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Home > Cornwall > Page 1 of 1
Cornwall is a land defined by its spectacular coastline which tapers out into the Atlantic Ocean. The dramatic granite cliffs of Land's End, picture postcard harbours, the wide sandy beaches of the north coast have all made Cornwall a holiday favourite for generations. But Cornwall also has a rich cultural heritage and this has left an indelible mark on the landscape. From ancient stones to the ghosts of the mining industry, there are constant reminders that you may not be in England anymore.
You can't get further west than the ancient Celtic kingdom of Cornwall (or Kernow, as it's known to Cornish-speakers). Blessed with the southwest's wildest coastline and most breathtakingly beautiful beaches, this proudly independent peninsula has always marched to its own tune. While the staple industries of old – mining, fishing and farming – have all but disappeared, Cornwall has since reinvented itself as one of the nation's creative corners.
Whether it's exploring the space-age domes of the Eden Project, sampling the culinary creations of a celebrity chef or basking on a deserted beach, you're guaranteed to feel the itch of inspiration. Time to let a little Kernow into your soul. Since 2006, Cornwall's historic mining areas have formed part of the UK's newest Unesco World Heritage site, the Cornwall & West Devon Mining Landscape
Cornwall is the traditional homeland of the Cornish people and is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, retaining a distinct cultural identity that reflects its history. Some people question the present constitutional status of Cornwall, and a nationalist movement seeks greater autonomy within the United Kingdom in the form of a devolved legislative assembly. On 24 April 2014 it was announced that Cornish people will be granted minority status under the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.
Located in the far west of Great Britain on a peninsula tumbling into the vast Atlantic ocean, almost completely surrounded by the sea, a magnificent coastline wraps around Cornwall for almost 300 miles. Cornwall is also the location of mainland Great Britain's most southerly promontory, The Lizard, and one of the UK’s most westerly points, Land's End.
There are lots of things Cornwall is loved for; the dramatic coastline with its captivating fishing harbours; the spectacular beaches and the pounding surf that provide a natural playground for a variety of watersports; and of course the Cornish pasty and cream teas. But there are also lots of things about Cornwall that may surprise you. For instance, the wilderness of captivating Bodmin Moor with its panorama of big skies, fascinating prehistoric remains, great walking trails and more than its fair share of local legends.
There's also the dynamic art scene found in mainly in West Cornwall, inspired by the naturally stunning landscape. More recently Cornwall has become known for a food scene to rival London and beyond; Cornwall now has a multitude of award-winning local food producers and stellar chefs putting the region well and truly on the gourmet map.
Cornwall also has a tremendous history based on its Celtic roots; its Celtic Cornish culture; the warmth and friendliness of the people; and the Cornish language that can be seen in the village names. Take a trip around Cornwall and you’ll discover a hugely diverse landscape. In the far west where the sea turns turquoise in the sun, the sand is white and the natural light is sometimes blindingly bright, the land is adorned with a legacy of Bronze age standing stones, huge granite burial chambers, Celtic crosses and holy wells.
In the old industrial heartland, the landscape, recently awarded World Heritage Site status, is dotted with the fascinating remnants of a triumphant mining past illustrating Cornwall's enormous contribution to the Industrial Revolution with engine houses, museums and miles of recreational trails.
Around the coastline Cornwall’s maritime legacy is never far away where local fishermen land their daily catch of fresh seafood and tall ships, luggers and ketches unfurl their sails in the Cornish breeze. The natural environment, recognised nationally across the twelve sections of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is accessed by the spectacular South West Coast Path providing walkers with miles of gentle strolls and challenging hikes.
To the north, a sweep of enormous golden sand bays stretches along the coastline often pummelled by giant Atlantic rollers. Long famed for its perfect surfing conditions, the coastline here is a hub for all kinds of extreme sports from coasteering to zapcat racing and scuba diving to rock climbing. And in the wonderful south of Cornwall, fed by rivers from the high moorlands, leafy estuaries, fishing villages, beaches, harbours and beautiful gardens that flourish in Cornwall’s mild climate.
Cornwall forms the westernmost part of the south-west peninsula of the island of Great Britain, and a large part of the Cornubian batholith is within Cornwall. This area was first inhabited in the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods. It continued to be occupied by Neolithic and then Bronze Age peoples, and later (in the Iron Age) by Brythons with distinctive cultural relations to neighbouring Wales and Brittany.
There is little evidence that Roman rule was effective west of Exeter and few Roman remains have been found. Cornwall was the home of a division of the Dumnonii tribe – whose tribal centre was in the modern county of Devon,, separated from the Brythons of Wales after the Battle of Deorham, often coming into conflict with the expanding English kingdom of Wessex before King Athelstan in AD 936 set the boundary between English and Cornish at the high water mark of the eastern bank of the River Tamar.
From the early Middle Ages, British language and culture was apparently shared by Brythons trading across both sides of the Channel, evidenced by the corresponding high medieval Breton kingdoms of Domnonée and Cornouaille and the Celtic Christianity common to both territories. Historically tin mining was important in the Cornish economy, becoming increasingly significant during the High Middle Ages and expanding greatly during the 19th century when rich copper mines were also in production. In the mid-19th century, however, the tin and copper mines entered a period of decline.
Subsequently china clay extraction became more important and metal mining had virtually ended by the 1990s. Traditionally fishing (particularly of pilchards), and agriculture, were the other important sectors of the economy. The railways led to the growth of tourism during the 20th century, however, Cornwall's economy struggled after the decline of the mining and fishing industries.
The area is noted for its wild moorland landscapes, its long and varied coastline, its attractive villages, its many place-names derived from the Cornish language, and its very mild climate. Extensive stretches of Cornwall's coastline, and Bodmin Moor, are protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The present human history of Cornwall begins with the reoccupation of Britain after the last Ice Age. The area now known as Cornwall was first inhabited in the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods. It continued to be occupied by Neolithic and then Bronze Age peoples. According to John T. Koch and others, Cornwall in the Late Bronze Age was part of a maritime trading-networked culture called the Atlantic Bronze Age, in modern-day Ireland, England, France, Spain and Portugal.
During the British Iron Age Cornwall, like all of Britain south of the Firth of Forth, was inhabited by a Celtic people known as the Britons with distinctive cultural relations to neighbouring Wales and Brittany. The Common Brittonic spoken at the time eventually developed into several distinct tongues, including Cornish.
The first account of Cornwall comes from the Sicilian Greek historian Diodorus Siculus, supposedly quoting or paraphrasing the 4th-century BCE geographer Pytheas, who had sailed to Britain. The identity of these merchants is unknown. It has been theorised that they were Phoenicians, but there is no evidence for this. There is little evidence that Roman rule was effective west of Exeter in Devon and few Roman remains have been found. However after 410, Cornwall appears to have reverted to rule by Romano-Celtic chieftains of the Cornovii tribe as part of Dumnonia including one Marcus Cunomorus with at least one significant power base at Tintagel.
'King' Mark of Cornwall is a semi-historical figure known from Welsh literature, the Matter of Britain, and in particular, the later Norman-Breton medieval romance of Tristan and Yseult where he is regarded as a close kinsman of King Arthur; himself usually considered to be born of the Cornish people in folklore traditions derived from Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae. Archaeology supports ecclesiastical, literary and legendary evidence for some relative economic stability and close cultural ties between the sub-Roman Westcountry, South Wales, Brittany and Ireland through the fifth and sixth centuries.
From the early 19th to the mid-20th century Methodism was the leading form of Christianity in Cornwall but it is now in decline. The Church of England was in the majority from the reign of Queen Elizabeth until the Methodist revival of the 19th century: before the Wesleyan missions dissenters were very few in Cornwall. The county remained within the Diocese of Exeter until 1876 when the Anglican Diocese of Truro was created (the first Bishop was appointed in 1877). Roman Catholicism was virtually extinct in Cornwall after the 17th century except for a few families such as the Arundells of Lanherne.
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Looking Up: Catch a celestial dragon by its tail
Have you ever seen a dragon? There's a picture of one in the northern sky and you can see it tonight should clouds kindly cooperate and go away.
Facing north, the constellation Draco the Dragon is at its highest point in the late evenings of early June, arcing over the Little Dipper. Draco is a lengthy star group, the stars of the tail beginning between the bowl of the Big Dipper and the North Star (Polaris); the dragon's feet are marked by several stars to the right of the Little Dipper's bowl. Then the neck extends up to the dragon's head, which resides almost straight overhead as seen from mid-northern latitudes such as we have in Pennsylvania.
According to an ancient myth, Draco represents the monster that guarded the golden apples in the Garden of Hesperides. Hercules had a bad encounter with the dragon but finally slaying it and carrying away the precious fruit.
Another story has it that Draco was slain by Cadmus, the hero of Thrace. In this case, the monster was guarding a sacred spring. Cadmus had quite a time defeating the dragon to get some water. He plucked out the dragon's teeth and cast them into a field, where they sprouted as warriors. They engaged in a huge battle, with only five survivors, who lived to help Cadmus build the city of Boeotia., the City of the Dragon.
The ancients also tell us that in the war with the Giants, the goddess Minerva seized the dragon, and hurled it into the northern sky where it became entangled in the axis of the heavens.
It seems the ancients did pretty well without television or hand-held computer phones. Their stories were distributed from adult to child around untold cook fires, lasting thousands of years to this day, their sky pictures remaining above us.
Hercules, by the way, is another constellation in tonight's sky and is placed right next to Draco, visible to us high in the south in late evening. It is most well known for a bright globular star cluster, M13.
Draco used to contain the North Star. It isn't the same one we all know as Polaris. The star referred to is Thuban, one of the relatively dim stars making up the dragon's tail. It is easily located about half way between the bowl of the Little Dipper and the mid-point of the handle of the Big Dipper. Thuban served as our North Star some 5,000 years ago, when the Egyptians were building their pyramids. The ancient Egyptians worshipped Thuban, which could be seen through a shaft built into the Great Pyramid of Egypt.
The axis of rotation of the Earth aims at a point on the sky very close to Polaris, which makes Polaris seem almost stationary while the rest of the sky rotates around it. The Earth's axis, however, has a very slow wobble, which over thousands of years circumscribes an imaginary circle on the sky where the North Celestial Pole occurs. Thus, different naked-eye stars which happen to be closest to that point, are honored as the North Star in differing millennia. The same of course happens in the southern sky; currently, there is no bright star serving as the South Star.
The head of Draco is easiest to pick out, containing a clearly defined misshapen square. The star marking the dragon’s "nose" is named Eltanin. The star is the brightest star in Draco, and appears red-orange in binoculars.
A meteor shower emanates from the direction of Draco on and around June 28th.
New Moon occurs June 3rd, meaning we have dark starry skies all week.
-- Peter Becker is Managing Editor at The News Eagle in Hawley, PA. Notes are welcome at news@neagle.com. Please mention in what newspaper or web site you read this column.
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Ilya Gefter Artist Lecture: The Hermitage, the Met, and the Middle East
Presented by Friends of the Yellow Barn at Yellow Barn Studio at Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo MD
Ilya Gefter, a Russian-born, US-educated, Israeli artist, discusses his reflections on the experience of living and working as a painter in over 7 cities on 3 continents.
On September 9, Ilya Gefter will discuss his reflections on the experience of living and working as a painter in over 7 cities on 3 continents, starting in St Petersburg, Russia and arriving at Tel Aviv, Israel in recent years. Every new place has its landscape and its art collections to offer. While the landscapes are never the same, the diverse artistic traditions have much in common. Art historical threads make up a breathtaking fabric spreading over continents. According to Gefter “the
On September 9, Ilya Gefter will discuss his reflections on the experience of living and working as a painter in over 7 cities on 3 continents, starting in St Petersburg, Russia and arriving at Tel Aviv, Israel in recent years. Every new place has its landscape and its art collections to offer. While the landscapes are never the same, the diverse artistic traditions have much in common. Art historical threads make up a breathtaking fabric spreading over continents. According to Gefter “the culture of painting and the visual wisdom it offers have become a motherland to me. I invite everyone to join for a visit of this motherland together.”
Ilya Gefter was born in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1980. After completing his BFA at the Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, he studied in Italy and Israel, where he has been active as an exhibiting painter and as an educator in the fields of painting, drawing, art history and aesthetics. In 2015 Ilya has founded the Visual Art Center in Tel Aviv. www.facebook.com/artprojectbyilyagefter. Ilya has received numerous grants and awards and has exhibited in solo and group shows in Canada, Israel and Russia. His works are found in public and private collections worldwide. www.ilyagefter.com.
Admission to the lecture is $35 for members of Friends of the Yellow Barn and $50 for n0n-members. Tickets are available online at www.yellowbarnstudio.com.
Email: yochum.harp@comcast.net
Yellow Barn Studio at Glen Echo Park
7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD 20812
Glen Echo Park is located at 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD, 20812 (this is the intersection of Goldsboro Rd and MacArthur Blvd).
From Northern Virginia, take Route 495 to the exit for the Clara Barton Parkway toward Washington, DC. Take the Exit for Glen Echo. Left at the stop sign on MacArthur Blvd. and left into Glen Echo Park. The Yellow Barn is next to the stone tower.
From Rockville, take 270 South to 495 south toward Northern Virginia. Take the exit for Glen Echo and the Clara Barton Parkway. Exit at Glen Echo and proceed to the stop sign on MacArthur Blvd. Take a left into Glen Echo Park.
From Silver Spring, take East West Highway to Bethesda, turn onto Old Georgetown Road then take a left on Wilson Lane. Follow Wilson Lane for a few miles to MacArthur Blvd. Turn Left onto MacArthur Blvd, then turn right into Glen Echo Park’s free parking lot.
Using Public Transportation, take Montgomery County Ride-On bus #29 operating daily from the Friendship Heights metro station on the Red Line.
For further inquiries relating to directions or Glen Echo Park, please call the National Park Service at: 301-492-6229.
MORE FROM Friends of the Yellow Barn
26th ANNUAL MEMBERS SHOW GALLERY
Presented by Friends of the Yellow Barn at Online/Virtual Space
Dec 12, 2020 - Mar 1, 2021
CONNECT WITH Friends of the Yellow Barn
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Folk Dances of Uttar Pradesh
by CulturoAdmin | Apr 12, 2020 | Indian Dance
India’s Unique Cultural Heritage National Symbols of India National Flag of India State Emblem of India National Anthem of India National Song of India National Calendar of India National Game of India National Animal of India National Bird of India National Tree of...
by CulturoAdmin | Apr 7, 2020 | Theatre in India
The Indian folk or traditional theatre is a rich and important element of the cultural heritage of India. It incorporates elements from music, dance, poetry, mime, religion and even arts and crafts. It is a reflection of people’s beliefs, social practises and...
The objective of this form of folk dance was to provide entertainment for the masses. It has secular themes ranging from romance, love and valour to social and cultural traditions. Bhavai: Bhavai is the popular folk theatre form of Gujarat and Rajasthan....
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Sam Bennett looking to go bigger and better in 2016
By Sadhbh O'Shea 15 October 2015
Irishman sprinter to step up to WorldTour level in the future
Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18) wins stage 6 at Tour of Qatar (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18)
Points leader Sam Bennett (Bora Argon 18) (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Sam Bennett (Bora Argon 18) on the podium (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis), Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18) and John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Bora-Argon 18 sprinter Sam Bennett was one of the worst off in the crash
Sam Bennett might have just finished his longest season to date in the professional peloton but the Irishman says he'd happily carry on racing. Bennett has been buoyed by a very successful season that saw him take five wins and finish his year off with a victory at last Friday's Paris-Bourges.
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"I've got such good form that I'm a bit disappointed that the season is over and I wish that there was another couple of months," he told Cyclingnews a day before jetting off to the Maldives for his off-season holiday.
After knocking on the door of professionalism for a few years, Bennett has now completed his second season as a professional with the German-based Bora-Argon 18 team. When he lines up at his first race next season he will no longer be a neo-pro, he will be a fully-fledged, experienced member of the peloton. This year has been a big one for 24-year-old. While his number of victories is just one more than it was in his debut season in 2014, the quality of them has been higher. All but one of the five wins have been at HC level and his most recent at Paris-Bourges saw him beat riders such as Nacer Bouhanni and Giacomo Nizzolo.
For Bennett, there is more to his success than just the quality and quantity.
"In other years, I never really got the consistency that I wanted or needed and it's something that I always wanted to work on," he explained. "When I did win is was always in close space, when I had a bit of form and I didn't win at other times of the year. I look and think about what makes a good sprinter and they have to be able to get results all season long, when they're feeling good and when they're feeling bad. This year I was able to get results at different points of the year and that made me really happy."
Bennett, who is 25 on Friday, believes that this consistency has been borne out of the stable environment provided to him by moving to Monaco, which allows him to train better in the warm weather.
Riding on the big stage
It hasn't all been plain sailing for the Irishman this year. He fell ill three weeks before making his debut at the Tour de France and again after the race. Feeling the effects of his illness and lack of training, Bennett struggled and it wasn't until stage 7 that he was able to contest a sprint - finishing 10th into Fougères - but his debut Tour was not a chance to be sniffed at.
"It was really frustrating. It was a race I really wanted to go well at. Everybody watches it and follows and then when I was lantern rouge, that wasn't really nice," said Bennett. "I took it as a race that I could learn from and I knew that I had to put my body through it so I went hard. I think it was definitely something I needed to do but I wish it had gone a bit better.
"I'd never ridden more than eight days in a row and then I made it to 17. To race flat out after the Tour and then to get good form again is pushing the body so much further than before. I've learned so much from it… I think I would finish another Grand Tour now and maybe get a result."
Bennett learnt about what his body could withstand and also how to race the Tour, which Bennett discovered is not like any race he'd done in his 18 months as a professional.
"Sometimes it felt like I was back at Junior and Under 23 racing. If I did some of the stuff they were doing in other races then they would give out to me because it was stupid," laughed Bennett.
"In the first five stages, everyone is so twitchy and the crashes were happening every five minutes, I couldn't believe it. I wouldn't normally get too scared and in a sprint I'd get a bit crazy trying to go through gaps but I couldn't go through the bunch. I was hanging back and not taking risks and then I saw climbers going through gaps like they were sprinters."
What next for Bennett?
Bennett is reluctant to talk about any specific ambitions for 2016 as he tries to rid himself of all cycling thoughts for his brief two-week holiday before his pre-season training kicks off on November 2. All he knows is that next year has to be bigger and better than the one that he's just left behind.
"I'd like to perform in WorldTour races and get some results there. Each year I get better results and a higher standard of race but I think WorldTour is where it's at. You need to perform there to be a world class sprinter and that's what I'm aiming for," Bennett explained. "The team is still developing, we're a young team and we're getting better at lead-outs and I think that will help us get more results I think. Hopefully I can get more wins than this year."
Looking a little further down the line, Bennett is also keen step up to WorldTour level himself. He is contracted to Pro Continental outfit Bora-Argon 18 until 2017 but he's already learned that a lot can happen in that time.
"Things change really quickly so I don't know what is going to happen in the next couple of years," he said.
"I'd always keep my options open, I'd never tie myself down. The team want to go WorldTour in the next few years. It's a lovely team to be in and a great environment but I can't say what's going to happen in the next two years. Two years ago I was in a Continental team and this year I did the Tour de France."
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Review: The Outer Worlds is so much more than ‘Fallout in space’
In this sprawling, surprising adventure, conversations are often better than combat.
AJ Moser
A few hours into The Outer Worlds, I was conflicted.
In an effort to restart my stranded spacecraft, I needed to locate a power source. Doing so was simple enough. But, to obtain it, I’d need to divert energy from one of two communities located on the planet Terra 2. Edgewater, a struggling industrial haven, was kept afloat by a prosperous cannery. However, a group of mistreated workers had relocated to a botanical garden on the far side of the planet, sustaining their small community on local farming. The leaders of both tribes were cantankerous, locked in a feud—and steadfast that I betray the other.
Members of each group made compelling arguments as I toured around. In the end, I knew there was no easy way to get out of this one. But some of the deserters had aspirations to work in engineering roles, rather than return to the laborious dealings of the cannery. After routing power away from the self-contained campsite, I was able to broker a deal and bring them back to town.
But Adelaide, the deserters’ leader, refused to follow. I knew I was leaving her to die out in the wilderness alone. I knew I could not convince her otherwise. The game would not let me.
Despite my complicated feelings, one thing was immediately clear: I was loving what The Outer Worlds has to offer.
Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, with a great number of writers, designers, and artists who worked on Fallout: New Vegas, this game is upfront about what it wants to be. A throwback role-playing adventure, The Outer Worlds is all about accommodating each and every player who picks it up. Right at the start, a robust character creator allows you to tailor the precise person you wish to become. You’re able to divide points between stats like leadership, determination, and persuasion as well as skills with melee and ranged weapons.
Your avatar is woken from a deep sleep by Phineas Vernon Welles, an energetic rogue scientist (with quite possibly the most name anyone has ever had). Welles tasks you with investigating The Board; an ominous organization that oversees almost every corner of the known universe. See, this adventure takes place in a fictionalized timeline fractured out from real world history. It presumes Theodore Roosevelt never became President of the United States and worked to bust up large companies in 1901. This leads to the dystopian, hyper-capitalist state we find in The Outer Worlds.
Corporations control everything in The Outer Worlds. Every gun, every tonic, every helmet you encounter is packaged and branded by one of these ruling bodies. Your quests often involve navigating the tense relationships between each monolithic entity—and the people they rule.
One of the first characters I encountered on my quest was a guard named Phelam, who worked for Spacer’s Choice; a low-budget adventurer’s outlet. He was injured, scared off by local criminals. But most significantly; he was ashamed to have failed his boss. His dialogue revealed a sickening reverence for the company and some serious Hermione Granger-esque “we could be killed, or worse, expelled” energy.
In moments like this, The Outer Worlds uses a political fixation for more than mere set-dressing. Investigating the corrosive effects of monopolistic expanse and cosmic colonization are the crux of your adventure. For the course of the main narrative, the game is laser-focused on letting you build meaningful relationships and delights in forcing you to grapple with compromised choices.
These conversational mechanics, and the writing behind them, are far and away my favorite aspect of The Outer Worlds. The game’s dialogue options instill the player with a responsibility that’s never as transparent as a single meter to represent your reputation. Digging through multiple discussions with certain characters may reveal new questlines, but the game is rarely explicit about when and where they might pop up. Instead, the game implies real weight with almost every line you can choose to say (or not say).
This reveals another strength: The Outer Worlds is funny as hell. Written with more than just pop culture references in mind, characters often poke fun at their surroundings and lead such bland, corporate-controlled lives that you have to laugh. Humor is often hard to land in games, particularly with a glaring dissonance between the player’s possible actions and a rigidly written character’s given nature. But Obsidian’s team members are experts when it comes to building a strong suite of role-playing options, and The Outer Worlds trusts you to occupy a wide range of personalities. You could be a snarky space pirate or a taciturn captain, and the game is always ready to roll with it.
At every opportunity, The Outer Worlds elects to react to the player’s presence. You feel like an active participant in an ongoing story: an outside mediator stepping in to bridge the divide or a wrecking ball that’s come to raise hell.
For example, dozens of hours down the road, I returned to Edgewater. The deserters had assimilated into town with no problems. Thomas, one civilian who was helpful in convincing the group to come home, was working as an engineer, just like he’d always dreamed. But I journeyed back to check on Adelaide, and she would not speak to me. There she was, slowly wasting away in an empty encampment. And it was my fault. The Outer Worlds isn’t afraid to close off “content” based on the consequence of your actions—and it’s stronger for it.
But how does all this affect gameplay? The Outer Worlds isn’t just about talking to people (even if that’s what it does best). I have to say, the combat is admittedly the weakest portion of the experience. While there are a fun variety of weapons, most of the gunplay feels flatly like a point-and-shoot scenario. With tougher encounters, I elected to pick up a long-rage weapon rather than getting up close. Melee weapons, like clubs and spears, similarly just sweep in front of you as you pull the trigger. However, I began as a jack-of-all-trades, focused on leveling up my hacking skills and stat perks rather than proficient weapon-handling, so your experience may vary.
Likewise, the branching skill tree for you and your companions opens up multiple styles of play. You can optimize damage-per-second, build an efficient team that buffs one another, or just go it alone if you choose to. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scope of options in every menu (and the tiny on-screen text does not help). But The Outer Worlds is usually upfront about what you’re signing up for. Dumping points into a certain skill translates to a felt bonus, whether it’s more dialogue options, easier hacking, or quicker healing. A great new system hands out phobias, recognizing things you’ve had trouble with in the past and allowing you to make them a permanent handicap in exchange for more perk points. My character had more than a few misadventures falling off the side of a cliff, so I ended up taking additional fall damage as a trade-off.
A single playthrough of this story may not be as dense as a traditional Fallout title, but it’s meant to encourage multiple runs. I was constantly imagining the other side of conversations, or a version of my character with totally different stats. In terms of replayability and tailored customization, The Outer Worlds is overflowing with possibility. It helps, too, that most of the interstellar environments look fantastic, with a wide array of color and visual flair.
Put simply: The Outer Worlds is everything you’d want from a modern RPG. There’s no “right” way to play, and there are no easy decisions. At least, the game doesn’t seem to think so. It provides a well-realized, organic universe to explore and allows you the freedom to choose your way through gorgeous environments and complex conflicts. I already want to tour the solar system as a different explorer and see what else the game is hiding beneath the surface. It marks a tremendous achievement from one of the most accomplished developers in the genre.
The Outer Worlds is available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on Oct. 25. It will arrive on Nintendo Switch sometime in 2020. This review was written based on a PS4 version of the game provided by the publisher.
*First Published: Oct 22, 2019, 8:00 am
AJ Moser is a Brooklyn-based reporter who focuses on video games, movies, and internet culture. His work has appeared in Paste Magazine, Game Informer, and Big Spaceship.
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By Akshay Gurumoorthi
In Football
The biggest decision in the history of the Premier League turned out to spell disaster in the most instinctive way for Manchester United. As Sir Alex’s 27 year tryst with Manchester United slowly phased out, the new boss failed to acquire the necessary firepower to carry the team.
The reason for a sudden descend into the mid-table has been falsely devoted to the retirement of a single man, while in reality the problem was far beyond the farewell of Sir Alex . Sir Alex’s retirement may have been the single major factor but the times have changed such that Manchester United is devoid of an experienced mentor who has been at the club for a long time.
Class of ’92 – Giggs, Butt, Beckham, Scholes and the Neville brothers
All of these problems started at the time when Gary Neville retired. Great players, a category of which I’m sure Neville is one, often leave their imprints on the game in such a way that their departure would forever leave a void in the team. Zinedine Zidane would be a great example, for France were never the same after his retirement.
As part of the famous class of ’92, Neville was a consistent performer at the right side of defense who had been induced with Manchester United’s style of play. Although his final years didn’t present us with memories to cherish, his retirement turned out to be something no one would want. For so long, Neville had made the position his own and established himself but when he had to retire, everyone realized that no one was there to fill his spot.
John O’Shea and Wes Brown, two other players who had been used at right back in the absence of Neville left subsequently as they were nearing the twilight of their careers. Three experienced players who could play in one of the most important positions of the field had left and what next, the spot was left to the wolves.
Rafael da Silva, often misconstrued as the player who replaced Neville, is decent, but by no means a great one. He lacked consistency, he had yet to mature and the Brazilian tendency to attack became his biggest weakness. One reason why Brazilian full backs rarely excel in the Premier League is because of their inability to comprehend the needs of playing a physical game in England.
Neville had been a solid presence in the team for more than a decade, and out of the blue, an inexperienced 21-year old is playing. Rafael performed well for a whole season but that was under Sir Alex Ferguson, a man who could bring the best out of any player. When Moyes came to the fore, he gave in.
As you could see, the players failed to correlate with a person who was unfamiliar to them. Unlike replacing the players where experience was the problem, that wasn’t one with the manager. David Moyes was a highly experienced manager, spare for the Champions League. On any normal day, slotting in alongside him must have been easy.
But, what then made the team fall apart? It was the change. They were accustomed to seeing Sir Alex Ferguson on the bench chewing his bubblegum. They knew if they made a mistake, the hairdryer was always in store. Sir Alex was the boss. You listen to the boss at Manchester United. That had been the norm for so long.
And suddenly, when Moyes cut a devil-may-care figure on the touchline, the nerves eased, didn’t they? No more of hairdryer. The coaches weren’t nearly as good as the previous ones. The players inherently took an approach of “I do what I do” and the results were anything but fruitful.
Perhaps, if Paul Scholes had remained at the club, he would have respected the new manager. He was experienced and he knew the boundaries that defined Manchester United as a club. He had lived through the dynasty that Sir Alex built and he would have given every bone of his to ensure that remained unscathed.
Moyes replaced the old guard with a mediocre support staff
But, does life always warrant a savior? In Manchester United’s case, the answer was a resounding ‘no’. Phil Neville for Rene Meulensteen, Steve Round for Mike Phelan, Jimmy Lundsen for Eric Steele and suddenly, there weren’t any traces of Manchester United in the backroom, it was all Merseyside.
The one thing in life that most humans fail to accommodate is a drastic change and Manchester United’s players were no different. There were widespread criticisms about Moyes bringing in his own staff, but he was the manager and he had every right to do so.
If he wasn’t at fault for doing that, were the players at one? No, again. As individual entities, both of them were far from fully acclimatized with the change while it ended. What the spectators and fans failed to discern was that Manchester United’s problems weren’t just rooted to David Moyes.
The team was in a transitional phase that was brilliantly handled by Sir Alex who carried the team on his shoulders. Judging by the past season, the fact that he made people believe Tom Cleverly was the next ‘Scholes’ is a testament to his abilities. David Moyes, in short, couldn’t cope with the demands of handling a transition, rather that he believed he could carry on Sir Alex’s ways without ever realizing that he needed to craft his own destiny, not borrow another’s.
Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick are the only players in Manchester United who have been at the club for a sizeable time as to understand the needs of playing at Old Trafford. The last few years have been so good to the fans that any form of shortcomings were resented right away.
The problem of inexperience in the squad was brewing for a long time, little by little. However, Sir Alex made quick remedies to tackle it for the short period. Buying Van Persie was one such thing. Manchester United already had Wayne Rooney to lead the line, but their attacking midfield was a problem and the center midfield was constantly declining.
Sir Alex sought out to make amends. By buying Van Persie, an experienced player in the Premier League he ensured that the frontline was secure and Rooney moving back brought some stability to their attack. In all essence, it was a well planned and well executed move but for one thing, time. Van Persie was aging up and Rooney wasn’t 20 years old.
Subsequently, Van Persie has started picking up injuries while Rooney has become quite inconsistent. In such a situation, the whole attack is to suffer, as evidenced by the past season. The defence is a similar case.
Johnny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones. Three established center backs still in the squad. Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have left. But then, why is the defence crumbling, more often than not? Once again, their inexperience coupled with injuries to the veterans played a vital role.
Phil Jones and Chris Smalling were used across the back as and when Moyes wished. Well, that’s where lies the problem. Constant change is something no one welcomes and I don’t expect these players to appreciate it either. It is well known that both of these players are center backs by trade, with other positions becoming secondary.
Yet, Moyes continued to tweak them which has ultimately led to the question of their best position. A proper manager never does such a thing. There are players who are meant to be versatile and to play around with them would make sense, not proper central defenders. Sir Alex played Jones is midfield, but that was at a time when he was needed to man-mark a player.
When such a situation arose, Moyes played Carrick. Thus, he got it entirely wrong with the defenders and that added to the misery. But, in the end, does he deserve to take home all the blame?
It’s simple, isn’t it? Manchester United’s manager was incapable and thus, the team failed. No, that should not be the conclusion. As is often the case in football, replacing a single man is much easier than replacing an entire team. Moyes could have changed things around in his second season, but it is not surprising why the American businessmen owned club administration thought against gambling on it.
Manchester United, on all fronts, from administration to backroom staff had been crumbling due to their increasing shortage of experience. Few men, however, held the team together and made a fair case. When they decided to step down in tandem, the flaws were mightily exposed.
A lot of expectations from Louis Van Gaal
Going forward, the situation seems to have been resolved with the appointment of Louis van Gaal, at least in the eyes of most peers. Van Gaal is at his wit’s end having managed in some of the top clubs in the world. However, a lack of hope is what prevailed in the team the past season. While on the pitch he may be a great manager, his work off the field would be essential in determining his efforts at Manchester United.
Sir Alex built the club brick by brick and restored Manchester United’s glory days under Matt Busby. Seemingly enough, it took him a long time after taking over an underwhelming set of players. However, Van Gaal inherits a team low on confidence and experience, two traits which were placed as the most important under Ferguson. He must use his vast footballing experience to mend the broken fences in Manchester United.
Neither winning nor producing results, but restoring Manchester United’s fallen philosophy shall be the greatest challenge Louis Van Gaal faces at the Theatre of Dreams.
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Woman, 17, allegedly set on fire by another 17-year-old
A 17-YEAR-OLD woman is being treated for serious burns to much of her body after allegedly being set on fire by another teen.
QPS said a man, also aged 17, allegedly set the woman on fire after they argued at a home in Avalon Court in Marsden.
Police allege he used a flammable liquid to set the woman on fire on Friday afternoon after they had been arguing.
QPS said the woman received serious burns to her arms, legs and upper body. She is being treated at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.
The teen has been charged with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm and will appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Monday.
Correction: Police earlier said the man had been charged with grievous bodily harm. They have since issued a correction stating the man will face a charge of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm.
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Woman’s face ripped apart by pet dog
by Rebecca Drew
10th Mar 2020 9:26 AM
Rebecca Oelker, 24, was going through her usual morning routine in January when she woke early and headed downstairs to let her blue heeler dogs, Maverick and Apollo, outside.
She noticed Maverick was behaving differently and wasn't listening to her so she tried to take hold of his collar to encourage him to sit, but he growled and started attacking her.
"He bit my hands, arms, and managed to knock me over, which was when he managed to get at my face and rip my upper lip and most of my nose almost completely off," Rebecca, from the US state of Connecticut, said.
"He came after me about three or four times, and I thought I was going to die. I managed to get on the phone to my partner, Stuart, who was at work at the time, and he told me to get upstairs, away from the dogs.
"I was in the tub when the paramedics arrived. I was admitted to surgery about two hours after they got me. Luckily, I had an amazing plastic surgeon, who was able to reattach everything. I was in the hospital for a week, with severe swelling to my face, and nerve damage to my hands and arms so bad that I couldn't hold a cup or feed myself."
It took more than 100 stitches to reattach her lips and nose to her face and she suffered severe swelling to her face, which she still has, as well as loss of sensation in her nose and upper lip.
"I still have a decent amount of swelling on my face, and no feeling in my nose or upper lip. My surgeon thinks that will come back eventually, but only time will tell."
Rebecca decided to share her experience after speaking to other dog attack survivors who said they felt isolated after sustaining their injuries.
"It's changed my perspective of life, of death, and of how quickly everything can change in a heartbeat.
"It's been a slow process, but I've tried to give myself peace and love and let myself take as much time as I need to get back to 'normal'.
"All in all, I feel pretty good. I've connected with so many people who have been attacked, and it's shown me a side of things I wouldn't have been exposed to otherwise, so it's not all bad."
Maverick was put down but Rebecca is still a proud pet owner to her dog, Apollo, despite what she has been through.
Rebecca toyed with whether she should share her story on Instagram, but she refused to be embarrassed by what she has been through.
"Sharing my story was my way of controlling the narrative, making sure I was the one who put the information out, and made everyone aware of my condition," she said.
"It was freeing to do that, and empowering, and the support I've received has been overwhelming. I've not felt alone for even a moment throughout all of this.
"However, this is a part of my story now, and I feel a lot of pride in that, as crazy as it sounds. I won't hide my face, act embarrassed, or pretend nothing happened. These scars represent the fact that I am a survivor."
"I met death and she said, 'Not today'. So, my point is this; if you are alive, right now, reading this, there's a reason. You were put here for a purpose and you'll be here until it is fulfilled.
WARNING- GRAPHIC CONTENT . . . I’ve gone back and forth over how to caption this post. “Escaped the jaws of death” seemed appropriate- but also too on the nose (pun intended lol). I’ve also told myself I don’t need to post anything at all. I owe the world nothing. However, this is a part of MY story now, and I feel a lot of pride in that, crazy as it sounds. I won’t hide my face, act embarrassed, or pretend nothing happened. These scars represent the fact that I am a survivor. For perhaps the third time in my life, I met Death and she said, “Not today”. So my point is this; if you are alive, right now, reading this, there’s a reason. You were put here for a purpose and you’ll be here until it is fulfilled. But when your last moment on this plane comes, just know that there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to be afraid of. I know you might not believe me, but it’s the truth. . . . I have so much to be thankful for. For my life, my will. For every person who has crossed my path in the last month and shown me kindness and compassion. For my surgeon and all those nurses. For Stuart, who literally spoon fed me my meds for a week and dripped water into my mouth when the nerve damage kept me from being able to hold a cup. And for a dog who reminds me every day that most boys are good boys. I’ve been put on a road I wasn’t expecting, and I have no idea where it’s going to lead, but I am ready to embrace it and whatever it brings. . . . #dogattacksurvivor
A post shared by Rebecca Anne🌻 (@gypseysol) on Feb 12, 2020 at 9:47am PST
"But when your last moment on this planet comes, just know that there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of. I know you might not believe me, but it's the truth.
"I have so much to be thankful for. For my life, my will. For every person who has crossed my path in the last month and shown me kindness and compassion. For my surgeon and all those nurses.
"For Stuart, who literally spoonfed me my meds for a week and dripped water into my mouth when the nerve damage kept me from being able to hold a cup. And for a dog who reminds me every day that most boys are good boys.
"I've been put on a road I wasn't expecting, and I have no idea where it's going to lead, but I am ready to embrace it and whatever it brings.
"I want people who have been victims of dog attacks, and who may feel alone, to know that they're not alone. It's an incredibly common thing, and it affects hundreds every year.
"I want people to know there is hope, and healing, and a community of others who understand exactly what it feels like to go through something like that. I hope I can convey even a portion of that throughout all of this."
For more information see www.instagram.com/gypseysol
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Insights & Publications
© 2021 Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Avi Gesser Joins Debevoise as Partner in the Cybersecurity and White Collar Groups
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP announced today that Avi Gesser has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in the Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Group and the White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group.
Mr. Gesser brings to the firm extensive experience advising major companies on a wide range of data, cybersecurity and incident response matters, including related complex commercial litigation and regulatory defense. He has represented international financial services firms, private equity firms, hedge funds and media organizations throughout full cybersecurity incident cycles.
“Avi is a market leader on the cutting edge data issues faced by major companies, helping them to develop a holistic data strategy that goes beyond privacy and compliance to address how they can optimize their use of data and emerging technologies while managing related risks. His substantial experience and technical savvy will add to our team’s already deep bench both on data and cyber incident response matters,” said Luke Dembosky, Co-Chair of the Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Group. “Avi’s considerable experience broadens our ability to serve our clients not only on traditional cybersecurity matters, but also technology-centric problems posed by A.I., big data and new technologies.”
Mr. Gesser’s arrival follows that of Lisa Zornberg, who led the Complex Frauds and Cybersecurity Unit at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York before becoming Criminal Division Chief there. Since joining Debevoise in April of 2019 as a partner in the firm’s White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group, Ms. Zornberg has represented, among others, a prominent financial institution in connection with a cyber incident, as well as a technology company in connection with an inquiry regarding its A.I. practices. Mr. Gesser and Ms. Zornberg strengthen the Group’s capacity to manage a crisis situation following a major cyber incident or other technology-focused investigation.
“We saw a unique opportunity with Avi to add both a thought leader on the myriad data issues faced by our clients and a seasoned breach responder and investigator who can further bolster our cyber crisis response capabilities,” said Presiding Partner Michael Blair. “Our clients increasingly seek seamless, cross-practice solutions, and we look forward to Avi’s contributions to the firm.”
Mr. Gesser said, “I have long admired Debevoise’s commitment to applying the full scope and strength of the firm to help address clients’ needs. As cyber crises continue to grow in complexity and create substantial business, legal and reputational risk, I expect to help the Cybersecurity and White Collar Groups further position themselves as the go-to resources in this area.”
Mr. Gesser has been recognized for his outstanding work throughout his career by legal directories and trade publications, and in 2013 received both The Attorney General’s Exceptional Service Award and the FBI Director’s Award for Excellence – Outstanding Criminal Investigation. From 2010 to 2012, Mr. Gesser served as Counsel to the Chief of the Fraud Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice. He received his B.S. from the University of Manitoba in 1991, his LL.B. from the University of Manitoba in 1994, his LL.M. from the University of Cambridge in 1995 and his LL.M. from New York University in 1998, where he served as the Graduate Editor of the Journal of International Law and Politics. Prior to his arrival at Debevoise, Mr. Gesser was a partner in the litigation and white collar group at another international law firm.
Debevoise’s Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Group advises clients globally on a full range of cybersecurity law, cyber incident response, data privacy, data protection and broader data strategy issues. The team, which includes former government cybersecurity prosecutors, civil litigators, transactional lawyers, and white collar and enforcement attorneys, helps clients navigate the forensic and legal aftermath of cyber incidents. The firm’s cross-border, interdisciplinary practice group also offers regulatory counseling, defends clients in government enforcement actions, litigates privacy-related class actions and other matters, and handles transactions and related due diligence where data protection and security issues arise.
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a premier law firm with market-leading practices, a global perspective and strong New York roots. We deliver effective solutions to our clients’ most important legal challenges, applying clear commercial judgment and a distinctively collaborative approach.
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X-Men – which series might they adapt for TV?
With Fox planning to bring X-Men to the small screen, we look at a few possible comic series that could be adapted...
By James Hunt | June 17, 2015 |
We’re having another party and screening an assortment of lesser-known Marvel weirdness at Den of Geek Presents…Marvel Oddities on June 27th. Click here for details on how you can join us!
Fox’s plans for a live-action X-Men series gives the fans of Marvel’s mutant superheroes a reason to be excited. Not just because it promises more screen X-Men than most of us ever thought possible, but also because there’s a chance they might delve into a few areas of the license that, realistically, aren’t ever going to make it to the movie screen.
The core concept of X-Men has lent itself to hundreds of different takes over the years. Assuming that they don’t want to simply recast the big names and run two competing franchises based on the same core team, where else might they go to find the basis of the TV show?
Some of the more obvious choices for X-Men spin-offs – New Mutants (X-Men in training at the school) and X-Force (a black-ops mutant strike force) have movie adaptations in development, so we can cross those off the list – but there are still more options out there. Some you may be expecting, and some you may not…
If you can get anything from modern TV shows, it’s that audiences love watching TV shows where people solve crimes. And there’s at least one X-Men book where that was the premise. Written by Peter David with a succession of artists, X-Factor‘s most recent incarnation starred a bunch of low-level X-Men characters spun off into their own book, working as private detectives for the mutants of the Marvel Universe.
The lead characters of the book include Madrox (who splits into copies of himself), Strong Guy (who gets stronger the more he’s punched), Siryn (daughter of Banshee with similar sonic powers), and Wolfsbane (a mutant werewolf). They also team with Layla Miller, a precocious tween girl who simply “knows stuff” – usually just enough to manipulate the rest of the team into doing the right thing for her agenda without them realising.
Only Madrox has made any appearance in the movie franchise (as a bit-part in Magneto’s mutant army in X-Men: The Last Stand) but Siryn’s father being a former X-Man provides a clear link to the franchise which could be exploited.
Crucially, the powers aren’t that expensive and the tone is miles away from anything that would get too close to the core X-Men series. This team is more likely to be tracking down a lost child than punching it out with Magneto, and more likely to be riding the subway than hopping in an X-Jet. It’d be perfect for a TV adaptation.
The only problem? It’s maybe a little too far from the X-Men’s core concept to really entice fans of the movie franchise.
It’s not really what you’d call a fan-favorite (though it did have its fans), but this lukewarm comic could quite easily be adapted as a TV show in the X-Men universe. The titular X-Man is Nate Grey, a super-powerful telepath and telekinetic who arrives in our universe after escaping an alternate reality torn apart by mutant violence. If that sounds familiar, it’s because he’s an alternate universe version of Cable. Though you wouldn’t necessarily have to mention that on TV, especially since Cable hasn’t made it into the movie franchise yet (though we’re sure he will eventually).
Mistrustful of the X-Men (which is full of members who were villains in his universe), Nate knows that his incredible powers will kill him before he gets out of his 20s and must find a cure for his problem while trying to make a life for himself in a new reality – and trying to stop this universe ending up like his own.
It’s complicated, yes, but not completely unworkable in an age where X-Men: Days of Future Past did big business. The link to the X-Men franchise is obvious – genetically speaking, he’s the child of Scott Summers and Jean Grey, and he was created in a lab by Mr. Sinister, probably the biggest X-Men villain who hasn’t yet appeared on screen in any capacity. The comic itself plummeted in quality as it moved further and further away from its original concept, though a late-period Warren Ellis re-imagining of Nate as a sort of Mutant shaman (helping those who come to him with their problems) could provide plenty of material for a TV series setup.
The main problems with doing an X-Man movie is that it’d be hard to get people excited about a concept which was demonstrably done quite badly once, and has about as generic a name as an X-Men spin-off could imagine. It’d also mean that at some point you’d need to do a Cyclops and Jean Grey cameo, which could prove prohibitively expensive. AND it’s likely that they’ll want to save Sinister for the big screen, partly due to his association with Apocalypse.
Still, if you wanted to do a solo protagonist rather than a spin-off team, this would actually make some amount of sense. But we’ll consider it an outside contender for now.
Given that Wolverine has been central to about 90% of all X-Men adaptations (not unreasonably so, we hasten to add) the Weapon X portion of the mythology has come up a lot. That makes it ripe to provide the basis for a spin-off – not least because Deadpool (due to appear in his own film next year) is also a product of the program.
The concept is one you probably know: Weapon X takes mutants and turns them into brainwashed government assassins, with mixed results. Usually the guy you’re calling Weapon X escapes and goes on the run working to bring the organisation down.
The good thing is that this series could star almost any mutant, even an original one. The Weapon X program has been involved with lots of different characters over the years, so it’s quite fertile ground to choose from. The main difficulty is that the best ones – Wolverine, Deadpool, and Sabretooth – have already been used on screen, and for that matter so have some of the more memorable worse ones (like Kestrel and Maverick/Agent Zero). If you had to pin an unseen one down as a lead character, it’d have to be either Fantomex (who is a slightly ridiculous mutant-based parody of French pulp hero Fantomas) or X-23, the teenage girl clone of Wolverine, neither of which seems like a particularly safe bet.
And of course, the big problem with doing Weapon X? You wouldn’t be able to just ignore Wolverine, but it’s unlikely he could appear much, if at all – especially since Hugh Jackman’s about to quit the role and we doubt they’d want to replace him on TV before a movie. But other than that, it’s a strong piece of X-Men lore that’s ripe for adaptation.
Excalibur/Captain Britain & MI-13
Can’t do the normal X-Men? How about the REGIONAL X-Men? We imagine it’s very unlikely a US studio would want to make a series set in Britain and starring (of all people!) Captain Britain. But this mutant-based team has a perfect setup for adaptation.
On one side, you’ve got Captain Britain, the brother of Psylocke (who is due to appear in X-Men: Apocalypse) and all-round superhero good guy, with a costume and everything. On the other, you’ve got Pete Wisdom, the hard-drinking trenchcoat enthusiast who does the dirty work as a member of British secret ops team MI-13. Chuck in a few of the other mutant characters from their most recent incarnation (written by Doctor Who scribe Paul Cornell) and that’s a workable cast right there.
While the duality of a team that’s half public-facing superhero, half underground covert ops would be interesting (and wouldn’t necessarily have to be restricted to Britain) we do think the heavy emphasis on Britain and specifically mystical British threats typically seen in the series would move it a little too far from standard X-Men territory.
It’s also highly debatable whether Captain Britain is actually included in the X-Men license or not. He didn’t first appear in any X-Men comics and Lance Hunter (who first appeared in Captain Britain Weekly) is in Agents Of SHIELD. But then, Captain Britain was also in Excalibur for a solid decade before the rights were sold, so he might have made the list.
The real problem with the Excalibur concept is probably that its main distinguishing feature is its geography. Much like the way the West Coast Avengers struggle to justify their existence in a world where the main Avengers aren’t exclusively stuck in New York, there’s not a huge amount to distinguish Excalibur from the X-Men other than their location – and what little there is makes it less interesting to X-Men fans, rather than more.
But wait a second! If you can’t do the British X-Men… how about the Canadian X-Men? TV series are filmed in Canada all the time anyway, and you’ve got a decent spread of characters with fairly iconic powers created at the same time as many of the X-Men’s heavy hitters. Sure, Guardian, Vindicator, Snowbird, Sasquatch and Shaman aren’t quite as recognizable as Wolverine and Colossus, but they’re well established and quite likely to be part of the X-Men franchise, if only because they’re important to Wolverine’s backstory as the team he joined between Weapon X and the X-Men (in the comics, at least.)
And of course, Alpha Flight does have at least one character going for it: Northstar, the first mainstream gay superhero. For a franchise that’s all about embracing diversity, the X-Men franchise (on screen, at least) has stayed a considerable distance away from any queer characters, which is a shame, because they have a huge LGBT fanbase for what should be obvious reasons. If nothing else, including Northstar in an adaptation would be a good first step towards rebalancing the scales.
The problem with Alpha Flight, though, is that they’re not actually the X-Men. They’re just mutants who are employed by the Canadian Government. They’re more likely to be fighting the X-Men than teaming up with them. Personally I think there’s a good series in a team of superheroes being rubbed the wrong way by their shady masters at Department H, but again, you’d need to use Wolverine to really legitimize it, and that’s not something that’s likely to happen.
A series about a dimension-hopping team of mutant, the Exiles elevator pitch is easy: it’s Sliders with superheroes. Only in this case, those superheroes are minor X-Men.
The appeal of the concept is pretty obvious, in that it would allow the TV show to feature the big-name characters without technically featuring them. After all, there’s no reason why an alternate version of Cyclops, Storm, and Wolverine would have to be played by their movie actors. If anything, it might be more helpful if they weren’t. And it’s not like the X-Men franchise has any shortage of alternate universes which will probably go unexploited in the movies.
The best reason it might not happen is that skipping to a new universe every week would, one imagines, involve a lot of production design and special effect work that would be unfeasible on a network TV budget. Similarly, it’d be a version of X-Men franchise that by definition isn’t even taking place in the same universe as the movies, which could hinder its appeal to fans. Ties could be strengthened by picking a fairly minor character from the movies and thorwing them in the cast as a representative of the ‘real’ X-Men – Blink, after all, did appear in the future from Days Of Future Past, and she’s usually the central figure in the team – but it’d be a long shot (not Longshot, thankfully).
Still, whatever Fox decides to use as the basis for a spin-off, we’ll be interested in seeing it. The X-Men was always too big a franchise to limit to one movie series, and if nothing else, we can be glad that Marvel’s cross-media success has convinced Fox that it’s time to start looking at the full potential of what that license can offer. Who knows which of the many X-Men books or characters they’ll put on TV?
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Historic downtown Golden post office may be put…
Historic downtown Golden post office may be put up for sale
The post office at 619 12th St. in downtown Golden, a historic landmark, has not been put on the market yet but could be after Dec. 28, according to postal officials who have placed public notices around town.
By Annette Espinoza | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: December 8, 2009 at 2:06 p.m. | UPDATED: May 6, 2016 at 7:21 p.m.
When customers telephone Vickie Kjera to ask directions to her Golden business, Instant Imprints, she tells them it’s right across the street from the old downtown post office.
Now the building at 619 12th St. that helps customers find their way to her may be put up for sale.
The U.S. Postal Service says a weak economy, which resulted in a $3.8 billion budget deficit for the federal mail-delivery service, is forcing it to contemplate shuttering the historic landmark building.
Mail volume has decreased at that post office, and much of the space in the building is unused.
“We’re over and above our incoming retail profits,” said Alex Turner, acting USPS consumer affairs manager for Colorado and Wyoming.
The site of the busy downtown mail facility, located in the oldest of three historic districts in Golden, generates a lot of foot and car traffic, which influenced Kjera to open her business across the street five years ago.
But with a possible sale looming, she fears her own business will dwindle.
“The traffic in and out of that post office is pretty significant,” Kjera said. “It gives our store a lot of visibility.”
The building has not been placed on the market yet but could be after Dec. 28, according to Postal Service officials who have placed public notices around town, including in the mayor’s office and inside the downtown post office.
USPS officials would not disclose a price for the building.
“It’s a commercial asset we have right now, and we’re assessing all properties and any opportunities,” Turner said. “We have to basically sell to make money.”
The Golden downtown post office has a small retail counter where stamps are sold and where people can mail or pick up packages. Mail carriers do not work from the building.
If the building is sold and the new owner chooses to offer a lease option, then postal services will continue to be offered there. If not, the post office will look for a nearby location.
“We don’t do a lot of mail across the street, except for every week or so,” Kjera said. “But it’s great to pop across the street and get stamps.”
Golden’s main post office, about 3 miles from downtown, is a newer and larger facility that handles delivery operations for the Golden area.
Annette Espinoza: 303-954-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com
Weigh in on Golden post office’s fate
Got something to say about the proposed sale of the downtown Golden post-office building? Mail comments to Alex Turner, acting USPS consumer affairs manager for Colorado and Wyoming, at 7500 E. 53rd Place, Room 2214, Denver, CO 80266-9631; or reach him by phone at 303-853-6070.
Comments must be received by Dec. 20.
Annette Espinoza
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DIRECTING ARTS
JAZZ MARTÍNEZ GAMBOA
Jazz trained and acted professionally in his native Cuba, where he worked for both the renowned Teatro Público and the Mefisto Teatro. In Cuba he twice studied under Stephen Bayly in the Meisner for Directors workshops at the International Film and Television School (EICTV). He moved to London in 2009 and undertook the full-time 2-year course in Meisner Technique at the Actors Temple, studying under Meisner’s protégé, Tom Radcliffe and Simon Furness.
In November 2012 Jazz made his writing and directorial debut with 'Killing Romeo', which deals with the boundaries of healthy and destructive relationships in the setting of an acting school. After a well-received week-long run at the Etcetera Theatre, it transferred to the Lion and Unicorn Theatre in Kentish Town, where it ran for three weeks in May 2013.
In June 2015 he directed 'Perfect Lovers', also written by him, at the Teatro Technis. The play was inspired by the work of the Cuban-born artist Felix González-Torres on the theme of lack of synchronicity in relationships.
In September 2017 he completed a Masters Degree in Directing, with Distinction, at the world-renowned LAMDA in London.
Subsequently in Havana Jazz has directed Martin McDonagh's 'El Oueste Solitario' (The Lonesome West) in March and October 2017, at the Teatro Llaurado. This was followed by an all-female version of Shakespeare's 'Richard III' in the Bertold Brecht and Llaurado Theatres in July and October 2018, respectively. Both works were mounted with the support by the British Embassy.
For Directing Arts Jazz has successfully taught Battery Recharge workshops (Bogotá 2014; Havana 2015), as well as collaborating with Stephen on Advance Workshops.
Upcoming Workshops / Próximos Talleres
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Dr. Derek Grose
Consultant Clinical Oncologist & Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Center, UK.
Speciality Oncology
Subspeciality Pancreas, Gastro-oesophageal and Head/Neck cancers
Dr. Grose is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, UK. He chairs the North Glasgow Head & Neck Multi-disciplinary team and is deputy lead for the West of Scotland Managed Clinical Network for Head and Neck Cancers. He earned his MD from the University of Glasgow, UK in 2015.
Areas of expertise: Upper GI Cancers, Pancreatic Cancers, Head & Neck Cancers and Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR).
Dr. Grose graduated from the University of Glasgow, UK in the year 2000. He became a Member of the Royal College for Physicians in 2003, and a Fellow of the Royal College for Radiologists in 2009. He started Post Graduate Research in 2009 which lead to his MD in 2015 from the University of Glasgow. In January 2006, he was appointed as a specialist at the Clinical Oncology Beatson Oncology Centre, UK. In January 2011, he became a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, UK. He chairs the North Glasgow Head & Neck MDT and is deputy lead for the West of Scotland Managed Clinical Network for Head and Neck Cancers. In addition, he is the Clinical Lead for the West of Scotland Oligo-Metastatic SABR service. Dr. Grose is experienced in Upper GI, Pancreatic, Head, and Neck Cancers management. Dr. Grose has a special interest in the field of research. He is the Clinical Chief Investigator for the upcoming PRIMUS 002 trial which aims to improve the survival rates of patients with pancreatic cancer. He is a Principal Investigator for a number of previous and ongoing trials of systemic therapy in head & neck cancers which has lead to extensive experience with novel agents including Immuno-Oncology therapy in this setting.
Consultant Clinical Oncologist
Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, UK.
Specialist, Clinical Oncology
Beatson Oncology Centre, Glasgow, UK.
Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR)
Royal College of Radiologists, UK.
Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom (MRCP)
Royal College, UK.
MB ChB
Glasgow University, UK.
Prof. José Luis Pérez Gracia
Consultant Oncologist in Medical Oncology Department, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
Prof. Mehmet Sen
Clinical oncologist, St James`s Institute of Oncology, Leeds, UK.
Prof. Jaak Janssens
Head of Oncology department – Limburg Oncological Center, Salvator Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium.
Dr. Claire Paterson
Consultant Clinical Oncologist & Honorary Senior Lecturer University of Glasgow and Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Center, Scotland.
Dr. Russell Banner
Consultant Clinical Oncologist in the South West Wales Cancer Centre
Dr. Maged Gharib
Consultant in Haematology at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Liverpool, UK.
Dr. Rafael Moleron
Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Aberdeen, Royal Infirmary
Dr. Lorcan O’Toole
Consultant in Clinical Oncology, Castle Hill Hospital and Honorary Senior Lecturer, Hull York Medical School.
Dr. Bernie Foran
Consultant Clinical Oncologist based at Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
Dr. Ioanna Nixon
Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Center, Lead for the Scottish Sarcoma Network and Visiting Professor at Strathclyde University, Glasgow, UK
Dr. James Good
Consultant Clinical Oncologist; Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham
Dr. Andrew McPartlin
Consultant Clinical Oncologist & Lecturer at The University of Manchester, United Kingdom
Prof. Karin Haustermans
Professor of Radiation Oncology at the Leuven Cancer Institute of the University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Belgium.
Dr. Qamar Ghafoor
Consultant Clinical Oncologist at University Hospital Birmingham, UK.
Dr. Daniel Ford
Consultant Clinical Oncology and service lead, at University Hospital Birmingham, Uk.
Dr. Iftekhar U. Ahmad, MD, MS
Medical Director of Oncology and Radiation Oncology at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Rockford, IL, United States
Prof. Philippe Maingon
Professor Radiation Oncology and Medical Director of the Oncology, Hematology and Supportive Care Units of the Medical University Hospital, Sorbonne University, France.
Dr. Ahmed Salem
Consultant Clinical Oncology at The Christie Hospital, Manchester, UK.
Dr. Pankaj Punia
Consultant Medical Oncologist at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Birmingham, UK
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Off-grid Scotland – Elliot Caunce
In the summer of 2019, Elliot Caunce made the decision to relocate to Scotland from Cornwall. As he saw it, there were two factors that led to that decision. In the first instance, he had asked a Dundee woman to marry him, and in true Scot fashion, she saw no logical reason why they should live anywhere but Scotland. Secondly, he was enchanted by Scotland’s scenery; places he had previously seen in books and magazines were now on his doorstep. In particular, the sheer space between A & B instilled an unprecedented opportunity to get out, get lost, and disconnect.
Elliot’s made this work for his final project for his BA (Hons) Press and Editorial Photography at Falmouth Universitty. He talked to Sophie recently about making the project .
Jake Williams, Scottish hermit living alone in his off-grid bothy ‘bogancloch’ for the best part of five decades. Star of Ben Rivers ‘2 years at sea’ slow cinema documentary about the hermit’s life. Near Rhynie, Aberdeenshire © Elliot Caunce 2020 all rights reserved.
DS: What gave you the idea of this body of work – why were you interested in the subject?
EC: It was during this exploratory period I stumbled into the life of Jake Williams, a charismatic folk performer with a trademark beard and oil stained orange boiler suit. In 2011, he became the subject of Ben Rivers slow-cinema documentary Two Years at Sea which was an early inspiration for the project. Jake’s off-grid story started when he fell out with his landlord in the 70s, and decided to move into his bothy ‘Bogancloch’ where he lives without mains electricity, water or a conventional sewage system. The property is located in a woodland in Aberdeenshire where he once resided with his then wife, and daughter, Ceilidh. He has since lived alone here for the best part of forty-years.
Over the course of several meetings with Jake, I became increasingly interested in his unusual lifestyle choice and wanted to meet others like him (although there is nobody else quite like Jake). And, so, the decision to track-down Scotland’s remaining modern-day hermits was a wholly organic one. This premise became the starting point for my final major project on the BA Press & Editorial Photography at Falmouth University. I penned the series ‘Off-grid Scotland’.
Being a fairly literal person, with a technical mindset, I set out with the intention of making an immersive multimedia project. I applied an interdisciplinary approach to visual-storytelling, with the intention of using digital equipment to form engaging content for an online audience. In addition to my own content, I used vintage photographs from each case-study in a way that helped provide context as well as expressing the passing of time. I made the decision to make multiple visits, in an attempt to form deeper connections than we see in traditional reportage.
In the first instance, Jake, 70, lived with his wife and daughter, Ceilidh (photographed). The couple hoped others would one day join but when their marriage fell apart, and nobody else committed to staying, he decided to continue on alone. “I’m the king of this place and anybody else can bloody well fit in with me” © Elliot Caunce 2020 all rights reserved.
During Sara’s life long career as a writer, she has lectured on Lancaster University’s online MA creative writing course. She also manages a small off-grid “hermitage” in the West of Scotland. The property is used as a retreat for those who want to practice silence and solitude. © Elliot Caunce 2020 all rights reserved.
DS: How did you access these individuals, tell us about the process of finding them an contacting them about the project?
EC: It started out with an obligatory google search. I found Scotland to have a fairly well documented history of hermits, and certainly quite a few off-grid communities. Sara Maitland is perhaps the most well-known present-day example in this collection. Sara is a practicing Roman Catholic, a revered writer of religious fantasy, and has published books on the subject of silence and solitude. She lives alone in the wilds of Galloway with her beloved border-terrier, Zoe.
Sara Maitland, Author of religious fantasy and well-known hermit. Devoted roman catholic. Photographs taken during social-distancing. Sara decided to build her own off-grid home in 2006. The remote dwelling resides in Galloway, Scotland. © Elliot Caunce 2020 all rights reserved.
Ken Smith, known locally as the ‘The Hermit of Treig’ has lived alone in his isolated log cabin since 1984. There is no phone reception, mains electricity or water, and he uses a compostable waste system called “The bottomless pit”. His only communication with the outside world is a small radio that receives a local radio station © Elliot Caunce 2020 all rights reserved.
Before long I came across an online article about a hermit in Lochaber who activated his emergency locator beacon when he suffered a stroke. The rescue team air lifted him to hospital where he spent several weeks recovering. By cross examining online comments left by hillwalkers, I managed to roughly pinpoint the location of Ken Smith, known locally as “The Hermit of Treig”.
It was a complete stab in the dark, and a rather treacherous journey to undertake in winter, but I packed my bags, and drove to Fort William. From there I took the fifty-mile train ride directly into the wilds of Lochaber and made the hike through the snow covered hills to Ken’s cabin; tucked away in the forest of a millionaires estate. Fortunately, he welcomed me with open arms.
While I was visiting Ken, I met with another extraordinary Scot called Davy McDonald, who lives in a tent within hiking distance of Ken’s cabin. He had come to check up on the recovering hermit, and quite miraculously, appeared at Ken’s door just shortly after I had arrived.
Davy went into the wild after being diagnosed with the critical heart condition, dilated cardiomyopathy. For the last twelve years, he’s been self-isolating in a tent on the edge of an idyllic highland loch.To get supplies he hikes through the hills to the closest train station and takes the one-hour ride to Fort William, hauling back three weeks of supplies at a time, even in the winter months.
Once every month, Ken catches a ride to the closest supermarket in Fort William. Once there, he fills his 70L rucksack with food and much needed medical supplies relating to an operation several years earlier, before making the return journey home.
Davy McDonald, 65, is a hardy Scot who went “into the wild” after being diagnosed with a critical heart condition. For the last twelve years, he’s been self-isolating in a tent on the edge of an idyllic loch, East of Fort William. He admits his life is not for everyone “Even though it’s a ten-mile round-trip walking and a fifty-mile train journey to get supplies, I find that quite easy. It wouldn’t be for the normal person but it is for me” © Elliot Caunce 2020 all rights reserved.
DS: When it came to photographing how did you get there, did you stay with them, how long were you there, what were the logistics?
EC: I made the hike to meet with Davy on a couple of occasions while shooting a short film about him. Logistically speaking, due to the off-grid nature of his location, it was challenging to make arrangements to meet but admittedly, it also made the whole thing more alluring. Nothing was certain. With no phone signal to arrange a meeting, it was a complete gamble that he would even be there. On one occasion, I slept in an abandoned house in the dead of winter, while I waited for him to return from a supply run.
The Off-grid Scotland project is a love letter to the great outdoors, inspired by the cathartic need to get out and disconnect. Without all the distractions of modern day life, I found our conversations – often sat around a furnace – enabled me to listen more closely than I had before. I felt more human, more rounded, more wholesome, and with every tale, the long-term appeal of this “alternative” lifestyle felt more achievable.
Corrour is Scotland’s remotest train station. Davy must walk to this trainstation for three hours and then take a train for a further two to get supplies from Fort William. He then hauls 3 weeks of supplies back in a gigantic rucksack. © Elliot Caunce 2020 all rights reserved.
Davy McDonald, Scottish hermit living in a tent on the edge of a remote highland loch for the last twelve years. He decided to move off-grid after being diagnosed with the critical heart condition dilated cardiomyopathy. A decade into his new off-grid life, Davy received news that his heart was no longer dilated. He then came off his medication and became “fit as a fiddle again”. He is now able to volunteer planting trees and helping with the rewilding effort on the estate. When he’s not working, he enjoys crafting artificial flies used in fly fishing. © Elliot Caunce 2020 all rights reserved.
See a recent article in The Guardian about Elliot’s work
See more of Elliot’s work on his website www.ecaunce.co.uk
Follow Elliot on Social Media on Facebook and Instagram
August 10, 2020 by Sophie
Colour, documentary, Guest Portfolios, Landscape, portraits, Portraiture, Rural, Scotland, student, university, voices
← CoronaTapes – Holger Mohaupt
Govanhill Street Level – Simon Murphy →
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The Story Behind the Photograph with Colin McPherson
May 25, 2020 by Colin McPherson
Hailstones, Kinnaber, 2000. Photograph © Colin McPherson, all rights reserved.
