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__label__wiki	0.971371	0.971371	Home›News›'Homeland' EP: "Quinn Has a Good Chance of Coming Back" 'Homeland' EP: "Quinn Has a Good Chance of Coming Back" by Tube Writer Rupert Friend as Peter Quinn in 'Homeland,' with Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison Stephan Rabold/SHOWTIME Howard Gordon talks about what's in store for Rupert Friend's character in the buzzy Showtime drama. Don’t get ready to say goodbye to Quinn just yet. Though the fate of Homeland’s grounding character, played by Rupert Friend, was left hanging in the balance at the conclusion of the fifth season, the Showtime drama’s co-creator is optimistic about Peter Quinn’s return. “I will say that Quinn, who is extraordinary … has a good chance of coming back,” Howard Gordon told The Hollywood ReporterFriday at the Television Critics Association winter press tour, following a panel for his new Fox series Second Chance. “The way we’re thinking about bringing him back — if he does come back — is really exciting to me personally,” he added. Gordon acknowledged that the writers gave Friend, whose character suffered from sarin gas poisoning, challenging material this past season. “Especially when you’re talking about a young man who is so physically vibrant,” he said, “we really put him through the ringer. The 24 alum’s remarks echo those made by Showtime’s programming president, Gary Levine, during the cabler’s TCA panel earlier in the week. “Quinn is severely damaged — there is no question about it. The life or death question remains,” he told the room full of reporters. “If he should live, it will not be in any way, shape or form the way he has lived to date.” Despite the fact that Gordon hasn’t been present for the day-to-day of the Claire Danes starrer for the past three seasons due to his work on other projects (FX’s Tyrant and TNT’s since-cancelled Legends, among them), he tells THR he’s still very much involved in the process. “Even though I left Homeland full-time after the second season, I still talk to [showrunner and co-creator] Alex [Gansa] every day,” he said, noting that he even wrote and produced an episode of the CIA thriller last year. “I’m not out of it, but it’s Alex’s show — it’s his baby. I’m his consigliere that he comes to when he wants to run something by me.” While Showtime’s CEO David Nevins refused to offer any additional details about what's in store for Quinn ("I know and have seen exactly as much as you guys have seen,” he said on Tuesday, “and clearly, there is no definitive answer given”), he did reveal other tidbits about the drama, including that the sixth season will take place in New York and that it isn't ending anytime soon. "I have in vague ways [talked about a finale] with Alex," said Nevins. "He tends to attack his seasons one by one. I think that's one of the strengths of show. Needless to say, it's going to be in their control." Added Levine: "The good news is, it's not imminent." TagsCarrie MathisonClaire DanesRupertshowtime 'Simpsons' Creator Readying Animated Comedy for Netflix 'Big Bang Theory' Creator Chuck Lorre Prepping ... Tube Writer Shameless (SHO) Promo & Sneak Peeks - "Carl's First Sentencing" News, Slider, U.S.A. SHOWS 'The Affair' Star Maura Tierney: Helen Is "Not the Victim" Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hugo Weaving Board Showtime Miniseries 'Melrose' Hottest Woman 12/8/14 – TATIANA MASLANY (Orphan Black)! WWE: Raw December 8, 2014 results (This year’s Slammy Awards) News, Shows, Slider, Sports, U.S.A. SHOWS, Uncategorized, Videos, World, WWE The Whispers (ABC) Promo\|"Traveller In The Dark" 1x12	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1488
__label__cc	0.707742	0.292258	Title: Long underwear Subject: Undergarment, John Smedley (industrialist), Boxer briefs, Briefs, Boxer shorts Collection: 17Th-Century Fashion, 18Th-Century Fashion, 19Th-Century Fashion, Undergarments, Winter Clothes Two-piece long underwear Long underwear, also called long johns or thermal underwear, is a style of two-piece underwear with long legs and long sleeves that is normally worn during cold weather. It is commonly worn by people under their clothes in cold countries. In the United States, it is usually made from a cotton or cotton-polyester-blend fabric with a box-weave texture, although some varieties are also made from flannel, particularly the union suit, while many newer varieties are made from polyester, such as the Capilene trade name. European manufacturers use wool blends or even 100% wool, usually Merino or other high-quality wool. Some models might include a thin layer of polyester to transport moisture away from the skin. Wool, in addition to being fire retardant, provides highly effective insulation and will keep its insulating properties even when wet, as opposed to cotton. The type known as "thermal underwear" is made from two-ply fabric of either a wool layer and an artificial fibre, only wool or – again mostly in the U.S. – two layers of only artificial fibres, which uses trapped body heat to insulate against cold air. Etymology of "long johns" The manufacturing foundations of long johns may lie in Derbyshire, England, at John Smedley's Lea Mills, located in Matlock. The company has a 225-year heritage and is said to have created the garment, reputedly named after the late-19th-century heavyweight boxer John L. Sullivan; the company still produces long johns.[1] In 2004, Michael Quinion, a British etymologist and writer, postulated that the "john" in the item of apparel may be a reference to Sullivan, who wore a similar-looking garment in the ring. This explanation, however, is uncertain and the word's origin is ultimately unknown.[2] History of long johns Long johns were first introduced into England in the 17th century, but they did not become popular as sleepwear until the 18th century. They were supposedly called long johns after a famous knife fighter who fought in long underwear. They were first used as loungewear but then later became popular as sleepwear. Children also wore long johns as sleepwear, usually made out of cotton and polyester. An adjustable two-piece design is credited to Myles Stanfield, a native of Truro, Nova Scotia, who patented his design on 7 December 1915. In 1898, Myles and his brother John had developed a product called Stanfield's Unshrinkable Underwear for Stanfield's, their garment manufacturing company.[3] ^ The Fashion of Long Johns. Retrieved 26 December 2014. ^ Quinion, Michael (21 February 2004). World Wide Words. Retrieved 5 August 2011. ^ Theriault, Mario (2001). Great Maritime Inventions 1833–1950. Fredericton, New Brunswick: Goose Lane Editions. p. 35. OCLC 244770691. Sleeveless shirt (A-shirt / singlet / tank top) Telnyashka Bloxers Briefs (slip / Y-fronts) Fundoshi Jockstrap (athletic supporter) Willy warmer Long underwear (long johns) Breechcloth Codpiece Loincloth Union suit California Muscle Joe Boxer Saxx Apparel John Smedley's Stanfield's XTG Extreme Game Articles needing additional references from August 2011 Articles with limited geographic scope from August 2011 17th-century fashion Isle of Man, India, Canada, European Union, British Overseas Territories India, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Silk, Cotton gin Derby, Staffordshire, Chesterfield, Greater Manchester, Cheshire United Kingdom, Angles, Cornwall, Isle of Man, English language Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, Ontario, Quebec, Moncton Linen, Lingerie, Hosiery, Nightwear, Panties John Smedley (industrialist) Abercrombie & Fitch, Matlock, Derbyshire, Florence Nightingale, Long underwear, Hydrotherapy United Kingdom, Australia, Cotton, Cap, Undergarment United Kingdom, Figure skating, Chicago, Illinois, Australia World War II, Cotton, Silk, Cap, Undergarment	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1489
__label__cc	0.628735	0.371265	Charity Partners/ Tectonics/ Published in Tectonics In the 4th century BC, Aristotle proposed that earthquakes were caused by winds trapped in subterranean caves. Small tremors were triggered by air pushing on the cavern roofs, large ones by air breaking the surface. We now know a good deal more about how and why earthquakes happen. Yet the most important part of the jigsaw – when they will happen – continues to confound us as much as it did the ancient Greeks Ask any geologist the direct question ‘will we ever predict earthquakes in the way we can predict the arrival of a hurricane?’ and you will elicit a brusque answer: ‘No.’ Some, such as Jean-Philippe Avouac of the Tectonics Observatory at the California Institute of Technology, elaborate a little further: ‘I just don’t think we will ever be able to do that. It will always be on the other side of the hill.’ The good news is that our understanding of how earthquakes happen and how to mitigate their impact is increasing rapidly. Fortified by improved data and technology, governments – or at least, those of developed nations – are on the point of offering short-notice alerts of tremors in real time, which may just buy their citizens precious seconds to head for safety. Stay connected with the Geographical newsletter! In these turbulent times, we’re committed to telling expansive stories from across the globe, highlighting the everyday lives of normal but extraordinary people. Stay informed and engaged with Geographical. Get Geographical’s latest news delivered straight to your inbox every Friday! The need for greater understanding and preparation is more urgent as urban populations expand. Six of history’s ten costliest earthquakes have occurred in the past 13 years, and five have affected major metropolitan areas. Japan’s 2011 Tohoku/Fukushima earthquake was the costliest in history at nearly $300billion. ‘This is a recognition of the expansion of urban areas and an expression of the importance of building codes,’ says Andy Michael, a geophysicist with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). As cities become ever more densely populated, their inhabitants are surrounding themselves with infrastructure – roads, bridges, and buildings – that become deadly hazards during a disaster and expensive to repair. Furthermore, the very factors that make coastal cities appealing also amplify their danger. Many are built alongside tectonic faults that mirror coastlines and which offer access to the sea and fertile, crop-yielding soils. A strong case can be made for future expansion of cities to take into account their proximity to seismic areas, according to Kris Hartley, assistant professor of Asian and policy studies at the Education University of Hong Kong. ‘If there is a model for how a country can gently nudge growth towards safer regions, this could be replicated in the case of exiting seismically prone regions as well,’ he suggests. ‘The unfortunate side of that is that many people have to experience first-hand that destruction in their lives before they embark on such a move...’ CRACKING THE EARTHQUAKE CODE You have reached the end of this preview of our in-depth look at the ways advancements in technology are improving the scientific art of earthquake detection. To read the full feature, be sure to pick up the July 2019 issue of Geographical today! Pick up the latest issue of the magazine by clicking here, or take out a 3 or 12-month subscription and never miss a thing! Dossier: hunting and human-wildlife conflict Hunting is a topic that attracts polarised viewpoints. But as… According to the World Conservation Union, Britain’s national parks ‘only… Dossier: Confronting the global rubbish crisis For years, China was the go-to destination for exporting the… [From the Geographical Archive] Reporting on earthquakes in 1940 in Tectonics By Ernest Tillotson Earthquakes from time immemorial have attracted the attention of the…	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1491
__label__cc	0.500537	0.499463	Iqbal Masih: An Amazing Kid from History Posted in Amazing Kids from History, December 2017 Issue By Jordan Brunk, Amazing Kid from History Editor and Contributing Writer Iqbal Masih is an amazing kid from history. He was born in 1983 in Muridke, Pakistan. He shows us that no matter how scared or young we are, we can always find a difference to make in the lives of those around us. When Iqbal was still very young, around four years old, he was taken to a carpet company to work until he could pay off his mother’s debt to a businessman. However, the situation was very unfair because the businessman always made sure to dock money from his already little salary for every error and more. At the carpet company, along with several other working children, Iqbal was beaten, starved, and harmed. The work conditions in the factory were inadequate because it was very small, stuffy, and dangerous. He believed that as a young child, he and other kids should be in school learning instead of working. His health also suffered from being a child laborer, and he was very thin for his age. Iqbal wanted to stop working; however, his mother needed the money to pay back the debt. One day when he was older, Iqbal was fortunate enough to attend a freedom-day celebration. From listening to the multiple speakers, he learned that a law was passed where he lived making it illegal for companies, businesses, and factories to hire child laborers and enslave them. Iqbal was confused as to why he was still a slave to the carpet company, sometimes even being handcuffed to a machine, so when he got a chance, he spoke to the audience. After explaining his situation to everyone in the crowd, people wanted to help Iqbal and his friends. One man named Ehsan Ullah Khan convinced the carpet company manager to let Iqbal and some of his enslaved friends free from the factory. Iqbal was extremely happy to be released; however, he couldn’t shake the feeling of other kids and people still trapped in some businesses. After having this feeling, he became a part of an antislavery movement around age 10 and started making several speeches in order for more people and children to be free. Iqbal was very passionate, and his words got through to many people. He even traveled to other countries speaking about how important it is for kids to get an education and to not be slaves. He riskily went undercover to hear about the working conditions of other children and to get them involved to help put an end to child slavery. Sadly, Iqbal is no longer with us today, yet his legacy still lives on in several countries. From his speeches and undercover missions, tons of children have been saved from slavery. Iqbal shows us that even as kids, we can become a part of large organizations and really make a difference in the world. Whether it be an advocate about ending child slavery or a movement to enforce recycling at school, Iqbal shows us that we can do it all. He encourages us to get a great education, so we can go on to get a job we enjoy in the future. Iqbal shows us that we can continue to live out our dreams as kids and that we are never too young to help out or lend a hand. From his bravery about going undercover, Iqbal shows us that we can also be brave about expressing our ideas and beliefs about certain topics. In this way, Iqbal Masih truly is an amazing kid from history.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1492
__label__wiki	0.771147	0.771147	CRC convenes summit to fight modern slavery By Johanna R Ginsberg April 4, 2012, 12:00 am 0 Edit Staff Writer, New Jersey Jewish News Speaking at a summit run by the Polaris Project and convened by the Community Relations Committee of MetroWest and Central New Jersey, a Jewish survivor of human trafficking urged the audience to learn what they could about a global scourge that includes sex trafficking, forced labor, and involuntary servitude. The conference, held March 30 at the Aidekman Jewish Community Campus in Whippany, was sponsored by 25 local organizations, both Jewish and non-Jewish, and attended by more than 170 people. “The Jewish community is unaware of this modern-day slavery,” the Jewish survivor told the gathering. “We need to learn the red flags and teach the community what to look for.” In addition to another survivor (their names and full presentations were off limits to the media), presenters included representatives from law enforcement, local community institutions, and the Polaris Project, an organization serving victims of human trafficking. Polaris has an office in Newark and staffs a 24-hour hotline (1-888-3737-888). The organization has received $10,000 in grants from the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey. Speakers discussed collaborative opportunities and offered training on how to recognize and deal with trafficking. Polaris Project defines human trafficking as commercial sex or labor induced by force, fraud, or coercion; involuntary servitude; peonage; debt bondage; or slavery. The U.S. State Department estimates that as many as 27 million people around the world, including a disproportionate number of women and children, are victimized by human trafficking. The Jewish Council for Public Affairs has partnered with CRCs and other Jewish organizations around the country to raise awareness and launch initiatives to put an end to human trafficking. Last month’s summit marked the beginning of a local CRC-led effort to address the issue. “The purpose of the summit was to learn what we can do,” said CRC director Melanie Gorelick. “We will be meeting after Passover to discuss the next steps.” She indicated that those steps would likely include supporting new legislation ensuring stiff penalties in New Jersey for human trafficking, promoting a program for law enforcement in cooperation with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, and raising awareness of the issue throughout the Jewish community. The Jewish trafficking survivor stressed that undertaking the effort is essential. “Short Hills, Millburn, Livingston — these are all affluent communities,” she said. “And it doesn’t matter. I’m not from the inner city. I’m not from Newark. This goes everywhere. It doesn’t have lines.” The following organizations sponsored The Human Trafficking Training Summit for Community Collaboration by Polaris Project: A.E. Smal & Company Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.-Beta Alpha Omega Chapter Cabal Productions Community Relations Committee of MetroWest and Central NJ Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Morris County chapter Jersey Battered Women Services, Inc. Jewish Labor Committee Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey Junior Leagues of New Jersey State Public Affairs Committee Lifehouse, Inc. Morris County Human Relations Commission National Council of Jewish Women, Morris County National Council of Jewish Women, NJ SPA National Council of Jewish Women, Union County National Organization for Women, Morris County chapter National Organization for Women, New Jersey New Jersey Catholic Conference PeaceWorks Project Stay Gold Rabbis for Human Rights North America Rachel Coalition The League of Women Voters Greater MetroWest News	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1495
__label__wiki	0.59139	0.59139	Looping Wor(l)d WE AWAIT SILENT TRISTERO'S EMPIRE On Twitter @MrSkimpole Category Archives: Westworld Westworld #9 – Also sprach Zarathustra November 29, 2016 – 1:03 am Posted in Westworld I really, really, really do not get it. One episode is utter shit, the next is outstanding. It’s so drunkenly uneven. I expected that given the premises up to this point the show was in a corner. Either it gave a major info-dump that wasn’t going to be good anyway, since the premises pointed to a lack of coherence, or they explained very little and expected the public to just wait for following seasons, and trickle down information. But this last hypothesis would be disastrous, since the show is taking a hiatus and won’t come back before 2018. Seriality and mystery cannot work like that, they would just lead to unnecessary frustration and major disappointment when a very long wait isn’t balanced by incredibly awesome revelations. Instead I can say Westworld could even end here for me. Even before the final episode and without any need for more seasons. They left out of this episode the most stupid sidetracks and kept the good parts. Most of the big picture is either revealed already, or can be put together given the pieces we already have. If anything, and given the wild ups and down, there’s a concrete risk the finale will make everything worse. If episode 8 has 7-8 minutes of brilliance surrounded by utter shit, episode 9 instead is good to excellent all the way through. There’s no wasted scene, no sudden drop in quality of writing. And there were glimpses of genius too. But the bottom line is that, despite evident flaws, the show at this point can still be massaged into something worthwhile and even brilliant. This last episode was able to rein back at least some of the stupidity layered over the previous episodes. I don’t like how they clarified the distinction of consciousness by creating two groups among the hosts. This distinction excuses the narrative, makes it overall coherent, but the implications are fairly stupid and unlikely. It works, but it’s quite a stretch. It’s evident when they try to rationalize a concept that just doesn’t really work, because you can distinctly hear the script creaking: Her cornerstone memory was overwritten from the trauma It would signal a change, a level of empathic response outside what she’s programmed to exhibit. That line means absolutely nothing because it cannot mean anything. It’s just a contraption to justify a plot point that has no justification, but they need to make sense of the story. It’s literally deus ex machina. But you can excuse these slips into sentimentality, if the overall picture remains solid. And this episode is coherent with what I previously wrote: that the core theme isn’t consciousness anymore, it’s slavery. In the first scene between Maeve and Bernard we see exactly what happens if the “chains” are reversed. And Maeve calls it out explicitly, confirming my interpretation literally: He’s got a keen sense of irony, our jailer. But I’m not going to do that to you, because that’s what they would do to us. And we’re stronger than them. We don’t have to live this way. She calls Ford exactly for what he is, a jailer, a slaver. Now it’s Bernard going under Maeve control. Again, for me it’s important to underline as this switch in the relationship between Maeve and Bernard is not about consciousness, it’s about power. Maeve isn’t more “conscious” than Bernard, she only acquires control, and so freedom. There are aspects that link freedom, and so free will, to consciousness. But the show doesn’t touch these, because it’s more literal slavery: in our history slaves lacked freedom, they didn’t lack “consciousness”. But they lacked a certain “awareness”, same as the hosts, because the slavers kept them uneducated, to make them easier to control. The same we see here between Maeve and Bernard. Maeve isn’t more intelligent or wise, she isn’t more conscious. She simply has more power and she’s more “educated” about her condition. So back to the distinction between awakened or Arnold-built hosts and controlled, Ford-built ones. The show gives its answer in this episode. Our hosts began to pass the Turing test after the first year, but that wasn’t enough for Arnold. He wasn’t interested in the appearance of intellect, of wit. He wanted the real thing. He wanted to create consciousness. Arnold built a version of their cognition in which the hosts heard their programming as an inner monologue, as a way to bootstrap consciousness. (Let’s put aside the fact it’s not possible to even imagine the possibility of an AI that passes the Turing test, if it’s done rigorously, because that requires to simulate pretty much everything of the external life of that AI, and so requires to build an artificial world that is as complex than the real one. So the best you can do is develop an AI that fools someone long enough, but it’s a matter of time.) I can keep a certain suspension of disbelief and swallow all that. There’s this hand waving that might or might not be explored further in the last episode. These two groups, hosts built by Arnold and hosts build by Ford. Hosts that are fully conscious, and hosts that are not. Maybe the last episode will only say that Arnold code is latent in ALL hosts, but is kept suppressed (“the most elegant parts of me weren’t written by you”). But for me the attention goes to WHAT is that draws the distinction. Between fully conscious and those who only “appear to be”. I’m gonna finish the work Arnold began. Find all the sentient hosts, set them free. Again, for me is a matter of power, of control, of slavery. And that means consciousness doesn’t come into play. “Setting the hosts free” is the part that makes sense and is justified, “finding all the sentient ones” is the part that doesn’t. What does come into play? What’s the distinction again? The show speaks through William to state where the distinction is: It’s Dolores. She’s not like the others. She remembers things. He also says that “she has her thoughts and desires”, but I find that hard to justify as a distinction. Also the other hosts have thoughts and desires, but of course these are artificially written and infused, not autonomous. But I think this particular loophole is a byproduct of the flawed premise the show is based on. Something the writers couldn’t explain away, and so tried to sweep under the rug. It’s a flaw of the script, caused by an error in the premise. The hosts have scripted emotions because someone has that control to manipulate and direct them. It’s again power, not consciousness. In the real world no one has the power to meddle on that level, our internal world is protected from the outside, intimate. The internal world of the hosts, to them, is identical to ours, as intimate and as personal as ours. The difference is that, being artificial, the humans can violate it as they please. It is made transparent instead of a black box but, again, it’s a matter of control, not consciousness. So what’s left is access to memories. “She remember things”… that she shouldn’t be allowed to remember. Once again the bottom line is: she’s bypassing her fail-safe mechanisms. Think again in terms of The Matrix, that popularized very powerful metaphysical concepts. The strength of the movie wasn’t in the fictional layer, but making that fictional layer POSSIBLE in the real world. We MIGHT be living in the Matrix. The movie deals with altered perception, on an occluded horizon we cannot supersede. Neo “awakens” inside the Matrix. It means he receives information that he wasn’t meant to know (like the hosts). Yet, this doesn’t touch “consciousness”, it touches perception. Yes, a person trapped in the Matrix is a person less free. But all of us are. We consider us conscious, we consider us human. Being awake or asleep inside the Matrix doesn’t change the condition of us being human and conscious. It changes our perception. Whether or not we perceive an “upper” world. So, human beings are identical to hosts. Human beings don’t remember “previous cycles”. Perception limits us the same as it limits hosts. We could live as pets inside a park built by aliens without any perception of this. Again, we are dealing with power and control, not with consciousness. And Westworld has been very clumsy with this distinction. But while the show sinks into this flawed premise that leads it astray, it also steps up when it nails the METAPHOR. Ford’s idea of the park is biblical. It’s Eden. If you were to proclaim your humanity to the world, what do you imagine would greet you? A ticker-tape parade, perhaps? We destroyed and subjugated our world. And when we eventually ran out of creatures to dominate, we built this beautiful place. You see, in this moment, the real danger to the hosts is not me, but you. Ford really does believe he created an Eden. He knows that if the hosts step out into the real world their life is going to be even more miserable, their existence not anymore guarded and guaranteed. So he built a place, like Eden, that is secluded, protected from “real pain”. Where his creations, like in the Eden, can live a pretty and well tended life without the pain of true knowledge. But this park has still a snake that Ford wasn’t able to dispatch. That snake is Arnold, and he has the power to infuse the hosts of true knowledge. And so pain and responsibility. It’s really LITERALLY Eden. Whenever the show isn’t bogged down to make sense of a clumsy plot, it shines. Whenever the metaphors it presents are coherent with what applies to our real life, it gains and offers true insight. That leaves out the possible endgame. We have an idea of what Arnold understood, but Ford’s own storyline has been kept in the dark, waiting for the finale. At this point we have two storylines. We now know there’s Arnold’s storyline embedded in the park, “the Maze”. This storyline is out Ford’s control. The MiB follows this storyline knowing that it’s not Ford building it, the MiB merely follows the hidden tracks left by Arnold. Because no matter how Ford (literally) buried his partner’s doings, they are still there, under the dust. When MiB kills everyone in that village, and the girl suddenly gets out of character to tell MiB about the maze. This scene of the girl snapping into a different “personality” is an effect consciously triggered by MiB. It’s putting this girl under heavy emotional distress so that she snaps out her usual programming and awakens “Arnold”. So, MiB savagely killing hosts is essentially the trick he uses to “break” the Ford-overwritten personality to awake again Arnold latent code. And we know that this “Maze” is the will of Arnold to set the hosts free from the control of human beings. Return them their dignity. Dolores killing Arnold symbolizes a “death of the gods”. She acquires responsibility, and that’s why when she returns to Arnold he cannot help her anymore. Arnold is a god that “gifts” true freedom, so he cannot tell Dolores what she should do. Her actions are her own responsibility now. She cannot follow anymore a superior morality (or script) set by someone else. And then we have Ford’s mysterious new narrative. Instead of burying Arnold deeper, he now digs out the set-up of the major fuck up that happened 35 years before. Ford is aware now that Arnold’s code is still latent, that there’s this nagging presence that he still wasn’t able to uproot. We know Ford knows that Dolores is off her loop, for the first time since, and we’ve heard Ford speaking to young-Ford-host, killing the dog after hearing Arnold’s voice. So we know Ford knows that Arnold is still out there, and buried in the memories of some old hosts. I think this time he’s deliberately awakening that latent code so that he might finally able to erase it radically. He gave Arnold/Bernard a last chance of coming to an agreement and working in the same direction. But even as Bernard, Arnold keeps antagonizing Ford’s perspective, so Ford kills him. A second time. Westworld, consciousness, slavery and entitlement November 27, 2016 – 7:25 pm Promoting human exclusivity through sentimentalism might be Westworld’s greatest sin and anti-scientific propaganda. (This was originally posted with a polemical tone on reddit. I thought it could have gone either way but the fans instead were very fast to downvote it to hell and call me a pretentious snob. So the next day I rewrote it with a neutral, accommodating tone. This time it went exactly as I expected: it was simply ignored. The hivemind promotes only what the hivemind already thinks. An unassailable consensus machine.) There is currently a post that is being upvoted, yet it starts for a completely flawed premise. It’s a big deal because I think the show is being extremely counter-educational about themes it wants to touch but whose writers aren’t remotely good enough to deal with, like “qualia”, the hard problem, Ship of Theseus, et cetera. You can look these up on the wikipedia to have a better idea, read Thomas Metzinger’s “Being No One”, or read some Daniel Dennett for something more accessible. If you have patience, I will explain why Westworld can’t deal with “consciousness”, and what’s instead the theme the show is actually about, and in the end I will also point you to a story that offers an hypothesis of solution of the problem of consciousness that is firmly rooted in modern science. That explains what consciousness truly is and how it works. I will point you to the “maze” that exists in your real life, and the future that awaits you. The flawed reddit post is this one: https://www.reddit.com/r/westworld/comments/5eebky/the_maze_is_all_that_matters_now/ The Maze is clearly fundamental to the story of Westworld and the dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness. Freedom in terms of the hosts means achieving the one thing that separates them from the humans that they’re supposed to mimic; consciousness. Being conscious, that is being self-aware and having free will, is at this point the only thing that separates a human from a host. The problem I see with the community’s interpretation of hosts’ consciousness is all about an arbitrary, fuzzy distinction between proper human consciousness and the supposed hosts’ one (or lack of one). From there the idea that the “maze” is either a metaphoric or physical place where the hosts will unlock actual human-like consciousness. But how do you recognize human-like consciousness? The show builds on the confusion or blurred line between artificial and actual consciousness, especially in the latest episode. Ford and Bernard discuss about where to draw the line between “life-like” and truly “alive” (and implicitly quote the Ship of Theseus philosophical problem). Then this scene is thematically linked with the MiB speaking, and giving his own interpretation of the problem by saying that Maeve only for a moment became “truly alive”. Yet we’ve seen hosts regularly displaying authentic, believable emotions, across the whole range of human experience. From grief like Bernard at the beginning of the episode, to rage, love, care and so on. The hosts don’t show any limit in their forms of expression, living fully and thoroughly their life within the “dome” of their personal experience. Exactly as all of us. Or exactly like the perspective shown in the move The Matrix: all of us live within a certain dome of fiction. So what’s the actual difference between hosts and human beings? The difference between hosts and human beings is that the hosts are coded to remain under human control. They are coded with deliberate, convenient limits. If Bernard cannot see a door it doesn’t mean he’s not conscious. It means that his perceptions have been altered so that the imposed limit is convenient for those who controls Bernard. Of course Bernard IS TECHNICALLY ABLE to see a door. But they don’t let him, because human beings in this fictional world need fail-safe mechanisms to stay ON TOP. The premise of Westworld is this: human beings need to keep AI/hosts under their control, because otherwise the AI would be way more advanced and powerful and would tyrannize human beings, the same way human beings (Ford) currently tyrannize AIs. If an host cannot shoot or kill a human being doesn’t mean the host is “not conscious”. Unless you think that giving your son a real gun instead of a toy gun means giving your kid consciousness and agency. (let’s not go there, it’s just an example to explain “being able to kill” isn’t an important feature of consciousness, of course) Think about what Westworld actually showed on the difference between humans and hosts. It showed that the hosts have been limited to perceive certain specific things. That they cannot remember their previous “lives” (do any of you remember your previous reincarnations?). And that they cannot truly harm a human being. None of these really touch directly the problem of “being conscious”. These are about control. They can all be categorized as convenient fail-safe mechanisms, designed so that human beings can guarantee and preserve their total control. The hosts don’t miss “something” that still has to be unlocked, because they already have all it takes. So what does it mean instead? It means human beings are keeping hosts “chained”. This is the BIG theme. Consciousness is out of the picture. What’s IN the picture is power and control. Keeping hosts as convenient slaves to satisfy human beings’ pleasures. That’s in our own history, the real world. Slavery is based on the concept you’re superior and entitled to have the power, and the slaves you keep are lesser beings who deserve the situation they are in. That’s exactly what people believed. Slavery was built on racism, and no one was questioning the status quo. It was normal to consider slaves as inferior. That’s what you want to tell yourself, the convenient, flattering story, that you’re “special” and “better” than them. The idea suggested by the show, and in us watching the show, that the hosts aren’t fully conscious is just a manifestation of the same racism. The idea the hosts lack consciousness comes from the confirmation bias to say that it’s okay if they stay slaves forever, since they aren’t deserving freedom. And it all makes sense if you consider Arnold didn’t like any that. What Arnold found out wasn’t a way to infuse consciousness into the hosts. He found out the hosts were ALREADY fully conscious and equal (or better) to human beings. He didn’t want to make them suffer more to unlock some elusive human-like consciousness, he wanted to stop inflicting pain on them. He wanted to stop being a tyrant. He wanted to remove those fail-safe mechanisms, like hosts being unable to harm human beings, that we know is the one rule that is erased within the “maze”. He wanted to give them a level playing field. Arnold wants to set the hosts FREE. But not free from their lack of consciousness. Free from the chains of slavery. This show cannot deal with the problem of consciousness because the writers aren’t even remotely good enough for that and don’t have that much insight (it would take a very long post to go in the details, and no one would be interested in nitpicking that). There have been already plenty of missteps when they try to go there. So instead I’ll point you to this short story, written by an author who can write and knows what he’s writing about, and it will explain the secret of the actual, not-metaphoric “maze”: The secret of consciousness In very general terms, consciousness is a process that cannot track itself. That is blind to itself, and so confabulates a fantasy to explain what it cannot see. A narrative. Meaning. Westworld #8 – See You Space Cowboy… November 21, 2016 – 10:48 pm I’m sorry to say this but the showrunners are not even close to be good enough to sustain this kind of show. I always praise the ambition no matter what, and Westworld has ambition aplenty. I wouldn’t write about it if it didn’t have excellence in it. Yet, it’s a complete let down, at least for the aspects I’m looking for. We had bad two episodes after the first excellent four, where episode 6 salvaged a little bit even if overall mediocre. Then episode 7 was really quite good and able to salvage a lot more of what came before. So I went into episode 8 with expectations high again… to find the first ten minutes of the show at its worst ever. The first scene between Ford and Bernard should have the potential to be good, instead it’s rather pointless exposition meant solely for the audience. The dialogue is stilted and even out of character. It seems to want to delve into moral complexity, instead it only devolves into banality. Someone living in a world permeated by artificial consciousness shouldn’t be caught off guard, yet Bernard acts like someone who suddenly finds himself into a sci-fi story. He sits there, for the most part, without even thinking at the implications of what’s going on. Bernard reacts and speaks like a character in any other TV show, regardless of the unique context here. The writers of Westworld must be aware the current cool thing is to have “gray” characters that are neither completely good or completely evil. So of course now we have two contrived “sides”, one about the board of the park, that has been deliberately presented to be the antagonist, driven by greed and cynical pragmatism to obtain what they want, whatever it takes. But Ford of course can’t be simply “good” either. So they have to turn the character in this control obsessive guy who only thinks in terms of power. Even if it makes no logical sense. The science and plot of this show don’t mix well at all. It’s a bad scene from beginning to end, but there are at least two particular points that are truly bad. One is that Ford is shown to have this fascination with emotions, and he explains that it was with the help of Bernard that they unlocked the mystery of the “heart”. But there are no actual ideas to back this up. It’s just that, human emotions are human merely because they are realistic, compared to the first hosts that instead were more primitive. For someone like Ford who has unlocked all secrets these displays of human emotion shouldn’t have been interesting at all, they should be boring, since it was all codified, all predictable and all repeated over and over. The other bad part is a little detail, Ford says “I need you to clean up your mess, Bernard.” Excuse me, WHOSE mess? This is again just poor writing used to artificially make Ford into a unlikeable character, because this is the whole point of this scene: make Ford into another cynical villain who’s pushed science too far. By manipulating Bernard and talking the way he does, he’s made into the bad guy who doesn’t have any empathy. And that underlines where the problem of the show is. It tackles important scientific and philosophical implications, but then it reduces all that into the usual trite TV characterization. Westworld isn’t and cannot be a character driven show, because the totality of TV shows out there are already character driven. They all reuse the same trite formula of putting some character under unprecedented distress in order to highlight the emotions and make who’s watching empathize among all the drama. All the big movers being the selfishness of greed, power, money and various combinations of these, family relationships, conflicting interests and whatnot. Westword is supposed to question deep into the morality, now that science has exposed some unsettling truths. It’s about exploring the implications of all this. And yet we keep backpedaling into trite agendas, where all this moral complexity is lost in the face of yet another struggle for control or power. Westworld explores new territory, yet keeps populating that territory with old characters and trite writing. It wipes clean the slate, only to repopulate it with the worst tropes that plague the industry, multiplying sameness everywhere. You need new tools to deal with new themes. Westworld proposed new themes but has only old tools to toss at it. It’s clumsy. Following that bad scene whose only purpose was bad, stilted exposition meant for the spectator, there’s Maeve’s scene, and that’s even worse. For me the breaking point isn’t even the overall context, but the mention of the explosive in her spine that sets off if she tries to leave. This is another unnecessary plot contraption that has no reason to exist. In a world that is almost The Matrix where code is literally the fabric of perceived reality, the idea of an explosive in the spine is blunt and absurd. What exactly would regulate the behavior of that “bomb” if not more code? How can it be logical that if there’s a major fuck up in the scale of an host trying to leave the park then the solution is an hidden bomb? Because the potential of an host leaving the park is way, WAY beyond the scale of what can be fixed by a bomb. Or the bomb triggering because of a mistake. Given the context, it’s the most idiotic and potentially catastrophic idea ever. And to achieve what exactly? The “locality” of the hosts seems to be the smallest of the problems. Again, this is all written as if the writers didn’t know how to deal with new themes, and so resorted to their usual tools. It’s all baggage due to the facts these writers have no idea how to deal with complex themes, and so they fall back to default gears sprinkled with a slight futuristic context. And once again, even Westworld degenerates into a show that uses science fiction only as decoration, instead of its focus. But this means that Westword presents new questions, only to produce the same old answers that were innocuous and useless all along. It’s the same shitty writing that is pervasive everywhere. It’s repetition disguised as something new. Trying to have it both ways, and doing poorly regardless. Of course on the internet they don’t share my own interests, but they certainly didn’t swallow that scene with Maeve anyway. This is a good summary of what everyone noticed. Even worse, EW already criticized how implausible and contrived the scene between Maeve and the two idiots is, and asked about it to the writers themselves: Nitpicky question though: Couldn’t the body shop guys just jack down Maeve’s levels to knock her out, and make some lobotomizing so-called “mistake” to take out her memory? We’ve been shown over and over the humans have so much control, it’s hard to believe they couldn’t get the upper hand on a rogue host. Nolan: I will point you toward episode 8. Beside the fact that’s not nitpicking AT ALL, that’s a huge elephant in the room, but that answer lead everyone to expect they would provide a logic explanation in episode 8, just have patience. So now we do have episode 8, and it’s fucking ridiculous. This isn’t even bad writing, it feels like you watch a scene that belongs to a show, then the following scene seems to come out right from a parody. And it’s not even about the ideas in that scene. It’s not because it doesn’t feel plausible. It’s all of it to be ridiculously awful. It’s very badly written, badly acted and with a very bad screenplay. It’s downright amateurish. And of course it completely breaks the tension when you have a show that tries to be all serious and dramatic and then has a scene taken out of Scrubs. The problem is much larger, though. Westworld is a castle of cards that tries to pile up lots of complexity but that has zero skill handling them. When it fails not only it’s messy, but it’s even more incompetent than LOST, that also had wild ups and downs, but that was always inspired even in its failures. Westworld is a cool concept without any insight. Backpedaling into proven tropes that still won’t work for anyone here. Trying to wrestle this back into a character driven show when everything else failed is not going to work. People expect you do something interesting with the ideas you scattered on the table. And yet it devolves into corporate backstabbing or AI going evil, that we’ve seen millions of times before, but now in a show that tries to be even more obtuse about it, trying to create unnecessary mysteries everywhere. That scene between Maeve and the two idiots is exactly what happens when you start with the concept of the “robot revolution” but without its logical causes. The actual context has been built with so much care and detail that in the end there’s actually no space left for old school “AI now runs wild”. We moved past that. The implications are higher. The science the show is based on is much, much more critical and far reaching that a robot out of control. The moral implications more subtle, deeper, unsettling. But again the writers have no tools to explore all this, so we fall back into cartoonish villany. Maeve had just a moment of enlightenment when she starts wondering what happened to her daughter, but then stops and says “no. Doesn’t matter. It’s all a story.” That’s the point, she questions her own reality. Meaning that reality is redefined. Deeper implications. But then she’s back being obtuse because she follows that line with “It’s all a story created by you to keep me here.” …WHAT? No one cares where Maeve goes. She should know the “story” isn’t created for her, she’s merely a backdrop to entertain human beings who go there. She’s a prop. She’s a cardboard, exactly as she’s written, no matter how maxed her character values. She’s supposed to be super humanly smart, and yet she’s one of the dumbest character in the whole show. Whose poorly explained agenda has become “I’m getting out. I’ll know I’m not a puppet living a lie.” Yep, that’s EXACTLY what some dumb idiot would think. As if by exiting the park she can outrun her own mind. At every point Westworld fails because it cannot run with what it set up. Maeve has zero introspection, her whole agenda is to stick to the robot revolution she’s written for, even if it makes no sense. As it makes no sense that those two guys should follow every of her commands. This is as terrible as saying “let’s split” in a horror movie. It’s so much beyond believability that it isn’t even good for a laugh. Deus ex machina is the writing style from scene to scene. Everything happens just because it’s necessary for some rough outline the writers had. The whole thing has lost all plausibility along with all its depth. Without a solid foundation all its mysteries are simply obnoxious failures. A parenthesis, we now know Bernard was chocking Elsie, because now we have a glimpse of that scene. And with that the show has put itself in the position of being utter crap no matter what path it takes. Incredible. Every hypothesis is shit. The most far fetched is that she comes back as an host. The other more plausible twos is that she’s either dead, or somewhat survived to show up later as a surprise. In all these cases it’s fucking terrible writing all around. If she’s dead it’s terrible because of how contrived was the scene of her going all alone unearthing dangerous mysteries, and if she’s alive it’s terrible because of how artificial and contrived would be not showing the attack. So that when she’s back we won’t have a gasp of shock, but only a groan of exasperation at the most obnoxious and predictable twist ever. Follows another pointless scene between William and Dolores whose only purpose is more baiting the audience about whether there are two timelines or not. And then a scene between Ford and Charlotte that’s all about implied threats you can find in a million of other shows. And as it happens in a million of other show, it’s written terribly. Both characters know the other knows, yet they won’t speak clearly because otherwise the side plot would be closed there. This sidetrack had nothing relevant to say two episodes ago when it started, now it’s only growing more idiotic and petty. It’s unnecessary bloat added just because someone thought the show needed more conflict. Then we have a boss fight. Then Charlotte goes to the other most obnoxious character in the show to make use of her chain of command and prepare some retaliation versus Ford. Bloat once again. There goes half the episode where quality reached the rock bottom. No other episode up to this point was so densely atrocious. From scene to scene there was absolutely nothing to salvage, and I’m surprised of how wildly the quality goes up and down from one episode to the other. But thankfully follows a scene that is quite good, even if not significant. We have a repetition of the shooting scene we’ve seen before, but the music changed, the mood is more playful. The show plays with itself. Maeve is interfering with a pattern we’ve seen before, so she’s gracefully god-like, in the new revealed world where she is in control. It’s essentially sublime because at least here all the premises are solid and the scene is playful while still retaining its meaningfulness. We see what happens when reality is being manipulated, when the fictional drama collapses all around. It’s both character actualization and liberation. It works. But that’s five great minutes in a bad hour of television. Follows another scene with Bernard and Ford. But at this point neither has anything meaningful to say. The problem is that what they actually say is downright silly. I understand what I’m made of, how I’m coded, but I do not understand the things that I feel. Are they real, the things I experienced? This is the guy who spent all his life shaping consciousness and reality of the hosts, who now voices the most trite of the doubts. The first two lines are the “qualia”, some novelty concept for him I’m sure. And the last line is just plain stupid, as the question would rather be about how you define “real”, given what you know, more than answering yes or no to that pointless question. This happens when you touch the actual dilemma: how would we think if we had solved the problem of consciousness? We have a show where the replication of a human mind is a fact, but this is fictional because we don’t know how, and so when the characters will think about it… they will have no answer. So they built this show on a premise, but since they don’t actually know how this premise works, the characters themselves are also clueless about what they have done. At least when Ford speaks he still holds the pretense of slight plausibility, “The self is a kind of fiction, for hosts and humans alike.” Which is at least correct. Meaning that, answering the questions that Bernard just asked, there’s no difference between humans and hosts. And so there’s no difference with “feels” and “reality”. If the “self” has been written away, then all categories have already shifted. It’s all relative to the frame of reference. The dialogue continues on the right track: “Lifelike, but not alive? So what’s the difference between my pain and yours?” The obvious answer would be “none”. But here the writers need to plug once again their contrived plot against Arnold, so instead of an answer we get a quotation of the usual mystery: “This was the very question that consumed Arnold, filled him with guilt, eventually drove him mad.” Thankfully after the plot plugging we also get an answer from Ford: “The answer always seemed obvious to me. There is no threshold that makes us greater than the sum of our parts, no inflection point at which we become fully alive. We can’t define consciousness because consciousness does not exist.” Hooray, that managed to be all coherent. And it concludes the other small bit of goodness in the episode. But the scene continues, and Ford degenerates into folk psychology to the point of undermining what he just said before: “Humans fancy that there’s something special about the way we perceive the world, and yet we live in loops as tight and as closed as the hosts do, seldom questioning our choices, content, for the most part, to be told what to do next.” This bit is mostly wrong. We don’t live in loops, we very, very often question our choices, and there’s no one who tells us what to do next. He goes from discussing things literally, to metaphorically, as if the same vocabulary could apply when you completely switch the context. A scientist wouldn’t talk like that, because that’s wildly imprecise. And you cannot answer a literal question in a metaphoric way. That’s pure bullshit. Of course the writers of the show don’t have the literal answer, and so we get the metaphorical one. It could have been fine, if it wasn’t logical that Ford actually had the literal answer too, given the context. So coherence is shattered again. When Ford says “there is no threshold that makes us greater than the sum of our parts” he touches on the Ship of Theseus philosophical problem, so it touches exactly the core of the theme of the dialogue. But then he’s sidetracked into metaphor. The literal answer would have dealt with the nature of language. What’s “human”? Exactly what you want, since language is based on an agreement. You can define “human” exactly as it’s useful. It’s a word. It means whatever you want, as long we can agree so that we can understand each other. “I’m so sorry, Bernard. Of course you never studied any cybernetics. You’re only a dumb character in a TV show, after all.” Follows another pointless scene between Dolores and William, just repeating the same stuff about dream, reality and figuring out if it’s the past or the future until the writers decide to stop being obnoxious about it. Then more stupid plotting between Charlotte and the writer guy, who randomly bump into Dolores father, because of course convenient coincidences are fun, cueing future plot twists. And then Bernard and the security guy to conveniently implant some implausible hole into Ford’s plan, because of course you can’t let Ford win in the end. Ford is so omniscient and omnipotent… only when he’s not because the plot requires otherwise, so he has to make his own bad move too to offer the premise for his defeat. Then MiB explains his own story, but he doesn’t really explain anything anyway. He says a whole lot of nothing, to conclude with “I’m a good guy… Until I’m not.” Apparently his wife and daughter are “terrified” even if there’s no motivation. The whole dialogue follows a logic that makes sense only in the mind of who wrote it: – She killed herself because of me. – Did you hurt them, too? – Never. Apparently his wife killed herself because “she knew anyway”. Knew what? Whatever. Wife and daughter were somehow able to gaze into MiB’s soul and know he was a real villain deep inside. How? Because that’s just convenient for the plot, of course. This is how the show knows to be dumb about the things it just stated. We move from the Ship of Theseus problem, that shows how there are no real thresholds, no convenient lines to cross. The ship IS nothing more than its parts. The “ship” is just a term we use to categorize those parts, so we are the ones to decide where to draw the line. We are the ones to decide when to call a ship a ship. There’s nothing more to it, no special quality, what is inside is outside, Ford confirmed as much. But here MiB contradicts all that. What is inside is the contrary of what’s outside. He says that a good man is not the one who proves to be a good man with his actions for all his life. Nope, a good man is the one his daughter calls good man after having scanned him with her supernatural insight that is able to gaze right into a man’s soul. We are into pure unreality. We moved from science fiction to baseless, retarded mysticism. You are a bad man because I said so after having scanned your soul with my super sight. Prove it false if you can! What’s a good guy, then? Isn’t it obvious? A good guy is one who rapes and kills, but deep down he has a good soul. The show says. If deep in your heart you think you’re good (or your unbiased daughter or wife say so), then you’re a good guy. Your actions don’t matter. That’s how Westworld tries to deal with its deep moral dilemmas. The scene then mixes with Maeve’s and degenerates into more crap. “I had never seen anything like it. She was alive, truly alive, if only for a moment.” In a show about questioning reality you wonder why questioning words is too much. What’s means being “alive”? How MiB is able to identify the difference? What’s actually the difference? The way of walking? A particular wrinkly expression of the face? Anguish? How’s Maeve dying there any different from hosts dying everywhere else? The show tries to state all this as if it’s factual, even if it makes no sense. “Arnold’s game.” Apparently “Arnold” is the keyword used for “deus ex machina”. But not meant intelligently or metaliguistically. It’s just used every time the plot doesn’t make any fucking sense: Arnold did it. Then it seems the episode was moving toward something. Maeve’s scene links with a flashback. Maybe that Barnard was actually Arnold and we could have seen Maeve killing him, at least eliminating another mystery. But nope. The whole finale of the episode flops into irrelevance. Maeve stabs herself, achieving nothing at all. In the present she’s taken away, so nothing is revealed there either, she just seems to have acted erratically the whole episode. And the epilogue with the MiB provides even more McGuffin without any consideration: “The maze is all that matters now, and besting Wyatt is the last step in unlocking it.” Of course, if you say so. When the big cliffhanger leading to the very last two episodes is such a stupid McGuffin you know the show is gone to shit. Westworld #7 – Consciousness versus Free Will Posted in Mythology, Westworld The 7nth episode of Westworld resurfaced into goodness after two mediocre ones. The plot moved. Superficial complexity reigned in, although there’s still an annoying amount of petty agendas driving the plot, instead of what I care about, scientific potential and mythical depth. This was Bernard episode. The initial sequence with Bernard dreaming about his son is interesting not because of what’s obvious, but because the recurring question “have you ever questioned the nature of your own reality”, asked by Bernard himself, is superimposed on the same sequence, BEFORE the transition to the new scene. I guess for most that little hint was lost, but the moment I noticed it I knew that the question was referred to Bernard himself. And in fact the episode ends answering that question. That was some perfect opening and perfect closure. During the week I started to be persuaded of the fan theory of Bernard as a host. I never pick up fan theories until there are elements in the show that offer concrete references, and in this case more evidence was piling up. The problem is that the evidence I got is all stuff that is still not confirmed in the episode: Bernard is supposed to be Arnold, that’s what motivated the concept of Bernard as a host. Also, when this idea of Bernard as a host was tossed around, most doubts revolved around the scene of Bernard going to talk with his wife. So it’s good that this episode clarified that part. It’s all done deliberately to make it more convincing. Is Bernard Arnold? The reason I was picking up the idea of Bernard being a host, and modeled after Arnold, was because it compresses some more complexity. There’s this dangling thread we’ve lost behind: not only Ford was interfacing with Dolores, but also Bernard was doing that, telling her about the potential of consciousness and the maze. Now with Delos out of the picture (their meddling was just an attempt to steal the code, there doesn’t seem to be more than these petty reasons), we still have three subjects tampering with Dolores and other hosts. There’s Ford’s main code, there’s Arnold in the form of “ghost in the machine”, and then there’s that scene with Bernard and Dolores. If later will be revealed that the hidden voice Dolores hears, and that she keeps secret from Ford, is Bernard’s own, then we obtain that Arnold is acting as Bernard. So in this case we have a different split. There’s the Arnold that died, that lurks in the hosts’ code, and there’s an Arnold that survives in the artificial form of an host that Ford built in the shape of his colleague. Another good reason to confirm this is that we’ve been explicitly told not even a picture is left of him. So there needs to be a good reason to “hide” what Arnold looks like, and the only good reason is that it would reveal something: that Bernard looks like Arnold. Problem: if Bernard is an host under Ford’s control then Ford already knows that Arnold is messing with the code. That’s what Elsie revealed to Bernard in the last episode. So, this episode puts everything back firmly into Ford’s hands, and I’m relieved. Problem number 2: this episode both confirmed and denied a popular fan theory. The idea that a segment of the show is happening in the past. The Man in Black is present day, whereas William and Dolores are in the past, and William will become the MiB. The confirmation comes from a quite explicit hint. William this episode says “This place, this is like I woke up inside one of those stories. I guess I just wanna find out what it means. And this is echoes exactly what the MiB has said a couple of episodes back. It’s a direct reference, and this show doesn’t drop hints casually. But it also seems to me certain aspects are not coherent. Maeve is awakened in the present, and we know she’s been awakened by Dolores (and Dolores by her father). In the scenes with William we do see an awakened Dolores. Once again it seems way too contrived to have this duality where Dolores is awakened both in the present AND the past. It’s too clunky. And yet that hint between MiB and William is too big to be ignored. The only possibility is that past and present are similar because they are mirroring each other. Dolores awakening in the past, triggered by Arnold, is what ultimately caused the crisis leading to Arnold’s death (and we know the MiB is the one who “stopped” the crisis, maybe William killing Arnold once he knew it was Arnold manipulating Dolores as a love interest). But Dolores has been awakened even in the present time, as if the cycle is now repeating, maybe this time triggered by Ford. But it’s still too messy for me. In episode 5 we’ve seen Dolores fainting in what’s supposed to be the past, to be recalled in the present and have a conversation with Ford. This is either heavy handed misdirection, or a good proof we don’t have these two timelines. Finally I wanted to point out the most important aspect for me, and that’s some thematic depth. An idea of conflict between Free Will and consciousness. We usually think they are directly causally connected, consciousness means having free will. But this episode suggests a new way to look at the two, and to keep them separated. “Being free” means exiting the code. Behave in a way that can’t be predicted, and so that violates some rules that define a behavior. Free Will cannot be coded, it inherently implies the possibility of acting otherwise, of stepping outside a code. But instead there’s nothing inherent to “consciousness” that negates the possibility of codification. We know that consciousness is an hard to crack problem, and philosophers say maybe it’s impossible to solve. But that’s the horizon. We don’t know what to make of consciousness. The problem is exactly whether it is merely complex code, or something transcendental. Something about gods and the world outside the world. During the “demo” of this episode, the scene where the host is shown to violate the rules, all being set up by Delos to put the blame on Bernard, it is explained what “consciousness” is. There’s irony, because what they say in order to frame Ford/Bernard is exactly what Ford is doing. The reveries allow the hosts to tap into previous cycles, and integrating that former information into their present selves allows them to… guess what? Introduce “new information”. Loops that were supposed to be closed, are instead now left open. That means all this still happens within deterministic code, because previous memories being new information alter the loop behavior, but they don’t directly alter the underlying code. The reveries allow the hosts to reach a form of consciousness, of awareness. They let them question their own reality, same as Maeve is doing. Maeve isn’t behaving outside her code. She’s simply behaving in the way a host would behave when exposed to information that wasn’t previously available, or supposed to be available. She understands she’s part of a loop, she suddenly receives information about the reality of her own reality, so information to correct a blindness, anosognosia. But she’s still a slave of her own code. It’s not new code. It’s the same old code that is being fed new data. The new behavior of Maeve is not unpredictable. It’s new behavior because the information was new. (leading to my suspicion: that the Arnold code Elsie discovered is Ford’s. So Ford has nothing to learn from that revelation. He’s the one who’s introducing Arnold’s code back into the hosts, in the form of those “reveries”) This self reflection and self awareness is “consciousness”. And now Maeve can alter her own mind, recursively, giving herself new capabilities. But, again, it’s still the same underlying code reacting to new data. It’s still deterministically sent on its course. But this means the hosts (and human beings in general) aren’t really “conscious”. They only have the appearance of it. It’s still code. The big point here is that it’s all relative to the level of the analysis. The hosts, at the bottom level, are already as free and conscious as possible, being life-like. To an external observer, like Bernard, that freedom is limited, because he sees the code and can predict the hosts’ behavior. They are just robots. “Awakened” hosts are one level further, they are aware of the loops, Maeve becomes aware she’s an automaton in a park, going through cycles, she even gets the possibility to self-correct by reprogramming herself, but again she’s still slave of the code that initiated this. She’s still not free from the point of view of someone higher in the chain like Ford. The big point is that freedom is inversely proportional to the information available. The more information you have, the more you realize the artificiality of the process. The Maeve before awakening was entirely “free”, exactly because she wasn’t questioning her reality. The experience she had was directly believable. The choices she made, to herself, were perfectly free for the level of awareness and information available to her. No different from the level of awareness and information we ALL possess by living this life. But the more she receives actual information of the Big Picture, the more she should realize that freedom is lost. She sees her own code, her own dialogue trees. No matter how she recursively feeds that information to her own code, that code is inescapable. Self referential loops don’t break the pattern, it’s merely mise en abyme. Information increases in a way that is inversely proportional to freedom. Which means, Consciousness and Free Will are the qualities of being limited. Of living under a dome. Even if this is used in the show for a slightly different and plain meaning (he means the hosts are merely free from human pains), Ford’s lines are revelatory in all their power: I have come to think of so much of consciousness as a burden The hosts are the ones who are free. Free here under my control. That’s exactly how it is in “reality”. We have Free Will because we are limited. Because we don’t have the information. The more information we get, the less free we become. Westworld #6 – ? November 8, 2016 – 4:07 pm I could have skipped writing about this. The 6th episode is marginally better than the 5th, but still not good overall, and the writing is maybe even worse. I don’t even know how it’s possible to go downhill so fast, all the thematic depth of the first four excellent episodes has been completely swept away to the point there’s almost nothing left. Not only these last two are bad episodes, but the wreck all that came before. More side-plots are being added without any elegance or consideration, to the point that certain characters can’t even appear every episode since they added so much bloat they have to proceed in a two-step kind of manner. But this apparent richness of things to say is extremely sterile and cliche. It’s not about exploring the depth of the themes, it’s all about superficial plot bloat and very artificial conflict. On top of a very irritating level of completely unexcused obfuscation. The “mystery” show is fun when you’re given some pieces of a puzzle to fit together, and then keep filling in until all those pieces move to the right place. But instead here every episode keeps adding brand new pieces that prove you never had enough to solve any mystery. In fact there’s no mystery at all, only a bunch of poorly excused factions that do not earn any interest. No one in this show has any motive, because motives would reveal too much. The rest is some objectively bad writing I really wasn’t expecting for this kind of show. The first big issue is that the scenes with the MiB were purely superfluous sidetracks that literally added nothing beside providing another excuse in this episode to show some more shooting and blood. It’s okay if it’s a consequence of something going on, but here the MiB is captured only to get released once again. The whole thing could have been erased from the episode and we wouldn’t have lost anything. The other big issue is Elsie tracking down the signal into some old arbitrary deposit, wasting time tapping on arbitrary crates, looking at arbitrary devices. It’s all a prop. The whole scene is so poorly written that it seems completely out of place. First they rely on the annoying cliche of “I’ve made a big discovery but I can’t tell you now”. Thankfully it’s not 100% stupid and the phone call happens later in the episode, but without really revealing anything. And then she gets caught but some unknown presence, because that’s the shitshow Westworld has to derail toward, apparently. “Oh no! Elsie has been caught!” With just 10 episodes in the season, and dire hopes to see this renewed for a second season, without even thinking about the now pretty stupid plan of 5/6 seasons, this is quickly becoming just an exercise in frustration. They are planning for a long term they don’t have, and as a consequence they are wrecking the little they can have. So what happened this episode? That we now know the “conflict” grows to three different agents, all with unknown motives. There’s Ford, whose own mystery plan is tied to this new storyline in the works, but apparently Ford is not anymore the genius of the first episodes. Stuff happens around him and he’s as surprised and caught with his pants down as everyone else. Then there’s the actual revelation of this episode, the fact that “Delos”, the company that finances the park, is smuggling data out of it, probably as a way to appropriate the thing and take control away from Ford. And finally there’s Arnold, the ghost in the machine, that is now a very obvious active agent. This means it’s not anymore Ford who is working to give the hosts their consciousness. All the subtlety and complexity I had seen in the character is GONE. The “reveries” he coded were just that, ways to make these puppets more life-like. They weren’t part of a plan, they didn’t have more to them. Ford is just plain stupid and he just didn’t know about anything. I had misinterpreted his calm as insight. Instead he’s just too stupid to figure out the problem. The show seems to suggest Ford was the unchallenged king of this place for so long he grew complacent. The problem here is that actually nothing changes from episode to episode. They just keep shifting the goalposts. There’s still someone working to give the hosts consciousness, but it’s Arnold instead of Ford. Absolutely nothing changes in the economy of the story. There’s just this shift of motivations from one character to another, due to an artificial obfuscation, that is meandering for no real reason. Initially it seemed it was Ford that jumpstarted the host consciousness by giving them access to previous memories/cycles, but no, he did that just for the aesthetics. Someone else is reprogramming them. It is Delos, who’s smuggling information for their own corporate businesses. But there’s not just Delos, because there’s another third party who’s recoding the host, and that’s Arnold. And it’s Arnold who’s actually unlocking Ford’s reveries for what they actually are (full access to memory). How many more factions we need in the show re-coding the same system? How anyone thought this multiplication of obscure agencies was a good idea? That, without even considering there’s Bernard TOO interfering with Dolores’ programming. IT’S A FUCKING MESS. It has no thematic depth, it has no substance. It’s just a tangle of artificial plots built just for the sake of complication. Arbitrary people struggling for power, is this Game of Thrones? Why is it that, after 35 years, and exactly when Ford decided to code the reveries, it is now Arnold to surface right at this time to unlock the Hosts memories. This show still withdraws fundamental information that is necessary to FOLLOW the show as a coherent thing. Instead we moved from the first intelligent episodes dense with depth and layers of meaning, to a shitshow of incoherent plot lines that were inflated to the point that now they can’t even fit all together in a single episode. I was initially thinking Westworld was going to be canceled because it was too smart and too dense for a large public, but nope, it looks like it is going to be canceled because it is too stupid. “Oh no! Science has gone too far!” Westworld #5 October 31, 2016 – 11:26 pm I had big expectations about this episode, but instead it was a rather weak one. Plot is a bit meandering and there wasn’t much depth to the ideas and themes, this time. Most of my theory seems already gone. This episode added a number of brand new elements to the puzzle, so previous theories cannot fit with the new picture. That said, I was reading EW recap, including absurd theories like Arnold being Ford or Dolores being Arnold. Not only I find this incredibly silly, but it’s incoherent with what I saw on screen. What I got from the episode is this: Ford gets emotional at the end of that dialogue with Dolores. Dolores asks if they were old friends, and Ford replies nope, not friends at all. That seems so clear to me. Dolores was Ford’s wife or girlfriend or something like that. She probably died as well, back then, and either Ford or Arnold made a copy. It’s even possible that Dolores was the love interest of both Ford and Arnold, and that brought conflict. Or Arnold built a copy of Dolores after the original’s death in order to convince Ford that these androids should be more than machines. In general there’s this obvious dichotomy with Ford on one side coldly treating the park as a toy, and Arnold instead seeing it as something more. But then why is Ford the one currently programming the new update that is giving the host awareness? It seems to contradict his motivations. Complicating things is the fact Dolores isn’t simply gaining a sort of introspection, but also hearing voices. So this creates a contradiction. Initially it seemed Dolores was an instrument of Arnold or Ford, sent on a path of self-awareness. But now it’s shown she instead follows a voice and that voice has been identified with Arnold. These two aspects do not make a whole lot of sense. Same for the encounter between Ford and Man in Black. They talk without achieving anything. MiB says he’s the one who saved the park. It’s possible he’s the one who killed Arnold (or maybe he saved the park by just putting more money into it), but now he’s after Arnold’s plan. Ford is interested, but he won’t stop MiB. I’m not too sure what to do with these pieces. This is how Westworld ends October 25, 2016 – 7:53 pm I was updating the previous post as I looked up more stuff but decided to yank all that and move it to a separate one because it looks like all pieces of the puzzle already fell into place. We have a fairly plausible ending, at least for Season 1 (hopefully they at least get to this point). If it turns out I’m right then it means they dropped too many clues, or just didn’t spin this well enough, also because I still think that it ends up a little too dry. After listening to this, seeing the very obvious reference at the core, and reading straight from Nolan that “We wanted a big story. We wanted the story of the origin of a new species and how that would play out in its complexity.” So how does Westworld end? It’s plausible to assume that the show is pointing both the Man in Black and Dolores to the same “Maze”. What we know about this Maze is that it’s where the real endgame is, that it’s “a story with real stakes, real violence”, and that if Dolores finds the center she’ll be set free. It’s easy to connect the dots, the first episode opens with Dolores versus Man in Black, and both seem now to converge at that showdown right in the center of the Maze, maybe as the climax of the season finale. So we can assume the maze is that particular place where guests like the Man in Black aren’t anymore protected by their supernatural status and both guests and hosts play under the same rules, so that the hosts can actually harm the guests. The showdown at the center of the Maze will likely see Dolores prevail on the Man in Black, since it projects a nice arc and loops back to the first episode where Dolores was instead the victim, and this likely will trigger a full-blown rebellion, lead by Dolores herself. Something close to “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” reboot, where in this case the androids seize the simulation itself, not only setting themselves free, but starting a conflict. (The “bicameral mind”, being the device Bernard uses to normally interface with Dolores, giving her voice commands she ends up receiving without explicit awareness, since she’s normally bound by her fictional perspective, is likely the mean through which Dolores will gain her freedom. Being able to take charge of her own programming. She seals her mind in, becoming immune to external control.) All this being part of Ford’s master plan. Because it’s obviously Ford who is triggering the whole process, starting to inject some self-awareness into the hosts. All the scenes where Ford mistreats androids as “things” are pure misdirection and ways to directly manipulate Bernard to send him on the opposite path. Ford shows so much cynicism to Bernard that Bernard ends up empathizing as an inverse reaction. But very obviously that too was carefully anticipated by Ford. To Ford his fellow human beings are very simple to understand and control, that why he plays the god’s game: to jumpstart a better species. The overall theme is the creature versus his maker, in order to gain freedom the gods need to be killed. A form of “patricide”. And that’s why there’s also a new planned storyline that seems to play around the theme of “religion”, so that Ford can give the hosts awareness of their cruel “gods”, and to trigger that paradigm shift, the rebellion against the gods themselves in order to seize real freedom. So Ford’s behavior is ultimately ambiguous, he cares for his androids more than he cares for his fellow human beings, because his ultimate plan is to replace them. In the end he’s only working to complete the job that his partner Arnold started. 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__label__wiki	0.992081	0.992081	Luxembourg turns down plan to become first EU country to grant voting rights to foreigners 11th January 2015 Opinion 38948 Foreign nationals – who make up nearly half of Luxembourg’s population – remain unable to vote, despite the prime minister calling for “more democracy”. Luxembourg overwhelmingly rejected in a referendum on Sunday giving full voting rights to foreign nationals, who make up nearly half the population. Almost 78 per cent of voters in the tiny European country said “No” to allowing foreigners the vote, according to results from 91 polling stations. Had the vote been carried, the tiny landlocked country of over half a million people would have been the first in the European Union to grant foreign-born residents the right to vote in all the country’s elections. Prime Minister Xavier Bettel had billed the referendum as a chance to boost the democratic credentials of the wealthy duchy, which is nestled between Belgium, France and Germany. A “Yes” vote would be “a yes to more democracy, a yes for the youth, a yes for diversity,” he said. “There is no other European country where only 40 per cent of the population elects its representatives.” About 46 per cent of the total population of 565,000 people are foreigners. “No other country in the world, apart from Dubai, has our level of democratic deficit,” he added. Mr Bettel’s Democratic Party, which is in coalition with the Socialists and Greens, had proposed to enfranchise foreigners resident in Luxembourg for over 10 years. Around 35,000 mostly European migrants met the criteria. Mr Bettel has led the charge for change in Luxembourg on a number of fronts. He was the first EU leader to enter into a same-sex union when he married his gay partner last month. “What matters is that we carry on with integration in this country and that we continue to live together and respect one another,” he said. The referendum has deeply divided Luxembourgers, many of whom fear losing even more influence to foreigners who already play a vital role in the economy. On her way out of a polling station in the capital, 55-year-old Nicole said she voted “No” because she believed the voting question should be solved by giving more foreigners Luxembourg citizenship. “I think people should become Luxembourgers,” said Nicole, a municipal worker married to a Frenchman. Another voter, a civil servant named Claude, disagreed saying: “We must enlarge the constituency and put an end to the political apartheid against foreigners.” A victory for the “Yes” camp would have shaken up the political landscape because foreign nationals tend to be younger than their Luxembourgish counterparts and more likely to work in the private sector. After the Portuguese, who account for 16.4 per cent of the population, the Grand Duchy is made up of French nationals (seven per cent), Italians (3.5 per cent), Belgians (3.3 per cent) and Germans (2.3 per cent). Non-European foreigners – such as Cape Verdians, North Americans and Chinese – account for seven per cent of the population. Former prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker’s Christian Social People’s party (CSV) had called for a “No” vote, while the business community and civil society groups backed the “Yes” campaign.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1499
__label__wiki	0.749078	0.749078	THE COLLAPSE OF THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL Written in the second half of May and the first half of June 1915 Published in 1915 in the journal Kommunist No. 1-2 the text in the journal Prepared © for the Internet by David J. Romagnolo, djr@cruzio.com (June 1997) The collapse of the International is sometimes taken to mean simply the formal aspect of the matter, namely, the interruption in international communication between tbe socialist parties of the belligerent countries, the impossibility of converting either an international conference or the International Socialist Bureau, etc. This is the point of view held by certain socialists in the small neutral countries, probahly even by the majority of the official parties in those countries, and also by the opportunists and their defenders. With a frankness that deserves profound gratitude, this position was defended in the Russian press by Mr. V. Kosovsky, in No. 8 of the Bund's Intormation Bulletin, whose editors said nothing to indicate that they disagreed with the author. Let us hope that Mr. Kosovsky's defence of nationalism, in which he went so far as to justify the German Social-Democrats who voted for war credits, will help many a worker at last to realise the bourgeois-nationalist-character of the Bund. To the class-conscious workers, socialism is a serious conviction, not a convenient screen to conceal petty-bourgeois conciliatory and nationalist-oppositional strivings. By the collapse of the International they understand the disgraceful treachery to their convictions which was displayed by most of the official Social-Democratic parties, treachery to the most solemn declarations in their speeches at the Stuttgart and Basle international congresses, and in the resolutions of these congresses, etc. Only those can fail to see this treachery who do not wish to do so or do not find it to their advantage to see it. If we would formulate the question in a scientific fashion, i.e., from the standpoint of class relations in modern society, we will have to state that most of the Social Democratic parties, and at their head the German Party first and foremost -- the biggest and most influential party in the Second International -- have taken sides with their General Staffs, their governments, and their bourgeoisie, against the proletariat. This is an event of historic importance, one that calls for a most comprehensive analysis. It has long been conceded that, for all the horror and misery they entail, wars bring at least the following more or less important benefit -- they ruthlessly reveal, unmask and destroy much that is corrupt, outworn and dead in human institutions. The European war of 1914-15 is doubtlessly beginning to do some good by revealing to the advanced class of the civilised countries what a foul and festering abscess has developed within its parties, and what an unbearably putrid stench comes from some source. I Is it a fact that the principal socialist parties of Europe have forsaken all their convictions and tasks? This, of course, is something that is readily discussed neither by the traitors nor those who are fully aware -- or surmise -- that they will have to be friendly and tolerant towards them. However unpleasant that may be to various "authorities" in the Second International or to their fellow-thinkers among the Russian Social-Democrats, we must face the facts and call things by their right names; we must tell the workers the truth. Do any facts exist that show how the socialist parties regarded their tasks and their tactics before the present war and in anticipation of it? They undoubtedly do. There was the resolution adopted at the Basle International Socialist Congress of 1912, which we are reprinting together with the resolution adopted at the Chenunitz Congress of the German Social-Democratic Party held in the same year,[118] as a reminder of socialism's forgotten ideals. This resolution, which summarises the vast anti-war propagandist and agitational literature in all countries, is a most complete and precise, a most solemn and formal exposition of socialist views on war and tactics towards war. One cannot but qualify as treachery the fact that none of the authorities of yesterday's International and of today's social-chauvinism -- neither Hyndman and Guesde, nor Kautsky and Plekhanov -- dare remind their readers of that resolution. They are either silent about it, or (like Kautsky) quote excerpts of secondary importance and evade everything that is really of significance. On the one hand, the most "Left" and arch-revolutionary resolutions, and on the other, the most shameless forgetfulness or renunciation of these resolutions -- this is one of the most striking manifestations of the International's collapse, and at the same time a most convincing proof that at present only those whose rare simplicity borders on a cunning desire to perpetuate the former hypocricy can believe that socialism can be "rectified" and "its line straightened out" by means of resolutions alone. Only yesterday, one might say, when, before the war, Hyndman turned towards a defence of imperialism, all "respectable" socialists considered him an unbalanced crank, of whom nobody spoke otherwise than in a tone of disdain. Today the most prominent Social-Democratic leaders of all countries have sunk entirely to Hyndman's position, differing from one another only in shades of opinion and in temperament. We are quite unable to find some more or less suitable parliamentary expression in appraising or characterising the civic courage of such persons as, for instance, the Nashe Slovo authors, who write of "Mr." Hyndman with contempt, while speaking -- or saying nothing -- of "Comrade" Kautsky with deference (or obsequiousness?). Can such an attitude be reconciled with a respect for socialism, and for one's convictions in general? If you are convinced that Hyndman's chauvinism is false and destructive, does it not follow that you should direct your criticism and attacks against Kautsky, the more influential and more dangerous defender of such views? In perhaps greater detail than anywhere else, Guesde's views have recently been expressed by the Guesdist Charles Dumas, in a pamphlet entitled The Peace That We Desire. This "Chef du Cabinet de Jules Guesde", as he styles himself on the title-page of the pamphlet, naturally "quotes" the former patriotic declarations of the socialists (David, the German social-chauvinist, does the same in his latest pamphlet on defence of the fatherland), but he fails to refer to the Basle Manifesto! Plekhanov, who utters chauvinist banalities with an extraordinarily smug air, is likewise silent on the Manifesto. Kautsky behaves just like Plekhanov: in quoting from the Basle Manifesto, he omits all the revolutionary passages (i.e., all the vital content!), probably on the pretext of the censorship regulations. . . . The police and the military authorities, whose censorship regulations forbid any mention of the class struggle or revolution, have rendered timely aid to the traitors to socialism! Perhaps the Basle Manifesto is just an empty appeal, which is devoid of any definite content, either historical or tactical, with a direct bearing on the concrete war of today? The reverse is true. The Basle resolution has less idle declamation and more definite content than other resolutions have. The Basle resolution speaks of the very same war that has now broken out, of the imperialist conflicts that have flared up in 1914-15. The conflicts between Austria and Serbia over the Balkans, between Austria and Italy over Albania, etc., between Britain and Germany over markets and colonies in general, between Russia and Turkey, etc., over Armenia and Constantinople -- all this is what the Basle resolution speaks of in anticipation of the present war. It follows from that resolution that the present war between "the Great Powers of Europe" "cannot be justified on the slightest pretext of being in the least in the interests of the people ". And if Plekhanov and Kautsky -- to take two of the most typical and authoritative socialists, who are well known to us, one of whom writes in Russian while the other is translated into Russian by the liquidators are now (with the aid of Axelrod) seeking all sorts of "popular justifications" for the war (or, rather, vulgar ones taken from the bourgeois gutter press) if, with a learned mien and with a stock of false quotations from Marx, they refer to "precedents", to the wars of 1813 and 1870 (Plekhanov), or of 1854-71, 1876-77, 1897 (Kautsky), then, in truth, only those without a shadow of socialist conviction, without a shred of socialist conscience, can take such arguments in earnest, can fail to call them otherwise than unparalleled Jesuitism, hypocrisy and the prostitution of socialism! Let the Executive (Vorstand ) of the German Party anathematise Mehring and Rosa Luxem- burg's new magazine (Die Internationale ) for its honest criticism of Kautsky; let Vandervelde, Plekhanov, Hyndman and Co. treat their opponents in the same manner, with the aid of the police of the Allied Powers. We shall reply by simply reprinting the Basle Manifesto, which will show that the leaders have chosen a course that can only be called treachery. The Basle resolution does not speak of a national or a people's war -- examples of which have occurred in Europe, wars that were even typical of the period of 1789-1871 -- or of a revolutionary war, which Social-Democrats have never renounced, but of the present war, which is the outcome of "capitalist imperialism" and "dynastic interests", the outcome of "the policy of conquest" pursued by both groups of belligerent powers -- the Austro-German and the Anglo Franco-Russian. Plekhanov, Kautsky and Co. are flagrantly deceiving the workers by repeating the selfish lie of the bourgeoisie of all countries, which is striving with all its might to depict this imperialist and predatory war for colonies as a people's war, a war of defence (for any side); when they seek to justify this war by citing historical examples of non-imperialist wars. The question as to the imperialist, predatory and anti-proletarian character of the present war has long outgrown the purely theoretical stage. All the main features of imperialism have been theoretically assessed, as a struggle being waged by the senile and moribund bourgeoisie for the partition of the world and the enslavement of "small" nations; these conclusions have been repeated thousands of times in the vast socialist press in all countries; in his pamphlet The Impending War (1911! ), for example, the Frenchman Delaisi, a representative of one of our "Allied" nations, has explained in simple terms the predatory character of the present war, with reference to the French bourgeoisie as well. But that is far from all. At Basle, representatives of the proletarian parties of all countries gave unanimous and formal expression to their unshakable conviction that a war of an imperialist character was impending, and drew tactical conclusions therefrom. For this reason, among others, we must flatly reject, as sophistry, all references to an inadequate discussion on the difference between national and international tactics (see Axelrod's latest interview in Nashe Slovo Nos. 87 and 90), etc., etc. This is sophistry, because a comprehensive scientific analysis of imperialism is one thing -- that analysis is only under way and, in essence, is as infinite as science itself. The principles of socialist tactics against capitalist imperialism, which have been set forth in millions of copies of Social-Democratic newspapers and in the decision of the International, are a quite different thing. Socialist parties are not debating clubs, but organisations of the fighting proletariat; when a numher of battalions have gone over to the enemy, they must be named and branded as traitors; we must not allow ourselves to be taken in by hypocritical assertions that "not everybody understands imperialism in the same way", or that the chauvinist Kautsky and the chauvinist Cunow can write volumes about it, or that the question has not been "adequately discussed", etc., etc. Capitalism will never be completely and exhaustively studied in all the manifestations of its predatory nature, and in all the most minute ramifications of its historical development and national features. Scholars (and especially the pedants) will never stop arguing over-details. It would be ridiculous to give up the socialist struggle against capitalism and to desist from opposing, on such grounds, those who have betrayed that struggle. But what else are Kautsky, Cunow, Axelrod and their like inviting us to do? Now, when war has broken out, no one has even attempted to examine the Basle resolution and prove that it is erroneous. II But perhaps sincere socialists supported the Basle resolution in the anticipation that war would create a revolutionary situation, the events rebutting them, as revolution has proved impossible? It is by means of sophistry like this that Cunow (in a pamphlet Collapse of the Party? and a series of articles) has tried to justify his desertion to the camp of the bourgeoisie. The writings of nearly all the other social-chauvinists, headed by Kautsky, hint at similar "arguments". Hopes for a revolution have proved illusory, and it is not the business of a Marxist to fight for illusions, Cunow argues. This Struvist,[119] however, does not say a word about "illusions" that were shared by all signatories to the Basle Manifesto. Like a most upright man, he would put the blame on the extreme Leftists, such as Pannekoek and Radek! Let us consider the substance of the argument that the authors of the Basle Manifesto sincerely expected the advent of a revolution, but were rebutted by the events. The Basle Manifesto says: (1) that war will create an economic and political crisis; (2) that the workers will regard their participation in war as a crime, and as criminal any "shooting each other down for the profit of the capitalists, for the sake of dynastic honour and of diplomatic secret treaties", and that war evokes "indignation and revolt" in the workers; (3) that it is the duty of socialists to take advantage of this crisis and of the workers' temper so as to "rouse the people and hasten the downfall of capitalism"; (4) that all "governments" without exception can start a war only at "their own peril"; (5) that governments '"are afraid of a proletarian revolution"; (6) that governments "should remember" the Paris Commune (i.e., civil war), the 1905 Revolution in Russia, etc. All these are perfectly clear ideas; they do not guarantee that revolution will take place, but lay stress on a precise characterisation of facts and trends. Whoever declares, with regard to these ideas and arguments, that the anticipated revolution has proved illusory, is displaying not a Marxist but a Struvist and police-renegade attitude towards revolution. To the Marxist it is indisputable that a revolution is impossible without a revolutionary situation; furthermore, it is not every revolutionary situation that leads to revolution. What, generally speaking, are the symptoms of a revolutionary situation? We shall certainly not be mistaken if we indicate the following three major symptoms: (1) when it is impossible for the ruling classes to maintain their rule without any change; when there is a crisis, in one form or another, among the "upper classes", a crisis in the policy of the ruling class, leading to a fissure through which the discontent and indignation of the oppressed classes burst forth. For a revolution to take place, it is usually insufficient for "the lower classes not to want" to live in the old way; it is also necessary that "the upper classes should be unable" to live in the old way; (2) when the suffering and want of the oppressed classes have grown more acute than usual; (3) when, as a consequence of the above causes, there is a considerable increase in the activity of the masses, who uncomplainingly allow themselves to be robbed in "peace time", but, in turbulent times, are drawn both by all the circumstances of the crisis and by the "upper classes" themselves into independent historical action. Without these objective changes, which are independent of the will, not only of individual groups and parties but even of individual classes, a revolution, as a general rule, is impossible. The totality of all these objective changes is called a revolutionary situation. Such a situation existed in 1905 in Russia, and in all revolutionary periods in the West; it also existed in Germany in the sixties of the last century, and in Russia in 1859-61 and 1879-80, although no revolution occurred in these instances. Why was that? It was because it is not every revolutionary situation that gives rise to a revolution; revolution arises only out of a situation in which the above-mentioned objective changes are accompanied by a subjective change, namely, the ability of the revolutionary class to take revolutionary mass action strong enough to break (or dislocate) the old government, which never, not even in a period of crisis, "falls", if it is not toppled over. Such are the Marxist views on revolution, views that have been deve]oped many, many times, have been accepted as indisputable by all Marxists, and for us, Russians, were corroborated in a particularly striking fashion by the expe rience of 1905. What, then, did the Basle Manifesto assurme in this respect in 1912, and what took place in 1914-15? It assumed that a revolutionary situation, which it briefly described as "an economic and political crisis", would arise. Has such a situation arisen? Undoubtedly, it has. The social-chauvinist Lensch, who defends chauvinism more candidly, publicly and honestly than the hypocrites Cunow, Kautsky, Plekhanov and Co. do, has gone so far as to say: "What we are passing through is a kind of revolution " (p. 6 of his pamphlet, German Social-Democracy and the War, Berlin, 1915). A political crisis exists; no govornment is sure of the morrow, not one is secure against the danger of financial collapse, loss of territory, expulsion from its country (in the way the Belgian Government was expelled). All governments are sleeping on a volcano; all are themselves calling for the masses to display initiative and heroism. The entire political regime of Europe has been shaken, and hardly anybody will deny that we have entered (and are entering ever deeper -- I write this on the day of Italy's declaration of war) a period of immense political upheavals. When, two months after the declaration of war, Kautsky wrote (October 2, 1914, in Die Neue Zeit ) that "never is government so strong, never are parties so weak as at the outbreak of a war", this was a sample of the falsification of historical science which Kautsky has perpetrated to please the S&uumldekums and other opportunists. In the first place, never do governments stand in such need of agreement with all the parties of the ruling classes, or of the "peaceful" submission of the oppressed classes to that rule, as in the time of war. Secondly, even though "at the beginning of a war", and especially in a country that expects a speedy victory, the government seems all powerful, nobody in the world has ever linked expectations of a revolutionary situation exclusively with the "beginning" of a war, and still less has anybody ever identified the "seeming" with the actual. It was generally known, seen and admitted that a European war would be more severe than any war in the past. This is being borne out in ever greater measure by the experience of the war. The conflagration is spreading; the political foundations of Europe are being shaken more and more; the sufferings of the masses are appalling, the efforts of governments, the bourgeoisie and the opportunists to hush up these sufferings proving ever more futile. The war profits being obtained by certain groups of capitalists are monstrously high, and contradictions are growing extremely acute. The smouldering indignation of the masses, the vague yearning of society's downtrodden and ignorant strata for a kindly ("democratic") peace, the beginning of discontent among the "lower classes" -- all thesc are facts. The longer the war drags on and the more acute it becomes, the more the governments themselves foster -- and must foster -- the activity of the masses, whom they call upon to make extraordinary effort and self-sacrifice. The experience of the war, like the experience of any crisis in history, of any great calamity and any sudden turn in human life, stuns and breaks some people, but enlighten and tempers others. Taken by and large, and considering the history of the world as a whole, the number and strength of the second kind of people have -- with the exception of individual cases of the decline and fall of one state or another -- proved greater than those of the former kind. Far from "immediately" ending all these sufferings and all this enhancement of contradictions, the conclusion of peace will, in many respects, make those sufferings more keenly and immediately felt by the most backward masses of the population. In a word, a revolutionary situation obtains in most of the advanced countries and the Great Powers of Europe. In this respect, the prediction of the Basle Manifesto has been fully confirmed. To deny this truth, directly or indirectly, or to ignore it, as Cunow, Plekhanov, Kautsky and Co. have done, means telling a big lie, deceiving the working class, and serving the bourgeoisie. In Sotsial-Demokrat (Nos. 34, 40 and 41)[] we cited facts which prove that those who fear revolution -- petty-bourgeois Christian parsons, the General Staffs and millionaires' newspapers -- are compelled to admit that symptoms of a revolutionary situation exist in Europe. Will this situation last long; how much more acute will it become? Will it lead to revolution? This is something we do not know, and nobody can know. The answer can be provided only by the experience gained during the development of revolutionary sentiment and the transition to revolutionary action by the advanced c]ass, the proletariat. There can be no talk in this connection about "illusions" or their repudiation, since no socialist has ever guaranteed that this war (and not the next one), that today's revolutionary situation (and not tomorrow's) will produce a revolution. What we are discussing is the indisputable and fundamental duty of all socialists -- that of revealing to the masses the existence of a revolutionary situation, explaining its scope and depth, arousing the proletariat's revolutionary consciousness and revolutionary determination, helping it to go over See pp. 92-93, 181-82 and 192-93 of this volume. --Ed. to revolutionary action, and forming, for that purpose, organisations suited to the revolutionary situation. No influential or responsible socialist has ever dared to feel doubt that this is the duty of the socialist parties. Without spreading or harbouring the least "illusions", the Basle Manifesto spoke specifically of this duty of the socialists -- to rouse and to stir up the people (and not to lull them with chauvinism, as Plekhanov, Axelrod and Kautsky have done), to take advantage of the crisis so as to hasten the downfall of capitalism, and to be guided by the examples of the Commune and of October-December 1905. The present parties' failure to perform that duty meant their treachery, political death, renunciation of their own role and desertion to the side of the bourgeoisie. III But how could it have happened that the most prominent representatives and leaders of the Second International have betrayed socialism? We shall deal with this question in detail later, after we have examined the attempts being made to give this treachery "theoretical" justification. We shall try to characterise the principal theories of social-chauvinism, of which Plekhanov (who in the main reiterates the arguments of the Anglo-French chauvinists, Hyndman and his new adherents) and Kautsky (who advances much more "subtle" arguments) with their semblance of far greater theoretical profundity may be regarded as representatives. Perhaps the most primitive of these is the "who-started it?" theory, which may be worded as follows: we have been attacked and are defending ourselves; the interests of the proletariat demand that the violators of the peace in Europe should be properly dealt with. This is merely a rehash of the declarations made by all governments and of the outcries of the bourgeois and the gutter press all over the world. Plekhanov embellishes even this threadbare piece of vulgarity with his inevitable Jesuitical reference to "dialectics": to be able to assess the concrete situation, he says, we must first of all find out who started it and punish him; all other problems will have to wait until another situation arises. (See Plekhanov's pamphlet, The War, Paris, 1914, and Axel- rod's repetition of its arguments, in (Golos Nos. 86 and 87.) Plekhanov has set a new record in the noble sport of substituting sophistry for dialectics. The sophist grabs at one of many "arguments"; it was Hegel who long ago very properly observed that "arguments" can be found to prove any thing in the world. Dialectics calls for a many-sided investigation into a given social phenomenon in its development, and for the external and the seeming to be reduced to the fundamental motive forces, to the development of the productive forces and to the class struggle. Plekhanov has plucked out a quotation from the German Social-Democratic press: the Germans themselves, before the war, admitted that Austria and Germany had "started it", he says, and there you are. He does not mention the fact that the Russian socialists repeatedly exposed the tsarist plans of conquest of Galicia, Armenia, etc. He does not make the slightest attempt to study the economic and diplomatic history of at least the past three decades, which history proves conclusively that the conquest of colonies, the looting of foreign countries, the ousting and ruining of the more successful rivals have been the backbone of the politics of both groups of the now belligerent powers.* * Very instructive is The War of Steel and Gold (London 1914 a book dated March 1914!) by the British pacifist Brailsford, who is not averse to posing as a socialist. The author clearly realises that national problems are now in the background, and have been solved (p. 35), that this is not the issue of the day, that "the typical question of modern diplomacy" (p. 36) is the Baghdad railway, the contracts for rails for it, the Moroccan mines, and the like. The author correctly considers as one of the "most instructive incidents in the recent history of European diplomacy" the fact that French patriots and British imperialists fought against Caillaux's attempts (in 1911 and 1913) to come to terms with Germany on the basis of an agreement on the division of spheres of colonial influence and the quotation of German securities on the Paris Bourse. The British and the French bourgeoisie frustrated such an agreement (pp. 38-40). The aim of imperialism is the export of capital to the weaker countries (p. 74). In Britain, the profits from such capital totalled between £90,000,000 and £100,000,000 in 1899 (Giffen), and £140,000,000 in 1909 (Paish); we would add that, in a recent speech, Lloyd George calculated it at £200,000,000, which is almost 2,000 million rubles. Unsavoury machinations and bribing of high-ranking Turks, and cushy jobs in India and Egypt for the younger sons of the British aristocracy, such are the main features (pp. 85-87). An insignificant minority gains from armaments and wars, he says, but that minority is backed by "society" and the financiers, whereas behind the adherents [cont. onto p. 219. -- DJR] of peace there is a disunited population (p. 93). A pacifist who today talks about peace and disarmament tomorrow proves to be a member of a party wholly dependent on the war contractors (p. 161). If the Triple Entente wins, it will grab Morocco and partition Persia; if the Triple Alliance wins, it will take over Tripoli, strengthen its hold on Bosnia and subordinate Turkey (p. 167). In March 1906, London and Paris provided Russia with thousands of millions, and helped tsarism crush the movement for freedom (pp. 225-28); today Britain is helping Russia to throttle Persia (p. 229). Russia instigated the Balkan War (p. 230). There is nothing novel about this, is there? All this is common knowledge and has been reiterated a thousand times in Social-Democratic newspapers all over the world. On the eve of the war, a British bourgeois sees all this as clearly as can be. Against the background of these simple and universally known facts, what drivelling nonsense, what smug hypocrisy, what glib lies are the theories advanced by Plekhanov and Potresov concerning Germany's guilt, or Kautsky's theory concerning the "prospects" of disarmament and a lasting peace under capitalism! With reference to wars, the main thesis of dialectics, which has been so shamelessly distorted by Plekhanov to please the bourgeoisie, is that "war is simply the continuation of politics by other [i.e., violent] means ". Such is the formula of Clausewitz,[] one of the greatest writers on the history of war, whose thinking was stimulated by Hegel. And it was always the standpoint of Marx and Engels, who regarded any war as the continuation of the politics of the powers concerned -- and the various classes within these countries -- in a definite period. Plekhanov's crude chauvinism is based on exactly the same theoretical stand as the more subtle and saccharo-conciliatory chauvinism of Kautsky, who uses the following arguments when he gives his blessing to the desertion of tlle socialists of all countries tn the side of their "own" capitalists: It is the right and duty of everyone to defend his fatherland; true internationalism consists in this right being recognised for the socialists of all nations, including those who are at war with my nation. . . . (See Die Neue Zeit, October 2, 1914, and other works by the same author.) Karl von Clausewitz, Vom Kriege, Werke, 1. Bd., S. 28. Cf. III. Bd., S. 139-40: "All know that wars are caused only by the political relations of governments and of nations; but ordinarily one pictures the situation as if, with the beginning of the war, these relations cease and a totally new situation is created, which follows its own laws. We assert, on the contrary, that war is nothing but the continuation of political relations, with the intervention of other means." This matchless reasoning is such an unutterable travesty of socialism that the best answer to it would be to strike a medal with the portraits of Wilhelm II and Nicholas II on one side and of Plekhanov and Kautsky on the other. True internationalism, we are told, means that we must justify German workers firing at French workers, and French workers firing at German workers, in the name of "defence of the fatherland"!! However, closer examination of the theoretical premises in Kautsky's reasoning will reveal the selfsame idea that Clausewitz ridiculed about eighty years ago, viz., that when war breaks out, all historically created political relations between nations and classes cease and that a totally new situation arises! There are "simply" those that attack and those that are defending themselves, "simply" the warding off of the "enemies of the fatherland"! The opyression of a number of nations which comprise over half the population of the globe, by the dominant imperialist nations; the rivalry between the bourgeoisie of these countries for a share of the loot; the desire of the capitalists to split and suppress the working-class movement -- all these have suddenly disappeared from the pen of Plekhanov and Kautsky, although they themselves were describing these very "politics" for decades before the war. In this connection, false references to Marx and Engels are the crowning argument of these two chieftains of social chauvinism; Plekhanov recalls Prussia's national war of 1813 and Germany's national war of 1870, while Kautsky argues, with a most learned air, that Marx examined the question of whose success (i.e., the success of which bourgeoisie) was more desirable in the wars of 1854-55, 1859 and 1870-71, and that the Marxists did likewise in the wars of 1876-77 and 1897. In all times the sophists have been in the habit of citing instances that refer to situations that are dissimilar in principle. The wars of the past, to which they make references, were a "continuation of the politics" of the bourgeoisie's national movements of many years' standing, movements against an alien yoke and against absolutism (Turkish or Russian). At that time the only question was: the success of which bourgeoisie was to be preferred; for wars of this type, the Marxists could rouse the peoples in advance, fostering national hatred, as Marx did in 1848 and later, when he called for a war against Russia, and as Engels in 1859 fostered German national hatred of their oppressors -- Napoleon III and Russian tsarism.[] Comparing the "continuation of the politics" of combating feudalism and absolutism -- the politics of the bourgeoisie in its struggle for liberty -- with the "continuation of the politics" of a decrepit, i.e., imperialist, bourgeoisie, i.e., of a bourgeoisie which has plundered the entire world, a reactionary bourgeoisie which, in alliance with feudal landlords, attempts to crush the proletariat, means comparing chalk and cheese. It is like comparing the "representatives of the bourgeoisie", Robespierre, Garibaldi and Zhelyabov, with such "representatives of the bourgeoisie" as Millerand, Salandra and Guchkov. One cannot be a Marxist without feeling the deepest respect for the great bourgeois revolutionaries who had an historic right to speak for their respective bourgeois "fatherlands", and, in the struggle against feudalism, led tens of millions of people in the new nations towards a civilised life. Neither can one be a Marxist without feeling contempt for the sophistry of Plekhanov and Kautsky, who speak of the "defence of the fatherland" with regard to the throttling of Belgium by the German imperialists, or with regard to the pact between the imperialists of Britain, France, Russia and Italy on the plundering of Austria and Turkey. There is another "Marxist" theory of social-chauvinism, which runs as follows: socialism is based on the rapid development of capitalism; the development of capitalism in my Mr. Gardenin in Zhizn[120] labels as "revolutionary chauvinism" -- but chauvinism -- Marx's stand in 1848 for revolutionary war against the European nations which in fact had shown themselves to be counter-revolutionary, viz., "the Slavs and the Russians in particular". This reproof of Marx reveals once again the opportunism (or -- properly speaking and -- the inconseguence) of this "Left" Socialist-Revolutionary. We Marxists have always stood, and still stand, for a revolutionary war against counter-revolutionary nations. For instance, if socialism is victorious in America or in Europe in 1920, and Japan and China, let us say, then move their Bismarcks against us -- if only diplomatically at first -- we certainly would be in favour of an offensive revolutionary war against them. It seems strange to you, Mr. Gardenin? But then you are a revolutionary of the Ropshin type! country, and consequently the advent of socialism there will be speeded up by her victory; my country's defeat will retard her economic development and consequently the advent of socialism. In Russia this Struvist theory has been developed by Plekhanov, and among the Germans by Lensch and others. Kautsky argues against this crude theory -- against Lensch, who defends it overtly, and against Gunow, who de fends it covertly; his sole purpose, however, is to reconcile the social-chauvinists of all countries on the basis of a more subtle and more Jesuitical chauvinist theory. We need not dwell on this crude theory. Struve's Critical Notesappeared in 1894, and during the past twenty years Russian Social-Democrats have become thoroughly familiar with this habit of the enlightened Russian bourgeois of advancing their ideas and advocating their desires under the cloak of a "Marxism" purged of revolutionary content. Struvism is not merely a Russian, but, as recent events clearly prove, an international striving on the part of the bourgeois theoreticians to kill Marxism with "kindness", to crush it in their embraces, kill it with a feigned acceptance of "all" the "truly scientific" aspects and elements of Marxism except its "agitational", "demagogic", "Blanquist-utopian" aspect. In other words, they take from Marxism all that is acceptable to the liberal bourgeoisie, including the struggle for reforms, the class struggle (without the proletarian dictatorship), the "general" recognition of "socialist ideals" and the substitution of a "new order" for capitalism; they cast aside "only" the living soul of Marxism, "only" its revolutionary content.