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Tangier To Host This Year’s International Festival of Ibn Battuta
Jul 20, 2017 | Art
On November 9-12, 2017, the city of Tangier in Morocco will welcome thousands of international visitors participating at the second edition of International Festival of Ibn Battuta.
ABU DHABI, UAE, July 20, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ — On November 9-12, 2017, the city of Tangier in Morocco will welcome thousands of international visitors participating at the second edition of International Festival of Ibn Battuta.
Born and raised in Tangier, the city has been Ibn Battuta’s point of departure and return. A strategic gateway between Europe, Africa, and the Arab world, it is every traveler’s dream to see the meeting point of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean in Tangier and catch a sight of the mountains marking one of the entries to Europe.
A significant marine route, the city holds one of the world’s busiest ports where an inflow of tourists arrives from Western Europe to Tangier. The easy access has made the city a real melting pot that brought together writers, musicians, and artists. The influence is reflected upon the different historical places that dot the city.
Being this year’s host city, this is an opportunity to promote Tangier through Ibn Battuta’s travels and adventures. The Moroccan Association of Ibn Battuta, the organization behind the event actively promotes Ibn Battuta as a strong support to the development of Morocco’s cultural and tourism industry.
Mohamed Dekkak, the association’s Honorary Chairman stated, “The festival theme, ‘Travelers, the Ambassadors of Peace’ aims to promote universal values, mutual tolerance and open mindedness.This significant event looks to engage Moroccans and international visitors to a meaningful and colorful dialogue of shared cultural discoveries.”
The Association President Aziz Benami adds, “We work to continue our unconditional commitment to promoting culture, tradition, ethics and sustainability through the spirit of the legendary character of Ibn Battuta.”
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF IBN BATTUTA:
The International Festival of Ibn Battuta, now on its second edition, promotes awareness on the legacies of Ibn Battuta. The festival intends to be interactive carrying out social and cultural activities such as carnival parades, film shows, theater plays, musical and cultural shows, conferences, art exhibits and more. For more information visit https://ibnbattuta.ma/.
The Moroccan Association of Ibn Battuta was founded in June 2015 by tourism professionals and cultural heritage advocates; It is the world’s first association created and dedicated to promoting the famous Ibn Battuta.
Sarah Garcia
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Corona/ARCTURUS
There are many ways to apply the subject of astrology into one’s life. It can help one better understand the reflections of the planets upon their lives’ in a mundane way, such as why do I want to relocate, change jobs, get married or have a family. But the planets can also cause those who are more intellectually or spiritually elevated to go beyond the parameters of our solar system and reach into the infinite dimensions of not only space, but of time. Therefore, allowing one to resonant with black holes, quasars, as well as fixed stars emitting radiations before earth was created. This can cause a person to become more introverted or extroverted depending one’s evolution in assimilating this cryptic language. No matter what level of consciousness one is ingesting, this energy is being applied into our individual existence as well to the collective whole.
Back on January 12th, the planet Saturn began to hold hands with Pluto, as it does every 32 to 38 years. The last occurrence was in 1982 going into 1983, and my colleagues and I made many predictions of the implications of this event. Our research took us back to 1914 and 1915, as well as the years in between. We said yes, there would be a recession, yes the stock market would fall out of favor, yes unemployment would rise and a major disease would affect the global population sending us into a period of darkness, causing some to test their faith, and others to embrace greater greed.
In talking with my colleagues about the current events, we felt there was something much bigger causing the extreme impact, and rapid pace of destruction and change. In other words, this had to do with something beyond are solar system. I mean, even our Sun at times has blown out satellites as well as knocked out electricity to major cities, so certainly this was in the realm of possibilities.
So, the first thing I did was to start looking at the positions of certain black holes, as well as fixed stars in constellations to see if there was a heavenly body making negative mathematical configurations to Pluto, which is at 24 degrees and 34 minutes of Capricorn. There, in front of me, was the answer. It was the fixed star Arcturus, which was at 24 degrees and 30 minutes of Libra. Arcturus was making a very stressful and challenging relationship to the planet Pluto. Now, this combined with the planet Mars and Jupiter, as well as Saturn, would indicate other trials and tribulations were on the near horizon. Saturn continues its negative patters throughout the coming year, as it aligns not only with these planets, but also with the star Arcturus. These major celestial encounters will not only cause undo strife, but in the long run, help civilization as well as individuals reconstruct themselves with a new state of awareness.
There are many descriptions of this star Arcturus, which is in the constellation of Boötes known as the herdsman. The name translates to “He Cometh,” which has been known to bring critical diseases as well as major upheavals upon the Earth. Arcturus has also caused major transmutations in our evolution granting humanity an initiation into a new formula of life. Because this star is an avatar of the Divine, it has come to judge the righteousness within the world including countries as well as individuals. So, many major problems are to be witnessed in our personal lives, as well as throughout the world affecting the collective whole. Thus, this brings about evolutionary changes within the social matrix or what some call a rebirth as it begins to bring about a recalibration within our state of consciousness.
Whether we welcome this or not, the linear matrix of one’s polarity begins to loosen its grip, so that we are almost forced to seek a new paradigm or path which in reality is a cleansing of our archaic past, so that we may ingest a new essence of our being. This leads some out of confusion into a new structural phase of our human evolution. We begin to embrace very slowly a new path in our growth and development and a new level of consciousness. The transformation has begun. It’s time to remake oneself and give our life a human value. With these trying times, I see people going out of their way to help their neighbor or fellow man which, to me, represents being the herdsman’s and connecting with one’s faith, principals, and beliefs. This is an expression of the Divine within us, and the mentality of mankind is about to change. As above so below.
Edgar Cayce said that Arcturus was a very advanced star system in which beings of the 5th dimension of consciousness resided. When one opens their 7th chakra, they have access to these beings, and now the vibrations or frequencies once cryptic, are now open and act as a stimulus to bring about dreams, intuition as well as spiritual awareness that centers and empowers us. When we die, or prepare to reincarnate, we enter a portal within this star system of Arcturus. It’s sort of a train station in which nonphysical consciousness is either given awareness once again to transmit the will of God, or must once again learn through trials, common values, and morals related to God’s will to obtain a higher level of evolution. Certainly, those that are highly evolved can remain in this higher dimension to act as a teacher to help those on earth to raise their spiritual awareness and intuition.
When reading about the tribulations of Job in the bible, we can, at this moment, resonant with his story. Job, a wealthy man with a wife, children, fertile land and livestock, was very faithful servant of God. In the story as Satan was talking to God, he said Job was loyal only, because God gave him these riches in life. If he went through a trial of suffering his faith would be tested; therefore, would fall from God’s grace. So, a poker game ensued, and to prove otherwise, Job’s livestock was killed, natural disasters destroyed the land, and 10 of his children died from the invading marauders, and he lost all his servants. Satan was sure this would cause Job to lose his faith in God. in the end, Job kept his faith and God gave him even more wealth, land, as well as other riches.
I think we all are on the edge of a karmic threshold in which mankind’s faith is being greatly tested. In addition to the virus, earthquakes, tornados, family changes, jobs, money, food, and the leadership around the world, contribute to this quantum evolutionary change. When times like this unfold, there are people who have natal planets in conjunction with the fixed star, Arcturus. Those with this aspect help to usher into the whole of humanity revolutionary movements that remove the static of existing structures, the greed of economic vampirism, crime, lust, as well as the dehumanizing of our human existence. Within Pluto is the seed of universal brotherhood, which will bring about the power to resurrect the divine Being within most of us. Look for new discoveries from those that hold Arcturus in their life, who will help parts of humanity go through an extensive mutation of consciousness, so that the greater good prevails through humility and wisdom. It’s a time to have faith under any form or disguise. Below you will find a short list of the many people that have planets in conjunction with Arcturus who are now or have helped humanity move beyond its existing conditions into a new fundamental rhythm of transition.
George Orwell Dwight Eisenhower
Michael Faraday Ronald Regan
Winston Churchill Prince
Princes Diana Alanis Morissette
Vladimir Putin Oprah Winfrey
Margaret Thatcher Paul Allen
Henry Ford Susan Sarandon
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Rod Serling wrote an astounding 92 scripts for The Twilight Zone, almost two-thirds of its 156 episodes. Most of these were original ideas of Serling’s, but 24 of them were based on stories by other writers. These range from published short fiction to unpublished story ideas.
These posts compare the completed episodes to the original story, in an effort to showcase Serling’s contributions.
“The Four of Us Are Dying”
(an adaptation of George Clayton Johnson’s “All of Us Are Dying”)
“And When the Sky Was Opened”
(an adaptation of Richard Matheson’s “Disappearing Act”)
“To Serve Man”
(an adaptation of Damon Knight’s “To Serve Man”)
(an adaptation of Lynn Venable’s “Time Enough at Last”)
“Third From The Sun”
(an adaptation of Richard Matheson’s “Third From The Sun”)
(an adaptation of Jerome Bixby’s “It’s a Good Life”)
(an adaptation of George Clayton Johnson’s “Execution”)
“People Are Alike All Over”
(an adaptation of Paul Fairman’s “Brothers Beyond the Void”)
“Still Valley”
(an adaptation of Manly Wade Wellman’s “The Valley Was Still”)
(an adaptation of Lewis Padgett’s “What You Need”)
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Trump pardons former campaign manager Manafort, associate Roger Stone
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA (REUTERS) – US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Dec 23) granted full pardons to former campaign manager Paul Manafort and former adviser Roger Stone, sweeping away the most important convictions made under the long-running Russia election probe.
Trump also issued a full pardon for Charles Kushner, a real estate developer and the father of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Trump, taking advantage of a right granted by the Constitution only to the president, has issued two groups of pardons in as many days, and more are anticipated as Trump faces the end of his presidency on Jan 20.
The announcement came just after Trump arrived in Palm Beach, Florida, for the holiday season, with Jared Kushner on the Air Force One flight with him.
In total, Trump issued on Wednesday full pardons to 26 individuals and commuted part or all of the sentences of an additional three people. A commutation removes the punishment but leaves the conviction in place.
Of special interest for Trump has been attacking the results of US Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign, a case Trump repeatedly dismissed as a political witch hunt.
Reacting to Wednesday’s pardons, Republican Senator Ben Sasse, in a six-word statement, said: “This is rotten to the core.”
Besides Manafort and Stone, Trump has pardoned two other major figures from the Russia probe, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former adviser George Papadopoulos.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which has been trying to prosecute Manafort in New York for mortgage fraud and other alleged crimes, said it would continue to pursue an appeal for its case, which was dismissed on double jeopardy grounds.
“This action underscores the urgent need to hold Mr Manafort accountable for his crimes against the People of New York as alleged in our indictment, and we will continue to pursue our appellate remedies,” said Danny Frost, spokesman for the office.
The Manafort pardon spared the long-time Republican operative from serving the bulk of his 7-1/2-year prison term.
Manafort, 70, was among the first in Trump’s inner circle to face charges brought by Mueller as part of his probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Manafort worked on Trump’s White House campaign for five months in 2016. In 2018, Trump called him a “brave man” for not cooperating with federal authorities.
Evidence from the Russia investigation indicated that Trump intended to encourage Manafort “not to cooperate with the government,” according to Mueller’s report.
In a statement relayed by his lawyer, Manafort expressed his appreciation to Trump.
“Mr President, my family & I humbly thank you for the Presidential Pardon you bestowed on me. Words cannot fully convey how grateful we are,” he said.
Andrew Weissmann, a top Mueller deputy who oversaw Manafort’s prosecution by the special counsel, noted that Manafort has served roughly two years of his sentence, and that assets seized in civil forfeiture proceedings would fall outside the pardon.
“So, there still are consequences to Paul Manafort, they are just not commensurate with the extensive criminality that he was convicted of and plead guilty to,” Weissmann said on CNN.
Stone was convicted in November 2019 by a Washington jury of lying under oath to lawmakers also investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Trump commuted his sentence in July, a day before Stone was due to begin serving a term of three years and four months.
Stone, in a statement, thanked Trump for “completely erasing the criminal conviction to which I was subjected in a Soviet-style show trial on politically motivated charges.”
Charles Kushner was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty in 2004 to 18 counts of tax evasion, witness tampering and making unlawful campaign donations.
In an unusual twist, the man who prosecuted Charles Kushner was Chris Christie, now the former governor of New Jersey, who also has served as an adviser to Trump.
Christie was quoted by CNN as saying Charles Kushner’s case was “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes” he prosecuted.
During the case, Charles Kushner admitted to smearing his brother-in-law, who had cooperated with prosecutors, by hiring a prostitute to have sex with him in a motel room, then sending a secretly recorded video of the encounter to the man’s wife, Charles Kushner’s own sister.
A pardon in practice grants full legal forgiveness for a federal crime, as a result removing any remaining prison sentence, probation conditions or unpaid fines.
It also relieves the person of the potential consequences of a felony conviction, such as being barred from voting, running for public office and owning a gun.
Posted in AmericasTagged Donald Trump, US Politics
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Posted on January 22, 2016 January 5, 2017 by Gary L. Bauer
Why Did Palin Snub Cruz?
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (photo credit: Gage Skidmore)
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin endorsed Donald Trump on Tuesday in Iowa, leaving a lot of conservative leaders scratching their heads. The race in Iowa is neck-and-neck, and many grassroots conservatives are trying to decide between Trump and Ted Cruz.
Both Palin and Cruz are closely identified with the Tea Party movement. Palin has a long relationship with Cruz, who is much closer to her on values issues than Trump. Nevertheless, Cruz was magnanimous about the endorsement, saying that he and Palin will always be great friends.
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad also weighed in yesterday with an outrageous “Anybody but Cruz” endorsement. The governor, citing the senator’s support from the oil and natural gas industry, said that he wanted to see Cruz defeated in Iowa.
Well, of course, Ted Cruz has support from oil and natural gas companies. He’s from Texas! He has a conservative energy policy. I think Branstad’s action has nothing to do with energy companies and everything to do the party establishment trying to stop a movement conservative.
The race is extremely close in Iowa, and it remains to be seen whether these developments will swing voters one way or the other.
One place where the race no longer seems close is the Democrat primary in New Hampshire. A WMUR/CNN released late yesterday finds Bernie Sanders surging to a whopping 27-point lead over Hillary Clinton. The race has swung 17 points in the past month, giving Sanders a 60 percent to 33 percent lead.
Gary L. Bauer served in President Ronald Reagan’s administration for eight years, as Under Secretary of Education and as President Reagan’s Chief Domestic Policy Advisor.
CategoriesCandidate, Commentary, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz TagsDonald Trump, Iowa Caucus, Republican Party, Sarah Palin, Ted Cruz, Terry Branstad
Previous PostPrevious Huckabee’s Failed Attack on Cruz
Next PostNext How Would a Kasich Victory in N.H. Impact the Race? (VIDEO)
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Charles van den Heuvel has a background in art history with as specialisation history of architecture and town planning. Apart from leading the department of history of science at Huygens ING, he is a professor in Digital Methods in Historical Disciplines. He has expertise in methodological issues of spatial humanities, in particular of the role of historical evidence of paper and digital urban maps, of visualisation of uncertainty and of editing practices of text and image.
Julia Noordegraaf is professor of Digital Heritage at the University of Amsterdam, where she leads the digital humanities project Creative Amsterdam: An E-Humanities Perspective. She is editor-in-chief of the Cinema Context database and acts as board member for Media Studies in CLARIAH, the national infrastructure for digital humanities research, funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, NWO.
Gabri van Tussenbroek is professor of Urban Identity and Listed Buildings (in particular those of the City of Amsterdam), in the department of History of Art at the University of Amsterdam and building historian of the Heritage department of this city. His expertise of historical practices of building of Amsterdam in the Early Modern Period and his practical knowledge of the preservation of historic houses and urban environment of this city is crucial for the quality of the virtual reconstructions of the historical interiors of houses of the Dutch Golden Age and their reuse for research in the humanities and cultural heritage.
Chiara Piccoli is a postdoctoral researcher in the Virtual Interiors project. She is responsible for the research and development of virtual reconstructions of a selection of 17th century Amsterdam houses. The aim of these 3D models is to act as data integration and hypothesis-testing platforms to spatially connect, manage and research the rich and heterogeneous historical data sources of this period. For her PhD thesis Chiara explored the contribution of 3D modelling in combination with GIS for the study and visualization of past cityscapes (here in open access). She has a background in archaeology and book history and her research interests include the application of digital tools for the documentation, visualization, analysis and dissemination of historical data.
Hugo Huurdeman works as a postdoctoral researcher in the Virtual Interiors project. He will create and evaluate user interfaces for a Virtual Research Environment, integrating 3D reconstructions, 2D maps and contextual sources. Within the project, Hugo aims to research analytical augmentation and annotation in 3D user interfaces, as well as the value of game elements. As an embedded researcher, his work is closely intertwined with the partners of the Virtual Interiors project: the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision and Brill. Hugo has a background in interactive media, human-computer interaction and information science. In the past decade, he has worked as a researcher, developer as well as digital artist. Creative expression, in a variety of manifestations, has always been an essential ingredient of his work.
Weixuan Li is a Ph.D. candidate in the project. Her work focuses on contextualizing the artists’ lives in Golden Age Amsterdam through multi-layered deep mapping to understand the relationship between the urban fabric and artists’ location choice within the city. Weixuan ventured into the uncharted territory of digital art history in 2016 when she started her research master of the Arts of the Netherlands at the University of Amsterdam and graduated cum laude with an award-winning thesis. Her previous training includes dual master’s degrees in Urban Planning and Transportation at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and dual bachelor’s degrees in Urban Planning and Economics at Peking University. Combining her training in digital methods at MIT and art history at the University of Amsterdam, Weixuan aspires to bring together humanities research and advanced information technology.
Bart Reuvekamp is a junior researcher in the project. He is responsible for digging into a wide range of archival data of seventeenth century Amsterdam. Bart finished his master in urban history at the University of Amsterdam in 2018, with a thesis on the spatial distribution of wealth in early modern Amsterdam.
At The Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision
Johan Oomen is head of Research and Heritage at the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision and researcher at the User-Centric Data Science group of the VU University Amsterdam. Oomen is working on initiatives that focus on digital heritage in all its facets. He has a background in Information Science, Media Studies and Computer Science. His research focuses on the relationship between participatory culture and institutional policy. Johan Oomen has worked for the British Universities Film and Video Council and commercial broadcaster RTL Nederlands. He is board member of the Europeana Foundation, the EUscreen Foundation and the PublicSpaces Foundation. He is advisor to the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts and the Dutch National research council for cultural heritage. Recently he was appointed co-chair of The Netherlands Heritage Network.
Jesse de Vos has a background in Film and Television Studies at the University of Utrecht and has since worked on various research projects at the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision. His research focuses on the preservation of interactive audio-visual productions, among which Games, Virtual Reality and interactive documentaries. He has also been involved in various projects that concerned the interactive and enriched presentation of cultural heritage.
At Brill
Marti Huetink is Publishing Director and Program Director Digital Humanities at Brill and – as a publisher has expertise in (digital) publishing, dissemination of research output, applying business models and valorisation. In this project, Brill is especially interested in developing an interactive enhanced publication with annotation facilities together with the embedded postdoc researchers and the other knowledge institutions and private partner (Sound and Vision) and in the question how to combine open and paid access in one application.
Etienne Posthumus studied computer science at the University of Johannesburg and Bookhistory and Manuscript Studies at the University of Amsterdam. He started his Digital Humanities experience in the late nineties making the digital version of the ICONCLASS classification system and later creating the serendipity engine Arkyves, which he also maintains. At Brill he has the role of Digital Publishing Specialist in which he is helping set up the Digital Humanities Program. He likes using software to make simple solutions to complex problems.
Frederic Kaplan, EPFL CDH DHLAB Lausanne, P.I Venice Time Machine and FET application Time Machine.
David Bodenhamer, Indiana University-Purdue University-The Polis Center.
Marina Otero Verzier, Het Nieuwe Instituut Rotterdam.
Bernie Frischer, Indiana University, School of Informatics.
Andreas Fickers, Digital History & Hermeneutics Lab of the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History.
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Mark Few's long journey to a Final Four
West Regional: Gonzaga rolls Xavier to reach first Final Four ... - houstonchronicle.com
After 18 years, the Gonzaga head coach sits two wins away from a National Championship
by Arabdho Majumder (article) and Milos Kitanovic (video)
March 31, 2017 at 4:45 PM March 31, 2017 at 4:45 PM
There’s not much Mark Few hasn’t accomplished in his time at Gonzaga. He’s won over 500 games with the program, been the regular season Conference Champions 16 times, and has never failed to reach the NCAA Tournament. But the two biggest holes in his resume before this season were arguably the most important in setting the line between a “good” and “great” coach — Final Fours and National Championships.
Unlikely rise to the top
Gonzaga wasn’t expected to cause much damage in the 1999 NCAA Tournament. They were a small jesuit school in Spokane, Washington that not many knew about, but as a 10-seed, their Cinderella run under Dan Monson all the way to the Elite Eight opened everyone's eyes.
When Monson left for the University of Minnesota the next year, the Bulldogs had to turn to an unproven Few.
It took Gonzaga just three years under Few to break into the top ten of the AP Poll and a further couple to break into the top five. Unfortunately for him, his success in the regular season would not translate well to the postseason.
2012-13 finally looked to be the season that might change all of that. His team won 30 games for the first time in his career and ended the season as the AP No. 1. This gave them a top seed in the tournament and was theoretically supposed to give them the easiest route to the Final Four. However, Wichita State, a No. 9 seed, made their own fairy tale run which included wins over both Gonzaga and the second seed in their region, Ohio State, en route to a Final Four berth.
Few’s first Elite Eight came 16 years into his head coaching career at Gonzaga as a 2-seed after once again winning over 30 games in the regular season and finishing first in the West Coast Conference.
Finally making it happen this season
For the first three-and-a-half months of this season, Gonzaga did not lose a single game. A strong out-of-conference schedule saw the Bulldogs get wins over Arizona, Iowa State and Florida, and to make that even more impressive, they were all won on neutral floors.
After cruising to the WCC Tournament Championship, the Bulldogs earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a first round date with South Dakota State, a team they dispatched easily.
While they only beat Northwestern by six in the end, Gonzaga had full control of the match for most of the game and wasn’t too troubled till the last few minutes. West Virginia, or “press” Virginia, was the first real challenge they had in the tournament and it was handled well.
Good perimeter defense at the end of the game forced West Virginia into a couple of contested three-pointers, both of which were missed. A demolition of Xavier in the Elite Eight has now set up a Final Four showdown against unlikely participant, South Carolina.
After their win over Xavier, Few was understandably emotional. 18 long years after his first season with Gonzaga, he has finally reached what many thought was not possible for him after missing out on so many opportunities.
For all Zags. #FinalFour #UnitedWeZag pic.twitter.com/WVVHss4lyf
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) March 26, 2017
But the “Big Dance”, as Jay Williams noted in a recent interview on ESPN's Sportscenter, is not easy to win, and often, the best team does not end as the winner.
In a one-and-done format, it’s difficult to stay focused for every game and requires an immense level of concentration from these college students. Few’s accomplishments would not have been insignificant without a Final Four or a National Championship, after all, it took Syracuse legend Jim Boeheim 27 years to reach the Holy Grail of college basketball. But if Gonzaga is able to find a way to win the National Championship on April 3, Few will have marked down his spot in the history books forever.
Arabdho Majumder
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North Carolina woman’s mask rant is the latest tantrum to storm social media
Viral video after viral video of mask-holes proudly defending their rights to infect anyone they chose to come close to — as they place their individual freedoms above their responsibilities to society as a whole — can make one lose faith in the essential beneficence of human nature.
These Minted Coins Are Worth a Fortune
It's The Vibe
A bleak vision of the world as a place of cutthroat savagery devoid of the civilized advancements of cooperative civic behavior emerges as more and more of our fellow citizens are literally unmasked as selfish misanthropes, more concerned about their personal comfort than about preventing the demise of both our economy and our normal daily lifestyle by deferring their own convenience until the virus transmission rate drops to manageable levels as it has in countries with higher compliance with lockdown and mask-wearing regulations.
Today’s dose of depressing behavior emanates from North Carolina, where a woman picking up a takeout food order went on an ugly rant that encapsulates the perplexing politicization of protective face coverings, a public health issue that somehow got wrapped up in the Trump campaign’s re-election bid and, inadvertently, became an instant low-cost test for both morality and IQ.
This woman refuses to wear a mask while getting takeout and causes a scene.
She screams, “We don’t cover our faces in America.” as her boyfriend comes to the rescue.
She ends it all by declaring “trump 2020.”
They seem delightful…pic.twitter.com/jhZybJ7qzQ
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) July 11, 2020
Add your name to demand an investigation into Trump letting Putin pay Taliban fighters to kill US troops!
While it would be easy to write off this woman as a byproduct of the failure of the underfunded American educational system, her interpretation of the freedoms that are guaranteed by the Constitution as unbounded by any responsibilities to others, shows the pernicious influence of the parallel system of information and opinion delivery in this country — the alternative universe of right-wing media that feeds its followers with a doctrine of dumbed-down extremist libertarian rhetoric 24 hours a day.
The only solace one can take after watching this fine example of the deterioration of the intellect of a certain sector of the American public is to realize that at least a portion of these people will actually be infected by COVID-19 and may have to reckon with their stupidity and stubborn self-centeredness when they realize just how reckless they have been.
That eventuality was made clear by the news that a 30-year-old San Antonio man attended a “COVID party” had converted to a believer in the coronavirus’ seriousness on his deathbed, saying to a nurse right before he succumbed to the virus:
‘I think I made a mistake. I thought it was a hoax but it’s not.”
Perhaps such an end can be chalked up to karma, but it would be infinitely preferable if, rather than the Darwinian culling of that portion of the populace too ignorant to practice behaviors that protects both their own health as well as that of others, the government, the media, and social pressure convinced the stubborn individualists among us to do what’s in everyone’s best interest for the good of society as a whole.
In Trump’s America, unfortunately, that hope is a pipe dream so unlikely to be fulfilled in any way as to send one right back to the depression over the state of our nation that the dystopian vision of the future initially inspired.
Our only hope is to fight on and continue to apply the social pressure on those who refuse to sacrifice their own comfort for the good of everyone else by condemning and mocking them at every available opportunity until they get the message that it’s time to change their behavior.
We want to hear what YOU have to say. Scroll down and let us know in our NEW comment section!
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These days, plenty of television series are based on true stories. But AMC’s new show, Dispatches From Elsewhere, doesn’t sound like one of them. It tells the story of four very different strangers, played by Sally Field, André Benjamin, newcomer Eve Lindley, and showrunner Jason Segel, who are all thrown together via a secret scavenger hunt-like game. In this world, the Jejune Institute, a sort of love child of the DHARMA Initiative and the Church of Scientology, promises to expand human potential through its astounding technological advances, like a camera that can take pictures of the past. Opposing Jejune and its mysterious leader, Octavio Coleman, Esq. (played by Richard E. Grant), is the Elsewhere Society, an Occupy-style outsider movement. The show’s characters are drawn into the world of these dueling and deeply strange organizations, both of which are on the hunt for long-missing young woman named Eva.
In terms of stories that sound as if they could only be fictional, Dispatches From Elsewhere ranks somewhere between Watchmen and Westworld. And yet it’s very much based on real events. Okay, so the Jejune Institute and its dolphin communication technology are made-up creations. But it’s true that, for years, thousands of people embed themselves in this game and its intrigue.
In 2008, flyers very like the ones Peter notices in Dispatches’ premier began popping up around San Francisco. Whether they advertised a “personal human force field” or a “memory to media center” able to “render moving video images from your active memory,” all directed readers to call the Jejune Institute‘s telephone number or visit its website. Those who did were given instructions to visit an office building, where they were inducted into the game via a video featuring a man who claimed to be Jejune founder Octavio Coleman. From there, participants embarked on a treasure-hunt like adventure that brought them deep into the story.
It was all part of an elaborate alternate reality adventure called Games of Nonchalance, which was created by Oakland-based artist Jeff Hull. In the 2013 documentary about the project, The Institute, co-producer Uriah Finley, described it as, “a game that you play by going out into the city and doing things, and as you do that you become part of the story that is unfolding.” Hull said that he wanted the project to encourage “spontaneity and play into our civic spaces.” To pull off the complicated endeavor, its creators recruited actors and also involved regular people and businesses, and hid clues in everyday objects like street signs, bricks, and pay phones. Before the game ended its three-year run in 2011, more than 7,000 people participated.
After watching the documentary, Segel “was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is what I’ve been looking for,’” he told The New York Times. The How I Met Your Mother star reached out to Hull and received the artist’s permission to adapt the game into a fictionalized project.
Dispatches incorporates tons of real-life game elements into the story, including lines from the videos and recordings used in the original project. When Peter first responds to a Jejune Institute flier, the voice on the other line invites him to his induction by telling him that, “to those dark horses with the spirit to look up and see, a recondite family awaits.” It’s a line that played on the “real-life” Jejune Institute phone number. And the show’s characters embody the different approaches real people took to the game. Some players, like Benjamin’s Fredwynne, took it all a little too seriously, while others, like Lindley’s character Simone, approached it as a fun viral game. “I felt like I’d felt before when I was watching a movie, and the movie ended, and I left the movie theater,” one participant interviewed in The Institute said, “and everything outside seem better than it did before that, like the colors are brighter or the world looks like a different place.” Peter says almost the exact same lines in the series’ premier.
While it’s clear that the series has drawn heavily from Hull’s real-life gameplay, where it’s all going is less obvious. Will Peter, Simone, Fredwynne, and Field’s Janice learn that their game is actually the creation of some intrepid local artists? Or in this world, are the Jejune Institute and the Elsewhere Societyreal. As in, not based-on-a-game real, but real real. We’ll have to watch and see.
Gabrielle Bruney
Gabrielle Bruney is a writer and editor for Esquire, where she focuses on politics and culture.
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(Redirected from A Man For All Seasons)
The Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Cromwell
Margaret More
Thomas Cardinal Wolsey
Alice More
Richard Rich
Signor Chapuys
Date of premiere
Place of premiere
ANTA Playhouse
Sixteenth century England
IBDB profile
A Man for All Seasons is a play by Robert Bolt about the life of Sir Thomas More that was first put on in 1960. It was made into a movie in 1966 that won the Best Picture Academy Award that year. It was also made into a TV movie in 1988.
This short article about the performing arts can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.
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Performing arts stubs
Best Picture Oscar
Plays based on British history
This page was last changed on 18 November 2013, at 13:36.
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Charles V (24 February 1500–21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1519, King of Castile and Aragon from 1516, and Lord of the Low Countries as Duke of Burgundy from 1506.
Philip the Handsome (son of Maximilian I of Austria and Mary of Burgundy) and Joanna the Mad (daughter of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile) were his parents. He ruled Austria, Spain, Two Sicilies, Sardinia, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Hungary, Bohemia, Croatia, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.
His Majesty or His Imperial Majesty was first used when he was king. His Empire became large and was known as "in which the sun does not set". He was also known as "The Emperor of Universal Dominion."
He divided his empire between his brother Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor and his son Philip II of Spain.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/w/index.php?title=Charles_V,_Holy_Roman_Emperor&oldid=5002560"
Holy Roman Emperors
Kings and Queens of Spain
Kings and Queens of Italy
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Louie Perry Anderson
(1953-03-24) March 24, 1953 (age 67)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Actor/Comedian
LouieAnderson.com
Louie Perry Anderson (born March 24, 1953) is an American stand-up comedian.[1] Anderson made the cartoon series Life with Louie and has written three books. He was the host of the second revival of the game show Family Feud, from 1999 to 2002.
↑ Roura, Phil (1999-03-21). "Playing The Heavy - For Laughs Louie Anderson Turns Childhood Abuse & Weight Into the Stuff of Standup". Daily News (New York). Archived from the original on 2008-07-17. https://www.webcitation.org/5ZNfVFlpj?url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1999/03/21/1999-03-21_playing_the_heavy_-_for_laug.html. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/w/index.php?title=Louie_Anderson&oldid=5071327"
Local image different than Wikidata
Emmy Award winning actors
American game show hosts
American television personalities
American voice actors
Actors from Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Tagged: Kibbutz in Israel
Hilton Dawson – North East party leader
It seems that Hilton Dawson has a history of triumphing against the odds.
The native Northumbrian has twice overcome substantial Tory power bases at council and parliamentary level to get into office.
That was in the North West where he lived and worked for around 20 years.
Now back home, he hopes to repeat his David and Goliath act at the next general election in May with the North East party he helped form and is chairman of.
And this time three of the four seats his party are contesting at Easington, Redcar, Stockton North and Newcastle North are held by Labour with who he was a member for 30 years.
But he doesn’t see it as a betrayal of his political roots, just loyalty to his personal roots.
“There isn’t anyone who stands up for the North East directly,” he said.
“My experience of parliament and working with national policy makers is that huge decisions are made in London by people who don’t know about the region.
“We need to get these big decisions – about jobs, housing, health, wellbeing, transport – made here.”
To do this, it aims to secure devolved powers similar to those enjoyed by Scotland and Wales.
“We want real powers to borrow and invest, which will produce high-quality integrated public services,” Hilton said.
“In Scotland in particular, they have far better public services than we do a few miles south over the border.”
The idea for it was born out of a debate in 2013 at the Newcastle Lit & Phil Society about whether it was time for ‘Wor Party’. A lot of people attending thought it was.
The North East Party was officially registered last May. It had its first annual general meeting in June then in December after a three day meeting it thrashed out its manifesto.
Read what you will into the fact these discussions took place in a room above a funeral home in Shotton Colliery.
“Very salubrious surroundings,” laughed Hilton at the memory but he is very pleased with the result and hopes to cause as much of a stir as his first attempt to change things as an eight-year-old schoolboy.
Born in Mona Taylor’s Maternity Home in Stannington, his parents were both teachers. He was raised in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea where he was a pupil at Moorside First, locally known as the Colliery School.
It was there he recalls he became second in command in a pupils protest about the state of the school’s food.
“The soup was particularly terrible that day,” said Hilton.
“We marched up and down the playground all over dinner time. We all really enjoyed it.”
The Head, Mr Kirsopp (none of the kids knew his first name, of course), “emerged lugubriously at the end of lunch time” recalled Hilton.
“We looked at him with some trepidation then he ceremonially rang the bell and we went inside. Nothing more was said about it.”
This obviously whetted his appetite. After later completing his studies at Ashington Grammar School he gained a place at Warwick University to study philosophy and politics.
“Philosophy to understand the world and politics to change it,” he said.
Hilton recalled Warwick as a bit of a political hotbed in the 1960s with plenty of sit-ins and protests.
It was after his first year there he married Susan, who he met at school.
After graduating they went to stay for a time on a Kibbutz in Israel.
“We wanted to experience a collective way of life. We had idealistic expectations of it. The work was very hard but rewarding.”
Then they returned home as Susan was pregnant with their first child, Catherine.
He found work at the Choppington Social Welfare Centre, moving into a council house in Scotland Gate.
“It was one of the most educational experiences of my life,” said Hilton.
“I worked with the people of the community on many fantastic things. I was part of this rough, tough, incredibly warm hearted community organising anything from play groups for youngsters to events for the older residents, working with the people there to make things happen.
“At different times I would run the bar, put three tons of coal in the central heating, paint the walls, but most important of all I learned how to talk to people.
“The teachers’ son grew up an enormous amount.”
Having worked with social workers on projects there he became interested in the profession, getting a job at Bedlington.
“The attitude of people on the estate changed straight away. While they were still friendly it was a case of you’re a social worker now, there’s a difference.”
Hilton said he worked with a fantastic team determined to make a difference to the community and it was when he became involved in mainstream politics, joining the Labour party in 1978.
“The university anarchist saw at Choppington what a group of dedicated local politicians were doing for the community,” he said.
Hilton got onto a well respected course at Lancaster University.
“It was the top place to go,” he said. “It had the Centre for Youth Crime and The Community.”
He and wife Susan packed their bags and with daughter Catherine headed to the North West.
Soon after his second daughter Helen was born.
“She always says you lot speak funny. She is from the North West the rest of us are from the North East,” said Hilton.
He got heavily involved in child care and child protection issues, managing children’s homes as well as fostering and adoption services.
He worked his way up to social work manager, on call 24 hours a day.
“I could be called out at any time of the night dealing with all sorts of matters – a child on the roof, what are we going to do about it. Six kids who need housing now at 2am. It was stressful but I loved the job.”
His job resulted in a lot of community involvement and he decided to stand in the Lancaster City Council elections for the Ryelands ward in 1987.
“It had always been Tory and no-one ever understood why – it had a huge housing estate on it,” said Hilton.
The penny eventually dropped that while Tory supporters would vote come election day, hardly anybody from the estate ever did.
After much canvassing, that changed.
“It was one of the most seminal moments of my life,” said Hilton. “A huge phalanx of people came out of the estate to vote, knocking on doors as they went to persuade other people to vote.”
Hilton won the ward for Labour.
Then 10 years later in 1997 he stood for parliament in the Lancaster and Wyre constituency, formed after boundary changes from the old Lancaster constituency.
Since the Second World War Lancaster had been won by the Tories at every election bar the 1966 poll.
“No-one expected us to win,” he said.
“The media, even an eminent professor of politics. told me I had no chance.
“But I’d learned if you just engage with people, have a clear message and work hard at the grass roots you can win,” he said.
After winning the seat after a re-count he became well known for his championing of child related issues – he was named the 2004 Children’s Champion in the House of Commons – however it led to run ins with party bosses.
He objected to its policies on asylum seekers suggesting they be refused benefits would see their children left destitute.
Hilton described it as “immoral” in a Commons debate.
And then there the Iraq war – “a terrible time,” he recalled.
Hilton was one of the Labour MPs who backed a rebel backbench amendment that the case for war with Iraq was “unproven”.
So while he loved his first four years in Parliament, his enthusiasm waned considerably after he was re-elected, again after a recount, in 2001.
By 2005 he had decided it was time to move on and quit before the general election to return to children’s services.
He became CEO of Shaftesbury Young People which works for children both in care and in need and later chief executive of the British Association of Social Workers.
In the meantime he had returned to his native North East, he and wife Susan buying a house in Warkworth which boasts a spectacular view of Warkworth Castle.
“I found I was able to commute to London from Alnmouth which is on the East Coast mainline.”
He also found time to fight for the Lynemouth and Ellington seat in the 2008 Northumberland County Council elections.
“It was the only safe Labour seat I have ever fought – and I got whupped,” said Hilton ruefully.
“I had the arrogance to think I could do it all in a month thinking I could repeat what I did in Ryelands over a much shorter period of time.
“It proved a very important political lesson.”
Source – Newcastle Journal, 31 Jan 2015
Written by untynewear 1 Comment Posted in General Election 2015 Tagged with All In It Together, Alnmouth, Anarchist, and, Ashington Grammar School, £, Bedlington, benefit, benefit sanctions, benefits, betrayal of his political roots, British Association of Social Workers, capitialism, Catherine., Choppington Social Welfare Centre, coalition Government., Conservative, County Durham, David and Goliath, decisions are made in London by people who don’t know about the region, Department for Work & Pensions, dole, Durham, Durham City, DWP, Easington, employed, employment, foodbanks, forced work, funeral home, Gateshead, government, Hebburn, Hetton-le-Hole, Hilton Dawson, Houghton-le-Spring, Jarrow, job, Job Centre, job seeker, Jobcentre, Jobcentre Plus, jobs, Jobseekers Allowance, JSA, Kibbutz in Israel, Labour, Labour policies on asylum seekers, Lancaster and Wyre, Lancaster City Council, Lancaster University, Lib Dems, Liberal Democrats, Low Pay, Lynemouth and Ellington, manifesto, Mona Taylor’s Maternity Home, Moorside First, Mr Kirsopp, National Minimum Wage, neo-liberal, neoliberal, neoliberalism, New Labour, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Newcastle, Newcastle Lit & Phil Society, Newcastle North, Newcastle upon Tyne, North East, North East Party, North Tyneside, North West, Northumberland, Northumbrian, parliament, Peterlee, philosophy, politicians, politics, pupils protest, Redcar, Ryelands, sanction, sanctions, Scotland, Scotland Gate, Seaham, Shaftesbury Young People, Shotton Colliery, slavery, Social Security, social workers, South Shields, South Tyneside, Stannington, Stockton North, Sunderland, Susan, tax credits, the North West, Tory, Tyne, Tyne & Wear, Tyneside, unemployed, Unemployed In Tyne & Wear, unemployed north east, unemployed tyne&wear, unemployedintyne&wear, unemployment, unemployment benefits, Wales, Wallsend, Warkworth, Warkworth Castle, Warwick University, Washington, Wear, Wearside, welfare-to-work, Whitley Bay, Wor Party, work, work for benefits, Work Programme, workfare, worklessness, WP
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Name 3D Bioprinting Solutions – 3dbio
ZIP code 115409
Full Address Russia, 68/2, Kashirskoe Highway, Moscow
Phone +7 (499) 769 50 18
Website www.bioprinting.ru
E-mail info@bioprinting.ru
3D Bioprinting Solutions – 3dbio
3D Bioprinting Solutions is a Laboratory for Biotechnological Research founded by INVITRO, the largest private medical company in Russia. The laboratory develops and produces bioprinters and materials for 3D bioprinting, and also develops innovative technologies in the field of biofabrication. The official opening of 3D Bioprinting Solutions Laboratory took place on September 6, 2013.
The co-founders of the laboratory are one of the founders of the INVITRO company group, the Chairman of the Supervisory Council of the Laboratory for Biotechnological Research 3D Bioprinting Solutions, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the INVITRO company group Alexander Ostrovsky and the executive partner of 3D Bioprinting Solutions Yusef Hesuani.
Today the company has international partners, cooperates with the leading institutes in Russia as well as scientists of famous scientific centers abroad.
An international multi-disciplinary team of researchers, world-class scientists, engineers and management was assembled for this new laboratory. Vladimir Mironov, one of the recognized pioneers of robotic biofabrication, Professor of the Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University (USA), became the laboratory’s Head of Research.
In the summer of 2014 the first Russian bioprinter of an original construction and design was created; it was named Fabion. In addition to engineering solutions a unique software was also developed. The bioprinter of 3D Bioprinting Solutions is one of the most multifunctional bioprinters in the world in terms of printing possibilities with different materials.
By the spring of 2015, the laboratory managed to print an organ construct of a mouse thyroid gland. The report on the achievement of the laboratory was presented by Vladimir Mironov on March 7, 2015, in the Brazil National Center of Metrology (INMETRO) located not far from Rio de Janeiro, and on March 13 of the same year the report was presented in the Renato Archer Center of Information Technologies (CTI) in Brazil.
In the beginning of 2016 we started developing a printhead, capable of bioprinting with single tissue spheroids. Shortly after it was designed, this new printhead was implemented in the updated version of our bioprinter – FABION 2, which included HMI-interface, SprutCAM software system, dual dispenser with real-time mixer, and more.
With FABION 2 being complete, our science and engineering team focused efforts on a fundamentally new type of bioprinter, based on magnetic levitation in a controlled magnetic field, which would allow programmable self-assembly of tissue and organ constructs without solid scaffolds. The first prototype of this device saw the light in autumn 2016.
In March 2017 the first model of magnetic bioprinter was assembled. On 12 April, Cosmonautics Day, it was presented during the “Biofabrication in space” conference in the Skolkovo Technopark.
In August 2017 an agreement was signed with RSC Energia (Roscosmos State Corporation) on conducting a biofabrication experiment on board the Russian segment of the ISS. Our team decided to give a name to this unique device and essay a nation-wide “This will be heard by the stars” contest, which resulted in naming the bioprinter Organ.Aut.
By August 10 2018 all the pre-launch preparation procedures had been completed and Organ.Aut was ready to fly on board the ISS. 3D Bioprinting Solutions team successfully trained both main and backup crewmembers which would execute the experiment – Alexey Ovchinin and Oleg Kononenko.
On December 3, 2018, the Organ.Aut bioprinter was delivered to the ISS on board the Soyuz MS-11 manned spacecraft. For the first time on orbit, cosmonaut-researcher Oleg Kononenko printed human cartilage tissue and a rodent thyroid gland using a bioprinter.
Pneumatic Extrusion
Home Bioprinter Manufacturer Bioprinting Bioprinting Lab/Service 3D Bioprinting Solutions – 3dbio
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Vendor guides
Non-traditional wedding officiants provide personalized ceremonies
cmcdonald
Ceremonies, Wedding Planning
Couples who prefer a non-traditional officiant to assist in the tying of their knot don’t have to look very far to find one. In fact, anyone in their lives who is willing to assume the role can do so. Although many people get “certified” via the Internet, the law does not require it.
Derek Mosley is the Chief Judge of the Municipal Court and he has performed more than 100 weddings in the almost 10 years he has served in his position. According to Mosley, a person does not need any official certificate to marry and a couple doesn’t even need an officiant at all. (Quaker weddings, for example, usually do not have officiants).
“The parties themselves – husband and wife – are authorized to be officiating persons,” says Mosley. “By mutual declarations that they take each other as husband and wife, in accordance with the customs, rules and regulations of any religious sect to which either of the parties may belong.”
It costs $250 to hire Mosley to conduct a wedding ceremony, and he is available for all types of weddings, from large to intimate affairs. Mosley says he enjoys witnessing how different cultures and races handle marriage. He also appreciates the celebratory nature of nuptial exchange.
“I enjoy performing weddings because it’s a much needed break from many of the depressing things we see every day as judges. I enjoy being a part of the happiest day of many people’s lives,” he says. “Nothing gives me more joy than running into someone who either attended or were a part of a wedding I performed and hear them talk about how memorable the ceremony was to them. That’s the ultimate compliment.”
Jane Wiedlin, the former guitar player for The Go-Go’s, officiates weddings under the name “Reverend Sister Go-Go.” Wiedlin, who lived in Manitowoc, West Allis, Waukesha and up until two years ago, Madison, currently lives in California. She will fly anywhere in the world to perform a wedding.
Wiedlin started performing weddings during the brief time same-sex marriage was legal in California. When the law was repealed, she continued to perform weddings for both gay and straight couples.
“It’s a good fit for me. I’m a romantic at heart. I enjoy public speaking. And I love a good party,” she says.
Wiedlin, who became an officiant via the Internet-based Universal Life Church, writes a personalized ceremony for each couple based on telephone conversations.
She has three packages available: a gold service for $1,500; a platinum service for $2,500 which includes her attendance at the rehearsal dinner and a double-platinum service that includes her attendance at the rehearsal and a four-song jam session at the reception with the wedding band, for $4,000. (Prices do not include Wiedlin’s airfare and lodging).
“It’s different and fun,” says Wiedlin.
When Anna Spankowski’s brother was getting married in 2005, he asked her, as a joke, to marry him and his fiancee.
“Our dad was a pastor and I used to play wedding with my brother and marry him off to what ever little girl would oblige. He thought it would be cool if I did it for real this time. I just hopped online and was ordained by the Universal Life Church,” she says.
Spankowski has done 11 weddings so far and has four more scheduled for this year. She does mostly non-denominational weddings and commitment ceremonies. With the couple’s input and assistance, Spankowski writes each ceremony from scratch.
“What’s nice about weddings these days is that anything goes. Most people like to stay fairly traditional, but there are all sorts of things you can do to make the ceremony your own. There are sand ceremonies, hand fasting, family vows for couples with children, all kinds of different traditional practices from around the world that can be incorporated into it,” says Spankowski.
“You can also make up your own things. I like to joke that if a couple wanted to have a Star Trek Klingon wedding I’d learn Klingon.”
Spankowski charges $275-$300 per wedding, depending on how far she is traveling. (Contact her at a.spankowski@att.net for more information about her wedding services.)
Debbie Baran, a 58-year-old retired employee of the Children’s Outing Association, enjoys officiating weddings and she performs them for friends and family for free, except for $105 for the marriage license and her travel expenses.
Baran performs the ceremony based on what the couple provides, but infuses it with her own brand of humor.
“I like doing it. People are happy and there is lots of good energy. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that? Of course, I have never had a bride or groom-zilla,” she says.
Milwaukee’s Paul Finger has provided some extraordinarily unique – and personalized – ceremonies which included pop tarts, blindfolds, flaming hoops and, once, a coffin that the bride and groom stepped into that was then set on fire.
“I have fun with it,” he says.
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Women's eNews (https://womensenews.org/2011/08/artists-journalists-celebrate-freedom-create/)
Artists, Journalists Celebrate ‘Freedom to Create’
By: Surekha Kadapa-Bose | August 17, 2011
More on Arts & Culture
Subscribe to Arts & Culture
MUMBAI, India (WOMENSENEWS)–When Australian freelance journalist Wendy Champagne ran across a 16-year-old trafficking survivor while researching a story for a magazine assignment, her path to making "Bas! Beyond Red Light" began.
The film tells the story of young Nepalese women who have escaped brothel life and are fighting to stop the trafficking of Nepalese to India.
Champagne was inspired by Geeta, a young woman only identified by her first name who showed extraordinary resilience after being rescued.
"Most girls would prefer to forget such an experience," Champagne said. "Geeta was different. After she was rescued and eventually sent back to Kathmandu she was determined to bring her traffickers to justice."
Geeta lived for a year at a shelter run by a nongovernmental group called Maiti Nepal. After she left there, she kept looking for the traffickers.
"After a year she spotted one and immediately informed the police," said Champagne. "Later, she even managed to track down the other two and did the round of the courts to bring them to justice. Then she returned to the brothel in Mumbai, took a job with the Rescue Foundation, an organization that rescues girls from brothels, and also tracked down the brothel keeper who had exploited her so cruelly."
The film was part of a multimedia event, which included films, videos, plays, music and paintings, displayed at a gallery here May 19 to June 2 and organized by Freedom to Create, a Singapore-based arts advocacy group.
Geeta’s own trafficking ordeal began in Kathmandu, Nepal, when she was 13 and working at a Catholic-run school that took care of babies.
"There she befriended two men, who later introduced her to their ‘sisters,’" Champagne said in a recent interview.
One of those women asked Geeta to help her take care of her two children at her own home. There, Champagne said, she was drugged. "A few days later she found herself in New Delhi. She was sold to a brothel in Turbhe in Navi Mumbai. It was two years before she was rescued."
Four Years to Complete
Champagne’s film about the work of trafficking survivors took more than four years to complete. In addition to screenings at international festivals for general audiences, it is being used for education, training and fundraising for projects to benefit rescued girls and young women.
She says the biggest obstacle came from traffickers and brothel owners in red light districts who didn’t like her camera.
"It was dangerous and we had to enlist the help of a local politician at times. But my interest as a filmmaker was to let the girls tell their stories, rather than depict the sordid life in the brothels. So to that end I received a lot of cooperation from the girls and the Rescue Foundation," Champagne said.
The work of Laura Boushnak, a Palestinian photographer born in Kuwait, was also featured in the show.
Her pictures depict Egyptian women attending literacy classes in suburban Cairo. She worked through a nongovernmental group charged by the Education Ministry with implementing a nine-month program for women between the ages of 15 and 45.
"Egypt was among many countries that signed the UN Millennium Goals," said Boushnak, referring to global promises that nations have made to improve living standards in some of the world’s most impoverished countries. "One of the goals is the eradication of illiteracy."
She said she approached the project with high expectations, thinking that participants would be aiming, eventually, for higher education. What she found instead were women who just wanted help coping with daily life.
"Like the woman who used to get lost in the maze of public transport and wanted to be able to understand written directions. Another wanted to learn how to count money so vegetable vendors couldn’t cheat her. Yet another wanted to read the doctor’s prescription so that she gave the right medicine to her son," she said.
The Power of Men
Boushnak said the goal of the classes was to help women raise their children in a better way. "All the participants agreed on one thing: They would ensure their children finished school."
Boushnak never met the men in these women’s lives, but she sensed their power. "Before I started taking the photos most of the women had to seek permission from the male member in the family – husband or father."
She said organizers of the project told her that some male family members cut the women off once they learn to read. "They see their education as a threat."
Another featured photographer was American journalist Lynsey Addario. Nothing can prepare the viewer for her at-once gruesome and heartrending pictures of women who had set themselves on fire to escape their terrible lives.
Released in March from captivity in Libya, along with her three other colleagues from The New York Times, Addario has won a Pulitzer Prize for her work in Afghanistan and other war-ravaged countries.
"Hundreds of women in Afghanistan attempt self-immolation in a bid to escape abusive husbands or the daily situations," Addario said. "Several young women see no other means of escape from their predicament."
Photographing women in this ultra-conservative country is difficult as they are often shielded from view and forbidden to interact with outsiders or talk about their private moments. In visits to several centers that provide basic burn treatment, she met up doctors and nurses working hard to save these women.
Another showcased woman was Salome, a female rapper from Iran. Salome doesn’t ask for anyone’s sympathy. In the Freedom to Create catalog, she writes: "I am not going to complain about how it is hard to be a female rapper in Iran." She wants to be known for her lyrics, which focus on social injustice, war, female empowerment and peace.
Lovetta Conto, a Liberian who grew up in a refugee camp in Ghana, was also featured for her work transforming bullets and shells into jewelry. Conto fled Liberia after she lost her family to the country’s long civil war.
