work.
Read more: Two giant planets may cruise unseen beyond Pluto
Paper: “Extreme trans-Neptunian objects and the Kozai mechanism: signaling the presence of trans-Plutonian planets?”
Celebrate the Life of a UFO Legend by Watching “Stanton T. Friedman IS Real”
Seeing the Spaceship: Why We Need to Pay Attention to Anomalies
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Old And Rusty Freight Train Car Jigsaw Puzzle Game
Old And Rusty Freight Train Car Puzzle Details:
About: If you didn't know, a railroad car, railcar, railway wagon, railway carriage, train car or train wagon is a vehicle used for the carrying of cargo or passengers on a railway. In today's puzzle we feature an old and rusty freight train car. Pick your difficulty level, click start and put the it back together as fast as you can and prove your puzzle solving skills.
Puzzle Of The Day On: 16/Sep/2019
Old Locomotive
Today's puzzle features a old Russian locomotive. A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th century to distinguish between mobile and stationary steam engines.
Compact Cassettes
In today's new puzzle we feature two compact cassettes. The Compact Cassette or Musicassette (MC), also commonly called cassette tape, audio cassette, or simply tape or cassette, is a magnetic tape recording format for audio recording and playback. Between the early 1970s and the late 1990s, the cassette was one of the two most common formats for music distribution. Tape length usually is measured in minutes of total playing time. The most popular varieties are C46 (23 minutes per side), C60 (30 minutes per side), C90, and C120.
Colored Thumb Tacks
Time for a new puzzle. Today we feature a bunch of colored thumb tacks. Thumb tacks or push pins are a short nail or pin used to fasten items to a wall or board for display and intended to be inserted by hand, generally without the assistance of tools. Edwin Moore invented the "push-pin" in 1900. Later, in 1904, German clockmaker Johann Kirsten invented flat-headed thumb tacks.
In today's new puzzle we feature part of an stained glass window. Coloured glass has been produced since ancient times. Evidence of stained glass windows in churches and monasteries can be found as early as the 7th century. Stained glass, as an art form, reached its height in the Middle Ages when it became a major pictorial form used to illustrate the narratives of the Bible.
Hand Woven Baskets
Today's new puzzle features some beautiful hand woven wicker baskets.
In areas with rocky soils around the world, farmers have often gathered large quantities of stone out of their fields to make farming easier and have stacked those stones to make walls, like the one in today's new puzzle, that either mark the field boundary, or the property boundary.
In today's puzzle we feature a bunch of empty coat hangers of different colors. Used for hanging a coat, jacket, sweater, shirt, blouse or dress in a manner that prevents wrinkles, with a lower bar for the hanging of trousers or skirts - the clothes hanger, coat hanger, or coathanger is a plastic, wood or metal object that's shaped like human shoulders. the shoulder-shaped wire hanger, was inspired by a coat hook that was invented in 1869 by O. A. North of New Britain, Connecticut. An employee of the Timberlake Wire and Novelty Company, Albert J. Parkhouse of Jackson, Michigan has also been credited with the invention, as has Christopher Cann in 1876 as an engineering student at Boston University. Some historians believe President Thomas Jefferson invented a forerunner of the wooden clothes hanger.
A new jigsaw featuring a bunch of colorful finger puppets. Finger puppets normally have no moving parts, and consist primarily of a hollow cylinder shape to cover the finger. This form of puppet has limited application, and is used mainly in pre-schools or kindergartens for storytelling with young children.
This new fun puzzle features a close-up of a fire hose. The fire hose carries water or other fire retardant to a fire to extinguish it. After use, a fire hose is usually hung to dry because standing water that remains in a hose for a long time can deteriorate the material and render it unreliable or unusable. Before the fire hose most fires were fought by water transported to the scene in buckets.
Hindu Deities
In today's new puzzle we're visiting a Hindu temple. Pick your difficulty level, click start and put the statues of the Hindu deities back together as fast as you can for a chance to get on our leaderboards.
Park Bench In The Autumn
It's a beautiful Autumn morning and we're going for a walk in the park. Pick your difficulty level, click start and join us on the Autumn leave covered bench for a few minutes of quiet relaxation.
Brightly Colored Fabrics
Fabrics or textiles are formed by weaving, knitting, crocheting, knotting, or felting. The word 'fabric' derives from Latin, most recently from the Middle French fabrique, or 'building, thing made', and earlier as the Latin fabrica 'workshop; an art, trade; a skilful production, structure, fabric'. Textiles have an assortment of uses, the most common of which are for clothing. They are made from many materials, with four main sources: animal (wool, silk), plant (cotton, flax, jute), mineral (glass fibre), and synthetic (nylon, polyester, acrylic). In this puzzle we feature an assortment of brightly colored fabrics ready to be turned into beautiful clothes. Think you can solve this jigsaw? Click start and give it a try!
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« *Odds and Ends*
*That’s a lot of cocaine…… »
*”DEA Bad Girl Michele Leonhart”*
The new nominee for Deputy Administrator of the DEA is a gung-ho drug warrior with questionable ties to a discredited super-snitch.
The Bush administration wants to head up the Drug Enforcement Agency with two women for the first time in the history of the agency.
The Senate has already confirmed Karen Tandy as DEA administrator by unanimous consent in a late-night session last Thursday. As Jason Vest reported in A New Hard-Liner at the DEA, Tandy has a history of “prosecutorial overzealousness” and “ignorance of key drug policy studies.”
Now President Bush has announced his intention to nominate Michele M. Leonhart, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Los Angeles Division, for the position of Deputy Administrator.
Leonhart has already established herself as another hard-liner who will not be popular in the drug reform community.
In June of 2001, she blasted ecstasy use at raves with her statement that “some of the dances in the desert are no longer just dances, they’re like violent crack houses set to music.”
She has also been a visible part of the DEA’s attacks on California’s medical marijuana laws. On January 9, 1998, when U.S. Attorney Michael Yamaguchi announced in a press conference that the government would take action against California medical marijuana clubs (arguably the start of the DEA’s current war against the sick), Leonhart was standing at his side.
Read the rest of the story…
August 5th, 2003 by Pete | Permalink
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5 Surprisingly Solvable Problems America Can't Figure Out
David Christopher Bell ·
Hey America, I think you're swell. Your Constitution is aces, those purple mountains are very majestic, and there are tons of safe places to park your car here. Breaking Bad was a wonderful show. And your people are super fun. What you did with the Boston accent? Fu-cking hilarious. Nobody wants to change you, America. But a lot of us citizens are super concerned about some rather self-destructive things you've been doing to yourself lately. We totally get that not every problem has some snap-your-fingers solution, but that doesn't mean there aren't a few fairly easy suggestions you could take to fix your overall quality of life. And frankly, we have no idea why you haven't done them already.
Want To Fix The Rust Belt? Support Renewable Energy And Marijuana
Blaming environmental regulations on the coal industry's decline is like blaming online pirating for the shuttering of video stores. Yes, it certainly didn't help, but stopping it won't get your Blockbuster job back. Thanks to cheap natural gas and renewable energy, coal is dying. That's just a fact of modern life. While some coal will still exist, it won't be enough to save the Rust Belt and Appalachia (areas that weren't exactly swimming in money before coal disappeared).
Pictured: the "good ol' days."
So the next step is figuring out what thriving modern industry can replace those jobs for a long period of time. It would have to be a livelihood that's a) easy to train coal miners to do and b) growing enough to sustain a huge workforce.
wbur.org
Yep. That crispy beardo living in his vegetable oil Mazda Bongo up the road from your high school? Turns out he was a leader of industry this whole time. Kids, consider that the next time you shy away from some weird stranger, because you could be harshing a very lucrative business opportunity. And the transition is already happening in places like Australia, where a coal mining town transformed itself into one of the country's largest solar farming communities. It's also in the U.S., where areas in Colorado rose from the coal ashes with a $800,000 boost in marijuana tax revenue. There have even been studies looking into the transition, which found that most coal mining workers not only could be cheaply retrained to work solar and wind farm gigs, but would also make more doing it. And that's not even assuming the coal companies would transition over themselves, which is exactly what's happening to a state-run mining group in India.
This isn't a hard decision, people.
So What's The Goddamn Holdup?
Well ... despite creating 150,000 full- and part-time jobs, certain politicians can't seem to leave the 1980s when it comes to marijuana.
While obviously not the wonder drug stoners want you to think, it's insane we have an attorney general who's apparently possessed by the ghost of Nancy Reagan. As for renewable energy, well, that's oddly off the current administration's to-do list, despite overwhelming bipartisan support for it. As for whether or not places like Appalachia would want this change, go ask the people of Whitesburg, Kentucky, an unfortunately named town and one of many places trying to reform their economy with bars and tattoo parlors and trendy businesses in an effort to attract younger citizens. These aren't backwoods yokels screaming at fancy city folk jobs, but humans who enjoy movies and football and getting drunk and watching Space Ghost, and who would welcome weed and renewables with open arms. They could go from an economic hellhole to leading the country in industry, for fuck's sake. And while I hate to go there, there was kinda one person who was saying this a while ago, but we didn't like the way she did her emails, so I guess we went with the guy hate-tweeting about wind farms on his unsecured Android instead.
Medical Marijuana Is Apparently A Joke To Ohio Football Fans
Hate Poverty? Turn Federal Post Offices Into Banks
Being poor is often odorous and surprisingly expensive, like tabletop gaming or maintaining an all-ferret diet. When you only have $30 for the week, buying anything in bulk isn't an option and you end up paying more in order to get less. For this reason, nearly 30 percent of Americans don't have the time or bulk capital to deal with banks, paving the way for payday loans and check-cashing services.
EHStock/iStock
Also advancing: customer blood pressure.
We're talking predatory hell-sucks that offer 500 percent to 1,000 percent interest rates and target areas where banks are unavailable or impractical to use. When legitimate bank branches move out of town, these fuckos take their place, creating a horrendous circle of debt.
But you know what is still in every neighborhood? United States Post Offices -- aka that place where people used to send paper emails and analog sexts. There was usually a person with a blue hat running the joint, and currently they are at an annual loss of $5.5 billion, thanks to the reason you're not reading this in a magazine. In other words, they're pretty much the perfect location to merge with a federal banking system to offer a baseline financial service for the poor. How do I know that would work? Because we already did it before.
Boy's Life Magazine
Pictured: an idea so obvious, we were able to come up with it before sound films, polio vaccines, and rock 'n' roll.
This bill, passed in 1910, created the United States Postal Savings System. This was stupid popular with the poor while not posing any real threat to other banks still luring in the middle and upper classes. By the 1930s, they had $1.2 billion in assets across the country. By 1949, 68 percent of America had a postal bank available and was damn happy about it.
No idea.
The Savings System eventually came to an end at the start of the 1970s, when things began looking up, which coincidentally happened to be around the time payday loans became a terrible thing. And for the fuck of me, I have no idea why we stopped. Even now, there's very little public pushback from the banks. And no one is talking about it beyond a few politicians like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.
Not only was it a great service, but it's also something that most of the world still offers. Also, government bank accounts would potentially pave the way to a universal basic income, in which everyone gets a default amount of money automatically put in their government bank accounts. That sure beats owing your life savings to some place called "Cash n' Blow."
The 5 Most Cartoonishly Evil Banks of All Time
Scared Of Climate Change? Support Family Planning And Birth Control
Nothing on this list ultimately matters if the world turns into a sprawling wasteland where children are traded for Snapple bottles half-filled with the highest of alkaline urine. That means we need to nip this whole "climate change" business soon. And while that's a task I certainly can't solve in a few hundred words on some goddamn comedy site, there are some ways we could begin to make a dent.
"How?" you ask, jaw agape in awe of my manly determination. Well, all we have to do is look at stuff that causes the biggest carbon footprint and reduce that thing. You know, like one of these:
PeopleImages/iStock
That's something we call a "baby" in my professional field. And depending on where the vagina they come out of is located, it can produce literal tons of carbon dioxide as time goes on. Amounts tend to be at their highest in rich or developing areas like Asia, Saudi Arabia, and the US of A.
So one way to slow climate change is to reduce how many of these exist. And while I know I'm starting to sound a little, uh, Hitler-y, it doesn't count as genocide if the babies we're talking about never exist in the first place.
Worldwide, about 85 million babies were "happy" accidents -- the highest occurrences being in Latin America, North America, and the Caribbean -- otherwise known as places where proper family planning and birth control is still an issue. Going by the average amount of CO2 an American produces in a lifetime, that's an accidental 1.7 billion tons to start. But considering that humans sexily beget other humans, ultimately the average cost of having an extra child is an additional 9,441 metric tons of carbon dioxide, making that number more like eight trillion tons of CO2 from the domino effect of unwanted pregnancies.
All of this points to a world in which even a little more effort toward voluntary family planning and birth control could go a long way -- especially since more than 200 million women worldwide want, but don't have access to, contraceptives. According to the latest estimates, merely providing access to those people would decrease emissions by 30 percent. We're not talking about abortion or mandatory population control or the Thunderdome or even handing out pamphlets, but simply providing rubbers to the areas of the world that need them most.
Putting aside the political debate around birth control, politicians talking about "population control" will often set off a lot of red flags.
Wiki Commons
Specifically, THIS one.
After all, how many times did I stress the voluntary side of this? This is why most politicians don't want to talk about it, and why when they do, they get criticized for proposing we start on the slippery slope toward eugenics. And even if we did manage to talk about birth control like adults, we'd still need to find the funding needed to properly provide options around the world. And we'd still need to convince some politicians that climate change is a real thing, and that giving poor people access to birth control isn't an affront to the ceremonious trajectory of sperm.
But in a world where our population is exploding at an alarming rate -- where scientists are estimating that even a catastrophic disaster or city-wiping nuclear war won't do the trick -- any objection to birth control is an act of Earth treason the likes of mass genocide or inventing the circus peanut.
5 Horrors Of Climate Change (Normal People Don't Know About)
Want To Fix Our Bridges And Roads? Raise The Gas Tax
No one wants to drive on shoddy pavement. So until we learn how to make cars fly or harness the power of dolphins, we need to fix our roads and bridges so as to avoid the crushing embarrassment of our shitty infrastructure, as well as the literal crushing of our shitty infrastructure.
And since the leading problem for cities is funding their roads, this sure seems like something that should be handled on a federal level. In fact, why the hell is this even a problem? We've had roads for like, a while, and so you'd think we'd have some plan for keeping them funded, right? There's no way I'm not right.
Well, we did. Back in the 1930s. And we called it the "gas tax."
Under the watchful eyes of Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge, the Revenue Act of 1932 introduced one of the first of many taxes on gasoline in the U.S. Over time, that tax was raised from the original 1 cent per gallon to 2 cents in 1954, to 4.5 cents under John F. Kennedy, all the way to 18.4 cents in 1993. That's about 16 percent of the $1.15 per gallon that gasoline cost at the time. So going by that math, can you guess what the federal gas tax is today?
Still at 18.4 cents.
Despite everything in the world costing way more, no president since Clinton has pushed to raise the federal gas tax. And so that 18.4 cents per gallon is now half of where it should be today. This means that the only hope cities have for fixing their roads is within their own state's gas taxes, which aren't nearly enough and are even nonexistent in many areas.
This isn't even close to a political argument, but one of logic. Here are those panda-fucking socialist turtlenecks at The New Yorker advocating for it ...
And here are the blood-faced choler-fucks at Breitbart also advocating for it ...
And since gas prices are at low-as-balls levels, now is the best time to do this. Especially since those jerks at Tesla are going to make a gasoline tax moot in the future.
Everyone wants this ...
... Except us.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans oppose increasing a tax that we need to increase, which means that politically, the gas tax is poison. Saying "gas tax" gets a candidate the same amount of goodwill that comes with suplexing a baby deer. It's the verbal equivalent of giving an elderly war veteran a wedgie on the Super Bowl Jumbotron. So despite being the most logical solution to a very real problem, everyone has to stupidly dance around it like it's lava in a discotheque.
Trump's infrastructure plan to privatize roads is being criticized for increasing the rate of tolls across the country (private investors don't fund roads for free), but the money has to come from somewhere. Roads and water pipes and bridges don't make money; they are an investment designed to make America function as a whole. So we have to pay for them. All of us. Either we do that by taking the long, clumsy route through private businesses and toll roads, or we bite the fucking bullet and raise the stupid goddamn gas tax.
And while we're at it ...
6 Insane Roads You Won't Believe People Actually Drive On
Hey, Maybe Raise Taxes For The Rich A Little Bit?
Back before the darkness, in a year called 2015, The New York Times published an article speculating the various ways we could help the country by raising taxes on the wealthiest 1 percent.
For example, raising income tax to 45 percent on households earning an average of $2.1 million would create $276 billion in revenue for the first year. That number alone could pay for a high-speed rail system, fix roads, and fund Medicare. But if that seems too much, raising taxes to 40 percent on the 0.1 percent of people making $9 million a year or more would get us $55 billion in extra revenue, which is a few billion shy of being able to send everyone to college for free. 45 percent would get you $100 billion -- enough to build and maintain at least five Jurassic Parks, provided those asshat geneticists start pulling their goddamn weight.
We needed this like yesterday, you clowns.
While this idea has been criticized for its vague simplicity and not solving inequality as a whole (the rich would remain stupid rich, even with increased taxes), both assessments seem to be missing the point. For starters, we don't necessarily need to "solve" inequality or even our national debt in order to help the unfortunate, and the fact that taxing the rich more won't put a dent in their wealth seems like a good thing. It means that there's a way to create a baseline quality of life while not waging class war.
And if the concern is that of vagueness, it should be noted that once Bernie Sanders laid out a way more detailed plan for raising taxes to help the less fortunate, those same critics found it to be solid, albeit still not perfect. So while there's room to push and pull over how much to tax vs. what benefits to offer with that surplus, the overall conclusion has been that sliding that tax scale a tiny bit more would make very little difference for the rich, but a huge difference for the poor.
Like ... society, man. For starters, politicians are fucking obsessed with the idea that poor people are going to take advantage of the opportunities we give them. So much so that the latest GOP health care bill spent a tenth of its girth focused on what happens when a poor person wins the lottery. And if you think Democrats are any better, try to remember that the richest and least economically equal districts are run by them. (Fun fact: In 2014, Michele Bachmann's district had the lowest level of income inequality in the U.S.)
Goddamn bleeding heart Tea Party socialists.
No matter which side of the political coin you subscribe, you've likely been conditioned to make things easier on the people running the show. Think of movie heroes like Tony Stark and Captain America having all the power and zero accountability, or truck drivers and factory workers being told that working the hardest jobs for little reward is real American work. We're taught that being a success means starting as an underdog and earning your keep, despite most of America's wealthy never having to experience that themselves. We're taught that teachers and police officers should make less money than the entertainers telling their harrowing bootstrap-pulling stories. We're taught that there's some kind of shame or tyranny in taking from the well-off and helping those in need.
And so all we have to do is, like, change that entire culture of America, and perhaps we can start talking about raising taxes for the rich. So OK, I guess it's not that simple after all.
Join the resistance by following Dave on Twitter, where he will do nothing to better society.
Also check out 5 Easy Fixes to Complex Problems You Won't Believe Worked and 4 Old-Timey Solutions We're Using On Modern Problems.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel, and check out How To Solve The Country's Gun Problem, and other videos you won't see on the site!
Follow us on Facebook, and let's best friends forever.
The 6 Most Ridiculous Things Ever Taxed
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Sohail Khan reprimanded for disciplinary breach
QeD Trophy 2019
By Farhan Nawaz
Sindh pacer Sohail Khan has been fined 50% of his match fee for using abusive language after being dismissed in the clash against Southern Punjab at UBL Sports Complex in Karachi. The right-handed batsman, who has also played international cricket for Pakistan, made a level 2 offence relating to personal abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee.
The incident occurred on the third day of the game, which was eventually won by Southern Punjab by an innings and 129 runs. Sohail was adjudged lbw by the umpire off the delivery by Rahat Ali and proceeded to use foul language in the direction of the standing official.
In another incident, Sindh’s opener Abid Ali was warned for a level 1 offence but not handed the fine despite the rules and regulations made by stricter for this season of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. He had protested at being given lbw in the second innings.
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TASMANIAN FERRY CONTRACT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO RAUMA
The Tasmanian Government has confirmed that the state-controlled TT-Line has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Finnish ship builder, Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC), to deliver the two new 'Spirit of Tasmania' vessels, originally ordered from Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) of Germany.
There had been considerable concern in Tasmania over delays in delivery of the vessels from FSG, and it is understood that the contract with FSG has been cancelled by mutual consent, with no payment made by TT-Line to FSG. The majority of the work undertaken to date on the new vessels by TT-Line and its expert consultants is transferrable and can be utilised in the detailed design phase and contract negotiations with the new shipbuilder.
Michael Ferguson, Tasmania's Minister for Infrastructure and Transport , said: "I would like to commend TT-Line Board and Management for its prudent and responsible management of this significant investment, which has minimised exposure to the company and the State of Tasmania.
TT-Line will now commence contract negotiations with RMC, including final design specifications. This will include finalising the delivery date, for which the MOU targets late 2022 for hull 1 and late 2023 for hull 2. Under this Government, TT-Line has enjoyed phenomenal success, with our plan to deliver more passengers and lower fares, as well as two new ships well within the 2028 timeframe."
Ferguson pointed out that: "The current Spirit of Tasmania ships continue to operate safely and efficiently, and are already emissions compliant as was required by 2020."
The newbuilds were originally scheduled to be delivered by FSG in 2021-2022, and would offer a passenger capacity increase of 43% and freight capacity increase of 39% over the two ex-Superfast ro-paxes (pictured) currently operating on the route across the Bass strait.
Article published in Shipbuilding & Shiprepair
ro-pax
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What is Modern Dance?
June 18, 2008 by Nichelle Suzanne (owner/editor)
This is not an easy question to answer, even for dancers and choreographers.
The beginnings of modern dance in the United States (Germany also had a related and influential dance movement) are traced to the early 20th century to a group of dancers often labeled the forerunners of modern dance. Isadora Duncan, Loie Fuller, Ruth St. Dennis, and her husband and partner Ted Shawn, each made significant contributions to a new type of concert dance in America.
Image by New York Public Library via Flickr
Their dance reflected and challenged the art, philosophy, and issues of their time, explored the cultures of other places and times, made new advances in theatrical lighting and spectacle, and discarded the costumes and artificiality of classical ballet. They were exploring and expressing themselves in a way that had never been seen before, and they were guiding others to do the same.
From this small family tree, emerged another generation of dancers. This group, considered the founders of modern dance, broke whatever rules had been laid down by their predecessors. Instead of borrowing movement from other cultures, they created movement based on the experiences of their own era. They were interested in presenting the inner self and all of its complex emotions on the concert stage. These founders, Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, and Lester Horton, among others, also created their own techniques which they taught in independent dance schools and universities. Their work established modern dance as a legitimate art form.
Dancers in the founder’s companies such as Merce Cunningham, José Limon, Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor and Anna Sokolow continued to redefine not only modern dance but, dance in general. Each contributed something different but, in general, this third generation was noted for a more minimalistic approach to dance in which movement became more pedestrian and stripped-down. Some, like Merce Cunningham, explored chance elements in their choreography, allowing a roll of dice to determine a dances’ structure. Others, like Alvin Ailey, brought ethnic, social, and political issues to the forefront.
In the 1960s and 70s, the work of these earlier artists ushered in the postmodern dance movement. The artists involved with Judson Dance Theater were some of the prime movers in this experimentalist trend. Dance artists were leaving the theatrical stage altogether and performing dance in public parks, on buildings, in museums, and on busy streets. Choreographers explored improvisation as legitimate performance and often presented performers with no dance training in their work. Audiences were asked to accept everyday movement like dressing, walking, and playing as dance. It was a direct upheaval of the concepts and codification that Modern dance artists had fought to develop.
Yet, as those who had gone before have done, each generation of modern dancers seeks new terminology, concepts, and techniques that broaden the definition of dance.
This legacy continues in the 21st century, an environment that draws from the techniques of modern dance and the spirit of exploration in postmodern dance. In fact, today most dancers on the concert stage are likely to have experiences in many techniques and, with the exception of those who have pursued or immersed themselves specifically in ballet or other systematized dance form, consider themselves contemporary dancers.
They study traditions in modern dance, but also other movement disciplines like ballet, jazz, african, yoga, gymnastics, and martial arts, as well as improvisational techniques such as contact improvisation and body mapping. Therefore, the movement you’ll see in a technique class or on stage reflects this diversity.
Image by CosmoPolitician via Flickr
Modern dance, although defined in many dictionaries as “a form of contemporary theatrical and concert dance employing a special technique for developing the use of the entire body in movements expressive of abstract ideas,” is a label that has begun to feel outdated for describing works created in the 21st century.
The term has recently been dedicated more to the techniques (both the structured styles like Graham, Limon, or Horton and the less codified systems) that are studied by contemporary dancers than works currently performed on the concert stage. To understand Modern Dance, therefore, it is a good idea to become familiar with these techniques as well as with its history and its role in the development of the constantly transforming art form of contemporary dance, which is not a technique but a collection of principles regarding movement and the choreographic/performance process which are closely related to the goals of the original modern dancers and their techniques.
Many times when people ask the question “What is Modern Dance?” they seek to prepare themselves for participation in either a class or as an audience member. As above, I recommend learning a bit about the history of modern dance as well as simply experiencing the art of contemporary dance. Take technique classes from a variety of teachers, watch choreography and performances by many different artists, and/or explore and improvise with movement, all the while, keeping an open mind in regard to one’s own definitions of dance. Each experience broadens and shapes understanding, giving one the knowledge to compare, and the confidence to appreciate that modern and, in fact, most contemporary dance refuses to be defined by labels. As one’s experience with the art of dance grows, the need to brand dance forms will diminish, and the question “What is Modern Dance?” will be replaced with “What else can dance be or become?”
Below are some interesting quotes, links, and resources that have more to say about Modern Dance…
One reason why modern dance is hard to define is that it is not so much a particular system or technique as it is an attitude toward dance, a point of view that encourages artistic individualism and the development of personal ways of dancing. As Helen Tamaris wrote in a program note for a concert she gave in 1927, “There are no general rules. Each work of art creates its own code.” – Jack Anderson
American Modern Dance, as a performance art form, serves many roles in today’s society. Many American choreographers of today use their art form for social commentary. There are other choreographers who tell stories with their dances. Finally, many choreographers simply manipulate the tools of choreography to visually create something new and interesting-perhaps something never seen before. Whatever the specific intent of the choreographer the role of dance today is to communicate, to create, and to educate.
– Beth Braun and Mark English
Ballet & Modern Dance: A Concise History
Prime Movers: The Makers of Modern Dance in America
The Makers of Modern Dance in Germany: Rudolf Laban, Mary Wigman, Kurt Jooss
No Fixed Points: Dance in the Twentieth Century
Terpsichore in Sneakers: Post-Modern Dance
RIDance.com’s answer to “What is Modern Dance?”
PBS’s Modern Dance Primer
Classic Confusion tries to define labels in dance
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Nichelle Suzanne is a writer specializing in dance and online content. She is also a dance instructor with over 20 years experience teaching in dance studios, community programs, and colleges. She began Dance Advantage in 2008, equipped with a passion for movement education and an intuitive sense that a blog could bring dancers together. As a Houston-based dance writer, Nichelle covers dance performance for Dance Source Houston, Arts+Culture Texas, and other publications. She is a leader in social media within the dance community and has presented on blogging for dance organizations, including Dance/USA. Nichelle provides web consulting and writing services for dancers, dance schools and studios, and those beyond the dance world. Read Nichelle’s posts.
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Filed Under: Beyond the Bubble, Blog, Dance Companies, Dance Library, Dance Styles, Dancethropology, Dancing, History of Dance, Terminology Tagged With: contemporary dance, Dance Choreography, dance history, improvisation, modern dance, performing, postmodern dance
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Convention no. 108 on the protection of individuals with regard to the automatic processing of personal data was signed at the level of the Council of Europe on the 28th January 1981 and represents one of the first legal instruments adopted at international level in the field of the protection of personal data.
The Consultative Committee – T-PD - was established on the basis of article 20 paragraph (4) of Convention 108 and is made up of representatives of all Council of Europe member states, signatories of the Convention. The Committee is led by a President and two vice-presidents.
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The reunions of the Committee may also be attended by representatives of Council of Europe member states that haven't ratified Convention no.108. The meetings are usually held at the premises of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
Romania participates at the Committee's reunions through representatives of the National Supervisory Authority for Personal Data Processing and has the right to vote.
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The review process will follow the two main objectives, namely to meet the challenges to privacy as a result of the use of new technologies in the communications domain and to emphasize the importance of the follow-up mechanism with regards to the implementation of the principles laid down by Convention 108.
Thus, in October 2011 the discussions on the modernization of Convention 108 have begun, the Consultative Committee (T-PD) adopting, at the technical level of the T-PD in 2012, a text of the protocol of review. The Committee of Ministers decided to establish an ad hoc Committee on the protection of data composed of representatives of the Member States of the Council of Europe with a mission to complete the modernisation of the Convention 108 through formal negotiation of the text of the Protocol of amendment.
The process of modernisation of Convention 108 has as purposefulness its transformation into an international legal instrument with a universal value applicable also to the States outside the Council of Europe. Currently, a process of reforming the legal framework concerning the protection of personal data at EU level started in 2012 is taking place, which intends to adopt a regulation applicable in the Member State and that will replace the current Directive 95/46/EC and a directive regulating the protection of personal data in criminal matters.
Whereas the majority of the States parties to the Convention 108 are members of both the EU and the Council of Europe, it is desired to have amendments compatible between the legal instruments of these two international organizations.
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Home » Current Affairs 2018 » Current Affairs Daily Digest – March 03 & 04 2018
Current Affairs Daily Digest – March 03 & 04 2018
LATEST CURRENT AFFAIRS – MARCH 03 & 04 2018
1. Merkel gets fourth term as Chancellor as part of coalition
Germany’s Angela Merkel has secured her fourth term as the Chancellor after the Social Democratic party voted in favour of a grand coalition with Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union. Efforts to form a coalition failed last year after the Free Democratic and Green party pulled out of negotiations. The Parliament will formally elect Merkel as the Chancellor on March 14.
2. Krishna Kumari elected Pak’s first Hindu Dalit woman Senator
Krishna Kumari has become Pakistan’s first Hindu Dalit woman Senator after she was elected to the Upper House. The 39-year-old had contested from a seat reserved for women from the Sindh province representing the Pakistan Peoples Party. Kumari is a human rights activist and was previously held along with her family in bonded labour.
3. Uzbekistan frees world’s longest-jailed journo after 19 yrs
Uzbekistan has released a journalist who was jailed for 19 years, the world’s longest-known prison term served by a journalist. Yusuf Ruzimuradov was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 1999 after being convicted of sedition for running a banned newspaper. His sentence was extended for allegedly violating prison rules.
4. First man to run a mile in under 4 minutes dies at 88
Sir Roger Bannister, the first person to run a mile in under four minutes, has died at the age of 88. His time of three minutes 59.4 seconds, set at Iffley Road sports ground in Oxford on 6 May 1954, stood as a record for just 46 days but his place in athletics history was assured.
Bannister also won gold over the same distance at the 1954 Commonwealth Games and later became a leading neurologist. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011.
5. India, Vietnam sign three agreements
India and Vietnam sign three agreements after bilateral talks between Prime Minister Modi and visiting President Tran Dai Quang. One Economic and Trade Cooperation, another was a Work Plan for the years 2018-2022 between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and last one on MoU on Cooperation between the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership, India (GCNEP) and the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM).
6. Indian economy grew at 7.2% in third quarter: Government
The Indian economy grew at five quarter high of 7.2 per cent in the October-December period reflecting overall recovery due to good show by agriculture, manufacturing, construction and certain services.
The gross valued added for manufacturing in the quarter under review grew at 8.9 per cent higher than 6.9 per cent in the previous quarter.
Similarly, the farm sector GVA grew at 4.1 per cent compared to 2.7 per cent in the previous quarter.
The construction sector recorded a growth of 6.8 per cent, higher than 2.8 per cent in previous quarter.
The services segment including financial services grew at rate of 6.7 per cent up from 6.4 per cent in previous quarter.
7. BJP wins Tripura for 1st time, displaces CPI(M) after 25 yrs
The BJP has defeated the CPI(M) in Tripura to form the state government for the first-ever time after winning 35 seats. The CPI(M), which ruled the state for 25 years, reportedly won 16 seats in the 60-member Assembly with 43% vote share. BJP-ally Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) won 8 seats after fielding candidates in 9 constituencies.
8. Govt approves ₹2,900cr Nirbhaya Fund to create 8 safe cities
The central government has approved ₹2,919 crore under Nirbhaya Fund to create eight ‘safe cities’ with a special focus on women safety. The cities will have patrolled public spaces and quicker response systems to curb crimes against women. The cities listed by the Centre are Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Lucknow.
9. All-female marathon held in Saudi Arabia for the first time
For the first time in the nation’s history, Saudi Arabia’s women participated in an all-female marathon. The three-km-long marathon, held in the eastern province of al-Ahsa, reportedly saw participation from 1,500 women across several categories. Earlier in January, Saudi Arabia allowed its women, for the first time, to spectate at a football match.
10. Russia, China to create joint data centre for lunar projects
Russia and China have agreed to set up a joint data centre for lunar and deep space projects, Russian space agency Roscosmos said. The Russian agency and China National Space Administration will look into possibilities of providing assistance to each other’s lunar programmes. Last year, the two agencies had agreed on a bilateral cooperation programme, including research on the moon.
11. India, Russia, Bangladesh sign pact for Rooppur atomic plant
According to Russian atomic energy agency Rosatom, India, Bangladesh and Russia have signed an agreement to allow Indian firms in construction and installation works in the “non-critical” category for the Rooppur nuclear power plant project in northwest Bangladesh.
The Memorandum of Understanding, signed in Moscow, sets a framework for interaction of Russian contractor, and Indian and Bangladeshi experts in the implementation of works related to the project. The Rooppur project is the first initiative under an Indo-Russian deal to undertake atomic energy projects in third countries.
12. Indian Navy sailboat INSV Tarini arrives in Cape Town, South Africa
An all-women crew leading the Indian Navy Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini has docked at a port in Cape Town in South Africa, during the last phase of its maiden voyage to circumnavigate the globe. The expedition is being covered in five legs, with stop-overs at Fremantle in Australia, Lyttleton in New Zealand, Port Stanley in Falklands, and Cape Town in South Africa.
13. ICG C-162: Bharati Defence delivers interceptor boat to Coast Guard
Bharati Defence and Infrastructure Ltd. (BDIL), Mangaluru, has delivered an interceptor boat, C-162, to the Indian Coast Guard. Sixth in a series of 15 high speed interceptor boats being procured by the ICG, C-162 was launched on January 31 at BDIL and within 28 days, the vessel completed harbour and sea trials successfully achieving speeds more than the contractual limit of 35 knots, said a release from BDIL.
14. Navjot Kaur clinches gold in the Asian Wrestling
Ace wrestler Navjot Kaur scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold in the Senior Asian Championships as she clinched the yellow metal in the 65kg freestyle category in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Navjot outclassed Japan’s Miya Imai 9-1 in a one-sided final bout of the women’s 65kg freestyle category to bag the gold. This was also India’s first gold in the ongoing championships.
15. 19-year-old Afghan becomes youngest captain in international cricket
Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan achieved a massive feat when he became the youngest top-ranked player as per ICC Rankings. Rashid joined Jasprit Bumrah as the top-ranked player in ODI rankings at the conclusion of the series against South Africa. At 7,683 days, Saqlain had topped the charts in 1998 with Rashid going better by nearly two years at 7,092 days. Now he has become the youngest captain in international cricket.
16. Indian shooter sets world record at his 1st-ever World Cup
Meerut-based 23-year-old shooter Shahzar Rizvi, who was appearing in his maiden ISSF World Cup, clinched the 10m air pistol gold medal with a world record score. Shooter Jitu Rai grabbed bronze in the same event. Mehuli Ghosh added another medal to India’s tally as she shot world junior record score to win bronze in the women’s 10m air rifle event.
17. Advani-led India beat Pakistan to win Snooker Team World Cup
The Indian duo of Pankaj Advani and Manan Chandra staged a remarkable recovery to defeat Pakistan in the final of the inaugural IBSF Snooker Team World Cup. After being 0-2 down in the best-of-five final played last last night, India found themselves in a deeper hole at 0-30 down in the third frame.
18. NASA finds water on Saturn-mass planet outside Solar System
Using NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, astronomers have found evidence of water in the atmosphere of a Saturn-mass exoplanet some 700 light-years away. The planet, WASP-39b, has three times as much water as Saturn does, which suggests it developed far away from its host star, where it was bombarded by a lot of icy material, said NASA.
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Cuomo's led among likely voters by 76 percentage points in New York City, 29 percentage point in the New York City suburbs and 15 percentage points upstate. To pull off the upset, Astorino would have to beat Cuomo in upstate and the suburbs and stay competitive in New York City.
Last week, Cuomo reported $35 million in his campaign coffers. Astorino had $2.4 million.
The Siena poll found that about two-thirds of voters said New York is about the same or worse off than it was four years ago, when Cuomo first won election. But 59 percent of voters said Cuomo has made New York a better place to live, and only 15 percent said he's made it worse. Cuomo's favorability rating was 61 percent, little changed from other recent Siena polls. The poll didn't do a head-to-head matchup against Cuomo's potential Democratic primary foe Zephyr Teachout, a Fordham Law professor who submitted petitions to force a primary Sept. 9. The poll, though, showed she had little name recognition around the state. In the other statewide races on the November ballot, Democratic incumbents Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman held sizable leads over their Republican challengers.
The poll asked voters about statewide issues.
By a 49 percent to 39 percent margin, voters wanted to see the controversial Common Core testing standards stopped.
Voters remained divided over whether to allow hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in New York: 43 percent of likely voters opposed it, and 40 percent supported it -- nearly unchanged since April.
The poll was conducted July 13-16 to 774 likely New York registered voters; previous polls had included just registered voters. It had a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.
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Denham Capital Power & Renewables Team Shifts Headquarters to London
09/04/13 | International Power
Expanding Opportunity Set in Emerging Markets Spurs Move by Global Energy and Resources-Focused Private Equity Firm
LONDON (4 September, 2013) – Denham Capital, a leading energy and resources-focused global private equity firm, announced today that it has shifted the headquarters of its Power & Renewables team to London to expand its pursuit of deals in emerging markets.
“Power and renewables opportunities are far greater overseas today, particularly in emerging markets, than in the U.S.,” said Scott Mackin, co-president and managing partner as well as head of Denham’s Power & Renewables team. “We believe this trend will only continue, as nearly 80 percent of new generation capacity requirements during the next two decades are expected to come from developing economies.”
As part of the move, Mackin has relocated to London, where he will lead fellow Power & Renewables team members Jens Thomassen, a director, and Juergen Heeg, a vice president, both of whom came to the firm late last year as part of Denham’s effort to bolster its presence in London, as well as Steve Mandel, an associate. Justin DeAngelis, a director will continue to support Denham’s global Power & Renewable investments team from the New York City area. In addition Todd Bright, a managing director who was tapped two and half years ago to lead the London office, will be moving back to Houston where he will join Saurabh Anand, a vice president, and Peter Ramsumair, an associate.
“Headquartering the Power & Renewables team in London, while also strengthening our presence in Houston, allows us to be more geographically aligned in our approach to pursuing deals globally and continue our close collaboration with our management teams in regions such as Africa, South America and the Asia Pacific,” added Mackin. “At the same time the move ensures we’ll be able to maintain the strong relationships we have established within the U.S.”
Denham Capital’s Fund V and VI backed management teams include Sum Energy Israel, an Israeli developer, owner and operator of independent power projects; Rio Energy, a Brazilian company focused on the development and/or acquisition of greenfield wind projects; OneWind Australia, a developer, owner and operator of wind power projects in Australia; Endeavor Energy, a developer, owner and operator of thermal and hydro power generation facilities across Africa; BioTherm Energy, a leading wind and solar developer in South Africa; and Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, a company that develops, builds and operates solar plants around the globe and is based in London and Madrid.
Mackin relocated from the Denham Capital Short Hills, New Jersey office where he, DeAngelis and Ramsumair previously worked. The office was closed in early August.
About Denham Capital
Denham Capital is a leading energy-focused global private equity firm, advising funds with approximately $7.3 billion of invested and committed capital. Denham Capital makes direct investments in the energy and resources sectors, including businesses involving renewable and thermal power generation, oil and gas, and metals and minerals. From offices in London, Boston, Houston, São Paulo and Perth, Denham Capital invests globally, with current investments in Africa, the Middle East, the U.S., Canada, South America, Australia, Europe and Asia. Denham Capital invests across all stages of the corporate lifecycle, from exploration and development projects to mature, operating businesses, and all segments of the capital structure. For more information about Denham Capital, visit www.denhamcapital.com.
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Britain's History:
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Piccadilly, London
History:Fortnum & Mason Part One and Two
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The Interview: Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull
What can be expected for the music and public performance industry in 2021 and more...
Lord Alf Dubs of Battersea, London
Brexit and Child Refugees
Today Lord Dubs of the Labour Party is leading the movement to allow safe passage to the UK of refugee children that currently linger in over populated refugee camps in nations such as Greece in terrible conditions.
Brian Barnes MBE, Known for his murals in London and his community organization that for years worked to protect the infamous Battersea Power Station in south London.
So, Fortnum & Mason, the home of joy-giving things and unforgettable experiences, has offered the creative community a canvas to bring their extraordinary talents to life by inviting theatre set designers to produce window installations based on a one-word creative brief – Joy.
Inland Homes Apartment tours in Southampton
With limited on-site viewings available on a strictly pre-booked appointment basis between 9am-6pm, interested first-time buyers will be able to find out everything they need to know about the London Help to Buy scheme at Randalls. Each 1-2-1 appointment will be tailored to the buyer’s individual needs, where they can discover their eligibility for the scheme, as well as viewing the development model and learning about the superior specification on offer.
With the average asking price for a one-bedroom apartment sitting at a whopping £844,875 it is little wonder the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is recognised as one of London’s most exclusive property hot-spots. Home to Kensington Palace and Gardens, the Royal Albert Hall, and the popular Exhibition Road.
Following a successful year under exceptional circumstances, luxury Kent housebuilder Millwood Designer Homes is gearing up to add two new boutique developments to its growing portfolio of homes in 2021. In a return to the developer’s traditional hamlet style, Heartenoak Meadows and Tibbs Court Farm, both situated in Kent, will be launching in early 2021, with further developments coming later in the year.
Occupying a prime position on Peckham’s Queen’s Road – a mere five-minute walk from Queens Road Station - Peckham Place epitomises convenient London living. This popular, attractively designed development has been in-demand over the past few months, and only three stylish Shared Ownership properties remain; including a one-bedroom apartment, and a two and three-bedroom duplex.
Delivering a contemporary collection of two to five-bedroom homes, award-winning developer Bellway Homes is proud to launch its newest phase at Keephatch Gardens which is situated in one of the top 10 places to live in the UK, in Wokingham, Berkshire.
Williamson Heights comprises a versatile collection of one, two- and three-bedroom apartments; available to purchase through London Help to Buy or Shared Ownership. As a way of spreading some extra Christmas cheer this year, Peabody is offering up to £2,000 to those who reserve a home through London Help to Buy; including £1,500 towards the first month’s living costs, and an extra £500 when buyers have their affordability checked, and reserve at the viewing.
Situated in the flourishing west London neighbourhood of Southall, Evolution comprises a spacious and versatile collection of studios, one, two and three-bedroom Shared Ownership apartments, as well as two, three- and four-bedroom duplexes. All homes benefit from open-plan layouts that easily cater for those living with pets.
The Clairmont, a luxurious four-bedroom detached property, is just one of the stunning plots where buyers can make the most of Millwood’s exciting Christmas gift.
Located in the idyllic village of Turners Hill, residents at Clock Field will have plenty of space to roam. Surrounded by the open green space of the National Trust’s Selsfield Common and Turners Hill Recreation Ground, buyers are guaranteed a convenient spot to blow away the cobwebs after a long day of home working or for a brisk stroll at the weekends.
Enjoying a superb setting within one of the world’s most renowned financial hubs, this contemporary selection of two-bedroom Shared Ownership apartments occupy a scenic waterside location within an emerging residential neighbourhood in Millharbour, E14.
Straddling the borders of Hackney and Haringey, the scheme comprises a superb selection of one and two-bedroom homes; all benefitting from an enviable setting - facing the west reservoir. This inherently tranquil development affords views of the London skyline and nearby sailing lake; providing residents with a calming oasis right on their doorstep.
Affordable housing provider St Arthur Homes has acquired a new site of Shared Ownership homes in Welwyn Garden City from Crest Nicholson. Known as Willow Place, the site at Bessemer Road comprises 15 apartments in a mix of one- and two- bedroom layouts, located close to the town centre.
Located in London’s borough of culture 2020, Wembley has plenty to offer its residents. Home to Wembley Stadium and the SSE Arena, the town is a flagship location for UK entertainment. Plus, the area also boasts two large parks, an array of independent stores, restaurants and cafés as well as a thriving community.
Hillgrove House the stylish one and two bedroom apartments start from as little as £375,000 with London Help to Buy available, saving buyers over half of the money they would spend on a property closer to the centre of town. And, with a regular tube service from Edgware Underground Station running every 15 minutes, residents can still be in the West End in half an hour, ensuring they remain connected.
The stylish collection of one bedroom apartments has been equipped with all that modern buyers need, including fully equipped kitchens with integrated Bosch appliances, private balconies, a 24 hour concierge service – guaranteeing parcels are never missed, and access to the residents only gym, sauna and steam room.
Comprising a versatile collection of one, two- and three-bedroom Shared Ownership apartments and houseshis stylish scheme forms an integral part of Northolt’s remarkable regeneration. All one- and three-bedroom apartments and houses at Rectory Park are now sold, meaning only a handful of two-bedroom Shared Ownership apartments remain.
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Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley Poke Fun at Feud Rumors in Hilarious Video
The two have fought off rumors of behind the scenes tension, but they had the perfect clap back.
By Vannessa Jackson Oct 15, 2019 7:34 PMTags
FeudsThe Vampire DiariesPaul WesleyNina DobrevCelebrities
Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley are once and for all putting these silly little feud rumors to rest. The former co-stars appeared together on the long-running CW show The Vampire Diaries, but in recent times have been fighting off rumors of on-set drama. In June, Nina discussed their early relationship on the Directionally Challenged podcast, and her words were taken slightly out of context.
"Paul and I didn't get along at the beginning of the show," Dobrev shared on the podcast. "I respected Paul Wesley, I didn't like Paul Wesley." That was the sentence that launched a thousand tabloid rumors. Once news hit, Nina quickly explained that she and Paul are on great terms now, but that didn't slow down the rumor mill.
Luckily, Nina and Paul have a hilarious sense of humor and laughed off the rumors with the perfect Instagram video. The video shows the two of them "accidentally" running into each other at a pool party where Nina apologizes and Paul accepts her apology saying he doesn't "hold grudges," before offering a peace hug and instead pushing Nina in the pool.
Nina Dobrev Gushes Over Reunion With Ex Costar Paul Wesley
"I 'despise' you," Nina cleverly captioned the video. Paul sweetly reposted the video to his page with his own funny caption. "Dobrev and I confirming all those rumors," he wrote.
This video comes after Nina was once again in the press dispelling any rumors about a feud with her former co-star. On Monday's episode of the podcast Chicks In the Office she cleared the air once and for all.
A post shared by Nina Dobrev (@nina)
"You spend every waking moment together—probably more moments than you do with your real family because you're there from, like, 5 in the morning until midnight, 6 a.m. sometimes," she explained about her prior statements. "So you see each other with makeup, without makeup, on good days, on bad days, when you're hungry, when you're thirsty, when you're tired. So, there are going to be mood swings. It was one of those things that we just—it's not that we didn't like each other. We just didn't appreciate each other as much as we do now—and that, of course, got blown [out] of proportion. They took one sentence out of context and deleted all of the other ones where I'm like, 'I love him. We're best friends now.'"
From the looks of this video, they may have gone from best friends to frienemies!
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52 Years After Displacement, Scars Of Loss Remain For Nubians
Egypt Today
Tue, 25 Oct 2016 - 03:16 GMT
After the displacement of thousands of Nubians from their homeland 52 years ago, the scars of loss and cultural tragedy continue to spur demands for a right of return.
by Farah El-Akkad
Palm trees and vast farms by the Nile River, ‘the land of Gold,’ ‘Egypt’s gateway extending till northern Sudan,’ ‘an African Empire’ — that’s the way older generations of Egypt’s Nubians remember their long-lost homeland.
Before the 1960s, Nubian villages were flooded every summer, spurring a government decision to begin construction of Aswan’s High Dam in an effort to create more water and electricity capacity for Egypt’s burgeoning population. But while the revised 1959 Nile Waters Treaty was a necessity to Egypt’s hydro-infrastructure ambitions, it necessitated the displacement of tens of thousands of Egyptian and Sudanese Nubians.
The decision to resettle the Nubian population between 1963 and 1964 was a major traumatic event: one that has been ingrained in the historical and cultural memory of the Nubians of Egypt and North Sudan. According to the acclaimed 1999 documentary Egyptians and the Nile, scores of families left their farms and ancestral homes with thousands of lost memories; many others refused to leave their flooded houses and chose instead to die there.
This month marks 52 years since the displacement of Nubians from their land. The displacement, known as “the bitter occurrence,” saw more than 50,000 Nubians expelled from their land after promises of a right of return following the completion of the High Dam were broken. Over 45 villages were razed, their inhabitants displaced and promptly relocated, mainly in Kom Ombo far from their original lands. Decades have passed and Nubians have not forgotten their old land and still demand their right of return. Today, Nubians continue to reside mostly in Kom Ombo, about 60 km north of Aswan, spread out across five main villages: Nasr Al-Noba, Al-Fadigga, Arab, Thoman Waffia and Al-Konouz. Though these villages depend mainly on agriculture, they hold none of the magic and glory of the Nubians’ original lands.
“I remember very vividly what happened on that day. Our farm was completely flooded months before leaving and the crop was damaged. I also recall my grandfather who was almost my age today talking to one of the army officers and leaving our home with tears in his eyes. Even though they said it was for the best and they would bring us back, my family felt it was not true,” says 75-year-old Abdel Hamid Saafan, a Nubian who once lived in Abu Handal, one of the last villages that were razed in 1964. Saafan says his family moved into a new house, but most other people had no place to live because more than 60 percent of the construction of the new houses was not yet finished. To the Nubians’ dismay, the new houses were totally different from their old village’s culture and style, nor was any attention paid to the hot weather conditions or the Nile’s considerable distance from the settlements.
This month the Egyptian Nubian Foundation held an event at their headquarters in Abdeen Square in memory of the bitter incident. Chairman of the Foundation Mossad Herky says the commemoration is “part of a series of continuous events held annually to keep alive the memory and remind the government that we did not forget its promise to us — the right that was promised 52 years ago during Nasser’s era and also by other consecutive governments until today.”
Nubians feel marginalized and isolated from society to this day, Herky says. But they are not disheartened, and every year the community spotlights the sad incident and renews its demands that the government preserve Nubian culture and return Nubians to their land. “I am 32, but I recall my grandfather’s stories about old Nubia throughout my childhood and the same stories are not being told to my son. The displacement will remain a black spot in the history of Egypt not because of the act itself, but because the government’s promise was not true,” says Ibrahim Gamal, a resident of Nasr El Noba.
After the January 25 Revolution Nubians hoped for better living conditions north of the High Dam, but their hopes were dashed and then renewed after June 30, Gamal says. “It seems we always come last,” laments Gamal. “Why is wanting to go home to develop and invest in our homeland too much to ask?" he exclaims, adding that Nubians have sacrificed a lot for Egypt and the least they deserve is for their demands to be met.
There is hope yet with the Egyptian government showing some positive steps over the past 5 years. Following the January 25 Revolution, former Prime Minister Essam Sharaf gave the go-ahead for the creation of the High Institute for Reconstruction South of the High Dam. In 2012, the government started a program to encourage young Nubians by selling one square meter lots for LE 10 in Nasr Al Noba. In October 2014, the Egyptian Minister for Transitional Justice, Ibrahim Henedi, issued a decision to form a special committee to discuss Nubians’ demands to return to their areas of origin (now located north of Aswan’s High Dam). Moreover, the government has built schools, hospitals and a number of youth centers in addition to fitting sewage pipeline in different Nubian villages in the past 10 years.
Yet many Nubians feel this is not enough, arguing that most governmental initiatives go no further than the paperwork stage and are nothing but fodder for talk shows. “Nubians’ demand of their right of return does not mean they are not aware of Egypt’s ongoing political and economic challenges and will do their utmost effort to help make Egypt a better country and work hard to improve our living conditions,” says Herky.
Nubian culture is one of the richest in the world, says Bassem El Ashkar, professor of modern history at Cairo University, and Nubians are an inseparable part of Egypt’s culture with some tourists coming to Egypt specifically to visit Nubia. “I think the richness of the Nubian people and their culture is not valued at even half of its real worth, and more details and real stories about Nubia need to be included in our history school books,” Ashkar says, adding that popular singer Mohamed Mounir, Field Marshal and Statesman Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, football player Shikabala and writer Idris Ali as some of the most prominent figures hailing from Nubia.
And of course there is the old Nubian language, which was used as a secret code during the 1973 War with Israel. One of the most famous words on the list of Secret Codes was ‘Ushrya,’ which means ‘Attack’ in Nubian. A remnant of a lost civilization, the Nubian language has sadly all but died out in modern-day Egypt. And barring a few songs by Mohamed Mounir, children of Nubian descent have little use for their native tongue, making it nearly impossible for the language to be passed down to a new generation.
Through his foundation, Herky is encouraging efforts at the grassroots level to preserve the oral and written traditions of the ancient people, in spite of the capital’s distance from the Nubians’ traditional homeland. Despite the rallying, the number of people able to speak Nubian in Egypt has drastically declined in the last two decades.
The Nubian language could be forgotten entirely within Egypt in the next century, according to UNESCO. “My father came here to Cairo from Nubia, and now I am 56 and all my friends are from Egypt. Because of things like this, it is easy to forget the language,” says Herki. “The problem is not for me. It is for my children. My children speak French, English and Arabic, but Nubian? No. Because of that, we are afraid for our new generation - afraid that they will not know our language.”
Part of the reason the language is vanishing lies with Nubians themselves, Herky says, adding it's the community’s responsibility to save their own culture and language, which now play a very small role in the larger national agenda.
