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Different venues
Woodcuts in Modern China, 1937-2008
dal 1/12/2008 al 25/4/2009
DeWitt Godfrey
Zhang Minjie
Xu Bing
Joachim Homann
Renee Covalucci
Different venues, Hamilton
Towards a Universal Pictorial Language
Co-curators: Joachim Homann and Renee Covalucci
This exhibition is a comprehensive overview of the use by Chinese artists of the western-style woodcut that laid the foundation of modern Chinese art. It features many of the leaders in the field, from the founding generation to contemporary printmakers such as Zhang Minjie and Xu Bing.
The early works are drawn from the collection of over 200 woodcuts from the Chinese revolution donated to the Picker by Theodore Herman, professor of geography emeritus and director emeritus of peace studies, who acquired them from the artists in 1948.
A Year of Chinese Art at Colgate University
Over the coming year, Colgate's campus will come alive with a series of events that present twentieth century Chinese art in both historical and contemporary contexts. Major support for these events is made possible through the generosity of Robert H. N. Ho '56 in honor of Theodore Herman, professor of geography emeritus and lifelong friend of the Ho family.
Exhibitions in the Picker Art Gallery, the Clifford Gallery, the Longyear Museum of Anthropology and Loesch Special Collections; two scholarly catalogues; lectures by visiting artists; performance; and curricular programming will explore contemporary Chinese woodblock print art, installation art, and film.
These events will offer an unprecedented opportunity to raise awareness and the profile on the Colgate campus of China's burgeoning contemporary art scene and the traditions from which it has arisen. Drawing upon Colgate's own art collections and resources, contributions by contemporary Chinese artists, and the expertise of scholars of Chinese arts and culture at Colgate and neighboring institutions, A Year of Chinese Art at Colgate University will stimulate research and cross-disciplinary curricular opportunities in unique ways, and will encourage students to engage with Chinese artistic culture as an important part of their educational experience.
Co-organized by the Picker Art Gallery and the Department of Art and Art History, with the support of the Institute for the Creative and Performing Arts, Asian Studies, the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum, Music Department, Longyear Museum and Colgate Libraries, A Year of Chinese Art at Colgate University will focus the strengths and resources of multiple University entities on contemporary Chinese Art for the first time.
For a complete schedule of events please please go to http://www.colgate.edu/arts or contact akowalski@mail.colgate.edu
ICPA The Institute for the Creative and Performing Arts at Colgate University
The mission of the Institute for the Creative and Performing Arts at Colgate University is to support and promote excellence in the creative and performing arts, and to stimulate critical dialogue on the arts in the liberal arts context. The Institute encourages and supports projects that embody the broad vision and centrality of the arts, and that underscore the interdisciplinary, international and cross-cultural dimensions of creative and performing arts practice.
For further information on The Institute for the Creative and Performing Arts, please contact: DeWitt Godfrey, dgodfrey@mail.colgate.edu
The Institute for the Creative and Performing Arts
Picker Art Gallery, Dana Arts Center,
Colgate University Lally Lane, Hamilton, NY 13346
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Venezuela’s Controversial Dictator Hugo Chavez dead at 58….
March 5, 2013 admin World News 0
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez has died, his vice-president has announced.Mr Chavez had not appeared in public since he returned to Venezuela last month after cancer treatment in Cuba.An emotional Nicolas Maduro made the announcement on Tuesday evening, flanked by leading Venezuelan political and military leaders.Earlier, he said the 58-year-old Venezuelan leader had a new, severe respiratory infection and had entered “his most difficult hours”. One of the most visible, vocal and controversial leaders in Latin America, the former army paratrooper won the presidency in 1998 and had most recently won another six-year presidential term in October 2012.
Hugo Chavez Born 28 July 1954 in Sabaneta, Barinas state, the son of schoolteachers Graduated from military academy in 1975 Had four children Keen baseball player
Last May, he said he had recovered from an unspecified cancer, after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy in 2011 and a further operation in February 2012. However, in December 2012, he announced he needed further cancer surgery in Cuba, and named his Vice-President, Nicolas Maduro, as his preferred successor should the need arise. Mr Chavez remained out of public view, finally returning to Venezuela in February.
via BBC News – Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez dead at 58.
Katherine Albrecht With Adrian Salbuchi: Global Power Elite Fixing Elections To Ensure Chains of A Global Debt
Big Brother News: Troops Deployed Ahead of Economic Collapse & Gun Confiscation…
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I am a Chartered Accountant and Management Consultant by accident, a civil servant by day and a writer by night. I am a voracious reader and a lover of cinema. I am a non - conformist by choice....I am Ahmed Faiyaz...
Trailer of The Graveyard Shift
Tweets by @ahmedfaiyaz
BOOKS BY AHMED FAIYAZ
Graveyard Shift captures a sequence of events during the course of a night in the lives of its varied characters who come from different walks of life. Its darkly funny, tragic and bittersweet, given how these people's lives change and how they affect each other
Hitesh discovers that a shortcut to success can lead one to a point of self destruction. He realizes this when he's on the run, being a much wanted man accused of investor fraud and embezzlement.
Urban Shots: Brightlights
Urban Shots: Bright Lights is an anthology of compelling stories set in urban India. It was published in 2012 by Grey Oak Publishers, India. It went on to receive highly positive reviews for its vibrant snapshots of daily life in urban India.
Urban Shots: Crossroads
Edited by Ahmed Faiyaz this is a compilation of a number of stories that revolve around the urban concrete jungles in India. Works of writers, engineers, teachers, journalists and people from different backgrounds have been brought together in this book, giving it a more pungent taste of reality.
Urban Shots: Love Collection
Edited by Sneh Thakur, and with popular writers like Arunava Sinha, Ira Trivedi, Paritosh Uttam, R Chandrasekar, Ahmed Faiyaz and Malathi Jaikumar among many new voices, this is an anthology of urban Indian fiction, translated regional literature and stories never told before – straight from the heart.
Urban Shots
Edited by bestselling author, Paritosh Uttam, this is an anthology of 29 urban tales by 13 young writers. Each of these fresh, vivid and deceptively simple stories focuses on an epiphany. The stories are set with the backdrop of our urban metros with their bright lights, sky rises, glitzy malls, tenements, crowds and the chaos that comes with it.
Love, Life and all that jazz...
A slice of life journey of four young friends who experience love, loss and confusion as they come of age in the bustling metropolis on Mumbai.
Another Chance
This is a story the depicts the complex maze of human relationships centred around Ruheen, a desirable and fragile woman confronted with a difficult choice. A choice between two men she's loved at different points of time in the past decade.
Films by Ahmed
Graveyard Shift is an independent feature film adapted from a novella by the same name written by Ahmed Faiyaz. The book comes out by the Dec 2012. It is a sequence of events taking place one night in Mumbai which changes the lives of 25 characters who are drawn from different walks of life.
All the Lost Souls
Saira is a talented young Indian actress living and working in Prague with her boyfriend, Marcus, an out of work British actor. Troubled by her past, her drug addiction, the difficult relationship with Marcus and with the struggles with finding good work..
Copyright © Ahmed Faiyaz 2012
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TomT Fri, 06/17/2016 - 7:28am
Americans have lost faith in pretty much everything - Gallup Poll - Market Watch
American confidence
Jim Norman
Market Watch - June 14, 2016
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/americans-have-lost-faith-in-pretty-much-everything-2016-06-14?mod=MW_story_recommended_d...
...with link to Gallup Poll
http://www.gallup.com/poll/192581/americans-confidence-institutions-stays-low.aspx?g_source=Politics&g_medium=newsfeed&g_c...
...As Gallup’s Jim Norman explains: “Americans clearly lack confidence in the institutions that affect their daily lives: the schools responsible for educating the nation’s children; the houses of worship that are expected to provide spiritual guidance; the banks that are supposed to protect Americans’ earnings; the U.S. Congress elected to represent the nation’s interests; and the news media that claims it exists to keep them informed.”...
...Congress actually earned the “ignominious” distinction of being the only institution sparking little or no confidence in a majority of Americans in the poll....
TomT's blog
David Slesinger Tue, 10/30/2012 - 4:00pm
Cuomo assesses damage of WTC site The vehicle security center's underground ramps literally funneled storm surge into the floode
Patrick Foye Read more: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20121030/REAL_ESTATE/121039991#ixzz2AomKLBfg
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20121030/REAL_ESTATE/121039991
Cuomo assesses damage of WTC site
The vehicle security center's underground ramps literally funneled storm surge into the flooded construction pit.
Print Email Reprints Comment
By Daniel Geiger @dangeiger79
October 30, 2012 2:44 p.m.
Updated: October 30, 2012 3:50 p.m.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday said the World Trade Center site had suffered extensive flooding as a result of Superstorm Sandy.
"What I saw last night in downtown Manhattan were some of the worst conditions I had ever seen," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said during a press conference on Tuesday morning, providing the first official description of the impact of the storm at the WTC site. "The Hudson River was literally pouring into the Ground Zero site with such a force we were worried about the structure of the pit itself."
Patrick Foye, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the bi-state agency's top New York official, said he doubted the storm surge had caused any structural damage at WTC site but that equipment and electrical systems being installed may have been damaged by the flood waters.
"There was a substantial incursion of water," Mr. Foye said. "I think it's fair to say that salt water and modern electrical equipment don't mix well. We don't expect structural damage but damage to equipment. That assessment is underway and is a high priority."
Mr. Foye said that West, Washington and Cedar streets, roadways that surround the WTC site, were all flooded during the storm. The storm surge swept into the WTC site, a construction pit largely open to the elements, primarily through the Vehicle Security Center on the southern end of the project. The security center will have ramps to allow traffic to pass underground via subterranean roads and parking areas. It appears those ramps served as a chute for the storm's oncoming water.
The WTC site is especially vulnerable to flooding because its located in low lying neighborhoods. Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Joseph Lhota said in a press conference Tuesday morning that the nearby South Street station at the southern tip of Manhattan had been completely flooded during the storm.
David Slesinger's blog
TomT Sat, 09/24/2011 - 11:16am
"THE 9/11 DECADE" by David Chapman
THE 9/11 DECADE
by David Chapman 9/23/2011
http://www.bmgbullion.com/document/988
pdf - http://www.bmgbullion.com/doc_bin/9.23.11_TechnicalScoop_9_11Decade.pdf
"...One could go back further and find further evidence of financial collapses... ...What does appear to be consistent is that war, speculation, debt and financial chicanery (usually present in all periods of speculation) resulted in sovereign, banking and individual debt collapses...This time has been no different..."
"...But the process takes years and the 9/11 decade was probably only the beginning. This coming decade may be even more stressful as bankruptcy and war continue to dominate the headlines. History seems to suggest that the long-term down cycles are in full force and the worst may be yet to come.... -- David Chapman
When the airplanes struck the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 (aka 9/11) the stock market had already been falling for over 18 months. The high tech/internet bubble of the 1990s had topped first with the Dow Jones Industrials (DJI) on January 14, 2000 followed by the NASDAQ on March 10 and the S&P 500 on March 24. By the close of September 10, 2001 the DJI was down 18 per cent, the NASDAQ had fallen an incredible 66 per cent and the S&P 500 was off 28 per cent from the highs of 2000. The markets re-opened on September 17, 2001 and after four more days of losses, the markets found a temporary rest on September 21. By that time the DJI was down 30 per cent, the S&P 500 was off 37 per cent and the NASDAQ 72 per cent from the highs of 2000. Fear gripped the markets just as it gripped the world on 9/11.
grumpy brian Sat, 09/03/2011 - 12:15am
9/11 and the Economy: Counting the $5 Trillion in Costs to America
Al Jazeera provided an interactive breakdown on how much 9/11 has cost to the American economy in 10 years.
I have outlined it below in short; further down is the longer version with explanation details for each main and sub-category. It is stated that many of these categories are conservative calculations and that many categories are certain to rise in cost.
Note: $5 trillion dollars is equal to 5 million millions.
grumpy brian's blog
GroundZero Sat, 10/02/2010 - 10:04am
Environmentalist Osama Bin Laden Demands Green Economy
http://wearechangenewjersey.com/?p=324
Glenn Zarmanov
WeAreChangeNewJersey.COM
The internet is abuzz with rumors of a new terror attack to be launched by alleged 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden and his latest unconfirmed audio warning that America must be punished for climate change and its economic practices.
http://green.yahoo.com/news/afp/20101001/wl_afp/qaedabinladenpakistanclimateislam.html
Bin Laden concerned by climate, Pakistan floods: audiotape
By Wissam Keyrouz
Fri Oct 1, 2010
The tape would be the first time Bin Laden has spoken publicly since March 25.
Bin Laden's whereabouts are unknown, but in August, the US commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, said bin Laden is "far buried" in the remote mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan and that capturing him remains a key task.
GroundZero's blog
synergist Thu, 01/21/2010 - 7:14pm
How economic depression leads to fascism: history to Austria, warning to America
hyperlinks and video live at source: http://www.examiner.com/x-18425-LA-County-Nonpartisan-Examiner~y2010m1d21-How-economic-depression-leads-to-fascism-history...
Kitty Werthmann was born in Austria in 1925; her family experienced the depression-era economy and her nation’s desperate embrace of Nazi fascism. Today, she tells her story to all who will listen. Her audio testimony is transcribed below.
As a teacher of US Government classes with an Ed.M from Harvard, I can tell you that the defining US policies are now fascist and not those of a constitutional republic. This conclusion from understanding basic definitions of political theory requires only a high school-level understanding, the time to examine the objective facts of US policies, and the intellectual integrity and moral courage to tell the truth.
Therefore, the topic of this article is not US descent into fascism, but rather a warning about consolidation of fascist power as a "solution" presented to desperate Americans facing economic depression caused by the fascists themselves.
synergist's blog
synergist Sat, 11/28/2009 - 11:38am
US Government sues banksters: Fraud on student loans. Vampire banks feed on near-children
hyperlinks and video live at source: http://www.examiner.com/x-18425-LA-County-Nonpartisan-Examiner~y2009m11d28-US-Government-sues-banksters-for-fraud-on-stude...
Banksters took a hit through disclosure of court documents of US lawsuit for $280 million for fraud to college students through student loan disinformation. JP Morgan, Citigroup and Nelnet are the defendants in the lawsuit.
Banksters have sucked trillions through direct transfer of American taxpayer money to their pockets. This suit is heartening and I hope shows true law enforcement for the public good. However, the larger context is that our political “leaders” of both parties facilitate ongoing fraud as the banksters’ pimps while heartlessly ignoring Americans’ unemployment and poverty and reneging on their promise of funding the end of poverty with only 0.7% of GNI.
Congress and Mr. Obama stand aside and allow a million children to die every month from preventable poverty. As you should know, ending poverty in every historical case reduces population growth rates, decreases environmental pressure from desperate people, and reduces terrorism.
synergist Fri, 11/27/2009 - 11:47pm
Washington's Blog: Instead of creating jobs for American, Obama spends in Afghanistan, Iraq
abundant hyperlinks live at source: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-25059-Nonpartisan-Examiner~y2009m11d27-Washingtons-Blog-Instead-of-creating-jobs-for-Am...
Washington’s Blog is one of my favorite sources for revealing facts and analysis in economics and policy. The recent post, Instead of fixing the US Economy or creating jobs for AMERICANS, Obama will spend the money in Afghanistan and Iraq, is so comprehensively brilliant in putting together the documentation that our wars are fraudulent and damaging to our economy, I’m reprinting it for you.
Needless to say, I recommend following Washington’s Blog for such insightful writing! Without further ado:
America is in the most severe unemployment crisis since - and perhaps including - the Great Depression.
And yet Obama, like Bush, has done virtually nothing to create more jobs. Instead, they both gave trillions to the biggest banks (who are not loaning it out to the little guy) and for waging wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Obama is apparently escalating - not ending - the wars. And its not cheap.
synergist Mon, 09/07/2009 - 11:02pm
Maximizing employment: the ONLY policy proposal for full success
hyperlinks and video live at source: http://www.examiner.com/x-18425-LA-County-Nonpartisan-Examiner~y2009m9d7-Achieving-full-employment-the-ONLY-policy-that-ca...
Today is Labor Day, a holiday celebrating workers' organized efforts to achieve living wages, safe and dignified working conditions, and benefits (economists translate this into wages). I want to consider a more fundamental goal: achieving employment in order to have the above.
One of the key statistics to determine how well government policy is supportive of labor is unemployment. A government role in employment may be distasteful for some of you, but give me a moment to explain government's rightful role in supporting full employment. The failure of unemployment often translate into even more distasteful social costs: loss of potential economic productivity, crime, public health costs, and the immeasurable feeling you get seeing beggars in arguably the most successful economic environment in world history.
Major news suppression: ALL government cost studies show sheltering the homeless is most cost-effective
hyperlinks and video live at source: http://www.examiner.com/x-18425-LA-County-Nonpartisan-Examiner~y2009m9d3-All-government-cost-studies-sheltering-the-homele...
The US Interagency Council on Homelessness has found that all cost-benefit analyses show that paying for the homeless to have minimal housing, food, health care, and job counseling costs less than public costs of their street life. The greatest savings come from decreased emergency room visits, police calls, and court time. What isn't counted, and significant, is the increase of business in areas where the homeless are vagrants. In addition, these studies show most of these participants find jobs and leave these programs.
As always, please share this with all who say they want to be responsible citizens.
Philip Mangano, former Director of the US Interagency Council on Homelessness, provides an overview of the US and local government's experience of the costs and benefits:
MichaelCollins Wed, 05/27/2009 - 12:40am
SHIP OF STATE OR SHIP OF FOOLS
Geithner
Petraeus
The Money Party at Work
We keep doing the same things over and over again and expect different results.
MichaelCollins's blog
GeorgeWashington Thu, 05/07/2009 - 2:35pm
The Economy Will Not Recover Until The Perpetrators Of Our Crises Are Held Accountable
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2009/05/economy-will-not-recover-until.html
One of the leading business schools in America - the Wharton School of Business - has written an essay on the psychological causes and solutions to the economic crisis. Wharton points out that restoring trust is the key to recovery, and that trust cannot be restored until wrongdoers are held accountable:
How To Solve the Economic Crisis
9/11 is mentioned at the end.
http://georgewashington2.blogspot.com/2009/02/most-dangerous-words-theres-nothing-we.html
The Economics of Trust
A 2005 letter in premier scientific journal Nature reviews the research on trust and economics:
Trust ... plays a key role in economic exchange and politics. In the absence of trust among trading partners, market transactions break down. In the absence of trust in a country's institutions and leaders, political legitimacy breaks down. Much recent evidence indicates that trust contributes to economic, political and social success.
Forbes wrote an article in 2006 entitled "The Economics of Trust". The article summarizes the importance of trust in creating a healthy economy:
GeorgeWashington Mon, 12/15/2008 - 4:36pm
The Madoff Scandal and Post-World War II America
http://georgewashington2.blogspot.com/2008/12/madoff-scandal-and-post-world-war-ii.html
This is the third of 3 essays on trust and the economy (the first two are here and here).
An article in Business Week says this of the Madoff scandal:
GeorgeWashington Mon, 12/15/2008 - 1:01am
How To Restore Trust So As to Revive the Economy
http://georgewashington2.blogspot.com/2008/12/how-to-restore-trust-so-as-to-revive.html
In addition to the technical factors which have brought on the financial crisis - the huge speculative bubble and leverage, derivatives, fractional reserve banking, spending beyond our means, etc. - there is another major factor.
As market psychologists Richard L. Peterson M.D. and Frank Murtha, Ph.D. wrote in October:
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Epidemiology and behaviour
What’s the relationship between PrEP, condom use and STIs?
Roger Pebody
HIV experts and professionals agree that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a valuable addition to HIV prevention, but have varied views of the relationship between PrEP, reduced condom use and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), according to a study published last month in the Sociology of Health & Illness.
Professor Martin Holt of the University of New South Wales and colleagues closely examined the ways in which reduced condom use and STIs “were constructed as policy problems”. They identified a concerned and alarmed perspective, a neutral and normalising stance, and an optimistic and critical position.
“All three stances were selective in the way they performed evidence, emphasising some elements and ignoring or downplaying others,” the authors say.
Twenty one Australian professionals were interviewed in 2017. Nine of the participants worked in policy or policy/advocacy roles, five in clinical roles, five in research and two in health promotion.
Concerned and alarmed views were most often expressed by clinicians or by government policymakers - a professional group who are encouraged to anticipate risks in order to minimise them. These interviewees tended to see the link between PrEP and STIs as self-evident:
“The evidence is there and our clinicians are telling us we need to be prepared that we’re going to get an increase in STIs. We’re very concerned we’ve got a, we, you’re aware of the syphilis outbreak? We’re very concerned about antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea. We have the highest rate of antibiotic resistance for gonorrhoea in the country. Yeah. So these are, yeah, these are quite, you know, we’re aware of this, as a consequence or by-product of introducing PrEP, so we need to be mindful of responding to that.”
The fear of uncontrolled or untreatable STI epidemics and the potential threat to public health underpinned this viewpoint. As well as resistant gonorrhoea, interviewees talked about serious complications of undiagnosed syphilis and other unusual cases.
Holt and colleagues point out that while we do know that PrEP users use condoms infrequently and are diagnosed with STIs at high rates, antibiotic resistance is rare in Australia and among PrEP users.
The ways in which these relationships are understood have implications for the future rollout of PrEP.
In contrast, many participants expressed more tempered views, often questioning the self-evident linking of PrEP, reduced condom use and increased STIs. These neutral and normalising accounts engaged with much of the same evidence, but positioned these effects as predictable and manageable. Interviewees often described longer-term trends:
“We’ve also seen a decade-long, trend increase in STIs prior to PrEP’s arrival as well as probably a decade-long trend down around condom use. So PrEP is acting maybe as an accelerant at this moment in time… I don’t have concerns. It’s another tool that’s arrived and it’s about how we effectively incorporate it within our prevention response.”
These interviewees said the benefits of PrEP outweighed any risks. They emphasised that PrEP’s main purpose was to prevent HIV, but sometimed added that it has other benefits:
“Of course, one of the primary concerns was that there’d be this massive spike in other STIs because people would stop using condoms where certainly we’re, you know, in some areas there seems to be a slight, a slight decrease in condom use but that’s, that was always gonna happen. And there are people that will sometimes, you know, decide not to or choose not to use condoms anyway. And the reality is that they’re more engaged with a health service that they trust and so any STIs that might be transmitted are getting picked up earlier anyway.”
However, Holt comments that it is debatable whether changes in condom use are ‘slight’. His own research has identified large-scale shifts in sexual practices among gay and bisexual men in Australia.
The third and final stance is described as optimistic and critical. People expressing these ideas tended to be both optimistic about PrEP’s benefits for STIs and critical of the ‘sex negative’ and ‘reactionary’ views of the first group of interviewees. These respondents most often worked in community organisations or in academic research. Their optimism was based on beliefs that PrEP would facilitate regular screening for STIs:
“I think a lot of people will understand that actually having large numbers of HIV-negative, gay men who can be regularly tested is actually a really good thing that’s actually quite difficult to achieve in other ways. So PrEP has that positive effect… There’s some interesting modelling out of the CDC on this, it might be the case that the effect of secondary prevention is enough that it will drive down incidence of STIs.”
However the authors comment that these optimistic scenarios and mathematical modelling studies are an unproven future. Just as the ‘worst case’ scenarios described earlier have not actually happened, these ‘best case’ scenarios have not been observed among PrEP users or in communities that have embraced PrEP. At the same time, PrEP has been transformed from being an HIV prevention technology into being both that and a technology to increase STI testing.
The same respondents tended to be critical of what one described as a “frenzied fear about increased STIs”. They noted that such concerns tend to focus on gay men rather than any other group, noting parallels with the ways in which the sexual behaviour of gay men has been scrutinised since the beginning of the HIV epidemic.
Interviewees said that sex between men has been ‘pathologised’. While PrEP has the potential to relieve gay men of a persistent fear of HIV, this has inspired a push back:
“I think that’s partly why you also hear these arguments about, you know, ‘What about STIs?’ or ‘Everyone’s gonna be a ‘slut’’. It’s sort of the lingering effects of that, of those decades of pathologisation, which I really don’t think can be underestimated.”
The researchers say that the ways in which these relationships are understood have implications for the future rollout of PrEP and the experience of its users.
The concerned and alarmed approach suggests that PrEP is problematic. This implies greater caution in promoting PrEP, that PrEP users should be encouraged to use condoms and that PrEP might be better positioned as a niche tool for those who can’t use condoms. Moreover, the behaviour of PrEP users should be monitored and treated with caution.
The neutral and normalising stance suggests a ‘wait and see’ approach that supports the continued, measured rollout of PrEP. As PrEP is primarily seen as an HIV prevention tool, condom and STI trends should be considerably separately.
The optimistic and critical stance implies that PrEP should be promoted more enthusiastically to help with HIV and STI epidemics. It also suggests that positive framings of PrEP should be used to encourage uptake, including celebrating the relief and pleasure experienced by people using PrEP.
Holt M et al. HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis and the ‘problems’ of reduced condom use and sexually transmitted infections in Australia: a critical analysis from an evidence‐making intervention perspective. Sociology of Health & Illness, early view, 18 June 2019. (Abstract).
Condoms and lubricant
PrEP policies and guidelines
PrEP science
Sexually transmitted infections epidemiology
Open the e-atlas for more news from Australia >
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Maxi driver sues State...again
Justice Shaffeyei Shah, presiding in the San Fernando High Court, had ordered the State to pay damages to Kenny Mitchell, of Ste Madeleine, after he was arrested in 2002 and taken to the Princes Town Police Station. There, he was made to strip naked, but Mitchell was never charged with any offence.
Mitchell sued the State for damages and the judge made the award for false imprisonment in a trial in which the State led evidence from the police witnesses who arrested Mitchell. Yesterday, however, attorney Kevin Ratiram filed another false imprisonment lawsuit in the Civil Court, San Fernando, in which Mitchell was arrested on December 9, 2006. He spent three days in the Couva Police Station, but was then told by police officers that a computer error led them to believe that there was a warrant for his arrest.
In his lawsuit, Mitchell stated that at about 9 am he was arrested by police officers at the Couva Police Station. He was told that there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The lawsuit stated that Mitchell, who is a maxi taxi driver, told the officers that they had made a mistake. He insisted that they double-check their information, but they refused.
Mitchell stated that he was placed in a cell with prisoners. According to the pleadings filed in court, Mitchell requested police officers to allow his relatives to furnish him with a supply of diabetic medication, but they paid no heed to his request.
The lawsuit went on to state that at about 4.30 pm on December 11, 2006, police officers informed him that a computer error had led them to believe that there was a warrant for his arrest. Mitchell was then released without being charged with any offence.
"Maxi driver sues State…again"
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Home>Uncategorized>THE GREAT WAR
The year was 1863. The American civil war, fought by the Northern union army, and the southern confederate army, had reached a stalemate.
The location was Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
The Confederate army was led by General Robert E. Lee.
General Robert E. Lee
Most of the war was fought in the south. But now General Lee decided to attack and take the fight to the north.
He moved his southern confederate army of nearly 60,000 men into northern (union) territory.
The plan was to destroy as many military installations as possible in Maryland and Pennsylvania, as the northern union army was in Washington D.C. defending it.
One key target was Camp Curtin, the largest military deport in the north. His intention was political, to cause mayhem in the north and thus discourage the northern population into losing faith in the war.
Without the backing of the population, and low morale of the troops, it is very hard to win a war.
This was the objective the southern confederate General, Lee, wanted to achieve in attacking the north.
As General Lee’s main army moved north, a skirmish erupted between two infantry units at Gettysburg. What happened was that another southern confederate general, General Heath had an infantry division at Cashtown and wanted to move to nearby Gettysburg to get shoes from a shoe factory there.
General Heath did this without foreknowledge about what was ahead of him at Gettysburg. He did not know that there was a northern union force there. Thus he run into the northern union infantry division and a skirmish broke out.
General Lee heard of the skirmish. The report said that a major northern union force was there. So, instead of sending a cavalry reconnaissance force to confirm the report, General Lee diverted from his original plan and ordered his entire army to mobilize and converge at Cashtown, a small village about seven kilometers from Gettysburg.
Soon General Lee’s 60,000 strong force of confederates (southern forces) began approaching Gettysburg from the nearby towns of Cashtown and Carlisle.
Meanwhile a much smaller force of 3000 union (northern) soldiers took up defensive positions at McPherson Ridge, a ridge which was between the town of Gettysburg which the northerners were defending and General Lee’s southern forces that were approaching from the towns of Cashtown and Carlisle.
The small northern union force of 3000 men were to hold back General Lee’s much larger army of 60,000 southern army until reinforcement could arrive from Washington D.C.
The northern union force tried to fight General Lee’s confederate army and hold it back, but since they were far outnumbered, they could not hold back the southern confederate force for long. So they withdrew to a nearby ridge called cemetery ridge.
This was a range of hills that formed the shape of a question mark. Cemetery ridge provided a very strong defensive advantage for the Union (northern) force. It was so good that when the Northern Union General Hancock arrived, he declared it the best defensive position that he had ever seen in his military career.
General Hancock
Since the union force was much smaller in numbers, and their reinforcement was slowly arriving, confederate General Lee (probably to take advantage of the union’s small force before reinforcements fully arrived) gave the order to attack. The order was not a clear and decisive one because he said “attack when you think it is practical” not “attack”.
The General receiving the order was confederate General Uele. General Uele did not think it was practical to attack and so didn’t. This is because General Uele knew that the troops were exhausted and wanted to rest.
This delay to attack gave the smaller northern union forces’ reinforcement time to arrive, strengthening their position further.
