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Midweek Herald > Sport
AVRs first and second in latest Seaton Parkrun
Steve Birley
Published: 11:51 AM February 21, 2017 Updated: 11:32 AM November 7, 2020
AVR members out for a Grizzly meeting rehearsal - Credit: Archant
It was AVRs that took first and second in the latest Seaton Parkrun, writes Dave Mutter.
Jake Smith, continuing on the comeback trail after injury, was first home in a time of 17:06 and Terry Emmett was second in 18:56.
Simon Durrant was third in 18:56. Another AVR, Flo Swann, was the first lady, finishing eighth overall out of the 154 entrants in 20:39. Well done, to one of the main organisers Lesley Adams who was able to run for the first time and finished first lady in her age group, 80th overall, in a time of 28:36.
Most of the AVR gang took part in an official Grizzly rehearsal run on Sunday, with different groups to suit each person’s ability. With only three weeks to go to the March 12, race date this was an important test of training; it was also an animal rescue mission as during the run a group managed to free a sheep that had been entangled in a mass of brambles.
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June 22, 2016 Coins of India, Coins of the World, Stamps of India, Stamps of the WorldCoins of king George V, Coronation of King George v, delhi durbar 1911, First British commemorative stamps, First british Indian Commemoratives, King George V stamps, Postage due stamps, Prussian Blue Stamp, Seahorses Stamps, Stamps on King George VTeam Mintage World
The coronation of King George V took place on 22nd June 1911, but George Frederick Ernest Albert of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was the unpromising son of Edward VII.
George V was not born to become a King, but his fate had some other plans….
Being third in line of succession, he joined the Navy as the second Royal in 1877, he took his Cursory education at home later he left to join Trinity college in 1882. He wished to pursue the Royal Navy with the intent of making it his career.
After the untimely death of Albert, George left the Royal Navy and assumed his post as the heir apparent and was placed on the throne on 6th May 1910. As the Prince of Wales, George was educated in the state affairs and was given access to the state documents by his father, King Edward VII, as he wanted to prepare his son for his future role as the King.
Coronation:
George and Mary’s coronation took place at Westminster Abbey on 22 June 1911, amongst much zest and festivities.
At the coronation of King George V, he was crowned as the King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and as the Emperor of India from 1910 to 1936. He accepted responsibility and duty and sought to represent his subjects rather than establishing government policy like his predecessors. His reign saw a rapid change in the political landscapes, both international and domestic, with socialism, communism, Irish republican and Indian independence movement on the rise.
He was the only Emperor who was present at his own Delhi Durbar on 12 December 1912 and there he was coronated as the Emperor of India with Queen Mary as the Empress. At the coronation of King George V as the Emperor of India, he was crowned with the newly made Imperial Crown of India at the ceremony.
It was in this Durbar that the capital of British India was shifted from Calcutta to New Delhi. A set of six stamps were released to commemorate this event. These were the first British India commemoratives.
In 1917 with anti-German sentiment running high, he changed the family name from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (popularly known as Brunswick or Hanover) to Windsor, and he also relinquished all German titles and family connections.
Famous stamp collector:
King George V was a great stamp collector and spent most of his time pursuing his hobbies of stamp collecting. Because of his status and position, he is considered as one of the most famous stamp collectors of the world.
The day of the coronation of king George V saw the first halfpence and one penny Downey Head stamps issued. The first stamps bearing his portrait were issued on the very day.
Many ‘Firsts’:
Having a keen interest in the subject, his reign saw a many ‘firsts’ for the British stamps, coins, and notes. These includes:
The first commemoratives: Two postage stamps were issued to commemorate the British Empire Exhibition held at Wembley in 1924. A penny red and a three halfpenny brown stamp were considered as the first British commemorative stamps.
The first stamps printed by photogravure: In 1933 photogravure was specified as the new printing process. This technique introduced high-speed production and reduced the overall cost.
Seahorse stamps series: The High-Value stamps from King George’s reign collectively known as the “Seahorses” featured Britannia and horses on the ocean with the king’s portrait in a circular frame.
The first air mail: The world’s first recorded airmail flight took place in Allahabad, India during February 1911. Special postal stationery postcards pre-stamped with the new definitive postage stamps issued at the coronation of King George V of value 1/2d and 1d arrived in Naini (a satellite city of Allahabad) from Allahabad.
First ever issue of Postage Due stamps: In 1914, King George V started yet another notable philatelic era. This postage Due stamps was designed and printed to collect any postage due on mail. The design continued in use till 1970 until the decimal currency was adopted by Britain.
Britain’s best-known error: After the first commemoratives that were issued in 1924 at the colonial exhibition, the 2nd set of commemorative stamps was issued to mark the King’s Silver Jubilee. This led to the “Prussian Blue” which came to be known as ‘Britain’s best error’. The stamps were printed a shade darker than the normal blue ones.
Being the Emperor of many colonies, King George V appears on the coins, notes and stamps of all the British colonies. King George appears on British Indian coins , stamps and notes also.
Treasury notes:
With the World War I hinting at the horizon London, the world’s foremost financial centre, was hit by a financial crisis. As an effort towards the wartime economy, one of the first acts of the British government was to withdraw gold from the circulation.
With the insecurities of the war, hoarding of gold and silver coin was widespread. Hence to ensure that people still had their cash and legal money in their hands, the government introduced paper money of smaller denominations.
The Bank of England printed a large supply of notes for values of £1 and 10 shillings. To reduce the pressure on the bank the government took to printing the notes. These notes printed by the government came to be called as Treasury notes or ‘Bradbury’s’, after the signature of Sir John Bradbury, the permanent secretary to the Treasury.
In all the haste these Treasury notes were printed on a postage stamp paper. They were small and very easy to forge. But despite all the shortcoming, these Treasury notes issued during the King George V’s reign helped Britain to maintain its economy during the World War I.
‘Try living on their wages before you judge them’
Unlike other monarchs of Britain, King George V had a very distinct personality. He was a very hardworking and a decent person. King George V was greatly admired by his people and he had immense devotion towards Great Britain. Some historians have called him a ‘dull’ man, but it was only because his ordinary lifestyle did not match up to a King’s status. In 1932 he started the tradition of the Royal Christmas broadcast which has continued ever since. He is someone who revived the Philately as a hobby.
After receiving an injection of morphine and cocaine by the royal physician, he died on January 20, 1936. He was succeeded by Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne in just 11 months. King George V’s second son Albert ascended to the throne as King George VI.
Team Mintage World
The Mintage World Team comprises of experts, researchers and writers from the field of Philately, Notaphily and Numismatics who try to shed light on some of the most interesting aspects of coins, banknotes and stamps from not just India but across the globe as well.
https://www.mintageworld.com/
About Team Mintage World
View all posts by Team Mintage World →
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Zionism 2.0
Tel Aviv, September 2019
Acrylic on Canvas, [180cm x 120cm]
Inspired by the relationship I have developed with Jewish National Fund, I decided to paint this piece and to donate the proceeds from its auction to this incredible organization called JNF.
You see Theodor Herzl, "Visionary of the State of Israel", painting a tree according to JNF's vision. While the roots are darker in order to represent our initial struggle, the rich color pallet represents the diversity and richness of Israeli culture, and its evolution into a vibrant nation.
The Zionist dream is no longer a dream, it’s a reality.
But Zionism has never been about simplistic goals, and I refuse to be satisfied with the status quo.
At Israel’s 20th anniversary in 1968, David Ben-Gurion famously said that the state was “a beginning only”.
I believe in a Zionism where 71 years is still the beginning; a self-perpetuating Zionism, for there is always more to be done.
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This quiet little baking soda producer may have just a tiny fraction of the market, but it has a huge impact on the businesses it serves.
It fluffs up pancakes, fizzes Alka Seltzer®, deodorizes refrigerators and scrubs kitchen sinks. It extinguishes fires, soothes insect bites, settles upset stomachs and helps purify swimming pools. And that’s just for starters.
If you haven’t guessed yet, we’re talking about sodium bicarbonate, more commonly known as baking soda—a naturally occurring alkaline substance which is found in all living things and helps maintain a healthy pH balance. The basic building block of baking soda—soda ash—is found naturally in the Earth and is mined to produce baking soda. The substance has an endless array of uses in products for cleaning, deodorizing, leavening, buffering, fire extinguishing, abrasive blasting and more.
Located at 58 Pendleton St. in Cortland is Natrium Products, a baking soda producer that has supplied sodium bicarbonate to its customers since 1989. Tim Herman and Bob Kemp are the founders and principals of Natrium (a Medieval Latin word meaning “sodium”) who began the business when they saw a demand for the product in the northeast U.S.
“Bob and I are chemical engineers and at the time were working with Allied Chemical (a major American company with operations at that time in the chemical, aerospace, automotive, oil and gas industries),” says Herman. “Allied was a major producer of soda ash and calcium chloride, and had a side company which made sodium bicarbonate for Church & Dwight Co., a big American manufacturer of household products which it markets under the Arm & Hammer™ brand.”
In 1984, Allied Chemical sold its bicarb business to Church & Dwight Co. and eventually shut the New York-based plant down. Soon after, Church & Dwight Co. shuttered its regional sodium bicarbonate facility as well. As a result, there was no longer a source for sodium bicarbonate anywhere in the U.S. Northeast.
Herman and Kemp saw a real business opportunity and approached Allied Chemical about buying the potassium bicarbonate building. Unfortunately, Church & Dwight Co. got it instead. Nonetheless, the two knew they had a solid business
model, and began casting elsewhere for a plant that would suit their needs.
“Our search initially brought us to Syracuse, but we couldn’t find what we needed,” Herman says. “So we expanded our search, and with the help of the Cortland County Economic Development Agency and Thoma Development Consultants found a couple of promising locations in Cortland. We finally chose the old F.H. Cobb Company facility.”
The principals designed the plant based on market need, while capitalizing on what they saw as three key operational strengths: location (saving on freight costs), size (their operation matched up better with smaller corporations), and product type (focusing production on a higher percentage of courser/granular product).
“There are basically five players in the industry, for a market that produces more than a million tons of product a year,” Herman says. “Church & Dwight Co. is the largest; we are the smallest, producing about 15,000 tons, which is less than 2 percent of the market.”
Natrium’s markets consist of pharmaceutical, water and waste treatment, chemical distributors, sodablasting, and food, animal feed, cleaning products, other consumer products, and other markets. Their client base is primarily located east of the Mississippi and throughout the Northeast, as well as a few nationwide. Natrium Products currently has 25 employees.
“We’re experts in the field and take very seriously what we do,” Herman says. “We are continually refining our operation to meet the needs of customers and the markets we serve. When we meet new customers, our approach is not to simply sell to them, but to go in and learn how they use our product and see if there’s a way to improve on that. This has served us well. We may lose a customer for economic reasons, but never because of service.
“When we started, people thought we were crazy going up against the big guys,” says Herman. “But we’re still here, because we’ve been in the business long enough to know what our customers need in product, service and pricing. Our goal is to be so reliable that they have no reason to switch.
“And when I talk about ‘we’ here, I’m not just talking about Bob and myself,” he says. “I’m also referring to our extraordinary team of employees and to our board.
How Sodium Bicarbonate is Made
Soda ash is initially mined, refined and shipped by train to Natrium Products from the city of Green River in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. At the Natrium Plant, the soda ash is dissolved in a water solution and put into a large holding tank where carbon dioxide (CO2) is bubbled through it. (The CO2 is purchased from ethanol plants that produce it as an off-gas.) The resulting sodium bicarbonate precipitates out of the solution to become a thick paste called “slurry” which is dewatered in a centrifuge to extract any remaining water. The dry bicarb is then screened into various granulations and grades before it is bagged for sale.
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Report: Knicks plan to interview Mike Brown, Mike Woodson, Jason Kidd for vacancy
Woodson coached New York to a record of 109-79 from 2011-12 until 2013-14
From NBA media reports
The New York Knicks are still searching for their next coach and will reportedly talk to a name from their past about that job opening.
Ian Begley of SNY.tv reports the Knicks plan to interview former Knicks coach Mike Woodson once they begin parsing through candidates for their vacancy. Former Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau, former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson and Knicks interim coach Mike Miller are also supposed to interview for the job, per multiple reports.
In addition to Woodson being in the potential mix for the opening, current Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown is also set to interview for the job, reports Shams Charnaia of The Athletic.
Marc Stein of The New York Times adds that the Knicks plan on interviewing current Lakers assistant Jason Kidd. The Hall of Fame point guard was previously head coach at Milwaukee and Brooklyn.
http://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1275068118356787203
Brown is best known as the former coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, whom he led in two separate stints. In his first run with the Cavs from 2005-10, he went 272-138 and took Cleveland to The Finals in 2007. His second stint, in 2013-14, saw him go 33-49 before being fired. He was also coach of the Los Angeles Lakers from 2011-13, going 42-29 in 71 games there.
As of late May, Thibodeau has been reported as the top candidate for the opening. The Knicks fired coach David Fizdale in December after a 4-18 start. Since then, Miller has served as interim coach.
Miller, according to The Athletic, is expected to receive an interview once the search process is officially underway. Atkinson, who agreed to part ways with the Nets on Mar. 7, is reportedly likely to receive an interview as well.
Woodson last served as an assistant coach with the LA Clippers from 2014-18. He coached the Knicks from 2011-12 to 2013-14 and led the team to its most successful season in years. The 2012-13 team, under Woodson’s leadership, went 54-28, won the Atlantic Division and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals. That was the Knicks’ only playoff season win since 2000.
Before coaching the Knicks, Woodson was coach of the Atlanta Hawks from 2004-10, amassing a 206-286 record that included three playoff appearances.
Begley reports interviews for the opening are expected to begin once New York has clarity on the rest of the NBA season. The league has reportedly presented a plan to restart the season.
Thibodeau has not coached since January of 2019, when he was fired from the Minnesota Timberwolves as both coach and president of basketball operations. He’s assembled a 352-246 coaching record between his stints with Minnesota and the Chicago Bulls.
The Knicks and president of basketball operations Leon Rose will reportedly be targeting their next coach “within the next few weeks,” but the timetable could be impacted by the NBA’s decision on how to approach the upcoming season.
Marc Berman of the New York Post reports the Nets and Houston Rockets may also have interest in Thibodeau.
Report: Knicks have Tom Thibodeau as top candidate for next coach
New York reportedly will begin its search process for a new coach soon
Reports: Tom Thibodeau finalizing 5-year deal to become Knicks head coach
Mike Woodson returns to Knicks as assistant on Tom Thibodeau’s staff
Reports: Knicks plan to hire Leon Rose as new team president
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Dalton Returns to Cincinnati, Leads Cowboys Over Bengals
Dallas' defense forced three turnovers and scored a touchdown
By Mitch Stacy • Published December 13, 2020 • Updated on December 13, 2020 at 8:07 pm
NBCUniversal, Inc.
Andy Dalton was good enough in his return to Cincinnati, tossing two touchdown passes and helping lead the Dallas Cowboys to a 30-7 win over the Bengals on Sunday.
Cincinnati greatly contributed to the cause of its longtime quarterback, who was playing in Paul Brown Stadium for the first time since he was cast aside by the team before the season. The Bengals fumbled the ball away on their first three drives, one fumble returned for a touchdown, and leading to 17 first-half points by the Cowboys (4-9). That was all they needed.
The homecoming for Dalton, the starting quarterback for the Bengals for nine seasons, was the storyline leading up to a game between two injury-plagued teams whose seasons are all but lost.
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Dalton was serviceable, going 16 for 23 for 185 yards, as the Cowboys stayed in contention in the weak NFC East. He threw an 11-yard, second-quarter touchdown to Amari Cooper, and hit Tony Pollard for a 7-yard score with 2:00 left in the game.
The Bengals (2-10-1), whose offense has struggled mightily since quarterback Joe Burrow was lost to a knee injury on Nov. 22, got in a hole early and couldn't dig themselves out.
On the first Cincinnati drive, running back Giovani Bernard fumbled for the first time in 830 carries, leading to a Dallas field goal. The Bengals were driving on the next series when running back Trayveon Williams' fumble was recovered by linebacker Aldon Smith and returned 78 yards for a touchdown.
On Cincinnati's third drive, receiver Alex Erickson lost the handle after a hand-off. The recovery by Jaylon Smith set up a 53-yard Dallas drive capped by the Dalton-to-Cooper TD pass.
Cincinnati got within 10 at the end of the first half when Brandon Allen threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Green, but that was it.
Greg Zuerlein added two second-half field goals for Dallas.
ANDY COME HOME
Dalton was the face of the franchise, led Cincinnati to the playoffs from 2011-15, and holds most of the team's passing records. He was released a week after the Bengals snagged Burrow, the Heisman Trophy winner, with the top pick in the NFL draft last spring.
Dalton signed with the Cowboys as a backup, and stepped in when Dak Prescott went down. He missed time with a concussion and COVID-19, but improved to 2-4 as the starter with the win over his former team.
Cowboys: CB Saivion Smith left with a hand injury in the fourth quarter and didn't return.
Bengals: Allen injured his right leg late in the game and didn't return. Ryan Finley replaced him on the last drive.
The Cowboys host the 49ers next Sunday.
The Bengals get a Monday night home game against the Steelers on Dec. 21.
Click here to listen to the newest episode of the NBC 5 Sports podcast.
CowboysAndy Dalton
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Inquiry: Climate data not manipulated
The University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, was at the center of the climate controversy.Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP
March 30, 2010, 10:52 PM UTC / Source: msnbc.com news services
The first of several British investigations into the e-mails leaked from one of the world's leading climate research centers has largely vindicated the scientists involved.
The House of Commons' Science and Technology Committee said they had seen no evidence to support charges that the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit or its director, Phil Jones, had tampered with data or perverted the peer review process to exaggerate the threat of global warming — two of the most serious criticisms levied against the climatologist and his colleagues.
In their report released Wednesday, the committee said that, as far as it was able to ascertain, "the scientific reputation of Professor Jones and CRU remains intact," adding that nothing in the more than 1,000 stolen e-mails, or the controversy kicked up by their publication, challenged scientific consensus that "global warming is happening and that it is induced by human activity."
The 14-member committee's investigation is one of three launched after the dissemination, in November, of e-mails and data stolen from the research unit.
The e-mails appeared to show scientists berating skeptics in sometimes intensely personal attacks, discussing ways to shield their data from public records laws, and discussing ways to keep skeptics' research out of peer-reviewed journals.
One that attracted particular media attention was Jones' reference to a "trick" that could be used to "hide the decline" of temperatures.
"Hide the decline" was not an attempt to conceal data but was scientific shorthand for discarding erroneous data, the committee concluded. Similarly, Jones intended "trick" to mean a neat way of handling evidence, rather than anything underhanded, the inquiry found.
The e-mails' publication ahead of the Copenhagen climate change summit sparked an online furor, with skeptics of manmade climate change calling the e-mails' publication "Climategate" and claiming them as proof that the science behind global warming had been exaggerated — or even made up altogether.
The lawmakers said they decided to investigate due to "the serious implications for U.K. science."
Some e-mails 'appalling'
Phil Willis, the committee's chairman, said of the e-mails that "there's no denying that some of them were pretty appalling."
But the committee found no evidence of anything beyond "a blunt refusal to share data," adding that the idea that Jones was part of a conspiracy to hide evidence that weakened the case for global warming was clearly wrong.
In a briefing to journalists ahead of the report's release, Willis said the controversy would ultimately help buttress the case for global warming by forcing the University East Anglia — and other research institutions — to stop hoarding their data.
"The winner in the end will be climate science itself," he said.
The winner on Wednesday was Jones, who stepped down temporarily as chief of the climate research unit about week after the e-mail scandal broke. The committee expressed sympathy with Jones, whom Willis said had been made a scapegoat for larger problems within the climate science community.
"The focus on Professor Jones and the CRU has been largely misplaced," the report said.
But the lawmakers did criticize the way Jones and his colleagues handled freedom of information requests, saying scientists could have saved themselves a lot of trouble by aggressively publishing all their data instead of worrying about how to stonewall their critics.
"The culture of non-disclosure at CRU and instances where information may have been deleted to avoid disclosure, particularly to climate change skeptics, we felt was reprehensible," Willis told reporters.
Deeper inquiries promised
Lawmakers stressed that their report — which was written after only a single day of oral testimony — did not cover all the issues and would not be as in-depth as the two other inquiries into the e-mail scandal that are still pending and which were instigated by the University of East Anglia.
Willis said the lawmakers had been in a rush to publish something before Britain's next national election, which is widely expected in just over a month's time.
"Clearly we would have liked to spend more time of this," he said, before adding jokingly: "We had to get something out before we were sent packing."
One of the two pending inquiries is being headed by former civil servant Muir Russell, who is looking into whether scientists, including Jones, fudged data or manipulated the peer review process. It also is examining the extent to which university followed applicable freedom of information laws. That report is due to report sometime this spring.
Geologist Ernest Oxburgh is leading a parallel investigation into the integrity of the science itself, one staffed by academics including Kerry Emanuel, a professor of meteorology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Huw Davies, a former president of the International Association of Meteorology & Atmospheric Science.
The committee said that climate scientists had to be much more open in future — for example by publishing all their data, including raw data and the software programs used to interpret them, to the Internet. Willis said there was far too much money at stake not to be completely transparent.
"Governments across the world are spending trillions of pounds, or trillions of dollars, on mitigating climate change. The science has got to be irreproachable," he said.
The full House of Commons report
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Library of Congress Acquires Collection of Gay Rights Pioneer
Lilli Vincenz's collection includes 10,000 items including a rare 16-mm film that she made of an early gay rights protest in Philadelphia
Published July 25, 2013 • Updated on July 25, 2013 at 6:04 pm
The Library of Congress has acquired the papers, photographs, films and memorabilia of gay rights pioneer Lilli Vincenz, the nation's largest library announced Thursday.
Vincenz joined the first gay rights protest in front of the White House in 1965 with group leader Frank Kameny and about 10 others, and she marched in annual July 4th demonstrations in Philadelphia.
Vincenz's collection includes 10,000 items, the library said. It includes two rare 16-mm films Vincenz made of an early gay rights protest in Philadelphia and the first gay pride parade in New York City in 1970, one year after the Stonewall Riots.
Her footage has appeared in other films and documentaries about the history of the gay rights movement.
A longtime resident of the capital suburb of Arlington, Va., Vincenz was one of the first lesbian members of the Mattachine Society of Washington, a gay rights organization. She was the first editor of its newsletter, The Homosexual Citizen.
Born in 1937 in Hamburg, Germany, Vincenz immigrated to the United States and attended college before serving in the U.S. Army. She was honorably discharged because of her sexual orientation.
That's when she contacted Kameny, who had been fired from his job as a government astronomer because he was gay. Vincenz went on to earn a Ph.D. in psychology.
She and her spouse, Nancy Ruth Davis, were married in Key West, Fla., in 1986. Together, the two founded the Empowerment Group for People Living with AIDS in Arlington, Va., in the 1980s and later the Community for Creative Self-Development, which hosts forums and workshops.
The collection will join the library's Manuscript Division. Its holdings include more than 11,500 collections that document U.S. history from colonial times to present day. Kameny's papers also were donated to the library in 2006.
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Working Together to Build Demand
This is a guest editorial, provided to NCGA by Geoff Cooper - President and CEO, Renewable Fuels Association.
At the Renewable Fuels Association, our “reason for being” is really quite simple: Build new markets and grow demand. In fact, RFA’s mission statement is crystal clear on this point: Drive expanded demand for American-made renewable fuels and bioproducts worldwide.
We know this cannot be accomplished alone. We realize building demand for ethanol and its coproducts is important not just for RFA’s ethanol producer members, but also for those who supply them—our nation’s corn farmers. For this reason, we are extremely grateful for our strong and long-standing relationship with NCGA and our ability to collaborate on important demand creation programs.
The recent collaboration on the USDA’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program is one of the best examples of our work together. With support from the corn growers, RFA was able to assist three dozen retailer chains with the exhaustive grant application process. The result? A 100% success rate for the applicants! These applications cover more than 200 retail locations across 21 states that collectively sell more than 250 million gallons of gasoline annually. In total, RFA provided services and assistance for $21 million in grant requests which are now being fulfilled by USDA. When matched with another $31 million in private funding, this represents a total investment in higher blends infrastructure of more than $52 million.
RFA strongly believes in providing consumers with more fuel options, and we know that, while E10 has been the de facto regular fuel for some time, now is the time to evolve to higher ethanol blends. As automakers seek greater fuel efficiency and as the public grows increasingly concerned about environmental health, America needs a homegrown, clean fuel that is higher in octane and lower in carbon emissions. Higher blends of ethanol are the most promising way to move rapidly into this greener future. But we can’t modernize our engines and fuels unless we also modernize our refueling infrastructure. That’s why programs like HBIIP and NCGA’s partnership with Wayne Fueling Systems are so important.
The next step on the road to high-octane, low-carbon fuels is E15. Presently, only a few states remain as holdouts on approving the use of E15. Again with your support and collaboration, RFA is working diligently on a testing program to secure E15 approval in California, the nation’s largest fuel market. This work includes auto exhaust emissions testing on late-model cars at the University of California at Riverside, followed by evaporative emissions testing to prove that E15 is the best blend for the Golden State. Again, this work would not be possible without the help of corn checkoff support and staff expertise.
Finally, I cannot stress enough the importance of the support RFA received from NCGA and state organizations when the time came to take the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to court over small refinery exemptions. After all, protecting the RFS means protecting demand for both ethanol and corn. It is no exaggeration to say that our victory in January’s Tenth Circuit Court decision in RFA et al. v. EPA may finally mean the death of the small refinery exemptions that have been eroding RFS requirements. This wasn’t the first time RFA and NCGA partnered on litigation to safeguard our markets, and it likely won’t be the last.
Believe it or not, RFA is entering its 40th year in operation in 2021. That means we’ve been working arm-in-arm with corn growers for four decades to build demand and create opportunities for rural America. We’ve come a long way together, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with NCGA to expand and create markets for decades to come.
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November 7, 2016 Issue
Red Neighbor, Blue Neighbor
You have a Clinton sign on your lawn. He has a Trump sign on his. Can you get along?
By Joshua Rothman
Earlier this year, the small Long Island town where I live—a seaside village of a few thousand people—held its municipal election. The choice was between a party that favored development and another that opposed it, and the lead-up to the vote was tense. Leaflets flooded mailboxes. Signs, bigger each week, sprouted on lawns. On Facebook, voters insulted the candidates and one another with frank exuberance; around dinner tables, talk was of the irreparable damage one party or the other would inflict on village life. “It really is a shame that every four years the Village has to deal with the smut and name calling that has seemingly become a tradition,” one party spokesperson lamented on Facebook. Perhaps, the spokesperson continued, this was symptomatic of a broader condition: elections across the country appeared to have “degenerated” and become “hate filled.”
As Election Day looms, we’re enraged by neighbors we’ve grown to like and trust.Illustration by Nishant Choksi
As election day approached, life in the village seemed to have divided into two streams—a neighborly stream, which ran pure and clear, and a political stream, which was muddied and turbulent. When you met a neighbor in line at the pharmacy, it was easy to get along. But at home, contemplating his political position—or, worse, reading about it online—you were filled with contempt and disbelief. People were friendly on the street but angry in their heads; they chatted amiably in person but waged war online. They liked and loathed one another simultaneously, becoming polarized not just politically but emotionally. As the weeks passed, we were doubly in suspense. We wanted to know which party would win, but also whether our town could return to normal. Feelings had been aroused that seemed incompatible with neighborly life. Where would they go?
Our local political spokesman was right, of course, to say that our town’s experience was typical. Across America, at moments of extreme political polarization, it is as though a veil had been lifted. Walking the dog one morning, you notice a Trump sign planted in the yard across the street. You’ve known that family for years—but now, you feel, some fundamental fact about them has been revealed. Later, when you run into them at the park, you find yourself talking about the Giants, the weather, or the kids, as usual. Your neighbors don’t seem any more evil than they did last year. Questions cluster. If Trump weren’t running for President—if the Republican nominee had been Ted Cruz—would that sign have been as revelatory? When your neighbors see your Hillary sign, do they, too, have an “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” moment? And what about when the election is over? What should you do with all the anger and disdain you feel for neighbors who are, in your view, poised to destroy America?
At the heart of these questions is the relationship between politics and everyday life. Politics matters enormously; it’s right to care, to feel alarmed, and to argue. At times, it seems frivolous to look at life through any other lens. And yet politics can become a poisonous influence in our lives. Like a tacky filter on Instagram, it can color our perceptions too radically; it can play too large a role in the construction of our identities and social lives. It fills us with unwanted passionate intensity. Perhaps, somewhere in the territory of the self, a border marks the place where our lives as citizens end and our sovereignty as individuals begins. If such a border exists, though, it doesn’t feel very secure.
The search for a division between civic life and neighborly life is the subject of Nancy Rosenblum’s “Good Neighbors: The Democracy of Everyday Life in America” (Princeton). Rosenblum, a political scientist at Harvard, has spent her career investigating how political and social life intersect. In “Good Neighbors,” she draws on a wide range of historical, literary, and sociological sources—from the stories of Raymond Carver to an ethnography of Crown Heights, Brooklyn—to produce a kaleidoscopic picture of American neighborliness. She concludes that we live in two democracies: a political democracy, in which we function as citizens, and a “democracy of everyday life,” in which we function as neighbors. These two democracies operate separately, and often at cross-purposes.
Politics, Rosenblum points out, hinges on abstractions. To participate in political life, one must adopt an abstract identity (“progressive,” “conservative”) and stand up for abstract ideas (“equality,” “liberty,” “American exceptionalism”). We tend to justify our political positions by citing airy principles: the separation of church and state, the efficiency of the market. Neighborhood life, by contrast, is practical and concrete. When our neighbors approach us on the sidewalk, they do so as idiosyncratic individuals, rather than as embodiments of sociopolitical categories. The quality of neighborly life hinges not on abstractions but on actions. Do her Friday-night dance parties disturb your sleep? Does his leaf blower gust upon your yard? It’s on this “plane of repeated mundane encounters,” Rosenblum writes, that neighborly relationships succeed or fail.
The essence of neighborliness, she finds, is reciprocity: one good turn for another. And yet neighbors, unlike friends, don’t always share tastes and interests, and so end up trading unlike goods. (“He is all pine and I am apple orchard,” as Robert Frost puts it, in “Mending Wall.”) You give me vegetables from your garden and, in exchange, I make you kimchi; in return for your babysitting, I shovel your driveway; I compliment your outfits and you ignore my Airbnb. Are we even? It’s hard to say, not least because neighbors so often exchange goods unintentionally. You enjoy my wily cat and my well-tended lawn; I delight in the antics of your eccentric family. These unacknowledged and perhaps unconscious exchanges contribute to our neighborly concord. In “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Scout’s reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley, leaves gifts for her—chewing gum, twine, Indian-head pennies—in the hollow of a tree; she feels guilty for never giving him anything in return. But “Scout’s regular presence,” Rosenblum writes, was itself a gift: she and her friends made Boo’s life more interesting just by being kids.
This nebulous give-and-take contributes to “the delicacy of neighbor relations.” So does the fact that neighbors stick around. We may encounter our neighbors in spontaneous situations, but we can’t react to them spontaneously. Instead, we have to consider the long-term consequences of our actions. If a couple fighting in the next apartment is keeping us awake, we might want to bang on the wall. But, because they are neighbors, we think about the future. We wonder if it will be awkward to run into them in the elevator tomorrow. In the face of too much information, we cultivate a studied ignorance. Throughout American history, Rosenblum finds, the word we have used to describe our neighbors is “decent”: good neighbors are “decent folk.” Decency, here, is a circumspect sort of virtue. Being decent doesn’t necessarily mean being good. It means accepting the flaws in others and returning, despite disruptions and disappointments, to the predictable rhythms of reciprocity. And that often requires the setting aside of principles—the adoption of an attitude of “live and let live.” When we praise the decency of our neighbors, Rosenblum writes, we are making a moral judgment—“but a limited one.”
There are times, of course, when neighborly life becomes more ethically demanding. Many of the stories in “Good Neighbors” are about bad neighbors. Years ago, Rosenblum found herself in a war with a “noise bully” in her building whose air-conditioning unit was so loud that it tormented the family who lived next to him. Rosenblum and her neighbors banded together to try to force him to remove it. The noise bully, Rosenblum writes, “motivated this project,” and he is a recurring character in “Good Neighbors”—a cross between Dr. Moriarty and Newman, from “Seinfeld.”
But bad neighbors don’t always mean to be bad. In Willa Cather’s “My Ántonia,” two families, the Burdens and the Shimerdas, find themselves living near one another on the Nebraska frontier. Although the Burdens are relatively well-off Virginians and the Shimerdas are impoverished immigrants, they put aside their differences to exchange companionship, supplies, and advice. But the relationship doesn’t last. The Shimerdas receive gifts from the Burdens but are too isolated and disorganized to reciprocate, and the Burdens come to think of the Shimerdas as incompetent freeloaders. Neighborliness, Rosenblum notes, is often portrayed sentimentally—“Little House on the Prairie,” “Home Improvement”—but its rules are brutally practical. Charity cases like the Shimerdas are denied the “moral identity” of being good neighbors.
When society is pushed to the brink—by war, violence, or disaster—some neighbors renounce that identity, while others embrace it. Rosenblum tells the story of James Cameron, an African-American teen-ager who, in 1930, was charged, along with two friends, with murder and rape. Around ten thousand people gathered outside the jail where Cameron was being held, demanding that he and his friends be hanged. Cameron’s friends were dragged out and killed; when he was led through the crowd, he recognized “people I had grown to love and respect as friends and neighbors . . . neighbors whose lawns I had mowed and whose cars I had washed and polished.” Cameron found this neighborly betrayal “impossible to explain.”
Japanese-Americans sent to internment camps during the nineteen-forties felt a similar horror when, after waving goodbye to their neighbors, they received no recognition in return. The sharp pain of these betrayals, Rosenblum argues, derives from the faith we place in neighborliness. When politics turns against us—when we can’t trust Congress, the courts, or the police—we still look to neighborliness as a source of “democratic hope untethered to public political institutions.” We pray that our neighbors will remember how well they know us and, restrained by the pull of “quotidian life at home,” find themselves unable to treat us like bogeymen.
That hope isn’t entirely unfounded. Rosenblum tells of a group of families who, appalled by the idea of internment, threw a surprise party for their Japanese-American neighbors, giving them “gifts of heavy pants and nightgowns to wear in the camps.” In another town, a man worked his Japanese neighbors’ orchards, saving the proceeds and handing them over upon their return. In many firsthand accounts of communal viciousness, participants recover their better selves when confronted with a reminder of everyday life—“a memory, a familiar gesture in the present, the appearance of a person they know from home.” Moments before James Cameron was to be killed—he survived and went on to become a civil-rights activist—he heard a woman’s voice pleading for his life. Cameron thought she was the Virgin Mary, but Rosenblum suggests that she might have been a neighbor. In another account of Cameron’s near-lynching, Rosenblum learns of a thirteen-year-old African-American girl who happened to be walking toward the courthouse. In the street, she encountered a familiar man—a Klansman—who lived near her house and knew her parents. He drove her home.
Rosenblum is careful to point out that these moments of neighborly kindness aren’t, strictly speaking, political. In fact, they are anti-political. They come about because neighbors insist on relating to one another as individuals, rather than as members of parties or groups; they flow from the neighborly principle of one good turn for another, rather than from a political principle such as the universal rights of man. All the same, it’s tempting to see this kind of neighborliness as a potential cure for our political ills. Call it the unified theory of democratic life: good neighbors make for good citizens, and vice versa. A version of this popular notion lies behind the “town hall meetings” staged by campaigns and news networks, which aim to smooth the rough edges of political disagreement by invoking a mood of open-minded neighborliness. It also serves as a consoling touchstone in political speeches.
“For all our blind spots and shortcomings,” President Obama said, in last year’s State of the Union address, “we are a people with the strength and generosity of spirit to bridge divides, to unite in common effort, to help our neighbors, whether down the street or on the other side of the world.” This summer, speaking about the five police officers slain by a gunman in Dallas, Obama said that “America is not as divided as some have suggested.” He cited Americans’ “unity in recognizing that this is not how we want our communities to operate.” In both cases, the implication was that, by tapping into a reservoir of neighborly good will, we might arrest the slide into polarized dysfunction. This is a comforting idea. As individual voters, we can do very little to reform our broken political system, or to change the apocalyptic tenor of today’s political campaigns. But, as neighbors and friends, we can redeem politics through ordinary human decency.
Rosenblum is skeptical of this theory. She describes it as a species of “social and political holism.” Instead, she argues, American life is characterized by “pluralism.” That word usually connotes something like multiculturalism—e pluribus unum—but Rosenblum uses it to describe individuals, rather than society as a whole. As individuals, she writes, “we are many-sided, if not protean, personalities,” and we each inhabit many “differentiated spheres with their own identifiable norms and institutions.” We are, simultaneously, citizens, workers, neighbors, parents, lovers, and souls; in each of these spheres, we observe and uphold different rules and values. Sometimes these values are in conflict with one another. But “preservation of multiple spheres is the great promise and charge of liberal democracy,” Rosenblum maintains.
“Good Neighbors” is one of several recent books that, at a moment when politics feels all-pervasive, aim to reclaim some space for apolitical life. Earlier this year, in “On Friendship” (Basic), the philosopher Alexander Nehamas traced a route similar to Rosenblum’s: quoting C. S. Lewis, he argued that friendship is “a sort of secession, even a rebellion,” from our lives as citizens. Civic and professional life force us into socioeconomic, racial, and political categories. In many cases, Nehamas writes, “it is through our friends and through them only that we find the space, the means, and the strength to refuse to become what the world around us would have us be.” In another recent book, “Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging” (Twelve), the journalist Sebastian Junger examines the enduring appeal of life in small groups, hived off from mass society. Soldiers in combat, Junger writes, “all but ignore differences of race, religion, and politics” within their platoons; in such environments, “individuals are assessed simply by what they are willing to do for the group.” This is what they miss when they return from deployment.
Pluralism feels good in practice. It’s in theory that it’s hard to accept. In “Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity,” published in 1989, the philosopher Richard Rorty placed the yearning for ethical consistency at the root of Western thought. From Plato onward, Rorty wrote, moral philosophers have attempted “to bring together the public and the private, the parts of the state and the parts of the soul, the search for social justice and the search for individual perfection.” The goal was, in effect, to create a universal list of virtues, which applied equally to children, parents, spouses, citizens, and generals. No such list exists. The qualities that make you a good boss won’t necessarily make you a good parent; the qualities we value in a romantic partner may not be the ones we value in a friend. The word “good” means different things in different spheres. Our values aren’t conveniently unified. They’re discontinuous.
And yet a variety of forces push us toward holism. Transparency is one of them: when your e-mails are leaked, or your hot-mike blunders are unearthed, your “protean” personality becomes a vulnerability. Social media, too, tend to make us more holistic, because they construe the airing of political views as an act of friendship. And the moral arguments in favor of holism are powerful. Activists seek to live holistic lives, and we often admire them for it. On college campuses, meanwhile, an “intersectional” approach to identity promises to make it impossible to ignore differences of race, religion, and politics; by bringing every aspect of one’s identity to bear on every situation, moral consistency might be achieved. It’s the opposite of life in a platoon.
The intensity of this year’s Presidential campaign has made the allure of holism particularly potent. Four years ago, Obama voters and Romney voters may have thought each other deeply misguided. But this year many Trump supporters believe that Hillary Clinton is a corrupt liar who ought to be in jail, while many Clinton supporters believe that Trump is an American Mussolini. We look at each other with a new level of horror. It’s tempting to commit a kind of moral synecdoche—to take a part (e.g., voting for Trump) for a whole (being a bad person). To the extent that we avoid this, it’s by adopting a pluralistic view of the people around us. We recognize that, with one part of themselves, they may sincerely hold views that we abhor, while, with another, they may exercise virtues that we admire. This position represents more than a pragmatic shrug. In its strongest form, pluralism is a theory of selfhood. American democracy, Rosenblum thinks, is founded on this theory. We have in common the understanding that we contain multitudes. Reconciling ourselves to the contradictions of pluralism is what makes it possible for us to unite as a people.
By contrast, truly holistic societies—those committed to the coördinated enforcement of norms—tend to be repressive. Totalitarian regimes, Rosenblum writes, enforce holism through informants, housing committees, and other forms of neighborly surveillance, at the cost of the “political derangement of the lives of people living side by side.” And yet neighbors living in democracies can derange themselves, too. They use political rhetoric to intensify everyday tensions; they judge one another by abstract political standards. Rosenblum quotes from Jonathan Franzen’s “Freedom,” in which, driven by ordinary envy and jealousy, neighbors turn on one of their own—a kind, attractive, and well-liked woman who bakes cookies for the neighborhood kids and babysits for free. They dismiss these good turns by charging her with the political crime of being a faux-progressive gentrifier. “There was no larger consciousness, no solidarity, no political substance, no fungible structure, no true communitarianism to [her] supposed neighborliness, it was all just regressive housewifely bullshit,” one neighbor complains. In short, the unified theory of democratic life can be applied in reverse. If someone’s a bad citizen, then she must be a bad neighbor, too.
It’s easy to apply this logic in 2016. Pluralism provides a bulwark against it. It urges us to remember that our neighbors aren’t bad people all the time—just when they think about politics. The reverse is true, too, of course. Our “good” political beliefs don’t make us good people all the time. Some of us could probably stand to be a little more pluralist about ourselves.
This summer, after our village held its election, we stopped caring what our neighbors thought about zoning; we returned to seeing one another as regular people who might watch our kids or borrow our kayaks. That state of affairs lasted for about a month, until the Presidential election gained steam. Thankfully, given Rosenblum’s analysis, it seems likely to return when the election is over.
And yet it can also be alarming to think that neighborly and political life are entirely different streams. Their separation makes it possible for neighborliness to survive alongside political disharmony—but it also means that we can’t rely on neighborliness to save us from political dysfunction. Just as lecturing the noise bully about the Constitution wouldn’t have persuaded him to move his air-conditioner, so a surge in neighborly decency won’t solve political polarization. The only way to redeem our politics is with better politics.
We already know how to become a less polarized country. Redistricting reform would help. So would more political participation in local and midterm elections among centrist voters. (Right now, those elections are skewed by voters with more partisan views.) A little less Facebook wouldn’t hurt, either. But pluralism may protect neighborly life a little too well. Much of the time, our own neighborly decency deceives us; it insulates us from the true craziness of political life. After the election, the return of neighborliness will be reassuring. It shouldn’t be. The political stream is still tumbling along out there, as turbulent as ever. ♦
Published in the print edition of the November 7, 2016, issue, with the headline “The Enemy Next Door.”
Joshua Rothman, the ideas editor of newyorker.com, has been at The New Yorker since 2012.
More:BooksCivilityElectionsNeighborsPolitics
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Thierry Despont has transformed New York City landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, and now the Cartier mansion.
A Critic at Large
Long Division
Measuring the polarization of American politics.
By Jill Lepore
Letter from California
The great suburban leaf war.
By Tad Friend
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Tape Subject Log
oval692.pdf
Conversation 692-001
On March 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:56 pm and 4:03 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 692-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon, Richard M. (President)
On March 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:03 pm to 5:04 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 692-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon, Richard M. (President), Ziegler, Ronald L.
On March 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Marshall Green, John H. Holdridge, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., White House photographer, unknown person(s), White House photographer, Stephen B. Bull, and members of the press met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:08 pm to 5:02 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 692-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon, Richard M. (President), Green, Marshall, Holdridge, John H., Haig, Alexander M., Jr., White House photographer, [Unknown person(s)], White House photographer, Bull, Stephen B.
On March 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:17 pm to 5:22 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 692-005 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon, Richard M. (President), Butterfield, Alexander P.
On March 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), White House operator, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Charles W. Colson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:23 pm to 6:24 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 692-007 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon, Richard M. (President), Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"), [Unknown person(s)], White House operator, Ziegler, Ronald L., Colson, Charles W.
On March 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Manolo Sanchez, and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:24 pm to 6:27 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 692-008 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon, Richard M. (President), Sanchez, Manolo, Woods, Rose Mary
On March 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:27 pm to 6:28 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 692-009 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon, Richard M. (President), Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")
On March 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, unknown person(s), and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:27 pm to 6:28 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 692-010 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon, Richard M. (President), [Unknown person(s)], Woods, Rose Mary
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Scrap metal company owner says he scammed customers out of millions
Cinelli Iron & Metal at 310 Secaucus Rd. in Secaucus, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010.(Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal)
By Spencer Kent | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
SECAUCUS -- One of the owners of a Secaucus-based scrap metal business has admitted to his role in a roughly 17-year conspiracy to scam customers out of millions of dollars, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced in a statement.
Craig Cinelli, 47, of Allendale, the minority owner of Cinelli Iron & Metal Co. (CIMCO), pleaded guilty on Thursday to a single count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
David Barteck, 53, of Wood-Ridge, who was the former chief financial officer of CIMCO, and Michael A. Valenti III, 43, of Hasbrouck Heights, who was the former senior vice president of sales at CIMCO, pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy earlier this year.
Cinelli's brother, Joseph Cinelli, was arrested and charged in August for his alleged role in the scheme. However, those charges remain pending, the statement said.
From 1999 through March of 2016, Craig Cinelli, Joseph Cinelli, Barteck, Valenti, and others allegedly bought scrap metal from CIMCO's customers for less than the men should have paid and then resold it at a profit, the statement said.
According to officials, instead of paying the agreed-upon price for the actual weight of the scrap metal, the men "used a variety of techniques to misrepresent" the scrap metal's the true weight and type, including "altering documents to reflect a lower weight, removing scrap metal from a haul before it was weighed and misrepresenting the types of scrap metal contained in a haul."
Craig Cinelli admitted that the scheme netted more than $9.5 million but less than $25 million, the statement said.
The conspiracy and wire fraud charges each carry a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, according to officials.
Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 15.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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An amazing bassist of Peruvian decent, Abraham Saenz began his career in NY's specialized high school for the arts (LaGuardia H.S. for the Performing Arts). He furthered his studies in schools like Harlem School of the Arts for jazz and Harbor Conservatory for Latin music in which Abraham was awarded full scholarships for. He began playing with local salsa bands at the age of 16. Eventually, at 17, Abraham joined Juan Carlos Formell's changui quartet where Abraham began extensive studies of Cuban music.
With only a couple of years experience under his belt, he managed to earn a spot in the premiere salsa record label band, the RMM orchestra under the direction of Isidro Infante. (The RMM orchestra was to the Latin scene as the Funk Brothers were to Motown.) Being the youngest member of this band gave him the opportunity to learn from the great Isidro Infante and travel the world. With the RMM orchestra he collaborated in the Latin Grammy award winning concert for Best Salsa Performance, "Celia and Friends: A Night Of Salsa."
Abraham has graced the main stage at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre playing for Pablo Cabrera's musical ''Quien Mato a Hector Lavoe?” and Carmen Rivera's "La Lupe: My Life, My Destiny." He has recorded, performed, and collaborated with musical figures such as Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Alvaro Torres, Tito Nieves, DLG, Lisette Melendez, Isidro Infante, and many more. He has also performed in various festivals in the United States, Peru, Australia, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, Spain, Italy, and in the Caribbean Islands, such as the Tri-C Jazz Festival, El Festival National del Callao, Kalalu Festival of St. Lucia, La Feria de Cali and the Bacardi Sydney Festival among others.
Currently, Abraham can be seen as a member of such musical groups and artists as Jimmy Sabater Jr. y Los Salseros del Hudson, Kevin Ceballo, Groupo Caribe, and the world's best charranga band, Orquesta Broadway, in some of the most famous venues in New York City.
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THE GOAT'S LIQUOR LICENSE NO LONGER IN JEOPARDY AFTER POLICE ENTRAPMENT RULING
The Columbus City Council voted on Monday night to withdraw its objection to The Goat’s liquor-license renewal, after a judge said police had entrapped several of the bar’s employees and found them not guilty of serving alcohol to someone younger than 21. Judge David Tyack ruled that Columbus police detective Steve Rosser induced six of the Northeast Side bar’s employees to sell alcohol to an underage person who came in with him. Three other bar employees pleaded guilty, two of whom received $500 fines. Rosser was involved in each of those cases as well.
According to Tyack’s decision, Rosser was a regular at The Goat, at 5940 New Albany Rd. W., just outside New Albany. The judge noted that Rosser had even played on the bar’s volleyball team and had a previous romantic relationship with a bartender, who now works at a different Goat location. Rosser’s contact information also was displayed at the bar in case someone needed help. “In short, Detective Rosser was both a man and a law enforcement officer who was trusted by these Defendants and considered a friend,” the decision reads. Columbus police did not respond to calls for comment and no manager was available at The Goat to discuss the decision. Jeff Furbee, an assistant city attorney who represents the Police Division, said Tyack’s decision left his office concerned. He said city attorneys are unsure whether this was an isolated issue or something more systemic, but that Columbus police are reviewing it. Bill Sperlazza, an assistant city attorney who handles liquor issues, believes this situation is an outlier, and said he does not have any concerns about this in the future. The city council objected to The Goat’s liquor-license renewal in December, based on a recommendation from the city attorney’s office. Sperlazza said that recommendation was made on the best evidence at the time, and the recommendation changed with the not-guilty verdicts. John Ivanic, a City Council spokesman, said the objection process relies on the case made by the city attorney. If the facts change, he said, then the Council has the ability to withdraw that objection. “The owners still have due process,” he said. A bar can continue to serve alcohol while the objection is being processed, which can take some time.
This year, the city filed objections against two bars for the second consecutive year, because their cases had not been resolved. Matt Mullins, a spokesman for the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, said The Goat’s hearing was scheduled to take place on June 5, but was delayed at the request of the bar. Tyack’s decision was made on June 1.
Read More About THE GOAT'S LIQUOR LICENSE NO LONGER IN JEOPARDY AFTER POLICE ENTRAPMENT RULING...
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What Is Christmas Without Movie Theaters?
0 0 Thursday, December 24, 2020 Edit this post
Can you believe there was once a time when people didn’t flock to multiplexes on Christmas Day, bringing tidings of comfort and joy or a...
Can you believe there was once a time when people didn’t flock to multiplexes on Christmas Day, bringing tidings of comfort and joy or at least an urge to avoid relatives’ small talk? We’ve been calling the world that preceded COVID-19 the Before Times, but the real Before Times date back decades, to an era in which yuletide moviegoing wasn’t yet a ritual. Not even films about Christmas could get the Dec. 25 cash flowing.
“It’s a Wonderful Life,” for example, flopped when it opened ahead of Christmas 1946, failing to convince postwar Americans to interrupt their hallowed celebrations. The following year, 20th Century Fox released another classic, “Miracle on 34th Street,” during the incredibly festive month of … May? Studio chief Darryl Zanuck thought audiences wouldn’t show up otherwise, and Fox’s marketing arm opted not to mention Santa Claus in its summer advertising.
American Jews had been going to the movies (as well as Yiddish theater productions) on Christmas since the age of the nickelodeon, but it wasn’t until the blockbuster exploded in the mid-’70s that studios truly harnessed the tradition’s potential. And oh how they harnessed it, especially as the ’90s waned. Now, the week between Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 tends to attract upwards of $400 million in ticket sales — as much as 5% of an entire year’s box-office totals, according to Comscore.
This year, we will return to the Before Times. Many of us will stay home, our local theaters closed in response to the surging coronavirus rates. The theaters that are operating expect smaller crowds. For the first time in a long time, Hollywood will suffer a sleepy holiday season, at least as far as physical moviegoing is concerned, representing an additional setback for a business whose health is already in question.
Gal Gadot in “Wonder Woman 1984.”
The movies that debut will mostly do so via streaming services. “The Midnight Sky,” a soggy apocalyptic thriller directed by and starring George Clooney, premiered Wednesday on Netflix, marking the company’s attempt to unleash another winter smash in the vein of “Bright” and “Bird Box.” Friday — aka Christmas, in case you, too, are having trouble tracking which day is which — brings the launch of three titles that could have been major moneymakers: Pixar’s “Soul” (available exclusively on Disney+), the costly superhero sequel “Wonder Woman 1984” (available on HBO Max and in select theaters) and the stately Tom Hanks drama “News of the World” (in select theaters and heading to video-on-demand platforms in January). Meanwhile, the awards-season contenders “Promising Young Woman” and “One Night in Miami” will get brief releases before going digital next month.
Gone is the collective enthusiasm that accompanies a much-heralded theatrical bow, when people take their well-fed families to sit among strangers and experience the electricity of a new movie projected onto a huge screen. A Christmas or Christmas-adjacent release helped to eventize some of the past 30 years’ defining films. Such movies have the momentum of a summer blockbuster but gain a key advantage by way of the proverbial dead zone, that period before New Year’s when many Americans are off work, out of school and granted the luxury of simultaneous leisure. Going to the movies in late December has a sort of spiritual allure, like a reward for surviving the year and putting up with annual family dynamics. Entertainment is no frilly diversion — it’s a right. It’s something we’ve earned.
Getty Images via Getty Images
Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in “You’ve Got Mail,” released Dec. 18, 1998.
“The Godfather: Part III,” “Waiting to Exhale,” “Titanic,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” six “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” epics, “Dreamgirls,” “Night at the Museum,” “It’s Complicated” and four “Star Wars” installments have capitalized on the holidays’ commercial spoils. Two lucrative “Little Women” adaptations — 1994’s and 2019’s, the latter masterfully directed by Greta Gerwig — arrived, rather appropriately given the story’s snowy trappings, alongside the proverbial Messiah. And Hanks himself might as well be anointed Father Christmas considering “Philadelphia,” “Toy Story,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “The Green Mile,” “Cast Away,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Charlie Wilson’s War,” “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” and “The Post” all opened in December.
The memory of seeing those movies (or so many others) is more palpable because it occurred on or around a day that looms so large in the popular consciousness. I’ll never forget the sold-out showing of “Into the Woods” I attended with my Louisiana family in 2014, where a quarter of the audience walked out before the musical’s final song was over. Or the time my granny and I saw “Spanglish” while the rest of the group chose “Meet the Fockers.”
Maybe you’ll watch “Soul” and “Wonder Woman 1984” at home with your family or friends this week. Maybe you’ll watch them alone because you’re social distancing, which is how you prefer to go to the movies anyway. Maybe not going to the movies on Christmas Day won’t faze you because nothing about 2020 indicates that something so aggressively normal should even be possible. Regardless, this is a tradition stolen not by the uncompromising forces of capitalism and technology, which have digitized our viewing habits, but by a pandemic that has uprooted our personal freedoms. “Whoa, this is the first time in 15+ years my family won’t be going to the movies on Christmas Day,” one New Jersey woman wrote on Twitter last month.
Anika Noni Rose, Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson in “Dreamgirls,” released Dec. 15, 2006.
I wish we could say for sure that next year will be better. I hope it will. The vaccine is here, and theaters across the country may be functioning again, letting us gather to soak up Steven Spielberg’s delayed “West Side Story,” a new “Spider-Man” and an original showbiz drama from “La La Land” director Damien Chazelle that’s slated to star Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt. But already there’s turmoil. Warner Bros. announced earlier this month that all of its 2021 titles — including “Dune,” which was supposed to open last week and will now premiere in October, and “The Matrix 4” — will premiere on HBO Max the same day they hit theaters, setting a risky precedent within the industry by incentivizing everyone to stay home even if COVID-19 has ended.
Without Christmas at the movies, we lose a slice of pop culture that we share in a practical sense, one that requires a more concerted effort than a remote control can offer. We lose a custom that provides an excuse to slow down, to revel in something restorative. We lose a place to take our meddlesome in-laws, where we get to disappear from the year’s frenzy, even if just for a few hours.
Newsrust: What Is Christmas Without Movie Theaters?
https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/5fe0e0d22600005900a4f529.jpeg?cache=lqasvvwsaz&ops=1778_1000
https://www.newsrust.com/2020/12/what-is-christmas-without-movie-theaters.html
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Authorities investigating after threat to attack Capitol: report
0 0 Wednesday, January 6, 2021 Edit this post
Federal officials are reportedly investigating after a threat was sent to air traffic controllers to attack the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday...
Federal officials are reportedly investigating after a threat was sent to air traffic controllers to attack the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in retaliation for the 2020 assassination of a top Iranian general.
The audio, reportedly sent to air traffic controllers in New York and obtained by CBS News, says “We are flying a plane into the Capitol on Wednesday. [Gen. Qassem] Soleimani will be avenged.”
Officials do not believe the threat to be credible but are investigating the frequency breach, according to CBS. The Defense Department and intelligence agencies have been briefed on the matter. Sources told the network that regardless of whether the threat itself is plausible, the intrusion itself is considered far more worrisome for its potential to interfere with communications between the controllers and pilots.
The message was received on Jan. 3, the first anniversary of the U.S.’s killing of Soleimani at a Baghdad airport. The possibility of retaliation from Iran to mark the anniversary has been a major concern for the U.S. In the immediate aftermath of the killing, Iran launched an attack on a Baghdad airbase housing U.S. troops, killing none but injuring several.
This week, Iran called on the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a “red notice” for Trump’s arrest in connection with Soleimani’s killing. The international agency’s general secretariat told NPR it is “strictly forbidden for the Organization to undertake any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character” and that it will not act on Iran’s request.
Tensions are also expected to be high in Washington on Wednesday as a joint session of Congress formally votes to certify President-elect Joe Biden Joe BidenThe Memo: Georgia voters deliver blow to Trump Warnock win puts Democrats within reach of Senate majority Eric Trump warns of primary challenges for Republicans who don’t object to election results MORE’s Electoral College win. Numerous far-right groups have traveled to the city in an attempt to pressure lawmakers to vote to overturn the results of the election.
“The Federal Aviation Administration works closely with federal law enforcement and national security partners on any reported security threats that may impact aviation safety,” an FAA spokesperson told The Hill in a statement.
A spokesperson for the FBI’s New York field office declined to comment but told The Hill that the bureau “takes all threats of violence to public safety seriously.”
Newsrust: Authorities investigating after threat to attack Capitol: report
https://thehill.com/sites/default/files/article_images/airtrafficcontrol03022015getty.jpg
https://www.newsrust.com/2021/01/authorities-investigating-after-threat.html
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State-owned Chinese bank rolls out ATMs for digital yuan
0 0 Monday, January 11, 2021 Edit this post
China’s efforts to develop a centrally-issued digital currency took a leap forward on Sunday as the state-owned Agricultural Bank of Chin...
China’s efforts to develop a centrally-issued digital currency took a leap forward on Sunday as the state-owned Agricultural Bank of China launched the first digital yuan ATMs.
Customers at select branches within the Shenzen region have reportedly begun spending and converting the digital yuan they received as part of China’s “red envelope” lottery, which saw $3 million worth of the new currency gifted to 100,000 local citizens.
The ATMs reportedly allow the deposit and withdrawal of digital yuan via a smartphone app and allow users to convert cash and savings to and from the central bank digital currency.
The Agricultural Bank of China is one of the country’s “big-four” state-owned banks, which collectively represent the four largest banking institutions in the world. Manager of the bank’s Digital Yuan Innovation Lab, Zou Hua, said the ATM rollout was part of efforts to guide citizens towards the eventual digitization of cash.
“Agricultural Bank has taken the lead in launching the ATM cash deposit and withdrawal function in the industry to guide Shenzhen residents to adapt to the digitization of cash and explore service transformation,” he said
Reports in the Shenzen Daily suggest that the accelerated progress of the digital yuan pilot could indicate a large-scale rollout within the year. However, in December, the former governor of the People’s Bank of China played down the notion that the digital yuan would replace international fiat currencies, adding that China had enacted a more cautious approach after witnessing the global pushback against Facebook’s Libra project.
China is regarded as a pioneer in central bank digital currencies . Its digital yuan is expected to act as the cashless payment method within China’s “smart cities” in the coming years.
Cryptocurrency Finance
Newsrust: State-owned Chinese bank rolls out ATMs for digital yuan
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https://www.newsrust.com/2021/01/state-owned-chinese-bank-rolls-out-atms.html
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Immigration enforcement officers arrest man and woman
Two individuals were found at an Acton address with out-of-date visas
Danya BazaraaNews Reporter
Immigration offenders from Thailand have been arrested following an operation at a residential property in Acton.
Home Office immigration enforcement officers visited a flat in Gunnersbury Lane at about 6am yesterday (January 28), acting on intelligence and questioning individuals on their right to be in the UK.
They arrested a 41-year-old woman and 51-year-old man who had overstayed their visas.
The woman was detained pending removal from the country, while the man has been placed on immigration bail but also faces removal from the country if found to have no leave to remain.
Sarah Burton, Head of the West London Home Office Immigration Enforcement team, said: “We will continue to take action against those who are in the country illegally.
“I would urge members of the public with detailed information about suspected immigration abuse to get in touch.”
Anyone with information can contact www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/contact/report-crime/ or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Zimbabwe court denies bail for journalist over false story
FARAI MUTSAKA, Associated Press
Zimbabwean journalist Hopwell Chin'ono arrives at the magistrates courts in Harare, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021. On Friday, Zimbabwe police arrested the prominent journalist for the third time in six months. Chin’ono posted on his Twitter account that police had picked him from his house and said they were charging him with “communicating falsehoods.”STF/AP
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — A Zimbabwean court has denied bail to prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, who has been in detention for almost a week on accusations of publishing a falsehood.
The magistrate ruled that Chin’ono could commit similar crimes if released on bail, citing two other cases in which, like the current one, the journalist was arrested for items he posted on Twitter. His lawyers said they will appeal.
Chin’ono is being held at the harsh Chikurubi prison on the outskirts of the capital, Harare. He was arrested last week for posting that police had killed an infant while enforcing lockdown rules. Police later said the information was false and the baby is alive. Chin'ono faces a fine or up to 20 years in jail if convicted of publishing a false story.
Before the latest arrest, Chin’ono was out on bail on separate charges of inciting violence after he voiced support for an anti-government protest in July and also on contempt of court charges for allegedly claiming corruption within the country’s national prosecution agency.
Chin’ono is one of Zimbabwe’s most prominent critics of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, accusing it of corruption and human rights abuses. The government denies the charges.
Before he was arrested in July, Chin’ono had published an expose on Twitter in which he alleged corruption involving a $60 million purchase of protective equipment for health workers. Mnangagwa later fired the health minister, who has been formally charged with corruption in the case.
Chin’ono and his backers say he is being targeted for exposing government corruption. The government and the ruling party accuse him of being out to tarnish Mnangagwa’s image. Chin'ono has continued to criticize the government on Twitter even after his arrests and repeated detentions.
FARAI MUTSAKA
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Apartment fire forces 46 to evacuate
Ana Ley
An apartment fire forced 46 people from their homes early Saturday on the Northeast Side.
Battalion Chief Patrick Zepeda with the San Antonio Fire Department said the fire burned through a roof at an apartment complex in the 13000 block of O'Connor about 2 a.m. The fire damaged the building's attic and destroyed two apartments. Two others received water damage.
No injuries were reported.
Residents in the building's 15 units — 26 children and 20 adults — were forced to evacuate the building overnight. Crews remained at the site Saturday morning monitoring hot spots and examining the building's damaged electrical wiring.
Zepeda said CPS crews were working to safely restore power to the building. In the meantime, apartment staff had moved residents to hotel rooms.
Officials estimated the fire caused about $115,000 to $120,000 in damages.
aley@express-news.net
Ana Ley covers breaking crime and public safety issues for the San Antonio Express-News. A graduate of the University of Texas-Pan American, she previously worked for the McAllen Monitor.
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North Norfolk News > News > Health
Norfolk reports record number of coronavirus cases in one week
Published: 6:00 AM December 28, 2020
Coronavirus cases continue to rise across all areas of Norfolk. - Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
Norfolk has reported its highest ever coronavirus rate, with the latest figures showing more than 250 cases per 100,000 people in the county for the first time.
Public Health England data shows that 2,377 new cases were reported in the county in the seven days between December 17 and 23 – also a record high.
That equates to 261.9 cases per 100,000 people, up from 170.3 in the previous seven-day period.
The number of cases per capita has risen across all areas of Norfolk, though the country remains behind the England average of 380.8 cases per 100,000.
Norwich remains the area of Norfolk where the virus is most prevalent as the case rate stands at 310.9 per 100,000, though this is down on the previous day's figure of 325.8.
Five of the seven authorities in Norfolk recorded record numbers in this seven-day period, with cases per capita higher than ever before in Breckland (230.8), Broadland (282.9), North Norfolk (230.8), South Norfolk (250.6) and King's Lynn and West Norfolk (286).
Great Yarmouth (220.5) was also up on the 184.2 the previous week.
Further south, rises in cases in East Suffolk (166) and Mid Suffolk (174.2) were not so sharp, although both were still up on the seven-day period before.
North Norfolk is the area in which cases per capita have increased the most dramatically, with 230.8 cases per 100,000 there in the seven days leading up to December 23, compared to 106.8 the previous week.
It remains to be seen how the temporary relaxing or rules on Christmas Day, or the Tier Four restrictions which came into force in Norfolk and Suffolk on Boxing Day, will affect case numbers in the region.
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What We Know About COVID-19 Long Haulers NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks to Dr. Aluko Hope, co-director of the COVID-19 Recovery Clinic at Montefiore Health Systems in New York, about virus long-haulers, who experience months of symptoms.
What We Know About COVID-19 Long Haulers
What We Know About COVID-19 Long Haulers 4:30
< What We Know About COVID-19 Long Haulers
October 18, 20207:47 AM ET
There is still so much we don't know about COVID-19. Some people experience few, if any, symptoms. Others - well, their symptoms can last for months. Those patients are known as COVID long-haulers. At the COVID-19 recovery clinic in New York City, pulmonary and critical care specialist Dr. Aluko Hope is studying and treating these patients, and he joins us now from New York to talk about it.
Welcome to the program.
ALUKO HOPE: Thank you for having me.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Your COVID-19 recovery clinic, called CORE, has been looking at these patients for a while now. Do we know yet why this is happening?
HOPE: We have some ideas and some hypotheses. Certainly, coronavirus is not the only virus that's been known to cause changes in the immune system. Other coronaviruses from before have been associated with protracted symptoms before this pandemic. But I think the volume of patients that we saw in the pandemic I think is partly the concern. So I think we're struggling with, as a health system, how to really deal with the number of patients that we're seeing that have protracted symptoms.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Let's talk about what that looks like.
HOPE: I think it's a mix of many things, and there's a lot that we don't know yet. I think, for some patients, the virus does seem to create inflammatory changes. Their immune system responds in a way that does seem a little bit abnormal - for example, a lot of brain fog, fatigue. They might have rashes or changes in their skin, losing of their hair, those kinds of things. Sometimes the cough or the shortness of breath can be protracted - can be very many weeks after the severe illness. And they can also have protracted physical impairment - difficulty walking or difficulty with shortness of breath when they're climbing up stairs.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Well, how common is it exactly?