This Saturday, 30th May 2020, is the twentieth anniversary of the day I took a photograph that has come to symbolise my work and the project Catching the Tide, which documented Scotland’s last salmon net fishermen. To mark the occasion, Document Scotland is hosting a special online event, where my colleague Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert and I will be in conversation about the image, and what it has come to mean to me.
Entitled Hailstones, Kinnaber, 2000, the photograph was the high point of a dramatic day spent with two fishermen as they worked on the large, sandy expanse of beach at Kinnaber, just north of the town of Montrose on Scotland’s east coast. The image came to represent many things about the work that the men undertook: the physical nature of it, the constantly changing weather and the adherence to using traditional methods to fish for wild Atlantic salmon.
As the new century began, five years into my project, few could have imagined that two decades later a Scottish Government moratorium on net fishing on Scotland’s coast and in rivers would have effectively killed off the industry for good. At the time I took the photograph, there was an ever-dwindling number of men fishing this way around Scotland’s vast and varied coastline. The stocks of fish had withered, and pressure from scientists and anglers to stop the practice had led to the closure of the big salmon companies, leaving just a few individual fishermen and their families with the right to maintain working in a way which had sustained rural communities for centuries.
The photograph itself has become the leading image for a project which lasted two decades. Since I started photographing Catching the Tide in 1995, the work has been published and exhibited extensively, both in Scotland and internationally. The image has been used to illustrate newspaper and magazine articles and has appeared in reference books on the subject of the salmon.
For me personally, this one single image came to encapsulate everything about the project. It was not the first, or last, photograph, but undoubtedly the most significant. As well as being published widely, it also resides in a number of important archives, such as the photography collections of the National Galleries of Scotland the University of St. Andrews and others.
To mark the occasion, I have produced a special, limited edition A3 commemorative poster, which you can buy from my website. All the proceeds raised from the sale will go towards photographing Catching the Tide, the Final Chapter, which will commence later this year.
I hope you can join us on Saturday, when we will explore and discuss many of the aspects of how, where and when the photograph was taken. I look forward to seeing you then.
| angus, catching the tide, Colin McPherson, Document Scotland, documentary photography, Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert, photography, photography event, photography talks, salmon, Scotland, Sophie Gerrard | 0
← Friday Forum
Document Scotland launches its Patreon initiative →
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Last chance to have say on police funding
Check out the link below for some interesting facts and figures on the Dorset OPCC.
This commitment was originally set while the Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) was the national lead for mental health, and he remains passionate about mental health issues and their impact on crime, policing and community safety.
Essentially, this measure was designed to improve and enhance the information, support and guidance available to police officers and staff ‘on the ground’ through scoping the potential development of a mobile device app.
While a specific app for Dorset Police has not been developed, the dedicated Strategic Mental Health Co-ordinator within the Force has overseen the introduction of a dedicated operational support portal, drawing together a range of material, guidance and links in support of frontline officers and staff.
This information is available and accessible remotely via smartphone and tablet devices and so, achieves the original outcome sought by the commissioner, albeit through a different use of technology.
In addition, the Force is also exploring the potential for adopting the existing ‘Backup Buddy’ mental health support app that was originally developed for Sussex and Surrey Police. The Force and PCC will continue to seek best practice in this area.
Terms & Conditions Accessibility Sitemap Website by Adido
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DPC Courses – All
Biographies 2019
Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Sed molestie, velit ut eleifend sollicitudin, neque orci tempor nulla, id sagittis nisi ante nec arcu.
Meg Edison, M.D.
Dr. Meg Edison is a pediatrician in private practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan and is actively involved in state level health care policy via organized medicine and grassroots physician efforts.
Dr. Edison graduated from Hillsdale College in 1996 with degrees in Biology and Chemistry and received her M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed pediatric residency training at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, Maine in 2003 before returning home to Michigan.
Dr. Edison runs the popular blog Rebel.MD, which garnered more than 100,000 readers in December 2015 when she posted an open letter to the American Board of Pediatrics stating her decision to opt out of the board’s maintenance of certification process (commonly “MOC”), which she deems a fear-based money-making scheme that diverts doctors’ resources of time and money away from providing top-flight patient care.
In addition to co-founding, editing, and writing for Rebel.MD as a way to reach out nationally to physicians and policy makers in a non-traditional way, Dr. Edison is actively involved in traditional organized medicine locally. Dr. Edison serves on the Board of Directors for the Kent County Medical Society, has served as a delegate and reference committee chair to the Michigan State Medical Society House of Delegates, and has testified in the state legislature on many occasions on behalf of the state medical society and sometimes testifies in opposition to the state medical society.
Phil Eskew, D.O., J.D., MBA
Phil Eskew practices broad scope family medicine, averaging more than 50 clinical hours per week, mostly in the correctional (prison) medicine setting in Wyoming. He joined ProactiveMD in Feb 2016 and is the company’s VP of Clinical Development and General Counsel.
He completed his family medicine residency at the Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center in Lititz, Pennsylvania in June 2015 and was honored with the American Osteopathic Foundation’s Outstanding Resident of the Year Award in Family Medicine.
He has been researching direct primary care (DPC) models for many years, including an intensive experience as a Visiting Scholar at the Robert Graham Center where his work was later published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. He has also been published in the West Virginia Medical Journal, the Journal of Legal Medicine, Family Practice Management, and the Journal of American Physicians & Surgeons.
Dr. Eskew has advised state and federal legislators about DPC legislation, and volunteers his time as the general counsel of the Direct Primary Care Coalition where he also serves as a member of the steering committee.
He graduated from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012, the West Virginia University College of Law in 2008, the University of Kentucky Gatton MBA Program in 2006, and West Virginia Wesleyan College with accounting and chemistry majors in 2005. He has been a member of the Kentucky Bar since 2011, obtained a limited certificate to practice with the South Carolina Bar in 2016, and intends to use his diverse training to not only grow Proactive MD, but to support other DPC practices in the medical, legal, and policy arenas.
Dr. Eskew regularly speaks about direct primary care. He has spoken at events organized by the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Legal Medicine, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons, the Docs 4 Patient Care Foundation, the New York State Bar Association, the Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians, and the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians.
Elaina George, M.D.
Dr Elaina George is a Board Certified Otolaryngologist. Her interest in the politics of healthcare and the reform effort have led her to become both a powerful voice for the practicing physician, an advocate for the patient, and a healthcare policy analyst specializing in healthcare consumer driven solutions.
She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Biology. She received her Masters degree in Medical Microbiology from Long Island University, and received her medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Dr George completed her residency at Manhattan, Eye Ear & Throat Hospital. Her training included general surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, pediatric ENT at The NY-Presbyterian Hospital, and head and neck oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
She has published in several scientific journals and presented her research at national meetings. As a solo practitioner in private practice who is also a small business owner, she has a unique perspective on the problems of health care delivery, the true costs of healthcare and viable solutions.
Dr George is a recipient of the Patients’ Choice Award in 2008 and 2009. She was recently honored with membership in The Leading Physicians of the World and Who’s Who Top Doctors Honors Edition.
She is a member of the National Physicians Council on Healthcare Policy and has been a contributor to a wide variety of websites including BigGovernment.com, Newmediajournal.us, and Amy Ridenour’s National Center Blog.
Dr George has been a recurring guest discussing a wide range of medical topics from Your World with Neil Cavuto and Newsmax, to appearances on Frances & Friends to discuss the consequences of healthcare reform with a world wide audience of over 500 million people.
She has also been a medical expert on a range of shows including The Bill Cunningham Show, Lions of Liberty, The Barry Farber Show, and The Kev Baker Show.
Dr George hosts her own show, Medicine On Call, a weekly talk show that explores health issues and the politics of medicine syndicated on Liberty Talk.fm Radio.
She is the author of Big Medicine: The cost of Corporate Control And How Doctors And Patients Working Together Can Rebuild A Better System – A book which explores how the US healthcare system has evolved and explains how patients and doctors can create a healthcare system that is based on the principles of price transparency with the power of the doctor patient relationship.
Kris Held, M.D.
Dr. Held is a board-certified ophthalmologist and ophthalmic surgeon.
She is a Phi Beta Kappa Graduate from the University of Texas at Austin and received her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio, where she was elected to AOA.
Following her internship in internal medicine and residency in ophthalmology, Dr. Held joined the faculty at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where she taught residents and medical students and served as director of the County Ophthalmology Clinic. She maintains an academic affiliation as an adjunct professor in the Department of Ophthalmology. For the past 20 plus years she has been in private practice in San Antonio.
On October 1, 2015, her practice became completely third party free, including opting out of Medicare.
In 2018, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners in San Antonio.
Dr. Held serves on the AAPS Board of Directors and is AAPS President. She served on the healthcare advisory team for Dr. Ben Carson during his presidential campaign, is co-founder of AmericanDoctors4Truth.org, and served on the National Physicians Council for Healthcare Policy.
Dr. Held has had numerous articles published, including in the Washington Times, Houston Chronicle, The Hill, Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons and Dr. Carson’s AmericanCurrentsee. She has spoken across the country regarding health policy and its effects on patients, physicians, and the practice of American medicine, advocating for the patient-physician relationship and against the government takeover of medicine. Dr. Held is married and has four daughters; two are physicians, and two are in business.
Dr. Held is active on Twitter and would love to connect with you there: Kris Held,MD @kksheld
A wealth of information for patients and physicians can be found at www.aapsonline.org
You may also be interested in her blog posts at www.KrisHeldMD.Wordpress.com
Bernard Marcus is co-founder of The Home Depot, Inc., the world’s largest home improvement retailer. His company revolutionized the home improvement business with its warehouse concept. He served as chairman of the board until his retirement in 2002. He remains director emeritus and Home Depot’s largest single stockholder.
From 1972 to 1978, Marcus was Chairman of the Board and President of Handy Dan Improvement Centers, Inc., a home center retail chain.
Prior to Handy Dan, Marcus was President of O’Dell’s, a manufacturing conglomerate, and Vice President of Hard Goods Merchandising for Vornado, Inc., a retail chain.
Marcus’s personal civic involvement has been translated into the creation of The Marcus Foundation where he serves as chairman of the board. His areas of focus include Jewish causes, children, medical research, free enterprise and the community.
Ellen McKnight, M.D.
Dr. Ellen McKnight is a rheumatologist in Pensacola, Florida and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Baptist Hospital and Gulf Breeze Hospital.
She received her medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans and has been in practice for more than 20 years.
Elaine Parker is the President of the Job Creators Network Foundation and the Chief Communications Officer of the Job Creators Network.
A graduate of the University of Central Florida, Elaine studied business administration. After graduating, Elaine spent time as the Public Relations Manager for Chrysler where she honed her skills and learned to expertly interact with the media and wider public.
While working as an independent consultant, Elaine interacted with high-profile clients like 5-Hour Energy, but also spent time with small business owners. It was during this time that Elaine began to have a deeper appreciation for the vital role small businesses play in the American economy.
A frequent guest on nationally syndicated radio shows including Mike Gallagher, Hugh Hewitt, Breitbart Radio, John Fredericks and on Fox News, Elaine advocates on behalf of the country’s 30 million small business owners. Her writings have appeared in the Washington Examiner, RealClear Policy, Townhall, The Hill, FoxNews.com, The Orange County Register, and other major national publications.
Today, Elaine continues to educate the American public about the vital role that small businesses play in our economy, while also advocating for policies that will allow entrepreneurs across the country to grow and thrive.
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Title 40 → Chapter I → Subchapter R → Part 721 → Subpart E → §721.1920
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Title 40: Protection of Environment
PART 721—SIGNIFICANT NEW USES OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES
Subpart E—Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances
§721.1920 1,4-Bis(3-hydroxy-4-benzoylphenoxy)butane.
(a) Chemical substance and significant new uses subject to reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified as 1,4-bis(3-hydroxy-4-benzoylphenoxy)butane (PMN P-93-483) is subject to reporting under this section for the significant new uses described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.
(2) The significant new uses are:
(i) Release to water. Requirements as specified in §721.90 (a)(4), (b)(4), and (c)(4) (where N = 1 ppb).
(ii) [Reserved]
(b) Specific requirements. The provisions of subpart A of this part apply to this section except as modified by this paragraph.
(1) Recordkeeping. Recordkeeping requirements as specified in §721.125 (a), (b), (c), and (k) are applicable to manufacturers, importers, and processors of this substance.
(2) Limitations or revocation of certain notification requirements. The provisions of §721.185 apply to this section.
[58 FR 51683, Oct. 4, 1993]
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After Milosevic
The arrest of Slobodan Milosevic is a victory for moderation in the Balkans. But the forces of criminal nationalism are not finished yet
Stopped, at last
WHEN the police finally came to take Slobodan Milosevic away from his home in Belgrade last weekend, the event was a microcosm of the Serbian strongman's career. It began with blustering threats—“I won't come out alive”—which soon led to a burst of gunfire, some clumsy mistakes by his opponents (in this case, his own government, egged on by the western world) and a period of hectic negotiations, ending in humiliation for himself and those around him (in this case, his family and bodyguards).
While the final rendition of this drama had an element of farce, its earlier performances had tragic consequences for millions of people. As champion of the Serbs for the decade which followed communist Yugoslavia's disintegration, Mr Milosevic fanned the flames of war in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo—with horrific consequences in the short term for non-Serbs, and eventually, after a period of war and negotiation, disastrous results for his own ethnic kin.
In the short term, the ex-tyrant is being charged only with financial abuse. He can also expect questioning about some murky happenings on the Belgrade political scene over the past two years: the disappearance of an ex-president, the assassination of a newspaper editor, attempts to kill an opposition leader. And it looks increasingly likely that he will, sooner or later, have to answer much broader charges of crimes against humanity, at the war-crimes tribunal in The Hague.
As details emerge of the vast, criminal fortunes that were amassed by Mr Milosevic's cronies, while the great majority of his compatriots suffered poverty and the ravages of war, people in Serbia and elsewhere are bound to ask how did people put up with him for so long? When he was arrested last weekend, a couple of hundred, mostly elderly people were the only ones who demonstrated in his support; but as recently as last September, about 2m people were still prepared to vote for him.
Among Serbs who have always opposed him, there is a feeling that the tyrant had his uses for other people, too. During the Bosnian war, he was able to turn himself from war-monger to indispensable peace-broker, a transformation which western governments readily accepted. He fought a war against his fellow nationalist, the late President Franjo Tudjman of Croatia, and then colluded with him in a bid to break up Bosnia. In Kosovo, a province of Serbia where ethnic Albanians are in the majority, campaigners for independence saw clearly that Mr Milosevic's brutal reputation worked to their tactical advantage; a more moderate leadership in Belgrade would have undermined their case.
But Mr Milosevic mostly got away with it because he patented and personified a style of governance which, from its practitioners' viewpoint, was a rational response to the upheaval which followed the collapse of communism. In many parts of central and eastern Europe, as well as western capitals, the downfall of Marxist-Leninist ideology brought a surge of optimism. The end of the cold war seemed to presage a new European order, in which war was unthinkable and economic development, the rule of law and democracy would reinforce each other in an perfectly virtuous circle.
Those principles had been foreshadowed in the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, in which governments of eastern and western Europe, with the blessing of America and Canada, agreed to respect each other's borders while also accepting that human rights were an international issue. With the collapse of the Soviet block, it seemed possible that the ideals of Helsinki would be entrenched in practice as well as theory. The desire of ex-communist nations to join elite western clubs, such as NATO and the European Union, seemed to provide an ideal opportunity for the western world to influence their behaviour: unless they settled their internal and external problems peacefully and lawfully, they could forget about sitting at the top table.
The Balkan surprise
After such high hopes, the resurgence of violent nationalism in the Balkans astonished many western leaders. Bill Clinton spoke for them: how could people who had lived together peacefully for so long suddenly turn on one another in hatred?
In fact, the post-communist variety of ethnic politics—made notorious by Mr Milosevic, but also practised in varying degrees by Croatian, Bosnian-Muslim and ethnic-Albanian power-brokers—is a specific strain of the nationalist virus which will be studied by political scientists for many years to come. It appeared in many places where the Marxist system, with its windy slogans of unity and brotherhood, collapsed suddenly. In former Yugoslavia, just as in Moldova or the Caucasus, many ex-communist leaders found that fanning inter-ethnic passions provided a handy way to maintain their grip on economic and political life. After all, when a nation or ethnic group is “battling for survival”, literally or metaphorically, then its leaders can suppress dissent, and shrug off calls for a more open economy and society.
Whenever nationalist rhetoric reaches its logical conclusion—in war, mass deportation and violently imposed ethnic segregation—then this tactic works even better. Political bosses, in close cahoots with criminals and warlords, not only control the civilian economy; they can also rake in the spoils of racketeering, sanctions-busting and looting. Moreover, criminal nationalism on one side of a conflict triggers a similar phenomenon on the other side; a powerful “war party” develops with an interest in sabotaging any attempt to make peace.
The ostentatious wealth of Mr Milosevic's neighbours, in the elite suburb of Belgrade where he was arrested, is a striking, if grotesque, symbol of the handsome rewards that chauvinism tinged with lawlessness can bring. But there is another side to that coin: the miserable life led by hundreds of thousands of Serb refugees from the war zones of Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo, where Mr Milosevic raised the flag of nationalism but finally had to cut his losses and run.
Going back to Bosnia
Behind the showy arrest of Mr Milosevic, the western world has also been achieving some quiet tactical victories, especially in parts of Bosnia which have dropped out of the headlines. Because of the horror it endured—a three-year war in which about 2m people, or half the population, was displaced and 100,000 or more people were killed—and also because of the high ambitions of the Dayton peace agreement, sealed in 1995, the country is a sort of litmus test for international policy in the Balkans. Although the high politics of Bosnia remain a terrible mess, there are local signs that it may, after all, be possible to put multi-ethnic states, and communities, together again when they have been torn apart by force.
In the hill country of Vitez in central Bosnia, for example, Croat and Muslim communities used to live in a series of concentric circles. They were therefore able to besiege and blockade each other with great cruelty in 1993-94, when those two groups were fighting each other as well as the Serbs. But over the past two years, thousands of families have settled back into homes from which they were expelled for being in the “wrong” place in ethnic terms.
The reintegrated generation
Even more remarkable is the accelerating pace of return by displaced Muslims to villages in the Serb-held half of Bosnia, the very place where Serb extremists, sponsored by Mr Milosevic, reintroduced the concept of ethnic cleansing to the vocabulary of modern Europe. In places which were cruelly emptied of non-Serbs in 1992, Muslims are coming back to rebuild their houses, mosques and businesses.
For the international bureaucracy that oversees Bosnia, backed up by a NATO peacekeeping force, these returns send a powerful political message which goes well beyond the welfare of the 100,000 or more people who have taken the risk of moving back to places where a rival ethnic group is in local control. As aid workers and NATO soldiers have discovered, displaced families are extremely sensitive to changes in the political atmosphere, both local and international. They are prepared to invest enormous effort in reconstructing their old way of life—but only when their political antennae tell them it is safe to do so.
To create these conditions, international bureaucrats and peacekeepers have had to involve themselves in the politics of scores of small Bosnian communities, manoeuvring ingeniously and sometimes deviously to empower moderates and isolate extremists. The political forces who opposed them, and did their best to stop the reconstruction of multi-ethnic communities, were often smaller-scale practitioners of the chauvinist politics that Mr Milosevic epitomised.
As long as war conditions prevailed, warlords on every side were able to frighten members of their community into submission, by saying in effect: “Your only hope of survival is to accept our authority, overlook our misdeeds, and carve out a piece of territory in which our tribe, and only our tribe, will be allowed to live.” After the war, their bullying continued. A report by the European Stability Initiative, a Berlin-based think-tank, found that nationalist power-brokers in all three Bosnian communities tried to use control over the police and judiciary “to harass political opponents and returning minorities”, while continuing to enjoy the fruits of black-market trade, especially in fuel, tobacco, alcohol and food.
At their most successful, NATO peacekeepers in the Balkans have been able to face these bullies down. This, in turn, creates a huge change in the public mood and the political atmosphere. People feel safe, and those who have left return.
Intractable Kosovo
But to start rebuilding Bosnia as a multi-ethnic society has taken five years of work, over $5 billion worth of aid—much of it misdirected—and tens of thousands of soldiers. Inevitably, some western politicians are asking whether it is worth the effort. Harder questions are also being asked about the performance of the two-year-old international protectorate in Kosovo, where a 40,000-strong NATO-led force and a large UN bureaucracy is proving incapable of stamping out crime or re-establishing any kind of racial harmony.
In fairness, the overlords of Kosovo can also point to some achievements—including the mere fact that about 1m ethnic Albanians, who had fled their homes at the height of NATO's air war against the Serbs, were able to return to the province without suffering any fresh humanitarian disasters in the form of epidemics, hunger or homelessness. Also to the UN's credit, arguably, is the fact that internecine fighting between various ethnic-Albanian factions has been kept under control; and that local elections were successfully conducted last autumn, with an impressive showing for the moderate political party headed by the Kosovars' veteran leader, Ibrahim Rugova.
A common sight
But the creation of a multi-ethnic society in Kosovo, which was supposed to be one of the purposes of NATO's intervention, still looks an impossible dream. Nearly 200,000 non-Albanians—Serbs, gypsies and other minorities—left their homes after the Yugoslav army withdrew from the province. Of the 90,000 or so Serbs who remain, more than half live on a strip of land on Kosovo's northern edge, including the northern part of the town of Mitrovica, from which many Albanians have been forced out; others lead fearful lives in enclaves of southern and central Kosovo, reliant on NATO protection to go shopping and take children to school.
Compared with Bosnia, the protectors of Kosovo set themselves an even more ambitious—perhaps absurdly ambitious—task. The American-led peace-making effort in Bosnia was based on a sophisticated form of expediency: separate the ethnic groups first (in part, by allowing the parties to fight their way to “realistic” partition lines) and then gradually reintegrate them.
In Kosovo, where pre-war ethnic tensions ran even deeper than they had in Bosnia, and in the immediate aftermath of a short but exceptionally vicious war, an attempt was made to establish inter-ethnic co-existence with no temporary resort to separation. The reason for this was not so much misplaced idealism as the realities of Balkan politics. The victorious Kosovars, on whose behalf NATO had waged war, would have objected furiously, and would still object furiously, to anything that smacked of “cantonisation” or partition of their province, however temporary.
In the end, a degree of cantonisation occurred anyway, because NATO has chosen not to react strongly to Serb bullying in northern Mitrovica and elsewhere. This, in turn, has weakened NATO's moral case as it tries to protect Serb civilians in other parts of Kosovo. In an ideal world, the peacekeepers would apply the same principle in Kosovo as they have, however slowly and cautiously, in Bosnia. In other words, they would break the bullies' monopoly over physical security, and thus convince people that enforced racial exclusivity is not their only hope of staying alive.
In a sense, almost the opposite has happened. The local Serb toughs known as “bridge-watchers” who dominate northern Mitrovica can argue quite plausibly that their tactics, including the expulsion of local Albanians, offer the only guarantee that a few thousand Serbs, at least, can remain in Kosovo.
And in Macedonia
The international guardians of Kosovo face even bigger problems on the eastern and southern edge of the province, where the pent-up energy and still formidable arsenal of the ethnic-Albanians has helped to fuel low-level guerrilla wars in a narrow strip of southern Serbia, and, much more seriously, in hitherto peaceful Macedonia.
More to come?
After a two-week stand-off between Macedonian armed forces and ethnic-Albanian rebels from the so-called National Liberation Army (NLA), that country is still teetering on the brink of violent internal conflict. Under the watchful eye of envoys from the European Union, negotiations are taking place between representatives of the Slav majority and the ethnic-Albanian minority to see whether some peaceful way can be found to address the political grievances which the NLA has tried to exploit.
At an everyday level, friendships and business relationships between Slav and Albanian Macedonians have come under strain in a way that is ominously reminscent of Sarajevo in 1992. “People who used to stop and chat to each other will now barely say hello,” laments Veton Latifi, an ethnic-Albanian journalist. The one bar in Skopje, Macedonia's capital, that both communities frequent became ominously empty during the recent fighting; only in the last few days has business picked up.
While western governments have rushed to reassure Macedonia of their support, Slav Macedonian politicians fulminate bitterly against NATO's naivety, or worse, in handling the Kosovar Albanians. As they see it, Kosovo's western rulers have turned a blind eye to drug-trading, gun-running and other illegal activities for the sake of a quiet life; and they blame the rebellion in Macedonia on western laxity, as well as on obscure quarrels within the ethnic-Albanian underworld over the spoils from smuggling across the border with Kosovo.
While Slav Macedonians are nervous about the prospect of an independent Kosovo, many reckon the West should have done more to promote economic and political development in the province. If the old demon of criminal nationalism, apparently fading away in other parts of the Balkans, is on the rise in and around Kosovo, it is because many of the well-armed and war-hardened people of the province are denied other outlets for their energy.
His ideas are still loose
Even in Bosnia, the latest political news is troubling. A political revolt by Croat extremists has presented Bosnia's international guardians with one of the biggest challenges to the Dayton agreement, which refashioned the country as a loosely-structured union between a Serb Republic and a Croat-Muslim federation. Enraged by a recent constitutional change, leaders of a hard-line Croat party have called for a mass withdrawal by their community from federal and Bosnia-wide institutions. This harks back to the bad old days, when Bosnia's south-western corner was a Croat-nationalist fiefdom. Wolfgang Petritsch, the Austrian who represents the outside world in Bosnia, has reacted by dismissing the hardliners' leader, Ante Jelavic, from his position as one of Bosnia's three co-presidents. Mr Jelavic has retaliated by calling on Croats to leave the federal army; several thousand appear to have done so, although they have not taken their weapons with them.
An optimistic interpretation is that this revolt marks the last gasp of extreme nationalism in Bosnia. With the advent of more moderate governnments in Serbia and Croatia, and the strong performance by non-nationalists in the Bosnian elections last November, the cause of chauvinism has suffered some deadly defeats; so the behaviour of Mr Jelavic is an act of desperation, not a serious threat to peace. “People like him have lost so many of the levers of real power that they can no longer pose a threat,” says Gerald Knaus, director of The European Stability Initiative.
But it might be fairer to say that western policy, in Bosnia and elswhere, still hangs in the balance. Hardliners have not entirely ceased to hope that the outside world will lose interest in micro-managing their region before stable institutions have been established. Ironically, the downfall of Mr Milosevic—wrongly assumed by many western politicians to mark the beginning and end of criminal nationalism in the Balkans—may drain the energy available to wrestle with that demon in other places.
Throughout former Yugoslavia, politicians are watching developments in neighbouring republics with anxiety. If Montenegro, reluctantly linked to Serbia in the rump Yugoslav federation, votes to break away this year, that will again raise questions about the status of Kosovo. Other connections are not so obvious. Srdjan Kerim, Macedonia's thoughtful foreign minister, is keeping a watchful eye on Bosnia. If the Dayton agreement collapses, he says, that could lead to a fresh war over the terms for Bosnia's final disintegration; and if the precedent is established that hitherto unitary states can be broken up by force, then his country and several others will be in deadly danger.
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Home >> Prof. Development >> Teacher Feature: Showcasing Marilyn Mossman and "PowerPoints and Slides"
Showcasing Marilyn Mossman and "PowerPoints and Slides"
"I'm surprised by how creative students can be," Marilyn Mossman told Education World. "When I introduce a project, I usually have a sample to show them, to give them ideas. The majority of students always go above and beyond what I do, however, and they often figure out new things about the program along the way. They have the confidence to delve deeper and think in broader terms."
A first grader created this slide after reading Boots for Beth by Alex Moran.
As a director of technology for Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Mossman works with students in grades K-8 to create projects that introduce students to technology and show them how to use it. Her greatest objective in designing those projects is to relate the work to the curriculum and to move the curriculum forward as students strengthen their computer skills.
"With PowerPoint, I stress two concepts," Mossman explained. "One is planning the project ahead of time, and the second is being aware and sensitive to the audience. I tell my students that although PowerPoint is capable of a lot of glitzy effects, the effects they use should be appropriate to the audience."
As an example, Mossman had fifth graders complete a project that challenged students to portray a future historian and discover artifacts from the present. The project is based on You Be the Historian from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. In that serious setting, Mossman pointed out, certain animations and sound effects are not appropriate.
In another project, Hillel Day School's first graders created slide shows after reading the story Boots for Beth, by Alex Moran. The students created their own "boots" and imagined that the boots took them on adventures.
The school's third graders went on a bus tour of Detroit and used the Internet to gather information about the places they visited. They then created a scrapbook with pictures and descriptions of those sites.
After reading Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George, the sixth graders used Microsoft Publisher to make brochures about surviving the arctic tundra.
"The students love to explore on the computer," said Mossman. "It facilitates learning and makes it fun. The feedback from parents also is very positive. Often, parents assist with lessons for students in grades K-2, and they are amazed by the students' skills." Parents often tell Mossman that their children are teaching them to use the computer!
Mossman recommends that teachers keep their projects simple and be open to a variety of outcomes. "Encourage your students to explore," she suggested. "Some projects might not work out the way you planned, but each is a learning experience for you and your students. Assess your project with an objective eye and remember that learning is an ongoing process."
Mossman, a teacher for more than 25 years, has taught with and without technology. "I think that being able to use computers adds so much to teaching and learning," she said. "We are able to do so much more because of the choices technology gives us. The enormous variety of programs and the immediacy of the Internet all enhance the lessons in the classroom."
Photo courtesy of Marilyn Mossman.
If you're a teacher who has completed an interesting or unusual activity with your class -- or if you know of a teacher who has -- please let us know about it. E-mail a brief description of the activity, along with your contact information, to [email protected]
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February 14, 2002 CET: 00:00
Local time: 00:00 YAD ELIYAHU SPORTS PALACE
Efes Pilsen has shocked a lot of people in Tel Aviv and around the Euroleague tonight by breaking Maccabi's 18-game home winning streak in Europe and denying their hosts first place in Group A. Despite having little motivation besides pride - and revenge against Maccabi for having stopped its own home streak of 27 wins in December - Efes took it to their hosts and emerged after 40 minutes with a huge 76-78 upset. Although Efes (9-5) will not improve on its fourth-place standing, it can take all kinds of confidence from this victory into Group F of the Top 16, where it joins defending Euroleague champion Kinder Bologna, Real Madrid and Ural Great of Russia. Maccabi drops to second place at 10-4, one victory behind Benetton and tied with Olympiakos, against whom the Israelis won a head-to-head tie-breaker by just two points. Maccabi now looks ahead to taking on Tau Ceramica, Ulker of Istanbul and CSKA of Moscow in Group H of the Top 16.
Maccabi opened the game with Hussein Besok, Derick Sharp, Anthony Parker, Arriel McDonald and Nate Huffman but Efes wasn't impressed and opened the with on a 5-12 run after the first five minutes. It took Maccabi another three minutes to cut the diference to just two at 12-14 but Efes still wasn't phased and answered right back with an 0-8 run. Efes took a 12-22 lead and not even a time out by Maccabi coach David Blatt did much as the quarter ended 17-24.
Kambala continued to play well against Huffman and Besok under the baskets. McDonald cut into the Turkish lead but then Efes jumped back out again 21-30. The closest the Yellows got to Efes in the quarter was after a basket by Safar and a three-pointer by Sharp which made the score 28-32 with four minutes to play till the half. Instead of taking advantage of the streak however, Maccabi stopped short, Parker picked up his third foul, and Kambala again gave Efes a double-digit lead at 30-40. Maccabi got back in it with a 6-0 run to end the half and trailed by only four, 36-40, going into the locker rooms.
Maccabi opened the second half in a zone which was an easy task for Stombergas to break with a pair of three-pointers which put Efes up 40-52 after 24 minutes and forced anothe Maccabi timeout. This time the little talk worked as Maccabi rolled on an 11-3 run to within 51-55. Soon, Huffman narrowed the score to 54-57 and Parker on the buzzer held Maccabi, at the end of the third quarter, within 55-59.
Maccabi opened the final quarter in a zone again, and again Stombergas shook it with another three-pointer, foot for a 58-65 Efes lead with 8 minutes to go. Maccabi again came back to within 67-71, three minutes later, but this time it continued and took the lead for the first time in the whole game, at 73-71 with 2:22 until the end. Brown answered with a three-point play with 1:41 left to make it 73-74, but Maccabi's Parker tied it again from the line on 74-74. Brown came up big again with a three-point play to set the score on 74-77 with 26 second on the clock. Parker hit two now from the line to cut the Efes lead down to 76-77. Brown finished off the upset making one from the line with 13 seconds to the end and then blocking a three-point attempt by Derick Sharpe to end the game.
Eran Sela, Tel Aviv
Referees: BETANCOR, MIGUELO; SUDEK, PETR; VALTCHEV, GEORGY
Attendance: 10000
Maccabi Elite 17 19 19 21
Maccabi Elite
4 HENEFELD, NADAV 24:00 4 2/7 4 2 6 1 1 2 1 1 5 1 1
6 SHARP, DERRICK 26:00 3 0/1 1/4 2 2 1 1 1 4 -4
7 HUFFMAN, NATE 37:00 23 4/7 2/3 9/10 1 4 5 2 3 4 8 28
8 PARKER, ANTHONY 35:00 18 6/8 0/2 6/8 2 2 1 1 1 1 3 6 19
9 SHELEF, GUR 15:00 7 1/1 5/5 3 4 8
10 BURSTEIN, TAL 18:00 5 2/2 0/1 1/2 1 2 3 1 1 2 1 5
12 SAFFAR, YOAV 4:00 2 1/1 1 1 1 2 2
14 McDONALD, ARRIEL 34:00 12 5/8 0/3 2/2 4 4 1 3 4 14
15 BESOK, HUSEYIN 7:00 2 1/2 1 1 1
Totals 200:00 76 22/37 3/13 23/27 7 17 24 9 14 10 5 2 25 24 86
Head coach: BLATT, DAVID
5 BROWN, MARCUS 38:00 16 2/4 1/4 9/11 1 1 4 1 1 3 9 20
6 ONAN, OMER 15:00 2 1/2 1 2 3 -3
7 STOMBERGAS, SAULIUS 40:00 17 0/4 5/6 2/2 2 2 1 2 1 3 4 15
10 TUNCERI, KEREM 27:00 6 3/6 1 1 2 2 1 3 4
13 OKUR, MEHMET 19:00 12 4/6 0/1 4/4 1 5 6 2 1 2 5 2 11
14 PEKER, KAYA 24:00 5 2/4 1/3 5 4 9 1 4 3 6 10
15 KAMBALA, KASPARS 37:00 20 7/15 6/7 3 1 4 1 1 3 4 4 12
Team 4 4 8 5 2 11
BLATT, DAVID
"The next group is not as easy as it seems, all four teams are excellent and I wouldn't be surprise if the one that will get to the Final Four will advance only by basket difference."
"I was very pleased with my players. The pressure was on Maccabi and our young players stayed cool. They showed a lot of character after Maccabi came back and took a 73-71 lead. We will not be favourites in Group F and that certainly suits us."
McDONALD, ARRIEL
"The crowd was fantastic tonight as always and I promise that we will get back to winning for them."
KAMBALA, KASPARS
"I had a bad game when we met Maccabi in Istanbul. I was determind to prove myself against Huffman and I am happy that I did in Tel Aviv. Now we can prepare with confidence for the next stage."
REGULAR SEASON TOP 16 FINAL FOUR
Spirou Basket 100
Alba Berlin 91
February 13 00:00 CET LIVE FINAL
Unicaja 65
Idea Slask 66
Ulker 93
Peristeri 79
FC Barcelona 74
Kinder Virtus Bologna 69
Kinder London Towers 72
Buducnost 110
Skipper Bologna 77
Cibona VIP 89
AEK Athens 90
Telindus Oostende 88
Scavolini Pesaro 81
Asvel Basket 88
Ural Great 94
Tau Ceramica 88
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TV Review: Doctor Who - The God Complex [BBC iPlayer]
Posted by FG at 22:17 on Saturday, September 17, 2011
'Doctor Who' Series Six, Episode Eleven: 'The God Complex' (SPOILER-FREE) // Words: Saam Das
SYNOPSIS: "Sci-fi drama. The TARDIS lands in a hotel where every visitor's room contains their deepest, darkest fears. What lies in wait in the Doctor's room?" (bbc.co.uk)
I'm really not sure it's worth discussing the first 95% of this episode. If you haven't seen it, you probably think I'm just being flippant. Luckily for you, I'm not about to spoil the ending but it was one of those dumbfounding moments that overshadowed what had come before.
We returned once again to the monster-of-the-week school of sci-fi writing, essentially entirely ignoring last week's 'The Girl Who Waited' and its powerful final line. We were back to playing happy families - well, at least, until the trio find themselves stuck in a mysterious hotel - along with an already stuck group.
This is no ordinary hotel. Its structure allows it to morph meaning rooms, corridors and TARDISs disappear. Speaking of the hotel's rooms, they contain "bad dreams" - the worst fears of the trapped characters. We soon discover this masquerade is the responsibility of a minotaur-esque creature, who feeds on the energies of the terrified prisoners, under the guise of a godlike status.
They might not have proved terribly important but it was nice to see some strong secondary characters for the first time in a considerable while. Minus the disappointingly stereotypical blogger. Yes, we're all potty and have terrible social skills. Writer Toby Whithouse (most famous for his work on 'Being Human') clearly has an extremely low opinion of us.
Anyway, back to those secondary characters. David Walliams' cowardice brought the best out of Matt Smith - a Doctor whose emotional depth is perhaps unparalleled. But it was Rita (Amara Karan) who provided the greatest spark in this episode, as resolute and resourceful as any of the main characters.
In the midst of 'The God Complex', Rory (Arthur Darvill) hints at what is yet to come. It's something that's easily forgotten as the minotaur creature runs around eating people but when that's all over with and the 'Tron'-lite special effects are put out of their misery, it comes back to the forefront. Can this really be it? Almost certainly not.
Next week, we return back to old pal Craig (James Corden) - from 'The Lodger', one of the most enjoyable episodes in recent years. Hopefully we'll get to see much more of The Doctor attempt to pass off as normal as he gleefully did in that aforementioned episode. Perhaps more will be made of his death, River, the TARDIS blowing up and whatever else has been swept under the carpet...
Watch 'The God Complex' on BBC iPlayer until 18:59, 8 October '11. Click for more of our 'Doctor Who' reviews.
Find More Of The Same: Doctor Who, review, saam, Saam Das, tv
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Home / Products / Handel: Sonatas for Violin and Basso Continuo
Wiener Urtext
UT50264
Handel: Sonatas for Violin and Basso Continuo
This item will ship in about a week.
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Editor: Bernhard Moosbauer
Instrumentation: Basso continuo, Violin
Georg Friedrich Handel's Sonatas for Violin and Basso continuo belong to the core repertoire of Baroque violin music, some of them even being among the most famous repertoire pieces of their time. The new edition in the Wiener Urtext Edition is based on Handel's autographs, contemporary copies and first prints. in addition to Handel's nine violin sonatas, it contains two minuets for violin and basso continuo which have been transmitted in the environment of the sonatas. Apart from the solo violin part and a continuo score with a realized, easily playable basso continuo, the edition also contains a figured bass part which gives experienced continuo players the possibility to improvise their own realization of the basso continuo part. The notes on interpretation of the renowned Baroque expert Reinhard Goebel provide insights into and suggestions for a sonata performance that was common practice at the time of Handel.
Contains the following pieces:
Violin Sonata in G Major, HWV 358
Violin Sonata in G Minor, HWV 364a, Op. 1, No. 6
Violin Sonata in D Minor, HWV 359
Violin Sonata in A Major, HWV 361, Op. 1, No. 3
Violin Sonata in D Major, HWV 371, Op. 1, No. 13
Sonata for Violin and Basso Continuo in A Major, Op. 1, No. 14, HWV 372
Sonata for Violin and Basso continuo in E Major, HWV 373
Sonata for Violin and Basso Continuo in G Minor, Op. 1, No. 10, HWV 368
Violin Sonata in F Major, Op. 1, No. 12; HWV 370
Allegro in C Minor, HWV 408
Andante in A Minor, HWV 412
Menuet in D Major, HWV 420
Category: Baroque Era, Bernhard Moosbauer, Classical Era, George Frideric Handel, Strings, United Kingdom, Violin, Violin & Keyboard
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FinCanna Capital Welcomes John Campbell to its Advisory Board
Chairman and CFO of TriView Capital Joins FinCanna Advisory Board
Vancouver, British Columbia, July 19, 2018 - FinCanna Capital Corp. (“FinCanna”) (CSE: CALI) (OTCQB: FNNZF) a royalty company for the U.S. licensed medical cannabis industry, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. John Campbell to its Advisory Board. Mr. Campbell has over 35 years of experience in the investment industry, and currently serves as Chairman and CFO of TriView Capital, one of Canada’s largest Exempt Market Dealers.
Mr. Campbell was formerly a Managing Director of private equity firm Second City Capital. He previously founded, and acted as President, CEO and CIO of Camlin Asset Management, a portfolio management firm. He also co-founded CWC Capital, a regional investment banking firm that, raised in excess of $750 million in capital. Mr. Campbell serves as a director of a number of private and public companies, and holds the professional designations of CPA, MBA and CFA.
“We are honoured to have a man with John’s depth and breadth of experience join our Advisory Board,” said Andriyko Herchak, President and CEO of Fincanna Capital. “We look forward to drawing upon John’s extensive knowledge and expertise as we embark on this next phase of growth.”
“I am very pleased to be joining the Advisory Board of FinCanna,” said Mr. Campbell. “I believe the company is well positioned to capitalize on an exceptional market opportunity and I look forward to contributing to FinCanna’s future success.”
FinCanna provides financing to top-tier companies in the licensed medical cannabis industry in exchange for a royalty on revenues. FinCanna, led by a team of finance and industry experts, is building its diversified portfolio of royalty investments in scalable, best-in-class projects and companies in U.S. legal states, with a focus on California. For additional information visit www.fincannacapital.com and FinCanna’s profile at www.sedar.com.
Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements about how the developing U.S. legal regime will impact the cannabis industry. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risks identified in the CSE listing statement and other reports and filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the respective companies undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by applicable law.
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COVID 19 | Inform and help to raise awareness about the outbreak | Learn More
Doing business online? Make security a priority
In 2019, South Africa had the third-highest number of cybercrime victims in the world. Attacks from the darkest corners of the web cost our economy more than R2.2bn. From government portals to municipal networks and databases, the public sector was a regular target. In the private sector too, cyberattackers zeroed in on e-commerce platforms, internet service providers, and financial institutions.
There’s a similar trend in 2020. Since the beginning of the year, hackers have taken aim at local enterprises including chemical supplier Omnia, hospital group Life Healthcare, and vehicle-recovery firm Tracker. Internationally, headline-making incidents involving car manufacturer Honda, GPS technology company Garmin, and energy group Enel have also highlighted the consequences of digital villainy, and put corporate cybersecurity practices in focus across the globe.
“When it comes to defending against cyberattacks, modern enterprises must consider the growing complexity of their operational environments and the web-enabled commercial landscape at large,” explains CISSP Neil du Plessis, a cloud security architect at our sister company BUI. Connectivity can be a powerful business driver, but it can also be a double-edged sword: the greater the number of integrated platforms, systems, and applications, the broader the attack surface. “You no longer have the luxury of drawing a perimeter around your organisation,” states Neil.
Gabriel Malherbe, our KZN executive manager, agrees. “In a hyperconnected world, your cybersecurity measures cannot stop at the front gate. Those days are long gone. Today, a business environment is not just a physical space: it extends beyond walls and fences, across devices, across networks, and across borders. The challenge now – especially for those moving ahead with digital transformation – is holistic protection,” says Gabriel.
South Africa is one of the fastest-growing countries globally for IT expenditure, and local enterprises are spending significant funds on software and services delivered via the internet. They’re also moving core systems online. “Modernisation is a big motivator,” says Gabriel. “There’s a growing interest in disruptive technologies, and how they can be leveraged to help people accomplish more. The ‘more’ factor may change from company to company, but I think the stimulus is the same in many cases, and that’s the desire to prepare for an increasingly digital future,” he explains.
Being online can open the door for businesses to become more agile, more productive, more efficient, more responsive, and more cost-effective – but there are risks to consider in pursuit of such rewards, cautions Neil. “Whether an online presence is part of your overall business development strategy, or a planned transition to serve your customers where they are, or even a productivity requirement to enable remote work right now, cybersecurity should be a primary concern. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and some of the biggest security incidents in recent history are now cautionary tales about the perils of poor cyber hygiene,” he says.
Neil highlights the 2018 ViewFines data leak as an example. “The PII records of almost a million South African motorists were leaked publicly, and sensitive personal information – including full names, ID numbers, and plaintext passwords – was compromised. The root cause was a web server vulnerability that could have been addressed beforehand through mitigation techniques like vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, server hardening, and patch management,” he explains.
Malicious actors continue to employ a wide range of scams to try to gain access to valuable data and corporate assets. Phishing, smishing, and vishing are common methods of attack, but malware is becoming a popular choice as cyber villains look beyond everyday IT infrastructure to more complex OT ecosystems in sectors as diverse as retail and industrial manufacturing.
“The EKANS ransomware used against Honda earlier this year is a case in point,” Neil says, referencing the sophisticated malware that targeted the auto-maker’s industrial control systems and affected production lines in Europe, Japan, and the United States. “It’s absolutely critical for modern enterprises to establish cybersecurity practices that include all web-enabled processes, not only traditional IT,” he advises.
Security should be built in from the ground up and across the board, concurs Gabriel. “There’s a duality to the internet that you need to remember: it connects you to the world and it connects the world to you. Every web-facing resource, from your homepage to your e-commerce store, is exposed to a degree of risk. When you understand that, then you can take action to protect your assets while you reap the rewards of doing business on the web,” he says.
Functionality and security
“Cost, convenience, and customisation potential are all factors pushing local businesses to explore some kind of online presence,” continues Gabriel, adding that First Digital has seen a dramatic increase in the number of clients asking for e-commerce solutions in recent months. The trend, he argues, can be attributed to the prevailing market conditions as well as the changing behaviour of tech-savvy consumers.
“Even before the movement restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 lockdown, brick-and-mortar stores and shopping malls had started to feel the ripple effect of our stagnant economy: dwindling foot traffic, conservative spending, and tougher competition for every available rand. On top of that, there’s growing consumer demand for personalised, intuitive retail experiences. More and more, we’re seeing brands turn to e-commerce to drive sales and boost shopper engagement,” he says.
Business-to-consumer enterprises aren’t the only ones taking advantage of web-enabled technology. In the business-to-business space, bespoke trading platforms and vendor portals are being deployed to enable broader collaboration, integration, and co-operation. Greater functionality, however, demands greater security measures, reiterates Neil. “Several high-profile cyberattacks have been linked to human error, or the misconfiguration of IT resources, or inadequate security controls. In B2C and B2B companies, cybersecurity strategy needs to be prioritised to help safeguard data, applications, infrastructure, and users,” he says.
First Digital and BUI have partnered on several projects to deliver secure solutions to local organisations. “I think customers understand the value of such engagements, especially given our complementary disciplines,” says Gabriel, citing a recent piece of work for Korbicom that drew on both teams’ expertise. “First Digital was brought in to provide Azure support, and BUI came on board later to perform penetration testing. The result was an intensive review of Korbicom’s web application, from architecture through to security,” explains Gabriel.
Korbicom’s application architect, Shaun Rust, was pleased with the results. “As a niche software development company, Korbicom creates custom solutions for clients in the legal sector, the insurance industry, and the financial services industry. Understandably, security and compliance are particular concerns. Our consultations with First Digital and BUI revolved around the functionality and security of a newly developed application, and their advice and assistance was very much appreciated.”
South African companies have to be prepared for sustained and increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks designed to compromise web-facing assets. “If you collect customer data through your website, or payment details through your e-commerce store, then you’re a potential target because sensitive information like that is valuable to somebody, somewhere,” cautions Neil. “It doesn’t matter how big or small you are: data is a commodity. And I think we’ve all seen enough headlines to know that it is being bought and sold worldwide. The protection of your online environment has never been more important than it is today,” he says.
Gabriel feels the same way. “If you don’t put adequate defences in place, then your enterprise is exposed, vulnerable, and at risk. You cannot afford to be in that position when the threat landscape changes by the minute. You have to make cybersecurity a business priority – from day one, and every day after that,” he concludes.
A version of this article was published by BUI, a fellow First Technology Group company delivering cybersecurity solutions, specialised cloud services, and data-centre support to enterprise, corporate, and mid-market customers. Connect with BUI on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, or visit https://www.bui.co.za/ to learn more.
Waterfall Office Park, 26 Augrabies St, Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
enquiries@firsttech.digital
1st Floor, Block D, The Estuaries, Century Avenue, Century City, 7441
Sunbury Office Park, 4 Sunbury Crescent, La Lucia Ridge, 4019
Copyright © First Technology Digital. All Rights Reserved.
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The Creators of ‘Welcome to Night Vale’ on Collaboration, Diversity, and Adapting a Podcast Into a Novel
By Alison Herman
Since 2012, Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor have built the world of Night Vale episode by episode, letting listeners in on daily life in the surreal desert town through biweekly broadcasts of their wildly popular podcast Welcome to Night Vale.
Narrated by Cecil Palmer, the local community radio host voiced by actor Cecil Baldwin, Welcome to Night Vale combines the dream logic and small town charm of Twin Peaks with the haunting desert setting of Area 51. Charming, hypnotic, and above all addictive, Welcome to Night Vale‘s tone is an extremely specific mix of the fantastic and the hilariously banal (sample tweet: “Do not take Alyrria™ if you are engulfed in flames. Alyrria™ may cause ‘the Event.’ Ask your doctor to translate the cipher.”). And as of Tuesday, Night Vale is the setting for not just a podcast, but a full-fledged novel.
The story of a single mother struggling to connect with her shapeshifting son and a perpetually 19-year-old pawnshop owner who can’t get rid of a mysterious piece of paper — we weren’t kidding about the “dream logic” part — Welcome to Night Vale: A Novel breaks with the community radio format while retaining a distinctively Night Vale feel. To find out how they did it, we spoke with Fink and Cranor about the book-writing process, the advantages of a new format, and introducing real-world concepts like diversity to a universe where public libraries are death traps.
First off, I have a sort of strange request. Night Vale is hard to describe — it’s easier to just get immersed in the weirdness over the course of a few episodes, or in this case, the book. But for readers who’ve never heard it, how would you describe this world you’ve created in a sentence?
Jeffrey Cranor: That’s not a weird request at all! You’re asking us to describe the show. It’s a fictional, scripted podcast that takes the form of community radio from a weird desert town where every conspiracy theory is true.
Given how successful the podcast is, I’m sure you were approached by publishers about a book. Had the idea of expanding Night Vale’s perspective beyond Cecil’s occurred to you before then, or did you hit on the idea after you’d decided to write a book?
JC: I think it always occurs to us. Before the book, we put the podcast into a live show, and while the live show is ostensibly structured like the podcast and Cecil is the main narrator, when you change the medium, you have to change how the story is told with the energy of the audience you’re using.
The idea of exploring things outside of Cecil’s voice was something of interest to us always, and exploring things with a different type of language was interested. We started early on; I think the first time we played with form on the podcast was episode thirteen, which was “A Story About You.” It was a story told through Cecil’s voice, but entirely in second person, narrating the story of you, the listener. Then in episode nineteen, we did a double episode where we had Cecil telling a story about a sandstorm coming to town. Simultaneously, we released another episode of the same sandstorm hitting the rival town of Desert Bluffs, and we have a new character, Kevin, who is their radio host narrating what’s happening there.
It’s interesting to get new perspective, and once we realized we could pitch a novel and somebody might want to actually print it, we knew we could tell it from a narrator’s point of view rather than Cecil’s point of view—a novelist’s point of view. Get into the heads of characters, go into buildings we can’t normally go into, walk around town in a way we normally can’t.
Was there anything besides leaving Cecil’s perspective you knew you wanted to accomplish with a Night Vale book, as opposed to an episode of the podcast or a live show?
Joseph Fink: I think we wanted to approach it in a way of writing a novel. That’s stating the obvious, but you write differently with each medium. It’s a story we’ve been telling for quite a while; we really did want to write a complete and satisfying novel that worked as its own book, even if you picked it up not aware that it was based on anything at all.
I wanted to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the novel format. Let’s start with disadvantages: were there any challenges or difficulties in translating Night Vale? Was it hard to switch modes of storytelling, or were you excited to break out into something new?
JC: I think we were just excited to have this brand new, newly shaped canvas on which to create something.
JF: It was ultimately not that difficult. I say that meaning like, it’s difficult to write a book, but it wasn’t difficult in a particularly different way than writing the podcast. Honestly, the only thing that was noticeably a challenge was bringing it all to a close. With the podcast, we can keep things open and keep things moving and keep having things lead to other things. With the novel, we really wanted to have everything come together in a satisfying way that feels like the end, even if the world still exists. Figuring out how to do that is the one major thing we had to learn.
What about the advantages?
JC: I would say that one thing is just having more room to get into characters’ heads. With Cecil telling the podcast, you are always limited to his point of view. Even when there are other voices on the show sometimes, it’s through Cecil allowing them onto the air, usually. So you do have this limited viewpoint of how life in Night Vale is. It was nice to take the characters of Diane and Jackie and say, “Well, what is it like to be a single mother in Night Vale? What is it like to be this perpetual 19-year-old pawnshop owner?,” and really go into their worlds. It’s a thing that we are limited from doing in the podcast. Going inside buildings we don’t normally go into was another one.
Yeah, the library scene was just great. The book is pretty accessible to new readers, but you also have scenes like the library that let readers in on something that’s been alluded to for a long time. How did you balance the desire to pull in new readers by making the novel accessible for non-podcast listeners and the desire to include easter eggs for longtime fans?
JF: We’ve had a lot of experience, because we do the same thing with our live shows. They’re designed to be a nice treat for fans who really listen and can pick up on subtle, fun things that other people wouldn’t, but at the same time we want people to be able to walk into a live show knowing nothing about who we are and have a really enjoyable evening and understand the story. So we approached the novel in the same way, in that the basic story, the characters, everything is self-contained, everything you need to know to enjoy the story is in there—but there’s still, throughout, little references or side characters or new revelations about characters that will mean a lot to people who have really put the time in with the show, and that somebody who’s never heard of the show will probably not even notice is there.
Was it difficult to balance those elements at all, or did it just happen organically?
JC: It feels pretty organic at this point. It’s mostly within the world of the characters, right? I feel like the town, you can just kind of say whatever, because it’s set up that this is weird. But if a character has a backstory, you just have to think quickly about how much of that backstory do I need to explain right now if nobody knew it. Even when we’re writing the podcast, even though it’s a serial, I still think about that. Because I do know people join midway through, or on the most recent episode, so for me, it’s mostly thinking about: Does that person have a story line that is vitally important to what’s happening right now to someone who was totally new, and how quickly can I set that up?
Part of the reason Night Vale’s achieved such cult appeal is because of its diversity, which seems almost effortlessly baked in. Cecil is in a relationship with a man, Diane is described as mixed race, and of course, both protagonists of the novel are women, and that’s something a lot of fans enjoy and appreciate. Was diversity something you had in mind when creating the world of Night Vale?
JF: It happened organically. I think you have to be either intentionally leaving people out or, what I think is far more common, just super lazy to not have diversity. If you look at the world, the world is a diverse place. So if you as a writer, or the producer of a show — if you are trying to reflect the world as it is at all, that is a diverse world. It really does take, I think, conscious effort to not have diversity, to decide to leave that out of your writing, to leave all of those people out of your writing. And that’s something we obviously don’t want to do.
Diversity is something we’re very aware of, especially on the side of casting people and things like that, but in terms of writing, from the start it just kind of grew organically out of us trying to write honestly about the way the world actually is.
It always struck me because while Night Vale isn’t exactly science fiction or exactly fantasy, a lot of these subcultures tend to have a lot of issues with diversity — look at the blowup around this year’s Hugo Awards. I always wondered if you consciously saw yourselves as a counterpoint to that, but I guess it happens naturally.
JC: It does, but we also read up on it and think about it and talk to people who are concerned with these issues, too. Dylan Marron, who plays Carlos in the audiobook and in the podcast, he had a project this year that blew up for him on YouTube called “Every Single Word Spoken By a Person of Color.” It’s a really great project; he did a great job of making it concise and easy to digest and understandable in these really short videos—actually shockingly short videos.
None of that is new to us, but it’s the type of stuff you want to think about and be aware of so you are aware of what thinking and talking about. The Hugo Awards story is another good example. Yeah, hey, let’s just be aware this is a thing going on in the world. It’s exciting that people love our show for having a gay character normalized at the center of the story, and an interracial couple at that, but it’s simultaneously kind of disappointing that we’re seen as being so rare in that light. We also want to keep up with that dialogue that’s happening right now, too.
WTNV isn’t “funny” in a joke-centered, ha-ha way, but humor is definitely a significant part of its tone. To what extent do you aim to be funny when you’re writing, or did you happen on that aspect of Night Vale organically?
JF: I don’t know, I don’t usually think that consciously about it. I really never think of writing in terms of “Here’s where I’m trying to reach, here’s the goal I have for this.” It all just grows out of I’ll have an idea, and then I’ll follow that idea. We’ll let an episode be an entirely dark, or we’ll let an episode be entirely funny. There is sort of a balance that happens, but that balance happens organically.
JC: I would agree with that. It’s kind of like tasting your food while you’re cooking it; you want to have a sense of if this whole thing is gonna taste right. Sometimes, you just can’t resist. You see a joke there, and you put it in because it’s a good joke—you’re like, “I can’t just not put this here because this is great.” Sometimes you may want to trim that down a little bit because it maybe feels a little overwhelming, but you get a sense from doing enough writing of what feels like a good balance.
And that brings me to my final question! I’ve always been really curious how the co-writing process works. Was it different collaborating on a full-length novel rather than half-hour episodes of the podcast?
JC: More that it just took a lot longer! But it was really similar, actually. The main difference was that when we started to write the novel, we had these two characters we both had been thinking about for a long time and wanting to write for between Diane and Jackie. So before the novel, we sat down and wrote out stories, separately, of these two characters, just to get it rolling. Then we brought them to each other, and then started working to interweave them and say yeah, I see a story forming there.
We developed a pitch, we sold the novel based off of this proposal, and then we said great, let’s have an outline, and we wrote the outline together. Once we had the outline established, then you have chapter by chapter, a short description of what happened in the chapter. Then we could assign those and say, you do these chapters, I’ll do these, here’s our deadline, let’s get back together and then swap them out and edit with each other. Which is not dissimilar to the podcast, where we alternate episodes. I finish an episode, I send it to Joseph, he edits it, and sends it back. We do that until it’s ready to go to Cecil.
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Game: Just Announced An Injustice 2 Championship Series
Jeremiah Fat-Bastard Slack May 8, 2017
Fans of the Injustice games should be delighted to learn that an Injustice 2 Championship Series with a $600,000 USD Prize Pool has been announced by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
Burbank, Calif. – May 8, 2017 – Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment today announced the Injustice 2 Championship Series Presented by PlayStation®4, a global esports program for the upcoming Injustice 2 video game from NetherRealm Studios. The 2017 series has Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment teaming up with ESL, Gamelta esports Professional League, GameStop, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Twitch to further build the fighting game community around the world. The program offers amateur and pro players throughout North America, Europe and Latin America a chance to compete in different programs for a portion of a $600,000 USD prize pool. The best players from these different programs will qualify for the Injustice 2 Championship Series grand finals that will take place this fall.
Injustice 2 Pro Series
The Injustice 2 Pro Series kicks off May 26 broadcast live on Twitch (twitch.tv/netherrealm), with a four-month online and offline season drilling down to the top 16 players from around the world. The 16 finalists from across North America, Europe and Latin America will advance to the Injustice 2 Pro Series Finals for a throw-down. The Injustice 2 Pro Series Finals will take place September 17 in Los Angeles.
Injustice 2 GameStop Hometown Heroes
The Injustice 2 GameStop Hometown Heroes tournament offers an all-new way for gamers in the United States who are not competing in the Injustice 2 Pro Series to participate in a program and battle for cash prizes. Operated by ESL, open online qualifier tournaments will begin June 4. Eight Regional Finals tournaments will take place in local GameStop retail locations on August 12, leading up to the Injustice 2 GameStop Hometown Heroes Finals at the 2017 GameStop Consumer Expo in Las Vegas, August 27.
Injustice 2 Path to Pro Tournament
European fans will have a chance to participate in the Injustice 2 Championship Series with the Injustice 2 Path to Pro Tournament. Operated by ESL on PlayStation®4, the competition will open on May 20 for players in the Benelux Union, France, Germany, Nordic territories, Italy, Spain and UK. who are not participating in the Injustice 2 Pro Series. The Injustice 2 Path to Pro Finals will be held online on August 19 with 12 finalists from the participating territories.
Injustice 2 Liga Latina
Players from Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Peru get their chance to battle it out in Injustice 2 Liga Latina. Operated by Gamelta esports Professional League, online and offline qualifier tournaments will be held for each region beginning in May. The best players from each of the countries in which the program is offered will face off in the Injustice 2 Liga Latina finals on August 13.
In addition, fans in Brazil will have a chance to compete in a regional tournament. More details for Brazil will be coming soon.
For more information, or to sign up for an Injustice 2 Championship Series Presented by PlayStation®4 tournament, visit www.injustice.com/esports.
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Who Had the Better Quarter, Tandem Diabetes or Teladoc?
These two disruptive companies reported crazy-good top-line growth, but only one can be the winner.
Todd Campbell
(TMFEBCapital)
May 3, 2019 at 1:35PM
Todd has been helping buy side portfolio managers as an independent researcher for over a decade. In 2003, Todd founded E.B. Capital Markets, LLC, a research firm providing action oriented ideas to professional investors. Todd has provided insight to a variety of publications, including SmartMoney, Barron's, and CNN/fn. Follow @ebcapital
Follow @ebcapital
Diabetes-sector disruptor Tandem Diabetes (NASDAQ:TNDM) is revolutionizing diabetes treatment with its first-gen automated insulin delivery system, the T:Slim X2 with basal IQ. Meanwhile, telehealth titan Teladoc (NYSE:TDOC) is disrupting how patients get primary and specialty care via its virtual-health business model. Both companies reported rapid top-line growth last quarter, but were the results at one better than the other?
In this earnings brawl episode of the Motley Fool's Industry Focus: Healthcare, analyst Shannon Jones is joined by healthcare investor Todd Campbell to explain why these companies are game changers and, when push comes to shove, which company delivered the best quarterly results to its investors.
To catch full episodes of all The Motley Fool's free podcasts, check out our podcast center. A full transcript follows the video.
This video was recorded on May 1, 2019.
Shannon Jones: Welcome to Industry Focus, the show that dives into a different sector of the stock market every single day. Today is Wednesday, the 1st of May, and I'm your host, Shannon Jones, and I am joined via Skype by healthcare guru Todd Campbell. Todd, how are you today?
Todd Campbell: Shannon, I'm doing great! Before I forget, I wanted to give you a shout-out. Thank you, if you will, for turning me on to probably one of the best Twitter handles that I've seen in years!
Jones: [laughs] Of course, you can be speaking none other than @JustSaysInMice. For our listeners out there, if you have not found it on Twitter just yet, please make sure to follow @JustSaysInMice. This is a scientist who literally created an account simply to track studies that are done in mice where they try to extrapolate those studies to human studies. It's hilarious, it's sad at the same time, I guess, Todd? I don't know how else to put it. [laughs]
Campbell: [laughs] It's a very good reality check to the clickbait that is scientific discovery, when they say something crazy like, "Wine will extend your life by 30 years!" Yeah, it just says in mice.
Jones: Yeah, just in mice. [laughs] Yes, thank you for bringing that up, Todd! We've got a show for our listeners today. I'm excited because we've got earnings season. We've got two companies to talk about on the show today that reported earnings fresh off the bell yesterday, the first of which being Teladoc and then the other is Tandem Diabetes Care. I'm excited to dive in because at the end of the day, Todd, I want to know which of these stocks had the better quarter.
Without further ado, let's start off with the first one. Let's look at Teladoc, ticker TDOC. Teladoc, leading telehealth provider out there. Shares have been pretty volatile, especially when you look back over the last six months or so, especially that last quarter of 2018. Despite some signs of recovery earlier this year, the stock is still down about 30%. Coming off of earnings yesterday, the stock has been hovering around 1.5% up on earnings news. Todd, what are some of the headline figures here?
Campbell: Talk about disruptive companies. I just love disruptive stock! Certainly, Teladoc is one of them. I think that investors should probably know before we get into the numbers why this stock has been pretty volatile and actually trended down over the course of the last three to five months. We had a few different things. We had some concerns about some of the marketing that they were doing on YouTube and whether or not that was OK. We had a short-seller who took aim at it for some of its EBITDA reporting. Then we also had a departure of their CFO. So I think there were a lot of people who were coming into this report short the stock. I want to say, Shannon, that about 28% of the float was held short in this stock coming into the report, which is pretty remarkable and probably one of the reasons why shares rallied relatively sharply after they reported their numbers.
As you said, leading provider of telehealth. What we're talking about is, "I don't feel good. I don't want to go to the doctor's office. I'm going to go online and speak with a doctor using my smartphone or my tablet," or, like you and I, use PCs.
They put up pretty good numbers, Shannon. They had top-line revenue totaled $129 million. That was up 43% year over year. Even if you back out the acquisition that they made last year to get international exposure, even if you back that out, they still grew their revenue by 23%. What I think is really interesting about that, Shannon, is that they were able to grow that revenue even though the flu season, which is a big driver of visits for telehealth, was pretty tame. They saw a big drop-off year over year in visits due to the flu, yet they were still able to deliver this kind of revenue growth. I think that's pretty remarkable, and suggests the company's obviously gaining traction. It's disruptive, not to have to go to the doctor's office if you feel horrible.
Jones: Yes. And really, this quarter marked a huge milestone for Teladoc. They crossed the 1 million visit mark, which is pretty huge. Breaking down revenue even further here, subscription access fees were $106 million. Those were up 46%. When you look at visit fee revenue, that was $23 million, up 26%. Across all channels, you saw total visits up 75% year over year, which is pretty impressive. Another interesting data point, really driving home the just massive opportunity for telehealth, is in the behavioral health segment. They do have a mental health segment, and that really is one of the ripest areas, I think, for these virtual telehealth services. If you think about it, many people typically, because of a stigma, or just whatever, tend to not go to see a provider to talk about mental health issues. This was a really strong channel for them. Teladoc saw total behavioral health visit volume increase by over 100% in Q1. They're expecting behavioral health total revenue growth to exceed 50% for the full year.