General Lee conferred with another of his fellow confederate Generals, General Longstreet. General Longstreet had other ideas. He wanted their confederate (southern) army to attack Washington D.C. This move would force the Northern Union forces occupying the strong defensive position of cemetery hill to leave that strong defensive position, come down, and pursue General Lee’s army that would be headed to attack Washington D.C.
General Longstreet
General Lee’s army would then be able to fight the northern union army without the union’s advantage of the good defensive high ground of cemetery hill. They would thus be able to defeat the northern union army.
General Lee refused to attack Washington D.C. as General Longstreet’s suggested and decided (probably because of seeking honor and to show his strength and courage) to attack the union army where they were, on cemetery hill. This was despite the fact that cemetery hill was a strong defensive position, and it was suicidal to attack any force occupying it head on.
So General Lee’s Confederate (southern) army attacked cemetery hill head on. The fighting was fierce. But General Lee’s southern confederate army failed to dislodge the Union forces from their defensive positions. Despite heavy casualties General Lee kept attacking. They charged again and again head on but like a fly trying to fly through the glass of a window they were repulsed again and again.
General Lee’s southern confederate army was at a disadvantage. They were on lower ground attacking their enemy who occupied the high ground, cemetery hill which was perfect for defensive purposes.
General Lee’s soldiers were unprotected from the volley of heavy gunfire by the northern union forces that were dug in and well protected by their defensive lines and the high ground they occupied.
Finally General Lee’s confederate army was defeated amidst heavy losses. And so the southern confederate army lost the battle of Gettysburg.
This loss was one of the factors that caused the confederate army of the south to lose the American civil war.
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Spending Restraint?
We can't write a blank check for Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Even if the famously corrupt politicians of Louisiana were bypassed and every dollar went for its intended purpose, we can't afford another $60 billion or $200 billion! The web effort to encourage cutting the pork has been substantial - see NZ Bear's Porkbusters - but ignored, as far as we know. Good News! There is a sign of life. In the US Senate, of all places. Bob Novak reports at Real Clear Politics.com
WASHINGTON -- The Senate was up to its old tricks Monday evening. It prepared to pass, without debate and under a procedure requiring unanimous consent, a federal infusion of $9 billion into state Medicaid programs under the pretext of Katrina relief. The bill, drafted in secret under bipartisan auspices, was stopped cold when Republican Sen. John Ensign voiced his objection. The bill's Democratic sponsors railed in outrage against Ensign, a 47-year-old first-termer from Las Vegas, Nev., who usually keeps a low profile. But he was not acting alone. Ensign belongs to, and, indeed, originated, a small group of Republicans who intend to stand guard on the Senate floor against such raids on the Treasury as Monday night's failure. The group includes Sen. John McCain, who long has tried to wean Republicans from ever greater federal spending but attracted little support from GOP colleagues until recently.
The bill they stopped - or delayed - was pork at its worst. You find a specific need that is widely accepted, then you put your own pet project on it.
The "emergency" Medicaid bill is a classic case of how government grows and spending soars. Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln, concerned by health problems of evacuees in her state of Arkansas, introduced a bill increasing Medicaid funds to the states. The Senate Finance Committee's Republican chairman, Chuck Grassley, and its ranking Democrat, Max Baucus, drafted the scaled-down, $9 billion substitute and marked it for quick passage. No hearings, no debate, no trouble... Ensign noted that Congress had appropriated an extra $62 billion in the wake of Katrina. He pointed to the fact that the bill is a general Medicaid enrichment unrelated to hurricanes. It makes sure that 29 states scheduled for federal Medicaid cuts would be "held harmless" -- that is, would not suffer a reduction. That list is headed by $78 million in extra funds for Alaska.
The Alaska pork master, Don Young, is at it, even in the Senate! The two Republicans from South Carolina are on the team also - Lindey Graham - we are watching him - and Jim DeMint.
Posted by Ron at 9:39 PM No comments:
Democrats decline influence over court appointments
Our US Senator Cantwell announced that she will vote against John Roberts for Supreme Court Cheif Justice. Seattle Times I think she made a mistake and Senator Leahy of Vermont made a wise move by voting for him. Here is the letter I sent Senator Cantwell today:
Senator Cantwell, Justice Ginsburg got 96 votes in the US Senate. Not because the Republicans supported her positions on issues, but because she was qualified and the president chose her. Why aren't you Democrats as fair as the Republicans? You have shown that you will vote against any nominee of President Bush - even the most qualified. You have shown that you are an extremist. If Roberts had gotten a lot of Democrat votes you would have shown that you judged each individual. And you would have had some sway over future nominees. But since you will vote against anyone you have no influence over Bush. If you want Supreme Court justices that reflect your views then you had better win some elections. President Bush makes court choices, not you senators. Truly, Ron Hebron
Media Low Lights
Cindy Sheehan got a private interview with Senator McCain by lying. Lying. She got to see him because she said she had one of his constituents in her group, but she did not.
He said he might not have met with Sheehan had he known none of his constituents was in the group.
I include this under "media low lights" because she is the creation of the media. See National Review Online's Media Blog NBC supports lying reporters. This is Dan Rather PLUS. On MSNBC's Scarborough Country a Louisiana-based reporter Heath Allen said:
It’s the responsibility of the photojournalist to capture that and put it on television because those people at that point needed help no matter what was true, what was false, what was exaggerated.
And Dan Rather himself is still clinging to the lights, even though they were turned off. RadioBlogger has the transscript of Dan's interview with Marvin Kalb. Here is Duane's intro:
Elder abuse. Oh, sure. I could have come up with some clever title for the staged interview between Marvin Kalb and Dan Rather at George Washington University two nights ago. But after you read and hear these two ponderous dinosaurs talk about what is or isn't journalism, what is or isn't media, and what is or isn't reality with regards to the Bush National Guard story, I'm afraid the reaction in the blogosphere, especially on the conservative side, could easily be considered elder abuse. Want an example of Dan at his most vacuous? Here's 13 of them. If you want to be the Blogger of the Week and needed help, pick one of these and do some analysis.
Posted by Ron at 7:52 AM No comments:
NOLA - Watch Your Wallet
We need to and intend to rebuild New Orleans, Lousiana. But we have to be careful with our money because Louisiana has a long and wide history of corrupt politicians. John Fund in the Wall Street Journal's Opinion Journal points out today:
In just the past generation, the Pelican State has had a governor, an attorney general, three successive insurance commissioners, a congressman, a federal judge, a state Senate president and a swarm of local officials convicted.
Only Arkansas could match that recent record. ;-) Even one of the levee boards was under investigation at the time Katrina hit. And just this summer:
As for New Orleans, no city in America would better serve its most vulnerable residents with a clean sweep of its institutions. Just this summer, associates of former mayor Marc Morial were indicted for alleged kickbacks involving public contracts. Last month the FBI raided the home and car of Rep. William Jefferson as part of a probe into allegations he had misused his office.
We have to have careful control of the funds we provide. We have to be sure the LA politicians don't pay each other off with our money. Is this partisan politics or reputable oversight?
Despite assurances from President Bush, "the government is fighting this war [on waste] with Civil War weapons, and we're just overwhelmed," Joshua Schwartz, co-director of the George Washington University Law School's procurement law program, told Knight Ridder. Democrats are already scoring political points. Rep. David Obey, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, is lamenting the lack of accountability in the aid package. He is calling for "the beginning of some new thinking" on how to handle disaster relief.
Actually, I agree with the Democrat. But honorable Senator Landrieu will deck you if you interfere with her family's "right" to control most everything:
Indeed, many local officials are quick to attack any outsiders who question the local way of doing things. Sen. Landrieu is especially sensitive since politics is her family's business. Her father was mayor of New Orleans, her aunt sits on the city's school board, and her brother is the state's lieutenant governor. She did a passable imitation of the overwrought Aaron Brossard when she told ABC News that if President Bush utters any criticism of how local officials responded to the disaster "I might have to punch him--literally."
If the they send street fighters to the US Senate imagine what sort of politicians they are hiding at home.
Posted by Ron at 10:21 PM No comments:
France fighting declining population
France has looked the "benefits" of a stable or declining population in the eye and has concluded that the costs are higher than the benefits. France announced that women will be rewarded for having children this week. Deutsche Well reports:
They include an increased monthly grant for mothers who take time off work for a third baby. France has one of the highest birth rates in Europe. Of the 25 nations in the European Union, only Ireland's rate is higher.
The problem is not enough children to support the social welfare programs 10 years and more in the future. You can't have lavish benefits for everyone if there is not enough tax revenue to support them.
Evelyne Sullerot, one of France's leading sociologists, points out that France also has one of Europe's highest proportions of women in the workforce. She adds that more needs to be done to promote a balance between work and family life. "Things aren'’t going well in France. With 1.9 children per woman, we have one of the highest birth rates in Europe. But itÂ’s still not enough for us to reproduce our generations," said Sullerot.
And they see the requirement to work as reducing the birth rate.
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said the new measures were intended to "allow a better conciliation between professional and family life up to the child's majority." Under the proposals, a parent who takes time off from work for a third child will have the option of a boosted monthly pay-out of 750 euros ($915) for one year. Currently the figure is set at $500 available over three years. According to Hubert Brin, president of the National Union of Family Associations (UNAF), the increased payment is to encourage higher-earners to have a third child. The current rate is only attractive for couples on low incomes. But we have to encourage professionals with higher incomes to have babies," he said.
And how about other countries in Europe? Is this a trend?
Falling birth rates are a growing worry across the EU, with demographers predicting that large-scale immigration will be necessary in many countries in order to sustain the benefits enjoyed by a steadily aging population.
Dead voters in Sri Lanka
They intend to top Ron Sims's mismanagement of voting in King County. From the BBC: Tsunami dead to get voter cards
Sri Lanka is to send out voting cards for those people believed to have died in December's tsunami because it cannot be sure who survived. The country is holding its presidential election on 17 November. The election commission fears electoral fraud by people impersonating the dead, so the cards will be specially marked to show the voter is believed dead. Those that have survived will have to prove their identity. More than 30,000 died in the tsunami in Sri Lanka.
Yes. If we mailed voter registration cards to dead people we would have to be on the watch for people impersonating them. OK. They have a problem not knowing who lived and who died. Here is my idea. Make everyone register again. It is much harder for a dead person to impersonate a living one than for a living person to impersonate a dead one. ;-)
Posted by Ron at 3:55 PM 1 comment:
Distorted News on Sheehan
How do you make a pitiful showing of 30 people appear to be a crowd? This is the group of 30 people Cindy Sheehan attracted from throughout the 50 states of the US to march on the White House yesterday, September 21. Not much of a showing if you ask me. Confederate Yankee reports that all the major news media left out this one fact - only 30 people participated. PowerLine Blog
After a carefully stage-managed vigil by liberal PR firm Fenton Communications, and a pair of 3-week long national bus tours to drum up support for her cause, "Mother Sheehan" managed to bring with her just this tiny gaggle with her to the gates of the White House. The organizers backing her show hope to draw "tens of thousands" of fellow protestors this weekend, but if this sad crowd and last night's turnout of just 150 in New York are any indication, the fledging anti-war movement of Cindy Sheehan is all but dead.
And Getty Images, a top source of photos for professionals, carefully cropped each of the photos they are selling. It looks like a crowd when you close in on a handful and leave out the "panorama" showing all 30. Getty's 12 photos
Pay for NOLA by cutting pork spending
We need to rebuild the coastal area devastated by hurricane Katina - Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. But ee can't just "find" $200,000,000 to do it. Congress is irresponsible if it just throws the ball down the field by spending money out of thin air. Where are those dollars coming from? The Highway Bill passed by Congress this summer is filled with "highways to no where" - special little projects for one congressman to buy votes from his district. For one of the worst offenders and his "important" projects see Scott Glabe at Weekly Standard - "Old Don Young Had a Farm"
"DON YOUNG'S WAY" is a $231 million bridge to be built in Anchorage. Don Young's "way" is to use his position as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to bring home as many federal dollars as possible for his home state. For instance, the highway bill passed at the end of July netted over $1 billion in special projects for Alaska. That's $1,448 in pork for every man, woman, and child in Alaska. Young's eponymous bridge isn't even the most egregious bit of largesse. That honor goes to another bridge, which, for $223 million will connect Ketchikan, population 8,000, with Gravina Island, population 50. The Gravina Island Bridge, which is slated to be taller than the Brooklyn Bridge, will be a towering monument to unnecessity; the small island is already served by ferries, one of which departs every half hour. Young claims the bridge will facilitate Ketchikan's growth by providing ground access to the airport on Gravina Island, a rationale that is sure to be mentioned in a "documentary about infrastructure that demonstrates advancements in Alaska, the last frontier," to which the highway bill allots another $3 million. Perhaps the documentary will also explain how an airport with fewer than 10 flights a day can facilitate such growth, or why the government simply doesn't purchase a Lear Jet for every inhabitant of Gravina Island--which, as Citizens Against Government Waste has noted, would be cheaper than the bridge.
OK. Let's do something about this. N.Z. Bear is running a pork-identification project--with a powerful assist from Glenn Reynolds--in which bloggers point out federal spending that could be cut to balance out the costs of Katrina reconstruction. It's a great idea, and it has a nice logo: We can help. Find a wasteful project in your state or - best - congressional district. Then go to Porkbusters and enter it.
Violating the Constitution in New Orleans
While looters were shooting at them the police made the situation less safe. Did the police need the help and cooperation of law-abiding citizens? Yes, they needed them. But the police refused them. The police violated the Constitution of the United States by confiscating the legal weapons of law-abiding people. But they didn't take guns from the criminals. So they made the situation less safe. By what authority did they do this? None. What they did was illegal. Dimitri Vassarlos of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has this one liner:
Businesses selling bumper stickers that read "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns" also should offer one with the rejoinder "We told you so."
Update. See also Gun Owners of America Update. 9/24/05 The police now have to obey the Constitution because a "higher authority" requires them to; a federal judge issued a restraining order. Why they were exempt before I dont' know. In The Houston Chronicle
In documents filed in federal court in Baton Rouge, La., New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Police Chief Eddie Compass and St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain deny ordering the confiscation of firearms. But news reports quoted Compass as saying that only law enforcement officials would be allowed to have firearms and Deputy Chief Warren Riley as saying, "We are going to take all the weapons."
And we saw what they said on those news reports.
Blair Kills Kyoto at Clinton's Summit
UK PRime Minister Tony Blair stood on stage with Bill Clinton and announced that the UK will not be bound by the Kyoto Treaty on Global Warming. Why would Blair do such a thing? Because he does not want to send his country backward; he refuses to kill all economic development in the UK. James Pinkerton at TechCentralStation.com has the story:
"My thinking has changed in the past three or four years." So what does he think now? "No country," he declared, "is going to cut its growth." That is, no country is going to allow the Kyoto treaty, or any other such global-warming treaty, to crimp -- some say cripple -- its economy. Looking ahead to future climate-change negotiations, Blair said of such fast-growing countries as India and China, "They're not going to start negotiating another treaty like Kyoto." India and China, of course, weren't covered by Kyoto in the first place, which was one of the fatal flaws in the treaty.
The US Senate voted 95 to 0 to reject the Kyoto treaty if developing countries were excluded and they were. And he was looking to the future:
But now Blair is acknowledging the obvious: that after the current Kyoto treaty -- which the US never acceded to -- expires in 2012, there's not going to be another worldwide deal like it. So what will happen instead? Blair answered: "What countries will do is work together to develop the science and technology….There is no way that we are going to tackle this problem unless we develop the science and technology to do it." Bingo! That's what eco-realists have been saying all along, of course -- that the only feasible way to deal with the issue of greenhouse gases and global warming is through technological breakthroughs, not draconian cutbacks.
Now he's talking my language. Trying to promote growth instead of agreeing to quotas that can only be met by shutting down industry and requiring people to stop driving. Rather, let's work on technology that can reduce the emissions we are concerned about. Isn't it fitting that Blair did it at the conference Bill Clinton put on to showcase himself and Hillary? Pinkerton says that major media didn't cover Blair's statement, so it seems to be a TCS exclusive - by default. But soon everyone will know it.
Marriage Helps Family Finances
According to a report by the Brookings Institution and Princeton University, stable marriage can increase the financial prosperity of couples and improves the lives of American children. The study finds that while the poor see lack of money as a barrier to marriage, a healthy marriage actually ensures them healthier finances in the long run. And this is true even when the couple had children out of wedlock. Brookings Institute is not conservative at all; Princeton University too. They highlight some signs of interest:
The Bush administration is proposing to spend $1.5 billion over the next five years to increase “healthy” marriages. Gays and lesbians are demanding the right to marry. A few states are reconsidering no-fault divorce laws and experimenting with new types of “covenant marriage.” And legislators are scrutinizing tax and transfer policies for “marriage penalties.”
The report consists of several articles including: Healty Marriage Programs: Learning What Works by M. Robin Dion (Mathematica Policy Research) on marriage education programs. Via World Magazine's blog. Reuters also carried a summary of the report.
Honor our US Constitution
Saturday is Constitution Day. Thomas Sowell asks at Townhall.com: "Why do we pay attention to the Constitution in the first place?"
But the moral and legal bases for the authority of the Constitution do not rest with those who wrote it. The moral and legal authority of the Constitution comes from those who ratified it -- "we the people" -- not those who wrote it.
That's you and me, not the 100 Senators who look so important on television. CFIF recommends that we celebrate this day by - surprise - reading it. Find it HERE.
Crisis at the United Nations
The United States has finally taken the logical action. Everyone knew the party couldn't last forever. But now it is over. The United States has been paying 23% of the budget of the UN, funds 48 per cent of the UN's World Food Program and 41 per cent of the UN High Commission for Refugees. And what have we gotten? Endless abuse. When Kofi has messed up his budget and needs cash, who comes through? The United States. Now the US is asking the UN to reform itself and Ambassador John Bolton is doing the asking! Some of our complaints as listed by the Telegraph newspaper of the UK:
Only last week the UN was described as incompetent, corrupt and in urgent need of change by the Volcker commission, the organisation's own report into the Iraqi oil-for-food scandal.
Elsewhere in the organisation, Washington looks on enraged as countries such as China and Cuba are voted on to the UN's human rights commission.
America is appalled too by the UN bureaucracy, where staff are appointed according to nationality and where pay aims to match that of the most generous member state.
Yet few UN civil servants are ever held to account, as the oil-for-food report underlined. Even before it was published, Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, said: "I don't anticipate anyone resigning." No one did, despite blistering attacks on named staff including Mr Annan himself.
They won't even do anything when they got caught with the largest misuse of funds in history - the "Food for Oil" program. So Bolton stepped in:
Yesterday, with just 24 hours to go before world leaders convene for the UN's 60th birthday summit, Mr Bolton was still refusing to agree a shopping list of ambitious policies designed to change the world. Many are in stark opposition to the policies of President George W Bush's administration. Why, the Americans are asking, should we go along with this?
The "ambitious policies" are the same old stuff from the UN's bureaucrats. Empty words about reform. And solid proposals to get the US to pay more. In past years our diplomats went along with most of this nonsense. But now the party is over for the UN. What does the United States want the UN to do? To promote democracy. To stop glorifying dictators. The have the Human Rights Commission to be composed of countries that uphold human rights, not the abusers like Sudan and Libya. To get rid of corruption that has been allowed to entrench itself and grow. Hopefully change can begin now.
Cantwell Dunce of the Week
We are all bothered by the even higher price of gasoline this week. Can't someone do something about it? Two actions can improve it: 1- increase the supply of refined gasoline, or 2- decrease the demand for it. Enough of either will bring the price down. Can a US Senator increase the supply or decrease the demand? I haven't seen one do it. But Senator Maria Cantwell has another course of action: price controls. Both the theory and the experience of economics show what happens when the price is limited in the absence of actions 1 and 2 - you get a shortage. It has happened every time. Wikipedia In 1973 price controls resulted in rationing and line ups at every gas station and gimicks to reduce them, such as alternating days by even-odd license plates to match the numeric day of the month. Jeff Jacoby says it well:
There is only one rational and efficient way to allocate a scarce commodity: through price. That is because the more a person values something, the more he is generally willing to pay for it. By charging what the market will bear -- for gasoline or anything else -- vendors channel their product to the customers who value it the most. A mandatory cap on the price of gas may seem like kindness to the poor, but all it will do is raise demands that can't be met. The result will be "Sold Out" signs on Joe's pumps, or gasoline lines stretching around the block.
Painful as they are, price spikes are invaluable -- especially after a disaster, when critical goods and services are at a premium. At $3 or $4 a gallon, post-Katrina gasoline prices are transmitting two urgent messages. To consumers they say: "Conserve! Buy only as much as you really need, and look for ways to use even less." To the energy industry they say: "Produce! Get those refineries back online and supply more gasoline ASAP." Aren't those exactly the behaviors we want to encourage? But the power of market pricing to affect behavior is unwelcome to those who think useful things don't happen unless the government tells them to happen. In The New York Times last week, Senator Levin dismissed the idea that higher prices will induce consumers to use less gasoline. "By that logic," he snorted, "you could raise prices to $10 a gallon and you make sure that people walk." In the real world, though, consumers do make choices based on price, as the large photo accompanying the Times story illustrated nicely. It showed a woman turning away from gasoline pumps charging $5.88 a gallon. The caption read: "The price of gas at a station in Stockbridge, Ga., last week was too high for one customer, who returned to her car without buying."
Back to Cantwell. Rich Karlgaard of Forbes Magazine honored her as Dunce of the Week for this brave proposal. Actually she isn't the only one! Two more US senators and the governor of Hawaii share the "Dunce" award. See also No Price Gouging.
Posted by Ron at 7:58 PM 2 comments:
The Israelis may save the world - Hydrogen
Scientists in Israel have invented a process to produce hydrogen from the sun's energy. Hydrogen is the fuel of the future, everyone seems to agree. But the future has appeared to be far off because producing hydrogen has required burning fossil fuels - that's supposed to be the past. But now there has been a breakthrough, Israel 21C reports:
In a breakthrough that has dramatic implications for energy use worldwide, Israeli researchers have shown that hydrogen fuel can be produced with the help of sunlight - propelling the dream forward of using hydrogen as a 'green' fuel. The innovative solar technology developed at Weizmann Institute of Science that may offer an environmentally sound solution to the production of hydrogen fuel has been successfully tested on a large scale, and also promises to facilitate the storage and transportation of hydrogen. The chemical process behind the technology was originally developed at Weizmann on a scale of several kilowatts. It was then scaled up to 300 kilowatts in collaboration with scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology... The new solar technology developed by the Israelis and their European colleagues creates an easily storable intermediate energy source form from metal ore, such as zinc oxide
And the storage problem is handled by this method, as well:
The process generates no pollution, and the resultant zinc can be easily stored and transported, and converted to hydrogen on demand. In addition, the zinc can be used directly, for example, in zinc-air batteries, which serve as efficient converters of chemical to electrical energy. Thus, the method offers a way of storing solar energy in chemical form and releasing it as needed.
And there have been enthusiastic reactions, such as:
"The Israelis may save the world if this technique for producing hydrogen pans out and proves practical," wrote Professor Juan Cole of the University of Michigan on his influential blog Informed Comment.
I continue to be optimistic about our energy future because the Earth is bombarded with huge amounts of energy from the sun every day. We just have to find ways to capture, store, transport and use the solor energy. Hat tip to The American Thinker. They say that Juan Cole has nothing good to say about Israel, so his endorsement is a strong indication.
Posted by Ron at 10:21 PM 1 comment:
Remember 9/11
Don't forget. We didn't realize we were at war through attacks in New York in 1993, against US barracks in Saugi Arabia, two US emabassies in East Africa simulataneously, and the USS Cole. It took simultaneous attacks on New York City and Washington, DC, before we realized. Don't forget.
No Price Gouging
We see it again. When an event causes a shortage that everyone knows about, prices start going up - as you would expect. Then some US Senator says "Price Gouging." Then every talking head starts parading their ignorance. "This was done intentionally by BIG OIL." ... etc. Prices change according to the Law of Supply and Demand. If the supply is cut, but no one wants the commodity, then the price goes down slightly. If the supply is cut, but there is constant or increasing demand, then the price goes up. And those who value the commodity the most get it, because they are willing to pay more. Anyone who tries to do away with the Law of Supply and Demand makes things worse - they cause shortages. Iain Murray at TechCentralStation covers the basics.
For various reasons, I took a lot of trips to the local hardware store on Sunday. On my route there were two gas stations gazing at each other across the thoroughfare. On the first trip, I noticed that one was charging $3.41 a gallon for regular, while the other was charging $3.29. And there, in a nutshell, was proof that gas price "gouging" does not exist. This was actually an excellent case study for the basic economic lesson on supply and demand in situations of scarcity. Price is not an arbitrary figure. It contains a vast amount of information from the viewpoints of both the supplier and the customer. In normal circumstances it represents a balance between the effort and risk undertaken by the supplier to provide the product and the preferences and needs of the potential consumer taken in aggregate. Each individual consumer will have different preferences and needs, so that one may balk at a price another finds perfectly reasonable and another considers a bargain, but as a whole the price represents a signal about the balance of considerations among consumers in the market for the product. When the product becomes scarce, however, additional information is added in the form of increased price that represents notice from the producer to the consumer that he may not be able to supply every customer with the full amount of the product desired. The customer is then more able to balance his wants with his needs and, again taken in aggregate, the market will respond to the scarcity by reducing its demand to meet the expected supply. ... Gouging in the gas market makes no sense. The owner of the station that was charging $3.41 as I drove by was presumably reacting to his own supply constraints. Yet because the other station took a lot of his business, those constraints eased. By the third time I drove past the station, he had reduced his price to $3.29 also.
So, economics tells us that "gouging" simply doesn't exist in a rational market. Responsible higher prices actually ensure that as much of the good or service as possible is available for use. In an emergency, that is an important consideration.
Disaster 101 by Bob Williams
Bob Williams was the state representative for the district that contained Mt. St. Helens when it blew in 1980 killing around 70 people; it knocked out bridges, flooded homes with mud or destroyed them, destroyed good-size businesses and just blew away a lot. He is now the president of Evergreen Freedom Foundation, a Washington-oriented think tank in Olympia. They do first-class work. Williams covers the basics of who is responsible for what in a disaster. Samples:
The plain fact is, lives were needlessly lost in New Orleans due to the failure of Louisiana's governor, Kathleen Blanco, and the city's mayor, Ray Nagin. The primary responsibility for dealing with emergencies does not belong to the federal government. It belongs to local and state officials who are charged by law with the management of the crucial first response to disasters. First response should be carried out by local and state emergency personnel under the supervision of the state governor and his emergency operations center. The actions and inactions of Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin are a national disgrace due to their failure to implement the previously established evacuation plans of the state and city.
Mayor Nagin was responsible for giving the order for mandatory evacuation and supervising the actual evacuation: His Office of Emergency Preparedness (not the federal government) must coordinate with the state on elements of evacuation and assist in directing the transportation of evacuees to staging areas. Mayor Nagin had to be encouraged by the governor to contact the National Hurricane Center before he finally, belatedly, issued the order for mandatory evacuation. And sadly, it apparently took a personal call from the president to urge the governor to order the mandatory evacuation.
Congratulations, Bob, for getting in the WSJ, my main source of economic and national news.
Timothy Goddard plugged on national radio
Blogger friend Timothy Goddard got in a plug for his blog on Hugh Hewitt's national talk radio program. The Flag of the World He has an item "1951 vs. 2005" on disaster preparedness.
The Real Plan in New Orleans
Someone discovered the real plan by the city of New Orleans in case of a disastrous hurricane. Not the show piece Mayor Bragin put on their web site. No, the one they used. The New Orleans Times-Picayne on July 24, 2005 had the story:
City, state and federal emergency officials are preparing to give the poorest of New Orleans' poor a historically blunt message: In the event of a major hurricane, you're on your own.
That is the plan: You are on your own.
In scripted appearances being recorded now, officials such as Mayor Ray Nagin, local Red Cross Executive Director Kay Wilkins and City Council President Oliver Thomas drive home the word that the city does not have the resources to move out of harm's way an estimated 134,000 people without transportation. In the video, made by the anti-poverty agency Total Community Action, they urge those people to make arrangements now by finding their own ways to leave the city in the event of an evacuation. "You're responsible for your safety, and you should be responsible for the person next to you," Wilkins said in an interview. "If you have some room to get that person out of town, the Red Cross will have a space for that person outside the area. We can help you. "But we don't have the transportation." Officials are recording the evacuation message even as recent research by the University of New Orleans indicated that as many as 60 percent of the residents of most southeast Louisiana parishes would remain in their homes in the event of a Category 3 hurricane. Their message will be distributed on hundreds of DVDs across the city. The DVDs' basic get-out-of-town message applies to all audiences, but the it is especially targeted to scores of churches and other groups heavily concentrated in Central City and other vulnerable, low-income neighborhoods, said the Rev. Marshall Truehill, head of Total Community Action.
Do these poor people all have DVD players? But it's moot because the DVDs have not yet been distributed! Blogger Brad Delong quotes the entire article. I don't know of a link to the original. Plan II Mayor Nagin himself is quoted with a modified version:
Plenty of missteps at the local level contributed to last week's disaster too, from a failure to take basic steps to protect the telecom infrastructure to inadequate food and water at the Superdome. New Orleans may be able to stage events such as Mardi Gras and Jazzfest and provide parking, crowd control and adequate toilets for millions of visitors, but its hurricane plan was more rudimentary. "Get people to higher ground and have the feds and the state airlift supplies to them -- that was the plan, man," Mayor Ray Nagin said in an interview yesterday.
Timeline Rich Moran has constructed a timeline of the events with links. Using it will aid our discussions.
