pred_label
stringclasses 2
values | pred_label_prob
float64 0.5
1
| wiki_prob
float64 0.25
1
| text
stringlengths 68
986k
| source
stringlengths 37
43
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
__label__wiki
| 0.515547
| 0.515547
|
The distribution of bacterial doubling times in the wild.
Gibson B., Wilson DJ., Feil E., Eyre-Walker A.
Generation time varies widely across organisms and is an important factor in the life cycle, life history and evolution of organisms. Although the doubling time (DT) has been estimated for many bacteria in the laboratory, it is nearly impossible to directly measure it in the natural environment. However, an estimate can be obtained by measuring the rate at which bacteria accumulate mutations per year in the wild and the rate at which they mutate per generation in the laboratory. If we assume the mutation rate per generation is the same in the wild and in the laboratory, and that all mutations in the wild are neutral, an assumption that we show is not very important, then an estimate of the DT can be obtained by dividing the latter by the former. We estimate the DT for five species of bacteria for which we have both an accumulation and a mutation rate estimate. We also infer the distribution of DTs across all bacteria from the distribution of the accumulation and mutation rates. Both analyses suggest that DTs for bacteria in the wild are substantially greater than those in the laboratory, that they vary by orders of magnitude between different species of bacteria and that a substantial fraction of bacteria double very slowly in the wild.
Proc Biol Sci
bacteria, generation time, mutation rates, Bacterial Physiological Phenomena, Models, Biological, Mutation Rate, Population Dynamics
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516057
|
__label__wiki
| 0.795344
| 0.795344
|
Review: Rainswept
Not many people know this about me but on my resume I have a section dedicated to my work as a detective. After years of working with the Raccoon Police Department, my stint with Lieutenant Hank Anderson, and the hundreds of hours I’ve clocked watching marathons of Law & Order: SVU I’m basically qualified to be a Private Investigator. So when I heard about the apparent murder-suicide in Pineview I just had to take the case. But once I arrived to the scene of the crime I knew not everything was what it appeared to be.
Rainswept is a point-and-click adventure game developed by Armaan Sandhu, the one man team who makes up Frostwood Interactive. This murder mystery takes place in the small town of Pineview where the local police department are investigating the deaths of Chris and Diane; a couple relatively new to the area but mostly kept to themselves. The police believe they have an open and shut case until out of towner, Detective Michael Stone, enters the picture. He quickly debunks their theories and is adamant there is more than what meets the eye with this crime. Explore the town, talk to the locals, sift through the gossip surrounding Chris and Diane, and uncover the truth behind the tragic event that ended their lives.
Between the setting of a quaint rural town surrounded by mist covered hills, the gossip found around every corner, the big shot detective in a black suit and tie, unexplainable apparitions, and a cup of coffee to start each morning, it’s easy to feel like you’re in an episode of Twin Peaks. Inspired by the 90’s cult classic as well as South Korean murder mystery films, Armaan wanted to use Pineview as a seemingly simple backdrop for his diverse cast of characters to contrast against. When I interviewed him he expressed, “In Rainswept, I wanted the townsfolk to highlight the couple's story – everyone gossips and judges Chris and Diane without knowing the full picture. It's the difference between how things often look like on the outside versus how things really are.”
The story unfolds through present day events as well a series of flashbacks as Detective Stone interrogates a long list of suspects. During flashbacks players take control of Chris to discover how he met Diane, the highs and lows of their relationship, and the events that led to their horrific end. Meanwhile, in the present day setting Detective Stone deals with his own demons. Through a series of paranormal events that push his own sanity to the test, players have an opportunity to learn more Detective Stone’s tortured past.
Rainswept has everything you would expect from a classic murder mystery and deals with themes surrounding love, abuse, depression and unresolved trauma. Armaan notes that, “The story is about how trauma shapes these characters and potentially their lives. It's also about how trauma that's experienced can grow and expand through generations, and hopefully, about [how] someone could learn to live with it and possibly even escape the cycle.” There’s a lot of ground to cover in this game in just a short amount of gameplay time. And while every bit of it is interesting there seems to be just too much to delve into and digest. Players are tracking Chris and Diane’s story in order to solve the case while simultaneously tracking Detective Stone’s troubled past. And beyond the investigation, there are several residents of Pineview whose stories you’re also following. The plotline begins to feel thin in some areas without giving ample time to dig deeper into the stories and events that really matter.
The gameplay itself is relatively simple and that’s by design. Armaan was focused on creating an atmosphere and story focused game over a complicated gameplay system. So while it’s a point-and-click adventure it often feels closer to an interactive graphic novel. In fact, even though you’re putting the pieces together to solve the crime the game tracks all of it for you, making it impossible to lose. Players can click on items to interact with them or investigate items for clues. To interact with a character simply click on them to generate dialogue. From there players will have a number of options to respond with and are free to use as many or as little options available to them.
Outside of a couple instances where your decisions could narrowly impact the story there are no consequences to your choices. Not satisfied with the information you received? Simply try selecting a different set of options instead. This style allows players to explore all avenues of dialogue without missing a beat. That being said, part of me wished there was more strategy involved when it came to deciding how to interrogate suspects and how Detective Stone should respond in order to create a unique web of outcomes. It’s important to note however, that Rainswept is Armaan’s first game release, so to create a web of dialogue based on various decisions would have been a huge undertaking. Speaking with Armaan he disclosed that after finishing Rainswept he gained confidence in what he learned in creating his first release and has plans to evolve from a linear dialogue system to a web of dialogue in a future game.
While the story is complex the design of this 2D adventure is beautiful in its simplicity. Modest polygonal shapes with layers of gradients convey a field of pine trees while basic rectangles with a ruffled edge suggest a messy bed. The rain both sets the stage for the game’s solemn tone and compliments Detective Stone’s disposition as the pressure of the investigation mounts and he becomes increasingly more unhinged. I did find it curious though that for as much as it rains in Pineview there’s rarely an umbrella in sight. But details such as that can be forgiven when the score kicks in. Michael Michalski, also known as micAmic, adds another dimension to the game with his moving soundtrack that captures the melancholy mood. Melodramatic tracks create somber moments while the bigger orchestral builds carry the weight of the game’s heavier themes.
Rainswept drew me in from before the opening credits began to roll and captivated me until the very end. Despite some plot holes (including a false deadline to solve the case before the start of the local festival) and dialogue that at times felt unnatural for how people actually speak to one another, Rainswept was a short but sweet compelling mystery about two flawed lovers and a town full of secrets. Armaan says he hopes players feel “a sense of hope, gratitude and maybe appreciation of life and ‘beauty’ after playing this game. Some of my favorite experiences in games and movies have moved me, impacted my life and changed me as a person, and have in turn inspired me to create something that tries to do that as well. I hope this game can do something of that sort for someone out there!”
Rainswept is currently available on Steam and GOG.
ABZÛ
AntVentor
Aviary Attorney
Burly Men at Sea
CHUCHEL
Donut County
Feudal Alloy
Flipping Death
Katana ZERO
Lumino City
Moss
Oxenfree
Pikuniku
Rainswept
Seers Isle
Tick Tock: A Tale for Two
What Remains of Edith Finch?
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516058
|
__label__wiki
| 0.688557
| 0.688557
|
Suburban News
Elizabeth Public Schools receive $3 million grant to expand personalized learning
Updated Mar 29, 2019; Posted Jan 28, 2015
By Suburban News
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded New Classrooms Innovation Partners a $3 million Investing in Innovation (i3) grant to expand its successful personalized learning model in partnership with Elizabeth Public Schools.
This grant will allow New Classrooms to implement its Teach to One: Math personalized instructional model in up to five additional district schools in Elizabeth and conduct a rigorous three-year study of its impact with the Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE) at Columbia University’s Teachers College.
New Classrooms is currently working in iPrep Academy in Elizabeth where Teach to One: Math leverages classroom design, teacher talent, and technology to enable personalized learning for every student every day. Along with a second school implementation planned this year, the five expansion schools made possible by the i3 grant will mean 25% of Elizabeth’s 27 K-8 schools will be implementing Teach to One: Math.
In Teach to One, middle school students receive a combination of small group, large group and individual math instruction that builds on the skills they mastered the previous day. According to an independent study released last month, the 6,000 students in 15 schools using Teach to One nationally made, on average, 1.5 years of progress in math or 47% more than the national average. At iPrep, students, on average, made 1.7 years of progress or 70% more than the national average.
“Elizabeth Public Schools has a bold vision that centers on personalized learning, and we are excited to be a part of it,” said New Classrooms Co-Founder and CEO Joel Rose. “By serving more students and rigorously evaluating ourselves, we intend to show there is another way of doing school that can vastly improve outcomes for students from all different backgrounds. We thank all of our partners and the U.S. Education Department for recognizing the importance of R&D in helping to modernize our school systems.”
“We are extremely fortunate that a strong collaborative partnership exists with New Classrooms. Our work together has resulted in students at our iPrep Academy making significant gains across grade levels, racial groups, and student designations including English Language Learners and Special Education,” said Olga Hugelmeyer, Superintendent of Elizabeth Public Schools. We are very fortunate to have been awarded the opportunity to bring Teach to One: Math to five additional schools to implement personalized, effective, and innovative learning experiences customized to the academic needs of students that allow for inquiry and exploration into student interests that ultimately will lead to college and career readiness."
Federal funding will support 87% of the total costs of this project. In order to be eligible for the federal grant, New Classrooms is required to raise $450,000 in matching funds or 15% of the government’s total contribution. New Classrooms has raised 50% of the required matching funds from multiple private donors, and is currently seeking additional philanthropic support to fund this effort.
“The Consortium for Policy Research in Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, is delighted to be involved in the evaluation of Teach to One: Math in the Elizabeth, New Jersey Public Schools. We look forward to working with both New Classrooms Innovation Partners and students and staff in Elizabeth in this important effort to transform mathematics teaching and learning," said Douglas Ready, an Associate Professor of Education and Public Policy at Teachers College, who will lead the evaluation team.
New Classrooms, Elizabeth, and CPRE were among just 26 winning applicants out of more than 430 that applied. The organizations are in the process of selecting the schools and timeline for this expanded partnership.
For further information, visit www.epsnj.org
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516060
|
__label__wiki
| 0.884414
| 0.884414
|
NewsCanada
Ontario & Quebec Might Actually Have Over 500k COVID-19 Cases Combined Right Now
New research shows the numbers might be way higher.
Colin Leggett
Published May 01 2020
Updated May 01 2020 at 04:32 PM
Marc Bruxelle | Dreamstime
The situation might be a lot worse than everyone thought. While Canada's COVID-19 numbers tell one story, it's possible they're not entirely correct. New research suggests that there could be way more cases in even just two provinces.
Researchers from the University of Montreal applied a statistical model to Ontario and Quebec, only to find that the actual number of cases could be close to half a million.
"Our results show how differences in testing standards across provinces can greatly mask the true severity of outbreak," Joshua Lewis, one of the study's authors told the University's news team.
"The actual number of infections in Quebec and Ontario is remarkably similar despite Quebec having nearly twice as many officially reported cases."
The original research applied a statistical model to COVID-19 prevalence in the United States. The research found that there could be an average of 12 additional cases for every diagnosed patient.
When the model was applied to both provinces, the researchers found that there could be somewhere close to 256,130 in Quebec and 220,602 in Ontario.
"How widespread is COVID-19 in the general population, really?" Lewis said.
"That’s what we need to get a much better picture of. It’s important for policymakers who have to make difficult choices about how long to impose costly social distancing measures."
As of May 1, the official recorded number of cases in Quebec and Ontario were 27,538 and 16,608, respectively.
Ontario's testing rates, in particular, were lower than desired for the first half of April, and Premier Doug Ford was not impressed at how the province was falling behind.
In both provinces, though, the majority of reported cases were coming from long-term care homes, a crisis that has prompted both to request military intervention.
The research comes at a time when both the federal and provincial governments have been in talks on how to start reopening economies.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516062
|
__label__cc
| 0.688698
| 0.311302
|
Arthur Lebedin
Russ Kofman
Credit Card Debt Settlements
Collection Defense And Settlement
Default Judgment Help
Debt Collector Harassment
Debt Collection Basics
Debt Collection Exemptions In New York
Vacating Judgments
Auto Repossession Debt
NYC Marshals Directory
Debt Collector Directory
Sallie Mae, Inc
The Law Office of Kevin Z. Shine, PLLC
Lawsuit Defense
Frozen Bank Accounts
Debt Defense Blog
Providing Debt Relief for Clients Throughout the State of New York
JOHNSON V. MIDLAND FUNDING LLC
By Lebedin Kofman LLP
In the recent case of Johnson v. Midland Funding, LCC, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit held that the Bankruptcy Code does not protect creditors who file proofs of claim in bankruptcy cases from all liability. In particular, debt collectors may be liable for damages for violating the Fair Debt Collections Practice Act if they file claims in Chapter 13 cases they know to be time-barred. This decision reaffirmed its similar finding in 2014 in the case of Crawford v. LVNV Funding LLC.
This case was initially brought in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama in 2015 when the plaintiff, Johnson, filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy relief. The defendant, Midland, filed a proof of claim that disclosed that the claim was barred by the statute of limitations. The complaint alleged that this filing violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act because it was “deceptive and misleading” and “unfair and unconscionable.” The defendant moved to dismiss the plaintiff’s FDCPA suit and the District Court granted this motion. The District Court interpreted the Bankruptcy Code as “affirmatively authorizing a creditor to file a proof of claim—including one that is time-barred—if that creditor has a right to payment that has not been extinguished under applicable state law.” Additionally, the District Court found that there was an irreconcilable conflict between the Bankruptcy Code and the FDCPA. It applied the doctrine of implied repeal to hold that a creditor’s right to file a time-barred claim precluded debtors from bring FDCPA suits against creditors in the Chapter 13 bankruptcy context.
On appeal, the Eleventh Circuit turned to its reasoning in Crawford and reaffirmed its conclusion that filing a time-barred proof of claim is akin to filing a time-barred lawsuit, determining that both actions are prohibited by the FDCPA. The Eleventh Circuit also disagreed with the District Court and found that the Bankruptcy Code and the FDCPA could be reconciled. In its opinion, the Eleventh Circuit stated “when a particular type of creditor—a designated ‘debt collector’ under the FDCPA—files a knowingly time-barred proof of claim in a debtor’s Chapter 13 bankruptcy, that debt collector will be vulnerable to a claim under the FDCPA.” The court recognized that the Bankruptcy Code does allow claims in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceeding by a party who does not necessarily have a right to have his or her claim paid. It is the responsibility of the bankruptcy trustee and bankruptcy court to determine whether the claim is “unenforceable against the debtor.” The bankruptcy process therefore allows for time-barred proofs of claim to be filed. However, when the process is working as intended, such claims will not be paid by the bankruptcy estate.
The court main point of reconciliation stems from the FDCPA’s prohibition of the use of “unfair or unconscionable” or “false, deceptive, or misleading” means to collect a debt. While the court recognized that creditors may file time-barred proofs of claim under the Bankruptcy Code, it also recognized that a certain subgroup of creditors—debt collectors—who violate the rules of the FDCPA may face civil liability to the debtor. The court concluded that this construction allows for the goals and purposes of both statutes may be accomplished.
http://www.natlawreview.com/article/eleventh-circuit-reaffirms-prior-ruling-debt-collectors-who-file-time-barred-proofs
December 4, 2020 Tenaglia and Hunt Wells Fargo Lawsuits and Judgments Read More
November 30, 2020 How to Defend Against Houslanger and Associates Lawsuits and Default Judgments Read More
October 27, 2020 How to Defend Against an American Express Lawsuit! Read More
September 10, 2020 National Collegiate Student Loan Trust Lawsuits Resume Read More
Location 26 Broadway
27th Floor, New York, NY 10004 Map & Directions [+]
Attorney Advertising. The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516064
|
__label__wiki
| 0.616203
| 0.616203
|
Big Oil’s Big Issue With Embracing ‘Big Energy’
Oil majors increasingly are trying their hand at being alternative-energy minors, but this is still pinky-toe dipping.
Royal Dutch Shell, which traces its roots back to the late 19th century, has just bought Greenlots Global, a California software company serving the electric-vehicle charging sector. This follows other deals by Shell — along with the likes of BP, Chevron and Total — to invest in renewable energy, retail power, batteries and other non-fossil fuel businesses.
For now, though, this is still pinky-toe dipping. Shell’s plan to invest as much as $2 billion a year on “new energy” opportunities is a hefty amount, but less than 10 percent of its capital expenditure budget. Besides anything else, there’s a straightforward reason for taking it slow: returns.
Oil majors have a testy relationship with investors these days. Shell’s stock is one of the better performers, but mainly because it has embraced a strategy centered on payouts: Its dividend yield scrapes six percent. A decade of high spending trashed return on capital across the industry.
Alternative-energy investments can be justified on one level. A solar farm in the southwestern US is a relatively low-risk project for a more risk-averse crowd. But they also raise a conundrum, especially if eventually done at a meaningful scale. Investments in power-related infrastructure provide fundamentally different returns from what oil majors have offered historically. These companies have been built to take world-scale risks in the hope of generating high returns to match that.
French oil major Total provides a useful example here, because it has made some of the biggest investments in alternative energy businesses and, as a result, has come closest to actually splitting this business line out in its accounts. Total's downstream operations picked up some of the slack as the oil crash hit the upstream. The gas and power business has had steady returns of about 10 percent
Total's upstream oil and gas business accounted for more than four-fifths of capital employed in 2018, just as it did in 2015
It can be argued that alternative-energy businesses may not necessarily provide the thrills of cyclical upswings, but they do generate steady returns. Certainly, renewable-power projects seem to do so. But these are still early days.
Hence, Shell is taking an integrated approach to power, electric-vehicle charging and the like, similar to its existing model in oil and gas, aimed at capturing margins on several levels. One critical question concerns whether or not value will move up and down the electrified value chain, the way it does with oil and gas.
Proponents of oil majors pivoting to a brave new world can point to examples such as Ørsted ASA, the Danish oil and gas company that became an offshore wind-power giant. Two caveats, however: First, Ørsted’s target for annual return on capital employed through 2025 is 10 percent — about what you would expect for this sort of company but not an oil major. Second, getting investors comfortable with such a transformation is definitely a lot easier when you’re 50 percent-owned by the Kingdom of Denmark. For everyone else, the battle royal over what that incremental dollar goes toward — old energy, new energy, shareholders — is just getting going.
Find amazing USA Oil & Gas job leads here. By default, these have been organized by date, but you can also use the filters at the bottom to refine your search.
More Hot Leads:
Oilfield Job Shop is becoming Energy Job...
2021 is going to be a big year for the team at Oilfield Job Shop! You may have n...2021 is going to be a big year for the team at Oilfield Job Shop! You may have n...
Saskatchewan Driller Hits 'Gusher' Offer...
A Saskatoon-based company has drilled and fracked the world’s first 90-deg...A Saskatoon-based company has drilled and fracked the world’s first 90-deg...
World’s Largest Fracker Sees Signs of Re...
According to a recent article in Bloomberg, one of the world's biggest frac...According to a recent article in Bloomberg, one of the world's biggest frac...
Suncor Energy to Cut 2,000 Employees in...
Calgary-based oil and gas company Suncor says it plans to reduce its workforce b...Calgary-based oil and gas company Suncor says it plans to reduce its workforce b...
Keystone XL Pipeline brings 'Mini-Boom'...
Amid an economic downturn, the small town of Oyen, AB has seen a boost. In the e...Amid an economic downturn, the small town of Oyen, AB has seen a boost. In the e...
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516067
|
__label__wiki
| 0.587392
| 0.587392
|
Online-paralegal-degree.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
What is District Court?
District courts, also called trial courts, represent the United States federal court system throughout the country and its territories. These courts hear a variety of criminal and civil cases, ranging from matters regarding international agreements to bankruptcy proceedings. The US government is often a party in cases heard in these courts, but there are some factors that can make civil cases between two independent parties eligible for a trial. Many types of cases that don’t qualify for federal jurisdiction are heard by the local state court system.
Structure and Organization
There are 94 district courts scattered throughout the United States, which are broken down into 13 circuits according to region. There is at least one federal trial court in each state as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Each of these areas corresponds to districts for US Attorneys, who serve as the chief prosecutor for the interests of the federal government in each jurisdiction.
Ranking: Top 10 Best Value Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Paralegal Studies
As a part of the federal judicial system, district trial courts have a limited jurisdiction that directly depends on the actions of Congress. They only hear criminal cases that involve violation of federal law, not state law. This includes several serious felony offenses, including kidnapping, financial fraud and committing a crime with a firearm. These courts also include facilities to hear juvenile cases for children who commit a crime. Eligibility for juvenile court is usually restricted to those under the age of 16, but the age maximum can be extended to 18 if there are mitigating circumstances.
Many types of civil cases can be brought before a district court, including those involving the US government as a defendant. Any civil dispute that involves federal law rather than state law is usually eligible. District courts also settle matters regarding laws of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction. Some civil cases are brought to the US Tax Court, the Court of International Trade or the US Court of Federal Claims when there are special considerations, according to the US Department of Justice. A plaintiff may also file a civil suit with the federal court system if the parties involved are from different states or if civil rights violations are involved.
District Court Judiciary
Every federal trial court has at least one district judge as well as various assistant judges and magistrates. District judges are appointed for life service by order of the president and approval of Congress. There are currently more than 600 district judges serving in the 94 federal trial courts throughout the nation. Magistrates and assistant judges typically have the authorization to hear minor cases, like misdemeanors and civil suits involving less than $10,000.
Trial courts provide local access to federal courts, which makes them an essential part of the American justice system. While its role and numberares subject to changes in legislation by Congress, there is little doubt that the district court will continue to play a critical role in dispensing justice throughout the country in the decades ahead.
Paralegal Degree Rankings
Top 10 Best Value Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Paralegal Studies
10 Most Affordable Online Associate’s in Paralegal Studies Degree Programs
Top 5 Online Paralegal Degree Programs
50 Most Affordable Online Paralegal Degree Programs 2021
The 15 Cheapest ABA Approved Online Paralegal Programs
Prison Inc. : The Secret Industry (Infographic)
What Every Website Owner Should Know About Copyright Trolls (Infographic)
Paralegal Superstars: Unsung Heroes of the Legal World (Infographic)
Law: The Future is Here (Infographic)
Up in Smoke: A Timeline of Marijuana Use in the U.S. (Infographic)
The 30 Most Architecturally Impressive Courthouses in the U.S.
10 Novelists Who Started Their Careers as Lawyers
10 Convictions Reversed by DNA Evidence
Degree & Career Reference Library
By-state School Listing
The Association of Legal Assistants
National Federation of Paralegal Associations
American Alliance of Paralegals
Copyright © 2021 by Online Paralegal Degree Center.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516068
|
__label__wiki
| 0.668817
| 0.668817
|
Trades & Careers
Most Affordable Game Design Degrees
Do you dream about computers, gaming, and competitive tournaments?
Maybe you’re not as obsessed with playing the games as you are devising new challenges and adventures for others to tackle. If so, the colleges listed below can teach, inspire, and cultivate the skills you’ll need to become a computer game designer.
In these programs, you’ll tackle instruction on gaming tools and technologies, animation, game theory and design, and programming. Keep reading to see if an online bachelor’s degree in game design might just be the challenge you need to kickstart an inspiring career.
What Is an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Game Design?
With most online bachelor’s degree programs in game design, you’ll study for four years and earn about 120 credits before graduating. Typically, a game design bachelor’s degree integrates design principles, proficiencies, and techniques that are required to create the game documentation, mechanics, and functioning prototypes for original game projects.
These programs can allow students to specialize in different gaming fields and sharpen their existing gaming expertise for a career in game design, programming, and scripting. With a game design bachelor’s degree, you will practice play-testing, interactive storytelling, and learn the critical approach to meeting the demands of the gaming community.
How Much Can You Earn With an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Game Design?
Game design is a developing career that is becoming more and more in demand. However, it typically falls under the statistical category of information technology, which includes computer programmers, graphic designers, animation creators, and multimedia artists, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
With a bachelor’s degree in game design, workers can apply for jobs like computer and information systems developer, computer programmer, computer art director, animator, or multimedia artist. These positions typically start earning about $40,000 a year but range all the way up to $86,000 for careers in the video or motion picture industries, and $107,000 for software development.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, multimedia artists and animators earned a median salary of $75,270 annually, while software developers and IT programmers made a median salary of $107,510, in 2019.
What Is Required For an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Game Design?
To earn an online bachelor’s degree in game design, you’ll typically need a high school diploma or similar accredited certification. Since studies in gaming degrees prepare students to interact in the real world with artists and programmers, working in a project-based group setting will be essential.
Most on-campus and online bachelor’s programs require about 120 credit hours and take about four years to complete. Online programs offer flexibility for shortening or extending the program timeframe for working professionals and part-time students.
What Are the Best Online Bachelor’s Degree in Game Design?
OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program-specific. For school-wide, OSR uses Student Satisfaction, Admission Rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program-specific, OSR checks the Median Debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.
The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other US institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the US Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page.
20-Year ROI
Tuition: $19,929(in state) / $19,929(out of state)
Admissions interview required
Start-date enrollment is open-ended for students to choose
29-month online degree program
Program Web Page
Student Satisfaction78%
Admission RateNot Reported
Programs offered online24
Median Debt$32,500
Programs in Department4
Popularity at School10.58%
Full Sail University’s Bachelor of Science in Game Design offers students the opportunity to work directly in a game studio environment with high-level game design and production courses. Learn key industry-standard concepts in both systems operations and design that let you build, evaluate, and launch gaming prototypes.
University of Advancing Technology
Total of 120 credit hours
2.0 GPA in core classes required for graduation
Admission Rate85%
Programs offered online5
The University of Advancing Technology offers a Bachelor of Arts in Game Design that delivers critical instruction on programming techniques, covers all video game programming disciplines, and teaches scripting. Courses in artificial intelligence, data handling, game engine architecture, and C++ programming are required. In addition, the use of middleware, networking, and industry APIs will be mastered.
No application fee or SAT/ACT score required
Transfer up to 90 credits
Popularity at School2.09%
If you’re looking for an excellent bachelor’s degree in game design, Southern New Hampshire University offers a game art and development degree that helps you build a real-world project portfolio of front-end game designs using industry-standard 3D and 2D graphics software. Through this program, students learn rigging, illustration, and digital painting, lighting, shading and texturing, making them capable artists. Students must also learn 3D mesh topology and 3D modeling.
15-week semesters or 7-week semesters available
Programs in DepartmentNot Reported
Popularity at School< 1%
For a bachelor’s degree in game design and development, choose Wilmington University. Students can expect to gain a strong background in programming courses as well as design courses that will teach them the career-necessary video and audio techniques, design interfaces, and user experience assessment skills needed for a successful career in game design. In addition, students will develop skills in the critical areas of marketing and project management.
8-week classes and 3.5 years to graduate
Allowed to transfer up to 75% of credits
Liberty University features a bachelor of information technology in gaming design program. Students will learn completely online through Liberty’s School of Business. The program gives students hands-on, real-world projects to develop and hone their skills. The information technology-based learning is designed to give students a global view of career opportunities in all facets of the online gaming and information technology industries.
Computers & Technology Guides
Ultimate Guide to Web Development
We live in a digitally connected world, where almost any good or service is available from the palm of...
Ultimate Guide to Computer Science
Imagine a world where you can make an excellent salary, have a flexible work schedule, access plentiful opportunities, and...
Computers & Technology Degrees
Do you dream about computers, gaming, and competitive tournaments? Maybe you’re not as obsessed with playing the games as...
Most Affordable Online Web Development Degrees
Have you dreamed about creating, optimizing and managing a company’s website content, layout, and organization? Then take a look...
Best Online Master’s in Web Development
Want to be in charge of creating and managing the content of a company website? Check out the 5...
Computers & Technology FAQs
What Is Bootstrap in Web Development?
You might be familiar with the term, “bootstrap,” but do you know what it means for web development? Of...
How to Know if Computer Science Is for Me
Computer science is one of the most popular fields today, with millions of workers already working in the industry....
What Is Computer and Information Science?
Technology and information impact every aspect of modern life. Nearly everyone uses computing devices to communicate on a daily,...
What Is a Node in Computer Science?
Your computer is powered by hundreds of programs that work together to make your user experience a good one....
What Does BSS Stand for in Computer Science?
Welcome to the world of computer science, where abbreviations and terminology are kings. Whether you’re talking about a CPU,...
Most Affordable Online Biblical Studies Degrees
Are you called to the clergy? It’s beneficial for ministers to obtain a Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies. What is a Bachelor’s in Biblical...
Most Affordable Online Accounting Degrees
If you want a solid career and an opportunity to flex your math skills, one of the most affordable online bachelor’s in accounting...
Best Online Geography Degrees
Geography is an important field, one that will only continue to become more critical as space grows more limited. There has never been...
Online Schools Report aims to provide students with simple, practical, and accurate information about every online program available. Use OSR to find the best online program for you.
Contact - editor@onlineschoolsreport.com
© Online Schools Report 2021.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516070
|
__label__wiki
| 0.81806
| 0.81806
|
Missouri attorney general fights Backpage.com lawsuit
Summer Ballentine
JEFFERSON CITY (AP) — Missouri's top law enforcement official on Tuesday asked a court to dismiss a Backpage.com lawsuit that seeks to stop him from investigating the company, calling it "totally frivolous."
Backpage sued Attorney General Josh Hawley last month over his investigation, arguing federal law and the First Amendment bar claims against the Dallas-headquartered website, which hosts classified ads from around the world.
Hawley's office filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, saying it has evidence undermining Backpage's claim that it doesn't play a role in the sex-related ads posted on its website and that Hawley should be allowed to continue investigating. Hawley's office is investigating the company for potential violations of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, which prohibits deceptive or misrepresentative business practices.
"My message to Backpage is: the truth is coming for them. The truth is coming out," Hawley told The Associated Press. "I will not be bullied to stop this investigation."
An attorney for Backpage declined to comment.
Backpage.com has long been labeled by authorities as an online brothel. A recent U.S. Senate report released in January contends that the site is involved in 73 percent of all child trafficking reports that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children receives from the public.
The report by the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations charged that Backpage has created a lucrative marketplace that makes child sex trafficking easier. It cites internal documents showing that up to 80 percent of the site's ads are edited to conceal the true nature of the underlying transaction. Backpage denied the allegations.
Backpage argues that it doesn't control the sex-related ads and is protected by the Constitution and the federal Communications Decency Act, which grants immunity to websites that host content created by others. Various court rulings have upheld Backpage's defense claims. The company has also said that the company takes efforts to prevent illegal activity with warnings and filters that block and remove improper ads.
Hawley's court motion to dismiss the Backpage suit against him cites claims made in the U.S. Senate report and by several news outlets that documents seem to show that a Philippines-based contractor, Avion, solicited and created sex-related ads for Backpage customers overseas.
Court documents filed Tuesday show Hawley's office also has an audio recording of a phone call that an Avion employee made to a woman who allegedly posted a sex-trafficking ad on another website in which the employee tried to give her information about posting an ad on Backpage for free. Hawley's office declined to say which country the woman lived in, so it's unclear whether the call might have broken any laws. Sex work is legal in some countries.
Also Tuesday, a group of federal lawmakers, including Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, of Missouri, filed legislation that McCaskill said would strip protections from the Communications Decency Act for companies including Backpage, which she said "has tried to enjoy for its conduct in connection with trafficking people for sexual activity, including children."
McCaskill, who served on a Senate subcommittee that investigated Backpage, said the bill is narrowly tailored so that it would only affect sites that "knowingly participate in placing any information on their sites that facilitates trafficking, or if they recklessly do it if they're getting paid for advertising."
The Internet Association, which counts Google, Facebook and Amazon among its members, opposes the bill. The industry group's president and CEO, Michael Beckerman, issued a statement suggesting that the bill could create a "new wave of frivolous and unpredictable actions against legitimate companies rather than addressing underlying criminal behavior."
"The bill also jeopardizes bedrock principles of a free and open internet, with serious economic and speech implications well beyond its intended scope," Beckerman said.
Follow Summer Ballentine on Twitter at https://twitter.com/esballentine . Sign up for the AP's weekly newsletter showcasing our best reporting from the Midwest and Texas at http://apne.ws/2u1RMfv .
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516074
|
__label__wiki
| 0.974933
| 0.974933
|
English · 25. September 2016
As Gaza spirals downward, the IDF watches, digs in for the next fight
Palestinians in the Strip facing growing economic despair, arrested reconstruction and no hope for the future, senior officer says
The Gaza Strip and its residents are barreling towards disaster, brought on by crippling unemployment, a nonexistent economy, water and electricity shortages, a growing population and the “Islamic dictatorship” of Hamas, while the IDF is trying — and thus far succeeding — to keep the coastal enclave’s terrorist leaders deterred and contained, a senior IDF officer from the Southern Command said Sunday.
The army official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, rattled off worrying statistics from the Gaza Strip: 41.2 percent unemployment, the highest unemployment rate in the world, according to the World Bank; a per capita GDP of NIS 6,488 ($1,725), which if Gaza were a country, would put it near the lowest in the world, between Haiti ($1,750) and Burkina Faso ($1,724), according to the International Monetary Fund; an economy that is mostly made up of foreign aid and charity from international organizations; and a population of 1.9 million — and growing.
Moreover, reconstruction following the 2014 Gaza war, known in Israel as Operation Protective Edge, has been slow, in part because Hamas has siphoned off a substantial portion of the reconstruction materials in order to create new attack, defense and smuggling tunnels, according to Israeli authorities.
“Hamas is not rebuilding Gaza, it’s rebuilding its military capabilities,” the officer told reporters.
A tunnel reaching from Gaza into Israel, seen in a photo released by the IDF on April 18, 2016. (IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)
As Hamas is working around the clock to rearm and dig deeper fortifications and attack tunnels, the IDF and Defense Ministry are shoring up Israel’s protection against the threat of terror attacks and rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and preparing for the next round of conflict, he said.
Though many details of the project remain secret, Israel is in the process of creating “a barrier that will provide a response to above-ground and below-ground threats,” the officer said.
The barrier will include an underground concrete wall to prevent tunneling at certain depths, along with a sensor-laden fence.
“If the budget comes at the right rate, then the barrier will be built in a matter of months,” the officer said.
Cranes and other machinery are seen on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza Strip, on September 8, 2016. (AFP/Menahem Kahana)
The IDF is also working to improve its subterranean fighting tactics, along with its strategies to defend — and potentially evacuate — Israeli communities along the Gaza border.
“We’re turning the underground into a death trap for Hamas. We’re putting a lot of effort into that,” the officer said.
“We’re preparing to protect communities during an operation and improving the defenses. We’re also preparing a plan to evacuate communities. There will be flexibility in making decisions of if we have to evacuate communities, and which ones,” he added.
In June, a senior Defense Ministry official (who was almost certainly Avigdor Liberman) told reporters that Israel could not stomach a drawn-out war of attrition so “the next confrontation must be the last in terms of Hamas’s regime.”
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, center, visits the Gaza Division with Col. Yaakov “Yaki” Dolef and head of the Southern Command Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir in southern Israel on August 30, 2016. (IDF Spokesperson)
The senior officer in the IDF’s Southern Command would not confirm that the army’s battle plans include the ousting of Hamas from the Strip, but said the next bout would be “heavy” and would deliver a “harsh blow” to the terrorist organization.
Beyond that, the officer would only say that “the plans were are preparing will follow the instructions that are set for us on the political level.”
The senior officer, echoing claims made with other defense officials and politicians, noted that a worsening economic and social situation in Gaza creates a sense of desperation, that “there is nothing to lose.”
In what has become a constant refrain over the past two years, the officer added: “An outburst, in our opinion, is just a matter of time.”
However, he stressed, for now Hamas is deterred.
To hell in a handbasket
Despite Israeli and international attempts to control the flow of building materials, cement coming into the Strip, first goes to the military wing of Hamas where they “take what they need” and from there it goes to civilians, the official said.
As such, only a fraction of the buildings that have been approved for construction have actually been built, the officer said.
In addition to the illicit pilfering of materials and funds coming into the Gaza Strip, Hamas has also levied “draconian taxes” on the people of Gaza, charging NIS 5 ($1.33) for every package of cigarettes and NIS 30 ($8) on every carton of fruit, according to IDF figures.
Ruins of a building that was destroyed in the 2014 Gaza war, in Gaza City, on February 16, 2016. (AFP / MOHAMMED ABED)
Hamas’s alleged commandeering of building materials and funds further disincentivizes Israel from easing the restrictions on imports into Gaza and allowing residents of the Strip to enter Israel to work.
“Hamas is using every alleviation we give for its own interests,” he said, pointing to recent attempts to illegally bring cars and electronics into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom and Erez Crossings.
“People who leave through Erez, pass messages [to Hamas operatives in the West Bank] and direct attacks, and Kerem Shalom is being used for smuggling,” the officer said.
Besides the beleaguered Strip’s economic woes, Gaza is on track to almost entirely run out of potable water by 2020 and become “uninhabitable,” according to a 2015 United Nations report.
The postponement of elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip only adds to the atmosphere of desperation and unrest in the coastal region, the senior officer said.
When asked about some residents of the Strip who reportedly cross into Israel with weapons, not to carry out attacks, but specifically in order to get arrested, the official responded: “As they say, sometimes an Israeli prison is better than life in Gaza.”
Two weeks ago, in a “abnormal” incident, an 8-year-old Palestinian child entered Israel, the officer said, only to be picked up by security forces and eventually returned to Gaza.
The calmest in decades
Though Israel’s military sees conflict with Hamas as a matter of when, not if, the years since Operation Protective Edge have seen little violence emanating from the Gaza Strip.
‘The past two years haven’t been the quietest in a decade, they’re the quietest in decades’
“The past two years haven’t been the quietest in a decade, they’re the quietest in decades,” the officer from the Southern Command said.
Since the 2014 war, Israeli forces have wounded hundreds of Hamas members and killed 34, the majority of them in clashes along the security fence; yet there has only been one case of Hamas hitting back — a few shots fired at troops in the Gaza Strip as they uncovered and destroyed a tunnel into Israel.
“That points to deterrence,” the officer said.
Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli soldiers near the border fence between Israel and the southern Gaza Strip east of Khan Yunis on October 16, 2015 (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)
None of the 40 rockets from Gaza that have hit Israel have been fired by Hamas, but rather by Salafist and other more extreme groups, usually as a result of “internal conflict,” according to the officer.
The Israel Air Force strikes Hamas installations in response to the rocket fire, regardless of its origin, in order to force Hamas to better control the “rebellious groups” in Gaza, the official said.
“We’re trying not to hit civilians, and we’re trying not to hit civilian infrastructure,” he said.
A Palestinian man loads stones on a cart next to a crater in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on August 22, 2016, following an Israeli airstrike the night before that targeted Hamas positions in response to a rocket fired from the Palestinian enclave that hit the Israeli city of Sderot. (Mahmud Hams/AFP)
Brushing off the allegation that Israel strikes “sand dunes” in Gaza, the officer showed slides of recent targets, including antennae, factories that produce concrete structures for tunnels and military outposts.
Over the past two years, those retaliatory air and artillery strikes have been more measured, with the notable exception of a massive aerial bombardment in August against key Hamas strategic assets, after a rocket struck Sderot.
“We took advantage of an opportunity” — i.e., the rocket attack on Sderot — “to both send a message and to test some of our capabilities,” the officer said, being deliberately vague about what those capabilities were.
With no end to Hamas or permanent solution for Gaza in sight, the officer had little hope to offer, other than the vigilance and preparedness of the IDF for the war to come.
tagPlaceholderTags: IDF, in, as, the, for, Gaza, spirals, downward, watches, digs, Next, fight
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516075
|
__label__wiki
| 0.936329
| 0.936329
|
Harvey Weinstein’s Former Employees Reckon With What They Knew and What They Didn’t
By Dana Goodyear
Save this story for later.
Harvey throttled someone. Harvey called an employee a fucking moron. Harvey threw the shoes, the book, the phone, the eggs. Harvey went to work with his shirt on inside-out and no one had the courage to tell him. If you fucking say anything to him, the assistant said to the other assistant, I’m dead. Harvey would eat the fries off your plate, smash them in his face, and wash them down with a cigarette and a Diet Coke. He belittled and berated: You can’t name three Frank Capra movies? What the fuck are you even doing here? He was funny; he was grotesque, a boisterous, boorish, outrageous, gluttonous caricature of a man, a Hollywood type. A “man of appetites”; a philanderer; a cartoon beast, surrounded by beauties. Years later, the people who worked for him—survivors, they called themselves, of Miramax and the Weinstein Company—still met regularly to tell stories about Harvey Weinstein. “I always thought it was interesting that a lot of people who left Miramax either ended up running shit in Hollywood or became social workers,” an alumna of the company told me.
Discussing who knew what about Harvey Weinstein has become a grim, un-fun Hollywood parlor game.Photograph by Seth Wenig / AP
Harvey stories have a new valence now, in the aftermath of revelations by the Times and by The New Yorker, and the term “survivors” must be reserved for those who have alleged intense sexual harassment, assault, and rape. (Through a representative, Weinstein has denied all accusations of non-consensual sex.) The stories aren’t funny anymore, because now we know the story behind them. Weinstein was not a philanderer, with inordinately, unaccountably attractive “girlfriends”; he was, apparently, according to the forty-some women who have come forward so far, including many of Hollywood’s most visible celebrities, engaged in quid-pro-quo harassment that, in certain cases, involved coercion and physical force. But, unlike Donald Trump, our show-biz President, a bully who has boasted of sexual assault and been accused of sexual misconduct numerous times, Weinstein is finally being condemned and punished for his treatment of women. (Trump denies all allegations of sexual misconduct.)
Our coverage of Harvey Weinstein.
Workplace sexual assault, according to the feminist legal scholar Catharine MacKinnon, is “dominance eroticized.” More than misplaced desire, she writes, it is “an expression of dominance laced with impersonal contempt, the habit of getting what one wants, and the perception (usually accurate) that the situation can be safely exploited in this way—all expressed sexually.” Among the many painful ironies of Weinstein’s public activities (the professorship in Gloria Steinem’s name that he helped endow, his support of Hillary Clinton), the one I find the most brutal and defeating is that he made movies with substantial and three-dimensional parts for women, and it was this rare commodity that he is said to have used to exploit the women who wanted those roles. Their desire for professional advancement demeaned them—even after he’d made some of them into stars. (He never let them forget it: who made them, who owned them.) There were rumors, yes, of the did-she-or-didn’t-she variety. Because the actresses were ambitious, they were seen as “ambitious,” and his predation went on, hiding in plain view. No one ever asked, Did he? That was the given, and it is only now that the abuse is being called by its true name. The company’s reputation for artistic integrity and highbrow fare was a disguise that Harvey Weinstein wore, his version of the black-ski-mask cliché.
Terry Press, the president of CBS Films, told me that Weinstein’s legendary bullying contributed to the silence within his company. “I worked at DreamWorks for ten years,” she said. “It’s a private company. No one threw an ashtray at someone’s head. Nobody called someone the C-word in a meeting. I consider many people at the Weinstein Company to have suffered some sort of Stockholm syndrome. You’d say to them, ‘Hello, in the real world this is actionable.’ In a private company, the owners dictate the culture. If you go to meetings and someone’s physically accosting an employee, the message it sends is, It’s a free-for-all, no rules and no decorum.”
In the past two weeks, discussing who knew what and when has become a grim, un-fun Hollywood parlor game, playing out on social media, at dinner parties, over drinks. The screenwriter Scott Rosenberg, who benefitted from Weinstein’s largesse and support for the better part of a decade, in the heyday of Miramax, recently posted a screed on Facebook (since taken down or made private), addressing his own complicity and that of “You, the big producers; you, the big directors; you, the big agents; you, the big financiers. And you, the big rival studio chiefs; you, the big actors; you, the big actresses; you, the big models. You, the big journalists; you, the big screenwriters; you, the big rock stars; you, the big restaurateurs; you, the big politicians.” He writes, “You know who are. You know that you knew. And do you know how I know that you knew? Because I was there with you. And because everybody-fucking-knew.” They didn’t literally know about the rape, he writes, but “We knew something was bubbling under. Something odious. Something rotten.” Judd Apatow wrote on Twitter, “Sell that company for scrap.” A few days later, speaking at an industry luncheon hosted by Variety, he expanded on his remark. “And what about his staff? People say, ‘Did they know?’ Of course they knew.”
But many current and former Weinstein Company employees have come forward in recent days to insist that, in fact, they didn’t know. This week, several employees at the Weinstein Company’s New York office drafted a statement defending themselves, which they submitted to The New Yorker. The document, which they say has the support of approximately thirty of their colleagues at the Weinstein Company, is anonymous: it’s unclear, with the company in turmoil, whether the nondisclosure agreements they signed as a condition of employment will be enforced. One supporter of the statement told me, “This awful helpless feeling of being vilified for something you never knew was creating this feeling of true despair.” The statement reads, in part:
We all knew that we were working for a man with an infamous temper. We did not know we were working for a serial sexual predator. We knew that our boss could be manipulative. We did not know that he used his power to systematically assault and silence women. We had an idea that he was a womanizer who had extra-marital affairs. We did not know he was a violent aggressor and alleged rapist.
But to say that we are shocked and surprised only makes us part of the problem.
Our company was built on Harvey’s unbridled ambition—his aggressive deal making, his insatiable desire to win and get what he wanted, his unabashed love for celebrity—these traits were legendary, and the art they produced made an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.
But we now know that behind closed doors, these were the same traits that made him a monster. He created a toxic ecosystem where his abuse could flourish unchecked for decades.
An assistant who co-wrote the letter described to me, by phone, the events of October 5th, the day the first Times story was published. Harvey came in to work at 375 Greenwich Street, his fiefdom (his brother Bob worked at a different address), where he had a “lair”: in addition to an office, there was a large living room with a commodious couch and trophy walls of photographs of Harvey and his stars. He expressed satisfaction that the piece had come out on a Thursday rather than a Sunday, when, by his reckoning, more people would have seen it. The assistant told Harvey that he was resigning from his position. (He is hoping to be reassigned within the company.) Harvey offered to provide a reference—he didn’t yet understand how undesirable that would be. Later, as the assistant was leaving to spend the afternoon drinking and strategizing with his colleagues at a nearby pub, he says that Harvey reached for his arm. Sobbing, Harvey said, “I’m not that guy. I’m not that guy.”
Read: The full statement by members of the Weinstein Company staff.
On the following Tuesday, the staff convened in a conference room, with soul-food takeout from Bubby’s. As they gathered, someone mentioned that The New Yorker story was up. The assembled employees read in silence. They listened to the tape. They knew that voice too well. Some began to shake, and many of them wept as they contemplated the roles they might have played as accomplices, unwitting or not. “People were having a wave of retroactive memories,” a creative executive who worked on the letter told me. “Some of the stories were within the time frame of people who still worked there.” A longtime employee offered to answer questions based on his experiences travelling with Harvey. There was a silence, and then, according to the creative executive, “One of the female assistants was, like, ‘Tell us everything.’ ”
In the time since, people both inside and outside Hollywood have been processing the reality that Harvey Weinstein is “that guy.” In fitting revenge for his reduction of women to bodies, there has been thorough discussion of Weinstein’s own ungainliness and girth (not incidental, as he allegedly used his imposing size to threaten, impede, and overwhelm his victims). Fired from the Weinstein Company, external validation stripped away, he’s now just a body and its urges—not the passionate filmmaker responsible for eighty-one Oscar wins but the animal who allegedly masturbated into a potted plant, or a kitchen pot, or both. (A Weinstein spokesperson told The New Yorker, “There are many stories about Harvey Weinstein that have become urban legend. Some are true and some are not.”)
On Saturday evening, a few hours after Weinstein was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a group of women, former assistants and executives at Miramax and the Weinstein Company, gathered at a house in Los Angeles. They stood around a kitchen island, nibbling on grapes and cheese and drinking wine, while the rice water boiled and the hostess’s husband put the kids to bed. The women said they hadn’t known—they were not “honeypots”—but they were struggling to make sense of how Weinstein’s behavior had gone unchecked. They were dealing with the twin discomforts of having their entire professional community wonder if they were complicit in or victims of his assaults, or both. They wanted Harvey’s downfall to mean something and to create real change within their industry and in the world.
“You feel a little bit like an idiot,” the hostess said. “There were things you knew. Clearly there was also a strategy on his part. He could be flamboyant in his ‘People can know I’m a womanizer.’ But the idea that he took it to sexual assault or even rape was really well hidden.”
The woman standing to my left, in bluejeans, said, “Looking back, the problem is that the unspoken message we were being given from the powers that be across media, Hollywood, and politics is that he can get away with this shit.”
“But get away with what?” a woman in black said. “At the time, you didn’t know this was happening. What you knew was that he was a bully, a screamer, a yeller, a thrower, a pig—not that he was a rapist.” She said that she and her husband got into a fight when the news broke. He insisted that she and her friends must have known.
The hostess said, “The public lynching has been so severe that I think it’s a huge warning call to men in the future. Probably there are people—any number of agents—”
“I want to talk about that,” the woman in jeans said. “The larger culture of harassment and bullying, because you don’t feel like you can come out and report something. The patriarchy is creating this environment for men and women of misogyny and sexism. There is somehow this understanding that you can be this caricature of being bombastic and bullying and treating your underlings—”
“As inhuman,” a fourth woman, chopping chicken, said.
“When this shit happens, a woman doesn’t know who she can turn to, because everyone seems to have a blind eye to it,” the woman in jeans said. “The people around him, his enablers, and there had to have been enablers, men and women, perpetuated the bullying culture. As long as that’s O.K., we’re in trouble, we can’t get out from under it.”
The woman in black said, “It’s naïve to think that Harvey is the only Harvey out there.” (On Tuesday, Harvey Weinstein’s business partner and brother, Bob, who has called Harvey “indefensible and crazy,” was accused of sexual harassment by a showrunner on a Weinstein Company television project, a claim he denies.)
After a while, the hostess said that she had a Harvey story, one whose import she only now understood. She had never told her friends; it didn’t seem like a big enough deal before. After she’d worked at Miramax for a couple of years, a position opened to be Weinstein’s assistant. She wanted to be a producer, so she interviewed for the job. “You’re too pretty to be working for Harvey,” a senior female executive told her. “It will embarrass him.” Confused but undeterred, she persisted. Finally, one of Weinstein’s former assistants took her out to lunch. “Do not take this job,” the former assistant said. “You will see things you will never be able to unsee, and you will do things you will never forgive yourself for.” She didn’t have enough information to comprehend the warning, but she heeded it anyway. The gravity of her near-miss is still sinking in. “There are obviously people that knew,” she said. “And, if they knew, and they knew you, they would protect you.”
The hostess walked me to the door. She had one last point to make. As Hollywood reckoned with its own culture and how to evolve it, there was a more pressing change she did not want people to lose sight of.
“Please, may this empower people to step forward about Trump, and we can bring him down,” she said. With Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie and countless others speaking out about Weinstein—and more than five hundred thousand women sharing their own experiences with sexual harassment under the hashtag #metoo—the floodgates are open. (On Sunday, BuzzFeed reported that a former contestant on “The Apprentice,” who has accused Trump of groping and kissing her, had subpoenaed his campaign for documentation related to “any woman alleging that Donald J. Trump touched her inappropriately.” Trump has denied her allegations.) The hostess told me, “Trump women can come through and throw him down. That would be the biggest play women can make. That’s what we need to do.”
Dana Goodyear is a staff writer at The New Yorker.
More:Harvey WeinsteinHollywood
Sign up for our daily newsletter and get the best of The New Yorker in your in-box.
From Aggressive Overtures to Sexual Assault: Harvey Weinstein’s Accusers Tell Their Stories
Multiple women share harrowing accounts of sexual assault and harassment by the film executive.
By Ronan Farrow
Harvey Weinstein and the Illusion of the Vulgar But Passionate Old-Hollywood Studio Boss
Harvey Weinstein, Caught on Tape
The film executive admits to groping a woman, in a recording secretly captured during an N.Y.P.D. sting operation.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516076
|
__label__cc
| 0.539094
| 0.460906
|
EXECUTIVE MESSAGES
Integrated Bedside Terminals are Patient-Inspired
A patient on Brampton Civic’s Rehabilitation Unit enjoys a new Integrated Bedside Terminal that gives him and his family/caregivers access to entertainment and important information about his stay and recovery
Osler’s new Integrated Bedside Terminals (IBTs) are a perfect example of how technology is helping enhance the hospital experience for admitted patients and their families/caregivers.
In 2018-19, 460 IBTs were installed on inpatient units at Brampton Civic -- a significant undertaking with equally significant impact. Etobicoke General will have 270 installed by the end of the summer. IBTs provide patients and families/caregivers with access to information that’s important to them, with a simple tap of a screen. Content available now includes everything from what to expect in hospital and information on preparing for the transition home or community, to patient safety tips and healing strategies like mindfulness and meditation. IBTs will also continue to give patients access to TV, games, audiobooks, radio and other forms of entertainment.
And this is just the start.
Looking forward, Osler’s IBTs will have the capability to be used as a tool for more customized patient education, real-time surveys and e-concierge. Patients, for example, will be able to directly request a certain meal, housekeeping, spiritual care or interpretation services. Other services are still under negotiation with a focus on supporting patients as true partners in their care experience.
With 55,514 inpatient discharges in 2018-19, the roll-out of this patient-centered service is a major accomplishment. It is also an example of how we are empowering patients to better manage their health condition and navigate health care services – a key focus in our 2019-24 Strategic Plan. This project was one of the first examples of pure co-design with our Patient and Family Advisors. “It was about stepping back from believing we knew best to welcoming, acknowledging and truly believing in shared experience and expertise,” said Mary Jane McNally, Osler’s Chief Patient Experience Officer.
Charan Singh is a member of Osler’s Patient and Family Advisory Committee (PFAC) and one of the Patient Advisors who was heavily involved in the IBT project, along with fellow Patient Advisors Rahil Prajapati and Mandy Grewal. She said the goal from the start was “to ensure that the IBTs included information needed to make a patient’s stay in the hospital more meaningful and enjoyable.”
© 2019 William Osler Health System
www.williamoslerhs.ca
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516080
|
__label__wiki
| 0.952501
| 0.952501
|
The Northern Lights Theater 1721 W Canal Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53233
Price: $100/$85/$75
Thursday, August 22 at 7 and 9:30 p.m.
Jay Leno—named “America's Favorite TV Personality” in the 2009 Harris Poll—has been America’s late night leader for almost two decades before moving from late night to primetime in September 2009 and then returning to host “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” in March 2010. His brief stint on "The Jay Leno Show" became the first-ever entertainment program to be stripped across primetime on broadcast network television. Starting March 2010, Jay Leno was back hosting the “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” airing weekdays at 11:35 p.m.
Prior to embarking on the new show, and before returning to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jay served as the host of the Emmy® Award-winning and top-rated “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” since 1992. He followed in the footsteps of legendary NBC late-night hosts Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, while at the same time creating his own unique late-night style with a combination of humor, talk and entertainment each night at 11:35 p.m. Eastern Time—the wee hours when viewers want to wind down with a few laughs before drifting off to dreamland. His outstanding and engaging combination enabled “The Tonight Show” to capture its timeslot for a remarkable 15 consecutive years, while making the show one of the most valuable properties not just for NBC, but in all of television.
Indeed, Jay’s “everyman” style and personality have helped him earn millions of fans worldwide, people relate to his personable style and work ethic. He has been touted as one of the nicest people in show business and the hardest-working—a winning tandem for the man who says “Anyone can have a life—careers are hard to come by!”
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516084
|
__label__wiki
| 0.847642
| 0.847642
|
with Keith Pulvermacher
The Fire Pit's side bar 1721 W Canal Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53233
Friday, September 22 at 9:30 p.m.
Justin Adams’ high-energy performances of country-meets-rock'n'roll songs showcase his talents as a true entertainer. Destined to be on stage, Justin is right at home performing his live show for audiences across the country. After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa, where he received a full ride football scholarship and holds the school record for most consecutive games played (54), the Bixby, Oklahoma native made the move to Nashville. Before he knew it, his hard work and persistence paid off in writing appointments with some of Nashville’s top writers and a calendar full of tour dates.
Having performed numerous shows, Justin has had the opportunity to open for national touring acts like Craig Morgan, Love and Theft, Eli Young Band, Easton Corbin, Craig Campbell, Eric Paslay, and Charlie Worsham. In addition to touring nationally Justin donates much time performing for various charity events in Nashville and around the country.
Keith Pulvermacher was born into a very musical family, starting his music career at an early age. His father played with a band in the church choir, teaching Keith to play guitar at seven years old. Inspired by all genres, Keith was moved by good riffs, heavy grooves, great lyrics and strong melodic hooks.
Eager to begin performing, he started playing with the church choir at 12 and joined his first band at 15. Writing original music by 16, he decided that music was the road he needed to follow. He quit his job working on a receiving dock to go on tour at 24 to follow his musical path fulltime. Keith has played over 3,000 gigs from Milwaukee to New York, L.A to London and Nashville to Jamaica.
Still driven by good riffs, heavy grooves, great lyrics and strong melodic hooks, Keith brings his musical acumen to Potawatomi Hotel & Casino.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516085
|
__label__wiki
| 0.67635
| 0.67635
|
(Bull Worldwide Information Systems, Billerica, MA, Group Bull, Paris, France, www.bull.com) A computer and information services company with offices in more than 100 countries. A leading advocate of open source software, Bull offers Intel-based servers running the GCOS operating system and PowerPC-based servers running AIX. One of its business units provides a complete line of networked storage products, while its Trustway appliance products are known for their open source security options for VPNs.
Bull was founded in France in 1933 and named after Norwegian engineer Fredrik Rosing Bull. Bull had created a revolutionary adding-sorting punch card machine in 1921, and his patents were purchased by the company. In the 1960s, Bull partnered with GE in computer development in France. When Honeywell took over GE's computer business in 1970, its French division became Honeywell Bull. In 1987, Honeywell turned all its computer business over to Bull. For a while, both Honeywell and NEC had ownership in the company, which was named Bull HN. Today, all operations, with particular focus in the manufacturing, banking, finance, and telecom sectors, are under the Bull name. See Honeywell.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516086
|
__label__wiki
| 0.608662
| 0.608662
|
(MINimal UnIX) A version of Unix for the PC, Mac and Sun platforms. Versions for the Amiga and Atari ST were also available. Developed as sample source code to teach operating systems by Andrew Tanenbaum of Vrije University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Minix was first introduced in 1987 in the book, "Operating Systems, Design and Implementation." Within a few months, more than 40,000 people subscribed to the Minix newsgroup on the Internet. For more information, visit www.minix3.org.