Also, another interesting metric, one of the metrics that a lot of investors tend to focus on is utilization rate. This really is a measure of just how predictable are these visits on an ongoing basis. It's really defined as total general medical visits divided by paid U.S. memberships. In Q1, they had a utilization rate of 11%, just slightly ahead of where they were last year. Two, Teladoc actually tends to report the utilization rate a little bit more conservatively than their competitors, so it could even be slightly higher depending on how you define it. But really, what that tells us is that the platform is catching on with more members. At the end of the day, higher utilization rates boost these high-margin patient visits, which in turn, of course, drives revenue and really sets Teladoc up to exceed expectations long term.
Campbell: You mentioned the mental health side of things. I thought it was interesting when I was going through their 10-K report filing with the SEC. They say that there are about 100 million people who live in mental health deserts, basically live in these rural areas where it's very hard to get to someone. You talk about the stigma. Well, yeah, there's the stigma, and the fact that I'm going to have to drive an hour, an hour and a half, or whatever. So telehealth is a nice, natural fit for that population, and it's a relatively large population.
To back up a second, make sure that people understand how this company makes its money. It gets the bulk of its revenue by selling access, subscriber access fees. It has 12,000 clients. Those clients are health insurers, hospital systems, self-insured companies. What happens is, these payers, recognizing that it's a heck of a lot cheaper to provide someone with a telehealth visit than it is an in-office visit, are promoting the use of telehealth and making telehealth from Teladoc available to their members. And that's really what's driving a lot of this growth. It's not just organic, you and I talking about it with our friends and family and people saying, "Oh, that might be interesting the next time I have a flu." It's also payers saying, "I can save a lot of money and improve my margins, and maybe even reduce premiums at some point, if I can drive most of my members to telehealth." That's a really huge, disruptive long-term trend, especially when you consider that the CDC says there are 990 million office visits per year. That's a crazy number, especially when you think about, they did 1 million visits in the quarter. 990 million opportunities for growth!
Jones: Massive opportunities for growth. Really, the telemedicine field in general is just completely revolutionizing how healthcare is delivered. It's one of the few innovations in healthcare where it's not just about cost. It's also about access, to your point. They have the partnership with CVS/Aetna to also expand access through the CVS app, as well. And that's also about being able to reach patients where they're at. If they have the app, they are more than likely to use the Teladoc platform. Granted, rollout for that has been a bit slow, a little bit slower than I think Teladoc would like. But that's a part of its plans. But yeah, it's the access. It's the lower cost.
The interesting thing, though, and one of the areas that I'll be watching is that, of course, Teladoc isn't the only telehealth provider in town. Just last month, it's a private competitor, but Doctor On Demand said that they're going to be launching a service that's called On Hand, which is basically a virtual-first and really, for some patients, maybe even a virtual-only healthcare plan that's really designed to give patients access, again, to physicians. With this plan also comes, again, the lower cost, but premiums could literally be cut in half with this type of plan. Listening to the conference call yesterday with Teladoc, that was one of the questions that came up from the analysts -- how are you responding to this? Are you thinking about a separate plan specific just to virtual health visits? Of course the company says, "Yes, it's on our minds. It's something we're thinking about." But that, I think, is a huge threat, but also a huge opportunity for Teladoc here as well.
Campbell: On the conference call, they also asked the question, talking about the competitive landscape, they were wondering, it seems like a few of these health insurers have actually taken equity stakes in venture capital rounds of some of their competitors. It seems like we're carving out these specific channels where, yes, Teladoc works with these people and the competitor works with these people, and there's not really much overlap. On the conference call, management did try to say, "Listen, we're agnostic. We think we can win business away. We think that we continue to expand in our existing relationships." And one of those relationships, UnitedHealth, is the biggest insurer in America with some 100 million insured lives. And they're only scratching the surface of members that they currently serve through UnitedHealth. They did hint that an expanded relationship with them could be coming. But they said they're not going to make that announcement; that's UnitedHealth's announcement to make.
They have 26.7 million U.S. paid subscribers that are covered by those payers, they're buying the subscriber access fees. 26.7 million. Shannon, one of the things that blew me away when I was looking through those filings, they say that their existing clients alone, they think that there's an addressable market of 50 million untapped. 50 million people. So just with their existing clients, they could go from 26.7 million and add 50 million more to that. That would be, obviously, remarkable.
Jones: That's so interesting! I was actually reading a stat just before the show that said, of people who are employed that have access to telehealth, 80% haven't even utilized the service yet. That is a huge opportunity for them. Probably a lot more education. Of course, that does mean they have to rely on employers and insurance providers to really drive that service. But that's a huge opportunity!
Let's also talk about the other massive opportunity, Todd, and that is the Medicare Advantage plans that are out there. 22 million people potentially on tap for Teladoc. Listening to the call yesterday, of course that came up. It sounds like we may not hear more about it until the latter half of this year. But Teladoc is very much in talks with many of these plans to get this up and running.
Campbell: Right. Remember that number we just talked about, 26 million is where they are right now. Now you're talking about a potential to reach another 22 million just through Medicare Advantage. Eventually, if Medicare Advantage is allowed, traditional Medicare probably will follow. So you're talking about tens of millions more there as well.
You're right. They were cagey about pricing. No idea how that's going to translate. It's not baked into the guidance. But it's coming. Telehealth is coming to Medicare. I think that's the takeaway. And I think it probably won't start contributing revenue until late 2020, maybe 2021. But it's coming. So, I think you're right, that's a huge potential catalyst.
We should also not forget that this is now a global company. Because of acquisitions, now they can provide telehealth services in Europe, for example, which opens up, what, 500 million more people theoretically, as far as the target market. Again, they have single-payer systems over there, you don't know how the reimbursement is going to go. But because telehealth saves money, there's a lot of opportunity there for traction and future growth.
They said on the conference call, 20% to 30% organic growth expected this year. And when pressed they said, "Yeah, we think that that will continue through 2020." So, a 20% to 30% grower is pretty good. But, Shannon, they still lose money.
Jones: They are still losing money. More of the same, and not unexpected at this point, but something to certainly keep an eye on.
All right, let's turn the page. Let's talk about the second stock that reported earnings after the bell. And this is really the turnaround story that I don't think gets enough press or enough coverage, and that is none other than insulin pump manufacturer Tandem Diabetes Care, ticker TNDM. This has been such an interesting stock to watch. I think what's more astounding to me, Todd, is that this was a stock that at one point, I believe in 2017, when the company was really at its ultimate lows, had blow after blow coming after it, was trading for like $2 a share. I think it opened up 2018 at maybe $3 a share. Looking at it today, this is a stock that's trading around $60 a share. I have to admit, I was one of those people that had pretty much written this company off, Todd.
Campbell: 1,500% return in 2018. [laughs] 1,500%! That's crazy! You have a very competitive marketplace. Up until last year, a lot of people looked at Tandem and said, they're an also-ran. You had Insulet that had this tubeless insulin pump, and a lot of people were really big fans of that. And they were like, why would people want a tubed pump like Tandem's offering? What ended up happening over the course of the last year is, you had J&J's Animas exit the business. That put a whole bunch of new customers up for grabs. And they won FDA approval of the use of some software that creates their first-generation automated insulin device. Essentially what this first-generation one does is, it knows enough to temporarily suspend insulin dosing from the pump if you are at risk of a dangerous blood sugar low, which is very, very important. Sales have been gangbusters since then. The pump shipments are through the roof. They won this approval last August. That quarter, the third quarter of last year, they shipped 8,400 pumps, which was pretty remarkable. That was up 118%. Guess what? In Q1, they shipped 14,732 pumps. 75% more, Shannon, than they had shipped in that first quarter that this system became available. And honestly, so much more room to run. The size of the addressable market is massive. They think they only have about 100,000 people who are using their pumps today.
Jones: Yeah, and only about 27% of patients that have type 1 diabetes are using pumps. To your point, Todd, this is a massive opportunity. Tandem thinks that in America, it can actually increase those that are using insulin pumps from 550,000 to 900,000 total. Outside of the U.S., there's another three million people with type 1 diabetes they can also go after. So yeah, the opportunity here is massive. I love that Tandem is partnering with probably one of the, if not the most, innovative diabetes manufacturers out there, which is Dexcom right now, with their G6 system I believe it is. 2018, looking back, the diabetes space was probably one of the top performers in terms of subsectors within the industry. No surprise there because they have been innovating in so many different ways. And really, I think they're just getting started, Todd.
Campbell: Right. You have the Dexcom sensors. Those are the ones that are evaluating your glucose levels consistently. And then you have them feeding information to the pump. And that's how the pump's making its decisions. The shipments that we talked about translated into 142% year over year revenue growth for the company. $66 million. Again, to put that in perspective, in the third quarter of last year when this device first got approved, sales were $46 million. So $66 million in the first quarter, up 142%. And the reason that really amazes me is that durable equipment like this has significant seasonality. People typically try to avoid spending on purchases that are expensive like this until they've met their deductible for the year. So usually, sales are tilted toward the back end of a plan year, so the fourth quarter. First quarter is usually incredibly weak because few people have made their deductibles. Yet even with that headwind, you were still able to deliver this kind of growth. I think that obviously shows that people who suffer from diabetes, who need multiple daily injections -- type 1, obviously, especially, 1.25 million type 1 diabetics here in the U.S. Like you said, only about 30% of them on pumps right now. This would seem to be a slam dunk. So, yeah, I think this was a very strong showing for this company, especially given that seasonal headwind.
Jones: And not only that, Todd, but when you think about the competition in this space, you've got a massive player like Medtronic who they've been able to capture market share from. When I see numbers like this, that tells me that they are very quickly encroaching on Medtronic's space. And it's not just Medtronic. It's also with Insulet, another major player in the space. Tandem has about 12% of the market right now. It would not surprise me to see those numbers go up significantly, especially as we move toward the end of the year.
But it's interesting, when we talk about the competitive dynamics. It was back in 2016, 2017, that UnitedHealth dropped Tandem and actually picked up Medtronic in terms of coverage and reimbursement. That was really, I think, a reason a lot of analysts went ahead and wrote this company off, because that was just such a huge rug to pull from under this company. Our colleague, Brian Feroldi, who's worked in the space for about a decade, he even said, "I didn't think they'd recover from this." So, to not only see this company recover from something like that -- and granted, we've had other smaller competitors start to fall away -- but to then start posting revenue numbers like this, it's just so impressive, Todd.
Campbell: It really is. I mean, these companies aren't going to roll over and give this market to Tandem. Medtronic was actually the first to have one of these automated systems launch. Theirs, though, is so bulky, it's not nearly as sophisticated as Tandem's. Medtronic isn't going to give up. They're going to come back with their own revised offering, using their own sensors and their own pumps. Insulet is working with Dexcom on their own device. That's expected to hit in 2020. So there's a competitive threat there. Eli Lilly is working on one. A privately held company called Bigfoot Biomedical is working on one. So there's a lot of competition in this space. But I think one of the things that investors should recognize is that Tandem has a head start, and people don't usually switch until their warranty is up on these devices. Landing as many accounts early on like this could help them when it comes to maintaining market share, even when these others launch.
The other thing, too, is that they have an update to the system that got approved last year. Supposedly, if the FDA cooperates, that's going to hit this year. It's called Control-IQ. Control-IQ will actually automatically adjust up and down insulin, depending on those readings from those sensors. So you're not only just preventing the lows, you're preventing highs, you're preventing lows, you're keeping the patient within their desired range for a longer period of time in the day. That's huge to delaying disease progression, and hopefully extending lives for people with diabetes.
So yes, competitive threats exist. But we shouldn't ignore the fact that they do have an innovation advantage, and the leadership advantage.
Jones: Todd, at the end of the day, you've got Teladoc on one hand, you've got Tandem Diabetes Care on the other. Which of these companies do you think is the winner in terms of earnings at the end of the day? Who won this battle?
Campbell: I'm going to say Tandem. I'm going to say Tandem and here's why. Teladoc has this great -- and I'm a shareholder -- awesome addressable market opportunity. But their losses widened last quarter, and their guidance for the full year, although there's 95% visibility, according to management, into Teladoc's numbers forecast for the year, their guidance was unchanged. Flip that now and look at Tandem. Tandem not only saw huge, huge improvements in gross margin and operating margin -- they also still lose money, but their operating margin went from negative 57% to negative 17%, which is remarkable improvement, showing the leverage that they have. They took their full-year guidance up to at least $300 million from $255 million, what, 2.5 months ago? Three months ago? So they just increased the bottom end of their guidance by $45 million! [laughs] Over the course of the span of 2.5 months! So, for me, I think Tandem, push comes to shove, is the one that had the better quarter.
Jones: All right. For all our listeners out there, Tandem is the winner of this round, but we will be sure to keep you up to date on all the latest earnings battles going on out there.
That'll do it for this week's Industry Focus: Healthcare show! As always, people on the program may have interest in the stocks they talk about, and The Motley Fool may have formal recommendations for or against, so don't buy or sell stocks based solely on what you hear. This show is produced by Austin Morgan. For Todd Campbell, I'm Shannon Jones. Thanks for listening, and Fool on!
TNDM
Tandem Diabetes Care
NASDAQ:TNDM
Teladoc, Inc.
NYSE:TDOC
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Who Had the Better Quarter, Tandem Diabetes or Teladoc? @themotleyfool #stocks $TNDM $TDOC Next Article
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If You Retire on Social Security Alone, This Is the Income You'll Be Facing
Hint: It's a pretty small number.
Social Security gets a lot of criticism, when in reality, it serves as a lifeline for millions of retired Americans. But if there's one thing you should know about Social Security, it's that those benefits are not designed to sustain you in retirement by themselves.
If you're an average earner, you can expect Social Security to replace about 40% of your preretirement income. If you're a higher earner, it will replace an even smaller percentage, since there's a maximum benefit that applies across the board.
Most seniors, however, need a lot more than 40% of their former earnings to keep up with their expenses and maintain a decent quality of life. Now, some financial experts will tell you that retirees should aim for 70% to 80% of their previous wages to live reasonably well. Others will insist on 90%, while some will say that you can get away with 50% if you're really willing to live frugally.
There are different income replacement scenarios you can make work, depending on how much you're willing to sacrifice, so technically, it may be possible for you to live on Social Security alone, despite the fact that that's not the program's intent. But if you don't make an effort to save money for retirement, and you are forced to depend on Social Security for all of your income, then you may be looking at just $18,036 a year. That's based on the average monthly benefit of $1,503 that seniors are collecting at present. It also assumes that you're an average earner and qualify for a benefit that high.
Now, if $18,000 and change sounds like enough retirement income for you, then congratulations -- you don't need to worry about your nest egg. But if that sounds like a financial struggle in the making, then you'd be wise to ramp up on the savings front while you still can.
Building your nest egg
If the idea of living on roughly $18,000 a year doesn't sit well with you, then it's time to make an effort to start building some retirement savings. You can start by cutting expenses in your budget, and if you're years away from retirement, modest changes could go a long way. For example, if you have 30 years to save, during which time you manage to free up $250 a month for your IRA or 401(k), you'll wind up with around $283,000, assuming your invested savings generate an average annual 7% return during that time (which is doable when you go heavy on stocks).
Another good bet? Get a light side job. If you're able to boost your income by $100 a month and you stick that sum into savings along with the $250 you free up by spending less, you'll wind up with close to $400,000, assuming that same 30-year savings window and 7% return.
Of course, if you're closer to retirement, you'll need to save a lot more money than $250 to $350 a month to build a decent nest egg. But if you make additional changes -- say, giving up your yearly vacation or putting in more time at a side gig -- you might manage to eke out more like $550 a month in savings. And if you sock away that much money for 10 years at an average annual 7% return, you'll be sitting on $91,000, which isn't a ton of money but is better than no savings at all.
Boosting your monthly benefit
If you expect the bulk, or all, of your retirement income to stem from Social Security, then another important move to consider is working longer and delaying your filing until age 70. Doing so will allow you to accrue credits that boost your benefits by 8% a year, up until your 70th birthday. As such, a monthly benefit of $1,503 could become $1,863 if you hold off on filing for three years past full retirement age.
Though Social Security is an unquestionably helpful income source for seniors, it likely won't buy you the comfortable retirement you want. The sooner you realize that, the sooner you can work on building savings to improve your financial picture during your golden years.
If You Retire on Social Security Alone, This Is the Income You'll Be Facing @themotleyfool #stocks Next Article
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Police investigating large brawl at Suitland High School
By Cori Coffin, FOX 5 DC
DISTRICT HEIGHTS, Md. - Prince George's County Public Schools officials are taking action after a weapon was brandished during a school fight.
According to district officials, the incident happened after school Tuesday at Suitland High School.
The large fight was captured on video and sent to FOX 5. In the video, several students are seen punching each other while others film with their cell phones.
School district officials tell FOX 5 the students planned the fight and positioned themselves between buses so they were not immediately seen by security officers in the area. Once the school's security officers saw the fight, they broke it up.
According to a letter emailed to parents, a weapon was used during the brawl and three people got hurt.
FOX 5 showed the video to several parents at Suitland High School who said they hadn't seen the email.
"It's scary," said one parent. "I mean, it's something to think about. To have my daughter come here every day and deal with stuff like this."
"Wow," said another parent reacting to the video. "It's rough. It's rough."
District officials tell FOX 5 the students involved have been identified and will be disciplined. According to the student code of conduct, that discipline could range from suspension to expulsion. At least one person could be facing charges for the weapon.
Prince George's County police confirmed the school's special police officer (SPO) responded to the incident and not the school resource officer (SRO).
The SRO is employed through the police department, whereas the SPO is employed through the school. Both have the ability to file charges.
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Zimbabwe opposition says crackdown worse than under Mugabe
Harare (AFP)
Zimbabwe's main opposition said Tuesday a violent crackdown on civilians by the new government was worse than anything in recent years under ousted leader Robert Mugabe, accusing Harare of escalating "terrorism".
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Nelson Chamisa said state repression had reached new levels following scenes of "terror" when security forces crushed protests over fuel price rises.
"This is now 14 months after Mr. Mugabe exiting the political stand, but what we are seeing is actually an escalation, not only of the Mugabe type of terror, but we are actually seeing something that makes Mugabe look like a baby in terms of terrorism," Chamisa told a news conference.
He addressed the media in the gutted lobby of his party HQ which was fire-bombed during the protests.
"At night, people are no longer enjoying their freedoms, they are dragged out of their places of joy and entertainment, restaurants... (and) being beaten up," he said.
At least 12 people have been killed and hundreds wounded -- 78 of them with gunshot wounds -- during the crackdown over the past two weeks.
Chamisa said his party had recorded 844 cases of human rights violations.
- 'Systematic torture' -
Nationwide demonstrations erupted after Mnangagwa announced on January 12 that fuel prices were being more than doubled in a country suffering spiralling inflation and regular shortages of necessities.
Security forces instigated a crackdown to crush the protests in a move condemned by human rights groups who accused security forces of employing "systematic torture".
Chamisa, 40, said he had written to regional body the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to intervene, but had not yet received a response.
"I don't know how many bodies are supposed to be killed, I don't know how much blood is supposed to flow on the streets of Harare before the SADC does something," he said.
"I don't know how many women are supposed to be raped before we begin to see the intervention of our regional bodies."
Chamisa, who narrowly lost to Mnangagwa in a disputed presidential election last July, blamed his rival for the wave of chaotic protests.
"The person we hold responsible is none other than Mr. Mnangagwa who announced a 150 percent increase in fuel prices without any due notice, without any justification. He is the one who instigated the citizens' response," he said.
Mnangagwa on Monday said he was "appalled" by a televised report showing security forces repeatedly beating a detained civilian, and ordered the arrest of those responsible.
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Madagascar leader sees parliament win amid fraud complaints
Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina said Wednesday that he believed his party and allies were on course for a majority in the country's new parliament, but the opposition alleged that "anomalies" had been detected in the vote.
The election commission is counting votes from the election, which took place on Monday, with provisional results expected on June 15.
"Today, according to the trends at the independent election commission, our group of parties are ahead and on track for a majority, even if it isn't official," Rajoelina told reporters in Paris.
"We will wait for the final results of course," he added after talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The parliamentary election is seen as the latest round of a bitter feud between Rajoelina and his longstanding rival Marc Ravalomanana and his TIM ("I Love Madagascar") party.
The two men have dominated the country's politics since the early 2000s, sometimes cooperating but mostly fighting for advantage and high office.
"We have seen a lot of anomalies in all of the provinces and we are preparing our appeals," Olga Ramalason, a senator from TIM, told reporters in the capital Antananarivo.
An election observer mission from the Southern African Development Community has praised the peaceful conditions maintained for the election.
The former French colony is well known for its vanilla and precious redwood, yet is one of the world's poorest nations, according to World Bank data, with 76 percent of people living in extreme poverty.
The island has a long history of coups and unrest.
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Becoming sold on franchising
Franchise UK > Franchise UK Blog > Advice > Becoming sold on franchising
February 4, 2020Advice
A lot of people have the desire to be their own bosses and run their own online businesses. The problem for many wannabe entrepreneurs, however, is they lack any sort of business experience.
Yes, you might have worked behind a counter or in an office. But that doesn’t give you the experience you need to start a business from scratch. It is why more and more people decide to buy a UK franchise.
A business model on a plate
When you purchase a UK franchise, you buy a copy of an existing trading model. Most UK franchises come as a complete package, including training. In other words, you don’t need any business start-up experience. This is what attracts people. Very often, all they want initially is the knowledge and first-hand experience.
Yes, you can learn from books, but it isn’t the same thing. There is no substitute for experience at the coal face. In the beginning, the intention of operating a UK franchise may be just to learn the ropes. Running the franchise long term is not the goal. The final aim was to set up your own independent business.
Falling in love with franchising
But it’s very easy to get hooked running a franchise operation. Because of this, most franchisees change their minds and make it their new permanent goal.
Operating a franchise business is like running your own independent business in many ways. In fact, it is your own business. The only difference is that there will be certain restrictions as specified in the franchise agreement.
Protecting both parties
Restrictive covenants are there to protect both the franchisee and the franchisor. One of the more common is specifying a territory outside of which you should not operate. It helps to protect a franchisee’s sales within a specific geographical area.
From the franchisor’s viewpoint, restrictions are imposed to protect the integrity of the brand. A franchisor will also include some post-termination rules. The idea is to prevent you from setting up direct competition, poaching staff and misusing confidential information.
Staying where the grass is greenest
Once most people purchase a UK franchise, they stick with it. You get to know the product or service inside out. You become familiar with the systems. It’s your business, and you can build a sound, trusted business reputation. Why bother to change?
If you’d like to find out more about operating a UK franchise, take a look around the Franchise UK website. You’ll find all the information you need, plus a comprehensive directory listing current UK franchise opportunities.
Young Female Apprentice Jump Starts Career in Automotive Industry
There’s never been a better time to invest in gym franchises
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We are very delighted that you have shown interest in our enterprise. Data protection is of a particularly high priority for the management of the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH. The use of the Internet pages of the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH is possible without any indication of personal data; however, if a data subject wants to use special enterprise services via our website, processing of personal data could become necessary. If the processing of personal data is necessary and there is no statutory basis for such processing, we generally obtain consent from the data subject.
The processing of personal data, such as the name, address, e-mail address, or telephone number of a data subject shall always be in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and in accordance with the country-specific data protection regulations applicable to the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH. By means of this data protection declaration, our enterprise would like to inform the general public of the nature, scope, and purpose of the personal data we collect, use and process. Furthermore, data subjects are informed, by means of this data protection declaration, of the rights to which they are entitled.
As the controller, the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH has implemented numerous technical and organizational measures to ensure the most complete protection of personal data processed through this website. However, Internet-based data transmissions may in principle have security gaps, so absolute protection may not be guaranteed. For this reason, every data subject is free to transfer personal data to us via alternative means, e.g. by telephone.
The data protection declaration of the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH is based on the terms used by the European legislator for the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Our data protection declaration should be legible and understandable for the general public, as well as our customers and business partners. To ensure this, we would like to first explain the terminology used.
Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH
Odeonsplatz 15
Email: store@freudenhaus.com
Website: www.freudenhaus.com
3. Name and Address of the Data Protection Officer
The Data Protection Officer of the controller is:
Any data subject may, at any time, contact our Data Protection Officer directly with all questions and suggestions concerning data protection.
The Internet pages of the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH use cookies. Cookies are text files that are stored in a computer system via an Internet browser.
Through the use of cookies, the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH can provide the users of this website with more user-friendly services that would not be possible without the cookie setting.
The website of the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH collects a series of general data and information when a data subject or automated system calls up the website. This general data and information are stored in the server log files. Collected may be (1) the browser types and versions used, (2) the operating system used by the accessing system, (3) the website from which an accessing system reaches our website (so-called referrers), (4) the sub-websites, (5) the date and time of access to the Internet site, (6) an Internet protocol address (IP address), (7) the Internet service provider of the accessing system, and (8) any other similar data and information that may be used in the event of attacks on our information technology systems.
When using these general data and information, the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH does not draw any conclusions about the data subject. Rather, this information is needed to (1) deliver the content of our website correctly, (2) optimize the content of our website as well as its advertisement, (3) ensure the long-term viability of our information technology systems and website technology, and (4) provide law enforcement authorities with the information necessary for criminal prosecution in case of a cyber-attack. Therefore, the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH analyzes anonymously collected data and information statistically, with the aim of increasing the data protection and data security of our enterprise, and to ensure an optimal level of protection for the personal data we process. The anonymous data of the server log files are stored separately from all personal data provided by a data subject.
On the website of the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH, users are given the opportunity to subscribe to our enterprise's newsletter. The input mask used for this purpose determines what personal data are transmitted, as well as when the newsletter is ordered from the controller.
The Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH informs its customers and business partners regularly by means of a newsletter about enterprise offers. The enterprise's newsletter may only be received by the data subject if (1) the data subject has a valid e-mail address and (2) the data subject registers for the newsletter shipping. A confirmation e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address registered by a data subject for the first time for newsletter shipping, for legal reasons, in the double opt-in procedure. This confirmation e-mail is used to prove whether the owner of the e-mail address as the data subject is authorized to receive the newsletter.
The newsletter of the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH contains so-called tracking pixels. A tracking pixel is a miniature graphic embedded in such e-mails, which are sent in HTML format to enable log file recording and analysis. This allows a statistical analysis of the success or failure of online marketing campaigns. Based on the embedded tracking pixel, the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH may see if and when an e-mail was opened by a data subject, and which links in the e-mail were called up by data subjects.
Such personal data collected in the tracking pixels contained in the newsletters are stored and analyzed by the controller in order to optimize the shipping of the newsletter, as well as to adapt the content of future newsletters even better to the interests of the data subject. These personal data will not be passed on to third parties. Data subjects are at any time entitled to revoke the respective separate declaration of consent issued by means of the double-opt-in procedure. After a revocation, these personal data will be deleted by the controller. The Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH automatically regards a withdrawal from the receipt of the newsletter as a revocation.
If one of the aforementioned reasons applies, and a data subject wishes to request the erasure of personal data stored by the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller. An employee of Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH shall promptly ensure that the erasure request is complied with immediately.
Where the controller has made personal data public and is obliged pursuant to Article 17(1) to erase the personal data, the controller, taking account of available technology and the cost of implementation, shall take reasonable steps, including technical measures, to inform other controllers processing the personal data that the data subject has requested erasure by such controllers of any links to, or copy or replication of, those personal data, as far as processing is not required. An employees of the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH will arrange the necessary measures in individual cases.
If one of the aforementioned conditions is met, and a data subject wishes to request the restriction of the processing of personal data stored by the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH, he or she may at any time contact any employee of the controller. The employee of the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH will arrange the restriction of the processing.
In order to assert the right to data portability, the data subject may at any time contact any employee of the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH.
The Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH shall no longer process the personal data in the event of the objection, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject, or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.
If the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH processes personal data for direct marketing purposes, the data subject shall have the right to object at any time to processing of personal data concerning him or her for such marketing. This applies to profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing. If the data subject objects to the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH to the processing for direct marketing purposes, the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH will no longer process the personal data for these purposes.
In addition, the data subject has the right, on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, to object to processing of personal data concerning him or her by the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH for scientific or historical research purposes, or for statistical purposes pursuant to Article 89(1) of the GDPR, unless the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for reasons of public interest.
In order to exercise the right to object, the data subject may contact any employee of the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH. In addition, the data subject is free in the context of the use of information society services, and notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, to use his or her right to object by automated means using technical specifications.
If the decision (1) is necessary for entering into, or the performance of, a contract between the data subject and a data controller, or (2) it is based on the data subject's explicit consent, the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH shall implement suitable measures to safeguard the data subject's rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, at least the right to obtain human intervention on the part of the controller, to express his or her point of view and contest the decision.
If the data subject wishes to exercise the rights concerning automated individual decision-making, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH.
If the data subject wishes to exercise the right to withdraw the consent, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH.
12. Data protection provisions about the application and use of Facebook
With each call-up to one of the individual pages of this Internet website, which is operated by the controller and into which a Facebook component (Facebook plug-ins) was integrated, the web browser on the information technology system of the data subject is automatically prompted to download display of the corresponding Facebook component from Facebook through the Facebook component. An overview of all the Facebook Plug-ins may be accessed under https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/. During the course of this technical procedure, Facebook is made aware of what specific sub-site of our website was visited by the data subject.
If the data subject is logged in at the same time on Facebook, Facebook detects with every call-up to our website by the data subject—and for the entire duration of their stay on our Internet site—which specific sub-site of our Internet page was visited by the data subject. This information is collected through the Facebook component and associated with the respective Facebook account of the data subject. If the data subject clicks on one of the Facebook buttons integrated into our website, e.g. the "Like" button, or if the data subject submits a comment, then Facebook matches this information with the personal Facebook user account of the data subject and stores the personal data.
The data protection guideline published by Facebook, which is available at https://facebook.com/about/privacy/, provides information about the collection, processing and use of personal data by Facebook. In addition, it is explained there what setting options Facebook offers to protect the privacy of the data subject. In addition, different configuration options are made available to allow the elimination of data transmission to Facebook. These applications may be used by the data subject to eliminate a data transmission to Facebook.
13. Data protection provisions about the application and use of Google-AdWords
On this website, the controller has integrated Google AdWords. Google AdWords is a service for Internet advertising that allows the advertiser to place ads in Google search engine results and the Google advertising network. Google AdWords allows an advertiser to pre-define specific keywords with the help of which an ad on Google's search results only then displayed, when the user utilizes the search engine to retrieve a keyword-relevant search result. In the Google Advertising Network, the ads are distributed on relevant web pages using an automatic algorithm, taking into account the previously defined keywords.
The operating company of Google AdWords is Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, UNITED STATES.
The purpose of Google AdWords is the promotion of our website by the inclusion of relevant advertising on the websites of third parties and in the search engine results of the search engine Google and an insertion of third-party advertising on our website.
If a data subject reaches our website via a Google ad, a conversion cookie is filed on the information technology system of the data subject through Google. The definition of cookies is explained above. A conversion cookie loses its validity after 30 days and is not used to identify the data subject. If the cookie has not expired, the conversion cookie is used to check whether certain sub-pages, e.g, the shopping cart from an online shop system, were called up on our website. Through the conversion cookie, both Google and the controller can understand whether a person who reached an AdWords ad on our website generated sales, that is, executed or canceled a sale of goods.
The data and information collected through the use of the conversion cookie is used by Google to create visit statistics for our website. These visit statistics are used in order to determine the total number of users who have been served through AdWords ads to ascertain the success or failure of each AdWords ad and to optimize our AdWords ads in the future. Neither our company nor other Google AdWords advertisers receive information from Google that could identify the data subject.
The conversion cookie stores personal information, e.g. the Internet pages visited by the data subject. Each time we visit our Internet pages, personal data, including the IP address of the Internet access used by the data subject, is transmitted to Google in the United States of America. These personal data are stored by Google in the United States of America. Google may pass these personal data collected through the technical procedure to third parties.
The data subject may, at any time, prevent the setting of cookies by our website, as stated above, by means of a corresponding setting of the Internet browser used and thus permanently deny the setting of cookies. Such a setting of the Internet browser used would also prevent Google from placing a conversion cookie on the information technology system of the data subject. In addition, a cookie set by Google AdWords may be deleted at any time via the Internet browser or other software programs.
The data subject has a possibility of objecting to the interest based advertisement of Google. Therefore, the data subject must access from each of the browsers in use the link www.google.de/settings/ads and set the desired settings.
Further information and the applicable data protection provisions of Google may be retrieved under https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/.
14. Data protection provisions about the application and use of Instagram
The operating company of the services offered by Instagram is Instagram LLC, 1 Hacker Way, Building 14 First Floor, Menlo Park, CA, UNITED STATES.
15. Data protection provisions about the application and use of Tumblr
On this website, the controller has integrated components of Tumblr. Tumblr is a platform that allows users to create and run a blog. A blog is a web-based, generally publicly-accessible portal on which one or more people called bloggers or web bloggers may post articles or write down thoughts in so-called blogposts. For example, in a Tumblr blog the user can publish text, images, links, and videos, and spread them in the digital space. Furthermore, Tumblr users may import content from other websites into their own blog.
The operating company of Tumblr is Tumblr, Inc., 35 East 21st St, Ground Floor, New York, NY 10010, UNITED STATES.
Through each call to one of the individual pages of this Internet site, which is operated by the controller and on which a Tumblr component (Tumblr button) has been integrated, the Internet browser on the information technology system of the data subject causes automatically the download of a display of the corresponding Tumblr component of Tumblr. Learn more about the Tumblr-buttons that are available under https://www.tumblr.com/buttons. During the course of this technical procedure, Tumblr becomes aware of what concrete sub-page of our website was visited by the data subject. The purpose of the integration of the Tumblr component is a retransmission of the contents of this website to allow our users to introduce this web page to the digital world and to increase our visitor numbers.
If the data subject is logged in at Tumblr, Tumblr detects with every call-up to our website by the data subject—and for the entire duration of their stay on our Internet site—which specific sub-page of our Internet page was visited by the data subject. This information is collected through the Tumblr component and associated with the respective Tumblr account of the data subject. If the data subject clicks on one of the Tumblr buttons, integrated on our website, then Tumblr assigns this information to the personal Tumblr user account of the data subject and stores the personal data.
Tumblr receives information via the Tumblr component that the data subject has visited our website, provided that the data subject is logged in at Tumblr at the time of the call-up to our website. This occurs regardless of whether the person clicks on the Tumblr component or not. If such a transfer of information to Tumblr is not desirable for the data subject, then he or she may prevent this by logging off from their Tumblr account before a call-up to our website is made.
The applicable data protection provisions of Tumblr may be accessed under https://www.tumblr.com/policy/en/privacy.
16. Payment Method: Data protection provisions about the use of PayPal as a payment processor
On this website, the controller has integrated components of PayPal. PayPal is an online payment service provider. Payments are processed via so-called PayPal accounts, which represent virtual private or business accounts. PayPal is also able to process virtual payments through credit cards when a user does not have a PayPal account. A PayPal account is managed via an e-mail address, which is why there are no classic account numbers. PayPal makes it possible to trigger online payments to third parties or to receive payments. PayPal also accepts trustee functions and offers buyer protection services.
The European operating company of PayPal is PayPal (Europe) S.à.r.l. & Cie. S.C.A., 22-24 Boulevard Royal, 2449 Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
If the data subject chooses "PayPal" as the payment option in the online shop during the ordering process, we automatically transmit the data of the data subject to PayPal. By selecting this payment option, the data subject agrees to the transfer of personal data required for payment processing.
PayPal will, if necessary, pass on personal data to affiliates and service providers or subcontractors to the extent that this is necessary to fulfill contractual obligations or for data to be processed in the order.
This Privacy Policy has been generated by the Privacy Policy Generator of the German Association for Data Protection that was developed in cooperation with Privacy Lawyers from WILDE BEUGER SOLMECKE, Cologne.
© 2021 FreudenHaus Optik Handels GmbH
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Genetics of Aging
Blanka Rogina
University of Connecticut Health Center, United States
Srinivas Ayyadevara
Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center, United States
Michael Petrascheck
The Scripps Research Institute, United States
Front. Genet., 27 November 2018 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2018.00586
Impact of Growth Hormone-Related Mutations on Mammalian Aging
Andrzej Bartke1* and Nana Quainoo2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, United States
2Department of Biology, University of Illinois Springfield, Springfield, IL, United States
Mutations of a single gene can lead to a major increase in longevity in organisms ranging from yeast and worms to insects and mammals. Discovering these mutations (sometimes referred to as “longevity genes”) led to identification of evolutionarily conserved molecular, cellular, and organismal mechanisms of aging. Studies in mice provided evidence for the important role of growth hormone (GH) signaling in mammalian aging. Mice with mutations or gene deletions leading to GH deficiency or GH resistance have reduced body size and delayed maturation, but are healthier and more resistant to stress, age slower, and live longer than their normal (wild type) siblings. Mutations of the same genes in people can provide remarkable protection from age-related disease, but have no consistent impact on lifespan. Ongoing research indicates that genetic defects in GH signaling are linked to extension of healthspan and lifespan via a variety of interlocking mechanism, including improvements in genome and stem cell maintenance, stress resistance, glucose homeostasis, and thermogenesis, along with reductions in the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) C1 complex signaling and in chronic low grade inflammation.
Aging and Longevity Reflect Impact of Environmental and Genetic Factors
Adult phenotype is determined by a complex interplay of the genetic endowment of the individual and environmental influences. Similarly to other phenotypic characteristics, the rate of aging and the longevity can be influenced by nutrition, ambient temperature, and exposure to noxious agents during development and adult life. In humans, general health, disease risk, and life expectancy are also strongly related to the availability of safe drinking water, other public hygiene factors, vaccinations, and the access to, as well as the quality of health care systems. These environmental factors influencing human health, aging, and longevity are, in turn, related to social structure and inequities between, as well as within, societies, as evidenced by a very consistent association of socio-economic status with life expectancy. Although the impact of environmental factors on aging and longevity may overshadow the effects of the genotype, the role of common and rare genetic variants and their interactions is difficult to overstate. This is perhaps best exemplified by exceptional longevity. The common perception that this characteristic “runs in the families” has been repeatedly confirmed in the studies of the offspring of centenarians and other long-lived people. These individuals are significantly healthier than their spouses, partners, or other genetically unrelated members of the same population (Adams et al., 2008; Westendorp et al., 2009; Ash et al., 2015; Gubbi et al., 2017). In addition to delayed and/or reduced incidence of various chronic diseases, familial longevity is associated with improved life expectancy and “aging well” as indicated, among others, by a more youthful appearance (Gunn et al., 2013). Additional evidence for genetic control of human aging was derived from studies of adopted children (Petersen et al., 2002) and identical versus non-identical twins (Steves et al., 2012). The complex interaction of genes and environment (“nature” and “nurture”) were recently shown to also include the impact of non-inherited maternal genetic variants on the characteristics of the child (Kong et al., 2018).
Until fairly recently, it was assumed that the genetic control of longevity, like other quantitative traits, is polygenic with numerous genes exerting relatively small, additive, synergistic, antagonistic, or protective effects. However, results obtained in the ‘1980s in a round worm, Caenorhabditis elegans, challenged this view by showing that mutation of a single gene can produce impressive extension of longevity (Friedman and Johnson, 1988). Since then, numerous life-extending mutations (“longevity genes” or “longevity assurance genes”) have been identified in different animal species and their actions were related to specific signaling pathways within the cells. It is the purpose of this article to review what has been learned about the endocrine control of aging in mammals from studying life extending mutations. We will focus on the impact of genes related to the somatotropic axis, which consists of the hypothalamic growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), the hypophyseal growth hormone (GH), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) on aging and longevity.
Discovery of Longevity Genes in Worms and Insects
The discovery of longevity genes in invertebrate animals and the demonstration that mutation of a single gene can double adult lifespan and delay the appearance of many symptoms of aging in these organisms (Friedman and Johnson, 1988; Kenyon et al., 1993; Clancy et al., 2001; Tatar et al., 2001) was a major advance in the study of the genetics of aging and attracted enormous (and well deserved) attention of scientists in the field of experimental biology, as well as the general public. However, it was unclear whether these novel findings in the genetics of aging apply to more complex organisms and, in particular, to mammals. Early evidence that this may be the case (Silberberg, 1972; details in the next section of this article) appeared to have been overlooked and it was over two decades later that the extension of mammalian longevity by a single mutation was demonstrated (Brown-Borg et al., 1996).
Discoveries of mutations with major impact on longevity provided new and exciting opportunities for research. The remarkably large differences in the rate of aging between the bearers of these “longevity genes” and control (wild type) animals facilitate identification of the mechanisms of extended longevity. Search for the mechanisms responsible for slower and/or delayed aging of the long-lived mutants is further facilitated by the fact that almost all of the identified longevity genes had well known functions. This also allowed studying epistatic relationships with other genes leading to identification of signaling pathways involved in the control of aging.
Yet another advantage of using these “longevity genes” to identify mechanisms of aging is that they allow comparing long-lived and normal (control) individuals when they are young, long before their physiological characteristics are impacted by age-related changes. This is not a trivial issue because, without such genetic markers, long-lived individuals can be identified only by longer than average survival, when wild type controls for the same birth cohort are no longer available and the phenotype represents a mosaic of features related to mechanisms of extended longevity and features due to advanced age. In the case of mammals or other animals in which lifespan is measured in years rather than days (as in C. elegans) or weeks, availability of life extending mutations also greatly reduces the time need to study the mechanisms of aging.
Mammalian Longevity Genes
Long before discovery of longevity genes in C. elegans, extension of longevity in mice homozygous for a mutation causing dwarfism was mentioned in a study of age-related osteoarthritis (Silberberg, 1972). This statement was supported by inclusion of data from dwarf mice as old as 3 years and 5 months (laboratory mice normally live two to two and a half years) but no data on average or maximal longevity of normal and dwarf mice from the employed strain was provided. These intriguing data appeared to have been overlooked by gerontologists and, curiously, a different laboratory reported in the same year that dwarf mice are extremely short-lived due to defective development and function of the immune system (Fabris et al., 1972). Incidentally, the latter observation differed from contemporary and subsequent findings in other laboratories (Shire, 1973; Schneider, 1976), and probably represented some uncommon combination of the effects of the husbandry and presence of pathogens (Shire, 1973). It was only in Brown-Borg et al. (1996) reported extension of average and maximal lifespan in both sexes of Ames dwarf mice, mutants phenotypically resembling dwarf mice studied by Silberberg (1972) and Fabris et al. (1972). Ames dwarf, Prop1df mice are homozygous a for loss-of-function mutation affecting development of the anterior pituitary gland (Sornson et al., 1996) and, as a result, exhibit profound deficiency of growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (Bartke, 1979a,b, 2000). These endocrine defects lead to a severe decline of circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and thyroid hormones, reduced growth rate, delayed maturation, and diminutive adult body size (Bartke and Brown-Borg, 2004; Bartke, 2011). Significant extension of longevity of Snell dwarf mice was reported by Flurkey et al. (2001), along with the evidence for a delay of development of various symptoms of aging. Evidence from these and more recent studies indicates that genetic deletion of GH signaling in mice slows the rate of aging (Koopman et al., 2016) and extends both lifespan and “healthspan,” the part of life free of frailty and disease (Bartke and Brown-Borg, 2004; Bartke, 2011, 2018). Studies in several laboratories demonstrated that DNA methylation changes with age and profiling of methylome can provide a surprisingly accurate “epigenetic clock” of aging (Cole et al., 2017; Wang et al., 2017). Using this approach, Cole et al. (2017) and Wang et al. (2017) provided novel evidence that aging of Snell dwarf, Ames dwarf, and GHR-/- mice is, indeed, slower than in wild type animals, resulting in a younger “biological age” in comparison to their wild type siblings.
Extended longevity of mice with genetic deletion of GH receptors and resulting GH resistance (Coschigano et al., 2003) and in GHRH-/- mice with deletion of hypothalamic GH-releasing hormone leading to isolated GH deficiency (Sun et al., 2013) provided evidence that suppression of GH signaling is sufficient to extend longevity of mice. Comparisons of data on longevity, mortality rate, and various measures of healthspan in these mutants indicate that slower and/or delayed aging of hypopituitary Ames dwarf and Snell dwarf mice is due primarily to GH deficiency with hypothyroidism and PRL deficiency playing only a minor, if any, role. Additional information on these and other GH signaling-related life-extending mutations in mice and humans is provided later in this article. Mechanisms of GH signaling within target cells are shown schematically in Figure 1.
FIGURE 1. Key mechanisms of GH signaling include binding to a dimeric GH receptor (GHR) and phosphorylation (activation) of janus kinase 2 (JAK2), signal transducer and activation of transcription (STAT5), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2), and molecular transcription factors (TFs), leading to enhanced transcription of IGF-1 and other GH-regulated genes (adapted from Bartke et al., 2013).
Biological Mechanisms of Aging Have Been Conserved in the Course of Evolution
Very soon after demonstration that mutation causing GH deficiency extends longevity in mice, the Ruvkun laboratory reported that genes with major impact on aging in a worm, C. elegans, exhibit extensive homologies to genes coding the structure of mammalian insulin and IGF-1 receptors and to genes involved in insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) (Kimura et al., 1997; Tissenbaum and Ruvkun, 1998). Since IGF-1 is a key mediator of GH actions, and GH modulates both the secretion of insulin and the tissue responses to this hormone, these exciting observations linked the actions of key longevity genes in C. elegans with the effects of GH-related genes in mice. What emerged from these findings and from the subsequent work is the realization that an important mechanism of biological aging is evolutionarily conserved in organisms raging from yeast to mammals (Longo and Finch, 2003; Tatar et al., 2003; McElwee et al., 2007). This unexpected fact is truly astounding considering the range of differences in the structure, complexity, life history, physiological functions, and life expectancy between unicellular yeast, microscopic roundworms, insects, and mammals.
It should be emphasized that the homologies of genes and signaling pathways that control aging in diverse organisms do not imply that the mechanisms of this control are identical. Insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) impacts aging in worms, insects, and vertebrates. However, in vertebrates, biosynthesis of IGF-1, its circulating levels, and bioavailability, are under control of GH, which has no known homologs in invertebrates. The interaction between GH and IIS in the control of aging is further complicated by complex physiological relationships among GH, IGF-1, and insulin. Thus, many of the actions of GH are mediated by IGF-1, but IGF-1 also exerts actions which are different and, in some cases, opposite to the actions of GH. For example, GH promotes lipolysis, while IGF-1 enhances the sensitivity of adipose tissue to insulin, leading to fat deposition. Moreover, GH promotes insulin secretion, but opposes its actions by inducing insulin resistance. In humans, divergent effects of IGF-1 on the risks of different age-related diseases add yet another element to this complexity. Epidemiological studies indicate that low levels of serum IGF-1 protect from cancer but increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Discovery of this highly conserved genetic network that controls aging in evolutionarily distant organisms, served to focus attention on the tradeoffs between various physiological process and on the reciprocal relationships among aging and anabolic processes, growth, and maturation. These relationships are currently investigated in many laboratories, also including our group. Growth-related and anabolic processes stimulated by GH, IGF-1, insulin, and mTORC1 signaling apparently have definite “costs” in terms of longevity. As was already mentioned earlier in this article, genetic, nutritional, or pharmacological suppression of these signaling pathways in mice produce major extension of longevity (Harrison et al., 2009; Bartke, 2011, 2018). A recent study indicates that differences in cell size, an mTOR-dependent trait, are correlated with lifespan differences among 24 mammalian species (Anzi et al., 2018).
Growth Hormone-Related Mutations With Major Impact on Mouse Longevity
In this section, we will survey mutations and targeted gene deletions (“knock-outs”) which block or severely diminish somatotropic signaling in mice and produce significant extension of longevity. Effects on these longevity genes in mice will be compared to the effects of the corresponding mutations in humans on age-related disease and longevity.
Genetic Defects in Development of the Adenohypophysis Leading to Deficiency of GH and Other Hormones
Hypopituitarism has been reported in Snell dwarf (Pit1dw/dw) mice due to a loss-of-function mutation in the pituitary-specific factor 1 (Pit1) gene, also known as POU domain, class 1, transcription factor 1 (Pou1f1) gene, which is involved in the differentiation of a specific cell lineage of the anterior pituitary during ontogenesis. The resulting lack of somatotroph, thyrotroph, and lactotroph cells in this gland (Bartke, 1979a; Li et al., 1990) leads to endocrine abnormalities, including the reduction of the circulating levels of growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and prolactin (PRL) (Bartke, 1979a,a, Li et al., 1990). These endocrine deficits are associated with a major extension in lifespan (Flurkey et al., 2001). The extension of longevity has been also observed in Ames dwarf (Prop1df/df) mice, which have the same endocrine abnormalities as Snell dwarf mice, but due to a recessive mutation in another gene, the Prophet of Pit1 (Prop1) gene, also involved in the differentiation of somatotrophs, thyrotrophs, and lactotrophs (Brown-Borg et al., 1996; Sornson et al., 1996; Bartke and Brown-Borg, 2004). However, there is no evidence for longevity extension in humans with mutations in the same genes (Krzisnik et al., 2010).
The expression of Prop1 gene precedes the expression of Pit1 gene, whose transactivation leads to the development of somatotroph, thyrotroph, and lactotroph cells in the anterior pituitary, also the expression of genes that code for GH, TSH beta subunit, and PRL hormones (Li et al., 1990; Sornson et al., 1996). Mutations in Pit1 gene were first observed in Snell and Jackson dwarf mice (Li et al., 1990; Flurkey et al., 2001) and cause combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD), and hypoplasia of the anterior pituitary in both mice and humans (Li et al., 1990; Pernasetti et al., 1998; Nakamura et al., 1999; Vallette-Kasic et al., 2001; Cohen and Radovick, 2002; Hashimoto et al., 2003; Kelberman et al., 2009). In humans, a point mutation in the PIT1 (POU1F1) coding sequence has been found in a number of CPHD patients, additionally, there is evidence that the DNA-binding capacity of the PIT1 protein is impacted in this condition (Ohta et al., 1992; Cohen et al., 1995; Pernasetti et al., 1998). Defects in transcription factor genes such as PROP1/Prop1, POU1F1/Pou1f1, HES homeobox 1 (HESX1/Hesx1), LIM homeobox 3 (LHX3/Lhx3) and LIM homeobox 4 (LHX4/Lhx4) have all been known to cause CPHD in humans and mice (Wu et al., 1998; Bertko et al., 2017). Deletion of PROP1 gene yields abnormally short proteins that fail at regulating other genes, resulting in significant impairment of pituitary cell differentiation (Fang et al., 2016). While dwarf phenotype in Ames dwarf mice is expressed only in animals that are homozygous for Prop1 gene mutation, most PROP1-related phenotypes in humans are observed in both homozygous and compound heterozygous patients (Lap-Yin and Wai-Yee, 2010). The mutant PROP1 protein in humans has its DNA-binding homeodomain affected, leading to a severely reduced DNA binding and/or gene transactivation activity of the transcription factor as compared to the PROP1 mutant protein found in Ames dwarf mice (Lap-Yin and Wai-Yee, 2010; Bertko et al., 2017). It is worthy to note, while hypopituitary Prop1df/df mice live longer then their normal siblings, hypopituitarism in humans was reported to be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, PROP1 gene mutation studies performed in patients with dwarfism from the Krk Island in the Adriatic Sea have shown that these patients can live as long, or perhaps even longer, than normal subjects in the same population.
Deletion and Mutation of the GH Receptor Gene Leading to GH Resistance
In addition to the effects of the aforementioned naturally occurring gene mutations, dwarfism and extended lifespan can also result from targeted disruption of GH receptor (Ghr) gene in GHR knockout (GHR-/-) mice, a model for human’s Laron syndrome (Coschigano et al., 2003). Recent report by List et al. (2011) critically examined the parallels between GHR-/- mice and humans with GH insensitivity, and observed a striking similarity in phenotypic traits. Provided that suppression of GHR signaling in GHR-/- mice leads to major extension of longevity, could the same be concluded about patients with Laron syndrome?
The inability of receptors to bind GH and their failure in inducing GH signaling in cells, caused by the mutations seen in Laron syndrome patients, has been related to protection from age-related disease, as reported by Shevah and Laron (2007) and by Guevara-Aguirre et al. (2011) in a study of Ecuadorian subjects. Guevara-Aguirre et al. (2011) monitored for 22 years a group of subjects carrying mutations in the GHR gene and collected information on the effects of absent GH signaling, including surveys on causes and ages of death in this cohort. The authors provided clear evidence that the Laron syndrome patients had significantly lower risks of developing cancer and diabetes but their longevity was not significantly altered. Studies on the effects of GHR dysfunction on longevity in humans are complicated due to the genetic architecture of human longevity and the numerous factors that are associated with survival at various ages (Christensen et al., 2006). These patients presented diminished levels of circulating IGF-1, a hormone that plays an important role in cancer. In this study, the majority of GHR-deficient Laron syndrome patients were homozygous for an A to G splice site mutation at position 180 in exon 6 of the GHR gene. In an in vitro study performed by these authors, human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs) were incubated in medium supplemented with serum from either GHR-deficient (GHRD) subjects or their normal relatives. Results showed that the cells incubated with serum of GHRD patients presented fewer DNA breaks, but higher apoptosis rate, and reduction in expression of several genes in a fashion that promotes cellular protection and lifespan extension. An increase in DNA damages was observed when IGF-1 was added to the serum from Laron syndrome patients, providing evidence that the deficiency of circulating IGF-1 levels in GHRD patients is the major reason for resistance to oxidative stress in those subjects (Guevara-Aguirre et al., 2011). Nevertheless, even though this study provided compelling evidence that Laron syndrome patients are protected from age-related pathologies, surprisingly, no lifespan extension was observed in this group. This could have been possibly due to different causes of death: a major proportion (70%) consisted of convulsive disorders, alcohol toxicity, accidents, liver cirrhosis, and other non-age-related causes (Guevara-Aguirre et al., 2011). Additionally, the GHRD patients also presented a lack of type 2 diabetes, despite the obese phenotype typically displayed in this group. This is intriguing, and has been related to decreased insulin levels and a lower insulin resistance in GHRD subjects. In Ghr-/- mice with GHRD, increased insulin sensitivity is believed to represent an important mechanism of their remarkable extension of longevity (Bonkowski et al., 2006). Taken together, the available data indicate that GHR dysfunction in Laron syndrome patients protects them from cancer and diabetes, but has no significant impact on longevity.
Isolated GH Deficiency Resulting From GHRH or GHRH-R Mutations
Sun et al. (2013) reported lifespan extension in growth hormone releasing-hormone (GHRH) knockout mice (Alba and Salvatori, 2004a), which was comparable to those observed in Snell dwarfdw/dw and Ames dwarfdf/df, and GHR-/- mice. Calorie restriction (CR) produced further extension of longevity in GHRH-/- mice, differing from the effects of CR in GHR-/- animals (Bonkowski et al., 2006). These results suggest additive effects of GHRH mutation and CR, and imply that the mechanisms of their effects on longevity are not identical, although undoubtedly overlapping. Interestingly, no GHRH gene mutations have been reported in humans, as opposed to GHRH receptor (GHRHR) gene mutations, which have emerged as a common cause of inherited autosomal recessive isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) also known as Dwarfism of Sindh (a province in Pakistan) (Alba and Salvatori, 2004b; Aguiar-Oliveira et al., 2010). The IGHD in mice and humans, caused by GHRHR gene defects, highlights the important role of this receptor in the regulation of GH synthesis and secretion, as well as aging and longevity (Flurkey et al., 2001; Aguiar-Oliveira et al., 2010). Mutations of the human GHRHR were discovered in families with consanguineous marriages (Alba and Salvatori, 2004b). Subjects homozygous for these mutations have short stature, proportional dwarfism, apparent extension of healthspan, but no extension of longevity (Aguiar-Oliveira et al., 2010). This is based on evidence from over 25 years of studies of Aguiar-Oliveira and his colleagues in a large kindred of IGHD subjects who did not receive GH replacement therapy (Aguiar-Oliveira et al., 2010).
Reduced IGF-1 Signaling Influences Aging
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) represents an important mediator of GH actions, and both molecules play important roles in aging and longevity (Bartke, 2017). Mice heterozygous for deletion of the IGF-1 receptor (IGF1R) gene are long-lived, although the magnitude of life extension depends on sex and genetic background (Xu et al., 2014). The beneficial impact of reduced IGF-1 signaling on longevity is pronounced in females, but very small or absent in males (Xu et al., 2014). Studies in Igf1r+/- mice and in mice with deletion of Igf1r gene in different cell types provided evidence for unexpected neuroprotective effects of reduced IGF-1 signaling and, thus, greatly expanded the present understanding of the role of IGF-1 in the central nervous system (Cohen and Dillin, 2008; Chaker et al., 2015). Blockade of IGF1 receptors enhanced and their activation prevented hypothermia in mice exposed to CR (Cintron-Colon et al., 2017). These intriguing observations link brain IGF-1 signaling to nutrients and body temperature homeostasis, major regulators of metabolism and aging.
Mice with reduced levels of IGF-1, due to homozygous insertion of the IGF-1 gene, have increased maximal lifespan, although mean lifespan was not consistently affected (Lorenzini et al., 2014). These animals are smaller than wild type controls and exhibit resistance to detrimental effects of high fat diet (Salmon et al., 2015).
Studies in humans have associated the decreased levels of IGF-1 to extended longevity and chances to become a centenarian (Milman et al., 2014). Bonafè and collaborators reported an association between insulin/IGF-1 pathway and longevity in a group of long-lived people in Italy (Bonafe et al., 2003). Results from a study of Ashkenazi Jewish centenarians in the United States, also linked IGF1R gene polymorphisms with extreme longevity (Suh et al., 2008).
The bioavailability and actions of IGF-1 are regulated by its interactions with IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP), carrier proteins that may enhance or inhibit IGF signaling. The levels of IGFBPs are influenced by IGFBP proteinases (Conover and Bale, 2007; Conover et al., 2010). Genetic deletion of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPPA), a zinc metalloproteinase that enhances IGF signaling through cleavage of inhibitory IGFBP has been found to extend maximum lifespan in mice (Conover and Bale, 2007; Conover et al., 2010). Reduced Pappa activity increases the levels of IGFBPs, which results in reduced IGF signaling and leads to increased longevity (Conover and Bale, 2007; Conover et al., 2010). Conover and colleagues reported a significant increase of lifespan in both sexes of PAPPA-/- mice in contrast to findings in mice with reduced IGF-1 or IGF-1 receptor levels (Lorenzini et al., 2014; Xu et al., 2014). It is however important to note that the extended longevity phenotype found in PAPPA-/- mice is associated with normal serum levels of IGF-1(Conover and Bale, 2007). Conover and Bale (2007) suggested that the control of the availability of IGF-1 at local, tissue level and the moderate reduction rather than the complete inhibition of IGF-1 signaling is the key to lifespan extension. Survival data collected in the PAPPA-/- mice study showed that the knockouts experienced a reduction in age-related degenerative diseases and displayed a lifespan extension of about 30%, with degenerative diseases being the cause of high mortality in wild type mice (Conover and Bale, 2007).
Mechanisms linking effects of deleting or silencing GH-related genes to the extension of healthspan and lifespan will be discussed in the next section of this article. However, before addressing this subject, we would like to indicate that longevity of laboratory mice can also be affected by altering the expression of genes not related to IIS or GH signaling. A partial list of these genes is provided in Table 1. Although for some of these genes, the changes in longevity are relatively small, limited to only one sex, or concerning only average or median (rather than maximal) longevity, much has been and, undoubtedly, will continue to be learned from the study of their actions.
TABLE 1. Mouse longevity genes not directly related to GH signaling.
Multiple Mechanisms Are Linking GH-Related Genes to Aging
Much of the work in our laboratory during the last 30 years was directed at identifying mechanisms of extended longevity of mice with GH-related mutations and answering the question how major reduction or absence of normal endocrine signals can have major beneficial impact on healthspan and lifespan. These issues have also been addressed by others with major contributions from the Kopchick, Brown-Borg, Miller, Papaconstantinou, and Masternak laboratories (List et al., 2011; Brown-Borg, 2015; Basu et al., 2018; Masternak et al., 2018).
Both GH-deficient and GH-resistant mice have many phenotypic characteristics that presumably account for, or contribute to, healthy aging and extended longevity and, thus, represent likely mechanisms of these effects. These characteristics include increased resistance to multiple stressors such as free radicals and toxins (Brown-Borg, 2006; Bokov et al., 2007), reduced chronic low grade inflammation, senescent cell burden, and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the central nervous system (Kirkland et al., 2010; Hascup et al., 2015; Spadaro et al., 2016), reduced mTORC1 and increased mTORC2 signaling (Sharp and Bartke, 2005; Dominick et al., 2015; Fang et al., 2018), as well multiple adaptations of carbohydrate, lipid, and energy metabolism (Brown-Borg and Bartke, 2012; Bartke, 2017; Bartke, 2018). Many of the physiological characteristics of GH-related mutants interact, forming a complex network of mechanisms. For example, reductions in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the number of senescent cells, the secretory capacity of pancreatic beta cells, and mTORC1 signaling, interact with increased levels of adiponectin and reduced GH signaling to improve insulin sensitivity, while each of these factors also influences aging by other mechanisms (Tatar et al., 2003; Bartke and Brown-Borg, 2004; Brown-Borg and Bartke, 2012; Bartke, 2018). We believe that the remarkable extension of longevity in mice with genetic GH deficiency or resistance results from alterations in multiple mechanisms of aging and interactions among these alterations. While complete listing and detailed discussion of mechanisms linking reduced GH signaling with the extension of healthspan and lifespan is outside the scope of this article, tradeoffs between reproduction and longevity, and the role of stress resistance, will be outlined below.
Somatic growth regulated by GH and IGF-1 is linked to sexual maturation, which is delayed in GH deficient and GH resistant organisms (Bartke et al., 2013; Hoeflich et al., 2016). Though fertile, both female and male hypopituitary and GHR-/- mice experienced a significant delay in puberty, which leads to a reduction in fecundity and a lower reproductive fitness (Bartke and Brown-Borg, 2004; Bartke et al., 2013). Sexual maturation in male and female GHR-/- mice is delayed by approximately 1 week, and humans with Laron dwarfism were reported to exhibit a similar reproductive phenotype (Bartke et al., 2013). Extended longevity has been associated with reduced fecundity, as decreased reproduction leads to a diminished use of resources allocated to the maintenance of somatic tissues (Mukhopadhyay and Tissenbaum, 2007). Extensive studies have been performed in order to investigate the effect of reproduction on longevity both in humans and lower life forms (Doblhammer, 2000), but varying results have been reported. Many clinical studies have shown a positive relationship between longevity and reproduction (Doblhammer, 2000; Muller et al., 2002; McArdle et al., 2006), while others have suggested a trade-off or no association between these two factors (Voland and Engel, 1986; Kirkwood and Rose, 1991; Le Bourg et al., 1993; Korpelainen, 2000; Smith et al., 2009; Tabatabaie et al., 2011). The depletion of resources necessary for self-maintenance in an attempt to be used for reproductive purposes has been associated with decreased longevity. To gain further insights into the relationship between longevity and reproduction, Tabatabaie et al. (2011) studied two unrelated groups of exceptionally long-lived Ashkenazi Jewish individuals, and observed a trade-off between longevity and reproduction. Evidence that reduced reproduction is, in fact, associated with longevity is, however, debatable, and this topic continues to generate controversies (Westendorp and Kirkwood, 1998; Le Bourg, 2007). Physiological cost of reproduction in females is much higher than in males, and this further complicates interpretation of the available data (Voland and Engel, 1986; Le Bourg et al., 1993).
Additional factors that affect aging and longevity are environmental and cytotoxic stresses. Oxidative stress is believed to be a major cause of aging in a wide range of laboratory model organisms, and numerous studies have shown that animals carrying mutations which confer resistance to oxidative stress are long-lived (for some examples: Sun and Tower, 1999; Finkel and Holbrook, 2000; Bartke et al., 2001; Holzenberger et al., 2003). Recent studies on the genetics of aging using fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, and ocean quahog Arctica islandica, provided compelling evidence that enhanced resistance to stress is associated with extended longevity (Jazwinski, 2000; Johnson et al., 2002; Salmon et al., 2005; Ungvari et al., 2011). Murakami and colleagues investigated resistance to multiplex stresses in cultures of tail skin cells from young Snell dwarf (Pit1dw/dw), and wild type (control) mice using a variety of potentially lethal stresses, ultraviolet light, heat, paraquat, hydrogen peroxide, and the toxic metal cadmium. Results demonstrated that the cells derived from dwarf mice were more resistant to noxious agents (Murakami et al., 2003). The study was subsequently extended to show that dermal fibroblast cells derived from young adult long-lived Ames dwarfdf/df and GHR-/- mice are also resistant, in vitro, to the cytotoxic effects of hydrogen peroxide, cadmium, ultraviolet light, paraquat, and heat (Murakami et al., 2003; Salmon et al., 2005; Bartke, 2012).
Growth Hormone and Genes Related to GH Signaling Are Involved in the Control of Human Aging
The negative association of somatotropic (GH/IGF-1) signaling with longevity discovered in laboratory rodents applies to other mammalian species, apparently including humans. Thus, exceptional longevity in humans has been associated with reduced IGF-1 levels (Milman et al., 2014) and insulin/IGF-1 composite signaling score (van Heemst et al., 2005). In many populations, shorter people live longer (Samaras, 2007; He et al., 2014), and offspring of long-lived families secrete less GH than their spouses (van der Spoel et al., 2016). Moreover, mortality is increased in individuals with pathologic excess of GH (Baumann, 1987). Studies of the genetic polymorphism of candidate genes, genome-wide association studies (GWAs), and analysis of signaling pathways, genetic networks, and copy number variations, provided evidence that human aging is influenced by genes related to the somatotropic axis (van Heemst et al., 2005; Suh et al., 2008; Bonafe and Olivieri, 2009; Dato et al., 2018) and its downstream targets including FOXO3A (Blankenburg et al., 2018; Revelas et al., 2018; Zhao et al., 2018).
Surprisingly, mutations leading to profound suppression of GH secretion or to GH resistance have no major or consistent effect on human longevity (Aguiar-Oliveira et al., 2010; Krzisnik et al., 2010; Guevara-Aguirre et al., 2011), as was mentioned earlier in this article. However, they can provide protection from aging-related diseases including cancer, diabetes, and atherosclerosis (Aguiar-Oliveira et al., 2010; Guevara-Aguirre et al., 2011), in spite of changes in body composition and serum lipids that could be described as unfavorable. There is also intriguing evidence that severe genetic GH deficiency can reduce age-related changes in muscle function, cognition, and behavior leading to extension of the healthspan and “healthy aging” (Aguiar-Oliveira et al., 2017; Nashiro et al., 2017).