Blame the 3d String for the Starters' Failure
The federal government doesn't have the first responsibility in disaster response. The local government and the state are the "first string." The federal government is supposed to come in later. The feds role is to provide backup resources - backup. The locals and state are supposed to provide the initial resources, then the feds come later. No, this does not fit the "blame Bush for everything" meme. The City of New Orleans had a great plan for a major hurricane. This is the Google cache of it. But they didn't follow it. For example, the plan says to stock the Superdome with food and water for something link 10,000 people for 3 days. But they didn't stock anything at all. Do you blame Bush for that? News Snipet Blog covers the plan. Police Our Constitution prevents the federal government from policing our civilian population. This is because of fear of misuse of the power by the president resulting in a police state. So, of course, it is the local government that provides the police - during normal times and during disasters. The locals know their area and are known by the population, so they are the best source of police. During a disaster the governor of the state has control of the national guard and can use them for policing. Only as a desperate last resort are federal troops used. Hugh Hewitt is a law professor and he covers the legal basics. Skip past his coverage of the ridiculous claim that Condoleeza Rice is to blame.
For starters, the police power resides in the states. There is no general federal police power. It is the power to take care of a citizenry's health, safety and morals. It was described by Chief Justice Taney in the Licensee Cases this way: But what are the police powers of a State? They are nothing more or less than the powers of government inherent in every sovereignty to the extent of its dominion. And whether a state passes a quarantine law, as a law to punish offenses, as to establish courts of justice, or requiring certain instruments to be recorded, as to regulate commerce within its own limits, in every case it exercises the same power; that is to say, the power of sovereignty, the power to govern men and things within the limits of its dominion. "To the extent of its dominion," is the key phrase. For the federal government to act in the face of a natural disaster, it's help must be requested and its guidance accepted by the state and local officials.
Locals Mayor Nagin and Governor Blanco made major errors. The federal FEMA made some and they should be held accountable. Director Brown did poorly and should be replaced. Levees - Does reduced funding for the Army Corps of Engineers explain the failures of the two levees? No. First, the levess that failed had been rebuilt and were in good shape, says the Army Corps of Engineers. Second, A New Orleans levee board was being investigated for corruption before Katrina:
Rampant public corruption was doing big business in New Orleans long before Hurricane Katrina ever hit. What then Congressman, now Senator David Vitter calls "corrupt, good old boy" practices were apparent in the New Orleans Levee Board just one year before the collapse of regional levees, emergency communications and government services brought the Big Easy to the brink of anarchy. In fact, Senator David Vitter requested a federal investigation into improper practices of a number of public utilities, including the New Orleans Levee Board, and anew Task Force was to have been initiated in the Baton Rouge office, beginning in July 2004.
Buses - There has been a lot of coverage and an aerial photo of the 255 school buses that are still sitting in flood water; they were not used to evacuate people. If they were crammed with 55 people in each, then 14,025 could have been evacuated. Photo - You can't blame Bush for the mayor not using them. Resource - Rich Moran has built a timeline of the events in the Katrina response.
New Orleans Air Traffic Controllers
Air traffic controllers in the New Orleans area had a triple challenge when the rescue/relief efforts scaled up last week. They were short of staff due to people caring for their own flooded homes. Most of thier phones lines and some radios were out. And they had to handle up to 100 helicopter operations per hours, which they hadn't done before. Kudos to the FAA's air traffic controllers and their union, National Air Traffic Controllers Union. Story in USA Today - 9/6/05
Katrina Responses
I am overwhelmed by the natural disaster of Katrina, the human tragedy of its victims and the combination of heroism and folly, extraordinary effort and apparent laziness in the responses of both victims and responders. My friend Jim Miller expresses frusteration equivalent to mine. The mayor, governor and president ordered evacuation and attempted to get people to carry it out. Many people chose to stay when they were capable of leaving. Some could not. Now there was provision to shelter a few thousand who were hard to relocate. But the facilites were overwhelmed by numbers increased by those who could have left. And furthermore, the Superdome was chosen as a shelter for its strength against the hurricane. NOT for the flooding and the extended stay it required. Low lights Jesse Jackson, who claims to be a reverend, looks only at race. Race baiting made him rich. But I don't care what JJ declares since he got caught spending donations to his nonprofit to pay for his mistress's house.
And he also criticized the role given to former presidents George Bush senior and Bill Clinton as coordinators for a fund raising effort following the Katrina tragedy, similar to their role as tsunami fund raisers. "Why are there no African Americans in that circle?" Jackson asked. "How can blacks be left out of the leadership and trapped into the suffering
Mike Fancher, the reader's representative at the Seattle Times thinks that it is incredibly brave to carry a notebook and ask questions. The herioc reporter is a first responder taking notes while others are saving lives. Oh. Mixed Errol Lewis of the New York Daily News considers the people to still under slavery!!
That hard, unsympathetic view is the traditional American response to the poverty, ignorance and rage that afflict many of us whose great-great-grandparents once made up the captive African slave labor pool.
Then he points out the ugly facts on the corruption that the people of New Orleans and Louisiana have allowed.
These government failures are not merely a matter of incompetence. Louisiana and New Orleans have a long, well-known reputation for corruption: as former congressman Billy Tauzin once put it, "half of Louisiana is under water and the other half is under indictment." That's putting it mildly. Adjusted for population size, the state ranks third in the number of elected officials convicted of crimes (Mississippi is No. 1). Recent scandals include the conviction of 14 state judges and an FBI raid on the business and personal files of a Louisiana congressman.... The rot included the New Orleans Police Department, which in the 1990s had the dubious distinction of being the nation's most corrupt police force and the least effective: the city had the highest murder rate in America. More than 50 officers were eventually convicted of crimes including murder, rape and robbery; two are currently on Death Row.
Can they expect a full-faith effort from the politicians, bureaucrats and police who have gotten away with allowing such a mess? Of course not. I am praying for the people displaced, injured, sick, victims of looting. And for the responders sent in to help.
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NOTE: Apparently, I posted this essay after the House of Deputies passed the resolution in question. (The Web site tracking legislation apparently is not always updated in a timely fashion.) Since the resolution was not amended by the deputies, my comments about the resolution itself are still appropriate.
The Episcopal Church’s 2009 General Convention has a lot on its plate, not all of which is of great interest to the world (or even the Anglican Communion) at large. The world will certainly be watching how the convention deals with the 2006 convention’s eleventh-hour Resolution B033, however. (See my earlier post, “Kudos for Bonnie.”) The World Mission Legislative Committee (WMLC) has now reported out resolution D025 for consideration by the House of Deputies, making this a good time to look at how the convention might deal with what many now consider its mistake of three years ago.
Resolution D025 was proposed by D. Rebecca Snow, an attorney and deputy from the Diocese of Alaska. The original text can be found here. The WMLC was assigned a number of resolutions dealing with B033 and chose to rework D025 to produce a proposal on the subject for forwarding to the House of Deputies. The committee vote on the revised resolution was 24–2 among deputies but 2–3 among bishops. (More details are available in the ENS story “B033-related legislation to move to House of Deputies.”) The difference in the vote among deputies and bishops is striking, but it is not clear how significant it is. The bishops may want a stronger or a weaker resolution, or simply a better one, and the votes of five bishops may not be representative of the House of Bishops generally. We may never know, of course, as the resolution may not even reach the junior house in its current form.
I find it interesting (and unhelpful) that the WMLC, while editing D025 a good deal, did not at all modify the Explanation of the resolution. (I assume this is standard practice.) As I have complained before, the General Convention is not always clear about why it is doing what it does. Whereas members of the two legislative houses may cast identical votes for quite diverse reasons, legislative committees could be more helpful by explaining why they have done what they have done. In this case, however, although many words have been changed, the thrust and spirit of the original resolution seem to have come through the committee process intact. Actually, if the committee had to agree on a statement explaining what it just did, its work might take twice as long! Sigh!
I want to offer my own commentary on the current version of the resolution, which I will do paragraph by paragraph. In what follows, the original resolution appears on the left, and the current resolution appears on the right.
D025 as of July 12
The resolution begins:
Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That this 76th General Convention reaffirm the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of churches that constitute the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible; and be it further
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm the continued participation of The Episcopal Church in the Anglican Communion; give thanks for the work of the bishops at the Lambeth Conference of 2008; reaffirm the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of churches that constitute the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible; and be it further
Although the current resolution is not particularly objectionable, one wonders why the committee chose to tinker with the original. This paragraph has lost focus, which should be on our commitment to the Anglican Communion and to maintaining the highest degree of communion possible. (Am I the only person sick of this phrase?) Anyway, if we reaffirm our commitment, why do we need to reaffirm our participation? It seems to me that we reaffirm our participation—whatever that means—by participating. No doubt, the bishops on the committee were responsible for inserting the gratuitous thanks for the work of the Lambeth Conference. (Would bishops have the same fondness for the Anglican Communion if they didn’t get a junket to England every 10 years? Did I really say that? Sorry.) The committee avoided serious irony by not also expressing gratitude for the work of the Primates’ Meeting, the Anglican Consultative Council, or the Archbishop of Canterbury. Reference to the Lambeth Conference calls attention unnecessarily to these omissions. Both the original and current texts omit a needed semicolon before “and seek.”
The resolution continues:
Resolved, That this 76th General Convention encourage dioceses, parishes, and members of The Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the many networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion, including but not limited to networks involving youth, women, and indigenous people; networks and ministries concerned with ecumenical and interfaith work, peace and justice, liturgy, environmental issues, health, and education; and companion diocese relationships; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention encourage dioceses, congregations, and members of The Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the many instruments, networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion; and be it further
Mercifully, the committee shortened this provision. Sadly, it did not eliminate it. Participation of the church at all levels should be contingent on its facilitating mission; it should not be an end in itself. The lack of a needed comma after “networks” is clearly an artifact of a faulty editing process.
The next paragraph is the following:
Resolved, That this 76th General Convention reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and pledge to maintain its full asking for the Inter-Anglican Budget; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and pledge to participate fully in the Inter-Anglican Budget; and be it further
I think the revised wording is less specific, and may therefore express a slightly weaker commitment than does the original resolution. Personally, I would like to see this resolve dropped. The first paragraph of the resolution implies that we will do our part financially. We should stop at that implication. (Arguably, we are paying more than our fair share. If Nigeria can make demands on the Communion by virtue of its containing such a large share of the world’s Anglicans, let it pay as though that fact means something.) Anyway, this resolve brings to mind our government’s reluctance ever to rule out using nuclear weapons, the purpose of which is to avoid giving our enemies the confidence that they are safe from our nuclear stockpile no matter what they do. Likewise, we should not give the Anglican Communion reason to think that our commitment to paying about a third of the Communion’s expenses is absolute, no matter how much our church is abused by the Communion.
Resolved, That this 76th General Convention affirm the value of “listening to the experience of homosexual persons,” as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988, and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm the value of “listening to the experience of homosexual persons,” as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988, and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships “characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God” (2000-D039); and be it further
This resolve survived without any significant change. (Note, however, that the addition of “(2000-D039)” is not clearly marked as such on the legislation tracking site.) This resolve, of course, is getting to the heart of what the resolution is all about. The text makes its point powerfully and succinctly. The quotation from 2000-D039 is correct, although one might have wished that semicolons had been employed to clarify the syntax. I would also like to see commas around “through our own listening.”
Next, we have the following:
Resolved, That this 76th General Convention recognize that individuals who are part of such relationships have responded to God’s call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God’s One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church over the centuries and are currently doing so in our midst, often without the church’s recognition of their lifelong committed relationships and the blessings bestowed by such relationships, and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God’s call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God’s One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further
It is certainly positive that this resolve identifies specifically the people about whom it is talking, rather than using the phrase “individuals who are part of such relationships,” referring to the previous resolve. On the other hand, it pleads its case somewhat less passionately. I would place a comma after “Apostolic Church.”
Moving right along, we have:
Resolved, That this 76th General Convention affirm that God may call such individuals, like any other baptized members, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, which call is tested in our polity through our discernment processes carried out under Canon III of The Episcopal Church and the canons of its dioceses, and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, which call is tested through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church; and be it further
This resolve might be clarified by not having to refer to the previous resolve. I like the addition of “has called and” to the current text. One can quibble about other changes, but I have no strong feelings about them. Another comma fault is present as a result of careless editing. The comma after “individuals” is needed in the original, but it is misplaced in the revised paragraph. Then, there is the matter that our discernment process does not act. There are more serious problems here, however. (See below.)
And now, the last resolve:
Resolved, That this 76th General Convention acknowledge that, while the members of The Episcopal Church, like those in our sister Provinces of the Anglican Communion, are not all of one mind on this issue, and that Christians of good conscience, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, may disagree about this issue, the validity of the Church’s sacraments comes from the action of the Holy Spirit in and through them, not from the frail humans celebrating them in God’s name.
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge that members of The Episcopal Church as of the Anglican Communion, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, and in light of tradition and reason, are not of one mind, and Christians of good conscience disagree about some of these matters.
This final paragraph acknowledges, quite properly, of course, that all Christians are not of one mind concerning LGBT persons, even if The Episcopal Church can agree on matters relating to such persons in a manner specified by its governing documents. The WMLC wisely threw out the reference to the Donatist heresy, which, though relevant, is too complicated to explain adequately here. Alas, the current text is not felicitously phrased. First, there should be a comma after “The Episcopal Church.” But the real problem is that the various elements of the sentence simply do not come in the most logical order. The original phrasing was much better, but it lead to the Donatist business that the committee decided to scrap. There are more serious problems, however, as the resolution refers to members of The Episcopal Church and members of the Anglican Communion. But members of The Episcopal Church are humans, and members of the Anglican Communion are provinces (churches). Oops! Something like the following should be substituted:
Resolved, That this 76th General Convention acknowledge that, whereas the members of The Episcopal Church, like those in our sister Provinces of the Anglican Communion, are not all of one mind about these matters, Christians of good conscience, based even on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, may disagree about them.
I still find myself uncomfortable about the use of “these matters,” as it is not completely clear what matters are being referenced.
Further Thoughts
On the whole, the revised D025 is not a bad effort, even though it needs another copyediting pass. I cannot help but feel that, although the resolution seems to mean to undo the effect of the infamous B033, it doesn’t quite do the job. The draft asserts that the call of “such individuals”—I hate the indirection here—to ordained ministry in our church “is tested through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church.” The implication is that the nondiscrimination provisions of our governing documents will cause us to ordain LGBT persons and even consecrate them as bishops. Why don’t we just say that? Those reading this may not know our canons well enough to get the implication. As Richard E. Helmer recently said of this moment in the life of The Episcopal Church,
So it seems to me certain in this moment, as General Convention meets and considers next steps in the aftermath of B033, our primary call is to speak the truth about who and where we are as a Church—perhaps with gusto, perhaps with some humility, or offered with the spice of both.
But it must be the truth. Period.
There will be consequences, of course, to passing a resolution such as this one, and not all of the consequences involve the churches of Nigeria, Uganda, or the Southern Cone. In my own diocese, the many conservatives who broke with Bishop Robert Duncan to remain with The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pittsburgh will clearly be unhappy with the passage of D025 or anything like it that weakens the virtual moratorium of B033. (See “Diocesan Deputies Help Shape Sexuality Debate” on the diocese’s Web site.) On the other hand, those folks had to know that the trajectory of The Episcopal Church was targeted at the eventual approval of same-sex unions and the selection of bishops without regard to sexual orientation. A failure to abrogate B033 would trouble the more liberal members of the diocese, myself included. We have feelings and passions, too. There is concern that passage of something like D025 will discourage those who have left The Episcopal Church from returning to it. So be it. Non-passage will surely not encourage their return. Property lawsuits might.
As for the Anglican Communion, I believe that we, as a church, have prolonged the agony of the Communion by repeatedly suggesting that we may not go where we know we want to go, where we sincerely believe God is calling us to go, and where we know we are going soon, if not in 2009. We are not willing, and we should not be willing, to wait for consensus about LGBT persons within the Anglican Communion because we know that, effectively, that will happen when hell freezes over. We actually have a better chance of preserving the Anglican Communion by making it clear now where we stand, thereby telling the Communion that it can accept the decision of an autonomous member of the fellowship, or it can change the nature of the Communion and go its own way without us. One way or another, as our conservative brothers and sisters have advised us, the Anglican Communion is going to change. If we are to be a part of the Anglican Communion, we must ensure that we are part of a Communion we can live with. If a divorce in our fellowship is in our future, we will not stand alone, and we will be better off once that painful divorce is final.
Posted by Lionel Deimel at 11:28 PM
Deconstructing Rowan
What D025 Has Done
In Support of Judge Sotomayor (maybe)
Nice try, but
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e10vq
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer
Natchez, Mississippi 39120
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip code)
(Registrant’s telephone number,
including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definitions of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer þ Non-accelerated filer o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes o No þ
As of November 3, 2006, there were 20,747,773 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding.
Page No.
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005
Consolidated Statements of Operations for Each of the Three and Nine Months in the Periods Ended September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for Each of the Nine Months in the Periods Ended September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Item 6. Exhibits
Certification Pursuant to Section 302
(In thousands, except share data)
September 30, December 31,
(Unaudited) (Note 1)
— 26,770
Restricted investments
Fair market value of derivatives
Oil and gas properties, full-cost accounting method:
Evaluated properties
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization
(582,999 ) (539,399 )
Unevaluated properties excluded from amortization
Total oil and gas properties
Other property and equipment, net
Long-term gas balancing receivable
Restricted investments-long-term
Investment in Medusa Spar LLC
Other assets, net
Undistributed oil and gas revenues
Asset retirement obligations-current
Asset retirement obligations-long-term
Accrued liabilities to be refinanced
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 2,500,000 shares authorized;
Common Stock, $.01 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized; 20,742,213 and 19,357,138 shares outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively
Capital in excess of par value
Unearned compensation restricted stock
— (3,334 )
10,435 (331 )
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
$ 44,878 $ 31,722 $ 137,516 $ 116,402
14,973 9,313 43,600 38,392
Accretion expense
1,082 864 3,832 2,495
Derivative expense
27,063 23,030 75,480 71,880
Other (income) expenses:
Other (income)
(354 ) (352 ) (1,354 ) (650 )
Total other (income) expenses
Income before Medusa Spar LLC
Income from Medusa Spar LLC, net of tax
Preferred stock dividends
— — — 318
Net income available to common shares
$ 9,630 $ 3,683 $ 34,700 $ 22,151
Net income per common share:
$ 0.47 $ 0.19 $ 1.74 $ 1.23
Shares used in computing net income:
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization of deferred financing costs
Non-cash derivative expense
Income from investment in Medusa Spar LLC
(1,313 ) (1,292 )
Deferred income tax expense
Non-cash charge related to compensation plans
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
(1,449 ) —
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
(687 ) (279 )
Change in gas balancing receivable
(131 ) 14
Change in gas balancing payable
149 (89 )
Change in other long-term liabilities
Change in other assets, net
(2,692 ) (361 )
Cash provided by operating activities
(122,002 ) (57,382 )
Distribution from Medusa Spar LLC
Cash used by investing activities
Change in accrued liabilities to be refinanced
2,000 —
Increase in debt
Payments on debt
(51,000 ) (12,000 )
Issuance of common stock
Buyout of preferred stock
— (637 )
Equity issued related to employee stock plans
Capital leases
Cash dividends on preferred stock
Cash provided (used) by financing activities
14,811 (6,642 )
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents:
Balance, beginning of period
Balance, end of period
$ 2,946 $ 25,797
The financial information presented as of any date other than December 31 has been prepared from the books and records of Callon Petroleum Company (the “Company” or “Callon”) without audit. Financial information as of December 31, 2005 has been derived from the audited financial statements of the Company, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial information for the periods indicated, have been included. For further information regarding the Company’s accounting policies, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2005 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 15, 2006. The results of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of future financial results.
2. Stock-Based Compensation
The Company has various stock plans (“Plans”) under which employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company have been or may be granted certain equity compensation. The Company has compensatory stock option plans in place whereby participants have been or may be granted rights to purchase shares of common stock of Callon. For further discussion of the Plans, refer to Note 11 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2005 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 15, 2006.
On March 9, 2006, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (“2006 Plan”). The 2006 Plan was approved by the shareholders at the May 4, 2006 annual meeting. Pursuant to the 2006 Plan, 500,000 shares of common stock shall be reserved for issuance upon exercise of stock options, restricted stock or other stock-based awards.
In August 2006, the Board of Directors approved the award of 520,000 shares of restricted stock from the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan. Of the 520,000 shares, 20,000 shares were granted to non-employee members of the Board of Directors and vested immediately. The remaining 500,000 shares were issued to employees of the Company with 20% vesting immediately and the remaining 80% vesting ratably over the next four years.
Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123 (revised 2004) (“SFAS 123R”), “Share-Based Payment,” utilizing the modified prospective approach. Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123R we accounted for stock option grants in accordance with Accounting Principals Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (the intrinsic value method) and, accordingly, recognized no compensation expense for stock option grants.
Under the modified prospective approach, SFAS 123R applies to new awards, unvested awards as of January 1, 2006 and awards that were outstanding on January 1, 2006 that are subsequently modified, repurchased or cancelled. Under the modified prospective approach, compensation cost recognized in 2006 includes compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123 (“SFAS 123”) “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” and compensation cost for all share-based payments granted subsequent to January 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123R. Prior periods were not restated to reflect the impact of adopting the new standard.
As a result of most of the Company’s stock-based compensation being in the form of restricted stock, the impact of the adoption of SFAS 123R on income before taxes, net income and basic and diluted earnings per share for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 was immaterial.
SFAS 123R requires the cash flows from tax benefits resulting from tax deductions in excess of compensation cost recognized for stock options exercised (excess tax benefits) to be classified as financing cash flows. The $1.4 million of excess tax benefits classified as a financing cash inflow for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006 would have been classified as an operating cash flow had the Company not adopted SFAS 123R. There were no cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 due to the fact that all options were exercised through net-share settlements.
For the three-month period ended September 30, 2006, we recorded stock-based compensation expense of $2.3 million, of which $1.2 million was included in general and administrative expenses and $1.1 million was capitalized to oil and gas properties. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006, we recorded stock-based compensation expense of $2.8 million, of which $1.5 million was included in general and administrative expenses and $1.3 million was capitalized to oil and gas properties. Shares available for future stock option or restricted stock grants to employees and directors under existing plans were 535,666 at September 30, 2006.
The following table illustrates the effect on operating results and per share information had the Company accounted for stock-based compensation in accordance with SFAS 123 for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Net income available to common-as reported
Add: Stock-based compensation expense included in net income as reported, net of tax
Deduct: Total stock-based compensation expense under fair value based method, net of tax
(207 ) (1,270 )
Net income available to common- pro forma
Net income per share available to common:
Basic-as reported
Basic-pro forma
Diluted-as reported
Diluted-pro forma
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of stock-based awards with the following weighted-average assumptions for the indicated periods.
4.6 % 4.2 %
Expected life of option (in years)
Weighted-average grant-date fair value
Forfeiture rate
7.5 % —
The assumptions above are based on multiple factors, including historical exercise patterns of employees with respect to exercise and post-vesting employment termination behaviors, expected future exercising patterns and the historical volatility of our stock price. There were no stock options granted during the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.
At September 30, 2006, there was $249,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.3 years.
The following table represents stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2006:
Weighted-Average
Number of Weighted-Average Remaining
Shares Exercise Price Contract Life
Outstanding options at beginning of period
1,205,558 $ 10.11
(480,333 ) 10.66
Outstanding options at end of period
740,225 $ 9.93 4.31 Yrs.
Outstanding exercisable at end of period
The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding was $2.9 million and the aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable was $2.9 million. Total intrinsic value of options exercised was $4.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.
The following table summarizes our nonvested stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2006:
Number of Weighted-Average
Shares Exercise Price
Nonvested stock options at beginning of period
39,000 $ 16.94
(9,000 ) 16.71
Nonvested stock options at end of period
Restricted Stock
The Plans allow for the issuance of restricted stock awards. The unearned stock-based compensation related to these awards is being amortized to compensation expense over the vesting period. The compensation expense for these awards was determined based on the market price of our stock at the date of grant applied to the total numbers of shares that were anticipated to fully vest. As of September 30, 2006, there was $8.7 million of unrecognized compensation cost associated with these awards.
The following table represents unvested restricted stock activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2006:
Shares Grant Price
Outstanding shares at beginning of period
272,000 $ 13.66
520,000 15.83
Outstanding shares at end of period
3. Per Share Amounts
Basic net income per common share was computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share was determined on a weighted average basis using common shares issued and outstanding adjusted for the effect of common stock equivalents computed using the treasury stock method. In addition, an adjustment was included for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2005 for the dilutive effect of the convertible preferred stock.
A reconciliation of the basic and diluted earnings per share computation is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):
(a) Net income available to common Shares
Preferred dividends assuming Conversion of preferred stock (if dilutive)
(b) Income available to common shares assuming conversion of preferred stock (if dilutive)
(c) Weighted average shares outstanding
Dilutive impact of stock options
Dilutive impact of warrants
443 1,523 894 1,309
Dilutive impact of restricted stock
Convertible preferred stock (if dilutive)
— 94 — 843
(d) Total diluted shares
Basic income per share (a¸c)
Diluted income per share (b¸d)
Stock options and warrants excluded due to the exercise price being greater than the stock price (in thousands)
30 — 27 12
4. Derivatives
The Company periodically uses derivative financial instruments to manage oil and gas price risk. Settlements of gains and losses on commodity price contracts are generally based upon the difference between the contract price or prices specified in the derivative instrument and a NYMEX price or other cash or futures index price.
The Company’s derivative contracts that are accounted for as cash flow hedges under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 (“SFAS No. 133”), “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” are recorded at fair market value and the changes in fair value are recorded through other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, in stockholders’ equity. The cash settlements on these contracts are recorded as an increase or decrease in oil and gas sales. The changes in fair value related to ineffective derivative contracts are recognized as derivative expense (income). The cash settlements on these contracts are also recorded within derivative expense (income).
Cash settlements on effective cash flow hedges during the three-month period ended September 30, 2006 resulted in an increase in oil and gas sales of $3.2 million compared to a reduction of oil and gas sales of $3.6 million for the same period in 2005. The nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 included an increase in oil and gas sales of $5.7 million and a reduction of oil and gas sales of $8.3 million, respectively, for cash settlements on effective cash flow hedges.
The Company recognized derivative expense of $30,000 and $150,000 for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and $5.6 million and $6.5 million for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005, respectively.
Included in derivative expense for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 were cash settlements on ineffective derivative contracts of $1.4 million and $716,000, respectively. These contracts were deemed ineffective as a result of a shortfall in production volumes due to downtime resulting from damages caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the third quarter of 2005. In addition, continued downtime resulting from damages to oil and gas transmission lines and facilities owned by third parties caused some of our derivative contracts for October and November 2005 to be deemed ineffective. Due to the fact that it was probable that the shortfall in production volumes would continue in October and November, we recognized a non-cash derivative expense of $3.8 million in the three-month period ended September 30, 2005 to reclassify the unrealized loss on these contracts, which was included in other comprehensive income (loss), to earnings.
As of September 30, 2006, the fair value of the outstanding oil and gas derivative contracts was a current asset of $14.0 million and a long-term asset of $2.0 million.
Listed in the table below are the outstanding derivative contracts as of September 30, 2006:
Volumes per Quantity Floor Ceiling
Product Month Type Price Price Period
30,000 Bbls $ 60.00 $ 77.10 10/06-12/06
600,000 MMBtu $ 8.00 $ 9.30 10/06-12/06
300,000 MMBtu $ 7.00 $ 13.10 10/06-12/06
5. Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consisted of the following at:
Senior Secured Credit Facility (matures July 31, 2010)
$ 12,000 $ —
9.75% Senior Notes (due 2010), net of discount
Capital lease
Less current portion:
On August 31, 2006, the Company closed on a four-year amended and restated senior secured credit facility with Union Bank of California, N.A. The credit facility includes more favorable borrowing rates and financing flexibility. The initial borrowing base is $75 million, which will be reviewed and redetermined semi-annually and can be increased to a maximum of $175 million. Borrowings under the credit facility are secured by mortgages covering the Company’s major fields. As of September 30, 2006, there was $12 million outstanding under the facility with a weighted average interest rate of 6.96% and $63 million available for future borrowings.
6. Comprehensive Income
A summary of the Company’s comprehensive income (loss) is detailed below (in thousands):
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in fair value of derivatives
8,472 257 10,766 (2,736 )
Total comprehensive income
$ 18,102 $ 3,940 $ 45,466 $ 19,733
7. Asset Retirement Obligations
The following table summarizes the activity for the Company’s asset retirement obligation for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006:
Asset retirement obligation at beginning of period
Liabilities incurred
Liabilities settled
(16,411 )
Revisions to estimate
Asset retirement obligation at end of period
Less: current asset retirement obligation
(5,499 )
Long-term asset retirement obligation
The upward revisions to estimate were primarily due to a sharp increase in industry service costs for the Gulf of Mexico region experienced in the first quarter of 2006, principally as a result of the weather patterns during the second half of 2005.
Assets, primarily U.S. Government securities, of approximately $6.2 million at September 30, 2006, are recorded as restricted investments. These assets are held in abandonment trusts dedicated to pay future abandonment costs for several of the Company’s oil and gas properties.
8. Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) released interpretation No. 48 (“FIN 48”), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold a tax position must meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The effective date for FIN 48 is fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company is currently reviewing the provisions of FIN 48 and has not yet determined the impact of adoption.
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 157, (“SFAS 157”), Fair Value Measurements. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires enhanced disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently reviewing the provisions of SFAS 157 and has not yet determined the impact of adoption.