“The people here in Cairo don’t know what Nubian is. This is Egypt's mistake,” he says. “Now we see that this is the country's mistake, but we must do something. We must tell them who Nubians are and about our history.”
The Nubian language has been more resilient in and around Aswan because almost all the residents in some of these communities claim Nubian heritage, Herky says. It is also spoken in the home there. Several of the communities were established after the government forced entire villages to move during the flooding necessary for the construction of the Aswan High Dam, while other residents of the now underwater villages were relocated to Cairo. But even those communities are under threat due to attempts to modernize school curricula, which place a greater emphasis on becoming fluent in Arabic and English than on Nubian.
“It’s a shame that French and English are requirements in the nation’s schools and Nubian is not, even though Nubia has played such a central role in Egyptian history," says Herky. “It is in our blood. It is our roots. This is the backbone of the country.”
nubians
aswan dam
nubian culture
nubian language
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Re-evaluation of the Witotoan/Boran family/ies
Documentation of N!aqriaxe with a focus on contact influence
Language Areality in Ancient Eurasia
The African Lexis in Jamaican Creole and Its Historical Significance
Language Contact in Sri Lanka
→→Former Department of Linguistics→Past Research & Resources→Language Contact→Loanword Typology: Comparative Study of Lexical Borrowability
Martin Haspelmath
Uri Tadmor
Loanword Typology: Comparative Study of Lexical Borowability
In this project, we studied lexical borrowing patterns in 41 languages from around the world. Each language was the responsibility of a single author, an expert of the language and what is known about its history and its contact languages. For each language, we assembled lexical data for a fixed list of 1460 meanings.
Lexical borrowing is an important aspect of language change, and the study of loanwords can give important insights into the cultural and social history of a language. At the same time, loanwords are often confounding factors in the study of genealogical relatedness of more distantly related languages. For both of these reasons, it is important to have some general knowledge about how lexical borrowing takes place in different languages under different structural and sociocultural conditions.
In the Loanword Typology project, 41 linguists (or teams) who are specialists in a particular language and its history collaborated to build a large lexical database containing between 1200 and 2000 words for each language. The basis of this is a fixed list of 1460 meanings. The resulting combined database allowed us to see which languages borrow the most or the least words, and which meanings are most prone to be represented by loanwords. Such generalizations and comparisons have become available for the first time through this project.
The results of the project were published as book publication plus an electronic database (the World Loanword Database).
Haspelmath, Martin, & Uri Tadmor (eds.). 2009. Loanwords in the World's Languages: A Comparative Handbook. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.
Haspelmath, Martin, & Uri Tadmor (eds.). 2009. World Loanword Database. Munich: Max Planck Digital Library.
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Bus Tour Updates
Everglades Restoration
Everglades Science Forum
ForEverglades
Intern Blog
Special Report: Florida Bay
Everglades Foundation Scientists Confirm Link Between Red Tide and Polluted Discharges from Lake Oke
For Immediate Release October 4, 2018
Contact Rebecca Rose, 786.231.1687, rrose@evergladesfoundation.org
Everglades Foundation Scientists Confirm Link Between Red Tide and Polluted Discharges from Lake Okeechobee
Phosphorus and nitrogen from agricultural runoff is main culprit; Lake Okeechobee discharges that cause blue-green algae also “feed and sustain” red tide
Palmetto Bay, Fla. — Discharges of phosphorus- and nitrogen-laden water from Lake Okeechobee “feed and sustain” red tide outbreaks that now afflict both of Florida’s coasts and “almost certainly” are the cause of blue-green algae, according to scientists at The Everglades Foundation.
“In South Florida, our problems are not just limited to red tide,” observed a group of scientists from The Everglades Foundation in a report issued today. “We also have blooms of blue-green algae stretching from the St. Lucie estuary on the east coast, across Lake Okeechobee and over to the Caloosahatchee estuary on the west coast.”
The two problems are related, since “the lake’s contributions to the blue-green algae problems on the west coast are likely helping to sustain red tide in coastal waters outside the Caloosahatchee,” the Foundation’s scientists assert.
While red tide was first observed by the Spanish in the 1500s, “it needs a supply of nutrients to sustain itself, and that is where modern pollution from Lake Okeechobee comes in,” the report continued. “Discharges from Lake Okeechobee likely provide a local source of nutrients that are sustaining this bloom as it has moved closer to shore.”
Unlike red tide, the blue-green algae observed in the Caloosahatchee and along the Indian River “is almost certainly caused by releases from Lake Okeechobee,” in addition to being sustained by them, the Foundation’s report said. “Scientists studying the stresses on the planet agree that excess nitrogen and phosphorus are among the most pressing issues facing the planet…(with) more than 75 percent of the planet applying unsustainable levels of phosphorus to the landscape.”
The Foundation’s report cites modeling by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that, in the long term, about 60 percent of the nitrogen and 45 percent of the phosphorus in the lower Caloosahatchee comes from Lake Okeechobee, with the remainder is caused by local urban and agricultural sources. A 2014 study established that phosphorus and nitrogen from the Caloosahatchee River are a “significant source” of the red tide bloom in nearshore areas and the lower estuarine zone.
The Foundation is sponsoring a $10 million innovation award, the “George Barley Water Prize,” to find a safe, effective and affordable technology to remove excess phosphorus from fresh water supplies, the report notes.
About The Everglades Foundation The Everglades Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to leading efforts to restore and protect the greater Everglades ecosystem. Since its founding in 1993 by a group of local outdoor enthusiasts, the Foundation has become a respected and important advocate for the sustainability of one of the world’s most unique ecosystems. For more information, please visit EvergladesFoundation.org.
Florida Can't Wait: Invest in the Everglades, and Bring Relief to the State
Biscayne Bay Hypoxia and Fish Kill
Where to Take Your Dog in the Everglades
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Miami coroner reviewing doctor’s death 2 weeks after vaccine
by: MIKE SCHNEIDER, Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The medical examiner’s office in Miami is looking into the death of a doctor who died about two weeks after getting Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, officials said Friday.
In a statement, Pfizer said it was aware of the death, but that it didn’t think there was any direct connection to the vaccine.
The death of Dr. Gregory Michael is being investigated along with the Florida Department of Health and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Samples from an autopsy conducted Wednesday have been sent to the CDC, said Darren Caprara, director of operations for the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department.
“The cause of death is pending the completion of studies” by the medical examiner and the CDC, Caprara said in an email Friday.
Pfizer said the doctor died 16 days after receiving a vaccine shot. The company said it was a “highly unusual” and severe case of a condition that can prevent blood from clotting and cause internal bleeding.
“To date, millions of people have been vaccinated and we are closely monitoring all adverse events in individuals receiving our vaccine,” the statement said.
Michael, 56, died Sunday. He was an obstetrician with a private practice at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. His wife didn’t respond to a request for an interview on Friday.
The CDC said in a statement that it planned to evaluate the case “and provide timely updates on what is known and any necessary actions.” The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration track potential side effects through a national electronic database, with reports typically coming from health care professionals and vaccine manufacturers.
It is usually not possible to determine whether a problem was actually triggered by a vaccine simply from information submitted to the database, the FDA notes on its website. Side effects reported to regulators can be related to existing medical conditions, prescription medications or other health factors.
Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP
More Health Stories
by DANICA KIRKA, Associated Press / Jan 17, 2021
LONDON (AP) — The U.K. government plans to offer a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to every adult by September as the nation’s health care system battles the worst crisis in its 72-year-history.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Sunday that the government will soon begin a trial of round the clock injections at some locations as it continues to add more vaccination sites to increase the pace of delivery. The National Health Service opened a mass vaccination center on Saturday at the historic Salisbury Cathedral, where injections were accompanied by organ music.
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Florida COVID-19 patient fully recovers from virus, shares journey
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The first patient to test positive for COVID-19 in Hillsborough County, Florida says she has fully recovered from the virus.
Kaelyn Sheedy is a Tampa sports therapist who contracted the coronavirus while traveling through Europe in mid-February.
“When I tested positive, I was just like ‘Wow, what are the chances?'” she told WFLA via Facetime Wednesday.
When she was in Europe, she says people there were not talking about the virus but she traveled with a mask just in case.
“Tried to do my best to protect myself while on planes and traveling,” she explained.
It was on the flight back to America when she said she began to show symptoms: fatigue, fever, and coughing up green mucus. Sheedy called the CDC who cleared her to fly from New York to Tampa, only to come home and test positive for the virus on February 28th.
She immediately quarantined herself at home, along with her traveling buddy who also contracted the virus.
“I’m a healthy individual,” Sheedy said. “I could see how someone with underlying conditions could have had a much more difficult experience.”
Twelve days into her 14 day quarantine, Sheedy stopped showing symptoms and tested negative. A second test on March 13th confirmed she had recovered and is now coronavirus-free.
Now she’s sharing her story to encourage other young people to take the situation seriously. Sheedy even hosted a social media Q&A, answering questions from other users to help ease fears but also urge vigilance.
“It’s not going to hit home until it hits home,” she explained. “And that’s when it’s your mother, or grandmother, or grandfather.”
Sheedy applauds the response the state has had so far, forcing bars and other public places to close to prevent the spread of the virus.
Even though Sheedy is feeling well once again, she won’t be going back to work just quite yet. As a sports therapist, she works with many professional athletes who are currently not playing due to the coronavirus crisis, so it’ll be some time before her life is fully back to normal.
For more on Sheedy’s recovery and personal experience with the virus, you can find her on Instagram at @kaelynsheedy.
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Attack linked to rape
DETECTIVES investigating a violent assault on a woman as she walked her dogs on Ilkley Moor have linked the incident to the rape of a teenage girl nine years ago.
Just over a week ago, a 52-year-old woman was attacked at the well- known beauty spot by a man wielding a knife.
Detectives said the incident was being linked to an horrific assault on a 16-year-old girl in a park in the Halton area of east Leeds in 1997.
She was collecting frogspawn with her 11- year-old brother when they were grabbed by the attacker.
Det Supt Paul Kennedy said the incident had been linked by DNA to the attack on Ilkley Moor.
At a press conference in Leeds, he said: "We are definitely looking at the same man and quite clearly he is dangerous."
Detailing the 1997 attack, Mr Kennedy said the 16-year-old was grabbed by the man who led her and her brother at knifepoint to bushes.
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Collecting for Romania
A CHARITY dedicated to helping people in rundown Romania has come up with a new way to give them the support they need to build better standards of living.
Rising transport costs and logistical problems faced by Huddersfield charity Acorn mean supplies of clothing, toiletries, medical and educational items are no longer directly supplied to the troubled country.
But money is now used to buy such things as building materials and fabric which are then used by locally-hired tradesmen on projects.
Acorn chairman Alison Rayner said: "The schools and hospitals of the Prahova district now have new toilets and laundry rooms along with medical and educational supplies.
"I travelled to Romania recently where I was able to visit many of the projects that have been completed over the last 12 months.
"Some were small, others larger, but all helped to enhance the everyday life of the community."
Acorn was formed in Huddersfield 14 years ago and is now taking on a new project to help build a village playground in the centre of the town of Paulesti.
The local council will donate the land and pay the labour bill if Acorn will provide materials and equipment.
With this and other projects in mind, the charity has organised a fundraising shopping evening on Thursday, December 9, in Marsh.
The shops will be staying open late and will organise raffles and fundraising for the charity.
Anyone with new ideas of how to raise cash or who would like to help or donate should contact Alison by email at nicx86@hotmail.com
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Parenting / Discipline
How to Ignore a Child (Or Use the Silent Treatment) Effectively
Granted, the circumstances have to be just right, but kids can and should sometimes be ignored.
Updated Aug 05 2019, 4:49 PM
The silent treatment can be a viable form of discipline if it’s done with intention and in the service of behavior modification and self-preservation. And, yes, that assertion can feel at odds with parenting styles that place an emphasis on hovering or yelling to keep kids in line. But that’s kind of the point. When a parent launches into a disciplinary silent treatment, kids have a tendency to start listening.
“Sometimes purposefully ignoring a child is a great intervention,” explains positive psychologist Dr. Robert Zeitlin, author of Laugh More, Yell Less: A Guide to Raising Kick-Ass Kids. And, he notes, the reasons for applying the intervention are fairly diverse and not uniformly related to kids.
The most practical use for ignoring kids is in behavior modification. But the first priority for parents is agreeing on what silence is intended to accomplish and communicating that information to the child.
How to Use the Silent Treatment to Discipline a Child
Make sure that you know which behavior you’re trying to modify before using the silent treatment for discipline.
Communicate to your child the reason for using the silent treatment.
Make sure that your child is in a place where they can be safe without supervision or prompts.
Remain as calm as possible. Silence shouldn’t be an act of anger.
Once expectations are clear and the kid is definitely not in a position to do something stupid without supervision, it’s time to stop reacting. It might be a tough ask, at first, but it’s important to remember that parents are adults, and as such, they have the unique ability to better cope with emotions. Keeping calm is what makes ignoring work.
“It’s a space for your kid to do what they need to do,” Zeitlin says. “But without being unsafe and without necessarily creating a feedback loop where they’re getting what they need to get or avoiding what they’re trying to avoid.”
And silence doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Ignoring a kid while they’re outside, for instance, is a great idea as long as the kid knows not to run into the street or walk away with a stranger. Likewise, ignoring a kid and their friend as a negotiation over a toy becomes heated can allow the duo to sharpen their negotiation and problem-solving skills as long as they know you’re out of the picture to begin with.
“Like anything in parenting, changing your move last minute doesn’t help anything,” says Zeitlin. “But you can telegraph that this is how we work.”
Finally, ignoring can work as a way for parents to be themselves again because ignoring can create a necessary boundary between parents and children. Without it, parents lose themselves to constant subjugation. That’s maladaptive behavior too. “If we want our kid’s behavior to change it needs to start with us,” Zeitlin says. “I believe that it is healthier to have some boundaries between where your self stops and where your child’s needs begin.”
discipline discipline strategies Misbehaving
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Parenting The Photo of Joe and Hunter Biden is an Image of Hope for Men
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‘A Flavour of the Future: Challenges for Irish Agri-food in the Global Marketplace’ – Tuesday 5 July 2011, RDS, Dublin
Innovation and the use of new technologies in the agri-food sector are key themes of the Institute of International and European Affairs’ (IIEA) conference ‘A Flavour of the Future’, which takes place on Tuesday 5 July 2011 at the RDS, Dublin 4. IIEA Director General, Daithi O’Ceallaigh, says that the conference would provide the opportunity to “see what other countries and companies are doing and how our own industry can improve into the future.”
The conference will bring together many of the leading stakeholders in the Irish and international agri-food sectors to discuss how the Irish industry can respond to the challenges of the changing global environment, and capitalise on the huge opportunities that exist in emerging markets. Other key issues that will be discussed on the day include CAP reform, research and innovation, and consumer and lifestyle trends.
The conference, which is supported by the RDS and is sponsored by Bord Bia (Irish Food Board), Bank of Ireland and the Irish Farmers Journal, will be opened by the Minister for Agriculture, Marine & Food, Simon Coveney TD (pictured above). Minister Coveney notes that the conference’s focus on innovation and value-added is fitting at this stage of the Irish agri-food sector’s development, adding that Ireland has an opportunity to carve a niche for itself as a producer of quality food that consumers are willing to spend more money on.
Lars Hoelgaard, Special Adviser on Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission.
The programme blends the expertise of the Irish agri-food sector with case studies of international best practice. In the first session, Denis Brosnan will chair a discussion on ‘Global and European Trends – a Vision for Irish Agri-food’ with contributions from Minister Coveney, Lars Hoelgaard, Special Adviser on agriculture at the European Commission, and Kevin Lane, CEO of the Irish Dairy Board.
The second session will focus on innovation with a view to exploring how the application of science and technology in new ways can transform the Irish agri-food industry. Three case studies will be presented by Tom Mulqueen, Vice President, Nutrition Operating Unit, Pfizer; Veijo Merilainen, former Executive Vice President, International Operations and Innovations, Valio; and John Moloney, Managing Director, Glanbia. Jens Bleiel of Food for Health Ireland will also address the session on public-private innovation in Irish agri-food.
Veijo Merilainen, former Executive Vice-President, International Operations & Innovations, Valio.
Lifestyles and consumer trends, rebranding the Irish agri-food sector and financing the necessary investments in this important indigenous industry will be addressed in the afternoon session, with contributions from Aidan Cotter, CEO of Bord Bia, Josh Hunt of The Futures Company and Mark Cunningham, Director of Business Banking, Bank of Ireland Group.
The IIEA is Ireland’s leading think tank on European and International affairs and is an independent, not-for-profit organisation with charitable status. Its extensive research programme aims to provide its members with high-level analysis and forecasts of the challenges on the global and EU policy agendas which impact on Ireland. It acts as a catalyst for new thinking, new solutions and policy options, which give its members from the private and public sector a significant competitive advantage.
The IIEA provides a unique forum in Ireland for corporate networking. It annually hosts over 100 events, which afford its members unparalleled access to the highest-level speakers, decision-makers, and thought-leaders at national, EU and global level. High-level speakers at IIEA events have included Ban Ki-moon, Mikhail Gorbachev, Herman Van Rompuy, and Jean Claude Trichet. This conference is open to all those involved in the agri-food industry, including farmers, producers, export agencies, policymakers, industry figures and people involved in research.
Tickets for the conference are available at www.iiea.com at an early-bird price of €150 until June 30 (full price €195.) Delegates can also register by phone on 01-874 6756 or e-mail agricultureconference@iiea.com.
Further €165 Million EC Market Support Package For Perishable Fruit & Vegetables
Orkla Invests in Icelandic Confectionery Brand
Consumer Goods M&A Quadrupled in 2015 With Deal Value Topping $226 Billion
Which is the capital city of Ireland?
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Interstate System
Federal-Aid Legislation
History of FHWA
General Highway History
Home / Resources / Highway History / General Highway History / Highway History Bibliography / Early American Roads and Turnpikes
Highway History Bibliography
Early American Roads and Turnpikes
Interstate System, critical
National Road/U.S. 40
U.S. Route 66
General and Travel
The American Guide Series
The American Trail Series
State Highway Histories
The latest additions are in bold
Baker, Norman L., Braddock's Road: Mapping the British Expedition from Alexandria to the Monongahela, History Press, 2013. (Baker tells the story of the road that Major General Edward Braddock carved out of the wilderness in 1755 between Alexandria and the future site of Pittsburgh during the French and Indian War.)
Boyd, Mark F. "The First American Road in Florida: Pensacola-St. Augustine Highway, 1824, The Quarterly Periodical of the Florida Historical Society, October 1935, p/ 72-192.
Chidsey, Donald Barr, "The Old Boston Post Roads," National Geographic, August 1962.
Clark, Keith, and Tiller, Lowell, Terrible Trail: The Meek Cutoff, 1845, Maverick Publications, 1966 (revised edition, 1993). (A wrong turn in Oregon leads to disaster.)
Coates, Robert, The Outlaw Years: The History of the Land Pirates of the Natchez Trace, The Literary Guild of America, 1930.
Coleman, J. Winston, Jr., Stage-Coach Days in the Bluegrass: Being an Account of Stage-Coach Travel and Tavern Days in Lexington and Central Kentucky 1800-1900, Standard Press, 1935 (New edition, University Press of Kentucky, 1995).
Davis, William C., A Way Through the Wilderness: The Natchez Trace and the Civilization of the Southern Frontier, Harper Collins Publishers, 1995.
Dunbar, Seymour, A History of Travel in America, 4 Volumes, The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1915. (Reprinted in 1 volume, Tudor Publishing Company, 1937)
Dunlop, M. H., Sixty Miles from Contentment: Traveling the Nineteenth Century American Interior, Basic Books, 1995. (What 19th century travel narratives reveal about America.)
Durrenberger, J. A., Turnpikes: A Study of the Toll Road Movement in the Middle Atlantic States and Maryland, Published by the Author, 1931.
Earle, Alice Morse, Stage-Coach and Tavern Days, The MacMillan Company, 1927.
Edwards, Agnes, The Old Coast Road: From Boston to Plymouth, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1920.
Faulk, Odie B., Destiny Road: The Gila Trail and the Opening of the Southwest, Oxford University Press, 1973. (The story of the road through New Mexico, Arizona, and California that evolved into U.S. 80.)
Faulk, Odie B., The U.S. Camel Corps: An Army Experiment, Oxford University Press, 1976. (The story of the use of camels to build wagon roads, including portions of the road that became U.S. 66, through the Southwest in the 1850's.)
Hafen, LeRoy R. and Ann W., Old Spanish Trail: Santa Fé to Los Angeles, The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1954.
Hart, Val, The Story of American Roads, The Junior Literary Guild and William Sloane Associates, 1950.
Holifield, William, Difficulties Made Easy: History of the Turnpikes of Baltimore City and County, Baltimore County Historical Society, 1978.
Holmes, Oliver W., and Rohrback, Peter T., Stagecoach East: Stagecoach Days in the East from the Colonial Period to the Civil War, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1983.
Hulbert, Archer Butler, Historic Highways of America (16 Volumes), The Arthur H. Clark Company, circa 1902-1903.
Hulbert, Archer Butler, The Old National Road-The Historic Highway of America, Ohio Archaeological and Historical Publications, Volume IX, 1901.
Hulbert, Archer Butler, "The Indian Thoroughfares of Ohio", Ohio Archaeological and Historical Publications, Volume VIII, 1900
Hulbert, Archer Butler, Red Men's Roads: The Indian Thoroughfares of the Central West, Fred J. Heer Company, 1900.
Hunter, Robert F., "Turnpike Construction in Antebellum Virginia," Technology and Culture, Spring 1963.
Jackson, W. Turrentine, Wagon Roads West: A Study of Federal Road Surveys and Construction in the Trans-Mississippi West 1846-1869, Yale University Press, 1964.
Kaplan, Michael David, Otto Mears: Colorado's Transportation King, Ph.D., Thesis, University of Colorado, 1975. (The 19th century toll road king of Colorado.)
Karn, Edwin Daniel, Pre-Railroad Transportation in the Upper Mississippi Valley, Ph.D. Thesis, The University of Wisconsin, 1986.
Klein, Daniel and Majewski, John, "Economy, Community and Law: The Turnpike Movement in New York, 1797-1845, Law and Society Review, Vol. 26, No. 3, 1992, p. 469-512.
Lane, Wheaton J., From Indian Trail to Iron Horse: Travel and Transportation in New Jersey 1620-1860, Princeton University Press, 1939.
Lathrop, Elise, Early American Inns and Taverns, Robert M. McBride and Company, 1926 (New Edition, 1935, Tudor Publishing Company).
MacGill, Caroline E. (and a Staff of Collaborators), History of Transportation in the United States Before 1860, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1917.
Madsen, Betty M., and Madsen, Brigham D., North to Montana! Jehus, Bullwhackers, and Mule Skinners on the Montana Trail, University of Utah Press, 1980.
Marlowe, George F., Byroads of Old New England: Some Tales of Less-Known Persons and Places Along the Way, Exposition Press, 1954.
Marlowe, George F., Coaching Roads of Old New England: Their Inns and Taverns and Their Stories, The MacMillan Company, 1945
Marlowe, George F., The Old Bay Paths: Their Villages and Byways and Their Stories, Hastings House, 1942.
Mattes, Merrill J., The Great Platte River Road: The Covered Wagon Mainline Via Fort Kearny to Fort Laramie, University of Nebraska Press, 1987.
Moorhead, Max L., New Mexico's Royal Road: Trade and Travel on the Chihuahua Trail, University of Oklahoma Press, 1958.
Murray, Robert A., The Bozeman Trail: Highway of History, Pruett Publishing Company, 1988.
Newlon, Howard, Jr., "Private Sector Involvement in Virginia's Nineteenth Century Transportation Improvement Program," Paper for the International Conference on the Roles of Private Enterprise and Market Processes in the Financing and Provision of Roads, July 8-10, 1986 (Virginia Highway and Transportation Research Council).
Pawlett, Nathaniel Mason, "A Brief History of the Roads of Virginia 1607-1840," Virginia Highway and Research Council, October 1977.
Propst, Nell Brown, The South Platte Trail: Story of Colorado's Forgotten People, Pruett Publishing Company, 1989.
Quaife, Milo M., Chicago's Highways Old and New: From Indian Trail to Motor Road, D. F. Keller and Company, 1923.
Schwantes, Carlos Arnaldo, Long Day's Journey: The Steamboat and Stagecoach Era in the Northern West, University of Washington Press, 1999. (Next time you feel like complaining about air travel, check what long-distance travel was like not so long ago.)
Sells, John A., Stagecoaches: Across the American West 1850-1920, Hancock House, 2008. (As explained in the preface, this book describes the "short, significant story of the role of stagecoaches in the westward expansion of the United States." It has chapters on many of the stagecoach lines that crossed the West.)
Shank, William H., Three Hundred Years with the Pennsylvania Traveler, American Canal and Transportation Center, 1976.
Southerland, Henry DeLeon, Jr., and Brown, Jerry Elijah, The Federal Road Through Georgia, the Creek Nation, and Alabama, 1806-1836, The University of Alabama Press, 1989.
Sprague, Marshall, The Great Gates: The Story of the Rocky Mountain Passes, Little, Brown and Company, 1964.
Spring, Agnes Wright, The Cheyenne and Black Hills Stage and Express Routes, The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1949.
Taylor, George Rogers, The Transportation Revolution, 1815-1860, Rinehart and Company, 1951.
Taylor, Philip E., The Turnpike Era in New England, Yale Ph.D., Thesis, 1934.
Waitley, Douglas, Roads of Destiny: The Trails That Shaped a Nation, Robert B. Luce, Inc., 1970.
Walker, Clifford J., Back Door to California: The Story of the Mojave River Trail, Mojave River Valley Museum Association, 1986.
Wallace, Paul A. W., "Historic Indian Paths of Pennsylvania," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography", October 1952.
Wayland, John W., The Valley Turnpike: Winchester to Staunton and Other Roads, Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society, 1967.
Whitman, Alice, "Transportation in Territorial Florida," The Florida Historical Quarterly, Volume 17, 1938, pages 25-53.
Wilcox, Frank N., Ohio Indian Trails, The Gates Press, 1933.
Winther, Oscar O., The Transportation Frontier: Trans-Mississippi West 1865-1890, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1964.
Wood, Frederick J., The Turnpikes of New England and the Evolution of the Same Through England, Virginia, and Maryland, The Marshall Jones Company, 1919.
Young, Jeremiah Simeon, A Political and Constitutional Study of the Cumberland Road. (A Dissertation, University of Chicago Press, 1904.
Richard Weingroff
Office of Infrastructure
Richard's Bio
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Watson, Moksha8 Form Marketing Partnership for Brazil, Mexico; Watson Makes Initial $30 Million Investment Watson Investment Par
Oct 4, 2010 8:00am
Watson, Moksha8 Form Marketing Partnership for Brazil, Mexico; Watson Makes Initial $30 Million Investment Watson Investment Part of $61 Million Moksha8 Financing
Morristown, NJ, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, October 4, 2010 –Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: WPI) and Moksha8, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, today announced that they have entered into an agreement that will expand Watson’s commercial presence in Latin America’s two largest markets, Brazil and Mexico. Watson will invest $30 million in Moksha8 as part of Moksha8’s approximately $61 million USD financing that includes investments from existing investors TPG Biotechnology and Montreux Equity Partners.
As a result of this agreement, Watson immediately gains a significant minority ownership position in Moksha8. Watson has also committed to invest an additional $20 million, further increasing its equity position, contingent upon successful execution by Moksha8 of additional third-party product acquisitions over the next year. In conjunction with its investment in Moksha8, Watson has designated a representative to serve as a member of the Moksha8 board of directors.
"This unique partnership further demonstrates our commitment to expand our global footprint through creative business solutions that maximize the commercial opportunities for our current portfolio of brands and branded generics, establish the foundation for future growth in high value and expanding markets, and creates immediate value for both partners," said Paul Bisaro, Watson's President and Chief Executive Officer.
"The management team of Moksha8, led by Simba Gill, has a proven track record of effectively commercializing products within the brand and branded generic markets of Mexico and Brazil. This agreement, which provides Watson with an initial equity position, enables us to help fund Moksha8’s expansion and to share in their continued success. The partnership complements Watson’s existing commercial operations in Brazil, while establishing an expanded longer-term strategy to grow our presence in Brazil, establish our presence in Mexico and develop a pan- Latin American growth strategy,” Bisaro continued. “The addition of Watson to our current business expands our existing portfolio and pipeline of high quality products for the Latin America market,” said Simba Gill, Chief Executive Officer of Moksha8. “Further, this partnership marks moksha8’s entry into the rapidly growing branded generics market and immediately strengthens our position as a leader in the treatment of CNS disorders including depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.”
Watson will manufacture and supply select products to Moksha8, which will have exclusive rights to market, sell and distribute these products in Brazil and Mexico. Moksha8 and Watson have initially identified approximately one dozen product candidates, with the opportunity to expand the commercialization and marketing agreement to include additional products in the future. Watson will continue to own all marketing authorizations, and Moksha8 will be responsible for sales, marketing and commercialization expenses. Moksha8 currently markets 21 branded products for third parties in Latin America, utilizing a field force of approximately 180 sales representatives in the areas of CNS, infectious disease and pain. Combined, Brazil and Mexico make up 75% of the $40 billion USD Pharmaceutical market in Latin America. Moksha8 is the high quality partner of choice for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies seeking to capture value in Latin America. Watson currently manufactures and markets select generic products in the Brazilian marketplace through a Brazilian subsidiary. This venture will have no impact on that subsidiary’s current operations, including current management, manufacturing and supply chain; About Moksha8 Moksha8 is a leading pharmaceutical company in Latin America. The company is partnered with Roche, Pfizer, BioCryst and Watson in Brazil and Mexico. Moksha8 was founded in 2007 by Simba Gill and TPG Biotechnology. Major investors include TPG Biotechnology and Montreux Equity Partners. For additional information on Moksha8, please visit the company’s Web site at www.moksha8.com. About Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company. The company is engaged in the development and distribution of generic pharmaceuticals and specialized branded pharmaceutical products focused on Urology and Women's Health. Watson has operations in many of the world’s established and growing international markets. For press releases and other company information, please visit Watson Pharmaceuticals' Web site at www.watson.com. Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release that refer to non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Watson's and Moksha8’s current perspective of existing information as of the date of this release. It is important to note that Watson's and Moksha8’s goals and expectations are not predictions of actual performance. Actual results may differ materially from Watson's and Moksha8’s current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Watson's and Moksha8’s business. These factors include, among others, the impact of competitive products and pricing; the timing and success of product launches; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; the availability and pricing of third party sourced products and materials; successful compliance with FDA and other governmental regulations applicable to Watson and Moksha8, their subsidiaries, and their third party manufacturers' facilities, products and/or businesses; changes in the laws and regulations, including Medicare and Medicaid and similar laws in non-U.S. jurisdictions, including Brazil and Mexico, affecting, among other things, pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceutical products; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Watson's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Watson's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and Watson's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2010. Except as expressly required by law, Watson and Moksha8 disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
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Home » Questions » The narrative; Journey of Olaudah Equiano
The narrative; Journey of Olaudah Equiano
Posted in Questions By James Hobert On November 26, 2018
He wrote his narrative in order to teach his readers about the horrors and atrocities that took place every day to people just like him in the hopes that he could advance the movement against the slave trade. In order to do this, Equiano focused not only on the physical journey he took, but the spiritual journey as well. His expedition, from Africa to enslavement to freedom, closely corresponds to his spiritual journey, from ignorance to conversion to religious completion.
This allowed his readers to understand his struggles in a way that was more familiar to them, which tied a closer bond between the reader and the author. Since his readers could relate to the two separate but intertwined journeys, Equiano could now enlighten his readers on the revulsion of the slave trade just as he was enlightened through Christianity. Colonial North America was a brand new world, where the opportunities for wealth were plentiful, ever-present, and over-powering and the slave trade was a direct result of man’s greedy drive for wealth.
It took over one hundred years for slavery to be abolished, but Equiano’s journey, both physical and spiritual, presented to the world the true dreadfulness behind the slave trade, a paramount mistake on mankind. Equiano opens his narrative with a description of his native African culture, including the customs of clothing, family, food, war, and religious practices. Equiano describes Africans as “rude and uncultivated” (43) and that all are “ignorant of their language, religion, manners and customs. (44) His time in Africa ties into his religious ignorance as he suggests that Africans could be the indirect relatives of Christian Europeans. Although this could be considered accurate from today’s standpoints, in the colonial era, this would be taken as an ignorant, blasphemous statement. The African customs and traditions were foreign to most of the world during this time and Equiano presents his former customs, particularly his pagan religious practices, as not necessarily a result of sin, but rather a result of ignorance.
Although Equiano acknowledges the coarse rituals of the African continent, he also notes the unfairness of this situation. “Are any pains taken to teach them these? Are they treated as men? … Did nature make them inferior to their sons? ” (45) While Equiano concedes the savageness of the African people, he still argues that slavery is as an affront to humanity, “Does not slavery itself depress the mind, and extinguish all its fire” (45) Here, slavery is simply shown as an imbalanced product of European greed and the opportunity of wealth the New World provided.
Next, Equiano describes his grim voyage through the Middle Passage and his eventual enslavement on a merchant ship for a British captain. After the ship’s arrival in England, Equiano is exposed to Christianity for the first time, “a great man in the heavens, called God: but here again I was to all intents and purposes at a loss to understand him. ” (67) As Equiano becomes more assimilated to European culture, he develops a deeper understanding of Christianity and is eventually educated and baptized.
Equiano’s entire enslavement is closely connected to his religious developments; as more time progresses as a slave he becomes a more erudite follower of Christianity. His religious conversion reaches its precipice when Captain Pascal betrays him and turns him over to be enslaved in the West Indies. “with contrition of heart, acknowledged my transgression to God, and poured out my soul before him with unfeigned repentance. ” (95) In that instant, Equiano gave his life to God and became as Christian as any of his readers.
Consequently, it is at this moment his life begins to turn around as he is sold to a kindly Quaker merchant who gives him the opportunity to make his own money in order to purchase his freedom. Equiano’s enslavement is filled with hardships and poor treatment, but is emphasized by his religious transformation. He shows his readers that even as an educated Christian, his life as a slave is meager and dangerous and he questions how Christians could treat others so grotesquely, “How he, as a Christian, could answer for the horrid act before God? (104) Once again, Equiano shows there are no boundaries that man, when blinded by greed, will not cross. After some time, Equiano acquires enough money to purchase his freedom and completes his long excursion to becoming free. Just as his physical journey becomes complete, his spiritual journey reaches an endpoint. Equiano now bases his life around God and “Now the Bible was my only companion and comfort. ” (191) When his ship picks up some men stranded at sea, Equiano takes the most impactful step in Christianity as he starts to spread the word of God. and took great delight in him, and used much supplication to God for his conversion. ” (203) Equiano links his freedom from slavery to his religious completion in order to help his readers fully grasp his journeys completion. Both are immense accomplishments, but the reader can more adeptly understand the end to a spiritual journey rather than the journey from a slave to freedman. Although Equiano is no longer a slave, he hopes his story enlightens readers of the terrors of the slave trade, just as Christianity had enlightened him to leading a life for God.
Olaudah Equiano’s slave narrative was one of the first published works of a firsthand account of the American slave trade. Equiano introduced the world to how slaves, such as himself, were treated on a daily basis. However, what makes his narrative so effective is the way he connects his physical and spiritual journeys together. Anyone who was to read his narrative would have a hard time relating to his physical struggles beyond his descriptions, so he effectively connects them with his spiritual voyage and struggles.
This allows the reader to connect to Equiano in a more relatable way and helps strengthen his case against the slave trade. Today, we can use his narrative to find out about what colonial North America was like during this time. The New World was, simply enough, a vast farmland with an unlimited crop yield and in order to harvest these crops, sufficient labor was needed. The quest for wealth helped formulate the slave trade, but man’s greed turned it into a business.
Colonial North America was a time full of growth and opportunities, all tried to take advantage as much as possible. Equiano was one of the luckier slaves and his life fits into the popular American success story of patience, hard-work, and endurance as important qualities. Equiano was enlightened through Christianity and he hoped the story he shared would enlighten the world about affront to humanity that slavery was. Over two hundred years later, we are still reading his narrative.
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The Cause and Effect of Slavery in the United States
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Forced2Please: What's New
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Vonka Romanov
F2P - Full Reveal (MP4)
Time: 11 minutes 24 seconds
Vonka has information that some precious stones are located somewhere in a particular house, and acting on this intelligence, she breaks in and goes in search of the gems. She fails to realize that someone is in the house, and he surprises her during her search. Vonka tries to explain her presence away by insisting that she must be in the wrong house, that no harm has been done, and says she will be on her way. The house owner refuses to let her leave, expressing concern that she may already have stolen items from him and has them hidden about her person. Before she can leave, he insists that she remove all of her clothes to make sure she is not hiding any of his property. Vonka is indignant and very reluctant to comply, but realizes the consequences of not obeying could be much worse than being seen naked, she starts to undress.
1920x1080 pixels - MP4: 533.7 MB
Sinthia Bee
F2P - Uninsured (MP4)
Sinthia has been involved in a road traffic accident. In fact, she was the cause of it. When she goes to see the man whose vehicle she hit, she has to admit that she is not insured, and she is asking for time to pay for the damage. The man is not at all pleased and feels the police should be notified, but Sinthia pleads with him not to call them. She asks if there is any way they can come to an arrangement. The man says there may be, as long as she is willing to strip in front of him and let him see her naked.
Kendra James, Rachel Adams, Tara & Gianna Love
F2P - Four In One: Volume 23 (MP4)
1. Kendra James: Kendra is Clothesjacked
Kendra unlocks her car and climbs in, dressed for another day at the office. Suddenly, the passenger door flies open and an armed man is standing there. Kendra is startled but quickly tries to recover her composure, saying, "Excuse me. Can I help you?" When the man explains that he likes collecting women's clothes, especially after they have been worn, Kendra starts to look anxious for the first time. She says she could just get out and run away, but the man warms her that this would not be a very healthy choice to make. He orders her to remove her coat, then looks her over before making her take off her top, her skirt, and her pantyhose, leaving her sitting there in just her bra and panties. It is not long before the man instructs her to remove the bra. Looking at him with pleading eyes, Kendra obeys, exposing her breasts. That only leaves her panties protecting the tattered remains of her dignity, and any minute now, they will be taken away from her too.
2. Rachel Adams: I Need Directions
Deep in the woods of West Virginia, her GPS registering nothing, Rachel is hopelessly lost. Her only hope is the chance discovery of a very isolated property where she calls to ask for directions. The man she speaks to say he can indeed help her, but first she must do something for him first; she must remove all of her clothes and let him see her naked. Rachel can't believe this is happening; it seems like a bad dream. When it becomes clear that the man really won't help her unless she strips, and she really doesn't want to spend a night lost in the forest alone, she finally concedes to remove her clothes. Each time she removes a garment, she attempts to reason with the man but he is hell bent on seeing her without any clothes.
3. Tara: You Need My Permission
Tara has been running a small business from home which is helping her to pay her rent. Unfortunately, her landlord has just found out about it and is a little put out that she did not ask his permission, something which is legally required. Tara apologizes and asks him not to make her stop. He says he will allow her to continue and give her written consent provided she does something for him: He wants her to take off her clothes right there and then, in front of him. Tara is reluctant, stating that she does not think this is a good idea, but it's either that or her business will have to be closed, and she'll be back to struggling to pay her rent. She stands, removes her sweater, and then at her landlord's urging, she begins to pull down her skirt.
4. Gianna Love: You're Fired, Unless
Gianna is a clerical assistant who is always late to work, always takes two hours for lunch and always leaves early at the end of the day. Her boss is tired of this bad conduct, so when Gianna stands up to go for another of her extended lunch, he instructs her to sit back down and carry on working. Gianna objects, saying she is entitled to a break, but her boss points out that he is entitled to some work from her in exchange for her wages. When she continues to argue with him, he decides to let her go and shows her the door. Gianna, suddenly realizing that she has gone too far, back-peddles and says she will do better, but the boss does not believe her. When she pleads to keep her job, the boss tells her that the only way that will happen is if she skips her lunch break and takes off all her clothes! Gianna looks shocked and says she can't do that, so he wishes her goodbye. On the verge of leaving, mindful of the mortgage payment she has to meet at the end of the month, Gianna agrees and very reluctantly begins to strip. She tries to change her boss's mind before she has to remove her bra and panties, but he is adamant that this is the only way she will keep her job. Even though Gianna's colleague may return from lunch at any moment, the boss makes her continue with her work while naked.
1920x1080 pixels - MP4: 1,646.0 MB
F2P - Unjust Dismissal (MP4)
An old man has been pushed out of his job by the head of human resources, who replaced him with someone younger and more efficient. She sees this as a logical thing to do, but the old man is not inclined to agree. While he knows he won't be reinstated, he feels he is owed a lot more by way of compensation. The company is not likely to pay up, so he feels the woman responsible for his situation can step up. He walks into her home and corners her, explaining that he wants her to pay him a settlement fee out of her own money. Sinthia thinks the old guy has lost his marbles, but he is completely serious. As payback for her firing him, he embarrasses the head of HR by making her take off her clothes, then sit naked as he forces her to log into her own bank account and transfer a nice big retirement settlement to his.
F2P - The Price Of Failure (MP4)
Cadence plays a lawyer who has lost a copyright infringement case for her client, and he is very unhappy with the outcome, saying her poor performance was humiliating. When Cadence visits him at home to discuss a new strategy to have the judgement overturned, the client accuses her of spinning things out purely to make more money out of him. Cadence naturally denies this, saying she believes they have a really good chance of getting a new hearing, but the client is no longer listening. He is threatening to report her to the Bar Association for her less than stellar conduct in court. Cadence feels she has had enough of this and suggests that he gets himself a new lawyer. He agrees, but before he fires her, he insists that she do something for him, unless she wants him to make that call to the Bar Association.
F2P - Corrupt Cop (MP4)
Time: 6 minutes 48 seconds
Sinthia has some two dozen outstanding parking tickets, and this accumulation of offenses has finally resulted in a warrant being issued for her arrest. The cop sent to bring her in decides to offer her a way out, however; if she is prepared to strip off in his presence and allow him to admire her naked body, he will make those pesky tickets go away. Sinthia readily agrees and removes her clothes, thinking that she will now be off the hook. However, when the cop produces a pair of handcuffs and locks them around her wrists before instructing her to kneel down on the floor, she realizes that the cop is corrupt and is taking advantage of her situation. Now her manner changes because she realizes she is in real trouble.
F2P - Working From Home (MP4)
Sinthia is a freelance journalist working on an expose of a local businessman's corrupt business dealings, something her editor is urging her to submit before the deadline later that day. She promises to turn in the piece of time, but that is before she receives a visit from the businessman's fixer who forces her to delete the copy she is working on, and the one she has stored on the newspaper's cloud server. To make sure she does not rewrite the article before the deadline, he is going to stay with her for the afternoon. To pass the time, he decides to have some fun. He makes Sinthia pull her skirt up and unbutton her shirt, before finally insisting that she can remove all of her clothes. He watches her as she reluctantly strips, then forces her to sit facing him with her legs apart. It doesn't get much more humiliating than that.
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Hannah Perez
F2P - Just Hannah: Volume 2 (MP4)
1. Asking For Directions
Hannah's GPS unit has lost its signal and she has no idea where she is. She has been driving along quiet roads and passing very few houses. As luck would have it, she finds another house and sees a man out on the driveway. She stops to ask him directions back to the main highway, but instead of helping her, the man insists that either she stays or she eats lead. She feels her luck has truly run out when the man orders her to switch off the vehicle's engine and throw the keys out of the window. She looks at him in horror when he next orders her to take off all her clothes. Hannah panics, desperate to get away, but she dare not try to make a run for it. Reluctantly, and pleading the whole time as she starts to take off her dress. The man becomes angry as she procrastinates, making her remove the dress completely. Now it is apparent that she is wearing thigh high stockings, and clearly the man's interest is piqued even more. She has no choice but to remove her shoes and peel off her stockings. She holds out as long as possible but in the end, she is compelled to remove her panties. Totally naked and terrified as she considers what might happen to her now, she almost sobs when the man hands her a zip tie and orders her to secure her right wrist to the steering wheel. Hannah has to obey, and can do nothing when the man comes around to her size and zip ties her left wrist, followed by her ankles. He then backs away, savoring the moment before leaving her alone for a while, promising to return soon to have some fun with her. After he departs, Hannah struggles desperately to free herself but the zipties are totally unforgiving. If only she could get to her phone but then again, it probably wasn't getting any reception either. She is trapped and completely naked, vulnerable and at the mercy of some crazy old hillbilly. Is there any chance of rescue?
Hannah has been caught by the company directors selling classified documents to their competitors. She now stands before all three of them while they decide what to do with her - either prosecute her for industrial espionage or find some other way to exact retribution. Before discussing anything, however, the directors want to ensure Hannah is not wearing a concealed recording device to collect evidence she might later use against them in court. Director Dave orders Hannah to strip off all her clothes so that they can check her for cameras and microphones. Hannah is appalled and refuses to cooperate, at least until prosecution and prison are mentioned. With extreme reluctance she starts to disrobe, pleading with the three men to change their minds. They remain steadfast and Hannah has to carry on removing her clothes. She does her best to avoid removing her panties but the directors all insist that she does. Stark naked now, Hannah stands in front of her former bosses, embarrassed, humiliated, almost kneeling as she begs them to reconsider. The directors consult for a few moments before Dave informs her that she is fired and she must get out. They refuse to let her put her clothes back on, telling her she must depart through the offices and somehow get herself home while naked.
3. Shoplifting Again
Hannah has been shoplifting again, this time from a department store called Marcy's. She does not realize that she was seen on closed-circuit TV, leaving the store without paying. The cops are called, and Hannah is soon forced to pull over onto the shoulder. A cop comes up to her window and asks to see her driver's license and registration. She can only produce the registration document which does help her case. When she asks what is wrong, the officer explains that she is wearing stolen clothes. He makes her step out of the vehicle and undress so that he can bag and tag the clothing as evidence. Hannah pleads with him not to make her do this on the roadside but the cop is adamant. She gets angry and pushes him, escalating the situation. The cop is now becoming angry and orders her to strip. With great reluctance, Hannah complies. When she is finally naked, the cop handcuffs her and marches her away to his cruiser.
4. The Hillbillies
Hannah is driving home from a function through the hills of West Virginia when he car breaks down. She walks a while and comes to a remote house tucked away in the trees on the side of a mountain. Hannah knocks on the door, hoping to get warm (she didn't bring a coat with her) and use a phone to call a towing company. Two hillbilly types, father and son, answer the door and stand there admiring her in her short black dress, and when Hannah asks if she can come inside out of the cold they tell her she can come in and warm herself in front of the fire, but she will need to do something for them in exchange. They explain that it's very quiet out here in the hills and they need some entertainment. The deal is, Hannah can come inside if she is prepared to take her dress off for them. Mortified by the prospect, Hannah refuses, but when the two men shut the door and leave her shivering in the cold, she knocks again and relents. It's either that or stay out here and freeze at night draws in.Once inside, Hannah asks about a phone and is informed they don't have one. She stands in front of the fire, soaking up the warmth, and the two hillbillies remind her of her promise. When she tells them that there is no way she is taking her dress off, they get up from their easy chairs and start to show her to the door. When Hannah realizes that they really would put her back outside in the cold, she agrees to do what they ask. Delaying as long as possible, she slowly removes her dress and then her shoes. The hillbillies tell her to keep going, and when she refuses they again threaten to show her back outside, only this time without her shoes or dress. Left with no choice, Hannah removes her pantyhose, her bra and finally her panties. She is horrified when the two hillbillies move in for a closer look at her, and losing her nerve, she declares that she is going to leave. She scoops up her clothes and heads for the door, completely naked but too anxious to get away to dress herself first. As she passes by, Pa Hillbilly slaps her on the butt. She swings round and looks shocked, unable to believe that he would lay a hand on her. She runs to the door shouting for help. (This one is laced with laughter as one blooper follows another. Keeping a straight face was almost impossible, even for the camerawoman whose giggles seep through from time to time. The bloopers are assembled at the end of the movie).
1920x1080 - MP4: 2,111.2 MB
F2P - It's Who You Know (MP4)
Vonka arrives home from work and is alarmed to find that one of her older colleagues is waiting for her inside her house. She demands to know what he is doing there. He points out that he is a really close friend of her boss Robert, and unless she wants him to spread some rumors about her extra-curricular activities, she had better do something for him that he has wanted to see for some time. Vonka threatens to report his conduct, so he asks her who she thinks her boss will believe, his oldest friend, or some girl who only started at the company recently. Vonka is incensed by the levels of testosterone in the workplace, and is fully aware that this creep is right about the outcome of any complaint she might file. In order to keep her job and avoid having falsehoods spread around about her, she decides to swallow her price and undress. When the guy wants to take photos of her naked, however, she loses her cool and throws him out of the house.
Paisley Prince, Tilly McReese, Hannah Perez,
Kate Winters, Cali Logan & Cadence Lux
1. The Audit - Paisley Prince & Tilly McReese
Tilly and Paisley work together in the accounts department at their firm. They have been cooking the books for a while not and getting away with it, at least until an auditor was brought it to go over the accounts. The girls think they have been clever and their funds siphoning will not be detectable, but they are wrong. When the auditor, Dave, lets himself into the girls' rented home, they are somewhat affronted by his uninvited presence, but they quickly become uneasy as he starts to describe discrepancies in the company accounts, and points to them as the perpetrators. The girls deny it and suggest that he should leave, but Dave is adamant and says that he won't draw attention to their misdeeds if they strip for him.They refuse, at least until he threatens to call the boss there and then and inform him about what is going on. Suddenly, the girls become more compliant. They so don't want to take off their clothes in front of this letch, but they realize they have no choice.� He watches as they peel off their clothing, and when they try to stop at bra and panties, he strongly urges the to continue. When the girls are finally naked, he starts taking photographs, much to their distress.
2. Arresting Officer - Hannah Perez
Hannah Perez has been sent to arrest a perpetrator who has an outstanding warrant for his arrest. When he tries to shut the door on her she pushes her way into the house to confront him. He backs away from her as she gives him instructions to turn around and place his hands behind his back. Instead, he makes a dash for a drawer where he might well have something dangerous concealed. Hannah tries to grab him but in the struggle he manages to disarm her. Now with the upper hand, he sets about humiliating the police officer by making her take off her uniform. Hannah warns him that he is now in a world of trouble and says that backup will arrive at any minute, hoping to regain control of the situation. Instead of being intimidated by her threats, the perp just mocks her and persists in making her strip until she is totally naked. For fun, he locks her in her own handcuffs with her arms behind her back, preventing her from covering her breasts and vagina, then tells her to lie on the floor where he plans to have more fun with her. That is when a truly wicked idea occurs to him: He compels his cuffed and naked victim to go outside and wait for her backup in the snow. Hannah hops from foot to foot as the cold bites at her toes, but with nowhere to run and her wrists restrained, she can do nothing except stand there and hope that backup really does arrive, soon!
3. Start Up - Kate Winters
Kate has been concocting plans to establish and operate a small business at home, but because she is renting the property she needs the written approval of the house owner, her landlord, before she can set things in motion. When asked about the nature of the business, she explains she wants to run an Internet store from her loft. The landlord seems reluctant to let her do this and she is forced to plead with him to sign the paperwork, saying this is something she really wants to pursue. Finally, the man grudgingly agrees, on one condition - that Kate is willing to strip off in front of him and let him see her naked. She laughs, thinking this must be a silly joke, but it soon becomes clear that her landlord is totally serious.Her immediate reaction is to refuse, but when her hands back the paperwork unsigned, Kate realizes that if she wants this venture to even get off the ground, she will have to do what this old pervert wants.
4. The Snitch - Cali Logan & Cadence Lux
Cali is something of a goody two-shoes, and when she discovers that Cadence has been helping herself to the petty cash at work, she decides to snitch on her blonde colleague. As a result, Cadence is fired and she doesn't take it well. Fast forward a week to when Cali is arriving home from work. As she opens the front door, Cadence, armed and dangerous, is waiting for her. She forces Cali into the living room when she confronts her about being a snitch. Cali tries to defend her decision to be honest, but her conviction wavers when Cadence orders her to take off all her clothes. Cali does her best to reason with the girl, and when that doesn't work she tells her that she ought to be in a mental hospital. This only serves to exacerbate the situation, and Cadence takes great pleasure in making the prudish woman strip naked. Cali delays as long as she can, removing her jacket and shoes, then pulling her skirt up to peel off her thigh highs. When she is wearing only bra and panties she tries to stop but Cadence is not having any of that and makes her finish stripping. In a careless moment while Cadence is trying to decide what to do next, Cali disarms her and turns toe tables. Now she orders Cadence to strip. Cadence tries to convince her that it was all just a joke but Cali does not accept that for a moment. She watches as Cadence undresses then orders her to sit on the floor with her hands behind the kitchen table leg. She zip ties Cadence's wrists as the girl asks her not to call the cops on her again. Cali says she has no intention of calling the cops. She tells Cadence that she doesn't know her at all. She doesn't know, for example, that Cali and her husband like kinky sex, and that she likes to watch her husband screwing other women. "Just imagine how excited he'll be when he arrives home and finds you sitting there naked," she taunts. Cadence looks horrified but there is nothing she can do to save herself now.
F2P - The Witness (MP4)
Cadence has been involved in a car accident and is being accused of causing it. In the absence of traffic cams, she has to rely on witnesses. Most are not interested, but she knows one a little and goes to see him and ask him to testify on her behalf. He doesn't really want to get involved, but when she presses him, he says he will do it if she is willing to take off her clothes and allow him to see her naked. Cadence is clearly shocked by this unexpected request, but she also realizes that without this man's testimony, she might very well end up being prosecuted. After discussing how awkward the situation is, Cadence begins undressing.
F2P - No Reception (MP4)
Cadence has left the main highway and got herself completely lost. Her phone has no reception, so she has no GPS and can't even call for a tow truck. A man out for a stroll in the woods happens by and says he has a phone on him, and that he gets a good signal. Cadence asks to borrow it, but the man seems a little reluctant. Realizing that she is in a tight spot, he strikes a bargain with her: If she is willing to undress in front of him so that he can see her naked, he will let her use his phone. Cadence is taken aback by his request, but realizing she has no choice if she wants to get out of this backwater today, she starts to undress, trying to ignore the man's rather suggestive comments as she exposes more and more of her body.