She melts and recasts spent bullets and engraves the jewelry she forges with a simple inscription: LIFE.
This article is adapted from one that was released by the Women’s Feature Service. For more articles on women’s issues log on to: http://www.wfsnews.org.
Would you like to Comment but not sure how? Visit our help page at http://www.womensenews.org/help-making-comments-womens-enews-stories.
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http://www.womensenews.org/story/arts/110816/artists-journalists-celebrate-freedom-create
Surekha Kadapa-Bose is a Mumbai-based freelance journalist. She writes extensively on women’s rights, the environment and films.
Indigenous Women in Canada Reclaim Their Image in Photo Blog
By: Geraldine Malone | July 18, 2016
Tea and Bannock, a photo blog by and for indigenous women, has picked up photographers from across Canada and the United States. Its founder also sees it as an important way to communicate with the larger society.
Filipina Nanny Heads to NYC for Photo Fellowship
By: Iris C. Gonzales | April 22, 2015
In May, Xyza Cruz Bacani leaves Hong Kong to start a prestigious photography fellowship in the Big Apple. Every domestic helper has a story to tell. Some tell of abuse, some of homesickness. Bacani’s is a dream come true.
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Wonderful Mumbai
Info On Mumbai
Mumbai Tourism
Mumbai Events
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About Mumbai
Mumbai Transport
Mumbai Religion
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Outside Mumbai
Mumbai Attractions
Mumbai ToursSightseeing tours and tourist trips in the Mumbai city.
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Mumbai TOP 10
TOP 10 Must See & DoArticles on the Top 10 must see attractions and activates in Mumbai, including the best and most famous tourist places, best buildings, best parks, famous beaches, fun things for children and tourist destinations.
TOP 10 Outside Mumbai
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El Nino Effect on India, Monsoon and Rainfall
El Niño’s Effect on India and Indian Monsoon, Rainfall
What is El Nino and what is the El Nino Effect on India? This article discusses the El Nino effect on Monsoon, Rainfall and Indian Economy.
Impact on Monsoon & Economy
Historical Impact of El Nino
Q] What is El Niño? How and Where does El Nino Occur?
When the surface temperature of the Pacific Ocean increases above the average, for a prolonged period of time, it is defined as “El Nino”. During El Nino, surface temperature of the Pacific Ocean increases by over 0.5° Celsius. “La Niña” is the reverse phenomenon; when the surface temperature of the Pacific Ocean cools below the average temperature.
El Niño and La Niña typically last for nine to twelve months, although they can even last up to four years.
Usually El Nino starts to form between June and August. El Nino (and La Nina) usually reach their pinnacle between December and April and start to fade away between May and July.
Typically El-Nino occurs in intervals of two to seven years. El Nino occurs more often than La Nina.
El Niño is also known as “El Niño Southern Oscillation” (ENSO).
What is the El Niño Effect on India’s Monsoon & Economy?
Effect of El Niño in India is that India may receive below normal rainfall. El Nino caused droughts in India in 2002, 2004 and 2009. Over half of the major droughts in India the last 140 years have coincided with El Nino (please see para on Historical Impact of El-Nino).
In case 2014 rainfall was below normal. This impacted the “Kharif” (July to October) crop, leading to reduced food production. Reduced agricultural activity has an effect on other aspects of the economy, especially India’s rural economy. Many Indian industries (textile, construction, power, etc) are dependent on water; hence El-Niño can have an adverse impact on the Indian economy.
This example from previous El Nina years will give the readers some idea on the impact of El Niño on agriculture and food production – Pulses grown during the “Kharif” season are heavily dependent on rain. During the 2002, 2004 and 2009 El Niño years, Indian production of pulses during the “Kharif” season was lower by 14, 23 and 27 per cent respectively.
Since El- Niño affects global rainfall, global output of food grains maybe impacted. This may increase food prices all over the world.
Another effect of El Nino is that there is an increase in incidents of mosquito related diseases, such as malaria, dengue, etc.
Globally, Western part of South America gets more rain and warmer weather during El Nino, whereas South Asia, South-East Asia, Eastern Africa and Australia receive less rain fall than average. 1997 – 1998 experienced the worst El Nino in recent years; it is estimated that 24,000 people died in climate related events related to the El-Nino.
This is an example of how El-Nino in other parts of the world has an impact on India – India imports agricultural products, such as palm oil from South East Asia (especially Malaysia). If Malaysia experiences El Nino related drought, prices of agricultural produce, such as palm oil, may go up. This may also have an adverse impact on other commodity prices too. Prices of crops such as sugarcane, rice, coffee, wheat, etc, that are grown in large quantities in South Asia and South East Asia are expected to go up.
Typically, La-Nina tends to be beneficial for India. 2009 – 2010 was an El Niño year which caused a below normal monsoon in India (23% below normal). 2010 – 2011 was a La Niña year, where the South-East monsoon was prolonged and India received above average rainfall.
How does El Nino Impact Mumbai and Maharashtra?
If El Niño leads to reduced rains in Mumbai, the Mumbai lakes may not fill up to their capacity. This can lead to water cuts in the city of Mumbai.
El-Nino tends to increase the incidences of mosquito related illnesses. Almost half of Mumbai’s population lives in slums, where sanitation conditions are not good. These factors increase the possibility of a Malaria or Dengue outbreak in Mumbai, during the Monsoon season.
Past Historical Impact of El Nino on Rainfall levels in India
In the 20th and 21st century there were 27 occurrences of El Nino – 1902-1903, 1905-1906, 1911-1912, 1914-1915, 1918-1919, 1923-1924, 1925-1926, 1930-1931, 1932-1933, 1939-1940, 1941-1942, 1951-1952, 1953-1954, 1957-1958, 1965-1966, 1969-1970, 1972-1973, 1976-1977, 1982-1983, 1986-1987, 1991-1992, 1994-1995, 1997-1998, 2002-2003, 2004-2005, 2009-2010, 2014-2015.
Historical data from the “Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology” shows the following:
From 1870 to 2016, there have been 24 El Nino years when rainfall in India has been below the average. During this period, there have been only 5 El Nino years when rainfall has been above the average.
From 1870 to 2009, there have been 20 La Nina years when rainfall in India has been above the average. During this period, there have been only 2 La Niña years when rainfall has been below the average.
From 1870 to 2010 India had 24 major drought years – 1873, 1877, 1899, 1901, 1904, 1905, 1911, 1918, 1920, 1941, 1951, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 2002, 2004, 2009.
Of these 24 drought years, 13 occurred during years that coincided with El Nino (1877, 1899, 1905, 1918, 1951, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1982, 1987, 2002 and 2009). Over half the times that India has experienced drought since 1870 have been in El Nino years.
Mumbai Monsoon: Mumbai Lake Levels, Flood Risk High Tide Dates
Western Ghat Hills Stations, Near Mumbai, in the Rains
Mumbai Monsoon Pictures
Mumbai Lake Levels in 2013
Dry river bed Darcha, HP: Image by Anks. Image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0). Image has been altered. Original image at https://www.flickr.com/photos/anks/2937505134/in/photostream/
Drought in Karnataka: Image by Pushkarv. Image taken from Wikimedia Commons. Image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Image has been altered.
Tags: Mumbai Rains
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Mumbai MLA List 2019 Maharashtra Assembly Election
Winners And Candidates For 2014 Maharashtra State Election
Profile and Info of Mumbai’s 2014 Lok Sabha Winners and Candidates
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Adams, Charles Francis (1807-1886)
Adams, Charles Francis (1807-1886), politician and diplomat
Charles Francis Adams. Albumen silver print, c. 1860, by Mathew B. Brady. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.
Kinley Brauer
Adams, Charles Francis (18 August 1807–21 November 1886), politician and diplomat, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) and Louisa Catherine Johnson (Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams). In 1827, two years after graduating from Harvard, Adams read law at the office of ...
Adams, James Hopkins (1812-1861), planter and politician
Ronald W. Fischer
Adams, James Hopkins (15 March 1812–13 July 1861), planter and politician, was born in Richland District, South Carolina, the son of Henry Walker Adams and Mary Goodwyn, planters. At an early age, both of his parents died and James was placed in the care of his maternal grandfather, an early settler of South Carolina from Virginia. Prosperous, his grandfather, a plantation owner, was able to raise Adams in an atmosphere of wealth and education. Shortly after his graduation from Yale in 1831, Adams married Jane Margaret Scott, with whom he had eleven children....
Adams, Sherman Llewelyn (1899-1986)
Adams, Sherman Llewelyn (1899-1986), public servant
Sherman Adams Courtesy of the Library of Congress (LC-USZ62-100619).
Michael J. Birkner
Adams, Sherman Llewelyn (08 January 1899–27 October 1986), public servant, was born in East Dover, Vermont, the son of Clyde H. Adams, a grocer, and Winnie Marion Sherman. Through his father he was descended from a collateral branch of the famous Quincy Adams clan. In 1901 the family moved to Providence, Rhode Island, but Adams’s parents divorced soon thereafter. In 1916 Adams enrolled at Dartmouth College. His academic record there was solid, but he was best remembered for the gusto with which he threw himself into extracurricular activities. For Adams, physical fitness was practically a religion....
Addicks, John Edward O’Sullivan (1841-1919), promoter and aspiring politician
James A. Ward
Addicks, John Edward O’Sullivan (21 November 1841–07 August 1919), promoter and aspiring politician, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of John Edward Addicks, a politician and civil servant, and Margaretta McLeod. Addicks’s father achieved local political prominence and arranged for his son to take a job at age fifteen as a runner for a local dry goods business. Four years later Addicks took a job with a flour company and, upon reaching his twenty-first birthday, became a full partner in the business. Like many Quaker City merchants, Addicks speculated in local real estate in the booming port town, avoided service in the Civil War, and achieved a modicum of prosperity in the postwar period. He became overextended, as he would be most of his career, however, and went broke in the 1873 depression....
Alexander, James (1691-1756), political leader
Thomas L. Purvis
Alexander, James (27 May 1691–02 April 1756), political leader, was born in Muthil, Perthshire, Scotland, the son of David Alexander. His mother’s identity is not known. Although his grandfather was related to the first earl of Stirling, his own branch of the family did not rank among the nobility. His father provided him with a practical education as an engineer and surveyor, professions more appropriate for the middle class than the aristocracy....
Allen, Henry Justin (1869-1950)
Allen, Henry Justin (1869-1950), politician and newspaper editor
Henry Justin Allen. Courtesy of the Library of Congress (LC-USZ62-96805).
Patrick G. O’Brien
Allen, Henry Justin (11 September 1869–17 January 1950), politician and newspaper editor, was born in Pittsfield, Pennsylvania, the son of John Allen, a farmer, and Rebecca Goodwin. In 1870 the Allens settled on a farm in Clay County, Kansas, which they lost in 1879. The family relocated in Osage County, Kansas, where Allen graduated from Burlingame High School. Working as a barber to attend Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, he excelled at forensics, which led to his first newspaper job and forecast his later stature as one of America’s most popular public speakers. While at Baker, he met Elsie Jane Nuzman, and they were married in 1892. Only one of their four children survived to adulthood....
Allen, Ira (1751-1814), frontier entrepreneur and Vermont political leader
J. Kevin Graffagnino
Allen, Ira (01 May 1751–15 January 1814), frontier entrepreneur and Vermont political leader, was born in Cornwall, Connecticut, the son of Joseph Allen and Mary Baker, farmers. Little is known of his youth, but in 1770 he followed his five elder brothers north to the New Hampshire Grants region and joined the Yankee versus Yorker struggle, which stemmed from the 1764 Crown decree that New York rather than New Hampshire owned the area that would become Vermont. While brother ...
Allen, James (1697-1755), merchant and politician
William Pencak
Allen, James (25 December 1697–07 January 1755), merchant and politician, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Jeremiah Allen, the longtime treasurer of the province, and Mary Caball. Ranked fifth by social status in a class of seventeen at Harvard College, he graduated in 1717. Allen then entered his father’s merchant business, importing dry goods from England and exchanging New England fish for West India sugar. In 1725 he married Martha Fitch, daughter of Colonel Thomas Fitch. They had no children. Allen belonged to Boston’s Congregational West Church but was not a bigot: he contributed £20 to the Anglican King’s Chapel for the purchase of bells....
Allston, Robert Francis Withers (1801-1864), planter and statesman
James M. Clifton
Allston, Robert Francis Withers (21 April 1801–07 April 1864), planter and statesman, was born on “Hagley Plantation” in All Saints Parish (Georgetown District), South Carolina, the son of Benjamin Allston, a planter, and Charlotte Anne Allston. Allston entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, in December 1817 and graduated tenth in his class on 1 July 1821. Appointed lieutenant in the Third Artillery and assigned to the Coast Survey, he participated in the surveying of the harbors at Plymouth and Provincetown, Massachusetts, and of the entrance to Mobile Bay. He resigned his commission on 1 February 1822 in response to his widowed mother’s plea for help on their plantations and returned to South Carolina, where he remained a rice planter for the rest of his life. As a planter, however, he continued his interest in civil engineering and in 1823 was elected to the first of two terms as surveyor general of South Carolina. In 1832 he married Adele Petigru, sister of Unionist ...
Alston, Joseph (1779-1816), planter and statesman
Alston, Joseph (1779–10 September 1816), planter and statesman, was born in All Saints Parish (Georgetown District), South Carolina, the son of Colonel William Alston, a rice planter, and Mary Ashe. He attended the College of Charleston from 1793 to 1794, then entered Princeton in 1795, his junior year, but he withdrew without graduating. He read law in the office of ...
Anderson, John B. (15 Feb. 1922–3 Dec. 2017), U.S. congressman and independent presidential candidate
Bruce J. Evensen
Anderson, John B. (15 Feb. 1922–3 Dec. 2017), U.S. congressman and independent presidential candidate, was born John Bayard Anderson to Swedish parents Ernest Albin Anderson, a grocery store owner, and Mabel Edna Ring Anderson in Rockford, Illinois. Anderson, the fifth of six children, was raised in a devoutly Christian home. He graduated class valedictorian in ...
Andrews, Israel DeWolf (May 1813?–17 February 1871), diplomat and politician
Reginald C. Stuart
Andrews, Israel DeWolf ( May 1813?–17 February 1871), diplomat and politician, was born either in Eastport, Maine, or on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, the son of Israel Andrews and Elizabeth DeWolf. His paternal grandfather had emigrated to Nova Scotia from Danvers, Massachusetts, in 1738. By the time Andrews was four, his family lived in Eastport. Thomas Keefer reported that Andrews was a frontier trader, mostly of contraband, as a young man and that experience sparked his interest in reciprocal trade between the provinces and the United States. His schooling is unknown, but he was a clear, persuasive writer at ease with statistical data, and he moved easily in the journalistic, commercial, and political circles of his time....
Armstrong, John (1717-1795), soldier, surveyor, and member of the Continental Congress
Robert Grant Crist and Patrick G. Williams
Armstrong, John (13 October 1717–09 March 1795), soldier, surveyor, and member of the Continental Congress, was born in County Fermanagh, Ulster, Ireland. The identities of his Scotch-Irish parents and circumstances of his youth are unclear, but his father may have been named James. A trained surveyor, John Armstrong evidently received some education fairly early in life. Sometime in the mid-1740s Armstrong immigrated to America, settling initially in Delaware and then in Pennsylvania, where he worked as a surveyor. It was probably at some point after his arrival in America that he married Rebeckah Armstrong. The couple had two sons (the younger, ...
Armstrong, John, Jr. (1758-1843), soldier and politician
C. Edward Skeen
Armstrong, John, Jr. (25 November 1758–01 April 1843), soldier and politician, was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the son of John Armstrong and Rebecca Lyon. His father, a surveyor and a prominent figure on the Pennsylvania frontier, achieved fame as the “Hero of Kittanning” during the Seven Years’ War when he destroyed a particularly troublesome Indian village; he later served as an officer in the revolutionary war. Armstrong attended the College of New Jersey (later Princeton) for two years but left in 1776 to join the Continental army. He served successively as aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Hugh Mercer and Major General ...
Ashe, John Baptista (1748-1802), member of the Continental Congress and U.S. Congress, soldier, and state politician
Tim Vanderburg
Ashe, John Baptista (1748–27 November 1802), member of the Continental Congress and U.S. Congress, soldier, and state politician, was born in Rocky Point, New Hanover County, North Carolina, the son of Samuel Ashe, a jurist, and Mary Porter. His grandfather John Baptista Ashe, for whom he was named, served on His Majesty’s Council of North Carolina; his father was assistant attorney for the Crown, the first judge for the state of North Carolina, and later governor. Ashe, who grew up on the “Neck,” his father’s tobacco plantation, learned about tobacco cultivation and received his education from a private tutor. There is no indication that he pursued a college education....
Ashley, William Henry (1778-1838), fur trader and politician
David J. Wishart
Ashley, William Henry (1778–26 March 1838), fur trader and politician, was born in Chesterfield County, Virginia. His parents are unknown, and there is no definitive record of his early years. In 1798 Ashley moved west to Kentucky. Four years later he crossed the Mississippi and took up residence in the lead-mining community of St. Genevieve (now in Missouri). From that time until his death, Ashley energetically and successfully pursued profits and power in the fluid frontier society....
Aspinwall, William (1605–?), tract writer and public figure
Stephen L. Robbins
Aspinwall, William (1605–?), tract writer and public figure, was born in Manchester, Lancashire, England, the son of William Aspinwall and Marie (maiden name unknown), and was christened on 10 December 1605 at Burnley. Aspinwall probably grew up in Toxeth Park near Liverpool. He entered Brasenose College at Oxford University on 2 November 1621 and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree on 25 February 1625. In 1627 he married Elizabeth Goodier or Goodyear; they had four children....
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Open Section Armed forces and intelligence services (1)
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military technology x
Business and finance x
military engineer or inventor x
Gridley, Richard (1711-1796), artilleryman, military engineer, and entrepreneur
David B. Ingram
Gridley, Richard (03 January 1711–21 June 1796), artilleryman, military engineer, and entrepreneur, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Captain Richard Gridley and his third wife, Rebecca, whose maiden name is uncertain. His father, a currier by trade and an active militia officer, died when young Richard was only three years old. In 1719 his widowed mother married Benjamin Landon, a Boston shopkeeper. After grammar school, Richard was apprenticed to a merchant. In 1731 he married Hannah Deming; they had nine children....
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Obituary for Eleanor Louise Rix
OBITUARY: ELEANOR LOUISE (JARVIS) RIX
May 29th, 1927 – March 10th, 2019
City of Birth: Tupper Lake, NY
Passed Away at: Tarzana, CA
In Celebration of a Loving Wife & Mother…
Eleanor Louise (Jarvis) Rix, 91, of Tarzana, CA passed away Sunday, March 10th at Tarzana Health & Rehabilitation Center. She was born May 29th, 1927 to William & Eleanor (Cahill) Jarvis in Tupper Lake, NY in the Adirondack Mountains. She later moved to Rochester, NY and was a telephone switchboard operator and then spent several years as a secretary before moving to Buffalo, NY where she became a full-time wife and mother.
Eleanor is preceded in death by her brother William Jarvis; her husband, William George Rix, to whom she was a loving wife of 45-years before his passing in 2012; and is survived by their only child, William Gregory Rix of Simi Valley, CA who will cherish her memory and the close mother-son relationship they shared.
Eleanor was an animal lover who shared her homes and heart with numerous dogs and cats over her lifetime, including her beloved cat Peanuts who she leaves behind to be cared for by her son. She loved to cook (her Pot Roast was unrivaled), enjoyed listening to all styles of music (Judy Garland’s ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ was her favorite song) and was an avid follower of news & politics (leaving behind an impressive collection of JFK memorabilia).
Her cremated remains, along with those of her husband’s, will be spread in Western New York at a later date in 2019.
“Though the body has left us, the presence is left.”
This obituary is protected by copyright by Angeleno Valley Mortuary. Proudly Serving the Communities of North Hollywood, Burbank, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Glendale, San Fernando Valley. Angeleno Valley Mortuary is located in the state of California, United States.
Angeleno Valley Mortuary
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Tag: arab spring
Tunisian Nobel Peace Prize an Indictment of US Intervention in the Arab Spring
Posted on October 12, 2015 October 12, 2015 Categories NewsTags arab spring, Nobel Peace Prize, TunisiaAuthor Dan Sanchez1 Comment on Tunisian Nobel Peace Prize an Indictment of US Intervention in the Arab Spring
A quartet of peace negotiators has won the Nobel Peace Prize for its role in preserving the Tunisian Revolution. That 2011 event kicked off the wave of uprisings known as the Arab Spring. The Tunisian Revolution is widely seen as the one bright spot of the Arab Spring, which has otherwise brought war, tyranny, and chaos to every country it has touched.
But that should not be considered a mark against popular sovereignty itself. It was outside interference from the U.S. empire that poisoned the Arab Spring and turned it into a catastrophe.
Tunisia was the one Arab Spring country to escape this fate simply because it went first. Caught by surprise, Washington was not able to ruin things until the revolution had already run its course.
In every other country, the United States heavily intervened in one of two ways.
When the Arab Spring threatened or overthrew U.S.-backed dictators or royal despots, Washington sponsored counter-revolutions.
On the other hand, when the Arab Spring reached independent “rogue” regimes, the U.S. and its allies co-opted the uprisings. They radicalized the opposition by pouring money, training, and weapons into it and sponsoring radical jihadists who came to dominate the insurgency.
Egypt’s Arab Spring developed too early and quickly for the U.S. to be able to save then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s “family friend ” General Hosni Mubarak from losing power. And so an election was held which was won by a mildly Islamist administration under Mohamed Morsi.
But this was short-lived, as a counter-revolution sanctioned by the United States and bankrolled by U.S. ally Saudi Arabia then overthrew the elected government, installing a new military dictator.
The revolution was completely reversed, with Mubarak to be released from prison and Morsi taking his place there. He and hundreds of his supporters have been sentenced to death.
John Kerry, Hillary’s successor at State, hailed the coup d’etat as “restoring democracy.”
The restored dictatorship is now back to business as usual: brutal repression and human rights violations, helping Israel keep the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip trapped and miserable, and receiving $1.5 billion a year in U.S. foreign aid.
By the time the Arab Spring reached Yemen, the United States was ready enough to engineer an election in which there was only one candidate on the ballot. And so one sock puppet dictator?—?Ali Abdullah Saleh?—?was merely replaced by another: Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.
Secretary Clinton praised the rigged election and inauguration as “promising steps on the path toward a new, democratic chapter in Yemen’s history.”
And after this replacement dictator of Yemen was overthrown by the local “Houthi rebel” movement, the U.S. backed a savage war by Saudi Arabia on that impoverished country that still rages today.
Adding to the vast collateral damage wrought by America’s drone war on Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Saudis have been bombing the Houthis, who are AQAP’s chief enemies, resulting in ever greater conquests for the terrorist group.
Among innumerable other attacks on civilians, the Saudis bombed two weddings in ten days. And its total blockade has brought Yemen, already the poorest country in the Middle East (it imports over 90% of its food), to the brink of starvation.
As for Bahrain, as Amanda Ufheil-Somers wrote :
“Back in 2011, for instance, just days after Bahraini security forces fired live ammunition at protesters in Manama?—?an attack that killed four and wounded many others?—?President Barack Obama praised King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s commitment to reform. Neither did the White House object when it was notified in advance that 1,200 troops from Saudi Arabia would enter Bahrain to clear the protests in March of 2011.”
But when the Arab Spring reached Libya, under the relatively independent Arab nationalist dictatorship of Muammar Gaddafi, the United States took the side of the insurgents, arming jihadists and waging an air war that overthrew the government. This has sent the country spiraling into chaos.
And when the Arab Spring reached Syria, under the Baathist regime of Bashar al-Assad, the United States again took the side of the insurgents and again sponsored jihadists, along with regional allies Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the other Gulf monarchies.
As a released U.S. intelligence report revealed, Washington did so fully realizing that the insurgency was dominated by Islamic extremists and that supporting it would likely result in the rise of a “Salafist principality.” As it turned out, this Salafist principality was ISIS. And it is rivaled for leadership of the insurgencyonly by Syrian Al Qaeda. Both have ended up with a large amount of American weapons.
The American-fed Arab Spring war in Syria has claimed the lives of a quarter of a million and has displaced millions.
Tunisia has been a success — although not an unqualified or a necessarily permanent one — because it had the one Arab Spring that Washington did not get its bloody mitts on. The Nobel Peace Prize granted in its honor should also be seen as an indictment of the empire that stood in the way of millions of other Arabs from achieving the same success — and that turned their dreams of freedom into nightmares of tyranny and war.
Originally published at theantimedia.org.
This article (Tunisian Nobel Peace Prize an Indictment of US Intervention in the Arab Spring) is free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Dan Sanchez and theAntiMedia.org.
Call for Assad to Step Down Isn’t Much Change, Still Illustrates Washington Hypocrisy
Posted on August 18, 2011 August 18, 2011 Categories NewsTags arab spring, arms trade, SyriaAuthor John Glaser5 Comments on Call for Assad to Step Down Isn’t Much Change, Still Illustrates Washington Hypocrisy
The moral color of the Obama administration’s call for Syrian President Bashar al Assad to step down is a bit unnerving. First of all, today’s announcement is being hailed as huge news, but it barely differs from previous statements that Assad must reform or get out of the way, that he is “not indispensable,” that he has “lost legitimacy.” So, the rhetoric is about the same, and the policies are only slightly more pitted against the regime: an executive order with harsher sanctions and a suggestion that the International Criminal Court consider Assad for crimes against humanity. Again, not big changes, but the statement is being made out as if Washington is just fed up with Assad’s brutality, which they could have easily tolerated had politics dictated so, as other U.S.-supported atrocities clearly demonstrate.
The air of moral authority against such violence is giving Washington an opportunity also to shore up anti-Iran sentiment, singling out the Iranian regime as the only one still siding with Assad. Well, that’s actually not true: as far as has been reported at this point, Russia is still insisting on its right to continue its arms sales to Syria. Clinton did mention this too (although the media focuses on her more prominent Iran comment), but the virtuous call for Assad to go can’t exactly be couched in terms of stopping arms sales to the brutal regime. After all, the U.S. arms trade to Arab tyrannies actively suppressing pro-democracy protests is a favorite hobby of the Washington elite. (See overall facts and figures and some recent sales).
Update: Assad has reportedly told U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon that military operations against Syrian people have stopped, although Assad has previously made such comments, only to have people blink and go right back to shelling cities and towns.
Also, see Daniel Larison at the American Consertive on how such gestures as the U.S. is now making towards Assad can “pave the way for war.”
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Feature Note / Alessandri Abogados Newsletter
Chilean pension funds , private equity
Pension Regulator Levels Playing Field for Pension Fund Investments in Private Equity Infrastructure and Real Estate Funds. Developments in Domestic Private Debt to Provide Liquidity for SMEs. Investments in Gold are Further Regulated.
However, while funds investing in a wider range of Chilean private debt instruments will now be eligible investments for Chilean pension funds, they will be sharing the space in terms investment limits with other alternative asset classes such as private equity, foreign private debt, infrastructure, real estate and gold ETFs.
Felipe Cousiño
In the search for higher returns, Chilean pension funds have been for some time very close to using all their allowance for investment in variable income. This has meant that any asset classes that cease to be considered variable income for the purpose of the investment limits in the regulations are at an advantage over other asset classes. This is what had been occurring with infrastructure and real estate investments made in Chile as opposed to foreign infrastructure and real estate investments. Indeed, domestic infrastructure and real estate where excluded from the variable income limits, while foreign investments in those asset classes were not. This was obviously putting investment in foreign infrastructure and real estate at a disadvantage and in practice restraining the exposure of pension funds to these asset classes.
The pension regulator has now addressed this issue, as well as other issues, by means of an amendment to the pension fund Investment Regime published on May 12, 2020 and by means of amendments (i.e. NCG 267 dated May 23, 2020) to other pension regulations in order to implement these changes.
Indeed, the new regulations now exclude foreign infrastructure and real estate vehicles, as well as co-investments, from the investment limit imposed on variable income instruments. However, the requirement is that the relevant investment vehicles, must in fact invest at least 95% of their assets in either infrastructure or real estate. Otherwise the investment vehicle will not be able to benefit from this exclusion.
A second amendment is to explicitly allow for investment in domestic private debt vehicles. There was some discussion as whether this was allowed, particularly when the underlying investment would be instruments such as unrated promissory notes and invoices.
This amendment is a development that pension funds had been requesting for some time, but is also designed to fit into a broader government program to provide additional sources of funding to SMEs via CORFO (government development promotion agency) guaranteed facilities of up to 80% to domestic investment vehicles that would in turn finance non-bank financial institutions such as factoring and leasing firms. Such investment vehicles would be open to qualified investors that would include not only pension funds, but also insurance companies and family offices.
Among the positive aspects of the implementing amendments contained in NCG 267 is that the portion of the investment that is guaranteed by the government will count towards the investment limits in government instruments and not in other types of instruments, such as fund shares or non-government debt.
This new regulation seems a welcome source of finance for many SMEs that are struggling during this COVID-19 crisis, but raises concerns as to whether it will in practice take off.
Indeed, the amendment to the Investment Regime treats these new types of investments in domestic private debt as alternative investments, sharing the space in terms of investment limits with other alternative asset classes such as private equity and foreign private debt. This will probably make the investments in domestic private debt less attractive given that they would compete with foreign private equity and private debt investments which typically have better risk return ratios.
Moreover, this will not be a cheap source of financing for SMEs considering the number of intermediaries that will be involved.
Another amendment refers to gold ETFs. The Investment Regime was also amended on May 12, 2020 to include gold ETFs as an asset class that pension funds could invest in, gold being the only commodity which pension funds may have any kind of exposure to. The regulator, by means of NCG 267, has now fine tuned its regulation on gold ETFs by introducing certain restrictions, apart from the already existing requirement that they be traded on a formal foreign secondary market and that their underlying assets be backed either physically or by futures. The restrictions apply to gold ETFs that follow inverse, leveraged or factor based strategies or that invest in mining companies: such gold ETFs will be prohibited investments for pension funds.
Other amendments include changes to how derivatives exposure of pension funds will be calculated, moving from a notional basis to mark-to-market.
If you need further information, please feel free to contact our capital markets team.
Developments and Trends in the Chilean Capital Markets
Felipe Cousiño is the only chilean lawyer at Who´s Who Private Funds Lawyers 2012
Irish domiciled funds had their approval confirmed in Chile
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Active is: Anticipating what’s ahead
The ECB is ready to take action
by Franck Dixmier | 17/06/2019
The ECB’s next meeting on 25 July is of major importance, and markets should welcome confirmation of its new forward guidance. We expect the central bank to reaffirm that it has the will to support growth and manage inflation, and the tools needed to take action.
At the ECB’s next meeting, we expect confirmation of the statements Mario Draghi made in Sintra on 18 June: the central bank is ready to take all measures to support growth and move closer to its inflation target, and will likely provide new forward guidance
We do not expect any concrete action until the ECB’s September meeting, which should open a sequence of lower deposit rates followed by the launch of an asset-purchase programme at the end of the year
The official confirmation of this new forward guidance should be welcomed by the markets, and should help anchor rates at extremely low levels
We have entered an undeclared currency war
Mario Draghi’s speech at the European Central Bank Forum in Sintra, Portugal, on 18 June was a major turning point in euro-zone monetary policy. The ECB’s president clearly stated that the bank is willing to take all necessary measures to preserve growth and move closer to its inflation target of 2%. These statements led to a rally in all markets, a flattening of the yield curve, and a tightening of peripheral and credit spreads.
Since then, the underlying context for Mr Draghi’s statements has changed little:
Commercial tensions are stronger than ever.
The risk of a hard Brexit is still likely.
Inflation remains anaemic. Despite a slight rebound in core inflation in June – to 1.1% year over year, up from a low point in May – it is expected to move around 1% in the coming months.
Growth slowed in the second quarter.
Inflation expectations remain low.
In addition, Olli Rehn, a member of the governing council of the ECB and governor of the Bank of Finland, has since reaffirmed Mr Draghi’s positions, confirming the need to respond to a macroeconomic slowdown in the euro area. He has also mentioned the tools available to the ECB, namely a lower deposit rate and a new asset-purchase programme.
The ECB’s next meeting on 25 July is therefore of major importance. By validating the previous announcements, now endorsed by the governing council, the ECB should confirm the modification of its forward guidance. The bank should therefore prepare the ground for its next concrete measures: in our scenario, a 10-basis-point drop in the deposit rate in September and a restart of the securities-purchase programme at the end of the year. The introduction of a multi-tier deposit facility, which was mentioned at the beginning of the year, could come back to the discussions. With the profitability of euro-zone banks being eroded by what is effectively a tax on their excess reserves, a multi-tier deposit facility similar to the one set up by central banks in Switzerland, Japan, Denmark and Sweden could be a viable option. Under this scheme, the taxation of banks’ excess reserves would be triggered above a threshold that is specific to each institution.
On 25 July, it will also be interesting to observe whether the new measures envisaged are unanimously agreed within the governing council: possible dissension within could weaken the scope of the message. However, the recent announcement of the change in leadership at the ECB – the expected appointment of Christine Lagarde as the ECB’s next president – should not affect the strategy the central bank follows.
For investors, the 25 July meeting is expected to have little impact. Even if nearly half of market participants expect a reduction of 10 basis points in July and 15 basis points by the end of the year – and therefore might be disappointed by the ECB maintaining the status quo – the official confirmation of even more accommodative monetary policy should be well-received, and should anchor rates at extremely low levels.
It should be noted, however, that we have entered a phase of an undeclared currency war. Despite Mr Draghi’s denials in Sintra, it is clear that the impact of expected US rate cuts on the US dollar is an element the ECB should take into account, despite the fact that the ECB has no exchange-rate target. As the European economy slows and inflation falls, an appreciation of the euro would not be appropriate, in our view. Undoubtedly, the evolution of the ECB’s monetary policy will fuel accusations by US President Donald Trump that the euro is being manipulated to support growth in the euro zone; this will likely fuel disputes between the euro zone and the United States.
Expect US market momentum to continue – but watch for inflation
by Mona Mahajan | 6 days ago
EMU reform must go further to be effective
In our mid-year outlook, trade and politics are top challenges
Franck Dixmier
Global Head of Fixed Income
Franck Dixmier is Global Head of Fixed Income and a member of the Investment Executive Committee at Allianz Global Investors.
Balancing exercise mandatory for the Fed
Markets are keenly awaiting the next monetary policy meeting of the US Federal Reserve, which will take place on 18 and 19 June.
The Federal Open Market Committee meeting comes as the US Federal Reserve (Fed) is under constant pressure from the markets and the White House
Even if the Fed's next move should be a rate cut, at this stage it seems unlikely that this decision will be announced as early as 19 June
Market disappointment could lead to a rate correction, which should encourage investors to take longer duration exposure in their US bond portfolios
Investing involves risk. The value of an investment and the income from it will fluctuate and investors may not get back the principal invested. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. This is a marketing communication. It is for informational purposes only. This document does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security and shall not be deemed an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.
The views and opinions expressed herein, which are subject to change without notice, are those of the issuer or its affiliated companies at the time of publication. Certain data used are derived from various sources believed to be reliable, but the accuracy or completeness of the data is not guaranteed and no liability is assumed for any direct or consequential losses arising from their use. The duplication, publication, extraction or transmission of the contents, irrespective of the form, is not permitted.
This material has not been reviewed by any regulatory authorities. In mainland China, it is used only as supporting material to the offshore investment products offered by commercial banks under the Qualified Domestic Institutional Investors scheme pursuant to applicable rules and regulations. This document does not constitute a public offer by virtue of Act Number 26.831 of the Argentine Republic and General Resolution No. 622/2013 of the NSC. This communication's sole purpose is to inform and does not under any circumstance constitute promotion or publicity of Allianz Global Investors products and/or services in Colombia or to Colombian residents pursuant to part 4 of Decree 2555 of 2010. This communication does not in any way aim to directly or indirectly initiate the purchase of a product or the provision of a service offered by Allianz Global Investors. Via reception of his document, each resident in Colombia acknowledges and accepts to have contacted Allianz Global Investors via their own initiative and that the communication under no circumstances does not arise from any promotional or marketing activities carried out by Allianz Global Investors. Colombian residents accept that accessing any type of social network page of Allianz Global Investors is done under their own responsibility and initiative and are aware that they may access specific information on the products and services of Allianz Global Investors. This communication is strictly private and confidential and may not be reproduced. This communication does not constitute a public offer of securities in Colombia pursuant to the public offer regulation set forth in Decree 2555 of 2010. This communication and the information provided herein should not be considered a solicitation or an offer by Allianz Global Investors or its affiliates to provide any financial products in Brazil, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay. In Australia, this material is presented by Allianz Global Investors Asia Pacific Limited (“AllianzGI AP”) and is intended for the use of investment consultants and other institutional/professional investors only, and is not directed to the public or individual retail investors. AllianzGI AP is not licensed to provide financial services to retail clients in Australia. AllianzGI AP (Australian Registered Body Number 160 464 200) is exempt from the requirement to hold an Australian Foreign Financial Service License under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) pursuant to ASIC Class Order (CO 03/1103) with respect to the provision of financial services to wholesale clients only. AllianzGI AP is licensed and regulated by Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission under Hong Kong laws, which differ from Australian laws.
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Facebook Details Human Rights Impact Assessments in Cambodia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka
The social network outlined learnings and steps it has taken as a result
Facebook took steps to formalize an approach to determine which countries require more investment Shane_D_Rymer/iStock
Facebook shared results this week from human rights impact assessments it commissioned in 2018 to evaluate the role of its services in Cambodia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
Director of human rights Miranda Sissons and product policy manager, human rights Alex Warofka said in a Newsroom post, “Freedom of expression is a foundational human right that allows for the free flow of information. We’re reminded how vital this is, in particular, as the world grapples with Covid-19, and accurate and authoritative information is more important than ever. Human rights defenders know this and fight for these freedoms every day. For Facebook, which stands for giving people voice, these rights are core to why we exist.”
Sissons and Warofka said that since this research was conducted, Facebook took steps to formalize an approach to determine which countries require more investment, including increased staffing, product changes and further research.
The company also committed to extending end-to-end encryption across all of its messaging products.
Facebook worked with BSR on the assessment of its role in Cambodia, and with Article One for Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Sissons and Warofka shared recommendations that were similar across all three reports:
Improving corporate accountability around human rights.
Updating community standards and improving enforcement.
Investing in changes to platform architecture to promote authoritative information and reduce the spread of abusive content.
Improving reporting mechanisms and response times.
Engaging more regularly and substantively with civil society organizations.
Increasing transparency so that people better understand Facebook’s approach to content, misinformation and News Feed ranking.
Continuing human rights due diligence.
Sissons and Warofka also detailed specific steps that have been taken in the three countries where assessments were conducted.
Distribution of frequently reshared messages was reduced in Sri Lanka, as they are often associated with clickbait and misinformation.
Due to the pervasiveness of government surveillance of internet and social media use in Cambodia, the company expanded ways for users to keep their accounts secure and encouraged people to opt for authenticator applications for more secure two-factor authentication, rather than relying on SMS.
Key updates to the social network’s community standards included a policy to remove verified misinformation that contributes to the risk of imminent physical harm, as well as protections for vulnerable groups (veiled women, LGBTQ+ individuals, human rights activists) who would run the risk of offline harm if they were “outed.”
Facebook also developed machine learning capabilities in the Sinhala and Bahasa Indonesia languages to detect hate speech, and it expanded policies against voter interference prior to elections in Indonesia and Sri Lanka last year, with Cambodians heading to the polls in 2022 and 2023.
On the hiring front, policy leads and program managers were added in all three countries, along with content reviewers fluent in languages including Bahasa Indonesia, Javanese, Khmer, Sinhala and Tamil.
Engagement with civil society organizations was formalized, and local fact-checking partnerships were bolstered in Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
Sissons and Warofka concluded, “As we work to protect human rights and mitigate the adverse impacts of our platform, we have sought to communicate more transparently and build trust with rights holders. We also aim to use our presence in places like Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Cambodia to advance human rights, as outlined in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and in Article One and BSR’s assessments. In particular, we are deeply troubled by the arrests of people who have used Facebook to engage in peaceful political expression, and we will continue to advocate for freedom of expression and stronger protections of user data.”
david.cohen@adweek.com David Cohen is editor of Adweek's Social Pro Daily.
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Home > Moving with Atlas > Local Movers / Find an Agent > Cincinnati, OH > Cincinnati City Guide
Moving to Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati is the 3rd largest city in Ohio, with a population of over 296,000 residents, who are commonly called Cincinnatians. Cincinnati lies along the Ohio River just across from the Northern Kentucky area. The city was named one of the top three U.S. travel destinations for 2012 by Lonely Planet travel guide. This shouldn’t come as a surprise since Cincinnati is host to events such as the Ohio Valley Jazz Festival and the Flying Pig Marathon, and is home to two major sports teams, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cincinnati Reds. Check out all that this city has to offer, whether you are just visiting or planning to move there.
Find Cincinnati movers Find movers in another city
Cincinnati History
Cincinnati was settled in 1788 and was originally named Losantiville. Two years later Hamilton County was established, and Cincinnati got its current name and was made the county seat. In the 1800s, Cincinnati saw great growth due to many travelers along the Ohio River choosing to settle down there. It was also during this time that the city became the center for the nation’s meat packing industries, and in the 1830s was known as “Porkopolis”. However, by the 1880s, iron production was the leading industry in Cincinnati. The city’s economy continued to grow into the 20th century, and today corporations such as Procter & Gamble and Kroger operate in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati, Ohio (OhioHistoryCentral.org)
Cincinnati Weather
Cincinnati has a continental climate, with varying temperatures between the seasons. The city’s summers are warm and humid, and the winters are relatively cold. The annual average temperature is about 53° F.
Cincinnati: Geography and Climate (City-Data.com)
Cincinnati Weather Forecast (AccuWeather.com)
Cincinnati Transportation
The Cincinnati metropolitan area uses Metro, a transportation service that is part of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA). Metro offers 26 local routes and 19 express routes on 344 buses.
Cincinnati Metro
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Cost of Living in Cincinnati
The cost of living in Cincinnati is less expensive than the national average. Use these tools to see how far your budget will go after moving to Cincinnati, OH.
Cost of Living Wizard by Salary.com
Cost of Living Calculator by CNN.com
Cincinnati Schools
Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) was founded in 1829. CPS has 56 schools serving all of Cincinnati, as well as other surrounding townships. There are over 33,000 students enrolled in CPS. Click the link below to learn more about Cincinnati Public Schools.
Bethesda North Hospital is the number one ranked hospital in Cincinnati and the number three hospital in Ohio. This hospital is nationally ranked in seven specialties and is the area’s leader in acute heart attack care. If you’ve made Cincinnati your home, get to know the medical resources available to you:
Cincinnati Medical Facilities
Cincinnati Real Estate
The real estate in Cincinnati is some of the most expensive in Ohio. Learn more about homes and rentals available in Cincinnati by using the links below.
Huff Realty
Cincinnati Real Estate (Zillow.com)
Cincinnati Hotels
Cincinnati offers many hotels, with convenient locations right downtown, and other accommodations in the surrounding areas. Check out these links to find a place to stay in Cincinnati.
The Best Places to Stay Downtown (DowntownCincinnati.com)
Hotels & Lodging (CincinnatiUSA.com)
Cincinnati Restaurants
Not only is Cincinnati home to that unique dish of “Cincinnati-Style Chili”, the city is also home to other regional restaurants such as Frisch’s Big Boy, Izzy’s and Graeter’s. Each year the city hosts the Taste of Cincinnati, which is held downtown, and features hundreds of local restaurants offering their most popular dishes. It is a great chance to check out all of the cuisines that Cincinnati has to offer.
Dining (CincinnatiUSA.com)
Eat Local Cincy
Things to Do in Cincinnati
The city has historical museums and venues, such as the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, as well as community attractions like the newly renovated Fountain Square. At the heart of downtown, Fountain Square has become a place for many outdoor festivals and concerts, holding over 200 events annually. Cincinnati also offers cultural and artistic attractions. Check out the most recent exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum, and catch the latest production at the Aronoff Center for The Arts. For more great ideas about what to do in Cincinnati, use the links below.
Attractions & Events (CincinnatiUSA.com)
The Best Places to Play Downtown (DowntownCincinnati.com)
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Friends and feasts at Katherine
Originally intended as a place to stay ‘in town’ for people coming in from the stations and homesteads in the surrounding areas, our 30-bed Katherine Hostel still has that country feel.
The aged care home is spacious, with the atmosphere of a small village community, and open doors allow cooling breezes in to beat the Northern Territory heat. Our residents come from all over the Territory – from as close as Pine Creek just up the Stuart Highway, to Ngukurr to the east, Kalkaringi in the south-west, and even as far south as Kaltukatjara (Docker River).
Betty Jarman was probably born farther away than most – in Ingham – and spent much of her life in Pentland in Far North Queensland, where her husband worked at the meatworks.
Betty has a daughter and a son-in-law farming in the Territory but she says she’s not really a country girl and anyway, when the kids are out on the property, sometimes all night, she feels pretty isolated.
“I like it here,” she says. “I get lonely out on the farm.”
She describes her room, which is decorated with photos of family and friends, as “lovely, with a lovely breeze”.
“I’ve got a lot of friends here and I enjoy the company of the others living here.”
Betty originally started coming to the hostel for respite care but decided to stay. With palms and trees and well-planned grassy areas, it’s a peaceful place, tucked down a side street away from the main street in Katherine.
Each person has their own room and each room has its own shower and toilet. Low and high-level care needs are catered for.
Team leader Mabs Gorringe has worked in the Territory for many years and says residents hold a meeting every month to discuss any issues they may have, with staff doing their best to respond to them.
But no one has any issues with the food, and a visit to the kitchen indicates why. It is as happy a place as you’re ever likely to come across.
It is staffed by two smiling sisters, Joan Fairweather and Shirley Walit, who take pride in making everything fresh. The sisters, from the Tiwi Islands, have been here for seven years and have no plans of leaving.
Handyman Terre Prime is another happy staffer who has been here for many years. Born in Avon in South Australia, Terre started working in aged care in 2007, originally for the Red Cross.
He’s been in Katherine a long time now and knows the families of just about everyone who lives in the hostel.
He reckons that you’re free to be yourself in the Territory: “You’re accepted for what/who you are.” He plans on staying on for a good while yet.
Find out more about ARRCS Katherine Hostel
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Lottery win: Euromillions couple are 'tickled pink'
duration 15 July 2011
media captionColin and Chris Weir: "We were excited, exhilarated, we couldn't sleep"
A couple from Largs in Ayrshire have been named as the winners of the £161m Euromillions jackpot.
Chris Weir said she and her husband Colin were "tickled pink" when they realised they had scooped Tuesday's jackpot.
"I even had a glass of white wine which is something I normally only do at Christmas!" laughed Chris.
The prize was Europe's biggest ever and was capped after a series of rollovers.
On the night of the draw Chris was checking their numbers on the BBC's Red Button digital text service about midnight on the television in their bedroom.
"I started circling the numbers I had matched but wasn't doing very well. Then on the fifth line, all the circles seemed to join up."
The telephone line run by Camelot for claims was closed. Chris and husband Colin sat up all night they were so excited.
"When we first realised we had won, it felt like a dream," Colin said. "Everything went into slow motion."
When asked at a media conference in Falkirk what they will do with the money, Chris said: "We're not flashy people."
"The next steps are going to be the most difficult... with great wealth comes great responsibility," added Colin.
The Weirs have both had serious health conditions in recent years and have not been able to work.
Colin, 64, had previously worked as a television cameraman and Chris, 55, is a fully-trained psychiatric nurse.
The most exciting aspect of their windfall is the opportunity to travel.
"We have both always wanted to see the Great Wall of China and Colin would love to stand at the foot of Ayers Rock in Australia," said Chris.
"We also love art galleries, so this gives us the chance to visit those in Paris and in Russia. These are all things we thought we would never see."
They have also already decided to buy homes for their two children, Carly and Jamie (both in their 20s).
UK winning streak
Before Tuesday's draw, the largest lottery winner in the UK was the player who claimed £113m in the Euromillions last October and chose to remain anonymous.
The couple have displaced former postal worker Angela Kelly from East Kilbride, who became Scotland's biggest winner in August 2007 when she scooped £35,425,411.80 in the Euromillions jackpot.
Britons have banked the Euromillions jackpot more than 14 times in the last two years.
Last year, two anonymous UK winners scooped £113m and £84m.
And Nigel and Justine Page, from Gloucestershire, won the £56m jackpot prize on EuroMillions in February 2010.
National Lottery operator Camelot runs the Euromillions draw in the UK and has also had the same role for the weekly Lotto draw since it was launched in 1994.
The firm says that its draws have created about 2,400 lottery millionaires in the UK in the intervening 17 years.
If the winner of Tuesday's draw had been a single player, he or she would instantly have been placed 430th in this year's Sunday Times Rich List just above Scottish businessman Sir Angus Grossart and Irina Abramovich, the former wife of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
Two other UK-based lottery players won £1.7m after they successfully matched five numbers and one Lucky Star.
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How many people to be covered by Azerbaijan’s loan debt write-off?
1 March 2019 11:11 (UTC+04:00)
Presidential decree on additional measures to address the problem loans in Azerbaijan will cover 800,000 people, Vusal Gasimli, Director of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communications, said at a briefing organized for journalists on Feb. 28.
Gasimli said the state will allocate over 700 million manats to this end.
Speaking about the mechanism of compensation, he noted that a loan of $10,000, taken until Feb. 21, 2015, amounted to 7,800 manats. After the devaluation, it became equal to 10,500 manats, and the state will pay the difference of 2,700 manats as compensation to individuals, he said.
The same refers to the loans taken before the second devaluation – until Dec. 21, 2015, he noted. In this case, a loan of $10,000 after the devaluation amounted to 15,500 manats, he said.
It turns out that the difference between a loan amount before the first devaluation (in February 2015) and after the second devaluation was 7,700 manats, he added. The decree also provides for paying this difference from public funds, he noted.
There is one unchangeable rule relating both to the first part of the decree and to its second part – the maximum amount of compensation will be $5,000, he noted.
The second part of the decree concerns loans of up to $10,000 or 17,000 manats overdue for more than a year, he said. These loans will be restructured by the state, he noted.
For these purposes, the state will allocate 682 million manats to banks as soft loans, he added.
According to preliminary calculations, about 400,000 persons fall within the second part of the decree, he said. The Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FIMSA) and the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) are instructed to determine the exact figures, Gasimli noted.
Restructuring is an optimal opportunity for Azerbaijan’s banking sector, since banks won’t lose anything from it, on the contrary, they will be able to receive funds in a manat equivalent for a long period on favorable terms, he said.
#LOANS
Azerbaijan marks 31st anniversary of Black January
Azerbaijan talks COVID-19 vaccination document for traveling abroad
Snow expected in Baku
Solo-show of Azerbaijani artist highlighted in foreign media
Iran plans to hold exhibition of construction materials in Azerbaijan
Heydar Aliyev Palace to mark its 50th anniversary [PHOTO/VIDEO]
State Art Gallery to hold exhibition dedicated to Black January
Moscow to host Zhara Kids Festival
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harvey school baseball
Episode #006: Luis Lopez – Former MLB Player / Varsity Coach @ The Harvey School / NY Nighthawks
April 2020 By Evan
Ep. #006: Listen to the interview with Luis Lopez, Former MLB Player, Varsity Coach at the Harvey School and Coach of the New York Nighthawks. Luis shares lessons he’s learned throughout his pro career, advice on balancing academics and sports, the value of having a strong work ethic and how mindset is the game changer in baseball and in life.
04:05- Luis’ experience playing in Japan
05:01- Some things that led him to have success as a pro player
06:37- Building a strong mindset
07:58- Some tradeoffs youth players make on their road to success
10:36- Tips on how to bounce back after a bad at bat
12:40- His preparation before an MLB game
13:50- His unique 1st Major League at bat
16:45- Best MLB pitcher he ever faced
20:47- The 40 Hour Week
22:46- Favorite hitters of all time
Thank you for being here with us! Evan and the Born To Baseball Team are looking forward to celebrating your success and sharing this journey together.
If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a rating or review on Apple or wherever you’re listening here. This will help other ball players find the Born To Baseball Podcast and give us more chances to shout out our listeners!
Now, let’s play ball!
Read show notes here.
Instagram: @doublel1919 @newyorknighthawks
Twitter: @doublel1919
New York Nighthawks
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Episode 006_LUIS LOPEZ FORMER MLB PLAYER AND VARSITY COACH HARVEY SCHOOL NY NIGHTHAWKS
The transcription below was provided for your convenience through an automated service. Please excuse any unintended errors made in the process.
Evan 0:00
This episode of born baseball is sponsored by the BTB Travel team and training tracker. Are you a parent or player searching for travel teams or training facilities in your area? Or are you a coach looking to expand your reach? Than you have to check out the BTB triple T tracker at borntobaseball.com. Make sure your team is represented. Let's go.
Music 0:24
Calling all ball players. Are you ready to take your game to the next level? Were you born to baseball? Then bring it in it's game time.