The fact that mutations leading to severe suppression or absence of GH signals have a major beneficial impact on longevity in mice but not in people is, perhaps, not surprising. There is increasing evidence for tradeoffs between growth, and anabolic processes that favor sexual maturation and fecundity, and the maintenance and repair mechanisms that promote longevity. Mice represent one of the extreme examples of short-living species that “live fast,” mature early, and can produce many offspring, but die young, while humans have roughly the opposite characteristics and are extremely long-lived in comparison to other mammals. Thus, suppression of the expression of growth-related genes and reduced GH action would have a much greater impact on aging in mice than in people. The fact that stress resistance and DNA repair are enhanced in mice with life extending GH-related mutations (Murakami et al., 2003; Bokov et al., 2004; Salmon et al., 2005; Podlutsky et al., 2017) would seem to support this reasoning. Although less likely, phenotypic differences between humans and mice or between different cohorts of subjects with hereditary disruption of GH signaling could also be related to differences in the exact nature of underlying genetic defects. For example, GH resistance of “Laron dwarf” GHR-/- mice is due to deletion of most of the fourth exon and part of the fourth intron of the Ghr gene (Coschigano et al., 2003), while Laron syndrome in different human cohorts is due to various deletions, splice variants, nonsense, missense, or frameshift mutations (Berg et al., 1993; Janecka et al., 2016).
AB: article conception and design, data acquisition, data analysis and interpretation, receiving grant, and approval of final manuscript. AB and NQ: wrote the manuscript.
Writing of this article and our recent and current studies of this topic were supported by NIA (NIH) via grants P01AG031736, R01AG019899, and R21AG05 1869.
We apologize to those whose work pertinent to the issues discussed was not cited due to limitations of the format or to inadvertent omissions. We are grateful for editorial assistance provided by Dr. Juliana Rocha and Lisa Hensley.
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Xu, J., Gontier, G., Chaker, Z., Lacube, P., Dupont, J., and Holzenberger, M. (2014). Longevity effect of IGF-1R(+/-) mutation depends on genetic background-specific receptor activation. Aging Cell 13, 19–28. doi: 10.1111/acel.12145
Zhao, X., Liu, X., Zhang, A., Chen, H., Huo, Q., Li, W., et al. (2018). The correlation of copy number variations with longevity in a genome-wide association study of Han Chinese. Aging 10, 1206–1222. doi: 10.18632/aging.101461
Keywords: growth hormone, IGF-1, somatotropic axis, longevity genes, aging, healthspan, lifespan, dwarf mice
Citation: Bartke A and Quainoo N (2018) Impact of Growth Hormone-Related Mutations on Mammalian Aging. Front. Genet. 9:586. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00586
Received: 03 August 2018; Accepted: 12 November 2018;
Published: 27 November 2018.
Blanka Rogina, University of Connecticut Health Center, United States
Srinivas Ayyadevara, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center, United States
Michael Petrascheck, The Scripps Research Institute, United States
Copyright © 2018 Bartke and Quainoo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Andrzej Bartke, abartke@siumed.edu
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The Big Read Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence: Can Watson save IBM?
Hopes pinned on developing system into a powerful and profitable set of services
Richard Waters
The history of artificial intelligence has been marked by seemingly revolutionary moments — breakthroughs that promised to bring what had until then been regarded as human-like capabilities to machines.
The AI highlights reel includes the “expert systems” of the 1980s and Deep Blue, IBM’s world champion-defeating chess computer of the 1990s, as well as more recent feats like the Google system that taught itself what cats look like by watching YouTube videos.
But turning these clever party tricks into practical systems has never been easy. Most were developed to showcase a new computing technique by tackling only a very narrow set of problems, says Oren Etzioni, head of the AI lab set up by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Putting them to work on a broader set of issues presents a much deeper set of challenges.
Few technologies have attracted the sort of claims that IBM has made for Watson, the computer system on which it has pinned its hopes for carrying AI into the general business world. Named after Thomas Watson Sr, the chief executive who built the modern IBM, the system first saw the light of day five years ago, when it beat two human champions on an American question-and-answer TV game show, Jeopardy!
But turning Watson into a practical tool in business has not been straightforward. After setting out to use it to solve hard problems beyond the scope of other computers, IBM in 2014 adapted its approach.
Rather than just selling Watson as a single system, its capabilities were broken down into different components: each of these can now be rented to solve a particular business problem, a set of 40 different products such as language-recognition services that amount to a less ambitious but more pragmatic application of an expanding set of technologies.
Though it does not disclose the performance of Watson separately, IBM says the idea has caught fire. John Kelly, an IBM senior vice-president and head of research, says the system has become “the biggest, most important thing I’ve seen in my career” and is IBM’s fastest growing new business in terms of revenues.
But critics say that what IBM now sells under the Watson name has little to do with the original Jeopardy!-playing computer, and that the brand is being used to create a halo effect for a set of technologies that are not as revolutionary as claimed.
Video: Robots in the workplace
“Their approach is bound to backfire,” says Mr Etzioni. “A more responsible approach is to be upfront about what a system can and can’t do, rather than surround it with a cloud of hype.”
Nothing that IBM has done in the past five years shows it has succeeded in using the core technology behind the original Watson demonstration to crack real-world problems, he says.
Watson’s case
The debate over Watson’s capabilities is more than just an academic exercise. With much of IBM’s traditional IT business shrinking as customers move to newer cloud technologies, Watson has come to play an outsized role in the company’s efforts to prove that it is still relevant in the modern business world. That has made it key to the survival of Ginni Rometty, the chief executive who, four years after taking over, is struggling to turn round the company.
Watson’s renown is still closely tied to its success on Jeopardy! “It’s something everybody thought was ridiculously impossible,” says Kris Hammond, a computer science professor at Northwestern University. “What it’s doing is counter to what we think of as machines. It’s doing something that’s remarkably human.”
By divining the meaning of cryptically worded questions and finding answers in its general knowledge database, Watson showed an ability to understand natural language, one of the hardest problems for a computer to crack. The demonstration seemed to point to a time when computers would “understand” complex information and converse with people about it, replicating and eventually surpassing most forms of human expertise.
The biggest challenge for IBM has been to apply this ability to complex bodies of information beyond the narrow confines of the game show and come up with meaningful answers. For some customers, this has turned out to be much harder than expected.
The University of Texas’s MD Anderson Cancer Center began trying to train the system three years ago to discern patients’ symptoms so that doctors could make better diagnoses and plan treatments.
“It’s not where I thought it would go. We’re nowhere near the end,” says Lynda Chin, head of innovation at the University of Texas’ medical system. “This is very, very difficult.” Turning a word game-playing computer into an expert on oncology overnight is as unlikely as it sounds, she says.
Part of the problem lies in digesting real-world information: reading and understanding reams of doctors’ notes that are hard for a computer to ingest and organise. But there is also a deeper epistemological problem. “On Jeopardy! there’s a right answer to the question,” says Ms Chin but, in the
medical world, there are often just well-informed opinions.
Mr Kelly denies IBM underestimated how hard challenges like this would be and says a number of medical organisations are on the brink of bringing similar diagnostic systems online.
Applying the technology
IBM’s initial plan was to apply Watson to extremely hard problems, announcing in early press releases “moonshot” projects to “end cancer” and accelerate the development of Africa. Some of the promises evaporated almost as soon as the ink on the press releases had dried. For instance, a far-reaching partnership with Citibank to explore using Watson across a wide range of the bank’s activities, quickly came to nothing.
Since adapting in 2014, IBM now sells some services under the Watson brand. Available through APIs, or programming “hooks” that make them available as individual computing components, they include sentiment analysis — trawling information like a collection of tweets to assess mood — and personality tracking, which measures a person’s online output using 52 different characteristics to come up with a verdict.
At the back of their minds, most customers still have some ambitious “moonshot” project they hope that the full power of Watson will one day be able to solve, says Mr Kelly; but they are motivated in the short term by making improvements to their business, which he says can still be significant.
This more pragmatic formula, which puts off solving the really big problems to another day, is starting to pay dividends for IBM. Companies like Australian energy group Woodside are using Watson’s language capabilities as a form of advanced search engine to trawl their internal “knowledge bases”. After feeding more than 20,000 documents from 30 years of projects into the system, the company’s engineers can now use it to draw on past expertise, like calculating the maximum pressure that can be used in a particular pipeline.
To critics in the AI world, the new, componentised Watson has little to do with the original breakthrough and waters down the technology. “It feels like they’re putting a lot of things under the Watson brand name — but it isn’t Watson,” says Mr Hammond.
Mr Etzioni goes further, claiming that IBM has done nothing to show that its original Jeopardy!-playing breakthrough can yield results in the real world. “We have no evidence that IBM is able to take that narrow success and replicate it in broader settings,” he says. Of the box of tricks that is now sold under the Watson name, he adds: “I’m not aware of a single, super-exciting app.”
To IBM, though, such complaints are beside the point. “Everything we brand Watson analytics is very high-end AI,” says Mr Kelly, involving “machine learning and high-speed unstructured data”. Five years after Jeopardy! the system has evolved far beyond its original set of tricks, adding capabilities such as image recognition to expand greatly the range of real-world information it can consume and process.
Adopting the system
This argument may not matter much if the Watson brand lives up to its promise. It could be self-fulfilling if a number of early customers adopt the technology and put in the work to train the system to work in their industries, something that would progressively extend its capabilities.
Can Watson save IBM?
http://podcast.ft.com/p/2987
IBM is pinning its hopes on turning a smart machine’s box of tricks into practical applications, says Richard Waters. Can it capitalise on its system’s promise of bringing an AI revolution to business?
“Once it’s working, you want to be leading the adoption,” says Shaun Gregory, head of technology and strategy at Woodside. “You’re ahead in knowledge and learning. Machines never forget,” he says.
Another challenge for early users of Watson has been knowing how much trust to put in the answers the system produces. Its probabilistic approach makes it very human-like, says Ms Chin at MD Anderson. Having been trained by experts, it tends to make the kind of judgments that a human would, with the biases that implies.
In the business world, a brilliant machine that throws out an answer
to a problem but cannot explain itself will be of little use, says Mr Hammond. “If you walk into a CEO’s office and say we need to shut down three factories and sack people, the first thing the CEO will say is: ‘Why?’” He adds: “Just producing a result isn’t enough.”
IBM’s attempts to make the system more transparent, for instance by using a visualisation tool called WatsonPaths to give a sense of how it reached a conclusion, have not gone far enough, he adds.
Mr Kelly says a full audit trail of Watson’s decision-making is embedded in the system, even if it takes a sophisticated user to understand it. “We can go back and figure out what data points Watson connected” to reach its answer, he says.
He also contrasts IBM with other technology companies like Google and Facebook, which are using AI to enhance their own services or make their advertising systems more effective. IBM is alone in trying to make the technology more transparent to the business world, he argues: “We’re probably the only ones to open up the black box.”
Even after the frustrations of wrestling with Watson, customers like MD Anderson still believe it is better to be in at the beginning of a new technology.
“I am still convinced that the capability can be developed to what we thought,” says Ms Chin. Using the technology to put the reasoning capabilities of the world’s oncology experts into the hands of other doctors could be far-reaching: “The way Amazon did for retail and shopping, it will change what care delivery looks like.”
Ms Chin adds that Watson will not be the only reasoning engine that is deployed in the transformation of healthcare information. Other technologies will be needed to complement it, she says.
Five years after Watson’s game show gimmick, IBM has finally succeeded in stirring up hopes of an AI revolution in business. Now, it just has to live up to the promises.
Key assets: Systems depend on diverse data flows
There is a secret weapon in the race between leading tech companies to create the most effective forms of artificial intelligence: access to large amounts of data. For IBM, as it tries to make Watson a new standard for AI in the business world, this could turn out to be an under-appreciated advantage, according to some experts.
At the heart of intelligent machines are algorithms that search through large volumes of data to identify patterns and make surmises. Machine learning — the basic technique behind many of the recent advances in AI — relies on using large amounts of data to train systems in this way.
“A lot of what is now emerging with AI technologies has to do with data,” says Kris Hammond, a computer science professor at Northwestern University.
One of the biggest reasons for recent advances in AI has been the availability of large amounts of data online with which to train systems. Google has perfected its search systems by harnessing the abundant data it collects about the online behaviour of its users. While IBM cannot match the massive trove of information Google has at its disposal, what it lacks in volume it hopes to make up for in industry-specific detail.
“Google has one kind of data — consumer sentiment data. We have a vast amount of [more diverse] data,” says John Kelly, head of research at IBM.
The more industry-specific data it is fed, the smarter it will become at solving business problems. As customers pour their own corporate information into Watson in order to train it, IBM stands to be a beneficiary.
Watson’s “expanding corpus of information in many domains” could turn out to be one of IBM’s main assets in the AI race, says Mr Hammond.
Last year, IBM turned to acquisitions to boost its reserves of data. These included the $1bn it spent to buy Merge Healthcare, a company that handles large amounts of medical images. It has been folded into Watson Health, the first industry-specific business unit to be spun out of the Watson division.
It also spent $2bn to buy the digital assets of the Weather Company, with the aim of feeding its weather data into forecasting systems geared to understanding weather-related business risks, among other functions.
“Between our customers and what we’ve acquired, we’re amassing quite a data set,” says Mr Kelly.
Spinning this basic raw material into computing gold still requires serious technical skills. But if it can persuade customers to contribute their own data to the task of making Watson smarter, it could deliver the sort of head start that will make it hard for rivals to catch up.
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Retiring Greensboro College Faculty Dean Awarded Emeritus Status, Will Have New Teaching Award Named After Him
Published by lex
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Greensboro College has awarded emeritus status to Dr. Richard A. Mayes, who will retire this summer after 35 years with the college.
In addition to being Jefferson Pilot Professor of Biology, Mayes also has served as dean of the faculty. He will retire as Jefferson Pilot Professor of Biology emeritus.
In citing him for the honor during today’s virtual Commencement ceremony, Paul Leslie, senior vice president and chief academic officer, noted that emeritus/emerita status typically is awarded upon retirement only after long and meritorious service to the institution and constitutes “an offer to remain an essential part of the institution.”
Leslie also announced that, upon the recommendation of the Academic Deans Council and with the approval of the president, a newly established award for excellence in teaching by an adjunct faculty member will be named the Richard A. Mayes Award.
Mayes holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Illinois and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas. He joined the faculty in 1985.
Greensboro College provides a liberal arts education grounded in the traditions of the United Methodist Church and fosters the intellectual, social, and, spiritual development of all students while supporting their individual needs.
Founded in 1838 and located in downtown Greensboro, the college enrolls about 1,000 students from 29 states and territories, the District of Columbia, and seven foreign countries in its undergraduate liberal-arts program and six master’s degree programs. In addition to rigorous academics and a well-supported Honors program, the school features a 17-sport NCAA Division III athletic program and dozens of service and recreational opportunities. Learn more at greensboro.edu.
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Tags: dean of the faculty, emeritus, Jefferson Pilot Professor of Biology, richard a. mayes
Categorized in: News
This post was written by lex
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Vermont Makes History
Greg Trulson
Officiant / Justice of the Peace
Vermont's first gay marriage
On September 1, 2009 Vermont’s new marriage law went into affect providing total equality, allowing any loving couple wishing to marry, straight or gay, to do so under one law. What makes this law historic and significant is the fact that on September 1, 2009 Vermont became the first state in the country to pass this law through “legislation”. In other words, it was the desire of the people and not the courts that directed this law, providing total marriage equality in Vermont.
At midnight September 1, 2009 I had the privilege of officiating the first gay marriage in the state of Vermont for Bill Slimback and Bob Sullivan at the Moose Meadow Lodge
Bill Slimback and Bob Sullivan
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/32641476/ns/us_news-life/t/same-sex-marriages-begin-vermont/#.XnZNoy2ZMXo
Vermont Make History - Again
First Military Officer To Marry After Repeal Of DADT
On December 22, 2010 President Barack Obama brought the long political struggle over the military's controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy to a close, signing legislation that will bring an end of the ban on openly gay men and women serving in the armed forces. At 12:01 a.m. September 20, 2011 I had the privilege of officiating the first military officer’s wedding in the United States at the Moose Meadow Lodge. Navy Lt. Gary Ross, and his partner of 11 years, Dan Swezy, exchanged vows before a small group of family and friends.
Navy Lt. Gary Ross and Dan Sweezy
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/44589613/ns/us_news-life/t/navy-officer-weds-partner-dont-ask-dont-tell-ends/#.XnaQky2ZMXo
Greg Trulson, Vermont Justice of the Peace / Officiant
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Explore by Architectural Style
Explore by Timeline
James V. Hansen Federal Building, Ogden, UT
Architectural Description
Construction History
The James V. Hansen Federal Building (originally the Federal Building United States Court House) constructed in the Modernist style is a six story structure located at the northeast corner of Grant Avenue and 25th Street. The site has an entrance plaza in front of the south entrance with granite pavers and two fountains. The remainder of the site is simply landscaped with grass planting areas on the south, east and west sides of the site and a parking lot adjacent to a raised planter bed on the north side of the site.
The six story structure is rectangular in plan and has a recessed first floor with a series of granite clad columns that align with the edge of the upper floors. The recessed first floor section of the building is clad with precast granite mosaic panels on the ends and storefront windows in the center of all four elevations. There are storefront entrances in the center bay of the north and south facades. The exterior faade of the second through sixth floors is clad with tan precast concrete panels with deep ribs on all four sides. Center pivot, aluminum frame windows are located in the center of each one story panel.
The main (south) faade fronts Twenty Fifth Street and has a recessed base with a series of granite clad columns at the building edge. There is an entrance in the center bay with two sets of double doors in a storefront system that is stepped back from the rest of the first floor faade with mosaic granite tiles set in panels on the walls leading back to the entrance. The east and west ends of the north elevation are clad with rough granite tiles set in 2 by 2 panels that match the panels at the entry. Between the solid end panels and the entrance, the first floor of the south elevation has a storefront aluminum window system. The second through sixth floors are clad with tan precast concrete panels with deep ribs on all four sides and aluminum framed windows in the center of each panel. There are deep recesses between the precast panels. There are several granite elements on the upper floors a beam clad with polished granite runs along the bottom of the second floor panels, the parapet is clad in polished granite and there are polished granite columns that extend from the second floor to the parapet at each corner of the building.
The north elevation is the same as the south, though the entrance is secured with a card reader and only for employees. The only difference is the addition of louvers over the windows in the center bays on the second through sixth floors.
The east and west elevations have the same general layout as the north and south with a recessed first floor with granite mosaic tiles panels on the ends and storefront windows in the middle. Columns clad with polished black granite are spaced along the edge of the faade with precast concrete panels above. There is no entrance on either the east or the west elevations.
The first columns spacing on the four elevations has a difference between the north and south elevations versus the east and west. The columns align with the centerline of the ribs found in the precast panels above on floors two to six. The end bays of the north and south elevations have four window panels per bay, whereas all the other column bays have five window panels for all the other bays on all four elevations.
The penthouse is stepped back from all four elevations and the portion visible from the street and surrounding buildings is clad with panels of granite mosaic tiles that match those used on the first floor. To the east and west of the penthouse there are low walls made of metal panels. The panels on the east side are insulated and serve as the exterior cladding around the upper section of the courtroom. The panels on the west side are un-insulated and simply form an enclosure on the roof to create symmetry with the courtroom.
Interior spaces that have retained their original layout and many of the original finishes include the first floor lobby and vestibules, the sixth floor elevator lobby and courtroom lobby, the courtroom and the judges chambers. The lobbies have the original terrazzo flooring, marble wall panels and suspended ceilings. The courtroom retains the original wood wall paneling and suspended acoustic tile ceiling on either side of a central luminous suspended ceiling system. Some of the original wood furnishings remain intact including the judges bench, clerks desk, witness stand, jury box and public seating benches. The judges chambers have the original suspended ceiling and plaster walls with built in wood bookshelves in the judges office and library. The corridors on the second through sixth floors have been retained in their original layouts (except for the west half of the second floor) with some of the original finishes.
Building Basics
James V. Hansen Federal Building
GSA Building Number
UT0035ZZ
Landmark Status
Not Evaluated
The Federal Building United States Court House (now the James V. Hansen Federal Building) was designed by Keith W. Wilcox and Associates and constructed from 1963 1965. Keith W. Wilcox and Associates was an architectural firm located in Ogden, Utah. Wilcox had degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Architecture. Other buildings he was responsible for designing include the Washington D.C. Mormon Temple, the original McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden and multiple schools in the Ogden and Weber School Districts.
A bill to rename the building the James V. Hansen Federal Building passed the House on April 21, 2004, passed the Senate on December 7, 2004, and was signed by President George W. Bush on December 21, 2004. Hansen was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955 and then attended the University of Utah, where he earned a business degree. After college he worked as an insurance agent and was elected to Farmington City Council. Hansen was elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 1973. He held that position until 1980 when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. As a Congressman, he served as the Chairman of the House Ethics Committee and Chairman of the House Resources Committee. Hansen remained in office until January 3, 2003, when he retired. A portion of US-89 in Utah was renamed the James V. Hansen Highway when it was upgraded to freeway standards.
1963 1965 Original Construction Keith W. Wilcox and Associates
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The Islamic State’s Capital Raqqa: Citizens Take to Streets to Voice Support for Syrian Army against ISIS
By Fars News Agency
FARS News 6 March 2016
https://www.globalresearch.ca/the-islamic-states-capital-raqqa-citizens-take-to-streets-to-voice-support-for-syrian-army-against-isis/5512442
A large number of civilians rushed to Raqqa streets, where they held a massive demonstration in support of the Syrian Armed Forces for their victories against the terrorist groups around the country, specially in the Eastern and Northeastern territories.
Raqqa civilians hoisted the flag of Syria in at least five neighborhoods of al-Dareiyeh, al-Ramileh, al-Ferdows, al-Ajili and al-Bakri and poured to the streets of Tal Abyadh and al-Mansour chanting slogans of support for the Syrian armed forces.
Reports said on Friday that continued advances of the Syrian army and its popular allies against the militant groups in the Eastern part of Aleppo province and the Northeastern part of Hama province are seriously threatening the ISIL’s self-proclaimed capital of Raqqa.
“Since October of 2015, the Syrian army has captured some 50 villages in the Eastern Aleppo during an offensive which halted the ISIL-imposed siege on Kuweires Airbase,” the sources said.
“Furthermore, government forces have advanced along the M45-highway (Hama to Raqqa) and reached the Western side Raqqa province. Meanwhile, Kurdish fighters of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have taken firm control of the Northern region of the Raqqa province,” the sources added.
However, given the current rate of advances by the Syrian army and its allies, the caliphate is likely to be wiped off the map in Iraq and Syria.
Copyright © Fars News Agency, Global Research, 2016
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2014 Ryder Cup Preview
posted on September 25, 2014 in Ryder Cup
by Sal Johnson
Founder, Chief Data Officer, GOLFstats
sal@golfstats.com
Here we go, another Ryder Cup.
I have been to every one since 1979 at Greenbrier, and I can say this, it’s now the biggest golf event of the year. Sorry to Augusta National or the USGA or the R&A, but there are more media attending this event than any other, since possibly the Ryder Cup in Wales four years ago.
Of course this has now become a very important event for the PGA of America and the European Tour. The financial return from this years event will help support the European Tour until the next matches come on European soil in Paris four years from now.
It’s hard to describe the scene here at Gleneagles, which is a quaint resort out in the country. The best way to describe it is like when Walt Disney first built Disneyland in the 50s. He went to a place that was nothing but orange groves and 30 miles outside of Los Angeles. Today everything around Disneyland has been built up, and the Anaheim area is a city of its own. The same with Gleneagles, it opened in 1924 out in the countryside about 50 miles from Glasgow and Edinburgh but was attached by a railroad line. The Caledonian Railway company built what they thought would be one of the greatest hotels in the world, which they did. I would rank it in the top-ten of great hotels in the world. This area of the world is very quiet and in the valley you probably never see more than a few thousand people around Gleneagles. But for this week, there are 50,000 plus attending this event, amazing seeing so many folks so far out in the country.
To wrap this up so we can discuss the matches and players, in the 80s the hotel, and it’s two courses that were top-notch, were having a tough time. The whole resort needed a makeover, which it got in the 80s and the 90s along with adding another course, done by Jack Nicklaus.
The course at Gleneagles was not a big hit when it opened. You have to remember that between the Queens and Kings courses they had some of the best golf in the world. Then all of sudden this new course that made the Scottish countryside look like America was not very well received. This presented a problem for Gleneagles because the Nicklaus course was also part of a real estate scheme which wasn’t going very well. So that’s when they got together with the European Tour to help legitimize the course by holding a professional tournament on it.
The dirty little secret of the European Tour’s choices of courses for the Ryder Cup is not about getting the best course in Europe. That’s the reason the Ryder Cup is played on courses like this, it’s whoever pays the most amount of money to the European Tour for the privilege of holding the Ryder Cup. Just look at the list, Belfry, The K Club, Celtic Manor Resort, gosh even Valderrama was bought for, it’s not that great of a course. So that is what happened here, the folks at Gleneagles reached an agreement with the European Tour to host several yearly events and then hold the Ryder Cup.
So what about the Jack Nicklaus course, renamed the “PGA Centenary Course.” Who does the course favor?
This will be a course that allows a slug-fest. In a way it’s just like Celtic Manor in which long drivers had a big advantage, you will see that in the coming days.
For the average player like you and I, this course is not bad. If you got off an airplane in Scotland for the first time and went off to play this course you would probably like it. There are hundreds of courses in America just like it. But if you then play the Kings and Queens course right after, you will see what special really is.
I Played the course in 1997 when it was first opened and again in 2000. I was amazed to hear that it was the site of a future Ryder Cup because I didn’t think much of it then. I am not the only one that didn’t like the course, it’s held the Johnnie Walker Championship since 1999 and the players where very critical of it. The most critical had to be Darren Clarke, the criticism probably cost him a chance of being the captain this year. I believe the criticism was correct. When I talked with other writers, they reminded me that when Nicklaus did this course in the 90s it was one of about 70 courses he and is company was doing. Many feel that even though Nicklaus said it was the “finest parcel of land in the world I have ever been given to work with,” Nicklaus didn’t do the best of jobs.
Cutting to the chase on this, does the course really matter? You can play these matches on the worst muni in the world and it’s not about the course, it’s about the matches itself and who can play the best. I will say this, I walked about six holes today, the first time I have seen it since 2000 and was impressed with it. I think that in the years since it’s open, it’s gotten a 100 times better and should be ok for the matches. Is it Muirfield or Pebble, no. But it will be ok for these matches.
So who does the course favor? If you look at driving distance, I calculated the stats of both teams and guess what, both are about even. I also looked at greens hit and putting, team USA has a slight advantage. That’s probably because more courses on the PGA Tour are comparable to Gleneagles than courses use on the European Tour.
Let’s look at the team and who has had a better year. If you look at big tournaments like the majors, USA won the Masters with Bubba Watson while team Europe won three with Martin Kaymer winning the U.S. Open and Rory McIlroy winning the British and PGA Championship. Of the 40 European Tour events in 2014, 12 of them have been won by European Ryder Cup players. In the 45 events on the PGA Tour, only 11 have been won by those players on the American team. The sad thing about this stat, ten of those winners came between the Frys.Com in October and Heritage in April. Since mid-April, only one American member has won, Hunter Mahan last month at the Barclays.
Let’s see there record in past Ryder Cups. Frankly team Europe has been on more winning teams that team America. It doesn’t matter how talented American players are, they don’t seem to get the job done. Guys like Jim Furyk and Phil Mickelson have not been the best. They have a combine 23-35-10 record. Sorry for two guys that have made over $130 million dollars in golf, yes that fact is correct, this is a terrible record.
The point of the Ryder Cup is that it’s more about the underdog than any event in golf. How do you account for guys like Christy O’Connor, Jr. or Sam Torrance being able to be heros while guys like Furyk and Mickelson have struggled.
The Ryder Cup is players doing well playing together as a team. The European players are much better at this and the reason they have done so well the last 29 years. So on paper the European team has a big advantage.
The way the points are done, it’s impossible for one team to dominate things and winning it by Saturday. Last year came close, but a final go in the last two matches on Saturday got things close and the Europeans played great on Sunday to take it.
Now who is going to win? On paper, based on past Ryder Cup performances and playing the best over the last three months, the European Tour has a big advantage. You go to the betting parlors in Scotland and team Euro is a big favorite. The matches are played on European soil, another advantage.
But all of this goes out the window because there isn’t favorites, it’s who gets that special feeling to do well, a perfect example is Ian Poulter. His career in golf is ok, he has won several times in Europe and seems to play well in match play events. But in the Ryder Cup his match play experience seems to make him impossible to loss. What team USA has to do is hit hard at him, Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose. These guys tend to build on the success so if you can hit them hard they will stay down, and this will turn into a very interesting Ryder Cup.
How important is the captains, many say they aren’t that important. I think they are important in making the right choices and motivating their guys. At Medinah two years ago having Jose Maria Olazabal as captain help the guys who were still remembering Seve Ballesteros. Tom Watson will be important this year, he was the last American captain to win in Europe back in 1993 and maybe he will have that Scottish touch that help him win four British Opens in Scotland.
To be honest, have to think that team Europe will win 15 to 13 but don’t be surprised to see the Americans do well. They are big underdogs, they don’t have players that are doing well at the moment. Still we know what can happen in golf, there were a dozen players that won on the PGA Tour in 2014 that missed the cut the week before winning a tour event. That could happen this week, team USA could fine there sweet spot and win.
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Thursday, 7th July 2016, Essen, Germany
Gorenje's products firmly anchored among the design elite
Gorenje Group products won four prestigious Red Dot design awards this year. The 41-member jury believed they represent the current pinnacle of design in the home appliance industry. Gorenje's products have been constantly among the award-winning design elite for a good decade. In 2005, we were the first Slovenian enterprise to earn the Red Dot award for the design of its products. To date, the award was won with 35 products. This bear witness to Gorenje Group's excellence in design, innovation, and high quality of the products marketed under our brands.
International jury that ranked Gorenje Group products among the superior design achievements in the home appliance industry consisted of independent designers, professors, and reporters specializing in product testing and review. This year, they reviewed a record-breaking number of products – 5214 of them from 57 countries.
Gorenje Group added four more Red Dots to its extensive collection of these awards. This year, they were won by the Gorenje compact built-in oven with a TFT display and touch control; Atag Evolve kitchen hood; Atag Matrix compact multifunction oven; and Atag steam oven in graphite black. Since 2005 when we became the first Slovenian enterprise to win this coveted award, we have thus won Red Dots for 35 of our products and proudly earned our place among the design elite of home appliance manufacturers. Year in, year out, these awards bear witness to the excellence of our design, innovation, and high quality of products under the Gorenje Group brands.
"Gorenje's first Red Dot was at the same time the first one for any Slovenian product. We were pleasantly surprised and proud that our different way of thinking about how to translate high technology into user-friendly and flexible solution was found excellent by the international expert community. The year 2005 was a watershed for both Gorenje and Slovenia. Since then, Slovenian design has been regularly featured among the recipients of this prestigious award," says Lidija Pritržnik, director of product design.
Gorenje won the first two Slovenian Red Dots in 2005 for Premium Touch washing machine and dryer. The jury recognized quality in the innovative controls and distinctive, emotive and dynamic aesthetics that stood out notably from the competition at the time. Premium touch was the world's first washing machine with interactive controls via a touch screen. The innovative function "washing wizard" led the user through the choice of the most suitable program for the laundry to be washed.
"We are proud to have once again won the award for outstanding design quality this year. The fact that we have repeatedly succeeded in impressing the jury in recent years, despite the harsh competition and a large number of entries, is confirmation that our design team is developing in the right direction," finds Mrs Pritržnik.
Vincent Hofstee, head designer at Atag, stresses that this year's Red Dot design awards are recognition of high quality of design and product innovation also for the brand that joined the Gorenje Group eight years ago. "Since we first took part in the Red Dot design competition, we have received 16 awards. This is a result of our efforts, ambition, and mastery that permeate our products. In today's competition, we face the best in our industry. The competition is also a great way to stay alert and monitor the latest design trends and achievements around the globe."
Design as an important part of innovation
A lot of attention is paid to design in the innovation process at Gorenje Group. It reflects the brand identity and tradition, and it is also used as a tool that allows involvement of the end user and introduction of new technologies. We are aware that unique distinctive and user-friendly design is a way for us to stand out from the competition. Design has been among Gorenje Group's key competitive advantages for a number of years, for which we are recognized. Moreover, innovation and design are the key elements of the new Group development strategy until the year 2020, which is based on global growth, development of premium and innovative products, and premium brands. "Appliances with innovative features and sophisticated design are one of the motors of our growth and profitability. Well aware of this fact, Gorenje is stepping up its investment into development and design. A consistent and continuous set of Red Dot awards is confirmation by the expert community that we are successful in the pursuit of our vision of becoming the best in the our industry in design-inspired innovation in the world," said Gorenje President and CEO Franjo Bobinac.
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Shakespeare by the Sea Brings “Much Ado About Nothing” & “King Lear” to Southland Parks
Shakespeare by the Sea’s 2008 production of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream;" photo credit: Marilyn Edwards
Shakespeare by the Sea (SBTS) announces its 14th season of bringing free Shakespeare performances to the masses in Southern California, opening with the romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing on June 9, 2011 followed one week later, on June 16, with the opening of the ultimate family drama The Tragedy of King Lear. SBTS performances run for 10 weeks throughout Los Angeles and Orange County – over 40 performances in all – beginning with shows in San Pedro at Point Fermin Park from June 9th through July 2nd. Starting July 6th the troupe hits the road on a tour that will reach a total of 21 public parks in 19 towns – from Pasadena to Laguna Niguel – into August. The production wraps up back in San Pedro for two grand finale performances on August 12 and 13, 2011. All performances are in the evening starting at either 7:00pm or 8:00pm. Audiences are encouraged to gather with friends and family early to dine picnic-style under the stars to make the most of this classic entertainment experience. Admission is always free!
Events, Female - Founded/Run & Co-Founded Entities by Women, Other, Press Releases, Shakespeare by the Sea, Theater Aaron Jackson, Altadena, Amy Louise Sebelius, Beverly Hills, CA, California, El Segundo, free, Glendale, Hermosa Beach, King Lear, LA, La Crescenta, Laguna Niguel, Lakewood, Lisa Coffi, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Much Ado About Nothing, Newport Beach, Orange County, outdoor theater, parks, Pasadena, Playa Vista, plays, Point Fermin, productions, Rancho Palos Verdes, romantic comedy, Rossmoor, Rowland Heights, San Pedro, Shakespeare by the Sea, South Pasadena, Stephanie Coltrin, summer, The Bard, The Tragedy of King Lear, tragedy, Valerie Wright-Blair, Whittier
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R&B, Hip Hop and Pop Combine Under Soaring Vocals From Hot New West Coast Artist Aaron Le
SACRAMENTO, CA – A fresh sound from young new artist Aaron Le is about to hit the market with his debut album “Trouble,” set to drop across all streaming platforms on Aug. 14. The 10-song project perfectly displays this Asian-American’s mastery of R&B vibes interlaced with Hip Hop and Pop for a truly signature style. With soaring vocals reminiscent of Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and Bruno Mars, Aaron Le has the kind of sound that is sure to pierce through the crowded market and hit the ears of new fans all over the world.
Le said “Trouble” is a project that explores a handful of different themes that all circle around the idea of toxic relationships. He adopts a kind of old-school gangster vibe as a person and he takes listeners on a journey through different scenarios that are equally whimsical and witty. But the overall experience is one that’s both fun and entertaining in a way that demands repeat plays.
“The whole aesthetic is embracing the idea of trouble in all its forms,” Le said. “All of the songs kind of tie together under that idea – whether I’m talking about girls or myself or other guys who might be trouble for girls. The main single, which is also called ‘Trouble,’ talks about wanting somebody not good for you, but even though they’re toxic and bad for you, you still want her. But the overall project can be taken however people want to take it – girls are trouble or he’s trouble or different kinds of trouble.”
As a Vietnamese-American who loves Hip Hop and R&B, Le said he hopes to be able to inspire other young Asian-Americans who have dreams of making it in the entertainment industry. Le developed his passion for music early in life by listening to Hip Hop music with his older brother who was involved in break dancing. Le said he fell in love with the sounds of artists like Michael Jackson, Chris Brown and Usher, among others. When he started singing their songs, others began to notice that he had a great voice and encouraged him to develop his sound. At age 16, Le was introduced to Q Made The Beats who had his own studio. The two worked together and recorded some early tracks that more than anything else helped Le catch the bug for the art of making music. He hasn’t looked back since and is excited to partner with State of Gold Music to launch his debut album.
“I hope people hear my music and have fun and recognize me as someone who has a young spirit,” Le said. “I also hope I can inspire other Asian-Americans to know that they can do it. It’s tough in this industry to have a signature, and I want to inspire younger cats so that they can believe in themselves and follow their dreams. I believe I have the sound to cross demographics and genres and reach people all over the world, and eventually have it go down in history.”
To listen to Aaron Le’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:
www.stateofgoldmusic.com https://twitter.com/officialaaronle https://twitter.com/STATEofGOLDmus1 https://www.instagram.com/theofficialaaronle/ https://www.instagram.com/stateofgoldmusic/ https://www.facebook.com/stateofgoldmusic
“Trouble” https://aaronletrouble.hearnow.com/trouble
This content was originally published here On MusicLinkUp
Get Familiar With Emerging Artist Backpack KiddCapo
Trippy Blakey Drops New Single "No Cap In My Rap"
Las Vegas “Mann” VOWS To “Beat Yo’ A**” - #HHOE
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Aperitif Recital at St Mary's
Home » News » Aperitif Recital at St Mary's
By Bruce Clarke - 17th July 2013 5:00pm
140 people attended St Mary's Church on Tuesday 16th July to hear the fifth Aperitif Recital given by the outstanding young organist Benjamin Sheen.
Ben, who won the $40,000 first prize in June at the Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition in Philadelphia, came direct to Haddenham from the St Albans International Organ Competition. He had been competing in the semi finals during the morning. He quipped to the audience that it was a pleasure to play in front of people who were not able to eliminate him.
His programme ranged from Bach's 'roller coaster' Toccata in F to the tranquil tones of Pierre Cochereau's Berceuse in memory of Louis Vierne.
For the first time at an Aperitif Recital virtually everyone in the audience was able to see the action. A camera projected the image of the organist to a screen in the nave.
At the end of the recital the audience, who had listened whilst enjoying wine and canapés, gave Ben rapturous applause. He responded with a witty speech and concluded the evening with a deft performance of Louis Vierne's Scherzetto.
The next Aperitif Recital is on Monday 2nd December at 7pm, when Clive Driskill-Smith of Christ Church Cathedral Oxford plays Louis Vierne's Fourth Symphony for organ. All details of Aperitif Recitals may be had by emailing Bruce Clarke at: bruce.clarke@hotmail.co.uk
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Punahou’s Kahanu Kia continues the Hawaii to South Bend pipeline, signing with Notre Dame
By Kyle Chinen | December 16, 2020 at 6:38 PM HST - Updated December 16 at 6:38 PM
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Punahou’s Kahanu Kia makes it official, the three-star linebacker signed his National Letter of Intent to play for the University of Notre Dame.
A long journey for the senior, who can finally relax now that his letter is officially signed.
“I’m extremely grateful and blessed to be in this position, I wouldn’t trade it for nothing, but it was kind of stressful coming down the stretch.” Kia told Hawaii News Now. “It’s a big decision, it’s one of the biggest decisions I’ve ever made, so I felt there was some pressure, but just to put that pen to paper it was a relief.”
Joining Notre Dame from Hawaii, welcome to the brotherhood
@kahanukia.#GoIrish x #GoldRush21 pic.twitter.com/soVkuAJqNL
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) December 16, 2020
Kia is joining a Notre Dame squad that is currently ranked second in the country with a undefeated 10-0 record, but it wasn’t the accolades that attracted Buff’n’Blu to South Bend, it was the sense of family that felt like home.
“It’s one of the best schools on and off of the field, you know in football and in the classroom with my degree.” Kia said. “It’s kind of cliche, they always say when you’re in South Bend or Notre Dame you feel it, but it was so true, like we just felt the sense of community and family up there, so with all of that together, I felt like this was the place for me and I’ve got to go here.”
Embodies the word grit. @kahanukia is a tough competitor with a great passion for the game. Give Kahanu a follow. #GraduatingChampions pic.twitter.com/7efVmwHOaC
— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) December 16, 2020
Coming from Punahou, Kia joins a group of local linebackers that suited up for the Fighting Irish, the likes of Manti Te’o and Marist Liufau, a distinction that he does not take lightly.
“Now that I look back on it, it’s pretty crazy that i’m one of the Punahou linebackers to go to Notre Dame, from Manti to Marist, you know it’s something you kind of got to live up to.” Kia said. “It’s kind of an expectation to be a physical player that’s going to play and you’ve got to be a stud, so i’m excited but I know I have to put in work and you have to live up to that standard that those guys set.”
For the Irish, they are set to face Clemson in the ACC championship, Notre Dame usually plays as an independent without conference affiliation, but due to the pandemic the Irish joined the ACC — going undefeated in conference.
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Would an ‘Opt Out’ System Solve Organ Donation Shortage?
Written by Jim Pietrangelo — Updated on July 25, 2017
Some activists are suggesting this system would require people to take their names off organ donation lists. So far, this proposal has been politically unpopular.
Life is a numbers game for the more than 117,000 people whose names are on the national transplant waiting list.
Each day about 92 people on that list receive a transplant.
Each day nearly 144 new people find themselves added to the list.
Each day approximately 22 people on that list die while waiting for an organ.
These numbers do not bode well for many who may one day find themselves on that waiting list.
So, some organ donation activists are trying a new strategy in an attempt to increase the number of available organs for transplant.
They’re asking legislators to pass laws that would automatically place people on the organ donation list unless they decided to “opt out.”
Opting out, instead of in
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 95 percent of adults favor organ donation.
Less than half, however, actually make the effort to enroll.
Activists say more effort needs to be put into educating the public about organ donation. This includes addressing certain myths, as well as religious concerns.
In addition, lawmakers in some states have searched overseas to learn how other countries deal with the issue.
They have learned that some countries with higher organ donor rates use an “opt-out,” or presumed consent, system.
Under this setup, you are automatically an organ donor unless you make the effort to take your name off the list.
The United States currently uses an explicit consent, or “opt-in,” system for organ donation, although on a state-by-state basis.
By comparison, studies show a 25 to 30 percent increase in organ donation rates for countries where presumed consent is the norm.
In a 2012 survey by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, support for presumed consent increased from 42 percent in 2005 to 51 percent in 2012.
Those who said they would opt out of the system fell from 29 to 23 percent.
Reasons for not participating
About half of those who oppose presumed consent do so because they favor individual freedom of choice, consider the program a violation of their rights, or have a basic distrust of government.
There is also concern about losing potential donors who mistakenly choose to opt out because they did not completely understand the meaning of opt out as it relates to organ donation.
Colleen Murphy, RN, MSN, NE-BC, manager of administrative liaison at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in California, told Healthline, “For those individuals who weren’t properly informed at the time that they made the decision to either opt out or ‘presumably’ opt in, the conversation would now be coming up at a vulnerable time with little information and little to no choice in the matter.”
“Whereas,” Murphy continued, “if an individual doesn’t opt in on their driver’s license [under the current system], but they are a viable candidate, the family members can be educated about the process and make an informed decision for organ donation if that is what they choose to do.”
Politically unpopular
Concerns like this might explain why lawmakers have been unsuccessful at passing presumed consent laws during recent legislative sessions.
Jason Villalba, a member of the Texas House of Representatives, was one of the sponsors of HB 1938, which failed to pass out of committee.
The bill proposed to change the current opt-in system to an opt-out one for all persons 18 years of age or older.
Ben Utley, legislative director in Villalba’s office, said “the bill simply changed the question from “Would you like to opt in to organ donation?” to “Would you like to opt out of organ donation?”
Some constituents expressed concern that the legislation would immediately affect them if it were to become law. Utley was clear in stating that was not the case.
“Nobody’s status as an organ donor would change until they go get a new license or renew their license and they are asked the question again,” Utley told Healthline.
In Connecticut, Senator Ted Kennedy Jr. introduced a bill this past session that would have enabled all state residents to automatically become organ donors upon their death.
The bill would have provided for a registry where residents could go to opt out.
Kennedy’s bill also failed to pass out of committee.
Similar legislation failed to pass during the most recent legislative session in Vermont. The Committee on Human Services received the bill in January but never took any action.
Some recent casualties of the presumed consent debate include:
In 2016, New Jersey A2608 died in committee.
In 2014, Virginia HB 154 was stricken from the docket.
In 2011, Colorado SB042 was postponed indefinitely.
In 2010, Illinois SB3613 died in committee.
An alternate suggestion
In June 1993, the Presumed Consent Subcommittee of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Ethics Committee issued a report dealing with the issue.
The subcommittee did extensive research on three proposed methods of gaining consent for organ donation, which included:
presumed consent
routine salvaging
required response
The subcommittee chose not to endorse a policy of presumed consent based on three main considerations.
First, public opinion surveys at the time found that it was unpopular with the public.
Second, after researching other countries that utilized presumed consent, the subcommittee was not impressed with efforts made to “protect the rights of objectors to donation.”
Third, the subcommittee decided that it preferred to endorse an alternative to presumed consent called “required response.”
Required response would replace state-level programs with a centralized national program that would record the preferences of all citizens.
Medical personnel would reference this information, provide it to family members if needed, and use it when it became necessary to do so.
There is not yet a national registration program as recommended by the subcommittee.
However, most states, by providing for organ donor registration on their driver’s license application, use a variation of required response.
Are we ready for change?
What would happen if presumed consent for organ donation were to became law throughout the United States?
There is some concern that the newfound supply of donors could overwhelm the system.
Murphy agreed that opt-out programs could indeed backfire.
“With so many deaths happening daily, if everyone was presumed to be an organ donor, there aren’t enough organizations to handle the logistics of the organ donation process,” she said.
Yet, despite concerns, public attitudes toward presumed consent may change.
If this law were to take effect, then it is reasonable to predict that there would be new attempts to pass opt-out organ donation legislation.
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DNP, which stands for 2,4-Dinitrophenol, is a drug that can be potentially lethal even in young, healthy people.
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Renowned evangelist and apologist remembered
Mar 30, 2019 author of over 50 books, Canon Michael Green, Professor of Evangelism
Evangelist, theologian and apologist Canon Michael Green, who died on 6 February aged 89, has been affectionately remembered for his “infectious joy” and “hunger for God”.
The author of over 50 books, Dr Green combined academic ability with a practical enthusiasm for
Dr Michael Green (1930-2019) and his wife Rosemary (www.davidbrownphotographer.co.uk)
evangelism. According to Canon J John, Dr Green’s work dispelled the myths that “you couldn’t be a scholar and an evangelical”, and that “the only people who believed that the Holy Spirit might be a powerful and active force in the world today were those who were uneducated and knew no theology”.
He served as principal of St John’s Bible College in Nottingham during the early 1970s, before becoming the rector of St Aldate’s, Oxford. Then he left for Canada, to be Professor of Evangelism and New Testament at Regent College in Vancouver. Returning to the UK in 1992, he led Archbishop George Carey’s Decade of Evangelism Springboard Initiative alongside Bishop Michael Marshall, later becoming Honorary Fellow at Wycliffe Hall Theological College. He was married to Rosemary and they had four children.
Evangelist Matthew Fearon of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries said Green’s “sense of humour… allowed him to get away with more than most… his lightness of theological touch and intimacy with Christ saw him reach an audience far beyond the Christian community…”
Controversial Pentecostal leader dies
Rev Peter Scothern: the miracle evangelist
Evangelist who trained millions
Influential theologian was “a giant of his time”
Bible teacher David Pawson dies
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Labor unions finance GOP rift with tea party
Saturday, February 1, 2014 9:53pm
Local NewsNation / world
WASHINGTON – A Republican group promoting pro- business candidates as it battles the tea party in primary campaigns is being financed mostly by labor unions, one of the Democratic Party’s staunchest allies.
Defending Main Street, a super-political action committee aligned with the Washington-based Republican Main Street Partnership, received more than 90 percent of its $845,000 in donations last year from labor groups, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
The group is led by former Ohio Rep. Steve LaTourette, a Republican who had good relations with labor in Congress. He voted for a minimum wage increase, the 2009 auto bailout and a bill making it easier to organize a union.
That record and LaTourette’s new alliance with labor though the super-PAC is drawing scoffs from leaders of the small- government tea party movement.
“It’s not surprising that a liberal Republican who supported big labor’s agenda in Congress would raise money from his allies in big labor,” Barney Keller, a spokesman for the Washington-based Club for Growth, said in a telephone interview. “It ain’t exactly dogs and cats living together. It’s more like birds of a feather.”
In an odd pairing, given its funding source, Main Street is working alongside the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s largest business lobby, to defend Republican candidates deemed more practical and economic-minded over the tea party recruits.
The union financing for Main Street shows that some labor leaders are hedging their partisan bets, recognizing that Republicans are likely to hold a majority in the House after the midterm elections and bipartisan allies could be beneficial later.
Jay Lederer, communications director for the International Union of Operating Engineers, said that transportation and infrastructure projects that provide jobs are getting “bogged down in this extreme polarization we’ve seen” in Congress.
“We see Defending Main Street as one group and one way of part of our overall political program to try and get some more folks elected to Congress who are going to work together to get things like that done, instead of putting these things off in continuing resolutions year after year after year,” Lederer, whose union has donated to the super-PAC, said in an interview.
Sarah Chamberlain, the chief operating officer of the Republican Main Street Partnership, said it’s a “win-win” situation for her organization because the labor money will help defend Republican seats. “Why not take union money to maintain a majority in the United States House?” she said.
In some races, the result may be that labor is on both sides of a contest, with some union money going to the Democratic nominee in a Republican-held district that the super- PAC also is targeting.
Main Street plans to focus most of its resources on defending competitive House districts held by retiring Republicans, including one district in suburban Philadelphia, one in south-central New Jersey and another in northern Virginia near Washington, D.C., Chamberlain said. Democrats are also targeting those three districts as they seek a 17-seat net gain needed to overturn the Republican House majority.
Jesse Ferguson, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, didn’t respond to an email seeking comment on the prospect of clashes between candidates his group backs and Republicans supported by union-funded Main Street.
Labor’s political activity has long tilted Democratic, though not exclusively so. In the 2012 campaign, unions gave $61.1 million to Democratic candidates and committees, compared with $6.1 million to Republicans, a ratio of 91 percent to 9 percent, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based group that tracks political giving.
Thus far in the 2014 election, labor groups have given $17.5 million to Democrats and $2.4 million to Republicans, a ratio of 88 percent to 12 percent.
The Main Street super-PAC and an allied nonprofit organization have raised about $2 million toward an $8 million goal, Chamberlain said. Super-PACs may raise money in unlimited amounts to fund television and radio commercials that directly advocate for the election or defeat of federal candidates.
It received $250,000 each from Working for Working Americans, a super-PAC associated with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners; the International Union of Operating Engineers; and the Laborers’ International Union of North America.
While the Main Street super-PAC wants to focus on defending districts of retiring Republicans, its current top priority is aiding one of its House allies.
The super-PAC is prepared to spend up to $1 million to help Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson fend off a Republican primary challenge from Bryan Smith, a lawyer backed by the Club for Growth and other tea party-allied groups. The Chamber of Commerce is also supporting Simpson.
The super-PAC also received $50,000 from the Chickasaw Nation, an American Indian tribe based in Ada, Oklahoma, and $30,000 from David Bonderman, a founding partner of TPG Capital, a Fort Worth, Texas-based private-equity firm.
Bonderman has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democratic candidates and committees within the past four years, including $175,000 to a super-PAC that helped Democrats defend their Senate majority in the 2012 election.
Chickasaw Nation didn’t return requests for comment. Bonderman declined to comment, Owen Blicksilver, a spokesman for TPG at Owen Blicksilver Public Relations Inc., said in an email.
GOP field looks wide open for 2016
Winter will hang on, according to Snohomish Slew
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Theater Books Dining Real Estate Podcasts Travel
Disney Seeks to Shut Down Avenger and Princess-Themed Bulletproof Backpacks
6:53 AM PDT 8/6/2019 by Scott Johnson
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Photofest
A Houston manufacturer says sales of the “Ballistic Shield” carryalls have spiked in the days after a pair of mass shootings.
The “Ballistic Shield” recently unveiled by TuffyPacks, a Houston-based manufacturer of bulletproof backpacks, has a brightly colored picture of the Avengers charging headlong into view, with Captain America and his famous shield front and center.
Amid an epidemic of gun violence in America highlighted by recent mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, Dayton, Ohio, and Gilroy, Calif., the TuffyPacks shield is designed to keep children safe from handgun bullets.
TuffyPacks rolled out its latest models, which include a “Disney princess” theme featuring Jasmine from Aladdin, Cinderella, Belle from Beauty and the Beast and Rapunzel from Tangled, less than a month ago. In addition to Disney’s Avengers and Princesses, other themes include “Harry Potter,” “Major League Baseball” and “Camo.” They all retail for $129.
But the new bulletproof backpacks aren’t exactly endorsed by the Walt Disney Co. or Warner Bros.
“None of these products were authorized by Disney, and we are demanding that those behind this stop using our characters or our other intellectual property to promote sales of their merchandise,” a spokesperson for Disney says in a statement.
“These are not official Harry Potter products, and are in no way endorsed, licensed or in any other way supported, directly or indirectly, by Warner Bros.," a spokesperson for the studio said.
The rollout of the company’s latest products was timed to coincide with Back-to-School sales but instead dovetailed with the nation’s two latest mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, which left 31 dead and scores of others injured.
“It’s been a busy couple of days,” says TuffyPack’s founder and CEO Steve Naremore.
The business of body armor for children isn’t new. After Adam Lanza murdered 20 children and six teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown, Conn., in 2012, a cottage industry sprang up.
A few early entrants also offered Disney-themed bulletproof backpacks, but they appear to have dropped out of view.
“It’s a sad, sad, sad world that this has to exist,” says Naremore, who nevertheless seems intent on bringing the kid-themed protective shields back into vogue.
Sales from dealers and off the company website spike by between 300 and 500 percent after a mass shooting, Naremore claims, though he wouldn’t provide specific numbers. “We have two commas in our sales, if you know what that means,” he says. “We’ve been at two commas for a while.”
The foray into kid-themed patterns was a business decision. No licensing arrangement with Disney was necessary, he argues, because TuffyPacks buys the fabric in bulk and inserts bulletproof shields, and the fabric maker is responsible for obtaining the license.
“Our inserts are black and look kind of tactical and ballistic,” he says, “We use licensed fabric, to try to make them more kid friendly.”
TuffyPacks also hasn’t so far asked Disney to participate in the rollout. “They’re not endorsing our products and we haven’t reached out to them for support,” Naremore says.
TuffyPacks’ website says that its shields, which slip into a folder inside a backpack, use 24 layers of a material called Twaron, a heat-resistant synthetic fiber that is akin to Kevlar, the material used in police body armor, and “is designed to fit into school backpacks.”
“After every school shooting we see the awareness spike from parents,” says Naremore. “This past weekend was similar due to El Paso and Dayton.”
Other clothing and security companies have also gotten into the children’s body armor business, but most have opted for more traditional optics.
A company called Israel-Catalog offers a range of bulletproof vests, but without the kid-friendly designs. Instead, they come in the standard blue and black colors worn by Israeli Defense Forces, or journalists and aid workers who work in war zones.
Naremore seems comfortable with the unease his products might generate.
“You’re going to have some people who say it’s a great idea, and others who say this is really sad,” he says, “I understand that thought process. It may not be for everyone. You have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen. You hope you don’t have to use it.”
For now, the items are only available on TuffyPacks’ website, and Naremore is on the fence about how aggressively he wants to push them, despite what he says is a higher demand in light of the two recent mass shootings.
“They may or may not go to our dealers nationwide as there is much more labor involved,” he says.
Aug. 6, 9:46 am PST Updated with statement from Warner Bros.
thrnews@thr.com @thr
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HRDC v. UDVA, DC, Complaint, Public Records, 2020
Case 1:20-cv-02719-RC Document 1 Filed 09/23/20 Page 1 of 6
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENSE CENTER,
Lake Worth Beach, FL 22460
Civil Action No.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Defendant.
1. This lawsuit is an action under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. §552, et
seq., seeking production of records responsive to requests submitted by the Human
Rights Defense Center to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
Jurisdiction and Venue
2. This Court has both subject matter jurisdiction over this action and personal
jurisdiction over the defendants under 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(B) and 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331,
2201(a), and 2202.
3. Venue is appropriate in this Court under 5 U.S.C. §(a)(4)(B) and 28 U.S.C. §1391.
4. Plaintiff Human Rights Defense Center is a nonprofit charitable organization
incorporated in the state of Washington, with a principal office in Lake Worth Beach,
5. Defendant United States Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) is an agency under
5 U.S.C. § 552(f)(1) and 5 U.S.C. § 701.
Human Rights Defense Center’s Background and Mission
6. The Human Rights Defense Center (previously named Prison Legal News) has spent
the last thirty years dedicated to public education, prisoner education, advocacy, and
outreach to support the rights of prisoners and to further basic human rights.
7. To accomplish its mission, the Human Rights Defense Center (“HRDC”) gathers
information from governmental entities around the country and publishes the
information in its journals and on its websites.
8. HRDC publishes and distributes books, magazines, and other information containing
news and analysis about prisons, jails, and other detention facilities, prisoners’ rights,
court rulings, management of prison facilities, prison conditions, and other matters
about the rights and interests of incarcerated individuals.
9 . HRDC publishes two magazines: Prison Legal News and Criminal Legal News.
10. Prison Legal News (“PLN”) is a legal journal that reports news and litigation about
carceral facilities. PLN has published monthly since 1990 and has around 9,000
subscribers in all 50 states. Based on reader survey results, the estimated actual
readership is about ten times that number. PLN also maintains a website that receives
around 100,000 visitors per month based on site analytics.
11. Criminal Legal News (“CLN”) is a legal journal launched in 2017. CLN reports on
criminal law decisions from the state and federal systems, focusing on legal
developments affecting the fact and duration of confinement. CLN also covers civil
rights litigation against police, prosecutors, and court systems.
12. Through its publishing arm, HRDC also publishes books about the criminal justice
system and legal issues affected prisoners.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs
13. The VA comprises the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits
Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. The VA operates a
Police Service, as part of its Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness, to
provide to protect the Veterans, staff, and visitors who use any of its 170 Medical
Centers.
Request at Issue
14. On July 20, 2019, HRDC emailed the VA, at vacofoiaservice@va.gov, a FOIA request
for records of litigation against the VA Police Services.
15. The FOIA request sought:
HRDC requests certain records regarding litigation against Department of Veterans
Affairs Police and its employees or agents created from January 1, 2010 until the
present. In cases except those involving traffic-related claims, HRDC limits its
request to claims and cases in which the government paid $1,000 or more. These
payments include but are not limited to settlements, damages, attorney fee awards,
and sanctions, irrespective of the identity of the plaintiff or claimant. In traffic-related
claims, HRDC limits its request to those in which the government paid greater than
For each case or claim described above, HRDC requests the following records,
provided in electronic native format where possible, and otherwise in electronic
The Complaint or Claim Form and any amended versions;
The Verdict Form, Final Judgment, Settlement Agreement, Consent Decree,
or other paper that resolved the case.
A record that shows the amount of money involved in the resolution and to
whom it was paid.
16. As a member of the media, HRDC also sought a fee waiver.
17. The VA did not respond.
18. On October 21, 2019, HRDC sent an email request to vacofoiaservice@va.gov for the
status of the FOIA request.
20. On March 13, 2020, HRDC followed up by email to OSVAFOIA@va.gov, requesting
an update on the status of the request.
21. On March 18, 2020, Mr. Richard Ha, an OSVA FOIA / Privacy Officer, emailed the
VACO FOIA Service Inbox, copying HRDC, and asked that office to respond to the
FOIA request.
22. On March 26, 2020, Ms. Doloras Johnson, the Director the VACO FOIA Service
sent a letter to HRDC acknowledging receipt of the original FOIA request. The letter
noted that the request had been assigned tracking number 20-04094-F. It also noted
that the request was forwarded to the VA’s Office of General Counsel, and that the
Office of General Counsel would reply directly.
23. On September 3, 2020, HRDC followed up by phone with the contact the VA had
designated in the Office of General Counsel, Ms. Renee Baxter. Ms. Baxter returned
the call, shared that she was no longer assigned to FOIA matters, and would forward
the message asking for an update on the status of the FOIA request to the correct
parties. HRDC heard nothing further.
24. On September 8, 2020, HRDC again asked about the status of the request, by leaving
a voice mail at Ms. Baxter’s number and emailing ogcfoiarequests@va.gov.
26. HRDC never received a response to its FOIA request to the VA.
HRDC’s Claim for Relief
27. HRDC incorporates paragraphs 1 – 26 by reference.
28. The VA wrongly withheld documents responsive to HRDC’s properly submitted
29. HRDC has a statutory right to the records it seeks, and there is no basis for the VA to
withhold them.
30. As a result, by failing to release the records specifically requested by HRDC, the VA
has violated FOIA.
Requested Relief
HRDC therefore respectfully requests that this Court:
1. Declare that the records sought by HRDC are subject to FOIA,
2. Order the VA to disclose the requested records,
3. Award costs and attorneys’ fees under 5 U.S.C. § 552 (a)(4)(E), and
4. Grant any other relief that the Court considers just and proper.
/s/ Deborah M. Golden
Deborah M. Golden, D.C. Bar #470578
The Law Office of Deborah M. Golden
1415 H St. NE
deb.golden@gmail.com
Counsel for Plaintiff
Dated: September 23, 2020
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HRFFB2020
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Human Rights Film Festival Berlin 2020
Documentaries are a powerful mean to inspire people and raise awareness of human rights violations.
The Human Rights Film Festival Berlin (HRFFB) returns as a hybrid on- & offline festival back to the heart of the German capital from September 30 - October 10, 2020. For 10 days, the festival will focus on stories from all parts of the world that vividly address and reflect on human action, the socio-political status quo and fundamental issues such as democracy, justice, freedom and environmental protection. Through discussions and Q&As with filmmakers, activists and experts, the festival creates a platform to gain new perspectives on our world.
Patron 2020 - Nobel Peace Prize Winner Nadia Murad
"Documentary films in particular help to raise awareness of atrocities that happen in remote parts of the world that may have otherwise been forgotten."
Human rights through the camera of filmmakers: Register now for our newsletter to learn more about events, films and the people behind the camera.
The Human Rights Film Festival Berlin shows stories of courageous individuals and communities on both sides of the lens, bears witness to human rights violations and creates a forum to gain new perspectives on our world. Founded and organized by the nonprofit organization Aktion gegen den Hunger, HRFFB aims to inspire, influence and educate people – opening their eyes and minds to the concept of human rights through the powerful medium of film. Functioning as a bridge between NGOs, filmmakers, journalists and the public audience, we seek to inspire and engage audiences with social justice and human rights issues. Through film screenings followed by Q&As we aim to foster a lively discussion on some of the most pressing topics of our time.
Access to Human Rights
Films allow us to create a unique platform for connection, workshops and discussions. We achieve awareness and change. We want to stand up for human rights – together!
Cultural Center Berlin
is the international icon of reunification. A symbol of coming together. A modern example of overcoming borders and breaking down barriers. The city is a melting pot of cultures, languages and ethnicities - and since the fall of the wall, it has become a rich and vibrant centre for art, music and cinema.
Mission of the Festival
Our idea is to inspire, influence and educate people - opening their eyes and their minds to the concept of universal human rights. Using the platform of the Human Rights Film Festival we aim to provide people with new perspectives and points of view.
Initiator of the Festival
The festival was launched by Aktion gegen den Hunger in 2018. The aim: to move people and bring about a change in thinking and acting. The international humanitarian and development organisation works for people in need in around 50 countries around the world. For 40 years they have been fighting hunger and malnutrition, providing access to clean water and health care, providing emergency aid and helping people to build sustainable livelihoods.
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Magnetic Suns and Moth Balls
An essay on James Gray's Two Lovers, by Ian Garrick Mason
Leonard Kraditor (Joaquin Phoenix) does not on the face of it seem like the kind of man who would end up with two attractive lovers at the same time. He is in his mid-thirties and lives with his parents. He works as a delivery man for his father’s antiquated dry cleaning business. He takes black and white photographs as a hobby, but shoots only buildings. He takes medication for a variety of bipolar disorder. And in the opening scene of the film, he attempts to commit suicide (not for the first time, his worried parents remind themselves) by jumping off a pier.
Yet two lovers he has. The first, Sandra Cohen (Vinessa Shaw), is the pretty and good-hearted daughter of the man who is purchasing the Kraditor’s dry cleaning business. Both families are keen to see their children together; not only would a marriage cement the long-term business relationship, but Leonard and Sandra seem almost equally unlucky in love, and are all but pushed together by well-meaning parents who genuinely want them to be happy. And all signs do point to the fact that Leonard and Sandra would indeed be a good match.
Leonard, however, has also met the wrong kind of woman. Michelle Rausch (Gwyneth Paltrow), a shiksa that has sprung fully-blond from out of a Philip Roth novel, is a neighbour who takes refuge in Leonard’s family apartment in order to escape her ranting, half-crazy father. She is a bundle of problems: a legal assistant involved in a self-destructive affair with a partner of the firm (making it worse, she lives in an apartment he rents for her, and so has become his dependent), a former drug abuser now sliding back into her habit, and a woman obsessed with the fantasy that her lover will one day leave his family and run off with her.
Michelle adopts Leonard as a friend and confidant, blinding herself – perhaps intentionally – to the all-too-obvious fact that Leonard has fallen in love with her. In Michelle, he believes he has found a love to replace the fiance taken from him by parents worried about his mental stability. His new object of passion is as deeply flawed as he is, and, what is more, he can help her. He proves himself, again and again, more loyal, more faithful, and more loving than the rich sophisticated lawyer – doing so with an intensity that would be off-putting to any woman marginally less self-absorbed than Michelle.
His reward, inevitably, is a series of humiliations. Michelle invites him to dinner with her lover, Ronald Blatt (Elias Koteas), so that as a man (so she reasons) he can give her a ruling on whether Ronald is serious about her and will really leave his wife and child. Leonard arrives early and spends a number of minutes fidgeting at the table, ordering a brandy alexander (Ronald’s favourite drink) and then attempting to drink it through the mixing straw. “Would you like me to bring you a real straw?”, asks the waiter, matter-of-factly. “No, this is perfect,” Leonard bluffs, repressing what must be an agony of embarrassment. Later, Leonard rushes to Michelle’s side during a surprise miscarriage, taking her to the hospital and bringing her home again. He visits her the next day, only to be forced to hide behind her bedroom door when Ronald arrives unexpectedly, begging forgiveness for not being able to leave his wife the day before to see Michelle in hospital. She refuses to tell her lover what has happened, and sends him away – yet though Leonard is favoured with secret knowledge, it is clear that his own status is both subordinate to Ronald’s and undeclarable. “That was weird,” he says nonchalantly after Ronald has left. He is bluffing again.