HOPE: It doesn't seem to be the rule by any means. I think so far, the estimates suggest that it's going to be the minority of patients. The recent estimates suggest about 10% or so are patients who are going to have protracted symptoms. But yeah, I think for the patients that are struggling with it, it can be quite severe and very distressing.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: I'm just curious - when we think about 10% of all the people who have been getting COVID might have these long-haul symptoms - I mean, that's an enormous burden on the health care system in this country. Are you concerned?
HOPE: I mean, I think it's going to be a struggle, right? I think - first of all, I think physicians need to first understand that, because there's a lot we don't know, we have to trust our patients' testimony a lot more. Part of the distress comes when they're not validated by the people that they're seeing, right? It's like, well, you should be better, and you're not. What's going on? You look fine, and yet you're getting rashes or you're feeling fatigued or you're not able to wake up on time.
So I think we have to first sort of start to respect the testimony. And I think if we do that - I think the system is well-structured. I mean, our CORE clinic is here. But, of course, you know, in America, we don't have a robust health care system. And so I think that's always going to be a challenge, particularly in the Bronx, for example, where the patients are more low-income. But I think we're moving in the right direction, and I think the system seems to be more poised, I think, to really engage these patients.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Yeah. I mean, the U.K.'s National Health Service is investing millions of dollars now in clinics for long-haulers. Do you think the U.S. should do the same?
HOPE: I would hope so. I mean, I think we started ours, and then we also started a peer support group for patients who could sort of talk to each other online and just engage with each other and give practical support, emotional support to each other. And these are the kind of things that ultimately help patients, right? It's not just about medicalizing everything that they have, but it's also about treating the symptoms when we can and helping them also to feel supported. And I think these post-COVID clinics, the peer support groups - these are all things that I think a robust health care system certainly should be able to provide these patients, given the volume of patients that we're going to be seeing.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Last question. When you talk about peer support groups, what kind of mental health challenges do we see in long-haulers?
HOPE: Yeah. I think when you're seriously ill in the hospital, you could struggle with delirium. You could struggle with, you know, acute stress responses. And so when you're recovering in the months after, a lot of our patients struggle with - it could be anything from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, really feeling nervous about being close to the hospital again or talking to a doctor again because of some of the bad reactions you had in the hospital.
And then the social isolation, I think, is a unique aspect of being in the pandemic era. I think for a lot of these patients, when they were at their sickest, they had to be isolated from their loved ones. And so that's something that I think a lot of them are still recovering from, and that's something that I think they struggle with even months after.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Dr. Aluko Hope is a pulmonary and critical care specialist at Montefiore Health System in New York City.
HOPE: Thank you, Lulu. It was a pleasure being with you.
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Mead ready to lead Titans young guns
Tony Webeck
Fri 19 Feb 2016, 04:07 PM
He is the longest serving Titan currently at the club and winger David Mead admits it is now time for him to become a leader in order to usher in the next wave of exciting young outside backs pushing up through the ranks.
Heading into the 2016 season Mead and co-captain William Zillman are the only two backs who have played more than 100 games for the Titans, Mead's connection stretching back nine seasons to Gold Coast's inaugural under-20s team in 2008.
Named on the wing for Saturday night's trial against the Rabbitohs at Pizzey Park, the 27-year-old will be surrounded by youngsters pushing for inclusion in Neil Henry's Round 1 team to face the Knights.
A minor knee injury to Nene Macdonald will see 19-year-old Brian Kelly and former Australian Schoolboy Nathan Davis start in the centres, Kelly to partner with Mead on the left where rookie half Ashley Taylor will be operating.
Davis, Kelly and Greg Leleisiuao have been impressive in the Downer NRL Auckland Nines and in last weekend's trial against the Eels and Mead believes he now needs to be more vocal in order to assist their transition into the top grade.
"A bit more leadership, getting out of my comfort zone and speaking out a bit more," Mead said when asked how he wanted to improve in 2016.
"Speaking my mind in front of the team and just playing consistently. Getting more carries and making sure I defend real well.
"That's one of my main goals, making sure that I defend real well on the edge.
"The talent that these guys have is really exciting. I've seen Brian and Greg play a bit before and know they're definitely superstars of the future. I've never seen 'Davo' play but I've heard good things about him. To actually see the way he moves for a big bloke on the football field is very, very exciting."
Kelly, Davis and Leleisiuao have spent the pre-season training with the NRL squad and Mead remembers that being a key aspect to his transition from the juniors into the ranks of the NRL.
Mead made his debut for the Titans at 20 years of age in Round 13, 2009 but said that it was the work over summer with the likes of Mat Rogers, Preston Campbell and Scott Prince that opened his eyes to what was required to succeed in the NRL.
"Every single day of training was very, very hard and you pretty much had to get your preparation right to be able to train and get through it," Mead told NRL.com.
"They're the moments when you realise that this isn't easy, making the transition. You have to make sure you look after your body real well and make sure you're mentally prepared for each day as it comes.
"That was the process that got me thinking about what I needed to do to play first grade.
"They're still a bit quiet [at training]. You get the odd day where they're talking a bit more and a bit more enthusiastic and you can feel it when they're at training. Not necessarily through the hard stuff but when the ball's getting thrown around you see them really get into it which is exciting.
"All that stuff you do in the pre-season is to put you in a game situation. How tired you're going to feel and how you're going to respond and I think that's what playing first grade is all about. Seeing what you are capable of doing when you are very fatigued.
"They've been very, very impressive during the pre-season and you saw a glimpse of it last week.
"They're big, strong lads and they're able to run over guys so looking forward to playing with them again this weekend."
The Titans v Rabbitohs trial kicks off on Saturday at 5pm at Pizzey Park in Burleigh. Gates open at 1.15pm.
Rabbitohs members can stream the game live here.
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The American Historian
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About the OAH
Making the News
Nancy F. Cott
As 2017 opens, journalism in the United States appears to be facing a unique crisis. Newspapers and magazines sustained their breaking-news role in the face of radio and television competition during the twentieth century (if in diminished form), but in the twenty-first century the digital revolution has more or less eviscerated the long-held relationships between print media and local politics and advertising. For years now, online media have threatened the economic viability of printed newspapers: the death of dozens of them and consolidation and/or reduction to digital form of others has been a result. Digital platforms for breaking news, commentary, and scandal have multiplied—their economic stability not the least bit assured, but their potential to multiply readers’ access to varied sources of information and misinformation obvious. There are many tremendous advantages to the digital revolution in journalism, including access for fledgling writers. Also, the pressure for print newspapers and magazines to reinvent themselves has led well-supported ones to stress superbly worthwhile in-depth investigative reporting and commentary. But the consequences of the digital revolution (allied with the powerful search engines that guide it) are highly varied and we certainly haven’t yet seen the full panoply.
Perhaps most important to the realm of public knowledge is the essential network aspect of the ‘web,’ which means that any information easily has a multiplier effect via links that connect it to similar or related information. This opens worlds upon worlds of information to users of computers in remote locations whose counterparts in the past were isolated from larger knowledge. It is broadening, eye-opening, and educational in the largest sense. But within a wider and wider ambit of available information, individuals have to select. The web has already had tremendous consequences in multiplying and magnifying the existence within the general public of ‘niche’ publics whose knowledge-worlds are intentionally confined to information confirming attitudes or beliefs already held (often aggressively held because of frequent confirmation in limited sources).
More recently, social media, especially Facebook and Twitter, have intensified these digital effects by making it possible to circulate a given article or story exponentially in a few seconds to communities that may number in the millions. Even eerier, robots rather than humans may be massively circulating stories, as reporter Amanda Hesser has revealed (“On Twitter, a Battle among Political Bots” Dec. 14, 2016). These developments (with no particular slant in and of themselves but with potential to move in many directions) have had tremendous consequences for social movements all around the political spectrum, as well as for individuals who identify themselves with small minorities of the differently-abled who can now find one another.
An ironic result of the digital revolution in information has been increased indeterminacy in ascertaining what is factual and what is not. This has become all the more worrisome lately because of the stunning prevalence of untruths propagated and widely believed during the presidential campaign of 2016. ‘Fake news’ has become a major public issue in the last year. As I write, one ‘masterpiece’ of fake news has come to light, created intentionally during the 2016 presidential campaign by a supporter of Donald Trump to back up with seeming evidence the rumor that votes for Hilary Clinton were “rigged.” The only actual fraud was the story, which nonetheless took hold on an expanding populace.
While historical comparisons have their risks, I cannot resist seeing some parallels here to conditions faced by American journalists in Europe in the 1930s. Despite the seeming affirmation of parliamentary governments upholding citizens’ rights to speech, assembly, and representation just after the First World War, Europe in the 1920s and early 1930s saw authoritarian governments spread from one nation after another, often led by charismatic leaders who mobilized support through mass popular politics and promised—especially once the Great Depression brought economic instability—to restore prosperity through new forms of state control. (Echoes of this taking place today are chilling.) Europe saw an “accelerating, increasingly catastrophic, retreat of liberal political institutions,” in the words of historian Eric Hobsbawm.[1]
State control of public information spread like a cancer as a result. By 1935, around 300 million people in Europe and Russia lived without a free press. State censorship on the one hand and propaganda on the other controlled what the public knew. The situation frustrated and horrified virtually every American journalist reporting on Europe, conditioning all commentary on news from abroad by the mid-1930s.[2] They were well aware that not only authoritarian states but parliamentary republics, too, controlled public information to some extent to benefit those already holding power. All governments then and now did. All are selective about what information they release, all the time. But the extent mattered. And the situation in Europe in the 1930s was of a different scale and seriousness from anything previously seen.
Dorothy Thompson, one of the most influential journalists in the United States in the mid-1930s, with a thrice-weekly syndicated column and a weekly radio show, often made this a theme. She had been a foreign correspondent in Austria and Germany in the 1920s and continued writing about developments there, stressing that the principles of a free press and an informed citizenry, both of which she considered essential to representative government, had been demolished and abandoned under authoritarian rule. Thompson grounded her journalistic principles in the existence of facts and the responsibility of the journalist to report them correctly. For her, this moved beyond a political or professional necessity in the 1930s to become a moral issue, as she recognized (to her distress) that facts would not rule: people would believe the way the facts were spun, and fascist governments were always, conclusively, spinning the facts. "Deprive the populace of real news—and you disarm it," another well-known journalist warned at that time.[3]
Our worries today center on selected partial truths, untruths, and the creation of ‘fake news,’ all of which were at play in the 1930s, often disastrously so, along with rigorous censorship. If we face a frighteningly effective new technology for information circulation and control today, so did people in the 1930s: the radio. Thompson witnessed the power of radio in fascist use of it in Austria and Germany. She was in Germany in August 1934 for the plebiscite that Hitler called to confirm his supreme power and sole authority. The Reich put on an immense propaganda campaign even though there was no chance that the plebiscite would go against Hitler (and it would not have mattered if it did). The day of Hitler’s culminating speech was declared a national holiday so that everyone could hear him on national broadcast; everyone owning a radio was instructed to turn it on and invite radio-less neighbors to join in listening; in every restaurant, theater, public square and other public gathering place in every city, loudspeakers were installed to boom his words everywhere. “As an effort in broadcasting,” the New York Times reported, it was “unsurpassed anywhere.”[4]
Thompson called the radio a “new revolutionary instrument” in a dramatically urgent article reporting on the failed Nazi putsch in Austria in July of 1934, where a broadcast falsely declaring a change in government was a central part of the plot.[5] She recognized the new advantages of radio over printed media for mind control. Radio was direct, manipulable from a central source, and the state could make it “practically inescapable”—as Hitler did once his party had seized the popular medium. Printed media were more elusive: courageous dissidents might circulate illegal newspapers in the face of arrest, but the state alone commanded the airwaves. The Austrian Nazi Party’s failed attempt was mild compared to the way the German party accomplished its parliamentary victory by creating fake news. The parliament building in Berlin, the Reichstag, erupted in flames at the end of February 1933. Hitler’s party blamed the shocking crime (the work of a lone perpetrator) on a communist plot, in order to foment public fear and fury about Communism in advance of the coming national legislative election. In the March election—with Nazi storm troopers terrorizing the opposition, civil rights suspended by emergency decree, and the government in control of public communication—the Nazi party won 44 percent of the vote and proceeded to wipe out the elected Communists by throwing most of them into jail, thus gaining a majority for themselves in a legislature of diminished numbers.[6]
Under the rigid state censorship in much of Europe in the 1930s, American journalists in Europe worried constantly about having too few sources outside the official ones, which they could not trust. They burrowed under or around constraints, always wary of compromising the safety of their covert informants (who could be jailed for treason if discovered). Today, we have the opposite problem: seemingly infinite sources of information, few of which are necessarily trustworthy. The circulation of potentially fake news alongside potentially ‘real’ news in the United States today implies a universe of journalism broad and free enough to allow both to jostle and influence each other.
Thus the web and social media have shown that a free press has the defects of its virtues: now any crazy, malicious, or simply misinformed person can post ‘news’ that will be read and believed, and then multiplied by those who favor it. Those of us historians who use newspapers as sources from the past (a method made vastly easier by digitization) have often had to evaluate a printed story against other sources to assess whether it is accurate enough to rely on. As citizens do we habitually exercise similar cautions while reading ‘on the web’? Current developments require extraordinary vigilance from us as citizens and historians, simply to ascertain what can be believed and what not, under the reign of a U.S. president whose most revealing words are tweets.
[1]Eric J. Hobsbawm, The Age of Extremes: A History of the World, 1914–1991 (1996), 109–11 (quotation on 111), and see all of chapter 4, “The Fall of Liberalism,” 109–41.
[2] Robert W. Desmond, The Press and World Affairs with an introduction by Harold J. Laski (1937), 142 for 300 million figure. Cf. Leland Stowe, “Propaganda over Europe,” Scribners Magazine, 95 (Aug. 1934), 99–101.
[3] Will Irwin, Propaganda and the News (NY: McGraw-Hill, 1936), p. 226.
[4] Frederick T. Birchall, “Hamburg to Greet Hitler as Hero at Key Talk of Campaign Today,” New York Times, Aug. 17, 1934, p. 1.
[5] Dorothy Thompson, “The Great War of Words,” Saturday Evening Post, Dec. 1, 1934, 8–9 ff.
[6] Dorothy Thompson, “Back to Blood and Iron,” Saturday Evening Post, May 6, 1933, 3–4 ff.
Nancy F. Cott is the Jonathan Trumbull Professor of American History at Harvard University. Her writings range widely over questions concerning women, gender, marriage, feminism, and citizenship in the United States, and include The Bonds of Womanhood: 'Woman's Sphere' in New England, 1780-1835 (1977); The Grounding of Modern Feminism (1987); and Public Vows: A History of Marriage and the Nation (2000). Her interests also include the history of social movements, political culture, and law. Her current project concerns Americans who came of age in the 1920s and shaped their lives internationally.
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You are here: Home>Locations>Tredington>Church of St George, Darlingscott
Church of St George, Darlingscott
St George's Church, Darlingscott.
Image courtesy of Sharon Dowd
The Church of St George, built in the Imperial period. The church is situated south west of the Darlingscote Post Office.
1 1874. Nave and chancel; bellcote. Decorative roof slates. Bleak bar-tracery.
Tredington (106)
Chapels and Churches (722)
Industrial Age - 1751-1913 (7576)
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Dance and Music (1)
Traditional, Folk and Indigenous Musics (2)
Open Section Peoples and Music Cultures (2)
Roma Music (2)
Northern Europe (1)
Traditional, Folk and Indigenous Musics x
Roma Music x
Giurchescu, Anca
Speranța Rădulescu
(b Romania, 1930; d Copenhagen, 4 April 2015). Romanian-Danish ethnochoreologist. She worked as a researcher at the Institute of Ethnography and Folklore in Bucharest from 1953 to 1979. She contributed to the foundation and development of scientific research on traditional dance in Romania, where she conducted extensive fieldwork, filming dances and rituals in over 200 villages. Her main interests concerned the contextual study of dance, the analysis of dance structure, the processes of dance improvisation, and dance as an identity marker for the Roma minority group. She also investigated the way traditional symbols were manipulated in Romania for national and political power legitimation.
After 1980 she lived in Denmark, where she conducted research on topics such as continuity and change in the traditional culture of the Vlachs (a Romanian speaking ethnic minority of Serbia) living in Denmark, the Romanian healing ritual căluş, and on the theory and methods of field research in contemporary society. She was the Honorary Chairperson of the ICTM Study Group on Ethnochoreology and the leader of the Sub-Study Group on Fieldwork Theory and Methods, a Board member of Danish National Committee for ICTM, and Doctor Honoris Causa of Roehampton University, London. She had a great number of publications and a fruitful activity as a lecturer on an international level. In her last years, she worked with Margaret Beissinger and Speranța Rădulescu on the volume ...
‘Gypsy’ [Roma-Sinti-Traveller] music
Irén Kertész Wilkinson
The music of itinerant groups, predominantly found in Europe but also in other areas, such as the Middle East and South Asia. Most often classified as ‘Gypsy’ – once a derogatory term but more recently the source of political pride – these groups also have their own ethnonyms. The main focus of this article is the music of Roma/Gypsies in Europe, with the aim of underlining similar patterns in their musical practices and processes, that reflect their shared values and ethos. For the music of non-European Gypsies, see under the appropriate country article.
‘Gypsies’ comprise many different groups, but these can be classified into two main categories: the Indian-originated Roma (and Sinti) and the indigenous peripatetic Traveller groups of particular countries and areas. The Roma, whose name is derived from the Romani word man, are also known in different places as Romen, Romani, Rom or Romanichals. Roma is the term implemented by Roma politicians to avoid non-Gypsy derogatory terms such as ‘...
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Amid hepatitis A outbreak, state 'most concerned' about Wayne County
Mickey Shuey
The Palladium-Item
WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. – Local cases of hepatitis A have nearly doubled in the last two weeks, as county and state officials continue searching for ways to limit spread of the disease.
The Indiana State Dept. of Health released new numbers Friday morning showing reported incidents of the virus in Wayne County had risen to 45 total, up from 31 last week and 23 the week prior.
The county is No. 3 in the state for number of hepatitis A cases since the year began and is on pace to become the state's most infected county by the end of the month.
County health officials have continued to encourage vaccinations for those at risk of exposure to hepatitis A in recent weeks, and have provided more than 800 shots to area residents since mid-July.
►RELATED: Wayne County among hardest-hit by hepatitis A. But why?
This week, Indiana State Health Commissioner Kristina Box said she continued to have concerns over the prevalence of the liver-affecting disease in eastern Indiana, and said the ISDH remains committed to fighting the outbreak.
Box stopped short of saying the issue constituted an epidemic for the area — the disease has infected about .06-percent of the county's 70,000 residents — but did say Wayne County remains one of the state's top priorities in stopping the ongoing crisis.
"We certainly have an outbreak, and Wayne County is one of the counties we're most concerned about," she said.
It's hard to say exactly how the disease has spread in the county, and around the state, because the ISDH does not identify the origin or cause of any incidents unless there is a public health concern over its continued transmission from a certain source.
For example, the state made the public aware of an incident of exposure at Centerville's Casey's General Store in July, in order for those who may have bought food prepared at the establishment to get themselves vaccinated.
Generally though, little or nothing is said when there is a new case reported.
Growing numbers
As it stands, Wayne County is unlike most of the other counties currently facing problems with hepatitis A; its numbers continue to grow substantially with each passing week while the trend has begun to slow, if not completely stall, in other hard-hit parts of the state.
The county has seen 14 newly reported cases in the past week, and 21 since July 20.
In Clark County, which still remains the state's leader with 68 reported incidents of hepatitis A this year, few additional cases have been discovered in recent weeks; the county's number is up by only three since the mid-July report.
►RELATED: Indiana sees first death from hepatitis A
The same can be said in Lawrence and Floyd counties, which saw increases of three and one, respectively, in the same time period.
Wayne County surpassed Floyd as the state's third overall due to the continued climb in the number of cases reported locally.
About 334 people have been infected with hepatitis A in Indiana, including one person who died from the disease. In most years, Indiana generally doesn't surpass 20 cases of hepatitis A.
Nationally, more than 4,500 cases of hepatitis A have been reported during the outbreak, leading to at least 61 deaths across 10 states.
Box said the state will continue working with the Wayne County Health Dept. as they look to find a solution to the ongoing problem.
She lauded the agency's effort to make the public aware of the crisis, as well as its work in distributing vaccines to more than 800 people in recent weeks.
"The local health department ... is doing an amazing job of getting out and getting everybody vaccinated," she said. "They have really done a remarkable job."
She said she encourages anyone at risk of infection to receive a vaccination. This includes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
All children, at 1 year old
Travelers visiting countries with high-rates of hepatitis A
Family members and caregivers of recent adoptees from countries where the infection is common
Men who have sexual contact with other men
People who use injection and non-injection illegal drugs
People with chronic (lifelong) liver diseases, such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C
People who are treated with clotting-factor concentrates
People who work with hepatitis A infected animals or in a hepatitis A research laboratory
Box said while hepatitis A is generally not spread through blood contamination, but rather through residual fecal matter, illicit drug users at often at high risk of infection. She said this is especially true in instances of needle sharing.
"Just the lack of hygiene; that fecal-oral contamination, that contamination that's on your hands after you go to the bathroom and maybe don't cleanse as well, and then use a needle," she said. "That can allow you to get infected with (hepatitis A)."
As part of its efforts to increase the availability of inoculations locally and around Indiana, Box said the state health department has purchased thousands of vials of vaccines, including some produced by private companies, "at a reduced cost."
During a clinic in mid-July, the county health department distributed more than 500 vaccines, and later conducted a clinic at the Wayne County Jail for inmates to be inoculated.
The state has received millions of dollars in federal funding to fight the outbreak, as have nine other states currently facing what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider hepatitis A hotbeds.
The state is also expected to cover the cost of a booster shot associated with the vaccine — recommended about six months after the initial shot is received — for those who do not have insurance that will cover the shot for them, Box said.
Those individuals with insurance, she said, should be able to receive the booster without issue from local pharmacies or their primary care physician.
Throughout Indiana, more than 52,500 shots have been administered so far this year.
"The entire state will be able to vaccinated if they desire," she said. "But we're making sure that those (vaccines) are available first to our highest-risk counties."
Mickey Shuey is the business reporter at the Palladium-Item. Contact him at (765) 973-4472 or mshuey@gannett.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @MickeyShuey, or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MickeyShuey.
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Chuck Avery: Trump personifies an American tradition
Chuck Avery
Last Sunday a friend and I were watching a football game on television when one of the wide receivers eluded his defensive man long enough to catch a long pass and take the ball in for a score. He then spun the football like a top and, as it spun, did a little dance that he had obviously practiced for just such an occasion.
My friend swore softly and said aloud, “I hate that!” I thought maybe he was a fan of the opposing team, but then he added, “And I blame Mohamed Ali for it.”
“You must be talking about the little end zone celebration.”
My friend and I are both old enough to remember when athletes didn’t brag, didn’t trash-talk and didn’t humiliate their defeated opponents.
“That’s right. The little choreographed dances, the muscle flexing, the chest thumping and all the other crap these pro athletes do after a play. They do it in basketball, too. And I blame Ali. He started it when he was boxing. After every win, he’d brag about himself and how he was the greatest.”
“Well, I enjoy the touchdown dances — and Ali was darn good.” But I could tell my friend was enjoying his outrage too much to listen to any contradiction, so I didn’t offer any. But I could have gone into the long history of American swagger. In fact, just before the national anthem, which precedes every game, the public-address announcer reminded the audience that this was “. . . the greatest nation on Earth.”
►MORE FROM CHUCK AVERY: Personal data collected online
As Ron Chernow points out in his book, “Hamilton,” it’s been our attitude since before the Revolution. Our folk heroes are bigger than life: Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, Mike Fink, Davy Crockett, etc. Mark Twain gave us a small sample of the humor in American braggadocio in the original draft of “Huckleberry Finn.” (It was edited out of the final version.) Here is an excerpt from a speech by a character who has just been challenged to a fistfight:
"Whoo-oop! bow your neck and spread, for the kingdom of sorrow’s a-coming! Hold me down to the earth, for I feel my powers a-working! whoo-oop! Smoked glass for all! Don’t attempt to look at me with the naked eye, gentlemen! . . . Stand back and give me room according to my strength!"
This egotistical boasting brings back my adolescence, when one of the passages into adulthood was learning to smoke cigarettes — and snappy, teen idioms that accompanied the habit. For example: “Got a match?” “Yeah! I’m your match. Strike me and see where you light.”
We had several other ripostes, most unprintable in a family newspaper. At that time, wisecracks and putdowns were very popular among teenage boys. I suspect they still are.
We are a nation of superlatives, obsessed with being the biggest, the best and, I suspect, we are the most arrogant. People in other countries have recognized this posture of superiority in American tourists for decades.
Our present leader is the personification of our attitude. When North Korea announced that it had missiles capable of reaching the United States, Trump responded — much like Twain’s pugilist — “They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.” About North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, he said, “I, too, have a nuclear button, and it’s much bigger and more powerful than his.”
He describes himself as “. . . a great president doing the best job of presiding in history.” Asked to grade himself, he said, “I give myself an A+.” And again, “Nobody has ever been more successful than me.” Finally, he has confessed, “I am much more humble than you could understand.”
You can’t get more American than that.
Email Chuck Avery at charlesravery@gmail.com.
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NZOG plans to delist from ASX
1007 Views June 01, 2016 Events, New Zealand Different Themes
NEW ZEALAND Oil & Gas (NZOG) has moved to de-list from the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), citing poor liquidity and low trading volumes.
The company will retain its listing on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX), with any shareholdings remaining on its Australian register being transferred to New Zealand after trade in the company’s shares is suspended.
NZOG chairman Rodger Finlay said it found the New Zealand Stock Exchange to be a reliable, well-regulated platform with ample liquidity for its shareholders.
“Delisting is also consistent with other recently announced initiatives to reduce costs.
The Board considers that the cost of continued listing on ASX outweighs the benefits,” he said.
Furthermore, NZOG said the average daily volume of trades on the ASX was 13,849 from 2 March 2015 to 29 February 2016 – compared to an average of 245,935 on the NZX over the same period.
Company stock did not trade at all on 98 of these days on the ASX, compared to 9 days on the NZX.
NZOG expects to suspend trading of its shares on the ASX on 24 May, with the stock to be removed from the official list by 31 May, the company said in a later announcement.
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OK Easy Life
Sep. 30, 2020 at 3:14 pm
Top 5 Bollywood Drama Movies of all Time
Akash Sainino comment
Drama is generally a genre which seems to be more humorous than real life. All the stories involving fictional content are termed as drama in huge content, the only difference being that an actor or a person represents the whole story.
Drama is completely different than short stories, novels or narration of poetry.
Crime drama, Historical drama, Horror drama, Docudrama, Melodrama, Comedy drama, Teen drama are some of its types.
Here is the list of some of the best Bollywood drama movies of all time-
1. 3 Idiots
3 Idiots were released in 2009. It was a comedy-drama film, one of the best movies of all time. The movie was directed by Rajkumar Hirani, produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and co-written with Abhijat Joshi.
The film starred Aamir Khan as Ranchoddas Chanchad, Kareena Kapoor as Piya, Sharman Joshi as Raju Rastogi, R. Madhavan as Farhan, Boman Irani as Dr. Viru Sahastrabuddhe and Omi Vaidya as Chatur Ramalingam as lead roles.
The film changed everyone’s concept of living life. It proved that if you have talent then no one can stop you to achieve success. The plot of the story is that a boy named Ranchoddas aka Rancho takes admission in an engineering college, where he finds two friends who are more or less alike.
Meanwhile, Rancho falls in love with Piya, daughter of Dr. Viru who is the dean of the college. Rancho was not studying for the degree, his aim was to gain knowledge. And at the end, it is proved that without any degree Rancho is a successful scientist.
The film won six Filmfare awards including three national awards. The budget of the film was 55 crores and it ruled the box office by earning 460 crores.
2. Rang De Basanti
Rang de Basanti was released in 2006. The director, producer, and writer of the film were Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra himself.
The film was co-written by Rensil D’Silva.
The film starred Aamir Khan as Daljit Singh, Siddharth Narayan as Bhagat Singh, Atul Kulkarni as Laxman Pandey, Sharman Joshi as Sukhi Ram, Kunal Kapoor as Aslam Khan, Soha Ali Khan as Sonia, R. Madhavan as Ajay Singh Rathore, Mohan Agashe as defense minister Shastri and many more.
The plot of the film is that the film starts with Bhagat Singh and his friends being hanged by Britishers but they were smiling because they knew the Britishers can kill them but can’t kill their hope of the freedom of their country.
The film shows the patriotism and fights for freedom.
The film had a budget of 280 million in Indian currency and it earned 970 million.
Also Read: Highest Grossing Bollywood Movies of all Time
3. Nayak: The real hero
Nayak was released in 2001. It is an Indian political thriller drama movie which was directed by S. Shankar and produced by A.M.Rathnam. The film was written by Anurag Kashyap.
The film starred Anil Kapoor as Shivaji Rao, Johnny Lever as Topi, Amrish Puri as C.M Balraj Chauhan, Rani Mukherji as Manjri and Paresh Rawal as Bansal in the lead roles.
The plot of the film is that Shivaji Rao is a press reporter and during a press meeting with C.M Balraj Chauhan, Shivaji Rao is challenged by the C.M to experience his post for a day and he accepts it. The one-day C.M ended up being the permanent C.M for a period of time.
The film had a budget of 21 crores and it earned 50 crores in the box office.
Also Read: Why Movies Are Released On Friday’s?
4. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is one of the best Indian romantic drama movie released in 2013. The film was released by Ayan Mukerji and it was produced by Hiroo Yash Johar and Karan Johar and the dialogues were written by Hussain Dalal.
The film received 9 nominations in 59th Filmfare Awards. It starred Deepika Padukone as Naina Talwar, Ranbir Kapoor as Bunny, Aditya Roy Kapur as Avinash aka Avi, Kalki Koechlin as Aditi Mehra in the lead roles.
The plot of the story is that Naina is a shy and introvert type of girl who is a medical student likes to study and tops everywhere. She meets her old classmate Aditi who is planning a trip with her friends.
Aditi makes Naina realize that she needs more than what she got from life and thus Naina decides to go with Aditi. There she meets Bunny and they fell in love with each other. Due to the love of Naina, Bunny changes his heart and the film is happily ended.
The film earned 10.5 million overseas.
Also Read: These Singers Raising Hotness Bars in Punjabi Music Industry
5. Raanjhanaa
Raanjhanaa released in 2013, is an Indian romantic drama movie, directed by Aanand L. Rai and Himanshu Sharma. The film was produced by Krishika Lulla.
The film starred Dhanush as Kundan Shankar, Sonam Kapoor as Zoya, Abhay Deol as Akram Zaidi, Swara Bhaskar as Bindiya and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub as Murari in the lead roles.
The plot of the story is that Kundan was in love with Zoya since childhood and Zoya also started loving him but due to her family pressure, she had to move to Delhi where she forgot Kundan and started loving Akram.
When Zoya came back with Akram, due to cast inequality Akram was murdered by her family. Kundan follows her back to Delhi and he joins politics. The story ended with the life of Kundan though Zoya started loving him.
The film had a budget of 25 crores and it earned 150 crores in the box office.
Share your opinions about Bollywood Drama Movies in comment section below.
Read more about Bollywood Movies
Bollywood Drama Movies
Bollywood Action Movies
Bollywood Romantic Movies
Akash Saini
Akash is an editor of Ok Easy Life. He is an atheist who believes in love and cultural diversity. Reach out to him at akashseo15@gmail.com
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Joan Shelley: Joan Shelley Review
By Ben Salmon | May 3, 2017 | 9:15am
Music Reviews Joan Shelley
Joan Shelley has already proven she can do a lot with a little. The Kentucky folk singer’s third album, Over and Even, was not only a beacon of quiet minimalism in an ever-increasingly loud and cluttered world, it was also one of the best releases of 2015.
Generally speaking, Over and Even is built from just a handful of elements: Shelley’s graceful melodies, poignant lyrics and stunning voice, plus the sound of the acoustic guitar, expertly plucked by Shelley’s longtime sideman (and neighbor in Louisville), Nathan Salsburg. Other sounds float in here and there—light percussion, backing vocals by Will Oldham—but for the most part, Shelley and Salsburg are strong enough in their respective roles to carry the album on their own.
That hasn’t changed on Shelley’s self-titled follow-up, even though she has more resources at her fingertips this time. Credit Shelley and Salsburg again, of course, but also producer Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco), whose light touch here suggests that he knew it was best to just get out of the way and let the players do their thing.
That’s underselling his role in the making of Joan Shelley, no doubt. (Indeed, Shelley has said about Tweedy: “He was protecting the songs [by] stopping us before we went too far.”) But at the same time, it’s impossible to overstate the allure of Shelley’s spellbinding vocals set against Salsburg’s six-stringed magic. You can hear it in the gentle call-and-response of album opener “We’d Be Home,” and the elongated melody of “Wild Indifference,” and the sheer elegance of “Even Though,” which sounds like it could’ve been written and recorded at any time in the past half-century. The word “timeless” gets thrown around a lot these days; here, it is totally appropriate.
Elsewhere, evidence of Shelley’s collaborators crops up, always tastefully. Joan Shelley was recorded over five days at Wilco’s Chicago studio, The Loft, with Tweedy’s son Spencer sitting in on drums, and multi-instrumentalist James Elkington playing keys and Dobro. Spencer, in particular, acquits himself very well, contributing just the right amount of percussion when called upon. He never overpowers Shelley’s feather-light songs. Meanwhile, Elkington’s gleaming organ part gives “Where I’ll Find You” some personality, while his piano drives “Pull Me Up One More Time.” Draped in a sort of restless atmosphere, it’s the song that most recalls a late-era Wilco production.
And then there’s “The Push and Pull,” a burbling little tune about the uncertain status of a romantic relationship. With a bit of doo-wop shuffle powering its irresistible groove, it’s the closest thing to a pop song Shelley has ever released. It’s fun and lovely and charming, and like the rest of Joan Shelley, proof that Shelley’s light is absolutely irrepressible. She is a tremendous talent, poised for a long and productive career in folk music, with a breakthrough into much bigger things very easy to envision.
Also from Joan Shelley
Behold Joan Shelley's Delightful Daytrotter Session From This Day in 2016 By Ellen Johnson January 28, 2020 | 11:45am
The 15 Best Folk & Bluegrass Albums of 2019 By Ellen Johnson & Paste Staff December 26, 2019 | 11:30am
2019 in Folk Music: Joan Shelley and Allison Moorer Balance Nostalgia and Trauma By Ellen Johnson November 16, 2019 | 10:00am
Bonnie "Prince" Billy Joins Joan Shelley and Sacred Harp Singers "In Good Faith" By Amanda Gersten October 8, 2019 | 3:45pm
Joan Shelley’s Like The River Loves The Sea Offers a Place to Hide from the Outside World By Ben Salmon September 10, 2019 | 11:15am
Joan Shelley Announces New Album Like the River Loves the Sea, Releases Single “Cycle” By Molly Schramm July 16, 2019 | 12:29pm
More from Joan Shelley
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Southeast Texas Blues
wood, paper, antique chair
Patrick Mehaffy was born in Beaumont, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas, Austin, with a BA in anthropology.
Before pursuing a career in art Mehaffy spent four months hiking the Appalachian Trail, walking more than 1200 miles alone from Maine to Tennessee. He also worked as a mountaineering guide and instructor in the Rocky Mountain West, an antique furniture picker, a museum consultant, and a writer for a Native American-owned Tribal consulting firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Mehaffy’s art is informed by the geography and people of his youth in southeast Texas, his formal studies in anthropology, and his deep and profound love of the mountains and canyonlands of the American West. Although his art is not explicitly about environmental issues, in both content and materials it explores the antiquity, mystery, fragility, and uncertain future of the natural world of the American landscape.
In addition to his work in the studio, Mehaffy has written and directed three award-winning short films.
contact me at my studio
patrickmehaffyartist@gmail.com
©2020 by Patrick Mehaffy Studio
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Ind vs Aus: Ishant ruled out from Tests, Natarajan added to ODI squad
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 27 (ANI): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday confirmed that pacer Ishant Sharma has been ruled out from the upcoming four-match Test series against Australia.
Ishant had sustained a side strain during the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL). The pacer was recovering from the injury at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), but the board has confirmed that Ishant would not be taking any part in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy.
"Ishant has recovered completely from his side strain injury sustained during IPL 2020 in the U.A.E. While he's building up his workload in order to achieve Test match fitness, Ishant Sharma has been ruled out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy," BCCI said in an official release.
The board has also confirmed the addition of T Natarajan to the ODI squad as a back-up option. This decision was taken as pacer Navdeep Saini complained of back spasm and Natarajan has been added as a back-up.
BCCI has also clarified as to why Rohit Sharma did not travel to Australia alongside the Indian side. The batsman will undergo further assessment on December 11, and after that, it will be decided whether he will play the Test series against Australia or not.
"Rohit is presently undergoing rehabilitation at the NCA. Rohit Sharma's next assessment will be conducted on December 11th following which the BCCI will have clarity on his participation in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Rohit Sharma had to come back to Mumbai after the IPL to attend to his ailing father. His father is now recuperating well and that has allowed him to travel to the NCA and start his rehabilitation," the BCCI stated in its release.
On Thursday, India skipper Virat Kohli had shed light regarding the whole injury management issue involving Rohit Sharma. The Indian skipper clarified that before the first selection meeting for the Australia tour, Rohit was advised two weeks of rest.
"Well, before we had the selection meeting in Dubai, we got a mail two days before which said that Rohit is unavailable for selection because of the injury he picked up during the IPL. It mentioned a two-week rest and rehab period, and it said that the pros and cons of the injury were explained to Rohit and he understood that. It was the information we got by mail but after that, he played in the IPL. We all thought that he would be on the flight to Australia which he wasn't and we had no information whatsoever on the reason behind him not flying to Australia," Kohli had said during the virtual press conference on Thursday.
"After that, the only information we have received on mail is that he is at NCA and he will be further assessed on December 11. So from the time the selection meeting happened and the IPL ended and now when this mail came about his assessment, there has been lack of clarity, we have been playing the waiting game on this issue and this is not ideal at all," he added.
After the white-ball leg comprising of three ODIs and three T20Is, both sides will shift their attention to the longest format of the game. The first Test of the four-match series between India and Australia will be a day-night contest, beginning from December 17 in Adelaide.
Kohli would be playing just one Test and then he would return home after being granted paternity leave by the BCCI. The four-match series will be a part of the World Test Championship (WTC). Australia is on top of the standing while India is in the second position after ICC altered the points system for WTC due to the coronavirus pandemic. (ANI)
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Posted on November 10, 2017 by Portsmouth Daily Times
Life-long sacrifice
By Nikki Blankenship - nblankenship@aimmediamidwest.com
Larry Howard
On a day when community leaders gathered to bring awareness to the importance of honoring those who serve and remaining patriotic, disabled veteran Larry Howard, of Minford, says remembering the sacrifices made by men and women who risked their lives is a great need for many veterans.
Howard explained that he and many other service members who were injured in the line of duty have come home to be forgotten and left to fight a new battle of living civilian lives and providing for their families with old service injuries.
Howard served in the Army, enlisting when he was only 17-years-old. He says he enlisted for opportunity.
“There wasn’t that much work around, and I was out of school, so I went ahead and enlisted in the military,” he remembered.
Howard was part of the 25th infantry stationed in Hawaii just after his unit returned from Vietnam. He got out in 1974 only to re-enlist in 1976. Howard explained that he wanted to make a career out of being in the military, but an injury prevented him from doing so. In an accident in a dust cloud, Howard was thrown from the military vehicle and was hit in the head and shoulder by a gun mount. The accident occurred in 1977. He remained in the military until the spring of 1979 before Howard says that his injury had ended his military career. Because he had an injury-related profile, he was not required to do physical training (PT), which limited his ability to advance and be successful for a career term.
Once Howard returned home, he went to work and worked in jobs that required physical labor despite his service injury. Though the military acknowledged his injury, he was not given veteran disability benefits and going to work was his only option. He a service-connected cervical strain with 0 percent disability according to the military.
Working was not a problem, according to Howard. Still, since his service, Howard says he has seen veterans fighting for the services they are entitled to, fighting to be respected in their community and struggling just to eat — something that is very much a problem for him.
“It’s really sad,” Howard stated. “They take our soldiers overseas and get them all lamed and maimed and bring them back and turn their back on them.”
13 years after coming home from service, Howard was injured in an industrial accident and became 100 percent disabled. However, upon looking into his injury, doctors and lawyers and agreed that Howard’s industrial accident is linked to his military injury. As a result, his case was since overturned. By law the case is to be handled with an expeditious manner as stated in his proceedings. In order for the decision to be overturned and for him to finally get his benefits, Howard has to wait for a judge in Washington D.C. to review that case and agree. It has been five years since his case was overturned and 40 years since his injury occurred. Howard says he experiences constant pain from that day that his clavicle was crushed requiring part of it be removed in order for him to regain use of his arm. According the veteran, the accident has left him with constant pain in his neck. He is still waiting for any benefits due to him for this injury.
Howard said he has and continues to belong to various military organizations and has marched in the nation’s capital with other service members fighting to be remembered and supported for all they sacrificed in service of their country.
http://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2017/11/web1_imagejpeg-1.jpgLarry Howard
By Nikki Blankenship
nblankenship@aimmediamidwest.com
Reach Nikki Blankenship at 740-353-3101 ext. 1931.
Hi! A visitor to our site felt the following article might be of interest to you: Life-long sacrifice. Here is a link to that story: http://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/news/21222/life-long-sacrifice
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Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football College
Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football College – Dream Sports is becoming more popular amongst many individuals. Dream Sports has been around for numerous years, however they gained in popularity after the popularity of baseball and basketball.
Fantasy Sports is a sort of virtual game, frequently played by means of the Internet, in which players develop or develop imaginary groups comprised of non-real or virtual players. These groups complete in games based on the outcome of these gamers ‘ efficiencies in real life. For example, if Joe Hockey has been playing baseball all his life, he can join a league in which his team contends versus other teams that are composed entirely of other players who have actually not played baseball prior to. Each day, the gamers on his team hit a baseball and the outcomes are ball game the groups make. The gamers and the leagues complete for points, which are the basis of the end-of-day overall. If a group wins a game, then Joe Hockey makes a point and his group advances to the next stage.
Betting is prohibited in the United States, however this does not avoid people from participating in fantasy sports. The current death of the Uigea Act forbids gamers from wagering over NFL choices and the very same chooses NCAA competitions and soccer competitions. As of now, no real plans have actually been taken into movement to ban gambling in the United States, however it promises that some sort of legislation will be passed in one day. As a result, it is important for anybody who takes part in fantasy sports to understand how and when to bet.
There are different kinds of fantasy sports leagues offered, and they are organized according to how they are played. Many standard leagues play in a single way, which involves a league champion series. However, there are also head-to-head and “clan ” competitions among gamers within each league. Each of these different kinds of leagues need different types of bets. Understanding the various types of bets, their results, and the way they affect the outcomes can help you choose when to position a bet on a specific gamer or group.
Basic day-to-day dream sports leagues allow you to wager on one or lots of routine season video games. These everyday dream sports leagues vary because they offer gamers more opportunities to win and they also keep track of stats and awards differently than those of the “seasonal ” range.
Head-to-head competitions amongst players within a league are similar to other kinds of everyday fantasy sports. For instance, if you bet on your favorite basketball team to win every video game during the playoffs, you would place that bet during the “playoffs “. If you desired to wager against your neighbor ‘s group in a head to head game, you would position that bet within the “routine season ” video games. Within a league, there is no chance to figure out which type of competition is “properly ” set up and which is not.
The majority of standard leagues within the world of fantasy sports do have playoff races. These races happen through a league site and can consist of such things as batting leader, finest three players, pitchers, groups with the best record, and so forth. The winners of these races are determined by a simple mathematical formula, so there is really absolutely nothing else to it than that. This indicates that there are no players who are attempting to control the system in any way. Gambling is totally based upon the randomness of whether a player finishes a race.
Of course, there are still some baseball and football players out there who will attempt to make their method into the fantasy group by cheating. There are a lot of statistics for baseball and football players, so it is very simple for some players to enhance their statistics by figuring out how to beat the systems.
Fantasy Sports is a kind of virtual game, frequently played via the Internet, in which players construct or create imaginary groups made up of virtual or non-real gamers. These everyday fantasy sports leagues differ due to the fact that they provide players more possibilities to win and they also keep track of stats and awards in a different way than those of the “seasonal ” variety.
Head-to-head competitors amongst players within a league are similar to other types of daily dream sports. Of course, there are still some baseball and football gamers out there who will try to make their method into the fantasy team by cheating. There are a lot of statistics for baseball and football gamers, so it is really simple for some gamers to enhance their data by figuring out how to beat the systems. Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football College
◀Fantasy Rankings Yahoo Sports
Yahoo Sports Fantasy Football Rankings Week 12▶
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Mike Procter is a serious contender for the tag of greatest all-rounder of all time. Blessed with pace, swing and a free-spirited nature at the crease, 'Proccie' was primed for the biggest stages. But, like the rest of a fantastic generation of South African sportsmen, his Test career was cut short by politics.
Caught in the Middle is a look at Procter's force of will to stamp his mark through county cricket. World Series Cricket also gave him the stage to showcase his full range of skills. In the second half of a lifelong journey with the sport, Procter the coach, manager and selector for the new South Africa was central to some of the modern era's most iconic and dramatic moments.
While in the autumn of his career, Procter the match referee was caught in the middle of the Darrell Hair chronicles, Monkeygate in Australia, and the bomb blast that ended international cricket in Pakistan. A compelling read, Caught in the Middle is the fascinating story of a lifelong love affair with cricket.
Mike Procter shares unmissable memories of his career and life in cricket, including:
The 1971 walkoff of at Newlands, in protest of the Apartheid government refusing to endorse a multi-racial touring party
Being a dressing-room attendant for the mighty West Indies in his teens, which sparked an enduring friendship between the game’s greatest all-rounders
Appearing as an overseas pro in County cricket in the 70s – and ruining a good suit with an impromptu game of rugby
The trip to Newmarket races which got out of hand, resulting in Procter falling on his face out in the middle
A surprising invitation to dinner at John Arlott's house
A brush with the law involving human trafficking from Rhodesia to Europe
Being relieved of his South African coaching duties whilst in an intensive care unit
Sharing the commentary box with Bill Lawry for THAT 1999 World Cup semi-final
Click here for more information, or to read a sample from Caught in the Middle.
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Rest of the UK
Powerleague Peterborough
5 a side | 3G Astroturf
Powerleague Peterborough, Peterborough Rd, Peterborough, PE73BW
Stanground College
5-a-side football can be played at Powerleague Peterborough. It is one of the finest sports facilities in Peterborough and it is the place to be if you’re looking for a 5-a-side football pitch. One of the best activities that sports fans are able to enjoy here is 5-a-side football on the immaculate 3G astroturf surface. Five-a-side football remains one of the most prevalent sporting activities in London and the staff keep the playing surface in excellent condition all year around, whatever the weather and temperature. It is possible to play throughout the winter months, whether you are part of a team, league or simply playing with friends.
The venue is surrounded by floodlights which makes this facility perfect all year around. The lights will be turned off by the facility once all sports bookings have been completed.
If public transport isn't your thing, then there are alternative travel options. The venue is easily accessible by car and free parking facilities are available on site. This also makes it the perfect facility for teams hosting home games, as it means the facility is extremely accommodating for travelling away team players.
Customers will be pleased to know that the venue operates a pay-as-you-play booking system. This means sports enthusiasts can just turn up and play depending on availability and book on a pay as you play basis. This method avoids the monthly membership charges and gives you the freedom to play as and when you like, without the commitment of a weekly game or a membership fee.
If a one-off game isn't enough, then why not take advantage of the block booking option at Powerleague Peterborough? Block bookings are a great way to guarantee a weekly game and socialise with your friends. It also takes the hassle out of paying before each game and collecting money from teammates as there is a one-time payment.
The venue has changing facilities to use when you book, they are well maintained and suitable for teams or individuals. It's also great for teams as it means you can prepare for games in comfort and in good time.
The closest bus stop when travelling is Old Health Centre. The facility is located a short walk from here - for more details on how to access the facility please contact the venue.
5-a-side football can be played at Powerleague Peterborough. It is one of the finest sports facilities in Peterborough and it is the place to be if you’re looking for a 5-a-side football pitch. One of the best activities that sports fans are able to enjoy here is 5-a-side football on the immaculate 3G astroturf surface. Five-a-side football remains one of the most prevalent sporting activities in London and the staff keep the playing surface in excellent condition all year around, whatever the...
Peterborough Rd
PE73BW
Mowsbury Park
Wentworth Drive, Bedford, MK41 8DQ
2A Carlisle Road, Bedford Road, MK40 4HU
Hillgrounds
Hillgrounds Road, Bedford, MK42 8PN
Bedford St Johns
Great Denham
Queen Eleanor Drive, Bedford, MK40 4SQ
Northampton Leisure & Community Centre
Wellingborough Road, Northampton, NN3 8NH
Bus: Little Billing Way Stop, Wellingborough Road
Find a facility in the UK
AthleticsBadmintonBasketballCricketFootballFutsalGymHockeyNetballPadel TennisRugbySpace HireSquashSwimmingTable TennisTennisVolleyball
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Sending Service for the PLTS Class of 2020
Saturday, May. 23, 2020 at 11:00 am
Link to service: https://clu.zoom.us/j/94296650255
Please use #PLTS2020 to celebrate our graduates on social media so we can honor their accomplishments as a community.
Download a copy of the program.
Dr. Tamura Lomax is an Associate Professor of African American and African Studies at Michigan State University. She received her Ph.D. in 2011 from Vanderbilt University in Religion, where she specialized in Black Religious History and Black Diaspora Studies and also developed expertise in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Black British and U.S. Black Cultural Studies. In 2018, Dr. Lomax published Jezebel Unhinged: Loosing the Black Female Body in Religion and Culture with Duke University Press.
In addition, she organized and guest edited “Black Bodies in Ecstasy: Black Women, the Black Church, and the Politics of Pleasure,” a special issue published with Black Theology: An International Journal. In 2014, she published Womanist and Black Feminist Responses to Tyler Perry’s Cultural Productions with Palgrave Macmillan, a co-authored edited volume with Rhon S. Manigault-Bryant and Carol B. Duncan. And she is currently at work on a new book, Parenting Against the Patriarchy: Raising Non-Toxic Sons in White Supremacist America with Duke University Press. However, Dr. Lomax isn’t solely a writer and researcher. She’s a scholar-activist.
In 2017, she co-organized “Our History, Our Future: a Multigenerational Human Rights Conference" at Boston University, which brought together 1960s Civil Rights and Black Panther Party activists with Black Lives Matter activists. And in 2011, Dr. Lomax co-founded The Feminist Wire (TFW), an online publication committed to feminist, anti-racist, and anti-imperialist socio-political critique. Her vision is to create space for justice work through critical conversation, exchange, mass-mediation, and dynamic accessible education. Her hope is to bring academic expertise to the streets and vice versa.
Since its founding, TFW has published close to 3,000 intersectional and justice centered scholarly essays, including the original Black Lives Matter herstory by Alicia Garza in 2014; organized the very first university conference on Black Lives Matter at the University of Arizona; and coordinated various forums on topics such as Black (Academic) Women’s Health; Assata Shakur; Trayvon Martin; Disabilities; Race, Racism, and Anti-Racism within Feminism; and Mumia Abu-Jamal, Race, Gender, and the Carceral State. In addition to online publishing, TFW has a book series with the University of Arizona Press: The Feminist Wire Books: Connecting Feminisms, Race, and Social Justice.
Additional Connection Option Info:
https://clu.zoom.us/j/94296650255
US: +16699006833,,94296650255# or +13462487799,,94296650255#
US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 876 9923
or +1 301 715 8592
International numbers available: https://clu.zoom.us/u/anomXaAvV
For Tech Support Contact:
Ada Crutchfield
acrutchfield@plts.edu
Mollie Jordan
mjjordan@plts.edu
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You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / Screening for SCID added to Iowa newborn program
Screening for SCID added to Iowa newborn program
October 11, 2012 By Matt Kelley
The state’s newborn screening program is being expanded to include testing for a rare, but deadly disorder. Kim Piper, with the Iowa Department of Public Health, says – until recently – screening newborns for severe combined immune deficiency had not been possible.
“(SCID) is a set of conditions that the newborn inherits from the parents that affects the immune system, so the baby doesn’t have the blood cells to fight off infections,” Piper said. SCID, sometimes referred to as the “bubble boy” disease, is extraordinary.
The incidence of SCID is estimated to be one in 50,000 to 60,000 live births. If untreated, most infants with SCID die before reaching their first birthday. “So, screening is very important,” Piper said. “If we can detect these babies before they have a life-threatening infection, then we can get them into treatment…which is usually a bone marrow transplant.”
Iowa’s newborn screening program allows for the testing of more than 50 disorders from just one droplet of blood. SCID is referred to as the “bubble boy” disease because its victims, such as David Vetter, are sometimes forced to live in a sterile environment.
Vetter’s story inspired the 1976 made for TV movie “The Boy in the Plastic Bubble,” starring John Travolta.
Filed Under: Health / Medicine, News
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Green Startup Cloverly Invests to Encourage New Types of Carbon Offsets
Hyperlocal Projects’ Co-benefits Enhance Their Positive Impact
ATLANTA (PRWEB) December 09, 2020
The cleantech startup Cloverly has become the first buyer for an innovative, hyperlocal carbon offset project with significant spinoff benefits for nearby residents. Cloverly hopes its investment encourages the development of similar ventures and helps shift the way offset projects are valued.
The project is the Buena Vista Heights Preservation Project, an urban forestry initiative in suburban Pittsburgh. In addition to preventing carbon emissions, it provides considerable social, environmental and economic benefits for the local area. “Our offset portfolio already covers projects across North America and Europe,” said Cloverly Founder and CEO Anthony Oni. “As we continue to grow and diversify our supply, we believe that the emerging urban forestry category is crucial to the ongoing environmental efforts of urban communities. We look forward to adding more projects like it.”
Buena Vista Heights is an “avoided conversion” offset. It prevented 124 acres of trees near the Youghiogheny River in Buena Vista, Pennsylvania, from being converted into an already planned and platted housing development. Bulldozing the trees would have released an estimated 13,966 metric tons (15,395 U.S. tons) of carbon dioxide or equivalent greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Allegheny Land Trust, a nonprofit organization that protects natural land in the Pittsburgh area, bought the property from a developer. The trust has saved more than 2,700 acres of green space across 31 municipalities. This was the first time it sold carbon offsets (also known as carbon credits) to help finance one of its projects.
Carbon offsets are investments in projects that reduce or avoid carbon emissions, or that sequester (capture and store) carbon that has already been emitted. Each offset represents 1 metric ton of carbon dioxide or its equivalent.
Alyson Fearon, senior director of community conservation and resiliency for the trust, said the extra revenue stream from offsets would pay for improving the health of the forest and providing habitat for more species of wildlife.
“ALT is excited that Cloverly is our first buyer,” she said. “Your mission – what you’re using your carbon credits for – is something that we fully support, which is the local benefit and local impacts.”
Cloverly’s Sustainability-as-a-Service API platform helps businesses and organizations neutralize their carbon impact by connecting them to the carbon market infrastructure. The Cloverly API calculates the carbon footprint of a business or organization on a per-transaction basis and matches the impact with carbon offsets. It can green everyday activities like ecommerce deliveries, ridesharing, supply chain operations, flights and more.
Buena Vista Heights is significantly smaller than most carbon offset projects. In the forestry category, for example, “most traditional carbon projects are a minimum of 5,000 acres, and they go up to hundreds of thousands of acres,” said Ben Massie, vice president of environmental markets for Bluesource. Bluesource, an award-winning U.S. and Canadian carbon project developer and retailer, provided the carbon expertise for Buena Vista Heights and is marketing the offsets.
Smaller size means less carbon sequestered. The Buena Vista Heights project compensates by offering a lot of extra benefits for nearby residents. According to a nonprofit organization called City Forest Credits, city trees cool streets, filter pollutants, provide shade, promote physical activity and even improve mental health. On top of that, Buena Vista Heights offers deer and turkey hunting and wildlife-watching.
Most significantly, it provides crucial flood mitigation, absorbing an estimated 128 million gallons of stormwater a year. “In urbanized areas in Allegheny County, we have significant flooding and flash flooding,” Fearon said. “So stormwater management is important.”
City Forest Credits, founded in 2015, has developed protocols for city forest projects to make sure they meet accepted international standards for carbon offset projects. It also serves as a certification registry that lists the projects and their verification documents. Buena Vista Heights is only the third active urban forest preservation project in the City Forest Credits registry.
Smaller projects generate fewer credits, so their per-credit price has to be two or three times that of a typical offset. Oni said Cloverly recognized the extra value that made the investment worthwhile: "To this point, carbon markets have looked at offsets basically as interchangeable commodities, which means the only variable the market usually considers is price. We'd like to change that. Our customers are not looking for the cheapest credits. They're looking for projects that have real meaning to them.”
Massie said Cloverly’s willingness to invest could give a major boost to similar boutique ventures. “There are potential projects out there that are bottled up because they don’t think they can get that price point for the carbon credits,” he said.
Cloverly would love to support them. "Cloverly's business model breaks down the credits we buy into microunits for neutralizing the carbon impact of even small transactions,” Oni said. “That allows customers of all types to participate in the carbon market and fight climate change, regardless of budget. And with the addition of urban forestry credits to the Cloverly portfolio, our customers can now provide enhanced benefits to their local communities as well.“
For more information about Cloverly, including a blog post that explains how the Buena Vista Heights forest got its accidental start, see cloverly.com.
Emily Bailey
Lindsay Dill
Allegheny Land Trust
This oak is one of the largest and oldest trees in the Buena Vista Heights Conservation Area near Pittsburgh. Photo by Allegheny Land Trust The forest landscape acts as a giant sponge, absorbing rainwater and minimizing flooding. It also traps pollutants before they reach the Youghiogheny River. Photo by Allegheny Land Trust
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Lincoln Military Housing Recognized for Support to Military-Connected Children
During the past school year, students and teachers, and community partners of Fort Sam Houston Elementary School collected more than 1.4 million pounds of recycling materials.
During the past school year, students and teachers at Fort Sam Houston Elementary School collected more than a million pounds of recycling materials.(Photo by Courtesy photo)
"Not only did it allow us to support our community partners, but it also provided resident education and awareness about the ecosystem and our environment."
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (PRWEB) November 23, 2020
Lincoln Military Housing (LMH), the nation's leading provider of homes for military families, was awarded the 2020 Exemplary Individual Project/Program Award for their partnership with Fort Sam Houston Elementary School, supporting the Cougar Cub Recycling Program.
In its 16th year, the annual award encourages and reflects the outstanding partnerships formed between military installations and school districts that serve the military- and veteran-connected children. Each year, winning partnerships are selected from schools and military installations worldwide that celebrate the military child in exceptional and sustainable ways.
"Lincoln has been a proud supporter of the students in the Fort Sam Houston Independent School District for many years. When we were asked to support the recycle project and expand the recycle club, we knew this was something we could get behind," said Shequita Sims, Lincoln Military Housing, District Manager. "Not only did it allow us to support our community partners, but it also provided resident education and awareness about the ecosystem and our environment"
The combined efforts were instrumental in the school's recent win of PepsiCo Recycle Rally contest. The monetary award will give back to the community and enhance the relationship built through its recycling program.
The Cougar Cub Recycling Program included tracking and reporting the number of recyclables placed curbside from September 2019 to January 2020. Partnering organizations included Lincoln Military Housing, Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Sam Houston Independent School District, Fort Sam Houston Elementary School, Brooke Army Medical Center, Parkwood Housing, JROTC Cole High School, and JBSA-Fort Sam School Liaison Office – Texas.
Lincoln Military Housing Residents contributed 17,252 pounds of recyclables in six short months. The total collection was 1.4 million pounds of recyclables from various partners.
Fort Sam Houston Elementary School plans to use their prize to purchase audio-video equipment and give back to the community by creating public service announcements for their community partners. They will also buy a large shed for the Cougar Cub Recycling Club to aid in collection and sorting.
About Lincoln Military Housing
Lincoln Military Housing (LMH) was formed in 2001 through a Department of Defense (DOD) contract with parent company Lincoln Property Company. The goal has always been to increase the quality of military housing for our nation's servicemen and women. Since its inception more than a decade ago, Lincoln Military Housing now provides more than 36,000 family homes for military members across the U.S. Lincoln is much more than a property management company. LMH acts as a support system for military families and offers community-building activities and 24-hour maintenance assistance programs, free, to all of their residents. Services are available for all branches of service -- Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force, United States Coast Guard, and National Guard. For more information about Lincoln Military Housing, please visit http://www.lincolnmilitary.com for more details.
About Military Child Education Coalition
The Military Child Education Coalition is a 501(c)(3) global, nonprofit leadership and advocacy organization focused on ensuring quality educational opportunities for millions of military- and veteran-connected children affected by mobility, transition, deployments, and family separations. Learn more about the role MCEC plays globally at militarychild.org.
Created in 2004, the Lt. Gen. (Retired) H.G. "Pete" Taylor Partnership of Excellence Award™ recognizes the work of former MCEC Chairman Lt. Gen. (Retired) H.G. "Pete" Taylor in assisting military children. The award encourages the sharing of lessons learned and recognizes Lt. Gen. Taylor's long-held belief that "goodness starts at the local level."
Brooke Scarbrough
Lincoln Military Housing
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Summer Atlantic Capital Ltd. Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement With Sinopharm Group Ltd. Driving New Medical Technologies From North America and Europe To China
Summer Atlantic Capital Ltd. signs strategic partnership agreement with SinoPharm Group Ltd. to deliver cutting-edge pharmaceutical and medical device technologies under Joint Venture agreements to mainland China from Europe and North America.
Sinopharm has an infrastructure that spans well across the Chinese medical community. Summer Atlantic will access the infrastructure that Sinopharm has set up specifically for medical technologies to further ensure a successful JV for all participants.
HONG KONG (PRWEB) December 09, 2020
Summer Atlantic Capital Limited is proud to announce the signing of its Strategic Partnership Agreement with Sinopharm, a leading healthcare group in China, to introduce cutting-edge pharmaceutical and medical device technologies to mainland China. Summer Atlantic Capital has established a process to identify and approach companies from both North America and Europe that are qualified by possessing cutting-edge medical technologies that would be beneficial to the Chinese market. Upon identifying the candidates, Summer Atlantic, through its own private network and third-party strategic partners which now includes the addition of Sinopharm, will assess these technologies to determine if they are beneficial to the Chinese medical community while simultaneously fueling Chinese GDP growth.
Summer Atlantic has built a core team and an external network consisting of key individuals and third-party partners; with the addition of Sinopharm Summer Atlantic Capital can now perform a more detailed evaluation on all new medical technologies covering everything from revenue forecasting to licensing, manufacturing, and distribution. The more detailed analysis will help validate the benefits of the new medical technologies and the value they add to the Chinese medical system and its patients. “With the addition of Sinopharm, our evaluation process for medical technology has been substantially enhanced. Sinopharm has an infrastructure that spans well across the Chinese medical community. Summer Atlantic will access the infrastructure that Sinopharm has set up specifically for medical technologies to further ensure a successful JV for all participants.” says Sebright Chen, Founder and CEO of Summer Atlantic Capital Ltd.
“Sinopharm has built infrastructure including a cutting edge R&D department that can evaluate medical technologies from all aspects including feasibility and acceptance, regulatory and compliance, pricing, and distribution into the Chinese medical system. At the same time because of their size and reach, they obtain instant feedback from premier hospitals, doctors, and patients that could further substantiate a successful product launch and JV opportunity in China.” continues Sebright.
“Because Sinopharm has such a large footprint in the Chinese medical community they can leverage that footprint to successfully evaluate these new medical technologies introduced by Summer Atlantic Capital. Together we can further strengthen the likelihood of a successful JV and support those technologies by having Sinopharm take a lead role in the CFDA approval process, sales & distribution, as well as potentially participating with direct investments into the joint venture itself either initially or as the JV expands.” Sebright concludes.
Summer Atlantic Capital’s core team as well as its network of partners will further that evaluation by leveraging its contacts and their expertise in related fields, who will become involved in the operational and financial components of these newly formed joint ventures. Partners investing in the JV along with our sister company Summer Atlantic China will further increase the likelihood of success for the newly formed entities. Summer Atlantic will work with its legal and financial advisors to structure the joint ventures in a manner that is beneficial to all participants. The joint ventures will be structured in a way that allows the new JV entity to own the intellectual property associated with their technologies when distributed in the Chinese market. Structured under these terms, a successful joint venture will generate additional opportunities for the JV’s participants, as well as key partners and outside investors, to capture future profits and enhanced market capitalization from potential public listings in both the Chinese and Hong Kong capital markets. It will be Summer Atlantic’s job to facilitate, negotiate, and manage these joint ventures from inception through operations, and potentially a public listing or sale.
In addition to evaluating these medical technologies, Sinopharm will play an active role in the JVs which may include multiple phases of capital contributions, sales & distribution, as well as advisory and/or board participation assisting and guiding through the regulatory process for CFDA and other regulatory approvals.
About Summer Atlantic Capital
Summer Atlantic Capital is a Hong-Kong based entity with a sister company, Summer Atlantic China (our private equity group) based in China, and a US marketing arm, Summer Atlantic US. We focus on discovering companies with advanced technologies that are beneficial to the Chinese market. We work with the owners of these technologies to structure JV partnerships with strategic Chinese entities or individuals that have expertise in the respective field. In addition, Summer Atlantic arranges for the necessary capital to finance the joint ventures, which could include direct participation by our sister company, Summer Atlantic China, private individuals, business entities, or even state-owned funds. Summer Atlantic evaluates the feasibility of these technologies and how they could potentially enhance the Chinese consumer while at the same time simultaneously adding GDP growth into the Chinese economy. Summer Atlantic takes an active role from the formation of the JV all the way up to and including operations and the development of an exit strategy for the JV’s shareholders. Summer Atlantic Capital consists of a growing core team of over 25 executives with C level experience across a wide range of industries interacting with some of the world’s largest corporations. Our Executive team prides itself on their proven track record and rolodex of relationships throughout industry and government.
http://www.SummerAtlantic.com
http://www.SummerAtlantic.us
About SinoPharm
Sinopharm is a large healthcare group directly under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council, with 128,000 employees and sales for 2019 of over 425 billion Yuan.