Terms of Use 2257 Compliance Contact
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Lisa Cohen
lisa@lisacohen.org
FreeConferenceCall.com International Wins Two Stevie® Awards in World's Premier Business Awards Program, the 2012 International Business Awards SM
Company Wins Gold for Best New Telecommunications Service of the Year and Bronze for Company of the Year
LONG BEACH, Calif. – August 22, 2012 – FreeConferenceCall.com International was named the winner of two Stevie® Awards in the 9th Annual International Business Awards, the world’s premier business awards program. The company won the gold for Best Telecommunications Service of the Year and it also won the Bronze for Telecommunications Company of the Year, finishing behind Qualcomm Incorporated.
David Erickson, Founder and CEO of FreeConferenceCall.com, said “We are extremely proud to receive these awards and also want to congratulate the other winners from around the world. We focus on providing our loyal customers with the highest quality and dependable conference calling services globally and it is a great honor to be recognized along with some of the most talented innovators in the world.”
FreeConferenceCall.com , which has revolutionized the way teleconferences are organized, provides consumers with domestic and international conferencing services for the cost of a regular domestic phone call and the ability to share files and other content online during calls with interconnected free screen sharing. Businesses and consumers are saving millions of dollars on conferencing fees every year by using free conferencing services. Since January, 2011, FreeConferenceCall.com
Conference calling for the price of a regular domestic call or international conferencing with other countries in the FreeConferenceCall.com network (currently 60 countries plus the United States) with the same call number
Ability to conference without a reservation for up to 96 callers (up to 6 hours) on one call at no additional cost
Conference call recording, playback and download features – all for free
The ability to distribute, archive or send recordings for free to listeners via RSS and podcast
Free international access numbers to every country in the network, including the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Korea, Mexico and many countries in Europe, Africa and Asia
A free call detail report sent via email after every call
An online meeting feature that makes it easy to conduct free screen sharing sessions, online presentations, webinars, demonstrations and more
Stevie Award winners were selected by more than 300 executives worldwide who participated in the judging process this year. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for “crowned,” the awards will be presented to winners at a gala awards banquet at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Seoul, South Korea on 15 October. All individuals and organizations worldwide are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. The 2012 IBAs received more than 3,200 nominations from organizations located in more than 50 nations and territories.
Details about The International Business Awards and the lists of Stevie Award winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/IBA
About FreeConferenceCall.com
FreeConferenceCall.com, the largest privately held conferencing provider in the United States, provides conference calling services to over 20 million callers a month. The company's reliable, high quality, reservation-less audio conferencing service is used to connect over 200 million calls a year around the world. FreeConferenceCall.com's pioneering all-digital network is built on proprietary media servers. A major milestone for FreeConferenceCall.com took place during the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, when both President Obama and Senator McCain’s campaigns chose FreeConferenceCall.com to communicate with their supporters nationwide. StartMeeting ( www.StartMeeting.com ) is the new service from the creators of FreeConferenceCall.com. StartMeeting combines real-time desktop sharing with integrated audio conferencing, offering state of the art features such as meeting recording and a customizable Meeting Wall. This innovative and robust audio and web conferencing service is priced significantly less than similar services. FreeConferenceCall.com was founded in 2001 and is based in Long Beach, California.
About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The International Business Awards, The American Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.StevieAwards.com
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ANSYS Institute for Industrial Innovation to Open Doors for Industry and University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Engineering Students
ANSYS Supports University in Breaking New Ground with Engineering Simulation Technology
SOUTHPOINTE, Pa. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — September 21, 2009 — ANSYS, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANSS), a global innovator of simulation software and technologies designed to optimize product development processes, today announced that it is the exclusive provider of multiphysics engineering simulation software at — and the namesake of — a new research and educational facility at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM) College of Engineering and Applied Science. The ANSYS Institute for Industrial Innovation (AI3) will serve as a portal for businesses seeking to partner with the College of Engineering and Applied Science on specific engineering projects. Just as important, AI3 will provide students with state-of-the-art engineering simulation software tools, enabling hands-on experience along with the opportunity to develop innovative design solutions for industry-sponsored projects. UWM chose ANSYS exclusively based on a number of factors: the Company’s industry-leading expertise in the field of engineering simulation technology and its comprehensive multiphysics portfolio that can be scaled to meet users’ needs. In addition, ANSYS is the preferred simulation software provider to many corporations supplying engineering projects for the program.
“ANSYS support at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee will enable students to get first-hand experience working with the comprehensive product portfolio from ANSYS — the most complete engineering simulation technology available in the world. This not only benefits students and researchers by providing them with an excellent toolset, but also promotes the expansion of ANSYS technology usage once students enter the workforce,” said Paul Lethbridge, academic product strategy and planning manager at ANSYS, Inc. “From an industry perspective, the ANSYS Institute for Industrial Innovation has the opportunity to leverage Simulation Driven Product Development™ in directing the design of real-world, innovative solutions.”
The institute is also charged with dramatically increasing the college’s research links with business and industry as well as fostering economic growth and development in southeastern Wisconsin through tech transfer and industry assistance. “The first step in forging more connections with area companies involves our students and faculty participating in curricular and research programs that address local industry’s problems or areas of interest,” said Michael Lovell, dean, UWM, College of Engineering and Applied Science. “Multiphysics simulation software from ANSYS gives us the exact tools we need to foster innovation and creativity in our students. With it, we can offer industries the flexibility and cost-savings benefits of computer simulation in investigation of engineering designs.” Lovell added that partnerships spawned at the institute will give industry access to potential new employees that are already trained using ANSYS technologies.
About University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee College of Engineering and Applied Science
The College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee is considered one of the premier engineering schools in the United States. The College’s new ANSYS Institute for Industrial Innovation at the Kenwood campus will utilize simulation technology from ANSYS to focus on current and emerging industry research in health care, advanced manufacturing, biomedical engineering and freshwater sciences. Research and coursework in these industries represent current and emerging strengths of the southeastern Wisconsin region. Research conducted at the new facility is meant to stimulate the area’s economy by focusing on these key industries.
About ANSYS, Inc.
ANSYS, Inc., founded in 1970, develops and globally markets engineering simulation software and technologies widely used by engineers and designers across a broad spectrum of industries. The Company focuses on the development of open and flexible solutions that enable users to analyze designs directly on the desktop, providing a common platform for fast, efficient and cost-conscious product development, from design concept to final-stage testing and validation. The Company and its global network of channel partners provide sales, support and training for customers. Headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., with more than 60 strategic sales locations throughout the world, ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries employ over 1,600 people and distribute ANSYS products through a network of channel partners in over 40 countries. Visit www.ansys.com for more information.
ANSYS, ANSYS Workbench, Ansoft, AUTODYN, CFX, FLUENT, and any and all ANSYS, Inc. brand, product, service and feature names, logos and slogans are registered trademarks or trademarks of ANSYS, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States or other countries. All other brand, product, service and feature names or trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
ANSS-C
Media: Kelly Wall, 724-514-3076
Investors: Annette Arribas, 724-514-1782
ANSYS INSTITUTE FOR INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION TO OPEN DOORS
ANSYS Releases HFSS 12.0 Engineering Simulation Software
ANSYS and SpaceClaim Streamline Engineering Design and Simulation Driven Product Development
ANSYS Harnessing the Power of Ocean Waves
ANSYS Launches Immersed Boundary Module for Rapid Design Evaluation
ANSYS Ranked #33 on FORTUNE 100 Fastest-Growing Companies List
Drew Fioranelli, Public Safety GIS Expert
DATAMARK
Arnauld Dumont, President
DimEye
Brad Schmidt, Global UAV Sales Manager
Applanix
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When people in Michigan plan their last will and testament, they do so with the idea their final wishes will be followed to the letter of the law. Even though music icon James Brown’s estate plan specifically states that anyone who contests his will should not receive anything from his estate that is not how things have ended up. Instead of choosing to enforce that clause in his will, and in essence protect the very charitable organization Mr. Brown left the majority of his estate to, the assistant Attorney General in charge of the case chose to award more than half of Mr. Brown’s estate to parties who contested the will in probate litigation.
Mr. Brown placed the majority of his musical empire into a trust titled “I feel Good” with the intention of providing scholarships to poor, needy and underprivileged children in two states. He also provided educational trusts for his children and grandchildren of up to $285,000, along with some personal household items. Some of his children and his companion contested both the will and the trust. Another point of contention was the fact that a former trustee of the estate should pay restitution for millions of dollars that went missing from Mr. Brown’s estate.
Although that trustee was sentenced to serve 20 months of house arrest for allegedly taking more than $7 million from the Brown estate, he was never ordered to pay restitution. Court documents show that Mr. Brown earned upwards of $80 million between 1999 and 2006, when he died. In the October 2011 hearing, the assistant Attorney General indicated all the victim’s of the alleged theft from the estate had been notified, however none were present and none of the victim’s had filed statements on behalf of their interest in the estate. That fact has since been disputed.
The case has since turned into a blame game of finger pointing between the AG’s office, the probate court and the family members and beneficiaries of the charitable trust. Although this is a rather complex example of probate litigation, the majority of trusts and the administration of those trusts are not nearly as contentious or wrought with such drama. One can only assume Mr. Brown enlisted the services of a estate planning attorney, however it would appear his will and trusts were not as rock solid as he may have wanted.
Source: Electronic Urban Report, “James Brown: Court Arguments, Finger-Pointing, at Hearing on Restitution,” Sue Summer, Aug. 5, 2012
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SAB Industrials
David Scheer is a member of Genstar’s Strategic Advisory Board and advises the firm in its industrials sector.
David has over 30 years of experience leading global industrial businesses, including more than 10 years leading private equity sponsored companies. David served as the Chief Executive Officer of Power Products, LLC, a Genstar portfolio company. Power Products is a diversified electrical products platform with locations in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific regions. Following the sale of Power Products in 2018 to Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), David became the CEO and subsequently the Executive Chairman of ECM Industries, LLC, also owned by Genstar, and sold in 2019. Since June 2020, David has been the CEO Genstar portfolio company Ohio Transmission Corporation.
Prior to his roles working with Genstar, David’s background includes leadership and operational positions in the electrical and industrial products manufacturing and distribution sectors. David was Executive Vice President-Electrical Segment of Actuant Corporation (NYSE: ATU) and led the 2013 carve-out of the segment, subsequently acquired by private equity. He also served as Chief Operating Officer for Pearlman/GranQuartz, the leading provider of tools, abrasives, and machinery for the stone fabrication industry. In addition, David was Chief Operating Officer of Sigma Electric Manufacturing Corp., a global manufacturer of electrical construction products and the Southeast Division President for Rexel USA, the worldwide leader in electrical products distribution for the professional. Earlier in his career, David had a number of roles with Thomas & Betts (now part of ABB), including the VP of Sales and Marketing for the $1 Billion Commercial Products Division.
David currently serves as a Director of Clarience Technology and Ohio Transmission Company, both Genstar portfolio companies.
Vanderbilt University, BA, Economics
Baldwin-Wallace, MBA
Clarience Technologies
Ohio Transmission Corporation
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Home :: Military :: World :: Oceania ::
Military Menu
Hot Documents
Nauru - Climate
Nauru - History
Nauru - People
Nauru - Economy
Nauru - Government
Nauru - Foreign Relations
Nauru is the world's smallest sovereign state, with a population of about 9,500, slightly less than the approximately 10,500 attributed to Tuvalu, and a land area of 21 sq km (“about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC“), compared to 26 sq km for Tuvalu. It is well ahead of Tuvalu in GDP [$60,000,000 vs $35,000,000] and in military spending [$60,000,000 vs $15,000,000]. Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia.
The tiny Republic of Nauru, population 10,000, is an island once layered thickly with easily-mined phosphates. It may hold the record for biggest plunge in wealth. After building reserves to around $2 billion, profligacy, mis-management, and seeming exhaustion of phosphate resources resulted in a catastrophic decline, with debt around $1 billion by 2008. The population are among the world's sickest people with diabetes, heart failure and alcoholism rampant.
Formerly known as Pleasant Island, it's easy to see how its location and geological features make living there so pleasant. Nauru, the tiny island country located near the equator, used to be a paradise for its residents. It was surrounded only by the scenery of coconut trees and flocks of sea birds, without being bothered by mosquitos and pests, or the hustle and bustle of the outside world. That all ended at the start of the 20th century when phosphate mining began on the island. For millions of years, sea birds that had taken sanctuary on the island left droppings that formed a thick layer of phosphate rock close to the island's surface. For a 21-square kilometer wasteland in the middle of the central Pacific, Nauru causes a surprising degree of international worry. It once sold passports to anyone and played a role as the Russian mafia's banker-- 450 off-shore banks registered to a single government postbox. Now bankrupt, the island's risk factor is in keeping it clear of wild schemes.
Nauru is a small oval-shaped island in the western Pacific Ocean, located just 42 kilometers (26 mi.) south of the Equator. It is one of three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean--the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia. Until recently Nauru's phosphate reserves were thought to be nearly depleted, but there are some indications that the potential for continued productive mining might exist. Phosphate mining in the central plateau has left a barren terrain of jagged, prehistoric coral pinnacles, up to 15 meters (49 ft.) high. A century of mining has stripped and devastated four-fifths of the total land area. Efforts to rehabilitate the mined-out areas have been largely unsuccessful.
The island is surrounded by a coral reef, exposed at low tide and dotted with pinnacles. The reef is bounded seaward by deep water, inside by a narrow sandy beach. A 150-300-meter (492-984 ft.) wide fertile coastal strip lies landward from the coast, ending in forested coral cliffs that rise to the now mined-out central plateau. The highest point of the plateau is 65 meters (213 ft.) above sea level. The island's only fertile areas are within the narrow coastal belt, where there are coconut palms, pandanus trees, and indigenous hardwoods, and the land surrounding the inland Buada lagoon on the central plateau, where bananas, pineapples, and some vegetables are grown. Some secondary vegetation has begun to cover the scarred central plateau and its coral pinnacles.
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Steve Vai Discusses "How to Be Successful" —Video
By Damian Fanelli 07 October 2015
In this fascinating video, Steve Vai plays plenty of guitar and answers a host of questions related to success in the music industry.
As Vai speaks, we often are treated to up-close shots of his whammy-bar and fretwork. But best of all is the advice from someone who has weathered the music-industry storm for several decades.
"I've got strengths and I've got weaknesses," Vai says in the clip, which you can check out below.
"I don't work on my weaknesses. I ignore them. I cultivate my strengths. The level of achievement that we have with anything is a reflection of how well we were able to focus on it. Because the only thing that's holding you back is the way you're thinking."
The clip was shot at Guitar Center in Hollywood, California, in 2011. The audience included 10 talented guitarists who were hand picked by Vai as part of a Guitar Center contest.
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(Updated) Bonds of Kinship, Love, and Conscience: The Beechers and the Lyman Family of Middlefield’s Lyman Orchards with author Diana Ross McCain
Book talk and signing with author Diana Ross McCain, author of Thy Children’s Children: A Historical Novel Based on the True Story of Five Generations of a New England Grassroots Dynasty.
Harriet Beecher Stowe was the great-granddaughter of John and Hope Lyman, who in 1741 settled on land in Middlefield, Connecticut, that today is part of Lyman Orchards, an agricultural/recreational complex operated by the eighth and ninth generations of Lyman descendants. The Beecher and Lyman families maintained close ties for many decades, supporting each other in times of tragedy, and becoming activists in reform movements including temperance and the abolition of slavery.
Author Diana Ross McCain will discuss the role the Beecher family, including Harriet Beecher Stowe, plays in her novel about the Lyman family, Thy Children’s Children. Copies of Thy Children’s Children will be available for purchase and autographing.
McCain is an independent historian who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history. She was on the staff of the Connecticut Historical Society in Hartford for twenty-five years, and is the author of five works of non-fiction.
Location Harriet Beecher Stowe Center 77 Forest Street Hartford CT 06015
Program 1 PM - 2:30 PM
Join the discussion Share
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More frequent trains on Suffolk rail lines from December
Local organisations have welcomed Greater Anglia’s announcement of more frequent rail services on some rural routes on Sundays from December, linked to the introduction of a complete fleet of new trains.
Additional services will see trains running hourly on Sundays from 15 December between Ipswich and Cambridge, Ipswich and Lowestoft and Norwich and Lowestoft.
In addition, a brand-new service between Norwich and Stansted Airport will offer people in Suffolk an alternative to driving to the airport with the option to take a train to Norwich and connect with the direct airport service.
There will also be an additional service from Ipswich to Felixstowe on Sundays.
Aaron Taffera, Chair of The East Suffolk Community Rail Partnership said, “We’re delighted by this fantastic news. The new hourly service in Sundays is a big deal for the Ipswich – Lowestoft line as this doubles the number of services people will be able to use.
“The current Sunday timetable is a two-hourly frequency between Ipswich and Lowestoft, so this will effectively double capacity on the line and make travelling on it so much more convenient and attractive.”
“With new trains on the way too, the line is set to continue to go from strength to strength, benefiting local people, tourists and the Suffolk economy.”
Martin Moran, Greater Anglia’s Commercial and Customer Service Director said: “More services and thousands of extra seats in our new timetable will provide a boost to people who live and work in East Anglia, as well as supporting the regional economy.
“These improvements are helping us to transform the railway for the people of East Anglia as we continue the introduction of our brand-new fleet of trains into passenger service.”
The introduction of new trains across the Greater Anglia network, in a £1.4 billion investment programme, is now underway, with longer state-of-the-art trains now in service between Norwich and Cambridge, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. From later this year, this will see new intercity style trains on rural services in Suffolk.
From now until the end of 2020, new trains are due to replace the existing fleet on every route - providing more seats, more comfort, air conditioning, plug sockets, USB points and better accessibility. They will also be more reliable.
Some other services in the new timetable have been retimed. Passengers are advised to check at greateranglia.co.uk
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Arrest made in 2008 kidnapping of journalists Amanda Lindhout & Nigel Brennan
The Mounties have charged a Somali man in connection with the 2008 hostage-taking of Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout.
By Bruce Campion-Smith Ottawa Bureau
OTTAWA—The Mounties have charged a Somali man in connection with the 2008 hostage-taking of Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout.
Ali Omar Ader was arrested Thursday in Ottawa and charged with the unlawful confinement of Lindhout, who was taken hostage with Australian photojournalist Nigel Brennan while travelling in Somalia.
Lindhout and Brennan were taken hostage near Mogadishu, Somalia, on Aug. 23, 2008 and held until their release on Nov. 25, 2009. Lindhout would later tell of her ordeal while in captivity, where she was locked in an animal shed, chained around her ankles and routinely beaten.
On Friday, the RCMP alleged that Ader was one of the main negotiators for the group that had snatched the pair.
RCMP Assistant Commissioner James Malizia, who heads federal policing operations, said the complex seven-year investigation leading to Ader’s arrest involved undercover agents, wiretaps and surveillance.
Adding to the challenge was the fact that Ader was located in Somalia.
“This investigation posed a number of significant challenges as it was carried out in an extremely high-risk environment in a country plagued with political instability,” he said.
“The evidence we were able to gather allowed us to confirm and demonstrate that he was one of the negotiators within the group that was involved in this,’ he told a brief news conference Friday morning.
Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney praised the RCMP for its work.
“I want to congratulate the RCMP team that did this operation and also it’s a very clear message sent this morning to anyone who wants to attack Canadian citizens will face the law and they will have to face Canadian justice,” Blaney told reporters.
He said the investigation was focused on the “kidnapping and rape of a Canadian woman.” Lindhout has previously spoken about being sexually assaulted during her time in captivity.
Ader was formally arrested in Ottawa but Malizia refused to provide details of how he got there or whether he had been taken out of Somalia by Canadian officials.
“I can tell you without going into too many details regarding the undercover operation that he was in Canada and had been here for a few days and we proceeded to arrest him right here in Ottawa,” Malizia said.
Ader, a Somali national who does not live in Canada, stood emotionless with his arms behind his back during a brief court appearance by video link Friday, according to a Canadian Press report. His case was adjourned until next Friday.
His lawyer Samir Adam had little to say about the surprise arrest.
“We have very little information we can relay to you with confidence,” he said, according to Canadian Press. “Because it’s so early in the process, we’re not really able to comment.”
Malizia said the police force had “great support” from the department of foreign affairs and other federal agencies. But he pointedly refused to say whether the Somali government knew about the investigation or even provided any assistance.
Malizia said he had been in touch with Lindhout to tell her about the arrest. He praised her resilience and the detailed witness statements provided by both of them.
Minnesota Somali-American ordered held for trial on charges of trying to help Islamic State - Reuters
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> News > Press Releases > Decline in cigarette smoking in U.S. significantly offset by increase in use of cigars, snuff, roll-your-own and other tobacco products
Decline in cigarette smoking in U.S. significantly offset by increase in use of cigars, snuff, roll-your-own and other tobacco products
For immediate release: Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Boston, MA–While trends in cigarette smoking and sales have declined in the U.S. for the past decade, sales of non-cigarette tobacco products have been on the rise. Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, led by Professor Gregory N. Connolly, director of the Tobacco Control Research Program at HSPH, and Hillel Alpert, research associate in the program, sought to compare trends in sales of all tobacco products in the U.S. and found that 30% of the recent decline in cigarette sales may be offset by the robust sale of small cigars, snuff and roll-your-own products. Thus, the apparent magnitude of overall decline in tobacco use in the U.S. may be illusory. The comparative research of tobacco sales of all kinds across the past decade is published in the June 11, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). It is the first study to examine concurrent sales of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
The major factor in the apparent switch to non-cigarette products by smokers appears to be price — with the federal tax on other forms of tobacco 1/10th that of cigarettes — and the heavy attention given to campaigning against cigarette use but not against other forms of tobacco products in recent years. Price increases have proven to be the single most effective form of curbing tobacco use in the U.S. population. According to the National Cancer Institute, in the U.S. smoking-related illnesses account for an estimated 438,000 deaths each year. An estimated 25.9 million men (23.9 percent) and 20.7 million women (18.1 percent) in the U.S. are smokers, according to the American Heart Association.
“Tobacco kills, no matter if it’s in a cigarette, a cigar, a snuff can or a roll-your-own,” said Connolly. “Lower federal and state taxes on these non-cigarette products is keeping tobacco addiction “affordable” and encouraging preventable disease and death. All forms of tobacco should be taxed equally, and state campaigns to curb tobacco use should address this loophole for death.”
Since 1998, tobacco sales in the U.S. have declined by 2% a year, which has been hailed as an indicator that smoking itself is on the decline. Overall, cigarette sales declined 18% from 21.1 billion packs in 2000 to 17.4 billion packs in 2007. During the same interval sales of other tobacco products increased by 1.10 billion cigarette pack equivalents (CPE’s) an estimate based on the products’ tobacco and nicotine content (714 million moist snuff, 256 million roll-your-own tobacco, 130 million small cigars). Figures were obtained from The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and from The Tax Burden on Tobacco report. Nicotine ratings were obtained from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health filed by tobacco manufacturers under Massachusetts law.
“Cigarette companies are responding to the changing pattern of consumption,” write the researchers, “by entering other tobacco markets, including acquisition of major U.S. moist snuff manufacturer Conwood by R.J. Reynolds, and by marketing new snuff and snus products to attract new smokers and new tobacco users.” Snus is a moist tobacco powder placed under the upper lip.
“Cigars, roll-your-own and smokeless tobacco products are generally priced lower than cigarettes,” they write. “The weekly cost for a typical user of a premium moist-snuff brand is 55% less than for a typical cigarette smoker. State and federal cigarette taxation policies appear to have been effective in reducing smoking, but small cigars and roll-your-own tobacco are taxed at 5% to 10% the rate of cigarettes, resulting in prices much less than an equivalent pack of cigarettes. These findings should be considered in future policy decisions meant to curb smoking.”
Funding was provided by the American Legacy Foundation. The research letter “Trends in the Use of Tobacco Products 2000 – 2007” appears in JAMA June 11, 2008, Vol 299, No. 22.
Robin Herman
rherman@hsph.harvard.edu
Harvard School of Public Health (www.hsph.harvard.edu) is dedicated to advancing the public’s health through learning, discovery, and communication. More than 400 faculty members are engaged in teaching and training the 1,000-plus student body in a broad spectrum of disciplines crucial to the health and well being of individuals and populations around the world. Programs and projects range from the molecular biology of AIDS vaccines to the epidemiology of cancer; from risk analysis to violence prevention; from maternal and children’s health to quality of care measurement; from health care management to international health and human rights. For more information on the school visit:www.hsph.harvard.edu
air pollution tobacco
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Exploring why dementia rates are declining
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Roberto Sierra
Born: 1953, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
"I love painting. If I were not a composer, I would be a painter. For example, I love Bosch and Turner, as well as Kandinsky. Anything with great color and fantastic imagery will call my attention."
After studies in Puerto Rico, ROBERTO SIERRA continued his education in England and Germany, and he then worked with György Ligeti in Hamburg for three years. His break-through piece was Júbilo, which was premiered at Carnegie Hall by the Milwaukee Symphony - he subsequently became that orchestra's composer-in-residence for three years. Sierra calls his fusion of European modernism and Latin American folk elements "tropicalization." He has written a chamber opera and a number of choral works, but is best known for his strikingly orchestrated instrumental compositions, including a number of concertos. Sierra was Composer-in-Residence with the Philadelphia Orchestra during the 2000/2001 season, when his Concierto para orquesta (Concerto for Orchestra) was premiered in February 2001. Since 1992 he has taught composition at Cornell University.
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THE BENEFITS OF HCV SUPPORT GROUPS
Ronni Marks-HCMSG
When diagnosed with Hepatitis C, people often feel alone and stigmatized. They have many questions and need accurate information about Hepatitis C, possible disease outcomes and treatment options.
Support groups show that members are not dealing with HCV alone. They offer positive encouragement, companionship and provide the education and support to members that their medical providers may not have the time to discuss in detail. These meetings provide patients with the opportunity to discuss issues and concerns among their peers. Well run support groups reinforce compliance with members’ medical care and treatment plans. They encourage a positive lifestyle.
While treatment for Hepatitis C has become more tolerable, there are still patients who do not understand the disease and have concerns and questions.
Well facilitated Hepatitis C support groups allow patients to manage the disease with knowledge, strength and fellowship.
Patient support groups have been shown to be an important adjunct to medical care. They can reduce overall healthcare costs and improve medical outcomes. Support groups can improve the quality of life of individual patients.
A revolution in the treatment of Hepatitis C is underway. New generation (DAA’s) direct-acting antivirals have recently become available and an even more promising new class of drugs is in development and testing. These drugs promise a cure. Now that these drugs are becoming available, medical providers are experiencing an overwhelming demand for treatment. This has put a strain on medical resources, leaving medical providers little time to provide all the education and support patients require. Well facilitated support groups will help manage increased patient demand by providing an important peer support and mentoring component of care.
Support groups are an essential part of the unfolding revolution in the treatment of Hepatitis C.
Do Interferon-Free Hep C Treatments Have Side Effects?
by Benjamin Ryan
With interferon quickly becoming a thing of the past, what kind of side effects still remain in the new hepatitis C regimens—and how do you remedy them?
Interferon, long a mainstay of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, is currently singing its swan song. As the loathed weekly injectable drug finally makes an exit, it will take along with it a host of flu-like side effects that have made attempts to cure hep C a misery and kept droves of people who are living with the virus from even trying.
But what about side effects that still remain in interferon-free hep C therapies? No drug is without its risks and “potential adverse events,” to borrow the term used in medical journals.
Kris Kowdley, MD, a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle, who has been involved with much of the research of the forthcoming crop of drugs and who has treated a host of patients with the current therapies, says that the outlook is quite rosy for those considering the two currently available interferon-free therapies as well as the combination regimens likely to be approved at the end of the year.
“Essentially the side effects, when you compare them to the first-generation protease inhibitors—boceprevir [Victrelis], telaprevir [Incivek]—the side effects are negligible with any of these new treatments,” Kowdley says.
The main adverse event culprit, according to Kowdley, is ribavirin, a drug that may not be required for some of the upcoming regimens. But even the effects of ribavirin aren’t so much of a problem for people undergoing treatment and are pretty easily managed. And overall the crop of drugs waiting in the wings has proved quite tolerable—to wit, relatively few participants in clinical trials for the new drugs wound up dropping out because of side effects.
While even a short list of potential side effects for a particular hep C therapy might give one pause, Andrew Muir, MD, chief of gastroenterology at Duke University, stresses that in the case of interferon-free regimens, “Everything we’re talking about is generally mild and well tolerated.”
Treatment Options That Don’t Include Interferon
Right now, there are two options for treatment that nix interferon. For those with genotype 1 of the virus who are interferon intolerant (which many clinicians argue includes those who simply do not want to take the drug) or who are not eligible to take interferon for various reasons, theAmerican Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) recommends the analog polymerase inhibitor Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) and the NS3/4A protease inhibitor Olysio (simeprevir) plus ribavirin for 12 weeks, or Sovaldi plus ribavirin for 24 weeks as an alternative. People with genotype 2 can opt for 12 weeks of Sovaldi and ribavirin, and those with genotype 3 can take this combination for 24 weeks. Genotypes 4 through 6, which are rarer in the United States, should see more options become available between October and December, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is slated to decide on three new crops of drugs, all of which are slated for use without interferon.
For those taking Sovaldi and ribavirin, fatigue and headache are the most common side effects, occurring in more than 20 percent of cases, according to the drug’s prescribing information.
In the COSMOS study of Sovaldi and Olysio plus ribavirin, the most common side effects were fatigue, headache, nausea, anemia, itching, dizziness, rash and photosensitivity (sensitivity to sunlight, or a tendency to burn more easily).
For his patients taking this regimen, Kowdley says, “We recommend them to avoid direct sunlight, and we certainly recommend that they use high efficacy sunblock. But part of it is we live in Seattle, so it’s not a big problem, but it doesn’t seem to be a very serious issue.”
Gilead Sciences’ fixed-dose, once-a-day combination tablet of Sovaldi and the investigatory NS5A inhibitor ledipasvir is considered the next big thing. With an approval date set for October 10, the combination could bring 12-week, or possibly even eight-week dosing that doesn’t require interferon, and which might be able to sidestep ribavirin as well. Gilead’s FDA application is for those with genotype 1, who make up 75 percent of the U.S. hep C population, but physicians may be able to prescribe the combo pill off-label to those with other genotypes. Side effects in various trials of the pill were fatigue, headache, insomnia and nausea, which tended to be more common when the combination was used with ribavirin.
AbbVie is the other major player, with a decision on the company’s “3D regimen” expected in December. The combination therapy consists of a fixed-dose combination of the protease inhibitor ABT-450 and ritonavir co-formulated with the NS5A inhibitor ombitasvir (ABT-267), as well as the non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor dasabuvir (ABT-333), with or without ribavirin. Fatigue and headache were the most commonly reported in a large Phase III trial.
Lastly, there’s Bristol-Myers Squibb’s NS5A replication complex inhibitor daclatasvir and the NS3 protease inhibitor asunaprevir. The company expects a decision from the FDA by the end of the year on that combination’s use in those with genotype 1b. The most common side effects in the HALLMARK-DUAL study were headache, fatigue, diarrhea and nausea. (BMS has also filed for approval of daclatasvir’s use with other hep C drugs to treat multiple genotypes of the virus.)
Treating Side Effects
Kowdley says that additional therapies to counteract other side effects of interferon-free hep C regimens are rarely needed, and if so the remedies are typically over-the-counter and fairly simple.
For anemia, the primary adverse effect of ribavirin, Kowdley has found that today’s short treatment lengths mean that any effects that ribavirin has on the blood are almost never significant enough to warrant interventions along the lines of adjusting the dose of the drug, giving a blood transfusion or prescribing the hormone erythropoietin.
This doesn’t mean, however, that ribavirin is without side effects. In fact, side effects are more common in ribavirin-containing hep C regimens than in those without. However, the difference in side effects in terms of number and severity is not that great.
“In my opinion,” Kowdley says, “the added benefit with regard to a potential [cure] easily overcomes the potential limitation of those regimens that contain ribavirin.”
Cough and rash are also common ribavirin side effects. Cough can be treated with Robitussin or some other anti-cough medicine. For rash, Kowdley will in very rare occasions advise hydrocortisone, but otherwise he says that moisturizing with an emollient cream—Eucerin is an example of a brand name—should do just fine. David Bernstein, MD, chief of the division of hepatology at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York, says he sometimes will advise using an antihistamine such as Benadryl for rash.
In the event of nausea resulting from hep C regimens, Bernstein says, “We usually recommend that patients take the medication with food. It tends to occur on an empty stomach. But it’s generally not severe.”
If Bernstein’s patients have trouble with insomnia, he may prescribe a sleeping aid. For headache, he says that typical over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol or Advil should do the trick.
All this said, Kowdley stresses that there is still one last profound potential side effect to consider, a potentially life-altering effect that he has seen in numerous patients in his vast clinical experience.
As he puts it: “We’re seeing all kinds of reports of euphoria, increased energy, almost insomnia because of having so much more energy than ever before.”
Search: Interferon-free, side effects, hepatitis C, Kris Kowdley, Victrelis,boceprevir, Incivek, telaprevir, ribavirin, Andrew Muir, Sovaldi, sofosbuvir,Olysio, simeprevir, ledipasvir, Gilead Sciences, AbbVie, 3D, ABT-450, ABT-267,ABT-333, ombitasvir, dasabuvir, Bristol-Myers Squibb, daclatasvir, asunaprevir,David Bernstein.
African American leaders sound the alarm on the rise of Hepatitis C
Health1:17 pm Tue July 15, 2014By Chris Caya Healthcare professionals and community leaders in Buffalo are helping to raise awareness about the impact of Hepatitis C in the African American community.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 3.5 million Americans have the disease, but most don't know they're infected. The state health department reported 15,000 chronic cases in Erie County in 2010.
Dr. Raul Vazquez and local African Americans leaders talk about the spread of Hepatitis C in the black community. Credit Chris Caya/WBFO News
Dr. Raul Vazquez says he thinks the numbers are underreported. Hepatitis C is spread through contaminated blood and Vazquez says more people are getting infected because of an increase in heroin use and dirty tattoo needles.
"Tattoos that are being put on by individuals that are not following sterile procedure is what I worry most about, in addition to the IV drug use," Vazquez said Tuesday.
Speakers highlighted the need for greater testing, particularly among Baby Boomers. Rev. Frank Bostic, Affiliate Chair with The National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Inc. of Buffalo says nationally, the rise of Hepatitis C-related deaths in African American born between 1945 and 1965 is outpacing AIDS-related deaths in the same demographic.
If untreated, Hepatitis C can cause chronic liver disease and cancer.
National African American Hepatitis C Action Day will be held on July 25. Officials say they hope to increase public awareness of the issue in the coming weeks.
Looking Forward in Hepatitis C Treatment, With Trepidation
An Interview With Tracy Swan
By Terri Wilder
From TheBodyPRO.com
Each year at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), a unique panel convenes on the first day of the meeting. This event -- the Martin Delaney Panel -- highlights a critical issue that lies at the intersection between HIV clinical research and HIV advocacy. At CROI 2014, the theme of the panel was "Hepatitis C: From Trials and Tribulations to Triumph." One of the panelists was Tracy Swan, Hepatitis/HIV Project Director at Treatment Action Group and a longtime, outspoken patient advocate on issues related to HIV/hepatitis C coinfection. Our correspondent Terri Wilder spoke with Swan shortly after the panel.
It feels like this year, 2014, is shaping up to be the year of hepatitis C. What are your thoughts about developments that are coming down the pipe, and what do you think about the challenges that are going to come with these new hepatitis C drugs?
It's funny. You keep seeing these trials with cure rates of 95% and 100%. And it's wonderful -- don't get me wrong -- but it's almost mind-numbing after a little while. You just think: How do you distinguish? Everything is well tolerated. What is going to be the best way to get things out there to people?
I think we really need screening programs. We need to identify more infected people. And we really need an infrastructure. So, as excited as I am about the drugs, and as grateful as I am to not have to keep talking to people about drugs that give them a lot of side effects and won't work very well ... Think about it: If the number of people with HIV quadrupled overnight and all the things we take for granted were stripped away -- the infrastructure, the funding, the programs, the case management, the services, and even the community; when so many people are undiagnosed, it's kind of hard to form a community -- if you strip that all away, you've got hepatitis C, on the downside.
Then, on the upside of things, you've got a cure.
I think 2014 is the year we bring those two together. But we have to figure out how to bring the cure to the people. And the drug prices are going to be a horrendous problem.
Let's talk about screening. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] came out with its recommended age cohort screening. The New York State Department of Health implemented a rule, effective Jan. 1, that folks in a certain cohort be screened for hep C. It feels like people are trying to roll these rules out, maybe in reaction to these new drugs.
How effective do you think these kind of cohort-based screening programs are going to be?
They can't be less effective than what we had before. I think some of these are really beginning to pick people up. What concerns me is, there are so many people newly entering care because of the Affordable Care Act. They may be getting slammed with multiple diagnoses all at once, because they haven't been in health care and don't know why they're feeling so crummy.
There might be providers that now feel that they need to screen, but then don't know what to do with people once they have a positive antibody test. I still think it's much better to screen as a critical public health step.
But there are a few things. It should be tied to surveillance programs, so you could collect the data while you're providing services to people, or nested within them, somehow. Also, yes, the baby boomer cohort is an important group, but you keep seeing all these reports of high infection rates among young people who are injecting drugs. If you're telling doctors who are already feeling pretty overloaded to do one more thing, they're not going to step out of that and start saying, "Hmm. I wonder who else I should be looking at now?" if they're trying to squeeze five people into an hour.
The cohort that we're talking about is people born between 1945 and 1965. I would assume that data drove that decision. But your point is that we're still missing people.
Well, the data we have are limited. It's from the NHANES survey -- incarcerated and homeless people -- and other very high-prevalence populations were not included. So, (1) we have an underestimate for the whole population; and (2) I don't quite understand how the incidence went from 300,000 cases a year down to about 16,000 cases over a decade and a half.
There are some reasons. Crack: People stopped injecting and started smoking more. But I think nobody was really counting, and we never developed the health care infrastructure that we needed to really characterize and then begin to address this epidemic. We have a lot of assumptions. There could be way more people of every age out there with hepatitis C.
Earlier, you mentioned the Affordable Care Act [ACA]. What do you think is going to complicate ACA implementation and getting folks who have hep C on treatment and into care?
I'm a big fan of single-payer health care. I would have much rather seen a system like that. I think we have a collapsing health care system with people entering it who don't even know how to use it.
No one's saying, "Look: People probably aren't going to be that nice to you. They're going to demand all this information from you. You're going to have five minutes with the doctor. You might hear something scary." You're not having anyone say, "What's on your mind?" How do you ask these questions? "How can we make the most of this appointment?"
I think we really need some health care literacy training for people so they feel comfortable going to a medical doctor. And when they get a diagnosis, whatever it is, they feel more like they have some control over what their next steps are. Hepatitis C has last-on-the-list syndrome. It doesn't progress quickly. "I don't have to deal with it right away." Treatment's too yucky. Treatment's too expensive.
Hopefully, the new drugs will really push the envelope, and people who need to be treated and cured will be. But it's not really clear how that's going to play out.
Let's talk about the new treatments for hep C. What is the reality? What are we looking at, in terms of people being cured?
I think we're really looking at something: 90% and over. It might be a little lower for people with cirrhosis. It might be a little lower for people who have more advanced liver disease.
The one group of people I'm worried about the most are the people that have late-stage or decompensated cirrhosis. There's very little known about what will be safe and effective. We don't want people to have to get a transplant, and even if they wind up there, there are insurance issues; there's organ scarcity. That's not the outcome we want to see.
And if they get a transplant, we want to be able to treat their hep C if it comes back afterwards -- because it almost always does.
Is this for both monoinfected and coinfected folks with HIV? Is the cure rate about the same, or is there a difference?
Today, we heard it's better in people with HIV. There was a moment when people were stunned, because we're all so used to hearing it's not. I thought it must be due to adherence. The presenter said, "Yeah. I think people really are used to taking pills. They know how to do it." To get in a trial, they had to have an undetectable viral load. They're taking their pills, and if they take their pills, their pills are working. It's always nice when that happens.
Let's talk about the cost of the new hep C drugs. It is a very sore spot for a lot of community activists who care about this issue. I think the worry is that if you don't have the right health insurance coverage, you're not going to be able to get access. What's happening out in the community? What are you hearing?
One of the things that we've thought about is how to get access for people who need treatment the most right away, with what's available now, whether it's off-label or not. I've done some work with the National Viral Hepatitis Coalition and [various doctors and advocates]. There's a "Dear Payor" letter explaining why this off-label expensive combination is good.
But, quite frankly, it's a very distasteful position to be put in, to [have to say], "Let me sell your totally overpriced drugs, just for people who need them." Something's got to give. The pharmaceutical industry should profit. We need to support innovation. But there is a point where you really have to ask: How much does a company really need to make?
We've seen data that say it costs less than $150 to make 12 weeks of sofosbuvir [Sovaldi]. That's Andrew Hill's study. It's based on a few million treatment courses.
I realize there are acquisition costs; there are development costs. But maybe when everybody starts shutting down the tap, that's when Gilead will be ready to come to the table and say, "We're going to have to make this affordable."
We're having this conversation in March 2014. What do you think the conversation is going to be like in March 2015, when we're all back at CROI? Do you have any guesses as to what the next year is going to look like?
I think a lot of people will start entering treatment. More people will get screened. More people will get cured. But the floodgates are open [in regards to] paying for things right now. As soon as there are more drugs and uptake surges, I think they're going to start shutting down. What I'd hate to see is [health care providers] putting people on a regimen that's a lot harder for them to get through, and possibly less effective; and then saying, "OK. That didn't work. Now you get this stuff."
Do we think that there's going to be something in the future that's better than the Gilead drug? Is there anything else that's coming?
We need another good pan-genotypic drug to pair with it. There is one, an NS5A inhibitor called daclatasvir, from a different company, BMS, that will be out later this year. That's going to be a good combination. When you look from a global standpoint, you'll need less testing, less monitoring. It's a very good combination.
But affordability is going to be such a huge issue, particularly for people in middle-income countries, let alone people in the U.S.
Can we talk about acute hep C? We don't have fourth-generation HIV testing rolled out to help with identifying acute HIV. Can you talk about how folks typically screen for acute hep C?
I think those infections get picked up in the context of routine HIV monitoring when people have really high liver enzyme levels. A lot of savvy clinicians have said, "Hey, what's going on? Could these be an acute infection?" And word has gotten out.
That's really how they're being picked up. I don't know any other way that they are.
Is it a challenge?
It's asymptomatic. If someone's been at risk, they might have been at risk multiple times. They might not feel sick. Someone else might not share the information: "Hey, I just found out I have hep C. And we were all at the same sex party." I think it's a failure of public health that there are no messages about how it's transmitted for HIV-positive men who are having sex with men.
Any closing thoughts? Messages that you would want to give medical providers, in light of all these changes that are happening in hep C?
Get ready for two things: fighting with a lot of reimbursement systems; and the great pleasure you're going to have when you get to cure somebody in two or three months, and see them return to health.
This transcript has been edited for clarity.
Copyright © 2014 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
Patients First: The Right to Be Treated and Cured
by Alan Franciscus
Very soon there will be treatments that will cure almost everyone of hepatitis C. These new treatments will have:
Minimal side effects, especially compared to the therapies that came before them
Cure rates that will be approaching up to 100%
Treatment periods that will be limited to 12 weeks—at least for some treatments
Hurray! Good news for everyone with hepatitis C.
But of course there is a downside – the price of the new medications. We don’t know yet what the price for the next generation of interferon-free medications will be, but generally once a price has been set there is little chance that medications that come along later will be priced lower—I really, really hope that I am wrong. But even if they are somewhat lower they are still going to be expensive.
The problem of the high cost of current medications is already impeding access to treatment. Insurance companies, government payers (Medicare, Veterans Healthcare, etc.) are trying to come to terms with the expense of the medications when the great number of people who need to be treated is factored into the equation. There have already been denials of coverage because people are not deemed ‘sick enough’ to qualify for treatment. Plain and simple: It is unethical to deny people a medication because they are deemed to be ‘not sick enough.’ Another sore point—being ‘sick enough’ is being narrowly defined as having severe liver scarring without any consideration for other (extrahepatic) symptoms and side effects that many people with hepatitis C experience.
Everyone with hepatitis C should have access to these life-saving medications. In response the HCV Advocate will be publishing a series of articles, fact sheets and tools to help patients navigate through the medical care maze and help them to self-advocate.
Medical appointments:
How to maximize your medical appointments, questions to ask, reporting symptoms, how to dress, being respectful and respected, what to do if you disagree, working with the gatekeeper (the nurse), and many more strategies to make the transition from a passive to an assertive patient. How to talk to your doctor about treatment.
Medical insurance – what, when and how. How to fight rejection letters. Open enrollment and what that means for your drug coverage. Questions you should ask yourself about your coverage.
Patient Assistance Programs – getting started before you start treatment. Knowing your options, and what services are offered.
Finances – what to expect if you are on treatment.
We are going to be adding more educational tools as we hear more from people about some of the obstacles they are facing. But please check out our fact sheets and guides—we already have many resources that can help people access services and treatment.
Symptoms of Hepatitis C
As I mentioned before, some insurance companies are basing approval of the medications on the degree of liver damage. People living with chronic hepatitis C have many other symptoms and conditions that are not necessarily related to the scarring of the liver. This is why it is so important to make sure that all of the conditions and symptoms of hepatitis C are recorded in your medical records. It is also important to record how the symptoms and conditions affect your daily activities.
The symptoms of hepatitis C range from mild to moderate to severe. Personally, I believe that everyone with hepatitis C has symptoms, but they come on so gradually and over such a long period of time that most people don’t notice them or believe that they are part of the aging process. The list below contains some of the more common symptoms reported by people with hepatitis C, but the list is not all inclusive. If you have symptoms that are not listed here be sure to mention them to your medical provider.
Fatigue is the most common symptom reported by people with hepatitis C. It can range from mild to moderate to severe. Again, some people may not even realize how fatigued they are if the fatigue falls somewhere within the mild to moderate range. A good way of measuring it is to talk with friends who are healthy to find out what their fatigue level is. Another good way is to talk to others with hepatitis C and try to gauge how your fatigue measures up with their fatigue. Finally, try to figure out how fatigue affects your daily life. How does the fatigue affect your work, recreation and interaction with family and friends.
“Brain Fog” is a common symptom of hepatitis C which is usually defined as low-level cognitive impairment. Typical symptoms include fuzzy thinking, memory problems, and lack of concentration.
Muscle and Joint Pain – low level aches and pains throughout the body.
Insomnia – inability to sleep or sleep that is not restful.
Headaches – pain or pressure on one or both sides of the head.
Fevers and Night Sweats – generally light fevers and waking up with clothes and/or bedding wet.
Depression and anxiety – feeling down and nervous.
Loss of Appetite or weight loss.
Nausea and vomiting - feeling sick to your stomach or vomiting.
Abdominal Pain or pain in the general area of the stomach and intestines.
Liver Pain in the upper right side, right behind the rib cage.
In addition, ask your medical provider to test you for extrahepatic manifestations—these are conditions outside of the liver. There are many conditions that are either directly caused by hepatitis C or that are more commonly seen in people with hepatitis C. See our fact sheet on extrahepatic manifestations. Ask to see a specialist who understands and can diagnose extrahepatic manifestations.
Symptoms of Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a potentially life-threatening condition. There are two types of cirrhosis—compensated and decompensated. Compensated cirrhosis is defined as a liver that is heavily scarred but can still perform most of the important chemical functions that keep the body running smoothly. When the liver is decompensated this means that the liver is severely scarred and damaged and normal function is impaired. In addition to the symptoms listed above, other symptoms that need to be diagnosed by a medical provider are:
Fluid retention and swelling in the legs and hands
Frequent urination
Bleeding and excessive bruising
Pruritus – excessive itching
Jaundice – yellowing of the skin and eyes
Menstrual irregularities
There are other symptoms that need to be diagnosed and managed by a medical provider including:
Encephalopathy – mental confusion, changes in sleep patterns, loss of memory, coma
Varices – stretched and bleeding blood vessels of the esophagus and stomach
Malnutrition – this happens when the liver isn’t able to process nutrients
Portal hypertension – the liver is so scarred that blood can’t get through it
Ascites – fluid retention in the abdominal region
Measuring Symptoms
A good way to measure the symptoms is by the 1 to 10 method with 10 being the worst. For example, if you could not get out of bed one day because you were so tired, rate that fatigue as a 10. If you were tired so that you decided that you would just watch TV that night it might be a 4 or 5. It might be a good idea to start a symptom log or journal. A copy could be inserted into your medical chart.
Don’t be afraid to tell your doctor or nurse what symptoms you are having—most doctors and nurses welcome patient involvement in their medical care.
Remember everyone has the right to be treated and cured.
Get Tested. Get Treated. Get Cured.
Source: HCV Advocate Newsletter - July 2014
http://hcvadvocate.blogspot.com/2014/07/patients-first-right-to-be-treated-and.html?spref=fb
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It’s time to rethink our idea of the early-stage start-up
by Adrian Tan and Monica Wulff
· startup,smallbusiness,founders
Adrian Tan Kay Hee
Originally written for Inside Small Business Australia
In recent years, the early-stage start-up has become synonymous with idealistic and inexperienced 20-somethings downing red bull and free pizza. Yet start-up founders are more diverse than often portrayed, and research has found that they are commonly professionals between 30 and 50 years of age that have experienced a problem worth solving.
Adrian Tan and Monica Wulff
Changing Perceptions
Fact is, early-stage start-ups have long experienced a perception problem. And, while writing off the burgeoning entrepreneur as a starry-eyed but ultimately misguided dreamer can seem relatively harmless, it’s important to realise the risk that this misconception poses for our start-up ecosystems, and the devastating effects it can have on entrepreneurship and innovation in an increasingly fragmented region.
Looking at recent events in Australia’s start-up ecosystem, such as the lessening of early-stage venture capital deals, hampering government policies, the roll-back of corporate innovation initiatives and the emerging focus on later-stage start-ups, it is clear that our innovation landscape is at the precipice of change. The effects of this are already evident on the global stage, with 2019’s Global Startup Ecosystem Report seeing Sydney drop six places compared to 2017, from 17th place to 23rd. Melbourne didn’t make it onto the top-30 table at all.
What this movement shows is what a lack of support for early-stage start-ups can do for stunting the growth of our vital innovation hubs. This is particularly problematic in a global marketplace where organisations are increasingly asked to compete on a global scale from day one. With more than 60 per cent of early-stage businesses likely to stop operating within the first three years of their start-up journey, ensuring that our entrepreneurs are supported in their path to scale is more important than ever to the growth of an innovative world-class economy.
Early stage is crucial
In order to do this, the first step is to reframe our idea of what being “early-stage” means.
Let’s remember that at one point, every successful start-up was “early-stage”, even Canva, Airtasker and Atlassian. Being “early-stage” is a crucial and necessary step to the evolution of any business.
Understandably, being a part of a start-up is exciting. It’s an energy-filled environment full of ambition and promise. But underneath the exhilaration of building something new and disruptive is the courage to tackle a problem and challenge the status quo. A start-up is also a product of people giving their time and resources to build something that their livelihoods depend on.
Being part of WeWork Labs, we are exposed to the vast quantity and quality of startup-related activity happening globally and have been fortunate to be able to support the growth of numerous start-ups, and even enterprises looking to innovate like a start-up, across APAC. A trend that we are seeing is that start-ups are increasingly global from day one – whether it’s solving global problems, servicing a global customer base or collaborating with suppliers and development teams in other countries.
Support networks, such as ours, allow companies to meet this trend head-on, providing entrepreneurs with access to resources, insights and a global community to move beyond roadblocks like tricky cultural nuances, confusing local regulations and access to capital.
Developing a vibrant and globally connected start-up ecosystem is possible. More than that, it is crucial for the growth of a forward-thinking economy.
As the start-up landscape continues to change before our eyes, the great thing is that we can adapt and we can iterate. But in order to begin nourishing our ecosystems in this time of flux,we need to start by recognising the role that these companies play in courageously committing to our collective future.
Adrian Tan, Head of Labs – Pacific, WeWork and
Monica Wulff, Labs Manager – Sydney, WeWork
How collaborations open new frontiers for startups
Startups working to fight the coronavirus
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Articles Posted in Non-traditional families
French Assemblée Nationale Approves Same-Sex Marriage
Close on the heels of similar actions last week in the British Parliament, the French National Assembly yesterday approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriage throughout France. The initial vote was 329-229, in favor of legalization. The bill must still be approved by the French Senate, although most people believe that approval is likely in the Senate as well.
Because of my 30 years of advocacy here in Los Angeles and Palm Springs as an US immigration attorney on behalf of nontraditional families, I receive a lot of inquiries from gay and lesbian US citizens who wish to marry partners from the UK or France. These upcoming changes are good news for couples, but only to a point.
Gay and lesbian Americans who may wish to marry a French or UK citizen must remember that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is still the law in the USA. Even though French government may allow same-sex marriages sometime soon, the US does not currently provide any immigration benefits based on a same-sex marriage. We must wait to see whether any upcoming changes in US immigration law will provide benefits to same-sex couples.
Posted in: Family-based visas, Immigration legislation & policy, Non-traditional families and Sexual Orientation (GLBT)
Updated: February 12, 2013 1:00 pm
UK Commons Moves to Approve Same-Sex Marriage
The UK parliament yesterday approved a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. The legislative process is not yet complete, but the 400-175 vote in favor of the bill is a strong indication that the next vote in the Commons, and a vote in the House of Lords, will be a favorable one for gay men and lesbians who wish to marry in the UK.
Gay and lesbian Americans who may wish to marry a UK citizen must remember that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is still the law in the USA. This means that even though Her Majesty’s government may soon allow same-sex marriages, the US does not provide any benefits or recognition under US law based on a same-sex marriage. And that includes immigration benefits. As an immigration lawyer who has counseled members of the gay and lesbian community for many years, I wish I could say that our families are recognized by the US government, but for the moment, we must wait to see whether any upcoming changes in US immigration law will provide benefits to same-sex couples.