Hey guys, and welcome to the Born To Baseball podcast. Today we have Luis Lopez on. Luis is from Brooklyn, New York and attended Canarsie high school where he started four straight years on varsity. He graduated from Coastal Carolina University where he's in their Hall of Fame, as well as the Big South Conference Hall of Fame. In Luis's 20 year pro career. He's the Time hits leader with the Bridgeport bluefish, had eight MVP awards, and he played in the big leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays and was a part of the last team in Montreal in 2004. Louis, I'm really excited to have you on thank you so much for being here.
Luis Lopez 1:13
All right. Thank you for having me.
And can you kick things off by sharing your baseball journey?
Sure. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and went to Canarsie High School. From there, I ended up No, I didn't get drafted or anything out of high school. I graduated in 1990, showed up and went to a tournament down in North Carolina. And that's where I got recruited by Coastal Carolina. I ended up signing the letter of intent to go to that school. Down in Conway, South Carolina, which is right near Myrtle Beach, played there, graduated from the school, have my business degree from there. And then after that had a great career there. Hall of Fame and everything. I Wasn't drafted as well. And thank God for independent ball. That's where I started it back in 95. I started with the St. Paul saints out of Minnesota. And then they sent me on loan to a team out in Ogden, Utah. So I played there had a good season and then I got invited by the Blue Jays to come in the following year to extend the spring training. And it was basically a tryout so I went down there and stayed there for about 10 days to two weeks on my own expense also, because I wasn't signed yet, and then they finally signed me the last day. So I was able to sign and play short season A ball in 96 and, you know, had a great career there enjoyed my time with Toronto, and making it to the big leagues I cracked in, in 2001. After that, I went on to play with Oakland A's and their triple A system. I was on their 40 man roster but never played To game, a day in the big leagues with them. And then after that, that's how I ended up playing for the Montreal Expos that I end up returning back to the big leagues. From that point on in 2005, I went to Japan to play, which that was another great experience to be able to play out there. And then um in '06. I started with Milwaukee Brewers. I ended up getting released by them. And then that's when my career in Mexico started. I played in Mexico from 2006 to 2007. And then after those two seasons, I came back and I wanted to play near home, be more with my family, my kids, from 2008 until 2014. I played there and that was my last year playing professionally, in 2014
As you mentioned, you had a very cool international baseball experience. You went to Japan and you also played in Mexico. How did playing internationally influence your game?
Well, the biggest difference when playing in Japan was a lot more stealing bases, a lot more bunting um slash, they do that play a lot. And too many people don't know what that is they'll do a fake bunt and then just pull back when after the guys are drawn in from the corners and swing. They did that quite a few times. That's a lot quicker game compared to what we're used to seeing here. And the Major Leagues here in the United States. Like I said, everybody's pretty quick. And for the most part, the American guys that they bring over there, they're bringing us over there to drive the ball in the gap or out of the park. That's what they mostly have us there for. But it was a great experience. And I told everybody, the best way to describe it is it's like you know, rock star status out there. Everybody knows who you are. So it was pretty cool.
So you played in multiple All Star games, and we're MVP numerous times in your pro career. Can tell us what it was that led you to that kind of success.
A lot of the times I'd tell everybody you know, I was taught at a young age, you know, my parents, they wanted me to always do my best that I could and try to leave a mark wherever I went. So I was always kind of like a perfectionist. I wanted to be perfect that everything I did, or close to it, you know. And each year, at the end of the season, I always sat down and looked over my goals, and see what I accomplished throughout the year, things that I can get better at. I was never really content, even if I won my first award. I want to go back to the drawing board and offseason workout and get better and go and win my second one and so on. So I just kept pushing myself a lot of the times to win those awards. Go to all the all star games. Um, I just really just wanted to I was set on setting records on and leaving my name. And in the long run,
it's really cool just knowing how leaving your mark it can push generations later than you to break those records or compete with you and therefore you're leaving a legacy. So how did those goals you set really push you to play harder and train harder?
A lot of the times we talked about this mindset thing. You want to be strong minded to continue not being content with what you did keep pushing, what can I do better? What can I change within my workout? What can I change with stuff that I eat? All that stuff to get ultimately our bodies in the best physical shape, we can So that we can have that longevity because it's very hard to play this game you're playing every single day, you're working out. And you know, not too many people get to play for 20 years. So you have to make adjustments to make sure your body is properly trained. And guess what? We all need rest at some time we have to sleep. Then when that alone, you get a certain amount of time sleeping, and your body also grows while we're sleeping.
What drove you to work so hard to achieve your goal of playing in the MLB?
One I wanted to try and make it just to help my family. That was one, two, I since I wasn't drafted, I wanted to basically prove people wrong, that I can make it even though I wasn't drafted. I know I had to work you have to have good work ethic to be able to do a lot of sacrifices. I explained A lot of people that, you know, hey, I wasn't able to go to a lot of birthday parties or go to the pool party, or to the beach or whatever, because I had to go and work out. Or I had games that I was playing while everybody else was having fun. Just having certain goals, little goals, and you have your ultimate goals to that you always can have like my ultimate goal was to make it to the major leagues, but I had to do certain things in the beginning to put me onto that track. You know, same thing with focusing in on I just uh, a lot of people don't understand when I was in college, a lot of my teammates even understood, you know, just making the right choices. not messing with, you know, even though I was getting to a certain age that you can have an adult beverage, but I didn't. I was always that guy that will be walking around with a bottle of water. Or if I really got crazy that night I'd drink a Coca Cola or something like that some type of soda but that Was it mean on it that's part of also being strong strong with your mind.
And on an interview when you were asked what your favorite position to play was, you said you love playing third base but you would play anywhere just have a shot. You said I just want to hit How did that passion for hitting translate for you in your at bats
my main thing was hitting because I just really enjoyed the competition trying to outsmart the pitcher what they were going to do to you and the catcher um, it was a battle. You would I think it drove me because certain times you know if they made a good pitch, or whatever the next time at bat I wanted to make sure I got him back. So I was always into that combat combat of pitcher and a catcher and myself hitting. I always wanted to, I always felt like it was going to be my last at bat. So I took every at bat Serious even though we talked a little bit earlier, we talked about how baseball has changed. There's a lot more home runs a lot, a lot of strikeouts. And to me I took it personal that I didn't want to strike out because I felt like I was hurting my team letting my teammates down. One way or another, I tried to put the ball in play so that I can get on base for the next guy. So that's why I took a very serious with my hitting
Evan 10:27
In hitting there's more failure than success. And if you fail seven out of 10 times, you're still an all star. So can you give youth baseball players one or two strategies that you use to bounce back quickly after a tough at bat or game?
Luis Lopez 10:44
Sure, um, you're correct. It is a game of failure. But what you need to do is those seven times that you fail, you need to figure out why you failed. The biggest thing with as you continue to get older and as a hitter, you have to learn how to make your adjustments that much quicker. So, within an a bat, maybe I took a bad swing, or I followed the ball off. Let's say I'm a right handed hitter, I followed it off to the right side. So I knew I was late. Or maybe I was dropping my barrel, certain little things like that. Or if I was off balance where my weight was, you can learn something from every swing. So don't just waste your swings, or don't forget about them, replay them in your mind. When you're sitting on the bench, think about the way they pitch to you. Because if they got you out one way, they're probably going to try and get you out that way again, until you make the adjustment and prove to them that you can hit that pitch or where it was located. So a lot of the times just think of what you're doing, what you learn from your mistakes, and then move on. Because if you keep thinking about all the negative stuff, that's what drives you and gets you stressed out, and you get frustrated and everything like that, you got to try and stay positive as much as you can. And the other thing that I was doing that I wish I would have done during my playing days, were reading books. I found, you know, you get into a lot of information reading. Now that I'm in the coaching stage, I read a lot more stuff. And it actually helps me out reading stuff about mental toughness, about all that type of stuff, visualization, everything like that. And I think if I would have done that before, it also would have helped me throughout my playing career. I think it's a good good tool to have.
So what was your mindset going into a game? Like what was your mental preparation?
Okay, so we're talking about a seven o'clock game 7pm game. I probably was one of the first guys there. I would show up to the stadium probably about one o'clock. I probably hit a little bit extra in the cage. I do a routine Hit off the tee a little bit until I find somebody to do me some front toss or whatever, just to get a little sweat going. And then relax. We'd probably go out for Team stretch about 3:30 3:45. After the team stretch, we broke up into our groups for hitting, usually four groups, four groups of four guys, we'd go through our routines there. I always started off hitting the ball opposite field. And then we worried about the other things afterwards within my rounds, taking my ground balls so we figured we were out there for about 45 minutes to an hour for that practice. We come in, probably eat a little something something light maybe have a soup or maybe a one light sandwich or something. Fruits, anything just to eat and have some energy for the game. usually come about six o'clock. I will start getting Dressed because I would end up going outside maybe about 630 or so to start re stretching and everything on the line to run my Sprint's and loosen up my arm again if I had to throw a little bit more, so that I can be ready for gametime at seven. We play our game. And you know hopefully we didn't play extra innings that day. So the game will be done you figure about 10 or so. Usually after that if I didn't lift in the morning, I would lift after the game. So I do my workouts there. By the time I ate a little something showered up. We're talking about almost midnight, by the time I would leave the stadium to go back to my house or my apartment. And then the next day just wake up and do it all over again.
Your first major league at bat was pretty unique. Can you tell us about it and what were you thinking and feeling starting from the on deck circle.
It was against the angels I was facing Mike Holtz lefty pitcher and brought him in, they put they put me in a pinch hit for our catcher Darren Fletcher. So to face the lefty, we had the winning room was on second base. And I came up and my good friend Benji Molina was catching. And I'm on deck, and all I'm thinking is Wow, really? I'm going to hit in the big leagues. This is pretty awesome. And the first guy happened to face I had already faced him in college. So I already knew what he had. Yeah, so I already knew he had, besides the scouting reports that they told me the way he was, what he was, what his tendencies and stuff like that. When I got to the home plate, Benji comes walking back, Molina, and he's like, hey, Luis, what's going on, man? You know, congratulations, you called up. And by the way, you could relax Because you ain't hitting today, and I go, What are you talking about? What do you mean? He was because we're going to put you on we're going to walk you intentionally. And I told him in Spanish I go for real. And he goes, yeah. So all of a sudden, he put his arm out for the inttentional walk. They do the first pitch after the first pitch. The first thing that came to my mind was, I'm probably going to be a trivia question. Not too many guys. Not to many guys their first at bat in the big leagues can say they got intentionally walked. And but I made sure I have the DVD to prove it. So I have it at home.
Yeah, that's a pretty cool first at bat. Who is the best pitcher you faced and what made them so good?
Okay, I faced a lot of very good pitchers Hall of Famers. And it's no disrespect to all of them, but the best one that was hard for me to face was john Smoltz from the Atlanta Braves, the best way I can Describe it. I told everybody it was like, if we were playing wiffle ball, that's the way his ball would move. He threw nothing straight. I mean, he was sinking and cutting everything. It was unbelievable how much movement he had. Mind you, he was still trying hard to, he can throw 95 or better. But he was and that's what I explained to everybody. It's not so much the velocity that gets us out as hitters. It's the movement that gets us out. That's what that's those are the toughest kind of pitches. The guys that have good movement, they're able to pitch on both sides of the plate, they pitch outside and inside. Because if I face a pitcher that's just strictly pulling away, it's going to be easy for me to hit. Because I know I don't even have to look inside. But the guy that throws to both sides, that's when it becomes hard because hitting his hard. Anyway you look at it, but you know if they're going to give you that um, they're just gonna throw to one side of the plate is going to be that Much easier to hit.
So, your former team, the Montreal Expos. Now the Washington Nationals, they just won their first World Series in franchise history. How awesome was it to watch your former team win the World Series?
I was very excited for them. You know, I know. So I was able to play on the last Montreal team before they moved to Washington. The one thing that I took away from that world series that I liked about that team is, yeah, they had a couple guys that are superstars with big names, but they really played as a team. They played together. They all were pulling for each other. If they had to bunt they'd bunt if they had to steal a base, they stole a base. We I always preach to my guys. When I'm coaching, I tell them, the way you win championships, is by pitching good throwing strikes, obviously playing good defense. That's another big thing in this timely hitting, and that's what they did. Had timely hitting, when they needed that big hit, they happen to get the big hit. But I think you can see that their team chemistry, like everybody was real genuine, they pulled for each other. There was no selfishness. And I think that's ultimately what helped them beat out Houston, because I mean Houston was stacked. Look at that team. There was a lot of superstars and really nobody gave Washington that chance. But sometimes you need those intangibles to win championships. That's what good teams are made of.
baseball teams are like family and in the pros, you probably see the more than your family. So I can imagine being a part of the last team in Montreal has to be really special. Do you still keep in touch with some of those players on that team?
Yes, I do. One of them was Jose Vidro. second baseman still keep in touch with him. Every so often. I still speek to Tony Bautista. He was on the team Carl Everett was on that team with me. Nick Johnson, thank God for social media too. You know, that's how we were a lot of us were still able to connect or reconnect. But uh, yeah, we do and you're right, it is a family. You will meet a lot of guys become friends with them because you spend more time with them than your actual family. So you're absolutely right with that.
You're inspiring the next generation of ballplayers and you preach hard work and great work, work ethic. How important is it for a player to work independently and not just with their team or trainer?
Real good question. Because I always explain to our players, if you want to be a good college player, you need to put in at least 40 hours per week of practice time. So it's basically a job and I said look at look at it like this and we're talking 40 hours. We practice in my high school, let's say Monday through Friday. That's only 20 hours, right? Okay, so the other 20 hours, where are they going to come from? It has to be a you on your own, working on your trait, getting those extra ground balls, getting those extra swings. I'm just doing that stuff. If you're working with a trainer, making sure to work on what you do with the proper stuff that fits and works for you. You know, because everybody's different. Everybody's body's different. And can teach the guys that all the same stuff. But that's, that's the type of things that I try to pass on. You want to play college baseball, you have to put in 40 hours of work per week.
And if you want to play in the MLB, obviously you have to put in more. And baseball's it's a big commitment for you just taking the time out of the things you might want to do instead Like relaxing instead of working out, or going to a friend's house or hanging out with a friend instead of going to practice or a game. So it really takes your own time and commitment to get where you want to go.
Right, you just balance it out, though, because you're still gonna have fun with your friends, but just having time management, you know, because you also need time to rest. We talked about that as well. It's not just work, work, work work, because all of a sudden, our body's going to break down. So you need time to recover and rest as well. So just having a schedule, and be organized with it and follow that time management.
So now I want to move into the rapid fire questions. Okay, you're ready,
Who's your favorite hitter of all time?
All Time. Okay, I have a couple. Um, Edgar Martinez. Tony Gwynn. And the last one I really liked was Juan Gonzalez. It's ironic to the three year they were Number 19. And that's one of the reasons why we're number 19 as well. To
if you could hop into a time machine and play baseball at any year in history what year would you pick?
Well, you would I pick. Probably, I would love to see back in the day like when Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, all those guys, I'd want to see them guys play because I've heard so much about them how good they were and everything. I thought um I think it'd be pretty cool to be in around that era. See how it was?
What single piece of advice would you give to your teenage self? dreaming of making it to the bigs?
Okay, well, 1. to handle my business in the classroom. As we talked about, you know, as far as getting athletic money and academic money for college scholarships, you get way more money with academic money. So that's one concentrate on my studies, and to do everything I can, baseball wise, or everything that I can do, I have to work out lift weights, everything that I can. Because we're only allowed, we have a certain amount of time that we're allowed to play this game. And I always mentioned it to the guys, we're lucky if we can play ball until we're 20 years old. So don't waste your time.
So before we wrap up, would you like to share any projects that you're working on now or have coming up?
Sure, um, the two things that I'm doing now, I'm the varsity coach at the Harvey school in St. Katonah, New York. Been there now for five years. And it's been going well, we won our first championship last year.
thank you was a we're hoping to continue that success this year. We have another good team on paper, but anything can happen in between those lines. The other thing is we have the New York nighthawks which myself and my Partner we created it right after I retired. It's a nonprofit organization that we try to help kids to move on and show them the importance of having good grades and going on to college as concentrate on graduating from college, even though you have those dreams of making it to the major leagues. So those are my two things that I'm keeping up most of my time right now.
And where can people go to follow you or learn more about you?
Well, I'm on. I'm on all the social media stuff, Twitter and Instagram. It's @doublel1919. That's my handle name for Instagram and Twitter. I'm also on Facebook as well. And then we have our pages for the nighthawks and the Harvey school as well. So I'm always putting stuff up because I look at it this way. We're in a we're in a time of technology. And a lot of our young folks, they're always messing with their phones and their iPads. So I look at it this way, I'm able to put information on there on my social media stuff that they can read and give them motivational quotes and stuff like that. So I use that for those purposes. But I think just to give positive energy
Luis, thanks, thank you so much for being here. I had a great time. And thank you for taking the time out of your day to come share your knowledge with the Born To Baseball community.
I appreciate it. I love what everything that you're doing with this. Feel free to have me anytime. Thank you.
Thank you all for listening in. We really hope you enjoyed this episode. Be sure to hit the subscribe button and be the first to know when new episodes launch. Check us out at borntobaseball.com for free resources and new gear. Download the Born To Baseball app to have real time conversations, share your game and video highlights and be celebrated by our BTB team and of course on social media @borntobaseball where we can connect live. Now let's play ball.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
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Mayor Walsh is proposing reallocating $12 million of the police budget. Here’s where it’s going
By Brittany Bowker Globe Staff,Updated June 15, 2020, 7:02 a.m.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh spoke with Former United States Associate Attorney General Wayne Budd at City Hall.Stuart Cahill/Pool
Mayor Marty Walsh submitted Monday a revised $3.61 billion budget for the next fiscal year, which includes a newly announced plan to reroute $12 million in the Boston Police Department’s overtime spending — about 20 percent of its overtime budget — to social services amid widespread protests against racism.
On Friday, Walsh declared racism a public health crisis in Boston, a move that allowed the mayor to go forward with a plan to use city funds to combat what he called a systematic problem that the city for too long has looked past.
“With this budget, we have an opportunity to seize the moment that is before us to make investments that are grounded in equity, inclusion, and that are intentional about directing funding to places where we know it will have the greatest impact in benefiting our residents,” Walsh said in a statement.
Here’s a breakdown of how the $12 million police overtime budget would be distributed:
$3 million for the BPHC
The Boston Public Health Commission, a seven-member board appointed by Walsh, would receive $3 million to tackle eight strategies outlined in Boston’s declaration of racism as a public health crisis. Development of a health equity task force and strengthening race and ethnicity data and analysis are among the focus areas.
$1 million for BPHC trauma teams and counseling
Another $1 million would be allocated to support trauma teams and counseling services at the BPHC.
$2 million for community-based programs
Groups and grants that support youth programming, language and food access, violence intervention, immigrant advancement, the Age Strong Commission (which supports Boston’s aging community), and the Human Rights Commission, are among the proposed beneficiaries of community-based funds.
$2 million for mental health supports
The Boston Emergency Service Team, or BEST, is a group of psychiatrists, master’s level clinicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and mental health workers who support residents of Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and the Fall River area as well as the BPD. Funds would be allotted to BEST clinicians and towards mental health support at the BPD.
$2 million for minority and women-owned businesses
Funds would support economic development initiatives for minority- and women-owned businesses.
$2 million for additional housing and youth homelessness
Housing support and youth homelessness programs would receive additional funding under Walsh’s proposed plan.
Brittany Bowker can be reached at brittany.bowker@globe.com. Follower her on Twitter @brittbowker.
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Mapping a more virtual world
By Heather Hopp-Bruce Globe Staff,December 13, 2015, 12:00 a.m.
Martin Vargic’s maps of the world look like they belong on parchment, hung on walls of estates that no one can really afford. Sure, they don’t have those weird, spiny sea monsters or ships at full sail. And, at first glance, Vargic’s land masses are completely distorted. Look closer though and you’ll realize that they’re actually not maps of the physical world at all.
But there’s more to the world than piles of dirt and great swathes of sea water. Vargic charts still aim big. His “Map of the Internet” went viral in early 2014, as did his map of world stereotypes (in which New Zealand is labeled “Middle Earth”). His cartography creates an indirect commentary on how cultural proximities are every bit as relevant in the digital age as geographical ones.
There is no country of Google that can be found on a Google map. But the very large — and real — presence of Google online is accorded appropriate mass in a Vargic map.
Peruse this map from “Vargic’s Miscellany of Curious Maps,” exploring the world of gaming. Look for nostalgic favorites (awww, “Half Life”) as well as new Indie titles (try “Goat Simulator,” seriously). Imagine that this digital world is as new as the physical felt to those who first inked parchment.
Vargic is 17 years old, by the way, and lives in Slovakia. So Ideas interviewed him by e-mail. Below is an edited excerpt.
IDEAS: Google Maps has turned what was for centuries a two-dimensional discipline into a 3D one. Does 3D improve or cheapen the map experience?
VARGIC: The creation of Google Earth was one of the most profound moments in the history of mapmaking and cartography, showing the world from an entirely different and more complex perspective than any maps before. I don’t think Google Earth and standard two-dimensional maps can be compared outright, as they represent two entirely different philosophies. The main aim of Google Earth is to represent the entire world as realistically as possible, even including elements such as 3D buildings, it could be considered to be a “model” of the earth.
Traditional maps do not usually aim to display a photorealistic model of the world, but instead showcase only some of the most important information, such as the borders of countries, locations of cities, mountains, etc., and usually allow vastly different aesthetic interpretations of the same subject.
IDEAS: The map was always a tool to help locate oneself in the world, yet your maps sometimes try to capture moments in time rather than geography. How are those two different?
VARGIC: I don’t think my maps try to capture a particular moment in time, but instead aim to create conceptual worlds from various aspects of human culture instead of geography. They show the relations between various genres of art and people who represent them. My goal is to make them both educational and also just entertaining to look at.
IDEAS: A map is only as good as the data set that you use to create it. What would be your dream sets of data (now or historically) that you’d like to use to make a map?
VARGIC: There are incredible amounts of information sets, that, if compiled and unearthed, could be visualized in the form of a very interesting map. I think it definitely would be interesting to create historical maps based on various statistics regarding various population demographics, economy, health care, or religiosity in the ancient Medieval era.
IDEAS: We seem to be in the midst of a golden age of maps, infographics, and other visual methods of information-sharing. Why has this medium resonated so much?
VARGIC: Information can be comprehended and understood more profoundly when it is put and showcased in a visual form, it also enables it to be combined with vibrant aesthetic and artistic elements. Digital art has enabled practically anyone to draw and create professional-looking infographics and visualizations, and share them with the rest of the world in minutes.
Heather Hopp-Bruce is the Boston Globe Ideas/Op-ed art director.
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Floyd Mayweather May Use Cotto Fight to Make Point vs. Pacquiao
by Charles Jay
Floyd Mayweather, who had been linked to a few different possibilities for the May 5 date he has booked for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, wound up with someone not a lot of people expected him to fight, but one who may be the best possible alternative.
A lot of the buzz had been about Canelo Alvarez, a pay-per-view superstar waiting to happen, who may not have been happening enough to push Mayweather too much inside the ring. But for the sake of sheer competition, he might not have done any better than to pick Miguel Cotto.
That is, of course, given the circumstances. He’s not Pacquiao. But he’ll entertain for as long as he lasts.
And unlike Alvarez, in terms of his status as a salable commodity, Cotto has matured already.
Some people may, by this point, be getting a bit weary of it by now. They don’t care about who’s ducking who; they just want to see somebody in action, and even though fans are disappointed that Mayweather and Pacquiao aren’t fighting each other, they want to see them fighting SOMEBODY, rather than some body. Well, here’s somebody, and now Pacquiao has to come up with his own “somebody.”
There wasn’t really any hope for a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, not on May 5 anyway; once the holidays passed there really wasn’t enough time to do this up the way it needed to be. Not that the Cotto fight isn’t going to be a big one. It’s just not the same thing as Mayweather-Pacquiao. Even with this one they could use more time to get things ready.
For Cotto, this represents his declaration of independence from Top Rank, which brought him up from the beginning, as they were looking for a Latin hero to fill the vacuum left by Oscar De La Hoya’s departure from the Top Rank fold. Having already lost to Pacquiao, the only way to go would be to try for a rematch against Pacquiao, which was not an especially inspiring idea, or to secure the fight with Mayweather, which was not likely to come from Top Rank anyway.
Meanwhile, Mayweather was not guaranteed anything, at least theoretically, when he went into his hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday. Everyone knew that the issue was his upcoming term in Clark County jail, and there may still be people in this audience who recall that Mike Tyson was refused by this same body, even though his fight with Lennox Lewis would have produced an awful lot of commerce for Las Vegas.
This was not your usual Nevada commission hearing, for a couple of reasons. For one thing, it contained a fight announcement; it actually had to, because Mayweather was compelled to answer questions from the commissioners and they needed to know whether he was being licensed to have a fight or not.
Also, according to commission chair Raymond Avansino, it was the first time he could recall that a fighter was licensed with some jail time that was still pending.
Come to think of it, it probably hasn’t happened. We know that money talks, and they are perfectly willing to let him go for just one fight. There’s probably nothing terribly wrong with that, especially since he can go somewhere else if he really had to.
What’s most interesting from this vantage point is that Mayweather appears to be playing the “game within a game” here as well. For example, he and Cotto are agreeing to a mutual policy of drug testing, which is apparently his answer to what he perceives as Pacquiao’s reticence to do the same.
Mayweather is also agreeing to move up in weight to 154 pounds. Pacquiao, on the other hand, reportedly insisted that Cotto move down to some “catchweight” in order to agree to a rematch. And of course, the very idea of doing a pay-per-view fight against Cotto gives Mayweather the opportunity to take the subscriber numbers from that and compare them to what Pacquiao did when he fought Cotto. His mentality is that if he “scores” higher, that gives him leverage in any negotiations that might happen for a Pacquiao fight in the future.
As part of this “conditional” licensure by Nevada, Mayweather has to be on good behavior in and out of the ring, which means that he can’t smack anybody around between now and the opening bell. And he will indeed start his 90-day jail sentence on June 1, as if he had a choice.
Now, just go ahead and watch somebody get nicked up in a sparring, so they have to postpone the fight. Heaven forbid; no one wants to see Floyd doing the jailhouse rock without all that extra coin in the till.
Do they?
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Michigan closing budget gap with layoffs and cuts to roads, PFAS cleanups
The coronavirus pandemic created a huge budget hole for Michigan that lawmakers filled with funding cuts to roads, layoffs, savings and federal grants. (File photo)
July 22, 2020 Riley Beggin, Jonathan Oosting Michigan Government
Michigan budget 2020, Michigan roads, Michigan PFAS chemical threats
State leaders passed a deal Wednesday and Thursday to cut $2.2 billion from the state’s nearly $60 billion budget to make up for a dramatic loss in revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The winners: Schools and local governments, who received a boost through federal money including a one-time payment of $500 for teachers; a net increase of $175 per pupil and $150 million for local governments. Most of the money for schools is for coronavirus response.
The losers: PFAS and lead remediation ($4.8 million cut); implementing changes to Healthy Michigan ($2.5 million cut); roads and bridges ($13 million) and the state’s workforce. Most of the savings came from temporary layoffs and hiring freezes.
Michigan coronavirus unemployment, map, curve, COVID-19 updates
Dashboard: Michigan coronavirus testing numbers, trends, COVID-19 data
“Every budget is a statement of priorities. In the face of unprecedented and unforeseen challenges within 2020, the budget agreement before you reflects our shared commitment to schools, local government and everyone affected by COVID-19,” said Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, on the Senate floor Wednesday.
More tough decisions lie ahead: This deal balances the state budget through the end of September, when the next fiscal year begins and the state faces another $3 billion budget shortfall. The new budget was supposed to be completed by July, but it was postponed due to the virus.
The shortfalls are because tax collection fell dramatically as the state’s economy contracted amid the pandemic and more than 1 million state residents were left jobless.
The budget agreement uses up the lion’s share of the pandemic relief money sent to Michigan from the federal government through the CARES Act. After this budget deal, only $94 million are left from the $3 billion received. It must be spent by the end of the year.
The bipartisan budget deal was negotiated by the administration of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, and GOP legislative leaders, including Stamas and House Appropriations Chairman Shane Hernandez of Port Huron.
Whitmer’s budget director, Chris Kolb, said the deal protects “public education, health care, our local communities and critical services our residents depend on."
Schools will get an extra $256 million in funding to help prepare for the upcoming school year, and teachers willing to remain on the job will qualify for a collective $53 million in hazard pay.
An executive order from Whitmer cuts approximately $620 million in state spending but utilizes $475 million in federal funding for state police and the department of corrections, resulting in a cut of about $145 million.
The Department of Health and Human Services, the state's largest department, will see its current-year budget cut by $36 million. About half that savings are from hiring freezes and temporary layoffs.
The Whitmer administration began temporary layoffs and furloughs for state employees in April. It appears the budget deal incorporates those savings and will not require additional layoffs at this time.
Budget officials in May lowered revenue projections for the current fiscal year by $3.2 billion. But enhanced Medicaid payments from the federal government softened some of that blow, and the state had $788 million in leftover funds to help close the gap to $2.2 billion.
Under the deal, the state will spend $350 million from its nearly $1.2 billion Budget Stabilization Fund, otherwise known as the rainy day fund, leaving it with a balance of $836 million.
That’s one reason why Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, was the only senator to vote against the package. The deal passed unanimously in the House.
“It’s betting on the fact that the fed government is going to come up with more relief and if they do, it might make this compromise a little more reasonable in my mind,” Irwin told Sinclair Broadcast Group Wednesday. “But until Congress acts, I think it’s a mistake for us to burn up all our dry tinder when we don’t know what Congress is going to do.”
The Whitmer administration continues to urge the federal government to provide additional aid to states and local governments. With key provisions of the CARES act soon to expire, including $600 a week in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for the jobless, Congress is currently debating parameters of another relief package.
The budget deal represents a rare instance of bipartisan cooperation this year, which has been marked by feuds over Whitmer's executive power and her handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Michigan has to balance its budget for fiscal year 2021 by the end of September in order to avoid a government shutdown, which nearly occurred last year during a tense feud between GOP leadership and Whitmer, who used a record number of line-item vetoes and transfers to reshape a budget crafted by the Legislature.
And that was before the global pandemic.
"We still have a lot of challenges moving forward," said Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, minority vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee. “We have a whole set of challenges ahead for us next fiscal year, and we're going to need some help to get that done, but hopefully with the spirit of bipartisanship, we can start on the right foot."
Editor's note: This story was changed at 8:05 p.m. July 22 to update the budget process as it worked its way through the Legislature.
New year, old problems: Six issues Michigan leaders vow to tackle in 2020
January 6, 2020 | Riley Beggin
As they return to Lansing this week, Michigan’s leaders are faced with tough questions on how to improve roads, education, skilled trades and more.
Michigan’s $6.2B coronavirus budget gap ‘as bad or worse’ than Great Recession
May 15, 2020 | Jonathan Oosting
How bad is it going to be? Very bad. 22 percent unemployment. $1.9 billion in lost taxes out of what would be an $11 billion general fund this year alone. The only options: Huge cuts, tax increases or hope for a D.C. bailout.
GOP leader: Up to 25 percent cuts to Michigan schools from coronavirus
May 11, 2020 | Ron French
The Senate education committee chair said drastic cuts of $2,000 per student may be unavoidable in the fall following huge tax revenue losses from the pandemic. School officials cite the need for more services, not fewer.
Wed, 07/22/2020 - 6:32pm
Our economy is in shambles because fake Americans won't wear a mask.
That's nonsense
CharlieD
Correction... Our economy is in shambles because of the incompetent politicans that we voted into power.
Wait a minute... There's little power here. The Governator's orders are all illegal....
This must be the twilight zone.
Why do you believe our economy is in shambles because "fake Americans" won't wear a mask? I'm also frustrated by where our economy has landed and concerned about the upcoming school year. Would you mind providing your thoughts on why wearing a mask would have saved our economy? Even countries like Taiwan that had a strict adherence to mask wearing, contact tracing, etc is forecasting GDP contraction. I'm also confused by how your comment furthers the topics discussed in this article.
https://www.cdc.gov.tw/en/Disease/SubIndex/
It's totally unacceptable that schools have to plan for the next year without a budget being completed until September. Call your legislators and demand the deadline be changed or school boards will just have to vote to start after the budget is done.
One thing also not mentioned by Bridge here is that the school per pupil funding was cut, so that extra federal COVID money replaces the cut. Problem is that new CARES Act money has restrictions whereas the per pupil money doesn't. I'm not sure how you can label K12 schools as "winners" here when all they've done is play shell games with federal CARES act dollars replacing state level cuts. There has been no overall change in funding, and added restrictions that extend into future years where I'm sure there will be a politically twisted battle about returning to normal described as an "increase". Not to mention that schools have massively increased costs during the pandemic. PPE for staff, tech purchases for virtual/hybrid learning models, WiFi hotspots for disconnected families or teachers that live in remote areas with poor internet, and other costs. We're still looking at possible staff layoffs, which would just add to the unemployment problems in the state. It's gonna cost taxpayers either way.
Also, the legislature saw fit a few years ago to lump some community college and public university funding into the school aid fund, so now the discussion of K12 budgets are complicated by that fact as well.
The state legislature has a lot of work to do.
Over the last several years, teachers have taken pay cut after pay cut after pay cut after pay cut. It is time for the Michigan legislative people including those in Congress and the House to begin taking their turns. They have become all powerful in this State and as such should show their courage and comradery at this time when so many of our Michiganders are suffering in their unsureness as to their jobs, homes, groceries, healthcare, and sanity.
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Two golds in Munich
Alex Partridge, the man who missed Athens through illness, believes that the 2005 British men’s four needs to prove it is an "excellent" rather than just a "good" crew. They went some way to establishing their credentials in an event Britain has got used to winning when they stormed home in 6:20.97 to take their second world cup title of the season in Munich this afternoon.
Steve Williams, winner of gold in Athens, said that he, Partridge, Peter Reed and stroke Andy Hodge in the Camelot-backed crew had "got a lot of things right today" but
that the "big race" this season was still to come.
Britain’s other gold medal of the day came from the women’s quadruple scull, winners at Eton last month, and now also in pole position to take the overall World Cup title with one event to go.
The crew, stroked by double Olympic silver medallist Katherine Grainger moved ahead at 350m and had a clear water lead at the finish.
"We know that we have all the firepower we need in the boat", said Grainger afterwards. "It’s just a question of putting it all together".
This was a good regatta, too, for Britain’s lightweight crews who won two non-Olympic class medals – a silver and a bronze – and qualified a total of five boats for finals.
We had two fine gold medals today with our women’s quad and men’s four completely dominating their fields and that’s great for GB rowing. We’ve also got some seeds for the future in today’s strong final showing with a strong fourth place for our men’s quad and again two lightweight men’s crews showing well in the A final in the Olympic classes. Each of these crews have some young athletes who have the capacity to show in Beijing and that’s good news ", said David Tanner, GB team manager.
"I am delighted by two more gold medals after the two wins at Eton and Camelot is very proud to be associated with British rowing and these two fine crews", said Camelot Chief Executive, Diane Thompson.
The next BearingPoint World Cup is in Lucerne, Switzerland, from July 8-10.
The British men’s four are beginning to cause ripples in the world of rowing as a crew who could carry the extremely heavy mantle of expectation – placed upon them since the retirement of Sir Matthew Pinsent and Ed Coode and this year’s absence of James Cracknell – by a nation used to rowing men’s four gold
Today Steve Williams, Peter Reed, Alex Partridge and Andy Hodge were a boat length up on the field after 250m. They stretched that lead to five seconds by the half-way point.
The British quartet added another half-second to that lead by the 1500m mark with Italy still in second and Ireland in third.
Italy made up some but not much of the gap in the closing stages with the British still crew still looking controlled and contained in their rhythm. There was even energy left for a brief victory salute to the crowd.
"We got a lot of things right today", said Steve Williams part of the GB gold medal four in Athens. "It was nice after the first minute to have that much of a margin".
"We’ve got to be an excellent crew, we can’t just be a good crew", said Alex Partridge. "These races are all about working on our weaknesses".
The British women’s quadruple scull, also sponsored by Camelot and winner of the team’s second gold medal of the day, showed very few weaknesses on the 1972 Olympic course in Munich. Indeed there was a touch of metronomic mastery in the way they surged ahead of the Ukraine after 500m to create a clear water lead which they held until the finish line with little sign of slipping back.
In the first 200m the British crew got off to a good start and set themselves up nicely. By 350m they had got a whisker ahead and worked on their lead from there in.
Germany has won Gold in this event at each Olympic Games since it was introduced to the Programme in 1988 so it was an even more significant moment to beat two German crews on their home waters.
For Olympic silver medallist Katherine Grainger and the crew it was important to put behind them a poor performance at the Versailles Regatta two weeks ago.
"We know we have all the firepower we need", said Grainger afterwards. "It was just a question of putting it all together. We went back to basics after Versailles. The loss there kept us humble and perhaps it was the best thing that could have happened".
Leading sportsmen and women often say that finishing fourth is the "worst place of all". The young British men’s open weight quadruple scull should take a positive from their fourth place here, however,
They have proved their potential and the fact and still looked good as they raced towards the line. This was a race won by Slovenia in 6:03.42 with Poland in silver and the Czech Republic in third.
At the start of the men’s pair final Josh West, world silver medallist twice before in the four, and Kieran West, Olympic gold medallist in the eight in 2000, made sure they were with the pack and in contention off the start. By the 300m stage there was nothing to choose between the crews.
At the 500m mark they were second only to the Skelin brothers of Croatia before the New Zealanders made a move to push past them and slip into second.
Somewhere close to 750m into the race "the Wests", who are unrelated but also coached here by another namesake, John West, then caught a buoy which almost brought them to a stop. After that they struggled to re-establish themselves with Italy having passed them into third place.
At the head of the race, the New Zealand pairing of Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater provided some drama in the finishing 300m by blasting through the Skelins, reigning Olympic silver medallists to win in 6:59.82. Britain was fourth.
Given the quality of the women’s single scull event here in Munich, Debbie Flood, a relative novice at this level after several years in crew scull boats, had already done well to reach the final.
Drawn in lane six, she was behind at the 500m mark and never really recovered in a race won from the front in her trademark commanding style by the Olympic silver medallist from Athens, Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus in 7:58.02.
Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic was second with Georgina Evers-Swindell of New Zealand third. Flood, who has also had to contend with University finals recently, was sixth in 8:28.19.
"I had a hard race in qualifying yesterday and that took a lot out of me", said Flood afterwards. "Compared to the top scullers I am still a relative novice but with experience I’ll get better so that the gap between my good races and my bad races is not so big".
The British lightweight men’s four were fifth in their final today in a strong field for this Olympic-class boat. By the end they were just overlapping the fourth-placed German crew having fought back from sixth place at 1500m.
Stroked by Simon Jones, the crew has shown great promise here in an event in which Britain has not won a world cup medal since 1997.
In the men’s lightweight double Olympic class final only two seconds separated the six crews at 500m by the 1000m mark the British duo of Mark Hunter and James Lindsay-Fynn had hauled themselves into fourth place.
The damage was done from a British perspective in the third 500m with the crew slipping back to sixth and struggling to stay in contention.
For a relatively untried combination it was a feat to reach the final in a fiercely competitive boat class internationally.
The race was won by Italy in 6:54.15 with Germany second and Italy third. GB’s finishing time was 7:05.43.
Zac Purchase came into this regatta as the second string GB lightweight single sculler and the youngest member of the GB team. He has not wasted any time in proving his talent and potential. Today he led through much of the lightweight men’s single final before being overhauled by Ingo Euler of Germany at the 1500m.
The gutsy Marlow RC youngster continued to dig deep and held onto silver ahead of Gerard van der Linden of Holland in a time of 7:51.98.
A clearly delighted Purchase said: "I really can’t remember too much about the race, it was painful. I was aware that the German was up on me later on and I did try and claw it back a few times. I’m delighted, though. It’s my first proper senior medal at my first proper FISA event".
In the equivalent women’s event Jennifer Goldsack was left berating herself for just not being able to hold onto a medal position in the final 100m. She was in a good position coming past the grandstands but could not quite capitalise, eventually losing out to Daniela Nachazelova in a photo-finish for bronze. The race was won by Mirna Rajle of Croatia in 8:35.23. Goldsack’s time was 8:38.33.
Paul Mattick and Daniel Harte were clearly delighted with their bronze medal in the lightweight men’s pair in a race won by Italy whose crew both have an Olympic bronze medal to their name and who won in 7:20.16.
Mattick and Harte finished in 7:23.00 having held a consistent third place throughout the race. Chile was second.
"We started coming back at the end", said Mattick afterwards, "but it wasn’t enough". When the pressure came on us we weren’t quite in synch", added Harte, "but it’s still good to get a medal against those crews".
B Finals
In the Olympic-class B Finals Annie Vernon and Elise Laverick both received a boost to their confidence by upping their rate, picking up the pace and avoiding the potential to be "rowed down" near the line by Belarus.
They won in a time of 7:30.39 having led throughout the 2000m. Alex Gregory and Colin Smith came fifth in the men’s equivalent event in a time of 6:52.79 despite momentarily moving into fourth 200m from the line.
Britain’s lightweights opened up the B Final programme earlier in the day by winning both of the lightweight singles.
Naomi Hoogesteger led from the front throughout in the women’s race whilst Tim Male launched an attack in the final 500m which saw him move past Bine Pislar of Slovenia and hold off the challenge of Jiri Vlcek of Italy to win.
The lightweight women’s double of Helen Casey and Annie Vernon were second in their B Final in a tight decision from Sweden. Nick Wakefield and Matthew Beechey are still struggling to find form and were third in the lightweight men’s pair.
During the regatta a German and American women’s eight raced off over a 500m sprint course to raise awareness and money for a breast cancer charity. World Cup sponsor BearingPoint offered to double the amount raised by the event called the "Sprint for the Cure".
GB RESULTS – FINALS
BearingPoint World Cup
Munich, 17-19 June
(crews from bow to stroke plus cox)
Single scull
1. Ekaterina Karsten (Belarus) 7:58.82
2. Mirka Knapkova (Czech Republic) 8:03.06
3. Georgina Evers-Swindell (New Zealand) 8:05.54
4. Caroline Evers-Swindell(New Zealand) 8:10.91
5. Sophie Balmary (France) 8:13.55
6. Debbie Flood (GREAT BRITAIN) 8:28.19
1. Rebecca Romero/Sarah Winckless/Frances
Houghton/Katherine Grainger (GREAT BRITAIN) 6:50.85
2. Ukraine 6:54.91
3. USA 6:57.45
4. Germany 2 7:00.61
1. Nathan Twaddle/George Bridgewater (New Zealand)
2. Sinisa & Niksa Skelin (Croatia) 7:05.59
3. Luca Agamennoni/Dario Lari (Italy) 7:08.14
4. Josh & Kieran West (GREAT BRITAIN) 7:17.26
5. Gregor Hauffe/Toni Seifert (Germany 2) 7:28.00
6. Tobias Kuehne/Jan Herzog* (Germany 1) DNS
* withdrew because a back injury
1. Steve Williams/Peter Reed/Alex Partridge/
Andy Triggs Hodge (GREAT BRITAIN) 6:20.97
2. Italy 6:26.34
3. Ireland 6:30.11
5. Italy 2 6:32.26
1. Slovenia 6:03.42
2. Poland 6:05.69
3. Czech Republic 6:05.77
4. Matthew Wells/Stephen Rowbotham/Alan Campbell/
Matthew Langridge (GREAT BRITAIN) 6:11.65
5. Australia 6:13.17
1. Mirna Rajle (Croatia) 8:35.23
2. Benedicte Luzuy (France) 8:37.05
3. Daniela Nachazelova (Czech Republic) 8:38.21
4. Jennifer Goldsack (GREAT BRITAIN) 8:38.33
5. Lea Fluri (Switzerland) 8:45.01
6. Michaela Taupe (Austria) 8:47.76
1. Salvatore Amitrano/Catello Amarante (Italy) 7:20.16
2. Felipe Leal Atero/Miguel Cerda Silva (Chile) 7:23.00
3. Paul Mattick/Daniel Harte (GREAT BRITAIN) 7:27.09
4. Ahmed Gad/Hossam Azouz (Egypt) 7:29.32
5. Alexander Bernhardt/Stefan Locher (Germany 1) 7:29.43
6. Ralf Batlasar/Jost Schoemann-Fink (Germany 2) 7:37.24
1. France 6:28.48
5. Nick English/Dave Currie/Mike Hennessy/
Simon Jones (GREAT BRITAIN) 6:37.25
6. Poland 2 6:38.97
1. Ingo Euler (Germany) 7:49.28
2. Zac Purchase (GREAT BRITAIN) 7:51.98
3. Gerard van der Linden (Netherlands) 7:55.13
4. Peter Loerinczy (Hungary) 8:00.85
5. Marcello Miani (Italy1) 8:01.39
6. Jose Czcy (Argentina) 8:20.38
Double scull
1. Stefano Basilini/Leonardo Pettinari (Italy2) 6:54.15
2. Joerg Lehnigk/Manuel Brehmer (Germany) 6:56.23
3. Elia Luini/Bruno Mascarenhas (Italy 1) 6:58.33
4. Maros Sloboda/Lubos Podstupka (Slovakia) 7:00.14
5. Frederic Dufour/Arnaud Pornin (France) 7:00.45
6. Mark Hunter/James Lindsay-Fynn (GREAT BRITAIN) 7:05.43
1. Elise Laverick/Annie Vernon (GREAT BRITAIN) 7:30.39
2. Volha Berazniova/Hanna Nakhayeva (Belarus1) 7:31.12
3. Marianne Nordahl/Heidi Veeser (Norway) 7:40.04
4. Gisella & Gabriella Bascelli (Italy 2) 7:40.04
5. Nadzeya Snapkouskaya/Alina Makhneva (Belarus 2) 7:48.29
1. Stijn Smulders/Christophe Raes (Belgium) 6:47.31
2. Nils-Torolv Simonsen/Morten Adamsen 6:47.91
3. Florian Stofer/Olivier Gremaud (Switzerland) 6:49.54
4. Michal Sloma/Adam Wojciechowski (Poland) 6:52.70
5. Alex Gregory/Colin Smith (GREAT BRITAIN) 6:52.79
6. Mario Vekic/Ante Kusurin (Croatia) 6:54.32
1. Naomi Hoogesteger (GREAT BRITAIN) 8:28.11
2. Lara De Stefano (Italy) 8:32.45
3. Hilde Gudem (Norway) 8:33.72
4. Lena Kersten (Germany) 8:40.02
5. Ilona Hiltunen (Finland) 8:40.91
6. Tina Jaklic (Slovenia) 8:50.74
1. Niamh Ni Cheilleacher/Heather Boyle (Ireland) 7:44.30
2. Jo Hammond/Helen Casey (GREAT BRITAIN) 7:48.24
3. Lena & Sara Karlsson (Sweden) 7:48.75
4. Ka Yan Yung/Siu Man Tong 8:25.82
1. Simon Stellmer/Mark Rippel (Germany 4) 7:17.49
2. Andreas Toennies/Matthias Bergmann (Germany 3) 7:19.09
3. Matthew Beechey/Nick Wakefield (GREAT BRITAIN 1) 7:21.93
4. Chile DNS
1. Tim Male (GREAT BRITAIN) 7:30.34
2. Bine Pislar (Slovenia 1) 7:32.44
3. Jiri Vlcek (Italy 2) 7:32.61
4. Lukas Babac (Slovakia) 7:35.08
5. Frederic Hanselmann (Switzerland2) 7:38.22
6. Rolandas Zaklauskas (Hong Kong 2) 7:47.99
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Beyond China
The following story appeared in the March 1 issue of Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
With stiff duties lifted, builders revisit Vietnam, but road blocks remain
By Marc Sani
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (BRAIN)—Bob Margevicius most likely leads the industry in racking up frequent-flier miles. But whether it’s another trip to China or Taiwan or checking on production facilities in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh or Cambodia, Margevicius puts his boots on the ground and keeps his fingertips on a laptop.
He rattles off numbers and statistics like a college professor teaching a graduate class in international economics—import/export duties, foreign exchange rates, inflation and labor rates, energy prices, telecommunications or transportation policies. Margevicius can offer a thumbnail sketch of most Asian nations’ status and how they stack up in terms of bicycle production costs.
So when he says Vietnam’s basic infrastructure can be a nightmare for manufacturers and suppliers, it’s worth paying attention. Specialized, until recently, had some 50,000 aluminum frames built at the Astro factory near this city of more than 8 million people. Astro would then ship the frames to Merida’s Taiwan factory for final assembly. Specialized is again shifting production, building its 24-inch bikes at a new Asama factory in a Cambodian industrial zone near the Vietnam border.
“Infrastructure—that’s a big thing,” Margevicius said. “It is really difficult and the country [Vietnam] just doesn’t have the money to make big improvements. They’ve been talking about a new airport to replace Ho Chi Minh International for years,” he said.
Photo: Marc Sani
Most Vietnam factories have direct ties to Taiwan and many opened facilities here in the late 1990s and early 2000 to take advantage of Vietnam’s favorable tariff position with the European Union. Yet those decisions were complicated. Vietnam, for all practical purposes, had little in the way of domestic production; wages were lower than in China and entry-level bikes could be built cheaply and sold to other emerging markets in Asia.
Kind Shock, a Taiwanese-owned parts manufacturer, opened a factory in southern Vietnam in the early 2000s to build low-end steel suspension forks and other products for the U.S. and European mass markets. The business, however, couldn’t clear a profit because assemblers never opened plants in Vietnam, as Kind Shock expected they would, and it was too expensive to ship parts back to assemblers in Taiwan or mainland China. Kind Shock closed the factory two years ago.
“It’s a little dangerous to be ahead of the curve. Sometimes the curve goes the other way,” Kind Shock’s Rick Taylor said of the company’s Vietnamese investment.
Most production had already came to a screeching halt earlier in the decade when the European Union hit Vietnam with anti-dumping duties ranging from 15.8 to 34.5 percent in 2005. Once those penalties were lifted July 15, 2010, production rebounded quickly. Factories are once again supplying European customers—primarily with low- to midlevel-quality bikes as well as some high-value models for Orbea, Haibike, Bianchi and others.
Statistics compiled by Vietnamese authorities had found that production plummeted from more than 1.1 million units—most destined for Europe—to fewer than 22,000 units by 2009. The labor market also took a hit, dropping by more than 200,000 employees to fewer than 5,000.
And persistent rumors that bikes made in China were being transported across the border to Vietnam for trans-shipment to Europe forced Vietnamese officials—seeking to end anti-dumping duties—to pledge that the country wouldn’t be a “middle ground” for nations seeking to subvert Europe’s dumping duties.
Yet despite concerns over infrastructure, a number of manufacturers have found a home here. Astro, Alhonga, Olympic, Kenda, KMC, Jagwire, Asama and others are building parts and frames either for export to Europe or other nearby Asian nations, or to feed Vietnam’s domestic market.
Combined, they employ thousands of Vietnamese and form a near self-supporting network of factories. Wages are also more favorable with the average Vietnamese worker earning between $100 and $150 a month, compared with China’s minimum wage in Guangdong province of about $210. But wage demands in both countries are putting upward pressure on prices.
Most factory managers, though, shake their head when asked about highways, telecommunications, wages and inflation. All are a problem, but they argue that with effort and planning these problems are manageable. Roads and traffic are a good example. The roads, by Western standards, are substandard and clogged with traffic. Trucks contend with a weaving swarm of motorcycles, buses and cars as they inch toward the Port of Saigon. It can take up to two hours to drive 40 kilometers in some areas.
Hovex Chang-Liao, Olympic Pro’s chairman, said the factories in the region work together. “It’s not competitive, but it is more like we cooperate with each other when we can,” he said.
But what makes Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations of interest in the global bicycle supply chain is this: It’s not China. The European Union still imposes stiff dumping duties on Chinese-made bikes. Chinese wages are rising fast; labor unrest is a growing problem; and there’s a growing sense that now is the time to explore the pros and cons of production outside of China.
Still, when thinking about Vietnam, it’s important to consider that this nation of 86 million people had been in a state of conflict and war with early French colonialists, the Japanese, the French again from 1946 through 1954, and with America until 1975. It then fought numerous border skirmishes with the Cambodians and the Chinese in the 1980s. Some 80 years of warfare takes a toll on economic development.
Vietnam is a developing Third World country seeking to find its way in a global economy where industry demands flexibility, an educated workforce, competitive wages and energy costs, low inflation, a strong telecommunications network, modern air transport and good ports and highways. Based on that scorecard, Vietnam has a ways to go.
Topics associated with this article: From the Magazine
Posted in Announcements 9 hours 31 sec ago
Posted in Retail News 3 days 1 hour ago
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Nikki Boyer
Presenter, TV Personality
Who is Nikki Boyer?
Nikki Boyer is an American actress and singer-songwriter. Boyer is the former host of Yahoo!'s "Daytime In No Time," receiving millions of hits per day. Boyer is also the former co-host of Watch This! on the TV Guide Channel.
"Nikki Boyer." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2021. Web. 19 Jan. 2021. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/nikki_boyer>.