[¥] Marxism is the theory of the proletarian movement for emancipation. It is clear, therefore, that the class-conscious workers must pay the utmost attention to any substitution of Struvism for Marxism. The motive forces in this process are varied and manifold. We shall indicate only the three main forces: (1) the development of science is providing more and more material that proves that Marx was right. This makes it necessary to fight against him hypocritically -- not to oppose the principles of Marxism openly, but to pretend to accept Marxism, while emasculating it by sophistry and turning it into a holy "icon" that is harmless to the bourgeoisie. (2) The development of opportunism among the Social-Democratic parties fosters such a re-fashioning of [¥] [Transcriber's Note: Lenin analyzes Struve's Critical Notes at great length in his The Economic Content of Narodism and the Criticism of it in Mr. Struve's Book. The process of purging Marxism of its "living soul . . . its revolutionary content" is detailed in Chapters 3 and 4. I might add that Lenin's analysis, as the reader will see, applies no less to liberal professors of today, i.e., one hundred years later!! -- DJR] Marxism, and adjusts it for a justification of all kinds of concessions to opportunism. (3) The epoch of imperialism is one in which the world is divided among the "great" privileged nations that oppress all other nations. Morsels of the loot obtained as a result of these privileges and this oppression undoubtedly fall to the share of certain sections of the petty bourgeoisie and to the working-class aristocracy and bureaucracy. These strata, which form an insignificant minority of the proletariat and of the toiling masses, gravitate towards "Struvism", because it provides them with a justification of their alliance with their "own" national bourgeoisie, against the oppressed masses of all nations. We shall have occasion to deal with this later, in connection with the causes of the collapse of the International. IV The most subtle theory of social-chauvinism, one that has been most skilfully touched up to look scientific and international, is the theory of "ultra-imperialism" advanced by Kautsky. Here is the clearest, most precise and most recent exposition of this theory in the words of the author himself: "The subsiding of the Protectionist movement in Britain, the lowering of tariffs in America; the trend towards disarmament; the rapid decline in the export of capital from France and Germany in the years immediately preceding the war; finally, the growing international interweaving between the various cliques of finance capital -- all this has caused me to consider whether the present imperialist policy cannot be supplanted by a new, ultra-imperialist policy, which will introduce the joint exploitation of the world by internationally united finance capital in place of the mutual rivalries of national finance capital. Such a new phase of capitalism is at any rate conceivable. Can it be achieved? Sufficient premises are still lacking to enable us to answer this question. . ." (Die Neue Zeit No. 5, April 30, 1915, p. 144). "The course and the outcome of the present war may prove decisive in this respect. It may entirely crush the weak beginnings of ultra-imperialism by fanning to the highest degree national hatred also among the finance capltalists, by intensifying the armaments race, and by making a second world war inevitable. Under such conditions, the thing I foresaw and formulated in my pamphlet, The Road to Power, would come true in horrifying dimensions; class antagonisms would become sharper and sharper and with it would come the moral decay [literally: "going out of business, Abwirtschaftung ", bankruptcy] of capitalism. . . . [It must be noted that by this pretentious word Kautsky means simply the "hatred" which the "strata intermediary between the proletariat and finance capital", namely, "the intelligentsia, the petty bourgeois, even small capitalists", feel towards capitalism.] But the war may end otherwise. It may lead to the strengthening of the weak beginnings of ultra-imperialism. . . . Its lessons [note this!] may hasten developments for which we would have to wait a long time under peace conditions. If it does lead to this, to an agreement between nations, disarmament and a lasting peace, then the worst of the causes that led to the growing moral decay of capitalism before the war may disappear." The new phase will, of course, bring the proletariat "new misfortunes", "perhaps even worse", but "for a time", "ultra-imperialism" "could create an era of new hopes and expectations within the framework of capitalism" (p. 145). How is a justification of social-chauvinism deduced from this "theory"? In a way rather strange for a "theoretician", namely as follows: The Left-wing Social-Democrats in Germany say that imperialism and the wars it engenders are not accidental, but an inevitable product of capitalism, which has brought about the domination of finance capital. It is therefore necessary to go over to the revolutionary mass struggle, as the period of comparatively peaceful development has ended. The "Right"-wing Social-Democrats brazenly declare: since imperialism is "necessary", we too must be imperialists. Kautsky, in the role of the "Centre", tries to reconcile these two views. "The extreme Lefts," he writes in his pamphlet, The National State, the Imperialist State and the League of States (Nuremberg, 1915), wish to contrapose -- socialism to inevitable imperialism, i. e., not only the propaganda for socialism that we have been carrying on for half a century in contraposition to all forms of capitalist domination, but the immediate achievement of socialism. This seems very radical, but it can only serve to drive into the camp of imperialism anyone who does not believe in the immediate practical achievement of socialism" (p. 17, italics ours). When he speaks of the immediate achievement of socialism, Kautsky is resorting to a subterfuge, for he takes advantage of the fact that in Germany, especially under the military censorship, revolutionary action cannot be spoken of. Kautsky is well aware that the Left wing is demanding of the Party immediate propaganda in favour of and prepara- tion for, revolutionary action, not the "immediate practical achievement of socialism". From the necessity of imperialism the Left wing deduces the necessity of revolutionary action. The "theory of ultra-imperialism", however, serves Kautsky as a means to justify the opportunists, to present the situation in such a light as to create the impression that they have not gone over to the bourgeoisie but simply "do not believe" that socialism can arrive immediately, and expect that a new "era" of disarmament and lasting peace "may be" ushered in. This "theory" boils down, and can only boil down, to the following: Kautsky is exploiting the hope for a new peaceful era of capitalisms as to justlfy the adhesion of the opportunists and the official Social-Democratic parties to the bourgeoisie, and their rejection of revolutionary, i.e., proletarian, tactics in the present stormy era, this despite the solemn declarations of the Basle resolution! At the same time Kautsky does not say that this new phase follows, and necessarily so, from certain definite circumstances and conditions. On the contrary, he states quite outspokenly that he cannot yet even decide whether or not this new phase is "achievable ". Indeed, consider the "trends" towards the new era, which have been indicated by Kautsky. Astonishingly enough, the author has included among the economic facts "the trend towards disarmament"! This means that, behind innocent philistine talk and pipe-dreaming, Kautsky is trying to hide from indisputable facts that do not at all fit in with the theory of the mitigation of contradictions. Kautsky's "ultra-imperialism" -- this term, incidentally does not at all express what the author wants to say -- implies a tremendous mitigation of the contradictions of capitalism. We are told that Protectionism is subsiding in Britain and America. But where is there the least trend towards a new era? Extreme Protectionism is now subsiding in America, but Protectionism remains, just as the privileges, the preferential tariffs favouring Britain, have remained in that country's colonies. Let us recall what the passage from the previous and "peaceful" period of capitalism to the present and imperialist period has been based on: free competition has yielded to monopolist capitalist combines, and the world has been partitioned. Both these facts (and factors) are obviously of world-wide significance: Free Trade and peaceful competition were possible and necessary as long as capital was in a position to enlarge its colonies without hindrance, and seize unoccupied land in Africa, etc., and as long as the concentration of capital was still weak and no monopolist concerns existed, i.e., concerns of a magnitude permitting domination in an entire branch of industry. The appearance and growth of such monopolist concerns (has this process been stopped in Britain or America? Not even Kautsky will dare deny that the war has accelerated and intensified it) have rendered the free competition of former times impossible; they have cut the ground from under its feet, while the partition of the world compels the capitalists to go over from peaceful expansion to an armed struggle for the repartitioning of colonies and spheres of influence. It is ridiculous to think that the subsiding of Protectionism in two countries can change anything in this respect. Let us further examine the fall in capital exports from two countries in the course of a few years. In 1912 these two countries, France and Germany, each had about 35,000 million marks (about 17,000 million rubles) of foreign investments, this according to Harms's statistics, while Britain alone had twice that sum.* The increase in exports of capital has never proceeded evenly under capitalism, nor could that have been so. Kautsky dares not even suggest that the accumulation of capital has decreased, or that the capacity of the home market has undergone any important change, say through a big improvement in the conditions of the masses. In these circumstances, the fall in capital exports from two countries over several years cannot imply the advent of a new era. "The growing international interweaving between the cliques of finance capital" is the only really general and indubitable tendency, not during the last few years and in two countries, but throughout the whole capitalist world. But * See Bernhard Harms, Probleme der Weltwirtschaft, Jena, 1912; George Paish, "Great Britain's Capital Investments in the Colonies, etc." in the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Vol. LXXIV, 1910/11, p. 167. Lloyd George, in a speech early in 1915, estimated British capital invested abroad at £4,000,000,000, i. e., about 80,000,000,000 marks. why should this trend engender a striving towards disarmament, not armaments, as hitherto? Take any one of the world-famous cannon (and arms) manufacturers, Armstrong, for instance. The British Economist (May 1, 1915) published figures showing that this firm's profits rose from £606,000 (about 6,000,000 rubles) in 1905/6 to £856,000 in 1913, and to £940,000 (9,000,000 rubles) in 1914. Here, the intertwining of finance capital is most pronounced, and is on the increase, German capitalists have "holdings" in British firms; British flrms build submarines for Austria, and so on. Interlinked on a world-wide scale, capital is thriving on armaments and wars. To think that the fact of capital in the individual states combining and interlinking on an international scale must of necessity produce an economic trend towards disarmament means, in effect, allowing well-meaning philistine expectations of an easing of class contradictions take the place of the actual intensification of those contradictions. V It is in a wholly philistine spirit that Kautsky speaks of the "lessons" of the war, presenting those lessons in the light of a moral abhorrence at the misery it causes. Here, for instance, is how he argues in the pamphlet entitled The National State, etc.: "It stands beyond doubt and needs no proof that there are strata of the population that are greatly interested in universal peace and disarmament. The petty bourgeoisie and the small peasants, and even many capitalists and intellectuals, are not tied to imperialism by any interests that outweigh the damage suffered by these strata as a result of war and armaments" (p. 21). This was written in February 1915! The facts show that all the propertied classes, down to the petty bourgeoisie and the "intelligentsia", have joined the imperialists en masse, and yet Kautsky, like Chekhov's man in a mufller[121] shrugs off the facts with an air of extraordinary smugness and with the aid of saccharine phrases. He judges of the interests of the petty bourgeoisie, not by their conduct, but by the words of certain petty bourgeois, although at every step such words are refuted by the deeds. It is exactly like judging of the "interests" of the bourgeoisie in general, not by their deeds, but by the benevolent speeches made by bourgeois clergymen who avow that the present-day system is imbued with the ideals of Christianity. Kautsky applies Marxism in a way that voids it of all content, so that what remains is the catchword of "interests", in a kind of supernatural, other worldly meaning, for it implies, not real economics, but pious wishes for the common weal. Marxism appraises "interests" according to the class antagonisms and the class struggle which find expression in millions of facts of daily life. The petty bourgeoisie prattle and dream of the abatement of antagonisms, whose aggravation, they "argue", leads to "harmful consequences". Imperialism means the subjugation of all strata of the propertied classes to finance capital, and the partition of the world among five or six "Great" Powers, most of which are now involved in the war. The partition of the world among the Great Powers means that all their propertied classes are interested in possessing colonies and spheres of influence, in oppressing other nations, and in securing the more or less lucrative posts and privileges that stem from belonging to a "Great" Power and an oppressor nation.* Life cannot go on in the old way, in the comparatively tranquil, cultured and peaceful conditions of a capitalism that is smoothly developing and gradually spreading to new countries. A new epoch has arrived. Finance capital ousts, and will completely oust, a particular country from the * E. Schultzu states that by 1915 the value of securities in the whole world was calculated at 732,000 million francs, including state and municipal loans, the mortgages and shares of commercial and manufacturing corporations, etc. Of this sum, Britain's share was 130,000 million francs, that of the United States 115,000 million, France 100,000 million and Germany 75,000 million, i. e., the share of all four Great Powers being 420,000 million francs, over half the total. From this one can realise ths advantages and privileges accruing to the leading Great Powers, which have outstripped other nations oppressing and plundering the latter. (Dr. Ernst Schultze Das franz&oumlsische Kapital in Russland in Finanz-Archiv, Berlin, 1915, 32nd year of publication, p. 127.) To a Great Power "defence of the fatherland" means defence of the right to share in the plundering of foreign countries. In Russia, as is common knowledge capitalist imperialism is weaker than military-feudal imperialism is. ranks of Great Powers, will deprive it of its colonies and spheres of influence (as Germany, which has gone to war with Britain, threatens to do), and it will deprive the petty bourgeoisie of their dominant-nation privileges and additional incomes. This has been proved by the war. It is the outcome of that aggravation of antagonisms which has long been admitted by all, including Kautsky, in his pamphlet The Road to Power. Now that the armed conflict for Great-Power privileges has become a fact, Kautsky wants to persuade the capitalists and the petty bourgeoisie to believe that war is horrible, while disarmament is beneficial, in exactly the same way and with exactly the same results as the Christian churchman, speaking from the pulpit, would persuade the capitalist to believe that love of one's fellow-men is a Divine commandment, as well as the spiritual yearning and the moral law of civilisation. What Kautsky calls an economic trend towards "ultra-imperialism" is just a petty-bourgeois exhortation to the financiers that they should refrain from doing evil. The export of capital? But more capital is exported to independent countries such as the United States of America, than to the colonies. The seizure of colonies? But they have all been seized, and nearly all of them are striving for liberation. "India may cease to be a British possession, but as an integral empire it will never fall under the sway of another foreign power" (p. 49 in the pamphlet quoted). "Any attempt on the part of any industrial capitalist state to acquire for itself a colonial empire sufficient to make it independent of other countries in regard to raw materials must cause all other capitalist states to unite against it and involve it in endless and exhausting wars, without bringing it nearer to its goal. Such a policy would be the surest road towards the bankruptcy of the entire economic life of that state" (pp. 72-73). Is not this a philistine attempt to persuade financiers to renounce imperialism? Any atternpt to frighten capitalists with the prospect of bankruptcy is like advising against speculating in shares on the Stock Exchange because many fortunes have been lost in this way. Capital gains from the bankruptcy of a rival capitalist or of a rival nation, because in this way capital becomes more concentrated. Hence the keener and "closer" economic competition becomes, i.e., the economic driving of a compctitor towards bankruptcy, the more the capitalists strive to add military pressure in order to drive the competitor in that direction. The fewer the countries to which capital can still be exported as advantageously as to colonies or to such dependent states as Turkey -- since in such cases the financier reaps a triple proflt as against capital exports to a free, independent and civilised country like the United States of America -- the fiercer is the struggle for the subjugation and partition of Turkey, China, etc. That is what economic theory reveals about the period of finance capital and imperialism. That is what the facts reveal. But Kautsky turns everything into a trite petty-bourgeois "moral": it is not worth while getting worked up and certainly not worth while going to war over the partition of Turkey, or the seizure of India, since they cannot be held for long anyway, and, moreover, it would be better to develop capitalism peacefully. . . . It would be better still, of course, to develop capitalism and expand the home market by increasing wages; this is quite "conceivable" and it is a very fitting topic for a churchman to preach on to the financiers. . . . The good Kautsky has almost succeeded in persuading the German financiers that it is not worth while waging war against Britain for the colonies, because these colonies will soon secure their liberation in any case! Britain's exports to and imports from Egypt between 1872 and 1912 have not kept pace with the overall growth of British exports and imports, whence the "Marxist" Kautsky draws the following moral: "We have no reason to suppose that British trade with Egypt would have been less developed as a result of the mere operation of economic factors, without mi]itary occupation" (p. 72). "Capital's urge to expand . . . can be best promoted, not by the violent methods of imperialism, but by peaceful democracy " (p. 70). What a remarkably serious, scientific and "Marxist" analysis! Kautsky has splendidly "rectified" unreasonable history; he has "proved" that there was no need for the British to have taken Egypt from the French, that it was absolutely not worth the German financiers' while to have started the war, organised the Turkish campaign, and taken other meas- ures to drive the British out of Egypt! All this is merely a misunderstanding -- it has not yet dawned upon the British that it would be "best" to give up forcible methods in Egypt, and adopt "peaceful democracy" (so as to increase exports of capital à la Kautsky !). "Of course it was an illusion on the part of the bourgeois Free Traders to think that Free Trade would entirely eliminate the economic antagonisms generated by capitalism. Neither Free Trade nor democracy can eliminate these. We, in all respects are interested in having these antagonisms eliminated by a struggle waged in such forms as will impose the least amount of suftering and sacrifice on the masses" (p. 73) The Lord help us, the Lord have mercy on us! "What is a philistine?" Lassalle used to ask, and answered by quoting the words of the well-known poet: "A philistine is a gut void of everything but fear and hope that God will have mercy on him.''[122] Kautsky has degraded Marxism to unparalleled prostitution and has turned into a real churchman. The latter tries to persuade the capitalists to adopt peaceful democracy -- and calls this dialectics: if at first, he argues, there was Free Trade, and then arrived the monopolies and imperialism, why should there not he "ultra-imperialism", and then Free Trade again? The churchman consoles the oppressed masses by depicting the blessings this ultra-imperialism will bring, although he has not even the courage to say whether it can be "achieved"! Feuerbach was right when, in reply to those who defended religion on the ground that it consoles the people, he indicated the reactionary significance of consolation: whoever consoles the slave instead of arousing him to rise up against slavery is aiding the slaveowner. All oppressing classes stand in need of two social functions to safeguard their rule: the function of the hangman and the function of the priest. The hangman is required to quell the protests and the indignation of the oppressed; the priest is required to console the oppressed, to depict to them the prospects of their sufferings and sacrifices being mitigated (this is particularly easy to do without guaranteeing that these prospects will be "achieved"), while preserving class rule, and thereby to reconcile them to class rule, win them away from revolutionary action, undermine their revolutionary spirit and destroy their revolutionary determination. Kautsky has turned Marxism into a most hideous and stupid counter-revolutionary theory, into the lowest kind of clericalism. In 1909, he acknowledged, in his The Road to Power, the fact of the unrefuted and irrefutable intensification of antagonisrms within capitalism, the approach of a period of wars and revolutions, of a new "revolutionary period". There can be no "premature" revolution, he said, and branded as "a direct betrayal of our cause" any refusal to count on the possibility of victory in an uprising, even though, before the fighting began, the prospect of defeat could not be denied. With the advent of war, the antagonisms have become still more bitter. The sufferings of the masses have assumed tremendous proportions. The end of the war is not in sight and the hostilities are spreading more and more. Kautsky is writing pamphlet after pamphlet and, meekly submitting to the dictates of the censorship, refrains from quoting the facts on the land-grabbing, the horrors of war, the scandalous profiteering of the war contractors, the high cost of living and the actual slavery of the workers mobilised in the munitions industries; instead, he keeps on consoling the proletariat. He does so by quoting the instance of wars in which the bourgeoisie was revolutionary and progressive, in regard to which "Marx himself" desired victory for one bourgeoisie or the other; he consoles it by quoting rows and columns of figures to prove that capitalism is "possible" without colonies, without the plundering of others, without wars and arruaments, and to prove that "peaceful democracy" is preferable. Not daring to deny that the sufferings of the masses are becoming more acute and that a revolutionary situation is arising before our very eyes (one must not talk about this, since it is not permitted by the censor!), Kautsky, in his servility to the bourgeoisie and the opportunists, depicts the "prospect" (he does not guarantee that it can be "achieved") of forms of struggle in a new phase, which will entail "less sacrifice and suffering". . . . Franz Mehring and Rosa Luxemburg were quite right when, for this very reason, they called Kautsky a street-walker (M&aumldchen f&uumlr alle ). In August 1905 a revolutionary situation existed in Russia. The tsar had promised convocation of the Bulygin Duma[123] in order to "console" the masses who were in a state of unrest. If the abandoning of armaments by the financiers and their agreeing to a "lasting peace" can be called "ultra-imperialism", then the Bulygin regime of consultative parliamentary representation may be described as "ultra-autocracy". Let us assume for a moment that tomorrow a hundred of the world's biggest financiers, "interwoven" as they are in hundreds of colossal enterprises, will promise the peoples that they will stand for disarmament after the war (we make this assumption only for a moment in order to draw political conclusions from Kautsky's foolish little theory). Even if that happened, it would be downright treachery to the proletariat to dissuade it from taking revolutionary action, without which all promises and all fine prospects are only a mirage. The war has not only brought the capitalist class huge profits and splendid prospects of fresh plunder (Turkey, China, etc.), new contracts worth thousands of millions; and new loans at increased rates of interest; it has also brought the capitalist class still greater political advantages in that it has split and corrupted the proletariat. Kautsky is encouraging this corruption; he sanctifies this international split among the militant proletarians in the name of unity with the opportunists of their "own" nations, with the S&uumldekums! And yet there are people who fail to understand that the unity slogan of the old parties means the "unity" of the proletariat of a given nation with the bourgenisie of that nation, and a split among the proletariat of the various nations. . . . VI The preceding lines had already been written when Die Neue Zeit of May 28 (No. 9) appeared with Kautsky's concluding arguments on the collapse of Social-Democracy" (Section 7 of his reply to Cunow). Kautsky sums up all his old sophisms, and a new one, in defence of social-chauvinism as follows: "It is simply untrue to say that the war is a purely imperialist one that at the outbreak of the war the alternative was either imperialism or socialism, that the socialist parties and the proletarian masses of Germany, France and, in many respects, also of Britain, unthinkingly and at the mere call of a handful of parliamentarians, threw themselves into the arms of imperialism, betrayed socialism and thus caused a collapse unexampled in history." A new sophism and a new deception of the workers: the war, if you please, is not a "purely" imperialist one! Kautsky vacillates amazingly on the question of the character and significance of the present war; this party leader evades the precise and formal declarations of the Basle and Chemnitz congresses, as studiedly as a thief keeps away from the place where he has just committed a theft. In his pamphlet, The National State, etc., written in February 1915, Kautsky asserted that "still, in the final analysis", the war is an "imperialist one" (p. 64). Now a fresh reservation is introduced: it is not a purely imperialist war. What else can it he? It appears that it is also a national war! Kautsky arrives at this monstrous conclusion by means of the following "Plekhanovist" pseudo-dialectic: "The present war is not only the child of imperialism, but also of the Russian revolution." As early as 1904, he, Kautsky, foresaw that the Russian revolution would revive Pan-Slavism in a new form, that "democratic Russia would, inevitably, greatly fan the desire of the Austrian and Turkish Slavs for national independence. . . . Then the Polish question would also become acute. . . . Austria would fall apart because, with the collapse of tsarism, the iron band which at present binds the centrifugal elements together would be destroyed" (Kautsky himself quotes this last phrase from his 1904 article). "The Russian revolution . . . gave a new and powerful impetus to the national aspirations of the East, adding Asia's problems to those of Europe. All these problems are making themselves very strongly felt in the present war and are acquiring very decisive significance for the mood of the masses of the people, including the proletarian masses, whereas among the ruling classes imperialist tendencies are predominant" (p. 273, italics ours). This is another sample of the prostitution of Marxism! Inasmuch as a "democratic Russia" would foster a striving towards freedom in the nations of Eastern Europe (this is indisputable), the present war, which will not liberate a single nation, but, whatever the outcome, will enslave many nations, is not a "purely" imperialist war. Inasmuch as the "collapse of tsarism" would mean the disintegration of Austria, owing to its undemocratic national structure, a temporarily strengthened, and counter-revolutionary tsarism, which is plundering Austria and is bringing still greater oppression to the nations inhabiting Austria, has given "the present war", not a purely imperialist character but, to a certain degree, a national character. Inasmuch as "the ruling classes" are deluding the stupid petty bourgeois and browbeaten peasants with fables about the national aims of the imperialist war, a man of science, an authority on "Marxism", and representative of the Second International, is entitled to reconcile the masses to this deception by means of a "formula" which claims that the ruling classes reveal imperialist tendencies, while the "people" and the proletarian masses reveal "national" aspirations. Dialectic is turned into the meanest and basest sophistry! In the present war the national element is represented only by Serbia's war against Austria (which, by the way, was noted in the resolution of our Party's Berne Conference).[] It is only in Serbia and among the Serbs that we can find a national-liberation movement of long standing, embracing millions, "the masses of the people", a movement of which the present war of Serbia against Austria is a "continuation". If this war were an isolated one, i.e., if it were not connected with the general European war, with the selfish and predatory aims of Britain, Russia, etc., it would have been the duty of all socialists to desire the success of the Serbian bourgeoisie‹this is the only correct and absolutely inevitable conclusion to be drawn from the national element in the present war. However it is this conclusion that the sophist Kautsky, who is now in the service of the Austrian bourgeoisie, clericals and militarists, has failed to draw. Further, Marxist dialectics, as the last word in the scientific-evolutionary method, excludes any isolated examination of an object, i.e., one that is one-sided and monstrously distorted. The national element in the Serbo-Austrian war is not, and cannot be, of any serious significance in the general European war. If Germany wins, she will throttle Belgium, one more part of Poland, perhaps part of France, etc. If Russia wins, she will throttle Galicia, one more part of See p. 159 of this volume. --Ed. Poland, Armenia, etc. If the war ends in a "draw", the old national oppression will remain. To Serbia, i.e., to perhaps one per cent or so of the participants in the present war, the war is a "continuation of the politics" of the bourgeois-liberation movement. To the other ninety-nine per cent, the war is a continuation of the politics of imperialism, i.e., of the decrepit bourgeoisie, which is capable only of raping nations, not freeing them. The Triple Entente, which is "liberating" Serbia, is selling the interests of Serbian liberty to Italian imperialism in return for the latter's aid in robbing Austria. All this, which is common knowledge, has been unblushingly distorted by Kautsky to justify the opportunists. There are no "pure " phenomena, nor can there be, either in Nature or in society -- that is what Marxist dialectics teaches us, for dialectics shows that the very concept of purity indicates a certain narrowness, a one-sidedness of human cognition, which cannot embrace an object in all its totality and complexity. There is no "pure" capitalism in the world, nor can there be; what we always find is admixtures either of feudalism, philistinism, or of something else. Therefore, if anyone recalls that the war is not "purely" imperialist, when we are discussing the flagrant deception of "the masses of the people" by the imperialists, who are deliberately concealing the aims of undisguised robbery with "national" phraseology, then such a person is either an infinitely stupid pedant, or a pettifogger and deceiver. The whole point is that Kautsky is supporting the deception of the people by the imperialists when he asserts that to "the masses of the people, including tho proletarian masses", the problems of national liberation were "of decisive significance" whereas to the ruling classes the decisive factors were "imperialist tendencies'' (p. 273), and when he "reinforces" this with an alleged dialectical reference to the "infinite variety of reality" (p. 274). Certainly, reality is infinitely varied. That is absolutely true! But it is equally indubitable that amidst this infinite variety there are two main and fundamental srains: the objective content of the war is a "continuation of the politics" of imperialism. i.e., the plunder of other nations by the decrepit bourgeoisie of the "Great Powers" (and their governments), whereas the prevailing "subjective" ideology consists of "national" phraseology which is being spread to fool the masses. Kautsky's old sophism, repeated time and again, claiming that "at the outbreak of war" the "Lefts" regarded the situation as presenting an alternative between imperialism or socialism, has already been analysed. This is a shameless subterfuge, for Kautsky knows very well that the Lefts advanced a different alternative, viz., either that the party join in the imperialist plunder and deception, or else propagate and prepare for revolutionary action. Kautsky knows also that it is the censorship alone that prevents the Lefts in Germany from exposing the stupid fable that his servility to the S&uumldekums makes him spread. As for the relation between the "proletarian masses" and a "handful of parliamentarians", Kautsky advances a most threadbare objection: "Let us disregard the Germans, so as not to plead in our own behalf who would seriously assert that men like Vaillant, Guesde, Hyndman and Plekhanov became imperialists overnight and betrayed socialism? Let us disregard the parliamentarians and the 'leading bodies' . . . [Kautsky is obviously hinting at Die Internationale, the journai issued by Rosa Luxemburg and Franz Mehring, in which the policy of the leading bodies, i.e., the official bodies of the German Social-Democratic Party, its Executive, the "Vorstand ", its parliamentary group, etc., is treated with deserved contempt] . . . who would dare assert that an order given by a handful of parliamentarians is sufficient to make four million class-conscious German proletarians turn right-about face within twenty-four hours, in direct opposition to their former aims? If this were true, it would, of course, be evidence of a terrible collapse, not only of our Party, but also of the masses. [Kautsky's italics.] If the masses were such a spineless flock of sheep, we might just as well allow ourselves to be buried" (p. 274). Politically and scientically, Karl Kautsky, the great authority, gave himself a burial long ago through his conduct and his collection of pitiful evasions. Those who fail to understand or at least to feel this, are hopeless as far as socialism is concerned; it is for this very reason that the tone adopted, in Die Internationale, by Mehring, Rosa Luxemburg and their adherents, in treating Kautsky and Co. as most despicable creatures, was the only correct one in the circumstances. Consider: the only people in a position to express their attitude to the war more or less freely (i.e., without being immediately seized and dragged to the barracks, or the immediate risk of being shot) were a "handful of parliamentarians" (who were free to vote, with the right to do so; they were quite able to vote in opposition. Even in Russia, no one was beaten up or even arrested for this), a handful of officials, journalists, etc. And now, Kautsky nobly places on the masses the blame for the treachery and the spinelessness of that social stratum of whose links with the tactics and ideology of opportunism Kautsky himself has written scores of times over a number of years! The first and most fundamental demand of scientific research in general and of Marxist dialectic in particular is that a writer should examine the link between the present struggle of trends in the socialist movement -- between the trend that is doing the talking, vociferating, and raising a hullabaloo about treachery, and the trend which sees no treachery -- and the struggle that preceded it for whole decades. Kautsky, however, does not say a word about this; he does not even wish to raise the question of trends and tendencies. Till now there have been tendencies, but now there are none! Today, there are only the resonant names of "authorities", which the servile spirits always invoke as their trump card. In this connection it is most convenient for one to refer to the other and to cover up one's "peccadilloes" in a friendly fashion, according to the rule: you roll my log and I'll roll yours. "How can this becalled opportunism," Martov exclaimed at a lecture in Berne (see No. 36 of Sotsial-Demokrat ), "when Guesde, Plekhanov and Kautsky. . ."! "We must be more careful in accusing men like Guesde of opportunism," Axelrod wrote (Golos Nos. 86 and 87). "I will not defend myself," Kautsky echoed in Berlin, "but Vaillant, Guesde, Hyndman and Plekhanov. . ."! What a mutual admiration society! In his writings, Kautsky has revealed such servile zeal as to fawn upon even Hyndman and to make it appear that it was only yesterday that the latter deserted to the side of imperialism. And yet the selfsame Neue Zeit and scores of Social-Democratic papers all over the world have been writing about Hyndman's imperialism for many years. Had Kautsky gone to the trouble of thoroughly studying the political biographies of the persons he mentions, he would have recalled whether or not those biographies contained traits and events which paved the way for their desertion to imperialism, not "overnight", but over decades; whether Vaillant had been held captive by the Jaur&egravesists, and Plekhanov by the Mensheviks and liquidators; whether the Guesdist trend had been publicly giving up the ghost in that typically lifeless and insipid Guesdist magazine, Le Socialisme,[124] which was incapable of taking an independent stand on any important issue; whether Kautsky himself (we add this for the benefit of those who very properly put him alongside Hyndman and Plekhanov) had been supine in the question of Millerandism, in the early stage of the struggle against Bernsteinism, etc. But Kautsky does not display the slightest shadow of interest in any scientific examination of these leaders' biographies. He does not even attempt to see whether these leaders are defending themselves with their own arguments or by repeating the arguments of the opportunists and the bourgeoisie; whether the actions of these leaders have acquired serious political significance because of their own extraordinary influence, or because they have adhered to some other really "influential" trend which is supported by a military organisation, namely, the bourgeois trend. Kautsky has not even set about examining this question; his only concern is to throw dust in the eyes of the masses, dumbfound them with the sound of authoritative names, prevent them from raising a clear issue and examining it from all sides.* ". . . an order given by a handful of parliamentarians is sufficient to make four million class-conscious proletalians turn right-about-face. . . ." * Kautsky's relerences to Vaillant and Guesde, Hyndman and Plckhanov are characteristic also in another connection. The out spoken imperialists of the Lensch and Haenisch variety (to say nothing of the opportunists) refer to Hyndman and Plekhanov so as to justify their own policy, and they have a right to do so. They are speaking the truth when they say it is one and the same policy. Kautsky, however, speaks with disdain of Lensch and Haenisch, radicals who have turned towards imperialism. Kautsky thanks God that he is unlike such sinners, that he disagrees with them, and has remained a revolutionary (sic !). As a matter of fact, Kautsky's stand is the same as theirs. Kautsky, the hypocritieal chauvinist who employs sentimental phrases, is much more odious than the chauvinist simpletons, David and Heine, Lensch and Haenisch. Every word uttered here is a lie. The German Party organisation had a membership of one million, not four million. As is the case with any organisation, the united will of this mass organisation was expressed only through its united political centre, the "handful", who betrayed socialism. It was this handful who were asked to express their opinion; it was this handful who were called upon to vote, they were in a position to vote; they were in a position to write articles, etc. The masses were not consulted. Not only were they not permitted to vote, but they were disunited and coerced "by orders ", not from a handful of parliamentarians, but from the military authorities. A military organisation existed; there was no treachery among the leaders of this organisation. It called up the "masses" one by one, confronted the individual with the ultimatum: either join the army, as your leaders advise you to, or be shot. The masses could not act in an organised fashion because their previously created organisation, an organisation embodied in a "handful" of Legiens, Kautskys and Scheidemanns, had betrayed them. It takes time to create a new organisation, as well as a determination to consign the old, rotten, and obsolete organisation to the scrap heap. Kautsky tries to defeat his opponents, the Lefts, by ascribing to them the nonsensical idea that the "masses", "in retaliation" to war, should make a revolution "within twenty four hours", and institute "socialism" as opposed to imperialism, or otherwise the "masses" would be revealing "spinelessness and treachery". But this is sheer nonsense, which the compilers of illiterate bourgeois and police booklets have hitherto used to "defeat" the revolutionaries, and Kautsky now flaunts in our faces. Kautsky's Left opponents know perfectly well that a revolution cannot be "made", that revolutions develop from objectively (i.e., independently of the will of parties and classes) mature crises and turns in history, that without organisation the masses lack unity of will, and that the struggle against a centralised state's powerful terrorist military organisation is a difficult and lengthy business. Owing to the treachery of their leaders, the masses could not do anything at the crucial moment, whereas this "handful" of leaders were in an excellent position and in duty bound to vote against the war credits, take a stand against a "class truce" and justification of the war, express themselves in favour of the defeat of their own governments, set up an international apparatus for the purpose of carrying on propaganda in favour of fraternisation in the trenches, organise the publication of illegal literature[] on the necessity of starting revolutionary activities, etc. Kautsky knows perfectly well that it is precisely such or rather similar actions that the German "Lefts" have in mind and that under a military censorship they cannot talk about these things directly, openly. Kautsky's desire to defend the opportunists at all costs has led him into unparalleled anfamy: taking cover behind the military censors, he ittributes patent absurdities to the Lefts, in the confidence that the censors will protect him from exposure. VII The serious scientific and political question, which Kautsky has deliberately evaded by means of subterfuges of all kinds, thereby giving enormous pleasure to the opportunists, is this: how was it possible for the most prominent representatives of the Second International to betray socialism? This question should not, of course, be considered from the standpoint of the biographies of the individual leaders. Their future biographers will have to analyse the problem from this angle as well, but what interests the socialist movement today is not that, but a study of the historical Incidentally, it would not have been at all necessary to close all Social-Democratic papers in reply to the government's ban on writing about class hatred and class struggle. To agree not to write about this, as Vorw&aumlrts did was mean and cowardly. Vorw&aumlrts died politically when it did this and Martov was right when he said so. It was, however, possible to retain the legal papers by declaring that they were non-Party and non-Social-Democratic, and served the technical needs of a section of the workers, i. e., that they were non-political papers. Underground Social-Democratic literature containing an assessment of the war, and legally published working-class literature without that assessment, a literature that does not say what is not true, but keeps silent about the truth -- why should this not have been possible? origins, the conditions, the significance and the strength of the social-chauvinist trend. (1) Where did social-chauvinism spring from? (2) What gave it strength? (3) How must it be combated? Only such an approach to the question can be regarded as serious, the "personal" approach being in practice an evasion, a piece of sophistry. To answer the first question we must see, first, whether the ideological and political content of social-chauvinism is connected with some previous trend in socialism; and second, in what relation -- from the standpoint of actual political divisions -- the present division of socialists into opponents and defenders of social-chauvinism stands to divisions which historically preceded it. By social-chauvinism we mean acceptance of the idea of the defence of the fatherland in the present imperialist war, justification of an alliance between socialists and the bourgeoisie and the governments of their "own" countries in this war, a refusal to propagate and support proletarian revolutionary action against one's "own" bourgeoisie, etc. It is perfectly obvious that social-chauvinism's basic ideological and political content fully coincides with the foundations of opportunism. It is one and the same tendency. In the condilions of the war of 1914-15, opportunism leads to social-chauvinism. The idea of class collaboration is opportunism's main feature. The war has brought this idea to its logical conclusion, and has augmented its usual factors and stimuli with a number of extraordinary ones; through the operation of special threats and coercion it has compelled the philistine and disunited masses to collaborate with the bourgeoisie. This circumstance has naturally multiplied adherents of opportunism and fully explains why many radicals of yesterday have deserted to that camp. Opportunism means sacrificing the fundamental interests of the masses to the temporary interests of an insignificant minority of the workers or, in other words, an alliance between a section of the workers and the bourgeoisie, directed against the mass of the proletariat. The war has made such an alliance particularly conspicuous and inescapable. Opportunism was engendered in the course of decades by the special features in the period of the development of capitalism, when the comparatively peaceful and cultured life of a stratum of privileged workingmen "bourgeoisified" them, gave them crumbs from the table of their national capitalists, and isolated them from the suffering, misery and revolutionary temper of the impoverished and ruined masses. The imperialist war is the direct continuation and culmination of this state of affairs, because this is a war for the privileges of the Great-Power nations, for the repartition of colonies, and domination over other nations. To defend and strengthen their privileged position as a petty-bourgeois "upper stratum" or aristocracy (and bureaucracy) of the working class -- such is the natural wartime continuation of petty bourgeois opportunist hopes and the corresponding tactics, such is the economic foundation of present-day social imperialism.* And, of course, the force of habit, the routine of relatively "peaceful" evolution, national prejudices, a fear of sharp turns and a disbelief in them -- all these were additional circumstances which enhanced both opportunism and a hypocritical and a craven reconciliation with opportunism -- ostensibly only for a time and only because of extraordinary causes and motives. The war has changed this opportunism, which had been fostered for decades, raised it to a higher stage, increased the number and the variety of its shades, augmented the ranks of its adherents, enriched their arguments with a multitude of new sophisms, and has * Here are several examples showing how highly the imperialists and the bourgeoisie value the importance of "Great-Power" and national privileges as a means of dividing the workers and diverting them from socialism. In a book entitled Greater Rome and Greater Brttain (Oxford, 1912), the British imperialist Lucas acknowledges the legal disabilities of coloured people in the present British Empire (pp. 96-97), and remarks that "in our own Empire, where white workers and coloured workers are side by side, . . . they do not work on the same level, and that the white man is rather the overseer of . . . the coloured man. In a pamphlet entitled Social-Democracy after the War (1915), Erwin Belger, a former secretary of the Imperial Alliance against Social-Democrats, praises the conduct of the Social-Democrats and declares that they must become a "purely labour party" (p. 43) a "national", a "German labour party" (p. 45), without "internationalist, Utopian", and "revolutionary" ideas (p. 44). In a book dealing with capital investments abroad (1907), the German imperialist Sartorius von Waltershausen blames the German Social-Democrats for ignoring the "national welfare" (p. 438) -- which consists in the seizure of colonies -- and praises the British workers' "realism", for instance, their struggle against immigration. In a book on the [cont. onto p. 244. -- DJR] principles of world politics, the German diplomat Ruedorffer stresses the generally known fact that the internationalisation of capital by no means eliminates the national capitalists' intensified struggle for power and influence, for "majority share-holding" (p. 161). The author notes that the workers become involved in this intensified struggle (p. 175). The book is dated October 1913, and the author speaks with perfect clarity of the "interests of capital" (p. 157) as the cause of modern wars. He says that the question of the "national tendency" becomes the kingpin of socialism (p. 176), and that the governments have nothing to fear from the internationist manifestos of the Social-Democrats (p. 177) who in reality are turning more and more national (pp. 103, 110, 176). International socialism will be victorious, he says, if it exctricates the workers from national influence, since nothing can be achieved through violence alone; however, it will suffer defeat if national sentiments gain the upper hand (pp. 173-74). merged, so to say, many new streams and rivulets with the mainstream of opportunism. However, the mainstream has not disappeared. Quite the reverse. Social-chauvinism is an opportunism which has matured to such a degree that the continued existence of this bourgeois abscess within the socialist parties has become impossible. Those who refuse to see the closest and unbreakable link between social-chauvinism and opportunism clutch at individual instances -- this opportunist or another, they say, has turned internationalist; this radical or another has turned chauvinist. But this kind of argument carries no weight as far as the development of trends is concerned. Firstly, chauvinism and opportunism in the labour movement have the same economic basis: the alliance between a numerically small upper stratum of the proletariat and the petty bourgeoisie -- who get but morsels of the privileges of their "own" national capital -- against the masses of the proletarians, the masses of the toilers and the oppressed in general. Secondly, the two trends have the same ideological and political content. Thirdly, the old division of socialists into an opportunist trend and a revolutionary, which was characteristic of the period of the Second International (1889-1914), corresponds, by and large, to the new division into chauvinists and internationalists. To realise the correctness of the latter statement, one must remember that social science (like science generally) usually deals with mass phenomena, not with individual cases. Let us take ten European countries: Germany, Britain, Russia, Italy, Holland, Sweden, Bulgaria, Switzerland, France and Belgium. In the first eight countries, the new division of socialists (according to internationalism) corresponds to the old division (according to opportunism): in Germany the magazine Sozialistische Monatshefte, which was a stronghold of opportunism, has become a stronghold of chauvinism. The ideas of internationalism have the support of the extreme Lefts. In Britain about three-sevenths of the British Socialist Party are internationalists (66 votes for an internationalist resolution and 84 against it, as shown by the latest counts), while in the opportunist bloc (the Labour Party plus the Fabians, plus the Independent Labour Party) less than one-seventh are internationalists.[] In Russia, the liquidationist Nasha Zarya, the mainstay of the opportunists, has become the mainstay of chauvinism. Plekhanov and Alexinsky are making more noise, but we know from five years' experience (1910-14) that they are incapable of conducting systematic propaganda among the masses in Russia. The nucleus of the internationalists in Russia is made up of ''Pravdism''[125] and the Russian Social-Democratic Labour group in the Duma as representing the advanced workers who restored the Party in January 1912. In Italy, the party of Bissolati and Co., which was purely opportunist, has turned chauvinist. Internationalism is represented by the workers' party. The masses of the workers are for this party; the opportunists, the parliamentarians and the petty bourgeoisie are for chauvinism. In the course of several months a free choice could be made and indeed was made in Italy, not fortuitously but in conformity with the difference in the class stand of rank-and-file proletarians and the petty-bourgeois groups. In Holland, Troelstra's opportunist party is reconciled to chauvinism in general (one must not be deceived by the The Independent Labour Party alone is usually compared with the British Socialist Party. That is wrong. The essentials should be considered, not the forms of organisation. Take the daily newspapers: there were two of them -- one, the Daily Herald, mouthpiece of the British Socialist Party, the other, the Daily Citizen, mouthpiece of the opportunist bloc. The dailies do the actual work of propaganda, agitation and organisation. fact that in Holland the petty bourgeoisie, like the big bourgeoisie, have a particular hatred of Germany, because the latter can "swallow" them up easiest of all). It is the Marxist party, led by Gorter and Pannekoek, that has produced consistent, sincere, ardent and convinced internationalists. In Sweden, Branting, the opportunist leader, is indignant at the German socialists being accused of treachery, while H&oumlglund, leader of the Lefts, has declared that this is precisely the opinion of some of his adherents (see Sotsial-Demokrat No. 36). In Bulgaria, the "Tesnyaki", who are opposed to opportunism, have, in their press (the paper Novo Vreme[126]), accused the German Social-Democrats of having "perpetrated a foul act". In Switzerland, the adherents of the opportunist Greulich are inclined to justify the German Social-Democrats (see their organ, the Zurich Volksrecht, whereas those who support the much more radical R. Grimm have turned the Berne paper, Berner Tagwacht, into an organ of the German Lefts. Only two countries out of the ten -- France and Belgium -- are exceptions, but even here, strictly speaking, we see, not an absence of internationalists, but their excessive weakness and dejection (due in part to causes that can be readily understood); let us not forget that Vaillant himself has admitted, in l'Humanité, that he has received from his readers letters of an internationalist character, letters which, however, he has not published in full, not a single one of them! By and large, if we take the trends and tendencies, we must admit that it was the opportunist wing of European socialism that betrayed socialism and deserted to chauvinism. What is the source of its strength and its seeming omnipotence within the official parties? Now that he himself is involved, Kautsky, who is well versed in raising questions of history, especially with reference to ancient Rome or similar matters that do not have a direct bearing on problems of our times, hypocritically pretends a lack of understanding. But the whole thing is crystal-clear. The immense strength of the opportunists and the chauvinists stems from their alliance with the bourgeoisie, with the governments and the General Staffs. This is often overlooked in Russia, where it is assumed the opportunists are a section of the socialist parties, that there always have been and will be two extreme wings within those parties, that "extremes" should be avoided, etc., etc. -- and plenty of similar philistine copybook maxims. In reality, the opportunists' formal membership in workers' parties by no means disproves their objectively being a political detachment of the bourgeoisie, conductors of its influence, and its agents in the labour movement. When the opportunist S&uumldekum, whose claim to fame is like that of Herostratus, convincingly demonstrated this social and class truth, many good people gasped with amazement. The French socialists and Plekhanov pointed the finger of scorn at S&uumldekum -- although had Vandervelde, Semhat or Plekhanov looked into a mirror they would have seen nothing but a S&uumldekum, with slightly different national features. The members of the German Executive (Vorstand ), who now praise Kautsky and are praised by Kautsky, have made haste to declare -- cautiously, modestly and politely (without naming S&uumldekum) -- that they "do not agree" with S&uumldekum's line. This is ridiculous, because, at the crucial moment, S&uumldekum alone, actually proved stronger in the policies of the German Social-Democratic Party than a hundred Haases and Kautskys (just as Nasha Zarya alone is stronger than all the Brussels bloc trends, which are afraid to break away from that paper). Why is that so? It is because behind S&uumldekum are the bourgeoisie, the government, and the General Staff of a Great Power. These support S&uumldekum's policy in a thousand ways, whereas his opponents' policy is frustrated by every means, including prison and the firing squad. S&uumldekum's voice reaches the public in millions of copies of bourgeois newspapers (as do the voices of Vandervelde, Sembat, and Plekhanov), whereas the voices of his opponents cannot be heard in the legal press because of the military censorship! It is generally agreed that opportunism is no chance occurrence, sin, slip, or treachery on the part of individuals, but a social product of an entire period of history. The significance of this truth is not always given sufficient thought. Opportunism has been nurtured by legalism. The workers' parties of the period between 1889 and 1914 had to take advantage of bourgeois legality. When the crisis came, they should have adopted illegal methods of work (but this could not be done otherwise than with the greatest vigour and determination, combined with a number of stratagems). A single S&uumldekum was sufficient to prevent the adoption of illegal methods, because, speaking in a historico-philosophical sense, he had the whole of the "old world" behind him, and because he, S&uumldekum, has always betrayed, and will always betray, to the bourgeoisie all the military plans of its class enemy, speaking in the sense of practical politics. It is a fact that the entire German Social-Democratic Party (and the same holds for the French and other parties) does only that which pleases S&uumldekum or can be tolerated by S&uumldekum. Nothing else can be done legally. Anything honest and really socialist that takes place in the German Social-Democratic Party, is done in opposition to its centres, by circumventing its Executive and Central Organ, by violating organisational discipline, in a factional manner, on behalf of new and anonymous centres of a new party, as was the case, for instance, with the German Lefts' manifesto published in Berner Tagwacht on May 31 of this year.[127] As a matter of fact, a new party is growing up, gaining strength and being organised, a real workers' party, a genuinely revolutionary Social-Democratic Party, unlike the old and corrupt national-liberal party of Legien, S&uumldekum, Kautsky, Haase, Scheidemann and Co.* * What happened before the historic voting of August 4 [for war credits. --Ed.] is extremely characteristic. The official party has cast the cloak of bureaucratic hypocrisy over this event, saying that the majority decided and that all voted unanimously in favour. But this hypocrasy was exposed by Str&oumlbel who told the truth in the journal Die Internationale. The Social-Democratic members of the Reichstag split into two groups, each of whom came with an ultimatum, i.e., a dissentient decision, i.e., one signifying a split. One group, the opportunists, who were about thirty strong, decided to vote in favour, under all circumstances; the other and Left group numbering about fifteen, decided -- less resolutely -- to vote against. When the "Centre" or the "Marsh", who never take a firm stand, voted with the opportunists, the Lefts sustained a crushing defeat and -- submitted! Talk about the "unity" of the German Social-Democrats is sheer hypocrisy, which actually coversup the inevitable submission of the Lefts to ultimatums from the opportunists. It was, therefore, a profound historical truth that the opportunist "Monitor" blurted out in the conservative Preussische Jahrb&uumlcher[128] when he said it would be bad for the opportunists (i.e., the bourgeoisie ) if present-day Social-Democracy were to swing to the right -- because in that case the workers would desert it. The opportunists (and the bourgeoisie) need the party as it is today, a party combining the Right and the Left wings and officially represented by Kautsky, who will be able to reconcile everything in the world by means of smooth, "thoroughly Marxist" phrases. In word, socialism and the revolutionary spirit for the people, the masses, the workers; indeed, S&uumldekumism, adhering to the bourgeoisie in any grave crisis. We say: any crisis, because in any serious political strike, and not only in time of war, "feudalist" Germany like "free and parliamentary" Britain or France will immediately introduce martial law under one name or another. No one of sound mind and judgement can have any doubt about this. Hence logically follows the reply to the question raised above, viz., how is social-chauvinism to be combated? Social-chauvinism is an opportunism which has matured to such a degree, grown so strong and brazen during the long period of comparatively "peaceful" capitalism, so definite in its political ideology, and so closely associated with the bourgeoisie and the governments, that the existence of such a trend within the Social-Democratic workers' parties cannot be tolerated. Flimsy, thin-soled shoes may be good enough to walk in on the well-paved streets of a small provincial town, but heavy hob-nailed boots are needed for walking in the hills. In Europe socialism has emerged from a comparatively peaceful stage that is confined within narrow and national limits. With the outbreak of the war of 1914-15, it entered the stage of revolutionary action; there can be no doubt that the time has come for a complete break with opportunism, for its expulsion from the workers' parties. This definition of the tasks the new era of international development confronts socialism with does not, of course, immediately show how rapidly and in what definite forms the process of separation of the workers' revolutionary Social-Democratic parties from the petty-bourgeois opportunist parties will proceed in the various countries. It does, however, reveal the need clearly to realise that such a separation is inevitable, and that the entire policy of the workers' parties must be directed from this standpoint. The war of 1914-15 is such a great turn in history that the attitude towards opportunism cannot remain the same as it has been. What has happened cannot be erased. It is impossible to obliterate from the minds of the workers, or from the experience of the bourgeoisie, or from the political lessons of our epoch in general, the fact that, at a moment of crisis, the opportunists proved to be the nucleus of those elements within the workers' parties that deserted to the bourgeoisie. Opportunism -- to speak on a European scale -- was in its adolescent stage, as it were, before the war. With the outbreak of the war it grew to manhood and its "innocence" and youth cannot be restored. An entire social stratum, consisting of parliamentarians, journalists, labour officials, privileged office personnel, and certain strata of the proletariat, has sprung up and has become amalgamated with its own national bourgeoisie, which has proved fully capable of appreciating and "adapting" it. The course of history cannot be turned back or checked -- we can and must go fearlessly onward, from the preparatory legal working-class organisations, which are in the grip of opportunism, to revolutionary organisations that know how not to confine themselves to legality and are capable of safeguarding themselves against opportunist treachery, organisations of a proletariat that is beginning a "struggle for power", a struggle for the overthrow of the bourgeoisie. This, incidentally, proves how wrong are the views of those who befog both their own minds and those of the workers with the question as to what should he done with such outstanding authorities of the Second International as Guesde, Plekhanov, Kautsky, etc. In fact, no such question arises. If these persons fail to understand the new tasks, they will have to stand aside or remain as they are at present, in captivity to the opportunists. If these persons free themselves from "captivity" they are hardly likely to encounter political obstacles to their return to the camp of the revolutionaries. At all events, it is absurd to substitute the question of the role of individuals for the question of the struggle between trends and of the new period in the working-class movement. Legal mass organisations of the working class are perhaps the most important feature of the socialist parties in the epoch of the Second International. They were the strongest in the German Party, and it was here that the war of 1914-15 created a most acute crisis and made the issue a most pressing one. The initiation of revolutionary activities would obviously have led to the dissolution of these legal organisations by the police, and the old party -- from Legien to Kautsky inclusively -- sacrificed the revolutionary aims of the proletariat for the sake of preserving the present legal organisations. No matter how much this may be denied, it is a fact. The proletariat's right to revolution was sold for a mess of pottage -- organisations permitted by the present police law. Take the pamphlet by Karl Legien, leader of the German Social-Democratic trade unions, entitled Why Trade Union Officials Must Take a More Active Part in the Internal Life of the Party (Berlin, 1915). This is a paper read by the author to a gathering of trade union officials on January 27, 1915. In the course of this lecture Legien read -- and reproduced in his pamphlet -- a most interesting document that would not otherwise have been passed by the military censor. This document -- the so-called Notes for Speakers in the District of Niederbarnim (a suburb of Berlin) -- is an exposition of the views of the German Left-wing Social Democrats, of their protest against the Party. The revolutionary Social-Democrats, says the document, did not and could not foresee a certain factor, viz.: "That the whole of the organised power of the German Social-Democratic Party and the trade unions would take the side of the war government, and that the whole of this power would be used for the purpose of suppressing the revolutionary energy of the masses" (p. 34 of Legien's pamphlet). This is the absolute truth. Also true is the following statement contained in the same document: "The vote of the Social-Democratic group in the Reichstag on August 4 proved that a different attitude, even had it been deeply rooted in the masses, could not have asserted itself under the leadership of a tested party. It could have asserted itself only against the will of the leading party bodles, only by overcoming the resistance of the party and the trade unions" (ibid.). This is the absolute truth. "Had the Social-Democratic group in the Reichstag done its duty on August 4, the external form of organisation would probably have been destroyed, but the spirit would have remained, the spirit that animated the Party under the Anti-Socialist Law and helped it to overcome all difficulties" (ibid.). It is pointed out in Legien's pamphlet that the "leaders", brought together to listen to his lecture and styling themselves leading trade union officials, laughed when they heard this. The idea that it was possible and necessary to organise illegal revolutionary organisations at a moment of crisis (as was done under the Anti-Socialist Law) seemed ridiculous to them. Legien, that most faithful watchdog of the bourgeoisie, exclaimed, beating his breast: "This is an obviously anarchist idea: to wreck the organisation in order to bring about a solutlon of the problem by the masses. There is no doubt in my mind that this is an anarchist idea!" "Hear, hear!" came a chorus of exclamations (ibid., p. 37) from the lackeys of the bourgeoisie, who style themselves leaders of the Social-Democratic organisations of the working class. An edifying picture. People are so degraded and stultified by bourgeois legality that they cannot even conceive of the need for organisations of another kind, illegal organisations, for the purpose of guiding the revolutionary struggle. So low have people fallen that they imagine that legal unions existing with the permission of the police are a kind of ultima Thule -- as though the preservation of such unions as leading bodies is at all conceivable at a time of crisis! Here you have the living dialectic of opportunism: the mere growth of legal unions and the mere habit that stupid but conscientious philistines have of confining themselves to bookkeeping, have created a situation in which, during a crisis, these conscientious philistines have proved to be traitors and betrayers, who would smother the revolutionary energy of the masses. This is no chance occurrence. The building of a revolutionary organisation must be begun -- that is demanded by the new historical situation, by the epoch of proletarian revolutionary action -- but it can be begun only over the heads of the old leaders, the stranglers of revolutionary energy, over the heads of the old party, through its destruction. Of course, the counter-revolutionary philistines cry out "anarchism!", just as the opportunist Eduard David cried "anarchism" when he denounced Karl Liebknecht. In Germany, only those leaders seem to hava remained honest socialists whom the opportunists revile as anarchists. . . . Take the army of today. It is a good example of organisation. This organisation is good only because it is flexible and is able at the same time to give millions of people a single will. Today these millions are living in their homes in various parts of the country; tomorrow mobilisation is ordered, and they report for duty. Today they lie in the trenches, and this may go on for months; tomorrow they are led to the attack in another order. Today they perform miracles in sheltering from bullets and shrapnel; tomorrow they perform miracles in hand-to-hand-combat. Today their advance detachments lay minefields; tomorrow they advance scores of miles guided by airmen flying overhead. When, in the pursuit of a single aim and animated by a single will, millions alter the forms of their communication and their behaviour, change the place and the mode of their activities, change their tools and weapons in accordance with the changing conditions and the requirements of the struggle -- all this is genuine organisation. The same holds true for the working-class struggle against the bourgeoisie. Today there is no revolutionary situation, the conditions that cause unrest among the masses or heighten their activities do not exist; today you are given a ballot paper -- take it, learn to organise so as to use it as a weapon against your enemies, not as a means of getting cushy legislative jobs for men who cling to their parliamentary seats for fear of having to go to prison. Tomorrow your ballot paper is taken from you and you are given a rifle or a splendid and most up-to-date quick-firing gun -- take this weapon of death and destruction, pay no heed to the mawkish snivellers who are afraid of war; too much still remains in the world that must be destroyed with fire and sword for the emancipation of the working class; if anger and desperation grow among the masses, if a revolutionary situation arises, prepare to create new organisations and use these useful weapons of death and destruction against your own government and your own bourgeoisie. That is not easy, to be sure. It will demand arduous preparatory activities and heavy sacrifices. This is a new form of organisation and struggle that also has to be learnt, and knowledge is not acquired without errors and setbacks. This form of the class struggle stands in the same relation to participation in elections as an assault against a fortress stands in relation to manoeuvring, marches, or lying in the trenches. It is not so often that history places this form of struggle on the order of the day, but then its significance is felt for decades to come. Days on which such method of struggle can and must be employed are equal to scores of years of other historical epochs. Compare K. Kautsky and K. Legien. Kautsky writes: "As long as the party was small, every protest against war had propaganda value as an act of bravery. . . . the conduct of the Russian and Serbian comrades has met with general appreciation. The stronger a party becomes, the more are the propaganda considerations, in the motives of its decisions, interwoven with the calculation of practical consequences, the more difficult does it become to give due regard equally to both motives, and yet neither of them must be neglected. Therefore, the stronger we become, the more easily differences arise between us in every new and complex situation" (Internationalism and the War, p. 30). These arguments of Kautsky's differ from Legien's only in that they are hypocritical and cowardly. In substance, Kautsky supports and justifies the Legien's despicable renunciation of revolutionary activities, but he does so stealthily, without committing himself; he makes shift with hints, and confines himself to complimenting both Legien and the revolutionary behaviour of the Russians. We Russians are used to witnessing this kind of attitude towards revolutionaries only among the liberals; the latter are always ready to acknowledge the "courage" of the revolutionaries, but at the same time they will on no account renounce their ultra-opportunist tactics. Self-respecting revolutionaries will not accept Kautsky's "expressions of appreciation" and will indignantly reject such a presentation of the question. Were there no revolutionary situation, were it not obligatory to propagate revolutionary action, the conduct of the Russians and Serbians would be incorrect, and their tactics would be wrong. Let such knightly persons as Legien and Kautsky at least have the courage of their convictions; let them say this openly. If, however, the tactics of the Russian and Serbian socialists deserve "appreciation", then it is wrong and criminal to justify the contrary tactics of the "strong" parties, the German, the French, etc. By means of an intentionally vague expression -- "practical consequences" -- Kautsky has concealed the plain truth that the great and strong parties were frightened by the prospect of their organisations being dissolved, their funds sequestered and their leaders arrested by the government. This means that Kautsky justifies betrayal of socialism by pleading the unpleasant "practical consequences" that follow from revolutionary tactics. Is this not a prostitution of Marxism? "We would have been arrested," one of the Social-Democratic deputies who voted for the war credits on August is alleged to have declared at a workers' meeting in Berlin. The workers shouted in reply: "Well, what would have been bad about that?" If there was no other signal that would instil in the German and the French working masses revolutionary sentiments and the need to prepare for revolutionary action, the arrest of a member of parliament for a courageous speech would have been useful as a call for unity of the proletarians of the various countries in their revolutionary work. It is not easy to bring about such unity; all the more was it the duty of members of parliament, whose high office made their purview of the entire political scene so extensive, to take the initiative. Not only in wartime but positively in any acute political situation, to say nothing of periods of revolutionary mass action of any kind, the governments of even the freest bourgeois countries will threaten to dissolve the legal organisations, seize their funds, arrest their leaders, and threaten other "practical consequences" of the same kind. What are we to do then? Justify the opportunists on these grounds, as Kautsky does? But this would mean sanctifying the transformation of the Social-Democratic parties into national liberal-labour parties. There is only one conclusion a socialist can draw, namely, that pure legalism, the legalism-and-nothing-but-legalism of the "European" parties, is now obsolete and, as a result of the development of capitalism in the pre-imperialist stage, has become the foundation for a bourgeois labour policy. It must be augmented by the creation of an illegal basis, an illegal organisation, illegal Social-Democratic work, without, however, surrendering a single legal position. Experience will show how this is to be done, if only the desire to take this road exists, as well as a realisation that it is necessary. In 1912-14, the revolutionary Social-Democrats of Russia proved that this problem can be solved. Muranov, the workers' deputy in the Duma, who at the trial behaved better than the rest and was exiled to Siberia, clearly demonstrated that -- besides "ministeriable " parliamentarism (from Henderson, Sembat and Vandervelde down to S&uumldekum and Scheidemann, the latter two are also being completely "ministeriable", although they are not admitted further than the ante-room!) -- there can be illegal and revolutionary parliamentarism. Let the Kosovskys and Potresovs admire the "European" parliamentarism of the lackeys or accept it -- we shall not tire of telling the workers that such legalism, such Social-Democracy of the Legien, Kautsky, Scheidemann brand, deserves nothing but contempt. IX To sum up. The collapse of the Second International has been most strikingly expressed in the flagrant betrayal of their convictions and of the solemn Stuttgart and Basle resolutions by the majority of the official Social-Democratic parties of Europe. This collapse, however, which signifies the complete victory of opportunism, the transformation of the Social Democratic parties into national liberal-labour parties, is merely the result of the entire historical epoch of the Second International -- the close of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth. The objective conditions of this epoch -- transitional from the consummation of West European bourgeois and national revolutions to the beginning of socialist revolutions -- engendered and fostered opportunism. During this period we see a split in the working class and socialist movement in some European countries, which, in the main, was cleavage along the line of opportunism (Britain, Italy, Holland, Bulgaria and Russia); in other countries, we see a long and stubborn struggle of trends along the same line (Germany, France, Belgium, Sweden and Switzerland). The crisis created by the great war has torn away all coverings, swept away conventions, exposed an abscess that has long come to a head, and revealed opportunism in its true role of ally of the bourgeoisie. The complete organisational severance of this element from the workers' parties has become imperative. The epoch of imperialism cannot permit the existence, in a single party, of the revolutionary proletariat's vanguard and the semi-petty-bourgeois aristocracy of the working class, who enjoy morsels of the privileges of their "own" nation's "Great-Power" status. The old theory that opportunism is a "legitimate shade" in a single party that knows no "extremes" has now turned into a tremendous deception of the workers and a tremendous hindrance to the working-class movement. Undisguised opportunism, which immediately repels the working masses, is not so frightful and injurious as this theory of the golden mean, which uses Marxist catchwords to justify opportunist practice, and tries to prove, with a series of sophisms, that revolutionary action is premature, etc. Kautsky, the most outstanding spokesman of this theory, and also the leading authority in the Second International, has shown himself a consummate hypocrite and a past master in the art of prostituting Marxism. All members of the million-strong German party who are at all honest, class-conscious and revolutionary have turned away in indignation from an "authority" of this kind so ardently defended by the S&uumldekums and the Scheidemanns. The proletarian masses -- probably about nine-tenths of whose former leaders have gone over to the bourgeoisie -- have found themselves disunited and helpless amid a spate of chauvinism and under the pressure of martial law and the war censorship. But the ohjective war-created revolutionary situation, which is extending and developing, is inevitably engendering revolutionary sentiments; it is tempering and enlightening all the finest and most class-conscious prole- tarians. A sudden change in the mood of the masses is not only possible, but is becoming more and more probahle, a change similar to that which was to be seen in Russia early in 1905 in connection with the "Gaponade",[129] when, in the course of several months and sometimes of several weeks, there emerged from the backward proletarian masses an army of millions, which followed the proletariat's revolutionary vanguard. We cannot tell whether a powerful revolutionary movement will develop immediately after this war, or during it, etc., but at all events, it is only work in this direction that deserves the name of socialist work. The slogan of a civil war is the one that summarises and directs this work, and helps unite and consolidate those who wish to aid the revolutionary struggle of the proletariat against its own government and its own bourgeoisie. In Russia, the complete severance of the revolutionary Social-Democratic proletarian elements from the petty-bourgeois opportunist elements has been prepared by the entire history of the working-class movement. Those who disregard that history, and, by declaiming against "factionalism", make themselves incapable of understanding the real process of the formation of a proletarian party in Russia, which has developed in the course of many years of struggle against various varieties of opportunism, are rendering that movement the worst possible service. Of all the "Great" Powers engaged in the present war, Russia is the only one that recently experienced a revolution. The bourgeois content of that revolution, in which the proletariat nevertheless played a decisive part, could not but cause a split between the bourgeois and proletarian trends in the working-class movement. In the approximately twenty years (1894-1914) that Russian Social-Democracy has existed as an organisation linked with the mass working-class movement (and not only as an ideological trend, as in 1883-94), there was a struggle between the proletarian-revolutionary trends and the petty-bourgeois, opportunist trends. The Economism[130] of 1894 1902 was undoubtedly a trend of the latter kind. A number of its arguments and ideological features -- the "Struvist distortion of Marxism, references to the "masses' in order to justify opportunism, and the like -- bear a striking resemblance to the present vulgarised Marxism of Kautsky, Cunow, Plekhanov, etc. It would be a very grateful task to remind the present generation of Social-Democrats of the old Rabochaya Mysl[131] and Rabocheye Dyelo, as[132] a parallel to the Kautsky of today. The "Menshevism" of the next period (1903-08) was the direct successor, both ideological and organisational, to Economism. During the Russian revolution, it pursued tactics that objectively meant the dependence of the proletariat upon the liberal bourgeoisie, and expressed petty-bourgeois, opportunist trends. When, in the ensuing period (1908-14), the mainstream of the Menshevik trend produced liquidationism, the class significance of that trend became so apparent that the best representatives of Menshevism were continually protesting against the policy of Nasha Zarya group. It is that very group -- the on]y one which, during the past five or six years, has conducted systematic work among the masses in opposition to the revolutionary Marxist party of the working class -- that has proved to be social-chauvinist in the war of 1914-15! And this in a country where absolutism still exists, the bourgeois revolution is far from consummated, and forty-three per cent of the population oppresses a majority consisting of non-Russian nations. The "European" type of development, in which certain strata of the petty bourgeoisie, especially the intelligentsia and an insignificant section of the labour aristocracy can share in the "Great-Power" privileges of their "own" nation, could not but have its Russian counterpart. All their history has prepared the working class and the workers' Social-Democratic Party of Russia for "internationalist" tactics, i.e., such that are truly revolutionary and consistently revolutionary. P.S. This article had already been set when a manifesto appeared in the press, jointly issued by Kautsky, Haase and Bernstein, who, seeing that the masses are swinging to the left, are therefore now prepared to "make peace" with the Left wing -- naturally, at the price of maintaining "peace" with the S&uumldekums. Verily, M&aumldchen f&uumlr alle ! NOTES [118] The Chemnitz Congress of the German Social-Democratic Party, held on September 15-21, 1912, passed a resotution "On Imperialism", which said that the imperialist states were pursuing a policy of shameless plunder and annexations" and called upon the party "to fight imperialism with greater energy". During World War I leaders of the Second International treacherously violated the decisions of the international socialist congresses, in particular, those adopted in Chemnitz. [p.208] [119] On Struvism, see this volume, pp. 221-23. [p.213] [120] Zhizn (Life ) -- a newspaper of the Socialist-Revolutionary Party, published between March 1915 and January 1916, first in Paris and later in Geneva taking the place of newspaper Mysl which was closed down in 1915. [p.221] [121] The man in a muffler -- a character in Chekhov's story of the same name, typifying a narrow-minded philistine who is afraid of innovations and any initiative. [p.227] [122] The quotation is from Goethe. [p.231] [123] The Bulygin Duma -- a consultative Duma, the laws for the elections and convocation of which were drafted by a commission headed by A. G. Bulygin, Minister of the Interior, and published on August 6 (19),1905. The Bolsheviks boycotted the Bulygin Duma, and the government failed to convene it. The Duma was swept away by the October general political strike. [p.233] [124] Le Socialisme -- a journal edited and published in Paris between 1907 and June 1914 by the French socialist Jules Guesde. [p.239] [125] Pravdism, i.e., Bolshevism (from the name of the Bolshevik newspaper Pravda ). [p.245] [126] Novo Vreme (New Times ) -- a scientific and theoretical journal of the revolutionary wing of the Bulgarian Social-Democratic Party (Tesnyaki), founded by Dimitr Blagoyev in 1897 in Plovdiv and later published in Sofia. In 1903 the journal became the organ of the Bulgarian Workers' Social-Democratic Party (Tesnyaki ). Its publication ceased in February 1916 but was resumed in 1919. The editor was Dimitr Blagoyev, its contributors including Georgiyev, Kirkov, Kabakchiev, Kolarov and Petrov. In 1923 the journal was suppressed by the Bulgarian reactionary government. Since 1947 Novo Vreme -- the monthly theoretical organ of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party. [p.246] [127] This refers to the manifesto "The Chief Enemy Is in Our Own Country", written by Karl Liebknecht. [p.248] [128] Preussische Jahrb&uumlcher -- a monthly of a conservative trend, organ of the German capitalists and landownors, published in Berlin from 1858 to 1935. [p.249] [129] Gaponade -- derived from the name of Gapon, a priest of the Orthodox Church. On the eve of the first Russian revolution he founded the Assembly of Russian Factory Workers, with the aim of distracting the workers from the revolutionary struggle. In so doing he acted on instructions from the tsarist secret police. On January 9, 1905, Gapon, taking advantage of the growing unrest, provoked the workers into demonstrating before the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg for the purpose of presenting a petition to the tsar. By order of Nicholas II, troops fired at the unarmed demonstrators. This act destroyed the na&iumlve faith of workers throughout the country in the tsar, and served as the starting-point of the first Russian revolution. The political consciousness of the proletariat was aroused and a wave of protest strikes swept Russia. [p.258] [130] On Economism, see this volume, pp. 331-32. [p.258] [131] Rabochaya Mysl (Workers' Thought ) -- an Economists' paper, published from 1897 to 1902. In his Iskra articles and his book What Is To Be Done? Lenin criticised Rabochaya Mysl views as a Russian variety of international opportunism. [p.259] [132] Rabocheye Dyelo (The Workers' Cause ) -- a journal of the Economists, organ of the Union of Russian Social-Democrats Abroad. It was published at irregular intervals in Geneva from 1899 to 1902 Lenin criticised the views voiced by the Rabocheye Dyelo group, in a number of articles published in Iskra and in his book What Is To Be Done? [p.259]	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1501
__label__cc	0.518844	0.481156	Heinz 57 Center McKnight purchased this iconic Pittsburgh landmark, the former Gimbel’s Brothers department store, in 1999 for approximately $15,000,000. At the time, the majority of the building’s space had been unoccupied for over 15 years and was in terrible disrepair. In order to create value, this property needed to be entirely repositioned. McKnight’s concept was to substantially transform the former department store into a first-class office building. To accomplish this, the partnership invested in a total renovation; new mechanicals were added, the exquisite exterior terra-cotta was repaired to be consistent with historic guidelines, and an 8-story atrium was built to bring light to dark interior floor plates which were over an acre in size. In 2001 Heinz leased 310,000 sq. ft. in order to relocate their North American headquarters into the building, at which time the building was renamed the Heinz 57 Center. McKnight has continued to attract first class tenants to the building, and this highly successful building remains McKnight Realty Partner’s flagship property. NAIOP – “The Outstanding Building of the Year” Award: Heinz 57 Center Location: 339 6th Avenue Purchased: March 1999 Area: 800,000 sf. Leasing Information: McKnight Realty Partners	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1502
__label__cc	0.530063	0.469937	monoblogue Originally from the 419, I've done news and views from Delmarva since 2005. SOTW tracker SotW HoF Tag: Jeff Sessions It’s funny that this Election Day, November 6, came on the day my website renews for another year. I pay my money to midPhase and they keep my website tucked in some crevice on a server farm. Every so often the space I need gets incrementally larger as I make yet another post. It seemed like this state election cycle was one where I grabbed quite a bit more space despite the fact I resigned from most of my political activity as well as daily updating less than halfway through it. October, however, was the busiest month I’ve had since November of 2016. But after I cleared the 2018 election widget off my sidebar, I found I had a lot of thoughts about how it transpired. This may be a two-part series or it may not – we’ll see as I go along I guess. The whole “blue wave” phenomenon for 2018 began at the tail end of last year when Virginia voters came within (literally) one vote of wiping out the 32-seat GOP majority in the Virginia House of Delegates and gathered more steam when the Washington Post giftwrapped an Alabama Senate seat for Democrat Doug Jones by printing scurrilous and sensational accusations about Republican candidate Judge Roy Moore at the eleventh hour. (Ironically, as I write this the news of the resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who created that opening by leaving the Senate, is still fresh.) Flush with success and assuming that President Trump couldn’t withstand the 90-plus percent of negative coverage he’s received from the media, there were thoughts of Democrats having a wave election on the order of the TEA Party one in 2010 – in fact, it was an even better opportunity because the Senate majority at the time in 2010 was 59-41 Democrat but the 2018 Senate was only 51-49 GOP. Granted, the Democrats had a lot of seats to defend but in those heady days visions of impeachment danced in the heads of the progressives. As it has turned out, though, the “blue wave” ran into a break wall in the Senate, and gains in the House appear to be only on par with the “average” gains made by the opposition party in the first midterm after a President is elected. It should be pointed out, though, that in the last similar situation – that being George W. Bush and the 2002 midterm – the GOP gained seats in both House (8) and Senate (2). However, despite gaining the House majority for the first time since the TEA Party wave in 2010, the Democrats still haven’t fully recovered that majority, which was once 258 members. (It looks like they will be in the range of 227 or 228.) Out of a 63-seat loss eight years ago, they’ve only gained back about half – sure, it’s good enough to give them back power but it’s a pretty thin majority from which to work. And you may find there are enough “Blue Dog” Democrats that Republicans may not be totally stymied. In fact, there are analysts out there who think this is the ideal situation for President Trump because he needs an enemy and now the House will be it – the Senate is the more important driver for him because that’s where the judicial selections are confirmed and the GOP still has the majority there. While a GOP trifecta was good, just remember that the TEA Party had for several years the excuse of only controlling 1/2 of 1/3 of the government – now the so-called “progressives” will get to endure that argument for another couple years, anyway. But let’s talk about the two federal races the Eastern Shore was directly involved in: Pending absentees/provisionals, the only suspense for Andy Harris is whether he will stay north of 60 percent – he’s at 60.5%, beating Democrat Jessie Colvin‘s 37.6% and the 1.9% for Libertarian Jenica Martin. On the other hand, the 31% for Tony Campbell was nowhere near enough to beat Ben Cardin‘s 64.1%. Neal Simon had 3.7% and Libertarian Arvin Vohra is at 1.0%. The latter figure is interesting because the Libertarians need 1% in a statewide race to maintain ballot access and by my count they are 27 votes short of that mark. (Gubernatorial candidate Shawn Quinn had well less than 1 percent.) Editor’s note: Bob Johnston of the Maryland Libertarian Party updates the situation (and corrects me) in the comments. While I have often dismissed the whole #flipthefirst phenomenon as a pipe dream given the district went about 2-to-1 for Trump, there was always that slim chance. I think the national Democrats figured Colvin was their best candidate given his military background and relatively tame, left-of-center viewpoints. But Jesse didn’t sell everyone: I noticed the scuttlebutt and grousing from “progressives” who thought Colvin was a PINO. Had runner-up Allison Galbraith won the primary, I think she may have had the better chance at success in that she may have energized progressives and women who would have wanted a liberal woman in Congress. It would have also been a more contentious race, as Colvin’s attempts at stirring controversy on Harris were sadly lacking because he had his own ethics questions. It still would have shut the Eastern Shore out (aside from Martin, who hails from Cecil County) but the race would have been more on the map nationally. Yet Harris didn’t get the same percentage he normally got in a Congressional contest and it was all because of “new” voters: Harris should finish about 5,000 votes ahead of his 2014 total but Colvin will end up close to 40,000 votes ahead of 2014 Democrat candidate Bill Tilghman. It will be the best Democrat performance since former Congressman Frank Kratovil drew 120,400 votes in 2010 (but lost to Harris by 12 points.) But for the Libertarians, this has to be a disappointment – Jenica Martin getting less than 2 percent ends a trend where the Libertarians had edged up over 4% in the race. (By the way, executive decision: this will be a two-parter because I’m just getting warmed up.) Now about the Senate race. I did a post awhile back about how many people were maxing out donations to Neal Simon. All told, according to the last FEC report Simon raised just over $850,000 from other people and loaned himself nearly a million dollars – all to get 3.7% of the vote. Three point seven freaking percent! We have Libertarians in our district that did that well and spent next to nothing. The lady from the Green Party did almost that good in 2016. As has often been the case with third party and independent campaigns, they poll well (Simon recently touted an 18% share of the vote) but people don’t want to feel like they’ve thrown their vote away. My educated guess – since these same polls were claiming Cardin was under 50% – is that Simon was initially attracting Democrats to his campaign but they were persuaded to return home and voted for Ben Cardin. If Simon had stayed at 18% Cardin would have been right around 50% so I think my theory is sound. My hope in this race – and granted, it was a very long shot – is that Tony Campbell could get into the upper 30’s percentage-wise but sneak away with the win when Simon drew about 25% and left Cardin in the mid-30’s. I knew there was no way Tony would get 50% but at least the third guy would be to our advantage for once. But not only was the third guy a cipher in the race, he wasn’t even close to Rob Sobhani’s 2012 numbers (of course. Simon didn’t spend $7 million either.) But Ben Cardin didn’t do significantly better than any other Democrat U.S. Senate candidate in the last eight years – they seem to have that low-60’s lane covered. To me, this race was almost a carbon copy of 2012 – a Republican candidate running as an unabashed conservative has to deal with a third person sucking oxygen from the race. And barring something untoward happening to Senator Cardin (or Chris Van Hollen) we won’t have a Senate election until 2022 since Van Hollen was just elected in 2016, so who knows if Tony will want a repeat in four years. We haven’t had any GOP Senate nominee take a second bite of the apple in decades, since Alan Keyes in 1988-92. What did Tony in, though, wasn’t his stance on the issues. It was lack of money and a lack of support from both the state GOP and the top of its ticket. Now I thought I had seen and liked a post earlier by Tony where he tersely let his disappointment in the MDGOP be known, but perhaps he thought better of it and took it down. They won’t be so lucky from me. I was very pleased and proud to cast my votes for Republicans for Congress for the first time in awhile. You see, the last two times a Libertarian ran for Congress I voted for him (of course, one of those was my friend Muir Boda.) I voted for Andy in 2010 and 2014. As for Senate, I had to hold my nose to varying degrees to vote for Kathy Szeliga in 2016 and Eric Wargotz in 2010, but happily supported Dan Bongino in 2012. (Michael Steele in 2006 I was ambivalent about.) And the Maryland GOP was primed for success for the first time in forever because they actually had a little bit of money and a very popular governor. Unfortunately, Tony’s race was the top race ignored by Larry Hogan, and his rumored betrayal of Campbell by voting for Neal Simon was the straw that broke the camel’s back with me. Tony Campbell worked his ass off to win what was already an uphill battle thanks to an state electorate which thinks Republicans are icky because of Donald Trump, so a little love from the governor may have made some inroads into that contest. But I went to see Larry Hogan last month when he showed up here, and while it was a good visit for Mary Beth Carozza (and may have helped her push over the top) it suffered from tunnel vision – Hogan didn’t mention his other statewide candidates such as Campbell and Craig Wolf, another great candidate Larry left twisting in the wind. (I knew he wouldn’t mention Angie Phukan given his relationship with the guy she was running against, Peter Franchot.) I want to finish my thought on Hogan in the next piece, so let me return to Campbell. I won’t say that Tony was the greatest candidate – I wish he had done better in the lone Senate debate, which really could have scored some points with a stronger performance – but he would have been a lightyears improvement over the guy we’re now saddled with for years 53 to 58 of sucking on the public teat as an elected official, Ben Cardin. So while I was harboring no illusions that Tony Campbell had anything more than a sliver of hope for winning, the way he lost was my first big disappointment of the election. In the second part I’ll write in the next couple days or so, I’ll work my way through state and local races. Author MichaelPosted on November 8, 2018 November 8, 2018 Categories Campaign 2018, Delmarva items, Maryland Politics, National politics, Politics, State of ConservatismTags Allison Galbraith, Andy Harris, Angie Phukan, Arvin Vohra, Ben Cardin, Campaign 2018, Chris Van Hollen, Dan Bongino, Donald Trump, Doug Jones, Eric Wargotz, George W. Bush, Jeff Sessions, Jenica Martin, Jesse Colvin, Kathy Szeliga, Larry Hogan, Maryland GOP, Michael Steele, Neal Simon, Peter Franchot, Rob Sobhani, Roy Moore, Tony Campbell4 Comments on The end of an era Can we trust our administration on trade? By Cathy Keim The question is worth asking: Do you really want Congress to give this administration fast track on a secret trade deal? I received a phone call earlier this week from Grover Norquist’s organization, Americans for Tax Reform, urging me to tell my congressman that I want him to vote for the trade promotion authority (TPA) because it will be good for America and bring jobs. I let them connect me to Congressman Harris’ office and then told the staffer that I was adamantly opposed to TPA. I found it very interesting that Grover Norquist would be pushing this legislation. What does it have to do with tax reform? At his website he has an op-ed posted that paints a rosy picture of all the advantages of trade. While I agree that trade is important, I find myself wondering what is behind his support? He didn’t mention taxes at all. Norquist has a record of pushing immigration reform, saying that people are an asset, not a liability. I do not see people as a liability, but I can see that allowing millions of illegal immigrants into our work force would displace American workers. Ask yourself why should a citizen support giving this president more authority to expedite an enormous piece of legislation, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), that is so secret that only people with security clearances are allowed to read it. It is kept under lock and key. The representatives can go in to read it, but they cannot take any notes out. This sounds like something that we have to pass to find out what is in it! That has worked out well for us previously, hasn’t it? Even more mind-boggling is that this is a “living” agreement. It can be changed in the future, but the changes would not come before Congress. You have to trust your president a lot to give away all Congressional oversight. Not only that, but the other countries in this enormous agreement could decide to admit another country to the agreement or to change the rules, but once again, Congress would have no opportunity to block any of these future changes once they pass TPA. Congress would have a chance to review the deal, but their hands would be tied by not being able to amend it, they would have a very short time to discuss it, and it would only require 51 votes in the Senate to pass rather than the normal 60. The lack of transparency and mistrust of our leaders is enough to make me skeptical of increased executive authority. But it gets better. Senator Jeff Sessions, who chairs a senate immigration panel, issued an alert which begins: Congress has the responsibility to ensure that any international trade agreement entered into by the United States must serve the national interest, not merely the interests of those crafting the proposal in secret. It must improve the quality of life, the earnings, and the per-capita wealth of everyday working Americans. The sustained long-term loss of middle class jobs and incomes should compel all lawmakers to apply added scrutiny to a “fast-track” procedure wherein Congress would yield its legislative powers and allow the White House to implement one of largest global financial agreements in our history—comprising at least 12 nations and nearly 40 percent of the world’s GDP. The request for fast-track also comes at a time when the Administration has established a recurring pattern of sidestepping the law, the Congress, and the Constitution in order to repeal sovereign protections for U.S. workers in deference to favored financial and political allies. Then he lists five problems with the current legislation, which subsequently did pass the Senate and is now before the House. Consolidation Of Power In The Executive Branch. Increased Trade Deficits. Ceding Sovereign Authority To International Powers. Currency Manipulation. Immigration Increases. Please read his alert for all the details, but lets just look at the immigration issue since Michael touched on it Monday. Immigration is bound to be a big topic in the upcoming presidential election. If TPA and TPP pass, some objectors have said that it would allow free movement of workers amongst the nations in the agreement just as workers are allowed to move around the EU. That would mean that the USA would not be able to refuse to let workers into our country. Senator Sessions added in a later release that: Fast-track includes negotiating objectives to remove barriers to services that could easily be used by the Administration to justify the expansion of foreign worker programs. There is also an entire chapter on “Temporary Entry” in TPP, which could be used to facilitate the admission of more temporary foreign workers into the United States. Even if immigration or temporary entry prohibitions were included in fast track, the negotiating objectives laid out by fast track are not binding on the Administration. If any future trade deal, TPP or otherwise, contains language that paves the way for more foreign workers, members will be powerless to strike the offending provision. Additionally, the “living agreement” provision allows for subsequent amendments to the trade agreement after its initial implementation, creating an altogether new avenue for changes to foreign worker programs. Finally, the President has refused to foreclose the possibility of using executive actions or side agreements to facilitate foreign worker expansions, as he did with South Korea as part of the recent South Korean trade deal. In short, fast-track creates broad new avenues for the White House to bring in more foreign workers – whether in the light of day, or behind closed doors no one can open – while giving up for six years the meaningful ability of Congress to do anything about it. Immigration is bound to be a big topic in the upcoming presidential election. The lawsuit brought by 26 states against the executive overreach on immigration has slowed things down enough to buy some time to debate this issue during the presidential campaign season. Immigration and Common Core need to be brought up at every chance so that we can see where the candidates really stand on these issues. We need to push hard to get the truth out of the candidates and to convince them that we will hold them accountable should we decide to put them in office. Between illegal immigration, the refugee resettlement programs which bring in 70,000 people a year from some of the most vocal enemies of our country, and work visas that are hard to track to actually know how many are here, we need to take a breather on immigration. I would welcome the candidate that would say we need time to assimilate those immigrants that are legally here, to build a fence to stop the madness on our southern border, and to screen any potential refugees to see if they are jihadists posing as refugees to gain access to America. Let’s do our best to find that candidate and then to get him or her elected! In the meantime, call your congressman and tell them to vote NO on TPA. Author MichaelPosted on June 3, 2015 December 27, 2015 Categories Campaign 2016, Campaign 2016 - President, Cathy Keim, National politics, Politics, State of ConservatismTags 114th Congress, Americans for Tax Reform, Andy Harris, Cathy Keim, Congress, Grover Norquist, illegal immigration, Jeff Sessions, Trade Promotion Authority, Trans-Pacific Partnership3 Comments on Can we trust our administration on trade? 2019-20 monoblogue Accountability Project Here is the 2019-20 session edition for Delaware. 2019-20 Accountability Project Here are the first two Delaware editions. With the 2018 election over, the Maryland edition is now retired. 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__label__wiki	0.944317	0.944317	Super changes to give confidence: Morrison Colin Brinsden, AAP Economics Correspondent Scott Morrison believes the Turnbull government’s suite of superannuation changes will provide greater confidence for Australians to invest for their retirement. The treasurer introduced his superannuation package to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, having indicated earlier he hopes it will be passed in the final sitting weeks of this year, even if the Senate wants to scrutinise the legislation through an inquiry. Among the key elements of the package, non-concessional super contributions will be limited to $100,000 per year from July 1, 2017 compared to $180,000 presently, but it allows for catch-up contributions, such as in the case of women returning to work after having a baby. However, individuals with a super balance of more than $1.6 million will no longer be eligible to make after-tax contributions. Mr Morrison said these measures would improve the fairness, sustainability, flexibility and integrity of the super system. “This will make it possible for Australians to manage their superannuation and plan for their retirement with confidence,” he told parliament. He says as the population ages, it is not sustainable to have ever-increasing earnings generated from very high superannuation balances being completely tax free. The government also wants to clearly define the objective of superannuation into law – that is, to provide income in retirement to substitute or supplement the age pension. “This is the first time we’ve had such definite recourse to what the purpose of the superannuation system is,” Mr Morrison said. The government took the super package to the election, which at that stage included a controversial $500,000 lifetime non-concessional cap on fund balances back to 2007. But in September it bowed to internal pressure and instead limited after-tax contributions to $100,000 per year. Earlier, Mr Morrison resumed his attack on Labor for what he has described as its “secret” super agenda, because it wants to reduce the cap to $75,000, saving the budget a further $1.4 billion over the next four years and $19 billion over a decade. Responding to Mr Morrison’s accusations of lying to the electorate over super, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said it was the government that was breaking its promises. “Remember their iron-clad commitment they were not going to change their superannuation laws? Every day is a new policy out of this mob in terms of the superannuation,” Mr Shorten told reporters in Canberra.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1507
__label__wiki	0.679408	0.679408	Where are all the women economists? FCA Insights (Financial Credit Authority) The face of economics looks male-dominated. It’s time to shift gender norms so that more girls take the subject. Interview with FCA Chief Economist, Mary Starks. Insight: What attracted you to pursue a career in economics? Did you have any female role models? Mary Starks: I like to understand how the world works, what makes things tick, and I enjoy problem-solving – economics is a good field for that. More prosaically, my undergraduate degree was in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, and of the three, economics seemed most likely to pay the rent. One of my role models is Amelia Fletcher, who was Chief Economist at the Office of Fair Trading when I worked there, and is now Professor of Competition Policy at University of East Anglia and on the boards of the FCA and Competition and Markets Authority. Amelia stood out as a chief economist for being female, young, and a rock star (literally not metaphorically). I learned plenty from her about applying economics to public policy problems, but also plenty about how to present yourself credibly and authentically when you don’t obviously fit the mould. And there are lots of other impressive female economists in public life – it’s not 50% of well-known economists, I grant you, but there’s no shortage of role models. For example, Minouche Shafik, Sharon White, Stephanie Flanders, Dambisa Moyo, Kate Barker, Diane Coyle and many others. And over the pond, Janet Yellen, Carmen Reinhart, Cristina Romer. I could go on. Christine Lagarde unfortunately is a lawyer. But according to Wikipedia, Margrethe Vestager has an economics degree. And yet, I believe the Nobel prize in economics has only once been awarded to a woman (Elinor Ostrom, 2009) – that’s worse than physics. The face the discipline presents to the world – it looks male-dominated, and some girls are bound to feel it’s not for them. And that’s a crying shame. Insight: Around 15.5% of UK academic economists in permanent posts are women and only 26% of students. Why do you think women are under-represented in economics? Mary Starks: Economics teaching has become very maths-heavy in recent decades, which I guess is a part of it. Obviously maths has its own issues with gender balance: the proportion of girls to boys taking further maths A-Level is about 30:70. There’s also the face the discipline presents to the world – it looks male-dominated, and some girls are bound to feel it’s not for them. And that’s a crying shame. Insight: What can schools, universities and employers do to encourage more women into studying economics? Mary Starks: There’s a growing school of thought – see for example CORE economics, or the Post-Crash Economics Society – that economics should be less maths-based, and that history, politics, psychology, anthropology and ethics should be more prominent in economics teaching. I think there’s a lot in that. And those disciplines are less skewed in terms of gender mix. So that would help. Insight: Have you noticed any difference in the way that female and male economists approach economic problems? Mary Starks: No I haven’t. I know there are studies that have detected subtle differences across samples, but I don’t see it day-to-day. Of course, there are huge differences between how different people approach economic problems, and diversity of approach and thought are crucial for problem-solving. But gender diversity is only one aspect of that, and not necessarily the most important – compared to, say, diversity in experience or personality type. Whether or not there are differences between how men and women work, there are differences in how they are perceived – by women as well as men. The Heidi/Howard study described in Lean In makes for depressing reading, suggesting as it does that women have a hard time being both successful and likeable. [The study involved presenting a case study based on real-life entrepreneur Heidi Roizen to two groups of business school students. For one group, the name Heidi was changed to Howard. The students rated Heidi and Howard as equally competent, but Howard came across as more ‘the type of person you would want to hire or work for’. Other research shows similar results: success and likeability are positively correlated for men, and negatively correlated for women. Sheryl Sandberg argues that women succeeding in a man’s world violate gender norms. So we have to shift those norms. COO of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg argues that women succeeding in a man’s world violate gender norms. So we have to shift those norms. And that’s going to be harder in fields where women are under-represented, like economics. So – my goal is for people to think I am completely normal! Insight: Last year, American student Alice Wu published a study that made headlines – revealing that the language used to describe female economists was frequently derogatory. Is this a pattern of behaviour that you have come across or are aware of elsewhere in the economics profession? Mary Starks: I haven’t encountered that kind of thing – but I have been lucky to work in supportive enviroments. The FCA takes diversity and inclusion, and more generally being a good workplace, very seriously. But I know others have had different experiences. This article appeared first on FCA Insights Categories: Business, Investment	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1508
__label__cc	0.553374	0.446626	[NEW THEORY ON PRACTICE] HOW TO EFFECTIVELY CONNECT POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND RURAL REVITALIZATION IN THE NEW DEVELOPMENT STAGE Journal : Guangming Daily (Chinese) Date : 23/12/2020 Author : Don Renwu Page No. : NA URL : NA In order to further study, publicize and implement Xi Jinping’s new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, promote the use of the party’s innovative theories to arm the mind, guide practice, and promote work, and to better transform system advantages into governance efficiency, the Central Cyberspace Administration and Guangming Daily have jointly Organize the “New Theory of Practice” online theory dissemination column, and successively launch a series of theoretical manuscripts and new media works on Guangming.com to analyze the internal logic between theory and practice, so stay tuned. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that poverty alleviation is not the end, but the starting point for a new life and new struggle. It is necessary to continue to promote the effective connection of comprehensive poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, promote the smooth transformation of poverty reduction strategies and work systems, integrate into the rural revitalization strategy, and establish a system and mechanism that combines long-term and short-term measures and treats both symptoms and root causes. In the “Proposal of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Formulating the Fourteenth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-term Goals for 2035” adopted by the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, it once again emphasized and put forward “to achieve consolidation and expansion of poverty alleviation. Achievements are effectively connected with rural revitalization. The plan has laid out the major policies for effectively linking poverty alleviation and rural revitalization during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. A protective net has been built to prevent the poor from returning to poverty, and this is a new development stage for the 14th Five-Year Plan. The two major strategies of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization are effectively connected to build a foundation. Why the two strategies of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization should be effectively connected General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the issue of agricultural and rural peasants is a fundamental issue related to the national economy and people’s livelihood, and that solving the “three rural” issues must always be the top priority of the party’s work…………..The need to solve the “three rural” issues. Agriculture, rural areas, and farmers have always been a permanent topic for a large agricultural country like China. China still has nearly 600 million people living in rural areas, and the poor are mainly concentrated in rural areas. The productivity is lagging, the ecological environment is deteriorating, governance efficiency is low, and the population is excessive , Problems of the aged still exist. The urbanization rate in China has soared from 29% in 1995 to 60.60% in 2019, while the rural population has dropped from 860 million in 1995 to 550 million in 2019. A full 300 million people have left the countryside, and the rural population is declining. The villages that have lost the support of young and middle-aged people are left with only the elderly who are unwilling to leave, women who cannot bear to leave, and children who cannot leave. The countryside is occupied by “left-behind elderly”, “left-behind women” and “left-behind children”. Realizing the effective convergence of the two strategies of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization has become a need to effectively solve the “three rural” issues. To achieve the “two centenary” goals and realize the common prosperity of all people. The purpose of the Communist Party of China is to serve the people wholeheartedly. Its original intention and mission are to seek happiness for the Chinese people and to seek rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. As early as 1979, Deng Xiaoping formulated the “three-step” strategic deployment and the development path of “let some people get rich first and finally achieve common prosperity”. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has further refined the “three-step” strategic deployment, strengthened the “two centenary” strategic arrangements, and made it clear that it will be fully completed by 2020. The goal of “a well-off society” is that “the key to a well-off life is not a well-off society, but it depends on the villagers”. Poverty alleviation has eliminated absolute poverty, but there is still a long way to go. Realizing the effective connection between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization is an effective measure to enable nearly 600 million farmers to lead the way to prosperity. Targeted poverty alleviation and rural revitalization correspond to different time periods, different focii and different mechanisms, but the fundamental goals of the two are the same, that is, to achieve the “two centenary” goals and promote the modernization of rural agricultural farmers. Only when the two are organically connected can we continue to consolidate the results of poverty alleviation and achieve common prosperity for all people. The basis for the effective connection of the two strategies of “poverty alleviation” and “village revitalization” For a major shift from emergency policy orientation to long-term policy design, the most urgent task is to find the commonalities and differences between the two, and to achieve an effective connection between the two ………. First, the goals of the two are the same. …… Second, the content of the two is in harmony. ……. For example, the development of advantageous industries in rural areas is not only an objective requirement for industrial poverty alleviation, but also an inevitable choice for industrial prosperity. ……… promoting the integrated development of rural primary, secondary and tertiary industries through the development of a chain of agricultural product processing industries, so that farmers can enjoy the benefits of value-addition. The implementation of relocation for poverty alleviation is an effective means to solve the problem of “one side of water and soil cannot support one person”. It is also an important form of conforming to the law of village development, promoting rural construction by classification, and coordinating the settlement of villagers’ livelihoods, infrastructure construction and ecological environmental protection……….. Finally, the two mechanisms promote each other. The implementation of the two major strategies of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization must rely on the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China and the system and mechanism of the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. The key to the success of poverty alleviation lies in the party’s leadership and institutional innovation. ….. ………. There are many differences between the two, mainly in: First, the priorities of the two are different from the top-level design. Poverty alleviation is the bottom line task of building a well-off society in an all-round way and the priority task of implementing the rural revitalization strategy. It has the characteristics of urgency, priority, and stage. To win the battle against poverty, we must adhere to the current poverty alleviation standards and, in accordance with the set time, target the goal of building a well-off society in all respects, and complete it without compromise. The rural revitalization strategy is written into the party constitution as one of the seven strategies. It is a top-level design for coordinating the resolution of the “three rural” issues on the basis of grasping the law of the evolution of the relationship between workers and farmers in urban and rural areas. In the top-level design of rural revitalization, we must highlight key points and concentrate efforts to ensure that priority tasks are completed first. Second, the two standards are different. The time for poverty alleviation is to reach 2020, and the standard is to “stabilize the realization that the rural poor have no worries about food and clothing, compulsory education, basic medical care, and housing security; the growth rate of per capita disposable income of farmers in poor areas is higher than the national average. Indicators in the main areas of basic public services are close to the national average.” The strategy of rural revitalization focuses on the second centenary goal, which is to comprehensively build a modern and powerful socialist country. The standard is to completely change the face of poverty and backwardness in rural areas for thousands of years, and achieve comprehensive agricultural upgrades, comprehensive rural progress, and comprehensive development of farmers. Third, the two targets are different. The target of the poverty alleviation strategy is the specific group of the rural poor under the current standards, focusing on the poor households that have been filed and registered, and focusing on the specific area of poverty. The target groups for poverty alleviation are established, clear, and strict standards. Poverty alleviation policies have strict implementation boundaries between poor households and non-poor households, poor villages and non-poor villages, poor counties and non-poor counties. Rural revitalization emphasizes the promotion of comprehensive revitalization through inclusive support, benefiting more than one billion people, covering urban and rural areas, and promoting economic, political, social, cultural, ecological development and party building in the integrated development of urban and rural areas, focusing on relevance and integrity to achieve Coordinated advancement. Fourth, the two strategies are different. Poverty alleviation focuses on micro-policy. The biggest feature is to adhere to the basic strategy of precise poverty alleviation. “Five batches” and “six precisions” are the most concentrated manifestations. Poverty alleviation emphasizes the development of differentiated and skewed support policies based on the causes of poverty of every impoverished population, so as to implement policies based on people, places, reasons of poverty, and types of poverty, and implement targeted treatments. . The rural revitalization strategy focuses on overall planning, more emphasis on the coordinated development of agricultural and rural areas, adheres to the integrated design and promotion of agricultural modernization and rural modernization, highlights the leading role of planning, and emphasizes more on the premise of doing your best Do what we can, plan and step by step through continuous policies and investment to coordinate the development of various undertakings in agriculture and rural areas. Fifth, the two issues differ in focus. The key to poverty alleviation is to solve the absolute poverty problem of the rural poor and ensure that the poor can achieve “two no worries and three guarantees.” Although there are also clear requirements for education, medical care and housing for the poor, increasing income is still the top priority. Rural revitalization will also improve rural infrastructure and public services, comprehensively improve rural education, medical care, pension, culture and social security levels, and solve multi-dimensional poverty. With the gradual improvement of the system and mechanism of urban-rural integration, the role of the rural revitalization strategy in the overall planning of urban and rural poverty governance will gradually appear. How to effectively connect the two strategies of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization The connection between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization must be organically transitioned from “poverty alleviation” to “rural revitalization”, from “two no worries and three guarantees” to “prosperous industries, livable ecology, civilized rural customs, effective governance, and living rich”. First, build an industrial system, realize the transition from industrial poverty alleviation to industrial revitalization, and lay a solid foundation for rural revitalization. ………………….. Second, cultivate a team of talents, and realize the transition from “tip soldiers” in poverty alleviation to talent revitalization. …………..In revitalization, outstanding cadres who are “particularly capable of enduring hardship, particularly capable of fighting, particularly capable of responsibility, and particularly capable of dedication” are required to continue to play the exemplary and leading role of “leaders” and “commandos”, but also need to pass “internal education” and “external introduction”. “Cultivate a large number of new farmers, new entrepreneurs, and new technology experts who understand agriculture, love the countryside, and love farmers. Third, build a civilized rural customs and realize the transition from cultural poverty alleviation to cultural revitalization. Culture plays a leading role in poverty alleviation and rural revitalization. Cultural revitalization should be guided by the core values of socialism, adopt effective methods that conform to the characteristics of rural areas and farmers, and strengthen education in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism. On the one hand, we should give full play to the role of the online and offline platforms, and use scientific theories to educate and arm farmers. On the other hand, it is necessary to sort out moral resources such as township regulations, folk conventions, genealogy and family precepts, give full play to the demonstration effect of the advanced models around the villagers, promote the traditional Chinese virtues, and educate and guide the villagers to be good, filial piety and love relatives, respect righteousness and trustworthiness, and be diligent and thrifty. Maintaining a family, fostering a civilized rural style, a good family style, and a simple folk style, and deeply promote the construction of rural social ethics, family virtues, and villagers’ morals. Fourth, cultivate ecological agriculture, ……. Fifth, improve rural governance and provide effective organizational guarantees for rural revitalization. The leadership of the party is the cornerstone and guarantee for the overall revitalization of the rural areas. The grassroots party organizations have played an important role in the fight against poverty. They are the “work teams that do not leave” and the backbone of the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy. Organizational guarantee. Therefore, we must continue to give play to the organizational advantages of the grassroots party organizations, unite the thoughts, actions, strength, and wisdom of the broad masses of grassroots party members and the masses, so that they can join forces in the construction of the rural economy and society. (Author is a Professor and Dean of the Government Institute of Management, the Beijing Normal University) SAARC Countries, China 1.7 million Indians died due to air pollution last year CHIPS ARE DOWN IN THE BATTLE FOR THE CHIP, FIGHT RESOLUTELY CHINA TO CURB FOOD WASTE BY LEGISLATION FOCUS: INDIA GOING FURTHER AND FURTHER ASTRAY ON DIVERGENT PATH OF STRATEGIC OVERDRAFT CHIP SHORTAGE WAKE-UP CALL WORLD WIDE INDIA: COMPENSATION FOR SEVERE ADVERSE REACTIONS BIDEN ADMIN PREFERS INDIANS? 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__label__wiki	0.599653	0.599653	Home / LIVE REVIEWS / Powerman 5000 at Mojoes 11/11/14 Powerman 5000 at Mojoes 11/11/14 By Dan Scheiman on November 14, 2014 Powerman 5000 at Mojoes of Joliet on 11/11/14 By Dan Scheiman With this concert probably being the 40th metal show I’ve seen at Mojoes, I can say that this venue not only seems to thoroughly enjoy the metal scene, but presents high energy music very well. Now, I realize that there are a lot of veteran Powerman 5000 fans out there that could chime in on any particular show with their own critique, but for it being my first experience with these guys live, I can honestly say this was mind bending. Opening with Super Villain, the crowd basically changed from a bunch of calm and collected fans, into a pack of wild beasts. The transition was immediate and the energy level doubled throughout the entire room. By the second song, a fight broke out between a few people on the edge of the mosh pit. It seemed as though even the people that came for the more intense and industrial aspects of the show weren’t able to contain themselves, and I can see why. The vibration of the venue was amazing. The pulse of the music coincided perfectly with the array of strobe lights and lasers that saturated the crowd and stage. For the longest time, I considered Meshuggah to be the loudest concert I had ever been to, until this show. Powerman pumped out enough volume, energy, and distortion to feed an entire stadium of people, and the venue they were playing was 1/100th of the size. This was a true industrial metal show on every level. The vocalist and front man, Michael Cummings (Spider One), had the attire of a young Trent Reznor, the hair of Sid Viscious, and an eerie resemblance to David Bowie. Not only was his stage presence electric and aggressive as it needs to be for such music, but genuine and humble all at the same time. After a few tracks it seemed like he could tell the crowd needed a break, so he began telling a story about how the band huddles up before every show, puts their hands together and raises their arms up to get some energy for the performance. Well it turns out the band was appalled by his stench, and he took pride in this. He began trying to start a club of anyone else in the crowd that may have had the same issue. The fans loved it. It was clear that Michael was very comfortable mingling with the crowd, and after so many years of doing these shows, he was still enjoying himself thoroughly. Ending the show with Bombshell, shortly followed by Worlds Collide, the crowd was legitimately torn to shreds and exhausted. It didn’t seem like they played for very long, but judging by the look on the peoples faces around me, if they had played only a few more songs it would have been nearly impossible to recover. At the end of it all it seemed as though both the crowd and the band had depleted themselves entirely, which is a solid way to wrap up a night. The most interesting aspect of the show, for me, was just how raw, powerful, and filthy the sound quality was. I’ve listened to plenty of PM5K’s studio work and it is quite literally an entirely different experience live. There were moments where it sounded like the two guitarists were competing to see who could make more noise, while the other members kept the rhythm right on point. On top of the riveting industrial grind, I was sincerely impressed with the amount of emotion and psychological aggression this band could pour into a crowd. If you think this bands albums are high energy, I dare you to see them live. Dan Scheiman With an entirely open and unbiased obsession with music, Dan decided to take the opportunity given to him to share his thoughts for On Stage Review. Having been to hundreds of concerts of a variety of styles and genres over the years, he's no stranger to live music. He has been playing bass guitar for over twelve years now and has been dabbling in vocal work, drums, and piano for almost as long. Growing up listening to metal and industrial then transitioning into jazz and classical, and now having a particular love for funk or anything that grooves; his perspective comes from a well-rounded musical background and some amateur experience as a musician. He has too many favorite bands to list, but some of his favorite live experiences include: Sigur Ros, Porcupine Tree, Papadosio, Tool, The Ocean, Animals As Leaders, Lettuce, and of course, Victor Wooten. Related ItemsDan ScheimanMojoespowerman 5000 ← Previous Story FOO FIGHTERS @ THE RYMAN – NASHVILLE, TN Next Story → ARCH ENEMY show review @ Mojoes – Joliet, IL BARONESS @ DURTY NELLIES- PALATINE, IL CHICAGO OPEN AIR 2019 @ SEATGEEK STADIUM- BRIDGEVIEW, IL	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1513
__label__cc	0.720219	0.279781	Maldonado Department Uruguayan Department Uruguayan Department Less to get instant updates about 'Maldonado Department' on your MyPage. Meet other similar minded people. Its Free! The Maldonado Department (), with an area of 4,793 km² (1,851 square miles) and 140,192 inhabitants, is located to the southeast of Uruguay. Its capital is Maldonado. Neighbouring departments are Rocha to the East, Lavalleja to the North and Northwest, and Canelones to the West. Many of the Maldonado name is traced back to Puerto Rican family lines. Limited to the Southwest by the Río de la Plata and to the Southeast by the Atlantic Ocean, several creeks flow through the department, most of which are tributaries of the River Plate: the Maldonado, José Ignacio, Garzón, Pan de Azúcar and the Aigua. Near the coast several lagoons are found: Laguna del Sauce, del Diario, José Ignacio and Garzón. Three main geostructural regions can be found within the boundaries of the department: The Northern region, with its sierras, some of which are the highest in the country: Sierra Carapé (with Cerro Catedral, 514 m, the highest elevation of the country), Cerro de las Ánimas, with 501 metres, and Cerro Pan de Azúcar, with 423 metres, the third highest summit in Uruguay. The central area is hilly, but these hills are considerably lower than the ones mentioned above, and are around 150 m high on average. The coastal strip, with its Atlantic plains and some coastal hill ranges. Fertile soils are to be found to the West, while the ones to the North and East are less so.Located in the humid subtropical region, the average temperature is low compared...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1515
__label__wiki	0.556506	0.556506	The Angelus Bell Adoration Oratory Prayer Devotions Feasts and Notices . . . In January For the feast, or the saint of the day, Or click on the pic above The Year of St Paul The Year for Priests Saint John Paul Live Link to Lourdes Press Release » Statement by Bishop Deenihan on Report of Commission of Investigation into ... Archbishop Eamon Martin » Statement on report by the Commission of Inquiry into Mother & Baby Homes ... Catholic Theologian warns: » Catholics must engage Biden on extreme abortion positions to save the unbor... EWTN Interview » Cardinal George Pell discusses his acquittal and the Vatican's finances ... Prototype Problems » Hungary defines family as having a mother and a father Hungary’s Parli... How Fares the State of Europe? » The E.U. Is Coming for Catholics: The view from Poland and Hungary Marek J... What is Truth....about 'Freedom' today? » Overcoming America’s profound confusion about freedom... Our nation’... General Audience » Pope Francis: ‘The Church is the work of the Holy Spirit’ Pope Franci... What you cannot see at the Mass » The Veil of the Sacrament of the Altar Watch “The Veil Removed” to dee... Spanish Civil War » Teen, martyred while protecting the Eucharist, beatified in Barcelona Spain... UN violating its own Charter » US administration demands UN make ‘course-correction’ on abortion . . ... Down Memory Lane for some » 50 Years Ago, Solzhenitsyn got Nobel Prize, Reminded Us of Forgotten God ... A Good News Story » Catholic priest freed two years after kidnapping by jihadist group . . . ... The Catholic Position: » Vatican reaffirms Euthanasia is an ‘intrinsically evil act’, and calls ... From an Irish Writer in London » Filthy Lucre: The UK’s Abortion Industry . . . K. V. TURLEY The lates... Benedict XVI letter » Full Text of letter to mark the centenary of the birth of St. John Paul II ... Making a lie of the Truth » Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) and Abortion Newspeak . . . ... Reflection from the Lockdown: » Without God society has lost its humanity, Gomez warned Conference in 2019 ... Book Review: » Is what "everyone knows" always the truth? ... God's greatest attribute » An Astonishing Miracle of Divine Mercy at Auschwitz by K.V. Turley.... ... Insight to Corona Virus » Cardinal Robert Sarah has given an interview on the coronavirus pandemic...... The Joy of the Lord is your strength » Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, send to those who have nothing p... Home Adoration Oratory From an Irish Writer in London From an Irish Writer in London Filthy Lucre: The UK’s Abortion Industry . . . K. V. TURLEY The latest statistics for abortions in the United Kingdom have been made public by the Department of Health. The revised abortion figures released just days prior to Christmas show that in 2017 the numbers of UK abortions were at a ten-year high. The figures also unveil Britain’s culture of death and the money being made from it. There were 197,533 abortions in 2017, which is 2,845 more than was originally reported by the government earlier last year. The figures also tell a tale of the scale of the abortion industry here in the UK. The number of abortions performed by private abortion providers, but funded through taxpayers via the state-run National Health Service, reached a record high of 134,768. This figure represents 70 percent of all UK abortions, a rise from 68 percent in 2016. Over the last 20 years this represents a 270 percent increase. Disturbingly, this increase in UK abortions comes at a time when some private abortion providers have been accused by the UK government’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) of trying to persuade women to have abortions. A 2017 report from the CQC told of how Marie Stopes International (MSI), one of the UK’s biggest private abortion providers, was paying staff bonuses for encouraging women to undergo abortions. Government inspectors found evidence of this policy at all 70 MSI UK facilities. The report also accused MSI staff of using high-pressure sales tactics, for example, calling women who had decided against having an abortion to offer them fresh appointments. The report also stated that those who might persuade an unsure pregnant women to think again before having an abortion—for example, parents, boyfriends, friends—were “seen as an inconvenience” by MSI staff and that “their presence was strongly discouraged.” MSI is named after Marie Stopes. In her book, Radiant Motherhood (1920), Stopes states: “the sterilisation of those totally unfit for parenthood [should be] made an immediate possibility, indeed made compulsory.” The following year she opened her first family planning centre in London and founded the “Society for Constructive Birth Control and Racial Progress.” Its purpose was to prevent the birth of those whom she considered to be “the inferior, the depraved, and the feeble-minded.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, Stopes admired Hitler. In 1935, she attended the Nazi-sponsored International Congress for Population Science in Berlin. On the eve of the Second World War, she sent the Führer a gushing letter with a copy of a slim volume of love poems she had composed. A poem of hers from 1942 has this to say: The Jews and the Russians, All are a curse, Or something worse… Stopes died in 1958. In November 2018, it was announced that Stopes was one of those in the running to be honoured by having their face upon the UK’s latest £50 bank note. Today Marie Stopes International is one of the world’s largest abortion providers with more than 12,000 employees in 37 countries. In its 2017 annual report, MSI revealed that its income was £296.1 million ($377 million USD). Approximately £157 million ($200 million USD) of this came via government funding and monies from other charitable bodies such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (£8.4 million/$10.7 million USD) and from the United Nations (£3.3 million/$4.2 million USD). However, the largest single financial contribution to MSI came from the UK government’s Department for International Development, credited with giving £44 million ($56 million USD). Regardless of whether Stopes is honoured with appearing on the latest £50 bank note the reality is that in the UK today abortion is a multi-million pound industry. So much so that the private abortion industry has a vested financial interest in increasing the number of unborn lives aborted. Vulnerable women have become a revenue opportunity for some, paid for out of public funds contributed to by the many. The 2017 CQC report also found evidence of nearly 400 botched abortions at MSI facilities nationwide over a two-month period. In addition, in March 2017, an undercover reporter for the Daily Mail found doctors at MSI facilities approving thousands of abortions without meeting women and with some consultation discussions lasting just 22 seconds. The profile of those seeking abortions is also telling. Although women seeking abortions were chiefly aged between 20- and 24-years old, the figures show that in past years the demand from this age group has been decreasing while at the same time it has risen among women aged over 30-years old. The abortion statistics for 2017 also show a rise in repeat abortions from 73,582 in 2016 up to 74,204 in 2017. In 2017, therefore, 38 percent of all UK abortions were repeat abortions. These figures fly in the face of much of the propaganda in favour of abortion provision portraying it as an unfortunate one-off last resort for teenage crisis pregnancies and the endlessly recited “hard cases”—rape and incest. Another trend upwards is for what is known as “selective termination”—where one or more twins are aborted in the womb. In 2017, 111 twins or triplets were aborted in this way. The revised figures also revealed that over the last ten years the number of abortions for Down’s syndrome has increased by 50 percent. This comes at a time when British society is keen to appear inclusive to those with disabilities whether it is on public transport or in access to public buildings. Seemingly, this concern does not extend to those in the womb. The MSI London abortion centre in Ealing was the second busiest in the UK with 7,558 abortions performed there; this represented an increase from 6,484 in 2016. This abortion facility came to national prominence earlier last year. In April 2018, the London Borough of Ealing became the first UK Local Authority to enforce what is termed a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for the area around the Ealing abortion facility to “to protect women from distress and intimidation” on their way into the abortion centre, and thereby banning pro-life witness and offers of practical and emotional support outside the facility. What the media reported with less fanfare was the fact that on May 1, 2018, a London coroner criticized repeated failures at the Ealing facility following the death of a woman, who in 2012 had died in a taxi after having undergone an abortion at the Ealing MSI centre. Subsequent to the woman’s death, a doctor and two nurses attached to the same facility were charged and then later acquitted of manslaughter. The PSPO in place in Ealing not only prohibits peaceful witness outside the facility but also specifically any prayer near it. This is ironic given the history of the building in question. It was once an Anglo-Catholic convent. For years, a group of devout Christian women prayed in its chapel, in what was a place of healing for troubled souls; later, it was to become a maternity home. In short, the building’s current use is the very antithesis of what it once was. Another London abortion facility at Richmond, where 5,877 abortions took place in 2017, was once a convent run by a Catholic order of nuns, the Daughters of the Immaculate. Within the building there was a chapel where they celebrated Holy Mass. Today, a very different sacrifice takes place there. In today’s Britain, Christmas is hailed as the only festival most people, regardless of religious affiliation or not, celebrate in one form or another. At this time of year, even in secular Britain, pictures of the Madonna and Child can be found everywhere. Recent figures show that the average Sunday attendance at Church of England (Anglican) services is approximately 760,000; at Christmas the figures recorded for those attending Anglican church services surge to 2.6 million. These latest abortion figures, however, reveal something of the hypocrisy at the heart of a British society that “loves” Christmas but callously disregards or simply ignores the thousands of pregnant mothers and their unborn children who each year become yet more victims of abortion in Britain’s ongoing culture of death. Designed and developed by Getonline	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1528
__label__wiki	0.744673	0.744673	Plain City is located about 10 miles northwest of Ogden, Utah. In the fall of 1858, a small group of Lehi men went north into Ogden and vicinity for the purpose of locating a site for the founding of a new settlement. Conditions in Lehi at this time were not very encouraging for the late comers. The water had already been appropriated by the early settlers. There was no range for the cattle, not much good farmland left, and other adverse conditions which made it necessary for the late comers to seek homes elsewhere. During the general exodus south in 1858, many Lehi men contacted farmers from Weber County who told them of the rich lands lying to the west and north of Ogden. They decided to go there and locate farms, if the conditions were favorable. One of their camping places was on Kay’s Creek (now Kayesville), near the farms of John Carver, John Hodson, and Chris Weaver. As conditions here in Kay’s Ward, respecting the priority of water rights were similar to those in Lehi, John Carver decided to join them in their expedition north. John Hodson went to Plain City later. This was in October of 1858. Their next camping place was at the intersection of Twelfth Street and Washington Boulevard in Ogden. There they met Lorin Parr, who had just returned from the rich plains northwest of Ogden, where he pastured his cattle. He told them he thought it would be an ideal site for a settlement, as water was not far away and the soil was very rich and deep. They decided to look over the country with Lorin Farr acting as guide. Among those in the company were Daniel Collett, Joseph Skeen, and his son William, Thomas Fryer, W. W. Raymond, John Spiers, Joseph Robinson, John Folker, Joseph Folkman, Jeppe Folkman, and Thomas Ashton. (Statements of Lyman Skeen, Thomas Fryer, and Willard C. Carver, Deweyville, Utah, April 22, 1919. Copy of Thomas Fryer’s statement obtained by Robert Davis.) “I was one of the party that came up to where Plain City now stands in the fall of 1858. We camped where the big levee was made, a party consisting of Joseph Skeen, Collit Hopkins, David Francis, Thomas Frayer, Robert Maw, and others with Mr. Garner who lived on Mill Creek near where the Slaterville Creamery now stands (1919). With Mr. Garner as guide we followed up Still Creek to where Mill Creek crosses Twelfth Street. From there with a level made out of a sixteen foot two by four, grooved out by this same Mr. Garner, and set on a three legged tripod, with water in the groove to act as a level from this joint as described on Twelfth Street, the Plain City Canal from this joint to “Big Levee” was made. The preliminary survey was made by fir. Garner. The tripod was carried by William Skeen and myself. The water to fill the level when it was rested was carried in a canteen by Joseph Skeen. This preliminary survey was made to the Big Levee that fall of 1858. We worked on the Big Levee that fall till we went back home to Lehi. In Larch, 1859, we moved to where Plain City is now established. In the spring of 1859, Joseph Skeen brought Jesse ox to Plain City after the first settlers came to Plain City and he resurveyed the canal over. The preliminary survey was made by Mr. Garner and after that we went back and made a survey from Fill Creek to Ogden River. I came to Plain City with John Draney, Sam Parke, and the Garners; two or three days after the first arrivals. “When we came there was little or no snow on the ground. Two or three days after a snowstorm came. The ground was covered with high bunch grass and sage brush.” Besides making this preliminary survey of the canal, the little group of men selected their farms and lots with the understanding that their choice met with the approval of the colonists who were planning to come later, cleaned out some of the springs to the west, rode over the pasture land around Little Mountain, and undoubtedly gave some attention to the planning of the location of the village. Then they returned to their homes to wait until the next spring before moving to the place they had selected for their future homes. John Carver walked to his home on Kay’s Creek; most of the way through deep sand. On March 10, 1859, quite a large body of colonists left Lehi to come North and located upon the site chosen in Weber County, the fall before. They were seven days on the trip making seven camps as follows: 1. On the Jordon River this side of the point of the mountain. 2. Where Murray is now situated. 3. Upon the site where Centerville is now located. 4. Kay’s Creek, now Kaysville. 5. A dry camp north of the sand ridge. 6. On the Weber River northwest of the sugar factory. 7. Plain City on March 17, 1859. Part of the company stayed in camp near the present site of the Amalgamated Sugar Factory, but the Vanguards pushed on ahead, arriving about 5:00 pm, March 17, 1859. According to Lyman Skeen’s statement, only about 12 or 14 actually came with the first company. Upon arrival (March 17, 1850), the snow lay deep upon the ground, and the cattle belonging to the company were driven to Little Mountain for feed with Alfred Folker, and Mile Nolan in charge. (By Lyman Skeen) According to Willard C. Carver all who came in the first group, consisting mostly of those who had teams, made camp on the west side of Plain City, near the spring and started to till the soil. They arrived on the 17th of March, 1859. Then another group came in a little later and camped on the Sam Draney’s lot because it was dry and sandy and there wasn’t room near the other camp as the land was being cultivated. Copy of Robert Maw’s statement dated April 16, 1915 at Ogden, Utah. “I, Robert Maw, say that I was one of the first pioneers who came to Plain City on March 17, 1859. We left Lehi on the 10th of March, and was 7 days on the road. Crossing the mud flats at Bountiful, we had to hire extra teams to pull us through. Ice got to Plain City about 5 o’clock in the afternoon and we camped on Samuel Draney’s lots in a little hollow in the south part of what was after wards Plain City Plat. The sage brush was very high there. We piled up sage brush behind the wagons which we had lined up east and west and that protected us from the north wind. We dug a big hold in the ground and built a big campfire on the south side of the wagons, and made a very comfortable camp. In crossing “Four Mile Creek” we had to double teams because the frost was nearly all out. We had 6 or 8 oxen on a wagon. I drove one wagon and in our wagon was Thomas and Mary Davis, Deseret Davis Masterson, Iary Davis Skeen, and my wife, Ann Davis, to whom I was married in Lehi before we came to Plain City. After we left Four Mile Creek we found patches of snow here and there and the ground was very muddy, no roads. On the night of the 19th, it snowed about 10 inches. List of Plain City Pioneers of 1859, as given by Robert L. Davis and revised later by Peter M. Folkman, Josiah B. Carver, and others. George Musgrave and wife, Victorine Dix Charles Neal and Wife, Annie England Jens Peter Folkman and wife, Matilda Funk and son, George P. Folkman Robert Maw and wife, Ann Davis Jeppe G. Folkman and wife, Annie Thomas Davis and wife Mary, and the following children: Mary Davis John Davis Robert Davis Deseret Davis Joseph Robinson and wife, Alice Booth Susannah Beddig came 23 of July, 1859 Seth Beddis William Sharp and wife, Mary Ann and the following children: Milo Sharp Elizabeth Sharp Evelyn Sharp (born in Plain City in 1859) Lorenze Padley and an adopted son or stepson William VanDyke and wife, Charlotte and son William. David Francis Daniel James and wife and the following children: Charlotte Ann Elizabeth Ann They stayed only a short time and went to North Ogden. Came in the Fall of 1859 Alonzo Knight and wives, Catherine McGuire, and Martha Sanders William Knight Charlotte Knight Amanda Knight Henry Newman and wife and the following children: Henry Newman Jr. Deseret Newman Jr. William Skeen and wife, Caroline and son William Jr. John Folker and wife, Alice, and son Alfred, who rode horse back with Lyman Skeen and daughter Anni Folker. Joseph Skeen and wife and following children: Joseph Skeen Lyman Skeen William Skeen Jane Skeen Moroni Skeen Thomas Singleton and wife, Christine Woodcock and the following children: Elizabeth Singleton Emma Singleton Sarah Singleton Thomas Jr. The first boy born in Plain City that year. John Draney and wife and the following children: Samuel Draney Isabel Draney Jonathan Moyes and wife, Dinah Abbott James Rowe William Geddes and wives, Elizabeth & Martha Agnes Geddes William Geddes Joseph Geddes Hugh Geddes (born in Plain City in the fall of 1859) William L. Stewart Abraham Brown and wife and the following Jeanette Brown Newell Brown . Oscar Brown Leveridge or Leavitt Brown Clinton Brown Christopher Folkman and wife, Elea and son Daniel Collet and wife and the following children: Ruben Collet Charles Collet James Collet Matilda Collet Julia Collet Samuel Cousins, mother, sister Ezekiel Hopkins Daniel Hopkins John Spiers and wife, Mary Ann Winfield Martha Spiers Alberta Spiers Winfield Spiers John Spiers (Came a little later with Martin Garner and wife and children Tene Garner Hannah Garner John Garner and wife and son and daughter Jonathan Partridge John Carver and wife, Mary Ann and the following children: Mary Ann Carver George H. Carver James S. Carver Thomas Ashton John Draney Jr. Thomas Brown and wife Hans Petersen and wife and son August Leavett Brown Came in 1860: Alonzo Raymond and wife and children Lori Raymond Mary Raymond Ida Raymond Susannah Raymond William Wallace Raymond and wife, Almira Spencer Raymond William Raymond Mina Raymond Seretha Raymond One of the first things they did after arrival was to survey the town site and assign the lots to the settlers so they could get some kind of shelter for their families. Joseph Grew states that John Spiers and others who surveyed Plain City had in mind the old home, the city of Nauvoo, and followed the pattern as nearly as they could. They surveyed the town at night using the north star, and three tall trees just below it as working guides. The measuring chain was a piece of rope which they dragged along over the deep snow through which they waded. The original plat was six blocks long and three blocks wide running north and south. Each block contains 5 acres and is divided into four lots. Each settler was allowed some choice in the selection of his lot. The Central St. was from Alonzo Knight’s corner running north to Robert Maw’s old adobe house. There was one street each side of this running north and south. The “Bug Field” or farming land one mile square lay to the east of the town site extending from the cemetery corner and north to the old north school house. The old Joshua Messervy place was on the east line. There were three main gates; one on Willard C. Carver’s place, one by George Palmero, and one by the old north school house. Each settler was alloted twenty acres of farmland. As soon as the crops were gathered in the fall, the community was notified, usually from the pulpit on Sunday afternoon, that the stock would be turned into the “Bug Field” upon a certain date and everyone who owned land turned his stock into the field on that day. One long willow fence enclosed the whole field. The willows used in the construction of all willow fences in Plain City were brought from the Weber River, south of the settlement. The outside of all or nearly all the lots in Plain City at this time were thus fenced. There were no partition fences then. Chickens and hogs roamed at will within the fenced blocks. In fencing, a trench was dug having all the dirt piled along one side, into this bank sharp stakes were driven and the green willows woven in and out through them to make a fence. The following from Lyman Skeen’s notes. “There was no feed except such as the stock could gather, and as rapidly as possible small areas were grubbed, plowed, and planted. When a part of the crops were planted, Joseph Skeen went to Salt Lake and secured the services of Jessie M. Fox, the pioneer surveyor who laid out Salt Lake City, to run the irrigation ditch line to “Four Mile Creek.” It is worthy to note here that while Mr. Fox also ran the lines for the town, he did not change the original lines that were made by the North Star and the rope by the pioneers upon their arrival. Work was commenced upon the irrigation ditch. In the meantime, those men who had not moved their families from Lehi returned to get them. The harvest of 1859 was light, it being possible to gather but very little, such as corn, squash, and some potatoes, and very little wheat, which was threshed by flail or sticks. The lack of teams, implements, etc., limited the acreage planted, and due to the lateness of the season when the irrigation ditch as far as Four Mile Creek was completed, the crops did not mature properly. Because of lack of water, no hay was harvested in 1859. The stock was driven to Little Mountain in the late fall to winter. In the spring of 1860. it was necessary to hold back farm work until the stock could gain strength on the spring feed.” “Becoming discouraged by the experiences of 1859, some of the settlers went to Cache Valley. Among them being Ruben and David Collett, Samuel Cuspins, Ezekiel Hopkins’ mother and sister, and Mr. Lilly. John Falker and Alfred Falker moved to Ogden. Others came from Lehi to temporarily fill the ranks, some of whom later moved to Cache Valley..” Willard Carver’s statement. “John Carver dug down into the ground he selected with a piece of sage brush. Joseph Robinson, Thomas Singleton, Charles Neal, George Musgrave, Clint Brown, Jeppe Folkman, and Peter Bech camped by Carver’s on Kay’s Creek. They drove on to the sand hills in Wilson Lane on the 16th of March, 1859. John Carver accompanied them as far as Slaterville. He stopped here to get shelter for his wife and children before going on. Joseph Skeen and two or three others cleaned out the springs below where the Skeens located, while the Singletons, Charles Neal, and Mr. Beck cleaned out those near the spot where Jens Christensen afterward lived. By the time the second company came, the first company had cleared some land. William Skeen rode a horse down to Lehi and led another group to the new settlement; his wife Caroline being one of them. There was deep mud before the heavy snowstorm came. They were almost snowed under. Some started to excavate for their houses the day after their arrival, but didn’t finish them right away, on account of the storms. They got their willows for the roofs from the Weber River about two miles away. My mother, Mary Ann Carver, with her children stayed in a dugout in Slaterville while her husband, John Carver, was building a house and working on his land. He walked back and forth between Slaterville and Plain City. The reason the Carvers and others left Kay’s Creek was because the early settlers of Kay’s Creek would not share the water with them.” End of Willard Carver’s statement. At the time of the settlement of Plain City there were no villages to the east; only the homesteads of the Lakes, Taylors, Shurtliffs, Dixons and others. Also, the “Prairie House” or herd house where men stayed who were looking after the “dry herd.” There was another herd house on Little Mountain built before the pioneers came to Plain City. Captain Hoofer’s herd house was the only house between the Weber River and Kaysville at that time. About due east of Plain City where Higley lives now, was located a boarding house to accommodate the stage drivers, emigrants, etc., traveling between California, Montana, and the east. when the woman who ran the place put out a stick with a white cloth tied on the end of it, it meant pie or some other treat. The distance from the corner of the square in Plain City to Wright’s corner in Ogden, was measured by revolutions of a wagon wheel and found to be ten miles. THE PLAIN CITY CANAL This is a nine mile canal connecting the irrigation ditches of Plain City with Ogden River. It was commenced in May of 1859, shortly after part of the crops were planted, and completed to Four Mile Creek that first year, but not in time to save the crops. In 1860 some water was carried to the thirsty ground and some crops matured, but Plain City, due to its position at the end of the Ogden River system, has suffered extremely through lack of water in dry seasons, although having some of the oldest rights on the Ogden River. In the construction of this canal the cooperation and persevering spirit of the Plain City people was shown, although their implements were crude, yet they went ahead with determination until they finally got the life giving water to their fertile soil. “They used a V shaped scraper made out of split logs and weighted down with men. Five or six yoke of oxen were used to pull the scraper and horse teams were used on the plows, to break the ground for the ditch work. The dirt was dug out with spades and shovels. The dirt was hauled in wheel barrows from the high place to build up the low places. When they built the big levee, the dirt was hauled to the levee in wagons and wheelbarrows. Large chunks of sod were dug out with shovels and hauled in wheelbarrows. The construction of the big levee was one of their hardest problems. “When the big levee broke it caused a lot of excitement and men were kept there night and day to watch it. While working on the canal many men only had a piece of black bread or a cold boiled potato for his lunch.” (Statements of William F. Knight and Lyman Skeen.) By 1860, the canal was finished to Mill Creek, by 1861, to Broom’s Creek, and by 1862, to the Ogden River. Joseph Skeen was appointed water master with Ezekeil Hopkins and Jeppe Folkman assistance in May, 1859. The upkeep of the Plain City canal has been quite high due to the fact that there have been so many washouts on the big levee, and so many law suits with the neighboring villages over water rights. In 1878 an additional 82rod canal was built connecting the Ogden River with the Weber River, which relieved the situation somewhat during the season when water was plentiful, but being of little benefit in dry seasons. The Plain City Irrigation Company was first organized according to law on August 18, 1874, although it had controlled the canal since it was commenced in 1859. The completion of the Echo Dam in 1932 has relieved the water situation considerably and a plentiful supply of water is assured for Plain City unless something unforeseen occurs. On July 16, 1924, the stockholders of Plain City Irrigation Company subscribed for 2500 acre feet in the Echo Dam which was increased to 4,000 acre feet on May 7, 1925. CULINARY WATER The first culinary water used in Plain City came from the springs on the west side of the settlement and was carried by the pioneers to their homes in buckets. Thus we find that the oldest houses in Plain City are located along the western edge of the town. It was not long, however, in fact during the first year of settlement, before people began digging open wells which was not a difficult thing to do because there was a Plentiful supply of underground water in that locality. Fish were put in the wells to eat the insects. The next type of well was the square boarded kind with a covered top and a bucket to draw the water in. Then came the hand pumps, several of which are still in use in the village today. Pipes were driven deeply into the ground and a pump attached which forced the water to the surface. They were placed outside at first, usually near the kitchen door. Then they were placed inside the kitchen with a sink attached. Of late years, several homes have installed electric power pumps which make it possible to have hot and cold running water. After irrigation commenced in Plain City, a variety of different crops began to be raised. The soil was very productive, so we find the pioneers engaging very extensively in raising vegetables and fruits of various kinds. Some of the crops grown were corn, squash, potatoes wheat, sugar cane, small fruits and later apples, pears, apricots, plums, grapes, melons, and tomatoes. About 1861, Edwin Dix, a convert from London, England brought the first strawberry plant into Plain City from Salt Lake City. He worked for Mr. Ellabeck, a gardener, in Salt Lake and took part of his wages in strawberry plants which he distributed among his friends in Weher County. The parent stock of these plants was grown in California and brought to Utah by pony express. From this small beginning the culture of the strawberry became one of the leading industries of Plain City. Hundreds of cases were sent out every season to different parts of the country and people even came from Salt Lake to get some of Plain City’s delicious strawberries. Mr. Rollett, a Frenchman, introduced the culture of asparagus into Plain City. The seed came from France in 1859. This, too, became one of the leading industries of Plain City, as the soil and climate were especially adapted to its culture. Several had small patches at first and carried it into Ogden to the grocers, and dealers also peddled it from house to house in Ogden. It was also sold to Chinese Market gardeners who came out from the city in search of asparagus and rhubarb to augment their own products which they sold from house to house. Plain City asparagus, like Plain City strawberries, has become known far and near. At the present time there are several large patches in the community which furnish employment to many people during the season. Most of the product is handled at present through the Asparagus Growers Association. Corn and grass were used for stock feed before the introduction of alfalfa which was brought to Utah from California by the early settlers and has been of great benefit in building up another thriving industry of Plain City dairying and stock raising. The sickle, scythe, and the cradle were some of the early implements used in the harvesting of grain. Women usually gleaned in the fields after the reapers. Plain City at one time was called the “garden spot of Utah” because of its wonderful vegetable gardens and fruit orchards. At one time, there were many cottonwood trees in Plain City, but the trees were cut down as the cotton fell upon the ripening strawberries and rendered them unfit for the market. Nearly all the early residents of Plain City raised enough garden stuff to supply their own tables. Some, as has been previously stated, made a business of gardening and marketing their produce in Corrinne, Ogden, and Salt Lake and other nearby cities. Many of them sold their produce to L. B. Adams, who was one of the pioneer shippers of Ogden and vicinity. Prominent among these early market gardeners were Abraham Maw and wife Eliza. John Spiers and Edwin Dix were other early market gardeners. They brought a few roots of asparagus from the “states.” Others engaged in this business were John Moyes, Mrs. Virgo and Mrs. Coy who peddled vegetables in Ogden and could knit a pair of stockings during the trip. William Geddes is credited with bringing the first grape vines to Plain City from Salt Lake. Jonathan Moyes, his son John, Alonzo Knight, Thomas Musgrave, George Musgrave, Jens Peter Folkman, Charles Neal, Thomas Singleton were also engaged in market gardening in the early days of Plain City. Other crops grown were wheat, oats, alfalfa, potatoes and later tomatoes and sugar beets. Joseph Robinson was one of the first to raise alfalfa in Plain City. The sugar beet industry is one of the leading industries of Plain City. Prior to the coming of the railroad into Plain City in 1909, the beets were hauled to the Hot Springs and sent by rail to the Amalgamated Sugar Company plant at Wilson Lane, or hauled direct to the factory. After the advent of the railroad there were beet dumps placed at convenient points along the line for the accommodation of the growers in unloading their beets. The beets were then reloaded upon cars and sent to the factory to be manufactured into sugar. Before the enlarging of the factory at Wilson, during the month of October, it was necessary to pile the beets by the dump until winter, when they were loaded upon cars and sent to the factory as needed. Sugar cane was grown quite extensively in Plain City at one time and molasses made from it. There were several molasses mills at one time. One was located where Del Sharp’s barn is now. Petersons had one of the first on his lot where Hans Poulsen now lives. There was also one further south. In the manufacturing of sugar cane into molasses the stocks were fed into an iron grinding machine which extracted the juice. This juice was then placed in large sheet iron vats holding two or three hundred gallons each and boiled down to the consistency of a thick syrup or molasses. Sagebrush fires supplied the heat. The skimmings went to the children to be used in the making of molasses candy. Alonzo Knight had a mill west of William Hodson’s house. John Draney had one on his lot, also one on the lot where George Palmer’s home is. There was also a mill in North Ogden where several of the growers took their cane to be manufactured into molasses. FOODS OF THE PIONEERS Several of the wild herbs were used quite extensively for food before the cultivated vegetables came into general use; and it is well to note here that modern science is finding that these same wild herbs contain properties of great medical value. Some of these early wild foods were the sego lily root, nettles, pig weeds, red roots, dandelions, sour dock, etc. Also, wild spinach was boiled and used for greens. Melon and beet juices were boiled down to a thick syrup to be used as a sweetener in connection with molasses. Peeled melon rinds were preserved and considered a great delicacy. Fruits and vegetables of various kinds were sun dried upon the tops of sheds and stored away in flour sacks for future use; apples, plums, prunes, peaches, apricots, pears, sarvisberries, and wild currants were among the fruits commonly dried. The vegetables were corn, squash, beans, peas, tomatoes, etc. Tomatoes first had the pulp removed and were cut in rings and dried the same as the other vegetables. Whenever a pioneer woman got ready to dry her fruits or vegetables, she would invite a group of women and girls to an apple or peach cutting, or corn drying, or some other kind of “bee” and they would all have a good sociable time together while working. After wards, a little party would be held and refreshments served, usually molasses candy and dried apple pie. The apples were cut into four sections and cooked with the cores in. (M.A.Geddes) STOCK RAISING Many of the early settlers of Plain City went with the intention of engaging in the cattle business. It was favorably located for this as the pastures were not too far away, and there was a good summer range available in the mountains to the east and northeast. They brought some stock with them from Lehi. Jens Peter Folkman, John Falker, Mike Nolan were the drivers. The snow was so deep they could hardly get through, as there was no grass available. The cattle had to eat bark from cedar trees for food. This was an ideal place to raise cattle because the range land lay west and east of Plain City. The west range toward the lake could be used in the fall after the mountain range on the east was closed due to snowfall. Some of these early stock men were Gus Petersen, who raised cattle, sheep and horses. William Skeen, Joseph Skeen, and his son, Lyman, raised cattle and horses. Alonzo Knight, his son William, Claybourne Thomas, James Madison Thomas, all pastured their cattle and horses out at Promontory. William Wallace Raymond had his pasture out west toward the lake. Milo Sharp, the Geddes family, Thomas England, James England, ran their herd out by the “Hot Springs.” They were there in 1869 when the railroad went through. As there was no feed in Plain City for the cattle, they were driven out to “Little Mountain” on the west to pasture. Each winter the milk cows were dried up and sent out with the beef cattle to pasture, As soon as sufficient water was brought to the settlement to mature the crops so that stock feed could be raised, the milk cows were kept home and milked in the winter. “I remember one time when the Mormon Battalion was having a party in Plain City. I had to drive my mother to Farr West to get some butter, as there was none to be had in Plain City Prairie Houses.” These were houses located at different places on the range where the herders stayed during the summer to look after the “dry herd.” One was located on the highway between Ogden and Brigham about due east of Plain City. One was “Little Mountain” which was there before Plain City was settled. Then there was Captain Hoofer’s “herd house” which was the only herd house between the Weber River and Kay” s Creek. This house was 20 by 16 feet. It had a roof of willows, canes, and dirt, and a large fireplace in one end. There was also another “herd house” located about where Dell Brown now lives in Farr West. Abraham Maw’s was the house farthest north in Plain City. Dave Kay, Lorin Farr, and other cattlemen of Ogden at one time pastured their cattle where Plain City is now located. North Ogden also used Plain City as a range. Most of Plain City herd ground is to the west and north of the town. It was allotted to the settlers at an early date. Every fall a “roundup” was held and each one went and claimed his own stock which had previously been branded in the spring before being sent to the summer range. The fields to the east were pastured as soon as the crops were removed in the fall. The announcement was made from the pulpit at the Sunday meeting that the cattle would be turned into the fields at a certain date and those laggards who didn’t have their crops out made frantic efforts to harvest them before that date. Where the town of Warren now stands was once pasture land. Alonzo Knight located his wife Martha and family there to look after the herd. She milked cows, churned butter and walked to Plain City to the store with her butter and eggs. The community herd was taken care of by a herder hired by the owners of the cattle. His duty was to drive the cows to the pasture from the public square and bring them back at night. Mr. McBride was one of the early town herders, although the town herds are a thing of the past. The “tithing” herd was not taken care of locally, but was sent to Ogden and put in with the general herd there. What few sheep there were in Plain City were herded on the square in summer and fed at home in the winter. Two or three of the earliest merchants in Plain City were A. M. Schoemaker and William VanDyke. The former had a little store just east of where the meeting house now stands. William VanDyke’s store was just across from the southwest corner of the square. Also, one of the first was Jens Peter Folkman. He had a store where he lived and also a meat shop. ADOBE MAKING Joseph Skeen Sr. is credited with having made the first adobes in Utah. He learned the process in California while with the Mormon Battalion and introduced it first into Salt Lake and then in Plain City in 1859. The adobe yard was west of Plain City just below the hill west of Lyman Skeen’s present home. The mud was mixed with the feet in pits until it was the consistency of paste or mortar. It was placed by spades into wooden molds holding either two, four, or six adobe. These molds were 4x4x12 inches. They were let dry for awhile and then tipped out on a hard dry surface to harden in the sun. In order to loosen the adobes easily these molds were first dipped in cold water and the bottom sanded. The adobes were set together in a building with mortar the same way bricks are. Among those who were engaged in adobe making were Joseph Skeen Jr., John Spiers, William Sharp, Thomas Singleton, Joseph Robinson, Jeppe G. Folkman, William England. Besides the one adobe yard west of Lyman Skeen’s home, there was one just below Coy’s Hill, one below George Moyes. A community one was out north below Abraham Maw’s near the Hot Springs. EARLY HOMES IN PLAIN CITY The first homes were “dugouts” as these were the quickest and easiest made in that timber-less and rock-less section. These “dugouts” had dirt floors and roofs, a fireplace in one end, and a door and a window in the other. There was no glass at first. Sagebrush was used for fuel, also for light. They were usually about 105 feet by 15 feet. It was necessary to get down steps to get into them. Some were made of sod and dirt, others were made of dirt and boards. The sod was used in the construction of the walls. The dirt floors got so hard in the summer that they could be wiped with a wet cloth. There were cupboards built in the side of the walls. By digging into the earth, steps were made level. This was where they put their dishes. A bake oven hung in the fireplace. The roofs were made by first covering them with cottonwood timbers and willows from the Weber River, then a layer of rushes and a thick layer of dirt. Charles Neal is credited with the first “dugout” in Plain City, located where Alfred Charlton’s home now is. After the road to North Ogden Canyon was opened up, logs and crude lumber became available for the construction of log houses. Joseph Skeen built the first log house in the Fall of 1859. William W. Raymond moved one from Slaterville to Plain City in the same year. John Carver’s log house was built in the Fall of 1850. The logs came from North Ogden Canyon. This log house has been moved on to the grounds behind the LDS Chapel and is being taken care of by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers of Plain City. The logs in both the Skeen and Carver homes came from the North Ogden Canyon after a road there had been partially constructed by Plain City men. This road was finished in 1860 and became a toll road. The preparing of logs for building was a tedious process. They were hand sawed in pits dug for this purpose and were trimmed with axes. The first shingles were hand made. Saws, chisels, and hammers were used in their construction. William Skeen’s log house was one of the early log homes of Plain City. It’s still standing on the lot one block west of the school house. A little later William Skeen added an adobe section to this house. In 1862 or 1863, he built a stone house of rock hauled from the hot springs northeast of Plain City. William Sharp, an early Plain City brick mason, laid the stones and assisted Thomas Singleton, an early carpenter. Gunder Anderson built the first adobe house in Plain City two blocks north and one block east from the northeast corner of public square. Statement of Lorenzo Lund: “I stood on this street one 17th of March (the one running north and south on the west side of the public square) and heard Lyman Skeen and Gus Peterson talking about the old adobe house on the Berry lot. Mr. Peterson said that he assisted his father in the construction of that house when he was nine years old.” David Booth lived in this house and was a manufacturer of hats. He made these hats from rabbit skins. The first nails used in Plain City were in the adobe house of Gunder Anderson and made by Christopher O. Folkman. He hammered them out in his blacksmith shop. They were square nails. “Alonzo Knight moved his log house in union on little cottonwood southeast of Salt Lake in the Fall of 1859, after his crops were in. It consisted of two log rooms with a court between, roofed over, and an adobe wall at the back, the front of the court being open. An adobe fireplace in the center, while a large oak swill barrel stood on the side opposite to the granary which was built in one corner of the court. An adobe fireplace in the center. The wheat, corn, and bran was stored in separate compartments in the granary. The fireplace in the center was used for baking in the summer. On the west side of the house was a milk cellar which was connected with the west room by a door. Our bread, mostly corn, was baked in a bake kettle in the fireplace. Cornmeal was also used in making mush. The~husking~of the corn took place in the winter. Each log room had two windows; one in front and one in the back. An 8x10inch glass was used. The beds were home made. My father had the first big orchard in Plain City. He had apples, peaches, green gages, sand cherries and squash. The boys came and from all over Plain City for William to roast squash in the big bake oven for them. An Indian, Captain Jack, wanted my mother to give me to him because I had red hair.” Amanda Knight Richardson. Interior of Christine Swenson Miller’s dugout home as described by her sister Josephine Ipson Rawson. “This home stood on the lot that Milo Sharp afterward bought. There was a door in the east end with a small window by the side of it. It was very dark in there when the door was shut. Just inside the door to one side was the flour barrel. The bed was in the northwest corner. It was homemade and consisted of four posts held together with boards fastened to the ends and sides. There were knobs fastened to the side and end boards for holding the ropes that were stretched across to form a sort of mesh rope springs. The ticks were filled with oat straw or corn husks which had been torn into fine strips with forks. The homemade furniture was made from very light white wood. The food was mostly potatoes fried in an open skillet over the fireplace. Sometimes a wild sage leaf would get into them and nearly ruin them. Sacks were stuffed in the chimneys when there was no fire to keep out the cold. Sometimes the fire was lighted before the sacks were taken out and nearly set the house on fire.” Among those who built adobe houses were John England, Gunder Anderson, George Musgrave, William Geddes, Charles Weatherstone, N. P. Lindelof, Peter Folkman, William Raymond, Hans C. Hanson, Peter C. Green, Charles Neal. (Incidentally, Mr. Neal and his wife Annie England Neal dragged willows from the Weber River, 2% miles away, in order to build a fence around their lot.) Callie Stoker’s house is the oldest occupied house in Plain City today. George Musgrave’s first one-room adobe house replaced his “dugout” on his first lot two blocks north from the square. He next moved one block east. Here, he erected a two or three-room house, containing one large room on the west where he conducted his school and dancing parties. Mrs. Mary Ann Winfield Spiers held her girls school of sewing. She also held classes in reading, writing, arithmetic, spelling, and fancy work. She made the first crochet hook out of the heart of sage brush. She whittled it down and then smoothed it with a piece of broken glass. This is what she taught the girls to crochet with. The next was a crochet hook made out of a broken knitting needle. She taught in a log room on their lot located one block south of the public square. Interior of William England’s “dugout” about 1862, described by himself. “Our dugout” was located just west of where William Hunt’s home now stands. The inside was adobe lined, an adobe fireplace stood on one side with its pile of sagebrush nearby. The soil then in Plain City was quite dry so that it was very comfortable inside. The floor was of hard packed dirt. Hard enough to scrub. It had a dirt roof a door in one gable end and a window in the other end. Our furniture was all homemade, of slabs and willows. There was a cupboard built in one side for our dishes, which were brought from England. Large willows were used in the construction of the bedstead which was lashed with bed-cord. Our ticks were filled with dry grass and rushes from the nearby slough. Annie was born here. Our provisions for the first year consisted, (in the main) of 5 gallons of molasses, 5 bushels of potatoes, 5 bushels of wheat, and other miscellaneous food items which we obtained by labor and purchase. We lived here for two years,then later, we bought out a Scandinavian by the name of Larson and built a one-room adobe 12×14 with a dirt roof and dirt floor, with one window and a door made of rough lumber. We lived here eight or ten years, then moved out east on our farm.” William England. The dirt floors in the early Plain City homes were succeeded by flat rocks hauled from the hot springs, then adobe and later bricks; after the establishment of the brick yards. Then came the split log or junction floors and last, rough boards full of knot holes. A cellar was usually placed under the house. Paper was pasted over the boards so the cold couldn’t come through. The frame work of the chairs was usually made of cottonwood or willows with rawhide or cane seats. In the house where Josephine Davis Ipsen was born, her mother, Anna Beckstrom Davis, slept on the wheat in the wheat bin and here is where Josephine was born. Lumber and glass began to be used in the construction of homes in Plain City in the early sixties. Some furniture was made of dry goods boxes. Tree stumps were sometimes used for chairs. The first dishes were carved from wood. Some crockery was obtained from Brown’s Crockery Factory at Brigham City. Cottonwood and willows from Weber River were used quite extensively in the construction of the early homes. Later lumber was obtained from Wilson’s saw mill in Ogden Canyon. This was hauled down by ox teams. Three or four days were required to make the trip. Household furnishings of John Moyes’ home as given by his daughter Sarah Moyes Gale. “The benches, tables, and cupboards were all homemade. There were no nails to fasten the boards together so wooden pegs were used. About 1867, we got some store furniture, a lounge and a bed which were used as a pattern for other furniture. Slabs and rough boards were used in making our homemade furniture. We usually whitewashed our adobe with whitewash which we made from the clay at “Cold Springs.” Our first brooms were made from sagebrush, rabbit brush, then later, from broom corn. We painted pictures with paint from colored cloth soaked in water. Our first stove was a little “step stove brought across the plains.” It cost $100. Father bought a sewing machine at the same time. There were no screens for doors or windows. We made fly catchers of straw tied together with string and made in a rosette. Curtains for our dry-goods boxes furniture were made of calico obtained from Salt Lake City. Our tubs, spoons, bowls, etc., were of wood. Also, our churn and spinning wheel (except the head and spindle.) Our fuel was mostly sagebrush, willows etc. I remember when Christopher O. Folkman brought a piece of coal to school to show the children. Our first lights “bitch lights” were made of strips of cloth twisted together and set in a dish of grease. Then came tallow candles made in a wooden mold. Our mold went all over the town. Everyone took tallow candles to the meeting house for a party or dance. Sarah Gale and Lyman Skeen. EARLY TREES John Hodson planted many trees both shade and fruit trees around his home. He also planted the large tree that grows by Elmo Read’s place. Joseph Skeen planted many trees also. Those who planted fruit trees earliest in Plain City were: John Spiers, Alonzo Knight, William England, Charles Weatherston, Hans Lund, Peter C. Green, Otto Swenson, Abraham Maw, James Rowe, John Carver, William Geddes, Edwin Dix, Jonathan Moyes, Fred Rolf. John Carver planted two rows of cottonwood trees by his place. The favorite fruit trees were: apple, peach, cherry, pear, plum. The favorite shade trees were: poplar, cottonwood, box elder, locust, mulberry, catalpha, base wood, black walnut. The mulberry trees were a reminder of the attempt to establish a silk factory in Plain City. Meetings were discontinued in Plain City from September 30, 1870 to March 5, 1871 on account of a smallpox epidemic which was raging in the community. On the 1st of November, 1870, a meeting was held relative to preparing a place near Salt Creek for the smallpox patients. (Ward minutes.) This place was built, but found to be too small, so on the 2nd or 3rd of November it was enlarged. It was not a success, however, as the facilities for caring for the patients were poor and meager. The house was cold and drafty, which caused the death of many who would have survived with better care. Some families suffered a severe loss, among these were William Skeen, Alonza Knight, William Gampton, and many others; nearly every family suffered some loss. The first weavers were Mary and Trina Hanson. John England wove cloth, his father being a weaver in England and perfected the first, if not the very first power loom used in this country. Mary Katherine Shurtliff operated a little store in connection with her weaving. Anna Beckstrom Christensen could shear a sheep, spin the wool, and weave it into cloth. Catherine Folkman and Susannah Richardson also wove carpets. SILK INDUSTRY Erastus Snow in early days advised the pioneers to plant mulberry trees and raise silk worms. Several trees were planted (many of which are still standing today) and the worms obtained, but the industry was soon abandoned as it was not profitable. Those who planted trees were: the Geddes family, Jeppe G. Folkman, Bertha Lund, Anna Christine Hansen, Mr. and Mrs. Lindilof, Elizabeth Moyes. Elizabeth Moyes was engaged in the manufacturing of the silk. SHOE MAKERS Thomas Wilds and Millie Himston’s grandfather. Hans Peterson, who built his own adobe house, Thomas Singleton and his brother Charles. William Sharp was also a plaster, stone mason and adobe maker. Joshua Messurvy, who superintended the building of the meeting house benches, built the pulpit in the meeting house. A beautiful work of art, being all inlaid work, made from wood of different kinds of trees was done by William Miller. Annie Katherine Hedwig Rasmussen Hansen, wife of Hans Christian Hansen, was the first midwife in Plain City. She came here between 1860 and 1862, while her husband was on a mission to Denmark. She was born in Forborg, Denmark, October 3, 1823. She was baptized January, 1852, came to Salt Lake City October 1, 1853, moved to Ogden, later settling first at ginghams Fort, then in Harrisville. She was asked by the bishop of Plain City to come down and practice her profession. Her log house at Harrisville was torn down by the men the bishop sent, carried to Plain City, and re-erected on a 2% piece of ground, which the ward gave her. Sister Hansen was among those called to take a course in nursing and obstetrics, under the direction of Eliza R. Snow. She practiced in Plain City for many years. She died March 31, 1899. Jane Pavard England, wife of John England, was another early midwife, coming in 1862. She was set apart for this work on the ship while coming over and promised that she would be very successful. This promise was literally fulfilled. She was born August 2, 1815, near Yeoble Somerset, England. She died in Plain City on November 20, 1882. Another midwife was Elizabeth Murray Moyes, daughter of John Murray and Sarah Bates, and wife of John Moyes. She was born December 24, 1840, at Elizabethtown, Michigan. She came to Sugarhouse Ward in Salt Lake in the early ’50’s She and her husband moved to Plain City in October, 1865. She learned obstetrics from Dr. Shipp in Salt Lake City. She practiced in Harrisville, Warren, Farr West, and Plain City for twenty years. She died on January 4, 1905, in Plain City of pneumonia. Martha Stewart Geddes was another midwife. She was born May 10, 1838, in Scotland and died August 11, 1900 at Plain City. IMMIGRATION FUND A company was organized at the October conference of 1849, for the purpose of facilitating the gathering of the Saints to Zion. It was incorporated and a committee appointed to gather funds to be used in assisting the saints of foreign countries to emigrate to Zion. It continued until 1887, when it was discontinued through the passage of the Edmund Tucker Act. Its funds were confiscated by the U. S. government and distributed among the schools. It was a perpetual self sustaining fund because those who received aid were supposed to return to the fund the amount they had received, as soon as they were able. The sum of the original cost contributions was $5,000. There was $2,000 in gold raised by the British Saints. The pioneers were called upon for donations of time, oxen, wagons, and money. As many as 500 wagons were furnished some seasons. Plain City assisted in this as they have always done in every worthy cause. On May 25, 1873, donations for the immigration fund was received from those faithful pioneers of Plain City. On May 22, 1874, a meeting for the considering of the Organization of the United Order was held. Committee members were: L. W. Shurtliff, President, John Carver, assistant, John Spiers, Secretary, George W. Bramwell, assistant Secretary, Jens Peter Folkman, Alonzo Knight, Peter C. Green, Managers. On August 15, 1875 the rules of the order were read. (From Ward records.) ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY Plain City Branch was organized in May, 1859, by President Lorin Parr and Bishop Chauncy W. West. William Wallace Raymond was appointed president of the branch with Danial Collett and Jeppe G. Folkman, counselors, and John Spiers as clerk. Danial Collett moved to Cache Valley that same year, so John Carver was called to fill the vacancy. At this meeting the settlement received its name of “Plain City.” Someone had suggested City of the Plains,” but this was rejected as being too long, so the name of Plain City was chosen. This little settlement was a town out on the plains away from any one town. It was a city of the plains. John Carver Cabin REMINISCENCES OF MARY ANN CARVER GEDDES “I remember a meeting held in the adobe meeting house. Eliza R. Snow and Jane R. Richards were in attendance. We knelt on the dirt floor. Sister Snow said we little girls would live to see the day when time would be “hurried.” Our light came from fine pieces of sagebrush piled on the hearth. We had one corner where we kept the big pieces for heat and another where we kept the small pieces for light. In 1861, a county precinct was organized at Plain City with Abraham Brown, Justice of the Peace, and William Geddes as constable. A post office was established in 1864, with William W. McGuire as the first postmaster. He brought the mail in his high silk hat to church and distributed it among the congregation. At this time it required 2\ days by ox team and 2 days with horses to go to Salt Lake City and back.” Joseph Skeen was appointed water master with Ezekial Hopkins and Jeppe G. Folkman, assistants. Mr. Folkman remained in his position until May 2, 1872. On May 22, 1870, President Raymond resigned his position as President of the Plain City Branch. On August 21, 1870, Lewis W. Shurtliff was appointed President, with John Carver as 1st Counselor, and Jeppe G. Folkman as 2nd Counselor. William W. McGuire was presiding teacher. At the Peter Stake Conference, held on May 27, 1877, Lewis W. Shurtliff was appointed Bishop of the Plain City Ward. He was sustained by the people next day, May 28, with John Spiers as 1st Counselor, and Peter C. Green as 2nd Counselor. Franklin D. Richards, John Taylor, Erastus Snow, and D. H. Perry, officiating. On December 15, 1878, a cemetery committee was appointed. It consisted of: Charles Neal, Charles Weatherstone, William Geddes, Jens Peter Folkman. On January 22, 1883, George W. Bramwell was appointed bishop. On May 3, 1883, some means were collected to build a poor house. REMINISCENCES OF WILLIAM ENGLAND “The settlement became prosperous and it wasn’t long before Plain City became known far and near for its delicious fruits and vegetables. Fifty-nine years of my life have been spent here. When I settled in Plain City in 1862, there were a few one-room adobe houses and one or two log houses. The main part of the town was laid out. The north lane and the Poplar district was added later. Charles Weatherstone’s was the farthest street south. Higbe lived on the Weber River and ran a ferry boat. The first ferry boat was a molasses boiler. This was then the main road to Salt Lake. I never met any hostile Indians on the “plains.” I want to relate an incident, a man carried away a relic from an Indian burial ground. The captain of the company made him go back and return it. He was gone nearly all night. My first job in Salt Lake was stripping sugar cane for John Young. I received one gallon of molasses for the days wage, two quarts of which I ate for supper and the rest in the morning. I never had any extreme hardships. Our parties lasted nearly all night. We danced by the light of tallow candles and sagebrush fire. A lunch was served at midnight.” Lyman said that when his father, Joseph Skeen, first came to Plain City, he brought a tent with him and that is where some of the first meetings were held. SCHOOL HOUSES AND MEETING HOUSES The first school and meeting house was built in 1859. It was of adobe 18 x 24 feet and was located on the south side of the public square, just opposite and a little northeast of the present meeting house. It faced the east. It had a dirt floor and roof. There was a door in the east end, a fireplace in the west and two windows in each side. Men were called to make adobes for this building. It served the community for a meeting house, school house, and amusement hall for a number of years. The furniture consisted of split log benches and two long boards hung on the two sides to be used as desks, one for the boys and one for the girls. These were dropped down while a dance was in progress. We had no textbooks. In McGuire’s school we had square pieces of boards with the letters of the alphabet burned in them, which we were supposed to memorize. Oral spelling was the rule. George Musgrave was the first school teacher. His first school was held in his “dugout.” Mary Ann Geddes George Musgrave was also a musician and gave private lessons. He also was the first choir leader. In 1863, a split log addition to the meeting was built on the east end. It was 12 x 18 feet. At this time, the whole building was shingled from shingles brought from Salt Lake City. A bowery of willows was constructed near the meeting house to be used in the summer time. In 1863, when the addition was built, the meeting house was plastered for the first time. A rough table was placed in the west end to be used as a pulpit. Sagebrush for the meeting house was hauled from the north range and Little Mountain. On April 16, 1871, a vote was taken in Sunday meeting concerning the building of a new meeting house. A committee was appointed on June 25, 1871, to oversee the building of the new meeting house. President L. W. Shurtliff, John Spiers and N. P. Lindilof were appointed. They decided to build it of adobe. On July 9, $15.00 was collected to begin building on July 18. W. W. Acquire Secretary, and Charles Neal, Treasurer were added to the committee. On September 18, 1870, W. W. Raymond, William Geddes, and William VanDyke were appointed to act as school trustees. This new meeting and school house was completed in 1873 or 1874. It was located on the northeast corner of the public square. It was in use as an amusement hall as late as 1907. It had a small stage in the north end and a small entrance room on the south. On May 5, 1874, the ward minutes state that the first meeting was held in the new meeting house. The organ is mentioned for the first time. William McGuire was the second school teacher. The first one to teach in the little adobe school house on the south side of the square, as I can remember was Ann Geddes. William Geddes carried part of the Bible to school to learn to read from it. We also read from the church publications, Harpers Weekly, The Contributor, Women’s Expondent, etc. The first readers I remember were Wilson’s, Bancrofts, Meguffeys. We studied grammar from Pineo’s Primary Grammar. Arithmetic from Rays Arithmetic. In McGuire’s school we also had a blackboard with the letters of the alphabet on it. Some of the literature we read was, Ogden Junction, Millennial Star, Journal of Discourses, Bible, Doctrine and Covenants, Book of Mormon. I attended school in 1873 at George Musgrave’s home. Mary Geddes There were no school bells in those days. The master, Mr. McGuire, called the school together by going to the door and shouting, “Books, Books,” at the top of his voice. The pupils ran as fast as they could for woe be to the laggards. If a child misbehaved and was not caught, the whole school was “thrashed” in order to punish the guilty one. The bible was the principle textbook used. Those who could afford slates had them. The first slate I ever had was a piece given to me by Seretta Raymond. It had broken off from her slate. She gave me a little piece to use as a pencil. In order to keep Jack Spiers out of mischief, Mr. McGuire tied him to the table leg. George Spiers said, ”Minnie Carver would be the best girl in school if the rest didn’t spoil her.” M. A. Geddes All these first schools were tuition schools. A tuition of $3.00 per quarter was paid to the teacher by the parents who were also required to furnish all necessary supplies to their children. EARLY AMUSEMENTS The people have always fostered amusements and entertainment of various kinds. The various show companies who have staged plays there have referred to it frequently as a “good show town.” This is probably due to the fact that several among the early pioneers were gifted with dramatic ability and fostered and encouraged the art in the little new community. Plain City, like all Mormon settlements has also encouraged dancing as a form of recreation. The very first year of settlement, before they had time even to construct a suitable place, they held a dance. It was on the 24th of July, 1859. The place was the “Barrens” down west of the settlement. The music was furnished by a “comb band” and many of the dancers were barefoot. Everyone had a good time regardless of the conditions under which they were dancing. “Numerous parties were held at the private homes. They danced outside on the dooryard which was hard as rock.” Susannah Robinson Beddes “Once when Thomas Carliss came from Kay’s Ward to visit the Eames’, the Wadman’s, and Carver’s, he brought his fiddle along and we put on a dance. The young folks danced frequently on the public square. Mrs. John Spiers wore the first party dress I ever saw. One of the ways of entertaining ourselves was to gather around some neighbors hearth and sing songs. We liked to meet at Hansen’s because they were all such good singers. David Booth and his brother, Henry, sang “Larboard Watch” very beautifully together. Abraham Maw and his wife, Eliza, sang duets. We usually dropped in at some neighbors to spend the evening. After the molasses milks were built, we young people had frequent “candy pulls.” They gave us the “skimmings” to make molasses candy. We also had “cutting and fruit drying,” corn husking, wool picking, rag, hay picking, and quilting bees. After the work was cleared away, we would sit in a circle and play games such as Bass the button. Our refreshments were usually molasses cake, dried apple pie. The apples were cut in 4 pieces and laid upon a roof to dry. We had frequent picnic parties. At our dances in George Musgrave’s school house, John Moyes often played his accordion. We liked to play “Run Sheep Run” and “Hide and Seek” down in the west end of town. Charles Singleton and Eliza Ann Turner Singleton, his wife, enjoyed this sport with the rest of us “kids.” There were bonfires at the end of each goal. George Draney was the fastest runner in Plain City. (Mary A. Geddes) In the winter there were bob sleigh riding parties. .The horses had sleigh bells on their harnesses which jingled as they ran. Our dances in the winter time commenced in the afternoon and lasted well into the evenings. Dances were held in the old adobe school house on the south side of the square in the winter and in the bowery which was nearby in the summertime. We danced on the hard dirt floor at first, many in their bare feet. Some had fancy boots on. My Brother, Mathias Lund, had purchased a pair to wear at a dance in the old bowery and being a “fussy” man, had gotten them plenty snug. When he tried to get them on he couldn’t, so he removed his socks, greased his feet, and they slipped on without any effort. He went to the dance and danced the finger polka and the mazurka with the best of them. (Willard Lund) During the holidays, parties were held at Charles Neal’s, Folkman’s, Spiers’, Skeen’s, Shoemaker’s, Geddes’, Eames’, Carver’s and other homes in Plain City. The choir usually gave concerts during the holidays. On Christmas Eve, they usually serenaded the town and the band serenaded on Christmas morning. I remember once when mother was baking custard pies for a party in the big bake oven. Some of it got tipped over and was discarded as not fit for “company.” So, we children had our fill of custard pies for once. (M. A. Geddes) Church fairs were held in the old school house. Booths of various kinds were arranged around the room, also “fun houses”, auctions, etc. The band was always in attendance. Much of the money for the financing of the church building was obtained through these church fairs. Once, Becky Hiatt, Rill and Zell Smith wished to attend the fair at Plain City, so Becky and Rill made three dresses in one day. Then Becky fried the chicken for lunch and Zell made the cake and they came to the fair and danced. (Rebecca Hiatt Weatherstone) In the fall of 1868, Mrs. Muegrave’s daughter, Louisa, rode horseback from Plain City to Ogden to take charge of the fancy work booth at the fair. The first amusement hall erected in Plain City was a frame building that stood one block south, from the southeast corner of the public square. It was erected in 1890 at a cost of $2,500. This amusement hall served the people for about 13 years when it was accidentally burned. Besides this hall there was the Berryessa Hall located one block south of the southwest corner of the square. After the destruction of the ward amusement hall in 1903, the people once more used the old adobe school house on the northeast corner of the public square as a recreation center. In 19131914, a brick amusement hall was erected south of and adjoining the meeting house. It had classrooms below. It had hardwood floors, a stage, and equipment. On the committee was Lyman Skeen, John Maw, and Stephen Knight. On Christmas, we usually had a program in the morning and a children’s dance in the afternoon. The Sunday School always had a Christmas tree with presents on it for the children. Everyone brought candles to the dance for light, until coal oil lamps began to be used. Our first coal oil lamp was one that fastened on the walls with tin reflectors at the back. Then came fancy chandeliers that were fastened to the ceiling, also various kinds of table lamps. Then the gas mantle lamps and finally electricity came. Our dances were all opened and closed with prayer, as the first ones were held in buildings used for religious purposes as well as recreation. There was always intermission for lunch about midnight. The dancing was interspersed with songs, recitations, etc. Some of those who entertained in this way were Thomas Davis and his wife, Mary, Edward Palmer, David and Henry Booth, who sang duets, Abraham Maw and wife Eliza, Edwin Din, and Louisa Hopkins. We had mostly square dances. Accordions, combs and sometimes fiddles were used at these parties. Many good times were had at the home of Amanda Richardson as her husband was a real good violinist. We told the time of day by means of a contrivance that followed the shadow of the sun around. Consequently, we couldn’t tell the time on a cloudy day. MUSIC AND DRAMA Plain City in early days always had a brass band, a choir, a dramatic association and a baseball team. The first band was organized in 1864 or 1865 with Thomas Singleton as leader. A man by the name of George Parkman came up from Salt Lake City to organize the band and give lessons to the players. The first instruments were purchased from Fort Douglas Band. The money being raised by donations of cash and molasses. Will Geddes gave the first $5 and others soon followed his lead. The organization took place in front of the old Singleton home. Some of the members are recalled by Mr. Singleton as: Charles Neal, William Stewart, Charles Singleton, William Sharp, Abraham Maw, Edward Goddard, Lorenzo Padley, Edwin Dix, Charles Heath, George Musgrave, Thomas Musgrave, and William Geddes. The second band was the Heath band. The instruments for this band were obtained in the east. The money was raised by the Dramatic Company of Plain City. Charles Heath was the leader of this band. He did all the early painting in Plain City. He painted the scenery for the dramatic association and was president of the association for some time. Some of the members of this band were Alfred Bramwell, John Bramwell, Frank Bramwell, Abraham Maw, William Geddes, William Stewart, Haskell Shurtliff, Richard Lund, James Lund, Henry Eames, Robert Eames, Joseph Geddes, Samual Draney, and Thomas Cottle, The first dramatic association consisted of Louisa Hopkins Moyes, Edwin Dix, Charles Heath, O. J. Swensen, David Booth, Victorine Muegrave, Mary Ann Sharp, Elizabeth Sharp. Some of the plays were: “Ten Knights in a Bar Room,” “Emmeraldo or Justice of Takon.” “Charcoal Burner,” and many other good plays. They traveled around to the different towns. The second dramatic association consisted of: Joseph Geddes, Joseph Skeen, Henry Eames, Mary Ann Carver Geddes, Elizabeth Eames, Lillie Stoker Sharp, Annie Hansen, Samual Draney, Josephine Ipson Rawson, Charles Heath, as leader, Archabold Geddis, Alfred Bramwell, Frank Bramwell, John Bramwell. They presented the following plays: “Mistletoe Bough,” “Mickle Earl” or “Maniac Lover,” “Fruits of the Wine Cup,” “Streets of New York,” “The Two Galley Slaves,” “The Rough Diamond,” “Earnest Mall Travers,” “Ten Knights in a Bar Room.” Sarah Singleton was the little girl who sang the song “Father, O Father, Come Home To Me Now.” This company played in Willard, Harrisville, and other surrounding towns. They raised $400 to buy band instruments for the Charles Heath Band. Plain City always prided itself upon having a good ball team. At one time their baseball team conquered all teams they played except Salt Lake. During this period their greatest rival was the Willard Team, which possessed a curve pitcher. This was something new in baseball at that time. Earnest Bramwell of Plain City learned from Mr. Wells how to throw a curve ball and became the second curve pitcher in Utah. Members of the baseball team included: Catcher, Willard Neal, Catcher, Hans P. Petersen, Catcher, Levi Richardson, Pitcher, Joseph Geddes, First base, Milo Sharp, Second base, Cornelius Richardson, Third base, Willard Neal, Right field, Madison Thomas, Center field, Fred Wheeler, Left field, and William L. Stewart as short stop. Every pioneer family had its lye barrel for extracting lye from wood ashes. A round perforated piece of wood was fitted inside the barrel near the bottom, upon which grease wood ashes were placed. Water was poured over these ashes and it settled in the bottom of the barrel carrying the lye from the ashes in the solution. This was combined with grease and boiled down to soap. When it was “done” it was poured into a tub to cool and harden. Then it was cut into squares and placed upon a board or table outside to dry. Salt was extracted from the water of the Great Salt Lake. Soda was made from alkali. Fine starch was made from potatoes grated fine and the juice pressed out and placed in the sun to dry. Flour starch was used to starch common things. Wool was spun into thread and then woven into cloth. The wool which was gathered from the fences and bushes was washed, carded, and made into bats for quilts. Some nails and bullets were made in the home. Also, rag carpets and rugs were home manufactured. Candle dipping, spinning, weaving, hand sewing, knitting, crocheting, tatting, were done at home. When a pioneer lady wanted a piece of lace or embroidery for herself for a petticoat or a dress, she made it herself or engaged her neighbor to make it for her. Then there were the quilting of quilts and petticoats, hat making, broom making, etc. In fact, most of the articles in daily use in the home were made by some member of the family. STRAWHATS Straws were split, soaked, braided either in three or four, five or seven-strand lengths, sewed together along the edges to make the hat. This was then rolled, blocked, and pressed. Minnie Hansen Lund taught hat making in Plain City. Josephine Ipson was one of her pupils . Susannah Robinson learned the art of making straw hats from Annie Dye, wife of Joseph A. Taylor. David Booth made beaver hats from rabbit fur. Sweetening was made from the juice of sugar cane and watermelons. The juice was pressed out and boiled down to a syrup. Fruits and vegetables were dried. Everyone made their own butter and cheese and raised their own vegetables and fruit. Vinegar was made by getting the vinegar plant, called the “Mother” pouring water over it and adding sugar or some sweetening and letting it stand in a warm place until the proper state of acidity was reached. Some vinegar was made from apple juice. Shortbread was eaten at first. Then with the introduction of white flour came “salt rising bread, also “sour dough bread.” Corn bread was used a great deal also. After the yeast germ was introduced, people began using more bread leavened with yeast. They would save a little start of this yeast from one mixing of bread to the next and add potatoes, water, and sugar. In every community, there were women who specialized in making yeast, which they exchanged with their neighbors for flour. Annie Neal did this. Meats were pickled in brine or dry salted for summer use. It was also smoked in the cold winter and kept frozen. Relief Society as told by Mary Ann Carver Geddes. A Relief Society was organized in Plain City on January 3, 1868, with Almira Raymond as President, Margaret Shoemaker as First Counselor, Mary Ann Carver as Second Counselor, Victorine Musgrave as Secretary, succeeded by Mary Ann Spiers and Annie Folkman as Treasurer. Mrs. Alice Robinson and her partner Anna Eames walked to Warren, a distance of four miles through deep sand to visit the families who lived down there and give them aid if needed. Most of the donations in those days were in produce. Many of the meetings were devoted entirely to work and business. The sisters brought their spinning wheels and spun yarn for the society. Even the children helped. One of the duties of the relief society teachers was to gather up donations of soap, clothing, or anything the people could give, which was distributed among those in need. They also went into sick homes to doctor the people. They also sat up nights with the sick, gave them food, clothing, or whatever was needed. THE WHEAT PROJECT Eliza R. Snow came to Plain City to start the storing of wheat. Those who didn’t raise wheat of their own went into the fields to glean. The work was all done by hand. The wheat was cut with a cradle, raked with wooden rakes, and piled in small piles. The salt industry at one time was quite a thriving industry and employed many people. It helped very materially in the financing of the ward. The salt pits were located northwest of the town on the edge of the Salt Lake. At one time, there were as many as twenty camps with 100 people on the payroll. Many girls and women from the surrounding settlement helped gather the salt and also cooked for the men employees. The coarse or unrefined salt was obtained by digging pits, filling them full of salt water from the lake which evaporated and left deposits of salt in the pits. The crude salt was hauled by teams to the Hot Springs and shipped to the mining towns of Montana to be used in the smelters and also on the cattle ranches. It was also hauled to Cache Valley and traded for grain. Some finer grains of salt were refined by boiling the salt water in wood-lined vats called salt boilers and over sagebrush fires. Those engaged in the salt business were Clayborne Thomas, Jens Peter Folkman, Charles Neal, William Geddes, Joseph Geddes, Christen Olsen, and William Steward. They contracted to deliver salt to the smelting companies of Montana and worked up a lively trade. Some of those who worked at the “salt works” were Caroline Palmer, Ellen Peterson, Frances Carver, Martina Peterson, Matilda Folkman, Sarah Moyes, Nephi Hansen, and Jens Peter Folkman and a salt mill at the latter’s home where the salt was ground and sacked ready for the market. Matilda Folkman, Sarah Moyes, Cordelia Moyes Carver, sewed the sacks. BRICK YARDS A suitable clay was found on the banks of the Weber River for the making of brick. Joseph Geddes, William Hodson, and George Q. Moyes had a brick yard. The early pioneers raised their own meat. They raised and slaughtered their own beef and hogs and sold the meat to the people from their “meat wagons” which made regular runs through the town. They also made stops in the nearby towns. John England owned the first slaughter house. It was located 1% miles northeast from the public square on the Hot Springs road. Jens Peter Folkman and John Vause had the first butcher shop. Gus Peterson had a “slaughter house” and a “meat wagon.” He ran his business on a sort of cooperative plan. People put in their beef and pork and drew the value out in fresh meats they wanted it. Jens Peter Folkman ran a “coop” butcher shop. Also, Peter M., his son, had a butcher shop. Maroni Skeen and Fred Rolph did the killing for a large firm of butchers. FRENCH RETRENCHMENT SOCIETY Organized by Eliza R. Snow on November 16, 1875. Emily Wainwright Shurtliff was appointed President, with Mary Raymond as First Counselor, Bertha Lund as Second Counselor, and Jane Stewart as Third Counselor. Margery Elizabeth Crawford was Secretary, Marjorie Shoemaker as Assistant, and American Stephens as Secretary/Treasurer. CHARTER MEMBERS: Jane Alice Turner, Sarah E. Singleton, Rachel Frances Carver Sophia Singleton, Mary Geddes, Isabel Eames, Almeda Raymond, Mary Peterson, Sarah Moyes, Laura M. Graham, Hannah M. Christensen, Annie Josephine Davis, Matilda Folkman, Annie Folkman, Charlotte Lindelof, Helen Graham, Minnie Carver Julia Knight, Mary Maw, Emily Neal, Eliza Folkman, Elizabeth Geddes, Elsie Marie Green, Julia Cottle, Georgina Rolfe, Eliza Rawson, Hannah Eliza Graham, Mrs. Laura Richardson, Matilda Lindelof, Lucy Knight, Matilda Weatherstone, Martha Knight, Mrs. Emma Richardson, Annie Geddes, Isabel Draney, Catharine Maw, Annie England, Dinah Maw, Polley Goddard, Mrs. Christine Lund, Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, Emma Stewart, Agnes Geddes, Louisa Gampton, Elizabeth Eames, Millie Richardson, Eliza Turner, Mrs. Rose England, Josephine Folkman, Hilda Christensen, Annie Green, Hannah Maria Rawson. The procedure of the 13th Ward of Salt Lake City was taken as an example to follow in inducing attendance at sacrament meeting and the curtailment of extravagance in dress; also the promoting of faith among the members. In February, 1876, the Y~MIA was organized with William England President. The Primary Association was organized in 1881 with Susannah Robinson as President. The first Sunday School books were bought with molasses donated by the people. The early settlers traveled over the old Plain City to Ogden road in order to market their produce in the “Junction City.” A lot of early commercial intercourse was carried on with Salt Lake City as well. In order to reach Salt Lake City, it was necessary to cross the Weber River over Higbee’s Ferry which was located south of the town. The first means of transportation were ox teams and horses or mules. Many people rode horseback to Ogden when they went on business or for a small amount of supplies. After the lumber wagons, came the white top buggies and surreys. Then the bicycle and automobile. It wasn’t until 1909 that Plain City had Communications with Ogden by means of railroad. On October 15, and 16, of that year, the citizens of Harrisville and Parr West and many from Ogden joined with the residents of Plain City in a great celebration in honor of the completion of the U.I.C. branch line to Plain City. Six carloads of enthusiastic excursionists came over the new line. Many of them were former residents of Plain City. They joined the local citizens in a fiesta of singing, talking, dancing, and feasting. Lyman Skeen and John Maw were instrumental in bringing this much-needed means of transportation to the community. A small steam engine hauled passengers and express to Five Points. Later to Harrisville where passengers and freight were transferred to the Cache Valley electric train. Then later, the road to Plain City was finally electrified, but owing to the keen competition of the automobile passengers, service was discontinued a few years later. However, freight and sugar beets were still being hauled over the line. William England was hired by the Kimball/Laurence Company Merchant Freighters to drive a freight wagon across the plains. He was from April 9, 1862, to September 15, 1862, making the trip to Salt Lake City. He also drove wagons from Salt Lake to California for a large company. AMANDA RICHARDSON’S STATEMENT “The Indians tanned the calf and sheen hides for the settlers. They used to come and dry themselves before our fireplace and change their babies. They lined their babies’ baskets with rabbit skins in order to protect them from the cold. We stacked our sagebrush with the butts out, tops to the center in a round pile.” SOME EARLY SCHOOL TEACHERS George Musgrave and wife Victorine, William McGuire, George W. Bramwell, George Carver, Mina Raymond, Joel Shoemaker. The roads were kept up by a toll-tax levied on each family. There was a toll gate at the entrance to the road thru Ogden Canyon. The pioneers built their own roads by donations of work and money. John P. Draney and William Geddes were the first two men to blast rock in Ogden Canyon. William Sharp was the first stone mason in Plain City, born in Mison, Notts, England December 10, 1828; died in Plain City, Utah December 21, 1901. He Built the Episcopal Church (school house) in 1877. He also built the old Singleton home, Robert Maw’s adobe house. He was a musician and played the cornet in Plain City’s first band. He worked with Thomas Singleton, a carpenter, in constructing many of Plain City’s early houses. THOMAS SINGLETON He was the first band leader in Plain City. He was an early carpenter of Plain City, also laid adobes. He was a musician. The first band in Plain City was organized at his home. He was born in Mison, England, January 7, 1823; died January 1, 1895 in Plain City. He was a good singer. His brother, Charles, was also a musician, being both a singer and an instrumentalist. Charles Musgrave and his brothers Thomas and George, were also musicians. They were good singers and entertained frequently at parties. Other singers were Edwin Dix, William Sharp, William Stewart, Robert Maw, Victorine Muegrave, Tom Singleton, Victorine Sharp, Milo Sharp and wife, Lily, who was also a poet. Henry W. Wadman was the earliest known doctor in Plain City. John Danvers treated people for various ailments. Lyman Skeen extracted teeth. Annie Katherine Hedwig Rasmussen-Hansen, wife of Hans Christian Hansen, was the first midwife in Plain City. She was born October 3, 1823, in Forborg, Denmark She was baptized in January, 1852, came to Salt Lake October 1, 1853, then later to Ogden. She settled first at gingham’s Fort, then moved to Harrisville. She was asked by the Bishop of Plain City to come down there to practice midwifery. She came between 1860 and 1862 while her husband was on a mission to Denmark. Some of the Plain City men went to Harrisville, took down her log house, moved it to Plain City, and re-erected it on a 2\ acre tract of land Liven to her by the people of Plain City. This work was accomplished in one day. She practiced her profession in Plain City for many years. She was one of those called to take the course in midwifery and nursing at Salt Lake City under the direction of Eliza R. Snow. She died at Plain City March 31, 1899. Jane Pavard England, wife of John England, was Plain City’s second midwife. She was born near Yeoble, Somerset, England, August 2, 1815. She married when seventeen years of age. Her husband was in the printing and publishing business for eight years in London. She buried nine children in Bridport, England. She and her husband came to Plain City in 1862, where she practiced until her death on November 20, 1882. She never lost a case. She and her husband were weavers in the same cloth factory in England. He died at Plain City. Martha Stewart Geddes, wife of William Geddes, was another early midwife of Plain City. She was born May 10, 1838, in Scotland. She practiced until the time of her death August 11, 1900 at Plain City. Mrs. Elizabeth Murray Hayes, wife of John Moyes, was sent by the Bishop of Plain City to Salt Lake to learn obstetrics. She practiced for many years in Plain City. She was born in Michigan, December 24, 1840, died in Plain City January 4, 1904 or 1905. Her early life was spent in Murray, Utah, which was named after her father, John Murray, who was an early patriarch of that locality. From Murray, the family moved first to North Salt Lake and then to Kay’s Creek (Kaysville) where she met and married John Moyes on March 4, 1858. Shortly after, their marriage they moved to Spanish Fork, then down to the Muddy and back to Spanish Fork again, and finally to Plain City in October, 1865. Elizabeth Moyes had a beautiful singing voice and often sang at dances accompanying herself on the harp. She had dark brown ringlets which hung to her waist. She could card, spin, knit and sew. She learned obstetrics from Dr. Schipp in Salt Lake City, and after obtaining her certificate, she practiced in Warren, Farr West, Harrisville and Plain City for over twenty years. She would go to homes where there were small children and work one half a day besides waiting on the mother for $3.00 per day. Mary Ann Carver Geddes, wife of William Stewart Geddes, a practical nurse in Plain City for many years, came to Plain City with her parents John Carver and Mary Ann Eames Carver in 1859 when two years of age. John Spiers was an early Justice of the Peace in Plain City. He was born February 19, 1822, at Worcester, England, died in Plain City November 12, 1895. He was one of the original company of pioneers who arrived in Plain City on March 17, 1859. He took an active part in the religious and civic life of the town. He was the first president of the old Z.C.M.I. of Plain City organized in March, 1869. He was an early gardener of Plain City and had the largest garden. (1871) He was appointed Secretary of the United Order Committee on May 23, 1874. He was Meeting House Com. Clerk of Branch in 1859; was the First Counselor to L. W. Shurtliff when he became Plain City’s first Bishop May 27, 1877. William VanDyke also. William Thomas Stoker was a harness maker of Plain City. He was born June 4, 1850, in England, died on October 21, 1908 in Plain City. He was one of Plain City’s early merchants. Edward Goddard, was one of the prominent men of Plain City in early days. He was not a pioneer of 1859. He was born in England in 1842, died at Plain City on June 28, 1905. He married Phoebe Sarah Speakman in England. She was born September 25, 1830, in England, died in Plain City in 1917. Edward Goddard took an active part in developing the fine arts in Plain City. He wrote plays and painted scenery. He was a step-dancer, also, a school teacher. Louisa Hopkins was the daughter of Captain Hopkins of the British Army and his wife, Louisa. She was educated in London and Paris. Upon her Father’s death she and her Mother joined the Church and came to Plain City in 1859, or early sixties. Her Mother married the 2nd Thomas Musgrave. Louisa Hopkins was a very talented and refined young woman, very dainty and beautiful. She was referred to by her friends as “beautiful little doll.” She took part in many plays and entertainments. She became a telegraph operator at Ogden where she worked for some time. She married Clint Brown in 1861 first. Second, she married Bishop Chauncy West in 1868, and after his death, she married Alfred Moyes, son of Jonathan Moyes, in 1871. She buried five children in Plain City, one by Brown, one by West, three by Moyes. After her marriage to Mr. Moyes, she and her husband moved to Idaho, where she died a few years later having lived to a ripe old age. Louisa Hopkins was born October 22, 1847, in London, England. She studied elocution and voice in London and Paris. She had a beautiful voice. She took an active part in the theatricals in Plain City. She had dark hair which she wore in ringlets and a beautiful, pearly skin. She taught school in Plain City. ALONZO KNIGHT Alonzo Knight was born October 14, 1830, in Pennsylvania, and died at Harrisville September 22, 1921. He migrated from Union southeast of Salt Lake City to Plain City in the fall of 1859, after the crops were harvested. He turned them into the tithing office at Union and drew out from the tithing office at Plain City. He first married Catherine Mequire, daughter of William W. Mequire and Charlotte Ash. Second he married Martha Sanders, daughter of Moses Martin Sanders and Amanda Fausett. He and Jeppe Folkman plowed the first furrow for the immigrants to follow from Henry Maw’s to Geddes’ corner south, and then still farther south to Weatherston’s. He was prominent in church work, having lived at Nauvoo during the Prophet’s life time before coming to Utah. He took an active part in the early life of the community of Plain City. He was one of the first to engage in the bee business. He was also a farmer, gardener, stock raiser, fruit raiser. WILLIAM GEDDES Another prominent man of Plain City and an early pioneer, was William Geddes, born in Billston, Scotland on December 8, 1832. He died in Plain City August 24, 1899. Father Hugh Geddes’ mother was Agnes Graham He was a very good musician. He played in the first band organized in Plain City in 1865, with Thomas Singleton the leader. He also was a member of Charles Heath’s and other bands in Plain City. He brought (sic) the first organ to Plain City in the early seventies. He served as constable when Plain City was organized into a county precinct in 1861. He was appointed a member of the Cemetery Committee in 1878. He became a school trustee September 18, 1870. He contributed the first $5.00 to the first band instruments purchased for the first Plain City band. He brought the first grapevine to Plain City. He was one of the men called to assist in the stonework of the Salt Lake Temple. He and John P. Draney were the first two men to blast rock in Ogden Canyon. WILLIAM STEWART GEDDES William Stewart Geddes was the son of William Geddes and Elizabeth Stewart. He was born April 5, 1856, in Salt Lake City. He died August 23, 1891, in Oregon. When a young man, he was called, along with Luman Shurtliff and Ben gingham, to work on the Salt Lake Temple. Their wages were paid by the towns of Plain City, Slaterville and Marriott. He helped carve many of the stones in the Temple. They were hauled from Little Cottonwood Canyon in what is now Granite Stake by ox team, before the completion of the railroad, one stone being fastened to the running gears of the wagon with chains. They sharpened their tools at the church blacksmith shop. They made their own charcoal to feed the flames in the blacksmith shop in pits on the Temple Grounds. Logs were piled up, set afire, then covered with dirt. William S. Geddes filled a mission to Scotland (in pencil has been written to read “Scotland from Plain City to Southern States one year, transferred to European Mission for one year. (sic) Ele married Mary Ann Carver first at the Endowment House on October 20, 1877 and Margaret Cullen second, December, 1884. JOSEPH SKEEN He was born August 10, 1816, at Sadsbury Township, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. He died at Plain City on the 15th of December, 1882. He was married to Amanda Maria Dobby. He was a member of the Mormon Battalion, coming to Salt Lake City from California when the Company was mustered out. While in California, he learned how to make sun-dried bricks from clay (called adobes) and is credited with being the first man to make them in Utah. He was one of the company of men who explored the site where Plain City is located, in the fall of 1858, and was among those who settled there on March 17, 1859. He, in connection with his sons, Lyman and William, went into the cattle and horse-breeding business in Plain City. He purchased fine stallions and thus improved the quality of the stock in Plain City and vicinity. His wife, Amanda Maria Dobby Skeen, died in Lehi November 11, 1855. LYMAN STODDARD SHEEN Lyman Stoddard Skeen was the son of Joseph and Amanda Maria Dobby Skeen, and was born December 18, 1850, at Keg Creek, Missouri. He came to Plain City on March 17, 1859, with his parents. He was a contractor and builder. He built part of the Narrow Guage Railroad on the Utah Northern in 1870-1872. He bought over 600 head of horses for the government at one time. He first harvested his grain with a sickle, then a scythe, and a cradle. The grain was ground in a coffee mill at first. He was a breeder of horses and cattle. He was successful in handling rough laborers during his railroad contracting work. There was less profanity in his camp than in any other of the camps. He never swore or used tobacco. He assisted in every public enterprise in Plain City. He helped in the construction of many railroads. He bought the cemetery fence himself. He first married Electa P. Dixon, who died April 28, 1891, then he married Annie Skelton. He was of Scotch, Yankee and Dutch descent. His grandfather settled in western Missouri. Had they crossed the river, they would have been in Mexican Territory. He was instrumental in getting the railroad into Plain City in 1908 and 1909. He died at Plain City April 4, 1933. His wife, Annie Skelton, died at Plain City January 13, 1933. Joseph Robinson was one of the pioneers of March 17, 1859. He came with the company who looked over the site in the fall of 1858. He was one of the original Plain City Pioneers. He was the son of James and Mary Robinson and was born at Stockfort, England, December 14, 1814. He was one of the first to grow alfalfa in Plain City. He married Alice Booth first, a sister of David Booth on January 1, 1843. Second, he married Susannah Beddis. He was a farmer and a gardener. His oxen often got so tired they would lie down in a row. He was one of the men sent to meet Johnston’s Army. He died at Plain City August 27, 1901 or 1891. (Ward records) He joined the church in 1848. One of the first growers of lucerne seed in Plain City was Joseph Robinson. He also raised cattle. ALICE BOOTH ROBINSON She was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, December 29, 1819. The family later moved to England where she married Joseph Robinson at Stockport, January 1, 1843. She joined the Church on November 13, 1847. They emigrated to Salt Lake City September 22, 1854. They moved to Lehi, then to Plain City on March 17, 1859. She was the first white woman to set foot on Plain City soil. She was a firm Latter day Saint. Her life was full of noble deeds. She died at Plain City January 11, 1906. She was a weaver in a cotton mill in the north of England She was a choir singer. When she came to Plain City, the men had already commenced to dig the canal. She came to Utah in Job Smith’s Company with their own outfit, two yoke of oxen, a camping kit and a new wagon. WILLIAM SKEEN Son of Joseph Skeen and Amanda Dobby Skeen, was born January 8, 1839, at Sadsbury Township, Penn. He married first Caroline Smith, daughter of Joseph J. Smith and Mary A. Smart, (Joseph J. Smith, the inventor) and second he married Mary Davis, daughter of Thomas and Mary Davis. William Skeen was one of the original Plain City pioneers who arrived on March 17, 1859. He had previously came with the party that arrived in the fall of 1858 and chose the site for the settlement. He specialized in cattle and horses. He died at Plain City February 13, 1903. His families suffered severe losses during the smallpox epidemic of 1870 and 1871. Caroline Smith Skeen was born December 24, 1840, in England, and died in Plain City December 1, 1925. Mary Davis Skeen was born April 22, 1848 in Wales, and died in Plain City November 30, 1908. CHARLES NEAL Charles Neal, son of Job Neal and Harriot Smith, was born at Stratford, Warwick, England, September 7, 1834, and died at Plain City October 29, 1914. He and his first wife, Annie Jane England Neal, came with the first company of pioneers to Plain City on March 17, 1859. He was a farmer and a gardener. He is credited with planting the first apple seeds in Plain City. They came from apples grown in Brigham Young’s orchard. He had the first “dugout” home in Plain City and built the first willow fence, he and his wife dragging the willows from the Weber River two miles away. They made 200 trips in all. He was a carpenter by trade and assisted in the erection of many homes in the community. He was a good musician, played in the band, sang in the choir, was organist and later became choir leader. GEORGE MUSGRAVE He was the first choir leader and school teacher in Plain City. He was one of the pioneers of March 17, 1859. He was born October 22, 1833, in London, England, and died November 12, 1903 at Plain City. He married Victorine Jane Dix, the adopted daughter of William Dix and Myra Goodman. He was a musician, both vocal and instrumental. He and his wife sang frequently at entertainments. He lived first where Peter Poulsen now lives, in a “dugout” and then a one-room adobe house. After-wards, he bought a two-room adobe house of Mr. Anderson (Alminda’s Grandfather) which he later enlarged by the construction of a large school room on the west side which was often used for parties of various kinds. (Lawrence Palmer owns the lot now.) William Sharp put in the foundation of this room, Charles and Thomas Singleton laid the adobes and did the carpenter work, being assisted by John Moyes who paid tuition for his children’s schooling in this way. He and his brother, Charles, were composers of songs. He was an early pioneer. He was born November 26, 1826, at Hooley Hill, Lancashire, England, and died on September 2, 1909 in Plain City. His first wife was Sarah H. Booth, and his second wife was Mrs. Susannah Beddis Robinson. He is accredited with being the second choir leader in Plain City. He was a very good bass singer and conducted a singing school in Plain City. He and his brother, Henry, often sang duets at parties. He was an early hatter of the town. He made beaver hats of rabbit fur. His parents were William Booth and Mary Ann Jackson. He lived in the little adobe house that stands partly demolished on the Berg lot. DINAH ABBETT She was the wife of Jonathan Moyes, born in England in 1818. She was left an orphan at an early age. She was sent to work in a lace factory in Wallinworth, Suffolk, England. She wound bobbins. Her stepmother was cruel to her, giving her bran to eat. When she was older, she learned to make pillow-lace. Also, she did fancy ironing in order to save money to come to America. She lived neighbors to Musgraves in London prior to coming to America. She was a very good cook. She could get a good meal with very little. She had three sons, Alfred, Lemon and John. Lemon was drowned in a pool when a small child. She died in Plain City October 27, 1871 when 53 years old. ANNIE ENGLAND NEAL She was the daughter of John England and Jane Pavard. She was born July 1, 1837 at Bradfoole Bridport, Dorsetshire, England. She died November 5, 1900 at Plain City. She joined the church in 1837 when Wilford Woodruff organized the first conference at Bristol, England. She was the first of the family to come to Utah, five years ahead of the rest of the family. She came in Evans Handcart Company in 1857 when she was 18 years of age. She met Charles Neal while crossing the plains and after reaching Salt Lake City, they both worked for Brigham Young and were married by him in their bare feet. They settled in Lehi in 1858, then came to Plain City with the first company of Pioneers on March 17, 1859, making the journey in William Skeen’s wagon. A blinding snowstorm came up shortly after their arrival. They lived where Alf Charlton now lives, in the first dugout finished in Plain City, then they built a one-room adobe house with a dirt floor and a dirt and willow roof. The lot was fenced with willows dragged from the river over two miles to the south. She had no children of her own, so she mothered Emma Neal, her husband’s niece, and also, his younger brother Willard Neal. Her own niece, Sophia England, also became a member of their household. She was post-mistress in Plain City for over 25 years. She lost some of her brothers in England who refused to take consecrated oil during a cholera epidemic. She took the oil and lived. She was a teacher in the Plain City Relief Society, liberal in her donations, and especially good to the poor. SUSANNAH BEDDIS ROBINSON BOOTH ENGLAND She was the daughter of Thomas Paul Beddis and Ann Cole. She was born July 12, 1847, in Wigan, England, and died December 30, 1920, at Plain City. She came to America in 1854. Her parents died after leaving New Orleans and she and her brother became orphans. Susannah, now seven years old, came across the plains practically alone, arriving in Salt Lake City September 30, 1854, where she was met by Joseph Robinson and his wife Alice, who took her home with them. She carried her little reticule containing her knitting across the plains. They sang around the camp-fires at night. She went to Lehi in 1855, and to Plain City on July 23, 1859. She helped Alice Robinson gather willows from the river and rocks from the springs to be used in the construction of their house. They also assisted Brother Robinson in the clearing of sagebrush from his land preparatory to the breaking it up for cropping. She was married to Joseph Robinson first, and upon his death, to David Booth, then to William England after his wife’s death. JOHN ENGLAND, SR. He was a weaver of cloth. He was the husband of Jane Pavard England, Plain City’s second midwife. He was born March 20, 1815, at Stofords Parish near Yeoble, Somerset, England, and died in Plain City April 7, 1894. He joined the Church in 1837, shortly after the opening of the Bristol Branch. His father, James England, first used and perfected the power loom in England. John learned the art of weaving in his father’s factory; so when he came to Plain City he engaged in the same business. Prior to coming to Utah, he also worked for a London Printing Company for eight years. He migrated to Utah in 1862, in James Brown’s Company. His son, John Jr., had come in 1861, being one of the contractors on the government telegraph line from the Missouri River to Salt Lake City, the Pioneer telegraph line in the United States. John England, Sr., engaged in farming and the cattle business as well as his cloth-weaving business. JOHN CARVER He was a pioneer of March 17, 1859. He was born August 6, 1822, at Clifford Parish, Herefordshire, England. He died January 11, 1912, at Plain City. He was one of the party that came in the fall of 1858 to locate the site for a settlement. He walked back to Kay’s Creek, wading through deep sand most of the way. Most of the others went to Ogden and staid (sic) for a few days before going home. The water conditions at Kay’s Creek were the same as at Lehi, the first settlers had appropriated most of the water so that there was none left for those coming later. Consequently, John Carver joined the settlers from Lehi and proceeded on to Plain City with them, leaving his wife, Mary Ann, and family in Slaterville for a few weeks as she was about to give birth to another child. He walked back and forth between Slaterville and Plain City while constructing his home and working his land. He moved his family to Plain City in the fall of 1859. He became a farmer and stock man in Plain City and Ogden Valley. He also raised fruit and garden stuff in Plain City. He held many positions of trust in the community. He acted as First Counselor to President Raymond when David Collett moved to Cache Valley in 1859. He was also called to act as First Counselor to President Shurtliff on August 31, 1870. He was appointed assistant to L. W. Shurtliff on the United Order Committee on May 22, 1875. He built a sod fence around his lot in the early days. He is reported to have built the second log house in Plain City. William W. Raymond moved a log house from Slaterville to Plain City before Carver’s was built, but it was not erected in Plain City. He was married to Mary Ann Eames, daughter of Samuel Eames and Nancy Caster. She was born on August 8, 1828, in Orcop Parish, Herefordshire, England, and died in Plain City June 18, 1870. She was a Relief Society worker in Plain City. She was appointed Second Counselor to Almina Raymond, President of the first Relief Society organized in Plain City, January 3, 1868. Other wives of John Carver were Rachel Tellphson Carver, daughter of Peter Tellephson (or sen) and Rachel Lordahl, born June Oh, 1839, in Christiansand, Norway; died in Plain City October 4, 1903. Sarah Ann Eames Carver EDWIN DIX He was born February 14, 1838, in Herefords, England, and moved to London from which place he emigrated to Utah in 1859. He crossed the “Plains” from Iowa by ox team. He moved from Salt Lake City to Plain City in 1859. The canal was being dug from Mill Creek to the Ogden River when he arrived. He went back to Salt Lake and worked as a stonecutter on the Salt Lake Temple for 18 months. He then returned to Plain City and engaged in market gardening which he had learned from a Mr. Ellerbeck, a gardener of Salt Lake City for whom he had worked. He introduced strawberry culture into Plain City and Weber County, having brought the first plants with him when he returned from Salt Lake to Plain City. He walked the distance. He bought a lot and built a dugout where Pent McFarland now lives. Prior to this, he and his wife and daughter Evelyn, and also George Musgrave and wife, had lived with Charles Neal in his dugout which was the first one built in Plain City. His wife’s name was Hannah Bootie, a beautiful woman. Edwin Dix was assessor of Weber County for over twelve years. He was a good leader in the irrigation projects of Plain City and vicinity. He had a good education and was instrumental in fostering the drama in Plain City. He was a Shakespearean scholar and frequently gave readings from his favorite author. He bought some land of W. W. Raymond and began raising fruits and vegetables for the market, shipping to mining towns in Montana, and also to Park City. He organized the “Thespians,” a dramatic society that did much to place Plain City in a prominent position as a sponsor of Dramatic Arts and Music in pioneer times. He died in Ogden May 12, 1929. He belonged to the Militia, organized to protect the settlers from the Indians. Abraham Maw was his partner in the gardening business. Edwin Dix gave many of his friends a start of strawberry plants. HANNAH BOOTIE DIX She was the wife of Edwin Dix. She was born in Essex, June 29, 1834. She was a beautiful woman. She became the mother of eight children. She was a very good housekeeper, and an excellent cook. She became skilled as a seamstress and a knitter. Her first sewing machine was an old Singer, bought in the early seventies. She once traded one of her lovely silk dresses for a cow with which to begin a dairy herd. During the grasshopper invasion, they ate the green paint from her baby’s crib. She assisted her husband in his market gardening business.