Inspiration for Linux
Linus Torvalds, who developed the immensely popular Linux operating system, was inspired by Minix. Although the operating systems use different approaches to kernel architecture (Minix uses a microkernel), Torvalds developed Linux on Minix and was influenced by its design principles. See Linux and microkernel.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516087
|
__label__wiki
| 0.945201
| 0.945201
|
Nintendo Reveals 'Link Green' 2DS, Breath of the Wild Explorer's Edition
The 2DS will be tempting for Zelda fans, but the Breath of the Wild Explorer's Edition will only appeal to new players.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/nintendo-reveals-link-green-2ds-breath-of-the-wild-explorers-edition
Earlier this week, Nintendo stated that sales of 3DS hardware in all its iterations would soon hit 70 million units. A highly-desirable new 2DS bundle arriving in time for Black Friday is sure to help them get to that total even quicker.
If you have kids and want to give them a great introduction to gaming, then this bundle is for you. As Polygon reports, Nintendo will offer a "Link green" 2DS with a pre-installed copy of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D for just $79.99. It will sit alongside the two existing $80 2DS bundles which include New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Mario Kart 7.
Of course, that Link green 2DS is going to be a big draw for anyone who already owns a 3DS, but is a huge Zelda fan. It also makes the decision of which handheld to buy all the more difficult. The 2DS XL($149.99 at GameStop) is the best choice in terms of size and features, but it costs $70 more than this Black Friday bundle, $93 more if you count the cost of the game.
Nintendo also decided that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sales need to increase, to the point where people who already own the game should be enticed to buy it again. So we are getting a Breath of the Wild Explorer's Edition for $59.99. Included in the pack will be a copy of the game, a 100-page explorer's guide, and a full-color two-sided map.
Nintendo Announces Mario Switch Bundle, Poké Ball 2DS XL
While that won't be enough to warrant a re-purchase for most gamers, it will certainly be popular with anyone picking up a Switch in the coming months. If Nintendo had wanted to, they could have included a Season Pass with the Explorer's Edition and made this a complete version of the game. That could still happen, but it will be another new version released in 2018 at the earliest.
Nintendo is lining up for a very busy Christmas and a hard fight for sales. Not only is the company struggling to keep up with demand for both the Switch and SNES Classic, but the Xbox One X marketing blitz is about to kick off and Sony won't stay quiet on how great the PS4 Pro is and all the games you can buy for it. We are spoiled for choice this holiday season!
Unopened Copy of Super Mario Bros. 3 Fetches for $156,000, Breaking Record
Nintendo Says No to Politics in Animal Crossing
20 Years Ago, Nintendo Transformed the RPG Genre With Paper Mario
More in Nintendo Games
Nintendo Game Reviews
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (for Nintendo Switch)
Control Ultimate Edition - Cloud Version (for Nintendo Switch)
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (for Nintendo Switch)
Fuser (for Nintendo Switch)
Pikmin 3 Deluxe (for Nintendo Switch)
Nintendo Game Best Picks
The Best Nintendo Switch Lite Games for 2021
The Best Nintendo Switch Games for 2021
The Best Nintendo Switch Games For Kids
These Are the Top 20 Nintendo Games of the Decade
Play These "Zelda" Games on Nintendo Switch
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516088
|
__label__wiki
| 0.980343
| 0.980343
|
Journalists hold countrywide rallies for press freedom
ISLAMABAD: On a call of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), the journalist community across the country held protest rallies against shrinking space for freedom of press, speech and expression in the country following fascist and dictatorial policies, adopted by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
Speakers at the protest rallies and demonstrations, arranged by 13 unions of journalists, severely criticised and PTI government, led by Prime Minster Imran Khan for adopting anti-media policies, which would be fought and defended with the power of pen by the journalist community.
At Islamabad Press Club a big protest rally was arranged by the Rawalpindi Union, which was attended and addressed by journalist bodies’ representatives, politicians, civil society members and senior journalists. They called for joining hands for defending freedom of the press in the country.
Former chairman Senate, Raza Rabbani, while addressing the rally, stressed launching of a movement without any further delay, as the incumbent government is bent upon suppressing the media and voices of descent.
“Now the time for compromises has gone; we will have to fight for people’s rights, democracy and freedom of press jointly,” he said.
PFUJ President Shehzada Zulfiqar, while addressing th protest rally in Quetta, called for respect of constitutional rights of people of Pakistan and ensuring freedom of press in country. “The rights guaranteed in the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan cannot be denied and will be defended at any cost as we are committed to ensuring freedom of press and media in the country,” he said.
PFUJ Secretary General Nasir Zaidi, while shedding light on the history of struggle of the federal union for the rights of journalist and sacrifices for democracy and norms, urged the media community to get prepared for long struggle for their basic rights.
“We have no stakes to safeguard but to fight against forces of fascism who, in the name of so-called democracy, are adopting anti-media policies just to suppress the media in the country,” he added. Even the consensus 8th wage board award was not being implemented which was a failure of the government, he added.
National Press Club President Shakeel Anjum and Secretary Anwar Raza called for continued struggle for safeguarding the media and rights of journalists across Pakistan.
Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) President Amir Sajad Syed and Secretary Asif Ali Bhatti, who really worked hard to arrange for protest rallies, said in their speeches that it’s an era of freedom of press and restrictions could not be imposed on it as we are committed to fighting restrictions with iron hands.
Senior journalists and anchor Hamid Mir, in his speech, warned the government and the anti-media forces that the journalist community could not be deterred by abductions of journalists and imposing censorship through hidden hands and some ill-advised owners of the media houses.
“We will not accept journalist protection bill, rejected by the journalist’s community during the previous PML-N government, which was reportedly being adopted by Imran Khan led government, he warned.
Former PFUJ president Afzal Butt criticised the government for retrenchments lay-off and non-payment of salaries to state-run Radio and Pakistan Television apart from retrenchments in private media due to anti-media policies, adopted by the PTI government.
Muhammad Ashraf of the PTV retired employees forum apprised the rally about victimisation and denial of dues and forced retirement in state-run television by the management.
Amar Rasheed of Awami Workers Party, Sardar Shaukat, Sagheer Chaudhry, Arshad Waheed Chaudhry, Nisar Ahmed, Sharjeel Rao, and Bilal Dar also addressed the rally and criticised the government for suspending the transmission of a private channel and adopting anti-media policies. They demanded immediate restoration of transmission of the channel and advertisements for regional newspapers to save the families of journalists from further financial crisis.
Website: The News
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516089
|
__label__wiki
| 0.700956
| 0.700956
|
US Congress introduces bill to terminate Pakistan as major non-NATO ally
A bill introduced in the United States Congress aims to terminate the designation of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally.
The bill was introduced by a Republican Congressman Andy Biggs.
“On the first day of the 117th Congress, my staff and I have hit the ground running, working hard for the great people of #AZ05,” he tweeted. “Today, I reintroduced 28 bills that keep the promises I’ve made to my constituents and help to reduce the size and scope of the federal government.”
Pakistan’s special status, which was given during the Bush administration in 2004, allows access to US defence supplies and participation in cooperative defence research and development programmes.
As per the bill, Biggs claims the President is not in a position to issue a separate designation of Pakistan as a major NATO ally unless a presidential certification is issued that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations that are contributing to significantly disrupting the safe haven and freedom of movement of the Haqqani network in Pakistan.
This new bill will also ask the president to certify that Pakistan has shown progress in order to arrest and prosecute senior leaders and mid-level operatives of the Haqqani Network.
Currently, there are 17 major non-NATO allies. Brazil was the last country to be given this designation by President Donald Trump in 2019.
Previous articleUK PM Johnson cancels India visit, citing need to oversee virus response
Next articleUSC posts Rs100bn turnover for 2020
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has said that after Tuesday's failed show of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the government will also welcome their...
ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Tuesday transferred Balochistan inspector general of police (IGP) Mohsin Hassan Butt and replaced him with Muhammad Tahir Rai. A notification...
ISLAMABAD: Considering the agony of a mother whose son was abducted five years ago from Islamabad and the happening was declared a subject matter...
ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a corruption reference against Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah over alleged misuse of power...
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif’s wife, Nusrat Shehbaz, has moved the Lahore High Court (LHC) to challenge the issuance of her...
Bilawal for joint efforts to send govt packing
UMERKOT: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that all stakeholders will have to make joint efforts to send the 'ineligible' government...
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516090
|
__label__wiki
| 0.624101
| 0.624101
|
Mansehra
Zaid Ijaz
Cities, Location
Mansehra is a district of province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The district’s headquarters is Mansehra city, which is considered the 7th largest city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 71st largest city of Pakistan. It is named after Sardar Maha Singh Mirpuri who is considered the region’s founder.
He was a Sikh Army General in Khalsa Empire. The district is famous for its tourist attraction sites. The people all over the country visit the region to view the natural beauty of the district. The coordinates of the district are 34’20” to the north and 73’12” to the east.
The region is 1088 meter elevated from the surface of the sea. This article contains all the information about the city, including Mansehra History.
Type: The town located in Mansehra District
Local Language Name: مانسہرہ
Province: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Coordinates : 34°20″N 73°12″E
District: Mansehra District
Region: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Elevation: 1,088 m (3,570 ft)
Sports: Horse riding, polo
Name of the Town: Derived from that of its founder, Sardar Maha Singh Mirpuri
Official Language: Urdu
Native Language: Pushto, Potohari
Other Languages: Urdu, Pushto, English
City: Second largest in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province
Time zone: PST (UTC+5)
Dialling code: 997
Vehicle registration: Three letters beginning with M and random four numbers
Mansehra History
The early history of the region goes back to 300 BC when the ancient Indian Nanda Empire influenced the region. Mauryan Empire occupied the region after the rise of Chandragupta Maurya. Prince Ashoka ruled the region in 272 BC.
The region came under Hindu Shahis’s rule who ruled the area until the Muslim’s Ghaznavid Empire’s invasion. In 1700 century, the region was captured by Durrani Empire of Afghanistan who was defeated by Maratha Empire in 3rd Battle of Panipat.
Sikh invaded the region in 1818 century, after the Durrani Empire’s decline and remained in power until 1849. The British rulers took control of the region in 1849 and divided the Hazara Division into three tehsils including Hari Pur, Abbottabad and Mansehra.
The tehsil was then merged with the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (NWFP) in 1901. Mansehra was made a district in 1976. According to 1901 census, the region had a population of only 5000 inhabitants.
The district is administratively divided into five tehsils which are as follow:
Baffa Pakhal
Oghi
Darband
According to 2017 census of Pakistan, the city had a population of 1556460 inhabitants.
The most widely spoken languages of the region is Hindko, Pashto and Gujri, spoken by 72 per cent of the entire population. The other languages of the region are Urdu, Kohistani and Kashmiri Languages, spoken by 14 per cent of the population. The people also speak the Gujarati language of Kahghan Valley.
The district is linked with the other district regions through minor roads and other Pakistan’s main cities through National Highway (Motorway, M-15). Some of the region’s local roads are Kaghan Kaloni Road, Shinkiari Road, Abbottabad Road, and Karakoram Highway.
Mansehra Postal Code and Area Code
Mansehra Climate
The climate of the district is a cold one having the recorded minimum temperature of -3 degrees centigrade. In comparison, the temperature of the region in summer season varies from 9 to 17 degrees centigrade. Earthquakes also occur in the region.
The district owes an agricultural land, and the people’s income is mostly related to agriculture as they have fertile lands and cultivate different types of vegetables and dry fruits. Most of them are also government servants.
There are many tourist attraction sites in the region including Naran, Lake Saif -ul- Muluk, Balakot, Kaghan, Shogran and Lala Zar, Darband, Konsh valley, Kund Bangla, Siri, Pakhal Valley and Siran Valley.
The regions mentioned above are the most attractive sites of the district. The people from all areas of Pakistan come in summer to enjoy the natural beauty of the region. A large number of service members come to Mansehra to spend their holidays in natural beauty.
There are many problems related to education in the district. There is no university in the region, and the people go hundreds of kilometres to get higher education. The literacy rate is shallow, as half of the population contains women who are restricted to get the education.
Mansehra Issues
There are so many other problems such as the facilities of electricity, gas, internet etc. is negligible. The poor people of the region cut trees for burning fires to fill their necessities.
The other main problem is the region’s climate where many dangerous earthquakes occurred in the final decades and destroyed a large number of infrastructure and killed many people. The government has not taken any action on it to avoid future destructions.
There are many different games played by the region people among which polo, shooting and horse riding are the famous and most played games. Many other games include hiking, wrestling, ram fighting, cockfighting, and hunting occasionally by the people of the region.
Polo is played at the Shandor festival, and a large number of people come to see it in the mid of summer season.
The people of Mansehra celebrate many different festivals such as Eid -ul- Fitr, Eid -ul-Adha, festivals of the marriage ceremony.
The festivals mentioned above are purely celebrated under Islamic conditions. Other festivals include the celebration of Durgashtami which are marked by the Brahman community of the region. Offering took place at Bareri Hill to worship Durga Devi.
The city contains many tribes who came from different regions during different periods and settled in the area. Some of the famous tribes are given below.
The Swatis (Ancestors of Pathans)
The Syeds (Descendants of Hazrat Ali R.A)
The Gujars (Oldest tribe of Mansehra)
The Awans (Purely Hindu Origin)
The Tanaolis (Origin is uncertain/unknown)
Wazir Mansion
Hunza
List Of Abbottabad Cinemas
shah jahan mosque
Australian Embassy in Pakistan
Laiba Khan
Hadi Bin Arshad
Minahil Malik
Dur e Fishan Saleem
Danial Afzal Khan
Kanwal Aftab
Sidra Sehar
Ahsan Mohsin Ikram
2021 Pakpedia.pk
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516091
|
__label__wiki
| 0.59598
| 0.59598
|
The Carolina Panthers’ Youth Movement On Defense Continues
The Carolina Panthers were one of the hottest teams in the league over the first half of the season and were sitting pretty at 6-2 before a brutal 52-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 10 in a Thursday night game sent their season in a downward spiral.
They would go on to lose six of their last seven games that, with the Steelers’ game included, saw them drop seven straight contests until the final week of the season when they beat the Saints handily 33-14 but New Orleans had already locked up their playoff spot and rested nearly all of their starters.
Since the 2018 season ended the team has begun to take the first steps toward fielding a much younger team for this upcoming season and beyond as the franchise’s all-time sack leader in defensive end Julius Peppers (age 39) will hang up his cleats and they informed the franchise’s all-time leading tackler, linebacker Thomas Davis (age 35) that they would not retain him for the 2019 season.
They officially announced on Feb. 25 that they were releasing veteran slot corner Captain Munnerlyn (age 30) after just two years into a contract that he signed in March of 2017 and that they would not attempt to resign veteran safety Mike Adams (age 37) after he played out his contract this past year.
Munnerlyn was the youngest of the bunch, but he turns 31 in April and the Panthers have been investing in younger pieces to their defense over the last few seasons. Their second-round pick from the 2016 draft, corner James Bradberry has performed well over the past two seasons and the team’s second-round pick from last season, corner Donte Jackson got off to a hot start in his rookie year before cooling off, like much of the team did down the stretch.
The team is expecting linebacker Shaq Thompson, their first-round pick from 2015, to step in Davis’ role in tandem with defensive stalwart and six-time Pro Bowl linebacker Luke Kuechly. He doesn’t possess the same natural instincts and rapport with Kuechly as Davis, he has the athleticism to stay with running backs and tight ends in coverage as well as fly from sideline to sideline.
Thompson’s production has risen with each year he’s been in the league and had his best year last season to date in 2018 when he finished with a career-high in both total tackles with 79 and in sacks with 3.5.
Carolina was near the bottom of the league in sacks as their 35 sacks ranked 27th in the league last season and with Peppers calling it a career, the team will look to free agency and the upcoming draft to improve their pass rush.
Luckily for them, there is a fine crop of sack artists that are going to hit the open market this offseason when the new league year officially begins on March 13. The strength of this year’s draft class is on the defensive side of the ball, especially along the front seven, and is viewed as one of the deepest pass rush classes in years.
#Sports #football #sports
Golf Team is Effectively Eliminated but Technically ‘Suspended’
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516095
|
__label__cc
| 0.542082
| 0.457918
|
Concerns raised for planned reduction in PCSO numbers across Cambridgeshire
Posted by Christian Hogg | Updated 2020-11-16
Peterborough Liberal Democrats were very disappointed to hear the news that the Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire Constabulary has proposed cuts to neighbourhood policing in the county.
The plans, announced in October, have been drawn up in an attempt to address the force’s budget deficit and help make savings of £1.7 million in 2021/22.
They include halving the number of PCSOs, removing the community safety team, closing nine enquiry offices, and introducing an appointments-based system for members of the public to speak to police officers.
The Lib Dems are concerned about the impact of such changes on grassroots policing in local communities.
Rupert Moss-Eccardt, the Lib Dem candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire, said:
"We are worried about what these proposed cost-saving changes will mean for the communities of Cambridgeshire. It is clear that halving the number of PCSOs – leaving just 40 of them to cover all of our cities, towns and villages - will make it more difficult to prevent or tackle neighbourhood crime. We will lose a highly experienced body of officers who have engaged with the communities in which they work."
"All the proposed measures, which will reduce public access to police officers as well as PCSOs, have been announced with very little detail or impact assessment. We call upon the Chief Constable to halt any changes until after a new Police and Crime Commissioner is elected next May, when there can be proper public scrutiny of the proposals."
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516097
|
__label__wiki
| 0.912565
| 0.912565
|
Brussels Sketch
Don’t cry for Commission’s HR chief
Staff didn’t think of Irène Souka as their defender — they saw her as the president’s enforcer.
Irène Souka’s chief complaint is that she was left hanging | Etienne Ansotte/European Union
By Tim King
Tim King writes POLITICO‘s Brussels Sketch.
It would be an extraordinary achievement if Irène Souka, who in her 11 years as head of the European Commission’s human resources department built a reputation for the merciless execution of her political masters’ wishes, were to garner sympathy for the brutality of her own departure.
It would be a performance on a par with Theresa May shedding a tear outside Downing Street after setting the terms for an undeliverable Brexit, throwing away a parliamentary majority, and tearing apart her own party.
With a similar degree of chutzpah, albeit to a smaller audience, Souka laments her treatment at the hands of Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the Commission, because her decades-long Commission career has been brought to an abrupt and unceremonious end.
As revealed in POLITICO Brussels Playbook, in a move of quite delicious irony, Souka sent an email on Tuesday to the entire human resources department announcing her departure and attaching a copy of her complaint to von der Leyen’s office.
The vast majority of Commission staff never thought of Souka as their defender: They thought of her as the president’s enforcer.
“In 40 years in the Commission, including almost 11 years as Director-General of DG HR, I have never come across a situation managed in quite this way,” she wrote to Björn Seibert, von der Leyen’s chief of staff. “If what we have been experiencing in DG HR is a sample of [the new Commission’s] fresh approach, it is my professional advice to reconsider.”
Souka’s chief complaint is that she was left hanging, not knowing whether her employment with the Commission (she is past retirement age) would be extended again and, if so, for how long.
“One of the fundamental values of the HR policies we have espoused is ensuring that people are informed in time. It is a question of common civility and of common decency,” said Souka, while conveniently forgetting that common civility doesn’t usually involve copying your email fights with the Commission president to everyone in your department.
To savor the degree of self-exculpation underlying this exchange, and to appreciate the quantities of karma involved, outsiders might need reminding of some features of Souka’s career.
The commissioners prolonged Souka’s employment during the same meeting that promoted Martin Selmayr, chief of staff of then-President Jean-Claude Juncker | Patrick Seeger/EPA-EFE
Souka’s retirement from the Commission had already been deferred and her reign over the human resources department prolonged. To keep a director general in post beyond the age of 65 requires the approval of the College of Commissioners. In February 2018, the commissioners prolonged her employment and that of her husband, Dominique Ristori, the director general for energy.
Perhaps coincidentally, this was the same meeting of commissioners that at 20 minutes’ notice promoted Martin Selmayr, chief of staff of then Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, to the post of Commission secretary-general (in a procedure roundly condemned by the European Parliament and later by the European ombudsman).
A notable feature of Selmayr’s promotion to the most powerful permanent official was that the commissioners didn’t even know there was a vacancy for the post of secretary-general until they had appointed Selmayr as deputy secretary-general (he made the leap from one job to the other within the course of the same meeting). Possibly this was not what Souka was alluding to when she claimed that one of the fundamental values of her HR policies was ensuring that people are informed in time.
A subsequent report into the episode by the ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, makes clear how heavily Souka was involved in distorting the Commission’s rules on senior appointments to ensure that Selmayr’s route to the top job was cleared of all obstacles. As director general of human resources, she was a permanent member of the Consultative Committee on Appointments that evaluates and shortlists candidates for senior Commission jobs. The ombudsman concluded that the CCA did not follow its own rules of procedure — which Souka might reasonably have been expected to uphold. The ombudsman enumerates several other ways in which the process was flawed. In sum, the botched Selmayr promotion destroyed the credibility of human resources policy during the Juncker Commission.
Given Souka’s Greek origins, the temptation to make comparisons with classical drama must be resisted. Nonetheless, there is an element of proto-tragedy about the parting email in which she rails against her superiors. The distinguishing feature of her career was that she made herself useful, even indispensable, to those above her. Even those who saw her faults would acknowledge that she delivered for her political masters: She did their bidding; she gave them what she wanted. In the jargon of human resources, she was adept at “managing up.”
Irène Souka clung to a vision of loyalty to the European project, which she shared with Selmayr. It was not enough to be competent; you had to be a true believer.
Yet, in the end, she had no purchase over the new political regime.
There is, however, something incongruous about Souka seeking at the last to cast herself as the defender of the little people, the staff of her department. The vast majority of Commission staff never thought of Souka as their defender: They thought of her as the president’s enforcer. She was feared by many senior managers, several of whom found their Commission careers brought to a premature end, being either defenestrated or — perhaps more humiliatingly — sidelined. The latter will be surprised by her appeal to civility and decency. So too will those many humble contract agents who got within days of the end of their contracts before they knew whether those contracts would be renewed.
Souka was at least consistent in deriding “a fresh approach.” She did her best to blunt, if not thwart, various attempts at modernization. She was not a fan of the European Personnel Selection Office, established in 2002 as part of reforms pushed through by Neil Kinnock, who was at that time one of the U.K.’s European commissioners, and its new approach to recruitment. She clung to a vision of loyalty to the European project, which she shared with Selmayr. It was not enough to be competent; you had to be a true believer.
As a consequence, she played fast and loose with procedures: The end justified the means. She and Selmayr turned the clock back on the post-1999 policy of rotating senior managers every five to seven years — witness her own 11-year tenure in the position of head of human resources — yet felt no qualms about introducing a policy of rotating middle managers. The Juncker Commission made some progress in promoting women in middle management, but the Selmayr appointment exposed the commitment to women’s equality as skin-deep.
Given her record, it’s hard to see why Johannes Hahn, the commissioner who now has responsibility for the Commission’s administration and human resources, initially offered her a further extension to her employment. To prolong Souka’s grip on human resources would be to send the wrong message about the new Commission’s intentions. Belatedly, von der Leyen’s team seems to have wised up.
Souka may have been badly handled, but her immediate departure is the right outcome. Where she sees epic betrayal, others will see poetic justice.
Martin Selmayr’s new job: The EU’s man in Vienna
By Florian Eder
Emily O’Reilly reelected as European ombudsman
By Cristina Gonzalez
More from ... Tim King
Michel Barnier plans political comeback in France
By Maïa de La Baume and David M. Herszenhorn
German MEP quits satirical party following racism accusations against founder
Portuguese people to know in the Brussels Bubble
POLITICO’s quiz of the year
By Paul Dallison and Ali Walker
Brussels bubble EU staff
Martin Selmayr Ursula von der Leyen
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516099
|
__label__cc
| 0.561785
| 0.438215
|
Posted on July 27, 2019 by Paul Mirengoff in Crime, Sentencing Reform, Tom Cotton
FIRST STEP’s first deception exposed
When the FIRST STEP act was making its way through Congress, its advocates claimed that only “non-violent” federal prisoners would be released from prison early. By non-violent felons they meant, in essence, drug dealers, as opposed to, say, murderers, rapists, and armed robbers.
I don’t consider dealers of deadly drugs to be non-violent. Their conduct wrecks lives and sometimes ends them.
But let’s accept, for purposes of discussion, the definition of “non-violent” advanced by FIRST STEP’s advocates. Contrary to what they promised, their law is letting violent offenders out of prison early.
Tucker Carlson blew the whistle this week, aided by information provided to him from inside the White House, apparently. He reported that, of the 2,000 or so federal prisoners who have been released early thanks to FIRST STEP, roughly half had committed violent felonies under any fair reckoning.
This includes around 500 inmates who were incarcerated on weapons or explosive charges; around 300 who committed rape or sexual assault; around 100 guilty of armed robbery; and several dozen guilty of aggravated assault or murder.
FIRST STEP’s backers knew this would happen. It follows from the language of the bill. Under that language, the amount of credit for “good behavior” to all federal felons (not just non-violent ones) was increased retroactively. This always meant that felons — both violent and “non-violent” — would get out of jail earlier because they suddenly would have accrued additional credit for good time served.
And it meant they wouldn’t have to do anything by way of “rehabilitation” that they hadn’t already done. They would not have to enroll in any of the programs that the jail break crowd fantasizes will transform them into law abiding citizens.
Sen. Tom Cotton and a few others warned of this consequences. They were ignored. No legislative fix was made to prevent the early release of violent felons, and FIRST STEP’s supporters continued to assert their false claim.
The White House fully backed FIRST STEP as written. Indeed, without Jared Kushner’s support, and ultimately President Trump’s, the law never would have passed.
In a followup segment to his initial report, Carlson had a White House representative on his show to try, somehow, to reconcile the early release of hundreds of violent felons with the promise that this wouldn’t happen. The White House guy argued that the provision that allows the early release of violent felons wasn’t new law, it was a clarification of existing law.
Rarely has Carlson’s patented quizzical look been more deserved.
Call it “clarification” if you want. There is no dispute that these violent felons wouldn’t have been released when they were had the FIRST STEP Act not been passed by Congress and signed by Trump.
Carlson’s point stands. Those among FIRST STEP’s backers who promised that only non-violent felons would be released early weren’t telling us the truth.
This is not the only deception associated with the passage of FIRST STEP. Nor is it the feature of the Act that’s most potentially detrimental to the public. It is, however, emblematic of the supporters’ lack of regard for the truth, and for public safety.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516101
|
__label__wiki
| 0.760561
| 0.760561
|
Jones' fight with Texeira has put him in the crosshairs of Hackleman, who worked with Teixeria and Liddell at The Pit in Northern California. The coach implied the current champ does not share Liddell's fighting spirit and is not as beloved by fans as the now-retired fighter.
Jones, a top pay-per-view draw, said he read Hackleman's comments and thinks the coach got ahead of himself.
"I think he thought that I was maybe trying to offend his program, or Glover, which I wasn't," he said. "I think the whole thing was based on me looking over Glover, something that I'm not doing.
"I'm not going to sit here and insult John. I respect him a lot as a coach; I actually think he's one of the best in the business. That's why I'm training so hard for this fight — because I respect Glover and his coach."
Jones also deflected comments made about him by Phil Davis, who repeated a claim that the champ would withdraw from UFC 172, opening a spot for an interim title fight with Teixeira. Davis is scheduled to fight Anthony Johnson before Jones vs. Teixeira headlines the event.
"Phil, he has his job to do," Jones said. "His job is to try and get a title shot, and he figures if he can stir up enough controversy and insult me enough that that will get him closer to the title shot.
"Maybe it's working — we're definitely talking about him more than usual. Good for him. Obviously, I'll be here. My goal is to be in the No. 1 spot when he gets to me, and everything will take care of itself in time."
Until then, Jones is sure he will field more trash talk from a list of fighters looking to take his title. Asked whether he differentiated between Davis and Daniel Cormier, with whom he shares a long-simmering rivalry, Jones said all the callouts and criticisms are a trend.
"One thing I've realized is I'm getting chirped by guys who aren't actually contracted to fight me," he said. "I think when you know your challenge is coming up, it can be a little more nerveracking than sitting on the sidelines and talking about what you would do. Me knowing this, I'm just going to focus on the task at hand and let everything else take care of itself in the future."
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516103
|
__label__wiki
| 0.684434
| 0.684434
|
Activists Bet $600,000 on Cannabis for NYS Constitutional Convention
Cannabis insiders & industry leaders met Wednesday in NYC to plot strategy to bring their issues through little-known NYS ConCon this Nov. 7
Restrict & Regulate in NY State 2019
NEW YORK, June 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Restrict & Regulate in NY State 2019 (RRNY), a pro-cannabis, 9B ballot issue political action committee, registered with the New York State Board of Elections, dedicated to holding a New York State Constitutional Convention, announced today that the Committee raised more than $600,000 to advance its agenda.
New York Decides
RRNY supports a fully-regulated, fully-tested adult-use cannabis market, a robust medical marijuana program and industrial hemp as a commodity crop. The Committee also supports the introduction into the state constitution a voter-initiated ballot measure process and pension protections for all New Yorkers that are on par with those of legislators and teachers.
The funding for RRNY came from a surprising coalition of unrelated groups that took notice of the eight state sweep that adult-use cannabis and medical marijuana won in the 2016 elections. Family office managers and financial industry executives, who privately support a pro-cannabis agenda, and cannabis industry leaders led the effort. Wealthy philanthropists opposed to harsh drug laws also pledged financial support.
New York is one of 14 states whose constitutions require a periodic popular vote on holding a state constitutional convention. On November 7, 2017, New Yorkers will go to the polls to find, buried on the back of the ballot, the question: "Shall there be a convention to revise the constitution and amend the same?" If they say "no," the process will end. If they say "yes," a two-year process will be triggered, culminating in a popular vote on changes to the New York state constitution proposed by a convention to be held in April 2019. RRNY believes that a "yes" vote will allow it to advance its pro-cannabis agenda by going around the legislature in a manner similar to the method it employed in the 29 states where cannabis is now legal.
"New Yorkers pride themselves on being leaders, both nationally and worldwide. We are the fourth largest state in the U.S. but our neighbors, like Massachusetts, are leaving us in the dust on the cannabis issue," said Will Powers, Treasurer of RRNY and longtime figure in New York State politics. "It's high time we take control of our legislative process and make the will of the voters clear."
Powers goes on to say, "That is exactly what we are going to do this November 7. The voters are going to say 'yes' and in 2019 we are going to hold a state constitutional convention. At that convention, we are going to tie the hands of the legislature so that the sensible use of cannabis for adults, medical patients and New York farmers will never again be prohibited in New York State."
RRNY launched its new website on Wednesday. Its donation page is powered by ActBlue, the same organization Bernie Sanders campaign employed during the 2016 primary process and leverages the cannabis industry dog-whistle "420" by tagging 4.20 to the end of all pledge amounts. Sanders famously raised record-breaking amounts with an average contribution of $27. RRNY hopes to do Bernie one better with brief daily appeals to cannabis supporters nationwide to donate $4.20 at 4:20.
"The cannabis movement has made marijuana legal for medical or personal use in 29 states and the District of Columbia exclusively through the use of voter-initiated ballot proposals. We understand this process better than any group on the planet and we have built a virtual machine to bring our issue before voters over the last 21 years this way. But the New York State Constitution has no such provision and we were helpless here until now," according to Jerome W. Dewald, the group's leader.
Dewald goes on to contend, "Were it not so, New York would be today standing alongside California and Florida saying enough of this Nixon-era nonsense. Cannabis is far less dangerous than tobacco or alcohol. It's time to stop spending our hard-earned tax dollars putting people in our jails and our prisons, destroying families and lives, for possessing or using this relatively harmless substance."
"The New York legislature is notoriously corrupt and gridlocked and no longer represents the will of the people," said Josh Alper, Chairman of RRNY's Events and Communications Committee and President of Blue Diamond, Inc, a publicly-traded company in the cannabis space.
"In just one week we raised over $600k toward a 'yes' vote this November 7," said Steve Gormley, another cannabis industry executive and head of fundraising activities for RRNY. "The cannabis industry sees prohibition in New York as a national issue. If we are to prevent a roll-back of our hard-fought victories from 1996 to 2016, we need big, influential friends and there is no better, more influential friend than New York."
RRNY will be hosting and sponsoring events throughout the state this summer to educate their base and those allied groups favoring a state constitutional convention "yes" vote this November. Its new website can be found at www.Cannabis4NY.org. News media please email [email protected].
SOURCE Restrict & Regulate in NY State 2019
http://www.Cannabis4NY.org
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516106
|
__label__cc
| 0.612946
| 0.387054
|
IN/EN
Rackspace Cloud Library
What are Cloud Services?
Cloud services is an umbrella term for any service that is delivered via the internet — as opposed to being installed on a user’s computer or network server. Popular cloud services include networking, data storage, platforms for ecommerce applications and productivity applications such as email. Cloud-based services are usually offered by a hosting service provider or managed service provider like Rackspace.
Cloud services generally fall into one of these three broad categories of cloud computing:
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), which provides servers and storage
Platform as a Service (PaaS), such as Microsoft® Azure®, which enables companies to develop and deploy apps
Software as a Service (SaaS), such as Microsoft Office 365®, which facilitates collaboration between remote team members
Companies ranging from startups to Fortune® 100 giants all benefit from cloud services. Almost 50 percent of companies who took part in a North Bridge survey have a cloud-first or cloud-only business strategy, and 40 percent of them receive at least half of their revenue via cloud-based applications. Overall, nearly 80 percent of the companies derive some revenue from the cloud.
Why Use Cloud Services?
Stay competitive in the global marketplace without having to invest in a costly data center. Cloud technology services are typically much more affordable than building, maintaining and managing your own data center.
Add new managed servers, storage and other IT resources more easily than if you were running your own data center.
Efficient & Scalable
Access the resources you need, when you need them. Cloud-based services such as email hosting, productivity apps and ecommerce platforms can be easily and rapidly scaled up or down as needed.
An abundance of IT assets — including support, multiple clouds and data-crunching supercomputers — can be available on demand.
Why Use Rackspace Cloud Services?
We’ve been providing businesses of all sizes with cloud services for nearly 20 years. Not only do we support and manage the leading cloud platforms, we offer dedicated hosting of infrastructure and solutions for a wide range of applications and cloud environments. All of these cloud services are backed by our industry-leading service and support.
We are the world’s largest managed cloud provider, with industry-leading expertise for dedicated servers,Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Cloud®, Google Cloud Platform™, OpenStack Cloud® and VMware®.
More than half of the Fortune 100 rely on our Managed Security Services to help them comply with regulatory requirements and to protect themselves — and their customers — from data breaches and cyberattacks.
As the No. 1 hosting provider for the Internet Retailer™ Top 1,000, we have extensive experience with ecommerce hosting, and support leading ecommerce environments like Magento®, SAP Hybris® and Oracle® Commerce.
Our website hostingservices support the most popular types of ecommerce platforms such as Adobe Experience Manager and Sitecore, content management systems like WordPress and Drupal, and bare metal or virtual cloud servers.
Our experts will help your company select, architect and deploy the right database for your unique business needs — and provide ongoing support, if you need it.
Our email hosting and productivity experts are well versed in Microsoft Exchange®, Microsoft Office 365® and offer our own email for small business.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516108
|
__label__wiki
| 0.998829
| 0.998829
|
David Coulthard to present Channel 4 Formula 1 coverage
The racing driver tipped to join Chris Evans on Top Gear has announced he will be joining Channel 4's F1 presenting team as it takes over from the BBC
By James Gill
Monday, 11th January 2016 at 11:00 am
David Coulthard has put the brakes on Top Gear speculation by announcing he will be joining Channel 4’s Formula 1 coverage.
The former F1 driver and presenter has been confirmed as the first of Channel 4’s new presenting line-up, as the broadcaster prepares to take over from the BBC as F1’s UK terrestrial broadcaster.
Coulthard had been widely tipped to join Chris Evans as a presenter on the new Top Gear, although RadioTimes.com reported at the beginning of January that no permanent presenters had been contracted.
Channel 4 also confirmed that it had hired sports production company Whisper Films to handle its coverage. The company was set up by Coulthard, former BBC F1 presenter Jake Humphrey and presenter Sunil Patel in 2010.
“This is an exciting time for the sport and an exciting time for Whisper Films,” Coulthard said. “The F1 world has been incredibly impressed with what Whisper has delivered over the last five years and Channel 4’s decision is testament to that.
“I’m looking forward to being part of an exciting new era for Formula One, with Whisper Films and our proven level of creativity and innovation very much at the heart of that.”
Channel 4 replaced the BBC as the terrestrial home of F1 in December 2015, promising to show ten live races per season. The broadcaster also confirmed that it would not be showing adverts mid-race.
The current deal lasts for three years, and also includes highlights of all 21 Grands Prix and qualifying sessions.
Live Formula 1
Channel 4 replaces BBC as the terrestrial home of Formula 1
F1: Lewis Hamilton’s brother Nic reveals a driving ambition
All about Top Gear
Formula One 2012: Grand Prix race calendar
Channel 4 boss puts foot down to drive for Formula 1 success
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516109
|
__label__wiki
| 0.733332
| 0.733332
|
The enormous load on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders
Mark Ragg
Ragg & Co > Commentary > The enormous load on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders
Donnella Mills is a Torres Strait Islander woman who is on the board of Wuchopperen Health Service, a community-controlled health organisation based in Cairns, and a lawyer with LawRight, a community legal centre that coordinates the provision of pro-bono civil legal services to disadvantaged and vulnerable members of the community. Two years ago she became deputy chair of National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), and recently became chair.
She spoke at Health Justice Australia’s recent conference Health Justice 2019 of the impact of the workload with its long hours and sense of obligation to others.
Donnella Mills
‘I’m very blessed that I come with a couple of different hats. I have a significant role in my community where I’m seen as a leader, and with that comes an enormous amount of responsibility and duty,’ she said.
Working at both Wuchopperen and LawRight has been extremely challenging, she said.
Two systems
‘We have two systems. I have my customary way of being, which is some that is 24/7. I’ve often said to the executives at LawRight that I don’t get to stop being black at 5 o’clock. That’s something that is continuous.
‘And then also meeting the demands, within that legal framework, of LawRight. They two don’t meet in the middle because the expectations of my community are far-reaching.’
When the role with NACCHO is added, it’s ‘not sustainable long term,’ she said.
‘It has a disproportionate impact on me, because I’m working with my own families, I’m working with my kin. It comes with many complexities. I have success, I have this wonderful role, I’m so passionate about it and I’m in a community where my people are living in poverty.
‘But disproportionately the impact is enormous, I don’t want to make that less significant than what it is, but it’s a space that I cannot be in for too long because it’s really soul-crushing to work across systems that are so challenging. So much energy is required, and I have a huge amount of energy, but I know that it will come to an end before too long, I look to other practitioners across the health and justice domain – we have to work in teams, we have to collaborate.
‘The other challenge, which is a positive, is that I’m a blackfella – my people are screaming at me, they want me to make all the changes, it’s really hard for me to communicate to them that I’m one person that’s trying to assist. I don’t have the power to bring good housing, I don’t have the power to bring their kids home, I don’t have the power to get them back on their homelands, so it’s this constant conversation of trying to express love for my community and a truth that doesn’t further traumatise them.’
Law is not fair and just
Eddie Cubillo, an Aboriginal man with strong family links throughout the Northern Territory, is now Senior Indigenous Fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Law School. He has been executive offer with National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (NATSILS) and director of community engagement for the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory.
He has written previously about the cost to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocates when governments fail to act.
In addressing Health Justice 2019, he said: “I did law because I thought I was going to change the law, but you do first year and you realise law is not fair and just.”
Eddie Cubillo
Cubillo spoke of the incredibly long hours put into the Royal Commission, and the commitment to the cause, but that it never left him.
When you go home, people are really questioning your participation, and [asking] where does your allegiance lie.
When other people work in organisations they can go home and switch off, but blackfellas we can’t you know – people find your number and people find where you live … it’s really hard to get away from it.
In the end you become really cynical, or you don’t want to have anything to do with the space, or you just go through the motions, because it takes a huge toll on you.
[And working on the Royal Commission], you see it every day, you see it on TV, you get on a bus, you get on a plane … it comes back to haunt you.”
That load carries through to people who may not be national leaders, but carry a weight by working in mainstream organisations.
I’ve been working recently in partnership with Dr Megan Williams, head of Girra Maa, the Indigenous Health Discipline at the Graduate School of Health, UTS, and in some of our work together we’ve interviewed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working with mainstream organisations in justice and in health.
Cultural load
One of the common threads to arise from our work is what can be termed the cultural load. This is the load borne by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the workplace where they are either the only Indigenous person, or are one of a small number of Indigenous people.
People we’ve interviewed have consistently told us that with cultural load comes a lot of expectations from non-Indigenous colleagues – that they will know all things Indigenous, that they will know the cultural norms of the Country they’re on, that they’ll be happy to share their knowledge at all times, that they’ll be the Indigenous representative on committees, that they’ll be comfortable doing an acknowledgement to Country, that they’ll ‘represent’ and be representative of their people.
People we’ve interviewed may also be asked to deal with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and clients, and to deal with the families or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and clients, on top of their own workload.
Expectations of families and communities
Because of the skills gained through education and their positions of influence, there are also expectations from their families and communities that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in mainstream organisations will be able to ‘solve’ the problems they set out to address, whether that’s at an individual level or at a national level.
People we’ve interviewed spoke of:
a lack of recognition of work hours when formal and informal roles are combined
a lack of financial remuneration for additional hours worked, skills drawn on and ‘level’ worked at
high levels of worry and effort in having blended professional and community roles
having to be a cultural educator or interpreter for other staff, including staff more senior in position or age
standard career progression criteria not reflecting the reality of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the varied tasks required, with no formal opportunities to record or use these for career progression.
These issues speak to the lack of development of the mainstream health and justice sectors. They represent the mainstream norm, and while they suggest some inclusivity, they also suggest a struggle to fully internalise the cultural respect they may be seeking to uphold.
Possible solutions will vary according to the workplace and the sector, but acknowledging that such a cultural load exists at a personal level is a start. More formal approaches, such as looking at career progression criteria and formal recognition of cultural load in wages and working conditions, are also an option.
This article was first published by Croakey in November 2019
Tweet - Monday Jan 4
Scott Morrison's one-word gesture won't unify Australia, but a bigger conversation might https://t.co/nTBIs6oRys
ReplyRetweet1Favourite1Message
Quoted Retweet - Thursday Dec 10
Better off just writing down your first thoughts without checking, aren’t you? If only ... https://t.co/OmmC9nMBg1
ReplyRetweetFavouriteMessage
Tweet - Tuesday Dec 8
Ethics in clinical triaging frameworks: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples https://t.co/QGNxP84wNg
ReplyRetweetFavourite1Message
Quoted Retweet - Monday Dec 7
If you want your media to cover more than where’s the best coffee .... https://t.co/3iD2l3wrDm
@MarkRagg
Location: Sydney, Gadigal land
Description: Write, edit, research | Yulang Indigenous Evaluation with @MegBastard | Ragg & Co | Adjunct Fellow Indigenous health @UTS_GSH | @CroakeyNews | Equity, justice
Ragg & Co
https://raggandco.com.au
mark.ragg@raggandco.com.au
We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart
24 Surrey Street
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we work, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
© 2021 Ragg & Co.
Web Design & Development by Red Ant Media
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516111
|
__label__wiki
| 0.691334
| 0.691334
|
YARIS WRC DRIVERS READY TO STAR ON SWEDISH SNOW
YARIS WRC DRIVERS READY TO STAR ON SWEDISH SNOW.
https://www.facebook.com/ToyotaGazooRacingWRC/
https://www.facebook.com/PabloMACHIWRC/
https://www.facebook.com/RallyReportMagazineArgentina/
Rally Sweden: Preview
The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team heads to Rally Sweden (February 15-18) for the second round of the 2018 season with ambitions of a strong result on the snow and ice spectacular. The team already enjoyed a great start to the year with a double podium on last month’s Rallye Monte-Carlo and now moves on to the scene of the Toyota Yaris WRC’s maiden victory last year in the hands of Jari-Matti Latvala, with the clear aim of repeating that success.
A founding round of the world championship in 1973, Rally Sweden is the only full winter rally on the calendar. Metal studs inserted into the tyres punch through the ice to find grip, while drivers use the snow banks to stay on the road by ‘leaning’ through the corners: provided there is enough snow to do it. Full winter conditions are expected this year.
A superspecial kicks off the action in Karlstad in Thursday night before much of Friday’s action takes place over the border in Norway. Saturday features classic Swedish stage names such as Hagfors and Vargasen, followed by a repeat of the Karlstad and a ‘sprint’ near the service park in Torsby. It’s there where the rally will end with the Power Stage on Sunday, after two runs of the Likenas test.
Tommi Mäkinen (Team Principal)
“Of course, Sweden is one of the rallies where we are strong and we had a good snow test in Finland, with all the drivers doing two days each. But there is always a question mark about everyone else: we know that we have improved, but how much has everyone else improved? That is the challenge. We’re expecting full snow conditions for the rally, which will be really nice for all the spectators. The drivers are happy with their cars: Jari-Matti won last year, Ott was closely challenging him, and Esapekka always has a good feeling on snow too, although of course his experience is less than the others. We feel quite confident but also realistic: there are always ways to improve.”
Jari-Matti Latvala (Driver car 7)
“Sweden is one of my favourite rallies and actually the place where I took my first WRC victory 10 years ago – although it really doesn’t feel like so long ago! Compared to last year I think we have a better car: we concentrated on improving it on the slower and more technical sections during our test, and we definitely made a step forward in this area. Having said that, the competition is even tougher this year: within our own team as well. It’s going to be a really nice challenge in proper winter conditions and that of course helps me raise my own game; I’m confident we can fight for the win again. This weekend I’m also taking part in a local rally on snow in Finland with Juho Hänninen in my historic Toyota Celica, so this will be a lot of fun and the perfect way to prepare.”
Ott Tänak (Driver car 8)
“I’m still learning about the Yaris WRC, but after driving it on snow during the test I’m beginning to understand why Jari-Matti won in Sweden last year. For the first part of the rally we’ll just have to see how everything goes, but of course I’m hoping that we can fight for the podium and even the win. If the snow is heavy on the stages, which seems to be the case, our start position of second on the road won’t be ideal, but of course the weather can change. I’m just going to enjoy the weekend and do my best. There’s a lot more still to come.”
Esapekka Lappi (Driver car 9)
“It took me a few days to get over the disappointment of losing fourth place in Monte-Carlo on the last stage, but in the end, there were more positives than negatives. Up to that point, we had driven a very consistent rally, and my aim is to do the same in Sweden. We had a good test and did around 400 kilometres in two days, which was enough for me to get a good feel. Our car should be well-suited to Sweden but it’s a very different type of rally to Monte-Carlo: in Monte, sometimes you have to be brave by going slow enough, whereas in Sweden you need a different type of commitment. I didn’t compete on the rally last year, so I am missing a bit of experience, but snow is a surface I always feel comfortable on.”
What happened last year?
Last year’s Rally Sweden marked the first win for Toyota following a 17-year absence from the top step of the podium, courtesy of Jari-Matti Latvala: his 17th win and Toyota’s 44th. A total of 32 cars made it to the finish from 41 starters. The fastest stage (SS9) was run at a remarkable average of 137.81kph, while the slowest stage was the Karlstad super special at 72.69kph. Ott Tänak, now a Toyota driver, finished second.
URL: https://toyotagazooracing.com/release/2018/wrc/rd02-preview.html/
Follow TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT:
∇Facebook :https://www.facebook.com/TOYOTAGAZOORacingWRC
∇Twitter : https://www.twitter.com/TGR_WRC (@TGR_WRC)
∇Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/tgr_wrc/ (@TGR_WRC)
∇YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCtALHup92q5xIFb7n9UXVg
Media TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team
All The Best, Pablito, Pablo MACHI WRC
Media & Comunication Top Run Motorsport
https://www.facebook.com/TopRunMotorsport
https://www.TopRunRacing.com/
Media & Comunication TEIN Motorsports
https://www.facebook.com/TeinMotorsports
http://www.tein.jp/global_en.php
http://www.facebook.com/PabloMACHIWRC
http://www.facebook.com/PMWRC
http://www.facebook.com/RallyReportMagazineArgentina
http://www.facebook.com/ArgentinaWRT
http://www.facebook.com/RallyReportWRC
http://www.facebook.com/RallyReportMagazine
http://www.RallyReportWRC.com/
http://www.RallyReportNewsWorld.com/
site.PabloMachi.com
site.ArgentinaWRT.com
Photos: @World Media Agency / Portugal
GAZOO Racing Company
THE C3 WRCS HEAD FOR SWEDISH WINTER WONDERLAND
ŠKODA MOTORSPORT, TIENE NUEVA FACTORÍA PARA UNA SOLA MIRADA, SEGUIR CANTANDO VICTORIAS CON SU IMBATIBLE FABIA R5
POLO GTI R5: GERARD-JAN DE JONGH BY VOLKSWAGEN MOTORSPORT – INTERVIEW SPECIAL
WRC 2 A FULL 2018
POLO GTI R5: GERARD-JAN DE JONGH BY VOLKSWAGEN MOTORSPORT – INTERVIEW SPECIAL.
https://www.facebook.com/VolkswagenMotorsport/
https://www.facebook.com/PetterSolbergWRX/
Two years in development, roughly 10,000 kilometres of testing.
As a race engineer, he guided Sébastien Ogier to four titles in the World Rally Championship (WRC) between 2013 and 2016. Nowadays, Dutchman Gerard-Jan de Jongh is responsible for the Polo GTI R5 in his role as project leader at Volkswagen Motorsport. The 200-kW (272-PS) rally car will, in the future, be run by professional teams in the FIA World Rally Championship, interregional series like the FIA European Rally Championship, and national championships. In an interview shortly before the planned homologation on 1 October, 40-year-old de Jongh describes the challenges of the R5 regulations. The engineer also gives an overview of the development steps behind the Polo GTI R5 and looks ahead to the car’s competitive debut at the Rally Spain at the end of October.
Mr. de Jongh, for several years you were Sébastien Ogier’s race engineer at Volkswagen Motorsport. Do you miss the competitive outings?
My role as project leader for the development of a completely new rally car is obviously very different. I had the opportunity to continue to work as a race engineer, but found this new challenge at Volkswagen Motorsport very appealing. My job was suddenly far more complicated and complex than before. I am pleased that I took on this challenge.
When did you start to develop the Polo GTI R5?
In the week after the Rally Australia in November 2016, the last world championship event for the WRC team at the time. I started as soon as I got back to my office. The idea came from François-Xavier Demaison, Technical Director at Volkswagen Motorsport.
Demaison is known as a perfectionist. How heavily involved was he in your work?
FX (Demaison’s nickname) is currently responsible for four different projects. Despite this, he has still been very heavily involved in the development of the Polo GTI R5, right from the word go. We have had weekly meetings from the outset, at which we have discussed the further development of the car. FX is one of the most experienced engineers in rallying. His backing really helped me and the whole development team.
What form did the first steps take in the development of the Polo GTI R5?
I first thought about the basic concept of the Polo GTI R5, after which we came up with a design briefing. The next task was to find the right suppliers for the car components that are not made at Volkswagen Motorsport. In this regard, we were able to turn to a whole string of reliable contacts, with whom we worked on the Polo R WRC. They include Xtrac for the gearbox, Bosch for the engine electronics, ZF Sachs for the shock absorbers, and Alcon for the brakes.
How big was the team that developed the Polo GTI R5?
At Volkswagen Motorsport, we have design teams for the chassis, engine and suspension, each consisting of three to six employees. The work was divided between the team members. I was mainly in contact with the heads of department, but also with the designers. Experience has shown me that there is nothing better than personal contact.
What were the basic parameters for the development of the Polo GTI R5?
It was clear that the Polo GTI R5 had to be based on the 2017 generation of the production car. However, the new sixth generation Polo was not yet available when we started to develop the rally car. For this reason, we had to work exclusively with computer data. Thanks to the computer simulation, we had the chassis ready relatively early on in proceedings. We were then able to work with that in the wind tunnel. When defining the specification, we also placed great importance on ensuring that it was possible for private teams to look after the technical side of the Polo GTI R5 without any problems.
How many components were you able to adopt from the Polo R WRC?
Hardly any at all, because the technical regulations are completely different and the Polo R WRC was based on the previous model. However, we did adapt the design philosophy. For example, the mounting position of the shock absorbers, the spring deflection, the geometry of the suspension, and the position of the driver’s seat are similar. Exactly as we did with the Polo R WRC, we strived to make every single component as light as possible, in order to keep the car’s centre of gravity as low as possible. Here too, however, we were restricted by the regulations. Price limits are specified for many parts and a minimum weight is often stipulated – for the bodyshell, for example.
The International Automobile Federation FIA specifies a fixed budget for R5 cars …
… and sticking to this budget with an R5 car like the Polo GTI R5 actually represents a major challenge. It would obviously be possible to build a more effective car within the framework of the technical regulations. However, that would be too expensive and would have to come at a sacrifice. That is out of the question for our company and would not be in the interest of the sport. We have gained similar customer sport experience in touring car racing with the Golf GTI TCR. We were able to build on that for the R5. Furthermore, the regulations stipulate the use of production parts in certain areas, including the steering, radiator, drive shafts, cardan shaft and the engine.
Where did you have to make compromises?
Weight is a big issue with any racing car. As a rule, however, the lighter a part is the more expensive it is. As such, I had to make sure that the suppliers, with whom we wanted to cooperate, understood that we would have to find a compromise between performance and cost. Let’s take a part of the suspension, for example. In simple terms, we designed 90 percent of the part. We then took this design to the potential suppliers and asked them what price they would be able to supply the part for? The important thing was the quantity. We sometimes only needed a handful of the components for the Polo R WRC. In the case of the Polo GTI R5, which is designed for customer sport, we are talking about 50, 100 or even more parts. That obviously has a big influence on the price.
1.6-litre turbo engines are required in the R5 class. However, the production version of the Polo does not have this kind of engine …
The regulations do give us more leeway in this regard. The rules state that the rally car’s engine must stem from one of the group’s production models. We opted for the engine with the internal code EA888, a similar form of which, with a two-litre displacement, is also installed in the new Polo GTI. It was then modified accordingly for the Polo GTI R5.
How long have you been testing with the Polo GTI R5, and which drivers were involved in the tests?
The first test took place in November 2017 at the test facility in Fontjoncouse, France. Since then, Volkswagen test and development driver Dieter Depping, Pontus Tidemand, former world rally champions Petter Solberg and Marcus Grönholm, Raimund Baumschlager, Eric Camilli, and Emil Lindholm have all driven the car. The test programme was demanding: temperatures ranged from – 16 °C to +40 °C and the testing took place at sea level and at 2,800 metres in the mountains. We tested in such varied conditions, in order to ensure that our customers receive a car that performs reliably at all times and everywhere. We also wanted to gauge the opinion of drivers with different driving styles, as well as asphalt and gravel experts. The Polo GTI R5 must be versatile and driveable by the widest possible range of drivers. In total, we will have completed about 10,000 test kilometres by the time the car makes its competitive debut – roughly half of those were on gravel and half on asphalt, as well as a few on snow and ice.
The Polo GTI R5 will make its competitive debut at the end of October at the Rally Spain, the penultimate round of the FIA World Rally Championship. What are your expectations?
We will run two Polo GTI R5s, in order to show the potential of the car. The goal is to demonstrate how competitive the new Polo GTI R5 is at the highest level and on different surfaces. The Spanish round of the world championship is particularly well suited to this, as it is the only one held on both asphalt and gravel. However, we are well aware, from our time with the Polo R WRC in the FIA World Rally Championship, that good planning does not guarantee good results – particularly in rallying. We would be pleased with a good result in WRC2.
In Eric Camilli and Petter Solberg, Volkswagen will have two experienced drivers at the wheel of the Polo GTI R5 at the Rally Spain. Why did you choose these two?
Eric Camilli and his co-driver Benjamin Veillas played a key role in the development of the Polo GTI R5. Both have a wealth of experience in the WRC2 class of the FIA World Rally Championship and finished runner-up in 2017. For them to be involved in the competitive debut of the Polo GTI R5 is the logical next step. Plus, we really value their detailed feedback and analytical approach. Petter Solberg was also involved in the development of the Polo GTI R5. He is one of the most experienced rally drivers in the world and his knowledge is a big plus for any team. Furthermore, he is associated with Volkswagen Motorsport through his team’s commitment in the FIA World Rallycross Championship (WRX). It is a special honour and great to have him driving the Polo GTI R5 at the Rally Spain.
Photos: @Media Volkswagen Motorsport
PETTER BACK TO THE WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP WITH VOLKSWAGEN
PETTER BACK TO THE WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP WITH VOLKSWAGEN.
World Rally Champion to drive Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 in Spain
Petter delighted to be back in the series where he won his first world title
Salou-based event will be the debut rally for Volkswagen’s all-new Polo GTI R5
Petter Solberg will return to the World Rally Championship to drive Volkswagen Motorsport’s Polo GTI R5 at Rally de España next month.
The Norwegian, who won the WRC title in 2003, will join the factory Volkswagen Motorsport team alongside Eric Camilli (FRA) for its one-off outing at the Salou-based event from October 25-28.
Petter, who first tested the Polo GTI R5 in Sweden at the start of the season, will test the car ahead of his rally return.
Since departing the World Rally Championship, Petter has focused his efforts on the World Rallycross Championship, where he won two more FIA world titles (2014/15). For the last two years, Petter’s own team – PSRX Volkswagen Sweden – has worked closely with Volkswagen Motorsport; the squad’s Polo R Supercars are prepared ahead of each World RX round in Hannover.
Petter said: “I think everybody knows about my passion for rallying and when Sven [Smeets, Volkswagen Motorsport director] asked me if I would like to do Spain in the Polo, I jumped at the chance.
“When I drove the car in January, I didn’t want to stop. Everything about the Polo GTI R5 worked from the very beginning. To be in the car for the very first time is a real privilege for me – I’m very happy that Volkswagen trusted this job to me and to Eric [Camilli].”