A quiet work of tragic beauty – a work heightened by the honesty of its acting and the all-too-human limitations of its characters – Two Lovers is both a film about two lovers, and a film about two kinds of love – or perhaps more accurately, about two versions of the same kind of love. The love that Sandra feels for Leonard is a wifely version of the love that his parents have for him: it is benevolent, affectionate, protective, enduring. Sandra holds his hands over lunch one day, and notices deep scars on his wrists. Leonard pulls back in embarrassment, but Sandra seems both aware and accepting of his condition and his past. “I want to take care of you,” she says, and though spoken from the heart, her offer falls on deaf ears; he has been thinking too distractedly of Michelle throughout lunch, about her problems. Futile also – at least in the moment of expression – are the genuine attempts by his parents to help him. His father explains to him at the dinner table that he is merging his company with Cohen’s in order to give Leonard a future, and steady health insurance. It’s banal, but it really is love.
“It smells like moth balls”, Michelle observes innocently, upon entering the Kraditors’ apartment for the first and only time. The cosy family home is alien territory to her, and she passes through without changing it or being changed. She carries her home universe with her, she the magnetic sun at its centre, Leonard a candidate satellite. As she careens by his life, he senses in her a chance to escape his own past. By taking care of her, he would no longer be the wounded son in need of help. The roles would reverse; she the weak, needy, and confused, he the strong and wise. The bright light of this obsession, of this obsessive possibility, is what casts Sandra and her goodness into the shade. Leonard simply can’t see her for the glare.
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Rapper Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to a federal charge of possessing a weapon despite being a convicted felon
Curt Anderson ,
The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, but it's likely Wayne would get far less time than that.
Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP, File
Rapper Lil Wayne pleaded guilty Friday to a federal charge that he possessed a weapon despite being a convicted felon following a 2019 search of a private plane in the Miami area.
The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, but it's likely Wayne would get far less time than that. He's free on $250,000 bail but had to surrender his passport.
Authorities said the 38-year-old rapper acknowledged possessing a .45 caliber, gold-plated handgun and six rounds of ammunition. A search warrant said Wayne told investigators the gun was a Father's Day gift.
The rapper, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, entered the plea during a hearing held remotely before U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams.
"Your honor, I plead guilty to the charge," Carter told the judge.
Williams set a Jan. 28 sentencing date. The charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, but it's likely Carter would get far less time than that. He's free on $250,000 bail but had to surrender his passport.
Authorities said the 38-year-old rapper acknowledged possessing a .45 caliber, gold-plated handgun and six rounds of ammunition after his luggage was searched upon arriving in Miami on Dec. 23, 2019, from California. A search warrant said Carter told investigators the gun was a Father's Day gift.
The charge stems from a weapons conviction of Carter in New York more than a decade ago, for which he was sentenced to eight months in prison. Convicted felons are barred under federal law from possessing firearms.
Carter's lawyer, Howard Srebnick, said he considered a motion to suppress the search of the plane as a violation of the rapper's constitutional rights. Carter, he said, wanted to accept responsibility.
"I must say I thought it was a very viable motion. He has decided not to pursue a motion to suppress," Srebnick said.
The Miami U.S. attorney's office also said in the news release that investigators found small amounts of cocaine, ecstasy, and oxycodone in a bag belonging to Carter, but he was not charged with any drug crime.
As Lil Wayne, Carter has sold over 120 million records, won five Grammys and numerous other music awards. He owns a home in Miami Beach and is CEO of his own record label, Young Money Entertainment.
Read the original article on Associated Press. Copyright 2020. Follow Associated Press on Twitter.
More: Associated Press Lil' Wayne Rappers
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International Child Protection News October 2016
International Child Protection News October…
KARA tracks current news about at risk children bringing transparency and attention to our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. What you see here is only a sampling of what should be reported – the great majority of child trauma & abuse never gets reported.
ALL ADULTS ARE THE PROTECTORS OF ALL CHILDREN – Support KARA’s Reporting
If you would like to be a KARA reporter for at risk children where you live contact info@invisiblechildren.org with VOLUNTEER in the subject line
Compilation of information and writing on this page is the hard work of KARA volunteer Eshanee Singh
Syria – Almost 100 children killed in Aleppo since Friday, UNICEF says.
CBC News.
The ratio of doctors to patients and the state of resources raises fears about the chances of survival for children. Hospitals and their intensive care units have been at the centre of many airstrikes. If hospitals are being bombed and attacked, who or what is going to protect the most vulnerable, children.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/aleppo-hospital-1.3781938
‘Press 1 For Child Labour’: Garment Workers use Cellphones to Report Abuses.
Mobile services are using technology in an attempt to increase transparency and locating problems of exploitation and modern slavery in a business’s supply chain. Toll free numbers have been set up for people to anonymously call and log violations of discrimination, harassment and abuse they see around them. While the calls from workers are helpful in highlighting problems, some argue that it does not replace adults and checks and it does not actually solve the problem it highlights.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/press-1-child-labor-garment-workers-cellphones-report-114102495.html
Sudan – Children Bear Brunt of Alleged Chemical Weapon Attacks in Sudan, Says Amnesty.
The Sudanese government denies any allegations of its use of chemical weapons in attacking and killing hundreds of civilians, including babies and children. Amnesty International, however, argues that the brutal nature of photo and video evidence speaks for itself. Amnesty International is certain that the injuries sustained by survivors are a result of something more than conventional military munitions. Amnesty International calls on the United Nations (UN) to apply political pressure and ensure an arms embargo so that peacekeepers and humanitarian groups can access remote regions.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/sep/29/sudan-children-babies-alleged-chemical-weapon-attacks-amnesty?utm_content=buffer08fbc&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Pakistan – Confronting Child Malnutrition.
The Express Tribune.
Despite economic and social development in certain sectors, Pakistan suffers from high levels of starvation and malnutrition, particularly among children. The government has been found not asserting leadership in addressing and at least attempting to solve the access to food gap. As a result, some 32% of children in the country are underweight.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1183832/confronting-child-malnutrition/
Nigeria – 75, 000 Could Starve to Death in Nigeria After Boko Haram: UN.
Yahoo News.
Children are dying of hunger in Nigeria. In different pockets in regions in Nigeria children are suffering and even dying due to high malnutrition levels and subsequent related diseases, such as diarrhea and respiratory infections, but donors are not responding. The insurgency of Boko Haram has forced people from their homes into overworked refugee camps and had prevented subsistence farmers from planting for two years or more.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/75-000-could-starve-death-nigeria-boko-haram-085115276.html?ref=gs&utm_content=bufferb1807&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Indonesia – Leader of Indonesia Gand Which Raped, Murdered Girl Sentenced to Death.
Sadly, while sexual violence against women and children is common, gang rape is unusual. Seven gang members, of men and boys, had raped and murdered a girl on her way to school and left her body in a rubber plantation. This unusual attack has shocked and surprised the country and promoted the President and Parliament to sign and pass a regulation for harsher punishments for attacks on children. For example, child rapists can receive the punishment of death or chemical castration.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/leader-indonesia-gang-raped-murdered-girl-sentenced-death-100051343.html?ref=gs&utm_content=buffer44850&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Yemen Hospitals Run out of Medicine for Dangerously Malnourished Children,
Relief Web.
In the face of a civil war Yemen’s health system collapses and as a result children are dying because of a lack of medicine. Parents of families have lost their jobs and can barely afford to get to the hospitals, let alone provide their own medicines to treat their sick child. Hospitals are in short supply of doctors and rooms and have no medicine to provide for patients. Hospitals in remote regions are not the only hospitals affected; hospitals all over the country, even in major cities, has been gravely affected by the civil war which makes it is easy to conclude that Yemen’s health system has already collapsed.
http://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-hospitals-run-out-medicine-dangerously-malnourished-children?utm_content=buffera86dd&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Greece – Pakistani Boy Gang-Raped in Greek Migrant Camp: Police.
Four minors aged 16 to 17 have allegedly gang raped a 16 year old Pakistani boy in a Greek migrant camp. Greece, along with several other countries, have housed thousands of refugees in over populated refugee camps while they await asylum status. Refugees are turing more and more to countries like Greece while other European countries have closed off their borders. The EU has promised funds to Greece for the building of additional camps. The EU has also promised additional staff members to aid in the processing of asylum applications but, Greece has yet to receive them.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/pakistani-boy-gang-raped-greek-migrant-camp-police-094122345.html?ref=gs&utm_content=bufferaf4a5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Mali – Halting School Meals in Mali Could Keep thousands of Children Out of Class: U.N.
While schools have already closed in some areas, the lack of funding may take away the only guaranteed nutritious meal from thousands of children in addition to their education. If schools no longer provide means, parents are more likely to not send their children to school, adding to the possibility of the school closing down. Violence in the are due to the insurgency of armed Islamist groups have forced teachers to flee and schools to remain closed. Consequently, children are deprived of an education for months.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/halting-school-meals-mali-could-keep-thousands-children-122621374.html?ref=gs&utm_content=buffer89881&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Kenya – Child TB Death Set to Fall as Kenya Launches New Drugs.
VOA News.
Kenya sets itself to be the first country in the world to introduce child friendly medicines to fight tuberculosis. The new medicines are supposed to be tailored to children, being fruit flavoured and dissolvable in water, so that the likelihood of continuous treatment may be higher. Children who go untreated may become blind, deaf, paralyzed, mentally disabled or they may even face death.
http://www.voanews.com/a/reu-child-tb-deaths-set-to-fall-as-kenya-launches-new-drugs/3526533.html?utm_content=buffer39cfb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Pakistan – Highlighting Issues: 40% of Pakistan’s Population Malnourished.
A lack of awareness and effort by the government may be some of the bigger contributing factors in Pakistan’s malnutrition level. Children in Pakistan are among the most vulnerable and worst affected groups, with thousands of children, if not dying from malnutrition, suffering from deficiencies of important vitamins and minerals. What is ironic is that despite having reserves of millions of tonnes of wheat and being one of the larger producers of milk and meat, malnourishment continues to rise in Pakistan.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1192470/highlighting-issues-40-pakistans-population-malnourished/
Australia – Indigenous Kids ‘Nine Times’ More Likely to Be ‘Under Care’.
Brisbane Times.
Indigenous kids in Australia are overrepresented in child protection services. The rate of Indigenous kids under care has increased a greater amount than the total proportion of all children under protective care, with Indigenous children’s rate jumping from 40.4 per thousand to 45.3 per thousand. Information flow is argued to be an area that needs improvement, which may lead to greater child safety.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/indigenous-kids-nine-times-more-likely-to-be-under-care-20161003-grtzsx.html
U.K. – Sunderland Child Protection Body Apologizes Over Death of Girls.
The death of two teenage girls under child services were both found hanged 10 days apart. No connection has be found linking the two deaths, however; the similarities in both cases prompted serious case reviews out of fear the children may be experiencing similar unacceptable levels of care.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/sep/14/sunderland-childrens-services-apologise-critical-report-deaths-girls
Canada – Dark Ad Campaign Hopes to Help Catch Online Child Predators.
A Canadian online tool, used to report child abuse, launches a new ad campaign to raise national awareness of child abuse seen across the internet. Cybertip was launched by the federal government to protect children from abuse. The campaign brings attention to ease at which images and videos are being passed around the internet as smartphones, cameras, and the internet has become more and more accessible.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/cybertip-canadian-centre-for-child-protection-1.3777759
Canada – Ministry-Funded CAS Report Urges Overhaul to Keep Black ids Out of Care.
The Star.
The Children’s Aid Society of Toronto has a history of systemic racism, with African Canadian children being disproportionately represented. The system was unduly targeted black families and their children by unnecessarily removing children and placing them in a system which denies them fair and equal opportunities and increase their chances of abuse and neglect.
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/09/29/ministry-funded-cas-report-urges-overhaul-to-keep-black-kids-out-of-care.html
The UAE: Abu Dhabi – ADEC Announces Child Protection Policy For Schools.
Gulf News.
The Abu Dhabi Education Council has developed a policy to identify and support students under the age of 18 who may have been abused or neglected. The policy clearly outlines and identities aspects of abuse and neglect, and further stipulates the responsibilities school officials are suppose to take while children are in school to protect children from abuse and neglect.
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/education/adec-announces-child-protection-policy-for-schools-1.1902817
Child Marriage a Growing International Issue, Report Says.
The Toronto Star.
The bulk of young girls forced into marriages, more often than not, are marrying men way older than themselves. Forced child marriages take place in poor and rural communities where access to education and other opportunities for girls are minimal to non-existent. Despite international efforts to curb child brides, the number of young girls married before the age of 18 will continue to grow to 950 million by 2030 and to 1.2 billion by 2050.
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/10/11/child-marriage-a-growing-international-issue-report-says.html
Ethiopia – Drought Leaves 6 Million Ethiopian Children Hungry.
Al Jazeera.
Millions of children are in need of emergency food assistance as a drought has crashed the agricultural sector in Ethiopia since 2014. The highly vulnerable children are at a risk of malnutrition and waterborne diseases. Only half of the necessary amount of aid to handle the crisis has been raised so far by aid agencies and the government.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/04/drought-leaves-6-million-ethiopian-children-hungry-160408134745829.html
Ethiopia – Reuniting Ethiopia’s Children With Their Families after Migration Horrors.
UNICEF Ethiopia.
Human traffickers prey on the vulnerable with the promise of opportunities abroad. Often they are left stranded or held for ransom. Through this journey these children face very harsh circumstances, e.g. going days without food or being robbed and beaten to the point of becoming very sick. The traumatization the children face on this journey makes it harder to cope and readjust to life if and when they return home.
https://unicefethiopia.org/2016/04/18/reuniting-ethiopias-children-with-their-families-after-migration-horrors/
Ethiopia – History Repeats Itself in Ethiopia.
The Washington Post.
Food aid and money from international donors is running out as humanitarian disasters around the world has increased in recent years. Since the horrific famines of 1973 and 1984, the Ethiopian government in cooperation with international aid agencies have created safety nets and increased economic growth. At first, after a continuous drought caused in part by an El Nino, the government stated that it would independently handle the situation. But as the numbers of needly skyrocketed, authorities issued an appeal. The current need of the people is greater than what the government and international aid agencies is currently providing.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/world/2016/02/22/history-repeats-itself-in-ethiopia/
Syria – Child Brides: The Syrian Girls Pushed Into Early Marriage.
BBC News.
Out of economic desperation, refugees from Syria have pushed their young daughters into marrying. These young girls subsequently put their bodies through stress by having children at a young age. The practice of child marriages is a tradition that has always existed in rural parts of the region. But since the civil war in Syria, cycles of war and poverty has given momentum to child marriages and the worsen and intensified the practice.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37617523
Ethiopia Struggles With Worst Drought for 50 Years Leaving 18 Million People In Need of Aid.
The Telegraph.
While Ethiopia’s past famines were the result of political tactics and ideologies, this time around the government has attempted to curb the potentially similar crisis from happening again. But in the earl stages the government attempted to handle the crisis independently. This however allowed the drought and its effects to get progressively worse because international response was delayed due to authorities refusing to admit to their inadequacies.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/23/ethiopia-struggles-with-worst-drought-for-50-years-leaving-18-mi/
Syria – Airstrikes in Syria’s Aleppo and Shelling in South Kill 20.
Air strikes continues after a cease fire falls through. Children bear the brunt of the fall out as schools in rebel and government held areas face attacks.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/syrian-opposition-activists-airstrikes-kill-8-aleppo-115156411.html?ref=gs&utm_content=buffer54031&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
France Says Britain Has ‘Moral Duty’ On Calais Migrant Children.
As a refugee camp is fated to be bulldozed in France, several worry for the future of the hundreds of unaccompanied migrant children. France is asking Britain to assume a moral duty to allow the unaccompanied migrant children to reunite with their families they have been separated from while making the journey from Syria to France. While British authorities are ready and willing to cooperate, the British authorities argue that the primary responsibility rests with France since Britain does not have jurisdiction in France.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/france-says-britain-moral-duty-calais-migrant-minors-070140775.html?ref=gs&utm_content=buffer55904&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
India – Child Marriage Shame: 30% Hindu, Muslim Women Ties Knot Before Turning 18.
Hindustan Times.
While there are laws in place to prohibit child marriages and despite the the legal age of marriage for women being 18, the percentage of Hindu and Muslim girls married before the age of 17 remains high; percentages for other major religions has declined. Many have cited the lack of strict enforcement for laws for the minimal decline.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/child-marriage-shame-30-hindu-muslim-women-tie-knot-before-turning-18/story-aLH8c4fnBoEEeztIsuZZlJ.html
Why Parents Don’t Get Their Children Vaccinated For the Flu.
NPR.
Some parents choose not to vaccinate their children because they think it is not necessary, while other believe the vaccine itself will give children the flu. Doctors; however, warn of the potentially dangerous side effects.
http://www.npr.org/2016/10/10/497350289/why-parents-don-t-get-their-children-vaccinated-for-the-flu?utm_content=buffer57378&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Yemen – We Saw How Yemen’s Children Are Slowly Starving to Death.
While a Saudi-led coalition tries to defeat Houthi rebels, thousands of people have been killing in bombings and hundreds of thousands of children have suffered from severe malnutrition and its life threatening side effects. The importation of food and warehouses, storage silos and maintenance depots have been hit by air strikes, making food distribution and slow, hazardous and effectively crippled.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/oct/06/we-saw-how-yemen-children-slowly-starving-to-death-krishnan-guru-murthy?utm_content=buffer8b790&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Myanmar Human Rights Leaders Resign Over Child Abuse Scandal.
Yahoo.
More investigation into human rights abuses has been order by the President of Myanmar after two girls have allegedly been kept as slaves and tortured in a tailor’s shop for five years. Myanmar’s National Human Rights Commission has negotiated a $4, 000 payout for the victims but not criminal charges have been laid. Sadly, this story is not any different from the thousands even millions of children who are brought from poor rural areas to work as domestic workers.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/myanmar-human-rights-leaders-resign-over-child-abuse-073258613.html?ref=gs&utm_content=buffer49e4d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Every 7 Seconds, A Young Girl Becomes A Bride, Repot Says.
CNN.
Domestic violence, abuse, rape, and not being able to attend school has resulted from the practice of child marriage. Girls are thrown into the cycle of child marriage and face the consequences their physical body and mental emotions are not prepared to handle. Some the countries listed as the worst countries in which to be a girl are Somalia, Mali, and Niger. Girls and children caught in the middle of conflicts as refugees are more likely to become child brides for safety or out of desperation.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/11/world/girls-around-the-world-report/
8 Insights to End Child Marriage.
Devex.
Before taking steps to the global sustainable development goal, local community level and international level commitment needs to be clearly defined. Here are 8 insights to the problem of child marriages that may help an action plan to ending child marriages.
https://www.devex.com/news/8-insights-to-end-child-marriage-88853?utm_content=buffer1c01e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Bangladesh’s ‘Wedding Buster’ Takes On Illegal Child Marriages.
France 24.
The practice of child marriage has been illegal since 1929 in Bangladesh, but child marriages are ever present. One factor leading to marrying girls off at a very young age is the perception that daughters are a financial burden, especially among poor families. A 21 year old girl tells her story of over coming her own marriage at a young age and how she now helps to prevent future child marriages.
http://www.france24.com/en/20161011-bangladesh-child-marriages-international-day-girl-child-radha-rani-sarker
Canada – Hamilton Teacher Accused of Child Sexual Assault.
The Hamilton Spectator.
A school teacher was released on recognizance after being charged with sexual assault, sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching. The investigation into the teacher began with child sexual abuse allegations but then expanded to online child exploitation.
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6873366-hamilton-teacher-accused-of-child-sexual-assault/
Africa – Air Pollution More Deadly In Africa Than Malnutrition Or Dirty Water, Study Warns.
Africa’s air pollution has the potential to lead to a serious health and climate crisis as the air pollution may be killing thousands of people a year prematurely. It is well known the child malnutrition levels across Africa are unacceptably high and for air pollution to be killing more people than child nutrition, it must speak to the severity of air pollution.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/oct/20/air-pollution-deadlier-africa-than-dirty-water-or-malnutrition-oecd?utm_content=buffer45878&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Investing In Girls Could Unlock Billions Of Dollars For National Economies : U.N. Agency.
The economic benefits of giving girls a quality primary and secondary education can produce economic benefits into the billions; however, the social benefits can be even more later on in life. To get to gender equality and the empowerment of women, more awareness needs to be brought to the poor state of girls’ human rights and the lack of accountability from political leaders.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/investing-girls-could-unlock-billions-dollars-national-economies-123316961.html?ref=gs&utm_content=buffer66c58&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Equatorial Guinea – School Ban On Pregnant Teens Divides Equatorial Guinea.
A teenage girl was denied an education because she was pregnant. This is part of a new government initiative which requires all teenage girls to take a pregnancy test in order for them to enrol. The education minister encourages the new measure so that young girls can protect themselves against unwanted pregnancies. Many fear the violation of the right to education and the possibility that many girls may turn to illegal abortions.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/school-ban-pregnant-teens-divides-equatorial-guinea-083428185.html?ref=gs&utm_content=buffer77e41&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Iraq – US General Urges Iraqis Not to ‘Rush’ Mosul Fight.
Thousands of people have fled Iraq to refugee camps in Syria as forces try to retake the city, Mosul, from the Islamic State group. While the politics and military aspect of the fight against the Islamic State has been in the spotlight, the refugee and humanitarian crisis goes largely unnoticed or has been given less attention and care.
http://www.voanews.com/a/aid-group-says-thousands-have-fled-mosul/3557471.html?utm_content=bufferaa17a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Indian Human Rights Body Demands Answer Over Death of Hundreds of Indigenous Schoolchildren.
In the last ten years hundreds of students from poor tribal areas in a western Indian state have died in state run ashram schools from illnesses such as malaria, food poisoning, drownings and snake bites. While there are several procedures that should be followed, including health screenings, school authorities fail to do comply with them and fail to provide basic amenities. These state run schools are often the only option for children living in remote areas.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/indian-human-rights-body-demands-answer-over-deaths-131424805.html?ref=gs&utm_content=bufferf1ebd&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Nigeria’s Buhari Says Will “Redouble” Efforts to Bring Back Rest of Chibok Girls.
Reuters Africa.
The Nigerian government promises greater efforts in bringing back more than 200 girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014.
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKCN12J1S6?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_content=bufferdb510&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Argentina: Hundreds of Thousands of Women Set to Protest Against Violence.
After the brutal rape and torture of a 16 year old girl, hundreds of thousands of women are expected to stand in solidarity with a national protest against the”femicides” of women, committed usually at the hands of their husbands, boyfriends, family members or acquaintances. The violence against women is not just a specific targeted act against the victim themselves but a message to girls and women on the whole.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/19/argentina-women-strike-violence-protest?utm_content=buffer3ee39&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
11 Ways to Stop Periods From Disrupting Girls’ Education.
Often after puberty girls face several barriers when it comes to their education. Here are some suggested ways in which a girl’s access to education can be easier.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/oct/19/11-ways-to-stop-periods-from-disrupting-girls-education?utm_content=bufferc744a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Britain Must Fulfil Duty to Calais Migrant Kids: France.
As France tears down the infamous Calais refugee camp for good, a French Minister calls on Britain to fulfill its duties towards unaccompanied migrant children. Both Britain and France have pledge cooperated efforts in fighting the migrant crisis. While a few unaccompanied teenagers were reunited with their relatives after being transferred to Britain, there are many more children left behind who are also deserving of help.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/britain-must-fulfil-duty-calais-migrant-kids-france-062833772.html?ref=gs&utm_content=buffer5dc7a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Nigeria – Boko Haram Ready to Negotiate Release of 83 More Chibok Girls – Govt.
A brokered deal by the Red Cross and the Swiss government has resulted in the release of 21 captured girls. The Islamist militant group Boko Haram is willing to negotiate the release of 83 more of the girls from one of the faction groups of Boko Haram. Despite this release suicide bombings continue to be staged in Nigeria and neighbouring Niger and Cameroon.
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKCN12I1ST?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_content=buffer6947e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
14 Migrant Children Arriving In UK from Calais Migrant Camp.
After receiving pressure from charities, religious leaders and French authorities, Britain agreed to accept migrant children from the refugee camp Calais in France; however, only 14 children made the journey from France to Britain. The closing of the Calais camp leaves 6,000 to 10, 000 migrants, including 1, 300 children, in limbo as they will need to be relocated.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/14-migrant-children-arriving-uk-calais-migrant-camp-092351395.html?ref=gs&utm_content=buffer8540a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Africa: World Leaders Must Act Fast to Keep Promise to End Child Deaths By 2030.
All Africa.
The promise of ending hunger by 2030, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals, is at risk of being broken. Although we have seen exceptional numbers from 2009 to 2014, the current rate of eliminating preventable child deaths from sever malnutrition is estimated to be 150 years. While there is treatment, many children cannot access the basic, low cost treatment that is essential. A political will is needed to drive the initiative forward.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201610170189.html?utm_content=bufferb5c9d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Nigeria – Polio Vaccine Drive Targets 41 Million African Children As Nigeria Fights Virus.
Polio vaccination campaigns have been scheduled for multiple dates in Nigeria as a polio outbreak threatens to spread across Nigeria and neighbouring countries Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Central Africa Republic. If the outbreak is not contained, the virus may set back global efforts towards its eradication. The simplicity of administering the vaccine is not what hinders the efforts, but the difficulty at which humanitarian aid workers have at reaching those who need it, particularly the areas that have been affected by the Boko Haram insurgency,
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/oct/13/nigera-polio-vaccine-drive-targets-41m-children-outbreak-africa?utm_content=buffer55283&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
France – Child Migrants In Calais Seeking Smugglers As ‘Jungle Camp Set To Close.
As their futures are unknown, many children in the infamous jungle camp are seeking out smugglers to help them be reunited with their families in Britain. After the camp is demolished migrants will be settled in centres across France, which would more than likely make more difficult for children to reconnect with their families. The lack of information, transparency, and frankly concern, raises tensions within the camp and between the migrants and authorities.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/child-migrants-calais-seeking-smugglers-jungle-camp-set-153919193.html?ref=gs&utm_content=buffer691f1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Nepal Stands Third in South Asia in Terms of Child Marriages.
My Republica.
While the legal age of marriage is 20 years old in Nepal, nearly 30 percent of recored marriages are recorded as early and forced. Programs and legal provisions have been implemented but their implementation has been delayed.
http://www.myrepublica.com/news/7870
Afghanistan – ‘We’re the Sons of Afghanistan, But Out Leaders Have Forgotten About Us.”
Many young people in Afghanistan sign up for its military so that they can provide their family with food and give their other siblings a chance at an education. Signing up for the military is seen as their only chance of a decent job. The Afghan army has taken advantage of their young recruits in their war against the Taliban. Those who have suffered life changing injuries or families who have lost their children to the war, are given false and hollow promises by the government for treatment and pensions.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/oct/24/sons-of-afghanistan-leaders-have-forgotten-us-war-against-taliban?utm_content=buffer951b3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Syrian Child Refugees Making British Clothes In Turkey: BBC Investigation.
Syrian refugee children are working 12 hour work days for low wages. Popular British clothing brands have been found to be using these child refugees the production of their clothing in Turkey. The retailers have suggested that they take the allegations very seriously.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/syrian-child-refugees-making-british-clothes-turkey-bbc-080333436–finance.html?ref=gs&utm_content=buffereb551&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Progress Towards Children’s Well-Being in South Asian Countries.
The Financial Express.
A brief overview of the UNICEF publication examining the the history and future of child rights in South Asia, including the countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/10/20/50120/Progress-towards-children’s-well-being-in-South-Asian-countries
Pakistan – US Embassy Issues Last-Minute Vis to Ailing Pakistani Girl.
A 6 year old girl, from a poor merchant family, with a spinal cord disorder has been issued a visa for the United States so that see she can get the surgry she needs.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-embassy-issues-last-minute-visa-ailing-pakistani-113007216.html?ref=gs&utm_content=buffer95d8a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Kenya – Heroin Users Getting Younger on Kenya’s Coast.
The costal province which makes up Kenya’s strong tourism industry has a dark side with the rise of prolonged heroin use among the younger generation. Often the problem of young heroin users is overshadowed by the need to support the tourism in the province. What may or may not be surprising is that heroin users in the costal province graduate to the use or heroin through first trying tobacco, marijuana, khat, or moonshine.
http://www.voanews.com/a/heroin-users-getting-younger-on-kenya-coast/3565027.html?utm_content=bufferc0025&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Syria – Schoolchildren Among 35 Dead in Syria Raids: Monitor.
Among the least 35 killed civilians were children after a school and its surrounding area was hit with an air strike. Both the Syrian government forces and Russian ally have been accused by rights groups for carrying out intentional attacks on civilian infrastructure. Unverified footage and pictures show the graphic nature of the attacks, i.e. children’s seared off arms, and rescue workers sprinting to help the injured.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/raids-near-schools-syrias-idlib-kill-16-civilians-111812728.html?ref=gs&utm_content=buffer9d0e3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
South Sudan – UN Says 145 Child Soldiers Released in South Sudan.
UNICEF negotiated the release of 145 child soldiers from two rebel groups in South Sudan. The use of child soldiers is not exclusive to rebel groups, the national army is also suggested to have child soldiers fighting or working for porters.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/un-says-145-child-soldiers-released-south-sudan-135358080.html?ref=gs&utm_content=bufferac5cc&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Building the Evidence Based.
The DailyStar.
Despite laws against child marriages, millions of children, more so girls than boys, are married at a young age in South Asia. While levels have decreased, it remains at an unacceptable high level. Forcing girls to get married at a very young age violates their human rights in several aspects, they are denied the right to complete their education and they become more susceptible to abuse, exploitation and sexual violence, for example.
http://www.thedailystar.net/op-ed/ending-child-marriage-building-the-evidence-base-1292440
Sri Lanka Progress in Addressing Child Marriages and Teenage Pregnancy.
The Hans India.
Like the many other countries in South Asia, Sri Lanka has made progress in addressing the issue of child marriages and teenage pregnancies but legal, economic and social security related factors still exist which enables these practices to remain and perhaps worsen.
http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/International/2016-10-12/Sri-Lanka-progress-in-addressing-child-marriages-and-teenage-pregnancy/258286
British Retailers Exploit Syrian Refugee Children, Investigation Says.
Daily Sabah.
A BBC investigation finds the several well know British and International brands are using Syrian refugee children in the production of their garments. Some of the named brands have already been investigated and criticized for its factories in Cambodia where concerns have been raised about workers’ human rights.
http://www.dailysabah.com/money/2016/10/24/british-retailers-exploit-syrian-refugee-children-investigation-says
Cambodia – With the Paedophile – Hunters on the Streets of Phnom Penh.
South China Morning Post.
An NGO and official investigators work together to gather evidence against suspected paedophillic men who sexually exploit children trafficked into the country. The expertise and experience of the NGO workers provides law enforcement with specialized assistance so that targeting and locating these men is done expediently.
http://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/2040307/paedophile-hunters-streets-phnom-penh
U.K. – New Shelters to Protect Women and Children.
The National.
Details of a new government plan, to create shelters for women and girls at risk of trafficking or violence, are being slowly revealed as part of an international effort to stop modern slavery and child abuse. Funding will be put towards the building of shelters in the U.K. and also to women’s rights and civil society groups in North Africa and the Middle East. This is an attempt to curb female refugees who are either migrated or trafficked through Europe.
http://www.thenational.scot/news/new-shelters-to-protect-women-and-children.23646
Palestinians: Jihadi-Style Child Abuse, Where are the Human Rights Groups?
Gatestone Institute International Policy Council.
Children are used in the front lines as suicide bombers and undergo military training to carry on a jihadist approach to liberalization, something that is not new but has been long practiced. Children are being forced to attend rallies and participate and jihadist movements are also choosing to freely to participate themselves as they have adopted that the armed struggle is the only means to victory and liberation. UNICEF and other international human rights organizations often turn a blind eye to this form of child abuse.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/9188/palestinian-jihadi-child-abuse
Canada – 14 Charged After Online Child Sexual Exploitation Investigation in Northern Alberta.
Global News.
14 men, ages between 26 and 61, were charged with more than 30 offences related to online child sexual exploitation. Images and videos were recovered of children undergoing extreme abuse. Over 250 computers, cell phones and electronic devices were seized with upwards of 25, 000 photos and videos. The men charged were not in positions of trust and/or authority.
http://globalnews.ca/news/3012700/14-charged-after-online-child-sexual-exploitation-investigation-in-northern-alberta/
PreviousPrevious post:Raise Your Voice For At Risk Children (Give to the Max Day November 17th)NextNext post:Children’s Mental Health, Prozac and You (suicide & other self-harming behaviors)
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Budget cuts rip through mental health safety net in state
By Carol SmithMarch 9, 2011May 16th, 2012No Comments
Home » Budget cuts rip through mental health safety net in state
State budget cutbacks have forced the closure of a little known, but pivotal program at Western State Hospital that allowed difficult psychiatric patients, including those with violent criminal histories, to continue living on its grounds after discharge.
The shuttering of that facility at the end of February followed the closure in January of another 30-bed ward inside the hospital. The cutbacks are a further sign of how state budget cuts are ripping through the mental health safety net both here and nationwide, said mental health professionals.
“We’re in serious trouble,” said Amnon Shoenfeld, Director of King County’s Mental Health, Chemical Abuse and Dependency Services Division, which sends many of its clients to Western when they need long-term psychiatric care.
The lack of beds has meant more people are being held in hospital emergency rooms while waiting out their “involuntary holds.” By law, individuals can be held for 72 hours against their will if they are deemed a danger to themselves or others. During one week last month, the county “boarded” more than 25 people in ER’s throughout King County because they’d been declared a danger to themselves or others, he said. “We had no place to put them.” Boarding means patients are held, in restraints if necessary, in hallways or other spaces until inpatient rooms become available. If their holds runs out before that happens, they are free to leave the hospital.
The most recently cut program, called PALS, or Program for Adapted Living Skills, was housed in a stand-alone “dorm-like” residence on the grounds of the state’s largest inpatient psychiatric facility. It had operated for more than two decades and housed more than two dozen former patients no one else would take because of behavioral problems, medical needs, or histories such as arson. Of the 26 individuals living there, one is now in a shelter, and two are living in motels, awaiting benefits to kick in, said Western State Hospital spokeswoman Kris Flowers. Another five were readmitted to Western on a voluntary basis. The others were all absorbed into their already overloaded home county community health systems.
Meanwhile, a patient who had been civilly committed, and had previously threatened his community corrections officer, walked off the grounds at Western State Hospital last weekend, fueling fears among some mental health and public safety advocates. They warn closures and staffing cuts could result in the deterioration of care, potentially endangering both patients and the public.
The incident is under review and a report to the head of the state Department of Social and Health Services is expected by Wednesday. Flowers said the incident was unrelated to staffing issues facing the hospital. The cutbacks have forced the hospital to cut down on overtime and juggle staff between units.
However, Jonathan Rosenblum with the Service Employees International Union 1199, which represents about 4,000 mental health care workers in the state, said the staffs at Western and throughout the mental health community have been affected by the cutbacks. “Our members who work in state institutions are more stressed,” he said. “Members who work in the community are reporting higher case loads.”
The cutbacks at Western are the latest fallout for the mental health community from the 6.3 percent across-the-board state cuts ordered by Gov. Chris Gregoire last October to close the state budget gap.
Budget cuts here follow a national trend. According to a report by the National Alliance on Mental Illness released today (Mar 9), states have cut $1.8 billion total from their budgets for spending on children and adults living with mental illness since 2009 when the recession began. The report also found that these budget cuts have already started driving up the numbers of people with psychiatric needs who are winding up in jails, and emergency rooms, or who have lost access to medication, treatment and other support.
Washington ranks 16th in the country in the amount it spends on services for people with mental illness.
Royal Barringon (left) and Eric Barbee say mental health counseling and services have helped them turn their lives around. InvestigateWest photo
As a result of Washington’s emergency 6.3 percent cutback, and expected upcoming cuts in the proposed 2011-2013 budget, state spending on mental illness is expected to fall by a total of $42 million over the biennium. Of that, $7 million will come out of Western’s budget. Another $17.4 million will come out of community-based mental health programs, which in turn means services will be cut to 26,000 people, according to David Dickinson, director of the State Department of Behavioral Health and Recovery, which oversees mental health care for the state. Last year, the state served 144,000 clients through its community mental health system.
The 6.3 percent across-the-board cut has also already had a huge ripple effect at the community treatment level. In November, it forced the immediate closure of the North Sound Evaluation and Treatment Center, a 16-bed inpatient facility for psychiatric patients who have been put on 72 hour or 14-day involuntary commitment holds. That facility was in Sedro-Wooley in Skagit County.
The state already ranks among the lowest in the country for number of psychiatric hospital beds per capita, according to the Treatment Advocacy Center, a national nonprofit mental health advocacy organization that issued a 2008 report on the bed shortage nationwide.
The bed shortage is acute on both the admission and discharge side. Western currently has 23 patients on a wait list to get in, and 205 who have been declared ready for discharge, but have yet to be placed in community treatment because they are awaiting verification of eligibility for programs, or there is no place yet to put them, Flowers said.
Bed closures are also happening nationwide. According to the just-released NAMI report, 4,000 psychiatric beds have been eliminated or are being considered for elimination around the country and 11 state hospitals have been closed or are being considered for closure.
In King County, the cutbacks have also virtually eliminated all outpatient community-based psych services for non-Medicaid patients, which includes immigrants and others who aren’t yet sick enough or poor enough to qualify for federal aid, Shoenfeld said.
Pierce County, like other counties around the state and country, also has seen increases of people with untreated mental illness in its jails and on the street.
“We saw a 25 percent increase in people with mental illness in our homeless count between 2009 and 2010,” said Troy Christensen, manager of mental health and homelessness for Pierce County. Similarly, the Pierce County Jail had a 12 percent increase in requests for mental health assessments during the same time period, he said.
Medicaid funding, too, is falling. According to the NAMI report, Washington’s share of federal Medicaid dollars for mental health services will fall by $338 million next year.
The cutback in outpatient services has greatly strained the capacity of the system to provide transitional support for patients leaving inpatient care at the state hospital, or who are coming out of jail, and for providing the support necessary for less acute patients to remain functional in their communities, said Trish Blanchard, director of Sound Mental Health, which has slashed its crisis services budget by 60 percent.
The number of counseling appointments Sound Mental Health can offer to people who are in crisis dropped from 18 per week to eight, she said. “These are people who are suicidal, or seriously depressed. They are not finding their way into the mental health system because they are too decompensated or too destabilized to find their own way into care.”
Service providers say demand for both emergency and ongoing care is escalating. Sound Mental Health treated about 18,000 clients last year, up 2,000 from the year before.
When support systems get cut off, clients risk losing the gains they’ve made in treatment, which in turn can put their employment, housing, or sobriety at stake, she said. “When that happens, our emergency rooms and our jails get busier.”
Arden James, manager of the Co-Occurring Disorders Clinic, which treats patients with both substance abuse and psychiatric diagnoses, said she’s already seeing that starting to happen. “It’s really frustrating to see them take steps backward,” she said.
Royal Barrington, 52, has been getting treatment at Sound Mental Health for several years and is proud of his sobriety and the gains he’s made in his recovery. But he’s also worried about what will happen to him if his medications or counseling get cut off.
“I’m really stressed about this,” said Barrington. “It keeps me so upset.”
Eric Barbee, 41, is worried as well. In and out of jail for drug-related offenses, he credited his counseling at Sound Mental Health for helping him find a medication regimen that helped control his bipolar disorder. “That was huge for me,” he said. “Huge.” But now his appointments have been cut back even as his doctors have been trying to determine the right dosages. He’s anxious about his future.
These kinds of cutbacks put more people at risk of failing to get help in a crisis, said Shoenfeld.
Hypothetically, if a student similar to the one now accused of the Arizona shooting rampage, lived in King County and had been diagnosed with a psychiatric condition for which he’d been referred to outpatient treatment, the patient would not be able to get those services, he said. “Someone with serious symptoms, but not on Medicaid, is not able to get mental health treatment in our system.”
Mental health advocates stress that the vast majority of patients with mental illness are not violent. They also stress that treatment is effective when it’s available and can restore a patient’s ability to function well in the community.
Ironically, the state budget cutbacks come on the heels of passage of new state rules that are likely to increase the number of involuntary commitments of mentally ill individuals, which means demand for the dwindling supply of beds will become even more acute.
In 2010, the Washington Legislature passed a law that would allow county workers who make commitment decisions to take into account previous violent behavior, and the testimony of family and friends when making commitment decisions. That law was passed in the wake of a number of highly publicized murders in Washington by individuals with histories of untreated, or inadequately treated, mental illness.
The law was meant to ease barriers to commitment that required a person be in imminent danger of harming himself or others, a standard that had been criticized for making it impossible to commit some of the accused individuals just prior to their acts of violence. A new study by the Washington Institute for Public Policy, a state-funded think tank, found that the new law is likely to result in a 10 to 20 percent increase in commitments, which in turn would require an addition of up to 49 beds in short-term facilities as well as additional inpatient psychiatric beds in community and state hospitals.
Instead, the governor’s 2011-2013 budget proposes more cuts, not new beds. And that worries many in the field that things are going backward for those in need of mental health care, Dickinson said.
Farrell Adrian, President of NAMI spell out name of org Washington said her affiliates in various counties are seeing “troubling themes.” In Pierce County, for example, attendance at a local NAMI support group for people of “all diagnoses” has seen double, and the newcomers are saying they’ve been terminated from their mental health services and have nowhere else to go.
Erosion of services at the community level frustrates those who have worked for the last decade to provide earlier intervention and support for people with mental illness, and who say it will end up costing taxpayers more in the long run.
“Whether with mental illness, or chemical dependency, it’s been shown the earlier you intervene and do preventative actions and provide resources — you’re always going to get better outcomes in the long run,” Dickinson said. “It’s certainly possible as we see diminished access to crisis stabilization, evaluation and treatment, they will start showing up in emergency rooms and jails. The costs will be absorbed somewhere else.”
Edited by Rita Hibbard
DSHSsafety net
Carol Smith
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Atari Launches Pong World on iOS to Celebrate 40 Years of Pong
by Gary Ng – Fri, November 30, 2012
To celebrate 40 years of the iconic game Pong, Atari has announced the launch Pong World on iOS. The game was part of a $50,000 developer contest to see who could make the best rendition of the legendary game, and zGames beat out the rest.
In commemoration of Atari and PONG’s 40th anniversary, one of the first video games to garner mainstream cultural appeal, the Pong Indie Developer Challenge, which concluded in summer 2012, called on developers to create their own vision of the legendary game for mobile devices. First place winner zGames was awarded $50,000 and top honors as the first official PONG title to be launched by Atari on iOS.
The game is available for the iPhone and iPad.
Click here to download Pong World–it’s free. Early iTunes reviews aren’t very positive. Let me know what you think about this version of Pong.
Apple Performs In-house LTE Network Tests Before Enabling 4G
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Metro-North Shutdown to begin Saturday, 12PM
August 26, 2011 Emily Moser Events
As you have most likely heard, the MTA will begin shutting down services tomorrow at noon in preparation for the hurricane. Metro-North will be included in this shut-down, and it is probably best to get the information straight from the horse’s mouth at the site MN has set up regarding the subject: http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/mnr_shutdown.html
These are the last trains that will be running tomorrow before the shutdown, as posted on Metro-North’s site:
Harlem Line:
11:48 AM train from Grand Central to Southeast arriving at 1:18 PM.
11:55 AM train from Grand Central to North White Plains arriving at 12:43 PM.
11:34 AM train from Southeast to Grand Central arriving at 12:56 PM.
12:08 PM train from North White Plains to Grand Central arriving at 1:03 PM.
Wassaic Branch:
1:21 PM train from Southeast to Wassaic arriving at 2:05 PM.
10:26 AM train from Wassaic to Southeast arriving at 11:06 AM.
Hudson Line:
11:45 AM train from Grand Central to Poughkeepsie arriving at 1:35 PM.
12:20 PM train from Grand Central to Croton-Harmon arriving at 1:28 PM.
11:40 AM train from Poughkeepsie to Grand Central arriving at 1:21 PM.
12:00 PM train from Croton-Harmon to Grand Central arriving at 1:07 PM.
New Haven Line:
12:07 PM train from Grand Central to New Haven arriving at 1:54 PM.
12:10 PM train from Grand Central to Stamford arriving at 1:17 PM.
12:03 PM train from Stamford to Grand Central arriving at 1:09 PM.
11:56 AM train from New Haven to Grand Central arriving at 12:43 PM
11:30 AM and 11:56 AM trains from New Haven, which will make all stops to Grand Central.
New Canaan Branch:
12:57 PM train from Stamford to New Canaan arriving at 1:14 PM.
12:27 PM train from New Canaan to Stamford arriving at 12:43 PM.
Danbury Branch:
12:11 PM train from South Norwalk to Danbury arriving at 1:02 PM.
10:43 AM train from Danbury to South Norwalk arriving at 11:31 AM.
Waterbury Branch:
11:34 AM train from Bridgeport to Waterbury arriving at 12:37 PM.
10:19 AM train from Waterbury to Bridgeport arriving at 11:12 AM.
We all know the flaws in our train system, and there will undoubtedly be issues with service. The catenary wire system on the New Haven Line will cause the usual problems, with wires falling down. The Harlem Line always suffers from downed trees, especially on the northern portion of the line. Flooding is also frequent around the Pleasantville and Chappaqua area. Places along the Hudson Line are also prone to flooding. Any and all of these things could happen, and when service is restored is dependent on that.
Enjoy the weekend, and be sure to sleep late on Sunday. Don’t feel guilty about it – just say Mayor Bloomberg suggested it (which he did in today’s press conference).
2 thoughts on “Metro-North Shutdown to begin Saturday, 12PM”
Time for one of those fake pamphlets you created in January to become real?
http://www.iridetheharlemline.com/2011/01/05/the-mta-wants-to-make-sure-you-are-prepared/
I had the privilege off working fordham ticket office this morning, and it was a nut house! No one seems to gets why the trains were stopped!
The Curious Incident of the Post-its in the Train Station
Metro-North and the Aftermath of Irene, Damage Photos
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Irish author beats Michelle Obama, David Walliams to British Book of the Year
Despite Michelle Obama’s biography selling 253% more copies, Rooney scooped the biggest prize of the night.
Kate Demolder
Sally Rooney's book awards keep coming and coming. The young writer's second novel "Normal People" has brought home yet another accolade.
“She has transcended literary fiction. It is not something I can say about many young writers.”
Sally Rooney’s "Normal People" has taken the top prize at the British book awards, beating Michelle Obama’s widely-tipped autobiography "Becoming" and last year’s Man Booker winner, Anna Burns’s "Milkman."
Since her debut novel, "Conversations With Friends," hit bookstores in 2017, her name has grown synonymous with best-seller lists and graces the palms of countless commuters.
For those who have been chronicling her path, it should be no wonder that her second novel, "Normal People," has been met with similar acclaim.
Earlier this year, the novel was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Now, it scooped Best Book of the Year at the annual British Book Awards on 13 May – beating Michelle Obama’s "Becoming."
Looking for Irish book recommendations or to meet with others who share your love for Irish literature and writers? Be sure to join the IrishCentral Book Club here and enjoy our book-loving community.
On claiming the prize, Rooney thanked librarians and booksellers, saying she felt “astonishingly lucky.”
"Normal People" already won the Costa novel award and been crowned book of the year by Waterstone’s.
Despite Obama’s biography selling 253% more copies than Rooney’s novel, Alice O’Keeffe, chair of the judges and books editor of the Bookseller said that despite Obama’s impressive sales, 'Normal People' was the most deserving winner: “It was a really difficult decision and we went back and forth for a good while, but after much discussion, we felt that Sally Rooney is such a major talent and that her ‘difficult second novel’ was just as impressive as her debut was astonishing.
"She has been described as a millennial writer with millennial concerns, but I know readers in their seventies who loved Normal People. The passion that came through on the grassroots for this book is really something,” O'Keeffe added.
Rooney’s second book is currently being adapted for a new series on the BBC.
READ MORE: A History Lesson for the Social Media Generation
READ MORE: Can Social Media and Mental Health Ever Be Friends?
Related: Books
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Swami Vivekananda Memorial College, Jagatsinghpur
Jagatsinghpur, Orissa, India
Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar
Swami Vivekananda Memorial College
About Swami Vivekananda Memorial College, Jagatsinghpur
Swami Vivekananda Memorial College, Jagatsinghpur was established in the year 1963-64, Swami Vivekananda Memorial College, Jagatsinghpur is affiliated to Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar
Affiliation was granted by Utkal University to open Science classes with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology from the academic session, 1963-64. The college was formally inaugurated by the then Deputy Chief Minister Sri Biren Mitra on 25-7-1963. That year the college had a strength of 64 students in Pre-University Science class (Subsequently raised to 80) and five members of the teaching staff. During the session, 1964-65 the CoIlege was affiliated in Arts at the, Pre-University stage and in Science at Pre-Professional stage.
Swami Vivekananda Memorial College, Jagatsinghpur offers various graduate courses as well as Post Graduate courses.
Bachelors Degree Courses
Swami Vivekananda Memorial College, Jagatsinghpur offers 3 Years Full Time Bachelors Degree in Bachelor of Science (B.Sc)
View Details Duration: 3 Years Learning Mode: Full Time Course Level: Bachelors Degree
Bachelor of Computer application (BCA)
Swami Vivekananda Memorial College, Jagatsinghpur offers 3 Years Full Time Bachelors Degree in Bachelor of Computer application (BCA)
Swami Vivekananda Memorial College, Jagatsinghpur offers Full Time Bachelors Degree in Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)
Swami Vivekananda Memorial College, Jagatsinghpur offers 3 Years Full Time Bachelors Degree in Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)
Swami Vivekananda Memorial College, Jagatsinghpur offers 3 Years Full Time Bachelors Degree in Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Publish Your Event Add an event or your college festivals to IndCareer.com. It's quick and free!
Swami Vivekananda Memorial College, Jagatsinghpur is affiliated to Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar.
Click here to browse Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar Examination Results
Annual / Semester Examination Date Sheet / Time Tables
Swami Vivekananda Memorial College, Jagatsinghpur is affiliated to Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar. Browse Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar Time Tables
Available College Facilities & Amenities
List of facilities available at Swami Vivekananda Memorial College, Jagatsinghpur for students.
College Building View
College Entrance Gate
Browse More Photos
Generations of past students, both male and female, are proud to be known and enjoy maintaining their connection with the college and each other. Please write to [email protected] with link of existing almuni group, or request for creation of group.
Disclaimer : All the information about college and its courses are taken from college website. We work hard to make sure the data remains fresh and updated, but still students are advised to check with college or visit official website for recent information. If you are administrator or webmaster and wish to update information, please get in touch with us by writing to [email protected]
This page was last modified on 8 October 2015 at 18:10.
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International Print || Online Journal
Medical Print Journal
International Journal of Medical and Biomedical Studies
Author Instruction
Authorship Criteria
Journal Scope
Instructions to Authors:
The IJMBS is an international multidisciplinary bimonthly Journal, which publishes original research article, short communications, invited reviews, Opinions & Perspectives and Book Reviews in Medical and Biomedical Studies.
Authors are highly encouraged to read instructions carefully before submitting the manuscript. For submitting the manuscript authors are encouraged to use online submission process by logging in to www.ijmbs.info where they also can keep track with the status of the manuscript. Submitted manuscripts are subject to peer review. Submitted articles will be typically peer reviewed and published within 10-15 days after acceptance. Prior to publication, the final version of the edited article will be sent to authors for approval. Authors must check for accuracy of all content at this time.
Journal publishes Manuscript of following types:
Original research article:
Original Research article should include Title, Abstract, Methods and Materials, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, Acknowledgements and References. Manuscript should not be exceeding 15 typewritten pages including tables and figures.
Short communications:
Short communications presenting important new finding and cannot be elaborated as full research paper can be communicated whose average length is not more than 6 type-written pages (Approx-2500 words), including abstract and title page.
Invited reviews:
Reviews on special topics of current interest in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences are welcomed. Length of review article should be same as that of original research article.
Opinions & Perspectives:
Opinions & perspectives on topics of current and future interest by renowned scientist, researchers are welcomed.
Book Reviews in Medical and Biomedical :
Books for review should be sent to the Reviews Editor
Preparation of Manuscripts: General requirements
Manuscripts must be prepared in accordance with "Uniform requirements for Manuscripts submitted to Biomedical Journals" developed by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (October 2006).
Manuscripts should be type written in Times New Roman, font 12, Title shall be in a font size 14. All section titles in the manuscript shall be in font size 12, bold face capitals. Subtitles in each section shall be in font size 12, bold face lower case followed by a colon. Double spacing all portions of the manuscript— including the title page, abstract, text, acknowledgments, references, individual tables, and legends—and margins 2.5 cm each side. Authors should number all of the pages of the manuscript consecutively, beginning with the title page.
Authors, in their cover letter to the Editor, should clearly mention whether the manuscript shall be considered as a original Research article, Short Communication or Review Article and also confirm that the manuscript has not been submitted to any other Journal for publication. Authors publishing results from in vivo experiments involving animals or humans should state whether due permission for conduction of these experiments was obtained, from the relevant ethics committees, in the Materials and Methods section.
Foranimal and clinical experiments – There must be a clear statement while submitting that, investigations using experimental animals were conducted in accordance with the internationally accepted principles for laboratory animal use and care as found in for example the European Community guidelines (EEC Directive of 1986; 86/609/EEC) or the US guidelines (NIH publication #85-23, revised in 1985). Investigations with human subjects must state that the research followed guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and Tokyo for humans, and was approved by the institutional human experimentation committee or equivalent, and that informed consent was obtained. For reports of randomized, controlled trials, authors should refer to the CONSORT statement. This guideline provides a set of recommendations comprising a list of items to report and a patient flow diagram.
Evidence for approval by a local Ethics Committee (for both human as well as animal studies) must be supplied by the authors on demand. Animal experimental procedures should be as humane as possible and the details of anesthetics and analgesics used should be clearly stated. The ethical standards of experiments must be in accordance with the guidelines provided by the CPCSEA (animal) and ICMR (human). The journal will not consider any paper which is ethically unacceptable. A statement on ethics committee permission and ethical practices must be included in all research articles under the ‘Materials and Methods’ section
Preparation of Manuscripts: Original Research Article
Original research article should be divided into the following sections:
Introduction,
Methods,
Results,
The title page should have the following information:
1. Article title. Concise titles are easier to read than long, convoluted ones. Titles that are too short may, however, lack important information, such as study design (which is particularly important in identifying randomized, controlled trials). Authors should include all information in the title that will make electronic retrieval of the article both sensitive and specific.
2. Authors’ names and institutional affiliations. Some journals publish each author’s highest academic degree(s), while others do not.
3. The name of the department(s) and institution(s) to which the work should be attributed.
4. Disclaimers, if any.
5. Contact information for corresponding authors.
The name, mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address of the author responsible for correspondence about the manuscript (the “corresponding author;” this author may or may not be the “guarantor” for the integrity of the study).
7. Source(s) of support in the form of grants, equipment, drugs, or all of these.
8. A running head.
9. The number of figures and tables.
Conflict-of-Interest Notification
To prevent the information on potential conflicts of interest from being overlooked or misplaced, it needs to be part of the manuscript. However, it should also be included on a separate page or pages immediately following the title page.
The abstract should follow the title page. It should provide the context or background for the study and should state the study’s purpose, basic procedures (selection of study subjects or laboratory animals, observational and analytical methods), main findings (giving specific effect sizes and their statistical significance, if possible), and principal conclusions. It should emphasize new and important aspects of the study or observations. Articles on clinical trials should contain abstracts that include the items that the CONSORT group has identified as essential (www.consort-statement.org/?_1190).
Provide a context or background for the study (that is, the nature of the problem and its significance). State the specific purpose or research objective of, or hypothesis tested by, the study or observation; the research objective is often more sharply focused when stated as a question. Both the main and secondary objectives should be clear, and any prespecified subgroup analyses should be described. Provide only directly pertinent references, and do not include data or conclusions from the work being reported.
The Methods section should include only information that was available at the time the plan or protocol for the study was being written; all information obtained during the study belongs in the Results section.
Selection and Description of Participants
Describe your selection of the observational or experimental participants (patients or laboratory animals, including controls) clearly, including eligibility and exclusion criteria and a description of the source population. The guiding principle should be of clarity about how and why a study was done in a particular way.
Identify the methods, apparatus (give the manufacturer’s name and address in parentheses), and procedures in sufficient detail to allow others to reproduce the results. Give references to established methods, including statistical methods (see below); provide references and brief descriptions for methods that have been published but are not well-known; describe new or substantially modified methods, give the reasons for using them, and evaluate their limitations. Identify precisely all drugs and chemicals used, including generic name(s), dose(s), and route(s) of administration.
Authors submitting review manuscripts should include a section describing the methods used for locating, selecting, extracting, and synthesizing data. These methods should also be summarized in the abstract.
Describe statistical methods with enough detail to enable a knowledgeable reader with access to the original data to verify the reported results. When possible, quantify findings and present them with appropriate indicators of measurement error or uncertainty (such as confidence intervals). Avoid relying solely on statistical hypothesis testing, such as P values, which fail to convey important information about effect size. References for the design of the study and statistical methods should be to standard works when possible (with pages stated). Define statistical terms, abbreviations, and most symbols. Specify the computer software used.
Present your results in logical sequence in the text, tables, and illustrations, giving the main or most important findings first. Do not repeat all the data in the tables or illustrations in the text; emphasize or summarize only the most important observations. Extra or supplementary materials and technical detail can be placed in an appendix where they will be accessible but will not interrupt the flow of the text, or they can be published solely in the electronic version of the journal.
When data are summarized in the Results section, give numeric results not only as derivatives (for example, percentages) but also as the absolute numbers from which the derivatives were calculated, and specify the statistical methods used to analyze them. Restrict tables and figures to those needed to explain the argument of the paper and to assess supporting data.
Emphasize the new and important aspects of the study and the conclusions that follow from them. Do not repeat in detail data or other information given in the Introduction or the Results section. For experimental studies, it is useful to begin the discussion by summarizing briefly the main findings, then explore possible mechanisms or explanations for these findings, compare and contrast the results with other relevant studies, state the limitations of the study, and explore the implications of the findings for future research and for clinical practice. Link the conclusions with the goals of the study but avoid unqualified statements and conclusions not adequately supported by the data. In particular, avoid making statements on economic benefits and costs unless the manuscript includes the appropriate economic data and analyses.
General Considerations Related to References
Small numbers of references to key original papers often serve as well as more exhaustive lists, particularly since references can now be added to the electronic version of published papers, and since electronic literature searching allows readers to retrieve published literature efficiently.
Information from manuscripts submitted but not accepted should be cited in the text as “unpublished observations” with written permission from the source.
Avoid citing a “personal communication” unless it provides essential information not available from a public source, in which case the name of the person and date of communication should be cited in parentheses in the text.
Reference Style and Format
Authors should consult NLM’s Citing Medicine for information on its recommended formats for a variety of reference types. References should be numbered consecutively in the order in which they are first mentioned in the text. Identify references in text, tables, and legends by Arabic numerals in parentheses. References cited only in tables or figure legends should be numbered in accordance with the sequence established by the first identification in the text of the particular table or figure. The titles of journals should be abbreviated according to the style used in the list of Journals Indexed for MEDLINE, posted by the NLM on the Library’s Web site.
For quick review of style authors can use following referencing format
1. Davidoff F, for the CSE Task Force on Authorship. Who’s the author? Problems with biomedical authorship, and some possible solutions. Science Editor. 2000; 23:111-9.
2. Yank V, Rennie D. Disclosure of researcher contributions: a study of original research articles in The Lancet. Ann Intern Med. 1999;130:661-70.
3. Flanagin A, Fontanarosa PB, DeAngelis CD. Authorship for research groups.JAMA. 2002;288:3166-8.
4. Godlee F, Jefferson T. Peer Review in Health Sciences. London: BMJ Books; 1999.
5. World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects.JAMA. 2000;284:3043-5.
6. Pitkin RM, Branagan MA, Burmeister LF. Accuracy of data in abstracts of published research articles. JAMA. 1999;281:1110-1.
International Journal of Medical and Biomedical Studies (IJMBS) by Articles is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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ILF still active at Vestfoldbanen railway tunnel project
As part of the ongoing Vestfoldbanen railway upgrade scheme, state-owned Norwegian railway infrastructure company Bane NOR is building 10 km of new double-track railway between Drammen and Kobbervikdalen.
In 2018, ILF Consulting Engineers was hired by the Norwegian contractor Veidekke Entreprenør AS as the designer of the most technically challenging section of the project, a 290 m-long tunnel mined in difficult geology below the groundwater table. The excavation commences in low cohesion glaciofluvial deposits and progressively transitions into full face rock excavation. Extensive ground improvement works in the form of jet-grouting will be executed from the surface in advance of the tunnelling works.
Norway has a long tradition of rock tunnelling, however large span soil tunnels are not common in the country. ILF is able to bring expertise and success on similar tunnel designs to this project.
Initially, ILF prepared the Tender Design and supported Veidekke during the Competitive Dialogue competition. After the EPC Contract was awarded to Veidekke in October 2019, ILF developed the Concept Design to later carry on with the Detailed Design, which is currently underway and includes a BIM model which is then integrated into a combined model of all the works within the contract.
Operation & safety eqpt.for Germany’s longest bi-direction tunnel
The 3.6 km long Kramer Tunnel will be the longest two-way tunnel in Germany. It is primarily meant to relieve through traffic in downtown Garmisch-Partenkirchen and towards Grainau/Eibsee and the federal border at Griesen. In 2020, the Staatliche Bauamt Weilheim contracted ILF Consulting Engineers to carry out the following design phases: 5 to 9 (among others, preparation of tender documents, contract awarding and site supervision) for the installation of the operation and safety equipment.
The Kramer tunnel will predominantly be constructed as a mined tunnel. Furthermore, the tunnel will have two operations buildings outside and a cavern inside the tunnel with a 26 m high exhaust air chimney. The tunnel is planned with cross passages accessible to pedestrians and vehicles as escape routes. More than 1,300 LED lights will ensure that necessary lighting is provided in the Kramer Tunnel. 16 jet fans (55 kW each), and 2 exhaust air fans (420 kW each) ensure that the required ventilation concept is implemented.
Since 2017 ILF has been successfully involved in the Kramer tunnel project, carrying out tunnelling and road design services, preparation of tender documents and risk analysis as well as the first three design phases for the operation and safety equipment.
Seasonal greetings and best wishes for 2021!
Besides diverse challenges that we faced, the year 2020 that is drawing to a close also brought us many encouraging developments. All in all, a sense of great satisfaction and gratitude prevails regarding what we have achieved together.
Our sincere thanks go to our esteemed clients and business partners for their constructive cooperation.
Wishing you a peaceful holiday season, and above all else, health and happiness in the New Year 2021!
A revolution in reporting
On account of the growing complexity of day-to-day project work, the demands on reporting are increasing significantly. Due to the lack of automated processes, classic reporting is prone to errors, only partially up to date and time consuming as well.
By implementing analytical software solutions such as MS Power BI, the great potential of information management can also be used for reporting. The aim is to visualize project-specific data both quantitatively and qualitatively, and in a structured and descriptive manner. These project cockpits are used for quality assurance and also for project coordination and control.
For the project, 2. S-Bahn-Stammstrecke München (2nd Munich S-Bahn Main Line), the Client, Deutsche Bahn, requested quality assurance for BIM in the design phase for various disciplines. In the course of the general BIM coordination, ILF Consulting Engineers developed the quality assurance process by means of MS Power BI. In a multi-stage procedure, the quality of the individual technical models was evaluated and presented in a report. After the client’s approval, a uniform workflow, an interdisciplinary template and a project-specific user guide were developed.
For the project, this constitutes a new standard of quality assurance, which has been implemented for the first time with such professionalism and which will be a yardstick for future projects.
Grafing–Großkarolinenfeld section of Northern Feeder Line to BBT
The Northern Feeder Line forms part of the Trans-European Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor, which stretches from the South of Finland to the island of Malta. The current project is located along the Munich–Verona axis and is a component of the Northern Feeder Line to the Brenner Base Tunnel.
DB Netz AG has recently commissioned ILF Consulting Engineers, as part of a joint venture, to provide design services for the route selection process involving public participation for the planned Grafing–Großkarolinenfeld project area. The Grafing–Großkarolinenfeld section will consist of a new twin-track high-speed line running from Grafing station to an area south of Tuntenhausen. As part of this joint venture, ILF has also been involved in the Großkarolinenfeld–Schaftenau section in Austria since 2016. This section is located next to the Grafing–Großkarolinenfeld section.
The electrified twin-track high-speed line shall provide greater capacities for rail traffic and contribute to relieving traffic on the existing Munich–Innsbruck railway line. Facilitating train speeds of up to 230 km/h, the new line is furthermore advantageous for passengers traveling long distances. The Grafing–Großkarolinenfeld section has a length of approx. 23 km and a maximum longitudinal gradient of 12.5 ‰. The entire processing of the project has been done using BIM, starting from the early design stages.
Core elements of the design contract include development of feasible route alternatives, environmental investigations and interdisciplinary route selection, as well as performance of a comprehensive baseline survey and a project area analysis. The design works will be accompanied by extensive citizen participation.
BIM method is also used at the Wank Tunnel
ILF Consulting Engineers, together with partners, was awarded the contract for the design services for the new eastern bypass of Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany) by Staatliches Bauamt Weilheim. This project will provide traffic relief on the existing B2 federal road Munich–Mittenwald with a predicted traffic volume of more than 30,000 vehicles/day.
An essential component of the approx. 5 km long city bypass is the construction of the approx. 3.5 km long Wank tunnel with a parallel escape tunnel at the south-western slope of the Wank mountain range.
The design services include all HOAI service phases, from the preliminary design to the construction design, and are to be carried out using the BIM method.
TuRisMo reduces the risk in road tunnels
With the implementation of EU Directive 2004/54/EC, tunnel safety became a central aspect in the design and operation of road tunnels. By doing so, Austria introduced a performance-based approach to tunnel safety. The Austrian tunnel risk analysis model (TuRisMo) is defined in the Austrian guideline RVS 09.03.11, which describes one of the first methods for analyzing and assessing road tunnel safety in a quantitative manner.
TuRisMo combines different methodical elements for analyzing a tunnel system in its entirety and follows a holistic approach. The use of TuRisMo offers the possibility of quantitatively recording and assessing almost all decisive factors influencing tunnel safety. This contributes to ensuring that investments for tunnel safety are used as cost efficiently as possible.