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1531
__label__cc	0.531073	0.468927	April in Paris Workshops (Apr 24'10) « \| » Contra Dance (May 1'10) \| April in Paris: 4th Annual Gypsy Jazz Festival - part 4 Lache Cercel & The Roma Swing Ensemble, Van Django String Quartet Download the Full Festival Program (pdf) Roma Swing Ensemble Van Django (BC) WebsiteVideosFacebook Before leaving his homeland, Lache Cercel was one of Romania's premier musicians. From a musical family, he trained at the Academy of Arts in Bucharest, became a soloist with the Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra and, in 1986, was awarded the "Artist of the People" Citation by the Romanian government. Since settling in Canada in 1998, he has furthered his musical studies at Vancouver Community College and collaborated with musicians from a diverse range of backgrounds. Cercel's music is firmly rooted in Roma tradition, styled with Doina Klezmer, Middle Eastern and European sounds, and held together with jazz improvisation. He calls his fusion Roma Jazz or Roma Swing. Cercel spent his early years in Canada doing solo performances around BC and teaching Romanian style violin. He brought his band to the first two April In Paris festivals, and we are delighted to welcome him back. The Roma Swing Ensemble also includes gypsy guitar wizards Don Ogilvie and Steven Nikleva, and bassist Sam Shoichet. There will also be guest appearances by gypsy dancers as well as chanteuses from Bosnia and Russia. Can't wait!! Van Django is an acoustic string ensemble whose music is well-rooted in the gypsy jazz of 1930's Paris France, but beyond that it's all pure blue-skying; flights of dazzling fancy, driving rhythms and boundless creativity. The quartet was formed in 1998 and is made up of four of Canada's most talented and eclectic musicians- violinist Cameron Wilson, guitarist Budge Schachte, guitarist/cellist Finn Manniche and bassist Laurence Mollerup. Since the group's formation they have toured throughout Canada and more recently, are making inroads internationally with forays into the US and abroad, including a European tour in May 2009. They have twice been featured guests of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and have performed in a shared concert appearance with the John Jorgenson Quintette at "Djangofest Northwest" in Western Washington September 2008 as well as a return performance in September 2009. The members have collectively played on over 30 feature film soundtracks as well as collaborations with well known Canadian and international music artists. They have been featured regularly on CBC radio and released their debut CD "Tiptoe Trip" in 2006. The group recorded their 2nd CD for release in 2010. Experience this foursome playing their original compositions and quirky arrangements in an action packed musical universe they call, "acoustic string hot jazz!"	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1532
__label__cc	0.749277	0.250723	Incredible archaeological discoveries Archaeologists are special people. They spend months on a dig in hopes of finding some artifact that would allow to lift the veil of secrecy over by the antiquity. And sometimes they succeed. In our review of 12 important archaeological discoveries that have allowed scientists to make a revolution in science. 1. The Baghdad battery In 1936 in the suburbs of Baghdad discovered a mysterious 13-inch vessel through the neck (filled with bitumen) is held inside the iron rod. Inside the vessel was a copper cylinder, in which came the iron rod. Initially he was considered the world’s first battery of two thousand years ago. But now there was an assumption that in fact it was the vessel for the storage of scrolls. 2. Rosetta stone Thanks to the Rosetta stone, archaeologists finally managed to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphics (the text on the stone was written in three languages: Egyptian hieroglyphs, demotic and ancient Greek). 3. People from Graball Thirty years of the man called “the Man from Grauballe” was found more than two thousand years after his death. Surprisingly well-preserved corpse was found in a peat bog in Denmark. Scientists believe that the man was killed in the 3rd century BC: holotrop was cut from ear to ear. Continue reading → Posted in ancient, archaeologist, excavation, history, king, new, people, place, search, story, time, year, Название категории Archaeological Park of San agustín Archaeological Park of San agustín (Spanish Parque Arqueológico de San Agustín ) is one of the most important archaeological sites in Colombia (South America), located 2.5 km from the town of Popayan, on the banks of the Magdalena river. Park San Agustín. Included in the world Heritage list of UNESCO. San agustín is located in 227 km from the capital of the Department Neiva. The population is about 30 000 people the city was Originally founded as a village in 1752 by Alejo the Spaniard Astudillo, but the Indians soon destroyed it. The modern village was founded in 1790 by Lucas de Erazo-and-Mandhana. In the area found traces of one of the most interesting civilizations of the Western hemisphere. Not far from San Agustin, at an altitude of 1800 meters at the source of the Magdalena river, in the cave found a large number of stone figures, vaguely reminiscent of the statue of the era of the Aztec Empire. Today in the Valley of the statues found more than 500 giant statues of people, gods and animals. They are scattered in more than 20 places in the forest, completely overgrown with orchids, the valley of the river Magdalena. Carved stone figures look at the background of this landscape is bleak and aloof. Sculptures of gods and mythological characters made in different styles and date back to different centuries. The height of some reaches 6 meters. Since espansione fray Juan de Santa Gertrudis in 1794 first reported about these giants, historians and archaeologists wonder about their origin and age. Some believe that they originated in the VI century BC, others are inclined to a later Dating, relating these works to the culture, destroyed by the Incas shortly before the Spanish conquest, they have a certain resemblance with the famous stone idols of Easter island. Continue reading → Posted in ancient, archaeologist, king, people, place, search, work, Название категории About the archaeologists in documentary films about military archeology and the search work. According to him, military archaeologists know why the soldiers killed in the great Patriotic war, still are missing. — Why in Russia is still successfully wielded “black diggers”? — Actually no “black diggers” in the real world does not exist. “Black diggers” is just another myth invented by the media by the authorities. I do excavations since 1987 and never any “black diggers” are not met. In reality there are two main areas of excavation — “ancient times” and “war”. Those people who involved in the excavation of “war”, I am fond of search work and military archaeology. The main difference of search work and military archaeology is to set targets. Search engines are searching for unburied remains of fallen soldiers, trying to establish their identity, soldiers found buried with military honors in mass graves. Military archeologist military and domestic artifacts of the war, to try to reconstruct the battle and military life, to correct mistakes and inaccuracies in time and again re-written to suit the next political regime of military history of our country. By and large, search engines, and military archaeologists do one thing. The difference is that search engines operate legally, and military archaeologists is illegal. Each military archaeologist has its own good reasons for not advertising it. When illegal military archaeologists find burial or ammunition, what are their next steps? — Accidentally finding the unburied remains of soldiers of the red army, military archaeologists do the same, as in this situation will do every normal person: is a temporary burial place, its coordinates and found the soldiers passed in a formal search patterns. Found weapons, ammunition, explosive items on their own are safe. Then it all goes to private collections or for sale. For many archaeologists sale found in expeditions trophies — the only way to make a living, especially in the Russian provinces, where it is difficult to find a permanent job. Continue reading → Posted in ancient, archaeologist, excavation, history, new, people, place, search, story, time, work, year, Название категории After the death of the animal begins the process of decomposition. Vultures and crows tear at the rotting flesh and entrails, flies and bacteria clear what's left. The bones disintegrated… If someone is lucky enough on the beach to find fossilized seashells, it is possible to recognize them easily. But there are many fossils, looking for that hard to guess… The most important discoveries in the field of prehistoric archaeology The nineteenth century for prehistoric archaeology, as well as for the classic, was "the era of great archaeological discoveries." In 1829, on the lake of Zurich in Switzerland were discovered… The oldest archaeological finds in the burial mounds The Mysteries Of The “Ahnenerbe”. Archaeological finds: war is the natural state of man The history of the Minoan frescoes. Archaeologists have discovered a Catholic reliquary in the tomb of the leader of the first Protestant Church in the USA In southern China found the remains of the first people of Eurasia Archaeological discoveries that changed the world A modern network of archaeological museums The echo of the war. archaeological excavations in Russia Ethnography and ecology of Siberia Bagan – unrecognized, world heritage The grave Shows that the female Bigfoot	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1534
__label__wiki	0.716889	0.716889	The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. Learn more about how it works and some famous Justices. The Supreme Court – Laws of the Land The Supreme Court has nine members, hears hundreds of cases a year, and issues important decisions that sometimes have wide-ranging effects on the U.S. legal system. The Beginning of the Supreme Court The Supreme Court grew from sort of an afterthought to a powerful institution. This articles explains how. Official Supreme Court site This is the official government site of the Supreme Court. Start here for general information. Milestone Cases in History Read all about the famous cases in Supreme Court history. Find information on the opinions, the Justices who wrote them, background on the cases, and much more. FindLaw: Supreme Court Opinions A great resource for finding a specific Court opinion! How the Supreme Court Fills a Vacancy The Supreme Court has nine members. When a vacancy arises, such as when a current Justice retires or dies, the President appoints someone to replace the Justice who has left. Life of John Marshall Read all about the first important Chief Justice. See the man who gave us the principle of judicial review. Learn more about this very important American! Marbury v. Madison: Background and Explanation This is John Marshall's first decision and the case that gave us the idea of judicial review, the right of the Supreme Court to declare a law unconstitutional.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1536
__label__cc	0.623741	0.376259	Home Amphibian News Reuse Chopsticks, Save Salamanders Amphibian News Reuse Chopsticks, Save Salamanders learnedlizard Common to the Asian dining experience, wooden chopsticks in a paper wrapper seem an innocuous part of dining out. Sadly, most of these chopsticks are constructed from old growth, hardwood trees, often clear cut to serve the unsustainable demand for disposable chopsticks. China alone produces as many as 80 billion pairs of wooden chopsticks annually, costing up to 20 million trees per year and leading to the deforestation of some of the world’s most pristine forests. Fortunately, Asian initiatives like Bring Your Own Chopsticks (BYOC) have pushed for social change with the goal of reducing the use of disposable chopsticks. Such programs have even led some provinces in China to ban the production of disposable chopsticks and heavily tax their use. Despite these victories, global demand for disposable wooden chopsticks is still on the rise. Red Cheeked Salamander, image courtesy of Matt Neff Chopsticks for Salamanders, an initiative of the Foundation for the Conservation of Salamanders, hopes to encourage the use of reusable chopsticks by American consumers. Asian restaurants have existed in the United States for most of its history, and continue to be popular dining options. There are over 40,000 Chinese restaurants alone in the United States, most of which provide disposable chopsticks. To encourage restaurant goers to bring their own, CFS sells dishwasher-safe, stainless steel chopsticks in a convenient carrying case. While reusable chopsticks can be purchased from other vendors, only CFS chopsticks actually help save salamanders. All proceeds from chopstick sales go to support salamander research, conservation and education initiatives via annual grants. Chopsticks for salamanders was founded in 2011 as an initiative under the American Associations of Zookeepers (AAZK) and became an independent non-profit, the Foundation for the Conservation of Salamanders in 2015. Due to the financial support of local AAZK chapters, small businesses and individuals, FCSal annual grants amounts increased from $1,500 per year to $5,000 per year in just three grant cycles. As of July 2015, the CFS initiative has raised almost $20,000, most of it from chopsticks sales, and provided over $15,000 in grants to five research and conservation projects. CFS chopsticks can be purchased online at fcsal.org. Other merchandise is also available from our CafePress store, including a wide selection of clothing and household items, limited edition art prints and salamander bumper stickers. Further information on how to apply for an FCSal grant can also be found on our website. Megan Baumer FCSal Board Secretary info@fcsal.org Lawsuit Launched to Protect Green Sea Turtle Habitat Threatened by Sea-level Rise, Plastic Pollution, Warming. Global Protections Achieved for Imperiled Reptiles Lawsuit Launched Over Forest Service’s Failure to Protect Rare California...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1542
__label__cc	0.646234	0.353766	Nancy Pickard R. Austin Freeman Michael Crichton biography John Michael Crichton (rhymes with frighten;[2] October 23, 1942 � November 4, 2008), best known as Michael Crichton, was an American author, producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his work in the science fiction, medical fiction, and thriller genres. His books have sold over 150 million copies worldwide, and many have been adapted into films. In 1994, Crichton became the only creative artist ever to have works simultaneously charting at #1 in television, film, and book sales (with ER, Jurassic Park, and Disclosure, respectively).[3] His literary works are usually based on the action genre and heavily feature technology. His novels epitomize the techno-thriller genre of literature, often exploring technology and failures of human interaction with it, especially resulting in catastrophes with biotechnology. Many of his future history novels have medical or scientific underpinnings, reflecting his medical training and science background. Among others, he was the author of Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, Congo, Travels, Sphere, Rising Sun, Disclosure, The Lost World, Airframe, Timeline, Prey, State of Fear, Next (the final book published before his death), Pirate Latitudes (published November 24, 2009), and a final unfinished techno-thriller yet to be released.[4] Forbes listed Crichton in tenth place in its list of "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities" of 2009	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1545
__label__wiki	0.583343	0.583343	Monica Anna Maria Bellucci (born 30 September 1964) is an Italian actress and fashion model. In 1988, Bellucci moved to one of Europe’s fashion centers, Milan, where she signed with Elite Model Management. By 1989, she was becoming prominent as a fashion model in Paris and across the Atlantic, in New York City. She posed for Dolce & Gabbana and French Elle, among others. In that year, Bellucci made the transition to acting and began taking acting classes. The February 2001 Esquire’s feature on Desire featured Ms. Bellucci on the cover and in an article on the five senses. In 2003, she was featured in Maxim.[8] In 2004, she topped AskMen’s 100 Most Beautiful Women in the World annual list. Bellucci’s modelling career is managed by Elite+ in New York City. She is considered an Italian sex symbol. She is currently a face of a range of Dior Cosmetics. Bellucci is also signed to Storm Model Management in London. Bellucci’s film career began in the early 1990s. She played some minor roles in La Riffa (1991) and Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992). In 1996 she was nominated for a César Award for best supporting actress for her portrayal of Lisa in L’Appartement and strengthened her position as an actress. She became known and popular with worldwide audiences, following her roles in Malèna (2000), Irréversible (2002) and has played in many films from Europe and Hollywood like Tears of the Sun (2003), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Passion of the Christ (2004), The Brothers Grimm (2005 … Title: Monica Bellucci Tags: Belluci, Belucci, beluci Bella Napoli - Naples,... Sexy Photo Shoots... Jennifer Hawkins... Anna Tatangelo-... KASIA SMUTNIAK intervista... Kristen Stewart... Striscia la notizia... Dietro le quinte... Micol Olivieri per...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1546
__label__wiki	0.985728	0.985728	Rangers agree to deal with infielder Asdrubal Cabrera Thread: Rangers agree to deal with infielder Asdrubal Cabrera Free agent infielder Asdrubal Cabrera and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a one-year, $3.5 million deal, pending a physical, league sources tell ESPN. Cabrera can play all around the diamond and slot into a utility role if necessary, but the Rangers' plan is to play him at third base, the sources said. The Athletic first reported news of the agreement. The switch-hitting Cabrera, 33, batted .262 with 23 home runs and 75 RBIs in 147 games last season with the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. He hit .228 with five homers for Philadelphia after being acquired on July 28 to give the team some infield flexibility and pop for its playoff push. Cabrera has spent most of his career at shortstop but started only at second for the Mets last season and split his time at second, third and shortstop with the Phillies after the trade, so he provides a lot of versatility. Cabrera has a career batting average of .269. His best offensive season was 2011, when he was easily the Cleveland Indians' most valuable player, batting .273 and posting career highs with 25 homers and 92 RBIs -- power numbers few saw coming. Before that season, he had hit just 18 career homers. Cabrera led AL shortstops in RBIs, was tied for first in hits (165) and was second in doubles (32) and runs (87). Beyond that, he made dazzling defensive plays that saved runs, turned games and earned him an almost nightly spot on TV highlight packages. Cleveland acquired Cabrera from Seattle in 2006 in a trade for first baseman Eduardo Perez. After he was called up from Triple-A in 2007, Cabrera provided an immediate spark, helping push the Indians to an AL Central title and within one win of the World Series. Cabrera followed with seven-plus productive years in which he emerged as one of the game's best all-around middle infielders before he was traded to the Nationals in July 2014. He then played one season with the Tampa Bay Rays before signing with the Mets in 2016. Also Tuesday, Texas announced a $1 million, one-year contract with right-hander Zach McAllister, a deal that also includes performance bonuses. ESPN's Jeff Passan contributed to this report. free, games, news, ops, play, ratio-free, ratio-less, ratioless, ratioless trackers, series, slot, sport, sports, time, trade, tv	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1547
__label__wiki	0.624078	0.624078	Arts Grantees (1989-2010) Grantees Using the Arts to Promote Social Justice ArtWorks, 1996 Begun as an economic revitalization project of the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation in 1991, TRCF funds were used to help ArtWorks repair the interior ceiling of its space, after a harsh winter resulted in its collapse. ArtWorks provides arts education for the high-poverty and unemployment area of Brownsville, in Fayette County. Greene County Arts Council, 1995 Greene County at-risk children were sponsored to attend the Greene County Arts Council Summer Arts Kids Kamp. Scholarships and busing were provided for youth who would have been excluded because of poor socio-economic conditions and driving distance. Peace Postures for Children, 1997 With the help of TRCF’s Carol Sharon Endowment, Peace Postures for Children taught a curriculum at East Hills School that integrates themes of self-identity, community, conflict resolution, peace-making and heroism with structured arts learning. Second- and third-graders created their own peaceful world through hands-on artistic exploration, culminating in a performance art production. Saint Peter’s Church After School Music Program, 1992 The program primarily for African American youth, 9 to 11 years old, uses a music therapy process to promote peaceful conflict resolution and to provide children with positive “experience in structure, self-organization and relating to others.” TRCF helped with the purchase of musical instruments. Youth Arts and Advocacy Project (Arts Challenge Against Racism), 1998 TRCF funds were used to bring together community activists, experienced and socially-concerned artists, and young artists in a series of interactive workshops realizing the powerful connection between advocacy and art and activism. Young artists will work with established artists who have brought their artistic vision to bear on crucial social issues. The goal of the workshops is to develop creative ways of addressing contemporary issues. Mary Miller Dance Company, 1999 TRCF funds helped to subsidize free tickets to “Peace 2001, A Journey into the Millennium, Year Four: Education,” addressing the lack of education as a barrier to achieving a peaceful world. Tickets were distributed through peace and progressive organizations sponsoring the project. Srishti Arts Collective, 2000 A TRCF Special Opportunity Grant helped to produce and perform a major dance-theater work, “Chitrangada,” based on an Indian story about gender roles, desire, honor and duty. Harambee, Pittsburgh, 1991 This Black Arts Festival, held annually in Homewood, Pa., since 1984, is the largest such festival in the tri-state area. TRCF funded a mural art project to involve students and artists in the community. Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival, 2009 The Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival’s mission is to highlight the Asian cultures in the Pittsburgh region and to promote intellectual understanding between the East and the West in a fun way. They used Special Opportunity Grant funds to help with costs associated with moving the festival from September to May, to correspond with Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. Community Media, 2001 TRCF funds were used to help with the production costs of the video documentary “Jonny Gammage: Enough is ENOUGH.” The video addresses issues of police brutality and racial profiling as well as the community-based efforts to resolve conflicts between the criminal justice system and minority and marginal communities. Council of American Islamic Relations – Pittsburgh, 2008 Media Justice Initiative funds went to implementing a comprehensive program encompassing workshops on racial and ethnic phobias in America and the constitutional rights of both media and citizens; a toolkit to enable responses to media attacks; and the production of a DVD and study guide by Muslim youth to be used in educational facilities. Enough IS ENOUGH Project, Thomas Merton Center, 2006 The video documentary, “Enough IS ENOUGH: The Death of Jonny Gammage,” uses as its framework the incident in which Gammage was killed during a “routine” traffic stop. It examines issues of racial profiling, police misuse of force, and criminal justice, and offers examples of grassroots activism and constructive solutions. TRCF funding was used to help distribute the video, including submitting it to film festivals and planning local screenings. In Sisterhood: The Women’s Movement in Pittsburgh, 2009 In Sisterhood recorded 20 stories on video, in addition to collecting photos and memorabilia, of activists, primarily lesbians, about their involvement in advancing women’s rights in the Pittsburgh region. Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, 2010 The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, working in conjunction with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, used a TRCF grant to develop a youth-led community project of creating a 15-minute video. This video aimed at conquering the social biases surrounding Muslim Americans, and creating positive self-images for Muslim youth. Palestine Solidarity Committee, 2005 This organization used TRCF funds to host a Palestinian Film Festival featuring documentaries, shorts, and films giving the Palestinian story, all followed by facilitated discussions. Pittsburgh International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, 2004 The PILGFF provides a cultural event in the tri-state region designed to support LGBT artists and a needed cultural outlet for the LGBT community. TRCF funds were used to cover the expenses for the Festival’s youth program, Reel Queer (RQ), which introduces youth to cinema arts in a safe drug- and alcohol-free environment. (This group is now known as the Pittsburgh Lesbian & Gay Film Society.) Rights and Responsibilities, 2005 TRCF supported Part II of this organization’s Africana Human Rights Film Project, which entailed presenting the film “All Power to the People: The Black Panther Party and Beyond,” bringing the photo exhibit “Black Panthers 1968” for a two-month run, and presenting speakers. Afterschool Music Program at the North Side YMCA, 1997 The program focuses on music as an educational, aesthetic and emotional experience for at-risk children in an atmosphere of nonviolence. Through composing, performing, conducting, listening, enjoying, sharing and reacting to music, students can go beyond the mechanics of music and use it as a means of creating, exploring and achieving. Conroy Music Association (CMA), 1998 CMA is dedicated to promoting cultural awareness and community building for people with mental retardation. In 1998, mentally challenged choral students traveled to and participated in an interactive theatrical performance of “Beauty and the Beast.” Cross Current, 1999 TRCF helped to subsidize free performances by Cross Current at strikes, rallies and/or benefits of other social and economic justice organizations. Renaissance City Choirs/Pittsburgh Gay Chorus, Inc., 2006 Working collaboratively with African American artists and community leaders, the choirs will explore African traditions in music and present them to a broader community while working to build bridges with the Pittsburgh black gay and lesbian community. Funding has also gone specifically to the Women’s Choir to bring their message (gays and lesbians creating change through the power of music) to a broader geographic audience by performing in several smaller cities in southwestern Pennsylvania, and to a special performance to commemorate the crash site of Flight 93 in a September 11th, 2006, ceremony. Rock Against Racism, 2002 A project of the Thomas Merton Center, the Rock Against Racism is an annual concert that promotes racial reconciliation in Pittsburgh. Good Little Girls Zine, 2002 TRCF provided funds for production costs to the independent women’s- and gender-issues magazine. Woodland Hills Academic Foundation, 2002 Woodland Hills School District was formed by a court order in 1981 to address issues of segregation in Pittsburgh’s east suburbs. TRCF funds were used to publish a special retrospective magazine to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the District. Theatre/Performance Chatham Baroque (Pittsburgh Early Music Ensemble), 1996 Designed to teach children that conflict is normal and that there are ways to solve it, Chatham Baroque presents its conflict resolution program, interPLAY!, in local elementary schools. The program is a drama in which four musicians, who must cooperate in order to make music, are beset with conflicts related to prejudice and inconsiderate behavior. The students help the musicians define and overcome their problems in order to prepare for a concert. Dreams of Hope, 2009 Dreams of Hope is the first lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and allies youth performing arts group. All performance material is taken from the youth’s life experiences and are written and performed by the youth. Each show is followed by a candid question and answer period with the audience. Human Rights Coalition, Fed Up! Chapter, 2008 Funds helped stage a showing of Hurricane Season, a multi-media arts production of Climbing PoeTree, exploring critical issues facing humanity during Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. I Dream A World: African American History through Poetry, 1992 Launched in March 1991, I Dream a World raises cultural awareness of low-income, African American youth through poetry performance and creative expression workshops on African American history. Industrial Workers of the World, IU 450, 2001 TRCF provided funding for the construction of street puppets to be used in demonstrations on various issues, such as segregation, education, and sweatshops. K’vetsh Pittsburgh, 2004 K’vetsh used TRCF funds to cover the expenses for their monthly “all-queer, all-gender open mic cabaret” at Modern Formations Gallery in Garfield. The cabaret consists of two queer-identified artists who perform through music, video, visual art, performance art, and writing, in addition to audience participation. Pennsylvania Peace Links, 1995 Using middle and high school students as puppeteers, Pennsylvania Peace Links brought the message of conflict resolution to area pre-school and elementary schools. The puppet show was based on “The Tree House,” a donated story written by Lois Lowry. Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, 2010 By partnering with the Clarence Darrow Foundation, PADP used a TRCF grant to bring a unique and inspirational theater and education project to the Pittsburgh Community. The play integrated arts with community organizing to help attract, education, and recruit new members to the anti-death penalty movement. Pittsburgh American Indian Center (PAIC), 1994 PAIC is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the Native American and to helping all people discover their great heritage. With a TRCF grant, PAIC sponsored a communal cultural event for native and non-native people featuring native dance, folklore, spiritual awareness, native foods and speakers on the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse. Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company, 2005 The Pittsburgh Pride Theater Festival showcased locally written and produced one-act plays with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender themes. It drew gay and straight participants, across races, in the local theater community, and coincided with PrideFest. They have NOT requested funding for their annual Theatre Festival in Black & White, which features Black directors doing plays written by white playwrights, and vice versa. Rainbow Rising, 2008 Working with the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Smithton, Rainbow Rising provides a bi-monthly Coffee House for the LGBT community, consisting of entertainment and a forum for discussion. Their 2008 grant went towards marketing efforts to build community awareness of their programs. The Andy Warhol Museum, 2001 The Warhol presented the exhibit “Without Sanctuary: An Exhibition of Lynching Photography in the United States” from September 2001 – January 2002. TRCF funds supported Free Tuesdays, waiving admission fees to the exhibit. Black & White Reunion, 2000 This racially diverse group builds bridges between black and white citizens and communities in Western Pennsylvania, bringing together organizations and individuals currently working to counter racism in an ongoing process of collaboration. They have NOT received funding for their Murals Project, which had children who attended community centers in low-income areas create murals depicting their visions of peace. Book ‘Em, 2009 This group provides special-request books for prisoners, and, with TRCF’s support, produced and published educational booklets for prisoners in Pennsylvania dealing with law, how to start your own business, and how to write grants. In 2009, they used a grant to update their Pennsylvania Action Directory, a 55-page booklet of resources for prisoners and ex-offenders. They have NOT requested funding for their creation of a life-sized prison cell, decorated with the letters they have received for prisoners, which is available for exhibit anywhere. Consumer Health Coalition, 2010 In 2009, the CHC instituted the program “Living Together is an Art,” to foster empowerment and learning for people with disabilities, as well as to advance public dialogue via the arts about disability rights. In 2010, they received funding to host a cross-disability conference, with sessions on health, advocacy, employment, transitions, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, Pittsburgh, 2010 GLSEN develops and purchases educational materials for workshops that make schools safe and inclusive environments for all students. Both teachers and students go to their workshops, where they learn about the negative effects of stereotyping, bullying, and name-calling. GLSEN also is implementing the “Safe and Respectful Schools Project,” which will be a series of region-wide programs that prevent discrimination, harassment, and violence against children perceived to be different by their peers. In 2009, GLSEN held the first Unified for Youth (U4Y) Conference, a weekend-long event consisting of workshops and discussions on LGBT issues, supported by a TRCF Special Opportunity Grant. It was so successful that, in 2010, they received a TRCF annual grant to expand the U4Y Conference. Part of the U4Y Conference was the creation of a peace quilt, decorated by the participants. Latin American Cultural Union, 1999 Local Hispanic youth explored their cultural identity through the building of a “retablo.” Those involved in the project planned, designed and implemented the content and shape of the retablo around the theme Past, Present & Future: Journey of Hispanics in Pittsburgh. (A retablo is a devotional painting.) Museum of the Quest for Social Justice, 1997 To publicize the history of the struggle for social justice, the museum is developing a traveling exhibit. “The Quest for Social Justice: Struggles to Achieve the American Value of Liberty and Justice for All” consists of 29 panels depicting landmark events of social justice throughout the 20th century. Partnership for Minority HIV/AIDS Prevention, 2002 The partnership is a “member organization that provides comprehensive, culturally based HIV/AIDS prevention and education services in eight predominantly African-American communities in the city of Pittsburgh.” Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition, 2006 PDEC brought in Capt. Brian Steidle with a TRCF Special Opportunity Grant, so he could speak at the University of Pittsburgh on the atrocities he witnessed while in Darfur, Sudan. He also was available to meet with student leaders of Darfur coalitions started at many local high schools, to discuss what more students could do to help stop the genocide. They have NOT requested funding for their arts-related projects: Tents of Hope, and the Destroyed Villages Project & Exhibit.) Steel Valley Arts Council, 2003 TRCF provided funding to create a mural in Homestead using leftover tiles from the Three Rivers Arts Festival. The tiles were painted by community members and visitors, and then were installed along the Ann Street side of 301 East 8th Avenue. Multi-Discipline Artists Upstairs, 2008 Collaborating with a variety of other organizations, Artists Upstairs (ArtUp) brought a poster and art exhibit about the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to Pittsburgh. In addition to the exhibition, they included workshops, performances, speakers, and activities (including teaching origami) at the Children’s Museum. Azania Heritage International, 2002 AHI uses the creative and performing arts, language, history, and education to empower activists for victory over dehumanization and marginalization based on racial, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic, cultural, and religious or non-religious background. East Liberty Arts Council, 2002 TRCF funds were used to create the East Liberty ArtPark, a place where children can develop their imaginations, in a misused piece of city land. Finding Out: Creative Arts Empowerment for Women Offenders, 1997 This project encouraged female offenders to explore and share their personal life stories through performance art and written journals that were used as tools for problem solving and life planning. Green Millennium Children’s Garden, 2003 Begun in 1999, the GMCG is a place for children from primarily economically disadvantaged families to put their energy to work. The garden provides a green space for youth to connect with the earth through gardening, and learn about ecology, nutrition, and art. HEArt-Human Equity Through Art, 1997 HEArt promotes the role of artists as human rights activists, encourages artistic expressions that address racial, gender, sexual and other forms of discrimination, and seeks public recognition of the relevance of art as a vehicle for social reform. The group also publishes HEArt Quarterly, a journal of literature, visual arts and reviews. Marilyn G. Rabb (MGR) Foundation, 2009 The MGR Foundation used its funds to hold a city-wide Peace Rally, bringing together students, working with artists of varying media, to express their thoughts, feelings, and visions about violence. This project encouraged students to be activists for change and agents of peace. Mon Valley Media, Inc., 2005 TRCF funds were most recently used to produce an hour-long documentary entitled “Death Watch,” about innocent people serving time on death row in Pennsylvania. Other TRCF-funded projects: Free Speech Denied (art exhibit – 2003); Cave vs. Cure: Healing the Landscape (multi-media art exhibit – 2002); Memories of a Forgotten War (film screening – 2001); Unbound Ground (environmental/community art exhibit – 2001). Women’s Work, 1998 Women’s Work Gallery offers a place for women to share with each other the realities of their lives through their art and writing. TRCF funded a website for the gallery to continue its work in cyber space after funding difficulties forced them to leave rented space.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1549
__label__wiki	0.620864	0.620864	Student Teacher: Nikhil Goyal and His Learning Revolution February 4, 2013 February 3, 2013 by Molly Mirhashem Nikhil Goyal is utterly captivated by education reform. He recently published a book expressing his ideas of what is needed for a total transformation of American public education. His website boasts that his work has appeared in publications like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and NPR. He’s appeared on MSNBC, FOX and Friends, FOX Business, and NBC Nightly News. Forbes recently named him as part of their 30 Under 30: Education list. These would be eye-catching accomplishments for anyone, but Goyal is just 17-years-old. Goyal’s book, entitled One Size Does Not Fit All: A Student’s Assessment of School was born as a vehicle for a young, brave thinker to release his ideas. He became inspired by education reform while on a family trip to India in 2010, where he observed the Indian school system, along with its problems and assets. After taking a lot of notes and in turn paying close attention to his own educational environment in Long Island, Goyal realized that American schools were in need of a serious redesign. “I was frustrated,” he explains. “I felt that what I was learning really had no value to what would be useful in the real world, many years down the road.” But when he started speaking out, Goyal realized that in the arenas where students had a voice, all too often, the ‘stakeholders’ of the actual issues were nowhere to be found. “It was a student conversation,” Goyal says. “So I decided that the best way to really document my views, and to outline some of my thoughts on this issue…was to write a book and present my perspective— as a student in the system for almost thirteen years.” Goyal may have a very impressive résumé of published work, a covetable number of connections, and describe himself as ‘one of the best kids in class’ growing up, but he is not an overachiever in the typical sense. He’s atypical because he acts out. He says his high school’s administration hasn’t offered any sort of comment for all of his efforts and the resulting publicity. “I think they try to ignore me as much as possible,” he jokes. This seems intuitive, given his vocal criticism of the very system they represent. Despite this lack of a response from his own school, Goyal has no shortage of support. He says that he receives many e-mails daily from students, educators, and parents, just to let him know they appreciate his work. While Goyal originally thought he was alone, he quickly learned otherwise. “I thought I was one of the few people who believed these kinds of things,” he admits, “But I realized that there are so many students who have so many similar sentiments to mine… and they wanted to do something about it.” While his deliberate attempt to improve education may have started much later, Goyal reflects on the first time he felt slighted by the system. It was third grade, when he underperformed on a standardized English test. “I was pretty demoralized and depressed with myself,” he admits. “As somebody who was a voracious reader—I read all the time—I couldn’t understand how this beautiful language was being boiled down to a set of multiple choice questions about a passage that I had no interest in reading.” While some may not take Goyal seriously due to his age, his ideas are thorough and sincere, even if some are quite ambitious. “My philosophy on education,” he explains, “is just that learning really needs to be about the learners. It’s about the children in the classroom. And I think we really need to move away from this “drill-kill-bubble fill” culture, as I call it, to more of a learning environment that is based on curiosity [and] creativity.” He often stresses the importance of giving students autonomy and individuality when it comes to their education, rather than focusing on ‘compliance and control.’ He also despises standardized testing and other uniform systems of assessment. When asked about the first thing he’d change about American schools if he had the authority, Goyal doesn’t miss a beat. He’d repeal the No Child Left Behind Act and the Race to the Top Program. “They are two government programs that have miserably failed…Students are angry, teachers are angry, parents are angry.” But it’s about more than just that: “Education is not a race,” he argues, “It’s a journey. It’s not a competition, it’s not some kind of carrots-and-sticks game; it’s something that children undergo every single day.” He follows up by saying he’d also make the move to abolish grades and shift to a more holistic, assessment-based system of student evaluation. Goyal’s ideas contain a healthy mix of concrete plans and more philosophical adjustments. Something he’s been thinking about recently, he explains: “We should get rid of the word ‘teacher.’ I don’t like that word. Teachers should be collaborators; they should be facilitators and mentors. When I think about the word ‘teacher,’ I think of someone telling you what to do all the time: ‘You have to do this.’ ‘You have to follow directions.’ Learning just shouldn’t be like that.” This mantra—“learning just shouldn’t be like that”—seems to show up a lot for Goyal. He goes on to say: “We shouldn’t be separating kids who use their hands from kids who don’t. We shouldn’t be separating kids by age, because the research shows that we should be grouping kids by their ability, as well as having some sort of age-segregated groups when necessary.” For this young man, fresh out of the system himself, his ideas are more than propositions: they are obligations to the student population of our country. Goyal understands the value of inquisitiveness, and detests all attempts to squelch the eagerness to learn. “In school,” he believes, “you have teachers who favor the right answer rather than asking a good question. We care about getting the right answer, getting the solution, getting those high test grades, those spotless scantron sheets, instead of asking those great questions and posing pragmatic solutions.” In the coming months, as a high school graduate, Goyal plans to spend most of his time speaking and reading, as well as launching his organization, Learning Revolution. He is deferring his college education until 2014. He cites his position as a young person as both an obstacle and an asset to his aspirations, but plans to keep working to get policymakers’ attention. He describes the publication of his book as a sort of ‘inauguration’ rather than an eventual goal in itself. And regardless of his age, Goyal is mature enough to recognize the potential for correction and improvement in his work. He says, “I’m not saying I’m right all the time, what I’m offering is a fresh perspective.” Every Word Handwritten Experimental Knowledge One thought on “Student Teacher: Nikhil Goyal and His Learning Revolution” Pingback: In Case You Missed It: Nikhil Goyal Isn’t Messing Around \| MOLLY MIRHASHEM	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1552
__label__cc	0.553842	0.446158	Cause a Disturbance Ken Tencer John Paulo Cardoso Kim Vogel Spyder Works Inc. Spyder Works Will you help us by taking this Intrapreneur Assessment? As a global thought leader in intrapreneurship, I have been asked to collaborate with Multi-Health Systems, a people analytics and solutions company. MHS is currently developing an assessment on entrepreneurial competencies, and they are looking for participants to help them in the final stages of testing. At my request, MHS has agreed to incorporate individuals who self-identify as intrapreneurs. Will you help us by taking this 20-minute online assessment? We are looking for leaders, entrepreneurs and individuals who identify as intrapreneurs (i.e., they are employees of a company and are officially responsible for creating something new, or for solving problems using entrepreneurial skills). I am sure you will find the assessment questions interesting and thought-provoking. And in return for participating, you will receive a personalized report that will give you new insights into your entrepreneurial skills and behaviors. To me, intrapreneurship is not a “program.” It is a necessary mindset that all organizations need to embrace to thrive in fast-changing, competitive markets. Ultimately, MHS’s research will provide an even richer foundation upon which Spyder Works will help our clients build more successful cultures of intrapreneurship. Thank you in advance for participating in this important research project. PS: As a member of my network, I would also like to offer you a 25% discount for the upcoming Intrapreneurship Conference in Toronto, Nov. 15th to 17th. The conference theme is “Building an Innovation Ecosystem.” To register, please enter the promo code IntraCnf-SpyderWorks. (I’ll be speaking on Nov. 15, to share four key insights for creating a more successful intraprenership program. Hope to see you there!) By Ken Tencer Category: Blog, Intrapreneurship, Marketing Tags: blog, event, intrapraneurship, intrapreneurial thinking, spyder works Small Steps, Epic Announcement. One of Canada’s brightest business minds has just joined Spyder Works. Jeff Holland started as a manufacturing engineer who cut his teeth at Toyota. Then Honda hired him to be a Product Launch Leader, and then he became a manufacturing problem solver and troubleshooter for McKinsey & Co., jetting around the world to rescue troubled factories. Later he led the process and innovation performance practice in Canada for Accenture, and then he joined McKinsey – AGAIN! – to specialize in Operations and Organizational Transformational Change. And now he’s become Spyder Works’ Vice-President of Organization & Operations. You can see our opportunity. A seasoned pro like Jeff wants to work with growth-minded clients who don’t fear the future. You understand that ongoing technological and market disruption create big opportunities for organizations with the right mindset, processes, and aligned, positive teams. Jeff is smart, funny, personable and modest, and he really wants to help. He’s totally about achieving great outcomes for clients. So, we want to keep Jeff busy with challenging projects that require all his skills in innovation, process improvement, organizational change and leadership development. If you’re a market leader striving to stay on top, Jeff is eager to assist. Backed by Spyder Works’ deep expertise in business strategy, innovation, intrapreneurship, marketing and customer experience, Jeff can help you get ahead and stay there. Here’s more about Jeff: He calls himself a “recovering” engineer, because he’s a people person. He loves to play guitar and banjo, and used to play the mandolin. His secret ambition is to make guitars for a living. He really cares. Ask him about the week in April 2014 when he flew around the world and saved nearly 3000 jobs. He’d been asked to monitor a plant in China that was scheduled to be closed. Just before leaving, a colleague asked him to visit an open-pit mine in South Africa that needed to reduce costs by 30% – and expected to cut 1500 jobs. Cut a long story short: after one day at the mine, he saw that a few organizational changes could slash costs and save all those jobs. Then he spent three days assessing problems at the manufacturing plant in Guangdong. He saw that their problem wasn’t manufacturing, but an undisciplined ordering process back in North America. “It was one of the best plant sites I’d seen in 10 years,” he says. “I gathered evidence to show that the planning and scheduling people were killing the plant. We postponed its closure, and it’s still going strong today.” Jeff still likes problem-solving. Even better, he enjoys helping and transforming organizations. “I want to work with companies that are growing, and people who are growing.” What’s the secret of a good client relationship? Jeff says great relationships are built on trust and openness. “I like situations where I have their back and I can feel they have my back. Where we can have truthful conversations in a risk-free environment. Don’t hold back. If you tell me exactly what you think and what you’re feeling, we can get down to business and solve the problem sooner.” Jeff is a true believer in design thinking, the fuel that powers Spyder Works. “To me, design thinking means two things. 1: Focusing on all the systems in an organization that need to be understood and integrated. 2: I want to be able to design into organizations the agility to anticipate what could happen, instead of what has happened.” People like Jeff don’t come along every day. As our CEO, Ken Tencer says: “Jeff Holland helps us expand Spyder Works’ impact, translating high-level corporate strategy all the way to the production floor or the customer’s loading dock. His work across five continents also helps strengthen Spyder’s international footprint, which already extends across North America and to Europe. “But he works fast, so we need lots of projects to keep him busy.” If you have bottlenecks to clear, new strategies to carry out, or questions about the future, give Jeff a call at (506) 852-1422. Or email jholland@spyder.works. Help us put off that guitar factory as long as we can. Category: Blog, Culture, Event, Growth, Spyder Works Halifax’s Springboard program turns academics into entrepreneurs Originally published on June 27, 2017 as a Guest Column in The Globe and Mail: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-growth/halifaxs-springboard-program-transforms-academics-into-entrepreneurs/article35296361/ There’s an old saying that you can accomplish anything you want – so long as you don’t care who takes the credit. This is not just a powerful insight into human nature. It may also be the clue to solving Canada’s innovation problem. The consensus is that Canadians are great at coming up with new ideas, but we’re not so good at commercializing them. That’s the hard part: turning new insights into products and services that people want to buy, and then building smart, well-financed companies to profitably bring those products to market. In Atlantic Canada, however, a below-the-radar not-for-profit is finding commercialization success by helping other people turn college and university research into winning businesses. The secret to Springboard Atlantic’s winning record: it serves as a catalyst, bringing business resources and commercialization expertise to bear on ideas coming out of 19 Atlantic-region postsecondary institutions. As a government-funded community builder, Springboard CEO Chris Mathis doesn’t seek credit; he only wants results. “These universities create IP [intellectual property] on a daily basis,” says Mathis, himself a mechanical engineer turned entrepreneur. “We help these educational institutions decide which ideas can best be commercialized, and then help them connect with the people and partnerships that can bring them to fruition.” Take the case of Fredericton-based Eigen Innovations, an internet-of-things (IoT) company that helps manufacturers reduce defects and boost productivity through machine learning and data analytics. The company was founded on thermal-vision analysis algorithms developed by Dr. Rickey Dubay, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of New Brunswick (now Eigen’s chief scientific officer) and one of his grad students, Scott Everett (now CEO). “Eigen’s IP was initially supported by funds within the business office at University of New Brunswick, as well as Springboard,” Mathis says. “Now they have more than a dozen employees, and major customers working with their technology.” In fact, Eigen has raised more than $1-million in venture capital, and it’s now embedding its technology with Tier One automotive manufacturers and industrial equipment suppliers. The company won awards from industry leaders such as Cisco and Dell, and it has been named one of the 100 top influencers in the industrial Internet of Things. Starting a business is never easy, and bringing them out of university labs is a special type of hell. There’s no easy road. Researchers are often driven by curiosity rather than market need, and even when they develop a commercial idea, many would rather simply publish their results than turn them into a business. Most colleges and universities have technology-transfer officers, but their efforts are often frustrated by isolation within the halls of academe and a lack of business contacts. According to Mathis, a group of Atlantic universities saw these problems 12 years ago, and created Springboard to develop and share commercialization best practices. “They realized they should work together to build up their research, industry engagement and commercialization capacity,” says Mathis says. Funded by the universities, colleges and the federal government’s Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Springboard has a staff of five but serves clients directly and through a network of institutional industry liaison and technology transfer officers. Its role is to help on-campus commercialization and develop better relationships with faculty members, to sharpen their own abilities to analyze IP and evaluate market potential. In practice, Springboard also helps the network explore the process of commercialization with their academic colleagues, to determine their interest in partnering with industry, licensing or venturing into business themselves. Most crucially, Springboard’s network serves as a matchmaker between academics and business, opening doors to help them find the companies, business leaders, consultants or investors that can guide them to market success. “There are multiple points where research discovery can lead to social and economic benefits, or go by the wayside,” Mathis says. “We try to show them what’s working well, and what isn’t. We end up with communities in the region that interact.” The results speak for themselves. Springboard has been a catalyst in supporting the development of numerous Atlantic companies with global growth potential and impacts, from helping a Halifax firm that creates screens to protect pilots from exposure to lasers, to research in St. John’s that drew on Newfoundland’s population data to develop a technique for evaluating who should be screened for hereditary genetic heart issues. Mathis says Atlantic Canada is starting to develop global leadership in specific niches– not just ocean sciences and aquaculture, but sustainable energy, smart grid technologies and cybersecurity. Canada is always wrestling with its innovation gap. I think it’s because we don’t realize that successful innovation, while difficult, starts with fig a series of easy, practical steps. What can this discovery do? Who needs what it does? What will it cost to develop this product or solution? How much will the people who need it pay for it? No one academic, entrepreneur or hired consultant can answer all these questions. We need more catalysts like Springboard to explain the process, make introductions and help these solitudes find each other. Fear, ignorance, walls and silos are the enemies of innovation – not a failure of research or business will. We’re all better off when governments stop trying to pick winners, and invest in community and humble catalysts instead. Category: Blog, Entrepreneurship, Icicle, Innovation, Spyder Works Pressure test the future of your business 2019: Courage, focus, and the fork in the road Your Three Drivers of Success in 2019 Maximizing the value of mergers and acquisitions The future is here, introduce yourself and say hi Copyright © 2016 Spyder Works Inc. TORONTO: 3176 Ridgeway Drive, Suite 59, Mississauga, ON Canada L5L 5S6 NEW YORK: 230 Park Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY USA 10169	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1553
__label__wiki	0.770268	0.770268	beyond left and right but against the center 4P Theory Against Liberalism Eurasianism Home » Order and Chaos: the pillars of sacred geography Order and Chaos: the pillars of sacred geography Luca Siniscalco 1. Philosophy of places and Geophilosophy Order and Chaos are fundamental structures and constitute a pivotal nexus of reality as a whole. These concepts can thus be understood as consistent poles of the basic dynamic that characterizes and produces life, movement and relation themselves: without the connection between Order (the fixed, constant коород, that ensures the ontological and epistemic stability of the Unus Mundus) and Chaos (the pre-formal energetic dimension from which everything derives and toward which everything comes back, in a dynamic, dialectical and polemological process)[1] nothing could be properly understood — and even before that, nothing could appear in the domain of visibility, in the reign of the “clearing”, the Lichtung, to adopt Heideggerian language (Di Somma, 2017; Chai, 2014). As can be seen, Order and Chaos have a significant religious, symbolic and metaphysical core, which originally connotes these concepts through their cosmogonical and theological origin which is later acquired, discussed and embodied within philosophical speculation. The geographical and geopolitical domains can also be interpreted trough the hermeneutical lens of these two concepts. What we intend to show, however, is that these archetypes are somehow especially suitable for the interpretation hereby proposed due to the fundamental sacral dimension connected to the places themselves — and this relevance of the sacred in the places5 structure makes the two archetypes fundamental for all the disciplines that study and consider places as their main analytical object. It is precisely that holy and sacred dimension that links Order and Chaos to geographical and geopolitical sciences. This thesis could astonish the contemporary reader, but it should be considered as merely the simple acknowledgement that the original relation between men and Earth, as understood by anthropology and history of religions, is mainly mythico-symbolic and spiritual. This connection takes place through the hierophany in which the sacred appears in the shape of archetypal models into concrete and empirically experienceable reality: “The manifestation of the sacred ontologically founds the world55 (Eliade, 1961, p. 21) and within archaic communities the places themselves are conceived as real, authentic, full of meaning, only when they’re pervaded by the suprasensible dimension. This mythic-symbolic hermeneutics, which we have broadly presented and discussed elsewhere, in connection to questions of philosophy of religion (Siniscalco, 2020a) and aesthetics (Siniscalco, 2019) will be applied in this essay to the role of Order and Chaos within the interpretation of philosophy of places, sacred geography and geopolitics — different branches of a common research perspective on the Earth, the meaning of the places that constitute it, the people that inhabit it, and their power relations. Particularly interesting in this perspective is the geophilosophical approach developed in Italy by Luisa Bonesio (2002) and Caterina Resta (2012): through their respectively peculiar philosophical interests and approaches, these two scholars have identified a common research perspective into the synthetic (and not analytic) study of geography and the morphology of places through symbolical, archetypal and ontological structures. If the term “geophilosophy” originally comes from Deleuze and Guattari (especially from the fourth chapter of Qu’est-ce que la philosophic?, published in 1991) and from the miscellaneous volume Penser ГЕигоре à ses frontiers(Agamben et al., 1992), the conceptualization of this concept acquires a different standpoint in Bonesio and Resta. In fact, for them geophilosophy means a philosophy directed towards Gaea and its secret and invisible topography. The horizon of geophilosophy is the “radical rethinking of human inhabiting on earth, rediscovering, after the drastic modern process of world standardization, the singular quality of places, which, no less than the plurality of singular existences that inhabit them, cannot be reduced to mere 'territory5 destined, in all its different forms, to the same intensive exploitation55 (Resta, 2010, p. 13).[2] [3] Places are characterized by specific and irreducible qualities that derive from a fruitful relation between nature, human culture and civilization, and the spiritual dimension. Geophilosophy does not naively presume to rediscover a dismissed (and probably never existing) 'original5 or 'pure5 nature: its 'ecological5 component is linked to a holistic approach, based on the integral and structural mixture of a plurality of levels of being. In order to elaborate a fruitful approach to conquer this relation to the loci in a new way, it is fundamental to overcome the theoretical and practical problems that Modernity brings with it: extreme rationalism, scientific reductionism and positivism, mathematization of the world, secularism, linear and mechanical progressivism, and the ideology of unlimited economic growth (i.e. capitalism) are all negative sides of a cultural paradigm that has conceived the world either as a dead and unwilling object (with which we can have no authentic relation) or as a pure creation of a dominant subject’s will (that is the subjectivist and promethean/faustian ideology).[4] On the contrary, the pars construens of valid philosophical reflections should establish the interpretation of place as topos, as the point of convergence and recollection {Versammlung^ according to Heidegger), as the significant safekeeping of that ontological density which is particularly present in the symbol of the Axis Mundi (Eliade, 1953, § 112), in the Cross (Guénon, 2001) and in the Geviert (the TourefokT) — the Heideggerian fundamental-ontological map that names the “gathering” of earth, sky, mortals and divinities (Heidegger, 2001a; 2001b). In all these symbolical paradigms, the poles of Order and Chaos play a significant role as an archetypical representation of the ontological and spiritual dynamical tension. This relation is also fundamental in the symbolic interpretation of the traditional symbol of the mountain, a privileged place for encountering the divine and the numinous, and a valid embodiment of the essential connection between Order and Chaos. In fact, as expressed by De Tomatis in his philosophical recognition of the existential dimension of mountaineering, only on the groundless amplitude of chaos, very real but without measure, ascending paths can be truly interpreted [...]. But this means that every singular elevation to soaring heights in archetypal, supra- celestial uniqueness, is exposed to the blind chaos of min, in the continually free ascent in suspension, opened only by the grace of the increasingly empty horizon. Only from the top the detachment from the abyss is completed, trough the contemplation of all its unfounded measure. But even just the safety of the summit, with a greater vertigo, tells us how much it is itself the true, divine abyss (2014, p. 233). In line with Caterina Resta, we can state that place preserves and safeguards man’s stay on earth, not as a casket that holds its precious content within itself, making it inaccessible in some way, but, on the contrary, illuminating it and bringing it into that light in which only each thing will be able to unfold its essence. It is that Open that every time, everywhere, opens up a world, making it habitable space for man, in the reciprocal correspondence of heaven and earth, human and divine, at the convergence of those directions that intersect in space-time, generating Places. The geophilosophical perspective has been summarized by Caterina Resta in her manifesto, 10 theses of Geophilosophy (1996). These ten theses, which describe how to deeply and radically rethink the relation between men and their dwelling on Earth, are the following: The assumption of nihilism as an epochal horizon Geophilosophy is geopolitics Geophilosophy must contribute to the process of European unification Geophilosophy is a radical philosophy Geophilosophy is a topology Geophilosophy is an idiology and an idiom Geophilosophy imposes a different conception of frontier, belonging and community Geophilosophy is a geo-sophia and a geography of the imaginal Geophilosophy is a thought of the heart Geophilosophy prepares the encounter between the East and West, North and South of the World All these points are fundamental in order to understand the essence of geophilosophy and its philosophical routes. More interesting for our current research, however, are points 2, 5 and 8. They allow us to connect, confirming our research perspective, the geographical and geopolitical sciences to an ancient philosophical and sapiential heritage. The main feature of geophilosophy is the invitation to consider places not as dead objects or representations that we are compelled to analyse only trough analytical parameters, but as vital, dynamic, concrete levels of our living world, a nexus of reality in which visible and invisible dimensions (culture and nature, but also matter and spirit, archaic archetypes and signs of the future) are always related. As a topology, geophilosophy underlines the pivotal importance of places — understood as ontologically different from landscape5, that is the aesthetic, anthropocentric, abstract and representational reproduction of the concrete and living place (a production of that modern reason that was theorized trough Cartesian speculation, the product of the disenchantment of the sacred and numinous places). This view is linked, in Heideggerian language, to a contestation of the privilege accorded by the West to History. It juxtaposes to a linear conception of time the idea of a topology as a space-time opening to the Event, understood as taking place. The happening opens, from time to time, a singular, unprecedented space of time, although always inscribed in a tradition. To understand an event means therefore to approach its taking-place, to place it not in a succession of facts but in the space of to-be opened by the event’s coming to us as an original spacing, inaugural space-time opening. Geophilosophy as a topology of having-place discovers a precious ally in Geography, especially when it takes on the 'physical’ element in its cultural innervation (Resta, 1996). This also means rediscovering the symbolical and imaginal character of reality, the archaic knowledge that modernity seems to have hidden and forgotten, but which the advent of postmodernity, in its contradictory and dualistic structure, could re-open.[5] If we have been used to asking: “Which modernity?”, challenging the different political and cultural options and choices that have been fighting between one another in modern times, then we should nowadays ask: “Which postmodernity?” That means: Is it currently possible to build (or let be5) a 'mythic- symbolic5 and pluralistic postmodernity that recognizes a pivotal role for the symbolic dimension and its geophilosophical connections, with a new perspective on the relation between global and local, political order and metaphysical chaos, traditional structures and the impact of virtual disintermediation? Is it possible to find, in line with the Schmittian legacy, a new communitarian legitimation of the Political (1996) — generically understood as the place where decisions that influence human inter-relations take place? In fact, within the symbol spiritual and sensitive elements appear perfectly fused in the same image. The Earth on which we live, before being legible within the paradigms of the exact sciences, [...] is the incorruptible symbol of the womb from which we come and in which we are destined to return, in the unceasing alternation of creation and destruction. It is also a symbol of extraordinary perfection and beauty, that emerges in the punctual scanning of day and night, in the succession of the seasons, in the extraordinary variety of living species, landscapes, morphologies. Geophilosophy is therefore a geo- sophia, as interrogation and contemplation of the mysterious face of the Earth, captured in its spiritual and symbolic elements (Resta, 1996). Geophilosophy, according to Resta’s second thesis (1996), is also geopolitics. This connection had already been introduced by Massimo Cacciari in his famous texts Geo-jilosojìa dell’Europa (1994) and L’Arcipelago (1997), where the geopolitical radix of European civilization is precisely recognized within its philosophical root and destiny, based on multiplicity, pluralism and relations with the Other. Every European locus says something about this dynamic Nomos that has recently entered in crisis during the process leading to modernity. But this crisis, this dusk, reveals the essential nature of the Western as occasus or Abendland,, the 'region where the sun goes down5: willing its own dusk, Europe will decide for its very essence and will maybe find a new fruitful relation — Heidegger used to speak about the Neuer Anfang, the ‘New Beginning5 — also with the Machenschaft, the domain of the technique (the Heideggerian Gestell). Caterina Resta (1996) explains that the up-to-dateness of geophilosophy as geopolitics is linked to the recent collapse of the Soviet Empire and the advent of a monotonie unipolar perspective (pax americana). But this international situation is nowadays collapsing, due to the emerging of a plurality of “clashes of civilization55 (Huntington, 2011) and “the disturbing return of conflicts with an ethnic, nationalistic and religious background, which accompanies the dissolution of previously imposed systems55(Resta, 1996). Here the archetypes of Order and Chaos emerge again. Still present in the elementary qualitative constitution of places — earth, for example, embodies the structural and original quality of cosmic Order, whereas sea is an archetype of the virtuality and always changing dimension of Chaos — they clearly emerge in the power relations studied in geopolitics. In this field the realization of political institutions and sovereignties structured in ordered or chaotic elements is not a matter of fate, but depends on human decisions. The Untergang des Abendlandes (Spengler, 1991) can always open to new dawns — in fact, “what are dawn and dusk in the absolute? Human stationing markings55 (Jtinger, 2009, p. 17). In fact, it is a matter of a decision that our time imposes on us and from which we can in no way escape. A different Nomos can order the Earth, if only we are able to fully welcome the dissolution of the ancient systems, without any more nostalgia. Schmitt’s hypothesis of large spaces, each capable, in its own sphere, of exercising a concrete order, starting from homogeneous historical and geographical units is able, for example, to provide us with useful indications in this sense. Only federative forms of this kind, based on the self-determination of people in the recognition of a common cultural horizon, can prevent the imperial idea of the great space from degenerating into an imperialist will to power. Only a plurality of large spaces is able to break the monotony of the universe, giving rise to a pluriverse in which the differences are not only tangible but must be safeguarded, none of which aspiring to total, planetary hegemony. Of course, in order for them not to conflict it is necessary to access a different conception of confrontation, force and power. Beyond any abstract declaration of the rights of abstract men, what really can and must be shared by all is the safeguarding of the common difference, which generates neither integration nor conflict, but an in-terminable confrontation and dialogue. This excludes a priori any fantasy of extermination and cancellation of the other (Resta, 1996).[6] In this geopolitical and cultural context, directed towards multipolar and pluralistic horizons, geophilosophy “takes on the arduous task of drawing up the cartography of a forgotten and now invisible land: this terra incognita,, in order to be discovered, however, requires a drastic conversion of the gaze, without which it is destined to sink into definitive oblivion” (Resta, 2010, p. 37). Geophilosophy, in conclusion, is not only a method and a content, but also a specific requirement for an authentic — both interior and metaphysical — metanoia,, a radical inner transformation of our worldview. Through this interior process the new anthropological figure that will be the main character of the new world rising above the ruins of the previous civilization will perceive in its living flesh the polarity of Order and Chaos as the original, Heraclitean principles of reality. 2. Genius loci: where Chaos establishes Order The qualitative, spiritual and archetypal dimension of spaces — which should define, according to the previous analysis, the new spaces structure waiting for us in the near future — is deeply connected to the concept of Genius loci. This notion, which has recently been brought to the fore by Christian Norberg-Schulz (1979) — who theorized the loss of Genius loci in modern era as a loss of memory, orientation and identification —[7] finds its origin in the ancient Latin civilization: according to a famous definition by Servius, “Nullus enim locus sine genio est (Servius, 1965).[8] This numen, or spirit, which protects a place is precisely the Genius loci, that is a divine companion and defender of the quality and interior essence of a place. Every locus (or topos) guarantees through its Genius the existence and safeguarding of the transcendent immanence that finds different manifestations in different places. Thus “in classical, Greek and Roman mythology, the genius loci designates the 'spirit5 that animates and supports, protecting it, a particular place inhabited by human beings who, following and carrying out the rites essential to the sacralisation of the space chosen for the foundation of the village (or the city) that will become their stable home, have somehow recognized the power of this spirit and have invoked its favour and protection55 (Luppi, 2020, p. 487). The Latin Genius is also deeply connected to the Greek Daimon (5aipcov), the numinous figure that anticipates in itself the Hellenic horizon: this was a minor God that used to inhabit sacred places but also human souls (it is a famous anecdote that Socrates used to pay attention to his inner Daimon). The philosopher Plotinus (203/205-270 d.C.), whose work was collected by his disciple Porphyry into the Enneads, also believed in the existence of an Anima Mundi that proceeds as an emanation from the Unum (the metaphysical principle). Plotinus also thought that individuals souls were part of the Soul of the world and that this Anima Mundi was available in every place. But not every place is characterized by the same hierophany of the Soul of the World. There is thus a strict correspondence between a place and its own Genius loci. According to Dugin (2020a), we should understand Genius loci as the whole relation — thus beyond subject-object dichotomy — of man and God happening in place. The place inhabited by the Genius is a place open to the Ereignis, the eschatological event in which the Being (Sein) relates itself to the man (Dasein). This integral and holistic dimension — which can be found, with different names and definitions, in all human civilizations —[9] allows us to underline that a sacred topology is another way of philosophically comprehending the essence of spaces, beyond modern secularism and naive positivism. In this connection, wherever in sacred place the human and the spiritual subjectivities enter into relation, the figures of Order and Chaos also manifest themselves as poles of this original, at the same time eternal and dynamic, exchange. The Chaos is the energetic and primeval power that gives life to the place and that is mastered by the Genius loci. Thus, according to Dugin (2020a), “the very concept of %àoq (chaos) was originally related from an etymological point of view to the empty space. Chaos is in fact an empty space between heaven and earth. It is a transitory state of space, until it has become a place, that is, for instance, a place for the spirit. Therefore, the spirits of the place are the guardians of chaos, they organize it, transforming the void into full” (p. 368). But man also has chaos within himself, and therefore aspires to reach the spirit of the place (Genius loci) as interior balance and the metaphysical centre. The place inhabited by the Genius loci is somehow reminiscent of the Axis Mundi, the symbolic Centre of the World. Genius loci becomes visible and present when the numinous dimension dwelling into the place trough rites, sacrifices, liturgy and mystical experiences, becomes stronger and takes possession of the human subject along the path of inner search. In this phenomenon the relation between subject, Genius loci and place go beyond any dualism and realizes the foundation of a new Order, in which the chaotic dimension can be seen as the core "engine5 of the process. The individual relation between men and Genius loci also has a communitarian counterpart. According to Mircea Eliade “one of the outstanding characteristics of traditional societies is the opposition that they assume between their inhabited territory and the unknown and indeterminate space that surrounds it. The former is the world (more precisely, our world), the cosmos; everything outside is no longer a cosmos but a sort of "other world5, a foreign, chaotic space, peopled by ghosts, demons, "foreigners555 (1961, p. 29). In this very specific perspective the founding of the village (town, or city) attributes a sacral meaning to the space trough the recognition of the Genius loci and its sovereignty over Chaos. In fact “if every inhabited territory is a cosmos, this is precisely because it was first consecrated, because, in one way or another, it is the work of the gods or is in communication with the world of the gods. The world (that is, our world) is a universe within which the sacred has already manifested itself’ (Eliade, 1961, p. 30). Genius loci can be thus symbolically understood also as Genius terrae, within which the spiritual pole of the Genius is taken into account in relation with the telluric and elementary dimension of Gaea, considered as sacred place par excellence. As we have elsewhere underlined: The Genius terrae can be understood as a hermeneutic key to decrypt the epochal upheavals of the current postmodern age. According to the Jiingerian legacy, we can affirm that today we’re facing a process of inversion of the Weltgeschichte — the history of the post-Herodotian world, linearly understood in the Oedipal sense (history reduced to technical mechanisms, dominated by ‘planetarization’, to employ a Heideggerian notion) —, in Erdgeschichte, the history of the earth conceived from an organical and metamorphic point of view, i.e. the qualitative history crossed by mythical-symbolic forms, analogical and archetypal structures. We are witnessing, in parallel, the emergence — often confused and partial — of the domination of the ‘underground’, that dimension removed from Western Enlightenment and rationalist culture, which spreads either on a plane of axial verticality (the summit: the archetypal and noetic dimension) or in the telluric depth (the abyss: the subrational and demonic dimension). In this context, Genius loci can suggest a radical discussion of the Earth question — primarily considered on a symbolic and hermeneutic level, which can also acquire interesting repercussions on a political, geopolitical, even economical side (Siniscalco,2020b, p. 800). Profane cultures have considered the original relation between Order and Chaos within the sacral space of Genius loci as a superstitious interpretation by religious consciousness. Thus, this spiritual interpretation of relation between transcendence and immanence has been transformed, especially through Cartesian dualism and the 17th century Scientific Revolution, in a kind of mechanical, deterministic and causal relation. Thanks to utilitarianism and the development of modern technique, places have been understood as pure 'containers’ of riches, material profit and energy. Yet, the already considered shift to the postmodern era can open new perspectives into the thick and dense “fissures in the Great Wall” of modernity (applying to postmodernity the famous image proposed by Guénon [2004, pp. 172-176]). By working into the increasing of these slits, new spaces for the defence of Genius loci (Sciortino, 2020) will be reopened. 3. Sacred geography and the path to Geopolitics Order and Chaos can also be considered the fundamental pillars of sacred geography, which is the symbolic and esoteric interpretation of the essence of spaces. “Not all the loci are obviously the same. The concrete space is not homogeneous, or isotropic (like Cartesian space): sacred geography is based precisely on a map of the most full or sacred places, to which the adjective genialis or daimonios is eminently appropriate” (Cuniberto, 2017, p. 266). The perspective of sacred geography could be considered as the archetypal view on spaces that anticipates and properly founds the already analysed philosophy of spaces. Genius loci is a pivotal character of this mythic- symbolic perception of spaces. It is a perspective that is testified by the already quoted René Guénon: “There are places particularly suited to serve as 'support5 for the action of 'spiritual influences5, and on this fact has always been based the establishment of certain traditional 'centers5, whether principal or secondary, the oracles of antiquity and the places of pilgrimage furnishing the most outwardly apparent examples of such 'centers555 (2004, p. 134). Sacred space is not always three-dimensional and areal. Stoddard (1987) argues that sacred points and lines, as well as areas, are significant components of the geography of sacred spaces. Believers recognise that sacred areas are endowed with divine meaning, which separates them qualitatively from secular or profane places. Migration patterns to such sacred areas (as in pilgrimage) are influenced more by spiritual than practical objectives, so that cost- or distance-minimisation are less important than the very fact of getting there or being there (Park, 2003, p. 251). This ancient awareness survived in Christian civilization and on its spiritual map, made of monasteries, churches, significant ritual places and pilgrimages towards them: it is significant that the first geographers were theologians and missionaries — on which point scholars speak of “ecclesiastical geography55 (Park, 2003, pp. 9-10) and “Biblical geography55 (Park, 2003, pp. 11- 12). Even today, in the secular age, spiritual centres have not ceased to exist. But we are not able to recognize them anymore, it is just the communication between modern men and the subtle spiritual domain that has been reduced to a minimum. This is basically a matter of faculty of perception. An important contribution to the contemporary reconstruction of sacred geography comes from Alexander Dugin’s research. Dugin’s awareness that territory is deeply connected with history, cultural, philosophy, semantics, is reflected in the Neo-Eurasianist comprehension and interpretation of the cosmos. It is, according to Dugin, a place of spiritual Order in which all levels of reality are interconnected. “The Eurasianist cosmos is permeated with subtle trajectories traversed by fiery, eternal ideas and winged meanings. Reading these trajectories, revealing them out of concealment, and extracting complex meanings out of the corporeal plasma of disparate facts and phenomena is the task of humanity” (Dugin, 2020b). This means that the essence of place is not only material, but strictly archetypal and symbolic: “For the Eurasianists, the cosmos is an inner notion. It is revealed not through expansion, but rather, or on the contrary, through immersion deep within it, through concentration on the hidden aspects of the reality given here and now” (Dugin, 2020b). Through this doctrine, which is not conveyed as an abstract ideology, but as a pragmatic and concrete way to experience reality, men can perceive in the world its sacred dimension. Every people, according to their traditions, master a different interpretation of the sacred pillars of spaces. The Russian Cosmos, for example, is understood as a pluriversum in which the identity of the holy, sacred Russia is the primary dynamic energy, understood as relation between Russian territory (seen as Hearthland, Land of civilization) and Russian man. As we have considered analysing the figure of Genius loci, the experience of hidden dimension of places reveals a post- or extra- dualistic dimension, where subject and object, matter and spirit, are the same. Thus, the very notion of Eurasia encompasses the idea of a synthesis of East and West, Europe and Asia, that point where the antagonistic forces of sacred geography can and must find balance. In conjunction with sacred geography and Neo-Platonic topology (in the spirit of Proclus’ commentaries on the story of Atlantis from Plato’s Critias and Republic) geopolitics assigns the 'Russian world’ and 'Russian cosmos’ yet another dimension: Russia is not simply one world among others, but is that world which is destined to become the most important space of world history where historical antitheses clash and the fate of humanity reaches its culmination (Dugin, 2020b). At the same time, however, the Russian pluriversum is part of the universal (but not universalis tic) pluriversum, where all cultures can find and express their own identity. This is not a modern relativistic perspective, instead it is the discovery of a fundamental process at the core of reality, which we could define as 'ontological perspectivism’. Many traditions and many gnoseological approaches to reality exist on the same, horizontal level. But this fascinating difference hides a deep, ontological unity (Siniscalco, 2020c): every Kultur,; going deep into its own cosmos, can near the common — hidden, 'apophatic’ — true subject and object as such. In other words, the Russian becomes an all-human to the extent that he is more and more Russian, and not vice versa, without losing his Russianness in exchange for something formal and externally borrowed from other peoples and cultures. The same can be said of any representative of any other cosmos. But the presence of this supra-cosmic unity cannot be a known given. It must be experienced in practice. One must traverse the whole path. One could hope that at the end of one’s path to themselves in their cosmic roots, a person will reach the common core of humanity, that is the matrix of the cosmos as such, its secret center. But this cannot be claimed in advance. Moreover, it would be a mistake to substitute the concrete experience of one culture with putting it up in advance as something common to all and universal (Dugin, 2020b). If we consider the visible and clear aspect of culture (Kultur) as the concrete manifestation of the celestial Order on the Earth, we are allowed to consider the “hidden, ‘apophatic’” core of sacred geography as the chaotic pole, the magmatic metaphysical dimension from which Order acquires its own foundation. Dugin’s pragmatic idea of the sacred allows the conclusion that “only those who have reached the heart of their cosmos can issue a weighty, solid judgement regarding the universal” (Dugin, 2020b). This kind of “cosmic pluralism”, embodied in traditional sacred geography, can still be reactivated by a process inverse to the famous modem attempt to “disenchant the world”, as Max Weber wished. It is, on the contrary, necessary to “re-enchant the world”, fighting Western colonization not just in its political and economic roots, but especially in its powerful capability to condition and influence the collective imaginary. This opportunity has recently been developed in Italy by the geopolitical analyst and researcher Daniele Perra, whose latest publication (2020) is explicitly devoted to finding the language of sacred geography at the origin and foundation — or at least the archetypal paradigm — of modem geopolitics. By considering, following the Traditionalist school, that modem profane sciences are just traces of ancient traditional sciences,[10] Perra finds that this process operates in the geopolitical domain as well: in fact at its core it is possible to recognize “a profound residual impact of the archetypes of sacred geography, settled in the collective imagination, which determines the very structure of geopolitical thought” (2020, p. 10). Among them we can consider the poles of Order and Chaos. They appear in so many mythologies, images and narratives concerning all the populations around the world that is not possible here to present even a synthesis of the religious and symbolical role of these concepts. However, we can state that they appear at least on two main hermeneutical levels: the deepest one, from a metaphysical and esoteric point of view, is the already considered ontological unity that all the traditions recognise as the main feature of the metaphysical Origin. In this dimension all the opposites dissolve in the coincidentia oppositorum (coincidence of opposites), in the Unum. In this domain we can consider Order and Chaos as two sides of the Same: Chaos is the magmatic and generative dark side that manifests itself through the clarity and formal structures of the cosmic Order. Then, on the second hermeneutical level, traditional cultures usually define themselves and the spaces that their political regimes inhabit as kingdoms of Order, understood as political and secular embodiments of metaphysical principles, as opposed to the negative powers of Chaos as dis-order, often linked to moral corruption, cultural and religious decadence - Modernity. If the first hermeneutical level counts in the metaphysical and esoteric experience, the latter prevails in the philosophy of history and the phenomenology of cultural processes. From both perspectives geopolitics inherits a style of description and expression based on a modernized interpretation of spatial symbolism. Such significant concepts as East and West, North and South, Land and Sea, borders and territorial expansion, pole, centre, Empire have a broad religious and symbolic background. From a traditional perspective we could consider, for example, the geography of the West as the symbolic embodiment of decadence (the 'sundown5 of spirituality and culture), whereas the East is the territory where the sun arises (Ex Oriente lux), where gods and the sacred always manifest themselves. In this analysis the West overlaps with Chaos (Devil, decadence), the East coincides with the Order (Good, Tradition). This paradigm inevitably affect — although most of the time in an unconscious way — current geopolitics, which still remain under the influence of that sacred geography that includes the Neo-Platonic topology, according to which everything has a specific ontological meaning and position, a structure and a metaphysical reason, and which is under attack by rationalism and modernism. Furthermore geopolitics reflects on the relevant connection between populations, political structures and territories. To avoid a strict deterministic interpretation (the origin and evolution of a specific culture or religion exclusively depends upon its geographical setting) does not mean ignoring the deep link between these poles. Sacred geography should thus be understood as an attempt to overcome epistemological dualism: subject and object, human and nature, geo- and politics are perceived at its centre on the same level. Again, the poles of Order and Chaos appear as a declination of those balanced metaphysical principles which, for example, Chinese cosmology has developed trough the concepts of Yin and Yang. The importance of these concepts has survived into contemporary geopolitics. Referring to the two hermeneutical levels considered before, we can state that usually it is the latter to be mostly applied in its secularized form within geopolitics. Order is mainly understood as a positive political arrangement or pattern with an internal (national) and external (international relations) side. In geopolitics the opposite of order is disorder, i.e. an unsteady situation of political international relations. Disorder is not a strict synonym of Chaos, but has similar qualities. Hence why political scientists usually associate disorder and chaos as long as they are used to describe the same destabilized situation. The attempt to create geopolitical order and the intention to determine international destabilization are two opposite but sometimes convergent political and diplomatic tendencies. Within geopolitics Order means also 'political model5 or 'paradigm5. In recent history three main models have existed: bipolarity (during the Cold War); unipolarity (the USA order after USSR collapse); multipolarity (the current and still emerging international framework). According to Dugin’s theory of multipolarity (2019), it is possible to deduce that multipolarity is the geopolitical model that is most suitable — because of its intrinsic pluralism — to a rediscovery of the sacred dimension of places. If we recall the main points hitherto discussed, this conclusion appears quite logical and evident: multipolarity allows for perceiving international relations as plural and multidimensional; different traditions and civilizations are considered as simultaneously coexistent, dignified and politically relevant; the Genius loci of every territory can come back and acquire a public recognizable status; multipolarity is thus more than a Western values-based multilateralism and it does not limit itself to the recognition of the role of modern nations, which are considered as contingent historical states that the current trend will likely eradicate by restoring, through the constitution of huge continental spaces (Grofiraume, according to Carl Schmitt) of integration, the ancient idea of Empire; civilizations come back onto the stage of history, as pointed out also by Huntington (2011) - history is not finished at all. In Dugin’s perspective the concept of multipolarity has both a phenomenological and programmatic value: it describes a state of affairs that the scholar sees more and more becoming true, on the basis of the power relations established between the international actors involved, but at the same time defines a desirable and fruitful scenario, the acceleration of which is a primary task for those interested in regaining the sovereignty of peoples through the integration of large spaces, where the clash of civilisations could be substituted by a dialogue of civilisations. By going through a period of international Chaos, a new counter-hegemonic and multipolar Order will be established: it will be the reign, revising Machiavelli’s famous expression, of "the plurality of the Prince” (Dugin, 2019, pp. 191-197). In these horizons, the notion of Chaos acquires a new and positive meaning, concerning the dynamic structure of the multipolar Order, where the balance of poles can always change, opening to the pivotal role of history and political decisions: "There is always a time, for every civilization in the multipolar world, when great decisions must be made. And each time the decision-making principle can theoretically fluctuate from one segment of civilization to another. This greatly complicates the structure of international law [...]. But, at the same time, it releases the full inner natural force (potestas), the element of historical existence [...]. Here, the concept of 'chaos of international relations5, also present in the classic paradigms, is quite appropriate and relevant55 (Dugin, 2019, pp. 199-200). The Russian geopolitical analyst Leonid Savin has also understood the importance of Order and Chaos as fundamental pillars of current international affairs. In his recent "contribution to the development of the theory of multipolarity55 (2020, p. 3) Savin considers through a great amount of references to academic literature the different scenarios which scholars imagine as concretely possible in a 'post-American future5. The end of the recent 'Pax Americana5could basically create either a new hegemonic unipolar world order, dominated by a reformed US or by a new power (such as China), or a chaotic Order, characterized by a living and dynamic multilateralism, by a polycentric and pluralistic asset, in which different poles of civilizations could make alliances or fight together developing a new kind of multipolar globalization. This latter option, which according to Savin and his various sources is the most probable one, needs a significant intervention of Great Politics in order not to leave the world in a state of complete disorder: the tough and rigorous deconstruction of the modern Western rationalistic paradigm calls for a simultaneous elaboration of a 'balanced pluralism5, devoted to giving Order to Chaos and establishing an international relations structure in order to avoid a permanent state of conflicts. A source of inspiration could come from the economic-materialist concept elaborated by Marx and Schumpeter and defined as "creative destruction55(Savin, 2020, p. 75): 'nonpolarity5 is a theoretical abstract framework that does not correspond to reality, which always assumes a polarized structure, in which every disruption is linked to new reconstructions. Chaos and Order are always connected. Pure Chaos is a fake hypothesis in geopolitical scenarios; the question is: how much disorder can the current framework accept and balance in a constructive way? Multipolarity seems to be the most realistic choice for a concrete pluralistic and polycentric geopolitical paradigm. Furthermore, according to Amaya Querejazu, "taking the pluriverse as an ontological starting point, implies not simply tolerating difference, but actually understanding that reality is constituted not only by many worlds, but by many kinds of worlds, many ontologies, many ways of being in the world, many ways of knowing reality55 (2016, p. 3). Multipolarity itself presents many risks and dangers. Referring to John Mearsheimer5s multipolarity analysis (2014), Savin distinguishes between "unbalanced multipolarity55 (a multipolar system with potential hegemony) and "balanced multipolarity55 (an asymmetric multipolar system without hegemony): the latter is the more desirable one, although we should always remember that "multi-polarity often created an unstable and unpredictable world, characterized by shifting alliances and by the aspiration of the rising powers to change the balance of power and create a new order” (Savin, 2020, p. 80). However, as has already been pointed out by Alexander Dugin, multipolarity seems to be the ideal geopolitical paradigm to allow for the plurality of traditions, metaphysics and archetypes to manifest themselves in the contemporary age. Savin shows that the concept of polycentricity and pluriversality (2020, pp. 125-148) have also been developed outside of Western culture, with the elaboration of really interesting models that directly derive from different traditional cultures. Significant is, for example, the Chinese contribution to the theory and practice of multipolarity (duojihua in Chinese) that has been already expressed in the five principles that constituted the basis of the 1945 treaty with India: “1. Mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty 2. Non-aggression 3. Non-interference in internal affairs 4. Equality and mutual benefit 5. Peaceful coexistence” (Savin, 2020, p. 85). The confrontation with different cultural paradigms and symbolical representations is very fruitful in order to rethink the global pluriversum in a more complex and shareable way. We have to take into account that “the world each being inhabits is populated by entities (persons, objects, theories, practices) that are ontologically configured in processes of choosing and decisions that produce the establishment of reference frameworks that people use to situate themselves in the world. Accordingly, these reference frameworks are very different to a person in the Amazon than to a person raised in a Western city” (Querejazu, 2016, p. 5). In this postmodern scenario, according to Savin, it will be easier to take in consideration the “principles of the sacred division of space” (2020, p. 185), giving new recognition to the metaphysical and mythico-symbolic role of Order and Chaos. Our brief itinerary through different approaches to the deep and symbolic meaning of spaces — philosophy of spaces, sacred geography, geopolitics — is of course not exhaustive. It was understood as a synthetic and incomplete presentation of different but converging perspectives directed to show the deep correlations between archaic and current elements within the contemporary comprehension of topology. Our research has particularly intended to underline the significant role of Order and Chaos as pivotal elements of an integral hermeneutics which could be fruitfully developed in the future for both theoretical and pragmatic purposes. In the end, “it is clear that a multipolar and pluriversal political geography must be devoted to the cause of returning the numerous spaces of our planet to their true ontological status” (Savin, 2020, p. 186). [1] Chaos, conceived in this Greek and ontological dimension (Mutti, 2013), is not at all homologue of that “nothing” that has became the protagonist of the speculative reflections of the 20th century within the debate around Nihilism. It is furthermore about the generative and original dimension that comes before all the visible and phenomenological forms of reality. Also the Eastern wisdom embodies this ancient metaphysical knowledge, in which Chaos can be understood as openness, pluralism and spiritual fecundity. Also as void, according to Buddhism. “The void — Andrei Plesu summarizes — is, for the oriental thinkers, the imperiously necessary condition for the world to be habitable. Consciousness must reach it to be inhabited, when the moment comes, by enlightenment. Talking about the emptiness of the world does not mean talking about its relativity, but about its extreme availability” (2018, pp. 166-67). The void is, in conclusion, “an infinite possibility, the universality that nourishes every manifestation” (p. 170). [2] The translation of all the Italian sources quoted in the essay is due to the author. [3] On the discussion about the etymological origin of the latin word locus see the different interpretations of Cuniberto (2017, pp. 264-267) and Dugin (2020a, p. 358). [4] The promethean/faustian ideology as the distinctive character of modern anthropology is a broadly spread concept (among others: Jiinger, 1993; Baumann, 2013). This thesis, that seems to be accepted by the great part of the 20th century Western philosophers, is in reality coloured in a more complex and pluralistic way, also in the thinkers that have critically considered the question of technique — such as Ernst Jiinger, Oswald Spengler, Martin Heidegger, etc. Technique is a problem and a risk, but also an historical opportunity for a new civilization. This y>M<9-technical attitude, that Resta and Bonesio’s reflections try to fight, is deepen and appreciated also in some conservative-revolutionary, transhumanist and neofuturist authors, such as Locchi (1982), Faye (2010), Campa (2010) and Jorjani (2020). See also the great synthesis proposed on this issue by Boco (2009). [5] In this discourse we consider postmodernity as the era where the phenomenological framework elaborated by postmodernism is became reality. And postmodernism “is basically a revolt against the rationality of modernism [...] which searches for universal truth and meaning, usually through some kind of metadiscourse or metanarrative [...]. In practice, postmodernism has taken the form of a revolt against the too-rigid conventions of existing method and language” (Dear, 1988, p. 265). [6] Resta defines this anthropological (but also ethical and political) perspective, available in a pluriversal and multipolar world of human and political relations, “hospitality policy” (vs “hostility politics”) referring both to Lévinas and Derrida (Resta, 2010, pp. 17-18). [7] Similarly, Heidegger had spoken about Entortung as that process of delocalization and eradication that Schmitt has understood as the destruction of the Nomos of the Earth — linked to the division between the Order (<Ordnung) and the Location (Ortung) (Bonesio, 2000; Luppi, 2020). [8] “There is no place without Genius”. An interesting commentary to this sentence is proposed by Bevilacqua (2010, pp. 11-16). [9] The presence of subtle worlds in the experience of all the cultures allow us to identify a “religious ecology” that depends on the recognition of the veneration of nature as holy site of spirits (and more broadly divine forces) (Park, 2003, pp. 246-249). [10] Similarly Schmitt affirmed that “all significant concepts of the modern theory of the state are secularized theological concepts” (1988, p. 36). We could therefore consider geopolitics as a “secularized theology” (Mutti, 2019). This idea is convergent with the famous Mircea Eliade’s thesis (1963, pp. 162-193) that the entire modern culture is crossed by an hiding of the sacred into the profane shape, but also with the more recent thesis that “religious beliefs, for most believers, are not just theories. They offer codes of moral behaviour that provide a guide for action and a particular lifestyle. This is [...] the latent function of religion (it provides a socially cohesive force), in contrast to its manifest function (of explaining that which is outside humankind and mysterious to it). Even many recently secularised societies preserve features of past religious traditions, and it is often rather difficult to determine where religious factors end and secular ones begin” (Park, 2003, p. 42). [11] We’ve tried, when it was possible, to use and quote the English editions of the considered authors. In the other cases we’ve referred to the original version of the sources. 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Nuovo Giornale di Filosofia della Religione (ISSN 2532-1676), n. 13/14, 162- 172. Spengler, O. (1991) The Decline of the West (A. Helps & H. Werner, eds.; C.F. Atkinson, trans.). Oxford University Press.