If you or your partner or spouse would like to discuss immigration options, I look forward to talking with you. –jcf
Posted in: Documentation, Family-based visas, Immigration legislation & policy, Non-traditional families and Sexual Orientation (GLBT)
Updated: February 6, 2013 6:00 am
Same-Sex Marriage and Comprehensive Immigration Reform
In my 30 years as an immigration lawyer in the gay and lesbian community, the question I am asked most is, “why can’t I bring my foreign partner to the USA? Straight people can get married and bring their spouses! We should have the same rights!” This question has resonated here in my offices in Los Angeles and in Palm Springs. I have been asked the question when I practiced in San Francisco and Chicago. I even get asked the question in Paris and London. The over-simplified answer is the word “marriage.”
Under the US Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the US gives US citizens a “benefit,” allowing the spouse of a US citizen to apply for a legal permanent resident card (LPR — otherwise called “the green card”). Until recently, same-sex marriage (SSM) was quite rare, so the US could hide behind the idea that LPR is only extended to someone married to a US citizen.
Then some enlightened countries began letting same-sex couples get married, and the US was faced with a dilemma: do we apply the law equally and allow these same-sex couples the same rights as other Americans, or do we try to stop them. The result was the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Posted in: Family-based visas, General, Immigration legislation & policy, Non-traditional families and Sexual Orientation (GLBT)
Major Overhaul to Immigration Law May be Coming
For over 10 years, immigrants and their families have come to Fong & Aquino and asked me about any possible changes to the immigration law that will help them. I hear, from clients in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and many other places that they need some change in the immigration law to allow them to stay in this country and pursue their dreams, work productively, be free from persecution, and most importantly, to be united with their families.
For the first time since 1990, a major change in the immigration law may be coming.
You probably already know that the US Congress has been deadlocked for over 4 years, with the members (mostly) of one political party refusing to cooperate with the White House. As a result, a Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) bill has never been seriously discussed. With the results of the recent re-election of President Barack Obama, and (many) members of the Republican party realizing that it is in their best interest to help immigrants, CIR may be on its way. What will it do?
Posted in: Employment-based visas, Family-based visas, Filing Applications & Petitions, General, Immigration legislation & policy, Non-traditional families and Sexual Orientation (GLBT)
Fong & Aquino
After practicing law together for almost one decade, Eileen Chun-Fruto and I have evolved into different forms of law practice. I will continue to practice immigration and nationality law, handle consultations, and do my blog here at my offices in Los Angeles and in Palm Springs. The firm name is now, “Fong & Aquino.” You can reach me, as before, at Tel: +1.323.769.8187 — this is the same phone number you have used in the past. My new e-mail address is: j@jfonglaw.com . My webpage is now: https://www.immigration-lawyer-la.com .
My practice will continue to focus on families, waivers, small business investors, intra-company transferees, and investor visas. Also, as I have been for all 30 years of my law work, I remain very devoted to counseling, advocating for, and working with non-traditional families.
Eileen Chun-Fruto now practices immigration law with a law firm in downtown Los Angeles. She can be reached at echun@fongandchun.com.
Posted in: Documentation, Employment-based visas, Entry & Exit Issues, Family-based visas, Filing Applications & Petitions, General, Immigration legislation & policy and Non-traditional families
Immigration Option for Gay Men & Lesbians in Deportation
The immigration attorneys at Fong & Aquino — with clients from the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs, to Southern California and Los Angeles, and throughout the world — have been closely watching the implementation of the prosecutorial discretion policy as it affects gay men, lesbians, and persons in nontraditional family relationships.
As readers of this blog may recall, in the latter half of 2011, the Obama administration instructed its enforcers of the immigration laws (also known as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement branch of the Department of Homeland Security) to consider exercising its discretion to dismiss “low priority” deportation and removal cases. The “Morton Memo” indicated that the following criteria may be viewed as positive factors:
Circumstances of arrival – especially if the person came to the US as a child Pursuit of education – if they have graduated from high school in the United States and/or are pursuing higher education U.S. Military service Ties to the U.S., including family relationships Pregnant or nursing women Age, especially for minors and the elderly If the person is a primary caretaker of another person with a severe illness or disability Persons who are likely to be granted temporary or permanent status because they are an asylum seeker, victim of domestic violence, human trafficking, or other crime
Posted in: Family-based visas, Non-traditional families, Removal and Inadmissibility and Sexual Orientation (GLBT)
Updated: April 5, 2012 4:21 pm
Circuit Court to Announce Prop. 8 Decision on Tuesday
The issue of same-sex marriage is an important issue. Fong & Aquino gets questions all the time at our offices in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, and throughout the nation from US citizens who wish to immigrate a same-sex spouse. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco, California will release its decision regarding the constitutionality of Marriage Equality and Proposition 8 on Tuesday, 7 February 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (PST).
at Fong & Aquino, we are counseling our clients that whether the decision is a positive one or not, couples should not submit I-130 Family Petitions and I-485 Applications for Adjustment of Status based on a same-sex marriage without first consulting with an immigration attorney experienced in working with non-traditional families. –jcf
New York: “I do!” — USCIS: “Not yet, pal!”
Congratulations to the citizens of New York for the practical and humane approach taken by their Legislature and Governor in the approval of same-sex marriage last week! As leading advocates for immigrants in the gay and lesbian community, the attorneys at Los Angeles’ Fong & Aquino have counseled thousands of clients from all over the nation and the world about uniting families which are not traditionally shaped.
Beware! It is still NOT possible for same-sex couples to marry and to have the US citizen spouse petition for legal permanent resident status (the so-called green card) for the foreign spouse. This prohibition applies even when the couple both marries and resides in New York.
A same-sex marriage in New York (or from any other state or country, for that matter) will not be recognized for purposes of Federal immigration benefits. This includes Family Petitions for alien spouses, and also includes spouse-as-dependent on any other residency application. The culprit here is the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Posted in: Family-based visas, Filing Applications & Petitions, Non-traditional families and Sexual Orientation (GLBT)
Updated: June 27, 2011 11:33 am
USCIS Announces Relief for Japanese and Other Nationals Stranded in US Because of Earthquake and Disaster Abroad
The immigration lawyers at Fong & Aquino in Los Angeles have many, many Japanese clients. In response to the devastation caused by the earthquake around Sendai, Japan yesterday, the US Citizenship and Immigraiton Services (USCIS) issued an advisory to Japanese nationals and others who cannot return to their home countries due to earthquake and tsunami disruption in the Pacific region. This is of particular importance to those who are here on visitor visas (B-1 or B-2), visa waiver, or other non-immigrant visas such as H-1B, L-1A, L-1B, E-1, E-2, F-1, J-1, M-1, etc.
From time to time, the US government permits citizens from certain countries to remain in the USA — even after their visas or landing permits have expired — due to emergency circumstances in the home country. This special designation — which is called Temporary Protected Status (TPS) — is made by the US government. At the present time, Japan has not yet been designated a TPS-eligible country by the US government.
However, the USCIS advisory, issued at 5:35pm today advises that people should visit their local USCIS office if they have overstayed their I-94s or will become an overstay because they cannot now return to their homes in the Pacific. In certain cases, the USCIS may allow for an additional 30 days be granted in order to depart without facing unlawful presence or other serious immigration violation. USCIS will likely control such applications with high scrutiny and enforcement. We do not recommend that Japanese citizens go to USCIS to obtain assistance without first consulting an immigration attorney.
Posted in: Documentation, Entry & Exit Issues, Filing Applications & Petitions, Immigration legislation & policy and Non-traditional families
Earthquake in Japan: Tsunami Warnings for Hawaii and West Coast
Japan: an 8.9 earthquake has rocked Japan today, marking the most powerful earthquake in Japan’s recorded history. This quake is the fifth most powerful in the world since 1900, says the U.S. Geologic Survey. Tokyo reports massive aftershocks. Narita Airport, Sendai Airport remain closed, although Haneda Airport has reopened already. The immigration attorneys at Fong & Aquino who practice in business immigration, family-based immigration, removal defense and appellate work extend sympathy and concern to all our Japanese clients and those with family and friends abroad who are affected by this devastating disaster.
Over the years, the immigration attorneys at Fong & Aquino have worked proudly in the Japanese immigrant community, having represented multinational executives and managers for some of Japan’s largest corporations, professors providing invaluable research and teaching in top U.S. universities, professional employees working in companies based in Little Tokyo and in Japanese American non-profit organizations, and of course, countless individuals and families of Japanese descent.
With early reports of the death toll, the true damage the earthquake has caused remains unknown at this moment. We do know that this earthquake may cause tsunamis powerful enough to engulf or wash over small islands in the Pacific causing more damage and posing continued danger to those in the Pacific. For clients wishing to return to Japan in the weeks to come, please call the attorneys at Fong & Aquino for guidance on how to check the US Department of State for travel warnings and other restrictions. —ecf
Posted in: Citizenship & Nationality, Consular Issues, Documentation, Employment-based visas, Entry & Exit Issues, Family-based visas, Filing Applications & Petitions, Free Trade (TN, E-3), Immigration legislation & policy, Investors (EB-5 & E), Labor Certifications (PERM), Non-traditional families, Other visas, Removal and Inadmissibility, Sexual Orientation (GLBT) and Workers (H, L, R, O, P)
Updated: March 11, 2011 1:53 am
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Welcome to ‘Talking Economics’, the blog of the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS), Sri Lanka’s apex socio-economic policy think tank.
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Sri Lanka’s Human Capital Progress: Still Less than its Full Potential
Nisha Arunatillake Oct 22, 2018
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The World Bank has launched its Human Capital Project (HCP) intended to improve the human capital of people. Through this, it aims to facilitate equity and economic growth. The project rightly recognises that, to be productive, people need to improve their skills, health, knowledge, and resilience. The project has three main components. The first is an index to measure the human capital of people (i.e., The Human Capital Index). The other two are initiatives to improve the measurements and research on human capital. Countries are expected to boost their human capital, based on the findings of research.
The Human Capital Index (HCI) summarises the ‘amount of human capital a child born today could expect to attain by age 18’. Sri Lanka’s HCI for 2018, the best in the South Asian region, is 0.58. However, a score of 0.58 indicates that Sri Lanka’s performance is 42 per cent less than its potential. Climbing up in this index can enhance both economic productivity and economic growth. As such, rather than being pleased about its achievements in the HCI relative to that of other countries in South Asia, Sri Lanka needs to ask how it can improve its human capital potential. A closer examination of the sub-indices of the HCI shows areas that need attention.
The HCI shows that Sri Lanka performs well in the child survival index. Accordingly, a child born today has a 99 per cent chance of surviving to age five. Further, both girls and boys have the same chance of surviving to age five. But, Sri Lanka’s performance in all other components of human capital leaves much to be desired.
Education Indicators
One area where Sri Lanka is doing poorly is in quality-adjusted years of schooling. According to the HCP, the expected number of years of schooling for a child born in Sri Lanka today is 13 years. This is not too bad, as the international best practices expect children to have 14 years good quality schooling by age 18 years. But the HCP does not only look at years of schooling. It also includes a measure of quality of schooling, based on harmonised test scores, which can range from 325 to 600. Sri Lanka’s harmonised test score of 400 is at the lower end of the spectrum. As a result, after adjusting for learning, the years of schooling index in Sri Lanka drops to 8.3 years, indicating that nearly five years of the 13 years of schooling does not result in additional learning. According to the Ministry of Education (MoE), close to half the students fail the G. C. E. Ordinary Level (O-Level) exam, mainly due to failing mathematics. A recent IPS study revealed the need to improve the training of teachers and principals, and streamline recruitments so that subject qualifications are taken into account when allocating teachers to schools.
Health Indicators
The HCI comprises of two health indicators. The first is a measure of nutrition adequacy of children. It is measured by the fraction of children under-five who are not stunted. According to data, only 83 per cent of under-five year olds in the country are not stunted. The Sri Lanka Human Development Report 2012, compiled by IPS, showed that poor nutrition accounts for 30 per cent of multidimensional poverty in the country. Although the country has initiated several programmes in this regard, the nutrition levels of under-five year olds have improved only marginally. For example, research highlights that from 2006 to 2016 the percentage of underweight children in the country has reduced by less than one percentage point, from 21.1 per cent to 20.5 per cent.
The second health indicator measures the survival rate of adults. It is captured by the probability of a 15 year old surviving till age 60. According to the HCP, the overall adult survival rate for Sri Lanka is 0.87 – indicating that Sri Lanka has achieved 87 per cent of its potential for adult survival. The rate itself is satisfactory, considering the world average for adult survival is 85 per cent. But what is of concern is the gender disparity in this index. While the adult survival rate for girls is 93 per cent in Sri Lanka, the adult survival rate for boys is only 81 per cent. This indicates a 12 percentage point gap in the survival rates of 15 year old girls and boys. Moreover, the adult survival rate for boys is less than the world average. More studies need to be conducted to ascertain the reasons for poor survival of boys.
The World Bank’s Human Development Project should be commended for several reasons. First, the HCI is an improvement from the earlier indices, as it also pays attention to quality aspects. Also, the project recognises that any measure of human capital needs to be continuously reviewed and revised to match the needs and demands of a changing world. Lastly, it aims to use the results of HCI and its sub-components to prioritise interventions for enhancing human capital.
Tags: Economic Growth Education Health Human Capital Productivity Sri Lanka
Did the Blue-Green Budget Forget Migrants and their “Greenbacks”?
A Comment on ‘New Educational Policies and Proposals’ for General Education in Sri Lanka
Controlling NCDs in Sri Lanka in the Age of a Pandemic
Sri Lanka Needs a New Framework for ‘Precarious Workers’
Nisha Arunatillake
Nisha Arunatilake is the Director of Research IPS. She heads the Labour, Employment and Human Resource Development research unit. Her research interests include labour market analysis, education and skill development, migration and development and health economics. She holds a BSc in Computer Science and Mathematics with summa cum laude from the University of the South, USA and an MA and PhD in Economics from Duke University, USA. (Talk with Nisha - nisha@ips.lk)
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Dell goes private in $24bn deal with Microsoft cash injection
Following weeks of speculation, hardware giant concludes deal with private equity firm Silver Lake and $2bn input from Microsoft
Dell is to go private in a $24.4 billion deal involving the company's founder, software giant Microsoft and private equity house Silver Lake.
Following weeks of speculation, the company confirmed the news in a statement, and said the deal is expected to close before the end of the second quarter.
The transaction is being funded by Michael Dell, who will stay on as the firm's CEO, Silver Lake, MSD Capital, and a $2 billion loan from Microsoft.
The buyout has already been approved by Dell's board of directors, but stockholders will still need to vote on whether or not the deal should go through. It will also be subject to regulatory approval too.
Under the terms of the deal, Dell stockholders will receive $13.65 in cash for each share of Dell common stock they hold.
"The buyers will acquire for cash all of the outstanding shares of Dell not held by [Michael Dell] and certain other members of the management.
The company has been making a concerted effort in recent years to expand away from its PC-making roots into areas, such as storage, networking, security and cloud, through mergers and acquisitions, as well as investments in R&D.
The company's decision to go private is reportedly being undertaken to allow the firm to continue this transition behind closed doors.
In a statement, Michael Dell said the deal marks an exciting new chapter for the company.
"Dell has made solid progress executing this strategy over the past four years, but we recognise that it will still take more time, investment and patience, and I believe our efforts will be better supported by partnering with Silver Lake in our shared vision.
"I am committed to this journey and have put a substantial amount of my own capital at risk together with Silver Lake," Dell added.
Dell XPS 13 9310 (2020) review: Undermined by Intel
Dell UltraSharp U4320Q review: Prepare to be impressed
Dell UltraSharp U2720Q review: Quality and versatility
Dell Technologies takes on HPE with Project Apex
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Why 2020 will be a bumper Christmas for cybercriminals – and what retailers can do about it
Chris Boyd, Lead Malware Intelligence Analyst and Malwarebytes
by The Gurus
in Insight
It may have had a negative impact on the UK economy, but COVID-19 doesn’t appear to have dampened enthusiasm for Christmas shopping. More than 70 percent of consumers intend to spend at least as much on presents this year as they have in the past. But, while this may be good news for embattled retailers, it’s even better news for opportunistic cybercriminals. With lockdown measures forcing consumers online, ecommerce has never been so popular – online spending on Black Friday was up 22 percent on last year. So, this could well be the best Christmas ever for the criminally minded.
Web skimming, in particular, is on the rise. The practice, which involves attacking ecommerce platforms to steal customers’ payment details, rose by 26 percent during the first lockdown in March. With most of the country in Tier Two and Three lockdown measures during December, it’s likely we’ll see its use rise again. It’s vital, then, that retailers do what they can to prevent such attacks and protect their profits – and their reputations – in these challenging times.
Upsetting experience
Occurring at a retail site’s checkout stage, web skimming gives criminals access to a customer’s credit card details, as well as their name, address, email, and often, their date of birth. Once lifted, this hugely valuable data is generally then sold on the dark web, from where it can often be subject to further attacks and – potentially – financial losses.
A targeted web skimming attack was carried out against household brand Tupperware and its associated websites earlier this year. The official Tupperware.com site – which enjoys an average of around one million monthly visits – was compromised in March when malicious code, hidden within an image file, activated a fraudulent payment form during the checkout process from which criminals were able to collect the credit card data of unwitting customers.
As soon as it was alerted to the compromise, Tupperware identified and removed the malicious code. However, as such a high-profile brand with high traffic to its website, Tupperware was unfortunately too late to prevent many of its customers’ credit card details from being “skimmed”.
Remediating the issue
Tupperware reacted as quickly as it could. Unfortunately, even when acting fast, identifying web skimming can be challenging. Unlike with other types of cyber theft, there are often few, if any, visible signs that the malicious code has been injected into a website.
Regardless, remediating the issue and ensuring the safety of their customers’ data requires retailers remove the malicious code from the compromised site the moment it’s identified. They must work with IT and security partners to review logs in order to find the point of entry and, consequently, reveal just how long the criminals had access to the site.
The threat is considered so serious that the British Retail Consortium (BRC) recently published official guidance to help its members avoid falling victim to such attacks. Developed in conjunction with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the “Cyber Resilience Toolkit for Retail” highlights the range of threats faced by the retail sector, outlining the protective measures retailers need to implement, and recommending actions on how to prevent, mitigate, and recover from any breaches that might occur.
According to its technical director, Ian Levy, the NCSC wants to “keep shoppers’ data, identity and privacy safe, and to ensure that the retail sector is well equipped to face the cyber challenges associated with an ever-more digital world.”
Minimising risks
In all honesty, there’s no way to entirely prevent web skimming. There are, however, steps retailers can put in place to minimise the risk of such attacks occurring.
More than anything, it’s important to tighten day-to-day security measures. Retailers should work with IT and security partners, applying patches where needed to ensure any potential vulnerabilities are protected. Stricter access control requirements should be implemented into a site’s backend. Updating passwords and adding two-factor authentication, for example, will help protect a site and its users’ information.
Outsourcing the handling of financial transactions to a larger, trusted third-party will also help reduce the stress and time wasted on managing security risks. While it can be more expensive than running things in-house, guaranteed assurance that customers’ financial information is in safe hands far outweighs the cost of a potential data breach.
Finally, guaranteeing a site’s legitimacy will go a long way to offering customers peace of mind. Spelling and grammatical errors are often a giveaway for online scams. If a retailer ensures all its web copy is free from such mistakes, its customers are more likely to view its site as credible and, therefore, safe to use.
For online retailers and their customers, this is set to be a Christmas like no other. But the same is true for bad actors, too. It’s never been more important to pay attention to the safety of customers’ payment information. With measures in place to prevent and mitigate web skimming and other attacks, retailers can help cancel Christmas for cybercriminals.
By Chris Boyd, Lead Malware Intelligence Analyst and Malwarebytes
The ambition for a ‘made in Europe’ AI: the Why, the What and the How
The IT skills gap: flexible resourcing is the solution
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Derde Verde
9:00 PM - 11:59 PM The Love Song
Where: The Love Song, 450 Main Street, Los Angeles, California, United States, 90013
with Similar Fashion, Cari Stevens
Shape-shifting rhythms and melodic guitar lines with intimate, heartfelt vocals: DERDE VERDE are named after Val Verde, a rural valley town of coyotes, rolling hills, and big sky, an hour north of Los Angeles. Their music moves effortlessly from the textured energy of krautrock and the layered intensity of shoegaze, to the introspective intimacy of an acoustic living room performance. The band evolved out of the songwriting partnership between singer/guitarist Dylan McKenzie and bassist Jonathan Schwarz. Their love of earnest songwriters ranging from Neil Young and Nick Drake, to Elliott Smith and Mark Kozelek, as well as the musical interplay and studio experimentation by artists from Kraftwerk to My Bloody Valentine, led the band to craft a style of their own that combined sincere lyrical reflections delivered with a soft vulnerability over intricate instrumental arrangements that swim in atmospheric spontaneity and rhythmic undercurrent. Derde Verde often draw lyrical inspiration from poets like Mary Oliver, or Walt Whitman, and the songs evoke a rich landscape that explores questions of natural, human, and subconscious experience, infused with the textured and stream of consciousness art-rock arrangements crafted by the five-piece.Derde Verdes latest release Meander Belt EP (Kursaal) was written and developed after the band toured the US and Europe in support of 2013s Let Me Be a Light. The songs were recorded and self-produced throughout 2017 in a warehouse space above a flower shop in Downtown LA. The new record is a collection of songs that draws on themes of loss, fear, love, longing, and transformation. The title, Meander Belt, refers to the movement of a river stream, as it shifts its channel from time to time, or in times of flood. Dylan McKenzie, singer and guitarist of Derde Verde, explains: We are interested in this as a metaphor for the landscape of the self, something that seems constant and permanent, but is al
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A challenge to young people
Child amputee wants young people to understand the sacifices of their ancestors
Nov. 6, 2019 1:30 a.m.
I had the privilege of growing up in The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program which was started by war amputee veterans. Through Operation Legacy, which is made up of members of CHAMP, we pay tribute to the veterans who founded the association and all those who have served our country.
I have participated in Operation Legacy as far back as I can remember by laying wreaths and attending remembrance ceremonies. I have only scratched the surface of understanding how much these soldiers sacrificed, but I am eager to spread the remembrance message to other young people so that we and the generations after us know who to thank.
Canada as we know it today exists because of the men and women who served, sacrificing life and limb so that future generations could live freely and safely. As young people, we are that future generation. It is up to us to say thank you and remember them because their sacrifices weren’t for nothing, they were for everything.
On Remembrance Day this year, I challenge young people to attend your local ceremony, wear a poppy over your heart, or at the very least, take a moment at 11 a.m. to pause and say thank you.
Rachel Quilty
The War Amps
B.C. VIEWS: Is your community ready for the dementia wave?
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For The Record - The IPT Blog
Latest Posts | Archive |
New Evidence in Brooklyn Terrorist Case
by IPT News • Jun 10, 2011 at 6:35 pm
https://www.investigativeproject.org/2963/new-evidence-in-brooklyn-terrorist-case
Federal prosecutors recently returned from a fact-finding trip to Kosovo with new evidence against a U.S. citizen from Brooklyn accused of trying to join a terrorist group overseas.
The man, Betim Kaziu, was charged in September 2009 with conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country and to provide material support to terrorists. According to the indictment, Kaziu traveled to Egypt in February 2009 to purchase weapons and then attempted to join the Somali-based Al-Shabaab, which is an affiliate of al Qaida and a terrorist group designated by the State Department. He also sought to train in Pakistan to fight American troops in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Balkans, but was finally arrested in Kosovo possessing 2 AK-47s and several hand grenades.
The new evidence against Kaziu comes from a witness in Kosovo who provided details to prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn about Kaziu's activities in the Balkans prior to his arrest in August 2009.
In his May 23 deposition before a special proceeding in a district court in southern Kosovo, the witness confirmed that Kaziu was a radical Islamist, stating "he wanted to die a martyr for the cause of Islam." He also testified to watching al Qaida propaganda videos with Kaziu on the latter's computer in Kosovo. In terms of his desire to support terrorist groups, the witness said that Kaziu "maybe" expressed interest in joining al Qaida but he wasn't certain.
Assistant US Attorney Shreve Ariail informed Judge John Gleeson in New York that prosecutors may introduce this new evidence at Kaziu's upcoming trial.
Related Topics: IPT News
Note: IPT will moderate reader comments. We reserve the right to edit or remove any comment we determine to be inappropriate. This includes, but is not limited to, comments that include swearing, name calling, or offensive language involving race, religion or ethnicity. All comments must include an email address for verification.
Click here to see the top 25 recent comments.
FEATURED MULTIMEDIA
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Guide to Economic Depression
Guide to Economic Recession
Economics Macroeconomics
Leading Lipstick Indicator
By Clay Halton
What is the Leading Lipstick Indicator?
Leading lipstick indicator, sometimes called the lipstick effect, is an economic indicator that suggests an increase in sales of small luxuries such as lipstick can indicate an oncoming recession or period of diminished consumer confidence.
The leading lipstick indicator refers to an economic indicator that suggests that consumers turn to less economic indulgences, such as lipstick, when they are not confident about the economic future.
Analysts have made the case against the lipstick indicator arguing that they increase even during times of prosperity.
Understanding the Leading Lipstick Indicator
The Leading Lipstick Indicator is an economic indicator that suggests that consumers turn to less expensive indulgences, such as lipstick, when they do not feel confident about the economic future.
This indicator, sometimes also called the Lipstick Index, was initially proposed by Leonard Lauder, chairman of Estée Lauder, in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Lauder, who has a vested interest in the sale of lipstick, proposed that in the months following the attacks, his company’s lipstick sales improved. However, reliable historical figures to corroborate this phenomenon, leaving the correlation between consumer confidence and lipstick sales in doubt.
The Case Against the Leading Lipstick Indicator
Analysts are increasingly arguing that the lipstick effect may have outlived its usefulness. In 2009, Kline and Company, a market research company, analyzed lipstick sales from 1989 onward and found that the figure increased even during times of prosperity. Euromonitor, another research firm, has forecast that lipstick sales will increase by 18% between now and 2022 even as global economic growth declines and there is talk of recession.
Analysts from Mintel found that sales for lipstick actually fell by 3% during the Great Recession while nail care products witnessed an increase in sales during that time. The firm suggests that lipstick sales should be replaced with sales for key categories, such as skin and body care, in the beauty industry. Alison Gaither, an analyst with Mintel, said there's loyalty to the industry as a whole but "certain categories have a safety bubble."
In a 2012 study, four researchers found that lipstick sales are more likely correlated to a perceived increase in sexual attraction created by this product rather than consumer confidence.
The New York Times. "Hard Times, but Your Lips Look Great." Accessed Dec. 11, 2020.
The Economist. "Lip reading." Accessed Dec. 11, 2020.
CNBC. "Why lipstick isn't as useful as an economic barometer as it used to be." Accessed Dec. 11, 2020.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. "Boosting Beaty in an Economic Decline." Accessed Dec. 11, 2020.
Men's Underwear Index
Men’s Underwear Index is an unconventional economic indicator which measures how well the economy is doing based on the sales of men’s underwear.
Lipstick Effect Definition
The lipstick effect is a theory that spending on small indulgences such as premium lipstick increase during periods of recession.
Hot Waitress Economic Index Definition
The hot waitress economic index is an offensive and dubious economic indicator that counts the number of attractive people working as servers.
The Wealth Effect Definition
The wealth effect is a behavioral economic theory suggesting that consumers spend more when their wealth increases, even if their income does not.
Economics is a branch of social science focused on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
Everything You Need to Know About Macroeconomics
Macroeconomics studies an overall economy or market system, its behavior, the factors that drive it, and how to improve its performance.
The Importance of GDP
Understanding the Effects of Fiscal Deficits on an Economy
A Study on the Wealth Effect and the Economy
Futures/Commodities Trading Strategy & Education
How Gas Prices Affect The Economy
New Generation of Consumers Increase Demand for Natural Products
Investment Portfolio Strategy in a Recession
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Immersed in Movies: Talking ‘The LEGO Movie’ at Comic-Con
Immersed in Movies: Talking 'The LEGO Movie' at Comic-Con
Bill Desowitz
@BillDesowitz
The LEGO Movie (Feb. 7, 2014) was best summed up by directors Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and Chris McKay at Comic-Con as an organic stop-motion vibe, as though LEGOs had really come to life. Imagine if Michael Bay had kidnapped Henry Selick and forced him to make the movie he saw in his brain.
Meanwhile, their power-house DC superhero lineup of LEGO all-stars just got better with the announcement that Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, and Cobie Smulders would be voicing Superman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman. They join Will Arnett as Batman.
It’s about the pure joy of creativity and embracing their LEGOness and the charm of these plastic characters, with arms popping off and so forth. So they found a way to use CG animation (done by Animal Logic in Australia) to simulate a very rough stop-motion style that best represents the look and movement of these iconic toy characters.
Lord explained the process: “McKay built a creativity machine that was the production, and he did it in a way that was flat and allowed for a lot of dialogue in between departments without a lot of layers so that the editors could talk to the storyboard artists and request some drawings and trying things out without showing us first so that you get everybody [involved]. So it became a very fluid and iterative process, which was great.”
Miller added that it was inspired by brick films online that are funny and demonstrate the limitations of the figures: “Also, there are some photographers that photograph the little LEGO people and try to make it look really epic, just from the lighting. And we thought that was pretty cool when they tried to marry a cinematic lighting style with a brick film aesthetic.”
But even though it was initially difficult as a proof of concept, McKay and his team managed to convey a lot of expressiveness and humanity “out of the dorkiest-looking things in the whole universe.” They took encouragement, for instance, from the way Kermit’s eyes don’t move but you accomplish so much emotion from his limitations.
“The mandate these guys had from the beginning was to make this feel like a big, adult movie,” McKay suggested. “I don’t want it to feel like a soft, bullshit film. I want it to be something that feels real. I went to the animators and said, ‘I want to see the guys do Parker stuff.’ We have people that come from different disciplines as far as 2D, 3D, and stop-motion, and these guys really attacked it madly with a lot of love.”
“One of the things that would happen — that happens on every animated production — is that sometimes initially you get a lot of stock stuff that feels like a classic move that you saw Frank & Ollie draw… and it’s wonderful but it doesn’t pertain to that moment,” Lord offered. “It’s not an interpretation of that voice performance.
“Another thing is that with stop-motion there’s no motion blur because every frame is its own little thing. We found out if a character is moving really fast across the screen, it was going to get a little bit jumpy. And we developed this brick-built motion blur of the characters when they’re moving really fast, and we have these really clever solves for things like that.”
Sometimes there was an innocence and charm they were after; occasionally it was just puppeted; and sometimes they would literally make it look like a hand was walking the figure.
“Make it dumber — it’s way too sophisticated,” Lord underscored about their notes.
As far as working with the voice actors, they’d try and pair them whenever possible, but with Will Ferrell (President Business) and Liam Neeson (Bad Cop), they got them together over the phone in New York and LA, respectively.
“It was awkward and first but then it became amazing,” Miller said.
This Article is related to: Festivals and tagged Immersed In Movies, The LEGO Movie
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A long-distance runner, losing his way in life, stops a young woman from throwing herself off a bridge as he helps her get home.
WRITTEN BY: William Shutt, Liam O'Hara
DIRECTED BY: Liam O'Hara
Run It Off
Who says you can't run your problems into the ground? Aside from the health benefits, most people can agree that nothing clears your head like a good jog. For the fanatical and casual alike, it's the one sure fire way to get the blood flowing and brain firing. "Run It Off" was written by William Shutt and Liam O'Hara, who must be avid runners themselves; or at least know some because quite frankly, to use jogging as the conceptual glue for a story is something I haven't seen much of. The mental benefits of running are something most of us know, but never really talk about. Unless of course, you're a runner. Then you probably talk about it all the time. So where does this film sit on the grand scale of uniqueness? Truthfully? "Run It Off" may be fresh in the "how the characters meet" department, but the overall concept is something we've all seen before. Want to know something else? That's alright with me. People always rant about the lack of originality in today's films but honestly? It's the familiar concepts that make a story so endearing. For example: This title is clearly based on running or jogging. However, because the overall concepts are commonplace, even couch potatoes like myself can understand the connection. A familiar story is not a bad thing so long as it is done well. In this case? It is. "Run It Off" is a charming short film that makes it's point... without stuffing it's concepts down your throat. For that I'm thankful. Plenty of indie filmmakers feel the need to endlessly explain what happens to be taking place in their films. It's nice to see a title that simply goes with it, allowing the viewer to just enjoy the show. The results in this case are surprisingly touching and effective. Director Liam O'hara has no problem bringing us across the finish line, and maybe... just maybe, making us feel a little better about life itself in the process.
The technicalities of this production leave very little to complain about. "Run It Off" is a nice looking film. The distinction between a low budget indie, and a larger budgeted production, ends up in murky territory. It's always a compliment to the entire independent community, when such a title can hold it's own, side by side, with it's "A" list counterpart. That's right folks. "Run It Off" plays and sounds great. Victoria Emslie and Zephryn Taitte both shine in their respective roles, coming across as completely believable versions of people you may know in real life. There really isn't much else to write when it comes to the acting. Excellent job!
There is one thing however. Something that began running through my mind after the film was over. It also happens to be a little difficult to explain. It's the story itself, which is all good except... without reading the description of the film, the viewer may not take in exactly what's supposed to be happening. Sure. The depression of Victoria's character is covered somewhat. Anyone could see, by her expressions alone, that something wasn't right. Just not to it's fullest extent. The truth is, without reading the description, the subtle indicators by the actors could be totally missed. What do I mean with all this mumbo jumbo? There's really nothing directly relating to a long distance runner losing his way in life, or that Victoria's character was thinking suicide. Sure, she was clearly depressed and yes, if you "know" what she's thinking because you read the description, she completely pulls off the little details. But if you didn't read up on the plot... this could simply be mistaken for a straight up romantic short film. Even with that said however, if that happens to be the case it's still fine. It's a good film. If we, the viewers, happen to miss the above mentioned elements it would still be an entertaining piece. Besides. Who doesn't read the descriptions? Nobody I know.
So there you have it. My humble thoughts on this charming little short film. I was pleasantly surprised to have liked it as much as I did. This is one of those titles that proves movie magic can exist within an indie, low budget film. Excellent job all around.
Hand Job Review.
A Figure Lone Review.
Raven's Prey Review.
Undatement Center Review.
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Russia’s Moves, Terrorism Fuel Talk of War in Europe
KYIV, Ukraine—Whether referring to Russian aggression in the east or to the threat of Islamist terrorism in the West, Europe’s political, media, and religious elite are increasingly using the word “war” to describe the Continent’s security challenges.
The day after the July 14 terror attack in Nice, in which a man drove a large truck into a crowd, killing 84, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said France was at war, “both abroad and on our soil.”
“For years, we have lived, fundamentally, with a kind of insouciance, as though war could not catch up with us, as though history was not tragic,” Valls said. “But war is here, and it is different from the ones that we knew in the 20th century.”
Less than two weeks later, Pope Francis echoed Valls’ remarks when he said the “world is at war.”
“The word we hear a lot is insecurity, but the real word is war,” the pope told reporters while commenting on the murder of a Catholic priest in Normandy by two Islamic State terrorists and a string of violent incidents across Germany.
Some claim the myriad security challenges facing Europe indicate the Continent’s 7-decade-old experiment in guaranteeing peace through economic interdependence, collective defense, and multiculturalism is faltering.
“The current security architecture in Europe, which relied on both the Helsinki Final Act and the Paris Charter, has now collapsed, following Russia’s aggression in Ukraine,” Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said in September 2014 as Russian tanks were blitzing across eastern Ukraine.
Others claim, however, that Europe’s security crises are part of a global return to regional power struggles, as well as an anti-globalization movement, which has rejuvenated nationalism worldwide.
“Everything is connected; basically what we are seeing is the collapse of the world order as we have known it since World War II, and we—politicians, intel, and security agencies—still struggle to understand it,” the European director of a private intelligence and security firm told The Daily Signal on background.
Admittedly, while sitting in a Parisian café, a Berlin beer garden, or a London pub, it’s somewhat of a stretch to really believe another conflict like World War II ever could happen again in Europe. Some say, however, this confidence in European security is misplaced, reflecting the historically perennial trap of assuming the next war, or the events leading up to it, will be like the last.
“There have been large-scale atrocities on the Continent in recent years—in Madrid, London, and at the Charlie Hebdo [magazine] offices, in Paris, in January of last year—but in the aftermath of this one there is a realization that Europe, its cities, and all those institutions predicated on unending peace are now vulnerable to bewilderingly rapid developments,” Henry Porter, the British editor of Vanity Fair, wrote in January, referring to the November terror attacks in Paris.
A Two-Front War
After the Nice terror attack, a parade of French politicians of all political stripes proclaimed France was at war with Islamist terrorism.
These proclamations echoed similar remarks made after the January 2015 attacks in Paris on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish kosher market, as well as the November 2015 terrorist attacks in the French capital.
“We are in a war against jihadist terrorism which is threatening the whole world,” French President Francois Hollande said following the November attacks.
France’s counterterrorism efforts comprise military action abroad, including airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, and operations in North Africa, as well as a national state of emergency, which has given law enforcement and intelligence officials more latitude in pursuing suspected terrorists within France.
These strategies have generated a growing chorus of critics, with some politicians and political opponents of Hollande claiming the French president isn’t doing enough to keep the country safe.
In a speech posted to Facebook, Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right National Front party, said the Nice attack was “the fault of a state, failing in its first priority, which is the protection of our citizens.”
Others argue the terrorist threat is more akin to a civil war, and military retaliations abroad, such as airstrikes in the Middle East, will not diminish the terrorist threat to France and Western Europe.
“French politicians love to use the term ‘la guerre,’ or ‘the war,’ to talk about the war against terrorism,” Leela Jacinto, a reporter for France 24, wrote for Foreign Policy, adding:
What they’ve never seemed to absorb is that this is actually a war against themselves. All the major jihadi attacks in France over the past 18 months have been conducted by French nationals or residents.
“My back cringes when Hollande states that France is at war with ISIS and will do whatever it takes to defeat them in Syria; that is really not where France will defeat anything,” the intelligence contractor told The Daily Signal. “The enemy is in the suburbs and towns of France, and it has little directly to do with ISIS [the Islamic State] … ISIS will disappear eventually, but that will do nothing to stop the terror, unfortunately.”
‘Still a War On’
No region of Europe is more emblematic of the Continent’s precarious security situation than eastern Ukraine.
War is a fact of life along the front lines in Ukraine’s southeastern Donbas territory, where government troops and paramilitary units have battled combined Russian-separatist forces since spring 2014.
“There is still a war on,” U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt told The Daily Signal in an interview. “There are 1.7 million IDPs [internally displaced persons]. The troops are mobilized. And most importantly, people are still dying.”
Along front lines stretching more than 200 miles in eastern Ukraine, villages are in ruins from two and a half years of heavy artillery bombardments, rocket attacks, and tank shots. Trenches scar Ukraine’s famous sunflower fields, remindful of images from the Somme or Verdun, albeit on a much smaller scale.
Nearly 18 months after the war’s second and current cease-fire went into effect, fighting is still a daily occurrence up and down the front. So are casualties on both sides—military and civilian.
“Russia has the ability to turn the violence on and off as they choose,” Pyatt said.
More than 10,000 have died so far in the conflict, according to U.N. estimates. A spike in hostilities this summer, largely overlooked by Western media amid the terrorist attacks in Western Europe, has served as a stark reminder of the conflict’s potential to escalate into something bigger and deadlier.
“A Europe whole, free, and at peace rises or falls with Ukraine,” said Victoria Nuland, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, in a January 2015 speech at the Brookings Institution. “Ukraine’s frontline for freedom is ours as well.”
Ready for War
Moscow’s seizure of Crimea and military intervention in Ukraine have countries throughout Eastern Europe preparing for war with Russia.
In NATO’s Baltic member countries, the ranks of civilian volunteer militias have swelled since Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine in 2014, reflecting the deadly seriousness with which politicians and populations in Eastern Europe consider the possibility of war with Russia—a sometimes difficult concept for Western Europeans and Americans to understand.
The Soviet era, with all its attendant oppression, limited opportunity. Stifling of free expression is still a living memory for many in Eastern Europe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has magnified this latent mistrust toward Russian with his military brinksmanship across the region, including the buzzing of NATO ships and aircraft by Russian warplanes, as well as subversive propaganda campaigns and cyberattacks to stir separatism among minority Russian populations.
To reassure its eastern members and to send a message of deterrence to Moscow, NATO has announced plans to deploy military units to Eastern Europe in numbers unmatched since the Cold War.
At the NATO summit in July in Warsaw, Poland, alliance leaders formally announced the planned deployment of four combat battalions to Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on a rotational basis beginning next year. The battalions will be fielded by Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
These deployments are in addition to a previously announced U.S. plan to deploy about 3,500 troops to Eastern Europe on a rotational basis.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the deployments will send a message that “an attack against one ally will be met by forces from across the alliance.”
Military experts almost universally agree that NATO’s pledged military presence in the Baltics and Poland will not be enough to thwart a Russian invasion. Rather, the deployments are considered “tripwire forces,” presumably meant to deter Russia from an attack due to the risk of spurring a massive NATO response to defend forward units.
The Kremlin has countered NATO’s eastward pivot by sending weapons and troops to Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave and annexed Crimea. Also, Russia has been building up new forward operating bases along its western borders with Ukraine, according to news reports, highlighting a tit-for-tat repositioning of military forces across the region reminiscent of the Cold War.
Slawomir Debski, director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs, said the Russian response has more to do with domestic propaganda machinations than exerting pressure on NATO to back down.
Russia’s military moves are meant to “show to Putin’s domestic audience that the country is surrounded by enemies and he is the only leader that can save Russia,” Debski told The Daily Signal.
Source: Russia’s Moves, Terrorism Fuel Talk of War in Europe
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China pursues economic goals through protectionism, dubious practices, and outright theft. President Trump is heading to Asia, with a stop in Beijing. At the same time, his administration is considering […]
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Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Del., shared two Russian-bought Facebook ads Tuesday during a congressional hearing on the foreign adversary’s attempts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election. One post, published by […]
HUGE: 9/11 Benghazi Terrorist Leader Captured
Today, while most of America has been fixated on the Mueller indictment, a gigantic news story has nearly slipped through the cracks. At around 3:00 p.m. this afternoon, U.S. Officials […]
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Government launches small business micro loan scheme
As part of the government's measures to mitigate the economic damage caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a micro loan scheme for small businesses.
The Bounce Back Loan Scheme will allow small businesses adversely affected by COVID-19 to apply for up to £50,000, with the government guaranteeing 100% of the advance. Businesses can apply for a minimum of £2,000, up to a maximum of £50,000, or 25% of business turnover, with the government paying the interest for the first 12 months.
The scheme will open at 9am on 4 May and, according to the Chancellor, most loans will be paid within 24 hours of approval. Businesses will be able to access the loans through the existing network of accredited lenders.
The Chancellor said: 'I know that some small businesses are still struggling to access credit.
'They are, in many ways, the most exposed businesses to the impact of the coronavirus, and often find it harder to access credit in the first place.
'If we want to benefit from their dynamism and entrepreneurial spirit as we recover our economy, they will need extra support to get through the crisis.
'Some businesses will not want to take on more debt, which is why our focus has been on cash grants, tax cuts and tax deferrals. But for others, loans will be part of the answer.'
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Black Monday: Mississippi's Ugly Response to 'Brown v. Board' Decision
By Carole Cannon Wednesday, May 12, 2004 4:48 p.m. CDT
It was the late spring 1953, and Gov. Hugh White had called a crucial special session of the Mississippi Legislature. He needed to mobilize a group of moderate lawmakers. If he could get the numbers right, White would ask them to do something that would make them hated throughout the state.
If White could work his agenda, lawmakers could maintain Mississippi's way of life—whites calling the shots and making sure their own needs were taken care of—at the expense of black people whose ancestors had toiled to build the country, but they would have to half-heartedly satisfy African Americans' growing demands for equality.
White was not a die-hard Dixiecrat like many Mississippi lawmakers, but he hoped his state might be able to step around what he thought the U.S. Supreme Court was about to do: declare the dual separate-but-not-equal educational system in the South unconstitutional.
The governor knew he could depend on progressive-thinking lawmakers like William Winter, a representative from Grenada. He hoped to convince other legislators to do enough to get by. He knew that even the Supreme Court didn't really want to mess with the way things were—the way they had been for 450 years.
"The Supreme Court had put off the decision for a year," Winter said, "and we didn't know at the time, but (the justices) were terribly divided."
'Original Intent'
In December 1952, civil-rights attorney Thurgood Marshall argued the first round of Oliver Brown et al v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kan., before the high court. With Brown looming, the Mississippi Legislature adopted sweeping reforms that would begin to set right the terrible imbalance between black and white education, but keep firmly in place a black school system and a white one.
"That was the original intent," Winter said. "There was a recognition that we had ignored the needs of public education for too long."
Gov. White, whom political writer Bill Minor says now was a true "compassionate conservative," told the Legislative Education Committee to find a remedy that would satisfy the "separate but equal doctrine." Minor, who was threatened himself for his gutsy news reporting on racial issues, said these lawmakers were "courageous" for their willingness to "grapple with this tough issue."
Winter said it was simply the right thing to do. "We adopted the recommendations of the Legislative Education Committee," he said, "and passed the Minimum Foundation Program"—an education plan that forms the foundation of today's system.
Lawmakers created the Education Finance Commission to oversee the funding of this massive reorganization. They allocated millions of dollars for schools, vowing that $20 million would be used to build new facilities for black children. They also raised black teachers' pay; it had been much less than that of white teachers.
Then in December 1953, Marshall and his team came before the court again with the second round of arguments for Brown. By all accounts, Marshall was magnificent. The court would consider Brown for the next five months while the country anxiously waited and much of the world watched with intense interest.
On May 17, 1954, a unanimous decision came down: "We conclude that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of separate but unequal has no place," Chief Justice Warren wrote. "Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal."
Brown had struck down the "separate but equal" doctrine set up 50 years earlier by Plessy v. Ferguson. In 1896, the Supreme Court had ruled that racial segregation was not unconstitutional after a black man, Homer Plessy, challenged Louisiana's law segregating trains by race. Plessy was the federal nod that Southern lawmakers needed to pass Jim Crow laws affecting everything from education to social situations to political power.
The 1954 decision shook the entire world socially, politically and economically, laid the foundation for new civil rights laws, policies and practices, and prompted civil rights struggles around the globe—but, ironically, it would not be as successful in education.
Mississippi, like most of the 17 Southern states with segregated schools, at first ignored Brown, then fiercely fought it. "A lot of them (lawmakers) wanted to close public schools," Winter said. "That was a very strongly held opinion. But it was the minority opinion, and wiser heads prevailed."
But the state did adopt a law closing public schools in December 1954 that was never enforced. Lawmakers pouted and would not release the funding they had allocated in White's special session for two years. Across the South, massive resistance to desegregation was building.
'The Uptown Klan'
Lottie Thornton, an educator at then-Jackson College, was married the day before the Brown decision came down. "People were frightened for their children, for themselves," she said.
In 1954, the Citizens' Council formed in Indianola two months after Brown and established its initial headquarters in Greenwood. (The national headquarters would move to downtown Jackson near the Governor's Mansion.) Thousands of whites joined. Many of them were professionals or political leaders and business movers and shakers. Their numbers quickly swelled. "At one time, they claimed to have 80,000 members," Minor said of the group that outspoken newspaper editor Hodding Carter Jr. dubbed the "uptown Klan." While the Ku Klux Klan, which resurfaced in Mississippi in the early 1960s, used violence against blacks and white supporters of desegregation, the Citizens' Council used the threat of economic reprisals.
In its early years, the Citizens' Council was determined to stop school desegregation, but in the 1960s shifted its strategy to ensuring that the races would be kept separate even if the schools were forced to desegregate. The CCA stated in its "Manual for Southerners," its handbook for fifth- and sixth-graders: "The Race-Mixers even want Negroes and whites to date each other. They know that if the boys and girls share the school room, lunch room, dances, sports, rest rooms and playgrounds, then the boys and girls will want to date each other."
In 1954, during the heat of the Brown decision, Medgar Evers became field secretary for Mississippi's state office of the NAACP. His office was located at 1072 Lynch Street in the heart of Jackson's African-American community, and he immediately won over black people.
"He was such a gentleman, such a wonderful man," Lottie Thornton said. "People absolutely adored him."
Evers immediately started organizing, taking care to involve youth. He mobilized churches, black organizations and working people. Evers had three goals for African Americans: he wanted the vote; he wanted economic power; and he wanted quality education. "The Negro Mississippian … wants the public schools and colleges desegregated so that his children can receive the best education that Mississippi has to offer," he said on a TV address in May 1963, nine years after the Brown decision and a month before he was assassinated.
"If ever there was anyone who knew what he was meant to do, it was Medgar," said his widow, Myrlie Evers Williams. "He was focused."
But many whites were just as focused on treating blacks unequally. Educational facilities and resources for black schools remained extremely inadequate for years after Brown. Most school superintendents and school boards were white; black school superintendents, who had no official power, supervised black schools—one or two-room buildings where children of all ages, and some adults, all studied together.
"They (black superintendents) fought for the left-over crumbs for black schools," said Dr. Ivory Phillips, dean of the School of Education at Jackson State .
'All Deliberate Speed'
Black people were tired of leftovers, but the problem with Brown was that it had not provided the method by which schools were to desegregate. In 1955, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown II that desegregation should occur with "all deliberate speed"—an act of backpedaling that meant little to whites who had no intention of implementing Brown anyway.
Fourteen-year-old Emmett Till's murder by white men in Money, Miss., in 1955 helped set off the modern Civil Rights Movement. Rosa Parks' refusal to give her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Ala., on Dec. 1, 1955, further fired black people's ain't-gon'-let nobody-turn-me-round determination that things would change; many whites were just as determined that they would remain the same.
In 1957, nine black students tried to integrate Central High School in Little Rock. President Dwight Eisenhower called in federal troops to protect them. The mob beat black reporters who had come to cover the story, yelled racial epithets and called for the white students to come out of the school as black students entered.
"We were afraid—very afraid—walking between guards and angry white people," Ernest Green, one of the Little Rock Nine, said at Jackson State this spring.
"I just couldn't believe that there were actually white men who would come after children, who would stand around with chains and things waiting to hurt them outside of schools," Thornton said. She and other blacks were worried that things would get that crazy in Mississippi.
But in 1958, Mississippi built facilities for black children that were large enough to accommodate students who had been attending one-room and two-room schools. More than 1,500 districts across the state merged into 148. Buildings for black children looked impressive from the outside, but were generally located in the worst sites available—near cemeteries and train tracks, and the resources were not nearly the same as those of whites.
Black people knew a change had to come. They knew they needed the vote, and they knew that education was the key to freedom. They might not have known what Brown would cost.
Whites resisted in various ways in different school districts, depending on the number of blacks and their economic status, the positions that local white leaders took, and whether or not the local media was overtly racist, as it was in Jackson and in Madison County. In places where there were many poor whites and fewer economic opportunities, or outsiders came to help blacks, resistance to Brown was even stronger and often violent.
'Whipped into a Frenzy'
Across the state, black people were routinely beaten, jailed for nothing and hounded by law enforcement. And "The Clarion-Ledger and the Jackson Daily News were a part of the problem," Minor said. "They were owned by the Hedermans, who supported segregation, and the papers contributed to this whole atmosphere of defying desegregation." Indeed, the day after the Brown decision came down, the Jackson Daily News ran a front-page editorial entitled "Bloodstains On White Marble Steps."
"The United States Supreme Court decision abolishing segregation in the public schools of the nation, even when equal but separate facilities are provided, is the worst thing that has happened in the South since carpetbaggers and scalawags took charge of our civil government in reconstruction days," the paper stated.
Southern states resisted desegregation. In Virginia, the governor closed public schools, and vouchers, funded with public money, were provided to white parents so they could send their children to private schools. Whites established private schools or educated their children at home. Some black and white teachers volunteered to teach at racially mixed "free schools."
States filed lawsuits and tried tactic after tactic to avoid desegregation. Mississippi had done nothing to desegregate schools, but relations between blacks and whites were getting tenser.
In 1958, moderate Gov. J.P. Coleman commented in an article reprinted in The Southern School News that he was going to spend the rest of his term devoted to "preserving peace and quiet among the races," because the state of a state "depends to a large degree on who is sitting in the governor's chair."
He was absolutely right. In 1959, white supremacist Ross Barnett was elected governor. A world-class demagogue, he stirred up whites with outrageous comments that appealed to their worst fears and instincts. Barnett did the work of the Citizens' Council—which had helped get him elected—putting members into political offices and prestigious positions. He helped create and fund with public money the Sovereignty Commission, an organization that spied on and tried to intimidate anyone that it even thought might help African Americans to progress.
Many white Mississippians believed that if they just resisted long enough and intensely enough that as another demagogue, Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, put it: "no power on earth" can make us desegregate our schools.
"He traveled across the South saying things like that," Winter recalls of Thurmond. Whites were "whipped into a frenzy," he said. "People didn't want to give up their way of life. They were led down a blind alley. It was a confusing, difficult time that's hard to understand unless you lived through it."
If progressive whites like Winter had it tough, black people caught pure hell. With remarkable courage and dedication, some black Mississippians rallied behind Medgar Evers even after he started the dangerous insistence that white-owned establishments employ blacks and that they be granted access to all public spaces.
'An invisible Army'
An invisible army formed of men who had Evers' back and of women who were willing to help any way they could. All of them had to stay below whites' radar, however. "If they joined the NAACP, their names were published in the paper," Evers-Williams said. "Banks would call in loans on their homes. They would lose their jobs. Now that was bravery—to make that kind of sacrifice."
Evers sued on behalf of his son because desegregation was stalled in Jackson, but on June 12, 1963, he was murdered in his driveway by white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith, a Citizens' Council member, who would not be convicted of the crime for 30 years. Evers' death mobilized African Americans in the state. "The vote was primary after his death," Minor said, "and education was secondary."
In 1964, the year the Votings Rights Act passed, the Citizens' Council started the tax-exempt Council School Foundation, which would use donations from prominent Jacksonians to open numerous white academies in Jackson over the next decade. The administrator of the Citizens' Council of America and editor of its newspaper, William J. Simmons, helped found the Mississippi Private School Association, which today still governs the state's private academies, many of which use the Confederate flag as a school icon.
The next year, the 1965 Civil Rights Act was passed, and African Americans became even more insistent on their right to education. Mississippi lawmakers passed several laws that were simply avoidances. The "freedom of choice" school plan allowed black students to attend school in any district they wanted. White leaders counted on black parents not sending their children into the hostile environments of all-white schools. Few did. Only families in Jackson, Leake County and Biloxi used the plan that first year, Minor remembers. Fewer than 5 percent of the black children in Jackson used the plan, according to Dr. Jeanne Middleton-Hairston, who wrote a thesis about Singleton v. Jackson Municipal Schools, the suit Evers originally filed.