(2001/05/27 - 2010)
Television producer
Discuss this Nikki Boyer biography with the community:
Song lyrics by
I Want to Hold Your Hand
Movies starring
Big Movie Premiere: The Proposal (2009)
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Page Overview: Venturing Into New Tech
venturing into new tech.
BMW i Ventures is the BMW Group’s venture capital unit for investing in fast-growing technology start-ups. The aim of this unit is to make financially attractive investments that create strategic value added for the BMW Group.
With a broad focus that includes areas such as digital vehicle technology, autonomous driving, shared and on-demand mobility, electromobility, Industry 4.0 and customer innovation, BWM i Ventures is securing access to the technologies of the future.
Investing in start-ups has proved extremely promising, both from a strategic and an economic perspective, and creates sustainable strategic value-added for the BMW Group.
Collaboration with the start-up industry creates a win-win situation.
Minority holdings by BMW i Ventures in the best, most innovative start-ups provide the BMW Group with external access to innovations and secure the company’s role as a technology pioneer.
BMW i Ventures not only provides financial support for start-ups, but also contributes internal non-monetary resources or “smart capital”, such as technical expertise and access to the network of an established global player.
From Silicon Valley to Munich: BMW i Ventures.
The BMW Group therefore expanded the successful concept behind its venture capital unit in 2016 and set up a venture capital fund of up to 500 million euros over ten years.
BMW i Ventures, which was founded in New York in 2011 with an initial venture capital of 100 million dollars, is now headquartered in Silicon Valley, the main hub for start-ups in the US and also maintains an office in Munich.
With its greater autonomy, BMW i Ventures is able to make investment decisions quickly, as necessitated by the industry. This autonomy allows it to match the speed and quality of the best venture capital firms and attract top investment partners.
PREVIOUS INVESTMENTS.
BMW i Ventures has invested in over 30 start-ups so far. Its most significant investments to date include:
GAN Systems
Producer of gallium-nitride-based high-performance transistors that enable smaller, more cost-effective and efficient energy systems. Cooperation in the field of electromobility.
MayMobility
Producer of autonomous fleet vehicles.
Online platform for vehicle sales. Shift’s complete sales process is online. Also offers test drives – which have been particularly successful in appealing to young target groups.
The largest provider of connected infrastructure in the US for charging electric vehicles. Partner in the BMW Charging network.
Nauto
Computer vision/deep-learning start-up that analyses the vehicle’s surroundings and driver behaviour. Cooperation with the BMW Group on the use of artificial intelligence for environment recognition and driver behaviour.
Carbon 3D
Manufacturer of 3D printers for plastic parts, including for production of automotive parts. Corresponding cooperation with the BMW Group.
Leading producer of 100% zero-emission electric buses in North America.
Online platform for brokering on-demand production orders for 3D printing and CNC milling; typically used in the production environment for prototype construction.
Caroobi
Certified garage service, booked online for a fixed price.
Desktop Metal
Specialised in 3D printing using metal. The technology is mainly for printing complex metal objects, such as components used in vehicles.
Provides a ground-breaking app-based flexible mobility option between vehicle rental and leasing.
Digital platform for roadside assistance. Corresponding cooperation with the BMW Group in the US.
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Tony Iommi Net Worth
How much is Tony Iommi Worth?
in Richest Celebrities › Rock Stars
Tony Iommi Net Worth:
Tony Iommi Net Worth: Tony Iommi is an English songwriter, singer, and musician who has a net worth of $140 million. Iommi is probably best known for being the lead guitarist of the band Black Sabbath, which revolutionized rock music and helped create the genre of heavy metal. He is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and he pioneered techniques that are in widespread use today. In fact, many people believe that he is the main creator of heavy metal music, along with a range of other sub-genres such as stoner rock, grunge, sludge, thrash, doom, death, and many others.
Part of his guitar-playing inventiveness was born out of necessity more than anything else. After suffering a work-related accident that almost chopped off all of his fingers, Tony was forced to adapt his playing style. The result was a heavily detuned, dark sound that became the hallmark of Black Sabbath and essentially all heavy metal bands that followed in the group's path. Outside of his work with Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi has released a number of solo albums, and he also helped found another band called Heaven & Hell after Black Sabbath started to lose momentum.
Early Life: Anthony Frank Iommi was born on February 19th of 1948 in Birmingham, England. Tony was raised in a Catholic household by a family who owned vineyards in Italy and a shop in Aston. He first met Ozzy Osbourne as a young boy in school, although Ozzy was one year younger than him. Iommi was picked on by local bullies, so he started studying martial arts at the age of 10 to protect himself. Tony initially wanted to play the drums, but he chose the guitar instead as it created less noise for his parents to deal with.
During his teen years, Iommi started working in a sheet metal factory. After he started to experience success as a musician for the first time, he informed his superiors that he would soon be quitting. For whatever reason, Tony was told to work on machinery that he had very little experience with during his last few weeks at work. An accident occurred one day, and Iommi lost the tips of his middle and ring fingers. He was 17 years old.
Although Tony was informed that he would never play the guitar again, he was encouraged to continue playing by those around him. He was tempted to re-learn how to play the guitar left-handed, but in the end, he created artificial fingertips for himself using melted plastic bottle caps. However, this approach created issues for Tony's music. First of all, he could no longer feel the pressure on the strings, which created a tendency for him to press down extremely hard on the strings. Because his injured fingers were less nimble, he also relied on fretting chords rather than single-note solos. Finally, Tony heavily detuned his guitar by up to three semitones in order to make his strings easier to bend. This created an incredibly "heavy" sound.
Career: Although Tony started off by playing in a wide range of rock bands throughout the 60s, it wasn't until he met up with Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler that he achieved more notable success. This was the beginning of Black Sabbath. The group was eventually renamed "Earth," and Tony departed briefly in 1968.
However, by 1969 the group had come together once again, renaming themselves Black Sabbath. Iommi became an integral part of the group, helping to define their unique, heavily detuned sound. Although albums like "Master of Reality," "Paranoid," and "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" revolutionized rock music and helped usher in a completely new genre, Sabbath had trouble adapting to the changing music scene.
Osbourne was eventually fired and replaced by Ronnie James Dio. Soon, Sabbath completely dematerialized with a number of members dropping out, including the newly-hired Dio. Eventually, Iommi started releasing solo albums, starting with "Seventh Star" in 1986. Much later, Black Sabbath would reunite and tour throughout the 2000s, and they even released another album in 2013 entitled "13."
In 2000, Tony released another solo album called "Iommi." In 2006, he started a new band called Heaven & Hell, which included all the members of Black Sabbath – minus Ozzy. This group has toured extensively with other bands like Megadeth, Judas Priest, and Testament.
Relationships: In 1973, Iommi married Susan Snowdon, although the marriage only lasted for three years. He then married a model named Melinda in 1980, and the couple had a child together before divorcing in the mid-80s. Tony eventually "saved" his daughter from foster care, as her mentally unbalanced mother was not able to care for her properly. Iommi won custody of his daughter and provided a stable home for her. Tony then married a woman named Valery, although they divorced in the late 90s. In 2005, he married vocalist Maria Sjöholm after meeting her in the late 90s.
Health Issues: In 2012, Tony was diagnosed with lymphoma. Over the next period, he received treatments while touring with Black Sabbath, and he successfully recovered. In 2016, he officially revealed that his cancer was in remission. Also in 2016, he revealed that he had an operation to remove a lump from his throat, although the lump wasn't cancerous.
Real Estate: In 2014, it was reported that Iommi was selling his home in England for $4.3 million. The residence is in Lapworth, Warwickshire, and it includes six bedrooms with a square footage of 8,000 square feet. Other features include a home cinema, a billiards room, and of course, a fully-functional music studio. Outside, there are stunning fountains and sculptures that decorate the grounds.
Geezer Butler Net Worth
Ozzy Osbourne Net Worth
Tommy Clufetos Net Worth
Net Worth: $140 Million
Height: 6 ft (1.829 m)
Profession: Guitarist, Songwriter, Musician, Record producer
Nationality: England
Last Updated: 2020
Bill Ward Net Worth
Glenn Hughes Net Worth
Jeff Fenholt Net Worth
Ronnie James Dio Net Worth
Zakk Wylde Net Worth
Joey DeMaio Net Worth
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No Zoo Without You
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens › No Zoo Without You
Rediscover the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens!
Because, there really is…No Zoo Without You!
Zoo Sustainability Campaign:
For most businesses, the loss of millions of dollars in revenue could mean turning out the lights, cutting back on staffing, and taking other drastic actions to make ends meet. While some of those measures have been put into place, laying off staff and finding new homes for animals just isn’t an option for the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens.
The Zoo, which is home to over 350 animals and employs over 100 full & part-time staff, closed on March 15th to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Our nearly 8-week closure took place during one of the busiest times of year resulting in mounting monthly losses. And the deficit continues to grow.
On June 16, 2020, we announced the There’s No Zoo Without You sustainability campaign to raise $2.5 million in financial support for the Zoo by June of 2021.
With the help of the entire community, including individual and corporate donors, the City of Sanford, and Seminole County, we have raised over $2 million! Help us reach our goal by making a tax deductible gift today!
The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens has been a part of the Central Florida community since the early 1920’s and has been in its current location since 1975. Throughout the region we have helped to create memories for so many families in Central Florida during a visit to the Zoo, an education program, a special event, an outreach program, or connecting through our social media.
These opportunities for learning and making memories are only possible through the generous and continued support of our community.
A donation to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens Relief Fund will provide critical funding that is crucial for continued operations into 2021. The Zoo remains committed to providing exceptional animal care, engaging programming, a safe environment for guests, and experiences that excite and inspire adults and children to learn and act on behalf of wildlife.
There truly is no Zoo without YOU!
Your tax-deductible gift will be put to immediate use to help care for our animals and make sure the Zoo is a safe place for families to visit throughout the holiday season.
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>Case Studies
>London's St George's NHS hospital to save £15 million in energy costs
London's St George's NHS hospital to save £15 million in energy costs
Long-term energy strategy and creation of new energy centre featuring CHP units will deliver substantial cost savings, reductions in carbon emissions and improved patient care.
guaranteed savings per annum over 15-year contract
tonnes annual carbon reduction
year energy performance contract
Replacing ageing energy infrastructure
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest healthcare provider in South West London. A staff of 8,500 serve a local population of 1.3 million people. Around 800,000 patients are treated in the hospital each year, including more than 5,000 babies delivered.
The Tooting site also acts as a teaching hospital and advanced medical research centre.
The location had been served by a 40-year-old energy centre. This had grown increasingly inefficient, and incapable of meeting new environmental targets.
Energy efficiency to fuel improved patient care
In response, the Trust partnered with Centrica Business Solutions to create a new energy strategy for the hospital as part of a 15-year Energy Performance Contract (EPC).
The contract includes the installation of two Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units and four boilers, which form the energy centre. Centrica Business Solutions also introduced a number of schemes across the site, including lighting, a building management system, chiller replacement and split unit air conditioning optimisation.
During the work on the energy centre, it was crucial that the boiler house remained operational as the steam generated by the boilers is used to generate heat and hot water for the rest of the hospital. Centrica Business Solutions managed the installation without any impact on the hospital and its patients.
The Trust is guaranteed to save more than £1m a year during the 15-year contract with Centrica Business Solutions. It will also save 6,000 tonnes of carbon a year, the equivalent of the emissions from 3,000 cars. The savings allow the Trust to invest more in patient care and teaching medical staff. The environmental savings help the Trust meet regulatory compliance, and act as a benchmark to other healthcare providers.
By saving £1m annually for the next 15 years, the contract will go a long way to help us maximise the resources we can put into patient care. It also massively cuts our carbon emissions and improves our overall sustainability.”
Kevin Howell Director of Estates & Facilities, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Why Centrica Business Solutions?
Reduction in energy costs of £1m a year, allowing valuable resources to be reinvested in patient care
Energy centre delivers an end-to-end solution, maximising operational efficiencies
A long term successful partnership with the Trust as part of a 15-year contract agreement
Ensured resilience of critical healthcare services whilst installation was taking place
Case Study Maximising revenue through intelligent battery optimisation
Eelpower chose Centrica Business Solutions as their route to market partner to provide guaranteed…
Case Study Proactive energy management reduces waste at Pincroft
Harnessing Panoramic Power technology from Centrica Business Solutions, Pincroft can proactively…
Case Study Leading restaurant operator uses insights to avoid $1.2 million in unnecessary energy costs
One of the largest restaurant operators in Mexico, CMR, worked with S2G Energy to implement Centrica…
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As Trump holds out for border wall funding from Congress, GoFundMe raises nearly $5 million in 3 days
Published Thu, Dec 20 201810:12 AM EST Updated Thu, Dec 20 20182:47 PM EST
Carmin Chappell
A fundraiser to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border has raised nearly $5 million in three days on the online platform GoFundMe.
While building a wall along the southern border was one of President Donald Trump's main campaign promises, his attempts to secure funding have so far been unsuccessful.
The fundraising page gives no clear indication of how exactly the donations will be used.
A migrant child sleeps while he is carried by family as fellow migrants, all part of the caravan of migrants who traveled from Central America with the intention of crossing into the U.S., walk to the border fence in order to cross into the U.S. from Tijuana, Mexico December 14, 2018.
Leah Mills| Reuters
The fundraiser, titled "We The People Will Fund The Wall," was started by Brian Kolfage, an Iraq war veteran and triple amputee. Kolfage's personal website describes him as a motivational speaker.
"It's time we uphold our laws, and get this wall BUILT!," Kolfage wrote on the fundraiser page. "It's up to Americans to help out and pitch in to get this project rolling."
The fundraiser comes as the White House and Capitol Hill remain deadlocked over President Donald Trump's threat to shut down the government if Congress does not approve $5 billion in funding for a border wall.
As of Thursday afternoon, more than 78,000 people had donated roughly $4.8 million to the GoFundMe campaign, which is still far shy of the $25 billion Trump himself has said is needed for the border wall. "If we can fund a large portion of this wall, it will jumpstart things and will be less money Trump has to secure from our politicians," Kolfage wrote.
WATCH: Virtual border wall could be a cheaper alternative to Trump's proposal
VIDEO13:2113:21
Tech from self-driving cars could solve border security without Trump's wall
While building a wall along the southern border was one of the president's main campaign promises, his attempts to secure funding have so far been unsuccessful. Trump assured voters on the campaign trail that Mexico would pay for the wall, but he has since walked backed that assertion and looked toward Congress for funding.
Most recently, the president has threatened to shut down the government unless Congress approves $5 billion for a border wall. Congress, on the other hand, is set to pass a short-term bill to fund the government through Feb. 8 that does not include any money for the wall. Trump has not said whether or not he will sign the bill, but he has recently taken a more restrained approach to his demands. "With so much talk about the Wall, people are losing sight of the great job being done on our Southern Border by Border Patrol, ICE and our great Military," he tweeted Thursday.
The GoFundMe page gives no clear indication of how exactly the donations will be used. "We have contacted the Trump Administration to secure a point of contact where all funds will go upon completion," Kolfage wrote. "When we get this information secured we will update."
Kolfage assured supporters that the fundraiser "is not a scam" because he is providing his real name and social media profiles. Last month, a New Jersey couple and homeless man were arrested for allegedly using a fake story to raise more than $400,000 on GoFundMe. The company's policy states that it will refund donors up to $1,000 each if "the campaign organizer doesn't deliver funds to the intended beneficiary."
WATCH: Controversial walls in history: From Berlin to the US-Mexico border
Controversial walls in history and Trump's border wall
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Jordan’s King tells Kushner Palestinians must have a state
By Nicole Gaouette, CNN
Published 5:02 PM EDT, Wed May 29, 2019
King Abdullah II of Jordan.
PHOTO: Alex Wong/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Jordan’s King Abdullah drew a red line on the plan that the Trump administration is expected to unveil to attempt to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, telling White House senior adviser Jared Kushner Wednesday it must be based on a two-state solution that gives Palestinians a capital in East Jerusalem.
Kushner is traveling in Morocco, Jordan and Israel this week to meet with officials and drum up support for the long-awaited plan’s economic portion, which will be unveiled during a June conference in Bahrain.
King Abdullah, who acts as custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, has not committed to attend the conference.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 01: White House senior adviser Jared Kushner (C) listens as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference to discuss a revised U.S. trade agreement with Mexico and Canada in the Rose Garden of the White House on October 1, 2018 in Washington, DC. U.S. and Canadian officials announced late Sunday night that a new deal, named the "U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement," or USMCA, had been reached to replace the 24-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Related Article Kushner visits Middle East and Morocco ahead of White House's Israeli-Palestinian peace plan release
In his discussions with the President’s son-in-law, the King “stressed the need to step up all efforts to achieve comprehensive and lasting peace on the basis of the two-state solution, guaranteeing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with Israel in peace and security, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions,” the Royal Hashemite Court said in a statement.
The statement served as a message to Kushner and his team, who have stressed that they do not feel bound by previous formulas that drove peace talks, including the idea of two states. Their approach is expected to focus on investment in Palestinian territories before dealing with political issues.
For the King and Jordan, which shares a border with Israel and where more than 60 percent of the population are estimated to be of Palestinian descent, the administration’s approach to the conflict has significant ramifications.
“It’s very important,” said Aaron David Miller, a vice president at the Wilson Center. “The King has a fundamental stake in making sure that whatever Kushner is proposing doesn’t expose him,” Miller added, citing Jordan’s “large Palestinian population and the King’s special role and status in Jerusalem.”
Jordan’s population and shared border with both Israel and the Palestinian territories means the King has far greater stakes in the outcome of the plan than any other Arab leader, given the possible upheaval it could create.
On Tuesday evening, activists and members of the Muslim brotherhood called for a protest outside the US Embassy in Amman to reject Kushner’s visit and what President Donald Trump has called the “deal of the century.”
Jordanian security forces prevented protesters from reaching the embassy, forcing them to hold their demonstration in an area nearby, where the crowd chanted against the peace plan and some held up handwritten signs, including some that read “No to the deal of the century,” and “Go back home Kushner.”
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 01: Senior Advisor to the President Jared Kushner (R) join U.S. President Donald Trump as he holds a press conference to discuss a revised U.S. trade agreement with Mexico and Canada in the Rose Garden of the White House on October 1, 2018 in Washington, DC. U.S. and Canadian officials announced late Sunday night that a new deal, named the 'U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement,' or USMCA, had been reached to replace the 24-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
PHOTO: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Related Article Trump's economic peace plan for Mideast is doomed before it begins, Palestinian businessmen say
“If the political part of this plan turns out to be a betrayal of the Palestinian narrative, it exposes Abdullah in a way that no other Arab leader is exposed,” Miller said. That’s why the King adhered in his statement to Kushner to the outlines of the deal that have guided Palestinian expectations and international negotiations for years, Miller said.
“it is standard operating procedure for the King and it also happens to be the Arab consensus,” Miller said.
Palestinians have already rejected the Kushner plan and the idea of attending the Bahrain conference, arguing that the Trump administration has been extremely biased in favor of Israel.
Palestinian leaders point to a series of US moves, including recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving its embassy there, closing Palestinian diplomatic offices in Washington, and ending aid to United Nations agencies that fund education and health programs for Palestinian refugees.
The economic aspect of Kushner’s seeks a multi-billion dollar investment from countries in the region to spur the Palestinian and surrounding economies, should a peace agreement be reached, an administration official previously told CNN. Kushner made a similar trip to the Middle East earlier this spring with the same goal.
The US officials do not plan on sharing details of the political portion of the plan during the trip, the administration official said, but they will listen to input from the foreign officials on those thornier issues.
CNN’s Jomana Karadsheh, Ghazi Balkiz, Hamdi Alkhshali, Jeremy Diamond and Kylie Atwood contributed to this report.
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Fallout 76 Now Has Private Servers For a Fee
News 10/24/2019 at 2:00 PM by Jason Love 0
I do not have enough "face palm" gifs for this news story
At E3 2018, Bethesda unveiled the newest entry in the Fallout franchise, Fallout 76. There is simply not enough time to go into the many trials and tribulations of this game, but the short version is that it had a rocky launch and didn't get a whole lot better over time. The one sliver of hope that some folks had was that the "always online" aspect of Fallout 76 would be mitigated by private servers, something Todd Howard mentioned they were "looking into after launch." Well, the last finger on your monkey's paw has grimly clenched down and private servers are here... if you pay for them.
The new "Fallout 1st" program, which costs $13 a month or $100 for an annual subscription, lets you host your own private server that can support you and seven of your friends. You'll also get a few other goodies, like a "New Vegas" Ranger Outfit and a monthly stipend of Atoms (the in-game currency that can be earned or bought), but that idea of having a Fallout world that's just for you and your friends is the real appeal. Especially if you can choose who to invite to it and if the server can stay up and running regardless if anyone's on it. That would be cool, right?
Folks that have already taken the program for a spin are reporting that the "private" server isn't all that private; anyone that is on your in-game "Friends List" can join your world, whether you invited them or not. Additionally, the private server only stays up and running as long as one person is logged into it.
Let's say you wanted to host a game for just you and a buddy so you can game and catch up, but then Greg suddenly drops in with his mic on and loud mouthbreathing, well, you get to have the particularly fun job of telling him to kindly leave. For the sake of argument, Greg gets it and exits without any fuss, you and your buddy catch up, and then agree to meet back up in a week and pick up in the game where you left off. As the private server is an "on-demand" resource provided by Bethesda, once you leave, that server is gone and you'll have to start up a new one the following week. Only, apparently, it's not really gone...
Here's the final punch in the gut. It seems that sometimes the "new world" that's created for the private server isn't new at all. People are reporting that what you're actually getting is a repurposed world instance. This means that you may find that certain NPCs are dead (because someone some time ago killed them), certain things have already been looted, and more. "Server hopping" is apparently a thing with Fallout 76 and so there are some players that have gone through multiple worlds just getting certain items. The fact that you could be given one of these worlds and not know you're missing something until you're several hours in is not good.
Is there any silver lining to any of this? It's very slim, given all the issues outlined above, but yes, I suppose so. Only one person has to pay the "Fallout 1st" membership fee in order for their friends to enjoy the "private" server. If you're really dedicated to Fallout 76 and really want to be able to have your own server with friends, then you could all pool together for just one membership fee. It just seems hard to give it the ole "Vault Boy Thumbs Up!" with all the problems and the cost. In fact, given how all this is being handled and pitched, it really feels like this is the most appropriate gif:
Fallout 76 is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Source: Fallout.bethesda.net
private servers
In Case You Missed It: Fallout 76’s First Vault Raid Is Live
[E3 2018] - Fallout 76 May Allow For a Purely Cooperative Experience With Friends
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies is Free to Play This Weekend
(Xbox One)
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Corix and SFU to build energy plant on Burnaby Mountain
By Corix
July 12, 2016 – Corix Multi-Utility Services Inc. has signed an agreement with Simon Fraser University (SFU) to expand the existing district energy utility and move forward with a proposed Central Energy Plant on Burnaby Mountain in B.C.
The plant will be developed in partnership with both SFU and the SFU Community Trust, and will provide SFU and the UniverCity community with green, thermal energy.
“We are both excited and proud to be partnering with SFU and the SFU Community Trust on the proposed Central Energy Plant,” said Eric van Roon, Corix’s senior vice-president for Canadian utilities. “The new facility is an example of how Corix can provide solutions to address community energy needs while meeting environmental objectives. In this case, we will achieve both through the implementation of a district energy system using renewable energy sources.”
The district energy system will produce energy using locally sourced biomass that would otherwise be destined for local landfills. It could include urban wood waste (from tree cuttings and trimmings), uncontaminated wood waste (such as wood chips from sawmills and shavings), and clean construction wood waste.
Using biomass in a district energy system is expected to bring significant benefits to SFU, Burnaby Mountain and the City of Burnaby, including:
A sustainable energy supply for more than 40,000 people on Burnaby Mountain;
Greenhouse gas reductions at the campus (by 85 per cent), overall at SFU (by 69 per cent) and for the City of Burnaby (helping the city meet its GHG reduction targets of five per cent per year);
Improved 24/7 service reliability to UniverCity customers by reducing exposure to loss of heating due to power outages caused by storms;
Cost savings from creating one combined facility for both the campus and UniverCity; and
Up to 80 short-term, local jobs during the design and construction phase of the project.
“The proposed Central Energy Plant is another example of SFU Community Trust partnering with SFU and industry leaders to help deliver low-carbon sustainable homes and a high level of comfort and convenience at UniverCity,” said Dale Mikkelsen, the Trust’s development director. “The combination of long-term environmental and economic benefits for UniverCity residents will provide benefit to UniverCity residents while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions on Burnaby Mountain.”
With the agreement now signed, the next steps for the project will be public consultation, which is expected to begin this fall. The results of those efforts will feed into the required municipal and provincial regulatory processes. If all approvals are received in 2017, construction could begin early in 2018, which would allow the facility to be operational by early 2019.
“This biomass facility is another example of SFU’s commitment to sustainability, which is a key principle of our strategic vision,” said SFU president Andrew Petter. “In recent years, SFU has taken significant action to decrease our carbon footprint, reduce waste, and implement a range of other sustainability measures.”
About Corix
The Corix Group of Companies is a leading provider of sustainable utility infrastructure solutions across North America. Corix delivers these solutions through four distinct but complementary lines of business: Regulated Utilities, Contract Utilities, Utility Services, and Utility Products. The Corix team has more than 2,100 employees operating in 27 states and seven provinces in the United States and Canada. Corix is privately held, with BC Investment Management Corporation as its primary shareholder. Visit www.corix.com for more information.
Feds earmark $6.45M for forestry and biomass projects in BC
B.C. wood pellets a hit in Europe, but not Alberta
How to stop a pellet plant explosion
Reaching new markets and doing it safely
Central Energy Plant
Corix
urban waste
wood waste
Gaz Métro demo unit turns biomass into renewable natural gas
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LOAN ROUND-UP: CUP DELIGHT FOR MCGEEHAN
Seven Canaries out on loan
CAMERON McGeehan’s whirlwind start to his loan spell at Cambridge United continued as he helped the U’s hold giants Manchester United to a 0-0 draw in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup on Friday.
The 19-year-old, who moved on a month’s loan earlier in January, played the full 90 minutes as they earned an Old Trafford replay thanks to a resilient performance at the Abbey Stadium.
It came just a week after McGeehan shone on his Cambridge debut, scoring twice and earning the Man of the Match award in their 4-0 thumping of Newport County.
The midfielder, who captained the Canaries’ FA Youth Cup-winning side in 2013, is due to stay with the Sky Bet League Two outfit until February 16, so will be eligible for the replay, although a date is yet to be finalised.
Jamar Loza, who’s on loan at Sky Bet League One strugglers Yeovil Town, played 82 minutes as they drew 0-0 with Coventry City in their league meeting at Huish Park on Saturday.
The Jamaica international helped Gary Johnson’s men extend their unbeaten run to three, and he will hope to have done enough to feature in their visit to Peterborough United this weekend.
Carlton Morris was an unused substitute for York City, who conceded a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Burton Albion at Bootham Crescent on Saturday.
Morris has made six appearances, all off the bench, after joining the Minstermen in November.
Further afield, Ricky van Wolfswinkel couldn’t prevent Saint-Etienne falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat to fellow French Ligue 1 title hopefuls Paris St Germain on Sunday.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic proved the difference between the two sides, bagging the winner on 60 minutes at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Saint-Etienne are in fourth place in the table, eight points off pacesetters Lyon.
Van Wolfswinkel went into the game having bagged a brace for his loan team as they beat Tours 5-3 in the Coupe de France the previous Wednesday. He has eight goals in all competitions this season.
Swindon pair Louis Thompson and Harry Toffolo had a weekend off after the Robins’ FA Cup campaign ended at the first hurdle with defeat at Cheltenham back in November.
They are next due in action at Sheffield United on Saturday, when Mark Cooper’s high-flyers will try and keep their spot at the top of the Sky Bet League One table.
Scunthorpe United’s Jacob Murphy also had a break, but the flying winger will be looking to get earn a starting spot for their match at home to MK Dons on Tuesday night.
Murphy has played twice for the Iron since joined them on a short-term deal on January 8.
Norwich City Under-21s vs Borussia Monchengladbach, Tuesday January 27, 7pm
GET YOURS HERE
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All change at Network Rail
Network Rail's five-year business transformation plan is placing IT at the heart of the business. Will Hadfield reports on how the technical and managerial challenges are being met
Will Hadfield
Network Rail's director of information management has one of the most challenging roles in corporate IT. Joe van Valkenburgh oversees an annual technology budget of £138m and has the power to veto any IT project in the company.
The organisation, which owns and manages the UK's rail infrastructure, is three years into a five-year transformation of its IT systems. The role of IT within the company is also changing.
In 2002, when Network Rail was set up from the remains of its predecessor Railtrack, the IT department was separate from the business, with its own suppliers. Once the company was established, Network Rail's deputy chief executive Iain Coucher said that IT would be at the heart of the business.
Today, the old Railtrack IT department has been transformed into Network Rail's information management department, and is involved with all the company's suppliers, including those that are not seen as traditional IT suppliers.
It is van Valkenburgh's responsibility to deliver the five-year business transformation plan. When the project is completed, the information management department will be at the core of Network Rail, and will be involved in decision making as a key part of the business.
Van Valkenburgh reports directly to Coucher, placing him closer to the highest level of decision making in his company than most IT directors are. He attends Coucher's weekly meetings and monthly reviews of the company's activities. This way, says van Valkenburgh, he can get involved before something becomes a problem.
Coucher has set five targets for the information management department to achieve within its first five years, with further goals to be achieved within 10 years:
To cut the number of key IT applications from the 1,000-plus that were acquired with the assets of Railtrack in 2002. The business wants to use 200 applications by 2007 and just 40 by 2012.
To reduce the 254 suppliers that provided services to Railtrack to 25 in five years, and five or six in 10 years.
To bring all the company's data within one virtual database - a technology that is still in the development stage. Network Rail acquired more than 20,000 local databases along with Railtrack's assets.
To reduce the company's spend on information management to 3% of the total budget by 2007. When Railtrack managed the rail network, the proportion of its budget spent on IT was unknown.
To increase the proportion of permanent employees in the information management department from 80% (the current figure) to 90%. More than 70% of IT staff at Railtrack were contractors.
Van Valkenburgh has a £138m IT budget to realise Network Rail's technology plans. This financial year, however, he expects to spend just £87m. When he underspends, the remaining budget returns to the business. Network Rail is a private company limited by guarantee, so instead of paying dividends, profits are put back into the business.
The firm's information management department is divided into several areas. There is a head of information security and separate managers to oversee development services, information management strategy and infrastructure.
The department also has three delivery units: customer service and operations, maintenance and engineering, and business services. They were set up in May 2004 to improve the department's focus on delivering the systems the business needs.
"I have created delivery units so the business knows who to engage with," says van Valkenburgh.
The three units will manage 138 IT projects in 2006. The department as a whole had already delivered 73 of these projects by October 2005.
Last summer, Network Rail cut the amount it spent on mainframe maintenance by £500,000 a year, when it renewed its managed services contract with supplier Atos Origin. It was able to negotiate the reduction in Atos Origin's charges for the contract after it insisted that the mainframe would be abandoned if Atos made no cost cuts.
The mainframe is an IBM zSeries running a legacy MVS/JES operating system and SNA connectivity software.
In the second half of 2005, the information management department completed a company-wide migration to Windows XP (see box). It migrated more than 7,700 devices to the operating system and installed flat-screen monitors on 8,500 desktops.
"We can show that the flat-screen monitors use 75% less energy," says van Valkenburgh.
Network Rail also migrated its payroll and finance applications to Oracle during the last few months of 2005. The company's customer relationship management system already runs on Oracle, and an Oracle procurement application has reached pilot stage. "We are 60 to 70% Oracle," says van Valkenburgh.
The key IT systems, however, are the applications that improve the reliability and punctuality of train services. Three core systems have all been in place for a year. Mims collects maintenance reports, and FMS and Trainplan determine how many trains can run on the rail network.
Because the rail network is a critical part of the national infrastructure, the three core applications have to continue working in the event of a disaster. Network Rail is building the capacity it needs to ensure this.
The company has a budget of £10m per year to spend on business continuity for its IT systems. Van Valkenburgh says, "By March 2006, we will have our improved business continuity in place.
"We are increasing the local resilience where applicable. We are also providing an operational test environment, improving recovery of the key systems and doing some work on disaster recovery."
Network Rail has three datacentres based at secret locations around the UK. By the end of March, the key applications will continue to run even if one of the datacentres is destroyed.
Van Valkenburgh says, "We do need to take this stuff very seriously. Some companies advertise their business continuity plans too much. They should be very careful."
E-mail storage will also be improved in the first quarter of 2006 when the company migrates from its five-year-old Hewlett-Packard HSG80 storage area network (San) to 10 different EVA Sans from the same supplier. Nine of the servers in the new infrastructure can store 30Tbytes each and one can hold 50Tbytes.
The information management department has built a home-working system that can support up to 4,000 employees simultaneously. Outlook Web, which went live in July, can be used by employees to continue working if a disaster prevents them from accessing one or more of the company's offices.
The business case for the system, however, was to support home working. Van Valkenburgh says, "We would use it for anything. But the main justification for the investment is for people to work at home."
This year, the information management department will oversee one of the largest mobile deployments in the UK. Under Railtrack, the network's maintenance workers were outsourced to support services companies. Network Rail brought the maintenance function - and about 17,000 people - back in-house in 2004.
Van Valkenburgh says thousands of maintenance workers will be equipped with camera phones supporting a customised application. Track defects will be photographed and the information sent via mobile phone to Network Rail's Mims system.
While these projects are ongoing, the information management department is developing the business case for a "unified workplace initiative" - Network Rail's first step towards a service oriented architecture.
Head of information delivery Joanna Beeching is responsible for bringing six of the company's IT systems within a framework that makes data retrieval easier. The portal access, document management, content management, knowledge sharing, asset configuration management and identity management systems will fall within the programme.
Applications within the framework will benefit from two-way integration with the company's other business-critical systems. These include its enterprise resource planning, datawarehouse and computer-aided design systems.
Network Rail's information management department uses Gallup Q12 Management to identify and then purchase new IT systems for different parts of the business. A key aspect of the system is that it helps managers identify what equipment an end-user needs to do their job.
Van Valkenburgh says, "It is really getting down to engagement. We have an impact session. What do people want? It could be anything, but it is often IT."
Network Rail's XP roll-out
Network Rail gained thousands of new employees in 2004 when maintenance work on the rail network was brought back in house after the Potters Bar train crash.
The information management department was charged with standardising the whole company's desktop systems on Windows XP Service Pack 2. The migration involved:
17,500 users migrating to Microsoft Office applications running under XP SP2
Devices being deployed in more than 460 locations
8,000 new PCs and laptops being purchased and delivered
8,500 energy-saving TFT screens being deployed to different locations
Contracts with three partners that had to be managed by information management.
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Network Rail’s £30m best-of-breed project arrives on ... – ComputerWeekly.com
No hold ups for Network Rail £10m desktop upgrade – ComputerWeekly.com
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Home News NHS has become the cause, not the cure
NHS has become the cause, not the cure
By Richard North
OVER the last few days, a last ritual as the light fades has been to water the garden, during which time I fell into discussion with one of my neighbours.
With the conversation turning naturally to the lockdown and matters related – with him knowing where my interests lie – he asked me what I would do if I were in charge. Faced with such a proposition, and after briefly entertaining the idea of commissioning a number of firing squads, the answer I offered would come as no surprise to regular readers here.
First, I argued, we need an effective trace, test and isolate programme – one that actually works, as opposed to the government’s train-crash ideas. Secondly, I said, we need to sort out the hospitals (and care homes). At this stage of the proceedings, with the infection established there, they become reservoirs of infection, re-seeding the communities they serve, and keeping the epidemic going.
This is no more than I have stated here and elsewhere on the blog – in this piece on 17 April, I wrote: ‘as long as the hospitals themselves are reservoirs of infection, they will keep the epidemic going, re-seeding the community (together with the care homes). The lockdown, now renewed, is not necessary to protect the NHS. It is needed to protect us from the NHS. Until they sort out the hospitals and care homes, it will be unsafe to lift it.’
Returning to the fray, I found that the government (responding to considerable pressure, and possibly to take attention away from a certain SpAd), has published a bundle of SAGE minutes – not that the media seem to have taken the bait.
One exception, though, is the Mail which has read some of the minutes and reports: ‘Coronavirus “R” rate could be as low as 0.5 outside of hospitals – with the national average inflated by the huge infection rate in medical settings, say SAGE scientists’.
This is a reference to the twenty-fifth SAGE meeting on Covid-19, held on 14 April – three days before I wrote my blogpost on sorting out the hospitals. It does indeed note that transmission had slowed in the community, while there was ‘significant transmission in hospitals’ which ‘may have been masking the decline in cases in the community’.
The difference in the R numbers rather confirms my view that the general use of this index is a complete waste of time. Like the national epidemic curve, it conveys no information of any epidemiological value and, as indicated here, can actually serve to obscure vital detail.
That ‘detail’ is indeed vital, such as the observation by the SAGE committee that in some hospitals ‘outbreaks will be self-sustaining’, and the fact that nosocomial [originating in a hospital] cases are ‘making up an increasing proportion of overall cases’.
This, of course, puts a completely different complexion on the Covid-19 epidemic which, as it develops, is likely to become increasingly hospital-centred, breaking out occasionally to re-seed the community.
Still, though, we get the crass deification of the NHS, an organisation which, in this epidemic so far, may have killed around 6,000 people through nosocomial infection. I suppose it is quite appropriate that they should fly a Spitfire out of Duxford with the legend: ‘THANK U NHS’ painted on its underside – a tribute from one killing machine to another.
It is all very well the experts complaining that the lockdown is being lifted prematurely, but until the hospital problem is addressed, any relaxation will always be premature.
One way or another, we will eventually have to address the stunningly inappropriate policy of sending highly infectious patients to district general hospitals. If we are to learn to live with Covid-19, we will need a new generation of ‘fever’ hospitals, designed specifically for handling infectious diseases such as Covid-19.
As far as I’m concerned, my suggestion of multiple-use buildings stands, with leisure centres and the like built to allow rapid conversion to hospital use when the need arises.
But as well as that, we will have to revisit the structure of public health provision once again. The transfer of public health functions to the NHS was a wrong turning and it can never be the case where the most potent cause of infection in the community is allowed to police itself.
And this is a point which has been completely missed. Public health is a hard-edged discipline which isn’t interested in the fate of the individual per se, but seeks the greater good. It takes in a powerful law enforcement element which is entirely incompatible with personal healthcare services.
So far, therefore, in its handling of the Covid-19 epidemic, this government has got the fundamentals totally wrong, and as long as ministers are obsessed with hospitals and the NHS, things will not get better.
Interestingly, this is a point picked up by Richard Vize in the Guardian, who writes of Matt Hancock’s ‘warped priorities’. The pity of it is that he’s writing in the Guardian, where he – like everybody else – will be ignored by this government.
Nevertheless, Vize is right. He complains of Hancock seeing everything through the lens of the NHS, marginalising and ignoring local government, and throwing money at private companies to fill the gaps left by public sector cuts.
Setting himself up as the champion of the health service, the ‘protect the NHS’ mantra quickly became pivotal to Hancock’s entire approach to the pandemic. This warped priorities and cost lives, says Vize, as the government initially decided to treat the sickness rather than prevent the illness.
However, our Guardian man concludes that this pandemic has been an extreme demonstration of why healthcare needs to think and work as a collaborative local system across the NHS and local government. He wants prevention and early intervention at the heart of the system, instead of relying on hospitals to fix us once we are sick.
What he clearly hasn’t realised is that the government was (and is still, to a very great extent) working to the flu plan, where attempts to control the epidemic were abandoned at an early stage, in preference to treating the ill while holding the fort until a vaccine turned up.
Here, though, there is an essential flaw in perception and in community values. It is easy to applaud the heroic medical teams battling to save lives (even if the effect is to kill a fifth of the patients), but it is less easy to recognise and value the dogged, unglamorous ‘shoe-leather’ work that goes into disease prevention.
To that extent, in their deification of the NHS, ministers are playing to the gallery, hoping that some of the gratitude afforded to the NHS will rub off on them. This is why Johnson and Hancock are so keen to be seen in hospital settings.
But if ministers don’t go into bat for public health, as well as healthcare, prevention will never get the recognition it needs to be able to function. The trouble is, in the grip of their obsession, they are not thinking clearly – if at all. Thus, they will continue to make their mistakes, and people will continue to die unnecessarily.
Next time round, if Duxford wants to mount another fatuous aviation display, it should borrow the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster and drop bombs on the nearest housing estate, with ‘NHS’ painted on them. At least this might be a little more realistic.
For the moment, though, I feel like Charlton Heston shouting: ‘Soylent Green is people’, only I’m saying: ‘The NHS kills people’. There, I’ve said it. Come, friendly bombs . . .
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Next articleTCW’s top ten blogs of the week
Dr Richard North is a self-employed political researcher/analyst and co-author, with Christopher Booker, of The Great Deception – the definitive history of the EU.
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LISTEN: Justice Ginsburg Expands On Decision To Apologize For Trump Remarks
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg told NPR’s Nina Totenberg that earlier comments she made about presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump were “incautious.”
In a New York Times interview last weekend, Ginsburg caused a stir by expressing her opinion on a presidential candidate — a line justices usually don’t cross.
Ginsburg said that she “can’t imagine what the country would be — with Donald Trump as our president.” She also joked that her husband, who died in 2010, would have said it was “time for us to move to New Zealand.”
Trump responded harshly on Twitter, calling for Ginsburg to resign, the Washington Post said her remarks were “inappropriate,” and the New York Times editorial page sided with Trump.
Ginsburg expressed regret Thursday morning and in a statement and interview with CNN. On Thursday afternoon, Ginsburg further explained her actions in an wide-ranging interview with Totenberg.
Asked why she felt it was time to say she was sorry about the remarks, Ginsburg said:
“Because it was incautious. I said something I should not have said and I made a statement that reads, ‘On reflection, my recent remarks in response to press inquiries were ill-advised. I regret making them. Judges should avoid commenting on a candidate for public office. In the future I will be more circumspect.’ And that’s exactly how I feel about this whole business.”
Ginsburg has had a history of transparency, Totenberg noted — the justice announced a cancer diagnosis to the public and a correction she made to an opinion she wrote, after a professor noted the mistake in a blog post. Totenberg then asked if this, like correction, was simply acknowledging a “goof.
Ginsburg responded, “I stand, Nina, by what I said. I would say yes to your question, and that’s why I gave the statement. I did something I should not have done. It’s over and done with, and I don’t want to discuss it any more.”
Larger excerpts from this interview can be heard Friday on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Robert Gieswein, The Woodland Park Man Arrested In US Capitol Breach, ‘Was A Lone Wolf’ Sheriff Says
A Blip, Not A Surge: How Colorado Dodged A Holiday Coronavirus Tsunami
By John Daley
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Get to know V-Person™
Contact Center Agent Support
Available Integrations
Whitepapers, Reports & Infographics
A Look Back: 2015 in Review
10 Dec 2015 /in Customer Experience, Virtual Assistants /by admin
By Mandy Reed, Marketing Manager (Global)
I don’t know about you, but I feel like 2015 has flown by and I still have a million things I want to finish – I don’t know where the time has gone! (And yes, I know I sound like my mother when I say that!) Yet when I stop to take a look back at the year Creative Virtual has had, I realise that it’s been a busy, productive year full of accomplishments for us, our customers and our partners. So let’s take a look at some highlights of 2015.
One of the proudest moments for us as a company was being named a 2015 Cool Vendor in Smart Machines by Gartner! As Creative Virtual Founder & CEO, Chris Ezekiel said, “We believe this is a milestone for us and our technology, as well as a tribute to our dedicated team, customers and partners, to be designated a ‘Cool Vendor’ in an area that is poised to make such an important impact on new digital processes, including customer support and engagement, over the next few years.”
We are also very proud of the recognitions several of our customers received for their V-Person™ implementations in 2015. Our joint entry with TSB in the 2015 FStech Awards won us a ‘Highly Commended’ in the category of Online Technology Provider of the Year. Motability Operations took home the Innovation Award for Sustainable Culture at the 2015 Customer Contact Innovation Awardsfor their case study titled Ask Mo: how knowledge gives confidence with customers. Commercial Bank of Dubai’s virtual assistant Sara played a large role in their multiple wins in the Banker Middle East UAE Product Awards (Best Kiosk Interface, Best New Online Service, and Best Online Banking Services) and the International Business Excellence (IBX) Awards (E-Commerce and Digital Experience, Marketing Social Media and Brand, and Overall Discipline and People Specific Winner). Congratulations!
Creative Virtual was the winner of two 2015 Technology Innovator Awards: Best Virtual Assistant Technology “V-Person Web” and Best Customer Engagement Technology “V-Portal™”. Innovation is at the core of our company culture, so it was an honour to be recognised by this awards programme which is designed to highlight the organisations behind ground-breaking developments in technology.
Another highlight this year was the release of our 2015 Global Customer Support Outlook Surveyresults. Our thanks to everyone who took part in the survey and shared insights into their customer engagement goals, challenges and strategies! As with our first survey conducted in 2013, this follow-up provided an interesting look into customer experience programmes, priorities and budgets.
This was a busy year for events as we took part in a variety of conferences and summits around the world in India, Germany, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, the United States and Australia. Some of these were events we attended with our partners, and several featured presentations and live demos from expert members of our team. We also participated in and hosted live webinars throughout the year which are now available to view on-demand.
In addition to the webinar recordings, we also added a number of other great resources to our website, including a whitepaper from Stratecast | Frost & Sullivan analyst, Jeff Cotrupe, titled Customers Want Fast Answers Online, Not Waiting on a Phone Line: Virtual Assistants Are Essential. With the assistance of our customers, we released two new Customer Success Stories as well to showcase the ways The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Commercial Bank of Dubai are using our Smart Help technology to provide an improved, consistent experience.
2015 saw a number of new implementations join our V-Person family, pilots evolve into full deployments and new features and integrations added to existing systems (including our recent announcement about our first Arabic V-Person). Our list of customers from around the world has grown this year along with our great network of partner companies. Founder & CEO Chris certainly wins the award for most travelling as this year saw him spending time all over the world – Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, the United States, France, Netherlands, India and (of course!) the United Kingdom – to attend events and meet with partners, customers and the Creative Virtual team.
As we did last year, we’ve complied a 2015 in Review photo album which you can find on the Creative Virtual Facebook and Google+ pages. It gives a nice look back at the variety of events, awards ceremonies and activities the team has been involved with throughout the year. We’ll be adding more photos as we have our Christmas and End of Year parties. Enjoy!
Image courtesy of Theeradech Sanin at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
https://www.creativevirtual.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/30.jpg 324 700 admin https://www.creativevirtual.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/site-logo.png admin2015-12-10 00:00:002015-12-10 00:00:00A Look Back: 2015 in Review
Delivering Innovation that Enables Successful Self-Service12 Jan 2021
Setting Course for Success in 2021: It’s all about people and relationships05 Jan 2021
Wishing you a Happy Holiday Season!21 Dec 2020
Being Grateful in a Year of Challenges16 Dec 2020
A Look Back: 2020 in Review10 Dec 2020
V-Person
Neutrino Release
Copyright © 2021 Creative Virtual Ltd.
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Ryan Holiday on Stoicism, Strategy and Creativity (Podcast)
Psychology June 30, 2015 / By Scott Barry Kaufman
Best-selling author Ryan Holiday discusses how Stoicism can help us transform trials into triumph.
Best-selling author Ryan Holiday discusses how Stoicism can help us transform trials into triumph. It’s a pragmatic episode, full of strategies to invert obstacles and wrest opportunity from adversity. The conversation includes invaluable advice for aspiring creatives, research affirming the Stoic approach, how great historical figures have used Stoicism and more…
In this episode you will hear about:
The intersections of Stoicism, creativity and positive psychological research
Ryan’s alternative track to success and the importance of mentorship
How Steve Jobs employed Stoicism
The importance of understanding reality objectively
How blessings and burdens needn’t be mutually exclusive
Passion vs. purpose
How modern psychology is affirming the truths of timeless philosophy
Psych research that could help creative professionals
The effects of meditation on creative output
The high ROI habits that help Ryan’s creativity
“Contemptuous expressions” and stripping things of the legends that encrust them
Scott and Ryan’s views on the importance of living as your authentic self
Harmonious passions
The importance as a writer of having something valuable to say
Click to download the episode directly (right click, then click "Save as")
Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
Subscribe to the podcast on Stitcher.
Ryan’s book: The Obstacle is the Way
Ryan’s book: Trust Me, I’m Lying
Ryan’s website
Ryan’s Character Strengths Profile
Ryan’s article: Contemptuous Expressions
Ryan’s article: So You Want to Be a Writer? That’s Mistake #1
Taylor's website
The Psychology Podcast: Robert Greene episode
Scott’s article: How To Increase Your Harmonious Passion
An explanation of the broaden-and-build theory
The Complex Dynamics of Wishful Thinking: The Critical Positivity Ratio
Updated Thinking on Positivity Ratios
Todd Kashdan’s book: The Upside of Your Darkside
TED talk: Carol Dweck on growth mindsets
Herb Simon’s article: Decision Making and Problem Solving
“Ryan Holiday is a media strategist and prominent writer on strategy and business. After dropping out of college at nineteen to apprentice under Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power, he went on to advise many bestselling authors and multiplatinum musicians. He served as director of marketing at American Apparel for many years, where his campaigns have been used as case studies by Twitter, YouTube, and Google and written about in AdAge, the New York Times, and Fast Company.” –Blurb taken from Ryan’s blog
life strategy
Scott Barry Kaufman is a humanistic psychologist exploring the depths of human potential. He has taught courses on intelligence, creativity, and well-being at Columbia University, NYU, the University of Pennsylvania, and elsewhere. He is interested in using his research to help all kinds of minds live a creative, fulfilling, and self-actualized life. Scott likes to share his enthusiasm and knowledge of the science of potential through his books, teaching, coaching, podcast, blog, articles, and speaking engagements. In his latest book Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization, Kaufman presents a new hierarchy of human needs for the 21st century, one that allows for the fulfillment of individual potential as well as the actualization of transcendent purpose and peak experiences. Kaufman hosts the #1 psychology podcast in the world— The Psychology Podcast— which has received over 12 million downloads and was included in Business Insider’s list of “9 podcasts that will change how you think about human behavior.” Kaufman’s writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Scientific American, Psychology Today, and Harvard Business Review. Kaufman’s early educational experiences made him realize the deep reservoir of untapped potential of students, including bright and creative children who have been diagnosed with a learning disability (see the free monthly webcast “Critical Conversations on Cognitive Diversity”). Scott received a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Yale University, and an M. Phil in experimental psychology from the University of Cambridge under a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. In 2015, he was named one of “50 groundbreaking scientists who are changing the way we see the world” by Business Insider. Scott is a co-founder of The Creativity Post.
More about Scott Barry Kaufman
Mindfulness: Observing Without Questioning
Philosophy / By Sam McNerney
Thinkering
Psychology / By Michele and Robert Root-Bernstein
Existential Meditation: Mortality and Life Design
Psychology / By Taylor Kreiss
Why Should Children Study the Arts?
Psychology / By Thalia Goldstein
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Humble man arrested for two counts of felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
Kingwood Observer // Kingwood News
Jennifer Summer
July 31, 2015 Updated: Oct. 5, 2016 3:43 a.m.
Mark Perales
An Humble man faces two felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after police say he allegedly brandished a gun in a bar, pointed it at a man and tried to hit him with his car when he was asked to leave the establishment.
Mark Perales, 43, was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon Friday, July 24, around 11:30 p.m. in the 200 block of First Street at Shamrock’s Pub.
“Humble Police were called to a disturbance at the location where (Perales) was involved in a one-on-one mutual fist fight with another male earlier in the evening,” Humble Police Detective Sergeant Mike Flynt said. “A short time later, Perales entered the bar, allegedly produced a handgun and pointed at the victim who he had been fighting with earlier making others in the bar, fearful for their lives.”
Perales was convinced to leave the establishment and returned to his vehicle.
“The victim was outside when Perales then allegedly tried to run him over with his vehicle,” Flynt said. “The victim had to jump into the ditch to avoid being hit by Perales’ vehicle.”
Humble Police located Perales not far from the scene and he was arrested. Humble Police spoke with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office who decided to file the two felony charges on Perales.
He remains in the Harris County Jail on a $30,000 bond. He is set to appear in court again Sept. 18.
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Blasts kill 18 in Iraq, including 3 U.S. soldiers
Reuters News Service
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A series of explosions across Iraq killed at least 18 people today as the United States predicted an upturn of violence ahead of a Muslim holiday.
Guerrillas killed nine in a car bomb blast in the northern city of Mosul, a separate bomb killed three U.S. soldiers north of Baghdad and at least six were killed in a pair of explosions in a crowded residential area of the capital.
U.S. military officials have warned of the possibility of more violence against U.S. forces and those seen as cooperating with them ahead of the Feast of the Sacrifice, given that guerrillas have often struck on significant dates.