For more information or answers to your questions please contact www.tunnelriskmodel.at.
Combining infrastructures: H2 pipelines in cable routes
For the large-scale distribution of hydrogen in Germany, the Fachverband der Netzbetreiber (FNB) – the German Association of Network Operators – proposes to make modifications to the existing natural gas network as well as to a number of new construction projects.
A comparison of FNB’s proposed hydrogen network with underground cable projects in Germany shows that the routes for the direct current transmission lines, which are already in the planning stage, could be meaningfully used to complete the planned H2 pipeline network. In addition, this could increase the H2 transport capacities in a North–South direction to approximately 10 GWh/h.
In an initial study conducted by ILF Consulting Engineers, it became apparent that pipe laying is technically feasible within a large part of the route for the power transmission lines, with only a few sections leading to increased planning and construction costs. For the smallest part of the routes, a small-scale re-routing of the H2 pipeline is likely to be advisable for economic reasons. The next steps shall be the examination of the general conditions, especially with regard to the project’s chances of receiving authority approval and a detailed consideration of the technical feasibility.
Railway route for commuters to Cologne is being expanded
Like many urban agglomerations, Cologne is also experiencing increasing numbers of commuters. In addition, the highly frequented Cologne railway loop is a central connection point for regional, national and international rail traffic.
In order to increase the capacity of the line and the frequency of the trains on the line, investments are to be made into the expansion of Cologne’s local public transport system. ILF Consulting Engineers has been commissioned with the overall design for the expansion of the S11/S-Bahn Main Line, package 1 “VP1” (Köln-Dellbrück to Bergisch Gladbach) (https://sbahnkoeln.de/).
The scope of services includes, among other things, the planning and design of the transportation facilities and engineering structures, environmental planning, subsoil investigations, the necessary noise and vibration investigations, the planning and design of the control and signaling technology as well as overhead transmission systems, and site supervision during the planning and design.
Can you teach an old dog new tricks?
Hydro power is commonly considered as a mature technology. Does this mean that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks?
The increase in calculation power allows us employing Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations to tailor standard structures to your needs and to design and test truly innovative hydraulics structures.
See in the below video how we used cutting-edge CFD models to re-design the Nam Emoun project in Lao PDR. The key for the transformation of the project was the implementation of fully pressurized waterways. To guarantee operational flexibility and hydraulic stability, an innovative baffled dropshaft structure was developed and tested. Thus, the cost of the project could be reduced by USD20 million compared to the prior contractor offer, the energy output was increased by almost 10% and the construction time was reduced by 8 months. CFD was key to turn a barely feasible project into a high-performance investment. So, Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks.
Contact us to learn more about Engineering Excellence by ILF Consulting Engineers and how ILF can help you develop and built truly sustainable energy projects. Our Engineering, Your Success!
https://www.ilf.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Nam-Emoun-Presentation-V.1.1-w-Sound-logo.mp41.mp4
The video can also be found here.
A Sustainable Upgrade for the Schmittenhöhe Snow-Making System
After years of searching in vain for an ecologically and economically justifiable location for a new storage reservoir, which is needed to increase the capacity of the snow-making system in the northern part of the Schmittenhöhe ski area, an alternative solution, which involves taking water directly from Lake Zell, has been developed together with Schmittenhöhebahn AG, one of ILF’s long-standing clients. ILF was commissioned to develop a technically feasible solution that could be approved by the authorities and to support the implementation of this solution during the permit application design, detailed design and site supervision, all the way through to commissioning.
A first construction phase in 2019 included the construction of a pumping station at Lake Zell, which involved the installation of pipes via pipe jacking under the federal road, the ÖBB railway line and the lakeside promenade, with the pipes leading directly into Lake Zell. Water is taken from Lake Zell and pumped through several pump units, at a total of 150 l/s, via an approximately 3-km-long supply line to the existing Sonnalm I pumping station.
In 2020, the Sonnalm II pumping station was constructed during the second construction phase. By means of an additional pumping station, the entire additional flow capacity can now be used to transport water to the snow makers via the new powerful cooling system with a total of 6 large cooling towers. After completion and commissioning of the system in autumn 2020, the Schmittenhöhe AG will now be able to provide guaranteed snow in the northern part of the ski area, thanks to the powerful snow-making system.
When rain becomes a flood
Cooling off in a sudden rain shower on a hot summer day often feels good. But a thunderstorm with torrential rain can quickly lead to flooding and cause serious damages in cities and settlements.
Extreme rainfall events are difficult to predict as they occur suddenly and on a small spatial scale. Due to climate change, the occurrence of such events will very likely increase and it is advisable to be well prepared before they happen.
With a competent and interdisciplinary team and with specialized modeling tools, ILF Consulting Engineers supports its clients in preparing and developing protective measures. A key element is the hazard analysis carried out using a hydrodynamic model that simulates the runoff of stormwater in the drainage system and on the surface, i.e. on streets, squares, or along ditches and rivers, thus making it possible to assess the associated risks. Based on the analysis results, various protective measures can be developed.
For more information or answers to your questions please contact Marc.Ischen@ilf.com.
Computational Design for Infrastructure projects
Through the application of Computational Design (CD) on infrastructure projects, ILF Consulting Engineers breaks new ground. The approach was based on combining the CD skills with engineering and software expertise. Together, this combination was able to recognize the possibilities and streamline design processes with increased quality and time savings.
ILF tunneling experts used CD to create optimized tunnel profile designs for the creation of building information modeling (BIM) models of tunnels based on real-world tunnel projects. Using generative design solutions which allow the user to set variables and desired goals such as minimum excavation area and/or required ventilation area, an optimized tunnel cross section is produced and used in turn for the creation of the BIM models.
A further example involved the design of tunnel branches based on inputs such as typical cross section data, alignments, gradients, chainages and cross slope information. A parametric 3D model of the tunnel branch geometry and 2D sections of the tunnel profiles are produced. By reducing the time for production of design alternatives to 20 %, various alternatives can be considered and the quality of the final design can be optimized.
For further information or answers to your questions, please contact fearghal.timlin@ilf.com.
Stuttgart 21 – a 10-year success story
ILF Consulting Engineers has been working on the large-scale project Stuttgart 21 (S21) since being awarded a contract by the Deutsche Bahn, at the end of 2009, to carry out the construction supervision for various sections of the project. With the planned construction works, the entire floor plan of the Stuttgart Central Station will be rotated by approx. 90 degrees and laid underground. This requires the construction of numerous new interconnections and many modifications on existing lines in the inner-city area, as well as the construction of new tunnel sections as feeder lines to the future Stuttgart station.
ILF’s scope of services comprises the design sections 1.2 and 1.6a of the S21 project (see overview below), which are interconnected to the new central station by tunnels ending in the future high-speed track of the new Stuttgart–Ulm line, which is currently being constructed in the South of Stuttgart. In addition there are underground connections to the existing railway lines towards Untertürkeim and Obertürkheim in the East.
ILF’s experts have now been successfully involved in this large-scale project for more than 10 years and will continue to work on this project for some years to come. The commissioned services mainly comprise technical and construction contract-related services as the construction supervisor, railway operational services in the vicinity of the facilities in operation, as well as services for project completion including handover of the entire concrete and structural works prior to the commencement of works on the track bed structures being carried out by other contractors.
So far, a total of approximately 28 km of single-track tunnel tubes have been driven using mining methods (NATM) and tunnel boring machines (TBMs). The tunnel cross sections are approximately 8 to 9 m in diameter, with underground bifurcations as well as approximately 30 emergency connection structures. In addition, 3 large portal structures are being constructed using the cut-and-cover method, each approximately 300-500 m long with trough and rectangular cross-sections in partly confined conditions next to railway lines that are already in operation.
Currently, the last tunnel sections are being driven towards Obertürkheim. Parallel to this, the inner linings in all sections of the tunnels and the cut-and-cover works in the portal areas are nearing completion. The next major milestone is expected to be reached by mid-2021, which will comprise the initiation of the subsequent track works on several tunnel sections around Stuttgart.
New Ammonia Tanks in Aqaba
KEMAPCO Arab Fertilizers & Chemicals Industries Company in Jordan has commissioned ILF Consulting Engineers to provide Project Management Consultancy (PMC) services for new ammonia tanks.
KEMAPCO’s production facilities currently have a production capacity of 175 Kt of potassium nitrate (NOP) fertilizer and nitric acid per year, which covers approximately 8% of total global NOP demand. At present, KEMAPCO receives its supply of ammonia from a third party company via pumps and pipelines. In order to increase independence from suppliers, the construction of a new ammonia storage tank with a capacity of 20,000 Mt is planned in the economic zone of Aqaba. The project consists of a double-walled, cooled ammonia storage tank with loading and unloading facilities and all other related equipment.
ILF has been commissioned with the project management, conceptual/tender design for the EPC contract as well as construction and commissioning supervision.
Go-ahead for the StadtRegioTram Line Extension to Kremsdorf
The StadtRegioTram (SRT) is an essential component of the overall traffic and transport management concept and of the public transport network for the greater Linz area, and currently runs from the city center of Linz to the city of Traun. In the future, a third extension to the line is planned, with the new section leading to Kremsdorf, in the municipality of Ansfelden. The first two extensions of the line have already achieved a significant increase in passenger numbers compared to the forecasts. In 2018, the annual number of passengers on lines 3 and 4 was 6.8 million. On the planned third extension to the SRT, approximately 12,000 passengers are expected on working days.
In August 2020, ILF, as part of a partnership and as best bidder, was awarded the contract, by Schiene OÖ GmbH, for the conceptual design of the approx. 4.4 km long extension of the line. The objective of the conceptual design is to make important decisions and stipulations relating to the technical content and/or spatial extent of the project, and to assess their impact on both the environment and costs. This should provide a stable basis for the political decision regarding the realization of the project.
Ski World Championships 2025 in Saalbach-Hinterglemm
For the second time, the Alpine Ski World Championships 2025 will be held in Saalbach-Hinterglemm (Austria). The Saalbach ski resort, a long-standing client of ILF Consulting Engineers, beat its competitors, the renowned ski resorts Crans Montana (Switzerland) and Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany) in the runoff for the 2025 Ski World Championships.
All races of the Word Championships will take place at Zwölferkogel and therefore on snow provided by snow-making systems designed by ILF. Congratulations to our client! We look forward to exciting competitions in Saalbach.
Freestyle bike event in a class of its own – Crankworx Innsbruck
For the fourth time in a row, the world’s largest gravity mountain bike festival took place in Tirol last weekend. The host, Bikepark Innsbruck at the Muttereralm, created perfect conditions for the bike pros despite the inclement weather conditions.
The victory of two Austrian mountain bike riders in the downhill race on the trails and courses designed by ILF made for an exciting finish to Crankworx on Sunday. We look forward to seeing the athletes again on the Muttereralm at Crankworx 2021.
More Snow for the Reiterkogel Snow-Making System in Hinterglemm
In summer 2020, Bergbahnen Saalbach-Hinterglemm GmbH (BBSH) made the decision to further expand the Reiterkogel snow-making system. The aim of the expansion is to considerably increase the system’s snow-making capacity in order to substantially improve snow cover and be prepared for future challenges.
The key component of the two-year construction project is the Rosswald storage reservoir, with a total capacity of approx. 230,000 m³, and the associated new pumping station. The dam of the storage reservoir, with a maximum height of 42 m, will be constructed in its entirety using processed material from the reservoir excavation.
The existing system together with the new storage reservoir and the adjacent pumping stations will contribute to highly efficient water management and system performance at the Reiterkogel.
Upon completion of the renaturalization works, the Rosswald storage reservoir will become a popular destination for summer excursions blending perfectly into the picturesque surroundings. The reservoir’s easy accessibility makes it an ideal spot for summer tourism.
Green electricity storage facility in Gaildorf
The water battery is an innovative combination of a wind power plant and a small and flexible pumped storage plant for the storage and controlled feed of volatile renewable energy into the grid. The first pilot project is currently underway in Gaildorf (Germany). For this purpose, ILF Consulting Engineers was commissioned by Max Bögl Wind AG to provide different consulting and design services for the pumped storage plant.
Innovative solutions and various other unique features characterize the initial implementation in Gaildorf and make this project a lighthouse project. The storage plant has a head of 200 m. With regard to machinery, the innovate character is emphasized by the 3×6 MW variable speed reversible pump turbines with asynchronous generator and full converter, all of which is meant to achieve maximum flexibility for demand based storage and feed-in of the generated energy.
The forward-looking project is supported with EUR 7.15 million funded through the environmental innovation program of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Construction and Nuclear Safety.*
*Source: https://www.naturspeicher.de/de/pilotprojekt/pilotprojekt.php
Take the train, collect Green Points, protect the environment
Once again, ILF Consulting Engineers’ employees in Austria are among the most frequent train passengers in Austria. By taking the train for business trips, last year ILF employees collected lots of “Green Points”, a program initiated by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), and reduced CO2 emissions by 86.8 tons. ILF is proud that this figure again represents a significant increase from the previous year (63.1 tons).
ILF greatly appreciates this ÖBB initiative, as the sustainable protection of the environment is extremely important both with regard to the structures and facilities planned by ILF and the daily project work. We continue to strive to contribute to sustainability in Austria by taking ÖBB trains for business trips and thereby supporting this great initiative.
Resilient infrastructure – how does that work?
Extreme heat or snowfall, storms, floods and forest fires can have multiple impacts on our daily lives. These phenomena are not new but they are increasing in intensity and frequency, and are therefore a great challenge for the resilience of transport infrastructure. The consequences that we all notice are extensive traffic jams, lengthy closures, material damage, major detours and long delays.
ILF Consulting Engineers is currently working intensively on two research projects in Germany, to be able to counteract the effects of ongoing climate change. The resilience of transport infrastructure has to do with the availability of the transport network in the event of effects resulting from extreme events of any kind.
The great complexity of the topic and the interconnection of different aspects require a high level of technical competence. Just as important is the ability to recognize functional relationships and to structure them appropriately.
The competence and experience of ILF’s experts makes it possible to implement challenging projects at home and abroad in the best possible way.
#innovatethefuture
Electro-mechanical challenge at the Engelberg Base Tunnel
ILF Consulting Engineers has recently won several very interesting projects in the field of electro-mechanical equipment for road tunnels. One project, which deserves special mention, is a construction supervision contract at the Engelberg Base Tunnel near Leonberg, which was awarded to ILF and a partner by the regional government authority serving the German city of Stuttgart (Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart).
Due to its central location, linking the A8 and the A81 motorway, the twin-tube tunnel with a length of approximately 2,530 m plays a key role as a north-south and east-west traffic hub in southern Germany.
In addition to highly complex structural rehabilitation works being required due to deformations and damage of the permanent lining in parts of the tunnel, the electro-mechanical equipment will have to be upgraded to meet the latest safety requirements.
Modeling of water resources
Water is life and a resilient infrastructure is a key element for sustainable development and political stability. For the planning, design and implementation of many infrastructure projects and for a comprehensive river basin management, knowledge about the availability of water over space and time is an important pre-requisite for decision-making and design processes.
Water balance analyses depend strongly on suitable software and, above all, on reliable data on temperature, precipitation and discharge, etc. In many regions of the world, the quality and quantity of this data from the past is not sufficient – a dilemma when it comes to making informed investment and planning decisions.
This is why, a modeling tool called SUPRA tool (Simulation of Water Resources Under Present and Future Climate) is currently being developed and tested in close cooperation with the long-term research and development partners alpS GmbH and alpS Research of the University of Innsbruck. In the future, this tool will make it possible to calculate the current water balance situation and future scenarios more accurately, especially in mountainous regions with limited data availability but also in all other areas around the world.
ILF is member of the Bavarian Hydrogen Alliance
Hydrogen is regarded as one of the key elements for global energy system transformation and climate protection, as it can be produced and used flexibly and without emissions, and at the same time is easy to transport and store.
To strengthen and further develop Bavaria’s technological competence in the field of innovative hydrogen technologies, the State of Bavaria founded the Center Hydrogen.Bavaria (H2.B) in 2019 and initiated the Hydrogen Alliance Bavaria. The aim is to bring together key players in industry, science, and politics in order, among other things, to advance the topic of “hydrogen economy” in Bavaria as quickly as possible and to achieve the use of hydrogen in broad practical application. The focus here is, above all, on demonstration and lighthouse projects.
ILF has many years of practical experience in consulting, planning, and project management in the energy and transport sector. We are currently supporting several pilot projects on hydrogen production, transport, and acceptance. Also, ILF advises companies on the use of hydrogen along the entire value chain, thus contributing to the establishment of a hydrogen infrastructure.
We are therefore delighted to be able to contribute to the progress of hydrogen technologies as an official member of the Bavarian Hydrogen Alliance since June 2020.
It’s all new – the Obervellach II hydropower plant
Together with partners, ILF Consulting Engineers was in charge of the site supervision and contract management for the new construction of the Obervellach II hydropower plant as commissioned by ÖBB Infrastruktur AG. This hydropower plant replaces the two existing power plants – Lassach (built in 1905) and Obervellach I (built in 1929) in Carinthia/Austria – they will be decommissioned and partly dismantled.
The planned new hydropower plant will provide traction power (16.7 Hz) and will have a capacity of 38 MW and consist of three water intake structures, an approx. 3.9 km long headrace tunnel and an approx. 0.6 km long storage tunnel with a storage volume of some 60,000 m3. Furthermore, the overall project includes an approx. 1.5 km long pressure pipeline (d = 1.8m) and a power house with two machine units and an approx. 2 km long pressure pipeline (d=0.7 m) including a small hydropower plant (50 Hz) as well as further facilities.
Kick-off for further design services for the Belchen Road Tunnel
The Belchen road tunnel was opened in 1970 and consists of two separate twin-lane tubes with unidirectional traffic, each having a length of 3.2 km. In early 2021, with the so-called rehabilitation tunnel going into operation, the Belchen tunnel system will comprise three twin-lane tunnels. ILF Consulting Engineers is also involved in the design and construction of the rehabilitation tunnel.
Extensive rehabilitation works were already carried out on the existing road tunnel from 2001 to 2003. However, the swelling rock (anhydrite) is increasingly leaving visible traces. In order to ensure the safety and capacity of one of Switzerland’s busiest roads, the two existing tunnels at Belchen will be refurbished one after the other as part of the second rehabilitation.
The intended measures include the replacement of parts of the in-situ lining, backfilling of cavities that were detected in the crown, design of utility lines and fire-fighting system, and expansion/new construction of cross passages. Water ingress in connection with swelling anhydrite are the great challenges in these complex ground conditions.
Being part of the design consortium, ILF was tasked with developing and implementing the project up to commissioning by the Swiss Federal Roads Office (FEDRO). The project was launched in June 2020 and is expected to be concluded by mid-2032.
Ferngas receives the building permit for its gas pipeline
According to the Federal Ministry of Economics, natural gas, having a market share of around 44%, is the most important source of heat and energy for private households in Germany. To continue to meet the associated high demand for natural gas, the network operator Ferngas, which operates a transmission and distribution network in Bavaria, Thuringia and parts of Hesse, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, is renewing one of its existing natural gas pipelines in Saxony and Thuringia.
The 125 km long pipeline, which runs through Saxony and Eastern Thuringia, was built in the 1950s and 60s and is to be completely renewed by 2023. The modernization is planned to take place in several sections, without any disruption being caused to the supply of gas along the existing pipeline route. In addition to the main lines and connecting lines, numerous ancillary facilities and route-related infrastructure are being renewed. The new pipeline will largely remain in the existing pipeline route, which will minimize the impact on both the environment and local residents.
The aim is to increase the operational flexibility of the network, as well as the capacity and the security of supply for the coming decades. Furthermore, the renewal of the pipeline will help improvements to be made to pipeline monitoring and control.
ILF Consulting Engineers has been commissioned by Ferngas to provide project control and project management services in accordance with the scope of services listed in the AHO (Committee of the Associations and Chambers of Engineers and Architects for the Fee Structure) booklet no. 9.
Having nearly completed the renewal of the pipeline in Saxony, the statutory authority approval and thus the building permit has now been received for the Thuringian section of the pipeline, enabling Ferngas to reach another decisive milestone in the renewal of its gas pipeline in Thuringia.
8-Lane Upgrade of the A 99 Munich Motorway Ring
The A 99 is one of the busiest motorways in Germany – up to 160,000 vehicles use the eastern bypass near Munich every day and traffic jams are a daily occurrence. To improve the situation, an 8-lane upgrade of the motorway is being designed and has been under construction for several years. In March 2020, ILF Consulting Engineers was commissioned by the Autobahndirektion Südbayern to provide design services for the upgrade of the A 99 between the Kirchheim and Haar junctions.
The approx. 8 km long 8-lane upgrade of the A 99 and approx. 4 km long upgrade of the A 94 also include the conversion of the München-Ost motorway junction into a modified windmill with two semi-direct ramps. Additionally, the Feldkirchen-Ost, Parsdorf and Haar junctions are to be adapted. The complex conversion and upgrade is being carried out without interrupting traffic.
ILF Consulting Engineers is responsible for the following areas: road design, structural design of civil engineering structures (noise barriers and supporting structures) and project management, as well as various supplementary design services such as comprehensive construction phase and traffic management planning and coordinate transformations of basic data.
ILF awarded with further planning services for SuedLink
As one of eight companies nationwide, ILF Consulting Engineers has qualified for a framework contract for various planning services for the SuedLink project in Germany. The focus of this framework contract with TenneT & Transnet is on the regional planning offices. The framework agreements are divided into the sections North, Central, and South with corresponding sub-sections. With a total length of approximately 680 km, SuedLink thus consists of a total of 9 planning sections.
Through the framework agreement, ILF Consulting Engineers has now been appointed as “Regional Planning Bureau (RPB)” for the northernmost section (PA1). With connections to the grid connection points Wilster and Brunsbüttel, it consists of one of the most technically challenging sections with a total length of approx. 71 km. The sub-section for project 3 extends from the Brunsbüttel to Stade grid connection point, and the sub-section for project 4 extends from the Wilster to Stade grid connection point.
ILF was initially commissioned with the detailed design, including project management and control, the mobilisation phase, the route investigation, the soil investigation, the coordination of the crossings as well as the planning approval of the Elbe crossing. Commissioning is planned for 2026.
Construction of new teaching & office building for Uni Innsbruck
Despite the current exceptional situation, it was possible to start construction of the new teaching and office building I52A at the University of Innsbruck (Austria) in compliance with strict safety and health requirements. The new building will be adjacent to the historical main building of the university and will be characterized by its future-oriented design. By optimizing the project with regard to the limited urban space available, a valuable urban recreation space will additionally be created.
The design of the nine-story building with a floor space of approx. 12,800 m2 and a gross building volume of approx. 110,000 m³ follows the principles of sustainability. This is consistently reflected in the design of the building services, whereby the Client’s low-tech concept is fully accommodated for and is expressed in results optimized from a climate and economy perspective.
On behalf of the BUNDESIMMOBILIENGESELLSCHAFT M.B.H., ILF Consulting Engineers together with a partner has accompanied the development of this extraordinary project in the capacity of project controller from the conceptual design phase and will manage the construction together with the client to meet the quality, time and cost criteria.
This milestone has not just been reached due to the work and efforts of all parties involved in the project, but is also the result of the optimal combination of engineering excellence and project management!
White paper “Digitalization in Industry – An Austrian Perspective
The cooperative doctoral school SIC! (Smart Industrial Concept), which ILF is a cooperation partner of, has produced a white paper titled “Digitalization in Industry – An Austrian Perspective“ on behalf of the Klima- und Energiefonds (Austrian Climate and Energy Funds) as part of the national project Annex XVIII. The aim of this paper is to examine the effects of digitalization on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in energy intensive industries.
The eight participating PhD students, one of whom is ILF employee Leopold Prendl, are investigating 15 relevant techniques, technologies and applications, as well as the current situation in Austria. They also show that digitalization measures are both economical and sustainable.
The white paper can be found here.
Machbarkeitsstudie für multisektorales Investitionsprogramm Gaza
Die deutsche Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) hat kürzlich ILF Consulting Engineers beauftragt, eine Machbarkeitsstudie / Projekt-Screening für ihr multisektorales Investitionsprogramm Gaza durchzuführen.
Ziel dieses Programms ist die Beurteilung von verschiedenen Ansätzen zur Förderung der Nutzung erneuerbarer Energiequellen und energiesparender Technologien in Gaza sowie die Festlegung von Strategien, die die größtmöglichen Wirkung erzielen können. Daher ist dieses Programm hauptsächlich auf die Bevölkerung in Gaza ausgerichtet, die von einer verbesserten Energieversorgung profitieren soll.
Für weitere Informationen zum Projekt oder wenn Sie mehr darüber erfahren wollen, wie wir Ihnen helfen können, die Herausforderungen zu meistern, kontaktieren Sie uns bitte unter info.muc@ilf.com.
Feasibility Study for Multi-Sectoral Investment Program in Gaza
ILF to assess and study the The German Development Bank (KfW) recently appointed ILF Consulting Engineers to perform a feasibility study / project screening for their Multi-Sectoral Investment Program (MIP) in Gaza.
The objective of this program is to evaluate several approaches for promoting the use of renewable energy sources and energy-saving technologies in Gaza, and to determine strategies that can achieve the greatest possible impacts. Hence, this program is primarily directed towards the population of Gaza, who shall benefit from having an improved energy supply.
For further information on the project, or if you want to know more about how we can help you tackle your challenges, please contact us at info.muc@ilf.com.
A message about the Corona virus (COVID-19)
Dear Clients and Business Partners,
We are all currently facing unprecedented moments in history with the worldwide spread of the Corona virus (COVID-19).
At ILF Consulting Engineers, we are taking utmost care of our people and at the same time are continuing to focus on how to best support our clients and business partners.
We are following the guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO) and of local governments, and are closely monitoring the changing circumstances across our office locations. In line with the ever-changing situation, we are taking the necessary decisions, such as restricting travel and face-to-face business meetings, and adapting our working practices accordingly.
Our clients’ projects and operations are extremely important to us. Based on our highly flexible approach, combined with our collaborative business culture and our ability to work remotely, we remain fully committed and able to continue rendering services for our valued clients and business partners.
Although these times are extremely demanding, we are well prepared, and highly confident that together with our clients and business partners we will successfully overcome the upcoming challenges and even strengthen our resilience capabilities.
Stay healthy and best regards
Klaus Lässer
Commencement of the Uzbekistan Gas Master Plan
ILF Business Consult, in cooperation with the national gas transmission operator Uztransgas, has successfully launched the Gas Master Plan project, funded by the Asian Development Bank.
The initial project objective is to develop mid and long-term strategies for the development of the gas transportation infrastructure in Uzbekistan; while the ultimate target is to achieve sustainable development of the gas sector and energy security within Uzbekistan and Central Asia. At project completion, Uzbekistan will be positioned to become a prospective Gas Hub of Central Asia.
In the photo: ILF Business Consult Managing Director, Dr. Andreas Linke and Senior Project Manager, Yeszhan Khamitov. Picture dated February 2020.
TBM breakthrough in Georgia
With the support of ILF Consulting Engineers, assuming the role of Owner’s Engineer, the Mtkvari Hydro Power Project in Georgia, which is managed by Mtkvari Hesi LLC and financed by the Georgian Co-Investment Fund, has reached one of the most important project milestones.
On February 6th, 2020, the breakthrough of the longest and widest tunnel in Georgia to date has been completed. Excavation of the 9.6-km-long and 6-m-wide tunnel was achieved using a Hard Rock Double Shield TBM.
The total design capacity of the Mtkvari HPP is 53.0 MW and its expected annual energy generation is 251.5 GWh, which equates 1.9 % of Georgia’s total electricity consumption. The tunnel excavation constitutes a major achievement within the construction process and its completion will allow the final stage of the HPP construction to commence.
Lighthouse Solar Program in Senegal now in operation
In 2015 ILF Consulting Engineers was awarded an Owner’s Engineer contract by Senelec and KfW for the implementation of eight photovoltaic and hybrid power plants in Senegal. Now, only four years after the start of the project, these first of its kind projects in Senegal and West Africa are in operation; the last power plants will be commissioned early 2020.
These PV and hybrid power plants are some of the largest in West Africa and are lighthouse projects for the distribution of these technologies in Africa. The aim was to reduce Senegal’s dependency on light fuel/heavy fuel oil imports, reduce the cost of electricity as well as to improve the quality and the reliability of the electricity supply in Senegal.
Furthermore, the electrification of rural areas and the social & economic development of these regions should be promoted. With eight power plants being located all over the country, seven remote cities with a population of up to 50,000 inhabitants each can now be supplied with greener energy 24/7. The project consists of one grid-connected 23MWp PV power plant (supplying among others the international airport of Senegal), four PV/Li-ion battery/diesel hybrid systems and three PV/diesel hybrid systems.
As part of ILF’s role as OE, ILF was responsible for the conceptual design, tendering, construction supervision and commissioning as well as for supervising the plants’ performance and the O&M Contractor during the first year. For further information, please contact us at info.muc@ilf.com.
Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a healthy and prosperous 2019!
Meet us at the international STUVA conference 2019
ILF Consulting Engineers will be present at the STUVA conference (International Forum for Tunnels and Infrastructure) taking place in Frankfurt/Germany from 26 to 28 November 2019.
Visit our booth C147 in exhibition hall 5.1 (Messe Frankfurt am Main, Germany) to learn more about our competence and experience and talk to us about how we can provide you with comprehensive support in the field of tunnel planning and design.
We would also be pleased to welcome you to one of our lectures:
26/11/2019 at 11:15: Bernhard Kohl will present the new report “Prevention and Mitigation of Road Tunnel Related Collisions” from the Safety Working Group of the World Road Association PIARC
26/11/2019 at 12:00: Sebastian Höser will report on the “Major Project Stuttgart 21: Kriegsberg Bifurcation Structure in the Bad Cannstatt Tunnel – Strengthening the Outer Lining, Reinforcement Measures, Sustainable Outer Shell”
27/11/2019 at 14:30: Hubert Heis, Momchil Venkov and Benjamin Riedl will report on “Tunnel Safety – A Review of Specific Differences in Guidelines and Codes of Practice Country-by-Country as well as Practical Scrutiny Based on a Comparison of Tunnel Lighting”
27/11/2019 at 15:00: Harald Kammerer and Michael Barth will report on “Possibilities for the (Partial) Use of Road Tunnels Given Reduced Capacity: Structural, Operational and Organisational Measures – The RITUN Research Project ”
We are looking forward to your visit and many interesting discussions! For further information please go to the website https://www.stuva-conference.com/
ILF at the ADIPEC 2019 Conference
ILF Consulting Engineers will be present at the “Abu Dhabi International Exhibition & Conference”. With 145,000 trade visitors and 2,200 exhibiting companies, ADIPEC is the biggest oil and gas exhibition in the world.
You are cordially invited to visit us in Hall 14 at booth 14248.
Challenges at the “Wolframstrasse” S-Bahn Tunnel – Stuttgart 21
In 2017, ILF Consulting Engineers was awarded a contract for the detailed design services of Section 1.5 – Permit Application Procedure (contract section 4 South), better known as “Wolframstrasse”, by a joint venture consisting of the companies Kunz, Leonhard Weiss and Kurt Motz. This challenging section is an integral part of the large-scale project “Stuttgart 21”. It is an approx. 450 m long rapid transit railway tunnel, predominantly constructed using the cut-and-cover method, which constitutes the S-Bahn link from the North to the central station.
It is worth mentioning that about 100 m are to be constructed in an existing tunnel while keeping the railway operational. Throughout the entire construction period, two of the four rail tracks will be kept in operation. Additional challenges arise from the location of the contract section in the immediate vicinity of the railway station, from avoiding interruptions of traffic in Wolframstrasse, from construction works carried out in existing structures and from the low overburden of a sewer main that crosses the tunnel. To date all challenges have been tackled and the design services are taking place in accordance with the specifications of the joint venture.
After the completion of the construction works at Stuttgart 21, the entire platform area, the track area and the existing tunnel will be removed to make room for a new city district.
ILF awarded mainline FEED & Detailed Engineering for KAPS
Keyera Corp. (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) recently awarded ILF Consulting Engineers the mainline FEED & Detailed Engineering contract for the estimated CAD 1.3 billion KAPS project.
KAPS is a natural gas liquids (NGL) and condensate pipeline system that will transport growing production from the Montney and Duvernay fields, in northwestern Alberta, to Fort Saskatchewan, north of Alberta’s capital city Edmonton. Keyera has partnered with SemCAMS Midstream ULC, owned jointly by SemGroup Corporation® and KKR, to develop this pipeline system.
Based on the current scope, KAPS will consist of a 16-inch condensate pipeline and a 12-inch NGL mix pipeline, associated pumping stations, including provisions for future expansion. The total mainline length per current scope is foreseen to be approximately 550 km. KAPS will initially be constructed from northwest of Grande Prairie and connect to Keyera’s Fort Saskatchewan Fractionation and Storage Facility (KFS).
For more information on Keyera and the KAPS project, please visit: https://www.keyera.com/titanweb/keyera/webcms.nsf/AllDoc/D0FAA0BD6634A315872583830043B445?OpenDocument
Participation at HOKO 2019 on November 6th
ILF will present itself at HOKO 2019 fair at the University of Applied Science in Munich and is looking forward to meet a lot of interesting and interested students as well as Young professionals personally. Our standnumber is A-33.
Furthermore we would like to inform you that we will give a lecture at 3 p.m. on the topic: „If petroleum gas, hydrogen, high voltage underground cables or photovoltaic-hybrid – how to plan the power supply of the future with ILF”.
ILF at ECI SUS XIV Shotcrete Conference in Thailand
ILF Consulting Engineers is pleased to announce that Dr. Matthias Beisler, ILF’s managing director in Southeast Asia, will chair the International Conference on Shotcrete for Underground Support – ECI SUS XIV 2019 in Thailand, November 17th -20th, 2019.
ECI SUS XIV aims to pool the consolidated knowledge and experience from engineers, researchers and project managers from across the world, in order to share and discuss state-of-the-art technology and best practices in rock engineering, rock support methods, TBM tunneling and deep excavation. Several highly experienced experts from ILF Consulting Engineers will also give keynote speeches and technical presentations and will be pleased to engage in discussions with you.
The detailed conference program can be found on the ECI website (https://bit.ly/2Zdk2JV). Please do not hesitate to contact the conference chair (matthias.beisler@ilf.com) if you have any questions.
Power Generation using Pipelines
ILF Consulting Engineers was commissioned by a well-known client to investigate the installation of a turbine for energy recovery in a potential crude oil pipeline system. Not only did this investigation have to make sure that the energy recovery system would not have a negative impact on the conveyance of oil, but also take account of the fact that pipelines are normally operated using different flow rates under changing pressure conditions.
To read more on the results of the investigation and the associated commercial aspects, take a look here or see the current issue of the International Oil & Gas Engineer.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info.muc@ilf.com.
ILF appointed as technical advisor for IFCs Scaling Solar Program
As part of the Scaling Solar Program, the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has signed an agreement with the Government of Togo to develop several grid-connected solar power projects with a combined capacity of up to 90 MW. Being the 6th country to join the IFC’s Scaling Solar Program, in Togo the Government is seeking to increase capacity so that growing energy demands can be met whilst at the same time reducing costs.
ILF Consulting Engineers has once again been chosen by the IFC to be the Technical Advisor for the implementation of this lighthouse project in Togo. Once completed, it will be Togo’s first utility-scale solar development of this kind.
For further information please contact us at info.muc@ilf.com.
Turning on the water at Hochalm II storage reservoir
The Hinterglemmer Bergbahnen have been able to start filling the expanded Hochalm II storage reservoir (Austria) on time – a modernization which has taken two years. The water reservoir for the snowmaking system of the Hochalm area was expanded in two construction stages. Works began on 4 June 2018, and water started flowing into the Hochalm II storage reservoir on 30 August 2019. Filling of the storage reservoir, which can hold 251,300 m³ of water, began on schedule.
By delivering innovative design and a clever construction sequence, ILF Consulting Engineers has been assisting its long-standing client with the expansion and strengthening of the Hochalm snow-making system since 2016. “The close cooperation with the Hinterglemmer Bergbahnen enabled our team to deliver an innovative project to secure snow conditions in Hinterglemm for future ski seasons,” says Gerhard Pumpernik, Head of the Department of Ski Resorts and Alpine Engineering at ILF.
ILF would like to thank the Hinterglemmer Bergbahnen for their confidence in ILF and congratulates them on accomplishing this milestone.
To us, protection of critical infrastructure includes more than just having a “secure” laptop or on-site security. In our latest article, our experts present a holistic approach to protecting critical infrastructure against a multitude of threads.
Read more on our website or in the latest issue of World Pipelines Extreme.
Handover ceremony held as part of a water and wastewater project
ILF Consulting Engineers attended a ceremony held in the city of Kara-Suu (Kyrgyz Republic) at the end of May, at which special vehicles purchased as part of the “Improving Water Supply and Sanitation in Kara-Suu” project were handed over. The key speakers at the event were the Mayor of Kara-Suu, Kutugali Kozubayev, the Akim of the Kara-Suu district, Tilek Matraimov, the EU Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic, Eduard Auer, and the EBRD Director for Central Asia, Neil McCain. Werner Redtenbacher, Head of the Water and Environmental Engineering Department at ILF, gave an update on the project’s progress.
The project is funded by loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank and by a grant from the European Union. It consists of four different packages. ILF, the leader of a consortium of various partners, is responsible for the design and procurement of works for the rehabilitation and expansion of the water production facilities, the rehabilitation of buildings at the Telman wellfield site, and the rehabilitation and expansion of water and wastewater networks (Package 1), as well as the reconstruction of the wastewater treatment plant (Package 2). Packages 3 and 4 include the purchase of special vehicles and the supply and installation of equipment.
ILF ranks amongst the “Top 225 International Design Firms”
The Engineering News Record (ENR) annually publishes a ranking of design firms according to turnover. Like last year, ILF Consulting Engineers has once again been ranked 60th in the “Top 225 International Design Firms” category, in which firms are ranked as per their turnover in 2018, excluding their shares in the respective home market.
In the “Top 150 Global Design Firms” category, which ranks firms as per their total turnover in 2018, ILF ranks 135th.
ILF and SOS-Kinderdorf celebrate 10 years of cooperation
For ten years now, ILF Consulting Engineers has been supporting SOS-Kinderdorf (SOS Children’s Villages) to give children and young people a loving home.
“The cooperation with SOS-Kinderdorf is something which is very close to our hearts, because after all, children are our present and our future. We are delighted if ILF can help support children, young people and their families, who find themselves in difficult situations, and if our donations can help them find their way out of crises”, Josef Mayr, one of the managing directors at ILF Consulting Engineers Austria GmbH. It is our heartfelt wish at ILF to continue this partnership in the coming years, and thus achieve positive things together.
“Thanks to the support of private donors and companies, over the last 70 years we have been able to come a step closer to achieving our goal. I would therefore like to sincerely thank ILF for their contribution”, Manuela Mader, SOS-Kinderdorf.
Even after 70 years, SOS-Kinderdorf still has one over-arching goal: “To give every child a loving home” – be that in the care of alternative families or by supporting families in need. In total, SOS-Kinderdorf in Austria provides a new home for around 1,800 children and young people, and supports more than 4,700 children and their families.
ILF ventures into Uganda’s water infrastructure market
The National Water & Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) commissioned ILF Consulting Engineers and its international partner for the “Kagera Water Works” project in Uganda. Being the first and largest of many packages which will make up the umbrella project “Development of Water and Sanitation Infrastructure for the Mbarara & Masaka Areas”, this project will be financed by the French Agency for Development (AFD).
The overall objective of the project is to secure and improve the supply of drinking water as well as the sanitation infrastructure in Mbarara, Masaka and their surroundings. Package 1 comprises the development of the Kagera water supply system, which includes an intake from the Kagera River – Upper White Nile – (capacity: 8m³/s), the Kagera drinking water treatment plant (first phase capacity: 18,000 m³/d) and the main 58-km-long transmission pipe to Mbarara.
ILF and its partner have been awarded this contract to perform design, tendering and works supervision services for this vital water supply project.
Connecting Austria and Switzerland
ILF Consulting Engineers have been appointed by ASFINAG BMG, in a joint venture, to carry out the tunnel design for the S18 Lake Constance expressway as part of the preliminary design (route selection process). The S18 is a major link road between the A1 motorway (Switzerland) and the A14 Rheintal/Walgau motorway (Austria).
The area under investigation encompasses the connection to the Swiss road network (A13/A1) near St. Magrethen/Höchst, where the crossing of the Rhine, the Lustenau canal and the ÖBB railway line is planned. Two new junctions are also being considered.
The project area is of great importance in view of settlement area, agricultural use, recreational use and groundwater utilization. Some of the conservation areas as well as the areas protected under the EU’s Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directive, which are found within the project area, also have a significant influence. The geology along the approximately 7 km long section is characterized by the fluvial sediments from the Rhine and lacustrine deposits, and therefore poses a particular challenge for the tunnel design.
Basic Design for the Somogy Field Development
On behalf of ADNOC Refining, ILF Consulting Engineers has recently completed the basic design for the Somogy Field Development in Hungary.
The aim of this project was to provide all the necessary engineering and project management (cost, schedule and risk assessment) services needed for the verification of the existing gas/condensate gathering system and its upgrade, namely the connection of 4 gas wells to the existing trunkline.
The upgrade of the existing Babócsa Gas Plant, involving the installation of the required gas treatment units, was also included in the scope of services.
ILF’s involvement in four-track upgrade of Western railway line
ILF Consulting Engineers was recently commissioned by ÖBB Infrastruktur AG to provide planning and design input for the four-track upgrade of the western railway line for the Linz-Marchtrenk and Marchtrenk-Wels sections.
The upgrade of these sections makes it possible to increase the line capacity and is an important step in the four-track upgrade of the railway line between Vienna and Wels that forms part of the trans-European network for rail and intermodal transport.
The project is implemented step by step and started with the works for the section “Linz Main Station west site” in the autumn of 2018. The permitting processes for Linz–Marchtrenk (length approx. 15.7 km) and Marchtrenk–Wels (length approx. 6.4 km) are currently underway. Maximum speeds of up to 230 km/h shall be possible in both line sections. A speed of up to 160 km/h is planned for regional rail transport.
ILF has been entrusted with executing the detailed design in the planning phase of the project implementation of both sections.
ILF at IKOM on June 24th, 2019
ILF will be present at the IKOM 2019, organized by students of the Technical University Munich (Germany), and is looking forward to meeting interesting and interested students as well as young professionals.
The number of the ILF stand is 74. See you there!
B.Robots – ILF supports future changemakers
The B.Robots Team of the “Höhere technische Bundeslehr- und Versuchsanstalt Graz-Gösting” (Austria) landed the vice world champion title in the robotics competition of the First Lego League (FLL) World Festival, held in Detroit from April 25th to 29th, 2019, by introducing its smart “dPro Bottle”. So far, no other Austrian team has succeeded in winning this title.
In addition, B.Robots took fifth place in the Robot Game in a field of 104 teams. This year more than 35,000 teams from around the word entered the FLL competition.
ILF congratulates the project team on this remarkable achievement and is proud of having been able to make a small contribution to this success.
The environment loves rail travelers
To make the public more aware of the contribution traveling by rail makes to protecting our environment and reducing our carbon footprint, the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) launched the Green Points initiative over two years ago.
As part of this initiative, people who use the ÖBB for business trips can collect green points, which are used to support specific environmental projects. By using the train for business trips, employees from ILF in Austria have cut down their CO2 emissions by 63.1 tons in the last year, being once again amongst some of the most frequent rail travelers in Austria. Compared to the previous year, this is a 17.5% increase in the number of train journeys.
ILF highly appreciates this ÖBB initiative, as the sustainable protection of the environment is of utmost importance to our company both when designing structures and facilities and when performing day-to-day project work. We strive to continue making a valuable contribution to ensuring sustainability in Austria by using ÖBB trains for business trips in years to come.
Significant milestone for ILF in Georgia
Another significant milestone for ILF in Georgia! Inspired by the “One ILF” principle, ILF-AUT, ILF-SUI and ILF-GEO combined their forces to beat the odds and win the contract for a pivotal project for the Tbilisi Suburban Rail Development.
The new project is definitely a landmark initiative in municipal rail transportation. It connects the eastern outskirts of Tbilisi, and the airport, with the city, which will greatly contribute to mobility within the capital of Georgia.
The key project-related data are as follows:
award of contract: May 7, 2019
contract value: EUR 3,500,000
scope of services:
a. pre-feasibility study of the sections: a) Samgori–Airport–Lilo and b) Samgori–Rustavi
b. detailed design of Samgori–Airport–Lilo rail connection and supplementary infrastructure
c. assistance with IFIs
d. preparation of tender documents
The project comprises the design of a 13km-long railway alignment, railway superstructure, of civil construction, station buildings, electrification, signalling, control and communication systems, and of maintenance facilities.
It combines the re-activation of existing lines with some new alignments, following a resource-friendly approach.
The civil works are intended to be executed in accordance with the FIDIC Red Book, while the railway systems will fall under the FIDIC Yellow Book Conditions of Contract.
ILF is “Tyrol’s best family business”
On May 14, 2019, “Die Presse” once again honoured successful Austrian family businesses and their achievements at a large gala event, held in Vienna for the 19th time. Herwig Langanger (“Presse” Chairman of the Executive Board), Margarete Schramböck (Austrian Minister of Economy and Digitilisation) and Georg Knill (Knill Gruppe in Weiz) commended the winning companies in front of around 200 guests from the business world.
We are happy to announce, that despite strong competition from a variety of different companies, ILF Consulting Engineers has been declared the Tyrolean winner.
More information and the full article about ILF can be found at: https://diepresse.com/unternehmen/familienunternehmen/5627993/span-classpackageicon
ILF contributes to VBI Guide to Renewable Energy
During the 2019 Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue, which was hosted and supported by the German Federal Government, the German Association of Consulting Engineers (VBI) published its Guide to Renewable Energy with various contributions from ILF Consulting Engineers.
The Guide to Renewable Energy shall provide policymakers, administrators and engineers with lessons from the German experience of the energy transition and shows a broad range of technologies that are suitable and vital for an energy transition. ILF is proud to have contributed to this important and seminal handbook with its experience in areas such as project setup & implementation, routing, bankable feasibility studies, hydroelectric power, gas networks, energy & gas storage as well as power transmission.
For further information please feel free to contact us at info.muc@ilf.com. You can also find the VBI Guide to Renewable Energy here.
ILF engaged at Basra Water Supply Project
On April 25, 2019 The Ministry of Construction, Housing, Municipalities and Public Works of Iraq awarded ILF with the Project Development, Engineering and Site Supervision Services for the water supply project in the Basra Governorate.
The project includes a Seawater Reverse Osmosis Desalination Facility, the Water Transmission System to supply 11 cities including Basra City with additional drinking water and a power plant to provide the required electricity to operate the system.
The project is envisaged to be executed based on ILF’s proposed concept:
1,000,000 m3/day Seawater Reverse Osmosis Desalination Facility located at the Arabian Gulf in Fao;
Approximately 270 km of Water Transmission Pipelines for the distribution of the desalinated water to the cities of the Basra Governorate;
A Gas fired Power Plant to produce the required power for the Desalination Plant and Pumping Stations.
The project will be the first step of Iraq’s new water strategy and shall deliver additional drinking water within 4 years.
Television: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C64GUiNur8Q&fbclid=IwAR1lbm8stUdrg7CKgdJTv_wK_TfQ1ctP9DWmaV6rDhjyEZYU5nWaLWYem2E
Newspaper: https://www.almirbad.com/detail/11797
Social Media: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2331580963779434&id=1733314656939404&__tn__=%2As%2As-R
ILF at the Interalpin 2019
ILF will take part in the “International Trade Fair for Alpine Technologies” (Interalpin) held in Innsbruck from May 08 to 10, 2019.
You are most welcome to visit us at stand A04 in exhibition hall A (hall 1, Innsbruck Exhibition Centre – Austria) to learn about our competence and experience. Come and discuss with us how we can support your projects in the field of ski resort planning.
We are looking forward to your visit and to interesting questions and discussions. For further information, please visit the website at http://www.interalpin.at/.
ILF awarded with contract for the next phase of the SuedLink
ILF Consulting Engineers, which acts as the leader of the consortium ArgeSL 2019, and has already been involved in various stages of the SuedLink project, has now also been awarded the contract for the next phase of the SuedLink project, by TenneT and TransnetBW (Germany). Over the next 20 months, ArgeSL 2019, consisting of ILF and its partners Froelich & Sporbeck, as well as GfN, will be performing the services involved in the project phases §19+§20 NABEG, which involve, amongst others, the applications for planning approval, including rough routing, the technical planning as well as project management and environmental planning.
The SuedLink shall transport energy generated in wind parks in northern Germany to southern Germany, thereby serving major consumers in southern Germany via a HVDC underground cable. The SuedLink consists of two point-to-point connections, which will each have a transmission capacity of 2 gigawatts (GW), i.e. a total capacity of 4 GW. This capacity, which is roughly equivalent to the capacity of four nuclear power plants, will supply around 10 million households with electricity. As Germany’s largest infrastructure project to date, the SuedLink project sets new international standards, being the first project of its kind in the field of underground cables.
For further information please feel free to contact us at info.muc@ilf.com
ILF is supporting the world’s most ambitious development program“NEOM”
ILF is supporting the world's most ambitious development program“NEOM”
On April 1, 2019, the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) awarded ILF Consulting Engineers the design services for the Water Transmission System for NEOM. This project will contribute significantly to the world’s most ambitious development program “NEOM”.
On the occasion of the contract signing, ILF’s delegation, consisting of the Executive Vice President, Andreas Ramharter, ILF Saudi Arabia’s Managing Directors, Lars Fjellstroem and Karl Tobler, as well as ILF’s Head of Water Pipeline Engineering, Alexander Heinz, received a warm welcome from both his Excellency Eng. Ali Bin AbdulRahman AlHazmy, Governor of SWCC, and his Excellency Eng. Sharekh Bin Ibrahim Al-Sharekh, Deputy Governor for Technical Affairs and Projects. ILF has successfully been supporting SWCC for more than 40 years in the development of water supply systems for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Lecture on Smart Industrial Concept!
Joint research initiatives with universities are one of the major drivers of innovation at ILF Consulting Engineers. As part of the doctoral program “SiC!” created together with ILF, the Vienna University of Technology offers a lecture on the topic “Smart Industrial Concept (SiC!)”.
The challenges of an energy optimized operation of industrial plants, their energy conversion, distribution and storage, and the investigation of their interaction with the general conditions of the energy industry are the focal points of the lecture.
Starting in the summer semester 2019, ILF is proud to be able to present the application aspects of the doctoral program in an industrial environment.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact DI Dr. Christopher Binder (christopher.binder@ilf.com).
More information can be found here as well as here: https://sic.tuwien.ac.at/industriepartner/
ILF engaged in Baltic Pipe Project
ILF Consulting Engineers, in a consortium led by the Danish company Ramboll, has been awarded a contract for the Baltic Pipe Project (Jutland–Funen) by Energinet (Denmark). Over the next 12 months ILF and Ramboll will jointly be performing the FEED.
The Baltic Pipe is a new gas pipeline (approx. 300 km onshore, approx. 300 km offshore) connecting Norway’s Europipe II system through Denmark with Poland. Operation is scheduled to start in October 2022 and the pipeline will be designed to initially carry 10 bcma of gas with potential for expansion. Once construction has been completed, the gas delivered through this pipeline will contribute to the diversification of gas supplies in Poland by using not only original Russian sources but also other sources like the Swinoujscie LNG terminal extension (7.5 bcma) as well as a potential FSRU project in Gdansk (5 bcma). This new infrastructure will create a regional gas hub for Central Europe via interconnectors to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania and Ukraine.
ILF is involved at various stages of planning in all of the above mentioned gas projects.
Altstadtring Tunnel in Munich to get a Safety Upgrade
ILF Consulting Engineers has recently been commissioned by the city of Munich’s construction authority to provide supervision and project control and maintenance services for the safety upgrade of the Altstadtring Tunnel.
The Altstadtring Tunnel constructed in the 1960s forms part of the inner-city ring road in the center of Munich, and has a total length of 610 m. The tunnel has two to three lanes. A single-lane access road from the Von-der-Tannstrasse allows access from the Altstadtring.
In order to adapt the aging tunnel to modern safety standards, retrofitting is to be carried out in the existing tunnel while maintaining tunnel operation and a working tunnel safety system. Due to the location of the Altstadtring Tunnel, construction and commissioning should be carried out as safely as possible and with little disruption.
ILF ranked nº 6 among Top International Design Firm for Pipelines
In 2018 the ENR Global Sourcebook published its 77th ranking for top international design firms. Once more, ILF Consulting Engineers was able to secure its position as a top international design firm for pipelines, being ranked 6th and thus improving on its 10th position from the 2016 ranking.
Pipeline projects have played an important role in the ILF Group ever since its founding in 1967. ILF’s first project was the Transalpine Pipeline (TAL), a one-of-a-kind project which, due to its crossing the Alps, was probably the most difficult pipeline project in the world at that time.
For more than 50 years, ILF Consulting Engineers has continued to establish itself as a trusted consultant and global player for the designing and engineering of demanding and challenging major pipeline projects. Having sometimes had to break new ground in order to find the optimum solution, ILF has provided its clients with individualized solutions, from planning to decommissioning. Whether in extreme mountain terrains, under challenging weather conditions, or over long distances, ILF has designed some of the largest pipeline systems in the world.
Amongst many others, ILF was involved in the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline Project (ADCOP), the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline Project (TAP), the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP), Trans-Asia Gas Pipeline (TAGP), the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline.
For further information please feel free to contact us: info.muc@ilf.com
ILF at the Pipeline Technology Conference 2019
ILF Consulting Engineers is pleased to announce its participation, as a Gold sponsor, in the 14th Pipeline Technology Conference (PTC) taking place in Berlin from March 19th to March 21th 2019.
During this year’s PTC, our experts will demonstrate their technical expertise. Tobias Baier will be presenting on the topic of Project Risk Management, and Chuan Cheng on the thermal interaction between adjacent, buried crude oil pipelines.
You are most welcome to visit us at stand 48 (Estrel Convention Center, Berlin, Germany) to find out more about our competences and experience in the field of pipeline engineering.
Let us know how we can help you tackle your challenges (info.muc@ilf.com)! We look forward to your visit. For further information, please visit the official PTC website at http://www.pipeline-conference.com
ILF’s clients amongst the best in the world
In a recent ski resort test carried out by Snow-Online, the 10 best ski resorts in the world for the 2018/2019 season have been chosen. Amongst them are four of our clients:
ILF Consulting Engineers would hereby like to congratulate our clients on this great success and looks forward to working with you in the future!
More information can be found here: https://www.skigebiete-test.at/skimagazin/top-10-die-weltbesten-skigebiete.htm
World-Scale Gas Separation Unit & Pipeline in Kazakhstan
Germany/Kazakhstan, February 2019 – KLPE, an affiliate of the United Chemical Company (UCC), initiated Kazakhstan’s first world-scale GSU project, which, with its total capacity of 1,250 ktpa, is to supply feedstock to the polyethylene plant in the Atyrau Region. The project is being executed as part of a Joint Development Agreement between the UCC and Borealis. ILF Consulting Engineers (ILF) is delighted to have been commissioned to carry out the Project Management Consultancy (PMC) services, including the supervision of a Detailed Feasibility Study (DFS), which will support KLPE in the delivery of this strategically important project.
“These strategic UCC initiatives pave the way for the Republic of Kazakhstan’s establishment as a global player in the polyolefin market. By utilizing advanced technologies, engaging world-leading contractors and suppliers, and targeting high levels of safety, reliability and operability, we aim to ensure the maximum return on capital investments” says Maksim Sonin, UCC Project Portfolio Managing Director, and Board Member.
“ILF is proud to support KLPE in this professionally-led and rapidly-progressing project. With the team’s ability to integrate ILF’s Western style of project management and Kazakh engineering requirements with local, state-owned project execution processes, as well as the expertise offered by the team, I am highly confident that the DFS phase will create the maximum value for UCC and its partner, whilst supporting their strategy of sustaining Kazakhstan’s development in the polyolefin market” adds ILF Project Manager and Upstream Area Manager Helge Hoeft.
The heart of the project is the NGL recovery facility, located close to the Tengiz oil field, with a maximum feed gas capacity of over 7 billion Sm3/a for recovering ethane and heavier components as feedstock for the polyethylene project. In addition, a feed gas pipeline from TCO’s facilities, an approximately 180 km long C2+ export pipeline to the polyethylene plant, and a redelivery gas pipeline to the GEEP pipeline, are within the project scope.
ILF at the 3rd Hydropower Caspian and Central Asia 2019
ILF Consulting Engineers will be represented at the 3rd Annual International Congress and Exhibition: Hydropower Caspian and Central Asia 2019, organized by Vostockcapital, in the Biltmore Hotel from February 20 to 21, 2019. High-level participants will discuss key topics and set the course for hydropower construction and operation in the Caspian and Central Asian region.
We look forward to meeting you at our stand, number 10. For questions prior to the event, please contact thomas.fritz@ilf.com. For further information, please visit the website at https://www.hydropowercongress.com/
Creating New Horizons Together
“Contributing to improving quality of life around the world” is a motto that not only fits with ILF’s vision, but certainly also applies to the association Engineers without Borders Austria (IOG – Verein Ingenieure ohne Grenzen Austria). For more than a year now, the two institutions have been successfully collaborating with each other, most notably on the Tyrolean regional group’s “EduZapa” project.
As part of this project, the Tyrolean regional group, which includes some ILF employees, has been improving educational opportunities for school pupils in rural Mexico, since 2016. To ensure that the 3rd project implementation phase was carried out at a high technical level, the planning of the drainage and roof truss was examined by experts from ILF. Several workshops on the topic “Internal Processes” were also held by ILF.
Both ILF and the Tyrolean regional group value the fruitful cooperation with each other, and look forward to continued collaboration during the 4th project implementation phase planned for this year.
ILF rushes into Australia’s hydropower market
At the end of last year, ILF Consulting Engineers was commissioned by EnergyAustralia as provider for independent verifier services for the pumped hydro project using seawater at Cultana in South Australia.
The facility would be capable of producing 225 megawatts (MW) of electricity with around eight hours of storage. That’s the equivalent of installing 126,000 home battery storage systems, but at a third of the cost. Pumped hydro works by using two bodies or reservoirs of water, one at a high elevation, at the top of a hill, and another at a lower elevation, at the bottom. The Cultana project will also include two penstocks, a powerhouse containing two reversible Francis turbines, a tailrace structure and a seawater intake/outfall structure as well as a connection to an existing 275 kV transmission line and balance of plant systems. The water to fill the reservoirs will be sourced from the Spencer Gulf. This water will pass through a pre-treatment filter and then be desalinated via a reverse osmosis process.
It’s potentially a great, cost-effective way of integrating renewable power and ensuring energy is reliable and affordable.
ILF wins the overall design services competition for IST Austria
Together with DIN A4 Architektur, ILF Consulting Engineers won the overall design services competition for the “IST Austria Laborgebäude für Life Science und Seminarzentrum” in Klosterneuburg (Lower Austria), achieving 1st place against tough competitors.
The new laboratory building and seminar center shall have a total usable floor area of approximately 13,300 m², and shall be a concrete structure. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2020, with completion planned for 2022.
Within the joint venture, ILF has been entrusted with the project management services, the structural design, the HVAC planning, as well as occupational health and safety management during the project preparation phase in compliance with the Austrian BauKG (Construction Works Coordination Act).
Electrifying Georgia
In September 2018, the Austrian Georgian Development LLC commissioned ILF Consulting Engineers to carry out the construction supervision services for the Lakhami 1 and Lakhami 2 hydropower plants.
The project comprises the hydropower development of the Lakhami River, which has its source at over 3,000 m a.s.l. and originates from the eas
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An eyeful of the Eiffel: Google’s time machine invites you to opening of the world’s most-visited monument
eiffel tower google google cultural institute google street view paris street view
by Mike Tomkins
posted Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at 2:33 PM EST
Pop quiz: Which famous monument is about to celebrate its quasquicentennial anniversary (that's 125 years, if you're not a fan of pseudo-Latin), for its first four decades was the tallest manmade structure in the world, and remains its most-visited, paid monument to this day?
If you said the Eiffel Tower, you've hit the nail on the head -- and you can celebrate with a tour of your own, completely free of charge and without ever leaving the comfort of your desk! France's most-recognized structure has become the latest monument to be visited by the folks at Google, and not only will their Street View cameras take you all the way to the top of the tower -- you'll also get a free history lesson courtesy of the Google Cultural Institute.
Google's Street View cameras have toured the Eiffel Tower. Here, the view from the 2nd Floor level. We won't spoil the top-floor experience for you, but it's even more spectacular!
Google has quite an array of cameras on offer for its Street View project, and although some heavy lifting up flights of stairs was involved, it opted to use the Street View Trolley camera for the Eiffel Tower, rather than the Trekker camera used recently for its tour of Japan's Battleship Island. The result is some truly breathtaking footage that -- if you're anything like us -- will make you want to visit Eiffel all the more. (Although it's doubtful you'll get the crowd-free experience Google's cameras received when you visit in person!)
Google's imagery includes original plans for what was soon to become the world's tallest man-made structure -- a record it would hold for more than four decades.
As cool as the Street View footage is, the archival documents scanned and shared for the Cultural Institute are even more impressive. Among more than 50 images are original plans for the structure, as well as period photos from around the time of the Eiffel Tower's opening. Some of these do a great job of conveying the sheer awe at what was an amazing technological feat for its time.
The Eiffel Tower's instantly-recognizable base under construction.
Eiffel might be dwarfed by the buildings that have been built in the 125 years since its opening, but it's not too difficult to put yourself in the shoes of those there on opening day, eager to tour the world's tallest manmade structure -- even though the elevators wouldn't be in service for almost another two weeks. And your feet will thank for for having received that experience without climbing all 1,710 stairs to the top!
Early visitors were clearly enthralled by the tower, a technological marvel for its time.
Enjoy traveling the world without leaving your deskchair? How about a trip to the George Eastman House for a look at some classic photos, or a visit to Battleship Island in Japan to see what the world will look like after mankind? And Google has also been up the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world's current tallest manmade structure -- find out how they got their footage.
(Via Mashable. Eiffel Tower image courtesy of Mauricio Lima / Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons CC BY 2.0 license.)
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Strange things are afoot in Bad City. The Iranian ghost town, home to prostitutes, junkies, pimps, and other sordid souls, is a place that reeks of death and hopelessness, where a lonely vampire is stalking the towns most...
Strange things are afoot in Bad City. The Iranian ghost town, home to prostitutes, junkies, pimps, and other sordid souls, is a place that reeks of death and hopelessness, where a lonely vampire is stalking the towns most unsavory inhabitants. But when boy meets girl, an unusual love story begins to blossom...blood red.
The first Iranian Vampire Western, Ana Lily Amirpour's debut feature A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT basks in the sheer pleasure of pulp. A joyful mash-up of genre, archetype and iconography, its prolific influences span spaghetti westerns, graphic novels, horror films, and the Iranian New Wave. Amped by a mix of Iranian rock, techno and Morricone-inspired riffs, its airy, anamorphic, black-and-white aesthetic and artfully drawn-out scenes combine the simmering tension of Sergio Leone with the surrealism of David Lynch.
Nominated for Best First Feature at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. Nominated for Best of Next! at the Sundance Film Festival.
Sheila Vand
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"She's got this amazing dexterity with musical languages... What she's doing is something completely new."
- Betto Arcos & Arun Rath, NPR's "All Things Considered"
Download Track by Track PDF
Download Bio PDF
Vocalist/composer Kavita Shah's debut album "VISIONS," co-produced by African guitar virtuoso Lionel Loueke (Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Dave Holland), interweaves Indian, African, and Brazilian elements into a modern jazz setting. "VISONS" features 14 musicians from six continents, with a core ensemble of piano, guitar, bass, drums, Indian tabla, and West African kora. Together, they explore Shah's original compositions and arrangements of songs by Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Wayne Shorter, and rapper M.I.A. They also tackle Cape Verdean legend Cesária Évora's "Sodade" and a traditional Indian raga, both orchestrated for string quartet, and the Afro-Brazilian gem "Oju Oba".
"My experience of diaspora has not exactly been linear, but more like a kaleidoscope," Shah says. "So musically, I wanted to bring together different elements that I love, and combine them in a way that may be surprising to others but makes sense to me." Released in 2014 on Inner Circle Music/Naïve Records, it was hailed by critics as a "sparkling debut" (Boston Globe), "breathtakingly beautiful" (Downbeat Magazine), "daring and ambitious" (Jazzwise UK), and Best Vocal & Debut Album of the Year (Will Hermes, Rolling Stone).
Lionel Loueke (guitar/voice)
Steve Wilson (sax/flute)
Yacouba Sissoko (kora)
Stephen Cellucci (tabla)
Steve Newcomb (piano/rhodes)
Michael Valeanu (guitar)
Linda Oh (bass)
Guilhem Flouzat (drums)
Rogerio Boccato (percussion)
Miho Hazama (conductor)
Curtis Stewart (violin)
Tomoko Omura (violin)
Nick Revel (viola)
Will Martina (cello)
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Global E-Cigarette Market is Expected to Witness Consolidation in the next 5-10 years with Rising Mergers and Acquisitions between leading Tobacco Manufacturing Companies: Ken Research
Posted on 14 November 2017 by KenResearch Food and Beverage ,
Introducing different flavors in e-cigarettes has helped companies that are manufacturing e-cigarettes in expanding their business and attracting more number of customers to use e-cigarettes.
Various vape festivals are organized in across countries which helped in the growth in the popularity of e-cigarettes. Vape festivals that were organised in this period were Vapestock in Florida, VapeCon in Virginia, VapeBash in Chicago and many more. Increase in the health awareness in various countries among people encouraged them to switch from normal cigarettes to e-cigarettes, which led to an increase in the market revenues of e-cigarettes. Major companies currently in the e-cigarette market include Innokin, Aspire, MCV Philippines and others. Technologies such as RDAs, mechanical mods and regulated mods all came into existence which contributed to the growth of this industry.
Introducing different flavours in e-cigarettes has helped companies that are manufacturing e-cigarettes in expanding their business and attracting more number of customers to use e-cigarettes. One of the main reasons young population is experimenting and using e-cigarettes is due to the curiosity, peer influences and the availability of different flavours of e-liquids. There are more than 450 companies operating in the e-cigarette market and e-cigarettes are available in more than 7,700 flavours. The e-cigarettes are also available in candy, fruity, coffee and dessert flavours along with the classic menthol and tobacco flavours.
Various mergers and acquisitions are taking place in the industry during the past few years. The big giants in the tobacco industry are acquiring small e-cigarettes local players to enter into the e-cigarette sector and in the local markets of different countries. The majority of acquisitions took place in United Kingdom and United States and as a result, the countries became the largest players of e-cigarettes.