Sinopharm Group Company Limited is principally engaged in the distribution of pharmaceutical products and medical equipment. The Company operates through three business segments. The Pharmaceutical Distribution segment is engaged in the distribution of medicines, medical devices, and pharmaceutical products to hospitals, other distributors, retail drug stores, and clinics. The Retail Pharmacy segment is engaged in the operation of medicine chain stores. The Other Business segment is engaged in the distribution of laboratory supplies, the manufacture & distribution of chemical reagents, as well as the production and sales of pharmaceutical products.
Sinopharm Group has built a nationwide logistics and distribution network for drugs, medical devices, and equipment, including 5 logistic hubs, more than 40 provincial-level centers, and over 240 municipal-level logistic sites. By establishing the smart medical service system, Sinopharm delivers quality services to more than 230,000 clients throughout China.
Dave Peters
Summer Atlantic Capital Ltd.
+1 8662024462 Ext: 3
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Senior: Happiness won't save you
More than 40 years ago, three psychologists published a study with the eccentric, mildly seductive title, “Lottery Winners and Accident Victims: Is Happiness Relative?” Even if you don’t think you know what it says, there’s a decent chance you do. It has seeped into TED talks, life-hack segments on morning shows, even the occasional whiff of movie dialogue. The paper is the peanut butter and jelly sandwich of happiness studies, a staple in any curriculum that looks at the psychology of human flourishing.
The study is straightforward. As the title suggests, the authors surveyed lottery winners and accident victims, plus a control group, hoping to compare their levels of happiness. But what the authors found violated common intuition. The victims, while less happy than the controls, still rated themselves above average in happiness, even though their accidents had recently rendered them all either paraplegic or quadriplegic. And the lottery winners were no happier than the controls, at least in any statistically meaningful sense. If anything, the warp and weft of their everyday lives was a little more threadbare. Talking to friends, hearing jokes, having breakfast — all of these simple pleasures now left them less satisfied than before.
There were flaws in the study — its design, alas, was as crude as an ax — but you can see why it became famous. It had an irresistible takeaway: Money! It doesn’t buy you happiness! Perhaps even more fundamentally, it had a sexy, almost absurd, premise. What kind of mind would think to pair lottery winners and accident victims in a research paper? Who in academic psychology had such a cockeyed imagination? It was social science by way of Samuel Beckett.
The answer to that question is a fellow by the name of Philip Brickman, a 34-year-old rising star at Northwestern University. He was warm, irrepressible, spellbinding to talk to; his mind was a chirping hatchery of ideas. Unlike so many of his peers, his preoccupations had little to do with cognitive processes. Rather, they had to do with matters of the heart: how we cope with adversity; how we care for others; how we form commitments, subdue inner conflicts, wrench meaning and happiness from this brief life.
“He wanted the world to be a more humane place,” his closest friend, Jeffery Paige, told me.
So for Brickman to come up with a study like this one made perfect sense. It was idiosyncratic, humanistic and, above all, relevant: Does money fulfill us? Does irremediable damage to the body cause irremediable damage to the spirit? Can we simply adapt to anything?
What, ultimately, do we need to carry us through?
Not long after publishing that study, Brickman left Northwestern for the University of Michigan, where he’d become the director of the oldest and most storied arm of the Institute for Social Research. It was a prestige gig, an honor often reserved for academics at the pinnacle of their careers. Paige, a professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Michigan, told me he thought Brickman was destined for the National Academy of Sciences one day.
We’ll never know. On May 13, 1982, at the age of 38, Philip Brickman made his way onto the roof of Tower Plaza, the tallest building in Ann Arbor, and jumped. It was a 26-story fall. The man who’d done one of psychology’s foundational studies about happiness couldn’t make his own pain go away.
According to those who knew him, Brickman was not a man who struggled with ongoing, intractable suicidal impulses. Depression and feelings of deep inadequacy, yes. But suicide? Not that they knew of, not until the final weeks of his life.
“To imagine what could have driven him to do that — I almost had to imagine a different person,” Vita Carulli Rabinowitz, one of his former graduate students, told me. “So it made me wonder: Was there an underlying disorder that we just didn’t see?”
Most suicides are cruel mysteries, the suffering of the deceased “private and inexpressible,” as Kay Redfield Jamison put it in her 1999 masterpiece, “Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide.” But Brickman wrote more than 50 book chapters and academic papers in his short life, plus a book, published posthumously. So if Brickman was suffering from an underlying disorder, as Rabinowitz suggests, there was also an awful lot that was hiding in plain view. It is tempting, in hindsight, to wonder if his scholarship wasn’t a trail of breadcrumbs — one long, unconscious attempt to unknot the riddle of his vexed self.
It seems safe to say that much of it was. But it also seems safe to say that his scholarship wasn’t enough.
Was there something he missed? If so, would it have made a difference if his insights had been complete? There will always be a gulf — bridgeable for most, but unbridgeable for a tragic few — between understanding what ails us and having the means or desire to bring those difficult feelings to heel.
It may even be worth asking whether understanding is quite beside the point — more of a requirement for the living than for the dead.
What are we to learn from this man?
As a professor, Brickman was an affecting combination of exuberant and awkward, exacting and underconfident. He was an awful lecturer. But he was an intoxicating conversationalist, the type who’d burst into your office whenever a new thought occurred to him, eager to discuss it, even more eager to collaborate. The first time he met Camille Wortman, now an emeritus professor of psychology at Stony Brook University, his opening conversational gambit was to ask whether she thought serial killers deserved compassion. He had just picked her up from the airport for a job interview.
“For me,” she told me, “it was intellectual love at first sight.” During their talks, she’d often have to stifle the urge to run back to her office and jot down notes.
Yet Brickman was bedeviled by insecurities, both physical and intellectual. He was homely, his face perforated with acne scars, his lip crowned with an extravagant walrus mustache. He was affectionate but quick to take offense, supportive but high-maintenance — tender in every sense.
“If he got a negative review on a publication he submitted,” said Wortman, “he would go insane. Nobody likes to get a bad review, but it had a profoundly negative effect on Phil. He would rant for days.”
“You really didn’t want to have a meeting with Phil on your calendar,” said Rabinowitz, the recently retired executive vice chancellor and provost of CUNY. He was needy. It was odd. He was cherished, even if he taxed your patience. And so obviously brilliant. Yet he didn’t seem to have half the admiration for himself that others had for him. “I don’t think he felt appreciated enough,” she told me. “I don’t think he achieved the recognition that he thought he deserved.”
Whatever he did achieve, he never considered it good enough. He wore his perfectionism like a hair shirt, and he expected it of others. He’d give people grief if they stapled a paper in the wrong place.
The irony is that, better than almost anyone, Brickman understood that the pursuit of stature, material bounty — and ultimately happiness itself — was a fool’s errand. Early in his career, he grasped that the more we achieve, the more we require to sustain our new levels of satisfaction. Our gratification from the new is fleeting; we adapt in spite of ourselves. “Fulfillment’s desolate attic,” as poet Philip Larkin once put it. You may as well chase your afternoon shadow. Happiness always looms ahead.
In 1971, Brickman and psychologist Donald T. Campbell went so far as to coin a term for the pointless quest for more, more, more: “The hedonic treadmill.” The term stuck. “There may be no way to permanently increase the total of one’s pleasure,” they concluded, “except by getting off the hedonic treadmill entirely.”
Which is all very well. But what on earth do you live for, if not happiness?
Your commitments, according to Brickman. They were the true road to salvation, he decided, the solution to an otherwise absurd existence. He recognized that they didn’t always give pleasure; they may even “oppose and conflict with freedom or happiness,” as he wrote in his book “Commitment, Conflict, and Caring,” published five years after his death. But in many ways, that was the point: The more we sacrifice for something, the more value we assign to it.
“Happiness, he wrote, “involves the enthusiastic and unambivalent acceptance of activities or relationships that are not the best that might possibly be obtained.”
“What Phil led me to realize is that a lot of psychology operates on this rational notion that, Well, I do the thing that works best for me,” said Dan Coates, a former student of Brickman’s and the second author on the lottery study. “But I think ultimately Phil would have said happiness is not what maintains us. What really maintains us is unhappiness.”
Which is a liberating — even electrifying — idea, particularly if you find happiness elusive, as Brickman did. “I think he was feeling that there was something a little bit wrong with him,” Wortman told me, “because he had achieved so much personal and professional success, yet it wasn’t as satisfying as he had hoped.”
There was only one problem with Brickman’s theory. Commitments, too, can be fragile and transient. Maybe less fragile and transient than the dopamine high of getting a paper published or falling in love. But fragile and transient nonetheless. Relationships end; jobs don’t work out. It’s a very painful discovery to make. The bonds we often think of as ropes are really gossamer threads.
Jeffery Paige used to say that he envied Brickman’s family life. And on the surface, there was certainly a lot to envy: Three adorable girls, a lovely wife, an idyllic farm outside Ann Arbor. But that portrait of domestic serenity was hard won. Brickman didn’t exactly come from a family where commitment came naturally. His father was a tomcat, forever destabilizing the household with his extramarital affairs, his sister, Julie, told me, and Brickman was an anxious, insecure little boy.
“He would try so hard,” said Julie. “He bought a million joke books so he could learn how to tell jokes to be funny, to amuse people.”
But the month he turned 17, Brickman went to Harvard and finally found his own kind, and when he got to graduate school, he met his wife, BB. He was smitten, utterly.
When things went south is hard to say. But they did, as was made clear in a series of letters uncovered by Benjamin Robert Wegner, a therapist who recently completed a dissertation about Brickman. One, from Phil to BB, about her disdain for social psychology: “If you are really hostile and contemptuous toward the field as you sometimes seem, you must either want me to change my line of work or wish you had another life partner for whose work you could have more respect.”
Another, from Brickman to a friend, about how much condescension his wife claimed to feel from him: “Part of my job, to put it in terms that are far too blunt for an insider, was to keep BB from feeling inferior.” He took self-punishing steps to do so, he added, including cutting off friends from whom she detected scorn, even freezing out his sister and minimizing contact with his parents.
BB is no longer alive to address this interpretation of events. She died from Parkinson’s disease in 2017. But her younger brother, Rick Schaeffer, told me he’s pretty certain she would have viewed the decline of her marriage differently.
Had Brickman been a faithful husband? Not entirely. BB told her brother that he’d strayed once while at a conference.
But the woman was a stranger; the lapse, while painful, proved surmountable. Far more challenging, Schaeffer told me, was that Brickman had become impossibly needy toward the end of the marriage, effectively a fourth child. The move to the Michigan farm and the strains of his new, high-profile job had undone him — dissolving his sense of humor, coiling him with anxiety, rendering him more demanding, more intense. He spent most of his time in his study, neglecting the few household duties he had.
“BB was there to solve his problems,” Schaeffer told me. “And to do his laundry.”
For the first time in his life, Brickman seemed to be experiencing an unfamiliar sensation: failure. Just before he died, he applied for a large research grant; he didn’t get it. His new post required lots of administrative and organizational prowess; he didn’t have it. His colleagues were forever giving him an earful. “He got consistent feedback that they were disappointed in him,” Wortman told me.
Sometime over the summer of 1981, said Schaeffer, BB asked Brickman to move out. You can imagine his isolation — and devastation.
“His two biggest commitments were his family and his work,” Coates told me. “And both of those seemed to be crumbling in front of him.”
Brickman spends many pages in “Commitment, Conflict, and Caring” contemplating the pain of a commitment-less life, especially in his final chapter entitled “Commitment and Mental Health.” The chapter was a mess, in chips and shards, when Coates first started to assemble it after Brickman’s death. What struck him most was how much despair he found in Brickman’s scribblings. Both men agreed that losing your commitments was an existential problem, robbing individuals of direction and value. “But he would always write about how painful that was,” Coates told me. “I guess I never experienced that level of pain. He emphasized it.”
In the final text, the pain won. The chapter includes quite a bit about suicide.
Brickman moved into a grim, generic one-bedroom apartment in Ann Arbor. Its one notable feature was the little notes he’d taped up everywhere — “aphorisms or psychological sayings or things to encourage himself and make himself happy or feel good,” said Julie, his sister. “They were really sad to me.”
The revered professor — whose associative imagination was legend among students, who plumped like a sponge at the very mention of a new idea — was now trying to buck himself up with the hokum of fortune cookies.
Toward the end of April, maybe three weeks before Brickman died, Jeffery Paige got a call from him, saying he was in trouble and needed to talk. They met for dinner at a local restaurant. Brickman was as despondent as Paige had ever seen him. “Everything went down this avenue to: Everybody else is happy and I’m not,” Paige told me. The spring weather was making a mockery of his misery.
Paige was so alarmed that he drove Brickman to the emergency room. But when a woman on staff finally interviewed him, she let him go, declaring he posed no danger to himself. (“She treated me like I was the one who needed a therapist,” Paige recalled.) Paige, far less convinced, extracted a promise from Brickman that he’d see a psychiatrist the next day, and Paige found him one, through a mutual friend.
I asked Paige what he thought happened in that examination room. “I think he talked her out of it,” he said. “For a man who was an expert in helping, he really resisted getting help.”
But that’s not exactly true. Brickman was seeking help toward the end of his life. At the point that Paige found him a psychiatrist, Brickman was already seeing a therapist, one of the best in Ann Arbor. And shortly after he had dinner with Paige, he walked into Camille Wortman’s office and told her point-blank that he was thinking of killing himself.
To this day, she regrets her response, not because of anything she did — she hugged him, let him know how much he was loved — but because of what she didn’t do. “When someone tells you they’re thinking of committing suicide, you’re supposed to ask if they have a plan,” she explained. “And if they have a plan, you’re supposed to ask if they have the means to carry it out.”
At the time, she had no idea. As strange as it sounds, it was exceptionally rare in 1982 for psychology professors to receive training in suicide prevention. More than 20 years later, in 2003, a survey still showed that only 50% of psychology interns reported receiving training in managing the suicidal — and those were clinicians-in-training, not social psychologists.
The fact was, Brickman was unraveling in front of almost no one but psychologists. And none knew what to do.
Yet many of them had thought deeply about the complicated challenges associated with helping people, and so had Brickman himself. The month before he died, he published a paper called “Models of Helping and Coping.”
It is painful to read today. The paper makes an earnest attempt to break down all of our helping and help-seeking behaviors into four categories: Those who think they’re responsible for both their problems and their problems’ solutions; those who think they’re responsible for neither; those who think they’re responsible for the solution to a problem but not the problem itself; and those who think they’re responsible for the problem but not the solution.
It’s this last category that turns your blood to ice. It basically describes people who think they’ve made a mess of everything but are inherently powerless to fix it, and therefore must permanently surrender their fate to a higher power. Alcoholics Anonymous, as the paper says, would be the healthiest scenario. But Jim Jones, as the paper also notes, would be the worst. He led more than 900 people to their suicides at his cult compound in 1978.
“I’ve always thought of that model as the most hellacious,” said Vita Carulli Rabinowitz, the second author on the study. “And I’ve wondered in retrospect if it’s the one Phil applied to himself. I don’t think he felt he was in control.” But he did feel responsible for his problems. He blamed himself for the dissolution of his marriage, and no one could persuade him to see it any other way.
Brickman didn’t surrender himself to a cult, obviously. He first spent 10 days at Mercywood, a psychiatric facility in Ann Arbor. But he signed himself out on May 13. It’s unclear who picked him up — maybe his parents, who were in town, knowing their son was in distress — or what he did next. Though his sister, Julie, told me that he had a couple’s therapy appointment that day.
But whatever else happened, he eventually got to the roof of Tower Plaza. It is 267 feet tall, 22 feet higher than the deck of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Julie Brickman said that her father saw his son’s body in the street.
Rabinowitz was sitting on the floor of her study, working, when a fellow graduate student phoned with the news. She was still flush with pride over the positive reception “Models of Helping and Coping” had gotten. It was based on her dissertation. She and Brickman were preparing to do a follow-up.
She never revisited the material again. “He couldn’t cope,” she told me, “and we couldn’t help.”
A note, for a moment, on suicide by jumping: Almost everyone I spoke to made a point of lingering on this gruesome part of Brickman’s story. It’s such an operatic gesture, a metaphor made literal, an actual flight from the devil’s choir of your own suffering. But it’s also such a ghastly method — so graphic, so violent, so public.
“It was clearly F-you to everybody,” said Roxane Cohen Silver, who worked with Brickman both as an undergraduate and a graduate student at Northwestern, now a professor of psychological science at University of California Irvine. “He chose to die in a place that everybody would see on a daily basis.” Tower Plaza is catty-corner to the Institute for Social Research, probably visible from half its windows. “It was a way to say to people, You let me down, and here I’m going to make you pay.”
Julie Brickman thought it was a hostile message to her brother’s wife. Jeffery Paige thought it was a hostile message to his shrink, who he’s pretty sure had an office in Tower Plaza.
I, too, got sucked into thinking about the meaning of jumping to your own conclusion, in every possible sense. In his work, Brickman was captivated by something called “opponent-process theory,” which noted that much of human experience was marked by a positive feeling followed by a negative one or vice versa — a drug addict experiencing a high followed by a low, a crime victim experiencing terror followed by relief. Almost nothing would seem to capture this paradoxical phenomenon like jumping from a height of 267 feet. It’s 4.07 seconds of screaming sensation followed by pitch-black extinction.
But then Julie told me a crucial detail: This was Philip’s third attempt at suicide. Shortly before, he’d tried to get enough drugs for an overdose, but failed; he’d also tried to jump from his parents’ car into traffic.
I asked Coates, who in our discussions often took a wry, existentialist view of life, what he made of Brickman’s jump from Tower Plaza. Everyone, including myself, was assigning so much psychological power and symbolism to it. But was there, really?
He thought about it for only a brief moment. No. “I don’t think he was doing it for the drama,” he said. “He was doing it for the efficacy.”
Many people get divorced. Many people find their work disappointing. Very few of them attempt suicide.
Predicting who will die by suicide with any precision has long eluded mental health professionals. There are no refined algorithms for it. Matthew K. Nock, a professor of psychology at Harvard and the country’s foremost scholar on suicide, did a famous study in 2010 showing that clinicians in a large city psychiatric ER were no better than a coin toss at predicting who, after leaving their care, would attempt suicide.
We do know which factors seem to make suicide more likely. Brickman checked almost every box. Male. Living alone. Recently separated. Two previous suicide attempts. And the period during which one is at greatest risk for dying by suicide is just after leaving a psychiatric institution.
But the most common feature among people who die by suicide is symptoms of mental illness. Nock says they’re present in 95% of all suicides, at least in the days or weeks before the event. And in Brickman’s case, they were present for far longer than that.
Depression chased Brickman his whole life. Julie noticed it in him even as a little boy, which made him difficult to envy, in spite of his academic accomplishments. In Brickman’s archives, Wegner found a letter Brickman wrote to his father in 1965, and it contained this stunning paragraph:
I see no reason for not saying that I am as happy now as I ever will be. And still I can wake up in the morning and be depressed. Very depressed. For reasons that sometimes make sense, and sometimes don’t. About the war in Vietnam. About my work, or about BB. Or even about being depressed itself. BB feels she knows this and can learn to live with it. She is quite capable of getting depressed, too. I don’t know whether I can learn to live with it, but I do know that I’ll never be without it.
It’s hard not to read that last line in the context of Brickman’s scholarly obsessions. He was preoccupied by how readily we adapt to life events — how we tend to return to some kind of baseline after fortune strikes, good or ill. A “hedonic set point,” as psychologists like to call it. And if that’s the case, it seems possible that Brickman could have wondered, in his darkest moments, if he was condemned to a lifetime of sadness.
He could win the lottery.
He could lose the use of his arms and legs.
But he’d always return to the same place.
I don’t know whether I can learn to live with it, but I do know that I can never be without it.
Was that what the lottery study was really about?
Yet Brickman was not always suicidally low. He worked, loved, formed friendships and a family. He had the energy to publish prodigiously and mentor generously and chatter joyously, for days, about ideas that tickled him.
What pitched him into a gloom so thick he couldn’t see his way out?
We can try to speculate about what took Brickman to the ledge of Tower Plaza. But we can’t ever know for sure. The living are reduced to police sketch artists, working off scraps, wisps, dusky recollections. They’ll never really know what the beast looked like to the dead.
In his book “The Savage God,” critic A. Alvarez writes about the insufficiency of explanations for suicide. At best, he wrote,
they soothe the tidy-minded and encourage the sociologists in their endless search for convincing categories and theories. They are like a trivial border incident which triggers off a major war. The real motives which impel a man to take his own life are elsewhere; they belong to the internal world, devious, contradictory, labyrinthine, and mostly out of sight.
Brickman’s work may have had much to say about the futility of pursuing happiness. But that wasn’t Brickman’s problem, ultimately. Those who kill themselves don’t do so because they find happiness elusive, or even if they’re outrageously unhappy. They do it to liberate themselves from unendurable pain. That’s what Brickman was experiencing. Pain without cease. “Suicide,” wrote Jamison, “is the last and best of bad possibilities.”
A colleague who knew I was working on this story asked me whether there was any suicide in my own family. Yes, I told him, there is, though I’d been lucky enough to escape the curse myself: I am not one of the 4.8% of American adults who seriously contemplated self-slaughter in 2019 (or any other year). But two of my eight great-grandparents died by suicide, I said, one on each side of the family.
One left a note saying he had cancer and gassed himself. So there was some ambiguity there, some controversy. Maybe it wasn’t crushing depression.
And the other …?
The other, I said. The other, the other …
She had jumped off the roof of a building in Brooklyn.
Never once, at least consciously, had I thought about this while reaching out to Brickman’s friends and colleagues and relations. It was my other great-grandparent who had consumed all the family-suicide mindshare. My mother and I had more than once discussed whether it was truly cancer, or whether it was depression masquerading behind an explanation my great-grandfather considered less shameful.
But my other great-grandparent: There was no ambiguity there. She jumped. It is virtually the only thing I’ve ever known about her.
We all find ways to study ourselves.
This month, a trio of economists published a paper that added both more nuance and more sizzle to the lottery study, showing that winners in a variety of Swedish lotteries did indeed rate their overall life satisfaction higher, even a decade later, than did a control group. Not their day-to-day happiness, the authors noted — that didn’t seem to show a statistically significant change. But it affected the overall evaluation of their lives.
Maybe playwright Richard Greenberg was right. Money doesn’t buy you happiness. But it does upgrade despair.
The study was a welcome addition to the growing body of literature about the relationship between money and well-being. Brickman’s paper had a comically small sample size, and its controls were lifted from a neighborhood phone book. Today, such a design would be laughed out of peer review.
But there’s one part of Brickman’s study — much less known, much less discussed — that I return to, stubbornly, in my head, whenever I think about him. It is this: All three groups were asked how they thought they’d feel in a couple of years. The accident victims. The lottery winners. The controls. And of those three groups, it was the accident victims who envisioned the happiest tomorrow. They carried the most optimism in their hearts.
Yet Brickman somehow couldn’t do that. At the end of his life, the most pertinent lesson from his most famous study was something he could only know, not feel. I asked Coates about this. He said it was consistent with an idea he and Brickman had discussed at length. It even appears in Brickman’s book.
“When depression is actually functional,” he explained, “that pain helps, because it lowers your baseline, so that you’re willing to accept alternatives you wouldn’t have accepted before. And then you can start to build new relationships and new purposes and new meanings.” To remarry, for instance. Or find a new job. “So that’s the part that puzzles me,” said Coates. “Why didn’t Phil realize that eventually you get through this pain?”
That is, perhaps, the most relevant question for those who die by suicide. Why do they believe they’re trapped in a permanent present of their own suffering?
If Matthew Nock or anyone else could answer it, suicide wouldn’t be the 10th-leading cause of death in the United States. But as it stands, the conviction that pain is irremediable remains one of the hallmarks of the suicidal. Nock cited a classic paper in psychology called “Pain Demands Attention,” which is pretty straightforward: People who are in extreme pain are focused on the present, because their pain is so distracting they can think of little else. They have a much harder time remembering the past, when that awful pain did not exist.
“And in order to think about the future,” Nock pointed out to me, “you have to flexibly recombine memories from the past.”
So what do you do, as a clinician or loved one, when faced with such suffering? How do you see them through?
You help them generate thoughts about the future in concrete, specific detail.
You point out, using specific numbers, how many years they lived without thoughts of suicide, versus the number of years they have had such thoughts.
You help them find therapy, ideally cognitive behavioral therapy, and drag them to sessions if you have to.
You take away their ability to kill themselves.
You try to keep them safe.
These efforts may not work. Suicidal people can be determined, and they know how to dissemble, how to feign stability. But you try. Most are relieved when they fail. And approximately half of them, according to the most up-to-date research, will not be feeling suicidal at the same time the following year — or ever again.
You are 6, 10, and 13 years old. It is nighttime. A police car pulls into your driveway, and an officer pops out, rings the doorbell, and asks for your mother. But she is not home; she is at a PTA meeting. You all go to bed. Eventually, she returns, is told the news. The next morning, she tells you that your father is dead. He has jumped off a building.
The Brickman daughters were raised by one of the most psychologically oriented men of his generation. Yet after he died, BB never spoke of their father again. His name was not mentioned. His death was not discussed. The girls never visited his grave. “She was the only parent left,” Sarah, the middle daughter, told me. “And she wasn’t a guide to helping us know or love the father who’d just left us. At all.”
They buried whatever questions and feelings they had beneath a separate headstone.
The oldest, Rachel, now has Parkinson’s and lives with her youngest sister, Katharine. Speech for her is painful, effortful, but the one thing she communicates is that her mother went to great lengths to put the episode behind her. When BB became a nurse many years later, she told colleagues her husband died of cancer.
Katharine was probably closest to her father. She sensed his depression even as a little girl — he had that penumbra of sorrow about him — and she tried, in her own way, to help, deliberately allowing him to win at cards. For 21 years, she wandered the world with a misunderstanding common to children who witness their parents’ distress: that her father’s suicide was her fault, that she should have been able to save him. Then, at 27, she finally realized: “He wanted to leave, and it was his right to leave. It wasn’t about me.”
But it was Sarah, Brickman’s middle child, who possibly paid the steepest price. In adulthood, she told me, she keeps finding men who need saving, who are broken somehow. Though she remembers little about her father, what memories she does have are grim, painful: Of her dad begging her to ask her mother whether she still loved him, for instance, because he still loved her — would she tell her mom that?
Or: Of sitting in his office at the Institute for Social Research, probably on the sixth floor, and asking what would happen if she fell out the window. The place had such big windows! She doesn’t remember his response. She just knows that shortly thereafter, he went to the top of the tallest building in the city and jumped.
I asked if this meant she’d spent the last 38 years secretly believing she’d seeded a family tragedy. She first told me no, not really; she knew her father had tried suicide before. “But if I did, what a jerk,” she blurted. “Did he think that wouldn’t negatively affect me for the rest of my life?” She cried as she said this. It was the first time, she explained, that she’d said this thought out loud.
But she is mainly protective of her father, more angry with her mother for not allowing the children to properly grieve. About 10 years ago, she finally started to investigate who Philip Brickman was, hunting down former colleagues. She was stunned to discover how affected they were by his death.
“I never knew that he was such a superstar,” she told me, her voice breaking again. “I was raised to think he was a nobody.”
If those who die by suicide finally escape the tyranny of the awful present, they pass along that tyranny to the survivors they leave behind. The living spend years, decades, sometimes a lifetime imagining the final moments of the dead, guessing at their motives, berating themselves for the things they could have done. “Irresolvable guilt,” is what Jamison calls it.
Children may have one version. Adults have another. Julie Brickman, a warm and perceptive woman (once a therapist herself, now a novelist), told me it took her a decade to stop imagining what her brother’s ascent to the roof of Tower Plaza looked like. “I still want to see how you get up there,” she said.
I asked how she coped with the plague of counterfactuals that beset most survivors: What if I’d done X, what if I’d done Y? She told me the most useful thing she’d learned after years of therapy, an elegant and simple epiphany: You have to take the suicide out of the question.
“You have to ask yourself: If life had just progressed” — meaning if your loved one hadn’t committed suicide — “did you do anything terrible? And the answer, 95% of the time, is No. I didn’t.”
She didn’t. When Julie last saw her brother, she treated him with love and support and kindness.
Brickman’s death reverberated in different ways with different colleagues and students. But none was left unchanged by it. Rabinowitz abandoned her work on helping and coping. Coates left academia altogether and went to work in public school administration in St. Louis and its suburbs. “What hit me was, Gosh, if this career ended up killing him and he was so much better at it than I am, what’s it going to do to me?” Off the treadmill he hopped.
Wortman, on the other hand, leaned into her distress, learning everything she could about suicide prevention — she taught a class on it each year, dedicating it to Brickman — and focused her research exclusively on how survivors cope with the sudden loss of a family member or friend. Silver, who had already homed in on this same subject, had the unlucky-but-instructional opportunity to test her hypotheses about adversity firsthand. The death of Phil Brickman was her first true tragic event. She was 26 years old.
“It helped me solidify my view,” she told me, “that coming to terms with a loss does not necessarily mean that one must make sense of that loss.”
But that doesn’t mean forgetting. “Every time Camille and I talked, all we talked about was Phil — for years,” she said. “I was immersed in thoughts about him: Why he did it and how he did it and did he regret it once he started to jump?”
There was a reason she thought about those questions. “They were the kinds of things that Phil and I would talk about.”
It was the quintessential Philip Brickman conversation. A man lingers on the rooftop of a high-rise, despairing. He makes his way toward the edge. And after some time — seconds? minutes? hours? no one knows — he decides to jump. The ultimate commitment. Or is it really a rejection of all commitments? Whatever it is, does it feel right? Does it help? Or does it suddenly reveal, my God, that there was actually another way?
Did he make the right choice?
If only he’d been around to discuss it. It is terrible that Brickman is not here to discuss it. He would have had, you can only imagine, so very much to say.
If you are having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). You can find a list of additional resources at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources
Jennifer Senior writes for The New York Times.
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Fifth Circuit Applies New Standard to Detainee Claims
Loaded on Oct. 15, 1996 published in Prison Legal News October, 1996, page 14
Filed under: Conditions of Confinement, Totality of Conditions, Jail Specific, Qualified Immunity, Suicides. Location: Mississippi.
The court of appeals for the fifth circuit has significantly weakened the constitutional protections afforded pretrial detainees by adopting a new standard affording significantly less protection than prior supreme court decisions had mandated. Haley Hare committed suicide while in the Corinth, MS jail after being arrested on a petty larceny warrant. Hare's family sued the city for her death claming they violated her constitutional right to medical care and protection from suicide. The trial court held there were genuine issues of fact requiring a trial and denied both parties' motion for summary judgment. The defendants appealed, claiming they were entitled to qualified immunity. In Hare v. City of Corinth, 22 F.3d 612 (5th Cir. 1994) the appeals court dismissed the appeal. That ruling was later reissued under a new theory at 36 F.3d 412 (5th Cir. 1994).
This ruling by the fifth circuit appeals court, en banc, follows and it sets a new standard for all claims brought by pretrial detainees and should be studied by anyone litigating such a claim in the fifth circuit. [Editor's Note: As a practical matter PLN generally does not report jail/prison suicide cases because they are not litigated by pro se litigants, for obvious reasons. The implications of this ruling go far beyond jail suicide cases and will apply to all claims brought by jail litigants.]
In its ruling the court gives a detailed explanation of the supreme court's ruling in Bell v. Wolfish, 441 US 520, 99 S.Ct. 1861 (1979) which held that pretrial detainees cannot be punished at all, and how it has been applied to claims brought by pretrial detainees. In theory pretrial detainees, who have not been convicted of any crime, retain greater rights than convicted prisoners who may be punished, but not in a cruel and unusual manner. In reality few if any jails separate convicted prisoners from the unconvicted, both are subjected to identical conditions of confinement which tend to be pretty bad. A good rule of measure being the bigger the jail the worse the conditions. Pretrial detainees derive their constitutional protection from the due process clause. While convicted prisoners derive theirs from the eighth amendment. For prison officials to be liable under an eighth amendment claim the plaintiff must show two things: the conduct or deprivation is objectively serious or unreasonable and the defendants had a culpable state of mind, i.e., they acted or failed to act knowing harm was likely to result. See: Farmer v. Brennan, 114 S.Ct. 1970 (1994). Due process claims by pretrial detainees have not been required to prove a state of mind requirement in order to prevail.
The court held that the Bell test works best in jail condition cases challenging general conditions, practices, rules, or restrictions of pre-trial confinement because the jail officials' state of mind is not a disputed issue. "In true jail condition cases, an avowed or presumed intent by the state or its jail officials exists in the form of the challenged condition, practice, rule or restriction. A State's imposition of a rule or restriction during pretrial confinement manifests an avowed intent to subject a pretrial detainee to that rule or restriction. Likewise, even where a state may not want to subject a detainee to inhumane conditions of confinement or abusive jail practices, its intent to do so is nevertheless presumed when it incarcerates the detainee in the face of such known conditions and practices. Thus, a true jail condition case starts with the assumption that the state intended to cause the pretrial detainee's alleged constitutional deprivation. Only with such intentionality as a given is the Bell test useful."
The court held that the Bell test was ill suited to pretrial detainee's claims involving episodic acts such as a failure to provide medical care or protect from violence. "For the Bell test to apply, a jailer's act or omission must implement a rule or restriction or otherwise demonstrate the existence of an identifiable intended condition or practice. If a pretrial detainee is unable to point to such an established rule or restriction, then he must show that the jail official's acts or omissions were sufficiently extended or pervasive, or otherwise typical of extended or pervasive misconduct by other officials, to prove an intended condition or practice to which the Bell test can be meaningfully applied. Otherwise, in the absence of such a condition, practice, rule, or restriction, a jail official's act or omission can give rise to constitutional liability only if he was culpable, under an appropriate legal standard, with respect to the detainee. We now articulate that standard."
After much discussion the court concluded it would adopt a deliberate indifference standard to medical and failure to protect claims brought by pretrial detainees. In doing so the court adopted the standard set forth in Youngberg v. Romero, 457 US 307, 102 S.Ct. 2452 (1982) which involved the mother of a mental patient who suffered injuries while involuntarily committed in a state mental hospital. This standard differs from both the Bell test and the Farmer standard because it held that the due process clause entitles "persons who have been involuntarily committed are entitled to more considerate treatment and conditions of confinement than criminals whose conditions of confinement are designed to punish." In DeShaney v. Winnebago, 489 US 189, 109 S.Ct. 998 (1989) the court held that the state had a duty to provide care to those it had deprived of the ability to care for themselves. The fifth circuit applied these cases to hold: "no constitutionally relevant difference exists between the rights of pretrial detainees and convicted prisoners to be secure in their basic human needs. Since the Supreme Court has consistently adhered to a deliberate indifference standard in measuring convicted prisoners' Eighth Amendment rights to medical care and protection from harm, we adopt a deliberate indifference standard in measuring the corresponding set of due process rights of pretrial detainees."
The court held that the eighth amendment subjective deliberate indifference standard articulated in Farmer should be applied to the claims brought by pretrial detainees under the due process clause. The court reached this conclusion by stating "That pretrial detainees may have more protections or rights in general, however, does not mean that they are entitled to greater protection of rights shared in common with convicted inmates.... For purposes of measuring constitutional duties, our case law and the teachings of the Supreme Court indicate that there is no legally significant situation in which a failure to provide an incarcerated individual with medical care or protection from violence is punishment yet is not cruel and unusual. The fact of conviction ought not make one more amenable under the constitution to unnecessary random violence or suffering, or to a greater denial of basic human needs."
Applying that standard to the facts in this case the court vacated the lower court ruling and remanded it to the lower court to determine whether the defendant jail officials had actual subjective knowledge of the risk posed by jail conditions to Hare but then responded with deliberate indifference to that risk. See: Hare v. City of Corinth, MS, 74 F.3d 633 (5th Cir. 1996)(en banc).
Related legal case
Hare v. City of Corinth, MS
74 F.3d 633 (5th Cir. 1996)(en banc)
Hare v. City of Corinth, 74 F.3d 633 (5th Cir. 01/29/1996)
[2] No. 93-7192
[4] decided: January 29, 1996.
[5] RICHARD HARE, NATURAL FATHER AND NEXT FRIEND OF HALEY HARE, A MINOR, ET AL., PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,
CITY OF CORINTH, MS, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, ET AL., DEFENDANTS, FRED JOHNSON, ETC., BILLY BURNS, ETC., JAMES DAMONS, ETC., BRENDA MOORE, ETC., DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS.
[6] Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. D.C. DOCKET NUMBER CA EC91-248-D-D. JUDGE Glen H. Davidson.
[7] ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: PHELPS DUNBAR, Gary Friedman, Susan Desmond, Luther T. Munford, Angela M. McLain, Jackson, MS.
[8] (FOR TEXAS ASSOC. COUNTIES): John Needle, Assoc. Gen. Counsel, TX. Assoc. of Counties, Robert Lemens, Austin, TX.
[9] ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE: LANGSTON, LANGSTON, MICHAEL & BOWEN, Ronald Dale Michael, Timothy Angle, Booneville, MS.
[10] AMICUS - LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL ASSOC. (on behalf of Appellants): BORNE, WILKES, ET AL., John F. Wilkes, III, James Brady, Lafayette, LA.
[11] Before Politz, Chief Judge, King, Garwood, Jolly, Higginbotham, Davis, Jones, Smith, Duhe, Wiener, Barksdale, Emilio M. Garza, DeMOSS, Benavides, Stewart, Parker, and Dennis, Circuit Judges. James L. Dennis, Circuit Judge, Specially Concurring
[12] Author: Garwood
[13] GARWOOD and HIGGINBOTHAM, Circuit Judges:
[14] Today we again visit the measures of liability under the U.S. Constitution for failing to prevent a suicide by a pretrial detainee. Tina Hare committed suicide while detained in the city jail in Corinth, Mississippi. Her husband, Richard Hare, sued municipal and individual defendants under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The district court denied summary judgment. This appeal by individual defendants claiming qualified immunity followed. A panel of this court dismissed their appeal. We elected to hear the case en banc, and now find that the district court applied an erroneous legal standard in denying summary judgment on qualified immunity grounds. We hold that the episodic act or omission of a state jail official does not violate a pretrial detainee's due process right to medical care or protection from suicide unless the official acted or failed to act with subjective deliberate indifference to the detainee's rights, as defined in Farmer v. Brennan, 128 L. Ed. 2d 811, 114 S. Ct. 1970 (1994). We vacate and remand for review of the claims of qualified immunity under the correct legal standard.
[15] I.
[16] Richard Hare sued the City of Corinth, the city's Board of Aldermen, Corinth Mayor Edward Bishop, former Corinth Mayor Jack Holt, and Police Captain Billy Burns, Police Chief Fred Johnson, Officer Brenda Moore, and Captain James Damons in their individual and official capacities. Mr. Hare sued under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging violations of the Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, and of Mississippi's wrongful death statute. After discovery, Burns, Johnson, Moore, and Damons moved for summary judgment asserting qualified immunity. Mr. Hare in turn moved for summary judgment. The district court granted defendants summary judgment on Mr. Hare's state-law claims, but declined to enter judgment upon the § 1983 claims. It found that there were genuine issues of material fact as to whether Ms. Hare was deprived of rights protected under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The district court also rejected Mr. Hare's cross-motion for summary judgment.
[17] Those individual defendants claiming qualified immunity appealed the denial of their motion for summary judgment. A panel of this court dismissed the defendants' appeal. See Hare v. City of Corinth, 22 F.3d 612 (5th Cir. 1994). The panel found that Mr. Hare had alleged a violation of Ms. Hare's clearly established federal due process right to medical attention for her suicidal tendencies, and that there were genuine issues of material fact as to whether the defendants' inaction manifested deliberate indifference. The panel concluded that because the defendants' appeal presented "more than a pure question of law the denial of summary judgment [was] not appealable." Id. at 616.
[18] On October 13, 1994, the panel substituted a revised opinion dismissing the appeal under a different analysis. Relying on Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 60 L. Ed. 2d 447, 99 S. Ct. 1861 (1979), the panel concluded (1) that Ms. Hare had a clearly established due process right to reasonable care for her serious medical needs unless failure to supply such care was reasonably related to a legitimate governmental objective, and (2) that there were fact issues precluding summary judgment and rendering the denial of summary judgment not appealable. See Hare v. City of Corinth, 36 F.3d 412 (5th Cir. 1994).
[19] II.
[20] Viewing the summary judgment evidence most favorably to Mr. Hare, the following transpired:
[21] Shortly after midnight on the morning of July 14, 1989, the Booneville Police Department notified the Corinth Police Department that Ms. Hare had been arrested in Booneville on warrants for petty larceny and forgery. Officer Larry Fuqua of the Corinth Police Department immediately went to Booneville to pick up Ms. Hare, at which time the Booneville police informed Fuqua that Ms. Hare was a "heavy drug user." Fuqua took Ms. Hare to the Corinth City Jail, where she was jailed at approximately 1:45 a.m.
[22] Ms. Hare's husband, Mr. Hare, testified in his deposition that Ms. Hare called him just after she was jailed. Mr. Hare testified that his wife had never been in jail before, and that she seemed scared and frightened. Ms. Hare told her husband that nothing could be done to secure her release until after 8:00 a.m., so he went back to sleep. Later that morning, at around 6:00 a.m., Mr. Hare contacted Ms. Hare's divorced parents, Guy Taylor and Patricia Morgan, to inform them that their daughter was in the Corinth jail and needed help. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Hare met with Ms. Hare's parents; they decided that Ms. Hare's parents would go to the jail at 8:00 a.m. to seek their daughter's release, leaving Mr. Hare at home to care for the Hares' baby daughter. When Ms. Hare's parents went to the jail at around 8:00 a.m., however, Burns told them that Ms. Hare was not ready for release, and that it would take more time to complete the investigation of their daughter. Accordingly, Burns told the parents to return home and wait for his call.
[23] In his deposition, Burns testified that he was informed that Ms. Hare was a suspect in a check forgery case, and that he first met with Ms. Hare to interview her at approximately 10 a.m. on July 14, 1989. During this interview, Ms. Hare told Burns that she had been forging checks and cashing them to finance her dilaudid addiction. According to Burns, Ms. Hare was depressed about being in jail, and was sitting with both feet in her chair in a defensive, "fetal-type" position. Ms. Hare said that she was an unfit mother and expressed concern about how her husband would react to her predicament. Burns observed that Ms. Hare was going through withdrawal, which he understood to be a normal reaction to her drug use; he also learned at that time that Ms. Hare was scheduled to enter a drug rehabilitation program the next day, July 15, 1989, in Tupelo, Mississippi. Burns indicated that Ms. Hare's mood improved later in the interview when she learned that her bond amount would not be as high as she initially had expected.
[24] After the interview, Burns placed Ms. Hare in a private cell and told the dispatcher, Brenda Moore, to monitor Ms. Hare in case her withdrawal symptoms required medical attention. Ms. Hare was allowed to call her parents to ask them to return to the jail to assist with her bond so that she could be released that afternoon. These plans never materialized, apparently in part because of Burns' displeasure over Ms. Hare's attempt to destroy a videotape on which the interview had been recorded.*fn1 Also, in the meantime, the Corinth police had received word of additional charges on Ms. Hare. When Ms. Hare's parents arrived at the jail at around noon, Burns told them that Ms. Hare could not go home at that time.
[25] Though Ms. Hare was not released, she was allowed to visit with her parents from around 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. During this private meeting, Ms. Hare's mother described Ms. Hare as "emotionally distraught." Burns likewise described Ms. Hare's mood as "hyper" and "frantic" while her parents were at the jail. Ms. Hare attempted to convince Burns not to hold her in jail another night and threatened to commit suicide if he did. While Burns did not consider the threat serious, Ms. Hare's father testified that he believed that she was serious, observing that she had made the suicide threat in a serious, believable tone of voice. Burns acknowledged that it was possible that Ms. Hare said to him that "her life was in his hands," but said that he could not specifically remember whether she said those words to him. In any event, Ms. Hare's threat prompted her father to seek assurance from Burns that Ms. Hare would be safe. Burns acknowledges telling Ms. Hare's father that the police would do "everything within [their] power to make sure that nothing did happen to her."
[26] After Ms. Hare's parents left the jail, Burns returned Ms. Hare to her original cell. Burns subsequently moved her to an isolated cell nearest the camera monitors and trusty station, claiming that Police Chief Fred Johnson instructed him to do so. Johnson denies that he ever gave Burns such an instruction. Since Ms. Hare had been strip-searched previously, Burns searched her cell, took her shoes, and made sure that she did not have a belt. Burns saw a blanket on the bunk and considered the possibility that Ms. Hare might use it to harm herself, but left it there believing that she was not strong enough to tear it. Burns instructed dispatcher Moore to keep a close check on Ms. Hare and to have the trusties check on her. According to Burns, his primary concern was Ms. Hare's "withdrawal syndrome," not her suicide threat.
[27] Moore confirms that Burns told her to keep an eye on Ms. Hare, and that he also apprised her of Ms. Hare's threat to harm herself. Burns, however, believed that Moore would be on duty until 10:00 p.m, when in fact she was off duty at 5:00 p.m.. Moore thus went home at 5:00 p.m., at which time Captain James Damons took over her dispatching duties. Moore claims that she informed Damons that Burns had left instructions to keep an eye on Ms. Hare, though Damons denies receiving such information.
[28] Burns left the station some time after 3:00 p.m. At around 6:00 p.m., Burns called the jail from his home and told Damons to have the two trusties check on Ms. Hare at least every forty-five minutes. Damons promptly sent a trusty to check on Ms. Hare. When the trusty arrived at Ms. Hare's cell, he found her hanging from the bars of her cell with a noose that she had fashioned from strips of the blanket. As the trusty did not have a key to Ms. Hare's cell, he immediately notified Damons. Damons, in accordance with jail procedures, could not leave his post, so he called Burns. Ms. Hare was left there hanging, though the summary judgment evidence does not establish whether she was alive or dead when the trusty first found her. Burns told Damons to leave Ms. Hare undisturbed until the State Investigator arrived.
[29] III.
[30] We first determine whether the district court's denial of the motion for summary judgment by the individual defendants asserting qualified immunity was immediately appealable under Mitchell v. Forsyth, 472 U.S. 511, 86 L. Ed. 2d 411, 105 S. Ct. 2806 (1985). After the panel issued its opinions in this case but before rehearing en banc, the Supreme Court addressed the appealability of a denial of summary judgment on qualified immunity grounds in Johnson v. Jones, 132 L. Ed. 2d 238, 115 S. Ct. 2151 (1995). In Johnson, the plaintiff sued five police officers who had allegedly beaten him. Three of the officers claimed qualified immunity in their motion for summary judgment, arguing that there was no evidence that they were involved in the plaintiff's beating. The district court denied their summary judgment motion, and they appealed to the Seventh Circuit. The Seventh Circuit dismissed the officers' appeal, finding that it lacked appellate jurisdiction over such an "evidence insufficiency" contention. The Supreme Court affirmed the Seventh Circuit's dismissal, holding that a district court's summary judgment order, though entered in a qualified immunity case, is not appealable if it determines only a question of "evidence sufficiency." Id. at 2156.
[31] In this case, the district court denied the summary judgment motion of the individual defendants after concluding that there were fact issues as to whether they knew or should have known of Ms. Hare's suicide risk. The individual defendants contend that, even conceding the facts as alleged by Mr. Hare, they are entitled to qualified immunity because their conduct did not violate any clearly established federal rights of which a reasonable officer would have known at the time of Ms. Hare's suicide. The critical question is whether, given the demurrer to the plaintiff's facts, we have jurisdiction over this appeal.
[32] We find that we do. As we will explain, the district court applied the incorrect legal standard in denying summary judgment. We leave to the district court the question whether there are genuine issues of material fact measured by the correct standard. This appeal does not present the fact-intensive inquiry eschewed by Johnson. Rather, it presents a legal issue antecedent to the determination of whether there are genuine issues of material fact. Our review of the legal issues in this appeal goes to the legal question of the correct legal standard.
[33] IV.
[34] In general, the State's incarceration of pretrial detainees and convicted state prisoners comports with due process guarantees because of the State's recognized interests in detaining defendants for trial and in punishing those who have been adJudged guilty of a crime. The State's exercise of its power to hold detainees and prisoners, however, brings with it a responsibility under the U.S. Constitution to tend to essentials of their well-being:
[35] When the State by the affirmative exercise of its power so restrains an individual's liberty that it renders him unable to care for himself, and at the same time fails to provide for his basic human needs -- e.g., food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and reasonable safety -- it transgresses the substantive limits on state action set by the Eighth Amendment and the Due Process Clause. The affirmative duty to protect arises not from the State's knowledge of the individual's predicament or from its expressions of intent to help him, but from the limitation which it has imposed on his freedom to act on his own behalf.
[36] DeShaney v. Winnebago County Dep't of Social Servs., 489 U.S. 189, 200, 103 L. Ed. 2d 249, 109 S. Ct. 998 (1989) (citations omitted). Hence, since pretrial detainees and convicted state prisoners are similarly restricted in their ability to fend for themselves, the State owes a duty to both groups that effectively confers upon them a set of constitutional rights that fall under the Court's rubric of "basic human needs."
[37] Pretrial detainees and convicted prisoners, however, look to different constitutional provisions for their respective rights to basic needs such as medical care and safety. The constitutional rights of a convicted state prisoner spring from the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, see Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104, 50 L. Ed. 2d 251, 97 S. Ct. 285 (1976), and, with a relatively limited reach, from substantive due process. The constitutional rights of a pretrial detainee, on the other hand, flow from both the procedural and substantive due process guarantees of the Fourteenth Amendment. See Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 60 L. Ed. 2d 447, 99 S. Ct. 1861 (1979). Significantly, Bell instructs that the State must distinguish between pretrial detainees and convicted felons in one crucial respect: The State cannot punish a pretrial detainee. Id. at 535 ("In evaluating the constitutionality of conditions or restrictions of pretrial detention that implicate only the protection against deprivation of liberty without due process of law, we think that the proper inquiry is whether those conditions amount to punishment of the detainee."). Since the State does punish convicted prisoners, but cannot punish pretrial detainees, a pretrial detainee's due process rights are said to be "at least as great as the Eighth Amendment protections available to a convicted prisoner." City of Revere v. Massachusetts Gen. Hosp., 463 U.S. 239, 244, 77 L. Ed. 2d 605, 103 S. Ct. 2979 (1983).
[38] Much of the current confusion over the measures of the due process rights of pretrial detainees stems from the divergent ways in which lower courts have applied Bell. We start by revisiting Bell and reviewing our cases construing Bell to facilitate an understanding of the sources of difficulty.
[39] A.
[40] In Bell, pretrial detainees brought a constitutional challenge seeking injunctive relief against a number of jail conditions and restrictions, including the jail's practice of "double bunking" its detainees. The district court enjoined the challenged practices after concluding that they were not justified by a "compelling necessity." The Supreme Court expressly rejected this high level of scrutiny.
[41] Then Justice Rehnquist began his opinion for the Court by emphasizing that "the Government has a substantial interest in ensuring that persons accused of crimes are available for trials and, ultimately, for service of their sentences, [and] that confinement of such persons pending trial is a legitimate means of furthering that interest." Bell, 441 U.S. at 534. The Court recognized, however, that a pretrial detainee has a "right to be free from punishment [and] an understandable desire to be as comfortable as possible during his confinement, both of which may conceivably coalesce at some point." Id. The Court sought to fashion a test respecting both the Government's interests and the detainee's rights, a test designed to "determine whether particular restrictions and conditions accompanying pretrial detention amount to punishment in the constitutional sense of that word." Id. at 538.
[42] The Court lowered the level of scrutiny to one of rationality:
[43] If a particular condition or restriction of pretrial detention is reasonably related to a legitimate governmental objective, it does not, without more, amount to "punishment." Conversely, if a restriction or condition is not reasonably related to a legitimate goal -- if it is arbitrary or purposeless -- a court permissibly may infer that the purpose of the governmental action is punishment that may not constitutionally be inflicted upon detainees qua detainees.
[44] Id. at 539 (footnote omitted). Thus, under Bell, a pretrial detainee cannot be subjected to conditions or restrictions that are not reasonably related to a legitimate governmental purpose. An open question has remained: Given that both pretrial detainees and convicts have constitutional rights to basic human needs while incarcerated and therefore unable to fend for themselves, what standard applies when a pretrial detainee asserts a deprivation of a constitutional right held in common with convicted prisoners, albeit through a different textual source.
[45] The Supreme Court, in clarifying the scope of convicted prisoners' Eighth Amendment rights, has consistently held that liability for inaction attaches only when a prison official's failure to act amounts to deliberate indifference to the prisoner's rights. See, e.g., Farmer, 114 S. Ct. at 1977; Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 111 S. Ct. 2321, 2327, 115 L. Ed. 2d 271 (1991); Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. at 104. The level of official conduct that must be shown to support a comparable claim by a pretrial detainee, however, is a question that the Court has repeatedly left open. See, e.g., City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378, 388 n.8, 103 L. Ed. 2d 412, 109 S. Ct. 1197 (1989); City of Revere, 463 U.S. at 244.
[46] Our efforts to answer this question have reflected conflicting perspectives on whether to apply Bell or a deliberate indifference standard. When dealing with a pretrial detainee's right to medical care or protection from harm, it is argued, we must apply the reasonable relationship test of Bell, since that test was designed specifically to define the scope of due process rights of pretrial detainees. With equal fervor it is urged that the deliberate indifference standard applied in the Court's Eighth Amendment cases ought to be the choice, since those cases have addressed the specific type of right asserted in this case -- the right to medical care or protection from harm. As a review of our case law discloses, this tension has emerged from varied readings of the breadth of Bell and of cases applying it.
[47] B.
[48] In Jones v. Diamond, 636 F.2d 1364 (5th Cir. 1981) (en banc), overruled on other grounds, International Woodworkers of Am. v. Champion Int'l Corp., 790 F.2d 1174 (5th Cir. 1986) (en banc), we reviewed a constitutional challenge by both pretrial detainees and convicted prisoners seeking injunctive relief from a multitude of practices and conditions of their incarceration in a county jail. Judge Rubin's opinion for the en banc court carefully distinguished the rights of pretrial detainees from those of convicted inmates, relying on Bell in addressing the claims of the pretrial detainees. We held that "the confinement of pretrial detainees indiscriminately with convicted persons is unconstitutional unless such a practice is 'reasonably related to the institution's interest in maintaining jail security,' or physical facilities do not permit their separation." Jones, 636 F.2d at 1374 (quoting Bell, 441 U.S. at 540). Likewise, we held that contact visitation may be denied to pretrial detainees "if it is a restraint 'reasonably related to the institution's interest in maintaining jail security.'" Id. at 1377 (quoting Bell, 441 U.S. at 540). As to medical attention, we noted:
[49] The standard by which to measure the medical attention that must be afforded pretrial detainees has never been spelled out. The Bell v. Wolfish criterion, applied to medical attention, entitles pretrial detainees to reasonable medical care unless the failure to supply it is reasonably related to a legitimate governmental objective.
[50] Id. at 1378. Thus, the due process algorithm for deciding whether to grant injunctive relief in Jones was simple: We applied Bell across the board, to all of the claims of the pretrial detainees, asking whether the challenged restriction was reasonably related to a legitimate governmental interest.
[51] The apparent simplicity of the Bell formula belies the mischief that has emerged in our case law in the wake of Jones and its embrace of the reasonable-relationship inquiry. We have consistently recognized that pretrial detainees are entitled to protection from harm as well as needed medical care, but our case law has traveled divergent directions in deciding whether to apply the Bell test. Since Jones expressly declared that the right of a pretrial detainee to receive medical care was to be measured by the Bell test, it was easy for our cases to follow the perceived trajectory of Jones and conduct the reasonable relationship inquiry in all cases involving denials of reasonable medical care. In the case of failure-to-protect claims, however, the Jones analysis was less firm; while Jones applied Bell in asking whether pretrial detainees had to be separated from prisoners as a general matter of jail policy, it left open the question of how to analyze a claim based on an isolated failure to protect a pretrial detainee from violence at the hands of other pretrial detainees, or even at his own hands.
[52] Stokes v. Delcambre, 710 F.2d 1120 (5th Cir. 1983), presented us with one of our first opportunities to consider the effect of Bell and Jones on the failure-to-protect claim of a pretrial detainee who was assaulted by fellow inmates. We found it unnecessary to "dwell on the difference in rights enjoyed by pre-trial detainees and convicted persons," id. at 1124, noting that "all prison officials owe a constitutionally rooted duty to their prisoners to provide them reasonable protection from injury at the hands of their fellow prisoners," id. But while we explained in Stokes that the requirement of "reasonable protection" came directly from Jones, neither Stokes nor Jones explicitly adopted a reasonable protection standard. Rather, Stokes simply cited Jones for the proposition that a "failure to control or separate prisoners who endanger the physical safety of other prisoners can constitute cruel and unusual punishment." Stokes, 710 F.2d at 1124. We concluded that the jail was administered in such a manner as to be "virtually indifferent" to the safety of prisoners, emphasizing that the jury had found the defendants guilty of wanton conduct and had awarded punitive damages. Id. Hence, our holding in Stokes was based on a finding that the jailers' indifference to the detainee's injuries was sufficiently egregious to establish their liability for failing to protect the pretrial detainee from violence by other inmates.
[53] In Johnston v. Lucas, 786 F.2d 1254 (5th Cir. 1986), we held that a convicted inmate could recover for a jailer's violation of his duty to protect only if the jailer acted with "conscious or callous indifference." Id. at 1259. Significantly, we held that the district court had erred in reading Stokes to measure the State's duty as one of "reasonable care." Id.. Our opinion in Johnston relied on Davidson v. Cannon, 474 U.S. 344, 348, 88 L. Ed. 2d 677, 106 S. Ct. 668 (1986), in which the Supreme Court held that "the protections of the Due Process Clause, whether procedural or substantive, are just not triggered by lack of due care by prison officials."
[54] Johnston 's application of Davidson and Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 89 L. Ed. 2d 251, 106 S. Ct. 1078 (1986), in shaping the legal measures for failure-to-protect claims became apparent in Alberti v. Klevenhagen, 790 F.2d 1220 (5th Cir. 1986). In Alberti, a class of convicted inmates and pretrial detainees challenged the conditions of a jail in which violence and sexual abuse were rampant. While noting that the due process rights of pretrial detainees under Bell generally exceed those of convicted inmates under the Eighth Amendment, we suggested that their respective rights to protection from harm were similar:
[55] Where dealing with the constitutionally rooted duty of jailers to provide their prisoners reasonable protection from injury at the hands of fellow inmates, "we need not dwell on the differences in rights enjoyed by pre-trial detainees and convicted prisoners or the maturation of prisoners' rights in general." The same conditions of violence and sexual abuse which constitute cruel and unusual punishment may also render the confinement of pretrial detainees punishment per se.
[56] Id. at 1224 (quoting Stokes, 710 F.2d at 1124). Thus, in Alberti, as in Jones, we held that a violation of convicted prisoners' Eighth Amendment rights to protection from harm was enough to establish a violation of pretrial detainees' due process rights to protection from harm. Taken together, Alberti and Johnston hinted that a deliberate indifference standard might be an appropriate measure for all failure-to-protect claims, including those asserted by convicted inmates as well as pretrial detainees.
[57] In Partridge v. Two Unknown Police Officers, 791 F.2d 1182 (5th Cir. 1986), we dealt with the standard of care owed to a pretrial detainee who poses a suicide risk. In Partridge, a boy with mental problems hanged himself with a pair of socks while he was being detained in a city jail. We treated the alleged misconduct as a failure to provide needed medical care: "A serious medical need may exist for psychological or psychiatric treatment, just as it may exist for physical ills." Id. at 1187. We recognized that Estelle v. Gamble had established a test of deliberate indifference for determining whether a failure to provide medical care violates the Eighth Amendment rights of a convicted prisoner, but we hewed to the notion that a pretrial detainee's medical care rights were separately protected. In the end, however, Partridge suggested that there was a significant overlapping of the medical care rights of pretrial detainees and convicted prisoners: "Under the Bell v. Wolfish standard, the defendants had a duty, at a minimum, not to be deliberately indifferent to [the pretrial detainee's] serious medical needs." 791 F.2d at 1187. Further, whereas Johnston held that a negligent failure to protect cannot give rise to a due process claim, we confirmed in Partridge that the same was true for claims of inadequate medical care: "To the extent that the complaint in Partridge alleges negligence on the part of the arresting officer, it fails to state a claim . . . ." Id. at 1187 (footnote omitted). We held that only where "the claim rests on the detention center's deliberate and systematic lack of adequate care for detainees [does it] allege[] the kind of arbitrariness and abuse of power that is preserved as a component of the due process clause in Daniels." Id.
[58] After Johnston, Alberti, and Partridge, it was firmly settled in this circuit that a due process claim could never be based on a jail official's negligent failure to provide either medical care or protection from harm. Less pellucid, however, was the precise methodology and standard for evaluating such claims. Stokes, Johnston, and Alberti suggested that the standard for failure-to-protect claims should entail some measure of whether a jailer was "virtually," "callously," "consciously," or "deliberately" indifferent to the rights of the pretrial detainee. Likewise, Partridge expressly proffered a standard of deliberate indifference to serious medical needs.
[59] A year later, in Cupit v. Jones, 835 F.2d 82 (5th Cir. 1987), we stepped away from the "deliberate indifference" formulation in a pretrial detainee's medical care case. In Cupit a detainee with a heart condition sued jail officers who allegedly denied him "the requisite diet, exercise, medication and stress-free atmosphere recommended by his doctors." Id. at 84. While recognizing that Partridge had explicitly pointed toward a standard of deliberate indifference to serious medical needs, our decision in Cupit drew on the measures of Bell and Jones v. Diamond in revitalizing the reasonable-relationship approach: "Today, we conclude that pretrial detainees are entitled to reasonable medical care unless the failure to supply that care is reasonably related to a legitimate governmental objective." 835 F.2d at 85.
[60] Following Alberti and Cupit, our cases dealing with pretrial detainees fell loosely onto two tracks. On the failure-to-protect track, we relied on Alberti and Johnston in measuring pretrial detainees' failure-to-protect claims under a standard of deliberate indifference. See, e.g., Williams v. County of El Paso, 966 F.2d 676 (table), No. 91-8505 (5th Cir. June 3, 1992) (per curiam) (unpublished); Sodie v. Canulette, 973 F.2d 923 (table), No. 91-3620 (5th Cir. Aug 13, 1992) (per curiam) (unpublished). On the medical care track, both Williams and Sodie relied on Cupit and asked whether failure to supply medical care to a pretrial detainee was reasonably related to a legitimate governmental objective. See, e.g., Williams ; Sodie. In addition, because we have allowed claims arising from suicides to be framed as a violation of the State's duty to provide reasonable medical care, our post-Cupit cases involving suicides by pretrial detainees have adhered to the reasonable-relationship test of Cupit, Jones, and Bell. See, e.g., Rhyne v. Henderson County, 973 F.2d 386, 391-92 (5th Cir. 1992); Burns v. City of Galveston, 905 F.2d 100, 103 (5th Cir. 1990).
[61] Two cases, however, crossed the otherwise separate tracks. In Parker v. Carpenter, 978 F.2d 190 (5th Cir. 1992), we applied the Bell test to a pretrial detainee's medical care claims and to his failure-to-protect claims. Id. at 192-93 (reversing dismissal of pro se suit by pretrial detainee who was attacked after being moved from low-risk minimum security section to overcrowded violent inmate section allegedly because of verbal altercation with jail officer). By contrast, in Banana v. McNeel, 5 F.3d 1495 (table), No. 92-7184 (5th Cir. Sept. 22, 1993) (per curiam) (unpublished), we held that the deliberate indifference standard applied in both failure-to-protect and medical care cases. Hence, Parker and Banana cast doubt upon the notion of a clean dichotomy between claims alleging a failure to protect and those alleging a failure to provide reasonable medical care.
[62] V.
[63] As our cases suggest, we have traveled a peripatetic route in invoking different measures of the constitutional rights of pretrial detainees to medical care and protection from harm. Close analysis, however, discloses much consistency in our treatment of the underlying constitutional claims. Our goal in deciding this case today is to clarify our case law and to articulate the proper legal measures of a State's duty to tend to a pretrial detainee posing a risk of suicide. To that end, our analysis proceeds in four steps.
[64] First, we reject the suggestion that the choice between the Bell test and a deliberate indifference standard turns on whether a pretrial detainee's claim is framed as a denial of medical care or a failure to protect; we conclude that both medical care and failure-to-protect cases should be treated the same for purposes of measuring constitutional liability. Second, we explain that the Bell test retains vitality only when a pretrial detainee attacks general conditions, practices, rules, or restrictions of pretrial confinement. When, by contrast, a pretrial detainee's claim is based on a jail official's episodic acts or omissions, the Bell test is inapplicable, and hence the proper inquiry is whether the official had a culpable state of mind in acting or failing to act.
[65] Third, we adopt a standard of deliberate indifference as the measure of culpability for such episodic acts or omissions. We emphasize that our use of a deliberate indifference standard does not scale back the constitutional rights of pretrial detainees. This is so because a proper application of Bell 's reasonable-relationship test is functionally equivalent to a deliberate indifference inquiry. Finally, we turn to the question whether to apply an objective or subjective definition of deliberate indifference. Finding no constitutionally significant distinction between the rights of pretrial detainees and convicted inmates to basic human needs, including medical care and protection from violence or suicide, we conclude that a state jail official's constitutional liability to pretrial detainees for episodic acts or omissions should be measured by a standard of subjective deliberate indifference as enunciated by the Supreme Court in Farmer.
[67] As discussed above, our pretrial detainee cases have tended to evaluate medical care claims under Bell 's reasonable-relationship test and failure-to-protect claims under a deliberate indifference standard. This dichotomy, however, does not offer a principled basis for invoking a different legal standard. Indeed, the Supreme Court applies the same standard in analyzing both types of claims when asserted under the Eighth Amendment by convicted prisoners. Compare Farmer, 114 S. Ct. at 1977 (reviewing convicted prisoner's failure-to-protect claim under deliberate indifference standard) with Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. at 104 (reviewing convicted prisoner's inadequate medical care claim under deliberate indifference test). As the Court has observed, the two classes of claims are similar from the perspectives of both prisoners and prison officials:
[68] The medical care a prisoner receives is just as much a "condition" of his confinement as the food he is fed, the clothes he is issued, the temperature he is subjected to in his cell, and the protection he is afforded against other inmates. There is no indication that, as a general matter, the actions of prison officials with respect to these nonmedical conditions are taken under materially different constraints than their actions with respect to medical conditions.
[69] Wilson, 111 S. Ct. at 2326-27.
[70] Articulating the State's responsibility for preventing suicide by detainees exposes the absence of a constitutionally significant distinction between failure-to-protect and medical care claims. As we have explained, we have been willing to entertain suicide-based claims as implicating the State's responsibility to provide medical care. See Rhyne, 973 F.2d at 391-92; Burns, 905 F.2d at 103; Partridge, 791 F.2d at 1187. Quite often, however, the State's obligation to prevent suicide may implicate a kaleidoscope of related duties, including a duty to provide not only medical care, but also protection from self-inflicted harm. Thus, a state jail official might be liable for a suicide resulting from the official's failure to remove a pair of scissors from the cell of a pretrial detainee known to be suicidal, even if the state official had otherwise provided the mentally disturbed detainee with constitutionally sufficient medical care.