Norway’s Veronica Engan will co-drive Petter, having worked alongside him at his January test of the Polo GTI R5. Veronica is well acquainted with the Solberg family –she’s normally found co-driving Petter’s son Oliver.
Petter’s illustrious WRC career spanned 14 years and 188 starts. He won 13 of those events, scored 54 podiums and collected 457 stage wins and 852 points.
Beyond the numbers, Petter remains one of the sport’s most popular drivers and going back to Salou is bound to bring a range of emotions.
“This is the place where I did my last event before I decided to switch to rallycross,” said Solberg. “It will be fantastic to be back, especially with this car and team. The chance to drive Volkswagen’s Polo GTI R5 on gravel and asphalt in the WRC’s only mixed-surface event is a challenge I can’t wait to start. I have seen what Volkswagen Motorsport does from the inside in World RX and it’s going to be a real pleasure to work with them in rallying.
“As well as that, it will be great to see some old friends and fans again. Spain was always one of the events I really loved, the passion and atmosphere there is just fantastic.”
Being a natural competitor, Petter will have an eye on the times at an event where he finished second overall in 2010.
“I know how good the Polo GTI R5 is,” said Petter, “and I think people know I’m not just going there to drive around. It’s an honour to join the team for this event and I will go there to do my best and push as hard as I can.”
Volkswagen Motorsport director Sven Smeets said: “Petter is a true rally hero. We have already experienced his passion and professionalism working alongside him in World Rallycross. To give everything, always 110 per cent is Petter’s trademark.
“He tested the Polo GTI R5 and, from the beginning, it was our dream to have him in the car to give this new customer rally car its debut. It’s fantastic that he joins us in Spain to drive the Polo R5; I’m sure everybody is looking forward to seeing him back again – and our new car.
“For sure, everybody in Volkswagen Motorsport is excited to be working on a rally and on this special event with Petter and our second driver Eric Camilli.”
Rally de España startswith a spectacular opening stage in Barcelona before moving into day one’s dirt stages in the Tarragona hills. For the weekend, it’s all about the racetrack-smooth roads inland from the service park at Salou’s popular holiday park PortAventura.
Petter will face 18 stages on a 1,496 kilometres (929 miles), of which 331km (205 miles) are competitive.
Photos: Media Volkswagen Motorsport
Copyright © 2018 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Media Office, All rights reserved.
WRC COMEBACK WITH VOLKSWAGEN: PETTER SOLBERG TO DRIVE THE NEW POLO GTI R5 IN SPAIN
WRC COMEBACK WITH VOLKSWAGEN: PETTER SOLBERG TO DRIVE THE NEW POLO GTI R5 IN SPAIN.
VOLKSWAGEN IN CUSTOMER RACING
2003 world rally champion returns to the scene of his last WRC Rally
Three world champions in one rally: Sébastien Loeb, Sébastien Ogier and Petter Solberg
Debut for the new Polo GTI R5 for customer sport only planned outing as works team
Wolfsburg (20 September 2018). He’s back! 2003 champion Petter Solberg (N) returns to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) with the Volkswagen Polo GTI R5. Solberg and co-driver Veronica Engan (N) will compete in the WRC 2 class at the Rally Spain in Catalonia from 25 to 28 October. Six years after his last rally in 2012, the Norwegian will make his comeback in precisely the same place, at which he called time on his rally career. Solberg, who drives a Polo for his PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team in the FIA World Rallycross Championship (WRX), will briefly change fields. The new Polo GTI R5 will make its competitive debut at the Rally Spain, which will be the car’s only outing with the Volkswagen works team. The racing car will then be run by customer teams in national and international championships, in accordance with R5 regulations.
“The opportunity to make a WRC comeback with Volkswagen is a unique one, and I was very happy to accept the offer,” said Solberg. “When I drove the car in January in Sweden, I didn’t want to stop. Everything about the Polo GTI R5 worked from the very beginning. I am really looking forward to the Rally Spain. I always used to like the combination of gravel and asphalt. It will obviously be a special feeling to return to the place I brought the curtain down on my rally career back in 2012. It will be a fantastic reunion with the WRC Family, but one with a professional background. I obviously want to get the R5 Polo off to a good start with a good result.”
Volkswagen Motorsport Director, Sven Smeets: “Petter is a true rally hero. We have already experienced his passion and professionalism working alongside him in World Rallycross. To give everything, always 110 per cent is Petter’s trademark. He has tested the Polo GTI R5 and has always been one of our preferred candidates for the debut of our new customer sport car. It is fantastic that he will drive the R5 Polo in Spain. Everyone in the team is looking forward to the rally and to working with Petter and his team-mate Eric Camilli.”
Petter Solberg returns to his rallying roots
Solberg returns to the WRC from the WRX for a weekend. This sees the Norwegian return to his rallying roots. Between 1998 and 2012, he made 188 appearances in the World Rally Championship – with Toyota, Ford, Subaru and Citroën. In 2003, Solberg won the world championship title with Subaru, ending the season just one point ahead of eventual record-breaking champion Sébastien Loeb and third-placed Spaniard Carlos Sainz. He remains the last nordic world rally champion. In 2009, 2010 and 2011, Solberg competed in the WRC with his own team. He then spent one final year as a works driver with Ford in 2012. Solberg claimed 52 podium results in the World Rally Championship, 13 of them victories. The Rally Spain marks Solberg’s first rally with Volkswagen, and his debut in an R5 car.
Three world champions in one WRC rally for the first time for eight years
Solberg is the third world rally champion set to drive at the 2018 Rally Spain, where he will line up against reigning champion Sébastien Ogier and the returning Sébastien Loeb. As such, the last three men to win the title will all compete in Spain – albeit in different classes. The last time three world champions raced at the same event was the 2010 Rally Finland (Loeb, Solberg, Kankkunen).
Solberg and Volkswagen in the WRX – an extremely successful combination
After switching from WRC to WRX, the 43-year-old won the Drivers’ title in both 2014 and 2015. Volkswagen Motorsport and Petter Solberg’s PSRX team announced a partnership at the start of 2017. This has proven to be a winning combination: the team took the Team title and was behind the world champion, Johan Kristoffersson (S), in its very first year. Volkswagen is responsible for the development and technical preparation of the two Polo R Supercars, while PSRX Volkswagen Sweden looks after the logistics, on-site running of the car, and the marketing side of things. Solberg remains the only driver to have won the Drivers’ title in two different FIA world championships.
The Solberg dynasty: drifting and full throttle are in the blood
Solberg originally wanted to be a painter – however, he gave up his training place for motorsport. The rally pedigree within his family tree is evidence of the fact that speed is in his blood. “Mr. Hollywood” comes from an extremely successful dynasty of rally drivers: his parents both successfully took part in Autocross races. His brother Henning Solberg recently claimed the best result for an R5 car in the overall standings at the Rally Turkey – sixth place – and can also look back on an eventful WRC career. When Petter married his wife Pernilla, the Solbergs joined forces with the Walfridsson family – already an established name on the Rallycross and rallying scene. Pernilla was long regarded as one of the best female rally drivers in the world. It is no wonder then that their son Oliver has already enjoyed great success as he follows in his parents’ footstep – including in the FIA Baltic Rally Trophy and the Latvian and Estonian Rally Championship.
Already part of the family: Veronica Engan in the co-driver seat at the Rally Spain
The choice of co-driver for the Rally Spain was an obvious one. Veronica Engan has competed alongside son Oliver in various R2 rallies since 2017, and is virtually a member of the family. The 34-year-old can point to roughly 150 starts with Nordic rally drivers, including Eyvind Brynildsen (N), Marius Aasen (N), Johan Kristoffersson (S), Bernt Kollevold (N) and Anders Grøndal (N). Her career started in 2003, since when she has 27 WRC and seven WRC 2 rallies to her name. Her best result came in 2009, when she finished seventh alongside Mads Østberg at the Rally Italy on Sardinia.
Petter Solberg’s career at a glimpse
Date/place of birth: 18 November 1974 in Askim (N)
2003: 1st place FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)
2002, 2004 and 2005: 2nd place FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)
2010: 3rd place FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)
2014, 2015: 1st place FIA World Rallycross Championship (WRX)
WRC statistics
188 rallies, 52 podium finishes (13 wins)
459 stage wins
852 championship points
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516112
|
__label__wiki
| 0.85651
| 0.85651
|
John Legend's New Song Is About To Be Everywhere
Story from Music
John Legend Just Delivered Your Favourite New Wedding Song & Video
Arianna Davis
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images.
John Legend knows a thing or two about a great wedding song. But while his classics like “All Of Me” and “Ordinary People” are perfect for first dances, his new single “A Good Night” is guaranteed to be every wedding DJ’s go-to jam to get the two-stepping started this summer.
But what makes the tune even better is the video, which is just as romantic and joyful as the track. As Legend croons lyrics like "Everything's gonna be alright/I think I just met my wife," we watch as two people at a party "swipe" on each other, bringing together the ideas of online dating and IRL meet cutes. I won't spoil the adorable end for you, but let's just say the visual makes it pretty clear that "A Good Night" was intended to be a wedding dance song.
Fresh off rave reviews of his performance in the live NBC musical Jesus Christ Superstar, I talked to Legend about his new single and video, how he and wife Chrissy Teigen are finding quality time with a nearly 2-year-old daughter, Luna, and a baby on the way, and his advice for anyone looking for love. Plus, you can check out the video for "A Good Night" — which features cameos from Insecure's Jay Ellis, Susan Kelechi from This Is Us, and Yara Shahidi — below.
Refinery29: There’s a lot of negativity in the world right now, but this song feels like just the kind of delightful moment we need. Was that purposeful?
John Legend: "Yea, you know, when I started writing again after I got off tour late last year, this was the first song that I wrote. It was on my mind to write something joyous and celebratory, and when I started playing it for people, it gave so them joy. So it definitely felt like something people needed right now."
How did the concept of the video come about? Because I loved the idea of seeing people "swiping" each other in real life.
"The whole idea behind the song is that when you least expect it, you could find someone that could change your life, you know? So it was kind of looking at the idea of dating and how people date today. A lot of that obviously is with apps, but hey, it still can happen in person. So we merged the the two ideas into this fun, fictional club."
I loved seeing you as the DJ, spinning the tunes for this couple that's trying to find love. Did you purposely want to be the secondary character and make it more about someone else's love story?
"Yea, definitely. I think people are so invested in my relationship with Chrissy, and this song and video is about meeting someone new. So I felt like it would be cooler to feature another couple and let it be about them, rather than me and Chrissy, because people have seen us so many times in videos by now. It’s more about new love and celebration."
A lot of people do feel like in this dating app age, it's too overwhelming to try to find love. What’s your advice for anyone who feels like they'll never find "The One?"
"It’s crazy because, I never dated on an app — Chrissy and I started dating before people were doing that. So it’s definitely a new world, but I think there’s a lot of things that are still timeless. I mean, love is timeless, and and you can find that connection with someone whether it’s on an app or not. The technology changes, but there are so many things about the human spirit that will never change. So I'd just encourage people to stay positive and be open. And hopefully when they’re ready, they’ll find the person they’re meant to connect with, however they find them."
I guess not everyone is so lucky to meet their future wife on the set of their music video!
"[Laughs] Yeah, I guess that’s not really realistic for everybody! But a lot of people do meet in work situations. I think it's all about being open."
I appreciated that the song started with the lyric “I had no intention of getting fucked up tonight,” because that's how so many nights turn out for many of us. When was the last night that you got unexpectedly fucked up?
"Well...[laughs] I gotta think, because we don’t really go out as much anymore! This song is more about younger John! But probably the last time we went all out was my friend’s wedding a few months ago...actually, it was almost a year ago now that I think about it! So yeah, it's probably been a good year since the last time we really wiled out."
My favourite part of the chorus is the line "I think you might be my wife." Do you remember the first time you had that thought about your wife now?
"I don’t know the exact moment, actually. I’ve had friends that said the day they met their wife, they knew she was gonna be their wife. And I have other friends who kinda grew into it. Chrissy and I definitely grew into it — we started to learn each other, and then I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I think everybody comes to it differently, but at some point in Chrissy and I’s relationship, I just knew that I wanted to build a life with her and be with her forever. You know, have babies and all that!"
So romantic! Speaking of babies, do you think it's going to be even harder to squeeze in the kind of sexy date nights this song and video remind us of when you have a second baby?
"I think we’ve learned pretty well how to balance being parents and also focus on ourselves as a couple. We have Chrissy’s mother around, and a nanny, and other people that help us out. You have to make time, so we make time to go out on dates and vacations and spend time with just each other. But I hear having a second baby makes things a little harder."
You’re juggling so much right now. How do you find to get your creative juices going and write new music?
"I usually write when I get off of tour. So when I’m done, I come back and get in the studio and start writing. This was literally the first song I wrote when I came back from the tour in November. I sat in the studio with Bloodpop the producer, and a couple of other really great songwriters, and we were all bouncing ideas off each other. It definitely feels like a wedding song, so we wanted the video to go there and not try to be too subtle about it."
Do you play new music for Luna?
"I play her new music all the time! Right now her thing is when we play her stuff, after the song is done, she always claps and says 'Yay!'"
I can't handle the cuteness! So, you just came off of Jesus Christ Superstar, and you have a new single and video. Will there be a new album? What’s next for John Legend?
"I’m gonna go back in the studio soon and write some new songs and hopefully have another album out by the end of the year. In the meantime, I wanted to give my fans this song. I felt like it had to be out this summer with the kind of vibe that it has, so I didn’t want to wait until the rest of the album was done. I figured let’s put it out now, because right now we all just need something that feels good."
Watch the video for "A Good Night" below.
New John Legend Song A Good Night Is Made For Weddings
Music • Unbothered UK
written by Arianna Davis
Every Song On Promising Young Woman‘s Addictive Soun...
by Morgan Baila
Trigger warning: This article discusses themes of sexual assault. It would have been easier to make the heroes and the villains clear cut in Promising Youn
New Music To Know This Week: The Girls Are Back
As if Fridays weren’t your favourite day already, Refinery29 will also be gathering the best new music out each week, and breaking down why each track de
Photographing The Last Few Precious Years Of Girlhood In Rural India
“As soon as those first drops of blood trickled between my thighs, my world changed,” says Indian photographer Deepti Asthana, recalling the fi
by Joanna Cresswell
That Family Is Trying To Finesse The System — Again
Just weeks after Lori Loughlin’s brief stint behind bars for her involvement in Operation Varsity Blues came to an end, the Fuller House actress’ husba
This Virtual Library Is Offering Free Books During Lockdown
A new virtual library is to offer free books during the latest lockdown. The virtual library has been created for children in England by The National Liter
by Nick Levine
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516116
|
__label__cc
| 0.635476
| 0.364524
|
Home Projects Education The Effect of Housing Condition on Student Academic Performance
The Effect of Housing Condition on Student Academic Performance
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
It is widely believed that students can acquire better academic benefits from living in a decent housing unit within or around the campus. So much so, that many colleges and universities, ranging from small liberal arts colleges to large state universities, require students to live on campus during their first year with few exceptions coupled with the failure of the appropriate authorities in the provision of decent housing for students. Typically, students exempt from such a policy include students over the age of 25, students that are married and/or have children, and students in the military as they can afford to provide for themselves a better housing unit outside the campus at a comparatively expensive amount (Loring, 1996). It has been suggested that availability of decent housing structure causes students to be less likely to drop out or transfer, more likely to make academic progress, and more capable of achieving a high level of academic performance.
Despite these common perceptions, there are inherent difficulties in estimating the impact decent housing unit has on student performance. For the schools that require the year one students to live on campus, there is no effective control group. Typically, year one students that do not live on campus share other features with each other that set them apart. A house even for students is a place where one lives. It is a place of residence or refuge. A house is not a mere transient shelter. Its essence lies in the people who live in it (English, 1987).
Bad housing covers a wide range of issues, including overcrowding, insecurity, housing that is in poor physical condition, and living in deprived neighborhoods. The range of health problems which can be attributed to poor housing conditions is large, from psychological and physiological effects to specific diseases varying in the degree of associated morbidity (Chapin, 2001). There is a large and significant body of scientific literature that demonstrates convincingly that there are direct causal links between different aspects of poor housing and particular health conditions (Smith, 1990). Health problems that have been associated with poor housing include the infectious diseases, non-infectious respiratory diseases such as asthma, and social and psychological problems.
The literature has identified three primary components of poor housing that are directly linked to poor health outcomes: overcrowding, dampness and moulds, and sanitation and basic housing quality. The researcher will explore t these components and its relationship with students academic performance coupled with the health consequences. Crowding is generally considered as more of a threat to mental than physical health, although the spread of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and scabies is also associated with overcrowding. Most studies investigating crowding adopt a standard measure based on WHO guidelines of either persons/room or sq ft. person. However, a caution is in order since cultures vary in terms of their tolerance for crowded living conditions. Mitchell (1976) proposed that crowding is a more complex variable that requires a distinction between density– the number of people per unit space, and congestion, which reflects the simultaneous demands for the use of available space. The adverse mental health effect of crowding stems from the lack of personal control over the available space, rather than the actual small size of the space. Cultural variations in definitions of “crowding” also play a mediating role. Crowding which has been part of students housing system in Nigeria calls for concern making it necessary to carry out research on the effect of housing condition on student’s academic performance.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
This study is designed to examine the relationship between housing conditions and academic performance of students. The level of research in this area is fraught with difficulty around proving causation: for example, whether poor housing conditions cause certain people to fail in achieving their educational potential, or whether the two are ‘associated’ – that those who are likely to fail at school tend to be concentrated in poorer condition houses or neighborhoods anyway. In some areas (such as mental ill-health) there are schools of thought that those less able to cope will ‘drift’ into poorer areas and housing conditions. Although there may be more mileage in academic circles around the cause and effect arguments, the evidence for the positive impact of better housing is overwhelming. However, the researcher is analyzing the effect of housing conditions o students academic performance.
The following are the objectives of this study:
To examine the effect of housing conditions on students academic performance.
To examine the condition of the housing units available to Nigerian students.
To determine the factors affecting academic performance of students.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
What is the effect of housing conditions on student’s academic performance?
What is the condition of the housing units available to Nigerian students?
What are the factors affecting academic performance of students?
1.5 HYPOTHESIS
HO: There is no significance relationship between housing conditions and student’s academic performance
HA: There is significance relationship between housing conditions and student’s academic performance
The following are the significance of this study:
The outcome of this study will be useful to the general public and the government authorities saddled with the responsibility of providing decent housing for students in terms of assessment of the current situation with consideration for its effect on academic performance.
This research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic
1.7 SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This study on the effect of housing conditions on student’s academic performance will cover the present state of housing used by students in Nigeria and its effect on their academic performance.
LIMITATION OF STUDY
Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
Chapin, F.S. (2001). Some Housing Factors Related to Mental Hygiene. American Journal of Public Health, 41, 839-845.
English, J. (1987). Housing and Health: The Relationship Between Housing Conditions and the Health of Council Tenants. Journal of Social Policy, 16, 260-262.
Loring, W.C. (1996). Residential Environment: Nexus of Personal Interactions and Healthful Development. Journal of Health and Human Behaviour, 5, 166-169.
Mitchell, R.E. (1976). Cultural and Health Influences on Building, Houing, and Community Standards: Cost Implications for the Human Habitat. Human Ecology, 4, 297-330
Smith, S.J. (1990). Health Status and the Housing System. Social Science and Medicine, 31, 753-762.
Housing Condition
STUDENT ACADEMIC
STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
Previous articleIndex Number Analysis on the Price of Petroleum on the Price of Food Items
Next articlePrawn Health Management and Disease Control to Sustain Hatchery and Pond Production Systems
Factors Influencing Truancy Among Senior Secondary School Students
Financing of Education in Nigeria
Impact of Child Labour on School Attendance and Academic Performance of Pupils in Public Primary Schools in Niger State
Impact of Sexuality Education in Reducing Unprotected Intercourse Among Adolescents
A Comparative Analysis Between Student’s Competence in Mathematics and their Performance in Physics
The Effect of Broken Homes on Academic Performance of Secondary School Students
Influence of Schooling, Gender and Location on Adolescents’ Knowledge of and Attitude Towards Child Trafficking in Edo State
Causes and Consequences of Single Parenthood
Perception of Pre-marital Sexual Relationship Among Students of Tertiary Institutions
The Pattern and Nature of Seasonal Film Viewership Among University of Maiduguri Students
An Assessment of the Usage of Computer Application in the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics
UTILIZATION OF ICT IN TEACHING TVET SUBJECT IN NIGERIAN POLYTECHNIC
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516117
|
__label__wiki
| 0.937178
| 0.937178
|
Afghanistan: Women Welcome Recent Changes, But Are Still Wary
November 16, 2001 00:00 GMT
By Alexandra Poolos
In the recently liberated Afghan capital of Kabul, more and more women are casting aside their burqas and showing their faces in public. Afghan women are hoping that with the departure of the Taliban, they can begin to reclaim many of the social and cultural freedoms that have been denied them for years.
Prague, 16 November 2001 (RFE/RL) -- In Kabul this week, citizens awoke to an extraordinary sound: the voices of women on the airwaves.
Three newly appointed female journalists could be heard on Radio Kabul, reading the news, presenting music, and talking on the same waveband the ruling Taliban had reserved for its fundamentalist, music-free Radio Shariat.
After six years of living under the Taliban religious police, the most oppressed, invisible women in the world are taking their first timid steps toward reclaiming their personal freedoms.
Before the Taliban came to power in 1996, women held some 40 percent of the civic positions in Afghan society. They were teachers and doctors. A few even had government roles.
When Taliban troops took control of Kabul, women became one of the prime targets of their strict interpretation of Islamic codes. The Taliban prevented women from working or from going to school. They were confined to their houses, unless a male relative accompanied them on the street. In public, women were forced -- under threat of being beaten -- to wear burqas, head-to-toe coverings with only a small mesh window near the eyes to allow the wearer to breathe and to see.
Northern Alliance leaders, who moved into Kabul on the heels of retreating Taliban troops, say women will be given full rights in Afghan society. But many Afghan women activists say that, despite these positive developments, they are still worried about the future.
Maliam Rawai is a spokeswoman for the Revolutionary Association of Afghan Women, or RAWA. Rawai and her colleagues have campaigned for women's rights for years. Their work has included documenting Taliban abuses against women in Afghanistan and running secret schools for girls.
Rawai says that, despite the Taliban withdrawal and positive words from the international community, Afghan women still don't feel secure: "From one hand, we see that women and people in general, for example, listen to music, or women will not wear the burqa, or men are shaving their beards. But on the other hand, people are very much concerned about the future. Especially women, they still don't feel secure or really free."
Rawai explains that the opposition Northern Alliance, too, has a history of abusing women in Afghanistan. She says that when Alliance warlords competed for control of Kabul in the early 1990s, they often raped and beat women. She says that in Northern Alliance-controlled territory, many women also were made to wear the burqa and were not allowed to work or attend school: "[Women] have seen these groups, this Northern Alliance, in the past. And now it's like a nightmare for [women] if they again rule the country. Because now it's new, and they are not so powerful, and also they are under the pressure of many other countries. So people are so afraid [once they consolidate their power that] they will repeat their same crimes."
Zieba Shorish-Shamley is the founder and director of the Women's Alliance for Peace and Human Rights in Afghanistan. Shorish-Shamley fled Afghanistan in the late 1970s. She says the only to way to ensure such abuses never occur again is to give Afghan women an equal place in any new Afghan government: "We are very serious that Afghan women should be involved from the first step in the peace negotiations, as well as in every aspect of their society. We are watching. We are emphasizing that otherwise, if women -- who make up more than half of the population, about 55 to 60 percent of Afghan society is women -- if they are not involved, then we will resist whomever the government is."
Political groups involved in negotiating the future of Afghanistan's government have indicated that women will have a role in determining the future of the country. The international community has also voiced support for the plight of Afghan women.
Yesterday, U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin -- at their summit in Texas -- both expressed abhorrence at the treatment of women under Taliban rule.
Shorish-Shamley says she is hoping the international community will stand behind these statements and force Afghan political groups to include women in the negotiating process: "Still that doesn't mean anything until we really get to the action of forming the government -- before that, even to sit at the table for peace negotiations. That is when it comes. That is where we will see whether it is rhetoric or action. Action says more than words. We have heard words for seven years from the U.S. government, as well as the United Nations. But nobody acted upon trying to free the Afghan women and the Afghan people from the grip of these brutal murderers such as the Taliban and [Osama] bin Laden. [Not] until, unfortunately, the 11 September tragedy happened [did it really] get the attention of the world."
RAWA's Rawai says that including women in a future Afghan government is only the first step. She says the economic and political situation in Afghanistan must be stabilized if fundamentalist attitudes toward women are to be dispelled: "We must not be deceived that, OK, now we will listen to music. How can I listen to music and how can I enjoy that music when I am afraid in the next moment of what will happen to me?"
Rawai says Afghan women have been through too much to believe their lives will dramatically change just by removing their burqas or listening to music. She says most women in Afghanistan will remain fearful and wary of their futures for a long time to come.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516120
|
__label__wiki
| 0.981593
| 0.981593
|
Russia: Authorities Close Chechen Refugee Camp
By Gregory Feifer
The Memorial human rights group is confirming reports that authorities in the southern region of Ingushetia are coercing thousands of refugees who fled the war in neighboring Chechnya to return. As temperatures drop below freezing, humanitarian supplies of food, water, and heat are being cut off to refugee camps to force their occupants to return to the ruined and lawless region. RFE/RL reports that one Memorial member recently returned from Ingushetia and said the government is forcing refugees to face a desperate situation the international community must immediately address.
Moscow, 3 December 2002 (RFE/RL) -- Around 2,000 Chechen refugees living in the southern region of Ingushetia near the border with Chechnya are being loaded into trucks and forced to return to their homes in the lawless breakaway region, the Memorial human rights organization says.
Russian officials announced today that they had fully closed the Iman tent camp near the town of Aki Yurt, about 3 kilometers from the Chechen border. The camp housed more than 1,500 refugees.
The refugees represent part of the roughly 350,000 people forced to flee their homes when Russian forces launched their second campaign in the Caucasus region in 1999.
As temperatures in the area hit minus 10 degrees Celsius, the estimated 18,000 refugees still living in five refugee camps in Ingushetia have been told they must return to Chechnya by 20 December.
Another 110,000 Chechen refugees live in Ingushetia, many in cramped conditions with relatives and friends.
Svetlana Gannushkina, who is on the presidential Human Rights Committee and a member of the Memorial human rights group, returned on 29 November from Ingushetia after witnessing the conditions in camps from which journalists and human rights workers are banned.
She said refugees are given little choice but to return even as authorities deny they are using force. "The violence is on such a level and [the refugees] are so well-accustomed to such violence that they would rather do what is required of them -- even to die," Gannushkina said.
The government wants refugees to return to Chechnya to boost their claims that military operations in the war-destroyed region are drawing to a close. Refugee tent camps are a stark reminder that the conflict is dragging inexorably on.
Moscow is insisting it is not forcing refugees to return against their will, which would constitute a breach of United Nations and other international human rights regulations.
Gannushkina said she saw the beginning of an operation to shut down the Iman refugee camp. She said that as of last night 18 tents remained standing.
Gas supplies to another 22 mud-walled houses in the camp were also expected to be shut off today. Last night, residents were also warned that their homes would be bulldozed despite earlier promises that the structures would be allowed to stand.
"This constitutes the use of direct force," Gannushkina said.
The government last May said it would seek to return refugees to Chechnya.
Detachments of soldiers began collecting outside the camps in force following Moscow's hostage crisis in October, when President Vladimir Putin vowed to step up his crackdown on rebels in Chechnya.
But the United States said on 29 November that the Russian government had assured it refugees would not be forcibly returned to Chechnya.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees asked Moscow on 29 November to hold off shutting down the Aki Yurt camp until acceptable housing for its refugees is found. In a statement, the agency said it had offered to set up replacement housing but has received no reply from Moscow. A spokesman for the office voiced its concern again today.
Meanwhile, Russian officials say the refugees are returning voluntarily. The ITAR-TASS news agency headlined a recent story, "Forced Migrants Returning to Chechnya Are Glad To Be Back at Home."
Gannushkina said: "What's going on is not based on logic but lies. We have been witness to these lies for a long time. We were told for a long time and repeatedly that the camps wouldn't be destroyed and that people wouldn't be forcibly returned to Chechnya. That's not true, in spite of the fact that these untruths are being repeated even today."
Gannushkina said shutting down camps begins with orders to camp authorities to strike names off the lists of those living there. Lists for the Bart camp, home to 4,000 refugees, for example, were whittled down to 2,500.
Officials say they only take off names of people who have already left the camps themselves.
Once their names are taken off official lists, refugees are no longer allowed food, water, and gas for heating and cooking. With no work in the area, refugees have no option but to leave the camps.
In Aki Yurt, authorities began the whittling-down process by striking the names of teachers working in the camp school off the list of authorized residents.
Gannushkina said: "They were working in the school. I saw them all myself -- all of them. I spoke to all of them, shook the hands of each one. How could it be possible that none of them happened to be on the lists? They all turned into 'dead souls.'"
Later, strangers dressed in civilian clothes visited the camps, telling families they would be given several months' supplies of humanitarian aid and trips back to Chechnya but that they would receive nothing if they refused.
Gannushkina said hundreds of such people circulate within Ingushetia's camps, helping create panic among refugees. "In Aki Yurt, people were literally driven to the point of hysteria," she said.
Refugees are also pressured to sign agreements to rent housing from a list of authorized people in Chechnya with a promise of reimbursement of 20 rubles a day ($0.63) from the government. Gannushkina said the amount is "colossal" for refugees and a significant incentive to return.
But she added that the documents actually contain no written guarantees of payment.
Authorities say refugees can remain in Ingushetia if they want but only if they crowd together in so-called "kompakty," nonresidential buildings such as factory and farm warehouses.
But space is limited to a few because most refugees are expected to return to Chechnya.
The government has also set up temporary camps inside Chechnya to house refugees. Gannushkina said she visited three of these outside the capital Grozny last week. "They are overfilled," she said.
The government said it wants Chechens to return to help rebuild their homeland. But promised reconstruction in Grozny and other regions of Chechnya is barely in evidence.
Gannushkina asked: "When [are they supposed to return]? In November and December in the cold and the frost? Rebuilding houses hit by three shells? Because it was exactly for such houses people are leaving. Rebuilding houses that have no windows or doors? Where there's no gas or supply of electricity? How can these people rebuild their houses right now?"
But the chief reason refugees have not returned to Chechnya, Gannushkina said, is that government guarantees of security have gone unfulfilled and human rights violations by Russian forces in the region continue unchecked.
Meanwhile, Gannushkina said, officials are no longer willing to engage in dialogue. "Once again, we live in a country in which authorities lie to us while looking us in the eye."
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516121
|
__label__wiki
| 0.945857
| 0.945857
|
Tajikistan: Referendum Could Extend President's Term
By Antoine Blua
The lower house of the Tajik parliament has paved the way for a referendum in June that could extend President Imomali Rakhmonov's time in office past its expected expiration in three years. RFE/RL correspondent Antoine Blua reports the practice is common in Central Asia, where all of the leaders in one way or another have extended their terms in office to hold on to power in the past decade.
Prague, 25 February 2003 (RFE/RL) -- The lower house of Tajikistan's parliament has reportedly taken the first step toward holding a referendum in June on amending the constitution.
It is hoped that the changes will increase the role of parliament, strengthen mechanisms for protecting civil rights, and promote the development of a market economy. The changes would also allow President Imomali Rakhmonov to seek another seven years in office when his term expires in 2006.
Muhammadsharif Himmatzoda, a member of parliament of the Islamic Renaissance Party, spoke to RFE/RL.
"The issue is related to Article 63 of the constitution, which says that a person has the right to be elected president only once, for seven years. The purpose here is to eliminate this point."
The proposal to hold the referendum will now be considered by a joint session of parliament. If the referendum is held and approved, the amendments would cancel the results of a 1999 referendum that extended the president's term from five to seven years and introduced the one-term limit instead of the previous two.
Rahmatullah VAliyev -- spokesman of the Democratic Party - expressed his unhappiness at the prospect.
"The option to be elected multiple times is opposed to democratic principles," he said. "And I think that if we change Article 63 of the constitution we should also modify Article 1, which states that Tajikistan is a democratic, law-based, and secular state."
Rakhmanov, 50, was first elected in November 1994, after serving as head of state as speaker of parliament for two years. He took office for a second term in 1999 following his near unanimous re-election, which was widely considered to be flawed and unfair, though peaceful.
It's not clear what is motivating the proposed changes, but Aaron Rhodes, the executive director of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights in Vienna, says Rakhmonov would hardly be the first Central Asian leader to change the rules in order to stay in office. Rhodes says Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov, or "Turkmenbashi" (head of the Turkmens), has served as a model for the region's other heads of state.
Central Asian presidents "look to one another for examples," he said. "Turkmenbashi has provided a kind of prototype for leaders in the region with his approach towards democracy," in which democratic principles are disregarded, he says. "More and more the other presidents seem to emulating the example of Turkmenbashi."
Niyazov, who celebrated his 63rd birthday last week, was elected president-for-life by the Turkmen People's Council in 1999. Turkmenistan's last presidential election dates from 1992, when Niyazov was installed in office for a five-year term after the adoption of the constitution. In 1994, he extended his tenure in office with a referendum for an additional five years.
Natalia Ablova, director of the Bishkek-based Kyrgyz-American Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, says Turkmenistan is an extreme case. Still, she insists, all local presidents have repeatedly extended their terms in office and held onto power since independence in 1991. She denounces the methods used by local leaders to cling to power.
"They are not republics for sure. They are emirates," she says. In Uzbekistan, a referendum held in January 2002 approved the extension of the president's term from five to seven years, allowing Islam Karimov, 65, to stay in power until 2007 instead of 2005.
Karimov became president of an independent Uzbekistan in 1991. In 1995 he extended his term in office for five more years through the use of a referendum, and was reelected in 2000.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev, who is 62, has indicated he may run for a further presidential term in 2006. The constitution, approved in 1998, abolished the maximum age limit as well as the two-term limit for the presidency, and extended the presidential term of office from five to seven years.
Nazarbaev -- who was elected president of the Kazakh SSR in 1990 -- had his term prolonged for a further five years in a referendum in 1995, and was reelected in Kazakhstan's last presidential election in 1999.
Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev is a notable break from this tradition. Akaev has said he will not run for another term when his time in office expires in 2005. Ablova, however, notes the country's leadership has taken an increasingly authoritarian line and Akaev has no obvious successor.
Two years ago Akaev, now 58, won the presidency for a third five-year term even though the constitution limits the president to two terms in office. The Constitutional Court ruled that Akaev could run again since he had been elected only once since the country adopted a new constitution in 1993.
Rhodes explains what motivates Central Asia's leaders to hold on to power: "Partly it has to do with political culture. They don't fully understand that in a democratic society the leader serves the people at the will of the people as a temporary custodian of authority. And so they exhibit a different political culture, [similar to what] one might find in a monarchy. They see themselves not as leaders of a government but as the leaders of a society, of an entire people."
Besides, Rhodes notes, there is also an economic motivation. Some of the presidents have become extremely rich while in office and don't want to lose a lucrative source of income.
(Salimjon Aioubov of RFE/RL's Tajik Service contributed to this report.)
Antoine Blua
Antoine Blua is a senior correspondent for RFE/RL.
BluaA@rferl.org
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516122
|
__label__wiki
| 0.979509
| 0.979509
|
Afghanistan: Rights Groups Criticize Kabul For Attacks, Threats On Journalists
By Ron Synovitz
International human rights and press freedom groups have reported a growing number of attacks and death threats against journalists in Afghanistan by security officials from the Defense Ministry, Interior Ministry, and intelligence service. The trend is noted in a series of reports ahead of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, RFE/RL reports.
Prague, 2 May 2003 (RFE/RL) -- U.S.-based Human Rights Watch researcher John Sifton says attacks and death threats against Afghan journalists by security officials in Kabul have increased sharply in recent weeks.
In a report issued by Human Rights Watch today -- the eve of World Press Freedom Day -- Sifton said "powerful people in Kabul" are "using their cronies in the security forces" to try to silence critical news stories about them.
As a result, Sifton said Afghan Defense Ministry troops, Interior Ministry police, and Amniat-i-Milli intelligence officers are fettering freedom of the press by delivering death threats and arresting Afghan journalists.
"There are a few selective individuals in the [Transitional Authority] cabinet who may be involved in these problems. These attacks have often happened after [journalists] have criticized certain people in the government," Sifton said.
Two Afghan cabinet members named in Sifton's report are Defense Minister Mohammad Qasim Fahim and Education Minister Younis Qanooni. Both are members of the Shura-i-Nazar -- a loose Afghan political grouping comprised of former mujahedeen parties.
Qanooni was the Afghan interim interior minister until June of last year. Most of the current rank-and-file members of the Interior Ministry formerly were mujahedin fighters under Qanooni's command, and openly displayed their continued support for Qanooni -- now education minister -- during street protests in the past year.
Sifton stressed that he does not have any evidence proving that Fahim or Qanooni ordered their former mujahedin fighters to attack or threaten journalists. But he insists that both ministers have a responsibility to put an end to the practice.
"After journalists have issued critical reports about the Ministry of Education, and in particular the Minister of Education Younis Qanooni, they have been visited by security officials. That doesn't look good for Mr. Qanooni. The same goes for Minister Fahim, the defense minister. It doesn't look good for him when, after he is criticized in the press, security officials visit journalists and intimidate them. Most people would assume the intimidation was ordered by those officials. [I can't say that myself.] Perhaps they are just very zealous supporters. But it doesn't look very good, and the fact that it goes on week after week is something that these officials themselves need to address," Sifton said.
Meanwhile, Sifton said there are clear indications that threats and attacks against Afghan journalists are linked to other well-known political leaders from Shura-i-Nazar that are outside the Transitional Authority -- such as former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani and former mujahedin leader Abdul Rasul Sayyaf.
"There are [powerful] people in Kabul -- former President Rabbani [and] Abdul Rasul Sayyaf -- who are clearly involved in these intimidations. They are just two examples. There seem to be other smaller commanders -- whose names are not as famous or infamous -- who are also involved [and] who are very closely aligned with those leaders. It draws us to the inevitable conclusion that there are people in Kabul who are using security forces to intimidate anybody who criticizes the loose organization of former mujahedin parties that is known as the Shura-i-Nazar. It's not so much an individual getting angry, but they as a group are obviously using the security forces. It's very clear. And when I say 'powerful people,' I really mean in most cases, members of the Shura-i-Nazar," Sifton said.
Human Rights Watch is urging Afghan President Hamid Karzai to make a public statement in defense of journalists and press freedoms. Sifton said Karzai should dismiss any officials known to be taking part in threats and arrests. He also said Afghanistan's current interior minister, Ali Ahmad Jalali, should take steps to improve police protection for those being threatened.
Human Rights Watch is also recommending that Karzai form a task force to investigate the involvement of police, military, and intelligence officials in threats against journalists.
The findings in today's Human Rights Watch report are supported and supplemented by reports from the U.S.-based Freedom House and by international press freedom groups.
In its global survey of media independence issued this week, Freedom House classified the press in Afghanistan as "Not Free."
Freedom House noted that conditions have improved markedly for journalists since the fall of the Taliban regime in late 2001 -- including the registration of more than 100 independent publications.
But it noted reports about the rising incidences of threats and harassment by authorities against journalists. Freedom House concluded that many Afghan journalists avoid writing about sensitive, but critically important issues -- such as "Islam, national unity, or crimes committed by the warlords" -- because of the self-censorship prompted by the "chilling effect" of death threats and harassment of journalists.
The Freedom House report also notes that "both Afghan and foreign reporters have been subjected to intimidation and physical attacks from regional warlords."
In a study released today by the Committee to Protect Journalists, Afghanistan was listed as the fourth worst place for a journalist to be. Iraq topped that list, followed by Cuba and Vietnam. The report lists Afghanistan as a worse place to be a journalist than Chechnya, the West Bank, and Gaza.
On Afghanistan, the Committee to Protect Journalists said "the unchecked power of local warlords and weak rule of law" make the country an inhospitable environment for the press. It said that despite the new freedoms of the post-Taliban era, it is impossible for journalists to write and speak freely because of threats, physical intimidation, and assault.
The Committee to Protect Journalists agreed with Human Rights Watch, saying abuses often are committed by politicians and military commanders who use government security forces to harass independent journalists.
The beating of Radio Liberty correspondent Ahmed Behzad in March by the chief security officer of Herat Province Governor Ismail Khan has also featured prominently in today's reports by Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists.
That incident occurred at a compound in Herat just minutes after it had been opened as an office for the UN-backed Afghan Human Rights Commission in a ceremony attended by senior Afghan government officials.
Behzad described the circumstances: "After the end of the ceremony, I asked for an interview for Radio Liberty with Interior Minister General Ali Ahmad Jalali. When I asked him my fourth question -- which was in regard to allegations from international human rights groups about human rights violations by local authorities in Herat -- Ismail Khan called me shameless and, in an undignified manner, he ordered me to leave the room. On my way out, Herat's security chief Alavi shouted the order to one of his security officers -- 'Arrest and expel Behzad from Herat.'"
Behzad was struck in the face by Alavi with a heavy object when he asked if he was going to be arrested on charges of asking the interior minister a question. Behzad said he was then arrested, detained for several hours, and then expelled from the province of Herat on Ismail Khan's orders.
Sifton noted that Human Rights Watch also has documented cases of harassment against journalists by regional military commanders in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad and near the southeastern town of Gardez.
Ron Synovitz
Ron Synovitz is a senior correspondent for RFE/RL.
SynovitzR@rferl.org
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516123
|
__label__wiki
| 0.899725
| 0.899725
|
Is Your Sleep Tracker Accurate?
Did You Know Onions Can Help Boost Recovery?
The Best Muscle Rubs for Runners
Friday's Monaco Meet is One-Day Preview of World Championships
Top runners get in key tuneup a month before world meet in Beijing.
PhotoRun
The Herculis meet in Monaco is a favorite of middle-distance and distance runners. It’s scheduled far enough into the track season for athletes to be race fit, and it’s close enough to the Olympics or IAAF World Championships to serve as a preview for those global meets. Friday’s edition features several expected finalists, including top Americans, at the world championships, which begin on August 22 in Bejing. Here are four races to watch for insight on next month’s world meet.
Women’s 1500 Meters
Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba spent the first part of the outdoor season trying, and coming close, to breaking her sister Tirunesh’s world record at 5,000 meters. Then, on July 8 in Barcelona, she ran 3:54.11 for 1500 meters, the fastest women’s time in the event since 1997. The schedule for the world championships makes a 1500/5,000 double taxing but feasible.
She’s a late entry in Monaco, which means the three women who dominated the event before July 8—American Jenny Simpson, Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, and Dawit Seyaum of Ethiopia—may have to run the best races of the season, and perhaps their lives, to stay with Dibaba.
Two-time world championships medalist Simpson has had time to recover from the USATF Outdoor Championships and settle in over in Europe. She should be more competitive than she was last week in Lausanne, when she was badly beaten by Hassan’s stretch run. Shannon Rowbury, her American rival, should also be fresher.
Men’s 1500 Meters
Defending world champion Asbel Kiprop of Kenya has run his three quickest 1500s on the Monaco oval, including a best of 3:27.72 in 2013. Mo Farah ran the European record of 3:28.82 behind Kiprop that year. Farah arrives in Monaco after last Thursday’s 5,000 in Lausanne, which he won with his customary fast finish. Kiprop versus Farah could be a classic match-up. For Farah, the race is a key tuneup before defending his 5,000- and 10,000-meter world titles next month.
This 1500, however, is more than a two-man contest. Olympic gold and bronze medalists Taofik Makhloufi of Algeria and Abdelaati Iguider of Morocco are also in the mix, as is two-time world championships medalist Matthew Centrowitz of the United States.
A key subplot involves Olympic silver medalist Leo Manzano, who needs to meet the world championships qualifying standard of 3:36.20 to be on the U.S. team for Beijing. He ran 3:30.98 in Monaco in 2014, which was good for eighth place. If Manzano tags along for what should be a fast ride, he’ll get his qualifier.
Men’s 800 Meters
World record holder David Rudisha continues a long road back from injury, and is still racing somewhat infrequently. In his absence, Nijel Amos of Botswana and Mo Aman of Ethiopia dominated the 800 in 2013 and 2014, and will resume their rivalry in Monaco. Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti, one of the world’s great 1500 runners, has 2015’s best time in the 800. Friday’s result could determine his choice of events for Beijing.
The Monaco 800 contains a couple of curiosities. Boris Berian, hitherto unknown, has run the fastest American time of the year, 1:43.84, but then failed to make the U.S. team for the world championships. Amel Tuka, the first middle-distance runner of note to compete for Bosnia and Herzegovina, clocked 1:43.84 to win in Madrid last Saturday. Monaco is the biggest track stage either of them has yet been on.
Women’s 3000-Meter Steeplechase
In 2014, Emma Coburn of the United States and Hiwot Ayalew of Ethiopia forged a dogged rivalry, with Ayalew the slight consensus number one at year’s end. In 2015, they’ve been joined in the steeplechase’s top tier by Kenya’s Virginia Nyambura, who’s had victories in Doha, Birmingham, and Lausanne, and her countrywoman Hyvin Kiyeng, who has the year’s best time of 9:15.08.
Kiyeng won’t be in Monaco, but Tunisia’s Habiba Ghribi, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist, will. Unless the conditions are bad, the winner should break 9:10. If Coburn stays close to the front, she could break Jenny Simpson’s official American record of 9:12.50 and her own best of 9:11.48. The latter mark is not recognized by USATF because no drug test was taken after her race. An oversight like that won’t be repeated in Monaco.
London Meet Is an Olympic Preview
New Balance Nationals Meet Preview
Pre Classic a Preview of U.S., World Championships
Zurich Meet Features World Championships Rematches
Fast Track Weekend Previews NCAA Championships
NCAA Outdoor Championships: Previewing the Action in the Distance Races
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516132
|
__label__wiki
| 0.870554
| 0.870554
|
We're No. 1! In STDs!
An alarming rise in chlamydia and syphilis, especially in girls
By Mary Elizabeth Williams
November 16, 2009 10:17PM (UTC)
Proving yet again that America leads the world, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced today that our nation has set a new record for sexually transmitted diseases.
In 2008, we clocked in an all-time high of 1.2 million new cases of chlamydia and an estimated 6.2 million of HPV. Syphilis, which once looked to have gone the way of Prohibition and ragtime, has also mounted an impressive comeback with 13,500 new cases last year. The CDC says 19 million new cases of STDs are transmitted annually in the U.S., almost half of which are in people under the age of 24. And chlamydia and gonorrhea are highest among girls aged 15-19. And thanks to far-reaching potential side effects like cervical cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease, the report noted that “Women and infants disproportionately bear the long term consequences of STDs.”
So maybe that whole “abstinence only” thing hasn’t been working out so well. And when one contrasts our head-in-the-sand attitude to sexuality compared with, say, the frenzied response to H1N1, it is to laugh, albeit ruefully. On the bright side, those big numbers represent a spike not just in transmission, but in diagnosis.
John Douglas, director of the division of sexually transmitted diseases, said today that “We have among the highest rates of STDs of any developed country in the world,” adding, “We haven't been promoting the full battery of messages. We have been sending people out with one seatbelt in the whole car. We are not honestly and openly dealing with this issue -- and it's the larger issue of sexual health."
Mary Elizabeth Williams
Mary Elizabeth Williams is a staff writer for Salon and author of "A Series of Catastrophes & Miracles."
MORE FROM Mary Elizabeth Williams • FOLLOW embeedub
Broadsheet Love And Sex Sex Education
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516137
|
__label__wiki
| 0.958906
| 0.958906
|
RUTH Z. DEMING - FORMER WARRIORS SPEAK THEIR MIND
Ruth Z. Deming, winner of a Leeway Grant for Women Artists, has had her work published in lit mags including Hektoen International, Creative Nonfiction, Haggard and Halloo, and Literary Yard. A psychotherapist and mental health advocate, she runs New Directions Support Group for people with depression, bipolar disorder, and their loved ones. Viewwww.newdirectionssupport.org. She runs a weekly writers' group in the comfy home of one of our talented writers. She lives in Willow Grove, a suburb of Philadelphia. Her blog is www.ruthzdeming.blogspot.com.
Former Warriors Speak Their Mind
It was a beautiful day in early autumn when Justin Stone was driving an armored transport truck to deliver millions of dollars to the Federal Reserve Bank in New York City. His buddy sat in the passenger seat as they drove on the Jersey Turnpike toward the financial capital of the world in Lower Manhattan.
As they listened to the Howard Stern Show, they could scarcely believe what they were hearing. The World Trade Tower had been hit by a plane and was in the process of collapsing. Then, to their utter amazement and horror, the second tower was hit by another plane.
It was Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, a day that would live in infamy, as did December 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked.
Within minutes they could view the collapsing buildings.
Thick clouds of smoke poured into the sky, visible from miles away in New Jersey, said Justin. He turned the truck around and headed back to the Philadelphia Reserve Bank, where they’d come from.
No question about it. Whatever enemy had tried to destroy his country, Justin Stone was going to fight back. The military was in his blood. His dad had served in Vietnam and Justin had already completed a 10-year tour of duty in the Army.
When he got home to Levittown, where he lives with wife Dana and their two sons, Derrick, then 6, and Dustin, 3, he got ready to be called up by the National Guard. As a member of the Guard, he had worked with them one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer.
Soon he got the call. “Operation Enduring Freedom” – the idealistic name for the American involvement in Afghanistan – began Oct. 7, 2001. Sixteen years ago.
Justin said his last tearful goodbyes to his young family at Fort Dix, NJ, and began the long flight to Afghanistan.
Derrick Lilley joined the Marines as a teenager in 1998. “I wanted to get away from a life of partying and drinking.” With no purpose in life, Derrick counted on the structure and discipline of the Marines to straighten him out, he said.
His plan worked. He served in Iraq starting in 1999, the first of three tours of duty. The Telford native remembers flying over “a lot of desert and open flat plains.”
“I saw too much,” said the then 33-year-old Derrick, a lance corporal, who was a single man when he saw combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
“I didn’t sleep much during the wars and I don’t sleep much now,” said the blue-eyed and cheerful former Marine.
Justin Stone and Derrick Lilley met for the first time while doing construction work after serving in the military. Back then, in 2013, they worked on a new water main near the library in Willow Grove. Justine drove a backhoe and Derrick operated a dump truck.
Their precision work requires great skill and concentration while they work with a team of six to upgrade the water infrastructure.
But the chilling, nonstop after-effects of their war years remained with them, even as they toiled in the hot sun, 9 years after they left the military in 2004.
Justin, then 39, suffers from migraines. “I’ll watch something in the news at night that reminds me of somewhere I was at and then I have nightmares.” He takes four tablets of Excedrin. Extra-strength.
Derrick also has nightmares. “Sometimes I’ll wake up in the middle of the night scared as hell,” he said. “I even get them in the daytime.”
His persistent dreams include hearing piercing blasts of gunfire going off and the high-pitched screams of sirens. “It’s not fun,” he said.
Post-traumatic stress disorder.
It was unnamed and unrecognized until one Dr. Matthew Friedman categorized it after the war in Vietnam.
The doctor described it as a severe anxiety disorder that can occur after a traumatic event such as combat or military exposure, sexual or physical assault, or a natural disaster. Symptoms include anger, fear, nightmares, hopelessness, shame and despair, according to the US Veterans National Center for PTSD.
Neither man wishes to seek professional counseling. Derrick Lilley comforts himself by drinking. Like Justin, he only talks about his combat experiences with other veterans who have witnessed war.
“I have buddies going to the VA every week who are on medicines,” said Derrick. “I don’t want to deal with all the medicines because I've seen my buddies go through all the problems with medicine and side effects,” he said.
Justin finds it helpful to talk to his father, who served in Vietnam in the Marines, and other former soldiers. “No one understands,” said Justin, “unless they’ve seen combat.”
Both men credit their wives with being their staunchest emotional supports.
Justin met his wife while serving in the army base of Kitzgen, Germany. Dana, also in the Army, was secretary to a major. Pretty much love at first sight, said Justin, they were married in Germany by a justice of the peace.
Neither one is religious, though, ironically, Justin’s late grandfather was a Baptist minister and Dana's mom is active in the Lutheran church and sings in the choir.
Through the miracle of the Internet, he and his family communicated frequently while he was in Afghanistan. Justin learned his younger son, Dustin, joined the wrestling team. The Stone family are all wrestlers, including Justin’s dad who wrestled in high school.
Justin coaches wrestling today. Amazingly, several other wrestling coaches served in Afghanistan. Might there be a connection, he wonders, between wrestlers and warriors?
In ancient Greece, wrestling was highly prized. The sport was glorified in The Iliad, the eighth century B.C. story of The Trojan War as told by Homer.
Wrestling could be brutal, as described in the mythical battle in which Hercules crushes the vicious giant Antaeus in a bear hug.
Lance Corporal Derrick Lilley was a single man when he came home from Afghanistan in 2004. He was doing landscaping for a 4-H building when the facilities manager asked him if he was interested in dating her daughter, Vicki, who now works as a financial marketing consultant.
Derrick jumped at the opportunity. But his car would not cooperate. The battery was dead and he was forced to cancel their first two dates. Vicki wondered if he would stand her up a third time. Fortunately, his car, with a new battery, started up and so did their relationship.
“I drove to her apartment in Harleysville,” he remembered. Vicki's son was at her parents' house. "We had dinner – hoagies – and watched a movie. We hung out until 10 or 11 pm.
“I came over the next day. Then I started staying over and never left.”
They were married a year later and in rapid succession had two daughters: Greyson, 2, and Colby, 1, who join their half-brother Aiden, 10.
“We have everything in common. We joke around and laugh a lot. She’s been at my side all this time,” he said.
What did the warriors dream about doing when they would finally get home?
If Justin dreamed of going swimming and fishing in the Delaware River while stationed in Afghanistan, Derrick had his own set of daydreams. “I’d dream about eating pizza and drinking.” Drinking was strictly forbidden in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said.
The first thing Derrick did upon returning to the States in 2004, was drive from the Philadelphia International Airport straight into Philly to order a beer and pizza.
Not surprisingly, Justin did the same thing when he got home from Afghanistan. Good ole Sports Pizza awaited him in Levittown.
The men in the construction crew are all good buddies. Munching on doughnuts from nearby Weinrich Bakery, they join in the discussion about the war years.
“Did you get a good reception when you got home?” asked Brad Yurick of Norristown, whose cheek puffs out with a wad of tobacco like former Phillies’ left fielder Raul Ibanez.
Justin, who’s 5-foot-9 and sports a trim beard, responded with a hearty yes. “When I go to a bar everyone wants to buy me a drink,” he said. “It’s hard to take it all in because I just think of it as doing my job. It didn’t dawn on me that what we were doing was pretty big.
“I felt like a rock star,” he laughed.
No one had any idea what war was really like.
“I really enjoyed serving in the military,” Justin reminiscences.
And then there was Afghanistan.
When Justin first flew over the landlocked country where he would serve for 18 months, he saw the brown mountainous terrain and flat colorless deserts. "There was very little green," he remembered about the land that had been occupied by Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, the Mughal Empire, Russian tsars, the British Empire, the Soviet Union, and currently a coalition force of NATO troops and the United States of America.
Just as Vietnam was a gargantuan challenge because of the intense heat, so was Afghanistan. Said Justin: “It’s 130 degrees during the day and then it drops to 50 or 30 in the night. You sweat all day long and freeze at night.”
In the morning, the soldiers would strap on 80 to 100 pounds of equipment. Their physical endurance was tested to the limit.
Justin’s close buddy, Chris Geiger, 38, of Allentown, PA, became a casualty of the blistering heat. With his voice breaking, Justin talked about Geiger perishing from what turned out to be a heart attack from the suffocating heat. Justin pulls up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo, made by a friend of his, to honor Chris Geiger. See photo.
The dead are shipped home from Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. “They actually have a good way of doing it,” said Justin. "They escort the coffin to the C-17 or C-130 airplane which will arrive at Dover Air Force Base."
In “chow hall,” Justin sat with the renowned Pat Tillman, the National Football League linebacker who quit a promising career to enlist in the Army. He served several tours of duty in Afghanistan before he was killed in 2003 at age 38 by friendly fire.
The food overseas was fairly good, said Justin.
Justin’s wife Dana would send frequent “care packages,” as did his grandmother.
“You look out for all your enlisted people,” said Justin, whose rank as Staff Sergeant made him a leader.
“If you take care of your men, they’ll take care of you. They’re like your own kids,” he said.
Dana’s packages – which were shared by everyone - included “newspapers from home, socks, shampoo, and baby wipes because you couldn’t always get a shower.” They also included candy.
“Jolly Ranchers were really big favorites,” he said. His grandmother would send chocolate oatmeal cookies, which were also a big hit with the guys.
Dana also sent care packages for the Afghanis. Included were winter coats, toys for the children, and all sorts of balls - footballs, baseballs, and soccer balls.
“The big thing was soccer balls. They loved them. In some of the villages, you made really good friends.
“It was sad leaving them behind,” he said.
Dana always found time to help out the Afghan people. “The average income of the Afghani,” said Justin, “is only $80 a year.”
A dancer her whole life, Dana owns her own dance studio in Bristol Township.
Justin kept physically fit overseas. He spent three to four hours every day working out in the gym. He would daydream about coming home and holding his wife and sons, now 18 and 15, in his arms.
But he was far from home and far from safe.
“The enemy shot mortars into our camp once or twice a week,” he said, referring to the primitive Soviet-made pieces of artillery.
When he first got to Afghanistan, he couldn’t sleep for the first three days. He and the other new soldiers acclimated to the frighteningly loud explosives. “I got so I was able to sleep through anything,” he said.
His emotions were "all over the place. It was a roller coaster of emotions every day," he said.
Toward the end of his 18-month stay in Afghanistan, the unthinkable happened. Because the United States was fighting two wars – Iraq and Afghanistan – there wasn’t enough ammunition to go around.
“We were told to ration our ammunition. How can you do this when you’re fighting?” he said. "How could I do this to guys who looked up to me?"
He is still incredulous.
Justin spent time with the Afghani people. “They liked us,” he said. "They were glad we were there. They wanted the Taliban out because they’re pretty awful people.”