"We heard the blast and saw that the deceased was missing," said Ali Muzan at the scene of the second late evening blast in Baghdad. "He died on the way to the hospital."
The explosion was in the same Baladiyyat district of Baghdad where an earlier blast killed at least five civilians, according to hospital sources.
Earlier in the day, police and hospital officials in Mosul, 240 miles north of Baghdad, said 44 people were wounded by the car bomb outside a police station. Debris was scattered 300 yards away and body parts littered the scorched ground.
Thick smoke billowed from blazing vehicles and windows across a wide radius were shattered. U.S. officers said there were no U.S. casualties.
The U.S. military said three U.S. soldiers were killed when a roadside bomb blew up next to a convoy travelling between Kirkuk and Tikrit, the hometown of ousted leader Saddam Hussein about 100 miles north of Baghdad.
The deaths brought to 364 the number of U.S. soldiers killed in action since the start of the Iraq war last March. Including noncombat deaths, the toll is 522.
Soldiers and policemen in Baghdad gave conflicting accounts of the first blast in Baghdad's Baladiyyat district, some saying it was mortar fire and others rockets. A father and son who ran a kiosk nearby were killed, sources at a hospital said.
Guerrillas have often struck on significant dates -- a car bomb destroyed a Baghdad restaurant on New Year's Eve, killing eight, and on Oct. 27, the first day of Ramadan, coordinated suicide attacks in Baghdad killed at least 35.
Despite the violence, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said experts will arrive within days to assess the feasibility of elections before a June 30 deadline for the handover of sovereignty from the U.S.-led coalition to an Iraqi government.
All but a few U.N. international staff left Iraq last year after suicide attacks on its headquarters in Baghdad, including one on August 19 that killed 22 people, among whom was head of mission Sergio Vieira de Mello.
Pushed to the edge by the Capitol riot, people are reporting their family and friends to the FBI
The U.N. electoral team will spend several weeks travelling the country to assess how possible it would be to hold a free and fair national poll.
U.S. authorities in Iraq have said they will listen to U.N. recommendations, but the head of the Iraqi Governing Council, Adnan Pachachi, said today no one would necessarily be bound by any advice the U.N. offers.
"The U.N. will make recommendations, not decisions," he told a news conference. "It's only a recommendation, we have the right to accept or reject it, and to make the final decision."
The United Nations is returning at Washington's request, after U.S. plans for the handover of sovereignty were rejected by Iraq's leading Shi'ite cleric.
The initial plan was for regional caucuses to select a transitional assembly by the end of May. The assembly would then pick a government to take over sovereignty by end-June.
But Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, revered by much of Iraq's 60 percent Shi'ite majority, has said the new government should be directly elected.
Washington, and many members of the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council, say that is not possible as there are no voter rolls and security remains precarious.
Separately, Iraq said it would attend security talks with neighboring states in Kuwait mid-February, opening a chapter in diplomatic and international ties.
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Delay rejected in migrant deaths case
Delay is rejected in case involving migrant deaths
Harvey Rice, Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
Attorneys for a truck driver accused in the deaths of 19 undocumented immigrants rejected a U.S. Justice Department request to extend by two weeks the Feb. 1 deadline to decide whether to seek the death penalty, which reportedly would be unprecedented in such a case.
"We're just not going to agree to any more (extensions)," Craig Washington, attorney for Tyrone Williams, said Tuesday. "They've had enough time to make up their mind."
Williams is accused of driving a truck towing a sweltering, air-tight trailer found abandoned May 14 in Victoria with 74 illegal immigrants.
Seventeen died in the trailer of suffocation, dehydration and hyperthermia. Two died in a hospital.
U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore had given the Justice Department until Nov. 1 to decide whether to seek the death penalty, but extended the deadline to Feb. 1 after prosecutors said they had additional information to consider.
Prosecutors did not reveal the new information. "They've been real closed mouth about what that was," Washington said.
He said Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Rodriguez asked him last week for another 30-day extension, but he rejected the request Monday after consulting with Williams' other attorneys.
Rodriguez then asked for a two-week extension, which Washington rejected Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office could not be reached for comment.
Washington also said Rodriguez had invited him to present his opinion in a TV conference with Justice Department officials in Washington who make death penalty recommendations to Attorney General John Ashcroft.
Attorneys with the Federal Death Penalty Resource Council Project, formed to monitor death penalty cases and advise defense attorneys, said the offer to Washington was a normal part of the process.
"It doesn't mean the case is authorized for the death penalty, but it means there are issues someone wants to discuss," said Kevin McNally, a project attorney.
Project attorney Dick Burr said Ashcroft authorizes about one-third of cases recommended to him for death penalty prosecution.
McNally said the death penalty has never been sought in a case involving immigrant smuggling.
"Even if people are running a smuggling ring, they certainly don't intend to kill people," he said.
He said Ashcroft has declined to seek the death penalty in cases with accusations more serious than those against Williams.
Ashcroft has declined to seek the death penalty against six of the 13 other members of the alleged ring indicted on charges stemming from the fatal smuggling attempt.
Two others were not eligible for the death penalty and five remain at large.
Harvey Rice
Reach Harvey on
Harvey Rice worked at several other news organizations before joining the Houston Chronicle, including the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, the Mexico City News, El Financiero and UPI. While working for UPI, he was stationed in Mexico City; Washington, D.C.; Miami and London. After joining the Houston Chronicle in 1999, he covered Montgomery County and the federal courthouse in Houston before being assigned to the Galveston Bureau in 2007. He also was sent to Qatar to cover U.S. Central Command during the second Gulf War and was a member of the Enron investigative team.
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MEF2C-Directed Neurogenesis From Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Comprehensive Grant
RC1-00125
Stuart Lipton
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Embryonic Stem Cell
Cell Line Generation:
In Year 02 of this grant, we have continued to refine the techniques developed for producing nerve cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESC). Central to our grant proposal is the expression of an active form of a protein called MEF2C, which we insert into the stem cells at a young age. MEF2C is a transcription factor, which is a molecule that regulates how RNA is converted to a protein. MEF2C regulates the production of proteins that are specifically found in neurons, and it plays an important role in making a stem cell into a nerve cell. Specific improvements this year in culture conditions have resulted in our being able to direct a much higher percentage of hESCs into precursors of nerve cells, and it is at this stage that the cells are most appropriate for insertion of MEF2C. Following this, we can transplant the stem cells, destined to become nerve cells, in to the brain in rodent models of stroke and Parkinson’s disease. We have also made very good progress in producing dopaminergic nerve cells, the specific type of cell that dies in Parkinson’s disease. In addition, our improved methods are completely free of any animal products, so they represent a step forward in developing cells as a treatment for human diseases. Building upon these advances in our techniques, we have transplanted cells into a rat model of Parkinson’s disease and shown that a large percentage of the cells become dopaminergic nerve cells in the brain. Additionally, rats receiving these cell transplants show greater improvements in motor skills compared to rats receiving similar cells without the inserted MEF2C factor. These findings complement our results presented in the first year’s progress report showing that transplantation of these MEF2C-expressing cells into a mouse model of stroke resulted in less damage to the brain. Together these results indicate the utility and versatility of these cells “programmed” by expression of the inserted MEF2C gene. Finally, in Year 02 we report on our efforts to discover the mechanism by which the MEF2C gene prevents cell death and drives stem cells to become nerve cells. We have performed microarray analyses, which measure the expression levels of various genes, e.g., how much of each protein is produced from a gene. This approach includes 24,000 of the possible ~30,000 gene sequences expressed in human cells and tissues. These experiments were performed on stem cells with the inserted MEF2C gene just as the cells were making the decision to become a nerve cell. We observed a decrease in the activity of several genes that are known to make stem cells proliferate (divide and multiply), rather than becoming a differentiated nerve cell. This finding is consistent with the known role of MEF2C, which causes cells to stop proliferating and start differentiating into nerve cells. Without insertion of MEF2C into the stem cells, they mostly continue proliferating. We also saw that many genes, which are not expressed in mature nerve cells, were coordinately down regulated. These results may suggest a new role of MEF2C as a factor for shutting down gene expression, thereby helping to promote the formation of new nerve cells. We are continuing our investigations into the mechanism of MEF2C actions in neuronal differentiation and function as well as our transplantation experiments in stroke and Parkinson’s disease models in the coming year.
We initially discovered that mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived neural progenitor cells forced to express the transcription factor MEF2C were protected from dying and were also given signals to differentiate almost exclusively into neurons (J Neurosci 2008; 28:6557-68). Under the CIRM grant, we have investigated the role of MEF2C and consequences of its forced expression in neural differentiation of human ES cells, including identification of specific genes under MEF2C regulation. We have also used rodent models of Parkinson’s disease and stroke to evaluate the therapeutic potential of human ESC-derived neural progenitors forced to express active MEF2C (MEF2CA). In the third year of the CIRM grant, we continued to refine our procedures for differentiating MEF2CA-expressing human ES cells growing in culture into neural progenitor cells (NPC) and fully developed neurons. We also investigated their electrophysiological characteristics and potential to develop into specific types of neurons. We found that not only do the MEF2CA-expressing NPCs become almost exclusively neurons, as we previously showed, but they also had a strong bias to develop into dopaminergic neurons, the type of neuron that dies in Parkinson’s disease. We also found that MEF2CA-expressing NPCs differentiated to maturity in culture dishes showed a wide variety of electrophysiological responses of normal mature neurons. We were able to record sodium currents and action potentials indicating that the neurons were capable of transmitting chemo-electrical signals. They also responded to GABA and NMDA (a glutamate mimic), which shows that the neurons can respond to the major signal-transmitting molecules in the brain. Previously we showed that transplantation of the MEF2CA-expressing human ESC-derived NPCs into the brains of a rat model of Parkinson’s disease resulted in a much higher number of dopaminergic (DA) neurons and positive behavioral recovery compared to controls. We now report that evaluation of the MEF2CA-expressing cells showed a much higher expression level of a variety of proteins known to be important in DA neuron differentiation and that none of these cells become tumors or hyper proliferative. We have also transplanted NPCs into the brains of a rat stroke model. Our preliminary data analysis shows an improvement in the ability to walk a tapered beam in the rats transplanted with MEF2CA-expressing cells compared to controls. These results are evidence there may be a great advantage in the use of NPC expressing MEF2C for transplantation into various brain diseases and injuries. We have also continued our investigations into the mechanisms of MEF2C activities in the hope of finding new drug targets to mimic it effects. We have identified interactive pathways in which MEF2C plays a role and found correlations between MEF2C expression levels and a variety of diseases. These will hopefully lead us to a better understanding of how to leverage our results to produce effective therapies for a broad spectrum of neurological diseases and traumas.
Our goals for this grant were to determine the role of the transcription factor MEF2C in neurogenesis, including all of the targets of this factor in the genome, use this knowledge to direct differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) into specific types of neurons, and investigate the transplantation of these cells into rodent models of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and stroke. During the tenure of this grant, we accomplished these goals to a very significant degree. Our investigations into the role of MEF2C in neurogenesis produced a large body of knowledge pertinent to its essential role in this process. This knowledge base was achieved through both monitoring expression levels of MEF2C during the entire process of neurogenesis and by knocking down its expression by use of siRNA. We now have a very detailed view of the temporal contribution of MEF2C as stem cells differentiate into neurons. Using this knowledge, we optimized a differentiation protocol for directing hESC into neuronal precursor cells and then initiated expression of a constitutively active MEF2 transcription factor (MEF2CA) via lentiviral technology. We discovered that the forced expression of MEF2CA provided a strong bias to neurons to differentiate along a dopaminergic (DA) lineage. Our network analysis for MEF2C confirmed that many of the known effector proteins for DA neurons are indeed targets for this transcription factor. Histological and electrophysiological investigations into the nature of these cells grown in vitro showed that they are indeed functional neurons displaying the anticipated qualities during the various stages of differentiation. Our in vivo transplantation studies have been equally productive. Owing to the strong tendency of the MEF2CA-expressing cells to differentiate into DA neurons, we first investigated their effects on a rat PD model where the dopaminergic cells of the substantia nigra are ablated on one side of the brain by injection of 6-hydroxydopamine. In response to an injection of the dopamine analog apomorphine, these rats will turn in a circle and the readout is the number of turns in a 30 minute period measured on a rotometer. Fewer turns indicate that the rat has less pathology, i.e., is getting better. We transplanted hESC-derived neural progenitor cells (hESC-NPC) either expressing MEF2CA or not and monitored recovery of the rats. While rats receiving both preparations of stem cells showed considerable improvement, the ones receiving MEF2C-expressing cells did significantly better on the rotometer. Also, histologically the MEF2CA-expressing cells could all be seen to differentiate, whereas those that did not express MEF2CA were often found in an undifferentiated state, which potentially posses a problem of continuing proliferation in the brain and tumor formation. Thus, the forced expression of MEF2CA forced the cells to differentiate and prevented uncontrolled cell division. An additional advantage was that the remaining endogenous DA neurons showed much greater density of fibers in the vicinity of the transplanted cells, suggesting that there was an additional benefit of factor secretion. Thus, the MEF2CA genetically modified cells appear to have significant advantages for transplantation for PD. We are also investigating the use of the MEF2CA-expressing hESC-NPC in rat and mouse models of stroke. Preliminary data shows that in both systems we see behavioral improvements following the transplantations with these cells. In the period of the no cost extension, we will complete these studies and characterize the types of neurons these transplanted cells become and their role in reversing the pathology caused by the brain ischemia from stroke. Our hypothesis is that there is a strong bias toward the DA neuron phenotype produced by the expression of MEF2CA, but that this is overridden by the context within the brain. Therefore, in a stroke model, the context of damage to the cortex provides signals to the newly transplanted cells that they should migrate to the damaged area and become cells appropriate to that region, not DA neurons. We will test this hypothesis in the remaining months of the grant.
Understanding differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) provides insight into early human development and will help directing hESC differentiation for future cell-based therapies of Parkinson’s disease, stroke and other neurodegenerative conditions.
The PI’s laboratory was the first to clone and characterize the transcription factor MEF2C, a protein that can direct the orchestra of genes to produce a particular type of cell, in this case a nerve cell (or neuron). We have demonstrated that MEF2C directs the differentiation of mouse ES cells into neurons and suppresses glial fate. MEF2C also helps keep new nerve cells alive, which is very helpful for their successful transplantation. However, little is known about the role of MEF2C in human neurogenesis, that is, its ability to direct hESC differentiation into neuronal lineages such as dopaminergic neurons to treat Parkinson’s disease and its therapeutic potential to promote the generation of nerve cells in stem cell transplantation experiments. The goal of this application is to fill these gaps.
The co-PI’s laboratory has recently developed a unique procedure for the efficient differentiation of hESCs into a uniform population of neural precursor cells (NPCs), which are progenitor cells that develop from embryonic stem cells and can form different kinds of mature cells in the nervous system. Here, we will investigate if MEF2C can instruct hESC-derived NPCs to differentiate into nerve cells, including dopaminergic nerve cells for Parkinson’s disease or other types of neurons that are lost after a stroke. Moreover, we will transplant hESC-NPCs engineered with MEF2C to try to treat animal models of stroke and Parkinson’s disease. We will characterize known and novel MEF2C target genes to identify critical components in the MEF2C transcriptional network in the clinically relevant cell population of hESC-derived neural precursor cells (hESC-NPCs).
Specifically we will: 1) determine the function of MEF2C during in vitro neurogenesis (generation of new nerve cells) from hESC-NPCs; 2) investigate the therapeutic potential of MEF2C engineered hESC-NPCs in Parkinson’s and stroke models; 3) determine the MEF2C DNA (gene) binding sites and perform a “network” analysis of MEF2C target genes in order to understand how MEF2C works in driving the formation of new nerve cells from hESCs.
Efficient and controlled neuronal differentiation from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is mandatory for developing future clinical cell-based therapies. Strategies to direct differentiation towards neuronal vs. glial fate are critical for the development of a uniform population of desired neuronal specificities (e.g., dopaminergic neurons for Parkinson’s disease (PD)). Our laboratory was the first to clone and characterize the transcription factor MEF2C, the major isoform of MEF2 found in the developing brain. Based on our encouraging preliminary results that were obtained with mouse (m)ESC-derived and human fetal brain-derived neural precursors, we propose to investigate if MEF2C enhances neurogenesis from hESCs. In addition to neurogenic activity, we have shown that MEF2C exhibits an anti-apoptotic (that is, anti-death) effect and therefore increases cell survival. This dual function of MEF2C is extremely valuable for the purpose of transplantation of MEF2C-engineererd neural precursors. Additionally, we found MEF2 binding sites in the Nurr1 promoter region, which in the proper cell context, should enhance dopaminergic (DA) neuronal differentiation. We hypothesize that hESC-derived neural precursors engineered with MEF2C will selectively differentiate into neurons, which will be resistant to apoptotic death and not form tumors such as teratomas.
We believe that our proposed research will lead us to a better understanding of the role of MEF2C in hESC differentiation to neurons. These results will lead to novel and effective means to direct hESCs to become neurons and to resist cell death. This information will ultimately lead to novel, stem cell-based therapies to treat stroke and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s.
We also believe that an effective, straightforward, and broadly understandable way to describe the benefits to the citizens of the State of California that will flow from the stem cell research we propose to conduct is to couch the work in the familiar, everyday business concept of “Return on Investment.” The novel therapies and reconstructions that will be developed and accomplished as a result of our research program and the many related programs that will follow will provide direct benefits to the health of California citizens. In addition, this program and its many complementary programs will generate potentially very large, tangible monetary benefits to the citizens of California. These financial benefits will derive directly from two sources. The first source will be the sale and licensing of the intellectual property rights that will accrue to the state and its citizens from this and the many other stem cell research programs that will be financed by CIRM. The second source will be the many different kinds of tax revenues that will be generated from the increased bio-science and bio-manufacturing businesses that will be attracted to California by the success of CIRM.
J Comp Neurol (2014) Potential for Cell Therapy in Parkinson's Disease Using Genetically-Programmed Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neural Progenitor Cells. (PubMed: 24756727)
J Neurosci (2012) High-Frequency Hippocampal Oscillations Activated by Optogenetic Stimulation of Transplanted Human ESC-Derived Neurons. (PubMed: 23136422)
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2011) Direct reprogramming of mouse fibroblasts to neural progenitors. (PubMed: 21521790)
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2011) Rapid induction and long-term self-renewal of primitive neural precursors from human embryonic stem cells by small molecule inhibitors. (PubMed: 21525408)
Cell Stem Cell (2011) Direct Reprogramming of Adult Human Fibroblasts to Functional Neurons under Defined Conditions. (PubMed: 21802386)
PLoS One (2011) MEF2C Enhances Dopaminergic Neuron Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells in a Parkinsonian Rat Model. (PubMed: 21901155)
Cell Death Differ (2009) Molecular stages of rapid and uniform neuralization of human embryonic stem cells. (PubMed: 19282867)
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2008) Transcription factor MEF2C influences neural stem/progenitor cell differentiation and maturation in vivo. (PubMed: 18599437)
J Neurosci (2008) Myocyte enhancer factor 2C as a neurogenic and antiapoptotic transcription factor in murine embryonic stem cells. (PubMed: 18579729)
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TAGGED UNDER: Global Economy & Finance, Government & Political
Finally, some good news for the euro?
After weeks of turmoil and uncertainty, European leaders reached a deal with Greek debtholders this morning that will see private investors take a 50 per cent cut in the face value of their bonds, a deep haircut that officials believe will reduce Greek debt levels to 120 per cent of GDP by 2020. Also agreed upon was the increasing of the EFSF bailout fund from €440bn to over €1000bn.
This decisive action, combined with an earlier agreement to recapitalise vulnerable banks, means that the highly anticipated summit has delivered on the package it promised, and European leaders will hope it now precipitates an alleviation of the of the debt crisis, and stabilisation of the euro currency and financial markets.
Markets have responded positively to the measures and the FTSE has rallied to a three-month high. International reaction has also been positive, with World Bank president Robert Zoellick commenting, “it’s a very welcome and an important step because we have seen the ripple effects. I compliment the leaders of the European Union for facing and making difficult decisions.”
China’s Foreign Minister Jiang Yu also welcomed the euro summit deal. “China supports the measures taken by the EU to deal with the debt crisis problem”, and she was joined by Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, Germany’s biggest private bank, who said that “Europe continues on the path to fiscal rebalancing and is staying ahead of the other advanced economies in this respect.”
Although some of the detail remains to be clarified, including the role of China in possibly contributing to the EFSF and the specifics of further help for Italy, it appears that European leaders are certainly more optimistic than a week ago.
Muddling through this crisis may not be a particularly attractive proposition for markets and investors, but Europe’s political leaders will grasp at any chance of respite from the relentless barrage of criticism they have faced during the crisis.
Prior to this morning's meeting, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has come under increasing pressure both at home and abroad for a perceived failure of leadership on the euro crisis
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The Day Beatles Fans Broke Into the Abbey Road Studios
Eric Schaal
When Beatles fans in America think of “Beatlemania” and the 1964 British Invasion, most think of “I Want to Hold Your Hand” as the signature song of that moment. They have good reason to do so: That track represented the band’s first No. 1 hit on this side of the Atlantic.
However, the Fab Four had notched several No. 1 hits in the UK by February of ’64. “Please Please Me,” the band’s first huge success on the charts, went all the way to No. 2 in early ’63. That April, “From Me to You” became the first chart-topping single on the Beatles’ resume.
In July , The Beatles were the dominant force in British pop and went to EMI studios on Abbey Road to record their next single. Prior to the actual recording session, the band took some publicity photos outside.
After they’d gone in to work on the recording, they experienced the type of scene later found in A Hard Day’s Night. In fact, that day, just as they were about to record “She Loves You,” screaming fans broke into the building, with one girl actually making it into their studio.
Dozens of ‘hysterical screaming girls’ blew past security, causing chaos.
The Beatles pose for a portrait in 1963. | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Before there was Beatlemania, no one expected hordes of music fans (mostly young girls) to overwhelm a band’s security detail. But in mid-1963, just five London policeman had the job of holding off 100 fans (or more) outside the band’s recording studio on Abbey Road.
As for the building housing EMI studios itself, security was even thinner. On July 1, with the band close to an early peak, the five bobbies and the EMI security team simply got run over by dozens of determined Beatles fans.
Geoff Emerick, who’d later become the chief engineer on Revolver, described the chaotic scene in his memoir, Here, There and Everywhere. Just as the engineers were running their microphone checks, the Beatles’ roadies came in and informed everyone that the building was a madhouse.
As John Lennon asked what he was talking about, “the studio door flew open and a determined teenage girl sprinted in, heading straight for a bewildered-looking Ringo.” Fortunately for Ringo, the roadie tackled the girl before she reached him.
When they peeked out the door, they found “scores of hysterical, screaming girls racing down the corridors, being chased by a handful of out-of-breath, beleaguered London bobbies.”
The Beatles’ frantic energy that day pushed ‘She Loves You’ over the top.
Beatles Ringo Starr and John Lennon dash from the fans in Birmingham in 1963. | Birmingham Post & Mail/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
While the invasion of Beatles fans rattled Brian Epstein (the band’s manager) and others in charge of protecting the group, Emerick saw the Fab Four feeding off the energy from that encounter.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that the excitement of that afternoon helped spark a new level of energy in the group’s playing,” Emerick wrote. While he considered “She Loves You” to be “fantastic,” he thought the thrill of the moment (i.e., of the Beatles ascendant) took it to a special place.
“There was a level of intensity in the performance that I had not heard before … and, frankly, rarely heard since,” Emerick recalled decades later. “I still judge that single to be one of the most exciting recordings of the Beatles’ entire career.”
Naturally, “She Loves You” shot to No. 1 in the UK after its release in August ’63. But even with all the commotion in England, the Beatles didn’t catch on in American till the calendar turned to 1964.
Also see: The Classic Beatles Song That Eric Clapton Played the Guitar Solo on
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Austin Rivers reaches deal with New York Knicks, source says - ESPN
Free-agent guard Austin Rivers has agreed to a three-year, $10 million deal with the New York Knicks, a source told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. After four years with the LA Clippers, Rivers spent sho… [+694 chars]
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Ticket to Write: George Washington tasted defeat years before revolution
Steve Stephens More Content Now
Feb 2, 2018 at 10:39 AM Feb 2, 2018 at 10:39 AM
The Father of Our Country started out as a failure, at least as a military man.
George Washington’s great, early failure is remembered at Fort Necessity National Battlefield in southwestern Pennsylvania, as are some of his later successes.
In 1754, Lt. Col. Washington led a force of Virginia troops to try to push the French out of the Ohio Valley. He was unsuccessful.
After surprising and killing a number of French troops, the British colonial force under Washington’s command quickly erected a makeshift fort to prepare for the coming reprisal.
Washington built Fort Necessity on a “charming field for an encounter,” as he called it. Unfortunately, it was less charming to defend, being located in a meadow within rifle shot of French snipers in the surrounding woods. Washington and his men were forced to surrender and march away with their tails between their legs.
Today a re-created Fort Necessity stands on the site of the original. The first re-creation, built in the 1930s, resembled a traditional, diamond-shaped wooden fort, but archeological digs in the 1950s revealed the original to be much smaller, round and, to be honest, a bit pathetic.
Today’s fort is a much more accurate representation. Approaching it through the surrounding trees, a visitor might well wonder, “What was Washington thinking?” Of course, he was only 22 at the time. And, if I recall my history correctly, he was a bit more successful during the American Revolution.
A film at the visitors center museum recounts Washington’s early exploits and gave me a much better perspective on the French and Indian War, a conflict whose history and effects I hadn’t fully considered before.
Museum exhibits do a good job of sorting out the French, British, colonial and American Indian interests that led to the conflict and the far-reaching consequences of the war.
The museum also recounts some of the history of the National Road, which was
begun in 1811 and would pass near the site of Fort Necessity very close to the trail that Washington’s troops cleared on their way through.
Eventually the National Road linked Cumberland, Maryland, to Vandalia, Illinois, via Columbus. It later became U.S. Route 40. And although Washington never slept there, park visitors also can tour the historic Mount Washington Tavern, built in 1828 as a National Road stagecoach stop.
— Steve Stephens can be reached at sstephens@dispatch.com or on Twitter @SteveStephens.
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Music Night at Dansville ArtWorks
By Jasmine WillisGenesee Country Express
Nov 1, 2018 at 12:43 PM Nov 1, 2018 at 12:43 PM
DANSVILLE — It was a musical night at the art center as several talented musicians played some favorite tunes for the community.
Colleen Liggett and John Kerr were the featured entertainers of the evening, and they played folk tunes. They also taught some of the audience how to line dance in the old fashioned way.
Kerr’s entire family are professional musicians, and his wife, Colleen is a professional musician as well. The couple has been performing folk music together for many years.
“We love learning Scottish folk songs, since we are both Scottish. We go to Scottish Music Sessions in Rochester and Irish Music Sessions also,” Liggett said. “A lot of the Scottish and Irish musicians play in the city.”
Kerr said that his mother was an organist in the church his father was a minister at. He enjoys playing the fiddle, banjo, guitar, and mandolin.
Michael Smith was among the open mic participants who played a couple of his own songs, such as Left Arm Charlie and The Sofa Song.
Claude Wray of The Wray Family Band did a few classic country covers during the open mic portion as well.
Those who had fun with the dancing part of the night learned some line dancing, and some Charles Dickens dancing.
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England Rugby Union Team
Former Exmouth schoolgirl Izzy Noel-Smith's try not enough as England lose World Cup Final to New Zealand
England were defeated 41-32 by New Zealand in Saturday's final
Jamie Hawkins
Izzy Noel-Smith's try was not Enough for England (Image: Pinnacle)
Former Exmouth schoolgirl Izzy Noel-Smith’s try in Saturday’s World Cup final was not enough as England were narrowly defeated by New Zealand.
Noel-Smith, who also played for Cullompton, came off the bench in Belfast, and crossed the line late on, although it was only to be a consolation as New Zealand secured their fifth world title win with a 41-32 victory.
Former Exeter University student Amber Reed also appeared in the second-half for England, as their reign as world champions was ended at the Kingspan Stadium.
England looked on course to retain their crown after leading 17-10 at half-time, but the Black Ferns put the pressure on in the second-half, and prop Toka Natua grabbed a brace as they scored five tries.
Exeter Chiefs hand trial to England youth international Suva Ma'asi
Life is about to change for many of the Red Roses, following controversial plans by the RFU to not renew the XVs deals following the World Cup.
The focus has shifted to sevens rugby ahead of next years’ Commonwealth Games in Australia's and Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco followed by the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Whilst some players have signed up for the coming season, other players such as Reed will now return to their day jobs.
Reed will return to her position as a PE teacher in the Colston’s School, Bristol.
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Minichamps 1:18 and 1:43 Senna 1987 Lotus Taxi Diecast Model Car Review
Originally published: September 2019
1:18 and 1:43 Senna 1987 Lotus Taxi
Minichamps has just released its replica of the Ayrton Senna and Satoru Nakajima Lotus ‘taxi’ replica from the 1987 Formula One season, in both 1:18 and 1:43 scale.
This model recreates the moment after that year’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Senna had driven his heart out during the race, knowing that the only way to take the challenge to the dominant Williams pairing of Piquet and Mansell was to go through the race without stopping to change tyres.
Sure enough, the Brazilian inherited the lead after the Williams duo pitted for fresh rubber. But he was now paying the price for that strategy, struggling on severely worn tyres. With just a few laps to go Senna’s Goodyears were no longer able to give what he was asking of them, and the yellow Lotus skittered across the gravel trap at the Parabolica, gifting the lead to Piquet.
Still refusing to admit defeat, Ayrton gave chase to his countryman, ultimately coming up just under two seconds shy. He had extracted every last ounce of performance from his Lotus 99T, and duly ran out of fuel after crossing the finish line. And so his team-mate Satoru Nakajima kindly gave him a lift back to the pits!
This is the most exciting Senna replica to have been released for many years. We can’t see it hanging around for long. Especially as it comes fully complete with all the requisite decals!
Shop for the 1:18 and 1:43 Senna 1987 Lotus Taxi
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Spark 1:18 Nelson Piquet 1981 Brabham BT49 Diecast Model Car Review
Originally published: July 2019
1:18 Jaguar D-Types
Having finished second in the Formula One world championship in 1980, Nelson Piquet went one better the following season. This would be the first of the Brazilian’s three world titles.
Piquet started 1981 quietly, with a third and a 12th, while Williams’ Carlos Reutemann scored a second place and a victory. A pair of wins in rounds three and four saw Nelson close to within three points of the Williams driver. The season would essentially boil down to a duel between the two (although Jacques Laffite was also still mathematically in contention heading into the final race at Caesars Palace).
Going into that showdown, Reutemann was one point ahead of his Brabham rival. In the race an unwell Piquet scored two points for fifth place. But this was enough to overhaul Reutemann, who had had an uncompetitive run to eighth. And so the title went to Brazil.
Shop for the 1:18 Jaguar D-Types
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OGC Seeking Information Concerning The Capture And Use Of Spatial Data During Health Emergencies
RFI for the OGC Health SDI Concept Development Study will support the development of a Health Emergencies Data Model and the design of a Health Spatial Data Infrastructure.
6 January 2021: The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) seeks, in support of the OGC Health SDI Concept Development Study (CDS), to gather information concerning capturing, mapping, analyzing, modeling, and sharing spatial data to deal with major health emergencies. The Health SDI CDS will support the development of a Health Emergencies Data Model and the design of a Health Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI). Responses are due by the 29th of January, 2021.
The ongoing difficulties with acquiring and operationalizing data associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have provided a strong impetus for OGC to mobilize its community of global expertise to find practical solutions. Data collected at different levels of government is often neither standardized, integrated, nor interoperable. Monitoring of critical supply chains has proven an enormous challenge during this pandemic and, as such, there have been severe shortages of vital equipment for protracted periods of time. Patient data is often not digitized and geocoded at first contact with the health system - for example, at test sites - making precision mapping and analysis of disease spread almost impossible. Health infrastructure data has not been comprehensively assembled, hindering the development of situational awareness and a common operating picture.
A Health SDI designed to address these issues, then extended to support other kinds of diseases and health problems, will raise the efficiency and effectiveness of health services, saving lives, protecting the public, and saving money.
This RFI starts from the premise that spatially enabled data is essential to increase the preparedness for, mitigate the impacts of, and support the responses to major health emergencies, due to its inherent ability to facilitate data integration, interoperability, analytics, and modeling.
The OGC Health SDI Request For Information (RFI) addresses four major health data categories:
Data relating to critical supply chains;
Data concerning populations tested, infected, and treated;
Data describing the healthcare delivery infrastructure, including hospitals, hospital resources, and hospital staff; and
Data comprising useful spatial framework layers for health specific data.
RFI responders will be asked to look at three health emergency use cases through the lens of these data categories:
Pandemics similar to COVID-19,
Natural disasters cascading to or from the spread of an infectious disease; and
Epidemics of non-infectious, air-quality related respiratory illness.
Responders to this RFI are requested to examine these data categories and use cases, then make recommendations about the kinds of data that need to be shared in order to support all important aspects of a health emergency response. Responders can address the full spectrum of data requirements, or only those data categories and use-cases relevant to their work and interests.
OGC welcomes new and innovative ideas that challenge the assumptions of the RFI and go beyond RFI categories, as well as responses that expand our present understanding and leverage new types of spatially enabled data and tools.
The OGC Health SDI CDS will be conducted under OGC's Innovation Program, a collaborative, agile, and hands-on prototyping and engineering environment where sponsors and OGC members come together to address location interoperability challenges while validating international open standards. Watch this short video on how OGC’s Innovation Program can benefit your organization.
The Health SDI CFS RFI is available to download from the OGC Portal. Responses are due by the 29th of January, 2021. For more information, visit the OGC Health SDI CDS webpage.
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‘Shoot to kill’ power for Rangers in Karachi
KARACHI, May 13: There was no respite from violence for the provincial metropolis on Sunday. Another seven people were killed and scores others injured, raising the death toll in two days of mayhem to 41.
With paramilitary Rangers and other law-enforcement personnel failing to control the situation, the provincial government ordered Rangers to deploy more personnel and empowered the paramilitary force to ‘shoot to kill’ anyone involved in violence.
The entire city was tense and virtually paralysed. Public transport remained off the road and there was a curfew-like situation throughout the day.
Shops and houses in different areas were set ablaze and reports of shooting were received from several districts. Fears of a recurrence of riots suffered by the city in the mid-80s and mid-90s forced residents to remain indoors.
Funeral prayers of people killed on Saturday were offered in various areas. Bodies of more than 10 victims were dispatched to their hometowns.
The government’s move to accord wide-ranging powers to Rangers, authorising them to shoot to kill was questioned by legal experts who said the powers could only be used in the presence and with the consent of a judicial magistrate under the Criminal Procedure Code and the Police Order 2002. Legally, they said, Rangers could not shoot anyone at their discretion.
The violence on Saturday was largely confined to Malir and areas around Sharea Faisal, but on Sunday clashes spread to new localities.
At least seven people lost their lives and dozens others were injured in different areas.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which has been directly accused by the Pakistan People’s Party, Awami National Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Sunni Tehrik and Jamaat-i-Islami of targeting and killing their workers and supporters of their parties, claimed that ‘a conspiracy’ was being hatched against people from other provinces living in Karachi and to incite ethnic riots.
All the parties supported the strike call for Monday and said that shops and markets would remain closed.
UK judge rebukes NAB in Broadsheet ruling
World must stop Modi from igniting war: PM
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CBC Literary Prizes
Canada Reads
Canada Writes
Books·Holiday Gift Guide
15 books for the sports fans on your gift giving list
These 15 books will give sports lovers reasons to cheer this holiday season.
CBC Books · Posted: Dec 13, 2018 1:01 PM ET | Last Updated: December 14, 2018
You can see the complete CBC Books gift guide here.
Cujo by Curtis Joseph with Kirstie McLellan Day
Retired Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Curtis Joseph, pictured above in 2009, has written a memoir about his life. (Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
Curtis Joseph grew up in an institution for mentally ill patients run by his adoptive parents and then went on to spend 19 seasons playing in the NHL as a goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. He delves into how his childhood paved the way for his hockey career in his new autobiography Cujo: The Untold Story of My Life On and Off the Ice. In this revealing memoir, Joseph talks about his highly unusual upbringing and what led him to put on his first pair of skates.
Curtis Joseph opens up about his unique childhood in his new book
Tiger Woods by Jeff Benedict
American golfer Tiger Woods is the subject of a biography by author Jeff Benedict. (Simon & Schuster/AP Photo, John Locher)
American professional golfer Tiger Woods was at the top of his game for years. Then it all came tumbling down one Thanksgiving night. A car crash exposed his serial infidelity and changed his life — and the lives of the family and friends around him — forever. This researched biography explores the life of Tiger Woods and the reasons why the most successful golfer of all time became one of the most scrutinized figure in recent times.
Tiger Woods works to restore roar
The Men in White by Anosh Irani
The Men In White is a play by Anosh Irani. (Glen D'Mello/House of Anansi Press)
Author and playwright Anosh Irani's latest work is based in Vancouver and Bombay. Eighteen-year-old Hasan Siddiqui is a boy in Bombay who dreams of becoming a star cricket player and winning the heart of Hassena. Meanwhile, over in Canada, older sibling Abdul toils as a worker in an Indian restaurant, hoping to earn enough money to reunite his family. The Men in White is a sobering look at racism and intolerance through the eyes of youth.
Anosh Irani on the universal search for home
Tessa and Scott by Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir with Steve Milton
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir are Olympic champion figure skaters. (House of Anansi Press/Getty)
Tessa and Scott is a behind-the-scenes look at the iconic ice dancing duo. Veteran sports columnist Steve Milton draws from hours of conversations with Tessa and Scott — from their initial meeting back in the mid-1990s to their recent ascent within the international scene. Using interviews and photos, it takes a look at the how hard work and discipline led to their Olympic achievements in Vancouver in 2010 and Sochi in 2014, through to their exhilarating triumph in Pyeongchang in 2018.
Tessa and Scott: Two decades of magic
Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor
Let Your Mind Run is a memoir by Deena Kastor. (AP Photo/Damian Dovargane, Crown)
Deena Kastor is the best female distance runner in United States history. In her memoir, Let Your Mind Run, Kastor looks back at the pivotal races and moments that shaped her career and who she is as a runner and reflects on the mental techniques she developed over the years — the ones that turned her into an Olympic medallist and an American record holder.
Born Into It by Jay Baruchel
Born Into It is Jay Baruchel's first book. (HarperCollins Canada)
To say that actor Jay Baruchel is a superfan of the Montreal Canadiens would be an understatement. The Ottawa-born, Montreal-raised Baruchel examines his lifelong passion and love for the team with the colours rouge, bleu et blanc — and his obsession for the sport known as Canada's national pastime in his humorous memoir Born Into It.
Jay Baruchel joins Toronto comics publisher Chapterhouse Publishing
The Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American former professional basketball player. (Farrar Straus & Giroux/Getty)
Recently retired from the sport, superstar Kobe Bryant was one of the most intelligent, analytical and creative basketball players ever. The Mamba Mentality reveals his unique approach to prepare mentally and physically to not just succeed at the game, but to excel. The book includes photographs by NBA Hall of Fame photographer Andrew D. Bernstein and shares Bryant's perspective on the sport he loves and how he played the game his way.
Kobe so nice he'll have number retired twice
Soulmates on Ice by Eric Radford, Laura E. Young and Meagan Duhamel
Soulmates on Ice looks at the career of Canadian figure skaters Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford. (Latitude 46/Getty)
Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford are two-time world pair champions and three-time Olympic medallists. Soulmates on Ice is a look at the path the skaters from Northern Ontario took on their way to success. It examines their working relationship — including their highs, lows and injury setbacks — and the resilience and sacrifice it took to succeed, despite the odds.
Eric Radford is now a hero in the place where he was bullied as a kid
Bobby by Bobby Orr
Bobby Orr is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest of all time. (Viking Canada)
To say that hockey player Bobby Orr is a legend would be an understatement. Bobby: My Story in Pictures looks at the incredible life and career of the retired hockey player from Parry Sound, Ont. It tells his story though a personal collection of photos while bringing into focus a different time, when the hockey was grittier and less complex.
A new book looks at why Bobby Orr was one of the true hockey greats
Home Ice by Angie Abdou
Author Angie Abdou was born and raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. (ECW Press)
Angie Abdou recalls the emotional, physical and financial highs and lows of having a child play amateur hockey. No stranger to elite sport herself, in Home Ice Abdou talks about the life of a hockey parent. She takes on the sport that is Canada's national obsession and questions the role it plays in shaping young players.
The trials and tribulations of a hockey mom
Open Look by Jay Triano
Jay Triano is a retired pro basketball player and current assistant coach of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association. (Getty/Simon & Schuster)
Hailing from Niagara Falls, Ont., Jay Triano was and still is a basketball junkie. This memoir by the retired professional basketball player and former coach of the Toronto Raptors takes a look at his love of basketball and the rise of sport's popularity in Canada.
Jay Triano, Canadian basketball coach
Arthur Ashe by Raymond Arsenault
Arthur Ashe was an American professional tennis player and the the only black man ever to win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open. (Getty/Simon & Schuster)
Known as one of the first black American athletes to succeed on a global level in the sport of tennis, the late Arthur Ashe is an icon. This biography by Raymond Arsenault delves into the life of the pioneering athlete who was passionate about civil rights, racial equality and the elimination of apartheid in South Africa.
Everyday Hockey Heroes by Bob McKenzie and Jim Lang
Ottawa youth coach Karina Potvin is one of the everyday hockey heroes profiled by authors Bob McKenzie and Jim Lang. (Simon & Schuster)
Canadian broadcasters Bob McKenzie and Jim Lang look at the present and future of the sport of hockey through the eyes of the players that make the game so special. From small-town rinks to big city arenas across the country, this collection celebrates everyone who loves the sport. It features profiles of national names including Philadelphia Flyer Wayne Simmonds and Paralympian gold medalist Greg Westlake, who wouldn't be at the top of their sport without the never-ending support of their respective families and communities, to local hero Karina Potvin, the Ottawa youth hockey coach introducing the revered pastime to Syrian boys and girls in Canada.
Blue Monday by Danny Gallagher
The Montreal Expos were a Canadian professional baseball team from 1969 to 2004. (Dundurn/Wikimedia Commons)
While the professional baseball team known as the Montreal Expos no longer exists, their sports legacy lives on. Author Danny Gallagher takes readers back to 1981 when Rick Monday of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit a home run off of Montreal Expos pitcher Steve Rogers in the ninth inning, giving the Dodgers a berth in the World Series. Blue Monday looks at the players involved in that fateful game to tell secrets and untold stories about that era of Canadian baseball.
The strike that killed the Expos' World Series dream
Come on You Reds by Joshua Kloke
Come on You Reds looks at Toronto's MLS team, Toronto FC. (Canadian Press/Frank Gunn, Dundurn)
Toronto Football Club, commonly referred to as Toronto FC, is the city's professional soccer team. Written by sports journalist Joshua Kloke, Come on You Reds looks at the team's early struggles behind-the-scenes and on the field and its recent success in winning a Major League Soccer championship in 2017. It's a passionate examination of the team, its wild fan base and what the franchise means to the city.
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Stacy Lewis Lydia Ko Juliana Felisberta April Ross Charles Cooper Dan Majerle Mario Barrett Tony Parker Ricky Williams Cam Newton JaMarcus Russell Michael Jordan Mike Jordan Odalis Perez Dwyane Wade Jake Long Alex Rodriguez Steve Nash Troy Tulowitzki Greg Maddux Michael Grant Chris Long Pat Riley Roger Clemens Gregory R. Page Jerry West Andrew Luck Frederick Bousquet Chris Davis Donald Sterling Jason Collins Robert Griffin Robert Griffin III Muhammad Ali Wladimir Klitschko Kevin Millwood Derek Lowe Dwayne Roloson Nathan Horton Kerri Walsh Jennings Henrik Zetterberg Bill Russell Jenny Shin Sports Sports governance Crime General news Kentucky Derby Baseball Men's sports Record setting events Beach volleyball Volleyball games NFL football Professional football Football Stanley Cup Playoffs NBA Playoffs Coach retirement Coaching College football College sports MLB baseball Professional baseball Women's boxing Boxing Women's sports Men's beach volleyball NBA basketball Professional basketball Basketball Men's basketball NHL hockey Professional hockey Hockey Men's hockey Skating Women's beach volleyball Men's boxing Men's skating Women's skating Doping NFL Draft NBA Draft NBA Finals Thoroughbred racing Horse racing Men's college basketball College basketball
By The Associated Press - Apr. 23, 2020 11:05 AM EDT
1950 — Charles Cooper, an All-American from Duquesne playing with the Harlem Globetrotters, becomes the first black to be picked in the NBA draft when he’s taken by the Boston Celtics.
1952 — The Minneapolis Lakers, led by George Mikan’s 22 points, beat the New York Knicks 82-65 to win the NBA title in seven games.
1964 — The Toronto Maple Leafs win their third straight Stanley Cup with a 4-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings in the seventh game.
1965 — The Boston Celtics score 42 points on a record 21 field goals in the final quarter of Game 5 to post a 129-96 rout of the Los Angeles Lakers and win their seventh consecutive NBA championship.
1974 — The NFL adopts the 15-minute, sudden-death overtime to avoid ties. The league also moves the goal posts to the back of the end zones.
1989 — Mario Lemieux ties NHL playoff records with four first-period goals, five overall and eight points as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat Philadelphia 10-7 to take a 3-2 lead in the Patrick Division finals.
1993 — Micheal Williams set an NBA record for consecutive free throws with 84. He made 10 straight as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat Utah 113-111. Calvin Murphy held the previous mark of 78 for Houston in 1981.
1993 — Pittsburgh’s NHL-record 14-game playoff winning streak and its overall 21-game unbeaten string are snapped as the New Jersey Devils beat the Penguins 4-1.
1995 — Major League Baseball returns after a 257-day players’ strike as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Florida Marlins 8-7.
1997 — Phoenix’s Rex Chapman makes a playoff-record nine 3-pointers en route to career-high 42 points in a 106-101 win at Seattle. Chapman broke the old playoff mark of eight treys set by Dan Majerle of Phoenix against Seattle on June 1, 1993.
2000 — The San Jose Sharks, the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed, eliminate the NHL’s regular-season champions, the St. Louis Blues, with a 3-1 victory in Game 7. The Blues are the second NHL regular-season champion to get knocked out in the first round, joining the 1991 Chicago Blackhawks.
2006 — Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams is suspended for the 2006 season by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy for the fourth time.
2009 — San Antonio’s Tony Parker matches George Gervin’s franchise playoff record for points in a half, scoring 31 by halftime of the Spurs’ 99-90 loss to Dallas in Game 4 of their series. Parker makes 12 of 17 shots, including two 3-pointers, to help the Spurs take a 55-51 halftime lead. Parker finishes with 43 points.
2010 — Dwyane Wade sets franchise playoff records with 46 points, 30 in the second half, and Miami staves off elimination by beating Boston 101-92 in Game 4 of an Eastern Conference first-round series.
1905 — Jack McCarthy of the Cubs became the only outfielder in major league history to throw out three runners at the plate, each the second out of a double play. The victims were the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 2-1 loss.
1950 — The University of Miami ends the longest winning streak in college tennis by defeating William & Mary 8-1. William & Mary, unbeaten in five years, had won 82 consecutive meets.
1964 — The Boston Celtics capture their sixth consecutive NBA title with a 105-99 victory over the San Francisco Warriors in Game 5 of the finals.
1995 — The Colorado Rockies defeat the New York Mets 11-9 in 14 innings, tying the NL record for innings played in a season opener.
2002 — Odalis Perez of Los Angeles faces the minimum 27 batters in his first career shutout. Perez was perfect for six innings in a 10-0 win over the Cubs at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.
2005 — Alex Rodriguez hits three home runs and drives in a career-high 10 runs to lead the New York Yankees over the Los Angeles Angels 12-4.
2008 — Michigan tackle Jake Long is selected by the Miami Dolphins with the top pick in the NFL draft. St. Louis selects Chris Long of Virginia second.
2009 — France’s Frederick Bousquet sets a world record in the 50-meter freestyle, becoming the first to break the 21-second barrier. His mark of 20.94 comes at the French championships.
2012 — Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is selected first overall in the NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He is followed by Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, who is taken by the Washington Redskins.
2012 — The Charlotte Bobcats finish with the worst winning percentage in NBA history after a 104-84 loss to the New York Knicks. The Bobcats’ 23rd consecutive loss leaves them with a winning percentage of .106 (7-59) in the lockout-shortened season. The record was set 39 years ago, when the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers finished 9-73 (.110) in a full regular season.
2014 — Wladimir Klitschko toys with Alex Leapai and knocks him out in the fifth round to retain his four heavyweight belts in Oberhausen, Germany.
1956 — Rocky Marciano retires as the undefeated heavyweight boxing champion. He finished with a 49-0 record, including six title defenses and 43 knockouts.
1960 — The Minneapolis Lakers announce that they will relocate to Los Angeles.
1968 — Jimmy Ellis won the world heavyweight boxing title with a 15-round decision over Jerry Quarry in Oakland, Calif. This is the final bout of an eight-man elimination tournament to fill Muhammad Ali’s vacated title.
1994 — Scott Erickson, who allowed the most hits in the majors the previous season, pitched Minnesota’s first no-hitter in 27 years as the Twins beat Milwaukee 6-0.
1994 — Dave Hannan scores 5:43 into the fourth overtime to keep the Buffalo Sabres going in the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils, the sixth-longest game in NHL history.
2001 — Jamal Mashburn of Charlotte sets an NBA playoff record by making all 25 of his free throws during the three-game sweep of Miami. Mashburn is 10-for-10 in Charlotte’s 94-79 victory.2002 — Derek Lowe pitches a no-hitter against Tampa Bay. Brent Abernathy is the only baserunner Lowe allows in Boston’s 10-0 victory.
2003 — Kevin Millwood pitches his first career no-hitter to lead the Philadelphia Phillies over the San Francisco Giants 1-0.
2007 — Kirk Radomski, a former New York Mets clubhouse employee, pleads guilty to distributing steroids to major league players for a decade and agrees to help baseball’s steroids investigators.
2008 — Ashley Force becomes the first woman to win a national Funny Car race. The 25-year-old beats her father, drag racing icon John Force, in the final round of the 28th annual Summit Racing Equipment Southern Nationals to deny him his 1,000 winning round in his 500th NHRA tour event.
2009 — West Virginia State’s Bo Darby hit home runs in five consecutive at-bats over two games, including four in one contest. The sophomore outfielder homers in his first four trips to the plate against Salem International. He also connects in his final at-bat two days earlier against the University of Charleston. Darby homers twice more in the second game of the doubleheader, giving him six for the day with 14 RBIs.
2009 — The Denver Nuggets match the biggest victory in playoff history with their 121-63 rout of New Orleans in Game 4 of their first-round series. The Minneapolis Lakers had the other 58-point postseason victory, beating the St. Louis Hawks 133-75 in 1956. The Hornets record playoff lows in points, field goals made (17), field goals attempted (54), assists (10) and second-half points (24).
2011 — Nathan Horton scores 5:43 into overtime to give the Boston Bruins a 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series. Boston had never won a playoff series after trailing 0-2 in 26 tries.
2011 — Dwayne Roloson makes 36 saves as Tampa Bay completes a big series comeback and eliminates Pittsburgh with a 1-0 win in Game 7. Roloson becomes the second goalie to go 6-0 in elimination games. He allowed only four goals in winning the final three games as the Lightning erased a 3-1 series deficit.
2013 — The Detroit Red Wings make the playoffs for the 22nd straight season after Henrik Zetterberg had two goals and an assist in a 3-0 victory over Dallas. The Red Wings own the longest active playoff streak in major professional sports, six years longer than the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs’ stretch of postseason play.
2014 — Three-time Olympic champion Kerri Walsh wins her record 47th FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour title, teaming with April Ross to beat Brazil’s Juliana Felisberta Silva and Maria Antonelli 21-11, 21-18 in the Fuzhou Open final.
2014 — Lydia Ko birdies the final hole for her third LPGA Tour victory and first as a professional, holding off Stacy Lewis and Jenny Shin in the inaugural Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. Ko earns $270,000, celebrating on the 18th green three days after celebrating her 17th birthday.
1966 — Boston edges the Los Angeles Lakers 95-93 in Game 7, giving the Celtics and coach Red Auerbach eight straight NBA titles. Auerbach, who announced his retirement earlier, is replaced by center Bill Russell, the first black head coach of a major U.S. sports team.
1967 — Muhammad Ali refuses induction into the U.S. Armed Forces. He is arrested and the New York State Athletic Commission suspends his boxing license and strips him of his heavyweight title.
1987 — The NBA awards expansion franchises to Charlotte, N.C. and Miami for 1988, and Minneapolis and Orlando, Fla., in 1989. Each paid a $32.5 million entry fee.
1990 — Boston set single-game NBA playoff records for scoring and shooting accuracy in a 157-128 rout of the New York Knicks to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.
1995 — Michael Jordan, in his first playoff game since his return from retirement, scored 48 points in the Chicago Bulls’ 108-100 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
1995 — The Orlando Magic give the Boston Celtics their worst defeat in team history, 124-77, in a playoff opener.