In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued SAB No. 108, (“SAB 108”), Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements When Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements. SAB 108 addresses quantifying the financial statement effects of misstatements, specifically, how the effects of prior year uncorrected errors must be considered in quantifying misstatements in the current year financial statements. The guidance in SAB 108 is effective for fiscal years ending after November 15, 2006.
This report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this report, including statements regarding our financial position, adequacy of resources, estimated reserve quantities, business strategies, plans, objectives and expectations for future operations and covenant compliance, are forward-looking statements. We can give no assurances that the assumptions upon which such forward-looking statements are based will prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations (“Cautionary Statements”) are disclosed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our most recent fiscal year, elsewhere in this report and from time to time in other filings made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified by the Cautionary Statements.
Our revenues, profitability, future growth and the carrying value of our oil and gas properties are substantially dependent on prevailing prices of oil and gas, our ability to find, develop and acquire additional oil and gas reserves that are economically recoverable and our ability to develop existing proved undeveloped reserves. Our ability to maintain or increase our borrowing capacity and to obtain additional capital on attractive terms is also influenced by oil and gas prices. Prices for oil and gas are subject to large fluctuations in response to relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for oil and gas, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors beyond our control. These factors include weather conditions in the United States, the condition of the United States economy, the actions of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, governmental regulations, political stability in the Middle East and elsewhere, the foreign supply of oil and gas, the price of foreign imports and the availability of alternate fuel sources. Any substantial and extended decline in the price of oil or gas would have an adverse effect on the carrying value of our proved reserves, borrowing capacity, revenues, profitability and cash flows from operations. We use derivative financial instruments for price protection purposes on a limited amount of our future production, but do not use derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.
The following discussion is intended to assist in an understanding of our historical financial position and results of operations. Our historical financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this quarterly report contain detailed information that should be referred to in conjunction with the following discussion.
Our primary sources of capital are cash flows from operations, borrowings from financial institutions and the sale of debt and equity securities. On September 30, 2006, we had net cash and cash equivalents of $3 million and $63 million of availability under our senior secured credit facility. Cash provided from operating activities during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006 totaled $107 million, a 24% increase when compared to 2005. The increase was primarily attributable to higher oil and gas prices. Net capital expenditures from the cash flow statement for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006 totaled $122 million.
We are experiencing downhole mechanical problems at the A-1 well in the Medusa field. This will have a negative impact on our cash flow for the fourth quarter of 2006 and possibly into the first quarter of 2007 depending on the nature of the problem and the timing of repairs. However, production of our reserves during 2006, despite the problem at Medusa, is projected to be higher than that experienced during 2005 due to 11 new discoveries that have commenced production during 2006 or are scheduled to commence initial production during the remainder of 2006. Additionally, 2005 production was negatively impacted by tropical weather conditions. Given the current pricing environment for oil and natural gas and the higher production volumes, our cash provided by operating activities for 2006 is expected to exceed the amount realized during 2005.
Our capital expenditure plans for 2006, including capitalized interest and general and administrative expenses, will require approximately $150 million of funding. We expect that cash flows generated from operations during 2006 and current availability under our senior secured credit facility will provide the capital necessary to fund these planned capital expenditures as well as our asset retirement obligations which are expected to be approximately $14 million. See the Capital Expenditures section below for a more detailed discussion of our capital expenditures for 2006.
On August 31, 2006, we closed on a four-year amended and restated senior secured credit facility with Union Bank of California, N.A. The credit facility includes more favorable borrowing rates and financing flexibility. The initial borrowing base is $75 million which will be reviewed and redetermined semi-annually and can be increased to a maximum of $175 million. Borrowings under the credit facility are secured by mortgages covering our major fields.
The Indenture governing our 9.75% Senior Notes due 2010 and our senior secured credit facility contain various covenants, including restrictions on additional indebtedness and payment of cash dividends. In addition, our senior secured credit facility contains covenants for maintenance of certain financial ratios. We were in compliance with these covenants at September 30, 2006. See Note 5 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2005 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 15, 2006 for a more detailed discussion of long-term debt.
The following table describes our outstanding contractual obligations (in thousands) as of September 30, 2006:
Contractual Less Than One-Three Four-Five After-Five
Obligations Total One Year Years Years Years
Senior Secured Credit Facility
$ 12,000 $ — $ — $ 12,000 $ —
9.75% Senior Notes
200,000 — — 200,000 —
Capital Lease (future minimum payments)
1,374 366 485 447 76
Throughput Commitments:
Medusa Spar LLC
9,740 3,328 5,388 1,024 —
Medusa Oil Pipeline
$ 223,566 $ 3,824 $ 6,019 $ 213,575 $ 148
Capital expenditures from the cash flow statement were $122 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Of this amount approximately $110 million was for exploration and development costs related to oil and gas properties and the remaining $12 million was for plugging and abandonment activities.
Included in the $110 million for exploration and development costs related to oil and gas properties was approximately $69 million of costs for the Gulf of Mexico Shelf Area, which included drilling costs associated with nine wells and completion and development of our discoveries. Five of the nine wells were successful, two were unsuccessful and two were in progress as of September 30, 2006. In the onshore Louisiana area we spent $12 million, which was associated with the drilling and completion of our Prairie Beach discovery as well as the drilling of two exploratory wells which are in progress. Interest of approximately $5 million and general and administrative costs allocable directly to exploration and development projects of approximately $7 million were capitalized for the first nine months of 2006. The remainder of the capital expended includes the acquisition of seismic and leases and costs related to our Gulf of Mexico deepwater area.
Capital expenditures for the remainder of 2006 are forecast to be approximately $40 million and include:
• the completion and development of our 2006 discoveries, including development wells;
• the non-discretionary drilling of exploratory wells;
• the acquisition of seismic and leases; and
• capitalized interest and general and administrative costs.
In addition, we are projecting to spend $2 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 for asset retirement obligations.
In December 2003, we announced the formation of a limited liability company, Medusa Spar LLC, which now owns a 75% undivided ownership interest in the deepwater Spar production facilities on our Medusa Field in the Gulf of Mexico. We contributed a 15% undivided ownership interest in the production facility to Medusa Spar LLC in return for approximately $25 million in cash and a 10% ownership interest in the LLC. The LLC will earn a tariff based upon production volume throughput from the Medusa area. We are obligated to process our share of production from the Medusa Field and any future discoveries in the area through the Spar production facilities. This arrangement allows us to defer the cost of the Spar production facility over the life of the Medusa Field. Our cash proceeds were used to reduce the balance outstanding under our senior secured credit facility. The LLC used $83.7 million of cash proceeds from non-recourse financing and a cash contribution by one of the LLC owners to acquire its 75% interest in the Spar. The balance of Medusa Spar LLC is owned by Oceaneering International, Inc. (NYSE:OII) and Murphy Oil Corporation (NYSE:MUR). We are accounting for our 10% ownership interest in the LLC under the equity method.
The following table sets forth certain unaudited operating information with respect to the Company’s oil and gas operations for the periods indicated:
Net production :
Total production (MMcfe)
Average daily production (MMcfe)
Average sales price:
Oil (Bbls) (a)
$ 62.31 $ 46.16 $ 58.33 $ 41.01
Total (Mcfe)
Oil and gas revenues:
$ 23,754 $ 17,649 $ 78,133 $ 66,142
Oil and gas production costs:
Additional per Mcfe data:
Depletion, depreciation and amortization
General and administrative (net of management fees)
(6.91 ) (6.98 ) (7.81 ) (8.04 )
— (8.80 ) (0.81 ) (5.07 )
Average realized oil price
Comparison of Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2006 and the Three Months Ended September 30, 2005.
Oil and Gas Production and Revenues
Total oil and gas revenues increased 41% to $44.9 million in the third quarter of 2006 from $31.7 million in the third quarter of 2005. The increase was primarily due to higher gas production and oil prices. Total production on an equivalent basis for the third quarter of 2006 increased by 31% versus the third quarter of 2005, which included downtime for tropical storms and hurricane activity.
Gas production during the third quarter of 2006 totaled 2.7 Bcf and generated $21.1 million in revenues compared to 1.5 Bcf and $14.1 million in revenues during the same period in 2005. The average gas price after hedging impact for the third quarter of 2006 was $7.79 per Mcf compared to $9.32 per Mcf for the same period last year. The 80% increase in production was primarily due to production from our new wells at East Cameron Block 90, North Padre Island Block 913, High Island Block 73, Brazos Block 405 and West Cameron Block 295 and third quarter 2005 production being negatively impacted by tropical weather conditions. The increase was partially offset by normal and expected declines in production from our Habanero, High Island Block 119 and Mobile Bay area fields and older properties.
Oil production during the third quarter of 2006 totaled 381,000 barrels and generated $23.8 million in revenues compared to 382,000 barrels and $17.6 million in revenues for the same period in 2005. The average oil price received after hedging impact in the third quarter of 2006 was $62.31 per barrel compared to $46.16 per barrel in the third quarter of 2005. Production was flat for the third quarter of 2006 compared to the third quarter of 2005, which was negatively impacted by tropical weather conditions.
Lease operating expenses were $8.1 million for the three-month period ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $2.4 million compared to the same period in 2005. The increase was primarily due to new wells coming on line, higher costs for fuel and marine transportation and an increase in insurance rates for our policies which were renewed on April 1, 2006. In the third quarter of 2006, we incurred higher throughput charges at Medusa due to an increase in production as compared to the third quarter of 2005 where production was negatively impacted by tropical weather conditions. In addition, we incurred approximately $1.4 million for pipeline repairs at our South Marsh Island Block 261 field during the third quarter of 2006.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was $15.0 million and $9.3 million, respectively. The 61% increase was due to higher production volumes and a higher depletion rate resulting from higher costs associated with our exploration and development activities in the Gulf of Mexico.
Accretion expense for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 of $1.1 million and $864,000, respectively, represents accretion of our asset retirement obligations. The increase was primarily due to the addition of plugging and abandonment obligations associated
with new discoveries and an increase in plugging and abandonment cost estimates. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
General and administrative expenses, net of amounts capitalized, were $2.9 million and $1.6 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The 82% increase was primarily due to non-cash charges of approximately $1.1 million that were recognized in the third quarter of 2006 for the vesting of 20% of restricted shares issued as part of the 2006 restricted stock award. See Note 2 for more details.
Interest expense was flat at $4.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $4.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2005.
Income tax expense was $4.9 million and $1.6 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase was primarily due to an increase in income before income taxes.
Comparison of Results of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 and the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005.
Total oil and gas revenues increased 18% to $137.5 million in the first nine months of 2006 from $116.4 million in the first nine months of 2005. The increase was primarily due to higher product prices. Total production on an equivalent basis for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 decreased by 6% versus 2005.
Gas production during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 totaled 7.2 Bcf and generated $59.4 million in revenues compared to 6.6 Bcf and $50.3 million in revenues during the same period in 2005. The average gas price after hedging impact for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $8.20 per Mcf compared to $7.65 per Mcf for the same period last year. The 10% increase in production was primarily due to new producing wells at East Cameron Block 90, North Padre Island Block 913, High Island Block 73, Brazos Block 405 and West Cameron Block 295, and 2005 production being negatively impacted by tropical weather conditions. The increase was partially offset by the normal and expected declines in production from our Habanero, High Island Block 119, and Mobile Bay area fields and older properties.
Oil production during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 totaled 1,340,000 barrels and generated $78.1 million in revenues compared to 1,613,000 barrels and $66.1 million in revenues for the same period in 2005. The average oil price received after hedging impact in the first nine months of 2006 was $58.33 per barrel compared to $41.01 per barrel in the first nine months 2005. The decrease in production was primarily due to normal and expected declines in production from our Habanero Field and older properties.
Lease operating expenses were $21.3 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006, an increase of $3.0 million compared to the same period in 2005. The increase was primarily due to new wells coming on line, higher costs for fuel and marine transportation and an increase in insurance rates for our policies which were renewed on April 1, 2006. The increase was partially offset by the shut-in of our Main Pass Block 163 Field after the first quarter of 2005, which became uneconomic and is being plugged and abandoned, and a decrease in throughput charges for Habanero resulting from lower production.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization for the nine-months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was $43.6 million and $38.4 million, respectively. The 14% increase was a result of a higher depletion rate primarily due to higher costs associated with exploration and development in the Gulf of Mexico.
Accretion expense for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 of $3.8 million and $2.5 million, respectively, represents accretion of our asset retirement obligations. The increase was primarily due to the addition of plugging and abandonment obligations associated with new discoveries and an increase in plugging and abandonment estimates. See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
General and administrative expenses, net of amounts capitalized, were $6.6 million and $6.1 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase was partially due to non-cash charges of approximately $1.1 million recognized in the third quarter of 2006 resulting from the vesting of 20% of restricted shares issued as part of the 2006 restricted stock award. These non-cash charges was offset by non-cash charges of $1.0 million we recognized in the second quarter of 2005 for the accelerated vesting of performance shares pursuant to the terms of the plan due to death or disability for an executive officer and two directors of the Company. See Note 2 for more details on the 2006 restricted stock award.
Interest expense decreased by 5% to $12.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $12.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This decrease is primarily attributable to an increase in capitalized interest resulting from an increase in our investment in unevaluated properties over the last year due to expanded exploration activities.
Income tax expense was $17.7 million and $11.1 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase was due to an increase in income before income taxes.
The Company’s revenues are derived from the sale of its crude oil and natural gas production. The prices for oil and gas remain extremely volatile and sometimes experience large fluctuations as a result of relatively small changes in supply, weather conditions, economic conditions and government actions. From time to time, the Company enters into derivative financial instruments to manage oil and gas price risk.
The Company may utilize fixed price “swaps”, which reduce the Company’s exposure to decreases in commodity prices and limit the benefit the Company might otherwise have received from any increases in commodity prices.
The Company may utilize price “collars” to reduce the risk of changes in oil and gas prices. Under these arrangements, no payments are due by either party as long as the market price is above the floor price and below the ceiling price set in the collar. If the price falls below the floor, the counter-party to the collar pays the difference to the Company, and if the price rises above the ceiling, the counter-party receives the difference from the Company.
Callon may purchase “puts” which reduce the Company’s exposure to decreases in oil and gas prices while allowing realization of the full benefit from any increases in oil and gas prices. If the price falls below the floor, the counter-party pays the difference to the Company.
The Company enters into these various agreements from time to time to reduce the effects of volatile oil and gas prices and does not enter into derivative transactions for speculative purposes. However, certain of the Company’s derivative positions may not be designated as hedges for accounting purposes.
See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the Company’s outstanding derivative contracts at September 30, 2006. There have been no significant changes in market risks faced by the Company since the end of 2005.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company’s principal executive and financial officer has concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) were effective as of September 30, 2006.
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
3. Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 filed March 15, 2004, File No. 001-14039)
3.2 Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 4, 1994, Reg. No. 33-82408)
4. Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures
4.1 Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed August 4, 1994, Reg. No. 33-82408)
4.2 Rights Agreement between Callon Petroleum Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, Rights Agent, dated March 30, 2000 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed April 6, 2000, File No. 001- 14039)
4.3 Form of Warrant entitling certain holders of the Company’s 10.125% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2002 to purchase common stock from the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2002, File No. 001-14039)
4.4 Form of Warrants dated December 8, 2003 and December 29, 2003 entitling lenders under the Company’s $185 million amended and restated Senior Unsecured Credit Agreement, dated December 23, 2003, to purchase common stock from the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.14 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, File No. 001-14039)
4.5 Indenture for the Company’s 9.75% Senior Notes due 2010, dated March 15, 2004, between Callon Petroleum Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2004, File No. 001-14039)
31. Certifications
31.1 Certification of Chief Executive and Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32. Section 1350 Certifications
By: /s/ Fred L. Callon
Fred L. Callon, President and Chief Executive Officer (on behalf of the
registrant and as the principal financial officer)
Exhibit Number
Title of Document
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The Joker’s Wild Casting for Season Two
Alex Davis
Looks like Snoop Dogg’s slot machine will continue to spin. The Joker’s Wild is casting for contestants.
Hot off the heels of its first season finale, TBS’s revival of the classic game show The Joker’s Wild appears to be coming back for another run. They’re currently looking for contestants. If you’re interested at a shot of winning $25,000 and meeting the legendary Snoop Dogg, click here to apply. You must be a legal US resident and at least 18 years old.
The Joker’s Wild is a revival of the iconic 70s game show. Hosted by Snoop Dogg, contestants put their knowledge, skill, and luck to the test, spinning the iconic slot machine and answering questions to bank as much cash as possible. The day’s winner has a chance to win $25,000 in the Face the Devil end game.
The first season was a solid performer for TBS, premiering in the top 10 of cable with nearly 1.2 million viewers and a 0.46 in the 18-49 demographic. Throughout the run it consistently stayed around the top 20 shows on its air day.
Update: TBS has officially announced the second season today.
Casting TBS The Joker's Wild
Buzzr Kicks Off 2018 with Supermarket Sweep and Celebrity Name Game
NBC Renews Ellen’s Game of Games for a Second Season
The “High” Concept and the Death of The Million Second Quiz... May 26, 2014 | Christian Carrion
Interview: Adam Ray March 6, 2016 | Cory Anotado
Now Casting: Win $25,000 on “Celebrity Name Game”... May 26, 2014 | Alex Davis
America’s Got Talent Announces Season 11 Nationwide Open Auditions... September 10, 2015 | Alex Davis
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iA LAB Member Spotlight: Brit Suttell
13 November 2020 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Nov. 13, 2020, noon Nov. 13, 2020, 9:01 a.m. insideARM.com The iA Institute
http://www.insidearm.com/news/00046848-ia-lab-member-spotlight-brit-suttell/
In 2020, the Consumer Relations Consortium (CRC) launched its inaugural Legal Advisory Board (LAB), an exclusive membership group of outside counsel with expertise in the accounts receivable industry who have each pledged their time and resources to support the mission of the CRC. Throughout the year, the LAB served as a legal resource to the CRC and iA Innovation Council membership and assisted in fulfilling the mission of promoting forward-thinking approaches to the issues raised by regulatory policy and technology innovation in the accounts receivable industry.
Today's spotlight, which showcases LAB members in their own words, highlights Brit Suttell of Barron & Newburger, P.C.
What inspired you to become a lawyer?
My Dad (Bill Suttell) and my mom's side of the family (her 3 siblings are all attorneys and her parents were both attorneys). My Grandma became an attorney in the early 1950s when there were not many female attorneys. I'm a third-generation female attorney.
Other than the CFPB rules, what is a hot topic in legal/compliance you think industry members should be paying attention to in the next couple of months?
I think industry members need to be paying attention to the consent orders and other actions taken by the CFPB. While it has been said that enforcement actions and investigations dropped under Director Kraninger, recently there have been a series of consent orders and enforcement actions that seem to indicate otherwise. Following consent orders and enforcement actions can give the industry a clue as to what the CFPB is looking for and allow companies to reevaluate their own processes in those areas.
What has been the highlight of your career thus far and why?
Winning the Donald Kramer Award from the National Creditors Bar Association, which is awarded to “someone whose efforts have made a substantial and lasting impact for the benefit of the credit and legal collection community.” It was completely unexpected and I’m humbled to be among the ranks of some of the industry’s most prominent names.
What industry behavior keeps you up at night and why?
Debt collectors who just don't follow what the FDCPA says, especially 1692g.
If you could give one piece of non-legal advice to the industry, what would it be?
It would have to be similar advice that I give to my sons every day: be awesome; be kind. Although I think it’s implied in the “be kind” part, I would add “don’t be a jerk.”
About Brit Suttell
Brit Suttell works in the Pennsylvania office of Barron & Newburger, P.C. They are a member of the firm’s Consumer Financial Services Law Practice Group.
Prior to joining the firm, Brit was a shareholder at Burton Neil & Associates, P.C., where they served as the firm’s Director of Compliance. In addition to their litigation experience, Brit is experienced in the creation, implementation, and administration of policies, procedures, and compliance management systems. Their non-litigation experience also includes the handling of regulatory complaints. They have substantial familiarity with multiple consumer financial protection laws and has trained collectors and facilitated law firm audits by clients in the financial sector.
Brit is the President of the Pennsylvania State Creditors Bar and current member of the Board of Directors for the National Creditors Bar Association, as well as the Association’s immediate past parliamentarian. They are a frequent contributor to industry newsletters and webinars.
About the Consumer Relations Consortium
The Consumer Relations Consortium (CRC) is an organization comprised of more than 60 national companies representing the diverse ecosystem of debt collection including creditors, data/technology providers and compliance-oriented debt collectors that are larger market participants. Established in 2013, CRC is evolving the debt collection paradigm by engaging stakeholders—including consumer advocates, Federal and State regulators, academic and industry thought leaders, creditors and debt collectors—and challenging them to move beyond talking points and focus on fashioning real-world solutions that actually improve the consumer experience. CRC’s collaborative and candid approach is unique in the market. CRC is managed by The iA Institute.
Learn more at www.crconsortium.org.
About the iA Innovation Council
The iA Innovation Council is a collaborative working group of product, tech, strategy, and operations thought leaders who envision the future of collections and map how to get there. Group members meet throughout the year to engage in substantive dialogue and whiteboard sessions with the creative thinkers behind the latest innovations for the industry, the regulators who audit and establish guardrails for new technology, and educators, entrepreneurs and innovators from outside the industry who inspire different thinking.
Learn more at www.iainnovationcouncil.com.
Next Article: Harvest Strategy Group, Inc. Announces Leadership Changes
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February 19, 2009 - 4:30pm to 6:00pm
32-155 Stata Center
32 Vassar Street, Cambridge
On February 19, Israeli architect Eyal Weizman will present a public talk on the "architecture of occupation" in Israel Palestine. Weizman has taught, lectured, curated and organized conferences in many institutions worldwide. His books include Hollow Land, A Civilian Occupation, the series Territories 1, 2, and 3, Yellow Rhythms and many articles in journals, magazines and edited books. He became a member of B'Tselem's managing board in 2008.
Joining the discussion as commentator is Salim Tamari. Tamari is director of the Institute of Jerusalem Studies and a professor of sociology at Birzeit University. He edits Hawliyyat al Quds and Jerusalem Quarterly and is the author of several works on urban culture, political sociology, biography and social history, and the social history of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Along with the Center for International Studies this event was co-sponsored by Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture, Bustani Lecture Series and Jerusalem 2050.
Free & open to the public | Refreshments served
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November 2, 2015, 7:00 pm ET -
November 2, 2015, 7:00 pm ET - House amendment offered
November 3, 2015, 6:06 pm ET - Amendment (A032) offered by Mr. Costello (PA) to the Rules amendment (A001).
November 3, 2015, 6:06 pm ET - House amendment offered/reported by : Amendment (A032) offered by Mr. Costello (PA) to the Rules amendment (A001).
November 3, 2015, 6:09 pm ET - On agreeing to the Costello (PA) amendment (A032) Agreed to by voice vote.
November 3, 2015, 6:09 pm ET - House amendment agreed to: On agreeing to the Costello (PA) amendment (A032) Agreed to by voice vote.
November 3, 2015, 6:09 pm ET - Amendment agreed to Committee of the Whole
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Hubbard v. Nestor
TERRELL S. HUBBARD, Plaintiff,
TOM NESTOR, MICHAEL YOWELL, WADE ADAMS, DERIK MATTHESON, and COLE BRITTON, Defendants.
SCOTT T. VARHOLAK UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE.
This civil action is before the Court on Defendants' Motion to Reconsider (the “Motion to Reconsider”) [#174], which was referred to this Court for resolution [#175]. This Court has carefully considered the Motion to Reconsider and related briefing, the case file, and the applicable case law, and has determined that oral argument would not materially assist in the disposition of the Motion to Reconsider. For the following reasons, the Motion to Reconsider is GRANTED.
Plaintiff brings claims for alleged violations of his Fourteenth Amendment right to Due Process and violation of his Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights while he was detained at the Lincoln County Jail. [See #61 at 4-5] On October 12, 2018, Defendants filed a Motion for Summary Judgment (the “Summary Judgment Motion”) seeking summary judgment in their favor on all of Plaintiff's remaining claims in the lawsuit. [#153] More specifically, Defendants argue that (1) Plaintiff was not entitled to a hearing prior to being relocated within the Lincoln County Jail, because the relocation was related to maintaining the order, safety, and security of the jail, its staff, and other inmates; (2) Plaintiff's Fourth Amendment rights were not violated, because he did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in his jail cell and he has not established the violation of any rights under the Fifth Amendment; (3) Plaintiff failed to exhaust his administrative remedies prior to bringing this lawsuit; (4) Defendants are entitled to qualified immunity; and (5) Defendant Sheriff Tom Nestor is not liable in his official capacity, because Plaintiff failed to prove any underlying constitutional violation and Sheriff Nestor is entitled to qualified immunity. [Id.] On November 11, 2018, Plaintiff filed his Response to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment (the “Summary Judgment Response”). [#157] On December 3, 2018, Defendants filed their Reply in the Matter of Their Motion for Summary Judgment (the “Summary Judgment Reply”). [#164]
On December 24, 2018, Plaintiff filed a Motion to Strike New Arguments and Affidavit Raised in Defendants' Reply in the Matter of Their Motion for Summary Judgment (the “Motion to Strike”), arguing that Defendants' Summary Judgment Reply contained new arguments and evidence that were not raised in the Summary Judgment Motion and thus should be stricken. [#165] On January 14, 2019, Defendants filed a response to the Motion to Strike [#169], and Plaintiff then filed a reply in support of the Motion to Strike [#171]. On January 25, 2019, this Court issued an Order granting in part and denying in part the Motion to Strike. [#172] Relevant to the instant Motion to Reconsider, the Court granted the Motion to Strike “to the extent it [sought] to strike Defendants' argument that ‘Plaintiff was not a typical “pre-trial detainee”, in that he was a parolee (and, therefore, still a “constructive prisoner”), who was on pre-trial status for a new charge' while detained at the Lincoln Country Jail” and determined that the stricken argument “[would] not be considered by the Court in connection with Defendants' Summary Judgment Motion.” [Id. at 6-7]
The entirety of Defendants' argument in the Summary Judgment Reply related to Plaintiff's parolee status (the “Parolee Argument”) consists of the following two paragraphs:
Defendants stress that, while Plaintiff was a pretrial detainee with respect to the criminal charge he received for making a “shank” while being held in the Limon Correctional Facility, he was transported to the Jail as a parolee on his prior charges in order to face his new charge, and remained on that status while he was an inmate at the Jail . . . In Colorado, “a parolee is considered to be under a restraint imposed by law and is not a free person, but rather, a constructive prisoner of the state and under the control of the appropriate state officials.” People v. Gallegos, 914 P.2d 449, 450 (Colo.App. 1995).
Plaintiff was not a typical “pre-trial detainee”, in that he was a parolee (and, therefore, still a “constructive prisoner”), who was on pre-trial status for a new charge. It was not unreasonable for Jail officials to take that factor into account when managing Plaintiff's behavior. “Admittedly, prisoners do not shed all constitutional rights at the prison gate, but lawful incarceration brings about the necessary withdrawal or limitation of many privileges and rights, a retraction justified by the considerations underlying our penal system.” Sandin v. Connor, 515 U.S. 472, 485 (1995) (internal citations omitted).
[#164 at 8-8]
On February 8, 2019, Defendants filed the instant Motion to Reconsider, which requests that the Court reconsider that portion of its January 25, 2019 Order that granted the Motion to Strike to the extent it sought to strike the Parolee Argument. [#174] On February 19, 2019, Plaintiff filed a response to the Motion to Reconsider [#179], and Defendants then filed a reply in support of the Motion to Reconsider [#185].
II. LEGAL STANDARD
“The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not specifically provide for motions for reconsideration.” Spring Creek Expl. & Prod. Co., LLC v. Hess Bakken Inv. II, LLC, No. 14-cv-00134-PAB-KMT, 2015 WL 3542699, at *2 (D. Colo. June 5, 2015). Rather, “motions for reconsideration fall within a court's plenary power to revisit and amend interlocutory orders as justice requires.” Id. Although a court has the authority to revisit and amend its interlocutory orders, judges in this district generally “have imposed limits on their broad discretion to revisit interlocutory orders.” Id. Accordingly, in determining whether to revisit an interlocutory order, courts generally “consider whether new evidence or legal authority has emerged or whether the prior ruling was clearly in error”. Id. “Motions to reconsider are generally an inappropriate vehicle to advance ‘new arguments, or supporting facts which were available at the time of the original motion.'” Id. (quoting Servants of the Paraclete v. Does, 204 F.3d 1005, 1012 (10th Cir. 2000)).
In the Motion to Reconsider, Defendants offer two arguments in support of their contention that the Parolee Argument should not have been stricken by the Court. First, Defendants contend that, upon raising a defense of qualified immunity in their Motion for Summary Judgment, the burden shifted to Plaintiff to establish (1) a constitutional violation and (2) that the constitutional right at issue was “clearly established.” [#174 at ¶¶ 11-12] As a result of this burden-shifting, Defendants argue that the waiver cases relied upon by Plaintiff in his Motion to Strike are inapplicable and Defendants' Parolee Argument is properly construed as a rebuttal to Plaintiff's arguments in the Summary Judgment Response in support of a constitutional violation. [Id. at 4] Second, Defendants contend that, because qualified immunity may be raised at any time prior to trial, Defendants “could, hypothetically, submit an additional Motion for Summary Judgment on the stricken issue (which relates to qualified immunity) at any time.” [Id. at ¶ 17] Defendants thus contend that “it would promote judicial economy, as well as adhere to this ...