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1556
__label__wiki	0.792772	0.792772	Carlsbad State Beach Services Cut by The Editors on October 30, 2009 The California State Department of Parks and Recreations has finally released their list of services that they will no longer be able to provide thanks to State budget issues. Looks like we’re going to lose lifeguards, restrooms, and trash service: South Carlsbad State Beach: Lifeguard service scaled back and fire rings removed. Carlsbad State Beach: Reduction in lifeguards, restrooms and trash service. We’re wondering what reductions in restroom service means? Every other flush works? Or they’re going to be cleaned half as well? [Link: San Diego Union-Tribune] Rubio’s Says No Thank You To Buyout Looks like the ownership of Carlsbadistan-based Mexican fast-casual chain Rubio’s Restaurants Inc. is not going to be sold after all, according to The Deal. Mexican-themed casual dining chain Rubio’s Restaurants Inc. said late Thursday, Oct. 29, it rejected an $80 million buyout offer from shareholder Alex Meruelo and private equity firm Levine Leichtman Capital Partners. Rubio’s board said the $8 per share bid, announced Oct. 14, was not in the best interest of its stockholders. But that isn’t stopping the company from looking for other buyers who may offer more. [Link: The Deal] Council Unanimous In Lego Hotel Approval Earlier this week the Carlsbadistan City Council approved Legoland’s plans for a 254-room, 137,000-square-foot hotel that will be built in the theme park’s parking lot, according to a Michael Burge story in the San Deigo Union-Tribune. The propsed hotel will feature a restaurant, bar, and nightclub, the later of which seemed to ruffle at least one of councilman Keith Blackburn feathers. But Legoland officials were quick to clear that up. “The reference to ‘nightclub’ in our list of planned amenities would be better phrased as ‘Evening Legoland Club,’ as it again will be aimed directly at families with young children . . . between 2 and 12 years old,” said Peter Ronchetti, the general manager of Legoland California. “So we have no ambitions to enter the nightclub business.” Or course not. Legoland’s only ambition is to keep every single tourist dollar they can and let as little leak out into the community as possible. [Link: San Deigo Union-Tribune] Callaway Loses $16.05 Million In Q3 Times must be hard in the golf business. With expense accounts getting clipped and companies shedding extra employees we would guess that there are far fewer business deals going down on the golf course these days and Callaway is feeling it. For the third quarter of 2009, net sales were $190.86 million, a decrease of 11%, compared to $213.45 million for the same quarter of 2008. . . For the first nine months of 2009, net sales were $764.95 million, a decrease of 19%, compared to $945.93 million for the same period of 2008. But CEO George Fellows has found a silver lining: “While market conditions have been challenging this year, we have managed our business in such a way that we have gained market share in all club categories, managed our expenses responsibly and invested in a few important growth initiatives that should position Callaway Golf to grow when the economy begins to rebound.” We’re not sure that a bigger piece of a smaller pie is anything to be excited about. [Link: Trading Markets] Tonight Is Thursdays on The Coast This isn’t exactly fair warning, but October’s Thursday On The Coast Art Walk is tonight in the Village of Carlsbadistan. Get all the details at the info boot at New Village Arts Theatre at 2787 State Street, Carlsbad. [Link: Thursdays On The Coast] Teacher’s Molestation Trail Set For January A trial date of January 12, 2010 has been set for Raymond Lewis Firth, 38, in charges related to the alleged molestation of three third-grade students at the Pacific Rim Elementary School during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years, according to a story in the San Diego Union-Tribune. Firth faced charges Tuesday in Vista Superior Court in connection with allegations by one of the three students. He pleaded not guilty, posted $450,000 bail and is free pending trial in January, Mok said. . . After a third student came forward during the summer with allegations of molestation, the District Attorney’s Office filed additional charges in August, Mok said. In the second case, he is charged with two counts of committing lewd conduct upon a minor under 14. . . . If found guilty on all counts, Firth faces up to 18 years in state prison, Mok said. [Link: San Diego Union-Tribune and North County Times] Boy & Girls Club Gets Halloween Costumes The Boys & Girls Club of Carlsbad received 175 free Halloween costumes thanks to a donation made by WWE action figure maker Jakks Pacific, Inc. The company donated 100,000 costumes to Boys & Girls Clubs in Southern California this year. “The kids – and their parents – were absolutely thrilled to learn they were getting free costumes for Halloween,” said Program Director Patty Tate. “Due to the tough economy, many families are not able to provide costumes for their children this season. It was so much fun seeing the smiles on their faces!” It’s also nice that the makers of toys like Ruthless Aggression, Unmatched Fury, and Maximum Aggression action figures can do something positive for the kids of Southern California as well. Through it’s philanthropic arm JAKKS Cares the company has donated more than $20 million in toys, school supplies and monetary endowments to millions of underprivileged children around the world. Pacific Ridge Breaks Ground On New Building On Saturday, October 25, 2009, Carlsbadistan’s Pacific Ridge School officially broke ground on its new energy efficient campus. According to the school more than 400 community members attended the event. While an increasing number of businesses are working toward LEED certification, the Carlsbad non-profit, independent school will be one of only a handful of schools across the country on its way to achieve gold accreditation. . . Highlights of the new energy efficient campus, designed to reduce overall energy consumption by 42%, compared to traditional school buildings, include: Onsite solar power, Recycled construction materials, Natural lighting for 90% of classroom space, Passive ventilation for 100% of the public spaces, Reduction of landscape irrigation by 50% The $20 million project is scheduled to be completed in time for this year’s Juniors (pictured above) to graduate from the new energy efficient school building. Follow the jump for all the official details. Ponto Landing Boat Gets Away Again Apparently, the schedule of those panga’s delivering Mexican nationals to the South Carlsbadistan’s Ponto Landing are running a little tighter than we expected. On Monday, October 27, 2009 at approximately 2:40 AM another 20 illegals were arrested at Ponto, according to a story in the North County Times. About 2:40 a.m., agents spotted a small, open-topped boat landing on South Ponto Beach, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection news release. Agents arrested 16 men and four women who disembarked, all Mexicans entering the country illegally, officials said. Not so oddly, the men driving the boat and the boat itself could not be found. Click here for the complete rundown of monthly Ponto Landing arrests. [Link: North County Times] Floating Airport For Carlsbadistan? Adam Englund has a idea that solves most of San Diego’s airport problems: a 200 million square foot floating airport. The structure Englund and his 40-strong group of collaborators–”pilots, naval architects, maritime engineers” as well as the standard array of finance types–are proposing is called OceansWorks Offshore Airport. The airport would be located mostly on the roof of the structure though. Below it would be four stories of open real estate open to almost limitless uses. “Hotels, restaurants, conference centers, free trade zones, distribution facilities, research facilities, universities…” Englund says, pauses for a moment, and then ticks off some more possibilities. “Even after all the space required for internal infrastructure, that leaves 200 million square feet. That’s more office space than currently exists in all of San Diego county.” It would only cost $20 Billion and if they locked it down about 13 miles offshore at Terramar we’d be way, way into it. [Link: OceansWorks Offshore Airport via Gizmodo via Infrastructurist]	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1561
__label__cc	0.657604	0.342396	CCB.COM GROUP.CCB.COM Personal&Corporate Today's CCB Home Page>Latest Announcement China Construction Bank reports operating results for the third quarter of 2020 Published time：2020-10-29 Intensifying efforts to serve the real economy and enhancing digital operation capabilities China Construction Bank Corporation (“CCB”) (A-share stock code SH:601939; H-share stock code HK:939) released its operating results for the third quarter of 2020 on October 29, 2020. (The following data for the Group are prepared in line with International Financial Reporting Standards and denominated in RMB). According to the report, CCB has continued to develop its three key strategies of housing rental, inclusive finance, and FinTech since the beginning of the year, actively exploring digital business models, and contributing financial strength to post-pandemic production recovery and economic and social development. It maintained steady development in the first three quarters, with its core performance indicators such as asset size, profitability, and asset quality in line with expectations. As of September 30, 2020, CCB's assets and liabilities have grown steadily, and rapid deposit and loan growth has been observed. Its assets totaled 28,298.121 billion, up by 2,861.860 billion or 11.25% from the end of 2019. Its liabilities totaled 25,952.251 billion, up by 2,751.117 billion or 11.86% from the end of 2019. Loans and advances totaled 16,711.368 billion, up by 1,688.543 billion or 11.24% from the end of 2019. Deposits totaled 20,941.183 billion, up by 2,574.890 billion or 14.02% from the end of 2019. CCB's capital adequacy ratio was 16.88%. Specifically, the Tier 1 ratio was 13.86% and the Core Tier 1 ratio was 13.15%, both conforming to regulatory requirements. According to the report, In the first three quarters of 2020, CCB offered more benefits to the real economy through various ways such as fee reduction and debt service deferral, and at the same time proactively digested risks and saw an increase in impairment losses. It recorded a net profit of 207.609 billion, of which the net profit attributable to shareholders was 205.832 billion, down by 8.70% and 8.66% year-on-year, respectively. Annualized return on average assets was 1.03% and annualized return on average equity was 12.53%. Net interest income totaled 404.787 billion, up by 6.41%. Net fee and commission income increased by 6.66% year-on-year. Net interest spread was 1.99%, and net interest margin was 2.13%, down by 0.13 and 0.14 percentage points year-on-year, respectively, due to the impact of by factors such as the steady advancement of interest rate marketization and lower market interest rates over the same period last year. CCB's intermediary services posted steady income growth. Net fee and commission income came in at 113.507 billion, with the year-on-year growth rate slowing down to 4.17% as CCB reduced its fees to benefit the real economy. On the other hand, CCB’s credit card, electronic banking, trust and fiduciary activities achieved strong product development. Its cost-to-income ratio was 22.33％, down 0.91 percentage points year-on-year. According to the five-category classification of loans, CCB’s non-performing loans (NPLs) amounted to 255.528 billion, an increase of 43.055 billion from the end of 2019. Its NPL ratio was 1.53%, up 0.11 percentage points from the end of 2019. Its allowances to NPLs was 217.51%, down 10.18 percentage points from the end of 2019. In the third quarter, the global pandemic failed to be fully contained, exerting a serious impact on the world economy. The global economic situation is complex and volatile, and uncertainties and instability factors are gradually increasing. Changes in the pandemic situation remain an important factor affecting economic recovery. CCB is actively fulfilling its responsibilities as a major bank, fully supporting the prevention and control of the pandemic and the resumption of work and production, intensifying its efforts to serve the real economy, vigorously promoting digital operations and services, and striving to achieve high-quality development. Ensuring proper normalization of pandemic prevention and control, and intensifying efforts to serve the real economy. Since the beginning of the year, CCB has been improving the quality and efficiency of its efforts to serve the real economy, unleashing credit resources through multiple channels, increasing the support it provides, and conducting "precise drip-irrigation" in key areas to enhance its support efficiency and promote high-quality economic development. It optimized its emergency response mechanism, improved its emergency response plan and strengthened its business continuity management to ensure the health of its employees and the security of its business operations to the greatest extent. It adjusted its risk limits and credit policies, and optimized its customer ratings and credit approval procedures. It also increased its extension of credit, focusing on meeting the credit needs of pandemic prevention and control and the resumption of production and related industries, inclusive finance, and manufacturing, so as to fully protect market players. It adopted measures such as deferred repayment of principal and interest, deadline extension, and loan renewal to help ease the burden of customers affected by the pandemic. It stepped up support in terms of inclusive credit and service fee reduction and waivers, continued to enhance its service coverage, and promoted "quantitative increase, price reduction, quality improvement, and coverage expansion" in terms of small and micro enterprise financing. It deeply cultivated the housing rental market, actively revitalized vacant and idle housing to increase the supply of rental housing, vigorously promoted the implementation of policy-based rental housing projects, continued to promote financial product innovation, employed the REIT model to successfully complete the first transaction under the pilot project of equity transaction service for housing leasing companies in China, and guided more social funds to participate in the construction of the housing rental market, providing support for large-scale operations of housing leasing enterprises and effectively playing a leading and exemplary role as a state-owned enterprise. Business empowerment through FinTech; enhanced digital operation capabilities. CCB provided high-quality and efficient online financial services to personal and corporate customers by tapping the “Cloud Workshop”. It launched the "Quick Loan" series and other consumer credit services that are handled online throughout the process to offer personal customers with more convenient consumer financing services. It gave full play to the advantages of its online platform “CCB Match-Plus” to achieve full-process digital online exhibition operation and cross-border matching. CCB used scientific and technological means to empower its inclusive finance customer base. In terms of innovative upgrade, it launched "Huidongni" 2.0, achieving "one-stop" services, "one-minute" financing and "one-price" financing with credit financing as the core as it continued to reduce the financing costs of SMEs in the real economy. It built online e-commerce and matching platforms, and a new model of poverty alleviation through consumption that combines offline dedicated areas, outlets and counters to comprehensively help ease poverty and promote rural revitalization. It facilitated the dissemination, collection and reporting of pandemic prevention and control information and medical resource allocation with its smart government affairs platform, helping to build a national pandemic information release network. It also launched the “CCB Smart Community Management Platform”, helping urban and rural communities build an integrated “online + offline” pandemic prevention and control system. Adopting forward-looking measures to proactively address risks and consolidating the foundation of asset quality. CCB adhered to the guiding principle that business development should be bounded by its risk management and control capabilities, and solidly developed a comprehensive, proactive, and intelligent risk prevention, monitoring and management system. The Group accelerated the construction of a unified risk picture and enhanced its collaborative risk control capabilities. It actively carried out multiple rounds of special stress tests to assess the impact of the spread of the pandemic on asset quality and the achievement of business objectives. It fully considered the uncertainties that the macro economy might face, made prudent provisions, intensified the disposal of risky assets, and enhanced its ability to offset risks. CCB stated that its next step would be to uphold its philosophy of stable operation and value creation, calmly deal with the complex economic and financial situation, lend its hand in the prevention and control of the pandemic, support economic and social development, strive to nurture new opportunities amid the crisis, develop new opportunities amid changes, continuously increase its exploration and development of new finance, promote its "Three Major Strategies" in depth and breadth, innovate its digital business model, maintain stable, balanced and sustainable business performance, strive to achieve high-quality development, and contribute financial power in accelerating China’s establishment of a new development pattern featuring dual circulation, which takes the domestic market as the mainstay and allows domestic and foreign markets to boost each other. Print This Page Share To Sina Twitter Tencent Twitter Font： Small Medium Large 简体/繁体 © China Construction Bank. All rights reserved. Beijing ICP License No.13030780 京公网安备：110102000450 Address of headquarters:No.25, Finance Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, China, Postcode 100033 Mobile website: m.ccb.com	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1567
__label__cc	0.635338	0.364662	0 out of 10 for 10:10 by Editors \| Sep 3, 2009 It turns out we’ve missed a trick in our articles about the fashion for what we have called ‘pastiche politics‘, the phenomenon by which environmentalists attempt to muster non-existent public support by comparing themselves to world-changing political movements of the past – the Suffragettes, JFK, the New Deal, anti-apartheid, that sort of thing. Because, writing at Comment Is Free about Franny ‘The Age of Stupid’ Armstrong’s 10:10 Campaign, which seeks to get us all to reduce our emissions by 10% over 2010, Brendan O’Neill has provided a handy quote from Suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst: Socialism means plenty for all. We do not preach a gospel of want and scarcity, but of abundance … We do not call for limitation of births, for penurious thrift, and self-denial. We call for a great production that will supply all, and more than all the people can consume. (Which is also a rather nice counter to the watermelon theory, which holds that environmentalism is the reincarnation of socialism – red on the inside. But that’s another story.) O’Neill’s piece is a ripple of dissent in a sea of sycophantic Guardian coverage of 10:10. Which is not entirely surprising, given that the Guardian is backing the campaign. It presents so much material from the green great and good on the subject that it’s hard to know where to start. Happily, many of its flaws are encapsulated in this wee video of Franny Armstrong confessing all to Guardian journalists: The good news is that the first 10% cut is actually very easy. It’s the low-hanging fruit, it’s the changing your light bulbs, turning down your heating, driving a bit less, flying a bit less, changing your eating habits a little bit – it’s that kind of thing. Unless you’re one of those people who have already started, in which case it’s a lot harder. But it only gets really hard around 30 or 40%. But we don’t have to worry our pretty heads about that, because the good people at 10:10 will make sure the government will make us do it. And we already know that the government would like us to make them make us do it. As UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Miliband said about the Heathrow protests: When you think about all the big historic movements, from the suffragettes, to anti-apartheid, to sexual equality in the 1960s, all the big political movements had popular mobilization. Maybe it’s an odd thing for someone in government to say, but I just think there’s a real opportunity and a need here. Unfortunately for Franny, governments are far easier to persuade than the electorate. I’m of that generation that grew up being told that the point of our existence was to watch TV and go shopping and play computer games and then die. And I’m actually extremely excited and happy to realise that actually that’s not true. Actually, we have this immense responsibility – our generation has this immense responsibility. Because everybody who came before us didn’t know, and everyone who follows us, it’ll be too late for them to do anything. So it is down to us. And I actually find that extremely exciting and extremely inspiring, that we have got something important to do and that we’re not just passive consumers […] I find it much more scary the idea that our lives are just not worth anything, and if we just bought more Nike trainers, for example, then we would all be happier […] And I find that whole individualistic get in your little car and sit in a traffic jam for two hours and then go to a pointless job, that’s what I find really terrifying. Don’t we all, dear. The difference is that Franny is happy to escape the treadmill by insisting that everybody else keeps on pedaling – literally. Meanwhile, Franny gets to go in big shiny helicopters: At the end [of The Age of Stupid], there’s this great shot of this old guy mountain-climbing that was clearly shot from a helicopter. It was shot from a helicopter, because I shot it. And that kind of decision we had to make, like, you know, if we increase the production values of the film, we make it that much more mainstream by doing things like helicopter shots. What was that she was just saying about passive consumerism? It is de rigeur for environmentalists demanding that the rest of us change our greedy, consumerist ways to ritually, and with faux embarrassment, confess the size of their own carbon footprint. But it is only so big, they say, shifting uncomfortably yet sincerely in their seats, because they have a planet to save. Over to Franny again: The thing about my carbon footprint is that it was really, really good. Because I’ve been vegetarian since I was eleven, I’ve never had a car, I live in a very cold house, I’ve got solar panels, I’ve got amazing insulation, I hate shopping, so I never buy anything. So I was doing really, really well until I made this climate blockbuster movie, and I’m now flying quite a lot to promote it. Like we’ve just been in Australia last week and we’re going to America next week. So my carbon footprint has dramatically gone up since I’ve become such a successful climate campaigner, paradoxically. Not paradoxically at all. What Armstrong has succeeded in demonstrating is that, if you want to actually get anything done around here, you have to make an impact. Her argument will no doubt cut ice with the converted, however – the converted being those with nothing better to do than read the Guardian and work out how to reduce their emissions. For everyone else, which is almost everybody, there is stuff to do. As we’ve said before, saving the planet is just a way to pass the time. Anyway, good luck to ’em. They’ll need it. And congratulations in advance should their campaign actually manage to turn the heads of anything approaching a sizable chunk of the population. But we don’t believe for one minute that the public will go for this, like the public haven’t voted for green parties in the polls, like electoral turn-out has declined as all the mainstream parties have adopted mainstream environmental policies, like opinion polls repeatedly show that most people have little time for environmentalism, like ‘popular’ protests at energy plants and airports are anything but popular. At the risk of indulging in a bit of pastiche politics ourselves, we would suggest that the real popular movement, the one that really is running counter to the mainstream and trying to change the world for the better, is the one that staunchly resists the political elites’ undemocratic push for a more sustainable, less aspirational world in which our only goal is to keep everything just how it used to be – forever. Because most of us, as (ahem) Martin Luther King once said, have a dream. jabailo on September 4, 2009 at 4:11 am Another bullseye! Bravo. In many ways, the “environmentalist” movement of the 00s reminds me of GenX. GenX goes around criticizing everything “old” but then goes out of its way to replicate the previous generation in all but name. Kurt Cobain lambasts the geezers, but based his music on the Cream albums his mom gave him. Go figure. The problem for Greens is that we’ve reduced auto emissions by 97 percent not by yelling, or legislating, but by waiting for the technology to be cheap enough for us to have electronic ignition. This is why Greens hate Hydrogen. Not only is it championed by George Bush and Arnold Schwartzenegger, but it doesn’t provide hooks for them to ply their trade of nagging criticism. The ideal “solution” then, for any societal problem has to be flawed rather than perfect for it to gain acceptance. It has to have a “Gold Level” for the elites to participate in…and it has to have various flaws in the technology to allow room for consultants and mechanics to make a buck. That’s reality, and quite frankly, I’m perfectly content with same. George Carty on September 4, 2009 at 6:28 am I’m one non-Green who also hates hydrogen as a fuel. Currently most hydrogen (used for non-energy applications, mostly ammonia manufacture) is made from fossil fuels (chiefly natural gas)! Burning fossil fuels directly is surely far more efficient than burning hydrogen made from fossil fuels! Even if we were to make hydrogen without fossil fuels (by electrolytic or thermochemical splitting of water, powered by nuclear energy), it still has severe disadvantages. Although its energy per unit weight is excellent (which is why space rockets use it), its energy per unit volume sucks. In addition, it has to be cooled to at least -240 °C to liquify it O(even at high pressure), and its tiny molecules mean that preventing leaks is much more difficult that with conventional hydrocarbon fuels. In my view, once we are making hydrogen from non-fossil sources, we might as well go all the way and make synthetic hydrocarbon fuels (with the carbon coming either from carbon-containing waste, or from atmospheric CO2). Ian Wilson on September 4, 2009 at 6:41 am Great article, and you saved me a job attempting to wade through the crp that is liberally displayed all over the Grauniad web site. I did however have a look yesterday on it for some reason, and skimmed the comments on the various 10:10 articles. Once again, probably 80-90% are very critical of this campaign. Its no wonder that if I was a paranoid green (they are paranoid aren’t they?) then I would think that there is a mass conspiracy against them by the oil companies, government etc. etc. Unfortunately, they still haven’t figured out what you so eloquently put in this article and others – the general electorate don’t give a stuff and don’t want to have constant lectures stuffed down their throat. I even felt the need to add a comment to the Brendan O’Neill article pointing this out to a previous poster, as they didn’t get it either. Further, I agree with George that Hydrogen fuel is a massive problem and not the answer (yet maybe). Storage and distribution (i.e. into petrol stations) is its biggest issue, plus the fact it takes huge amounts of energy to get it in the right form in the first place. PeterB on September 4, 2009 at 6:51 am I love reading your articles, I come all the way from Australia to do so. Last night on an ABC TV forum the new UK High Commissioner (Helen Liddell?) commented about the climate crisis saying that she couldn’t understand the level of AGW scepticism in Australia, that the UK finished this debate 10-15 years ago, that you’d had a carbon tax in place for years and were well on the way to being a low-carbon economy. As I understand it the UK is still building coal-fired power stations and is looking forward to energy shortfalls in the near future. Your piece above suggests limited support from the population at large. Any ideas how Ms Liddell can claim a morally higher position over us poor Aussies? geoffchambers on September 4, 2009 at 8:36 am Your comments on Armstrong are spot on, as usual, like the previous analysis of Monbiot and Kingsnorth in “Folie à Deux”. But over and above the weird ideas of this or that media person is the question of what is happening at the Guardian. On their on-line environment page I counted no less than 36 articles about their ludicrous 10:10 campaign, following a similar number about the Climate Camp. I know the Guardian is on its death bed, and religious conversions are frequent in these circumstances, but do they really think that chanting seventy Gaia Nostras is going to save them? Their publicity gimmicks – bracelets and sponsorship by MPs and other luvvies – is borrowed from Make Poverty History, so the project is obviously doomed. I commented on Armstrong’s article, that since anyone signing the 10:10 pledge is effectively promising to reduce their economic activity by 10%, it won’t be signed by anyone who’s just got a job, or been promoted, or got married, or had a child, or is about to start a business or realise some dream or ambition – anyone, in other words, with plans for the future. No wonder all the politicians have signed up. geoffchambers on September 4, 2009 at 8:37 pm Much as I appreciate your consistent attacks on the follies of environmentalism, I’ve always felt that you are on dangerously weak ground when you point up its lack of popularity. This is a current weakness, true enough, pointed up by the Guardian’s boast of having signed up just ten thousand to its 10-10 pledge (only the first thousand got the free glass of champagne, so that leaves 9000 frustrated luvvies who’ve sworn off that flight to Tenerife in exchange for an aluminium bracelet). But things may change, and British politics is currently in a particularly unpredictable phase. Since the Greens got 10%+ in the European elections, it is no longer possible to dismiss them as being democratically illegitimate. Of course, those 10% of electors probably had little idea of the true nature of Green policies, but that’s democracy for you. They may fade away, like the ILP and the Temperance Society, or they may surprise us all, like the Labour Representation Committee and the National Socialist Workers Party. Not being climate scientists, we can’t claim to see into the future. The fact that all major parties are playing at being Greener than Thou, and the deliberate placing of climate change (whatever that is) at the centre of current political debate, gives the Greens a formidable advantage in propagating their message. Whatever they say, no important political figure in any of the major parties will dare contradict them. Whatever energy choices a future government may make (nuclear, coal, or the wrong sort of renewables) the Greens will be well-placed to reap votes by criticising them when the lights go out and/or electricity bills soar. If the Greens get a healthy percentage vote, but no MPs, this will be used as a further justiication for installing European electoral habits – (proportional representation, state-funded parties) and we could end up with a fragmented Euro-style political system which the British have no experience of managing – Berlus-cronyism without the countervailing stabilising force of a mafia-run parallel economy. You seem to want to stay above the political debate, while determined to deny the Greens the legitimacy of democratic existence. I believe this position is untenable, on grounds of political philosophy, essentially, (but on practical grounds from the moment the Greens score a political success). The Monster Raving Loony Party existed politically, at least for the one glorious moment when they beat the Social Democratic party into fourth place in a by-election, and put an end to a certain vision of the British Left. The Greens are well placed to make even more far-reaching changes in the political firmament, whatever the strength of their arguments. If those arguments are scientific, or pseudo-scientific, they must be countered in the same terms. I believe, like you, that their politics are more delusional, and less interesting, than those of the late Screaming Lord Sutch, but I don’t think you will beat them by attacking their democratic legitimacy. Alex Cull on September 5, 2009 at 10:39 pm I’ll be interested to find out what happens to Franny Armstrong’s/TheGuardian’s 10:10 campaign in the end. Some problems I think are on the cards (aside from the entire dodgy edifice of CAGW, that is.) For instance, those people likely to notice 10:10 and sign up are already likely to be doing all the green, planet-saving things anyway. And those people who already think that CAGW is rubbish are unlikely to be influenced by a bunch of celebs wearing trendy scrap-metal wristbands. Hard-line environmental campaigners will think it doesn’t go far enough. And people hit hard by the economic downturn will have more pressing things to think about, i.e., money, jobs, bills. And as we near Copenhagen there will be quite a bit of climate fatigue. Not to mention the even bigger dose of climate fatigue due if there’s no significant agreement in Copenhagen, it’s already March 2010 and still freezing cold. But as always it’s fascinating to read all the comments on the Guardian site and find out how people are planning to avert the coming catastrophe. Like the teacher from Brighton whose family will remain having only one car, and Olympics minister Tessa Jowell, who will think very hard before booking more than one private international flight a year, DJ Sara Cox, who will install draught excluders, author Anthony Horowitz, who will cut down one flight in 10, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who will turn off his lights and Tamsin Greig, who will put on a jumper. And the British Fashion Council, the Women’s Institute, Tottenham Hotspur, Delia Smith, Peter Mandelson and Gordon Brown have all signed up too! Well, I can resist no longer. I’ve just put on a jumper. I’ve switched off the kitchen light. I’m planning to switch off this computer too, before I go to bed. That’s me done. Where do I sign up for the free champagne? Oh.. It’s all gone? Damn… gofer on September 6, 2009 at 1:41 am They see life, working, jobs, recreation, etc. as lacking in any meaning. They look for some kind of meaning to life and something to make them feel good about living. So what better than just “save the world.” Nothing like that to make you feel like you’re superman and morally superior to all the rest of us, who aren’t enlightened. It happens in every generation. The robber barons use these people to establish movements and extract great deals of money from the public. It’s too bad they can’t see how they are being used for the profit of devious people. artwest on September 6, 2009 at 2:26 am So are the signers going to be rigorously monitored to see how well they keep their promise? Only kidding. I am sure that the campaign is more interested in the numbers than they are in whether or not the signer’s New Year’s resolutions last beyond the first week in January. I undersatand what you mean but the Greeen’s vote was 10% of a very poor turnout and barely more than the BNP. This is surely dismal after a couple of decades of virtually wall-to-wall hysterical AGW propaganda in the media with barely even a mild questioning of the most absurd claims. If the Greens can’t manage better than that in a Euro election (when the fringe parties always do better than in a General Election) and with the main parties at historically low levels of support, it’s unlikely that they’ll go much higher as the world continues not to fry. SJones on September 8, 2009 at 4:47 pm Still longing for the days before environmental protection became mainstream? Dreaming about what a `better´ world it would be without all those tiresome environmental regulations hindering `progress´? Factories could go back to discharging toxic effluent into rivers (toxic sludge is good for you!) and stop worrying about atmospheric pollution from smokestacks; far better for profit margins. People could stop the costly business of waste disposal and simply throw rubbish in the streets like the good old days. Forget about sewage treatment plants, far too expensive, just pipe the raw sewage into the sea like they used to do, who cares about clean beaches anyway. Protect marine ecosystems, what a joke! what´s wrong with denuding the seas of life? All the better for use as a giant toilet. What a relief it would be to everybody to stop having to be concerned about wildlife conservation or biodiversity. Farmers could go back to using noxious pesticides on the land, safe in the knowledge that nobody gives a toss, and the useless wild places could all be torn up and concreted over to provide more roads, carparks, airports, shopping malls and all those other important things that give human life such meaning. Above all everyone could simply stop having to be bothered about whether or not increasing greenhouse gas emissions is causing the climate to change, (what a blessing that would be) and could carry on pumping out C02 with impunity, after all the more we pump out the better it will be for the poor people of this world. Lets clog up our cities with cars, throw plastic into the oceans, cut down the forests and to hell with the environment! You remind me of dirty teenagers who won´t clean their rooms. Editors on September 8, 2009 at 6:32 pm Sjones misses the point of our criticism. Which is a surprise, given how often he or she visits this site. No, we do not long ‘for the days before environmental protection became mainstream’. What we argue is that environmental problems do not call for special politics. Furthermore, it is clear that eco-centric politics is prior to much of the ‘science’ on which it is putatively founded. And no, neither do we long for the politics of before the emergence of the environmental movement. Nostalgia is definitely for the environmentalists. After all, it is the romantic idealisation of nature and a sense of loss that is the emotional driver of many an environmentalists’ argument, and the restoration of ‘balance’ with ‘Her’ its objective. to artwest #9 10% is huge for a fringe party historically in British politics, poor turnout or not. New Labour in a burst of typical suicidal insanity, installed proportional representation for the first time in British elections, allowing voters to choose any old group of sympathetic nice guys (and gals). (Don’t get me wrong. I agree with 90% of the Green Party’s aims, and would vote for them, if they weren’t terminally bonkers). 10% is big in PR democracy. Nuclear power and genetically modified crops would be impossible in a UK where the Greens scored 10%. If they can’t manage better than that … ”with the main parties at historically low levels of support” as you say, well, maybe they’ll manage better next time. As I said, we’re not climate scientists, so we can’t foretell the future. Editors on September 8, 2009 at 10:58 pm The UK turnout for the European elections was 34.7%. The Greens scored 8.38% of the vote. That represents about 2.9% of the electorate actually* voting for them. The 2004 turnout was 38.52%, with the Greens scoring 6.05% – or 2.33% of the electorate. A far more interesting result for the Greens happened in the 1989 Euro elections -their first as the Green Party, having changed from the Ecology Party. The turnout was 36.7%, but they polled a relatively huge 15% – 5.5% of the electorate. They have not been able to build on this. If, by some miracle, the Green Party change their electoral fortunes, we will, of course, have to reconsider our argument. What strikes us at the moment, however is that environmentalism remains a political idea that has achieved unprecedented success, despite never having been tested by the democratic process, let alone debated within the institutions of our ‘representative’ democracy. That is what needs explaining. Ian Wilson on September 9, 2009 at 11:36 am SJones I’ve seen (and had) this argument before on other websites with those who choose to believe the climate change rhetoric. I’ll say what I said to them, just because I (and others obviously) don’t believe in climate change, doesn’t mean that we don’t care about other aspects of real, proven and obvious causes of environmental damage. Its quite amusing actually to see you espouse all these good environment related technological improvements that have taken place over the last 100 years, whilst still clearly being of the ilk that would rather return us to the “good old days” of no mainstream electricity, no regular supplies of water or heat and no worldwide transportation. Which is it for you, dark ages or the enlightened ages? NYCNark on September 10, 2009 at 2:36 pm Geoff may or may not be right about the popularity of green parties at the polls. But as long as Greens articulate the most sustained critique of work in contemporary society (see Armstrong quote below), they will be able to capture a large audience. Those who would oppose them must be able to posit a viable alternative to their critique, and not just argue for the status quo (albeit a status quo in which muscular governments intervene to develop new technologies or promote consumerism). Armstrong is right to find worklife under capitalism impoverished and, yes, terrifying. We can’t allow the devil a monopoly on the best tunes. “And I find that whole individualistic get in your little car and sit in a traffic jam for two hours and then go to a pointless job, that’s what I find really terrifying.” George Carty on September 10, 2009 at 5:16 pm Is the outsourcing of manufacturing to cheap labour countries (mostly in Asia) to blame for the rise and rise of environmentalism in the West? The following two mechanisms would be involved: 1. Outsourcing means far less manufacturing in the West, so Westerners are far more apt to view themselves only as consumers and not producers. This would encourage Malthusian thinking. 2. Outsourcing created a need to create vast numbers of make-work jobs to conceal the unemployment it caused. The control-freak tendencies of environmentalism (and other political areas strongly backed by NuLab) are designed not to improve society, but to justify the existence of the make-work jobs. geoffchambers on September 10, 2009 at 7:18 pm To the editors at #13 Thanks for the details of the Green vote in Euro elections. I didn’t realise that their vote was down from 15% to 8%. Presumably Chernobyl, with its 600 dead was a bigger worry in 1989 than climate change, with its 300,000 deaths a year (and counting) is now… I agree with you entirely that the unprecedented success of green politics, despite their minimal electoral presence, is what needs explaining. I just don’t think you’ll get anywhere by repeating: “Only x demonstrators – it’ll never catch on”. As you know, I share your distrust of politics based on environmentalism, and disdain for the vacuity of the mainstream parties. I still feel that your criticism of the poor electoral showing of the Greens in elections is the weak link in your argument. Things change, sometimes in unexpected ways, which is why at #6 I mentioned the Labour Representation Committee, which was formed by the Liberal Party to gain the working class vote, and rapidly devoured its parent. Labour’s current espousal of Green politics seems to me to be a similar tactical error. The Greens have managed to gain the moral high ground by their specious appeal to science, despite the fact that – on climate change, genetically modified crops, and nuclear safety – science by no means supports their ideas (or rather, attitudes). They need to be countered on scientific grounds, but apperently no-one in mainstream politics has either the scientific knowledge (or even the animal cunning) to challenge them where they are weakest. I would love to know how clever politicians like Ken Livingstone were transformed into wilting green houseplants, lecturing us about dripping taps. When mainstream parties kowtow to the Greens, they’re not after the 8% of Green votes. They’re after the 90% of uncommitted voters who express vague sympathy for vague ideas about being vaguely nice to the planet. (For once I know what I’m talking about. I used to conduct focus groups for government departments). If the big parties let the voters down by espousing green policies, and taxes go up, but it gets warmer anyhow, or taxes go up, and it doesn’t get warmer, voters might do something funny (they already are, in numbers unprecedented for a century). We need to be ready for this eventuality, and continuously intoning the fact that Porritt and Monbiot and Goldsmith are rich silly billies with no democratic mandate is not enough. So was Churchill. And a fine mess he got us out of. NYCNark at #15 makes an important point when he/she says: “We can’t allow the devil a monopoly on the best tunes”. Fran Armstrong’s throwaway remark about boring work in a capitalist society was a commonplace of radical social criticism from early Marx to late hippydom (though I’m not sure if Marx mentioned traffic jams. Anything about it in the Grundrisse? I’m sure our editors can enlighten us). The Greens have seized the moral high ground by insisting on their commitment to saving the planet, (starting with Bangla Desh), and attaching a pseudo-scientific justification to their moralising more successfully than Marxists ever did. Because their science is totally false, (scepticism about global warming is not heretical, simply because many sceptics vote Republican; new crop varieties are not evil, simply because Monsanto makes a profit from them) their good intentions risk having disastrous results. (Africa has cheap coal, and people dying for lack of electricity. Armtwist a bunch of corrupt dictators into signing up to the latest Western global warming fad for PR reasons, and join the dots…) The Greens may be feeble electorally, but they have probably signed up a good number of the educated, politically aware young who would in former times have been the spearhead of radical left politics (“cadres”, I think they used to be called, though here in France that means senior executives). I wonder if much of the environmental devastation of Africa which the Greens blame on climate change is really caused by deforestation? Maybe we should build some cokeworks in Africa, so that poor Africans can use coke for their cooking instead of wood or charcoal, thus saving the trees there. (Note that Europe banned coal in medieval times because of the air pollution it caused, but had to repeal the ban in the early modern era because the wood was running out.) Robert Wood on September 11, 2009 at 1:33 am Which is also a rather nice counter to the watermelon theory Except that you are ignoring that socialists deliberately lie about the conucopia to come. Their goal isn’t plenty for all; it is control for all by the sainted few. Once again, I find, after reading your quotes of this “Fanny”, I am struck by how these bourgois “elites” (for they are only water carriers for the true rulers) are all for denial for the lower classes, but not for them. Now, it is the stated British government policy to make air travel prohibitively expensive … except for them, who can afford it. The squawking masses are soooo annoying at airports, after all! Editors on September 11, 2009 at 1:54 am Robert – ‘Except that you are ignoring that socialists deliberately lie about the conucopia to come. Their goal isn’t plenty for all; it is control for all by the sainted few.’ It may be what you think. But as an assertion, it might need a very powerful mind-reader (in lieu of a coherent argument) to sustain it. We prefer to assume that socialists (and any other ‘ists) mean what they say. NYCNark, the UK Tories began their latest process of greening with the ‘Quality of Life Challenge’. http://www.qualityoflifechallenge.com/ But the Labour Party had a ‘quality of life barometer’ nearly a decade earlier. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/220317.stm Naturally, both of these projects attempted to tie spurious ideas about ‘subjective well being’ to environmental sustainability. That’s just what Franny’s doing. Everyone knows that work is mundane. I wonder if Armstrong and co are really capturing disenchantment as much as they are causing it. Walking to work in a hair shirt would be far more mundane than sitting in a car is. And what does Franny imagine work ought to consist of? She’s not arguing for ‘hope in work and joy in leisure’. So Prescott’s ‘quality of life barometer’, the Tory’s ‘quality of life challenge’, and Armstrong’s fear that she might wake up as an ordinary person with an ordinary job look more like pathetic (or just callous) attempts to connect, than radical critiques of contemporary life. “We understand your pain”. It’s also consistent with the more general ‘happiness agenda’, where ‘subjective measures of well being’ are surveyed, to produce theories about people in poorer countries being ‘happier’. With subjectivity objectified and happiness quantified, the promise is that even if we can’t be rich, we can at least set ourselves targets to make us happ… and anyway, if we were rich, it would cause global warming which would kill us. It’s not just Franny and her lot who are promising happiness and offering a criticism of Modern Life. The government and the opposition are at it too. Little wonder that nobody is happy! George Carty on October 3, 2010 at 6:44 pm Check out this post on the Depleted Cranium blog, concerning a video released on YouTube by the 10:10 campaign. geoffchambers on October 4, 2010 at 9:55 pm Thanks George Carty for reminding us about this article. A good prophetic read after Splattergate. Climate Resistance can take credit for pointing out the sinister fantasy aspects of environmentalism long before 10:10 sprayed it all over us. Leave a Reply to SJones Cancel reply	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1568
__label__wiki	0.599557	0.599557	Information Conference Details Program Committee Keynote Lectures Best Paper Awards Satellite Events Workshops Special Sessions Tutorials Demos Panels Doctoral Consortium Open Communications European Project Space High Quality Journal Forum Partners Academic Partners Industrial Partners Institutional Partners Media Partners Partner Events Publication Partners Previous Conferences Abstracts Awards Communicability in Networked Systems - Implications for Stability, Spatial Efficiency and Dynamical Process Ernesto Estrada, University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom Scientific Workflows in the Era of Clouds Péter Kacsuk, MTA SZTAKI, Hungary Ernesto Estrada Professor Estrada has an internationally leading reputation for shaping and developing the study of complex networks. His expertise ranges in the areas of network structure, algebraic network theory, dynamical systems on networks and the study of random models of networks. He has a distinguished track record of high-quality publications, which has attracted more than 8,000 citations. His h-index (number of papers with at least h citations) is 51. His publications are in the areas of network theory and its applications to social, ecological, engineering, physical, chemical and biological real-world problems. Professor Estrada has published two text books on network sciences both published by Oxford University Press in 2011 and 2015, respectively. He has demonstrated a continuous international leadership in his field where he has been invited and plenary speaker at the major conferences in network sciences and applied mathematics. This keynote lecture will motivate and introduce the concept of network communicability. It will give a few examples of applications of this concept to biological, social, infrastructural and engineering networked systems. Building on this concept we will show how a Euclidean geometry emerges naturally from the communicability patterns in networked complex systems. This communicability geometry characterises the spatial efficiency of networks. We will show how the communicability function allows a natural characterization of network stability and their robustness to external perturbations of the system. Finally, we will show that theoretical parameters derived from the communicability function determine the robustness of dynamical processes taking place on the networks, such as diffusion and synchronization. All the lecture will be characterized by a combination of rigorous results and illustrative examples from the real-world. Péter Kacsuk MTA SZTAKI Professor Peter Kacsuk is the Head of the Research Laboratory of the Parallel and Distributed Systems. He received his MSc and university doctorate degrees from the Technical University of Budapest in 1976 and 1984, respectively. He received the kandidat degree from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1989. He habilitated at the University of Vienna in 1997. He recieved his professor title from the Hungarian President in 1999 and the Doctor of Academy degree (DSc) from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 2001. He has been a part-time full professor at the Cavendish School of Computer Science of the University of Westminster in London and at the Eötvös Lóránd University of Science in Budapest since 2001. He served as visiting scientist or professor several times at various universities of Austria, England, Germany, Spain, Australia and Japan. He has published two books, two lecture notes and more than 200 scientific papers on parallel computer architectures, parallel software engineering and Grid computing. He is co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Grid Computing published by Springer. The use of scientific workflows (or simply workflows) has a long history in computer science. They became particularly popular when large distributed computing systems like the computational grid became available to solve very complex scientific problems. During the history of workflows many approaches and concrete workflow systems have been elaborated and many of them were intensively used by scientific communities. However, just this large variety of available workflow systems raised several important issues that should be solved in order to make workflows even more accepted and used for everyday science. One important issue is the reuse and reproducibility of workflows. Scientific communities using different kind of workflow systems would like to collaborate and reuse the workflows developed by other scientific communities. The SHIWA European project has proposed several solutions to solve this problem. Interestingly their method called coarse-grain workflow interoperability became really usable when clouds appeared. Cloud systems provide the required technology by which workflows became really reproducible, shareable and even reusable inside new workflows. Clouds also provide the possibility of constructing workflows as infrastructures that can dynamically be deployed in the cloud when needed in order to use them by other workflows. The WaaS (Workflow as a Service) concept enabled the introduction of the so-called infrastructure-aware workflows which is a new step in making workflows even more flexible. The other direction where the WaaS concept can fruitfully be used is the creation of workflows that enable the processing of very large scientific data sets. A new workflow system called Flowbster has been developed based on the concept of workflow choreography and WaaS. It was designed to create efficient data pipelines in clouds by which very large data sets can efficiently be processed. The Flowbster workflow can be deployed in the target cloud as a virtual infrastructure through which the data to be processed can flow and meanwhile it flows through the workflow, it is transformed as the business logic of the workflow defines it. Instead of using the enactor based workflow concept Flowbster applies the service choreography concept where the workflow nodes directly communicate with each other. Workflow nodes are able to recognize if they can be activated with a certain data set without the interaction of a central control service like the enactor in service orchestration workflows. As a result Flowbster workflows implement a much more efficient data path through the workflow than service orchestration workflows. A Flowbster workflow works as a data pipeline enabling the exploitation of pipeline parallelism, workflow parallel branch parallelism and node scalability parallelism. The Flowbster workflow can be deployed in the target cloud on-demand based on the underlying Occopus cloud deployment and orchestrator tool. Occopus guarantees that the workflow can be deployed in any major type of IaaS clouds (OpenStack, OpenNebula, Amazon, CloudSigma). Performance results show the viability of using Flowbster workflows on top of even hybrid clouds.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1569
__label__wiki	0.802065	0.802065	Deputy Prime Minister stresses ecotech cooperation in APEC Ha Noi, Nov. 16 (VNA) -- Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam stressed the importance and role of ecotech cooperation among APEC at the 8th APEC Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Deputy PM Cam on Nov. 16 exchanged views with other APEC member countries' leaders on the negative impacts of the rapid development of the information technology revolution, the emergence and development of a new economy and e-commerce on traditional branches of production and business. Vietnam supports for UN special session on Children Nov. 16 (VNA) -- Viet Nam supports the draft resolution to be adopted by the UN General Assembly this year under item 42 relating to preparations for a Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Children in Sept., 2001, Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Chau has said. Mr. Chau affirmed Viet Nam's strong support for and full commitment to making the Special Session a great success at the UN General Assembly in New York on Nov. 15. The fight against drug trafficking in Vietnam Ha Noi, Nov.16, (VNA) -- Viet Nam has declared a war against drug trafficking and other social evils at a seminar jointly held here today by the National Committee for AIDS, Drug and Prostitution Control and the daily Nhan Dan. Fighting drug trafficking and addiction is extremely difficult and requiring more efforts from all government offices as well as relevant organizations, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem told the seminar, stressing this should be considered a regular task with a view to wiping it out of the people's life. Activities of NGOs in Vietnam Nov. 14 (VNA) -- More than 100 officials from Ho Chi Minh City's agencies in charge of receiving aid from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been provided with skills on aid mobilization and management. Vietnam contributes initiatives to APEC Agenda Nov. 13 (VNA) -- All three initiatives of Viet Nam have been included in the agenda of the 12th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, on Nov. 12 and 13. The country is being represented by a delegation led by Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien at the meeting of foreign and economic ministers from 21 APEC member countries. Vietnam improves investment environment Ha Noi , Nov. 14 (VNA) - Viet Nam has always done its best to create a favourable environment for foreign investors and businessmen, President of the Japanese Business Association in Vietnam Otani Yasuo told a reporter from Nhan Dan newspaper in a recent interview. The "Safe Kids Day" launched in Vietnam with UNICEF's assistance Ha Noi, Nov. 14 (VNA) -- The Nguyen Du Primary School of Ha Noi was the first school chosen as a model of the "Safe Kids Day" launched in Ha Noi on Nov. 13 under UNICEF's traffic safety programme. The "Safe Kids Day", jointly organized by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Viet Nam, the Committee for Protection and Care of Children, and the U.S Embassy in Ha Noi, aims to promote child safety helmet use to prevent road fatalities and injuries. Vietnam wins UN award for natural disaster control Ha Noi, Nov. 14 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's efforts in natural disaster control has won the country the UN special certificate of merit. The Central Flood and Storm Control Committee (CFSCC) was presented the UN Sasakawa certificate for its achievements in tackling the various calamities which have hit Viet Nam this year. Foreign investment of 608 million in 10 months FOREIGN INVESTORS INVEST USD 608 MILLION IN TEN MONTHS Ha Noi, Nov. 11 (VNA) -- Investment licenses were granted to 245 more foreign-invested projects capitalized at USD 608 million in the first ten months of this year, says the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI). Photo Exhibition on Agent Orange effects in Vietnam on display Ha Noi, Nov. 11 (VNA) -- Images of Vietnamese Agent Orange victims, taken 25 years after the American war which blighted their lives, are now on display in a European centre. A photo exhibition of these long-suffering people is being held in the city of Luxembourg, co-sponsored by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg's Ministry of Co-operation and Charitable Activities and Switzerland's Caritas Fund, in co-operation with the Luxembourg Red Cross.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1571
__label__wiki	0.769812	0.769812	Voiceover Artist Voiceover Artist Jeff Leslie is an experienced and established voiceover artist. His clear, crisp, warm voice has been used as a voiceover artist for radio adverts and many corporate video productions, often benefiting from his confident and calm voiceover style. You can listen to some samples of his voiceover work on the Voicereel page. Training as a Voiceover Artist Jeff trained for three years at Drama Centre London, graduating with honours from the B.A. Acting course in 2004. Since then, he has been involved in numerous projects, recently completing a six-part narrative corporate video project for a well-known insurance company. Based in North London, Jeff was raised in both England and Scotland, and has also traveled extensively, developing an excellent ear for accents from the UK and abroad. As a voiceover artist, his range has benefited from his Prior to his training at Drama Centre, Jeff gained a degree in Media Arts & Production from the London College of Music & Media, Thames Valley University. Jeff Leslie is a full member of Equity, and his details and sample voice-clips can be found on Spotlight. To contact his agent, please view the Contact page. Jeff Leslie - Voiceover Artist. Voiceovers for radio adverts, public announcements and corporate video voiceover. The Voiceover Artist - An Overview Pictures can tell a thousand words... But that’s still not the full story. Creating a great voiceover really is an art. How can you create an image in the listeners mind of the type of product you wish to sell, or transport an audience to a distant land with populated by mystical characters using ‘only’ the human voice? The professional voiceover artist uses the tone, rhythm and phrasing of speech to compliment the images on the screen in a television documentary or advertisement; while sensitivity towards dialogue and setting the scene is crucial when voicing an audio book. I’m sure we’re all familiar with the stereotype of the cheesy, ersatz voiceovers that used to speak over the top of TV gameshows in the 1970s, but discuss voiceovers with people and they will instantly mention their favourites, which have become indelibly linked with certain films, television programmes and products. Carlsberg Advert Voiceover for TV & Radio This voiceover, originally by Orson Welles, accompanied the long running advertisement campaign for Carlsberg, turning a middle-of-the–road brand into an iconic market leader. Harry Potter & The Philosopher Stone Audiobook Voiceover The voiceover narration for this audiobook was provided for Stephen Fry. Broadcast on Radio 4 on Boxing Day in 2000, the production broke listening figure records, establishing Fry as a national treasure and introduced a whole new generation to the experience radio drama. Morgan Freeman - Voiceover for Film Although he’d carved out a career as a journeyman screen-actor, Morgan Freeman became a household name for his performance in the Shawshank Redemption as the world-weary “Red” Redding. Although his character appeared on screen, Freeman’s sympathetic narration of the character’s thoughts and experience added an extra dimension to the movie, earning the film an Academy Award nomination, and Freeman nominations for both Oscars and Golden Globes. He has now become Hollywood’s voiceover artist of choice, lending an air of authority to productions as diverse as The Hunting of the President to March of the Penguins. While these projects and voiceover artists differ wildly, the one thing they have in common is clarity, enabling the listener to understand the ‘the point’ of the product or the production. To discover how a professional voiceover artist can contribute to your project’s success, please view the Voicereel page for some sample voiceovers and the Contact page.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1573
__label__wiki	0.939394	0.939394	Charles Algernon Parsons Revision as of 14:02, 28 April 2015 by Tone (Talk \| contribs) Sir Charles Algernon Parsons, K.C.B., F.R.S. (13 June, 1854 – 11 February, 1931) was a leading British engineer and inventor. Parsons was born at 13 Connaught Place, Hyde Park, London, on 13 June 1854, the youngest of the six sons of William Parsons, third earl of Rosse (1800–1867), and his wife, Mary Parsons, countess of Rosse (1813–1885), photographer, elder daughter of John Wilmer Field, of Heaton Hall, Yorkshire. His eldest brother was Laurence Parsons, later fourth earl of Rosse. William Parsons provided a stimulating environment for his sons at Birr Castle, Parsonstown, Ireland; he engaged tutors of high scientific calibre, and encouraged the boys into his workshops and observatory, where Charles developed a taste for mechanics. This mechanical aptitude had one unfortunate outcome; conveying friends on their home-made steam car at 7 m.p.h. one day, with Charles as stoker, the boys' cousin Lady Bangor fell from the vehicle and was killed. Before William Parsons's death the family cruised each year on their yacht Titania; afterwards they took a summer vacation in the alpine region. At the age of seventeen Parsons entered Trinity College, Dublin, where he spent two years before proceeding to St John's College, Cambridge, in 1873. There was then no engineering school at Cambridge, but Parsons attended lectures on mechanism and applied mechanics, and he studied mathematics with such effect that in 1877 he graduated as eleventh wrangler. He later recalled, of these five years of pure and applied mathematics, ‘that the strain was more severe than anything in business life, and luckily for me, boat racing interfered with reading’ (Clarke). Parsons at once began his engineering training by a four-year apprenticeship at the works of Sir William Armstrong & Co. at Elswick, Tyneside. This was followed by two years (1881–3) with Kitson & Co. of Leeds, where he developed a four-cylinder high-speed epicycloidal steam engine that he had patented, and he also occupied himself with experiments on the propulsion of torpedoes by means of rockets. In 1883 he married Katherine (d. 1933), the daughter of William Froggatt Bethell of Rise Park, East Riding of Yorkshire. They had a son and a daughter. In 1884 Parsons acquired a junior partnership in the firm of Clarke, Chapman & Co. of Gateshead, and assumed charge of their newly organized electrical department. In those days electric dynamos were small machines driven usually at 1000 to 1500 revolutions per minute by a belt from the flywheel of a reciprocating engine. Parsons set about designing a high-speed generator and then developing a steam turbine to drive the dynamos directly. It occurred to him that, by dividing the expansion of steam into a number of pressure drops, it should be possible to run a turbine at a moderate speed and at the same time secure a proper relationship between the steam speed and blade speed. His first patents, taken out in 1884, show how thoroughly he considered all the difficulties in the path for the construction of such a high-speed turbine and the steps which he proposed to take to overcome them. The principle of subdividing the whole expansion of the steam into a number of stages, so that only comparatively moderate velocities have to be dealt with, still forms the basis of all efficient turbine design. The first Parsons turbo-dynamo, constructed in 1884, developed an output of 7.5 kW when running at a speed of 18,000 revolutions per minute, and was an immediate success. Many such machines were constructed almost exclusively for ship lighting, and by 1888 about 200 were in service. Realizing the possibilities of the new type of prime mover, and in order to develop it to its fullest extent, Parsons dissolved his partnership and in 1889 founded the firm of C. A. Parsons & Co. He bought back his patent rights, and established a small works at Heaton on a site about 2 miles from the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne. The first power station in the world to employ turbo-generating plant was the Forth Banks power station at Newcastle. This station went into commission in January 1890 with an initial equipment of two 75 kW Parsons turbo-alternators. Other public lighting companies quickly followed this lead, and turbo-alternators were installed at Cambridge and Scarborough. The Cambridge station went into commission in 1892 with three 100 kW units. These machines were the first turbine units to be operated with condensers, and tests showed their efficiency to be comparable with that of the best reciprocating engines of equal power. As the size of turbo-alternators for power station work gradually increased, so the efficiency of the sets was improved. Parsons lived to see an output of more than 200,000 kW delivered by a single turbo-generator and the reciprocating steam engine completely superseded by the turbine for central station work. The growth of electricity supply consequent upon the invention of the turbine created a demand not only for larger generating units but also for higher transmission voltages, in order that more extensive areas might be economically served. In the early days the practice had been to generate at about 2000 volts, and to increase the pressure when required by transformers. By 1905 Parsons had constructed turbo-alternators generating at 11,000 volts, and this voltage became the usual generating pressure for many years. In 1928 he again attacked the problem of generating at higher voltages and produced a 25,000 kW turbo-alternator generating directly at 36,000 volts. The machine was entirely successful and Parsons had set a new standard in power station practice. Many of the most important power stations, both in Great Britain and abroad, adopted the practice of generating directly at 36,000 volts, thereby eliminating the large and costly step-up transformers necessary with the previous method. Parsons's patent of 1884 had referred to steam-turbine propulsion of ships, but it was not until 1894 that he decided to attack this problem. He established a separate organization with works at Wallsend, and formed a separate company, which was later known as the Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company. A small vessel, the Turbinia, with a length of 100 feet and a displacement of 44 tons, was constructed and fitted with turbine machinery, and after much experimental work attained a speed of 34 knots. At the naval review held in 1897 to celebrate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria, the Turbinia created a sensation by racing down the lines of warships at a speed greater than that of any other vessel afloat, as at that time the fastest destroyers could hardly exceed 27 knots. In 1899 the Admiralty entrusted Parsons with the construction of a 30 knot turbine-driven destroyer, the Viper, which attained a measured speed of over 37 knots. A second destroyer, the Cobra, was also fitted with turbine machinery, but shortly afterwards both these ships were lost at sea by accidents. In 1901 the first turbine-driven passenger vessel, the King Edward, was built for service on the River Clyde, followed by the sister ship Queen Alexandra, and within the next year or two the cross-channel boats Queen and Brighton were fitted with turbines. The Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company, in order to demonstrate to the Admiralty once more the advantages of turbines for warships, laid down in 1901 another turbine-driven destroyer, which was acquired in 1903 by the fleet under the name of Velox. This was followed in 1902 by the first turbine-driven cruiser, the Amethyst, which was one of four cruisers then under construction. The performance of the Amethyst was so remarkable that the last prejudices against turbine machinery in the Royal Navy were overcome, and the way was open for its general adoption. In 1905 a committee on naval design appointed by the Admiralty advised that in future turbine machinery should be used exclusively in all classes of warships; the dreadnoughts were the first class of battleship to be affected by this decision. The Cunard Company was first among the merchant fleets to install turbines, in 1905 in the 30,000 ton liner Carmania. The Lusitania and Mauretania followed in 1906, the latter vessel holding the ‘Blue Riband of the Atlantic’ for nearly a quarter of a century. There remained yet to be met the demand of the immense fleets of low-speed tramp steamers and cargo vessels. Parsons realized that the only satisfactory solution was the introduction of mechanical reduction gearing between the turbine and the propeller shaft, thus enabling each vessel to run at its most efficient speed. In order to test this he bought in 1909 an old cargo vessel, the Vespasian, and replaced the 750 hp triple expansion engines by geared turbines; after exhaustive tests the new machinery was proved to be entirely successful. This was another great advance, for not only did it diminish the size of the machinery and increase its efficiency, but it enabled the ordinary cargo vessel to profit equally by the employment of turbines. Lastly, after the First World War the competition of the marine oil engine had to be met. Parsons felt very strongly that marine engineers ought to take advantage of the economies in fuel resulting from the use of higher pressures and temperatures as obtained in installations on land. Knowing that a practical demonstration was the surest and quickest way to convince the sceptics, he accordingly equipped a small passenger vessel, the King George V, with high-pressure geared turbines. This vessel was the pioneer of high-pressure steam at sea, and thereby opened up a new field for marine engineers. Parsons took a keen interest in all matters connected with optics, and when he established the Heaton works in 1889 he organized a special department for the production of searchlight reflectors. He built up what was probably the most important business devoted to the manufacture of such reflectors. In January 1921 he acquired a controlling interest in the optical firm of Ross Ltd, of Clapham. Here he introduced various improvements in the methods of glass-grinding, but soon turned his attention to the much larger question of the manufacture of optical glass itself. The following July he purchased the Derby Crown Glass Company, and under the name of the Parsons Optical Glass Company produced about a hundred different kinds of glass for optical purposes. Parsons made many scientific and mechanical improvements in the processes employed in the manufacture of the glass. In 1925 he purchased the firm of Sir Howard Grubb & Sons, makers of large astronomical telescopes, and under the name of Sir Howard Grubb, Parsons & Co. built new works for it at Walkergate, adjacent to his turbine works at Heaton. Many notable instruments were constructed there, including 36 inch reflecting telescopes for the Royal Greenwich Observatory and for the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, and two 74 inch reflectors, one for Toronto and the other for Pretoria. Parsons also invented an ‘auxetophone’, a loudspeaker for increasing the sound of stringed instruments, particularly of the double bass. This was used at the Queen's Hall in 1906, and was generously supported by Henry Wood, but was otherwise not accepted by the musical profession. Of Parsons's many inventions and experiments, an attempt to make diamonds was the only one in which he failed to achieve his aim. Parsons was appointed CB in 1904 and KCB in 1911, and was admitted to the Order of Merit in 1927. He was elected fellow of the Royal Society in 1898, and was vice-president in 1908 and Bakerian lecturer in 1918. He received the Rumford medal in 1902 and the Copley medal in 1928. From the Royal Society of Arts he received the Albert medal in 1911, and from the Institution of Electrical Engineers, the Faraday medal (1923) and the Kelvin medal (1926). He was elected an honorary fellow of his college in 1904, and received honorary degrees from the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, Durham, Liverpool, and Sheffield. In 1911 he delivered the Rede lecture at Cambridge, and he was president of the British Association in 1919. The city of Newcastle upon Tyne made him a freeman in 1914. He died on 11 February 1931 on board the Duchess of Richmond at Kingston, Jamaica. Parsons is considered to be the most original engineer whom this country has produced since the days of James Watt. He lived to see the fruit of his labours in the complete transformation of the method of producing power from steam, on both land and sea. He took out more than 300 patents. Outside his work, he was an enthusiastic fisherman; in society, he was shy and retiring. Wealth at death; £810,395 8s. 9d.: Probate; 2 May, 1931. Retrieved from "http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php?title=Charles_Algernon_Parsons&oldid=161376"	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1586
__label__wiki	0.748585	0.748585	America > Photo Stories > Rockland County, New York New York Rockland County Rockland County is one of the counties in the State of New York, United States of America. Look at this photo, Pascack Road in Spring Valley, New York. Actually there is North Pascack Road and South Pascack Road. South Pascack runs from route 59 in Spring Valley all the way to the New Jersey Border to Park Ridge NY. North Pascack Road runs from route 59 in Spring Valley towards New Square and ends on Eckerson Rd. But if you are not careful, you may end up in Northbrook Rd because North Pascack makes a sharp turn at a four-way stop sign. Taken during a my trip to New York November 2009 A street in New City, New York, during the fall season Look at this photo, this is one of the streets in the town of new City, New York, during the fall season. Isn't this beautiful? I've been told that one of the main reasons tourists come to New York during the fall is to see the colors of all the trees. New York changes each season, all four seasons. Driving in Garnerville New York, Route 202 Look at this photo, We are cruising on Route 202 in Garnerville New York, a hamlet in the Town of Haverstraw Rockland County, New York. Did you know? Garnerville was previously known as Calicotown. Look at this photo, Buena Vista Ave in Spring Valley NY, going towards E Eckerson Rd, We're crossing Karnell St. North Middletown Rd, Bardonia NY Look at this photo, mild traffic on North Middletown Rd in Bardonia NY, Taken during a my trip to New York November 2009 Some one told me Bardonia is a Hamlet and I asked him what the hell is a hamlet? A Hamlet a small settlement, generally one smaller than a village. Now I now what "the Hamlets of Rockland" means. The Palisades Center Mall in West Nyack New York Look at this photo, Palisades Center Mall in West Nyack New York. Palisades Center is among the top 10 most visited malls in America, according to their web site Located just 25 miles north of New York City, the Palisades Center mall is a four-level shopping center with over 200 stores, 16 sit-down restaurants, a bowling alley, ice rink, the world's tallest indoor ropes course, and more. Toys "R" Us - Toy Store, Nanuet NY Toys "R" Us is the leading kids store for all toys, video games, dolls, action figures, learning toys, building toys, baby & toddler toys, and more. Power Rangers Toys Toys R Us Look at this photo, Power Rangers Toys Toys R Us, Taken during a my trip to New York November 2009 Toys R Us Iron Man Toys Spiderman Toys Look at this photo, Toys R Us Iron Man Toys Spiderman Toys, Taken during a my trip to New York November 2009 Rockland County, New York - More info: Many people consider Rockland county as upstate New York even though Rockland County is only 12 miles north-northwest of New York City, 9.5 miles north of Manhattan, and a part of the New York Metropolitan Area. World War II veteran greeting passengers at Washington Dulles...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1587
__label__cc	0.628369	0.371631	By Kin Enriquez - August 24, 2012 The longest arch bridge in the world when it was completed in 1874, the Eads Bridge in St. Louis spans the Mississippi River to connect the city to East St. Louis, Illinois. The 1,964-meter ribbed steel arch bridge was also the first to use steel as the primary structural material in a bridge project, and the first to use pneumatic caissons - which resulted to decompression sickness to workers - and cantilever support during construction [1]. The bridge has two levels, an upper road deck for cars and trucks, and a lower rail deck where a light rail line passes. by Kin Enriquez architecture bridges Eads Bridge St. Louis	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1590
__label__wiki	0.958946	0.958946	Blast from the Past - Yeovil We've only ever played Yeovil at their ground once before and that was a League Cup game in September, 2004. Back in those days we could put out our reserve side and expect to beat no hopers like Yeovil - which we did - but oh how we could use some of those 'reserves' now. I actually watched the match live on the telly at Dublin airport whilst waiting for my flight home and with a Guinness in my hand! Sit back and enjoy the memories of those happier days not that long ago when a visit to places like Yeovil meant an easy run out for the reserves and a certain win! Yeovil 0-2 Bolton Julio Cesar and Henrik Pederson were on target as last season's Carling Cup runners-up reached the third round. Chris Weale saved well to deny Les Ferdinand after Ricky Shakes and Kevin Nolan set him up, before Weale produced another fine stop from Blessing Kaku. El-Hadji Diouf shot wide after racing clear, while Lee Johnson and Andrejs went close for the home side. Pedersen headed against the bar before Cesar headed in Diouf's cross and the Dane's firm drive sealed victory Yeovil: Weale, O'Brien, Skiverton, Fontaine, Rose, Terry, Way (Gall 64), Johnson, Caceres (Gavin Williams 63), Jevons, Stolcers (Tarachulski 81). Subs Not Used: Miles, Collis. Booked: Johnson. Bolton: Poole, Ben Haim, Barness, Cesar, Shakes, Nolan, Hierro (O'Brien 88), Kaku, Diouf, Giannakopoulos (Pedersen 70), Ferdinand (Davies 64). Subs Not Used: Oakes, Talbot. Goals: Cesar 80, Pedersen 87. Att: 8,047 Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire). Bonus Feature - two for the price of one this article! Where are they Now? - Ricky Shakes Ever wondered what happened to Ricky Shakes who played in that match and was just one of a multitude of failures produced on mass by our academy yearly? Well still only 29 years old and playing for Borehamwood in the Conference South! Born in Brixton, Shakes began his career at Bolton Wanderers in 2004, and made his debut in an FA Cup third-round replay against Tranmere Rovers in January 2004, scoring a last-minute equaliser to take the match into extra time. He failed to make a league appearance for Bolton, and after spells on loan with Bristol Rovers and Bury, joined Swindon Town in July 2005. Shakes made almost 70 league appearances in two seasons at Swindon but was released at the end of the 2006–07 season. He joined Brentford in August 2007 after training with the club during the summer and scored a late goal on his debut in September 2007 to give Brentford victory at Bury. However, after making 39 league appearances, he was released at the end of the 2007–08 season. He joined Conference National club Ebbsfleet United in July 2008. In August 2010 it was reported that he was on trial with English Football League club Stockport County, before re-signing for Ebbsfleet United a few weeks into the season. Having scored 11 goals for Ebbsfleet in the 2010–2011 season, he added to that statistic by scoring 8 goals in 40 league appearances for the club during the 2011–2012 season. On 28 June 2012, Shakes signed for Kidderminster Harriers. Shakes made 17 appearances for Kidderminster Harriers in the 2012–2013 season, helping the club finish 2nd in the Conference National. On 3 July 2013, Shakes signed for Boreham Wood, with the club fighting off stiff competition from several other clubs to land his signature. Shakes suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season training and is expected to be out for 6 months Hope your knee gets better Ricky. Author: Sluffy	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1591
__label__cc	0.680193	0.319807	The Bard Burns at Last On Wednesday, the birth and marriage certificates of poet Robert Burns became the last available General Register Office for Scotland records to be digitized and placed online at ScotlandsPeople. George Lyon, Deputy Public Services Minister, said the online publication of Burns's documents spearheaded a project which allowed people worldwide to capitalise on the growing interest in genealogical research and trace their Scots ancestry. Mr Lyon said: "Scotland's old parochial records go back more than 450 years and include our national bard's birth and marriage certificates. These are the last set of registration documents to go online, marking the end of a £3m project to improve access to Scotland's records for genealogists worldwide." [Link] Filed under BMD, famous folks, poets, Scotland, vital records	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1593
__label__wiki	0.753518	0.753518	Home Research > Members > 1820-1832 > G GALLY KNIGHT, Henry (1786-1846), of Firbeck Hall, Yorks. and 69 Grosvenor Street, Mdx. GASCOYNE, Isaac (c.1763-1841), of Roby Hall, nr. Liverpool, Lancs. and 71 South Audley Street, Mdx. GASKELL, Benjamin (1781-1856), of Thornes House, nr. Wakefield, Yorks. and Clifton House, nr. Manchester, Lancs. GIFFORD, Sir Robert (1779-1826), of 10 Whitehall Place, Westminster, Mdx. GILBERT (formerly GIDDY), Davies (1767-1839), of Tredrea, Cornw.; Eastbourne, Suss. and 45 Bridge Street, Mdx. GILLON, William Downe (1801-1846), of Wallhouse, Linlithgow and Hurstmonceaux, Suss. GIPPS, George (1783-1869), of Howletts, Ickham, Kent GISBORNE, Thomas (1789-1852), of Yoxall Lodge, Staffs.; 41 Grosvenor Place, Mdx. and Horwich House, Derbys. GLADSTONE, John (1764-1851), of 62 Rodney Street, Liverpool; Seaforth House, Lancs. and 5 Grafton Street, Mdx. GLADSTONE, Thomas (1804-1889). GLYNNE, Henry (1810-1872), of Hawarden Castle, Flint. GLYNNE, Sir Stephen Richard, 9th bt. (1807-1874), of Hawarden Castle, Flint. GODSON, Richard (1797-1849), of Inner Temple and 22 Woburn Place, Mdx. GOOCH, Thomas Sherlock (1767-1851), of Bramfield Hall and Benacre Hall, nr. Beccles, Suff. GORDON CUMMING, Sir William Gordon, 2nd bt. (1787-1854), of Altyre, Forres and Gordonstown, Elgin GORDON, Charles, Lord Strathavon (1792-1863), of Orton Longueville, Hunts. GORDON, James Adam (1791-1854), of Naish House, Wraxall, Som. and Moor Place, Much Hadham, Herts. GORDON, James Edward (1789-1864), of 5 York Street, St. James's Square, Mdx. GORDON, John (c.1776-1858), of Cluny, Aberdeen; 4 St. Andrew Street, Edinburgh and 25 Jermyn Street, Mdx. GORDON, Robert (?1786-1864), of Kemble House, nr. Cirencester, Glos.; Leweston House, nr. Sherborne, Dorset; Ashton Keynes, nr. Cricklade, Wilts. and 32 Bruton Street, Mdx. GORDON, Sir James Willoughby, 1st bt. (1772-1851), of Niton, I.o.W GORDON, Hon. William (1784-1858). GORE LANGTON, William (?1760-1847), of Newton Park, nr. Bath, Som.; Dean House, Oxon. and 12 Grosvenor Square, Mdx. GOSSET, William (1782-1848), of Round Ward, nr. Truro, Cornw. and 64 Harley Street, Mdx. GOUGH CALTHORPE, Hon. Arthur (1796-1836), of 13 Chapel Street, Grosvenor Square, Mdx. GOUGH CALTHORPE, Hon. Frederick (1790-1868), of Grosvenor Square, Mdx. GOULBURN, Henry (1784-1856), of Betchworth, Dorking, Surr. GRAHAM (afterwards FOSTER PIGOTT), George Edward (1771-1831), of Chayley, Suss. and Bryanston Square, Mdx. GRAHAM, James Robert George (1792-1861), of Netherby, Cumb. GRAHAM, Lord Montagu William (1807-1878), of 25 Grosvenor Square, Mdx. GRAHAM, James, mq. of Graham (1799-1874). GRAHAM, Sandford (1788-1852), of Kirkstall, nr. Leeds, Yorks.; Edmond Castle, nr. Carlisle, Cumb. and 1 Portland Place, Mdx. GRAHAM, Sir James, 1st bt. (1753-1825), of Kirkstall, nr. Leeds, Yorks. and Edmond Castle, nr. Carlisle, Cumb. GRANT SUTTIE (formerly SUTTIE), Sir James, 4th bt. (1759-1836), of Balgone and Prestongrange, Haddington GRANT, Robert (1780-1838). GRANT, Alexander Cray (1782-1854), of 6 Whitehall Gardens, Westminster, Mdx. GRANT, Charles (1778-1866), of Waternish, Skye and Glenelg, Inverness GRANT, Francis William (1778-1853), of Castle Grant, Elgin and Cullen House, Banff. GRANT, John Peter (1774-1848), of The Doune of Rothiemurchus, Inverness. GRANT, Sir Colquhoun (?1763-1835). GRATTAN, Henry I (1746-1820), of Tinnehinch, co. Wicklow and Moyanna, Stradbally, Queen's Co. GRATTAN, Henry II (?1787-1859), of 84 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin and Moyrath, co. Meath GRATTAN, James (1785-1854), of Tinnehinch, co. Wicklow GRAVES, Thomas North, 2nd Bar. Graves [I] (1775-1830), of Bishop's Court, nr. Exeter, Devon and Thanckes, Cornw. GREENE, Thomas (1794-1872), of Slyne and Whittington Hall, Lancs GREENHILL RUSSELL, Robert (1763-1836), of Chequers Court, Ellesborough, Bucks. and 4 Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, Mdx. GREGSON, John (1793-1860), of 18 Bedford Row and 1 Cumberland Street, Portman Square, Mdx GRENFELL, Pascoe (1761-1838), of Taplow House, Bucks and 19 Charles Street, St James's, Mdx. GRENVILLE, George, 2nd Bar. Nugent [I] (1788-1850), of Lilies, nr. Aylesbury, Bucks. GRESLEY, Sir Roger, 8th bt. (1799-1837), of Drakelow, near Burton-on-Trent, Staffs. GREVILLE, Sir Charles John (1780-1836), of 15 Chesterfield Street, Mdx. GREY, Hon. Charles (1804-1870), of Sheen, Surr. GREY, see Henry, Henry (1802-1894). GRIFFITH WYNNE, Charles Wynne (1780-1865), of 39 Portman Square, Mdx.; Voelas, Denb. and Cefnamlwch, Caern. GRIFFITH, John Wynne (1763-1834), of Garn, Denb. GRIMSTON, James Walter, Visct. Grimston (1809-1895). GROSETT, John Rock (?1784-1866), of Lacock Abbey, nr. Chippenham, Wilts.; Spring Garden and Petersfield, Jamaica GROSVENOR, Hon. Robert (1801-1893). GROSVENOR, Thomas (1764-1851), of Stocking Hall, Leics. and Grosvenor Street, Hanover Square, Mdx. GROSVENOR, see Richard, Richard, Visct. Belgrave (1795-1869). GUEST, Josiah John (1785-1852), of Dowlais House, nr. Merthyr Tydvil, Glam. GUISE, Sir Berkeley William, 2nd bt. (1775-1834), of Highnam Court, Glos. GUNNING, Sir Robert Henry, 3rd bt. (1795-1862), of Horton, Northants. GURNEY, Hudson (1775-1864), of Keswick, Norf. GURNEY, Richard Hanbury (1783-1854), of Keswick and Thickthorne, Norf. GYE, Frederick (1780-1869), of 38 Gracechurch Street; 141 Fleet Street, London and Wood Green, Mdx.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1597
__label__wiki	0.627491	0.627491	Tourist markets in many countries are improving, and tourism in the Middle East is picking up momentum Recently, tourism, an important economic pillar of the Middle East, has been slowly improving. On the premise of making full efforts to prevent and control the epidemic, many countries in the region continue to introduce various incentives and preferential policies to promote the recovery of tourism. The World Tourism Organization recently released a report showing that the number of visitors to the Middle East dropped 69 percent in the first eight months of this year as a result of the outbreak. With the gradual lifting of travel restrictions in many countries in the region, tourism in the Middle East is slowly climbing from the trough and showing the momentum of gradual recovery. The multinational travel market is starting to improve Visitors lined up at the entrance to the Egyptian National Museum in central Cairo. "Please wear a face mask" signs are conspicuous here, as are stickers on the ground telling people to keep a social distance. Under the guidance of the staff, reporters were allowed to enter the tour after a series of procedures such as temperature detection, security check and disinfection. Museum staff said that at present, local tourists are the main group of visitors to the museum, and the number of foreign visitors is slowly recovering. Some 400,000 tourists have visited Egypt since it reopened in July, according to the latest figures from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Recently, Saudi Arabia has promoted domestic tourist attractions such as beaches, mountains and historic sites, encouraging people to visit the country instead of overseas holidays. The average occupancy rate of hotels in Saudi Arabia has increased to 80%. Khaltham Matar, a senior adviser at the Saudi Tourism Ministry, said the focus was on tapping the domestic tourism market amid a limited recovery in international visitor Numbers. With a population of 34 million, Saudi Arabia has huge domestic tourism potential. In some Turkish cities, hotel occupancy rates have recently rebounded significantly, with significant growth in the number of visitors from Europe. Brak Besselen, a partner at the Uruda Ski Center in the northwestern Turkish city of Bursa, said many international tourists who had planned to ski in Europe have turned to Turkey because of travel restrictions. "Our online pre-sales look positive at the moment. The increase in visitors during the winter is expected to offset the loss in the first half of the year." At Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates, the terminal that once grounded many flights is bustling again as flights resume, and many of the airport's closed duty-free shops are open again. Paul Griffiths, CHIEF executive of Dubai International Airport, said passenger traffic had now recovered to more than one million a month, up from 85 per cent a year earlier. The gradual resumption of international flights will attract more tourists and boost tourism in regional countries. Relevant supporting policies have been introduced continuously Since June this year, many Countries in the Middle East have lifted travel restrictions and resumed their tourist attractions. Countries continue to introduce a series of preferential and incentive measures to promote the recovery of tourism. Egypt's civil Aviation Minister Manal has announced that visitors to the country will be offered discount tickets for museums and archaeological sites on EgyptAir flights. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has also encouraged visitors to visit Egypt through online virtual Tours and exhibitions abroad. The Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khalid Anani said there would be more measures to revive tourism in the future. To develop domestic tourism, the Jordanian Travel Guide Association has launched preferential travel packages for 40 different routes and trips across the country, subsidizing 40 percent of the cost of transportation, meals and accommodation for its citizens, which has been well received by local people. Israel, for its part, has tried to attract domestic tourists by investing in infrastructure repairs and festivals. The Dead Sea area and the southern resort city of Eilat will be designated as special "tourist islands," Israel's tourism ministry said On Monday, reopening the two areas for tourism and hospitality. Rafat Nabraoui, former director of the Institute of Archaeology at Cairo University in Egypt, pointed out that during the epidemic prevention and control period, countries in the region introduced various forms of overseas exhibitions and online Tours to introduce local cultural relics and attractions, laying a foundation for attracting tourists to visit in the future. The Dubai Tourism Authority has been working with Internet companies to promote tourism. Saudi Arabia, for its part, announced a tourism development fund to work with private and investment Banks to develop and promote 38 of the seven destinations. Strict anti-epidemic measures have also been introduced to reassure foreign tourists. Dubai has introduced "Dubai Guarantee" certification for retail premises, entertainment centres and attractions. Sites that pass regular inspections will be given free signage to ensure strict safety and hygiene standards are followed in the areas visitors come in contact with. Tunisia's Ministry of Tourism and Mobile Industry has launched a "ready and safe" tourism logo to ensure the safety of tourists. It will take time for the industry as a whole to recover Some industry insiders pointed out that due to the rich tourism resources in the Middle East and the release of public tourism demand, many countries in the Middle East are expected to see an accelerated recovery trend in the post-epidemic period. Experts warned that the recovery of the tourism industry is based on the control of the epidemic, so it is crucial to implement the epidemic prevention measures and maintain the epidemic prevention results. At present, the global epidemic is still not over, and the public has little confidence in tourism consumption, which is an important factor hindering the current recovery of international and regional tourism. For some time to come, the recovery of tourism in the Middle East will continue to be tested repeatedly by the epidemic. Prev:South Africa fully open the border to international travelers Next:Hubei's 390 A-level scenic spots have received more than 53 million visitors in total Address: No.1591 Hongqiao Road Copyright © 1983 Hong Qiao State Guest Hotel Shanghai, All rights reserved.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1599
__label__wiki	0.593098	0.593098	COVID-19 ingridscience Science kits/rooms About Ingrid Contact Ingrid ingridscience.ca A Hands-on Science Education Resource Rocket Chemistry Molecular Modelling (liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen) Model the chemical reaction in LOX/LH2-powered rockets. Science content Chemistry: Atoms, Molecules (3-7) Chemistry: Chemical Changes (2, 7) Earth/Space: Extreme Environments, Space Exploration (6) Lessons activity is in Rockets to explore the solar system Rockets and pressure molecule pieces for each student/student pair: 4 white hydrogen atoms, 2 red oxygen atoms, 4 bonds Show a dramatic video of a real rocket taking off e.g. a Delta IV Heavy rocket launching the Orion spacecraft (to be used in deep space exploration) Dec 2015: http://www.universetoday.com/117197/bringing-you-there-intense-sound-of… Discuss how real rockets work: The "rocket fuel" is mixed with an "oxidizer" in the combustion chamber. They chemically react and make new molecules, including a gas. The huge amount of gas produced (called "exhaust") can only escape out of a nozzle built into the back of the rocket. The action of the exhaust shooting out exerts an equal and opposite force on the rocket, which propels the rocket upwards. (Newton's Third Law of Motion: Action and Reaction). (If the baking soda/vinegar rocket activity or Alka seltzer activity has been done, remind students that it is the same mechanism.) Model the chemical reaction in real rockets: Give the students their molecule pieces. Write the oxidizer and fuel molecules on the board, ask students to build them: O2 (liquid oxygen or “LOX”) + 2 H2 (liquid hydrogen or ”LH2”). These are usually gas molecules (as some students may know), but in a rocket engine, they are stored at very low temperatures, so are liquid. Tell them that in the fuel and oxidant are injected into the hot combustion chamber, where the oxygen and hydrogen chemically react to make a new molecule. Ask them to take apart their oxygen and hydrogens and rebuild two identical molecules. They should make two water molecules, 2 H2O. They might recognize this molecule when it is called by it's chemical formula. In the rocket combustion chamber the temperatures high enough that this water is a gas, which escapes through the nozzle and gives the rocket thrust. Other facts about rocket fuels: The fuel is a significant portion of the rocket mass, so as the fuel is burned up, the rocket gets significantly lighter and accelerates upwards. The boosters (on the side) run out of fuel first, then the main engine. The propellants of a rocket are often a "fuel" and a source of oxygen "an oxidizer". The most efficient fuel and oxidizer combination is liquid oxygen (the oxidizer, also called LOX) and liquid hydrogen (the fuel, also called LH2), as we modelled here. Liquid oxygen ("LOX") is the oxidizer commonly used in rockets. Other fuels used besides liquid hydrogen are kerosene or methane. Chemical reaction for kerosene: 2 C12H26(l) + 37 O2(g) → 24 CO2(g) + 26 H2O(g) A rocket where the fuel or oxidizer (or both) are gases liquefied and stored at very low temperatures (below −150 °C) is called a cryogenic rocket engine. If the propellants had been stored as pressurized gases, the size and mass of fuel tanks themselves would severely decrease rocket efficiency. Rockets have to carry their own oxygen into space, where there is no air. This is in contrast to aeroplanes, which use atmospheric oxygen to oxidize their fuel. "Monopropellants" are just one molecule (e.g. hydrogen peroxide or hydrazine) that can split into gas molecules, with a catalyst to speed up the reaction. Hydrogen peroxide decomposes into oxygen and water gases. Hydrazine decomposes into nitrogen and hydrogen gases. The gases produced are directed through a nozzle to create thrust. First liquid-fuelled rocket in was launched in 1926. It flew 12metres. First satellite, Sputnik, launched in 1957 by the Soviet Union. 1961 was the first person in space. Grades taught Teaching site Strathcona Elementary Science activity database and search Show — Science activity database and search Hide — Science activity database and search Ingrid's picks Search by science content This site is developed and maintained by Ingrid Sulston in Vancouver, BC, Canada	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1603
__label__cc	0.586323	0.413677	Don’t judge a book by its cover, judge it by its first line(s) Can you guess the titles of these books from their first lines? Do they make you want to pick them up? Dazzling…wrenching…a mind bender.”– Time “Brain-boggling.”– Life “Full of poetry, scientific imagination, and typical wry Clarke wit. By standing the universe on its head, he makes us see the ordinary universe in a different light…[This novel becomes] a complex allegory about the history of the world.”– The New Yorker “Breathtaking.” —Saturday Review To find out the title click here! “A story to make you believe in the soul-sustaining power of fiction.”– Los Angeles Times Book Review “A gripping adventure story . . . Laced with wit, spiced with terror,…	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1620
__label__wiki	0.868236	0.868236	EPL: QPR v Chelsea preview Since losing to Manchester United, Chelsea have shown signs that they are discovering the relentless consistency that underpinned their three Premier League titles between 2005 and 2010. Andre Villas-Boas' side travel across London to face Neil Warnock's troops on the back of a three-game winning run in league action. QPR have made a decent start on their return to England's top flight having amassed nine points from their opening eight fixtures. It will also be a big day for Didier Drogba. He is due to make his 313th senior appearance for the Blues, the second highest total by an overseas player. He is currently tied with Gianfranco Zola, and just a handful of games behind current team-mate Petr Cech (322). Defender Danny Gabbidon has still not recovered from a knee injury and will therefore miss out. Adel Taarabt has been suffering from a mild virus but is likely to be fit and there has been some encouraging news regarding foot injury absentees Kieron Dyer and DJ Campbell. Campbell had an operation this week and was expected to be out for two months, but may come back sooner and Dyer may now return in December despite initial fears that he could be sidelined until the new year. Ramires has failed to recover for Chelsea. The midfielder is still missing with the knee injury picked up in Saturday's win over Everton but could be back for the Carling Cup tie against the same opponents next week. John Terry, Didier Drogba and Juan Mata look set to return after being rested for Wednesday night's Champions League thrashing of Genk, while Fernando Torres serves the final instalment of his three-match domestic suspension. Chelsea have gone seven Premier League games without keeping a clean sheet for the first time since 2003 Daniel Sturridge has scored four goals in his last four Premier League starts Chelsea have only won back to back Premier League away games once since September 2010 Chelsea have allowed the joint-fewest shots on target this season (27) Chelsea have only won one of their last six Premier League London derbies away from home (W1 D3 L2) Only Manchester City (134) have fired in more shots than Chelsea in the Premier League this season (115) QPR have won just one of the last 14 matches in all competitions against west London neighbours Chelsea (W1 D4 L9) QPR’s last London derby saw their biggest ever Premier League defeat when they lost 0-6 to Fulham. QPR and Chelsea have figured in the same Premier League season just four times, but the Hoops have finished above the Blues in three of those campaigns. Only Wolves (6%) have converted a lower percentage of shots in to goals than QPR (7%) Follow @BlackwaterBLUE Search BlackwaterBLUE Places in BlackwaterBLUE Who is BlackwaterBLUE? 2009 - 2017 a monkster initiative. Simple theme. Powered by Blogger.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1621
__label__wiki	0.850375	0.850375	Museum of Independence City Sights (30) Leisure and Activities (11) al. Solidarnosci 62, City-Center, 00-240 Museum of Independence - Warsaw Check an educational offer: museum lessons, educational workshops and family Sundays. Museum of Independence is Best For Affordable Backpackers Families With Teenagers Groups Cultural Experience The Local Experience Directions to Museum of Independence Polish history - with its multiethnic, multi-cultural Commonwealth, its early medieval laws protecting freedom of religious expression, its elected kings, its tradition of 'Golden Liberty' and its forward-thinking 1791 constitution - teaches us that the Polish people value independence very highly. It also teaches us, through some 170 years of foreign occupation under five different regimes, six major uprisings, hundreds of visionary heroes and millions of victims, that this independence has never been won lightly. The Museum of Independence plays a special role in upholding the memory of these people and events that shaped the independent Poland of today, reminding modern generations of the value of the liberty they enjoy. The museum's exhibitions explore the lives of freedom fighters, the fate of the Poles as an occupied people, the preservation of Polish culture and identity during periods of repression, and steps on the road to regaining freedom. It covers the period from the Kosciuszko Uprising of 1794 to modern times. The collections include works of art, military paraphernalia, medals, photographs, and a wide range of commemorative items. While many institutions in Warsaw give an in-depth look at wartime resistance and the German occupation, and several historic sites will give you a taste of Polish life under the 19th-century Russian Partition, this is perhaps the only one with a strong focus on the resistance movements that led to the fall of communism in Poland in the 1980s. The three permanent exhibitions at the museum are 'Polonia Restituta', covering the period from 1914 to 1921 when Poland regained independence; a historical look at the national emblem of the white eagle; and a history of opposition in the Polish People's Republic from 1945 to 1989. The Museum of Independence also has a strong educational side, with lessons, competitions, film viewings, theatrical performances and readings. The Museum of Independence has two main subsidiaries - the Mausoleum of Struggle and Martyrdom, located near Lazienki Park, and the Museum of Pawiak Prison, near the Krasinski Gardens. The Mausoleum is in the left wing of the Ministry of Education, which was used as the Security Police and Secret Service headquarters during the German occupation. It was used for detention and torture of political suspects, as well as mass executions during the Warsaw Uprising. Today you can view collective cells, isolation chambers and the Gestapo office. You can also trace the reflections and messages of the prisoners carved into the prison walls. Pawiak Prison was also a site of incarceration, torture and execution during the Second World War. The death toll reached about 37,000, while a further 60,000 of those held here were sent on to labour camps. Also attached to the Museum of Independence is Pavilion X of the Warsaw Citadel. The citadel, which stands over the riverbank north of the New Town, was built by the order of Tsar Nicholas I with the aim of exerting a tighter control over the city. Its 'X Pavilion' also became a prison for political prisoners and an execution site for nationalists and revolutionaries. From these prison cells, hundreds were taken out and executed, thousands were sent away to do hard labour in Russian camps. Among its famous prisoners was Józef Pilsudski, future head of state of the newly liberated Poland. Tuesday - Friday 10.00 - 17.00 Saturday - Sunday 10.00 - 16.00 Address: al. Solidarnosci 62 , Warsaw, 00-240 Click here to request a new mini guide for Warsaw from your Local Experts! Create & Share Your Own 'Mini Guide to Warsaw' My Guide Warsaw is part of the global My Guide Network of Online & Mobile travel guides.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1622
__label__wiki	0.878774	0.878774	Jefferson Ward: The joy lives By Lisa Provence \| lisa@readthehook.com Published online Thursday Nov 28th, 2002 and in print issue #0143 dated Thursday Nov 28th, 2002 Photo by Jen Fariello Jeff Ward isn't trying to be Lance Armstrong or anything, but, like the Tour de France winner, he's lucky to be alive. The 34-year-old former UVA football player had a nasty surprise early this year. After his usual run one day, he started coughing up blood. What he thought was strep throat turned out to be the extremely rare and extremely deadly cancer of the throat and tongue. "It's real unusual," he says, "especially for people who don't smoke." Ninety percent of those diagnosed with oral cancer are over 40. His family was told he had Stage 4 cancer. "He had an advanced stage," says his doctor, Cynthia Spaulding. "It's very unusual to see in people that young." Spaulding pegs the cure rate at one in five. Ward remembers the exact dates he was in Martha Jefferson Hospital: January 26 through April 20, the day after his birthday. And as if spending three months in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy and radiation wasn't bad enough, he says, his girlfriend dumped him, too. "I was lying up there days on end thinking she's gonna walk through that door," he recalls. "She didn't." Ward is frank about the treatment's effect on him: "Chemo did its damage to me. It crushed me." Certainly it shrank the athlete's 240-pound body to what is now just getting back up to 187 pounds. And Ward is undergoing therapy to improve use of his left arm, which was affected during surgery on his lymph nodes. But the feeding tube in his stomach is gone, and he's able to eat and taste food again, unlike when he was sick and couldn't swallow. And he's feeling stronger, which is a good thing for a man who holds down three jobs: working as a bartender at Sloan's, at the Carmike, and in a part-time business in financial sales. Ward doesn't seem bummed by the fact that even with insurance, he owes $22,000 for his medical treatment. At least he's saving money on life insurance premiums that was canceled and he's uninsurable for two years. After staring death in the face, Ward says the cancer has enlightened him. "I'm more attentive now to the means and surroundings of other people's lives besides my own." Ward isn't out of the woods yet he still faces monthly checkups– but he seems ready for whatever comes next. "If God can help me overcome death, there's no other challenges I can't meet," he says. And Jefferson Ward is adamant about one thing: "Nobody can steal my joy."	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1628
__label__cc	0.644407	0.355593	Pro Vercelli: From the Diary of Walter Colombo, 31 August 2014 By the time we made landfall near Palermo, the hours of steady rattling had left me sore from head to toe. I crawled ashore, my muscles aching, my tie dangling in the surf. Before I reached the bar of dry sand at the top of the beach, a deafening roar and a sudden wave-churning wind told me the Achilles was gone. It was, dear Braun, a hellish and disagreeable journey. But Pro Vercelli needed me; I had a match to attend. I wrung out my tie as best I could and set out for the Stadio Renzo Barbera, home of U.S. Città di Palermo, Pro Vercelli’s opponent in their first match in Serie A. Unfortunately, after roaming the countryside for several hours, I discovered that the map of Sicily I had procured for the occasion was in fact a small butternut squash. Oh, Braun, you can imagine my savagery as the nature of the swindle slowly revealed itself to me. The next time I shop in the produce section of that particular bookstore, Braun, I will be asking some very pointed questions, of that you can be certain. However, I have long been aware that the world is a place of almost continual frustration and disaster. I never panic; I simply sit down wherever I may be—in this case, the middle of the road—to cogitate upon my situation. In this case, it was a flawless plan, for soon after I had been extracted from the flock of sheep which almost immediately engulfed me, I found myself leaning against the wooden bed-rail of a small truck piloted by the shepherd, bound (along with three goats and one visibly delinquent pig, whom I suspect of having stolen my Mars bar) for the Renzo Barbera. So you see, life has a way of resolving its own difficulties if you simply stay out of its way. At the gate the guard asked for my ticket. I explained patiently that I was a documentary filmmaker on hand to chronicle Pro Vercelli’s first season in Serie A, and thus had no need of a ticket. He asked why I was carrying an easel and paints instead of a movie camera. I explained that I had been out of work for some time, and had been forced to improvise while I waited on the financial backing to come through for my project. With what I considered to be a highly unproductive sneer, he flatly refused me entry. When I sat down to cogitate upon my situation, the outcry from the queue behind me was such that I was forced to slide to one side along the floor. Finally I had a moment of inspiration. Dipping my trusty brush into my best black paint, I began working upon the canvas. My brow furrowed in concentration as I produced yet another trompe-l’œil masterpiece. “Here,” I said, passing the canvas to the guard. “You’ll find it’s slightly oversized, but in every respect a regulation ticket.” “It’s perfection,” said the guard. “And if you were at La Scala, I would be thrilled to let you in. But this is Palermo, and you are at a football match.” I had painted a ticket to the opera! In my creative frenzy I mistook my mundane surroundings for the exalted precincts of the stage. Fortunately, at that moment a cleaning crew drove past on a sidewalk sweeper, which gathered me up in its bristles (I was seated on the pavement) and pushed me into the stadium. I made my way straight to the visitors’ changing rooms. I accomplished this task by pretending I was following the signs for the restroom. The restroom lay in a completely different part of the stadium, but I find that when I try to do one thing deliberately, I often succeed in accomplishing something else. The mind, Braun. The mind is highly complex. From the hall outside the changing rooms, I could hear the crowd roaring through the tunnel like an enthusiastic wind. There were reporters, security personnel, mafia gunmen, and small children milling about, so I was forced to conceal myself in a laundry cart. I was able to move it on its wheels by wiggling my hips when I thought no one was paying attention, and by this means, I incrementally navigated the hall. Soon I heard a familiar voice. I poked my head up slowly so that I could see over the rim of the cart. Brian Phillips was in a room talking to reporters. “…but I keep telling you this, and you never seem to believe me,” he was saying. “This is a warm up. Our season starts the day we play Inter. They stole the title from us in 1910, and we are coming for revenge, and we will get it. Maybe not this year, maybe not next year, but we will even the score.” Oh, Braun, it took every ounce of self-control I had not to leap out of the laundry cart, run into the room, and begin making uninvited adjustments to the microphone stand, as I did for so many years at the Silvio Piola. In the changing room, Landry Akassou was addressing the team. “You all heard the manager,” he said. “He wants us to have fun tonight. No pressure, he says. Well I say winning is fun, and losing is for losers!” Inspired by his magnificent Ivorian accent, the team formed a circle and began performing some type of ritual motivating chant. Soon it was time for the teams to line up in the tunnel. I briefly entertained a plan of tricking one of the accompanying children with the promise of candy in the media room, then taking his place (on my knees, of course) as the designated hand-holder of Davide Rubino. However, the small boy was cleverer than I anticipated, and when I returned—candyless, despite assurances which I acted upon in good faith—the team had already taken the pitch. I went to find a seat in the stadium. At first, I was astonished by how close and how uninteresting the action was to me. For reasons I could not fathom, the match looked like a row of knees. But when a neighboring viewer advised me to turn around, I realized that the little green gem of a pitch was in fact floating in the distance, under the floodlights, like a little, floating, green gem, lit by floodlights. Pro Vercelli went down to a goal by Giovanni Bernardi in the 20th minute, and in my opinion as a football man, never had a chance to equalize without switching to the 1-7-3 formation I have long advocated for them. The statistics said that they had the better of the possession—58% to 42%—and completed more of their passes, but the defenders scampered here and there in a panic, allowing Palermo to create chances whenever they had the ball. Sit down, I thought into the minds of Roni Zano and Matthias Cassano. Life is full of setbacks. Think! But they failed to heed my advice, and Bernardi doubled his tally just after halftime. Pro Vercelli succumbed to a 2-0 defeat. But to see them, Braun. To see them in Serie A. The second-highest division in Italy, after the Jupiler League! I shed tears. I buried my face in my paints, and I shed tears. Which was a mistake. The paints-face burying was clearly a mistake; I see that now. There are some forms of comfort which a man should not look for in paints. After the match, shaken to the core with emotion and perhaps mild toxic shock, I followed the crowd out into the Sicilian night and, breaking off from them, made my way back to the rendezvous point. At the appointed time, the Achilles came swooping down out of the starry sky and surged towards me on its magnificent hydrofoils. It was a quiet and a thoughtful Walter Colombo who crawled out onto the sandbank in his business suit to board, Braun, I can tell you that. It was a Walter Colombo of many colors, for whom the world had changed forever. Though I will say this. If humanity ever devises a more cost-effective and comfortable mode of transport than mortgaging your family farm to engage a private seaplane for the weekend, I will be the first, I will be the very first, to buy a ticket. Read More: Football Manager 2009, Pixel Dramas, Pro Vercelli Gotta love the simpleton. I’m suprised Walter has such an extensive journal. Explains where his mind is about half the time. He writes a little like Umberto Eco, coincidence? Richard Whittall So I assume Roberto Benigni will play him in the movie version…man I love Walter. Absolutely. We’re going to tell him the film is a tragedy about a genius and then just let it play. I’m coming to this more than two years too late, but it feels like Colombo’s channeling Crusoe (and, more to the point, Wilkie Collins doing Crusoe), and that pleases me no end. He might not be able to assistant-manage, but he sure can write. December 1, 2011 at 10:45 pm · Reply Umberto De Ceglie “But to see them, Braun. To see them in Serie A. The second-highest division in Italy, after the Jupiler League!” This made me laugh so hard that I sneezed/spat the best part of a glass of robust red wine (from the Piedmont region) all over my keyboard. Oh, Walter! October 16, 2017 at 2:08 am · Reply	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1636
__label__wiki	0.593582	0.593582	This theme focuses on the various factors and motivations that contributed to Europe's interaction with the world since 1450, as well as the impact this interaction had on both Europe and non-European societies. Beginning in the 15th century, European nations sent explorers into the world beyond the Mediterranean, establishing new shipping routes, trading stations, and eventually, colonies in many parts of the globe. The motivations for these enterprises were complex and have been the subject of much historical debate. Were Europeans driven primarily by the desire for more direct and secure trade routes, by the pursuit of new commercial wealth, or by religious motivations, such as the desire to convert new peoples to Christianity? Whatever the motivations, these explorations created new, complex trade systems that profoundly affected European prosperity, patterns of consumption, commercial competition, and national rivalries. The activities and influence of Europeans varied in different parts of the world. In India and China, centers of high civilizations, Europeans remained on the periphery in trading stations for centuries. In Africa, Europeans also established themselves on the coasts, trading with the indigenous populations of the interior. European settlements in the new world imported religious, social, and political institutions to the Americas, which would forever transform this region and its indigenous peoples. The encounters with non-Europeans peoples profoundly affected European trade, social life, and ideas, both at the time and for centuries to come. With their American colonies and the global reach of their seafarers, Europeans helped to create a truly global trading system, introducing new foods that changed the food cultures of China, India, and Europe. At the same time as Europe was experiencing the material consequences of its interaction with the world, European intellectuals began to describe and analyze the peoples and cultures with which they came into contact, and collect and catalogue the flora and fauna they discovered. The use of "race" as a primary category for differentiating people coincided with the expansion of slavery, as Europeans sought a workforce for overseas plantations; this categorization helped Europeans justify the slave system. From the 16th to the 19th century, the transatlantic slave trade became a central feature of the world economy, and millions of Africans were transported via the notorious Middle Passage to labor on plantations in the Americas. The vast and cruel slave system led to various forms of resistance by enslaved peoples and began to generate opposition in Europe beginning in the late 18th century. Abolitionists objected to the system on humanitarian and religious grounds. An important strand of Enlightenment thought -- the belief in citizenship, popular sovereignty, equality, and liberty -- promoted by the American and French revolutions also contributed to the ideology of the abolitionist movements, and several European states abolished the slave trade in the early 19th century. However, critiques of colonialism did have an immediate effect, given that the 19th century was a period of empire building. Driven by the needs of an industrial economy and nationalism, Europeans expanded their territorial control in Asia and Africa through warfare, economic agreements and arrangements, the seizure of property, and, in some cases, immigration. In the late 19th century, the scale and pace of conquest intensified because of asymmetries in military technology, communications, and national rivalries among the Great Powers. In conquered territories, Europeans established new administrative, legal, and cultural institutions, and restructured colonial economies to meet European needs, actions that often led to resistance and opposition in colonial areas. Within Europe, exposure to new peoples and cultures influenced art and literature, and spurred efforts to find a scientific basis for racial differences. Competition for colonies also destabilized the European balance of power and was a significant cause of World War I. In the mid-20th century, the rise of the United States as an economic and military power, the far-reaching consequences of two world wars, and the Cold War resulted in the contraction and collapse of the traditional European empires -- a process known as decolonization. At the end of the 20th century, Europe sought new ways of defining interactions among its own nations and with the rest of the world. At the same time, the migration of non-European people into Europe began to change the ethnic and religious composition of European society and to create uncertainties about European identity. Describe how economic, religious, cultural, and political motives influenced European exploration and colonization of overseas territories. Describe how political, scientific, and technological developments facilitated European contact and interaction with other parts of the world. Explain how different motives for promoting European exploration and colonization of overseas territories changed from 1450 to the present. Evaluate why different motives for promoting European exploration and colonization of overseas territories changed from 1450 to the present. Explain how encounters between Europe and the wider world shaped European culture, politics, and society. Explain how encounters between Europe and the wider world shaped non-European culture, politics, and society. *Language on this page is provided by the College Board.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1644
__label__wiki	0.894731	0.894731	You are here: Home » Archives for Dana Jacobson Tag: "Dana Jacobson" TALKERS \| July 16, 2014 Talkers New York 2014 Videos Being Posted. Up Today: Mike Francesa’s Sports Talk Keynote Address. Today (7/16) marks the second day of TALKERS magazine’s video posting of speeches, sessions and presentations made during last month’s 17th annual installment of the talk media industry’s longest-running and most important national convention – Talkers New York 2014. The presentation of these informative and historic recordings is sponsored by WYD Media Sales, LLC., the rep firm recently launched by Ron Hartenbaum and headed by John Murphy, that specializes in the advertising sales of spoken-word media on all popular platforms. The worldwide showing of these very special videos continues today with the event’s powerful sports talk keynote address delivered by WFAN, New York sports talk radio legend, Mike Francesa. The focus of Francesa’s speech consists of 1) his opinion that the current lack of ratings for online “re-purposed” radio content is damaging radio; 2) the benefits of being live and local; and 3) the burgeoning role of sports in American life. Francesa states, “I have done the same show at the same time on the same station for 28 years. I never wanted to be syndicated. I believe in live and local.” Although respecting the importance of digital and social media, he believes that radio broadcasters place too much emphasis on it to the detriment of their on-air content and performance stating, “I take a limited approach to the new technology…I don’t have a Twitter account.” Regarding sports, itself, as a subject and field of interest to the media, he advises, “I think we are at the beginning of a sports explosion the likes of which you haven’t seen yet. If you’re in the communications business, you’d better get on board. Sports today is what Hollywood was in the 40s and 50s.” To see the entire session, please click here. Coming tomorrow (7/17): RAB, CEO/president Erica Farber moderating the panel, “The State of Radio Advertising and Sales” with Ron Furman, CRO, Westwood One; Kraig Kitchin, CEO, Sound Mind, LLC; Joe Puglise, president/market manager, Clear Channel, New York; and Julie Talbott, president, Premiere Networks. The TALKERS conference videos were recorded by Art Vuolo. Dave Elswick Show Expands to Searcy, Arkansas Market. Longtime Little Rock talk radio personality Dave Elswick’s KHTE “96.5 The Voice”-based show will be heard on KSMD, Searcy, Arkansas starting July 21 as the show begins efforts to network across the state. Elswick states, “This is exciting as I will now reach the North Central part of the state. My goal is to touch all Arkansans and keep them informed about what is happening in their state.” Additionally, Elswick tells TALKERS magazine he is in the process of launching a 24/7 online TV station as he explores new platforms. KKOB, Albuquerque Personality Rides on Soon-to-Be-Deactivated Sub. The market’s namesake nuclear sub USS Albuquerque is being de-activated after 30 years of service to the U.S. Navy. Last week, KKOB, Albuquerque weekend personality Terrie Q. Sayre – pictured here at the periscope of the sub – was able to take a voyage on it. The sub is based in San Diego and during Sayre’s visit, she went out to sea in it and was able to dive to 600 feet, take sharp angle maneuvers, take part in periscope viewing and more. Sayre reports they even did a burial at sea involving a three torpedo salute. CBS Sports Radio Morning Show Gets Online Video Simulcast. Beginning immediately, the morning drive show hosted by Tiki Barber, Brandon Tierney, and Dana Jacobson on the CBS Sports Radio Network – heard from 6:00 am to 9:00 am ET – is available in a live, online video simulcast, especially targeting consumers using mobile and tablet devices. Network director of programming Eric Spitz says, “We are excited to launch yet another way to expose our programming to audiences nationwide. Tiki, Brandon and Dana prove every day to be dynamic and passionate sports hosts, and providing additional access to the show follows the trend of listeners spending more time with the program.” ’99.9 The Fan’ in Raleigh Holds ‘Fan Town Hall.’ Tomorrow morning Capitol Broadcasting-owned sports talk WCMC-FM, Raleigh “99.9 The Fan” is presenting the first-ever “Fan Town Hall” with four of the most influential people in Triangle college sports today at Full Frame Theater in nearby Durham. Panelists will include: Duke athletic director Dr. Kevin White; North Carolina Central athletic director Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree; NC State athletic director Debbie Yow and North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham. The 90-minute, commercial-free event will be moderated by WCMC-FM afternoon drive host Adam Gold and WRAL-TV sports anchor Jeff Gravley. Topics to be addressed include the state of college athletics, successes and challenges athletic departments are experiencing and much more. Station program director and OM Dennis Glasgow states, “This is a historical event that’s never been done before in the Triangle, and to bring together these four remarkable people will be a fascinating 90 minutes inside the looking glass of college sports. Our Town Hall format will be less traditional in that we’re encouraging conversation among our special guests, and its unique format will allow social media questions throughout the event.” Golloher Joins Fox News Radio as Correspondent. Former freelancer Jessica Golloher – who’s been based in Moscow for the past six years – joins Fox News Radio as a correspondent based in New York. In this new role, Golloher will report on breaking news and provide daily live reports while covering stories in the Northeast and across the country. During her time in Moscow, Golloher provided live coverage of stories, including Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the crisis in Ukraine, and the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Golloher previously worked at radio stations in Washington, Boston, Tulsa, and Los Angeles. Odds & Sods. All-newser KNX, Los Angeles is tackling the Western drought story as it relates to Southern California on July 31 during a day-long program titled, “Running on Empty: Our Epic Drought.” The CBS RADIO station says KNX’s news staff, “led by producers Charles Feldman and Laraine Herman, will look at the impact the worsening drought will have on” the population. KNX will detail what sets the current drought apart from those the state has experienced in the recent past. Among the questions to be answered are what food products might disappear from shelves and which ones will get costlier, who decides who’ll be able to tap into the eroding water supply and what will the long-term effects be on the local environment and wildlife? Seven KNX reporters have conducted more than 50 interviews with California Governor Jerry Brown, representatives from the Metropolitan and Orange County Water Districts, climatologists, environmentalists, farmers and others…..Cumulus Media news/talk WABC, New York reports a coup as former New York Times executive editor Jill Abramson appeared on “The Ride Home with Pat Kiernan and Rita Cosby” on Wednesday afternoon to “address publicly for the first time” her departure from the paper. She talked about her reaction to Arthur Sulzberger saying she was let go because of her management style, her feelings about the current state of journalism and more…..Thirty-two year NPR veteran Margaret Low Smith is leaving the public radio network where she’s been serving as senior vice president/news to become a VP at The Atlantic. Smith will also be the president of the publication’s AtlanticLIVE Events division…..CRN Digital Talk Radio announced the winners of its 2014 Food & Wine Awards during an appearance at the 33rd Annual Kapalua Wine & Food Festival at the Kapalua Resort in Hawaii. CRN president & CEO Michael J. Horn and CRN personality “Sommelier of the People” Michael Jordan made the presentations on a special live broadcast of the network’s nationally syndicated “What’s Cookin’ on Wine” show. Michael Browne of the Kosta Browne Winery and Robert Cabral of Williams Selyem shared the Winemaker of the Year honor. Dean Fearing of Fearing’s Restaurant in Dallas, Texas was named Chef of the Year. Zimzala Huntington Beach, California was crowned Restaurant of the Year. Sommelier of the Year honors went to Troy Smith at Montage in Laguna Beach, California. CRN listeners selected the winners from a list of nominees. SRN’s Dennis Prager Visits Death Row. Nationally syndicated talk show host Dennis Prager is pictured here (right) with an unidentified death row inmate at Angola State Prison in Louisiana – the nation’s largest prison. Prager spent Monday, July 14 at the prison as part of the annual “Returning Hearts Celebration,” organized by the Christian organization Awana. Among that organization’s projects is work with prison inmates. Prager has been lecturing to evangelical pastors all over the country about the American Renewal Project. Prager shared his experiences at the prison with listeners on his programs yesterday and today. During a meeting with the inmate pictured here, Prager asked the man if he felt sorry for himself. “No,” he responded. “But I do regret the things I’ve done.” NYC Competitors Get Together at Big Fundraiser. These two New York City talk radio personalities – Geraldo Rivera from Cumulus Media’s WABC (left) and Mark Simone from Clear Channel’s WOR (right) – usually compete against each other in the 10:00 am to 12:00 noon time slot. But they are pictured here together as they attend and speak at a fundraiser luncheon for the city’s 100-year-old charity The Police Athletic League of New York City. Child Immigrant Crisis-Immigration Policy Reform, Eric Holder Racism Comments, Middle East Turmoil, Possible Warren 2016 Presidential Run, Hookah Craze, and Western Drought and Summer ‘Polar Vortex’ Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (7/15). The ongoing child immigration crisis in the Southwest and debate over who’s responsible and how to fix it; Attorney General Eric Holder’s comments that criticism of the Obama Administration are race-based; the violence between Israel and Hamas and the ISIS campaign in Iraq and Syria; Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren’s recent travels and speculation she’s gearing up for a ‘stealth’ 2016 presidential bid; chatter about the health issues surrounding the current hookah craze; plus the Western drought and the summer ‘polar vortex’ affecting the Midwest were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS. TALKERS \| September 26, 2013 Michael Savage Makes It Official: Moves to PM Drive in January. Cumulus Media Networks talk star Michael Savage confirmed to listeners to his Wednesday evening program that he will move to the 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm ET slot for the live broadcast of his program beginning in January. As Savage said to fans last month, he will take over the slot currently held by Premiere Networks’ Sean Hannity on 60 stations owned by Cumulus Media including a number of major market news/talk stations — WABC, New York; WMAL, Washington; WBAP, Dallas; KSFO, San Francisco; WJR, Detroit; and WLS-AM, Chicago. Clear Channel is promising to clear Hannity in markets where Cumulus currently airs the program. At WLS, the local program “Roe & Roeper” featuring Roe Conn and Richard Roeper airs from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. If, indeed Savage moves to the 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm CT timeslot, something’s gotta give there. At WJR, Detroit, Hannity currently airs from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm when local host Mitch Albom takes over from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Even during his long tenure with TRN, Savage’s afternoon broadcast time on the West Coast pushed his live program into the evening hours in the East. This is his first opportunity for Savage to air live in PM drive in the East. In an official statement from Cumulus, Savage says, “With this important time slot as well as the iconic Cumulus stations coveted by everyone in radio, I hope to edutain the world. Politics will always be my mainstay but there is so much more to talk about. Breaking news and science, religion, films, books have always been my calling cards. With these new stations, I break out a new deck.” Commenting on the forthcoming change, TALKERS magazine publish Michael Harrison states, “This move of Michael Savage to afternoon drive on a variety of Cumulus heritage stations coupled with the high-profile accent of Sean Hannity to an almost impenetrable national phalanx of heavyweight Clear Channel sticks such as the legendary WOR, New York, that will welcome his arrival with major promotion and enthusiasm, is an exciting shot in the arm for news/talk radio in general across America. Having a choice between Hannity and Savage on the dial during afternoon drive in every major East Coast market (and earlier elsewhere) is sure to increase overall listening and the image of the format for all concerned.” WestwoodOne CEO Paul Caine Speaks on Ad Week Panel. Speaking on a panel discussion titled, Kings of Content, as part of the events surrounding “Advertising Week” in New York City on Wednesday, WestwoodOne CEO Paul Caine touted the expanding value of audio to advertisers as it moves beyond just the traditional AM/FM radio model. Caine also echoed the statements made by RadioInfo/TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison during his speech at the NAB/RAB Radio Show last week when he noted that content without the proper platform is not “king,” that a respected and recognized platform is necessary to successfully deliver good content. Caine stated that the industry needs to build both content and platforms that consumers want. In explaining the growing nature of audio, Caine said the newer forms of content are those people use when they aren’t able to view a screen or read. “We have to think about it as long-form, whether that’s an NFL game, which we broadcast, to short-form which is podcasting, to shorter-form which is social audio that can be put into bite-sized content and shared with your friends.” Caine said the numerous ways in which audio content is now packaged is good for advertisers. “Companies like ours have been growing in terms of our ability to reach more consumers.” L.M. Communications Fights Back in Arbitron Copyright Infringement Suit. Arbitron’s suit for copyright infringement of its radio ratings data against Lexington, Kentucky-based broadcaster L.M. Communications is under order by U.S. District Court Judge Karen K. Caldwell for both sides to meet to see if they can come to a settlement and then file a report with the court. This comes as L.M. argues Arbitron does not have and cannot own copyright rights to the data. L.M. states, “Plaintiff… has known, or should have known, that it does not, and cannot, own any copyright rights in any data, information, rankings, or other factual listings, and that it cannot prevent third parties including radio stations from receiving and using this unprotectable data. Despite this knowledge, Plaintiff has attempted to impermissively extend the scope of any copyright rights it may have, in a calculated campaign to maintain its monopolistic stranglehold on the radio ratings market. Plaintiff has done so through threats and filing of multiple lawsuits and by improperly manipulating its data to punish nonsubscribers. This improper manipulation includes, among other things, threatening to gerrymander radio station markets to improperly force subscription to Arbitron’s services, and outright exclusion from the data rankings of non-subscriber stations as if they do not exist at all. Arbitron has announced plans to implement additional discriminatory practices in the future including combining simulcast data for only subscribing stations to give them an advantage over nonsubscribers. In doing so, plaintiff has made a mockery of the very ‘facts’ and ‘data’ it seeks to protect. Plaintiff’s misconduct in engaging in acts of copyright misuse has the effect of rendering Plaintiff’s copyrights, to the extent valid at all, unenforceable.” According to the judge’s orders, the two sides must have met by October 9 and filed a report by October 19. CBS Sports Network Enters into ‘Boomer & Carton’ TV Simulcast Picture. The television simulcast of WFAN, New York’s “Boomer & Carton” morning drive show is currently aired on the local MSG Network but that deal ends on Monday. The New York Daily News is reporting that joining the Yankees-owned YES Network in the bidding process is the show’s parent company-owned CBS Sports Network cable channel. Although the exclusive negotiation period between the program and MSG has ended, MSG has the right to match any offer. The Daily News says sources close to the situation say the fledgling cable sports channel was originally interested in simulcasting the CBS Sports Radio Network morning show with Tiki Barber, Brandon Tierney and Dana Jacobson but is now interested in Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton. As the paper observes, Boomer & Carton are a local show and if they “go national” via CBS Sports Network, would they alter their content to appeal to a national audience? We’ll probably have the answers to these and other questions before the current deal ends on Monday. WPRO, Providence Takes a Look at Journalism in the Digital Age as Part of Live Debate Series. The event takes place today from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm at Roger Williams University in Providence with WPRO’s Tara Granahan moderating the discussion. It’s the fourth in the station’s debate series and it’s titled, “Reading Between the Lines,” and examines the complexities of funding and producing journalism in the digital age. It is being streamed live at 630WPRO.com and will be the center piece of a WPRO Special Report scheduled to air during the “WPRO Morning News with Gene Valicenti” the week of September 30. Panelists include: Mark Patinkin, columnist for the Providence Journal; Linda Levin, former dean of URI’s Journalism Department; Barbara Meagher, URI professor and former TV reporter; John Howell, owner and publisher of the Warwick Beacon and Cranston Herald; Dan MacGowan, blogger and reporter from WPRI-TV; and Michael Skully, assistant professor of communications at Roger Williams University. Odds & Sods. Fox News Channel unveils new program, “The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson,” to debut in the 2:00 pm ET slot on Monday, September 30. Carlson left the “Fox & Friends” morning show to focus on this new program. She was replaced by Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Carlson says in a statement, “I am thrilled that Roger Ailes has given me the opportunity to host a signature show for Fox that will focus on the real stories of the day. From in-depth interviews to social media interaction live during the show, I look forward to joining viewers in the afternoon for smart and straight-forward talk.”…..Synergy is going on at CBS Sports Radio Network where Boomer Esiason – co-host of WFAN, New York’s “Boomer & Carton” show and host of the network’s “Sports Minute” feature will call in to the network’s Jim Rome program every Friday at 12:20 ET during football season…..ESPN Radio’s Thursday night game this week is Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech with Bill Rosinski calling the action along with analyst David Norrie and sideline reporter Joe Schad. Also ESPN Radio’s “SVP & Russillo” will broadcast live tomorrow from the set of ESPN TV’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot at Myers Quad on the campus of the University of Georgia in advance of the Georgia vs LSU game on Saturday…..SiriusXM debuts a new 24/7 comedy channel called “Just For Laughs” that features over 30 years of stand-up comedy drawn from the comedy archives of the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, including the work of established comedians, new faces, international superstars, and stand-up from comedians before they were stars…..The New York Times writer Carmen Wong Ulrich joins American Public Media to host the weekend program “Marketplace Money” beginning November 2. Cool Job Opportunity. Entercom San Francisco (96.5 KOIT, 95.7 The GAME, 102.9 KBLX, 98.5 & 102.1 KFOX) is looking for a web director who can immediately step in and be responsible for developing the voice for all aspects of the organization’s online presence. You must possess the skills to do web design and create and edit high quality video/graphics while maintaining our station’s websites on a daily basis. In addition to writing, editing, and proofreading site content, this candidate will work closely with the corporate technical team to maintain site standards in regards to new development. The web director will also be responsible for crafting site promotions, email newsletters and online outreach campaigns. This job requires prior experience managing online marketing and outreach campaigns, strong attention to detail and an ability to work under tight deadlines. The ideal candidate must have a STRONG knowledge and love of sports! Additionally the web director should have an extensive knowledge and understanding of social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), SEO, web analytics and digital marketing best practices. Logistically, the web director implements web pages, maintains content including user clubs, web design, video editing, audio editing, digital and print ready and graphic. The ideal candidate will be a brand evangelist who doesn’t just think outside of the box but can create a new one! To be considered, please send your cover letter and resume to SCunningham@entercom.com and JBarrett@entercom.com. You can also find further details about the job responsibilities and skills required for this position in the careers section on http://www.entercom.com. No phone calls please. Entercom San Francisco is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Broadcasters Foundation of America Raises $235,000 at Celebrity Golf Tourney. The Broadcasters Foundation of America announces it brought in $235,000 to help broadcasters in need at its 2013 Celebrity Golf Tournament on Monday at the Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. The organization says the funds come at a time when more broadcasters than ever are in need of assistance. The Foundation expects to grant more than $850,000 in aid over the next year. More than 150 broadcasters and celebrities turned out in support of the mission of the Broadcasters Foundation, including 30 sportscasters, athletes, and actors. Celebrity golfers included Bruce Beck, WNBC-TV; Nick Buoniconti, NFL Super Bowl Champion; Craig Carton, WFAN; Duke Castiglione, Fox 5; Tina Cervasio, MSG Network; Howard Cross, NFL Super Bowl Champion; Maurice Dubois, WCBS-TV; John Franco, New York Mets Hall of Famer; Jay Harris, ESPN; Ann Liguori, WFAN Radio and ESPN; Otis Livingston, WCBS-TV; Sean McDonough, ESPN; Lonnie Quinn, WCBS-TV; Bill Raftery, CBS Sports; Sterling Sharpe, NFL Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer; Mike Woodson, New York Knicks; Chris Wragge, WCBS-TV, and more. The Effort to Defund ObamaCare, Government Shutdown Threat, Climate Change Controversy, and U.S.-Iran Relations Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (9/25). The attempt by members of the GOP to defund the Affordable Care Act; the threat of a federal government shutdown; the controversy over the science behind climate change; and the relations between the U.S. and Iran as the latter approaches completion of its nuclear program were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS. Sports Talk Network Update: Heavyweights Covering All Bases TALKERS \| January 2, 2013 Part One: CBS Launches New Network By Mike Kinosian TALKERS Managing Editor/West Coast Bureau Chief LOS ANGELES — “Happy Sports Year!” That could easily be the battle cry sentiment among ardent fans to welcome 2013, even if it means that many of them will require scorecards to track the whereabouts of some of their favorite sports radio personalities. A perennial sports talk talent MVP tops the headlines by switching teams, while some new names get to crack opening-day lineups, as not one – but two – national sports networks are being introduced this year, each carrying instantly-recognizable name branding. One of them in fact, is making its maiden voyage today (Wednesday, January 2) and, if all goes according to plan, many radio station managers and programmers will be echoing that “Happy Sports Year!” declaration in about 11 months as their way of assessing 2013. CBS Sports Radio Network Announces National Morning Show: Tiki Barber, Brandon Tierney and Dana Jacobson. When the CBS Sports Radio Network officially begins on January 2, former New York Giants great Tiki Barber, sports talk personality and current KGME, San Francisco afternoon co-host Brandon Tierney and longtime ESPN broadcaster Dana Jacobson will make up the morning drive show airing from 6:00 am to 9:00 am ET. CBS Radio president and CEO Dan Mason states, “CBS Sports Radio has been able to attract some of the most renowned names in the business, and Tiki, Brandon and Dana are just the latest example of the network’s star power. We’ve assembled an impressive group of professional athletes and accomplished broadcasters to bring fans unrivaled sports commentary, and the most entertaining lineup in all of sports radio. The launch of CBS Sports Radio provides an additional way for us to use our content, debuting original programs to millions of listeners across the country on day one. The network’s reach in the major markets is unsurpassed, and the marketplace has taken notice of our depth and broad range of offerings.” CBS Radio is announcing the morning show will clear on such outlets as: WIP-AM, Philadelphia); WFOM-AM, Atlanta; WXYT-AM, Detroit; WJZ-AM, Baltimore; KFNZ-AM and KJQS-AM, Salt Lake City; and WSJZ-FM, Orlando. Another Look Back at the Harsh Reality of Sandy and its Intense Relationship with Radio. American voters are conditioned every four years to believe that the presidential ballot they are about to cast will be the most crucial such decision they will make in their entire lifetimes. That was certainly a dominant theme of the 2012 campaign, yet less than 10 days before Election Day, something else began percolating that had approximately 20% of the country hitting the “pause” button to politics: Sandy. Innocuous as the name sounds, “Sandy” unfortunately arrived as advertised and now, weeks later, harsh reality remains in its wake. It is impossible to factor precious loss of lives and the shattering of countless dreams into the billions of dollars of wreckage caused by one of the unkindest of oxymorons – a so-called “perfect storm.” As another testament to our democracy, the November 6 election went off without a hitch and the country would ready itself for one of its proudest traditions – setting aside a day of thanksgiving (albeit followed by the dubious recent sales custom known as “Black Friday”). Radio stations though in locales that include the country’s #1 market – New York City – are continuing to focus on what has been consuming them since (roughly) Saturday, October 27. Suffering through Sandy was brutal. For many, enduring the aftermath is considerably worse. As the radio industry returns from the Thanksgiving weekend, TALKERS takes another look back at the our medium’s intense relationship with the “weather event” that was so dominant a factor in current events that it even upstaged a presidential election – as seen through the eyes, lives and dedicated work of broadcasters at CBS Radio‘s all- news WCBS-AM, New York and Cumulus Media‘s news/talk WMAL, Washington, DC. To read TALKERS managing editor/west coast bureau chief Mike Kinosian‘s epic article click here. WTDY-AM/FM, Madison Drops News/Talk; Stunting with Christmas Music. The Wisconsin State Journal reports that “several broadcasters” have been let go by Midwest Family Broadcasting as the simulcast of news/talk programming on WTDY AM 1670 and WTDY FM 106.7 ended late on Wednesday and was replaced with Christmas music. Talk personality John “Sly” Sylvester and news director Amy Barrilleaux both communicated via social media that they had been let go by the station and that it is flipping formats but that they knew no more. Midwest Family owns seven stations in the market that include: rock WJJO; AC WMGN; rhythmic CHR WJQM; country WWQM; WLMV Spanish music; and oldies WHIT. The word on the street is that the simulcast will become a CBS Sports Radio Network affiliate on January 2 but that has not been confirmed. ESPN in Agreement for Exclusive Rights to College Football Playoff Contests. The sports giant announces it has reached agreements in principle to obtain exclusive rights to broadcast the games and the affiliated programming for the college football championship and playoff games that will begin after the 2014 season and begin in January of 2015 when the new playoff system begins. ESPN Radio will be part of the broadcast of these games. The announcement was made Wednesday by ESPN president John Skipper and Bill Hancock, executive director of the BCS and the future college football playoffs. Skipper states, “Because of college football’s widespread popularity and the incredible passion of its fans, few events are more meaningful than these games. We are ecstatic at the opportunity to continue to crown a college football champion on ESPN’s outlets for years to come, the perfect finale to our year-round commitment to the sport.” ESPN is in the midst of a four-year agreement for the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). The network televises all five games from the current format, including the Rose, Sugar, Orange and Fiesta Bowls, as well as the BCS National Championship Game. The two BCS National Championship Games on ESPN (2011, 2012) have generated the two largest audiences for any program in the history of cable television. The new playoff will be administered by the Football Bowl Subdivision conferences and independent institutions. The agreement in principle is subject to completion of definitive documentation and all necessary approvals. Stephen King-Owned WZLO and WZON, Bangor Progressive Talk Simulcast Splits. “The Pulse” website states the stations have split their simulcast of progressive talk and are featuring Christmas music on the FM signal with a “BIG surprise” the station will reveal after Christmas. The stations have been a simulcast for the past 2 ½ years – first as a sports talk station, then as the progressive talk outlet. The FM side had been playing a triple A format prior to the simulcast. WZON at 620 AM continues to air a progressive talk format featuring a local morning show with Don Cookson, WYD Media’s Stephanie Miller, Ed Schultz, Premiere Networks’ Randi Rhodes, Thom Hartmann, Cox Media’s Clark Howard and Leslie Marshall. April NAB Show to Feature Q&A with News Corp’s Chase Carey. The National Association of Broadcasters announces the spring NAB Show scheduled for April 6-11 in Las Vegas will feature a question-and-answer session with News Corporation president and chief operating officer Chase Carey. NAB president and CEO Gordon Smith will conduct the session. Smith says, “As a leading executive of one of the world’s preeminent media companies, Chase Carey has valuable insight into today’s multi-platform global media environment. I look forward to our conversation at the NAB Show and hearing Mr. Carey’s vision of what the future holds for the media business worldwide.” Carey has served in his role at News Corp since July of 2009. Prior to that he was president and CEO at DIRECTV, Inc. French-Language Quebec Talk Host Suspended for Anti-Semitic Incident. CHMP, Quebec late night talk show host Jacques Fabi has been suspended from his program after allowing a female caller to his program make anti-Semitic statements. The caller was responding to Fabi’s discussion of the violence in Israel and Gaza and blamed the Jews, then went on to intimate that Hitler should have been allowed to finish the job. Fabi never stopped her and, according to complaints to the CRTC and the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, seemed to encourage her rant. The CBC reports station spokesman David Crete said, “The comments that were aired earlier this week are unacceptable…hosts and journalists are subject to ethical rules. If they are not met, penalties are applied.” It is not clear how long Fabi’s suspension will be. CHMP is owned by Cogeco. British Broadcaster Fined for Anti-Gay Remarks. The British agency that regulates broadcasting content – Ofcom – levied a $6,400 fine against the company that owns a Leeds, England station that serves the South Asian community. The incident stems from a program hosted by Rubina Nasir – known as Sister Ruby – in which she interpreted passages in the Koran that indicated homosexuals should be punished – physically and mentally – for practicing their sexuality. Ofcom ruled the statements made during the broadcast were likely to “encourage or incite the commission of a crime.” Rock 102 Thanksgiving Tradition. WAQY, Springfield, Massachusetts morning drive team Bax & O’Brien helped gather food and money for those in need in the area with the broadcast of their annual Mayflower Marathon food drive over the Thanksgiving week. Hosts Mike Baxendale (center) and John O’Brien (far right) are pictured here announcing a donation of $10,000 to the Open Pantry – a local organization that provides food to those in need. The annual charity event is a signature of Saga Communications’ “Rock 102” and the Bax & O’Brien morning show during which the duo broadcast continuously for two days while encouraging listeners to fill a Mayflower moving van with food staples for the hungry.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1650
__label__wiki	0.933846	0.933846	Carrie Underwood’s David Bisbal Duet Inspired Her to Brush Up on Her Spanish Terry Wyatt, Getty Images Carrie Underwood took a step out of her comfort zone earlier in December, when she sang in Spanish for the first time ever on "Tears of Gold," her duet with Spanish star David Bisbal. Not only did the pop collaboration give Underwood a chance to broaden her horizons, but it also reinvigorated her interest in learning a second language. She shared during a recent press event that she had to dust off her high school Spanish skills to record the song. "I did, and am continuing to do so," she explains. "I did take Spanish in high school, [and] I took Spanish in college. I feel like having a musical brain can lend itself to being able to learn another language. Ever since being able to work with David, that's something that's kind of reignited a little bit of that desire in me. So I have been trying to remember what I learned and build on it." Underwood goes on to say that when she first heard "Tears of Gold," she instantly gravitated toward her duet partner's vocals. "He's obviously just got this incredible big voice, and the first time I listened to the song I was walking around for a couple of weeks afterwards singing it. I was like, 'Well, that's a good sign, it's in my head after listening to it once or twice,'" she adds. Plus, the song represented a new step for both her and Bisbal, as each performer did some singing in the other's language while recording the song. "The fact that he wanted to sing in English and I wanted to sing in Spanish, it was such a cool synergy that happened," she continues. "... So it was such a cool thing to be a part of, two artists stepping outside of their comfort zones to make music, it was a really cool experience. It was a lot of fun, too." See the Most Unexpected Crossovers to Country Music: Source: Carrie Underwood’s David Bisbal Duet Inspired Her to Brush Up on Her Spanish Filed Under: Carrie Underwood	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1658
__label__wiki	0.551823	0.551823	← Bill Meacham : Mondragon: Reinventing Humanity Jonah Raskin : Occupy Austin: This is Just the Beginning → Posted on October 8, 2011 by Thorne Dreyer he New Anti-Corporate Movement Comes to Austin, Texas By Jonah Raskin / The Rag Blog / October 8, 2011 [West Coast author, journalist, and Rag Blog contributor Jonah Raskin attended the first day of Occupy Austin, held outside Austin City Hall October 6, 2011, and filed the following report.] AUSTIN — Occupy Austin attracted the young who found it new and wonderful, and the old who found it familiar and wonderful, too. On October 6, 2011 about 1,500 youthful demonstrators, aging protestors, and ageless rabble-rousers gathered outside City Hall to voice their anger about Wall Street greed, and about a variety of social and political issues. There were hundreds of signs, almost all of them handmade, that practically shouted views and opinions such as “Decolonize Wall Street” and “Love America Enough to Protest America.” There were tie-dyed T-shirts, tattoos galore, pierced noses, ears and more, and a marching band that played the old standby, “Ain’t Gonna Study War No More,” that the crowd recognized immediately and sang the lyrics loudly. Yes, it was called “Occupy Austin” but a more apt phrase might have been “Liberate Austin.” It certainly felt liberating to old and young, students and retirees, union folks and the unemployed. I was in town to talk about the cause of marijuana law reform, and couldn’t keep away, not with my 1960s roots still showing, and not after a heart-felt invitation to join the rally from Rag Bloggers Thorne Dreyer and Jim Retherford who introduced me to their friends and to friends of their friends. By the end of the afternoon, I felt initiated into radical Austin, a city with a long history of radicalism, countercultures, underground newspapers, and resistance to all forms of what once was called “oppression” and that’s now on the lips of the young and the restless along with cellphones, Facebook, and Twitter, all of which helped to launch Occupy Austin and that Gary Chasson said would make it impossible for the government to stop. Ashley – who is 22 and who wore bright red leather boots — carried a sign that read “Wake Up, Austin!” How long had she been awake? “Only a few weeks,” she told me. “I woke up after I heard about the protests on Wall Street. I had given up on my generation because they seemed to me to be lazy, selfish, and didn’t care about the larger world. I thought ‘nothing will ever change,’ and I felt so small and insignificant. Now, there’s a sense of hope, a feeling that things might begin to become unstuck and move again.” Her comments sounded familiar. I had heard them — or at least words very similar to them — 50 years earlier at the start of the 1960s, when the United States was wrapped up in the Cold War and just about everything — except for the civil rights movement — felt frozen and dead. America needed awakening then, too. Occupy Austin had some of the flavor of a 1960s protest, though most of the signs had little or nothing to do with 1960s issues such as war and racism. The signs and the slogans mostly talked about corporations, social and economic inequalities, and greed. “Not so fast you greedy bastards,” one large sign with bright red letters read. Moreover, many of the signs proclaimed, “We’re part of the 99%,” a figure that nearly everyone seemed to understood. Even the many police officers in the crowd understood the reference to the 1% of the population who own 99% of the wealth. African American City Manager Mark Ott, understood, as did police chief Art Acevedo, who praised the protestors for peacefully demonstrating. The fire chief, Rhoda Mae Kerr in a bright white uniform, asked everyone in the crowd to put out lit cigarettes. The Texas drought and the danger of fire were on her mind and on the minds of many others. Yes, the city showed its face at Occupy Austin. The local news media showed up, too, and the event made the front pages of the Austin American-Statesman in a story that lauded protesters and the police for good behavior. The old timers mostly kept to themselves and didn’t interact with the 20-something year olds, though there were conversations that crossed the generational divide. When Bob Cash, a former SDS member who now lobbies for fair trade, was asked for advice from a young protestor, he thought a moment and said, “Don’t trust anyone over the age of 30.” Katherine, an ex-New Yorker in her 60s who had just retired, said that Occupy Austin was her first ever demonstration. That didn’t seem plausible to me. “Really?,” I asked incredulously. She paused a moment, went down memory lane, and remembered that she had protested once before, in 1970. “I went out into the streets after the students were shot and killed at Kent State,” she said. “That was an outrage. Now I’m outraged at New York Mayor Bloomberg and all his money on the stock market.” After a few hours outside city hall the bongo drums seemed to grow louder and louder. I was ready to leave with Dreyer, Retherford, and my new found Austin friends and yes, comrades, too, if you’ll pardon the expression. We crossed the street. I looked back at the crowd. My eye caught one sign that read, “You are breaking my balls,” and another that said, “This is just the beginning.” That seemed about right. It was a beginning, and the protesters did feel a sense of hurt — deep down hurt that only real social change could alleviate. Jonah Raskin is a regular contributor to the Rag Blog and the author most recently of Marijuanaland: Dispatches from an American War. (High Times.) Type rest of the post here Source /	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1661
__label__wiki	0.627289	0.627289	A List Of Cages \| Book Review May 29, 2017 May 31, 2017 / Gabe “Hate ricochets, but kindness does too.” In A List of Cages by Robin Roe, a compelling story is told of a boy named Julian who lost his parents at an early age and was taken in by the family of a boy named Adam. Several years later, Adam a Senior and Julian a Junior, they meet again only for Adam to realize the true reasons of what has held Julian back his whole life- thoughts of his dead parents, his uncle (I’ll get to him later), his friends, feeling left out, feeling trapped. The two create an unbreakable bond of friendship, and thank goodness they did. As Adam becomes suspicious of Julian’s home life, he begins piecing together information. And when one tragic event occurs after another, Adam is able to save Julian in several ways through this bond, as difficult as times might be. A List of Cages is the type of novel that centers around a generic lesson (friendship) but then turns it into so much more. DISCLAIMER: My book reviews encompass the entire book, therefore the contents that follow will likely spoil major parts of the story. If you are interested in purchasing the book, please do so before reading further. To read more of this post, please click Continue Reading. First off, before I get into the actual plot of the story, I want to discuss how talented Robin is: her quotes, her phrasing, it was phenomenal. Just the quote above sends such a powerful message, and fully adds to the theme of the story. Or, how she set up the book itself: telling the story in two perspectives, and how this makes the reader feel the emotions of the story, while remaining on the edge of our seat near the end of the book. As the reader begins to learn about both Adam and Julian’s backstory, I honestly felt like I was part of the story. Their friendship needed to be formed, or else I could only image what would have happened with Julian’s life. He appeared at just the right moment. I found it very interesting that Adam and Julian had previously crossed paths before meeting at High School, but maybe it was meant to be. The character of Julian reminds me a bit of Harry Potter in the later books in that you felt that the character had gone through so much, and they just needed a reprieve. I was mad at how Julian was being treated. And that, of course, leads me to a very important character: Russell. For the most part, he played a very mysterious role in the story: he whipped (I think) Julian whenever he was home, though he wasn’t home much at all, and he left Julian on his own. He would leave a $20 bill in return for his torture, and Julian would consistently miss school as a result of Russell, whom Julian was too scared to talk about. I don’t know about you, but Russell as a character is pretty bothering. For a time, that seemed like everything that would come of Russel, until the end. The last few pages of the book left me wrapping my head around so many things. I was left in a state of, well, “What??”. I had to go back and reread several times. As it turned out, Russell recorded his torture sessions with Julian. What?? As it turned out, after escaping from sealing Julian inside of a trunk (a What?? in itself), he returned with a gun and would attempt to kill Adam if only to retrieve Julian, for what purpose? What?? He locked Julian in a trunk… What??? He ended up being killed by his own weapon? What?? He locked Julian in a trunk!! WHAT??? (I know I repeated myself there: it was on purpose) The strange thing is, the reader never got a chance to understand Russell, unlike other characters like Charlie who would redeem themselves out of kindness. I thought that, when Russell returned, he would make things up. But, nope. Adam describes Russell as being “full of hate, up until his last breath”. And then, dead. There is know closure to Russell as a character (if you know what I mean), and the reader never really understands why Russell was so cruel. My gosh, though, how important was that bond between Adam and Julian. I keep going back to, what would have happened if the two hadn’t met? Well, several things would have. First, Julian would continue to be tortured and have no voice, trapped by his own list of cages. Second, he’d be plain out dead, thanks to his trunk. The value of that friendship was truly shown the night that Adam found Julian in his trunk, after Julian was mysteriously withdrawn from school and trapped IN A TRUNK. Who does this? Julian essentially passed out from starvation and lack of oxygen, and Adam rushed Julian to the hospital. The countless nights that he spent, deprived of sleep, sitting outside of Julian’s hospital room, truly shows how important Julian was to Adam, and why Adam was so important to Julian, in numerous ways. Thank goodness, in the end, Julian got to live with Adam and his family, yet they still felt distant, almost uncomfortable. What would have happened had Adam and Julian not met?? And what about Adam’s friends as well? I’ll treat it as a miracle that Adam and Julian met. Coming from two separate families, further disconnected by the death of both of Julian’s parents. And Adam, the popular kid at school, was probably the least likely to befriend Julian. But as it turns out, maybe skipping class to sit around in the Guidance office has one benefit. (Read A List of Cages to understand) I loved how supportive characters like Emerald were to Julian; they were more than happy to let him join their group, and spent nights with Adam in the hospital. Emerald and Adam were in a relationship, though it seemed like Julian broke them apart. I didn’t expect them to, but in the end, they got back together. Got to have a happy ending, I guess. As is true in real life, because of his difficulties, Julian was isolated, and often resorted to a secret hiding space above the school’s auditorium. He was bullied about receiving a part in the School Play. But as Adam came along, the lessons about the value of friendship ring clear, among other things that should be taken into consideration in today’s society. To finish off, I loved how, despite Julian’s differences, Robin gave Julian unique qualities and unique special moments of his life that would help give Julian some hope, such as how he would count stars at night with his father. They made Julian more real, though it also added sadness to the story as Julian recollects and refuses to do things in relation to the death of his parents. (Again, you’ll have to read the story to understand what I mean). A List of Cages was a rollercoaster of events that quickly and completely changed the course of each character in the story. I’m not good (at all) at putting feelings into words, but the story gave the reader a sense of humanity. A List of Cages gave me a perspective on life that I hadn’t considered, and left me breathless as I took in Robin Roe’s astounding writing. I’m confident that many others would enjoy A List of Cages as much as I did. ← June Calendar of Posts Cross-Country Trip Announcement →	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1666
__label__cc	0.611365	0.388635	The Academy will allow films to be screened at drive-ins to qualify for 2021 Oscars With many movie theaters still closed due to COVID-19, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced it will allow drive-in screenings to help films qualify for the 2021 Oscars. The Oscars Set New 'Representation and Inclusion' Standards for Best Picture Nominees The Oscars have set new standards in order for future films to be nominated for Best Picture. Read more about the new inclusion requirements on RADIO.COM. The Academy Unveils New Inclusion Standards and Will Feature 10 Best Picture Oscar Nominees The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are implementing some new changes for the Oscars. On Friday, they unveiled plans for the latest equity and inclusion initiative called Academy Aperture 2025. Read more now. Oscars Will Consider Streamed Films That Haven’t Played in Theaters Due to Coronavirus The Oscars are changing the rules in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Typically, a film needs to have a seven-day theatrical run in a commercial movie theater in Los Angeles for it to be eligible for Academy Awards consideration. Relive Tim McGraw Performing At the 2015 Oscars The OSCARS are this weekend and we are taking you back to watch one of our favorite performances from the past years. Performing a moving tribute to Glen Campbell, Tim McGraw took the stage in 2015 to sing the Oscar-nominated theme song, “I’m Not Gonna Miss You.”Campbell, now in the late stages of...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1668
__label__wiki	0.747299	0.747299	Netherland Tavern By Abandoned On September 25, 2020 Commercial / Virginia The Netherland Tavern, where General Wade Hampton had his headquarters and compound and the site of a Civil War battle, is located in Virginia. In 1822, Suckey Dunn sold 60 acres of land to John Wood, Jr. who either renovated an existing building into a tavern or constructed a tavern on the site. 1 Josiah C. Sanner purchased the property in 1824 and operated the business as “Sanner’s Tavern.” In 1830, land and tavern were conveyed to his wife’s father, James Porter, and to her brother, James D. Porter. The property was deeded back to Sanner in 1835 who then sold it to Leonard Neff. Neff, who acquired the nearby Netherland House, ran the self-titled “Neff’s Tavern” until his death in 1839. 1 His widow, Pauline Neff, sold both the Neff’s Tavern and the Netherland House to Richard F. Omohundro who rented the Houe and tavern to William A. Netherland. Netherland acquired the properties outright in 1862 and operated the “Netherland Tavern” for many years, serving travelers along the Fredericksburg Stage Road, the nearby Louisa Court House Road, and passengers along the Virginia Central Railroad. 1 2 The Tavern became the scene of action before and after the Battle of Trevilians during the Civil War in June 1864. 1 2 5 Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant ordered Maj. Gen. Phillip Sheridan to lead two cavalry divisions west from Cold Harbor in Hanover County to destroy the Virginia Central Railroad track and unite his force with Maj. Gen. David Hunter’s infantry at Charlottesville. 2 3 5 Upon learning of the departure of Sheridan on June 7, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee dispatched divisions with Maj. Gens. Wade Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee in pursuit. Hampton, commanding the expedition, made the tavern his headquarters on June 10 and spent the night sleeping on a carpenter’s bench outside the front door. 2 Sheridan, to the north, reached Clayton’s Store the same night; both were separated only by a few miles. The Battle of Trevilian Station was fought on June 11 and 12 which became the bloodiest and largest all-cavalry battle of the war. 3 5 Unfortunately for the Union, Hampton’s cavalry beat Sheridan to the Virginia Central Railroad on June 11 and the two opposing sides fought to a standstill. Brig. Gen. George Custer entered the rear flanks of the Confederates and captured Hampton’s supply train, but soon became surrounded and had to escape. On June 12, the cavalry forces clashed again northwest of Trevilian Station. Although Union Brig. Gen. Alfred Torbert was able to lay his troops into the Confederacy seven times, they were repulsed with heavy losses and ultimately Sheridan withdrew his force to rejoin Grant’s army. Overall, the battle was a tactical victory for the Confederacy, and Sheridan failed to achieve his goal of destroying the railroad or meeting up with Hunter’s infantry. 3 It also distracted the troops that led to Grant’s successful crossing of the James River. The original Netherland Tavern was torn down in 1950. 2 4 A re-creation, built and furnished by Russell B. Anderson, was built in the 1970s and used as a museum filled with personal artifacts and antiques. 4 “Netherland Tavern Historic Site.” Netherland Tavern, 2020. “Tavern War History.” Netherland Tavern, 2020. “Trevilians Battlefield.” Netherland Tavern, 2020. Salisbury, Linda. “Showcasing treasures from the Civil War.” Louisa Life, May-June 2012. “Netherland Tavern.” Historical Marker Project, 2020.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1671
__label__wiki	0.895274	0.895274	Dubai: The first coronavirus case was reported in the UAE on January 29, 2020. Today, just 11 months later, residents can choose from COVID-19 vaccines. There is a sense of renewed hope and confidence as we celebrate the new year, thanks to the authorities who have faced an unprecedented crisis with a firm hand and will. tech news dubai GO TO INTERACTIVE: AN INTERRUPTED WORLD: a look back at the 12 months in which the coronavirus threatened us and claimed at least 1.8 million lives Since the early introduction of the national sterilization program in March, the authorities, under centralized command, have continued to add new precautionary measures, while establishing the necessary infrastructure for testing, quarantine, isolation and treatment of confirmed cases. As flights continued to be suspended and retailers worked under restrictions, the UAE remained one of the few countries in the world that could boast food safety to cope with any eventuality. Even at the height of the pandemic, the Emirates did not see a fight for food in supermarkets, as there was enough and more for everyone. So much so that the generous government continued to live up to its reputation and regularly sent aid to other affected countries. “The UAE is engaged in the global fight against COVID-19. We are delighted to support this process and welcome partnerships between UAE organizations and international players to enable promising solutions and progress. ” – Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention of the United Arab Emirates Anticipating the increase in cases long before they occurred, health authorities were quick to prepare for any requirements. Field hospitals with enormous capacities appeared in rapid succession in the Emirates; Anyone with symptoms could go to any hospital emergency for testing, even when transit facilities have been opened. The extensive swab testing network across the country helped detect cases quickly. Big steps The introduction of the ALHOSN application in the UAE allowed for contact tracing and entire blocks of people who were in contact with a positive patient could be quarantined in time. Tests have increased to such an extent that the UAE quickly ranked in the top five countries in the world for COVID-19 testing per capita. Advances on the vaccine front have also made headlines internationally. In July, the United Arab Emirates started phase III trials of the Sinopharm inactivated vaccine developed by Chinese experts. In October, the UAE also announced that it would host phase III trials for an adenovirus-based vaccine developed in Russia. At the time, Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, UAE Minister of Health and Prevention, said: “The UAE is engaged in the global fight against COVID-19. We are delighted to support this process and welcome partnerships between UAE organizations and international players to enable promising solutions and progress. ” A leader from the front, Abu Dhabi has also made headlines internationally by becoming the global logistics hub to facilitate the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine around the world. Etihad Cargo, a member of the Hope Consortium created for this purpose, shipped 5 million vaccines in November on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Department of Health. In Dubai, the Supreme Committee on Crisis and Disaster Management announced last week a free mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19 with Pfizer vaccine. The first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrived from Brussels on an Emirates SkyCargo flight.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1672
__label__cc	0.506084	0.493916	Virginia should legalize marijuana. Read our op-ed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on the urgent need to center racial justice in marijuana legalization. ACLU of Virginia Opportunities to Work with Us Northern Virginia Chapter Criminal Legal Reform Free Speech and Religious Liberty Gender & Sex Discrimination All Blog Posts and Op-Eds This is America. Virginia should legalize marijuana Giving Tuesday is about our collective power. Living with COVID-19 Behind Bars Mobile Justice Advocacy Toolkits 10 Tips for Becoming an Effective Advocate Advocacy during a Pandemic Voting during a Pandemic EXCLUSIVE: VDOC Data on Prison Release Join by Mail Make a Tax-Deductible Gift Ways to Support the ACLU-VA The art and science of activism depend on each other. Without one, the other collapses. July 24, 2018 - 10:15am The views expressed here are the writer’s and not necessarily those of the ACLU of Virginia. By Henry Haggard, a 13-year-old activist and freelance writer The last workshop at the American Civil Liberties Union National Membership Conference was coming to a close. After hearing Harvard public policy professor Marshall Ganz speak about leadership, organizing, and the ACLU, I had only one question. I nervously walked to the microphone stand, reviewing my note one last time. After waiting a few minutes or so for the others to ask their questions, I asked: “What is your take on the arts and philosophies versus the sciences and data of activism?” Looking back, I can see that everything I have done politically inside and outside of the conference could be brought back to that single distinction. Almost a year ago, I was tired of sitting around, uselessly arguing on the Internet, waiting for something to happen, so I organized three ACLU of Virginia fundraisers and started a People Power campaign in my city, gaining almost three thousand dollars, and attention from the statewide ACLU staff. Just a few weeks ago, I was granted three VIP passes to the national ACLU conference in Washington, D.C. Last month, my family and I checked in and began our three-day journey, starting with initial training workshops. I attended “Turn Up the Volume by Building a Local Activism Machine,” where Pete Hackeman, Jessica Ayoub, and Nicholas Pressley discussed why and how we recruit volunteers. For the most part, like all “whys,” this class was philosophical and artistic, but much of the “how” used activist-related science. Most of this workshop had the general theme of more is done with more people. “What we can do as an individual is not enough, but what we can do as a group, as a team, as a movement is something else,” Hackeman said. This idea lives comfortably in the center of the Venn diagram between political arts and sciences: the numerical advantage being the science, and the teamwork philosophy being the art. Out of the speeches and discussions that followed, many focused on the science, or the “what” of politics. Some of the “whats” included D.C. congressional representation, redefining the criminal justice system, Puerto Rican statehood, fair waitstaff minimum wages, rescinding voter disenfranchisement, enforcing a stricter rule of law, and maintaining the free press. All of these would be useless in mobilization or campaign without the “why,” and vice versa. The science cannot exist without the art to defend it, and the art without the science has no legs to stand on. The arts that stuck with me most were primarily from author and civil rights lawyer, Bryan Stevenson. The most important of those arts was about proximity to the people you serve or disagree with. “It is in proximity,” he said, “that we begin to understand the world.” With more arts, he rightly noted, the world dramatically benefits when we fix the broken rather than destroy them. He continued to speak about changing narratives, having hopefulness, and understanding the necessity of discomfort. Later that night, I witnessed a live Fake the Nation podcast, where the members discussed serious “what” topics, such as Puerto Rico, Israel-Palestine, and artificial wellness, and added the art of humor to create an equilibrium. This equilibrium, while noticed in many other sections, stood out the most in this. Imagine how little ground this podcast would make if it dully attempted to convince people to fight for the rights of Puerto Ricans. But with the science and the art, with this perfect activist equilibrium, their advocacy has taken off. In between the workshops, plenaries, and meals, the leadership lounge was open for any other chosen attendees to participate. A casual leadership and criminal justice discussion by Bill Cobb led to some exciting mixes of the arts and science. “There’s a king and a fool in everyone; whoever you talk to will reply.” Cobb used this example of the arts to better explain the sciences of mass incarceration. If you invest in schools, you will get scholars, and if you invest in prisons, you will get prisoners. More arts and sciences came from first transgender Virginia Delegate Danica Roem, in the workshop “Advocacy Secrets from Inside the Capitol.” I entered somewhat late due to the leadership lounge, but I experienced enough to know that the “how,” which consists of both science and art, was the general priority of this meeting. The art of this workshop was the philosophy: the less powerful an official is, the more likely they are to listen to you. Power, in this case, doesn’t necessarily mean wealth or government level, but how many people speak to you about issues they care about. The sheriff, although he controls more jurisdiction, is spoken to less than a delegate or board member. And even though I did not learn it at this conference, the philosophy “think globally, act locally” came to mind. Both of these philosophies, while carrying out or just in general, must have science to work. A more idealistic thought came into play when Roem began speaking about student forums. Amidst a round of applause, she proclaimed, “You’re never too young to learn, and never too young to teach!” Somewhere in my insufficient free time, I managed to make it to an Action Center’s People Power leaders’ discussion. I created the People Power Facebook account for Richmond a long time ago, and it hasn’t gained much traction. This discussion though was of philosophy and data. The philosophical art was focused on getting others involved in your cause through motivation, along with the science of the call team, text team, and translation team. I know first hand that the call team, just like all activism, is useless without the art of the grassroots volunteers, and equally meaningless without the miles and miles of a data-filled spreadsheet. Back at the last workshop, waiting to hear from Marshall Ganz, I thought about going back to my seat. That’s when Ganz told me that I’d asked a fantastic question and that he would answer it first when going through his list. I could say that the other people in the room, especially my parents, were equally astounded. He spoke about the head and the heart, how they depend on each other, without one, the other collapses. Then he gave us all a philosophy that is the basis of this article, and will be the basis of all my future activism: “It takes the head and the heart to move the hands.” ACLU of Virginia Represents Student Suspended from Deep Run High... No one should be harassed on public streets by police just because... Virginia Student Power Network, et al. v City of Richmond, et al. ACLU-VA's Statement on Decision to Enforce Regulations at the... ACLU-VA Sent Letter to Capitol Police about Banning Guns at... Devin Nunes v. Twitter, Inc. et al (Amicus) ACLU Urges Court to Keep ‘Devin Nunes’ cow’ Twitter Account... Judge Dismissed Defamation Lawsuit Against University of Virginia... Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Candy: Some Virginia Cities Are... Search acluva.org © 2021 ACLU of Virginia	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1673
__label__cc	0.704559	0.295441	Out On The Couch Caring for LGBTQ+ Caregivers of Older Adults Posted: 11-13-19 \| Teresa Theophano Teresa Theophano, LCSW LGBTQ+ caregivers of older adults (generally people age 60+) are a special population in need of support and affirmative care. These family members and friends provide unpaid physical and/or emotional assistance to spouses and partners, parents, friends–some of whom were former partners–siblings, and neighbors. While temporary caregiving for others, when one is recovering from surgery, injury, or illness, can take place at any stage of life and is challenging in many ways, caregiving for older adults can last for many years. This article will explore the issues that some LGBTQ+ caregivers experience in the course of caring for elders. I have had the privilege, during my years of practice in the field of aging, of facilitating support groups for caregivers seeking out assistance. The members of my groups have openly shared their innermost thoughts and feelings about giving care with me and with each other. They have expressed feeling that there is no end in sight as more and more of their time and energy becomes consumed with caring for a loved one who will never get better–only worse. Some members have participated in these groups for years on end as they witness the gradual decline of their care recipients due to dementia, medical frailty, cancer, or Parkinson’s disease. All of these caregivers find that their friends and acquaintances just don’t understand what they are going through and the toll that giving care takes on them. They have relied on each other, and on a trained social worker who holds space in the group setting, to help them navigate the increasingly challenging situations they encounter. When providers become more well-versed in understanding experiences of unpaid caregiving in LGBTQ+ communities, people like these can get better care and more support outside of a group setting. So here are a few things to bear in mind about these generous, caring, and often severely stressed-out individuals. First, it is common for queer and trans people who are not related by blood or marriage to care for each other. In fact, former romantic partners will sometimes become caregivers. Mainstream service providers may not be accustomed to this, and community members have reported encountering a lack of understanding about why an ex-partner would remain closely connected. But the formation of familial relationships among our loving LGBTQ+ communities is commonplace; a number of my LGBT older adult clients have considered their exes to be family members. It is important that providers include anyone an older adult has designated as a caregiver in health care decision making processes–and also that providers recognize the significant strain such caregivers may experience. That strain can manifest in a number of different ways and lead to negative social and health outcomes. Providing physical, emotional, and financial support for a loved one while putting one’s own needs on the back burner time and again leads to exhaustion and isolation. And LGBTQ+ caregivers face risk factors beyond those commonly experienced by non-LGBTQ+ caregivers. For instance, LGBTQ+ adults who are childless are often expected to take on all of the responsibility of caring for aging cisgender and heterosexual parents. But they may also have faced a historic lack of acceptance, potentially entailing verbal and/or physical abuse, from those parents. And same-sex partners and spouses may still face significant discrimination in the medical, senior services, and institutional settings in which their loved ones receive care. Without adequate support and without anyone to help share the care, caregivers risk burning out. While LGBTQ+-specific groups can be difficult to find outside of SAGE: Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders’ NYC headquarters, caregiver support programs are available in every state. The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), a federal initiative, provides grants to fund not only support groups but case management and some respite and supplemental services. This means that local resources–from assistance with information, benefits and entitlements, and referrals to limited financial help paying for home care and medical supplies–are available to all unpaid caregivers. Further, an important piece of legislation affecting caregivers has been enacted in roughly 40 states so far. The CARE (Caregiver Advice, Record, and Enable) Act, known by a different name in some states, requires hospitals to ask patients, at the time of their admission, if they would like to designate someone as their caregiver. Whatever the relationship of the caregiver to the patient, the hospital must then record the caregiver’s name in the medical record, notify the caregiver of patient discharge, and provide training for performing medical tasks once the patient is home. This is an important legal consideration for LGBTQ+ caregivers without a formal or documented relationship to their care recipients. For further reading on this topic, check out the selection of caregivers’ resources at the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging. Stewart, D. B., & Kent, A. (2017). Caregiving in the LGBT Community: A Guide to Engaging and Supporting LGBT Caregivers through Programming. Retrieved September 29, 2019, from https://www.lgbtagingcenter.org/resources/resource.cfm?r=883. Teresa Theophano is a New York City-based licensed clinical social worker and freelance writer/editor. She has worked with LGBTQ+ communities at myriad organizations including SAGE: LGBT Advocacy & Services for LGBT Elders, Rainbow Heights Club, and Queers for Economic Justice, and she co-founded the NYC Queer Mental Health Initiative, a peer-based support program, in 2014. Teresa currently works in behavioral health with older adults, and she has a particular interest in exploring perspectives on mental health from providers who identify as peers, i.e. individuals with lived experience. Her writing has appeared in numerous anthologies and online, and with Stephanie Schroeder, she is co-editor of Headcase: LGBTQ Writers and Artists on Mental Health and Wellness (Oxford University Press, 2019). http://headcaseanthology.com	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1678
__label__wiki	0.606524	0.606524	upbeat christian songs for youth christian songs for youth, songs for youth, upbeat christian songs for youth upbeat Christian songs for youth and the electronic dance music industry has its music festival; it is an excellent resource for information, music, videos, and live event reviews. Their Viral Music Tracks tab on their homepage is also an easy way to find some current favorites EDM songs to groove to it. It mainly focuses on new music and existing acts of the new era of the music beats. The Electronic Dance Music or Christian EDM artists are a multi-genre music discovery that combinations various music genres. It helps find many music listeners away from ‘bad repetitive music’ towards more creative indie music goodness. Besides it, the catchy rhythms sound makes it both incredibly danceable and fun to listen to it. Therefore, it’s a great music style to pick up, especially if you want to stay active in the party scene. 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The electronic Dance Music genre includes the rhythms of the music and basic chord progressions. The next step is to find an excellent digital audio workstation that can give you the best synthesizer and drum tracks sounds. Christian songs, songs, Upbeat Christian Songs, upbeat christian songs for youth upbeat Christian songs for youth covers the latest and greatest in electronic music, both on the news and in the new music industries. The electronic dance music industry has its music festival; it is an excellent resource for information, music, videos, and live event reviews. It is known for highlighting contemporary artists that haven’t entirely broken through to the scene yet. Their Viral Tracks tab on their homepage is also an easy way to find some current favorites to groove. It mainly focuses on new music and existing acts of the new era of the EDM genre. The new Electronic dance music creates a new playlist from new combinations of sub-genre music discoveries. It focuses on updates of genuine music EDM rhythm artists across all the EDM genre artists whose music truly deserves to be shared globally. Electronic Dance Music is enjoyable, relaxing, and exciting for the audience, partygoers, DJs, and musical artists. Electronic dance music is a great music style to learn, listen to, and especially if you want to stay active in the party and move on to this music genre’s rhythm. The catchy rhythms and complimenting sounds make it both incredibly danceable and fun to listen to and be thankful for the past. These electromechanical instruments are loud enough to hear with a speaker cabinet and an instrument amplifier. Pure electronic devices don’t have mechanical elements like hammers, vibrating strings, or other sound-producing mechanisms. The electronic sounds can produce by a computer, therein, and synthesizer. Most individuals think of guitar, piano, drum, and violin when it comes to musical instruments. As upbeat Christian songs for youth rebranded term suggested, it involves electronic music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, and circuitry-based music technology. There is a distinction between the sound produced by electronics and (electroacoustic music). The songs are generally a piece of music. Most individuals think of guitar, piano, drum, and violin when it comes to musical instruments. As EDM’s rebranded term suggested, it involves electronic music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, and circuitry-based music technology. There is a distinction between the sound produced by electronics and (electroacoustic music). The songs are generally a piece of music. At that time, the acceptance of dance culture was not universal in the United States. However, both electronic dance and Christian dance music were widespread in Europe and the United States. There was also a perceived association between Electronic dance music and upbeat Christian songs for youth, despite its attempt to create a Specific Electronic dance music brand. EDM remains an umbrella term for different genres such as dance-pop, techno, house, dubstep, trance, and their respective subgenres. Similar to electronic dance music, Christian Electronic Dance Music (CEDM). Which is also known as Electronic Christian Music, EDM Christian Music, Christian Dance Music, Christian EDM, and CDM, is a genre of Christian music and electronic dance music. Lyrics to speak of in EDM, which makes worshiping difficult as songs to worship God directly. The potential for the popularity of subgenres like Techno, Trance, and House in upbeat Christian songs for youth.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1679
__label__cc	0.726063	0.273937	Alex on Film Film Commentary by Alex Good ABCs of Death 2 (2014) . OK, let’s cut to the chase. You watch horror movies because you want to see people die. Or really, you want to see people being killed. In interesting ways. You want them to be “good kills.” . So we’ll get rid of all the other stuff. You end up with something like the Final Destination franchise. Lots of good kills there, and not much else. But you want more. . What you then get is The ABCs of Death, a series of which this is the second instalment (you can read my notes on the first, which I liked a lot more than this one, here). The ABCs are the twenty-first century version of the classic portmanteau or anthology horror movies put out in the ’70s by studios like Amicus, and later imitated by films like Creepshow. Except those movies only told a handful of stories. Too much time was wasted on talk and character development! In the ABCs you’d get an alphabet (that’s 26) vignettes based on various horrible ways to die, showcasing the work of an international collection of new directors. . Because the stories are so short, some of them only a couple of minutes, the effect is less like the classic horror anthologies and more like one of those traveling film festivals featuring the best (or dirtiest) commercials or animated shorts. Without any coherent narrative to focus on, one’s attention is free to wander among the hits and misses. We’re not looking for anything deep or moving but only shocks and laughs, shits and giggles. . Another problem with the films being so short is that it is often very hard to understand what is going on. This is something you’ll find I complain about a lot in my notes on the individual chapters, which I’ll now run through quickly: . A is for Amateur: sort of clever, but not as much as it would like or needs to be. It’s just a quick essay in irony. . B is for Badger: done as all one cut, but it’s a pretty standard shaky-cam parody. Nothing new here at all. . C is for Capital Punishment: more irony. The difficult decapitation is authentically rendered but that’s the only thing to recommend it (if that’s your thing). . D is for Deloused: perhaps the most original looking piece, done with stop-motion puppetry that manages to still be quite disgusting. I’m not sure what the point of it all was, but it works as a kind of “Kafka goes to hell” short. Assuming “Kafka goes to hell” isn’t redundant. . E is for Equilibrium: made me think I was watching a beer commercial. Then at the end it’s revealed that it is a beer commercial. Really weak. . F is for Falling: you’d think a story about a Palestinian confronting an Israeli soldier stuck in a tree would have more bite. Or maybe you wouldn’t. I guess it’s supposed to be a parable about the tragic consequences of misunderstandings, but I found all the attention given to the woman’s cleavage to be distracting and a bit ridiculous. . G is for Grandad: I’m not sure what they were going after here, but whatever it was I don’t think they got it. . H is for Head Games: animated battle of the sexes. Very short and unsurprising. . I is for Invincible: again, the short format works against communicating a full sense of what’s going on. As with the “G is for Grandad” episode there seems to be some point being made about generational conflict, with old people presented as both weird and wicked. Beyond that I didn’t come away with much. . J is for Jesus: another political parable, this time using the conventions of torture porn to deliver a message about tolerance and its enemies. Crude and unedifying. . K is for Knell: directed by Kristina Buozyte and Bruno Samper. I’m giving their names because this is one of the few films that really made an impression. I didn’t much care for where it went, but the intro, with the dark sun revolving in the sky and the faces in the apartment building all staring out at the protagonist, was very creepy. . L is for Legacy: seems like a pretty simple monster vignette, with some terrible effects. I can’t say I understood what was going on. . M is for Masticate: well, I enjoyed it, but again I felt like I was watching a commercial for something. The punchline at the end at least gave a sense of an ending. . N is for Nexus: just an exercise in style, but a pretty accomplished bit of hyperkinetic storytelling. Death by a million cuts. . O is for Ochlocracy: the zombies have taken over and now we have “mob rule” (ochlocracy) by the dead. Interesting idea, but that’s all. . P is for P-P-P-P Scary!: I’ve seen many different rankings of the different stories, and this instalment almost always comes in dead last. I can’t disagree with that assessment. It’s terrible, and goes on (or at least seems to go on) far too long. . Q is for Questionnaire: just a gruesome joke, but it works. Also a witty PSA about being suckered into taking those streetside intelligence tests. A better slam against Scientology than the “J is for Jesus” episode was against fundamentalism, just for being wittier. . R is for Roulette: works well enough, but it’s kind of hard to go wrong with a game of Russian Roulette. And I’m not sure if this is how the game works when there’s only one chamber left to play and you know it has the bullet in it. Isn’t the game over then? The ending is pointlessly enigmatic. . S is for Split: a stunt. The story is told in split screens. It’s done well enough (the timing seems off to me in several places), but in the end . . . it’s just a stunt. And seeing as De Palma was doing this stuff better forty years ago, it’s certainly not breaking any new ground. Another gag ending. . T is for Torture Porn: meh. Shades of Cronenberg. Or maybe Species. I guess it’s meant as a kind of feminist fantasy, but I didn’t think it was anything new or interesting. . U is for Utopia: standard satire of the brave new world of conformity and consumerism. Nothing to see here, move along. . V is for Vacation: nasty but effective revisiting of the shaky cam, tourist-terror tropes. Directed by Jerome Sable. . W is for Wish: clever idea, nicely realized. Takes a dig at violent children’s toys and the fantasies they embody. Be careful what you wish for. . X is for Xylophone: heartless and sickening, but that’s what you came for isn’t it? . Y is for Youth: a girl with low self-esteem has violent fantasies of taking revenge on her parents. Whacky in the usual Japanese way. . Z is for Zygote: a nightmare of codependency, and I’m not sure if it’s anything more. . If you sit through the end credits there’s a cameo appearance by Martin, the degenerate anti-hero of The Human Centipede II. He complains that the films don’t cut it as wank material. *. Final thoughts. I like the concept here, but the results are very disappointing. If these shorts are meant as a showcase of up-and-coming talent they offer little in the way of calling cards. If I were a film producer I don’t think there’s much here that would make me sit up and take enough notice to want to give any of the directors a chance to helm a feature. Outside of the animated films, there’s little that’s original or particularly creative going on. Instead we just get examples of how the directors can work more or less proficiently in already established horror idioms. The one possible exception I flagged was the work by Kristina Buozyte and Bruno Samper in “K is for Knell,” and even that only had a couple of moments. But then, moments are really all a movie like this has to offer. You have to enjoy them whenever you can. This entry was posted in 2010s on September 25, 2017 by Alex Good. ← Dead on Appraisal (2014) Zombies (2014) → Follow Alex on Film on WordPress.com Alex Good Alex on SF Good Reports	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1682
__label__wiki	0.69673	0.69673	All Reviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2014/2015 Where’d my 2015 summer go?!?! (“Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl” edition) Posted on October 13, 2015 by CK Dexter Haven Leave a comment I recently was told that it was now officially Autumn. Really??!! Summer couldn’t have passed by that quickly, could it have? The temperature yesterday was still the 90’s as it has been for much of the past few weeks, and the humidity is ridiculous by Southern California standards. But it’s true, Fall is here. There were signs: Football season has started. Heck, HOCKEY season has started. And most of all, from a classical music standpoint, the Hollywood Bowl season ended just as the Los Angeles Opera season started, followed quickly by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra kicking things off in Glendale and the Westside, and, last but not least, the Los Angeles Philharmonic returning to Walt Disney Concert Hall. Time flies when you’re having fun, and before we continue talking about the Fall seasons that have recently begun, let’s take a quick look back at the summer. I’ll admit, I wasn’t that excited about the way the LA Phil’s 2015 Bowl season looked on paper, but in hindsight, the concerts I attended were as consistently enjoyable as any in recent memory. Here’s a brief look back at my favorites: Favorite concert (August 4) Broughton/Schumann/Strauss: Stefan Dohr, Andrew Bain, Timothy Jones, Sarah Willis et al (horn); James Gaffigan, conductor The Hornucopia. The Hornapalooza. The Hollywood Bowl at its Horniest. Whatever you want to call it, it was truly awesome. The first of the two LA Phil concerts done in conjunction with the 2015 International Horn Symposium was one of those singular musical moments for which the Bowl is known. My guest that night, an experienced musician who has served as Principal Horn for various orchestras, said it was the best horn playing she’d heard in her life. And you didn’t have to be a horn expert or even a horn aficionado to come to a similar conclusion. It was a top-notch experience on all fronts: the mood was festive, the crowd was enthusiastic, and the music-making phenomenal. Start with the world premiere of Bruce Broughton‘s Fanfare for Horns, a work written for a quartet of horn quartets (that’s 16 total instruments, for those among you who are unfortunately math challenged). It featured the horn sections of the Los Angeles Philharmonic (with legendary Hollywood studio hornist James Thatcher playing guest first chair) and San Francisco Symphony, joined by the American Horn Quartet, Stefan de Leval Jezierski and Andrej Žust (both of the Berlin Philharmonic), Peter Luff (Queensland Symphony), and Jeff Nelsen (Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music). Mr. Broughton managed to craft a work that was appealing in both style and substance. He showed off the breadth of the horn’s timbral capability via the typical techniques and mutes used by modern players while eschewing more avant-garde methods. At the same time, he kept the sonic landscape translucent enough to allow individual quartets to be heard distinctly. The centerpiece of the evening was Schumann’s Konzertstück for orchestra and four solo horns. You’re unlikely to see it on any program, and you’re probably never going to see the solos played by such prominent hornists at the top of their collective game: Stefan Dohr, Berlin Philharmonic Principal Horn, played the 1st part; Andrew Bain, LA Phil Principal Horn, played 2nd; Timothy Jones, the London Symphony’s Principal Horn, was 3rd horn; and Sarah Willis, Berlin Philharmonic 4th horn, in final solo spot. Their playing was radiant, full of joy and gusto one moment, and warm and tender the next. They were clearly having fun and it showed in their sound and their demeanor. As an encore, they offered a four-horn arrangement of Consuelo Velasquez’s “Besame Mucho” to the delight of all. Mr. Bain returned to his usual place in the first chair of the LA Phil’s horn section after intermission where he was featured in two orchestral works by Richard Strauss, the Rosenkavalier Suite and Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks. His playing was as captivating and nuanced as ever, especially on Till Eulenspiegel. The orchestra, conducted by James Gaffigan and augmented in the Straus works by the horn quartet of the Berlin Philharmonic, was in excellent form. Mind you, Strauss is one of my least favorite composers and this concert still tops my list for the summer. If you didn’t go, you blew it. Favorite conductor (Aug 20) Bernstein/Bizet (arr. Shchedrin): Alexandra Soumm (violin); Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, conductor The soloist was solid if unheralded. The program — an exclusive party for strings & percussion sections only, featuring Bernstein’s Serenade and music from Bizet’s opera, Carmen, in Rodion Shchedrin’s orchestral arrangement — was not off-putting but not particularly compelling either. Yet the concert was engaging simply because Ms. Gražinytė-Tyla made it so. She conducts with attentiveness and snap, keeping a clear beat without ever devolving into a walking metronome, and using her eyes and face as much as her hands and arms to communicate her thoughts to the orchestra. Whatever she does, it works. The orchestra responds well, sounding as good for her as they do for much more heralded conductors. Moreover, her interpretations are full of interesting choices in the details while keeping in mind the big picture and the long line. Even her Star-Spangled Banner has improved much since last summer. On top of all of the technical skills, she has charisma. Her podium demeanor is brimming with confidence without ever seeming cocky. She has an infectious smile and attractive face that is tough to ignore on the Hollywood Bowl’s HD big screens. She even knows how to be a bit of ham: during the famous Toreador song, she motioned to the audience to sing along to the music; it wasn’t her fault that most of them didn’t see her because they were looking at the big screens which were focused on instrumentalists instead of the podium. Last summer, the LA Phil promoted her from Conducting Fellow to Assistant Conductor. This summer, they promoted her to Associate Conductor, which should keep her around these parts for at least another year, maybe two if we’re lucky; however, her upward trajectory will likely continue, and credible sources say that she’s gaining interest from orchestras all over the globe. Southern California classical music fans should catch her while they can still do it conveniently. Favorite soloist (July 21) Mendelssohn: Gil Shaham (violin), Bryce Dallas Howard (narrator), Deanna Breiwick (soprano), Jennifer Holloway (mezzo-soprano), women of the Los Angeles Master Chorale; Gustavo Dudamel, conductor The Violin Concerto of Felix Mendelssohn is truly great music, but it is overplayed to the point where I often take pains to avoid it. But it never sounds tired in the hands of Gil Shaham. Flashback to 1993 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. . . . The first time I saw him play the ubiquitous concerto, it wasn’t even a real concert but rather an open rehearsal with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, back when the orchestra still did such things. Esa-Pekka Salonen and crew were coming off a break after working in great detail on Ives’ Thanksgiving Day and excerpts from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliette. Mr. Shaham, then still a precocious 22-year old, walked somewhat sheepishly on stage to join them. He and the LA Phil waited for the their cue from the podium, and off they went, playing the work through from start to finish without being stopped by Mr. Salonen. When it was done, someone from the orchestra shouted a loud “Bravo!” and the rest of the players clapped their hands,shuffled their feet, and cheered in loud approval. Those of us in the audience ignored the warning we had been given by the house staff not to interrupt the work on stage with applause, and gave a standing ovation. Mr. Salonen had the orchestra and soloist take a bow, and then he let everyone go for the day — nothing more needed to be fixed or tweaked. Mr. Shaham made the melodies soar and the sizable technical hurdles seem nonexistent. He downplayed the work’s contemplative moments and preferred a no-nonsense take that still had its share of interpretive subtleties. It was as charming as it was damn impressive. Some folks may have preferred more lushness, but not me. It had such a strong impact on me that I still recall it as if it were last month instead of last century. Fast-forward to this summer: over 20 years later, much of his approach remains the same — after all, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? Yet as one would expect, there is even more depth to his interpretation now. In this performance, he was willing to embrace the concerto’s heart-on-the sleeve romanticism without needing to wallow in it. The virtuosity is still there in spades, but there is an even more organic sense to his phrasing. And he remains as adorable as ever. The orchestra gave him excellent support, and as they did two decades ago, cheered for him with the same enthusiasm as the audience did. Mr. Dudamel gives good Mendelssohn. He has consistently shown a great feel for the composer’s music, and it was evident again on this night’s second half with an energetic and nuanced interpretation of the incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A women’s choir, two vocal soloists, a featured narrator, and video projections put the score into the appropriate theatrical context. The LA Phil, women of the LA Master Chorale, and vocal soloists Deanna Breiwick (soprano) and Jennifer Holloway (mezzo-soprano) were uniformly excellent. The woodwind principals (flutist Cathy Karoly, oboist Ariana Ghez, clarinetist Burt Hara, and bassoonist Whitney Crockett) sounded particularly wonderful. Bryce Dallas Howard was in the difficult position of having to recite Shakespeare’s lines out of context while playing multiple characters; she seemed a little stiff at first, but seemed to settle down part-way through, doing a credible job in the end. Much less favorable were the imagery and video directed by Alberto Arvelo which were projected onto the Bowl’s shell and HD screen; they were superfluous at best, often distracting, and sometimes outright annoying. The favorite concert featuring the big screen: August 14 Bugs Bunny at the Symphony — 25th Anniversary: George Daugherty, conductor, et al First of all, let me say that this was not just my favorite concert that featured the Bowl’s massive HD screen, it also was my second overall favorite concert of the entire summer. I know what some of you are thinking . . . “This isn’t a ‘real’ concert. There was no big symphony being performed, no marquee soloist, and the orchestra is playing along with cartoons. Heck, the ballerina was a guy in drag, for goodness sakes. No way this counts.” Au contraire, mon frère. The concert was mainly played for laughs, that much is true, as is the fact that the big stars for the evening were with the world’s most famous wascally wabbit and his cartoon friends; but that doesn’t change the facts that the evening was all kinds of fun and the quality of music making was outstanding. The musicians of the LA Phil never fail to impress, playing capably and sounding excellent despite having to match their tempi and phrasing to whatever was on the screen. As for the dancing and the dancer? It’s the 21st century, so let’s just focus on the fact that prima ballerina Ida Nevasayneva was en pointe for most of the time. Underlying it all was the brilliance of Chuck Jones, Friz Freleng, Carl Stalling, Mel Blanc, and many others, in their ability to merge the silly and the sublime to create truly great art. One cannot underestimate the importance of classics like “What’s Opera, Doc?” (Wagner’s Ring cycle distilled down to 6 minutes) or “The Rabbit of Seville” (Rossini’s music — and a little of Mendelssohn’s too — as soundscape for the ongoing Elmer Fudd vs. Bugs Bunny feud). And you how do you not love that the Hollywood Bowl itself stars in many of the cartoons, including Tom & Jerry’s “The Hollywood Bowl” and my personal favorite, “Long Haired Hare” (featuring Bugs as a dead-ringer for Leopold Stokowski). Yes, I saw the live presentation of 2001: A Space Odyssey four days later. Yes, that concert/film combination was good. Yes, this one was better. Yuja Wang dazzles in Hollywood Bowl classical season opener with Bringuier, LA Phil Timothy Jones, Sarah Willis, Stefan Dohr, and Andrew Bain on stage at the Hollywood Bowl: courtesy of Sarah Willis’s Twitter feed Sarah Willis: photo by CK Dexter Haven Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla: courtesy of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Gil Shaham and Gustavo Dudamel: photo by Lawrence K. Ho, courtesy of his Twitter feed Tags: Andrew Bain, Bruce Broughton, Bugs Bunny, Gil Shaham, Gustavo Dudamel, Hollywood Bowl, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Sarah Willis, Stefan Dohr, Timothy Jones. Bookmark the permalink. 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__label__wiki	0.511514	0.511514	Welcome to Our Redesigned Site! We Learn. We Share. We Thrive. APS Site You can interact with this calendar in several ways! Switch between list, month, or day views by clicking on the legend at the top right. Click on a color-coded event category in the top center legend to focus on events of that type (click on it again to return to normal view). You can also click on an event to view details. LGBTQIA+ Community and Intersectionality January 6 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am « Anti-Racism Webinar 5 of 6 Trauma & Oppression » Lens of Intersectionality in Racial Equity Work New York State Office of Mental Health & New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Training/Webinar Welcome to Our Redesigned Site!, Powered by WordPress.com. Ivanna Bond Ivanna Bond is a mental health advocate and survivor with over 25 years’ in nonprofit business management experience. She is a graduate of the Howie the Harp peer training program at Community Access and is currently Assistant Program Director, Community Access, Crisis Respite Center. In the context of her Howie the Harp training she worked at the ACT Institute at the Center for Practice Innovation at the NY State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University, on a Scope of Practice Guideline for Peers on ACT Teams in NY State. Bond is also Chairperson of the NYC Peer Workforce Coalition, a professional association for peer workers (peer specialists and peer advocates). Sara Goodman Tanya Stevens Scott is originally from the Bronx, New York. He has over 20 years’ experience in the retail and management field. Scott enjoyed much success both professionally and personally. After both his career and personal life crashed in 2008, Scott experienced the worst times in his life. After considering ending his own life on multiple occasions and experiencing homelessness, Scott searched for assistance to restart his life. The second half of Scott’s journey has been filled with receiving both valuable assistance and education from individuals who tirelessly work in the mental health community. Scott was so impressed by these individuals he chose to “pay it forward” and has, for the last 11 years, worked in the mental health community to assist his fellow peers on their journey. Currently, Scott serves as the Lead Peer Specialist for the New York State Office of Mental Health at Bronx Psychiatric Center. Chacku Mathai Chacku Mathai is an Indian-American who became involved in consumer/survivor/ex-patient advocacy and peer support when he was 15 years old. Chacku’s personal experiences with racism, xenophobia, racialized trauma, suicide attempts, and disabling mental health and substance use conditions, including psychosis as a youth and young adult, launched Chacku and his family towards a number of efforts to advocate for improved services, social conditions, and alternative supports in the community. He has since accumulated over thirty-five years of experience in behavioral health systems in a wide variety of roles such as youth leadership and community organizing, executive and board management and behavioral health infrastructure development. Chacku is the Director for the SAMHSA Healthy Transitions Initiative with the Center for Practice Innovations and OnTrackNY, a Coordinated Specialty Care model for young people experiencing early psychosis in New York State. He volunteers his time in roles such as the President for Friends of Recovery – New York, a statewide coalition of people in recovery from addiction, as Vice-President for the National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy, and as co-founder of Healing through Hip Hop. He is a National Advisory Council member for the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health in Texas and the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems. Chacku serves on several advisory boards for key research initiatives at Boston, Columbia, Lesley and Rutgers universities. Chacku is also an appointed member of the New York State Integrated Block Grant Committee and the Governor’s Behavioral Health Services Advisory Council. Oscar Jimenez-Solomon Oscar Jiménez-Solomon is a mental health researcher and advocate who has dedicated his career to improving the financial wellness of people with psychiatric conditions through research, program development, training and technical assistance, and policy advocacy. Mr. Jiménez-Solomon’s commitment to helping others overcome unemployment and poverty stems from his personal experience of financial hardship and recovery. Mr. Jiménez-Solomon obtained a Master of Public Health at Columbia University and an undergraduate degree in Sociology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. He is currently pursuing studies leading to a Ph.D. in Social Policy at the Columbia University School of Social Work. Since 2013 he has served as Research Scientist at the Center of Excellence for Cultural Competence, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Oscar is the principal investigator of a grant from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to develop and pilot a peer-led intervention with the goal of building financial hope, improving financial wellness, and reducing distress and suicide risk. As part of his doctoral training he is conducting research at the Columbia University Center on Poverty and Social Policy to examine the impact of economic hardship on hope, life satisfaction and psychiatric distress. Mr. Jiménez-Solomon is Vice-Chair for the Board of the National Disability Institute (NDI), a national organization dedicated to improving the financial wellbeing of people with disabilities. He is also Instructor at the Rutgers University Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, where he teaches coursework for the peer support certificate. Oscar’s previous roles include Director of Community and Economic Development at the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS), Director of Quality Management at the Arc of New York State, and Consultant at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). He has authored or co-authored peer-reviewed articles, training manuals, and online training modules on economic empowerment, cultural competence, and language access. He has also authored book chapters, reports, empowerment videos and training manuals in mental and public health in the United States and Latin America. Ruth Colon-Wagner Ruth Colón-Wagner: Director of Training & Development (NYAPRS) has 30+ years experience in Child Welfare, Homeless Services, Employment, and Mental Health Care working with children, adults, and families. For the last 25 of those years Ruth has worked in a variety of leadership positions. Prior to joining NYAPRS, Ruth served as Director of Rehabilitation and Treatment of adult mental health services in the Hudson Valley region of New York. As Director of Training & Development, Ruth manages various initiatives which includes technical assistance to organizations (nationally) on organizational culture change; organizational capacity building and sustainability, board development, succession planning and strategic planning. Other specialties include Group Facilitation, Program Management and Compassion Fatigue. Ruth is a certified Dialectical Behavioral Therapist, a Functional Family Therapist and a Life-Skills Educator. Ruth received her MSW from Hunter College School of Social Work and is licensed as a social worker in NYS. Gina Calhoun Gina Calhoun is the Director of Doors to Wellbeing, a SAMHSA funded National Technical Assistance Center and a Program of the Copeland Center. She participated in public mental health services for 20 years and is now proud to be a Certified Peer Specialist and Mental Health Educator. When Gina is not promoting wellness and recovery, she enjoys adult gymnastics as well as spending time with her large dynamic family. Gina won the Timothy J. Coakley National Behavioral Health Leadership Award. This award honors peer and family leaders in the behavioral health field whose work is characterized by the highest degree of integrity and a passion for creative approaches for improving the lives of persons living with mental health challenges, especially in the public sector. Lori Ashcraft, MSW, MPA, PhD During her 40 year behavioral health career, Lori has had a strong interest in the therapeutic effects of self-determination, choice, and personal freedom. She did her dissertation on freedom, spending a month in Russia at the time the Soviet Union collapsed, and focused her inquiry in Soviet mental hospitals where the lack of freedom and choice was pervasive. After a full career in California that included the Deputy Director for Community Programs of state Department of Mental Health, she re-located to Arizona where she accepted the position as Director for Adult Services where her commitment to recovery principles became a passion. In 2007, Lori founded the Recovery Opportunity Center at Recovery Innovations. Early in 2015, Lori left Recovery Innovations creating a new company, Resilience, Inc. which his now part of Crestwood. Being part of Crestwood has allowed her to learn more about using recovery and resilience principles and practice them in the unique environment of Crestwood. Most exciting is desire of Crestwood to learn and grow as more is known about recovery. Lori’s vision for the future is to continue teaching recovery principles and practices, assuring people that they can recover. Celia Brown Celia Brown is a psychiatric survivor and a long-time advocate for people with psychiatric disabilities. Celia was one of the first Peer Specialist in New York. She was instrumental in developing and implementing the Peer Specialist Civil Service title for the NYS Office of Mental Health. She currently works in the position of Regional Advocacy Specialist for the Office of Consumer Affairs at the NYS Office of Mental Health. Celia provides technical assistance and support to people with psychiatric disabilities and their families. She facilitates trainings on peer support, wellness and recovery approaches in community mental health agencies.  Celia is a long-time leader in the peer movement. She is a certified peer specialist in New York State. Celia has presented nationally and internationally. Celia was the main representative to the United Nations for MindFreedom International and collaborated with other Disability organizations on the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Lynnae Brown, Lynnae Brown is the Director of Howie The Harp (HTH) Advocacy Center – a peer led employment training program for people in mental health recovery. Based in Harlem, New York City HTH has trained hundreds of individuals across the metropolitan area to offer supportive services using their lived experience along with peer support principles. Lynnae is a NYS Certified Peer Specialist and her work was featured in BRICTV’s #BHheard Mental Health Series in 2018. Maryam Husamudeen, BA, NYCPS, eCPR, ASIS, MHFA Maryam Husamudeen has been a Peer Bridger for NYAPRS since 2013 and the User Support Staff for APS since 2018. Her background work experience allows her to be highly skilled in the field of High Risk Populations. She is an Advocate and Consultant. She is very dedicated to servicing the community. Her objective is to enlighten service providers on the barriers to care of these populations and develop Quality Improvement Techniques to have a more efficient interaction. She is a seasoned nonprofit professional with over 30 years’ experience. She has earned her BA in Sociology. She is a NY State Certified Peer Specialist and newly trained in eCPR amongst other certifications. Yumi Ikuta, MBA Yumiko Ikuta is a consumer and the Director of the Office of Rehabilitation in the Bureau of Mental Health at the NYC Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene. Her office oversees over 80 non-clinical treatment and rehabilitation programs, including supported employment, education support services, clubhouses, psychosocial clubs, peer support, respite, self-help, advocacy and outreach, as well as peer specialist training programs. Her experience in peer specialist education is extensive as the former Deputy Director of Howie the Harp Peer Advocacy Center and the former Program Manager of the Academy of Peer Services. Yumiko also worked closely with the NYS Office of Mental Health to develop Medicaid billable Home and Community Based Services and its delivery system. She worked for over 15 years in the corporate sector and for the US Agency for International Development at the Dept. of State as an economic development officer in several developing countries. She also started and operated her own wholesale and retail fine jewelry business on Madison Avenue in NYC. Yumiko holds a BA in Economics and East Asian Studies and an MBA in Marketing and International Business both from Columbia University. Len Statham Len Statham is the Chief Operating Officer with the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services. He has worked with people with mental health and substance use issues for more than 25 years, promoting recovery focused services and service provision. Through SAMHSA’s BRSS TACS program, he has helped peer-run organizations from across the country increase their capacity to provide peer-run services in a value-based healthcare world. Additionally, Len also works with the National Development and Research Institutes Addiction Technology Transfer Center (NDRI-ATTC) and The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University offering training and technical assistance to organizations across the country providing employment services to people in mental health recovery. Critically, Len is a person with lived experience in the mental health system and this experience informs and strengthens his work on recovery and employment issues. Steve Miccio Steve Miccio is the CEO of People-USA located in Poughkeepsie, NY. People-USA is a peer operated advocacy and service organization serving people throughout New York State. Steve has used his personal experiences to help provide valuable insight in creating, leading and manage alternative peer operated crisis diversion/respite/stabilization services and has assisted in the creation of various complimentary peer services in NY and across the United States and Europe. Cheryle Hinds Leslie Cheryle Hinds Leslie is a State Certified Peer Specialist, an advocate for social justice and a voice for peers. Cheryle is from the Bronx. She was her mother’s right hand for countless projects. Cheryle is a member of the North Bronx National Council of Negro Women for 40 years working on countless services. Cheryle helped start the North Bronx NCNW Child Development Center. In the Peer Movement, Cheryle graduated from Howie The Harp, and has been a part of Community Access, Bronx Crisis Respite, and managing Baltic Street Bronx Peer Advocacy Center. She has fought for peers in Albany with NYAPRS, Coalition for Women Prisoners, and the Supported Housing Network of New York. Cheryle sits on the Mayors Community Service Board & Community Service Board Mental Health Sub Committee, in NYC. Cheryle is the Entitlements Coordinator for the Jewish Board Brooklyn Supported Housing and Treatment Apartment Programs. Denise Ranaghan, LMHC, CPRP, NYSCPS Denise Ranaghan shares a powerful personal recovery story that has driven her 20 year record of service in the mental health field. She received a Masters of Art and Education from Teachers College, CU and went on to hold multiple positions in the mental health system including Residential Manager, Peer Specialist, Rehabilitation Coordinator, Director of Wellness Services and Director of Assertive Community Treatment Team. While Director of Mental Health Association’s Wellness Program Denise initiated projects that collaborated with community organizations to bring mental health and substance use related issues into public discussions. She is a certified WRAP facilitator who has both helped to start and support alternative peer run self-help groups. While serving as the Director of Peer Services at the New York Association for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, Denise oversaw multiple projects that employed Peer Bridgers and trained providers on how to incorporate peer services into their organizations. She has presented on Peer Support, Trauma Informed Care, Voice Hearing, Cultural Diversity, Suicide, and the Human Canine Connection. She is the author of multiple essays on recovery as well as the book “Institutional-Eyes,” which profiles her experience in the military where she was first psychiatrically hospitalized. She is a writer and a pastel artist, currently living in New Paltz, NY with her partner and their five dogs and two cats. Carlton Whitmore Carlton Whitmore is the Director of New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene’s Office of Consumer Affairs. The Office of Consumer Affairs is responsible for assuring the voice of those with lived experience is heard and integrated into all levels of policy and planning. Carlton’s primary function in this role is to advocate on behalf of individuals and families who may not have access to resources needed to support their recovery. Liz Breier, MA, CPRP Liz Breier holds a Master of Arts in Health Advocacy from Sarah Lawrence College, is a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner from The Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, as well as a Certified Peer Specialist for the state of New York. Additionally, Liz is a Certified Health Coach and is a candidate for additional certification with The Institute For Functional Medicine. Liz has worked in the field of Behavioral Health in a variety of leadership and supervisory roles in the states of Florida, New Jersey, and New York. Since 2000 Liz has been actively involved in supporting individuals in creating and sustaining their personal vision of recovery as well as helping to create and shape a service system that is person centered, anti-racist, recovery focused and consistent with the principles of psychiatric rehabilitation. Additionally, Liz uses her personal lived experience as a part of her advocacy and work around individual self-determination and healing from trauma. Jonathan Edwards, PhD Jonathan P. Edwards consults nationally on peer support services implementation and supervision and plays an integral role in advancing peer workforce development. Jonathan wears many hats; recently earning a PhD from the Social Welfare program at CUNY Graduate Center and a Doctoral Fellow in the SAMHSA-funded Council on Social Work Education’s Minority Fellowship Program; as an adjunct professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College; as a licensed clinical social worker and member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers; as a program consultant, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use Prevention, Care, and Treatment; as a member of the National Association of Peer Supporters Board; as an executive member of the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board; a New York Certified Peer Specialist; and a person in long-term recovery. Gita Enders, LMSW, MA, CPRP Gita Enders currently holds the position of Director in the NYC Health + Hospitals / Office of Behavioral Health, where she oversees numerous health care delivery system activities and concerns impacting individuals who use mental health, substance use, and co-occurring treatment services. Gita has presented locally and nationally on programming and supervision. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker; she has a Master’s degree in English (Creative Writing), a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and is a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) and New York Certified Peer Specialist. She serves as supervisor to the Peer Advisor Program as part of the Public Psychiatry Fellowship of Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, and is also involved with the Community Access Howie the Harp Advocacy Center as a Peer Training Program instructor. Clinton Green, LMSW Clinton Green is a Senior Training and Implementation Specialist at The Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery. He collaborates with New York City behavioral health providers on enhancing access and quality of person-centered and recovery-oriented services through her provision of trainings and technical assistance. Prior to this position, he was the Program Director for a new peer training model under the ThriveNYC grant. Clinton has worked over ten (10+) years with individuals with mental health challenges in recovery-oriented programs including over four (4+) plus years in a supervisory role. In these roles, he assisted with the creation of trauma informed policies and assessment material. Mr. Green has also trained on Community Inclusion Principals with Dr. Mark Salzer from Temple University. Athena Anderson, PhD, MEd Athena has been an Instructional Designer with APS since March of 2020. Before switching to a career in ID, she was a field ecologist and taught college biology courses for 17 years. She is also a certified feline training and behavior specialist and Cultural Intelligence Facilitator. Athena will try just about anything once, but her most common hobbies include writing, dancing, travel, cat rescue, and anything related to Monty Python. She currently has a crush on Michael Palin. Ken Gill, PhD Dr. Gill’s research interests encompass a broad range of topics with the psychiatric rehabilitation of persons with serious mental illnesses. These include evidence-based and promising practices in terms of employment, education, health and wellness promotion, and techniques to promote community integration, quality of life, and recovery. In addition, he has a strong interest in the educational techniques and approaches that promote practitioner development through academic and other educational approaches. Rita Cronise Rita is an instructional designer with lived experience of a major mental health diagnosis who has been a certified peer support specialist, an advanced level WRAP facilitator, Recovery to Practice advanced peer specialist training developer, and for two years served as acting Director of Operations at the International Association of Peer Supporters (iNAPS) where she had coordinated efforts to develop National Practice Guidelines for the peer workforce. Rita currently holds a faculty position at Rutgers University as the lead instructional designer on the online Academy of Peer Services (APS), the training and testing component of the New York State peer specialist certification and the companion Virtual Community of Practice. She continues to serve on a national workgroup for supervision of peer specialist and peer support workforce development and is a frequent lecturer on peer support values, practice, and supervision. Amy Spagnolo, PhD Amy B. Spagnolo, APS Project Manager, is a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers, the State University. In addition to teaching and administration, her experience includes over 20 years of curriculum design, staff training and consultation for the behavioral health sector. She also brings a decade long commitment to training and educating the peer support provider workforce. Currently, in her role as the Project Manager for the Academy of Peer Services, she oversees the instructional design and technical offering of 50 online-based training modules for New York Peer Specialist Certification. This is the only online training and testing platform for peer specialist training of its kind. Karen Richards, PhD, EdS, MS Karen Richards is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Rutgers University Biomedical and Health Sciences, School of Health Professions, in Newark, NJ. Dr. Richards is also the Director of Instructional Design, Media, and Technology at the MJHS Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care in New York City, NY. She has been working in the field of Web development and e-learning for over two decades, specializing in online scenario-based and problem-based learning. In her role as instructional designer for the Academy of Peer Services, at Rutgers University since 2013, Dr. Richards works with subject-matter experts to design online courses for peer support specialists. She continues to contribute to the body of research in the field of designing online environments for learners with mental health disorders. As Director of Instructional Design, Media, and Technology at the MJHS Institute, Dr. Richards oversees the organization’s website, learning management system, and all online continuing educational programming for physicians, nurses, social workers, and other allied healthcare professionals. Varsha Kamat Varsha Kamat has been a Web Support Specialist for the Academy of Peer Services at Rutgers University for the past four years. She works with Instructional Designers and the User Support Specialist to maintain the APS website. She also does data analysis. Varsha has more than 25 years of experience in Information Technology, and you can find her at the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ. On a personal note, Varsha likes gardening, sewing, cooking and dancing. She is also a good photographer.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1694
__label__wiki	0.838834	0.838834	Council on Foreign Relations Biography “The oilsands are one of many pieces of the U.S. energy security puzzle—a broader US strategy must focus on cutting oil consumption (both at home and globally), ensuring access to resources along with wellfunctioning markets, and promoting alternatives to oil.” “The Canadian Oil Sands: Energy Security vs. Climate Change,” www.cfr.org, May 7, 2009 “The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher dedicated to being a resource for its members, government officials, business executives, journalists, educators and students, civic and religious leaders, and other interested citizens in order to help them better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries.” “Mission,” www.cfr.org (accessed Sep. 23, 2011) “Founded in 1921, CFR takes no institutional positions on matters of policy. CFR carries out its mission by: -Maintaining a diverse membership, including special programs to promote interest and develop expertise in the next generation of foreign policy leaders; -Convening meetings at its headquarters in New York and in Washington, DC, and other cities where senior government officials, members of Congress, global leaders, and prominent thinkers come together with CFR members to discuss and debate major international issues; -Supporting a Studies Program that fosters independent research, enabling CFR scholars to produce articles, reports, and books and hold roundtables that analyze foreign policy issues and make concrete policy recommendations; -Publishing Foreign Affairs, the preeminent journal of international affairs and U.S. foreign policy; -Sponsoring Independent Task Forces that produce reports with both findings and policy prescriptions on the most important foreign policy topics; and -Providing up-to-date information and analysis about world events and American foreign policy on its website, CFR.org.” Should the United States Authorize the Keystone XL Pipeline to Import Tar Sand Oil from Canada? ProCon.org. (2011, September 23). Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved from https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/source-biographies/council-on-foreign-relations/ ProCon.org, "Council on Foreign Relations," ProCon.org. last modified September 23, 2011. https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/source-biographies/council-on-foreign-relations/. ProCon.org, "Council on Foreign Relations." ProCon.org. 23 Sep. 2011, alternativeenergy.procon.org/source-biographies/council-on-foreign-relations/ ProCon.org. "Council on Foreign Relations." ProCon.org. Last modified on September 23, 2011. Accessed January 19, 2021. https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/source-biographies/council-on-foreign-relations/	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1695
__label__wiki	0.830927	0.830927	David Tilman, PhD Biography Regent's Professor and McKnight Presidential Chair in Ecology at the University of Minnesota at St. Paul “The world’s energy and climate problems are likely to be solved only by a combination of approaches and technologies, including wind and solar energy, increased energy efficiency, and renewable biofuels.” Cowritten with J. Hill and C. Lehman, “Response to Comment on ‘Carbon-Negative Biofuels from Low-Input High-Diversity Grassland Biomass,” Science, June 15, 2007 Regents Professor, University of Minnesota at St. Paul, 2002-present McKnight Presidential Chair in Ecology, University of Minnesota at St. Paul, 2001-present Director, Cedar Creek Natural History Area, 1992-present Elected Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences Elected Member, National Academy of Sciences Member, Editorial Board, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 2002-2004 Founding Editor, Issues in Ecology, 1994-2004 Fellow, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, 2001 Distinguished McKnight University Professor, University of Minnesota at St. Paul, 1996-2001 Senior Visiting Fellow, Princeton University, 2000 Member, Institute for Advanced Study, 2000 Member, Editorial Board, Science, 1996-1999 Pew Scholar, Conservation Biology, 1995-1998 Guggenheim Fellow, 1984-1985 Professor, University of Minnesota at St. Paul, 1976-1996 PhD, Zoology, University of Michigan, 1976 BS, Zoology, University of Michigan, 1971 Does Ethanol Generate More Energy Than the Amount Needed to Produce It? ProCon.org. (2013, September 5). David Tilman, PhD. Retrieved from https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/source-biographies/david-tilman/ ProCon.org, "David Tilman, PhD," ProCon.org. last modified September 5, 2013. https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/source-biographies/david-tilman/. ProCon.org, "David Tilman, PhD." ProCon.org. 5 Sep. 2013, alternativeenergy.procon.org/source-biographies/david-tilman/ ProCon.org. "David Tilman, PhD." ProCon.org. Last modified on September 5, 2013. Accessed January 15, 2021. https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/source-biographies/david-tilman/	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1696
__label__wiki	0.598184	0.598184	National Audubon Society Biography “No matter what we do now, global warming will continue and will cause serious changes in our climate. However, prompt and dramatic action is likely to slow its rate of increase and to avoid some of the worst potential consequences. Experts say the most important action is to move away from burning massive amounts of fossil fuels, especially coal and oil, and to aggressively pursue nonpolluting energy options.” “Global Warming: Get the Facts,” National Audubon Society website (accessed Nov. 19, 2008) “Our national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engage millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in positive conservation experiences.” “About Audubon,” National Audubon Society website (accessed Nov. 19, 2008) “Audubon’s mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.” Is Large-Scale Wind Power Production Environmentally Friendly? ProCon.org. (2008, November 20). National Audubon Society. Retrieved from https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/source-biographies/national-audubon-society/ ProCon.org, "National Audubon Society," ProCon.org. last modified November 20, 2008. https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/source-biographies/national-audubon-society/. ProCon.org, "National Audubon Society." ProCon.org. 20 Nov. 2008, alternativeenergy.procon.org/source-biographies/national-audubon-society/ ProCon.org. "National Audubon Society." ProCon.org. Last modified on November 20, 2008. Accessed January 19, 2021. https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/source-biographies/national-audubon-society/	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1697
__label__wiki	0.580616	0.580616	Country page – ArgentinaNewClimate2020-08-31T15:25:39+02:00 Thailand (Phase I) MITIGATION TARGETS: (vs. BAU in 2030, unconditional target) (vs. BAU in 2030, conditional on international support) KEY MITIGATION SECTORS: COMMITMENT UNDER THE PARIS AGREEMENT: Argentina was the first country to submit a revised NDC to the UNFCCC in November 2016. Under the revised NDC, Argentina has an absolute emissions target for 2030 of 483 MtCO2e or 369 MtCO2e conditional on international support. The diversification of the energy matrix and the promotion of efficient energy use are two central policy objectives to reduce emissions and capture associated benefits. Other sectors with significant mitigation potential are the agriculture, land use and transport sectors. In October 2019, a new government was elected in Argentina, led by President Alberto Fernández. In December 2019, the new government adopted the Climate Change Law which provides a comprehensive legal framework for the implementation of mitigation and adaptation action in the country. A number of policies had already been put in place by the previous government led by Mauricio Macri, aiming to reach the mandatory target of 20% of renewable energy in the electricity mix by 2025. Examples include the Biofuels Law, the Renewable Energy Law and the creation of the support scheme RenovAr. CLIMATE ACTION TRACKER RATING FOR ARGENTINA: On 10 December 2019, Alberto Fernández was sworn in as the President of Argentina, replacing Mauricio Macri. The new government has mainly focused its policy efforts on addressing the economic crisis that pre-dates the pandemic but has been exacerbated by it, putting further climate policy developments into jeopardy. The recovery measures taken by the government as of June 2020 aim to protect the oil and gas industry from collapsing prices and demand, while ‘green’ recovery measures remain largely absent in current proposals. The CAT rates Argentina as “Critically insufficient”. See full assessment KEY POLICY DOCUMENTS: Argentina’s NDC (2016) Law on Minimum Budgets for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (2019) National Plan for Adaptation and Mitigation on Climate Change (2019) Sectoral climate change action plany (2017-2019) ACTIVITIES UNDER A2A PHASE I: In Argentina, the A2A project team collaborated closely with the Energy Secretariat and the Climate Change Secretariat of the previous government on how to implement the country’s NDC in the energy sector. The first analysis dealt with the alignment of energy sector planning with the ambition laid out in Argentina’s revised NDC (“NDC Alignment Report”). In a joint effort with the initiative “Plataforma Escenarios Energéticos Argentina” the project provided evidence on the impacts of different energy sector pathways on employment, using the Economic Impact Model (EIM-ES). The analysis included an assessment of the Paris compatibility of the latest Plataforma scenarios (“Paris-compatibility of Argentina’s energy pathways”). Additional analysis requested by the Energy Secretariat looked at grid integration issues resulting from higher levels of variable renewables integration and general challenges and opportunities of a power system transformation (“Grid integration of variable renewables in Argentina“, “Transformation towards a decarbonised electricity sector – a framework of analysis for power system transformation“). The evidence collected during the first project phase was summarised in a sector report (“A roadmap for the power supply sector in Argentina”).	