2001 — John Stockton gets his first triple-double in 171 career playoff games with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in Utah’s 94-91 loss to Dallas.
2001 — Colorado’s Patrick Roy sets an NHL record with his 16th career playoff shutout, making 20 saves in a 2-0 win over Los Angeles.
2005 — Competing in the Drake Relays decathlon for the last time, Kip Janvrin finishes first in the final four events to run away with the title. Janvrin, 39, who won at Drake for the 15th time and increases his world record for decathlon victories to 38. He finishes with 7,671 points, his lowest winning score since 1988.
2007 — JaMarcus Russell, the big-play quarterback from LSU, is the first pick by the Oakland Raiders in the NFL draft.
2009 — Washington edges the New York Rangers 2-1 in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference series to cap a comeback from three games to one. It is the franchise’s first series victory since the 1997-98 season, when Washington made it all the way to the Stanley Cup finals.
2010 — Montreal beats Washington 2-1 to complete a come-from-behind 4-3 series victory and eliminate the NHL’s best regular-season team in the first round of the playoffs. The Canadiens are the ninth No. 8-seeded team to knock off a No. 1 in 32 matchups since the NHL went to its current playoff format in 1994 — and the first to come back from a 3-1 series deficit.
2011 — The Carolina Panthers select Auburn quarterback Cam Newton with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.
2011 — Canada’s Patrick Chan wins his first world figure skating title in record fashion. Chan sets world records for the free skate and total points to claim titles at the world figure skating championships in Moscow.
1901 — His Eminence, ridden by Jimmy Winkfield, wins the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2 lengths over Sannazarro in the only Derby ever raced in April.
1961 — ABC’s “Wide World of Sports,” debuts.
1970 — Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West hits a 60-foot desperation shot at the buzzer to tie Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. The Knicks outscore the Lakers 9-6 in the overtime for a 111-108 win.
1985 — Tony Tubbs captures the WBA heavyweight title with a unanimous 15-round decision over Greg Page in Buffalo, N.Y.
1986 — Roger Clemens set a major league record by striking out 20 batters as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Seattle Mariners 3-1.
1988 — The Baltimore Orioles end their 21-game losing streak by winning their first game of the season, 9-0 over the Chicago White Sox.
1990 — Pat Riley becomes the winningest coach in NBA playoff history as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Houston Rockets 104-100. Riley’s 100th victory put him ahead of Red Auerbach.
1994 — Kirk Rueter of Montreal became the first major league pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 to start his career with a 10-0 record as the Expos beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2.
1998 — For the first time in the 124-year history of the Kentucky Derby, a redraw is ordered during the post position draw. Churchill Downs officials allowed ESPN to control the announcing of the draw. Commentator Chris Lincoln called the No. 15 pill twice while picking the draft order for post positions.
2000 — Lennox Lewis knocks down Michael Grant three times in the first round and knocks him out at 2:53 of the second at Madison Square Garden in New York to retain his WBC and IBF heavyweight titles. The combined weight of 497 pounds made it the heaviest title fight ever.
2003 — Indiana outscores Boston 5-0 in overtime for a 93-88 victory, cutting the Celtics’ first-round series lead to 3-2. It’s the first overtime shutout in NBA playoff history.
2005 — In the first matchup between 300-game winners in almost 18 years, the Cubs’ Greg Maddux outduels the Astros’ Roger Clemens in Chicago’s 3-2.
2007 — Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has an unassisted triple play in the seventh inning of the Rockies’ 9-7 win over Atlanta. It’s the 13th unassisted triple play in major league history and the first since 2003.
2007 — Phoenix guard Steve Nash has 23 assists, one shy of the NBA playoff record, to help Phoenix to a 113-100 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
2010 — The NCAA’s Board of Directors approve a 68-team format for the men’s basketball tournament beginning next season. It’s the first expansion since 2001 when the tourney went from 64 to 65 teams.
2011 — Zach Randolph scores 31 points and grabs 11 rebounds and the Memphis Grizzlies advance to their first Western Conference semifinals and made NBA history in knocking off the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs 99-91. The Grizzlies becomes the second No. 8 seed to upset a No. 1 seed since the NBA expanded the opening series to a best-of-seven.
2013 — NBA veteran center Jason Collins becomes the first male professional athlete in the major four American sports leagues to come out as gay. Collins writes a first-person account posted on Sports Illustrated’s website. The 34-year-old free agent played for six NBA teams in 12 seasons.
2014 — Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling is banned for life by the NBA in response to racist comments he made in an audio recording. The Clippers’ owner is also fined $2.5 million, the maximum amount allowed under the NBA Constitution.
2015 — In what is believed to be the first major league game played without fans in attendance, Chris Davis hits a three-run homer in a six-run first inning and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Chicago White Sox 8-2. The gates at Camden Yards are locked because of concern for fan safety following recent rioting in Baltimore.
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COLOMBIA’S CONTRASTS IN FIGURES
Statistics on Colombia
Colombia’s total population was 40.8 million in 1998, of which 74.1% was urban. The urban population doubled from 15.4 million to 30.2 million in just 13 years.
At 20.5% the official rate of unemployment is the highest in Latin America (real rate is 25% plus). The average GDP per capita was $2,392 in 1998. But the richest 10% took 46.9% of all income.
Stockmarket values increased from $1.4 billion in 1990 to $19.5 billion in 1997.
Colombia’s external debt more than doubled from US $14.2 billion in 1985 to $33.3 billion in 1998.
Servicing the foreign debt went up from 16% of export earnings in 1980 to 34.6% in 1996.
Foreign Direct Investment leapt up from 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 1980 to 18.7% in 1996.
Between 1980 and 1996, fuel exports, principally oil, increased from 3% to 34% of total exports.
Public Expenditure
Total government expenditure was 14.5% of GDP in 1995, it was 42% in the UK that year.
In 1996 pensions in the UK constituted 10.2% of GDP. In Colombia they constituted just 0.9% of GDP.
Total social service expenditure in UK was 22.8% of GDP, in Colombia it was 6.1% of GDP.
In 1994 there were 78.6 recorded homicides per 100,000 people. The second highest recorded homicide rate in the world is Jamaica at 29.8 homicides per 100,000 people.
Colombia is the country with the most animal and bird species (2,054) in the world.
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Protests remain tense in Kansas City, Ferguson
Jim Salter
O'FALLON — Protests in Missouri's two largest metro areas over the death of George Floyd and police treatment of African Americans devolved from peaceful demonstrations to spurts of chaos late Sunday and early Monday, with vehicles and buildings damaged and officers firing tear gas after being pelted with rocks, fireworks and molotov cocktails.
Demonstrators marched in at least five Missouri cities and across the country in another day of protests sparked by the May 25 death of Floyd, a handcuffed black man who pleaded for air as a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee against Floyd's neck for several minutes.
Tensions boiled over for a second straight night in both Kansas City and Ferguson, the city in St. Louis County that became synonymous with the Black Lives Matter movement after the August 2014 death of Michael Brown, a black 18-year-old, during a confrontation with a white police officer.
Republican Gov. Mike Parson said Monday that the Missouri National Guard and the Missouri State Highway Patrol are ready if violence persists.
"We support peaceful protesters and we are committed to protecting the lawful exercise of these rights," Parson, a former sheriff, said. "But violence and destruction will never be the answer. It does not help us achieve justice or peace. Instead it terrorizes innocent people and families, destroys our communities and creates more anger and pain."
Just as in 2014, the Ferguson Police Department was a focus of demonstrators on Sunday night. Police began dispersing the crowd shortly after 10 p.m., but some people damaged windows at Ferguson Brewing Co. just down the street. Minutes later, after someone threw a Molotov cocktail at a police car, officers responded with tear gas and ordered protesters to clear the area.
St. Louis County police reported that two officers suffered minor injuries. One was hit by fireworks, the other by a rock. Neither required hospitalization. Six people were arrested — three accused of assault on law enforcement officer, one for destruction of property, one for unlawful possession of an explosive weapon and one for an active warrant, police spokesman Benjamin Granda said.
The violence wasn't as severe as Saturday, when seven St. Louis County officers were injured after being hit by rocks, bottles and fireworks, at least 11 police and fire vehicles were damaged. Several buildings also were damaged, including the Ferguson Police Department. Police also reported gunfire in the area of the protests.
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, a Democrat, said Monday that he understands the anger because a "tidal wave of racism" still blindsides the nation.
"We are a country that is scared," Page said at a news conference. "We are country that is angry. And we are a country that is holding out for the promise of justice for all. And when it is abundantly clear that that promise has been broken, then we will see marchers in our street."
Sunday's protest in Kansas City also wasn't as violent as Saturday's, when 85 people were arrested and several businesses were damaged. In fact, the Sunday gathering of more than 1,000 people near the Country Club Plaza was peaceful enough that police waived an 8 p.m. curfew that had been ordered earlier in the day.
But later Sunday night, police used tear gas to break up the protest that included damage to businesses and fire that destroyed a KSHB-TV news vehicle. Police fired rounds of tear gas into the crowd after objects were thrown at them.
Kansas City police spokesman Jacob Becchina said 63 people were arrested Sunday. Including five protest-related arrests on Friday, 151 people were arrested in Kansas City over the weekend.
Becchina said two officers were hospitalized over the weekend — one with a head injury and one with a lacerated liver — and about 20 other officers were treated for minor injuries. All of the injuries were from objects thrown at officers.
The protests came amid otherwise violent weekends in both metropolitan areas. In Kansas City, two people died in separate shootings Sunday night, including one just blocks away from the protest site. In St. Louis, two people were killed and 17 people were injured in weekend shootings.
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CompAir Bangladesh Home
Bangladesh - Change Region
CompAir slices energy costs at bakery
Just three months after installing two fixed-speed L110s and one regulated-speed L132RS compressor, along with a heat recovery system from CompAir, a leading supplier of bread products is on target to achieve annual energy savings in the region of £188,000, with a payback on investment in less than two years.
The company recently embarked on a period of investment, with the aim of improving its equipment and processes to ensure consistent production levels.
Compressed air is used throughout the production process, 24 hours per day, to help produce over two million bread products every week.
The plant’s existing compressors, which were over 20 years old, were no longer providing an efficient source of air, so the company opted to review its compressor system.
Inefficient air
The bakery had previously using four fixed-speed compressors, three of which were CompAir machines. Because of their age, and the fact they were running continuously, the compressors were becoming inefficient and expensive to maintain.
A full air audit, including leak testing identified that, by installing three new compressors, including a regulated speed unit as well as a heat recovery system and SmartAir Master controller, the customer could benefit from considerable energy savings.
The regulated speed L132RS and fixed speed L110 compressors produce the correct amount of air to match requirements, meaning the compressors are always running at optimum efficiency. The additional fixed speed unit acts as a standby compressor for use during essential maintenance work.
In addition, the SmartAir Master controller from CompAir helps to reduce energy consumption by operating all of the compressors in the network to the narrowest pressure band. The unit’s remote monitoring capability allows the operator to view system performance and detect any errors via a PC. It has also allowed machine-running hours to be equalised so that no compressor is over or underused.
Typically, almost all of the energy that is used to power a compressor is converted to heat and is then wasted.
All three compressors came factory fitted with CompAir's oil-to-water plate heat exchangers, allowing recovery of up to 72% of the power consumed.
The heat recovery system enables the company’s boiler water feed to be preheated, helping to reduce the company’s annual natural gas consumption, saving approximately £139,000 per year.
In order to meet the strict hygiene requirements of the food industry, it is important to generate clean and dry air. The company therefore chose to install a desiccant dryer with steam regeneration from CompAir, along with food grade filtering and oil.
The new system will provide overall annual energy savings in the region of £188,000 with a return on investment in less than two years.
If you are a member of the trade or general business media and have any questions regarding the Gardner Denver Industrials Segment, please contact:
Beth Selestow
+(1) 724 239 1568
Milwaukee, WI, USA
en-BD
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Universal Human Rights Should Trump the Politics of “the People”
How much difference can two Chinese characters make to the impact of legislation? Considerable difference, according to recent commentary by Han Dayuan (韩大元), dean of Renmin University of China Law School, that looks at proposed changes to the Criminal Procedure Law (CPL).
Ever since the full text of a draft CPL revision was made public in August 2011, its content has been examined closely and debated vociferously within China. Supporters herald the legislation as a major improvement in the protection of rights, pointing to things like facilitating the work of criminal defense lawyers, formalizing procedures aimed at excluding evidence obtained illegally, and establishing new procedures for juvenile offenders. Critics, on the other hand, have raised concerns that the revision would greatly expand the power of investigators to abuse secret surveillance and to detain people without notifying their family.
More than 80,000 recommendations regarding the draft amended CPL were submitted to the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee during a one-month period of public consultation that ended September 30. At least some of these suggestions made their way into a second draft that was reviewed by the NPC Standing Committee in late December. Now, a final draft of the legislation is slated for review by the nearly 3,000-member NPC when it meets for its annual session, scheduled to open in less than two weeks.
Thus far, most of the discussion surrounding CPL revision has concerned specific changes to procedures or measures added to the legislation. But there are also many concerns about changes that haven’t been made.
For example, the drafts reviewed by the NPC Standing Committee do not change Article 1, the statement of the legislation’s purpose: “保护人民” [to protect the people]. In commentary published in Legal Daily last week, Han Dayuan recommends changing that purpose to “保障人权” [to protect human rights]. This change was included in each of the major revision proposals prepared by Chinese legal scholars after CPL revision was first placed on the legislative agenda back in 2003.
Professor & Dean Han Dayuan. Photo credit:
Renmin University of China Law Shool
Han believes the change would better reflect the spirit of China’s constitution—which was amended in 2004 to affirm the state’s role in respecting and safeguarding human rights—and highlight both domestically and internationally China’s existing achievements and future goals with regard to rights protection and rule-of-law development.
The change is also significant because in the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist political culture of China, all references to “the people” are implicitly exclusive of particular groups, e.g., the exploiting classes, counterrevolutionaries, and “enemies of the people.” Removing this political category from the CPL would imply that the rights and protections granted therein are universal, rather than selective.
Making the protection of human rights the explicit aim of the CPL would thus strike a symbolic blow against the kind of “dual track” criminal justice system that is being fostered in China, one in which procedural protections are extended in the majority of criminal cases but withheld in cases deemed threatening to sociopolitical order.
At this stage in the legislative process, a symbolic victory like an amendment to Article 1 may be more achievable than substantial changes to procedural provisions over which China’s law-enforcement stakeholders have already reached consensus. And for those who have been working to more firmly establish constitutionalism, rule of law, and human rights protection, a symbolic victory could set new standards for future legal reform.
Ultimately, however, the immediate impact of such a change would likely be only symbolic. What matters more as far as the protection of human rights is concerned is not the CPL’s programmatic principles but, rather, the concrete procedures and measures set out therein and the extent to which these measures are implemented. In evaluating China’s human rights situation, actions still speak louder than words.
Clarify Subject in CPL Draft Amendment, Article 1
Recommend Changing “Protect the People” to “Protect Human Rights”
Han Dayuan, Legal Daily
The 5th plenary session of the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC) will open on March 5, 2012, at which time the Draft Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) Amendments will be deliberated. This revision of the CPL adds many important items, including a prohibition on compulsory self-incrimination, and emphasizes the basic principle of protecting human rights. The number of articles that the draft adds or revises makes up around half of the total number of articles in the current CPL.
As a basic law of the state, revision of the CPL has always received widespread attention from all sectors of society, including legal scholars. Among the issues discussed most often is how to properly understand and handle the relationships between the CPL and the constitution and between punishing crime and protecting human rights. The basic idea behind the CPL should be adequate protection of human rights and effective crime-fighting. The content of the CPL should sufficiently embody the constitutional principles of protecting human rights, [developing] rule of law, and “dividing [the] functions [of the courts, procuratorates, and public security organs], each taking responsibility for its own work, and coordinating their efforts and checking each other.”
Generally speaking, the first article of a law expresses the purpose of that law, reflects its central values, and serves as a kind of summary of its essential points. Article 1 of the CPL draft revision states: “This law is enacted in accordance with the constitution for the purpose of ensuring correct enforcement of the Criminal Law, punishing crimes, protecting the people, safeguarding state- and public security and maintaining socialist public order.” In light of the relationship between the constitution and the CPL and based on the legislative purpose, I recommend that “protecting the people” in Article 1 be changed to “protecting human rights.”
Protecting Human Rights Embodies Constitutional Principles
The constitution is the founding law of the state. It carries supreme legal force and occupies the “leading” position in the socialist legal system wherein all laws and regulations should remain in accord with the constitution. This is why the majority of laws all say in their first articles: “This law is enacted in accordance with the constitution.” In his 2004 speech in Beijing commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the NPC, General Secretary Hu Jintao emphasized that to rule the country in accordance with the law means first ruling the country in accordance with the constitution and that to govern in accordance with the law means first governing in accordance with the constitution.
In 2004, China’s constitution was revised and “the state respects and safeguards human rights” was solemnly added to establish a national value system and set a basic standard for all acts of public authority. As a basic law meting out the specifics of the constitution, the CPL must obey the values of the constitution and give expression in its conception of values to the principles and spirit of the constitution, as well as establish institutions that respect and implement the provisions of the constitution. The relationship between the CPL and human rights is especially close, with the CPL having been called the “defendant’s charter of rights.” It should embody the requirements of the constitution and clearly provide for “protecting human rights.”
After the constitution was revised in 2004, the enactment and revision of laws must fully reflect the principle of protecting human rights. If the CPL were to announce “to protect human rights” as its legislative purpose, then it would be not only a major step forward for criminal legislation and the administration of criminal justice but also a concrete implementation of constitutional principles.
Though the phrase “to protect the people” that is stipulated in the current draft is premised on expressing the law’s affinity with the people, it is neither scientific legal terminology nor is it appropriate. “The people” is a political concept, not a legal concept. During different periods, the specific meaning of “the people” has varied depending on the historical period of the nation’s development. What human rights protects are “human beings.” Even defendants, criminal suspects, or criminal offenders—even offenders who have been sentenced to death—all enjoy certain human rights and there are some human rights that cannot be stripped away. When the constitution says that the state protects human rights, it means that the constitution protects not only the people but protects the legitimate rights and interests of criminal offenders, suspects, and defendants as well.
An important function of the CPL is to use procedural [norms] to safeguard the basic rights of specific groups. If we only write “to protect the people,” then it’s possible that other groups outside of the people will be left out, resulting in an incomplete level of protection by the state. Generally speaking, in the procedures of the CPL, those who are being prosecuted are clearly in the weaker category. Their human rights are easily infringed upon by the mighty power of state organs, and so they rightly ought to receive fuller protection under the CPL in order to realize the principle of all being equal before the law.
Protecting Human Rights Embodies the Spirit of International Covenants
A clear CPL provision “to protect human rights” would also help to express the spirit of international human rights covenants. China has already acceded to several international treaties related to criminal justice and has signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). A clear statement “to protect human rights” in Article 1 of the CPL would help link the legislation with human rights treaties, help the NPC Standing Committee to ratify the ICCPR, to reduce the legal and technical problems that might be faced at the time of ratification, to display China’s progress in rule of law, to avoid attacks by hostile forces against our human rights situation, and to effectively uphold China’s international image.
At the same time that we firmly establish “to protect human rights” as the legislative purpose of the CPL, I recommend that we also change the expression “to punish crime [and] to protect the people” to “to protect human rights [and] to punishing crime.” Punishing crime and protecting human rights are both of important significance, and both are goals for the CPL to realize. But protection of human rights is fundamental, and the goal of punishing crime is to protect human rights.
The phrase “to punish crime [and] to protect the people” carries the logic that the people are protected by punishing crime. Once “to protect the people” is changed to “to protect human rights,” the CPL will protect the rights of all people as human beings, not just protect the rights of the people from being infringed upon by criminal elements. The innocent must also be protected from prosecution and, even more, the lawful rights and interests of criminal suspects, defendants, and criminal offenders must be protected.
In sum, changing “to protect the people” to “to protect human rights” will help to embody the spirit of the constitution, to correctly reflect the positive achievements of CPL reform, and to highlight the progress of China’s human rights development and future goal of the development of rule of law.
Posted by Dui Hua Foundation on Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Labels: law
State Security Stats Highlight Ethnic Unrest, Lack of Names
Growth in the number of “endangering state security” (ESS) trials concluded in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region (Xinjiang) provides evidence of a widespread crackdown on ethnic Uyghurs. The number of trials for the category of crimes often used to suppress speech, association, and assembly increased 10.11 percent year-on-year in 2011, up from 376 trials in 2010, according to the annual work report of courts in the region. (Note: There is not a one-to-one ratio of trials to defendants. Court data from 1998 through 2003 show that, for ESS crimes, there was an average of more than three defendants per trial in Xinjiang.)
In 2009, ethnic riots in Urumqi—during which the Chinese government says 197 people were killed—coincided with a more than 60 percent jump in the number of ESS trials concluded in Xinjiang. In 2011, tensions between Uyghurs, a Turkic-speaking Muslim ethnic group, and Han Chinese, China’s ethnic majority, continued to precipitate smaller scale protests and culminated in a regional “Religious Strike Hard Campaign” beginning on November 20. The campaign will continue until February 22, 2012, and local authorities intend to recruit 8,000 police officers to join “the auxiliary police and militia” in, among other things, “cracking down on illegal religious activities.”
The increase in ESS trials in Xinjiang also suggests that nationwide figures grew during the period. In 2009 and 2010, the change in the number of ESS trials in Xinjiang was indicative of nationwide trends (see chart below) because so many ESS trials occur in the region. Official statistics show that more than half of ESS trials (of first instance) took place in Xinjiang from 1998 through 2003.
Note: *For nationwide data, the number of trials includes both ESS and dereliction of duty, which is believed to account for less than 1 percent of the total figure.
Source: National statistics are trials of first instance compiled from China Law Yearbooks (中国法律年鉴). Xinjiang statistics are not disaggregated by trials of first and second instance and are from annual court work reports and Xinjiang High People’s Court President Rozi Ismail.
Court work reports come out during regional and provincial people’s congresses in January, but not all of them are made public. Those that are tend not to include ESS data but instead state generally that fighting ESS is a key aspect in achieving the goal of stability. Xinjiang and Sichuan were the only regions found to have stand-alone ESS data in their most recent reports. National figures for 2011 are expected to be reported to the National People’s Congress in March, including the number of indictments and arrests, and in China Law Yearbook in September, including the number of trials.
Uyghur Activism
It bears repeating that Xinjiang has been known to account for over 50 percent of China’s ESS trials yet makes up less than 2 percent of China’s population. The obvious question is: Why? The answer, suggested by regional government policies and anecdotal evidence, is Uyghur activism in response to government restrictions on religious and cultural activities and state-sponsored inward migration of Han Chinese. While Han Chinese account for more than 91 percent of China’s population, Uyghurs make up about 40 percent of Xinjiang’s.
In 2010, RFA reported on five Uyghurs convicted of ESS in Xinjiang, with sentences ranging from three years’ to life imprisonment. All were Uyghurs involved in non-violent online activism or speaking to foreign media.
The Chinese government confirmed two of the cases. Gheyret Niyaz was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for “inciting splittism.” RFA reported that Niyaz was persecuted for giving interviews to the foreign media about the Urumqi riots. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Niyaz was still awaiting the verdict of his appeal 16 months after the announcement of his original sentence.
Dilshat Parhat was also convicted of inciting splittism. He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. RFA reported that he maintained a Uyghur website and was detained on suspicion of online activism.
“Splittism” and “inciting splittism” are believed to account for many, if not most, of the ESS cases in Xinjiang. In 2011, Dui Hua uncovered no information on individuals confirmed to be convicted on ESS charges in the region. One possible individual, however, is 25-year-old Musa Muhamad, who according to an RFA report, was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment in a closed trial in October. The charges against him are unclear, but Muhamad is one of 20 Uyghur asylum-seekers who fled to Cambodia following the Urumqi riots in July 2009 and was deported back to China in December 2009 before a Cambodian visit by Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping. Although the circumstances of Muhamad’s case are unknown, if he was involved in the riots, even just by talking about them to the wrong people, he may well have faced charges of splittism.
Sichuan: Self-Immolation as Murder
Sichuan Province is home to two Tibetan autonomous prefectures, Aba (Ngaba) and Ganzi (Kardze), in which ethnic Tibetans account for about 55 and 78 percent of the populations, respectively. Tibetan areas of Sichuan have seen widespread unrest since August 2007, and government repression of ethnic Tibetans has heightened since the Lhasa riots left at least 19 people dead (according to a Chinese government tally) in the Tibetan Autonomous Region in March 2008. In 2011, ethnic unrest continued and 12 Tibetan self-immolations were reported, 11 of which occurred in Sichuan.
Unlike Xinjiang, however, ethnic unrest has not necessarily resulted in a high number of ESS trials in Sichuan. According to the annual work report of the Sichuan High People’s Court, there were 11 ESS trials concluded in the province in 2011. Moreover, cases relating to the immolations may not be among them. According to the report, three people detained in connection with the March 16 immolation of Phuntsog, a monk in his early 20s, were not charged with ESS, but with murder.
As is the case in Xinjiang, information on individual cases is limited. For 2011, the only two people known to be convicted of ESS in Sichuan are Han Chinese dissidents Liu Xianbin (刘贤斌) and Chen Wei (陈卫). They were convicted of inciting subversion and are serving 10 and 9 year sentences, respectively, for writing articles critical of the Chinese government. Unofficial media reports have named a dozen Tibetans whose actions put them at risk of ESS conviction last year, but as indicated by the self-immolation cases mentioned above, they may not be included in ESS tallies and may instead face other criminal charges or administrative punishments like reeducation through labor. One of these question-mark cases is Jolep Dawa, a teacher and editor of a monthly Tibetan-language magazine reportedly sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for unknown charges.
The identities of the people convicted in the nine remaining cases of endangering state security in Sichuan and all 414 cases in Xinjiang, to most of us, remain a mystery. What is clear, however, is the need for greater transparency in the criminal justice system in general and trials that involve fundamental freedoms of speech, association, and assembly in particular.
Posted by Dui Hua Foundation on Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Labels: endangering state security
Universal Human Rights Should Trump the Politics o...
State Security Stats Highlight Ethnic Unrest, Lack...
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Durbin Calls for Increased Resources for Mental Health Services of College Campuses
URBANA – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to discuss legislation to improve mental health services on college campuses. The Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act, which Durbin introduced earlier this year, would make federal help available for campuses to expand their mental health awareness, outreach, and direct counseling services. The bill was included as part of a bipartisan mental health reform package that could be considered on the Senate floor later this year.
“College students often face stressful transitions into new academic and social environments, and many experience their first signs of mental illness during their college years. The combination of stigma and a lack of resources means too few students are able to receive needed mental health services,” Durbin said. “This bill would increase awareness and treatment services on campuses by promoting peer support, engaging campus groups, and supporting additional staff in counseling centers. I’m pleased that our bill was advanced out of committee as part of a larger mental health package, and hope that the full Senate quickly considers this legislation.”
In April, Durbin sent letters to 115 colleges and universities across Illinois asking about mental health needs and services on campus. Schools reported that there was a large gap between student demand for counseling services and the treatment capacity. This means that fewer students make it to counseling and when they do, their situation is often more severe.
Studies have shown that one-half of all chronic mental illness begins by age fourteen and three-quarters by age 24. A 2015 American College Health Association survey revealed that 57% of students report having felt overwhelming anxiety, 37% felt so depressed it was difficult to function, and 48% felt hopeless. Yet only 12% of enrolled students seek counseling and only 15% of college and university students who commit suicide received campus counseling. Last year, the University provided more than 17, 900 appointments to 2,800 students. This represents a 35 percent increase over the past two years from 2,080 students.
Despite this, colleges and universities often have limited resources available for awareness, screening, and support. While the majority of campus counseling directors report that the demand for services and the severity of student needs are growing, the ratios of counselors to students far exceed recommended levels, forcing colleges and universities to reduce the critical outreach efforts that help identify the most at-risk students.
The Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act would ensure that colleges and universities have the resources and support they need to aid students at a vulnerable time in their development and educate the campus community by:
Establishing a grant program within the Department of Health and Human Services to assist colleges and universities in providing direct mental health services and outreach to students, families, and staff to increase awareness of mental health issues. The funds may also be used to hire staff, engage student organizations, and expand mental health training opportunities.
Directing the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to create a public health awareness campaign around mental health and to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness for students. SAMHSA and CDC would be required to seek input from national mental and behavioral health organizations and colleges and universities.
Providing federal leadership by establishing an interagency working group on college mental health to discuss mental and behavioral health concerns and promote federal agency collaboration to support innovations in mental health services and supports for students on college and university campuses.
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Drawings and watercolors are sometimes considered minor works of art, simply preparatory studies for more significant paintings and sculptures. Their fragile nature prevents them from being shown for extended periods, and their smaller size makes them less prominent in a museum or gallery. On the other hand, the immediacy and spontaneity of these media encourage artists to experiment, offering the viewer a glimpse into the mind and hand of the artist at work. The works in American Moderns on Paper, on view in the Figge’s third and fourth floor galleries from June 20 to September 20, provide a front row seat to the development of American art during one of the most exciting periods in our history. The exhibition features signature works by American masters such as Andrew Wyeth, Georgia O’Keeffe and Edward Hopper, as well as works by lesser-known, but influential artists such as Peggy Bacon and William Baziotes.
The Wadsworth Atheneum was founded in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1842 by Daniel Wadsworth, whose bequest of Hudson River School paintings gave the museum an early focus on American art. Wadsworth’s collection included pastel portraits of George and Martha Washington and several rare early American watercolors. Subsequent acquisitions of works on paper by Winslow Homer and Mary Cassatt laid the foundation for the museum’s collection of works on paper. In the 20th century, the Wadsworth’s curators, directors and donors had close ties with pioneering artists and dealers in New York—including Alfred Stieglitz, Edith Halpert and the many artists who lived or vacationed in the environs of Hartford—and the collection grew to include works on paper by the key artists of the time. Recent acquisitions of works by O’Keeffe and Ellsworth Kelly round out the roster of artists represented.
American Moderns on Paper features 87 works by 44 artists, created between 1902 and 1962, and ranging in style from the urban realism of John Sloan to the pioneering abstractions of Arthur Dove. During this period, the United States and New York City in particular, became the world center of innovation in the visual arts. Many artists in the show emigrated from Europe, while others were Americans who made frequent trips to travel and study in Paris and other European capitals, absorbing the influences of Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and other modernists. The New York Armory Show of 1913, though ridiculed in the press, brought avant-garde works by European masters to the American public for the first time, and many American artists exhibited alongside them.
The artists in American Moderns on Paper responded in different ways to the influence of the Europeans and to the dynamic changes of the 20th century. John Marin, for instance, incorporated Cubist elements into his cityscapes to express the energy of New York’s bridges and skyscrapers. Works by Charles Burchfield, Ellsworth Kelly and others continue the great tradition of landscape in American art, giving it a modern vocabulary. Lesser known artists such as Pavel Tchelitchew brought Surrealist influences into their drawings, reflecting the influence of Salvador Dalí (also included in the show). Others, such as Edward Hopper, who is represented by six watercolors, created a new kind of American realism influenced by their studies in Paris. American Moderns on Paper represents an opportunity to see the evolution of American art during perhaps its most dynamic period through a priceless collection of personal and spontaneous works—those done on paper.
The Figge has planned a number of public programs in conjunction with the exhibition. On June 25, Exhibition Co-curator Erin Monroe will speak about the works on view. On Thursday, July 2, The Show that Shook the World about the New York Armory Show of 1913, will be shown in the John Deere Auditorium.
This exhibition will be on view June 20-September 20, 2015.
American Moderns on Paper: Masterworks from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is presented with the generous support of the Riverboat Development Authority in celebration of the Figge’s 10th anniversary, with additional support from Per Mar Security Services and Genesis Health System
This exhibition was organized by the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, Connecticut. Made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius and the Henry Luce Foundation.
Free Family Day
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Scheduled activities
Free admission all day
Engage in hands-on activities in celebration of American Moderns on Paper.
5:30 p.m. Opening Reception: American Moderns on Paper
7 p.m. Curator Talk
Erin Monroe will speak about curating the exhibition American Moderns on Paper. Monroe is the Robert H. Schutz, Jr. Assistant Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
7 p.m. Art Film: The Show That Shook The World
In addition to recreating the history of the original Armory Show through archival footage, the film features a previously unknown and unpublished lecture by Marcel Duchamp delivered at the 50th anniversary exhibition in 1963. Until the premiere of the documentary in 2013, the previously unknown recording of Duchamp's lecture had been preserved in a private archive for more than 50 years.
Edward Hopper, Captain Strout's House, Portland Head, 1927, opaque and transparent watercolor over graphite on wove paper, The Ella Gallup Sumner and Mary Catlin Sumner Collection Fund, 1928.3
Georgia O'Keeffe, Slightly Open Clam Shell, 1926, pastel on white ground on pressed artist's board, The Douglas Tracy Smith and Dorothy Potter Smith Fund, © Georgia O’Keeffe Museum / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, 2009.1.1
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EU warns incoming Israeli gov’t against West Bank annexation
JERUSALEM (AP) — The European Union on Thursday issued a warning against the incoming Israeli government’s intention to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, saying that such a move “would constitute a serious violation of international law.”
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said the 27-member bloc does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Palestinian territory and that it will “continue to closely monitor the situation and its broader implications, and will act accordingly.”
Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival Benny Gantz signed a coalition agreement that includes a clause to advance plans to annex parts of the West Bank, including Israeli settlements, starting on July 1.
Netanyahu’s pro-settler base is eager to move forward with annexation while the friendly administration of President Donald Trump’s is in office.
The White House’s long-awaited Middle East plan, unveiled earlier this year, envisions leaving parts of the West Bank under permanent Israeli control. The Palestinians have rejected the plan as biased.
Israel captured the West Bank during the 1967 war. Since then, more than 700,000 Israelis have moved into settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Most of the international community considers Israel’s West Bank settlements illegal according to international law and an obstacle to a two-state solution to the conflict.
The Palestinians seek all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem as part of an independent state. Annexation of West Bank settlements would infuriate the Palestinians and Israel’s Arab neighbors, and eliminate any lingering hopes of establishing a viable Palestinian state.
The Netanyahu-Gantz deal stipulates that any Israeli action would need US backing, and must take into account Israel’s peace treaties with neighboring Jordan and Egypt.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded to the EU with a statement deploring that Borrell “opts to see the relations between Israel and the European Union” solely through the “status of the territories.”
Image: This January 26, 2020 file photo shows a general view of the West Bank Jewish settlement of Maale Michmash. The European Union on Thursday, April 23, 2020 issued a warning against the incoming Israeli government’s intention to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, saying that such a move “would constitute a serious violation of international law.” (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File)
Tags annexation Benjamin Netanyahu Benny Gantz Donald Trump EU Israel Israeli Prime Minister Israeli settlements Israeli-occupied West Bank Israeli-Palestinian conflict Palestine US president
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Lockdown in West Bank, crowds in Gaza: Palestinians divided over coronavirus
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U.S. House passes bill to thwart 2020 ballot box hacking
FILE PHOTO: An election worker helps a voter use the voting machine during the U.S. presidential election in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. November 8, 2016. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller - Copyright Charles Mostoller(Reuters)
By Richard Cowan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. states would get $600 million (473.5 million pounds) in federal grants to secure voting machines from cyber attacks under legislation passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday, with the money to be spent quickly so that upgraded equipment is in place by the Nov. 3, 2020 national elections.
The Democratic-controlled House approved the legislation in a mostly partisan vote of 225-184. It attempts to help states switch to paper ballots from electronic machines that are more vulnerable to attack.
The states run voting stations in elections for U.S. president, Congress and state and local elected offices.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller submitted a report in April to the Justice Department stating that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election “in sweeping and systematic fashion.”
While there has not been firm evidence that Russia’s 2016 meddling altered any voting machine results, there are worries that 2020 could bring foreign hacking of voter registration rolls or even the ballots that are cast.
The House bill, which would provide a total of $1.1 billion in election security funds over a decade, faces opposition in the Senate. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, has said that $380 million spent last year to secure voting machines was adequate.
McConnell also has noted that since the 2016 elections, the Department of Homeland Security has increased information-sharing with states.
The “Securing America’s Federal Elections Act” (SAFE Act) would require audits to determine whether meddling occurred in elections and would provide additional federal funding to help states maintain voting systems.
Democratic Representative Zoe Lofgren, who chairs the House Administration Committee that is shepherding the legislation, said during House debate that state election officials have been clamouring for additional funding from Washington.
“Every American, no matter what their choice in politics, should know that their vote will be counted as cast,” Lofgren said.
With the new equipment, paper ballots would be counted by hand or would be read by an optical scanner or other counting device.
The bill also would require reporting of cybersecurity “incidents” against election systems and prohibit state practices that could inadvertently help hackers.
The bill tracks provisions of legislation by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, an active proponent of new election security steps.
“Based on what I know now, 2020 in terms of election security interference is going to make 2016 look like very small potatoes,” Wyden, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a hallway interview. “And it is not just the Russians. It is a host of hostile powers.”
(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
TikTok introduces changes aimed at improving privacy for younger users
Google sites including YouTube, Docs and Gmail down for thousands of users
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Procedure : 2013/2103(INI)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected : A7-0071/2014
Texts tabled :
Debates :
PV 24/02/2014 - 25
CRE 24/02/2014 - 25
Votes :
PV 26/02/2014 - 9.15
Explanations of votes
Texts adopted :
P7_TA(2014)0162
PE 519.748v03-00 A7-0071/2014
on sexual exploitation and prostitution and its impact on gender equality
(2013/2103(INI))
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
Rapporteur: Mary Honeyball
MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION
MINORITY OPINION
OPINION of the Committee on Development
RESULT OF FINAL VOTE IN COMMITTEE
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Articles 4 and 5 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
– having regard to the UN Convention of 1949 for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others,
– having regard to Article 6 of the CEDAW Convention of 1979 which seeks to combat all forms of traffic in women and the exploitation of the prostitution of women,
– having regard to the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,
– having regard to the UN Declaration of 1993 on the Elimination of Violence against
Women, Article 2 of which states that violence against women includes:
‘physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community,
including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational
institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women and forced prostitution’,
– having regard to the 2000 Palermo Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, annexed to the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime,
– having regard to the D.3 strategic objective of the 1995 Platform for Action and the Beijing Declaration,
– having regard to ILO Convention No 29 on forced or compulsory labour, Article 2 of which defines forced labour,
– having regard to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Brussels Declaration (11) on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings, which calls for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and effectively coordinated policy that involves actors from all the fields concerned,
– having regard to the Council of Europe recommendations in this field, such as Recommendation No R 11 of 2000 on trafficking in human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation, Recommendation No R 5 of 2002 on the protection of women against violence, and Recommendation 1545 of 2002 on the campaign against trafficking in women,
– having regard to the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings,
– having regard to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe motion for a recommendation “Criminalising the purchase of sex to combat the trafficking of people for sexual exploitation”, Doc. 12920 of 26 April 2012,
– having regard to the 2000 OSCE Vienna Ministerial Decision No 1(12) in support of the OSCE measures and to the OSCE Action Plan to combat trafficking in human beings (Decision No 557, taken in 2003),
– having regard to Articles 2 and 13 of the Treaty on European Union,
– having regard to Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA of 19 July 2002 on combating trafficking in human beings,
– having regard to Council Framework Decision 2011/36/EU of 5 April 2011 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA of 19 July 2002,
– having regard to the Council Resolution on initiatives to combat trafficking in human beings, in particular women(1),
– having regard to the EU Strategy Towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings,
– having regard to its resolution of 15 June 1995 on the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, ‘Action for Equality, Development and Peace’(2),
– having regard to its resolution of 24 April 1997 on the Commission communication on illegal and harmful content on the Internet(3),
– having regard to its resolution of 16 September 1997 on the need to establish a European Union wide campaign for zero tolerance of violence against women(4),
– having regard to its resolution of 24 October 1997 on the Commission Green Paper on the protection of minors and human dignity in audiovisual and information services(5),
– having regard to its resolution of 6 November 1997 on the Commission communication on combating child sex tourism and the aide-memoire on the European Union’s contribution to reinforcing the prevention of the sexual abuse and exploitation of children(6),
– having regard to its resolution of 16 December 1997 on the Commission communication on trafficking in women for the purpose of sexual exploitation(7),
– having regard to its resolution of 13 May 1998 on the proposal for a Council recommendation concerning the protection of minors and human dignity in audio-visual and information services(8),
– having regard to its resolution of 17 December 1998 on respect for human rights in the European Union(9),
– having regard to its resolution of 10 February 1999 on the harmonisation of forms of protection complementing refugee status in the European Union,(10)
– having regard to its resolution of 30 March 2000 on the communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation of measures to combat child sex tourism(11),
– having regard to its resolution of 11 April 2000 on the initiative of the Republic of Austria with a view to adopting a Council decision to combat child pornography on the Internet(12),
– having regard to its resolution of 18 May 2000 on the follow-up to the Beijing Action Platform(13),
– having regard to its resolution of 19 May 2000 on the communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament entitled ‘For further actions in the fight against trafficking in women’(14),
– having regard to its resolution of 15 June 2000 on the Commission communication on crime victims in the European Union: Reflexions on standards and action(15),
– having regard to its resolution of 12 June 2001 on the proposal for a Council framework decision on combating trafficking in human beings(16),
– having regard to its resolution of 17 January 2006 on strategies to prevent the trafficking of women and children vulnerable to sexual exploitation(17),
– having regard to its resolution of 2 February 2006 on the current situation in combating violence against women and any future action(18),
– having regard to its resolution of 15 March 2006 on forced prostitution in the context of world sports events(19),
– having regard to its resolution of 26 November 2009 on the elimination of violence against women(20),
– having regard to its resolution of 5 April 2011 on priorities and outline of a new EU policy framework to fight violence against women(21),
– having regard to its resolution of 6 February 2013 on the 57th session on UN CSW: Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and under-age females(22),
– having regard to its resolution of 23 October 2013 on organised crime, corruption and money laundering – recommendations on action and initiatives to be taken(23),
– having regard to the European Women’s Lobby awareness raising campaign ‘Not for sale’,
– having regard to Rule 48 of its Rules of Procedure,
– having regard to the report of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality and the opinion of the Committee on Development (A7-0071/2014),
A. whereas prostitution and forced prostitution are gendered phenomena with a global dimension, involving around 40-42 million people worldwide, with the vast majority of prostituted persons being women and under-age females, and almost all buyers being men, and whereas it is therefore both a cause and a consequence of gender inequality which it aggravates further;
B. whereas prostitution is a form of slavery incompatible with human dignity and fundamental human rights;
C. whereas trafficking of persons, particularly women and children, for sexual as well as other forms of exploitation is one of the most egregious violations of human rights; whereas trafficking in human beings is growing globally, led by the increase in organised crime and its profitability;
D. whereas work is one of the main sources of human self-realisation, through which individuals make a supportive contribution to collective wellbeing;
E. whereas prostitution and forced prostitution are intrinsically linked to gender inequality in society and have an impact on the status of women and men in society and the perception of their mutual relations and sexuality;
F. whereas sexual and reproductive health is promoted through healthy approaches to sexuality conducted with mutual respect;
G. whereas Directive 2011/36/EU of 5 April 2011 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims establishes robust provisions on victims;
H. whereas any policy on prostitution has an impact on achieving gender equality, affects the understanding of gender issues and delivers messages and norms to a society, including its youth;
I. whereas prostitution functions as a business and creates a market, with different actors being interlinked and where pimps and procurers are calculating and acting to secure or increase their markets and maximising profits, and whereas the buyers of sex play a key role as they maintain the demand in this market;
J. whereas according to WHO, sexual health “requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence”;
K. whereas prostitution reduces all intimate acts to their monetary value and diminishes the human being to the level of merchandise or an object to be used by the client;
L. whereas the vast majority of prostituted persons come from vulnerable groups;
M. whereas procuring is closely linked with organised crime;
N. whereas organised crime, human trafficking, extremely violent crime and corruption flourish in the shadow of prostitution, and any framework of legalisation primarily benefits the pimps, who are able to transform themselves into ‘businessmen';
O. whereas it is clear in the light of the findings from various studies that half of purchasers continue to buy sex irrespective of clear indications that the prostituted persons are under 18 years of age;
P. whereas the prostitution markets fuel trafficking in women and children and aggravate violence against them, especially in countries where the sex industry has been legalised(24) ;
Q. whereas prostitution and trafficking in women and under-age females are linked because the demand for women in prostitution, whether trafficked or not, is the same; whereas trafficking acts as a means to bring a supply of women and under-age females to the prostitution markets;
R. whereas EU data show that the current policy to combat trafficking is not effective and that there is a problem to identify and prosecute traffickers so that the investigation of sex-trafficking cases and the prosecution and conviction of human traffickers need to be strengthened;
S. whereas more and more young people, among whom alarmingly many are children, are forced into prostitution;
T. whereas the pressures under which prostitution takes place can be direct and physical, or indirect, for example by means of pressure on the family in the country of origin, and whereas such pressures can be psychological and insidious;
U. whereas the main responsibility for addressing trafficking in human beings lies with the Member States, and whereas in April 2013 only six Member States have notified full transposition of the EU Directive against trafficking in human beings, the implementation deadline for which expired on 6 April 2013;
V. whereas the Commission, in its Strategy for Equality between Women and Men (2010-2015), declares that ‘inequalities between women and men violate fundamental rights’;
W. whereas there is a huge divergence in the way that the Member States deal with prostitution, with two main approaches existing: one approach views prostitution as a violation of women’s rights – a form of sexual slavery –, which results in and maintains gender inequality for women; the other approach maintains that prostitution itself promotes gender equality by promoting a woman’s right to control what she wants to do with her body; in both instances individual Member States have the competence to decide how they approach the issue of prostitution;
X. whereas there is a difference between ‘forced’ and ‘voluntary’ prostitution, it is obvious that prostitution is a form of violence against women;
Y. whereas the issue of prostitution needs to be addressed with a long-term vision and the perspective of gender equality;
Z. whereas procuring, which equates to authorising the sexual exploitation of others, has been legalised in several Member States, including Germany, the Netherlands and Greece; whereas the Netherlands is listed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime as a top destination for victims of human trafficking;
AA. whereas the number of prostitutes in Germany is estimated at 400 000, but whereas only 44 prostitutes are officially registered with the social welfare agencies following the 2002 law legalising prostitution; whereas there are no viable indications that this law has reduced crime, and whereas one third of German prosecutors have noted that legalising prostitution has ‘made their work in prosecuting trafficking in human beings and pimping more difficult’;
AB. whereas there is a global tendency to trivialise prostitution and to consider it a normal activity, for ‘fun’, but also a job;
1. Recognises that prostitution and sexual exploitation are highly gendered issues and violations of human dignity, contrary to human rights principles, among which gender equality, and therefore contrary to the principles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, including the goal and the principle of gender equality;
2. Underlines that the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all women must be respected, including their right to their bodies and sexuality and to be free of coercion, discrimination and violence;
3. Stresses that there are several links between prostitution and trafficking, and recognises that prostitution – both globally and across Europe – feeds the trafficking of vulnerable women and under-age females, a large percentage of whom are between 13-25 years old; stresses that, as shown by data from the Commission, a majority of victims (62 %) are trafficked for sexual exploitation, with women and under-age females accounting for 96 % of identified and presumed victims, with the percentage of victims from non-EU countries showing an increase in the past few years;
4. Acknowledges, however, that the lack of reliable, accurate and comparable data among countries, owing mainly to the illegal and often invisible nature of prostitution and trafficking, keeps the prostitution market opaque and hinders political decision-making, which means that all figures are based solely on estimates;
5. Stresses the data that show that organised crime is a major player where procuring is legal(25);
6. Stresses that data show that a majority of persons in prostitution are recognised as vulnerable persons in our societies;
7. Stresses that prostitution is also a health issue, as it has detrimental health impacts on persons in prostitution, who are more likely to suffer from sexual, physical and mental health traumas, drug and alcohol addiction, and loss of self-respect, as well as a higher mortality rate, than the general population; adds and stresses that many of the sex buyers ask for unprotected commercial sex, which increases the risk of detrimental health impacts, both for persons in prostitution and for the buyers;
8. Stresses that forced prostitution, prostitution and exploitation in the sex industry can have devastating and long-lasting psychological and physical consequences for the individual involved (even after they have left prostitution), especially children and adolescents, in addition to being both a cause and a consequence of gender inequality, while perpetuating gendered stereotypes and stereotypical thinking about women selling sex, such as the idea that women’s and under-age females’ bodies are for sale to satisfy male demand for sex;
9. Calls, further, on the Member States to introduce, in accordance with national law, regular, confidential counselling and health checks for prostitutes, on premises other than those where prostitution takes place;
10. Recognises that prostitutes are a high‑risk group for HIV infections and other sexually transmitted diseases;
11. Calls on the Member States to exchange best practices on ways to reduce the dangers associated with street prostitution;
12. Recognises that prostitution and forced prostitution have an impact on violence against women in general, as research on sex buyers shows that men who buy sex have a degrading image of women(26); suggests to the competent national authorities, therefore, that the ban on the purchase of sexual services should be accompanied by a campaign to raise awareness among men;
13. Stresses that prostituted persons are particularly vulnerable socially, economically, physically, psychologically, emotionally and in family terms, and are more at risk of violence and harm than persons engaged in any other activity; national police forces should therefore be encouraged to address, inter alia, the low conviction rates for rape against prostitutes; stresses that prostituted persons are also subject to public opprobrium and are socially stigmatised, even if they stop practising prostitution;
14. Draws attention to the fact that women prostitutes have the right to maternity, and to raise and take care of their children;
15. Stresses that the normalisation of prostitution has an impact on violence against women; points in particular to data that show that men buying sex were more likely to commit sexually coercive acts against women and other acts of violence against women, and often presented misogynist attitudes;
16. Expresses concern over the increase in the number of young men that buy prostitution as a form of entertainment, whereby they treat women and under-age females as sexual toys in acts which often lead to violence;
17. Notes that 80-95 % of prostituted persons have suffered some form of violence before entering prostitution (rape, incest, paedophilia), that 62 % of them report having been raped and that 68 % suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder – a percentage similar to that of torture victims(27);
18. Underlines that child prostitution can never be voluntary, as children do not have the capacity to ‘consent’ to prostitution; urges the Member States to combat child prostitution (involving persons under the age of 18) as energetically as possible, as it is the most serious form of forced prostitution; urgently demands a zero-tolerance approach based on prevention, protection of victims and prosecution of clients;
19. Points out that child prostitution and the sexual exploitation of children are on the increase, also through social network media, where deception and intimidation are frequently used;
20. Calls attention to the phenomenon of the prostitution of minors, which is not the same as sexual molestation, and which is rooted in difficult economic situations and an absence of parental care;
21. Stresses the need for effective measures that allow special attention to be given to removing under-age prostituted persons from the so-called prostitution market and to preventing their entry into that market, as well as to focusing on activities contrary to the aims of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its relevant Optional Protocol;
22. Takes the view that the purchase of sexual services from prostitutes under the age of 21 should be a criminal offence, while the provision of such services by prostitutes should not be punishable;
23. Calls attention to the phenomenon of ‘grooming’, involving the prostitution of under-age females or females who have only just reached majority in exchange for luxury goods or small sums of money which provide funds to cover day‑to‑day expenditure or expenses related to education;
24. Points out to the Member States that education plays an important role in the prevention of prostitution and the organised crime associated with it, and therefore recommends that special, age-specific educational awareness-raising and preventive campaigns be conducted in schools and colleges, and recommends that education about equality be a fundamental goal in the education process for young people;
25. Draws attention to the fact that advertisements for sexual services in newspapers and social media can be means of supporting trafficking and prostitution;
26. Draws attention to the growing role of the internet and social network media in recruiting new and young prostitutes through human trafficking networks; calls for prevention campaigns also to be conducted on the internet, taking into account the vulnerable groups targeted by these human trafficking networks;
27. Draws attention to some of the effects, mostly negative, of mass-media production and pornography, especially online, in creating an unfavourable image of women, which may have the effect of encouraging the human personality of women to be disregarded and of presenting them as a commodity; warns as well that sexual liberty must not be interpreted as a license to disregard women;
28. Stresses that the normalisation of prostitution has an impact on young people’s perception of sexuality and of the relationship between women and men; notes that, according to studies, prostitution acts as a tool for social control over the sexuality of young people;
29. Stresses that prostituted persons should not be criminalised – as is the case in some Member States, for example the United Kingdom, France, the Republic of Ireland and Croatia – and calls on all Member States to repeal repressive legislation against prostituted persons;
30. Calls on the Member States to refrain from criminalising and penalising prostituted persons, and to develop programmes to assist prostituted persons/sex workers to leave the profession should they wish to do so;
31. Believes that demand reduction should form part of an integrated strategy against trafficking in the Member States; believes that demand reduction can be achieved through legislation that shifts the criminal burden onto those who purchase sexual services rather than onto those who sell it, and through the imposition of fines to make prostitution financially less lucrative for criminal organisations/organised crime;
32. Considers that the most effective way of combating the trafficking of women and under-age females for sexual exploitation and improving gender equality is the model implemented in Sweden, Iceland and Norway (the so-called Nordic model), and currently under consideration in several European countries, where the purchase of sexual services constitutes the criminal act, not the services of the prostituted persons;
33. Stresses that as prostitution is a cross-border problem, the Member States should assume responsibility for combating the buying of sex outside their own territory by introducing measures similar to those adopted in Norway, where a citizen can be prosecuted for purchasing sex abroad;
34. Emphasises the data that confirm the Nordic model’s deterrent effect on trafficking into Sweden, where prostitution and sex trafficking have not increased, and that this model is increasingly supported by the population, especially by young people, demonstrating that the legislation has brought about a change in attitudes;
35. Emphasises the outcomes of a recent governmental report in Finland, calling for a full criminalisation of the purchase of sex, as the Finnish approach, which criminalises the purchase of sex from victims of trafficking, has proven to be ineffective in tackling trafficking;
36. Believes that legislation provides an opportunity to clarify what the acceptable norms in society are and to create a society reflective of these values;
37. Believes that looking upon prostitution as legal ‘sex work’, decriminalising the sex industry in general and making procuring legal is not a solution to keeping vulnerable women and under-age females safe from violence and exploitation, but has the opposite effect and puts them in danger of a higher level of violence, while at the same time encouraging prostitution markets – and thus the number of women and under-age females suffering abuse – to grow;
38. Condemns any policy attempt or discourse based on the notion that prostitution can be a solution for migrant women in Europe;
39. Calls, therefore, on the Member States to give the police and the authorities responsible for premises where prostitution takes place the right, in accordance with national law, to enter such premises and to carry out checks at random;
40. Urges the Commission and the Member States to mobilise the necessary means and tools to fight trafficking and sexual exploitation and to reduce prostitution as breaches of women’s fundamental rights – in particular with regard to minors – and gender equality;
41. Calls on the Member States to transpose Directive 2011/36/EU of 5 April 2011 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA, into national law as rapidly as possible, particularly with a view to protecting victims;
42. Urges the Commission to evaluate the impact that the European legal framework designed to eliminate trafficking for sexual exploitation has had to date, to undertake further research on patterns of prostitution, on human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and on the increased level of sex tourism in the EU, with particular reference to minors, and to promote the exchange of best practices among the Member States;
43. Stresses that the Commission should continue funding projects and programmes to fight trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation;
44. Calls on the Member States to design and implement policies to deal with trafficking, sexual exploitation and prostitution, and to ensure that all relevant parties, such as NGOs, the police and other law enforcement agencies, and social and medical services, are supported, involved in decision-making processes and work in cooperation;
45. Recognises that a vast majority of persons in prostitution would like to stop but feel unable to do so; stresses that these persons need appropriate support, particularly psychological and social assistance, to escape the sexual exploitation networks and the dependencies frequently associated with these; suggests, therefore, that the competent authorities put in place programmes to help persons escape prostitution, in close cooperation with the stakeholders;
46. Stresses the importance of appropriate training for police services and judicial system personnel, in a more general manner, in the various aspects of sexual exploitation, including gender and immigration aspects, and urges the Member States to encourage police authorities to cooperate with the victims and encourage them to testify, to encourage the existence of specialised services within the police and to employ police women; stresses the need for judicial cooperation between Member States in order to combat human trafficking networks in Europe more effectively;
47. Draws the attention of the national authorities to the impact of the economic downturn on the growing number of women and under-age females, including migrant women, forced to enter prostitution, and urges those authorities to help them find alternative ways of earning a living and to support a safe environment for those who continue to work as prostitutes;
48. Points out that economic problems and poverty are major causes of prostitution among young women and under-age females, and that gender-specific prevention strategies, national and Europe-wide campaigns specially targeted at socially excluded communities and those in situations of increased vulnerability (such as persons with disabilities and youth in the child protection system), measures to reduce poverty and to raise awareness among both the purchasers and suppliers of sex, and the sharing of best practices are all key to combating the sexual exploitation of women and under-age females, especially among migrants; recommends that the Commission designate a ‘European Week for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings’;
49. Stresses that social exclusion is a key factor contributing to the increased vulnerability of disadvantaged women and under-age females to trafficking in human beings; stresses as well that the economic and social crisis has led to unemployment, often causing the most vulnerable women, including those further up the social scale, to enter the prostitution/sex business, in order to overcome poverty and social exclusion; calls on the Member States to tackle the underlying social problems that force men, women and children into prostitution;
50. Urges the Member States to fund organisations working on the ground with support and exit strategies, to provide innovative social services for victims of trafficking or sexual exploitation, including migrant and undocumented persons, assessing their individual needs and risks in order to provide appropriate assistance and protection, and to implement policies – with a holistic approach and through the various police, immigration, health and education services – aimed at helping vulnerable women and minors leave prostitution, while ensuring that such programmes have a legal basis and the requisite funding to achieve this aim; stresses the importance of psychological counselling and the need for victims of sexual exploitation to be reintegrated into society; points out that this process takes time and requires the development of a life plan that represents a credible and viable alternative for former prostituted persons;
51. Stresses that more analysis and statistical evidence is needed to judge which model is the most effective way of combating the trafficking of women and under-age females for purposes of sexual exploitation;
52. Urges the Member States to evaluate both the positive and negative effects of criminalising the purchase of sexual services on reducing prostitution and trafficking;
53. Calls on the EU and its Member States to develop gender-specific prevention policies in the countries of origin of persons who are prostituted as a result of being trafficked, aimed both at purchasers of sex and at women and minors, through sanctions, awareness-raising campaigns and education;
54. Requests that the EU and the Member States take measures to discourage the practice of sexual tourism inside as well as outside the EU;
55. Requests that the European External Action Service takes measures to stop the practice of prostitution in areas of conflict where EU military forces are present;
56. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.