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Desde Abajo
Podcast de Cine de Terror, Sci-Fi y mas
Available on October 14th: «Jack Goes Home». Here is our review without spoilers!.
9 October, 2016 by Zed Kosnar in Movie Reviews and tagged Daveigh Chase, Jack Goes Gome, Lin Shaye, Louis Hunter, Nikki Reed, Rory Culkin, Thomas Dekker, Thrillers
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Jack Thurlowe, a popular magazine editor living in Los Angeles, has to come back to his hometown to help her mother to heal after a car crash where also his father died. Soon after his arrival, his childhood friend Shanda tries to help Jack coping with his loss, since he is in an emotional block, even when he does not want to admit it, partly because he was very close to his dad, and also because he is very soon to be a father himself.
Just after a few hours of staying together we can see that the relationship between Jack and his mother, Teresa, has always been tense, and that the recent loss has left her with damages beyond the physical type, making Jack’s temperament and a repressed resentment from her to clash and create a series of conflicts that become increasingly aggressive. The real problems however, start when in the middle of nightmares and hallucinations, Jack seems to be receiving messages from his deceased father, giving him hints that they might be secrets in his family that Jack never imagined, and that could make him question not only his apparently perfect life, but also his sanity.
There are lots of positive things in «Jack Goes Home», but the one that stands out for me is the acting performances of the two leads, Rory Culkin (Scream 4, Intruders) effortlessly shows how Jack starts to brutally falling into the acceptance of his father’s death and at the same time has to deal with a lot of stuff that seems to be just waiting to pile up on him. Lin Shaye’s performance showed that she has a great acting range that most of the audience might not be aware of, specially the people that only know her from recent horror and comedy films. With her portrayal of Teresa we see a very cynical lady that also is very fragile and still, she has no problems to release her anger and resentment now that the world she knew has crumbled, and that at the same time she wants to protect Jack from digging about the past, she is eager to take him by the hand and let him fall into the abyss.
“Jack Goes Home” is not a film that I can recommend to just anyone, and i want to state right now that is not a real horror film despite what the trailer might trying to hint, I would even dare to say that it barely falls into the psychological thriller territory. Still, this film will resonate strongly with all of us that have dealt with a death in the family so sudden that will keep us in the denial stage for too long, and that makes this film worth watching more than once. The movie has several tense moments that are not broken by silly jump scares and manages to make us think about everything that is happening all the way to the end, an ending by the way, I think will divide the audiences,
The problem could be that while the pace is stable and never gets boring, you can get the feeling that it has not a very clear idea of all the themes that it was trying to cover or how to do it (besides themes of loss, grievances and suppressed resentments, of course), and I say that because at the end we are left with several unanswered questions, specially about some secondary characters, which brings me to another (minor) issue: The film has interesting characters, but there were some actors that felt underused, and were no more than a cameo, like in the case of Natasha Lyonne, I thought there was more to see on her story (and an unanswered question, too) but more than that, it was nice to see her in a very different character that the one we saw recently in «Antibirth» (you can read our review here) , but take that as a rant from one of her fans, same in the case of Nikki Reed.
“Jack Goes Home” was written and directed by Thomas Deker (know, among several other characters, for playing John Connor in tv’s “The Sarah Connor Chronicles”). In the cast we can see Rory Culkin, Lin Shaye, Daveigh Chase (The Ring, Donnie Darko), Louis Hunter and Nikki Reed (From the Twilight saga).
In the end, I liked the film a lot, and i think is worth debating the ending and some of the themes over a cup of coffee (I prefer beer, but hey, whatever works!), just do NOT go to see the film expecting tons of gore or rivers of blood, because there are pretty much non-existent. The film will be released on select theaters on October 14th and on VOD, courtesy of Momentum Pictures.
← «Jack Goes Home» Reseña sin spoilers. Disponible el 14 de Octubre!
Reto Kosnar S02E07- Dawn Of The Dead….En 3-D!! →
D.A. 264- Apuestas, Voces y Herencias Mortales
D.A. 263- El Regreso que Nadie Pidió!
Reto Kosnar V #31- Resolution, Candyman y Dog Soldiers
Reto Kosnar V #30- TRIPLE FUNCION!! «El Espinazo Del Diablo» y más.
Reto Kosnar V #29- Needful Things (Pacto con el Diablo)
Liobalam en D.A. 148- Hail To The King! (Especial de «The Evil Dead»)
Zed Kosnar en FTS #33- Kaijus gachos, Votos mortales y Asesinas kawai
Nelson Martínez en FTS #33- Kaijus gachos, Votos mortales y Asesinas kawai
Rick Sánchez en FTS #31- Clinicamente Toxico y Barrido
Zed Kosnar en D.A. 243- El terror de la Decada Vol 2-C
Archivos Elegir el mes June 2020 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 July 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 November 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014
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We’re Here
Taos Furniture
Taos Treasures
UNM-Taos 12×12″x45
© COPYRIGHT 2019 DAFA, Writers and Represented Artists
Taos institute for glass arts
Most Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and by request. If you are traveling to Taos with DAFA on your agenda, you can reach someone at 575-770-5733 to make sure someone is there when you arrive. As a woodworker/owner, I spend most of my working hours at my workshop which is in a separate facility.
Gail Goodwin, Taos
Taos Art Insurgency: The New Protagonists
Taos Opera Institute at DAFA June 09
12 x 12″ x 45 UNM-Taos Artists
Follow DAFA on Twitter
Taos Institute for Glass Arts Announces Call for Artists for 2014 Taos Art Glass Invitational
The Taos Institute for Glass Arts announces its Call for Artists for the 2014 Taos Art Glass Invitational, an international biennial exhibition occurring this year from October 11 through November 9, 2014, with a private collector preview on October 10, 2014. Deadline for the call is May 1, 2014.
The Invitational includes both featured master artists who exhibit excellence in their medium internationally and are invited directly by the TIGA board, as well as artists invited through a jury process. Artists working in glass or glass combined with other media from around the globe are encouraged to submit an application.
All juried selections for the Taos Art Glass Invitational will be chosen through this Call for Artists application process. For the first time in 2014, the Art Glass Invitational is featuring four categories in which an artist may compete:
• Wall Works
• Wearable Works
• Functional Works
Artists from each of these categories will be selected to exhibit. For detailed specifications and to submit an entry for consideration, please visit the Taos Institute for Glass Arts website.
The jurors for the 2014 Taos Art Glass Invitational are Herb Babcock, Chairman of the Art Glass Program at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan, and Tina Oldknow, Curator of Modern Glass at the Corning Museum of Art in Corning, New York, and Stephanie Grilli, freelance writer, art historian and Curator of Artscribe.net Mr. Babcock received his BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art and his MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Ms. Oldknow holds a BA in Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles and an MA in Art History from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. A trustee of the American Craft Council from 2003-2009, she presently serves on the advisory board of North Lands Creative Glass, Caithness, Scotland, and she is member of the International Council of Pilchuck Glass School. Ms. Grilli graduated summa cum laude from University of Pittsburg and received her PhD from Yale University.
Numerous artists who represent excellence in glass internationally have been invited to exhibit their work, including Herb Babcock (USA), Hiroshi Yamano (Japan), Paul Stankard (USA), Martin Janecky (Czech Republic), and Paul Schwieder (USA).
“Glass is the new medium in the world of contemporary art. It is cutting edge and involves both science and art. Its luminosity and translucence is compelling and offers a world of unexplored territory for the artist. These qualities also make glass exciting for the collector” said Delinda Vanne Brightyn, the president of the board of the Taos Institute of Glass Arts and founder of the Taos Art Glass Invitational.
Invited and juried art will be exhibited in galleries throughout Taos and all artists and galleries will be featured in a brochure that will include “The Walking On Glass Tour,” a self-guided experience of the town-wide Taos Art Glass Invitational.
For more information on the 2014 Taos Art Glass Invitational Call for Artists, visit the website. Or, click here to join the mailing list for 2014 Taos Art Glass Invitational travel, educational and event offerings.
The Taos Institute for Glass Arts (TIGA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2009 by local artists to expand the understanding of and appreciation for the Contemporary Glass Art Movement. Throughout the year TIGA offers educational programs such as classes, workshops, lectures and demonstrations. Every other year TIGA sponsors the Taos Art Glass Invitational, an international juried exhibition and related special events that showcase the best from renowned and emerging artists, serving and integrating the needs of the artists, collectors, gallery owners and community.
September Glass Art Exhibit
The glass will be arriving soon and we will be busy painting pedestals and getting a feel for how the show will be presented. Should be interesting as some of the work is still in production.
The reception will be from 5 – 7 pm and many of the artists will be present.
The show continues through October 7.
No Newer Posts
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5 Easy Factual Statements About Chile Women Explained
The Energía de Mujer Award (Ladies’s Power Award) is a nationwide award that reflects Enel Group’s commitment to the country’s social and cultural improvement and to strengthening the role of girls in our society. Arte, Mujer y Memoria: Arpilleras from Chile continues on the Museum of Latin American Art (628 Alamitos Ave., Long Seashore, California) by means of March 29. The exhibition was curated by Gabriela Martínez, MOLAA’s Director of Training. three. ^ The Chilean structure does not enable a direct reelection; the term of office is 4 years.
But Chile’s silver linings also have dark clouds—which additionally dangle over other OECD nations like the United States and the UK Based on the Inter-Parliamentary Union, less than 16 p.c of lower house politicians and only 18 percent of senators in Chile are women. These numbers fall wanting the world common of over 22 % feminine representation, ranking Chile 93rd among the many 142 countries surveyed worldwide. 28 Nonetheless, relative to the UK and United States, whose legislatures are made up of only about 20 percent ladies, Chile’s numbers are only marginally lower. Argentina, Mexico, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Cuba, have surpassed nations just like the United States and the UK in terms of the proportion of women elected to national legislatures with feminine participation rates starting from 35 to 50 percent. High-profile success tales of women in leadership mar the truth of rampant sexism in Chile’s authorities.
AFP s are a major focus of the pension reform. Since there has been little competition among the many AFP s, the administrative charges they cost account holders are excessive, resulting in profits which are a lot larger than other sectors of Chile’s financial companies industry. Account holders have had decrease net charges of return (and smaller pensions) in part as a result of AFP s have charged high administrative fees.
Regulation 20.255 relies largely on the July 2006 President’s Pension Advisory Commission Report (Marcel Commission 2006). thirteen In line with the Commission, the capitalization system is geared towards employees with stable https://bestlatinawomen.com/chilean-women/ jobs who recurrently contribute to an individual account for his or her whole working lives. The report contends that the system needs to adapt to the changing social situations in Chile.
Finding The Most useful Chilean Women
39 El Independiente, Santiago, December 16th 1876, p. 2. Two weeks later, on December twenty ninth, the newspaper published a letter in help of Le Brun signed by the academics who built-in the commissions that took her students’ exams and that, by the best way, were not nominated by the university, however by Le Brun herself to show her college students’ abilities. In response to the signatories, the exams have been “worthy of being seen by the college commissions”. El Independiente, Santiago, December 1876, 1. This letter was also published in El Ferrocarril, Santiago, December 30th 1876, 2 and in La República, Santiago, January 18th 1877, 2.
Why Every one Is Talking About Women Of Chile…The Simple Truth Revealed
To enhance monetary literacy in Chile, the new regulation establishes a social safety schooling fund, financed by contributions from the state and personal donations to develop a financial education program by means of a competitive process. The fund was arrange in July 2008 and is supervised by the ministry of labor and undersecretary of social safety. Also, the government will set up an accreditation system for pension advisors to create a network of professional advisors that present skilled and impartial monetary recommendation to account holders. These professional advisors can be permitted to cost a charge of two % of the employee’s individual account steadiness, up to a maximum of 60 UF (US$ 2,427) (Asociación AFP 2008a).
thirteen Dictated by the one conservative representative within the cabinet of president Federico Errázuriz, Abdón Cifuentes, this decree established that the State faculties wouldn’t be examined by private colleges as “this activity has grow to be excessively expensive and detrimental to the Instituto Nacional”, and from then on, exams can be taken within the respective faculties, and they would be legitimate to use for college. This disposition raised turmoil in the Universidad de Chile, the federal government and the press, wherein defenders of the liberty of schooling and people of a State-run faculty system confronted one another. The text of this decree is registered in Anales de la Universidad de Chile (from now on AUCH), e book XLVI, 1872, 19-21. The controversy surrounding this measure is analyzed intimately in Serrano, Universidad y Nación, 229-239.
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Les Drassanes (Shipyards)
You are in Buildings and monuments Twitter Facebook
Old building where ships were built. It dates from the 16th c. although it was reformed during the 17th c.
To be observed
The exterior of the building although the interior has been modified and currently houses a private hotel.
The original building is a civil work projects from the 16th Century which underwent a series of refurbishments in the 18th Century. Since then to the 20th Century, it is a building with a rectangular layout with two slopes and Arabic tile roof. Its interior played a major use because the port warehouse and the ships were also built and repaired there. Currently, the building houses the remains of the old dockyards whose boundaries are defined by Plaza Les Drassanes, number 1-2, the Calle Port, 15 and la Calle Pilota, 3.
Today, we can see a sturdy 3-floor building crowned by an attic where part of the materials of the first floor originally comprised the old port warehouse from the 16th century, which had different functions, among them, ship construction.
This port warehouse was a long narrow building with one floor plus a chamber with a double slope Arabic tile roof.
As mentioned above, the original structure is only partially conserved in the first floor where we see five three-centred or “carpaneles” arches of coarse stone, with skylight, corner-pieces, and divider cornices with the same stone. The 6th arch, in the current number 3 of the square was demolished in the late 20th Century. Today, everything in the upper floors is completely modern and has been integrated inside a building with larger dimensions.
In relation to the architecture, also note the layout of the original façade openings, dimensions, type and exterior decoration elements.
You will find it in the port, opposite the monument known as Bous a la mar (Bulls to the sea).
Plaça de les Drassanes, 2
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Maple Ridge Receives BC Games Legacy Funding for Community Initiatives
TOPICS:BC Games
The BC Games Society is rallying behind the City of Maple Ridge following cancellation of this year’s summer games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Province, through the society, is providing $125,000 to support local sport and community development projects and ensure people will still benefit from the city being chosen to host the BC Summer Games.
Read more about the BC Summer Games: https://www.bcgames.org/Games/BC-Summer-Games
“Cancelling the Games was a very hard but necessary decision. I know how much time and effort goes into the planning process,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “Although the Games did not take place, we are proud to ensure that the work to prepare is not lost and the sport, arts and community organizations in Maple Ridge can benefit from the legacy funding.”
Alison Noble, president and CEO, BC Games Society, said, “We are very pleased that Maple Ridge will benefit from a BC Games legacy. This funding will allow for a lasting positive impact in the community and is an acknowledgement of the tremendous work that the volunteers had put into the planning of what would have been a very successful BC Summer Games.”
The Province and BC Games Society are also announcing the unveiling of the Karina LeBlanc Game Changer Award. The award will recognize a local athlete or young volunteer living in the Games’ host community who has demonstrated commitment to breaking down barriers and providing people with opportunities to participate in sport. The first award will be presented in the fall.
LeBlanc is a retired Olympic bronze medallist and professional athlete. She had a prestigious career in soccer that spanned almost 18 years at the international level, participated in five FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cups and two Olympic Games.
“I’m honoured to have this award created in my name and to see more people recognizing and working hard to remove barriers in sport,” LeBlanc said. “For me, sport has been a game changer in my life to be the woman I am today, and I want sport to be that opportunity for others. When we make sport more accessible to people from all walks of life, everyone wins.”
The BC Games brings valuable competitive opportunities for British Columbia’s best young athletes, develops coaches and officials, helps volunteers gain valuable skills, attracts local tourism and provides direct economic benefits to the host community.
The Province invests close to $50 million in sport annually, including $2 million to the BC Games Society to support the BC Summer Games and BC Winter Games, and to prepare for Team BC participation at the Canada Games.
Each edition of the BC Games brings $1.6 million to $2 million in economic benefits to the host community.
The BC Games are held every two years. Greater Vernon will host the 2022 BC Winter Games, Prince George will host the 2022 BC Summer Games and Maple Ridge will host the 2024 BC Summer Games.
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Home » Electric guitar » Guitar World – How to Play The Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis: Bold As Love
Guitar World – How to Play The Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis: Bold As Love
10 comments Tags: Blues, Rock
Only one DVD will teach you how to play the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s groundbreaking 1967 album Axis: Bold as Love. With more than three hours of lessons, How to Play the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Axis: Bold As Love DVD will show you the guitar parts to such album tracks as “Ain’t No Telling,” “Up from the Skies,” “Spanish Castle Magic,” “She’s So Fine” and “Bold as Love.”
Plus, this ultimate DVD includes a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Axis: Bold As Love, complete with rare footage of Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix authority Andy Aledort walks you through every guitar part on Jimi’s timeless masterpiece. What’s more, each track is meticulously recorded and videotaped at Electric Lady Studios in New York, the facility that Hendrix owned and helped design.
The format of this video is “watch and play” approach. Aledort plays with a backing drummer at full speed and distortion and then repeats at a slower pace with explanation of what chords or scales are being alluded to in the musical passage being analyzed. We get a close-up of his left hand on the main screen and an inset close-up of his right hand work at the same time. He turns down the distortion/effects when playing the slower versions. Typically he instructs on the playing of the backing guitar track first and then moves on to the melody or solo part next playing it over the background tracks.
Aledort explains details of musical explanation as he works the way through the video explaining, say, the pentatonic minor in the first tune and mostly just referring to it at later points in the video. If you aren’t working your way through the video in order you may find this annoying but if you are, or you are a more experienced player, you’ll be thankful to be saved some of the repetition.
This isn’t a great video for a beginning player in terms of understanding the musical theory behind what Jimi is playing. Aledort explains it as if he is referring to concepts to people who already have a understanding of musical concepts. For example, when he says that “Jimi adds a 9 to the chord” here, he does so with the understanding that his audience will understand what he is talking about. The novice player would still know how to play the chord by watching the video though so it is not as if the video does not hold anything for the less experienced.
Songs from the album include:
You Got Me Floatin’
Up From the Skies
Castles Made of Sand
Spanish Castle Magic
She’s So Fine
Wait Until Tomorrow
One Rainy Wish
Ain’t No Telling
Little Miss Lover
Bold As Love
If 6 Was 9
Guitar World editor-in-chief Brad Tolinski examines the making of the Jimi Hendrix Experience’s brilliant second album. This behind-the-scenes documentary also includes commentary by the album’s chief engineer (the legendary Eddie Kramer) and rare footage of Hendrix. Plus, the included 11-page booklet gives you the history of rock’s electric guitar genius. Guitar World’s Alan di Perna unravels the myths and larger-than-life tales that have obscured the real story of Jimi Hendrix, starting with Hendrix’s christened full name and ending with an examination of the guitarist’s vulnerable psychological state in his final days.
Video: MPEG2 NTSC 4:3 (720×480) VBR
Audio: Dolby AC3, 2 ch
Booklet: Yes (PDF)
Guitar World – How to Play The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Axis: Bold As Love
Download Guitar World – How to Play The Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis: Bold As Love free and other lessons from our site
jabra / 05/12/2014
sory my mistake,i download agan and its ok.Thank you again!
Bjorn / 04/12/2014
there is no any password
thanx,but i need pasvord for extraction!
thanx mate ,but whot is pasword?
jupa1128 / 15/07/2014
thank you! downloading…i´ve been
searching for this.
signorebb / 06/05/2014
The file is broken can you repost please
PanchoG / 27/04/2012
Thank’s! i’ve been searching for this for a long time!! jimi rules!!
bob dylan / 08/03/2012
lo estaba buscando hace mucho tiempo , gracias man aguente jimi :rockin:
loko_beatle / 17/01/2011
buen aporte amigo, gracias!!
amakunai / 11/01/2011
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Home Salud Fighting the opioid epidemic
Fighting the opioid epidemic
By HOY en Delaware -
Fuente: John Carney
Recently in Georgetown, Delaware, I sat at a table with four families who had been through hell. One couple lost their son to a heroin overdose. The other three families have sons who survived a heroin addiction. But these parents live in fear their sons will relapse, and they wear the pain of living through their sons’ ordeals.
I listened to them detail their excruciating experiences. Picking their kids up from jail. Coming home early to find them with needles in their arms. Discovering valuables stolen — taken to finance their sons’ disease. As a father, it was heartbreaking and terrifying to hear.
I’ve been traveling the state to learn more about the opioid epidemic that’s ravaging Delaware and the nation.
I met with hospital staff, first responders, substance abuse counselors, and treatment facility staff, along with families deeply affected by this crisis. I talked to the emergency room providers who spend their days reviving addicts after an overdose. And I talked to counselors trying desperately to help addicts get on the road to recovery, and stay there.
We’re facing an opioid epidemic. From prescription drugs to heroin — abuse, addiction, and overdose are tearing apart families and communities.
Nationwide, we’ve experienced a 200% increase in the rate of opioid deaths in the last 15 years. During 2014, 47,055 drug overdose deaths occurred in the U.S. — more than any other year. And these numbers are rising.
In Delaware, 228 people died from a drug overdose last year. That’s one person every other day. According to the CDC, Delaware ranks 9th in the country in drug overdose death rates.
These numbers have real costs. This epidemic is a crushing weight on thousands of families. It comes with financial burdens, healthcare costs, a significant emotional toll, and worst of all, death.
Delaware is especially susceptible to heroin trafficking. Our location along the I-95 corridor means that we’re in the middle of trafficking routes.
But many abusers don’t start with heroin, and some never get to that level. We have to look at the root causes, and take a harder look at how we’re prescribing pain-killers. This spring, the Centers for Disease Control provided clearer guidance to doctors about prescribing opioids for chronic pain. But there’s a lot more work to do in addressing pain management, so Delawareans don’t become addicted to powerful narcotics.
Lastly, both our state and our country lack what we need to treat those fighting addiction. Each patient is different. For some, out-patient medication, counseling, and skills training help them get and stay clean. For others, extended care facilities are crucial to preventing relapses. We’re simply not dedicating enough resources to treatment and recovery.
So how do we address a battle raging on so many fronts? We have to look at it comprehensively as a public health crisis, including the range of issues that surround the epidemic: the presence and availability of these drugs, the causes of addiction, and the lack of appropriate treatment and education.
This month, Congress passed, and the President signed, legislation aimed at addressing some of these problems. The new law authorizes grant programs, increases access to treatment, expands drug take-back programs, and creates a task force to address pain management.
This legislation came through Congress with bipartisan support — that’s a good sign. Delawareans are rightly frustrated by Congress’ inability to work together, and this was a step in the right direction.
That being said, we can and should do more. The package passed by Congress lacks the dollars to back it — requiring that we also pass a funding bill so we can act on many of these new initiatives.
And to fully address this problem we need an all-hands-on-deck approach. That means working with state and local governments, law enforcement, the medical community, and non-profits. New Delaware regulations will help address over-prescribing. Additionally, we should encourage more clinics, both in-patient and out-patient, to open in Delaware. The state should also continue to better integrate behavioral health into routine medical care, including education on all addiction treatment options.
We also have to improve enforcement efforts that prevent the trafficking of these drugs into our communities. Increased funding for collaborative programs, such as the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program or the Counterdrug Task Force led by our National Guard, will help local law enforcement catch traffickers. I’m also heartened by compassionate law enforcement efforts such as New Castle County Police Department’s ‘Hero Help’ and Dover Police Department’s ‘Angel’ program, which help treat addicted individuals, not punish them.
At Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in Seaford, I met with an emergency room nurse who has made it her mission to get the addicts she sees into treatment. She had tears in her eyes as she told me about the overdose patient who finally, after his fifth, sixth, or tenth overdose, is ready to get clean. But by the time she’s able to get the patient into treatment, it’s three or four days later and he’s back to using again.
This could be anyone’s story — a patient recovering from a surgery, or a veteran with chronic pain.
We need to do better — for the sake of those struggling with addiction, for their families, and for all of us.
John Carney represents Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives
(Photo: HOY en Delaware)
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HOY en Delaware
Aunque controlen el Senado, los demócratas necesitarán apoyo republicano en temas clave de salud
Mientras los más vulnerables esperan, los cónyuges de los polٌíticos reciben la vacuna contra covid
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Ap News In Brief At 5:58 A.m. Edt – New Jersey Herald
Iva Nec Uncategorized air ambulance company, international traveling tips, worldwide traveling tips
Kevin Bacon gives ‘The Following’ fans at Comic-Con a chance to be part of his ‘Six Degrees’ SAN DIEGO (AP) – Kevin Bacon’s “Six Degrees” world got even bigger Sunday at Comic-Con. During a Sunday panel for his Fox show “The Following,” a fan brought up the pop culture game known as “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon,” whose premise is anyone in Hollywood can be linked to the actor. She wondered if by talking to him she could then be a part of his universe. Bacon said that technically you need to be in a movie with him to be connected in the “Six Degrees” world. The actor then stood up and took a video of the crowd in the San Diego Convention Center’s 6,500-seat Hall H. He also got laughs when a young girl told him she loved him in the 2011 movie “Crazy Stupid Love.” Virus drugmaker fights back against pediatricians group’s limits on medicine use for preemies CHICAGO (AP) – A costly drug given mostly to premature babies is at the center of a clash between the manufacturer and the nation’s leading pediatrician’s group, which recommends scaling back use of the medicine. The dispute involves new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which say medical evidence shows the drug benefits few children other than very young preemies. The medicine guards against a common but usually mild virus that can cause serious lung problems. It’s the second time in two years that the influential group has recommended narrowing use of the drug, sold by MedImmune under the brand name Synagis (SIN’-uh-jis). MedImmune is fighting back with full-page newspaper ads that say the updated policy threatens “our most vulnerable babies.” Synagis protects against RSV, or respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH’-uhl) virus, which infects nearly all U.S. children by the age of 2. For most, it causes only mild, cold-like symptoms. But it is also the most common cause of pneumonia in U.S. infants, and as many as 125,000 young children are hospitalized with RSV each year, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was approved in 1998 for use in certain “high-risk” children, based on research showing benefits for certain children including premature infants born at 35 weeks or earlier. The pediatricians’ group says it has sought to provide more specific guidance because the government’s definition of high risk is vague.