Meeting the tribal elders was a memorable experience. “They’d cook up a big meal for us. There was lots of rice and squash and vegetables.”
He got used to seeing the Afghani women in their dark tent-like burkhas which enveloped their bodies.
“You’d only see their eyeballs because they had mesh over their eyes,” he said.
At the construction site where the noonday sun shines over the crew, Justin Stone jumps into his orange backhoe. Its huge teeth easily dig up chunks of asphalt on Park Avenue, near the Upper Moreland Library and the historic five-story apartment building – now Willow Grove Apartments - that once housed band leaders, such as John Philip Sousa, who performed at the former Willow Grove Amusement Park across the street, which is now the Willow Grove Park mall.
Justin dismounts from the backhoe and helps lay pipes and iron ductiles into the 4-foot by 8-foot trench. With military precision, six other men in the team do their part.
“It’s a very demanding and dangerous job,” said Brad Yurick, in his mirrored sun glasses and orange hard hat.
“This one water main is a particularly involved job because of all the utilities underground, some of them unmarked.” There’s always a danger, he explained, that a gas main might explode. And, although the men are extremely careful - "We watch out for one another" - every single one of them has suffered injuries at one time or another.
Brad extols the virtues of the crew and how well they work together: young Dalton Kirkman, aka “Roadhouse,” named after the 1989 action movie whose shapely tattoos adorn his body; Rick Hinkle, who wears a silver cross; Kevin the white-haired foreman, with whom Brad rides to work; Steve Church in the orange excavating machine, and Derrick Lilley, waiting to see action in his huge white dump truck. While waiting, he watches videos of his kids on his phone.
Each man does his part, like members of an orchestra awaiting his turn to perform.
“Do you feel you accomplished anything in Afghanistan?” Brad asked Justin.
“At the time, yes,” said Justin. “But then, things would turn right around and you’d give it all back.”
Derrick believes the same thing. “Some people wanted us in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some didn’t.
"In the end, we made no difference at all.”
It will take a couple of weeks to install the water main the whole length of the block. The men work from 7 in the morning until 3:30 p.m.
At the end of each day, former Army Lance Corporal Derrick Lilley backs up his white dump truck and drops a load of stones into the trench to fill it up.
Afterward, a coat of blacktop is poured over the stones. It glistens in the sun when it dries, the end of a rewarding day of hard work.
Alexander Wye
Alyssa Murphy
Amy Boyer
Andrew Rivera
B. Craig Grafton
Charles Hayes
Cynthia Sally Haggard
David Haight
D.B. "Doc" Roberston
Derek A. Schneider
Donal Mahoney
Eliyah Zachery
E. Thomas McClanahan
Geoffrey Craig
Jack Bristow
Jed Herne
Karen Blake
Kayla Provence
Kelly Delany
Logan Colp
Matthew Scarpa
Naushena
NT Franklin
Ogunniyi Abayomi
Pam Munter
Pete Cotsalas
Rob Santana
Robyn Lloyd
Ruth Z. Deming
Shelby Leet
Stefan Moussignac
Stephen Tillman
Stevelebow
Trey Mayfield
William C. Blome
William Quincy Belle
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516140
|
__label__wiki
| 0.68289
| 0.68289
|
Home » Low Country Boil
Low Country Boil
Rick Damato
This young firm has been on the boil since 2000 and has built a nice roofing business.
The coastal region around the lower part of South Carolina and the upper part of Georgia is known as "the Low Country," so named because that's what it is: low. The topography is nearly dead flat and the marshes go on for miles before giving way to the Atlantic Ocean.
Down around those parts when the shrimp are coming in, the locals gather around for what is commonly known as a Low Country boil. Pretty simple to do, you just gather a mess of friends and family, take a huge pot full of water and set it on to boil. Not just any pot, but one (or two or three) of those huge gas-fired turkey-frying jobs. Once that water sets to boiling you start adding in the ingredients one at a time. Slowly, as they all have their job to do, each requiring a little less time to cook than the last. Tell you more about that later.
Roofing Contractor had the opportunity recently to visit with Roofing Professionals Inc. (RPI) of Richmond Hills, Ga., which is located just outside Savannah, Ga., in the heart of the Low Country. This young firm has been on the boil since 2000 and has built a nice roofing business, adding one ingredient at a time. "Ingredients" in this case as defined by the talent added to the mix in order to grow the business from around $700,000 in 2000 to nearly $6 million in 2004.
RPI is a partnership between Kevin Vick and John Reynolds. Each brought a significant, but different set of experiences and skills to the enterprise. The firm specializes in commercial, industrial and institutional work, but maintains some clients who build high-end custom homes. At present the mix of commercial work is 70 percent modified and built-up with the balance being single-ply systems. They see the single-ply systems as a larger part of their business in the future, as well as metal roofing.
Vick and Reynolds both acknowledge that in the beginning, any roofing work was seriously considered, even though the goal was to compete in the commercial arena from the very beginning.
Vick is the head of operations for the firm. His career spans over 20 years beginning in Auburn, Ala. He worked in the field for a couple of notable contractors around the South, ending up with a roofing contractor who specialized in military work. He was based at Ft. Stewart, also near Savannah, Ga. Vick met Reynolds quite by coincidence by way of their mutual membership in a golf league.
Reynolds leads the sales and administrative arm of RPI. He has been in the contracting industry nearly 10 years, and was working for a commercial roofing and sheet metal contractor in Savannah when he and Vick met in July of 1999. According to Vick, the two are nearly complete opposites. Vick says he keeps things cooking in the field while Reynolds "watches the money."
The firm incorporated in January of 2000 and completed its first job in April. Despite the experience that Vick and Reynolds brought to the partnership, the first job turned out to be a "learning opportunity" owing to a visit from OSHA. Vick actually credits the experience to the firm's solid commitment to safety. He says, "I've got every safety video." Vick oversees hands-on training for the crews four full days per year. With a significant Hispanic workforce, he is fluent in Spanish, "Almost a necessity in this day and age," according to Vick.
According to Reynolds, one thing they are most proud of has been their record of maintaining employee relationships. Some of the key folks have been around from the beginning, and some have been added to "the boil" along the way. Ted Deaton joined RPI as a project manager and estimator. His roofing experience spans a number of years and includes stints working as a representative for a major roofing manufacturer and several years as a roofing contractor. Michael Grafton came along as a project manager, bringing with him a number of years of experience in roof contracting. In the field, Ernie Perry is superintendent, and Tony Vick is described as a "utility player." An example of that is the recently completed Laurel Bay project that involved 14,000 squares of shingles along with some other sub-contracted improvements on military housing that Vick oversaw. Marsha and Terri (without whom this article could not have been completed) round out the administrative staff.
The most recent addition to the stew is John Fish, who is the assistant operations manager and specializes in metal roofing. Fish spent a number of years as an inspector for a major metal roofing manufacturer. Metal roofing is growing by leaps and bounds, particularly on the coast. The firm recently completed the roof on the Ware County Jail, currently under construction in Waycross, Ga.
In RPI's five years the company has encountered a number of challenging projects in addition to the day-to-day perils of running a roof contracting business. Vick cites the Satilla Regional Hospital job in Waycross, Ga. This retrofit job involved a complete roof removal beginning in the summer, just after Independence Day. In case you wondered, Waycross is located in extreme south Georgia away from the coast next to the Okefenokee Swamp. To describe working on a roofing job in July in Waycross as "hot" would be a monumental understatement.
Typical of a hospital, the job featured more than 500 penetrations over the surgical area and cafeteria. No hot asphalt was allowed, so the two layers of insulation had to be cold-applied over the structural concrete deck. The modified base and cap were torch-applied. Every HVAC unit had to be moved in synch with other contractors and 10 new drains had to be cut into the concrete deck. All the while the hospital was open and operating. Vick credits the ChemCurb system from Chem Link Inc., Kalamazoo, Mich., for handling all shapes and sizes of penetrations, "There was no way to use anything else."
Reynolds recalls the difficulty involved in their first large and complex military job, Building 700 at Paris Island, S.C. The 400-square slate job was complex enough on its own, but required a significant amount of preparation to complete and maintain the myriad of reports required by the military. RPI had to devise a robust fall protection plan and then execute it flawlessly. If you are going to work for the Marines, you must be prepared to play by their rules.
As RPI enters the second half of its first decade, the firm is well suited to continue producing the quality of work on which it has built its reputation. The firm is in the midst of opening its first branch in Auburn, Ala., and has been involved in numerous jobs rebuilding areas of coastal northwest Florida following the hurricanes that hit last year. James Furmanek has taken on the role of operations manager for the Auburn operation.
Vick and Reynolds, while different, are heading in the same direction. Their vision for the firm is shared, and they see success in terms beyond the monetary. Vick dreams of building the business so it can be turned over to their children. Reynolds cites "peace and happiness." They both agree that having great people working together is the real recipe for success in the roof contracting business.
RPI hopes to turn more of its business into negotiated work, military work and schools. In transition from small contractor to a larger-scale, "project management"-type roofing contractor, Vick and Reynolds envision having a few growing pains and some hard work along the way. About the partnership, Vick says, "It's like a marriage.... Sorrow is cut in half... joy (success) is doubled."
For RPI, the secret to its success has been to put together some great people and keep them all moving in the same direction ... like a Low Country boil.
Side Bar: My favorite "Low Country Boil" recipe.
With thanks to Paula Deen of Savannah and my buddy Ed Rutherford, whose recipes I have borrowed and modified.
Crab boil, 2 teaspoons per quart of water
Cayenne pepper to taste
12 red new potatoes
6 (4-inch) smoked link sausages
6 ears corn
3 pounds fresh shrimp, unpeeled
4 cans or bottles of your favorite beer
Fill a large pot with enough water to cover all of the ingredients. Add the crab boil and bring to a boil. Drink a beer. Adjust the crab boil to suit your taste. When the water boils, add the potatoes and sausage. Drink a beer. Cook on medium heat for 20 minutes. Add corn and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Drink a beer. Add shrimp and cook for no more than 3 minutes. Open a beer, but you won't have time to drink it now. Drain and serve. My favorite method of serving is to cover some folding tables with newsprint or brown butcher paper and just spread it all out there with paper plates and napkins. You do not have to furnish forks and knives, but you really should put out the Tabasco sauce, salt, pepper and butter. The beer may be replaced with sweet ice tea or Coke. It's a Low Country thing.
Recent Articles by Rick Damato
How Should Roofers Address Deck Protection?
Adios, 2020!
Time to Get Engaged
Growth (Still) Matters for Your Roofing Business
A Level Playing Field
Rick Damato is the editorial director of Roofing Contractor. He has held a number of posts in the roofing industry since 1974 and has contributed to the magazine since its inception in 1981. He can be reached at 770-331-7858 or on Twitter @RoofsByRick.
From Low Tech to High Tech
In the Beginning There Was the Alliance …
Polyisocyanurate Roof Insulation Put to the Test
The Art of Roofing...and the Roofing of Art
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516141
|
__label__cc
| 0.647029
| 0.352971
|
GeschichteCode of Compliance
KursentwicklungInfoservice
Voer uw zoekterm in
Interim Statement Q3/2020
Revenues increase again by 16% to € 713.9 million in comparison to the same period of the previous year
At € 25.4 million, EBIT is also significantly up on the previous year
Declining activities in Asia slow down order intake, which amounts to € 660.0 million
Based on a solid order backlog, the Rosenbauer Executive Board expects revenues 2020 above previous year´s figure, with EBIT margin to land at around 5%
For 2021, management assumes the global sector to move sideways and stable Group revenues
KEY CORPORATE FIGURES
1-9/2019
Revenues in € million 614.5 713.9
EBIT in € million 15.1 25.4
Net profit for the period in € million 9.0 17.3
Cash flow from operating acitvities in € million -136.3 -39.6
Equity in % if total assets 24.4% 25.9%1
Earnings per share € 0.3 1.3
Employees as of September 30 3,781 3,988
Order backlog as of September 30 in € million 1,223.8 1,074.4
In the first three quarters of 2020, the Rosenbauer Group defied the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and further expanded its business. At € 713.9 million and an increase of 16% (1-9/2019: € 614.5 million), Group revenues reached a new record level for the period under review. The increase in revenues can be attributed to all sales areas, especially the MENA area, the NISA area and the CEEU area. In contrast, new orders were down on the very good previous year at € 660.0 million (1-9/2019: € 784.1 million). EBIT improved even more strongly than revenues, to € 25.4 million (1–9/2019: € 15.1 million). Against the background of an unchanged solid order backlog, the Rosenbauer Executive Board expects revenues 2020 to exceed previous year´s figure. The EBIT margin is expected to be around 5%.
Revenues and result of operations
The global economy is painstakingly recovering from the effects of the Great Lockdown in April of this year. While China’s economy has regained momentum faster than expected, the return of the rest of the world to pre COVID 19 activity levels remains vulnerable to setbacks. Against this background, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) adjusted its global economic outlook for 2020 in October and improved it from -4.9% to -4.4%. The firefighting industry is a typical “laggard” of the general economy and, thanks to full order books, should be able to assert itself in a further declining economic environment. Demand for firefighting technology and equipment stabilized somewhat in the third quarter.
The Rosenbauer Group generated revenues of € 713.9 from January to September of 2020 (1-9/2019: € 614.5 million). The reasons for this include the solid order book and thus continued strong production output at all locations. The consolidated revenues are currently divided across the sales areas2 as follows: 33% in the CEEU area, 11% in the NISA area, 13% in the MENA area, 12% in the APAC area, 29% in the NOMA area, and 2% in the Stationary Fire Protection segment.
At € 25.4 million, EBIT in the first nine months of 2020 was up on the corresponding period of the previous year (1-9/2019: € 15.1 million) despite the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consolidated EBT for the reporting period therefore amounted to € 21.6 million (1-9/2019: € 9.9 million).
At € 660.0 million, incoming orders in the first three quarters of 2020 were below the very good figure for the previous year (1-9/2019: € 784.1 million), mainly as a result of a downward trend in the APAC area and in the NISA area. Home markets CEEU and NOMA have developed very positively in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. In that way CEEU area has obtained a tender of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern office of internal administration comprising 265 fire engines with portable pumps and water tanks. The order backlog remains solid and amounted to € 1,074.4 million (1-9/2019: € 1,223.8 million).
Financial and net assets position
For reasons specific to the industry, the structure of the Rosenbauer Group’s statement of financial position as of the end of the third quarter is characterized by high trade working capital. Total assets increased to € 1,008.0 million by period comparison (September 30, 2019: € 954.2 million), which can be attributed in particular to the higher current assets compared with the same period of the previous year.
Compared to the previous period, inventories and current receivables show the largest changes. Inventories decreased to € 479.1 million (September 30, 2019: € 502.2 million). The current receivables were above the previous year’s level at € 277.8 million (September 30, 2019: € 224.1 million). As a result of efforts to reduce trade working capital, the Group’s net debt (the net amount of interest-bearing liabilities less cash and cash equivalents) fell to below the level of the corresponding period of the previous year at € 407.3 million (September 30, 2019: € 425.6) despite higher revenues.
The cash flow from operating activities improved significantly compared to the previous year and is € -39.6 million (1-9/2019: € -136.3 million). A further improvement in the cash flow from operating activities is expected by the end of the year.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) admits in the latest update of its global economic outlook that the uncertainty of economic forecasts remains unusually high. Nevertheless, the global economy could grow by 5.2% next year. By 0.6%, global economic output would then be moderately higher than in 2019. However, progress in the development of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19, the adaptation of working conditions and consumer behavior will determine how quickly economic activity returns to pre-crisis levels.
As shown from past experience, the firefighting industry follows the general economy at a delay of several months and, thanks to full order books, should be able to assert itself in the current declining economic environment. For 2021, Rosenbauer management assumes the global sector to move sideways and stable Group revenues.
1) excluding IFRS 16: 16.8%
2) CEEU: Central and Eastern Europe; NISA: Northern Europe, Iberia, South America and Africa; MENA: Middle East and North Africa; APAC: Asia-Pacific, Australia, China; NOMA: North and Middle America
In connection with this press release, the following media material is at your disposal:
PDF press article pdf
Download nowLay in the press folder
Information regarding picture an rights of use
Yes, I have read and accept the rights of use.
At present, you have 0 elements in your press folder.
PDF|Online blättern
In the mediatheque you will find Rosenbauer press photos.
Tiemon Kiesenhofer
Head of Communications / IR
Company Spokesperson
Phone: +43 732 67 94-568
E-mail: ir@rosenbauer.com
Karin Worbis
Communications / IR
Phone: +43 732 67 94-2354
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516142
|
__label__wiki
| 0.599259
| 0.599259
|
Tax Take >
The need for checks and balances
A recent article in the Daily Telegraph Newspaper "How one family were brought to their knees by the Taxman" by Alasdair Palmer
1 December 2012, has shed an interesting light on what can happen when the full weight of HMRC's resources are exercised against taxpayers and hitherto blameless members of the business community.
The Telegraph article
The article concerned an ex parte application made by HMRC to the court for the appointment of a liquidator to liquidate a family company, Abbey Forwarding. Although not stated in the article, it seems likely that HMRC were making the application under section 135 of the Insolvency Act 1986. In their application to the court, HMRC apparently provided evidence that sought to prove involvement of the directors of Abbey Forwarding in "large scale fraud". Consequently, the judge agreed to the appointment of a provisional liquidator. The first that the directors knew of the appointment of the liquidator was when they discovered 20 officers from HMRC "changing the locks on the doors and going through the company's documents and computers, packing them up to take them away".
The article continues, however, that HMRC's evidence was fatally flawed, but this only emerged during proceedings taken by the liquidator against the former directors for failure in their duty to "operate the company honestly". A subsequent hearing before Judge Lewison, the article records, found that there was no evidence that the directors had been involved in any form of criminal activity.
HMRC's powers
HMRC are in possession of enormous powers, a fact which is often not appreciated by the ordinary citizen. In a civil context, HMRC have wide-ranging powers (see Schedule 36 Finance Act 2008) to require documents to be produced and/or information to be provided to them and to enter business premises to inspect business assets and documents on such premises. They also have powers to access computers on which documents are produced. Where tax evasion is suspected, HMRC may use their police powers provided under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 ('PACE') and the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 ('SOCPA'). HMRC may:
enter and search premises (section 8 and Schedule 1, PACE);
require production of documents (section 8 and Schedule 1, PACE);
seize items such as computers (sections 8 and 19, PACE, Section 50 and Schedule 1, Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001);
arrest persons (sections 17 and 24(2), PACE);
require persons to hand over relevant material which could be of substantial value in an investigation (sections 62 and 63, SOCPA).
Duty to make full disclosure to the court
The issue of a warrant under PACE or SOCPA does require the prior authority of a magistrate or, in some circumstances, a Circuit Judge. However, the hearing will almost invariably be ex parte because HMRC will not wish to "tip off" a suspect that they are about to undertake a search and seizure operation. It is, therefore, absolutely critical that HMRC make full and frank disclosure of their case for obtaining a warrant, including any material adverse to their position, to the court. In our blog (Court quashes HMRC warrants – October 24, 2012) we reported on the recent decision of the Divisional Court in the case of R (on the application of Anand) v HMRC (unreported). In that case the sole director of the claimant company applied for judicial review of the lawfulness of a search warrant obtained by HMRC. The Administrative Court granted the application of the sole director, holding that the warrant obtained by HMRC did not comply with section 15(6), PACE, as it was too widely drafted and failed to identify, so far as practicable, the articles that HMRC were actually searching for. This decision followed the high profile decision in the case of Harry Redknapp, R (Redknapp and Another) v Commissioner of The City of London Police [2009] 1 WLR 2091, where warrants to search Mr Redknapp's home were quashed because HMRC had not supplied sufficient information to the court when obtaining the warrant in accordance with the statutory requirements of PACE (Mr Redknapp was of course subsequently acquitted of tax fraud following his later trial at Southwark Crown Court).
Whether exercising powers specifically granted to them (such as Schedule 36), or when relying on more general civil and criminal procedure rules, it is vital that HMRC exercise their powers properly. This is perhaps more important than ever, given the immense political pressure HMRC are under to close the 'tax gap'.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516143
|
__label__wiki
| 0.830229
| 0.830229
|
South Dakota News Watch Home Inform. Enlighten. Illuminate.
Your Support Makes a Difference!
Home > Stories > Low pay complicates efforts to attract, retain nurses in South Dakota
Low pay complicates efforts to attract, retain nurses in South Dakota
By: Tom Griffith
This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit news organization. Find more in-depth reporting at www.sdnewswatch.org.
The nursing industry is under pressure in South Dakota as an aging population, fewer nursing students and an older workforce are combining to create staffing shortages.
But the state has an added challenge in filling open nursing positions – pay. National nursing studies show RNs in South Dakota earn less than their counterparts across the nation.
According to the American Nurses Association, South Dakota’s registered nurses have the lowest annual salary of any state and the District of Columbia, ranking 51st behind Mississippi, Alabama and Iowa.
The association reports that South Dakota’s 12,530 registered nurses received an average annual salary of $57,010, or $27.41 per hour in 2017. California’s RNs posted the highest compensation at $102,700, $49.37 per hour.
Health care officials say many factors contribute to South Dakota’s comparatively poor compensation levels for nursing, including the rural nature of the state, as well as low reimbursement rates to hospitals from Medicare, Medicaid and Indian Health Services.
Still, they are at a loss to explain why those same factors are not at play to the same extent in surrounding states.
While the average RN salary in Iowa is comparable at $57,930, Nebraska nurses receive an average of $62,210 per year. North Dakota nurses make $63,140 annually, and, in Minnesota, nurses earn $77,540 per year, the association reports.
In South Dakota, the number of nurses joining the work force – either as recent graduates or transferring from another state – has not kept pace with the number leaving in recent years. In 2016, the net loss was 1,738. That was up substantially from the 930 net loss the year before, according to the South Dakota Department of Health’s Board of Nursing.
Nurses leave the profession due to retirement, a change of career or a move out of state. Some simply choose not to renew their RN licenses.
Compounding the shortages, enrollment in South Dakota’s eight nursing programs has declined in recent years.
According to the South Dakota Board of Nursing’s report on nursing education programs, last year a total of 308 LPNs and 306 associate degree RNs were enrolled in colleges and universities, a decrease of 103 students from the previous year. A total of 710 students graduated from the LPN and RN programs in 2017, 67 less than in 2016, the report stated.
While reasonable tuition rates for South Dakota’s nursing schools are attracting out-of-state students, Carrie Clausen-Hanson, a board member of the South Dakota Nurses Association, said low pay makes it difficult to draw faculty and accounts for some of the declining enrollment numbers in the state.
“Faculty pay, teacher’s pay, nursing pay, there is not a lot of difference,” she said. “Part of why we have trouble with enrollments in our nursing schools is they can’t find faculty. And a lot of it is due to pay.”
Clausen-Hanson, who worked as a registered nurse in South Dakota for 35 years and taught at Presentation College, said many of her students who graduated with associate’s degrees in nursing were landing jobs that paid more than her faculty position.
Nationally, nursing school enrollments also are being limited by a lack of qualified faculty and budget restraints. Almost two-thirds of the nursing schools responding to an American Association of Colleges of Nursing survey cited a shortage of faculty and/or clinical preceptors as a limiting factor for increasing enrollment.
AACN reported a 3.6 percent enrollment increase in entry-level baccalaureate programs in nursing in 2016. But that increase is not sufficient to meet the projected demand for nursing services, including the need for more nurse faculty, researchers, and primary care providers.
Registered Nurse Kelly Weis attends to a patient at Spearfish Community Hospital. Photo: Tom Griffith
Nursing shortages will grow
As the chief nursing officer of Regional Health, Lori Wightman oversees 1,200 registered and licensed practical nurses at the organization’s flagship hospital in Rapid City, as well as hospitals in Sturgis, Deadwood, Custer and Spearfish, and facilities in Newcastle and Upton, Wyo.
Regional Health faces the same challenge from the nursing shortage as hospitals in other parts of the country.
“I would be lying if I said we didn’t,” Wightman, who has worked as an RN for 28 years. “The last figure I saw was a 1.13 million shortfall in nurses by 2025.”
She points to the increase in demand for nursing care from the large number of aging Baby Boomers as one contributor to the problem. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by 2050, the number of residents age 65 and over is projected to be 83.7 million, almost double the estimated population of 43.1 million in 2012.
With larger numbers of older adults, there will be an increased need for geriatric care, including care for individuals with chronic diseases.
“South Dakota is not immune to that national shortage,” Wightman said.
In addition, more nurses are approaching retirement age. More than 1 million RNs will reach retirement age in the next 10-15 years, according to the Health Services Administration. Currently, the average age of nurses in the U.S. is 47.
Before she joined Regional Health three years ago, Wightman said the organization had a turnover of more than a third of its workforce in one year, leaving “a big gap to fill.”
Through a variety of recruitment and retention efforts, Regional has been able to reduce what then were 200 vacancies in nursing positions to 186 open spots today.
“We currently are having a fairly successful time in recruiting nurses,” she said. Over the last 11 months, Wightman said Regional Health had hired 356 nurses using three pipelines of candidates to address the shortage.
Among those efforts are local collaborations with high schools, colleges and universities to increase interest in the profession; a national recruitment campaign Wightman admits, “has not been very fruitful,” due to the nationwide demand for nurse, and in recent years, an international recruitment program that has been more successful.
“We currently have 75 nurses who were recruited internationally and are working in our system,” she noted. “In the Philippines alone, there are over 200,000 nurses looking for jobs in the United States. They are investing in their education. They are developing nurses, doctors and all kinds of professionals and they benefit with foreign dollars flowing back to their country. They are eager to come to work for us.”
Average annual salary for Registered Nurses
Here are the average annual salaries for Registered Nurses in selected states:
South Dakota – $57,010
Iowa – $57,930
Nebraska – $62,210
North Dakota – $63,140
Wyoming – $64,900
Minnesota – $77,540
California – $102,700
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Universities, health care systems, social service agencies and communities have banded together to try to address the challenge of attracting nurses to the state.
In July, the federal government provided a $100,000 network planning grant to South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board and Catholic Social Services Rapid City to partner in a study of health care workforce shortages on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
The project, “Assessing Pine Ridge’s Health Care Workforce Current and Future Needs,” aims to conduct a health care workforce needs assessment of Pine Ridge’s professional and nonprofessional health care (Indian Health Services and tribal) vacancies. The grant also will fund a health care workforce needs summit for tribes and provide tools to assist them in gauging and meeting those needs.
And in mid-August, after 18 months of studies, the Huron Community Campus cut the ribbon on a new nursing program aimed at addressing a serious shortfall in qualified nurses in the Huron area.
“When our nursing task force came together, we came up with 46 open nursing positions in Huron and the surrounding area,” said Doug Pietz, executive director of the Huron Community Campus. “One question was why are we not getting nurses? Was it a lack of interest in nursing? But students were interested in moving up the chain from LPNs to RNs. They couldn’t travel to enroll in other nursing programs in the state. The best alternative was to bring the nursing program to them.”
With a $1.3 million investment, largely from the Huron University Foundation, the Huron Regional Medical Foundation and the City of Huron, Pietz said his institution partnered with Southeast Area Technical Institute in Sioux Falls, which has an accredited nursing program.
The 12-month program is offered to licensed practical nurses who have 750 hours of experience and are seeking to earn their associate’s degree as a registered nurse. Seven individuals signed up for the inaugural class, he said.
“Nursing is critical to the Huron area,” Pietz said. “Obviously, nursing is critical to all rural areas. This program represents a home-grown effort to provide educated nurses for all of the health care providers in town, as well as in the Huron area.”
Health-care officials say factors such as the rural nature of the state and low reimbursement rates to hospitals from Medicare, Medicaid and Indian Health Services contribute to comparatively low compensation rates for registered nurses in South Dakota.
Have information to add to this story? Contact us.
About Tom Griffith
Tom Griffith, Deadwood, S.D., reported this story for South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit news organization. A fourth-generation South Dakotan, Griffith has been a journalist, editor and photographer in Arizona, Montana and South Dakota. He also has written or co-authored more than 70 books and his travel features have appeared in more than 250 magazines and newspapers worldwide.
Support Nonprofit Investigative Journalism in South Dakota
South Dakota News Watch is funded by contributions from readers like you. All content is shared, free of charge, with media outlets across the state. To support our public service journalism, please consider making a contribution today.
More than $19 million paid to S.D. farmers for tariff losses
News About News Watch
Donor Transparency Policy
Tax & Governance Documents
Use Our Stories
All of our stories are available to other media outlets. If you'd like use our content, contact us to request access.
© Copyright 2021 South Dakota News Watch
Made from Web Concentrate
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516147
|
__label__wiki
| 0.787059
| 0.787059
|
Chelsea hopeful of securing early January deal for Tottenham target Ross Barkley
Written by: Daniel Church
Chelsea are reportedly set to make another offer for England international midfielder Ross Barkley, according to the Telegraph.
The defending Premier League champions, who hosted Stoke City at Stamford Bridge earlier this afternoon, have been linked with the Everton star ahead of the opening of the January transfer window next week.
The 24-year-old, who has 22 international caps for the Three Lions, has failed to feature for The Toffees’ so far this season due to an ongoing hamstring injury.
Barkley, who joined Everton when he was just 11-years-old, has scored 27 goals in 179 games overall for the Merseyside outfit.
Everton’s Ross Barkley.
The central midfielder turned down a move to Stamford Bridge on the final day of the summer transfer window because he wanted to get himself fit before deciding his new club, though he is nearing a full recovery next month.
Barkley, who is also thought to be of interest to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, is out of contract at Goodison Park come June 2018, though both clubs are keen to secure a deal for the England international during the New Year market.
THE 2018 SHOOT ANNUAL IS OUT NOW! CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR COPY.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516150
|
__label__wiki
| 0.960024
| 0.960024
|
Rooney Believes Hodgson Should Continue Management
By Kicker
Wayne Rooney is of the opinion that England manager Roy Hodgson should continue despite the team failing to even progress past the group stages of the competition. There has been speculation that Hodgson will step down from his post after a disastrous World Cup campaign, but the English FA recently confirmed that they have no plans to sack the former Liverpool manager. Hodgson has a contract with the national team until Euro 2016. He is set to stay on until then. Rooney, who has been a major player for the national team in the last decade, says that Hodgson should continue.
Rooney came in for a lot of criticism for his failure to deliver at the international stage. Despite having scored 40 goals – including the equaliser against Uruguay, the Manchester United forward has not delivered in World Cup competitions. The goal against Uruguay provided him with some respite from the criticism, but even then his record of just one goal in nine matches is extremely poor. In his defence, Hodgson has largely employed Rooney on the left side of midfield. At Manchester United, he has played in a number of positions. However, the player has stated that he wants to play just behind the striker.
It remains to be seen if Rooney will be part of the next World Cup in Russia. The striker is set to be rested for the match against Croatia. “Make no doubt about it Roy is the man to take us forward. He has put a great enthusiasm in the team, a great set of young players, exciting players in place. He has, in my opinion, changed the way we have played over the last couple of years and I know the results have been disappointing in the last two games, but as a team we can feel we are getting better,” said Rooney.
JOSE BACKS TORRES
English Fans Throw Nasty Replies At Rooney
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516156
|
__label__cc
| 0.505034
| 0.494966
|
Hiring Effective Math Teachers: More Knowledge vs. Better Delivery
Chimutu
Seonghoon Kim
Hyuncheol Kim
Education, Labor
Teacher quality, after school tutoring, test score, teaching skill, employee screening criteria
I21, J24
Teacher quality is one of the key determinants of students’ academic success. We examine the impact of teacher screening criteria on academic outcomes of primary school students to better hire effective teachers. Specifically, we consider two different traits of a teacher that can potentially improve academic outcomes: 1) a teacher candidate’s math test score and 2) his/her performance on a teaching demonstration. Our study takes place in the context of the after school teacher recruitment drive in rural Malawi by our collaborating NGO, Africa Future Foundation (AFF). During the pre-employment testing session, AFF conducted the math test and teaching demonstration for 347 teacher applicants. Then, AFF randomly divided them into two groups: “math test” and “teaching demonstration” group. 132 out of 173 in the math test group were hired based on their math test score as after school teachers. 130 out of 174 in the teaching demonstration group were hired based on their teaching demonstration evaluation. Hired teachers were randomly assigned to 414 classes in 31 schools, with 122 classes comprising of 4-7th graders. A class size of 4, 6, 8, or 10 was randomly determined for each tutoring class. We compare the performance of teachers (students’ test score) selected via two different channels over one year (three semesters) to shed light on effective teacher screening.
Kim, Hyuncheol and Seonghoon Kim. 2016. "Hiring Effective Math Teachers: More Knowledge vs. Better Delivery ." AEA RCT Registry. November 23. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.1687-1.0.
Kim, Hyuncheol, Seonghoon Kim and Seonghoon Kim. 2016. "Hiring Effective Math Teachers: More Knowledge vs. Better Delivery ." AEA RCT Registry. November 23. http://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/1687/history/11968.
We hire after school math teachers randomly based on either their math test score or teaching demonstration and measure the impacts on students’ test scores. Below are the details of the experiment.
Africa Future Foundation (AFF) recruited after school math teachers to teach 4th to 7th graders at the onset of the after school tutoring program in the catchment district of rural Malawi (T.A. Chimutu). (As of September, 2016, students are now 5th to 8th graders.) The total number of applicants was 347. Job applicants participated in a survey which collects information on demographics, educational background, and non-cognitive traits. They also took a math test and performed a teaching demonstration which AFF used as evaluation criteria for recruitment.
Then, AFF randomly divided the applicants into two groups: 173 were assigned to the “math test” group, while the other 174 were assigned to the “teaching demonstration” group. 132 out of 173 in the math test group were hired based on the math test score as after school teachers. 130 out of 174 in the teaching demonstration group were hired based on their teaching demonstration evaluation.
After the one-week-long training, after school teachers were randomly assigned to students from 122 grades in 31 schools. In addition, AFF randomly selected two thirds of the grade-schools (for example, 80 grade-schools in the first semester) for the after school tutoring treatment. In the selected grades, a randomly selected one half of the students is eligible for after school tutoring. In this manner, everyone will be eligible at least once during the school calendar year, which consists of three semesters. In addition, students eligible for tutoring are randomly assigned to groups of tutoring class sizes of 4, 6, 8 or 10.
The main outcomes are students’ mathematics test scores in the final exams of each semester during the intervention period. As a secondary outcome measure, we will use the test scores of a simple computation test and Raven’s matrix test, as they are directly related to the after school tutoring for mathematics. As a tertiary outcome measure, we will use the subject grades in Chichewa, English, primary science, social studies, art and life skills to explore the potential spill over of the after school tutoring.
To explain the mechanism between after school tutoring and academic achievement, we will examine 1) after school teachers’ inputs (motivation, absenteeism, and effort), 2) existing teachers’ input, 3) parents' input, and 4) students’ motivation, absenteeism, study hours, and non-cognitive traits (self-esteem, Big 5 personality traits) and so on.
1. Job advertisements for after school tutors were posted throughout the schools and villages in the catchment area beginning from January 25th, 2015. The NGO advertised vacancies through posters which describe the job and work conditions. High school graduation was the minimum requirement for the position, and applicants were asked to submit an application form along with their Malawi School Leaving Exam transcript (secondary school diploma). Applications were received at 31 primary schools in the catchment area and AFF office. AFF invited applicants to participate in the recruitment meeting in which they participated in the baseline survey, took a math test, and performed a teaching demonstration.
2. The math test consists of 90 questions, which are chosen from 4th to 12th grade textbooks. For the teaching demonstration, applicants were given 2 math problems from the secondary school level (9-10th grade level). Each applicant had 10 minutes to prepare the demonstration and 10 minutes to present it. Several pairs of trained AFF staff members were randomly assigned to the applicants in order to evaluate each applicant’s teaching skill. Specifically, they evaluated overall performance based on the applicant’s engagement with the audience, delivery of mathematical elements in the problems, time management, and enthusiasm.
3. AFF randomly divides applicants into two groups. 173 were assigned to the “math test” group, while the other 174 were assigned to the “teaching demonstration” group. 132 out of 173 in the math test group were hired based on their math test score as after school teachers. 130 out of 174 in the teaching demonstration group were hired based on their teaching demonstration evaluation.
4. Selected after school teachers were required to complete a one-week-long training, during which they were subjectively evaluated by evaluators (regular employees of AFF). Trainees participated in a mock teaching session, where they presented how to solve a pre-assigned math problem from an assigned math course. Evaluators then scored trainees on a scale from 1 to 3 in terms of engagement with the audience, delivery of mathematical elements in the problems, time management, and enthusiasm.
5. The first semester of the experiment is the third semester of the academic year 2015/16 (April 11, 2015 - July 15, 2016). 122 grades (4th-7th grade) in 31 schools were randomized to either tutoring or no tutoring based on students’ grade and average class level computed from students’ math exam score.
Group 1 (42 grades): no tutoring (5,303 students)
Group 2 (78 grades): tutoring (6,396 students). Out of 6,396 students, 2,849 students were randomly assigned and 3,547 students were not assigned to tutoring.
6. As a result of the above process, 2,849 students out of 6,396 students were randomly assigned to after school tutoring in the third semester of the academic year 2015/2016. The remaining students will be eligible for the tutoring in the following semesters.
7. Each teacher was also randomly assigned to 2 out of 414 after school classes. Each class was held twice a week, either Monday-Wednesday or Tuesday-Thursday. The duration of the tutoring program was 7 weeks per semester, and eligible students took 13 classes in total.
8. There are four tutoring class sizes: 4, 6, 8, and 10. These four class sizes were randomly distributed within each school-grade. For example, when one school-grade consists of 35 students in the tutoring treatment, each of the four class sizes (4, 6, 8, and 10) is initially assigned in a random order.
9. Students were then assigned to the classes in descending order of their baseline math scores. As a result, they were in the same class as those with a similar baseline math score.
10. The collaborating NGO commits to hire the after school teachers for at least three semesters. In the second semester of the experiment (i.e. the 1st semester of the academic year 2016/17), 120 grades (5th-8th grade; students moved on to the next grade as the school year changed) in 31 schools were randomized to either tutoring or no tutoring. School-grades which were not in the tutoring group (42 grades) in the first semester of tutoring were automatically included in the tutoring group. Of the school-grades which received tutoring in the first semester (78 grades), 50% (38 grades) were randomly selected for the tutoring group, with the remaining 40 grades assigned to the no tutoring group. The random assignment of tutors, class sizes, and students was conducted in the same manner as that of the first semester. We will continue to provide the tutoring service to students through the third semester of the experiment (the 2nd semester of the academic year 2016/17).
1. Tutor screening randomization
Randomizations were done by a computer in the office of AFF. Job applicants were not aware of this randomization. It remains unknown to them even after they are hired.
2. Tutor – school randomization:
Randomization was done by a computer in the AFF office in the presence of all tutors hired. 31 schools were grouped into 9 clusters (each containing 3-5 schools) by considering the distance between schools. Tutors submitted 3 preferences about the school they wished to work in, and they were assigned to the clusters based on their preferences. Tutors were randomly assigned to the school and grade within their assigned cluster.
3. Student randomization
Randomization for the tutoring grade was done in the presence of the school principals by a computer. Individual randomization within the tutoring grade was done in the AFF office privately by a computer.
First, tutoring classes are randomly assigned to grades-schools. Second, students are randomly selected for tutoring within selected grades-schools.
122 grades in 31 schools (4th-7th graders at the onset of the after school tutoring program). As of September, 2016, they became 5th-8th graders.
13,442 students The number of students is the number of the students appearing on the roll call of grades 4, 5, 6, and 7. The roll call was recorded before the start of the experiment, during the 1st semester of 2015/16 (September 2015 to December 2015).
1. First semester
2. Second semester
Group 2 (80 grades): tutoring (6,464 students). Out of 6,464 students, 1,691 students were randomly assigned and 4,773 students were not assigned to tutoring. Note that there were 78 grades in the first semester of the project. However, in the second semester of the project, there were 80 grades which is the combination of Group 1 (42 grades) about 50% of the Group 2 (38 grades) in the first semester.
3. Third semester
Design would be very similar to that of the first and second semester.
Out of 414 classes offered, 208 classes (1462 students) are taught by tutors who are hired based on the math test and 206 classes (1387 students) are taught by tutors who are hired based on the mock teaching performance.
SMU Institutional Review Board
IRB-16-046-A053(516)
Cornell Institutional Review Board for Human Participants
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516157
|
__label__cc
| 0.60472
| 0.39528
|
Band Alternative Rock
Share Integer's EPK!
"Adding up the Integers"
"...Integer plays a moody and inward looking hard rock music that breaks out into much exuberance. It’s rhythmically compelling music that can almost whisper to you one moment and bark in your ear the next. The band is ambitious enough to attempt very long tunes and they not afraid to really play with the dynamics. It’s hard to keep an audience’s attention for extended forms, but Integer didn’t lose the crowd despite the risky posture..." - http://othercat.wordpress.com/
Singles released on sonicbids.com & radio3.CBC.ca:
While I was Sleeping
Indeed the humor (if any) in these juxtaposed titles is not lost on us.
EP Yet to be released: Groundstate
Our music provides a landscape of experimental and rudimentary structure and sound intertwined into the ideals expressed in our lyrical content. Conceptually, the project explores and investigates the chaotic realm of everyday life nestled in the themes of politics, technology and understanding of human function and dysfunction.
Musical influences include: A Silver Mt. Zion, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, A Perfect circle, Radiohead, Opeth, Tool, The Dresden Dolls and Incubus.
The current line up of musicians was established October 2007. However, Integer, in its previous incarnations has performed in Toronto several times and was well received.
Ron and Roland Santiago, twins and natives of Scarborough, and are graduated chemists working in Toronto. Peter Chalas, a physics graduate and also grew up in the greater Toronto area.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516158
|
__label__wiki
| 0.921248
| 0.921248
|
Raquel Rodriguez & The Big Guys
Band R&B Soul
Share Raquel Rodriguez & The Big Guys's EPK!
Album out June 2013, EP out now
Inspired by the likes of Etta James, Amy Winehouse, Adele, and others, Raquel Rodriguez has distinguished herself as a rising star in the competitive L.A. music scene. An alumnus of L.A.’s highly prestigious Hamilton High School Academy of Music, in 2009, Rodriguez auditioned for and gained entrance into one of the most selective jazz studies programs in the nation - USC’s famed Thornton School of Music. In the spring of 2012, Raquel successfully received her B.M., Music Industry degree with a minor in Jazz Studies.
Raquel plays with a 6-piece backing band, The Big Guys, comprised of many of her classmates from Thornton’s Jazz Studies department. All members of the group are accomplished in their own right; in combination with the voice, interpretive talent and charisma of Raquel, they are a force.
Since forming almost two years ago, the group has performed at some of the top venues in Southern California, including the Roxy, Key Club and the House of Blues. Most recently, the band has opened for hip-hop superstars J. Cole and Big Sean at the A.S.I. Hip-Hop and Comedy Fest hosted by CSU-Los Angeles and played at the Carmel Arts & Film Festival. Most notably, Raquel and her band won the nationwide 2012 College Battle of the Bands. As a result, they recorded Raquel’s original piece, “Already Beat” with Grammy-winning producer Andrew Scheps at the renowned Village Studios in Los Angeles
After releasing her 6-song self-titled EP in January of 2012, Raquel and company are hard at work putting together their first full-length album, which will feature all new original material penned by the singer herself.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516160
|
__label__wiki
| 0.746378
| 0.746378
|
Vox & Box
Band Jazz Pop
Share Vox & Box's EPK!
CD: Vox & Box (available at http://www.voxandbox.com/list.html)
A native of Northampton Ma, Nate is a former horn player turned award winning a cappella vocalist who has traveled extensively with various acts honing his skills of channelling the horn lines in his head through his voice. Utilizing all of his range, Nate uses his voice as a true jazz instrument that has its foundation built on the improvisation and style of the classic jazz vocalist.
A native of New Jersey ( Northampton Ma Resident since 2001 ), John started his professional musical career during the 13 years he lived in Boston. After a brief stint at Berklee College of Music, he performed for years in numerous Boston based bands then segued into a career Managing and Road Managing Major Label Artists. In recent years, John moved on from a professional life in the Music Biz and returned to playing Jazz/Soul music with an emphasis on exploring the boundaries of what two musicians (namely one voice and one guitar) can produce.
Vox & Box established itself in the FALL of 2003 when John and Nate met and whipped open a REAL BOOK. There have been dozens of gigs and numerous original compositions since then.
Although this type of pairing isn't completely unheard of ( Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass; Tuck and Patti)...John and Nate's diverse musical backgrounds present a unique, and oftentimes visceral, approach to playing a "standard" that isn't often seen.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516161
|
__label__wiki
| 0.80053
| 0.80053
|
Boeing will provide the International Space Station’s (ISS) growing research capabilities and commercial opportunities with new solar arrays to increase the orbiting laboratory’s power supply.
The modification to Boeing’s ISS sustainment contract with NASA calls for Boeing to deliver six additional solar arrays to NASA for installation beginning in 2021.
The new 19-metre-by-six-metre arrays will together produce more than 120 kilowatts of electricity from the sun’s energy, enough to power more than 40 average US homes.
Combined with the eight original, larger arrays, this advanced hardware will provide a 20 to 30 per cent increase in power, helping to maximise the station’s capabilities for years to come.
The arrays will provide ISS with electricity to sustain its systems and equipment, plus augment the electricity available to continue a wide variety of public and private experiments and research in the station’s unique microgravity environment.
John Mulholland, ISS vice president and program manager for Boeing said, “These arrays, along with other recent upgrades to the station’s power system and data-transfer speed, will ensure that ISS remains an incubator and business model in the commercial space ecosystem for the coming decades. Access to this unique lab will continue to pay off as researchers study the challenges of future deep-space exploration and make discoveries that improve life on Earth.”
Most of the ISS systems, including its communications systems, batteries and scientific equipment racks, have been upgraded since humans began a continuous presence on the orbiting laboratory in November 2000. Two International Docking Adapters, manufactured by Boeing, have been attached to the ISS to allow commercial spacecraft to dock autonomously to the station. Boeing is the prime contractor for ISS sustainment; the company’s studies have determined that the ISS could safely operate beyond 2030 if NASA and its international partners choose to do so.
“When it comes to game-changing research and technological development, the space station is currently hitting its full stride,” Mullholland added.
Deployable Space Systems of Santa Barbara, California, will produce the structure of the new arrays, including the canister and frame that will unfurl to hold the solar-array blankets in place.
Deployable Space Systems also built the canister, frame and solar array blanket for a prototype of the new arrays that was successfully tested aboard the ISS in June 2017.
Spectrolab, a Boeing company based in Sylmar, California, produces the arrays’ XTJ Prime solar cells, which will be some of the most powerful ever launched into space. They are the same solar cells that power Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft in flight and while docked to the ISS. Spectrolab also produced the station’s original solar cells, as well as the solar cells tested on the prototype.
“The XTJ Prime space solar cells are much more efficient than any of their predecessors and are fit to support the cutting-edge research being done aboard the International Space Station,” said Tony Mueller, president of Spectrolab.
Boeing is the world’s largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defence, space and security systems, and global services. As the top US exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries and leverages the talents of a global supplier base.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516163
|
__label__cc
| 0.533724
| 0.466276
|
Grand Szekler Assembly
Szekler National Assembly
To Dr Victor Viorel Ponta, Prime Minister of Romania Esteemed Mr Prime Minister
We are satisfied anfd greatful to receive your bureau’s response to our statement, adopted by the protesters at Marosvásárhely on March 10 of this year – the day of Szekler liberty. We are satisfied with, and graceful for your readiness for dialogue, the fact that you substantially addressed the majority of the issues we brought up, that you find the protection of Romania’s cultural diversity necessary, that you expressed intent for Romania to respect its commitments, and the effort to “recognize higher level standards for the protection of the rights of persons belonging to minorities”.
At the same time, please allow us, to voice our reservations and criticism against multiple statements of the letter. We hope that you will appreciate our honesty.
Your statement regarding Recommendation 1201/1993 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, is unacceptable. This statement, to be precise:
“This document has no binding legal value; consequently, it does not create an obligation of territorial reorganization for the states, or an obligation to guarantee territorial autonomy.”
According to this response, it may be necessary to analyze both the legal binding value of the above mentioned recommendation, as well as the resulting obligation: guaranteeing territorial autonomy.
Upon joining the Council of Europe, Romania made a one sided, voluntary commitment, to fulfill the requirements set out in this document. This commitment was approved by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe through Opinion 176/1993. (The Assembly “appreciates the written declaration of the Romanian authorities in which they commit themselves to basing their policy regarding the protection of minorities on the principles laid down in Recommendation 1201/1993”.)
The reaction of the assembly to the the statement of Ion Iliescu, who, like you, denied the obligatory nature of the recommendation, is well known. The Assembly adopted Order 508, based on the Columberg report. This regulation confirms, that the voluntary commitments made by the member states during accession are obligatory.
In resolution 1123/1997 on honoring obligations and commitments by Romania, the assembly clearly wishes that Romania commits itself to “basing its policy regarding the protection of minorities upon the principles laid down in Recommendation 1201 (1993)”.
Resolution 1115/1997 on Setting up of an Assembly committee on the honoring of obligations and commitments by member states of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) took the place of Order 508, while preserving the obligatory nature of the commitments of member states, as well as the possibility to “penalize persistent failure to honor obligations and commitments accepted”.
The recommendation also gained binding legal effect through the contract between Hungary and Romania on understanding, cooperation and good neighborliness (1996), in which the contracting parties agreed to treat its dispositions as legal obligations.
Respecting and fulfilling the international commitments of the states is a fundamental requirement of stability, their denial or bypassing interpretation is incredibly serious and unacceptable for the international community. For this reason I ask you, prime minister, to reconsider your statement on the non-obligatory nature of the recommendation and ensure that Romania fulfills its commitments undertaken both during accession to the Council of Europe, as well as those undertaken as part of the bilateral contract between Hungary and Romania.
Once we settled that recommendation 1201/1993 is obligatory for Romania, We will quote article 11, which is relevant to our autonomy aspirations: “In the regions where they are in a majority the persons belonging to a national minority shall have the right to have at their disposal appropriate local or autonomous authorities or to have a special status, matching the specific historical and territorial situation and in accordance with the domestic legislation of the state.”
What we asked, and continue to ask, is that we start a dialogue concerning the practical applications of these dispositions: Szeklerland must receive a special status matching its specific historical and territorial situation and autonomous authorities, based on an organic law. For these aspirations, we are seen as the enemy, labeled with pejorative adjectives, threatened by the authorities, and our mayors are constantly harassed for the use of our symbols.
You have found it important to mention that “the Advisory Committee for the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the Committee of Experts for the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, as well as the Council of Europe’s Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General praised the measures Romania has taken for the internal consolidation of the framework of minority-protection, and the application of the dispositions of the two conventions”.
Presenting the situation would’ve been more realistic if you had also referenced the recently adopted report of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, regarding Romania. This report contains 52 (!) recommendations regarding changes to certain laws, procedures or practices, 13 of them being repeated requests that were not met in the wake of earlier orders. Regarding the Szekler flag, the committee brings attention to the Romanian authorities’ hypocrisy, and asks that the authorities apply the principle of equal treatment regarding the use of national symbols.
Regarding the territorial-administrative reform, you stated that “there is no international regulation that would prescribe a given territorial-administrative structure for the states. In this process, the states must consider efficiency and bringing decision making as close to the citizens as possible, as well as to avoid measures that clearly violate the interests of national minorities”.
Let us make it clear that we never stated that a given territorial-administrative structure would be prescribed for the states, however we did call attention multiple times to standards of international law that must necessarily be taken into consideration during any form of administrative reform:
- The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which Romania ratified with law 282/2007, and which clearly states in article 7: “In respect of regional or minority languages, within the territories in which such languages are used and according to the situation of each language, the Parties shall base their policies, legislation and practice on the following objectives and principles:… b) the respect of the geographical area of each regional or minority language in order to ensure that existing or new administrative divisions do not constitute an obstacle to the promotion of the regional or minority language in question;”
- Article 16 of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, which states that “The Parties shall refrain from measures which alter the proportions of the population in areas inhabited by persons belonging to national minorities and are aimed at restricting the rights and freedoms flowing from the principles enshrined in the present framework Convention.”
- The European Charter of Local Self-Government, ratified by Romania through law 199/1997, which regulates the protection of borders of territorial-administrative units, and states that “Changes in local authority boundaries shall not be made without prior consultation of the local communities concerned, possibly by means of a referendum where this is permitted by statute.”
Similar dispositions are contained within the contract between Hungary and Romania on mutual understanding, cooperation and good neighborliness, which declares: “The Contracting Parties, without infringing upon measures taken within their general integration policies, shall refrain from any policy or practice with the purpose to assimilate the persons belonging to national minorities against their will and shall protect these persons against any action which aims at such assimilation. They shall also refrain from measures which, by altering the proportion of population in areas inhabited by persons belonging to national minorities are directed against the rights and freedoms which result from international standards and norms mentioned in paragraph 1 of this article.”
You also stated that “The Szekler National Council’s arguments referring to the Romania violating regulation 1059/2003 on the creation of the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics, in unfounded, seeing as the purpose of the regulation is to create a common category for statistical purposes, that allows union level gathering, compilation and distribution of statistics”.
It is a well known fact that in Romania, the development regions coincide with the NUTS2 territorial units, which are important means of accessing EU monetary funds, and are elements of the EU’s cohesion policies, and in Romania, they serve as the foundation of certain administrative-territorial reform projects as well, in particular, those of your government. A sincere approach to the matter of the administrative reform addresses this project as well, a project that would integrate Szeklerland, where the Hungarians make up 75% of the population, into the central region, where their percentage is reduced below 30%. The intent is so obvious, that it needs no further supplement.
But let’s just take a look at the status of NUTS2 regions on a European level. Regulation 1059/2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics states, that “non-administrative units must reflect economic, social, historical, cultural, geographical or environmental circumstances”.
In accordance with article 3, section 5, “if for a given level of NUTS no administrative units of a suitable scale exist in a Member State, in accordance with the criteria referred to in paragraph 2, this NUTS level shall be constituted by aggregating an appropriate number of existing smaller contiguous administrative units.” In Romania, NUTS2 regions were created with the aggregation of an appropriate number of counties, but while ignoring certain prescribed criteria: “This aggregation shall take into consideration such relevant criteria as geographical, socio-economic, historical, cultural or environmental circumstances”.
The cultural and historical criteria were respected in all of Europe, with the exception of Romania (as shown by the annexes to regulation 1059/2003). In this regard, the example of some provinces where the threshold regarding population limits have been disregarded in order to protect the autochthonous minority of the region, can be considered as constructive. The regulation prescribes minimum and maximum population thresholds to individual territorial units, this being 800,000 and 3,000,000 in the case of NUTS2 regions. However, looking over the existing regions we find Valle d’Aosta in Italy, with a population of only 130,000. So, how did it become a separate NUTS2 region? Well, according to the “regulation, individual non-administrative units may however deviate from these thresholds because of particular geographical, socio-economic, historical, cultural or environmental circumstances”. Seeing as Valle d’Aosta has historically rooted cultural traditions, due to its autochthonous French population, the Italian authorities respected regulation 1059/2003, which according to your perception, does not prescribe any obligations for Romania. What’s more, the name of Valle d’Aosta appears in two languages in regulation 1059/2003: Valle d’Aosta and Vallée d'Aoste – this goes beyond the minimal obligations, and that’s because Italy isn’t looking to fulfill just the minimal obligations when it comes to protection of minorities. When Romania reaches this level of democracy, Szeklerland will not only be an independent NUTS2 region, but, thanks to the cooperation of the romanian authorities, will also appear in the annex of this regulation under the name of Ţinutul Secuiesc/Székelyföld. The autonomous province of Bolzano/Bozen, has a similar status with only 510,000 inhabitants.
In the letter you addressed to us, you restated the idea, that the administrative reform is „a means of efficient administration of the state, the opportunity to chose the best form of government”, as if the current map of the development regions, the foundation for your administrative reform, would guarantee efficiency. This cannot be further from the truth. The change in GDP per capita in the past years in the central region, clearly shows the inefficiency of the aggregation of the six counties, as well as the indirect discrimination of the areas with an hungarian majority.
The following table and ethnic map reflect the changes in GDP and the artificially maintained continous impoverishment of Szeklerland, when compared with the counties with a romanian majority, which are favored by the romanian regional development policies.
2008 (euro)
Hargita
You also stated that „the states are not obligated to promote an administrative-territorial reform based on ethnic criteria or segregation. What’s more, such a reform could seriously affect the functioning of state, the coexistence between majority and minority, as well as the protection of the fundamental rights of persons living on the territory of that state.”
Neither the document addressed to you, or any other document does not contain the words ‘ethnic’ or ‘segregation’. We have never asked to be isolated, or separated from the rest of the country. What we asked for is the recognition of the Szekler community and Szeklerland with its cultural, linguistic and religious particularities, in accordance with Romania’s international commitments. We even ask autonomy for all inhabitants of Szeklerland, as Szeklerland is, in our conception, a historical, cultural region. To call this aspiration ‘segregation’, is an intentional, malicious distortion of our endeavor, and promises nothing good for the community to which I belong.
The consistency and vehemence with which you deny the concept of ‘ethnic criterion’, does remind us of one text which contains this expression. But we were not the ones who composed this text – I’m talking about the administrative law 2/1968, currently in effect:
“Article 3: A county is made up of cities and villages – the base territorial administrative units of the state – in function of the geographical, economic, socio-political and ethnic circumstances, as well as the population’s cultural and traditional relations.”
After reading this text, the origin of the expression ‘ethnic criterion’ in your letter, as well as the texts issued by other authorities becomes clear, but so does your intention – contrary with Romania’s commitments – to remove this criteria from all of the state’s administrative laws. By doing so, Hungarians in Romania would lose one of their recognized rights.
It is obvious that retaining this criterion during the creation of the new regions, as well as the application of the principle of subsidiarity – that you yourself have referenced – would lead to Szeklerland’s autonomy, which is treated by the Romanian political class with prejudice and superstition.
It is difficult to interpret your following statement: “Consequently, Romania has no obligation, based on European law, to change the internal administrative order of the country, and to create administrative-territorial units based on ethnic, cultural or historical criteria.”