OJ C 260, 29.10.2003, p. 4.
OJ C 166, 3.7.1995, p. 92.
OJ C 150, 19.5.1997, p. 38.
OJ C 304, 6.10.1997, p. 55.
OJ C 339, 10.11.1997, p. 420.
OJ C 358, 24.11.1997, p. 37.
OJ C 14, 19.1.1998, p. 19.
OJ C 193, 17.8.2006, p. 126.
OJ C 98, 9.4.1999, p. 267.
OJ C 40, 07.02.2001, p. 41.
OJ C 59, 23.2.2001, p. 258.
Text adopted, P7_TA(2013)0045.
The 2006 report by Sigma Huda, UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially in women and children, highlighted the direct impact of the policies on prostitution on the scale of trafficking in human beings.
Joint report by the City of Amsterdam and the Dutch Ministry of Justice which stated that half of the permit‑required businesses of prostitution have one or more managers with a criminal record.
Several studies on sex buyers can be found here: http://www.womenlobby.org/spip.php?article1948&lang=en.
Farley, M., ‘Violence against women and post-traumatic stress syndrome’, Women and Health, 1998; Damant, D. et al., ‘Trajectoires d’entrée en prostitution : violence, toxicomanie et criminalité’, Le Journal International de Victimologie, No 3, April 2005.
Prostitution is a difficult phenomenon to quantify as it is illegal in most Member States. According to a 2012 report by Fondation Scelles, prostitution has a global dimension involving around 40-42 million people, 90% of whom are dependent on a procurer. The first ever Eurostats report with official data related to prostitution was published in April 2013(1). It focussed on the trafficking of human beings in the EU between 2008 and 2010.
What is certain, however, is that prostitution and sexual exploitation are definitely gendered issues with women and girls selling their bodies, voluntarily or forced, to men who pay for the service. In addition, the majority of those trafficked for sexual exploitation are women and girls.
A form of violence against women and an infringement of human dignity and gender equality
Prostitution and the sexual exploitation of women and girls are forms of violence and as such are obstacles to equality between women and men. Virtually all of those who buy sexual services are male. Exploitation in the sex industry is both a cause and a consequence of gender inequality perpetuating the idea that women’s and girls’ bodies are for sale.
Prostitution is a very obvious and utterly appalling violation of human dignity. Given that human dignity is specifically mentioned in the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Parliament has a duty to report on prostitution in the EU and examine ways in which gender equality and human rights can be strengthened in this regard.
A direct link to trafficking and organised crime
Prostitution in the European Union and across the world is directly linked to the trafficking of women and girls. Sixty-two per cent of trafficked females are the victims of sexual exploitation.
An increasing number of women and girls are being trafficked not only from outside the Union but also from some member states (e.g. Romania and Bulgaria) to other parts of the European Union. The EU therefore needs to deal urgently with this east-west trafficking and take strong measures to combat this particular form of violence against women.
Prostitution is a major factor in organised crime, second only to drugs in its scope and reach and the amount of money involved. The Havocscope website(2) estimates prostitution revenue at around $186 billion per year worldwide.
Since prostitution is in effect run by organised crime to such a large extent, functioning as a market with demand fostering supply, law enforcement agencies across the EU need to take strong and appropriate action to track down the criminals while at the same time protecting the victims, the prostituted persons and the women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation. In a separate but related matter also requiring attention, prostitution over the internet is on the increase and in some cases is linked to websites offering pornography.
Economic coercion
Financial desperation can also lead women into prostitution. The current financial crisis is taking its toll as women (especially single mothers) are increasingly entering prostitution in their own country or coming from the poorer countries in the south of the European Union to be prostituted in the north. Prostitution is therefore linked to gender equality as it is directly linked to the role and place of women in society, to their access to the labour market, to decision making, to health and education, and to the choices they are offered given the structural gender inequality.
Two different approaches to prostitution and sexual exploitation in Europe
The question of prostitution and gender equality is complicated by the fact that there are two competing models about how to deal with the issue. The first model views prostitution as a violation of women’s rights and a means of perpetuating gender inequality. The corresponding legislative approach is abolitionist and criminalises the activities related to prostitution, sometimes including the purchase of sexual services, while prostitution in itself is not illegal. The second model maintains that prostitution itself enhances gender equality by promoting a woman’s right to control what she wants to do with her body. Proponents of this model state that prostitution is just another form of work, and that the best way of protecting women in prostitution is to improve their “working conditions” and to professionalise prostitution as “sex work.” Consequently, within this regulationist model, prostitution and related activities are legal and regulated and women would be free to hire managers, also known as pimps. However, it could also be considered that making prostitution and procuring normal activities, or legalising them in any way, is to legalise sexual slavery and gender inequality for women.
Both models do of course exist in the European Union. Procuring is legal in several member states including the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Denmark while prostituted persons or some of their activities (like soliciting) are criminalised or partially criminalised in the United Kingdom, France and the Republic of Ireland amongst others. However, gender inequality and sexual subordination cannot be fought effectively by assuming a gender symmetry in sex industry activities which does not exist(3).
Where prostitution and procuring are legal, there is a growing body of evidence showing the shortcomings of this system. In 2007 the German Government admitted that the law to legalise prostitution had reduced crime and that over a third of German prosecutors noted that legalising prostitution “made their work in prosecuting trafficking in human beings and pimping more difficult(4). In the Netherlands in 2003 the Mayor of Amsterdam stated that legalising prostitution had failed to prevent trafficking saying, “it appeared impossible to create a safe and controllable zone that was not open for abuse by organised crime.” According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Holland is now the top destination for victims of human trafficking.
The effectiveness of the Nordic model
Given the strong and growing evidence that legalising prostitution and procuring does nothing to promote gender equality or reduce human trafficking, this report concludes that the essential difference between the two models of gender equality outlined above is that viewing prostitution as simply “work” helps to keep women in prostitution. Viewing prostitution as a violation of women’s human rights helps keep women out of prostitution.
The experience in Sweden, Finland and non-EU Norway where the “Nordic Model” of dealing with prostitution operates supports this point of view. Sweden changed its prostitution laws in 1999 to prohibit the purchase of sex and decriminalise the prostituted person. In other words the person buying sex – virtually always the man – is committing a criminal offence not the prostituted women. Sweden introduced this law as part of a general initiative to end all barriers to the equality of women in Sweden.
The impact of this legislation in Sweden has been dramatic. Sweden’s prostituted population is one-tenth of neighbouring Denmark’s where sex purchase is legal and has a smaller population. The law has also changed public opinion. In 1996 45% women and 20% men were in favour of criminalising male sex purchasers. By 2008 79% women and 60% men were in favour of the law. Moreover, the Swedish police confirm that the Nordic Model has had a deterrent effect on trafficking for sexual exploitation.
The evidence of the effectiveness of the Nordic Model in reducing prostitution and trafficking of women and girls and thereby promoting gender equality is growing all the time. Meanwhile those countries where procuring is legal still face problems in relation to human trafficking and organised crime as these relate to prostitution. This report therefore supports the Nordic Model and urges that the governments in those Member States who deal with prostitution in other ways review their legislation in the light of the success achieved by Sweden and other countries who have adopted the Nordic Model. Such action would bring about significant progress for gender equality in the European Union.
This report is not against prostituted women. It is against prostitution but for prostituted women. By recommending that the buyer – the man who buys sex - is deemed the guilty party rather than the female prostitute, this report represents another step on the road to full gender equality throughout the European Union.
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-is-new/news/news/2013/docs/20130415_thb_stats_report_en.pdf
See at: http://www.havocscope.com/tag/prostitution/
www.equalitynow.org/sites/default/files/Nordic_Model_EN.pdf
See also Der Spiegel article, 30 May 2013: http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/human-trafficking-persists-despite-legality-of-prostitution-in-germany-a-902533.html
by Angelika Niebler, Christa Klass, Astrid Lulling
This own-initiative report seeks to ban all forms of prostitution. However, I take the view that a distinction needs to be drawn between forced prostitution and legal prostitution, as provided for in Community legislation.
Voluntary prostitution is recognised as self-employment in some EU Member States; it is therefore covered by tax and social security obligations. People working legally as prostitutes must also comply with other legal obligations (e.g. labour and residence permits and the requirement to register with the competent authorities). The question of how to deal with voluntary prostitution should remain a matter for each individual Member State.
In contrast, forced prostitution and human trafficking pose a cross-border problem that cannot be solved by any Member State acting alone. On the contrary, the Member States must cooperate closely to combat forced prostitution, human trafficking and organised crime. A ban on the purchase of sexual services in some Member States but not in others leads to such services increasingly being offered in (neighbouring) countries that do not criminalise clients. Mary Honeyball's report contains valuable proposals for the Member States in relation to these issues surrounding forced prostitution.
Forced prostitution and human trafficking must be combated by every means available. It is however necessary to differentiate between these problems and voluntary prostitution.
by Ulrike Lunacek, Marije Cornelissen, Iñaki Irazabalbeitia, Raul Romeva, Sophia In’t Veld
Trafficking of persons, particularly women and children, for the purpose of sexual exploitation, also called forced prostitution, is a violation of human dignity and contrary to the principles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. In April 2013 only six Member States have notified full transposition of the EU Directive against trafficking in human beings, whose deadline for implementation expired on 6 April 2013.
The report does not differentiate between forced prostitution and prostitution resulting from individual decision. Child prostitution however can never be voluntary, as children do not have the capacity to ‘consent’ to prostitution.
Policies that aim to make prostitution invisible and that exclude prostitutes/sex workers from public places, add to stigma, social exclusion and vulnerability. All EU Member States should refrain from criminalising and penalising sex workers or rendering sex work illegal, should give them access to social security rights and develop programmes to assist them to leave the profession should they wish to do so.
OPINION of the Committee on Development (3.12.2013)
for the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
Rapporteur: Corina Creţu
The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following suggestions in its motion for a resolution:
1. Notes that the root causes of human trafficking and sexual exploitation are inequality between men and women and poverty, compounded by ethnic and other socio-economic inequalities, as well as armed conflicts, and that the main victims are women and children of low socio-economic status;
2. Highlights the fact that special attention should be given to the most vulnerable groups, such as girls, children with disabilities and women belonging to minority groups;
3. Points out that corruption plays an important role in facilitating and fostering human trafficking;
4. Notes that sexual exploitation is a form of gender-based violence, perpetrated mostly by men and mostly against women, and thus emphasises that the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls is of paramount importance for reducing these extreme violations of human rights;
5. Calls on the EU, international organisations, national governments and other relevant parties to cooperate at EU level in the creation of a common framework of provisions on action to combat the underlying causes, criminalisation (including that of the purchase of sexual services), sanctions and improved cross-border cooperation on protection from sexual abuse and exploitation;
6. Underlines the importance of taking the fear of stigmatisation into account when designing national policies and strategies on judicial assistance in developing countries as well as in all countries where human trafficking and sexual exploitation are taking place, and expresses its concern regarding the lack of effective legal services to which cases of abuse can be reported, especially during humanitarian crises;
7. Calls on the EU and its Member States to develop actions to put an end to sex tourism from EU Member States to other destinations;
8. Emphasises that measures to combat sexual exploitation and prostitution should focus on war-affected areas, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions 1325 of 31 October 2000 and 1820 of 19 June 2008;
9. Calls on the EU and its Member States to discourage the demand for exploitation through prostitution and human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
Date adopted
Result of final vote
+:
Members present for the final vote
Ricardo Cortés Lastra, Charles Goerens, Filip Kaczmarek, Gay Mitchell, Norbert Neuser, Bill Newton Dunn, Maurice Ponga, Jean Roatta, Michèle Striffler, Alf Svensson, Keith Taylor, Patrice Tirolien
Substitute(s) present for the final vote
Emer Costello, Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Fiona Hall, Eduard Kukan, Bart Staes, Jan Zahradil
Substitute(s) under Rule 187(2) present for the final vote
Fabrizio Bertot, Tanja Fajon, Miroslav Mikolášik
Marije Cornelissen, Edite Estrela, Iratxe García Pérez, Zita Gurmai, Mikael Gustafsson, Mary Honeyball, Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Constance Le Grip, Astrid Lulling, Krisztina Morvai, Angelika Niebler, Siiri Oviir, Antonyia Parvanova, Marina Yannakoudakis, Inês Cristina Zuber
Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Anne Delvaux, Iñaki Irazabalbeitia Fernández, Nicole Kiil-Nielsen, Christa Klaß, Angelika Werthmann
Michael Cashman
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/ Domino, Fats
Domino, Fats
Domino, Fats (Antoine Dominique Domino, Jr.), 1928–2017, American rhythm-and-blues singer, pianist, and songwriter of Creole descent, b. New Orleans, La. A largely self-taught musician, he began playing professionally in a Desire St. club band in his teens, which was when he was nicknamed Fats and when he adopted his signature 6/8 hammered triplets. In the 1950s and 60s he was one of the creators of rock music; his million-selling breakthrough hit, The Fat Man (1949), is regarded as one of the first rock-and-roll recordings. The genial Domino became one of the most popular early rock-and-roll stars and one of the top recording artists of the period, with 23 gold records; many of his hits became rock standards and were widely covered. Domino also played a role in breaking down America's musical color bar. Playing the piano in a vigorous boogie-woogie style, often with bass, guitar, drums, and saxophone accompaniment, he crossed over to the pop charts in 1955 with his recording of Ain't That a Shame. Other best-selling singles include his biggest hit, Blueberry Hill (1956), as well as My Blue Heaven (1956), I'm Walkin' (1957), Blue Monday (1957), I Want to Walk You Home (1959), Walkin' to New Orleans (1960), and his 1968 cover of the Beatles' Lady Madonna, his last Top 100 hit. He toured worldwide until the early 1980s, when, aside from festivals, he confined his performing almost exclusively to New Orleans. During his long career, he often worked and wrote with the bandleader and songwriter Dave Bartholomew. Domino was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, was awarded a lifetime-achievement Grammy in 1987, and received the National Medal of Arts in 1999.
See R. Coleman, Blue Monday: Fats Domino and the Lost Dawn of Rock 'n' Roll (2007); J. Lauro, dir. The Big Beat: Fats Domino and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll (documentary, 2016).
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Music: Popular and Jazz: Biographies
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Penn serves notice on would-be trade agreement participants
Forrest Laws | Mar 15, 2006
Notice from USDA to countries that aren’t too well heeled but would like to try to negotiate a new free trade agreement with the United States: Don’t bother.
Undersecretary of Agriculture J.B. Penn wasn’t pulling any punches when he spoke on the U.S. objectives for new trade agreements during USDA’s annual Agricultural Outlook Forum in Arlington, Va.
“With respect to the trade agreements, our objectives and ambitions remain exactly the same: We want serious, robust trade agreements,” said Penn, who serves as USDA’s undersecretary for farm and foreign agricultural services.
“We’re not going to enter into a trade agreement just for the sake of getting an agreement. These are too difficult as we saw from our CAFTA-DR experience in getting that passed through Congress. So we are looking for very robust agreements for agriculture and food.”
So what kinds of countries would the United States consider for new trade agreement? Well, South Korea would be a good candidate, according Penn, the No. 3 ranking official in the Agriculture Department behind Secretary Mike Johanns and Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner.
“Just recently, at the beginning of this month, the administration announced it intended to pursue a bilateral free trade agreement with Korea,” he said. “This is a market that should be of great interest to the agricultural and food sector of this country.”
Korea, said Penn, has the largest potential for those sectors of any free trade agreement we have pursued. “Korea is already our sixth largest agricultural market, and its consumers are relatively affluent and (the market is) growing in size.”
The United States has completed free trade agreements with the CAFTA-DR countries — Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic — along with Morocco, Australia, Chile, Singapore, Jordan, Bahrain, Peru and Oman. These countries have a total population of 111 million and income of $1.07 trillion, said Penn.
The U.S. Trade Representative is currently negotiating FTAs with the United Arab Emirates, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Thailand and the South Africa Customs Union, which have a combine population of 183 million and income of $627 billion.
Korea has a population of 48 million and income of $1 trillion, and its foreign trade of $2.2 billion is slightly above that of all the countries the United States is currently negotiating free trade agreements with ($2.1 billion) and slightly below the $3 billion of the countries with completed agreements.
Penn says he expects 2006 will be a busy year for Congress on the trade front.
Besides the free trade agreements that are likely to be submitted for approval, Congress will also be asked to approve several extensions of preferential trade agreements and the probable WTO accessions of Ukraine, Russia and Vietnam.
Members of Congress, such as the chairmen of the House and Senate agriculture committees, will also be keeping a close eye on the continuing efforts to complete the Doha Development Round Agreement in the WTO following the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference last December.
“I think there was more significant progress made at that ministerial than perhaps has been widely reported,” said Penn. “But it has provided the momentum that continued to keep the talks going into this year and at the meetings in Geneva and elsewhere.
“We do now have some pretty firm deadlines. The ministers themselves set these deadlines in Hong Kong so they recognize that their creditability is at stake, and I think they are all working very diligently to meet these deadlines.” (Those are: full modalities by April 30, draft tariff schedules by July 31 and a completed agreement by Dec. 31.)
The Bush administration is attempting to present a completed agreement to Congress before the expiration of the president’s trade promotion authority in July 2007. The latter requires Congress to vote such agreements up or down, without amendment.
Penn said the administration’s objectives in the Doha Round also have not changed. It wants to:
• Improve export competition through elimination of export subsidies.
• Improve market access through substantial tariff reductions.
• Substantially reduce trade-distorting domestic subsidies.
He also noted that the United States continues to set new records for agricultural export sales.
“Last year we tied the record of $62.4 billion for the previous year (2004), and we had the major beef markets closed with well over $3 billion in market access denied to us in 2004 and 2005,” Penn said. “In 2006, we’re forecasting sales of $64.5 billion, which will be another record year.”
The latter continues to assume the major beef markets of Japan and Korea will be closed. “So if we can get those open, you can figure we will have an even better year than is currently being forecast.”
The undersecretary also spoke briefly about the president’s budget proposals, which were delivered to Congress in early February.
“We all know that the size and direction of the federal deficit has been and continues to be a large and growing concern,” he noted. “The deficit affects the overall operating environment, interest rates, and the value of the dollar, and it is something I think we all agree has to be addressed sooner rather than later.”
The president’s budget savings reflect some difficult choices, he said. “Those choices were very carefully made and keep us on the path that was laid out last year, which was intended to halve the deficit by 2009.”
Penn reminded the audience that Secretary Johanns has promised to work with Congress to help achieve “responsible” budget savings.
e-mail: flaws@prismb2b.com
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Translating Harry Potter: Fascinating Facts and Faults
Translating Harry Potter is just about as difficult as literary translation gets, not only due to the book and film series’ global success, but also to the fact that the character names were translated differently from one edition to another, causing confusion among readers, along with a lot of criticism.
But why did professional translators find it so hard?
Harry Potter and the translation of character names
At first glance, the above heading might look like another chapter in the book series about the most famous wizard in popular culture. But in actual fact, we’re referring to the saga of translating JK Rowling’s famous character names into Italian.
Publishing houses across the globe chose to adopt different approaches to the task of translating Harry Potter into other languages. In France, as one might expect, they decided to translate all character names into French. While in Spain, they decided to leave all names in English. In Italy, translators opted for a mix of Italian and English names. However, over time and with the release of new editions, the percentage of translated character names has dropped, and in the most recent Italian translation of Harry Potter, 80% of character names remain in English.
The perfect example of a name you might prefer to leave in English is Dolores Umbridge, whose surname derives from the expression to take umbridge.
A name that was excellently translated into Italian is that of Hogwarts’ resident caretaker, Filtch, whose name was translated to Argus Gazza in Italian. While ‘to filtch’ something means to secretly steal it, gazza is the Italian word for magpie, which conjures up a similar image.
Marina Astrologo, Harry Potter and Ravenclaw
The first translator ever to work for the Italian publishing house Salani on the Harry Potter series was Marina Astrologo. And it is to her that we owe the very difficult task of translating the house names that appear in Harry Potter, which Rowling used to briefly describe the character traits of students belonging to each house.
Marina Astrologo’s translation choices were kept as they were in subsequent translations, with one huge exception: Ravenclaw. Astrologo originally decided to translate Ravenclaw as Pecoranera in Italian, which essentially means ‘black sheep.’ However, in subsequent versions, it was translated as Corvonero, which means ‘black raven.’
This was a huge translation mishap as the word ‘pecoranera’ not only has no link to the English house name or its associated coat of arms (which actually features a hawk), it also has very negative connotations in Italian. As such, pecoranera remains a weak point in the Italian translation of the Harry Potter literary series. In subsequent translations, the publishing house made the executive decision to do away with the sheep and return the raven back to its rightful place.
Frequent accusations of incompetence have been directed at Marina Astrologo over the years. However, none of them have taken into account the extenuating circumstances that rendered her use of ‘pecoranera’ forgivable. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was translated into Italian before the rest of the series had been published in English. So when Astrologo chose a translation for Ravenclaw, she was unable to refer to the series as a whole to get a real sense of the houses’ overarching characteristics.
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News / Scotland
Furlough support: Rishi Sunak extends scheme until end of March
by Daniel O'Donoghue
November 5, 2020, 12:41 pm Updated: November 17, 2020, 10:15 pm
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.
Rishi Sunak has announced a five-month winter extension to the furlough scheme, ending days of confusion over whether support would be offered to Scottish workers in the event of a future lockdown.
After a week of pressure from the devolved governments and businesses, the Chancellor revised his initial furlough offer – which tied in with England’s month-long shutdown – and extended the scheme until the end of March.
Under the Chancellor’s plan, the less generous job support scheme will be suspended and workers will again have 80% of their wages paid for by the Treasury.
Support for the self-employed will also return to more generous levels, with grants of up to £7,500 on offer.
Mr Sunak said: “I’ve always said I would do whatever it takes to protect jobs and livelihoods across the UK – and that has meant adapting our support as the path of the virus has changed.
The upfront guaranteed funding for the devolved administrations is increasing from £14bn to £16bn.
This Treasury is, has been, and will always be, the Treasury for the whole of the United Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/apwPmNKQrb
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) November 5, 2020
“It’s clear the economic effects are much longer lasting for businesses than the duration of any restrictions, which is why we have decided to go further with our support.
“Extending furlough and increasing our support for the self-employed will protect millions of jobs and give people and businesses the certainty they need over what will be a difficult winter.”
Prior to Mr Sunak’s speech, ministers had been ducking questions from the press and MPs over whether furlough support would be granted to workers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland beyond the end of England’s lockdown on December 2.
Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds slammed the unnecessary uncertainty caused, saying it had cost jobs.
She said: “Businesses and workers have been pleading for certainty from this Government, but the Chancellor keeps ignoring them until the last possible moment after jobs have been lost and businesses have gone bust.
“This is the Chancellor’s fourth version of his winter economy plan in just six weeks, he can change his mind at the last minute, but businesses can’t.
“We need a Chancellor who is in front of the problems we face, not one who is always a step behind.”
Pleased to see Furlough extended but these are cliff edge u-turns and the delay has already cost jobs and businesses. We shouldn't be expected to be grateful for what should and could have been done (and a lot more still needed) months ago – and only forced through SE lockdown https://t.co/BPFuTRVzF8
— Drew Hendry MP (@drewhendrySNP) November 5, 2020
The SNP’s Treasury spokeswoman Alison Thewliss also hit out at the delay, saying it was a “democratic disgrace that Westminster was only willing to act when England faced lockdown and not when Scotland needed support”.
She added: “For many it is far too late. Thousands have already lost their jobs, many good businesses have gone under, and millions have been excluded completely.
“By withholding funding and blocking the devolution of financial powers, the Tory government has hindered Scotland’s ability to respond to this crisis.”
The Chancellor dismissed her remarks, saying his statement would “reassure” the people of Scotland.
He said: “The furlough scheme was designed and delivered by the Government of the United Kingdom on behalf of all the people of the United Kingdom – wherever they live.
“That has been the case since March; it is the case now; and will remain the case until next March.
“It is a demonstration of the strength of the Union – and an undeniable truth of this crisis – we have only been able to provide this level of economic support because we are a United Kingdom.”
In response Mr Sunak also announced an increase in the upfront guarantee of funding for the devolved administrations from £14 billion to £16 billion, of which £1billion will go to Holyrood.
His statement came after the Bank of England said it was pumping an extra £150bn into the economy.
The Bank warned the resurgence of Covid-19 would lead to a slower, bumpier recovery.
Around £40billion has been spent on the furlough scheme, which pays 80% of workers wages up to £2,500, since it was introduced in March.
Responding to the announcement, Mike Cherry, chairman of the federation of small businesses, said: “We are pleased that the Chancellor has listened to calls to help both groups of members that FSB champions – small employers and the self-employed.
“At a time of unprecedented restrictions, this will help small employers and the self-employed to mitigate some of the economic damage.”
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade association UK Hospitality, added: “The extension of furlough to the end of March will make a huge difference in helping to protect hospitality jobs across the whole of the UK.
“Hospitality is facing a tough winter so this enhanced support is crucial and will safeguard jobs and help businesses to plan for more certain future.”
Doncaster maintain strong form by beating Rochdale
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Alcorta Forging Group Expands to Marysville, Ohio, Announcing First U.S. Automotive Manufacturing Facility & Headquarters
Published on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 by Nicole Cornett, Expansion Solutions Magazine
Columbus, OH — Alcorta Forging Group, a 100-year-old Spanish automotive supplier, has announced plans to establish its first U.S. manufacturing operations and regional headquarters in Marysville, Ohio, investing $15 million and creating 50 new jobs with a potential expansion to double in 5 years, pending state and local approvals.
Alcorta plans to build its new 150,000-square-foot forging and manufacturing facility on 12 acres of land in the Marysville 33 Innovation Park, selecting Dublin Building Systems as its design-build partner. The project will be completed in three phases, with the company investing a total of $15 million toward the new building, as well as state-of-the-art machinery and equipment. Under the current uncertain circumstances, Alcorta will move forward with its pre-construction activities, while remaining on hold for the construction launch.
“Establishing our manufacturing plant in Ohio offers us a great opportunity to locally produce parts that are currently exported from Europe, while expanding our supply to Canadian, American and Mexican customers,” said Alcorta CEO Lorenzo Mendieta. “Following a thorough site selection process, we strongly believe the Columbus Region provides better capabilities for our company and helps us provide additional services for our client base.”
After reviewing more than 20 locations, Alcorta selected Marysville due to its economic and industrial environment, the availability of adequate human resources, state and city incentives and the sincere involvement by representatives from the city, county and state.
Based in Elgoibar, Spain, Alcorta has sales and engineering offices in U.S., Germany, France, Czech Republic, China and South Africa. This expansion will represent the company’s first production facility in North America. The 100-year-old company develops and manufactures automotive components for the car body, engine, powertrain and exhaust systems through a highly advanced and automated manufacturing process.
“We are thrilled to welcome Alcorta to Marysville’s diverse automotive supply chain, a legacy industry in our community,” said Marysville City Manager Terry Emery. “This major international investment is a great opportunity for the Innovation Park and a perfect fit for the Region’s substantial automotive supply chain.”
The Columbus Region is at the forefront of automotive technology and represents the future of new manufacturing. The Region produces nearly 650,000 cars a year, while the regional economic output for the automotive industry exceeds $2.7 billion annually. Overall, more than 1,700 manufacturers employ nearly 87,000 people in the Columbus Region. The city of Marysville is located in Union County, which is home to an estimated 57,835 residents.
“Alcorta’s choice of the Columbus Region for its U.S. headquarters and operations demonstrates how Ohio is open for investment from automotive suppliers throughout the world,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “We and our partners welcome Alcorta to Marysville, where it will create 100 new jobs in its first North American production facility.”
About Alcorta Forging Group
Alcorta Forging Group is a Basque (Spanish) company with over 100 years of experience in the metallurgy sector, working for the automotive industry since the early 80’s. The company is headquartered Elgoibar, Spain. Alcorta also has subsidiaries in USA, Germany, France, Czech Republic, China and South Africa. Learn more at alcortagroup.com.
About One Columbus
As the economic development organization for the 11-county Columbus Region, One Columbus’ mission is to lead a comprehensive regional growth strategy that develops and attracts the world’s most competitive companies, grows a highly adaptive workforce, prepares our communities for the future, and inspires corporate, academic and public innovation throughout the Columbus Region. One Columbus expertly guides companies through the location decision process. Through strategic business outreach and customized research, the One Columbus team leverages public, private and institutional partnerships to grow the Columbus Region’s economy and strengthen its national and international competitiveness. Funding is received from more than 300 private organizations, local governments, academic institutions and JobsOhio. Learn more at ColumbusRegion.com.
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School district seeks additional funds for new elementary school
Outlaw Partners
Building Reserve Levy ballots mail on Feb. 18
By Maria Wyllie Explore Big Sky Associate Editor
BIG SKY – The Big Sky School District is asking area taxpayers to approve a building reserve levy of $840,000 to compensate for unexpected building costs of the new Ophir Elementary School. Ballots will be mailed out to Big Sky residents on Feb. 18 and will be due by March 10.
Costs for the new school were initially estimated at $10.2 million to acquire two parcels of land on Windy Pass Trail – contiguous to and north of the current school campus – as well as to design, build and equip a new complex to serve prekindergarten through fourth grade classes. Taxpayers approved the bond for that money on May 7, 2013.
“Because unforeseen circumstances prevented us from having a budget to complete what we wanted, we are asking for support,” said Big Sky School District Superintendent Jerry House.
The unforeseen costs came to light during the design phase, which began in summer 2013 – immediately following approval of the bond – and was completed in early spring of 2014. These expenditures resulted from poor soil conditions requiring geotechnical remediation and structural upgrades; radon mitigation; and more expansive site construction due to topography challenges, such as leveling the site with wet soil.
Costs for radon mitigation totaled approximately $35,000 and costs for site work were in excess of $200,000, according to House. At approximately $680,000, the biggest cost was the new geopier system – a ground improvement method used to strengthen soft and loose soil, in this case requiring 399 compacted rock columns drilled an average of 18 ft. into the ground to support the foundation.
House says funds for the geopiers were not incorporated into the original May 2013 budget because there was no previous indication that the soil makeup would be any different than the land on which the current school and Windy Pass homes sit. These structures all have a layer of bedrock beneath them for support, while the new site’s soil consists of a combination of unsuitable building materials, mostly clay and silt.
Soil explorations on the land first took place in the fall of 2013. “That’s when we discovered there were poor soils there, and that’s when we started coming up with ideas of how we could support the school [structure],” said Craig Madson, the principal engineer with Allied Engineering Services, which BSSD hired as the design team’s geotechnical engineer.
“It totally shocked everybody,” House said. “There’s rock here, there’s rock [under] the homes on Windy Pass Trail … the civil engineers were dumfounded as to why it’s this way.”
House also notes that the school district didn’t own the two parcels of land before the bond passed, so they couldn’t perform any soil tests in advance.
However, Gallatin Partners CEO Jerry Scott, who sold one of the lots to BSSD in August 2013 – the other lot was purchased through a negotiation with Montana State University – said the school could have performed soil tests on the land prior to purchasing it.
“There was no provision in our agreement that prevented the buyer from doing due diligence,” Scott said. “There was an approximately 120-day due diligence period where they could have done whatever study they wanted. You want your buyers to know everything they can about the property.”
The due diligence period took place between mid-January and mid-June of 2013, according to Scott. The purchase was finalized that August.
Prior to the sale, no soil explorations had been performed on the land where the school is being built.
“We did not do any specific testing on the lots adjoining the school [because] there was no reason to,” said Scott, who developed the 462-acre Porcupine Park residential area near the school in the early 2000s.
“When we do a major development we always ask the engineers to look at historical soil reports, and some are national geological surveys, and they just point out the areas that may present any challenges. I don’t recall there being any areas near the school that concerned us.”
Phil Rotherham, who owns Rotherham Construction in Bozeman and develops commercial properties, says due diligence is status quo in the field.
“The buyer will request a due diligence period during which time he or she would employ the services of a geotechnical engineer to perform the necessary excavations and investigations to supply the buyer with a complete report of the subsurface conditions,” Rotherham said. “This is standard and typical in our industry.”
Because the soil makeup of the land near the new school site has bedrock support and is suitable for building, House didn’t think performing soil tests during the due diligence period would be necessary.
“There was no reason to give it a second thought,” House said.
Since learning of the new costs, the district has worked to mitigate other building expenses to meet the budget and complete the building for the 2015-16 academic year, regardless of whether the levy passes or not. The building is currently 40 percent complete, according to site superintendent Mike O’Masters of Martel Construction.
“We had to readjust our budget, but we are still going to have that building ready for occupancy at the end of this July,” House said.
Bryan Tate, owner of Tate Management, was hired by BSSD to serve as the owner’s representative. He represents the interests of the school district and helps manage the design and construction phases of the project.
“We had a finite budget to work within, so our design had to react to the increased costs resulting from the geotech investigation,” Tate said.
According to both House and Tate, the issue is a matter of cause and effect – the cause being unforeseen site conditions. “Our reaction to the cause wasn’t just to ask for more money,” Tate said. “Our reaction was value engineering, bid alternates, reducing square footage, reusing furniture, reprogramming the design and eliminating four classrooms.”
The project team also made budget reductions by re-evaluating the building envelope and mechanical and electrical systems, as well as reprogramming space requirements for the library, corridors, classrooms and custodial spaces.
Despite these budget cuts, the BSSD is asking for financial support via the building reserve levy to pay for bid alternates which include furnishings and equipment; exterior landscaping; gymnasium furnishings and a laundry room; an outdoor playground classroom; and communication systems. Funds from the building levy would allow these items to be in place when the school opens.
The school board approved the building reserve levy at its Dec. 18 meeting.
A building reserve levy is used to complete the needs of a specified project, and funds are issued via Montana’s INTERCAP Loan Program, which offers short-term, low-interest rate loans to the state’s local governments, state agencies and universities for various purposes.
The levy needs a 51 percent approval rate to pass and the Gallatin County Election office will count all ballots on the night of March 10.
Costs for taxpayers would take place over a five-year period and are based on taxable home value. Yearly cost for taxpayers would be $8.19 per every $100,000 market value of their home for tax purposes. If the levy does pass, the overall tax burden will still reduce due to the retirement of two bonds in 2016 and 2017. Funds from these two bonds were used to expand the current elementary school and build Lone Peak High School.
“I feel confident that this is a long-term investment with a short-term loan we’re looking at,” House said. “The idea isn’t necessarily that a building makes a kid smarter, but it gives us the opportunity to teach different programs that really challenge them and give them chances to perform in the real world.”
Reports from bi-monthly Owner-Architect-Contractor meetings are available to the public on the district website, and are submitted at monthly school board meetings. The public can access this information by attending meetings or reviewing minutes on the school website at bssd72.org.
EBS will follow up on this story as additional information becomes available.
Related Topics:Allied Engineering ServicesBig Sky School DistrictBryan Tatebuilding reserve levyCraig MadsonGallatin Partnersjerry houseJerry ScottMaria WyllieMartel ConstructionMike O'MastersPhil RotherhamTate Managementtaxes
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Google Nexus 5 unboxing and first impressions
2013/11/18 By Jerome Skalnik
Unless you’ve just emerged from a cave, you know that Google launched their latest Nexus smartphone, the Google Nexus 5, on October 31. I got my hands on it a few days back and now bring you an unboxing as well as my first impressions of the device.
There isn’t too much to this unboxing so we’ll let the pictures do the talking:
The box with Google and LG branding
Google logo subtly printed in the bottom right corner
And here is the Nexus 5
The contents of the box
The Google Nexus 5 in all its glory – And finger smudges already.
The back of the Nexus 5
Right out of the box, the first point in the Nexus 5’s favour is that Google and LG have opted to do away with the glass back we saw on the Nexus 4 in favour of a soft-touch plastic similar to that on the Nexus 7 (2013). It should make for a few less cracked casings in the days to come – I’d only had my Nexus 4 for a few days when it slid off a binder to the floor.
A closer look reveals a solidly built device but one that lacks the premium finish of a true flagship device like the HTC One. The ceramic power button and volume rocker should stand up well to the constant presses.
While the Nexus 5 shares much in common with the LG G2 under the hood, it is very much its own device and more reminiscent of the Nexus 4 in terms of look. The design is simple, efficient and quite comfortable. If there is one sore point, it is the slightly protruding rear camera. It feels like it’s not seated properly (more on the camera a bit later).
As expected, the 4.95-inch display means that the Nexus 5 is larger than the Nexus 4, albeit not by much due to the smaller bezels. The Nexus 5 also feels quite a bit slimmer than the Nexus 4 despite only being about half a millimeter thinner. Perhaps the fact that it’s also slightly lighter (130 grams versus the Nexus 4’s 139 grams) helps in that department.
Nexus 5 137.8 69.17 8.59 130
Nexus 4 133.9 68.7 9.1 139
Overall, the Nexus 5 is not a huge departure from the Nexus 4 in terms of design but Google and LG have clearly learned some lessons from their first partnership. Those upgrading from the Nexus 4 will feel at home.
The second point in the Nexus 5’s favour is the inclusion of LTE. Google and LG teased us with this with the Nexus 4 but we finally get the real deal with support for North American bands on the LG-D820 and ROW on the LG-D821. Google raised a lot of eyebrows by not including LTE on the Nexus 4 but recent chip advancements since then have made a simple endeavour (and an almost de rigueur one).
Now, if my local carrier could only improve LTE reception near my house so that I see more than a bar or two.
With a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 with an Adreno 330 GPU backed by 2GB of RAM (along with the enhancements in Android 4.4 KitKat), performance is fluid and effortless. I never really found the Nexus 4 to be laggy but the Nexus 5’s performance highlights how far processors have come even in the last year. Everything is just that much smoother and faster.
KitKat has also brought a number of subtle tweaks and improvements and a greater focus on Google Now which now gets its own dedicated homescreen. Some changes may take a bit more getting used to. For example, Google has updated the dialler and rolled up SMS into its Hangouts app (although the latter can be changed to an other app). Overall though, it will not take much to get up to speed on Android 4.4 and it does give Android a bit more polish.
As mentioned above, Google and LG have not only done a great job packing a larger 4.95-inch display without making the Nexus 5 much larger than the Nexus 4. They’ve also bumped up the resolution to Full HD (1080×1920). It is also a definite improvement over its predecessor when it comes to direct sunlight. Perhaps not the best, the Lumia 1020 springs to mind as being better, but an improvement nonetheless. If there is one complaint to be had, it’s that colours do seem to be somewhat washed out, especially when compared to that of some other flagship devices with 1080p displays.
An other area that has improved is touch response. It is much more fluid and responsive than it was on the Nexus 4.
The jury is still out here at EyeOnMobility headquarters on this item. As soon as specifications were confirmed, I had reservations about the 2,300mAh battery. Only slightly larger than the one on the Nexus 4, it remains to be seen if it will be an improvement. Sure Android 4.4 and the new processor are supposed to be kinder to the battery but there is also the matter of that larger and higher resolution display. I’ve been able to get through the day with the Nexus 5 so far but I’ll have to see how it performs when I really start to tax it.
I also noticed that the battery also took an inordinately long time to charge the first few times I did so. This seems to be getting better but something I’ll keep a close eye on for our in-depth review.
As for the camera, Google’s Vic Gundotra promised to give Nexus phones “insanely great cameras” a while back. Optical Image Stabilization promised to be a step in the right direction but our initial shots suggest that the Nexus 5 falls dramatically short in this area. The camera’s inability to focus properly even in well-lit conditions suggests something more than just another below par Nexus camera. It will attempt to focus for several seconds before simply giving up.
There are rumours of a software update already in the works to address some of these concerns but it appears that this could be hardware related as I’ve seen similar reports that triggered unit replacements.
Judge for yourself:
Update: Google is sending me a replacement device. I will reserve judgement on the camera until I have the new one in hand.
At this early point, it does look like Google and LG have learned quite a bit from what worked and what did not with the Nexus 4. The Google Nexus 5 looks to be an improvement in almost every aspect but I have some concerns around battery life and the camera. It is not a flagship device but it does not pretend to be one either. At CA$349 for the 16GB model and CA$399 for the 32GB model, there is a lot to like in the Nexus 5 and little not to like.
Here’s hoping that my replacement device has a better camera so that I can bring you a more in-depth review.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of EyeOnMobility.com
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Rogers files court injunction to block GLENTEL sale to Bell
BCE’s plan to acquire GLENTEL, a Canadian mobile products distributor, has hit a speed bump. Rogers Communications this week filed an injunction with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to block the CA$670 million deal. It claims that its agreement with GLENTEL requires that the distributor obtain approval from Rogers before it can proceed with the acquisition. GLENTEL today responded and […]
A closer look at the Rogers Vicinity rewards program
Introduction Have a look in your purse or wallet right now. Chances are that you have more than one loyalty card in there. You probably also have a few punch cards tracking your purchases as you work your way towards a discount or that free coffee or sandwich at your favourite local shop. For example, my own wallet holds five […]
Concept Sunday: Cancelled “value-tier” Moto 360 concept
Motorola this week unveiled its new Moto 360 Collection. Last year’s smartwatch has grown into a line consisting of three different models. Along with a new 46mm model, there is now a smaller 42mm model and a more rugged model, the Moto 360 Sport, geared at more active users. Under different circumstances, there might also have been a cheaper model geared […]
Discommon Goods Watch Wallet for your travels
It can sometimes be difficult to keep track of all of your important but small items when travelling. As if keeping track of essentials like your passport and credit cards was not enough, add a couple of watches (you’ve got to have the right watch for every occasion after all) and you may be wondering how best to carry everything in a convenient […]
Frederique Constant Slimline Moonphase Manufacture
Frederique Constant today unveiled the latest member of its popular Manufacture Collection. The latest Slimline Moonphase Manufacture combines a starkly elegant ivory-colored dial with a detailed moonphase and date counter sub-dial at the 6 o’clock mark. The ivory dial is accented with sunray decoration and applied silver color indexes. The sub-dial features an illustration of the moon and stars on a contrasting dark blue background. It […]
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STAINTON DALE, North Riding
Ravenscar Mock Forts NZ 981 018
Mock Forts
Captain William Childs built Raven Hall in 1774 on the site of a Roman fort. In 1845 it was bought by Mr William Hammond who was a director of the Scarborough to Whitby Railway. He planned that the line passed through Ravenscar but died in 1885 before it was completed. The Peak Estate Company tried to develop a resort at Revenscar but the Company was declared bankrupt in the 1920s.
Beacon Windmill NZ 976 006
Beacon Windmill was built for William Hammond, the owner of the Raven Hall Estate, and has a date-stone 1858.
It was known as Peak Mill and was leased to the miller by the owner of the adjacent inn.
It was used until 1902 when it lost two of its remaining its sails in a gale.
The present owner purchased it in 2013 and it has been converted into a holiday let.
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Cuomo helps rescue man from crash on highway
FOX 5 NY
Cuomo helps truck driver
Gov. Andrew Cuomo was seen helping a man out of the wreckage of an overturned truck on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway on Jan. 6, 2020. (New York Governor's Office via Storyful)
NEW YORK - New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo helped remove a man from the overturned cab of a truck on the Brooklyn–Queens Expressway on Monday.
Video shared by the governor's office shows Cuomo holding the man's left leg as he is helped down from the driver's seat of the vehicle. State troopers in Cuomo's security detail also helped.
The FDNY told the New York Post that no one was hurt.
The truck appeared to be on its side on the barrier dividing the east and westbound lanes.
The exact cause of the crash was unknown.
Cuomo's vehicle appeared to have been traveling in the opposite direction and was not involved in the incident.
He and his staff were heading to catch a flight after the governor spoke at the Association for a Better New York luncheon.
COVID-19 pandemic prompts SAT to remove optional essay, subject tests
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5 suspects facing murder charges in death of 15-year-old girl
SPRINGFIELD, Va. - Police have charged two adults and three 17-year-olds with murder in connection with the death of a 15-year-old Maryland girl in Virginia.
Damaris Reyes Rivas was reported missing in December, and her remains were found near Lake Accotink Park in Springfield on Saturday.
PREVIOUS: Police: Human remains found in Springfield believed to be missing Md. teen
Police say a total of four adults and six teenagers were arrested in connection with Rivas' murder, and they were all charged with abduction and gang participation.
RELATED: 10 charged in connection with gang-related murder of 15-year-old girl
The four adults charged have been identified by police as Jose Ivan Castillo Rivas, 18, Springfield, Wilmer A. Sanchez Serrano, 21, Cindy Blanco Hernandez, 18, and Aldair J. Miranda Carcamo, 18.
Rivas and Sanchez Serrano are the two adults charged with murder in addition to the abduction and gang participation charges.
The medical examiner ruled that the 15-year-old girl died from multiple forms of trauma to her upper body. Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin Roessler called it a "savage, brutal killing." He said police have video evidence, but would not elaborate.
Police would not identify the gang involved, but Damaris's mother, who now fears for her own life, says the brutal Salvadorian gang MS-13 is responsible. Her mother also says that she has been getting threats from members of the gang blaming her for the arrests that police have made.
Kevin Donovan with the FBI Washington field office commented about working to identify international threats saying, "with regards to trying to identify threats coming from outside the US, particularly from Central America the FBI is partnered with other federal agencies including the state department to develop transnational anti-gang task force down in El Salvador."
ICE has lodged detainers for all four adult suspects in this case, which means they are either here in the country illegally or they violated the terms of their legal status in the U.S. It also means that they are requesting that Fairfax County notify ICE before these people are released.
Venus Iraheta, a 17-year-old Fairfax County girl who returned home Tuesday night after she was reported missing by her mother on Jan. 15, has also been taken into police custody related to this murder case. Iraheta's mother confirmed to FOX 5 she has been in the country for nearly 10 years illegally.
RELATED: Missing 17-year-old Alexandria girl Venus Iraheta returns home
Another recent missing persons case involving 16-year-old Lizzy Rivera Colindres and her 5-month-old baby is also connected to Rivas' murder. Also reported missing on Jan. 15, both the teenager and child returned home last Saturday night -- on the same day Rivas' remains were discovered. Police confirmed this was not a runaway case and the 16-year-old left against her will.
The baby's father, Jose Castillo Rivas, was arrested two days later for violating a stay away order and is also one of the adults facing murder charges in the death of Damaris Reyes Rivas.
Police in Prince William County say that the Jan. 12 death of Christian Sosa Rivas, 21, who was found washed up on the banks of the Potomac River in Dumfries, may also be connected to the gang investigation.
In Northern Virginia, there is a task force that specifically tracks gangs like MS-13. Jay Lanham, the director of the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force, said they are seeing an increase in violent crime related to these gangs, which are recruiting people as young as children in elementary school and they lure them through social media and parties where they offer them drugs, alcohol and sex.
"There are many different cliques in the area and they have their own local leaders, but they get a lot of guidance and orders that come out of El Salvador," said Lanham. "A lot of these individuals are from El Salvador and were involved in the gang life down there before they came to the U.S.
"Their weapons of choice are handguns, knives and machetes and that has been that way for a long time. Sometimes their murders tend to be very brutal. You can imagine someone using a machete on another person. So I don't think we see anything along the lines of a ritual. Sometimes they may want to make a statement with the brutality of the crime."
He added that for the most part, the crime committed by these gangs tends to be within their cliques or gang-on-gang crime.
A Department of Homeland Security official told FOX 5 they have seen an uptick in violence from MS-13 in the region in the past two years. He said 18- and 19-year-olds in high schools work to recruit younger kids to help them carry out crimes because they are aware charges are less serious for juveniles.