[71] Whether the State's obligation is cast in terms of a duty to provide medical care or protection from harm, its ultimate constitutional duty is to "to assume some responsibility for [the] safety and general well-being" of persons whose state-occasioned confinement renders them unable to fend for themselves. DeShaney, 489 U.S. at 200. The underlying purpose of requiring a state jail official to provide medical care to a pretrial detainee is to prevent the detainee from suffering further physical pain or harm. Imposing a constitutional duty upon jail officials to prevent physical abuse of a detainee, or to halt a beating that has already begun, serves the same underlying purpose. As DeShaney makes clear, the State's responsibility in both types of cases springs from the fact of incarceration and the resulting obligation to provide for the detainee's basic human needs. 489 U.S. at 200 (explaining that State's affirmative restraint of individual's liberty gives rise to duty to provide for his "basic human needs," including "medical care" and "reasonable safety"). Given such similarities, the same legal measure should govern the due process rights of a pretrial detainee to medical care and to protection from harm or violence.
[72] In short, the choice between the Bell test and a deliberate indifference standard must turn on something other than whether a pretrial detainee's claim is framed as denial of medical care or a failure to protect. As we now explain, this choice between the two standards is to be made by distinguishing between constitutional challenges to conditions, practices, rules, or restrictions on the one hand, and episodic acts or omissions on the other.
[74] Constitutional attacks on general conditions, practices, rules, or restrictions of pretrial confinement are referred to as "jail condition cases." The Bell test works comfortably in such cases because the jail officials' state of mind is not a disputed issue. In true jail condition cases, an avowed or presumed intent by the State or its jail officials exists in the form of the challenged condition, practice, rule, or restriction. A State's imposition of a rule or restriction during pretrial confinement manifests an avowed intent to subject a pretrial detainee to that rule or restriction. Likewise, even where a State may not want to subject a detainee to inhumane conditions of confinement or abusive jail practices, its intent to do so is nevertheless presumed when it incarcerates the detainee in the face of such known conditions and practices. Thus, a true jail condition case starts with the assumption that the State intended to cause the pretrial detainee's alleged constitutional deprivation. Only with such intentionality as a given is the Bell test useful. See, e.g., Ortega v. Rowe, 796 F.2d 765, 768 (5th Cir. 1986) ("Only if the evidence suggests that the appellees knew of the jails' conditions, or intended to force the detainees to endure such conditions, would a Bell analysis retain vitality.").
[75] When, by contrast, a pretrial detainee's claim of failure to provide medical care or protection from violence does not challenge a condition, practice, rule, or restriction, but rather attacks the episodic acts or omissions of a state jail official, the question is whether that official breached his constitutional duty to tend to the basic human needs of persons in his charge. With episodic acts or omissions, intentionality is no longer a given, and Bell offers an ill-fitting test.*fn2 Asking about the rationality of the relationship between an official's episodic acts or omissions and a legitimate governmental objective begs the underlying question whether that official had the requisite mental state to establish his liability as a perpetrator of the particular act or omission, not as a dispenser of intended conditions or restrictions.
[76] When a pretrial detainee's constitutional claim is based on particular acts or omissions by one or more jail officials, the difficult question is whether the challenged act or omission can be characterized as episodic. For the Bell test to apply, a jailer's act or omission must implement a rule or restriction or otherwise demonstrate the existence of an identifiable intended condition or practice. If a pretrial detainee is unable to point to such an established rule or restriction, then he must show that the jail official's acts or omissions were sufficiently extended or pervasive, or otherwise typical of extended or pervasive misconduct by other officials, to prove an intended condition or practice to which the Bell test can be meaningfully applied. Otherwise, in the absence of such a condition, practice, rule, or restriction, a jail official's act or omission can give rise to constitutional liability only if he was culpable, under an appropriate legal standard, with respect to the harm to the detainee. We now articulate that standard.
[77] C.
[78] Our inquiry begins with the fundamental rule that negligent inaction by a jail officer does not violate the due process rights of a person lawfully held in custody of the State. See Davidson, 474 U.S. at 348 ("The protections of the Due Process Clause, whether procedural or substantive, are just not triggered by lack of due care by prison officials."); Johnston, 786 F.2d at 1259 (rejecting liability for negligent failure-to-protect); Partridge, 791 F.2d at 1187 (rejecting liability for negligent failure to provide medical care); see also Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 332, 88 L. Ed. 2d 662, 106 S. Ct. 662 (1986). Relying on Daniels and Davidson, the Seventh Circuit has held that gross negligence will not suffice either:
[79] The distinction between negligence and gross negligence does not respond to the due process clause's function, which is to control abuses of government power. A "gross" error is still only an error, and an error is not an abuse of power. Since an error by a government official is not unconstitutional, "it follows that 'gross negligence' is not a sufficient basis for liability."
[80] Salazar v. City of Chicago, 940 F.2d 233, 238 (7th Cir. 1991) (quoting Archie v. City of Racine, 847 F.2d 1211, 1220 (7th Cir. 1988) (en banc)). These cases demonstrate that the constitutional standard of conduct must step up from negligence -- that it must be more than mere or even gross negligence.
[81] Formulating a gossamer standard higher than gross negligence but lower than deliberate indifference is unwise because it would demand distinctions so fine as to be meaningless. It would also risk endorsing an objective standard that is contrary to the Supreme Court's holding that the Due Process Clause was meant to prevent "abusive government conduct." Davidson, 474 U.S. at 348; see also Salazar, 940 F.2d at 238 (adopting criminally reckless standard in part because "an error is not an abuse of power").
[82] All of our cases have applied either the Bell test or a standard akin to deliberate indifference. Since we are foreclosing the application of the Bell test to claims against an individual jailer for episodic acts or omissions, we need pause only if there is a reason not to adopt a standard of deliberate indifference.
[83] We find no such reason. Application of a deliberate indifference standard to claims by pretrial detainees is consistent with our cases and the dictates of Bell, because the deliberate indifference standard does not impose a higher burden on pretrial detainees than the Bell test. Properly understood, the Bell test is functionally equivalent to a deliberate indifference inquiry.
[84] The "reasonably related to a valid penological standard" never purported to allow recovery for mere negligence. To the contrary, this test is deferential to jail rulemaking; it is in essence a rational basis test of the validity of jail rules. That is, asking whether a rule is reasonably related to a legitimate governmental objective is much like asking whether a legislative enactment has any rational basis, except in the context of jail administration the legislative purpose is a given -- typically a penological or administrative purpose. Violation of the Bell test requires acts or omissions not too distant from a standard of arbitrary and capricious conduct.
[85] We are mindful that we have sometimes perceived the standard of reasonably related to a legitimate governmental objective to be less than or equal to deliberate indifference. See, e.g., Evans v. City of Marlin, 986 F.2d 104, 107 (5th Cir. 1993); Burns, 905 F.2d at 103; Lewis v. Parish of Terrebonne, 894 F.2d 142, 145 (5th Cir. 1990). Far from demonstrating that the Bell test is designed to be more favorable to pretrial detainees, however, these decisions confirm that the Cupit -Jones -Bell test -- reasonable medical care unless the failure to supply that care is reasonably related to a legitimate governmental objective -- is easily confused with a negligence standard. See, e.g., Walton v. Alexander, 44 F.3d 1297, 1300 n.3 (5th Cir. 1995) (en banc) (clipping final fifteen words from Cupit standard to suggest that test demands only "reasonable medical care"). We may have added to the uncertainty by dismissing claims for failure to show negligence without always making it clear that negligence is a necessary but not sufficient finding under Cupit. See, e.g., Cupit, 835 F.2d at 85 (denying recovery where plaintiff was unable to show denial of reasonable medical care). There should be no misunderstanding: Negligent conduct by a prison official cannot be the basis for a due process claim.
[86] The only Supreme Court case that arguably counsels against a deliberate indifference standard is Youngberg v. Romeo, 457 U.S. 307, 73 L. Ed. 2d 28, 102 S. Ct. 2452 (1982). In Youngberg, the plaintiff was the mother of a mental patient who suffered injuries while involuntarily committed to a state mental institution. The district court instructed the jury that it could find the defendants liable only if the defendants showed deliberate indifference to Romeo's serious medical needs. Id. at 312. The Supreme Court held that the district court erred in using the Eighth Amendment's deliberate indifference standard. Id. at 312 n.11. The Court found the appropriate standard in the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, concluding that "liability may be imposed only when the decision by the [mental health] professional is such a substantial departure from accepted professional judgment, practice, or standards as to demonstrate that the person actually did not base the decision on such a judgment." Id. at 323.
[87] The Court in Youngberg thus announced a distinct standard to be applied in measuring the State's constitutional duties to mental incompetents, one that differed from both the Bell test and the deliberate indifference standard. The Youngberg measure flowed from the premise that "persons who have been involuntarily committed are entitled to more considerate treatment and conditions of confinement than criminals whose conditions of confinement are designed to punish." Id. at 321-22. The Court's later decision in DeShaney, however, called into question the constitutional significance of this premise. DeShaney clarified that "the affirmative duty to protect arises not from the State's knowledge of the individual's predicament or from its expressions of intent to help him, but from the limitation which it has imposed on his freedom to act on his own behalf." 489 U.S. at 200. In other words, DeShaney suggests that a State's declared intent to confine incompetents for their own benefit, as opposed to its announced purpose to punish convicted criminals, should have no bearing on the nature of the constitutional duty owed to either group. What matters under DeShaney is that "the State by the affirmative exercise of its power so restrains an individual's liberty that it renders him unable to care for himself." Id. Since the State restrains the individual liberty of both mental incompetents and convicted inmates in a like manner, the State should incur the same duties to provide for the basic human needs of both groups.
[88] The Court in DeShaney did not address whether involuntarily confined mental incompetents and convicted inmates shared the same constitutional rights to medical care and safety. Since DeShaney suggested that both groups enjoyed the same rights, however, either the Youngberg standard or the deliberate indifference standard must give way to achieve the requisite equivalence in constitutional rights. The Court thus has cast doubt on the vitality of Youngberg by confirming that a deliberate indifference standard is the appropriate measure of constitutional liability for a prison official's failure to provide a convicted inmate with basic human needs. See, e.g., Wilson, 111 S. Ct. at 2326-27 (applying deliberate indifference standard to convicted prisoners' challenge to conditions of confinement); Farmer, 114 S. Ct. at 1977 (clarifying that subjective deliberate indifference standard governs convicted prisoners' failure-to-protect claims).
[89] We decline to resolve this tension at this time. Youngberg, Wilson, and Farmer did not deal with pretrial detainees, so their respective standards are not dispositive of this suit by Mr. Hare. It is not for us to announce that the Supreme Court has overruled Youngberg. Youngberg does not foreclose our adoption of a deliberate indifference standard as the measure of a jail official's liability for episodic acts or omissions that result in a denial of pretrial detainees' basic human needs. As we have explained, no constitutionally relevant difference exists between the rights of pretrial detainees and convicted prisoners to be secure in their basic human needs. Since the Supreme Court has consistently adhered to a deliberate indifference standard in measuring convicted prisoners' Eighth Amendment rights to medical care and protection from harm, we adopt a deliberate indifference standard in measuring the corresponding set of due process rights of pretrial detainees.
[90] In sum, we conclude that a deliberate indifference standard is compelled by our cases and consistent with the relevant teachings of the Supreme Court.*fn3 We hold that the episodic act or omission of a state jail official does not violate a pretrial detainee's constitutional right to be secure in his basic human needs, such as medical care and safety, unless the detainee demonstrates that the official acted or failed to act with deliberate indifference to the detainee's needs.
[91] D.
[92] We turn now to the formulation of the deliberate indifference standard. On June 6, 1994, four days before the panel entered its first opinion in this case, the Supreme Court decided Farmer v. Brennan, 128 L. Ed. 2d 811, 114 S. Ct. 1970 (1994). Farmer was significant in articulating a subjective definition of deliberate indifference in the context of a convicted inmate's Eighth Amendment challenge to the conditions of his imprisonment. The Court began by noting that prison officials have a duty under the Eighth Amendment to "ensure that inmates receive adequate food, clothing, shelter and medical care, and [to] 'take reasonable measures to guarantee the safety of the inmates.'" Id. at 1976 (quoting Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517, 526-27, 82 L. Ed. 2d 393, 104 S. Ct. 3194 (1984)). "Having incarcerated 'persons [with] demonstrated proclivities for antisocial criminal, and often violent, conduct,' having stripped them of virtually every means of self-protection and foreclosed their access to outside aid, the government and its officials are not free to let the state of nature take its course." Id. at 1977 (quoting Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. at 526, and citing DeShaney, 489 U.S. at 199-200).
[93] The Court emphasized, however, that an inmate must satisfy two requirements to prevail on a claim that a prison official violated his Eighth Amendment right to humane prison conditions. First, "the inmate must show that he is incarcerated under conditions posing a substantial risk of serious harm." Id. at 1977. Second, the inmate must show that the prison official had a culpable state of mind -- that the official was deliberately indifferent to inmate health or safety. Id. While these two elements were features of Eighth Amendment jurisprudence, the critical question in Farmer was whether to apply a subjective or objective definition of deliberate indifference.
[94] The Court explained that it was "fair to say that acting or failing to act with deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of serious harm to a prisoner is the equivalent of recklessly disregarding that risk." Id. at 1978. In equating deliberate indifference with recklessness, however, the Court noted that the "term recklessness is not self-defining." Id. While recklessness exists in the civil law if a person fails to act in the face of an unjustifiably high risk that is known or should be known, the criminal law permits a finding of recklessness only when a person disregards a risk of harm of which he is aware. In other words, the civil law espouses an objective definition of recklessness while the criminal law proffers a subjective one. Id. at 1979.
[95] Faced with a choice between these two approaches, the Court was persuaded that the subjective definition "comports best with the text of the [Eighth] Amendment as [its] cases [had] interpreted it." Id. It emphasized that "the Eighth Amendment does not outlaw cruel and unusual 'conditions'; it outlaws cruel and unusual 'punishments.'" Id. The Court explained that "an official's failure to alleviate a significant risk that he should have perceived but did not, while no cause for commendation, cannot under our cases be condemned as the infliction of punishment." Id. Accordingly, the Court held "that a prison official may be held liable under the Eighth Amendment for denying humane conditions of confinement only if he knows that inmates face a substantial risk of serious harm and disregards that risk by failing to take reasonable measures to abate it." Id. at 1984.
[96] Though Farmer dealt specifically with a prison official's duty under the Eighth Amendment to provide a convicted inmate with humane conditions of confinement, we conclude that its subjective definition of deliberate indifference provides the appropriate standard for measuring the duty owed to pretrial detainees under the Due Process Clause. See, e.g., Sanderfer v. Nichols, 62 F.3d 151, 154-55 (6th Cir. 1995) (applying Farmer 's subjective standard of deliberate indifference to pretrial detainee's medical care claim); Murphy v. Walker, 51 F.3d 714, 717 (7th Cir. 1995) (citing Farmer in applying deliberate indifference test to medical care claim).*fn4 First, despite the distinct constitutional sources of the rights of pretrial detainees and convicted inmates, state jail and prison officials owe the same duty to provide the same quantum of basic human needs and humane conditions of confinement to both groups. We are mindful that a pretrial detainee's rights are "at least as great as the Eighth Amendment protections available to a convicted prisoner." City of Revere, 463 U.S. at 244; cf. Cupit, 835 F.2d at 84 ("The due process clause of the fourteenth amendment accords pretrial detainees rights not enjoyed by convicted inmates under the eighth amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.)." That pretrial detainees may have more protections or rights in general, however, does not mean that they are entitled to greater protection of rights shared in common with convicted inmates. See Cupit, 835 F.2d at 85 (noting that "the distinction as to medical care due a pretrial detainee, as opposed to a convicted inmate, may indeed be a distinction without a difference"). For purposes of measuring constitutional duties, our case law and the teachings of the Supreme Court indicate that there is no legally significant situation in which a failure to provide an incarcerated individual with medical care or protection from violence is punishment yet is not cruel and unusual. The fact of conviction ought not make one more amenable under the Constitution to unnecessary random violence or suffering, or to a greater denial of basic human needs.
[97] Second, we find that the Farmer formulation of the deliberate indifference standard properly captures the essence of the inquiry as to whether a pretrial detainee has been deprived of his due process rights to medical care and protection from violence. The Farmer standard of subjective "deliberate indifference serves under the Eighth Amendment to ensure that only inflictions of punishment carry liability." 114 S. Ct. at 1981; see also id. at 1979 ("An official's failure to alleviate a significant risk that he should have perceived but did not . . . cannot under our cases be condemned as the infliction of punishment."). Thus, the Farmer test purports to distinguish between errant inaction and infliction of punishment: Punishment is inflicted only when a prison official was aware of a substantial risk of serious harm to a convicted inmate but was deliberately indifferent to that risk.
[98] The response demanded of jail officials with actual knowledge of such risk of serious injury is that he not act with deliberate indifference. We share the concern of the Seventh Circuit that the Farmer standard not be transmuted into a negligence inquiry. "Deliberate indifference, i.e., the subjective intent to cause harm, cannot be inferred from a prison guard's failure to act reasonably. If it could, the standard applied would be more akin to negligence than deliberate indifference." Id.*fn5
[99] We reject the suggestion that the proper measure of the duty to respond of persons with the requisite knowledge ought to revisit negligence. Under that view negligence tossed out the front door re-enters through the back. The duty to respond and the measure of the adequacy of the response are dependant each upon the other for their level of stringency. The view that the duty to respond announced in Farmer is a negligence standard misses the fact that the Farmer test is a marriage of elements, not a listing of two elements independent of each other in application. We reject that view.
[100] Keeping in mind that the Due Process Clause forbids the "punishment" of pretrial detainees, Farmer 's significance for claims of inadequate medical care or protection from harm is apparent. The Due Process Clause proscribes any punishment of pretrial detainees, cruel and unusual or otherwise. The Farmer standard of deliberate indifference purports to ask only whether an official "punished" an inmate, not whether the punishment was cruel and unusual. In essence, what Farmer says is that a state official who has subjective knowledge of the risk of serious injury to a convicted prisoner or a pretrial detainee and whose response is deliberately indifferent inflicts either cruel and unusual punishment or no punishment at all.
[101] We are urged to downshift the Farmer standard from the requirement that the official be subjectively aware of this risk of serious injury to an objective measure of "should have been aware." As we have explained, however, this objective standard offered for liability under the due process clause is redolent with negligence and its measures. That will not do. There is no middle ground, no realm in which a prison or jail officer's disregard of a risk of a serious harm is punishment but not cruel and unusual.
[102] VI.
[103] In sum, we hold (1) that the State owes the same duty under the Due Process Clause and the Eighth Amendment to provide both pretrial detainees and convicted inmates with basic human needs, including medical care and protection from harm, during their confinement; and (2) that a state jail official's liability for episodic acts or omissions cannot attach unless the official had subjective knowledge of a substantial risk of serious harm to a pretrial detainee but responded with deliberate indifference to that risk.
[104] Richard Hare alleges that the defendants violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by causing Tina Hare to be deprived of her right to reasonable care. The district court found that there was a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the defendants knew or should have known of Ms. Hare's suicide risk. As we have explained, however, the correct legal standard is not whether the jail officers "knew or should have known," but whether they had gained actual knowledge of the substantial risk of suicide and responded with deliberate indifference. This appeal comes from a denial of summary judgment rejecting qualified immunity. We remand for application of the standard announced today. See Rankin v. Klevenhagen, 5 F.3d 103, 105 (5th Cir. 1993). We express no opinion regarding the outcome of such further proceedings in the trial court.
[105] VACATED and REMANDED.
[106] Disposition
[108] JAMES L. DENNIS, Circuit Judge, Specially Concurring:
[109] The majority holds that a plaintiff, who brings a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action arising out of the suicide of a pretrial detainee resulting from the violation of her rights to physical protection and medical services under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, must show that the responsible officials had subjective knowledge of a substantial risk of serious harm to the pretrial detainee but responded to that risk with "deliberate indifference," as defined by the Eight Amendment case of Farmer v. Brennan, 114 S. Ct. 1970, 128 L. Ed. 2d 811 (1994). I concur only in the judgment vacating the district court decision and remanding the case for further proceedings because (1) application of the "deliberate indifference" test (for determining cruel and unusual punishment of convicts) to pretrial detainees' claims is inconsistent with prior Supreme Court decisions that detainees are guiltless individuals protected by a broader Due Process Clause right to be free from any punishment whatsoever; and (2) even if pretrial detainees are to be shielded only from cruel and unusual punishment as measured by the "deliberate indifference" standard, the majority opinion's failure to consistently articulate fully the Farmer v. Brennan definition of that standard runs the risk of affording pretrial detainees less protection from inhumane treatment than convicted criminals.
[110] 1.
[111] In evaluating the constitutionality of conditions or restrictions of pretrial detention that implicate only the protection against deprivation of liberty without due process of law, the proper inquiry is whether those conditions amount to punishment of the detainee. For under the Due Process Clause, a detainee may not be punished prior to an adjudication of guilt in accordance with due process of law. Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 535, 60 L. Ed. 2d 447, 99 S. Ct. 1861 (1979). A person lawfully committed to pretrial detention has not been adJudged guilty of any crime. He has had only a judicial determination of probable cause as a prerequisite to the extended restraint of his liberty following arrest. Id at 536. Under such circumstances, the Government concededly may detain him to ensure his presence at trial and may subject him to the restrictions and conditions of the detention facility so long as those conditions and restrictions do not amount to punishment, or otherwise violate the Constitution. Id at 536-537.
[112] Due process requires that a pretrial detainee not be punished. A sentenced inmate, on the other hand, may be punished, although that punishment may not be "cruel and unusual" under the Eighth Amendment. Id. at 535, n. 16. The Court recognized this distinction in Ingraham v. Wright, 430 U.S. 651, 671-672, 51 L. Ed. 2d 711, 97 S. Ct. 1401 (1977): "Eighth Amendment scrutiny is appropriate only after the State has complied with the constitutional guarantees traditionally associated with criminal prosecutions. See United States v. Lovett, 328 U.S. 303, 317-318, 90 L. Ed. 1252, 66 S. Ct. 1073 (1946). ...The State does not acquire the power to punish with which the Eighth Amendment is concerned until after it has secured a formal adjudication of guilt in accordance with due process of law. Where the State seeks to impose punishment without such an adjudication, the pertinent constitutional guarantee is the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment." 430 U.S. at 671 n. 40. In other words, "the Fifth Amendment includes freedom from punishment within the liberty of which no person may be deprived without due process of law." Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. at 535, n.17 (1979).
[113] In determining whether particular restrictions and conditions accompanying pretrial detention amount to punishment in the constitutional sense of that word, a court must decide whether the disability is imposed for the purpose of punishment or whether it is but an incident of some other legitimate governmental purpose. Id. at 538. Absent a showing of an expressed intent to punish on the part of detention facility officials, that determination generally will turn on "whether an alternative purpose to which [the restriction] may rationally be connected is assignable for it, and whether it appears excessive in relation to the alternative purpose assigned [to it]." Id., quoting Kennedy v. Mendoza-Martinez, 372 U.S. 144 at 168-169, 9 L. Ed. 2d 644, 83 S. Ct. 554. Thus, if a particular condition or restriction of pretrial detention is reasonably related to a legitimate governmental objective, it does not, without more, amount to "punishment." Conversely, if a restriction or condition is not reasonably related to a legitimate goal--if it is arbitrary or purposeless--a court permissibly may infer that the purpose of the governmental action is punishment that may not constitutionally be inflicted upon detainees qua detainees. Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. at 539.
[114] I respectfully disagree with the majority's Conclusion that "the Bell test retains vitality only when a pretrial detainee attacks general conditions, practices, rules, or restrictions of pretrial confinement" and is completely inapplicable when "a pretrial detainee's claim is based on a jail official's episodic acts or omissions..." Hare v. City of Corinth, No. 93-7192, slip op. at 21-22. The Bell Court did not place any such limitation on its holding that, under the Due Process Clause, a pretrial detainee may not be punished prior to an adjudication of guilt in accordance with due process of law.
[115] Instead, the Court specified that the factors identified in Kennedy v. Mendoza-Martinez, 372 U.S. 144, 9 L. Ed. 2d 644, 83 S. Ct. 554 (1963) provide useful guideposts in determining whether particular restrictions and conditions accompanying pretrial detention amount to punishment in the constitutional sense of the word. While it is all but impossible to compress the distinction into a sentence or a paragraph, the Mendoza-Martinez Court described the tests traditionally applied to determine whether a governmental act is punitive in nature:
[116] Whether the sanction involves an affirmative disability or restraint, whether it has historically been regarded as a punishment, whether it comes into play only on a finding of scienter, whether its operation will promote the traditional aims of punishment--retribution and deterrence, whether the behavior to which it applies is already a crime, whether an alternative purpose to which it may rationally be connected is assignable for it, and whether it appears excessive in relation to the alternative purpose assigned are all relevant to the inquiry, and may often point in differing directions. Id at 168-169 (footnotes omitted).
[117] Accordingly, in Bell v. Wolfish, the Court concluded that if a particular condition or restriction of pretrial detention is reasonably related to a legitimate governmental objective, it does not, without more--such as a showing of an expressed intent to punish--amount to "punishment." Conversely, the Court stated, if a restriction or condition is not reasonably related to a legitimate goal--if it is arbitrary or purposeless--a court may permissibly infer that the purpose of the governmental action is punishment that may not be inflicted upon detainees. 441 U.S. at 539. Moreover, as an illustration of an arbitrary or excessive restriction or condition, the Court gave the following example of an official's act or omission against an individual detainee:
[118] "Loading a detainee with chains and shackles and throwing him in a dungeon may ensure his presence at trial and preserve the security of the institution. But it would be difficult to conceive of a situation where conditions so harsh, employed to achieve objectives that could be accomplished in so may (sic) alternative and less harsh methods, would not support a Conclusion that the purpose for which they were imposed was to punish ." Id at n. 20. (Emphasis added).
[119] The Supreme Court has not rendered any decision since Bell v. Wolfish that detracts from its vitality when applied to a pretrial detainee's deprivation of the due process right to liberty from punishment caused by the episodic act or omission of an individual jail official. In fact, in Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 115 L. Ed. 2d 271, 111 S. Ct. 2321 (1991) the Court expressly refused to recognize a distinction between cases involving "conditions of confinement" and others arising from "specific acts or omissions directed at individual prisoners" in its Eighth Amendment cruel and unusual punishment analysis. Id at n. 1. The Court reasoned:
[120] It seems to us...that if an individual prisoner is deprived of needed medical treatment, that is a condition of his confinement, whether or not the deprivation is inflicted upon everyone else. Undoubtedly deprivations inflicted upon all prisoners are, as a policy matter, of greater concern than deprivations inflicted upon particular prisoners, but we see no basis whatever for saying that the one is a "condition of confinement" and the other is not--much less that the one constitutes "punishment" and the other does not. ...Id at n. 1.
[121] The majority's attempt to resurrect the same invalid distinction in order to isolate pretrial detainees' claims based upon "specific acts or omissions directed at individual prisoners" and place them under the aegis of the Eighth Amendment "deliberate indifference" standard rather than under the broader protection of the Due Process Clause is clearly inconsistent with the Supreme Court's cases. The Supreme Court's decisions repeatedly indicate that convicted inmates have less protections and rights than pretrial detainees and other unconvicted persons in the state's custody. Certainly, the ambit of the state's duty to protect pretrial detainees from any punishment is greater than that of its duty to protect convicted inmates only from cruel or unusual punishment. Bell v. Wolfish, supra. "Persons who have been involuntarily committed are entitled to more considerate treatment and conditions of confinement than criminals whose conditions of confinement are designed to punish." Youngberg v. Romeo, 457 U.S. 307, 321-322, 73 L. Ed. 2d 28, 102 S. Ct. 2452 (1982). See also, Riggins v. Nevada, 504 U.S. 127, 118 L. Ed. 2d 479, 112 S. Ct. 1810 (1992); City of Revere v. Massachusetts General Hospital, 463 U.S. 239, 77 L. Ed. 2d 605, 103 S. Ct. 2979 (1983); Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 104 L. Ed. 2d 443, 109 S. Ct. 1865 (1989). Contrary to the majority's suggestion, the Supreme Court's decision in DeShaney v. Winnebago County DSS, 489 U.S. 189, 109 S. Ct. 998, 103 L. Ed. 2d 249 (1989) does not undermine any of these authorities. In DeShaney the Court merely distinguished Youngberg v. Romeo, supra, holding that the state had no duty, under the Due Process Clause, to protect a child against abuse by his father, even though the state knew that the child faced danger of such abuse, where (1) the child was not in the state's custody, and (2) the state played no part in creation of the danger, nor did the state do anything to render the child any more vulnerable to such danger.
[122] Therefore, the majority departs radically from the Supreme Court's pretrial detainee precedents by refusing to apply the Mendoza-Martinez factors, even as abbreviated and refined by Bell v. Wolfish. Even if the majority deems these factors to be too cumbersome for felicitous application in detainee failure to protect or to medically treat cases, there is no reason to relegate innocent detainees and other wards of the state to protection only against cruel or unusual punishment as measured by the criminal recklessness or "deliberate indifference" standard defined by Farmer v Brennan for cruel and unusual punishment cases. If a short hand version of the Mendoza-Martinez and Bell tests must be devised for failure to protect or medically treat cases, I do not understand why the civil recklessness standard, see Farmer v. Brennan, 128 L. Ed. 2d 811, 114 S. Ct. 1970, 1978-79, and authorities cited, or even a gross negligence standard would not be appropriate, so long as all relevant legitimate governmental objectives are also taken into consideration. Either test would accord to unconvicted detainees the greater respect for their rights due them as innocent persons while insulating jail officials from liability for their ordinary negligent or inadvertent acts or omissions. Application of the criminal recklessness or deliberate indifference test to pretrial detainees' claims will permit the state to punish detainees in violation of Supreme Court decisions, so long as the punishment is not cruel or unusual.
[124] According to the majority's holding, the claims of individual pretrial detainees based on a jail official's failure to protect them from harm or to provide them with medical services shall be governed by the same Eighth Amendment cruel or unusual punishment-deliberate indifference rubric defined by Farmer v. Brennan, 128 L. Ed. 2d 811, 114 S. Ct. 1970 (1994) for the adjudication of similar claims by convicted inmates. I write further only out of concern that the majority opinion may not explicate the Farmer v. Brennan decision sufficiently to alert the trial bench and bar of its requirements that have now been made applicable to pretrial detainee cases in this circuit.
[125] Farmer v. Brennan held that a prison official may be held liable for denying to a convicted prisoner humane conditions of confinement, under the rule that the official's deliberate indifference to substantial risk of serious harm to the prisoner violates the cruel and unusual punishments clause of the Eight Amendment, if the official (1) is subjectively aware that the prisoner faces such risk, Id at 1975; and (2) disregards that risk by failing to take reasonable measures to abate the risk. Id at 1976. Whether a prison official had the requisite knowledge of a substantial risk is a question of fact subject to demonstration in the usual ways, including inference from circumstantial evidence, and a fact finder may conclude that a prison official knew of a substantial risk from the very fact that the risk was obvious. Id at 1981. For example, if an Eighth Amendment plaintiff presents evidence showing that a substantial risk of inmate attacks was longstanding, pervasive, well-documented, or expressly noted by prison officials in the past, and the circumstances suggest that the defendant-official being sued had been exposed to information concerning the risk and thus must have known about it, then such evidence could be sufficient to permit a trier of fact to find that the defendant official had actual knowledge of the risk. Id at 1981-82. However, it remains open to the officials to prove that they were unaware even of an obvious risk to inmate health or safety. That a trier of fact may infer knowledge from the obvious, in other words, does not mean that it must do so. Id at 1982. In addition, prison officials who actually knew of a substantial risk to inmate health or safety may be found free from liability if they responded reasonably to the risk, even if the harm ultimately was not averted. Id at 1982-83. As Justice Blackmun observed in his Concurring opinion, "Under the Court's decision today, prison officials may be held liable for failure to remedy a risk so obvious and substantial that the officials must have known about it...." Id at 1986.
[126] *fn1 Burns had been videotaping the interview, and at some point he left the room briefly. When he returned, he discovered that Ms. Hare had substituted another tape for the one that was previously in the recorder. The tape on which the interview had been recorded was found in a garbage can in damaged condition.
[127] *fn2 Wilson v. Seiter refused to distinguish "between 'short-term' or 'one-time' conditions (in which a state of mind requirement would apply) and 'continuing' or 'systemic' conditions (where official state of mind would be irrelevant)." 111 S. Ct. at 2325; see also id. at 2325 n.1. Our explanation today does not step upon this principle. We are consistent with Wilson 's holding that state of mind is significant in both situations, albeit differently demonstrated in each.
[128] *fn3 Most circuits have endorsed a deliberate indifference inquiry as the measure of state officials' constitutional duty to safeguard the basic human needs of pretrial detainees, including protection from suicide. See, e.g., Elliott v. Cheshire County, 940 F.2d 7, 10 & n.2 (1st Cir. 1991) (suicide as medical care claim); Kost v. Kozakiewicz, 1 F.3d 176, 188 (3d Cir. 1993) (medical care); Hill v. Nicodemus, 979 F.2d 987, 991 (4th Cir. 1992) (suicide as medical care claim); Heflin v. Stewart County, 958 F.2d 709, 715-16 (6th Cir. 1992); Hall v. Ryan, 957 F.2d 402, 405 (7th Cir. 1992) (suicide as medical care claim); Bell v. Stigers, 937 F.2d 1340, 1343 (8th Cir. 1991) (failure to prevent suicide); Redman v. County of San Diego, 942 F.2d 1435, 1443 (9th Cir. 1991) (en banc), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 1074, 117 L. Ed. 2d 137, 112 S. Ct. 972 (1992) (failure to protect from prison rape); Howard v. Dickerson, 34 F.3d 978, 980 (10th Cir. 1994) (medical care); Tittle v. Jefferson County Commission, 10 F.3d 1535, 1539-40 (11th Cir. 1994) (en banc) (failure to prevent suicide).
[129] *fn4 We separate the two issues: the existence of a constitutional violation simpliciter and a municipality's liability for that violation. Different versions of the deliberate indifference test govern the two inquiries. Our opinion in this case makes clear that to prove an underlying constitutional violation in an individual or episodic acts case, a pre-trial detainee must establish that an official acted with subjective deliberate indifference. Once the detainee has met this burden, she has proved a violation of her rights under the Due Process Clause. To succeed in holding a municipality accountable for that due process violation, however, the detainee must show that the municipal employee's act resulted from a municipal policy or custom adopted or maintained with objective deliberate indifference to the detainee's constitutional rights. See Farmer, 114 S. Ct. at 1981 ("It would be hard to describe the Canton understanding of deliberate indifference, permitting liability to be premised on obviousness or constructive notice, as anything but objective.").
[130] *fn5 We construe Farmer 's "respond reasonably" and "reasonable measures" language, id. at 1982-83, 1984, to relate necessarily to whether the first, or objective, component of an Eighth Amendment violation has been made out. That leaves the second, subjective prong (state of mind more blameworthy than lack of due care); where there is recognition of substantial danger and a response thereto, this second prong can be satisfied only in respect to the response itself.
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Fifth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Lawsuit Over Texas Jail Prisoner’s Suicide, Jan. 12, 2021. Medication, Suicides.
CoreCivic Sued Over Prisoner Who Committed Suicide in Tennessee Prison, Jan. 1, 2021. Corrections Corporation of America/CoreCivic, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Suicides.
How Jails Became a Breeding Ground for the Coronavirus, Jan. 1, 2021. COVID-19, Conditions of Confinement, Overcrowding, Hygiene Supplies.
South Florida: Jail Hotline Releases Report on Inadequate Health Care During Pandemic, Jan. 1, 2021. Systemic Medical Neglect, COVID-19, Conditions of Confinement.
6th Circuit: Prisoner’s Seizure Condition Not Attributable to Drug Withdrawal; SHP Nurses Not Deliberately Indifferent, Dec. 6, 2020. Seizures, Drug/Alcohol Withdrawal, Eighth Amendment, Jail Specific, Fourteenth Amendment, rights.
Connecticut Prisoner Commits Suicide With COVID-19 Protective Mask, Dec. 1, 2020. COVID-19, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Suicides.
Suicides in New York SHUs Surge to Epidemic Levels, Dec. 1, 2020. Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Suicides.
Julian Assange’s Potential Fate in U.S. Prisons, Dec. 1, 2020. Conditions of Confinement, Extradition.
Fifth Circuit Reinstates Texas Jail Suicide Lawsuit, Dec. 1, 2020. Settlements, Suicides.
Time to Curb Police Unions, Nov. 15, 2020. Lobbying, Qualified Immunity, Guard Unions, Excessive Force (Police).
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Volkswagen Returns to the Super Bowl
New 60-second ad features the all-new 2012 Beetle, Volkswagen's redesigned icon
Volkswagen of America, Inc.
HERNDON, Va., Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today it will advertise during the Super Bowl® for the third consecutive year. Following the success of last year's two 30- second spots, Volkswagen will premiere one 60-second spot at the beginning of the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVI.
The spot will feature the all-new Beetle, which arrived in dealerships in September. The 2012 Beetle was teased as a silhouette in last year's advertisement, but the iconic redesign is now ready for its Super Bowl close-up.
"Volkswagen is excited to showcase the all-new 2012 Beetle on football's biggest stage. The Super Bowl is the perfect platform to feature the bold, dynamic, and sportiest Beetle ever made," said Tim Mahoney, Chief Product and Marketing Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Volkswagen enjoyed unprecedented success after last year's Super Bowl spots, "The Force" and "Black Beetle". "The Force", which featured the 2012 Passat and mini Darth Vader, quickly became a pop culture phenomenon when it debuted online before the Super Bowl. It was voted the Number One ad of the year by ADWEEK and continues to be a hit with consumers, racking up more than 45 million views on YouTube.
The overwhelming attention from the commercial piqued interest in the 2012 Passat months before it hit the market. This ensured that the car entered the market with momentum, with more sales in its first two months than the last Passat model sold in all of 2010.
"Black Beetle" teased the all-new Beetle's muscular shape, generating strong interest for the newly redesigned car months before it hit dealerships. The 2012 Beetle is available in two forms: stylish Beetle and sporty Beetle Turbo. All models offer standard technology features such as Bluetooth® and an iPod® interface, heatable front seats, and a 'kaeferfach' secondary glovebox.
More details about the 2012 Volkswagen Super Bowl ad will follow, but expect a fully integrated digital, social media, and grassroots campaign to accompany the spot that will run during one of TV's most-watched events.
About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen's operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Beetle, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. All 2012 Volkswagen models come standard-equipped with Electronic Stability Control. This is important because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called ESC the most effective new vehicle safety technology since the safety belt. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.
"VW", "Volkswagen", all model names and the Volkswagen logo are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. "Bluetooth" is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. "iPod" is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. "Super Bowl" is a registered trademark of the National Football League.
CONTACT: Mark Gillies
SOURCE Volkswagen of America, Inc.
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Home » Forex » EUR to USD: Crash Is Looming for Euro to U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate
https://www.profitconfidential.com/forex/eur-to-usd-crash-is-looming-for-euro-to-u-s-dollar-exchange-rate/ EUR to USD: Crash Is Looming for Euro to U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate Moe Zulfiqar, BAS Profit Confidential 2016-04-12T06:12:44Z 2016-04-12 06:12:44 EUR to USD EUR/USD euro to US dollar exchange rate The euro to U.S. dollar exchange rate could be headed for parity. Here are a few reasons why. Forex https://www.profitconfidential.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/EUR-to-USD1.jpg
Here’s How the EUR to U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate Gets to Parity
Since the beginning of 2016, the EUR to USD pair has increased more than five percent. Don’t trust this rally too much. The euro to U.S. dollar exchange rate could be headed towards parity—and 2016 could be the year it happens. But first things first, according to technical analysis, if you are EUR to USD buyer, you could be making a big mistake for your portfolio. Take a look at the long-term chart below of the EUR to U.S. dollar exchange rate and pay close attention to the black line. You see, one of the basic rules of technical analysis is that “the trend is your friend, until it’s broken.” Over the last seven years at least, the EUR to USD exchange rate has been trending lower. It would be deadly to even thinking about owning it. For it to be worth owning, the EUR/USD would have to rise above 1.30—that’s roughly 15% above where it currently trades. Chart courtesy of www.StockCharts.com But technical analysis isn’t the only reason why the EUR to USD pair’s fate is to the downside. You have to pay attention to the European Central Bank (ECB) as well. As it stands, the central bank wants the euro to go down in value—you don’t want to get in its way. The ECB is doing all that it can to lower the euro. We know it’s already implementing a negative interest rate policy (NIRP) and printing money as well, but the worse part is that the ECB could still go even lower in its interest rates and could print even more euros. Economic conditions aren’t helping the EUR to U.S. dollar exchange rate either. Countries like Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Italy continue to struggle and sadly, we are seeing the powerhouses in the common currency regions facing headwinds, as well. Consider Germany, for example. In February, industrial production in the biggest economy in the eurozone declined by 0.5% month-over-month. (Source: “Production in February 2016: –0.5% seasonally adjusted on the previous month,” Destatis, April 6, 2016.) Over the last year, industrial production in Germany has been subdued at the very best. Mind you, this is just one data point to provide some perspective. If you dig into the details, you will notice the German economy is derailing. Look at France, as well. It’s the second-biggest economy in the eurozone. In January, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expected France to grow by just 1.3% in 2016, lower than what it originally anticipated. (Source: “World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update,” International Monetary Fund, last accessed April 11, 2016.) Here’s the thing: we know that these estimates are usually revised lower, so I wouldn’t be surprised if by the end of the year, France grows by less than one percent.
EUR to USD Outlook for 2016
No matter how you look at it, there aren’t a lot of factors working in favor of the EUR to USD currency pair. It has gained slightly so far this year, but I am looking at it as nothing but a dead cat bounce. As I have said in these pages before—and I keep the same stance—the EUR to USD could hit parity this year, which isn’t very far off from where the currency pair trades today. And 2016 could be the year when it happens, as all the signs are pointing towards EUR/USD parity.
By Moe Zulfiqar, BAS
Moe Zulfiqar, BAS
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Gold Prices: 3 Big Reasons Why Gold Could Break Above 2011 Highs
EUR to USD: Crash Is Looming for Euro to U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate
By Moe Zulfiqar, BAS Published : April 12, 2016
Since the beginning of 2016, the EUR to USD pair has increased more than five percent. Don’t trust this rally too much. The euro to U.S. dollar exchange rate could be headed towards parity—and 2016 could be the year it happens.
But first things first, according to technical analysis, if you are EUR to USD buyer, you could be making a big mistake for your portfolio. Take a look at the long-term chart below of the EUR to U.S. dollar exchange rate and pay close attention to the black line.
You see, one of the basic rules of technical analysis is that “the trend is your friend, until it’s broken.” Over the last seven years at least, the EUR to USD exchange rate has been trending lower. It would be deadly to even thinking about owning it. For it to be worth owning, the EUR/USD would have to rise above 1.30—that’s roughly 15% above where it currently trades.
But technical analysis isn’t the only reason why the EUR to USD pair’s fate is to the downside.
You have to pay attention to the European Central Bank (ECB) as well. As it stands, the central bank wants the euro to go down in value—you don’t want to get in its way. The ECB is doing all that it can to lower the euro. We know it’s already implementing a negative interest rate policy (NIRP) and printing money as well, but the worse part is that the ECB could still go even lower in its interest rates and could print even more euros.
Economic conditions aren’t helping the EUR to U.S. dollar exchange rate either.
Countries like Greece, Spain, Portugal, and Italy continue to struggle and sadly, we are seeing the powerhouses in the common currency regions facing headwinds, as well.
Consider Germany, for example. In February, industrial production in the biggest economy in the eurozone declined by 0.5% month-over-month. (Source: “Production in February 2016: –0.5% seasonally adjusted on the previous month,” Destatis, April 6, 2016.) Over the last year, industrial production in Germany has been subdued at the very best. Mind you, this is just one data point to provide some perspective. If you dig into the details, you will notice the German economy is derailing.
Look at France, as well. It’s the second-biggest economy in the eurozone. In January, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expected France to grow by just 1.3% in 2016, lower than what it originally anticipated. (Source: “World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update,” International Monetary Fund, last accessed April 11, 2016.) Here’s the thing: we know that these estimates are usually revised lower, so I wouldn’t be surprised if by the end of the year, France grows by less than one percent.
No matter how you look at it, there aren’t a lot of factors working in favor of the EUR to USD currency pair. It has gained slightly so far this year, but I am looking at it as nothing but a dead cat bounce.
As I have said in these pages before—and I keep the same stance—the EUR to USD could hit parity this year, which isn’t very far off from where the currency pair trades today. And 2016 could be the year when it happens, as all the signs are pointing towards EUR/USD parity.
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Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics
Synopsis: In this new documentary film, the malevolent, sometimes charismatic figures from DC Comics' hallowed rogues' gallery will be explored in depth, featuring interviews with the famed creators, storytellers and those who have crafted the personalities and profiles of many of the most notorious villains in comic book history.
Director(s): Scott Devine, J.M. Kenny
Actors: Christopher Lee, Neal Adams, Brian Azzarello, Claudia Black
Production: WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES
Evil has many faces.
[JOKER CACKLING]
A man who laughs.
The master of Metropolis.
The Guardian of fear.
A conqueror of worlds.
Many faces, but just one name:
The superviilain.
Powerful, charismatic...
...intelligent, ruthless.
The superviilain reflects
our fears and frustrations...
...the dangers and
perils of everyday life.
They commit the heinous
crimes we will not.
And in a world where right
and wrong are not absolute...
...where shades of gray exist in
life as well as the comic page...
...evil isn't just
unavoidable, it's necessary.
In the world of comics, one could argue that
the villain is even more vital to the story...
...than the just and moral hero.
For without a proper adversary...
...we tack the very essence of story:
Conflict.
After all, isn't it the villain
who catapults the hero into action?
Without the villain, there's really no
story. The superhero exists and does nothing.
If the villain isn't acting
out, Superman stays Clark Kent.
The superheroes are always reacting.
The villains are making things happen.
Villains are the ones with a plan. The villains
are the ones who are taking the initiative.
If you define "protagonist" as
somebody who sets something in motion...
...and "antagonist" as
somebody who stops him...
...almost all the villains in
comic books are protagonists.
You need that ongoing impetus of the bad
guy, the one who's gonna be a challenge...
...the one who is going to
threaten society's rules...
...and be put in their place by
somebody who upholds those rules.
Not only is there no story
or conflict without the villain...
...but it's through the villain that
we see our hero at their very core.
We see their many flaws, we
see their many weaknesses.
We see what makes
them the hero they are.
Without the villain
to define the hero...
...you don't have a hero.
You have no anvil from which the superhero
is pounded into the shape that he is.
Villains in comic book stories...
...allow the hero or the superhero
to really flex their muscles.
The more power the supervillains have...
...the more you can showcase
how important that superhero is.
The stronger your villains are, the stronger
your hero is. They have to overcome...
...somebody who's smart, powerful...
...who knows what they want and who's
on a mission that they believe in.
So if the hero can stop them, you
know, it makes them that much better.
All the more true in the DC universe
because we have rich villains.
One is Flash and Reverse-Flash. The
very names give you what they are.
PORTER:
Reverse-Flash
suffered something so horrible.
And he felt like the Flash could have fixed it.
He knew that the Flash could go through time.
He'd seen it happen before.
He said, "Why don't you go back, prevent
this from happening? Why won't you?"
The guy won't do it.
"Well, he won't do it because he
hasn't felt tragedy like I have.
So I'm going to have him feel
tragedy to make him a better hero.
You need to be able to take the
measures to protect everyone you love.
You wouldn't do it for me. Maybe you'll do
it for yourself. So I put you to the test. "
SCOTT:
The Riddler, he's
all about Batman's intellect.
He, to me, is the sword-sharpener.
He's the guy that says:
"if you are not clever enough,
everybody dies in that way. "
He shows in some ways that
Batman, at his roots...
...needs to be the greatest detective.
At his heart, he's born in Detective Comics.
At the core of the character is Sherlock Holmes.
He's that guy that, because he's human,
needs to be smarter than anybody else...
Bill Finger
Milton Finger, known professionally as Bill Finger (February 8, 1914 – January 18, 1974), was an American comic strip and comic book writer best known as the co-creator, with Bob Kane, of the DC Comics character Batman, and the co-architect of the series' development. Although Finger did not receive contemporaneous credit for his hand in the development of Batman, Kane acknowledged Finger's contributions years after Finger's death.Finger also wrote many of the original 1940s Green Lantern stories featuring the original Green Lantern (Alan Scott), and contributed to the development of numerous other comic book series. He was posthumously inducted into the comic book industry's Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1999. The Bill Finger Award, founded by Jerry Robinson and presented annually at the San Diego Comic-Con to honor excellence in comic-book writing, is named for him. more…
All Bill Finger scripts | Bill Finger Scripts
"Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2021. Web. 19 Jan. 2021. <https://www.scripts.com/script/necessary_evil:_super-villains_of_dc_comics_14632>.
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eBook info
everything about e-books
What color is your parachute ebook
By Patrick in Interesting 07.10.2020
What Color Is Your Parachute 2020edition?
What Color Is Your Parachute? 2020: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers: Bolles, Richard N.: 9781984856579: Amazon.com: Books.
What Color Is Your Parachute 2020 summary?
Book Summary. The key message in this book: To improve your chances of landing the job you’re after, always prepare yourself as best you can by doing ample research before your interview. Keep in mind that there are actually a lot of jobs out there that need to be filled by a qualified professional such as yourself.
What Color Is Your Parachute flower exercise?
Since its initial self-publication in 1970, What Color Is Your Parachute (including annual revisions) has sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Parachute has helped countless people find meaningful work by helping them become crystal clear and razor sharp on who they are and what they want.
What color is your parachute used?
What Color Is Your Parachute? is a self-help book by Richard Nelson Bolles intended for job-seekers. It has been in print since 1970 and has been revised annually since 1975, sometimes substantially.
What Color Is Your Parachute 2020 Kindle?
2020: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers Kindle Edition. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Great Experience.
What Color Is Your Parachute 2019 Amazon?
Best ebook reader free
Ebook vs printed book
Copyright © 2020 eBook info. All Rights Reserved.
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Home » Mexico » Cancun News » New Maya Park in Cancun Hotel Zone sets opening date
New Maya Park in Cancun Hotel Zone sets opening date
Cancun, Q.R. — A new Mayan Park attraction is set to open in the Cancun Hotel Zone early next year.
The new park, which is being constructed in Kilometer 16 of the hotel zone, is nearing completion and expected to open mid-January. Mayan Park project leader Francisco Córdova Lira says the park will be completed on time and will begin operating next year.
“We are on time and on November 30th it will be finished to start operating in 2018. It will be in October when the promotion of the park begins,” he said.
Mayan Park is expected to open in January of next year, promoting cultural tourism with several main attractions. The park will have replicas of vestige and Maya architecture in a world that make up a Maya universe, zip lines and a boat trip through the Nichupté lagoon as well as an offer to visit the Mayan Museum of Cancun in front of the park as well as the Ruins of Rey, and a Turibus tour.
Along with rides and access to learning centers such as the museum and Rey Ruins, the park will teach awareness of the Maya culture with promotional material including a book on Maya history and culture that will be distributed to travel agencies beginning October.
“The best attractions will be there, and as you walk through the culture that protects the area, visitors will be able to take a souvenir picture at the promotional letters of Cancun,” he said.
Although announced in 2013, the initial park plan was rejected by the Ministry of Environment and required adjustments. The park is an investment of more than 100 million peso and will generate 110 jobs. It is expected to draw an average of 150,000 visitors per year. The slated opening date is January 16, 2018. Tickets are set for $99 USD per person.
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Sarah Glenn/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images
Baylor Lawsuit Details Alleged Gang Rape
by Andrea Frazier
As the nationwide campus sexual assault crisis intensifies, a new lawsuit contains grisly details of the alleged gang rape of a female student at an off-campus party — and the alleged inaction of Baylor University officials in the aftermath. Filed in a Texas federal court Wednesday, the suit claims Baylor football players raped women as a "bonding experience." In this specific case, a former student identified in the suit only as "Jane Doe" alleges that at least four but possibly as many as eight football players drugged and raped her during the incident she claims happened in February 2012.
According to New York Magazine, this marks the seventh Title IX lawsuit filed against the historically Baptist school; Both its athletic director and president were fired in 2016 for reportedly mishandling such allegations. Another suit against the university, filed in January, alleges that at least 31 football players committed at least 52 rapes between 2011 and 2014. Even before that, in 2016, the school's athletic director, as well as other officials, left their posts amid allegations that they had not reacted to reports of sexual assaults involving students appropriately, stating that their departures would help the school promote "unity, healing and restoration," according to CBS News.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images
In a statement to Romper, a Baylor spokesperson said the school "has been in conversations with the victim’s legal counsel for many months in an attempt to reach an amicable resolution" in addition to working to improve its response to sexual assaults, and "investing significantly in student support services." The statement continued:
As this case proceeds, Baylor maintains its ability to present facts — as available to the University — in response to the allegations contained in the legal filing. The University’s response in no way changes Baylor’s position that any assault involving members of our campus community is reprehensible and inexcusable. Baylor remains committed to eliminating all forms of sexual and gender-based harassment and discrimination within our campus community.
Still, these changes do little to change what allegedly happened to Doe and other victims. According to Deadspin, her lawsuit alleges that the rape took place at an off-campus party at an apartment where members of the football team lived. Afterward, the football players allegedly repeatedly texted Doe and even her family members, insisting that she "wanted it" and telling her that nude photographs of her, taken during the rape, existed. The players also allegedly burglarized her apartment, an offense to which police were alerted but no charges were ultimately filed. They also started a rumor that she had stolen their dog earlier in the year, as she had taken it to the vet when it was hurt in a dogfight the players allegedly incited.
Still, the university allegedly did not react appropriately when the student reported what had happened to her, her suit claimed. Upon learning of the alleged gang rape for example, the victim's mother claimed she met with an assistant football coach to discuss it, even giving him the names of the offending players, but he never followed up, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported. Likewise Doe allegedly informed a football chaplain of what had happened during a subsequent mission trip, but now claims that he never spread the news to officials outside the athletics department. Additionally, Doe claimed she was allegedly discouraged from taking action during Baylor counseling sessions, and was allegedly never informed about Title IX reporting options.
Perhaps most chillingly, the Tribune reported that rapes such as the one Doe purports to have endured served a specific purpose among football players: bonding. As Phillip Ericksen wrote:
According to the suit, the football team had a system of hazing freshman recruits by having them bring freshman females to parties to be drugged and gang raped, "or in the words of the football players, 'trains' would be run on the girls."
It's a terrifying prospect, indeed — and a possibility that every university in the nation should take very seriously.
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MusicDining outTheatre & ComedyWeekendAttractionsCompetitionsWomanLifestyleWhat's On
Ellie Goulding to bring UK tour to Birmingham
By Rebecca SayceSouth ShropshireMusicPublished: Jun 29, 2020
Pop superstar Ellie Goulding will bring her UK tour to Birmingham next year.
The 33-year-old Kington singer will come to the city's O2 Academy as part of her Brightest Blue headline tour following the release of her new album of the same title.
Ellie was a featured performer in Global Citizen’s charity livestream, One World: Together At Home, On April 19 and raised more than £100 million for the WHO’s Covid-19 response fund.
Just days later, she took part in BBC’s Big Night In programme as part of a celebrity cover of the Foo Fighters’ Times Like These.
The charity single has since hit number one in the UK, while the Big Night In saw 6.4 million viewers and raised £27 million for Children in Need.
March 2020 also marked the 10-year anniversary of Ellie’s debut album Lights which charted at number one in the UK and went on to sell over 1.4 million records globally.
The release featured hit singles such as Starry Eyed, Under The Sheets, Guns and Horses and The Writer.
Ellie’s incredible career to date has seen her celebrate two number one albums, two BRIT Awards, sell over 15 million albums and 132 million singles, amass 22 billion streams worldwide and surpass 10 million subscribers on YouTube, amassing over 5 billion views globally.
Ellie Goulding will perform at Birmingham's O2 Academy on May 1, 2021.
Tickets go on sale on Friday at 9am.
South Shropshire entertainment
By Rebecca Sayce
@becci_star
Entertainment journalist for Express & Star and Shropshire Star. Contact me: rebecca.sayce@expressandstar.co.uk
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FDA and Facebook: Back to basics
By Jay Greathouse (US) on April 7, 2014 Posted in Social media policies
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has issued numerous Warning and Untitled Letters[1] delving into very specific aspects of social media (such as “likes” on Facebook, tweets on Twitter and posts on Tumblr, collectively, the “Social Media Letters”). Recently, the FDA warned a drug manufacturer and its agent that even the “About Us” or “Company Information” section of a Facebook page must be comprehensive and must include the drug’s material facts and associated risks in order to avoid FDA charges of misbranding.
In the February 24th letter, the FDA alleged that the drug manufacturer and its agent misbranded the drug Tirosint (levothyroxine sodium) by omitting “material facts” and risk information from the drug’s Facebook page. The page, which from the screenshot supplied by the FDA, contains no posts, promotional media or links to information regarding the drug. Instead, there is a small box for a company profile which states the following:
“If you have just been diagnosed with hypothyroidism or are having difficulty controlling your levothyroxine blood levels, talk to your doctor about prescription Tirosint, a unique liquid gel cap form of levothyroxine.”
In the letter, the FDA noted that Tirosint is approved as a replacement or supplemental therapy for many types of hypothyroidism, but it is not approved for use on transient hypothyroidism during the recovery phase of subacute thyroiditis. The FDA considered the Facebook statement to be omitting material facts about the drug. Further, the FDA noted that Tirosint “is associated with a number of serious risks” – none of which were disclosed on the Facebook page. The FDA wrote that “by omitting the most serious and frequently occurring risks associated with Tirosint, the Facebook webpage misleadingly suggests that Tirosint is safer than has been demonstrated.”
The significance of this letter is that, while previous Social Media Letters sought to regulate Facebook actions (e.g., the use of “likes”) and content (e.g., posts on Facebook, tweets on Twitter or images on Tumblr), drug manufacturers and their agents should exercise care when creating social media accounts. Here, the FDA issued a letter not because of the Facebook actions or for content propagated to promote the drug, but because the “Company Information” box was incompletely annotated at the formation of the Facebook page. The underlying message from the FDA is a return to the basics – to avoid charges of misbranding, consider all representations made to the general public regardless of the context or location.
This article was prepared by Jay Greathouse
(jay.greathouse@nortonrosefulbright.com / +1 210 270 7155), an associate in Norton Rose Fulbright’s corporate practice group.
[1] A Warning Letter is FDA Correspondence that notifies a regulated industry about violations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act that the FDA has documented during its inspections or investigations. According to the FDA’s Regulatory Procedures Manual – July 2012: “Warning Letters should only be issued for violations of regulatory significance, i.e., those that may actually lead to an enforcement action if the documented violations are not promptly and adequately corrected.” Untitled Letters are initial correspondence with members of a regulated industry that do not meet the threshold of a warning letter and are reserved for situations where the FDA may not be prepared to take enforcement action.
Tags: Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter
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Performed in Sofar Washington D.C.
Recently named both “Artist of the Year” and “Composer of the Year” by Washington DC’s City Paper, Mark G. Meadows continues to make an impression on the DC jazz scene as an accomplished jazz pianist, vocalist, composer, and jazz educator. From August 2 - September 11, 2016, Mark will make his acting debut as Jelly Roll Morton in the DC premiere of Jelly's Last Jam at Signature Theatre. Mark's piano and vocal chops are a natural fit for the role of one of the most legendary and notorious jazz figures. Mark’s most recently released album, To the People, reflects his passion for social justice. Through lyrics, harmony, and improvisation, Mark's message is simple: to bring love, peace, and understanding to the people. In 2014, Mark released his second album, Somethin’ Good, which received worldwide acclaim. Mark’s performances reflect his versatile musical background, encompassing jazz, R&B, gospel, and rock, to interconnect every walk of life. Mark has appeared alongside world-renowned musicians such as Bobby McFerrin, Kendrick Lamar, Nicholas Payton, Kurt Elling, and Warren Wolf. He has headlined premier clubs in the northeast region including Jazz at the Lincoln Center, Blues Alley, The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Small’s Jazz Club, The Strathmore, Bohemian Caverns, Bethesda Jazz & Blues Supper Club, Twins Jazz, The Metropolitan Club, An Die Musik, and more. Mark has recently begun to perform internationally in areas including Qatar, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Canada and The Caribbean. Mark also teaches as an adjunct instructor at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. He directs and arranges for “The Mellow Tones”, a jazz vocal ensemble who is featured on his latest album and recently opened up for Kendrick Lamar and the NSO at the Kennedy Center. See for yourself how Mark uses his gifts, experiences, and passion to create a unifying sound that breaks through social barriers.
Videos by Mark Meadows
What Would You Do
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Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency
For Healthcare ProfessionalsMedical EducationSaint Barnabas Medical CenterObstetrics and Gynecology Residency
Saint Barnabas Medical Center Rutgers Health/Saint Barnabas Medical Center OBGYN Program
About the SBMC/Rutgers NJMS OBGYN Residency
Under the auspices of the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences and RWJBarnabas Health, the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Saint Barnabas Medical Center and Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School have combined their training programs into a single merged program aimed to provide a postgraduate medical education training/residency experience in Obstetrics, Gynecology, related sub-specialties, primary and ambulatory care. We are entering our third year as a merged program. Our programs have always been fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) through the Residency Review Committee (RRC) for Obstetrics and Gynecology. The merged program combines the best features of traditional community and university training programs. The program utilizes two (2) training sites, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, a community hospital, and Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, University Hospital, a university training facility. The combined sites provide a unique hybrid experience, what we refer to as a Communiversity Program, that currently enjoys an excellent reputation throughout the NJ-NY metropolitan area and the Northeast.
We are confident that the union of our residency programs will benefit the training and educational experience of future residents by utilizing the educational and clinical strengths of the two institutions. Saint Barnabas has a large volume of both open and minimally invasive surgical cases in an environment of superb surgical and clinical training, providing exposure to private subspecialty training in all disciplines with an increasing cadre of surgical sub-specialties in gynecologic oncology and urogynecology which has concomitantly increased the volume of surgery available for resident training. Further, residents have available to them a state-of-the-art Simulation Center with an established simulation curriculum. Additionally, residents have available a broad rotational experience which includes ICU, Breast, Ultrasound, Ambulatory Surgery, Elective and Research. Likewise, resident training is enhanced by rotation at University Hospital, the teaching hospital of Rutgers NJMS, which provides residents a robust outpatient ambulatory clinical experience, and includes not only general obstetrical and benign gynecological experiences, but also outpatient experiences in all sub-specialty disciplines, as well as Family Planning. Rutgers NJMS is the only Ryan Family Planning Program site in the state of New Jersey and allows residents in-depth training in family planning and contraception. Further, Rutgers NJMS provides opportunities for fundamental, translational and clinical research, as well as exposure to fellowship training, as NJMS has fellowship programs in REI and MFM. Additionally, the practice model at each institution is very different and will provide experience for residents in both a more private/community hospital, in addition to, experience in caring for underserved and medically disenfranchised patients at New Jersey’s only public hospital.
The philosophical aims and objectives of our program are to: (1) educate and train residents to be the best possible providers of health care for women in obstetrics, gynecology and primary care; (2) provide residents with a sub-specialty-derived educational breadth and depth that will allow them to be effective consultants in their medical communities; (3) provide residents with the necessary education to enable them to function as primary care/primary contact physicians for women throughout their adolescent, reproductive and post-reproductive years; (4) instill and foster a spirit of mutual respect and work ethic, camaraderie, and teamsmanship among the residents themselves and among the residents, faculty, attending physicians, nurses, ancillary health care staff, and program director in all clinical and administrative situations; (5) offer opportunities for residents to develop professional, ethical, and leadership skills that can be used during their residency and practice years for the betterment of all
concerned; (6) qualify residents to become board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology; (7) impart a desire for life-long learning and, if applicable, a willingness to assist in the education and training of new generations of medical students and residents; (8) foster a sense of responsibility in our residents to provide both safe and quality care to our patients; (9) instill in our residents the culture, or nature, of our program which is family, close-knit, team-oriented, supportive, academic, and clinically oriented; and (10) protect, provide and promote the wellness and well-being of our residents.
The program selects ten residents at each of the four levels of postgraduate training.
Saint Barnabas Medical Center’s 15th Annual Clinical Research Day
About the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
The Northeastern Simulation Center
SimWars
Northeastern Interprofessional SimWARS™ Champions
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San Francisco Tax Preparation / CPA: IRS to Audit More High-Income Taxpayers, Mnuchin Tells Lawmakers
Filed in CCH NEWS FEED by Lee McDonald on July 10, 2020
The IRS is planning to audit more high-income taxpayers, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told House lawmakers. The plan comes on the heels of recent reports that the IRS has conducted more audits of lower-income taxpayers largely because of the increased complexity and resources needed for high-income examinations.
“I have specifically directed the IRS Commissioner to come up with a plan to increase the amount of funding so that we can audit more high-income earners,” Mnuchin told lawmakers during a March 3 House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the president’s fiscal year (FY) 2021 Budget. “That is specifically in our plan,” he added.
IRS Budget
Mnuchin also told lawmakers that the president’s request for an increase in IRS funding would help accomplish the modernization and improvement of the agency. “Of particular interest to this Committee, we are requesting $12 billion for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This includes funding to implement the Taxpayer First Act and the third year of the Integrated Business Systems Modernization Plan,” Mnuchin said. “We continue to bring the IRS into the 21st century by updating systems and utilizing data analytics and other technological advancements to enhance the effectiveness of audit enforcement activities.”
The Trump administration’s FY 2021 budget request proposes $12 billion in base funding for the IRS, which would provide an increase from currently enacted levels of $11.5 billion. The budget would also provide $300 million to continue the IRS’s modernization efforts.
“I am pleased to see a slight increase in IRS funding in the president’s budget, but the request still falls far lower than the amount the agency received a decade ago,” Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., said during the hearing.
Additionally, Mnuchin and lawmakers discussed commonality in moving forward on a bipartisan infrastructure plan. Recently, both Trump and House Democrats have separately outlined their infrastructure priorities.