An administrative reform is currently underway in Romania, a ‘change to the internal administrative order’. This is why you initiated the revision of the constitution and commissioned the CONREG report in 2013, so you can later justify the improvised creation of the development regions in 2003. Contrary to your claim, during the creation of the new administrative units, the ethnic, cultural and historical criteria remain mandatory. Undeniably, it is not only mandatory, but also rational and democratic. Without it, we can speak of neither efficiency, nor stability.
Resolution 1985/2014, adopted not long ago by the Council of Europe, states this in article 10.3.2: The assembly calls on the Council of Europe member states, to “take into account, irrespective of economic motives, the added value of historic regions in terms of culture, language, traditions and religions when defining/reforming the administrative and/or territorial structure/units of the country or of certain State institutions”, similarly to the above mentioned international agreements Romania has ratified.
Finally, we need to talk about your insistence on trying to justify your government’s minority policies with the lack of Romania’s international obligations. Is there really no chance for Romania to – as you say – “obligate itself to identify the best means to provide the highest level standards when protecting the rights of persons’ belonging to minorities”, or to do more than the minimal application of the international norms? Article 12 of recommendation 1201/1993 states that “nothing in this protocol may be construed as limiting or restricting an individual right of persons belonging to a national minority or a collective right of a national minority embodied in the legislation of the contracting state or in an international agreement to which that state is a party”. This requirement assumes the possibility that there are member states of the Council of Europe which rather than denying the mandatory nature of their international commitments, or constantly seeking limiting or bypassing interpretations, provide broader rights to their minorities than what the recommendation prescribes. What’s more, the requirement does not permit interpretations that would limit the collective rights of minorities already recognized in international treaties or the laws of the state. Both the letter and the mentality of the recommendation differs from your approach the minority rights, both individual and collective. Consequently, there’s a major difference between providing “the highest level standards when protecting the rights of persons’ belonging to minorities”, and seeking the mandatory minimum set out by international norms, as well as the limiting and bypassing interpretation of those norms.
I’m not surprised that you claim international law only recognizes individual rights. In this context, it would’ve been important for the Romanian public is introduced to the failed amending propositions, rejected by the Council of Europe during the adoption of resolution 1985/2014 that would’ve erased the concept of collective rights from the document.
In conclusion, we state again our belief that social peace can only be guaranteed through dialogue – this in necessary to creating an atmosphere of tolerance as well, which is also called for by the ECRI report, and in its spirit we ask, that you accept audience with a committee made up of representatives of the Szekler National Council, and Szeklerland’s local authorities, so we can directly present you our conception regarding Szeklerland’s future. We, along with the majority population, are interested in making sure that the guarantee of the rights of national minorities happens with the application of the positive European experiences.
Izsák Balázs
President of the Szekler National Council
Marosvásárhely, June 20. 2014
Szekler National Council
Sfântu Gheorghe, Konsza Samu street 21.
Covasna County – Romania
The Bank Account Number of Szekler National Council
Siculitas Asociation
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516168
|
__label__wiki
| 0.800444
| 0.800444
|
Lancet study estimates 11,800 Taiwanese were infected with coronavirus by July
Taipei Veteran's Hospital estimates Taiwan had 25 times more COVID-19 cases than official number in July
12643 Tweet
By Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
(Pixabay photo) (Pixabay photo)
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — According to a study of blood serum specimens carried out over the summer and published in the medical journal Lancet, Taipei Veteran's Hospital estimates that approximately 11,800 people in Taiwan could have been infected with the Wuhan coronavirus back in July, but the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) is questioning this conclusion.
Over the summer, Taipei Veterans General Hospital Department of Pathology's serological survey of over 14,000 people found that 11 persons had antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 in their blood. Based on these results, the researchers estimated that the positivity rate in Taiwan is five per 10,000, which based on its population, is equivalent to about 11,800 people.
In order to determine the seroprevalence of COVID-19 in Taiwan, the research team collected and tested leftover blood samples of people over the age of 20 in outpatient and emergency departments who had no symptoms of the virus and had not tested positive for it. The samples were taken from one week in May and one week in July of this year, with the July samples having been collected one week after the four-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday.
According to the researchers, who published their findings in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific on Oct. 1, out of a total of 14,765 samples that had been taken, half came from men and a half from women, 90 percent of whom were outpatients. Seven of the samples from May tested positive for serum antibodies while four from July were found to have the antibodies.
Of the 11 seropositive samples, seven came from males and four came from females. In terms of age breakdown, four were between the ages of 60 and 69, two were over 90 years of age, and there was one each in the 30s, 40s, 50s, 70s, and 80s age groups.
The study's estimate of 11,800 positive cases in Taiwan was more than 25 times the official number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases at the end of July (467). The authors of the study emphasized that Taipei Veteran's General Hospital is a medical center with 2,600 beds in a densely populated city.
They believe that the estimated positivity rate at the hospital should not be lower than the overall seropositive rate in Taiwan. However, they also stressed that even if those numbers prove to be accurate, they are far lower than most other countries and demonstrate that Taiwan's "current containment protocols emphasizing mask wearing, hand washing, social distancing and mandatory quarantine for all incomers are effective."
In response to the news of the study, which had only been picked up by Taiwanese media on Tuesday (Dec. 15), CECC Spokesman Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said that because the research team has no way of knowing whether there are any confirmed cases, contacts with confirmed cases, or persons who returned from overseas among these 11 persons who tested positive for the antibodies, he remarked that the data can only be regarded as an "inference." Chuang insisted that there should not be a rush to make any "hasty" conclusions about the spread of the virus to communities or Taiwan as a whole.
Covid infections
Wuhan coronavirus
COVID-19 infections
Taiwanese university releases book on its COVID-19 experience
Taiwan cancels Lantern Festival event as COVID cluster expands
Vietnamese caregiver tests positive for Covid in northern Taiwan hospital
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516169
|
__label__wiki
| 0.524947
| 0.524947
|
Musician San Diego
Peter Bolland
September 1, 2018 September 3, 2018 Yosef Matos 0 Comments Musician
I was born in the small town of West Paterson, New Jersey, the third son of Dutch immigrants Hilbert and Amy Bolland. At the age of four our family moved west, settling in the quiet coastal town of Ventura, California — golden hills, lemon blossoms, fog horns, oil derricks, train trestles, and long, empty beaches. My friends and I divided our time between surfing, playing guitar, hiking the back country, and arguing philosophy. The die was cast.
After a few years at Ventura College, I transferred to the University of California at Santa Barbara, eventually earning a BA in religious studies, quite a feat considering the fact that we lived right on the beach and endured the never-ending distractions of college life in Isla Vista. After graduation I drifted, paying the bills with a grocery store job, renting a house in Santa Barbara with a few roommates, and focusing on my primary tasks — surfing and playing guitar. All under the grip of a growing restlessness.
Then I fell in love with Lori. When we got married in 1985 something shifted in me — the boundaries of my little life began to dissolve. I heard the call to do more, be more, and serve more. I decided to become a philosophy professor.
We moved to San Diego in 1987 so I could go to graduate school at San Diego State University. I earned an MA in philosophy in December 1990 and began teaching at Southwestern College a few weeks later in January 1991. For the next ten years I would be an adjunct instructor at various community colleges throughout the San Diego region.
Then in 2001 I was hired as a full time professor at Southwestern College, where I have been ever since.
All the while my artistic life continued to expand. I kept writing songs, playing in various bands, and performing as often as possible. I was in an acoustic duo called Jackson-Bolland with my friend Mark Jackson in the early nineties, a time of great foment in the San Diego singer-songwriter scene. We released a cassette of original material in 1993, recorded live at a coffeehouse called A Better World. We called that album Live at a Better World. It made sense at the time. Now that the Better World coffeehouse is long gone, people just think we have bad grammar. Then in 2002 I released my first solo CD Frame, recorded and produced by Michael Krewitsky. Michael really encouraged me to take it to the next level, and like any good producer, believed in me more than I believed in myself. He taught me all about making records — it’s because of Michael that I finally started taking music seriously, and began to believe I could do something really good. That album earned a Best Americana Album Award nomination at the 2003 San Diego Music Awards. And to support that album I had to form a band. For a few weeks we were called Peter Bolland and Broken Hills. Then we became The Coyote Problem.
The Coyote Problem would eventually go on to make two albums, Wire in 2005 and California in 2007, both produced by Sven-Erik Seaholm. Both albums earned the Best Americana Album prize at the San Diego Music Awards in their respective years. The Coyote Problem had a great run and an eclectic sound, opening for acts as diverse as Son Volt, Jason Mraz, and Blue Oyster Cult.
But running a rock and roll band isn’t easy. Rehearsal, booking, marketing, media, management, and long bar gigs late into the night began to take their toll. It was difficult to integrate that life into the increasing demands of academic life and my growing call to write a book. I had to let it go, so I fired myself from my own band. The Coyote Problem was a real creative high water mark in my life, and I’ll always be grateful to the good people who shared that path with me, both on stage and off.
Seven years after California, a lot of songs piled up. It was time to make another album, this time under my own name. I went back to master producer Sven-Erik Seaholm and together we made Two Pines. Drummer Bob Sale and bassist Jim Reeves brought their formidable talent to bear on these 14 songs, and I played everything else. The result is my most intimate, most honest album yet. We went for a warm, spare, muscular sound. And we got it.
My immersion in the San Diego music scene led to the opportunity to become a columnist for the San Diego Troubadour, a monthly independent music magazine. My column there called “Stages: Philosophy, Art, Culture, and Music” has run for nine years. This led to other writing opportunities, including features and a column about world spirituality in Unity Magazine called “A to Zen.”
In addition to my academic teaching at Southwestern College I also lecture extensively on a wide variety of philosophical, spiritual, and mythological subjects throughout the community at venues like The Chopra Center, The San Diego Vedanta Monastery, The Osher Institute of Life Long Learning at San Diego State University, Oasis San Diego, Vision: A Center for Spiritual Living, First Unitarian Universalist Church, and more. I am also a frequent guest speaker at a number of New Thought churches like the Unity Center, Unity of El Cajon, Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation, and Vision: A Center for Spiritual Living.
In my mind, all of these various modes of expression root back to a common core — the hunger to understand and the passion to connect. To me, philosophy, spirituality, and art are healing modalities — we turn to them to salve our wounds, bind our broken places, and cultivate our growth. Whether in song, in prose, or in oratory, I simply want to open up to the grandeur and depth of being alive. And when I look out into an audience, whether at a show, or at a talk, or in Satsang, I see in their eyes and hear in their questions the same hunger that drives my work. There is great joy in gathering together around shared inquiry, and great healing in the space we create when we step out of our busy lives to share a song, a question, our laughter, or a perennial truth. What we cannot do alone we can surely do together. This is why we gather — to feel the wisdom welling up through the cracks of our own lives. That is what all this work is about.
← Peter Rios
Mayra Razo →
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516180
|
__label__wiki
| 0.829435
| 0.829435
|
With The Range
MONDAY 7 p.m. Ritz Ybor, 1503 Seventh Ave., Ybor City. $25 and up. (813) 247-2555.
Being compared to Kate Bush is unfair. Chvrches frontwoman Lauren Mayberry handles the designation as Scotland's next-best export pretty well, though. Perhaps it's the 25-year-old Mayberry's non-musical credentials (masters in journalism, a law degree) that allow her to approach all the accolades and attention with grace, or maybe it's the sage wisdom of her older bandmates Iain Cook and Martin Doherty, who both are well into their 30s. Regardless, the band's synth-heavy manifestation of '80s-channeling electro-pop is perfect for the disco thanks to big ol' bombing beats (Gun) and Mayberry's keen sense of melody, which shines on the choruses of hits The Mother We Share and Recover. The band is unafraid to express its musical interests on stage - keep your fingers crossed for a cover of Whitney Houston's It's Not Right But It's Okay or Haim's Falling.
Kool Keith
With Serotonic, DJ 45Revolver
SUNDAY 7 p.m. Dunedin Brewery, 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin. (727) 736-0606.
Kool Keith has played stranger venues, but we've got a feeling that this set is going to be special. It happens on the last day of Dunedin Brewery's weekend-long Oktoberfest celebration, and the establishment's bright tanks and eccentric decor are the perfect backdrop for the 50-year-old Bronx native's head-scratching, undeniably cool rap anthems. Tongue-in-cheek, almost crass classics like rap staples Regular Girl and Sex Style have held their own just fine since they saw release in 1997, and material from his newest LP, Demolition Crash, finds Keith's effortless cold-cocked flow completely intact as he waxes on modern television (El Dorado - A.G. mentions the acclaimed HBO series The Wire), gets avant-garde with Rah Digga (Non Stop) and calls on his crackly, cooing, singing voice to deliver weird social commentary (Good Black Woman). We're willing to bet you'll never get to see such an iconic hip-hop figure in such unique venue, and you definitely won't get to sip on such delicious suds at the same time, either.
With Kastle
SUNDAY 9 p.m Ritz Ybor, 1503 Seventh Ave., Ybor City. $20-$25. (813) 247-2555.
Downtempo, trip-hop, experimental, post-party, chill, post-chill, post-post-chill. These are all descriptors that can be attached to the sound that Simon Greene has cultivated over the past decade. It's most fair, however, to just say that the 38-year-old producer is simply an innovator and a constant explorer of the sounds that can happen when humans marry the organic world to the one dictated by the beasts inside our technology. Greene, better known as Bonobo, is fully capable of sending a dancefloor into an incessant, sweaty sway (listen to his recent mix for Vice's Thump blog), but he is truly at his best in the quieter moments, when weird woodwind samples mate with strange jungle samples (Kong), lucid vocals create the sensation of drunkenness (Heaven For The Sinner), and lo-fi synths get dunked in hazy, tripped out backbeats (Kota). Kastle - whose Alicia Keys-sampling Stay Forever sounds like the soundtrack to a moon mission - opens what is sure to be a blissful evening.
With We Are In The Crowd, Fireworks, Candy Hearts
THURSDAY 6:30 p.m. Orpheum, 1915 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. $20-$25. (813) 248-9500.
The world still had Pepsi Blue and Tamagotchis. That's how long it's been since New Found Glory broke out of Coral Springs to become one of the country's first emo-punk superbands. Their big hit My Friends Over You probably soundtracked countless backseat makeout sessions, and while the band's heyday may have come and gone, they are still at it and making new music. A brand new song, Ready And Willing, is marked by the familiar crunchy guitars of NFG classics like All Downhill From Here and Hit Or Miss, and if the promise of reliving the good days isn't good enough, then the support on this show should do the trick. We Are In The Crowd exercise the same attitude and fierceness of an early Paramore, and Fireworks represent what it sounds like when indie rock tastefully dips its toes into the tricky waters of pop-punk.
THURSDAY 8 p.m. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 N McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. $32.50-$150. (727) 791-7400.
It's a little hard to believe that Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero have only 20 fingers between them. The Mexico City acoustic duo are true innovators of their instruments. Yes, the styles they take on - jazz, metal, blues, mariachi and rock - are traditional, but you'd be hard-pressed to find musicians who can weave them all together and then deconstruct them on a dime the way these two do. Recent television performances of The Soundmaker are jaw-dropping affairs, and the pair's tried-and-true cuts - Tamacun and Diablo Rojo from their 2006 self-titled album - can still invoke wonder and awe within anyone even halfway awake. They haven't been in the bay area since 2010, and with demand for their lightning-fast, laser-focused picking still at high levels, there is no telling when we'll get to see them again. Seeing material from a brand new album, this year's 9 Dead Alive, is an added bonus.
FRIDAY 8 p.m. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 N McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. $39.50-$150. (727) 791-7400.
Peter Frampton more than knew about Hummingbird In A Box when he made a May 2013 stop at Ruth Eckerd Hall. The 62-year-old debuted the mini-album's music just a month before, when the Cincinnati Ballet utilized it in their spring production. You read that correctly: Peter Frampton wrote music for the ballet. "A wonderfully freeing experience, there were no boundaries," he said, "we were able to push the composing envelope." A year later, Frampton returns to Clearwater to share Hummingbird with fans, and while they might not get any crazy talk-box solos, the seven-track effort isn't some kind of orchestral exercise drenched in fancy string arrangements. The title track is a carefully picked, spry acoustic offering complete with our hero's distinct vocals, and the album closer, Norman Wisdom, is a jazzy, downtempo, harmony-filled affair good enough to keep Baby, I Love Your Way in the rearview for at least one night.
With Touche Amore, Radkey
SUNDAY 6:30 p.m. Jannus Live, 200 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg. $32.50-$35. (727) 565-0550.
Rise Against's mid-2000s megahit Swing Life Away was a necessary evil. The sugary-sweet acoustic ballad injected the Chicago punks into every capillary of the alternative radio spectrum, and while it is certainly near the bottom of the band's lyrical best, it still made them household names. That's where Timothy McIlrath took the notoriety and ran, releasing a pair of powerful albums (Siren Song of the Counter Culture and The Sufferer & The Witness) that combined his unwavering commitment to social justice and exposing political misdoings with hard rock that married the abrasive sounds of hardcore to the choruses and melodies of pop-punk. The potency and legitimacy of McIlrath's message has grown less effective over the past few albums, and cynical critics may scoff at the success of Rise Against's latest (The Black Market debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200). But McIlrath and company are still holding onto the anger that fueled their initial rise, showing new fans a way to swim against the stream.
NOW HEAR THIS: One Direction
With 5 Seconds of Summer
FRIDAY 7 p.m. Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. $19.50-$99.50. (813) 350-6500.
About a year ago, my daughter Ava, 10-going-on-intense, taped a crinkled Tiger Beat picture of One Direction's Harry Styles on her bedroom wall. He was her newest crush, adoring Taylor Swift's ex-BF with giggly bursts of OMG. Today, well, she likes him fine, I guess, you know, kind of. She'll nonchalantly join the big-haired Brit for a sing-along when Story of My Life or One Thing comes on the radio. Harry's pic still hangs on her wall - not out of steadfast loyalty - but more because my daughter is simply used to it being there. Or maybe she's just too lazy to take it down. Somewhere in there is a metaphor for 1D's Raymond James Stadium show in Tampa on Friday, tickets for which went on sale the same time Ava fell in puppy love. Back then, 1D was the biggest boy band on the planet. Now there's argument to made that this show's opener, the Aussie cuties in 5 Seconds of Summer, are the buzzier hunks. There's a power shift going on for sure, and yet this bill has turned out to be fortuitous: Sure, one band is coming, one is cooling off a little - but all those girls (maybe even Ava Daly, if she's good) caught in the middle are going to scream their lungs out for one or the other or both. It'll be loud for someone, I can guarantee that. The shelf life of boy band and childhood are equally short; might as well enjoy both with as much volume as you can muster. - Sean Daly
Up next:'REAL HOUSEWIVES' COUPLE ARE FRAUDS - THE CRIMINAL KIND
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516181
|
__label__cc
| 0.536974
| 0.463026
|
Samsung just made an SSD for your phone
By Chuong Nguyen 04 January 2016
Samsung Portable SSD T3
If you're feeling blue that your latest smartphone doesn't ship with a microSD card slot to store all your high resolution photos and videos, Samsung has you covered. At CES 2016, Samsung unveiled a new portable external solid state T3 drive that can deliver up to 2TB of external storage for your next laptop, PC, tablet or smartphone.
The drive utilizes Samsung's Vertical NAND (V-NAND) technology to pack in as much storage as possible into a compact space. The Samsung Portable SSD T3 fits in your palm, and Samsung claims that the drive is smaller than the average business card. The drive measuers 2.9 x 2.3 x 0.41 inches (74 x 58 x 10.5mm). It weighs under two ounces (approximately 50 grams), making it suitable for mobile professionals who need access to large amounts of data.
And unlike hard disk drives, the Portable SSD T3 is more durable. It can withstand up to 1,500G of force, survive drops up two meters and be used in extreme temperatures.
Storage for your phone
The Samsung Portable SSD T3 comes in 250GB, 500GB, 1TB or 2TB capacities. The drive can connect to mobile devices using either a USB 3.1 Type C connector or USB 2.0. Samsung states the drive will work with "the latest Android smartphones and tablets, and computers with Windows or Mac OS."
Samsung's latest smartphones, including the Galaxy S6 series and the Galaxy Note 5, do not currently have a USB-C port. It's still unclear if the port will debut on Samsung's hotly rumored but unannounced Galaxy S7 smartphone. If the Galaxy S7 ships with a USB-C port, it will likely be compatible with Samsung's Portable SSD T3 drive.
For sensitive data storage, the T3 supports AES-256 encryption.
Pricing information is not yet available at this time, but the T3 is expected to ship next month in the United States, China, Korea and select European countries. It will be available worldwide at a later date.
Read our picks for the best SSDs
See more Storage news
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516185
|
__label__wiki
| 0.950483
| 0.950483
|
Filion, McClure O'Brien Award finalists as harness racing's top drivers
Tue., Dec. 20, 2016timer1 min. read
TORONTO - Once again, Sylvain Filion is a finalist for the O'Brien Award as Canada's top harness-racing driver.
The Milton resident won the award in 2012, 2014 and 2015 and is a finalist for this year's honour with Bob McClure of Elora. Filion, the leading money-earning driver this season, has guided 310 winners and amassed over $7.7 million in winnings.
Filion was the regular driver of O'Brien Award finalists Beyond Delight (two-year-old colt pacer), Emoticon Hanover (three-year-old filly trotter) and Yaris Bayama (two-year-old filly pacer).
McClure secured his first-ever O-Brien nomination after leading all Canadian drivers with 561 wins. He has also accumulated over $2.9 million in earnings.
Richard Morneau of Puslinch, last year's top trainer, is a finalist for this year's honour along with five-time winner Casie Coleman of Cambridge. Moreau leads all trainers with 249 wins and amassed nearly $4 million in earnings.
Coleman recorded 53 wins and over $2.8 million. Her stable included Bettling Line, an O'Brien finalist as three-year-old colt pacer who captured the Pepsi North America Cup and Little Brown Jug.
Travis Cullen of Rockton, Ont., and Rick Zeron, of Oakville, are the finalists for the O'Brien Award of Horsemanship. Cullen was nominated in this category last year and was the 2013 Future Star winner.
Cullen drove 239 winners and claimed $1.3 million in earnings while training 215 winners and earning $1.2 million. Zeron had 116 driving wins and $2.6 million in earnings while training 49 winners and registering $1.7 million in earnings.
The award winners will be announced Jan. 28 in Mississauga.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516189
|
__label__cc
| 0.606477
| 0.393523
|
Top 5 scary attractions in London
If you’re planning on a visit to London and want to get your heart racing with some scary tours and attractions, we’ve compiled a list of the most frightening and gruesome of them all.
1. The Tower of London
Founded in 1066, the Tower of London is a huge part of the city’s history. Although it is a castle, it also served as a prison, and over the centuries it has held members of the nobility that had been overthrown and those who committed treason. Some famous prisoners who were beheaded within the walls include Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey, and the Tower is the home of many spine-chilling tales such as those of the torture methods that were inflicted on the incarcerated. Even today, some of the graffiti created by the agonized prisoners are still visible on the tower walls, and black Ravens still circle the area that spot where the many executions took place.
2. Jack the Ripper Walking Tour
The Jack the Ripper Walking Tour London will send shivers up your spine as you learn all about one of the most famous serial killers in not only London, but the world. Jack the Ripper haunted London’s East End in 1888, committing gruesome murders of prostitutes. The tour will begin in Whitechapel before taking you to the sites of some of the Ripper’s victims and is a fascinating evening walk for anyone who wants to learn more about the Victorian killer or London’s East End. You’ll pass many landmarks on the route including Spitalfields market and Brick Lane Market that provide a perfect backdrop to the stories of these brutal murders that your guide will conjure up.
3.The Ghost Bus Tours
Hop on a Ghost Bus Tour for an eerie ride around the capital. Your bus conductor will enthrall you with grisly tales about the history of London while you enjoy the onboard spectacles. Don’t forget to say hello to the ‘surprise guest’ who will make an impromptu appearance at some point in the 75-minute journey from Trafalgar Square to Whitehall, via Fleet Street to hear about the demon barber Sweeney Todd and then to Tower Bridge. This tour is not for the faint-hearted, nor those who don’t enjoy audience participation.
4.The London Dungeons
The London Dungeons are always popular with tourists visiting the capital so be wary of queues. Once inside, you’ll be greeted by costumed actors who will take you on a journey through the dungeons and recount the goriest days of London’s past. You’ll learn about the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Jack the Ripper, the Great Fire and the Plague and there are always new surprises for visitors who have been before. The actors can appeal to anyone, making it a great option for the family.
5.The Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret
Above St Thomas’ Church stands the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret which was once a medieval chapel that offered respite to the patients of St Thomas’ Hospital. The attic was rediscovered in 1962 and is filled with medieval relics, and the operating theatre still has the wooden table where treatments took place. This attraction gives you an insight into the medical profession 150 years ago and all of its gruesome practices.
Written by RM Bulseco at 12:32 AM
Labels: europe, travel tips
PHOTO DIARY: My Top Ten Favorite Travel Photos
Pastanni: Making Italian Pinoy
So it's official: Taiwan is Visa-Free for Filipinos!
Q&A: What I've Been Up To Lately
7 Things I Learned About South Korea
Taipei Diaries: Elephant Mountain Trail
The Best Adventure Holidays for All the Family
A Quick Trip to the Mountains
Travel Thoughts: Hotel Preferences
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516191
|
__label__wiki
| 0.836483
| 0.836483
|
A Look Ahead (March 29)
For the Times Record News Richard Carter
BRAVE COMBO POLKA NIGHT AT THE ROYAL: 8 p.m. March 30. Royal Theater, 113 E. Main St. $20. Doors open at 7 p.m. $20. Royaltheater.org or 574-2489
TUBA FOOLS DAY WITH DR. CHRISTOPHER VIVIO: 7:30 p.m. April 2. Akin Auditorium, 3410 Taft Blvd. Free. 397-4267.
MIDWESTERN SINGERS: 7:30 p.m. April 4. Burns Chapel, MSU, 3410 Taft Blvd. Free. 397-4267.
STONEY LARUE: 8 p.m. April 5. Boulevard Night Club, 3915 Kell Boulevard East. $15 advance, $18 at the door, $3 upcharge for minors. For more information, go to Boulevardnightclub.com
WICHITA FALLS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: WFSO FINALE @ AKIN: 7:30 p.m. April 6 and 3 p.m. April 7, Akin Auditorium, 3410 Taft Blvd. 723-6202.
MSU DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC BRASS CONCERT: 7:30 p.m. April 9. Akin Auditorium, 3410 Taft Blvd. Free. 397-4267.
“WOMEN WILL BE HEARD” MSU DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC: 7:30 p.m. April 11. Akin Auditorium, 3410 Taft Blvd. Free. 397-4267.
FOR KING & COUNTRY, JOSH BALDWIN: 7 p.m. April 11, 2019. Kay Yeager Coliseum, 1000 5th St. $20 to $65. 716-5500
CODY JINKS: April 12. Kay Yeager Coliseum, 1000 5th St. 716-5500
UNIVERSITY JAZZ ENSEMBLE MSU DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC: 7:30 p.m. April 12. Akin Auditorium, 3410 Taft Blvd. Free. 397-4267.
WESTERN FLYERS, DON DIEGO TRIO: 7 p.m. April 13. Royal Theater, 113 E. Main St. $30. Royaltheater.org or 574-2489
SYMPHONIC BAND - MSU DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC: 4 p.m. April 14. Akin Auditorium, 3410 Taft Blvd. Free. 397-4267.
PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE - MSU DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC: 7:30 p.m. April 15. Akin Auditorium, 3410 Taft Blvd. Free. 397-4267.
REO SPEEDWAGON: 8 p.m. May 1, 2019. Kay Yeager Coliseum, 1000 5th St. Tickets at Kay Yeager Coliseum Box Office, www.WFMPEC.com and (940) 716-5500.
MOVIES AT THE MARKET – “MARY POPPINS RETURNS”: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. March 29. Downtown Wichita Falls Farmers Market, 713 Ohio. Free. 322-4525.
COWBOY TRUE
COWBOY TRUE: 6:30 p.m. March 29 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 30. The Forum, 2120 Speedway. Free The 5:30 p.m. Saturday Cowboy Up dinner and auction is sold out. 766-3347.
WICHITA FALLS – WICHITA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT HEALTH FAIR 2019: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 30. WFWCPHD, 1700 3rd St. Free. 761-7698.
ONE YEAR CELEBRATION – WICHITA FALLS BREWING COMPANY. Noon to midnight, March 30. Wichita Falls Brewing Company, 701 Indiana. Bands, BBQ and beer. Indiana St will be blocked off. 264-4677.
ROBERT RODRIGUEZ 1ST ANNUAL BENEFIT CONCERT: 6 to 10 p.m. March 30. Memorial Auditorium, 1300 7th St. $20, $30 and $40. 716-5500 or www.WFMPEC.com.
TOP OF TEXAS MARKET: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 30 and 11 a.m. to 4 March 31. MPEC, 1000 5th St. $6 at the door. www.topoftexasantiques.com and 723-0623.
THE JAMES HOGGARD READING SERIES: DEVIN MURPHY: 7 p.m. April 4. Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU Texas, 2 Eureka Circle. 397-6249 or John.schulze@msutexas.edu.
RED RIVER READING SERIES: “VOICES” RELEASE PARTY: 4 p.m. April 29. Legacy Hall Multipurpose Room, Midwestern State University, 3400 Taft. Free. John.schulze@msutexas.edu.
MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH
A MAGICAL EVENING WITH GLENN MORSHOWER: 7 p.m. April 4. Grace Church, 5214 Stone Lake Drive. $25. Star of “24” and “The Resident.” Tickets $25 at 691-1903 or www.hthcf.org.
NATURE EVENT
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE 2018/2019 CONCERT TOUR: 10:30 a.m. April 4. Memorial Auditorium, 1300 7th St. Watch tour guide Stephen Fite take viewers through the Jungle and Rain Forest. $6 per seat, call (800) 234-9228
THE WESTERN HOOTENANNY: 7 to 10:30 p.m. April 5. BBQ and steak dinner benefits the Wichita Falls Ballet Theatre. Downtown Wichita Falls Farmers Market. $55 to $75. 733-3325.
THE WESTERN BALLET: 7 to 9:30 p.m. May 3. Wichita Falls Memorial Auditorium, 1300 7th St. $15 to $35. www.wfmpec.com
FASHION BENEFIT
FAITH FASHION BOUTIQUE: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 5 and 6. First Presbyterian Church, 3601 Taft Boulevard. Benefits Faith Refuge. $5, free for College students with I.D. 723-5663.
WINE & BEER FESTIVAL
RED RIVER WINE & BEER FESTIVAL: 6 to 10 p.m. April 6. J.S. Bridwell Ag. Center, 111 N. Burnett. Sample wine and crafty beer. $25 advance, $30 at the door. For information. Please go to www.RedRiverWineandBeerFestival.com
THOR RUN
THOR: TEXOMAS HELLACIOUS OBSTACLE RUN: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 6. Lucy Park, 101 Sunset Drive. 5K benefit mud run. $50 adults, $30 children (until April 5). www.Wfthor.com
WICHITA FALLS PARKS & RECREATION ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT: 3 to 4 p.m. April 6. Lucy Park, Sunset Drive. Free. 3 years to 2nd grade. 761-7490.
MEALS ON WHEELS BENEFIT
HIGH HEELS FOR HOT MEALS: 6 to 9 p.m. April 11. The Forum, 2120 Speedway. $75 per person. Contact 322-6232 for more information.
GREEK BAKE SALE: 8 a.m. until sold out, April 20. Lunch at 11 p.m. Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, 3804 Old Seymour Rd. Advance orders call 704-4125.
WICHITA FALLS PRCA RODEO: 7:30 to 10 p.m. April 26 and 27. Kay Yeager Coliseum, 1000 5th St. $8, $14 and $20 in advance, and $12, $18 and $24 at the gate. WichitaFallsPRCArodeo.org.
DECORATOR HOUSE
9th ANNUAL DECORATOR SHOW HOUSE BENEFITTING WICHITA FALLS FAITH MISSION: 11 to 6 p.m. April 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 27 and 12:30 to 4 p.m. April 28. 2014 Clarinda. Admission is $12, Contact Lyka at 723-5663 or go to event page on Facebook.com to buy tickets.
HOG HUNT
THE BIG COUNTRY VETERANS HELI HOG HUNT: April 26 to 28. Circle Bar Ranch, Truscott Texas. Contact Tom, Becky or Colton at Olsen-Stelzer Boot Co. (940) 691-8102 or (940) 781-8801.
“CRY IT OUT”: 7:30 p.m. Mar. 29 (Parent’s Night Out is Mar 29 – see BackdoorTheatre.org for more information) and March 30 (Crybaby Matinee at 2 p.m. March 30 – no dinner). Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Play runs through to April 23. Backdoor Theatre Dinner Stage, 501 Indiana. $12 to $21. Dinner is $16 extra. 322-5000.
“SISTER ACT”: 7:30 p.m. April 5 and 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. April 6 (for three weeks). Wichita Theatre, 10th and Indiana. 723-9037 or www.wichitatheatre.com.
2019 FESTIVAL OF STUDENT-PRODUCED ONE-ACT PLAYS: 7:30 p.m. Apr. 12 and 13. Bea Wood Studio Theatre, 3410 Taft Blvd. $5. 397-4393.
“LOVE IS IN THE AIR” SPRING MUSICAL REVUE BY MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY THEATRE: 7 to 8:30 p.m. April 26. The Forum, 2120 Speedway Ave. $5 http://msufineartstickets.universitytickets.com
“MAMMA MIA”: May 10 to June 1. Backdoor Theatre Main Stage, 501 Indiana. 322-5000.
“LITTLEST MERMAID” Opens in June. Wichita Theatre, 10th and Indiana. 723-9037 or www.wichitatheatre.com.
“DISNEY FROZEN JR.” 7 p.m. June 7; 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. June 8; 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. June 15, 2 p.m. June 16: 7 p.m. June 21; 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. June 22. $15 plus tax. Wichita Theatre, 10th and Indiana. 723-9037 or www.wichitatheatre.com. WITH CRYSTAL PALACE DANCE AFTER PARTY (after each “Frozen Jr.” showing except June 21). Stage 2 Dinner Theatre. $7 (limited seating).
“KALAMAZOO”: June 14 to 29. Backdoor Theatre Dinner Stage, 501 Indiana. 322-5000
“FREAKY FRIDAY” SUMMER YOUTH MUSICAL: July 12 to 27. Backdoor Theatre Main Stage, 501 Indiana. 322-5000.
“DISASTER!”: 7:30 p.m. Aug 9 to 31. Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Backdoor Theatre Dinner Stage, 501 Indiana. $12 to $21. Dinner is $16 extra. 322-5000
AFTER HOURS ARTWALK: 6 to 9 p.m. April 4. Downtown Wichita Falls. Check out art all over downtown. Free. 322-4525.
ANGRY GIRLS ART COLLECTIVE EXHIBIT: 6 to 9 p.m. April 4. 9th Street Studios, 920 9th St. In Connection with the After Hours Artwalk. 781-8841.
AN EXHIBIT BY CHRIS MAYFIELD: April 5 to June 15, 2019. What’s Up, Downstairs. Kemp Center for the Arts, 1300 Lamar St. 767-2787 or kempcenter.org.
AN EXHIBIT BY SHARON GIBSON-BLY: April 12 to June 15, 2019. NorthLight Gallery. Kemp Center for the Arts, 1300 Lamar St. 767-2787 or kempcenter.org.
AN EXHIBIT BY ADAM BALLARD: April 12 to June 15, 2019. West End Studio. Kemp Center for the Arts, 1300 Lamar St. 767-2787 or kempcenter.org.
AFTER HOURS ARTWALK: 6 to 9 p.m. May 2. Downtown Wichita Falls. Check out art all over downtown, centering around Farmer’s Market. Free. 322-4525.
ANNUAL JURIED STUDENT EXHIBITION & SENIOR EXHIBITION: May 3 to June 28. (Opening is 6 to 8 p.m., May 3). Juanita Harvey Art Gallery and Foyer Gallery, Fain Fine Arts Center, MSU, 3410 Taft. 397-4264.
SCULPTURE GARDEN. Kemp Center for the Arts, 1300 Lamar St. 767-2787 or kempcenter.org.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516193
|
__label__wiki
| 0.657311
| 0.657311
|
We are proud to partner “The Property Chronicle”, which now has a global readership of over 143,000. Take a look, and you will find a considered and unique view of the property market.
It brings together high quality research and opinion from leading investors, analysts, academics and actual operators.
If you would like us to send you the latest hard copy, get in touch.
In-depth interviews with leading investors
A macro look at investment markets and asset classes
An insider’s view of the latest Westminster and Whitehall developments
Analysis from leading investors in private equity and the listed markets
Interviews and articles by top Fund managers and analysts
Unique insight from leading academics
Some of our recent interviews
The senior real estate recruiter
My world: June 2021
This is part of a series of articles where our contributors describe how they think things will look a year from now. With business needs changing, companies may re-evaluate the fit of their managers and non-executive directors
An interview with
Paul Coates has been with CBRE for just under two years, having joined to build out the company’s debt advisory platform across EMEA. He previously spent more than 25 years in the real estate finance world, being part of some major UK corporate finance and development projects.
Oliver Fenn-Smith
Oliver Fenn-Smith has almost 30 years’ experience in the commercial and residential property sectors in the West End of London and is chief executive of The Portman Estate. The 110-acre estate has been privately owned by the Portman family since 1532 and is today a vibrant, mixed-use portfolio centred around Portman Square in Marylebone.
Benn Zemek
Benn Zemek is the Chief Financial Officer of the Battersea Power Station project. Benn joined the project in early 2013, shortly after acquisition by the Malaysian consortium (SP Setia, Sime Darby Property and EPF). He has since played a key role in the successful transformation of the £9bn regeneration site, with a specific focus on leading the key funding and capital transactions and ongoing investment and financial management.
Caroline Rouse
Caroline Rouse has more than 25 years experience as a finance director within the commercial and residential property sectors and is CFO at the Noé Group, a technology-led investment and asset management group. Prior to this she spent four years helping establish two start-ups: one a design-led residential development company and the other a student accommodation platform in the UK and Europe.
Jim Harding
Jim Harding is Finance Director and Company Secretary at Eskmuir Properties Ltd, a private UK property investment business. Eskmuir is also asset manager and fund manager of The Diversified Property Fund for Charities which it established in 2015. Eskmuir has total assets under management of c.£330m.
Richard James is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Savills Investment Management (Savills IM), the wholly owned but independent investment management business of the Savills Group. He began his career at Ernst & Young (EY) in London, qualifying as a chartered accountant before moving to AREA (now Ares). In 2006, he became Portfolio CFO at Curzon Global Partners (now AEW Europe), and subsequently became CFO of the European property fund management business Internos.
Sandy Gumm
Sandy Gumm is an Australian-qualified chartered accountant. She is chief operating officer of Prestbury Investments LLP, which is investment adviser to Secure Income REIT Plc, as well as a non-executive director of Secure Income REIT Plc. She trained at KPMG in Sydney and worked for nine years for that company in Sydney and London, before becoming group financial controller of Burford Holdings Plc in 1995. Joining Nick Leslau and Nigel Wray to establish Prestbury in 1997, she was appointed finance director when Prestbury Group Plc was listed that year, later becoming chief operating officer in 2007.
Philip Churchill
Philip is Founder & Managing Partner of 90 North, a real estate investment manager headquartered in London, with offices in Chicago, Kuala Lumpur and Sydney. Recently celebrating it’s 7th birthday, 90 North was established with co-Founder Partner Nick Judd, with equity backing from James Caan CBE and Faisal Butt. 90 North has worked with both Middle Eastern and Malaysian equity looking for socially responsible and frequently Shari’ah compliant investments across the US, UK, Continental Europe and Australia.
Sandra Dowling
Sandra leads PwC’s real estate practice in the UK and has been with the UK firm for over 25 years. She has FTSE listed experience working with REITs and asset managers as well as private equity real estate and fund managers. Sandra’s clients have included U+I Group PLC, Civitas Social Housing REIT, Aviva Investors Real Assets, BlackRock Real Assets and Jupiter Fund Management PLC.
Hugh Seaborn
Hugh Seaborn joined Cadogan as Chief Executive in 2008. Prior to this he was Chief Executive of The Portman Estate for 9 years, where he repositioned the business as an active and committed landlord and investor. Before heading up Portman, Hugh spent 10 years with CB Richard Ellis, latterly as Director and Head of Investment Management.
Mark Davies
Link Mortgage Services are a specialist third party servicer of mortgage loans now owned by Link Group PTY. The business employs some 190 staff servicing a range of residential, commercial and housing association loans for a number of client banks, investors and hedge funds.
Sally Doyle-Linden
Sally is one of the five founding partners at Clearbell Capital LLP, a niche real estate fund manager and advisory business with three value-add/opportunistic funds and two separate advisory mandates.
David Wood is Group Finance Director of Urban&Civic plc, an established UK property development and investment company listed on the London Stock Exchange’s main market. David joined Urban&Civic in 2010, shortly after it acquired its first asset, and helped guide the Company through a 2014 listing towards today’s market capitalisation of around £430 million.
Damien Wisniewski
Damian Wisniewski received a Mechanical Engineering degree at Imperial College (1983) followed by ACA (1986) at Arthur Young (now EY) in London. He then spent two years post qualification in audit and then joined Stockley Park Consortium as FC and Co Sec.
Mike Pashley
Mike Pashley is Chief Financial Officer at Trilogy Real Estate LLP, a UK real estate investment and fund manager. Prior to joining Trilogy, Mike was European Finance Director for ARES European Real Estate platform (formerly AREA Property Partners). While at AREA/ARES for over 17 years, the European team completed over 100 property investments throughout Europe and Mike and his finance team were responsible for all finance aspects of the investment, whether in funds or stand-alone investments.
Henry Franklin
Henry is responsible for the structuring of the Tritax Group funds, providing general legal counsel and overseeing compliance activities. Henry is a qualified solicitor, who completed his articles with Ashurst LLP in 2001, specialising in taxation, mergers and acquisitions.
Some of the clients we’ve successfully worked with
The Property Chronicle
Property Chronicle articles
by Tim Green
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516194
|
__label__wiki
| 0.524689
| 0.524689
|
The Hi-Times • October 15, 2020 • https://www.thehitimes.com/482/sports/nba-mock-draft-top-5/
NBA Mock Draft – Top 5
NBA Draft Logo from TV promotion. (Image via Sports Illustrated)
Will Hardesty
Fans across the nation were stunned when the NCAA announced the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Tournament is the best place for players to showcase their next-level talent on a nationwide scale. Without the tournament, NBA teams will have to look back on numerous amounts of film and draft reports leading up to the NBA Draft. Many writers and analysts are speculating who the number one pick will be. Here is our top 5:
1. Minnesota Timberwolves – Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia
Coming into the season as the #1 recruit in the 2020 class, Anthony Edwards did not disappoint for the Georgia Bulldogs. Edwards has great size for an NBA-level Shooting Guard, scoring buckets left and right with his 6’5”, 225-pound frame. Considering the Timberwolves will not trade the pick, Edwards will be a great young wing player that will develop and learn from Timberwolves star D’Angelo Russell. The Timberwolves will be looking to draft a player that can add depth to their lineup and immediately produce for the team. Edwards has proven that he can be the star of a team, providing the Bulldogs with an average 19.1 points per game as a freshman, and now he needs to prove himself at the next level.
2. Golden State Warriors – James Wiseman, C, Memphis
Image via Steve Dykes/Getty Images
After Wiseman was suspended from the NCAA, he decided to sit out the entire year, focusing on the NBA Draft. Although nobody has seen Wiseman play since 2019, he will definitely be able to showcase his talent at the NBA Combine. Wiseman is a perfect fit for the Warriors with his massive frame, standing at 7’0, weighing 240 pounds. Wiseman will be a great addition to the Warriors offense, adding an option down low and a rebounder who can pull down 10+ boards per game. Although Wiseman may be the perfect fit, rumors around the NBA suggest that the Warriors may be looking for a trade partner to trade out of the #2 pick.
3. Charlotte Hornets – LaMelo Ball, PG, Illawarra Hawks
LaMelo Ball became an internet sensation a little over three years ago when he scored 92 points in a single high school game. Since then, he has played overseas in Lithuania and Australia. Ball played this past year with the Illawarra Hawks, where he was named the league’s rookie of the year. Although Charlotte already has a great pair of guards in Devonte Graham and Terry Rozier, Ball brings size, measured at 6’7”, and an amazing set of passing skills to the Hornet’s offense. Ball will fit great in a system with shooters such as Graham, Miles Bridges, and PJ Washington, to whom he can dish out assists.
4. Chicago Bulls – Obi Toppin, PF, Dayton
Obi Toppin had a standout season at Dayton. As a top tier scorer in the NCAA, scoring a little more than 20 points per game, Toppin was the first option on any trip down the court by Dayton. There are questions about Toppin’s defense, but his scoring is unmatched. Toppin would give the Bulls another scoring option on a very young team. New Bulls Head Coach Billy Donovan could truly develop Toppin into a superstar. Donovan has coached other great scorers before such as Kevin Durant and James Harden.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers – Deni Avdija, SF/PF, Israel
After winning the MVP in the Israeli basketball league, Deni Avdija has been projected a top-5 pick for most of the year. While winning the MVP, Advija led his team to a championship in the Israeli BSL. Through looking at his game film, scouts can clearly see his passing ability, shooting prowess and overall basketball IQ. The Cavaliers have needed a replacement for Kevin Love, who has been showing his age in recent years. Advija is the replacement that the Cavaliers need to build their team around for the future. This player will be a star.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516199
|
__label__wiki
| 0.704493
| 0.704493
|
Posted inNational
Update: Sharia Law Educator Speaks with The Post & Email
Monday, August 22, 2011 Thursday, August 25, 2011
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my free Email alerts. Thanks for visiting!
We have a NEW Facebook page - click here and LIKE us!
“THEIR GOAL IS A TOTAL TAKEOVER OF THE UNITED STATES”
The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in 1928 in Egypt
(Aug. 22, 2011) — The Post & Email recently interviewed “Betsy Ross,” who for the past two years, has been educating various groups of people about Sharia law and how its practice has increased in the United States over the last several years.
Brigitte Gabriel, CEO and President of Act! for America, is a native of Lebanon and was a victim of an attack on her home by Islamic radicals when she was ten years old. She stated that her family was targeted because they were Christians, and many of her childhood friends were killed as well. Gabriel believes that the radicals’ goal is to “Islamize the West.” She is the author of two bestselling books dealing with Islam and is fluent in four languages.
Under “Current Issues” of concern to her organization, Gabriel mentions such items as “The need for First Amendment protection for journalists who report on militant Islamic activities,” “The existence of terrorist sleeper cells in the U.S.,” and “The growing threat of sharia-compliant financing,” among many others. Act! for America has its own internet TV show which has interviewed authors, writers and elected officials about various aspects of Islam.
CBS News has reported that fears of Sharia law coming to America and taking hold are held by “conservatives” and “right-leaning” entities. However, a link to a related report relates that “the U.S. already does [“have a religious-based legal system like Sharia law“] while the author attempts to minimize its impact by asserting that ” fears of an outbreak of Sharia law seem overblown at best.”
Whether writer Brian Montopoli is editorializing or presenting the evidence factually and objectively is up to the reader to decide.
There is a “compound” called “Islamberg” in upstate New York which may be connected to terrorist training. Author Mark Steyn has said that “Creeping Sharia is the biggest threat to Western freedom.”
After decades of liberal immigration policies, the Netherlands has decided to make more demands of foreigners wishing admittance to the country, and “The government will also stop offering special subsidies for Muslim immigrants.”
Several Republican candidates for President have expressed their concern over the threat of Sharia law establishing itself within the U.S. government. In answer to the author’s question, “What about extreme punishments like stoning or beheading?” she answers her own question by stating:
U.S. judges may decide to consider foreign law or religious codes like sharia, but that doesn’t mean those laws override the Constitution. We have a criminal justice system that no outside law can supersede. Additionally, judges consider foreign laws only if they choose to — they can always refuse to recognize a foreign law.
But do U.S. judges “refuse to recognize a foreign law?”
Pamela Geller, author of the blog Atlas Shrugs, has reported that a Texas public school curriculum entitled “The Muslim Histories and Cultures Project” was promoted by Gov. Rick Perry, who recently announced his bid for the presidency in 2012, “1) to fulfill Governor Rick Perry’s desire to better educate Texas teachers on Muslim topics and 2) to train teachers to use a cultural lens approach to understanding other cultures. Governor Perry was instrumental in getting this program off the ground.” An August 16, 2011 report states that Perry “has good ties with Muslims.”
At least one petition has been launched with the purpose of stopping “foreign law” from becoming established in the United States by passing proposed legislation, HR 973, titled “To amend title 28, United States Code, to prevent the misuse of foreign law in Federal courts, and for other purposes.” The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee on March 9, 2011. The Save America Foundation, about which The Post & Email reported previously, supports HR 973, while others oppose it.
The Save America Foundation has taken a position against Sharia Law in the United States.
In an interview prior to the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama said “my Muslim faith” to George Stephanopoulos instead of the expected “my Christian faith.”
Muslim leaders in Australia have asked that Sharia-compliant financing be made available to them as well as Sharia practices being applied to issues of family law. They are also urging Australians to accept “legal pluralism,” or polygamy, which often involves an underage female.
NPR reported in 2008 that an estimated 50,000-100,000 men and women were engaged in polygamy in the United States, a violation of federal law.
A report from a British news service states that Muslims are attempting to impose Sharia law on the city of London in an effort to put an end to drug dealing and use, prostitution, and other crimes. Sharia law has been operating in Great Britain since 2007 by means of “arbitration tribunals,” which operate in five locations throughout that nation and whose rulings are legally binding. Sharia judges have discriminated against women in matters of physical abuse, inheritance, and “community affairs.”
Our interviewee, “Betsy Ross,” educates civic and church groups on the topic of “How Shari’a Law and the Muslim Brotherhood Work in the US” with Powerpoint demonstrations and follow-up articles. She supports HR 973, having told The Post & Email:
More important than rewriting texts is the need to pass laws outlawing the use of any foreign law or cultural norms in our courts if using them denies defendants the rights guaranteed them by our State and US Constitutions.
Before anyone can accept the need to prevent Shari’a in the US and the special dispensations Muslim activists are demanding as precursors to Shari’a, he has to understand and believe what is Shari’a doctrinally, what it has always been, what it still is, how it is incompatible with democracy, how it is an existential threat. Then he has to understand what is the Muslim Brotherhood in the US and its modus operandi.
If politicians or anyone else don’t understand, they tend to toss off special dispensations for Muslims by saying, “What do you want us to do with them? Deport them?”
Betsy Ross has been active in teaching about Sharia Law for about two years. We asked her the following questions:
Q: Are most people surprised at the information you are giving them?
A: Some are certainly surprised about the detail and the underlying ideology, but virtually all my audiences to date have been people who have been aware of something being wrong with militant Islam in this country. However, they had no concept of the details of it.
Q: Do you know how many radicalized Muslims we might have in the United States right now?
A: That’s part of my Powerpoint presentation, and I end that page by saying, “Do not play the numbers game.” The reason for that is that by the latest Pew poll and the CIA World Factbook, there are now about 2,500,000 Muslims in the U.S. But the Muslim organizations, which are Muslim Brotherhood organizations, claim that there are 7,000,000-8,000,000, and they do this because it gives them more political clout. When Obama first went abroad and visited Muslim countries instead of our allies, he used that same figure, about 7,000,000, and claimed we “are one of the largest Muslim countries in the world.” His speech was written by the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated advisers whom he has appointed to his administration, and at the same time, the CIA World Factbook gave the figure then as slightly less than 2,000,000. But times have changed, as this was a couple of years ago, and now the latest estimate is 2,500,000.
[Editor’s Note: Obama’s father was a polygamist and asked to leave the United States in 1964. It has been reported that he was raised a Muslim and that his father was “one of the first Muslim converts in Nyangoma-Kogelo.”]
So with that number in the United States, how many are radicalized? How many are Islamists rather than peaceful, law-abiding, patriotic citizens? You have no way to tell. But even if it’s 20%, do the math: 20% of 2.5 million is over 400,000 people, and that’s enough to cause a lot of trouble. They are working all the time to radicalize more.
Q: Are they actively building new mosques in this country?
A: Yes, all over.
Q: Do you have any idea how many new mosques have been built during the time that you’ve been teaching?
A: I don’t know, but there are around 2,000 mosques in the United States now, and more are being built. They are sometimes called “Islamic Centers,” but that’s another term for a mosque. There are more being built all the time. There are controversies, and citizens here and there don’t want them built, and they’re arguing about zoning and such. The federal government claims that Islam is a religion, and they actually entered an Amicus brief in a citizen complaint in Tennessee recently, saying that Islam is a religion so it is protected by the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). I believe the zoning board ruled in favor of the mosque. The truth of the matter is that Islam is a law and is governed by Sharia law, which is totally different from religion, so that Sharia law threatens our constitutional law as the supreme law of the land.
Q: On one of the handouts you sent to me, you state that Sharia law is not compatible with the U.S. Constitution. Why is that?
A: Islam and Sharia hold that all law is divine law revealed by Allah to the Prophet Muhammad, and then an increased understanding of it is developed through Muhammad’s lifetime, through his sunnah, his path, his words and deeds, his biography, and then the tenth-century meeting of Islamic sheikhs and scholars of the day to try and sort out the prophetic statements about his life and sayings, and what was passed down by people’s grandsons whose grandfather had known him. They sorted out all those sayings, or hadiths, and said, “We’re grouping these sayings into four schools of jurisprudence, and this is the law from now on, forever, for all Sunni Muslims.” The Shia Muslims have a school which, as far as their relations with non-Muslims in warfare were concerned, were very much similar to the Sunni adjudications. So you take these schools of jurisprudence, these fiqh, and say, “All Islamic law, all Sharia, is dependent upon these.” They are not man-made; they are divinely revealed, which in a constitutional system is hogwash.
Q: Is there any way to know which communities tend to become more radicalized than others, or are there radicals rising up from all Islamic communities across the country?
A: I know one of the communities they target is the prison population. In order to convert more people to Islam, their goal is to keep at it until Sharia rules over all – their method is Da’wah al Allah, which is an outreach to Allah. Dawah starts with beautiful words and handsome ways, patiently telling the converts how peaceful and tolerant Islam is of all peoples. There was a methodology of Dawah written by a Muslim brother in 1969 which targets specifically, among other groups, the “A-As.” If you look in the glossary, that’s “African-Americans.” They target all of them in prisons because they’re susceptible. They blamed the government for putting them there. That methodology of Da’wah in which you target the prisons and the media and schools and the prisons was written in 1969.
Hassan al-Banna founded the Muslim Brotherhood after becoming involved in politics at a young age. He was also an imam.
In 2001, after 9/11, the Swiss authorities cooperated with our country to search for any kind of radicalism or terror abroad in Switzerland at the time. They raided the house of an elderly Muslim brother, and they found there, written in French, a 12-page document of “Le Projet,” and it was presumed to have been written by the son-in-law of Hassan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood. If you read the translation of “The Project,” it follows the exact methodology of Dawah in this country: the gradual infiltration and the taking-over of the media, the schools, the politicians, and insinuating Sharia customs law into the fabric of the country that was being subverted.
Q: It appears that they have been successful doing this in Europe.
A: Yes. And they’re successful here, and this leads into what they have just taken up here. One of the Muslim Brotherhood organizations, the Islamic Council of North America (ICNA), which was one of the unindicted co-conspirators of the Holy Land Foundation trial, instituted a few months ago a national Sharia campaign. If you read the methodology of Da’wah, it says that everything goes along fine until the population begins to think that something is attacking them, and at that point, one must be very, very careful, and you have to educate. The major objective of the campaign is to educate the movers and shakers of the society, including senators, governors, assemblymen, professors, and even high school teachers, on accepting Sharia. Then, they want to shut up people like me. They say, “Organizers also hope the campaign will move people to see the anti-Sharia movement for what it is: an attempt by Islamophobes to spread misinformation about Islam and target one religious community for cheap political gain.”
Now, I am not an Islamophobe. I have said nothing against the right of Muslims to pray or not to pray in this free country, just the way I have that right. But I am certainly opposed to everything about substituting Sharia law for constitutional law.
The Post & Email will continue its series on Sharia law in the near future.
Update, August 25, 2011: There will be an informational webinar presented by the non-profit Clarion Fund today at 1:00 p.m. EDT on the effects of radical Islam on the United States.
Tagged: ACT! for America, Allah, Amicus brief, Australia, Barack Hussein Obama, Betsy Ross, Brigitte Gabriel, CBS News, CIA World Factbook, Da'wah, First Amendment, Great Britain, Hadith, Hassan al-Banna, Holy Land Foundation, House Judiciary Committee, HR 973, ICNA, Islamberg, Islamophobe, legal pluralism, Muslim Brotherhood, Pamela Geller, polygamy, RLUIPA, Save America Foundation, Sharia Finance, Sharia law, sunnah, Sunni Muslims, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, The Muslim Brotherhood, The Netherlands, The Prophet Muhammed, United States Code
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516202
|
__label__cc
| 0.553505
| 0.446495
|
This page looks at a variety of ZIP code 41314 Kentucky housing market data taken from the most recent 2020 American Community Survey census data. Housing units are structures such as a single family home, apartment community, mobile home park, public housing, etc. where a person or family live and live separately from other residents of the building. Figure 1 shows the total number of housing units for each city. 41314 depicts it has a Housing Units of 2,401 which is the second most housing units of all the zip codes in the greater ZIP code 41314 region.
Figure 2 illustrates the housing density in the ZIP code 41314 housing market as measured by housing units per square land mile (includes single family homes, apartments, etc.) ZIP code 41314 shows it has a Housing Density of 10.7 which is the second smallest in terms of housing density of all the other zip codes in the greater region. The zip code with the highest housing density in the area is 41745 which depicts a density of 25.0 (approximately 2.3 times bigger). Comparing housing density to the United States average of 38.9, ZIP code 41314 is approximately a third the size. Also, benchmarked against the state of Kentucky, housing density of 50.4, ZIP code 41314 is approximately a fifth the size.
In Figure 4, ZIP code 41314 area change in the number of housing units and is a forward gauge (along with population change) for any potential housing shortage. ZIP code 41314 depicts it has a Housing Unit Change of -5.8% which is the second smallest when sorted by change in the housing units of all the other zip codes in the metro area. The zip code with the highest change in the housing units in the area is 41745 which depicts a housing units of 93.9% ( substantially bigger). Comparing change in the housing units to the United States average of 5.7%, ZIP code 41314 is only slightly larger. Also, in contrast to the state of Kentucky, change in the housing units of 2.9%, ZIP code 41314 is about twice as large.