A look back at significant inaugurations throughout U.S. history
Cops tracked Silver Spring white supremacist to Capitol using GPS
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Fighting breaks out in South Sudan 2 days after peace deal
FILE - In this Friday, April 29, 2016 file photo, South Sudan's then First Vice President Riek Machar, left, looks across at President Salva Kiir, right, as the two sit to be photographed following the first meeting of a new transitional coalition government, in the capital Juba, South Sudan. South Sudan's warring parties on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018, signed what they say is the final peace agreement to end the country's five-year civil war, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions. (AP Photo/Jason Patinkin, File)
JUBA, South Sudan – Fighting has broken out in South Sudan two days after the warring sides signed what the government called a "final final" peace agreement to end the civil war. Each side blames the other for the attacks.
Clashes erupted Friday morning in Central Equatoria state when government troops stormed bases in Lainya and Kajo Keji counties, opposition spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel said.
"That means the regime is not serious about the peace," Gabriel told The Associated Press.
The government called the accusations "propaganda." The attacks were instigated by opposition forces that emerged from hiding along the Ugandan border and were trying to reclaim territory, spokesman Lul Roai Koang told the AP.
An investigation into the reports is underway, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism, the body charged with monitoring the cease-fire, said on Twitter. It reminded all parties of their commitment to refrain from hostilities. The body reports to the East African regional bloc that negotiated the peace deal.
South Sudan's five-year civil war has killed untold tens of thousands of people and created more than 2 million refugees, Africa's largest refugee crisis since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Half of the remaining population of 12 million faces hunger and the economy of the oil-rich nation has collapsed.
President Salva Kiir and the head of the armed opposition, Riek Machar, signed the latest attempt at peace on Wednesday in neighboring Ethiopia. Under the power-sharing arrangement Machar will once again be Kiir's deputy — an arrangement that sparked the civil war in December 2013 when supporters of the two men clashed. Machar's return to the vice presidency in 2016 was short-lived when fighting broke out in the capital, Juba, and he fled the country.
Many international observers have expressed skepticism about this new agreement. "We remain concerned about the parties' level of commitment," said a statement by the United States, Britain and Norway, the troika that worked to bring South Sudan to independence from Sudan in 2011.
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Judge rules against Cuban migrants who clung to Florida Keys lighthouse
Florida Keys (2007 Florida Keys News Bureau)
MIAMI (AP) – A group of 21 Cuban migrants who reached a lighthouse off the Florida Keys last month should be returned to the island nation because the structure does not count as U.S. soil, a Miami federal judge ruled Tuesday.
Judge Darrin Gayles' ruling said the 136-year-old American Shoal lighthouse does not count as dry land under the U.S.'s "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy.
Lawyers for the migrants had argued the lighthouse is U.S. territory, and their clients should get to stay. They had previously asked for an injunction to keep the U.S. Coast Guard from repatriating the migrants, but Tuesday's order denied that request.
Attorneys for the federal government acknowledged the lighthouse is U.S. property but argued it was not equal to dry land.
The lighthouse is located about 7 miles from Sugarloaf Key. At issue was whether the lighthouse, a historic 109-foot iron structure that was in use from 1880 until 2015, qualified as U.S. territory under the "wet foot, dry foot" policy. Under that policy, Cubans who reach U.S. shores are usually allowed to stay, while those intercepted at sea are generally returned home.
The ruling comes amid a surge of migration from the communist island to the U.S., partly out of fear the favorable policy might change as relations warm between the two Cold War foes. The Coast Guard has said attempts by Cubans to reach the U.S. by sea increased 155 percent in May compared to the same month last year.
The 21 Cuban migrants who reached the lighthouse May 20 stayed there for several hours before they agreed to board a Coast Guard cutter, where they have remained since. The lighthouse has a large, eight-room living area once occupied by a keeper and other workers and sits on a submerged reef that was deeded to the U.S. by the state of Florida in the 1870s, according to testimony at a hearing earlier this month.
In 2006, a different Miami federal judge ruled that Cubans who reached a portion of the abandoned Seven Mile Bridge in the Keys that was no longer connected to land still qualified as "dry foot" because the structure was U.S. territory.
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Back to Spotlights
Welcome Rachit Agarwal
New Faculty Year: 2016
Rachit Agarwal started at Cornell in the fall of 2016 as an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science. His research interests are in systems. “My PhD advisors once told me ‘work on problems that excite you’,” says Agarwal. “The kind of problems I tend to get excited about are the ones that force us to fundamentally rethink the basics—often they raise as many questions as they answer. Solving these problems often requires searching for solutions at the intersection of systems, networks and theory.”
Agarwal earned his undergraduate degree at the Kanpur campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). During his undergraduate studies, he spent a summer at Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits in Germany where he got his first taste of actual research. “I loved it,” says Agarwal. “My advisor there presented to me a big problem and told me ‘now go solve it.’ It was a very open-ended problem and of course I did not solve it that summer. But I enjoyed the challenge!”
Rachit went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for his Ph.D., where he worked with Brighten Godfrey and Matt Caesar, a pair he describes as a “super awesome duo”. He then took a postdoctoral researcher position at UC Berkeley where he worked with Ion Stoica. At UC Berkeley, Agarwal led the Succinct project, which enables a wide range of queries directly on compressed data. “Solid state drives (SSDs) are still one hundred times slower than memory. With Succinct, applications can keep more data in memory and avoid the performance degradation of using SSDs for a much larger range of input sizes”, says Agarwal enthusiastically. “Succinct is open-sourced and is already being deployed at several large companies. It feels amazing to be able to take a fundamental problem, produce an interesting result and complete the cycle by having impact on industry products within the same project.”
At Cornell, Agarwal is kick-starting a number of new directions. A particular area of interest for Rachit is design of next-generation computing systems. “Increasingly many users utilize web services for day-to-day tasks: Google, Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Uber, etc. The demand on hardware and software systems that run these services continues to increase at an unprecedented rate. If such a growth continues, we will need fundamentally new approaches to meet the demand,” says Agarwal. “This requires innovation in each of hardware, operating systems, networks, and algorithms.”
Another question Agarwal is exploring involves tools and techniques for real-time monitoring, debugging and verification of large operational networks. “Modern networks are complex with hundreds of terabytes (one terabyte is a thousand gigabyte) of traffic flowing through thousands of devices in one second. The holy grail in this direction is to be able to argue about the performance and security of each and every packet, and each and every network device. It is a challenging problem, but there is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to solve it,” Agarwal says.
“What really ties all of my work together are the dual goals of having an impact and of building systems that have a strong theoretical foundation.” Agarwal decided to become an academic researcher rather than joining industry despite his focus on real-world problems because he wants to solve these problems from a more fundamental perspective. Sometimes this may require thinking about impact in a slightly longer timeline than those targeted by industry. “I have the best of all worlds in my areas of research because people in my field are able to have real-world impact to the same extent as industrial researchers.”
In the spring, Agarwal will be teaching a new graduate class on systems that he is creating from scratch. Agarwal spends his free time in Ithaca learning to fly planes, and he is hoping to get a pilot license within a few years.
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Nate Cira has joined the faculty of Cornell Engineering as an assistant professor in the Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering. Cira comes to Cornell after three years as a... Read more about Welcome Nate Cira
Welcome Ahmed El Alaoui
Ahmed El Alaoui had a math teacher in middle school who told him that he should just stop coming to her class and find something else to do, since math class seemed to be useless to him. His... Read more about Welcome Ahmed El Alaoui
Welcome Farrell Helbling
There was no single person or event that started Farrell Helbling on the path to her new position as an assistant professor in Cornell’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). Though... Read more about Welcome Farrell Helbling
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SABAN’S GO GO POWER RANGERS: FOREVER RANGERS #1 from BOOM! Studios
by First Comics News on March 22, 2019 SABAN’S GO GO POWER RANGERS: FOREVER RANGERS #1 from BOOM! Studios2019-03-22T22:33:47-07:00 - News
LOS ANGELES, CA (March 22, 2019) – BOOM! Studios, under license by Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS), today announced SABAN’S GO GO POWER RANGERS: FOREVER RANGERS #1, a brand new oversized special from writer Ryan Parrott (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) and artists Eleonora Carlini (Batgirl) and Francesco Mortarino (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) available in June 2019.
Is this the end? Alpha One is bent on revenge against Zordon, his creator, and willing to destroy anyone who may stand in his way, including the Power Rangers! They summon every last bit of morphin power they’ve got to halt the deranged robot on his path of destruction and death. But when it looks as though their combined strength might not be enough to stop the murderous and hyper-charged Alpha One from laying waste to Angel Grove, the Power Rangers must reach deep and ask themselves just how far they are willing to go to save Zordon, Angel Grove, and the rest of humanity from Alpha One’s plans.
SABAN’S GO GO POWER RANGERS: FOREVER RANGERS #1 features a main cover by Dan Mora (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Once & Future), along with variant covers by acclaimed artist Kris Anka (Runaways, Captain Marvel) and fan favorite Gurihiru (The Unstoppable Wasp, Gwenpool).
“Alpha One represents such an interesting existential threat to the Power Rangers and Zordon. Alpha One was once like them, committed to the cause, and fighting him becomes its own kind of tragedy,” said Dafna Pleban, Senior Editor, BOOM! Studios. “In the biggest issue of SABAN’S GO GO POWER RANGERS ever, Ryan and Eleonora push the Power Rangers past their limits!”
Print copies of SABAN’S GO GO POWER RANGERS: FOREVER RANGERS #1 will be available for sale on June 19, 2019 at local comic book shops (use comicshoplocator.com to find the nearest one), or at the BOOM! Studios webstore. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers like comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and the BOOM! Studios app.
Currently, Power Rangers is celebrating 25 continuous years on the air, making it one of the longest running kids’ live-action series in television history with nearly 900 episodes aired to date. Created by Haim Saban and launched in 1993 with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the franchise celebrates its milestone anniversary year with the 25th season, “Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel” currently airing on Saturdays at 12 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon in the U.S.
SABAN’S GO GO POWER RANGERS: FOREVER RANGERS #1 is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including Abbott from Saladin Ahmed and Sami Kivelä; Bone Parish from Cullen Bunn and Jonas Scharf; Grass Kings from Matt Kindt and Tyler Jenkins; and Klaus from Grant Morrison and Dan Mora. The imprint is also home to popular licensed properties including Joss Whedon’s Firefly from Greg Pak and Dan McDaid and Buffy The Vampire Slayer from Jordie Bellaire and Dan Mora.
Softcover collections of SABAN’S GO GO POWER RANGERS, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and other Power Rangers releases from BOOM! Studios are available now, everywhere books are sold.
For continuing news on the SABAN’S GO GO POWER RANGERS series and more from BOOM!, stay tuned to www.boom-studios.com and follow @boomstudios on Twitter.
For more on Saban’s Power Rangers, please visit www.powerrangers.com and follow Power Rangers on http://rangernation.com/, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
TM & (c) 2019 SCG Power Rangers and Hasbro.
https://www.firstcomicsnews.com/sabans-go-go-power-rangers-forever-rangers-1-from-boom-studios/https://www.firstcomicsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Power-Rangers-logo-600x257.pnghttps://www.firstcomicsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Power-Rangers-logo-150x64.png 2019-03-22T22:33:47-07:00 First Comics NewsNewsforever,power,rangers,saban,studios
LOS ANGELES, CA (March 22, 2019) – BOOM! Studios, under license by Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS), today announced SABAN’S GO GO POWER RANGERS: FOREVER RANGERS #1, a brand new oversized special from writer Ryan Parrott (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) and artists Eleonora Carlini (Batgirl) and Francesco Mortarino (Mighty Morphin Power...
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Your First Look at POWER RANGERS: SINS OF THE FUTURE
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Did we make a difference?
The Foundation for Law, Justice and Society (FLJS) is an independent not-for-profit institution that aims to promote an understanding of the role of law in society. We identify and analyse issues of contemporary interest and importance, disseminating the insights of decision-makers and experts to a global audience through our extensive online resource of free-to-download Policy Briefings, Opinion Pieces, and multimedia podcasts.
We want to keep our content free at the point of use to all. If you value our work and are able to support it, please make a contribution to enable us to fulfil our educational aims into the future.
The Social Contract Revisited: The Modern Welfare State
Amir Paz-Fuchs
This report summarizes the three-year programme investigating the social contract and the modern welfare state. It provides an overview of social contract theory and a history of its evolution over the last century, as it is used to inform welfare policy by governments in various parts of the world, including Scandinavia, Latin America, the UK and the United States.
The report asssess how the social contract impacts on institutions such as the famliy, education, health, and civil society, before addressing specific recent challenges such as globalization, economic austerity measures, and the effect of an ageing population on pension provision.
By examining the tax system and analysing possible alternatives such as a spending tax or basic income, the report addresses the challenges faced by policymakers to create a fair, affordable welfare system, and lays out a framework through which social contract theory can help us to reach a better understanding of an equitable welfare state.
Empirical and Normative Claims in Social Contract Arguments
Publications in this programme
Work, Employment, and Industrial Relations in the Social Contract
This report provides both a record and a critical assessment of the fourth workshop of the Foundation for Law, Justice and Society’s programme,
Plucking the Goose: The Role of Taxation in the Modern Social Contract
This report is intended to provide both a record and a critical assessment of the third workshop of the Foundation for Law, Justice and Society’s p
The Contract for Income Support and Pensions in the Modern Welfare State
This report is intended to provide both a record and a critical assessment of the second workshop of the Foundation for Law, Justice and Society’s
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Anasayfa/ABOUT US
ABOUT US gapgreen 2018-01-23T19:49:08+00:00
Utilization of Renewable Energy (RE) Resources and Increasing Energy Efficiency (EE) in the Southeast Anatolia Region Project (the Project) is being implemented by the Southeast Anatolia Regional Development Administration of Turkish Ministry of Development (GAP RDA), with the technical support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In line with the main vision of the Competitiveness Agenda in 2007 for Southeastern Anatolia Region, the Project aims at developing in sustainable and socially equitable way, and contributing through energy efficiency practices and more widespread use of renewable energy.
RE and EE projects aim at not only testing the technical and implementation in this Region, but also with an integrated approach creating an increasing effect on industry, service, tourism, agriculture fields with additional values such as competitiveness, employment, trained labor, increasing research capacity. With the increase of primary energy supply in Turkey, there is no an improvement observed for the supply of consumption with the production.
The production and consumption ratio is 28,0% in 2008 and is 29,5% in 2009, moreover it is observed that in 2010 the ratio remained at a similar level. These data showed that in Turkey’s primary energy supply, the external dependency is at a level of approximately 70%. The same applies for the production of electricity, more than half of the electricity produced in Turkey are provided from the imports of primary energy sources (mostly natural gas).
On the other hand, 170 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions in 1990 increased to 372 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2007 in Turkey. Emissions from electricity generation play an important role in this increase, during the same period, with the increase of emissions from 30 to 233%, it reached 100 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. So, while the share of total emissions of greenhouse gas emissions originating from electricity generation is at the level of 17% in 1990, in 2007 it has reached at the level of %27. Either to reduce the dependence on foreign energy supply, or to be kept at a reasonable level of carbon emissions due to electricity production, it is necessary to evaluate fully the highest proportion of renewable energy sources is an indigenous resource.
Electricity generation from renewable energy sources in Turkey is carried out largely from hydraulic resources. However, “Law on Utilization of Renewable Energy Sources”, the law no. 5346, which came into force in 2005, a legal framework for the evaluation of hydraulic resources, as well as other renewable energy sources were established. With this legal framework; some price incentives and investment facilities such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, to be shareholders of other renewable energy sources in electricity production were achieved.
In recent years, the production of electricity from renewable energy sources, including wind and hydro energy in particular has been growing rapidly in Turkey. Southeastern Anatolia Region, with its rich water and sun as the source for renewable energy has great potential. From dams 15.7 billion kWh of electricity of the region was produced in 2008, this figure corresponds to approximately 8% of Turkey’s consumption in 2008.
The total installed capacity of power projects which has not yet completed in the region is 1,972 MW and it corresponds to approximately one quarter of the total power projected for the region.
With all of these, the region will become a hydroelectric paradise. Situated in a Region called “sunbelt” in Turkey, the use of solar energy potential is very high and this potential has reached the highest values in both the Mediterranean and Southeastern Anatolia Regions. With regards to generating electricity from solar energy, Southeastern Anatolia Region is much more convenient than the Mediterranean Region where tourism and agriculture have developed so much and because of these this region also has very high land prices.
Province-Based Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) Values in Southeastern Anatolia Region
Southeastern Anatolia Region is rich in agricultural waste. In Turkey’s total cotton production, there are 50% share in the region. Therefore, it is estimated that the amount of agricultural waste of cotton and other products is suitable for building a power plant with a few hundred MW. On the other hand, due to the presence of animals, animal waste also has the potential to be added to the energy portfolio in this region. Evaluation of opportunities for the region’s gas and electricity production from agricultural and animal waste will ensure the diversification of renewable energy sources and will enable the emergence of the domestic manufacturing sector. On the other hand, although not as much as in the Aegean and Marmara Regions, the fact that cannot be neglected is that a wind potential is available in the region. Wind speed and density in the region is not as good as in the western part of Turkey and some promising places exist in terms of wind energy potential in Gaziantep, Kilis and Mardin. More importantly, it can be possible to use small and medium-scale wind turbines in combination with solar energy to supply local needs (water pumping and irrigating operations, etc.) in some regions where low-speed winds can be found.
It requires extensive and encompassing approach to activate potential that the dimensions of it is briefly explained, and to deliver the electricity that is produced safely. When taking into consideration of the liberalization of the electricity market, new electricity generation investments, to be carried out by private companies, continuation the process of privatization of electricity distribution companies, there is a need for an integrated strategy for the implementation of renewable energy investments and for the region to become a focus of attention and attraction for investors. On the other hand, the awareness of using energy efficiently is low in this region like in Turkey’s general regions. Due to the traditional production trends and hot climate in the industry, the buildings where there is no insulation and the uncollected energy consumption causes inefficient energy consumption in the region and therefore it leads to higher energy density. The energy density is an index expressing the total energy required to produce a unit of value added and when energy density decreases, the same amount of value added, less energy and thus can be manufactured less costly. Applying for energy efficiency measures has a great importance in areas where there is energy consumption to reduce energy intensity, but especially in industrial plants and buildings. The limited part of the energy efficiency measures to be taken in the industrial sector requires changes of processes and it requires relatively large investments. On the other hand, the majority of these measures could be implemented at low cost investment that will not affect the main investment strategy of the company.
The inefficient use of energy in both residential buildings as well as commercial purposes and existence of many of the buildings without insulation, large size of the energy spent for cooling the energy needed for heating were observed. With the light of this data, the execution of various applications to improve the energy efficiency of buildings is considered as necessary. Spreading investments in improving the building towards commercial and residential buildings starting from public buildings is a primary requirement of public sector. It is important to raise awareness not only about improving insulation in the buildings, but also about the electrical appliances for the regional consumers who have difficulties to pay the electricity bill.
The principles of taking sustainable development approach envisaged for the region as a basis were adopted in promoting the use of both renewable energy sources in electricity and heat production in this project and action plan and in the realization of works and actions aimed at improving energy efficiency. In this context, increasing employment, education of the population participating in the labour force, the development of industry competitiveness, branding in unique products and services, issues such as the mobilization of civil society have been issues that are taken into consideration in the project. In addition, subjects have been evaluated as well as the horizontal axis and according to sectors.
In the industrial sector, it was focused on the options mentioned about the manufacture of some products in the region under the project and in this context, the search for new cooperation and incentives have become a current issue. Due to the fact that many components of the solar thermal product range are manufactured with manufacturing techniques that require low technology, it has been evaluated that finding a proper environment to produce products with low cost and quickly in region. In addition, to have a higher proportion of sun geography in the south of the region indicates the richness of the potential market for the products to be produced. From the data that offers a great potential for direct thermal and electrical industry applications of solar energy to mobilize this potential, the project proposals to be implemented regarding use of this potential have been always welcome.
Both with the food security aspect, and with potential employment opportunities, the agricultural sector in the region came into force as a strategic sector and bumper. In the Region where there are a very high possibility of renewable energy and also where intensive agriculture-husbandry activities are carried out, dealing with agriculture and renewable energy will affect the development of both field and the increase of employment positively. With regards to the preservation of ecological balance and the balanced use of natural resources, in transition to sustainable production the rehabilitation of irrigation practices and the dissemination of solar-assisted irrigation pumps will be critical steps. However, the evaluation of rich agricultural and animal waste in the Region will provide the development of biomass and biogas applications.
As mentioned above, sustainable growth approach has been adopted as the basic principle inactivity to be carried out and in results of the Project. The studies identifying areas of potential progress in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the region under the first phase of the project were identified with a strategy and action plan in July 2009 -May 2011 period. In line with the foresight of this action plan, the second phase of the project is planned to give more weight to the activities of the application. Three basic components of the second phase of the project;
Determination of opportunities of EV / YE and conducting best practices and disseminating in South-eastern Anatolia Region, industries and services in the building (Output 1);
Increasing the usage of YE potential of South-eastern Anatolia (Output 2) and
Technical, institutional and capacity development of labour with respect of EV and YE, in industry, services, construction and agriculture sectors in the region (Output 3)
On 16 February 2012, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Development GAP Regional Development Administration, Republic of Turkey the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme by the project’s second phase following the signing of the project document by the parties concerning Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project in the region started the second phase.
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The Greek Animal Welfare Fund (GAWF) is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with Company number 881216 and charity number 233574. Our registered office is at 51 Borough High Street, SE1 1NB, London, UK.
Greek Animal Welfare Fund operates in Greece through its non-profit subsidiary Animal Action Hellas (AAH) which is registered with the Court of First Instance under No. 63793/505, with a registered office of Falireos 43, Neo Faliro 18547, Athens, Greece. GAWF funds and directs the activities of AAH through its Board of Directors / Trustees and its CEO.
As a UK based charity operating in Greece since 1959, The Greek Animal Welfare Fund’s (GAWF) purpose is ‘the prevention and relief of cruelty and suffering amongst animals in Greece’.
We have a vision for ‘Greece to become a nation whose people care about the quality of animals’ lives’. We are proud of what we have achieved over many years as the longest serving animal charity operating in Greece at a national level. Many animals’ lives have been improved by our work. But there is still a lot for us to do before Greece becomes a country in which the quality of animals’ lives matter. That is why our mission is to ‘use the way we care for animals to educate and inspire, encouraging changes in attitudes at every level of Greek society.’
When did we first start working in Greece?
The work of the Greek Animal Welfare Fund began in 1959 – the year Mrs. Eleanor Close arrived in Greece. Following World War II and a devastating civil war, Mrs Close came to live in Greece when her husband was posted there. She was soon confronted by appalling animal suffering: sick and starving cats and dogs; painfully thin and broken-down horses and donkeys at the end of their working lives; brutal treatment in slaughterhouses and the dog pound. Having gained permission from the authorities, Mrs. Close set up a Working Committee of Greek, English and American ladies to try to change the unacceptable reality of the lives of animals in Greece.
However, they all soon realised that they had taken on a task that would require a sustained effort over a long period and that, in order for this to be maintained, further financial resources would be needed. As a result, ‘The Greek Animal Welfare Fund’ (GAWF) was established in London, in 1961, with the object of ‘raising funds to promote humane behaviour towards animals on the mainland and islands of Greece’. Once on a more solid financial footing, it became possible for GAWF to act on reports of neglected and abused animals, and to begin providing some of the treatment and services that were so badly needed.
In 1965, Eleanor Close was awarded the Victoria Medal, the RSPCA’s highest award, for her outstanding contribution to animal welfare in Greece. The following year she returned to the UK to become Vice President of GAWF.
On the 10th June 1966 GAWF became a registered charity in the UK. To this day, over five decades later, we remain committed to our Trust’s core objects and purpose, that being ‘the prevention and relief of cruelty and suffering amongst animals in Greece’. Over the decades, through continuous efforts and hard work, GAWF has expanded its reach and set up the first Greek welfare organisation at a time when the welfare of animals was anything but a priority in Greek society. We remain the longest service animal welfare organisation in Greece.
In 2011, GAWF’s Greek company was dissolved and reformed as “Animal Action Greece”, or more formally, Animal Action Hallas (Drasi gia ta Zoa stin Ellada) to give it a stronger and more recognisable identity, which it still successfully uses.
Today, in the spirit so passionately demonstrated by our Founder, we are still committed not only to our direct actions that work to alleviate suffering and improve the lives of thousands of individual animals, but also the campaigning and educational work we do to change attitudes to animal welfare at every level of Greek society. Added to this, our lobbying and advocacy work ensures that decision-makers keep the legislative framework and enforcement moving in a direction that acts to provide animals in Greece with the chance of a happier, healthier future.
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Next Up - Silver State 150
Next stop for Ellstrom Racing's off-road team will be a new event in the Best in the Desert Series - The Polaris RZR Silver State "150" Presented by Method Race Wheels based in Caliente, California.
Caliente is a town 22 miles east-southeast of Bakersfield with a population of just over 1000 and a lot of history; the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads fought to meet in Caliente and it’s rich in Mining and Ranching history with beautiful vistas all around.
After an impressive second place finish in the grueling 550 mile Vegas to Reno race on August 18, Sven Ellstrom and co-drivers Mark Holz, Ryan Holz and Brian Maclean are anxious to prove once again that they are among the top dogs in the sport. After finishing within seconds of the winner after nearly 12 hours of hard racing among the 45 entries in the UTV Pro Class, the team will have its sights set on the top of the podium in Caliente.
Commenting on the team's early successes, team owner Erick Ellstrom said, "It's very exciting to be racing again and to be included among the top teams in a huge sport where we are relative newcomers. Knowing that we can run with the factory teams and the guys who have been winning these events for years gives us a lot of confidence as we continue to develop and improve."
Following the Silver State 150, the team will spend a week testing new technology being developed for the 2018 season.
Ellstrom added, "With the continued support of our sponsor Oberto Beef Jerky as well as Holz Racing and Walker Evans Racing, we are looking forward to a great season in 2018."
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Global Citizen is a community of people like you
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Find out more about Global Citizen
By Phineas Rueckert
Thousands of West Virginia teachers attend a rally at the state Capitol in Charleston, W.Va., Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. Teachers across West Virginia will continue a walkout over pay and benefits for a fourth day.
John Raby/AP
NewsEducation
All 680 of West Virginia’s Schools Are Closed as Teachers Strike for Wages, Health Care
The state ranks 48th in the nation for teacher pay.
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All 680 of West Virginia’s public schools are closed today, marking the fourth straight day public school classes have been canceled in the country’s fifth poorest state as teachers strike, demanding higher wages and better health care, CNN reports.
West Virginia ranks 48th in the United States for teacher salaries, according to the National Education Association, the national union for US teachers. But despite lagging behind neighboring states in teacher pay, West Virginia hasn’t given teachers a raise since 2014.
BREAKING: West Virginia teachers still aren’t going back to work. Union leaders just announced that the strike will continue for all 55 counties. pic.twitter.com/mqTtDjItl8
— Jake Jarvis (@NewsroomJake) February 26, 2018
The cash-strapped state risks losing its teachers to neighboring states if it doesn’t find a way to devote more money toward its education budget, multiple teachers told the Huffington Post at a rally in the capitol this week. And a widespread loss of teachers could hurt an entire generation of students, they noted.
According to the West Virginia Gazette Mail, the state’s minimum salary for teachers is $33,000, and the average pay is $45,000, which is $5,000 to $20,000 lower than average teacher salaries in neighboring states.
Take Action: Ask More Donors to Step up and Fund the Global Partnership for Education
Teachers began to strike Feb. 22, after the state legislature and Gov. Jim Justice proposed a 2% raise to go into effect in July, increasing to a 4% raise within three years, which teachers said still fails to meet rising costs of living. State House Judiciary Chairman Charles Trump, (R-Morgan), even warned teachers to take the deal because striking is illegal in West Virginia, according to the West Virginia Gazette Mail.
Still, the union declined the offer. The two sides have continued discussions, but as of Tuesday morning, no deal had yet been reached, according to the Gazette Mail.
“This is a cumulative strike,” the union’s director of communication Kym Randolph told the Washington Post. “I mean, the pay and the benefits have been problems for years, and there’s constantly been the promises of, ‘We’ll take care of this, we’ll take care of this.’ It’s finally gotten to the point where, you know, the promises aren’t enough.”
The state responded to the strike by saying they may ask a court to issue an injunction on the strikers, according to CNN.
“We need to keep our kids and teachers in the classroom,” Justice said. "We certainly recognize our teachers are underpaid and this is a step in the right direction to addressing their pay issue."
Every teacher I know works a second or third job besides teaching. #55strong teachers on strike in West Virginia today. pic.twitter.com/gKZRn00y8s
— AFL-CIO (@AFLCIO) February 26, 2018
One teacher, Jacob Fertig, an art teacher in Belle, West Virginia, said that teacher salaries were so low that he and his family needed to enroll in public assistance programs just to get by.
"There were a lot of times where we got to choose between groceries and health coverage for my family,” Fertig told CNN. “This isn't just an issue of a bunch of people squabbling over a little bit of insurance benefits or a little bit of pay — we are really in a bad place here as far as that stuff goes."
Read More: 7 Reasons Finland May Be the Best Country in the World for Education
Another teacher said she had to use part of her salary to pay for school supplies.
“Our state is not providing the resources for our students,” Cindy Nester told the New York Times. “Generally, in a year, I probably pay anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500 out of my own paycheck, and those are just for miscellaneous supplies.”
Teachers have also said that high deductibles and premiums have made health care unaffordable, according to the Times report. The state’s initial offer of a 2% raise came with the promise of a freeze on health insurance premiums.
Research has shown a critical link between teacher pay and student performance.
According to a 2000 Stanford University study, a 10% increase in teacher salaries was shown to reduce dropout rates by 3-4%. This relationship holds up internationally, as well — where, according to a different study, a 10% increase in teacher salary was associated with a 5-10% increase in student performance.
Read More: 10 Barriers to Education Around the World
When it comes to teacher pay, the US is ranked far below other developed countries, such as Finland, which is widely touted as one of the best educational systems in the world.
Compared to other developed countries, the US ranked 22 out of 27 in teacher pay, according to the Huffington Post. The US also ranked 21st of 27 OECD countries for high school graduation rate, WAMU reports.
Global Citizen campaigns on the Global Goals for Sustainable Development, and ensuring access to quality education is goal number four. This goal calls for “safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments” for all students, which can only be achieved if teachers and students are in school and actively learning. You can join us and take action on this issue here.
In the wake of the recent strikes, more than 250,000 students have been left without these resources, and some have had to spend the past three days at community centers and churches, according to the CNN report.
For West Virginia, where nearly one in five people live below the federal poverty line, ensuring these kids don’t fall further behind will require a quick legislative solution.
Hopefully this time, teachers and administrators can come to an agreement more quickly than they did during the last teachers’ strike, in 1990, which lasted 11 school days.
TopicsEducationStudentsTeachersTeachers' StrikeWest Virginia
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Home » What Is It Like Being Red?
What Is It Like Being Red?
Dassault Falcon 20. Image Credit: Dim Jones
Dim Jones
MS&T’s Dim Jones participates in a Red Force sortie in one of the series Exercise Carbon Copy, in which a force of friendly Typhoons takes on a composite enemy force.
On a ramp a few hundred yards from the passenger terminal at Durham Tees Valley International Airport (DTVA), near Middlesbrough on England’s north-east coast, sit 6 aircraft which, to the casual observer, appear to be bizjets. They are, indeed, Dassault Falcon 20s, but closer inspection reveals a variety of underwing pods and fairings which mark them out as something very different.
Operated by Cobham Aviation Services, these aircraft play a vital support role for the front line of both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. They are part of a fleet of 14 aircraft, 6 more of which are based at Cobham’s headquarters at Bournemouth, on England’s south coast, with the remaining 2 in reserve. The primary role of the Teesside flight is support of the RAF’s fast-jet squadrons, which are based along the east coast of England and Scotland, and the airfield is ideally placed for this purpose at roughly the mid-point. Similarly, the Bournemouth flight’s primary role is support of the fleet, although, as I saw when I had the opportunity to fly with them, the 2 flights support each other with both crews and aircraft when the task demands it.
Cobham is under contract to the MoD to provide 6500 hours flying per year, of which 3500 is earmarked for the RN and 2500 for the RAF, leaving 500 for contingencies. There is also a separate small contract with NATO. The Joint Services Air Tasking Organisation (JSATO), based at RNAS Yeovilton, tasks the aircraft. The DA-20s have been based at DTVA since 1994, originally as Flight Refuelling Ltd and subsequently as FR Aviation. Their original role was Electronic Warfare training, and this task they assumed on the disbandment of No 360 Squadron, a joint RAF/RN unit which had operated the Canberra for many years. However, since that time, some creative thinking on the part of the operators has broadened the spectrum of roles that the DA-20 can accomplish, such that it has remained a key part of the training system. On the demise of the Tornado F3, to be replaced by Typhoon with its sophisticated radar and Defensive Aids Sub-System (DASS), it was thought in some quarters that the role of the DA-20 would become irrelevant. However, properly employed EW can affect any radar, no matter how sophisticated, and degrade the situational awareness of any aviator, no matter how competent.
The old techniques of range gate and velocity gate stealing against Doppler and pulse radars respectively can still cause trouble, as can repeater and false target generators. The jammer’s aim is to compress the timeline in which an opposing aircraft has to formulate and execute his tactics and, if possible, confuse his radar at the ‘moment critique’, when it is sending information to an air-to-air missile just prior to launch. Furthermore, by use of appropriate coding in the Pre-Flight Messages (PFM) sent to the DASS, the DA-20 can simulate to its opponents just about any threat aircraft, and its representative armament. True, its performance means that it cannot emulate the high speed and high rates of climb and descent of the true adversary, but it has a good turning performance and, in conjunction with other aircraft which are better suited to close combat, it can play an important role as a part of a coherent threat package; when closely co-ordinated, the DA-20 and the Hawk make a particularly effective combination. At a fraction of the operating cost of a Typhoon, the DA-20 is also a very cost-effective solution.
Although Cobham’s main customers are fast-jet aircraft and ships, training support is also provided for helicopters and tactical transport aircraft. For the Tornado GR4 in the ground-attack role, the DA-20s can provide comms jamming and threat simulation (from both air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles), and ‘picture-building’ comm, simulating an AWACS commentary. They can also jam the E-3 and GCI radars, and act as threats to high-value targets. Lastly, they play a major role in major periodic national and international exercises, such as the Combined Qualified Weapons Instructor (CQWI) courses, and Exercise Joint Warrior.
The DA-20 can carry up to 4 pods: an Air Threat Radar Simulator (ATRS) pod, which does what it says on the tin; a I/J Band jamming pod which operates across the frequency spectrum used by modern air intercept radars; an E-Band pod, which targets the AWACS radar; and a RAIDS (Rangeless Airborne Instrumented Debriefing System) pod, which transmits combat data from individual aircraft for accurate mission debrief. A fairing underneath the fuselage houses an ESM aerial which, when linked to the onboard spectrum analyser, acts as a sophisticated radar warning receiver. Also under the fuselage are ALE-40 chaff dispensers. Lastly, some aircraft are equipped with a Real Time Monitoring System (RTMS), which takes real-time RAIDS information from all equipped players and displays it on a screen in the rear cabin; this, in conjunction with monitoring of the appropriate radio frequencies, allows the DA-20 crew to act as Range Training Officer (RTO) – of which more later. The normal crew is 3 – Captain, First Officer and Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO). The Captains and EWOs are predominantly (although not exclusively) ex-military, most with EW and Weapons Instructor qualifications; the First Officers have predominantly civil aviation backgrounds, and many are ‘self-improvers’. All are kept busy, and can expect to log around 500 flying hours per year – not as many as some airline crews but, given the extra time spent in mission planning, briefing and debriefing, impressive enough.
Carbon Copy
The sortie in which I was privileged to participate was one of a series of Exercise Carbon Copy, in which a force of friendly Typhoons took on a composite enemy force, comprising Typhoon, Hawk and DA-20. The Blue Force comprised 10 Typhoons from RAF Coningsby, who were required to man a Combat Air Patrol (CAP) for a specified period, against a Red Force, which comprised a Typhoon (Callsign Razor 51) as Red Air Lead, 3 DA-20s and 4 Hawks. My Captain, Fred Grundy, I had last seen when we served together on an F-4 squadron in the late 70s, and the EWO, Ted Threapleton – also Cobham’s Teesside Head of Operations - much more recently when we were both reservists at RAF Leeming. Ted was a Weapons Instructor on No XI(F) Squadron, equipped with Tornado F3, and I was flying on No 100 Squadron, which was contributing the Hawks to today’s Red Force.
Our aircraft was to be the tactical lead of the DA-20s, Callsigns Vader and Zodiac, 2 of which were simulating Su-27 Flanker, armed with AA-10 Alamo, and the third Su-30MKI (Flanker-H) with the new PL-12; we were also equipped with RTMS and were to act as RTO. The sequence started with a telephone conference call, involving the Blue Air Mission Commander, Cobham and the Red Air GCI (Callsign Hotspur). Having established clearances appropriate to a non-secure telephone line, the brief covered such items as NOTAMs, Training Rules and Special Instructions (SpIns), Rules of Combat (above 5000ft) and Evasion Grades below. Safe separation would be maintained throughout by geography and the use of height blocks, which were carefully briefed. The exercise was to take place in Training Area 323, which essentially covers the North Sea inside the London FIR between The Wash in the south, and abeam Newcastle in the north.
Red Air Lead had faxed down some information on the target profiles to be used by the Red Air package, from which Fred extracted navigational and other data to be used in the DA-20 internal brief. I should emphasise at this point that, no matter how orderly and relaxed the intended timeline for briefing and getting airborne might have been, no plan survives first contact with the enemy, in this case in the form of late information and changes from Coningsby. Our brief was short and sharp, but thoroughly covering pertinent points for the benefit of one of the Bournemouth crews who were supporting us, and were more used to Type 45s than Typhoons. The normal procedure would have been to mix Teesside and Bournemouth personnel within the crews; however, in this case, the Bournemouth aircraft had to recover there direct from the training area. Following a last-minute visit to the essential facilities – the Cobham DA-20 is not equipped with a ‘comfort station’ - start-up and taxi were accomplished in quick time. Although DTVA is a civilian airport, there is a good understanding between ATC and Cobham, assisted by maximum use of VFR departures and recoveries. For this exercise, the airfield’s convenient situation, near the Red Force start and finish point, meant that the absolute maximum of airborne time could be spent on task.
The sortie was planned for 3 runs; in the event, we had the fuel, time and opposition for a fourth. Information on the position and threat of Blue aircraft was passed, with reference to a Bullseye, to Red by Hotspur (GCI) and the reverse by Magic (AWACS). In our aircraft, operation of the RMTS was a full-time job for Ted and, therefore, we were not doing any active jamming. Although Ted could see in his display the position, height speed and heading of any RAIDS-equipped aircraft, it did not tell him when, and against whom, shots were being taken. For that, monitoring of both Blue and Red frequencies was necessary, and constant passage of information between the back of the aircraft and the front, where Fred and his First Officer, John Oratis (JonO), were using the TCAS display in their glass cockpit to generate their situational awareness, to monitor the positions of Blue threat aircraft such that we could react appropriately, and also to take shots of our own if the opportunity presented itself. Additionally, as the DA-20 tactical lead, Fred had to keep tabs on the position of the other 2 aircraft, and direct them as required. Meanwhile all shots were logged and evaluated, Kill Probability (PK) applied, and successful shots reported to the hapless victim on the relevant frequency to effect kill removal. My own contribution to this effort, apart from monitoring events and witnessing three one-armed paper-hangers working together as a crew, was to dispense chaff when called, and ‘spike’ to activate the ATRS pod and simulate a shot on another aircraft. By the time we recovered for an uneventful landing, we had been airborne nearly 2 hours and it seemed like about 20 minutes.
The debrief took place once we had all caught our breath, and centred around how the DA-20s had done their job, and how they could do it better. Fred’s view was that combining the role of RTO with being an active member of the Red formation – especially as tactical lead – was extremely demanding, and the RTO could do a better job remaining behind the start line; on the other hand, there was no doubt that we had contributed to the threat by being in the engagement area and, therefore, to the overall value of the sortie from Blue’s perspective. Ted emphasised that the Cobham crews exist only to serve the customer, have no training aims or requirements of their own, and nothing to prove. Cobham may be a civilian operator, but unsurprisingly it works with very much a military ethos, and a can-do attitude, which, while immensely helpful to the customer, can bring its own pitfalls. In attempting to react to customer requests, sometimes made with an imperfect knowledge of the capabilities of the DA-20 and its crew, there can be a danger of overstretching oneself, albeit in a good cause, for which the sovereign remedy must be a mixture of education of the customer, and a large helping of common sense. On the evidence of my very limited exposure to their work, there is certainly no lack of professionalism; indeed, I have seen front-line organisations with far less operational focus.
So what of the future? Cobham Aviation Services operates in the UK and Australia, and is a small part of a global and diverse organisation. Like other elements of the company it remains a commercial operation, committed to making a profit for its shareholders. The EW training organisation, in turn, needs to cut operating costs to the minimum commensurate with safety, in order to demonstrate value for money. In truth, in this specialist role, there is probably no credible competition to Cobham from other companies; the challenge, in an environment of severe budgetary constraint, is to establish that their role is needed at all. From my perspective and limited knowledge, that it is needed seems self-evident; moreover, every effort should be made to ensure that the maximum benefit is derived from the resources available. But what do I know?
Defence Air Joint/Cyber
Being Careful What You Wish For
Facing Down New Budget Realities
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An intriguing proposition: HP’s Chromebook 11 reviewed
February 11, 2014 10 min read
Google and HP have joined forces to create an officially designated Chromebook. Is this a great way to take your world online for under $500?
Google is teaming up with quite a few companies lately to build what it sees as the best examples of its devices. For the phones, we’ve seen LG take the stage with the Nexus 5, Asus used for the Nexus 7 tablet, and now HP is getting its chance in the HP Google Chromebook 11.
Designed for people who need to take the web with them on the go, the Chromebook 11 isn’t decked out in the specification department, including enough to make the machine perform, but not enough to make it run a ton of games.
As such, you’ll find a Samsung Exynos processor here clocked at 1.7GHz, running alongside 2GB RAM and 16GB solid-state storage.
Like other laptops, the screens sets the size of the machine, and in this computer, it’s an 11.6 inch display running on In-Plane Switching technology, with the High Definition resolution of 1366×768 used here.
On the connection front, you’ll find two USB 2.0 ports, and a microUSB port for video out via SlimPort and charging the laptop, while wireless connections are handled through dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0.
A headset jack is included, as is a webcam, and just like pretty much every other Chromebook, Google has added 100GB Google Drive Cloud storage free for two years.
The battery is rated for up to six hours of use, with the whole computer weighing in at 1.04 kilograms.
Considered by many to be the new netbook, Chromebooks aim to deliver everything you need and nothing you don’t by letting you access the world through a web browser, and by making that web browser the operating system.
For those caught unaware, a Chromebook doesn’t rely on a traditional operating system in any sense of the word. You don’t install apps on this system like you would on a Mac, a Windows PC, or even a Linux box.
Rather, Chrome OS is based on Google’s Chrome browser, and the whole operating system literally sits around this web browser. This might not make sense initially, but when you realise how much of the web you’re using, it could begin to.
When you go home, or even at work, you might be using web-based mail, such as Google’s GMail. All of our social networking is done in a web browser, and you can listen to music over the web using online applications. Google has even made it possible to write and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations online, and all of this is backed up online in the cloud.
All of these rely on a web browser, and when you combine these with the knowledge that there are fewer security attacks on an operating system that is a web browser, you get the feeling that Google might be onto something here.
Offline browser is, of course, possible (otherwise, how would you use it on a plane?), and when you eventually get access to a network again, things will re-sync and update accordingly.
It’s not for everyone, but if everything you use a computer for can be accomplished with a web browser, the Chrome OS concept could be well suited to you. It helps that the files you edit on Google Drive can later on be edited with any other computer, Mac or Windows PC, with phones and tablets included here too.
Samsung 870 QVO – up to 8TB in 2.5” SATA 6 SSD
HP’s formula for the Chromebook isn’t too dissimilar from one we’ve seen before, and in this computer, you’re basically getting the same as what Samsung engineered in its version, complete with the same set of specs, but placed inside of a different frame.
To HP’s credit, there’s a durable metal chassis with plastic coating the outside, and this combination of materials helps to make the Chromebook 11 feel less like a toy and more like an expensive laptop.
It even reminds us of a laptop that Apple retired, with the old shiny white Macbook very reminiscent here, except in a smaller body with a far more glossy outside, and a colourful strip on the top of the lid that lights up when it’s in use.
Open the computer up and it literally springs to life, the Chromebook switching on very quickly, and letting you jump into the world of Chrome.
You’ll be asked to log in (or create an account), with that act granting you access to a clear desktop with a few icons at the bottom. You start with the basics — Chrome, GMail, YouTube — but you can expand this by clicking on the small square grid which will bring up the rest of your apps, and you’re able to drag these into the shortcut bar. To install more apps, you merely head to the Store and install them.
It needs to be said that these aren’t real apps in any sense of the word.
They’re essentially plugins or shortcuts to web services, bringing you quickly to another website, and these will install on any other Google Chrome browser you’re signed into on another computer (though not on phones or tablets).
And you’ll see that these apps are closer to websites when you click on a shortcut for one and it loads in a tab in the Chrome browser, because that’s how this whole Chrome thing works.
ChromeChrome OSGoogle ChromeHPnetbooknetbooks
HP 12.5″ Elitebook x360 1020 G2 (review)
HP Spectre x360 (review)
HP x2 Spectre 2017 – rises above the surface (review)
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2 – like name, like nature (review)
Review: HP Envy 13 (2017) notebook
Review: HP Spectre 13 notebook computer
Steve Eitnier says:
While I understand the concern for not having a SD slot, has everyone in the electronics field forgot about USB thumbdrives? But aside from that, the concept of cloud computing is really taking over compared to traditional connections and storage. I’ve even seen camera’s with the ability to wirelessly transfer images. Personally, I use my S4 for all my picture taking, and as a long time google and android user, all my photos automatically back up to my google+ account. I think that once you’re in the realm of google, android, the cloud and all that comes with it, it is a much smoother and more accessible method than traditional storage methods.
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Harmon Parker, P.A. Obtained $1 Million Settlement
By Harmon Parker, P.A.
Property owners are legally obligated to ensure the safety of patrons to their establishments. If they fail to uphold that duty, they could be financially liable for damages resulting from harm that occurred on the premises.
Such was the case at a bar in Clearwater, Florida. Management had banned a patron from returning to the establishment after he had been involved in a drunken fight. However, they did not issue a criminal trespass warning, which would have made it an offense for him to enter the property after being told he could no longer do so, and police could have arrested him.
A few weeks after the initial incident, the man returned to the bar, but left. Although the man was banned, the bartender did not call the police.
A little while later, the man returned, but this time with two accomplices. The three men severely beat our client, who had been sitting at the bar with his girlfriend. They struck him in the head with a pool cue and hit him numerous times with a barstool. Our client’s girlfriend rushed him to the hospital. He had sustained a depressed skull fracture and traumatic brain injury that required surgery.
The bar tried to cover up the incident by throwing the pool cue in the dumpster. Later that morning, our client’s girlfriend called the police. They searched the bar and found blood splatter on the walls and the broken pool cue in the trash.
Our attorneys at Harmon Parker, P.A. were hired to help the man take legal action against the bar for failing to uphold its duties. After hearing our client’s situation, we began a thorough investigation of the case, examining the evidence and hiring a nationally known inadequate security expert. Our team fought hard during negotiations with the bar’s insurance company, and settled the case for the $1 million policy limits without pursuing a lawsuit in court.
For Skilled Legal Representation, Call Harmon Parker, P.A.
Being injured because of someone else’s negligence or reckless actions could result in high, unexpected expenses and losses, such as medical bills and lost wages. When you’re involved in an accident that’s no fault of your own, you might have the legal right to hold the responsible party liable for damages you suffered.
At Harmon Parker, P.A., we are committed to helping victims recover just compensation, and if you were harmed we will provide the compassionate and dedicated legal representation you need to pursue a premises liability claim.
Schedule your free consultation by calling us at (813) 452-4144 or contacting us online.
Attorneys Harmon and Parker Receive Best of the Bar™ Award for 2019 Jul 27
The Best of the Bar™ Medal is commissioned, designed, and minted by the makers of the Pulitzer Prize Medal and the National Medal ...
Insurance Policy Limit Settlement Secured for T-Bone Accident Client Sep 19
Harmon Parker, P.A. in Tampa recently secured a great seven-figure settlement for a car accident client . After being T-boned by a ...
Attorney Collins Interviewed About My Little Steamer Class Action Lawsuit May 20
The Joy Mangano My Little Steamer is a portable clothes steamer developed by Ingenious Designs, LLC. The website promotes the ...
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Top Universities, Schools and Colleges in Yogyakarta from Indonesia 2021
Indonesia ›
On this page you can search for Universities, Colleges and Business schools in Yogyakarta. You will easily find all information about the top ranked universities in Yogyakarta. Click on"Read more" for a detailed description of the university and an overview of the study programs offered....
On this page you can search for Universities, Colleges and Business schools in Yogyakarta. You will easily find all information about the top ranked universities in Yogyakarta. Click on"Read more" for a detailed description of the university and an overview of the study programs offered.
Find universities in Yogyakarta and browse through their programs to find the ones that suit you best. Get all info about the various study options in Yogyakarta and compare the tuition fees and length of study. You can save time and contact universities in Yogyakarta directly: fill out the"Request free information" form, which will put you in contact with the admissions office.
Universitas Gadjah Mada
Considered one of the oldest universities in Indonesia, Universitas Gadjah Mada serves as a pillar of educational awakening in Indonesia and purports to be a defender and disseminator of Pancasila.
Considered one of the oldest universities in Indonesia, Universitas Gadjah Mada serves as a pillar of educational awakening in Indonesia and purports to be a defender and disseminator of Pancasila. Read less
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Home climate Climate change could trigger strong sea level rise
Climate change could trigger strong sea level rise
Iceberg in the southeastern Weddell Sea region. Credit: Photo: Dr. Michael Weber
About 15,000 years ago, the ocean around Antarctica has seen an abrupt sea level rise of several meters. It could happen again. An international team of scientists with the participation of the University of Bonn is now reporting its findings in the magazine Scientific Reports.
University of Bonn’s climate researcher Michael E. Weber is a member of the study group. He says, “The changes that are currently taking place in a disturbing manner resemble those 14,700 years ago.” At that time, changes in atmospheric-oceanic circulation led to a stratification in the ocean with a cold layer at the surface and a warm layer below. Under such conditions, ice sheets melt more strongly than when the surrounding ocean is thoroughly mixed. This is exactly what is presently happening around the Antarctic.
The main author of the study, the Australian climate researcher Chris Fogwill from the Climate Change Research Center in Sydney, explains the process as follows: “The reason for the layering is that global warming in parts of Antarctica is causing land based ice to melt, adding massive amounts of freshwater to the ocean surface. At the same time as the surface is cooling, the deeper ocean is warming, which has already accelerated the decline of glaciers in the Amundsen Sea Embayment.” It appears global warming is replicating conditions that, in the past, triggered significant shifts in the stability of the Antarctic ice sheet.
To investigate the climate changes of the past, the scientists are studying drill cores from the eternal ice. Layer by layer, this frozen “climate archive” reveals its secrets to the experts. In previous studies, the scientists had found evidence of eight massive melting events in deep sea sediments around the Antarctic, which occurred at the transition from the last ice age to the present warm period. Co-author Dr. Weber from the Steinmann Institute of the University of Bonn says: “The largest melt occurred 14,700 years ago. During this time the Antarctic contributed to a sea level rise of at least three meters within a few centuries.”
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The present discovery is the first direct evidence from the Antarctic continent which confirms the assumed models. The research team used isotopic analyzes of ice cores from the Weddell Sea region, which now flows into the ocean about a quarter of the Antarctic melt.
Through a combination with ice sheet and climate modeling, the isotopic data show that the waters around the Antarctic were heavily layered at the time of the melting events, so that the ice sheets melted at a faster rate. “The big question is whether the ice sheet will react to these changing ocean conditions as rapidly as it did 14,700 years ago,” says co-author Nick Golledge from the Antarctic Research Center in Wellington, New Zealand.
C. J. Fogwill, C. S. M. Turney, N. R. Golledge, D. M. Etheridge, M. Rubino, D. P. Thornton, A. Baker, J. Woodward, K. Winter, T. D. van Ommen, A. D. Moy, M. A. J. Curran, S. M. Davies, M. E. Weber, M. I. Bird, N. C. Munksgaard, L. Menviel, C. M. Rootes, B. Ellis, H. Millman, J. Vohra, A. Rivera, A. Cooper. Antarctic ice sheet discharge driven by atmosphere-ocean feedbacks at the Last Glacial Termination. Scientific Reports, 2017; 7: 39979 DOI: 10.1038/srep39979
Note: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by University of Bonn.
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