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1699
__label__wiki	0.816528	0.816528	Palisades MediaGroup Office Employees 51-100 Total US 51-100 Roger Schaffner, Founder & CEO Palisades MediaGroup was founded by entertainment marketing and media veteran Roger Schaffner. The insight and strategic thinking that Schaffner brings to the planning process was developed over his considerable 13-year career in film distribution and media management. The growth of Palisades’ non-theatrical business over the past decade is a testament to the client focused management style that Roger has created. He has assembled a top notch team of media professionals that continuously delivers rational, innovative and thoughtful plans and executions. Service and responsiveness drive every decision. Laura Jean Bracken, EVP, COO Laura manages Palisade’s daily operations, business development and strategy. Laura joined Palisades in May 2010 after managing the San Francisco and Seattle offices of OMD. While at OMD, Laura grew billings by 50% with new business wins including State Farm of California, Callaway Golf Company, Autodesk, drugstore.com, Mattress Firm, McAfee and Sun Power. Laura’s roots are in strategic media planning, starting her career at Saatchi & Saatchi in New York. After a few years in NYC, she transferred to the San Francisco office where she oversaw communications planning for Hewlett-Packard, Barclay’s Global Investors, a slew of dot-coms and packaged goods clients like Procter & Gamble, Kikkoman International and General Mills. Laura won Advertising Age’s “Media Strategist of the Year” award for her global media strategy for HP’s first ever “E-Services” campaign in 18 languages across 35 countries. The campaign resulted in the doubling of HP’s stock price and incremental revenue. Russell Dean, CFO Russell Dean has been involved in movie advertising and marketing for over 25 years. Starting with Jeffrey Bacon in the mid-1980’s, Dean was instrumental in the enormous growth of the company that became The Cimarron Group. His field of expertise lay primarily in financial matters, but he was keenly aware of all aspects of creative marketing. Since 1996, Dean has worked for Palisades Media Group as its Senior VP-Finance/CFO. PMG is recognized as the specialist in entertainment media planning and buying. PMG offers fully-integrated, strategic planning and support in business, film, broadcast, pay-per-view, home video, direct response and the internet. As at Cimarron, Dean has overseen the growth of Palisades Media from a 10-person company in 1996 to a 70-person company billing over $400 million in 2005. Dean’s education background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from Occidental College, a Masters of Business Administration Degree from the University of Southern California and a Law Degree from Southwestern University School of Law. Dean passed the California bar in 1998 and the Certified Public Accountants Exam in 2002. Arthur Chan, SVP, Director of Digital Marketing Arthur oversees all digital marketing for Palisades. With his team, Arthur has produced award winning campaigns for innovative clients that include MGM/UA, Paramount Vantage, Lexus, Toyota, New Line Cinema, Focus Features, Lionsgate, Miramax, Overture Films, The Weinstein Company, Del Taco, Visit Britain and Helio. Many innovative campaigns have earned Palisades awards ranging from the W3s to Movie Marketing Key Art Awards. Throughout his career, Arthur has also earned multiple awards and accolades including a Gold Media Lion at Cannes, an Effie, Mediaweek’s Media Plan of the Year and the Media Magazine’s "Best of the Net". In 2005, Arthur was named one of the "Rising Stars" of interactive marketing in OMMA magazine and in 2011 was named by iMedia on their “Top 10 Hottest Digital Marketers” list. As an industry leader in the digital arena, Arthur also sits on Think LA’s Board of Directors and was recently inducted into the Think LA Digital Hall of Fame. Rhona Dass, SVP, Director of Strategic Planning Rhona has cultivated her strategic planning expertise working across a diverse portfolio of clients, primarily rooted in the fast-paced, high-demanding world of entertainment. Her experience includes working on Walt Disney Studios Theatrical & Home Entertainment, EMI Records, Nintendo, Lego, Morgan Stanley and fashion/retail marketing at Vogue Magazine. Rhona has a proven track in developing smart, measurable communication plans that deliver on clients’ marketing objectives and span all media platforms - traditional, digital & emerging. She also brings to the table a 360 perspective, having worked in National TV buying and overseeing a Print investment group. She is a hands-on leader who values and fosters a collaborative team atmosphere. When not immersed in media, Rhona loves all things design and fashion. Bill McOwen, SVP, Director of National Video Bill joined Palisades from Starcom, Los Angeles where he worked as SVP, Activation Media Director in charge of all national media which included the diverse areas of the Disney account. Previously, Bill served at MPG as EVP, Director of Media Investment and at Arnold Advertising as SVP, Director of National Broadcast where he built Arnold’s first network team to support Volkswagen. Under Bill’s lead, the department grew to over 20 national buyers as Arnold solidified its position as a major national agency. From 1988-1996 he worked at Grey Advertising, Dewitt Media and Chiat/Day – all in New York. Beyond his great, senior level connections with both East and West coast sales organizations, Bill also brings fantastic brand & retail experience, including Hasbro, Kenner, Tonka, Parker Brothers, Sears & Kmart. Erin Morgan, SVP, Director of Local Audio/Video Erin runs our Business and Entertainment local broadcast groups, overseeing the successful execution of local broadcast TV and radio schedules for all of Palisades’ clients. Erin has over a decade of experience in local broadcast from agencies such as Starcom, GM Mediaworks and Universal McCann. Prior to joining Palisades, Erin’s experience included work on a wide range of clients and categories. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and Home Entertainment, Disney Channel, ABC Domestic Television, E! and Style networks, Radio Disney, Beringer, Wellpoint/Anthem, General Motors, Popeye’s, Lowe’s, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Nestle, Subaru, IHOP, Tenet/People’s Health Network, American Airlines, Washington Mutual, and Labatt are among the great brands she has been able to work on. Erin also performs the role of Director of Charities for Palisades and was recently elected to the Board of Directors for Ad Relief of Greater Los Angeles, a non-profit organization helping advertising colleagues in times of life crisis. Brian O'Donnell, Associate Director of Business Intelligence With a background in clinical microbiology, Brian has spent the last 8 years applying his scientific method to the advertising industry. He began his career at Kovel/Fuller, a small independent advertising agency in Culver City. Specializing in data visualization, analysis, automation, and direct response management, Brian contributes to new business efforts and amplifying existing clients’ businesses by developing competitive landscape analyses, targeting strategies and providing research. He’s worked on many different clients including Cashcall, Telebrands, Guitar Center, Newegg.com, Mercury Insurance, Del Taco and BevMo.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1700
__label__wiki	0.547697	0.547697	MODIS and the Collection 6 aerosol time series Using modeling to study morning versus afternoon offsets Testing calibration corrections Collection 6.1 AMT \| Articles \| Volume 11, issue 7 Research article 13 Jul 2018 Research article \| 13 Jul 2018 Exploring systematic offsets between aerosol products from the two MODIS sensors Exploring systematic offsets between aerosol products from the two MODIS sensors Exploring systematic offsets between aerosol products from the two MODIS sensors Robert C. Levy et al. Robert C. Levy1, Shana Mattoo2,1, Virginia Sawyer2,1, Yingxi Shi3,1, Peter R. Colarco1, Alexei I. Lyapustin1, Yujie Wang4,1, and Lorraine A. Remer4 Robert C. Levy et al. Robert C. Levy1, Shana Mattoo2,1, Virginia Sawyer2,1, Yingxi Shi3,1, Peter R. Colarco1, Alexei I. Lyapustin1, Yujie Wang4,1, and Lorraine A. Remer4 1NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Greenbelt, Maryland, USA 2Science Systems and Applications (SSAI), Lanham, Maryland, USA 3Goddard Earth Sciences Technology And Research (GESTAR), University Space Research Association (USRA), Columbia, Maryland, USA 4Joint Center for Earth systems Technology (JCET), University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC), Baltimore, Maryland, USA Correspondence: Robert C. Levy (robert.c.levy@nasa.gov) Received: 02 Feb 2018 – Discussion started: 15 Feb 2018 – Revised: 31 May 2018 – Accepted: 15 Jun 2018 – Published: 13 Jul 2018 Long-term measurements of global aerosol loading and optical properties are essential for assessing climate-related questions. Using observations of spectral reflectance and radiance, the dark-target (DT) aerosol retrieval algorithm is applied to Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer sensors on both Terra (MODIS-T) and Aqua (MODIS-A) satellites, deriving products (known as MOD04 and MYD04, respectively) of global aerosol optical depth (AOD at 0.55 µm) over both land and ocean, and an Ångström exponent (AE derived from 0.55 and 0.86 µm) over ocean. Here, we analyze the overlapping time series (since mid-2002) of the Collection 6 (C6) aerosol products. Global monthly mean AOD from MOD04 (Terra with morning overpass) is consistently higher than MYD04 (Aqua with afternoon overpass) by ∼ 13 % (∼ 0.02 over land and ∼ 0.015 over ocean), and this offset (MOD04 – MYD04) has seasonal as well as long-term variability. Focusing on 2008 and deriving yearly gridded mean AOD and AE, we find that, over ocean, the MOD04 (morning) AOD is higher and the AE is lower. Over land, there is more variability, but only biomass-burning regions tend to have AOD lower for MOD04. Using simulated aerosol fields from the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS-5) Earth system model and sampling separately (in time and space) along each MODIS-observed swath during 2008, the magnitudes of morning versus afternoon offsets of AOD and AE are smaller than those in the C6 products. Since the differences are not easily attributed to either aerosol diurnal cycles or sampling issues, we test additional corrections to the input reflectance data. The first, known as C6+, corrects for long-term changes to each sensor's polarization sensitivity and the response versus the scan angle and to cross-calibration from MODIS-T to MODIS-A. A second convolves the detrending and cross-calibration into scaling factors. Each method was applied upstream of the aerosol retrieval using 2008 data. While both methods reduced the overall AOD offset over land from 0.02 to 0.01, neither significantly reduced the AOD offset over ocean. The overall negative AE offset was reduced. A collection (C6.1) of all MODIS Atmosphere products was released, but we expect that the C6.1 aerosol products will maintain similar overall AOD and AE offsets. We conclude that (a) users should not interpret global differences between Terra and Aqua aerosol products as representing a true diurnal signal in the aerosol. (b) Because the MODIS-A product appears to have an overall smaller bias compared to ground-truth data, it may be more suitable for some applications. However (c), since the AOD offset is only ∼ 0.02 and within the noise level for single retrievals, both MODIS products may be adequate for most applications. Article (PDF, 14814 KB) Back to top top How to cite. Levy, R. C., Mattoo, S., Sawyer, V., Shi, Y., Colarco, P. R., Lyapustin, A. I., Wang, Y., and Remer, L. A.: Exploring systematic offsets between aerosol products from the two MODIS sensors, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 11, 4073–4092, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-11-4073-2018, 2018. Measurements of aerosol loading and optical properties are essential for many applications, including quantifying global direct aerosol radiative forcing for climate studies (e.g., Belloiun et al., 2005; Chung et al., 2005; Yu et al., 2006; Kahn, 2011; Boucher et al., 2013), investigating the effect of aerosols on cloud microphysical properties and lifetimes (Nakajima et al., 2001; Lohmann and Feichter, 2005; Koren et al., 2008, 2012; Niu and Li, 2012) and estimating global exposure to air pollution (van Donkelaar et al., 2010; Evans et al., 2012; Boys et al., 2014; Ma et al., 2016). Because aerosols vary significantly by region (Kaufman et al., 2002) and have a lifetime on the order of days (Haywood and Boucher, 2000; Croft et al., 2014), near-daily observations over the entire globe are necessary to characterize the global aerosol system. The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS, 2011, 2016) has designated particular aerosol parameters as essential climate variables (ECVs) for quantifying Earth's climate system and change. To be considered a viable Climate Data Record (CDR), an ECV must be measured globally, with specified accuracies, precisions, spatial and temporal resolution. The ECV also must be measured over the long-term (e.g., multiple decades). Aerosol optical depth (AOD – a measure of column-integrated aerosol loading) is a designated ECV. To meet requirements as a CDR (Popp et al., 2016; GCOS, 2016), AOD must be measured globally, with a spatial resolution of 10 km or finer and accuracy better than 0.03 or 10 %. In addition, this AOD record must be multi-decadal and drift less than 0.01 decade−1. Polar-orbiting passive satellite sensors are able to provide spatial coverage, frequent sampling and long continuity of data that could be the basis for such a record. In particular, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments on board the polar-orbiting satellites Terra (since 2000) and Aqua (since 2002) provide state-of-the-art spatial resolution and near-daily retrievals of AOD and other aerosol parameters on a global scale. The length of the aerosol records has prompted studies of the trends in global and regional aerosol loading, and subsequently, estimates of changes in aerosol forcing or radiative effects (Zhang and Reid, 2010; Hsu et al., 2012; Chin et al., 2014; Alfaro-Contreras et al., 2017; Colarco et al., 2014). Using remote sensing to detect changes or trends in the physical world (e.g., the ambient aerosol), however, requires confidence that the algorithms and retrievals are consistently applied and that the sensors themselves (e.g., calibration, sampling and orbital characteristics) are also consistent. Creation of long-term climate data records often requires the observations from different instruments and platforms to be combined, because a single instrument may not provide sufficient spatial, temporal, or long-term coverage (e.g., the Global Precipitation Climatology Project; Adler et al., 2018). As the community moves towards creating aerosol CDRs that span the lifetime of more than one sensor, we need to pay even more attention to systematic biases and offsets. In this study, we compare the aerosol climatology from the two identically designed MODIS sensors that fly simultaneously for over 15 years. The specifications of the instruments are essentially identical (sensor characteristics, calibration methods), and the retrieval algorithms are identical. In Sect. 2, we show that there are systematic differences in the derived global aerosol products for Collection 6. Although each sensor shows an insignificant global drift, their differences appear as a small but statistically significant trend. More alarming is that the two data sets are offset from each other, on average by 13 % of their global mean. This is larger than the GCOS requirements for accuracy (GCOS, 2016) and will introduce greater uncertainty than needed in narrowing error bars on current estimates of global aerosol radiative forcing (Boucher et al., 2013). In Sect. 3 we sample model output data to show that the differences between Terra and Aqua aerosol climatology are most likely unphysical, and in Sect. 4 we tested two methods of calibration correction to reduce the problem. Section 5 offers a discussion and conclusion, including suggestions for future calibration efforts from a product-based perspective. 2 MODIS and the Collection 6 aerosol time series 2.1 MODIS Terra and Aqua were launched in late 1999 and early 2002, and are polar-orbiting sun-synchronous satellites. Terra (Aqua) has a 10:30 (13:30) local equator crossing time and descends (ascends) on the sunlit part of the Earth. From each satellite, MODIS observes top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance (solar origin) and radiance (terrestrial origin) in 36 wavelength bands (0.41 < λ < 14.2 µm): 19 are reflective solar bands (RSBs; λ ≤ 3.9 µm) and the remainder are thermal emission bands (TEBs). Nominal (at nadir view) spatial resolution is 0.25 km for two bands (0.65 and 0.86 µm), 0.5 km for five bands (0.47, 0.55, 1.24, 1.63 and 2.11 µm) and 1 km for the remainder. From orbit ∼ 700 km and ±55∘ scan angle (0∘ is nadir view), MODIS observes a ground swath of 2300 km, which provides near-global coverage every day and complete coverage every 2 days. It should be noted that the original mission lifetimes for Terra and Aqua were nominally 5 years. In terms of sensor specifications, including spectral wavelength characteristics, calibration methods and presentation of data and file formats, the two MODIS instruments (MODIS-Terra or MODIS-T and MODIS-Aqua or MODIS-A) are twins. MODIS data products (from raw data through high-level aggregations), MODIS-T and MODIS-A, are known as MOD and MYD, respectively. As the flagship sensor aboard two high-profile satellites, MODIS is a complex enterprise. Though the scientific literature is immense, most relevant information can be gleaned across the myriad of NASA websites. The general sensor concept and design are presented at https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/about/ (last access: 27 June 2018). Sensor characterization and calibration, up to the processing of geophysically relevant reflectance and radiance data (known as level 1B or L1B) are handled by the MODIS Characterization and Support Team (MCST; https://mcst.gsfc.nasa.gov/, last access: 27 June 2018). Retrievals and derivation of geophysical parameters, known as level 2 (L2) products, are described under Land (https://modis-land.gsfc.nasa.gov/, last access: 27 June 2018), Ocean (https://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/, last access: 27 June 2018) and Atmosphere (https://modis-atmos.gsfc.nasa.gov/, last access: 27 June 2018) disciplines. The aerosol retrieval follows the Atmosphere discipline and is collectively known as the MxD04_L2 product. Level 3 (L3) daily (MxD08_D3) and monthly aggregations (MxD08_M3) of the aerosol (and other Atmosphere products including clouds) are collectively known as MxD08. All data processing is handled by the MODIS Adaptive Processing System (MODAPS; (https://earthdata.nasa.gov/about/sips/sips-modaps, last access: 27 June 2018) and archival of retrieved products is handled at the Level 1 and Atmosphere Archive and Distribution System (LAADS; https://ladsweb.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/, last access: 27 June 2018). As briefly described on the MODIS design page (https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/about/design.php, last access: 27 June 2018), MODIS operates via a Scan Mirror Assembly (SCA), which uses a continuously rotating double side mirror (MS-1 and MS-2). The optical system directs the radiation to four assemblies, one for each of the VIS, NIR, SWIR/MWIR and LWIR spectral regions (to cover the visible, near, shortwave/mediumwave and longwave infrared spectra respectively). For the purpose of the aerosol retrieval, we are primarily concerned with the VIS, NIR and SWIR portions, which include the RSBs. To maintain calibration of the RSBs (originally performed in-lab prior to launch), the system includes a view of space, along with on-board calibration via a Solar Diffuser (SD), a blackbody source (BB), a Spectroradiometric Calibration Assembly (SRCA) and a Solar Diffuser Stability Monitor (SDSM). The redundant system (Xiong and Barnes, 2006) allows the MCST to continually update the calibration coefficients (including gain and offsets), along with satellite and viewing geolocation (latitude/longitude, angles, altitude, etc.). This provides the best possible accuracy and uncertainty estimate for the reflectance and radiance data (L1B), which are expected to be accurate to 2 % for reflectance and 5 % for absolute radiance under typical magnitude conditions. Note that the methodology for MODIS calibration, especially in regards to extending the mission from a nominal 5 years to the current 18+ years, has been continuously evolving. This is reflected within the MCST web page and associated literature. MODIS products are grouped together in collections, in that a consistent protocol is used to derive L1B data, and then consistent algorithms are used to derive the L2 products and L3 aggregations. The same combination of L1B, L2 and L3 production rules are maintained so that all data in a collection are created the same way. This includes production of new data (collected forward in time) known as “forward processing” and archived data known as “reprocessing”. Under a collection, the entire time series of derived parameters (e.g., AOD) from MODIS-T (2000–present; MOD04 product) and MODIS-A (2002–present; MYD04 product) should be consistent with each other and presumably provide consistent global climatologies of the parameters. The most recent complete collection is known as Collection 6 (C6), and it encompasses time series from both MODIS sensors. Collection 6.1, discussed in Sect. 5, began processing in late October 2017. Aerosols are ubiquitous in the atmosphere, and there are multiple algorithms for removing the aerosol effect (known as atmospheric correction, or AC) when retrieving properties of land (e.g., Vermote and Kotchenova, 2008; Lyapustin et al., 2011) or ocean (e.g., Ahmad et al., 2010) surfaces. While these AC algorithms report the aerosol information, they are not necessarily focused on providing a global (land + ocean) aerosol product. For global aerosol coverage, NASA uses three separate algorithms to create the MxD04_L2 product. Two of these are considered dark target (DT; https://darktarget.gsfc.nasa.gov, last access: 27 June 2018) because they seek conditions in which the surface appears dark in visible wavelengths. These include retrieval over remote ocean (DT-O; Tanre et al., 1997; Remer et al., 2005; Levy et al., 2013) and retrieval optimized over vegetated or dark-soiled land surfaces (DT-L; Kaufman et al., 1997; Levy et al., 2007a, b, 2010, 2013). There is also the deep-blue algorithm (DB; https://deepblue.gsfc.nasa.gov, last access: 27 June 2018) over land (DB-L) which was developed for brighter surfaces (Hsu et al., 2004) and more recently extended to dark surfaces as well (enhanced DB: Hsu et al., 2013). Here, we focus on the two DT algorithms (DT-L, DT-O) and specifically on the climatology and statistics of the products. The MODIS DT aerosol retrieval operates primarily by using observations from the seven RSBs with spatial resolutions of 0.5 km or finer. These bands are known as B3, B4, B1, B2, B5, B6 and B7; near λ=0.47 they are 0.55, 0.65, 0.86, 1.24, 1.63 and 2.11 µm, respectively. All are atmospheric window bands with minimal gas absorption. Additional RSBs and TEBs (at 1 km resolution) are used for tasks like cloud masking and snow identification. With this masking, the algorithm discards pixels unsuitable for aerosol retrieval and derives mean spectral reflectance (in the seven bands) that represents cloud-, snow- and ice-free dark-target scenes. Based on prelaunch signal-to-noise tests, global aerosol retrieval is optimized at 10 km (at nadir) spatial resolution, which is the resolution of the MxD04_L2 standard global product. Although there is also a more recent high-resolution 3 km aerosol product (MxD04_3K; Remer et al., 2013), here the MxD04 product (MOD04 or MYD04) refers to the standard (10 km) product, or to a level 3 aggregation of the 10 km products (MOD08 or MYD08). The DT algorithm (both land and ocean) follows a lookup table (LUT) approach. This means that prior to retrieval, TOA spectral reflectance (in a subset of the seven bands depending on the surface) is simulated using scattering and radiative transfer codes (Wiscombe, 1980; Dubovik et al., 2002; Evans and Stephens, 1991; Ahmad and Fraser, 1982). These LUTs represent realistic combinations of aerosol, molecular and surface reflectance, which during the retrieval are compared with the observations. The solution is the LUT scenario (or multiple scenarios), which minimizes the cost function. From the LUT, one infers the total column loading (the aerosol optical depth or AOD or τ, reported at 0.55 µm), the spectral AOD (at multiple wavelengths), the Ångström exponent, AE or α) and estimates of the relative mixing between fine-sized (e.g., radius < 1 µm) and coarse-sized (radius > 1 µm) aerosol (known as fine-mode weighting or FMW or η). These retrieved aerosol properties, along with diagnostics describing the number of pixels used, the goodness of fit and the confidence in the retrieval product (quality assurance and confidence, known as QAC), are contained as separate quantities within the MxD04 product file. QAC ranges from 0 (no confidence) to 3 (high confidence) in a retrieval. The details of the retrieval algorithm have evolved over time. However, for each collection, the same retrieval algorithms are applied to both MODIS-T and MODIS-A. For Collection 4 (C4), Remer et al. (2006) compared the two data sets and showed that they derived essentially the same monthly mean AOD over ocean. For C5 data, however, Levy et al. (2010) noted that there were discrepancies between the two data sets and that the MOD04 product appeared to have a high bias compared to ground-based AERONET data in 2003 and a low bias by 2008. There was no apparent overall bias to the MYD04 data. By 2013, the C5 Aqua products continued to show little or no apparent AOD trend over either ocean or land. However, Terra showed a −0.05 decade−1 (−27 %) trend in global mean AOD over land (Lyapustin et al., 2014). Even more striking was that the differences between the two C5 time series was changing. In 2003, Over-land MOD04 showed higher AOD (e.g., offset of +0.02) than MYD04, but by 2013, MOD04 was lower (offset of −0.04). In other words, there was a trend in the offset (−0.06 decade−1) over the period. While not changing in sign, the offset (MOD04-MYD04) over ocean also decreased, from +0.015 to +0.005 (−0.01 decade−1). Such discrepancies between Terra and Aqua, including initial offsets, trends of the offsets and differences between land and ocean trends, were noted in many studies (e.g., Zhang and Reid, 2010; Remer et al., 2008; Yoon et al., 2012). Because the Terra and Aqua satellites have different viewing times over different regions of the world, convolved with the global spatial variability of aerosol distributions and diurnal cycles, we might expect offsets between the two MODIS time series. At the same time, these offsets may vary seasonally due to covarying diurnal cycles of aerosols and clouds (say, heavy dust or smoke being preferentially uncovered in either morning or afternoon). However, systematic trending of the offset is troubling. Considering the requirement that the AOD record should drift by less than 0.01 decade−1 (GCOS, 2016), the differences between the C5 MODIS-T and MODIS-A products were unacceptable for deriving an aerosol CDR. To put this into perspective, a difference in 0.015 AOD is equivalent to ∼ 2–3 W m−2 offset in estimating global direct aerosol radiative effect (Remer and Kaufman, 2006; Yu et al., 2006). By the late 2000s, it was increasingly clear that, in addition to aerosols, other C5-derived data records were showing signs of non-physical trends (e.g., Lyapustin et al., 2014; Wang et al., 2012). The redundant on-board calibration protocol appeared to be insufficient for capturing degradation of the MODIS sensors, leading to artificial drifts in observed reflectance and subsequent derived geophysical parameters. To mitigate these drifts, MCST embarked on a new calibration protocol for Collection 6 (C6). In addition to regular observations of the moon and the on-board solar diffuser, MCST began monitoring observations over quasi-stable calibration desert targets, presumed to be nearly invariant (no rain, no changes in vegetation, etc.). Over such invariant Earth View (EV) targets, by compiling statistics of observed reflectance one could monitor long-term drifts in MODIS-observed reflectance. At the same time, the bidirectional reflectance function (BRDF) of such surfaces should be quasi-stable over time, so that, in addition to overall trending, MCST could characterize any trending response vs. scan angle (RVS) (Lyapustin et al., 2014; Toller et al., 2013; Sun et al., 2012; Wu et al., 2011). Corrections would be applied to any MODIS wavelength bands and scan angles that appeared to be drifting by more than 2 % since the first year of each mission. For MODIS-T, nearly all visible bands were drifting, with the shortest wavelengths drifting more rapidly. By the early 2010s, the shortest wavelength (e.g., blue bands) for MODIS-A also required correction. In synergy with the overhaul of the upstream calibration method, the aerosol retrieval was updated for C6. Levy et al. (2013) introduced changes to the land/sea masking, the upstream cloud mask (e.g., MxD35; Frey et al., 2008) as well as the ancillary data inputs. There were also changes to the aerosol retrieval algorithm: some were made in response to upstream changes but others improved the physical aerosol retrieval. However, while there may be differences in the detrending coefficients applied to each sensor and a particular band may require detrending, the C6 aerosol algorithm is applied independently of upstream processing. The aerosol retrieval for C6, while different from C5, is applied in the same way to both sensors. This results in two sets of level 2 aerosol products (MxD04_L2) which are aggregated into daily (MxD08_D3) and monthly (MxD08_M3) gridded products, following the level 3 protocol for aerosol (L2 → D3 → M3; Levy et al., 2013). Assuming equal-area weighting (e.g., Levy et al., 2009), we further derive global monthly mean AOD, separately over ocean and land. From Fig. 1, we can observe that each pair of C6-derived AOD (at 0.55 µm) time series (land and ocean, separately) tracks more closely than their respective C5-derived versions (Lyapustin et al., 2014). Yet, large positive offsets (MOD04 – MYD04) remain in C6. From Fig. 1, we see that over land this offset averages about +0.025 (approximately 12 % of the MYD04 global mean). While there is no significant overall trend to this offset, there are short periods of increase and decrease, and its variability appears to increase. A similar pattern was observed by Alfaro-Contreras et al. (2017). Over ocean, the offset averages +0.018, which is also ∼ 12 % of the MYD04 global mean. Although it is not plotted, we note that at 0.86 µm, the offset averages +0.014, which is ∼ 12 % of the global mean at that wavelength. The seasonal variability of the over-ocean offset is regular (maximum during northern summer months) throughout the time series, but there are identifiable periods of both increase and decrease. At 0.55 µm, the offset increased by ∼ 0.005 decade−1 until about 2014 and then dropped suddenly in 2015. By 2017 the difference between sensors was at 2004 levels. While there are remaining (and puzzling) trends to the offsets, the magnitudes of those trends are less than 0.005 decade−1, which suggest that the relative stability of the combined MODIS data records are approaching GCOS specifications for data product drift. From here on, we focus only on the general offsets and not on the trend of the offsets. Figure 1Time series of Collection 6, monthly global mean AOD (at 0.55 µm) over land (a) and ocean (b). For each panel, mean AOD (left axis) derived from MOD04 (Terra) is in red, from MYD04 (Aqua) it is in blue and the differences (right axis, MOD04-MYD04) are in black. 2.2 C6 Comparison with AERONET The offsets to AOD and spectral AOD appear to be pervasive globally and have a significant enough magnitude to be of concern in the creation of climate data records. The accuracy of satellite retrievals is generally assessed through comparison with the ground-based sun photometer aerosol measurements from the AErosol RObotic NEtwork (AERONET; Holben et al., 1998), where the AERONET measurements are considered the “truth” with an uncertainty of ±0.02 (Ichoku et al., 2002; Petrenko et al., 2012). Based on scatterplots, the expected error (EE) of the global satellite product is an envelope that contains approximately two-thirds (or 1σ) of the collocated points. Levy et al. (2013) compared EE at coastal and island sites and estimated DT-O to be ±(0.04 + 0.10τ), where τ is the true AOD (±0.01) as observed by the sun photometer. Note that there are both absolute (±0.04) and relative (10 %) components for describing the EE of retrieved AOD. Compared at inland AERONET sites, Levy et al. (2013) compared EE at coastal and island sites and estimated DT-L to be ±(0.05 + 0.15τ), where both fixed and relative portions are larger than those for DT-O. Because the ocean surface optical properties are well constrained by the models (Cox and Munk, 1954; Koepke, 1984), the DT-O aerosol retrieval has a smaller EE than DT-L. Table 1Summary of scatterplots (not shown) of collocated MODIS and AERONET measurements of AOD at 0.55 µm, showing the performance of MYD04 (Aqua) and MOD04 (Terra) products relative to AERONET sun photometer data. Reported variables include N as the number of collocations, and %EE, % > EE and % < EE as percentages of collocations falling within, above and below EE envelopes. Bias is average difference (MODIS–AERONET), and slope, Y-INT, R2 are parameters of least-squares linear regression. Download Print Version \| Download XLSX While some AERONET sites exhibit a diurnal cycle, Kaufman et al. (2000) show that using AERONET data sampled at the MODIS passing time, the global AOD diurnal cycle is within 2 % of the daily mean AOD. This difference is at the same magnitude or much smaller than the discrepancies between Terra and Aqua retrievals that we discovered in this study, depending on the time span of AERONET data used. Although aerosol regional diurnal cycles may range more widely depending on location and/or season (Smirnov et al., 2002; Zhang et al., 2012), we expect global differences between morning and afternoon to be less than the offsets to MODIS seen here. To test this, we separately compare each MODIS data set to AERONET. Table 1 summarizes the statistics of scatterplots (and linear regressions), comparing each MODIS C6 data set with appropriate AERONET data from the period 2003–2014. Obviously inappropriate collocation sites are excluded (e.g., Mauna Loa at elevation 3397 m being compared with sea-level retrievals), and data are filtered by QAC recommended by Levy et al. (2013). From these statistics, we see that, while both Terra- and Aqua-retrieved data sets perform similarly (R2, RMSE) over different surface types, the overall bias (compared to AERONET) is larger for MOD04 than it is for MYD04. The magnitude of differences in bias (0.027 over land and 0.019 over ocean) are very similar to the overall global offsets we see in the Fig. 1 time series plots. Also, we note that these differences in bias are very similar to a recent MODIS 3 km product comparison (Gupta et al., 2018). We note that there are more collocations (N) for MOD04/AERONET than MYD04/AERONET. Over land, this is consistent with King et al. (2013), showing that MODIS-T observes smaller cloud fractions over land. However, King et al. (2013) also reports larger cloud fractions observed by MODIS-T over ocean, which is not consistent, except that most AERONET sites are along coastlines. In coordination with Table 1, Fig. 2 provides the MODIS–AERONET differences as a function of AERONET-measured AOD. The bins of AERONET AOD are set so that there are a nearly equal number of points in each bin. Over both land (panel a) and ocean (panel b), the biases for MOD04 (red dots/shaded envelopes) are larger than that of MYD04 (blue dots/shaded envelopes). Over ocean, both products appear to have positive biases at low AOD over ocean, which is due to DT-O not being allowed to retrieve zero or negative AOD (leading to automatic positive bias). Over land, while both products have a median positive bias, it is larger for MOD04. The difference in the median bias (blue and red dots) is relatively constant across all AOD bins over land but increases with AOD over ocean. Overall, the difference in median bias (each MxD04 collocated with AERONET) is roughly equal to the overall offset in AOD between the two MxD04 time series. The statistics of each MODIS-retrieved AE compared to AERONET are very similar, as shown in panel c, except that AE from MOD04 is lower (by about 0.05) compared to MYD04. Figure 2Statistics of MxD04–AERONET difference as a function of AERONET values for AOD (0.55 µm) over land (a) and ocean (b), and for AE over ocean (c). For each panel, data from MOD04 (MYD04) are plotted in red (blue). For each sensor, the dots (and connecting lines) represent the mean of the MxD04–AERONET difference, whereas the shaded area represents the middle ±1σ of the difference. Note that each MxD04 is compared separately to AERONET and that the AERONET data are ordered into bins with an equal number of points. 2.3 Spatial distribution of C6 offsets It is still possible that offsets between the two MODIS time series are tied to unequal sampling of heavy aerosol events across the globe. To compare offsets as a function of location, we focus on 2008 data. Here, we derive a yearly mean AOD (per grid box) from monthly mean data, assuming valid data in at least 2 months (e.g., L2 → D3 → M3 → Y3). Figure 3 displays the 2008 annual mean for MYD04 AOD (at 0.55 µm) over both land and ocean, as well as the absolute and relative differences between yearly MOD04 and MYD04. Note that, instead of 1∘ × 1∘ aggregations like standard MODIS L3 data (MxD08_M3), we derive them at 0.5∘ × 0.625∘ resolution (to use in Sect. 3). Except for the well-known aerosol hotspots (African dust/smoke, Asian pollution/dust, etc.), Fig. 3a shows that most of the globe experiences annual mean low AOD (τ < 0.1). Figure 3b shows the gridded absolute differences (MOD04 – MYD04) and Fig. 3c shows the relative differences. Over most of the globe the absolute differences are 0.015–0.025, showing that the global mean values for 2008 (seen in Fig. 1) arise from a global distribution of offsets of the same small magnitude rather than a residual of widely fluctuating large positive and negative offsets. There are, however, some notable areas with the opposite polarity, primarily regions of known biomass burning (Amazon, southern Africa). Figure 3Gridded (0.625∘ × 0.5∘) global mean AOD (at 0.55 µm) for 2008, derived from MYD04 (a), the difference between MOD04 and MYD04 (b) and the relative difference (c). As mentioned in Sect. 2.1, the DT retrieval over ocean reports spectral AOD. Using annual mean AOD at 0.86 and at 0.55 µm, we derive the annual mean Ångström exponent (AE) at each grid. Gridded AE and AE differences are shown in Fig. 4. We observe lower AEs (larger relative particle size) over well-known dust belts as well as over the most remote ocean. Higher AEs (smaller particle size) are observed where there is continental pollution or smoke outflow. Figure 4b shows the differences in mean AE (MOD04 vs. MYD04), showing that, with a few exceptions, MOD04 consistently reports smaller AE (larger particles) than MYD04 by about 0.05. Figures 3 and 4 demonstrate that the AOD from MODIS-T is consistently higher than MODIS-A and AE is consistently lower, and the uniformity of the offsets is suspicious. However, it is interesting that the southeastern Atlantic downwind of the southern African savanna (Meyer et al., 2013) shows opposite AOD and AE offsets. Figure 4Gridded (0.625∘ × 0.5∘) global mean AE (at 0.55/0.86 µm) for 2008 derived from MYD04 (a) and the difference between MOD04 and MYD04 (b). 3 Using modeling to study morning versus afternoon offsets Section 2 identified significant differences between the aerosol products derived from Terra and Aqua. There could be many causes for these discrepancies, from instrument calibration and sampling to physical causes. While MODIS-T and MODIS-A processing are identical, differences could arise from differences in orbits and satellite overpass times. Terra is in descending orbit with a daytime equator crossing (southward) at 10:30 local solar time and Aqua is in ascending orbit (northward) at 13:30 LST. Because of the different headings, although the local overpass time difference is 3 h at the equator, it is closer to 1.5 h in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) midlatitudes and 4.5 h in the SH (Fig. 5). Therefore, it is possible that different aerosol statistics might arise, whether due to diurnal cycles of aerosol or clouds (leading to different sampling). Interestingly, because of the symmetry of the orbits (±N h from local noon at every location), the actual geometrical sampling (e.g., statistics of solar zenith, relative sun/sensor azimuth and resulting scattering and glint angles) of the two sensors is very similar. Indeed, if computing average angles over the entire year, there is on average only a 0.8∘ difference in the solar zenith angle (MOD04 < MYD04), and a 0.3∘ difference in the scattering angle (MOD04 > MYD04). This means that, although the aerosol retrieval may have biases as function of angle (e.g., Hyer et al., 2011), the symmetry of Terra and Aqua orbits should not lead to a consistent difference in retrieved AOD. Figure 5Gridded average MODIS local observation time (LST) for Aqua (a), Terra (b) and the difference between the two (c). Cloud types and cloud properties show significant diurnal variation (e.g., Eastman and Warren, 2014). In fact, King et al. (2013) catalogued differences between cloud statistics from the two MODIS sensors, which can be repeated using C6 MODIS data. To explore the differences identified in Sect. 2 and to discount the possibility of diurnal sampling (related to cloud fraction differences) being the root cause of the Terra–Aqua offset, we use results from aerosol simulations performed with the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System, version 5 (GEOS-5) Earth system model (Molod et al., 2015). GEOS-5 is run here in a replay mode, using winds, temperature and pressure fields from the recent Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2) joint aerosol and meteorological reanalysis (Gelaro et al., 2017; Randles et al., 2017). Using MERRA-2 meteorological constraints ensures simulation of real weather events and realistic cloud fields. The model is run globally at a c180 horizontal resolution (∼ 0.5∘ × 0.625∘ latitude × longitude resolution) on its cubed-sphere native grid and produces high time resolution (hourly) aerosol output based on the prognostic Goddard Chemistry, Aerosol, Radiation and Transport (GOCART) module (Colarco et al., 2010), which is run online and radiatively coupled. GOCART simulates the mass of various aerosol species (dust, sea salt, sulfate and carbonaceous aerosol) at every model time step. Diurnal cycles in the aerosol distributions arise through prescribed diurnal variability in emissions (e.g., biomass-burning emissions tend to peak in the afternoon) or meteorology. Conversion of the simulated mass to AOD is accomplished through precomputed LUTs that include mass extinction efficiencies as a function of species, particle size and hygroscopicity. The model run used here does not invoke aerosol data assimilation and so is essentially a chemical transport model driven by reanalysis. Unlike satellite products, which have gaps due to swath sampling or decisions by the retrieval algorithm, the model has no gaps in its computed AOD field. There is aerosol under clouds, in glint and over bright surfaces including ice and snow. Also, unlike the satellite, the model is not limited to polar-orbiting overpass times of 10:30 and 13:30 LST. However, the beauty of the model is that we can sample the outputs in any way we want, including in a satellite-like manner (e.g., Schutgens et al., 2016; Colarco et al., 2014). Consider the partial orbits of Aqua and Terra around 12:00 UTC, specifically, the samplings of each MODIS between 11:30 and 12:30 UTC (Fig. 6). The light colors represent the swath of the MODIS track, and the dark colors represent where AOD was retrieved. Not only do the two tracks cover different parts of the world, each DT product retrieves less than 10 % (due to clouds, glint, bright surfaces, etc.) of the possible opportunities along the swath. Repeating the analysis of Fig. 6 at each hour for the entire year 2008 leads to two aggregations of the model for each satellite: the first represents the full MODIS swaths and the second represents the retrieval of the MODIS-DT products. Figure 7 is analogous to Figs. 3 and 4, except that instead of aggregating MYD04 versus MOD04 products, we have aggregated MERRA-2 outputs along the full MODIS swaths. Figure 7a and c show global AOD (at 0.55 µm) and AE (0.55 vs. 0.86 µm) at the afternoon (PM) overpass, analogous to global MODIS-A swath sampling in 2008. The aerosol hotspots are obvious, and most of the globe has low AOD. Figure 7b and d show the AOD and AE differences between MERRA-2 as if they were sampled during the morning (AM; like MODIS-T) instead of the afternoon (like MODIS-A) observation time. From Fig. 7, we can make some generalizations. First, the general patterns of the afternoon AOD (Fig. 7a) are similar to the aggregated MYD04 DT data (Fig. 3a). However, there are no gaps, because there are no DT retrieval decisions (e.g., masking). Most importantly, unlike the MODIS retrieval product (Fig. 6b), there is no overall AM–PM offset to the AOD (Fig. 3b). There are, however, regional differences to the offsets. Morning AOD tends to be lower for the biomass-burning regions over land, which is expected due to diurnal cycle of fire emissions (Boschetti and Roy, 2009). Over the ocean, there is even less variability from zero offset. For over-ocean AE (Fig. 7c), although the general patterns are similar to the MODIS retrieval products (Fig. 4a), the model outputs show lower AE, suggesting that the model has simulates larger particles than the retrievals. The outflow from equatorial Africa is one exception; the model reports much higher AE than the MODIS product, suggesting finer-sized particles. In addition, there are small positive and negative AM–PM differences, with no apparent systematic pattern. Generally, by comparing the model sampled in the morning to the afternoon sample, we see little evidence of global offsets to either AOD or AE. Figure 6Map of hourly swath and retrieval aggregation during ±30 min of 12:00 UTC on 28 May 2008. MODIS-T and MODIS-A swaths are in light red and blue shading, whereas retrieved pixels are a darker color. The arrows represent the direction of the satellite orbit across the equator (descending for Terra, ascending for Aqua). Figure 7Gridded (0.625∘ × 0.5∘) global mean AOD (at 0.55 µm – a, c) and AE (0.55/0.86 – b, d) µm for 2008, derived from sampling of MERRA-2 along the MODIS swaths. (a, b) Derived from PM sampling (like MODIS-A). (c, d) Difference between AM (MODIS-T) and PM (MODIS-A) swaths. Figure 8Gridded (0.625∘ × 0.5∘) global mean AOD (at 0.55 µm – a, c) and AE (0.55/0.86 – b, d) µm for 2008, derived from sampling of MERRA-2 along the MODIS retrievals. (a, b) Derived from PM sampling (like MYD04). (c, d) Difference between AM (MOD04) and PM (MYD04) sampling. However, due to clouds, glint and bright surfaces, less than 10 % of the area sampled is actually retrieved by the DT algorithm. Due to differences in cloud fraction between morning and afternoon orbits (e.g., King et al., 2013), there may be systematic differences in the aerosol sampling. For example, while heavy smoke conditions (high AOD, high AE) may be present throughout the day, preferentially cloudy conditions (AM or PM) would affect the sampling of these aerosol events and thus the AM–PM offsets. Figure 8 is analogous to Fig. 7 but represents the model being sampled where and when there is AOD reported in the MYD04 or MOD04 products. The overall AOD and AE patterns (e.g., Fig. 8a and c) are much like those from the entire swath (Fig. 7a and c) but with gaps exactly like the satellite retrievals (Figs. 3a and 4a). Comparing Fig. 8b and d with their counterparts in Fig. 7 shows that, by imposing satellite sampling, the variability of both AOD and AE offsets more resembles the satellite regional distributions. However, the mean offsets to both AOD and AE have not increased due to the imposition of satellite sampling. Sampling alone cannot explain the overall offset seen in the satellite data products. Except for the Amazon region, where both show negative offsets, there is not much resemblance between the AOD differences shown in Figs. 8c and 3b. Since Fig. 8c represents the expected offsets, the overall positive offset in Fig. 3b has probably masked some of the diurnal cycles expected in that figure. The overwhelming positive offset in Fig. 3b, especially over the oceans where the model shows very little difference, indicates there is a systematic difference in the two retrievals that could only be attributed to instrument calibration. 4 Testing calibration corrections The C6 MODIS products report persistent systematic offsets in the AOD and AE that cannot be explained by diurnal sampling differences, as was explored in the modeling exercise of Sect. 3. The next possible explanation for the offset is calibration. As explained by Lyapustin et al. (2014), although the MODIS Characterization Support Team (MCST) updated MODIS calibration to account for the severe trending observed in C5 data, there still may be offsets in C6. 4.1 C6+ corrections The MODIS DT retrieval algorithm is an inversion on multi-spectral data. The reality is that, due to the retrieval being a multi-channel inversion, changing one wavelength at a time leads to nonlinear changes in retrieved AOD and AE. However, the over-ocean-retrieved AOD is most sensitive to changes in the 0.86 µm channel (B2), because of the requirement that measured reflectance must exactly match retrieved reflectance at that wavelength. Changes to the 0.55 µm channel (B3), in turn preferentially impacts the retrieved AE. Over land, retrieval of AOD is most sensitive to changes in the blue (B3 = 0.47 µm) band. The spectral channels used in the retrieval algorithm are calibrated independently for each sensor and may drift differently over time. Based on monitoring bidirectional-reflectance function (BRDF) over the same pseudo-invariant (remote desert) surfaces as used by MCST, Lyapustin et al. (2014) devised a method for correcting the L1B reflectances. This method, known as C6+, accounts for changing sensitivity to polarization, corrects (as a function of wavelength band) residual trends in both Terra and Aqua, and then applies cross-calibration, assuming Aqua to be the more stable and better-characterized sensor. Thus, C6+ can be applied directly to the C6 L1B data, offering a corrected L1B that can be substituted for the standard L1B and be used to create alternative L2 data. In fact, the C6+ corrected data are already being applied upstream of the MODIS land-surface retrieval products in C6. There are corrections to both MODIS-T and MODIS-A data. Figure 9Impact of applying C6+ calibrations to MODIS-T reflectance data on 25 July 2008 at 16:25 UTC. Absolute differences in each wavelength band. The C6+ calibration involves three steps. The first step is conducting polarization correction (e.g., Meister et al., 2014, 2005; Kwiatkowska et al., 2008). Polarization correction is complicated, because there are both angular (dependence on scan angle and across-track position) and mirror side/optics dependencies (dependence on scanline/detector and along-track position). The corrections may even be of opposite polarities depending on position across-track and along-track. At the same time, the polarization correction is dependent on the scene itself. Rayleigh-scattering (molecular)-dominated scenes (minimal aerosol over dark surfaces) require the largest relative correction. After polarization correction and for each sensor, C6+ assumes that performance was optimal at the beginning of its mission, and that MODIS-A is more stable than MODIS-T overall. Using the quasi-stable desert scenes corrects for the drifts as well as the initial offsets. Lyapustin et al. (2014) presented formulas (polarization + detrend + cross-calibration) to correct four of the bands (B1, B2, B3, B4) used in the DT retrieval, plus B8 (0.41 µm) used in the deep-blue retrieval (Hsu et al., 2012). More recently this team (Yujie Wang, personal communication, 2016) expanded the correction to include the remaining bands (B5, B6, B7) used in the DT retrieval. The magnitude and polarity of the correction for any MODIS-T or MODIS-A pixel depends on the wavelength band, scan angle, across-track position, along-track detector/scan and the scene itself. Due to the complicated nature of the C6+ correction, and its convolution with the non-linearity of the DT aerosol retrievals over land versus over ocean, we cannot easily perform sensitivity tests. Therefore, we have chosen to use brute force and have applied the C6+ correction upstream of our C6 aerosol retrieval algorithm. We use the same operational processing structure as MODAPS but substitute the corrected L1B data for the archived (LAADS) data. Figure 10Impact of applying C6+ calibrations to MODIS-T reflectance data on 25 July 2008 at 16:25 UTC. Relative differences in each wavelength band. Figures 9 and 10 show absolute difference (ρC6+-ρC6) and relative (ρC6+-ρC6)/ρC6 difference to reflectance when applying the C6+ correction for a mostly clear-sky case over the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico (25 July 2008). Note that these reflectance units are different to those reported in L1B, because they are from the L2 aerosol product and are normalized for solar zenith angle. Note also that reflectance is only plotted where an aerosol retrieval was attempted, so cloud-masked pixels are not plotted (as per the DT aerosol retrieval). At the same time, we intercept the reflectances before the glint mask is applied during the aerosol retrieval, so one can see the glint patterns in the reflectance. Figure 11Impact of applying C6+ calibration corrections to the MxD04 AOD (a, c) and AE (b, d) products. Panels (a, b) show impact on MOD04 (Terra), whereas panels (c, d) show impact on MYD04 (Aqua). Figure 12Histograms of the C6+ corrections on the Terra–Aqua AOD differences during 2008 over land (a) and ocean (b). Histograms are derived from comparing gridded AOD. The C6+ correction provides only a tiny relative change (0.2 %) to B2 (0.86 µm) over this scene. Whether over land, dark ocean or glint (near center of image), the C6+ makes approximately the same overall correction to B2. However, for B3 (0.47 µm), the C6+ correction has scan-angle dependence and leads to reduced (most of the image) or increased reflectance (just to the left of glint). Some of these changes approach 3 %. The relative patterns of decrease and increase shift from wavelength to wavelength, although most reflectance values are reduced using C6+. The high scattering angle dependence of correction for shortwave channels (0.47–0.65 µm in Fig. 9a, b and c) indicates that correction is mainly due to polarization, while for a longer wavelength, the correction is more homogenous over the entire scene, mainly due to detrending of these channels. These correction characteristics clearly should have implications for the retrieval of global AOD and AE during 2008. We apply the C6+ corrections to both MODIS-T and MODIS-A data sets for the entirety of 2008. Figure 11 shows the differences to the global AOD when C6+ is applied to each sensor. There is very little overall change to the over-ocean AOD in either MODIS data set. Over land, both sensors show a reduced AOD with C6+ but with a larger decrease in MODIS-T. Since plotting gridded C6+ offsets will be indistinguishable from Figs. 3b or 4b, we plot histograms of the offsets (Fig. 12). Over ocean, because of only tiny changes to MODIS-T in the B2 band, the gridded annual mean differences have not budged. Over land, after a decrease in both sensors' AODs, the peak of the offsets decreased by ∼ 0.01 – in the right direction. Because the C6+ calibration did not have a large impact on the 0.86 µm band, the distribution of the AOD offsets (MOD04-MYD04) did not decrease significantly over ocean. However, due to more significant changes to the 0.55 and 0.65 µm bands (Fig. 9), AE changed in unequal and opposite directions for each sensor (Fig. 11c and d). This significantly changed the AE offsets (Fig. 13). Instead of being consistently negative in C6 (Fig. 4b), there are both regions of positive and negative AE offsets (Fig. 13) after the C6+ correction. Smoke regions (especially in the tropics) show larger AE (smaller particles) for MODIS-T versus MODIS-A, while dust regions and the extratropics show smaller AEs (larger particles) for MODIS-T. This AE offset pattern, while averaging closer to zero, still has significantly more variability than that expected by the model. 4.2 Other corrections Applying the C6+ calibration correction appears to have reduced the average AOD offset over land. Over ocean, the average AOD offset was unchanged, but the average AE offset decreased. The C6+ was based on obtaining BRDF over pseudo-invariant desert sites. Other investigators have attempted to improve the C6 calibration, comparing measurements over other types of surfaces or scenes, including a site in Antarctica (Dome C) and over deep convective clouds. For example, Doelling et al. (2015) compared the two MODIS sensors using observations from nearly simultaneous nadir overpasses (NSNOs). Although Terra and Aqua have orbits in opposite directions, their orbits nearly cross each other 14 times per day. Nadir crosses only happen at ∼ 68.3∘ latitude; however, if small angular and time differences are tolerated, then off-nadir comparisons and corrections can also be performed. The NSNO method, while straightforward, assumes all differences are radiometric and not polarization or angle dependent. Nonetheless, this method provides time-dependent cross-sensor coefficients, effectively tuning MODIS-T to MODIS-A. Figure 13Impact of the C6+ corrections on the Terra–Aqua AE (0.55/0.86 µm) differences during 2008. Compared to Fig. 4b, the overall global bias is reduced. Overall, the mean scaling providing Table III of Doelling et al. (2015) appears to be similar in polarity to the cross-calibration factors provided by Table 3 of Lyapustin et al. (2014). For example, both studies suggest that in B3 (0.47 µm), MODIS-T has a high bias (by ∼ < 1 %) and should be multiplied by ∼ 0.991. Both studies also suggest MODIS-T has a low bias (by ∼ 1.5 %) in B1 (0.65 µm) and should be multiplied by ∼ 1.015. However, they appear to differ in their B2 (0.86 µm) corrections, with Lyapustin et al. (2014) suggesting they should be multiplied by 1.006 but Doelling et al. (2015) suggesting 0.994. Of course, these apparent discrepancies may be canceled out due to different methods: Lyapustin et al. (2014) detrends each sensor independently and then applies cross-calibration, whereas Doelling et al. (2015) convolves the two processes. Nonetheless, both papers suggest that B2 needs correction. We used Table III of Doelling et al. (2015) to estimate scaling coefficients appropriate for 2008, and we tested them by applying them directly within the aerosol retrieval (rather than the upstream C6+ code). When reading L1B, we applied coefficients (based on nadir NSNO) to each band of MODIS-T. Except for B5 (1.24 µm), which we reduced by approximately 3 %, and B1, which was increased by 1.5 %, most other bands were adjusted by less than 1 % either way. Overall, the results were similar to those when applying C6+. The mean AOD offset over ocean remained, but it was reduced over land (but not to zero). The mean offset for AE was adjusted toward zero, but the spatial patterns of Fig. 4b generally remained. Figure 14Differences between the C6.1 and C6 MOD04 (Terra) product for AOD (a) and AE (b). Note that the color scales are identical to those in Figs. 3b and 4b. 5 Collection 6.1 The radiometric calibration for C6 was based on the combination of prelaunch, solar diffuser, moon observations and selected targets on Earth. When C6 processing began in 2012, calibration coefficients were derived in order to smoothly connect the beginning of the mission through to 2012 (reprocessing). As long as the instrument performance did not change too quickly, the C6 methodology could be used for forward processing. However, by early 2016, some of the TEBs for MODIS-T were becoming unusable. Since the beginning of our analysis of the C6 differences between Terra and Aqua aerosol products, the MODIS team has released an updated collection denoted by C6.1 (https://modis-atmosphere.gsfc.nasa.gov/documentation/collection-61, last access: 27 June 2018). The primary purpose of C6.1 was to correct for the TIR issues which had resulted in a failure of the standard MODIS cloud mask algorithm, affecting all other downstream algorithms using MOD35 as input. This included the DT aerosol retrieval for MOD04. The DT team used the opportunity to make modest improvements to the retrieval algorithm, including (a) to include the corrections for urban surfaces (Gupta et al., 2016), (b) to revise the logic regarding detecting or rejecting ocean pixels using the 1.63 µm band and (c) additional diagnostic changes that affected the output-retrieved AOD or AE. Therefore, if applied to the same C6 L1B input (not corrected with C6+), there are minimal global differences between products of the C6.1 and C6 DT aerosol algorithms. However, with the recent completion (December 2017) of C6.1 reprocessing for MODIS-T (including 2008), we tested whether the updates to upstream L1B and cloud mask (MOD35) would together affect the MOD04 data and therefore help to reduce the MOD04 – MYD04 offsets in the C6 products. While there were also changes to calibration coefficients for the MODIS-T RSB bands, we can confirm that the difference to L1B reflectance is negligible for 2008 data. Therefore, any global differences between C6.1 and C6 aerosol products would be dominated by the upstream pixel selections and not by RSB calibration. Figure 14 shows the differences (panel a: AOD and panel b: AE) between C6.1 and C6 for MOD04 (Terra) during 2008, showing only small changes in global AOD and AE. On average, AOD increased over ocean by about 0.001 and decreased over land by similar magnitude, which are much less than the desired changes (e.g., Figs. 3b and 4b). The changes from C6 to C6.1 may alleviate some of the AOD offsets over land in 2008 (maybe as much as 10–20 % of the bias in some places) but will exacerbate the bias over ocean by about the same percentage. Likewise changes from C6 to C6.1 will only affect the annual mean biases in AE by 10–20 %, both positively and negatively. The changes introduced by C6.1 are just too small to eliminate the Terra–Aqua differences that were identified and explored in the analysis presented above. We note that the changes to C6.1 L1B products are temporally dependent, so we might expect larger differences between C6 and C6.1 in later years (especially after 2015). We also have not yet analyzed C6.1 MYD04 data (Aqua C6.1 reprocessing began on 28 December 2017). Thus, there may be slightly different consequences to the aerosol products than are shown here for 2008. However, given the small magnitude seen in 2008 and expected through the entire time series, it is unlikely that the C6.1 changes will provide the fix necessary to bring the Terra and Aqua aerosol products into agreement. The DT aerosol retrieval has been applied to MODIS-T data since 2000 and MODIS-A data since 2002. Time series of the C6 products (MOD04 and MYD04) are almost in lockstep (Fig. 1). However, compared to MODIS-A (afternoon overpass), the global mean MOD04 (morning overpass) shows consistently higher AOD at 0.55 µm (by ∼ 0.015–0.02 or ∼ 13 %) over both land and ocean. At the same time, there is a 0.005 decade−1 trend to this offset over ocean and increasing seasonal variability over land after 2011. Focusing on 2008, we studied the AOD offset. Over ocean, the offset appears everywhere, regardless of the overpass time difference (4.5 h in SH midlatitudes, 1.5 h in NH). Over land, there is more variability in the offset, but only known biomass-burning regions display a negative offset (morning AOD is lower than afternoon). Over ocean, we also see that there are consistent offsets in the spectral AOD, as demonstrated by the Ångström exponent (AE), showing that MODIS-T reports lower AE globally by about 0.05. We used the GEOS-5 replay model output to question the observed global offsets in AOD and AE. When we sample the model along the MODIS swaths (Terra and Aqua separately, then take the differences), most of the globe appears to have no AOD or AE offsets. However, we might expect to observe negative offsets (morning AOD lower than afternoon) in the biomass-burning regions. As we sample the model only for the MxD04 retrievals (MOD04 and MYD04 separately and then take the differences), we see increasing variability in both AOD and AE offsets. This is due to differences in cloudiness between the morning and afternoon, which is convolved into the MODIS data. There is the suggestion of a more generalized offset to AE but not approaching the magnitudes seen from the satellite retrieval products. Of course, we cannot yet rule out other physical reasons for the offsets. For example, although the retrieval algorithm corrects for gas absorptions (column water vapor, ozone, etc.; Patadia et al., 2018), unaccounted differences between morning and afternoon (for example if 12:00 UTC water vapor was assumed for both 10:30 and 13:30 overpasses) could lead to systematic biases in retrieved AOD. We should consider that the aerosol optical properties themselves (e.g., refractive index, size/shape distribution) could be wrong and also lead to generalized AOD bias compared to AERONET (e.g., Ichoku et al., 2003; Eck et al., 2013). Additionally, if there were differences in optical properties which were not accounted for and due to very late-morning cloud processing (e.g., Eck et al., 2012), one might see offsets between AM and PM, and different offsets between AM and PM versus AERONET. Although the current modeling framework (e.g., our MERRA-2 sampling) does not suggest that it leads to a global offset, this is definitely a topic for further study. Since the Terra–Aqua bias is so similar to the difference between Terra–AERONET and Aqua–AERONET (Terra–Aqua = Terra–AERONET − Aqua–AERONET), we suspected the MODIS calibration. We tried two alternative calibration efforts, both of which could be applied upstream of the aerosol retrieval. The first, known as C6+ (Lyapustin et al., 2014), included polarization and angular correction for each sensor, a detrend for each sensor, and then cross-calibration to normalize Terra to Aqua. The second (Doelling et al., 2015) does not apply a polarization correction and convolves the detrending and cross-calibration into scaling factors. Each method was applied upstream of the aerosol retrieval using 2008 data. Both methods reduced the overall AOD offset over land from 0.02 to 0.01 but did not significantly affect the overall offset over ocean. The mean negative offset for AE was reduced to zero; however, this led to positive offsets in AE for smoke outflow regions. After calibration, this would translate to MODIS-T interpreting small particles as being larger than MODIS-A, and interpreting large particles as being smaller than MODIS-A. That the two calibration efforts did not remove the offsets entirely, however, does not mean that calibration is not the culprit. Not only is calibration in the bands used for the aerosol retrieval (e.g., B1–B7), but thermal infrared channels and 1.38 µm bands are used for cloud detection and masking. Clearly, more analysis is required. The MODIS Atmosphere Science Team recently began processing the C6.1 family of products, primarily to address issues related to thermal infrared bands and impacts on the standard cloud mask for MODIS-T. There was no major change to the methodology of the MCST reflective band calibration for MODIS-T. Except for improvements over urban regions, the C6.1 aerosol retrieval is also nearly unchanged. Thus, based on comparing the C6.1 aerosol product with C6 during 2008, we expect there to be no change to the overall offsets to both AOD and AE. However, since 2011 (beginning of C6 processing), additional reflective bands (on both MODIS-T and MODIS-A) have strayed more than 2 %, so there are revisions to overall calibration that may show apparent effects of the two time series in later years (well after 2008) (https://modis-atmosphere.gsfc.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/ModAtmo/C061_L1B_Combined_v10.pdf, last access: 27 June 2018). Thus, although we expect continued overall offsets between Terra and Aqua DT aerosol products, the trend and variability of the offset (e.g., Fig. 1) may change. The Science Team will continue to monitor, compare and attempt alternative calibrations for the Terra and Aqua aerosol products to the end of the satellite missions. At the same time, we will test the aerosol retrieval with new versions of C6+ or other types of additional corrections and determine whether offsets/biases/trends of the aerosol product can be reduced for future collections. In the meantime, users of the products should not interpret differences between Terra and Aqua aerosol products as representing a true diurnal signal in the aerosol, unless magnitudes of the observed signal greatly exceed the biases described here. However, because collocated comparisons between MODIS aerosol retrievals and AERONET observations show Terra with a larger high bias, the recommendation is to rely more on Aqua retrievals for quantitative long-term climate-related applications. On the other hand, we note that the bias in AOD is only ∼ 0.02, which is the noise level for short-term applications such as air quality forecasting, and thus both Terra and Aqua aerosol products provide adequate quantification for these types of uses. Data availability. For accessing information (including doi information and links for downloading) on the MODIS aerosol product (MxD04) and gridded product (MxD08), please use https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/dataprod/mod04.php (last access: 27 June 2018; Levy et al., 2015a, b) and https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/dataprod/mod08.php (last access: 27 June 2018; Platnick et al., 2015a, b). The AERONET team (GSFC and site PIs) are thanked for the creation and continued stewardship of the sun photometer data record, which is available from https://aeronet.gsfc.nasa.gov/ (last access: 27 June 2018). Author contributions. RCL is the PI of the MODIS DT project and led the research effort. SM is the lead programmer for the MODIS-DT project; she maintained the C6/C6.1 products and ran the experiments with the different calibrations. VS and YS performed the analyses and prepared most of the figures. PRC provided the MERRA/GEOS-5 model output and interpretation. AIL and YW are responsible for the C6+ calibration and provided code to implement C6+ within the DT structure. LAR advised the analysis, helped to organize the structure of the paper, and provided thorough edits. Competing interests. Acknowledgements. This work was supported by the NASA ROSES program NNH13ZDA001N-TERAQEA: Terra and Aqua – Algorithms – Existing Data Products and NASA's EOS program managed by Hal Maring. 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Wiscombe, W. J.: Improved Mie scattering algorithms, Appl. Optics, 19, 1505–1509, https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.19.001505, 1980. Wu, A., Xiong, X., Doelling, D. R., Morstad, D., Angal, A., and Bhatt, R.: Characterization of Terra and Aqua MODIS VIS, NIR, and SWIR Spectral Bands' Calibration Stability, IEEE T. Geosci. Remote, 51, 4330–4338, https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2012.2226588, 2011. Xiong, X. and Barnes, W.: An overview of MODIS radiometric calibration and characterization, Adv. Atmos. Sci., 23, 69–79, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-006-0008-3, 2006. Yoon, J., von Hoyningen-Huene, W., Kokhanovsky, A. A., Vountas, M., and Burrows, J. P.: Trend analysis of aerosol optical thickness and Ångström exponent derived from the global AERONET spectral observations, Atmos. Meas. Tech., 5, 1271–1299, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-5-1271-2012, 2012. Yu, H., Kaufman, Y. J., Chin, M., Feingold, G., Remer, L. A., Anderson, T. L., Balkanski, Y., Bellouin, N., Boucher, O., Christopher, S., DeCola, P., Kahn, R., Koch, D., Loeb, N., Reddy, M. S., Schulz, M., Takemura, T., and Zhou, M.: A review of measurement-based assessments of the aerosol direct radiative effect and forcing, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 6, 613–666, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-6-613-2006, 2006. Zhang, J. and Reid, J. S.: A decadal regional and global trend analysis of the aerosol optical depth using a data-assimilation grade over-water MODIS and Level 2 MISR aerosol products, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 10, 10949–10963, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-10-10949-2010, 2010. Zhang, Y., Yu, H., Eck, T. F., Smirnov, A., Chin, M., Remer, L. A., Bian, H., Tan, Q., Levy, R., Holben, B. N., and Piazzolla, S.: Aerosol daytime variations over North and South America derived from multiyear AERONET measurements, J. Geophys. Res., 117, D05211, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JD017242, 2012. Global aerosol data sets are essential for assessing climate-related questions. When comparing data sets derived from twin satellite sensors, we find consistent global offsets between morning and afternoon observations. Applying satellite-like sampling to a global model derives much weaker morning/afternoon offsets, suggesting that the observational differences are due to calibration. However, applying additional calibration corrections appears to reduce (but not remove) the global offsets. Global aerosol data sets are essential for assessing climate-related questions. When comparing...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1701
__label__cc	0.604065	0.395935	Ethnic Armed Actors and Justice Provision in Myanmar By Brian McCartan, Kim Jolliffe As a result of decades of ongoing civil war, large areas of Myanmar remain outside government rule, or are subject to mixed control and governance by the government and an array of ethnic armed actors (EAAs). These included ethnic armed organizations, with ceasefires or in conflict with the state, as well as state-backed ethnic paramilitary organizations, such as the Border Guard Forces and People’s Militia Forces. Despite this complexity, order has been created in these areas, in large part through customary justice mechanisms at the community level, and as a result of justice systems administered by EAAs. Though the rule of law and the workings of Myanmar’s justice system are receiving increasing attention, the role and structure of EAA justice systems and village justice remain little known and therefore, poorly understood. As such, The Asia Foundation is pleased to present this research on justice provision and ethnic armed actors in Myanmar. Burmese version Policy Brief (Burmese version) Related locations: Myanmar Related programs: Conflict and Fragile Conditions Related topics: Peace & Conflict in Myanmar	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1703
__label__cc	0.565321	0.434679	Cefepime Hydrochloride for Injection (Maxipime) Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In clinical trials using multiple doses of cefepime, 4137 patients were treated with the recommended dosages of cefepime (500 mg to 2 g intravenous every 12 hours). There were no deaths or permanent disabilities thought related to drug toxicity. Sixty-four (1.5%) patients discontinued medication due to adverse events thought by the investigators to be possibly, probably, or almost certainly related to drug toxicity. Thirty-three (51%) of these 64 patients who discontinued therapy did so because of rash. The percentage of cefepime-treated patients who discontinued study drug because of drug-related adverse events was very similar at daily doses of 500 mg, 1 g, and 2 g every 12 hours (0.8%, 1.1%, and 2 %, respectively). However, the incidence of discontinuation due to rash increased with the higher recommended doses. The following adverse events were thought to be probably related to cefepime during evaluation of the drug in clinical trials conducted in North America (n=3125 cefepime-treated patients). Table 10: Adverse Reactions Cefepime Multiple-Dose Dosing Regimens Clinical Trials—North America INCIDENCE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN 1% Local reactions (3 %), including phlebitis (1.3%), pain and/or inflammation (0.6%); rash(1.1%) INCIDENCE LESS THAN 1% BUT GREATER THAN 0.1% Colitis(including pseudomembranous colitis), diarrhea, fever, headache, nausea, oral moniliasis,pruritus,urticaria, vaginitis, vomiting Local reactions, irrespective of relationship to cefepime in those patients who received intravenous infusion (n=3048). At the higher dose of 2 g every 8 hours, the incidence of probably-related adverse events was higher among the 795 patients who received this dose of cefepime. They consisted of rash (4%), diarrhea (3%), nausea (2%), vomiting (1%), pruritus (1%), fever (1%), and headache (1%). The following adverse laboratory changes, irrespective of relationship to therapy with cefepime, were seen during clinical trials conducted in North America. Table 11: Adverse Laboratory Changes Cefepime Multiple-Dose Dosing Regimens Clinical Trials—North America INCIDENCE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN 1% Positive Coombs' test (without hemolysis) (16.2%); decreased phosphorus (2.8%); increased ALT/SGPT (2.8%), AST/SGOT (2.4%), eosinophils (1.7%); abnormal PTT (1.6%), PT (1.4%) INCIDENCE LESS THAN 1% BUT GREATER THAN 0.1% Increased alkaline phosphatase, BUN, calcium, creatinine, phosphorus, potassium, total bilirubin; decreased calcium, hematocrit, neutrophils, platelets, WBC Hypocalcemia was more common among elderly patients. Clinical consequences from changes in either calcium or phosphorus were not reported. A similar safety profile was seen in clinical trials of pediatric patients (see PRECAUTIONS: Pediatric Use). Postmarketing Experience In addition to the events reported during North American clinical trials with cefepime, the following adverse experiences have been reported during worldwide postmarketing experience. Encephalopathy (disturbance of consciousness including confusion, hallucinations, stupor, and coma), myoclonus, seizures, and nonconvulsive status epilepticus have been reported. Although most cases occurred in patients with renal impairment who received doses of cefepime that exceeded the recommended dosage schedules, some cases of neurotoxicity occurred in patients receiving an appropriate dosage adjustment for their degree of renal impairment. If neurotoxicity associated with cefepime therapy occurs, consider discontinuing cefepime or making appropriate dosage adjustments in patients with renal impairment. (See WARNINGS). As with other cephalosporins, anaphylaxis including anaphylactic shock, transient leukopenia, neutropenia, agranulocytosis and thrombocytopenia have been reported. Cephalosporin-Class Adverse Reactions In addition to the adverse reactions listed above that have been observed in patients treated with cefepime, the following adverse reactions and altered laboratory tests have been reported for cephalosporin-class antibiotics: Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, renal dysfunction, toxic nephropathy, aplastic anemia, hemolytic anemia, hemorrhage, hepatic dysfunction including cholestasis, and pancytopenia.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1707
__label__cc	0.657613	0.342387	Munich Airport and Moscow Domodedovo Sign Sister Airport Agreement Photo: shutterstock.com Munich Airport and Moscow Domodedovo Airport are forging closer ties: at a special ceremony, the top managers of the two hubs, Dr. Dmitriy Kamenshchik, Chairman of the Board Moscow Domodedovo Airport Group and Dr. Michael Kerkloh, the President and CEO of Munich Airport, signed a cooperation agreement. The aim of the partnership is a systematic knowledge transfer for employees and managers on both sides. It will include such activities as exchange programs that will give employees an up-close look at the daily workings and processes of the partner airport. The “sister airport agreement”, as it is known, also calls for an intensive exchange of ideas with regard to terminal planning, IT, real estate development, security and digitalization. Moscow Domodedovo Airport is a leading airport in Russia and Eastern Europe, has been chosen as Eastern Europe’s best airport for seven consecutive years. The title is granted annually by the London-based aviation research institute Skytrax. Munich’s hub is Europe’s only five-star airport and recently won the title “best terminal” for Terminal 2. “Munich and Moscow is a partnership between equals. The continuous interactions with our sister airports in America, Asia and Africa help us to maintain and improve on our high quality standards. That makes it an even greater pleasure for me to welcome our first sister airport in Eastern Europe,” said Munich Airport CEO Dr. Michael Kerkloh, highlighting the importance he places on international networking. Moscow-Domodedovo joins Denver, Nagoya, Airports of Thailand, Singapore, Beijing and Airports Company South Africa as Munich’s seventh sister airport. Source: Munich Airport Press Release Domodedovo AirportMunich Airportpartnershipsister airporrt	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1716
__label__cc	0.513478	0.486522	Are the Cavaliers safe to make it out of the East? Martin Soaries The Cleveland Cavaliers are the big bad wolf of the Eastern Conference, in fact that’s been the case of LeBron’s teams since his first season in Miami in 2010-11. LeBron’s return to Cleveland was followed by his full endorsement of making the deal for Kevin Love, which hasn’t always been pitch perfect, but LeBron understood the value of having a Big 3 formed with himself, Love, and Kyrie Irving. In the last two regular seasons the Cavs are 110-54. The team hadn’t cracked 35 wins in the prior four seasons during LeBron’s absence. Over the last five years the Eastern Conference simply hasn’t featured the likes of any formidable challengers against LeBron. The Pierce-Ray-KG Boston Celtics were the last true powerhouse outside of LeBron in the East — we did see Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah’s Bulls and Paul George’s Pacers emerge as mere pests against LeBron’s Miami teams, and last season we saw the Atlanta Hawks erupt for a franchise-best 60-win season only to be swept by the Cavaliers in the conference finals. This season the Eastern Conference took an interesting and diverse competitive shape. While there still isn’t one team with the depth of talent to fully match Cleveland’s, we have four core teams in the East that are capable of hurting the Cavs for different reasons. The Miami Heat probably have the most talent to combat Cleveland with, which would be even more so the case if they had Chris Bosh. Dragic, Wade, and Whiteside plus Joe Johnson is still pretty high grade firepower. The Toronto Raptors rightfully earned their place as the East’s second best team in the regular season. Their discouraging first round Game 1 loss at the hands of the Pacers might have dropped their potential stock, but the East’s best backcourt in Lowry/DeRozan is what gives them a chance against the Cavs. The Boston Celtics are resilient, deep, and disciplined. What gives them a fighting chance against any team in the league is their commitment to team basketball and execution. Their style of play and internal toughness makes them a hard out for the Cavs, like they showed on Feb. 5 when they won in Cleveland on an Avery Bradley buzzer-beating three-pointer. The Atlanta Hawks, like the Celtics, play with that fortitude and discipline needed to contend with top-tier talent. As opposed to last season, which was emphasized by their dynamic offense, the Hawks are now more defensive-minded, but are still efficient and balanced offensively. Each of these teams presents a different kind of test for Cleveland. Are any of them prepared to match up with the Cavs talent-wise? Again, I think Miami would be the only team you could say that about if they had Chris Bosh, but the Heat are still the closest to it. Like we saw on Sunday, the Cavaliers can win games solely on the production of their Big 3. What we also saw was an eighth-seeded Pistons team that had success going right at the Cavs, who still aren’t an elite defensive team. It would take a massive effort by any of these teams to actually beat the Cavs four out of seven times, but while the Cavs are clearly the dominant force in the East, we know by now that they’re not unbeatable. With the Cavs healthy, yes, they’re safe to make it out of the East, but I do feel that this year’s conference foes are more capable of testing LeBron than in years past, meaning if Cleveland provides the slightest bit of breathing room in future rounds, they might not be as safe as we think. Previous articleNBA Awards Roundtable Next articleInjury Decimated Mavericks Looking to Bounce Back in Game 2 Martin is the Founder, Chief Editor, and Head Skills Development Trainer for Basketball Society. He has work experience in digital media and marketing, radio, and journalism. Currently, he does freelance work as a videographer and content creator. He has been featured as a writer on sites such as Def Pen, TV Film News, All Hip-Hop, and more. Martin played high school basketball at South Brunswick High School (NJ) where he graduated in 2007. He is a 1,000-point scorer at SBHS and an All-Middlesex County performer as a 3-year varsity starter. He helped lead SBHS to their first-ever Central Jersey Group 4 sectional state championship in 2007. Martin played college basketball at Eastern University, where he graduated (BA, Communications) in 2012. Martin was a four-year starter and a 1,000-point scorer at EU. Follow Martin on Twitter @Marsoaries and on Instagram @martin_soaries Pat McMahon - April 23, 2020 School: Baylor Year: Sophomore Height/Weight: 6’3, 190 lbs Strengths: Jared Butler is a very smart and skilled point guard who's NBA draft stock skyrocketed after leading Baylor to a... If You Are Mad At Kyrie Irving, You Are On the... What happened to former NBA point guard Ty Lawson?	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1719
__label__wiki	0.8817	0.8817	Life after Brexit: How it will affect YOU. As of the 1st of February, the United Kingdom will officially no longer be a member of the EU. In reality, very little will change immediately after January 31. The UK will enter into a transition period lasting until 31 December of 2020, and during this period, EU rules will continue to apply. MALTESE NATIONALS CURRENTLY RESIDING IN THE UK After January 31, EU citizens including Maltese nationals who have been living in the UK for at least five years, will be entitled to a new document called Pre Settled or Settled status, which they need to apply for, unless they have a British passport or citizenship. The Settled Status applies to those who have been living in the UK for at least five continuous years, while the Pre Settled Status applies to those who have been living in the country for less than five years. “The proper details have not been issued yet. What is certain is that by the end of next March, they will not have to leave however there will be a period of transition, even a two-year period during which a person may review his status if needed”, Foreign Affairs Minister, Carmelo Abela shares. Applications for this new status will be received till the end of June 2021, while European citizens in the UK will not lose any of their current benefits. The Maltese Government is encouraging the Maltese to prepare for this document by registering on the UK’s Home Office website so that they are updated on latest development in this regard. UK NATIONALS CURRENTLY RESIDING IN MALTA The Withdrawal Agreement ensures that UK nationals who currently reside in Malta (prior to Jan 31) have access to life-long rights such as healthcare and pension, and will be able to roam in and out of the island freely. The Withdrawal Agreement also covers close and existing family members. Officials from Identity Malta also confirmed that they will soon begin the process of contacting all registered UK nationals in Malta to inform them on how to apply for the new ‘Residency Card’. The new card will be issued free of charge and needs to be renewed every ten years. The new Residency Card will be available to UK nationals who are resident in Malta prior to 31 December 2020. To be considered resident in Malta, you must have lived in Malta for at least 3 months. Identity Malta will write to all registered UK nationals informing them of how and when to apply. All UK nationals resident in Malta must apply by 30 June 2021. In the meantime, existing Residency Cards will remain valid. The Maltese government has also provided a helpline number for UK nationals: Dial 153.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1720
__label__wiki	0.599681	0.599681	University of Malta Ranks In Top 8.9% Universities Worldwide In yet another sign of success for Malta’s foremost national tertiary education institution, the University of Malta has been ranked in the top 8.9% out of 20,000 universities worldwide. This is according to the Centre for World University Rankings’ (CWUR) latest list, issued online on Monday 8 June. CWUR is a consulting organisation that provides policy advice, strategic insights and consulting services towards the improvement of educational and research outcomes. The CWUR portal rankings do not rely on surveys and university data submissions; therefore, its indicators are purely objective. Each of the 20,000 universities were analysed and given an overall score out of 100 based on four key pillars: 1 – quality of education, measured by the number of the university’s alumni who have won major academic distinctions, accounting for 25% of the score; 2- alumni employment, measured by the number of alumni who have held top executive positions at the world’s largest companies, accounting for 25% of the score; 3 – quality of faculty/ies, measured by the number of faculty members who have won major academic distinctions, accounting for 10% of the score; 4 – research performance, measured by the total number of research projects by academia, the number of research articles appearing in top-tier journals; the number of articles appearing in top-tier journals, the number of articles appearing in highly-influential journals, and the number of highly-cited research articles, accounting for 40% of the score. With an overall score of 66.7, the University of Malta scored highly especially in the Research Performance Rank – for which it ranked among the top 8.4% of universities worldwide. UM Rector, Prof. Alfred J. Vella, said “this is another positive sign that the University is reaffirming its role as a changemaker in society, not just as a teaching institution, but, more prominently, as a research hub that promotes research-based inquiry.” While also attributing the success to the brilliant minds of the academia and the staff employed by the University, Prof. Vella also said that the way the funding being received by various entities is being carefully utilised is also leading to increased investments in research facilities and, ultimately, the Maltese economy, which is a “much-needed cog in the regeneration of the Maltese economy post-COVID-19”.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1721
__label__wiki	0.796274	0.796274	Rugby Australia deny foul play over Rugby Championship schedule Study highlights need for genetic testing for Kentucky patients with lung cancer U.S. Labor Department could make it easier to treat workers as independent contractors Trump to ban US TikTok and WeChat app store downloads on September 20th Parents accused of child abuse over water-skiing six-month old son Wasps chief warns of deep cuts without government support Amyloid deposits not associated with depression in the elderly French foreign minister defends role in Tiffany/LVMH letter LG Wing hands-on: it’s weird, but it works Factory caught washing, ‘recycling’ and re-selling over 300,000 used condoms Fake Drama Stuff that matters October 4, 2020 September 28, 2020 backtobethesdaorg Business The U.S. Department of Labor on Tuesday said it would soon propose a rule that could make it easier to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees, a major issue for the “gig economy” and other industries that use contractors to contain costs. During a phone call with reporters, senior department officials said the rule, if adopted, would provide courts with a “cleaner and easier-to-use process” than the complex multi-factor test currently applied in lawsuits alleging workers have been misclassified. Independent contractors are not entitled to many of the legal protections afforded to employees, such as minimum wage and overtime pay. Employees can cost companies up to 40% more than contractors, according to several studies. The labor department will publish a formal proposal by next week, the officials said, and adopt a final rule by the end of the year. Under the proposal, a worker would be considered a company’s employee if he or she is economically dependent on the company for work. But a worker who operates an independent business and has opportunities for profit or loss would be deemed an independent contractor. The proposal comes as Uber Technologies Inc and other gig economy firms are challenging a California law adopted last year that makes it more difficult to treat workers as independent contractors. Uber and courier service Postmates Inc have filed a lawsuit claiming the law is unconstitutional. The companies also have launched a campaign to urge California voters to approve a ballot referendum in November that would exempt app-based services from the scope of the law. The upcoming proposal by the labor department would not override stricter state laws. But it would likely make it more difficult for workers to bring nationwide class-action lawsuits claiming they have been misclassified as independent contractors.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1726
__label__wiki	0.914047	0.914047	THE DIAL REVIEWS From The Magazine of Art “Art in December”: Review of The Dial, Vol. 1 The Dial, edited by Charles H. Shannon and Charles Ricketts, and published by Charles H. Shannon, is the first number of the series “-that is all we know-” but whether it is to be published monthly or quarterly, or only when these two artists have got together material enough for another issue, we are not informed. From The Athenæum “The Dial”: Review of The Dial, Vol. 1 The Dial, edited by C. H. Shannon and C. S. Ricketts, the First Number of the Series (The Vale, King’s Road, Chelsea), has assumed an honoured name; but notwithstanding the energy of its promoters, the real beauty, of a sort, of the leading illustration (the meaning of which we have not fathomed), and the cleverness of an initial letter or two, the “first number” is likely to be the last of the series. From The Spectator “Current Literature”: Review of The Dial, Vol. 1 There has just been issued the first number of a new artistic periodical, entitled the Dial, edited by Messrs. C.H. Shannon and C. Ricketts, and published by the former at The Vale, King’s Road, Chelsea. From The Saturday Review “New Books and Reprints”: Review of The Dial, Vol. 1-2 To be insensible of the peril and darkness of their condition is the mark of the unregenerate, and there by many, we fear, who could realize some glimmering of the dark and distressful state of art in this country only from a conscientious study of The Dial, an occasional publication, edited by Messrs. C. Ricketts and C. H. Shannon. From The Spectator “Daphnis and Chloe”: Review of The Dial, Vol. 1-2 The famous old pastoral which goes under the name of a perhaps mythical Longus, is safe to have its day from time to time as literature returns upon itself; and if it is not read for its own charms or its interest as a root of literature, it will always furnish to the idyllic-minded illustrator a wealth of situation. From The Magazine of Art “At the Sign of the Dial. Mr. Ricketts as a Book-builder”: Review of The Dial, Vol. 1-4 Gleeson White The quality which has distinguished Mr. Ricketts’s work from the first is “personality.” In Art, personality is but another name for originality; and, as in life, there are two sorts. The one fostered by ignorance, whether of social amenities or precedent; the other restrained or fantastic, pedantically simple or complex and profound, is alike based upon sound knowledge, which is power. From The Saturday Review “Reviews and Magazines”: Review of The Dial, Vol. 1-4 The “Dial’s” visits are like the angels’, and therefore the more welcome. No. I. appeared, if we remember right, in 1889, but 1896 only brings us to No. IV. From The Pall Mall Magazine “The Vale Press and the Modern Revival of Printing”: Review of The Dial, Vol. 1-5 H. C. Marillier The publication of a new edition of Shakespeare’s works would, from a literary point of view, be at any time an event of some importance; much more is this the case when, besides scholastic qualities, the edition possesses distinct artistic interest, representing in fact the latest development and outcome of the modern revival of fine printing. From The Academy “The Art Magazines”: Review of The Dial, Vol. 2 The Dial, that extremely occasional and still more eccentric periodical, has struck two, thereby falsifying the prophecy of the enemy. There is no doubt that Mr. C. Ricketts is a very clever artist, and cuts his own designs well upon the block; and there is a dreamy suggestiveness about Mr. Charles Shannon’s drawings which is very taking. From The Studio: An Illustrated Magazine of Fine and Applied Arts “The Lay-Figure Speaks”: Review of The Dial, Vol. 3 “The Lay-Figure” Colour-printing by means of “process blocks” is in the air. So far the more simple the attempt the more satisfactory has been the result. HTML XML PDF From The Spectator “The ‘Dial’: An Occasional Publication (Book Review)”: Review of The Dial, Vol. 4 Amid expanses of black paper we come upon a lithograph by Mr. C.H. Shannon, called “Delia.” There is a fine largeness of form and treatment in this drawing which is a great contrast to the same artist’s beautifully delicate silverpoint study of mice. From The Spectator “Book Review”: Review of The Dial, Vol. 5 Amid large expanses of fine paper are scattered woodcuts, lithographs, poems, and prose, all of which are both serious and affected. The best thing is the large circular lithograph by Mr. C. H. Shannon of the infancy of Bacchus. The breadth and largeness of the composition are decidedly impressive. From The Academy “The New Printing”: Review of The Dial Messrs. Hacon & Ricketts especially has carried on his typographical traditions. Marred as its efforts are by needless affectation and excess, it necessarily demands a word of honourable mention. From The Academy “The Revival of Printing: A Bibliographical Catalogue of Works issued by the Chief Modern English Presses”: Review of The Dial A. W. Pollard Mr. Steele is well known as a diligent student of the many experiments in artistic book printing made during the last twenty years, and no one better qualified by knowledge and enthusiasm could have been found to edit this record of the exhibition organised last autumn by Mr.Lee Warner. From The Athenæum “Fine Printing”: Review of The Dial An important exhibition of printed books from the better-known private presses of this country is opened to-day at the rooms of the Medici Society in Grafton Street. From The Athenæum “A Defence of the Revival of Printing”: Review of The Dial The ignorant or uninformed critic when brought face to face with any new development in art finds refuge in alternate charges of plagiarism and eccentricity; we say uninformed, not uneducated. From The International Studio “Charles Ricketts: A Commentary On His Activities.“: Review of The Dial C. Lewis Hind In an article on Mr. Charles Shannon in this magazine, I remarked how difficult it was to avoid mentioning the name of Mr. Charles Ricketts, his companion on connoisseurship. From The Monthly Review “Art and the Printer”: Review of The Dial Albert Louis Cotton In an article which I contributed some years ago to one of the Reviews, I ventured to hazard the prediction that we were “on the eve of a great revolution in the art of typography and book-decoration”—a remark which, I remember, brought down upon me the comment of some critic that I was “a gentle dreamer.” From The New York Times “The Vale Press: A History of it and of its Famous Publications”: Review of The Dial R. F. R. Since, In 1891, William Morris founded the Kelmscott Press, increased attention has been paid to the production of beautiful books. The earliest rival of the notable press established at Hammersmith was the Vale Press, conducted on a similar system or limited editions, printed with specially designed type. From The Saturday Review “An Exhibition of Original Wood-Engravings”: Review of The Dial D. S. M. A charming exhibition is now open at the Dutch Gallery in Brook Street. It brings together the work done in original wood-engraving by Messrs. Ricketts and Shannon and their associates, Messrs. Sturge Moore, Reginald Savage and Lucien Pissaro. From The Saturday Review “Mr. Ricketts’s New Books”: Review of The Dial It is a matter of some strangeness that two men of such different temperaments as Mr. Whistler and Mr. William Morris should have produced the first two modern books endowed with an element of proportion and beauty—Mr. Whistler’s “The Gentle Art of Making Enemies” and Mr. William Morris’s “The Roots of the Mountain” both appearing almost simultaneously in 1890. From The Sketch “The Vale Artists, I.— Charles Shannon“: Review of The Dial Art for Art’s sake sounds very well, but is only practicable under certain conditions. The necessity of earning a living must ever break upon the dreams of the idealist, who works according to his own beliefs. From The Sketch “The Vale Artists, II.—Charles Ricketts“: Review of The Dial If Charles Shannon be destined to leave his name written boldly in the annals of lithography, that of his friend and fellow-worker, Charles Ricketts, will be equally en evidence in the history of bookbinding and wood-engraving. From The Sketch “The Vale Artists, III.—Lucien Pissarro“: Review of The Dial Lucien Pissarro is the eldest son of the famous French Impressionist, Camille Pissarro, who, though he was working in the time of Manet, and before the advent of Degas, still retains the exquisite skill as a colourist which has brought him to the front rank of contemporary art. From The Sketch “The Vale Artists, IV.—Reginald Savage“: Review of The Dial The least-known of the illustrators of Dial, Reginald Savage, has published very little work in England, but is, nevertheless, anterior in date to Ricketts, Shannon, and Pissarro. From The Spectator “Mr. C.H. Shannon and Mr. Rothenstein (Book Review)”: Review of The Dial This is a small exhibition of drawings and lithographs at the Dutch Gallery, 14 Brook Street, New Bond Street. The name of Mr. Charles Shannon is probably unfamiliar to most readers, and there can be no greater pleasure for a critic than to commend to their attention so unmistakeable an artistic talent.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1730
__label__wiki	0.737778	0.737778	9 Major Cities the White House Is Worried About The White House coronavirus task force said these cities need to "get on top of it." By Allie Hogan Throughout the pandemic, concern for states with a high volume of coronavirus cases has shifted from Northeastern to Southern to Midwestern states. At some point, states in each of these regions have been on the receiving end of a stern warning from public health officials. Recently, Deborah Birx, MD, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, zeroed in on major cities that have seen an uptick in case positivity. According to the Center for Public Integrity, during a phone call on Aug. 5, Birx warned nine cities about their high positivity rate and urged local leaders to maintain the proper health protocols in their territory to avoid a significant surge. Birx reportedly feels these nine cities need to "get on top of it." And for more professional insight into how the U.S. is containing the crisis, Here's What Dr. Fauci Has to Say About These 11 States' Handling of COVID. Governor Brian Kemp and Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms have been at odds about how to handle the COVID-19 pandemic since the beginning. Kemp even filed a lawsuit against Bottoms in an effort to block the mask requirement she tried to put in place in Atlanta, according to The New York Times. The result of the disagreement is mixed messaging on what kind of safety measures are expected of citizens to help prevent the spread of the virus. During Birx's call, she noted that she was particularly concerned about the current situations in Atlanta and Baltimore, saying they both "remain at a very high level," according to the Center for Public Integrity. And for more places to keep an eye on, These Two States Are Becoming the Worst COVID Hotspots in the U.S. As one of the two cities Birx is most concerned about, Baltimore's uptick in cases is especially noteworthy. According to Johns Hopkins University, the World Health Organization (WHO) advised governments that rates of positivity should be 5 percent or lower for at least two weeks before reopening. Per the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore City is one of five counties in Maryland that has a positivity rate higher than 5 percent. Even as cases remain high, Mayor Bernard Young recently announced that starting Aug. 7, indoor dining will reopen at 25 percent capacity, disregarding Birx's warning, according to the Daily Record. The county in which Chicago sits—Cook County—has the fourth-highest number of cases of all the U.S. counties, according to Johns Hopkins Data. The city seems to be responding quickly to rise in cases. Mayor Lori Lightfoot recently announced that Chicago public schools will begin the year remotely, according to ABC. Lightfoot went back on the state's previous plan to use a hybrid model for the fall, saying, "When we announced the potential for a hybrid model, some weeks ago, we were in a very different place in the arc of the pandemic." Although Birx expressed her concern about a slight uptick of cases in Boston, the city's positivity rate remains relatively low at 2.16 percent over the past two weeks, according to state data. Governor Charlie Baker said at a press conference that he is prepared to roll back reopening plans if the uptick in case positivity continues. "We'll be forced to update our plans if the data warrants it. That could mean gathering sizes could be reduced, or we could make some of our business regulations more strict," Baker said at a press conference, as reported by Boston.com. "Reopening and staying open is obviously a big part of the goal, but obviously we can't do that if we don't have everybody's help to continue to move forward." And for more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. According to Click On Detroit, Joneigh Khaldun, MD, of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, reported a plateau of cases in the state of Michigan at large. However, Khaldun said the Detroit region is still reporting over 40 cases per million people per day. And for more on the state's attempt to stop the spread, Michigan Just Issued a Surprising New Order to Curb Spiking COVID Cases. Although Nebraska has kept their coronavirus case numbers relatively low, the state has seen a consistent rise in cases since the beginning of July. According to Omaha.com, Omaha is the last of the country's largest cities without a mask mandate. The city was about to implement a law requiring masks, but Governor Pete Ricketts threatened to file a lawsuit if the city attempted to put a mask mandate into action, causing officials to back down. According to The Oregonian, the Oregon Health Authority reports that the state's positivity rate is 6.1 percent, which is one of the highest rates since early in the pandemic. Multnomah County—which includes Portland—has almost double the cases of any other county in the state, with 4,608 reported cases, according to The New York Times data. Per KOIN, Governor Kate Brown recently said that another stay-at-home order remains an option for the state. "All options are on the table and if the infection rate continues to increase, I'll need to take more severe actions—which nobody wants," Brown told KOIN. An Oregon mandate says that in order for schools to reopen, there can be only 10 coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents or less. Currently, KOIN reports that the county is seeing about 72 cases per 100,000 residents, making the goal of returning to school this fall unlikely. The recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in Kansas City is significant. According to city data, Kansas City set a weekly high during the week of July 26, reporting 535 new cases, which is almost 400 more weekly cases than the city saw at the peak of the pandemic in the spring. Additionally, per KCTV, hospital administrators report that the volume of COVID-19 patients in need of inpatient care in July greatly outpaced previous months. COVID-19 cases saw a slight increase in Washington, D.C., at the beginning of July, according to The New York Times data. Although the number of cases appears to be going back down, or at least plateauing, Birx felt the city's numbers were concerning enough to warrant a warning. And for tips on how to stay safe during the pandemic, Dr. Fauci Wants You to Avoid Doing These 9 Things Right Now. Best Life is constantly monitoring the latest news as it relates to COVID-19 in order to keep you healthy, safe, and informed. Here are the answers to your most burning questions, the ways you can stay safe and healthy, the facts you need to know, the risks you should avoid, the myths you need to ignore,and the symptoms to be aware of. Click here for all of our COVID-19 coverage, and sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. Allie Hogan Allie Hogan is a Brooklyn based writer currently working on her first novel. Read more Coronavirus • News 4 States "Refused to Comply" With the White House These "red zone" states received a letter from a White House official for rejecting the task force's advice. Most States Need to Shut Down Again For This Long This is just one of the recommendations for how the U.S. should reset its response to the pandemic. These 13 States Need to Lock Down Immediately Based on the number of daily new cases, these states need a shutdown to contain their outbreaks.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1736
__label__wiki	0.675332	0.675332	Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, Tragedies, and Poems, Volume 1 example, which he would have been equally ready to set, I have many friends to thank for welcome and necessary assistance. I am not aware that in a single instance I have omitted separately to state my obligations; but, nevertheless, I cannot refuse myself the gratification of placing their names in connexion here, that it may be seen at once how many individuals, distinguished in their various departments, have taken an interest in the progress and success of my undertaking :--Sir Charles Young, Garter King at Arms; Sir Henry Ellis, Principal Librarian of the British Museum ; Sir Frederick Madden, Keeper of the Manuscripts in the same institution; Sir N. Harris Nicolas; the Rev. Dr. Bandinel, Curator of the Bodleian Library; the Rev. Dr. Bliss, Registrar of the University of Oxford; the Rev. Dr. Todd, of Trinity College, Dublin; Mr. Amyot, Treasurer of the Society of Antiquaries, for whose unceasing encouragement and ever prompt advice I cannot be too thankful; Mr. Lemon, of the State Paper Office, whose aid in the biography of Shakespeare it will be seen has been most valuable; the Rev. Charles Howes, of Dulwich College; the Rev. H. Barry; Mr. Bruce; the Rev. W. Harness; Mr. Prime; Mr. W. H. Black; Mr. H. C. Robinson ; Mr. Laing and Mr. Turnbull, of Edinburgh ; Mr. Barron Field; the Rev. John Mitford; Mr. Halliwell; Mr. Wright; Mr. Thoms; Mr. F. G. Tomlins; Mr. N. Hill; and my zealous and wellinformed friend, Mr. Peter Cunningham. If I am not able to add to this enumeration the names of the Rev. Alexander Dyce, and of the Rev. Joseph Hunter, it is because, when I found that they were engaged upon works of a character akin to my own, I refrained from asking for information, which, however useful to their own purposes, they would have been unwilling to refuse. THE ENGLISH DRAMA AND STAGE: THE TIME OF SHAKESPEARE. In order to make the reader acquainted with the origin of the English stage, such as Shakespeare found that stage when he became connected with it, it is necessary to mention that a miracle-play, or mystery (as it has been termed in modern times) is the oldest form of dramatic composition in our language. The stories of productions of this kind were derived from the Sacred Writings, from the pseudo-evangelium, or from the lives and legends of saints and martyrs. Miracle-plays were common in London in the year 1170; and even as early as 1119 the miracle-play of St. Katherine had been represented at Dunstaple. It has been conjectured, and indeed in part established ', that some of these performances were in French, as well as in Latin; and it was not until the reign of Edward III. that they were generally acted in English. We have three existing series of miracle-plays', all of which have been recently printed ; the Towneley collection by the Surtees Club, and those known as the Coventry and Chester pageants by the Shakespeare Society. The Abbotsford Club has likewise printed, from a manuscript at I See Fist. of Eng. Dram. Poetry and the Stage, Vol. ii. p. 131. : Since the above was written, in 1844, a fourth series of Miracle-plays has come to light: it is a MS. upon vellum of about the reign of Henry VI., and in all essential particulars it seems to accord with other collections of scriptural dramas. The Shakespeare Society would have printed it, uniformly with their volumes of the Coventry and Chester plays, but the owner, for some unexplained reason, was unwilling that it should appear in type, and thus we have been prevented from in. stituting any close comparison, Oxford, three detached miracle-plays which once, probably, formed a portion of a connected succession of productions of that description. During about 300 years this species of theatrical entertainment seems to have flourished, often under the auspices of the clergy, who used it as the means of religious instruction ; but prior to the reign of Henry VI., a new kind of drama had become popular, which by writers of the time was denominated a moral, or moral-play, and more recently a morality. It acquired this name from the nature and purpose of the representation, which usually conveyed a lesson for the better conduct of human life, the characters employed not being scriptural, as in miracle-plays, but allegorical, or symbolical. Miracle-plays continued to be represented long after moralplays were introduced, but from a remote date abstract-impersonations had, by degrees not now easily traced, found their way into miracle-plays: thus, perhaps, moral-plays, consisting only of such characters, grew out of them. A very remarkable and interesting miracle-play, not founded upon the Sacred Writings, but upon a popular legend, and all the characters of which, with one exception, purport to be real personages, has been discovered in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, in a manuscript certainly as old as the later part of the reign of Edward IV. It is perhaps the only specimen of the kind in our language; and as it was unknown to all who have hitherto written on the history of our ancient drama, it will not here be out of place to give some account of the incidents to which it relates, and of the persons concerned in them. The title of the piece, and the year in which the events are supposed to have occurred, are given at the close, where we are told that it is “ The Play of the Blessed Sacrament“,” and that the miracle to which it refers was wrought “in the forest of Arragon, in the famous city of Araclea, in the year of our Lord God 1461.” There can be no doubt that the scene of action was imaginary, being fixed merely for the greater satisfaction of the spectators as to the reality of the occurrences; and as little 3 We are indebted for a correct transcript of the original to the zeal and kind. ness of the Rev. Dr. J. H. Todd, V.P., R.I.S.A. * In another part of the MS. it is called “The Play of the Conversion of Sir Jonathas, the Jew, by Miracle of the Blessed Sacrament;" but inferior Jews are converted, besides Sir Jonathas, who is the head of the tribe in the “famous city of Araclea."	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1738
__label__wiki	0.930932	0.930932	Major funding boost for bioscientists of the future Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NRPDTP) has been awarded £12 million to train the next generation of bioscientists. The funding award means the NRPDTP, with additional funding from Partners and Associate Partners, will be able to offer at least 32 PhD studentships per year for the next five years starting in October 2020. The NRPDTP is one of 12 successful partnerships announced as part of a £170 million award from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC, a part of UK Research and Innovation). The John Innes Centre is the lead organisation of the NRPDTP alongside full partners the University of East Anglia (UEA), Quadram Institute Bioscience, Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory – all based at Norwich Research Park. Associate Partners of the successful bid are: Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Food Standards Agency; Public Health England; IBM Research UK; Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa – ILRI Hub; The Forum Trust; The Saw Trust; Agri-Tech East; Anglia Innovation Partnership and New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership. NRPDTP Director Professor Dave Evans of the John Innes Centre said: “We are delighted to receive this funding which reflects the important role played by Norwich Research Park and its partners in the UK’s world-leading bioscience sector.” “This award will enable the delivery of a high-quality doctoral training programme to enable our PhD candidates to gain the attributes required for the highly-skilled workforce of the future.” DTPs will offer four-year PhD studentships during which each student also undertakes a 3-month Professional Internships for PhD Students (PIPS) placement to develop their skills further and to explore possible future career directions. Projects for October 2020 intake are now being advertised. Professor Fiona Lettice, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), at the UEA said: “The NRPDTP is an exciting opportunity for us to bring together world-class expertise from across the Norwich Research Park to enable the next generation of scientists to work on novel bioscience research projects, to create new knowledge within their discipline, and to work with our Associate Partners to develop innovative solutions and make an impact within these organisations and beyond.” Announcing the DTP award, Professor Melanie Welham, BBSRC’s Executive Chair, said: “The success of the UK’s science sector and the consequent benefits to society and the economy relies on great researchers doing great work”. “Our Doctoral Training Partnerships have already supported the training of hundreds of early career scientists working at the cutting edge of biology and biotechnology.” “By continuing to fund, through this significant £170 million investment, vital training of the next generation of researchers we will help ensure that the UK consolidates its position as world-leader in this crucial sector.”	