The report titled “Global E-Cigarette Market by Category (Tobacco Flavored E-Liquids, Botanicals, Fruit Flavors, Nicotine Free E-Liquids); By purchase channel (Online, Specialist Vape/E-Cigarette Stores, Other Physical Retailers), By type (Modular, Disposable, Rechargeable) – Outlook to 2021” by Ken Research suggested that companies can expand their reach in the market by opening more vape stores in different countries. This will help them to cater to the needs of larger audience. More people would be able to consume the e-cigarettes in the countries if they are easily available in close vicinity.
Source: https://www.kenresearch.com/food-beverage-and-tobacco/tobacco-products/global-e-cigarrette-market/142271-11.html
Ken Research
Ankur Gupta, Head Marketing & Communications
sales@kenresearch.com
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Zooming Beyond Cars
Digital payments, are forecast to overtake cash transactions in India by 2023
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Quinn, N.Y. mayoral candidate, sees West Bank as ‘disputed territory’
NEW YORK (JTA) – New York City mayoral candidate Christine Quinn considers the West Bank “disputed territory” and said she would advocate for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
The comment, made in an email to JTA in response to a question at an Orthodox Union event Wednesday, comes two weeks after one of Quinn’s rivals in the race, former Rep. Anthony Weiner, stirred controversy with his comments on the status of the West Bank.
“Chris believes the West Bank is a disputed territory and that the Israelis and Palestinians must sit down and negotiate a solution,” said a spokesman for Quinn, the speaker of the New York City Council. “As Mayor, Chris will use the bully pulpit of the office and everything she can to urge the two sides to sit and negotiate a peaceful resolution of the conflict through the establishment of two states for two peoples that ensures safety and security for the State of Israel.”
Quinn’s position runs counter to that of the U.S. government, which considers the West Bank Israel-occupied territory.
The distinction is significant to both Israelis and Palestinians. “Disputed” suggests that the Palestinians have no more right to the territory than Israel, which captured the land from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War. “Occupied” suggests that it is Palestinian territory occupied by Israel. Successive U.S. administrations have opposed Israeli Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank as obstructive to a two-state solution. The State Department under President Carter ruled that Israeli settlements were “inconsistent with international law”; the Obama administration has used the term “illegitimate.”
Earlier this year, in late June, Weiner was asked whether he considers the West Bank occupied territory. He said, “The status of that area is left to be decided by the people who are there.” Asked to clarify, Weiner said, “There are disagreements about what constitutes the West Bank.”
Quinn also has said the United States must recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
At the O.U. event Wednesday, Quinn also talked about her positions on issues relating to Jewish day schools, saying she supports better security for schools, enhanced special education programs and fewer administrative hearings for parents of special education students.
Quinn also said she wants to eliminate hate crimes in New York.
“It’s not acceptable that mezuzahs were burned in Williamsburg or that a man in Greenwhich Village was killed because he was gay,” said Quinn, who is gay. “I want to make New York City the first hate crime free city.”
This article has been revised to explain more clearly the positions of various U.S. administrations.
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ESL Pro League Finals Betting Preview and Favorites
ESL Pro League Finals has just begun. This is one of the most important CS:GO tournaments of the year, having 16 world-class participants and offering $600,000 in prizes. The event takes place in Odense, Denmark between December 3rd – 8th and provides numerous esports betting chances for those who want to bet on CS:GO. [related_operator] ESL Pro League Finals Participants and Format ESL Pro League Finals brings together 16 teams. For the Group Stage, these teams will be divided into two groups: Group A Natus Vincere TYLOO FaZe Clan MIBR Heroic 100 Thieves Fnatic Evil Geniuses This is a very tough group, with Na’Vi, FaZe, Evil Geniuses, Fnatic and MIBR having good chances of qualifying. In principle, it should be FaZe, EG and Na’Vi that qualify for the Playoffs. But it will come down to tournament form. It’s perfectly possible that one of these teams will play worse than people expect and leave room for the others. Group B Astralis Grayhound G2 Esports Sharks Esports Mousesports ATK North Team Liquid In Group B, the big favorites are Astralis, Team Liquid and mousesports. G2 and North also have a remote chance to advance to the Playoffs, but it’s going to be very difficult for them to do anything against these three opponents. Arguably, Astralis and Team Liquid are the best teams in the world at the moment and they will likely have an easy tournament until the Playoffs Stage. So the only real question is: who will take 3rd place? And the statistics clearly indicate that mousesports is by far the most likely candidate for that. ESL Pro League Finals Prize Distribution ESL Pro League Finals offers $600,000 in prizes. The money will be distributed among the 16 teams in the following way: 1st place: $250,000 2nd place: $80,000 3rd – 4th place: $40,000 5th – 6th place: $20,000 7th – 8th place: $17,000 9th – 12th place: $15,000 13th – 16th place: $14,000 ESL Pro League Finals Favorites The big favorites for winning ESL Pro League Finals are Astralis, Team Liquid and Evil Geniuses. Astralis Astralis is currently the best team in the world. They’re also the winners of two big tournaments that took place over the last four weeks: IEM XIV Beijing and ECS Season 8 Finals. Going into ESL Pro League Finals, Astralis is expected to at least reach the Grand Final. Team Liquid Team Liquid is the second best team in the world, even though Evil Geniuses is sitting at number 2 in the global rankings. Their roster has remained unchanged for an entire year and that gives them a lot of confidence in tournaments. Because they know exactly how to approach each situation as a team. At their latest tournament, ECS Season 8 Finals, Liquid lost in the Grand Final to Astralis (1 – 2). Overall, they played in 11 Grand Finals this season and won 6 of them. Going into ESL Pro League Finals, Liquid is expected to finish in the top 4. Evil Geniuses Evil Geniuses is a team with a very high ceiling but also a very low floor. Sometimes they win, other times they mess up quite badly. Over the last six weeks, they won a big title at StarSeries & i-League CS:GO Season 8 and finished 5th – 6th, 5th – 6th and 3rd – 4th at three other big events. This shows consistency but not necessarily in a good way. They’re no doubt an excellent team, but they seem to be out of shape. Going into ESL Pro League Finals, I expect them to finish 3rd – 4th.
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The World of Gaming online
Take a closer look at online gaming with our guide to this global phenomenon
Gaming online has seen a massive increase in popularity over the last few years, largely down to the way that mobile phone technology has developed. The numbers of people who play online games has risen massively. Almost everyone you know, including people over the age of 40 who are not necessarily the first people who spring to mind when you mention online computer games, will have played some form of online game in the last few weeks.
This has been partly due to social media, of course, which provides accessible platforms where almost anyone can find games to play that suit their lifestyle and interests. Sports games have become very popular, while we have all heard about games like Candy Crush.
Other types of online computer games remain very popular with younger people who like to play online games. Massive multi-player online games, often referred to as ‘MMOs’, remain hugely popular. World of Warcraft, for example, has become a cultural phenomenon that extends far beyond people’s computer screens or gaming mobile phones and has spawned books, a movie and other cultural products.
Here, we will take a closer look at the world of gaming online and at some of the gaming trends associated with it.
What is gaming online and how do you get started?
Even if you have no interest at all in the digital world or technology, the chances are pretty high that you will have heard of online gaming. It is, of course the act of playing games on the internet. There is tremendous variety in the number and types of games that you can play online nowadays, though. From retro arcade games, to intellectual puzzles, to role playing games, to traditional board games like Scrabble, you really can play almost anything you want online these days.
According to Juniper Research’s published white paper, the numbers of people who now play online games regularly is huge. The Newzoo 2018 Global Games Market Forecast stated that mobile gaming and mobile games has been raising online casino revenue. The proportion rose from 18% in 2012 to 51% by 2018. The Newzoo report also predicted that this trend will continue, and it expected gaming online to contribute up to 59% by 2021.
There are also significant geographical trends in the world of online gaming. In November 2018, China made up almost 28% of global mobile gaming revenue, according to tech website iWeb. Japan is another country which makes a massive contribution to the wealth generated by gaming online. A big role in this is played by the way that gamers in Asia have moved away from their computer screens in recent years and started to use gaming mobile phones.
Online gaming and esports betting
It is possible now to pick up skins during online gaming which can be used to bet on esports. Skins are items that improve the cosmetic appearance of your character in some online games. They do not usually have any effect on the actual gaming performance of the character. They are a particular feature of games like Counter Strike: Global Offensive and Defense of the Ancients 2.
Gamers soon found another use for these skins as competitive esports grew in popularity over the last decade. As esports became more popular, increasing numbers of people wanted to bet on the matches and events for games like CS:GO, Dota2 and the International tournament.
While the betting companies were lagging behind demand, many gamers started betting using the skins that they had collected from their own gaming activities. This allowed gamers to use their skins as a kind of virtual currency for betting.
It is also possible to sell skins for real money, something that means successful esports skins bettors can actually make some genuine profit from their betting. It will be interesting to see how the concept of skin betting develops in the online computer games world in the years to come.
While we have not been able to cover the entire vast breadth of the topic of gaming online in this article, you now have a snapshot picture of this vast phenomenon. As 5G technology develops and becomes more widespread, we are sure to see more new and exciting developments in the world of online gaming. More powerful, faster gaming mobile phones are sure to arrive on the market too.
As the number of games to play increases new gaming trends are sure to emerge in the years to come, especially with the advent of 5G. Concepts such as virtual reality are sure to have an impact too, especially on the world of esports and esports betting. It is an interesting time to be alive for all fans of online gaming across the world!
Published on: 28-07-2019 - Categories: Gaming
The fact that Google is looking to get into cloud gaming isn’t exactly newsworthy. The multi-billion dollar tech giant announced its video game streaming service - Google Stadia - as early as May 2019, and so far, there’s been no evidence of it going back on its word. But how does this product compare to an existing game streaming service like PlayStation Now? Find the answer in our quick Google Stadia vs PlayStation breakdown! [...]
A Nightmare on Elm Street Game – Only in our nightmares!
Haunting our nightmares since 1984, but why isn’t there a Nightmare on Elm Street game? As one of the most terrifying horror characters to ever slash his way across our screens, the image of Freddy Krueger is one that you just can’t forget. Beginning in 1984, the Nightmare on Elm Street movie series filled our screens, and our nightmares, with a classic slasher character who could kill you in your dreams, a hideously disfigured serial kil [...]
Enter the Zombie Apocalypse in the World of The Walking Dead Games
So many different The Walking Dead games – we give you the good, the bad, and the brutal! When Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore created The Walking Dead as a comic book series, way back in 2003, no one could have ever guessed just how incredibly successful it would become. Over the years, The Walking Dead has become a massive cultural phenomenon, with millions of fans around the world loving this greatest zombie series of all time.
Vikings Glory Awaits You When You Play Viking: War Of Clans!
Justgamers best Viking games, conquer with Vikings War of Clans & win with Viking slots! Here at Justgamers, we’re particularly keen on two games that give you two very different ways to play at being a vicious Viking! The first is the huge Vikings War of Clans MMORPG/MMORTS (massive multi-player online role-playing games and massive multi-player real time strategy games), where you build, explore, battle, and raid your way to Viking glory.
Crypto Games and Blockchain Games – a new and exciting way to game? The gaming world is talking about blockchain and crypto games – here’s what you need to know! Blockchain games, crypto games, maybe you’ve heard of them, maybe you haven’t. But trust us, you will hear about them, as they’re promising to be a new, exciting part of your gaming experience. If you have heard about blockchain, it’s probably through talk of bitcoin, the blockchain cryptocurrency that’s [...]
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Kitchen Table Democracy
About UNCG
UNCG Strategic Directions
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Member Offerings
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Ted Celeste
Representative, Ohio House of Representatives, 2007-2013
Former State Representative Ted Celeste is the founder and director of Next Generation, a project of the National Institute for Civil Discourse, where Celeste serves as the Director of State Programs. His goal is to inspire and support state legislators who want to promote greater understanding and better decision-making. Celeste’s bi-partisan team of legislators has facilitated training for the CSG Midwest Conference and the Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Vermont and Washington State Legislatures. He has also presented at the CSG BILLD leadership program in Madison, and the National CSG annual meeting in Kansas City.
Celeste served in the Ohio Legislature from 2007-2012. Known for working effectively “across the aisle” whether he was in the majority or the minority, he has lived his belief in respectful dialogue. One of the only candidates for state office who insisted on running a positive campaign, he won each of his 3 races with a comfortable majority in a swing district. He was recognized for his emphasis on civil dialogue with the John Glenn Public Policy Institute’s Outstanding Public Service Award in 2011. Celeste lives in Columbus, Ohio, is married and has two daughters and 3 grandchildren.
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Economy | Energy & Mining | Environment | Federal Government | Fisheries | Nation & World | Politics | Southeast | State Government
International Joint Commission launches ‘fact-finding mission’ into British Columbia transboundary mining
August 7, 2019 by Jacob Resneck, CoastAlaska
International Joint Commission U.S. commissioners Rob Sisson (left) and co-chair Jane Corwin listen at an Aug. 5, 2019 meeting in Juneau hosted by U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (right) and Dan Sullivan. (Photo courtesy Karina Borger/Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office)
Alaska’s U.S. senators hosted members of an international commission charged with investigating transboundary water disputes on Monday.
https://media.ktoo.org/2019/08/ann-20190805-05.mp3
“This has long been a priority — it’s fair to say — for so many of us,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, leading off the discussion with the International Joint Commission. The six-member commission is charged with helping enforce a 1909 treaty between the two countries to resolve disputes over transboundary water resources.
Murkowski said there has long been a concern that British Columbia’s government doesn’t regulate hard rock mining to the same standard as Alaska. The commissioners are looking into concerns with British Columbia’s Golden Triangle mining district and its impact on Southeast Alaska.
A delegation of commissioners from both countries spent the past few days in the region. Canada’s co-chair Pierre Béland said they plan to cross the border to British Columbia’s booming mining districts.
“We’re on a fact-finding mission,” Béland told CoastAlaska. “We want to know what people have to say. So we’ll ask the same questions, and we’ll listen on the other side as we did here.”
Aug. 4 marked the five-year anniversary of the Mount Polley mine disaster in central British Columbia. And with that expired a deadline for Canadian government penalizing its owner Imperial Metals.
For years, there have been fears that a tailings dam failure on a transboundary river could devastate Southeast Alaska fisheries.
Concerns over potential future disasters and legacy pollution lingering from long-shuttered historic mines have been the impetus for green groups pushing the U.S. State Department to refer Alaska’s transboundary mining concerns to the international commission.
More than a dozen working and legacy mine sites are located in watersheds that are shared between British Columbia and Southeast Alaska. (Image courtesy of British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources)
U.S. co-chair Jane Corwin said the commission’s intervention would be a last resort.
“But I think that the fact we’re here shows the importance that has been placed on this issue,” she said in an interview. “We get that message, and I believe our Canadian counterparts get that message. And that’s all good for everyone involved.”
The IJC’s two other U.S. commissioners, Lance Yohe and Rob Sisson, also attended.
There was consensus in the room about the need to clean up British Columbia’s Tulsequah Chief mine near the Taku River. Closed since the 1950s, remediation efforts began this year by the provincial government.
As the two U.S. senators left to catch their plane, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, told CoastAlaska that cleaning up the Tulsequah Chief mine is the low-hanging fruit.
“My view — and this is the view I’ve been pressing with everybody from the prime minister of Canada on down — is a good-faith effort would be to finally close the Tulsequah Chief mine,” Sullivan said. “Let’s start with that. That’s the most urgent, most obvious, and then we’ll continue progress from there.”
“The province shares Alaska’s concerns about the longstanding pollution being discharged in the Tulsequah River from the Tulsequah mine,” British Columbia’s Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources wrote in a statement to CoastAlaska. “We are committed to resolving the ongoing contamination and remediation concerns at the site and holding all owners both past and present accountable for remediation.”
US senators urge more oversight from British Columbia in transboundary mining
Tribes on both sides of the border have been advocating for cleaning up legacy pollution and better safeguards to protect commercial and subsistence fisheries.
“One of the commissioners mentioned that that you know, they work really closely with First Nations on the Canadian side — so that was very encouraging to hear,” Rob Sanderson Jr. said in an interview. Sanderson is fourth vice president on Tlingit & Haida’s Executive Council.
“Transparency is everything,” he added.
The Monday meeting in the Hurff A. Saunders Federal Building in Juneau also brought together Alaska’s cabinet-level regulators, environmentalists and the mining industry in the same room.
Hecla Mining Company’s Mike Satre said the roundtable meeting showed him potential for common ground.
“We can have responsible resource development on both sides of the border and still maintain our quality of life, our fisheries and our water,” he said.
Salmon Beyond Borders has been pushing for British Columbia to tighten its mining regulations and require stronger financial guarantees when it issues permits. Executive Director Jill Weitz said bringing the commissioners to Alaska is part of getting them up to speed if they’re called upon to elevate the issue to a treaty dispute.
“And I think that in this point in time, having the IJC here to become better educated so that, potentially down the road, when and if — as a senator said — we need help in preventing disputes between the two countries, they’re eager and ready to rock and roll,” she said.
This summer, Alaska’s U.S. senators and their counterparts in three other border states penned a letter to British Columbia Premier John Horgan urging his government to strengthen oversight and accountability of transboundary mines.
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2012 Hans Neukomm Award winner announced
Ben Danley, the director of marketing for the Oregon State University Alumni Association, has been honored by Leadership Corvallis as the ninth Hans Neukomm Award winner.
A 2002 graduate of Leadership Corvallis, Danley has been involved in the community and has been recognized for his work both as Corvallis’ 2006 Junior First Citizen and Corvallis’ Top Volunteer Under 40. Ben has served on the Community Outreach board of directors (2009-10); as a Benton County Historical Society trustee (2006-present) and vice president (2009); Rotary Club of Greater Corvallis member (2001-present), board member (2003-06, 2007-10), and secretary (2005-06); Benton County Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse member (2000-06) and board president (2002-03); and Benton Furniture Share board member (2001-06) and president (2002-05). Danley also served on the Leadership Corvallis board of directors for six years following completion of the class, holding the positions of president and alumni chair, among others.
Established in 2004, the Hans Neukomm Award is named for the founder of Leadership Corvallis. Neukomm, who passed away in 2011, envisioned Leadership Corvallis as a way to give participants a better understanding of how our community functions so they can be more effective in the workplace and community.
The Hans Neukomm Award is given each year to a past class member who has made a significant impact through service to the community. In addition to Arthenayake, prior recipients include: Julie Manning, the late Scott Zimbrick, Pete Bober, Susan Poole, Biff Traber, Penny York, Kavinda Arthenayake and David Hamby.
“For all of his work for both Leadership Corvallis and the Corvallis community, I believe Ben Danley exemplifies the criteria of the Hans Neukomm Leadership Award,” said Leadership Corvallis Alumni Chair Michelle Davis. “He is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and consistently exemplifies the values of philanthropy and service.”
Leadership Corvallis was created in 1992 to identify Corvallis’ and Benton County’s “best and brightest” citizens and offer a 10-month program that equips them to provide leadership within their community. An advisory board comprising community leaders helps develop topics and interacts with participants as guest speakers and session facilitators.
For more information about Leadership Corvallis, visit leadershipcorvallis.com.
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Civil Society and Advocacy
The ideas "civil society" and "advocacy" are centrally important to any group or organization that seeks to reach a goal through persuasion rather than coercion.
Michael Barendse, Ed.D
The term “civil society” has many meanings depending on what type of political structure dominates in the society being discussed. In western democratic societies the term has come to mean the “arena of unforced collective action around shared interests, purposes, and values…” (London School of Economics, 2004). Civil society commonly embraces a diversity of social spaces, actors, and institutional forms.
John Gardner might define the term more simply as “community” (Gardner, 1991). Gardner expresses the belief that without the associational ties between individuals that form communities, a democratic society cannot function. The reason for this is the necessary role of advocacy in the democratic process. Advocacy is “the act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, idea, or policy; active support.” (The Free Dictionary.com, accessed 2/17/08). In order for people to effect change in the society they must have the means to collectively advocate for that change. Civil society provides that mechanism.
Historic Roots
The term civil society first appeared in the work of social philosophers in the late 18th and early 19th century. Freidrich Hegel used the concept to describe a middle point in social structure between the state at the macro level of society, and the family unit at the micro level (Seligman, 1992). Alexis deTocqueville, in his Democracy in America, observed that voluntary associations seemed to be “necessary” to American democracy. All of these discussions centered on the need for the citizens of a non-authoritarian, decentralized state to associate with each other in order to reach goals or advocate for ideas that the members of the associating group hold in common. These associations filled the social space created when the old order of feudal rights and obligations broke down, and the individual’s role and available social space became much less defined by external, coercive forces. In other words, the emergence of modern society, democracy, and civil society seemed to have occurred in tandem.
More recently, civil society has been seen as a way for people to cope with an ever larger, more bureaucratized society. There are many discussions of mediating structures as a way of expressing popular will, (Berger and Neuhaus, 1977) as well as the idea of “empowerment”, which became popular during the tumult of the late 1960s and early 1970s in the United States and Europe. These concepts are essentially restatements of the concept of civil society. The phrase “power to the people” was really a demand that the large impersonal structures of modern society, like government and corporate business, allow ordinary people to solve their common problems by associating and advocating on a relatively local scale. This concept was often coupled with the idea of popular democracy in the minds of the reformers of the 1960s and 1970s. Many types of voluntary associations, ranging from communes, to neighborhood associations, to Common Cause emerged from this period. All of these are examples of civil society in action.
During the last few years the idea of civil society as a development tool for second and third world societies has gained wide support among international organizations. Institutions such as the World Bank and the United Nations are actively seeking ways to apply the concept in societies with no experience with freedom, democracy, or economic well being. These institutions see the emergence of civil society as a mechanism to counterbalance the centrifugal forces of change in traditional societies. The goal appears to be to avoid the kind of social breakdown that occurred in Somalia, the Republic of the Congo, and Afghanistan. It remains to be seen whether associations of people with common interests can overcome the traditional tribalism that seems to grip societies when an authoritarian state breaks down or a colonial power withdraws, and there is no tradition of cooperation across group boundaries.
The ideas “civil society” and “advocacy” are centrally important to any group or organization that seeks to reach a goal through persuasion rather than coercion. Successful activity in the social space, not filled by macro level structures or by the family, depends on the willingness of members of the society to cooperate for the common good, even if it means that an individual must give up some measure of self-interest to do so. Without the ability to create voluntary associations, no effective large scale advocacy is possible. Organizations such as philanthropies, social action groups, and interest groups all depend on the willingness of individuals to take some action that transcends the self in order to further a common cause or goal.
Ties to the Philanthropic Sector
The existence of civil society is central to the activities of the Philanthropic Sector because it gives the philanthropies the social space in which to operate. Since philanthropies are not, typically, entities of the state, and they are not family units, they can only operate when individuals come together and take actions to further the goals of the particular philanthropic group. People must have the freedom to associate and the willingness to expend effort or money to pursue a common goal.
Key Related Ideas
Common Good: Also common weal. Individuals work together to realize an outcome that benefits everyone in the community.
Enlightened Self Interest: The idea that the interests of an individual can be served by voluntarily associating with others to achieve a common goal.
Social Contract: A voluntary agreement that results in mutual benefit to members of the community.
Social Space: The relational network occupied by an individual. Parts of this network will be determined by family ties, and parts by formal structures. The rest of the network represents the area of voluntary association.
Voluntary Association: Individuals come together voluntarily to achieve a common goal.
Important People Related to the Topic
Alexis deTocqueville, 1805-1859. An early observer of American democracy, deTocqueville commented on the importance of voluntary associations and enlightened self interest in the operation of American democracy.
Freidrich Hegel, 1770-1831. Hegel used the term “civil society” to define the social space between the state at the macro level of society, and the family at the micro level.
John Gardner, 1912-2002. Gardner was Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1965-1968, and the founder of Common Cause. He was influential in several organizations that helped strengthen the voluntary sector of American Society.
James Madison, 1751-1836. Madison was the fourth President of the United States. He was also the author of Federalist Paper #10, where he argued that citizens had the right to associate voluntarily in order to promote the common good.
Related Nonprofit Organizations
The Alexis de Tocqueville Institution, http:www.adti.net. This organization serves as a modern platform for deTocqueville's ideas.
National Endowment for Democracy at: www.ned.org/. This site contains links to a large number of sources connected to civil society.
The United Nations at http://www.un.org/issues/Civil Society is a good source of information concerning the use of civil society as a development tool.
The World Bank at https://www.worldbank.org/ is a portal to a great deal of discussion about civil society.
Bibliography and Internet Sources
Berger, Peter L, and Richard John Neuhaus. To Empower People: The Role of Mediating Structures in Public Policy. Washington, D.C. American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. 1977.
de Tocqueville, Alexis. Democracy in America. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 2000. IBSN: 0226805328.
Edwards, Michael. Civil Society. Cambridge, England. Polity Press. 2004. IBSN: 0-7456-3133-9.
O’Connell, Brian. Civil Society: The Underpinnings of American Democracy. Medford, MA. Tufts University Press, 1999. IBSN: 0-87451-924-1.
Wikipedia. Civil Society. Accessed 12 February 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/civil society.
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Philanthropy as a Force of Social Change
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Sunshine Blesses Final Day of Domestic Track Season
The finals of the Mazda national league were held at a sun drenched Tullamore Harriers stadium today, perfect for the last track and field meet of the season. Highlight of the day was Mark Carroll’s appearance for Leevale, in spite of a poor finish in the Golden League event in Brussels on Friday. He is at a loss to know just what has gone wrong in recent weeks, but will continue to race, with Berlin on Friday next on his schedule. Carroll raced in the 1,500m today and had little difficulty adding maximum points for Leevale who were competing in the Premier Division. Taking the lead from the gun he had Daniel Caulfield beaten after some 200m. Jer O’Donoghue has shown real potential as a sprinter for a number of years now. However, this year has been something of a struggle for him, failing to make any kind of real impact. But, after winning the 100m, the Leevale man was very much upbeat that things were finally going his way. In the 200m, Darren O’Donovan put in a storming run to take second place, an excellent performance for someone who has been ultra consistent since the season started in May. Sean Casey ran the 400m hurdles and performed as expected – fluent over the hurdles, a natural! A super fourth place finish. There was a big improvement from James Grufferty in the 5k from the second leg of the league with a 4th place finish. His season should have finished about a month ago, but he struggled on to run for the club. Brian Murphy has shown great consistency all season and finished a good third in the 400m. Darren Keenan is going from strength to strength since he started his comeback. A good fighting 800m race saw him finish 5th. Paddy Moore also had a fifth place finish in the javelin – not bad for the oldest member of the men’s team who featured prominently on the winning Leevale teams of the late 70’s. Photo shows Paddy demonstrating to the youngsters how it is done! Barry O’Brien held the fort in the high jump, long jump and 110m hurdles. Sprints coach John Sheehan showed his strength in the shot and 56lbs, while Kevin Shine was equally proficcient in the hammer and discus. The 4x400m team ran 3:43, but the 4x100m team were more impressive as they finished second, even without Donal McCarthy! In the women’s Premier Division, Sharon Kelly is another who has competed consistently well all season, especially in the sprint hurdles. Today, she again showed a clean pair of heels as she added yet another win to her collection this season. Later she placed fourth in the 200m. A series of excellent performances from all the Leevale team ensured a super third place finish behind DCH who were winners by half a point from Tirchonaill. Ailis McSweeney will be one to watch when she gets a little stronger, but still had a good run in the 100m to take third. Aisling Maunsell always battles hard when she runs and had a good fifth place finish in the 400m. Sharon O’Mahony went way up in distance to run the 800m and finish 6th, while Sinead Falvey ran well in the 400m hurdles to take 4th. Sharon also finished fourth in the long jump – very close to the third athlete. There was once again a gutsy performance from Carmel Parnell who doubled up in the 1500m and 3000m, finishing third in both behind Una English. Deirdre Murphy was third in the discus and also picked up two points in the javelin. Fionnuala Lombard, who many think should be following in the footsteps of her two runner brothers, had two third place finishes in the shot and hammer. Caroline Lane was a good fourth in the triple jump, and Rosin Foley picked up two valuable points in the walk. And in the realys there were two battling performances with a second place finish in the 4x100m (see team photo) and a third place finish in the 4x400m. All in all another great day for all the Leevale athletes. Apologies to anyone missed. (Results)
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85Appeals and removals: information powerS
(2)In section 26 (determination of application for removal from list), subsection (3) is repealed.
(3)After section 29 insert—
“Appeals and removals: information powersS
29AAppeals and removals: application of sections 18 to 20
(1)Sections 18 to 20 apply—
(a)for any of the purposes specified in subsection (2) as they apply for the purpose of enabling or assisting Ministers to decide whether to list an individual,
(b)with the modifications that are specified in subsection (2) in relation to the purpose.
(2)The purposes (and modifications) are—
(a)enabling or assisting Ministers to consider, in relation to an appeal under section 21, 22 or 23, whether an individual should have been listed (with references to deciding whether to list an individual being read as references to deciding whether the individual should have been listed),
(b)enabling or assisting Ministers to determine under section 26 an application for removal from the children's list or the adults' list (with references to deciding whether to list an individual being read as references to determining whether to remove an individual from the list),
(c)enabling or assisting Ministers to consider, in relation to an appeal under section 27, whether an application for removal from the children's list or the adults' list should have been refused under section 26 (with references to deciding whether to list an individual being read as references to deciding whether an application for removal from the list should have been refused),
(d)enabling or assisting Ministers to decide under section 28 or 29 whether to remove an individual from the children's list or the adults' list (with references to deciding whether to list an individual being read as references to deciding whether an individual should not have been listed or is no longer unsuitable to carry out regulated roles with children or, as the case may be, regulated roles with adults).”. Confirmation of PVG Scheme membership”.
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Smart Entertainment for Preschoolers in Spanish
Blurring the Line between Language and Culture
Fatiha Guessabi argues that culture is a language in itself
Language always carries meanings and references beyond itself: The meanings of a particular language represent the culture of a particular social group. To interact with a language means to do so with the culture which is its reference point. We could not understand a culture without having direct access to its language because of their intimate connection.
A particular language points to the culture of a particular social group. Learning a language, therefore, is not only learning the alphabet, the meaning, the grammar rules and the arrangement of words, but it is also learning the behavior of the society and its cultural customs. Thus; language teaching should always contain some explicit reference to the culture, the whole from which the particular language is extracted.
The human communication process is complex, as many of our messages are transmitted through paralanguage. These auxiliary communication techniques are culture-specific, so communication with people from other societies or ethnic groups is fraught with the danger of misunderstanding, if the larger framework of culture is ignored.
Growing up in a particular society, we informally learn how to use gestures, glances, slight changes in tone or voice, and other auxiliary communication devices to alter or to emphasize what we say and do. We learn these culturally specific techniques over many years, largely by observing and imitating.
The most obvious form of paralanguage is body language, or Kinesics, which is the language of gestures, expressions, and postures. However, the meaning of words can also be altered by tone and character of voice.
Language is culture and culture is language
Language and culture have a complex, homologous relationship. Language is complexly intertwined with culture (they have evolved together, influencing one another in the process, ultimately shaping what it means to be human). In this context, A.L.Krober (1923) said, “culture, then, began when speech was present, and from then on, the enrichment of either means the further development of the other.”
If culture is a product of human interaction, cultural manifestations are acts of communication that are assumed by particular speech communities. According to Rossi Landi (1973), “the totality of the messages we exchange with one another while speaking a given language constitutes a speech community, that is, the whole society understood from the point of view of speaking.” He further explains that all children learn their language from their societies, and during the process of learning a language also learn their culture and develop their cognitive abilities.
Language communicates through culture and culture also communicates through language: Michael Silverstein proposed that the communicative force of culture works not only in representing aspects of reality, but also in connecting one context with another. That is, communication is not only the use of symbols that “stand for” beliefs, feelings, identities, or events, it is also a way of bringing beliefs, feelings, and identities into the present context.
According to the linguistic relativity principle, the way in which we think about the world is directly influenced by the language we use to talk about it. “The real world is, to a large extent, unconsciously built up on the language habits of the group. No two languages are ever so similar that they represent the same social reality. The worlds in which different societies live are distinct, not merely the same with a different label attached” (Edward Sapir, 1929). Therefore, to speak is to assume a culture, and to know a culture is like knowing a language. Language and culture are homologous mental realities. Cultural products are representations and interpretations of the world that must be communicated in order to be lived.
The problem lies in what happens when cross-cultural interactions take place, i.e., when message producer and message receiver are from different cultures. Contact among cultures is increasing and intercultural communication is imperative for anyone wanting to get along with and understand those whose beliefs and backgrounds may be vastly different from their own.
Language can mark the cultural identity, but it is also used to refer to other phenomena and refer beyond itself, especially when a particular speaker uses it to explain intentions. A particular language points to the culture of a particular social group. We can therefore presume that language learning is cultural learning, so language teaching is cultural teaching due to the interdependence of language and cultural learning.
Culture is a fuzzy set of attitudes, beliefs, behavioral conventions, basic assumptions, and values that are shared by a group of people and that influence each member’s behavior and each member’s interpretations of the meanings of other people’s behavior. And language is the medium for expressing and embodying other phenomena. It expresses the values, beliefs and meanings which members of a given society share by virtue of their socialization into it. Language also refers to objects peculiar to a given culture, as evidenced by proper names which embody those objects. Byran posited that “a loaf of bread” evokes a specific culture of objects in British usage unless a conscious effort is made to empty it of that reference and introduce a new one. So, we can conclude that language is a part of culture, and through it, we can express cultural beliefs and values, and that the specific usages of a given word are peculiar to a language and its relationship with culture.
In fact, language teaching means, inevitably, language and cultural teaching. According to Buttjest, “Culture learning is actually a key factor in being able to use and master a foreign linguistic system.” The Bellagio Declaration of the European Cultural Foundation and the International Council for Educational Development states, “For effective international cooperation, knowledge of other countries and their cultures is as important as proficiency in their languages and such knowledge is dependent on foreign language teaching.”
Learning a language is therefore learning the behavior of a given society and its cultural customs. Language is a product of the thought and behavior of a society. An individual language speaker’s effectiveness in a foreign language is directly related to his/her understanding of the culture of that language (Taylor, 1979), and it is possible to consider teaching culture through learners’ own languages, which can be used in a specific way to interpret the other culture (Ager).
Finally, we can conclude that immersion teaching accelerates the acquisition of cultural knowledge: “…the integration of language and culture learning by using the language as medium for the continuing socialization of students is a process which is not intended to imitate and replicate the socialization of native-speaker teachers but rather to develop student’s cultural competence from its existing stage, by changing it into intercultural competence” (Fengping Gao).
Ager, D. (1993) Language Education for Intercultural Communication. U.S: Multilingual Matters LTD.
Asante, M.K. (1990) Handbook of International and Intercultural Communication. SAGE Publishing’s.
Brannen, N. S. (1997) “Translation Where Cultures Meet: Translation J-E.” J-E Link, Inc.
Byran, M. (1989) Cultural Studies in Foreign Language Education. Multilingual Matters LTD.
Byran, M and Sarries, V. E. (1989) Investigating Cultural Studies in Foreign Language Teaching. Multilingual Matters LTD.
Byran, M. (1989) Cultural Studies in Foreign Language Teaching. Multilingual Matters LTD.
Brannen, N. S. (1997) Communication in Japan and the United States. State University of New York Press.
Clyne, M. (1994) Intercultural Communication. Cambridge University Press.
Dodd, H.D. (1997) Intercultural Communication. Wm.c. Brown Publisher.
Hinde, R.A. (1997) Non-Verbal Communication. Cambridge University Press.
Jandt, F. E. (2003) Intercultural Communication: An Introduction. London: Sage Publications.
Oatey, H. S. (2000) Culturally Speaking: Managing Rapport Through Talk Across Culture. London: Continuum.
Samovar, L. A. (1986) Intercultural Communication: A Reader. U.S: Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Fengping Gao, “Japanese: A Heavily Culture-Laden Language” Journal of Intercultural Communication, Issue 10, December 2005
Fatiha Guessabi (fatiha_guessabi1@yahoo.fr) is a professor of Languages and Translation in the Literature and Humanities faculty at the Université de Béchar in Algeria.
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New Members Join School Board
The Long Beach Unified School District welcomes two new Board of Education members who were sworn into office during this week’s regular meeting.
Erik Miller takes the District 2 seat that he won during the November general election. He replaces Felton Williams, who retired after 16 years on the board.
Doug Otto takes the District 4 seat that he won during the earlier primary election in March. He replaces Jon Meyer, who retired after 17 years on the board.
The school board’s five districts are divided by geographic area. Districts 1, 3 and 5 were not up for election this year.
Erik Miller and Doug Otto
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Bionano Genomics Expands Its Diagnostic Testing Menu with Launch of Lineagen’s EpiPanelDx PLUS Gene Panel Test that Identifies Genetic Conditions Related to Epilepsy
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 14, 2020 -- Bionano Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BNGO) today announced the release of EpiPanelDx PLUS™ by its diagnostics services business, Lineagen. The new laboratory developed test (LDT) and associated clinical support bolsters Lineagen’s diagnostic services for physicians providing care for pediatric patients with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). EpiPanelDx PLUS is based on a proprietary panel of 223 genes associated with epilepsy-related conditions, more genes than typically found on epilepsy panels available from other service providers and customized for Lineagen’s core market of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Epilepsy refers to an array of neurological disorders characterized by involuntary seizures and affects approximately 1.2% of the population, or 3.4 million people, in the United States. It is frequently comorbid with other NDDs of childhood development, including intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder and also can co-occur with neuro-behavioral disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Collectively, NDDs represent the most common form of developmental disorder with an estimated prevalence of 1 out of 6 children affected in industrialized countries. Lineagen’s current menu of FirstStepDx PLUS® chromosomal microarray and NextStepDx PLUS™ whole exome sequencing offers leading molecular diagnostic tests designed to help pediatricians and pediatric neurodevelopmental specialists manage their patients with NDDs. Offering such physicians a test for epilepsy allows Lineagen to more comprehensively serve their needs.
“Identifying the underlying genetic variants that may explain the underlying cause of seizures is extremely important because it informs multiple aspects of clinical care,” said Alka Chaubey, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of Bionano Genomics. “This test allows for personalized treatment of the patient, can predict the recurrence risk for other members of the family, and ends the diagnostic odyssey, which for many families can mean years of doctor visits, invasive tests, and failed or even harmful treatments.”
EpiPanelDx PLUS is designed for patients who have experienced seizures, infantile spasms, encephalopathy, or febrile seizures, and has an expected 30% diagnostic yield. Lineagen also offers testing to the parents of the patients. By including the analysis of the genomes of one or both biological parents of the patient from the start, it is possible to increase the detection rate of disease-causing variants and inform on recurrence risk for the family. EpiPanelDx PLUS has been curated based on thorough literature review and includes genes with pathogenic variants identified in more than 2,000 epileptic patients tested by Lineagen.
The use of a targeted gene panel such as EpiPanelDx PLUS fits the testing strategy that is recommended by the American Academy of Neurology and complements existing genetic tests offered by Lineagen such as FirstStepDx PLUS chromosomal microarray and NextStepDx PLUS whole exome sequencing, which are recommended for patients who show a wider array of neurological symptoms. To help tailor medical management, Lineagen also offers pharmacogenomic testing which includes certain genes that are responsible for the metabolism of important anti-epileptic or anticonvulsant drugs prescribed for epilepsy.
“We already have a depth of knowledge on epilepsy genetics,” added Dr Chaubey. “We recently tested a 3-year-old girl with muscle spasms and seizures, as well as her parents, and identified a mutation in the SLC2A1 gene. Based on these results, the doctor was able to treat the child with a simple ketogenic diet and over-the-counter supplementation. If she had instead been treated with barbiturates, at one time a standard treatment for epilepsy patients and now contraindicated in patients with this specific genetic condition, her seizures likely would have gotten worse. This case is one of many where results of a genetic test enabled the family and treating physician to significantly improve the quality of life of the child and family.”
"Adding the EpiPanelDx PLUS test to Lineagen’s menu is a critical step forward in our plan for Lineagen to grow and continue supporting the physicians who rely on them," said Erik Holmlin, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Bionano Genomics. "This test also forms the basis of how we envision incorporating the Saphyr system for comprehensive structural variation analysis into an improved diagnostic testing approach for epilepsy. In its current form, the EpiPanelDx test uses next generation sequencing (NGS) to identify single nucleotide variants and for evidence of gene deletion or duplication in 223 genes. Deletions and duplications are examples of structural variations (SVs) that NGS can detect with reasonable sensitivity, but otherwise, NGS is essentially blind to certain SVs that Saphyr detects with ease. We believe using Saphyr in conjunction with NGS can enable later generations of EpiPanelDx PLUS to have potentially higher diagnostic yields by identifying more genetic variations, which may in turn diagnose more patients, and be a unique combination in the industry.”
The EpiPanelDx PLUS diagnostic test is available now with full clinical support including genetic counselling. More details on the diagnostic test are available at https://lineagen.com/epipanel/
About Bionano Genomics
Bionano is a genome analysis company providing tools and services based on its Saphyr system to scientists and clinicians conducting genetic research and patient testing and providing diagnostic testing for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disabilities through its Lineagen business. Bionano’s Saphyr system is a platform for ultra-sensitive and ultra-specific structural variation detection that enables researchers and clinicians to accelerate the search for new diagnostics and therapeutic targets and to streamline the study of changes in chromosomes, which is known as cytogenetics. The Saphyr system is comprised of an instrument, chip consumables, reagents and a suite of data analysis tools, and genome analysis services to provide access to data generated by the Saphyr system for researchers who prefer not to adopt the Saphyr system in their labs. Lineagen has been providing genetic testing services to families and their healthcare providers for over nine years and has performed over 65,000 tests for those with neurodevelopmental concerns. For more information, visit www.bionanogenomics.com or www.lineagen.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes and are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things, intended use of Lineagen’s tests, including NextStepDX, anticipated benefits of expanded test offerings from Lineagen, anticipated improvements in patient treatment and diagnosis attributable to Lineagen’s tests, potential combinations or other uses of the Saphyr system in conjunction with Lineagen’s tests and any improvements in diagnostic testing generated from such uses. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include the risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and the global economy; general market conditions; changes in the competitive landscape and the introduction of competitive products; failure of our products to achieve the stated objectives or anticipated benefits; changes in our strategic and commercial plans; our ability to obtain sufficient financing to fund our strategic plans and commercialization efforts; the loss of key members of management and our commercial team; and the risks and uncertainties associated with our business and financial condition in general, including the risks and uncertainties described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in other filings subsequently made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management's assumptions and estimates as of such date. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, the occurrence of future events or otherwise.
Lineagen Selects Affymetrix Technology to Discover Genes Associated With Autism and Multiple Scleros
Lineagen to Launch Autism Test Nationwide in Q1 2011 Kirell Lakhman
Utah company Lineagen introducing test to diagnose autism Lois M. Collins
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VITA LANOCE
CEO Linical Americas
Ms. Vita Lanoce joined Linical as CEO of Linical Accelovance Group, in 2018 as a result of the merger. Ms. Lanoce joined Accelovance in 2013 as Sr. Vice President Clinical Operations and in 2016 became Chief Operating Officer. With more than 25 years of experience in the clinical research industry, Ms. Lanoce has a record of building departments, leading organizational change and ensuring achievement of operational excellence by applying high industry standards, policies, systems and processes to an organization. Prior to joining Linical Accelovance Group, Ms. Lanoce had a 15 year tenure with Radiant Development where she held positions of increasing responsibility including Site Director, Director Regional Operations, Director Operations, and Vice President Clinical Operations. Prior to joining Radiant Development, Ms. Lanoce was the Managing Partner and Director of Clinical Operations for two clinical research facilities located in Stuart and Lake Worth, Florida. Ms. Lanoce has held a variety of positions in the biopharmaceutical industry including Clinical Scientist at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Regional Manager for Covance. Ms. Lanoce holds a Master’s of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Manhattanville College.
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Introducing the newest Wimpy Kid author - Rowley Jefferson! Rowley's best friend Greg Heffley has been chronicling his middle-school years in fourteen Diary of a Wimpy Kid journals . . . and counting. It's finally time for readers to hear from Rowley. Rowley writes about his experiences and agrees to play the role of biographer for Greg along the way. But Rowley's 'biography' of Greg is a hilarious mess. Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid offers readers a new way to look at the Wimpy world - one fans won't want to miss!
Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid
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Be flippantDavid Edgar
Vol. 21 No. 24 · 9 December 1999
Be flippant
David Edgar
by Dan Reballato.
Routledge, 265 pp., £40, February 1999, 0 415 18938 1Show More
Collected Plays: Six
by Noël Coward.
Methuen, 415 pp., £9.99, April 1999, 0 413 73410 2Show More
Collected Plays: Seven
Collected Revue Sketches and Parodies
Noël Coward: A Life in Quotes
edited by Barry Day.
Metro, 116 pp., £9.99, November 1999, 9781900512848Show More
Noël Coward: The Complete Lyrics
Methuen, 352 pp., £30, December 1998, 0 413 73230 4Show More
In the film about Noël Coward that Adam Low made for Arena in 1998, there is a shot of Arnold Wesker watching a recording of a Royal Court fundraising gala in which Coward is marvellous but clearly miserable as the restaurant owner in an extract from Wesker’s The Kitchen. Less emblematic but equally germane is the story, told in Philip Hoare’s 1995 biography, of Coward’s visit to the Court to see David Storey’s grittily realistic Rugby League play The Changing Room. His attention having been drawn to the male genitalia on display in the bath scene, Coward remarked: ‘13 acorns are not worth the price of admission.’
‘Not worth the price of admission’ was pretty much Coward’s verdict on the playwrights who emerged in the wake of John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger (Wesker included), and largely their verdict on him. And despite a revival of interest in his early work during the Sixties (‘Dad’s renaissance’, he called it), Coward has been regarded since 1956 as being on the losing side of a struggle between the frothy commercialism of mid-century British theatre and a renewal of stern theatrical didacticism which saw itself as descending not from Coward and Wilde but from Brecht and Shaw.
Well, how things change. Last year’s centenary of Brecht’s birth was marked in London by a single revival at the Almeida. Thus far, it looks as though the 50th anniversary of Shaw’s death next year will be celebrated in the capital by the fag end of a National Theatre tour of Widowers’ Houses. Coward’s centenary, on the other hand, has seen new productions of Private Lives at the National, Hay Fever at the Savoy and Song at Twilight at the Gielgud – as well as revivals of Present Laughter at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Nude with Violin at the Manchester Royal Exchange, Easy Virtue at Chichester, Cavalcade at the Glasgow Citizens and Waiting in the Wings on Broadway with Lauren Bacall. And while much of the centenary publishing has just been recladding (both Methuen and Samuel French have produced handsome new editions), there has also been a collected lyrics, a book of quotations and three extra volumes of stage work from Methuen, including several plays and many short pieces long out of print or never published before. Only the BBC has failed to rise to the challenge: issuing a box set of two videos containing a miscast Seventies production of Private Lives and, rather than Adam Low’s enlightening 1998 Arena, a pedestrian 1983 ‘biographical film’ by Laurence Rees, which at £26.99 is not only not worth the price of admission, but not worth the bother of removing the cellophane.
There have been a number of explanations as to why Dad’s second renaissance feels more like a restoration. The first is that the original rejection was based on an underestimation of his seriousness: according to the present-day Guardian critic Michael Billington, Coward’s exploration of ‘the thin dividing line between sex and savagery’ in Private Lives puts him on a par with Strindberg. A rather different reassessment is provided by Dan Rebellato, whose revisionist deconstruction of the Osborne revolution has a photograph of Blithe Spirit on the cover. Mindful of Coward’s 1961 plea to the self-expressive young playwrights of the Royal Court school to ‘consider the public’, Rebellato charts the ways in which the post-’56 Court disempowered the audience, from the abolition of the writer’s curtain call (at which the audience could boo) to the introduction of the authorial programme note and press interview (read in respectful silence). The greatest change of the Eighties and Nineties in the theatre – as in British culture as a whole – has been a shift of power from the producer to the consumer: it’s no surprise that audiences have flocked back to a playwright whose stated purpose was to give them a good time.
Rebellato’s most provocative thesis is that the Royal Court’s mission was to challenge a theatrical culture unhealthily dominated by gay men. At their first meeting, the theatre’s director, George Devine, told John Osborne that ‘the blight of buggery ... could be kept down decently by a direct appeal to seriousness and good intentions from his own crack corps of heterosexual writers, directors and actors.’ In this analysis, what happened in 1956 was not so much a revolution against the establishment as an Arts Council-promoted counterrevolution against ‘the linguistic perversity of a homosexuality which seemed on the point of constituting itself as an oppositional subculture, destabilising the vital unities which seemed the foundation of a strong national identity’. But by attacking the ambiguity, private language, encoding and subtexts inherent in a culture that could not speak its name, Rebellato argues, the Royal Court roundheads were in fact attacking the sources of the theatricality of mid-century drama.
Coward’s own plays are good examples. Semi-Monde (1926) presents gay and lesbian relationships as part of its dance of shifting sexual liaisons in the public rooms of a Paris hotel; Song at Twilight (1965) is about a writer confronted by his homosexual past. But Semi-Monde was not performed in Coward’s lifetime (and is published for the first time in Collected Plays: Six) and Song at Twilight was premiered in the dying days of theatre censorship. In between, Rebellato argues, gay relationships and gayness itself appear in heavy disguise, and can only now – when overtly gay writing is blossoming – come out and into their own.
But while the reassertion of audience power, a new sense of Coward’s seriousness and a restoration of theatricality endorsed by an impeccably progressive political cause have all clearly contributed to the extraordinary revival in his fortunes as a playwright, the plays themselves tell a separate if parallel story. By elevating form over content, his best work provides a bridge between a great dramatic genre in its dotage and the Modernist experiments of the postwar years.
This can be seen most clearly by comparing Coward’s major and minor work. Most of his contemporary plays are either comedies of manners or episodic plays about the events of his time. The first are generally considered good (all the revivals bar one are drawn from this group); the second problematic.
Coward didn’t like propaganda in the theatre ‘unless it is disguised so brilliantly that the audience mistakes it for entertainment’. Yet Cavalcade and This Happy Breed are both conservative propaganda plays written in the Brechtian epic manner: the scenes are set at a number of key moments over a period of 30 and 20 years respectively in which the lives of fictional families are affected by major political events. ‘Peace in Our Time’, now republished in Collected Plays: Seven, is written to the same formula, but is set in a fictional (and when Coward wrote it in 1947, immediate) past in which Britain had lost the war and been occupied by the Nazis. Here, the group affected is not a family but the regulars of a London pub, and as the play covers only five years the gaps are shorter. But the fundamental dramaturgical challenges remain the same, and, surprisingly for someone of such structural virtuosity, Coward never really gets on top of them. In This Happy Breed, a number of scenes consist entirely of characters telling each other what they already know as a way of explaining to the audience what happened during the scene change. Similarly, in Cavalcade, the ooh-er revelation that the hitherto unspecified ocean liner is the Titanic is anticipated none too subtly by the line ‘It’s too big, the Atlantic, isn’t it?’ In ‘Peace in Our Time’, the action stops for a series of six set-piece discussions about why Britain lost the war, the nature of patriotism, the efficacy of democracy and the need to resist, only one of which – the last – is relevant to the current choices faced by the characters.
The most telling problem with Coward’s political plays, however, is the talk. By and large, his best dialogue consists either of insiders speaking in inverted commas to outsiders who don’t understand them, or two insiders playing off each other, picking up each others’ phrases, coding and recoding them, then batting them back. In the political plays, the conversation is generally between outsiders so none of this happens. True, characters take up words and phrases used by other characters, but nothing is coded and the phrases don’t travel. This is not because Coward is writing about people of a different class: Cavalcade is largely about toffs and their dialogue is as leadenly literal as that of the lowlife. And Coward demonstrates time and again in his sketches that he can write effective and funny working-class dialogue: the new Methuen volume includes a marvellous parody of the second act of Private Lives in which Amanda and Elyot’s jagged banter is rewritten for the ‘poorer and less cultured’ Fred and Floss, who retain all of the original’s interactive energy, in considerably fewer words.
What is absent from the political plays is that organic relationship between the elements – within and between lines, scenes and acts – which makes Coward’s best plays work, and which defines his art in relation to those who preceded and followed him. In 1977, Kenneth Tynan claimed that The Young Idea (written in 1921, and sadly not republished this year) ‘contains the first line that distinguished Coward from all his predecessors in English comedy: “I lent that woman the top of my thermos flask and she never returned it. She’s shallow, that’s what she is, shallow.” ’ Tynan was referring to a self-conscious, knowing wit in which insider speaks to insider (on the stage and in the audience). But this self-consciousness goes far beyond the individual line: it is Coward’s answer to the challenge that the 20th century posed to traditional theatrical comedy.
From the 5th century BC until the end of the 19th century, the plot of the vast majority of comedies consisted of a young man and a young woman overcoming parental objections to their relationship and getting married. After the immense social changes of the Victorian era, however, this model no longer had the same dominant contemporary relevance. As often happens at the point when something petrifies, it assumed its most perfect form in The Importance of Being Earnest. From then until after World War Two, comedy had either to rejuvenate other forms (as Jarry and Brecht did in different ways by going back to the folk tale), or to do something new with what was already there.
Bernard Shaw’s answer to this problem was to take the old format and reverse it: faced with parental obstacles, his young people simply defy them, or, more often, one of the two abandons the game, usually for ideological feminist reasons. Although not a feminist, Coward, too, starts out by taking the old structure and upending it: in The Young Idea, The Vortex (1923) and Hay Fever (1924), it’s the parents who behave irresponsibly and the children who complain. But then, suddenly, in the comedies but not the political plays, Mum and Dad disappear.
From Private Lives (1929) onwards, Coward presents a different obstacle for his orphaned couples to overcome: instead of being external and parental, it’s within the couples themselves. Elyot and Amanda’s problem is each other. There is a financial issue in Design for Living (1932), and a parent-figure in Gilda’s outsider husband Ernest, but essentially the contest is between a ménage and its trois. In the later comedies the hero juggles the delights of sex as against solitude: in Present Laughter (1934) he prefers his women absent, and in Blithe Spirit (1941) wishes they were dead.
Coward doesn’t dramatise these conflicts by means of great psychological insights – the issues that pull Amanda and Elyot apart in the second act of Private Lives are the typical ones of ex-lovers: sex, drink and the loudness of the gramophone. The real originality lies in the dramaturgy. Whatever Tynan meant, I think that what Coward does for the first time here is to convey meaning entirely by manipulating our expectations of what happens in the theatre.
In the last scene of Coward’s short play Still Life (later reworked as the film Brief Encounter) we are led to expect a great parting scene between the adulterous lovers, but are denied it by the unexpected appearance of a third party. This is a great theatrical idea, but it is also and primarily something that happens in real life (Chekhov uses the climactic romantic moment that goes phut in both The Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard). On the other hand, the fact that neither of the central characters says a word for the last three pages of Private Lives relies entirely for its effect on the fact that it takes place in a play. In the 1924 sketch Class, a couple of nobs improbably located in ‘a squalid room in the East End’ confront the crisis of their daughter’s living in sin. The fact that this is immediately followed by an ’ow’s-yer-father Cockney family facing the same problem in ‘a beautifully furnished dining-room in Mayfair’, makes an argument about the equivalence of family attitudes across classes that relies on the essentially theatrical device of placing them one after the other. In the second act of Design for Living, Coward draws our attention to the only scene between the two male sides of the play’s triangle by the simple device of creating and then denying an expectation that the woman is going to appear. This is satisfying not as an observation of life but as a shared acknowledgment between playwright and audience that the meaning of the play is contained in its geometry: all the possible couple-combinations must be played out to demonstrate their incompleteness before the essentially triangular fullness of their relationship is presented to the audience. As Peter Holland points out in English Comedy (1994), such relationships are notoriously hard to bring into dramatic equilibrium, and Design for Living is perhaps the first play to hold the balance between three sides by pointing them inwards. In the same way, Hay Fever is not just about a game: it is a game. In Act Two, during which every member of the Bliss family enters into a liaison with someone else’s weekend guest, the characters knowingly enact Coward’s dramaturgical mathematics. In Present Laughter the meta-theatricality has gone even further: by having embarrassing female guests shoved through doors into spare rooms in each act, Coward transforms a mechanism into a metaphor; unfortunately, he feels the need to draw further attention to the device by having one character inform another: ‘she feels as if she were in a French farce and is sick to death of it.’
The play that does all this most perfectly is Private Lives. The artificiality of Coward’s project is demonstrated clearly by the binary construction of the first act, in which each conversation within and between the two honeymooning couples on the implausibly adjacent balconies echoes the other one (and is meaningless without it). We learn from the different ways in which the same topics are addressed by newly-wed Elyot with Sybil and by newly-wed Amanda with Victor that the once-wed Elyot and Amanda are people who are happy speaking in code and Sybil and Victor are not. But not only are Amanda and Elyot encoding away, so is the play itself. Of course, playwrights before Coward encoded themes or phrases which they would set up, reiterate, pay off and echo for comic or ironic effect. But no one before Coward had built a play out of them. One example – one of dozens – is the concept of flippancy, which Amanda sets up in Act Two as a call to arms against the puritans. ‘Laugh at them,’ she says. ‘Be flippant ... Flippancy brings out the acid in their damned sweetness and light’: a prediction which is fulfilled when Victor accuses Elyot of flippancy in Act Three, and is delightfully paid off at the climax of the play when Sybil tells Victor that he couldn’t be flippant if he tried. The repetition of the word not only enhances the story, it tells it. In this as his other finest plays, Coward’s plumbing is on the outside.
In his 1925 song ‘Poor Little Rich Girl’, Coward asked what comes after the cocktails and laughter; his own answer, in the final number of Cavalcade, was ‘the 20th-century blues’. His invention of the self-referential as a theatrical technique led on to the time plays of J.B. Priestley, in which the mechanics are even more obviously the message. But Coward also anticipates those playwrights who stretched the form to snapping point, and in doing so created a new dramatic genre. Coward thought Waiting for Godot ridiculous, but a man who wanted his audiences to grasp his meaning from the juggling of theatrical devices should not have spurned a writer who expresses what he wants to say by defying the most basic theatrical convention of all (that something should happen). By doing the same thing twice in different ways in Class, Coward prefigures Godot and Happy Days, as well as Play, in which Beckett does the same thing twice in the same way. It’s no surprise to find that Coward admired Beckett’s leading British disciple: the content of Aston’s huge speech at the end of Act Two of Pinter’s The Caretaker is not Coward-like in content or tone, but its unexpectedness and theatricality is. The Homecoming is about family games, outsiders becoming insiders, and shared and unshared codes. And the reversed time structure of Betrayal addresses a Coward theme through a self-consciously theatrical device, similar to the flash-forward from the Flanders trenches to the England of 1930 which is at the core of Coward’s unperformed anti-war play Post-Mortem (1930).
If Coward was a bridge between traditional and Modernist comedy, why has he come back with such a vengeance now? The reason perhaps is that the genres that have sustained the century (the Western, the whodunnit, the spy thriller and so on) are showing signs of petrification. The bewildering cross-pollination of types of television drama, the increasingly convoluted attempts by writers of romantic comedy to find ever more ingenious ways of postponing the inevitable, the multiplication of each successful movie formula into seemingly uncontrollable chains of sequel and prequel – these are all indications that old genres are failing to speak effectively to the times. Like Coward before them, many of the best new British playwrights are not creating new genres but taking the existing ones and either putting them in inverted commas or turning them inside out. So plays like Mark Ravenhill’s Shopping and Fucking, Patrick Marber’s Closer and Martin Crimp’s Attempts on Her Life explore disjunction through what happens between scenes rather than within them, and challenge the centrality of the individual in an art form which has traditionally had the individual at its centre.
In this, they are following Shaw and Brecht’s project, but they are using Coward’s techniques. They represent a synthesis of the two traditions that clashed in 1956 – a synthesis which could not have happened without the institutional changes brought about by the Royal Court. Covertly homophobic and misogynistic it may have been, but it was the Court and not the West End which provided a site for the women writers who emerged in the Eighties and many of the young gay male writers who emerged a decade later. And from Tony Kushner’s Angels in America at the beginning of the decade to Ravenhill’s Some Explicit Polaroids at the end of it, contemporary gay writing has been defined not by metatheatrical conjuring, but by a new attempt to synthesise the personal and the political. The ingenious double couplings at the core of both plays demonstrate that these writers have built on discoveries made by Noël Coward about how to write modern comedy.
David Edgar’s Trying It On, a one-person show about the legacy of 1968, is on tour.
Who Lost? the third presidential debate
Has Anyone Lost Yet? the US election debates
Vindicated! The Angry Brigade
More by David Edgar
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Kimya Dawson Buy This Song
Kimya Dawson
Kimya Dawson (born November 17, 1972) is an American singer-songwriter, best known as a solo performer and as one half of The Moldy Peaches. In Swahili, "Kimya" (كيميا) means "silence" or "silent". Her mother chose her middle name to be camia meaning helper to the priest. more »
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All I Want Is You
A Well Respected Man
Piazza, New York Catcher
So Nice So Smart
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Anyone Else But You
My Wandering Days Are Over
Learning the Game
Which Beatles song was banned from the BBC for its lyrics?
A. Wild Honey Pie
B. Check My Machine
C. I am the Walrus
D. Why Don't We Do It In the Road
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Lolo Loves Films
Movie Review: "Bad Santa" (2003)
Movie: "Bad Santa"
Director: Terry Zwigoff
Running Time: 1 hour, 31 minutes
A pair of criminals, an alcoholic, degenerate safe cracker named Willie (Billy Bob Thornton) and his partner Marcus (Tony Cox), the one who plans and fronts their heists, get jobs at a department store as Santa and an elf in a different city each year in order to pull off one big job that keeps them comfortable all year. With each passing year, Willie gets worse and worse as he sinks deeper and deeper into alcoholism and depression. He also can't stand kids but has to endure them while posing as Santa. Marcus is getting fed up with Willie's unreliability and has to do his best to keep them employed just long enough to pull off the job, but Willie's drinking, smoking, bad attitude, and on the job fornication makes that increasingly more difficult each year.
When I first watched this movie, I didn't get its appeal, especially considering it was mildly traumatizing to see Lorelai Gilmore was having sex with Billy Bob Santa in the front seat of his car. It took years to burn that image out of my head. Now, several years later, "Bad Santa" has been able to provide some much needed laughs for us during the holiday season. We can imagine that mall Santas don't have it easy between kids who have meltdowns and crying fits, parents prodding their kids to sit on Santa's lap and being generally overbearing and, well, fecal accidents, if we're quite frank. Billy Bob Thornton has a knack for playing an ass and it completely works in this movie. His drunken and disheveled demeanor mixed with his totally abrasive and increasingly ambivalent attitude towards Christmas makes for a darker, more offbeat holiday film, one that we enjoy every now and then. And, it's not all completely for no reason. Willie was raised terribly with a constantly drunk, abusive father, so it sort of makes sense that he grew up to be a drunk adult who was overly abusive to kids who just wanted their picture taken with Santa Claus. No one has ever cared about Willie, except for The Kid (Brett Kelly), or Thurman Merman, who has taken a liking to him and is too seemingly oblivious to know when he's being insulted. This allows him to accept Willie, and in turn, maybe change Willie's attitude, even if it's only slightly. Though complete opposites, Kelly and Thornton have delightful chemistry, no matter how misplaced it may seem. Kelly, on his own, is the real life version of a Disney character: big, wide eyes, an overactive imagination, pudgy, and generally adorable. Tony Cox plays Marcus and provides the bulk of the non-drunken humor. He is the driving force of their little criminal operation and keeps Willie in check, even if that means literally picking him up off the floor, even though he's only 3 feet tall. Cox and Thornton trade several funny and insulting jabs back and forth between one another and these squabbles are hilarious to watch play out on screen. The concept for this movie puts a holiday spin on the typical heist plot and we like how Thornton and Cox actually have to put in the work for their payday and not just plan it out then cash out immediately. The stuff they have to deal with by being a mall Santa and a mall elf, in our opinion, is probably not worth the money or the loot...I mean, getting peed on every single day by kids who sneeze food in your face and tug at your hair and scream and whine? I'd rather be a poor drunk. All in all, if you need a break from the fun, happy and upbeat Christmas movies of yore, "Bad Santa" is another good alternative for those who have slightly angsty and salty views towards Christmas and children.
One other note: we have to admit, it was weird to watch a scene where both Bernie Mac and John Ritter exchange sarcastic dialogue knowing they have both passed away. What a trip.
My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 6.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.1/10
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?
One year ago, we were watching: "Love Actually"
Posted by Lolo at Tuesday, December 16, 2014
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You are here: Home / Schools / Barnard College
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Photo: Barnard College. Retrieved from: www.barnard.edu
Barnard College is considered an elite college for women that allows only the brightest and most promising minds to enter the institution. Many ranking systems published in magazines rank this college as most selective. It is a member of the Seven Sisters group of colleges along with Barnard College, Bryn Mawr College, Mount Holyoke College, Radcliffe College, Smith College, Vassar College, and Wellesley College. Barnard has a total of 16 Division I Varsity Teams and nearly 400 faculty members, most of which are female.
A unique aspect of studying in Barnard is being affiliated with several elite colleges and universities, particularly Columbia. The University of Columbia and Barnard College have a partnership agreement that allows students to use the same residence halls, obtain access to all the library and facility resources that each school offers. Students from both schools compete in the Columbia-Barnard Athletic Consortium. Students of Barnard are given the diploma of the University, which has the signature of both Barnard’s president and that of the University president.
Barnard has its own finances, and has a separate endowment. It is independent in the important aspects, but students can share the facilities of a big university. Barnard specializes in programs related with architecture, dance, education, theater, and urban studies. Academic programs in statistics, engineering and computer science are taken at Columbia.
Barnard was founded in 1889 as Barnard College of Columbia University, and the affiliation has stood strong until the present time. Barnard is located in an area adjacent to Columbia’s campus, with several other academic institutions nearby. Originally, Barnard College was created to become a women’s school during the time when Columbia and other Ivy League Schools were only accepting male students. By the turn of the century, women in Barnard were allowed to attend classes in the University of Columbia, including classes in political science, philosophy and science.
The namesake of the college was American educator and mathematician, Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard. During his term as the president of the University of Columbia from 1864 to 1889, he was an advocate of equal educational privileges and pushed for co-education in the university. His suggestion was not accepted, but the board relented in 7883 and agreed to produce a syllabus of courses for women. The first woman who graduated under the program, Annie Nathan Meyer, as well as other influential women in New York petitioned for the construction of a new women’s college with strong ties to Columbia University. The college continued to expand until the 1920s, and most of the Barnard buildings built during that time were considered historic places.