Blacks who used the plan were intimidated. "When black parents filled out the papers for the 'freedom of choice' program, their names were published in the newspapers," Middleton-Hairston said. "If people weren't business owners, if they depended on somebody else for a job, this was a signal to their employers to fire them."
Another option was the grade-a-year plan that allowed schools to integrate one grade per year, which meant that it would have taken most districts more than a decade to desegregate—with all deliberate speed, exactly the rate at which Southern lawmakers wanted to move.
No More Rope-a-dope
By fall 1969, all but three of the state's 148 districts had token desegregation, but the Supreme Court had had enough of Southern states' rope-a-dope tactics. In October 1969, the Supreme Court ruled in Alexander v. Holmes that "all deliberate speed is no longer constitutionally permissible ... every school district must terminate dual systems at once and must operate now and hereafter as unitary schools." Mississippi had dragged its feet the longest, but 30 school districts had to desegregate immediately. The schools were officially de-segregated in February 1970.
Black students were beaten, verbally abused And ridiculed by students, and some white teachers openly said that black children were intellectually inferior to whites. Middleton-Hairston remembers classmates telling her they had acid thrown at their faces in chemistry class and their books flushed down the toilet,—"just any thing to try to stop us from pursuing our right to an education," she said.
Even under those conditions, some students had the "psychological toughness" to excel and out-perform whites, Phillips said, and they were still cheated. He remembers that when several black students at a white high school in Bolivar County had the top grades in their senior class, they were told that they couldn't be valedictorians and salutatorians because they had not been at the school for the required four years. And those were not isolated cases.
Some schools put black students into special education classes, no matter what their capabilities. Others let black teachers only teach black students. Some initiated team teaching—pairing a black with a white teacher, said Middleton-Hairston, who is director of the Children's Defense Fund's Freedom Schools. "Team teaching is a wonderful pedagogical tool, but it's interesting that it just happened to be implemented during integration."
Some white parents believed that black teachers were not as capable or as qualified as white teachers, but there is little data comparing the difference between black and white teachers' credentials. Education had been the privilege of rich white males, and while white women, who made up the faculties of most white schools, certainly had greater access to education than black people, many black teachers were well-educated, attending the best schools where they pursued advanced degrees.
"Many of the best and the brightest in the black community became teachers," Middleton-Hairston said. "These were Jim Crow times, and teaching was one of the only (careers) open to them."
More than 38,000 black educators lost jobs in the 17 Southern states that desegregated schools. Thornton still remembers the pain of one black principal in Columbia who lost his job.
"His children used to ask him if they could go to the school and play and he would tell them: 'No, I'm not the principal there anymore.' I think that hurt him more than losing his job—the way he changed in the eyes of his children," Thornton said. "No parent ever wants to look small in their children's eyes."
'And then Whites Fled'
By the fall of 1970—16 years after the Brown decision—schools were desegregated. The cost had been enormous and the scars are still evident. William Winter, who became governor in 1980 and implemented one of the most sweeping educational reforms in the state's history in 1982, said those two decades should have been used to make progress.
"If we had used those 20 years more productively," he said, "things would have turned out a whole lot better."
The Citizens' Councils continued to establish private academies across the state. In 1969, CCA administrator Simmons told The New York Times that the Council was operating more than 150 all-white schools in three states with more than 9,000 students. Those numbers would increase with the 1970 order.
The Madison County Herald, also owned by the Hederman family, had been on a mission to stop desegregation; now it set out to get white parents to put their children in private schools. Between 50,000 and 60,000 white children attended Mississippi private schools by the mid-'70s, and that included church-run schools. "Almost 40 percent of (white) elementary school students left public schools," Middleton-Hairston said.
Thornton was frightened of public schools and sent her only child to St. Andrews in Jackson, thinking that a predominantly white Episcopal school would be safer. She said her daughter never complained of racism, but one year when she was in junior high school, she announced that she was "tired of going to a white school," and would not be returning to St Andrews, Thornton recalled.
"She probably was being discriminated against and just said she was tired."
Today schools are largely re-segregated with Jackson Public Schools and most Delta districts almost all black. And public schools face the same dilemma they did 50 years ago: the need for enough funding. "It was always about getting adequate funding for black schools, enough resources and equal pay for black teachers," Middleton-Hairston said. "And we see what the Legislature is saying right now: It can't come up with the money for education."
Judge to Weigh Desegregation Options for Cleveland Schools
Coming to Terms in the Delta
Maddow Fact Checks Barbour's Version of History
How Integration Failed in Jackson’s Public Schools from 1969 to 2017
[Tucker] You Have a Choice
They Could Care Less
Margie Thompson
Education Under Attack
No Man Is An Island
Paycheck Not Enough
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John Bertles is an instrument-builder, educator, environmentalist and composer. A life-long fascination with the science of sound and creating unusual sound sources has led him down some interesting pathways. He has created instrument designs for the New York Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall and the Smithsonian Institute; and enticed Mister Rogers to play a cardboard tube trombone, Yo-Yo Ma to play a cello made from fishing line, and Wynton Marsalis to blow a plumbing pipe trumpet. Bash the Trash Environmental Arts LLC, founded in 1988 and co-directed by Bertles and his creative partner (and wife) Carina Piaggio reaches over 60,000 students a year in performances and residencies around the country.
BIO & RESUME
He is also an educator, staff developer and curriculum consultant. In this capacity he has worked in many different roles – including teaching artist, teaching artist mentor, study guide writer, concert narrator/performer, curriculum writer, consultant and advisory board member. He has worked for the Grammy Foundation, Kennedy Center, the League of American Orchestras, Leonard Bernstein Center, New York Philharmonic, New York City Department of Education, and Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble among many others. For 25 years he has taught master classes in Arts Outreach at Manhattan School of Music, and is one of the writers and facilitators of New York City’s arts standards “The Blueprint for the Arts in Education”. He is a board member emeritus of the New York City Arts-In-Education Roundtable, and on New York State’s review team for the Core Arts curriculum standards.
He is a leader in the field of Environmental Arts Education. For over 25 years he has been a tireless advocate of sustainability, conservation and living lightly on the planet; always linking the science-based environmental message to arts-making as natural partners.
As a composer he works with combinations of traditional and world instruments along with his own invented musical instruments built from recycled and reused materials, and is a three-time recipient of the ASCAP Plus Music Award for Songwriting. He has written music ranging from opera to circus tunes, and from symphony to punk rock, as well as for homemade instruments. The Evils of Pots (1996) written entirely for pots and pans, has been performed at Lincoln Center in New York City, the International Gamelan Festival in Indonesia, and throughout the United States. His Bash the Trash ensemble performs at Carnegie Hall Family Weekends twice a year, with new songs and music constantly being premiered. Canton Symphony Orchestra commissioned and premiered his Incline and Trashicaglia for orchestra, homemade instruments and audience members in 2009. The first Bash the Trash album “Think Big” was released on April 1, 2014 is available on all online and streaming services.
Contact John directly at johnbertlesbtt@mac.com.
View John's Resume here (PDF).
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Jerusalem Post Blog Home Window on Israel
Confusion in the Middle East
By IRA SHARKANSKY
There are far more questions than answers.
There may be a new country being formed. It won''t be a welcome addition, as judged by the various governments sending units of their armed forces to attempt an abortion.
Those associated with the movement, variously called the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) or more simply the Islamic State (IS), are talking about a caliphate that will begin with large parts of Iraq and Syria, and eventually control the world.
So far the record of the new regime is barbaric, proud of shooting prisoners in front of cameras, perhaps to send a message about what is in store for all non-Sunni Muslims, as well as Sunni Muslims who do not qualify for acceptance.
The development has spread concern far and wide.
It is far from clear what is happening. However, there are signs of the following.
No one outside of what goes by the name of the Iraqi government is declaring war and sending in a fully equipped army. However, Russia is upping its shipment of equipment, including a new supply of warplanes. The United States is sending advisers and equipment, including helicopters, that will have to stay out of the way of the Russian planes. Iran is sending units, perhaps to work with Shiite militias not part of the Iraqi army. Jordan is training Iraqi troops, but has signaled that it does not want to continue. The official Syrian air force has bombed supply lines, while some units of the anti-Assad Syrian rebels are fighting ISIS personnel who also started out as anti-Assad rebels. Saudi Arabia is sending money to groups in Syria opposing the ISIS fighters, and putting its troops on alert.
There is much to wonder about in the reports about Iran, Russia, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United States helping Iraq deal militarily with rebels seeking to create a Sunni religious regime.
Among the problems is coordinating operations between military units who in other contexts are adversaries or enemies. Keeping helicopter gunships and warplanes that answer to different commanders and use different communications from colliding is one problem. Others occur on the ground where most of the fighters wear no uniforms, and lines of command are unclear..
No less difficult are questions of strategy and politics.
What does it all mean for the foreign policy of Barack Obama and the fading concept of pax America?
And for those close to these fingers, the primary question is the classic, What''s in it for the Jews? We have issues with all of the participants. Some of them have us high on their list of who should be downsized or done away with entirely.
There are enough competing agendas to befuddle any effort to assess prospects.
What about American-Russian antagonisms on Syria and Ukraine?
What about the animosity between Iran and the American ally Israel?
Does this portend something good or bad about Iran''s effort to keep its nuclear program on track, even while agreeing to some modifications demanded by those who have imposed sanctions?
Can anything stay on course that has the Shiite center of Iran and the Sunni kingpin Saudi Arabia on the same side?
The Kurds of Iraq and Turkey both have good reasons to cooperate against ISIS, but what does this mean for Turkey''s chronic fear of strengthening anything akin to Kurdish nationalism?
The Israeli Prime Minister has talked about recognizing an independent Kurdistan, but the Kurd leader is distancing himself from Israel''s blessing, perhaps not wanting to appear too close to the regional outsider. He talked about Israel''s relations with the Kurds occurring for a brief period, years ago.
Will the joint efforts help the Assad regime survive by weakening one of the forces opposed to it, and currently controlling Syrian territory?
The weakest link in all of this may be the ostensible Iraq government, currently led by Nuri al-Malaki. He is digging in his heels against complying with demands from the United States and others to expand his government to include senior posts for the range of Iraqi ethnic and religious groups, beyond his own Shiite constituency. Some of his military units have run away rather than fight, reflecting the GW Bush policy of tearing down the entire government establishment of Saddam Hussein and the failures of the United States to build a new regime, despite expenditures of unknown billions.
The army is not the only Iraqi force opposed to ISIS. There is a vaguely known cluster of Shiite militias anchored in regions and tribes, whose linkages to various outsiders, one another, and the official army are as muddied as anything else in a setting where confusion is prominent.
What does this say about Obama as manager of foreign policy?
Is he any more savvy about saving the world from the Islam as practiced by ISIS than when delivering that Nobel winning speech in Cairo that helped spur the Arab spring? Instead of producing democracy, that set in motion what has become the religious barbarity of ISIS.
Is the Commander-in-Chief doing anything more than scratching his head and asking for advice?
Obama is talking about supporting the moderate rebels against Assad, all the while his efforts in Iraq may be helping Assad.
Can the Americans know for sure who are the good guys among the numerous militias, in a setting of no uniforms and no obvious lines of command, patrons who in other settings are competitors, and a lack of anything akin to openness, candor, or transparency?
Israel and Jordan are hunkering down, hoping to avoid trouble, and perhaps discussing how they may cooperate, but keeping their cooperation quiet in order to preserve the image of Jordanian animosity to Zionism.
Israel is having its own problems with the Palestinians. Some see the start of Intifada #3 in the rioting sparked by the killing of the Arab boy, and the continued drizzle or rain of missiles from Gaza.
Palestinian complexities approach those of Iraq.
Both the West Bank and Gaza leaderships are beating the drums against Israeli aggression and the killing of the Arab boy. Both consider it the height of insult to suggest that the killing was anything other than Jewish terror. However, the police have not decided if the killers were Jews intent on revenge for the three boys killed by Palestinians, or if it was a criminal act within the Palestinian community.
No matter what the police and courts conclude, the killing is well established in the Palestinian narrative as unprovoked Jewish terror.
Despite the shrill nature of Fatah and Hamas assertions, and continued violence in the West Bank and missiles from Gaza, neither seem inclined to a full scale revolt and the destruction that it would bring. Yet both have trouble controlling their people, including the various elements under their own Fatah and Hamas umbrellas, as well as more radical nationalists and Islamists who often seem at least as intent at rebelling against the Palestinian establishments as against Israel.
While angers leads Israelis to demand onslaughts against Gaza as well as the more unruly Arab localities of Israel and the West Bank, that will do nothing but buy a bit of time until the next commotion. Ranking military and political officials have learned to wait and see if, with modest attacks to remind the Palestinians what can happen, things die out. Then we''re back to a period of quiet without having to spend lives and resources to obtain it.
There is no end of dispute among officials and the public about the appropriate levels of Palestinian violence to tolerate, and police and military actions needed to keep things quiet.
"Final solution" is not only a nasty phrase in the lexicon of the Jews. It''s also unattenable in this context.
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Halutz: It's irresponsible to talk too much about Iran
FEBRUARY 6, 2012 09:10
Former IDF chief of General Staff Dan Halutz criticized the US and Israeli security and political establishments for "talking too much" about a possible strike on Iran.
"The fact that senior officials in the security establishment drop fragments of information every once in a while is irresponsible," Halutz said in an interview with Army Radio on Monday.The former Air Force commander also discussed the possibility of Israeli and US interests coming into conflict, saying that Israeli interests "do not need to be sacrificed for US interests" in situations critical to Israel's security. However, he added, the United States is Israel's only long-term ally "and we need to do everything possible in order to avoid a clash [with Washington]."
With that in mind, Halutz said, Israel is waiting to see the effectiveness of international sanctions against Iran without taking any options off the table.
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Marijuana less harmful to lungs than cigarettes
"Healthy adults can blow of 4-5 liters of air, marijuana smokers add 50 ccs or roughly fifth can of coke," study finds.
By UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
Maijuana 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Using marijuana carries legal risks, but the consequences of occasionally lighting up do not include long-term loss of lung function, according to a new study in the Jan. 11, 2012, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In 2009, 16.7 million Americans ages 12 and older reported using marijuana at least once in the month prior to being surveyed. In addition, since 1996, 16 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized the medical use of marijuana to help manage the symptoms of many diseases, including cancer, AIDS and glaucoma.
“With marijuana use increasing and large numbers of people who have been and continue to be exposed, knowing whether it causes lasting damage to lung function is important for public-health messaging and medical use of marijuana,” says the study’s senior author, University of Alabama at Birmingham associate professor Stefan Kertesz, M.D.
Kertesz, of the UAB Division of Preventive Medicine and the Center for Surgical, Medical and Acute Care Research and Transitions at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Birmingham, says it’s long been known that marijuana smoke has many irritant chemicals found in tobacco smoke and can cause lung irritation, wheezing and cough immediately after use; however, the research on long-term effects on lung function have inconsistencies.
Using a large national database, the research team compared the lung function of marijuana and tobacco smokers during a 20-year period. The data revealed that tobacco smoke had exactly the effect shown in all prior studies — increasing a person’s cumulative exposure to cigarettes results in loss of air flow and lung volumes; the opposite was true for marijuana smoke.
“At levels of marijuana exposure commonly seen in Americans, occasional marijuana use was associated with increases in lung air flow rates and increases in lung capacity,” Kertesz says. “Those increases were not large, but they were statistically significant. And the data showed that even up to moderately high-use levels — one joint a day for seven years — there is no evidence of decreased air-flow rates or lung volumes.”
Kertesz cautions that smoking marijuana is not an avenue to better lung health.
“It’s not enough of an increase that would make you feel better,” he says “Healthy adults can blow out 3 to 4 liters of air in one second. The amount of gain, on average, from marijuana is small, 50 ccs or roughly a fifth of a can of coke. So it’s not something that would be noticeable.”
Also, Kertesz says, the increase does not hold steadfast over time.
“The relationship changes for people who get to high levels of lifetime exposure,” he says. “At that point, the data suggests there is a decline in lung air-flow rate. There also may be other damaging effects that don’t manifest until extremely high levels of exposure; we did not have enough very heavy marijuana smokers in this study to determine this.”
To perform their analysis, Kertesz and a research team from other universities looked at data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study. CARDIA, funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, is a long-term research project involving more than 5,000 black and white men and women from Birmingham, Chicago, Minneapolis and Oakland, designed to examine the development and determinants of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. Participants were recruited when they were ages 18-30 and followed from 1985 to 2006.
The researchers looked closely at the reported use of both marijuana and tobacco and asked participants repeatedly during years of follow-up about their use of these substances. Marijuana and tobacco use were both commonly reported — 37 percent said they used marijuana at some point during the study. This is similar, the researchers say, to what many Americans have said in other national surveys.
As part of the CARDIA protocol, participants’ lung function was measured for air flow and lung volume at years 0, 2, 5, 10 and 20 using standard pulmonary function tests. The air flow measure is the amount of air you can blow out of your lungs in one second after taking the deepest breath possible. The volume measure is the total amount of air you can blow out after taking the deepest breath possible.
Lead author, Mark J. Pletcher, M.D., of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, who led the statistical analysis, says what sets this study apart from any others is both the number of participants and duration of the study.
“This is not the first study to show that marijuana has a complicated relationship with lung function. However, the size of the study and the long duration of follow-up help us to paint a clearer picture of the ways in which the relationship changes over time,” he says.
As a final note, Kertesz clarified that the study did not examine other ways in which smoking marijuana could affect a person’s health and insisted this study does not advocate the use of marijuana.
“Marijuana is still an illegal drug, and it has many complicated effects on the human body and its function,” he says. “In our findings we see hints of harm in pulmonary function with heavy use, and other studies have shown that marijuana use increases a user’s likelihood of a heart attack, according to the American Heart Association, and impairs the immune system's ability to fight disease, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.”
The study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Heart Lung Blood Institute.
Study co-authors include Eric Vittinghoff, Ph.D. and Feng Lin, M.S., Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco; Ravi Kalhan, M.D., M.S., Asthma-COPD Program, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; Joshua Richman, M.D., Ph.D., UAB Department of Surgery and Center for Surgical, Medical and Acute Care Research and Transitions, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham; Monika Safford, M.D., UAB Division of Preventive Medicine; and Stephen Sidney, M.D., Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, Calif.
This article was first published at www.newswise.com
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GRIDCO Limited v/s M/s. Bhushan Power & Steel Limited & Others
Company & Directors' Information:- GRIDCO LIMITED [Active] CIN = L40109OR1995SGC003960
Company & Directors' Information:- BHUSHAN POWER & STEEL LIMITED [Active] CIN = U27100DL1999PLC108350
Appeal No. 169 of 2013
Decided On, 01 July 2014
At, Appellate Tribunal for Electricity Appellate Jurisdiction
By, THE HONOURABLE MR. RAKESH NATH
By, TECHNICAL MEMBER & THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE SURENDRA KUMAR
By, JUDICIAL MEMBER
For the Appellant: Raj Kumar Mehta, Ishita Dasgupta, Advocates. For the Respondents: R1, Rajiv Yadav, R3, K.S. Dhingra, Advocates.
Surendra Kumar, Judicial Member
1. The instant appeal under Section 111 of the Electricity Act, 2003 is directed against the order dated 09.05.2013, in Petition No. 163/MP/2012 passed by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Central Commission’) by which the learned Central Commission rejected the objections raised by the appellant to the maintainability of the petition and decided to proceed with the adjudication of the matter on merits.
2. M/s. Bhushan Power & Steel Ltd. (BPSL), respondent no.1 herein, who was petitioner before the Central Commission, filed a petition under Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003 read with Regulation 20 of the CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2008 towards unpaid unscheduled inter-change charges (U.I. charges) for the period ranging from 28.08.2005 to 31.12.2006.
3. In the said petition, Central Commission was requested to direct GRIDCO Limited, appellant herein, and Orrissa Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL), respondent no.2 herein, to release the payment of Rs. 5,75,76,584/- alongwith interest @ 18% per annum calculated from the due date of pending U.I. bills and uptill the actual payment thereof and pass such further order as the Central Commission deems fit. The learned Central Commission, vide impugned order dated 09.05.2013, after analyzing different aspects of the matter and citing sufficient reasons held that the present petition is neither barred by limitation nor does it suffer from delay or latches and further held that the Central Commission is the only forum having jurisdiction to adjudicate the issues raised in the petition. In the impugned order, the learned Central Commission found that there is a controversy regarding availability of data for working out and verifying the data needed for adjudication of the petitioner’s claim and thought it proper to take assistance of the technical experts in the investigation of the petitioner’s claim. It has been observed in the impugned order that Member Secretary, Eastern Regional Power Committee, who is responsible for the maintenance of the U.I. energy accounting at regional level is considered to be most appropriate authority for this purpose and directed the Member Secretary to investigate the petitioner’s claim (Bhushan Power & Steel Limited) and submit a report to the Central Commission latest by 20.06.2013 for its consideration. It has further been provided in the impugned order that the Member Secretary shall investigate the U.I. Charges recoverable and payable by the petitioner Bhushan Power & Steel Limited for the entire period during which short-term inter-State open access was availed by it. The parties have been directed to render necessary assistance to the Member Secretary in the said investigation and the parties have further been directed to appear before the Member Secretary on 20.05.2013 along with the available data in their possession in support of their respective claims. It has been made clear by the Central Commission in the impugned order that the investigation by the Member Secretary conforms to the provisions of Regulation 35 of the 2004 Regulations on which heavy reliance has been placed by the GRIDCO and OPTCL (who were respondents before the Central Commission). While passing the impugned order, the learned Central Commission has taken the view that the assistance of Member Secretary and for that matter any other person or authority can be sought by the Central Commission without a provision analogous to Regulation 35 of the 2004 Regulations. The Central Commission by the impugned order listed the petition for hearing on merits on the next date. It is this order of the Central Commission which has been impugned and assailed before us by the GRIDCO Limited.
4. The appellant-GRIDCO, during the pendency of the aforesaid petition raised the objection to the maintainability of the petition saying that the petition is not maintainable since Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003 only applies to disputes between Generating Companies and Transmission Licensees and the present case is not between a Generating Company and Transmission Licensee. The CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2008 came into the force only in 2008 and the said Regulations, therefore, have no application to the dispute raised by the respondent no.1 M/s. Bhushan Power & Steel Limited in the present petition. In view of Regulation 18 of CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulation, 2004, which was in force at the relevant time, dispute with regard to segregation of the U.I. charges between the embedded entities in the State falls within the jurisdiction of the State Commission, namely, Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission. Since the GRIDCO has already settled the composite bill in respect of Regional U.I. Pool Account with regard to the inter-State transactions in terms of Regulation 18 (ii) on weekly basis as that time Regulation 18 of the CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulation, 2004 was in force. The dispute in the present case relates to segregation of the UI charges between the embedded entities in the State and falls within the jurisdiction of the State Commission, namely, Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission. The petition is also not maintainable in view of Regulation 35 of the CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulation, 2004 which provides that all complaints regarding any matter related to open access in Inter-State Transmission shall be directed to the Member Secretary, Regional Electricity Board or Regional Power Committee of the region, as the case may be in the first instance and only if the Member Secretary, Regional Electricity Board or Regional Power Committee, as the case may be, is unable to resolve, the matter shall be referred to the Commission for decision. The other objection raised to the maintainability of the petition was that the petition is barred by limitation and / or suffers from gross delay and latches inasmuch as the claim of M/s. Bhushan Power & Steel Limited pertained to the period 2005-06 whereas the petition was filed in the year 2012.
The respondent no.2 OPTCL and one SLDC, who was a respondent before the Central Commission but has not been impleaded in the instant appeal before us, in addition to the preliminary objections raised by the GRIDCO also urged that ‘Special Energy Meters’ of 0.2 accuracy class required for U.I. Accounting were not installed and M/s. Bhushan Power & Steel Limited executed an agreement for short term open access on 05.07.2006, so the claim for the period prior to 05.07.2006 is not maintainable.
5. We have heard at length Shri Raj Kumar Mehta, learned counsel for the appellant, Shri Sanjay Sen, learned Senior Advocate, Shri Rajiv Yadav, Advocate for the respondent no.1 and Shri K.S. Dhingra, learned counsel for the respondent no.2 and have meticulously perused the record and respective written submissions filed by the rival parties.
6. The following issues arise for our consideration.
A. Whether the Central Commission has jurisdiction to entertain a petition under Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003 in a case in which the dispute is not between a ‘Generating Company’ and a ‘Transmission Licensee’?
B. Whether the CERC (Open Access in Intra-State Transmission) Regulations 2008, which came into force only in 2008 have any application to the dispute raised by respondent no.1/petitioner M/s. Bhushan Power & Steel Limited?
C. Whether in view of Regulation 18 of the CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2004 which was in force at the relevant time, the disputes with regard to segregation of U.I. Charges between the embedded entities of the State falls within the jurisdiction of the State Commission, namely, Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission?
D. Whether the petition before the Central Commission was maintainable in view of Regulation 35 of the CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2004?
E. Whether the Central Commission was justified in entertaining the petition even though the claim was barred by limitation and/ or suffers from gross delay or latches?
F. Whether the claim of the respondent no.1 for the period prior to 05.07.2006 is not maintainable due to non-installation of the Special Energy Meters with 0.2 accuracy class required for U.I. Accounting?
ISSUE NO.A- REGARDING JURISDICTION OF THE CENTRAL COMMISSION
7. The main contentions raised on behalf of the appellant are as under:-
7.1. that the Central Commission erred in rejecting the appellant’s objections to the maintainability of the petition and deciding to proceed with the adjudication of the matter on merits.
7.2 that the learned Central Commission erred in holding that the petition filed by the respondent no.1 under Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003, gives power to the Central Commission to adjudicate upon the disputes between the Generating Company and Transmission Licensees.
7.3. that unless the word ‘involving’ in Section 79 (1) (f) is read as ‘between’ and the word ‘or’ in Section 79 (1) (f) is read as ‘and’, the provision contained in Section 79 (1) (f) would become vague /uncertain and lead to absurdity.
7.4. that in such a case, even a money dispute between a private party and a Generating Company relating to Inter-State Transmission of Energy pursuant to Open Access can also be brought within the fold of Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003.
7.5. that under Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003, the Central Commission can only adjudicate disputes directly ‘connected with’ regulation of Inter-State Transmission. The claim of the respondent no.1 is a purely money claim and as such would not fall under Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003which only envisages disputes of a regulatory nature and not purely money claims.
8. Per Contra Shri Rajiv Yadav, the learned counsel for the respondent no.1/petitioner has made the following contentions:-
8.1. that the GRIDCO’s contention to the effect that the word ‘involving’ in Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003 must be read as ‘between’ because the word ‘involving’ will render the scope of Section 79 (1) (f) too wide is against the law and will lead to absurd results. This contention of the appellant is opposed to the ratio of PTC India Limited Vs. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (2010) 4 SCC 603, (Constitution Bench of Five Judges) wherein the Hon’ble Supreme Court has, in para 17, observed that the Electricity Act, 2003 is enacted as an exhaustive code on all matters concerning electricity. It repeals the Electricity Act, 1910; the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 and the Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act, 1998. The Electricity Act, 2003 mandated the establishment of independent and transparent regulatory mechanism and has entrusted wide ranging responsibilities with the Regulatory Commission. This Act has distanced the Government from all forms of regulation, namely, licensing, tariff regulation, specifying Grid Code, facilitating competition through open access, etc. The Hon’ble Supreme Court has characterized the adjudicatory powers of Regulatory Commission as ‘mandatory functions’ under the Act, which have to be exercised even in the absence of any applicable regulation.
8.2. that the substitution of words as suggested by GRIDCO is opposed to the established tenets of statutory interpretation. It has been correctly observed in the impugned order that ‘one of the fundamental principles of statutory interpretation is that a construction which requires addition or substitution of words has to be avoided’. This Appellate Tribunal in Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, Haryana Vs. NTPC Limited and Ors. 2011 ELR (APTEL) 0378 in para no. 19 thereof observed as follows:-
'19. It is a well-settled principle of law, as laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, that the Court cannot read anything into the statutory provisions which is plain and unambiguous. We have to find out the legislative intent only from the language employed in the statutes. Surmises and conjectures cannot be resorted to for interpretation of statutes…..'
8.3. that the Electricity Act, 2003 has been enacted by the parliament and hence State Commission or Central Commission or this Appellate Tribunal has no jurisdiction to substitute some words by the words prescribed in Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003. Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003 deals with the functions of the Central Commission. Section 86 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003 deals with the functions of the State Commission. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited Vs. Essar Power Ltd. (2008) 5 SCC 755 held (in para 60 thereof) that after 10.06.2003, there can be adjudication of dispute between licensees and generating companies can only be done by the State Commission or the Arbitrator or Arbitrators nominated by it. All disputes, and not merely those pertaining to matters referred to in Clauses (a) to (e) and (g) to (k) in Section 86 (1) of the Electricity Act, 2003 between the licensees and generating companies can only be resolved by the State Commission or an Arbitrator appointed by it. There is no restriction in Section 86 (1) (f) about the nature of the dispute.
9. On the issue of jurisdiction of the Central Commission to adjudicate, the dispute under Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003, Shri K.S. Dhingra, learned Counsel for the CERC –respondent no.3 has additionally submitted as under:-
9.1. that the Central Commission has the jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the disputes on fulfillment of the following conditions, namely,:-
(a) that the dispute should involve generating companies or the transmission licensee, and (b) that the dispute should be in regard to the matters connected with clauses (a) to (d) of sub-Section (1), that is, Regulation of Tariff of the generating companies mentioned in clauses (a) and
(b) or regulation of inter-State transmission of electricity under clause (c) or determination of tariff for inter-State transmission of electricity under clause ‘D’.
9.2. that a perusal of clause (f) of sub-Section 1 of Section 86 of the Electricity Act, 2003 reveals that while conferring power of adjudication of disputes on the State Commission, the Parliament has used the word ‘between’ in contrast to the word ‘involving’ used in clause (f) of sub-Section (1) of Section 79 of the Electricity Act, 2003. Similarly clause (f) of sub-Section (1) of Section 86 uses the conjunctive word ‘and’ as against the disjunctive word ‘or’ used in clause (f) of sub-Section (1) of Section 79 of the Electricity Act, 2003. According to the appellant the word ‘involving’ appearing in Clause (f) is to read as ‘between’ and the word ‘or’ as ‘and’.
9.3. that the fundamental principle of interpretation of statutes is that the words used in the statute have to be given their plain dictionary meaning as observed by Privy Council in Pakala Narayanasami Vs. Emperor AIR 1939 PC 47 that when the meaning of the words is plain, it is not the duty of Courts to busy themselves with supposed intentions.
9.4. that the rule of literal interpretation has been explained by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Nelson Motis Vs. Union of India, AIR 1992 SC 1981, observing that it is well established that if the words of a statute are clear and free from any vagueness and are, therefore, reasonably susceptible to only one meaning, it must be construed by giving effect to that meaning, irrespective of consequences. In Ombalika Das Vs. Hulisa Shaw (2002) 4 SCC 539, the Hon’ble Supreme Court unequivocally declared that resort can be had to the legislative intent for the purpose of interpreting a provision of law, when the language employed by the legislature is doubtful or susceptible of meanings more than one. However, when the language is plain and explicit and does not admit of any doubtful interpretation, the Supreme Court cannot, by reference to an assumed legislative intent, expand the meaning of an expression employed by the legislature. The same view was held in Keshavji Ravji & Co. Vs. CIT (1990) 2 SCC 231 and also in Commissioner of Income TaxVs. Tara Agencies (2007) 6 SCC 429.
9.5. that as per P. Ramanatha Aiyar’s Advanced Law Lexicon (Third Edition), the word ‘involve’ is also used, according to the context, as synonymous with word ‘affected’. In the context of clause (f) of sub-Section (1) of Section 79, the word ‘involving’ can be said to have been used synonymously with the word ‘affecting’ because the regulatory functions discharged under these clauses directly relate to generating companies and the transmission licensees. The jurisdiction conferred upon the Central Commission, by virtue of Section 79 of the Electricity Act, 2003, to adjudicate upon the specific nature of disputes, cannot be whittled down, irrespective of the consequences.
9.6. that the adjudication of money disputes is incidental to power of adjudication of disputes arising out of regulatory power by the Central Commission under Section 79 (1) clauses (a) to ( d). In Kharg Ram Panchayat Samiti Vs. State of West Bengal reported in [(1987) 3 SCC 82] it was held that power to do a thing necessarily carries with it the power to regulate the manner in which the thing may be done.
9.7. The appellant’s contention seeking substitution of world ‘involving’ with ‘between’ and the word ‘or’ with ‘ and’ is against the basic tenets of interpretation of statutes as this Tribunal is not competent to add, delete or substitute any of the words given in the statute like Electricity Act, 2003 or the State Regulations or the Central Regulations.
10. The learned Central Commission’s findings on this issue in the impugned order are as under:-
10.1. that as per observation of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Ramesh Mehta Vs. Sanwal Chand (2004) 5 SCC 409, in 'suitable cases', the Court may add or omit or substitute words to make a statute workable. In the case in hand, the Central Commission found no reason to hold that without substituting the word ‘involving’ with the word ‘between’ and word ‘or’ with word ‘and’, clause (f) of sub-Section (1) of Section 79 of Electricity Act, 2003 becomes unworkable or leads to any uncertainty or absurdity. Therefore, the expression ‘disputes’ involving ‘Generating Company’ or ‘Transmission Licensee’ in clause (f) means the disputes which entangle or include Generating Companies or Transmission Licensees. The Central Commission has further observed that this interpretation is logical and stands to reason when seen in the light of the fact that the entities associated with clauses (a) to (d) of sub-Section (1) of Section 79 of the Electricity Act, 2003 are either Generating Companies or the Transmission Licensees and there is absolutely no warrant to substitute the word ‘involving’ with word ‘between’ and such interpretation shall be totally out of place and defeat the purpose and object of the power or function of adjudication conferred on the Central Commission.
10.2. When a Generating Company or Transmission Licensee feels aggrieved in connection with any matter listed in clauses (a) to (d) of sub Section 1 of Section 79 of the Electricity Act, 2003, such Generating Company or Transmission Licensee has to approach the Central Commission for adjudication of dispute under Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003. Since the respondent no.1/petitioner is a Generating Company as defined under sub-Section (28) of Section 2 of Electricity Act, 2003 and, therefore, is competent to approach the Central Commission for adjudication of the said claim.
11. After carefully considering and pondering over the rival contentions of the parties, we are of the view that the Central Commission or State Commission or this Appellate Tribunal has no power or jurisdiction to add or delete or substitute any word in any provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003 or any State or Central Regulations, being in the nature of subordinate legislations. This Tribunal is empowered and competent to interpret any provision as it thinks proper but it cannot add , delete or substitute any word in any of the provisions of the Act or Regulations. This Tribunal is expected and required by law to interpret the provision or any Section of law as is provided therein. Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003 empowers the Central Commission to adjudicate upon disputes involving generating companies or transmission licensees in regard to matters connected with Clauses (a) to (d) of this Section and refer to any dispute for arbitration. The respondent no.1/petitioner filed the present petition under Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003 read with Regulation 20 of the CERC(Open Access in Inter State Transmission) Regulations, 2008 towards unpaid unscheduled inter-change charges (U.I. charges) for the period ranging from 28.08.2005 to 31.12.2006. Even at the beginning of the hearing of the petition, the appellant GRIDCO objected to the maintainability of the petition saying that the petition is not maintainable as Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003 only applies to disputes between generating companies and transmission licensees and the present case is not between generating company and a transmission licensee. The objection of the appellant GRIDCO is against the very spirit of the provisions of Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003, which provision empowers the Central Commission to adjudicate on disputes involving generating companies or transmission licensees, meaning thereby that there may be dispute between generating companies inter se or between generating company and transmission licensee or between the transmission licensees themselves and in all such matters, the Central Commission shall have powers to adjudicate such kind of disputes. We are bound to give effect to the provisions as provided in Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003 and we cannot distract or deviate from the language employed in the said provision.
12. We agree to the view adopted by the Central Commission while deciding this issue and there is no reason to deviate or differ from the said view or finding of the Central Commission recorded in the impugned order. This issue no. A is accordingly decided against the appellant approving the Central Commission’s view that the Central Commission is competent and empowered to entertain and adjudicate upon the disputes raised in the petition filed by the respondent no.1./petitioner.
13. ISSUE NOS. B & C
Since both these issues are inter-connected or inter-woven and relate to the applicability of Regulation 18 of CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2004 to the matter in hand, we are taking and deciding them together.
14. Learned counsel for the appellant has made following contentions on these issues.
14.1. that CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2008, which came into force in 2008, have no application to the dispute raised in the present petition.
14.2. that GRIDCO has already settled the composite bill in respect of Regional U.I. Pool Account with regard to the Inter-State transactions in terms of Regulation 18 (ii) of CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2004 on weekly basis and the dispute in the present case relates to segregation of the U.I. charges between the embedded entities in the State
14.3. that the dispute with regard to segregation of the U.I. charges between the embedded entities in the State falls within the jurisdiction of the State Commission viz-Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission.
15. Per contra the counter submissions raised on behalf of respondent nos. 1 and 3 are as under:-
15.1. that the present dispute pertains to non-payment of U.I. charges legitimately due to M/s. Bhushan Power & Steel Ltd/respondent no.1 in terms of the CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2004 which Regulations were notified by the CERC in discharge of its functions ‘to regulate Inter-State transmission of electricity’. U.I. mechanism was evolved by the CERC as a means to regulate Inter-State Transmission of electricity.
15.2. that the present petition has been filed under Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003 which empowers CERC to adjudicate inter alia disputes involving generating companies or distribution licensees and in regard to matters connected with Regulation of Inter-State Transmission of electricity since the present dispute involves a generating company and pertains to non-payment of U.I. charges, which are connected with Regulation of Inter-State Transmission, the present petition has rightly been filed before the CERC. Non-payment of U.I. charges has a direct bearing on Inter- State Transmission of electricity through open access- a domain exclusively reserved by the Electricity Act, 2003 for CERC. It is not in dispute that U.I. charges claimed by respondent no.1/petitioner pertains to a period 28.08.2005 to 31.12.2006, during which respondent no.1/petitioner was engaged in supply of electricity through Inter-State Open Access.
15.3. that there is nothing in Regulation 18 of CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2004 (cited by the appellant GRIDCO) as would confer jurisdiction on the State Commission to the exclusion of Central Commission. All that Regulation 18 (ii) provides for is that in case of embedded customers, the settlement of U.I. claims shall be done at the State level.
15.4. that the dispute arose as a consequence of transactions in Inter-State transmission of electricity after availing of short term open access under the Open Access Regulations of respondent no.1. Regulation 3 of Open Access Regulations defines the extent of applicability of those regulations as under:-
'3. These regulations shall apply for access to Inter-State Transmission System'.
15.5. that on this issue, the Central Commission, in the impugned order in para 24 thereof, has observed that the dispute in case on hand relates to recovery of the U.I. charges for the transactions undertaken in terms of the 2004 Regulations, which were framed by this Commission in discharge of its function under clause (c) of sub-Section (1) of Section 79 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The dispute is thus connected with regulation of inter-State transmission of electricity which function is assigned to the Central Commission.
15.6. that U.I. charges have been specified by the Central Commission as a part of Availability Based Tariff (ABT). By virtue of Section 79 (1) (a) and (b) of the Electricity Act, 2003, the Central Commission has the power and jurisdiction to regulate tariff and the said dispute falls within the jurisdiction of the Central Commission.
15.7. that the appellant’s contention, to the effect that dispute relating to recovery of U.I. charges raised by respondent no.1/petitioner, an intra-State embedded utility, falls within the jurisdiction of the State Commission only, is against law. The appellant has contended that since in accordance with Regulation 18 of CERC (Open Access in Inter -State Transmission) Regulations, 2004, segregation of the U.I. charges payable to the embedded State entities has to be done by the nodal agency in the State of Orissa, the dispute arising out of non-payment of such dues is within jurisdiction of the State Commission.
15.8. that in accordance with Regulation 21 of the CERC Regulations, 2004 for any mismatch between the scheduled and actual drawal at drawal point(s) and scheduled and the actual injection at injections point(s) is met from the grid and is to be governed by the Unscheduled Interchange (U.I.) mechanism applicable to the inter-State transactions. This Regulation 21 further provides that a separate bill for the U.I. charges would be issued to the direct customers and incase of embedded customers, a composite U.I. bill for the State as a whole is to be issued, the segregation for which for the embedded states entities is done at the State level.
15.9. that it is an undisputed fact that respondent no.1/petitioner’s claim for recovery of the U.I. charges is the consequence of Inter-State transmission transactions conducted under the Open Access Regulations.
15.10. that Regulation 21 of the Open Access 2004 Regulations specifically provided that in case of any mismatch between the scheduled and the actual injection at the injection point(s) was to be governed by U.I. mechanism applicable to the inter-State transactions. Therefore, the U.I. charges and recovery thereof is an integral part of the inter-State transactions conducted under the Open Access Regulations.
15.11. that the appellant had collected the U.I. charges through a composite bill for the entities embedded with the State of Odisha in accordance with clause (2) of Regulation 21 of the Open Access 2004 Regulations and was required to disburse the same to the embedded entities in accordance with their entitlement. Respondent no.1/petitioner has alleged that it has not been paid the U.I. charges for over-generation in accordance with Regulation 21, though the U.I. charges, leviable for under-generation, had already been collected. Therefore, BPSL has in fact sought enforcement of Regulation 21 of the Open Access 2004 Regulations. As observed by the Central Commission in the impugned order, BPSL had sought 'enforcement of regulations framed by this Commission.' For this reason also, the dispute falls within the jurisdiction of the Central Commission.
15.12. that the State Commission in its order dated 27.02.2004 while granting permission for inter-State sale of power took note of BPSL’s 'no objection to accept U.I. pricing mechanism applicable to all inter-state transactions for open access customers.' The appellant was party before the State Commission but did not raise any objection and as such it becomes bound by these observations.
15.13. that the Short Term Open Access Commercial Agreement was signed between the appellant and BPSL on 05.07.2006. The agreement provided that the U.I. charges would be applicable to sale of electricity by BPSL as extracted below:-
'2. ABT will be applicable to BPSL for above short-term transactions and will be guided by CERC Open Access Regulations, 2004 with its amendments issued from time to time. For smooth operation of transactions, however, as embedded customer, following commercial/operational stipulations are agreed.
3.(a) BPSL will endeavour to inject as per daily schedules as advised by SLDC.
(b) Any mismatch between the schedule and actual injection accepted by SLDC shall be governed by U.I. pricing mechanism. Such U.I. bills shall be prepared by SLDC on weekly basis. In case of under/over injection the U.I. payable/receivable will be settled after taking care of STU losses and wheeling charges.
(c) In the event of zero scheduling by BPSL/ERLDC, no U.I. mechanism shall be operative………
(d) When the frequency falls below 49.4 Hz, BPSL shall endeavour to maximize its injection at least up to the level, which can be sustained, without waiting for the instructions of SLDC. Under ABT regime such injection shall be covered under U.I. mechanism.
(e) In the event of mismatch between the schedule and actual injection, the matter will be governed by U.I. regulation applicable…..'.
15.14. that even in view of the agreement between the appellant and BPSL, the parties were bound by the applicable U.I. mechanism for commercial settlement of any mismatch between the schedule and actual injection by BPSL.
15.15. that, therefore, BPSL’s claim seeking recovery of the U.I. charges falls within the scope of inter-State transmission of electricity under clause (d) of sub-Section (1) of Section 79 of the Electricity Act, 2003 and the Central Commission has the jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the dispute raised by BPSL.
16. Findings of the Central Commission on these issues (Issue nos. B & C) are as under:-
16.1. that the dispute in the case in hand relates to recovery of the UI charges for the transactions undertaken in terms of the 2004 Regulations, which were framed by Central Commission in discharge of its function under Section 79 (1) (c ) of the Electricity Act, 2003 and the present dispute is thus connected with regulation of Inter-State Transmission of Electricity which function is assigned to the Central Commission.
16.2. that the Central Commission did not find any merit in the GRIDCO’s contention that adjudication of the dispute falls within the jurisdiction of the State Commission for the fact that it involves payment of UI charges to the petitioner which is an embedded Intra-State entity as Regulation 21 of 2004 Regulations provides for the methodology for recovery and disbursement of the UI charges payable/recoverable in the course of availing Inter-State Open Access. A separate bill for U.I. charges is issued to the direct customers and in case of the embedded customers, a composite UI bill for the State as a whole is issued, the segregation, for which, for the embedded State entities, is at the State level. Since the departmental authorities found that GRIDCO had received the U.I. charges for over generation for the State as a whole. However, segregation of the U.I. charges payable to and receivable by the embedded Intra-State entities was to be done by the concerned State Agency in terms of clause (11) of Regulation 21 of 2004 Regulations. Since the concerned State Agency has failed to act in accordance with this Regulation, the respondent no.1 / petitioner had to seek enforcement of Regulations framed by the Central Commission. The examination of the respondent no.1/ petitioner’s claim is, therefore, within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Central Commission and not the State Commission.
17. The appellant’s contention on these issues is that the CERC (Open Access in Inter State Transmission) Regulations, 2008 do not apply to the dispute raised in the present petition because the appellant GRIDCO Limited which is a wholly owned Company of the Government of Odisha and is carrying on the function of bulk supply of electricity to four distribution companies in the State of Odisha w.e.f. 01.04.2005, after the transfer of transmission business to Orissa Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL), vide notification dated 10.06.2005 of the Government of Odisha.
17.1. that GRIDCO has already settled the composite bill in respect of Regional U.I. Pool Account with regard to the inter-State Transactions in terms of Regulation 18 (ii) of CERC (Open Access in Inter State Transmission) Regulations, 2004 on weekly basis and since the dispute in the present case relates to segregation of U.I. Charges between the embedded entities in the State which falls within the jurisdiction of the State Commission viz. Orissa Electricity Regulation Commission.
17.2. Contrary to the appellant’s contention, it has been argued on behalf of the respondent no.1 /petitioner that the present dispute pertains to non-payment of U.I. Charges legitimately due to the respondent no.1/petitioner in terms of the CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2004, which Regulations were notified by the CERC in discharge of its functions to regulate inter-State transmission of electricity and U.I. mechanism was evolved by the CERC as a means to regulate Inter-State transmission of electricity. It is further clarified that the respondent no.1/petitioner M/s. Bhushan Power and Steel Limited (BPSL) filed the impugned petition under Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003 read with Regulation 20 of the CERC (Open Access in Inter State Transmission) Regulations, 2008 towards unpaid, unscheduled inter-change charges (U.I. Charges) for the period ranging from 28.05.2005 to 31.12.2006. Thus, the impugned petition was for recovery of the outstanding dues along with interest. According to the respondent no.1/petitioner the bills for over injection of power had already been accounted for in the UI Pool Account of the State, whereby the appellant GRIDCO had received payments from Eastern Regional Load Dispatch Centre (ERLDC). The petitioner is alleged to have been deprived of its share of the U.I. Charges and continued retention of the U.I. charges received by GRIDCO from ERLDC amounts to its unjust enrichment at its expense.
17.3. As we have already noted above that at the initial stage, the appellant GRIDCO raised preliminary objections as to the maintainability of the petition before the Central Commission saying that the said petition is not maintainable because Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003 applies only to the disputes between Generating Company and Transmission Licensee. The next objection as to the maintainability of the petition raised by the appellant before the Central Commission was that since the claim of the respondent no.1/petitioner involves allocation of the U.I. charges to the respondent no.1/petitioner which is an embedded entity in the State and, therefore, the dispute falls within the jurisdiction of State Commission and for that reason the Central Commission does not have any jurisdiction. The third objection raised on behalf of the appellant before the Central Commission was that in terms of Regulation 35 of 2004 Regulations, the respondent no.1/petitioner had to first approach the Member Secretary, Eastern Regional Electricity Board or Easter Regional Power Committee as the case may be and in case the Member Secretary was unable to resolve the dispute, then only the Central Commission ought to have been approached by filing the petition. Since the respondent no.1 had not approached the Member Secretary and directly approached the Central Commission by filing the impugned petition, the impugned petition is not maintainable. The last objection raised by the appellant before the Central Commission was that the instant petition was time barred because the claim of the respondent no.1/petitioner pertained to the period 2005-06 and the petition was filed in February, 2012 with a delay of nearly six years. We have given the details of the aforesaid objections raised on behalf of the appellant before the Central Commission just to point out that no dispute was raised by the appellant as to which Regulations, namely, CERC (Open Access in Inter State Transmission) Regulations, 2004 or CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2008 would apply. The Central Commission, by the impugned order, after discussing the objections of the appellant, on merits passed the impugned order and rejected the said objections and listed the matter for hearing on merits which order has been challenged before us by filing the instant appeal. The main point, raised by the appellant before the Central Commission, was about the jurisdiction and the Central Commission by the impugned order recorded a finding and came to the conclusion that since the present dispute pertains to non-payment of U.I. charges due to the respondent no.1/petitioner in terms of CERC (Open Access in Inter State Transmission) Regulations, 2004, the said petition is entertainable and the Central Commission has jurisdiction to decide the dispute raised in the said petition.
17.4. The next contention raised by the appellant before the Central Commission was that the adjudication of the present dispute falls within the jurisdiction of the State Commission for the fact that it involves payment of the U.I. Charges to the petitioner, which is an embedded intra-State entity, which was not accepted by the Central Commission finding no merits in the contention while passing the impugned order. The Central Commission in the impugned order clearly mentioned that Regulation 21 of 2004 Regulations provides for the methodology for recovery and disbursement of the U.I. charges payable/recoverable in the course of availing inter-State Open Access. Since the GRIDCO had received the U.I. charges for over-generation for the State as a whole, the segregation of U.I. charges payable to and received by the embedded intra-State entities was to be done by the State Commission in terms of clause 2 of Regulation 21 of 2004 Regulations. The respondent no. 1/petitioner sought enforcement of Regulations framed by the Central Commission. On these reasons, the learned Central Commission on examination of the petitioner’s claim concluded that the said claim of the petitioner or the present dispute is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Central Commission and not the State Commission. The learned Central Commission, in para no.26 of the impugned order, itself clearly mentioned that 'it is pointed out that the State Commission is aware of the facts that the U.I. Charges were payable in accordance with the U.I. pricing mechanism applicable to inter-State transactions for open access customer and that the 2004 Regulations would govern the inter-State open access. These facts have been taken note of by the State Commission in its order dated 27.02.2004 while permitting the petitioner to use the intra-State Transmission network then belonging to GRIDCO'.
17.5. Thus, we note that the Central Commission in the impugned order has clearly mentioned the facts of the present dispute and found that the present dispute falls within the jurisdiction of the Central Commission and not the State Commission as provided in CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2004 and we agree to the findings recorded on these issues in the impugned order. We find force in the submissions raised on behalf of the respondent no.1/petitioner and respondent no.3 on these issues. We do not find any force in the aforementioned contentions of the appellant on these issues. Thus, issue nos. B & C are decided against the appellant.
18. Issue No. D- Maintainability of Petition before the Central Commission under Regulation 35 of CERC (Open Access in Inter State Transmission) Regulations, 2004 This issue is whether the present petition before the Central Commission was maintainable in view of Regulation 35 of the CERC (Open Access in Inter State Transmission) Regulations, 2004. On this issue, the following contentions have been made on behalf of the appellant.
18.1. that Regulation 35 provides that in case of a dispute, Member Secretary, EREB will be approached in the first instance. It is only if the Member Secretary EREB/ERPC, as the case may be, is unable to resolve the dispute, then the matter can be reported to the Central Commission for a decision. The respondent no.1/petitioner could not by-pass the said Regulation 35.
18.2. that respondent no.1 filed the instant petition before the Central Commission without first approaching the Member Secretary, Eastern Regional Electricity Board (EREB) or Eastern Regional Power Committee (ERPC). The Central Commission has taken the erroneous view that Member Secretary does not have any power to adjudicate the dispute and the present petition, without first approaching the Member Secretary ERPC, is maintainable.
19. The Central Commission, on this issue in the impugned order, after consideration has observed as under:-
19.1. that as per Regulation 35 of 2004 Regulations, all complaints regarding unfair practices, delays, discrimination, lack of information, supply of wrong information or any other matter related to open access in Inter-State Transmission are to be directed to the Member Secretary of the Region, who shall investigate and endeavour to resolve the grievance and if the Member Secretary is unable to resolve, the matter shall be reported to the Central Commission for a decision. Thus the Regulation 35 clearly suggests that role assigned to the Member Secretary is of investigation of the dispute and thereafter of making efforts to resolve the same. The Member Secretary is expected to render assistance to the Central Commission in resolution of the disputes and he was not assigned any authority of adjudication of disputes. In fact such power of adjudication could not be delegated to Member Secretary in the light of specific prohibition under Section 97 of the Electricity Act, 2003. According to Section 97 of the Electricity Act, 2003, the Central Commission cannot delegate its power to adjudicate dispute under Section 79 and the powers to make Regulations under Section 178 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The Central Commission has plenary power of adjudication under the Electricity Act and, therefore, filing of the present petition before the Central Commission, without first approaching the Member Secretary, does not oust the jurisdiction of the Central Commission to adjudicate the dispute raised. The Central Commission can take assistance from any Authority including Member Secretary for adjudication of disputes brought before it, with a view to doing substantive justice to the parties, with or without a provision made in Regulation 35 of the 2004 Regulations.
20. Per contra the learned counsel for the respondent no.1/petitioner and respondent no.3 have submitted that a bare reading of Regulation 35 of Central Open Access Regulations 2004 read with its proviso suggests the following:-
All complaints in connection with the open access were to be made to the Member-Secretary, Regional Power Committee.
The Member-Secretary was required to investigate the complaints and make efforts to resolve the dispute.
In accordance with the proviso, in case the Member-Secretary was unable to resolve the dispute, the matter was to be reported to the Central Commission for a decision.
20.1. Thus, the Regulation 35 says that role assigned to the Member Secretary was of investigation of the dispute and thereafter of making efforts to resolve the dispute. The Member Secretary’s role in the first instance was to act as a fact finding body and after ascertaining the fact to, conciliate between the parties to resolve the dispute. This provision had two purposes. Firstly, such disputes invariably involve technical issues which can be easily resolved by the Member-Secretary through persuasion etc. Secondly, the disputes would involve local issues and the Member-Secretary who closely co-ordinates with the entities in the region would be in a better position to conciliate between the parties. In this manner, the Member-Secretary rendered assistance to the Central Commission in resolution of the disputes.