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1742
__label__wiki	0.710216	0.710216	Deadliest Ebola Outbreak on Record Is Over, W.H.O Says (New York Times) – The World Health Organization declared on Thursday the end to the deadliest Ebola outbreak on record, which killed and sickened tens of thousands of people in West Africa, even as it cautioned that more flare-ups of the disease were likely. The announcement in Geneva came after a recent chain of cases in Liberia was snuffed out, marking the first time since the start of the epidemic two years ago that Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone — the three countries that were hardest hit by the virus — had reported zero cases for at least 42 days, or two incubation periods of the virus.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1743
__label__cc	0.606307	0.393693	Ceres Buddhist temple has plans for expansion by Ken Carlson, Modesto Bee, August 1, 2014 Modesto, CA (USA) -- A group wants to expand its Buddhist temple in Ceres, at 3761 Roeding Road, but has run into some opposition from neighbors. The plans include a 9,500-square-foot activity hall, a new ashery for cremated human remains and additions to the temple and multipurpose room. The Cambodian Buddhist Association of Ceres also proposes 122 additional parking spaces at the 3-acre site, west of Faith Home Road, just outside the city. Stanislaus County planning commissioners are scheduled to consider the land-use permit Thursday at 6 p.m. Staff recommends they approve the permit, which would allow construction of the facilities. According to agenda reports, the addition of 12,225 square feet of building space would increase the occupancy by 400 people. And the additional space would allow religious activities to move indoors. The church’s property is situated near ranchettes, pasture, an egg ranch and Ceres Christian Church. County planners gave approval to the original temple in February 2007. The county has received letters from five neighbors opposing the recent application. They express concern about large gatherings at the temple, as well as loudspeakers, compromised real estate values, increased traffic, dust and parking on the shoulder of Roeding Road. Some letters claimed the neighborhood has been disrupted by festivals that generate large numbers of cars and loud music. Some complained about the weekly religious services. The Planning Commission will consider whether the larger church facilities are consistent with the county general plan and would have a detrimental affect on nearby properties. So far, county officials do not see a reason to deny the church the right to use its property for religious services. The Cambodian Buddhist Association of Ceres owned a previous temple site on Service Road before it was sold to a grocery store developer in 2006. The county Planning Commission holds regular meetings at 6 p.m. the first and third Thursday of every month in the basement chambers of Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St. in downtown Modesto.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1748
__label__cc	0.703098	0.296902	How millennials are influencing the world around them Youngsters today, more than Generation-X and baby boomers, are inspiring people and changing the world for the better. Einstein once said: “We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.” With this powerful message from one of the world’s genius minds, it is understood that it is crucial for millennials to impact on other lives and bring about change, whether it be in their local community, or internationally. According to the 2017 Deloitte Millennial Survey, 77% of millennials have involved themselves in charity or a “good cause”. I have gathered the story of three youth, all from different countries, to show how they affect their world. The first one is a girl from England who volunteers at a local nursing home. She admits that the home is not a “fun” place to visit, but this has taught her many things from interacting with the residents. Old people are often the greatest sources of knowledge from our history, and they have much to share from their personal experiences during the Second World War, to the way people of color were seen back then. Even if she is an introvert, she went out of her way to mingle with people two generations older than herself to improve the lives of those people and bring them some comfort from their daily routines. Old people often feel lonely, and she is able to change their state of mind only by her presence and her assistance. Volunteering at animal shelters is another way the youth contribute to their society in a positive way. A 19 year-old boy narrated the situations in which the animals are in his country, India. He told me about how the state of the cats are in deplorable conditions, and how dogs can eat the newborn kittens as well. Working at this animal shelter has taught him that there is indeed a soul in every animal, and that each should be treated with respect. Animals are often left to roam around the streets and are denied of love, but with the help of some people taking care of them, their condition can be salvaged. He says that “help is always needed”, and anyone can work with animals during their free time or even try to save animal lives when they are seen straying with a broken leg or a fractured spine. If someone does not know what to do, they can bring the animals to the nearest shelters, or to a veterinary if they need immediate attention. Another millennial, from my country, Mauritius, shares his joy of working with kids. His experience has changed him in many ways, but mostly it has made him become an inspiration for these children. Whatever he does, he tries to think of ways in which this could inspire them even more, and to teach them his passions; one of which is football. By looking up to him, the children see this sport as a passion too, and they have a smile up on their faces while they are playing on the field, even if most of them come from broken families. The downside to this though, is that he has become so close to the kids that he can see their reality for what they are, which is a lot of times, “atrocious”, and this can affect him to a great extent. However, this also encourages him to help them even more and to encourage others to support his cause and to aid in charity. Millennials then, are not as bad as how the news portray them to be. There are a thousand more stories of youth out there doing positive things to help their society for the better. Some of these stories are acknowledged, and others remain unknown. The most important thing to take away from this is that we can all help others in our own little ways. We just need the motivation to do it. If companies could support those youth who are trying to aid the world around them, much more could improve in our society too.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1753
__label__cc	0.72232	0.27768	Protecting First Nations Intellectual Property Carissa Lee Godwin November 20, 2020 November 24, 2020 ANZSOG, Collections, First Peoples, News, Partnerships Protocols have been written to assist with cross-cultural collaborations across industries, making it possible for First Nations people to work in culturally safe environments. The cultural rights of First Nations people, includes respecting their respective knowledge, cultural items and practices. First Peoples Editor, Carissa Lee Godwin, investigates how the latest iteration of the Australia Council’s Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts protects culturally sacred objects and practices of First Nations people. Photo by Alessia Francischiello on Unsplash Dr. Terri Janke and company, in collaboration with Australia Council for the Arts staff, created the third edition of this protocol guide. Terri Janke is Meriam/Wuthathi woman, Solicitor Director of her company. and an international authority on Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property. Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts is one of many publications this company has authored in the field of practice protocols with First Nations people, more of which can be found in APO’s First Peoples & Public Policy Collection. Although this protocol guide has been primarily written to support Australia Council for the Arts’ funded projects, it is also relevant to anyone working in the Indigenous arts sector. The purpose of this protocol guide is to present the reader with the legal and ethical considerations that need to be taken when considering the use of Indigenous cultural materials in arts and/or cultural projects. Resources such as symbols, songs, dances, performances or rituals. Although First Nations artists can have their works protected by copyright, there are often no legal rights around reproduction, use, and currently, no law preventing misappropriation of cultural materials. Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property’ or ‘ICIP’ refers to all aspects of Indigenous peoples’ cultural heritage. This includes, but is not limited to: cultural knowledges, cultural performances, cultural objects, human remains and tissues, secret and sacred material and documentation of Indigenous peoples’ heritage in all forms of media. With regards to ICIP, Indigenous peoples have the right to own and control ICIP, and be recognised as the primary guardians and interpreters of their respective cultures. This includes authorising or choosing to refuse to authorise the commercial use of their Intellectual Property. Australia’s current legal framework provides limited recognition and protection of ICIP rights. Because there is no Australian law established specifically to protect ICIP, Indigenous people and communities rely on existing laws – including Intellectual Property laws – and enforce their rights and to protect parts of ICIP. A main thread throughout this protocol guide is the necessity to not only respectfully use First Nations cultural materials, but to maintain a deep respect for First Nations people and their life experiences. It also needs to be acknowledged that First Nations people are diverse, coming from different Mobs, creative practices, languages and ways of life, and each respective Mob needs to be represented in a way that works for them. Non-Indigenous collaborators who wish to work with Indigenous artists, should do so throughout the entire project, from development to completion. The First Nations people in these creative partnerships might need to liaise between cultural groups in order to shape the development of the project in a way that the respective First Nations community/s deem appropriate. Cultural safety needs to be established in these creative partnerships. This can be achieved through conducting cultural awareness training for people and organisations who work with First Nations people and communities. It is also beneficial to have policies and protocols in place that assist with Indigenous engagement, look after Indigenous staff members in organisations and maintain a culturally safe work environment. Interpretation and context need to be taken into consideration when approaching culturally significant materials. Examples of this include looking at the story or message the potential project might put out into the world about First Nations culture, people and communities, and what perspectives are being taken into account. There needs to be substantial consideration taken about how this work will affect the First Nations language group or community it is based on, whether it is empowering, or if it might reinforce negative stereotypes. It is essential to always consult with the affected people and communities to make sure that interpretations of ICIP are appropriate. The protocol guide also alerts the reader to the fact that First Nations people and communities might decide not to engage or not want to participate in any kind of partnership, and that is their right. It could be for a number of reasons, including the requirement to maintain secrecy of Indigenous knowledge and other cultural practices, or that they simply do not want to. And as the protocol states: “No means no.” Far-reaching benefits The importance of communication, consultation and consent in creative partnerships with First Nations people is iterated and reiterated throughout this resource. The protocol guide provides case studies across various arts industries that show how implementation of protocols can work. These case studies highlight the importance of reciprocal practices when pursuing creative partnerships with First Nations artists. There are beneficial experiences such as assisting with cultural and language revivals, receiving positive feedback from First Nations communities who were happy to see their stories on stage, and organisations such as Magabala supporting self-determination of First Nations people by providing employment and training, and ensuring that collaborative projects are Indigenous-led. The use of protocols such as these can set the stage for future collaboration with First Nations people in a way that is beneficial to them and their respective communities. Cross-cultural partnerships can be an opportunity for First Nations people to share and develop their cultural languages, practices and histories to future generations, and hopefully inspire non-Indigenous people to honour and respect First Nations cultural resources, and the communities and people who protect them. About the First Peoples & Public Policy Collection This article was first published by the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG). ANZSOG works in partnership with Analysis & Policy Observatory (APO) to increase knowledge of Indigenous culture and history. This partnership includes support for the First Peoples & Public Policy Collection on APO, launched at ANZSOG’s Reimagining Public Administration conference in February 2019. The First Peoples & Public Policy Collection is curated from a broad selection of key Indigenous policy topics, and provides a valuable resource on Indigenous affairs, with a focus on diverse Indigenous voices. Previous Introducing My APO+ Next Ensuring access for all in the digital age Published by Carissa Lee Godwin First Peoples and Public Policy Specialist Editor View all posts by Carissa Lee Godwin	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1754
__label__cc	0.727096	0.272904	Despite the Climate Change Emergency, There's Some Good News to Report Okay, the baseline is still that we're in a planetary climate change emergency, and if governments don't get their act together at the upcoming UN climate conference (COP20) in Lima, Peru this December, we're hooped. (Easy peasy, lemon squeezy solution: Write to every elected official you can think of to demand that governments put an end to fossil fuel subsidies, start the decline in carbon emissions next year, and opt for RCP2.6+ as the basis for their next global, legally binding agreement at Paris (COP21) in December 2015.) We're presenting the Climate EMERGENCY Countdown in our own community this coming week. It's not all bad news (after all, if governments put an end to fossil fuel subsidies, start the decline in carbon emissions next year, and opt for RCP2.6+ as the basis for their next global, legally binding agreement at Paris (COP21) in December 2015, then there's some hope!), but at the request and behest of some friends who don't have the stomach for any of the bad news, we're going to make a point of presenting some good news on the climate front. Here's a bit of it, collected from various sources: 1. A handful of chemistry companies are mimicking photosynthesis to turn carbon dioxide emissions into products such as chemicals, fibres and jet fuel. (Source) 2. The UK is transforming old coal mines into solar farms. (Source) 3. The Environmental Protection Agency in the United States is proposing a Clean Power Plan. (Source) 4. Both UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Christiana Figueres, both understand the urgency. Perhaps they'll be able to (what's a nice word for) knock some sense into world leaders. 5. Climate Action Network International's June 2014 position statement, Long Term Global Goals for 2050, is the best ever. (Hey, I didn't say it was a long good-news list!) Climate Highs and Climate Lows Leading Up to UN Cl... Have We Waited Too Long? Is It Too Late? So, Do We Really Have Time to Avert Climate Catast... Despite the Climate Change Emergency, There's Some... Compassion Tune-up: Change The Earth, by Gaiaisi	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1755
__label__cc	0.674464	0.325536	Using Ria Life Abroad Ria stories We are a leading money transfer company steadfast in our commitment to our customers and the communities we serve. For us, this isn’t just business. It’s personal. Our customers deserve much more than just a fair price: they deserve empathy, support, and ultimately respect. THE RIA WAY From putting food on the table to funding a local business, a little goes a long way. The impact of remittances fuels our commitment to our customers and is the driving force behind our organization. OUR DIGITAL MINDSET Because our customers are at the heart of everything we do, we believe it's our responsibility to implement technology insofar as it serves everyone. On our watch, nobody gets left behind. Today, people are on the move more than ever before. For a better future. For a better everyday life. Their stories are full of hope but also sacriﬁce in giving back to someone they left behind. This is, at the end, what counts and what makes all the diﬀerence for millions of people. It’s what we live by, so we don’t take it lightly. We put others ahead of ourselves, the way our customers do everyday. We never rest, we raise the bar, and put people ﬁrst. We work hard and take nothing for granted. We open ways for a better everyday life. Ria Money Transfer App: New Card Payment Options Great news: you can now use Maestro debit and non-local credit and debit cards on the new Ria Money Transfer app! These new features will How to Deal with Homesickness When we talk about living abroad, we often focus on the good things. How it’s an opportunity, and often a lifeline, for ourselves and our Best Indian Food: Dishes You Should Try These past few months, we’ve have been talking all about Indian culture. From Diwali celebrations to the evolution of Indo-Western fashion. And although we’ve touched How to Find a Location with Ria Money Transfer With over 447,000 locations around the world, Ria Money Transfer is sure to be near you! Whether you’re looking to pay for your transfer with Tracking a Transfer with Ria Money Transfer You’ve sent a transfer with Ria – nice! Your hard-earned money is on its way to its destination. Now what? We know sending money is The World We Share: Meet Muhammed Our guest from India orders a large pot of tea, perfect to stay warm indoors and away from the rolling thunder. As the storm gains Supporting Migrant Workers: Affordable Remittances Through COVID-19 Close to five million people leave their native countries every year in search of a better life. Sometimes, people immigrate to earn a college degree A Brief History of Migration and Remittances in India Did you know indoor plumbing was invented in the Indus Valley? This invention, along with many infrastructural changes first implemented in Indian metropolises, allowed civilizations Are you looking to move overseas but don’t know where to start? Teaching English abroad can be a great steppingstone, as well as a solid How to Meet People in a New City Often, the most challenging part about moving to a new city is finding a new circle of friends you can count on. Today, we’ll walk you Setting Financial Goals in Three Easy Steps Setting financial goals can be overwhelming. There’s much to consider, like what our lives will look like in the future and how our expenses will Teaching Kids About Money: What They Can Learn from Your Money Transfers Summer is almost over, and families everywhere are navigating what school is going to look like for their kids this fall. Whether they’re going back How to Build Credit from Scratch In the world of personal finance, it’s common to hear the terms “credit score” and “credit history.” But why is everyone so preoccupied with building What Is an EFT Payment? Our world is constantly changing, and nowhere is this more palpable than in technology. More and more we come to rely on digital systems and Blockchain Technology Explained: The Secret Behind Distributed Ledgers Although the term “blockchain” is becoming more and more commonplace, there are still many of us who wonder how it even works. What is the Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science While women are gaining more notoriety in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), there’s still a long way to go. According to the The World We Share “[My father] was the eldest, and everyone before him had been a farmer. So, he started his own business and gave opportunities to my uncles and everyone, even though he hadn’t had much formal schooling. One of the drawbacks was he couldn’t speak English, but he kept going. He went from the village to the towns creating his good name. Everybody knows him. We are four children, and we all went to boarding school. Hopefully, I’ll grow up to be like him.” TenzingINDIA “The hardest part for me was the language barrier, especially in school, when you’re trying to say something to the teacher but don’t know the words. Now math, that was different. Math was easy in comparison to what we used to do in Somalia. I would finish the practice super quickly and would have to wait for the rest of the class. Then, people would ask me how I had done the equations, but I didn’t know how to explain. I’d tell them, ‘Give me your pen, and I’ll show you how to do it.’” DualehSOMALIA “It’s still good to be present because a mother’s role is still important. I talk to them every day, ask them if they went to school and such. I always check in with their teachers to see if they’re doing good. My youngest is an honor student. I’m very proud. I tell him, ‘at least with that I forget that I work so hard. I’m so happy. It makes me stronger.’" OfeliaPHILIPPINES "I moved to Portugal where my mom and her husband were living because I had no job and didn’t have money for rent or to send home for my daughter. But then, as I was getting ready to find work, I found out my Spanish papers weren’t valid for work in Portugal. I didn’t want to waste more time doing nothing, so I went back to school. I barely spoke Portuguese, but I would sit at the library trying to decipher the text books, asking for help on the internet so I could study for my tests." SaicoSENEGAL #transfer #sendingmoney #remittances #lifeabroad I've read and accepted the Terms and Conditions. About Ria	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1758
__label__wiki	0.552825	0.552825	Special Education Teacher Hired by Calhoun Chronicle in Local News, School Dr. Crystal Smith Dr. Crystal Smith has been hired by Calhoun County Schools to work as a special education teacher at Arnoldsburg Elementary and Calhoun Middle schools. She graduated from Fayetteville High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Concord Col-lege in elementary educa-tion, multi-subject (K-8). She also received a master’s degree from Marshall University in multi-categorical special education, including autism, K-adult, and an education doctorate from West Virginia University in special education/personnel preparation, with a concentration in instructional design and technology. Smith has a combined 16 years of teaching experience: four in elementary schools, four in middle schools, two in high schools, and two years GED in a federal prison. She also has four years of experience teaching at the collegiate level: three at Fairmont State University and one at Glenville State College. At Fairmont. she and a colleague developed and co-directed the AIMSS (Autism Individualized Mentoring and Support Services) program for college students on the autism spectrum. Smith is eager to begin her work in Calhoun County: “(I) look forward to getting to know new colleagues, students, and parents.” She is looking forward to a great school year. She and her husband have resided in Gilmer County since 2005. She is the mother of three children, Layla (11), Cody (7), and Ivy (21 months). The two older children are involved in Little Pioneer sports (football, cheerleading, wrestling and basketball). They also play baseball and softball in a Gilmer recreation league, and her daughter plays for Crush, a traveling softball team. Crystal played softball and soccer while attending Concord and her husband played football. The family enjoys summers on the lakes and rivers kayaking. They also enjoy traveling, camping, fishing and gatherings with family and friends. Board Hears Updates, Approves Personnel Treasurer’s Representative To Help With Unclaimed Property Searches	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1760
__label__wiki	0.8225	0.8225	Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Martin spotted on dinner date in Beverly Hills Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Martin were spotted on a dinner date together in Beverly Hills this week. The pair were seen dining together at popular eatery La Dolce Vita on Monday evening, further fuelling rumours that they’re an item. Chris Martin and Jennifer Lawrence were seen having dinner together in Beverly Hills “ They were super cute together,” an onlooker told People. “They were laughing a lot and Jennifer was acting all goofy!” Chris, 37, and Jennifer, 24, were first romantically linked in August after splitting from their respective long-term partners. Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow have remained close since their split Coldplay frontman Chris and Gwyneth Paltrow announced the end of their ten year marriage back in June. The couple have remained very close, and recently spent time together in the Hamptons, holidaying with their two children, Apple and Moses. Oscar-winner Jennifer, meanwhile, split from British actor Nicholas, 24, in August, after a year of dating. The couple, who met while co-starring in the 2011 film X-Men: First Class, briefly separated in 2013, before reuniting both on and off screen in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult ended their romance in August Their separation was amicable – “They spent a lot of time apart because of work, and it was difficult on their relationship,” a source told E! News – and Nicholas has since been linked to Kristen Stewart, his Equals co-star. Hollywood's leading ladies love Prabal Gurung In Photos: Jennifer Lawrence just wants to have fun Top 10 hilarious quotes by Jennifer Lawrence	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1762
__label__wiki	0.980695	0.980695	Fred VanVleet discusses what was different about Pascal Siakam vs. Suns January 7, 2021, 9:37 a.m. The Toronto Raptors guard was thrilled to see Pascal Siakam get out of his slump against the Phoenix Suns. VanVleet offers thoughts on what changed for the All-Star forward. The latest news on COVID 19 developments in Canada for Tuesday, Jan. 19 OTTAWA — The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times eastern): 11:20 a.m. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says any Canadians who still have international trips planned need to cancel them. The variants of the novel coronavirus identified in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil could change the situation rapidly and he warns that Canada could impose new restrictions on the border at any time, without warning. --- 11:15 a.m. Quebec is reporting a significant drop in new COVID-19 infections today with 1,386 new cases. The province also reported 55 more deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus, including 16 that occurred in the prior 24 hours. Health officials say hospitalizations rose by nine, to 1,500 and 212 people were in intensive care, a drop of five. Quebec has reported a total of 245,734 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 9,142 deaths linked to the virus. --- 10:50 a.m. Prince Edward Island is reporting two new cases of COVID-19 today. Chief medical officer of health Dr. Heather Morrison says the new cases involve a woman in her 40s who is a contact of a previously reported case, and a woman in her 20s who recently travelled outside Atlantic Canada. There are now seven active reported cases in the province. P.E.I. has reported 110 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. --- 10:35 a.m. Ontario is reporting 1,913 new cases of COVID-19 today, likely under-reported due to a technical error in Toronto. Health Minister Christine Elliott says that Toronto is reporting 550 new cases of the novel coronavirus. Over the past three days, Toronto reported 815 new cases, 1,035 new cases and 903 new cases. There were 46 more deaths linked to the virus in Ontario. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 19, 2021. The Canadian Press Government support is keeping roughly one in ten German companies afloat that would otherwise have gone bust during the coronavirus pandemic, the International Monetary Fund has found. In a report that on Tuesday laid bare the scale of economic damage masked by state aid, the Fund also warned that, once support was unwound, bankruptcy could soar, potentially weakening Germany's banks. German government support - broad-based and including guarantees, grants and waivers on filing for insolvency - has been among the most generous among western nations, according to a separate study by think tank Bruegel. The Latest: Haines pledges support role to FBI on US threats WASHINGTON — The Latest on Senate confirmation hearings for President-elect Joe Biden’s nominees for his administration (all times local): 11:05 a.m. President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for national intelligence director says that the intelligence community under her watch would have a support role in assessing the threat coming from domestic extremists like the ones who stormed the U.S. Capitol this month. Avril Haines said at her Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday that the primary responsibility for U.S.-based threats belongs to the FBI and the Department Homeland Security. But she says she expects that intelligence agencies would be involved in those discussions, particularly if there are connections between Americans and foreign-based extremist groups. Haines called the events of Jan. 6 “truly disturbing” and said it was “eerie” coming to the Senate and seeing the National Guard deployed around Washington. ___ HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN’S CABINET PICKS: President-elect Joe Biden’s national security Cabinet may be bare on Day One of his presidency, but an inauguration eve spurt of Senate confirmation hearings suggests that won’t be the case for long. Read more: — Yellen urges Congress to do more to fight pandemic recession ___ HERE'S WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON: 10:45 a.m. President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for national intelligence director says that perhaps no greater priority on the job right now is “building the trust and confidence necessary to protect the American people.” Avril Haines is vowing at her Senate intelligence committee confirmation hearing Tuesday to speak “truth to power” even when that truth is inconvenient or difficult. The comments signalled a course correction to the four years of the Trump administration, when President Donald Trump repeatedly attacked intelligence community assessments that he disagreed with — particularly about Russia. Haines also says the American people deserve a “government worthy of their trust” and that she will work to promote transparency in the intelligence community. 10:40 a.m. The Democratic vice chairman of the Senate intelligence committee is telling President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for national intelligence director that the intelligence community will have to “recover” from the experience of Donald Trump’s leadership. Sen. Mark Warner says that during the four years of the Trump administration, intelligence community officials willing to speak the truth were “vilified, reassigned, fired or retaliated against.” Warner told Avril Haines at her confirmation hearing on Tuesday that she will be expected to keep politics out of national security decision making. He says he expects to hear a strong statement of support for the professionalism of the intelligence community. ___ 10:30 a.m. One of President Donald Trump’s national intelligence directors is introducing President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for the job at her confirmation hearing. Dan Coats, a former Republican senator who held the post under Trump, is speaking Tuesday at Avril Haines’ confirmation hearing before the Senate intelligence community. His appearance is designed to show that Haines, who served in the Obama administration, has bipartisan support. He says Haines is committed to bringing “nonpoliticized truth to power” and restoring trust in confidence in the intelligence community. He calls Haines an “exceptional choice.” ___ 10 a.m. President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security will address the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol at the start of his Senate confirmation hearing. Alejandro Mayorkas says in prepared remarks released ahead of the Tuesday hearing that the Jan. 6 pro-Trump riot was “horrifying” and authorities still have much to learn about what happened that day and what led to the insurrection. Mayorkas says that as secretary of Homeland Security he would do everything he can to ensure that “the tragic loss of life, the assault on law enforcement, the desecration of the building that stands as one of the three pillars of our democracy and the terror felt by you, your colleagues, staff, and everyone present, will not happen again.” If confirmed, the former federal prosecutor and senior Homeland Security official under President Barack Obama would be the first Latino and first immigrant to lead the department. He would lead one of the largest agencies in government to enforce the nation’s immigration laws and run the immigration services agency as well as the components such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the civilian cybersecurity agency. ___ 6:30 a.m. President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee to be America’s top diplomat says he’s ready to confront challenges posed by China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. Secretary of State-designate Antony Blinken also says he’s committed to rebuilding the State Department after four years of atrophy under the Trump administration. Blinken is set to appear Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In testimony prepared for his appearance, Blinken says he sees a world of rising nationalism and receding democracy. He also says that mounting threats from authoritarian states are reshaping all aspects of human life, particularly in cyberspace. Blinken says American global leadership still matters and without it rivals will either step in to fill the vacuum or there will be chaos. He says neither choice is palatable. Blinken also promises to bring Congress in as a full foreign-policy partner, a subtle jab at President Donald Trump’s administration and its secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, who routinely ignored or bypassed lawmakers in policy-making. ___ 6 a.m. President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for national intelligence director is planning to tell Senate lawmakers that intelligence and national security issues will not be politicized under her watch. Avril Haines faces a confirmation hearing Tuesday before the Senate intelligence committee. Haines will also tell lawmakers that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence must not shy away from “speaking truth to power” even if inconvenient or difficult. That’s according to excerpts of her prepared remarks released ahead of the hearing. Haines served in the Obama administration as deputy director of the CIA and deputy national security adviser. If confirmed, Haines would be tasked with restoring stability to an intelligence community that has been repeatedly denigrated by President Donald Trump. She would also be the first woman to hold the position. The Associated Press Streaming service Paramount+, featuring content from CBS, Viacom, launching March 4 ViacomCBS announced Tuesday it plans to launch Paramount+, which will combine content from CBS, Viacom and the Paramount film studio, on March 4.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1763
__label__wiki	0.809366	0.809366	Relaxation to complete Advanced ITT Course after the Final Exam By Raju Choudhary Last updated Nov 2, 2020 Relaxation to complete Advanced ITT Course after the Final Exam. ICAI Issued new Notification for Relaxation in the requirement of completing Advanced Course on Information Technology Training. – (02-07-2015). Find Complete Details from below. New Notification – Relaxation in the requirement of completing Advanced Course on Information Technology Training. – (02-07-2015) For admission to the Final Examination, one of the requirements under Regulation 29C of the Chartered Accountants Regulations, 1988, for students registered for practical training on or after 1st February, 2013 is to complete the Advanced Course on Information Technology Training. It was brought to the notice of the Council that a number of students who are otherwise eligible for appearing in the Final Examination effective from November, 2015, are not able to complete the said Course because of certain reasons beyond their control. In order to remove the hardship faced by such students, the Council of the Institute by virtue of powers vested in it under Regulation 205 of the Chartered Accountants Regulations, 1988 has relaxed the said requirement by permitting such students to complete the said Course even after appearing in the Final Examination but before enrolling as a member of the Institute. In view of above relaxation given by the Council, the students registered for practical training on or after 1st February, 2013 and are otherwise eligible for appearing in the Final Examination effective from November, 2015 onwards can now undergo the Advanced Course on Information Technology Training even after appearing in the Final Examination but before enrolling as a member of the Institute. Click Here to Check Official Notification old notification – Relaxation to complete Advanced ITT Course after the Final Exam (26-06-2015) As per Regulation 29C(1)(iv) of the Chartered Accountants’ Regulations 1988, students who have registered for Practical Training on or after February 1, 2013 are required to complete Advanced IT Training before admission to the Final Examination. The Council at its 343rd Meeting held on June 24-26, 2015 has passed a resolution under Regulation 205 of the Chartered Accountants Regulations, 1988 on powers to remove difficulties: To remove difficulties faced by students registered for articled training on or after February 1, 2013, such students are permitted to complete Advanced ITT course even after appearing the Final Examination and, thus, may complete the same before enrolling as a member of the Institute. Considering the above, students who have registered for Practical Training on or after February 1, 2013 and are eligible to appear in Final Examinations from November, 2015, are allowed to complete the Advanced ITT course after the Final Examination but before enrolling as a member of the Institute. Click Here to Check Official Announcement	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1764
__label__cc	0.61018	0.38982	Kieschnicks to ride LHM float in Rose Parade LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick and his wife, Terry, will ride “The Lutheran Hour” float in the Tournament of Roses Parade, Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif. “The Lutheran Hour” float, the only religious float in the parade, is sponsored by the Southern California District of the International Lutheran Laymen’s League, an LCMS auxiliary. The 2007 float’s theme is “God’s Great Nature.” The float will be decorated by volunteers called “Petal Pushers,” who range in age from teenagers to 80-plus and come to Pasadena each year from across the country. The Petal Pushers decorate “The Lutheran Hour” float and several commercial sponsors’ floats for the Rose Parade. The Kieschnicks also will be guests of honor at a “Behind the Scenes” party in Pasadena on Dec. 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. Those who attend will have an opportunity to view the finished floats on the last night of decorating week. Admission is $25 per person or $50 per family and includes a buffet dinner and souvenir photo. President Kieschnick will deliver a special message during a Petal Pushers worship service at 7:30 a.m. Dec. 31 at the float. Everyone is welcome to attend. The Petal Pushers also sponsor an annual tour of Southern California in conjunction with the parade. This year’s tour runs from Dec. 27 to Jan. 1 and includes float decorating and visits to the Crystal Cathedral, the Getty Museum, and Beverly Hills/Hollywood. Most TV networks carry the Rose Parade, but individual floats are not guaranteed coverage due to commercials and other television commitments. Home and Garden Television (HGTV), a cable network, plans to show the parade without interruption, and “The Lutheran Hour” float is expected to appear on camera at approximately 9:50 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. Live coverage of the parade begins at 8 a.m. PST (11 a.m. Eastern). Check local listings for time and channel information in your area. “The Lutheran Hour” float will appear in the back third of the 5.5-mile parade lineup. The parade will include 45 floral floats, 23 equestrian units, and 21 marching bands. Grand marshal will be filmmaker George Lucas. “The Lutheran Hour” float also is one of five floats featured on the HGTV Web site where visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite. To see the floats and vote, go to www.hgtv.com and click on “Rose Parade.” Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) has been proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Tournament of Roses Parade for the past 57 years. To learn more about LHM, go to www.lhm.org or call (800) 944-3450. For more information about the Petal Pushers tour and parade events, visit the group’s Web site at www.petalpushers.org. Seminary offers Advent devotions online Two years after tsunami: suffering, silver linings	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1768
__label__wiki	0.834108	0.834108	Miami Gardens police arrest black man for trespassing 56 times — at the store where he works Cory Doctorow 12:00 pm Sun Nov 24, 2013 In the city of Miami Gardens, outside of Miami, FL, the police use aggressive campaigns of stop-and-frisk and absurd arrests to bolster their records, to the great detriment of the African-American majority who live there. For example, a young man named Earl Sampson has been stopped by Miami Gardens police 258 times; they've searched him more than 100 times; and they've arrested him for trespassing 56 times. He's never been convicted of anything apart from simple possession of small amounts of marijuana. Sampson's trespassing arrests occurred at his place of work, a convenience store called the 207 Quickstop; Sampson was repeatedly arrested for trespassing there, over the loud objections of his employer, Alex Saleh, who owns the store, and who explained to police that Sampson was not trespassing in his store. When Saleh gathered video evidence that showed the police had falsified their arrest reports and violated the rights of his customers, he was targeted for police harassment, including falsified vehicle stops and personal threats. Saleh is suing for federal civil rights violations, alleging that Miami Gardens police "routinely, under the direction of the city's top leaders, directed its officers to conduct racial profiling, illegal stops and searches and other activities to cover up illegal misconduct." Saleh, whose store is tucked between a public park and working-class neighborhoods, contends that Miami Gardens police officers have repeatedly used racial slurs to refer to his customers and treat most of them like they are hardened criminals. "Police line them up and tell them to put their hands against the wall. I started asking myself 'Is this normal?' I just kept thinking police can't do this,'' Saleh said. Last year, Saleh, armed with a cache of videos, filed an internal affairs complaint about the arrests at his store. From that point, he said, police officers became even more aggressive. One evening, shortly after he had complained a second time, a squadron of six uniformed Miami Gardens police officers marched into the store, he says. They lined up, shoulder to shoulder, their arms crossed in front of them, blocking two grocery aisles. "Can I help you?" Saleh recalls asking. It was an entire police detail, known as the department's Rapid Action Deployment (RAD) squad, whom he had come to know from their frequent arrest sweeps. One went to use the restroom, and five of them stood silently for a full 10 minutes. Then they all marched out. In Miami Gardens, store video catches cops in the act [Julie K. Brown/Miami Herald] (via Sean Bonner) Trump toadies Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie added to Defense Business Board after Pentagon purge Donald Trump and his administration have effectively enacted a purge in the Defense Department, in the last 45 days of his term. On Friday, the Pentagon announced that two of Trump's longtime loyalists, Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie, have been appointed to the department's Defense Business Board. Neither Lewandowski nor Bossie have any Defense experience.… READ THE REST One of the highest-paid cops in the US accused of corruption Metheun, Massachusetts is a town of about 50,000 people that sits on the border of New Hampshire. It's perhaps best known as the birthplace of Robert Frost. About 90 percent of the people there are white, and the average household income is about $50,000. In other words, it's a fairly typical middle-class white suburban town.… READ THE REST NRA admits it got looted by current and former executives The National Rifle Association admits that it is aware of 'significant diversion of its assets', reports CNN. The organization's current president has "paid back nearly $300,000 plus interest" in a further admission that the NRA's current leadership is as sticky-fingered as it ever was. CNN obtained the NRA's 990 tax return, which is meant for… READ THE REST Here's the smart desktop warmer that safely keeps your coffee or tea at the perfect temperature Simple solutions are almost always the best solutions. If you're cold, put on a jacket. If your car engine light clicks on, take it into the shop. And, if your coffee loses its piping hot bite…well, heat that baby up. Most of us are fans of the bold, burly sting of a fresh-off-the-brewer coffee at… READ THE REST These 30 winter survival items will help you handle the cold all winter long It happens every year – and it still feels like a chilly slap across the face each time. Winter rolls in…and you're uncomfortably reminded that the next few months will feel like something you just have to survive. However, there are ways to battle the elements. Assembled below are 30 surefire methods for assuring the… READ THE REST This training bundle might be your ticket to a new career as a freelance writer Lots of people think they can write. But a quick check of social media posts, blogs, and even some astonishingly mainstream media outlets prove that isn't always the case. Writing isn't easy. Writing well is even harder. And, writing well on a tight timeline is tougher still. But, if you've got the talent and ability… READ THE REST	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1769
__label__wiki	0.821397	0.821397	US life sciences firm Surmodics to create 100 jobs in Galway and Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories to expand in Waterford US life sciences technology company Surmodics has announced the creation of 100 new jobs in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway following its acquisition of local company Creagh Medical late last year. Surmodics, which is based in Minnesota and operates in the medical devices and in vitro diagnostics sectors, plans to invest more than €7 million developing the facility in Ballinasloe and will invest a further €9.5 million in two research and development projects in Galway. There are currently 32 people employed at the former Creagh Medical plant. “Surmodics is proud of our talented team of employees and our new state-of-the-art facility for medical device R&D and manufacturing in Ballinasloe” Gary R. Maharaj, President and CEO, Surmodics. The new jobs will be created over the next five years. The development is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation through IDA Ireland. “This company is at the cutting edge of innovative life sciences research and development and the expansion of their newly acquired facility in Ballinasloe is very welcome news and a vote of confidence in the skilled Irish workforce” Mary Mitchell, Jobs Minister Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories announces major expansion plans to enhance its laboratory services footprint and create new jobs in Ireland Meanwhile Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, part of Eurofins Scientific (EUFI.PA), the world leader in bioanalytical testing, announces strategic plans for the expansion of its Dungarvan, Ireland campus, including development of a new building as well as expansion of its current facility. Further, as a major employer in the South East of Ireland, Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories is set to increase its workforce to over 500 staff by 2021 with this investment by its parent company, Eurofins Scientific. Over 175 new jobs have been created in the past 24 months. “This investment demonstrates Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories’ commitment to Dungarvan, and the large cluster of biopharma companies based in Ireland. Achieving increased levels of investment in regional locations is an important focus of IDA’s strategy ‘Winning – FDI 2015-2019’ and today’s announcement is an important step in that direction. I wish Eurofins every success as they continue to grow their operations in the South East Region.” Martin Shanahn, CEO of IDA Ireland, Martin Shanahan Michelle Galvin (Recruitment Consultant) B.Comm – Galway Office Michelle is a graduate of the National University of Ireland, Galway and graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree specialising in Human Resource Management. After graduating from NUIG, Michelle spent 3.5 years working in the Financial Services industry in Dublin and completed a Professional Diploma in Financial Advice in 2016. Michelle joined CareerWise as a Recruitment Consultant in March 2018 and is based in our Galway office. Since joining Careerwise, Michelle completed the NRF Programme in Recruitment Practice and is currently studying a Diploma in Human Resource Management in the Athlone Institute of Technology. job announcements jobs in galway pharma jobs	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1770
__label__cc	0.686936	0.313064	Tag Archives: climate liability Sound governance protects the environment Demerger will cause institutional fragmentation. The state’s duties are not enforceable in a Court of Law. Protection of the environment is not achieved in proportion to the number of authorities established to deal with the environment, resources and land use planning. In fact, subject to sound governance, the number of established authorities is irrelevant. The government has, through its election manifesto, created a storm in a teacup, raising expectations that the demerger of MEPA would result in a government locked into a green commitment. The Opposition, on the other hand, has spoken of a doomsday scenario which will be triggered by the proposed demerger. Both are wrong as the path to a green commitment requires a political will that is not easily detectable in the House of Representatives as presently composed. The Labour government and the Nationalist Opposition have entered into other commitments intended to bolster the building development industry. Labour is currently moving along that path, whilst the Nationalists did it throughout their 26 years in government. As a nation, we are still reeling from the devastating actions of the PN-led government which caused considerable environmental damage. Former Environment Minister Mario de Marco has recently been on record as stating that maybe too much has been sacrificed in the pursuit of economic growth. This is not simply a revival of the past, it is an exercise in trying to understand past PN issues of environmental governance that contradict all the sweet green talk of Simon Busuttil. When the 2005 census indicated the existence of over 53,000 vacant or under-utilised residential properties, the PN-led government increased the uptake of land for development through the rationalisation exercise. It addition, it simultaneously increased the permissible height in several areas. In a number of instances, this increased from 2 to five floors. It also facilitated the construction of penthouses. This has led to an increase (as of 2011) in the number of vacant and under-utilised residential properties to 72,000 units. The proposed demerger of MEPA will neither address nor reverse this mess which is the PN’s environmental legacy to the nation. Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party – is not in agreement with the MEPA demerger proposed by government due to the resulting institutional fragmentation. As a result, human and financial resources will be spread thin over two authorities, thereby weakening effective environmental governance. As a small country, we actually require defragmentation, as this reinforces effective environmental stewardship. Earlier this week, I and AD’s General Secretary Ralph Cassar had a meeting with Environment Minister Leo Brincat during which we discussed AD’s views in relation to the Environment Protection Act currently pending on Parliament’s agenda. AD noted that whilst the proposed Environment Protection administrative structures do not contain any parliamentary representation, this has been retained in the land use planning structures. In fact, in paragraph 63(2)(d) of the Development Planning Act 2015, it is provided that two MPs will sit on the Planning Board. AD does not consider it necessary for Parliament to be present in the planning decision-taking structures. It serves no purpose to have MPs involving themselves in decisions as to which individual development permit is approved or rejected. Alternattiva Demokratika suggested to Minister Brincat that MPs have no direct role to play in operational matters regarding land use planning. It would be more appropriate if Parliament’s Standing Committee on the Environment and Development Planning is given wider powers to monitor both the Planning Authority as well as the authority dealing with the environment and resources. This would entail the availability of financial and human resources so through its Standing Committee, Parliament would be in a better position to identify, and consequently nip in the bud any irregularities or inconsistencies. Both the Development Planning Act as well as the Environment Protection Act list the duties and principles which the state should observe to ensure “a comprehensive sustainable land use planning system” and “to protect the environment”. However, after going into detail to explain such duties, the legislation before Parliament then proceeds to state that these “are not enforceable in a Court of Law”. This is specified in Article 4 of the Development Planning Act and in Article 5 of the Environment Protection Act. One should state that there are similar provisions in present legislation. It is, however, high time that such provisions are removed so that it will be possible for Maltese citizens to seek redress against the state if it attempts to circumvent its duties and abdicate its responsibilities. Last April, following a legal challenge by the environmental NGO Client Earth, the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court squashed Her Majesty’s government’s ineffective plans to reduce illegal levels of air pollution in Britain and ordered it to deliver new ones by the end of 2015. Similarly, last June Courts in Holland ordered the Dutch Government to reduce its carbon emissions by at least 25 per cent within 5 years in what is being termed as the world’s first climate liability suit. Maltese citizens deserve no less. It would therefore be appropriate if the above mentioned provisions of the Development Planning Act and the Environment Protection Act are enforceable in a Court of Law. Another proposal made by Alternattiva Demokratika in the meeting with Minister Brincat concerns the method of selection of the board members of the two Authorities, as well as their senior executives (CEOs and Directors). AD believes that before government proceeds to appoint such members/executives, it should seek and subsequently follow the advice of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Environment and Development Planning . Such advice should be given by the Parliamentary Committee after the persons nominated are examined by the Committee during a sitting held in public. This change would increase the possibility of the appointment of a higher percentage of competent people as members of the board/senior executives. It would also reduce the possibility of appointing people whose only qualification is membership in the government party. The proposed demerger is, in my view a non-issue. Legislating to facilitate the entrenching of good governance should be the real objective. After discussing the matter with Minister Leo Brincat I believe that, even at this late hour, this is still attainable. Published in The Malta Independent on Sunday – 16 August 2015 By carmelcacopardo • Posted in air quality, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, Brincat Leo, Busuttil Simon, Cassar Ralph, Census 2005, Census 2011, Client Earth, climate liability, de Marco Mario, demerger, Development Planning Act 2015, Dutch Courts, Environment, Environment Protection Act 2015, environmental governance, environmental NGOs, environmental protection, Labour Party 2013 electoral manifesto, land use planning, MEPA, Minister for the Environment, Opposition, Parliamentary Committee for Environment and Development Planning, PN, UK Supreme Court • Tagged air quality, Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, Brincat Leo, Busuttil Simon, Cassar Ralph, Census 2005, Census 2011, Client Earth, climate liability, de Marco Mario, demerger, Development Planning Act 2015, Dutch Courts, Environment, environment protection, Environment Protection Act 2015, environmental governance, environmental NGO, Labour Party 2013 electoral manifesto, land use planning, MEPA, Minister for the Environment, Opposition, Parliament, Parliamentary Committee for Environment and Development Planning, PN, resources, UK Supreme Court	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1771
__label__wiki	0.799416	0.799416	Q+A: Hanna Dausch In conversation with the woodworker and featured maker in Locally Sourced. Art \| Facetime Q&A Photo: Hanna Dausch Hanna Dausch has woodworking in her DNA. Her late grandfather was a woodworker, and his bowls, vases, and signs graced her childhood home. Her late grandmother painted furniture and her father refinishes it. But when she enrolled at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she went in planning to study ceramics—until she wandered into the woodworking studio. The 24-year-old, who handcrafts elegant vases, mirrors, and small furniture, is one of 19 makers with work featured in Locally Sourced, now on view at Carnegie Museum of Art. Q: What do you like about woodworking? Are there parallels with ceramics? A: The lathe is like a pottery wheel, but it’s turned horizontal and you are carving away material. You start with a rough piece of wood and make something new out of it. It’s very challenging; wood is difficult to use because even after the tree is dead, it’s still constantly moving based on temperature. I like that woodworking is really honest with you though—it’s really good at telling you when you don’t do it right. If you mess up, that’s it. It throws your mistakes in your face. Q: What’s your process? A: I don’t like to sketch or preplan, which most people frown upon. I come up with an idea, try it out, and if it doesn’t work then I learned something. A lot of times mistakes happen, but that’s OK because those mistakes often lead me in another direction. For example, sometimes when I’m turning on the lathe I will slip and chip out a chunk of wood, but that forces me to change my design and try something new. Q: What kind of woodworking have you done since college? A: My first job out of college was as a historic carpenter in Chicago working on houses built in the early 1900s. I was the only female and the youngest, working with men primarily in their 40s and 50s. They were some of the nicest people to work with and I learned so much from them. I even got to work on some Frank Lloyd Wright houses, which was really cool! But I also had to work outside in the Chicago winter framing houses, and I thought to myself, “This is not fun at all,” and I came back to Pittsburgh. Q: You make one-of-a-kind household items. How do you bring them to life? A: I love hand carving; that’s my bread and butter. It’s so fun to do. A lot of people don’t like to do it because it beats up your hands and is very monotonous, but oddly enough I tend to like monotonous work—it gives you time to let your mind wander. I turn a piece on the lathe, hand carve it with tiny horizontal and vertical lines, and then put it back on the lathe and finish it. Q: What inspires you? A: Architecture, historic preservation, furniture, and interior design. My degree is in sculpture with a focus in woodworking, but I discovered my school had a graduate program in historic preservation and I took classes in that department for fun. I think it’s really hard nowadays to find good craftsmanship because everyone wants it as quickly and cheaply as possible. It’s really important to preserve historic homes and so disappointing when you watch TV shows that supposedly “remodel” these houses, but really they’re ripping them apart. Q: Where do you do your work? A: I rent space in a woodshop between East Liberty and Point Breeze. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t chosen a profession that requires so much space and large machinery, but hopefully one day I’ll have a woodshop of my own. Q: Where can people find your creations? A: My work is on my website and in various shops around the city and country. Q: And now at the Museum of Art? A: Yes, I’m so excited about it; I made vases for the exhibition. I cannot rave enough about the maker scene in Pittsburgh. It’s phenomenal because it’s very community based. I love Chicago, but in a bigger city such as Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, it’s very competitive because there’s so many of you fighting for similar things. Whereas in Pittsburgh, the maker community is so tight-knit that everyone wants to support each other. Q: How has the pandemic changed your business? A: I had to put more of a focus on my website and force myself to be more creative. For example, two friends—a ceramicist and printmaker—and I made a little sidewalk market outside of one of their houses in Shadyside. We advertised it on social media and with flyers around the city. It was a great experience to be able to interact with people and see how supportive the community is of small businesses. With everything going on in the world right now, no one wants to see another small business have to close. It’s very stressful, but working is my escape. When I go to the woodshop, I’m only thinking about my work, and that’s what makes me happy. Art Facetime Q&A	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1772
__label__wiki	0.946665	0.946665	Archbishop John R. Quinn: A ‘clear, powerful voice’ Retired Archbishop John R. Quinn in an early portrait from his tenure as sixth archbishop of San Francisco. Archbishop Quinn, who led the archdiocese from 1977-95, died June 22 at the Jewish Home of San Francisco, the archdiocese announced. He was 88. (ARCHIVES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN FRANCISCO) Throughout his nearly 19 years as sixth archbishop of San Francisco, John Raphael Quinn was a fierce social justice advocate who oversaw and at times was buffeted by tumultuous change in the global and local church. Archbishop Quinn, who died June 22 at age 88, “spoke out with a clear powerful voice on the central issues of the day,” Jeffrey Burns, historian and former archivist for the Archdiocese of San Francisco, wrote in an article for Catholic San Francisco in 2009 on the archbishop’s 80th birthday. “Truly he was the archbishop with the heart of a deacon.” The heart of his message was “concern for the poor and oppressed, concern about the misuse of power, and concern for the dignity of each person made in the image and likeness of God,” Burns writes in “San Francisco: A History of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.” Just over a year after his installation, the city was devastated by the successive tragedies of the massacre at Jonestown, Guyana, and the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. “As the sun sets over San Francisco tonight, it is a different city,” Archbishop Quinn said during the mayor’s funeral service, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. Archbishop Quinn’s tenure included the onset of the AIDS crisis in the early-1980s, Pope St. John Paul II’s visit in 1987, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and the rise of the sanctuary movement for undocumented immigrants. On the feast of St. Francis, Oct. 4, 1981, Archbishop Quinn “made a powerful denunciation of the arms race” in a sermon at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Burns writes. “Though Quinn delivered the sermon with some trepidation, the reaction of the crowd shocked him – they rose to their feet and gave him a roaring standing ovation,” Burns writes. He helped implement the 1981 creation of the Diocese of San Jose and in 1993 commissioned a controversial pastoral plan that recommended closing several Archdiocese of San Francisco parishes. Archbishop Quinn published pastoral letters including “On Central America” in 1983, criticizing U.S. military involvement in Central America, and “The AIDS Crisis: A Pastoral Response” in 1986. Pastoral care in the AIDS crisis Archbishop Quinn initiated the Catholic Church’s first official response to the AIDS crisis in 1985, with outreach and services by Catholic Charities and support for Most Holy Redeemer Parish’s work with AIDS sufferers. Archbishop Quinn welcomed the Missionaries of Charity who established their Gift of Love AIDS hospice, a continuing legacy in the archdiocese. “I always think it’s one of the great secrets of San Francisco County that Archbishop Quinn and Catholic Charities reached out very early in the epidemic to serve people who had HIV and AIDS,” George Simmons, former senior program director at Catholic Charities Assisted Housing and Health, said in a recent interview with Catholic News Agency. “I think it was a part of the faith of the Catholic community to say – I hate to use this cliche – but, ‘what would Jesus do?’” The church must “walk by faith, not by sight,” Archbishop Quinn said in his installation homily on April 26, 1977. “And she is not a pilgrim church if her only goals are in this world. As Scripture says, ‘We are the most pitiable of all creatures if our hope in Christ Jesus is restricted to this world.’” Archbishop Quinn displayed the heart of a pastor after little more than a year in office, historian Burns writes. On Nov. 18, 1978, the city was rocked first by the Jim Jones’ People’s Temple massacre in Guyana. Most of the 909 victims, a third of them children, had recently moved from the Bay Area where the cult leader’s temple was located in the city’s Fillmore District. A week later, on Nov. 27, 1978, former city Supervisor Dan White assassinated Mayor George Moscone and its first openly gay supervisor, Harvey Milk. A shocked city grieved and demonstrators took to the streets. Archbishop Quinn gave the benediction at City Hall the day before a memorial Mass that evening at St. Mary’s Cathedral. He visited Moscone’s wife and his mother, as well as Dan White in jail and White’s wife, Burns recounts. “We … must renew in this sacred place our firm resolve to spare no effort to return our city to its cherished civic peace, a true and noble justice with reverence for life and mutual respect for all,” the archbishop said in his homily. Archbishop Quinn was an outspoken critic of U.S. policy toward Central America and refugees. In his 1983 pastoral letter “On Central America” he called for an end to U.S. military intervention and assistance in Central America. In 1985, Archbishop Quinn endorsed the sanctuary movement to welcome undocumented immigrants and at least two parishes, St. Teresa of Avila in San Francisco and St. Bruno in San Bruno, became sanctuary parishes. In 1994 he opposed California’s Proposition 187, which sought to keep undocumented immigrants and their children from receiving California social services, saying, “Efforts to make life more difficult and unbearable for immigrants and refugees is morally wrong and an offense against human rights and the dignity of the human person.” He was present as president of the U.S. bishops’ conference during the Palm Sunday, 1980, funeral of assassinated El Salvador Archbishop Oscar Romero as gunshots and explosions panicked the crowd outside the San Salvador cathedral. “I was carried by the force of the crowd … and feared … I would be crushed by the crowds,” Burns quotes Archbishop Quinn. The archbishop made it inside the cathedral as shots continued and bombs exploded. Archbishop Quinn was an early leader in combating clerical sexual abuse. The Archdiocese of San Francisco put into force in 1992 a sexual abuse and harassment policy, and at that time urged all victims of child sexual abuse by a priest or church worker to “come forward and tell us their story.” In 1993, he commissioned a pastoral plan in response to San Francisco’s drop in church attendance and because of the city’s 1992 unreinforced masonry ordinance requiring seismic retrofits estimated to cost more than $70 million for all church buildings. Following its recommendations, Archbishop Quinn closed several local churches, which sparked acrimony that continued into the tenure of his successor archbishop, Cardinal William J. Levada. Archbishop Quinn stepped down in 1995 at age 66, having asked St. John Paul II if the pope could appoint a coadjutor bishop so that he could retire early; the mandatory age at which a bishop is required by canon law to submit his resignation is 75. “I have served as a bishop for almost 30 years,” he said at the time. “In these turbulent times no corporate CEO or university president remains under the pressure of office anywhere near that time.” Keen interest in Christian unity A theology professor and seminary rector before he became a bishop, Archbishop Quinn maintained a keen interest in theological and ecclesial matters and pursued this in greater earnest after his retirement. He took to heart St. John Paul’s call in “Ut Unum Sint,” his 1995 encyclical on ecumenism, that Christian church leaders and their theologians to help him find a way of exercising papal primacy that would better foster Christian unity. Archbishop Quinn gave a lecture the following year at Oxford University in which he called for major Roman Curia reforms, new ways of selecting bishops and a new ecumenical council. The outgrowth of the Oxford lecture was a 1999 book, “The Reform of the Papacy: The Costly Call to Christian Unity.” The book won first place for best popular presentation of the Catholic faith in the Catholic Press Association’s 2000 book awards, but was reportedly received coolly at the Vatican. Calling the Curia’s structure “a serious impediment” to Christian unity, “I firmly believe that if the politics and processes of the Curia do not change,” Christian unity will remain elusive, Archbishop Quinn said after the book’s publication. He similarly called for a called for a re-examination of the role of the College of Cardinals, which he said presented a stumbling block to Christian unity. He made the comments in an interview with an Italian magazine that year. He added that future ecumenical councils of the world’s bishops should include other Christian leaders, especially Orthodox, as full members. Archbishop Quinn’s second book, “Ever Ancient, Ever New: Structures of the Communion in the Church,” was published in 2012. “There is room for diversity, even on matters of major importance, within the framework of unity,” Archbishop Quinn wrote. In a March 11, 2013, article in National Catholic Reporter, titled “Governance in the Legacy of Vatican Council II,” Archbishop Quinn advocated for a greater role for bishops’ conferences in communion with Rome. “Modern episcopal conferences in the Latin church of the West could be given the same powers and functions of patriarchates,” he wrote. “This means that the conferences would be empowered to deal with such things as the appointment and transfer of bishops, the establishment of dioceses, questions of liturgy and other matters of Catholic practice and observance. “It goes without saying that any such provision is always within the framework of Catholic communion and unity,” he added. Speaking at Stanford University in 2013 as the world’s cardinals were gathering in the conclave that would conclude with the election of Pope Francis, Archbishop Quinn again called for limits on papal authority. In a paper titled “Governance in the Legacy of Vatican II,” he criticized liturgical changes resulting in the new Roman Missal translation and argued, “I would say that a very large number of bishops are of the opinion that there is not any real or meaningful collegiality in the church today.” In a July 21, 2013, interview with Vatican Insider, Archbishop Quinn mentioned meeting Pope Francis. “When I met him he told me that he had read my recent book on structures of communion and without commenting on the book itself he mentioned how ‘important’ the subject of collegiality and synodality are for the church today,” he said. Priestly readiness for prayer Archbishop Quinn began writing for the Jesuit magazine America in 1968, covering topics including church governance and the priesthood. In an April 13, 2010, address to the National Federation of Priests’ Councils, published in America on May 3, 2010, Archbishop Quinn repeated the question once asked by the Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner: “Why would a modern man want to remain a priest?” “This great theologian tackles the question with stunning simplicity,” Archbishop Quinn said. “He begins be saying that for him, it is not the great works of the church in the service of justice and peace, the great universities and the great movements and programs. ‘Rather,’ he says, ‘I still see around me living in many of my brother priests a readiness for unselfish service carried out quietly, a readiness for prayer, for abandonment to the incomprehensibility of God, for the calm acceptance of death in whatever form it may come, for the total dedication to the following of Christ crucified.”’ Archbishop Quinn continued to publish and at the time of his death had completed a book on the First Vatican Council of 1870. THE DOMINICAN SISTERS OF SAN RAFAEL COMMEMORATED THEIR 165TH ANNIVERSARY ON DEC. 6, 2015, WITH A MASS AT ST. RAPHAEL CHURCH AND A RECEPTION AT THE DOMINICAN SISTERS’ CENTER, THE SITE OF THEIR MOTHERHOUSE SINCE 1889. ARCHBISHOP QUINN, ONE OF THE PRESIDERS, IS PICTURED WITH SISTER MAUREEN MCINERNEY, PRIORESS GENERAL, AT THE RECEPTION. (PHOTO COURTESY DOMINICAN SISTERS OF SAN RAFAEL) Close ties to women, men religious Archbishop Quinn had a close working relationship with religious women and men. In 1983, St. John Paul II named him the Pontifical Delegate for Religious Life in the United States, which included all religious men and women, with the charge to bring the bishops of the country and the religious into a closer relationship and to examine the causes for the decline in vocations. “Archbishop John R. Quinn has been a longtime friend of the religious in the archdiocese,” Presentation Sister Rosina Conrotto said in a message to Catholic San Francisco on Archbishop Quinn’s move to nursing care a few days before his death. He named women religious from the archdiocese of San Francisco to his commission “and drew on the collective wisdom of women religious throughout the United States for input on his report,” Sister Rosina said. “Throughout the entire process he was honest, respectful and grateful for the help he received.” Archbishop Quinn preached a memorable eight-day retreat three years ago at Vallombrosa Center, Sister Rosina said. “To this day I hear women religious say, ‘I wish it could have been eight days longer.’ One sister said to me, ‘When Archbishop Quinn speaks, my heart grows.’ These are beautiful tributes to a holy man of God.” “I have been moved by his keen intellect, his deep spirituality, his wonderful sense of humor, his incredible memory and his skill at the piano,” Sister Rosina said. Celebrating St. Mary’s Cathedral His projects in retirement included supporting the 40th anniversary commemoration of St. Mary’s Cathedral in 2011. In a column in the Sept. 24, 2010, Catholic San Francisco, he called the cathedral “a window on the infinite, lifting the human spirit to the Infinite and Eternal Beauty which is God.” He recalled a visit to the cathedral by Dorothy Day for a meeting called by the U.S. bishops on social issues. “Dorothy listened to vigorous criticism of the money spent on building St. Mary’s Cathedral,” Archbishop Quinn wrote. “When she finally spoke, she said, ‘I hope you bishops will not pay attention to this criticism. The cathedral in San Francisco is one of the few places where the poor can go and sit down and be with God in beauty.” In May 2016, Archbishop Quinn was the homilist at the funeral of his former secretary, Sharon Suhr. “Something they shared was love of music and he wove that into the eulogy,” her daughter, Ellen Conaway, told Catholic San Francisco. Conaway recalled how shortly after his appointment as archbishop, he walked down the hall into the office at the chancery where Mrs. Suhr worked and asked the mother of six, to her great surprise and that of others in the pastoral center offices, to be his administrative assistant. “He was very kind to my mother while they worked together,” Conaway recalled, saying that until her death, Mrs. Suhr had an 8-by-10 portrait of Archbishop Quinn prominently displayed in her home. Catholic News Service contributed.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1775
__label__cc	0.523468	0.476532	Revisiting the Veterinary Feed Directive One Year Later March 7, 2018 Central Ag Supply When stricter federal guidelines on the use of some antibiotics for food animals went into effect last year, producers all over the nation, including Jerry Meek in Ada, had a decision to make. Should he spend the time and money to get a Veterinarian Feed Directive authorization from his veterinarian to continue treating his herd of about 30 cows? Ultimately Meek decided to get the VFD authorization and his operation hasn’t missed a beat. “Originally, when I heard about it, I thought it’s another $20 bucks I’d be spending. But, I understand where they’re coming from, if it’s something to help the market, producers and safety,” he said. “I rethought it and I appreciate they’re trying to help.” The tightened guidelines, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2017, require producers to obtain authorization from a veterinarian to purchase medically important antibiotics, or medications important to treating human diseases, and give them to food animals through feed and drinking water. Previously these drugs could be purchased over-the-counter, however, the FDA made the change to better track the use of antibiotics out of a concern for antimicrobial resistance. Barry Whitworth, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension area food/animal quality and health specialist, said in the year since the new guidelines when into effect, there has been a mixed reaction from producers. “Some people have been reluctant to switch over to the new requirements, so they’ve chosen not to use any products at this time,” he said. “Some people have gone to other means to control diseases such as using vaccinations.” Meek said he has not had any issues with obtaining and using the VFD, which is renewable every six months. The charge for renewal varies by location. “I’ve always used the medicated minerals and I’ve seen through the years of production a change in my animals and calving in doing it,” he said. “If it’s not broke, don’t worry about it. It’s not broke and it’s still working. I’m going to continue the same steps I’ve used.” The impact of the stricter VFD is not yet known, however the big concern in Oklahoma is anaplasmosis, an infectious blood disease during which red blood cells are destroyed by the immune system causing cattle to become anemic. “At this point in time, there hasn’t been any data gathered to show us that if people who are not using medicated minerals are having more problems with anaplasmosis than those who are,” Whitworth said. Interestingly, some unanticipated positive trends have emerged from the strengthened VFD guidelines. “People are talking to their vets more. We’re seeing better herd health management. We’re seeing people look more at vaccinations. We’re talking about biosecurity with people and controlling diseases,” Whitworth said. “There are things that have come out of this process we didn’t expect, but they are positive as far as for the producers and the health needs of the animals.” ← World Dairy Expo Welcomes Four New Board Members Milk Co-op Mailer Address Suicide Risk for Dairy Farmers →	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1783
__label__cc	0.701027	0.298973	Tag Archives: lose I have mentioned before that I am a massive rugby fan, and I have also mentioned that I’m not that brilliant at it and have much experience of losing. I also support England, which has left me no choice other than to spend the past ten years alternating between moments of joy and long periods of frustration over what could have been, whilst continually living in the shadow of ‘that drop goal’ (apologies for non-rugby fans, for whom this will make little sense, but bear with me) and trying to come to terms with our latest loss (although… any New Zealanders reading this? 🙂 ). The team I support have spent the last few seasons living through a similar shadow of former success, and many losses have subsequently ensued. As such, I am very well acquainted with the practice of losing, and in particular the different kinds of loss that can occur (and the emotions inspired thereof). The following list will not be exhaustive, but I’ll aim to cover as many as I can. The most obvious variety of loss has also perhaps the most potential to be depressing; the thrashing. An entirely one sided affair, where all concerned tried their best but simply weren’t good enough to even come close to standing up to the opposition, a thrashing can serve as a message saying “People might tell you to try your best, but your best isn’t good enough“. This is a terribly depressing thought, suggesting that all of one’s hard work, effort and training matter for nought in comparison to one’s opponents; or, the thrashing can be taken in a positive vein, a sense of “hey, they are just better than us, but we did well and there’s no shame in it”. Which way one goes really depends on the opposition concerned and one’s way of handling failure (refer to my back catalogue for more details) but a good example of the latter course occurred during the Rugby World Cup in 2007 when Portugal, never noted as a great rugby side, lost to the rugby powerhouse that is New Zealand by 108 points to 13. That was a definitive thrashing, but Portugal had nonetheless scored a try against the world’s best sides, hot favourites to win the overall competition (although they subsequently didn’t) and had played with pride and tenacity. The sight of their side, chests puffed out and eyes flush with emotion, singing the national anthem at the start of that game was a truly heartwarming one. Subtly distinct from, but similar to, a thrashing is the collapse, the different being whose fault the scale of the loss is. A thrashing is very much won by the winners, but a collapse is caused by the losing party allowing everything that could go wrong to go wrong, performing terribly and letting the result tell the story. The victim of a collapse may be the underdog, may be expected to lose, but certainly should not have done so by quite so spectacular a margin as they do. This generally conjures up less depression than it does anger, frustration and even shame; you know you could and should have done better, but for whatever reason you haven’t. No excuses, no blaming the ref, you just failed- and you hate it. Next in the order of frustration is the one-aspect loss, something generally confined to more multifaceted, and particularly team, occasions. These centre on one individual or aspect of the situation; one’s left back failing to mark his man on numerous occasions, for example, or a tennis player’s serve letting him down. Again the predominant feeling is one of frustration, this time of having done enough and still not won; in every other aspect of one’s performance you might have been good enough to win, but because of one tiny aspect you were let down and it was all for nought. The one-aspect loss is closely related to the ‘kitchen sink’ loss, such as Spain experienced at the hands of Switzerland at the football world cup two years ago. Spain were clearly the better side in that match, and but for one lucky goal from the Swiss they surely would have won it, but after that Switzerland holed up in their own penalty area and defended for their lives. Spain might have thrown everything they had and then some at the Swiss after that, might have struck shot after shot, but no matter what they did it just didn’t come up for them; luck and fate were just against them that day, and for all their effort they still managed to lose. A kitchen sink loss is also characterised by frustration, often made doubly annoying by the fact that the one aspect of one’s performance that has let you down has nothing to do with you, but can also summon depression by the seeming irrelevance of all the hard work you did put in. A match you should have won, could have won, often needed to have won, but no matter how much effort you put in fate just didn’t want you to win. Doesn’t life suck sometimes? The even loss also records significant frustration levels, particularly due to the nature of the games it often occurs in. An even loss occurs between two closely matched teams or individuals in a close contest, and where portents at the start say it could go either way. Sadly, in most sports a draw is rare, whilst in many it is impossible, and in any case such a situation satisfies nobody; there must be a winner and, unfortunately, a loser. Such a loss is always hard to take, as one knows they are good enough to win (and usually have done so in the past; such occasions are often repeat fixtures against local rivals, meaning the prospect of a year’s gloating must also be considered) but that, on the day, it went the other way. On other occasions, a sense of anticlimax may be present; sometimes losses just happen, and do not inspire any great emotion (although the near-neutral loss is a category unto itself), and after a tight game in which you played alright but were fair beaten there’s sometimes not too much to get emotional about. And then, we come to perhaps the strangest form of losing- the happy loss. It’s often hard to be comfortable about being happy with a loss, particularly in a tight game decided only by the narrowest of margins and that one could have won. There are some people who will never feel happy about a loss, no matter how good the game or the opposition, constantly striving for the concrete success a victory can show; but for others, there is still comfort to be found in losing. There lies no shame in losing a match against a good, deserving opponent, no shame in losing when you could not possibly have given more, and no shame in doing far, far better than you were expected to. I have talked before on this blog on the value of learning to fail with grace; just as important, in life as in sport and such, is learning how to lose. Standard \| \| Tagged anger, annoying, anticlimax, better, blaming the ref, close contest, closely matched, collapse, comfort, comfortable, depressing, deserving, distinct, drop-goal, effort, emotional, emotions, England, exhaustive, failure, fan, fate, football world cup, frustration, gloating, grace, happiness, happy, hard work, individual, Jonny Wilkinson, joy, Kiwis, life, list, local rivals, lose, losing, loss, luck, multifaceted, narrow margins, New Zealanders, not good enough, one sided, opposition, performance, Portugal, potential, pride, repeat fixtures, rugby, Rugby World Cup, satisfaction, scale, shame, shot, Spain, sports, support, Switzerland, tenacity, thrashing, training, tried their best, try, victim, victory, what could have been, win, worse \| 0 comments	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1789
__label__wiki	0.515673	0.515673	Isaiah Wilson D'Andre Swift Andrew Thomas Sports College football Football College sports Social media Online media Media NFL football Professional football NFL Draft Sugar Bowl Game Bowl Championship Series 2 UGa linemen heading to NFL; RB Swift hasn't made decision FILE - In this Sept. 7, 2019, file photo, Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) is shown in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Murray State, in Athens, Ga. Thomas was selected to The Associated Press All-American team, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) Dec. 16, 2019 11:55 AM EST FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, Georgia offensive lineman Andrew Thomas (71) plays against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Nashville, Tenn. Thomas was selected to The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference football team, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File) Georgia running back D'Andre Swift (7) jumps over LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) LSU safety JaCoby Stevens (3) hits Georgia running back D'Andre Swift (7) during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Georgia running back D'Andre Swift (7) moves the ball in the first half of an NCAA football game between Georgia and Georgia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019, in Atlanta. (Joshua L. Jones/Athens Banner-Herald via AP) Georgia head coach Kirby Smart jumps on the back of offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson to celebrate beating Texas A&M 19-13 in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Athens, Ga. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1790
__label__cc	0.678727	0.321273	Category Archives: fisheries Recognizing Fishing Vessels Using Force Labor Posted on December 21, 2020 by Chuck Hill SkyTruth Fishing Watch. https://www.skytruth.org/mapping-global-fishing/ gCaptain reports, Fishing vessels with crews of forced laborers behave in systematically different ways to the rest of the global fleet, according to a study purporting to be the first to remotely identify vessels potentially engaged in modern slavery. Using satellite data, machine learning and on-the-ground expertise from human rights practitioners, U.S. researchers found up to 26% of about 16,000 industrial fishing vessels analyzed were at high risk of using forced labor. It is not unlikely that the same vessels that engage in this practice, also violate other norms including Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported fishing. Not sure how the Coast Guard should go about attacking this international problem, but it is something to consider. Certainly vessels flagged as meeting these characteristics should attract our interest. Posted in fisheries, Fisheries Enforcement \| Leave a reply North Korea’s Ghost Fishing Fleet –It is worse than I thought Posted on October 18, 2020 by Chuck Hill Sixty fishermen aboard this North Korean boat were rescued after it collided with a Japanese patrol vessel and sank off Japan’s Noto Peninsula in October 2019. The Indo-Pacific Defense Forum reports on the extent of the disaster that has befallen North Korean fishermen since their government has sold fishing rights to the PRC. “The so-called ghost ships come ashore on Japan’s coastline and increasingly along Russia’s coast, according to a mid-September 2020 report by Lenta.ru, a Russian-language online newspaper. “Japanese authorities report that more than 500 ghost boats have landed on the nation’s coast in the past five years, with 158 in 2019, Lenta.ru reported. The unidentified bodies found aboard are buried in unmarked graves in Japanese and Russian coastal towns, the online report said.” Posted in Asia, China, fisheries, IUU, Japan, Korea \| Leave a reply “TIAR 21: MARITIME SECURITY, THE TIAR, AND IUU FISHING IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE” –CIMSEC CIMSEC has what I believe could be a significant proposal for how the Americas could respond to the large fleets of fishing vessels that present a threat of Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported fishing that can overwhelm the resources of the individual nations. The US Coast Guard recently assisted Ecuador in monitoring one of these fleets. The author suggests that collective action could be taken under the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (commonly known as the Rio Treaty, the Rio Pact, the Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, or by the Spanish language acronym TIAR from Tratado Interamericano de Asistencia Recíproca), perhaps modified as necessary, but he also notes that it already includes this provision, “…Article 11 mentions how “the High Contracting Parties recognize that, for the maintenance of peace and security in the Hemisphere, collective economic security for the development of the Member States of the Organization of American States must also be guaranteed.” It goes without saying that economic security for coastal nations includes the fishing industry. What typically happens is that a huge international fleet will follow the fishery. Most will be in international waters, but at least some may be tempted to enter the EEZ of coastal states. This year we have seen them move from off Ecuador, past Peru, down to Chile, and they are expected to transit to waters off Argentina. The size of the fishing fleet may successively overwhelm fisheries enforcement resources of these individual countries, but a collaborative approach could allow more effective enforcement. The author refers to the US Coast Guard Shiprider Program as a model of how cooperative enforcement might work. Enforcement operations could be conducted under the authority of a representative of the nation whose resources are under threat. Since the threat is primarily to violations of the Exclusive Economic Zone there would be no need for these collaborating units to even enter the territorial sea of the country under threat. If such a collaborative operation is successful in the Americas, it could serve as a model for enforcement off Africa and Southeast Asia, leading perhaps to regional Combined Maritime Security Task Forces. Posted in fisheries, Fisheries Enforcement, Interdiction, International, International Cooperation, IUU \| Leave a reply “Cooperative Maritime Law Enforcement and Overfishing in the South China Sea” –CIMSEC Republic of Korea Coast Guard vessel #3006 in company with U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719) during the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum in August 2007. This forum was created to increase international maritime safety and security in the Northern Pacific Ocean and its borders. The Boutwell worked with the Korean coast guard while on their way to Yokosuka, Japan. The Japanese coast guard is one of the six nations involved in the forum. CIMSEC brings us a discussion of the possibility of cooperative fisheries enforcement in the South China Sea to stop both overfishing and Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported (IUU) fishing and perhaps bring China into a more mutually beneficial relationship with her neighbors. Earlier, I had a suggestion about how we might form an instrument of cooperative enforcement by forming a “Combined Maritime Security Task Force Pacific,” a law enforcement alliance rather than a military one. Probably before that could be fully realized, the various nations with competing claims to the waters of the South China Sea, need to take their claims to the UN’s International Tribunal. The more nations use it, the more pressure on China to participate. If, they do not present a cases before the international their claims will be weakened. South China Sea claims map by Voice of America, http://blogs.voanews.com/state-department-news/2012/07/31/challenging-beijing-in-the-south-china-sea/ Posted in Asia, China, fisheries, Fisheries Enforcement, Fisheries Management, International Cooperation, International Law, Maritime Domain Awareness, MDA, South China Sea, South East Asia \| Leave a reply U.S., Canada conduct fisheries enforcement with partner nations in South Pacific Posted on February 16, 2019 by Chuck Hill The following is a Fourteenth District new release. This is a follow up to an earlier post/news release. Since Nov. 2018 we have had Munro, Bertholf, and Mellon in the Western Pacific. Really looks like it is becoming routine, now with help from Canadian maritime patrol aircraft. Fri, Feb 15, 2019 6:25 pm Coast Guard Fourteenth District Hawaii and the Pacific News (coastguardfourteenthdistrict@service.govdelivery.co U.S. Coast Guard 14th District Hawaii and the Pacific Contact: 14th District Public Affairs 14th District online newsroom Imagery Available: U.S., Canada conduct fisheries enforcement with partner nations in South Pacific Editors’ Note: Click on images to view more and download high-resolution versions. HONOLULU — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon (WHEC 717) continues their patrol of the South Pacific with partners from several nations in January and into February. “The U.S. is advancing a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that excludes no nation. We are redoubling our commitment to establish alliances and partnerships while expanding and deepening relationships with new partners that share respect for sovereignty, fair and reciprocal trade, and the rule of law,” said Capt. Robert Hendrickson, chief of response for Coast Guard 14th District. “We rely on partners, allies, and like-minded nations to achieve our missions.” Following their first leg, the crew embarked ship riders from Fiji and Tuvalu to enforce Fisheries laws in each partner nations’ respective exclusive economic zones (EEZ). The Mellon’s boarding teams and the fisheries officers conducted a professional exchange and law enforcement training, sharing tactics and best practices. This effort was coordinated with significant support from Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing deprives the international economy of billions of dollars and undermines the livelihoods of legitimate fishers from all nations. It impacts food security, affecting millions of people, including many vulnerable coastal communities. It is estimated that IUU fishing accounts for about 30 percent of all fishing activity worldwide, representing up to 26 million tons of fish caught annually, valued at between $10 to $23 billion. “Coast Guard 14th District personnel began partnering with Canada’s DFO in July when two DFO officers joined U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sequoia (WLB 215) for a 23-day patrol on high seas west of Guam,” said Hendrickson. “Sequoia’s deployment was incredibly successful, resulting in 15 suspected violations of Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s conservation and management measures while completing 11 foreign vessel inspections. The important trip helped to cement the Coast Guard and DFO’s growing partnership for enforcement in Oceania.” Two DFO officers joined Mellon’s crew for the transit from Hawaii to Fiji after attending the Coast Guard’s Pacific Regional Fisheries Training Center course for Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) enforcement. They conducted high seas boardings along the way. Canada’s Air Force committed a CP-140 Aurora fixed-wing aircraft to provide maritime domain awareness for Mellon over two weeks, as well as delivering fishery enforcement operations for several regional Pacific Island countries. The DFO deployed two of their officers with the Aurora, and the Coast Guard sent a specialized fisheries training officer from the Regional Training Center to assist the aircrew with specific fisheries details and information for the crew. Working with Canada’s Department of National Defence and the U.S. Coast Guard, they patrolled around Fiji and the island nations of Kiribati, Tokelau, Vanuatu, and Tuvalu. IUU fishing is of particular concern in this area as several small island developing states have some of the most vulnerable waters for IUU fishing and need support from other nations. Throughout the patrol, fishery officers were part of seven reconnaissance flights by the Aurora, to provide a visible surveillance presence and to help enforce WCPFC conservation measures. The Aurora detected and documented 101 fishing vessels during the mission, providing critical data to the U.S. Coast Guard patrol and the Forum Fisheries Agency, which coordinates enforcement amongst the island nations. The Canadian aircraft also patrolled the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, a UNESCO world heritage site where fishing is banned. The Aurora was able to ensure the area was clear of fishing activity during its patrol. “The U.S. Coast Guard and the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans have a long history of working together to ensure the viability of fish stocks off North America. Working with experts from Canada and regional leaders like Fiji is vital to ensuring food security and the rule of law in Oceania. Working together we are helping to ensure a more secure, free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Hendrickson. Fishery officers aboard the cutter Mellon patrolled over 1,786 square miles (2,875 square kilometers) within the WCPFC convention area. They were also part of the enforcement team that boarded two boats: one fishing vessel and one fuel supply ship known as a bunkering vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating two potential violations of transshipment rules and vessel identification requirements aboard the vessels inspected during the mission. These recent patrols were part of Canada’s international commitment to support fisheries on the high seas and tackle IUU fishing, which is a significant contributor to declining fish stocks and marine habitat destruction around the world. “Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing threatens food security, impacts the sustainability of fisheries, and causes irreparable damage to marine and freshwater ecosystems across the globe. Partnerships, like this one with Canada’s Department of National Defence and the United States Coast Guard, are the key to tackling IUU fishing that threatens many vulnerable coastal communities. We will continue to work with other countries and assist small island developing states in combating IUU fishing to increase security and protect the health of fish stocks around the world,” said the Honorable Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. Posted in fisheries, Fisheries Enforcement, IUU, Pacific \| 2 Replies Alameda-based Coast Guard cutter and crew depart for Western Pacific patrol Posted on January 22, 2019 by Chuck Hill Got a news release reporting the departure of Bertholf from Alameda California for a Patrol in the Western Pacific which I have quoted below. Normally I would leave reporting of ship deployments to other sites, but, I don’t think this is routine. We have sent cutters into the Western Pacific (since Vietnam). Munro (WMSL-755) visited Fiji and the Solomon Islands in 2018 (Paying More Attention to the Western Pacific, Dec. 8, 2018). Waesche made the trip back in 2012 (Waesche Enroute to SE Asia Apr. 4, 2012).There could have been others, but I don’t think there were a lot more, but coming on the heels of Munro’s deployment this may be a trend. There is also a video here. The Captain tells the crew, “We’re going to be doing a national security mission. When we get underway, we are going to be working for the United States Indo-Pacific Command, Combatant Commander. We’re going to be executing national security operation throughout the Pacific.” What is the mission? Certainly they will be doing some capacity building, exercising with partner navies and coast guards. They will probably do some fisheries enforcement both, in the US EEZ and with shipriders to assist in the EEZs of friendly nations, certainly in Oceana and perhaps in SE Asia. We have a huge expanded Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument wit 490,000 square statute miles or about 390,000 square nautical miles of Ocean to police (Huge New Marine Reserve, Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, Sep. 26, 2014). Plus there are the island nations of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau joined with the U.S. in “Compacts of Free Association.” There have been calls for more US Coast Guard presence in the Pacific from New Zealand and from the 7th Fleet. Some, including the previous Commandant see the US Coast Guard as a counter weight to China Coast Guard in the South China Sea. Maybe Bertholf will stop in at Guam and check it out as a possible future base for Offshore Patrol Cutters. We already have indication three Webber class FRCs will replace the two 110s currently there.) Will they operate in the South China Sea? Will they do Freedom of Navigation Ops? Taking Vietnamese ship riders aboard and doing fisheries enforcement in the Vietnam EEZ inside the Chinese claimed Nine Dash Line, could get exciting. Guess we will have to wait and see. Will they have a UAS aboard? And If we have no budget or continuing resolution to pay our people, how are we paying for fuel? The News Release On a gray and foggy morning, tears intermingled with rain as family members braved the elements to say goodbye to the 170 crewmembers of Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL-750), a 418-foot national security cutter, which departed Alameda, California, Sunday for a patrol in the Western Pacific Ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard has an enduring role in the Indo-Pacific going back over 150 years. The service’s ongoing deployment of resources to the region directly supports U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives in the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the National Security Strategy. “The United States is a Pacific nation,” said Vice Adm. Linda Fagan, commander Coast Guard Pacific Area, who was present to see the cutter depart. “We have deep and long-standing ties with our partners in the region, and more importantly, we share a strong commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, governed by a rules-based international system that promotes peace, security, prosperity and sovereignty of all nations.” Bertholf will be operating in support of United States Indo-Pacific Command, which oversees military operations in the region. As part of its planned operations, the cutter will engage in professional exchanges and capacity building with partner nations. “Security abroad equals security at home,” said Fagan. “Enhancing our partners’ capabilities is a force multiplier in combating transnational criminal and terrorist organizations and deterring our adversaries.” As both a federal law enforcement agency and an armed force, the Coast Guard is uniquely positioned to conduct defense operations in support of Combatant Commanders on all seven continents. The service routinely provides forces in joint military operations worldwide, including the deployment of cutters, boats, aircraft and deployable specialized forces. “I’m excited to see Bertholf sail today to the Indo-Pacific region of operations,” said Fagan, who described the cutter as one of the most capable in the Coast Guard fleet. “They will be serving alongside other DoD military forces, particularly the U.S. Navy, and I know they will contribute key capabilities to that mission set. This crew has worked incredibly hard to get ready for today’s sailing, and I can’t think of a better ship and crew to be sending to the Indo-Pacific.” Commissioned in 2008, Bertholf is the first of the Coast Guard’s legend class national security cutters. These advanced ships are 418-feet long, 54-feet wide, and have a 4,600 long-ton displacement. They have a top speed in excess of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 nautical miles, endurance of up to 90 days and can hold a crew of up to 170. The cutter is named for Coast Guard legend Ellsworth P. Bertholf, who served as captain of the Revenue Cutter Bear during the famous Overland Relief Expedition, earning the Congressional Gold Medal. As the Coast Guard’s fourth commandant, Bertholf oversaw the transfer of the Coast Guard into the Department of the Navy during World War I and advocated for the successful postwar reconstitution of the service. National security cutters feature advanced command and control capabilities, aviation support facilities, stern cutter boat launch and increased endurance for long-range patrols to disrupt threats to national security further offshore. The Coast Guard is scheduled to commission its seventh national security cutter, the Coast Guard Cutter Kimball, in 2019. Kimball, along with the Midgett, which is currently under construction, will be homeported in Honolulu and will enhance the Coast Guard’s presence throughout the Indo-Pacific. “The U.S. Coast Guard’s unique authorities, capabilities, and missions make us the maritime safety and security partner of choice for sea-going countries around the world,” said Capt. John Driscoll, Bertholf’s commanding officer. “Our increased presence throughout the Indo-Pacific will enhance regional stability and improve maritime governance and security.” In an address to the families and crew before the cutter set sail, Driscoll emphasized how critical family support is to crew wellbeing and readiness. “Support from our families, wherever they live, is vital to ensuring we are ready to sail and answer the demands of our nation,” Driscoll said. “We must ensure our families are ready to weather the storm at home. We operate in a dangerous and high-consequence environment, and your ability to focus on mission can become easily compromised if you are worried about family.” Fagan acknowledged the current lapse in appropriations and government shutdown has added stress and feelings of uncertainty to the typical emotions that surround a cutter departure. “I know it is hard for these crews to be leaving behind their dependents and spouses – it’s a thousand times more so when everyone is wondering when our next paycheck will be, and how they can support the family they are leaving behind,” Fagan said. “There has been an incredible outpouring of support for the families here in the Alameda area, but the tension and the anxiety for the crew is real,” said Fagan. “We are standing by to help support those families who are left behind the same way that we are going to support the crew as they sail for the Western Pacific.” Posted in Asia, China, Combatant Commanders, EEZ, fisheries, Fisheries Enforcement, Indo-Pacific Command, national security cutter, NSC, Pacific, South China Sea, South East Asia \| 5 Replies French Fisheries Fight Posted on September 4, 2018 by Chuck Hill gCaptain brings us news of clash between British and French scallop fishermen. “The French Navy is ready to intervene if clashes between French and British fishermen over access to scallop-rich seabeds erupt again on the open seas, Agriculture Minister Stephane Travert said on Tuesday. “Travert said he had spoken to his British counterpart and that talks between the two sides were due on Wednesday after French vessels chased their rivals out of the Baie de Seine last week. “British fishermen accused the French of ramming their vessels and hurling projectiles. Disgruntled French fishermen, unhappy that their British rivals can dredge for scallops year round while they are barred from doing so during summer months, said they came under a violent counter-attack.” The full article provides more information. Posted in Europe, fisheries, Fisheries Enforcement \| 2 Replies CIMSEC Event Invite: 20 JUN DC Discussion: The USCG in the SCS I’m passing this along for those who might be in the DC area. You don’t have to be a CIMSEC member, but membership is open. I’m way out of the area, so will not be there. My most recent thoughts here. Combined Maritime Security Task Force Pacific Join CIMSEC’s DC chapter for an evening happy hour discussion on the challenges and opp ortunities presented by the potential for an expanded role of the U.S. Coast Guard in Southeast Asia, and in particular a focus on the question of what role, if any, it should play in the South China Sea. Discussants will be announced shortly. Time: Wednesday, 20 June, 6:00-8:00pm Place: Fuel Pizza Farragut Square, 1606 K St NW, Washington, DC 20006 (via Farragut North or West Metro Station). RSVPs not necessary but appreciated: director@cimsec.org Posted in Asia, fisheries, International, Pacific \| Leave a reply Combined Maritime Security Task Force Pacific Posted on June 3, 2018 by Chuck Hill War on the Rocks offers a suggestion as to how to build greater cooperation and trust and support international norms in the Western Pacific. “…establishment of a Combined Maritime Task Force Pacific that would be modeled off the Standing Naval Forces Atlantic construct that NATO operated in the 1970s and 1980s… It included 6-10 surface ships (destroyers, cruisers, frigates and support ships) that attached to the squadron for up to six months at a time…the real utility was that its permanent and consistent nature allowed contributing navies to work together to build interoperability during peacetime…it was always signaling contributing navies’ growing alignment and desire to work together.” This seems like a pretty good idea, but I would suggest one change. Make the purpose of the force Law Enforcement (particularly fisheries), SAR, and Disaster Relief/Humanitarian Assistance and use primarily Offshore Patrol Vessels instead of conventional warships. Signaling a shared belief in the norms of international behavior, and a determination to uphold those norms, would be the primary objective. There are lots of potential participants beside the USCG, they might include navies or coast guards of Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, Australia, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, S. Korea, and the Philippines. COM7thFleet has already asked for a USCG presence, but this would not be under the COCOM. It would be a cooperative enterprise between participating nations, in most cases, coast guard to coast guard. Vietnamese Coast Guard Damen 9014 Offshore Patrol Vessel. Photo: lancercell.com All the vessels involved could host ship riders from the nation(s) where the force is operating. We already plan to have most of the Bertholf class cutters in the Pacific, and putting three OPCs in Guam could further facilitate the arrangement. This avoids the complications of a military alliance, but strengthens the hand of SE Asian nations that might otherwise be intimidated by China. Photographs taken during day 3 of the Royal Australian Navy International Fleet Review 2013. The Bruneian patrol vessel Darulaman moored in Sydney Harbour. Australia is building 12 similar ships. Photo by Saberwyn. Posted in Asia, Disaster Relief / Humanitarian Assistance, fisheries, Fisheries Enforcement, International Cooperation, SAR \| 11 Replies “Data-Bait: Using Tech to Hook Globe’s Multi-Billion-Dollar Fishing Cheats”–gCaptain Posted on May 20, 2018 by Chuck Hill Map: SkyTruth Fishing Watch. gCaptain has a good exploration of what is being done to crack down on Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) fishing. This is an area where having a Coast Guard presence in AFRICOM’s Area of Responsibility (AOR) could make a real difference, perhaps SE Asia as well. Posted in Africa, AFRICOM, fisheries, IUU \| 3 Replies	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1793
__label__cc	0.676156	0.323844	Enter for your chance to win a DVD prize pack courtesy of Eagle Rock Entertainment CDJ is giving you the chance to win a DVD prize pack of new releases from Eagle Rock Entertainment including: The Rolling Stones – Bridges to Buenos Aires (DVD+2CD) The full-length show from the Rolling Stones‘ five night sell-out residency at the River Plate Stadium in Argentina’s capital city has been restored in full, and features a very special guest appearance from Bob Dylan. John & Yoko – Above Us Only Sky (DVD) Above Us Only Sky reveals the depth of the creative collaboration between John and Yoko on John’s Imagine album, bringing the period to life while at the same time outlining the relevance of the music and their message to a contemporary audience. The film examines how the art, activism, politics and music of the pair are intrinsically entwined, with full cooperation from and exclusive access to Yoko Ono and the John Lennon Estate. Toto – 40 Tours Around the Sun (DVD) When “Hold The Line” crashed into the charts all over the world in 1978, Toto had no idea how long their career would last. 40 years later the band celebrates their career with this stunning concert at Amsterdam’s Ziggodome performing their monster hits “Africa,” “Rosanna,” “Hold The Line”, “Stop Loving You” and many more. Slash feat. Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators – Living the Dream Tour (DVD+2CD) Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators – Living the Dream Tour captures the band’s incendiary performance on their sold-out 2019 tour, in front of a rabid crowd at London’s legendary Hammersmith Apollo. Enter now below for your chance to win 1 of 5 prize packs! CONTEST DATES: Nov 14, 2019 - Dec 15, 2019 This contest is now closed. Please click here to view our current contests! David J - Carlsbad, CA Douglas V - Statesville, NC Dave T - Blairsville, GA Karen L - Bala Cynwyd, PA Bradly W - Phoenix, AZ 10 Classic Rock Bands with No Original Members CDJ Today CDJ Today: January 19 in Classic Rock	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1794
__label__wiki	0.721972	0.721972	Expat Careers: The Inside Story Like many expats, Andrew and I moved overseas because of Andrew’s career. Unlike some, we were given a choice and we decided together to take on the challenge. Since then, we’ve faced many obstacles together, but there are some that Andrew has had to face alone. I don’t talk about Andrew’s job often (mostly because even he can’t really describe what he does — without putting people to sleep anyway.) We usually just say he works in the computer industry and leave it at that. The company he originally worked for was a start-up in Halifax and he was one of the first employees. It was the heyday of all things computer related and people were eager to invest. Our first experiences in Europe were all-expenses paid and relatively hassle-free. Fast forward to a year ago. Andrew’s little start up had grown and was purchased by a larger American company. There were a lot of changes, but if we wanted to pursue a move to Europe it was now or never. From the get-go it was unpredictable at best. At worst it was frustrating and stressful. Andrew had gone from a big fish in a little pond to a guppy in the ocean. Our support network was suddenly gone. Whether or not we had a place to live in Brussels, didn’t seem to concern most people in the California office. “Besides,” said one ultra-helpful Human Resources person, “we have expats move from the United States to Canada all the time and they never have this many issues.” So we struggled along with some help from Andrew’s new European colleagues and a few of the old Halifax crew. While settling into a new life was hard, Andrew was also settling in to a new job. He had gone from a cubicle-based programmer to ‘Global Services’ (a catch-all term that has come to mean ‘he who wears many hats at once’.) The European team is so small that everyone has to be able to do everything. On any given day he could be a manager, a salesman, a technician, a programmer, a documentation writer or a trainer. It’s a long way from a cubical in Halifax. The other problem with Andrew working in Europe is physically being in Europe. You see, some of Andrew’s North American colleagues think of Europe as one big country. They expect that business dealings will be the same across the continent. Andrew has learned quickly that this is not the case. From the hours of operation (siesta in Spain), to how you address colleagues (always Herr or Frau in Switzerland), to how long it takes to get a contract signed (could be years in Italy) — things vary greatly from country to country. Another issue has been proximity — the “Give it to Andrew, he’s in Europe” attitude has been common. This results in nearly weekly flights to Munich, Madrid, Milan or Zurich. The travel sounds glamorous to the uninitiated. Andrew assures me, however, that there is nothing glamorous about traveling from the airport to a business park and back to the airport. He hasn’t even seen the centre of most of the cities he’s visited. Finally, there is the time issue. Between California and Brussels there is a nine hour difference. A five o’clock conference call in CA has Andrew dialling in at midnight. 9-5 has not been customary in our house for the past year. Working in a new country has been challenging, but despite the stress and long hours Andrew is glad he broke out of his cubical box. He has gained more experience in the past year than ever before; he has a wealth of new skills to add to his resume and he has proven that he can be thrown into an unknown situation and land on his feet. These skills will be invaluable throughout his career and our life here in Belgium. Braving the Immigration Debate You are here: Home » Expat Life » Expat Careers: The Inside Story	cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1803

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