With regard to the primary version consisting of any sort of additional illustrations or photos or video, check out AP News in Brief at 5:58 a.m. EDT – New Jersey Herald
air medical traveling tips and ideas services along with customer reviews supplied by worldwide medflight, learn substantially more by visiting (source)
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Ranjit Hoskote in conversation with Laxman Shreshtha
Ranjit Hoskote in conversation with Laxman Shreshtha, 18th June 2016
RH: It’s a great pleasure to be talking with Laxman Shreshtha this morning, on the occasion of the retrospective of his work ‘The Infinite Project’ at the Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation, at the CSMVS. And I’d like to speak with Laxman this morning about his trajectory as an artist, his concerns, the kinds of preoccupations that he’s addressed across a period of fifty years. And when we think of Laxman’s work we think of the work of an artist who came to Bombay, to the JJ School of Art from Nepal and from Darbhanga. And who then made a name for himself as one of our most distinguished and illustrious abstractionists. And in the course of this conversation we hope to draw Laxman out on the values, the concerns, the themes that have been at the centre of his art all of these years. Laxman one of the most inspiring experiences for you as a young artist was the time you spent in Paris studying, spending time at the ateliers, interacting with artists who were to play a key role in the evolution of your imagination. Could you talk to us about your Parisian time, the education of your sensibility as the French might say? LS: Yes ofcourse. When I came from Nepal to Bombay and joined the JJ, it was like an academic practice that all five years I did. It was only when I reached Paris and looked around, my intensity of wanting to know about art, learning about art was very intense; when I went to Paris. So my real education and knowledge about art happened in Paris. There were many Museums when I needed to refer to anything. All those known names like Cezanne, Van Gogh and Gauguin were at hand whenever I wanted. I wanted to peak at their works and even the streets. Everything seems to be historically attached to the art and a young man, a young artist feels about it when he is in Paris like Van Gogh painted certain streets, Utrillo painted some other kind of streets and all other painters did so. The street scenes and running to the museum to connect it, to refer to it, was my real education. And another very important thing was that I was at Ecole des Beaux-Arts; equally I was in Atelier 17 and Academie de la Grande Chaumière where all the very promising painters from all over the world would come. There’ll be a Japanese painter, there’ll be a Brazilian painter, from Eastern Europe and they were all of the same age and wanting to know and wanting to do something. Some were so good and talking to them, being with them for a long time was the best education that I would think I got at that stage. RH: Laxman I’ve always been intrigued by the fact that Atelier 17 was part of your itinerary in Paris because when we think of your work we think of the magnificent oil paintings which are grand machines of composition in a certain way. But Professor Hater’s specific gift to his students and colleagues was in the domain of print-making, the graphic arts. So could you tell us a little bit about this choice that you made? LS: Most of the painters who are not representational or figurative have to search for textures because that’s the way you’ll find these things. And the textures that print-making can give you; there’s no other way you can get those textures. So I was very very fascinated to see the prints of some great artists, great printmakers. And during those days there was a lot of talk about William Hater also, who invented coloured printing in New York. Then he came to Paris and opened Atelier 17. And he was a very good teacher and always became a friend. He used to come to our house. He became a very good friend. So I think it was a very good step to go to William Hater and learn print-making. If nothing else just to know how to get those textures that I needed. It was a need. RH: And you also had a year in Germany on the DAAD fellowship. What was that like? Where did you live in Germany and what were the kinds of cultural experiences that you had there? LS: I was invited to United States and I was living in New York for a while and that’s the time I got the invitation of DAAD from Germany. I got a letter. They have an office in New York also. They sent me a letter saying they’ve selected me this year to go to Germany on DAAD invitation. There were two famous artists who selected the painters from all over the world. And when they said they would like to meet the DAAD people in New York, I went and told them that look one has to go to Berlin and live and I’d already lived in Berlin. I wanted to be in Cologne because that was the place in Germany or in Europe which had become very important. Most of the painters would move to Cologne instead of Berlin or Munich. So they said Mr. Shreshtha we’ve never done such a thing. DAAD means Berlin. But I think they had a meeting and finally they agreed. And I had a free hand; I didn’t have to do anything but did paint very well in one year and had a very good exhibition. They even said that Laxman we would never expect DAAD scholars to do this but you did so much work and you did such a beautiful show. But it was because first of all Cologne was very close to Paris. That was my reason for selecting it. Also going to Paris, going back to Germany, having your own quiet moments, quiet times in your studio and many artists that you met in Germany and their approach was quite different. Very umm almost like violent you know. They wanted to break the rules. Even if you went to a Museum and some happening was taking place, some other artist could get up and really violently argue with that guy, with the artist. So it was a different kind of atmosphere when I was there rather than you know the very civilized kind of meeting, than when artists meet and they talk to each other in a very subdued and good manner. It wasn’t like that. So I also thought that was helping me a lot. RH: Tell us about the conversations that you’ve had over the years with fellow artists in Bombay? With Akbar Padamsee for instance; with Tyeb Mehta earlier and then through the years with Gaitonde? What were those conversations like? LS: Let me tell you something from the beginning. You know I wanted to settle down in Paris. So when I came to Bombay all my things were in Paris, my studio was there. But here something happened in the family and I had to linger for one year, two years. Then I left the idea of going to Paris. But I had a studio and I used to go every year. Why I wanted to settle down in Bombay was that I started to get a little tired of the attitude of the artists in Europe. Whenever they met they talked about which gallery had selected you, where are you having the exhibitions, I mean nothing about the work. Nothing about what you are reading, what you are thinking but about the successes with galleries and commercially. And when I came to come to Bombay I used to meet people like Ambadas, especially Barwe and I used to find, this is the place to paint really. I mean nobody is in a hurry. Barwe used to say what is the hurry? Why paint so many? I thought this is the place that I want to be. So I was happy that I settled in Bombay and then slowly I came to know Husain, then Gaitonde very well. Akbar became very good friends for a few years and he used to come to my studio twice, thrice a week and two, three times he used to call us to his studio. And he’s a kind of artist I mean he would look at my painting, suppose he likes my painting then he would say things that I had never thought my painting had in it. Such profound or such beautiful things even otherwise you spend an hour with these artists whom I call saints. They really are saints because they are so pure. And it was very educational. I really evolved in the company of these people. But mostly it was Gaitonde. You know you have some quality in you and I think your antenna is open, your eyes and all your senses are open and you pick-up, you are attracted to a quality that someone else has. Or maybe he has more; he’s a more developed person. Gaitonde was one of them and I really was really happy in my life that I came so close to him and learnt so many things. Same thing about texture. One day he told me Laxman how did you do this? There was a certain kind of texture, certain areas, I was so proud that you know Gaitonde is asking me how I did this. And another thing people asked me, Laxman you were so close to Gaitonde, why didn’t you learn to do something like this? In this book also they said the same thing (points to a book on his coffee table). In response I said, because Gaitonde did that, so I never went near it, so they understood what that meant. So that kind of attitude I think all the painters have and that’s how they grow and make their own work really precious. RH: And there was no sharp distinction between the figurative, the abstractionists, the symbolic. What seems most important about that whole period is that artist’s were willing to talk about their work without emphasising the so to speak stylistic differences. It was much more important to look at the depth and the intensity of the work and what the project was all about in a certain way. LS: It’s true that those days not many things happened. Not much happened. There were only a few galleries. And a few painters met and talked to each other. So figurative painter and an abstract painter did not differentiate, they could sit in the same place and discuss about the same problems they have with their paintings. But I think there was a difference. It was almost like two different classes. Which it did become later, when articles about art were being written and there were many galleries where the shows were selected in certain ways. It was curated as figurative or some theme and then it did separate. And I thought it should, it is like that. You know figurative art is completely different the way you approach. I would dare to say that it really has almost different purpose while abstract painting if you have that tendency your purpose is a little different. So they are very different. RH: Laxman you’ve often talked about the quality of silence in the works of Gaitonde, in your own work. And somehow that seems to be a very important centre of gravity. The resonant nature of silence in a painting. So could I ask you to talk a little bit about that? And also to think about how, certainly in your works from the 90’s and the early 2000’s there was a corresponding, there was a counterpoint in the form of opulent colour? And I’ve always been fascinated by this interplay. On the one hand there is this deep resonance silence and on the other hand there’s colour that sets up a certain music of its own. LS: You know I met Gaitonde when I was student, last year as a student. And slowly by very many accidents we became very good friends. He once invited me to Bhulabhai Institute and he gave me the time. I am also very punctual about time. I reached. I was raw. Very young. Didn’t understand much. But he must’ve seen some intensity and something in me that he would invite. It’s quite unusual that he would ask somebody to come and see him. He was sitting on the wooden bench and only two people could sit at the entrance of Bhulabhai. And in front of that there was sea. There was no construction like they have now and you could see the sea and rocks very very clearly. He said Laxman come and sit here. And saw the sun was setting. It was very beautiful. We didn’t say anything. Sun set and it became a little dark and he said Laxman let’s go upto my studio. We went to his studio and then he told me, Laxman you know why you are my friend. I didn’t say anything. He says because you know the value of silence and I was very intrigued because I wasn’t silent, I was silent in front of him. I was a very boisterous man I was born that way. My first reactions are of tremendous colours, you know dancing and you know jumping and seeing something you know in different way. But Gaitonde I think he used to talk to me, he used to behave with me in a certain way, a very special way that I used to understand every word that he is saying, everything that he is doing, the way he experiences. So that really changed me. To begin with and I started becoming silent. But it was much later that I become much more silent. Silence is very necessary for a painter. How will you reach the source otherwise because if you have an abstract painter’s attitude it’s the source you are searching. Meditation becomes so complete that source is right in front of you. With you all the time, that meditative comes. That only comes with the silence, being alone and then taking the path of silence. And I find it very valuable, very good for human beings. Very good as a human being. I read such books. I have such friends and I am very many times five six hours quiet by myself. And I think that it’s worthwhile living because of that. RH: Laxman you once told me that, this would be nearly twenty years ago now. Some young artists who today are very prominent, who used to visit you, spend time with you in your studio expressed a completely contrary view. And that they said they wanted art that was talkative and that was not about silence and despite your strong convictions about the quality of silence and so on you’ve always had a certain capacious attitude to the diversity of art practices. So could I ask you to talk about that? LS: Yes. Yes ofcourse. And there were bunch of students from JJ who almost grew up in my house and when they passed out, one day when we were discussing one painter told me, he was very good abstract painter himself, he told me Laxman we do not believe silence in art. What is this silence, silence? We want painting to talk, we want artist to talk about his painting. We want artist to organise in such a way that people come to talk to him in his studio and we want him to create such an atmosphere that everyday something happens in his studio, in art and art talk. I didn’t say anything, I didn’t argue, I just kept quiet because I have a feeling that an artist like these and I can see that they have their own point. Maybe today’s artists feel that way. And artists always revolts against the artist who has been before us. That’s the way art goes forward. But I think they also know the value of silence otherwise how will they plan such big things that they do. They will have to be silent at some certain moments. Maybe it plays smaller role in their life then it, for me it’s whole thing, the whole truth. For them maybe part of it is okay because they are also youthful and they want to run but then the value of silence is in everybody’s heart. All the creative people’s heart. RH: Laxman could I draw you out on a key moment of transformation in your life which was an encounter not with the kind of secular saints you talked about earlier-the painters, but with a person who lived the spiritual life- Nisargadatta Maharaj. Could I invite you to talk to us a little bit about this? LS: Yes I came to Bombay because I was very inquisitive. I always had about fifty questions which could not be answered. I mean I would have to live very fast to get the answers so I was always restless. I was always wanting to know something. There was a time in 80’s I was very successful artist, had a beautiful wife who loved me. I had a place in Paris. I could go to New York and live very very well but I wasn’t; I hadn’t found the meaning. That made me very very restless, very very.. Almost destructive and Gaitonde saw this in years and one day he gave me a book called ‘I am That’ which is on Nisargadatta Maharaj. When I read that book it says where to go and meet him. I met him. We became very very close. First three days the discussion was on me. And first question he asked me; first there were translators. First they said that Laxman is a very famous painter. He lives in New York and all that. Then he very angrily, he always talked angrily, he sounded angry, he was not angry. He said ask him where would he go to find himself? You know, so that changes the whole pattern of living or thinking or your being there and then I said I’ve come to you because I feel very good coming to you. And in a minute I feel peaceful and he said that what do you know about Samadhi? So I thought and thought and there were hundreds of people around. I said Samadhi is a death. And he was so excited he said wah wah, he said in so many years of my life so many people came in front of me. Nobody gave such a reply and then discussion went on for three days. Then finally he initiated me also and I’m not telling you lies, I never thought that I would think of somebody that he is a God. And whole thing changes, my purpose of living changed. My paintings changed. They became quiet, I became quiet. Everything changed. All my activities because of Nisargadatta Maharaj and I think all these things that happens in your life is they say it’s written know. I would say that you know you have a prepared ground for something or for questions; the answer is just next door. The minute you are ready it would come. So that’s how I think it has happened. Same with Gaitonde. Same with Nisargadatta Maharaj. Same with many other painters who gets what they are searching for. RH: Laxman thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and insights and these intense reflections you’ve had and your experience of the prepared ground and the quest. Thank you very much indeed. LS: Thank you. Thank you.
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US SENDS USS TAYLOR ON REASSURANCE CRUISE AGAINST RUSSIA — DOWN-GUNNED, NEW PROPELLER, INTERIM CAPTAIN
By John Helmer, Moscow
The US Navy has announced that it has called back its frigate, USS Taylor, from the Souda Bay repair dock in Crete, and ordered her into the Black Sea from April 22. The Navy announcement says the mission is a routine one “consistent with the Montreux Convention and International Law. Taylor’s mission is to reassure NATO allies of the U.S. Navy’s commitment to strengthen and improve interoperability while working toward mutual goals in the region.”
The Montreux Convention – imposed on Turkey for being the enemy and on the losing side of World War 1 — limits non-Black Sea warships to stays in the Black Sea of no more than 21 days. The Taylor overstayed on its last Black Sea cruise in February, arriving on February 4 and departing on March 9. The reason was that on February 12 it ran aground while berthing at Samsun port, in Turkey. The captain, Commander Denis Volpe, was fired for the incident. The Turkish Foreign Ministry asked the Russian Foreign Ministry to ignore the Montreux violation because the Taylor was in no condition to fight.
Repairs to the propeller and other steering and propulsion equipment were made at Samsun, then added to and tested at Souda Bay. The vessel website has not released the name of the commander now at the helm. In Washington, the Navy confirmed today that in charge of the Taylor is Commander Chris Cigna. The Navy spokesman described his assignment as “interim until another commander is appointed.”
The Taylor is one of the lightest armed American fighting ships to be deployed in the Black Sea since the US Navy commenced its continuous reassurance and interoperability operations in February. For those stories, click here and here. The Taylor is equipped with anti-ship missiles and torpedoes, as well as anti-aircraft cannon. This is more firepower than the intelligence and command vessel, USS Mount Whitney, which the Taylor was escorting when it ran into the seabed at Samsun. Since then the more heavily armed destroyers, USS Truxtun and USS Donald Cook, have come, and in the Truxtun’s case gone.
The Cook is today reported by the US Navy to be “under way” in international waters of the Black Sea. It will either make port for refuelling by Friday, or leave the Black Sea. It completed interoperating with, and reassuring the Romanian Navy almost a week ago.
Weighing in on the Montreux scales at 8,900 tonnes the Cook, plus the 4,500-tonne Taylor, qualify for the 35,000-tonne limit set by the Convention. That also requires counting the flotilla of three French warships in the Black Sea at present, too. The French are lightweight at an aggregate of 10,030 tonnes.
The 30-year old Taylor is on her final operational cruise, as she is due for decommissioning in 2015. The 33-year old French frigate Dupleix (above), an anti-submarine warfare specialist, is also, according to Russian sources, on her last sea legs.
by John Helmer - Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014
« THE SPELL OF THE EAST UKRAINIAN OLIGARCHS — THEY MESMERIZE THE WESTERN PRESS, THEN THEY DEMATERIALIZE OLEG DERIPASKA’S FUTURE AS PEKING DUCK »
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Wokingham constituency to remain unchanged
The draft proposals from the independent Boundary Commission make no changes to the current Wokingham constituency.
I welcome this. The huge changes put through in 1997 have taken time to settle down.Some voters in West Berkshire who joined the constituency in 1997 found it difficult at first to adjust to dealing with West Berks Council in Newbury for local government, whilst joining with Wokingham for Parliamentary matters. They wrote in opposition to the changes, but the Boundary Commission stuck to their v iew.
If the draft proposals remain and are implemented no-one in our area has to change allegiance and learn about a new set up.
Good news… are you intending to stay on at the next election?
Reply: I have been selected as the Prospective Conservative candidate for the next election in Wokingham.
Congratulations. Is that thanks to your new housing developments?
Interestingly, the City of London seems destined to be represented for the first time by A Labour MP, most likely the less-than-sympathetic Emily Thornberry. I fancy that this may turn out to be more significant than it seems.
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Members A-Z
Courthouse History
Learn about the history of the Madison County Courthouse in Wampsville, NY
Early Courts
After Madison County was established in 1806, the first courthouse was built on Seminary Street in Cazenovia. In 1807, Governor Lewis appointed Silvanus Smalley, Edward Greene, Francis Cleveland, Hubbard Smith, and Elisha Paine as judges and Peter Smith, of Peterboro, as first judge of the county’s Court of Common Pleas. (Smith was the father of lawyer and abolitionist Gerrit Smith. Gerrit Smith created a bas-relief craving of his father’s profile which hangs in the large upstairs courtroom in the present-day courthouse.) The county seat and courthouse was moved to Morrisville several years later.
That courthouse was renovated in 1849 following damage from a fire thought to have been caused by the Loomis Gang, whose members were on trial there at the time.
Present – Day Courthouse
The courthouse on North Court Street in the Village of Wampsville stands on land sold to the county in 1907 by John Wesley Coe for the price of $1. James Riely Gordon, a New York City architect famous for designing courthouses and who also designed the Cortland County Courthouse, planned the building. A cornerstone was laid in 1909, containing lists of attorneys, judges, and local officials, as well as copies of the newspapers published within the county. A newspaper account from the time reported that more than 2500 people attended the ceremony.
The building opened to the public in 1910. A complete renovation was done in 1969-1970 which allowed the building to be used as a judicial center only, with the addition of a county office building next door. The leaded skylight and brass lamps in the large, upstairs courtroom are original to the building.
The courthouse will undergo an extensive renovation beginning in the fall of 2017 and court operations will be moved to the former Oneida Ltd. Administration building in Oneida for at least two years.
Lady Justice: “Maat”
“Maat” is the name of the statue of Lady Justice in the rotunda of the courthouse, which was originally placed atop the courthouse dome in 1910. She was retired to the courthouse basement in the 1960’s after deteriorating in the weather and was discovered more than 20 years later by Isabel Bracy, the county historian, who led a campaign to have the statue restored. Dorothy Riester, an artist and sculptor from Cazenovia, donated her services and spent many months restoring “Maat.” The statue was completed and placed on display inside in 1984. It is 12 feet tall, made of zinc and finished in bronze.
Maat was known in ancient Egypt as the goddess of truth and justice. She is blindfolded and holds scales and a sword. The blindfold signifies a decision based on fairness, the scales indicate the balance of the matter being decided, and the sword represents punishment for those found guilty of wrongdoing.
“Maat” reminds all who come to the courthouse that they are due justice.
MADISON COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
Wampsville, NY 13163
Contact A Member
© 2017 MADISON COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION - DESIGNED BY THAYER2DESIGN | All rights reserved
Copyright © 2021 Madison County Bar Association | Developed by Thayer2Design
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EdITLib is now LearnTechLib. The new URL for this page is https://www.learntechlib.org/p/92678/
JAAL
Using the Web To Support Inquiry-Based Literacy Development
Bertram C. Bruce, Ann P. Bishop
Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy Volume 45, Number 8, 2002 ISSN 1081-3004
New issue alerts
Shares some ideas about facilitating inquiry-based learning in the classroom, in independent studies, in libraries, museums, communities, and all the arenas of life in which people attempt to make sense of experience and grow. Notes that the "Web-linked Inquiry Units" provide a tangible form of a community of inquiry as well as insights for future development of Web-based resources. (SG)
Bruce, B.C. & Bishop, A.P. (2002). Using the Web To Support Inquiry-Based Literacy Development. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 45 (8), 706. Retrieved January 20, 2021 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/92678/.
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Computer Uses in Education
View References & Citations Map
Using a Web Enhanced, Inquiry-Based Learning Module to Increase Cultural Awareness Among Middle School Students
Min Liu, The University of Texas at Austin, United States; Shih-Ting Lee & Hyeseung Chang, Univ. of Texas- Austin, United States; Tomoko Trapahgan & Lucas Horton, Univ. of Texas-Austin, United States
EdMedia + Innovate Learning 2006 (June 2006) pp. 1408–1415
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Bsquare Appoints Ryan Vardeman to Board of Directors
By: Bsquare via PR Newswire
BELLEVUE, Wash., June 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Bsquare Corporation(NASDAQ: BSQR), a provider of software and services targeted at the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) market, today announced the appointment of Ryan Vardeman, principal and co-founder of Palogic Value Management, LP, to the company's board of directors, effective immediately. Mr. Vardeman will serve as a class III director and, as such, his term of office will expire at the company's 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
"We are pleased to welcome Ryan Vardeman to the board," said Andrew Harries, Bsquare executive chairman. "Ryan brings extensive corporate strategy, operating, and financial experience. The board and I believe that Ryan's experience and insight will help us advance the evolution of DataV and balance our overall business priorities. Given that Palogic is one of our largest shareholders, we look forward to Ryan's contributions to Bsquare."
Mr. Vardeman's investment experience includes analyzing all parts of the capital structure, including a focus on small-cap equities, and investing in a broad range of industries with an emphasis on technology and software companies. Mr. Vardeman earned a BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Texas Tech University and an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University.
"Having carried out extensive research on Bsquare, I believe that DataV is uniquely well positioned to become a significant offering in the enterprise and industrial IoT market," stated Mr. Vardeman. "I look forward to working with my fellow directors to enhance shareholder value."
About Bsquare
For more than two decades, Bsquare has helped its customers extract business value from a broad array of physical assets by making them intelligent, connecting them, and using the data they generate to optimize business processes. Bsquare DataV software solutions can be deployed by a wide variety of enterprises to create business-focused Internet of Things (IoT) systems that more effectively monitor device data, automate processes, predict events and produce better business outcomes. Bsquare goes a step further by coupling its purpose-built DataV software with comprehensive analytic and engineering services that can help organizations of all types make IoT and digital business a reality. For more information, visit www.bsquare.com.
BSQUARE, the BSQUARE Logo and DataV are trademarks of BSQUARE Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other names and brands herein may be trademarks of others.
View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bsquare-appoints-ryan-vardeman-to-board-of-directors-300672032.html
SOURCE Bsquare
Bsquare Corp
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2010-07-27: Back from the Future
Summary: No-longer Not-Connor and No-longer Not-James share some downtime, both being back where they belong.
Date: July, 27, 2010.
Log Title: Back from the Future
Rating: PG-13.
Xavier Mansion - Medical Bay
The Medical Bay contains the latest medical equipment to patch up students and X-Men with the smallest and worst injuries. Six beds line the walls for injured patients. Equipment lines the walls, medicine in the cabinets, and more serious medical supplies locked in cabinets. One this about this room it screams sterilization.
The sound of a Blackbird coming into the X-men Hangar is one that only a few on the mansion grounds would be aware of outside the staff, and only one has gone out in the last two days. It's been about a half-day since it was back, and word has filtered up through the grapevine that a fixed Connor is now in the medical bay. Still with some bandages on his face, shoulder, and leg from the beating he'd taken in the fight, and a small but permanent scar on his cheek inside the smile and frown-lines as a permanent reminder of his future self's involvement in his life, he's resting on one of the beds working on his powers. twelve ball-bearing sized rubber balls floating around a tennis ball at the central point and running concentric rings in shifting orbits.
Being on security has a few inherit advantages for James—one of which is knowing the comings and goings of select guests. But, even knowing that Connor has been back for 36 hours isn't enough to get the hyena to visit faster than he might otherwise. Having finally 'found the time' to enter the lower levels of the mansion, James walks towards the student's bed, "Hey heard you were back."
Connor offers a bit of a tired smile in reply as he 'collapses' the puzzle back in on itself, and floats it all into a bowl before releasing the field, and letting everything clatter around inside. Folding his arms in front of him, he tilts his head a bit and then gives a nod before saying, "Back in both ways. Still not getting all the neurons to fire correctly, but apparently Doc can fix the damage Barnes' people couldn't. How're you?"
James pulls up a chair, invited to do so or not. "Not firing on all cylinders sounds about par," he says with a smile, "If not, then I'm in the wrong room." He leans back and pulls a leg over his knee, "Ehhh….better? You missed all the excitement. I guess I tried to kill Lucas, Robyn, and Jinx. Nearly had two of the three before staff ousted some million-year-old dead chick from my body." There's another shrug, then a forward look at Connor, "Sorry. I didn't know it was going on." He gives the room the once over, forgetting the former subject, "Anything you need?"
Connor gives a brief chuckle, "You know… back in April, if you'd told me that, I'd have thought you were pulling my leg… newbie hazing… but after the last month… I'd be more inclined to think you're lucky that was all." Sighing once, he looks down at his hands, watching them clench and release slowly, "Me? Not your fault. But I still blame myself… the rock thing. And… that I've been misreading a LOT of things around here. A lot." His shoulders shift, making him wince from the soreness, "Need? You want the whole list, or just today's?" Trying to add a lame laugh at the end, "This is enough, I guess. I wouldn't blame anyone else for staring at, or avoiding me for whatever I did when my future-me was here."
By 'sorry' James meant he was sorry for what he himself did…but he's not going to let the misinterpreted sincerity go to waste. It makes him look good, and he needs those points in his corner. "Ehhh, I have a history of attracting the wrong types. Now you know why I don't date." He leans forward, knees now supporting his elbows, "I wouldn't worry too much about the rock. The direct result was my issues were outed. We just…got lucky. No harm no foul, right?" He's almost convinced himself of that, considering the harm he almost caused the others. "And yeah, you didn't make any friends while you were on vacation. I'd…take it slow with Jinx. She's got a slow, red-hot burn about her. Robyn…he's probably already forgotten." The hyena grins a little, front teeth exposed, "Personally I didn't think he was that bad."
The one in the bed seems a bit less convinced of no harm no foul than the attending friend. But after a few moments of silence, Connor unclenches his fists, and says quietly, "I wish I knew what he said, what he did… I think the memories might be there… it's my brain he was in after all… but I'm not sure I want to know. Bad enough what's still banging around there…" Pausing and then shakines his head, he perks up a bit, "Glad he got along with one of my friends… but hey… done is done, right? Get over it and move on." And as easily as it's said, the belief seems to faint if not nonexistent, "What's the gossip? Seen Rashmi yet? She came back with the asian telepath with the purple hair… lady who apparently was hanging out with future me… but I think it was more." Waving it off, "Anything cool going on?"
James shrugs, "Asking the wrong person. I kinda checked out for awhile there after my body was vacated by 'Selene.' But…" He reaches into his pocked and pulls out an old, faded photo that looks like it was forgotten then washed and dried repeatedly, "He wanted me to give you this. Said 'Family's where you park your ass…'" Or something to that effect. "Oh, and don't fuck up." The gnoll stands to make it easier for Connor to take the picture, "They…they redid all the teams. And Lucas is like co-leading the Paragons or something. So, Hell froze over while you were out."
Connor takes a look at the picture, and then frowns, "Hey… did you forget this was in your pants or something?" A broad smirk playing off his lips as he takes the faded picture and folds it up, "Great… I can't go a day without telling myself what to do." Sitting back, he listens to more of what's said, and then proceeds to laugh, "Oh great! I just finish breaking in all my old team-mates, and now I get new ones?! And Lucas is what? Oh right… he graduated. Someone needs to tell him to get off his ass and go to Juliard. Enough of the whining. He's got a talent and it's wasted goofing off in the music room. So… that means you've got the room all to yourself. Liking all the space?"
James tilts his head when asked about the photo, ear pinning back, "Noooo…what makes you ask that?" To the rest, he shrugs, "Well…his stink is gone. But it's only a matter of time before it's replaced with a different stink, you know?" He lights up a little, "Reminds me, your ex-roommate left. Didn't make it half a year. Dunno the details…just that he won't be returning." Surly, that's worth cheering about. "And the new teams aren't so bad. Upside is you're on Sam's team. Down side is I dunno if you were already. I peaked at his list…was hoping I'd end up on it."
"No loss with that… too much anger there… and not enough willingness to try," Connor says on the subject of his ex-roommate, before giving another grin and a shrug as he continues on, "I was under Doctor McCoy. He taught me a lot… I wish I was still learning from him, but… maybe the change would have been needed." His eyes lower a bit though, "Too bad we're not in the same group… would've been fun. There's still that auxiliary team thing though… think on it as a chance to hang out."
"Well, you don't have any choice…I hear Hank took sabbatical or something," James says as he screws up his face, "Funny, he didn't look Jewish." He snaps his jaw shut at the mention of an auxiliary team, "I dunno…I'm sorta an army of one. I think I'm starting to prefer the loner routine. I was (almost technically) off grounds for like 3 days and no one came looking for me." Well, aside from staff tracking his phone and the security detail keeping tabs on one of their own. "I didn't miss the company. I might ask to be allowed to do an extended camping trip before school starts again. Just me, 2 weeks, nobody, nothing, and nowhere."
Connor replies softly, "Oh." Letting that sort of sum up his feelings on the whole thing, and then he closes his eyes for a few moments as he takes a deep breath and adds softly, "I know how that goes. The last week for me was actually nice. I was in a big mansion, no one else around, just the lady who was there to help me. I wasn't allowed to see any news, or television, so I got to read. Huge library too, a lot of classic stuff. It's not that I didn't miss my friends… it's just…" And he looks up at James, and then reaches out to touch him on the cheek, "I'll be here when you get back, James. Won't claim for anyone else, but however long you want to yourself, I've got your back."
The touch never lands, the hyena backing up and away as Connor reaches, eyes slightly narrowed. After a pause, we waves a hand in the air and turns to go, "Anyways…I've got things I need to do. So….you need anything, let me know, alright?" He's already walking towards the door, not waiting for the answer.
Connor's hand falls to his side and he nods once, a bit of a disappointed frown forming on his lips before he says, "Will do… oh… if you could get Robyn to stop by and bring my phone? It wasn't in my stuff. I'd be grateful. I'd ask him myself, but… you know… that whole walking thing is still kinda not working." Just mumbling the last bit out as the room is vacated, leaving him with just the attending nurse once more.
connorjames
Wayward Society Sandbox
Even secret societies need to draft.
www.schrijven.wikidot.com
Voor teksten, artikelen, verhalen en poëzie
SFU Game Developers Club
Insu Sandbox
"Draft a little dream of me..."
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Penal Code - PEN
PART 4. PREVENTION OF CRIMES AND APPREHENSION OF CRIMINALS [11006 - 14315]
( Part 4 added by Stats. 1953, Ch. 1385. )
TITLE 4. STANDARDS AND TRAINING OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS [13500 - 13553]
( Title 4 added by Stats. 1959, Ch. 1823. )
CHAPTER 1. Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training [13500 - 13553]
ARTICLE 2. Field Services and Standards for Recruitment and Training [13510 - 13519.15]
( Heading of Article 2 amended by Stats. 1967, Ch. 1640. )
13519.4.
(a) The commission shall develop and disseminate guidelines and training for all peace officers in California as described in subdivision (a) of Section 13510 and who adhere to the standards approved by the commission, on the racial and cultural differences among the residents of this state. The course or courses of instruction and the guidelines shall stress understanding and respect for racial, identity, and cultural differences, and development of effective, noncombative methods of carrying out law enforcement duties in a diverse racial, identity, and cultural environment.
(b) The course of basic training for peace officers shall include adequate instruction on racial, identity, and cultural diversity in order to foster mutual respect and cooperation between law enforcement and members of all racial, identity, and cultural groups. In developing the training, the commission shall consult with appropriate groups and individuals having an interest and expertise in the field of racial, identity, and cultural awareness and diversity.
(c) For the purposes of this section the following shall apply:
(1) “Disability,” “gender,” “nationality,” “religion,” and “sexual orientation” have the same meaning as in Section 422.55.
(2) “Culturally diverse” and “cultural diversity” include, but are not limited to, disability, gender, nationality, religion, and sexual orientation issues.
(3) “Racial” has the same meaning as “race or ethnicity” in Section 422.55.
(4) “Stop” has the same meaning as in paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 12525.5 of the Government Code.
(d) The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
(1) The working men and women in California law enforcement risk their lives every day. The people of California greatly appreciate the hard work and dedication of peace officers in protecting public safety. The good name of these officers should not be tarnished by the actions of those few who commit discriminatory practices.
(2) Racial or identity profiling is a practice that presents a great danger to the fundamental principles of our Constitution and a democratic society. It is abhorrent and cannot be tolerated.