Figure 5 shows the percentage of rental property based on that they are occupied by renters as a percent of the total number of households in the community (including homes, apartments, etc.) ZIP code 41314 shows it has a Renter Percent of 30.9% which is in the intermediate range of other zip codes in the surrounding region. Figure 6 illustrates the total number of housing units that are occupied by owners. it has a Owner Percent of 69.1% which is in the mid range of other zip codes in the surrounding region.
Looking at the housing data provided in Figure 7, the average ZIP code 41314 home price is illustrated for this community and a useful analysis of affordable housing. 41314 depicts it has a Median Home Value of $64,000 which is the third most median home prices of all other zip codes in the greater ZIP code 41314 region. The zip code with the highest median home price in the area is 40486 which depicts a home price of $86,000 (34.4% larger). Figure 8 provides aggregate comparative data for the ZIP code 41314 Kentucky metro area in terms of the median housing rental rate, apartment rent, etc. ZIP code 41314 shows it has a Median Gross Rent of $314 which is the third most rental rates of all other zip codes in the greater ZIP code 41314 region. The zip code with the highest rental rates in the area is 41311 which shows a rental rates of $548 (74.5% larger). Comparing rental rates to the United States average of $1,062, ZIP code 41314 is approximately a third the size. Also, measured against the state of Kentucky, rental rates of $763, ZIP code 41314 is approximately half the size.
Figure 9 provides the frequency distribution of home prices for the area and is useful for understanding affordable housing fund. ZIP code 41314 has one of the largest proportions of home price worth less than $50,000 at 33% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 40486 (36%), and #1 41311 (41%) are larger. Second, it has the largest proportion of home price worth between $100,000 to $200,000 at 8% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of home price worth between $200,000 to $300,000 at 1% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of home price worth between $750,000 to $1,000,000 at 1% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has the largest proportion of home price worth between $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 at 1% of the total and is ranked #1. Furthermore, it has the largest proportion of home price worth between $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 at 1% of the total and is ranked #1.
Median owner costs for the real estate market are shown in Figure 10 and include the costs associated with any mortgage, utility expenses, insurance, and other miscellaneous costs. ZIP code 41314 depicts it has a Median Owner Cost of $452 which is the third most of all other zip codes in the metro area. Figure 11 shows the median amount of cost as a percent of total household income for people who own homes in the ZIP code 41314 metro area. it has a Owner Cost as % of HH Income of 15% which is less than most other zip codes in the local area. The next chart, Figure 12, provides a comparison chart of the median home cost as a percent of a median worker take home earnings and is thus a valuable measure of affordable housing. ZIP code 41314 depicts it has a Median Home Value as Percent of Median Earnings of 200% which is the third most median home value as a percent of median worker earnings of all other zip codes in the greater ZIP code 41314 region.
Figure 14 depicts the median cost of housing for owners with also have a mortgages (versus those who do not have a mortgage because mortgage cost is included.) ZIP code 41314 shows it has a Median Owner Costs-With Mortgage of $879 which is the third most median housing cost of all other zip codes in the greater ZIP code 41314 region. Figure 15 is a chart that shows the median housing costs for owners who do not have mortgages (and therefore the cost of home ownership does not include mortgage cost.) it has a Median Owner Costs-Without Mortgage of $294 which is in the mid point range of other zip codes in the metro area.
Figure 16 shows the distribution in total housing cost for owners of property (so not renters.) This cost includes mortgages, lines of credit interest, utilities, taxes, insurance, etc. ZIP code 41314 has the percentage of owner cost less than $300 less than most other zip codes in the local area at 22% of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of owner cost between $300 and $500 at 16% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 41311 (16%), and #1 40486 (24%) are larger. Third, it has the largest proportion of owner cost between $1,500 and $2,000 at 4% of the total and is ranked #1.
Next shown in Figure 17 is the housing cost as a percent of household income for people who own their homes and have a mortgages (thus the cost of financing the home is included.) ZIP code 41314 depicts it has a % of Income Owner Costs-With Mortgage of 19% which is less than most other zip codes in the metro area. The zip code with the highest cost as a percent of household income in the area is 40983 which shows a cost as a percent of household income of 51% (approximately 2.7 times bigger). Housing cost as a percent of household income for owners who do not have a mortgage is shown in Figure 18. This analysis can be useful for understanding the affordable housing for home ownership excluding any financing cost in the area shown. ZIP code 41314 shows it has a % of Income Owner Costs-No Mortgage of 10% which is less than most other zip codes in the local area. The zip code with the highest cost as a percent of household income in the area is 40983 which depicts a cost as a percent of household income of 19% (about twice as large).
Figure 19 looks at the cost of rent for rental property using the percent of total household income which is a valuable measure of financial health for the area. (The higher the proportion of rent payments to total household income is a sign of greater financial stress. Also, rent can be covered by rent assistance and rent assistance programs in the form of rent assistance.) ZIP code 41314 has the percentage of rent as a percent of income is less than 10 pct less than most other zip codes in the local area at 6% of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of rent as a percent of income is between 10pct to 20pct at 20% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger zip code being 41721 with 26%. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of rent as a percent of income is between 40pct to 50pct at 13% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 41311 (19%), and #1 41721 (35%) are larger.
Figure 20 shows the total housing cost for both home owners and apartment community renters in the area. ZIP code 41314 has the largest proportion of housing cost between $1,500 and $2,000 at 2% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of housing cost between $2,000 and $2,500 at 0% of the total and is ranked #1.
Figure 21 shows median amount of real estate taxes paid for home owners in the region. it has a Median Real Estate Taxes Paid of $553 which is the third most median real estate taxes paid of all other zip codes in the greater ZIP code 41314 region. The zip code with the highest median real estate taxes paid in the area is 41311 which shows a taxes paid of $629 (13.7% larger). Comparing median real estate taxes paid to the United States average of $2,471, ZIP code 41314 is approximately a fifth the size. Also, measured against the state of Kentucky, median real estate taxes paid of $1,210, ZIP code 41314 is approximately half the size.
Figure 22 shows the percentage of renters who pay for utilities in ZIP code 41314 Kentucky. This is calculated as the percent of renters who pay separately for utilities versus the people who have utilities included as part of amenities. ZIP code 41314 has one of the largest proportions of pay extra for utilities at 26% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger zip code being 40972 with 34%.
Figure 23 shows the rental rate distribution for this area. ZIP code 41314 Kentucky has the largest proportion of rent between $1,500 and $2,500 at 1% of the total and is ranked #1.
The analysis in Figure 25 shows the detailed distribution of owned homes by mortgage status. 41314 has the percentage of both 2nd mortgage and heloc the second smallest as measured by with mortgage of all the other zip codes in the local area at 34% of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of no 2nd mortgage and no heloc at 64% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger zip code being 41721 with 86%.
Figure 26 shows the proportion of houses with a mortgage versus those without a mortgage. ZIP code 41314 has one of the largest proportions of houses with mortgages at 64% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger zip code being 41721 with 86%.
Figure 28 shows the household size for families living in the area and it has a Family size of 3.2 which is the third most family members per housing unit of all other zip codes in the greater ZIP code 41314 region. The zip code with the highest family members per housing unit in the area is 41745 which shows a family members per housing unit of 3.6 (13.6% larger). Comparing family members per housing unit to the United States average of 3.3, ZIP code 41314 is only about 3.8% smaller. Also, versus the state of Kentucky, family members per housing unit of 3.1, ZIP code 41314 is only slightly larger.
Figure 29 show the median number of rooms in a typical home for each location in this area. it has a Median Number of Rooms of 5.3 which is the third most average number of rooms in a house of all other zip codes in the greater ZIP code 41314 region. The zip code with the highest average number of rooms in a house in the area is 41745 which shows an average number of rooms in a house of 5.8 (9.4% larger). Figure 30 shows, for the average house in each location, the median year that a house was built. This can be useful for understanding the relative age of one neighborhood versus another for a real estate investor. it has a Median Year Built of 1984 which is less than most other zip codes in the greater region. The zip code with the highest year built in the area is 41721 which shows a year built of 1998 ( about the same size).
Figure 31 looks at the distribution of housing units by the median age that the homes were built. has the percentage of homes built in 2014 or later less than most other zip codes in the metropolitan area at 1% of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of homes built between 2010 to 2013 at 19% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 40486 (28%), and #1 41721 (34%) are larger. Third, it has the second smallest in terms of homes built in 2014 or later of all the other zip codes in the metropolitan area when ranked by homes built between 2000 to 2009 at 17% of the total. Also, it has the largest proportion of homes built between 1960 to 1969 at 7% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has one of the largest proportions of homes built between 1940 to 1949 at 4% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 41311 (8%), and #1 40983 (26%) are larger.
Figure 32 shows the difference in the number of housing units based on whether they are occupied by owners versus occupied by renters. it has one of the largest proportions of owner housing units at 571 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger zip code being 41311 with 867.
Figure 33 shows the difference in the number of housing units based on whether they are occupied by owners or renters. it has the largest proportion of one unit detached at 1% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of 2 units at 2% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of 3 or 4 units at 5% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger zip code being 41311 with 6%.
Figure 34 shows the median value of homes broken down by the median year that the homes were built. it has the largest proportion of value of homes built 2014 or later at $151,800 of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of value of homes built 2010 to 2013 at $59,700 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 41311 ($75,000), and #1 40486 ($157,600) are larger. Third, it has the largest proportion of value of homes built 2000 to 2009 at $72,400 of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has one of the largest proportions of value of homes built 1990 to 1999 at $58,200 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 40983 ($101,600), and #1 40486 ($152,500) are larger. In addition, it has one of the largest proportions of value of homes built 1980 to 1989 at $81,000 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger zip code being 41721 with $90,000. Furthermore, it has one of the largest proportions of value of homes built 1970 to 1979 at $62,200 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger zip code being 41311 with $68,000. Next it has one of the largest proportions of value of homes built 1960 to 1969 at $54,000 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger zip code being 41311 with $66,600.
The next two charts show both the average household size of homeowners versus the average household size of renters. Starting with Figure 36 we see the household size of homeowners for ZIP code 41314 residents. it has a Owner-Household Size of 2.8 which is the second most homeowner household size of all the zip codes in the greater ZIP code 41314 region. The zip code with the highest homeowner household size in the area is 40486 which depicts a homeowner household size of 2.8 ( only slightly larger).
Figure 37 shows the household size for renters. ZIP code 41314 depicts it has a Renter-Household Size of 2.1 which is the third most renter household sizes of all other zip codes in the greater ZIP code 41314 region. The zip code with the highest renter household size in the area is 40983 which shows a renter household sizes of 3.3 (52.3% larger). Figure 38 shows the year that people who own homes moved into this region. it has one of the largest proportions of owners moved in 1990 to 1999 at 28% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger zip code being 40983 with 35%. Figure 39 shows the year that people who rent moved into the area. ZIP code 41314 has one of the largest proportions of renters moved in 2017 or later at 13% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 40486 (17%), and #1 41311 (26%) are larger. Second, it has in the mid range of other zip codes in the local area as measured by renters moved in 2015 to 2016 at 35% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of renters moved in 2000 to 2009 at 9% of the total and is ranked #1.
Figure 40 compares the median year that home owners moved into their home. it has a Owner Median Year Moved In of 2000 which is the second smallest as measured by median year that a home owner moved in of all the other zip codes in the local area. Figure 41 compares the median year that renters moved into their home. ZIP code 41314 depicts it has a Renter Median Year Moved In of 2013 which is the second most median year that a renter moved in of all the zip codes in the greater ZIP code 41314 region.
Figure 42 shows the frequency distribution of various types of energy sources used for homes in the community. has the percentage of home using bottled, tank, or lp gas in the center range of other zip codes in the surrounding region at 60% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of homes using kerosene or other fuel oils at 2% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of homes using coal or coke at 17% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 41721 (20%), and #1 40983 (21%) are larger. Also, it has in the intermediate range of other zip codes in the local area when ranked by homes using solar energy at 0% of the total.
The next two charts show the number of people living in group quarters and includes temporary as well permanent housing which may be run by the ZIP code 41314 housing department, Kentucky department, or other housing authority or public housing agency. beginning with Figure 43 which shows the total number of people. ZIP code 41314 shows it has a Total In Group Quarters of 83 which is the second most of all the zip codes in the greater region.
Figure 44 shows the percentage of people who are living in group quarters to the total population for ZIP code 41314 residents (these may include colleges and jails but also community centers for homelessness or that require a housing choice voucher which are run by certain nonprofits or an affordable housing department.) ZIP code 41314 has the largest proportion of number of people under 18 years of age and in group quarters at 100% of the total and is ranked #1.
Select a City-PlaceJacksonManchesterBeattyvilleAnnville CDPMcKeeRavennaCamptonOneida CDPHydenBoonevilleBuckhorn
Select a CountyLaurel CountyPerry CountyClay CountyEstill CountyJackson CountyBreathitt CountyPowell CountyLeslie CountyWolfe CountyLee CountyOwsley County
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516203
|
__label__wiki
| 0.641349
| 0.641349
|
Presbyterian Panel Survey, May 2006 - Issues in the PC(USA), All
Data Archive > U.S. Surveys > Religious Groups > Members or Leaders > Presbyterian > Summary
The Presbyterian Panel began in 1973 and is an ongoing panel study in which mailed and web-based questionnaires are used to survey representative samples of constituency groups of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). These constituency groups include members, elders, pastors serving in a congregation, and specialized clergy serving elsewhere. The 3,742 member panel consists of 1,099 members, 1,164 elders and 1,469 clergy. Panels are re-sampled every three years. The main goal of this study is to gather broad information about Presbyterians in terms of their faith (beliefs, church background, and levels of church involvement), and their social, economic, and demographic characteristics (age, sex, marital status, living arrangements, etc.). The May 2006 survey focuses on issues in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Cases: 2,209
Date Collected: October 2005 (Background questions) and April-July 2006
Congregational Ministries Division, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The current survey is the third completed by the 2006-2008 Panel. Questionnaires were mailed in late April 2006, with returns accepted through July 2006. Most panelists received a copy by U.S. mail, but a subset (n =291, or 8%) who had signed up for the service was notified via email. Non-responders were sent a postcard reminder on May 12, 2006. All panelists could complete the survey on the Web, and among respondents, 13% of members 16% of elders, 24% of pastors, and 22% of specialized clergy did so via the Web. Response rates for this survey are: members, 49%; elders, 61%; ministers, 67%. (Issues in the PC(USA): The May 2006 Survey)
"The Panel consists of three samples, each drawn from a separate constituency group, or population, of persons affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The PC(USA) consists of congregations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico." (Technical Notes)
"The member sample was drawn from the population of all active members of congregations affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (i.e., persons listed on the active membership rolls of these congregations; see PC(USA) Book of Order, G-5.0202), with the following exclusions: elders currently serving on session and persons unable to complete a mailed survey." (Technical Notes)
"At the end of 2004, the total active membership of the PC(USA) was 2,362,136. Subtracting the 106,4191 active elders, the approximate population for the member sample was 2,255,717." (Technical Notes)
"The population of elders is defined as the subset of active members of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations: (1) who have been ordained to the office of elder by a PC(USA) church (or a church affiliated with one of its predecessor denominations) and (2) who are currently serving on the session of a PC(USA) congregation. (See Book of Order,
G-6.0101 through G-6.0108, and G-6.0300 through G-6.0304.) At the end of 2004, the population of elders serving on session was 106,419 (this figure is estimated; 1,475 congregations (13.4%) did not report their number of elders)." (Technical Notes)
Ministers of the Word and Sacrament
"The population of ministers of the Word and Sacrament is defined as those persons who have been ordained to this office and continue to hold it as members of a presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). (See Book of Order, G-6.0200 through G-6.0204.) Retired or emeritus ministers are excluded. At the end of 2004, the population of active ministers totaled 13,786." (Technical Notes)
"Three representative samples were drawn, one from each of the three populations, using probability techniques." (Technical Notes)
Pastors and Specialized Clergy
"A list of all ordained ministers of the Word and Sacrament is maintained by the Office of the General Assembly based on reports from stated clerks of presbyteries. A probability sample of 2,203 ministers was drawn using proportional stratified sampling. All active ministers (i.e., not retired or emeritus) resident in the United States or Puerto Rico were located in one of 56 unique strata based on their region of residence (Northeast, Midwest, South, West), their race ethnicity (African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, Native American, White, other, not known), and their occupational category (pastors, specialized clergy). Random sampling was used within strata." (Technical Notes)
"Lacking exhaustive, national lists of all active members in PC(USA) congregations, we implemented a two-stage sampling process for members and elders. For members, we used proportional stratified sampling to draw a sample of 500 congregations from the national total of 11,019. Congregational strata were based on region, race ethnicity, and membership size. Each sampled congregation was then asked to draw eight member names, using a random process, as described below." (Technical Notes)
First, the number of elders was imputed for each congregation that had not reported a number for 2005, based on the mean number of elders for congregations of similar membership size. Then, using proportional stratified sampling, we drew a sample of 401 congregations from the national total of 11,019, based on region, race ethnicity, and session size (i.e., number of elders currently serving on session). Each sampled congregation was then asked to draw eight elder names, using a random process. (Technical Notes)
Research Services, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and John P. Marcum, Panel Administrator
Research Services, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Issues in the PC(USA): The May 2006 Survey. Louisville, KY, 2006.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516206
|
__label__wiki
| 0.943077
| 0.943077
|
CD Release: The Count Basie Orchestra, All About That Basie!
Copied from Arstash.com – Bill D (https://arstash.com/cd-release-the-count-basie-orchestra-all-about-that-basie/)
If only Wynton Marsalis could have been in The Duke Ellington Orchestra.
If only Rudresh Mahanthappa could have met Charlie Parker.
If only Pat Metheny could have sat in with Wes Montgomery.
If only Kurt Elling could have sung with The Count Basie Orchestra.
But wait a minute. Kurt Elling does sing with The Count Basie Orchestra. On All About That Basie, Kurt Elling, when he sings “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me,” revisits the joy of Sinatra’s work with Basie—documented on Sinatra-Basie, It Might As Well Be Swing and Sinatra at the Sands. Respectfully channeling the spirit of those recordings, Elling performs with straightforward attention to each word. Effortlessly, Elling incorporates the original’s direct-to-the-heart crooning and their inherent swing that marked the success of those albums, even as the recognizable baritone stylings remain Elling’s during the song’s brief inclusion on Concord Jazz’s new album.
If only Count Basie could have adapted in big-band arrangements the songs of talent like, say, Justin Timberlake, Prince, Beyonce or Adele.
But The Count Basie Orchestra does play Adele’s “Hello” on All About That Basie. The performance isn’t an instrumental repetition of the way Adele sings the hit. Rather, it possesses the cohesive movement trademarked by the Orchestra over its now-83 years of existence. The tightness of the entire orchestra’s sound as it plays the melody—and the breakout into eloquent solos without ostentation by trumpeter Kris Johnson and pianist Bobby Floyd (eminently qualified to perform the Basie parts after five years with the Orchestra)—suggest the high level of musicianship offered by the Orchestraom 2018.
The Count Basie Orchestra didn’t stop performing, touring or recording after Basie’s passing in 1984. Its unmistakable sound, whose positive approach made listeners’ lives a little happier and whose infectious swing brought listeners closer together, remains up to this day through a series of leaders, including Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Grover Mitchell, Bill Hughes, Dennis Mackrel and, now, Scotty Barnhart. Proof of the everlasting appeal of Basie’s music, the orchestra’s popularity continues undiminished. As a celebration of everything associated with Basie’s music, All About That Basie includes an array of well-known performers whose mission that they chose to accept was a representation of Basie’s absorption of and adaptability to changing music styles through much of the twentieth century and into the millennium.
The unsurprising characteristic of all eleven tracks of the album is the consistency of the orchestra’s sound as it makes each song its own.
The most famous example would be “April in Paris,” inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. That song’s matchless arrangement forever recalls The Count Basie Orchestra. That association of the song with Basie is visually documented by Mel Brooks’s Blazing Saddles, which unforgettably and hilariously showed the Orchestra performing the song in a desert, Basie greeting Clevon Little, decked out with Gucci saddlebags, as he stands from the polished white grand piano. Shrewdly, instead of merely replaying that same arrangement, heard many many times over the years, Barnhart’s version on All About That Basie features the Hammond B-3 organ. Joey DeFrancesco plays as a solo the melody and a chorus of improvisation backed by the signature trombone phrase, as well as by the full Orchestra, including its One More Time (but not the One More Once).
The 2018 celebration of Ella Fitzgerald’s collaboration with Basie features Carmen Bradford, whom Basie selected as a singer for the original Orchestra. What makes this performance even more significant is the fact that Benny Carter’s arrangement of “Honeysuckle Rose” had never before been recorded. In its premier performance, Bradford sings with joy and ever-present vitality that distinguished the original performance of the song on Ella and Basie! Channeling the essence of Ella with her infallible sense of swing and scatting, Bradford is entirely comfortable with the power of the band behind her. Indeed, she seems to be energized by it.
Part of the appeal of The Count Basie Orchestra is its dynamics. Its containment of power, as the band’s sections blend a broad spectrum of harmonization until its full strength is realized, never fails to fulfill audience expectations. Barnhart’s addition to the Basie Orchestra’s repertoire, “Tequila,” certainly lives up to that reputation. Muted trumpets, conguero Luisito Quintero and guitarist Will Matthews introduce the danceability of the composition. And then trumpeter Jon Faddis comes in, initially understated in Dizzy terms, before moving chorus by chorus into even more combustible territory. His medium-volume start evolves into an exciting finish of unrestrained might, an open trumpet section’s is-it-live-or-is-it-Memorem? Volume, and Faddis’s stratospheric high notes.
All About That Basie recollects the band leader’s early years as Jamie Davis pays a vocalist’s tribute to his respected influence, Jimmy Rushing, whose Kansas City singing experience included years with Walter Page’s Blue Devils and Bennie Moten’s band before joining Basie’s. Accompanied by the band’s shuffle beat, with licks provided by trumpeter Barnhart and saxophonist Rickey Woodard, baritone blues singer Davis engages audiences with direct appeal, telling stories through singing, and then moving into a spoken plea for listeners to “come back to me.”
Similarly, Take Six re-interprets the mid-fifties Basie/Joe Williams hit, “Everyday I Have the Blues,” with impeccable Gene Puerling-like harmonies as the Basie band, all the while, provides the accented punches and a pulsating irresistible swing. Wycliffe Gordon makes memorable the Orchestra’s new arrangement of Earth Wind and Fire’s “Can’t Hide Love,” not as a replication of the melody, but as a plunger-muted, trombone-talking takeoff into highest-quality instrumental adaptation.
Yet another highlight of the album is Stevie Wonder’s participation with the Orchestra in performing harmonica on, but not singing, his own song, “My Cherie Amour.” The musical palette for the arrangement already existed on albums like The Atomic Mr. Basie, which included Neal Hefti’s inimitable arrangements. Except for the all-out back-beat swing of the track’s final choruses, Wonder plays harmonica throughout over the “Li’l Darlin’”-like unrushed, unified sound, unmistakable as Basie’s.
As a drummer not only with The Count Basie Orchestra, but also with Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Stevie Wonder, Concord Records producer Gregg Field recognized through personal experience the significance of Basie as a musical icon in American music. If only Basie, who developed the orchestra’s distinctive sound, were still recording. But his Orchestra is. Along with Barnhart, who has kept The Count Basie Orchestra’s vitality undiminished, Field was made available yet another reminder of the gentle force of the Orchestra that has endeared it to audiences for decades.
Artist: www.thecountbasieorchestra.com
Label: www.concordmusicgroup.com
Basie NewsAll About That Basie, Count Basie Orchestra
‹ Jazz is Love: Celebrating the legacy of Count Basie and the 85th Anniversary of The Count Basie Orchestra
William ‘Count’ Basie inducted into the American Jazz Walk of Fame ›
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516209
|
__label__cc
| 0.704228
| 0.295772
|
Veile Mortuary
Family Member Logon
Mary Evelyn Bower
May 6, 1936 ~ December 23, 2020 (age 84)
Mary Evelyn Bower passed away in Worland on December 23, 2020 with her son Brian at her side. Mary Evelyn was born in Spokane, WA on May 6, 1936 to Thomas and Lois Elaine (Coulter) Turnbull. Her family later lived in Amarillo, TX before moving to Worland when she was about 7 years old where her father became a partner with her grandfather, Frank Coulter, in the Farmers Lumber Company. Mary Evelyn attended school in Worland, and she graduated from high school in 1954. While attending high school Mary Evelyn received many superior ratings for her vocal performances in Festival competitions. After high school Mary Evelyn attended the Colorado Women’s College in Denver as a vocal music major.
On April 20, 1958 Mary Evelyn married George Q. Bower at the United Methodist Church in Worland. Soon after the couple built their first home in Worland where they had three sons, Brian (1959), Stuart (1962), and Earl (1964). During this time Mary Evelyn worked as a radio announcer at KWOR and she was a private vocal music instructor for many high school students. Later she worked with her husband in his Real Estate and Insurance Agency until they both retired. Mary Evelyn was active in many organizations including the Bell Choir, the Psalm Choir, Eastern Star, Gorgeous Gals, Women’s Golf, Cub Scout Den leader, Washakie Museum performances, and the United Methodist Church choir, which she directed for more than a decade, as well as many others. Mary Evelyn enjoyed acting including musicals and was involved in the Worland Community Players productions of Oklahoma, Molly Brown, and The Corns Up. In the Broadway hit play called South Pacific, she played the lead role of Nellie Forbush across from her brother-in-law Ole Natwick. Mary Evelyn and George were active in Republican politics at the local and state levels. Mary Evelyn also helped to organize the Republican Women’s House Walks and they both attended the Lincoln Day dinners and other events.
Mary Evelyn and her mother worked as Washakie County election judges for many years and Mary Evelyn took over the lead position once Lois retired. The last several years she worked as an election judge with her eldest son Brian. In 1976 the family built a cabin located in the Canyon Creek Country development within the Big Horn Mountains and this became one of her favorite places. Mary Evelyn enjoyed backpacking, downhill skiing, trail bike riding, ATVs, snowmobiling, water skiing, sailing, sight-seeing, and many other activities with her family. Mary Evelyn and George travelled to many countries during their retirement years. At one point they purchased a 40-foot sailboat in Florida that they named the MEB 2 and spent a year living aboard sailing it to the Bahamas and through the Intracoastal Waterway. Mary Evelyn enjoyed spending time with her grandkids including baking cookies. She and George took them on trips that included Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, and Disney Land in California. Mary Evelyn is survived by her husband of 62 years George (92), sons Brian, Stuart, and Earl (Angela) all living in Worland. Mary Evelyn’s 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren were always a source of pride and joy for her.
Cremation has taken place at the Antelope Butte Crematory. A Celebration of Life service is planned at the United Methodist Church in Worland on June 12th , 2021 at 11am with Pastor Kayilu Pfoze officiating. Memorial donations may be made to the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center in Worland. Arrangements have been entrusted to Veile Mortuary.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Evelyn Bower, please visit our floral store.
Worland United Methodist Church
1301 Big Horn Ave
Worland, Wyoming 82401
Send Flowers to Mary's Memorial Service
Guaranteed delivery before the Memorial Service begins
Washakie Museum
2200 Big Horn Ave, Worland WY 82401
Web: https://www.washakiemuseum.org/
© 2021 Veile Mortuary. All Rights Reserved. Funeral Home website by CFS & TA | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516218
|
__label__cc
| 0.546338
| 0.453662
|
Tally Hatzakis
Tally Hatzakis is Senior Research Analyst at Trilateral Research.
Tally has worked on many EU, ESRC and EPSRC funded projects in a wide range of technology fields, from smart cities, open innovation, and e-Government, to business modelling, and the quantified self.
She is currently involved in the SHERPA project, coordinating research into the ethical and human rights challenges of AI intelligence and Big Data analytics through case studies, and scenario development with a range of stakeholders. The project seeks to identify society’s concerns and preferred solutions, present technical and regulatory options and set the criteria and advocate for the responsible development of such systems.
She previously led the EU-funded project, CLARITY, a support and coordination action that supports European Member States to pursue open e-Government initiatives in order to improve transparency, efficiency and greater trust.
Tally’s consultancy work covers a broad spectrum of topics on socio-technical innovation, enterprise architecture and business case development. Her consultancy practice is dedicated to understanding and effectively communicating the ‘bigger picture’ that contributes strategically to the needs of clients’ business models.
She is a light-hearted, deep thinker, innovator and networker, with the ability to apply a creative mindset into strategic business and technology fields, while embracing partnerships.
Tally’s research focuses on socio-technical change, change management and trust-building.
She has extensive experience in designing primary and secondary research, using qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and she has published in peer-reviewed journals in the areas of Business and Management, Human Resources and Information Systems.
Tally has built a multi-faceted career in the private and public sector. She has worked in market research and advertising, as an academic researcher and lecturer, and as head of research and innovation in the public sector.
She holds a BSc in Marketing Management, an MBA from Aston Business School and a PhD in Information Systems Management from Brunel Business School.
Contact Tally
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516221
|
__label__wiki
| 0.536959
| 0.536959
|
Voices Of A Nation
Home Daily News Reporter Who Followed the Mob Into the Capitol Shares What He Saw
Reporter Who Followed the Mob Into the Capitol Shares What He Saw
Virginia Allen
Julio Rosas, a senior writer for Townhall, was at the Capitol on Wednesday when violence broke out as supporters of President Donald Trump forced their way into the building.
Rosas, who has spent the past several months reporting on riots across America, followed the mob inside the Capitol to capture the situation on video. He joins the show today to explain what it was like to be in the middle of the chaos.
We also cover these stories:
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked to remove President Donald Trump from office following the violence and unrest at the Capitol on Wednesday.
In a statement to the Associated Press, former Attorney General Bill Barr blames Trump for the violence at the Capitol on Wednesday.
Antifa expert Andy Ngo says he doesn’t think the left-wing anarchist group was involved in that unrest.
Listen to the podcast below or read the lightly edited transcript.
“The Daily Signal Podcast” is available on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Pippa, Google Play, and Stitcher. All of our podcasts can be found at DailySignal.com/podcasts. If you like what you hear, please leave a review. You also write us at [email protected]
Virginia Allen: I am pleased to be joined by Julio Rosas, a senior writer for Town Hall. Julio also serves in the Marine Corps Reserves. Julio, welcome to the show.
Julio Rosas: Yeah. Thank you for having me.
Allen: So, Wednesday was a really hard day in our nation’s history. You were at the Capitol when the violence broke out. If you could, just walk us through what you saw. When exactly did the violence begin?
Rosas: So, things were fine at the Ellipse, where President [Donald] Trump made a speech. And that’s where most of the Trump supporters gathered, by the Washington Monument and near the White House in that area. And so, I was told that people were starting to make their way into the Capitol building. And so, I made my way over there.
And right as I started to go over there, I could see Trump supporters tearing down the inauguration construction fencing, which is not much of a fence. It’s just to section off parts of the Capitol grounds so that people don’t wander on there. So, it was very easy for them to just rip it off. And they just kept going. They just kept going on to the West Side, the side that faces the Lincoln Memorial.
The police presence, and this is something that I want people to understand, they were able to do that because the police presence was very light on the grounds. They had a few metal barricades that are used for concerts and whatnot.
So, really the show of force was not there. And so, the Capitol Police had to scramble at the last minute to try to form defensive lines on the steps on the West Side of the Capitol building. And that’s when we started to see people fighting, because they wanted to get inside, the Trump supporters.
They wanted to get inside the building, and obviously, the Capitol Police [weren’t] going to let them. And so, that’s where we saw the fights, and we saw all the brawling.
And then it kind of transitioned over to the East Side, and that faces the Supreme Court, because that is a little bit easier to get into the Capitol building—not as many steps and stuff. It was after people started to go from the West Side to the East Side, that’s when we finally saw people just being able to break in, because like I said, the Capitol Police clearly were not prepared to prevent people from breaching the complex.
Allen: So, you have rioters entering the Capitol building from both sides, from the East and West. Do you know about how many individuals, or how many people, were you seeing trying to get into the building?
Rosas: It was in the hundreds. So, the main sort of entrance on the East Side, which I mean, it’s really just one quick flight of stairs to get up there. It’s a very narrow doorway and hallway to get inside because that leads into the Rotunda.
It was a lot of people trying to get into this very narrow area. And I was eventually able to get in, because I wanted to see what was going on. And I only made it as far as the Rotunda, because then that’s when police, reinforced by [the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department], started to come in and started to push everyone out through the same entrance that they went into.
Allen: And were these individuals yelling anything? Were they making their demands known to police or to reporters? What were they saying?
Rosas: Oh, yeah, no. Like I said, one, they said that they wanted President Trump for another four years. They wanted Congress to not certify the Electoral College results, and they said they wanted to occupy the Capitol Building for as long as they could.
Obviously, these people are from out of town. So, they were just also just kind of curious, since I’m assuming many of them haven’t even been inside the Capitol building. I mean, I’ve only been inside once, on a tour.
Allen: Wow! So, this is a quite different way to view the Capitol from going on a tour to now you’re reporting on this mob essentially invading the Capitol.
Rosas: Right. Right. So, there was just some people who were just curious, because they just wanted to check things out on the inside. But no, people definitely wanted to interrupt the [certification] … and they did that temporarily. But once they were able to secure the Capitol building, they were able to finish the certification process. So, it really didn’t accomplish their goal.
Allen: Yeah. So, as soon as you got through the doors of the Capitol, what were you seeing? What was happening inside?
Rosas: So, prior to police moving in, things were, I don’t want to say calm, but they were. Because there’s statues, there’s paintings. They weren’t trying to tear those down. They weren’t trying to rip them up that I saw.
I do know that there was some vandalism elsewhere, but in the Rotunda, not as much. The windows on the outside were broken. So, like I said, people were just kind of curious. They did want to go further into the building, but police finally had the manpower to stop them from going any further.
So, that’s why, like I said, the Rotunda was as far as I was able to make it, because then people were being pushed out by cops once they had the numbers to finally push everyone out.
Allen: So, what was running through your mind? As you arrive at the Capitol, as you see what’s happening, you realize, “Whoa, a mob is literally trying to break in!” What are you thinking?
Rosas: I’ve never seen anything … I mean, none of us have in our lifetime have seen [anything] like this before, because when you think about it, this is the Capitol building. I mean, short of the White House, this is one of those central tenets of the United States government, and you’d think that there would be a plan in place and the resources necessary to prevent such an incursion, no matter from which side, no matter who’s trying to break in.
But I think, like I said, there’s just a lack of preparedness on the Capitol Police’s [part]. I’m not trying to disparage them, not the rank and file, but certainly the leadership, for allowing that to happen.
And so, the only thing that I can really compare it to is when … because I was in Minneapolis at the start of all this, at the start of all the riots last year. And I was on the ground outside the 3rd Precinct in south Minneapolis, and I was there when they abandoned it. And so they abandoned the precinct, and that’s when people stormed in.
They set it on fire, and the rioters had control of that area after that. But obviously, that’s a city police precinct, and this is, like I said, one of the main branches of government buildings that’s been through a lot over the years.
So, it was certainly just surreal to see, really. I just almost couldn’t believe it.
Allen: Yeah. Well, and like you say, obviously, the Capitol wasn’t planning on having a major threat on Wednesday. There was knowledge that individuals were gathering on the National Mall to have this rally.
But as far as you and I are aware of, there was no whispers of, or broadly known plan, that there was going to be this massive group of individuals who essentially invaded the Capitol. And we certainly salute the job of the police that did get in there and shut it down and bring order.
But Julio, as you mentioned, you have traveled around the country over the past several months. You’ve covered these riots. You’ve been in the midst of the chaos. As someone who has covered so many riots, what stands out to you about what you saw on Wednesday?
Rosas: What I will say is that there is a false narrative going around right now, and actually Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is parroting it, basically saying that, “Oh, if these were [Black Lives Matter] protesters, the police response would have been much harsher.”
And I can say that that’s just simply not true. The Capitol Police, and then eventually the other law enforcement agencies, they were trying everything they could to stop people from getting inside. They used pepper spray, tear gas, flash bangs, pepper balls. I got hit with a few pepper balls in [the] chaos of it all.
Allen: What are pepper balls?
Rosas: So, it’s like a paintball. So, when you get hit, instead of paint coming out, it’s tear gas or pepper spray, kind of. So, instead of spraying and getting a whole bunch of people, if cops want to just target an individual, they can hit them with a pepper ball, and they get the irritant on them. It’s pretty annoying.
So, all this is to say is that the Capitol Police did not just open the doors and let them all in. I mean, that is just not the case at all. And then of course they’re saying, “Oh, well, if it was BLM protesters, they would shoot us.”
Well, we could say that someone was shot. A Trump supporter was shot while she was trying to enter the [House] Speaker’s lobby. So, that’s just something that needs to be said, because this narrative coming from Democrats and the media is just simply not true.
And I, and I can say that because, as you said, I’ve been to a lot of these other riots, and often in those cases, the police response is almost nothing, which is why the riots were able to happen, because there was no police response.
And so now there definitely was. It just took a long time for them to actually have the manpower to finally take control back of the complex.
Allen: Yeah. How long did it take? Do you know how many hours?
Rosas: It was probably about four or five hours, give or take. People started to leave once the 6:00 p.m. curfew was announced. By 5:00, most people were gone. There were still some people out, and then by 6:00, people were still out, but not as near as many as numbers as it was during the day in the afternoon.
Allen: And I know that you are capturing video during, obviously, while you were in the Capitol, as you were watching this mob break in. Did you hang out kind of into the evening outside to see what was happening?
Rosas: Yeah, just a little bit. Like I said, there were some Trump supporters still out and about, but the additional law enforcement agencies … I mean, I saw Prince William County [Virginia] officers. I saw Virginia State Police, National Guard, the FBI coming out.
So, they finally had the numbers to form just a human chain link around the entire perimeter of the Capitol Hill complex, which is not by any means a small complex. But by then, the damage was done, and everything had already happened. It was good, but it was a little, too little too late at that point.
Allen: As you mentioned, one individual was shot in the neck and tragically died. Did you hear gunshots while you were inside the Capitol?
Rosas: No. No. I believe I was still outside trying to get in to see what was going on when that occurred.
Allen: So, as the evening wore on, we know that there were a number of arrests made. Did you witness any of those arrests take place?
Rosas: Yes. I did see one or two, but the issue was in the Rotunda, I can say … . So, the reason why it was hard for the police to make arrests at just anywhere in any case is that if you have a single line of officers pushing a crowd back, they need every single officer on that line to maintain that integrity. Right?
So, if an officer is going to pull somebody out of the crowd to make an arrest, well, they have to turn around and get behind the other officers, and that leaves a gap in that line. So, there needs to be multiple lines of law enforcement so that the officers on the front line can take someone, pull them back, and then have the officers behind them take care of the person that they want to be arrested.
In the Rotunda, it was just that single line of officers. So, there wasn’t anybody really to make sure someone was apprehended without compromising the integrity of that line.
So, I understand that people are asking, “Well, how can they just break in and not be arrested?” Well, it depends on what the situation is, because they’re just trying to get everyone out so they can just secure the area. I think that was their main priority, just because there were multiple breaches on different levels.
Allen: Yeah. Now I know you had mentioned there were two doors, for sure, individuals were coming in from. Do you know if there were other entrance points, or was it just those two?
Rosas: There definitely were other entrance points that were breached. Other ones were attempted to be breached and compromised, but they weren’t successful.
Allen: OK.
Rosas: And that’s the other thing, too, that people don’t understand, is that it’s not the White House, where there’s a big fence around it. You can walk up to it. And there’s entrances and exits for Capitol Hill staff, press people, the main doors. I mean, this is a pretty accessible federal government building, which people don’t really seem to understand.
And in normal times, and I think one of the issues with Capitol Hill police leadership is that it was complacency that led to this, because there’s been a lot of protests at the Capitol building, but they never went beyond to what happened yesterday.
So, based on what I saw, I’m assuming that they just thought, “Oh, well, we’ll just do the same thing that we have always done, which is put up a nice little metal barricade and put a few officers in non-riot gear and that should be enough.”
But what they didn’t factor into was just the fact that people were riled up. They were heated, and they wanted get in. And also just because they had the numbers. I mean, initially the officers there did not have the numbers at all to hold the grounds, much less the actual complex itself.
Allen: And did you talk with any of these rioters?
Rosas: Sometimes, throughout the day. Yeah. Some people were just kind of curious. I mean, even they were kind of surprised that it was going as far as it went, and they were trying to just get more information on what was happening.
I told them, I said, “Oh, yeah, I just came inside.” And they’re like, “Oh, well, what was that like?” And I was, like, “Well, it’s really bad. You don’t want to go in there.” It was just kind of a dog finally catching up to the car, and now it’s like, “OK, well, what do you do now?” type of situation. And so I mean, there was no real leadership in terms of, like, in the crowd of someone directing people where to go.
It was just kind of a free-for-all just trying to go and see how far they can get into. And as we saw, they were able to get into [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi’s office in the Capitol. They were able to get into the one of the chambers.
So, it was just insane. It was just crazy. And like I said, I’ve never seen something of that magnitude, on that scale, in terms of a building being breached.
Allen: Yeah. Well, Julio, we’re really thankful for your reporting, your boldness to go into the midst of that to capture that video. And I’ve been really thankful throughout several past months of rioting that you have often been in the midst of the chaos, capturing what’s really going on.
If you would, tell our listeners how they can follow your work.
Rosas: So, they can follow me on Twitter at Julio_Rosas11. They can follow my work at townhall.com. They can become a VIP subscriber.
You get access to exclusive articles, and it helps fund trips to put me in more dangerous situations, but that’s OK, because I always volunteered for it. I’m never forced to go. So, you can find my work.
Allen: Great. Well, stay safe. And Julio, thank you so much. We really appreciate you coming on the show today.
Rosas: Thank you.
The post Reporter Who Followed the Mob Into the Capitol Shares What He Saw appeared first on The Daily Signal.
Previous articleU.S. Capitol Police officer dies after attack on Congress
Next articleDoing the Unthinkable
Chris Bedford: Democrats’ Condemnation Of Political Violence Was Warranted A Long Time Ago
Nancy Pelosi Joins Hillary Clinton’s Podcast To Peddle Disinformation About Trump’s ‘Cult’ And Russian Ties
Biden’s DNI pick pledges ‘critical support’ from intel community on domestic terrorism
Schumer and McConnell try to cut a deal on a 50-50 Senate
2 Guardsmen with ties to right-wing militias axed from inauguration mission
Chris Bedford: Democrats’ Condemnation Of Political Violence Was Warranted A Long...
Nancy Pelosi Joins Hillary Clinton’s Podcast To Peddle Disinformation About Trump’s...
Biden’s DNI pick pledges ‘critical support’ from intel community on domestic...
MYSTERIOUS MASKS IN THE MAIL: Tampa Bay Residents Receive Unsolicited Masks...
I DON’T THINK THERE SHOULD BE ANY DEBATES”: Nancy Pelosi Opposes...
“LIKE COMMON CRIMINALS”: San Diego Business Owner Facing Criminal Charges for...
Daily News606
© 2021 - Voices Of A Nation - All Rights Reserved.
Jordan Davidson - January 19, 2021 0
Tristan Justice - January 19, 2021 0
Quint Forgey - January 19, 2021 0
Schumer and McConnell try to cut a deal on a 50-50...
Burgess Everett - January 19, 2021 0
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516224
|
__label__wiki
| 0.557117
| 0.557117
|
The Last Blockbuster (2020) – OUT NOW ON DIGITAL!
← The Day of the Locust (1975) - OUT NOW ON BLURAY! Sound of Metal (2019) - NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO! →
The Last Blockbuster is a documentary about how Blockbuster Video began and eventually became one of the greatest retailers of entertainment. As well as that, this is also the sad story of how the major retailer fell apart leaving only one Blockbuster Store remaining. The Last Blockbuster is still in full operation to this very day.
For those who do not know, I personally worked in a Video Ezy store as a teenager in Qld, Australia. Honestly, I think I was offered a job because I was always visiting the store and hated leaving. I have so many fond memories when it comes to visiting video stores as well as having the honour of being employed at one too. During my time in a video store, I remember repairing VHS tapes and recall loaning out VHS players to customers. I witnessed the arrival of DVDs and saw VHS tapes disappear from our shelves. Working part-time in a local video store is where my passion for movies, as well as becoming a personal collector of movies, all began. A journey which would lead me to writing this very film review.
The documentary begins by introducing us to the proud owner of the remaining Blockbuster store, which is in Bend, Oregon. The manager’s name is Sandy Harding and her nickname within her community is ‘Blockbuster Mum’. Sandy earnt this nickname from the many teenagers within the community who have all had the honour of working for her in the past. While working at and managing this store, Sandy has witnessed many incredible moments. Sandy reveals incredible insight and many details about Blockbuster which I was not personally familiar with. Did you know that in 2004 Blockbuster had approx. 60,000 employees along with 9,000 stores? To my surprise, by 2017 the company went from having 9,000 stores down to only 12. In the year 2019, Sandy Harding’s store became the only remaining Blockbuster store in the world. If you thought the reason for the disappearance of all the other Blockbuster stores was because of Netflix, you’re in for a shock.
If you’re not sure how video stores came to be, you will also find this feature rather insightful, especially when this documentary explains the original cost of a video cassette set at a high price by film studios. We are also spoiled with guest appearances through interviews as they share their own experience and memories with Blockbuster Video. Some of these guests include Kevin Smith, Ione Sky, Brian Posher, Doug Benson, Paul Scheer, Samm Levin, Jamie Kennedy, Darren Hayes and many more!
Overall, I found this documentary to be rather fun and pleasing as it takes its audiences on a trip down memory lane. Having personally worked in a Video Ezy store as a teenager, I felt like I had a special connection with this feature. It is quite insightful as we discover how video stores came to be and the journey of the major retailer who once had over 9,000 stores, eventually reducing to only one store in the world. Once there was a time where people used to select a film and at the same time have a human connection or even a deep discussion with others. It is certainly a different kind of a history lesson and one that should be witnessed by all movie lovers. Are you ready to visit The Last Blockbuster?
The Last Blockbuster (2020) Now Available on Digital!
Follow Me (2020) – Movie Review Podcast Is Also Now Available!
https://www.1091pictures.com/
PODCASTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ON APPLE ITUNES & SPOTIFY
Walkden Entertainment is also available multiple on platforms!
For more information, click here: https://linktr.ee/walkdenentertainment
Review Written by Peter Walkden
You might also enjoy these reviews
The People Upstairs (2020) AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIAN CINEMAS FROM FEBRUARY 11TH!
The film introduces us to a couple who have been together for many years in an apartment building. But unfortunately for this couple, Julio (Javier Camara) & Ana (Griselda Siciliani), their relationship consists of arguments, disagreements, and a lack of...
City of Lies (2018) – NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD!
Following an ex-detective named Detective Russell Poole (Johnny Depp) who used to work for Los Angeles Police Department, the film begins with an introduction to the character. Detective Poole is no longer on the force and is now an older, retired man living...
Hunted (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE ON SHUDDER AUSTRALIA!
The film introduces a woman named Eve (Lucie Debay). Eve works in the construction industry and is currently overseeing a large construction job. She is now under pressure from upper management regarding her newest project. One night, while trying to sleep...
Lupin The Third: The First (2019) – NOW AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIAN CINEMAS!
Lupin was created by a manga artist who goes by the alias title of Monkey Punch, eventually leading to a popular TV series (and multiple manga feature films). This time, movie lovers get to see a whole new feature film following the character in a brand new unique...
The Elfkins – Baking A Difference (2019) – NOW AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIAN CINEMAS!
After reading the title of this film, I know what you are thinking. What's an Elfkin? And are they related to Christmas? Well, the definite answer is Elfkins are not connected to Christmas. They are something far more significant than anyone could imagine. Elfkins are...
Antebellum (2020) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
This story follows a woman (played by Janelle Monáe) who is currently a slave on a plantation site. Like this woman, many other slaves are forced to work and do horrific things. Many have tried to escape, but each attempt ends with tragic and heartbreaking...
High Ground (2020) – AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIAN CINEMAS FROM JANUARY 28TH!
Inspired by real events. The film is set in the 1930s, North Australia. High Ground follows two men who both have a past filled with pain and hurt. Travis (Simon Baker) is a gun for hire and a skilled bounty hunter. Daily, he is filled with...
Skylines (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE ON BLURAY & DVD!
It has been fifteen years since Planet Earth witnessed the beginning of an alien invasion from the sky. The world became a battlefield with aliens vs human and in the end only a small number of survivors still roam the earth. Continuing on from the second instalment...
Dreambuilders (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIAN CINEMAS!
Dreambuilders follows a young girl named Minna (voiced by Robyn Dempsey). Minna is an only child who lives with her father. Daily, she is reminded of the fact that her mother left her father to pursue a singing career when she was just a young girl. In the present...
The Flood (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD!
The Flood tells a brutal story of pain, suffering and revenge. We witness the introduction of Jarah (Alexis Lane) who has a husband Waru (Shaka Cook) and a young daughter named Binda. When Jarah is taken away from her land and removed from her family, she is used...
The Black String (2018) – NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD!
Jonathan (Frankie Muniz) is a single man who works at a local convenience store. Lonely and sick of being single, Jonathan even gets envious when he sees the couple visiting his store. One night, while watching TV, an ad appears on his screen advertising...
Rent-A-Pal (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD!
Set around a time when VHS tapes were still our primary source of entertainment, David (Brain Landis Folkins) is a lonely, single man. He lives with his unwell mother, taking care of her daily, and has his own room in the basement. Currently, David is seeking a...
Sky Sharks (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD!
The film begins with a plane full of passengers who are soon attacked by what appears to be Zombie-like Nazis flying around on sharks. The aircraft is attacked, and a horrific blood bath begins. We are then introduced to a small group of geologists who are currently...
A Call To Spy (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIAN CINEMAS!
Set during the start of WWII, the British need help and are running out of options. Winston Churchill gives orders to create a brand-new agency unlike anything before. The film introduces us to Vera Atkins (Stana Katic) who is assigned to oversee this and handle...
Tenet (2020) – OUT NOW ON 4K UHD, BLURAY & DVD!
Throughout the story we follow a man who we call ‘The Protagonist’ (John David Washington), an ex-CIA agent. After an undercover mission turns into chaos, our leading survivor is invited to join a top-secret group known as Tenet. While working for Tenet, it is up to...
Drive (2011) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
A mysterious man (Ryan Gosling) works as a stunt driver for many major Hollywood films. When a movie needs a car to crash into a wall or perhaps do a flip over, this is the man who is called in to do the job. When he is not working on a movie set, the...
Tea with the Dames (2018) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
This is a film about four actresses (who are now Dames) catching up together to share stories, have tea, share memories and most importantly laugh. Our Dames are:* Judi Dench* Eileen Atkins* Joan Plowright &* Maggie Smith From the beginning of the film, it’s...
Deep Blue Sea 3 (2020) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
A group of people, including a leading marine biologist, currently live in a small, old resort known as “Little Happy” in an abandoned fishing village in Mozambique. Here the team are studying and monitoring the effects of climate change on sharks. Leading this team...
Spree (2020) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
Kurt Kunkle (Joe Keery) is a Spree driver (basically an Uber driver for those who live in Australia). Kurt has desires to become a famous influencer when it comes to social media and over the last ten years has been trying to grow his number of followers. But...
Assimilate (2019)
1st they bite you...then they clone you Zach (Joel Courtney) & Randy (Calum Worthy) are best friends who spend their spare time filming an online reality series (not YouTube- here it’s called “VidTube”). They have spy cameras attached to the collars of their...
Crooked House (2017)
Based on a well known Agatha Christie murder mystery novel, a private eye named Charles Hayward accepts a murder case from an ex-girlfriend to investigate the murder of her Grandfather. Our private eye is granted a two-day head start before the investigation is...
Partners In Crime: Season One (1983) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
Actors James Warwick and Francesca Annis unite once again on screen to feature in another Agatha Christie series. But this time the leading actors are playing the famous Detective team known as Tommy (James Warwick) and Tuppence (Francesca Annis). After my recent...
Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018)
For those who are not familiar with the well-known tale, a baby boy is found in the jungle by a pack of Wolves. As the Wolves meet together, they decide to raise the boy as one of their own within the jungle. Along with the Wolves, the boy is also trained and raised...
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
Stefan is a young and upcoming computer game programmer. Stefan has a dream to turn one of his favourite novels into a video game for the whole world to experience. After a large company decides to invest in his idea and turn it into a new game, Stefan will try to...
Sorry, Wrong Number (1948) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY!
Leona (Barbara Stanwyck) is an invalid woman stuck at home on here own. She waits for her husband to come home from work at night but for some reason he is running extremely late and Leona has not been informed of his whereabouts. With a phone by her side table, she...
Trolls World Tour (2020) – OUT NOW ON 4K UHD, BLURAY & DVD!
Continuing on from where we last left our loveable Trolls, life is excellent for Queen Poppy and her fellow Trolls… until! The Queen of the Hard Rock Trolls begins to take over every Troll kingdom. Now the Pop Trolls will come together with a plan to not only save...
No Country for Old Men (2007) – NOW AVAILABLE ON BLURAY & DVD!
Set in rural Texas, No Country for Old Men tells the story of three key characters in the one film. Our first character is Llewelyn (Josh Brolin) who discovers the aftermath of a shootout which appears to be from a major drug deal gone wrong. Llewelyn...
Come Away (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE ON BLURAY & DVD!
Jack (David Oyelowo) and his wife Rose (Angelina Jolie) are parents to three young children. After a tragic incident occurs with one of the family members, the young children in the family (named Peter and Alice) decide to use their imagination and set out on...
The New Mutants (2020) – OUT NOW ON 4K UHD, BLURAY & DVD!
The film begins with a young girl and her father attempting to escape what appears to be a horrifying tornado. During the attempted escape, something terrible occurs to the young girl’s father. Shortly after the horrible storm, the young girl wakes up in a bed and we...
Beverly Hills Cop (1984) – NOW AVAILABLE ON 4K UHD, BLURAY & DVD!
Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is a police officer within the city of Detroit. Axel is known for being loud and wild but nevertheless is a good cop and has street-smart skills when it comes to cracking cases. After an undercover bust gone wrong, Axel heads home only to...
It Must Be Heaven (2019) – NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD!
ES (Elia Suleiman) is a filmmaker and writer who currently lives in Palestine. Due to personal reasons, ES decides to pack his things and travel around different cities to explore as well as hopefully launch his newest project. As a character, ES enjoys being...
Paper Champions (2020) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
When Rey was a kid, he always had dreams of taking on the world as a professional wrestler. But in the present day, Rey (Luke Saliba) has ended up on a very different path. Rey works behind a desk selling photocopy machines along selling general stationery supplies to...
Sound of Metal (2019) – NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO!
Ruben (Riz Ahmed) is a drummer in a heavy metal band along with his partner, Lou (Olivia Cooke). The two are living the dream as they play at many gigs with also an album on the horizon. But for Ruben, things are about to take a dramatic turn as he begins to have...
The Day of the Locust (1975) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY!
Set during the 1930s, The Day of the Locust follows Tod (William Atherton), an art director working on several upcoming films. While moving into a small apartment, he soon discovers an actress named Fay (Karen Black) lives across from him. As Tod begins to...
Future Man: Season One (2017) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
Josh Futturman (Josh Hutcherson) is a janitor working at a research lab. Josh, in the present day, feels like he has hit a roadblock in life when it comes to career choices. When Josh is not working, he enjoys playing a video game titled Biotic Wars which many have...
A Christmas Gift from Bob (2020)
Following on from the film A Street Cat Named Bob, initially released in 2016, James (Luke Treadaway) has just released his first book also titled "A Street Cat named Bob". The new book reveals a great deal of insight into James's dark past when he was addicted to...
How Do You Know Chris? (2020)
A young woman named Emi visits her local laundromat, and while digging for change for the machine, she meets a man named Chris. The two strike up a conversation and discover they have some things in common. Chris invites Emi to join him at a party that he is hosting...
The Soul Collector | 8 (2019) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
The film opens with an older man on his death bed. With his final breath, he sees another man by his side, and instantly the old man in his bed passes away while the stranger walks away. On the flip side, the film introduces us to a family which consists of William...
Villains (2019) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
Mickey (Bill Skarsgard) and Jules (Maika Monroe) are both criminals who also share a romantic connection. The two decide to rob a service station, but as they drive away, their car soon runs out of fuel because Mickey forgot to fill it up before robbing the...
The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE ON NETFLIX!
Two years ago Kate (Darby Camp) joined Santa on an unforgettable adventure to save Christmas. Now Kate is a teenager, currently away on holidays with her family. Not only is this holiday at the beach instead of the snow, but her mother has brought her...
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) – NOW AVAILABLE ON BLURAY & DVD!
The film begins with our leading hero, Sinbad. Sinbad is the captain on a long voyage along with his crew. Currently Sinbad and his men are presently lost at sea due to many stormy winds which pushed their ship in a completely different...
Framed (1947) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY!
Mike Lambert (Glenn Ford) is on the hunt for a new mining job. He also accepts small cash jobs, including driving a delivery truck. Unfortunately for Mike, his most recent delivery doesn't go to plan. The truck that Mike was driving had faulty brakes, and soon he...
Force of Nature (2020) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
Cardillo (Emile Hirsch) is a cop with a troubled and dark past. In the present day, Cardillo gets paired up with another officer and receives a call to a domestic dispute. These officers soon learn that during a big hurricane storm, there is an apartment...
The Tax Collector (2020) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
Set in present-day L.A, The Tax Collector focuses on two men who work for a major local crime lord. David (Bobby Soto) & Creeper (Shia LaBeouf) drive around the city collecting what is owed to their boss from local outlets. For David, when he is not working, he...
A Nice Girl Like You (2020) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
Based on a well know memoir by Ayn Carrillo-Gailey. The film follows Lucy (Lucy Hale) who is part of a quartet. Lucy enjoys playing the violin at significant events such as weddings and other types of big celebrations. Lucy is also in a relationship with her...
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) – OUT NOW ON 4K UHD, BLURAY & DVD!
Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are best friends. They both attend the same high school and have lots in common. When Bill and Ted are not at school, they rock out in a garage with hopes of one day becoming a well-known rock band. The band’s name is none...
Mulan (2020) – OUT NOW ON 4K UHD, BLURAY & DVD!
Based on a true story as well as the Disney Animation smash hit which featured back in 1998. The film begins with a young Chinese girl named Mulan. Mulan has been known for making mischievous trouble within her small community. Now an adult, Mulan continues to cause...
Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY!
Meet a seagull named Jonathan. As a seagull, it is obvious that Jonathan is not like the rest of his kind. He has a different type of attitude, and a unique outlook on life and the world that surrounds him. Jonathan is also a skilled flyer...
The Mystery of D.B. Cooper (2020)
The Mystery of D.B. Cooper is a Documentary about one of the biggest aeroplane heists in history. It was November 1971 and a man known as DB Cooper hijacked a plane flying out of Portland, Oregon. How did he do it? A stranger boarded a plane and...
Back To The Future (1985) OUT NOW ON 4K UHD, BLURAY & DVD!
Set in the year 1985, young teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) can't seem to catch a break. After running late for school and receiving yet another detention notice, Marty attends a band tryout and is declined because he, along with his band, play way too...
Hard Eight (1996) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY!
Sydney (Philip Baker Hall) is walking into a small cafe and finds a stranger named John (John C. Reilly) sitting outside who is looking down and saddened. Sydney approaches John and offers him a cup of coffee and a cigarette, curious as to how John got to where he is....
Danger: Diabolik (1968) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY!
Diabolik (John Phillip Law) is a mischievous Robin Hood-type bank robber. Assisting him with his robberies is his lover Eva (Marisa Mell). Diabolik will do anything for Eva and anything he robs he generally gives to her. The two also take great joy in sharing heists...
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE ON NETFLIX!
Based on a true story, the film follows seven people who are on trial for being involved in the 1968 riots at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The film opens with an introduction to each of the seven key characters. These introductions...
Rogue (2020) OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
O'Hara (Megan Fox) is the captain of a highly-skilled group of mercenary soldiers. Their current mission is to try and rescue a young girl who has been captured and trafficked. After sneaking around the enemy site, O'Hara and her team not only find the girl they...
Ip Man: Kung Fu Master (2019)
Following Ip Man at a different time in his life and before he became Bruce Lee's teacher, Ip Man: Kung Fu Master shows Ip Man (Yu-Hang To) when he is much younger. In this film Ip Man is currently a police captain located in Foshan and he is going to be a...
Follow Me | No Escape (2020) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
Cole (Keegan Allen) is a famous influencer on social media. As a young boy, Cole began streaming his daily activities to the entire online world. After ten years of online success, Cole's friends decide to celebrate Cole's hard work by doing something...
The King of Staten Island (2020) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
Ever since Scott's father died in a tragic incident, Scott (Pete Davidson) has lost his way in life. In the present day, Scott is twenty-four years old and has desires of being the first to launch a restaurant where you can also get a tattoo, all under the one roof....
A woman named Jessica (Jules Wilcox) has recently become a widow and decides to pack up her belongings and get away from her current issues. She decides to hire a trailer and begins to drive to her new destination where her new life awaits. Unfortunately for Sarah,...
Honest Thief (2020) – AVAILABLE ON BLURAY & DVD FROM FEBRUARY 10TH!
Tom (Liam Neeson) is a highly skilled and professional thief. He has robbed many banks, and each time managed to escape with a large sum of money without ever getting caught. No one knows who he is or what he looks like. In the news they call him "The In & Out...
Depraved (2019) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
Adam (Alex Breaux) has recently moved in with his partner named Liz (Ana Kayne). One night the two of them have a serious discussion which leads to an argument. The argument begins when Liz expresses her desires to one day have children and start a family. ...
Paycheck (2003) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
A man named Jennings (Ben Affleck) is a skilled reverse engineer for hire. People, or even companies, can hire Jennings to do jobs, and once the task is done his memory is wholly wiped, leaving him with no knowledge of his actions. The duration of these jobs is...
The Raven (1935) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
A young woman by the name of Jean Thatcher is involved in a tragic accident as her car falls off a cliff. Jean’s survival will require a skilled surgeon. Jean's family have no choice but to approach Dr Vollin (Bela Lugosi), a highly skilled surgeon who lives in...
Koko: A Red Dog Story (2019) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
Koko: A Red Dog Story is a combination of a biography and a comedy about the real-life dog named Koko who was born and raised in Australia. The film shows several interviews from cast and crew along with Koko's owner retelling her experiences with the famous dog and...
Apartment 1BR (2019) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
A young woman named Sarah (Nicole Brydon Bloom) is attempting to start a brand-new life and hopes to move forward from her mysterious past. Sarah discovers a vacant apartment which she really likes the look of. She decides to apply for it, competing against many other...
Full Metal Jacket (1987) – NOW AVAILABLE ON 4K UHD!
A new group of young men have just joined the U.S Marines Corp. We witness each member getting their heads shaved and then the film begins to give its viewers a deeper insight into the characters as each of these new recruits begin their brutal boot camp training...
The Pale Horse (2020) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
Based on the well-known novel written by Agatha Christie, The Pale Horse begins with an older woman dying in the streets. While investigators search the woman’s body and seek out the cause of death, they find a piece of paper which contains a list of names located in...
Night of the Demon | Curse of the Demon (1957) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
A professor by the name of John Holden travels from America all the way to London. In London, the Professor was scheduled to attend a parapsychology conference but soon finds himself pulled into a scary investigation. You see, the man the Professor had planned to meet...
Motherless Brooklyn (2019) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
Set in the 1950s New York, a private detective named Lionel (Edward Norton) has Tourette's Syndrome and is thrown into a world of mystery when his mentor is shot and killed. Lionel's mentor was also a close friend of his and taught him everything about being a private...
Batman: Death in the Family (2020) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY!
Batman and Jason Todd (aka Robin), team up as the dynamic duo, taking down many villains within Gotham City. One night the two team up to take down a major villain. On the same night, The Joker makes a guest appearance with much bigger plans for the Bat along...
Hubie Halloween (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE ON NETFLIX!
Set in the present-day community of Salem, one man takes Halloween very seriously. He is an adult who is determinate to keep his community safe from any evil, foul play or nasty tricks that may occur to others. His name is Hubie Dubois (Adam Sandler). Hubie is mocked...
My Spy (2020) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
JJ (Dave Bautista) is a CIA agent who lives for the action-filled moments that the job offers daily. After completing yet another successful top-secret mission, JJ is paired up with a new partner and given a new dangerous task. JJ is to conduct surveillance on a...
You’ll Like My Mother (1972) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
Francesca is a pregnant woman who is due to give birth at any moment. Unfortunately for Francesca, her husband was a soldier who died while fighting in Vietnam. After her husband is killed in action, Francesca is alone with no family around her. She decides to visit...
Miss Juneteenth (2020) – AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL FROM JANUARY 6TH!
Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie) is a single mother who is well known within her community for winning Miss Juneteeth when she was a teenager. Turquoise has her own daughter named Kai (Alexis Chikaeze) who is now old enough to enter the Miss Juneteenth beauty pageant...
The 2nd Amendment (2020) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
Vic Davis (Ryan Phillippe) is a Green Beret with a dark past who has fought in many battles. In the present day, Vic plans on picking his son up from college as it is the end of a term. Unfortunately, things are not going to plan. Vic accidentally breaks his phone...
The Drone (2019) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
Set in the present day, a serial killer is on the loose. The killer enjoys capturing and murdering woman, particularly redheads. Using a high tech drone, the killer stalks and monitors his next target. But as the killer soon discovers, the police are...
Lucky Grandma (2019) – AVAILABLE ON DVD FROM FEBRUARY 3RD!
Set in New York City, China Town, our leading character is a Grandma (Tsai Chin) who recently lost her husband. Feeling alone and frustrated, she decides to visit a local ‘fortune teller’ and is told that good luck will come to her on the 28th...
On The Rocks (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE ON APPLE TV+
Laura (Rashida Jones) is a young mother who is currently married with two daughters. On her wedding day everything seemed perfect, but in the present day things have changed when it comes to Laura and her husband. Laura begins to suspect that her...
Sputnik (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL!
Set in the early 80s, two men in a Soviet spacecraft are in space on a mission. But the mission turns for the worst when something mysterious occurs. The spacecraft crash lands back on Earth, leaving the ship’s commander alive and the other crewmember dead. The...
You Should Have Left (2020) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
Theo (Kevin Bacon) is a wealthy man with a dark past which haunts him every night when trying to sleep. Theo also generally feels frustrated in life. To clear his mind and try to get his head refreshed and rested, Theo suggests to his wife, Susanna (Amanda...
Kiss The Girls (1997) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
Alex Cross (Morgan Freeman) is a police detective and a forensic psychologist. He receives word about a mysterious person who is kidnapping and murdering several women. Alex becomes even more invested in the case once he discovers that one of the victims is his...
Heat (1995) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
Our film follows two different people and their ‘crew’. Firstly, we have a small team of professional bank robbers who target several banks within L.A. Leading this team is Neil (Robert De Niro). Unfortunately for Neil, during the team's most...
A Place in the Sun (1951) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY!
George Eastman (Montgomery Clift) is a poor young man who gets a job working for his wealthy uncle, packing boxes of women’s clothing. While working and earning a solid income, he begins to chase one of the young female co-workers who catches his eye. This...
When Worlds Collide (1951) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY!
A small team of professional astronomers discover a new planet which is on its way to hit Earth directly. The astronomers put all their information about this discovery into a secure container. They then hire a skilled pilot named David (Richard Deer) to...
The Carpetbaggers (1964) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY!
Jonas Cord (George Peppard) is a young man who enjoys living a wild life while his father works. But Jonas soon finds himself changing his lifestyle when his father dies. Jonas instantly finds himself saying goodbye to his old life and switching his mind into pure...
Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? (1980) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
Bobby Jones (James Warwick) is playing a round of golf on the Welsh coast, and he notices a stranger walking in the same area as him. At first, Bobby and his golf buddy think nothing of it, but soon they discover the stranger has fallen off a cliff and landed on the...
The Leadership (2020)
A woman named Fabian Dattner is a professional leadership consultant and CEO who had a dream one night and believes she has the key for the future for women everywhere. Fabian gets the idea to put a big group of female scientists on a voyage for 20 days with...
Four Kids and It (2020) – COMING SOON TO DIGITAL!
Based on a well-known children's novel of the same title. The film introduces us to two adults named David (Matthew Goode) & Alice (Paula Patton) and each of their two children. These two families meet up at a holiday cottage located on a beach in Cornwall...
The Secrets We Keep (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD!
Set in post-World War II, The Secrets We Keep follows Maja (Noomi Rapace) who lives with her husband and son. As a family, they are moving forward in life and attempting to heal from their past. But when Maja hears a stranger’s voice in public, she is convinced this...
Scoob! (2020) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
Based on the smash-hit animated TV series, Scoob the movie begins with a young Shaggy alone on the beach wishing he had a best friend. Suddenly a naughty Dog is running around the beach causing trouble. Shaggy bumps into the nameless dog, and the two...
Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2020) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
Introducing a new animation from the DC Universe. The film follows Clark Kent (aka Superman) who is currently working for the Daily Planet as an intern. Clark spends his time getting coffee and running errands for his fellow co-workers. He naturally works...
Bill & Ted Face The Music (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE ON BLURAY AND DVD!
The two great ones Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) return to the big screen once again after their last bogus journey in 1991. When we last saw Bill and Ted they were on their way to delivering a song that would change the world forever. But...
Becky (2020) – NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD!
Becky (Lulu Wilson) is a teenager who is dealing with several frustrations in her life. Her father (Joel McHale) thought it would be a great idea to take Becky to the lake house in the woods where her family used to go. It is obvious that Becky is still dealing...
Brock: Over The Top (2020) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
Introducing a feature-length documentary which shares the life and journey of Peter Brock. If you're not familiar with the name, Peter Brock was very well known within Australia. Many would state that Peter Brock was the most significant racing car driver...
Yellowstone: Season One (2018) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
This series follows the Dutton Family, owners of the well-known ranch called "Yellowstone". John Dutton, the father of the family and owner of the ranch, are supported in his every move by his children, Jamie (Wes Bentley), Beth (Kelly Reilly) & Kayce (Luke...
A Dark Place | Steel Country (2018) – OUT NOW DVD!
Set in a town in Western Pennsylvania, A Dark Place follows a man named Donald (Andrew Scott). Donald gets up every day and drives a large garbage truck collecting trash, taking notice of the people in his daily routine. One day Donald notices that a young boy...
Paydirt (2020) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
After a DEA bust goes terribly and the lives of police officers are lost, criminal Damian Brooks (Luke Goss) ends up in jail, and the man in charge of the arrest, Sheriff Tucker (Val Kilmer), is stood down from his job. But after six years in prison, Damian is...
No Way to Treat a Lady (1968) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY!
Morris Brummel (George Segal) is a single man who still lives with his mother. Morris is also a police detective. One day while Morris is enjoying a home-cooked meal he receives a phone call to attend an apartment building immediately and investigate the murder...
Night Falls on Manhattan (1996) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY!
Sean (Andy Garcia) is a new and upcoming lawyer working for the District Attorney in the city of Manhattan. Sean’s life takes a significant turn when his father (who is a police officer) is gunned down and badly wounded during a stake-out. Given the family...
Playing With Fire (2019) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
The film immediately introduces watchers to a team of smokejumpers who are also known as elite group firefighters. The group consists of Captain Jake (John Cena), Mark (Keegan-Michael Key), Rodrigo (John Leguizamo) & a giant man who never speaks named Axe (Tyler...
Fatima (2020) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
The film opens with the introduction of Professor Nichols (Harvey Keitel) who is writing a book about the topic of religion. He’s been travelling around the world, interviewing people who have had personal religious experiences. To complete his novel, the...
A Man Called Sledge (1970) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
Set in the Old West, the film follows a man named Sledge. Sledge is an outlaw and a skilled gunfighter who spends many days roaming the land in search of gold and treasure. Sledge is also in love with a woman, but he has always set the hunt for vast riches as a higher...
The Current War (2020) OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD!
The Current War follows the lives of three men who changed the world forever by introducing electrical inventions. The men I am referring to are Thomas Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch), George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon) & Nikola Tesla (Nicholas Hoult). In case...
The Standoff At Sparrow Creek (2018) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
Gannon (James Badge Dale) is a former cop-turned-militia man. After Gannon spends an afternoon hunting, he soon hears gunfire and explosions nearby. He then receives a phone call telling him to meet up with his fellow crew at a nearby warehouse. It's revealed during...
Friday The 13th (1980) – AVAILABLE ON BLURAY & DVD!
A small group of counsellors decide to attempt to reopen a campsite known as Crystal Lake. But little does this group know that once upon a time a tragic event occurred at this location. Many members within the community call Crystal Lake a cursed area and say...
Les Misérables (2019) – NOW AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL!
Inspired by the Paris Riots which occurred in 2005, a police officer named Stephane (Damien Bonnard) moves to Montfermeil due to personal reasons. He is the newest member to join the Anti-Crime Squad. Montfermeil is where the author Victor Hugo set his well-known...
Capone (2020) – OUT NOW ON BLURAY & DVD
Al Capone (Tom Hardy) has just finished serving a ten-year prison sentence for his crimes. Released from prison, he returns home to his wife and family. Capone is now 47 years old and the police are keeping an eye on his activities for the remainder of his...
A Rainy Day in New York (2019) – OUT NOW ON DVD!
Gatsby (Timothee Chalamet) is head over heels with a young girl named Ashleigh. The two are currently dating and attend the same school. Gatsby is a man who has a high IQ and takes joy in playing rounds of poker, often earning large sums of money. He feels his parents...
Walkden Entertainment
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516227
|
__label__cc
| 0.688081
| 0.311919
|
FB 09 German Studies and Arts Fachbereichs-Navigation
Exchange Studies / ERASMUS
German Linguistics
Medieval German Philology
FB 09 | German Studies and Arts
FB 09 | German Studies and Arts Fachbereichs-Navigation
FB 09 | German Studies and Arts schließen
Department of German Studies and Arts
In Marburg, the Institute of Musicology has an historical focus. Here, music is part of history and the cultural sciences. The focus is on the traditional genres of vocal and instrumental music and the intermedial products of modern art movements in which music plays a role.
Musicology in Marburg deals specifically with the origins, notation, appearance, tonal rendition, function and effect of works of music history, with the aesthetics of music, and with musical institutions.
In research, the Institute of Musicology distinguishes itself in combining period-related focuses on ‘early music’ (before 1600) and musical history from the late 18th to the 20th centuries. A specific research focus of modern musical history is on 19th-century opera and instrumental music. Together with the associated Hessian Music Archive (Hessisches Musikarchiv), the department plays an important role in preserving the musical heritage in Hesse from the early modern age until the 20th century.
Completed research project:
Sabine Henze-Döhring: Giacomo Meyerbeer. Briefwechsel und Tagebücher, critical and annotated edition, vols. 5–8, Berlin: de Gruyter 1999–2006
In cooperation with other subjects, the Institute of Musicology offers a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree programme. It also provides the possibility to study for a doctorate.
The Bachelor’s degree programme, Art, Music and Media: Organisation and Presentation, is nationally the only degree programme to combine art history, musicology and media studies. Providing a first academic degree, it prepares for professional life. It also offers the possibility to continue with a Master’s degree programme or, specifically in Marburg, with a so-called fast-track doctoral programme.
The degree programme aims to impart the basic historical and theoretical knowledge and methods of analysis as well as knowledge about transfer processes of arts and about forms of presenting arts in the media. The practical focus is on identifying and assessing models of the medialisation of fine arts in their historical dimension.
The degree programme reacts to the spreading of art, music and media in the audiovisual culture on the one hand. On the other hand, it reacts to the fact that arts as a medial occurrence gain a new meaning and dynamics. Thus, the degree programme concentrates on transformation processes. These processes already began with book illustration (manuscript/print). They increased with the photographic technique of reproducing works of art and are currently reaching a temporary climax in the transmission of images to mobile media. The musical repertoire – transferred often and varied by records, radio broadcasting, film, television and digital media – has long since become material that is ever available. The arts can thus no longer be separated from their presentation and transfer processes. This ceaseless medial adaption in turn emphasises the mediality and materiality of the pictorial and musical arts. Their formal and material elements, music’s effect of creating publicity, and the extensive accessibility of all art forms can be mentioned here as examples.
The degree programme provides sound basic knowledge in fine arts, musicology and media studies. With a career focus, its application-oriented elements deepen the knowledge and skills acquired, on the basis of academic methodology, in visual arts and architecture, musical theatre and music, and technical media (photography, film, television) – both disciplinary and across disciplines. With particular attention paid to practical application, the degree programme conveys the academic requirements for designing projects independently. It also teaches the academic requirements for an academically sound cooperation in public and private institutions whose function and aim it is to organise and market art in different institutional contexts, with different objectives, and in varying medial networks in the context of public presentations of art and cultural activities.
Most of the degree programme’s graduates work:
In public cultural service
In cultural administration
In print, audiovisual and digital media institutions (journalism)
In the field of music festivals and event culture institutions
For radio and television
For musical theatres
For concert halls
For museums
In public relations
In the Master’s degree programme, Musicology: History and Presentation, students deepen their knowledge in historical musicology, focusing on European Western music. The programme aims at developing the students’ skills in independent academic work and in presenting their findings orally and in writing. The programme thus provides the foundations for independent research. For this purpose, the courses concentrate on case examples. Another focus is on the presentation of music both in the university’s research environment and in the environment of cultural institutions.
The focus in Marburg is on the following subject areas:
Music as an artistic matter
Historical theory construction
Historical changes of music in the institutional and cultural context
In line with Marburg’s research profile, the period-related focuses are on ‘early music’ (before 1600) and on musical history from the late 18th century up to and including the 20th century.
The Master’s degree programme prepares for a career in the following fields:
Publishers (copy-editing)
Libraries (senior civil service)
Press, radio, television
Musical dramaturgy of musical theatre/orchestra
It is possible to complete the Master’s degree programme while continuing one’s employment. This is particularly suitable for professionals who already work in music education and wish to advance their subject-specific and formal skills with more sophisticated management tasks in mind.
Particularly skilled graduates who are interested in working in research and teaching may also study for a doctorate.
Contact details FB 09 | German Studies and Arts
FB 09 | German Studies and Arts Deutschhausstraße 3
dekan09@staff.uni-marburg.de
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516228
|
__label__wiki
| 0.524597
| 0.524597
|
Boo in the Zoo highlights 13 weekend events for families
Boo in the Zoo headlines a full weekend of events for families in the Upstate.
Boo in the Zoo highlights 13 weekend events for families Boo in the Zoo headlines a full weekend of events for families in the Upstate. Check out this story on UpstateParent.com: https://www.upstateparent.com/story/entertainment/events/2017/10/19/boo-zoo-highlights-13-weekend-events-families/780870001/
Angie Campbell, Upstate Parent Published 2:32 p.m. ET Oct. 19, 2017 | Updated 2:32 p.m. ET Oct. 19, 2017
Lots of little Minions, Star Wars characters, princesses and cowboys are expected to show up for the Boo in the Zoo at Greenville Zoo.(Photo: File photo)
As we head closer to a certain spooky holiday, more and more festive events are planned.
If your kids love fire trucks, they can learn about fire safety and meet firefighters at 10 a.m. Friday at the Taylors branch of the Greenville Library System.
A Fall Bazaar is 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday at Disciples United Methodist Church in Greenville. The event includes children’s activities, a pumpkin patch, crafts, a book signing by Author Matt Matthews and more. Call 864-297-0382 or visit www.mydisciples.org.
Watch “Disney Junior at the Movies: HalloVeen Party!” in select theaters at 10 a.m. Saturday through FathomEvents.com. The event includes a costume party for kids, exclusive content and more. Showings include Hollywood 20 in Greenville and Simpsonville Stadium 14 & IMAX.
The 16th anniversary Hagood Mill Storytelling Festival & Liars Competition is 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday at Hagood Mill Historic Site in Pickens. Storytellers from across the region will gather to share tales of mystical places in Appalachia, mountain funnies and memories of yesteryear. Meanwhile, there will be blacksmithing, bowl-digging, flint knapping, chair-caning, moonshining, broom-making, basketmaking, pottery, hearth cooking, quilting, spinning, knitting, weaving, wood-carving, metalsmithing, leatherworking and beekeeping demonstrations. Admission is free, but parking is $5.
Halloween Science is at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday at The Children’s Museum of the Upstate. Visit www.tcmupstate.org for more information.
Celebrate the change of seasons with German oompah bands, German foods (including desserts) and, for the grown-ups, German beer at Greer Station Oktoberfest Saturday in downtown Greer. Be sure to visit the wide array of artists who will offer their handiwork at the event. And be prepared to get super silly at the Chicken Dance Competition. Visit http://greerchamber.com for details.
There will be a Fall Festival at Safe Haven & Educational Adventures 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday in Easley. The free event will include exotic animals on exhibit, food, raffles, games and crafts for the kids. A $5 fee will allow visitors to touch some animals. Visit http://www.rescueexotics.org/helping-hands-for-safe-haven.html.
Family Farm Day at Whispering Pines Stables begins at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Children will have the opportunity to become little farmers for age-appropriate learning activities. The focus is on chickens — how to hold, collect eggs, feed and clean up after them. Learn the basics about dairy sheep and goat care, handling and even how to milk the sheep and goats. There will also be basic lessons about about cows, horses, livestock guardian dogs and border collies. Cost is $50 per family. To reserve a spot for this event, text 864-360-3222 or email dairysheepdeb@gmail.com. Visit http://www.wpstables.com for more details.
Harvest Fest is 2 – 5 p.m. Oct. 22 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Spartanburg. The event includes a pumpkin patch, inflatable slides, obstacle course, face painting, sand art, a cake walk, bingo and more. For more information contact Shawn McClure at 864-764-4639 or ksjolly81@gmail.com.
The Trunk or Treat Spooktacular is 5-8 p.m. Saturday at Mauldin Cultural Center. Take Heart Church will sponsor the event with free candy, a kids’ dance party, food trucks and a costume contest with cash prizes. The night will end with a viewing of “Monsters, Inc” at 7 p.m. Visit http://www.mauldinculturalcenter.org/event/trunk-r-treat-spooktacular/.
Relay for Life of Greenville will sponsor a trunk-or-treat and kick off party 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday. Families are invited for trick-or-treating, jump castles, balloon animals, snacks and games. The event will be located at 355 Hudson Street.
Boo in the Zoo, sponsored by Future Scholar, is 5:30 – 8 p.m. Friday, and 4-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Greenville Zoo. It features more than 20 trick-or-treat stations, character photo opportunities with princesses and superheroes, an extinct species graveyard, a Not-Very-Scary House and a new area called Dragon Alley. A free park and ride service is available from County Square to the Greenville Zoo and back. Buses will run continuously between the two locations from one hour before the event until 9 p.m. Visit www.greenvillezoo.com.
West Spartanburg Baptist Church in Duncan will host its fall festival and trunk or treat 5-7:30 p.m. Saturday. The community event includes dinner, a lesson, craft, games and inflatable; then at 7 p.m. all the activities close and Trunk or Treat begins. Guests can dress in non-scary costume or regular clothes.
More: Enter to win – Passes to Enchanted Forest and more!
More: Fox News anchor Ainsley Earhardt to sign books in Greenville Sunday
Read or Share this story: https://www.upstateparent.com/story/entertainment/events/2017/10/19/boo-zoo-highlights-13-weekend-events-families/780870001/
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516230
|
__label__cc
| 0.699797
| 0.300203
|
Fiat Chrysler workers appear to favor new UAW pact
Brent Snavely
Evidence emerged late Wednesday that a majority of UAW members are voting in favor of an improved four-year contract with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles three weeks after the automaker's 40,000 union-represented workers rejected an earlier proposal.
UAW Local units in Chelsea, Dundee, Sterling Heights, Trenton, Warren and Perrysburg, Ohio, had tallied and released to members their results early Wednesday evening showing that a majority approved the new contract.
The units were among the first of 37 UAW Locals that are expected to report individual voting results to the UAW's headquarters in Detroit which will compile them and release whether the contract has been ratified by the membership as a whole.
It will end a grueling period of more than five weeks since the existing contract was set to expire with FCA as well as Ford and General Motors. Ratification will finally mean one down, two more companies to go.
A handful of plants, representing 10,000 or 25% of the membership, had released results as of 8:30 p.m. while others will still wrapping up voting. The results ranged from 62% to 100% in favor -- stark contrast to the first agreement which was turned down by 65% of workers.
The early results are in line with momentum that has been building in favor of a contract that will deliver signing bonuses and raises to all workers, an improved profit sharing formula and what workers view as an improved attendance policy.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516231
|
__label__wiki
| 0.960346
| 0.960346
|
Skip to main content World Africa Americas Asia Europe Middle East Foreign Correspondents
Trump’s call with Taiwan’s leader looks like a calculated move, some experts say
President-elect Donald Trump and Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen spoke on Friday. (AFP via Getty Images)
By Simon Denyer
Simon Denyer
Tokyo bureau chief covering Japan, North Korea and South Korea.
Email Bio Follow
BEIJING — President-elect Donald Trump might have broken with four decades of diplomatic protocol by speaking to Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen on Friday. But the phone call should not have come as a complete surprise.
Some critics portrayed the move as the thoughtless blundering of a foreign policy novice, but other experts say it appears more calculated, planned in advance to signal a new, robust approach to relations with China.
Trump, of course, made standing up to China’s “rape” of the U.S. economy one of his central campaign messages, and since his election win he has signaled his disdain for the conventions that govern political and diplomatic life in Washington.
Several leading members of his transition team are considered hawkish on China and friendly toward Taiwan, including chief of staff Reince Priebus.
Indeed, advisers explicitly warned last month that relations with China were in for a shake-up.
Here’s a look at Trump’s administration so far
President-elect Donald Trump faces a challenge as he prepares for his move to the White House: selecting the men and women who will fill his administration.
The men and women the president-elect has selected for his Cabinet and White House team.
Scott Gottlieb, nominee for commissioner of FDA President Trump is set to nominate Scott Gottlieb, a conservative physician and businessman with deep ties to the pharmaceutical industry, to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, a White House official said. Courtesy of American Enterprise Institute/via Reuters
[China blasts ‘petty’ Taiwan phone call with Trump]
In an article for Foreign Policy titled “Donald Trump’s Peace Through Strength Vision for the Asia-Pacific,” Peter Navarro and Alexander Gray called Taiwan a “beacon of democracy in Asia” and complained that its treatment by the Obama administration was “egregious.”
The article, flagged to China experts as a significant policy blueprint, described Taiwan as “the most militarily vulnerable U.S. partner anywhere in the world” and called for a comprehensive arms deal to help it defend itself against China.
Friday’s phone call does not necessarily mean that will happen, but it does look like the first sign of a recalibration by a future Trump administration, experts say.
It was planned weeks ahead by staffers and Taiwan specialists on both sides, tweeted Julia Famularo, a research affiliate at the Project 2049 Institute, an Arlington-based think tank, adding that she had spoken to someone with direct knowledge.
The goal was to address and amend counterproductive “protocols” that prohibit direct contact between the U.S. president and Taiwan’s leader, she wrote.
“Of course both sides agreed ahead of time before making contact,” Alex Huang, a spokesman for Tsai, told the news agency Reuters.
The call looks like an attempt to test the waters of a new approach before Trump becomes president, experts said: After the inauguration, a similar move would have had more serious diplomatic ramifications.
“This was a planned action by the incoming president-elect and was neither ad hoc or done without deliberation,” said Christopher Balding, an associate professor at the HSBC Business School in Shenzhen.
“This is clearly part of some strategy by the incoming Trump administration about how they plan to treat China and Taiwan,” he added, calling it a “bold and potentially risky move” that clearly shifts policy priorities.
[China may find Trump just as unpredictable as America has]
Chinese state media initially reacted with glee to Trump’s election success, reflecting a widely held view that he would not pressure Beijing on human rights, while being open to pragmatic dealmaking.
Those assumptions could be wide of the mark, with Navarro and Gray also recommending more pressure on China over “wild child” North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program, experts say.
The 10-minute phone call is thought to be the first time that a U.S. president or president-elect and a Taiwanese leader have spoken since the late 1970s, and China’s Foreign Ministry lodged a complaint with the United States on Saturday.
The United States formally recognized the government in Beijing as representing China in 1978 and endorses the idea that there is only “one China.” It ended official relations with Taiwan the following year but retains unofficial ties with the island territory, which has become a thriving democracy in recent decades.
[As Trump prepares for office, concerns about Chinese trade intensify]
While Democrats reacted in horror at the phone call, warning of potentially dangerous destabilization of ties with China, Republicans reacted more positively, not surprising in light of their party’s 2016 campaign platform.
“As a loyal friend of America, Taiwan has merited our strong support, including free trade agreement status, the timely sale of defensive arms including technology to build diesel submarines, and full participation in the World Health Organization, International Civil Aviation Organization, and other multilateral institutions,” the document said.
“China’s behavior has negated the optimistic language of our last platform concerning our future relations with China,” it added, complaining of the brutal crushing of dissent, heightened religious persecution and a “preposterous claim” to the entire South China Sea.
Beijing blocks Taiwan from taking part in almost all international bodies, including the global civil aviation body: Tsai’s office said she had told Trump during the phone call that she hoped the United States “would continue to support more opportunities for Taiwan to participate in international issues.”
She will have some sympathetic ears in the White House.
Priebus is reported to have visited Taiwan with a Republican delegation in 2011 and in October 2015, meeting Tsai before she was elected president. Taiwanese Foreign Minister David Lee called him a friend of Taiwan and said his appointment as Trump’s chief of staff was “good news” for the island, according to local media.
Edwin Feulner, a Trump adviser and founder of the Heritage Foundation think tank, visited Taiwan in October and met Tsai, the China Post reported.
Meanwhile, John Bolton, a Trump ally and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, visited Trump Tower in New York for undisclosed reasons on Friday, according to Politico.
He wrote in a Wall Street Journal article in January that the United States should consider playing the “Taiwan card” against China, to force it to abandon its South China Sea claims.
“If Beijing isn’t willing to back down, America has a diplomatic ladder of escalation that would compel Beijing’s attention,” he wrote, suggesting receiving Taiwanese diplomats officially at the State Department, upgrading the status of U.S. representation in Taipei to an official diplomatic mission, inviting Taiwan’s president to travel in an official capacity to the United States and ultimately possibly restoring full diplomatic recognition.
That approach would strike horror in the minds of foreign policy experts, but the idea that Trump should be congratulated by the democratically elected leader of Taiwan did not meet universal condemnation.
On Twitter, Daniel Blumenthal of the American Enterprise Institute said it should be “applauded by friends of freedom everywhere.”
Famularo tweeted that when Chinese President Xi Jinping met Tsai’s predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou, in 2015, it was called a historic breakthrough, while the Trump-Tsai phone call has been labeled a crisis. “If we argue Obama demonstrated bold thinking by reaching out to Iran & Cuba, why can’t we call a democratic partner?,” she added.
Former U.S. ambassador to China Jon Huntsman told Fox & Friends that even Beijing was not making a big deal about the call.
“Having lived in Taiwan twice and having lived in China once, there’s a little too much hyperventilating about this one,” he said. “But the issue should be this — does Taiwan deserve a little more space? We share values, they have a big economy, we trade, they have a civil society that is large and robust and mature, and we ought to be giving them a little more space.”
Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516235
|
__label__cc
| 0.543141
| 0.456859
|
Sound & Light Equipment
December 18, 2020 | 11:55 PM
Wayward in Limbo #77: Greg Sinibaldi
Greg Sinibaldi is a saxophonist and composer living and working in Seattle and New York. Hear and purchase more of his music on BandCamp.
This music is a partial diary of 2020, comprised of improvisations recorded over the course of the last eight months. The pandemic, our country’s political situation, protests in the streets, and my personal struggles with depression have left me feeling emotionally raw. I’ve been profoundly affected by the state of the world, moving from sadness, despair, confusion, and longing for hope. These pieces are my reactions to these times. Each piece is accompanied by the date created, a newspaper headline of that day, and the total number of deaths due to Covid-19 as of that date, or a combination of these elements. Together, they represent a snapshot of the complexity of that day in 2020.
(00:00) 181,461 Dead (8-24-20)
(06:45) Scientists Fret (8-3-20)
(20:34) Emergency from Climate Change on Two Coasts (9-16-20)
(28:07) Trust Looms as a Casualty (11-2-20)
(34:24) Rounding the Corner as Hospitals Fill (10-29-20)
(39:00) Lament for 234,566 Dead (10-29-20)
Wayward Music Series · Wayward in Limbo #77 – Greg Sinibaldi
With the Chapel closed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wayward Music Series moves from the concert hall to the living room. In place of our usual ten monthly concerts, Nonsequitur is commissioning ten Seattle artists each month to create a series of streaming audio sessions of previously unreleased material.
Each month, Nonsequitur and a community of like-minded organizations and artists present ten concerts of adventurous and experimental music in the gorgeous Chapel Performance Space at the Good Shepherd Center (which sits on the traditional homelands of the Duwamish people): contemporary/post-classical composition, free improvisation and the outer limits of jazz, electronic/electroacoustic music, new instruments, phonography, sound art, and other innovative musics. Watch a video clip about us on the Seattle Channel.
In the Chapel Performance Space on the fourth floor of the Good Shepherd Center.
4649 Sunnyside Ave. N.
(SW corner of 50th & Sunnyside in Wallingford. Nearest Metro bus stops: 62, 44, 26)
© 2021 Wayward Music Series
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516236
|
__label__wiki
| 0.819979
| 0.819979
|
WPD: Man charged with Monday night shooting on Princess Place Drive
Man injured in shooting on Princess Place Dr.
By WECT Staff | May 12, 2020 at 12:23 AM EDT - Updated May 12 at 8:48 PM
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The Wilmington Police Department has arrested and charged a man in connection with a shooting Monday night.
Mark Addison Richey, 25, was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, possession of a firearm by a felon, and discharging a firearm in a reckless manner.
Mark Addison Richey (Source: New Hanover County Sheriff's Office)
According to the WPD, officers responded to the 3100 block of Princess Place Drive shortly after 11 p.m. Monday in reference to a Shotspotter Alert.
Officers found a 33-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound at the scene. The man, who had non-life-threatening injuries, was taken to the hospital.
Richey was booked into the New Hanover County Jail under a $200,000 bond.
Wilmington and New Hanover County leaders talk about Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Beloved priest at St. Therese Catholic Church dies after battle with COVID
Father Trent Watts, priest at St. Therese Catholic Church, dies after battle with COVID
Frances Weller
UPDATE: Wilmington Health has filled all available appointments for current supply of vaccine
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516238
|
__label__cc
| 0.64701
| 0.35299
|
One-stop early voting dates, times and locations in southeastern North Carolina counties for 2020 General Elections
Early voting begins this week, times and locations posted
By Jon Evans | October 12, 2020 at 8:45 PM EDT - Updated October 28 at 11:44 AM
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - One-stop early voting runs from Thursday, October 15 to Saturday, October 31, in counties across North Carolina. Local Boards of Elections have set up several locations where voters can cast ballots ahead of Election Day, November 3.
Individuals who are not registered to vote in a county can register during the one-stop early voting period through “Same Day Registration”. The individual must fill out a voter registration application form, and present the official form at the one-stop early voting location with address verification (which could include a valid driver’s license, utility bill with the applicant’s address or a recent pay stub with the applicant’s address).
The New Hanover County Board of Elections has set up nine separate locations where voters can take advantage of one-stop early voting. The dates and times for all of the locations are the same beginning with Thursday, October 15 and running through Saturday, October 31.
New Hanover County One-stop Early Voting Locations:
New Hanover County Board of Elections: 230 Government Center Dr., Suite 34, Wilmington, NC 28403
Cape Fear Community College North Campus - McKeithan Center: 4500 Blue Clay Road, Castle Hayne, NC 28429
Carolina Beach Community Center: 300 Cape Fear Blvd., Carolina Beach, NC 28428
NHC Senior Resource Center - Multipurpose Room: 2222 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC 28412
Northeast Regional Library - David E. Paynter Room: 1241 Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington, NC 28405
Wilma W. Daniels Art Gallery at CFCC: 200 Hanover Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
Moose Lodge: 4610 Carolina Beach Road, Wilmington, NC 28412
Pine Valley Library: 3802 S College Road, Wilmington, NC 28412
New Hanover County Arboretum: 6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington 28403
Mondays thru Fridays (October 15 - October 30) 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays (October 17 and 24) NOON - 5:00 p.m.
Sundays (October 18 and 25) NOON - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 31 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Information on One-stop Early Voting In New Hanover County, which runs from Thursday, October 15, 2020 through Saturday, October 31, 2020 (Source: WECT)
The Brunswick County Board of Elections set up seven separate locations where voters can take advantage of one-stop early voting beginning with Thursday, October 15 and running through Saturday, October 31. The main location of the Cooperative Extension Office is taking the place of the Board of Elections Office. There are also six satellite locations The dates and times are different for the satellite locations than the main location.
Brunswick County One-stop Early Voting Main Location:
Brunswick County Cooperative Extension (in lieu of the Board of Elections) 25 Referendum Drive, Building N, Bolivia
Mondays thru Fridays (October 15 - October 30) 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturdays (October 17 and 24) CLOSED
Sundays (October 18 and 25) CLOSED
Saturday, October 31 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Brunswick County One-stop Early Voting Satellite Locations:
The Brunswick Center at Leland: 121 Town Hall Drive NE, Leland
Leland Cultural Arts Center: 1212 Magnolia Village Way, Leland
The Brunswick Center at Southport: 1513 North Howe Street, Suite 1, Southport
The Brunswick Center at Supply: 101 Stone Chimney Drive, Supply
Shallotte Commons: 5051 Main Street, Suite 4, Shallotte
The Brunswick Center at Calabash: 10050 Beach Drive SW, Calabash
Mondays thru Fridays (from October 15 - October 30) 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays (October 17 and 24) 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sundays (October 18 and 25) NOON – 5:00 p.m.
Information on One-stop Early Voting in Brunswick County, which runs from Thursday, October 15, 2020 through Saturday, October 31, 2020. (Source: WECT)
The Pender County Board of Elections set up five separate locations where voters can take advantage of one-stop early voting beginning with Thursday, October 15 and running through Saturday, October 31. The dates and times are similar for all locations.
Pender County Early Voting Locations:
Cooperative Extension Auditorium (Instead of Board of Elections Office): 801 S. Walker Street Burgaw, NC 28425
Pender County Annex: 15060 US Highway 17, Hampstead, NC 28443
Long Creek Volunteer Fire Department: 227 Scott Road, Rocky Point, NC 28457
Cape Fear Community College: 621 NC Highway 210 East, Hampstead, NC 28443
Shiloh Volunteer Fire Department: 19170 US Highway 421, Willard, NC 28478
Saturdays (October 17, 24 and 31) 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sundays (October 18 and 25) 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Information on One-stop Early Voting in Pender County which runs from Thursday, October 15, 2020 through Saturday, October 31, 2020. (Source: WECT)
The Columbus County Board of Elections set up five separate locations where voters can take advantage of one-stop early voting beginning with Thursday, October 15 and running through Saturday, October 31. The dates and times are different depending on the location.
Columbus County Early Voting Locations, Dates & Times:
Columbus County Board of Elections: 2322 James B. White Highway North, Whiteville, NC 28472
Mondays thru Fridays (from October 15 - October 30) 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Chadbourn Municipal Annex: 208 East 1st Avenue, Chadbourn NC 28431
Fair Bluff Fire Department: 152 Main St., Fair Bluff NC, 28439
Tabor City Courthouse: 110 W Fourth Street, Tabor City, NC 28463
Ransom Event Center: 2696 General Howe Highway, Riegelwood, NC 28456
Sunday, October 25 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Information on One-stop Early Voting in Columbus County which runs from Thursday, October 15, 2020 through Saturday, October 31, 2020. (Source: WECT)
The Bladen County Board of Elections has set up six separate locations where voters can take advantage of one-stop early voting beginning with Thursday, October 15 and running through Saturday, October 31. The dates and times are similar for each location.
Bladen County Early Voting Locations:
Bladen County Recreation Dept. (Gym): 803 W King St. Elizabethtown N.C. 28337
Spaulding Monroe Building: 508 MLK Dr. Bladenboro N.C. 28320
East Arcadia Town Hall: 1472 East Arcadia Road. Riegelwood, N.C. 28456.
Booker T. Washington Primary School: 66 Booker T. Washington School Rd. Clarkton N.C. 28433.
Bay Tree Fire Department: 12717 NC 41 Hwy East, Harrells N.C. 28444
Tar Heel Municipal Building: 14867 NC 87 West, Tar Heel N.C. 28448.
Mondays thru Fridays (From October 15 - October 30): 8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
One-stop Early Voting in Bladen County runs from Thursday, October 15, 2020 through Saturday, October 31, 2020 (Source: WECT)
For those who live in counties outside of southeastern North Carolina and want to check their early voting locations, dates and times, click here to visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections website search tool.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Jon Evans
Anchor/Assistant News Director
Jon Evans is marking his 35th year in television news in 2018. He anchors “WECT News at 5:30”, co-anchors “WECT News at 6pm” and “WECT News at 11pm” with Frances Weller, and also co-anchors “Fox Wilmington News at 10” with Ashlea Kosikowski.
NC Executive Mansion to be lit up in honor of lives lost to COVID-19
The North Carolina Executive Mansion will be illuminated in remembrance of the lives lost in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Matthews man arrested storming US Capitol. ‘I’m sure he would do it all again’ associate says.
David Hodges
NC congressional delegation reacts to supporters of President Trump storming Capitol Hill
“No one that I know would storm the capitol”: Trump supporter on visit to D.C. Wednesday
Anna Phillips
Rouzer, Tillis are on opposite sides of certifying electoral votes
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516239
|
__label__wiki
| 0.967987
| 0.967987
|
Creating with Community Program seeks local artists to help bring “Active Erie” to life
Allegheny Health Network expands eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination
Erie City Mission will not provide bagged lunches for the remainder of the week
Etihad makes 1st known commercial flight between UAE, Israel
by: JON GAMBRELL and ILAN BEN ZION, Associated Press
A Muslim woman wears gloves prays in east Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives, overlooking the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque compound, which remains shut to prevent the spread of coronavirus during the holy month of Ramadan, Friday, May 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An unmarked Etihad Airways cargo plane flew aid to help the Palestinians fight the coronavirus pandemic from the capital of the United Arab Emirates into Israel on Tuesday, marking the first known direct commercial flight between the two nations.
The UAE, home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai on the Arabian Peninsula, has no diplomatic ties to Israel over its occupation of land wanted by the Palestinians for a future state, like all Arab nations except Egypt and Jordan.
Yet the flight marked a moment of cooperation between Israel and the UAE after years of rumored back-channel discussions between them over the mutual enmity of Iran and other issues.
Etihad, the state-owned, long-haul carrier based in Abu Dhabi, confirmed it sent a flight Tuesday to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.
“Etihad Airways operated a dedicated humanitarian cargo flight from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv … to provide medical supplies to the Palestinians,” the airline told The Associated Press. “The flight had no passengers on board.”
In the past, private and diplomatic planes often had to travel to a third country before heading onto Israel.
Emirati government officials did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The UAE’s state-run WAM news agency later issued a statement saying it delivered 14 tons of protective gear, medical items and ventilators “to curb the spread of (the) COVID-19 pandemic and its impact in the occupied Palestinian territory.” It did not acknowledge the flight’s significance.
The cargo flight landed at Ben Gurion on Tuesday night, with ground crews pulling out pallets of cargo bearing both the Emirati and Palestinian flags. It will go toward U.N. efforts to fight the outbreak.
Neither the Gaza Strip nor the West Bank have their own airports, meaning most cargo bound for Palestinian territory must enter through Israel. That likely required an airlift of the material from the UAE, which hosts humanitarian stockpiles for the United Nations.
The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms founded in 1971, had no significant history with Jews unlike other Persian Gulf nations. While not acknowledging Israel diplomatically, Emirati officials have allowed Israeli officials to visit and the Israeli national anthem was played after an athlete won gold in an Abu Dhabi judo tournament. Israel also has a small mission representing its interests at the International Renewable Energy Agency in Abu Dhabi.
Next year, Israel will take part in its delayed Expo 2020, the world’s fair being hosted by Dubai. A secret synagogue also draws practicing Jews in Dubai.The UAE also has announced plans to build the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, which will house a mosque, a church and a synagogue. Israelis traveling with Western passports routinely enter the UAE without a problem, though one still can’t make a phone call between the two countries.
Oman, which has ties with Iran, hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a surprise visit in 2018that served to remind Washington of its unique ability to be a conduit for talks. Saudi Arabia and the UAE also have allegedly used Israeli spyware to go after government critics.
But such ties remain highly contentious among the Arab public, particularly as the Palestinians remain without a state of their own despite decades of talks. The UAE as recently as May criticized Netanyahu’s plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank and warned of “dangerous repercussions.”
Tensions also rose between Israel and the UAE after suspected Mossad assassins killed a top Hamas operative in a Dubai hotel room in 2010, something never acknowledged by Israel.
All of those concerns likely played a part in Etihad’s decision to fly a white, unmarked plane into Tel Aviv, following Egypt’s model for its own flights to Israel on its Air Sinai routes.
The hereditarily ruled UAE also remains suspicious of Islamists like the militant group Hamas that holds the Gaza Strip. Qatar, which the UAE has boycotted since 2017 in a bitter political dispute, donates funds to Gaza. The Qataris often serve as mediators between Israel and Hamas, which have fought three wars.
Israel and the Palestinian Authority imposed sweeping lockdowns in mid-March aimed at containing the virus, limiting travel and public gatherings and forcing nonessential businesses to close. Many of the restrictions have been lifted in recent weeks as the rate of new infections has declined.
Israel has reported more than 16,600 cases and around 270 deaths, with more than 13,000 of the patients having recovered. The Palestinian Authority has reported around 390 cases and two fatalities, with around 340 people having recovered.
The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in most patients, who recover within a few weeks. But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness or death, particularly in older patients or those with underlying conditions.
The Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, the third-holiest site in Islam, will reopen next week after the conclusion of a major holiday marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. It follows weeks of closure aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus. It had been closed since March over the virus.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, Etihad also acknowledged it had fired staffers over the pandemic grounding flights worldwide.
Since 2016, Etihad has lost a total of $5.62 billion as it struggles to restructure.
Ben Zion reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Josef Federman and Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516245
|
__label__wiki
| 0.823733
| 0.823733
|
Channeling frustration into Action - The story of Ke Jung
Guest post by David Young, UNESCO Bangkok Office
When the COVID-19 pandemic spread to Myanmar, Ke Jung, a thirty-year old graduate student and indigenous rights activist, knew he had to take action.
“As a person who works with indigenous communities, the worry is that if something happens to something to Naga [an indigenous group in Myanmar], what can we do?” said Ke Jung.
“We really need a strategy in the future as to how to handle this situation.”
Thus far, Ke Jung has actively worked towards such a strategy. In response to the pandemic, he has been addressing some of the most pressing needs affecting his family and community, such translating critical information on the pandemic in a language they will understand, volunteering at quarantine centers where many recently unemployed indigenous youth have been held, and working with the government to ensure the safety of several villages.
Coming from a highly remote area of Myanmar, Ke Jung’s friends, family, and neighbors, who are ethnic Nagas, are already at a disadvantage. While basic services such as health and education are notoriously difficult for Myanmar’s numerous indigenous groups (a part from the majority Burmese population, there are 99 different ethnic groups) to access, violent religious and ethnic conflicts coupled with illegal acquisitions of traditional/ancestral lands puts their safety at risk on a daily basis.
Photo: Dinis Bazgutdinovv
COVID-19 has dramatically changed the lives of most people living around the world. For indigenous persons such as Ke Jung and his family, the impacts of the pandemic have been disproportionately felt.
Many of the challenges facing indigenous youth and communities in Myanmar relate to transportation. While the virus itself didn’t affect Myanmar as much as some of its neighboring countries (such as India and Bangladesh), the government implemented strict lockdown and curfew measures. This meant that roads connecting many of the villages and towns in the country’s remote areas were shutdown, resulting in the shortage of food and medical supplies. It also affected the ability of farmers in the region, many of whom are indigenous to sell their crops in the markets.
“The roads that connect India and mainstream Myanmar. We rely on these roads,” Ke Jung said.
“But because they’re closed, people are facing shortage of household commodities such as salt, and medical supplies. These are two important things.”
The shutdown of the roads has particularly impacted young indigenous persons, many of whom worked or studied in the cities or in neighboring countries.
“Many [indigenous youth] work in Thailand, India and in China, and also in urban areas in Myanmar,” Ke Jung shared. “We do not have job opportunities at home. A lot of people have lost their jobs because of COVID-19.”
The location of many indigenous communities in Myanmar has also affected their access to education. As a safety measure in the face of the pandemic, the government, like many others in the region, shifted to online learning. While hailed as a reasonable alternative to classroom learning, persons living in remote areas of Myanmar are without strong internet access, thus making them unable to access online courses and materials.
Photo: Steven Biak Ling Bi
“The young people and students from highland regions or indigenous peoples don’t have a chance to get an internet connection,” Ke Jung commented. “Thus, they could not access to online education and information about the knowledge of new normal in this world.”
But perhaps more troubling than the previous challenges discussed is the continuance of violent conflicts and human rights violations. While groups all over the country have been told to abide by social distancing rules, conflicts between armed ethnic groups and the government have increased the vulnerability of indigenous persons. In one instance, a truck from the World Health Organization (WHO) carrying medical supplies was reportedly shot down during a conflict last April.
Despite the many challenges they have faced, indigenous youth living in Myanmar like Ke Jung have shown resolve and resilience in the face of the crisis.
“Most of the indigenous young peoples are actively volunteering . . . although they have limited knowledge about COVID-19 prevention and transmission,” Ke Jung said.
“Through the community support mechanism, many indigenous young peoples are working like philanthropic works amongst their community.”
Such philanthropic works have often included volunteering at quarantine centers, translating information into indigenous languages, and working with local authorities to monitor traffic coming in and out of the villages.
COVID-19 has dramatically altered lives across South and Southeast Asia, but for the most vulnerable groups, including indigenous communities, the pandemic has aggravated problems that were already there.
Ke Jung’s story in many ways reveals these problems, especially within the context of Myanmar. At the same time, however, his actions in response to the pandemic are indicative of the strength and unity of indigenous youth in coming together to provide innovative solutions for helping their communities. It is a strength and unity that will continue to guide them even through the most challenging of times.
Moving forward during the COVID crisis – the story of Chandra Tripura
Challenging ourselves to be productive – the story of Barsha Lekhi
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516246
|
__label__cc
| 0.748922
| 0.251078
|
National Game, The
Publisher: Southern Music
This record is for the original 1925 version of The National Game, which is out of print.
For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.
B-flat Bass Saxophone
E-flat Soprano Cornet
B-flat Cornet Solo- I-II
E-flat Horn or Alto I-II-III
Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, baseball's high commissioner, asked Sousa to compose this march on the occasion of the National League's fiftieth anniversary. Earlier the two had met in Havana. No doubt Sousa told him of his enthusiasm for the game and of the Sousa Band's Own team.
Callanwode Concert Band (Atlanta, Ga.) (Robert Meehan, conductor) - 25 March 2018
United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Jason K. Fettig, conductor) – 17 October 2016 (Tampa, Fla.)
Virginia Grand Military Band (Alexandria) (Loras John Schissel, conductor) - 1 November 2014
The Concord (Mass.) Band (Keith Brion, conductor) - 22 October 2011
Bierley, P. (1973). John Philip Sousa: A Descriptive Catalog of His Works. University of Illinois Press; Urbana, pp. 61.
Sousa, J. (1925). The National Game: March [score]. Sam Fox: Cleveland, Ohio.
Retrieved from "https://www.windrep.org/index.php?title=National_Game,_The&oldid=157605"
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516248
|
__label__wiki
| 0.911063
| 0.911063
|
A look inside the Musée des Confluences in Lyon, France
All the steel, glass and concrete used for the Musée des Confluences can be recycled
Duccio Malagamba
This article was taken from the April 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
This jagged building is the Musée des Confluences, built on a man-made peninsula in Lyon, France, at the point where the Rhône and Saône rivers converge. "The ground water is very high," says Wolf Prix, principal architect of Austrian firm COOP HIMMELB(L)AU. "We had to drill about 500 piles into solid ground so it would be safe to build on."
The €185 million (£140m) structure took more than four years to build and comprises three parts: the crystal, a glass and steel entranceway which contains a 33-metre-high "gravity well" to reduce the weight of the building by a third; the steel-panelled cloud; and a concrete plinth at the base. Nine exhibition spaces are built into the cloud, which are connected to workshop and storage spaces by lifts. "It's one of the most functional museums you can imagine," says Prix, 72. "They can remodel an exhibition or close a hall without disrupting guests."
It's also green: the surrounding water is used for geothermal heating and cooling, and the entrance boasts zero energy consumption. And if you can't find anything to look at inside, there are always the river views.
This article was first published in the April 2015 issue of WIRED magazine
The incredible tech behind this year's Tour de France bikes
By Andrew Diprose
The fastest road bikes from 2019's Tour de France (that you can buy)
What’s really inside CBD oil?
How Tintin became an unlikely poster boy for the far right
By Michele Barbero
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516249
|
__label__wiki
| 0.923626
| 0.923626
|
Ginsburg, a feminist icon memorialized as the Notorious RBG
by: MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press
FILE – In this Aug. 10, 1993, file photo, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg takes the court oath from Chief Justice William Rehnquist, right, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Ginsburg’s husband Martin holds the Bible and President Bill Clinton watches at left. The Supreme Court says Ginsburg has died of metastatic pancreatic cancer at age 87. (AP Photo/Marcy Nighswander, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg moved slowly.
When court was in session, she often had her head down, sometimes leading visitors to think she was asleep. She once acknowledged that she did occasionally nod off. She once confessed to dozing during a State of the Union.
But it was a mistake to equate her gait and gaze with frailty, for Ginsburg showed over and over a steely resilience in the face of personal loss and serious health problems that made the diminutive New Yorker a towering women’s rights champion and forceful presence at the court over 27 years.
She made few concessions to age and recurrent health problems, working regularly with a personal trainer. She never missed any time in court before the age of 85, and then only following surgery in December 2018 for lung cancer.
Ginsburg died Friday of complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer at her home in Washington at 87, the court said.
Late in her court tenure, she became a social media icon, the Notorious RBG, a name coined by a law student who admired Ginsburg’s dissent in a case cutting back on a key civil rights law.
The justice was at first taken aback. There was nothing “notorious” about this woman of rectitude who wore a variety of lace collars on the bench and often appeared in public in elegant gloves.
But when her law clerks and grandchildren explained the connection to another Brooklynite, the rapper The Notorious B.I.G., her skepticism turned to delight. “In the word the current generation uses, it’s awesome,” Ginsburg said in 2016, shortly before she turned 83.
In 2018, Ginsburg was the subject of a documentary and a feature film “On the Basis of Sex,” in which the actor Felicity Jones portrayed he r.
In her final years on the court, Ginsburg was the unquestioned leader of the liberal justices, as outspoken in dissent as she was cautious in earlier years.
Criticizing the court’s conservative majority for getting rid of a key part of the landmark Voting Rights Act in 2013, Ginsburg wrote that it was like “throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.”
Her stature on the court and the death of her husband in 2010 probably contributed to Ginsburg’s decision to remain on the bench beyond the goal she initially set for herself, to match Justice Louis Brandeis’ 22 years on the court and his retirement at the age of 82.
Ginsburg had special affection for Brandeis, the first Jew named to the high court. She was the court’s second woman and its sixth Jewish justice. In time she was joined by two other Jews, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan, and two other women, Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.
Both developments were perhaps unthinkable when Ginsburg graduated from law school in 1959 and faced the triple bogey of looking for work as a woman, a mother and a Jew.
Forty years later, she noted that religion had become irrelevant in the selection of high-court justices and that gender was heading in the same direction, though when asked how many women would be enough for the high court, Ginsburg replied without hesitation, “Nine.”
She could take some credit for equality of the sexes in the law. In the 1970s, she argued six key cases before the court when she was an architect of the women’s rights movement. She won five.