20.2. The power of adjudication of disputes was not intended to be delegated to the Member- Secretary as such power could not be delegated to Member Secretary in view of the specific bar under Section 97 of the Electricity Act dealing with delegation of power. Presuming that the Member Secretary was to act as delegate of Central Commission to adjudicate the dispute, the Central Commission as delegator was not denuded of its power of adjudication and could itself exercise the power at any time concurrently with the Member Secretary which view is supported by Ishwar Singh Vs. State of Rajasthan [(2005) 2 SCC 334], wherein the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that it is an accepted position in law that to ‘delegate’ to another is not to denude yourself. The delegating body will retain not only the power to revoke the grant but also power to act concurrently on matters within the area of delegated authority.
20.3. The Member-Secretary could not decide the claim for release of the UI charges, even if the claim was found to be justified, since his decision lacks enforceability.
20.4. The Central Commission, in the impugned order, has referred the dispute to the Member-Secretary, Eastern Regional Power Committee for investigation and it is sufficient compliance with the procedure specified under Regulation 35 of 2004 Regulations.
21. After considering the rival submissions of the parties, we do not find any force in the appellant’s submissions and the submissions made on behalf of the respondent nos. 1 and 3 have merit to which we agree. Thus, we approve the findings recorded by the Central Commission on this issue and hold that the Central Commission was competent to pass the impugned order after considering Regulation35 of Central Open Access Regulations, 2004. This Issue No. D is also decided against the appellant.
22. ISSUE No. E - Claim Barred by Limitation
This issue is whether the present petition is barred by limitation and / or suffers from gross delay or latches?
22.1. On this issue, the following contentions have been raised by the appellant,
(i) that the alleged claim of the respondent no.1/petitioner pertains to the period 2005-06 and the present petition has been filed in the year 2012 with a delay of about six years.
(ii) that for a suit for recovery of money, the limitation prescribed under the Limitation Act, 1963 is three years and a suit for recovery of money would be barred by limitation as in the present case, the claim is beyond the prescribed period of limitation of three years.
(iii) The respondent no.1/petitioner did not remain vigilant and slept over the matter for about six years and failed to explain the delay of six years in filing the impugned petition before the Central Commission.
23. Per contra, learned counsel for the respondent nos.1 and 3 have made the following submissions:-
that this Appellate Tribunal vide judgment dated 17.04.2013 in I. A. No. 262 of 2012 in Appeal No. 57 of 2009 (Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission Vs. Century Rayon & Ors.) has also held that the Limitation Act does not apply to proceedings under the Electricity Act. The relevant para 36 is extracted below:-
'36. From the above, it is clear that the Electricity Act and the Notification issued under the said special Act would certainly be construed to be a special law within the meaning of Section 29 of the Limitation Act. In view of the above, it has to be held that the Limitation Act would not apply to the Electricity Act. The limitation period prescribed for filing a review before this Tribunal under the powers conferred by this special Act is only 30 days without giving any power for condonation of the delay'
24. The learned Central Commission, in the impugned order, has rejected the plea of the petition being barred by limitation or gross delay or latches by holding, in para no. 36 thereof, that the Electricity Act does not specifically lay down period of limitation for adjudication of disputes under Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003. The learned Central Commission has relied upon the case of Sakuru Vs. Tanaji [(1985) 3 SCC 590] in which the Hon’ble Supreme Court held that the provisions of Limitation Act, 1963 apply only to proceedings in ‘Courts’ and not to appeals or applications before bodies other than Courts such as quasi-judicial tribunals or executive authorities, notwithstanding the fact that such bodies or authorities may be vested with certain specified powers conferred on Courts under the Codes of Civil or Criminal Procedure. The Hon’ble Supreme Court was dealing with a case in which it held that the Collector before whom the appeal was preferred by the appellant under Section 90 of the Act not being a Court, the Limitation Act, as such had no applicability to the proceedings before the Collector. Similar view was taken by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Nityananda M. Joshi Vs. LIC [(1969) 2 SCC 199] where the benefit of Section 5 of the Limitation Act was under consideration before the Hon’ble Supreme Court. Regarding proceedings before the Collector, it was held that Collector was vested with certain powers under CPC, the benefit of Section 5 of the Limitation Act was not given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court observing that no question of extending time could therefore arise.
25. After considering the various case laws on the point of applicability of Limitation Act to the proceedings before the Electricity Regulatory Commission, the learned Central Commission, in para 40 of the impugned order, has noted that the respondent no.1 / petitioner has been approaching the GRIDCO and OPTCL from time to time for settlement of its claims for payment of U.I. charges and has been diligently pursing its claim for recovery of U.I. charges. The GRIDCO and OPTCL, who were respondents before the Central Commission, examined the respondent no.1/petitioner’s claim departmentally and found that the petitioner was not paid the U.I. charges for over generation of electricity, though GRIDCO had received these charges for the State as a whole and was required to disburse them to the embedded Intra-State entities and at no stage, there was any denial of the liability to pay the U.I. charges or rejection of the claim. Hence they, being public authorities, cannot be permitted to defeat the claim of the petitioner on technical pleas of limitation etc. The Central Commission clearly recorded finding that the petitioner’s claim cannot be held to be suffering from any reasonable delay or latches as petitioner has been diligently and reasonably pursuing the claim for U.I. charges and the preliminary objection of limitation has been rejected in the impugned order.
26. We have deeply and cautiously considered and pondered over the rival submissions of the parties including the case laws cited on the issue. We have given anxious consideration to the findings recorded by the Central Commission in the impugned order on the applicability of Limitation Act to the proceedings before the Central Commission and also the point of delay and latches. We may add that very recently the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in T.N. Generation & Distribution Corpn. Limited Vs. PPN Power Gen. Co. Pvt. Ltd., in its judgment dated 04.04.2014, in Civil Appeal No. 4126 of 2013 while deciding statutory appeal (Second Appeal) under Section 125 of the Electricity Act, 2003 against the judgment and order dated 22.02.2013 of this Appellate Tribunal, in para no. 48 of the judgment, has observed as under:-
'48. The next submission of Mr. Nariman is that the claim of the respondents would have been held to be time barred on reference to arbitration. We are not able to accept the aforesaid submission of Mr. Nariman. On the facts of this case, in our opinion, the principle of delay and latches would not apply, by virtue of the adjustment of payments being made on FICO basis. The procedure adopted by the respondent, as observed by the State Commission as well as by the APTEL, would be covered under Sections 60 and 61 of the Contract Act. APTEL, upon a detailed consideration of the correspondence between the parties, has confirmed the findings of fact recorded by the State Commission that the appellant had been only making part payment of the invoices. During the course of the hearing, Mr. Salve has pointed out that the payment of entire invoices was to be made each time which was never adhered to by the appellant. Therefore, the respondents were constrained to adopt FIFO method. Learned senior counsel also pointed out that there was no complaint or objection ever raised by the appellant. The objection to the method adopted by the respondents on the method of FIFO, was only raised in the counter affidavit to the petition filed by the appellant before the State Commission. According to the learned senior counsel, the plea is an afterthought an
d has been rightly rejected by the State Commission as well as the APTEL. We also have no hesitation in rejecting the submission of Mr. Nariman on this issue. In any event, the Limitation Act is inapplicable to proceeding before the State Commission.' 27. Thus, the Hon’ble Supreme Court while dealing with a Statutory Appeal under Section 125 of the Electricity Act, 2003, in para 48 thereof has clearly observed, ' we have no hesitation in rejecting the submission of Mr. Nariman on this issue. In any event, the Limitation Act, is inapplicable to the proceedings before the State Commission. 28. In view of above discussion, we agree to the reasoning given by the Central Commission in the impugned order and all the submissions of the appellant are held to be without any merits, since there is a direct judgment recently pronounced by the Hon’ble Supreme Court while dealing with the statutory Appeal under Section 125 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The views of this Appellate Tribunal whether in favour or against the applicability of Limitation Act have no significance. Thus, the issue no. E relating to limitation, delay and / or latches is decided against the appellant. 29. Issue No. F-Non-Installation of Special Energy Meters 29.1. The SLDC, who was respondent before the Central Commission but has not been impleaded in the instant Appeal, took up a preliminary objection that the Special Energy Meters of 0.2 accuracy class required for U.I. Accounting were not installed and respondent no.1/petitioner executed an agreement for short term open access on 05.07.2006, so its claim for the period prior to 05.07.2006 is not maintainable. On this issue, learned counsel for the appellant including GRIDCO put half hearted emphasis. The Central Commission has recorded a finding in the impugned order that the petitioner’s claim for the U.I. charges cannot be summarily rejected on the ground of non-installation of Special Energy Meters with 0.2 accuracy class and the means for verification of the petitioner claim have to be found. 30. We have considered this issue also. We agree to the findings recorded in the impugned order by the Central Commission. This issue is also decided against the appellant. 31. The appeal is without merits and is liable to be dismissed as all the issues have been decided against the appellant. 32. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS 32.1. The Central Commission has jurisdiction to entertain a petition under Section 79 (1) (f) of the Electricity Act, 2003 relating to disputes involving generating companies or transmission licensees in regard to matters connected with clauses (a) to (d) of sub-Section (1) of Section 79 of the Electricity 2003 and refer any dispute for arbitration. 32.2. The Central Commission or any State Electricity Regulatory Commission or this Appellate Tribunal has no jurisdiction or power to add, substitute or delete any word in any of the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003 or Regulations for Electricity or any State Regulations. This Appellate Tribunal is not competent and empowered to quash or set-aside or declare or decide the validity of any of the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003, Central Commission or State Regulations. It can only interpret the provisions as the facts and circumstances of any particular case warrant. 32.3. The dispute with regard to segregation of unscheduled inter change charges (U.I. Charges) between the embedded entities in the State falls within the jurisdiction of the respective State Commission in view of Regulation 18 (ii) of the CERC (Open Access in inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2004. Regulation 18 (ii) of the CERC (Open Access in inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2004 does not confer jurisdiction on the State Commission to the exclusion of Central Commission. All that Regulation 18 (ii) of the CERC (Open Access in inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2004 provides for is that in case of embedded customers, the settlement of U.I. claims or charges shall be done at the State level. 32.4. In the present case, since the dispute pertains to non-payment of U.I. charges due to M/s. Bhushan Power & Steel Limited – respondent no.1 in terms of CERC (Open Access in Inter-State Transmission) Regulations, 2004, which were notified by the Central Commission in discharge of its functions to regulate inter-State Transmission of Electricity and hence the Central Commission is empowered to adjudicate upon the said dispute. This dispute is clearly beyond the competence or jurisdiction of the concerned State Commission. U.I. Mechanism was evolved by the Central Commission as a means to regulate inter-State Transmission of Electricity. 32.5. A petition, without first approaching the Member-Secretary in view of Regulation 35 of the CERC Open Access Regulations, 2004, filed before the Central Commission is maintainable as the Central Commission is fully competent to decide the dispute complained of before it. 32.6. The provisions of Limitation Act, 1963 are not applicable to the proceedings before the Central Commission or the State Commissions under the provisions of Electricity Act, 2003 as recently held by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of T.N. Generation & Distribution Corporation Limited Vs. PPN Power Gen. Co. Pvt. Ltd. in its judgment dated 04.04.2014, in Civil Appeal No. 4126 of 2013 while deciding statutory appeal (Second Appeal) under Section 125 of the Electricity Act, 2003 against the judgment and order dated 22.02.2013 of this Appellate Tribunal, in para no. 48 of the judgment that 'in any event, the Limitation Act is inapplicable to proceeding before the State Commission.' 32.7. The instant claim is not barred by limitation and further it does not suffer from any gross delay or latches. 32.8. Any claim for the U.I. charges cannot be summarily rejected or dismissed on the ground of non-installation of the Special Energy Meters with ‘0.2 accuracy class.’ 33. Consequently, the instant appeal is, being without merits, dismissed and the impugned order dated 09.05.2013 passed by the learned Central Commission in Petition No. 163/MP/2012 is hereby affirmed. No order as to costs.
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Tampa Bay Times
John ORAVEC
Share John's life story with friends and family
ORAVEC, John 92, passed away in Tampa, Florida October 22, 2020. Preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Marcia Delaney Oravec (d. 2014), John was born in Johnstown Pennsylvania in 1928. During high school and also after graduating, he played accordion in a band; polka and big-band music were life-long passions. He joined the US Navy in 1948 and served during the Korean War on the USS Ault (DD698) and the USS Robert K. Huntington (DD781). After his discharge in 1952, he graduated from the Cam-bria-Rowe Business College and eventually moved to Tampa where he met and married Marcia. He spent most of his career with Tropical Garment Manufacturing Company, a Tampa-based company that produced and distributed men's apparel nationwide. He retired as Senior Vice President of Finance. After retirement John enjoyed travel, dining out, supporting local sports teams, and spending time with family, especially his grandchildren. He is survived by his three children, Matthew (Michele) Oravec, Patricia (James) Kovacik, and Joseph (Linda) Oravec and three grandchildren, John, Timothy, and Rebecca. Internment will take place at Florida National Veteran's Cemetery in Bushnell, FL.
Published in Tampa Bay Times from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, 2020.
Eternal Friendship Remembrance Bouquet - VASE INCLUDED
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Sympathy Gift courtesy of
Gina Schodrowski
My deepest sympathies to his family John gave me my first job right out of clerical school I was a bad interviewer so he called the school and afterwards he hired me as a clerk typist for the order dept where i spent many years. May God bless you all and I pray Mr Oravec meet his LORD.
Lillian P Griffin
Group of 10 Memorial Trees
Carol Samorajczyk
Please except my deepest sympathies as the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of God, family and friends.
Simone Taylor
Susan Luthy
My deepest sympathy to the Oravec Family for the loss of your loved one, John, and pray God gives you comfort, peace and strength.
JW/JKH
My Condolences, I'm very sorry for your loss. I worked with John at Tropical Garment for 15 years. Jessica Farmer Mers
Jessica Farmer Mers
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Apple: 200,000 iPhone developers so far
By Peter Cohen
Macworld |
Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer revealed that the company has signed up 200,000 developers for its iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) release thus far. Oppenheimer also said that Apple is signing up more developers each week. In mid-March, Apple announced that the iPhone SDK had been downloaded 100,000 times.
Oppenheimer called the response to the SDK “tremendous” and said that interest in developing enterprise applications for the iPhone is also going well. More than 400 higher educations are now creating applications for the iPhone, and more than one-third of Fortune 500 companies are actively creating software for the iPhone as well.
Apple plans to deliver a free update to the software that runs the iPhone — called iPhone 2.0 — in late June. That update will introduce the App Store, a new feature that will enable iPhone users to purchase, download and install third-party application software for the device. Apple also plans to release a similar update to the iPod touch — delivered for a nominal fee — that will enable iPod touch users to access the App Store as well.
Apple counted 1.7 million iPhones sold in the quarter and is now selling phones in Austria and Ireland. Apple’s COO, Tim Cook, reiterated to analysts who questioned him after Oppenheimer’s preamble that Apple is on track to sell 10 million iPhones by the end of the year.
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Home >Politics >Delhi high court decriminalizes homosexuality
Delhi high court decriminalizes homosexuality
3 min read . Updated: 23 Jul 2009, 10:22 AM IST PTI
New Delhi: In a victory for gay rights activists, the Delhi high court on Thursday, legalised homosexual acts among consenting adults holding that the 149-year-old law making it a criminal offence is violative of fundamental rights and not punishable.
“We declare section 377 of Indian Penal Code in so far as it criminalises consensual sexual acts of adults in private is violative of Articles 21, 14, and 15 of the Constitution," a Bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice S Murlidhar said.
Read the Delhi high court ruling
The verdict, which was described as “progressive" by the gay rights activists who fought an eight-year-long legal battle, said “section 377 denies a person’s dignity and criminalises his or her core identity solely on account of his or her sexualities and thus violates Article 21."
“As it stands, section 377 denies a gay person a right to full personhood which is implicit in notion of life under Article 21 of the Constitution," the Bench said in its 105-page judgement allowing the plea of gay right activists seeking to decriminalise homosexual acts among consenting adults which otherwise attracts punishment upto life imprisonment.
However, the Bench said Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalises homosexuality, will continue for non-consensual and non-vaginal sex involving minors.
Be happy and gay; historic high court judgement
SC issues notice to Centre on decriminalizing gay sex
Blog: The Decriminalisation of IPC 377
Cheerful reaction
The ruling has brought cheers to the gay community and rights activists who described it as a “progressive" move which will change their “level of dignity", but religious leaders strongly disapproved of the judgement.
The activists, who formed an organisation ‘Voices Against Section 377´ to fight for gay rights, said the judgement will give a “new lease of life to ‘Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)´ persons who have “all along suffered humiliation".
“Today’s judgement changed the level of dignity for us. It reflects the pride that we have in diversity. It is about equality and it has brought out a very new understanding which will take things forward," Sumit Bouth, an activist of Voice Against Sec 377, told reporters here.
Anjali Gopalan, the Director of Naz Foundation which filed the case in the High Court, said that the judgement indicated “a change in attitude" towards homosexuals.
However, religious leaders were not so enthusiastic about the High Court judgement which legalised gay sex among consenting adults.
“It is absolutely wrong to legalise homosexuality. If the government attempts to scrap the Sec 377, we will oppose it strongly," Ahmed Bukhari, Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid said.
All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahli said that homosexuality is not allowed by any religion.
“It is against all religions. It is against the culture of Indian society. We feel there is no need to legalise homosexuality. This practice is unnatural. It should continue as a criminal act," he said.
Father Dominic Immanuel said that churches have no objection to decriminalising homosexuality but it should not be legalised.
“We have no objection to decriminalise homosexuality because we do not consider these people as criminals," Immanuel said.
However, Gopalan sought to dismiss criticism of the religious groups, saying there are people in every religion who are homosexuals. “What religious groups are saying is wrong. There thinking can change," she said.
She refereed to Vatsayan, who wrote ‘Kamasutra,’ and said the book has a mention about homosexuals. “Even sculptures depicting homosexuality can be found at Khajurao indicating that homosexuality is a global phenomenon," she said.
Gopalan was of the view that today’s High Court judgement is just a beginning and that there are more battles to be fought. “The objective is that this group should get the same right as others have in the country," she said.
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Look Skywatcher! Twin Suns of Real-Life 'Tatooine' Planet Visible in Binoculars
By Mike Wall 16 September 2011
NASA's Kepler mission has discovered a world where two suns set over the horizon instead of just one. The planet, called Kepler-16b, is not thought to be habitable. It is a cold world, with a gaseous surface, and it circles two stars, just like "Star Wars" Tatooine.
(Image: © NASA/JPL-Caltech)
Scientists have spotted a real-life Tatooine — a world with two suns, like Luke Skywalker's home planet in the "Star Wars" films — and you should be able to see this alien star system, too, using a good pair of binoculars.
Astronomers announced the discovery of the alien planet, called Kepler-16b, today (Sept. 15). The Saturn-mass planet orbits a pair of stars known as Kepler-16A and Kepler-16B. Someone on Kepler-16b would see two suns hanging near each other in the sky, just as Luke did on Tatooine.
The Kepler-16 star system is just 200 light-years from Earth, in the constellation Cygnus (the Swan). Because it's so close, it should be visible to many amateur skywatchers, researchers said.
The sky map of Cygnus here shows the constellation as it currently appears high overhead at night.
"If you want to find Kepler-16, it's 11 1/2 -magnitude," Laurance Doyle of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute, lead author of the paper announcing the discovery of Kepler-16b, told reporters today. "You could probably squint and see it through binoculars." (On an astronomer's scale, lower magnitudes represent brighter objects.)
This sky map shows the configuration of stars in the constellation Cygnus (the Swan), which currently appears overhead in the night sky. The bright star Vega is identified as a reference star. The binary Kepler-16 star system, which is home to the Tatooine-like planet Kepler-16b, can be found with telescopes and binoculars within the constellation. (Image credit: Starry Night Software)
Cygnus has three stars in its right wing, Doyle said. The key is to find the bright star in the middle, called Iota 2 Cygni, which shines with a magnitude of about 3.
"If you can find that, you're within 1 1/2 degrees of Kepler-16b," Doyle said. The width of your clenched fist held at arm's length covers about 10 degrees. [The Strangest Alien Planets]
Seeing the point of light representing the Kepler-16 system would be neat enough. But next year, amateur astronomers may actually get to spot the newfound alien planet Kepler-16b — or, at least, see some evidence of the existence of this circumbinary planet.
NASA's Kepler space telescope detected the exoplanet by noticing the telltale dips in brightness caused when Kepler-16b passed in front of its parent stars. It will make another transit on June 28, 2012, dimming the star Kepler-16A by about 1.7 percent, according to Doyle.
The transit will occur during daylight hours in the United States and Europe — but much of Asia will be invitingly dark.
"That will be visible from China, India, Russia, Korea and Japan and so on," Doyle said. "So if you're an amateur and you want to detect the first transit since the discovery of a circumbinary planet, you can go to the northeastern hemisphere of Earth."
A 1.7 percent drop in a star's brightness is something amateurs with a decent telescope and CCD (charge-coupled device) imager can pick up, Doyle said. Off-the-shelf versions of this equipment would be fine, he added.
This story was provided by SPACE.com, sister site to Live Science. You can follow SPACE.com senior writer Mike Wall on Twitter: @michaeldwall. Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
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How Entrepreneurs Repay Their Debt
It is often easy to forget that entrepreneurs are just normal people.
They have the same problems and insecurities as other people. After all they are only human. Like non-entrepreneurs, they grapple with raising families, dating, weight loss, life goals, and, of course, debt.
Entrepreneurs have to repay their debts just like everyone else. Be it auto loan debt, student loan debt, personal loan debt, or business loan debt, entrepreneurs must divert some of their income to debt repayment lest they fall victim to default and debt collectors.
However, entrepreneurs have one card up their sleeve: their business.
Businesses generate cash flow, or at least have the potential to, that far exceeds what an average employee can. As the saying goes, “No one ever got rich off a salary” and rightly so because businesses, when successful, can be very profitable for their owners.
As many a small business owner has found, some of these said profits can be used to pay off debts.
A Debt-Free Small Business
Mike Glanz, Co-Founder and CEO of HireAHelper, borrowed a specific type of business loan called Revenue-Based Financing from Lighter Capital to start his company.
As implied by its name, Revenue-Based Financing is a business loan where payments adjust based upon monthly revenue.
“The interest rate could be up to 30 percent if we grew as much as expected with the new product, and we did,” said Glanz. “We used $250,000 from Lighter Capital to hire on developers and build the platform, and within 2-3 months we had sold the new product to multiple large partners. The increased revenue let us pay back the loan within 12 months.”
For many small business owners, the idea of their business becoming debt-free is closer to a fantasy than to reality. However, Glanz showed that it is indeed possible.
Hello SaaS, Goodbye Student Loan Debt
Some entrepreneurs begin their race to success with a disadvantage: they already have debt saddled on their backs. Indeed, with the amounts that colleges cost today, more and more new entrepreneurs will find themselves battling to both keep their business and personal accounts afloat simultaneously.
Chad Billmyer, CEO of Panjo, is a perfect example of this. Before launching his current endeavor, Billmyer founded an earlier company called Foresite Solutions back when he was a junior at Brown University in 2000.
Foresite Solutions was an early SaaS company that created applications for college financial aid offices.
Billmyer first began creating web-based applications for clients with a business partner. His first client was the financial aid office at Brown, which paid him to build an app that would improve the service of the Work Study program. After launching, many other universities desired to have the same type of app and the business took off. In four years, Foresite was cashflow positive.
“In 2005, Nelnet acquired Foresite,” said Billmyer. “I used the proceeds from the acquisition to pay off over $10,000 in student loan debt from my undergrad degree in Economics from Brown.”
Although his success allowed him to pay off his student loan debt, Billmyer doesn’t support the idea of indebted people starting businesses in order to pay off their debts.
“Starting a business to pay off debts is a terrible idea,” he said. “I don’t think most entrepreneurs start business to pay off debts. I think entrepreneurs start businesses to solve their own problems and problems faced by the world.”
Immediate success and lucky acquisitions are rare though. In fact, some entrepreneurs are left with few options aside from funding their businesses with credit cards.
Charging Up a New Business
Vladimir Gendelman, founder of a custom print materials business called Company Folders, started his business with funds from credit cards because it was difficult to get a business loan from a bank.
“Because it was a new business and there was no collateral, I wasn’t able to get a loan for basic needs such as a phone system, website, the software needed to run the business, and office equipment,” said Gendelman. “I was asking for $50,000.”
Using credit cards, he funded his business using $40,000 in credit card charges. Fortunately, these credit cards had zero-percent interest offers that allowed a year to a year-and-a-half to pay off any balance.
“Because I made at least minimum payments on every card, I had a good credit score and was able to leverage more cards one year later in order to transfer the balances and not pay interest again,” said Gendelman. “I kept on doing that until the end of 2007 when I paid everything off.”
For those willing to go down this path, he recommends looking for zero-percent credit card offers from banks with the longest terms possible.
“Try to create a schedule where you will pay off the amount in the allowed period of time, but if for some reason you cannot do that, there is always an option of transferring your balance to another card,” he said.
Even though Gendelman used the high-risk approach of credit card financing to fund his business, he ended up succeeding. Risk is inherent in business, and the initial financing aspect of business is no different. This is even more important for the entrepreneur who is burdened by personal debt, student loans, or commercial financing. As these entrepreneurs have demonstrated though, some quick thinking, determination, and creativity are all that is necessary for a successful business to pay off debt and reap hefty profits.
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A FAIR approach to research
Researchers from across the social sciences and humanities at London Metropolitan University will enjoy more resources thanks to a new initiative.
The Faculty Advanced Institute for Research (FAIR) has been established in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities to encourage further collaboration between the Faculty’s six research institutes.
Nearly forty researchers and administrators have been brought together by FAIR, which aims to make social justice research a priority.
“The idea is to create a more common sharing of resources and to give our researchers the opportunity to promote their work to a wider audience in London and beyond,” said Professor Steve Jefferys, Director of FAIR.
“It also encourages closer links between research and teaching in the Faculty.”
To celebrate the launch of FAIR, a number of events are planned on the 22 November, including seminars, lectures and film screenings in the Tower Building, Holloway campus. A photography exhibition will also be installed in the Faculty.
Designed and written by Sylvie Contrepois, a Reader in the Working Lives Research Institute, the long-term exhibition, called ‘Sphere’, explores the theme of identity.
“The photographs will highlight the importance of research in the Faculty, both externally and internally,” added Professor Jefferys.
FAIR is currently working on 27 different projects worth £3.5m, reflecting the quality of research being done in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at London Met. With emphasis now being placed on stronger collaboration and interdisciplinary support, it seems the Faculty’s research output will only get better.
Find out more about the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at London Met.
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Lindsay Lyons
Virtual Teaching Starter Kit
Creating A Culture Of Coaching with Romain Bertrand
I am so excited to kick off our inaugural Time for Teachership podcast episode, with my amazing guest, Romain Bertrand. He works at BetterLesson and full transparency, I contract with them as well. And so I'm so excited to call him a colleague. Romain is known for his work as an innovative, personalized learning leader, blogger (see his posts on blended learning and coaching), consultant, coach, and practitioner. He has done it all during his 20 years in education. He's led numerous educational innovations, including coding and robotics courses and blended and personalized learning programs. He is sharing so much wonderful insight with us today. I can't wait for you to hear it.
Lindsay Lyons:
Hello, Romain, and welcome to the Time for Teachership podcast. I am super excited for our listeners to hear from you today and talk about the culture of coaching. Romain is the Senior Manager of Solution Design at BetterLesson, and he works with instructional coaches and leaders has a ton of expertise on blended and personalized learning.
And I think will be a great start to our podcast and just talking through what it looks like to support teachers in this day of COVID and uncertainty in everything. So welcome, Romain.
Romain Bertrand:
Thank you. Hello Lindsay. How are you?
Lindsay Lyons:
Good. Thank you. I would love to kind of frame the episode by thinking about three big components. One being, you know, our listeners are folks who think big in education. They have big transformative dreams. They want really the best of education to come to light in their school systems. We'll kind of move into what that looks like in terms of what they're needing to do to take action or what steps they can take to make those dreams a reality. And then we'll kind of finish up with how listeners can really live out their values and what's something that they can do in the next week or so to really feel that momentum and act on those dreams. So in terms of starting out, I'd love to think about. Recently, I've been inspired by Bettina Love. I read her book, We Want to Do More Than Survive, and it was amazing. This idea of freedom dreaming and thinking about "dreams grounded in the critique of injustice." I would love to know, like, what's your vision for schools for the system of education? What is the dream that you hold when you think about what education could be?
Great question to get started in such a great book. So I love the reference. I think that for me, when I read a book, what resonated with me is realizing how even when you think that you were working toward freedom and liberation of students that have been oppressed in doing so, you can perpetuate a system of oppression and intent doesn't matter. The impact is there, right? And one of the simplest ways for me to ground my vision is to talk about this evolution in my career, from this focus on closing the achievement gap, which for a while I thought was the right thing to do. I was either teaching in a school who had a diverse student population, but would be somehow segregated by courses, honors AP. And so within that same school, you would clearly see this achievement gap playing out, right? You would see a majority of white students in advanced placement courses and a majority of students of color in other courses.
And so my, my first reaction is to say, well, we've got to work really hard at closing this gap and this difference. And we've got to give the students more and, we have to figure out how we can support them, "they're behind blah, blah, blah," all of that thing. Right? But then slowly being able to have people help me open the eyes to really the fact that when we focus on the achievement gap, we actually focus on the product of a systemic racist system. And so the solutions we employ them, are not solutions that are really trying to dismantle this system. And if anything, they actually using measures of success that are by themselves. Oh, is he already racist? They're using that in trying to prove them wrong. Are they trying to increase standardized test results by 40% in a year? When we know that this is not really possible and it's, or if it's possible, it's not going to be done in a way that is going to be transformative for the learning path and the learning experience of students in my look good on the resume of a principal on a report card of a school, but it's not really gonna dramatically change the trajectory and experience of a student, right?
So I think the biggest reframing from me has been going to, from focusing on closing the achievement gap, to trying to talk and think about what is the opportunity gap in our school right now, because it's really a gap in opportunities. And when you reframe the achievement gap to a gap in opportunities, instead of looking at deficiencies, possibly in students and gaps to be closed or learning losses, you start looking at the opportunities that you are not offering your students and in particular, your students of color, how does that manifest itself, how your biases manifest themselves in the school. And...when you start really tackling this question, I feel like you can start really thinking about reframing the debate and dream about a different education system with very different foundations from the one we have now, as opposed to trying to close the gap within the very narrow frame of the current system we have in place.
I love that answer. Cause I think it takes us back to, you know, why are we even doing education? Like what is the goal here in all of this? And so opening that up for dreaming about what those goals are, and that could be different, you know, for each school, for each teacher. But collectively determining as a community, you know, with all stakeholders, what does that look like? I love that. Thank you. In terms of what you've been talking to leaders about lately, I'm sure the question of how do we support teachers during COVID, you know, "What do we do? What's the right way forward?" How have you been really thinking about this struggle for leaders to support teachers in this time that is just very uncertain and everyone's kind of tense and anxious all around? What has been kind of your thinking about that? Or what do you say to leaders who ask you those kinds of questions?
I think it's, first of all, it's important to acknowledge how difficult a time it's been for school leaders This spring and summer, it has been incredibly stressful. It has been for them feeling like there was absolutely no break this year, right? Like school leaders always work hard. But when you know what the first day of school is going to look like in terms of schedule and terms of buses in terms of meals, all the things that you take for granted, usually right there, like water coming out of a faucet this year, they weren't, we didn't know where they were going to be. We didn't know in which modality we were going to be. We didn't know if we were going to start from a distance. So with the hybrid schedule, which hybrid schedule, if we start in a building, what are the guidelines that we really have to apply?
So that constantly moving target for them has created an enormous amount of stress. And when I meet them to support them where their design of professional development for their staff or design of, their distance learning plan or hybrid learning plan for students, I see the weight that this has on them and how difficult it is for them to continue to approach this also as in opportunity. And I'm not trying to find a silver lining to the situation because it's a very difficult situation, but it's also a moment sometime to pause and say, okay, well we have to do things a bit differently. We don't have a choice. Our schedule is going to look very different. So could it be a moment to actually really think about what we would like to do? What's our vision for quality learning and how does that vision look like in a moment like that?
And if we do that, you're going to find some challenges. You're going to be like, Oh, in our vision for student learning quality conversation between students and authentic collaboration is key. That's, that's what we value when we're in the building. And then if all of a sudden you have to start from a distance, or even if you have to start with a hybrid schedule in small groups in the classroom, in students being apart, physically, all of these create barriers initially toward what is one of your core idea. And so it's easy to just say, you know what, we're going to put it aside for now. And we're just going to try to do the best we can, but that cannot be one of our priorities, right? So when you help people rethink about their vision, they can see certain things emerging as challenges to achieve this, this vision.
But the irony, I think of this moment too, is that there are new opportunities because of certain things that we have finally decided to give a try to, in terms of using technology or using different types of schedules or in all of a sudden, we're discovering that our students can do a lot more than we thought they could do with a medium teachers as well. And we also unlocking possibilities, right? And so I think that to go back to your initial question, I think that my main focus right now is to try to help people continue to work toward what is their core vision for quality learning, trying to help them realize that the school they had created the identity they had created does not have to disappear due to this moment. And if anything, we should continue to travel with it in any of the realities we're in.
And that actually doing this can make things a lot easier, ultimately, because we're going to be creating systems that are focused on the same big ideas. And we're going to figure out a way to have them translate from reality to another, right. So I'm trying to help them do that. But I also am trying to help them not fall for the replication of, in the building systems that do not need to be replicated in the online space, but that we sometimes naturally do, just because that's the only thing we know. Well, because it hides some major issues we have around a lack of trust in students, and I'm trying to help them also avoid that. So it's like continuing to work toward your vision, not replicating the systems of oppression for the most part that you had in your buildings, using that as an opportunity and a moment to say, you know what, maybe we can do something different with that. Right. And so in a nutshell, that's how I would summarize like what almost every single meeting with school leaders is right now.
I love so much of what you said there, I'm connecting a lot to that, kind of barrier that we have where we don't fully trust students. I hear that a lot in some of the questions that I don't necessarily think, teachers, as they ask them are realizing kind of that, that it's there. And sometimes by just calling attention to it, there's this really powerful rethinking that can occur, where we realize, Oh, when we center student’s voice and we just make that shift, the possibilities are endless. Cause now we're, co-creating now we have the engagement because students are buying in because they help to create, you know, how we're learning, what we're learning, how they're demonstrating learning. So I think that piece is, is huge that you hit on that, that unearthing kind of what we're, what our relationships with students are like. Do we see them as, you know, kiddos who have to take in what we say and be quiet and compliant, or do we see them as kind of co-constructors of the learning and we put that trust in them?
So, absolutely. And the other thing I was thinking about was how you said defining their core vision. So you as kind of a coach of leaders are helping the leaders to say, what is it that I want to work on? What is my vision for the year? And I also think that translates to, you know, leaders, instructional leaders of the building, supporting teachers to do the work in pedagogically or designing curriculum, whatever that is in the classroom and kind of the importance of visioning to ground, the coaching work. Do you have any tips for leaders who are really taking on that instructional leader role this year and want to really hone in on what that looks like to be an instructional leader for their teachers?
So to me, it starts with liberating yourself from the obsession with numbers when it comes to standardized testing. I think that it's an even around the country, we have different cultures obviously, from district to district, from state to state, but there, is a really huge amount of pressure placed on school years around standardized testing. And if we want to identify ways, our system is racist. That pressure, that amount of pressure is not the same. If you are the school leader of a school with a majority of students of color or of your school leader of a school with a majority of white students. And let's say in an affluent suburb, that pressure does not look the same. The consequences of not meeting your numbers are not the same. The stress level put on your teachers is not the same, the turnaround, the turnover, the burnout, all of this, right.
We can name them. And I think, I think it's really important to not have empty talks about racism and equity in our school right now. It's really important to help people materialize. How does that exist? Because otherwise, people will start to say, well, these are just like big ideas. People are just trying to wake, et cetera, et cetera. So we have to really spell it out in our schools right now if you work in a school where the majority of students are students of color, you experience a much more stressful job than you experience it in another school. And not really because of the students, mostly because of the incredible amount of pressure put on you. And so, unfortunately for a while, I was seeing school leaders visioning too much with a number in mind, and that translates into "This year, we'll see X percent of students proficient and we'll see, Y percent of students growing, we'll see an improvement of Z percent over this."
And I'm not against that. I think it's important that we keep in mind that we have to have a high expectation for students and that they should be growing in relation to different measures, which we'll go back to this. But right now we, we're focusing only on one and that's a problem, but what we need to really spell out if we're visioning is how do we want our students to learn? What kind of experience do we value? What skills do we value growing on our students? What soft skills do we value going in our students? What culture do we want to build in each of our classrooms, in our hallway? Because I think that it is your way of actually achieving results. You don't do it just for the results you do it because that's what you want to lead a school. You want to create a space that has a personality that has a history that is a community.
And if you do this well, results will follow. But the first thing to do is to think about redefining, who we are, what we believe in. So my first tip would be to say, put the number aside for a second, a little bit. What is the quality learning experience you want to see your students have in every classroom and why? And we can't answer this question for you. We can help you answer this question as a team or individual, but it's really a personal journey. And it's really personnel we give to, to a school. The second advice I would give that is kind of relevant to this school year is that once you have extracted these big ideas, start thinking about what they can mean concretely in the different forms of learning that our students could be experiencing this year, as we might be shifting from distance learning to hybrid schedule, to being back in the building while having a group of students possibly still attending remotely, try to do the work of figuring out how does that look like in each of these realities?
So let's take a very concrete example that I think we talked about a little bit before. If you're saying regardless of where we are and how we're learning, we feel like our students should be collaborating every day. And here's why I will believe that this is an incredibly valuable skill that they will take to the workplace. We'll believe that's also how they can create a meaningful relationship with their peers. They're learning how to give feedback all of that, right? Then we should work really hard. I try not to say when we're in distance learning mode and everybody's home and teachers are teaching virtually, how does collaboration look like when we meet students synchronously when students are working asynchronously and how do we support teachers to be able to continue to have these collaborative spaces, even though the distance is there. And we can't use the excuse of distance or technology, because we actually know that there is an alpha there to figure out ways to do this, but we have to support teachers.
We have to support students who don't have access to the technology or to quality wifi. And then we have to teach the skills and the tools necessary to be able to do it. And that takes work. But what is beautiful this year is if you focus that work on collaboration from a distance, the day you can move half of your kids to the classroom or all of your kids to the classroom, guess what all these skills they are going to carry with them to the classroom. And one of the most interesting things we see right now is that in those schools that are using a hybrid schedule or in the schools that are coming in the building with 80% of their students, five days a week, it is still a, it's still really challenging to organize physical small groups. So when, when people are trying to focus on collaboration in the classroom, they find themselves very often thinking about the lesson plan, almost the same way they would have thought about a very, a collaborative distance learning lesson plan.
And so if you put in the work to make this happen, when we're in distance learning, odds are that you're going to continue on that path. When you go back in the classroom, you're not going to revert back to something that is way less collaborative because of the investment you made in that initially. And so I think that that is something we have to help people do this year. We have to help them break down their vision and make it concrete in a virtual space, make it concrete in a, in a physical space and try to see the connection between both.
I love that you talk specifically about the "look fors" like what it—listing out—what does it actually look like? Right when we go into either a hybrid environment or a distance learning environment. And I'm, I'm just thinking about teachers who are wondering or even leaders who are wondering how am I going to do observation this year? What does that even look like? What do I prioritize? And I think that's something that I know I've been able to, to see some of the stuff that you've put together around student look fors for student voice and choice in the classroom and blended learning in the classroom in previous years that I think is really applicable now. And when we think about, you know, how teachers are evaluated, if we kind of say, culturally responsive teaching is important to us, or collaboration is important to us, but then we don't actually measure that or make that meaningful for an evaluative formal thing.
When we're talking about teacher success and teacher quality, that that really doesn't align right with our values with our actions. And so I, I'm curious, if a leader wants to design something like this, like a look for list, what are some of the things that I know you've created lists like this before, and, and kind of working with leaders to help them implement lists like this? What are some things that you would recommend encouraging leaders again, to kind of think beyond that? As you said, the numbers there and what might be things that they should look like in the class—look at in the class.
Yeah, that's a really good question. I, so I think the first thing I want to say about this topic of look fors and observation. We have to be extremely careful this year. And I think we can use a classroom analogy. Any good teacher will really not want their students to have a summative assessment while being blindsided all year around. What's going to be on that summative assessment, right? So the, we don't have to worry about evaluations right now. Unfortunately they do have to worry about evaluation for compliance reasons, probably like we have to do them, but the major flaw right now is we have to already think about evaluation, but we haven't really created a tool that helps teachers self-assess in relation to distance learning or the flexible learning to be able to see, see, okay, so these are the expectation or this is what can be, this is what can be done in an environmental quality.
This is where I'm at. This is how I could get better. And this is how you could help me. And if we're trying to think about evaluation before having thought about the other thing, it's going to be very challenging and unfair for teachers. And last year it was already very difficult. But last year I think we had removed a lot of the accountability measure measures for students. We had paused on, on some of the accountability measures for staff, but we can feel this here, that these are being reintroduced. So, but we have to make sure first and foremost, that we reintroduce systems of self-assessment and support systems of professional development before we think about evaluation, right? So now, how could we, how can we help leaders actually have created a tool that I use with leaders in sessions and workshops or, or an individual strategic planning session where we, we help them a vision.
And then we break down learning into four pillars, synchronous and asynchronous, of course, right now are important. But we also try to focus on culture of coaching and relationship building and, the use of data for feedback and culture and relationship building and use of data for feedback exists in both the synchronous and asynchronous reality. So we help them break down, instruction into these four pillars, and then the tool and our support help them identify what are things you look for in a classroom when you walk in and you're observing a class where students seem to be working independently at their own pace on possibly different objectives that happened in our class. And we should be encouraging that that might be students working on a project-based unit. And we see different students working on a different topic at a different pace. And so they had a different phase of the project.
If you're walking in a classroom, you're observing a classroom working this way, what do you look for in the students? What'd you? What do you want to see? What, what do you want to see in educators? How what's the role that they should be playing? What does quality look like? They're right. Let's define that right in the building. And then, yeah, we can start thinking about defining what asynchronous learning looks like in distance learning. And part of it is thinking about how some of what we saw in the classroom happening during these asynchronous learning time can translate into a student's working on a project, evidence of progress, and teachers providing feedback asynchronously. We see things that we can try to translate to the other reality. We see things that have to be completely invented and created because it's a new medium. So we try to help them do this work so that they can start figuring out, how they can support their stuff.
And honestly, when you do this exercise, the first thing that comes to their mind is not really evaluation. You can feel that they're saying something like, Oh gosh, if really this is what's possible. And what teachers could be doing in that medium have better prepare them for that. Because, because last year we didn't set the bar there, right. So if we're going to set the bar there this year, then we ahead of evaluation. We have to think about how we support teachers to be able to do this. Right. And I don't know if with a podcast we can share resources, but if you want, I can give you this template that we talked about and we can add it. Because I know you'd like to geek out on it.
I'm such a teacher nerd. That is awesome. Thank you so much for being willing to share that. I appreciate that. And it's, it's, I mean, just the things that you create are really wonderful. So I just want to say, like, it is totally, totally useful to take a look at that. And I just want to highlight a couple of things that you said that I think are really important. One of which, like, things are transferable, I think in some of the workshops that I've been doing lately, you know, asking teachers to start with, what, what did this look like in the classroom? One of the most common things I hear is, well, we would do a think pair share, and I can't do that at a distance. And then it's like, okay, well, do you have access to breakout rooms? What if we did it in this way? How about we do Google Doc commenting? Okay. A student doesn't want to write in there, they're struggling with written language. What if we use Vocaroo as a tech tool to add that audio link in the google.com? It's like just, just, I think starting with, what did this look like in the physical classroom can really help people brainstorm? What could this look like?
I think you're right. I read a lot of people were just like, always warning us from like this idea of trying to replicate what we're doing in the classroom. But there is, there is a difference between replicating exactly what was happening in the classroom, especially if it wasn't a good idea in the first place. And we're replicating it because we think that's what we needed to do. And thinking about good teaching simply and what they look like in the classroom to try to get us to be inspired and create something similar from a distance. There's a big difference between these two things, right? But we see both of these things happening right now. My son was telling me this morning that there's a new trend among his teachers this week. And I don't know why, but it is. And I'm sure going to try to say that in the nicest way it is to put students in individual breakout rooms in zoom while they do their independent work.
And also according to him, not necessarily swinging by his room to have a one on one conversation with them or to check on him. He's just being put in an individual breakout room. And then at the end of the lesson, he's brought back, and you're like, is it, is it an effort to replicate a class where single desk rows, independent, silent work for 30 minutes, but you can't leave the room unless you have a pass or...? If that's the case, actually it doesn't work because if you don't swing by the room, the computer could be on and they could just be doing something else. Right. But it's really interesting, right? It's really trying to replicate something that is already not necessarily practice that we want to be encouraged for independent work, but also with what we're living right now, our kids more than ever collaborative breakout spaces, they miss their peers that never get to see them.
They never will get to work with them. Right? And so that's an example of like, we're trying to replicate and we see people testing this way. Right now we see people, we see people having to give a summative assessment or, or at least a quarterly assessment, as the map test and choosing to have a closet zoom in for two hours, or being asked to have a class zoom in for two hours. So that we want to try to avoid because it's really, really counterproductive. And it really kind of kills students' joy for this is learning. But then we see other things like the other day, I was seeing somebody who had just created this simple slide to open our class every day that had a timer with a countdown that had some music playing in it that has some nice encouraging messages for students.
It adds some prompts for their chitchat. In the beginning, a question, they could ask each other and it was encouraging them to come into the room and chat with each other. And it starts like five or seven minutes before the class actually really starts. And the teacher was just saying, you know since I started doing this, I see more and more people showing up on time or even early because they want to catch up with their friends. Right. So in that particular example, you're trying to recreate something maybe that will be from the classroom, like on arrival early in my class, I get to chit chat when my teacher, when I'm walking out the door and maybe if she's nice when I come in and I get to catch up with my friends who a little bit, we're talking, maybe she plays a little music in there and that makes me feel like we're part of a community, right? And so it's like trying to replicate what students need from the old model while not trying to replicate what actually they didn't need is a great time to part from, and I think that that's, that's, that's that work that we have to support teachers doing. And a lot of them are doing it by themselves. They'd be very creative and then try to figure that out, but we got to support them better and more.
Awesome. I was just noting, there are so many great, like key ideas here is just kind of working backward from all of the great ideas that you had shared today. And so I'm going to try to recap some, but please feel free to jump in. If I miss anything I heard really the big idea is starting with a vision starting to clarify, like, where are we going? And then embedding in kind of, I think leader coaching as well as teacher coaching, that self-assessment piece. So that critical awareness of like, what do, where do I want to go as an individual as well, who is a member of the school community and supporting the school vision, but where am I right now? And then enabling teachers to ask for help around that specific place that they want to get to. I know that the way that your coach is very vision-oriented.
And so saying, you know, I want to support a leader to achieve that dream that they have, or, or a teacher to support a dream that they have. It starts really with that self-assessment of, of self, right? How do I teach her? How do I lead currently? Where do I want to go? Can you help me with this? And I think when we're talking about instructional leadership this year, that's critical. And then I also heard the look fors, not with the intention necessarily to evaluate, but the look fors and writing those specifically down, what do I want to see in the class as a way to think about the support you want to offer to your teachers this year and the workforce perhaps connected even to that self assessment and the teacher vision, right? Like where do my teachers want to go, let's connect what we're trying to do as a school, to those individual visions and how do I then work backward to support them? Yeah, absolutely.
Even if it's the year to really do away with random walkthroughs in a classroom it's this year. And if we could replace this by, "Hey, I'd like to come to see you tomorrow, teach one of your live class to support, to give some feedback after do some coaching. What is a good moment to come tomorrow? And during that moment, what are you interested in me paying attention to what, what feels challenging right now? What are you working on? What are you trying to improve during your live meetings with students?" Right. So trying to, so when you do that, work of talking to a teacher briefly before going to see them and asking them what they want to get better at most of the time, they'll tell you, and then you can create these look for us for what we're observing. Right. And you can also realize through that exercise when they're not even imagining that something can be possible in the medium and that you can help them see, what's not possible right before that you have to have that conversation before. So yeah, definitely. It's very important to try to determine this look fors with the teacher, collaboratively.
Awesome. And then as, as thinking about the leaders who are trying to decrease the anxiety of teachers who are shifting to the distance space, I'm also hearing kind of, we're not looking for replication for replication sake, but we're looking for purpose-driven replication. So if we are, you know, trying to replicate the community that students have been missing, because they can't go over to their friend's house anymore, you know? Yes, that purpose is valuable to student learning. We're going to replicate that into distance space versus replication because this is "how the school has always been done."
I love that term that you coined, we're looking for a "purpose-driven replication" and purpose drove innovation too, right? At the same time. It's a good moment to realize when, when there is something that actually has to be reinvented for space, Oh. That we have to do very differently because of this space. And if you allow me, cause I know we're almost at time, I'd like to share an example for that one right now, something that I think we're going to have to realize has to happen. That is actually good news, which is that one thing that we cannot replicate well right now, especially if we're doing distance learning is assessing via long multiple-choice tests. The good news is it was already not a good thing in a classroom before, but we were doing it because it was the easiest laziest way that we had found to hold people accountable and to measure growth and impact.
Well in the medium, we're all learning that this is incredibly impossible. We're starting to see people will try to do it despite that, and in doing so, trying to police student's environment and home and their parents in a way that is so inappropriate. People need assessments though. And they need to give feedback. They need to be able to give feedback to students. Students need assessments too. So you didn't see in the motivation of doing a task and getting some feedback on it, getting a sense that they succeeded in getting a sense of what they can do better essential. Right? And so I think that we're discovering that this medium, for us to think about different ways to assess that we definitely should be focusing on assessing in a more authentic, shorter way, in a way that is more embedded in a task. And with distance running a very simple idea, we have to add the student's voice to the assessment.
We have to add a dimension where the student is able to explain an idea that a video of your podcast, as opposed to just having them picking some solutions, right. And that is one of the best ways a teacher can actually either live or recorded, really hear their student thinking and be able to, um, to catch them in action. And that is actually beautiful because that's something that in our assessments for a while, while we were in prioritizing anymore, we were in prioritizing student presentation of projects and in standardized assessment, but maybe this is going to help us reprioritize this piece.
I love that. And there's so much there that is central to curriculum design, to pedagogy, to student voice and student-centeredness that I think if there's anywhere to start, at least for me, it would be there. And so thinking about, you know, if we're talking about redefining curriculum and pedagogy, let's start with, how are we assessing students? And I love that you specifically use the language of feedback with an assessment. It's not about the grade as a static thing. Like this is the label we're putting on this child's expertise, but it is a constant evolutionary process. We're on the path towards mastery and you know, where are we? And we need that feedback to help us get there. So I love that and I would encourage leaders to use language like that to be intentional. Yeah. So the final thing I think I'm, I'm interested in is if you could just pick, we talked about a lot of things, but if you could just say one thing that a leader could start with tomorrow, that they could do to really support teachers to really live in alignment with this, this value of, um, racial justice in schools and culturally responsive teaching be like the best leader they can be. What would that one thing be to start?
Ideally, it would be scrap all the old assessments and change the way we're assessing students and change the way you're assessing yourself too. Because if, if we did that for administrators and for students, we would see a completely different school. We're going to live under the assumption that we can not necessarily do that right this year at the moment. So I think we have to create a culture of coaching, of comfort awareness and comfort around critical conversations about race and racism. We have to model that work ourselves as leader, without staff. And then we have to create the spaces where we can have these experiences, and, and teachers can start having conversations around how is our system racist right now, inequitable. And what does it mean to extract that without you feeling all right away, that you're like, you're a horrible person and you're just like tensing up and closing up because of that?
So, definitely one of the keys for a school leader would be to start engaging, have staff engage in those experiences. And this is not an easy thing to do yourself if you've never done it. And so, there are many organizations out there, including mine who are offering workshops that can really help teachers go from awareness to then eventually action too, and to follow that continuum. It's...one of my dreams for the education system is to say school leaders will have the money and will believe that investing their money in training like that is going to be creating a dramatic transformation for their staff and students.
There's so much in what you said that I would love to like do the conversation for another hour to think about, about unpacking that. But I love the priority there on learning, modeling, learning, modeling, discomfort in the learning journey as a leader and really making space for, for adults to learn as a staff, because that's what we're asking students to do every day, come in, be uncomfortable grow. And I think prioritizing racial justice is so critical to our work. This is also a great example of how leaders and teachers can model for students. I'm willing to put in this work. You know, I am willing to do this tough stuff and I'm willing to go on that learning journey, just like I asked you to go on that learning journey every day. So I love that.
Yeah. And so I think that's the start. And then if I were to, if you give me a chance to add a second thing, which has, I know I wasn't in the plan, try to a culture of coaching, try to create a culture for, people feeling comfortable receiving feedback from leaders and peers, people feeling comfortable helping others grow at something that, they're not yet an expert at trying to create avenues for people to open the doors of their classroom and invite the peers or go see their peers and, and grow and invest in each other. I feel like a school leader that can invest in creating a culture of coaching can really transform a school. I had a principal 10 years ago, Allison Welcher who was so focused on creating a culture of coaching in our school in a real culture of coaching with, with school leaders who could be evaluator, but for, for a certain group of teachers in the building would not be the evaluator and we'll put the coaching hat on and we just help people weekly or biweekly getting better at what they do.
And when you create a culture like that, people, people crave that people want that type of support. And so workshops are great, but if we really want to go from awareness to action, we have to personalize the support we give to people. Because some of this work is really hard. And, and so it's not going to happen just after a workshop like this. Well, after listening to a podcast.
Excellent point, this is not just a one-time event, right? This is a, I've been talking about adaptive challenges and adaptive leadership lately. And it is, it is an adaptive challenge, right? We have to truly adapt our underlying mindsets and beliefs and all this stuff to make that change happen. So I know you briefly mentioned a better lesson. It has workshops on racial justice, on coaching, on all sorts of stuff. Um, where can either connect with you directly connect with your organization, learn more about all that stuff that they could do to continue their learning journey?