(3) Racial or identity profiling alienates people from law enforcement, hinders community policing efforts, and causes law enforcement to lose credibility and trust among the people whom law enforcement is sworn to protect and serve.
(4) Pedestrians, users of public transportation, and vehicular occupants who have been stopped, searched, interrogated, and subjected to a property seizure by a peace officer for no reason other than the color of their skin, national origin, religion, gender identity or expression, housing status, sexual orientation, or mental or physical disability are the victims of discriminatory practices.
(5) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting the changes to this section made by the act that added this paragraph that additional training is required to address the pernicious practice of racial or identity profiling and that enactment of this section is in no way dispositive of the issue of how the state should deal with racial or identity profiling.
(e) “Racial or identity profiling,” for purposes of this section, is the consideration of, or reliance on, to any degree, actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or mental or physical disability in deciding which persons to subject to a stop or in deciding upon the scope or substance of law enforcement activities following a stop, except that an officer may consider or rely on characteristics listed in a specific suspect description. The activities include, but are not limited to, traffic or pedestrian stops, or actions during a stop, such as asking questions, frisks, consensual and nonconsensual searches of a person or any property, seizing any property, removing vehicle occupants during a traffic stop, issuing a citation, and making an arrest.
(f) A peace officer shall not engage in racial or identity profiling.
(g) Every peace officer in this state shall participate in expanded training as prescribed and certified by the Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training.
(h) The curriculum shall be evidence-based and shall include and examine evidence-based patterns, practices, and protocols that make up racial or identity profiling, including implicit bias. This training shall prescribe evidence-based patterns, practices, and protocols that prevent racial or identity profiling. In developing the training, the commission shall consult with the Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board established pursuant to subdivision (j). The course of instruction shall include, but not be limited to, significant consideration of each of the following subjects:
(1) Identification of key indices and perspectives that make up racial, identity, and cultural differences among residents in a local community.
(2) Negative impact of intentional and implicit biases, prejudices, and stereotyping on effective law enforcement, including examination of how historical perceptions of discriminatory enforcement practices have harmed police-community relations and contributed to injury, death, disparities in arrest detention and incarceration rights, and wrongful convictions.
(3) The history and role of the civil and human rights movement and struggles and their impact on law enforcement.
(4) Specific obligations of peace officers in preventing, reporting, and responding to discriminatory or biased practices by fellow peace officers.
(5) Perspectives of diverse, local constituency groups and experts on particular racial, identity, and cultural and police-community relations issues in a local area.
(6) The prohibition against racial or identity profiling in subdivision (f).
(i) Once the initial basic training is completed, each peace officer in California as described in subdivision (a) of Section 13510 who adheres to the standards approved by the commission shall be required to complete a refresher course every five years thereafter, or on a more frequent basis if deemed necessary, in order to keep current with changing racial, identity, and cultural trends.
(j) (1) Beginning July 1, 2016, the Attorney General shall establish the Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board (RIPA) for the purpose of eliminating racial and identity profiling, and improving diversity and racial and identity sensitivity in law enforcement.
(2) RIPA shall include the following members:
(A) The Attorney General, or his or her designee.
(B) The President of the California Public Defenders Association, or his or her designee.
(C) The President of the California Police Chiefs Association, or his or her designee.
(D) The President of the California State Sheriffs’ Association, or his or her designee.
(E) The President of the Peace Officers Research Association of California, or his or her designee.
(F) The Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol, or his or her designee.
(G) A university professor who specializes in policing, and racial and identity equity.
(H) Two representatives of human or civil rights tax-exempt organizations who specialize in civil or human rights.
(I) Two representatives of community organizations who specialize in civil or human rights and criminal justice, and work with victims of racial and identity profiling. At least one representative shall be between 16 and 24 years of age.
(J) Two religious clergy members who specialize in addressing and reducing racial and identity bias toward individuals and groups.
(K) Up to two other members that the Governor may prescribe.
(L) Up to two other members that the President pro Tempore of the Senate may prescribe.
(M) Up to two other members that the Speaker of the Assembly may prescribe.
(3) Each year, on an annual basis, RIPA shall do the following:
(A) Analyze the data reported pursuant to Section 12525.5 of the Government Code and Section 13012 of this code.
(B) Analyze law enforcement training under this section.
(C) Work in partnership with state and local law enforcement agencies to review and analyze racial and identity profiling policies and practices across geographic areas in California.
(D) Conduct, and consult available, evidence-based research on intentional and implicit biases, and law enforcement stop, search, and seizure tactics.
(E) Issue a report that provides RIPA’s analysis under subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, and detailed findings on the past and current status of racial and identity profiling, and makes policy recommendations for eliminating racial and identity profiling. RIPA shall post the report on its Internet Web site. Each report shall include disaggregated statistical data for each reporting law enforcement agency. The report shall include, at minimum, each reporting law enforcement agency’s total results for each data collection criterion under subdivision (b) of Section 12525.5 of the Government Code for each calendar year. The reports shall be retained and made available to the public by posting those reports on the Department of Justice’s OpenJustice Web portal. The first annual report shall be issued no later than January 1, 2018. The reports are public records within the meaning of subdivision (d) of Section 6252 of the Government Code and are open to public inspection pursuant to Sections 6253, 6256, 6257, and 6258 of the Government Code.
(F) Hold at least three public meetings annually to discuss racial and identity profiling, and potential reforms to prevent racial and identity profiling. Each year, one meeting shall be held in northern California, one in central California, and one in southern California. RIPA shall provide the public with notice of at least 60 days before each meeting.
(4) Pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 12525.5 of the Government Code, RIPA shall advise the Attorney General in developing regulations for the collection and reporting of stop data, and ensuring uniform reporting practices across all reporting agencies.
(5) Members of RIPA shall not receive compensation, nor per diem expenses, for their services as members of RIPA.
(6) No action of RIPA shall be valid unless agreed to by a majority of its members.
(7) The initial terms of RIPA members shall be four years.
(8) Each year, RIPA shall elect two of its members as cochairpersons.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 418, Sec. 12. (AB 2524) Effective January 1, 2017.)
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Vdovichenko, Trofim Yakovlevich, 1889-1921
A short biography of Trofim Vdovichenko, gifted guerilla commander and one of the most heroic figures of the Makhnovist movement
Trofim Vdovichenko was born into a family of poor peasants in Novospasovka in the Ukraine. He received a primary education. From 1910 he was a member of the Novospasovka group of anarchist-communists, alongside Viktor Belash ,Vassily Kurilenko, Luca Bondarets, Filipp Goncharenko, Vladimir Protsenko and Fomenko who also all had leading roles in the Makhnovist movement later on. In 1914 he was drafted into the army and fought in the First World War. In 1917 he won the full St George Chevalier medal and became an Ensign. With the revolutionary stirrings, he became chairman of the Regimental Committee. In late 1917 he returned to Novospasovka and rejoined the anarchist group. With the arrival of the German invaders, in May 1918 he organised rebel bands which linked up with the Makhnovists in the autumn. He was delegate to the Makhnovist Congress on 3rd-4th January 1919 and was elected commander of the 1st Rebel Regiment, later converted into the Novospasovsky regiment which at various times numbered between 2 and 6 thousand. During winter and spring 1919 the regiment fought against Denikin. According to Arshinov “he was extremely popular and greatly loved among the peasants of the Sea of Azov region, and among the insurgents ". Belash called him a fanatic for the permanent anarchist revolution.
At the moment of the break with the alliance between the Bolsheviks and the Makhnovists, he remained at the front, holding off the White offensive. In early July 1919 his regiment was included in the Red detachments under the command of Kochergin and then of Fedko. In August 1919 his detachment refused the Bolshevik order to leave the Ukraine, and linked up once again with the Makhnovists. At the All-Army congress of 1st November 1919 he was elected a member of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Makhnovists, and commander of the 2nd Azov Corps. During the battle of the Uman on 27th September the Vdovichenko detachment completely destroyed the 51st Regiment of Lithuanian officers and captured 2 large White Cossack divisions. They then quickly advanced in the rear of Denikin, and in rapid succession captured Aleksandrovsk, Tokmak, and Berdyansk, where they seized a huge quantity of ammunition, Nogai, Novospasovka and Mariupol.
They then launched an offensive on Volnovakha and Taganrog, held by the forces of Denikin. At the end of October 1919 the Whites started an offensive in the direction of Moscow. Vdovichenko’s Makhnovist forces retreated to the right bank of the Dnieper near Nikopol. During this period, under the command of Vdovichenko there were three cavalry brigade and two infantry regiments with 1,000 combatants which rose to 21,00. In November 1919 heavy defensive battles were fought, and in December the Vdovichenko grouping went on the offensive again and took part in the re-capture of Aleksandrovsk on 28th December 1919. In early January 1920 in a Makhnovist controlled district the Red Army launched a provocation by attempting to disarm Makhnovist groups, which started off a general offensive against the movement. Vdovichenko went into hiding near Novospasovka, and had to argue against the pro-Soviet positions of the majority of Novospasovka anarchists- he insisted on the need for immediate organisation of peasant units to defend themselves from the punitive actions of the Soviet authorities. As a result of the Bolshevik repression against the peasants, the Novospasovka anarchist group was forced to return to the side of the Makhnovists on 8th May 1920. In summer-autumn 1920 Vdovichenko wa led a guerrilla movement against the Bolsheviks in the Mariupol and Berdyansk areas. In October 1920, after the conclusion of the last military-political alliance with the Bolsheviks, he went to Gulyai Polye to consult with the Makhnovist command and then went back to Berdyansk/ Mariupol area to organise resistance. He organised the 2nd Azov Corps of the Makhnovists and then linked up with the main Makhnovist body. The Vdovichenko units participated in battles against the Red Army. Vdovichenko and Makhno led the negotiations with Mironov, commander of the 2nd Red Cavalry, whose detachment then came over to the Makhnovists.
At the end of January 1921 Vdovichenko was seriously wounded in a battle with the Reds, and on 17th February he was taken for treatment to Novospasovka, accompanied by a small detachment. In April 1921 he was discovered and arrested by a Bolshevik punitive detachment. “Vdovichenko and his comrade Matrosenko (well known as a peasant poet N.H.), while defending themselves against the enemy and seeing that they were about to be captured, shot themselves. Matrosenko died instantly, but Vdovichenko's bullet was embedded under his skull above the neck. When the Communists found out who he was, they gave him first aid and saved him from death”. (Arshinov) He was put in the Cheka prison at Alexandrovsk. Several times the Makhnovists unsuccessfully tried to free him. “He was tortured atrociously. They tried to make him renounce the Makhnovshchina and sign a paper to that effect. He scornfully repulsed their offers, although he was so weak that he could hardly talk,” (Arshinov) and threatened with death. In May 1921 he was shot by the Cheka, who then falsely claimed that he was among some Makhnovists who had availed themselves of the chance of giving themselves up.
NICK HEATH
Sources: http://www.makhno.ru/
Photo of Vdovichenko: http://www.makhno.ru/
Battlescarred
Sep 2 2009 20:03
Makhnovists
Karetelnik
Oct 19 2018 18:39
On October 18 2018 a plaque in honour of Trofim Vdovichenko was unveiled in his native village of Novospasovka (now known as Osipenko). In accordance with the need of the ruling regime to co-opt likely heroes, the ceremony involved the incongruous participation by soldiers with a nationalist flag, a Ukrainian Orthodox priest, and a government official. Nevertheless this is a worthwhile event because historical research for the plaque was supplied by respected historians of the Makhnovist movement Vladimir Chop and Igor Liman. And it helps to show that Nestor Makhno was not an isolated figure, but part of a movement involving many thousands of people.
He must be rolling in his grave.
Spanish Civil War and Revolution poster gallery, 1936-39
Archive of posters from the Spanish Civil War and Revolution, 1936-39. Includes posters from the CNT, FAI, Mujeres Libres, Friends of Durruti, FIJL, the Iron Column, UHP (Uníos Hermanos...
On capitalism, queerness and living with HIV/Aids - The Expropriationist
Notes from an anarchist communist from Houston, Texas living with HIV and Aids on living with the condition and a radical response to the epidemic.
E18: Anti-Zionism in Israel, part 2
From the bourgeois to the proletarian revolution - Otto Ruhle
The 1934 Toledo Auto Lite strike - Ted Selander
Interview with an Edelweiss Pirate - Walter Mayer
The Hollywood blacklist - Dan Georgakas
Ricky Tomlinson - imprisoned building union organiser
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Live Music Exchange Blog
UK Live Music Census 2017 – update
Posted on January 12, 2017 by Live Music Exchange
As we announced back in November, the Live Music Exchange team are currently working on an exciting new project, the UK Live Music Census, the first exercise of its kind anywhere in the world to attempt to measure live music activity across an entire country.
Yesterday the University of Edinburgh published a press release about the Census and it has been very exciting to see the interest both from the media (BBC Online, BBC Radio Scotland – 2 hours 41 minutes in), Music Week, and CMU to name but a few), and also from live music lovers on social media via Facebook and Twitter. Hundreds of people are signing up to volunteer and be kept up-to-date via a web form on the project’s website.
So why is the UK Live Music Census capturing people’s imaginations in this way?
As the BBC Radio Scotland piece highlights by speaking to live music fans at the University of Glasgow, live music is different to recorded music: live music is special, it is an experience, something people pay for rather than illegally downloading, and something they might remember for the rest of your life. And as Alex Mann from the Musicians’ Union (MU) explains, ‘Live performance is the one aspect of being a musician that you can’t replicate’.
The Census aims to capture qualitative data such as this, but to enrich it with quantitative data as well, something that the smaller end of the music industry spectrum in particular – the open mic gigs, folk sessions, and grassroots music venues – has previously been lacking. As Beverley Whitrick from the Music Venue Trust (MVT) explains in the same piece:-
“Data is really important to us because what we are doing is making a change from the sort of anecdotal evidence that we’ve used in the past and really trying to bolster our conversations with government, local authorities, and also with funding bodies, and with the music industry about the need for support for these venues.”
And, according to UK Music’s Tom Kiehl:-
“It’ll give us a greater understanding about what is going on in the cities and regions which are being covered by the Census, and I think it’ll be really important to have the findings so we can pinpoint areas where we can probably work with individual cities and councils, perhaps to develop music strategies and music city vision statements.”
As well as our partners, the MU, MVT and UK Music, we have also been in consultation with stakeholders like Attitude Is Everything, Julie’s Bicycle, Help Musicians UK, Making Music, PRS for Music and the PRS for Music Foundation and are currently working on the wording of the final surveys, which will open on 9th March.
We want to understand why audience members value live music – why they go, what they spend, and how often they attend. For musicians, we want to know how often they perform, what they earn and what they spend, how far do they travel to perform, and which venues are important to them and why. And for venues and promoters, what do they earn and what they spend, what are the barriers and pathways to success, and how do they perceive the social and cultural value of what they do.
The Census will consist of:-
(1) snapshot censuses on Thursday 9 March 2017 of Birmingham, Brighton, Glasgow, Leeds, Newcastle, Oxford and Southampton;
(2) nationwide online surveys targeted at musicians, venues, promoters, and audiences which will remain open for three months from 9 March to 8 May 2017.
With this data, we hope to be able to understand better why live music continues to be a vital part of people’s lives, and so help to protect it in the future.
To sign up to be kept informed about the Census and to get directly involved, please go to http://uklivemusiccensus.org/
Please note that this is a forum for discussion, dialogue, and debate, and posts and comments on this blog represent only the author, not Live Music Exchange as a whole, or any other hosting or associated institutions.
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This entry was posted in Blog, UK Live Music Census and tagged BBC, Census, MU, Music Venue Trust, Musicians' Union, MVT, survey, UK Live Music Census, UK Music, UKLMC by Live Music Exchange. Bookmark the permalink.
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MEETING GROUND OnLine
THIS BLOGZINE IS DEDICATED TO ORGANIZING: PLEASE DISCUSS! ARGUE! WRITE! meetinggroundonline@verizon.net
Consciousness Raising, History, Housework, Taking Action, Women's Liberation / Feminism
An Invitation to Commemorate the 1968 Miss America Protest
by Carol Hanisch • August 12, 2018 • 0 Comments
50 years ago Women’s Liberation protested the Miss America Pageant and threw “items of female torture” into a Freedom Trash Can
What do YOU want to toss into the 2018 Freedom Trash Can?
On September 7, 1968, more than 100 women descended on Atlantic City in New Jersey to protest the Miss America Pageant, that American ideal of femininity to which women were pressured to admire and aspire. The protest was welcomed by many, called absurd and trivial by others, and was rather shocking to most. In 1968 women just didn’t make noisy public demands about their lot in life.
More importantly the protest announced that a new national movement calling itself “women’s liberation” was afoot in the land with the aim of taking feminism beyond the legalistic into every aspect of women’s lives. In the newly forming consciousness-raising groups, it was becoming clear that nothing would be off limits to women’s scrutiny and demands.
One of the myths that has sprung up around the Protest is that more than 400 women from all over the country were on the picket line. If only! Written reports of the time claimed between 100 and 150 participants, mostly from New York and a few other places with Women’s Liberation groups.
It is important to know the protest originated in a very small, but committed group of probably no more than 25 women where consciousness-raising held sway at weekly meetings. Through consciousness-raising – examining our own lives and speaking from our own experience – we were able to tap into a wide swath of what was oppressing women in our daily lives.
Every woman, even those deemed attractive by societal expectations, are negatively affected by beauty standards. This has been doubly true for Black women who were not considered attractive by mainstream U.S.A. As of 1968, there had never been a Black Miss America contestant. A feeling that one never looks “right” causes women to spend considerable time and money trying to correct their appearance. As Ros Baxandall would sum it up later on the David Susskind Show, “Every day in a woman’s life is walking Miss America Pageant.” Thus armed with common concerns of women, we were able to kick the door open a crack to women’s liberation.
It is also important to know that we were not celebrities, not glamorous, not connected with academia, and not women in power jobs. We were a pretty ordinary bunch except that a number of us had at least some experience in protesting and organizing in the Civil Rights, Free Speech, Labor, and Anti-Vietnam War Movements. The only other thing special about us was that we were committed to understanding, and then telling, the truth about male supremacy as we saw and experienced it – and to agitating for our total liberation.
Considering that we were protesting a national beauty contest, it would be easy to assume that we were only opposing male-defined beauty standards. It was actually broader than that. Among the “items of female torture” (high heels, girdles, hair curlers, bras, pantyhose, etc.) we threw into the Freedom Trash Can, we also tossed mops, floor wax, dishwashing liquid, and Good Housekeeping, and Playboy Magazine. Men sharing the housework and free 24-hour childcare centers were high on our list of demands. Beyond protesting beauty contests, we were consciously out to build a movement to liberate all women, not just “empower” individual women to succeed in a competitive system that pitted people – and women – against each other.
Much of the ground won by women’s liberationists of the ’60s and ’70s has suffered a serious setback. Even the control of women’s appearance, which had weakened for a while under a strong push from the WLM, has reasserted itself and in some ways gotten worse. Where the issue then was whether a woman must shave her legs, now it is whether she must also shave her genital area! The three-inch heels we joyously threw into the Freedom Trash Can have morphed into even higher ones. How this happened is another discussion, but it’s most likely related to the abundance of pornography now available on the internet that has influenced current “fashion” as well as a backlash.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Miss America Protest, we invite you to think about what you would most like to throw into a women’s liberation Freedom Trash Can in 2018.
Email a paragraph or two of your thoughts by September 1 to meetinggroundonline@verizon.net.
Spread the word and encourage other women to do likewise.
We’ll publish them on this site on September 7.
Let’s make an online commemoration that we can all attend–and learn from!
Below are a few links for those wanting to learn more about the 1968 Protest:.
A Redstockings Archives report with photos:
http://redstockings.org/index.php/themissamericaprotest
“Instant Recall” TV show with video clips of the Protest, the Miss America Pageant, and the Miss Black America Pageant:
“A Critique of the Miss America Protest” (1968) by Carol Hanisch:
http://carolhanisch.org/CHwritings/MissACritique.html
An NPR interview with Kathie Sarachild, Alix Shulman and Carol Hanisch (2008):
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94240375
Two articles on this site regarding Miss America and the WLM:
http://meetinggroundonline.org/the-awful-truth-miss-america-is-back-and-womens-liberation-has-gone-missing/
http://meetinggroundonline.org/?s=miss+america+protest
← Women’s Liberation Pioneer Anne Forer Pyne • 1945-2018
Into the 2018 Women’s Liberation Freedom Trash Can →
Words from Action
How Radical Feminism Has Changed! November 25, 2020
“The Whole Feminist Theory Upside Down” November 11, 2020
Theory and Practice Within the WLM in Portugal July 26, 2020
Whatever Happened to Radical Feminism? February 15, 2020
Women’s Unpaid Labor in Political Economy* Revisited October 20, 2019
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Buffalo Sabres 82 45 27 10 100 235 207
Ottawa Senators 82 44 32 6 94 225 238
Boston Bruins 82 39 30 13 91 206 200
Montreal Canadiens 82 39 33 10 88 217 223
Toronto Maple Leafs 82 30 38 14 74 214 214
HAMRLIK
POULIOT
KOSTITSYN
14 Tomas Plekanec 82 25 45 70
11 Scott Gomez 78 12 47 59
13 Mike Cammalleri 65 26 24 50
21 Brian Gionta 61 28 18 46
47 Marc-Andre Bergeron 60 13 21 34
41 Jaroslav Halak 45 26-13-0-5 5 2.40
3/10/2009 MTL 2 vs BUF 1
10/10/2009 MTL 2 vs EDM 3
10/11/2009 CGY 1 vs MTL 0
12/11/2009 MTL 4 vs PHO 2
24/11/2009 CBJ 3 vs MTL 5
17/12/2009 MIN 3 vs MTL 1
19/12/2009 MTL 3 vs NYI 0
7/01/2010 FLA 0 vs MTL 2
9/01/2010 NJ 2 vs MTL 1
14/01/2010 DAL 3 vs MTL 5
20/01/2010 STL 4 vs MTL 3
2/02/2010 VAN 2 vs MTL 3
6/02/2010 PIT 3 vs MTL 5
4/03/2010 MTL 2 vs SJ 3
6/03/2010 MTL 4 vs LA 2
7/03/2010 MTL 4 vs ANA 3
11/03/2010 EDM 4 vs MTL 5
2/04/2010 MTL 1 vs PHI 0
8/04/2010 MTL 2 vs CAR 5
There was no shortage of changes in 2009-10, with everything from the players, the coaching staff, the front office and the ownership undergoing major overhauls over the course of the season as the team prepared to celebrate its 100th birthday.
First off, as the Canadiens went into the offseason that summer, George N. Gillett, the team’s owner since 2001, decided to put the storied franchise up for sale. Just before the puck dropped to open the 2009-10 season, Gillett reached an agreement with a group led by Geoff Molson, sending the team back into the hands of the Molson family once again. On December 1, 2009, just three days before the historic Centennial anniversary of the Canadiens that the deal was finalized and Molson and his group took control of the club.
Winds of change also blew through the team’s front office a few months later. On February 8, 2010, after seven years at the helm, general manager Bob Gainey announced that he would be stepping down from his post. Pierre Gauthier, Gainey’s assistant GM at the time, was named the 16th general manager in franchise history that same day.
As the free agent market opened in July 2009, the team began a phase of rebuilding. The extreme makeover began with a blockbuster trade on June 30, highlighted by Christopher Higgins heading to the New York Rangers in return for All-Star center, Scott Gomez. That move set the stage for stars like Michael Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, Hal Gill and Jaroslav Spacek to sign with the team on Day 1 of free agency. A few days later, Travis Moen and Paul Mara were also under contract. As new players made their way into the Canadiens dressing room, the team parted ways with all of its unrestricted free agents, including captain Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev, Alex Tanguay, Patrice Brisebois, Mathieu Dandenault, Tom Kostopoulos, Robert Lang, Francis Bouillon and Mathieu Schneider.
With new players also came a new coaching staff, as head coach Jacques Martin and Perry Pearn joined existing assistant coach Kirk Muller behind the Habs’ bench. In the opening game of the season in Toronto, defensive pillar and All-Star blue-liner Andrei Markov sliced a tendon in his foot, shelving him for the next four months of the year. Markov wasn’t the only player plagued by injury in 2009-10, with Brian Gionta, Michael Cammalleri, Ryan O’Byrne and Andrei Kostitsyn all missing significant time with injuries that season. With so many key players out of the lineup, call-ups from Hamilton were able to make their Canadiens debuts, including P.K. Subban, Tom Pyatt and Mathieu Darche.
Despite mounting injuries and emergency call-ups from the farm in Hamilton, the Canadiens managed to not only survive but thrive. Thanks in large part to their late-season surge in March which saw the Habs win eight games including six-straight victories, Jacques Martin’s troops qualified for the playoffs. While the Canadiens may have nabbed the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference by only a single point, they were determined to make the most it.
THE PLAYOFFS
No one gave the Habs much of a chance in their opening-round series with the President’s Trophy winning Capitals who finished a full 33 points clear of Montreal in the standings. After seeing the Canadiens steal Game 1 in overtime in Washington only to then stumble and lose the next three consecutive games to fall behind 3-1 in the series, the chips were more stacked than against the Habs than ever. Undaunted, the Canadiens stormed back to force a seventh and deciding game thanks to the heroics of goaltender Jaroslav Halak, who refused to let his team go down without a fight. Dominc Moore potted the eventual game-winner in a 2-1 series-clinching win for the Canadiens that marked only the second time in franchise history that the team had ever come all the way from a 3-1 series deficit.
The road didn’t get any easier for Montreal with Sidney Crosby and the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins awaiting the Habs in the second round. After exchanging victories in the first six games of the series, the teams needed a seventh and final game to decide a winner. With Halak making all the big stops and Michael Cammalleri scoring the series-clincher while tying a club-record with his seventh goal of the series, the Habs punched their ticket to the Conference Finals for the first time since 1993.
Next up for the Habs was a battle with the rugged Philadelphia Flyers. Behind a stingy defense led by goalie Michael Leighton who shutout the Habs three times, the Flyers eliminated the Canadiens in five games, ending Montreal’s magical playoff run. Nonetheless, Cammalleri still went on to lead all playoff scorers with 13 goals, becoming the first Habs player to do so since Jacques Lemaire in 1979.
The playoffs roadmap
Conference quarter-finals - Washington Capitals
Date AWAY HOME
April 15th, 2010 MTL 3 WAS 2
April 19th, 2010 WAS 5 MTL 1
April 21st, 2010 WAS 6 MTL 3
April 23rd, 2010 MTL 2 WAS 1
Canadiens won best-of-seven series 4-3
Conference semi-finals - Pittsburgh Penguins
April 30th, 2010 MTL 3 PIT 6
May 2nd, 2010 MTL 3 PIT 1
May 4th, 2010 PIT 2 MTL 0
May 8th, 2010 MTL 1 PIT 2
May 10th, 2010 PIT 3 MTL 4
May 12th, 2010 MTL 5 PIT 2
Conference finals - Philadelphia Flyers
May 16th, 2010 MTL 0 PHI 6
May 20th, 2010 PHI 1 MTL 5
May 22nd, 2010 PHI 3 MTL 0
Philadelphia won best-of-seven series 4-1
The second coming of the Ottawa Senators made its NHL debut in 1992-93, nearly 60 years after [...]
The Anaheim Ducks – known as the Mighty Ducks until 2006 – were brought into the NHL by [...]
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Cinemosity
Retro Superplex
It Came From The Indies
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Home Blog Shedding Sunlight on Annihilation and the Plight of Science Fiction Cinema
Blog, Sci-Fi
Shedding Sunlight on Annihilation and the Plight of Science Fiction Cinema
By Martin February 6, 2018 February 7, 2018
A recent article from The Atlantic talks about the plight of the upcoming sci-fi film Annihilation. Following Ex-Machina (2015) Alex Garland was riding a wave of success and acclaim when his debut wowed audiences and critics alike. With its talented cast, limited scale, and compelling story it was an indie hit for A24 which was still finding its feet as a producer and distributor of film at the time. Sadly after poor test screenings and behind the scenes turmoil for his his follow-up Annihilation, it is arriving with little fanfare and, outside of North America and China. is going straight to Netflix in most other territories. This is however certainly not a new problem for “high concept science fiction” nor even for Alex Garland himself.
Alex Garlands’s breakout novel The Beach was made into a feature film by Danny Boyle. They would then go on to collaborate on 28 Days Later, an incredibly important film in the resurrection of the zombie genre. Five years later their next collaboration leant even further into genre film with the sci-fi epic Sunshine. The pedigree for this film both in behind and in front of the camera was utterly compelling for a science fiction fan like myself. Having loved and been utterly terrified by 28 Days Later I was totally on board for another Garland/Boyle collaboration. Even better was the cast which starred Cillian Murphy (also the lead in 28 Days Later), an up and coming Chris Evans ( Commander USA Guy!) and international heavy hitters like Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and gazillion other movies) and the amazing Hiroyuki Sanada (Ringu, Twilight Samurai) along with a bevy of other excellent character actors. The cast was diverse and interesting and the visuals looked incredible, evoking the sci-fi of the 60’s and 70’s far more than post-Star Wars fantasy and dogfights in space.
The plot was fairly straight forward, in 2057 our Sun is running out of gas and Earth is plunged into a new Ice Age. Genius scientist Robert Capa (Murphy) has formulated a plan that amounts to taking an enormous bomb to the Sun that would kickstart the core of the star and save the planet Earth from freezing solid. One mission had already travelled seven years earlier only to completely lose contact and fail so a second crew, including Capa himself, attempts a last-chance second attempt to save the planet Earth. The toils of space travel, the impossibility and enormity of their mission, character drama, Sunshine has hard sci-fi creds all over the place.