“Ruth Bader Ginsburg does not need a seat on the Supreme Court to earn her place in the American history books,” President Bill Clinton said in 1993 when he announced her appointment. “She has already done that.”
Her time as a justice was marked by triumphs for equality for women, as in her opinion for the court ordering the Virginia Military Institute to accept women or give up its state funding.
There were setbacks, too. She dissented forcefully from the court’s decision in 2007 to uphold a nationwide ban on an abortion procedure that opponents call partial-birth abortion. The “alarming” ruling, Ginsburg said, “cannot be understood as anything other than an effort to chip away at a right declared again and again by this court — and with increasing comprehension of its centrality to women’s lives.”
Ginsburg once said that she had not entered the law as a champion of equal rights. “I thought I could do a lawyer’s job better than any other,” she wrote. “I have no talent in the arts, but I do write fairly well and analyze problems clearly.”
Besides civil rights, Ginsburg took an interest in capital punishment, voting repeatedly to limit its use. During her tenure, the court declared it unconstitutional for states to execute the intellectually disabled and killers younger than 18.
She voted most often with the other liberal-leaning justices, fellow Clinton appointee Breyer and two Republican appointees, John Paul Stevens and David Souter, then later with President Barack Obama’s two appointees, Sotomayor and Kagan.
In the most divisive of cases, Ginsburg was often at odds with the court’s more conservative members. Yet she was personally closest on the court to Justice Antonin Scalia, her ideological opposite.
She once explained that she took Scalia’s sometimes biting dissents as a challenge to be met. “How am I going to answer this in a way that’s a real putdown?” she said. Scalia died in 2016.
As for her own dissents, Ginsburg said that some were aimed at swaying the opinions of her fellow judges while others were “an appeal to the intelligence of another day” in the hopes that they would provide guidance to future courts.
“Hope springs eternal,” she said in 2007, “and when I am writing a dissent, I’m always hoping for that fifth or sixth vote — even though I’m disappointed more often than not.”
Joan Ruth Bader was born in Brooklyn in 1933, the second daughter in a middle-class family. Her older sister, who gave her the lifelong nickname “Kiki,” died at age 6, so Ginsburg grew up in Brooklyn’s Flatbush section as an only child. Her dream, she has said, was to be an opera singer.
Her mother, Celia Bader, died of cancer the night before Ginsburg, then 17, was to graduate from high school. Celia Bader never attended college but worked as a bookkeeper. In a public television documentary about Jewish Americans, Ginsburg said, “What’s the difference between a bookkeeper in New York’s Garment District and a U.S. Supreme Court justice? One generation.”
She first gained fame as a litigator for the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union. She had worked on the legal team that persuaded the high court to rule for the first time ever in 1970 that a state had violated the Constitution by denying women equal treatment.
At argument sessions in the ornate courtroom, Ginsburg was known for digging deep into case records and for being a stickler for following the rules.
She was more comfortable than most with long silences, and in the several interviews Ginsburg granted this reporter in her office at the court, it was difficult, but rewarding, to resist the natural tendency to fill those silences with another question. The most interesting things she said typically followed long pauses.
Appearing at a law school forum in 2008, she noted with relief that there was no retirement age for U.S. judges. “We hold our offices during good behavior,” Ginsburg said, citing language from the Constitution. “So all of my colleagues behave very well.”
She married her husband, Martin, in 1954, the year she graduated from Cornell University. She attended Harvard University’s law school but transferred to Columbia University when her husband took a law job in New York.
Ginsburg had graduated at the top of her Columbia Law School class but could not find a law firm willing to hire her. She later said she’d had more than her share of “mazel” — the Hebrew word for luck — to help her along in life.
“Suppose there had been a Wall Street firm interested in hiring me? What would I be today?” she intoned in 2007. “A retired partner.”
Martin Ginsburg went on to become a prominent tax attorney and law professor at Georgetown University. Ginsburg was a law professor at Rutgers University and Columbia, then later a federal appeals court judge for 13 years. Theirs was an equal partnership in which Martin Ginsburg was the undisputed master of the kitchen, often baking cakes for the justices’ birthdays.
In 1999, Ginsburg had surgery for colon cancer and received radiation and chemotherapy. She had surgery again in 2009 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and in December 2018 to remove cancerous growths on her left lung.
In 2019, doctors treated Ginsburg with radiation for a tumor on her pancreas. She maintained an active schedule even during the three weeks of radiation. When she revealed a recurrence of her cancer in July 2020, this time with lesions on her liver that were treated with chemotherapy every two weeks, Ginsburg said she remained “fully able” to continue as a justice.
She is survived by two children, Jane and James, and several grandchildren.
Her determination was perhaps most evident on the day the court met for the final time in June 2010. Her husband had died a day earlier, and her children told her their father would want her to go to work. The justices filed into the courtroom that Monday, and Ginsburg was there.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516251
|
__label__wiki
| 0.922539
| 0.922539
|
Diversions Front Page Money Politics U.S.WND Exclusive
Google-Facebook 'can shift 12 million votes this election'
Study by psychologist says democracy imperiled by tech-giant bias
Published August 26, 2018 at 5:04pm
WASHINGTON – A study of how Google and Facebook are manipulating the political views of their users shows the internet tech giants have the power to shift “upwards of 12 million votes” in November’s midterm elections, psychologist Robert Epstein told Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson.
“We should be extremely concerned,” said Epstein. “Content no longer matters. All that matters is the filtering and ordering of content.”
He says Google and Facebook are manipulating American views all the time by suppressing some material in search results while favoring other kinds of material. They do this in several ways that can result in millions of votes being shifted in the upcoming election without users even realizing what is happening. He said he expects “upwards of 12 million votes” to be shifted this November.
RELATED: The dark, ugly truth about Google is oozing out
“Democracy has been subverted,” Epstein says. "There are no specific rules and regulations to stop these companies from exercising the power they have. There are not even any monitoring systems in place. Until there are, you can’t even show people what they are doing.”
Carlson said the will to impose restrictions and oversight in Congress is not there because Republicans are free-market capitalists, while Democrats derive the benefits of the manipulation of content by the left-wing tech giants.
He asked the question: “If a few Russians buying Facebook ads threatens our democracy, how about Facebook itself or other tech giants? Could it be these companies through their manipulation are imperiling our democracy?”
Epstein says yes.
“It’s very easy to shift lots of votes without people even knowing what’s going on,” he said.
Epstein earned his Ph.D. in psychology at Harvard University and is a professor, author and journalist and formerly served as editor in chief of Psychology Today.
In comments elsewhere, he said: “As it happens, 90 percent of search around the world is conducted on just one search engine. There’s never been a precedent for anything like this, ever. You’ve got one company that’s controlling search around the world. That’s a power to shift opinions that’s in the hands of a handful of people in one particular town in Northern California, affecting people around the world, with no way to counteract what they’re doing, with no competitors out there.”
“Is democracy dead?” he asked. “Because if it’s true that they have this power, then democracy really is an illusion.”
Epstein speculates Google and Facebook actually held back their manipulation of content to an extent during the 2016 presidential election, but are no longer timid about doing so.
“They held back on their power to shift votes,” he said. “I don’t think they’re going to hold back now. I calculate that these companies will be able to shift upwards of 12 million votes in November with no one knowing that they’re doing so ... and without leaving a paper trail for authorities to trace.”
Epstein, who says he is not a “conservative,” found that conservative content is singled out by Google and Facebook for restrictive dissemination.
“More conservative material is being suppressed than other material, but believe it or not, there are all kinds of suppression occurring.”
All this leads to a big question, Epstein says: “Who on earth gave these companies – and it’s primarily, as we know, two or three companies: Google, Facebook, and Twitter – who on earth gave ... the executives at these companies the power to decide what 2.5 billion people around the world get to see or don’t see?”
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516252
|
__label__cc
| 0.549243
| 0.450757
|
Better for Everyone
I’m a man. I want a world where the phrase ‘women’s equality’ doesn’t exist, because equality is the norm. We don’t live in that world yet – that’s why I support the Women’s Equality Party.
Equality doesn’t, as some people think, mean punishing men. It means changing established systems that put special conditions on 51% of the population simply because they’re women. As such, promoting women’s equality only feels dangerous if you think the system we have is already a level playing field, already fair and equal. It isn’t.
But it is the 21st century. It’s time to build that level playing field. We can start to build it in Wales, in Scotland and in London this election season. People sometimes look at the world in which they live and feel that inequality is ‘just the way it is.’ No – inequality’s the way it’s been allowed and encouraged to be. The more you scratch the surface of ‘the way it is,’ the more you uncover, and the more the need for change becomes urgent, whatever your gender. I want to be able to look tomorrow’s women in the eye as part of the generation that finally delivered real social and economic equality.
Power To Some Of The People!
At the moment, fewer than a third of Britain’s MPs are women. An unequal parliament tells women and girls that politics is not for them, and equality gets put off for another generation. Wales is proud of its recent progress toward equal representation, but women now make up only a third of the Welsh Assembly Cabinet. The Women’s Equality Party has a plan to create equal representation in Westminster and Wales within two election cycles.
We can get this done on our watch.
The Vagina Tax
On average, women are still paid only four-fifths what men get for equal labour in 2016. For every £10 a man takes home, a woman gets just £8. Simply being a woman makes a fifth of your economic worth evaporate. Welcome to the land of the vagina tax. Pay equality is easily deliverable. Why would we not do it?
Beyond pay inequality, society imposes the responsibility of childcare overwhelmingly on women – but it doesn’t back up that idea by making childcare affordable or reliable. That makes childcare an economic barrier to women who want to work. The Women’s Equality Party would build a system of affordable, reliable childcare, allowing enough women into the workforce that it would grow the economy 10% by 2030, putting an extra £2,850 in everyone’s pocket.
But equality’s not just about the money. The notion that childcare is a woman’s responsibility hits men too, pushing the idea that men’s ‘place’ is at work, rather than looking after their children. WE’s commitment to equality of parenting and caregiving means opening most jobs up to flexible working, irrespective of gender. Both genders should be able to pursue their careers and enjoy time with their children.
Women and girls in our society are massively vulnerable to violence. From street hassling to stalking, from rape and sexual assault to physical assault and Female Genital Mutilation, to the brutality of the sex trade, violence against women and girls is frequently seen as part of the norm in our society.
We need a new norm.
Only the Women’s Equality Party has detailed plans to build a world where being a girl or a woman doesn’t come with the built-in lifelong baggage of male threat to your bodily autonomy, your personal space or your personal safety.
I’m a man, and I support the Women’s Equality Party.
I’m a man who wants a better world. Who won’t settle for the norm offered by most political parties. I want a society that includes everyone, and that reaps the benefits of that inclusion – an efficient economy, an invested people, able to fit both careers and childcare into their lives. A society free from fear, that embraces equality wholeheartedly. A society that’s better for everyone.
Vote for a better Wales on 5th May. Vote Women’s Equality Party.
Tony Fyler from Merthyr Tydfil is a founding member of the Women’s Equality Party and is Editor-in-Chief at Jefferson Franklin Editing. He became a Founding Member of the WEP because he says 'there are planets to explore and planets to save, and we need to get gender equality right first." Twitter: @fylerwrites
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516253
|
__label__wiki
| 0.675919
| 0.675919
|
Brumbylon CD shows duo's skills
By Jim Perry, Correspondent
Brett and Lisa Brumby have spent a good, solid 30 years performing in front of Central Massachusetts audiences. From the legendary She’s Busy, to various incarnations of duos, trios and full bands, they have put their stamp on the music scene.
Now in their late 50s, they are kicking their career into high gear under the name Brumbylon. The duo's new CD, "Through the Noise," is their most ambitious project yet. The release party will be Nov. 1 at Point Breeze in Webster. They will be accompanied by an all-star band of local musicians.
Both are accomplished guitarists and first rate singers, and the Brumbys have forged a unique sound over the years playing together. Their special bond as a couple filters through the music in ways that create a special warmth. They are seasoned songwriters, and on this new recording, they have merged their individual sensibilities in a very special way.
Though Brett and Lisa are influenced by classic rock, from Pink Floyd to Heart, the songs they have penned for this project are truly original. From riff crazed rockers like "Crazy" and "Shiver" to the delicate weavings of "Surrender" and "Way of the Wind," the recording offers some stunning originality. And the balance of influence between the two of them is uncanny.
Brett Brumby calls this “our most ambitious release to date. We simply wanted to do the best recording of our music that we could do right now,” he says. Most of the recording and writing was developed in his basement studio, and now he and Lisa are excited to bring it out to the world. “Out of the cave and onto the web,” says Brett.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516254
|
__label__wiki
| 0.856695
| 0.856695
|
Largest Ethnic Groups Of Italy
By Benjamin Elisha Sawe on July 18 2019 in Society
Italian folk musicians in the streets of Italy. Editorial credit: Elena Dijour / Shutterstock.com.
Around 8% of Italy’s population identify as one of the numerous non-Italian minorities, with Romanian Italians being the largest of the minority groups. The dominant ethnic group in Italy is the native Italians who mainly speak the Italian language. Minority groups in Italy are majorly a result of immigration and settlement from other countries. Most of these immigrants went to Italy seeking employment opportunities.
Nearly 92.0% of Italy’s population is Italians making it the largest ethnic group in the country. Native groups in the Italian Peninsula were the Etruscans while groups such as Greeks, Germans, Jews, Romans and Celts occupied the Peninsula in medieval times. Descendants of the indigenous groups and the settlers make up the modern-day Italians. In the Southern part of Italy, Greek-Italians and Albanian-Italians are found while the North part is dominated by the French-Italians, Slovene-Italians, and German-Italians. Of all the occupations in the Italian Peninsula, the Romans influenced the culture of Italians the most. With time, different provinces of Italians developed their culture and dialects, a diversity which is still evident in the modern day Italy. Most Italians profess to the Roman Catholic religion while a small number profess to Judaism or Protestantism or migratory Islam. Notable Italians have made major contributions in the fields of culture, arts, language, science, and literature. Famous Italians are Leonard da Vinci for his contributions in architecture and paleontology and Galileo Galilei, a dominant figure in astronomy.
1.8% of the total population in Italy are Romanians. The presence of Romanians in Italy is attributed to immigrations to Italy by Romanian citizens who began in the 1990s. The first phase of immigrants was fleeing persecution in Romania, while the second phase flocked to Italy for better employment opportunities and improved standards of living. A large number of Romanians in Italy are Christians more specifically Orthodox Christian. Roman Catholic and Protestant make up a small number of Romanians.
The relationship between Italians and Romanians is one of mistrust. Romanians are blamed for illegal and criminal activities. A particular event in October 2007, where an Italian woman was killed in a violent murder by an alleged Romanian immigrant, sparked a significant outcry from Italians. Proposed legislations were made to allow the government to remove certain EU citizens it deems a threat to Italy’s security. Although the legislation was not eventually enforced, profiling of Romanian citizens as criminals continues in Italy. Romanians in Italy are characterized by a strong link to their culture and language. The Romanian presence in Italy is attested through over 200 Orthodox Churches, a political party, and numerous Romanian associations. There is also a Television Station that broadcasts in the Romanian language in Italy.
Maghrebi and Arabic
Maghrebi and Arabic both have a share of 1.1% of the total population in Italy. The majority of the people from these two groups are immigrants from Arab countries such as Tunisia, Libya, Syria, Morocco, Lebanon, and Egypt. There existed Muslim communities in Italy in the medieval era, whose presence dwindled as a result of various conquests. Somali asylum seekers in the 20th century to Italy sparked a wave of Muslim immigration. The dominant religion practiced by these ethnicities is Islam, more specifically the Sunni branch of Islam. The Maghrebi Arabic communities have various associations.
0.8% Albanians make up the total population of Italy. Albania and Italy had long close ties in medieval times, mostly through military assistance given by Albania to Italy. Some Albanians, fleeing the occupation of Turks, settled in Italy and established Albanian communities mainly in Southern Italy. These communities still inhabit parts of modern Southern Italy such as Sicily, Calabria, Campania, Molise, and Abruzzi. Arberesh language is common among Albanians in Italy, with different dialects used in various villages. The Albanian community has influenced festivals and celebrations in Italy. The primary religion of the Albanians is Christian Catholic.
Other ethnicities found in Italy by share of the total population are Han Chinese (0.3%) and Ukrainian (0.3%). Italy has been increasingly receiving immigrants seeking asylum, especially from countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa. These immigrants have the potential to affect Italy’s demographics to a small extent. The Muslim population in Italy is projected to increase steadily in Italy and other parts of Europe.
Share of Italian Population
1 Italian 92.0%
2 Romanian 1.8%
3 Maghrebi and/or Arabic 1.1%
4 Albanian 0.8%
5 Han Chinese 0.3%
6 Ukrainian 0.3%
Largest Ethnic Groups And Nationalities In The United States
Largest Ethnic Groups In Russia
Largest Ethnic Groups In Nigeria
Largest Ethnic Groups In Germany
More in Society
Types Of Crimes By Number Of Offenses In The US
The 10 Biggest Shopping Malls In The World
The Most Popular Sports In The World
The Largest Cities in Canada
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516256
|
__label__cc
| 0.548718
| 0.451282
|
Dutch Symbols
Dutch Flag
Netherlands Maps and Geography
Netherlands's Quick Facts
Water Area
7,650 km2
409.62 / km2
Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy; Part Of The Kingdom Of The Netherlands
Amsterdam (1,148,972)
Rotterdam (1,010,026)
s-Gravenhage (The Hague) (697,564)
Utrecht (544,389)
Eindhoven (358,966)
Animal: Lion
Coat of Arms: The royal coat of arms is placed on a mantle of ermine surmounted by a crown. The coat of arms date from 1815, when the Kingdom of the Netherlands was founded.
It is the same as the Dutch national coat of arms. It originates from the county of Nassau in Germany, and the central lion is the same as the lion on the oldest coat of arms of Nassau, dating from the 13th century.
Flag of Netherlands
Flower: Tulip (unofficial)
Note: Though not official symbols of the Netherlands, tulips, windmills and wooden shoes are widely associated with the country. Perhaps no one item symbolized the Netherlands more succinctly than the tulip.
The Netherlands produce approximately nine billion flower bulbs annually. That incredible number of bulbs would allow for almost two flower bulbs for every person on the planet. Of those bulbs, the tulip (in a variety of colors) remains the most popular and widely recognized bulb by gardeners worldwide.
Motto: "Ik zal handhaven" "I will maintain"
National Anthem: "Wilhelmus van Nassouwe" ("William of Nassau"); lyrics are widely considered written by the poet, Philips van Marnix, Seigneur of Sint Aldegonge. Source of music is unknown.
How Much Are Movie Tickets Around The World?
English Speaking Countries in Europe
Latest by WorldAtlas
10 Of The Most Notorious Serial Killers In The World
The 10 Worst Presidents in the History of the United States
Is China A Developing Country?
Effects Of Earthquakes
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516257
|
__label__cc
| 0.590255
| 0.409745
|
The Parisian Macao, Cotai Strip, Macau
An integrated resort development connected to The Venetian Macao and Four Seasons Macao.
Venetian Cotai Limited
The Parisian Macao adds over 3,000 hotel rooms and suites to the Cotai Strip and features an Eiffel Tower replica and shopping mall, as well as a massive casino floor. The total gross floor area (GFA) of the resort is around 4.5 million sq.ft.
The peer review services we provided in the detailed design stage led to a request for our team to carry out the construction documentation preparation and construction administration consultancy services.
We went on to successfully complete over 6,000 design drawings for tender within two months.
OTHER CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE OVERCOME
Raffles City Chongqing
Featuring the 300m-long ‘The Crystal’ skybridge sitting atop four 250m-tall skyscrapers, WSP served as the MEP and vertical transportation system consultant engineer for this landmark of the booming Chongqing, welcoming visitors to enjoy the 270-degree panorama of the city’s skyline.
Shanghai West Bund Mega Financial Hub
A landmark for this next-generation financial hub and global digital currency centre.
Victoria Dockside, Hong Kong
After 10 years of planning and building, K11 MUSEA opened its doors at Victoria Dockside on August 2019.
CITIC Tower, Beijing, China
Completed in 2018, the CITIC Tower, also as Citic Group Headquarters Building, is Beijing’s tallest tower.
Shenzhen China Resources Headquarters
In a city with 6 of the world’s 56 skyscrapers over 350m, Shenzhen takes the next step after building tall; building with a narrative. The city’s 3rd tallest building – China Resources Headquarters – invigorates the typical skyline using the form of a Spring Bamboo, a traditional Chinese synonym for life and vitality.
Petronas Towers and Kuala Lumpur City Centre
A landmark of Kuala Lumpur, the Petronas Towers, were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004 and remain the tallest twin towers in the world.
Tung Chung Station Development
This development forms an essential part of Tung Chung New Town, and serves as a gateway to Hong Kong International Airport.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516258
|
__label__wiki
| 0.576069
| 0.576069
|
Zoongde
Damien Lee
Two Reasons to Celebrate the Robinson-Superior Treaty Today
(Originally posted to Facebook, September 7, 2012)
Today, we celebrate the 162nd anniversary of the Robinson-Superior Treaty. On September 7, 1850, before Canada was even a country, Anishinabek leaders from across the northern shores of Lake Superior met with representatives of the Imperial British Crown in Sault Ste. Marie. It was a time that our nation-to-nation relationship was not in question. However, more than a century and a half later, some people ask what our treaty is good for; others ask whether the treaty is even still alive. Due to such doubts, the best way to celebrate our treaty might be to show how it continues to be useful today.
Many people have become skeptical about the importance of, and even the validity of the Robinson-Superior Treaty. I think some skepticism is a good thing: it allows us to question the things that we’ve been told are true. For example, the Canadian government and most settlers like to re-cast our treaty as a “business contract” instead of a solemn treaty. They’ve told us that the Crown didn’t have to enter into the treaty; they’ve told us that they were doing us a favour by making this agreement, and that therefore they can disregard it any time they like. But is this true?
Elsewhere, there are people even within the Anishinabek community who question the usefulness of the treaty, saying, for example, that it has failed miserably in protecting our community. But was it the treaty that failed, or the settlers who sought to disregard their promises?
Just as these critiques are skeptical about the usefulness of the Robinson-Superior Treaty, I am skeptical about the assumptions they are built on. They assume that a) the treaty is dead, b) that the treaty, if alive, is useless today; and, if we take such skepticism to its logical conclusion, c) they assume that Anishinabek are not really in a nation-to-nation relationship with the Crown, because, if we believe Canada, a “business contract” is a one-time thing of the past. So, if we’re to properly celebrate today, we’ve gotta clear a few things up.
A Living Agreement
Today, Fort William First Nation is engaged in the early stages of constitutional development. A constitution refers to the most basic laws of a nation, that its people agree to live by. Two of the most important elements of a constitution is defining who a nation’s citizens are, and defining how leaders will be selected and how they should lead. In Anishinabek constitutions, these elements take their form from our interrelatedness with Creation and are focused on maintaining balance.
The FWFN constitution is being developed in stages. It is addressing the two most important issues first: the Band is considering how to renew its existing Membership Code, while also developing a new Custom Election Code. How can the Robison-Superior Treaty help us today in achieving these tasks?
To answer that question, we first have to prove that the treaty still exists. And, thats easy to do: just drive across the bridge into town. So long as we go across the river and find settler-Canadians living in Anishinabek territory, the Robinson-Superior Treaty is alive and well. The City of Thunder Bay only exists because we made a treaty that is about sharing the land. Because of this, as my colleague Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair said last year, our treaties are happening right now, evidenced by the fact that we’re still sharing with the settlers.
This is also what proves our treaty is a treaty and not a “business contract”: a treaty passes rights/responsibilities on to future generations of both settlers and Anishinabek. If it were merely a contract, it would have become void when its original signatories died. And then where would all those settlers go?
But our treaty is more useful than simply allowing other people to live with us. It would be a pretty raw deal if we only gave and got nothing in return. While the Robinson-Superior Treaty states that we will be given an annuity of up to one pound sterling per person, per year (or about $4 each), since 1874 the Crown has chosen not to keep up with inflation rates. In 1850, $4 was the equivalent to a half-year’s pay for what would amount today to a city worker’s salary, which in today’s currency could easily mean half of $40,000-50,000 for each person who belongs with FWFN. Paying such an annuity today would still be nothing for the Crown, for it has taken, and taken, and taken from our territory and gotten rich in doing so. Quite simply, the Crown has no excuse for not paying our annuities as promised.
However, annuities aren’t the only way to look at how the treaty can benefit us today. Embedded within it are teachings about our sovereignty. In a time of reclaiming our self-determination in areas such as taking back control over our band membership and our selection of leaders, the sovereignty embedded in our treaty is worth another look.
Putting the Treaty to Work
To fully understand how the Robinson-Superior Treaty can work for us today, it is first important to understand exactly what the treaty did and, just as importantly, what it didn’t do.
The treaty is a specific agreement about sharing land. The text version of the treaty says that Anishinabek leaders permit settlers to live within our territory. Thats all. We never said anything about giving up our sovereignty; we never said anything about giving up our rights to determine our citizenship; we never agreed to give up our traditions for how we appoint our leaders. (It was the Indian Act that attempted to take all these things away from us without our permission)
Treaties must be understood for the specific things the parties agreed to. One cannot presume something is included in the treaty if it was not explicitly discussed in the treaty negotiations. For example, just because we agreed to share the land does not mean we gave up our sovereignty over other aspects of our lives. That would be the same as saying just because I said you could sleep on my couch, you think its ok to tell me what shirt to wear and who else can come over for supper. Leanne Simpson, a Nishnaabekwe, has written that Anishinabek treaty making traditions protect our sovereignty because when we enter a treaty, we do so as a sovereign people, a nation. It would be absurd to say that by agreeing to share the land, we’ve somehow given up our control over our citizenship and election customs (or our shirts and dinner invitations for that matter).
And so, in understanding how the Robinson-Superior Treaty can help Fort William First Nation at this moment, it makes sense to consider what it did not do, opposed to focusing solely on what it did do. And so here are two suggestions:
1. The Treaty Protects our Responsibility to Discern Citizenship
No where in the Robinson-Superior Treaty does it say that Anishinabek relinquish control over belonging (band membership/citizenship) to the Imperial or Canadian Crown. Anishinabek leaders at the time would have thought it crazy to accept the idea that an emerging nation (Canada) could tell them who belongs with Anishinabek families and communities. On the contrary, the treaty actually upholds our jurisdiction to discern belonging, and therefore protects all of our customs to do so. The treaty is very clear that “the Indians” will receive annuities only so long as
the number of Indians entitled to the benefit of this Treaty shall amount to two thirds of their present numbers (which is twelve hundred and forty) to entitle them to claim the full benefit thereof, and should their numbers at any future period not amount to two thirds of twelve hundred and forty, the annuity shall be diminished in proportion to their actual numbers.
In other words, if we do not use our traditions to maintain our population of “citizens,” the treaty will become null and void.
Thus, our treaty helps us today because it protects our right to discern who belongs. Had we given up that right/responsibility, the treaty would have said so. This means that all the inherent traditions we’ve used for millennia are also protected. How else were we discerning belonging in 1850 other than through our family-based customs? It means there is no reason not to unhook ourselves from Indian Act thinking when discerning who belongs with our community. It means we don’t need to discern belonging based solely on “blood quantum,” as we’ve been taught to do after generations of dealing with the Indian Act.
2. The Treaty Protects our Responsibility to Determine our Leaders
In addition to attacking how we control citizenship, the Indian Act also attacks how we appoint our leadership. The Chief and Council system is an invention by Canada; it is a municipal-style governance system that favours European principles of governance. Make no mistake, the Chief and Council system was forced on Indigenous communities, sometimes at gun point. While we came to use the Chief and Council system as a matter of survival, and while people of our community are trying to use this system for good, the Robinson-Superior Treaty did not give up our responsibility to determine our leaders in our own way.
As Fort William First Nation embarks on creating a Custom Election Code, the Robinson-Superior Treaty is important because it protects our right to appoint our leaders in ways not dictated to us by the Canadian government. For example, whereas today we have only one chief under the Indian Act system, in September 1850 we used our ways of appointing leaders to send two chiefs to Sault Ste. Marie. Chiefs Peau de Chat and I’Illinois (John Innunway) signed the treaty on our behalf. And while the Crown tried to undermine our leadership traditions in 1849 by saying it would only recognize the chieftainship of the “fur trading post chief” (I’Illinois), the fact remains that our treaty bears both men’s names, and thus bears our customary codes for appointing leadership.
Since we never gave up our leadership traditions, they continue to exist and can be drawn on in the present. This means that we are not restricted to the municipal style governance system we’ve been forced to adopt. It means that Anishinabek teachings such as Mino-Bimaadiziwin and the Seven Grandmother Teachings can provide the framework for an Election Code. There is nothing stopping us from re-rooting our leadership back into our traditions.
A Reason to Celebrate
Thus, the Robinson-Superior Treaty is anything but dead. This is clear despite the fact that Canada continues to enforce its Indian Act; Canada uses the Act as a means to separate itself from the promises the British Crown made to us on its behalf. Canada’s fear of the Robinson-Superior Treaty in and of itself makes it abundantly clear that the treaty still holds power as a nation-to-nation agreement. Otherwise, why would Canada still use the Indian Act to avoid its treaty responsibilities?
So, we have a lot to celebrate today. We continue to live as Anishinabek despite more than a century of attacks on our citizenship and leadership traditions. And, regardless of what Canada has to say, our treaty continues to support our nationhood by showing us that we’ve kept the most important thing for ourselves: our responsibility to be a self-determining nation in all aspects of life.
October 20, 2012 update: An edited version of this post appeared on page 10 in the October 2012 edition of Anishinabek News, available here.
UncategorizedDamien1 comment
Yours, Truly
Tsawalk: A Review
One thought on “Two Reasons to Celebrate the Robinson-Superior Treaty Today”
David Munroe
Well researched and presented.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516260
|
__label__wiki
| 0.916486
| 0.916486
|
By Job Titles
By College Majors
By Companies
7 Best Companies To Work For In Cranford, NJ
We hand-curated a list of the best companies to work for headquartered in and around Cranford, NJ using data on salaries, company financial health, and employee diversity.
1. Weeks Marine
Zippia Score 4.6
Weeks Marine is a marine construction and dredging contractor based in Cranford, NJ. It was founded by Francis Weeks and his son Richard B. Weeks in 1919 as the Weeks Stevedoring Company.
What people like about Weeks Marine:
I would like to work here but never positions opened for women in administration.
Learn More About Weeks Marine:
2. Virtua Memorial Hospital
Operates As A General Medical Or Surgical Hospital (100%).
What people like about Virtua Memorial Hospital:
Helping and taking care of the patients, the personal overall, are lot of good people. Cafeteria food and the coffee shop.
Learn More About Virtua Memorial Hospital:
3. Cranford High School
Cranford High School is a four-year public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades, located in Cranford, in Union County, New Jersey, United States, and operating as the lone secondary school of the Cranford Township Public Schools.
Learn More About Cranford High School:
4. Registrar & Transfer Co
Learn More About Registrar & Transfer Co:
5. Town & Country Cleaners
Learn More About Town & Country Cleaners:
Job type you want
6. Metalico Aluminum Recovery
A full service company addressing all our customer needs. We specialize in collection and recycling of ferrous metals.
Learn More About Metalico Aluminum Recovery:
7. Plymouth Printing Co
Learn More About Plymouth Printing Co:
Other National Companies With Offices in Cranford, NJ
Company Highlights:
SS&C, established in 1986, is a global provider of investment and financial software-enabled services and software focused exclusively on the global financial services industry. The company develops software for managing financial portfolios, loans, real estate equity, back-office processing, and securities trading, and provides consulting and outsourcing services. Some 10,000 financial services organisations use SS&C's products and services. Headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, SS&C serves a worldwide clientele through a global network of offices.
Learn More About SS&C Technologies:
Paragon was a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena game developed and published by Epic Games. Powered by their own Unreal Engine 4, the game started pay-to-play early access in March 2016, and free-to-play access to its open beta started in February 2017. Epic Games shut down its servers on April 27, 2018.
Learn More About Paragon:
Learn More About Union County Schools:
Best Companies In Cranford, NJ
Zippia Score
1 Weeks Marine 4.6
2 Virtua Memorial Hospital 4.1
3 Cranford High School 4.0
4 Registrar & Transfer Co 3.8
5 Town & Country Cleaners 3.7
6 Metalico Aluminum Recovery 3.7
7 Plymouth Printing Co 2.9
About Zippia's Best Companies To Work For
You can read about how the Zippia Score and Company Rankings are calculated here.
Best Companies To Work For In Nearby Cities
top overall
best paying
Email: support@zippia.com
Copyright © 2021 Zippia, Inc.
Zippia
Careers by Categories
College Grad Careers
Jobs For High Schoolers
Foreign Worker Jobs
Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Building and Grounds Maintenance
Community and Social Services
Computer and Mathematical
Construction and Extraction
Education, Training, and Library
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Food Preparation and Restaurant
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Office and Administrative
Personal Care and Attendants
Best Companies In
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516262
|
__label__wiki
| 0.835636
| 0.835636
|
Space radiation might cause bone loss in astronauts
Radiation amplifies the bone loss incurred from weightlessness.
Astronauts living aboard the International Space Station may experience bone and muscle loss due to the combined effects of microgravity and radiation, scientists report. The findings have important implications for how NASA engineers plan on mitigating the effects of radiation for upcoming deep-space missions such as a manned trip to Mars.
Credit: Pixabay.
Like muscles, bone is a dynamic tissue which adapts to demand. If there’s frequently increased load, bones will grow bigger to meet this demand. In a weightless environment, however, muscles will atrophy and bones will lose density. What’s more, radiation also seems to play a role in bone density loss but not in muscle atrophy, a recent study funded by NASA informs.
Researchers led by Henry Donahue from Virginia Commonwealth University studied mice whose movements were restricted, thereby simulating microgravity. Another group of mice were left to roam freely while being exposed to radiation of the kind experienced in space.
While the microgravity conditions led to both muscle and bone loss, radiation alone could only produce bone loss.
“Radiation plus microgravity amplifies the negative effect of microgravity on bone, but does not affect muscle loss,” Donahue said in a statement. “It’s as if exposure to radiation itself doesn’t affect bone, but it makes it more sensitive to the negative effects of microgravity.”
Donahue says that loss of bone and muscle experienced by astronauts is similar to what doctors see in aging people. Older people, he said, “fall more, they break their bones more.” In the future, understanding how microgravity impacts human biology might reveal important insight regarding the effects aging has on muscle and bone.
Sadly, this is more bad news for manned space flight. Previously, scientists at the University of California, Irvine, found mice exposed to space radiation experienced cognitive decline, accompanied by changes in the structure and integrity of brain nerve cells and the synapses.
Charles Limoli, a scientist at the University of California, Irvine, previously found similar kinds of brain damage in cancer patients who had received high-dose, photon-based radiation treatments. The oncologist says that astronauts would require months and months worth of exposure to deep space radiation for brain damage to occur. Considering the shortest one-way trip to Mars lasts 260 days, that’s cause for worry.
“Exposure to these particles can lead to a range of potential central nervous system complications that can occur during and persist long after actual space travel – such as various performance decrements, memory deficits, anxiety, depression and impaired decision-making,” said Limoli.
Astronaut performs kneeling lift with ARED device. Credit: NASA.
No escaping radiation
Now, we know that radiation will also incur an additional bone loss in astronauts. Deep space radiation is an unsolved problem, as no amount of shielding can block off highly energetic space rays from penetrating a spaceship.
The effects of weightlessness are also problematic. Besides incurring significant muscle and bone loss after only a couple of weeks spent in space, microgravity also impairs vision by literally deforming the eyeball. Other, more subtle effects, include genes that turn on and off (with unclear consequences at this point) and longer telomeres (which slow down chromosome deterioration).
To counter the bone and muscle loss, since 2008, astronauts aboard the ISS have been using the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED), which allows them to simulate free-weight exercises in normal gravity. Each astronaut has an allocated exercise time of two hours a day in space. But despite exercise, it still takes months of rehabilitation to adjust when returning to Earth after a typical six-month space mission.
Scientific reference: Andrew R. Krause et al. Simulated space radiation sensitizes bone but not muscle to the catabolic effects of mechanical unloading, PLOS ONE (2017). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182403.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516263
|
__label__cc
| 0.506077
| 0.493923
|
Step by step to install tn6 p
Routing over ericsson mini link by Ahmed Nabeeh 84664 views
Rtn by Ahmed Hussien Ali... 5449 views
2 Switch, Rl Ime, Wan And Lan by Atif Mahmood 4940 views
Ethernet guideline by Abbas malmir 5657 views
config_mini link by Amir Moradi 7656 views
Mini link tn configuration by Hammad Tabish 23835 views
Ahmed Hussien Ali Gomaa Bebars
it help field engineer to install TN according to Ericsson standard
Published in: Engineering
Mahmood Janabi
Wael Diab
Saheb Ali
Aymen Kechiche
marius koudenoukpo , Étudiant(e) (Université des Sciences et Technologie du Bénin) at SOAR ENGINEERING
1. 2013 Ahmed Bebars 5/26/2013 Step Procedure to install TN6P
2. 2| P a g e MLU Project Thanks for everyone help me to write this document, and I hope that help site engineer to know some information around one type of our actions in this project called Mini link upgrade from Mini link to TN6 P
3. 3| P a g e MLU Project Contents 1. Before Site Access:.......................................................................................................4 i. Site Access Message .................................................................................................4 ii. Risk Assessment.......................................................................................................4 2. Site Survey ...................................................................................................................5 i. Site............................................................................................................................5 ii. Facing.......................................................................................................................8 3. Check Delivery ..........................................................................................................14 4. Installation.................................................................................................................18 5. Configure TN.............................................................................................................21 6. Call 2nd line:..............................................................................................................27 7. Call NMC to Halt Site and effected sites...................................................................27 8. Complete Action ........................................................................................................27 9. Drop E1 Physical .......................................................................................................31 10. Call BEB to Add Node and E1dropping ...............................................................31 11. After finish call NMC to Active sites.....................................................................31 12. Take Acceptance Package .....................................................................................31 APPENDIX A.....................................................................................................................33 APPENDIX B.....................................................................................................................37 APPENDIX C:....................................................................................................................44 APPENDIX D:....................................................................................................................51 APPENDIX E:....................................................................................................................54
4. 4| P a g e MLU Project 1. Before Site Access: i. Site Access Message Send sign in/out message to 5011 (sign in message format S=xxxx*A=inout) ii. Risk Assessment Write risk assessment
5. 5| P a g e MLU Project 2. Site Survey i. Site Placement Check where you will fix TN6 P where magazine need 3U at rack, 1U for each ICF3
6. 6| P a g e MLU Project Power PBC 6200 This case connect TN6 P direct with PBC 6200 As fig show PBC 6500 This case connect TN6 P direct with PBC 6500 As fig show Note: if PBC 6500 with C connection (-48V) connect with it direct If PBC 6500 with A, B connection (+24V) connect with it DC Box and from it to TN PBC 6200 TN6 P Black terminal on Straight Red terminal on L terminal PBC 6500 TN6 P
7. 7| P a g e MLU Project In this case TN6 P Power connector as show in fig with -48 V Source DC BOX (+24V) This case connect TN6 P direct with DC Box (+24 V) As fig show *this fig with any +24 V Check old Link Check old link parameter with SF6 file (Review APPENDIX B) most important parameter: 1) RSL and Tx power 2) Inventory 3) Tx and Rx frequency Black terminal RED Terminal DC Box TN6 P RED Terminal Black terminal
8. 8| P a g e MLU Project 4) Link performance E1 survey Trace each E1 cable if these cable direct to other sites you can check it with End to End IF Connector Standard or not, if not standard you should change it after halting sites Standard as show in fig ii. Facing MMU Placement Check TN release IF cable Washer Jumper Free Position If Link 1+1 we need two free place between them Mark ( ) from Number side R22T18
9. 9| P a g e MLU Project TN P.S (Print Screen) and Backup General P.s and Alarm
10. 10| P a g e MLU Project Press double click on NPU and ETU to get the following screen NPU and ETU P.s
11. 11| P a g e MLU Project Notification history: Right click on TN and choose view Notification History Traffic Routing P.s: right click on TN and choose configure then traffic routing DCN P.s: PPP: right click on TN and choose configure then choose DCN then choose PPP
12. 12| P a g e MLU Project OSPF area: right click on TN and choose configure then choose DCN then OSPF area
13. 13| P a g e MLU Project Basic NE: Right click on TN and then choose configure then Basic NE Inventory P.s: Right click on TN then tools then inventory Report: right click Tools tab and choose FTP server and press start then choose help tab and press on debug error report you write description and press save after finish you will find this file at C:tn_ftp_home as (.RAR) file this file contain Backup and report
14. 14| P a g e MLU Project Check old Link Check old link parameter with SF6 file (Review APPENDIX B) most important parameter: 1) RSL and Tx power 2) Inventory 3) Tx and Rx frequency 4) Link performance Check IF connector Standard or not, if not standard you should change it after halting sites Standard as show in fig 3. Check Delivery AMM (Access Module Magazine) Power Cable and Connector There are two Power connector and Two Power cable IF cable Washer Jumper
15. 15| P a g e MLU Project NPU3 C and RMM NPU (Node Processor Unit) RMM (Removable Memory Module) NPU3 C Specification: One Ethernet Traffic port One Ethernet Traffic port/LAN One port support E1 from TR 4A-4D two user output NPU: can support 4E1 and it responsible main function, Contain internal memory to save main parameter for Magazine and Routing table RMM: it takes copy from NPU internal memory ETU2 B or LTU 12/1 (Optional) LTU 12/1: use to support three group and each group support four E1 There are Traffic cable uses to distribute these E1 on ICF (Interconnection Frame), from ICF to RBS (Radio Base station) ETU: use to support Packet data ETU (Ethernet Terminal Unit) RMM rmm
16. 16| P a g e MLU Project LTU 32/1 (Optional) LTU 32/1: use to support eight group and each group support four E1 There are Traffic cable uses to distribute these E1 on ICF (Interconnection Frame), from ICF to RBS (Radio Base station) MMU 2H MMU2 H (Modem Unit): It support maximum air interface traffic capacity of up to 406 Mbps MMU2 H supports up to 512 QAM modulations. 256 QAM with channel spacing 56 MHZ support 80 E1 Two PFU3 B PFU (Power Filter Unit): it distributes primary power to the plug-in units in the AMM through the backplane. There are two PFU, one is redundant for other NOTE: at least you should have on LTU card (LTU 12/1 or LTU32/1) for physical E1 dropping This mean MMU work with +24V or -48 V, so TN6P can work with +24 V or -48 V This mean MMU work with Volt -48 V So TN6P need power source -48V only
17. 17| P a g e MLU Project FAU (FAN Unit) used for Cooling Earth cable and washer and Screw& Nut 13mmØ Dummy ICF and Traffic cable *Eight traffic cable (if LTU32/1) NOTE: main Component to collect TN6P: 1. NPU 2. LTU (LTU12/1 or LTU32/1 3. MMU 4. FAN + Two PFU3B+ Power cable 5. ICF + traffic cable
18. 18| P a g e MLU Project Additional Material Washer, heat shrink, Metal Connector and other material please check APPENDIX D 4. Installation TN Power Source explained in (section Site Survey/Power) Recommendation position for Modules in TN6P C PFU 3 B FAU NPU LTU 32/1
19. 19| P a g e MLU Project At TMR 9202: At TMR 9206
20. 20| P a g e MLU Project SIAE Rack Review Appendix E to know how install cables and TN cabinet
21. 21| P a g e MLU Project 5. Configure TN Use USB to Mini cable to connect with AMM through USB Mini port in NPU Card Now Open Mini-Link craft: NE: 192.168.0.1 User: Control_user Password: ericsson
22. 22| P a g e MLU Project Software Upgrade Before any Update or Back up you should start FTP server (APPENDIX C) At first time when you start TN 6P Right Click on TN and choose tools and select software upgrade Select on Local Server User name and Password set Anonymous if use BPFTP server and set default if use embedded FTP server inside Mini link Craft Choose R22T18 from list Note: Link contain TN R4: http://www.mediafire.com/download/1yexjr2zn6jimzh/tn_ftp_home.7z.001 http://www.mediafire.com/download/ancpam2gj9g814r/tn_ftp_home.7z.002
23. 23| P a g e MLU Project Press apply and then next Then press apply and Next
24. 24| P a g e MLU Project After upgrade finish press Activate (message appear press OK) Configure Basic NE and OSPF and PPP Right click on CN and choose configure then Basic NE NE name: TN01-site number NE Location: Area name for example (obour) IP address: IP from address sheet for example: 10.250.5.25
25. 25| P a g e MLU Project NE subnet mask: according to IP sheet for example: 255.255.255.248 Continent: Africa City: Cairo Date and Time: set date and time To Hide License error: open any explorer and write 10.0.0.1 and user name: Control_user, password: ericsson Choose configure tab then Basic NE, press check Mark on *Hide License errors *Hide License Warning Then make Warm restart for AMM: press Right click on TN and choose tools then restart; there are two type of restart: Warm restart: Not distribute traffic Cold Restart: distribute traffic How read IP sheet and extract IP and subnet mask: It mean Subnet mask 255.255.255.248 TN IP
26. 26| P a g e MLU Project Right Click on TN and choose Configure then DCN choose PPP Right click on TN and choose configure then DCN choose OSPF How find OSPF IP from IP sheet: Show MMU position Mark on UP for MMU fix
27. 27| P a g e MLU Project 6. Call 2nd line: Call them and tell them your action upgrade from Mini link or SIAE to TN to send mail to BEB team 7. Call NMC to Halt Site and effected sites Tell those halt your site (Site, Co and G) and all sites with it in mail, after him replay to you can connect jumper with MMU on TN and complete action 8. Complete Action Jumper Connected Connect jumper on MMU RAU Software upgrade Open Mini link craft and right click on TN then choose tools then Software upgrade (Choose upgrade modules) It mean Subnet mask 255.255.255.248 It is Net address Area ID
28. 28| P a g e MLU Project Configure Radio Link Open Mini link craft to configure Radio Link Right click on MMU then choose configure radio link MMU ID at Sf6 Check mark Read Tx type in SF6 Choose it Channel B.W at SF6 Determine from Capacity and Modulation in SF6 E1 number from capacity at SF6 Choose it 6B Choose it from Tx frequency Read it from Tx Power at SF6Tx on Choose -70 and 10^-6 always
29. 29| P a g e MLU Project How read SF6 file to configure radio link MMU ID: if you configure radio link at site 211 terminal ID 594F and Far end ID 594E Capacity: 17E1, so rate= 2.048*17 = 35 Mb/S At Tx type: TN MMU2H (1+0) 38GHZ R2N After end configuration at two sides check received power and if it in range show in SF6 file or not (Accept if Rx+/- 3 dBm) It mean RAU 2N Link 1+0 no protectionMMU type: MMU2H It mean install TN6P
30. 30| P a g e MLU Project Before call BEB check if TN6P managed or not: Open start menu and write cmd at RUN menu and press enter Write telnet magazine IP and press enter, (password: Ericsson) TN6P-0211 > ping Router IP (Always end with .29) Show Tx and Rx power This IP that you need ping on it to check if Magazine management
31. 31| P a g e MLU Project Print screen show that magazine managed: 9. Drop E1 Physical 10.Call BEB to Add Node and E1dropping Call BEB and tell him that you want add Magazine to management and tell him IP, then tell him E1 dropping as example (if LTU 32/1 Pos6) "dropping at LTU 32/1 pos6, 1A for site, 1B for site Expansion, 1C for Co, 1D and 2A for G) *site it mean GSM Band 900MHZ *Co it means GSM 1800 *G it mean 3G 11.After finish call NMC to Active sites 12.Take Acceptance Package E1 cable
32. 32| P a g e MLU Project Finish your Acceptance label and take your Package as show in APPENDIX A for Acceptance NOTE: Don't forget BNC Connector Video to see sample on this link http://www.mediafire.com/download/h4yp0d55kitny78/Cut_over_video.7z
33. 33| P a g e MLU Project APPENDIX A Acceptance label AMM: MMU Label Label on jumper: Label on IF cable: DIR site # MMU type DIR site # RAU # Jumper connector DIR Site # RAU #
34. 34| P a g e MLU Project Traffic cable label: If traffic cable from NPU If traffic cable from LTU 12/1 If traffic cable from LTU 32/1 AMM IP label: Power cable label: If source DC Box If source PBC 6200 If Source PBC 6500 C Connection A,B connection Label on Source C.B NPU 3C pos 7 ICF3 TR #A-#D TR #A-#D LTU 12/1 pos 8 ICF3 TR #A-#D TR #A-#D LTU 32/1 pos 6 ICF3 TR #A-#D TR #A-#D IP: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx Mask: 255.255.255.XXX TN6 P DC Box PFU 3B pos# DC (+24V) C.B# TN6 P PBC6200 PFU 3B pos# DC (-48V) C.B# TN6 P PBC6500 PFU 3B pos# DC (-48V) C.B# TN6 P PBC6200 PFU 3B pos# DC (+24V) C.B# TN6 P port #
35. 35| P a g e MLU Project ICF Label: Show Facing Site ID Template photo for site (take after your package complete photo+ Video+ print screen): Show main earth path DIR Site # NOTE: Complete Package for sites on link: http://www.mediafire.com/download/9uhucr60hb818az/Site-211-PCK.7z Main earth
36. 36| P a g e MLU Project Photo show Roxtec Photo show IF cable path Photo show top of cabinet clear Show C earth cable
37. 37| P a g e MLU Project APPENDIX B Access Mini link E and take P.S You should have Windows XP and MSM Program (Mini Link Service Manager) and USB to Serial cable *Cable need driver install Open MSM Program: password 1111 O&M Port that connect USB to serial cable in it
38. 38| P a g e MLU Project The following fig appear Press on config tab and choose communication To know COM port should be choose Set COM port
39. 39| P a g e MLU Project Presses right click on My Computer and choose properties Choose Device Manager Find USB to Serial cable define on port (COM3) Choose it
40. 40| P a g e MLU Project Now press on Network tab and choose scan local After link open find the following fig Press here to show link
41. 41| P a g e MLU Project Take P.S for General link Right click on link ID and Choose AM Setup and take P.S
42. 42| P a g e MLU Project Take P.S for HOP Setup: Right click on Link ID and choose HOP setup Right click on link ID and choose Performance then inventory
43. 43| P a g e MLU Project Performance P.S
44. 44| P a g e MLU Project APPENDIX C: How opne FTP server Use External FTP server called BPFTP Open FTP server (file and transfer protocol), prepare FTP at first time Main screen for FTP: Press on user account to create user (anonymous), when press on it will appear the following picture
45. 45| P a g e MLU Project Press Ok Press right click on user account space and choose add
46. 46| P a g e MLU Project Write user name (anonymous)
47. 47| P a g e MLU Project Press right click on Access right and choose add Select Folder C:tn_ftp_home as show in fig.
48. 48| P a g e MLU Project After end of selection set check box as follow in picture and set login and password then select folder path and press ok After end of preparation press on connect icon
49. 49| P a g e MLU Project Second Method: Right click on tools tab and choose FTP server After choose FTP server the following fig. appear Press check mark on it Press on it to start FTP server
50. 50| P a g e MLU Project Now FTP server work Note: you should take copy from file tn_ftp_home and past it in C: File link: http://www.mediafire.com/download/ancpam2gj9g814r/tn_ftp_home.7z.002 http://www.mediafire.com/download/1yexjr2zn6jimzh/tn_ftp_home.7z.001
51. 51| P a g e MLU Project APPENDIX D: Needed material:
52. 52| P a g e MLU Project
53. 53| P a g e MLU Project 8 Plastic cable Tie Black and white with different size 9 cable terminal 13 mm Ø 6 mm Ø
54. 54| P a g e MLU Project APPENDIX E: Make sure there is 2U to install two ICF3, 3U to install TN6P cabinet Cooling requirement to fix TN6P at Sub rack When installed in a cabinet there must be at least 30 mm free space behind the sub rack for sufficient air flow Fixed TN6P C as shown in fig 1. Fit the four captive nuts to the rack. 2. Fit the sub rack in the rack and tighten the screws.
55. 55| P a g e MLU Project Fit earth cable: Insert RMM in NPU card: Fit ICF3: TOP
56. 56| P a g e MLU Project Plug in NPU card: Label
57. 57| P a g e MLU Project Fit Power cable: Power connector component: Strip the jacket L approximately 35 mm (3.5 Cm) Attach the two strain relief halves around the jacket. Use two B (size 9). Then fit two strain relief A Connector casing F Contact sleeve B Strain relief half, size 9 G Contact socket C Strain relief half, size 7 H Locking screw D Strain relief half, size 5 E Strain relief half, size 4
58. 58| P a g e MLU Project Remove the aluminum sheet and shielded Cutting and Stripping the Wires Leave 18 mm (1.8 Cm) of the black wire and 30 mm (3 Cm) of the red wire. Strip the wires 7 mm (0.7 Cm). Fitting the Contact Sleeve Crimping the Contact Sleeve Inserting the Contact Sleeves into the Contact Socket *Note: Position of Red and Black cable according to Power Source (Review Power Source at this Pdf) Red cable Black cable
59. 59| P a g e MLU Project Assembling the Connector Caution: don't fix power cable at C.B on, make sure it off Fix traffic cable in LTU card: Wire bridge it is very important
Routing over ericsson mini link
Ahmed Nabeeh
2 Switch, Rl Ime, Wan And Lan
Ethernet guideline
Abbas malmir
config_mini link
Amir Moradi
Mini link tn configuration
Hammad Tabish
Microwave link communication system
billyjoe585
Ericsson BTS commisioning
Shahid Rasool
PBC-Series-Standard Range-Update
Ignatius Gunawan
TN Ericsson down management
GSMEngineer
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516264
|
__label__wiki
| 0.523554
| 0.523554
|
Yesterday's Movies
Old films, new eyes
June 21, 2019 temporalparadox
Girls Just Want to Have Fun. New World Pictures 1985.
Before watching the movie:
I just found out this movie existed. I know it’s a musical, but is it a jukebox musical (all preexisting songs), or is it new numbers and the somewhat-related song they got so they’d have a recognizable title? It’ll be interesting to find out.
I strongly suspect that the “Dance TV” alluded to in the summary is a stand-in for MTV.
After watching the movie:
Janey Glenn’s father just retired from the army and has moved the family to Chicago, the latest in a long string of relocations. Janey quickly makes friends with her rebellious schoolmate at the Catholic girls’ school Lynne, and they bond over their love of dancing and Chicago-based DTV, the afternoon dance and music news show. DTV announces a dance contest where the winning couple will be the new featured dancers on the program. Janey’s father forbids her to go out in a “strange city” alone, and so she has to sneak. But despite attempted sabotage by Natalie, entitled daughter of the wealthy industrialist JP Sands, Janey advances to the finals, and gets partnered with Jeff Malene to work out a routine together. Not only does Janey have to hide her dance practicing from her father, but Janey, Lynne, Jeff, and their friends get in a war with Natalie. And also Janey and Jeff fall in love and the external forces make things rocky.
DTV is clearly modeled after MTV in branding, but the function of the show seems a lot more related to American Bandstand. It’s a showcase show that plays to teens who want to be on the cutting edge of music, rather than a network that plays like radio but on TV. Thus, it’s easy to see this plot set twenty years earlier (perhaps when the writer was in high school), just with very 80s trappings.
This is one of those non-singing musicals. There are several music montages and dance numbers, but none of the vocals come from the characters. I think the only song not written for or at least debuted by the movie is the title song, which is a cover performed by set musicians. Well, and a cameo by Banana Boat Song as a riff on “In Excelsis Deo” because Catholic school pranksters.
To me, the production quality of the music holds the movie back. It’s a delightful little story, so much as I understand what constitutes skilled dancing, it’s fun to watch, and the music is enjoyable enough, but there’s some kind of quality to the music that makes it seem cheap, and by extension, shows the limits of the movie’s budget. They couldn’t even afford to work out the licensing for the Cyndi Lauper original of the song they titled the movie after.
This movie deserves more attention, even if it doesn’t reach the heights it intends to achieve. It shows up on time and hits all its marks. It’s still a perfectly fine 80s teen non-singing all-dancing musical to me.
80s, musical1985, 80s, Ed Lauter, Helen Hunt, Lee Montgomery, Sarah Jessica Parker
Previous Article Kindergarten Cop
Next Article Day of the Triffids
Welcome to Yesterday’s Movies
Yesterday's Movies is a film review blog where every Friday a less-than-recent movie is reviewed from the first watching. Readers are encouraged to suggest new old movies to review.
Subscribe by RSS or Twitter
The Spy Next Door tucks in Yesterday's Movies yesterdaysmovies.com/2021/01/15/the… 4 days ago
Yesterday's Movies scoops It's Love Again yesterdaysmovies.com/2021/01/08/its… 1 week ago
Dropping the Ball yesterdaysmovies.com/2020/12/31/dro… 2 weeks ago
Movies of My Yesterdays: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation yesterdaysmovies.com/2020/12/24/mov… 3 weeks ago
Jack Frost thumps over Yesterday's Movies. yesterdaysmovies.com/2020/12/18/jac… 1 month ago
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516265
|
__label__cc
| 0.556565
| 0.443435
|
youjizzz.name
step mom and son sleepin
pinay sex scandal
brother help sister
hairy sleeping
e-boys-store
boy watching porn
In accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (the text of which may be found on the U.S. Copyright Office website at http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/), youjizzz.name will respond expeditiously to claims of copyright infringement that are reported to youjizzz.name's designated copyright agent identified below. Please also note that under Section 512(f) any person who knowingly materially misrepresents that material or activity is infringing may be subject to liability. youjizzz.name reserves the right at its sole and entire discretion, to remove content and terminate the accounts of youjizzz.name users who infringe, or appear to infringe, the intellectual property or other rights of third parties.
1. A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed;
2. Identification of the copyright work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works at the Website;
3. Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled, and information reasonably sufficient to permit youjizzz.name to locate the material;
4. Information reasonably sufficient to permit youjizzz.name to contact the complaining party, including a name, address, telephone number and, if available, an email address at which the complaining party may be contacted;
5. A statement that the complaining party has a good-faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent or the law; and
6. A statement that the information in the notification is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.
All claims of copyright infringement on or regarding this Website should be addressed using the contact form down below.
Add youjizzz.name to Home screen
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0023.json.gz/line1516267
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.