“Before the administration begins to entertain any proposals for temporary tax cuts, the most important way that we can proceed… if we were to develop a stimulus package, the soundest way to do that is clearly to proceed with a major infrastructure initiative,” Neal said. Neal’s comments appeared to be in response to a tweet by President Trump in which he recommended a temporary payroll tax cut as a means for economic stimulus.
“If there is a need to stimulate the economy… I am sure that infrastructure is a priority for the president,” Mnuchin told lawmakers.
« At Safe Harbor We Have Good News If You Haven’t Done Your Tax Return
San Francisco Tax Preparation / CPA: 2020 Foreign Housing Expense Limitations Released »
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The History of Stieff Silver
There are numerous companies with long legacies in Baltimore City. Here at Samuelson’s, we’re proud to be one of them as we near our 100th anniversary. Another local company that we have high respect for is Stieff Silver. Known for their high-quality silver products, beautiful hand chasing, and Repoussé work, Stieff Silver products are instantly recognizable and iconic. We often see Stieff sterling silver flatware in our line of work buying and selling silver, and thought it would be fun to take a dive into their rich history.
What is often forgotten about Baltimore is that it once was a key location for the silversmith industry, dating as far back as 1815. The Stieff Company was one such company that contributed to Baltimore’s industry. It got its start in 1892 after local entrepreneur, Charles Clinton Stieff, bought out his partner in a predecessor firm. While Charles was not a silversmith, he dealt primarily in silver, cutlery and fine housewares such as cut glass and clocks. After numerous name changes, the company landed on its final name: the Stieff Company.
Source: Monument City – Creator: Bryson Dudley – Date: August 29, 2011
In the early years, the Stieff Company made silver for both its own retail shop in downtown Baltimore as well as other retailers whose names would be stamped on the silver. By cutting out the middle man and manufacturing their own silver, they were able to offer a high quality product at value pricing. Eventually, as the fine silver products became better known around Baltimore, the company became a major player in the silver manufacturing business.
Under Stieff management, several standout designs were incorporated into their catalog – such as the Hand Chased Rose, the Stieff Rose, and more. Other early silver patterns were Victoria, Baltimore, Vestalia, Chrysanthemum, and Plain & Engraved. It takes a trained eye to discern what is true sterling silver flatware from Stieff, especially given that the company went through various stamping iterations. Many early pieces carry the Crown and B mark, indicating the manufacturer. Later, the stamp would change to the word “Stieff.”
Charles C. Stieff handed the reins of the company to his son Gideon Stieff in 1914, who made a number of strategic decisions that helped expand the Stieff name. A move from downtown Baltimore to its now iconic location in the Hampden area allowed Stieff to bring in more craftsmen and artists to create its collections. And as a family-owned business, the Stieff family made sure to take care of its employees and its country when times called for it. During the Great Depression, Gideon found odd jobs around the facility to keep his skilled silversmiths on staff so he could call on them when business inevitably picked up. And once business did start to pick up during World War II, the company switched its attention to electronics, radar parts, and surgical equipment. Additionally, Gideon had the foresight to sign a contract with Colonial Williamsburg in 1939, where they would reproduce silver for colonial tourists.
After the war ended, Stieff was able to return its attention to producing silver products – such as the silver trophies given each year to the winner of the Preakness Stakes, held in nearby Pimlico. Stieff made silver items for the Eisenhower administration to gift dignitaries, as well as flatware for use in the White House. In the 60s and the 70s, Stieff ventured into pewter, which was becoming more popular, before struggling with the same issues many other companies faced in the 80s and 90s. A family legacy, Gideon’s three sons remained with the company as its leadership until its sale to Lenox in 1990. When the factory closed its doors in 1999, it marked the end of an era of a tradition that had flourished in Baltimore since the early nineteenth century.
While Stieff no longer exists as it once did, collections of its famed sterling silver flatware and other products are still to be found. Among the most rare Stieff patterns are Victoria and Plain; both discontinued prior to 1920. It’s a banner day at Samuelson’s when one of these patterns appear before us, for sure! We are always on the lookout for sterling silver of all types as silver has a set market value. And finding gems such as iconic Stieff sterling silver for resale allows the Stieff legacy to live on.
If you’re interested in learning more about Stieff sterling silver, have a collection to sell, or are interested in purchasing one, the best way to get started is by contacting us. Call 301-804-6176 or contact us online to request an appointment with one of our certified experts today!
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> Connect > Blog > August 2017
When Women Come Together
Photo: Sarah K
Prabhouti’s husband had died, leaving her with four sons.
The life of a widow is always hard in Prabhouti’s village – a woman’s standing and rights depend solely on her husband. Girls are not usually educated in Prabhouti’s community, so women left on their own lack any skills they can use to support themselves. A childhood encounter with polio had left Prabhouti unable to walk long distances, meaning her options were even more limited.
Prabhouti’s widowhood should have been less painful, though, since her four boys would be available to support her. In Prabhouti’s culture, care for aging parents is seen as the responsibility of sons. One son is enough insurance for parents – four is a wealth of blessing.
She arranged her eldest son’s wedding, relieved to have the first one settled. However, he and his new wife soon decided they couldn’t manage to support Prabhouti as well as themselves. He moved his family to another area of the village and ignored his mother’s pleas for help. The second son soon followed suit and left to find his fortune in the city. Left with two school-aged sons to support, Prabhouti suddenly found her situation more desperate than she imagined it could be.
In this culture, the ideal woman enters her husband’s house with marriage at a young age and isn’t expected to emerge until she’s carried out on her funeral pyre. Her house and family become her entire world and she usually doesn’t know her neighbours. So Prabhouti had no idea that just around the corner, Pavitr was struggling in remarkably similar ways.
Pavitr’s husband had died, leaving her with a son and daughter. Unlike Prabhouti, Pavitr was able-bodied. She also, however, lacked any sort of education to help her get a job to support her family. She had never been taught how to set long-term goals or make a plan to reach her goals. Each day was only followed by another one of hunger and fear of the next.
One day, however, Prabhouti, Pavitr, and their neighbour Sambha were invited to join ten other women from their village in forming a women’s “self-help and savings group". The village had never heard of such a thing and some neighbours warned them against joining. “They’ll just take your money and run,” someone cautioned. “What can a woman do?” others chanted the traditional refrain.
Prabouti, Pavitr, and Sambha had very little to lose and, desperate, they joined over and against the objections of those around them. That was twelve years ago.
The invitation came from Chetna, a partner ministry of SIM run by the Emmanuel Hospital Association. At the time, one of their strategic initiatives was to start self-help and savings groups in villages across their districts of concentration. They hoped that strong groups of women who’d learned vital skills would be able to carry on caring for their communities even once Chetna was no long able to help them.
In the self-help group, the women first started to save money, each one managing to find a way to set aside ten or fifteen rupees ($0.15USD) a month to put into the group savings account. Their monthly meetings included basic teaching about health issues, making good goals and plans, and community leadership. They discussed family and community issues and began learning how to advocate on their community’s behalf. They emerged from their houses to learn how to deposit their own money in the bank. They found a literate woman in their village who, with material Chetna provided, taught them to read and do basic sums.
Sambha had already been running a small shop before she joined the group. Selling things like rice, sugar, lentils, and tobacco helped provide for her family’s daily needs. However, being illiterate meant that Sambha kept figures for her store in her head – including things bought on credit. She learned how to read, write, and keep a ledger in the women’s group. She became even more profitable once she had proper accounts and wasn’t at the mercy of customers’ honesty about how much they’d borrowed.
Pavitr took what she learned from the women’s group and made not only a plan for her immediate future, but her children’s as well. She started a daily needs shop that soon made enough to pay for her children’s school fees. As a family, they’ve discussed possible career options and have decided to aim for government jobs in India’s massive railway system. When reminded of how much money training for jobs like that require, Pavitr folds her arms casually. “My children are studying really well. What’s with money when my children are studying so well? There will be money.” Pavitr sets aside money each month in anticipation of their future needs.
Prabhouti knew running a shop would be too physically demanding for her, so she used her savings from the group to purchase the supplies to make a local potato snack. Every morning, she makes them and every afternoon sells them to people returning from school or work. It helps support her and her two sons. The oldest of the two left has started talking about leaving the village to find work somewhere else. Prabhouti worries she won’t be able to get the supplies to make her snacks without his help.
If he leaves, however, this time Prabhouti won’t be completely alone. Just around the corner is Pavitr and across the street is Sambha – neighbours she didn’t know before the self-help group. They’ve learned so much more than savings and self-help. The group taught them about community and what they’re capable of when women come together.
If you would like to contribute to the community transforming work of chetna, click here.
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Home > news > Announcements > Launch of The Singapore Integrated 24-Hour Activity Guidelines
Launch of The Singapore Integrated 24-Hour Activity Guidelines 2021-01-08T07:03:27.0000000Z
Launch of The Singapore Integrated 24-Hour Activity Guidelines
1/8/2021 1:30:00 PM |
KKH-led survey reveals unhealthy lifestyle habits in children and adolescents
Singapore, 8 January 2021 – To promote healthy lifestyle habits during their formative years, a structured and comprehensive approach is needed. This approach has been outlined in The Singapore Integrated 24-Hour Activity Guidelines for Children and Adolescents (“Guidelines”), and was launched today.
A first for Singapore, the Guidelines are based on locally and globally established studies and best practices, and have been developed with our local population in mind. It aims to standardise advice on physical activities, screen time, eating habits and sleep for children and adolescents aged seven to 18 years of age within a 24-hour period, to improve health and promote adoption of healthy lifestyle habits. These guidelines are aligned with the national goals of the Health Promotion Board to promote healthier lifestyles.
Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Communications and Information, was the Guest of Honour at the Asia Pacific Maternal and Child Metabolic Health Conference (APMCMHC) and Integrated Platform for Research in Advancing Metabolic Health Outcomes of Women and Children (IPRAMHO*) International Meeting 2021 held at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) earlier today. The Guidelines were launched at the event.
According to Statistics from the Ministry of Education, the incidence of overweight children has increased from 11 per cent in 2013 to 13 per cent in 2017. Studies also showed that children and adolescents in Singapore could only meet up to 40 per cent of the recommended physical activity level and above 70 per cent of adolescents exceeded more than two hours of electronic screen time daily1-3. A recently-concluded KKH-led survey involving 100 parents of children aged five to 14 years of age gave further insights to their children’s lifestyle habits:
- 43 per cent do not engage in any vigorous physical activity while 32 per cent do not engage in any moderate physical activity
- 25 per cent spend more than 10 waking hours per day in sedentary behaviour
- 20 per cent spend more than four hours on screen viewing daily, exceeding the recommendation of two hours per day
- 20 per cent are not meeting the recommended sleep requirement on weekdays
Parents surveyed also showed inadequate awareness of the recommended amount of physical activities, screen time and sleep for children, with:
30 per cent of parents believed that their child does not receive sufficient exercise or sleep
70 per cent were concerned with their child’s screen time. Yet 41 per cent were unaware of existing screen time viewing guidelines, 49 per cent of parents were unaware of existing physical activity guidelines, and 20 per cent were unaware of existing sleep guidelines.
Taking a longer-term, holistic approach
These developments have prompted healthcare professionals to develop a set of guidelines to provide structured and comprehensive health advice to children and adolescents, and their caregivers living in Singapore.
The Workgroup that has developed the Guidelines is formed by KKH-led IPRAMHO, and College of Paediatrics and Child Health in Academy of Medicine Singapore, in partnership with Exercise is Medicine Singapore, Sports Medicine Association, Singapore, Perinatal Society of Singapore, Singapore Paediatric Society and College of Family Physicians Singapore, and Singapore Medical Association.
Professor Tan Kok Hian, Head and Senior Consultant, Perinatal Audit and Epidemiology Unit, KKH, and Lead Principal Investigator of IPRAMHO, said, "Globally and locally, there is increasing evidence to show that children and adolescents reap more health benefits when they adopt healthy lifestyle habits such as exercising regularly, having adequate sleep and reducing screen time.4-8 In Singapore, our children and adolescents are not moving and sleeping enough, made worse by having more screen time than recommended. With interests in preventing and reducing risks for metabolic diseases in women and children, it is timely for KKH and IPRAMHO to support in making the new guidelines relevant and reflect the current lifestyle patterns of our youths."
The set of Guidelines complements the 2013 national guidelines on physical and sedentary behaviour for children and adolescents. The 2013 guidelines focus largely on moderate and vigorous intensity physical activities, sedentary behaviours and safety in sports. The new Guidelines includes the most recent researches on the effectiveness of adopting light physical activities, sleep and eating habits for children and adolescents in a 24-Hour period.
The Guidelines elaborates on the following 10 summary statements:
For physical, mental and social health, children and adolescents should acquire a lifestyle that integrates regular physical activity, limited sedentary behaviour, adequate sleep and good eating habits within each 24-hour period.
Accumulate at least an average of 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity in a week, where more is better.
Engage in muscle and bone strengthening exercises at least three times a week. This could be part of the daily minimum accumulation of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity.
Engage regularly in a variety of light physical activities throughout the day.
Limit recreational screen time as much as possible.
Build in regular breaks to move around during times of prolonged sitting or inactivity.
Have regular sleep of at least 9 hours (for 7-13 years old), at least 8 hours (for 14-17 years old) and at least 7 hours (for 18 years old).
Take the necessary precautions before, during and after exercise and see a doctor if you feel unwell during the exercise.
Have regular meals consisting of nutritionally-balanced foods and drinks to support daily activities, to optimise growth, maturation and development.
Aim to achieve most or all recommendations on physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep and diet for the best results.
For more details on the guidelines, please visit https://www.ams.edu.sg/colleges/CPCHS/home
Coupled with being the only paediatric sports medicine facility, KKH as the only children’s hospital in Singapore is taking the lead to counsel parents and caregivers of patients to adopt these guidelines. KKH will also work hand-in-hand with other paediatricians, family medicine physicians to equip them in reinforcing the Guidelines.
Dr Benny Loo, Consultant, General Paediatrics Service and Sports Medicine Service, KKH, who is also the Chairperson of the Workgroup for the Guidelines said, "Research shows that adopting healthy lifestyle habits at a young age sets the stage for becoming healthy adults, reducing risks for metabolic diseases.9, 10 Singapore’s children and adolescents today are time-poor as they lead very hectic lives. This set of guidelines helps to promote a structured and comprehensive approach in organising a child’s 24-hour day of physical activities, sedentary time, and sleep, to optimise his/her health outcomes in the long run."
The Guidelines is part of a series of guidelines to improve metabolic health in women and children. It was launched at the fourth APMCMHC and IPRAMHO International Meeting 2021, focusing on Asia-Pacific perspectives in the management of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity in pregnant women and children. In previous years, other guidelines released were for the management of gestational diabetes, perinatal nutrition, as well as physical activity and exercise in pregnancy.
The annual event, held during 8 and 9 January this year, was attended by key opinion leaders such as Senior Professor Anthony Okely, University of Wollongong, Australia, and Professor Satoshi Kusuda, President of the Federation of Asia and Oceania and Perinatal Societies. Experts from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Thailand also attended the event.
*IPRAMHO is a research platform that seeks to develop a seamless integrated model of care through optimal implementation of effective population prevention strategies and diabetes and weight reduction programmes for women and children. IPRAMHO is led by KKH in partnership with SingHealth Polyclinics and National Healthcare Group Polyclinics; and is a collaborative centre grant funded by the National Medical Research Council.
Chia M. Physical inactivity among children and adolescents in Singapore: A paradoxical issue. Acta Kinesiol. 2008;2:7-15
Ting JL, Mukherjee S, Hwa MC. Physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns of Singaporean adolescents. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2015 Sep 1;12(9):1213-20.
Lee KS, Trost SG. Physical activity patterns of Singaporean adolescents. Pediatric Exercise Science. 2006 Nov 1;18(4):400-14.
Poitras VJ, Gray CE, Borghese MM, Carson V, Chaput JP, Janssen I, Katzmarzyk PT, Pate RR, Connor Gorber S, Kho ME, Sampson M. Systematic review of the relationships between objectively measured physical activity and health indicators in school-aged children and youth. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 2016;41(6):S197-239.
Janssen I, LeBlanc AG. Systematic review of the health benefits of physical activity and fitness in school-aged children and youth. International journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity. 2010 Dec 1;7(1):40.
Strong WB, Malina RM, Blimkie CJ, Daniels SR, Dishman RK, Gutin B, Hergenroeder AC, Must A, Nixon PA, Pivarnik JM, Rowland T. Evidence based physical activity for school-age youth. The Journal of pediatrics. 2005 Jun 1;146(6):732-7.
Saunders TJ, Gray CE, Poitras VJ, Chaput JP, Janssen I, Katzmarzyk PT, Olds T, Connor Gorber S, Kho ME, Sampson M, Tremblay MS. Combinations of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep: relationships with health indicators in schoolaged children and youth. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 2016;41(6):S283-93.
Hjorth MF, Chaput JP, Damsgaard CT, Dalskov SM, Andersen R, Astrup A, Michaelsen KF, Tetens I, Ritz C, Sjödin A. Low physical activity level and short sleep duration are associated with an increased cardio-metabolic risk profile: a longitudinal study in 8-11 year old Danish children. PloS one. 2014 Aug 7;9(8):e104677.
Chen, B., Bernard, J.Y., Padmapriya, N. et al. Socio-demographic and maternal predictors of adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines in Singaporean children. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 16, 70 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-019-0834-1
Ames ME, Leadbeater BJ, MacDonald SW. Health behavior changes in adolescence and young adulthood: Implications for cardiometabolic risk. Health Psychology. 2018 Feb;37(2):103.
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CTDetails
Home > Patient Care > Conditions & Treatments
Home > Patient Care > Conditions and Treatment > Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) > Overview
Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE)
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Condition treated at:
Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) - What it is
Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) is a minimally invasive procedure in which chemotherapy and embolic agents are directly delivered to a cancerous tumour via its blood supply. It is most often used to treat primary liver cancer, and sometimes in other types of cancer that have spread to the liver. The embolic agents are used to cut off the blood supply to the tumour without affecting the rest of the liver. Compared to receiving conventional chemotherapy, TACE allows for the maximum amount of chemotherapy agent to reach the tumour, while limiting the amount released into the bloodstream.
Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) - Causes and Risk Factors
Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) - Other Information
Article contributed by Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Singapore General Hospital
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Liver Transplant What Is It and When to Consider It
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Friendship & Loneliness
Relationships: Can How A Relationship Ends Define Whether It Can Be Rekindled?
See all Articles by Oliver JR CooperSee Oliver JR Cooper's Expert PageGet Updates on Friendship & LonelinessGet Updates on Oliver JR Cooper
While a relationship can last a lifetime, there is also chance it will only last for short amount of time. It could also be said that there is a greater chance of one staying friends with someone for a lifetime than there is of them being in an intimate relationship with someone for the same amount of time.
However, even though this can be the case, it is not always going to be this way, and this shows that no matter what kind of relationship one has with someone, it doesn’t mean it will last. For instance, one could have a close relationship with a family member, and as time passes, it could also come to an end.
This could be because they have done something that was extremely harmful, or it may be a sign that one has to keep their distance to maintain their own well-being. But even though they have chosen to walk away from them, it could be one of the hardest decisions they have had to make.
Some of the people in their life might also find it hard to understand why they would do such a thing, and they might try to get them to change their mind. Yet, if they have been in the same position or understand what they have gone through, it is gong to be easier for them to understand why they have made this decision.
What this comes down to is that it is going to be important for one to take care of themselves, and not to get caught up in what others think. If they were to focus on pleasing other people, it is only going to cause them more pain in the long run.
This shows that while it takes very little effort to judge, it takes far more effort to understand. The main things is that one listens to themselves, and through doing this, there is going to be less chance them ignoring their own needs in order to fulfil the needs of others.
A Short Period of Time
If one was to look back on their life, they may remember someone who was around for a short period of time. This could be someone who they classed as a friend, or it may relate to a lover they once had.
And when they think about why the relationship came to an end, they might remember that it was because the other person had to move away. Or it may come down to the fact that one was going through a transitional period and no longer felt the need to remain in contact with the other person.
Endless Reasons
Ultimately, there are endless reasons as to why a relationship would only last for a short period of time; this is not to say that it is always easy for one to accept it when this happens. During these moments, they may try to hold on, and this could make it harder for them to handle what is happening.
If they had the ability to look into the future, they may have been able to see that they needed to let go in order to go to the next stage of their life. But if they were caught up in their feelings, it would have been a challenge for them to realise this.
A Longer Period of Time
One could then look at their life now and see that there are a number of people who have been in their life for a long period of time. These can not only include people they are close to, it can also include people they see on the odd occasion.
As time passes, there is still going to be the chance that some of these relationships will come to an end, but then again, they might not. The connection they have with them could change, but they could remain in their life until the very end.
When a relationship comes to an end and one believes that it has ended too soon, they may want to change what has happened. It is then not going to be possible for them to let go; they are going to want to rekindle the relationship.
This could relate to someone who was a friend, or it could be someone they were in an intimate relationship with. On one hand, they may want it to continue, but on the other hand, they may wonder if it is possible.
An Analogy
If one’s car stopped working, there is a strong chance that they will want to know if it can be repaired. After it is towed to a garage, it should only be a matter of time before they find out if they will be able to drive it again.
They may find out that it is something to do with the engine, but not the engine itself; in this case, it might be possible for them to drive it again. However, there is also the chance that the engine has gone, and this could mean that they will never drive the car again.
What’s the Connection?
It could be said that the kind of condition one’s relationship was in before it came to an end will play a part in whether it can be rekindled. If the relationship had been gradually fading, it is going to be a lot harder to revive it.
Also, if one did something harmful and destroyed the other persons trust, it is going to be a lot harder for them to be part of their life again. Therefore, how the relationship ended can play a big part in whether it is completely over.
But if the relationship came to an end over a minor disagreement or the other person moved away, for instance, it could be a lot easier. For one thing, there could still be something for them to build on.
As a result of this, the other person may still view them in positive way, and this is because nothing ‘bad’ has happened. Reaching out to the other person could cause them to experience the positive associations that were developed during the relationship, and one could be able to rekindle the relationship.
When a relationship has come to an end over time or because something ‘bad’ took place, the other person might not view them in a positive way. And unless their perception changes, it is unlikely that one will be able to rekindle the relationship.
It will be important for one to look into why they want to rekindle the relationship, and if they believe that they are doing it for the right reason, then they will have to see what happens. There are no guarantees here, and this is because one can only do so much; the other person has to be open to the idea.
Prolific writer, thought leader and coach, Oliver JR Cooper hails from the United Kingdom. His insightful commentary and analysis covers all aspects of human transformation; love, partnership, self-love, and inner awareness. With over seven hundred in-depth articles highlighting human psychology and behavior, Oliver offers hope along with his sound advice. Current projects include "A Dialogue With The Heart" and "Communication Made Easy."
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Financial news update
How to Spread Christmas Joy and Love While Social Distancing
>> See All Articles On Friendship & Loneliness
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January 5, 2012 Mobile Phones
Iowa Not Keen on More Cell Phone Driving Laws
Lawmakers in Iowa in the United States appear to have little interest in enacting further restrictions on the use of new or old cell phones while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers are already banned from texting while driving in the state, but while federal safety officials have begun suggesting a complete ban on cell phone use, Iowa lawmakers appear to be unimpressed with the idea.
“That proposal would face a pretty strong challenge in the House to pass,” says Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal concurs, noting that while lawmakers do understand that there is a problem with the issue of distracted driving, the notion that there will be any further restrictions enacted during this year is “a bit of a long shot”. He prefers to leave it up to the Department of Public Safety to make its recommendations based around “what makes sense and is enforceable”.
Governor Terry Branstad feels that singling out cell phones is a mistake, as ‘distracted driving’ can encompass a great many things. “It could be eating, putting on makeup, a lot of things, reading a book while you’re driving – there are a lot of things that could be distractions,” he points out. “I think going so far as banning cell phones while driving would be a pretty drastic step.”
Nonetheless, Transportation Committee member Senator Jeff Danielson believes that I in the future the law in the state may still need to be tightened.
Cell Phone Ban Begins for Commercial Drivers
Cell Phones Powered by Sun Unlikely
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October 8, 2020 October 13, 2020 By Lars Blackmore Our Climate Crisis 0 Comments
Northern New England Tops List of Best Places to Weather Climate Change
In a changing climate, northern New England is the best place to be. That’s the finding of a 50-state analysis by the highly respected Rhodium Group. All of Vermont’s 14 counties are in the top 100 counties in the U.S. ranked to withstand heat waves, drought, wildfires and other climate risks, and eight neighboring counties in New Hampshire aren’t far behind.
Record heat and wildfires in the West. A record number of hurricanes and tropical storms in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Rising sea levels along all our coasts. These are somber reminders of our changing climate. In the United States, as elsewhere, there’s no place left to hide.
Yet, if you had to pick one region to withstand the ravages of our warming planet, northern New England is the place to be! That’s the conclusion of the Rhodium Group, a highly respected data-analytics firm, as reported recently in The New York Times.
This analysis looked at six features of our changing climate, using a model where nearly 8 degrees (F) of warming is projected by the end of the century. At that rate, broad swaths of the American landscape could become largely uninhabitable in coming decades. For example:
Megafires like the ones burning now in California could show up in new places like Texas, Florida and Georgia.
Drought and extreme water shortages could be ubiquitous across the West and Southeast.
Oppressive heat and humidity, especially in the South and Midwest, could keep 100 million Americans indoors during summer months.
Rising sea levels could profoundly alter the contours of eight of America’s 20 largest cities – including Boston, New York and Miami – affecting 50 million Americans overall.
Except for sea level rise, Vermont and adjacent counties in New Hampshire are not immune to these risks. Far from it! But on a relative basis, they are well-placed to absorb such climatic changes without forcing wholesale declines in living standards or economic growth. In fact, according to this analysis, all of Vermont’s 14 counties are in the top 100 counties in the U.S. ranked to withstand these climate risks, and eight neighboring counties in New Hampshire (shaded in blue) aren’t far behind:
Whether you take comfort in our region’s top ranking, or fear an onslaught of coming climate refugees, there’s still time to head off this worst-case climate scenario. Now is the time to speed the transition to a non-carbon future that uses solar power and other renewables to charge electric vehicles and power home appliances and heating systems.
Solaflect Energy is your home energy management partner to help you navigate a future that’s coming at us faster than ever – and the only local solar company still taking new customers in 2020 to capture the federal tax credit for solar before it declines December 31st. Contact us, check out our offerings and get involved! The power is in our hands to make a difference!
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(I Used To Make Out With) Medusa
by Bring Me The Horizon
Album: Count Your Blessings (2006)
artistfacts
This song is about a guy who was cheated on by his girlfriend. He calls her Medusa not because she is physically ugly but her personality is ugly. He is showing how much she hurt him but he doesn't care anymore because she was mean. He also says that every time she cheated on him he got a little more famous. >>
Suggestion credit:
Nick - St. Louis, MO
More songs from Bring Me The Horizon
Lyrics to (I Used To Make Out With) Medusa
Bring Me The Horizon Artistfacts
Follow Your ArrowKacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves originally offered "Follow Your Arrow" to her friend Katy Perry. However, Perry thought Musgraves should record the song herself as it seemed, "like something that you would totally say."
Joy To The WorldThree Dog Night
Hoyt Axton wrote the Three Dog Night hit "Joy To The World." He said the "Jeremiah was a bullfrog" line just came into his head after having a drink of wine.
Boot Scootin' BoogieBrooks & Dunn
Ronnie Dunn wrote "Boot Scootin' Boogie" before he teamed up with Kix Brooks to form Brooks & Dunn. It was originally recorded by the country group Asleep At The Wheel, but Brooks & Dunn did it themselves when it got its own line dance.
Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex MachineJames Brown
James Brown's "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" was the first Hot 100 hit with the word "sex" in the title.
Freedom Of ChoiceDevo
The Devo song "Freedom Of Choice" is about mindless consumerism - how people like to make frivolous choices, but otherwise want to be told what to do.
Master Of PuppetsMetallica
When Metallica performed in China in 2013, they were not allowed to play "Master of Puppets."
Philip CodySongwriter Interviews
A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."
Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews
The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.
Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews
Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.
Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews
Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.
Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews
Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.
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Dedee Shattuck Gallery presents exhibit of personal works
WESTPORT — Dedee Shattuck Gallery is pleased to present Jean-Pierre H�bert and Gail Fredell. This exhibit pairs two technical masters who create soulful, meditative, and deeply personal works.
WESTPORT — Dedee Shattuck Gallery is pleased to present Jean-Pierre Hébert and Gail Fredell. This exhibit pairs two technical masters who create soulful, meditative, and deeply personal works.
Digital art and furniture design are two disciplines that have had to assert themselves within the definition of fine art. Wood-craft and computer technology may seem diametrically opposed, however the experiences of these two creative makers are aligned. Bold and innovative in their creativity and artistic identity, both artists have experienced similar pushback from the fine arts community. They respond by looking inward, and creating works inspired by their life experiences, intellectual curiosities, and personal passions. The breathtakingly beautiful work produced by these two artists is the product of courage in one's own identity and values, and the mastery of technique and vision over a long career of art making.
In the fall of 2011, Dedee Shattuck Gallery presented, Digital Art: (R)evolution, an exhibition that charted the course of digital art from 1954 — present. The exhibit included a selection of early works by Jean-Pierre Hébert, a founding member of the American Algorists group, and a pioneer of early digital art. Hébert studies physics and meditation as a source of inspiration for his line-focused digital works. Wave theory, human breath, wind patterns, seasons and tides, are the building blocks for his algorithmic artwork. Motifs of interrupted symmetry, skewed concentric shapes and varying lines imbue the digital works with life and warmth.
Fredell's collects reclaimed beams and beautifully checked wood remnants, incorporating these objects into her furniture making. She is an expert on pickling wood, and uses natural chemicals to celebrate the textures and characteristics of the wood she collects. Inspired by Japanese design and Chinese antique furniture, Fredell creates works in homage to significant places, people, and pieces of wood. She begins with an emotional connection in mind, and the passion and respect for her inspiration comes through clearly in her shrine-like furniture objects.
The exhibit runs from Wednesday, Oct. 1 through Sunday, Nov. 9 with an Artists' Reception to be held Saturday, Oct. 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Gallery, 1 Partners Ln., Westport. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m.
Artists' receptions and exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Isabel Mattia at isabel@dedeeshattuckgallery.com.
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Parliamentary reply by DPM Teo Chee Hean on number of SCs over the age of 21 years who are resident in Singapore
TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF SINGAPORE
MONDAY, 13 AUG 2012
Mr Chen Show Mao:
To ask the Prime Minister as of 31 December 2000, 2005 and 2010 respectively, what is the number of Singapore citizens over the age of 21 years who are resident in Singapore.
The number of Singapore citizens aged 21 years and over who are resident in Singapore as at end-December 2000, 2005 and 2010 are shown in the table below.
As at end-Dec
Number of Singapore citizens aged 21 years and above who are resident in Singapore
2000 2,087,300
Source: DOS
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Research and publications Reserve Bank Korero - speaking and engagement programme Central bank performance, financial management and institutional design
Central bank performance, financial management and institutional design
Geoff Bascand
Central bank performance, financial management and institutional design (PDF 251.1 KB)
A speech delivered to The National Asset-Liability Management Europe Conference, in London
Follow up interview:
Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Geoff Bascand discusses the Bank's risk management framework, reserves management, and relationship with the Government in a video interview with Central Banking.com following his speech.
A central bank's performance needs to be assessed on how well it meets its statutory policy mandate. But policy outcomes are only one measure of performance and institutional credibility. Central banks incur substantial financial risk and are an important part of overall public sector finances. Maintaining the privilege of operational independence requires a record of successful policy outcomes and sound and prudent financial management. Therefore, financial arrangements and performance expectations are important components of overall central bank institutional design.
These issues are even more important today. In the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) many governments became guarantors of last resort, and undertook investments that were well beyond their traditional risk habitat. Central banks were asked to do much more – either through pursuing multiple targets, directing credit flows, or by adopting unconventional monetary policies. Some central banks' balance sheets have expanded enormously (see Figure 1). Central bank capital has been more at risk from some of these activities, and we have seen reinvestment by governments to build capital levels in some central banks.
This paper sets out some broad financial and institutional design considerations and illustrates these with reference to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's (RBNZ's) financial arrangements, balance sheet structure, and risk management. It explains their rationale and discusses some avenues we are exploring for future enhancements.
Diversity of responsibilities and financial arrangements
Monetary policy responsibilities are common to all central banks, albeit with widely varying operational approaches and performance targets. A mandate for financial stability is common, but the form and extent of these responsibilities can vary significantly. Lender-of-last-resort responsibility (emergency liquidity to the banking system) is inherent, but the responsibilities of central banks vis a vis finance ministries, regarding the resolution of institutions in financial difficulties or the provision of broader support to the financial system, vary widely. Prudential policy and oversight may or may not be a function of the central bank. Some central banks manage the country's foreign reserves and others do not (see Figure 2).
The diverse nature of these responsibilities flows through into a wide variety of financial arrangements. Financial risks and results are sensitive to the operational and policy responsibilities of the central bank.
Historically, central banks have been considered profitable through their responsibility for money issuance. However, even here there are differing degrees of financial control or independence over seigniorage revenues. Seigniorage revenues have become both more predictable and constrained as a result of price stability goals. At the same time, increased policy mandates and portfolio exposures taken on by central banks can overwhelm these revenue streams through valuation changes[1].
Figure 1 Growth in Foreign Reserves
Figure 2 Levels of Foreign Reserves by Country (% GDP)
Does financial performance matter?
Generally speaking, the performance of central banks is judged by the public and government in terms of its policy mandate. Financial performance tends to be in the background when the impact and performance of the central bank is debated. But they are not completely separable. Occasional and moderate financial loss is unlikely to seriously impair a central bank's operations. But sustained loss and diminution of equity, or a very large, even if exceptional, negative income (P&L) impact on public finances is likely to erode the institution's credibility and policy freedom.
Governments are beneficial owners[2] of central banks, and conceptually the central bank's cash flows and the equity investment in the central bank can be consolidated into broader whole-of-government finances. This is the case in New Zealand. Conceptually, a central bank's net asset position is part of the public sector's balance sheet, irrespective of whether a consolidated balance sheet is prepared. For example, policy decisions that influence the size of the central bank's balance sheet (e.g. through accumulation of assets, or commitments in the nature of contingent obligations, such as guarantees to a distressed institution) expose the central bank's equity to risk, and therefore the value of the government's ownership interest in the central bank.
Sound management of the central bank's balance sheet is also important to maintain the central bank's standing and credibility as a regulator and supervisor (if it has these responsibilities). The financial risks of central banks should be managed in a business-like way similar to our expectations of commercial banks. Failure to do so may result in a central bank's operational discretion being fettered by institutional rules, removal of decision-making authority, or in extreme circumstances by intervention in the management of the central bank.
At the same time, there needs to be recognition by all stakeholders of the significant financial risks that central banks take. They manage what are often among the largest foreign asset portfolios in the economy, and can have extensive credit exposure to individual financial intermediaries. I turn now to how the RBNZ seeks to manage these risks.
New Zealand's institutional arrangements are designed to limit the very large financial risk that the central bank could incur from its foreign exchange operations, and also to avoid the bank acquiring substantial contingent liabilities on behalf of the government (‘the Crown‘) through its liquidity and lender-of-last-resort operations. Nevertheless, there is still material financial risk inherent in the bank's operation that is managed through the bank's capital holdings, reserves/asset management, and best-practice risk management. The following sections describe how these arrangements and practices are managed at the RBNZ.
RBNZ institutional and financial arrangements
The New Zealand institutional framework is designed to balance policy and operational independence with accountability for policy and financial performance. Financial accountability and other expectations (e.g. reporting to Parliament) were strengthened in 1989 when the RBNZ was given greater policy independence.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1989 established the central bank as a body corporate whose primary function is to formulate and implement monetary policy for the purposes of achieving and maintaining price stability. The RBNZ (which I will also refer to as ‘the Bank') is also mandated to promote the soundness and efficiency of the financial system. The Bank is owned by the Crown and capital is provided by the government, to whom dividends are returned. The Act grants the Bank the right to deal in foreign exchange, issue currency, and act as lender of last resort if it deems it necessary[3]. These arrangements and powers underpin the Bank's financial strength and its risk exposure. Income is assured through the authority to invest proceeds from the sale of currency and bank capital, and may be earned (or lost) through trading or investment in debt securities, money market instruments, derivatives, and foreign exchange.
New Zealand has a floating exchange rate, and prescribed limits on foreign reserve holdings contain the Crown's risk exposure. By law, the Minister of Finance sets limits (a range) on the foreign reserve holdings of the Bank, and the Bank then manages them to achieve policy, liquidity and risk-return objectives. A Memorandum of Understanding with the Minister provides further guidance to the Bank on foreign exchange operations[4]. Even though with a pure floating rate currency, foreign exchange reserves conceptually may not be required, foreign reserves are held in the event that the Bank may be required to intervene in foreign exchange markets, for example where there is disorder in the currency markets or the currency is materially out of line with fair value. Foreign exchange intervention has been infrequent.
Liquidity provision to troubled banks and lender of last resort functions are at the discretion of the Bank, including the terms and cost of borrowing. In the GFC, liquidity was provided by the RBNZ at the cost of the Official Cash Rate (OCR) and with interest rates falling, the Bank made positive returns from its lending. Ostensibly, the Bank incurs credit risk in these circumstances, mitigated through collateralisation. However, the major cost of financial stability support does not fall upon the Bank, but instead upon the fiscal authority (the Treasury). Whilst the Bank has responsibility as prudential supervisor to recommend the appropriate action if a financial institution fails, critical decisions on statutory management, capital injections or guarantee schemes are ultimately for the Minister of Finance to make, and would be expected to take the form of fiscal measures.
Accountability is accomplished through public and parliamentary reporting requirements and monitoring via the Bank's Board as agent of the Minister of Finance and on financial matters by the Treasury. The Bank must publish a Statement of Intent on its strategic and performance objectives for the coming three years, and publish an audited Annual Report for the previous year that includes information on policy, operational and financial performance. The SOI and the Annual Report are both tabled in Parliament and subject to the scrutiny of Parliament's Finance and Expenditure Select Committee.
The Bank observes the accounting standards imposed by the External Reporting Board (a statutory body). From this financial year, the Bank is required to apply New Zealand Equivalents to International Public Sector Accounting Standards (NZ-IPSAS) rather than International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The change in financial reporting framework will not have a significant impact on the Bank's financial reporting, although NZ-IPSAS and IFRS could diverge over time.
The final piece of the RBNZ's operating framework is the funding agreement. The RBNZ Act requires the Minister of Finance and the Governor to enter into a five-year funding agreement that specifies the amount of the Bank's income that may be applied in any year towards meeting the operating expenses incurred by the Bank in carrying out its functions. The Funding Agreement must be ratified by Parliament, prior to the commencement of its funding period.
The five-year funding agreement is a key mechanism that reinforces operational independence. The Bank does not have to seek an annual funding allocation from Parliament in the same way that government departments do, and its operating budget is not subject to annual variation in net income. On the other hand, the process of negotiating a five-year agreement is intensive in terms of establishing value for money, agreeing on strategic priorities for the Bank, and forecasting future demands on the Bank. Variations to the funding agreement within the five-year window are feasible, for example if the Bank acquires new functions, as it did in the last funding period for supervision of insurance and anti-money laundering.
The RBNZ's capital expenditure is within the discretion of the Bank's management, but is controlled in part through the moderating impact on depreciation expense from the limit on total operating expenses in the funding agreement. Higher depreciation resulting from higher fixed investment would, therefore, imply lower expenditure on other items, such as personnel. Capital expenditure is also constrained by the Bank's equity and dividend requirements, which are explained below. Large, unwarranted (and low yielding) capital expenditure could infringe upon these principles.
By way of illustration, with the Bank introducing new banknotes in 2015, significant capital expenditure was required that could be financed within the balance sheet from cash and working capital. However, the operating expense incurred from issuing new notes and the obsolescence of the existing series was projected to be greater than could be accommodated within the funding agreement, requiring the Bank to seek the Minister of Finance's approval for additional expenditure. In practice, the expenses span two different funding agreements, requiring more complex negotiations than normal.
New Zealand's institutional arrangements are now 25 years old and have proven robust to a number of tests, including significant volatility in exchange rates with material foreign exchange gains and losses, negative P&L results, expansion of functions, and changes in government administration. They work well because they are transparent and the Bank works closely with the Treasury to share analysis and information; because they have evolved in response to new mandates (e.g. through MOUs on foreign reserves and foreign exchange intervention, most recently in 2007, and on the level of Crown equity in the Bank, most recently adjusted in 2013); and because of strong performance standards (e.g. benchmarking the Bank's reporting and capital adequacy against best international practice).
How do we assess financial performance?
Our financial strategy is primarily guided by our need to fulfil our functions, rather than financial results. This doesn't mean we are indifferent to expected return or actual financial outcomes, but rather that we generally take a conservative approach to risk to ensure we have the capacity to carry out our statutory functions. Our financial strategy entails considered decisions on asset allocation and investment strategy, with greater weight on risk diversification and liquidity than on return; maintaining adequate capital for the risks we face; and measuring our investment performance against relevant benchmarks.
Excluding exceptional circumstances, our objectives for reserves and liquidity management are to manage our financial performance as efficiently as possible, out-perform what other similar portfolios would achieve, and deliver a positive return on equity.
Risk management and capital adequacy
From the balance sheet perspective, financial risks arise from the Bank's key investment portfolios of domestic (NZD) securities that support monetary policy operations and foreign reserve assets that can be used to finance market intervention, with the latter much greater in size and variability. Figure 3 depicts a stylised picture of the RBNZ balance sheet.
Figure 3 Stylised RBNZ balance sheet
While central bank balance sheets and financial performance can be very volatile, in constructing our balance sheet, we have taken strategic decisions that impose some limits on the potential volatility in reported financial performance. The balance sheet is partially immunised from major foreign exchange risk, and we have taken a conservative approach to credit and interest rate risk in foreign reserve activities. We also manage operational risk closely and are alert to the potential cost of operational errors.
Asset holdings and the scale of the RBNZ's balance sheet are primarily determined by: the amount of foreign reserves RBNZ holds to maintain its foreign exchange (FX) intervention capacity; trading banks demand for liquid assets, primarily to facilitate daily interbank payments; Treasury's management of the Crown Settlement (cash) Account with the RBNZ; and the public's demand for notes and coins.
Financial risks arise from:
The RBNZ's open FX position and associated foreign exchange risk, which is mitigated by limits on the position and holdings of a diversified basket of reserve currencies;
Interest rate risk arising from domestic market operations and from foreign reserves management, mitigated through duration and risk limits;
Credit risk arising from foreign currency assets, which is mitigated by investing in high grade debt instruments; and
Credit risk arising from derivative transactions, which is mitigated by holding high quality collateral.
Investment policies control market and credit risk exposure through hedging policies, liquidity and investment ratings requirements, and counterparty credit limits.
Perhaps the most significant of these is the restriction on unhedged foreign reserves. By agreement with the Minister of Finance, the open FX position is limited to a specified range, a subset of the total foreign reserves limit, with the remaining foreign reserve assets hedged from an FX perspective. New Zealand differs from many countries in this respect. The majority of foreign currency assets are funded through long-term foreign exchange swaps, and therefore hedged from foreign exchange risks or through long-term foreign currency borrowings (which have been originated by the Treasury and on-lent to RBNZ). Reserves and portfolio management is expanded upon below.
Credit risk is mitigated by investing foreign assets in high-quality sovereigns, near-sovereigns, and international agencies. In terms of domestic lending, credit risk is mitigated by lending on a collateralised basis with banks providing RBNZ high-quality collateral, and the Bank applying discounts, with daily monitoring of collateral values and collateral calls to ensure the value of collateral is appropriate for the amount lent.
The Bank has several sources of interest rate risk that are mostly controlled through risk caps and duration limits. On hedged foreign reserves, some interest rate risk arises through mis-match of duration of assets and liabilities. Reported earnings are subject to volatility from mark-to-market value of long-term liabilities. Another source of interest rate risk is due to changes in New Zealand's short-term interest rates. Essentially, through FX swaps, RBNZ is investing at short-term interest rates, and variations in these rates from forecast levels impact earnings. The interest rate risk on unhedged foreign reserves is managed through strategic decisions and periodic review of asset allocation (i.e. our duration target for foreign currency reserve portfolios is managed strategically through the business cycle). The RBNZ also incurs interest rate risk from its holdings of government bonds, but in this case there is a corresponding impact within the Treasury, and this has no net impact on the Crown's overall balance.
Notwithstanding a conservative financial strategy and investment policies that limit financial risk, the Bank's income and balance sheet remain subject to some volatility. In order to manage this variation in annual financial performance and avoid the credibility risks associated with low levels of equity, the Bank has adopted a policy for holding a prudent level of capital and developed a framework for determining the appropriate level of capital.
The RBNZ chooses to hold capital in line with both normal commercial practice and standard public sector arrangements in New Zealand. The Bank is not subject to regulatory capital requirements and thus determines its capital adequacy in agreement with its owner (the government), reflecting its balance sheet and business risks. Having capital is explicit recognition by the government that income from the Bank's business will be volatile, and a buffer is required to absorb that volatility. It also supports the credibility of the central bank as regulator and supervisor of financial institutions. Assessment of the potential financial consequences of the risks facing the Bank determines the appropriate amount of capital the Bank should hold.
Also relevant is the dividend policy. The Act requires the Bank to recommend an annual dividend to be paid in line with the principles set out in the Bank's annual SOI, and the Minister of Finance decides upon the final dividend figure. The dividend principles state that the Bank should maintain sufficient equity for the financial risks it faces, and that excess equity should be returned to the Crown. They are also tempered by the requirement that unrealised gains on investments should be retained until they are realised in New Zealand dollars. Thus surplus capital is returned as dividends, while the onus is on the Bank to determine the appropriate amount to be held to maintain sound capital adequacy.
The Bank consults closely with the Treasury on these matters, with the intention of coming to an agreed recommendation that is submitted to the Minister for decision. If ultimately the Bank disagrees with the Minister's determination of the appropriate dividend, the Bank is required to publish its recommendation. In 2014, the Bank introduced a new Note to its financial accounts setting out the Bank's approach to determining required capital, its dividend recommendation, and the basis of calculating the recommended dividend.
The Bank's capital adequacy framework[5] evaluates credit, market and operational risks associated with the Bank's balance sheet, investment policy, and operations. It considers possible correlations between these risks, and establishes the necessary capital to meet the possible loss associated with each of these risks, given its risk likelihood (see Figure 4).
As noted, we aim to run capital modelling methods that align with best practice, and can choose models that address our balance sheet risks. As a result we are focused on evolving our modelling of market, credit and operational risk, and are less concerned about liquidity elements (as we invest heavily in high-quality liquid assets).
Figure 4 Economic capital
Market risk is the possible loss of value of an asset or liability due to variation in exchange rates, interest rates, credit spreads or basis spreads. Market risk capital is the largest component of the Bank's required capital. The Bank uses value-at-risk (VaR and stressed VaR) models to assess market risk capital, and has set the target probability of (total) loss at 1 in 1000[6]. Our models currently capture October 2008 to April 2013 as the stressed period.
The second component of required capital is for coverage of credit risk. The Bank evaluates credit risk using the Basel II credit VaR approach, drawing on historical data including consideration of sovereign and bank default probabilities during various periods of stress. Updating to various Basel III credit risk modelling techniques is a future development objective.
As noted earlier, if a deep financial crisis arises, the Bank may incur credit risk through its lender-of-last-resort responsibilities, albeit lending is not expected to be contemplated without appropriate collateral arrangements. This risk is not incorporated in our economic capital modelling.
The final, minor, element of our capital adequacy requirement is the buffer held for potential operational risks such as misconduct, property loss, systems failures, contractual disputes, etc. Perhaps the largest operational risks arise from the Bank's responsibilities as the operator of New Zealand's interbank payment and settlement system, and as the current owner and operator of the securities settlement system.
The Bank has a number of controls to minimise the likelihood and impact of operational risks, including a highly developed enterprise risk management framework, formal operational investment policies and limits, an active (internal and external) audit programme, and a proactive problem management (incident reporting) regime.
The Bank manages its foreign reserves in two separate pools, an un-hedged pool (exposed to changes in interest rates and FX rates) and a hedged pool. The primary purpose for both pools of reserves is to maintain crisis intervention capability. The un-hedged pool of reserves serves a secondary purpose of allowing the Bank to lean against (on a modest scale) extreme cyclical peaks and troughs in the exchange rate that are judged inconsistent with economic fundamentals. In contrast to most central banks, a large portion (currently 75 percent) of the Bank's foreign reserves is in the hedged pool (100 percent prior to 2007) which helps to keep the return on foreign reserves relatively stable across time.
For foreign reserves to be effective in meeting their purpose they need to be allocated across a diversified set of instruments that will maintain deep liquidity in both normal times and times of crisis or stress. The allocation of hedged and un-hedged reserves is collectively described as the Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) and is set by the Bank's Assets and Liabilities Committee. The SAA has a large influence on the Bank's financial risk profile, given foreign reserves comprise a large part of the Bank's balance sheet. I will now describe the characteristics of each pool of reserves in more detail and the SAA as it applies to hedged and un-hedged reserves.
The first pool of reserves, hedged reserves, is what distinguishes the Bank's approach to reserves management from most other central banks. The Bank borrows foreign currency (through long-dated cross currency basis swaps and also foreign currency loans from the New Zealand Treasury) to fund investments primarily in US, European, and Japanese sovereign debt markets.
Borrowing in foreign currency reduces currency risk, but it generates refinancing risk. The Bank manages this refinancing risk by borrowing for long maturities (up to 15 years) and ensuring that maturities are staggered as much as possible. The duration of borrowing is matched to the duration of investments to reduce interest rate risk (i.e. if borrowing is on a three-month floating basis, investments are matched to mature in three months). This structure allows the Bank to maintain a stable return and low risk profile on its hedged reserves through time, whilst maintaining effective intervention capability. This stable return and low risk profile is in contrast to un-hedged reserves, which I will describe shortly.
The SAA for hedged reserves is presented in Figure 5. Allocation weights are defined such that reserve managers can adjust the allocation dynamically (using FX swaps and cross currency basis swaps) to take advantage of favourable (funding) spreads across time. Performance is carefully measured, but it is not compared to a benchmark (given the complexity of benchmarking long-dated borrowing that is transacted on an irregular basis).
Figure 5 SAA Hedged Reserves[7]
Sovereign Market
Germany, France, Netherlands
The second pool, un-hedged reserves, is invested in sovereign debt markets with deep liquidity and across currencies with high FX turnover. These reserves are funded by the Bank's New Zealand dollar liabilities so are exposed to changes in New Zealand dollar FX rates against each of the six currencies. The position has a high carry cost (due to the high cost of New Zealand dollar funding relative to the return on reserve investments) and returns are volatile given exposure to FX rates (and interest rates to a lesser extent). These reserves are expected to perform well in times of crisis or stress, both in terms of return and providing the most effective intervention capability. Within the limits set by the Minister of Finance, un-hedged reserves can be increased or decreased in size allowing the Bank to lean against extreme cyclical peaks and troughs in the exchange rate that are judged inconsistent with economic fundamentals.
The SAA for un-hedged reserves is presented in Figure 6. In determining the SAA we first specify the most appropriate reserve markets (country allocations) for unhedged reserves, given that allocations are applied to sovereign debt. Currently, the SAA is limited to six highly traded currencies – a more diversified position than was the case in 2008 (Figure 7). Then we specify the duration target for each of those markets individually. At this time we have constrained the instruments to be 2-year government bonds, the shortest duration assets that meet our liquidity criteria.
The process of determining the SAA for un-hedged reserves is about selecting a portfolio that balances diversification and liquidity requirements against return or yield under 'normal‘ market conditions. To ensure that un-hedged reserves are effective in meeting their purpose we constrain the investment universe and the potential allocation outcomes by strict diversification, liquidity and credit minima and maxima. Our allocation minimums and maximums force 70 percent of our allocation, before we optimise the remaining unconstrained 30 percent using a Markowitz model. For example, the Australian dollar allocation is capped due to the correlation of New Zealand and Australian currencies and our inter-related banking sector. While a greater unhedged allocation to Australian assets would provide good yield enhancement, it may not provide a source of effective reserves assets in a crisis due to high and positive correlation aspects.
Figure 6 SAA Un-hedged Reserves
Figure 7 Currency diversification of unhedged reserves
With the aim of keeping our reserves managers active in foreign reserve markets, the Bank allows reserve managers to deviate from the SAA in terms of FX and interest rate position (within limits). We measure their performance in doing so against a custom (un-hedged reserves) benchmark that is set to our SAA. Performance measurement comes in the form of risk-adjusted return measures, namely Information Ratios (reported for trailing two and five year periods) and the Sharpe Ratio.
In addition to the hedged and un-hedged reserves described, the Bank has foreign currency investments in BIS Investment Pool funds (ABF and CNY). The CNY investment was entered into in 2014 to diversify the Bank's foreign reserves and the ABF investments in 2003 and 2005 to promote development of bond markets in the Asia region. We also have US dollar investments (often in USD denominated European quasi government paper) as part of our domestic markets operations. These investments are classified as foreign reserves (according to IMF Official Reserve Asset measurement) but they do not contribute to the Bank's intervention capability as they are funded by short-dated FX swaps.
Despite the potential for improved returns, the Bank has resisted investing in equities or gold, as some central banks do. Our investment policy anticipates a periodic review of the SAA and risk-return decisions may be re-assessed in future.
The Bank is continually seeking ways to enhance its financial management. In recent years, we have improved our economic capital modelling, reviewed and simplified our portfolio management and strategic asset allocation, increased transparency, and strengthened our performance reporting. There is scope to improve further. In particular, with enhancements to our risk modelling and pricing, we can potentially be more dynamic in our allocation decisions and improve expected financial returns without incurring significant additional risk.
We are currently assessing our technology base with aspirations to better manage risks and pricing issues related to OTC derivatives (including bringing risk adjusted pricing and risk adjusted performance on to reserve managers desktop on a pre-trade basis). Together, these initiatives should help improve our performance and risk management culture.
Maintaining our conservative liquidity profile (driven by intervention capacity) has an opportunity cost, and so we must be at least as good as other market participants at motivating and focusing our portfolio managers – by aligning incentives and trading activity to draw out these fractional returns (versus our benchmark).
There is a strong link between the financial performance of a central bank and its ongoing ability to fulfil its objectives. The credibility of the institution and its operational freedom are contingent upon prudent financial management. Sound financial management can never ensure the success of a central bank; that will depend on its policy actions and outcomes. But poor financial management can certainly lead to failure.
Central banking cannot be expected to produce smooth income growth. Constraints on asset allocation that arise from central bank's responsibilities and the volatility inherent in foreign exchange and interest rate markets prevent that. Developing a shared understanding with the finance ministry of the financial risks that the central bank and public sector ultimately faces is vital. Central banks must build an open and cooperative relationship with the finance ministry and legislature, seeking clarity around responsibility for quasi-fiscal activities and returns.
The RBNZ's institutional and financial design is driven by our overall purpose of maintaining price stability and promoting the stability and efficiency of the financial system, and is enabled by an operating mandate set out in our empowering legislation. The legislation sets the parameters for what we do, while institutional arrangements with the finance minister prescribe limits within which the Bank manages foreign reserves, thereby limiting the Crown's fiscal exposure.
The Bank has established investment policies and operating frameworks that manage financial risks. Our approach to reserve management, with the bulk of reserves hedged against foreign exchange risk, is a key strategic risk management decision. Thereafter, our SAA modelling and diversification are geared towards balancing risk and return. The Bank's equity position and dividend policy provide a buffer against adverse events, while also providing performance incentives through their disclosure, external scrutiny and the expectation of maintaining a consistent level of equity over time.
There is a strong link between the level of capital invested by the government in the Bank and the level of risk taken. The RBNZ and the government have an open dialogue on these linkages, in terms of risk management, pre-positioning capital and determining dividend recommendations. The Bank believes that with application of industry best practice in risk and position optimisation, it can enhance financial performance while maintaining credibility and reputation through prudent capital and risk management.
[1] A 2 percentage point rise in the US interest rate on excess reserves would eliminate the Federal Reserve's profit and equity capital within a year
[2] (using BIS term p7)
[3] The Bank also has responsibilities for the operation of payments and settlements systems that earn income and incur mostly operational risks, with financial risks defrayed in various ways.
[4] The MoU establishes that the primary purpose of reserves management and intervention activity is: Extreme disorder in foreign exchange markets – to ensure continued functioning of foreign exchange markets, in rare crisis circumstances. The secondary purpose is: Exchange rate overshooting – to lean against (on a modest scale) extreme cyclical peaks and troughs in the exchange rate that are judged inconsistent with economic fundamentals.
[5] This section draws on Fraser (2013) "The Reserve Bank's capital adequacy framework".
[6] Or more precisely, the confidence level on the potential loss calculations is 99.9 percent.
[7] Provisional and subject to periodic review.
2020 Briefing to the Incoming Minister
Reinstating Loan-to-Value Ratio restrictions
Monetary Policy Challenges for a Small Open Economy during COVID-19
Financial Stability Report for November 2020
Restructure of the Banking Supervision Handbook
Monetary Policy Statement November 2020
Progressing Climate Action by Driving Transformational Change
Monetary policy and regional unemployment
Working together to support economic recovery, strengthen resilience, and develop culture
Working together to be ‘on the money’
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Prospect Heights Real Estate
Prospect Heights is a neighborhood in the northwest of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The traditional boundaries are Flatbush Avenue to the west, Atlantic Avenue to the north, Eastern Parkway – beginning at Grand Army Plaza – to the south, and Washington Avenue to the east. In the northern section of Prospect Heights are the Vanderbilt Rail Yards, built over as part of the Pacific Park (formerly Atlantic Yards) project. The Barclays Center, home to the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets basketball team and the NHL’s New York Islanders ice hockey team, is located in the northwestern corner of the neighborhood in Pacific Park at Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues.
Buying a Prospect Heights Home
If you are a Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, NY home buyer, our foremost goal is to provide you with exceptional customer service. Our goals are to help you purchase the right home, make sure you don’t miss out on any homes that meet your needs, and make sure you don’t pay too much for your next home. Please utilize our Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, NY real estate expertise to make your home search and buying experience as stress free and rewarding as possible.
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Selling a Prospect Heights Home
If you considering selling your Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, NY home, we utilize the latest, cutting-edge, real estate marketing tools to expose your property to the widest range of potential buyers. We are here to get your house aggressively marketed to sell as quickly as possible and for the best price! Our goals are to help you get your Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, NY home sold, put you in the strongest negotiating position as possible, and to make it easier for you and reduce surprises.
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About Prospect Heights
Compared to other Brooklyn neighborhoods, Prospect Heights is relatively small and is notable for its cultural diversity as well as its tree-lined streets. Prospect Heights has seen rapid demographic changes over the last decade, and its shifts are exemplified by a mixture of older buildings under reconstruction, rows of classic 1890s brownstones, and newly built luxury condominiums. The neighborhood is served by the New York Police Department’s 77th Precinct.
Boundaries and land use
Along the southern boundary, Eastern Parkway, from Grand Army Plaza to Washington Avenue is reminiscent of Fifth Avenue’s “Museum Mile” in Manhattan. Immense, opulent buildings line the north side of the parkway, and the south side features the Brooklyn Public Library, Mount Prospect Park (not to be confused with Prospect Park), the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the recently renovated Brooklyn Museum. To Prospect Heights’ north lies Fort Greene, to its south Prospect Park, to its west Park Slope, and to its east Crown Heights.
The interior portion of the neighborhood consists mostly of brownstone-style residential rowhouse buildings, some built as early as 1890, although some blocks, such as Lincoln and St. Johns Place between Underhill and Washington Avenues, include larger multi-unit apartment buildings. A number of new condominium complexes are under construction in many parts of the neighborhood. Defunct bakeries and factory spaces line Pacific Street from Vanderbilt Avenue to Carlton Avenue, and some have recently been renovated and converted into lofts; still others have recently been purchased by developer Bruce Ratner in anticipation of his Pacific Park project. Recently, a number of these have begun to be demolished. Ratner’s company Forest City Ratner has planned a controversial development on top of the neighborhood, the plans for which would include a basketball arena and luxury housing. An upscale, glass high-rise residential building designed by the architect Richard Meier and located off of Grand Army Plaza was completed in 2008.
As demand for housing within Prospect Heights increased, some residents of Crown Heights came to consider Franklin Avenue the western border with Prospect Heights rather than Washington Avenue. However, most residents continue to consider Washington Avenue the border, and Washington Avenue remains the eastern border of Prospect Heights as recognized by major New York City media such as The New York Times, The New York Post, and The Wall Street Journal.
The name “Prospect Heights” can be traced as far back as 1889 to a letter to the editor published in the Brooklyn Eagle, although at that time it was one of several potential names for the neighborhood that has since come to be known as Park Slope. The letter began by noting that it was “amusing to see the attempts made to fix upon a name for the rapidly growing part of Brooklyn near Prospect Park, bounded by Flatbush, Fifth and Ninth avenues, Some call it Park Slope, some Park Hill Side, some Prospect Heights and others Prospect Hill…” Additionally, Prospect Heights once shared the name “Gowanus Heights” with Prospect Park, Greenwood and Bay Ridge.
Culture and architecture
A diverse ethnic neighborhood in the 1910s through the 1960s, combining Italian, Irish, Jewish, German, Greek and Yankee residents, Prospect Heights is currently well known for its mixed black and white culture. Every year the West Indian Day Parade, the largest annual parade in New York City, follows Eastern Parkway, beginning in Crown Heights and ending at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Heights. During the last thirty years, the neighborhood has seen an influx of new residents, increasingly young and white, perhaps due to real estate prices slightly lower than neighboring Park Slope. A thriving commercial zone has emerged along Vanderbilt Avenue and Washington Avenue, which since 2000 has seen a surge in new bars, restaurants, and specialty shops, including New York’s first steampunk bar, boutique wine shops, a restaurant opened by Michelin-starred chef Saul Bolton, and stores emphasizing gourmet/artisanal mayonnaise and ice cream.
The area has many Italianate and Neo-Grec rowhouses, and much of the neighborhood has been designated a New York City historic district. The Prospect Heights Historic District covers an area roughly bounded by Flatbush Avenue, Sterling Place, Washington Avenue, and St. Marks Avenue, though a section of the historic district extends as far north as Pacific Street. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The district was designated by the city Landmarks Preservation Commission on June 23, 2009, and approved by the New York City Council on September 17, 2009. It is the fifth largest historic district in New York City.
The Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, built in 1912 in Spanish Colonial style, is located at 856 Pacific Street between Vanderbilt and Underhill Avenues in Prospect Heights.
The neighborhood is also notable for its unusual street grid. The original street plan was based upon Lenape Indian paths and the boundaries of Dutch farms. In 1839, this was redrawn to better match the rest of Brooklyn, resulting in several buildings that are oddly-shaped or face the street at an angle.
Content Courtesy of Wikipedia.org
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Malcolm Fraser's unrealised manifesto - an Australian republic with green credentials
By Dan Harrison
Updated March 27, 2015 — 4.01pm first published March 26, 2015 — 6.35pm
Marcus Rudd to represent Kevin at funeral
Malcolm Fraser: full coverage
The political party Malcolm Fraser was working to set up when he died was to stand for an Australian republic that was reconciled with its first peoples through a treaty, with a larger population, a more independent foreign policy and a post-carbon economy.
Mr Fraser, who died aged 84 on March 20, will be farewelled on Friday at a state funeral service at Scots' Church in Melbourne.
Former prime minister Malcolm Fraser. Credit:Justin McManus
Fairfax Media reported last week the former prime minister would not have led the party, which had the working name Renew Australia, but had led the development of its platform.
In a draft "statement of values and purposes" for the future party published by news website Crikey on Thursday, Mr Fraser argued a new "modern, independent and progressive political party of national purpose" was needed to deliver the "intelligent and enlightened leadership, inspired by a belief in justice, integrity and a sense of the fair go" that the nation demanded.
"We do not take this step lightly or impulsively," the statement reads. "Our party has been created in the belief that the major political parties ... have repeatedly failed Australians on the big issues."
"When over long duration the foundations of political parties become eroded and their purposes fall out of touch with the nation's basic values and beliefs, and when government and opposition join in advocating policies ever more corrosive of our national spirit of fairness and justice, there arises the need for new political groupings to better express the voice of the people," says the statement, which is dated January 20.
The document says the party accepts "the overwhelming scientific evidence of climate change" and recognises that "nothing short of a profoundly different way of structuring the global economy will avert the catastrophic effects of a warming planet".
"Despite the un-extracted riches in Australia's coal reserves, the imperative of moving to a post-carbon economy is clear, and the urgency of government intervention to achieve it is compelling," it reads.
Rejecting arguments that Australia was already fully populated, it argues the nation needed to be prepared to increase its population, arguing a larger population would contribute to the nation's "long term vitality and security" as well as its influence on global affairs.
Calling for a more assertive and independent approach to foreign policy, the document argues Australia should not cede to any other nation the capacity to decide whether Australia goes to war.
"Alliances are important, but they must serve mutual interests," it says.
Declaring Australia had committed "gross, unconscionable breaches" of its international obligations in its treatment of asylum seekers, the document said Australia's approach had to change "urgently and fundamentally," and its international human rights obligations be entrenched in domestic law.
Mr Fraser, who led the Liberal Party from 1975 to 1983, quit the party in 2009, shortly after Tony Abbott replaced Malcolm Turnbull as leader. He campaigned for Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young at the 2013 election because of her stance on immigration issues.
Dan Harrison
Dan Harrison is Health and Indigenous Affairs Correspondent for Fairfax Media. He is based in Canberra.
Most Viewed in Politics
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'Travel with caution': China upgrades advice for Australia
China relations
By Eryk Bagshaw
July 13, 2020 — 10.32pm
China has warned its citizens they could be arbitrarily searched and have their property seized in Australia, escalating its travel advice as tensions rise between the two countries.
The warning, delivered by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs over Chinese social media site WeChat on Monday night, is the third upgrade in as many months after Beijing warned students and tourists that they could face racial discrimination in Australia during the coronavirus pandemic.
Tourists at Sydney's Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Credit:Brendan Esposito
"Australia's relevant law enforcement authorities arbitrarily search Chinese citizens and seize their items, and these circumstances could cause harm to Chinese citizens in Australia, as well as the safety of their assets," the ministry said on Monday.
Exiled Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo accused the Australian Tax Office of acting as a "despicable tool of political persecution" last year as he fought a $140 million tax bill. Huang had his Australian permanent residency visa cancelled for reasons including character grounds amid allegations he was acting as an agent for the Chinese Communist Party.
China's foreign ministry on Monday also urged Chinese citizens "travel with caution to Australia in the near term" and to pay close attention to local safety risks citing a significant increase in "racial discrimination and acts of violence in Australia".