Yeah. So you can go to BetterLesson.com and you will find already all the free resources, lesson plans from our master teachers, we just launched a brand new master teacher program with 21 educators in the Kansas city area who are implementing culture, responsive strategies in a classroom. And, and we've been able to capture them in action and you can go there and see what they do and get inspired and try to do this with kids. And it's really not just a site. When you go get a worksheet, it's like you go and you see videos of the class and you see the whole unit, right. So you can really get that. You can also there see what we offer for professional development and all the workshops. And we have created a lot of workshops to support people with distance and flexible learning right now.
And so definitely go to BetterLesson.com. You can also follow us on social media and Facebook and Twitter at better lesson for me on Twitter, you can find me on Instagram @HTDcompletely, which a lot of people think means after they meet me, how to differentiate completely because they think, you know, he's an education geek and all that, but it's actually inspired by a Radiohead song called How to Disappear Completely. And if there's one thing you do after this podcast is going to listen to this song by Tom York, then I'll be really happy.
I never knew that. That is so amazing. I'm going to have to go listen to that song. Well, thank you so, so much for being on this podcast. I'm so excited that I got to kick it off with you. And I think there's so much in here for leaders, I'm excited for them to listen. And if leaders who are listening, want to share what your biggest takeaways were. Absolutely, please share that on social media, share this episode with folks. I think there's, there's so much in there that I think it can't just remain in our individual earbuds. We gotta spread the word. Yeah.
Awesome. Thank you so much for the chance to talk with you. Of course. Thank you.
Template to Create a Vision and Aligned Look For for Distance and in Person Learning
Thanks for listening. Amazing educators. If you loved this episode, you can share it on social media and tag me @LindsayBethLyons, or leave a review of the show. So leaders like you will be more likely to find it, to continue the conversation you can head over to our Time for Teachership Facebook group and join our community of educational visionaries until next time leaders continue to think big act brave and be your best self.
Lindsay is a educator and leadership coach who helps teachers develop engaging project-based curricula, fosters student and teacher voice, and works to advance racial and gender equity and culturally responsive practice.
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Daniel Cousens
Corporate Partner, Warsaw
“I have enjoyed working with the leading regional corporate groups and international investors on their acquisitions and joint ventures across Turkey, Ukraine, CEE and Russia over the last 15 years and am fortunate to have advised clients through to positive outcomes on some of the most significant and challenging transactions in diverse and sometimes difficult jurisdictions.”
Dan is an English law qualified lawyer who has been based in the firm’s Warsaw office since 2006. He advises international corporates, private equity sponsors and strategic investors on M&A (private and public) deals, inbound and outbound investments in emerging Europe, particularly in Turkey, Ukraine, the CEE and Poland.
Dan leads the firm’s Warsaw Corporate/M&A practice and co-heads the firm's Turkey desk and is a member of the firm’s CEE and CIS teams.
Before moving to Warsaw, Dan spent five years in the firm’s Moscow office advising on a wide range of cross-border corporate transactions. Early on in his career, Dan worked for the European Commission and for a UK non-governmental organisation on conflict resolution projects in Georgia.
Dan has led on many of the CEE region’s major transactions and has also worked with our disputes team on a number of arbitrations in the region. His transaction experience includes advising:
DCH on the acquisition of the DMZ steel mill from Evraz plc
Qatari-based beIN Media Group on the acquisition of Turkish pay-TV provider Digitürk
Akfen in relation to the sale of their 40% interest in Mersin port and their 8.12% interest in TAV
Yildiz Holding, Turkey's largest food and beverage company, on its acquisition of United Biscuits from Blackstone and PAI Partners
UniCredit Group on its sale of UkrSotsBank to Alfa Group’s ABH Holdings, a privately owned Luxembourg-based company for banking activities in the CIS
private equity sponsors TRG (formerly CVCI) and Apollo on their investment in the Karavan group, which holds three shopping centres in Ukraine, from 2011 to 2016, including a potential amendment of investment terms, the purchase with DCH Group of the majority shareholders’ interest in the group, the resulting joint venture with DCH group and, finally, on the sale by TRG and Apollo of their interest to DCH Group
Founder member of TWDW – Warsaw’s largest amateur rowing club.
Dan studied English and French law at University College, London and Université Aix-Marseille
He speaks English, French, Russian and Polish.
daniel.cousens@linklaters.com
Add to your Outlook contacts
Country of Admission
UK (England & Wales)
Profiles in
Profiles in Poland Profiles in
Profiles in Corporate/M&A Profiles in
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PG-13 for possibly being the most intense Bond movie. There's the regular alcoholism and chauvinism, coupled with violence. But it is all just much more. There's nudity without actual genitalia being on screen. Major characters die absolutely tragic deaths. But the violence is actually about the intensity rather than the fun of it all. There's a pretty memorable torture scene. Daniel Craig's Bond is punishing. While I adore this movie, it probably will be the last Bond movie I'll eventually show my kids. PG-13.
DIRECTOR: Martin Campbell
Apparently, when you want to redefine James Bond, you call Martin Campbell. I'll explain why in a second.
It's so odd that when I actually have the time constraints of a workday, I find these little nuggets of time to write. The few minutes between classes, I accrue these minutes like precious moments of time. It's either that or look at my phone and that I know is a waste of time. But when I'm home for Thanksgiving break, there's no scenario where I can actually get quiet writing time. So I took Thanksgiving Break for what it was: a break. I oddly didn't watch a lot of movies during break. It was all about Star Trek: Discovery for me. But it is good to come back. It's so funny that I knew that Casino Royale was going to be my next movie, a movie I really wanted to write about for weeks. But if something is ever going to get the ball rolling again, it's a movie that I really want to write about.
It's so odd that I'm almost at the end of my Bond watching. I mean, I have to go back and knock out some of the early Connery films. I apparently havent' watched Dr. No to Thunderball at least in four years. I never thought I would confidently be able to say that. I've established that I used to have the Bond movies on a regular loop. It's just that there are so many movies that I'll never be able to see and it's weird revisiting something that is so comfortable. But that's why I absolutely adore Casino Royale. I love this movie so much. I think a lot of people do. It might be a nearly perfect James Bond movie. Unlike GoldenEye, which was also directed by Martin Campbell, Casino Royale was never meant to be part of the same canon as the previous movies. Normally I'd huff about such a thing. After all, those movies are really enjoyable and reboots often seem lazy. But the Bond movies also have a terrible mythology. They often ignore their own character bible if the story suits it. It's really weird that Ernst Starvo Blofeld often has a hard time recognizing James Bond, despite the fact that they keep on meeting. As part of what is necessary to make a good reboot, Casino Royale somehow wins by dumping my favorite elements of a James Bond movie. Gone is Q and Moneypenny, for now. There are gadgets, but they are possibly the most practical gadgets ever. A portable defibulator doesn't even feel like spy-fi so much as something that we should all have in our cars. But most depressing is the gunbarrel.
Oh, I know the gunbarrel teases its way into the opening, pre-credit sequence. (Also, the credit sequence is my favorite sequence of all. Just putting that out there.) But Casino Royale takes a lot of its cues from Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins. One of the staples of the Bond movies is that it never really develops the character of James Bond. That seems to be a broad swipe at a long running franchise, but 007 has always been more plot and spectacle motivated than actual mythology motivated. One of the few actual sticking points that kind of / sort of sticks around is the death of Tracy in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, which is why I kind of love that movie. But even that death doesn't really affect the other movies too much. Bond seems to be on a warpath at the beginning of Diamonds are Forever, although that film never directly addresses On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Bond visits the grave of Tracy at the beginning of For Your Eyes Only. There are also some veiled nods to the fact that Bond is a widower. But that's really about it. As a contrast, Casino Royale completely embraces that James Bond himself should have needs and character motivations. I don't think that I'm the only one who has subconsciously named Casino Royale "Bond Begins". It is about the man. While the pre-credit sequence may be about how the man got the number, he really isn't the James Bond of legend until the end of the film. While I haven't watched Quantum of Solace in years, I know that they tried extending that mythology into the second of Craig's films unsuccessfully.
So no gunbarrel and no Bond theme...until the end. That's because Craig's era is very focused on making sure that these stories have a coherent mythology for the character. They want him to grow. Or shrink. Maybe that's what's more telling about Craig's characters through these movies. He spends the film as the dynamic character. The beginning of the movie is almost him playing secret agent instead of being a secret agent. Yes, he's ruthless, but that's because he was trained to be ruthless. There are warmer sides to this character as Eva Green's Vesper Lynd slides into his life. We see him smile. He becomes vulnerable and sees his job for the toxic mess that it always was. I love that he's about to quit being 007 while on his first mission as 007. What's understood is that Bond is never about the talent. He has the talent from moment one, as shown by the parkour sequence leading into the embassy. Possibly no other secret agent at MI-6 could pull of what he did, despite the fact that he was reprimanded for his actions. But the film is about shrinking him back into the mold and understanding the value for his guardedness. Because at the beginning, Bond is conceptually guarded. He knows that if he lets people into his life, it will weaken him as an agent. But it is when Vesper betrays him at the end (I know it is more complicated than that), he knows what it is like to be vulnerable and how it has weakened him. It's a fireman studying fire versus actually fighting a fire. It's interesting.
And maybe that's why I never really understood the relationship that builds out of Spectre. I've only seen that movie twice. (TWICE! Do you know how many times I've watched the other Bond movies? The answer is "Too many times.") Because Campbell really makes us fall in love with Vesper like Bond falls in love with Vesper. It is low and slow. Honestly, despite having amazing action, there is almost a romance movie quality to Bond and Vesper's relationship. Because the Bond franchise has always kind of had a problem telling us that a woman was capable without letting us simply understand that a woman was capable. I look again to Exhibit A, Christmas Jones from The World is Not Enough. You can tell us all day long that a character is a genius who is not interested in a relationship. But Vesper doesn't have to say anything like that. Instead, we see these two people who genuinely have animosity for one another. Through trust and delicate situations, they actually seem to care for one another. You can see the moment where James Bond stops being 007. It's perfectly timed. It's the shower. Seeing that moment where Bond isn't afraid to look disheveled and perfect. He's not being a bull-in-a-China-shop. He's being a human being who understands what it is like to encounter death for the first time. It's really touching. It's why Vesper's betrayal, as justified as it was, hurt so much. He gave up himself and she took a risk.
Is Vesper a good person at the end though? There's a narrative there that could be explored. Maybe it has been through extended universe novels or something. But Vesper Lynd betrays Bond because she has a boyfriend who is being held hostage. She wears that jewelry as an oath to the one she loves. Yet she does fall in love with James Bond. There's actually a kind of gross thread running through the story of Bond being attracted to women in relationships. We think that Vesper isn't one of these women, but she is. It's this great amount of foreshadowing going throughout. But her attraction and love for Bond is romantic for us, but what about that guy? I mean, she sacrifices her life for not one, but two men. (Although that guy totally died, right? Oh. I just read the Wikipedia article. Apparently he is a character in Quantum of Solace.) But from Vesper's perspective, she is actually kind of betraying this guy who is going to be killed by Le Chiffre.
The last note I want to make about this whole thing is that it is really weird that this is a movie that was adapted from a book about people playing cards. In Fleming's original novel, it was Baccarat. Three movies exist based on this novel, mainly because the Bond people didn't feel it necessary to secure the licenses to a book that thoroughly lacks action. But somehow, Campbell made possibly the most riveting movie out of a kind of boring framework. Look, I like Fleming's novel. But if you are looking for the James Bond of the silver screen, this book doesn't really have it. Yet, the major foundational supports are in the movie. I mean, you probably wouldn't recognize these as the same stories, but it does tell the interesting parts of the tale. Le Chiffre, the Casino Royale, the betrayal, and the torture are all in there. Sure, the other elements are definitely Hollywooded up, but who cares? Considering that a lot of the Fleming adaptations have absolutely nothing to do with their source materials, this is a really impressive feat.
I always used to say that From Russia With Love was my favorite Bond movie. That was the snob in me. It's still my second favorite in the series, but Casino Royale is so darned good that I can't keep pretending that Bond's second outing was his best. Casino Royale has everything that I want in a Bond movie and I won't apologize for that. This movie holds up.
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According to his family members, John Dawson was already drawing at the age of three. He can’t recall a time when he didn’t know that art would be his life.
Although his love of the outdoors took a while longer to develop, both art and nature quickly became integral parts of his work. But it has only been in the last decade that he has come into his own, gaining recognition as a fine "natural history artist."
After graduation from the Art Center School in Los Angeles, Dawson "paid his dues" at the Phillips Ramsey Advertising Agency in San Diego before deciding to follow his muse to the Sawtooth Mountains of the Wood River Valley in Idaho. There he experienced some tough early freelance years.
Only after trips to New York, Boston and Washington D.C. did Dawson secure enough support to make a living doing what he loved. Since then the artist has painted animals and birds for articles, posters, nature guides, first-class postage stamps and even zoo signs, for such prestigious establishments as the National Geographic, the Audubon Society, the National Park Serice, the National Wildlife Federation and the U.S. Postal Service, among others.
All his works display a meticulous attention to detail, supported by extensive research, interviews, personal experience in the field and eighteen-hour days at the drawing board. Although inspired by the remarkable terrain of the West, Dawson traded that environment for the tropical rain forests of Hawaii after a recent assignment in America’s fiftieth state. He has settled there with his wife, Kathy and has opened his mind to a new wealth of art, possibilities and challenges.
Artist Quote:
Carmel Coast Otters
Tidal Pool Plover
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Canadian Shipowners Association News
Burrows Named President of Chamber of Marine Commerce
The board of directors of the Chamber of Marine Commerce (CMC) has appointed Bruce R. Burrows as President, effective December 1, 2016. Burrows joins the Chamber as the bi-national industry association enters a new chapter, having recently completed a merger with the Canadian Shipowners Association in September. Burrows brings almost 35 years of government relations, business development and consensus-building expertise to the position, with senior leadership roles in the commercial transportation and industry association sectors.
Chamber of Marine Commerce Taps Johnston as Interim President
The board of directors of the Chamber of Marine Commerce has appointed Raymond Johnston as interim President, effective October 1, 2016. Johnston will oversee the implementation of the merger between the Chamber of Marine Commerce and the Canadian Shipowners Association (CSA) announced last week and will lead the association until the recruitment process for a new president is completed. Under the terms of the merger agreement, the Chamber of Marine Commerce and the CSA will be…
Merger Unites Canada/US Shipping Voices
The Chamber of Marine Commerce will assume the assets, liabilities and staff of the Canadian Shipowners Association (CSA) following a new merger agreement that aims to create a united voice for commercial shipping in Canada and the United States. “We’re uniting two organizations that have successfully promoted the interests of commercial marine shipping for many decades,” said Wayne Smith, Chairman of the Chamber of Marine Commerce. “One of our common objectives is to foster a harmonized and efficient regulatory climate throughout the bi-national Great Lakes and St.
For Ferries, Commercial Light at End of Regulatory Tunnel
A review of the ferry industry’s latest challenges and opportunities attracted a record 340 delegates to Vancouver last week for the 39th annual Interferry conference. The global trade association event exposed a string of concerns – notably over punitive safety and environmental regulations – but also highlighted the financial potential of new routes, onboard shopping incentives and the use of LNG fuel. Alongside sessions on the future of the industry, Canada-based CEO Len Roueche outlined a vision for maintaining Interferry’s influential lobbying role among politicians and regulators.
Canadian Shipowners Applaud Government's Icebreaker Response
The Canadian Shipowners Association (CSA) says it is extremely pleased that the Government of Canada is responding to the need for additional icebreaking support on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Waterway, as with another icebreaker, key cargo such as wheat, will move to market quicker. "This is an important move by the Canadian Government to support the Canadian short sea shipping industry on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Waterway," said Robert Lewis-Manning, President of the Canadian Shipowners Association.
Lack of Ice-Breakers Delays Great Lakes Shipping
With the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway facing the thickest and broadest ice cover in years, the Canadian Shipowners Association (CSA) is extremely concerned that Canada's ice-breakers will not be able to create and maintain the routes needed to move key cargo to Canadian and American industries. The Canadian Coast Guard is doing its utmost to work with resources across a large geographical area subject to heavy ice, but this situation is rippling into Canada's transportation and economic system.
Carter Joins St. Lawrence Seaway Board
The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) announced that Gerald Carter has been appointed to its Board for a three-year term. He replaces Ralph Mercier as the representative for the Québec Provincial Government. Gerald Carter comes to the Seaway with a long history in marine transportation . He is a past President of Canada Steamship Lines Inc. (CSL), a major player in the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Seaway system. Mr. Carter joined CSL in the early 1990s as Director of Information Systems.
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Overseas Shipholding Group News
OSG Taps oneTank for BWT Solution for Fleet
Jones Act tanker and ATB operator Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) selected oneTank, a Seattle-based ballast water treatment system manufacturer, to provide an aftpeak ballast water treatment solution for vessels in their fleet.oneTank gained IMO BWMS Code approval in July 2020 and U.S. Coast Guard Type Approval in September 2020. Engineered as a low-cost ($65,000 per system) treatment option intended for vessels that do not need a complex solution, it is light and compact; the system has a footprint of just four square feet and requires only 15 amps of electrical power.
OSG Acquires Alaska Tanker
Overseas Shipholding Group, the tanker company providing energy transportation services for crude oil and petroleum products in the U.S. Flag markets, has entered into agreements with BP Oil Shipping Company USA and BP AMI Leasing to purchase the crude oil carrier vessels operated by Alaska Tanker Company (ATC).OSG currently owns a 37.5% interest in ATC. As part of the above transaction, OSG will acquire the remaining 62.5% interest of ATC that it does not own.According to the publicly traded tanker company…
High-Spec Engines for OSG ATB Barge
The newest articulated barge Gunderson Marine is building for Overseas Shipholding Group will be the first in the world to be dual certified as meeting EPA Tier 3 and IMO III emission standards. The barge is reaching this monumental milestone because of the Volvo Penta engines Gunderson and Pacific Power Group recommended for auxiliary engines that power the cargo pumps and the ship’s service generator sets.The 575-foot-long barge will be flagged as a U.S. vessel and will operate in both U.S. and international waters, which requires the engines meet the stringent emission standards.
OSG Extends Charter of AMSC's Nine Tankers
Florida-based provider of energy transportation services delivering crude oil and petroleum products Overseas Shipholding Group (OSC) and American Shipping Company (AMSC) jointly announced that OSG has exercised options to extend its charter agreements with AMSC for nine vessels currently under charter from AMSC.AMSC is a Norwegian-American shipping and shipyard company and part of the Aker Group."A Charter agreements for five of the vessels were extended for additional three-year terms, commencing from December 2019 and ending in December 2022.
SUNY Maritime to Honor Capt. Robert Johnston
Capt. Robert Johnston ’69 will be awarded an honorary doctoral degree from the State University of New York at SUNY Maritime College’s May commencement ceremony. Johnston will receive the degree and give the commencement speech, addressing the class of 2018 and offering them advice and wisdom as they begin their careers and the next chapter of their lives. “Capt. Johnston is widely respected for his business acumen and comprehensive understanding of the maritime industry,” said Rear Adm. Michael Alfultis, president of SUNY Maritime. “In addition to his contribution to our industry, Capt.
Shipowner OSG, Former CFO, Charged over Tax Evasion
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said it charged on Monday shipping conglomerate Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) and its former chief financial officer Myles Itkin with failing to recognize some $512 million in tax liabilities. OSG, which filed for bankruptcy protection in 2012 after the discovery of the tax liabilities, has agreed to pay a $5 million penalty subject to bankruptcy court approval, and Itkin agreed to pay a $75,000 penalty, the SEC said in a statement. (Reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by Eric Beech)
OSG Joins NYSE "Big Board"
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (NYSE:OSG) (the “Company” or “OSG”) announced today that it has been approved by the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) to transfer its stock listing to the NYSE from the NYSE MKT. The Company’s common stock, which will continue to trade under the ticker symbol OSG, is expected to commence trading on the NYSE effective Tuesday, June 28, 2016. Prior to that date, the Company’s common stock will remain on the NYSE MKT, but trading on the NYSE MKT will cease concurrent with the listing of its common stock on the NYSE.
Charity Banquet to Honor ‘Outstanding Friends of Seafarers’
Seafarers International House will hold its 16th annual awards banquet from 6-10 p.m. on April 21 at the New York Athletic Club. The banquet will honor Marshall Ainley, president of Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA); Ian Blackley, president and CEO of Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG); and Ray Burke, partner at Burke & Parsons. The Setting the Course annual award banquet supports Seafarers International House’s port mission and honors those in the maritime industry who’s achievements have earned them the Outstanding Friend of Seafarers Award. Register here.
OSG Reports $284m Profit In 2015
Overseas Shipholding Group, a provider of oceangoing energy transportation services, reported results for the fourth quarter and full year 2015. The company reported net income of $9.3 million in its fourth quarter. The crude oil and petroleum transportation company posted revenue of $243.7 million in the period. For the year, the company reported profit of $284 million, or 49 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $964.5 million. The Board has declared a dividend of $0.08 per share. “We are pleased to report strong results for the 4th quarter and full year 2015,” said Captain Ian T.
Capital Product Partners Declare Cash Distribution
Capital Product Partners L.P. a Marshall Islands master limited partnership and an international owner of modern tanker, container and drybulk vessels today announced that its board of directors has declared a cash distribution of $0.2385 per common unit for the fourth quarter of 2015 ended December 31, 2015. The fourth quarter common unit cash distribution will be paid on February 12, 2016, to unit holders of record on February 5, 2016. All vessels of Capital Product Partners are under period charters to BP Shipping Limited, Cargill International S.A., CMA-CGM S.A., Cosco Bulk Carrier Co.
Overseas Shipholding Profits Up by 31%
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG, a provider of oceangoing energy transportation services, reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. Adjusted EBITDA was $113.7 million, up 31% from $86.6 million in the same period in 2014. Net income for the first quarter was $42.9 million, compared to $12.6 million in the same period in 2014. Time charter equivalent (TCE) revenues for the first quarter of 2015 totaled $221.6 million, up 3% compared with the same period in 2014 even as revenue days decreased by 18%.
Poseidon to Go Public
Poseidon Containers Holdings, a private equity backed containership operator with an initial fleet of 18 vessels, has filed for an initial public offering. It plans to raise $100 million, which is likely only a placeholder as Poseidon has not specified the number of shares to be offered or the price range. Greece-based Poseidon said it plans to apply to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PCON. Poseidon's initial fleet of 18 container ships includes five Handymax vessels, two Panamax vessels and 11 Post-Panamax vessels.
SCI Presents Silver Bell Awards 2015
A shared passion and concern brought together a diverse group of people from several segments of the maritime industry to celebrate the milestone achievements of three careers and to raise funds to support mariners served by SCI. More than 770 individuals assembled on Thursday, June 4, 2015, at the Seamen’s Church Institute’s (SCI) 38th Annual Silver Bell Awards Dinner in New York City to honor the maritime industry contributions of three individuals. SCI presented Angeliki Frangou…
Sixteen NROTC Cadets Commissioned as Naval Officers
The State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College Naval Reserve Officer Training Corp (NROTC) unit recently celebrated the commissioning of 16 new naval officers, during a ceremony held in the St. Mary’s Pentagon, Fort Schuyler, on the SUNY Maritime campus. Lieutenant Colonel Mike Songster, USMC, Executive Officer of the NROTC unit, served as master of ceremonies. Rear Admiral Michael A. Alfultis, Ph.D., president of SUNY Maritime College, was Guest of Honor at the ceremony, and delivered remarks.
Eagle Bulk Cuts Debt by 80%, Shares Skyrocket
Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc's shares shot up to as much as $15.46 from 68 cents as the company cut its borrowings by about 80 percent after converting debt into equity under a financial restructuring program. The stock was the top percentage gainer on the Nasdaq, with more than 14.4 million shares being traded by 11.46 a.m. ET, over 10 times their 10-day daily average volume. Excess capacity in the past couple of years has forced several shipping companies to file for bankruptcy, including Genco Shipping & Trading Ltd, Overseas Shipholding Group Inc and Nautilus Holdings Ltd.
Netsco Appoints Flores
Netsco announces Jan M. Flores, as Sr. Director of Business Development. Flores comes to Netsco from OSG (Overseas Shipholding Group) where he headed the FSO Group and was responsible for Business Development in the Offshore market. Prior to his assignment with the FSO Group, Flories was the OSG Technical Project Manager overseeing the development of the MT Overseas Cascade and the MT Overseas Chinook. Flores has also worked for Crowley Maritime Corporation as Manager of New builds in their Technical Services Group.
Maritime Academy Awarded DHS Grant for Arctic Training
Maine Maritime Academy receives $450,000 grant From U.S. Maine Maritime Academy has been awarded $450,000 by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate for the development and delivery of maritime ice navigation and first responder courses to complement the U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic Strategy. Maine Maritime will be a partner institution to a new Center of Excellence (COE) in Maritime Research at the University of Alaska at Anchorage (UAA).Selected UAA research involving disaster response modeling…
Eagle Bulk Shipping Files for Bankruptcy
Eagle Bulk Shipping filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday, the latest in a string of shipping companies to make a Chapter 11 filing, and said it reached agreement with its lenders to cut its debt by $975 million. The U.S. company said in a statement that creditors who hold more than 85 percent of its loans have voted in favor of a proposed reorganization plan. Getting creditor support for a "prepackaged" plan before filing for Chapter 11 can dramatically cut the time a company spends in bankruptcy. Eagle Bulk filed in Manhattan's U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
Container Shipper Nautilus Files for Bankruptcy
Nautilus Holdings Ltd, a Bermuda-chartered company that leases containerships, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York, becoming the latest victim of a depressed shipping industry. The company has about $770 million in debt, according to papers filed late Monday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan. International shipping rates have fallen in recent years as large new vessels entered service at the same time that a sluggish global economy was curbing trade.
OSG Confirms Jones Act Status
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG) lets it be known that U.S. ownership of its common stock at the close of business on April 15, 2014 was 77 percent: the minimum percentage of shares that must be owned by United States citizens in order to preserve the status of OSG as a Jones Act company. OSG explain that pursuant to its organizational documents, any share transfer that results in U.S. ownership falling below 77 percent is ineffective and cannot be consummated. Shareholders are required to certify as to their respective citizenship at the time of purchase.
The Importance and Value of Marine Industry Training
The Coast Guard Marine Industry Training Program offers incredible opportunities for Coast Guard employees to intimately learn specific facets of the marine industry. Participants of the program work directly for industry partners for up to 1 year. In addition to building superior government/industry working relationships, the program affords industry sponsors an opportunity to share detailed business considerations and limitations, so that Coast Guard regulatory activities most effectively promote safety, while limiting undue burden on the maritime industry.
Overseas Shipholding's Leadership Change
Overseas Shipholding Group announce the appointment of Captain Robert Johnston as President & CEO. Morten Arntzen has resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director of the Company to be succeeded by Johnston. Captain Robert Johnston will serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective immediately. He was previously the Senior Vice President and Head of U.S. Flag Strategic Business Unit. “The Board thanks Morten Arntzen for his service, including during recent challenging times,” said Michael J.
Matt Yacavone Joins Crowley
Matt Yacavone joins Crowley as Vice President of Sales and Chartering, Petroleum Services. He will be domiciled in the company's Jacksonville headquarters and report to Rob Grune, senior vice president and general manager, petroleum services. Yacavone, who assumes his new position Jan. 7, will be responsible for the planning and direction of sales and chartering initiatives, overseeing development of policies and procedures, coordinating and negotiating customer contracts and developing business relations, particularly in the company's articulated-tug barge (ATB) and tanker programs.
Tankship Owners OSG File Chapter 11 Process
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. starts Chapter 11 process to reduce debt & other financial obligations to create more solid financial foundation. The Chapter 11 petition for itself and certain operating subsidiaries was filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Certain subsidiaries, including those that manage the Company’s facilities in Manila, Singapore, Greece, London and Newcastle, have not filed for Chapter 11 reorganization. A complete list of the OSG entities which filed, and those which did not file, Chapter 11 petitions, is available at www.kccllc.net/osg.
NAMEPA Announce Upcoming Conference, Awards
Clay Maitland, Chairman of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), announces two major events. NAMEPA’s Environmental Intelligence in Maritime Conference, will feature “Greening the Marine Transportation System”, “The Arctic”, “Safety at Sea” and “Corporate Risk Management”. This conference, with NAMEPA's fifth anniversary in mind, will be held on 14, November 2012, and is to be followed by NAMEPA’s 2012 Marine Environment Protection Awards honoring Maersk, NOAA, SUNY Maritime College, and the American Salvage Association (ASA).
Maersk Oil Qatar Charter 'FSO Africa'
'FSO Africa', owned by TI Africa, on long-term contract to Maersk Oil Qatar (MOQ) for services on the Al Shaheen Field. The contract has a fixed duration of five years from 1 October 2012 with an option granted to MOQ to extend the contract period for either one or two years. FSO Asia has been operating on the Al Shaheen field for two and a half years and FSO Africa for over two years. The vessels continue to operate at a high level of performance in terms of quality of oil produced and without incurrence of off-hire since their respective in- service dates.
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MARLOW TOWN BAND
The Brass Band That Entertains
CONTACTS/BOOKINGS
Ian began his musical career aged 7 when he was introduced to the cornet by local Musician Lew Tiedeman, encouraged by his father, a highly competent Tenor Horn player, Ian progressed through the ranks of the Local Youth Band finally settling on the Solo Eb Bass position.
Ian is well known in the local area and has played with a number of bands throughout his career. .
Ian's conducting career took hold in 1999 when he stepped in to take the reigns at the Ellesborough Silver Band.
In 2000 Ian was appointed the Director Music at the Marlow Town Band, in the past 20 years the band has grown in stature and quality under Ian's guidance and now boasts a membership of 38.
Ian's proudest moment conducting Marlow Band was the Joint Concert with soloists from the world famous Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band, the memory of that evening will live long in the memory.
Ian has exciting plans for the future of the band with increased concert opportunities and an increasingly wider ranging repertoire
© 2018 by Marlow Town Band
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Ismo Leikola: Observing the Obvious - review
By Susannah Walker date May 11, 2016
He’s bewildered, is Ismo Leikola. He’s bemused by the subtleties of the English language and confused by the cultural differences between his homeland and countries he’s been. And such is the bafflement engendered by his wife; she might as well be both a foreign country and an alien language.
The Finnish performer has built a show on such differences and in mining that divide he uncovers rich comedic pickings. Needless to say, he was confused before he even got to New Zealand, losing a day in flight on the way. “They say smoking takes days off your life but no, it’s coming to New Zealand that does.”
He gets considerable mileage from the many misunderstandings caused by his accent which, no doubt the surprised pharmacist from whom he recently requested something “fuck off” (“for cough”) would concur. Laughs spring, too, from his wife’s impenetrable passions for cleaning, skincare products and baubles. All this is delivered in a likeable, affable and mildly shambolic manner in keeping with his rumpled, innocuous persona.
The laidback style is a mirage, of course – throwaway lines scattered through the closing stages of the show give sweetly subtle nods to themes and characters he’s referenced earlier. He does this so seamlessly that we laugh with delight, as if he’s given us crumb-like clues to his cleverness: We see what you’re doing there, Ismo, and we’re right there with you.
Near the start of his show, Leikola informs us it contains 24 observations, five suggestions, seven points, three ideas and two notes. Wisely, he doesn’t put a number on the laughs, perhaps because there are too many to count.
Observing the Obvious, until May 14, The Classic. Book tickets.
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Nokia N1 tablet with 7.9 inch display announced
With the demand for tablet increasing, Nokia, which is currently out of the smartphone business, has launched the Nokia N1 tablet.
Nokia has announced the launch of the Nokia N1 tablet, which is the company’s first Android tablet through brand-licensing agreement with the OEM partner. The device has a 7.9 inch IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection and super high resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels. The tablet is powered by a 64 bit quad core Intel Atom processor with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage.
The Nokia N1 tablet has an 8 MP rear facing auto focus camera with LED flash. There is also a front facing 5 MP camera. The device runs on the latest Android Lollipop version with the Nokia Z launcher and a 5300 mAh battery. The tablet is priced at just $249 and is expected to be available early next year.
Speaking about the new Nokia N1 tablet, Sebastian Nyström, Head of Products at Nokia Technologies, said, “We are pleased to bring the Nokia brand back into consumers’ hands with the N1 Android tablet, and to help make sophisticated technologies simple. The N1 has a delightfully intuitive interface and an industrial design to match it. This is a great product for Nokia fans and everyone who has not found the right Android tablet yet.”
Nokia N1 tablet specs:
2048 x 1536 pixels resolution
2.3 GHz quad core Intel Atom Z3580 processor
PowerVR G6430 GPU
5 MP front facing camera
Google Android v5.0 Lollipop
Nexus 4 starts receiving Android 5.0 Lollipop update
Spice Stellar 362 with entry-level specs launched for Rs. 5499
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Volvo Car Corporation announces temporary stand-still at the Torslanda plant
Oct 15, 2012 ID: 46338
Volvo Car Corporation has decided to temporarily stop production in the Torslanda plant during week 44, from October 29 to November 2. The measure is taken based on a continued decline of the automotive market, primarily in Europe. Therefore a further adjustment to Volvo Car Corporation's manufacturing operation is necessary.
The decision to temporarily stop production means that the Torslanda plant employees will be on leave with pay through a combination of utilising time banks and leave of absence.
"Europe is the main market for Volvo Car Corporation and the continued recession is naturally affecting the demand for our cars. Against this background, it is essential for us to continue to use the built-in flexibility we have within our manufacturing system," says Jan Gurander, CFO and acting President & CEO of Volvo Car Corporation.
The temporary production stop is in addition to an earlier decision to reduce the production pace in the Torslanda plant from 57 cars to 50 cars per hour. That change came into effect on October 1.
There are no plans for changes to the permanent work force at the Torslanda plant.
Mission, Manufacturing
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Tag: BlueCross
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Extends COVID-19 Member Benefits Through 2020, Encourages Vaccinations
| Health Benefits
The MarketWatch News Department was not involved in the creation of this content.
Baltimore, Md./Washington, D.C, Sep 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE via COMTEX) —
Baltimore, Md./Washington, D.C, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) announced it will be extending benefits for fully insured members put in place during the public health emergency to ensure the health and safety of the members and communities it serves. The benefits, which include the patient cost share waivers for the testing and treatment of COVID-19, were set to expire September 30, 2020 and will now be extended through December 31, 2020.
“These continue to be critical and serious times and no one should hesitate to get tested or treated for COVID-19 because of concerns about costs,” said Brian D. Pieninck, President and CEO of CareFirst. “We’ve made this decision to help our members stay healthy and our communities fight this
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Former Reagan Administration Official Calls War on Drugs ‘a Terrible Mistake’
admin / May 13, 2020 / No Comments
Edward L. Weidenfeld’s close affiliation with the Reagan Administration was based on many shared political ideologies; the war on drugs, however, was not one of them.
“The war on drugs was never a priority or an interest of mine,” he says.
But what may have started as indifference evolved over the years into misgivings and then discord, propelled by his sense of social justice and his diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease (symptoms of which he treats with cannabis).
The latter would eventually lead the former Reagan Administration staffer down a new career path: In early 2018, he co-founded the medical cannabis cultivation operation Phyto Management in Washington, D.C., followed by Hagerstown, Md.-based Maryland Cultivation and Processing, which was licensed in 2019 and expects it first harvest in June or early July this year, according to Weidenfeld. Both businesses market the shared District Cannabis brand.
His earlier political career offered a rich foundation on which to build a foray into the newly legal cannabis space. As a member of the White House Office of Presidential Personnel and an appointee to the Council of the Administrative Conferences of the United States, among other roles, Weidenfeld had a front-row seat as the Reagan Administration further fueled former President Richard M. Nixon’s war on drugs.
He was working in the White House during the time First Lady Nancy Reagan began championing the famed “Just Say No” anti-drug campaign and when President Ronald Reagan’s declared his own war on drugs in 1982.
Weidenfeld also served under President Nixon as director of the energy staff, U.S. House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs from 1971-1973. “For years he was best known as a GOP lobbyist and fixer,” reported the Washingtonian in 2002.
Here, Weidenfeld, who is also a top-rated attorney and founder of The Weidenfeld Law Firm, shares his recollections of the Reagan-era war on drugs; what he sees as the fates of currently proposed legislation, such as the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2019; and his thoughts on the likelihood of cannabis being removed from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
Noelle Skodzinski: The Reagan Administration is well-known for its opposition to drugs, including cannabis, which was largely pushed out to the masses through the First Lady’s “Just Say No” advertising campaign. Did you support this and, if so, what led you to change your minds?
Weidenfeld
Ed Weidenfeld: I came to the Reagan Administration and to President Reagan out of a belief in small deficits, reasonable national defense, a libertarian view that said people should be free to pursue that which doesn’t damage others. The war on drugs was never a priority or an interest of mine. The people who fought the war on drugs, the Drug Enforcement Administration, had people who I didn’t even desire to have social conversations with because they were such true believers.
But my theory is “Just Say No” came from a different quarter. It came from Mrs. Reagan who wanted to be a First Lady that stood for something that would improve the lives of her countrymen. I think her motive was reasonable. She somehow fastened on to “Just Say No,” and suddenly you had the administration [behind it]. … It pleased the president to see action taken on something Mrs. Reagan cared about.
I think it came on the radar rather casually, but it did become a priority, and it was a terrible mistake. It demonized a substance which has tremendous therapeutic potential, was used as a means of social control over people of color, immigrants. It really created the abominable private prison system where you gave the care of prisoners over to the lowest bidder, and virtually guaranteed with the sentencing act [the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, which mandated minimum sentences for certain drug crimes], the private investors would get a return on their investment.
Skodzinski: So, with your decades of experience in politics, you’ve seen shifts in politicians’ views on cannabis. Can you provide some insights into what you have seen and how far politicians in your view have come or have not come in getting away from the “Reefer Madness” mindset?
Weidenfeld: Well the “Reefer Madness” mindset still … attracts a majority of the Congress. Witness the coronavirus aid programs, all of which expressly exclude medical or legal cannabis. I have seen people change their minds, but there really is still a stigmatization publicly, … like some of the pro-choice cheerleaders. Privately, when a member of their family has a condition or a disease that responds to cannabis, they’re taking a very short step toward changing their minds.
It’s like so much of the cannabis history, people acting out of ignorance or economic gain or pressure. And let’s not underestimate the influence of the pharmaceutical industry, the liquor industry, the tobacco industry, their allies, the anti-gun control people, the evangelicals to perpetuate the image of marijuana as a gateway drug. …
Now, demographically, we’ve had two presidents who have told the public that they’ve at least “tried” cannabis—Clinton and Obama. And I think … we’re now moving toward a demographic wave that is friendlier to cannabis.
Skodzinski: With many cannabis businesses deemed essential during the current coronavirus pandemic, do you see this causing a shift in Washington and how it treats cannabis businesses with regards to taxes (280E) and banking?
Weidenfeld: I think we’re slowly, slowly … moving, but I don’t think we are going to see [the removal of] 280E, which effectively taxes the marijuana industry the tax everyone else pays plus 40%. To my knowledge, it’s the only time the tax code imposes a punitive tax on an industry. We were excluded from the coronavirus aid legislation. The biggest thing we have going for us, aside from the demographics and the good that the plant does, is that this industry employs a lot of people and will generate large amounts of taxes for states and localities who are the most injured financially at the moment.
Skodzinski: What are your thoughts on the likelihood of the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2019 passing?
Weidenfeld: I don’t think much is going to pass the remainder of this session, but I would be surprised if early next session it doesn’t pass. Because in addition to being the right thing to do, the very strong lobby of the banking industry—realizing these are no longer crumbs on the table, but big dollars—is turning their lobby on. And that combined with the interest of the states in not having a system that effectively has risk of thievery … to their people, doesn’t get accounted for. … So, the stars are lining up for the Secure Act.
Skodzinski: What about the more recently introduced Emergency Cannabis Small Business Health and Safety Act?
Weidenfeld: If there were justice, that would be a no-brainer. But you have to understand, anything having to do with cannabis, liberalizing cannabis laws and regulations, is red meat for the red states. … And, unfortunately, I think there is a cheap and easy way for a member of the House or Senate to show that they want to preserve the existing order by casting a “no” vote on cannabis.
Skodzinski: What else do you think Washington can do to better serve the cannabis industry, and how likely do you think those things are to happen?
Weidenfeld: I don’t think Washington is likely to do anything for the cannabis industry until [the industry] becomes a significant participant in the fundraising game for campaign finance. I find it hard to believe that the government is going to do anything for the industry at this time, [but] I think they will do something for their constituents who find cannabis to be therapeutic. I think there is a growing awareness of the past demonization, and so the government may do an educational program. The biggest thing the government can do obviously is get marijuana off of Schedule I, conduct some real clinical studies and treat the industry as any other legitimate business is treated. And the industry is waiting to see if Joe Biden can overcome his personal experience or position against drug or marijuana use.
And besides that, stay out of the way of the organic growth a new industry.
Skodzinski: How likely do you think it is that marijuana will be rescheduled?
Weidenfeld: I see it as inevitable, but it’s going to happen soon if there is a change in administration or in the Senate. Schedule I is an inappropriate place for a plant that has a history of thousands of years of great benefits, no damage that’s yet been discovered, and the sooner the science is completed, the more comfortable people are going to be with a formerly stigmatized substance that has made sheltering in place far less burdensome for a substantial segment of the population.
Published at Wed, 13 May 2020 12:54:00 +0000
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Opinion > Skeptical Cardiologist
Statins and Memory Loss: Still No Evidence of Risk
— The Skeptical Cardiologist delves into dubious claims
by Anthony Pearson, MD December 11, 2019
In 2017, I wrote a post concluding that there was no scientific evidence for cognitive side effects of the widely-utilized statin cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Despite this, a common concern of my patients when we discuss potentially utilizing statin drugs to reduce their long-term risk of heart attack and stroke is that the drug will rob them of their memory.
More studies have been published in this area, and they continue to show absolutely no evidence for adverse association between statins and cognition.
A recent summative review found no beneficial or detrimental associations between statins and cognition in elderly cohorts with normal baseline cognition, impaired cognition, or with incident dementia.
Finally, and most recently, we have reassuring evidence from Australian researchers who meticulously studied over a thousand participants ages 70-90 years in the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study.
Over 6 years, the study found:
No difference in the rate of decline in memory or global cognition between statin users and never users
A blunted rate of memory decline with statin initiation during the observation period
Attenuated decline in specific memory test performance in statin users with heart disease and apolipoprotein Eε4 carriage, in an exploratory analysis
No difference in brain volume changes between statin users and never users
For those who see statins as part of a conspiracy, please note that there was absolutely no connection between the researchers and the statin pharmaceutical industry:
"This study was supported by the Australian Government's National Health and Medical Research Council (Dementia Research Grant 510124). Dr. Brodaty has served on the Nutricia Australia Advisory Board. Dr. Sachdev has served on the Australian Advisory Board of Biogen. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose."
My 2017 post was triggered by a call from a reporter who wanted to discuss the "cognitive side effects" of statins. It goes into a fair amount of detail about media and internet fear-mongering and how this contributes to the nocebo effect that makes it more likely patients will experience adverse side effects from medicine.
At the end, I discuss how we handle potential side effects in my practice.
I've copied it below as it remains highly relevant 2 years later.
Do Statins Cause Memory Loss? The Science, The Media, The Statin-Denialist Cult, and The Nocebo Effect
Because I regularly prescribe statin drugs to my patients to reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke, I am very concerned about any possible side effects from them, cognitive or otherwise. However, in treating hundreds of patients with statins, I have not observed a consistent significant effect on brain function.
When the FDA issued a statement in 2012 regarding rare postmarketing reports of ill-defined cognitive impairment associated with statin use, it came as quite a surprise to most cardiologists.
The FDA made a change in the patient information on all statin drugs that stated: "Memory loss and confusion have been reported with statin use. These reported events were generally not serious and went away once the drug was no longer being taken."
This FDA statement was surprising because prior observational and randomized controlled trials had suggested that patients who took statins were less likely to have cognitive dysfunction than those who didn't.
Early studies implied that statins might actually protect against Alzheimer's disease.
In fact, these signals triggered two studies testing if statins could slow cognitive decline in patients with established Alzheimer's disease. One study used 80-mg atorvastatin versus placebo and a second used 40-mg simvastatin versus placebo; both showed no effect on the decline of cognitive function over 18 months.
More recently, multiple reviews and meta-analyses have examined the data and concluded that there is no significant effect of statins on cognitive function. Importantly, these have been written by reputable physician-scientists with no financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Data Show No Evidence of Causality Despite Case Reports
The FDA added the warning to statin patient information based on case reports. Occasional reports of patients developing memory loss on a statin do not prove that statins are a significant cause of cognitive dysfunction.
Case reports have to be viewed in the context of all the other scientific studies indicating no consistent evidence of negative effects of the statins. Case reports are suspect for several reasons:
First, patients receiving statins are at increased risk for memory loss because of associated risk factors for atherosclerosis and advancing age. A certain percentage of such patients are going to notice memory loss independent of any medications.
Second, the nocebo effect. If a patient taking a statin is told that the drug will cause a particular side effect, that patient will be more likely to notice and report that particular side effect.
A recent study in The Lancet looked at reported side effects in patients taking atorvastatin versus placebo and found substantial evidence for the nocebo effect.
Analysis of the trial data revealed that when patients were unaware whether they were taking a statin or a placebo, the number of side effects reported was similar in those taking the statin and those taking placebo. However, if patients knew they were taking statins, reports of muscle-related side effects in particular increased dramatically, by up to 41%.
Third, a review of the FDA post-marketing surveillance data showed the rate of cognitive-related adverse events with statins is not significantly higher than for other non-statin cardiovascular medications (1.9 vs 1.6 per million prescriptions for losartan and 1.9 per million prescriptions for clopidogrel [Plavix]).
What Most Media Prefer: Controversy and Victims
I thought my experience and perspective on statins and cognitive function might be useful for a wider audience of patients to hear, so I agreed to be interviewed. After I expressed interest, the reporter responded:
"I would like to interview you and also a person who has experienced memory and/or thinking problems that they attribute to statin use."
I responded with "let me see what I can find," although I was concerned that this reporter was searching for a cardiologist to support attention-grabbing claims of severe side effects of statins rather than seeking a balanced, unbiased perspective from a knowledgeable and experienced cardiologist.
If I produced a "victim" of statin-related memory loss, this would boost ratings.
I then began racking my brain to come up with a patient who had clearly had statin-related memory loss or thinking problems. I asked my wonderful medical assistant, Jenny (who remembers details about patients that I don't), if she could recall any cases. Ultimately, we both came up without any patients for the interview. (Any patient of mine reading this with definite statin memory loss, please let me know and I will amend my post. However, I won't be posting anecdotes outside of my practice.)
I have had a few patients relate to me that they feel like their memory is not as good as it was and wonder if it could be from a medication they are on. Invariably, the patient has been influenced by one of the statin fear-mongering sites on the internet (or a friend/relative who has been influenced by such a site).
I wrote about one such site in response to a patient question a while back:
"The link appears to be a promotional piece for a book by Michael Cutler, MD. Cutler's website appears to engage in fear-mongering with respect to statins for the purpose of selling his books and promoting his 'integrative' practice. I would refer you to my post entitled 'Functional Medicine is Fake Medicine.' Integrative medicine is another code word for pseudoscientific medicine and practitioners should be assiduously avoided."
"The piece starts with describing the case of Duane Graveline, a very troubled man who spent the latter part of his life attempting to scare patients from taking statins." Here is his NY Times obituary.
"You can judge for yourself if you want to base decisions on his recommendations."
"There is no scientific evidence to suggest statins cause dementia."
An Internet-Driven Cult With Deadly Consequences
Steve Nissen, MD, recently wrote an eloquent article that accuses statin deniers of being an "internet-driven cult with deadly consequences." Nissen has done extremely important research helping us better understand atherosclerosis and is known for being a patient advocate -- calling out drug companies when they are promoting unsafe drugs.
I have immense respect for his honesty, lack of bias, and his courage to be outspoken. He writes:
"Statins have developed a bad reputation with the public, a phenomenon driven largely by proliferation on the Internet of bizarre and unscientific but seemingly persuasive criticism of these drugs. Typing the term statin benefits into a popular Internet search engine yields 655 000 results. A similar search using the term statin risks yields 3 530 000 results. One of the highest-ranking search results links to an article titled 'The Grave Dangers of Statin Drugs -- and the Surprising Benefits of Cholesterol.' We are losing the battle for the hearts and minds of our patients to Web sites developed by people with little or no scientific expertise, who often pedal 'natural' or 'drug-free' remedies for elevated cholesterol levels. These sites rely heavily on 2 arguments: statin denial, the proposition that cholesterol is not related to heart disease, and statin fear, the notion that lowering serum cholesterol levels will cause serious adverse effects, such as muscle or hepatic toxicity -- or even worse, dementia."
He goes on to point out that this misinformation is contributing to a low rate of compliance with taking statins. Observational studies suggest that noncompliance with statins significantly raises the risk of death from heart attack.
The reasons for patient noncompliance, Nissen goes on to say, can be related to the promotion of totally unproven supplements and fad diets as somehow safer and more effective than statin therapy:
"The widespread advocacy of unproven alternative cholesterol-lowering therapies traces its origins to the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). Incredibly, this law places the responsibility for ensuring the truthfulness of dietary supplement advertising with the Federal Trade Commission, not the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The bill's principal sponsors were congressional representatives from states where many of the companies selling supplements are headquartered. Nearly 2 decades after the DSHEA was passed, the array of worthless or harmful dietary supplements on the market is staggering, amounting to more than $30 billion in yearly sales. Manufacturers of these products commonly imply benefits that have never been confirmed in formal clinical studies."
Dealing With Statin Side Effects In My Practice
When patients tell me they believe they are having a side effect from the statin they are taking (and this applies to any medication they believe is causing them side effects), I take their concerns very seriously. After 30 years of practice, I've concluded that in any individual patient, it is possible for any drug to cause side effects. And, chances are that if we don't address the side effects, the patient won't take the medication.
If the side effect is significant, I will generally tell the patient to stop the statin and report to me how they feel after 2 to 4 weeks.
If there is no improvement, I have the patient resume the medication and we generally reach a consensus that the side effect was not due to the medication.
If there is a significant improvement, I accept the possibility that the side effect could be from the drug. This doesn't prove it, because it is entirely possible that the side effect resolved for other reasons coincidentally with stopping the statin. Muscle and joint aches are extremely common and they often randomly come and go.
At this point, I will generally recommend a trial at low dose of another statin (typically rosuvastatin or pitavastatin [Livalo]). If the patient was experiencing muscle aches and they return, we are most likely dealing with a patient with statin-related myalgia. However, most patients are able to tolerate low dose and less frequent administration of rosuvastatin or pitavastatin.
For all other symptoms, it is extremely unusual to see a return on rechallenge with statin and so we continue statin long-term therapy.
Today, a patient told me he thought the rosuvastatin we started 4 weeks ago was causing him to have more diarrhea. I informed him that there is no evidence that rosuvastatin causes diarrhea more often than a placebo and had no reason based on its chemistry to suspect it would. (Although I'm sure there is a forum somewhere on the internet where patients have reported this.) Fortunately, he accepted my expert opinion and will continue taking the drug.
If the symptoms persist and the patient continues to believe it is due to the statin, we will go through the process I described above. And, since every patient is unique, it is possible that my patient is having a unique or idiosyncratic reaction to the statin that only occurs in one out of a million patients and thus is impossible to determine causality.
Because statins are our most effective and best tolerated weapon in the war against our biggest killer, it behooves both patients and physicians to have a high threshold for stopping them altogether. Having such a high threshold means filtering out the noise from attention-seeking media and the internet-driven denialist cult, thus minimizing the nocebo effect.
Anthony Pearson, MD, is a private practice noninvasive cardiologist and medical director of echocardiography at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis. He blogs on nutrition, cardiac testing, quackery, and other things worthy of skepticism at The Skeptical Cardiologist, where a version of this post first appeared.
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Kagoshima cruise
At the Foot of a Volcano
In the far south of Japan an MSC cruise will help you discover the city of Kagoshima. It is populated by little more than half a million people and enjoys a mild climate for most of the year.
The town is dominated by the active volcano Sakurajima and is called the "Naples of Japan" for its similarity to the landscape of the city of Naples. It is not uncommon for the volcano to perform with spectacular eruptions.
On an excursion you can visit Shiroyama Park, located in the city centre but stretching all the way to mount Shiroyama. Just over a hundred metres high, it was the backdrop of a battle between the Imperial Army and a group of samurai rebels in the late 19th century. The park leads to the Observatory from where you can admire the spectacular scenery of the town and the bay of Kagoshima as well as the volcano.
Along the northern coast of the centre are the Senganen
gardens, also known as Isoteien, a lovely example of a Japanese garden with ponds, streams, shrines and a bamboo grove. They date back three hundred years and were constructed by the Shimazu family. There is a fine restaurant inside the garden where you can dine and enjoy the meat and fish specialities that this country offers and for which it is famous all over the world. Next to Senganen is a building which dates back to the mid-19th century which originally housed a machinery factory and is now the "Shoko-Shuseikan" museum. It houses objects from the Shimazu family 700 year history.
Cruises from/to Kagoshima in 2021
Find Cruises To Kagoshima
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World Water Day Display In Memorial Union
Environmental Engineering major Caryn Murray is seen in front of her World Water Day display in the Memorial Union Building.Using 90 one-gallon jugs, Murray shows how much water is used, and wasted, by individuals each day.
By Mark Wilcox
Published 5:00 a.m., March 21, 2017
Category: Academics, Campus Life, Outreach,
A Michigan Technological University undergraduate student has constructed a display that illustrates the amount of water each of us uses, and possibly wastes, on a daily basis.
Today, (March 22) is World Water Day, with this year’s theme being “Wastewater.” Since Monday, visitors to Michigan Tech’s Memorial Union Building, have gotten an up close and personal look at their daily usage of water, illustrated by a display featuring 90 one-gallon water jugs.
The display is the work of Caryn Murray, an environmental engineering major from Dearborn Heights, Michigan. Murray’s display has dozens of gallon jugs with colored caps corresponding with everyday water-related activities such as flushing a toilet, brushing teeth, washing dishes, etc.
Each activity features signs with tips on ways individuals can reduce their water consumption and possibly save money on water and sewer bills.