From 1955 onwards, Columbia and Barnard students could cross-register for courses offered by the other school. Permission to do this was required until 1973. In 1983, the original undergraduate school of the university, Columbia College, became co-educational after Barnard refused to merge with Columbia the way Radcliffe College did with Harvard University. Every fifteen years, the University of Columbia and Barnard college renegotiate their interoperate relationship.
Being in New York City has its benefits and disadvantages. Unlike other liberal arts colleges where students have to commute a long distance before reaching the city, Barnard is inside the city itself. Finding entertainment is easy, but the difficult part is coping with the cost of living in a big metropolis. Freshmen students may or may not appreciate being on a mandatory food plan all year, because of the varied array of restaurants to eat in around the city.
The social life on campus is relatively strong, although the sense of community may not be the same as that in smaller colleges. There are always events to attend, and a student can make many friends in Barnard as well as in Columbia.
All students are accepted based on merit, making the college’s admission policy need-blind. Admissions representatives are completely unaware of a student’s financial status while being evaluated. Accepted students that are permanent U.S. residents or U.S. citizens receive her acceptance letter with details on the financial aid award.
Number of Students: 2001 or more
Avg Net Price: $ 24,000
Retention Rate (%): 95
Reported Test Type: SAT
Test Scores (75% percentile): 1490
Freshman in Top 10% of HS Class (%): 81
Admit Rate (%): 20
School Selectivity: Highly Selective
4 Year Graduation Rate (%): 85
Note: Facts compiled from school website as well as other data sources including: US Department of Education, IPEDS, College Board and NCES.
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Texas, Florida eager for NASCAR to rev engines again
By Stephen Hawkins - AP Sports Writer
In this Feb. 24, 2019, file photo, a NASCAR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series auto race starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga. NASCAR and IndyCar have each called off their races this weekend. NASCAR was scheduled to run Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway without spectators but said Friday, March 13, 2020, it is calling off this weekend and next week’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. IndyCar was scheduled to open its season Sunday on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, but suspended it’s season through the end of April.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The race is on among states willing to be the first to host NASCAR races without fans.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted Monday that NASCAR was working with Texas Motor Speedway on a plan to race there.
“I hope to announce the exciting details in the near future,” Abbott said. “To prevent spread of #COVID19 it will be without fans. But they will put on a great show for TV.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had already spoken to Daytona Beach-based NASCAR executive Lesa France Kennedy, potentially putting both NASCAR-controlled Homestead-Miami Speedway and Daytona International Speedway in play at some point.
After Abbott’s announcement, Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage said his track was working on the rescheduling of its Cup Series event, one of eight races NASCAR has postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. NASCAR has said it plans to run all of its remaining 32 races.
The Texas race, the first of two this year at the 1 1/2-mile Fort Worth track, was scheduled for March 29.
“Texas Motor Speedway will work aggressively with the sanctioning bodies and TV networks to give American society, as well as people around the world, a positive distraction during this crisis,” Gossage said. “A non-spectator event is not perfect because in our sport, the fans come first. But circumstances are such that this is a novel answer for the return of the sport for now. We are now working on a hard date.”
Marcus Smith, the CEO of Speedway Motorsports — which owns Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Texas track — said he is eager to work with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper to ensure the Coca-Cola 600 runs as scheduled May 24. Republican state lawmakers have asked Cooper, a Democrat, to allow the showcase race.
“For 60 years. this race has been a Memorial Day weekend tradition,” Smith said. “We want to do everything possible to support NASCAR, the dozens of race teams in North Carolina and the fans to get back on track.”
Most NASCAR race teams are based in North Carolina, which is under a stay-at-home order through April.
A Cooper spokesman, Ford Porter, said Sunday the governor “knows the importance of NASCAR to our state and he’s already been talking with track and team owners about how we could potentially restart racing. It’s too soon to predict specific decisions about future sporting events but any plan would prioritize public health and safety and preventing spread of the virus.”
NASCAR teams have cars built for the tracks at Atlanta and Homestead, so the first track back has to be suitable to their design. That doesn’t take Daytona out of the equation; it just means the teams have to be allowed to go back to work in their shops to build superspeedway cars.
As states begin to relax restrictions intended to prevent the spread of the virus, there will be more opportunities for NASCAR to go racing.
The series could eventually get to Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee or Atlanta Motor Speedway, where teams were preparing to race when a national state of emergency was issued in mid-March and the season was indefinitely suspended.
In Texas, state parks reopened Monday as the state began what its Republican governor said will be a gradual unraveling of restrictions. The state also this week will also allow doctors to resume nonessential surgeries and let retailers sell items for curbside pickup, with more restrictions to be lifted before the end of the month.
“Our sport is unique because the competitors are inside the race cars with no body-to-body contact like most other sports,” Gossage said. “That is a distinct advantage over other sports and why you will likely see auto racing as the first live sport returning to action.”
https://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2020/04/web1_124773310-12eccd6cd9ab48d59e15dd3a54f2c5fd.jpgIn this Feb. 24, 2019, file photo, a NASCAR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series auto race starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga. NASCAR and IndyCar have each called off their races this weekend. NASCAR was scheduled to run Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway without spectators but said Friday, March 13, 2020, it is calling off this weekend and next week’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. IndyCar was scheduled to open its season Sunday on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, but suspended it’s season through the end of April.
By Stephen Hawkins
Hi! A visitor to our site felt the following article might be of interest to you: Texas, Florida eager for NASCAR to rev engines again. Here is a link to that story: http://www.limaohio.com/sports/407321/texas-florida-eager-for-nascar-to-rev-engines-again
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Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says he feels obligated to help the middle class
Kai Ryssdal Feb 27, 2018
https://www.marketplace.org/2018/02/27/treasury-secretary-steven-mnuchin-conversation-kai-ryssdal/
After a short lecture, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin spoke with Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal at the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations in Los Angeles. Courtesy: UCLA
Amidst a boisterous crowd, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin briefly lectured students and visitors at the UCLA Burkle Center for International Relations in Los Angeles before settling in for an interview with Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal. The wide-ranging interview touched on topics as diverse as the Trump administration’s stance on North Korea, the impact of the recently passed tax overhaul and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Below is an edited version of the interview. To hear the full interview and audience Q&A session, click on the audio player at the end of the story. Additionally, UCLA has published video of the entire event.
Kai Ryssdal: First of all, thank you all for coming. I appreciate you taking the time on this afternoon. Secretary, thank you also for your time. Let me ask you a kind of a framing question here. There was a story I read in researching this talking about you being the finance chairman for the Trump campaign. And people were saying, “Steve, why are you doing this?” And you said, “Look, if this works out, nobody nobody’s going to ask me why I was doing this.” So the question is, how is it working out for you?
Steven Mnuchin: Actually, the question was slightly different. OK. And let me first say, I consider it a great honor to serve the country. [Applause and hissing.] So I think we live in it, we live in a democracy. We’re lucky to live in this country. We’re lucky to have differences of opinions. And for me, I was never involved really in politics. Some people spend their entire life in politics. I recognized that there were certain issues that were in this country, and that’s that’s why I participated in the campaign. So, you know, that’s why I’m here.
Ryssdal: What was it about the president’s approach to the American economy that made you say, “I want to work for this guy”? [Hissing from audience.]
Audience: Ignore them.
Ryssdal: That’s a good point.
Mnuchin: No, I think they’re going to get more tired than I am. So, you know, that’s kind of —
Audience: Fat chance.
Mnuchin: Fat chance? Oh yeah, I’m dealing with students, I forgot. There’s a lot of students.
Ryssdal: So what was it about the president’s economic agenda made you say, “I want to do this and work on this?”
Mnuchin: I go back to the comment of the financial crisis impacted lots of people. I operated banks [hissing from audience] that were that went under during the financial crisis. I saw the impact of what went on and how important banks are to local communities and the economic issues. And I felt an obligation to try to do things that would help people and help the economy and particularly the middle class. And I think we’re very proud of these accomplishments.
Ryssdal: So we’ll get to that in a minute. We’ll get to the tax bill and all that in a minute. But I want to talk about the last section of your remarks here about the sanctions that you are in charge of and responsible for, specifically the North Korean sanctions that were announced on Friday, the new round. Sanctions, as you know, take years and decades to play out. The question is, do you, and more particularly, the president, have the patience to let them play out with North Korea?
Mnuchin: Well, I’m not going to comment on kind of what we’re going to do going forward and what patience we have and what patience we don’t have. But I don’t agree with you on your premise.
Ryssdal: That they take decades?
Mnuchin: Yeah, I don’t agree with that at all.
Ryssdal: North Korea’s been under sanctions for decades, sir. Iran under sanctions for decades. It is true.
Mnuchin: OK, well let me give you the facts, because this we can have a debate about. [Hissing from audience.]
Ryssdal: Sure.
Mnuchin: There’s 500 sanctions on North Korea since 2005. Basically half have been done in the last year. We have more sanctions authority now than we’ve ever had before. So for example, we have now powers that we can sanction anybody who’s doing trade with North Korea. So I would in all disrespect, I would, I would say, or respect, [laughter] I would say that these things take some time, but it is not decades, and we’ve seen evidence that they are already having an impact. But let me also make a comment. Our issue is not with the people of North Korea. So we want to be careful that we’re not doing things — there are things that we could sanction that impact the people. What we’re trying to do is cut down his ability to do ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons.
Ryssdal: And you’re satisfied that these sanctions you announced on Friday are tightening the noose?
Mnuchin: Absolutely. So what we started with was illegal ship-to-ship transfers. These are very granular. We now have identified ships that are violating U.N. sanctions, and these ships will be prevented from doing this again. We’ve also put out Coast Guard advisories. We’re working with the the Navy. This is a full effort across the government.
Ryssdal: As you know, Ivanka Trump was in South Korea [hissing from audience] for the Olympic delegation. She also, as you know, briefed the South Korean president, President Moon, on these sanctions. Given that she’s a family member of the president without a permanent security clearance, do you think that was appropriate?
Mnuchin: I absolutely think it was appropriate. [Hissing from audience.]
Ryssdal: How so?
Mnuchin: Again, she’s an assistant to the president. She didn’t travel as a family member. She traveled as assistant to the president. I briefed her. You’re not aware of what security clearance is needed one way or another for these things. [Hissing from audience.] And again I’m very comfortable with what she did representing the country on a very important issue, I might add.
Ryssdal: Let me take it to the tax law. [Hissing from audience.] You and the president and the Congress passed last year, the president signed it, it took effect on the first of January, as you know. During your confirmation hearings, you said whatever tax reform the Trump administration is going to work on will not add to the debt and the deficit.
Mnuchin: That’s true and I stand behind that. [Hissing from audience.]
Ryssdal: Sir, the tax bill that’s enforced now adds a trillion and a half dollars to the deficit.
Mnuchin: No, that’s not the case. [Hissing from audience.] The tax bill scored on a static basis adds a trillion and a half — let me just go through the numbers — there is a half a trillion dollars difference between what’s called baseline and policy. Those are things that were gonna be extended anyway. That takes the number down to a trillion dollars. We believe that, with 90 basis points of growth, there will be over —
Ryssdal: Why don’t you explain what 90 basis points means?
Mnuchin: Ninety basis points of GDP. So GDP going from basically 2.1 percent to 3 percent. And for you math majors in the room, the break even is about 35 basis points.
Ryssdal: So in other words, three-tenths of 1 percent on growth.
Mnuchin: That’s correct.
Ryssdal: OK. The catch of course is, and as you know, you did have two quarters of 3 percent economic growth this past year, but year-over-year growth in the American economy was 2.3 percent. So you’re still far away from the target, right?
Mnuchin: Absolutely. That’s why we’re doing all of these things. So these things have some impact. And all of our economic plans are about creating sustained economic growth. [Hissing from audience.]
Ryssdal: Help me understand then with some specificity how you’re going to do that. Because the numbers that were engineered by the White House and the Council of Economic Advisers that went into the tax plan were, “We’re going to get 3 percent. Here’s how,” as opposed to, “These are our policies, which is going to get us to 3 percent.”
Mnuchin: Well, you must seem to have a bias because you’re using the words “engineered,” [hissing from audience] so you obviously think that it was the policy the policies were created. Again, what I would say is we fundamentally believe that we will have economic growth, and again, 35 basis points is the break even. And we’re already seeing this. By the way, we’re seeing companies give millions and millions of workers [hissing from audience] bonuses all as a result of this. And for people who are getting these thousand-dollar bonuses, these are not crumbs.
Ryssdal: Absolutely not, and I’m not going to imply that at all. You said 4 million workers in this economy?
Mnuchin: Four and a half million.
Ryssdal: Four and a half million have gotten one-time bonuses.
Mnuchin: Yes.
Ryssdal: So this is a labor pool of 155 million people, sir.
Mnuchin: So are you, tell me, are you, for those four and a half million workers —
Ryssdal: So my question is —
Mnuchin: in one month. That’s a big deal. That’s a big deal. Four and a half million workers have already seen this impact.
Ryssdal: By some estimates —
Mnuchin: I understand you’re doing the math.
Ryssdal: No. So the Americans for Tax Reform say plus or minus, 86 companies have given wage increases, 250 companies have given one-time bonuses, and I guess the question is, what would you rather have? Would you rather have a one-time bonus or a consistent wage increase over the next couple of years?
Mnuchin: We fundamentally believe that there will be wage increases going through to the workers. [Hissing from audience.]
Ryssdal: Why do you believe that?
Mnuchin: Again, I just went through why we believe it. It’s a function of economic policy, it’s a function of making a more competitive system that companies can invest. And again, there is research that 70 percent of the tax burden is borne by the workers. So this is all about making a more competitive U.S. system for jobs. [Applause.] Thank you.
Ryssdal: So let me ask you about something you said about 10 days, two weeks ago that after the president said at Davos, “You know what, we might get into the Trans-Pacific Partnership” the Obama-negotiated deal that President Trump pull this out early in his administration. President said, “You know, I might be able to get back into that if we could work out a way that’s advantageous.” And you said the other day the president and his administration will be willing to go, and these are your words, go multilateral. That deal is going to be signed and done on the eighth of March, sir. So what interest do you think the other Trans-Pacific Partnership countries —
Mnuchin: I think they have a lot of interest. I’ve met with them a lot recently. And to the extent that they they are absolutely willing to have discussions with the United States if that’s something we want to pursue.
Ryssdal: And you fully expect that they will let America back into the TPP?
Mnuchin: Again, it’s not a question of letting us back in or not letting us back in.
Ryssdal: Well, the president pulled us out, sir.
Mnuchin: Again, what I would say is they’re interested in us being in agreement. Right now the president is more focused on bilateral trades, and that’s our priority and that’s what we’re negotiating. What the president has said is kind of when we get done with the bilaterals that we’re focused on, to the extent that kind of the TPP will change, we will consider — not a question of whether they will let us back in — we will consider whether we want to go into the multilateral agreement.
Ryssdal: That sounds very much like, and I apologize for characterizing your words, but it sounds very much like you’re saying we will deign to have a conversation with them in which they might be allowed to trade with us.
Mnuchin: That’s not what I said. So again let me just, let’s just be clear. The United States is the largest trading market in the world. Everybody wants to do business in the United States. The United States has the lowest tariffs, has the lowest barriers. Every single country wants to do business in the United States. And, by the way, to the extent that we can do business with other countries on the exact same terms, OK, and our companies can be treated the exact same way, we believe in reciprocal free trade. So that’s our objective.
Ryssdal: One of the one of the things the president has said and his advisers have said is, “Listen, we need to fix regulation in this country, financial regulation, the Dodd-Frank financial reform law is too strict, we need to loosen it up a little bit.” Brian Moynihan, the CEO of BofA, said the other day, “Dodd-Frank’s fine. What are we doing?”
Mnuchin: You know why? Because the top eight banks control all the assets in the United States and they don’t want anybody else to compete. So what we’re trying to do, and by the way, there is bipartisan support for this, and I think this legislation will be passed in the next three months to modify Dodd-Frank so that commercial banks, regional banks, community banks can succeed. Our objective is we don’t want just eight large banks in the United States. So the modifications on Dodd-Frank are all designed to help community banks and regional banks.
Ryssdal: Even though community banks are making record profits this past year.
Mnuchin: Again, that’s because the economy is doing better. But yes. Do you want them all to be gobbled up by Brian Moynihan? No. We want to make sure that we have a healthy broad-based banking system.
Updated (March 6, 2018): This story has been updated to include more audience reaction.
Mnuchin: New sanctions coming for Russia, North Korea
U.S. imposes sanctions on Russians for U.S. election meddling
Why blocking trade with China isn’t the answer to North Korea
Can Trump fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell?
Is this man our next Treasury secretary?
Trump picks Steve Mnuchin for Treasury secretary
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Familiar Wild talks Dark Dreams and Rifflandia
Culture Events Music
Melissa Wong
Veteran of the indie music scene, Melissa Bandura is back, this time with a new sound and a new album. Familiar Wild, a band made up of Bandura, Melissa Hammer, Kenton Wiens, Jesse Waldman and T. Nile, will release their new album, Dark Dreams, on Sept. 30.
Born in Winnipeg and moving to Vancouver at the age of nine, Bandura has always been influenced by the indie folk genre of music, quoting artists like Arcade Fire as her musical influences because of their “ability to dress up songs with a cinematic orchestra sense,” she says. The harmonies and arrangements of songs, as well as how the instruments play off each other, are important components to Bandura’s song-writing style, which consists of composing the melody before lyrics.
The identity shift, from using Bandura’s own name to Familiar Wild, illustrates the evolution of her music—going from a lighter sound in her previous album, Dark Dreams: Day to a much darker sound, with a heavy emphasis on string instruments. Bandura found the original name wasn’t fitting the sound of her music at the time, and so the name Familiar Wild integrated the simplicity of folk music with hauntingly orchestral strings and melodic lyrics, pushing the idea of having a sound that contains a familiarity that grounds the listener but also presents a sort of unharnessed wildness of the chords that she defines as an “odd but familiar sound.”
Bandura was involved in a significant car accident a few years ago that caused her to reconsider everything she was doing. “The music written after the accident changed drastically from my first album, and the songs now were written with more of an unsettled darkness with innocent perspective,” she says.
Through this transitional period, Bandura fully realized what she wanted to define her “sound” as; she eventually steered towards a pleasant harmony of orchestral and alternative folk music. The new name reflected the recognition of her evolved music and stage presence, while also helping to define the solid direction of her music. Local artist Kristian Adam, whose art style is influenced by subtleties of beauty and decay, specially designed the album artwork for Dark Dreams by incorporating aspects similar to the innocent yet dark and bittersweet tone of music on the album.
“Oregon,” the latest single from Familiar Wild, and “Single Out” are two tracks that Bandura says best illustrate the typical rhythm and sound of a Familiar Wild song. When asked about her upcoming performance in Victoria at Rifflandia, she says that she’s “very excited to perform! Victoria is a beautiful city with an active music culture and I look forward to the crowd’s response to the new sound.”
Bandura gives a bit of advice for upcoming musicians and students alike: “Live your life like you love music. Don’t live for someone else. If you’re stuck in something that doesn’t make you happy, run and do something else that inspires you. Stay motivated truthfully, and always try to find inspiration around you in your daily life.”
Familiar Wild at Rifflandia
Thursday, Sept. 12 @ 8:30 p.m.
Studio CMCT (658 Discovery St)
$40 (Single Night) – $295 (VIP Pass)
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Publish Date July 1, 2020
The challenge of protecting dementia residents during the coronavirus pandemic
Joel Landau
The new normal resulting from the coronavirus pandemic has presented a particular challenge to those afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, as well as the dedicated healthcare professionals caring for them in skilled nursing facilities.
As Alzheimer’s Association mission partnerships director Doug Pace said in a March 30 news release, “Individuals living with dementia thrive best with a consistent routine and with person-centered approaches. During emergency situations, these practices are even more important.”
That is why the Alzheimer’s Association took the step that day of issuing COVID-19 guidelines for dementia caregivers, making clear the proper approaches to illness prevention, keeping residents connected with friends and family members, and monitoring and responding to various dementia-related behaviors.
Some 50 million people around the world are afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, including 5 million in the United States, where these disorders are the sixth-leading cause of death. It is estimated that among nursing home residents, some 48% suffer from these diseases. Coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, the result is “a surreal situation,” in the estimation of Marsel Mesulam, director of the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease in Chicago. By that he meant that as much anxiety as others might feel amid this healthcare crisis, it is that much more pronounced for those dealing with neurodegenerative disorders.
“Providing guidance to help care and support people living with dementia during this challenging time,” he told Alzforum.org in late March, “is really beneficial.”
Central to this approach is person-centered care, which takes into account the values, preferences and needs of each individual. Such care focuses on the relationships the resident might have with others, and how that, as well as other environmental factors, might impact him or her. The manifestations of that in the current climate would be making sure that each patient’s paperwork — the HIPAA-compliant personal information form and advance directive — are up-to-date and easily accessible for all staffers.
The first of those documents has particular immediacy, as it allows day-to-day care to remain consistent in the event of staff changes or the introduction of temporary workers into the mix. It answers questions about how residents should be addressed, what their interests, routines and religious practices might be, who their family and friends are and what their abilities are. It’s also critical for staff to know each resident’s motor skills and ability to communicate: Do they need a wheelchair to get around? How much information can they process?
Of course, the extent to which patients can process information factors into their understanding of the importance of hand hygiene, social distancing and wearing a cloth face covering. The last of those matters can be particularly challenging; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that a mask should not be used if a patient has trouble breathing or struggles to remove it without help.
The CDC further recommends that while staying active is important, activities formerly held in a group setting should now be done individually in residents’ rooms or in small, socially distant groups at staggered times.
Again the question arises about disrupting long-held routines, and how difficult that can be for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Beth A. Kallmyer, the Alzheimer Association’s vice president of care and support, advises that caregivers explain such changes in a fashion relatable to the resident, and not to over-explain if they are unable to grasp it.
Tom Meuser, director of the Center for Excellence in Aging & Health at the University of New England, agreed with Kallmyer’s first point, noting in a Healthline post that because memories fade in reverse, it is entirely possible that a patient with moderate dementia still recalls his or her early days. A healthcare professional can, as a result, tap into those memories to offer context. Meuser specifically mentioned that drawing parallels between our nation’s current straits and those the U.S. faced during World War II might resonate with those born in the 1930s.
“You still remember what it was like in WW2 from your childhood or parents talking about it,” he said, “so appealing to those memories of that time may be one way to frame the current crisis in a way the person can understand.”
Another potential issue is social isolation, which has been found to be comparable to smoking as a health risk for seniors. As the pandemic raged, nursing homes barred visitors while also restricting residents’ activities within their facilities, in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus among a particularly vulnerable age group. While in some cases one-on-one caregivers have been allowed to enter, that is not the general rule, putting the onus on staff, friends and family members to keep loved ones engaged.
Visits at residents’ windows have become commonplace, while many have turned to technology to help bridge the gap between seniors and their loved ones. But a Pew Research study showed that only 26 percent of those 65 and over feel confident using smartphones, computers and other electronic devices, a percentage that is almost certainly lower among those suffering from a neurodegenerative disorder.
It goes without saying that friends and family members have to make a more concerted effort than ever to reach out to seniors, whether by phone call, video call or window visit. There are also programs like AARP Mutual Aid, the Friendship Line and Senior Center Without Walls that avail seniors of opportunities to chat. In addition, a company called Papa offers a virtual companionship program, and Uniper has a telehealth and social engagement service.
And let us never forget that the healthcare professionals themselves — busy as they are, harried as they may be — can brighten a senior’s day like no one else. Even a brief conversation or an encouraging word or two can make a difference.
Finally there’s the question of what to do if a senior afflicted with Alzheimer’s or dementia contracts coronavirus. The CDC advises keeping them in their usual room, as moving them to a COVID-19 unit might cause disorientation or agitation. At the same time the CDC acknowledges that a move is often unavoidable, given the safety issues at hand. In that case it is best to familiarize the COVID team with the habits of the resident in question, while also moving familiar objects from the patient’s old room to his or her new one.
There are no easy answers in cases like these. Neurodegenerative disorders offer unique challenges, in and of themselves, and the coronavirus only makes things that much more complicated. It is incumbent upon healthcare professionals to acclimate residents to this new normal, to gently adjust routines and encourage new social outlets. Amid the complexities of the pandemic, it is up to all of us — healthcare providers, family and friends — to ensure those living with dementia are best positioned for continued health and safety.
Joel Landau is the founder and chairman of The Allure Group, a rapidly expanding provider of skilled nursing and rehabilitation services throughout the New York downstate area.
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Why long-term care needs psychology treatment
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How 8 Famous Acquitted Defendants Spent The Rest of Their Lives
BY Ethan Trex
Yesterday’s not guilty verdict for Casey Anthony ended her highly publicized trial. Here’s how life shook out for a few other acquitted defendants in high-profile trials.
1. Lizzie Borden
Although 32-year-old Lizzie Borden was never convicted of the 1892 ax murder of her father and stepmother, her highly publicized trial followed her for the remaining 34 years of her life. Borden became close friends with actress Nance O’Neill, but she lived out the rest of her life as a recluse. Although Borden remained largely out of public sight, mourners at her 1927 funeral remembered her as a quiet source of charitable donations. Her will certainly demonstrated her charitable streak; the largest earmark from her substantial estate was a $30,000 donation to the local Animal Rescue League.
2. Fatty Arbuckle
Silent film actor and comedian Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle was one of the biggest stars in the medium’s early days, but his career flew off the rails in 1921. Actress Virginia Rappe fell ill at a party thrown by Arbuckle and died several days later, and the rotund funnyman found himself facing accusations of raping and killing the young woman. Arbuckle weathered two mistrials for manslaughter before being found not guilty in a third trial.
The trial may have legally cleared Arbuckle’s name, but the scandal all but destroyed his Hollywood career. Hollywood briefly blacklisted Arbuckle entirely, but even after the ban was ostensibly lifted he couldn’t find work. Meanwhile, his existing films were rarely shown. (Many prints of Arbuckle’s films have been lost.) Arbuckle eventually found work directing comedy shorts under a pseudonym before making an acting comeback with Warner Brothers in 1932. In 1933 he signed a contract to make a new feature film, but he died in his sleep the very same night.
3. Sam Sheppard
Sheppard, a Cleveland-area physician, was convicted of the 1954 murder of his pregnant wife in their suburban home.
Sheppard spent nearly a decade behind bars before a 1966 retrial acquitted him. After a brief attempt to return to medicine following his release from prison, Sheppard found an unlikely second career as a professional wrestler who went by the name The Killer before his death in 1970.
4. Claus von Bulow
In 1982 British socialite von Bulow was convicted of attempting to murder his heiress wife, Sunny, with an insulin overdose. However, this conviction was later overturned, and he was found not guilty in a 1985 retrial. (Jeremy Irons won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of von Bulow in 1990’s Reversal of Fortune.) In 1991 von Bulow returned to London, where he worked as an art and theatre critic. British newspaper The Telegraph ran his blog posts as recently as last spring.
5. William Kennedy Smith
© Lannis Waters/Sygma/Corbis
The physician nephew of John F. Kennedy was accused of rape in 1991, but a jury acquitted him after a hugely hyped trial. Kennedy still practices medicine; he founded the Center for International Rehabilitation and works with patients who have been disabled by landmines.
6. O.J. Simpson
The beneficiary of one of history’s most famous not-guilty verdicts saw his legal luck run out after a 2007 armed robbery in Las Vegas. Simpson was convicted on 10 charges related to an attempt to regain some of his sports memorabilia, and he’s currently serving a 33-year sentence in Nevada’s Lovelock Correctional Center.
7. Robert Blake
The Baretta star was acquitted for the 2001 murder of his wife in 2005, but like Simpson, he was found liable for the death in a civil trial. The 2005 civil verdict awarded $30 million to his wife’s children, and in 2006 he filed for bankruptcy listing the eight-figure judgment as his biggest liability. Blake hasn’t yet returned to acting to fill out his bank balances, but as of earlier this year he was making autograph-signing appearances at memorabilia shows.
8. John T. Scopes
Scopes, the Tennessee schoolteacher who famously went to trial in 1925, was initially convicted of violating the state’s prohibition of the teaching of evolution and fined $100. However, his conviction was later overruled because the trial judge had set the fine rather than the jury. Following this decision, Scopes left Tennessee to pursue graduate studies in geology at the University of Chicago. He spent the rest of his life working as a geologist for oil and gas companies.
top-story greatest-hits
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Trump appointee to run VOA News gets scathing rebuke from judge
David Folkenflik - NPR
The chief executive overseeing the Voice of America and its sister networks has acted unconstitutionally in investigating what he claimed was a deep-seated bias against President Trump by his own journalists, a federal judge has ruled.
Citing the journalists' First Amendment protections, U.S. Judge Beryl Howell on Friday evening ordered U.S. Agency for Global Media CEO Michael Pack to stop interfering in the news service's news coverage and editorial personnel matters. She struck a deep blow at Pack's authority to continue to force the news agency to cover the president more sympathetically.
Actions by Pack and his aides have likely "violated and continue to violate [journalists'] First Amendment rights because, among other unconstitutional effects, they result in self-censorship and the chilling of First Amendment expression," Howell wrote in her opinion. "These current and unanticipated harms are sufficient to demonstrate irreparable harm."
Chief U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia Beryl Howell issued a preliminary injunction against Michael Pack and the U.S. Agency for Global Media from influencing any editorial decisions or personnel.
Trump nominated Pack to be chief executive of the U.S. Agency for Global Media more than two years ago, and the U.S. Senate finally confirmed him in June. Pack has since turned the agency upside down, firing and suspending top executives, reassigning Voice of America's top standards executive and initiating investigations of journalists for individual stories about the political campaign between Trump and Joe Biden, now the president-elect. Several contractors were dismissed; an editor was suspended.
Attention swung to various arms of VOA, including the French-to-Africa and Urdu language services, and its New York bureau chief. Senior aides to Pack - both political appointees with no experience in journalism - also urged the sidelining of Voice of America's White House bureau chief, Steve Herman, perhaps its most prominent journalist. They claimed, among other things, that Herman's tweets of people relaying criticism of the president betrays bias. Herman remains on the job.
Pack had announced in late October that he was scrapping a so-called "firewall" - protections for the newsroom from political interference. The regulation was written just before he took over by concerned agency officials to codify longstanding traditions that were also invoked by earlier federal laws.
On Friday, Howell pointed to those laws in ruling Pack's actions were unconstitutional.
USAGM has not responded to repeated requests for comment about the decision, but the director of VOA did.
"Editorial independence and journalistic integrity free of political interference are the core elements that sustain VOA and make us America's voice," Acting VOA Director Elez Biberaj said in a statement Saturday in response to the judge's ruling.
"A steady 83% of VOA's audience finds our journalism trustworthy. There are few, if any, media organizations that can claim such trust. I am proud of our journalists who continue to uphold VOA's traditions of providing our audience with accurate, objective and comprehensive reporting."
VOA and its sister networks - which include Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting - reach more than 350 million people overseas each week. Their aim is to present rigorous news coverage in countries that do not have robust news organizations or that crack down on a free press. They are also supposed to embody American values by modeling what a free press looks like, through fair coverage of U.S. society and political debate.
Former diplomats, USAGM officials and VOA journalists have told NPR that by calling its journalists biased and launching investigations, Pack had undermined its reporters abroad, giving despots license to dismiss or repress its reporting.
"The Court confirmed that the First Amendment forbids Mr. Pack and his team from attempting to take control of these journalistic outlets, from investigating their journalists for purported 'bias,' and from attempting to influence or control their reporting content," Lee Crain, a lead attorney for the executives who sued Pack, said in a written statement. "We are deeply grateful for Chief Judge Howell's opinion, which ensures that the journalists at Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and their sister networks can rest assured that the First Amendment protects them from government efforts to control editorial and journalistic content."
In several instances, those investigations were conducted by two political appointees at USAGM: Frank Wuco, who circulated conspiracy theories as a conservative radio talk show host before becoming a Homeland Security official under Trump, and Samuel Dewey, an investigative attorney who previously worked for Republicans on Capitol Hill and has a strong pro-Trump Twitter feed. Dewey also made specific demands over coverage of fraught political issues, including the Black Lives Matter movement, according to materials in the legal challenge.
Kelu Chao, who functions as Voice of America's managing editor and is the news service's top nonpolitical executive, joined the lawsuit against Pack and the agency filed by several suspended USAGM executives. And she said in a sworn court document that journalists at VOA "have been have been excessively cautious, slow to produce stories, and afraid to run down important stories and leads - particularly about politically sensitive topics, no matter how important."
Attorneys from the U.S. Justice Department last week argued that the free speech protections of the First Amendment don't apply to employees of Voice of America, despite its mission, as they work for the government.
"Voice of America is a government agency; its speech, even in a journalistic capacity, is government speech," a team of federal attorneys led by acting U.S. Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark wrote. "In sum, it is consistent with the Constitution for the CEO to control the content of the networks' broadcasts. The networks are not protected by the First Amendment, and Congress has not extended those protections to the networks by statute."
Howell, the chief U.S. District Court judge for the District of Columbia, rejected that reasoning and issued a preliminary injunction against Pack and USAGM from taking or influencing any editorial decisions or personnel. A half-dozen current employees at the agency and at Voice of America have told NPR they are concerned about what actions he might take before the Trump administration ends. They spoke on condition they not be named, pointing to the firings and suspensions under Pack.
In June, the Biden campaign told Vox that it intended to fire Pack; its ability to do so was cemented in part by a Supreme Court ruling won by the Trump administration to dismiss the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, even though it is an independent agency.
Disclosure: This story was reported by NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by NPR business desk editor Avie Schneider. Because of NPR CEO John Lansing's prior role as CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, no senior news executive or corporate executive at NPR reviewed this story before it was published.
(Photo credit: Andrew Harnick AP).
Miners taxed more in Mexico than Canada
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Detroit's oldest recording studio spared from demolition by MDOT
Aaron Mondry | Tuesday, January 15, 2019
United Sound Systems Doug Coombe
In an article in Model D from 2015, Matt Lewis wrote, "It may not have the name recognition of Motown, but there's a recording studio in Detroit that is just as important to the city's (and frankly the world's) musical history as Hitsville, U.S.A., the place where Motown artists recorded hundreds of hit records. Located at 5840 2nd Ave. in Midtown Detroit, just over a mile away from Hitsville, are the United Sound Systems Recording Studios, the oldest operating independent recording studios in the country."
That year, thanks to the efforts of the Detroit Sound Conservancy, the legendary recording studio was granted historic district status by Detroit City Council. United Sound has hosted recording sessions by a bevy of famous artists, including John Lee Hooker, Aretha Franklin, Keith Richards, George Clinton and Funkadelic, and Isaac Hayes.
Even with the historic designation, the studio has had a difficult path to survival. With I-94 expansion plans regularly up for discussion, demolition was always a potential outcome.
After being listed for sale last year, the studio did find a savior: The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), which purchased the building and adjacent parking lot for $1.7 million.
MDOT still has preliminary plans to expand I-94, but also to preserve United Sound Studios.
"The physical structure will be relocated to the adjacent parking lot, increasing the distance from the proposed retaining walls that will be constructed in conjunction with the modernization project," said MDOT in a press release.
In an interview with Michigan Radio, MDOT spokesman Rob Morosi said the department then plans to resell it in a public auction after the relocation.
Arts, Detroit History, Music, Transit
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›February
Box Office: Why Moviegoers Are Tired of Zombies and Nicholas Sparks
February 7th, 2016 | Gary Susman
Sure, it's hard to guess which movies will be big enough draws to pull people away from their living rooms on Super Bowl weekend. But the studios were wrong about nearly every new offering this weekend, and so were the box office analysts.
The only new release that performed as expected was the Coen Brothers' period Hollywood spoof "Hail, Caesar!", debuting in second place with an estimated $11.4 million. That's pretty weak, even for filmmakers as cultish as the Coens. Yet it was still far better than this weekend's other new wide releases, "The Choice" and "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" -- both of which opened well below expectations. It's enough to make you wonder if moviegoers have lost interest in both Nicholas Sparks and zombies.
Sparks, the novelist whose tearjerking romances have been adapted into such hits as "The Notebook," used to be one of Hollywood's most reliable brands, generating 11 movies over the past 17 years. His "Dear John" opened on Super Bowl weekend six years ago with $30.5 million and became his second biggest hit. So maybe it wasn't a big stretch to think "The Choice" would be smart "chick-flick" counterprogramming to this weekend's testosterone fest.
But Sparks' movies have been on a downward trend in recent years. 2014's "The Best of Me" and 2015's "The Longest Ride" were his lowest openers and lowest overall grossers -- until now. "Choice" premiered in fifth place with $6.1 million. Blame poor reviews and a lack of star power to attract audiences.
As for "Zombies," there was enough precedent behind it for pundits to place it on top of their predictions for the weekend, guessing it would take in at least $12 million. Seth Grahame-Smith's Jane Austen spoof had been a bestseller in 2009. Star Lily James' "Cinderella" was a female-audience hit around this time last year. The romantic comedy/zombie tale "Warm Bodies" did well on Super Bowl weekend three years ago, opening with $20.4 million toward an eventual $117.0 million worldwide gross. And women like both horror movies and Jane Austen.
So, why did "Pride" fail to crack the top five, debuting with just an estimated $5.2 million, less than half of what experts predicted? Audiences didn't think much of it, giving it an underwhelming B- CinemaScore. And critics didn't think much of it either, with its 41 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. James isn't really a box office draw; the success of "Cinderella" owes less to the "Downton Abbey" alumna than to Disney's brand and marketing. Period horror also hasn't been as big a draw lately as studios had hoped -- (cough) "Crimson Peak."
Another factor worth noting is that competition from holdovers remained strong. "Kung Fu Panda 3" held the top spot ($21 million) and "The Revenant" topped $150 million in domestic earnings with a third place finish of $7.1 million. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," in fourth place with an estimated $6.9 million, became the first movie to earn more than $900 million in North America and the third to earn more than $2 billion worldwide. All three of these holdovers saw modest declines of less than 50 percent from the previous weekend. All three also have strong guy appeal (though in the case of "Panda," the guys may be dads dragged to the cartoon by their kids).
Which brings us to the other factor: maybe the idea of female-oriented counterprogramming on Super Bowl weekend is outdated. Aside from "Dear John," "Warm Bodies," and 2008's "Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best Of Both Worlds Concert Tour" (still the best Super Bowl weekend debut ever, at $31.1 million), there's not an extensive history of women-targeted films performing well opposite the Super Bowl.
Maybe more women enjoy football than Hollywood conventional wisdom believes. Even if not, it's almost never a good idea to open two films at once that are chasing the same audience. Given a choice between "The Choice" and "Zombies," it shouldn't be surprising that many women would choose the Broncos and Panthers instead.
Travis and Gabby first meet as neighbors in a small coastal town and wind up in a relationship that is tested by life's most defining events. Read More
Stream & Watch The Choice Online
coen brothersthe choicepride and prejudice and zombieshail caesarnicholas sparkskung fu panda 3zombies
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HomeAssignment 1Comparative online journalism analysis between BBC News and Buzzfeed – Assignment 1
Comparative online journalism analysis between BBC News and Buzzfeed – Assignment 1
2019-03-28 Stella Li Assignment 1 0
Neighbours laying flowers at Imam Reza Mosque, New Lynn, Auckland the day after the massacre at Al Noor Mosque in Christcurch, New Zealand
This critical analysis will compare a mainstream online news – BBC News with a digital born service – Buzzfeed. Publishing context, target users and demographics, online delivery analysis, and technical use will be identified by giving examples of news story with both news services.
BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news
Publishing context and their user groups
BBC’s full name is ‘The British Broadcasting Corporation’, which is a British public service broadcaster. BBC began daily radio broadcast from 1922, and it was funded mainly by a license fee which paid by British nationals. Before the establishment of British independent Television in 1955, BBC was the only television and radio broadcaster in the UK. BBC also offers other related services, including book publishing, newspapers, symphony orchestras, and internet news.
For the data of user groups, the comptroller and Auditor General has provided the BBC’s understanding of its audiences and user in 2017 (National Audit office). It is reported that a target 9 million active monthly signed-in users have been successfully reached until August 2017, and it reached 12.6 million active monthly signed-in users until the end of year 2017 (p.9). It also analyzed that BBC online service has been visited by 40 million unique UK-based visitors until June 2017 (comScore, UK Digital Market overview). The BBC was reaching a record weekly audience of 376m global people in 2018.
However, it is difficult to find the demographic data in the British Broadcasting Corporation. Alexa reveals the demographic data of the users. It shows that the age between 45-54 years and +65 years old are more likely to use the BBC, and more than a half BBC user is female. The users with the income between $30k -$60 are reached to 65%, and most of them do not have a child.
The demographic data of the users in Alexa
BBC News: Christchurch shootings: 49 dead in New Zealand mosque attacks
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47578798
The headline tells the story simply and clearly. It was the most breaking and shocking news that happened on the morning of 15 March 2019, and it became the headline in the homepage of every single news platform. 49 people were killed and 48 wounded in the New Zealand mosque massacre.
Fairness, accuracy, relevance.
This story was published without individual journalist name, and it was written in a third person which represents the official press release. The facts and authenticity have been fully stated without exaggeration to audience. Foust(2017, p.4) mentions that information should be reported in balanced without bias, which can be provided the originally sources that where the facts come from. The information that is given is also important to the audience. such as how this massacre happened? Who are the suspects and why they plan this attack? What is the public reaction?
The story introduces the main suspect -Brenton Tarrant and how they were arrested and commented by public. Then it tells how events unfolded, which gives a map with labels of two attacks, and some interviews with witnesses. After that, the main suspect was mentioned again of the reason he began planning an attack. Then the related event ‘Cricket team escape attack’ and global reaction that mentions trump and Australian Prime Minister’s twitter are written in the end of the story.
The written language is direct and neutral, it states the facts without commenting the characteristic of the suspect(Fowler, 1991, p.1). The data that is provided is accurate because the data comes from the official statistical result from the government, and it remains the same sources by different news services.
Online delivery：interactivity, community, hyperlinks, multimedia
This story tells the basic information that more details is limited to be covered in this news. However, it can be easily to access other relevant and extensible information in BBC news. Hyperlinks are used frequently to tell more details about each topic online. Such as ‘what is known about the suspects’, ‘what are NZ’s gun laws’ or ‘social media’s role in Christchurch attack’.
The text, some images and three videos have been covered in this story. It satisfies the requirement to access the relevant evidences for this attack to audience. The video that is provided by the BBC, and it can be directly viewed with good quality without opening other links, and the audience can obtain embed code and watch it with full screen, which is convenient.
The communities and interactivity are also presented nicely through the context. It presents the interaction between the witness and BBC journalist by emailing, then the comments will be published. However, it can be improved better if all readers can engage with journalist, with both contents and mistakes to serve a community(Bradshaw, 2018:, p.82).
functionality and useability
The page is highly functional, and it is easy to read. The length of each paragraph is moderate(Bradshaw, 2018, p.77). Also, it has clear subheadings with important information bold. Different links can be accessed easily with bullet list in black bold form. Scannability is key to effective online journalism, including a clearly summary, clear subheadings, numbers, hyperlinks and more(Bradshaw, 2018, p.80).
The use of white background and black words show the seriousness and respect to this event, which does not need the bright color background. Deuze mentions that the good format can be used to tell a certain story with functional and navigational.
Buzzfeed is an American internet media, which was established in the New York City by Jonah Peretti in 2006. The company was a viral lab that researched hot topics on the web, and now is a global media company which is providing latest news on politics, business, and animals. Buzzfeed is aimed to reach multiple markets and viewers, and target every type of audience, which is similar to BBC. Buzzfeed captures three main markets with a mass audience, such as food, lifestyle and parenting.
It is also difficult to find the user’s data in the official Buzzfeed website and other publication. Formerly Digital Marketing Ramblings (DMR) has reported that more than 200 million unique users visit Buzzfeed per month until year 2016, and the total global audience has reached 650 million until year 2018.
Alexa also reports the demographics data with ‘who visits Buzzfeed.com’. It is surprising to find that most of the Buzzfeed user is female, which highly exceeds the internet average. The age between 18-24 years old, which is the group of young people, is likely to watch Buzzfeed news, and the audiences with income more than $30k would like to choose Buzzfeed.com.
the demographics data with ‘who visits Buzzfeed.com’
Buzzfeed News: Christchurch Updates: New Zealand Has Banned Viewing And Sharing Of Mosque Attack Video https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/richardhjames/new-zealand-christchurch-mosque-shooting-terror-attack
Different from BBC News, this is an updating news from 14 March to 19 March that covers different areas of news about Christchurch mosque shooting, but BBC News covers lots of links to access other related information. There is an individual journalist name for this story, who is Richard James with his by-line. Also, the reader’s name can be clicked to look for his previous updating and his information. It introduces the basic information in the first part, including numbers of victim, video prohibition in social media. Then, numerous updating about this story are developed, which also include other attributing journalists at the end of each part.
Like the BBC, it also remains accuracy and fairness in the language. However, the focus contents are different. BBC mentions lots of contents about the suspect – Brenton Tarrant, but Buzzfeed focus on the politics, laws, and the eyewitness’s experience, which does not mention the suspect. It lacks of the ‘politics’ of critical analysis that should provide the information of the suspect and how public treat this event (Christopher, Kim, Cheryi, and Rockell, 2012: p.232)
Multimedia, less hyperlinks, interactive
For a long updating story, most information is composed with images and words in each updating parts, and some posts will have video. The video mostly comes from other platforms with good quality, such as Instagram, Youtube, and AP News, whereas the video in BBC comes from their own platform. The images provided are related to the contents that come from different social media platforms. Also, there are some parts that can provide open links to access tweeter and Instagram to show the public reaction.
Buzzfeed contains less links, and most words that are linked are ‘has repeatedly’, ‘has responded’, ‘said’, ‘read more here’ with black underline to the links. The links can access other related sources into Buzzfeed news. For the pictures, it does not provide the related links to where are the photos from, which cannot get the advanced contexts.
There is less interactivity towards this story. It provides the contacts information for the journalists and readers can retweet, share, and copy the links of what they read to others. However, the communication and interaction between news itself and the public are still limited. It does not provide the opportunities or platforms to make a comment. However, Buzzfeed opens quizzes for different hot topic. Audience can choose the topic they are interested, and then can get the result for what they choose. The comment is opened for testers to share their experience and results in public.
Less Functional and Accessible, low useability
The page is less functional and accessible. The white background with black words is easy to represent the information, and the links are labelled suitably. Although each part is divided clearly with bold subheading and the length of each paragraph is easy to read, the information and parts are messy without disorder. The sources about politics, laws, family are laid out together. Audience will feel bored to read too much sources with only words and images. It is uncomfortable to see the combination of different updating in different date together.
Word Count: 1671 Over word count
BBC.com, 15 March 2019, ‘Christchurch shootings: 49 dead in New Zealand mosque attacks’
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47578798, accessed 24 March 2019.
Bradshaw, Paul (2018), The online Journalism handbook – skills to survive and Thrive in the Digital Age, Routledge, New York.
buzzfeed.com, 15 March 2019, ‘Christchurch Updates: New Zealand Has Banned Viewing And Sharing Of Mosque Attack Video’, https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/richardhjames/new-zealand-christchurch-mosque-shooting-terror-attack, accessed 24 March 2019.
Christopher P. Campbell, Kim M. LeDuff, Cheryl D. Jenkins, and Rockell A. Brown (2012), Race and News: Critical Perspectives, Routledge, New York.
Deuze, Mark (1993), ‘Online Journalism: Modelling the First Generation of News Media on the WWorld Wide Web’, Peer-reviewed Journal on the Internet , vol. 6, no. 10, accessed 1 October 2001.
Foust, Jim (2017), Online Journalism: Principles and Practices of News for the web, Routledge, New York.
Fowler, Roger (1991), Language in the News: Discourse and ideology in the Press, Routledge, New York.
Media Center (BBC), 22 June 2018. BBC’s Global audience rises to 376m, https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2018/bbc-global-audience, accessed in 25 March 2019.
National Audit Office, 6 Dec 2017. The BBC’s understanding of its audiences and users. https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/The-BBCs-understanding-of-its-audiences-and-users.pdf, accessed in 26 March 2019.
Smith, Craig, 23 March 2019. 38 Amazing Buzzfeed Statistic and Facts (2019) by the numbers, DMR, https://expandedramblings.com/index.php/buzzfeed-statistics/, accessed 24 March 2019.
About Stella Li 4 Articles
This is Stella Li! A 22 years old girl who is studying the master degree- media practice at the university of Sydney.
Where You Stand Depends on Where You Sit: SBS’s coverage on the 2018 Youth Survey focuses on content; BuzzFeed’s wins on platform publishing
Comparative Journalism Analysis: CNN & BuzzFeed News
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Audio, Video and Transcripts
Turkish-Israeli Relations
A briefing by Soner Cagaptay
https://www.meforum.org/2117/turkish-israeli-relations
Soner Cagaptay is director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and an expert on Turkish-Israeli relations. He earned his Ph.D. from Yale, taught at Princeton, and contributes regularly to leading news outlets. On April 9, Mr. Cagaptay addressed the Middle East Forum via conference call.
To illustrate how Turkey has changed under AK Party rule (the "Justice and Development" party), Soner Cagaptay highlighted the fact that, before the AKP came to power in 2002 elections, Turkey "worked as a normal country."
For example, pre-AKP Turkey fostered a positive public relationship with Israel, exemplified by strong economic, intellectual, and even military ties. Moreover, Turkey was an important contributor to NATO, having participated in every NATO operation since joining the alliance in 1952. Finally, it exhibited a markedly pro-Western outlook and was being seriously considered for EU membership.
All three qualities have eroded under AKP leadership. EU accession talks have stalled as liberal democratic values are being undermined in Turkey. Media freedom and gender equality have suffered; there are now fewer women in administrative positions in government. Turkey refused to allow U.S. troops to enter Iraq from the north in 2003 and is now cultivating links with Iran.
Nowhere has this transformation been more pronounced than in Turkey's relationship with Israel. Prime Minster Erdoğan and his party have promoted anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel at home, suggesting that "God would punish Israel" and accusing it of having turned Gaza into a "concentration camp." Turkey's antagonism came to a head at the Davos meeting earlier this year when Erdoğan told Israeli President Peres, "You know very well how to kill people."
Yet not all killing upsets Turkey. The day after returning from Davos, Erdoğan hosted the vice president of Sudan, who is currently wanted by the International Criminal court for waging a genocide against the non-Arab Muslim population. Cagaptay believes this is the "best proof that Erdoğan's thinking and foreign policy is Islamist. The AKP views the world through a religious lens, caring only for non-Muslim on Muslim violence. This viewpoint is inevitably anti-American, anti-Western and anti-Israeli. Turkey's opposition to Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen's nomination to h ead NATO due to his defending the publication of the Muhammad cartoons is also telling. The AKP demands one way street respect for Islam: recently, party objected to Rasmussen on ground that his actions were offensive to Muslims, but ran anti-Semitic cartoon exhibits in Istanbul during the Gaza War.
Cagaptay suggests that continued AKP influence will turn Turkish citizens against Israel and the West. This is a problem because Turkey is a democracy and "you cannot sustain a relationship that is not supported by the public." Furthermore, as the AKP views world conflicts in terms of Muslims versus non-Muslims, its place within NATO could deteriorate further as the alliance launches new offensives in Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
However, Cagaptay sees reasons for optimism. The AKP fared poorly in recent local elections and the economic downturn is bound to have a negative impact on its prospects. As middle class Turks and professionals abandon the AKP, it will be left with an Islamist core, allowing outsiders more easily to identify it for what it is. In this regard, Erdoğan's Davos outburst was seen as a "blessing in disguise" by some analysts.
Cagaptay counsels the Obama administration to define Turkey as a Western country that happens to be Muslim, thereby setting clear benchmarks for Turkish behavior both internally and on the world stage. Furthermore, America must not alienate ordinary Turks by passing resolutions condemning the Armenian genocide, a wildly unpopular topic in Turkey.
According to Cagaptay, the most important lesson from the Turkish experience over the past decade is: "If Islamists rule, they corrupt even the most liberal of Muslim societies."
This is a lesson that many Palestinians may have come to learn the hard way.
Summary account by David Rusin and Raymond Ibrahim.
Related Topics: Israel & Zionism, Strategic alliances, Turkey and Turks | Soner Cagaptay receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free mef mailing list This text may be reposted or forwarded so long as it is presented as an integral whole with complete and accurate information provided about its author, date, place of publication, and original URL.
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Computer Crimes on the Rise – Microsoft Steps In
Posted by Darlene League on Jun 7th, 2013
Currently one of the largest malicious computer networks is called the Citadel botnet system. Microsoft has enlisted the aid of their digital crime unit to work vigorously on this problem. An estimation of over 1400 of these Citadel botnets was in existence but Microsoft announced this week it has taken down nearly 1000 of them. Unfortunately, the ringleaders of these networks have evaded arrest at the time of this writing.
As long as there have been computers there have been criminals to exploit them for illegal personal gain. With every advance in computer software and hardware, criminals have become more sophisticated in their means to bend computer software and hardware to fit their will. Microsoft, the FBI, and other world authorities are fighting back to protect computer systems worldwide.
Cybercrime used to be limited to individuals hacking into secure systems to obtain information, access codes, or other sensitive data. The data could be used to steal money, infect main servers with viruses, or expand identity theft operations. Individuals that left electronic trails of their crimes could be tracked down and eliminated from the world’s computer networks.
Cybercrime has become an organized with crime rings reaching all corners of the Earth. By using botnets, or network connected programs that are able to communicate with other programs to complete tasks, groups of organized criminals can work together making detection more difficult.
Microsoft has been working closely with the FBI. In turn the FBI has been working with Europol and other agencies across the globe to stop the siege of computer crime. As with any organized crime network, authorities must start at the bottom of the supply chain hoping to work up to the creators and bot distributors.
Microsoft filed a civil suit against the unknown hackers and distributors in the US district court in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Microsoft’s research has uncovered the distribution of bots found in pirated Windows Operating System software. These pirated versions with bots included were used to control PCs in the US, Australia, Hong Kong, India and across Western Europe.
Since the identity of the ringleader is yet unknown, the alias Aquabox has been used as the description. It is believed that Aquabox lives in Eastern Europe and has almost 100 network herders running the bot systems over most of the world. The exception is the Ukraine or Russia as the bots are programmed not to attack PCs or financial institutions there. Hopefully, this piece of evidence will aid in the capture of the cyber criminals.
The American Bankers Association (ABA) and other major financial groups are working closely with the investigation to attempt to curb losses for their clients and customers. Many of these financial institutions reimburse individual losses to cybercrime; however, many business owners must absorb these losses. With other economic factors still being uncertain, many business owners’ losses have been another setback to recovery.
Of the nearly 1000 botnets that were recently shut down, 455 were hosted in the United States. They had infected over 40 data centers often without the knowledge of the data center owners. The remaining sites were located in many other countries across the globe.
The continuing efforts of Microsoft forensic technicians, FBI, and law enforcement in countries including Brazil, Germany, Iceland, India, Indonesia, the UK and others will labor tirelessly until these cybercriminals have been apprehended and the illegal botnets destroyed.
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New Weapons for Cyber Warriors
The US Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) is overhauling its means to perform cyber warfare. The Command is one of ten Department of Defense (DOD) Unified Combatant Commands. It is co-located at the National Security Agency’s (NSA) headquarters at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. The command federates the cyber warfare units belonging to four of the US armed services. These include the US Army Cyber Command, the navy’s Fleet Cyber Command (a.k.a. the Tenth Fleet), the US Air Force’s (USAF) 24th Air Force (a.k.a Air Forces Cyber) and the US Marine Corps’ Cyberspace Command. According to the DOD USCYBERCOM “plans, coordinates, integrates, synchronises and conducts activities to: Direct the operations and defence of specified Department of Defense information networks and prepare to, and when directed, conduct full spectrum military cyberspace operations in order to enable actions in all domains, ensure US/allied freedom of action in cyberspace and deny the same to our adversaries.”
In late October, Northrop Grumman won a $54.6 million contract to develop, integrate, deploy and maintain the Unified Platform, one of USCYBERCOM’s key capabilities. An official press release announcing the news stated that the firm will perform the work in Georgia, Maryland, Texas and Ohio. The Unified Platform is being procured by the US Air Force on behalf of the Command. Ultimately, it will be at the core of the Command’s Military Cyber Operations Platform. As per the US’ 2019 defence budget, an initial $29.8 million will be allocated to developing and prototyping the Unified Platform. The initial stages of the programme will see the integration of existing cyber capabilities owned by the commands listed above. The bedrock of the Unified Platform is the development of an agile, scalable and interoperable platform which can be used for the execution of offensive and defensive cyber operations: “The DOD will develop the detailed requirements for integrating disparate cyber platforms and building an interoperable and extendable network of cyber capabilities. This Unified Platform will enable the Cyber Mission Force (CMF) to conduct full-spectrum cyberspace operations in support of national requirements,” as articulated in the DOD’s April 2015 Cyber Strategy. Central to the initiative is the use of open architecture standards to ensure that the platform is easy to modernise as new hardware and software comes to the fore.
Cyber Strategy
The CMFs comprise each of the component commands in the USCYBERCOM, totalling 133 teams in total with over 6000 members. Each of these teams have different responsibilities, with 27 of them tasked with ensuring that cyber effects are integrated with operational efforts and contingency plans. The need for the Unified Platform can be traced back to 2009 when USCYBERCOM was activated. At its formation, it shared capabilities with the NSA; the result of the latter already having the tools, and personnel to perform cyber operations.
However the NSA is primarily an intelligence-gathering body rather than a war-fighting formation, although by the nature of its work, it can and does support US offensive operations. USCYBERCOM, on the other hand, has war-fighting as one of its core missions. Put simply, the work of the NSA is largely passive; listening to, and exploiting the electronic spectrum to gather intelligence which supports political and military objectives and decision-making. The Command’s mission, on the other hand, is inherently ‘active’ particularly in the offensive context, where the execution of cyber operations can be visible to an adversary. Using NSA tools to perform such active missions carries an inherent risk. This is because once a cyber attack is discovered, its origin could be traced back to the NSA, hence revealing cyber tools which the agency has at its disposal. The need for separate tools, and hence a separation of the NSA and USCYBERCOM is as much about preserving the former’s opacity as ensuring the latter has its capabilities. As one source close to the Unified Platform programme told MONch, the separation of the two organisations makes sense as “the NSA has a very different target set from the US military. Just to lump them both together because they are all cyber folks makes no sense.”
In light of these realities, it was politically and operationally logical to split USCYBERCOM from the NSA. The resulting split gave rise to a need for different tools, training and infrastructure to equip the Command. This need for these distinct capabilities resulted in the need for the Military Cyber Operations Platform (MCOP). The MCOP’s rationale was to consolidate the separate capabilities of each component command into a single platform to execute USCYBERCOM’s war-fighting mission. The advent of the MCOP concept resulted in the Unified Platform requirement as articulated in the 2015 Cyber Strategy.
As well as having an offensive cyber capability, the Unified Platform will provide mission planning and Command and Control (C2) of cyber operations whether defensive, offensive or ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) focused. The platform is a ‘chassis’ upon which a series of software and hardware enhancements can be applied as the system continues through its life. This is to ensure it remains ahead of emerging cyber capabilities and threats. This chassis will federate the separate cyber capabilities of each component command enabling them to act in a scalable and/or unified fashion. The advent of the Unified Platform will also free USCYBERCOM from relying on the NSA’s capabilities to perform cyber operations. One source close to the programme told MONch that the capabilities of the Unified Platform “go all the way from defensive to offensive.”
Official figures state that the DOD will spend a total of $215.2 million on the Unified Platform between 2019 and 2023. The initial $53.4 million “is the starting point,” the source continued. Of that, $45 million will be spent on prototyping between 2019 and 2021. $29.8 million will be spent elsewhere on the programme in 2019, $10 million in 2020 and $6 million in 2021. Reports have stated that by the end of March 2019 the Unified Platform will offer basic functions to cyber warrior. It could be fully operational by late 2020.
The air force has emphasised the need for the Unified Platform to be as adaptable and agile as possible. This is imperative as the speed at which software evolves means that the platform will need to remain abreast, if not outstrip these innovations. For example, an adversary may discover that part of their network has been attacked, and work to prevent such an intrusion in the future simply by rewriting part of their software. The platform will need to be responsive enough to accommodate such challenges, even better, provide the tools which will help the user to anticipate the adversary’s course of action. The platform could go through its service life receiving regular enhancements and new capabilities in a similar fashion to personnel computers in the civilian world. Reports have continued that, once in service, the platform could obtain new capabilities every three months, and see the entire architecture being updated every six; timelines which are rare to say the least with conventional military hardware.
Future Programmes
The source added that “The $53 million contract is the starting point. This initiative will see a mix of dollars for the programme and for the spiral development of new capabilities (as the programme evolves).” They continued that new acquisitions by USCYBERCOM are in the offing. These include the transition of the Joint Cyber C2 System to USAF auspices. Reports note that the command has requested $13 million for this. This will enhance the overall battle management of cyber operations for combatant commanders and improve their situational awareness during operations. Alongside the Joint Cyber C2 System is the Persistent Cyber Training Environment (PCTE). This is a US Army led programme. Official US Army documents say that this initiative responds to an “urgent need to provide a persistent and realistic training environment to DOD cyber mission forces.” The documents continues that this will be a hybrid cloud-based training platform “supporting individual sustainment training, team certification, and provide the foundation for a collective training network.” The acquisition strategy, the army stated, was signed off in May 2017. Although there appears to be no further details as to when either of these capabilities could enter service, conservatively it could be expected that this might occur in the next five years.
Dr. Tom Withington
The US Cyber Command is investing heavily in new capabilities, including the acquisition of the Unified Platform. (Photo: US DOD)
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Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Returns to Covington
On: July 6, 2015 By: admin
WASHINGTON, July 6, 2015 / PRNewswire — Former U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. is returning to Covington as a partner after more than six years of service as the nation’s top law enforcement officer.
Covington & Burling LLP logo.
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150626/226104
Mr. Holder will be resident in the firm’s Washington office and focus on complex investigations and litigation matters, including matters that are international in scope and raise significant regulatory enforcement issues and substantial reputational concerns.
“It is a source of great pride to welcome Eric back to the firm after his distinguished service as attorney general,” said Timothy Hester, chair of the firm’s management committee. “Eric’s entire private practice career has been as a Covington partner, and we look forward to the role he will again play as a colleague, leader, client adviser and advocate.”
Mr. Holder is the third longest serving attorney general in U.S. history and the first African American to hold the office. As a member of President Obama’s cabinet and head of the Department of Justice, he oversaw the government’s efforts to address many critically important issues arising at the intersection of law and public policy, including national security investigations and prosecutions; landmark antitrust, environmental, fraud, and tax cases; the defense of voting rights and marriage equality; and reform of the federal criminal justice system. In 2014, Time magazine named Mr. Holder to its list of 100 Most Influential People, stating that he “worked tirelessly to ensure equal justice.”
Mr. Holder’s service as attorney general marks the most recent chapter in a remarkable career in public service. Prior to joining Covington in 2001, he served during the Clinton Administration as Deputy Attorney General and United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. Earlier, Mr. Holder served as Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, having been appointed by President Reagan in 1988. Before becoming a judge, he served for many years as a public corruption prosecutor in the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section, which he had joined in 1976 upon his graduation from Columbia Law School.
Mr. Holder was a partner at Covington from 2001 until February 2009, when President Obama appointed and the Senate confirmed him as the nation’s 82nd Attorney General.
“Returning to Covington is like coming home. I couldn’t be happier to rejoin the firm and to have the opportunity once again to work with its exceptional lawyers and staff, for whom I have such high regard,” Mr. Holder said. “I am returning to Covington for the same reasons that drew me to the firm in the first place—its commitment to excellence in the service of clients, a collaborative and team-oriented culture, and a dedication to pro bono and public service.”
In an increasingly regulated world, Covington & Burling LLP helps clients navigate their most complex business problems, deals, and disputes. Founded in 1919, the firm has more than 850 lawyers in offices in Beijing, Brussels, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, and Washington.
Contact: Rebecca Carr
rcarr@cov.com
Category: General, MENA, Pakistan
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Kenyans test positive at world championships (China Daily)
Kenyan athlete Joyce Zakary in the heat of the 400 meters in Beijing. [Photo/CRI]
BEIJING – Kenyan athletes Koki Manunga and Joyce Zakary have been handed provisional bans after failing doping tests at the world championships, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said on Wednesday.
The runners from a nation famed for its middle and long-distance runners were targeted in pre-competition tests at their team hotel in Beijing on Aug 20 and 21, the IAAF said in a statement.
The East African nation’s sports body Athletics Kenya, which has been criticised by some of its own athletes for not taking the issue of doping seriously enough, said it had been told about the failed tests and had launched an investigation.
“Appropriate follow-up action will be taken in Kenya,” it said in a statement, adding that the two athletes had accepted their provisional suspensions.
“Athletics Kenya will provide full support and cooperation to the IAAF during the results management process,” it said.
The IAAF has spent the last month defending itself against accusations that it is soft on doping after data from thousands of blood samples were leaked to the media.
While critics of the IAAF might point to the positive tests as further evidence of widespread doping in the sport, the governing body is likely to see this as proof that their targeted testing is effective in weeding out drug cheats.
Zakary, 29, ran a Kenyan record of 50.71 seconds in the heat of the 400 meters in Beijing but failed to start the semifinal.
At Kenya’s national championships last month, Zakary had wowed athletics fans when she broke a 31-year-old national record held by compatriot Rose Waithera since the 1984 Olympics.
Manunga, 21, finished sixth in her heat in the 400 hurdles last Sunday and failed to progress to the next round.
Ahead of the Beijing championships, Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper and German broadcaster ARD/WDR reported they had been leaked suspicious blood results from more than 800 athletes, including 77 Kenyans.
In the last three years, 33 Kenyans have failed drugs tests but only Rita Jeptoo, winner of the Boston and Chicago Marathons, can be classed as a top runner.
Her two-year ban in January shocked Kenyans as it showed doping had risen to the top of the sport.
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Freemasons support TRIP with big donation
Published: 1:13 PM January 27, 2010 Updated: 11:11 AM November 7, 2020
GENEROUS Freemasons in Honiton have donated �1,000 to TRIP Community Transport Association, which is vying to raise a whopping �32,000 to upgrade its fleet of Ring and Ride buses.
GENEROUS Freemasons in Honiton have donated �1,000 to TRIP Community Transport Association, which is vying to raise a whopping �32,000 to upgrade its fleet of Ring and Ride buses. The donation, given by the Holy Royal Arch Provincial Grand Chapter of Devonshire Freemasons, will go towards the replacement of one mini-bus.
A Freemasons' spokesman said: "We have long recognised the importance of the service provided by TRIP to elderly people in the region, particularly in outlying areas, and are pleased to support this worthy cause.
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