The ministry claimed Australian media had perpetuated anti-Chinese sentiment.
There have been reports of Chinese students being racially abused during the pandemic but the Morrison government maintains these are isolated incidents, not a systemic response to the coronavirus, which was first reported in China.
Despite international travel being largely cut off due to restrictions in both countries, the rising animosity threatens to have wide-ranging ramifications beyond the coronavirus crisis.
China is Australia’s number one source of tourists and students, accounting for billions of dollars in spending across both sectors. Figures released by the Department of Education on Monday showed the number of Chinese students studying at Australian universities had dropped by 8 per cent in April compared to the same time last year.
Monday's move by Beijing follows two warnings from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs last week following the passage of new national security laws in Hong Kong, which criminalise dissent in the Chinese territory.
Residents have been warned by Hong Kong police that pro-independence chants, flags and assemblies could be in violation of the new legislation. The legislation is so broad that Australians who are accused of undermining the Chinese state in Australia could be arrested on arrival in Hong Kong.
DFAT said Australians could break the law without realising and be arrested without evidence.
"If you’re concerned about the new law, reconsider your need to remain in Hong Kong," the updated advice states.
The Chinese embassy last week accused the Australian government of disinformation and said law-abiding Australians had no need to worry.
"However, those who engage in illegal activities, such as drug smuggling or espionage, will be dealt with according to the laws in China, as is the case in all other countries," a spokesman said.
"We have noted Australia’s updated travel advice regarding China, which asserts that Australians may be at risk of arbitrary detention. This is completely ridiculous and disinformation."
Australia has offered up to 10,000 Hong Kong students and workers in Australia a five-year visa extension and a pathway to permanent residency in response to the legislation, which was triggered by 15 months of pro-democracy protests over Beijing's rising influence in the former British colony.
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Eryk Bagshaw
Eryk Bagshaw is the China correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Due to travel restrictions, he is currently based in Canberra.
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Ex-Detective Says He Was Fired for Investigating Abusive Priest, SNAP Calls for AG Review
A Michigan detective is alleging that he was fired from his job for investigating sexual abuse allegations against a local priest. We applaud this detective for his role in prosecuting the priest in question and hope that Michigan’s attorney general is paying attention to this case and will review whether Catholic officials had any undue influence on this detective’s job.
According to a recently filed lawsuit, former detective Brian Berg was investigating the case of Robert Deland, a priest from the Diocese of Saginaw who was convicted in 2019 of three charges related to sexual abuse and sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. Detective Berg’s complaint charges that he was impeded in his investigation by both Tittabawassee Township and Police Department officials. If true, this represents a serious concern for victims of sexual abuse in Michigan.
If survivors cannot trust the police to believe them and investigate their claims, where can they turn? For many years, there have been cases of Catholic officials having undue influence over the actions of law enforcement, such as when a Pennsylvania District Attorney halted an investigation into child sexual abuse allegations against Fr. Ernest Paone or when the Alameda County District Attorney allowed Msgr. Vincent Breen to escape without charges when they had determined he had abused at least eight young girls.
We are grateful that because of Detective Berg the DeLand case did not fall by the wayside, as happened with Fr. Paone and Msgr. Breen. But the situation is still disturbing and concerning enough to warrant intervention from the state’s top law enforcement official. We hope that A.G. Dana Nessel will look into the situation in Tittabawassee Township to ensure that no other crimes were quietly pushed under the rug.
In order to protect children and prevent the scourge of sexual abuse, witnesses, victims, and whistle-blowers need to be able to trust police. We hope that Detective Berg’s example will encourage others who may have been silenced to come forward and tell their story. We also hope that this case will be looked at closely by the attorney general’s office.
CONTACT: Zach Hiner, SNAP Executive Director (517-974-9009, zhiner@snapnetwork.org)
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Is driving after taking a prescription drug illegal in Virginia?
On behalf of Sevila, Saunders, Huddleston & White, P.C. | Jan 21, 2016 | Driver's License Suspension Or Revocation
Like many of our surrounding states, Virginia now recognizes the benefits of medical marijuana, which is why our legislature last year passed a house bill that now allows a very small percentage of residents access to medicinal cannabis. But while this new law affects only a small number of people, they all potentially face a serious predicament down the road.
The possible predicament is driving under the influence. As we explained back in November in another of our posts, driving under the influence of a drugs, including marijuana, can lead to criminal charges and a DUI. Of course, as we also explained, it’s very difficult to place a one-size-fits-all reaction to the drug over all people because it does affect everyone differently.
Whether the prescription is for medical marijuana or another medication, it’s very important for drivers to know how the prescription drug will impact their ability to drive. If the drug has a particular impact on reasoning and motor skills, and a doctor has advised the driver to avoid operating a motor vehicle, then driving after taking a prescription drug could lead to serious penalties, including license revocation, fines and even fail time.
Though it’s unknown at this time if our state legislature will expand our medical marijuana laws to include more people later on, it is clear that our current criminal laws can mean trouble for those it already applies too. That’s why we hope today’s readers will consider the question we have raised in today’s post and know that driving after taking a prescription drug can lead to criminal charges down the road.
Sources: The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, “Driving Under the Influence of Prescription Medications,” Accessed Jan. 19, 2016
The Marijuana Policy Project, “Virginia takes a small step forward toward sensible marijuana policy,” Sept. 14, 2015
Virginia Decoded, “§ 18.2-266, Driving motor vehicle, engine, etc., while intoxicated, etc.,” Accessed Jan. 19, 2016
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Most played PC games
Spotify's premium subscribers 2015-2020
Number of World of Warcraft subscribers
Best-selling Call of Duty Games 2019
Advertising spending in the U.S. 2015-2022
Video Game Industry - Statistics & Facts
Film Industry - statistics & facts
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Books & Publishing
Time spent reading among young people in the United Kingdom (UK) 2010-2015
This statistic illustrates the distribution of time spent reading among young people in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2015. In 2015, 12.3 percent of respondents reported spending longer than one hour reading, while 8.2 percent reported "I don't read."
Time spent reading among young people in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2015
I don't read
Up to 10 min
Longer than 1 hour
2015 8.2% 19.9% 21.2% 24.2% 14.4% 12.3%
2012 8.1% 20.2% 22% 23.7% 14.7% 11.4%
2010 6.8% 19.3% 21.2% 25% 14.9% 12.7%
2010 to 2015*
32,569**
The date of most recent survey was November to December 2015.
** n (2013) = 29,422; n (2014) = 32,026; n (2015) = 32,569. Base for previous surveys not indicated.
Book sales revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) 2009-2019, by format
Physical book sales revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) 2009-2019
Number of books sold in the UK from 2009 to 2018
Highest earning book publishing houses in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018
Research expert covering media
Statistics on "Book market in the United Kingdom (UK)"
Book sales revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) 2008-2019
Book sales revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) 2009-2019, by category
Books and newspapers: quarterly sales volume index in Great Britain 2015-2020
UK: online purchasing of books, magazines and e-learning material 2016-2019
Digital book sales revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) 2008-2019
Digital book sales revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) 2009-2019, by category
E-book sales revenue in the United Kingdom (UK) 2009-2019, consumer and non-consumer
E-book consumption in the UK 2012-2018, by frequency
E-book consumption in the United Kingdom (UK) 2012-2018, by paid and free
Number of book retail stores in the UK 2020, by turnover
Expenditure on books in the United Kingdom (UK) Q1 2013 - Q1 2020
Bestselling books in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018
Invoiced price of physical books in the United Kingdom (UK) 2009-2019
Books consumer price index (CPI) monthly in the United Kingdom (UK) 2015-2020
Book purchases by store brand in the UK 2020
Leading services used for e-books in the United Kingdom (UK) 2018
Number of weekly hours spent reading by UK consumers
Reasons for reading by UK consumers 2017
Preferred reading genres of consumers in the United Kingdom 2017
Reading frequency of printed books in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017
Reading frequency of e-books in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017
Last time UK consumers spent money on printed books 2017
Public perception on the future of book reading in the UK 2017
Main reasons given for not enjoying reading in England 2013
Main reasons given for enjoying reading in England 2013
Benefits and positive views of reading in England 2013
Pleasure reading locations used in England 2013
Barriers and negative views towards reading in England 2013
Enjoyment of reading books in England 2013
Readership of foreign-language books/newspapers in Germany 2016-2020, by frequency
Enjoyment of book reading in England 2013, by reader segment
Share of participants who regularly read books in Singapore 2016, by age group
Frequency of reading books in England 2013, by children's ages
Frequency of reading books in England 2013, by reader segment
Book ownership in England 2013
Number of books read per year in England 2013, by reading history
Language of last read book in the Netherlands 2018
Frequency of book reading in England 2013, by format
Media preferences: Reading versus television and the internet in England 2013
Book market in Sweden Book Industry E-books Audiobooks Digital Publishing Industry
National Literacy Trust. (May 25, 2016). Time spent reading among young people in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2015 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 20, 2021, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/300138/time-spent-reading-among-young-people-in-the-uk/
National Literacy Trust. "Time spent reading among young people in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2015." Chart. May 25, 2016. Statista. Accessed January 20, 2021. https://www.statista.com/statistics/300138/time-spent-reading-among-young-people-in-the-uk/
National Literacy Trust. (2016). Time spent reading among young people in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2015. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 20, 2021. https://www.statista.com/statistics/300138/time-spent-reading-among-young-people-in-the-uk/
National Literacy Trust. "Time Spent Reading among Young People in The United Kingdom (Uk) from 2010 to 2015." Statista, Statista Inc., 25 May 2016, https://www.statista.com/statistics/300138/time-spent-reading-among-young-people-in-the-uk/
National Literacy Trust, Time spent reading among young people in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2015 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/300138/time-spent-reading-among-young-people-in-the-uk/ (last visited January 20, 2021)
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Click For CME/CE On This Article:
1.75 Credits MD/PA CME
1.75 Credits DO CME
1.75 Credits AANP/NP CE
1.75 Credits AANC/Nurse CE
Philip Mathew
Prashanth Rawla
Hyperthyroidism CME
The thyroid gland is a bilobed structure located in the anterior aspect of the trachea between the cricoid cartilage and the suprasternal notch. Each lobe of the thyroid connects via a thyroid isthmus. It is supplied via the superior thyroid artery which stems from the external carotid artery and the inferior thyroid artery, which is a branch of the thyrocervical trunk.
Histologically, the thyroid gland is surrounded by a thin, connective tissue covering that penetrates the gland and divides the thyroid gland into compartments. The thyroid gland is composed of spherical, polarized follicular cells that surround a gel-like, thyroglobulin-rich colloid. Thyroglobulin is the organic precursor for thyroid hormones and requires iodide to form thyroid hormone. Dietary iodine is transported into thyroid follicular cells via the sodium-iodide symporter after conversion to iodide via thyroid peroxidase enzyme. The process of iodide becoming incorporated into monoiodotyrosine (MIT) or diiodotyrosine (DIT) molecules is referred to as organification, and the process is relatively self-regulated. Low dietary iodide facilitated upregulation of the sodium-iodide symporter while high dietary iodide temporarily inhibits the organification process, a phenomenon known as the Wolff-Chaikoff effect.[1] Iodide incorporation into the thyroid hormone precursors, MIT and DIT, is due to peroxidase enzyme. The organic coupling of one molecule of MIT with one molecule of DIT leads to the production of triiodothyronine (T3) while the coupling of 2 DIT molecules leads to thyroxine (T4).
The thyroid gland secretes thyroxine (T4) in response to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) originating from the anterior pituitary gland. The secreted T4 is converted to a more potent and triiodothyronine (T3) via deiodinase enzymes. Most of the conversion of T4 to T3 takes places extrathyroidally, although the thyroid gland possesses the intrinsic ability for T3 production.
From a physiologic perspective, the hypothalamus releases thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in response to low circulating thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), T3 or T4. TRH promotes the anterior pituitary secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) which, in turn, promotes T4 secretion from the thyroid gland. T4 and T3 exert negative feedback control on both the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary.
The term "hyperthyroidism" defines a syndrome associated with excess thyroid hormone production. It is a common misconception that the terms thyrotoxicosis and hyperthyroidism are synonyms of one another. The term "thyrotoxicosis" refers to a state of excess thyroid hormone exposure to tissues. Although hyperthyroidism can lead to thyrotoxicosis and can be used interchangeably, it is important to note the difference between the two.
In the United States and most western countries, Graves disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. As Graves disease is autoimmune in etiology, this form of hyperthyroidism tends to manifest itself in younger populations. In the older demographic, toxic multinodular goiter is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.
Although Graves disease and toxic multinodular goiter are the more common causes of hyperthyroidism, other causes of hyperthyroidism include iodine-induced hyperthyroidism (Jod-Basedow phenomenon), thyroid adenomas, de Quervain thyroiditis (subacute thyroiditis), postpartum thyroiditis, and factitious thyroiditis (thyrotoxicosis factitia).
Factitious thyroiditis is hyperthyroidism that is associated with inappropriate or excessive use of pharmaceutical thyroid hormone. Due to a well-received side effect of weight loss, thyroxine has the potential for abuse and any history of a hyperthyroid patient should include a medication list and an assessment of possible misuse (whether intentional or unintentional).
Other sources of hyperthyroidism include ectopic foci of thyroxine-secreting tissue. The more prevalent (although rare) form of this etiology is struma ovarii, consisting of ectopic and functional thyroid tissue (often compromising greater than 50% of total mass) in the ovary.
Amiodarone or other iodine-containing medications can induce iodine-associated hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis. This iodine-induced hyperthyroidism is referred to as the Jod-Basedow phenomena (Jod is the German word for iodine).[2]
The prevalence of hyperthyroidism is different according to the ethnic group while in Europe the frequency is affected by dietary intake of Iodine and some cases are due to autoimmune disease. Subclinical hyperthyroidism occurs more in women older than 65 than in men while overt hyperthyroidism rates are 0.4 per 1000 women and 0.1 per 1000 men and vary with age.
Any analysis of the global epidemiology of hyperthyroidism will delineate along the lines of iodine-sufficient regions and iodine-deficient regions.[3] While iodine excess can lead to hyperthyroidism, iodine deficiency can lead to both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
Graves disease is typically seen in younger patients and is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in that demographic. Toxic multifocal goiter is typically seen in older individuals and is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in this respective demographic. Both Graves disease and toxic multifocal goiter have a female predilection and are typically seen in patients with pertinent family and personal medical histories.
The 1977 Whickham Survey was an evaluation of the spectrum of thyroid disorders in County Durham in northeastern England. Although the demographics of the Whickham Survey consisted of primary inhabitants of a community of northeastern England (and hence, poor extrapolation potential), the survey did show interesting results of hyperthyroidism. The Whickham Survey demonstrated a prevalence of hyperthyroidism in women approximately 10-times more than that of men (2.7% versus 0.23%).[4]
The pathophysiology of hyperthyroidism depends on the particular variant of hyperthyroidism. In the case of Graves disease, the underlying cause is autoimmune, particularly the production of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins that bind to the TSH receptor and mimic the effects of TSH. Graves disease presents with 2 extra-thyroidal signs that are not typically seen in other forms of hyperthyroidism. The ophthalmopathy of Graves disease is characterized by the edema of retro-orbital tissues, thus causing anterior protrusion of the ocular globes. Pretibial myxedema is a plaque-like thickening of the skin anterior to the tibia due to infiltration of glycosaminoglycans in the dermis.[5]
Toxic multinodular goiter presents with palpable thyroid nodules. It is the leading cause of hyperthyroidism, particularly in older populations. Toxic multinodular goiter leads to the production of excess thyroid hormone from autonomous ectopic tissue, thus leading to clinical thyrotoxicosis.
As opposed to toxic multinodular goiter which can present with multiple nodules, thyroid adenoma typically presents with a solitary papillary nodule that has the potential of causing hyperthyroidism. Hyperfunctioning thyroid adenomas can be distinguished from thyroid carcinomas by their clinical presentation. Thyroid hormone production by thyroid carcinomas is insufficient and cannot achieve thyroid hormone levels sufficient to cause overt hyperthyroidism. As a result, thyroid adenomas are generally benign.
Hyperthyroidism secondary to thyroiditis results in the transient increase in circulating thyroid hormone resulting from mechanical disruption of thyroid follicles. Subacute thyroiditis (DeQuervain thyroiditis) typically follows an acute infection, for example, upper respiratory infection. It is a granulomatous inflammatory process, resulting in an exquisitely tender thyroid gland. Painless thyroiditis is a form of hyperthyroidism, usually seen in postpartum stages. It is lymphocytic thyroiditis, and it can be distinguished from its subacute counterpart by the clinical history and palpation of the thyroid gland (which is non-tender in painless thyroiditis but painful in subacute thyroiditis).
Iodine-induced hyperthyroidism (Jod-Basedow phenomenon) is typically iatrogenic, resulting from administration of iodine-containing medications such as contrast media or amiodarone. As mentioned previously, the organification of iodide residues into precursor thyroid hormone molecules is relatively self-regulating. Excessive circulating iodide inhibits organification, a process known as the Wolff-Chaikoff effect. However, professionals believe that in patients with iodine-induced hyperthyroidism, areas of autonomous function permit excessive secretion of thyroid hormone in the presence of high iodide levels. Discontinuation of the offending agent typically results in resolution of the hyperthyroidism. Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis has two types: type 1 and type 2. The distinction between the 2 subtypes is apparent from history, diagnostic findings, and treatment. Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis, type 1 patients typically have pre-existing thyroid pathology, low RAI uptake, and increased thyroid parenchymal blood flow. The treatment is typically anti-thyroid medication. In contrast, amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis, type 2 patients may not have a history of previous thyroid disease. Diagnostics may show a relatively lower RAI uptake and decreased thyroid parenchymal blood flow. Treatment for the type 2 variant is typically steroids. While excess iodine exposure from amiodarone administration can result in hyperthyroidism, amiodarone itself can be directly cytotoxic, contributing to thyroid injury.[6]
Excessively high levels of chorionic gonadotropin as seen in cases of trophoblastic tumors can cause hyperthyroidism via weak activation of the TSH receptors. This etiology of hyperthyroidism, however, is considerably rare compared to the previously mentioned causes of hyperthyroidism.
History and Physical
Hyperthyroidism may manifest as weight loss despite an increased appetite, palpitation, nervousness, tremors, dyspnea, fatigability, diarrhea or increased GI motility, muscle weakness, heat intolerance, and diaphoresis. The signs and symptoms of thyroid hormone exposure to peripheral tissues reflect a hypermetabolic state. A patient with hyperthyroidism classically presents with signs and symptoms that reflect this state of increased metabolic activity. Common symptoms that a patient may report include unintentional weight loss despite unchanged oral intake, palpitations, diarrhea or increased frequency of bowel movements, heat intolerance, diaphoresis, and/or menstrual irregularities.
Physical examination of the thyroid may or may not reveal an enlarged thyroid (referred to as goiter). The thyroid may be diffusely enlarged, or one or more nodules may be palpated. The thyroid may be painless to palpation or extremely tender to even light palpation.[7]
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is the initial diagnostic test of choice and is considered the best screening test for assessing pathology of the thyroid and for the monitoring of thyroid replacement therapy. Due to the negative feedback that T3 and T4 exert on the pituitary gland, elevated T3 and/or elevated T4 will cause decreased TSH production from the anterior pituitary gland. Abnormal TSH is often followed up with a measurement of free T4 and/or free T3.[5] Concerns for an autoimmune process such as Graves' disease will warrant further evaluation by assessing serum levels of TSH-receptor antibodies.[8]
TSH levels in the context of acute illness should be interpreted with more discretion as TSH levels are considerably more susceptible to the effects of illness.
Hyperthyroidism is a common etiology for atrial fibrillation, thus further workup with an ECG may be warranted, especially in a patient complaining of palpitations. Obtaining troponin levels is not routine unless the clinical presentation warrants further cardiac ischemic workup, for example, active chest pain, among others.
Radiological diagnostics such as chest x-rays serve little diagnostic utility in the management of hyperthyroidism. Diagnostics such as ultrasound are not useful in diagnosing hyperthyroidism, but the ultrasound findings of nodules could potentially determine an etiology.
Since a majority of cases of hyperthyroidism are due to Graves disease or toxic multinodular goiter, confirmation of the diagnosis can be made based on history, clinical findings, and palpating of the thyroid. In cases of diffuse goiter or no thyroid enlargement, a 24-hour radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) is needed to distinguish between Graves disease and other hyperthyroidism etiologies. Radioactive iodine uptake is the percentage of iodine-131 retained by the thyroid after 24 hours. For the typical western diet, the normal range of RAIU is typically 10% to 30%.
Graves’ disease, toxic multinodular goiter, and thyroid adenoma are etiologies of hyperthyroidism with increased RAIU, reflecting an increased synthesis of thyroid hormone. Subacute thyroiditis, painless thyroiditis, iodine-induced hyperthyroidism, and factitious hyperthyroidism have decreased RAIU. Thyroiditis represents a disruption of the thyroid follicles with subsequent release of thyroid hormone. Since there is no increased synthesis of thyroid hormone, RAIU will be low in thyroiditis.[9]
If RAIU is not available or is contraindicated, then measurement of thyroid receptor antibodies can be used as an alternative test for diagnosis of Graves disease.[10]
A radioisotope thyroid scan is a diagnostic tool which utilizes technetium-99m pertechnetate as a radioactive tracer. The technetium-99m pertechnetate is taken up by the thyroid gland by the sodium-iodide symporter. The scan itself assesses the functional activity of thyroid nodules, classifying as either "cold" (hypofunctioning), "warm" (isofunctioning), or "hot" (hyperfunctioning). "Cold" nodules raise concern for potential malignancy due to ineffective uptake of iodide and synthesis of thyroid hormone typically seen in thyroid carcinomas.
Treatment / Management
Treatment of hyperthyroidism depends on the underlying etiology and can be divided into 2 categories: symptomatic therapy and definitive therapy. The symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as palpitations, anxiety, and tremor can be controlled with a beta-adrenergic antagonist such as atenolol. Calcium channel blocker, such as verapamil, can be used as second-line therapy for patients who are beta blocker intolerant or have contraindications to beta-blocker therapy.[11]
Transient forms of hyperthyroidism such as subacute thyroiditis or postpartum thyroiditis should be managed with symptomatic therapy alone as the hyperthyroidism in these clinical situations tends to be self-limiting.
There are 3 definitive treatments of hyperthyroidism, all of which predispose the patient to potential long-term hypothyroidism: radioactive iodine therapy (RAI), thionamide therapy, and subtotal thyroidectomy. Clinical assessment and monitoring of free T4 are imperative for patients who undergo any of these treatments. TSH-monitoring status after definitive therapy is of poor utility since TSH remains suppressed until the patient becomes euthyroid. Thus, TSH monitoring for thyroid status is not recommended immediately following definitive therapy.
The choice of which definitive treatment modality depends on the etiology. RAI therapy is considered the treatment of choice in almost all patients with Graves disease due to a high efficacy. Despite the relative safety and high efficacy, RAI is contraindicated in patients who are pregnant or patients who are breastfeeding.
In RAI therapy, radioactive iodine-131 is administered with subsequent destruction of thyroid tissue. A single dose is sufficient enough to control hyperthyroidism in a significant portion of patients, and the effects of other parts of the human body are essentially negligible due to the high thyroid uptake of the radioactive iodine-131. In a female patient of reproductive potential, it is highly recommended to obtain a beta-hCG to rule out pregnancy prior to initiation of RAI therapy. Any patient on a thionamide (methimazole or propylthiouracil) should be instructed to discontinue this therapy approximately 1 week prior to RAI therapy since thionamide administration can interfere with the therapeutic benefit of RAI therapy. Several months are typically needed status post-RAI therapy to achieve euthyroid status. Typically, patients are evaluated in 4- to 6-week intervals with increased time intervals for stable, plasma-free, T4 levels. Failure to achieve euthyroidism after RAI therapy may indicate either for repeat RAI therapy (for symptomatic hyperthyroidism) or the initiation of thyroxine therapy (for hypothyroidism).
RAI therapy involves the release of stored thyroid hormone, leading to transient hyperthyroidism. This is generally well tolerated, although this transient hyperthyroidism is of concern in patients with significant cardiac disease. For patients with cardiac disease, pretreatment with a thionamide to deplete the stored hormone is recommended to avoid potential exacerbation of cardiac disease.
Thionamide therapy is used as a definitive treatment for hyperthyroidism inpatient unwilling to undergo RAI therapy or have contraindications to RAI therapy, for example, allergy or pregnancy. Methimazole and propylthiouracil both inhibit thyroid hormone synthesis by thyroid peroxidase. Thyroid peroxidase is the enzyme responsible for the conversion of dietary iodine into iodide. Propylthiouracil (PTU) also lowers peripheral tissue exposure to active thyroid hormone by blocking the extrathyroidal conversion of T4 to T3. Thionamide therapy has no permanent effect on thyroid function and remission of hyperthyroidism is common in patients who discontinue thionamide therapy.
Establishment of a euthyroid status typically requires several months after initiation of thionamide therapy. Although methimazole and PTU are equally effective, methimazole is preferred due to a relatively better safety profile. An exception to this recommendation is in pregnant patients, in which PTU is preferred. Methimazole is associated with an increased risk of congenital defects, and thus PTU is preferred in the management of gestational hyperthyroidism.
Side effects of thionamide therapy include agranulocytosis, hepatitis, vasculitis, and drug-induced lupus. Although these are rare side effects, patients should be warned about the potential for these side effects. Patients should also be advised to discontinue to the thionamide immediately and notify their physician if symptoms suggestive of agranulocytosis occur (fever, chills, rapidly progressive infection, sore throat, among others). Routine monitoring of leukocyte counts is not recommended when starting a patient on a thionamide due to the rapid onset of agranulocytosis. A baseline comprehensive metobolic panel (CMP) to assess hepatic status would not be unreasonable due to the potential for hepatitis.
Subtotal thyroidectomy is utilized for long-term control of hyperthyroidism. Preparation of the patient for a subtotal thyroidectomy includes pretreatment with methimazole to achieve a nearly euthyroid status. Supersaturated potassium iodide is then added on a daily basis approximately 2 weeks before surgery and discontinued postoperatively. Alternatively, atenolol can be started 1 to 2 weeks before surgery to reduce resting heart rate. Supersaturated potassium iodide is also dosed and discontinued postoperatively. The rationale behind these management plans is to reduce complications associated with perioperative exacerbation of hyperthyroidism.
Complications of subtotal thyroidectomy include hypothyroidism due to the decreased secretory potential of T4. Hypothyroidism remains the most common complication associated with subtotal thyroidectomy. The proximity of the parathyroid glands to the thyroid gland can result in removal of parathyroid glands along with thyroid tissue, resulting in hypoparathyroidism. Due to the risk of iatrogenic injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, vocal cord paralysis is also a complication of subtotal thyroidectomy. All of these complications should be discussed with the patient, and the discussion should be documented.
Hyperthyroidism presents with rather nonspecific signs and symptoms such as palpitations, increased frequency of bowel movements, weight loss, among others. Other pathologies should be ruled out as possible explanations of the patient’s symptomatology.
For etiologies of hyperthyroidism, differential diagnosis can be made based on the physical findings of the thyroid gland. Palpation of a normal thyroid gland in the context of hyperthyroidism can be due to Graves disease, painless thyroiditis, or factitious hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis factitia). Graves disease can also present as a non-tender, enlarged thyroid.
Palpation of a tender, enlarged thyroid may be indicative of DeQuervain thyroiditis (subacute thyroiditis). Palpation of a single thyroid nodule is likely thyroid adenoma, and palpation of multiple thyroid nodules is strongly indicative of toxic multinodular goiter.
Other differential diagnoses include euthyroid hyperthyroxinemia (a condition in which serum total T4 and T3 are elevated, but the TSH level is within normal limits) and struma ovarii.
Pertinent Studies and Ongoing Trials
Some question the addition of supplemental selenium has any effect on hyperthyroidism associated with Graves disease. One 2017 double-blinded, the placebo-controlled study utilized 2 treatment arms: methimazole plus 300 mcg per day of oral selenium versus methimazole plus placebo. Although the study concluded supplemental selenium did not affect response or recurrence of Graves disease,[12] the study itself lacked sufficient data to be statistically meaningful, likely due to small sample size in both the intervention arm and the control arm. An additional 2017 study regarding the same topic of selenium as a possible adjuvant failed to show any efficacy in supplemental selenium in short-term control of hyperthyroidism.[13]
Hyperthyroidism secondary to Graves disease or toxic multinodular goiter has an overall, positive prognosis due to high success rates of definitive treatment and efficacy of symptom management. As with any disease, the prognosis of particular disease pathology is patient-oriented and reflects management, response to therapy, and compliance with prescribed treatments.
Untreated or unmanaged hyperthyroidism can lead to an extreme case of hyperthyroidism referred to as thyroid storm. Reflecting the hypermetabolic state of hyperthyroidism, the patient experiencing thyroid storm will present with tachycardia, increased GI motility, diaphoresis, anxiety, and fever. Thyroid storm is a potentially life-threatening complication of hyperthyroidism, thus requiring immediate attention. Management for thyroid storm or a high degree of suspicion of thyroid storm should include thionamide therapy (methimazole or propylthiouracil). PTU, in particular, is useful due to its inhibition of peripheral T4 to T3 conversion. Beta blockade can also be utilized in symptom management.[14]
Deterrence and Patient Education
Patient education regarding hyperthyroidism is similar to other diseases. Patients should be educated on the importance of compliance with therapy and educated on the signs and symptoms of extreme hyperthyroidism (thyroid storm).
Pearls and Other Issues
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may be complicated with thyroid dysfunction. A recent study has shown that thyroid dysfunction is seen in up to 23.3% of patients with coronary artery disease and both overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism in 2.5%.[15]
Pregnancy and concurrent thyroid pathology can pose a medical management challenge. PTU is recommended in pregnant women presenting with hyperthyroidism due to methimazole’s association with congenital defects. Close monitoring is recommended with PTU administration as overcorrection can potentially cause fetal hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormone is particularly important due to its role in fetal neurodevelopment. Recent literature indicates that previously recommended TSH cutoffs in pregnant women lead to overcorrection of thyroid disease in pregnant patients.[16] As fetal exposure to thyroid hormone plays a significant role, careful monitoring and close supervision are warranted.
Neonatal thyrotoxicosis results from fetal tissue exposure to excessive thyroid hormone. There are typically 2 variants of neonatal thyrotoxicosis: autoimmune mediated and non-autoimmune-mediated. Autoimmune fetal hyperthyroidism involves the transplacental passage of TSH receptor-stimulating antibodies. The hyperthyroidism is typically transient as symptoms cease 5 to 6 months after birth following clearance of maternal antibodies. Non-autoimmune, fetal hyperthyroidism is associated with an activating mutation of either the TSH receptor or the GNAS gene (leading to McCune-Albright syndrome). As opposed to the autoimmune etiology, the non-autoimmune variant is permanent, long persisting after birth.[17]
Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes
Except for thyroid storm, hyperthyroidism in itself is rarely life-threatening but can pose a significant burden on a patient’s day-to-day routine. Hyperthyroidism can present with many symptoms and if not managed can lead to a poor quality of life. Because there are many cause of hyperthyroidism, the condition is best managed by an interprofessional team.
The primary care providers including the nurse practitioner should educate patients on the importance of medication compliance. In addition, the patient should be informed by the pharmacist that certain products like contrast dyes, expectorants, food supplements and seaweed tablets mat contain high levels of iodine and interfere with therapy.
Inpatient management of a patient with hyperthyroidism does not always necessarily require consultation with an endocrinologist, but the presence of thyroid storm may warrant consultation with an endocrinologist and possible admission to the intensive care unit due to potentially life-threatening complications such as tachycardia and hypertensive crisis. Nurses involved with patient care should be vigilant about the signs and symptoms of thyroid storm.
As mentioned previously, any consideration of RAI therapy in a female of reproductive potential should follow a negative beta-hCG as pregnancy is an absolute contraindication to RAI therapy. Incorporating a mandatory pregnancy test as part of an overall care plan would help avoid potentially damaging radiation exposure.
Patients with graves disease will need an ophthalmology consult. For those who undergo thyroidectomy, life long treatment with levothyroxine is required.
The interprofessional team must communicate with other members to ensure that the patient is receiving the current standard of care treatment.
The Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis.
Contributed by M. Philip Mathew, DO
[1] Markou K,Georgopoulos N,Kyriazopoulou V,Vagenakis AG, Iodine-Induced hypothyroidism. Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association. 2001 May [PubMed PMID: 11396709]
[2] Leung AM,Braverman LE, Consequences of excess iodine. Nature reviews. Endocrinology. 2014 Mar [PubMed PMID: 24342882]
[3] Taylor PN,Albrecht D,Scholz A,Gutierrez-Buey G,Lazarus JH,Dayan CM,Okosieme OE, Global epidemiology of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Nature reviews. Endocrinology. 2018 May [PubMed PMID: 29569622]
[4] Tunbridge WM,Evered DC,Hall R,Appleton D,Brewis M,Clark F,Evans JG,Young E,Bird T,Smith PA, The spectrum of thyroid disease in a community: the Whickham survey. Clinical endocrinology. 1977 Dec [PubMed PMID: 598014]
[5] Menconi F,Marcocci C,Marinò M, Diagnosis and classification of Graves' disease. Autoimmunity reviews. 2014 Apr-May [PubMed PMID: 24424182]
[6] Trohman RG,Sharma PS,McAninch EA,Bianco AC, Amiodarone and the thyroid physiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management. Trends in cardiovascular medicine. 2018 Sep 20 [PubMed PMID: 30309693]
[7] De Leo S,Lee SY,Braverman LE, Hyperthyroidism. Lancet (London, England). 2016 Aug 27 [PubMed PMID: 27038492]
[8] Kravets I, Hyperthyroidism: Diagnosis and Treatment. American family physician. 2016 Mar 1 [PubMed PMID: 26926973]
[9] Meier DA,Kaplan MM, Radioiodine uptake and thyroid scintiscanning. Endocrinology and metabolism clinics of North America. 2001 Jun [PubMed PMID: 11444164]
[10] Bahn Chair RS,Burch HB,Cooper DS,Garber JR,Greenlee MC,Klein I,Laurberg P,McDougall IR,Montori VM,Rivkees SA,Ross DS,Sosa JA,Stan MN, Hyperthyroidism and other causes of thyrotoxicosis: management guidelines of the American Thyroid Association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association. 2011 Jun [PubMed PMID: 21510801]
[11] Ross DS,Burch HB,Cooper DS,Greenlee MC,Laurberg P,Maia AL,Rivkees SA,Samuels M,Sosa JA,Stan MN,Walter MA, 2016 American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Hyperthyroidism and Other Causes of Thyrotoxicosis. Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association. 2016 Oct [PubMed PMID: 27521067]
[12] Kahaly GJ,Riedl M,König J,Diana T,Schomburg L, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Trial of Selenium in Graves Hyperthyroidism. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 2017 Nov 1 [PubMed PMID: 29092078]
[13] Leo M,Bartalena L,Rotondo Dottore G,Piantanida E,Premoli P,Ionni I,Di Cera M,Masiello E,Sassi L,Tanda ML,Latrofa F,Vitti P,Marcocci C,Marinò M, Effects of selenium on short-term control of hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease treated with methimazole: results of a randomized clinical trial. Journal of endocrinological investigation. 2017 Mar [PubMed PMID: 27734319]
[14] Chiha M,Samarasinghe S,Kabaker AS, Thyroid storm: an updated review. Journal of intensive care medicine. 2015 Mar [PubMed PMID: 23920160]
[15] Abdulaziz Qari F, Thyroid Hormone Profile in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome. Iranian Red Crescent medical journal. 2015 Jul [PubMed PMID: 26421178]
[16] Korevaar TIM,Medici M,Visser TJ,Peeters RP, Thyroid disease in pregnancy: new insights in diagnosis and clinical management. Nature reviews. Endocrinology. 2017 Oct [PubMed PMID: 28776582]
[17] Samuels SL,Namoc SM,Bauer AJ, Neonatal Thyrotoxicosis. Clinics in perinatology. 2018 Mar [PubMed PMID: 29406005]
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'Some bills are not going to stop': Laid off workers turn to essential jobs amid coronavirus pandemic
Rideshare driver Josh Dunn of Indio describes himself as a case of "super obsessive-compulsive disorder."
"A lot of people weren't germophobes before this happened, like me," Dunn said. "Now they're out there and hoping for the best."
Add the threat of coronavirus to everyday life and it makes things unsettling for those who are currently not working but looking to find employment in what's categorized as "essential jobs." Some examples include healthcare, grocery stores, utilities and rideshare and delivery services.
Dunn has signed up for every rideshare and delivery platform available, including Instacart, a grocery delivery and pickup company based in San Francisco. The company is hiring 300,000 workers across North America to meet surging demand for grocery deliveries, as millions of people are urged to stay home to limit the spread of coronavirus.
He was signed up with the platform in August, but found it difficult to schedule around because of its assigned scheduling at the time. It also didn't pay as well as Lyft or Uber. This week, he downloaded the app to start working the platform again.
"Now it's more like Uber," Dunn said. "There's nothing about shifts, blocks or anything like that. All the other rideshare drivers I know are saying Instacart is banging right now. That's what people need right now. They need people to shop for them, they don't need to go to the bar or go to work anymore."
The drivers are referred to by the company as "full-service shoppers." Instacart lets users shop from grocery stores like Whole Foods, Costco, Safeway, among others, with the good then delivered to their homes. Full-service shoppers go into the store and pick every item off the shelves for checkout then delivery. They're timed on each order.
For the past three weeks, grocery stores have struggled to keep products like canned goods, toilet paper, dairy products and other essentials on the shelves. If the store is out of stock on the desired items, they have to find a similar item and communicate with the customer through the app.
"That's one of the places where it gets a little tricky," Dunn said. "Often times, you'll have to start communicating with the person who ordered through the app, and you're getting timed while you're shopping. So if the person doesn't respond promptly, you can get dinged on your shop time. You're trying to make sure you got what they need, but the clock is running."
Instacart Founder and CEO Apoorva Mehta said the company hopes to provide "flexible earnings opportunities during this time" to those urged to stay home. Metha didn't offer any precautions for its full-service shoppers, but said Monday they would compensate drivers if they get sick.
"All in-store shoppers nationwide now have access to sick pay, an accrued benefit that can be used as paid time off if you’re absent from work due to illness or injury. Additionally, any full-service or in-store shopper can receive up to 14 days of extended pay if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed in individual mandatory isolation or quarantine."
"I have severe asthmatics in my family. I haven't seen them for 10 days now at least, and I refuse," Dunn said. "I refuse to see my children, and I don't want to give anybody the virus if I have it. I don't want to get sick from the perspective of I don't want to be sick, feel ill, be unhappy, not have a good time and go to the hospital. But more concerning to me is who I might kill if I get it. That's my big concern."
The bills don't stop
Claudia Armenta of Indio was laid off from her position as marketing representative for a local tribal business last week. She was given her last check, including her vacation and personal time off hours, and was told if they closed for more than two weeks to file for unemployment insurance.
"Some bills are not going to stop, and I am unsure of when business will pick up again," Armenta said.
She added that she is considering applying at local grocery stores in her area, which includes Walmart and is aware of rising coronavirus infection rates.
Walmart, the world's largest retailer, said on Monday they are looking to fill 150,000 positions nationwide and those taking positions in its fulfillment centers will earn $2 more an hour through Memorial Day. Fulfillment center employees, and hires that they refer, will also be able to each get a $250 bonus after the new employee has been on the job for 90 days. Other grocery chains and retailers are looking to add thousands of temporary employees to work in their stores.
The Atlantic reported on Tuesday that employees of the grocery chains Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, King Soopers and Fred Meyer tested positive for the virus. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents the employees of some grocery stores, said only six of its members are known to have tested positive for the coronavirus.
"I've always tried to be cautious," Armenta said. "When cash handling, I would always try not to touch my face. After so many transactions, I would clean my hands with hand sanitizer. I would also wipe down my desk, office phone and even my cell phone. I definitely plan on using gloves more often."
But Armenta's main concern is for her family members. Riverside County, California, coronavirus cases jumped to 70 on Wednesday, while the death toll increased by one to seven total.
"When I noticed that coronavirus was spreading, I started to prepare things at home for my parents to go out as little as possible," Armenta said. "I fear for my parents. They are senior citizens and have health conditions. Especially for my mother, she is anemic, has a low immune system and diabetes."
No events cause a ripple
Connor Cross of Desert Hot Springs was laid off from his job as a supervisor for an event production company, and has applied for positions at Walmart, Lowe's, Aldi's and Vons. In the past, he's worked setting up private events and concerts, including Coachella and Stagecoach.
"If there (are) no events, I can't be sent to do anything," Cross said. "I just spent eight years developing myself in an industry that I love, and now I can't even do anything."
Like Armenta, he's aware of the risks of being exposed to coronavirus, which he said is not his major concern at this time.
"I'm more worried about how I'm going to feed myself and my pregnant girlfriend," Cross said. "Will I be able to get a job quick enough? With everyone losing work, will I still be able to get a job even though they're hiring a ton of people?
As of Tuesday, Cross had not heard back on any of his applications.
"I've filed for unemployment in the meantime, and I'm hoping that comes through. I'm doing everything I can," Cross said. "Everyday for the past two weeks, I've been doing this. There's nothing serious on my record or anything for them not to call me back, so I don't understand why. Most of these applications online tell you there's no way to call in to see if your application has been processed or to speak to a manager. Basically, we wait for call backs within two to three weeks."
Reach Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com.
Previous reporting by The Desert Sun staff, and USA TODAY's Charisse Jones and Josh Rivera was used in this report.
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SO MUCH TO SEE & DO
There are endless things to do in Lincoln, Lincolnshire - we're full of attractions, tours, day trips, museums, landmarks, sights, points of interest, history & heritage, nature and parks.
After you've checked out the world famous Lincoln Cathedral and walked the walls of the historic Lincoln Castle, there is a smorgasbord of things to see and do in Lincoln. We're flush with history, oozing RAF and aviation sites, and our Lincon City Football Club is shooting up the leagues so why not catch a game at Sincil Bank?
Be inspired by some of our handpicked things to see and do in Lincoln. Our full list of tourist attractions, points of interest, tours and tour guides, tourist information, museums and landmarks is shown below. Use the filters to narrow your search to find the perfect things to do when you visit Lincoln.
Lincoln Cathedral is truly majestic and brings tens of thousands of visitors to the city each year. It is one of Englands most notable Cathedrals with a rich history and many stories to tell.
Sitting proudly on the hill, seen from many directions, Lincoln Cathedral was once the world's tallest building (for ~238 years) until it's central spires came down in 1548. Today it is still an awe inspiring 83 metres (272 feet) in height.
The Lincoln Cathedral held one of the four Magna Carta copies for hundreds of years, one of which can still be seen at it's neighbouring Castle. Joint Castle and Cathedral passes can be purchased at serveral locations.
The Cathedrals magnificence can be seen in modern day films, including The Da Vinci Code, Young Victoria and Netflix film, The King.
Children will love exploring the various parts of the Cathedral, including finding the famous stone Imp, infamous in Lincoln with an interesting story behind how it came to be.
Everyone is welcome at Lincoln Cathedral, it's one place you simply cannot miss out when in Lincoln.
Three great attractions. One great day out. Medieval Wall Walk. Victorian Prison. Magna Carta. Enjoy spectacular views across Lincolnshire from our completed Medieval Wall Walk. Visit the David P.J. Ross Magna Carta Vault and see one of only four remaining original Magna Carta along side the Charter of the Forest. Immerse yourself in the lives of prisoners and their daily routines in the Victorian Prison and see the unique separate system chapel. 1000 years of history - where it happened. Winter Opening Hours: 10:00 - 16:00 Summer Opening Hours: 10:00 - 17:00
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News and Views from Political Author Steven Hill
Austerity vs. Stimulus: Who’s Right?
By Steven Hill Published November 24, 2010 Uncategorized
By Steven Hill, Social Europe Journal, November 24, 2010
To paraphrase Denmark’s Prince Hamlet, ‘To enact austerity or not to enact austerity, that is the question.’ Unfortunately, dear Hamlet, that is a question without a sure answer. The truth is, none of the experts know what is the correct thing to do. Trichet, Bernanke, Geithner, Schäuble, Krugman, Stiglitz, Wolf, Münchau, Soros, all of them are in it over their heads. In their heart of hearts, they must know it.
While we debate fiercely the question of stimulus versus deficit reduction on opinion pages and websites around the world, it is important to keep in mind that many of these ‘experts’ are the same ones who missed an $8 TRILLION housing bubble in the United States, as well as bubbles in Ireland, Spain and Britain. So in contemplating the expert’s advice, caution is advised. The global economy is an extremely complex beast, and it may have surpassed the ability of anyone to truly understand how it works. We are flying in uncharted territory, without compass or radar, surrounded by fog. Heaven help us.
Despite this uncertainty, we have no choice but to do our best to pick, if not the best course, then at minimum the least worst course. So let’s take a look at some of the arguments on both sides of the stimulus vs. deficit reduction equation.
Stimulus hawks like Paul Krugman believe that, with the drop in demand from consumer and business sectors, government is the only sector remaining to ‘prime the pump’ that will jumpstart demand and get the economy going again. There is a theoretical logic to this classic Keynesian model that is attractive, i.e. a drop in demand from two of the three major sectors requires a massive increase in demand i.e. spending, from the remaining sector. They point to the American experience during the Great Depression to bolster their claim: the New Deal’s government spending in the early 1930s stimulated the economy only to be undermined by a withdrawal of government stimulus in the late 1930s. The economy only began moving again as a result of the massive U.S. government spending that occurred during World War II, and which continued to a lesser degree following the war.
That would sound persuasive except there’s something incomplete about their narrative. As a result of World War II, all conceivable economic competitors to the United States had been destroyed in the war. So American businesses had a favourable playing field that allowed them to become dominant in their industries and contributed greatly to a growing economy. Isn’t it possible that this lack of economic competition played a major role in boosting the U.S. economy following WWII, and not just government stimulus spending? Clearly, the situation is far different today; American businesses have many international competitors, and the impact of a government booster shot may not be as potent.
From the European (as well as Japanese) perspective, whose economies and leading industries were utterly destroyed by the war, there was nowhere to go but up. Certainly, the Marshall Plan provided a powerful boost to jumpstart economic growth, but there is no free pot of money available today. Indeed, the more the European nations spend the more they go into debt, and this has become especially problematic for the smaller nations of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and even Spain (the so-called PIGS). Whether their debt existed before the economic crisis, as in Greece, or only subsequent to the economic crisis – when a budget surplus nation like Ireland went into deep hock in order to save its banks – deficit spending has backlashed against them, resulting in much higher interest rates on bonds (the primary means of borrowing money), which cuts into their revenues over the longer term. So a nasty negative feedback loop has altered the possibilities for Keynesian intervention for the PIGS.
But larger economies like that in Germany, France, the Netherlands and others face a different dilemma. Germany is one of the few economic bright spots in the midst of this dark global storm with declining unemployment (6.7 percent compared to 9.6 percent in the U.S.) in the world’s fourth-largest economy powered by a robust manufacturing sector that has produced a sizable trade surplus. Germany engaged in a significant level of fiscal stimulus spending early in the crisis, as well as brilliantly utilised policies such as Kurzarbeit (’short work’) which prevented mass layoffs that contribute to drops in consumer spending and further economic decline. Now that Germany is enjoying the benefits of the Merkel government’s steady navigation, this has caused some experts like economist Paul Krugman and U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to propose a controversial intervention for the global economy, founded on an economic theory just as divisive.
Krugman and Geithner say that the recent economic collapse was caused not only by America’s Wall Street casino capitalism but also by certain global trade imbalances. In these economists’ theoretical world, if the trading surpluses of some nations don’t balance the deficits of other nations – if their equations and spreadsheet columns don’t add up – then disaster surely awaits. In practical terms, that means that countries with robust manufacturing sectors and big trade surpluses like Japan, China and Germany (the latter two recently labelled by Krugman as part of an ‘axis of depression’) must be good sports and step up to the plate to further stimulate their domestic consumption, helping to lift the world out of its current slump in demand. They would do this by increasing their public spending and importing things from countries like the United States with big trade deficits – as soon as it can be figured out what the U.S. manufactures that the world wants to buy. And this boost in global consumption would not only provide more electronic trinkets, big screen TVs and stylish clothes for those frumpy Germans and buttoned-down Japanese, it also would help the world rebalance its trade imbalances. That’s the theory, anyway, and Geithner actually came to the recent Group of 20 meeting in Seoul, South Korea with a demand that no nation should run up a trade surplus of more than 4 percent of gross domestic product.
But as Indian statesman Jawaharlal Nehru once said: ‘A theory must be tempered with reality,’ and surely Geithner and Krugman have visited Germany and Japan and noticed the obvious: that these wealthy nations are hardly lacking in material goods or modern trinkets. So what exactly are the Germans and Japanese supposed to buy more of, especially in quantities large enough to make a difference? Americans are the only ones who seem to think they need three refrigerators, four televisions and a car for everyone in the household.
China is a different story. There, about a billion poor people could use some of the things money can buy to raise their living standards. But unfortunately the Chinese authorities think it’s better to finance the U.S. budget deficit and American consumers’ profligacy rather than the welfare of their own people. Without a functioning democracy in the People’s Republic of China, the people have little recourse to make their demand.
The impracticality of their global trade-balancing proposal reflects the unreality that certain experts inhabit. To most economists the economy is like a giant steam engine, and you can pull on one lever here and close a valve there, twist a few dials, press on the accelerator and – presto! – off you go. The levers and dials of economists are things like interest rates, money supply, stimulus spending and the like. Unfortunately, economies are far too complex for such simplistic tinkering to produce predictable results, and so economists’ efforts appear like Charlie Chaplin’s character in Modern Times, struggling to get his unruly industrial machinery to obey. The theoretical frame of Krugman, Geithner, et al. also seems to assume that not only economies, but also the national cultures in which economies are situated, can be precisely manipulated by policymakers pulling the right levers. But if we’ve learned anything from the economic collapse, it is that economies and cultures are wildebeests that tend to defy easy corralling. That’s not to say that institutions and policy are unimportant, but it’s an act of hubris to think that an economy is infinitely malleable. Policymakers face constraints and ignoring that reality results in poor policy.
Peering through the transatlantic looking glass
Part of the challenge of analysing this question, I suspect, is rooted in the fact that the European and U.S. economies have become quite different animals in fundamental ways. As a result, it’s possible that ‘one size doesn’t fit all’ in this situation. European nations have been trying to fine-tune their ‘steady state’ economies, in which, instead of relying on high growth rates like we see in emerging economies like China, India or Turkey, or even in developed but ‘trickle down’ economies like the United States, Europe has relied on developing a system that is better at broadly sharing the wealth it produces. You don’t need roaring growth rates if you have harnessed the economic engine by bridling it with attendant institutions and practices that allow you to steer toward a more broadly shared prosperity from which more of your population benefits. And during a time of cutbacks, such as the current economic crisis, the pain in Europe is more broadly distributed as well, whereas in the U.S., while most Americans have suffered, the 400 wealthiest Americans saw their net worth increase in 2010 to $1.4 trillion, an amount greater than the entire gross domestic product of India with over a billion people.
So this discussion rightly belongs to a subset of a broader discussion regarding Europe’s social capitalism versus America’s Wall Street capitalism. The transatlantic cousins have developed very different economies that may require different interventions. Perhaps America’s trickle-down economy needs more stimulus to ignite it because, absent the redistributive advantages of the European countries, you need a lot more growth so that enough of the wealth trickles down to those at the bottom. But for Europe’s steady state economies, a different intervention is needed. And that intervention, to some degree, is restoring budget sanity to their economies after a dizzying collapse, returning to sustainable levels of debt and spending so that the costs of borrowing aren’t so high. And then from that new normal, mapping out the best way to maintain this broadly shared prosperity by rejecting a wildcat economy that is built fragilely on asset bubbles. Balance and sustainability are the catchwords of this approach.
This latter course certainly seems to be what Chancellor Angela Merkel has in mind. At the G-20 meeting, she completely rejected the entreaties of President Barack Obama and Tim Geithner for a global rebalancing of trade, or for further fiscal stimulus by her government. Instead, she gave an earful to the cowed Americans. America’s economic leadership took a major hit in Seoul, not all that surprising considering its catalytic role in bringing the global economy to the brink of disaster, its refusal to rein in its carbon emissions (despite being by far the world’s largest per capita carbon emitter) and the Obama administration’s weakened political position following the November 2 elections. The Germans, Japanese and Chinese weren’t buying any of the Geithner/Obama ‘global trade rebalancing’ proposal, nor were many of the other 16 of the G-20.
The United States is the one that must take the necessary steps to increase its competitiveness, said Merkel. The U.S. should not try to put limits on countries that have figured out how to get the world to buy their goods. Said Merkel: ‘The benchmark has to be the countries that have been the most competitive, instead of reducing to the lowest common denominator.’ Ouch, that hurts – America being called ‘the lowest common denominator.’
Her finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, was even more blunt. He described American policy as ‘clueless’ and said the American growth model is stuck in a deep crisis. ‘The USA lived off credit for too long, inflated its financial sector massively and neglected its industrial base.’ Ouch again. Germany – previously sneered at by U.S. pundits for its ‘weak and sclerotic’ economy – lecturing America about how to grow its economy. Right in front of the world’s major leaders, Merkel finished the process of knocking the American paragon off its post-World War II perch. The U.S. is losing the global argument over the best development model for the 21st century. The Washington consensus is, if not dead, on life support.
The German alternative
But Merkel said something else at the G-20 that is even more of a game changer, and directly addresses the point of deficit reduction vs. stimulus. ‘It is essential to return to a sustainable growth path,’ she said. Advancing her own theory for the economic meltdown beyond global trade imbalances, she said that one cause was that ‘we did not have sustainable growth. In many countries growth was built on debt and [speculative] bubbles.’
What Merkel was saying – and it’s revolutionary in its ramifications – is that the era of U.S.-style consumption-driven economics is over. The world needs to figure out how advanced economies can provide for their people without having roaring growth rates driven by asset bubbles, and how to develop in a way that is ecologically sustainable (unlike the Obama administration, European leaders have not shelved completely their global warming interventions in the midst of this economic crisis).
If consumer-driven growth was the order of the day in the post-World War II era, in the new era of Pax Germania it will be steady-state economic growth – growing not too fast, but not too slowly – and manufacturing value-added products that the rest of the world wants to buy. Utilizing more conservation and renewable energy technologies than the U.S., Germany already has reduced its carbon footprint to half that of America’s, as well as it provides universal health care, vastly more comprehensive supports for families and workers, and has less inequality. Merkel seems to believe that her Germany is pushing reset on the capitalist development model and instead is offering a new path toward the future, a necessary corrective for 21st century capitalism.
Mr. Future, meet Mr. Past
Is the German path the correct one? To be perfectly honest, I don’t know. But unlike so many of the so-called experts and talking heads, I am not going to snow you and pretend otherwise. Like the stimulus hawks’ Keynesian proposal, Merkel’s vision has its internal logic and appeal. Its advantage is that it seems to be grounded in a more reality-based view of what caused the economic meltdown, and is groping toward a new development model rather than returning to business as usual, i.e. the type of deficit and credit driven hyper-growth pushed by the stimulus hawks that feeds bubble-driven economies that eventually crash. It’s a development model that is better grounded in the ecological constraints of this age of global warming, as well in the challenges of identifying the practices that will allow a burgeoning global population of 6.5 billion people to share the world’s finite resources. And having a strong Germany at the core of Europe provides a solid foundation upon which to rebuild around that theory.
Certainly Germany cannot stand by and idly watch as the PIGS sink for want of a lifeline. To that end, Germany already has done much, including joining with other E.U. countries to offer a financial backstop, a kind of European Monetary Fund to help out member states in trouble, which has been used by Greece and most recently Ireland. But besides offering emergency loans, providing markets for PIGS’ businesses also must be considered as part of any vision of intra-Europe sustainability. Germany could and should do more to stimulate its own domestic consumption with a targeted strategy of spurring more buying of goods specifically from the peripheral E.U. nations. Germany’s economy is large enough to play that role for these much smaller economies without adding severely to its deficit. That’s especially true since much of this could be accomplished by paying higher private sector wages, compensating for the fact that German workers have kept their wage demands to modest levels in recent years, and relatively cheaper labour has contributed greatly to Germany’s current export boom. In addition, with Germany’s unemployment rate relatively low, the Merkel government also should think about enacting a domestic guest worker programme for Greek, Spanish and Irish workers to help alleviate the high unemployment in those countries. These sorts of plans make economic sense as well as are fitting acts of solidarity with struggling E.U. member states, and could yield modest results. But expecting the European or global economy to take great leaps forward on the basis of large increases in German (or Japanese) consumption is not a reasonable plan grounded in reality. Rather, it is a chimera put forward by ivory tower economists playing with their economic models and formulas, thinking they can manipulate the levers and dials of the economy.
While I don’t know if the German plan is the correct one, I do believe that Germany is a remarkable country, and its current relative success in the midst of this economic crisis is one proof of that. I’ll short China and the United States before I short Germany. Since the so-called experts don’t know the correct policy response either, perhaps it comes down to confidence: in which group of leaders do you have more confidence? In Germany and Merkel/Schäuble, or in the U.S. and Obama/Geithner?
As an American, I find myself having more confidence in the Germans these days. I would trade Obama for Merkel in a New York minute. But reasonable people are going to disagree on this point. And only time will tell, dear Hamlet, which course was correct. The history books are replete with page after page of stories about the ‘changing of the guard,’ and only in hindsight were we able to fully understand who was right and why.
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Die Startup Illusion: Wie die Internet-Ökonomie unseren Sozialstaat ruiniert.
Find out more info at www.Startup-Illusion.com.
Raw Deal: How the "Uber Economy" and Runaway Capitalism are Screwing American Workers.
Find out more info at www.RawDealBook.com.
Expand Social Security Now: How to Ensure Americans Get the Retirement They Deserve .
Find out more info at www.ExpandSocial Security.net.
10 Steps to Repair American Democracy, 2012 Election Edition.
Find out more info at www.10Steps.net.
Europe's Promise: Why the European Way is the Best Hope in an Insecure Age. Find out more info at www.EuropesPromise.org.
Reviews And Media
Praise for Raw Deal
A provocative, remedy-based perspective on the joint complexities of economic stability and ever expanding technology.
“Hill hits Silicon Valley darlings like Uber and Airbnb alongside the former online black market Silk Road, right-to-work laws, and factory robots all under the umbrella of “naked capitalism.” He explains how the rise of the “1099 workforce” is not limited to Silicon Valley; more and more traditional jobs in fields like manufacturing are turning to contractors to perform the same tasks full-time employees used to do. In addition to costing workers in benefits and safety nets, misclassifying workers as contractors costs federal and state governments billions of dollars annually in lost tax revenue.” ―Washington Monthly
“For anyone driven crazy by the faux warm and fuzzy PR of the so-called sharing economy Steven Hill’s Raw Deal: How the “Uber Economy” and Runaway Capitalism Are Screwing American Workers should be required reading… Hill is an extremely well-informed skeptic who presents a satisfyingly blistering critique of high tech’s disingenuous equating of sharing with profiteering…Hill includes two chapters listing potential solutions for the crises facing U.S. workers…Hill stresses the need for movement organizing to create a safety net strong enough to save the millions of workers currently being shafted in venture capital’s brave new world.” ―Counterpunch
“A growing underclass scrambling to make ends meet at the whim of increasingly picky and erratic employers, that number could balloon to 65 million within 10 years, or about half of the domestic workforce, warns Steven Hill in his troubling new book, Raw Deal. This brand of worker abuse cuts across industries and company size. Hill calls out Uber, AirBnb, Merck, Nissan, and dozens of others. Hill does a nice job of putting it in starker, easier-to-understand ways.” ―Washington Independent Review of Books
“Steven Hill’s book Raw Deal is a red-faced, steam-out-the-ears indictment of sharing apps. Yet Hill offers a pragmatic, almost post-ideological solution: “individual security accounts” for workers. Companies that use independent contractors, or offer scant benefits for employees, would have to add on a certain percentage of their pay as a contribution to those accounts, which would cover health care, unemployment insurance, and more. There’d be a mechanism ― and a requirement ― for companies to contribute to the long-term well-being even of workers who aren’t on their traditional payrolls.” ― Boston Globe
“Raw Deal is a book for its time. Steven Hill perfectly captures the anxiety of the American worker in today’s increasingly digital economy. Hill presents some compelling ideas, the most important being something he calls the Economic Singularity. In this unfortunate tipping point, the concentration of wealth in the hands of the few results in economic implosion because the 99 percent can’t afford to buy anything the 1 percent has to sell. The United States is turning into a nation of 1099 workers who eke out a living driving cars, renting rooms and running errands for people who apparently have better things to do with their time. Throw in self-thinking computers and obedient robots, and there won’t be any work left for plain old Homo sapiens…Hill proposes that we offer 1099 workers a new safety net consisting of tax deductions, individual security accounts and multiemployer health care plans. All good ideas.” ― San Francisco Chronicle
This book is a must read for those concerned about how technology is disrupting the way we work and eroding the social safety net, and how policy makers should respond to ensure that the growing number of workers in the “gig” economy earn adequate benefits.
—Laura D’Andrea Tyson, UC-Berkeley and former Chair of the US President’s Council of Economic Advisers
“Steven Hill’s groundbreaking book on the part-time, unstable ‘Uber Economy’ shows how a new sub-economy becomes a work of law-flouting regress undermining full-time work. Remote corporate algorithms run riot!”
— Ralph Nader, consumer advocate
For many years, Steven Hill’s analysis, commentary and activism have helped shape our understanding of the U.S. political economy. His latest book, Raw Deal is A riveting expose that shows with alarming lucidity what Americans stand to lose if we don’t figure out how to rein in the technological giants that are threatening the American Dream.
–Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor and publisher of The Nation
Raw Deal combines compelling stories with lots of evidence and policy prescriptions in a one-of-a-kind book on the “new economy.” Getting below the techno-babble hype about “sharing” and “disruption,” Hill shows the enormous human costs of “no rules” labor markets.
— Jeffrey Pfeffer, Professor, Graduate School of Business, Stanford Univ, Fortune columnist
In Raw Deal, Steven Hill documents in frightening detail the ways in which new forms of work promise to plunge US workers and their families into further economic hardship, risk-assumption, and instability. Fortunately, Hill does not simply anticipate catastrophe; he closes the book with an informed call for institutional reforms that would lessen the negative consequences of these potentially dangerous forms of work. Anyone concerned with US working conditions – whether American workers, worker advocates, labor market scholars, or policy-makers – must read this book .
— Janet C. Gornick, Professor of Political Science and Sociology, Graduate Center, City University of New York, Director, LIS: Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg
Praise for Expand Social Security Now
“Read this book before you vote. Few issues are more important to your personal economic future. Steven Hill shows what’s at stake, and he offers solutions that Americans of all stripes can agree on.”
—Robert B. Reich, author of “Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few”
“Steven Hill has written a barn burner of a book. Or perhaps I should say ‘myth buster,’ because he systematically demolishes the false justifications for slashing Social Security. In place of misplaced animus and misleading arguments, he offers a strong case for dramatically expanding America’s most successful domestic program in an age of rising inequality and widespread financial insecurity.”
—Jacob S. Hacker, coauthor of “American Amnesia: How the War on Government Led Us to Forget What Made America Prosper”, Professor, Yale University
“Steven Hill has written a vigorous defense of Social Security, the country’s most important social program. While most political debate in recent years has focused on ways to cut Social Security or privatize it, Hill goes in the opposite direction and argues for a robust expansion. Hill proposes a Social Security program that would be adequate by itself to support a middle-class retirement.”
—Dean Baker, co-founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, and author of “Getting Back to Full Employment: A Better Bargain for Working People”
“Steven Hill has produced a dynamite handbook for angry Americans who seek to take back democracy. The true contest is not Republicans versus Democrats. It is the American people versus Washington. And this is the sleeper issue the people can win. The governing elites in both parties are trying to eviscerate Social Security—arguably the most successful and most popular program created by the federal government. Hill explains why the political insiders and their Wall Street patrons are wrong about Social Security. He shows us how to mobilize to defeat the power elites and expand Social Security rather than destroy it.”
—William Greider, author of “Come Home, America: The Rise and Fall (and Redeeming Promise) of Our Country”
Praise for Europe’s Promise
Financial Times: “Steven Hill is a lucid and engaging writer. He makes you sit up and think.”
Llewellyn King, PBS’ White House Chronicle: “Steven Hill is an extraordinarily gifted writer.”
The Economist: “In a new book, Steven Hill extols the European social contract for better government services. Life in Europe is more secure, he argues, and therefore more agreeable.”
Hendrik Hertzberg, The New Yorker: “Like a reverse Alexis de Tocqueville, Steven Hill dauntlessly explores a society largely unknown to his compatriots back home.”
Andrew Moravcsik, Foreign Affairs: “Europe’s Promise is a timely and provocative book . . . the “social capitalist” policies of European countries represent best practices in handling most of the challenges modern democracies face today.”
Copyright © 2021 Steven Hill. All Rights Reserved.
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A brave new taxi and private hire world
In December, TfL co-hosted the fourth international taxi seminar in London.
Members from the International Association for Public Transport (UITP) from 23 countries joined Helen Chapman, general manager of TPH, to discuss the future role of taxis and private hire vehicles in a rapidly-changing technological landscape.
Although legislation differs across the globe, the challenges facing the industry are roughly the same and cover four main areas:
An increase in the number of vehicles and congestion
Accessibility and social inclusion
One of the liveliest sessions of the conference took delegates straight into the future world of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and their impact on the taxi and private hire trades. Led by Matthew Daus, president of the International Association of Transport Regulators in New York, it provoked more questions than answers.
With AVs already being trialled in many countries, they are a science fact rather than fantasy, but what will happen when they operate on our roads? Will there have to be segregated lanes separating them from conventional cars? Will passengers feel safe in them and how will insurance work if they are involved in collisions?
With the technology advancing fast, and Chancellor Philip Hammond wanting fully-autonomous cars to be on UK roads by 2021, AVs are a subject that will continue to provoke a lot of debate.
A number of measures to enhance the safety of passengers were set out in the Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan published in 2016.
Driver safety is also very important because drivers work alone, sometimes at night with inebriated passengers in their vehicle. The requirement for taxi drivers to accept credit cards and the increasing shift to cashless payments in both taxis and private hire vehicles could help to reduce crime against drivers.
Mobility-impaired customers and people from low income groups often rely on taxis and private hire vehicles for travel. In London, all taxis are wheelchair accessible and from 6 April last year, taxi and private hire drivers operating a wheelchair-accessible vehicle have been required to transport passengers in wheelchairs at no extra cost. Assistance dogs must also be carried with no extra charge to the passenger.