Murray says she was approached by Elizabeth Hoy of the Great Lakes Research Center to “take charge” of a display for World Water Day. “She (Hoy) envisioned creating some kind of display that would get people excited about the seminars and such that Tech puts on for the week,” Murray says. “As an environmental engineering major, wastewater is a common topic I’ve talked about and studied both in and out of classes.”
Murray, who was advised on the project by David Watkins, professor of civil and environmental engineering, says she was excited to work on it as she had learned a great deal about the various aspects of wastewater. “But I hadn’t really considered how much water an individual could contribute to wastewater during the course of an average day.”
Hoy says the idea of a large display came out of discussions of a committee planning Tech’s observance of World Water Day. “The committee discussed the idea of a central display in a high-traffic area that would be informative as well as draw attention to this year’s theme of wastewater.”
Hoy says an anchor of Tech’s World Water Day activities is the student poster competition that provides students, both undergraduate and graduate, an opportunity to present their water-related research or classwork visually through the creation of a poster and verbally through a five-minute pitch to a panel of judges.
Hoy says Murray’s display in the MUB created a new facet to the observation of World Water Day. “We tasked Caryn with developing a display that would be visually appealing and informative for a general audience and something that everyone, students, faculty and the general community alike, could relate to.”
"I hadn't really considered how much water an individual could contribute to wastewater during the course of an average day."Caryn Murray
Murray, who has worked on research projects with GLRC Director Guy Meadows, concedes wastewater “isn’t the most glamorous topic.” Still, she wanted to make the display informational in a way to which all could relate.
“We decided to go with gallon jugs in the display to make sure we conveyed the total volume of water that could be sent to a wastewater treatment plant. The average American uses anywhere from 60-100 gallons of water each day,” Murray says.
Murray hopes her display creates a “more thoughtful mindset.”
She states, “Some of tips are easy to do, and they can add up to a large number of gallons of water conserved each year. Making habits out of some of these actions can reduce gallons of water wasted by the hundreds if not thousands, over the course of one’s lifetime.”
Michigan Technological University is a public research university, home to more than 7,000 students from 54 countries. Founded in 1885, the University offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences. Our campus in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula overlooks the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior.
Last Modified 2:48 p.m. August 28, 2019
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ssidorts@mtu.edu
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Find Out More - 1834
Scriptural Knowledge Institution
By the end of February 1835, SKI was supporting five Day-schools – two for boys and three for girls. The schools did not receive any government support and only accepted voluntary gifts, in the same way Müller had decided to live.
During Müllers life, SKI primarily supported the Müller orphanages, and the distribution of about 285,407 Bibles, 1,459,506 New Testaments, and 244,351 other religious texts, which were translated into twenty other languages.
The money was additionally used to support other "faith missionaries" around the world. One such missionary was James Hudson Taylor, who had been inspired by Müller’s example. He came to visit Müller at Ashley Down in 1865 to ask for prayer and advice. Müller promised continued prayer and, through SKI, was able to give practical support to the missionary work of Hudson-Taylor’s China Inland Mission.
By the time of Müller's death, SKI had received and distributed gifts totalling £1,381,171 (approx. £90 million in today's terms). The work of SKI continues with the same purposes to this day, as part of the charity's work. Find out more
« Back to timeline
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Daniel J. Townsend
Daniel J Townsend is the first artist in the world to release an album as a podcast. The record, 'A Tale of Two Cities' was composed and recorded when the sixth-generation Tasmanian was living in Australia's Northern Territory. Exploring themes of home, place and identity, the eight-episode release was praised as "beautiful and powerful" (ABC Darwin) and "compelling listening by a talented storyteller" (Foldback Magazine).
He garnered international attention with his 2014 debut Iscariot, which circles the life of the infamous twelfth apostle. Iscariot was featured on ABC’s Inside Sleeve and described as “incredible” by the show’s host. His 2016 follow-up, World Until Yesterday chronicles Vandemonian moments of change, and was featured as “new and notable” by music platform NoiseTrade.
Townsend wowed audiences at the 2018 National Folk Festival, received standing ovations at Fleurieu Folk Festival (SA) and Nannup Music Festival (WA), headlined Tablelands Folk Festival (QLD), played an encore at Majors Creek Festival (NSW) and performed at Cygnet Folk Festival (TAS), Darwin Festival (NT), Majors Creek Festival (NSW), Beyond Festival (ACT), Healesville Music Festival (VIC) and countless pubs, clubs and living rooms across Australia.
Cirque Nivashi
Little Island
Marcus Wynwood
Wayne Neilson
The Sheyana Band
Kiss Whisky
Bad Beef
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Mrs Claire Lilla BA PGCE QTS DipABRSM
Profile Biography
Claire began her musical career at the age of 7 when she began learning the piano and the flute. At the age of 11, she won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music and achieved Grade 8 Distinction in both instruments. She has performed at numerous concerts as a soloist, choral member and orchestral flautist.
Having studied Jazz Voice at the Guildhall and at RACC, Claire performs regularly with a jazz band. She is an ensemble singer with the Fulham Camerata, gives public recitals as a soloist and holds a Diploma in Music Performance (ABRSM).
Claire achieved a first class PGCE in Music at Roehampton University in 2005 and went on to teach Music at GCSE and A-level in state and independent senior schools in London. She has accompanied pupils for GCSE and A-level Recitals and has tutored privately since 2004, enjoying success in her pupils' Graded exams.
Contact Claire
TW11 8PJ
Fee (30 minutes): £20.00
If you feel this profile contains any inaccurate or inappropriate content, please let us know.
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Amount, in millions of dollars, that the winner of today’s Masters Tournament will pocket. It’s a record amount for the Masters, out of a tournament-record $11.5 million purse, for the annual event at Augusta National Golf Club. Last month, the PGA Tour boosted the purse for the Players Championship to a record $12.5 million, of which $2.25 million went to winner Rory McIlroy.
Hour, in the morning today Eastern Daylight Time, that the final round of the Masters Tournament will begin, according to a statement issued Saturday by Augusta National Golf Club. In a nod to the inclement weather forecast for later today in Augusta, Ga., threesomes will begin on the first and 10th tees at Augusta National. Leader Francesco Molinari of Italy will tee off at 9:20 a.m. on No. 1 with Americans Tony Finau and Tiger Woods, who are two shots back, in second place. CBS will begin its broadcast at 9 a.m. EDT. Today will be the first time that the Masters has started from both nines on the final round (tee times).
Number of consecutive holes that third-round Masters leader Francesco Molinari has played bogey-free at Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club. He has yet to make a three-putt in 54 holes and ranks second for the week in putting, with 80 putts (scores).
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#Moving People by Power of Art House
NL / UK / DE
#Moving People
Tourad (38)
I fled Mauritania in 2003 Because all the power was in the hands of the Arabs. The other part of the population – the blacks, to whom I belonged – was discriminated and treated as second-class citizens. Many people were murdered under this regime, and many others fled. I was 20 years old and wanted […]
Moving people story
I fled Mauritania in 2003
Because all the power was in the hands of the Arabs. The other part of the population – the blacks, to whom I belonged – was discriminated and treated as second-class citizens.
Many people were murdered under this regime, and many others fled. I was 20 years old and wanted to build a future. I started a degree in philosophy, psychology and literature. But it was made impossible for me and other black students to fully attend classes and sit exams. We wouldn’t be told what classroom to go to or who was teaching us. We would just wander around the school, lost, searching for our place. No one wanted to help us, management found us annoying and got mad. The police were called and we were locked up for a week. They saw us as ‘revolutionaries’, but couldn’t keep us locked up because we hadn’t done anything wrong. They mostly wanted to scare us, to intimidate us.
I was so angry; I couldn’t let them take this opportunity away from me
At the end of the school year, the story repeated itself. After going to class and studying hard, I wanted to pass my exams. I had signed up and paid for them. But my name wasn’t on the list of registered students. I didn’t get it, I even showed them proof of registration! I was so angry; I couldn’t let them take this opportunity away from me. This was my life I was working so hard for. They just take away your dreams. It is very painful.
I was arrested again and ended up in prison. It was a jungle there. No, a jungle would have been better. At least a jungle has rules. This was just one big chaos – and extremely dangerous. Not even the police dared to enter. It was like the movies, but worse. You had to fight in order to survive. The atmosphere was intimidating, but I didn’t let anyone scare me. I was way too angry for that; I was ready to fight anyone. Nothing mattered to me anymore. I felt deathlike, as if I didn’t exist. What did I have to lose? I was still thrown against the wall by some of the big guys. But I must say I was skin and bones; there was hardly any food, care or hygiene. People with broken bones simply lay there, dying.
I ended up in hospital after I was knocked out. From there, I secretly fled to my parents. They were very worried about me and told me I couldn’t stay in Mauritania any longer. It was becoming too dangerous, for both myself and my parents.
At least here, no one was beating me up
I left on a European cargo ship, with the help of my uncle. My uncle worked in the port, where many Europeans arrived for business. We had to be very careful, no one could know that I was on board. My uncle kept repeating, “Remember: you don’t know me and I don’t know you.” I wasn’t allowed to move or talk, I just sat stock-still in a hiding place. But that was okay, it was so much better than in prison. At least here, no one was beating me up.
France was the only European country I knew. My oldest brother had studied there and still lived there. I was supposed to find him and live with him. But things didn’t work out that way.
In Belgium the ship arrived in Antwerp after two weeks. I heard the engines turn down, and waited another eight hours for my uncle to come get me. Those hours seemed to last forever, I was terrified. Suddenly, I was on my own. I had no idea where I was and did not speak Flemish. Was I in Scandinavia? I felt very sad and alone. I asked several passers-by if they could help me, but was ignored.
That is when I decided to stop dreaming altogether
I decided to go to a bus stop, where I was able to approach a lot of people who were waiting. A man told me I was in Belgium. I knew Belgium! That meant I was close to France. He then took me to the station. I found a French speaker there, who took me to his friend from Mauritania. I could shower, eat and sleep there.
I also requested asylum. I found out afterwards that if you request asylum here, you cannot leave the country. That hit me hard. I still cherished hopes of going to France, to my brother. That is when I decided to stop dreaming altogether. I had been disappointed so often, my dreams never came true. From then on, I would accept whatever life had in store for me.
I lived in the asylum centre for almost a year and a half. My asylum request was denied twice, and I was not allowed to stay in the centre while the third procedure was ongoing. I stayed with several friends, just tried to survive. That is, until I heard about the Sint-Antonius Church in Ghent. Apparently people without papers were allowed to stay there. In order to give my life some meaning, I travelled to Ghent. From the moment I got off the train, I felt so good here, so at ease. It was as if I hadn’t eaten in ten days and then got to eat my favourite meal.
Upon arrival in the church, I spent two hours observing and looking for my place. I stayed there, and helped them with their work and demonstrations in the city. They were calling on the government to regularise people without papers. The efforts were very successful.
Around the same time, I also learned about (social-artistic workspace [editorial note]) Victoria Deluxe. They helped me find housing. Through Victoria Deluxe, I started volunteering, learning the language, editing movies and I did a lot of theatre.
I was able to find myself and my happiness here
And now I have a residence permit since 2010. I continued studying and have a degree in film editing. I work at Victoria Deluxe as a cameraman and as a youth leader. I was able to find myself and my happiness here. I don’t dare to dream just yet – but I do have goals. One day, I’d like to make my own documentary.
If I had stayed in Mauritania, I might have died a long time ago. Maybe it was all meant to be; maybe I had to fight so much to get to where I am now.
As part of the Belgium street art route ‘Sorry, Not Sorry’, our Moving People were placed in different locations in Ghent. On April 26 (2016), thousands of miniature refugees (Tourad, Kassem, Avin, Kassala and Claudine) were scattered in the streets and in public places in Ghent. On May 7 & 8, during the festival, again 500 miniatures were placed.
© Powerofarthouse
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Burning Down the Establishment One BIPOC Critic at a Time: A Profile of Pascale Florestal
Posted on August 14, 2020 by Kitty Drexel
Florestal, image from www.pascaleflorestal.com
Profile by Kitty Drexel
BOSTON/ZOOM — Boston’s theatre journalism scene is a barren wasteland of white maleness. The desperate cries of BIPOC performing artists and designers for accurate representation are carried by winds off of the Atlantic ocean to diversity-parched cities and towns across New England: where are the critics of color?
Critiquing and reviewing circles have remained steadfastly white for the last few decades. Out of the current eleven members of the Boston Theater Critics Association, six are white men, five are white women.
The Front Porch Arts Collective launched the Young Critics Program in spring 2019 in partnership with WBUR the ARTery. It is the only independent training opportunity specifically geared towards young BIPOC journalists in New England. Boston-based director, dramaturg, educator, writer, and collaborator Pascale Florestal is the woman in charge.
Florestal describes herself as having strong Haitian pride on her website. She hopes to create more opportunities for other queer artists of color. She resides in Malden with her wife and dog.
We met over Google Meet on a sweltering, 98-degree day in late July to discuss her work with the Young Critics Program. While I was visibly sweating in my dank apartment, the camera showed Florestal looking as cool as a cucumber in a grey tank top and glasses against a cornflower blue wall.
Florestal is young; there are no laugh lines around her eyes. Her warm smile does not betray her age (and a lady doesn’t ask). She has a pert nose and a broad smile. Her short, natural hair is a halo around her head.
Her skin and her voice were clear as the cloudless sky. She spoke with such passion about her work that it was as if she was channeling the extreme weather into her words.
“A couple of years ago I was reading some reviews for a show and I happened to notice that all of the reviewers for this particular show were white men,” Florestal said.
She went on a hunt for reviewers of color but couldn’t find any in Boston. From there, she looked into what kind of opportunities there were for young people to learn about being a critic and came up empty.
The purpose of Florestal’s program is to provide young people of color opportunities to see more theatre, understand the importance of criticism, and learn to write a review of a show. “On top of this, we want publications and organizations to see value in employing young writers and writers of color.”
In 2019, Florestal co-wrote a public internet letter with other members of the Boston performing arts community to the committee of the Independent Reviewers of New England to argue for better representation in awards categories. The nominees that year and every year previous skewed male, white, abled, and cis.
In the letter, co-signing New England performers, administrators, designers, stage managers, and artists said, “We would like to see your reviews and awards more appropriately and respectfully reflect a broader scope of the work being done in the greater Boston area. We are asking you to reassess your reviewing processes and consider adapting to the community you aspire to represent.”
“We were moved to write a letter at this time because this season’s IRNE awards failed to adequately acknowledge the contributions of women and people of color,” it said. The writers and signers included a helpful list of action items for consideration to update the IRNE’s practices.
The IRNE board responded to the letter by disbanding after 23 years of work. A WBUR article quoted IRNE representative Mike Hoban as saying that the letter wasn’t the reason the committee disbanded. Regardless of intent, to the casual observer, it looked like the IRNE reviewers quit in a tantrum because they felt underappreciated. They were so averse to receiving constructive criticism that they preferred cessation of the awards over professional growth.
How hypocritical.
The inaugural cohort of the Young Critics Program was hard at work when COVID-19 forced Florestal to end the program abruptly in March: some of the young critics were quarantining outside of Boston; theatres were shutting down their operations; the city was closing. Workshops were conducted virtually but the pandemic’s financial crisis made it difficult for the program’s partners to continue. The barren wasteland of male whiteness was becoming a reality truer than science fiction.
I asked her if there were any future plans for the program. She said they are currently trying to figure out what the next year’s program will look like. She is in the process of figuring out an online option and looking at ways to improve upon the program’s structure from before the shutdown. She hopes that they can start again in the spring.
It’s a matter of reformatting the program through a virtual lens, she said. “And preparing for the future so when these things happen there isn’t so much of a kerfuffle.”
When I mention the pushback Florestal experiences from her senior contemporaries, she said that there is a misconception that young people don’t understand the issues the theatre is facing because they are young.
She’s not just talking about herself. She’s talking about all young people.
Talk like that devalues the work young people do in the community; it diminishes the experiences and traumas that they bring to the work, she said. Young people are making theatre sustainable; they are the ones carrying it into the future.
Regarding the reviewers and critics who don’t value the perspectives of young people, she said, “I feel bad for them.”
I do too.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider making a donation. Every cent earned goes towards the upkeep and continuation of the New England Theatre Geek.
This entry was posted in Interview, Interviews and Articles, Other and tagged 2020, August, BIPOC art matters, BIPOC lives matter, Boston, coronavirus, COVID-19, critics, Critics of Color, critiques, dramaturgy, Google Meet, IRNE Letter 2019, Mike Hoban, New England, Pascale Florestal, The Front Porch Arts Collective, WBUR, Young Critics Program, Zoom by Kitty Drexel. Bookmark the permalink.
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Local Mom Wants Federal Agents To Reopen Lauren Agee's Case
10K People Sign Petition To Reopen A Death Case
By: Alexandra Koehn
More than 10,000 people have signed a petition asking authorities to reopen the investigation into the death of Lauren Agee.
It has been two years since Agee's body was found by fishermen on Center Hill Lake.
Her mom, Sherry Smith, recently discovered a petition signed by thousands of strangers. They believe her daughter's death was not an accident.
Smith said, "It makes me feel good in the fact that people care. They want to know the truth just like we do."
They want another law enforcement agency or the Federal Bureau of Investigation to look into the case and how it was handled.
Smith said, "Lauren was a breath of life to everyone who knew her, she touched their souls."
Lauren was camping on a cliff near Pate's Ford Marina during Wake Fest in July of 2015. She went with her friend Hannah Palmer, but on July 26, when Palmer woke up, Agee was not in her hammock.
At 4 p.m. the next day, Agee's body was found by fishermen in a cove nearby.
"There are many trees, there are many branches, it is almost impossible for someone to fall and roll and hit the water. Her body was found in the water," Smith said.
Officials with the Deklb County Sheriff's Office labeled her death an accident. The coroner's report shows that Agee died of "blunt force trauma and possible drowning." Officials believed she fell from her hammock, down the cliff, and into the water.
Smith said several people at Wake Fest told her the circumstances were suspicious. So she hired an attorney and private investigator.
They recently filed a $10,000,000 wrongful death lawsuit against the people camping on the cliff with Agee.
Smith said, "I'm her mother and I'm her voice. I have to speak for her. And I know that there is more to this than what has been investigated."
According to the police report, Aaron Lilly, Christopher Stout, and Hannah Palmer were on the cliff with Agee that night.
She hoped all of them would publicly come forward and tell their story.
Smith said, "We just want the truth. And two years worth of me searching, spending God knows how much money, just trying to get answers."
Their independent investigation revealed more people were camping on the cliff than reported to police.
Smith said, "We've uncovered other information like one of the suspect's was on probation for domestic violence at the time of Lauren's death, one of the suspect's had gotten into an altercation with a female the night before, so these were not people who didn't have police records."
Due to some of the information her private investigator discovered, Smith wants the FBI or another agency to reopen her daughter's death investigation.
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg released from hospital after surgery to remove cancerous cells
Posted at 7:57 AM, Dec 26, 2018
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday and is recuperating at home after undergoing surgery, according to a court spokesperson.
"Justice Ginsburg was discharged from the hospital yesterday and is recuperating at home," said Kathy Arberg, public information officer for the Supreme Court, in an email to reporters.
Ginsburg, 85, had two cancerous nodules removed from her left lung Friday at a New York hospital.
There is no evidence of any remaining disease nor is there evidence of disease elsewhere in the body the court said.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
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Home | Newsmax TV
Tags: Barack Obama | Immigration | War on Terrorism | border security | illegals | immigration | jihadists
Cutler: Obama's Speech Ignored Threat at Our Borders
By Melissa Clyne | Thursday, 11 September 2014 10:35 AM
President Barack Obama’s speech Wednesday night about how to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) failed to address a gaping chasm in the terror threat facing the United States: border security, former INS officer Michael Cutler said Thursday on “America’s Forum” on Newsmax TV.
“He talked about the need to deprive ISIS the ability to find safe haven,” Cutler said. “He clicked off all of the things he wanted to do overseas. On the immigration issue he said absolutely nothing.
"It's remarkable to me that in the wake of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, an agency by the name of the Department of Homeland Security was created. I had big misgivings about the agency then. I especially have misgivings now," Cutler continued.
"I've come to call it the department of homeland surrender. The idea is that the problem that we have is that we are providing safe haven for potential terrorists in the United States."
Story continues below video.
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In addition to insecure southern borders, the United States’ visa process allows terrorists to hide in plain sight, he said.
"Our government is betraying us and violating national security," said Cutler. "One of the issues raised by the 9/11 commission was the issue of visa issuance. They complained about what was known as visa express, where aliens were able to get visas without showing up for an interview.
"The president of the United States, under the so-called dreamers, provided hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens who evaded an inspection process. Gave them identity documents with no face-to-face interview, no way of knowing who they are and no capacity to do a field investigation.
"Meanwhile, we've gone from 26 visa waiver countries on 9/11 to 38 visa waiver countries, yet the 9/11 commission said that the visa process needed to be tightened up to protect us from another attack.”
Though Cutler said he currently has no definitive proof that Islamic terrorists are working with Mexican drug cartels to enter the U.S. at the southern border, there is a strong likelihood that if it isn’t already happening, it will.
There have been reports that Border Patrol agents have found Korans and prayer rugs along the southern border.
“Let's look at the facts,” he said. “The cartels control the traffic across that border. They enter our country easily. The easiest proof of a total lack of border security is the availability and the price of heroin and cocaine. None of those substances are produced in the United States. Every gram of cocaine that is ingested, every gram of heroin that is ingested represents an abject failure in border security. We've never had more heroin in this country.”
Additionally, he said, the 911 terrorists came through airports, making the U.S. a nation of 50 border states.
“Failures of the visa process, failures of the immigration system enabled the terrorists to enter and hide in plain sight and yet nobody in Congress who talks about comprehensive reform ever has the integrity to bring up the 9/11 commission report,” Cutler said.
Romney: Obama's 'Mistakes' Allowed ISIS to Grow
Britain Clamps Down on Passports to Stop ISIS
Newsmax-Tv
President Obama's speech about how to defeat the Islamic State failed to address a gaping chasm in the U.S. terror threat: border security, former INS officer Michael Cutler says on "America's Forum."
border security, illegals, immigration, jihadists
Thursday, 11 September 2014 10:35 AM
David Horowitz to Newsmax TV: Free Speech Under 'Assault'
Saturday, 16 Jan 2021 22:14 PM
Democrats are trying to criminalize the First Amendment rights of American conservatives, according to author David Horo . . .
Ric Grenell to Newsmax TV: Iran Will Be 'Real Concern' for Biden
Iran will be a "real concern" for President-elect Joe Biden, as the Iranians are already testing the incoming president' . . .
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Do Award Shows Matter? Emmys Ratings Have Seen a Steady Decrease Since 2013, Here's Why
By B. J. Sigesmund AND Hannah Preston On 9/17/17 at 12:00 PM EDT
Host, Stephen Colbert, and Emmy producers roll out red carpet on Sept. 12 in preparation of the ceremony. Getty
As the 69th Emmy Awards Ceremony quickly approaches, the producers' main concern should involve ratings. Last year's Emmys received a historical, all-time low rating of 11.3 million viewers, a steep decline since the 2013 ceremony hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, which brought in 17.3 million viewers.
Newsweek examined the Emmys' efforts to revamp its nominee process in an article published on August 31, 2000, titled "Change is On the Air." Since the Emmys have received a steady loss of viewership over the years, Newsweek has resurfaced this article to question whether another revamp is needed to increase ratings for the 69th Emmys.
In years past, it's often felt like the elderly ruled the Emmys.
Unlike the Oscars, screener tapes have never been allowed. That's meant that any member of the American Academy of Television Arts and Sciences who hadn't been watching much TV had to attend group showings of programs that were nominated.
The folks who showed up for these marathon viewing sessions at hotels and theaters were largely those with lots of time on their hands. That is, older viewers. That's why perennial Emmy favorites such as John Lithgow and "Frasier" have taken home awards again and again.
But this season, the people behind the Emmy telecast--which last year suffered its lowest ratings since 1990--have done things a little differently.
The organization updated the rules to allow for at-home viewing. Screener tapes have been rushed all over Los Angeles, and the Academy believes the new policy will double the number of ballots. It will also likely change the sorts of shows that get the awards on September 10. "You may see programs win that traditionally have been seen as too avant-garde or too edgy for the academy," James B. Chabin, the academy's president, told the New York Times in July.
The most-nominated programs this year already indicate that there's been something of a shift. "The West Wing" and "The Sopranos," both of which are up for 18 awards--including Best Dramatic Series--are smart, acid-tinged programs. While "The Sopranos" was nominated for Best Dramatic Series in 1999, it hit its stride in its second year--and is likely to win. "The West Wing," though arguably the better show, isn't likely to win in its first nominated year.
"Will & Grace," a program about two gay men and their two female friends in its second season, was the most-nominated comedy. It's up for 11 awards; last year, it got only one nomination. Similarly, "Sex and the City"--the ribald HBO program about the dating adventures of four New York women--received nine nods this year as opposed to last year's two. If the latter wins the category, it might be directly related to the at-home viewers. A show this racy is best screened alone--or with a friend.
HBO did extremely well this year, in fact, trailing only NBC for the most nominations. NBC got 97 nods in total, followed by HBO with 86; ABC with 64; CBS with 41; and Fox with 26. PBS got 12; Showtime, 11; TNT, 10; UPN, 7 (all for "Star Trek: Voyager"). One surprise: the formerly hot, teen-heavy WB is only up for 5 awards.
And that wasn't the only shocker in a year of shifts. "Ally McBeal," which won for Best Comedic Series in 1999, didn't even get a nomination in that category this year. And after competing for the Best Dramatic Series award six years in a row, "NYPD Blue" failed to make the cut. And TV's biggest phenomenon from the 1999-2000 season, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," is nowhere on the list. Strict guidelines placed it in competition in the Daytime Emmy's awards, with all the other game shows. Sorry, Reeg. Maybe next year.
Where Will the Stars Party After the 2017 Emmy Awards?
Worst Emmy Snubs, From 'Star Trek' to Elisabeth Moss
Our 2017 Emmy Predictions
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Home » News & Features » Off-Broadway News & Features » Manhattan Theatre Club announces casts of India Pale Ale & The Niceties
Manhattan Theatre Club announces casts of India Pale Ale & The Niceties
Alok Tewari, Lisa Banes & more to star in the off-Broadway premieres at New York City Center from October 2018.
Manhattan Theatre Club has now announced complete casting for two upcoming productions at New York City Center.
The world premiere of Jaclyn Backhaus' India Pale Ale, directed by Lucille Lortel Award nominee Will Davis, begins previews at New York City Center's Stage I on October, 2018, ahead of an official opening on October 23 and a limited engagement through to November 25, 2018. The cast includes Purva Bedi (as Deepa Batra), Angel Desai (as Simran Rayat), Sophia Mahmud (as Dadi Parminder), Nate Miller (as Tim), Shazi Raja (as Basminder “Boz” Batra), Nik Sadhnani (as Vishal Singh), Lipica Shah (as Lovi), Sathya Sridharan (as Iggy Batra) and Alok Tewari (as Sunny Batra).
Synopsis: "In a small Wisconsin town, a tight-knit Punjabi community gathers to celebrate the wedding of a traditional family’s only son, just as their strong-willed daughter announces her plans to move away and open a bar. As they come together for feasts filled with singing and dancing, one generation’s cherished customs clash with another’s modern-day aspirations, and ghosts and pirates from the family's past linger in everyone's thoughts - until one sudden event changes everything."
The creative team behind India Pale Ale has also been announced and features choreography by Will Davis, scenic design by Neil Patel, costume design by Arnulfo Maldonado, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design by Elisheba Ittoop, hair & make-up design by Dave Bova.
Ms. Backhaus and Mr. Davis previously collaborated on her play Men on Boats.
At New York City Center's Studio at Stage II, MTC presents the New York premiere of Eleanor Burgess' The Niceties, directed by Kimberly Senior, running from October 12 through to November 18, 2018, with an official opening set for October 25. The two-hander cast includes Lisa Banes (as Janine) and Jordan Boatman (as Zoe).
Synopsis: "At an elite East Coast university, an ambitious young black student and her esteemed white professor meet to discuss a paper the college junior is writing about the American Revolution. They’re both liberal. They’re both women. They’re both brilliant. But very quickly, discussions of grammar and Google turn to race and reputation, and before they know it, they’re in dangerous territory neither of them had foreseen – and facing stunning implications that can’t be undone."
The creative team behind The Niceties features scenic design by Cameron Anderson, costume design by Kara Harmon, lighting design by D.M. Wood, sound design by and Elisheba Ittoop.
The Niceties was originally presented as part of MTC’s Ted Snowdon Reading Series in 2017 and is now presented in asssociation with Huntington Theatre Company and McCarter Theatre Center. The production is set to debut at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, MA from August 31 through to September 30, 2018, and following the New York premiere it is scheduled to go on to play the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, NJ from January 11 through to February 10, 2019.
(Photos courtesy of Boneau/Bryan-Brown)
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Did trip to Afghanistan radicalize bombing suspect?
Updated Jan 16, 2019; Posted Sep 19, 2016
Suspect in NYC and N.J. explosions arrested
Gallery: Suspect in NYC and N.J. explosions arrested
By Len Melisurgo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Ahmad Khan Rahami, the 28-year-old Elizabeth man suspected of planting homemade bombs in New York City and New Jersey, liked to play basketball, drive souped-up cars and studied criminal justice at a community college.
But the naturalized American citizen also had two previous run-ins with the law and showed noticeable changes in his personality, clothing style and religious devotion after a trip to Afghanistan four years ago.
A deeper portrait of Rahami began to emerge Monday evening, stitched together from court records, a school official and what friends and business patrons told the New York Times about his transformative journey to Afghanistan.
This undated photo provided by the New Jersey State Police shows Ahmad Khan Rahami, suspected in the recent bombings that rocked the Chelsea neighborhood of New York and the New Jersey shore town Seaside Park. (New Jersey State Police via AP)
Rahami was apprehended Monday morning after a shootout with police in Linden. The violent confrontation followed a massive nationwide manhunt in the wake of pipe bomb explosions in Seaside Park and Manhattan over the weekend.
Rahami graduated from Edison High School in 2007. One Twitter user remembered Rahami as a "class clown, very funny, nice guy."
He attended Middlesex County College from the fall of 2010 through the fall of 2012, studying criminal justice but falling about 24 credits short of an associate's degree, said college spokesman Patrick Madama.
Rahami voluntarily left the school, Madama said. "He stepped out on his own."
Legal problems
It remains unclear if Rahami's decision to drop out of college had anything to do with the legal problems he faced several years ago. Court records show Rahami faced criminal charges on two prior occasions, once in 2012 when he was accused of violating a domestic violence restraining order, and the other in 2014, when he was accused of stabbing a relative.
On Aug. 22, 2014, Rahami, who then resided in Perth Amboy, was arrested in Elizabeth and charged with aggravated assault for allegedly stabbing a relative, Nasim Rahami, in the left leg, court records show. In that same incident, Rahami was also charged with possession of firearm that he intended to use against the relative, according to the complaint filed in Superior Court in Elizabeth.
However, the case was dismissed after a grand jury refused to return an indictment, court records show. It is unclear why there was no indictment.
Two years earlier, on Feb. 10, 2012, Rahami was charged with violating a domestic violence restraining order. That case was later downgraded and transferred to Family Court, according to court records. No details were available about the disposition of the case in Family Court.
Separately, Rahami was sued for child support in 2008, just a year after his graduation from Edison High School, by the mother of his daughter, now 9, records show.
The mother, an Edison resident, declined to comment Monday. A man who answered the door at the home said the woman had not been in contact with Rahami for at least three years.
During recent years, Rahami had been working at his family's restaurant, First American Fried Chicken, in Elizabeth.
Some customers told the New York Times that Rahami liked to play basketball, race cars with upgraded engines and wear casual American clothes.
After taking a trip to Afghanistan in recent years, he seemed to be much more serious, dressing in Muslim robes and praying in the back of the chicken store, the Times reported.
A law enforcement official told CNN that Rahami spent several weeks in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2011, including a city known to be a Taliban stronghold. When he was in Pakistan, he reportedly married a Pakistani woman, but it is not clear whether she ever moved to the United States.
Fingerprints at bombing scene
A law enforcement official told the Associated Press that fingerprints and video footage from surveillance cameras helped investigators identify Rahami as the man suspected of setting off the bombs.
The official said Rahami is seen in surveillance footage "clear as day" at the scene of the Saturday night bombing in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. The official said investigators were also able to recover his fingerprints from the scene.
Another law enforcement official said investigators pulled over a car "associated" with Rahami when it appeared headed toward an airport Sunday. The car was occupied by three men and two women.
A third law enforcement official said Rahami was not on any terror or no-fly watch lists but had been interviewed for immigration purposes.
The officials spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly about the case.
NJ Advance Media staff writers Tom Haydon and Mark Mueller, and the Associated Press, contributed to this report.
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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Home » Unholy: Why White Evangelicals Worship at the Altar of Donald Trump (Hardcover)
Unholy: Why White Evangelicals Worship at the Altar of Donald Trump (Hardcover)
By Sarah Posner
1 on hand, as of Jan 16 10:15pm
(POLITICS AND CURRENT EVENTS)
“In terrifying detail, Unholy illustrates how a vast network of white Christian nationalists plotted the authoritarian takeover of the American democratic system. There is no more timely book than this one.”—Janet Reitman, author of Inside Scientology
Why did so many evangelicals turn out to vote for Donald Trump, a serial philanderer with questionable conservative credentials who seems to defy Christian values with his every utterance? To a reporter like Sarah Posner, who has been covering the religious right for decades, the answer turns out to be far more intuitive than one might think.
In this taut inquiry, Posner digs deep into the radical history of the religious right to reveal how issues of race and xenophobia have always been at the movement’s core, and how religion often cloaked anxieties about perceived threats to a white, Christian America. Fueled by an antidemocratic impulse, and united by this narrative of reverse victimization, the religious right and the alt-right support a common agenda–and are actively using the erosion of democratic norms to roll back civil rights advances, stock the judiciary with hard-right judges, defang and deregulate federal agencies, and undermine the credibility of the free press. Increasingly, this formidable bloc is also forging ties with European far right groups, giving momentum to a truly global movement.
Revelatory and engrossing, Unholy offers a deeper understanding of the ideological underpinnings and forces influencing the course of Republican politics. This is a book that must be read by anyone who cares about the future of American democracy.
Sarah Posner is a reporting fellow with Type Investigations. Her investigative reporting has appeared in Rolling Stone, VICE, The Nation, Mother Jones, The New Republic, HuffPost, and Talking Points Memo. Her coverage and analysis of politics and religion has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The American Prospect, Politico, and many other outlets. She graduated from Wesleyan University and has a law degree from the University of Virginia. Her story "How Trump Took Hate Groups Mainstream," published before the 2016 election, won a Sidney Hillman Foundation Award.
“Few reporters are more astute about the intersection of the evangelical movement and American politics than Posner, and in Unholy she reveals a backstory that anyone trying to understand how we got to this disturbing state of affairs should read.”—Jane Mayer, chief Washington correspondent, The New Yorker, and author of Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right
“A meticulous deconstruction of the Christian right's long, slow infiltration of Republican politics. Sarah Posner has been writing on this subject for years, and it shows. Before Donald Trump, it was easy to claim the Christian right lacked the power it had during the 1980s; Posner shows that this analysis was dead wrong.”—Janet Reitman, contributing writer, The New York Times Magazine, and author of Inside Scientology: The Story of America’s Most Secretive Religion
“Reading Unholy unsettles you and shows that what ails this country goes way beyond the current occupant in the White House. This book is a must-read for anyone who claims to be Christian and for anyone who is concerned about our democracy.”—Eddie S. Glaude Jr., author of Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own
“Unholy explains how moralizing evangelicals fell in love with one of the most outwardly immoral presidents in modern American history. Religion reporter Sarah Posner makes bold claims, but she brings receipts. As a Christian, I found this book far more disturbing and damning than I expected. We ignore it at our collective peril.”—Jonathan Merritt, author of Learning to Speak God from Scratch and contributing writer for The Atlantic
“Posner shows how conservative politics have shifted since the 1970s, with the line between church and state blurring as conservative Christians gained steady influence in government. Her extensive research offers a dizzying array of right-wing think tanks and coalitions, driven by both high- and low-profile names. . . . Posner reckons that Trump is merely ‘a catalyst, not a cause,’ capitalizing on racial fear, economic uncertainty, and social unrest.”—Booklist
“Posner (God’s Profits), longtime analyst of the religious right, . . . begins with the sense of displacement and racial grievance white Christian conservatives experienced following Brown v. Board of Education (1954) and traces the development of the religious right’s political infrastructure up until the Obama presidency, demonstrating how decades of patient strategizing created an environment in which Trump, the perfect televangelist candidate, could take center stage. . . . Highly recommended for those seeking to understand how white evangelicals developed political power.”—Library Journal
“Posner [is a] reporting fellow at Type Investigations. [Her] authoritative investigation will be a must-read for those interested in the connections between the Trump presidency and evangelicalism.”—Publishers Weekly
Publication Date: May 26th, 2020
Political Science / Political Ideologies / Nationalism & Patriotism
Religion / Religion, Politics & State
History / United States / 21st Century
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Wikipedia Leads Effort to Create a Digital Archive of 20 Million Artifacts Lost in the Brazilian Museum Fire
in Museums | September 12th, 2018 Leave a Comment
The staggering loss of a possible 20 million artifacts in the fire that consumed Brazil’s Museu Nacional in Rio boggles the mind—dinosaur fossils, the oldest human remains found in the country, and, as Emily Dreyfuss reports at Wired, “audio recordings and documents of indigenous languages. Many of those languages, already extinct, may now be lost forever.” Former Brazilian environment minister called the destruction of Latin America’s biggest natural history museum “a lobotomy of the Brazilian memory.”
The incalculable loss of culture and history seems all the more tragic given that it might have been slowed or stopped but for government cuts that left the museum with crumbling infrastructure and without a sprinkler system or even water for the hydrants outside (firefighters had to get water from a nearby lake). But assigning blame, while necessary to prevent future catastrophes, will not restore the museum’s treasures or the many years of research its staff lost when their offices went up in flames.
Sadly, as Dreyfuss points out, like many museums around the world, the Museu Nacional had not begun to back up its collection digitally. But it may not be entirely too late for that, in some small part at least. In an announcement last week, Wikipedia called for a post facto crowdsourced backup in the form of user-submitted photos.
“We’re asking people everywhere to join our global community,” wrote executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation, Katherine Maher, “and help the world recover from this collective tragedy.” Maher describes the fire as a “devastating loss of 200 years of history,” but of course, it’s much more than that. The museum contained not only prehistoric artifacts, but also Egyptian sarcophagi and mummies, Greek vases, and many other ancient treasures. You can get a sense of the scope of its collections at the museum’s website and browse the visitor-submitted photos at Wikimedia.
“Thousands of images have already been uploaded,” reports Brazil’s O Globo. Few of them contain any identifying information, and it will fall to scholars or knowledgeable Wikipedia editors to provide it. Other institutions around the world are also responding. GeekWire notes that “National Geographic, UNESCO and the French government have offered support for restoring the museum and reconstituting its collection.” It may rise from the ashes, but most of the museum’s former contents will only exist through the photographic documentation of its many thousands of visitors.
If you were one of those visitors, you can submit your photos to Wikimedia Commons (see the instructions above, or at the tweet here). Students from the Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro are also “heading up their own crowdsourcing effort,” GeekWire notes. “They’re even soliciting selfies from past visits.” Here’s hoping this tragedy spurs governments to provide the needed funding for museums in the future, and pushes museums that are not doing so to make digital archiving a priority.
1.8 Million Free Works of Art from World-Class Museums: A Meta List of Great Art Available Online
25 Million Images From 14 Art Institutions to Be Digitized & Put Online In One Huge Scholarly Archive
Free: Download 70,000+ High-Resolution Images of Chinese Art from Taipei’s National Palace Museum
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A Year After Delivering Stillborn Son, Grief-Stricken Woman Finds Path to Healing on Instagram
When 26-year-old Tessa Stephens delivered a stillborn son last year, she looked online for solace -- at first, she had trouble finding it
Published August 14, 2017 • Updated on August 14, 2017 at 3:19 pm
Up to 25 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, according to federal data; often there is no precise cause
Stillbirths are far more rare; about 24,000 babies are stillborn in the U.S. each year (1 percent)
An Instagram account, "I Had a Miscarriage," has given grieving women a safe place to talk about an stigmatized tragedy, its creator says
A woman who was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and a blood clotting condition and delivered a stillborn son -- then was blind for two weeks because of her health conditions -- has lifted the veil of her emotional devastation nearly a year after her devastating loss. She was warmed by the virtual embrace of strangers with similar life stories -- but she says it took her awhile to find them, and now Tessa Stephens wants to help illuminate the path for anyone in need.
Tessa Stephens, 26, was 30 weeks pregnant when soaring blood pressure sent her in for a battery of tests, according to "Today." She had a barrage of bloodwork done and went home, then experienced cramps and went back to the hospital: Her baby no longer had a heartbeat.
Stephens delivered a stillborn boy, Jude, on Aug. 11, 2016, according to "Today." After the trauma of that delivery, she had to cope with a litany of her own debilitating health problems: key organs were failing, her brain was swelling, she still had high blood pressure and couldn't see.
Two weeks later, Stephens' vision came back. Once she was well enough, she went home from the hospital -- and tried to cope with her grief by finding similar stories online. Eventually she found "I Had a Miscarriage" on Instagram; the account was started by a woman who had two third trimester miscarriages and wanted to share her story to help others, "Today" said.
“I found a lot of comfort in it. No one really likes to talk about miscarriage and stillbirth and here was a whole page talking about loss,” Stephens, who is from Michigan, told "Today."
The woman behind that Instagram account, Jessica Tucker, told "Today" she started the page as an outlet to process her own grief. She said the subject of miscarriage often comes with a sort of stigma, and many women feel too ashamed or guilty to talk about their own.
“Miscarriage is not a disease and pregnancy loss is not going away. It just feels all the more important to me that we address it and we become comfortable talking about something uncomfortable,” Tucker told "Today."
Stephens shared her struggle on the page recently, ahead of the year anniversary of her loss. She said sharing her pain and healing process was "empowering" and "makes me feel his memory will always live on."
Between 15 and 25 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, according to federal data. Most occur within the first three months of pregnancy and most miscarriages are related to fetal genetic problems unrelated to the mother. But often miscarriages come without warning -- and with no identifiable cause. Because of that, many blame themselves, according to advocates and women who have endured them.
Stillbirths are far more rare, with about 24,000 babies born stillborn in the United States each year (1 percent), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
For Stephens, she says I Had a Miscarriage on Instagram was finally a safe place to share her story.
“I didn’t feel it would be scary or I would be judged,” Stephens told "Today." “The more you talk about it, the more healing it becomes.”
Tucker's page has nearly 18,000 followers and features emotional stories about personal pregnancy challenges and losses.
United StatesJennifer MillmanInstagramMichiganCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
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Search On for Missing 10-Year-Old
Girl last seen playing on her street Wednesday evening
By Vince Lattanzio • Published June 3, 2010 • Updated on June 4, 2010 at 1:17 am
Philadelphia Police are asking for the public's help in finding a young girl who's been missing since Wednesday.
Maggie Zimmerman, 10, was last seen playing near her home along the 1200 block of Hellerman Street in the Oxford Circle section of the city at 7 p.m., police say.
The girl, who's described as 4-foot-10-inches tall with a thin build, was reported missing Thursday morning after her parents searched all the possible places she could be.
"I got a phone call from her mom about seven this morning asking was Maggie at my house," the girl's cousin Aleshia said. "They said they hadn't seen her since yesterday."
Aleshia says her family and police went door-to-door in the neighborhood, but had no luck. The girl is the youngest of four children has never run away.
"She's a vibrant young girl who does well in school," the girl's uncle Johnny said. "She's a well adjusted young lady."
Now, officials and her family are pleading for your help in finding Maggie safe. She was wearing a black shirt with black tights and tan and pink Barbie sneakers when she went missing, according to police.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Philadelphia Police Northeast Detective Division at 215.686.3153.
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Salvation Army Strikes Gold With Anonymous Kettle Donation
Officials believe the coin could be worth up to $2,000
Published December 23, 2020 • Updated on December 23, 2020 at 11:10 pm
Jill Shapiro/The Salvation Army of Southern Nevada via AP
Salvation Army officials in Las Vegas said Wednesday they were surprised to find a valuable gold coin among the dollar bills, nickels, dimes and quarters in one of the organization’s iconic red charity fundraising kettles.
Capt. Anthony Barnes, Salvation Army of Southern Nevada coordinator, said the solid gold Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coin found Tuesday wasn't immediately appraised, but officials believe it could be worth up to $2,000.
Barnes called it an incredible anonymous donation.
Stories that affect your life across the U.S. and around the world.
“We’ve witnessed extraordinary acts of kindness and giving during this challenging year,” he said in a statement. “We wish to thank this generous donor from the bottom of our hearts.”
The coin is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint at a face value of $50 Canadian, or about $39 U.S. The market value of 1 ounce (28.35 gram) of gold is far greater, and varies day-to-day.
The Salvation Army is a Christian organization founded in 1865 in London. Today, it is active in more than 100 countries around the world. It is best known for its charity shops, homeless shelters and disaster relief.
Organization spokeswoman Jill Shapiro said the organization helps about 75,000 people a year in the Las Vegas area.
Salvation Armydonation
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Sydney Roosters Season Review
Thu 8 Sep 2011, 10:40 AM
Position: 14th
Home Record: 4 wins, 8 losses, 1 draw
Away Record: 2 wins, 10 losses
Longest Winning Streak: 4 (Rounds 23-26)
Longest Losing Streak: 5 (Round 5-10)
Players Used: 33 (equal most in the NRL)
Player of the Year: Jake Friend
Tries Scored: 74 (fifth fewest)
Tries Conceded: 86 (seventh most)
Not much went right for the Roosters in 2011. They began the season with high hopes and huge expectations after a tremendous turnaround in 2010, going from wooden spooners to grand finalists, and began brightly with a huge win over South Sydney in Round 1. But the danger signs were there early as 2010 Dally M Medallist Todd Carney was first caught drink driving then shortly after embarked on an ill-fated night out with fellow player Anthony Watts, which ended Watts’ season without him playing a single game.
Five straight losses followed Carney’s first two misdemeanours for the year (yep, sadly there were more to come) and although the Roosters maintained fairly solid home form thereafter, their inability to win away from home meant they were facing an uphill battle early on to stay in touch with the top half of the competition.
A golden run of four straight wins to round out the season was a case of too little, too late and will leave fans wondering where that side had been hiding all year.
Where They Excelled: This probably brings us to the crux of why the Roosters had such an unsuccessful season – there were really no areas they truly excelled. Coach Brian Smith will be happy with their dominant home record (after their Round 7 loss to the Dragons they were only beaten at home once more at home, by the Raiders in Round 17) but this was offset by their poor away results.
The renaissance form of fullback Anthony Minichiello and prop Jason Ryles provided a bright spot, and former wild child Jake Friend had possibly his best year for the tri-colours, but overall there was little to cheer about for Roosters fans.
Where They Struggled: Territory was one of the biggest issues for the Roosters. Despite having several accomplished kickers in the team, notably Mitchell Pearce and Braith Anasta, the Roosters were the worst side in the competition for gaining ground through kicks, averaging only around 500 metres per game.
Their running game was almost as poor, with only the Titans and Raiders running for fewer metres. No regular forwards averaged more than Nate Myles with 102 metres per game, and their inability to maintain good field position was a key reason to why they finished ahead of only the Eels and Titans in terms of point-scoring.
Discipline also hurt – they were the second-most penalised team for the year after Penrith, feeling the wrath of the referees 156 times.
Missing In Action: Aside from the players missing through disciplinary issues (Watts for the season, Carney for much of the season and Nate Myles for the last four games) there were also plenty of injury disruptions for the Roosters.
It started in the pre-season when Anthony Cherrington tore an anterior cruciate ligament in a trial game and missed the season. Mitch Aubusson didn’t return after dislocating a shoulder before Round 10, Daniel Conn was forced to retire after Round 9 due to a neck injury, Steve Naughton missed most of the season with a fractured collarbone and Origin hopeful Martin Kennedy played only eight games due to a foot injury. Outside backs Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Kane Linnett, Joseph Leilua and Sam Perrett all missed game time towards the end of the year due to a variety of ankle, knee and leg complaints.
Turning Point: It’s tough to blame a poor season on off-field issues but the dramas surrounding Carney and Watts were immediately followed by that five-game losing streak and the side never seemed to recover. Given Carney was such a key player to their success in 2010 the influence of those disruptions on the team must have been considerable. It’s also notable that the best run for the Roosters came in the last four rounds – after those disruptive influences had finally been given their marching orders.
Best Games: Although the Round 1 win over South Sydney was convincing the side let in more points than Brian Smith would have liked, and there were few truly dominant wins for most of the season.
This changed in their late run of four straight victories, which started with a highly impressive performance to take the points over the Dragons in Wollongong 20-8 in Round 23 (their first away win for the year) and was rounded out by their most comprehensive performance of the year – a 40-8 blitzing of minor premiers Melbourne in Round 26.
Admittedly the Storm were missing a galaxy of stars having opted to rest four players, with a further three suspended, and they lost another three to injury during the game. But you can only play what’s in front of you and the Roosters were ruthless and professional right from the kick-off. The fact that those four wins were achieved without Carney will also give fans hope for next season.
Worst Games: Although the side’s troubles away from home would have been frustrating, there is no doubt their worst performance of the year came at home. Their only home loss after Round 7 was inflicted by the Raiders in Round 17 and the 38-12 loss was made even less palatable by the fact that it not only came at home, where they had been strong, but came at the hands of a side near the bottom of the ladder.
Braith Anasta put the opening kick-off out on the full and the Raiders crossed 90 seconds later through Josh Papalii. Although the Roosters clawed it back to 18-10 at halftime, Canberra went on a four-tries-to-none blitz in the second half to run away with it. Admittedly the Roosters were without Origin players Anthony Minichiello and Mitchell Pearce but the way they were completely dominated in possession and field position made it a night to forget for Roosters fans.
Hold Your Head High: Hooker Jake Friend put his past troubles behind him to register possibly his most consistent season of top-grade football. Friend played all games bar one and finished the season as the third-top tackler in the NRL. His best form coincided with the team’s best form as he clocked up a number of tries and try assists in the final four rounds.
Jason Ryles may have grey in his hair now but the quality of his hit-ups and effectiveness of his defence never wavered. Minichiello was a model of consistency after some horror years with injury, was always safe under the high ball and was rewarded for his good form with a return to the New South Wales Origin set-up.
Coach Brian Smith says: “In the course of the whole pre-season and in-season, we had a number of things that we had to deal with. In what’s been a very disappointing season for us overall, the end bit was really good. The leadership at our club, and Braith in particular as our captain this year in really trying circumstances, has been fantastic. The boys have responded to him well; now we’ve got all those young guys… some of them between half a dozen and some of them have got nearly 20 first grade games up… they are ready to go into next season and challenge for a position. So that’s the bright side.”
Conclusion: Even by modern standards the Roosters had a poor run with injury, and some notable off-field dramas certainly didn’t help their cause. However, their late run of form just goes to show that they were always capable of better than they were showing, and the players will be bitterly disappointed with their lacklustre season after such a strong finish the year before.
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Senderos And Switzerland In Euro 2016
By content July 20, 2016 June 2, 2017
With the Euro 2016 having come to an end, the aftermath offers different results to the different teams and players.
Many teams have shuffled their players and coaches or managers, are working on different strategies to spruce up the squads so that they can qualify again for the next upcoming tournament. Philippe Senderos has been facing changes in his national team allocation as well.
Among the new selections being made to form a squad of 23 men, Philippe Senderos will probably not feature for the Switzerland team. The finals that are coming up for Group “A” next month would see Switzerland faces countries like Romania, France and Albania. Philippe would probably be given a rest in these games in the next month. The player had come back to participate in the Swiss Super League in the month of January. Senderos is currently at 31 years of age. When he returned to play in the Swiss Super League in the month of January he took up several games to play. The Premier League did not happen for the team and Senderos had to spend time away from the field, nursing injuries as well as lacking in form.
The final matches for Switzerland needed players who were in good form. Senderos has to take it slow and work on his form this year so that he can recover fully from the injuries he sustained. Indeed, his coach was sympathetic towards his condition. Every player goes through such phases when they are plagued with injuries on the field and lose out on their confidence. Senderos is sure to get back his form soon and his experience will count in the forthcoming matches for the country’s team. He simply needs to hold onto his confidence and find his place again.
Slavisa Jokanovic dismisses any Mass Clear out from Club
Xhaka the new star for Switzerland
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| Lists |
10 of the Largest Objects in America That Can Be Found in Arizona
Matthew Hendley | July 14, 2014 | 6:00am
There's a saying that everything's bigger in Texas, and that's a lie.
Here are 10 things that are either the nation's or world's largest, and can be found right here in Arizona:
-10 World Records Set in Arizona
10.) America's Largest Privately-Owned Ostrich Ranch
The Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch sits on 600 acres in Picacho.
9.) America's Largest Deposits of Petrified Wood
Arizona, also (not) known as the wood-fossil capital of America, thanks to the Petrified Forest National Park.
8.) America's Two Largest Man-Made Lakes
If you don't have lakes, just make 'em yourself. Lake Mead and Lake Powell are the nation's largest man-made lakes by volume.
7.) America's Largest Municipal Park
Phoenix's South Mountain Park is nearly 20 times the size of New York City's Central Park.
6.) World's Largest UFO Conference
Damn straight. The International UFO Congress meets annually in Fountain Hills.
5.) World's Largest Solar Telescope
Best way to stare at the sun goes to the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope on Kitt Peak.
4.) World's Largest Rosebush
It covers about 9,000 square feet in Tombstone.
3.) World's Largest Collection of Miniature Airplanes
The library at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott has more than 5,500 of 'em.
2.) World's Largest Kokopelli
Conveniently located in a strip-mall parking lot in Camp Verde.
1.) America's Largest Natural Hole in the Ground
It's a hole that needs no introduction. It's so big, astronauts can snap pictures of it from space. Yes, the Grand Canyon.
P.S.:Turns out, neither the sundial in Carefree or the fountain of Fountain Hills are the largest of their kind in just this country. Arizona used to have the largest recorded saguaro cactus, but it was destroyed in the Cave Creek Complex Fire of 2005.
Follow Valley Fever on Twitter at @ValleyFeverPHX.
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