Dr Clare Linton, a researcher at the Urban Transport Group, which co-hosted the event, said: ‘Taxis and private hire vehicles provide consumer choice and a means of getting from A to B when public transport isn’t available. They are also a major source of employment. However, as the sector changes and grows the implications for a host of issues, including air quality, public safety and congestion, mean that we need a far more strategic approach at both national and local level. This will ensure the taxi and private hire sector provides a good and safe experience for users and drivers while going with the grain of wider policies to make our cities greener, more inclusive and less congested places.’
Mobiles for mobility
The area of technology that has had the biggest effect on the taxi and private hire trades isn’t in car design but the rise of the smartphone. This has led to a number of transport businesses developing apps to match drivers to passengers. Known as Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), their success has encouraged existing taxi and private hire operators to adopt TNC-type approaches, such as launching their own apps. Customers like them because they offer convenience and ease of use, while for companies they create security of payment and a record of vehicle location at all times.
As the industry changes there are a number of issues TfL would like to see addressed (as set out in the Mayor's Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan). These include:
Clear, statutory definitions of plying for hire and pre-booked services
Limiting the number of private hire vehicle and driver licences issued
Stopping cross-border hiring
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Construction of Stuart Elementary and High School, 4th Street, was estimated at about $40,000. Architect was Frederick Trimble and contractor was Joseph C. Hanner Company, both of Orlando. Ground was broken Oct. 12, 1922. By that time several elementary schools had been built in surrounding areas such as Jensen, Rio, Salerno, Hobe Sound and Indiantown, but the school on East 4th would be the only high school built for the next 40 years! When Stuart High School opened in September 1923, with principal Ethel C. Youngblood, there were about 300 students, which included elementary grades. Transportation was needed. By September 1925, with Stuart's school population being about 500 students, the school board authorized the use of seven buses to transport about 140 children, grades 6 to 12, from the outlying communities to school.
This was accomplished by contracting six private bus drivers. Each driver furnished the bus and paid for fuel, maintenance, license and liability insurance. Only men were hired and each was responsible for students in a specific section of the county, even if more than one bus was required. The contracted driver was accountable for any other buses and drivers needed, including all costs.
In 1929, William C. Johnson covered the Jensen, Sewall's Point, Rio and North Fork areas with two buses and one touring car. Vernon Taylor needed two buses to cover Gaines Highway (Route 76), Salerno and the Port Sewall section. A. E. Stanley handled the Palm City and Tropical Farms routes using two buses. At the southern end of the county, John E. Falk transported students from the Olympia (Hobe Sound) Gomez and Olympia Beach areas to Salerno where a transfer of students was made to Vernon Taylor's bus, the pupils then driven to Stuart High School. W.T. Goode's bus transported students from Indiantown and O.D. Hataway operated the bus for Port Mayaca. The contract method for providing bus transportation worked well for years.
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Sold out: Dior on track to become V&A’s most successful show ever
“Many people are buying membership just so they can get in,” ticket attendant says
22nd February 2019 12:24 GMT
An installation view of the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London © Adrien Dirand
All pre-bookable tickets for the Dior: Designer of Dreams show at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A; until 15 July) in London have sold out, making the exhibition one of the V&A’s most successful and lucrative shows ever.
Tickets are priced at £20 to £24 with concessions available. Extra tickets will be released monthly around the 15th while a limited number of tickets can be bought from 10am at the museum. Members of the V&A can still access the exhibition nonetheless. “Many people are buying membership just so they can get in,” said a ticket attendant at the exhibition.
The show charts the history and influence of the late French fashion designer who was also a committed Anglophile. Highlights include a haute couture Barnabé suit dating from 1949, a delicate embellished dress worn by Princess Margaret on her 21st birthday, and garments designed by successive Dior creative directors such as John Galliano and Maria Grazia Chiuri.
Comments on the museum’s Instagram feed reflect the frustration felt by some disappointed Dior fans. “Please tell me fashion will come to V&A Dundee [the museum’s Scottish satellite] at some point,” says one contributor. Another says that “it’s a shame that there are great exhibitions in London but everything is ‘sold out’… what is the point apart from discouraging people from going to the museum?”
More NewsTopicsVictoria & Albert MuseumLondonDior
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SOCCER: Coleman, Holland, Hurley & O’Brien-Whitmarsh sign back with Cork City for 2021
By TheCork.ie on 30th December, 2020 Comments Off on SOCCER: Coleman, Holland, Hurley & O’Brien-Whitmarsh sign back with Cork City for 2021
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
Cork City FC are delighted to announce that Cian Coleman, Dale Holland, Ronan Hurley and Beineón O’Brien-Whitmarsh have signed back with the club for the 2021 season.
Coleman came through the ranks at City, captaining the Under 19s, going on to play for Cobh Ramblers, Limerick and St. Pat’s before returning to his hometown club for the 2020 season.
Speaking to CorkCityFC.ie, the midfielder said: “I am delighted to sign back with City. Having spoken to Colin, I know what he wants to do and it’s something I want to be a part of. We will have a young, hungry squad that will give everything for the club, and I can’t wait to get started.”
City boss Colin Healy welcomed Coleman’s signing, saying: “I have known Cian since he was playing in our academy, and I am delighted that he has signed back. He is a young, local lad who wants to play for this club, and we know what we will get from him.”
“His attitude, when I came in at the end of last season, was excellent. He wants to learn, develop and improve, and we will work with him to get the best out of him. We have a lot of players who have come though the academy in recent years and gone on to play for the first team. They know the club and want to do well for the club, and they will be important players for us going into next season.”
Holland joined the club at Under 17 level in 2017, progressing through the Under 19s and into the first team squad. He told CorkCityFC.ie that he feels City boss Colin Healy can get the best out of him, saying: “I am very happy to sign back. Colin getting the job played a big part for me. I know him, he knows me, and I have played for him in the academy and again in the first team. Colin got the best out of me and I think that will happen again, so I am really looking forward to working with him again. We all want to get the club back to where we feel it should be, so the hard work starts now.”
Commenting on the news, Healy said: “Dale is another player who has done really well in our academy and progressed on to the first team. Having coached Dale in the academy for the last two or three years, I know what he is about, and what he can bring to the team. Dale is a good footballer, and he is also a real competitor, so he is another important signing who will add to the team for the season ahead.”
O’Brien-Whitmarsh joined City’s Under 17s in 2016 and, after a short spell at Cobh Ramblers, also lined out for City’s Under 19s before breaking into the first team in 2019. The attacker told CorkCityFC.ie: “I am just looking forward to getting back into it, playing as many games as I can and scoring as many goals as I can. I didn’t get much of a run last year until the last three games, so getting a run of games this year will be important.”
“Myself and Colin know each other very well, so it is good to have that relationship and that confidence in things going into the season ahead. My main focus is to get back in for pre-season, work hard and play as many games as possible.”
Welcoming the news, City boss Colin Healy said: “I know Beineón very well from the academy, and I know what he can bring to the side. He has had a few chances at first team level, but I think there is even more to come from him. It is a great opportunity for him to show what he is about.”
Ronan Hurley captained City’s Under 19s under Healy, and he spoke about the importance of being able to continue his studies alongside playing: “As soon as Colin rang, I knew I wanted to sign back. I have worked with him a lot, I know how good a coach he is and I want to play for him. Being able to combine playing football with my studies in UCC is a great help. There is a great relationship between the club and the university, which really helps also.”
“I’m from Cork, I’m a Cork City fan and last year hurt me, so I want to play my part in bringing the club back to where it should be.”
Healy said Hurley would be an important asset for his side, commenting: “Ronan is still quite young, but he has quite a few games under his belt at this stage. He has captained the club at Under 19 level as well, so we know what his qualities are. Having worked closely with him, I know what he is capable of, and he will be an important player for us next season.”
SOCCER: Coleman, Holland, Hurley & O’Brien-Whitmarsh sign back with Cork City for 2021 added by TheCork.ie on 30th December, 2020
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studies May 15, 2015
The Psychological Case Against Casual Fridays
By Melissa Dahl
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock. Photo: NBC
I used to work with a guy who refused to let his sartorial standards drop just because it was nearly the weekend. Instead of Casual Fridays, he tried to institute its opposite: Fancy Fridays. This did not exactly catch on widely in the office, and yet he might’ve been onto something. A recent paper in Social Psychological and Personality Science argues in favor of dressing up, finding that when people felt more formally dressed as compared to their surrounding peers, they tended to think more creatively.
The psychological meaning of clothing is something academics have been curious about for more than a century, particularly the influential Harvard psychologist William James, who believed the clothes you wear ranked just under your physical body, but above your immediate family, in contributing to your understanding of who you are.
And modern research has borne this idea out, suggesting that clothes indeed influence self-perception. People who feel dressed-up are more likely to think of themselves as competent and rational; in contrast, those who are dressed casually tend to describe their personality accordingly, as friendly and laid-back. Recently, a team of researchers from Columbia University and California State University, Northridge, took this idea a step further and conducted a series of five experiments that suggest the clothes we wear don’t just influence the way we think about ourselves; they also seem to influence the way we think, period.
Specifically, they found that people who felt more formally dressed than the people around them were more likely to think abstractly. “And by that we mean, basically, holistic or big-picture thinking — so not focusing on the details but seeing bigger ideas, seeing how things connect from a more high-level perspective,” said Michael Slepian, first author on the new paper, which was recently published in Social Psychological and Personality Science.
In one experiment, for example, Slepian asked college students to come to the lab with two sets of clothing: an outfit they’d wear to a job interview, and an outfit they’d wear to class. (These were college students, so even the formal clothing they brought wasn’t too fancy — more like business casual, Slepian said — while the casual outfits tended toward shorts and flip-flops.) Some of the students were told to change into their interview clothes, and others were told to change into their casual ones. Both groups then answered two questionnaires, the first one asking them to rate how formally dressed they felt in comparison to the other students. The second was meant to determine their cognitive-processing style, asking them whether a given item fit within a particular category. For example, abstract thinkers — again, these are people who are more focused on the broader, bigger picture — would be more likely to answer that, sure, a camel could belong under the “vehicle” category; concrete thinkers, on the other hand, would disagree, sticking to a stricter definition of the category.
As Slepian and the rest of the research team suspected, those who’d been asked to wear their formal clothing were more likely to give answers indicating abstract thinking, something that can be explained in a couple of ways. One, being more formally dressed than those slobs around you probably makes you feel a bit surer of yourself, which, in turn, might make you feel more in control, or more like a leader.
And when people feel powerful, they’re more likely to engage in abstract thinking, previous research has shown. It also just makes intuitive sense, Slepian said. “Someone who is a leader has a big picture of where they want their team to go, what they want their team to be working on,” he explained. They have the big picture, and they have to figure out how to implement it. That’s why power leads to abstract thinking — when you’re in a position of power, you don’t have to focus on the details.”
It also could be something about the novelty of dressing up, if it’s something you’re not used to (like if, for instance, you’re a college student). In that case, perhaps the effects would wear off over time if you started dressing more formally as a habit. This isn’t something the researchers tested explicitly for, but Slepian said he buys it as a valid alternative explanation.
But does it work the other way around, in that dressing like a slob reduces your ability to think big picture? (A question I am personally interested in, as I started writing this post while clad in gym shorts and a T-shirt I got for free at a race last year.) Slepian won’t go that far, as that’s not what the data showed, but he did admit that since working on this research project, he’s stepped up his own wardrobe a bit. “When I work at home, I maybe dress a little nicer now,” he said.
Social Psychological and Personality Science
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Plague ahoy
Kathryn Hughes goes on a jaunty, vividly gory journey through the middle ages
Fri 24 Oct 2008 19.01 EDT
Ian Mortimer doesn't hold with any fancy notion about the past being impossible to know. Not for him the
postmodern practice of confining historical discussions to the sources and letting "once upon a time" take care of itself. What Mortimer wants is living history, loud and close. In The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England he sets out to re-enchant the 14th century, taking us by the hand through a landscape furnished with jousting knights, revolting peasants and beautiful ladies in wimples. It is Monty Python and the Holy Grail with footnotes and, my goodness, it is fun.
Mortimer's argument, spelled out in a thoughtful epilogue, is that these pleasures become possible not by laying critical sense to one side, but by embracing an altogether different approach. Statistics are all very well, but unless they come clothed in flesh it is hard to know them in your bones. You can read about the Black Death until you're blue (or, rather, yellow with funny red blotches) in the face. You can know it wiped out a third of Europe's population, but until you've seen a man sobbing as he tells you he has buried five sons, or watched as wild pigs chomp on the remains of your loved ones, then history remains a glorified spreadsheet of society's profit and loss. So instead Mortimer goes hunting for scraps of lived experience with which to re-animate his chosen patch of the past.
This, of course, is easier said than done: the middle ages are remote to us. Official documents provide poor pickings when it comes to building the kind of narratives which grip and won't let go. Apart from the ever-useful Paston Letters, written by an East Anglian yeoman family as they scrambled to prominence in the wake of the Black Death, Mortimer is obliged to scavenge where he can. Yet still he finds enough material to shape some sharp vignettes: a peasant playing bagpipes in a field for a female acrobat, or the dizzying sight of 10 different kinds of shop-bought sugar.
Mortimer is lucky, too, to have the work of Chaucer on hand for some vivid colouring-in. Quite apart from using The Canterbury Tales as a source book for life on the road in the 14th century, he quarries the great unfinished masterpiece for evidence of the high medieval mindset. Read The Wife of Bath's Tale, suggests Mortimer, and you learn not just about the pilgrims' experiences with skittish horses and poor inn suppers but also of how one woman managed to buck the patriarchal order, living well and joyfully. In Mortimer's skilful handling, the Wife's inner life, revealed in her linguistic riffs, becomes as telling as anything five centuries later by Freud.
Mortimer also tries to bring us living history by using the second person and the present tense throughout. So, you are travelling into the city, you are sitting down at table, you are eyeing up a cross-looking band of outlaws and deciding whether it is safe to run. It is a verbal tic, the present tense especially, which has become the default voice for documentaries and which is now creeping into history writing. This relentless presentism can seem irritating, until you remember that the perfect tense, in which history has conventionally been told, is equally arbitrary. As Mortimer points out, if you are to experience the 14th century the way he intends, then you must do so in the unspooling moment, oblivious to what lies ahead.
What makes these slightly awkward stylistic choices bearable is that Mortimer knows what he is doing. He has previously written three very well received biographies of medieval kings which are both readable and erudite (much rarer in popular writing about the middle ages than you might think). His background as a professional archivist throws a cloak of probity over a project which might otherwise have veered towards Ladybird territory. If he sometimes cites a secondary text which seems to be growing whiskers - for instance WG Hoskins's 1953 classic on the English landscape - then you feel reassured that no other source will quite do.
The result of this careful blend of scholarship and fancy is a jaunty journey through the 14th century, one that wriggles with the stuff of everyday life. On many occasions this wriggling is quite literal: entrails seem to be everywhere, from the pigs' insides slopped in a bucket to the traitors who are forever having their bowels hooked out and burned in front of them.
Moments of peace and beauty seem rare, especially for anyone beneath the rank of merchant. Some of the best although also the most unnerving passages in the book describe what sounds like an assault course of dirt, danger and low-grade disapproval from the chorus of busybodies who squat on the sidelines watching your every move. For if one thing is clear in Mortimer's deft summary of life in the high medieval period, it is that you are never alone. Any sense of yourself as an individual, with particular desires or needs, always buckles in the face of the greater demands of the community.
That isn't to deny the book's many lighter moments. Mortimer has a sharp eye for those "well-I-never" factoids. For instance, until the beginning of the 13th century there was no difference between right and left shoes, which must have been useful if you were getting dressed in the dark (and, chances are, you were). The phrase "Women and children first" had a different meaning: the quickest way to lighten a sinking ship was to throw any wimple-wearers overboard. Finally, and quite the best of all, in 1337 Edward III passed a law forbidding anyone to play football - on pain of death. He wanted everyone to practise archery instead.
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For 21 years, Southall Black Sisters have campaigned in defence of women jailed for killing violent men. Melissa Benn pays tribute
Special report: race issues in the UK
Thu 27 Jul 2000 12.08 EDT
You wouldn't give it a second glance, this drab shop front in a silent suburban street. Press a buzzer on the side of the red door and you are in a dark but homely house, a warren of meeting rooms and offices. There are toys out for visiting children, cake in the fridge. But the curtains of the front room are permanently drawn to deter brick throwers, death threats or irate husbands with sawn-off shotguns.
Welcome to a unique institution in British radical life, black life, feminist life. This month, Southall Black Sisters celebrated their 21st anniversary. "Oh yes," said a friend in instant recognition. "They save women, don't they?"
It's easy to see what she means. Over the past two decades, Southall Black Sisters have mobilised some of the most public and poignant campaigns in defence of women jailed for killing violent or abusive men. When Kiranjit Ahluwalia was released from prison in 1992, after the court agreed she had killed her violent husband in a final act of survival, she came to SBS to say thank you. She couldn't believe her eyes, says Pragna Patel. "When she saw that we were so few, she said, how do you do it? How does an organisation with such a big persona operate on such small reserves?"
One answer is commitment, sheer hard work. Southall Black Sisters have four full-time workers, three of whom are funded by Ealing Council, the fourth by a group of charities. Their small offices are cramped, the phone rings constantly. A thousand women a year come knocking on their door, many fleeing domestic violence and the problems it throws up: homelessness, benefits, racial violence, difficulties with immigration status.
"This is no ordinary nine to five job," Patel says. "The workers are so busy dealing with women during the day, the only time they can do their paperwork and administration is in the evenings or at weekends."
In addition Patel, who has recently completed the academic stage of a solicitor's qualification, reckons she and the other committee members give to Southall Black Sisters "between 50% and 70% of our working time, mostly unpaid". What motivates these women is "a sense of belonging, of confidence, a sense that here we are our true selves".
Patel, 39, has been involved with Southall Black Sisters since 1982, but there is a younger generation coming up now, among them Anita Johal, 30. "I came to Southall Black Sisters because I wanted to put in a wider context what had happened to me. I had done a masters in law in relation to race and immigration, yet I had been in a violent relationship myself. That was a cruel irony, to be theoretically studying the issues and yet, in reality, facing them. This job has politicised me, no doubt."
Southall Black Sisters emerged from the 1979 clashes between anti-racist youth and fascists in Southall, the ferment that killed the white teacher Blair Peach. Black women's groups were springing up in many cities but according to Nira Yuval-Davis, professor in gender and ethnic studies at the University of Greenwich, SBS never drowned in what was once fashionable identity politics. "They had enough of a grounding in their own position to be open to other feminists and to work towards shared goals and visions."
As an example of this, she cites a 1984 demonstration outside the house of a young woman driven to suicide by her violent husband. Patel recalls how, after the first ever march through Southall against domestic violence, "we adopted the methods of the Indian women's movement, by standing silently outside. A lot of the women were disguised as they had left the area already because of domestic violence. They were incredibly brave." A white socialist feminist academic ran the crèche.
Since then, Southall Black Sisters have worked with an array of groups to secure the freedom of women like Kiranjit Ahluwalia or Zoora Shah, the non-literate Muslim woman who, in 1992, murdered the man who had waged a campaign of physical and sexual terror against her. Shah remains in prison; Rahila Gupta, a member of Southall Black Sisters since 1989, is writing a play about her.
According to Gupta: "We have always been under attack for washing our dirty linen in public, not just from traditional conservatives but from the black left in general. We are accused of fuelling racist stereotypes." She pauses. "This is the big question we are always asking ourselves - how to present a public face without being considered counterproductive."
The question was particularly pertinent in both the Rushdie and Tyson affairs. Southall Black Sisters tried to find a political way, often at great personal risk, between what they saw as white racist stereotypes and a failure in the black community to examine honestly its attitudes towards women.
But public success and a changed political climate have brought new difficulties, Patel says. "We were used to oppositional politics under Thatcher and Major. With Blair, there's a feeling that we should seize the moment and see if we can have a positive influence on the institutions." One of their biggest recent successes was to get the government to drop the notorious one year rule, which left women newly arrived in this country, who had fled violent marriages, with no immigration status. Now such women are allowed to stay indefinitely.
The group is also often asked to talk to senior police officers about race and domestic violence. At one seminar, Johal says: "They had to sit and listen to us for a whole day. Wonderful!"
The price of inclusion is not always so pleasurable. Having lobbied hard to make sure the working party on forced marriages consulted a wider range of women's groups, Southall Black Sisters member Hannana Siddiqui resigned from the working party last month in protest at its support for mediation as a viable option for women in forced marriages.
Yuval-Davis says: "Southall Black Sisters have come to represent some kind of ideal to black feminist activists. But I don't see them as unique so much as the better expression of a wider trend, a trend of self-assertion that has taken root in both the urban centres of Britain and globally. It is the kind of politics that was evident at Beijing where often the best organised groups were not led by western white feminists."
Think global, act local. In their own community, 21 years may not have brought respectability but they have finally brought a measure of acceptance to this extraordinary group of women. "In the early stages," Patel says, "the community was much more hostile. We would be hassled in the street, called prostitutes, home-wreckers and lesbians. But the community has had to acknowledge that we exist. They may or may not like us but they can no longer deny us."
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Firing In Jamia: Firing Again Near Jamia University, Police Filed Fir
February 3, 2020 - by techymob - 1 Comment
Shooting at Jamia Millia Islamia late on Sunday night caused panic. The incident is reported to be around 11.30 pm on Sunday night. Protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and NRC, the agitators sitting on a sit-in at Jamia’s Gate number 7 created panic when the sound of firing at Gate number five was heard. Although the police have not confirmed this, the media group of the Jamia Coordination Committee claimed to have fired. At the same time, there has been a statement of the Delhi Police regarding firing, saying that no bullet has been recovered nearby. Action is being taken by registering a case.
The message of the committee says that two young men riding Scooty have fired, one of whom is wearing a red jacket. A video of Afratfri is also going viral in front of Jamia in social media. However, where and when the video is also not clear. It may be known that a few days ago during a foot march, a minor shot in front of the police, in which a student was injured.
According to the report, one of them was wearing a red jacket, while the other one was wearing a red-colored society. However, no one was hurt in the incident.
Delhi: Students of Jamia Millia Islamia University and others gather outside Jamia Nagar Police station. An incident of firing near gate number 5 of the university, by two scooter-borne unidentified people, was reported earlier tonight. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Regarding this incident, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) said that SHOs are present at the scene, awaiting confirmation and details.
Explain that a few days ago, a student opened fire in Jamia area of Delhi. Students of Jamia Millia, who were marching against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), were shot by a 17-year-old teenager in front of the police. A student at the university was injured in this shootout. In Jamia area, a young man came waving a pistol and shot it saying ‘Take this freedom’, while a heavy police force was deployed in the area. Tension prevailed in the area after this incident. At the same time, after this, a person was also firing near Shaheen Bagh/
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Danbury won't waste Oliver's donation - on 1 condition
DANBURY, Conn. - A Connecticut city won't waste an opportunity to get a sizeable donation from comedian John Oliver about a weeks-long joke pertaining to the name of a sewage plant in the area.
Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said on WTNH-TV that he would accept Oliver's challenge to name the city's sewage plant after him following Oliver's offer to donate $55,000 to local charities.
But Boughton said there was one stipulation to the facility's renaming. "We do have one very specific condition. You must come here to Danbury and be physically present when we cut the ribbon," he said in a Facebook video posted Sunday.
The announcement was the latest volley in a war of words between the host of HBO's "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" and Boughton after Oliver first bashed Danbury on an Aug. 16 during a segment on racial disparities in jury selection that was actually focused on other areas of Connecticut.
"If you're going to forget a town in Connecticut, why not forget Danbury?" Oliver said. He finished his rant with a taunt: "If you're from there, you have a standing invite to come get a thrashing from John Oliver - children included."
Boughton followed up with an Aug. 22 Facebook post that showed the mayor in front of the city's sewage plant. "We are going to rename it the John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant," the Republican mayor said. "Why? Because it's full of crap just like you, John."
Oliver raised the stakes on his Aug. 30 show by offering to donate $55,000 to Danbury-area charities if officials followed through on naming the plant after him.
The comedian played a video of Boughton saying the offer was a joke and said, "Wait, so you're not doing it?" Oliver said he hadn't known that he wanted his name on the sewage plant "but now that you floated it as an option, it is all that I want."
A message seeking comment on Boughton's demand that Oliver attend the ribbon-cutting was sent to Oliver's manager.
It was unclear why Oliver first singled out Danbury, a city of about 80,000 in Fairfield County that was once a hatmaking center.
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Feb. 7, Arts and Entertainment: Poet laureate…
Things To DoEntertainment
Feb. 7, Arts and Entertainment: Poet laureate enjoys first year
Big events in March, April
Vallejo’s poet laureate, D.L. Lang, sits behind an anthology she edited, ‘Verses, Voices & Visions of Vallejo.’ Many of the 43 poets included in the publication will be at a March 13 event at JFK Library in Vallejo. (Rich Freedman–Times-Herald)
By Richard Freedman | rfreedman@timesheraldonline.com | Vallejo Times Herald
PUBLISHED: February 5, 2019 at 2:53 p.m. | UPDATED: February 5, 2019 at 2:53 p.m.
D.L. Lang is the first to agree it is good to be queen. Actually, not quite queen. But poet laureate isn’t a bad start.
“It’s changed my life,” Lang said. “It’s changed the way people treat me; they treat me now with respect. Before, I was kind of invisible.”
The title “Ms. D.L. Lang” transitioned to “Poet Laureate D.L. Lang” about 17 months ago, taking the baton of bards from Genea Brice, Vallejo’s first poet laureate.
“It’s been a lot of fun, a lot of joy,” Lang said, sitting for this chat recently at the JFK Library in downtown Vallejo.
“I get to go all over the place to read my poetry to people,” Lang continued. “It’s been a dream come true.”
Becoming poet laureate — “one regarded by a country or region as its most eminent or representative poet” — isn’t exactly a title or duty one strives for, Lane acknowledged.
“Not in a million years,” she said. “My original dream was to write one poetry book and now I have 11 and I get to hang out with all these talented people all the time.”
The grand title has led Lang to recite her poetry at various events and venues, forcing someone admittedly “a little socially awkward” into the public eye.
“When I was a kid, I barely spoke. Suddenly, I found myself enjoying public speaking, which is ironic,” Lang said. “But it took me to my 30s before I started performing. I had been writing 20 years prior to getting on stage. Most of the time, I don’t get stage fright any more.”
Lang has adjusted to life as a public figure.
“I get recognized and I have friends all over the place,” she said. “It’s nice to be recognized by the thing you love to do most.”
Poetry is a talent Lang believes she’s had for some time, though, obviously, it wasn’t quite as refined early on.
“When I was 10 years old, I made some really bad attempts at writing country songs and surfing songs,” Lang said. “When I look back now, maybe they were great for a 10 year old.”
Born in Germany, this “Army brat” lived in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma before anchoring herself to California 13 years ago.
The traveling has given Lang a different perspective to base her poetry.
“I have a lot of different places and memories and cultures to draw from,” she said. “I’ve been inspired a lot by road trips with my dad, driving across the country a few times. There’s always new people to meet and every place is a little bit different.”
As much as Lang enjoys traveling, “I also love having a home base to come back to.”
It doesn’t take a panoramic view of the Grand Canyon to inspire Lang.
“I get inspired all the time,” she said. “I could be walking out in nature or going to synagogue. Or enjoying live music sitting down at the bar.”
The oddest location she gets inspired to write?
“Probably when I’m in the shower,” grinned Lang.
Left with no pen, paper or computer, “I just have to recite and memorize,” she said chuckling.
A prolific writer, Lang said far more poems she writes won’t see the light of public scrutiny than those she unveils.
“I probably have 300 poems I just trashed,” she said.
Quality poetry is likely borne from a combination of natural talent and ability learned. For Lang, she was inspired by the songwriting of Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan.
Two who really “spoke to me” early in Lang’s writing were the late Jim Morrison of The Doors and poet Allen Ginsburg.
“Lately, local poets are people I surrounded myself with that have a lot of talent,” Lang said, a pivotal reason why she created an edited “Verses, Voices & Visions of Vallejo,” an anthology that includes 43 poets mostly from Vallejo.
Many of those poets and Lang will be at the JFK Library’s Joseph Room on Wednesday, March 13.
Lang pondered the anthology last summer when she applied to be the next Vallejo poet laureate.
“It’s really a way to bring people together and I want people to recognize how much talent is here in the city, to celebrate poetry and come together for a good cause,” Lang said, letting each poet have at it.
“I didn’t censure anyone,” she said. “I just let them be them.
Proceeds from any anthology sales goes to the Vallejo Peace Project, said Lang, adding that it was a learning experience.
“I found that I could relate to a lot of the poetry,” she said, with the project taking six months to compile and four months to edit.
Beyond giving her an identity, this whole “poet laureate” has its challenges, Lang said.
“People expect me to be a most knowledgeable poet,” Lang said. “They project a lot of knowledge onto me that I don’t have.”
Admittedly, Lang said there are times “I’m getting in over my head,” and she merely leans on advice that Brice gave her.
“She just told me to be myself and that it’s up to me as an artist to seek my own path,” Lang said.
After the anthology release gathering in March, Lang returns to the JFK Library on April 6 for the annual poetry gathering that includes Tom Stanton, Benicia’s poet laureate, and Juanita Martin, the former poet laureate of Fairfield.
With an eye on the rest of the year, “I would like to continue to grow the number of places I get to go read,” Lang said.
Richard Freedman | Community Editor
Community Editor Richard Freedman has been with the Times-Herald 24 years. He writes the entertainment sections for the Times-Herald and The Reporter in Vacaville and occasionally news and sports. He can be reached at rfreedman@timesheraldonline.com or (707) 553-6820.
rfreedman@timesheraldonline.com
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Vallejo artist Pearl Jones Tranter passes away at 87
January 21, Arts and Entertainment Source: Fantastic Negrito never surrendered
January 21, Arts and Entertainment Source: Yountville Short Film Fest Director Virtually Confident
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You can stay at Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald's former home
Feb. 23, 2018, 8:49 PM UTC / Source: TODAY
By Julie Pennell
Attention, writers and readers: We may have found your next literary vacation spot.
One of the former homes of F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, has been converted into a museum dedicated to the Jazz Age novelists, and upstairs there’s a two-bedroom apartment you can actually stay in.
The home is located in historic Cloverdale, one of Montgomery's oldest neighborhoods.Jonathon Kohn
Located in Montgomery, Alabama, the home is the last of four still standing that the couple resided in through the years, according to the museum.
The two lived there from 1931 until the spring of 1932, and F. Scott Fitzgerald is said to have worked on "Tender Is the Night" while Zelda Fitzgerald wrote portions of "Save Me the Waltz" during that time.
American author F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 - 1940) wearing a tweed suit, circa 1925.Getty Images
Originally built in 1909, the home has been updated with modern amenities, including a full kitchen and half bath.
Mix up a gin rickey in the kitchen for an authentic experience.Jonathon Kohn
The decor gives nod to the Roaring '20s, with details such as an old radio on the bedside table, along with antique furniture and vintage lamps throughout. While not as lavish as something in "The Great Gatsby," it’s still cozy and warm.
The living room features antique furniture and a Persian rug.Jonathon Kohn
An old radio sits in the bedroom.Jonathon Kohn
There are also plenty of references to the writers’ works thanks to the books scattered around the apartment, and even pillows featuring their quotes.
Books by the writers are scattered throughout the home.Jonathon Kohn
In the master bedroom, there’s a queen bed, while the second bedroom has two twin beds. The separate living room, dining room and sun porch all have views of the sprawling magnolia tree on the front lawn.
Those who stay in the apartment have access to a complimentary tour of the museum.
Sara Powell, director of the museum, told TODAY Home they’ve had writers from across the nation stay there, using it as a writer’s residency.
While the apartment is booked through May, it will be made available to the public again through Airbnb, where it costs $150 per night. For writers or scholars doing research or working with the museum, lodging is on a donation basis. If you’re interested in staying there, you can contact the museum at 334-264-4222 or thefitzgeraldmuseum@gmail.com to be notified when bookings are open again.
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AAA NCNU NAMES DOWNEY CEO
The McGlynn: That’s My Gal !……..Oops…That’s Our Gal !!!!
Walnut Creek, Calif., July 1, 2010 – Current company president Paula F. Downey has been named chief executive officer of AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah and its insurance affiliate, the California State Auto Group.
Downey is the only female chief executive among top property and casualty insurance companies. She heads the second-largest club and insurance company in the national AAA federation, with more than $2.6 billion in annual revenue and over 4.2 million members. The insurance company offers insurance services through partnerships with other AAA clubs to more than 10 million members in 18 states. Downey succeeds James Pouliot, who will focus full-time on his role as chief executive officer of AAA Club Affiliates, a holding company established as a consolidation vehicle for other AAA clubs.
“Paula’s leadership has been critical to the company’s success and growth, particularly during a difficult economy,” said Vivian Stephenson, chairperson of AAA NCNU’s board of directors. “She’s played a pivotal role in the opening of AAA NCNU’s new headquarters as well as enhancing the company’s financial strength, which is reflected in the renewal of the company’s A+ rating from worldwide insurance rating agency A.M Best.”
“I am honored to take on the role of CEO and eager to continue building on AAA NCNU’s strong track record of excellent customer service to AAA members and policyholders,” said president and CEO Paula Downey.
Downey joined AAA NCNU as chief financial officer in April 2000 after more than 25 years with AAA Michigan. In 2003, she moved into the role of chief operating officer and in 2005 she was named the company’s president. As CEO, she will be responsible for all aspects of the multi-state organization, which provides insurance, travel and automotive services to its members.
Downey serves on the boards of BRE Properties Inc. and the Bay Area Council. She served as chair of the Transportation Committee of the Bay Area Council (2007-2008) and is a Board Associate for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Downey has been recognized for the past five years as one of the Bay Area’s 100 Most Influential Women in Business by the San Francisco Business Times. She received the Corporate Leader Award on behalf of AAA NCNU from Leadership California in May, 2010. She also received the Diversity Best Practices 2008 CEO Leadership Award and the 2006 Spirit of Achievement Award from Junior Achievement.
She received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from University of Michigan, Dearborn, and her master’s in business administration from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Downey is a resident of San Rafael, California. She and her husband Michael have one daughter, Sara.
AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance, DMV, financial services and consumer discounts to over 4.2 million members. AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers since it was founded more than 100 years ago. ###
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Way to go, Paula!!! Congratulations and all the best to you, Michael, and Sara!
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The Jewish War on White Australia: Colin Tatz and the Genocide Charge—PART THREE
September 8, 2018 /3 Comments/in Featured Articles /by Brenton Sanderson
Professor Colin Tatz
Go to Part 1.
Critiquing Australia
From his arrival in Australia in 1961, Colin Tatz quickly identified those aspects of Australian society to his extreme distaste—what he describes as the “warts, some of which I have watched grow into malignant lumps.”[1] Foremost among these, he claims, was the gap in social indicators between White Australians and the Aborigines. Australia’s indigenous population has always had the worst health, and the lowest educational, occupational, economic, and social status of any identifiable section of the Australian population. The annual report on progress in the Australian government’s strategy of “Closing the Gap” between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians has been called an “annual statement of failure, a catalogue of defeat.”
In 2015–16, $33.4 billion of Australian taxpayers’ money was spent on Aboriginal programs: $44,886 for every Aborigine in the nation. More than a thousand government initiatives seek to ameliorate the myriad manifestations of Aboriginal social and economic dysfunction. In many communities there is one service for every five residents. Wilcannia, in New South Wales, for example, had 102 funded services in 2012 for an indigenous population of 474. Despite this, Aboriginal people continue to trail other Australians in virtually all metrics including life expectancy, child mortality, health, education and employment. As journalist Grace Collier noted: “The problems are shocking but seem intractable—we feel horrified and helpless; we don’t know how to assist. Worse, no matter how much money we give, it is never enough. Thirty-three billion dollars a year goes off into the ether, never to be seen again, and nothing seems to ever improve.”
Despite the burgeoning funding of proliferating Aboriginal programs, the Aboriginal leader and activist June Oscar had the nerve to excoriate successive governments for “abandoning” their commitment to tackling Aboriginal disadvantage, and for failing to execute and adequately fund Closing the Gap. Rather than responsibility for the lack of any improvement residing with Aboriginal people themselves, Oscar maintained that failure of achieve the Closing the Gap targets measured nothing but “the collective failure of Australian governments to work together and stay the course.”
Closing the Gap Data: The Gap in School Attendance is Clearly the Result of White Racism
Colin Tatz is dismissive of government efforts to close the gulf between Aborigines and non-Aborigines, arguing this approach “reduces Aboriginal Australians to a range of indicators of deficit, to be monitored and rectified towards government-set standards.”[2] In his view, the Closing the Gap strategy is more about “achieving government desires to alter statistics that look bad for us, a First World prosperous country.”[3] Tatz attributes the dysfunction in Aboriginal communities not to Aborigines themselves, but to the poor treatment he claims they receive at the hands of White Australian bureaucrats, whose efforts to relieve Aboriginal distress are merely designed “to make the ‘rescuers’ look better, more like decent and democratic colonisers.”[4]
This attempt to blame the intractable social pathologies of Australia’s Aborigines on the evil legacy of European colonialism, “genocide” and “racism” is the purest anti-White propaganda. The traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle of the Australia’s Aborigines was severely disrupted by the arrival of Europeans. There were around 300,000 Aborigines in Australia at the time of European colonization in 1788. Their numbers declined considerably in the decades that followed, mainly due to diseases contracted from Europeans for which they had no immunity. Aborigines were also killed by Whites in violent clashes on the frontier—often in reprisal for attacks on Whites. Violence against Aborigines was specifically prohibited by the governing authorities, and White settlers were charged with murder and executed for killing Aborigines. The 1961 census reported that the Aboriginal population of Australia at around 106,000. This had increased to 171,000 by 1981, and, incredibly, to over 800,000 in the 2016 census, suggesting the $33 billion in Closing the Gap programs is fueling a population boom. This figure has been inflated by those with tiny amounts of Aboriginal ancestry (or none) now claiming to be Aboriginal to take advantage of the ever-multiplying indigenous welfare programs, scholarships and career opportunities.
Denial of low Aboriginal IQ
Notwithstanding the fact European colonization had a range of negative effects on Australia’s Aborigines, the real (though never acknowledged) source of their dysfunctional communities is their extraordinarily low average intelligence. According to psychologist Richard Lynn, the first attempt to estimate the intelligence of the Australian Aborigines was made by Francis Galton in 1869. From descriptions of their accomplishments, he estimated that their intelligence was approximately three “grades” below that of the English. Lynn explains that: “In Galton’s metric, a grade was equivalent to 10.4 IQ points. Hence in terms of the IQ scale, he estimated the Australian Aborigine IQ at 68.8. Seventeen studies of the intelligence of Australian Aborigines assessed by intelligence tests have shown that this was a fairly accurate assessment. … The median IQ of the seventeen studies is 62 and represents the best estimate of the average intelligence of Australia’s Aborigines”[5]
The findings from studies into Aboriginal IQ have been corroborated by a study showing Aborigines have slower reaction times (reaction time being moderately correlated with IQ). Four studies of the average IQ of Aboriginal-European hybrids put it at 78—midway between the IQs of Aborigines and Europeans. The low average intelligence of Aborigines is supported by their very low levels of educational attainment. Lynn notes that: “Aborigines do poorly in education, consistently with their low intelligence, showing that their low cognitive abilities are not confined to their performance on intelligence tests.”[6] A recent report from the Grattan Institute found that remote indigenous children are five years behind the typical student in numeracy, six years behind in reading, and seven to eight years behind in writing by the time they are in Year 9 [aged 15]. “In other words,” according to the study author Peter Goss, “the average Year 9 indigenous student in a very remote area scores worse on the NAPLAN writing test than the average Year 3 [aged 8] non-indigenous student.” The reality is that a population with a mean IQ of 62 (or even 78 for mixed race Aborigines) is incapable of functioning effectively in a modern technological society like Australia.
Tatz exposes himself as an intellectual charlatan in his comprehensive rejection of the accumulated evidence demonstrating racial differences in average intelligence. In his determination to subordinate the truth to his ethnic agenda, Tatz, who purports to be “meticulous about matters of fact,” dismisses the accumulated psychometric evidence by deploying the epithet “scientistic racism.” His rhetorical technique is not to cite contradictory evidence (for there is none), but to catalogue the supposedly wrongheaded and malevolent claims about race that, he insists, Western scientists have historically used to justify the oppression of non-Whites:
Appreciating the race factor also requires going through the growth of “scientistic racism,” that is, the works of anatomists and physical anthropologists who began to examine and compare the human form and then started to attribute social characteristics to the physical ones. When physical forms as such could not establish a “suitable” hierarchy of races, they turned to measurements of “intelligence,” using craniology (skull measurement) as the ultimate criterion. Researchers concluded that Caucasians—named after what was thought to be the perfect (“white”) skull found in the Caucasus mountains in Russia—had the largest brain casing (87 cubic inches), according to physician Samuel Morton in his Crania Americana (1839). Native Americans had a mean volume of 82 cubic inches (measured using mustard seed) that, Morton deduced, made them slow of thought, averse to agriculture, vengeful, and lovers of warfare. Ethiopian and black skulls held an even smaller quantity of seed (78 cubic inches) but their owners’ bodies were the more muscular. Thus, laboratories spawned the brain versus brawn (or white versus black) dichotomy that is still prevalent in many circles. Australia’s Indigenous people (“Australoids”) had less skull volume than any other people, and were ascribed as having even more reduced capacities—a furphy propagated in Australian school texts until the 1980s.[7]
Tatz cites no actual evidence to contradict this “furphy,” and conveniently ignores more recent and precise measures of skull volume including seven studies showing the average brain size of Aborigines is significantly smaller that Europeans (brain size being correlated with IQ at approximately 0.4). The most authoritative study of Aboriginal brain size is that of Smith and Beals (1990) which gave a brain size difference of 144cc. or about 10 per cent. Tatz also completely rejects the validity of IQ testing, including the Stanford-Binet intelligence test which he claims is “still in use, or misuse, today for streaming children into different levels of education, for separating classes of people, the bright from the simple, and so on.” He contends that, “No matter what spin one puts on modern IQ testing, it remains of the same genre and ‘scientific’ validity as skull measuring.”[8] For Tatz, IQ tests were developed as part of the conspiracy by White supremacists in the U.S. to create a society that was White and Protestant and excluded Jews and Blacks.[9]
Such sophistry emanates from a man extolled by a colleague for his “fierce fidelity to truth,” a trait that has “won him a well-deserved international reputation as an intellectual,” and has “attracted the toxic enmity of those who have a vested interest in untruth.”[10] Tatz aptly characterizes his own egregious denial of racial differences in intelligence in noting that “individuals and collectives usually know (or can reasonably infer) a great deal more than they’re prepared to acknowledge. Denialist discourses present accounts of circumstances in question that obliterate or falsify their actual character. … The common technique is quintessentially assertion and contention rather than any attempt at demonstration or affirmation of their viewpoints.[11] He shares this trait with fellow Jewish academic and “Stolen Generations” propagandist, Robert Manne, who, as historian Bain Attwood has pointed out, “asserts rather than argues.”[12]
Dismissing over a century of psychometric evidence showing a gulf in mean IQ between White Australians and Aborigines allows Tatz to ascribe the dismal state of Aboriginal communities exclusively to White malevolence. He even makes the laughable claim that, prior to the 1960s, “Aborigines were, in general, the most law-abiding sector of the Australian population,” whereas now they would have to be “considered, statistically, to be the most criminal population on the planet.”[13] Indeed, he claims, “as more education, training and intervention programs are established, so more and more youth are imprisoned. Some 28 percent of all prisoners in custody are Aboriginal, a figure that brands them as the world’s foremost criminals.”[14] The link between low intelligence and a greater propensity for violent crime has been well established by criminological research.
A study recently published in the British Medical Journal by Australian researchers found, in a study of about 100 young people aged 10–17 incarcerated in Western Australia (which has a very high Aboriginal prison population), 89 per cent had at least one area of severe neurodevelopmental impairment, such as problems with memory, cognition or motors skills. The study found about a quarter were found to have to have an intellectual disability, with an IQ score at or below 70. The director of the study, Carol Bower, noted that “Almost half the young people had severe problems with language, how to listen and reply and explain what they think.”
Denial of the anthropological record
In his risible claim that Aborigines were once “the most law-abiding sector of the Australian population,” Tatz disregards anthropological evidence showing Aboriginal societies were, prior to contact with Europeans, extremely abusive to women and children and generally violent. In 1995 paleopathologist Stephen Webb published his analysis of 4500 individuals’ bones from mainland Australia going back 50,000 years. These bone collections were at the time being handed over to Aboriginal communities for re-burial, which stopped any follow-up studies.
He found highly disproportionate rates of injuries and fractures to women’s skulls, with the injuries suggesting deliberate attack and often attacks from behind, perhaps from domestic squabbles. In the tropics, for example, female head injury frequency was about 20–33%, versus 6.5–26% for males. The most extreme results were on the south coast, from Swanport and Adelaide, with female cranial trauma rates as high as 40–44%—two to four times the rate of male cranial trauma. In desert and south coast areas, 5–6% of female skulls had three separate head injuries, and 11–12% had two injuries.
The high rate of injuries to female heads was very different from the results from studies of other peoples. His findings, according to anthropologist Peter Sutton, confirm that serious armed assaults were common in Australia over thousands of years prior to the arrival of Europeans.
From British settlement in 1788, Europeans arriving in Australia were shocked at the extreme physical violence Aboriginal men inflicted on their women. Watkin Tench, a British marine officer who arrived on the First Fleet, noticed a young woman’s head “covered by contusions, and mangled by scars.” She had a spear wound above her left knee caused by a man who dragged her home to rape her. Tench wrote: “They are in all respects treated with savage barbarity; condemned not only to carry the children, but all other burthens. They meet in return for submission only with blows, kicks and every other mark of brutality.”[15] Tench observed that when an Aboriginal man “is provoked by a woman, he either spears her, or knocks her down on the spot; on this occasion he always strikes on the head, using indiscriminately a hatchet, a club, or any other weapon, which may chance to be in his hand.” British soldier William Collins recounted how “We have seen some of these unfortunate beings with more scars upon their shorn heads, cut in every direction, than could be well distinguished or counted.”[16]
In 1802 an explorer in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales wrote how, for a trivial reason, an Aboriginal “took his club and struck his wife’s head such a blow that she fell to the ground unconscious. After dinner … he got infuriated and again struck his wife on the head with his club, and left her on the ground nearly dying.”[17] In 1825, the French explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville observed that “that young girls are brutally kidnapped from their families, violently dragged to isolated spots and are ravished after being subjected to a good deal of cruelty.”[18]
George Robinson observed in the 1830s that Aboriginal men in Tasmania “courted” their women by stabbing them with sharp sticks and cutting them with knives prior to rape.[19] A contemporaneous account by an ex-convict named Lingard noted that: “I scarcely ever saw a married woman, but she had got six or seven cuts in her head, given by her husband with a tomahawk, several inches in length and very deep.”[20] Explorer Edward John Eyre similarly observed that “women are often sadly ill-treated by their husbands and friends. … They are frequently beaten about the head, with waddies [clubs], in the most dreadful manner, or speared in the limbs for the most trivial offences. … Few women will be found, upon examination, to be free from frightful scars upon their head, or the marks of spear wounds about the body. I have seen a young woman, who, from the number of these marks, appeared to have been riddled with spear wounds.”[21]
Tribal warfare and paybacks were endemic among Aborigines. The anthropologist T.G.H. Strehlow witnessed a battle in 1875 in Central Australia which was triggered by a perceived sacrilege: “The warriors turned their murderous attention to the women and older children and either clubbed or speared them to death. Finally, according to the grim custom of warriors and avengers they broke the limbs of the infants, leaving them to die ‘natural deaths.’” The final number of the dead could well have reached the high figure of 80 to 100 men, women and children. Subsequent revenge killings by the victims’ clan amounted to more than 60 people.[22]
Respected historian Geoffrey Blainey estimated that annual death rates among Aboriginal tribes in the Port Phillip Bay area were comparable with countries involved in the two world wars. A tribe in Arnhem Land in Northern Australia was so violent in the 1920s it could be placed among the world’s most lethal societies, with a homicide rate of at least 300 per 100,000 (which Stephanie Jarrett, in her book Liberating Aboriginal People from Violence, suggests could be grossly under-estimated). This is over three times that of the country with the highest homicide rate in the world in 2017 (El Salvador at 82.84 homicides per 100,000), and almost three times that of the city with the highest homicide rate in the world in 2017 (Los Cabos in Mexico at 111.33 homicides per 100,000).
William Buckley
Escaped convict William Buckley, who lived for over three decades with an Aboriginal tribe around Port Phillip Bay in present-day Victoria in the early nineteenth century, witnessed constant raids, ambushes and massacres. Buckley noted how the Watouronga tribe of Geelong in night raids “destroyed without mercy men, women and children.”
Buckley also described the practice of cannibalism between the warring tribes of the area, including the practice of eating flesh from the legs of slain warriors which “was greedily devoured by these savages.” He mentions their practice of mortuary cannibalism for love, relating that “they eat also the flesh of their own children to whom they have been much attached should they die a natural death,” and described how:
They have a brutal aversion to children who happen to be deformed at their birth. I saw the brains of one dashed out at a blow, and a boy belonging to the same woman made to eat the mangled remains. The act of cannibalism was accounted for in this way. The woman at particular seasons of the moon, was out of her senses; the moon—as they thought—having affected the child also; and certainly it had a very singular appearance. This caused the husband to deny his being the father, and the reason given for making the boy eat the child was, that some evil would befall him of he had not done so.[23]
Tatz ignores Buckley’s detailed eyewitness account of Aboriginal cannibalism, falsely claiming that “we do not have a single eyewitness account of Aboriginal cannibalism.” When the Australian politician Pauline Hanson referred to the Aboriginal practice of cannibalism in 1997, an incensed Tatz equated it with “the blood libel against the Jews,” claiming “the Hanson vilification about cannibalism is not of the same magnitude or consequence, but it is very much in the same genre.”[24]
The anthropological record totally undermines Tatz’s preferred narrative that the current epidemic of violence in Aboriginal communities is an historical aberration that can be attributed to their “genocide” and victimization at the hands of Whites. The above referenced Stephanie Jarrett notes that violence and abuse against women and children in Aboriginal communities are currently at “catastrophic levels” and that “It is important to acknowledge [the] link between today’s Aboriginal violence and violent, pre-contact tradition, because until policymakers are honest in their assessment of the causes, Aboriginal people can never be liberated from violence. … Deep cultural change is necessary, away from traditional norms and practices of violence.”[25] Aboriginal woman Bess Price, in her forward to Jarrett’s book pointed out that “my own body is scarred by domestic violence” and noted that “Aboriginal people have to acknowledge the truth. We can’t blame all of our problems on the white man.”[26]
The late political cartoonist Bill Leak drops a truth bomb
Given the anthropological record, it is hardly surprising that today’s Aborigines are ten times more likely to commit homicide than Europeans and are ten to fifteen times more likely to commit a serious assault. The latest statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show that Aboriginal women are 32 times more likely than non-Aboriginal women to be hospitalized because of family violence. Similarly, Aboriginal men are 23 times more likely to be hospitalized. Two in five homicide victims (41 percent) were killed by a current or former partner, compared with one in five homicide victims. Aboriginal communities suffer Australia’s worst rates of family violence, which are causing Aboriginal women to be hospitalized at 35 times the rate of non-Aboriginal women. Aborigines are, consequently, vastly overrepresented in Australia’s prison population.
It is common to blame White Australia for this astounding level of incarceration. Richard Lynn cites an Australian sociologist who argues that “the key general cause of the perceived criminalisation of Aborigines is universally perceived to be socioeconomic deprivation and consequential exclusion” and that “the underlying issues of unemployment, poverty, ill-health, dispossession, and disenfranchisement are the causes of the over-involvement of Aborigines in prison” and that these are themselves “the product of indirect discrimination.” Lynn notes wryly that: “Thus it is the Europeans who are responsible for the high crime rates of the Aborigines.”[27]
[1] Colin Tatz, Human Rights and Human Wrongs: A Life Confronting Racism (Clayton, Victoria; Monash University Publishing, 2015), 347.
[2] Colin Tatz, Australia’s Unthinkable Genocide (Xlibris; 2017), 1772.
[3] Ibid., 3169.
[4] Tatz, Human Rights and Human Wrongs, 355.
[5] Richard Lynn, The Global Bell Curve (Washington Summit, 2010), 47-8.
[6] Ibid., 48.
[7] Colin Tatz, “Teaching About Genocide,” In: Genocide Perspectives: A Global Crime, Australian Voices, Ed. Nikki Marczak & Kirril Shields (Sydney: UTS ePress, 2017), 241-2.
[8] Ibid., 242.
[9] Tatz, Australia’s Unthinkable Genocide, 892.
[10] Douglas Booth, “Colin Tatz: ‘Compelled to Repair a Flawed World,’” In: Genocide Perspectives: A Global Crime, Australian Voices, Ed. Nikki Marczak & Kirril Shields (Sydney: UTS ePress, 2017), 16.
[11] Tatz, Australia’s Unthinkable Genocide, 2146.
[12] Bain Attwood, The Stolen Generations and Genocide, 166.
[14] Tatz, Human Rights and Human Wrongs, 355.
[15] Nowra, Bad Dreaming: Aboriginal Men’s Violence Against Women & Children (Melbourne: Pluto Press, 2007), 10.
[16] Peter Sutton, The Politics of Suffering: Indigenous Australia and the End of the Liberal Consensus (Melbourne: University of Melbourne Press, 2009), 100.
[17] Nowra, Bad Dreaming, 13.
[18] Joan Kimm, A Fatal Conjunction: Two Laws Two Cultures (Sydney: Federation Press, 2004), 76.
[21] Stephanie Jarrett, Liberating Aboriginal People from Violence (Victoria: Ballan, 2013), 123.
[22] website
[23] William Buckley, The Life and Adventures of William Buckley: Thirty-Two Years a Wanderer Amongst the Aborigines of the Then Unexplored Country Round Port Phillip, Now the Province of Victoria (Hobart: Archibald MacDougall, 1852), 66-7.
[24] Raphael Israeli, The Blood Libel and Its Derivatives: The Scourge of Anti-Semitism (London: Routledge, 2017), 4.
[25] Jarrett, Liberating Aboriginal People from Violence, 1.
[26] Ibid., 291.
[27] Ibid. p. 56
https://www.theoccidentalobserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/tatz3.jpg 361 625 Brenton Sanderson https://www.theoccidentalobserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/TOO-Full-Logo-660x156-1.png Brenton Sanderson2018-09-08 07:32:092018-09-13 18:05:38The Jewish War on White Australia: Colin Tatz and the Genocide Charge—PART THREE
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Regulatory Recap | Aug 9, 2019
Alana Bevan, Mary Ann McNulty, and Samuel Whillans
The U.S. Treasury designates China a currency manipulator, the Senate proposes a bipartisan gun control bill, and more…
In response to significant depreciation of the Chinese yuan, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated China as a currency manipulator. Treasury Department Secretary Steven Mnuchin will now work with the International Monetary Fund to correct any trade advantage gained through currency manipulation. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) reportedly supported the designation, stating that “China has been manipulating their currency long-before and since President Trump took office.”
U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) proposed passing a law that would encourage states to pass “red flag” processes for confiscating firearms from people believed to be a danger to themselves or others. By one count, only 17 states have a similar regulation in place. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) stated that Democrats “will seek to require that any ‘Red Flag’ bill is accompanied by a vote on the House-passed background checks legislation.”
President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order placing an economic embargo on Venezuela. The order prohibits trade transactions with the Venezuelan government, including the Venezuelan Central Bank and other state-owned entities. President Trump justified the embargo on the Administration’s belief that newly reelected President Nicolás Maduro is not the legitimate authority in Venezuela, also citing ongoing “human rights abuses, arbitrary arrest and detention of Venezuelan citizens” and “curtailment of free press.” Economist Francisco Rodríguez reportedly stated that the embargo may also harm Venezuela’s private sector, as firms “could be perceived as proxies for the Venezuelan government.”
Environmental and labor groups filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit asking the court to review the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision not to ban chlorpyrifos, a pesticide linked to neurological damage in children and farmworkers. In light of EPA’s decision, several states including California and New York are working to implement state bans. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) called the evidence linking chlorpyrifos to impaired brain development “clear and unambiguous,” saying there was “no excuse” for failing to ban the pesticide.
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced legislation that would allow the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to seek civil penalties for antitrust violations from major companies. “The threat of an injunction isn’t always enough to deter this unlawful conduct from happening in the first place,” Klobuchar stated. “Dominant companies need to be put on notice that there will be serious financial consequences for illegal monopolistic behavior,” she continued. The civil penalties that would be allowed by the bill could be as high as 15 percent of a company’s total U.S. revenue.
Judge Kristine Baker of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas temporarily blocked the enforcement of Arkansas’ recently enacted abortion law, including its prohibition on abortions after 18 weeks of gestation and a ban on abortions of fetuses with Down Syndrome. She explained that the law would cause “ongoing and irreparable harm to the plaintiffs and their parents.” She further stated that the abortion ban is “facially unconstitutional” and that plaintiffs were likely to prevail on their claim that the laws are unconstitutional.
Regulators from ten states and Puerto Rico launched an investigation of the payroll cash advance industry. New York’s Department of Financial Services (DFS) is leading the investigation into whether early wage access providers seek to circumvent state consumer protection laws—which prohibit payday lending—by referring to payment from customers as “tips” rather than interest payments. DFS Superintendent Linda Lacewell promised to work “with peer regulators to safeguard consumers from predatory lending and scams that ensnare families in endless cycles of debt.”
Attorneys general from 43 states and territories sent letters to video streaming services, including Amazon, Apple, and Netflix, asking them to adopt policies protecting minor viewers from tobacco imagery. The attorneys general cited a 2012 study by the U.S. Office of the Surgeon General which indicated that exposure to tobacco imagery is partially to blame for rising rates of tobacco use among young people. A 2019 study by Truth Initiative, a nonprofit promoting cessation of tobacco use, found that Netflix programs depict twice as many tobacco images as broadcast television programs.
The United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office added its signature to a statement by global data protection authorities expressing concern about Facebook’s cryptocurrency project Libra. Regulators from the United States, the European Union, Canada, and Australia had already signed the statement. Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham stated that “there is the potential to combine Facebook’s vast reserves of personal information with financial information and cryptocurrency, amplifying privacy concerns about the network’s design and data sharing arrangements.”
In a research paper for the University of Pennsylvania Institute for Law and Economics, Natasha Sarin of University of Pennsylvania Law School disputes the idea that it was the unexpectedness of the Great Recession that prevented regulators from adequately intervening and that regulators had lacked sufficient legal authority to fortify large financial institutions. Financial indicators, she argues, were present for over a year before the collapse of Lehman Brothers, and regulators had used sufficient legal authority to respond to small banks but failed to apply these tools to large banks. The real issue, according to Sarin, was that regulators favored inaction until it was too late.
Taylor J. LeMay, a law clerk at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, compared U.S. and United Kingdom offshore wind policies in an article in the LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources. LeMay argued that the United States has cumbersome federal and state regulatory frameworks that deter offshore wind development by delaying returns on investment. LeMay concluded that the United States should model its offshore wind policies on those of the United Kingdom, whose success in wind energy protection LeMay attributed to its success to “a reliable incentive and policy framework, a strong supply chain, and a streamlined permitting process.”
Water scarcity yields new opportunities for cooperation across states and nations and is not solely a source of conflict, according to Lauren Risi of the Wilson Center. In a Wilson Quarterly article, Risi explored “hydro-political risk”—the threat of political tensions motivated by conflicts over water scarcity or access—in the Colorado River Basin. Risi argued that, although the Colorado River Basin is one of the most significant current global sites of hydro-political risk, the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan, to which seven basin states, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and Mexico are all signatories, is evidence of the power of water scarcity to promote international alliances.
Opinion | International | International | International | Uncategorized May 7, 2019
China’s Central Government Seeks to Rein in Regulatory Documents
Jamie P. Horsley
China’s State Council imposes new requirements to curb the abusive aspects of regulatory guidance documents.
Opinion | Rights | Health | Rights | Rights Nov 6, 2018
Effective Gun Regulation Can Be Compatible with Gun Rights
Robert J. Spitzer
Lobbying and appropriations limits undermine the enforcement of gun regulations.
Opinion | Process | Process | Process Jul 17, 2019
Fixing Antitrust’s Indirect Purchaser Rule
A recent Supreme Court case allows end users to sue for antitrust violations.
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Social media sentiment analysis has assessed how Facebook users reacted to major Covid-19 press conferences (Image: Getty Images, edited by Tina Tiller)
What can Facebook comments tell us about the official NZ Covid-19 response?
What did people in the Facebook comments sections of major news websites have to say about the last month of Covid announcements? A new piece of social media sentiment analysis seeks to answer that very question.
The comments section on Facebook is often seen as a toxic place, but a new piece of sentiment analysis shows that is not always the case. And it suggests an unexpected bit of positivity around the country’s Covid-19 response.
Anusha Rai, a data analyst at Auckland digital marketing agency Double, has been trawling through the Facebook comments on major news outlets’ live streams of major Covid-19 announcements.
To gather up the sentiment, she used an open-source software tool called Vader, which is basically used to extract opinions from written text. It uses machine learning and natural language processing to do that, but requires some human input to make it work properly.
Rai used the tool to sort comments into positive, negative and neutral groups, and then compiled an average out of that. From the start of the re-emergence of community transmission until the end of August, that average sentiment generally came out positive.
“The data shows a clear bell curve shape, indicating that sentiment grew to a peak on 21-23 August before again rapidly dropping. The peak was the time the cabinet was meeting to make a decision on the extension,” said Rai.
Doing this sort of analysis isn’t as simple as just plugging thousands of comments into a spreadsheet. After all, social media comments aren’t written like a thesis or novel.
Can the tool handle sarcasm, or local idioms like “mean” meaning good? No, said Rai. “I actually had to manually go through a lot of the comments – it does not do well with sarcasm.”
“That’s been a pretty big problem with a lot of natural language processing, because sarcasm is quite hard to detect, so that’s definitely one of the drawbacks. But Vader is also specific for social media, so it’s pretty good at picking up social media sentiment in particular.”
Among other features, it can also pick up emojis, and context. “In the context of the sentence, it’s not just like the word ‘mean’ being bad, it does pick up on the whole context of the sentence.”
Interestingly, Rai says a lot of negativity came in response not so much to the content of the announcement itself, but in response to other users. “Looking at the comments, a lot of the more negative comments were spam, or trolling and trying to get a rise out of people. The majority of them were quite neutral, just stating a point, or what was happening.”
Sometimes a negative comment would then provoke dozens of other negative comments addressed to the original comments in response.
Rai’s research looked at a few other streams in detail, relating to specific events. She also addressed announcements around the election move, mandatory masking, going back into level three lockdown in Auckland, and then coming out of it.
As political events, Rai also analysed and averaged out the sentiment that was directed towards both Labour and National as parties, and towards Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins as leader. “Using the comments from the 1pm updates I extracted the compound score for every sentence that mentioned Labour, National, Judith, Jacinda and then took an average for each of them for each of the days,” said Rai.
In general terms, the sentiment still came out largely positive for all.
That data was also averaged out as a head to head on sentiment. While both leaders generally saw overall positive responses, on most days Labour and Ardern had more favourable sentiment than National and Collins. The one exception was August 17, the day on which the election was delayed.
So what is the fundamental usefulness of this analysis? Rai says part of it was about figuring out how New Zealanders felt about the return to Covid-19 restrictions, particularly after seeing a lot of negativity towards the country in the social threads on international news platforms.
“I was reading the comments on international news articles, and it was quite interesting – there were a lot of Americans being quite negative towards New Zealand, but often making stuff up, which I found quite interesting. I wanted to see what the New Zealand comments were like, and seeing if maybe there was a difference in sentiment over this lockdown, as different things happened.”
And for Rai, there was also the motivation of trying to gauge what regular people were thinking, at a time when conversations about Covid-19 in the media were being dominated by a range of loud voices with large platforms. It’s one of the big strengths of social media comment analysis, because it captures the views of those watching along to major events at home.
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‘Whilst I was studying painting, I came to the conclusion that the problems of colourism in the form they existed after Cézanne, have been exhausted. I began to understand that colour, not saturated with value (halftone) provides little information. Any colour complexity is a result of differentiation of pigment. The moment of final differentation comes. The pigment becomes a particle. However, this is not the limit of the complexity as the structure achieved can be glazed using complementary colours until the point that the rhythmic matches of colour do not overgrow into a harmonic whole of the entire colour ensemble. As such, I have been working on this problem of architectonics of values, trying to find a synchronistic beginning between the value, composition and drawing’.
Vladimir Grigorevich Veisberg was a Russian artist and art theorist, one of the distinctive masters of ‘alternative’ Russian painting of the second half of the 20th century, confirming his right to the avant-garde experiment. Since he was not in the strictest sense an ‘unofficial’ master, he became affiliated with the liberal wing of the Union of artists, the so-called Moscow Organisation of the Union of Artists. As a member of the group ‘Eight’, Vladimir Veisberg successfully worked as a portrait painter, although his paintings are considerably more famous. He worked at the edge of symbolism and surrealism and continued the line of ‘metaphysical still-life’ in the direction of an ever increasing dematerialisation and dissolution of objects into elements of light. By limiting his motifs through the selection of simple geometrical figures (cones, cubes, spheres and pyramids), Veisberg reduced the contrasts in colour to a minimum, replacing them with subtle, almost phosphorescent tonal ‘looming’. For this reason, his still-life arrangements, for example, cylindrical columns, which he often depicted in later pieces, are perceived as a sort of revelation, transferring the inner vision as a type of meditation. Defining his latter style as ‘white on white’, Veisberg also justified it in theoretical terms by creating his own system of colouristic perception and embodiment, a sort of ‘metaphysical-colour’ understanding of the world (article entitled ‘Classification of the main types of artistic perception’ in the collection entitled ‘Symposium on the structural studying of sign systems’, M. 1962
‘The Russian artist set out his at first glance ‘absurd’ idea of the ‘Invisible painting’, also given the name ‘White on white’. However, works by the mature Veisberg persuade that this idea is viable, to be more precise, the entire set of ideas, the meaning of which could be defined as converting the painting from a sensual-emotional perception of colour to one which is predominantly intellectual-sensual…His colour can be differentiated into thousands of invisible (genuinely invisible) particles, forming an entirely inimitable substance which is saturated with tonal fluctuations and as if radiating from within…’. E.B. Murina
Composition № 8 (White Fugue)
Three Bunch of Flowers
Six White Column
Museum of History, Architecture and Fine Arts ‘New Jerusalem’, Istra, Moscow Region
The Arkhangelsk Museum of Fine Arts, Arkhangelsk
Vologda Regional Art Gallery, Vologda
Radishchev Art Museum, Saratov
Zaporozhye Regional Art Museum, Zaporozhye
Ivanovo Regional Art Museum, Ivanovo
Kurgan Regional Museum of Arts, Kurgan
Pavlodar Regional Museum of Arts, Pavlodar
Perm State Art Gallery, Perm
Rostov Regional Fine Arts Museum, Rostov-na-Don
The State Museum Reserve ‘Rostov Kremlin, Rostov
Tomsk Regional Museum, Tomsk
Chuvash State Art Museum. Cheboksary
Museum of Fine Arts, Berne, Switzerland
Dresden State Art Collections, Dresden, Germany
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lausanne, Switzerland
Tel Aviv Museum of Arts, Israel
Museum of Art and History, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Museum of Modern Art, Troyes, France
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel
Zimmerli Art Museum, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
Bar-Gera Collection, Germany – Israel
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Gearing up for the AFL Grand Final
Come Saturday, September 30, footy fans from across Australia will flock to the MCG in Victoria, or pile into their local sports bars and pubs to watch the ultimate decider in the AFL calendar – the 2017 AFL grand final.
Since 1897 when the VFL first started experimenting with different ways to determine which team would be the footy premiers at the end of each season, grand final time has been a highly anticipated, widely celebrated event. Before footy finals made the move to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), formerly known as the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) in 1902, footy finals were a relatively small-scale event.
However, in its first year at the MCG, the VFL grand final attracted more than 35,000 spectators, who eagerly watched as Collingwood took on Essendon. By 1908, a new record attendance was set when 50,261 people flocked to what’s now known as the home of the AFL to watch their favourite teams play off. In fact, the crowds were so big that day they actually broke through the fence and filed onto the ground, where thousands of people sat along the boundary line to watch the match unfold.
This number continued to rise, which led the MCG to cut down the 11 50-year old elm trees inside the grounds, so they could turn the stadium into a concrete bowl, complete with extra stands and standing room.
In the final year of the finals before World War I, 59,479 spectators showed up to watch St Kilda battle it out in their first ever final. In the decade that followed, the VFL continued to experiment with the best ways to run finals season, and despite a drop off in attendance numbers during the war, support continued to grow.
In 1931 to 1939 the golden age of the grand final was ushered in with a new playoff system (the final four) and new attendance records being set every year. Incredibly, in 1938 a whopping 96,834 people showed up to watch the grand final, which at the time was equal to one tenth of Melbourne’s population.
Thankfully, thanks to the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games and the continued popularity of footy season in Victoria, the MCG continued to go through more upgrades, making it possible to house the crowd of 121,696 people that watched as Carlton beat Collingwood in the 1970 grand final.
A New Era of Football
In 1990, the VFL went through one of its biggest transformations to date, when the more than a hundred-year-old league went national, becoming the Australian Football League (AFL) and non-Victorian teams were also able to battle it out at the MCG to take home the biggest sporting prize of the year.
Today, the AFL grand final draws in the largest attendance rates and metropolitan television audience out of every Australian-based sport. The grand final also comes with extra perks, such as the grand final parade in Melbourne on the day before the match, and now, even a Victorian public holiday.
As such, footy fans come out in their tens of thousands, waving their flags and donning their team colours, all while enjoying the festivities that come with the end of the footy season.
Whether you’re decorating your event space with flags, banners or bunting, or just want a flag to proudly wave at the grand final parade on Friday, September 29, talk to Tudor House about our customisable footy flags, banners and bunting.
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Jeff Beck to bring Emotion and Commotion to the Brady April 27.
Rich Lohman
Legendary performer Jeff Beck will be performing at the legendary Brady Theater on Tuesday, April 27th to support his new ATCO records release EMOTION & COMMOTION, available now in record stores and on iTunes. The album is the 2010 Grammy Award winner’s first album in seven years and brings to the table all of his considerable guitar skill and features several guest performances by several artists personally chosen by Beck as well as having several songs augmented by the talents of a 64 piece orchestra.
Jeff Beck, born Geoffery Arnold Beck, was born on June 24, 1944 in Great Britain and has the distinction of being ranked 14th among Rolling Stones 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, and is also one of three legendary guitarists who have played with the legendary British rock band The Yardbirds, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton being the others. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 2009 class, Jeff has also won the Grammy for Best Rock and Roll Instrumental Performance a total of 5 times.
The first leg of his U.S. tour will kick off on April 16th in San Fransisco and will run through Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas and Tulsa before concluding at the world famous New Orleans Jazz festival on May 1st. Jeff also performed on the FOX TV program IDOL GIVES BACK on April 21st. Beck performed alongside Oklahoma Music superstar Carrie Underwood, The Black Eyed Peas and Annie Lennox, among others on that program.
Tickets are on sale now at the Brady Theater ticket office, all Reasors locations and Starship Records and Tapes or online at protix.com. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8:00. All ages are welcome at this performance.
This entry was posted in Out & About on April 26, 2010 by admin.
← Shock opens training camp at Reynolds Center. Our land, Their land: Liberty, Law, Free Markets, Free People →
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ISIS renews violence in Iraq
May 5, 2020 -- News Tags: Adnan al-Zurfi, Ḥashd ash-Shaʿbī, Iran, Iranian Proxies in Iraq, Iranian Proxy Militias, Iraq, Iraqi President Barham Salih, Iraqi Prime Minister-Designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Islamic State, Israel News, Israel Now, Popular Mobilization Forces
A funeral was held in Iraq’s Islamic holy city of Najaf for a member of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), who was among nine others killed in an attack by Islamic State (ISIS) militants.
The PMF, known as al-Ḥashd ash-Shaʿbī in Arabic, is a state-sponsored umbrella organization backed by Iran. It consists of about 40 predominantly Shi’ite Muslim factions that unified in 2014 and have been involved in almost every major battle against ISIS.
The militia member’s coffin was carried through the streets as mourners sang and chanted “there is no God but Allah,” while PMF soldiers saluted the casket as the procession passed en route to a cemetery for burial.
According to Iraq’s Security Mass Media Committee, the soldiers were killed on Friday (1 May 1) during the latest clashes with ISIS. One of the sites of violence was at a PMF checkpoint.
Iraqi forces are currently combating a fresh insurgency by ISIS, which has particularly risen since the outbreak of the coronavirus. While much of the violence erupted in northern areas once controlled by the radical Sunni extremists, there has been a spike in ISIS operations closer to Baghdad than since losing its self-proclaimed “Caliphate” over two years ago. This past weekend, simultaneous ISIS attacks on Iraqi security forces were staged throughout the country. On Sunday, the PMF came under attack in Dujail, which is just 70 kilometers from the capital.
PMF Senior Commander, Mohammed Tabatabaei, told Reuters that he wanted the Iraqi government to start conducting more offensive “proactive and unannounced operations, and activate the intelligence organs.”
Renewed violence in Iraq comes amid significant political turmoil, as Prime Minister-designate Mustapha al-Kadhimi struggles to form a new government. The parliament is expected to convene later today or tomorrow to vote on Kadhimi’s proposed cabinet. Approval would signify a breakthrough in Iraq’s political impasse since the government was ousted last year after months of deadly mass protests. Two previous appointees, Mohammed Allawi and Adnan al-Zurfi, both resigned the premiership after failing to gain sufficient support for their coalitions.
The country has been hard hit by economic fallout over coronavirus-related measures, amid freefalling global oil prices.
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Day 3: 6/13/17 New York & Pennsylvania
Industrial Life & Labor VS Industrial Life & Wealth
June 13, 2017 (Tuesday)
Train through Hudson River Valley
Take Express train 813 to Poughkeepsie. The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in the U.S. state of New York, The train follows a lovely stretch of the Hudson along The Palisades, a line of steep cliffs along the west side of the lower Hudson River. Our trip will end in Tarrytown, made popular by Washington Irving as Sleepy Hollow.
Lindhurst Estate: Jay Gould Home
Lyndhurst, also known as the Jay Gould estate, is a Gothic Revival country house that sits in its own 67-acre (27 ha) park beside the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York. The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966. We will participate in a docent guided upstairs/ downstairs tour of Gould's Robber Barron estate, including the grounds
Patterson Falls
In 1778, Alexander Hamilton visited Patterson falls and was impressed by its potential for industry. As Secretary of Treasury, he selected the site of the nation's first planned industrial city, which he called a "national manufactory." In 1791, . The town of Paterson was founded by the society and named after New Jersey Governor William Paterson.
Hamilton commissioned civil engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant, responsible for the layout of the new capital at Washington, D.C., to design the system of canals known as raceways supplying the power for the watermills in the new town. As a result, Paterson became the nucleus for a burgeoning mill industry. In 1793, two years after the society's foundation, the falls was the site of the first water-powered cotton spinning mill in New Jersey. In 1812, it was the site of the state's first continuous roll paper mill. Other products whose construction used the falls as a power source include the Rogers Locomotive Works (1832), the Colt revolver (1837), and the USS Holland (SS-1) (1898). The oldest extant structure in the historic district is the Phoenix Mill, built in 1813. The industrial area also became the site of labor unrest, as it was a center for the 1913 Paterson silk strike. Immigrant workers, facing harsh conditions in factories staged numerous strikes, giving the United States its first organized labor movement.king tour Great Falls National Historical Park (including raceway) depicting the story of Paterson’s role in the Industrial Revolution. While in Patterson we will participate in a walking tour of Great Falls National Historical Park (including raceway) & Visit Patterson Museum w docent. In addition we will visit Batto House Labor Museum and participate in a discussion on native vs. immigrant labor and the growth of Unions.
Night: King of Prussia, PA
We will be staying within walking distance of King of Prussia Mall. The King of Prussia Mall is the largest shopping mall in the United States in terms of space and number of retailers. It is a luxury mall with numerous upscale retailers. Perhaps more importantly it has over a hundred restaurants, including two of my personal favorites, "The Melting Pot" & "The Cheesecake Factory".
Optional Night Visit to Valley Forge
The King of Prussia Mall is next door to Valley Forge National Historic Park. Maps are available at the hotel for participants who wish to end their evening with a walk in the park.
Lyndhurst Estate
Batto Labor Mus
PF National Park
Walking Trails @ Valley Forge
D2Teach Civil Rights Homepage
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Chinese choir raises the roof
UCLan’s Confucius Institute brought an award-winning choir to Preston
Music fans in Preston have been treated to a spectacular concert featuring an award-winning international choir.
Organised by the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) Confucius Institute, the Student Choir of Nankai University performed to a packed audience in Preston Minister as part of the 15th Preston Arts Festival.
The Chinese choir, which has performed at top concert venues around the world, sang a range of songs from their diverse repertoire including Chinese minority folk classics. In between the songs was a mesmerising ribbon dance and the finale, an elaborately choreographed performance of Mulan, captivated the entire audience.
"Their beautiful voices sounded fantastic in such a wonderful setting and I know the audience appreciated the range of their vocal talents. This really was a fantastic event celebrating Chinese music."
Feixia Yu, Director of the UCLan Confucius Institute, said: “The performance of the Student Choir of Nankai University was superb. Their beautiful voices sounded fantastic in such a wonderful setting and I know the audience appreciated the range of their vocal talents. This really was a fantastic event celebrating Chinese music.”
The visiting choired welcomed to the stage the UCLan Worldwise Samba Drummers and the Preston People’s Choir, creating an evening of cultural fusion by international and local talents.
Following a prestigious choral tradition at Nankai University, dating back to the 1930s, the group has won various major international choral awards. They include the highest award at the Fourth International Choral Festival in 1998, three gold medals at the Third World Olympic Choral Competition in Bremen, Germany, and top prizes at the First and Second National College Student Performance Festivals in China. In 2009, the Student Choir performed on the stage of China's National Grand Theatre, representing the highest honour of national recognition in China.
View images on UCLan's Flickr Gallery.
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Why Katy Perry Matters to the UN
Katy Perry became UNICEF’s newest Goodwill Ambassador yesterday. To mark the occasion, UNICEF posted this video of Perry’s trip to Madagascar on behalf of UNICEF, set to her song “Unconditionally.”
UNICEF’s harnessing of celebrities to support its work goes back nearly as far as the founding of UNICEF itself. The very first UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador was the entertainer and comedian Danny Kaye, who was an internationally popular comic act back in the 1940s and 50s. He’s not that well known today, but he was a rockstar in an era that predated rock ‘n roll.
“The staid British Isles,” wrote Life Magazine in a June 13, 1949 dispatch, “were indulging in a type of worshipful hysteria…which affected young and old and of both sexes.” The object of British adulation was a Brooklyn born son of Jewish immigrants from Ukraine. His six week run at the London Palladium had sold out a full 10 weeks before his first show. People had lined up for 26 hours in a mile-long line to catch a glimpse. It was like Beatlemania. Only 15 years earlier. And in reverse.
The story of how he came to work with UNICEF is something of a legend.
It was 1953 and Danny Kaye was on a flight leaving from London to New York. One of the engines caught on fire and the pilot put the plane in an emergency dive to extinguish the flame. As the plane limped to an emergency landing in Ireland, Kaye struck up a conversation with another passenger: UNICEF executive director, Maurice Pate. Kaye pledged to use his celebrity to support UNICEF’s work, and the idea of a Celebrity Goodwill Ambassador was born. Kaye travelled the world on behalf of UNICEF, and produced and starred in several American (and international) network programs to highlight UNICEF’s work on behalf of the world’s children.
Fast forward 60 years and dozens of Goodwill Ambassadors later and we get Katy Perry. She’s as popular today as Danny Kaye was in his day. She has about a kagillion social media followers and is a beloved entertainer. The fact that UNICEF made her a goodwill ambassador means that she has made concrete commitments to support the actions of UNICEF.
She will be an asset to UNICEF, which depends entirely on voluntary contributions to support its work. UNICEF is essentially funded as a charity, and Goodwill Ambassadors can help with fundraising. Equally important, they spread the good news about UNICEF, which helps sustain funding levels from donor governments which are UNICEF’s most important contributors.
UNICEF’s regular budget (that is, money not earmarked for sudden emergencies like an earthquake) is $663 million. The USA is the top donor to the regular budget providing $132 million last year, followed by Norway with $81 million and Sweden with $70 million. Katy Perry has 48 million Twitter followers. If they each donated $2 to UNICEF’s regular budget, they could displace Norway as the second largest UNICEF funder.
Perry says she is ready to unleash her Twitter army on behalf of UNICEF. It will certainly be interesting to see where this leads.
So, congrats to UNICEF. Congrats to Katy Perry. And for those keeping track: Danny Kaye and Katy Perry have a Kevin Bacon score of just 3.
ChildrenKaty PerryUNICEF
Top of the Morning: Global Fund Gets Largest Replenishment Ever
Katie Couric Peddles False Vaccine “Controversy”
One in Four Niger children Die Before the Age of 5
Peter Daou
UNICEF At Work in Pakistan
Scores of Afghan Schoolgirls Ill in Poison Gas Attack
UNICEF Chief talks shop with the Washington Post
UN Releases Alarming Data on Lack of Breastfeeding Worldwide
New Analysis: 1 in 12 Children Face "Bleaker Prospects" Than Their Parents. Here's Why
Map of the Day: Where You Can Find a Toilet
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Where to?Mail Preferences
TSO Archives (2002-2014)
Previewing the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires season
Posted by Steve Wittich on Wednesday, July 8th 2020
Here is Steve’s preview of the upcoming Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires season. Action gets underway at Road America tomorrow.
By Steve Wittich
The 2020 Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires season got underway in St. Petersburg, Fla., but the teams and drivers were only able to complete one practice session before the COVID-19 pandemic brought things to a screeching halt.
After 117-days with no racing, the second rung of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires is ready to get back on track at one of America’s most iconic circuits.
The drivers will be fighting for an advancement scholarship that has been increased by 47% over the original 2020 value of $609,245.
Indy Pro 2000 at Road America
The Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires series will be visiting the 4.014-mile, 14-turn Road America natural terrain road course for the 17th and 18th times in 2020. The pair of Indy Pro 2000 Grand Prix of Road America Presented by Cooper Tires Honoring First Responders are scheduled for 15-laps or 50-minutes.
The middle rung of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires ladder returned to the Elkhart Lake, Wisc. track in 2016 after a five-year hiatus. In three of the four years since the series return, the same driver has won both races in three of the four years.
Only twice has the pole-sitter failed to finish on the podium and the last time that happened was in 2007 when Marco DiLeo (Maxwell Racing) finished eighth.
Juncos Racing, with Conor Daly (2010), Victor Franzoni (2017), and Rasmus Lindh (2019) lead all teams with three pole starts at Road America. The Speedway, Ind. team also leads all teams with seven podium finishes at Road America.
David Malukas and BN Racing hold the qualifying track record with a lap timed at 119.8151 seconds set in 2018. The same team, with Toby Sowery at the wheel, also holds the race track record with a lap at 121.3306 seconds, set the same year.
Indy Pro 2000 winners at Road America
2019 Race #2 Kyle Kirkwood RP Motorsport
2018 Race #2 David Malukas BN Racing
2017 Race #2 Anthony Martin Cape Motorsports
2017 Race #1 Victor Franzoni Juncos Racing
2016 Race #2 Aaron Telitz Team Pelfrey
2010 Conor Daly Juncos Racing
2008 Peter Dempsey Andersen Racing
2007 Ron White Maxwell Racing
2006 Ron White Ross Smith Racing
2005 James Hinchcliffe AIM Autosport
2004 Michael McDowell Star Race Cars
2002 Guy Cosmo Racers Edge Motorsports
Win in the opener, win the championship?
Winning on the season-opening weekend of Indy Pro 2000 action is NOT a good indicator of who will end up claiming the advancement scholarship at the end of the year. Only seven eventual champions won at the first event of the year.
Eventual champions that won at the season opening event are:
1999 Joey Hand
2000 Bernardo Martinez
2001 Scott Bradley
2005 Rafa Matos
2009 Adam Christodoulou
2014 Spencer Pigot
2018 Rinus VeeKay
Win at Road America, win the championship?
The eventual Indy Pro 2000 champion has won at Road America a total of six times, including Aaron Telitz, Victor Franzoni, and Kyle Kirkwood in three of the last four years. The other winners in Wisconsin that went on to win the championship are Guy Cosmo (2002), Michael McDowell (2004) and Conor Daly (2010).
Here are your team-by-team and driver-by-driver season previews. (in order of how they finished in the team standings last year)
The Speedway, Ind. based Juncos Racing, led by Argentinian race Ricardo Juncos, came within two points of winning their third straight Indy Pro 2000 driver’s championship. That would have been the fifth driver’s title on the middle rung of the Road To Indy, for the family-oriented team.
Conor Daly (2010), Spencer Pigot (2014), Victor Franzoni (2017), and Rinus VeeKay (2018) are the drivers that have won for Juncos Racing. Of note: three of those four are scheduled to make NTT INDYCAR® SERIES starts in 2020.
The team has a total of 45 Indy Pro 2000 wins and has won at least one race in 11 straight seasons.
Juncos Racing will head into the 2020 season looking for their fourth straight Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires team title with team returnee Sting Ray Robb and newcomers Artem Petrov and Nate Aranda.
Robb is returning to the same team for the first time in his Road To Indy career, and that continuity should allow him to fight for a title. Still only 18-years-old, this will be Robb’s fourth year in the series, and over his 45 races, he has two poles, seven podiums, and 19 top-five finishes.
Sting Ray Robb concentrates in the cockpit of his Juncos Racing PM-18 during testing at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
Robb, who has improved each year in the series, holds the Indy Pro 2000 track records for the streets of St. Petersburg and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
“My earliest memories are of wanting to drive something – anything fast – I had to be a race car driver,” said Robb, before St. Petersburg, in March. “There is no Plan B – I was born for this – my name is Sting Ray, after all! With Juncos, Road to Indy, and the amazing support of my fans, friends and family, I’m in hot pursuit of my dream. I’m super excited to be returning to Juncos for the 2020 season. We worked hard last year, with lots of progression throughout the season, capping it off on a high note with two poles.
“I’m looking forward to carrying that momentum to this season and working with the Juncos crew again. I’m stoked to be once again racing through the streets of St. Petersburg – street races are very demanding with no room for mistakes and no forgiving corners… that must be why I love it! The fans and crowd at St. Pete are fantastic, can’t wait to get back out there.”
Robb led the last two sessions at the recent Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course open test and ended up as the second quickest driver on the combined timesheet.
Petrov started the final five races of the 2019 season with RP Motorsport, showing that he has the pace to be competitive. The native of St. Petersburg, Russia, spent the 2016 and 2017 season racing in the Italian, Russian (SMP) and German (ADAC) Formula 4 series, where he won three times. In 2018, the 20-year-old made a move to the FIA Formula 3 European Championship.
Petrov qualified in the first three rows in all of his Indy Pro 2000 races, proving quickly that the Russian had the pace to fight at the front of the grid. However, a pair of first-lap mistakes resulted in some disappointing finishes.
Nate Aranda, a 19-year-old from Albuquerque, NM, and a Lucas Oil Formula Car Championship race winner, will be behind the wheel of the team’s third PM-18.
TSO Ladder quick thought(s)
Ricardo Juncos and technical director Ernesto ‘Ernie’ Gonella are known for the ability to develop drivers and turn them into winners. For Robb and Petrov, the raw talent is there, and it’s just a matter of when not if they’ll start winning races.
RP Motorsport
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 travel situation, RP Motorsport will be taking the season off.
The Canadian team, owned by Michael Duncalfe, is about to embark on their third season in the Indy Pro 2000. Over the course of the past two years, Exclusive Autosport has put together an impressive team resume, including five wins, four poles, and 26 top-five finishes.
Braden Eves will be joining the Brownsburg, Ind .based team, driving the No. 1 (TSO Note: Steve loves this) PM-18 in the new grey and blue scholarship winning livery as the reigning Cooper Tires USF2000 Champion.
The 21-year-old Meyer-Shank Racing affiliated driver won six USF2000 races last year, including a gutsy must-win performance in the final race of the season at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in September. Eves was also one of three USF2000 drivers to complete all 352 laps during the 2019 USF2000 campaign.
“I’m super excited to be heading to a race weekend,” said Eves. “We’ve had our time away, and now we’re back into race mode. This is a very competitive field, so it’s going to be difficult, just like it was for me last year. Hunter McElrea was extremely good all last year, so to win the title in a do-or-die moment was huge, and that’s what it’s going to take again this season. But having done that was such a confidence boost, and with all the testing we’ve had and the pace we’ve shown, we’re in an even better position than we were last year, so we just have to get the job done. I know Exclusive Autosport is up to the task.”
Eves took part in the recent open test at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course but had an issue with his transponder. Our spies at the track told us that he was among the quickest drivers at the test.
He also led the lone practice session in St. Petersburg, Fla. by an impressive half-second.
Braden Eves up on the wheel of the No. 1 from the Exclusive Autosport stable during the lone Indy Pro 2000 practice in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
It probably surprised a few people when Eves didn’t follow Kirkwood’s lead and sign with RP Motorsport (which looks even better in hindsight), but sometimes it’s about feeling comfortable. With his results in testing, it appears that Eves made a wise decision. We will be watching if being a one-car team has an impact on their ability to improve the car throughout the weekend.
Angleton, Texas-based DEForce Racing will field the largest squad on the Indy Pro 2000 grid with four drivers. The David and Ernesto Martinez led team made their Road To Indy debut with Indy Pro 2000 entries for current drivers Kory Enders and Moisés de la Vara at the 2016 season finale.
Enders and de la Vara will be joined by Road To Indy veteran Parker Thompson and USF2000 grad Manuel Sulaiman.
All of Enders 47 career Road To Indy starts have been with DEForce Racing. The 22-year-old who lives in Sugarland, Texas, finished the 2019 season with some good momentum, with two podiums in the final three events.
Mexican born and Texas-based, de la Vara, like his teammate Enders has made all 36 of his Road To Indy starts with the same team.
With 78 career Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires starts under his belt, it’s hard to believe that veteran Parker Thompson is still only 22-years-old.
“PT” made his Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires debut with JDC Motorsports in 2015, and across five seasons has finished 5th (USF2000 2015), 2nd (USF2000 2016), 3rd (USF2000 2017), 2nd (Indy Pro 2000 2018) and 3rd (Indy Pro 2000 2019) in those championships.
Parker Thompson, a championship contender, behind the wheel of the No. 9 DEForce Racing PM-18 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
Thompson’s impressive career numbers in his 78 starts include 12 wins, 12 poles, 32 podiums, 53 top fives, 17 races led, and 14 races with the quickest lap.
Rounding out the DEForce Racing foursome is 2018-2019 FIA Formula 4 NACAM champion, Sulaiman. The Mexico City, Mexico native, grabbed two podiums on the way to a sixth-place USF2000 championship finish in 2019.
Thompson and Sulaiman finished the recent Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course test with the 3rd and 4th quickest lap times.
The team has brought in driver coach Jonatan Jorge to work with the team. The former driver has recently worked with Kyle Kirkwood, Rinus VeeKay, and Oliver Askew. How Thompson responds to “JJ” is something we’ll be watching closely.
Can Enders, de la Vara, and Sulaiman find consistency? All three have all shown at various times that they have the pace to be regulars on the podium, but will need to be more steady from race to race, and lap to lap.
If you are looking for the team having the most fun at the track, just find team owner Brendan Puderbach, driver Charles Finelli, super mechanic Jim Locke, and Tiny Tim, the best pit cart in any racing paddock.
Finelli is an experienced racer, who is back for another season of Indy Pro 2000 action.
To learn a little more about the Fatboys, watch this documentary by David Porteous.
It’s clear that this group always has fun at the track, but they can also be serious racers, and it would be great to see them add a second car for a younger driver.
The Peter Dempsey led Turn 3 Motorsport made their Indy Pro 2000 debut halfway through the 2020 season with an entry for 2019 Radical Cup Champion Antoine Comeau.
Comeau, a Canadian based in Chicago, Ill. will be back for a full season and will be joined by Indy Lights refugee Danial Frost.
Turn 3 Motorsport driver Antoine Comeau at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for testing (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
Comeau got up to speed quickly for his first time in an open-wheel car, finishing in three of his seven starts in the top ten.
Frost, who was set to contest the 2020 Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires season with Andretti Autosport returns to take another shot at the Indy Pro 2000 title.
The Singaporean won Indy Pro 2000 races at Lucas Oil Raceway on the Streets of Exhibition last year. Still only 18-years-old, Frost finished the season with six podiums and a fifth-place championship placing.
The addition of Frost should help push Comeau forward by allowing him to see the data from a quicker driver.
If he takes it, Frost has an opportunity to improve every part of his craft by learning from Dempsey.
BNRacing w/Team Benik
Two prominent names, in the karting world, Nick Mitchell & Bryn Nuttall, have joined forces to form BN Racing with Team Benik to field cars for Sabre Cook and Jacob Loomis.
Cook was busy in 2019. Off-track, she won the Infiniti Engineering Academy US engineering award that included a year-long placement with the Renault Formula One team.
On-track the 26-year-old was one of 20 drivers chosen to take part in the inaugural season of the W Series. Cook had three top-ten finishes, which equates to a 12th place finish and a return trip to the series in 2020.
With the cancellation of the 2020 W-Series, it would be great to see Cook contest the whole Indy Pro 2000 season.
Before her move to cars in 2017, the Golden, Colorado resident was a stand-out in the ultra-competitive shifter-kart category.
Loomis made four Indy Pro 2000 starts in 2019 with his family team. That included an impressive sixth-place finish at Road America.
The 20-year-old Texan moved from karts to cars in 2016 and has four podium finishes across the 2017 and 2018 F4 United States Championship Powered By Honda seasons.
The team missed the recent test at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, but the drivers should have quick cars this weekend. Nuttall, with David Malukas, won a pair of Indy Pro 2000 races at Road America in 2018.
What TSO Ladder is watching.
Cook only got better as the W-Series got deeper into their season, and the higher horsepower Indy Pro 2000 car should better match her background in shifter-karts.
Andretti Steinbrenner Racing
Devlin DeFrancesco will be joining with Andretti Steinbrenner Racing to contest the 2020 Indy Pro 2000 season. For all three, it’s some type of return.
For Andretti, it’s a return to Indy Pro 2000, where they won 25-races and one championship between 2011 and 2015.
For Steinbrenner, it’s a return to the Road To Indy, where he teamed with Colton Herta to win six races across a pair of Indy Lights seasons.
Canadian DeFrancesco’s a return to North America after spending the last nine years racing in Europe.
The 20-year-old from Toronto scored wins in the F4 British Championship, the Euroformula Open Championship, and Spanish Formula 3 Championship.
Devlin DeFrancesco returns to the North American racing scene with Andretti Steinbrenner Racing in the Indy Pro 2000 series (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
“I’ve had an incredible time racing in Europe over the past nine years but I’m really looking forward to coming home to North America and racing with Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport,” said DeFrancesco. “My season in Asian Formula 3 was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ability to travel to and from Europe for the rest of 2020 is very much up in the air.
“We have been talking about the possibility of coming back to race in North America and those plans have now been brought forward. I’m very appreciative of the opportunity from Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport.
“I can’t wait to get started and be back on track. I’ve been doing a lot of virtual racing with my sponsor Allinsports in The Race All-Star Series but I can’t wait to be back on track for real.”
“My goal and ambition is to eventually follow the ‘Road to Indy’ and compete in the NTT IndyCar series but I know I have a lot to learn and many steps to take prior to that.
“The car will be new for me, many of the tracks are new and of course the team is new for me as well. However, I know what they have achieved in the past and I’m fully aware of what an amazing opportunity I have ahead of me. I am extremely grateful.”
DeFrancesco, who also has experience in GP3 and the FIA Formula 3 Championship, got his first taste of the PM-18 in the recent open test at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He ended up with the fifth quickest lap.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it. Results, especially for Americans and Canadians, in Europe don’t always indicate pace. Also, the disparity between teams in Europe is much bigger, and DeFrancesco spent the past two seasons with mid-level teams. This opportunity with Andretti Steinbrenner Racing should be his best chance to show his pace since 2017 when he finished third in the Euroformula Open Championship while driving for Carlin.
Last but not least is Pabst Racing. The USF2000 stalwart is making a move up the Road To Indy ladder with a pair of familiar drivers. Hunter McElrea and Colin Kaminsky, who both drove for the team in USF2000, will be behind the wheels of the team’s PM-18s.
McElrea, an American born Kiwi, who calls Australia home, missed out on the USF2000 championship by a slim five-point margin.
The 20-year-old won four races, including one at Road America, started on five poles, and stood on 12 podiums in his first season of racing in the United States.
“This race (Road America) last year was a turning point for me, with my first win, so to start the season here is very cool,” said McElrea. “We’ve had really good tests as well, so it gives us a great deal of confidence going into the weekend, especially since it’s the team’s home track. Because of the extra time we’ve had, I feel that the team and I are even more prepared than we were at the start of the year, so I’m ready to get the season started.”
Kaminsky, who began his racing career in the SCCA, has made 38 USF2000 starts across three seasons, but made a big leap forward in 2019.
The 21-year-old won three poles and grabbed six podiums on the way to fourth place (tied for third in points) championship finish.
The dynamic Pabst Racing duo will be joined at Road America by Kaminsky’s dad, Bob. The Illinois native is an Indy Pro 2000 stalwart and has many laps logged on the 4.014-mile, 14-turn natural terrain road course.
McElrea and Kaminsky’s relationship is more like brothers than teammates, and that unique relationship has brought out the best in each driver. The two were quick in the Chris Griffis Memorial Test at IMS last fall, and all indications are that they have been quick in private testing.
Usually, when a team moves to a new category, it can take a season to work out the kinks. With an experienced group, including team owner Augie Pabst, and engineer Tonis Kasemets, it would be surprising if the Oconomowoc, Wisc. based team missed a beat.
Pabst Racing team-owner Augie Pabst at the Portland International Raceway (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
The 2020 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship season got underway in St. Petersburg, Fla., but the teams and drivers were only able to complete one practice session before the COVID-19 pandemic brought things to a screeching halt.
After 117-days with no racing, the lowest rung of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires is ready to get back on track at one of America’s most iconic circuits.
A fleet of USF2000 cars streams into Turn 3 at Road America in 2018 (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
USF2000 at Road America
The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship first made an appearance on the 4.014-mile, 14-turn Road America natural terrain road course in 1993 with current Chip Ganassi Racing Director Chris Simmons winning that race.
The pair of USF2000 Grand Prix of Road America Presented by Cooper Tires Honoring First Responders 12-lap / 40-minute races will be the 29th and 30th for the lowest rung of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires at Road America.
If you need proof that passing at Road America is plentiful, look no further than the less than 50% winning percentage for the pole sitter. In the six races since the introduction of the USF-17, the pole sitter has only won once.
The qualifying track record was set by Pabst Racing’s Rasmus Lindh in 2017 and stands at 129.2583 seconds. The race track record is 8-years-old and was established by Scott Anderson (Belardi Auto Racing) in 2012.
Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship winners at Road America
2019 Race #2 Braden Eves Cape Motorsports
2019 Race #1 Hunter McElrea Pabst Racing
2018 Race #2 Kyle Kirkwood Cape Motorsports
2017 Race #2 Rinus VeeKay Pabst Racing
2012 Race #3 Scott Anderson Belardi Auto Racing
2012 Race #2 Matthew Brabham Cape Motorsportsm
2012 Race #1 Matthew Brabham Cape Motorsports
2011 Race #2 Petri Suvanto Cape Motorsports
2011 Race #1 Spencer Pigot Andretti Autosport
2010 Race #2 Sage Karam Andretti Autosport
2006 Race #2 J.R. Hildebrand Cape Motorsports
2006 Race #1 Dane Cameron Cape Motorsports
2005 Race #2 Jay Howard Aiken Racing
2005 Race #1 Joey Foster Cape Motorsports
2004 Race #2 Bobby Wilson Cape Motorsports
2004 Race #1 Adam Pecorari Andersen Racing
2003 Race #2 Charlie Kimball PR1 Motorsports
2001 Race #2 Tonis Kasemets Pabst Racing
2000 Race #2 Marc-Antoine Camirand Key Motorsports
2000 Race #1 Aaron Justus Cape Motorsports
1993 Chris Simmons SOTARE Racing
Cape Motorsports at Road America
The now Brownsburg, Ind. team, led by Nicholas and Dominic Cape, have won 13 races at Road America, including race #2 last year.
Aaron Justus, in 2000 was their first winner, and he is joined by Matthew Brabham, Dane Cameron, Braden Eves, Joey Foster, J.R. Hildebrand, Kyle Kirkwood, Anthony Martin, Petri Suvanto and Bobby Wilson, as driers that have won at Road America for “The Capes.”
Cape Motorsports is also the team leader for poles (nine) and podiums (26) at Road America.
It certainly doesn’t hurt to win at the first race of the season, but it’s not the end of the world if a driver doesn’t win. The eventual champion won the first race of the season in 14 out of 33 seasons. That does include the last two USF2000 champions, Braden Eves (2019) and Kyle Kirkwood (2018). It does not include 2017 champion and current NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Oliver Askew.
Eventual champion Chris Simmons was a winner the first time USF2000 visited Road America in 1993. Scott Dixon’s race engineer is joined by Aaron Justus (2000), Bobby Wilson (2004), Jay Howard (2005), JR Hildebrand (2006), Sage Karam (2010), Petri Suvanto (2011), Matthew Brabham (2012), Anthony Martin (2016), Kyle Kirkwood (2018) and Braden Eves (2019) as USF2000 champions that have won at Road America.
And now, here is our team-by-team and driver-by-driver preview of the 2020 USF2000 season.
Pabst Racing has won the last three USF2000 team championships but is still looking for their first driver’s championship. They have been close though, taking home a quartet of second-place championship finishes (Hunter McElrea, Rasmus Lindh, Rinus VeeKay & Jake Eidson) in the last five seasons.
Augie Pabst, a second-generation team owner, assembled an impressive team of three sophomores to wrest the driver’s championship away from Cape Motorsports.
Note from TSO Ladder: This is one of the most heated and fun to watch rivalries from weekend-to-weekend. Both teams know who their competition is and badly want to win.
The lone returnee to the Wisconsin based team is Badger State-born Yuven Sundaramoorthy. The recent high school grad was one of only three drivers to complete all 352 laps in 2019 and collected five top tens on the way to a 12th place championship finish.
The 17-year-old spent the off-season racing in the MRF Challenge Formula 2000 Championship, where he won twice and finished on the podium four times.
Sundaramoorthy made three USF2000 starts at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2018, and that was where he had his best race weekend in 2019, so don’t be surprised to see him be near the pointy end of the grid as he returns to tracks in the USF-17 for the second time.
“Confidence is key in this series, and with a solid year under my belt, I’m excited to return with Pabst Racing and tackle 2020,” said Sundaramoorthy, before St. Pete. “I developed some good chemistry with the crew, and I tried to absorb learnings at each racetrack. Even in this recent October test at IMS., I could feel so many improvements. I know it’s going to be a successful year.”
Second generation pilot Eduardo Barrichello confirmed that he would be joining the Oconomowoc, Wisc. based team. The 18-year-old spent the 2018 USF2000 season with two different teams where he finished in the top 10 on seven occasions.
The Brazilian who calls Orlando, Fla. home, spent the 2018 season in the F4 United States Championship Powered By Honda championship.
Barrichello led three of the five sessions, and ended up second on the combined timesheet in preseason testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and was the quickest driver in the lone practice session in St. Petersburg, Fla. With increased pace, comes increased expectations.
Pabst Racing newcomer and USF2000 sophomore, led the lone practice session on the streets of St. Pete. (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
“I had no expectations going into St. Pete last year, but this year I’m more relaxed,” Barichello said in March. “I know what I need to do to get it right, and with experience comes confidence. And, it’s great to be so close to IndyCar – it’s an extra boost because we all want to be there. It’s great motivation.”
Before his rookie Road To Indy campaign, Matthew Round-Garrido was well known to Formula Ford fans in the United Kingdom. The oldest of the Pabst Racing trio at 20, Round-Garrido spent three years in the popular category, finishing 3rd in the hotly contested 2018 Avon Tyres National Formula Ford Championship.
Mechanical issues meant that the native of Stourbridge in the United Kingdom got off to a forgettable start to his rookie season, where he raced in two series and for two different teams. The highlight of his season split across USF2000, and Indy Pro 2000 was a podium finish in Toronto.
It will be interesting to see how the addition of an Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires program impacts the team’s successful USF2000 program.
Last year’s four-driver USF2000 squad had a chemistry that was fun to watch from the outside. All four drivers were clearly having fun and equated to top results on track. Will the 2020 trio be able to replicate the on and off-track chemistry?
Cape Motorsports
Until proven otherwise, the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship drivers championship runs through Cape Motorsports. The team, founded and run by brothers Nicholas and Dominic Cape, has won a baker’s dozen USF2000 driver’s championships, including the last nine in a row.
The team that made a move from St. Petersburg, Fla. to Brownsburg, Ind. during the off-season, will run a quartet of cars. A trio of veteran drivers, Michael d’Orlando, Kyle Dupell, and Reece Gold, will be joined by rookie Josh Green.
The team had four of the top five times in the recent open test at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, so expectations should once again be high.
Gold, still only 15-years-old, returns to the team for a second straight season. The Floridian, who was the 2018 Lucas Oil Formula Car Series, finished the 2019 USF2000 season in 10th place.
Gold was one of only three drivers to complete all 352 laps year, had eight top 10 finishes. If Gold can improve his qualifying pace, his consistency should allow him to be in championship contention.
“I’m super happy to be back with Cape for 2020,” Gold offered, before St. Pete. “With the team having just won another championship, I am feeling ready to give it my all this year and try to continue that success. After a lot of learning in my rookie year, I feel that I can fight for wins and podiums this season. Thank you to Cape Motorsports and to my sponsor – The Ticket Clinic – for their continued support.”
At 21-years-old, Kyle Dupell is the eldest and most experienced of the Cape Motorsports quartet, making 18 USF2000 starts across the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
The Oregonian finished 15th in his rookie season, a full-campaign with Team Pelfrey that included four top 10 finishes. Duppel returned to USF2000 action with Newman Wachs Racing for the final four races of the 2019 season.
Michael d’Orlando returns to USF2000 competition after a partial season of F4 United States Championship Powered By Honda action that saw the 18-year-old nab five top 10 finishes, including a trip to the podium at Circuit of The Americas in the final race of the year.
The Hartsdale, New York native, took part in nine USF2000 races with Team Benik.
d’Orlando was the quickest driver in the series open test at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and relishes the opportunity to get back at the track with his teammates.
Michael d’Orlando on track during the recent open test at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course where he topped the combined timesheet. (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
“I’m lucky to have such great teammates as well – Reece, Kyle, Josh and I, we all push each other to do better,” said d’Orlando after the Mid-Ohio test. “I have a brother that I race against, but I feel as though these guys are my brothers as well. Through the Road to Indy iRacing eSeries, we kept in communication, and that made the three months better, but it was difficult not to see each other and not get out racing. It’s taken a toll, but that’s behind us, and now it’s time to go racing again.”
The final member of the Cape Motorsports squad is Team U.S.A. Scholarship winner Josh Green. Before taking part in the USF2000 event at Portland International Raceway last year, Green completed a full season of F1600 Championship Series action. The 17-year-old had eight wins, five poles, and 18 podiums on the way to a second-place championship finish.
“I’m extremely excited to join Cape Motorsports for the 2020 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship,” said Green, when signing with the legendary team. “The team has an enormous pedigree, and, after testing with them earlier this year, I’m super excited to continue working with them and get my head down for the 2020 championship. I’m extremely lucky to have had so many things come my way over the course of this last year, and I’m hugely thankful for all the opportunities that have been given to me. Being given the chance to work with such a prestigious team as Cape Motorsports is a huge honor.”
Green was the second quickest driver at the recent Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course test and will look to become the ninth Team U.S.A. Scholarship winner to also win the USF2000 championship, joining, Braden Eves, Kyle Kirkwood, Oliver Askew, Matthew Brabham, J.R. Hildebrand, Bryan Sellers, Clay Collier, and Mike Brokowski.
All four drivers showed race-winning pace during the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course open test. If that is any indication of what to expect this season, the inner squad battle to determine who the team number one is, could take the whole season.
Jay Howard Driver Development
The only five-car team on the grid, Jay Howard Driver Development, finished an impressive rookie USF2000 campaign with three wins, one pole, seven podiums, and 15 top-ten finishes.
Returnee Christian Rasmussen finished third in the championship, but was most impressive in the second half of the season, outscoring all other drivers in the final four events (eight races) of the 2019 season.
The 20-year-old finished the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course open test with the seventh quickest time.
One of the title favorites, Christian Rasmussen, on track at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for testing (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
“I’ll try and continue where I left off at the end of last season,” said the Dane after that test. “I’m pretty calm about me being the ‘favorite’ – I don’t plan to let it affect me, I will come to each day with the same approach as always, with the same preparation and the same mindset. We have a good team, and I’m ready to be back at the racetrack.”
The second Jay Howard Driver Development driver is another returnee and is also named Christian. At 6′ 4″, Christian Bogle is the tallest Road To Indy driver and is planning on another busy season of racing. The 19-year-old competed in the USF2000 championship and F4 United States Championship Powered By Honda, with a pair of race wins in the latter series.
The driver from Louisiana was new to racing in 2018 and is once again planning a joint USF2000 and F4 program, with some Indy Lights testing thrown in to help his development.
Bogle’s confidence should be high headed to Road America. He won a pair of F4 races on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course the weekend before the USF2000 open test at the same track.
The third sophomore to join the team is Nolan Siegel, who spent the 2019 USF2000 season with Newman Wachs Racing.
The former standout karter, who is still only 15-years-old will look to build on a successful test at Homestead-Miami Speedway where he ended up with the seventh quickest time, less than one-tenth off championship favorite and teammate Rasmussen.
The fourth driver is a native Hoosier and 19-year-old who ended the recent open test only a tenth of a second behind championship contending teammate Rasmussen.
Wyatt Brichacek made his USF2000 debut in the finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in September. His move to the Road To Indy comes after two seasons of F4 United States Championship Powered By Honda competition and a season spent in the Lucas Oil Formula Car Series.
The final member of the Jay Howard Driver Development quintet is Bijoy Garg, a Californian, who will be making his Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires debut.
Garg turned the 12th quickest lap during the recent open test at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and he finished in second and eighth in the pair of F4 events at the same track this year.
We’re curious to see how Rasmussen reacts to being the clear championship favorite to start the season.
While Rasmussen is the clear leader at the team, it will be fascinating to see which of the other four drivers becomes Rasmussen’s wingman.
The D and E in DEForce Racing are David and Ernesto Martinez, who founded the team in 2016.
David is a former Indy car driver, who finished in the top 10 in three of his four starts. Ernesto was a standout karter, team manager, and is known for his ability to develop drivers.
In addition to a four-car Indy Pro 2000 effort, the Angleton, Texas-based team has entered a pair of drivers in the lowest rung on the Road To Indy ladder. Last year, a trio of drivers combined for two podiums, and ten top-five finishes.
Despite being only 16-years-old, Francisco Porto, who is better known as Kiko, has made 31 F4 starts in North America, including three wins and eight podiums on the way to a second-place finish in the 2019 F4 United States Championship Powered By Honda title chase.
Porto was the second quickest rookie during the lone practice session in St. Pete in March.
Unfortunately, Mathias Ramirez, who is one of the best shifter kart pilots in the U.S.A., is not able to make the grid, but the Texas-based team has found a replacement.
Nicholas ‘Nico’ Christodoulou may only be 15-years-old, but he has had a ton of seat time for someone his age.
The familiar brilliant blue livery of DEForce Racing with Nico Christodoulou at the wheel during testing at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
The Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship will be the third championship that the Canadian will take part in this season. The Toronto, Ontario native has two wins and seven podiums in the currently paused 2019–20 NACAM Formula 4 Championship season. He also made two starts at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in the F4 United States Championship Powered By Honda at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Given their past success, it’s clear that both drivers have plenty of talent. How quickly they adapt to USF2000 will determine their ceilings during their rookie seasons.
Last year, Legacy Autosport ran a total of six different drivers in their two USF-17s and, despite the rotating amongst the seats, had solid results, with the sextet combining for two podiums and a dozen top-ten finishes.
The team added experienced NTT INDYCAR SERIES engineer Matt Curry to help move the program forward this year.
Returning to the series after missing the last three events is Cameron Shields. The Aussie, who is mentored by Will Power, won the Freedom 75 on the Lucas Oil Raceway oval last May.
When his season ended, the 19-year-old from Toowoomba, Australia, was seventh in points with a win, two podiums and five top-ten finishes in nine starts.
Legacy Autosport pilot Cameron Shields on track at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course during Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship testing. (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
Shields was the quickest driver in the final test session at Homestead-Miami Speedway and ended the two-days of testing fifth on the combined timesheet.
High school freshman Ayrton Ori returns to Legacy Autosport after contesting the final four races of the 2019 USF2000 season with the team. The native of Orlando, Florida, has extensive experience in F1600 machinery.
It was clear that Shields was dejected after his rookie season came to a premature end. However, Sheilds kept coming to the race track, and through hard work, was able to put together a deal to get back into the series in 2020. In a year that should have a wide-open battle for the advancement scholarship, TSO Ladder will be watching to see if the perseverance Shields has shown off the track translates to the same fire on the track.
Miller Vinatieri Motorsports
Back for a second year of action is Miller Vinatieri Motorsports and lead driver Jack William Miller.
The team owned by former Indy car driver Jack Miller and N.F.L. kicker Adam Vinatieri will run a pair of cars for the second straight season.
A native Hoosier, Miller, is still only 17-years-old and will be starting his fourth season in formula cars. His rookie season of USF2000 action followed a season and a half of F4 United States Championship Powered By Honda competition.
During the recent open test at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Miller led a test session and ended up with the third-quickest time on the combined timesheet.
Jack William Miller during testing at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The second generation had the third quickest lap of the test. (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
Pairing with Miller will be Max Kaeser, a fellow 17-year-old who resides in Keystone Colo. Kaeser tested with the team at the Chris Griffis Memorial Test last fall after two seasons of SCCA Formula F competition.
The team has brought on Skip Essma to engineer the two-car effort. Essma has INDYCAR engineering experience at Chip Ganassi Racing and Newman Haas Racing.
“We are glad the restart to the season is here,” expressed Jack Miller, Co-Owner of the M.V.M. program. “We were ready to go in St. Pete, but we all know how that ended. With the extended time off, we have been able to complete multiple days of testing at Road America and Mid-Ohio as they will be important locations due to the quantity of the events at each facility this year.”
After four DNFs and an avoidable contact penalty in his first five races, Miller settled in and finished nine of the last ten laps. “JWM” clearly has the pace but needed to slow down to speed up. That mission was accomplished in the final third of the season, and TSO Ladder will be watching to see if the pace comes back with the improved race-craft.
Last but certainly not least. (I went by the 2019 team standings)
After three wins, nine podiums, and a third (Parker Thompson in 2017) and fourth (Igor Fraga in 2018) place championship finishes, Exclusive Autosport only took part in the first five rounds of the 2019 championship with a single driver.
This year, the Canadian team with a shop in Brownsburg, Ind. is back on the grid in a big way, signing a roster of potential race-winning drivers.
Prescott Campbell in the No. 1 Lucas Oil School Of Racing sponsored USF-17 from the Exclusive Autosport stable (Photo Courtesy Of Andersen Promotions)
In what we hope becomes a tradition, Prescott Campbell will be carrying the No. 1 as the Lucas Oil Formula Car Series champion. The 19-year-old Campbell was able to win the hotly contested championship despite missing a round with a broken leg sustained in a karting mishap.
Campbell, a 19-year-old Californian who is pursing a motorsport engineering degree at Oxford-Brookes University, was the fastest driver during the recent test at Homestead-Miami Speedway but understands that he has a lot to learn.
A second 19-year-old Californian, Christian Brooks, will hope to duplicate his previous career success. A standout karter with multiple marquee wins, Brooks made a move into formula cars last year. He collected a pair of wins and eight podiums on the way to a third-place finish in the 2019 F4 United States Championship Powered By Honda.
Replacing Manuel Cabrera in the third Exclusive Autosport entry will be karting standout Josh Pierson, a 14-year-old from Wilsonville, Ore.
Campbell and Brooks should be able to push each other up the grid, and it will be interesting to see if the Exclusive Autosport duo will be able to challenge that Pabst Racing and Cape Motorsports drivers for wins.
Don’t miss any of the Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires action:
download the Road To Indy TV app from the Apple App Store or on Google Play to get video, audio, timing & scoring, news from TSO Ladder and much more – you can also get Road To Indy TV via Apple TV, Amazon Video, Roku or Microsoft Xbox One
live timing – Road To Indy TV – Indy Lights – Pro Mazda – USF2000 – IndyCar Race Control
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on all social media channels via the #TeamCooperTire and #RoadToIndy hashtags
Note – Unfortunately due to split Road To Indy and INDYCAR schedule there will be no video this weekend. However, you will be able to listen to Rob Howden’s call.
category: TSO Road To Indy Coverage
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EXHIBITS TELLING THE STORY OF 12,000 YEARS OF HUMAN OCCUPATION
"Fort Walton Culture" is a term for a late prehistoric Native American people that flourished in southeastern North America from approximately 1200-1500 CE.
ABOUT FORT WALTON CULTURE
THE MOUND
LISTEN TO AN EXPERT
The Fort Walton Culture was named by archaeologist Gordon Willey, based on his work at the Fort Walton Mound site near the Indian Temple Museum in the 1930s. Archaeologists have now come to believe the Fort Walton site was actually built and used by people of the contemporaneous Pensacola Culture. The peoples of the Fort Walton Culture used mostly sand, grit, grog, or combinations of these materials as tempering agents in their pottery, whereas the Pensacola Culture peoples used the more typical Mississippian Culture shell tempering for their pottery.
From 1,000 to 1,200 CE, Weeden Island Culture people adopted maize agriculture, the building of platform mounds for ceremonial, political and religious purposes, and the making a new variety of ceramics. These cultural changes may have been influenced by contact with the Mississippian Culture centers to the north and west. This was the beginning of the Fort Walton Culture (1200 - 1500 CE). Fort Walton sites are similar to other Mississippian sites, with the exception of those in the Tallahassee Hills area, which because of the local geography, are located around lakes and swamps instead of along rivers. Settlement types include single family homesteads, multi family hamlets, small single-mound centers, and large multi-mound centers. The hierarchical settlement patterns suggests the area may have had one or more paramount chiefdoms.
By the Late Fort Walton period, increased contact with peoples from central Georgia saw another change in styles of decoration and manufacture of ceramics. This new phase is known as the Leon-Jefferson Culture. This period sees the collapse of the chiefdoms as aboriginal populations declined following contact with European explorers and colonizers. The Fort Walton and later Leon-Jefferson peoples are the direct ancestors of the Apalachee peoples, a tribe still in existence today.
Listed in the Florida Master Site File as Fort Walton Mound (8OK6), and also called "Indian Temple Mound", this archaeological site is located in present-day Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The large platform mound was built between 800-1400 CE by the Pensacola Culture, a localized form of the better known, Mississippian Period Culture. Because of its significance, the mound was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964. This is one of three surviving mound complexes in the panhandle, the others being Letchworth-Love Mounds and Lake Jackson Mounds, both are Florida State Parks.
Despite the hundreds of years of erosion, the massive mound is still 12 feet high and 223 feet wide at the base. An estimated 200,000 basket loads of earth were used to create this earthen structure. 8OK6 is an example of a complex mound-building culture, engineered by a hierarchical society whose leaders planned and organized the labor of many workers for such construction. The mound likely served ceremonial, political and religious purposes. At the center of the village and its supporting agricultural lands, the mound also served as the platform for the temple and residence of the chief. Successive leaders were buried in the mound and additional layers were added over time. Archaeological evidence suggests that several buildings once stood on top of the mound, perhaps at different times throughout its use. These buildings were likely wooden plank, or wattle and daub construction, common among Southeastern Native American groups.
After the Fort Walton Culture abandoned it in the mid to late 1500s, the mound lay dormant. During the Civil War, in 1861, Confederate soldiers of the Walton Guard encamped on and around the mound to guard the waterway known as “The Narrows”. The soldiers displayed "curiosities" taken from the mound in a small museum tent. Unfortunately, the tent was burned down by enemy troops, destroying the artifacts. In 1883 the mound was examined by the Smithsonian Institution and has since been excavated nine times. Today's museum houses thousands of artifacts of stone, bone, clay and shell, as well as one of the finest collections of prehistoric ceramics in the Southeastern United States. A reproduction structure sits atop the mound which is accessible via a paved walkway and wooden boardwalk.
Heritage Park & Cultural Center includes the Indian Temple Mound Museum, Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum, Garnier Post Office Museum, Fort Walton Temple Mound, and the Civil War Exhibit Building. It is an educational and cultural institution of long standing traditions, with a mission to preserve, interpret and present the prehistory and history of the Fort Walton Beach community and the Northwest Florida area from 14,000 B.C. through the 1950’s. Admission for all museums in the complex will be taken at the Indian Temple Mound Museum building. All other museums are located within a one minute walk around the base of the mound.
In 1962 the Indian Temple Mound Museum opened as the first municipally owned and operated museum in the State of Florida. The current museum building opened to the public in 1972 and is located on Highway 98 in the heart of historic downtown Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The museum houses interpretative exhibits depicting more than 12,000 years of Native American occupation. Thousands of artifacts of stone, bone, clay and shell are here, as well as one of the finest collections of prehistoric ceramics in the Southeastern United States. Exhibits also include artifacts from the European Explorers, local pirates, and early settlers.
A Museum Store offers visitors unique objects for purchase including museum quality replicas of artifacts on display. Items are of good quality and reflect the craft, culture and history of Native Americans and the museum industry. Many of these items are purchased from North, South and Central America. Items for sale include: Pottery, Beadwork, Shell Carvings, Jewelry, Baskets, Gourd Work, T-Shirts, Finely Woven Textiles, Heartwood Creations Secret Boxes, DVDs and CDs, Books, Handcrafted Native American Art, Jewelry, Children’s Toys, and much more. Every purchase supports the museum and its educational programs.
Dr. Nancy White talks about the Fort Walton Culture and Indian Temple Mound
https://www.trailoffloridasindianheritage.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/waltton.mp3
Shell tempered pottery vessels of the Mississippian household were much more efficient containers for cooking, particularly the increasing amounts of maize being grown, and thus sustaining larger and healthier populations. Around 800 CE, shell tempered pottery spread widely and rapidly from the middle Mississippi River valley to become an integral part of the expanding Mississippian culture.
The ceramic tradition of the Mississippian Culture, (800 to 1600 CE) is often characterized by the adoption and use of riverine (or more rarely marine) shell-tempering agents in the clay paste. Shell tempering is one of the hallmarks of Mississippian cultural practices. Designs probably had meanings related to events or beliefs. Burial vessels had depictions of skeletons, which over the years became stylized bones. Each culture had their own designs, which identify the tribe and the region they came from. Local differences in materials, techniques, forms, and designs are some of the major ways archaeologists understand lifeways, religious practices, trade, and interaction among Mississippian peoples like those of the Fort Walton Culture.
Many Mississippian ceramics are decorated by incising or engraving. Implements such as sticks, reeds, or bone fragments, were dragged through wet clay to incise it, or they were scratched into the surface of the dried but as yet unfired pieces to engrave. Sharpened reeds or fingernails were also used to punch small marks. Ornate designs and motifs are common decorative elements, which archaeologists use to track the spread of influences from one culture onto another culture. Many of the designs have symbolic meanings, usually associated with aspects of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex.
Indian Temple Mound Museum features one of the largest collections of southeastern ancient ceramics in the United States.
(Painting by Theodore Morris)
CLAY TETRAPOD VESSEL (tetra=four pod=feet)
This vessel is one of the oldest found in Northwest Florida. It has been dated to the Deptford Culture, approximately 1170 BCE. The rim decoration was impressed into the clay using a knotted cord of fabric. Some Mississippian Culture pottery was decorated with textile imprints on them. Vegetal cordage or netting was impressed either over the entire external surface of a vessel, or just around the top rim area. Some archaeologists theorize that the textiles used for the imprints were older fabrics that were past their use as garments. Corncobs were also used to create texture on pots.
Although the vast majority of Mississippian pottery was produced for daily utilitarian uses, the finer varieties seem to have been made specifically for trade or for ritual use. Chronologies based on pottery have been essential for dating Mississippian cultures. Studies of southeastern pottery has provided one of the best insights into the culture. Because pottery is durable and often survives long after artifacts made from less durable materials have decayed past recognition, ceramics and stone tools are often the only objects that survive in great enough quantities to establish such insights. Combined with other evidence, the study of pottery artifacts is helpful in the development of theories on organisation, economic conditions and cultural development. This has allowed inferences to be drawn about the daily life, religion, social relationships, and trade with other groups.
WARE HUMAN EFFIGY VESSEL
In 1971, the Ware family found pieces of a clay vessel at a small mound, possibly a domiciliary or a house mound, about four miles west of The Indian Temple Mound Museum. The pieces were made of light brown to tan colored clay, coiled into a rough shape with features molded on the outside. When the clay fragments were carefully placed together, an Effigy (made to look like) of a human male was formed. Although it is unknown, the figure was probably made to resemble a specific individual. Like a portrait, this figure shows details of clothing and decoration. The hair is worn pulled back and a decorative band resembling a crown surrounds the head. The eyes are closed, suggesting a man already dead. The ears contain a set of decorative earrings that dangle. The body is naked, but bracelets can be seen on the wrists and a lip ornament is worn in the pierced bottom lip.
This vessel may have been shattered atop a burial mound as part of a ritual conducted 1300 years ago. Similar vessels are known to have served as status symbols, family heirlooms, burial urns, or statements of political and religious control. The Ware Human Effigy Vessel dates back to the Weeden Island Culture (600-900 CE) known for beautifully crafted ceramic works; however items such as this vessel are very rare. Effigy pots were a mainstay of many Mississippian peoples, although they come in many different varieties. Some come in anthropomorphic shapes, some zoomorphic shapes and others in the shape of mythological creatures associated with the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex.
THE BUCK-LONG EFFIGY URN
This artifact was found in 1961 at the Fort Walton Mound and reconstructed from over 100 shattered fragments. In 1966, the face and topknot were located down the slope on the mound, indicating that it was purposefully shattered on the slope of the mound. This vessel resembles a human with four legs. The two forward legs are clearly human while the two following legs are stumps, presumably reflecting a stool. It is known that the burial practices of the Woodland Time Period sometimes took the form of cremations, especially for important persons. Evidence suggests that the ashes of an important leader may have been retained in this effigy urn.
The vessel is 15 inches tall, made of red paste clay decorated with incised designs. A red and white cloak covers the body and attaches at the human wrists with white bands. The ears are pierced and the face-blackened to resemble a mask, which may represent a masked and costumed figure from a ritual event. The use of this vessel is difficult to determine. Such exotic wares are thought to have been status symbols, family heirlooms, or statements of political and religious control. They might have been cult objects or guardian figures.
Two methods were used to create this vessel. The legs were shaped from slabs and are hollow. The coil method was used to make the face and body. The firing of the vessel was at low heat resulting in a brittle finish. It has been called the "finest ceramic vessel in the Southeast" and only a few vessels with similar paste and shape have been found. The styling of the hands and general appearance suggest cultural contact with Central America, but in actuality this artifact is most closely related to the Mississippian Cultures.
SIX SIDED PLATES OR SALT PANS
Six sided plates are unique to the Fort Walton culture. In the five major Fort Walton Sites in the Florida panhandle, more than 350 bowls have been found. Over 50 of these are six sided plates. They may have been used as salt drying pans evaporating pans for drying salt, or a passing plate for ceremonies or a representation of the tribal community house. Large salt pans were common in Mississippian regions, but are usually ovular or even rectangular. These could hold from 10 to 26 liters of liquid. A heavy slip made them more waterproof. They were most likely formed from a mold, possibly a basket. They were lined with grass or textiles to keep from sticking to each other or the mold before firing.
HOODED CONTAINERS
Globular containers, resembling gourds, with a rounded base and a smaller "head", may have been used to carry and store liquids. One side of the head was shaped like an animal or human face, while the other side was a black, hollow opening. They were slipped on their exterior surface to make them smoother and water-resistant. Another theory is that these were used to store seed grain, and unfired clay plugs sealed the opening. Owls and opossums are often featured on hooded vessels.
Maize cob fragments were found in the middens near Fort Walton. By the fourteenth century the Fort Walton site housed a large agricultural village. The land was fertile and rich, as it lay in a floodplain, however, fishing and seafood utilization continued to play a major role in the economy.
MAIZE (corn) A cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago, the maize that the Indians grew at the time of Fort Walton did not look anything like the corn of today. The corn cob was a lot smaller in size and the kernels were characteristic of flint corn and not flour corn. Flint corn (Zea mays var. indurata; also known as "Indian corn" or sometimes calico corn) is a variant of maize. Because each kernel has a hard outer layer, it is likened to being hard as flint; hence the name. Flint corn is also the type of corn preferred for making hominy, a staple food in the Americas since pre-Columbian times.
YAUPON HOLLY (Ilex vomitoria) Indians throughout prehistoric Florida made a drink by boiling the leaves of the Yaupon Holly. Among the purposes of consuming the "black drink", was to empty the contents of the stomach in preparation for the consumption of the green corn. The principal active ingredient of Ilex vomitoria is caffeine. Vomiting was not caused by the drink, but is connected to the ceremonial expelling, and was a learned behavior. Large drinking vessels made from shells, often with incising, have been found throughout the state. Special pottery cups, some in effigy forms, may also be associated with the "black drink" and "green corn" ceremonies.
HICKORY (genus Carya) Hickory nuts were found in the Fort Walton Mound. They would have been gathered from the ground in the fall. The nut of the hickory tree has nutritious meat, and the flexible wood of the hickory tree was favored for the making of bows. There are nine varieties of hickory found in North America, with almost half available throughout Florida. Hickory nuts were a staple food for prehistoric Floridians.
PERSIMMON (genus Diospyros) Remains of persimmons were found in the Fort Walton Mound. Persimmon fruit matures late in the fall and can stay on the tree until winter. Ripe fruit has a high glucose content and is sweet in taste. The persimmon was first mentioned in print about the middle of the sixteenth century in a journal of Hernando de Soto's expedition in Florida. The account mentions the Indians using both the fresh and dried fruits as food.
HUCKLEBERRY (Gaylussacia baccata) The remains of berries were found in the Fort Walton Mound. Huckleberries (shown here) and Blackberries are common in the Florida panhandle. Other berries consumed by Fort Walton people include Beautyberry, and Saw Palmetto. Berries were also used in the making of pigments, and early accounts of Florida indigenous peoples talk of their blue and purple body paint.
PUMPKIN (Tetrazygia bicolor) A member of the gourd family, pumpkin varieties are found throughout Florida. The flesh and seeds were consumed. Seeds were often dried or roasted for winter storage and provided useful nutrition.
ACORNS One of many types of oaks in this area, the Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) provides sweet tasting acorns. Collected when they ripened in fall, the Indians may have dried them in the sun and stored them. Raw acorns can be stored for months without spoiling. Acorns can be boiled, roasted or ground into a meal and used as flour. A Native American method for processing acorns involves placing the shelled nuts into a tightly woven basket, and allowing them to soak in a clean, flowing stream for a few days until no brown colored water is seen when checking their progress.
SEAFOOD AND SHELLFISH As witnessed by the amount of shells in the middens around Fort Walton, a large part of the diet of the people of this region was provided by the bays, rivers, and Gulf of Mexico. Trout, mullet, red drum, and more local fishes were caught by spear or net, from the shoreline, or from a dugout canoe. Shellfish could be gathered in the shallows. Eastern Oysters, (Crassostrea virginica) occurring in coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico, are a primary component of Florida middens.
Until the arrival of the Spanish in the early 1500s, the most common land mammal hunted by the people of the Fort Walton Culture was deer. They would have used a bow and arrow, or hurled darts with a throwing stick called an atlatl. Some hunters might disguise themselves by wearing a deerskin with the head still attached. All parts of the deer were useful to the tribe. Other mammals were hunted, such as; raccoon, squirrel, armadillo, rabbits, opossum, fox, bear, and bobcat. (Painting by Brett Pigon)
139 Miracle Strip Parkway SE
HOURS: Indian Temple Mound Museum
Monday-Friday: 12:00pm -4:30pm
WEBSITE: http://fwb.org/museums/
page information credit: City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park & Cultural Center, Indian Temple Mound Museum, Wikipedia, Dr. Rochelle A. Marrinan, Dr. Nancy Marie White, Gordon Willey, and previous Trail web content
photos from the sources listed above, as well as publicly posted online sites with thanks to the contributors
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