It is certainly not a perfect film by any means, many were turned off by the third act, but for me it was a high concept sci-fi revelation. Why? Because we just don’t get many of these. After the Wachowskis went hard on the sci-fi in their sequels to The Matrix and disappointed a whole load of people, on top of the discouragement of the ridiculously awful Star Wars prequels, science fiction was hardly top of many movie executive’s lists of genres to mine for money. It’s something of a surprise Sunshine was made at all but considering deeply frustrating treatment of the movie’s release it showed series buyer’s remorse from Fox. First slated to be debut in late 2006 it was then shunted back to April of 2007. It was then moved again to September 2007 before being brought forward to July. Getting a decent run in UK cinemas (the film was a UK/US co-production) Fox Searchlight left Sunshine to die on the vine with a pathetic 10 screen release on July 20th, 2007 where it was utterly eclipsed by the remake of Hairspray and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (UGH!) which both saw 3000+ screen debuts. Thankfully one of those screens was in Philadelphia and I got to see the film on one of the the Ritz East’s largest screens with a healthy-sized audience. This film was knocked around by it’s distributor like it was a bad Amityville sequel when it was in fact a great genre character piece that had an appealing cast that should have had a shot at a real release. The film that cost approximately $30-35 million to produce barely made its budget back, if that. Sunshine, like most of its ilk, has gone onto find minor cult status and many fans discuss its strengths and weakness to this day. But that’s it.
Alex Garland is not a stranger to projects he’s had a hand in not bringing in the cash. Never Let Me Go and Dredd both suffered at the box office despite the marquee stars of the former and the cult favorite comic hero of the latter and he wrote the screenplays for both. Dredd suffered from almost non-existent marketing and from the dogged insistence by Lionsgate to largely only give out 3D versions to cinemas meaning the cost of seeing the film went up thanks to a visual gimmick that was not even remotely necessary for the enjoyment of the film. Another mistake made at the corporate level that hamstrung a really fantastic, violent and colorful sci-fi action film. Indeed Ex-Machina, Garland’s first time directing as well as writing, was an indie hit and a critical darling but not a crossover commercial success on the level of something like what Get Out achieved in 2017. Alex Garland has not yet proven himself as a guy who could take a more expensive sci-fi movie with name actors (even then it’s budget is a modest $75, half of Blade Runner 2049). Honestly, most of everything he has made has been based on a book or is so chock full of other movies’ and stories’ ideas they verge on being unofficial tributes. The fact that he writes genre pieces certainly is part of his lack of mainstream appeal but those worrying that a weak performance for Annihilation will somehow stifle his career should probably take a look at the history of white men in, well, every field everywhere in the world, ever.
Where the disappointment comes for us sci-fi nerds is having so little to look forward to that isn’t a movie with sci-fi elements such as most of the Marvel movies for instance. Then when a high-concept sci-fi movie does manage to slip past the risk-averse decision making of Hollywood suits and makes serious bank those films aren’t seen as anything more than a quaint anomaly. Christopher Nolan’s Inception made over eight hundred million dollars worldwide but was considered a fluke. Avatar made over two billion worldwide but will likely be remembered more for legitimizing 3D as a format than it will be for being a successful science fiction film. Arrival was a wonderful sci-fi film that doubled its budget but the genre in which it exists is very much secondary to the actors, the directing and the writing. The Martian? It was Ridley Scott and Matt Damon what made that one successful! None of these films, and not even the new Star Wars series, could be argued to have kick started any sort of renaissance in hard sci-fi on any scale. Blade Runner 2049 didn’t make its budget back last year despite being a sequel to a beloved classic and being really, really bloody good. Alien Covenant underperformed also but that was shite.
I have not yet seen Annihilation but plan to opening weekend. Unfortunately right now all we know about it are the negatives. That test audiences were cold, that there was an out and out showdown between producers over Alex Garland’s creative vision. There’s also the sad state of affairs that, again, a book has a major character who is a woman of color who has been cast as a woman because they needed a “star” despite the fact we know big stars don’t sell movies by themselves anymore. But more than anything seeing another piece of high concept sci-fi get cut off at the knees before it has even been released is nothing new to us nerds. Hell, I was all ready to pay at a theater to see that new Cloverfield movie when it was called God Particle.
There’s a reason why we still talk about classics of decades past like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Solaris (the Russian one), Dark Star, Rollerball, Silent Running and Blade Runner. We just don’t get that much to celebrate. Science fiction is expensive, expectations are high and studio patience is short. We’ll take what we can because for the foreseeable future hard science fiction will not be a legitimate genre in big budget cinema and that is a damn shame.
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A Binomial Nomenclature for Common Names of Exoplanets
posted Sep 27, 2013, 12:09 AM by Abel Mendez [ updated Sep 27, 2013, 12:20 AM ]
When naming exoplanets create common names for both the stellar system and the exoplanets
There are nearly one thousand exoplanets already confirmed and many more waiting for confirmation. The general astronomy community is interested on naming exoplanets with the help of the general public (1). Individual naming of such discoveries is a time consuming labor but both usable by the scientific community and general public.
Simple procedures for the individual naming of thousands or even millions of objects are nothing new to science. For example the binomial nomenclature by genera and species in Biology has been used to name over 1.2 million species and has the potential to name more than the estimated 8.7 million species on Earth (2). These are used as scientific names, equivalent to the catalog names in astronomy, but in many cases are easier to remember and even used as common names (i.e. E. coli).
We propose a similar binomial nomenclature for exoplanets to create simple hierarchical common names. The first part of the name is the stellar system and the second part is the individual planet name. If the stars have already a common name then it is used as the stellar system names (i.e. Fomalhaut). The planets or other stars of the system are named with the usual alphabetical letters until a proper name is given.
This procedure reduces the complexity of the catalog star names until the planets are individually named. As an hypothetical example, the planet Alpha Centauri B b, could become Alcen-B Rakhat, where Alcen is the name of the stellar system, B denotes the second star of the system, and Rakhat the name of the planet. The actual selection process of the individual names for the system and planets are out of the scope of this proposal.
Therefore, any exoplanet naming campaign should concentrate first efforts on naming the stellar systems of interest and then any individual planets, avoiding naming exoplanets before the stellar systems. The stellar names could also be used to guide the naming of its planets. Our suggestion describes a minimum effort plan for naming exoplanets and provides a logical and hierarchical system not much different from the current catalog names, but for common names too.
In the end, it is expected that some exoplanets will be better known by their full name (using both system and planet names) and others just by their individual name. A new definition of planets that includes both solar and extrasolar planets would also be appropriate before any naming campaign (3).
Public Naming of Planets and Planetary Satellites
Number of species on Earth tagged at 8.7 million
Definition of a Planet in the Solar System
A similar version of this letter was submitted to the IAU request for exoplanets names on September 15, 2013.
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Tag Archives: FSB
The Denise Simon Experience – 01/12/17
The Denise Simon Experience
Hosted by DENISE SIMON, the Senior Research / Intelligence Analyst for Foreign and Domestic Policy for numerous flag officers and intelligence organizations.
SEGMENT 1: Eric Tallant, presently assigned to Kabul, Afghanistan explains in more detail Soviet Union ‘Active Measures’ a formal operation of disinformation and propaganda created by the KGB that continues to be applied today.
SEGMENT 2: Patrick Dunlevy, author or The Fertile Soil of Jihad, a contributor to the Investigative Project and former Deputy Inspector General for the New York prison system explained domestic financing of terrorists in the United States and the classifications of Jihadis being either enemy combatants or just law enforcement cases.
SEGMENTS 3 & 4: Tom Del Baccaro, former GOP chief for California, contributor to Forbes, lawyer and author of The Divided Era, explained in comprehensive detail what the progressives, Democrats and the Left have planned to cause chaos and destruction in the incoming Trump administration as well as the Republican controlled Congress.
BROADCAST WORLDWIDE:
THURSDAYS: 9:00 PM (eastern) on:
WJHC – Talk 107.5 FM
WDDQ – Talk 92.1 FM
WLBB – News Talk 1330 AM
And on her Digital Flagship Station: RED NATION RISING RADIO – The NEW Dominant Force in Conservative Talk Radio
#RedNationRising #Radio
Posted in Politics | Tagged Afghanistan, Denise Simon, Donald Trump, Eric Tallant, FSB, GOP, Islam, Jihad, KGB, Patrick Dunlevy, Politics, Propaganda, Russia, Soviet Union, Terrorism, Tom Del Baccaro |
Will the KGB Kill Edward Snowden?
By: Cliff Kincaid | Accuracy in Media
In a story headlined, “The New Snowden Movie is the Best PR He’ll Ever Get,” a young writer with no knowledge of Russian espionage operations quotes an ACLU lawyer as saying that the upcoming movie “Snowden” will paint the former NSA analyst living in Russia as “a hero who exposed the great injustices and overreach of the global surveillance state.” The film will therefore “have a huge effect on how the public sees Snowden,” he says.
But the film, scheduled for release on September 16, may be an attempt to salvage the reputations of both Edward Snowden and the filmmaker, Oliver Stone.
Edward Snowden is charged with espionage, and has been described by presidential candidate Donald J. Trump as a traitor who should be executed.
His disclosures of NSA surveillance techniques have assisted America’s enemies and adversaries, including the Islamic State and Vladimir Putin’s Russia. I wrote a book about the case, Blood on His Hands: The True Story of Edward Snowden, examining the setbacks for American foreign policy in the wake of Snowden’s theft of classified documents, and the U.S. being caught blind regarding Russian aggression and Islamic State expansion into Europe and America.
Two days before the film’s release, some theaters will feature a live question-and-answer period between Snowden and Stone following a special screening, with Snowden appearing live from Moscow.
Stone is apparently hoping the film will restore his reputation as an avant-garde filmmaker whose previous release, “South of the Border,” was an embarrassing apology for a series of Latin American communists. It depicted Venezuela as heaven on earth and featured interviews with such despots as Hugo Chavez, Lula da Silva of Brazil and Raul Castro.
Chavez has since expired and met his maker, while Venezuela is a hell-hole example of how socialism works in practice, with shortages, massive inflation and violations of human rights on a constant basis. Lula da Silva’s successor, Dilma Rousseff, has just been impeached in Brazil. Castro is still in power because Barack Obama and Pope Francis engineered U.S. recognition of the Communist regime in Cuba, and thereby a lifeline of new money.
Trying to make himself newsworthy again, Stone has made the movie, “Snowden,” after a trip to Russia where he met with former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev. Upon his return, he delivered the commencement speech at the University of Connecticut, where he described Edward Snowden as “an avatar” for the next generation.
Previous avatars have included Aldrich Ames, the CIA traitor, and Robert Hanssen, the FBI traitor. Both were spies for the Soviets and are serving life sentences in prison.
“I think Snowden is a terrible threat, I think he’s a terrible traitor, and you know what we used to do in the good old days when we were a strong country—you know what we used to do to traitors, right?” Trump said to host Eric Bolling on Fox News. “Well, you killed them, Donald,” Bolling replied.
He was apparently referring to Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were American citizens executed for espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union back in 1953.
Yet, President Obama’s then-Attorney General Eric Holder actually wrote to the Russians, promising them that Snowden would be spared the death penalty if he returned to the United States.
In a story about how Snowden is pulling in tens of thousands of capitalist dollars for digital speaking appearances from Russia at American colleges and other events like concerts and Comic-Con, Michael Isikoff and Michael B. Kelley of Yahoo! News reported that advance work in the media for the new Snowden movie is being handled by “veteran liberal public relations executive David Fenton.”
That seems appropriate. In the past, Fenton has represented George Soros, the communist Sandinistas in Nicaragua, the Salvadoran communist guerrillas and CIA defector Philip Agee.
Snowden seems to be the NSA equivalent of Agee, who defected from the CIA and became a Cuban and Soviet agent. Benjamin S. Civiletti, attorney general in the Carter administration, provided Agee with immunity from prosecution. At the time, the FBI wasarguing for prosecution of Agee on the grounds that he was engaging in espionage activity against the U.S.
Snowden may be seeking to return to the U.S. because of what happened to another defector from the NSA to Russia. Victor Norris Hamilton, a former code analyst with the NSA who defected to Russia, was discovered in the 1990s at a Moscow psychiatric prison hospital. After the Soviets milked him, they put him in a rubber room.
Former Reagan National Security Council staffer Oliver North says that Snowden will be killed by the Russians when they have finished using him for propaganda purposes. Then, he suggests, the Russians will blame his death on the CIA.
Cliff Kincaid
Cliff Kincaid is the Director of the AIM Center for Investigative Journalism and can be contacted at [email protected]View the complete archives from Cliff Kincaid.
Posted in Politics | Tagged AIM, CIA, Cliff Kincaid, Edward Snowden, Europe, FBI, FSB, ISIS, KGB, Military, Movie, National Security, Oliver North, Oliver Stone, Politics, Russia, Venezuela |
Muslim Nanny From Hell Parades Through the Streets of Moscow With Child’s Severed Head
By: Terresa Monroe-Hamilton
In Russia, a Muslim nanny garbed in a black hijab and matching clothing, snapped. She was babysitting a four year-old disabled little girl. The child had been put down to sleep. She had worked for the family for almost three years and they trusted her implicitly. She waited for the mother and brother, who is 15, to leave before she put her horrific plan into action.
She took a knife and went into the child’s room. While she lay quietly in her bed, this monster beheaded her. She then proceeded to set fire to the flat before she took the child’s head in a bag and left to roam the streets of Moscow. Some say she walked for an hour with the head of the child held by the hair, periodically holding it at her side or holding it up. She shouted Allahu Akbar and claimed to be a terrorist. Yet, no one took her down during that time. Finally, the police tackled the woman outside a subway station and others rushed to restrain her.
They claim this is not terror related. That the woman was mentally unstable and had schizophrenia. She was kicked out onto the streets after a divorce sources claim. Gyulchekhra Bobokulova was registered at a psychiatric clinic in Uzbekistan and was on light meds. Doctors now claim she has been deteriorating over the last few months.
I find all of this very convenient. Anything and everything to deny terrorism. By definition, a Muslim terrorist is mentally unbalanced. She fits the bill many times over. She screamed that she hated democracy and ranted about the end of the world. Sounds like Islamic doctrine if you ask me.
Posted in Authors, Politics, Religion, Survival, Terresa Monroe-Hamilton, Terrorism | Tagged Children, FSB, ISIS, Islam, Jihad, Military, Muslims, Nanny, Police, Russia, Terrorism, Terrorists, Vladimir Putin | 10 Comments
Is Trump a Sleeper Agent for Moscow?
The media are having a field day over the fact that former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke supports Donald Trump for president. Trump has disavowed him. But why does Duke support Trump in the first place? It really has nothing to do with appeals to white voters. The significance of Duke’s support for Trump consists of their similar views on Russia.
Trump has spoken highly of Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing him as a strong leader who defends Russian interests and who could be an ally of the United States, especially in the Middle East. Duke believes much the same thing, and has a personal relationship with a long-time adviser to Putin who has devised an anti-American “Eurasian” alliance that includes Iran in the Middle East.
Those like Republican Senator Jeff Sessions (AL) who endorse Trump because he sounds tough on immigration have an obligation to understand how Trump’s deference to Russian aggression in the Middle East will only increase the flow of immigrants into Europe and the United States.
Posted in Military, Politics | Tagged 2016 Election, AIM, Alexander Dugin, Assad, Breedlove, Cliff Kincaid, Communism, David Duke, Donald Trump, FSB, Iran, Jeff Sessions, KGB, KKK, Media, National Security, Philip M. Breedlove, Politics, Propaganda, Republicans, Roger Stone, Russia, Vladimir Putin |
Inside the Russian Propaganda Machine
By: Cliff Kincaid
America’s Survival
Guy Taylor, who covers intelligence matters for the Washington Times, discusses how foreign propaganda channels are making mincemeat of the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe. One of them, Russia Today (RT), featured former DIA chief Michael T. Flynn at its 10th anniversary conference, seated next to Vladimir Putin. Russian propaganda is sometimes picked up by the Drudge Report. Will Congress fix the broken U.S. Government broadcasting system?
Posted in Military, Politics | Tagged America's Survival, Cliff Kincaid, Congress, DIA, Drudge Report, FSB, Guy Taylor, Intelligence, KGB, Media, Michael T. Flynn, Propaganda, Radio Free Europe, Russia, Russia Today, Vladimir Putin, Voice of America, Washington Times |
Moscow’s Five-Star Treatment of a Three-Star Army General
This is a special report from the AIM Center for Investigative Journalism
Before he left for Moscow to speak at a Russia Today (RT) conference, the former chief of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) inked a deal to write a book about how to defeat America’s enemies in the Middle East. The title of the forthcoming book by Lt. General Michael T. Flynn (Ret.) is, The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies.
But Flynn’s attendance at the RT “gala celebration,” including a special seat at the head table at the anniversary dinner, suggests that this retired officer, who attained a three-star rank during a 33-year Army career, views Russia as a potential U.S. ally in the war on terror.
In announcing his new book, Flynn said, “I am writing this book for two reasons: first, to show that the war is being waged against us by enemies this administration has forbidden us to describe: radical Islamists. Second, to lay out a winning strategy that is not passively relying on technology and drone attacks to do the job. We could lose this war; in fact, right now we are losing. The Field of Fight will give my view on how to win.”
We need military officials willing to fight and win. But Flynn’s participation in the RT anniversary celebration raises questions about what the DIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies know, or think they know, about the Russian role in global conflict and RT’s role in propaganda and disinformation.
What we can say for sure at this point is that it was not an accident that the former head of the DIA showed up in Moscow to celebrate the 10th anniversary of a TV channel that serves the interests of Moscow’s intelligence establishment. Flynn was right in the middle of the “Field of Fight,” and he must surely have known what he was getting into. It’s not called KGB-TV for nothing.
RT’s Disinformation Themes
In trying to attract and confuse an American audience, RT regularly features Marxist and radical commentators in the U.S. such as Noam Chomsky, Gloria La Riva of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Carl Dix of the Revolutionary Communist Party, and 9/11 “inside job” advocate and radio host Alex Jones. It is preferable for the Russians to use foreigners, especially Americans, to make their propaganda points. Flynn is probably the most important American ever snared in RT’s web. He has added propaganda value because of his impressive background and years of service in the U.S. Army.
The RT conference was held at a time when the Russian regime was determined to divert global attention away from its military intervention on behalf of its long-time client state of Syria. Research analyst Hugo Spaulding of the Institute for the Study of War notes that Russia’s current air campaign in Syria “is focused on targeting Syrian armed opposition groups fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad rather than ISIS.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights reportsthat Russian military strikes in Syria have killed hundreds of civilians during the course of bombing hospitals, bakeries, and markets. The result has been increasing refugee flows into Turkey and Europe.
RT, however, promotes a different version of reality, a “false narrative,” as Spaulding calls it. Indeed, that is the purpose of RT—to whitewash military aggression by the Russian state and focus attention on what the United States and its allies are supposedly doing in the world.
“Russian Air Force destroys 29 ISIS camps in Syria in 24 hours,” was the headline over a typical RT story about Syria. The channel portrays Russian President Vladimir Putin, who spoke to the RT 10th anniversary dinner, as a devout Christian fighting radical Islam.
However, Russia’s open war on the ethnic Turkmen fighting the Assad regime in Syria was something that NATO member Turkey could not ignore. The Turkish shoot-down of a Russian war plane flying through Turkey’s airspace became major news and the first incident in a developing confrontation that shows no sign of ending. RT immediately went to work claiming that Turkey was benefiting from ISIS oil. The U.S. Treasury Department countered with evidence showing that Syria’s Assad is buying ISIS oil through a Russian agent.
The Honey Trap
In addition to using Americans as props and pawns, RT relies heavily on glitzy graphics and beautiful women as anchors and correspondents to promote its propaganda. RT knows what it’s doing, having run a story titled, “From Russia with lust: Femme fatal Anna Chapman, to Russian mail-order brides, to our very own RT correspondents. Americans are infatuated with Russian women!”
It is noteworthy that RT openly cited Chapman, a sexy Russian spy who was seducing an unnamed cabinet official in the Obama administration in an effort to obtain classified information. She was caught, pleaded guilty, and was expelled from the U.S. in 2010. However, she returned to Russia and was honored with an award by none other than Vladimir Putin himself. Chapman had reportedly tried to seduce NSA defector Edward Snowden.
One of RT’s attractive female anchors, Sophie Shevardnadze, the granddaughter of former Soviet bureaucrat Eduard Shevardnadze, was tasked with interviewing Flynn during the conference, which was held at Moscow’s historic five-star luxuryMetropol Hotel. Flynn appeared on a special edition of her RT show, Sophie & Co, where he appeared grateful for the opportunity, saying, “…thank you so much for inviting me and having me here.”
In her interview with Flynn, Shevardnadze did not disappoint, echoing the Russian line on the Middle East by blaming the U.S. and its allies for conflict and violence. Rather than attack Putin’s military interventions in Ukraine and Syria, Flynn responded by saying that the U.S. and Russia have “to move forward” together. Flynn, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency from July 2012 to April 2014, said on RT that “…in order for us to not move to a greater level of conflict between the great nations of the world, we have to come to grips of how do we work together, how do we take interests, interests that are converging. So we have a whole set of converging interests that we are seeing right now, and unless we understand it, we’re going to make mistakes, we’re going to make tactical mistakes that are going to lead to strategic consequences.”
He claimed that Russia has faced terrorism from Muslims within, as if Russia, like the U.S., is a victim of radical Islam. He said, “…there are some in this country that know this enemy from having dealt with it in Chechnya and Dagestan and other places. This is a very, very deadly enemy that we’re facing, and it’s not just hundreds or thousands, these numbers are much greater.”
In fact, as veteran Moscow correspondent David Satter and others have documented, what sometimes appears to be Islamic terrorism in Russia can be carried out with the approval—or even at the direction of—the Kremlin, in order to justify greater repression by the Putin regime. For example, the 1999 Moscow apartment bombings that served to solidify Vladimir Putin’s control of the country, and justify the war against the former Soviet republic of Chechnya, wereproven to be the work of agents of the Federal Security Service, or FSB, a successor to the old KGB.
Moscow’s Role in Terrorism
Could Moscow in fact be behind much of the conflict in the Middle East, including the rise of ISIS? If Flynn has rejected this theory out of hand, it wouldn’t be the first time in history that the U.S. intelligence community failed to understand and appreciate Moscow’s role in international terrorism.
Flynn’s announced co-author, or collaborator, on his new book, Michael Ledeen, has a deep understanding of the Middle East, knowledge of how the old Soviet Union operated, and how remnants of that regime guide Russian foreign policy today. Ledeen worked as a consultant to the National Security Council, Department of State, and Department of Defense during the Reagan administration, when Soviet involvement in global terrorism was highlighted and exposed.
Ledeen’s 2003 book, The War Against the Terror Masters, describes the impact of communist disinformation and deception in the conduct of foreign policy.
Ledeen wrote about the discovery of Soviet moles in the CIA, such as Aldrich Ames and Harold Nicholson, and the discovery of one such mole in the FBI, Robert Hanssen. Ledeen writes, “The discovery that Soviet moles had been at work at the highest levels of the American intelligence community had particular importance in our efforts to combat the terror masters. Agency [CIA] analysts had long insisted that there was no conclusive evidence of Soviet involvement in international terrorism. One now had to wonder if that conclusion had been fed to us through the KGB moles in our midst.” Ledeen writes about how the intelligence community ignored inside information provided by Soviet defectors, such as theMitrokhin documents, which exposed the nature of Soviet-backed international terrorism, as well as the identities of “thousands of foreign agents—Western politicians, journalists, movie makers, military officers, and diplomats.”
Soviet KGB operations continued after the “collapse” of the Soviet Union in the hands of its successor agencies, the FSB and SVR. The book Comrade J examines the activities of Russian master spy, Sergei Tretyakov, who handled all Russian intelligence operations against the U.S. while serving under cover from 1995 to 2000 at Russia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
Since intelligence operations continued as if nothing had happened, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, why isn’t it reasonable to assume that the Russians maintained contacts with international terrorist groups?
To his credit, Flynn has been very critical of the role of Russia’s close ally in the Middle East—Iran. In June 2015 testimony, after his retirement, he cited Iranian cooperation with North Korea, China and Russia, and pointed with alarm to the “resurgence of Russian and Chinese influence” in the Middle East. He said Russian assistance to Iran was a part of the problem, noting that “After all, the Iranian nuclear reactor at Bushehr is Russian-built, the two countries work very closely together in Syria, and Russia is providing Iran with an effective antiaircraft system that could be deployed against any aircraft seeking to destroy the nuclear program.”
However, in the RT interview with Sophie Shevardnadze, Flynn’s criticism of Iran was couched in terms of getting all of the Arab and Muslim countries in the region to behave. He merely said “…Iran cannot continue to go the way it’s going” because it was contributing to the conflict.
The Birth of RT
The Russians have gotten far more sophisticated, especially in the field of global propaganda and information. But the reality of what is happening behind the scenes came to public attention when two RT employees, Elizabeth Wahl and Sara Firth, resigned in disgust at the propaganda that they were ordered to spew on the air. For example, the Russian managers ordered “news” that was designed todepict the Ukrainian government in a bad light and mask Russian military interference in that country, including the shoot-down and destruction of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was carrying almost 300 people.
At the RT anniversary dinner on Thursday night, Putin made no mention of those embarrassing resignations. Instead he presented the channel as a free and independent news entity featuring “creative” people who are serving the global public interest. He said to his audience (including Lt. Gen. Flynn), “You compete on the same playing field as international news giants, and are already beating them according to many parameters. In some regions of the world, you have higher ratings than traditional news organizations that have long been operating in the international information market.”
The speech was laughable, considering the Kremlin funding and control of the channel. Yet, it was posted on the president of Russia’s website, along with photographs of the affair. Moscow is obviously proud of what it has accomplished, with the cooperation of foreigners who appear on the channel and give it credibility.
The participation of a former chief of the Defense Intelligence Agency at the event was a major coup for RT. Film and photos of his participation will help the Russians in their ongoing propaganda campaign to depict the state-funded entity as simply a respectable source of alternative news and opinion that offers different views.
Showing the continuity between the old Soviet Union and Russia, former Soviet President Gorbachev was in attendance at the Thursday night dinner. He “congratulated RT and expressed his admiration for the network,” the channel reported. Outside the event, Gorbachev called the channel a “big success.”
The Case of Edward Snowden
Flynn’s attendance at the RT conference was shocking not only because Putin is an evil ruler whose regime murders opposition figures and truly independent journalists, but because Flynn was critical in the past about the damage done by NSA defector Edward Snowden, who escaped to Russia and now lives under Putin’s protection.
Flynn said in January 2014 that Snowden’s disclosures have caused “grave damage to our national security.” He added that “the greatest cost” of his disclosures will be “the cost in human lives on tomorrow’s battlefield or in someplace where we will put our military forces…when we ask them to go into harm’s way.”
It appears that the information stolen by Snowden has contributed significantly to the advances of the enemies and adversaries of the United States. Since his defection, Russia conducted a surprise invasion of Ukraine; Communist China mounted a series of cyber warfare attacks; and ISIS has gained ground in the Middle East and around the world. The bloody terrorist assaults in Paris and San Bernardino were carried out by plotters who clearly benefitted from Snowden’s revelations and were careful to plan their attacks using encrypted communications apps, such as Telegram, which was developed by a Russian, Pavel Durov.
RT has consistently portrayed Snowden as a whistleblower, and ran what was apparently intended as a humorous promotional ad in connection with the 10th anniversary celebration. It imagined that the NSA defector would return to the U.S. and be elected U.S. president. The ad shows an elderly Barack Obama in the year 2035 complaining about RT’s “propaganda.”
Snowden apparently wasn’t at the RT celebration, but former Russia Today TV star, Julian Assange, appeared via videotape from the Ecuadorian embassy in London. He was interviewed by the well-known American “progressive” commentator, Thom Hartmann, who is paid by Moscow to host an RT show that appeals to liberals and left-wingers. Incredibly, the issue being discussed was the “right to privacy”—a right that doesn’t exist in Russia itself. Assange was the recipient of massive leaks from former U.S. Army analyst Bradley Manning, who is becoming a woman named Chelsea while serving a prison term for espionage.
Obama’s Support for Terrorism
One issue raised in RT’s interview of Flynn was a heavily-censored 2012 DIA memo that has been interpreted by many as confirmation that the U.S. and some of its allies had armed the terrorist groups in the Middle East that eventually became ISIS. According to the memo, these groups were seen as effective in countering the Russia/Iran/Syria axis in the area. The memo also described China as backing the Syrian regime.
Flynn’s criticism of this policy since he left the DIA has been made in different venues, including in interviews with Al Jazeera and Der Spiegel. As Flynn has correctly indicated, it is apparent that Obama’s policy in the Middle East has been a disaster. The Benghazi terrorist attacks in Libya, which cost the lives of four Americans, came to pass after the U.S. “switched sides in the war on terror,” as areport from the Citizens’ Commission on Benghazi has demonstrated. But just as the Obama administration must be held accountable for arming terrorists, so too must the role of the Putin regime in fostering terrorism be exposed.
In addition to the evidence of an FSB role in domestic terrorism, a defector from the Russian intelligence agency has just confirmed Russia’s role in creating ISIS by recruiting former members of Saddam Hussein’s security services. The former FSB officer told Ukrainian journalist Andriy Tsaplienko that “the Russian special services believed that if a terrorist organization was set up as an alternative to Al-Qaeda and it created problems for the United States as Donbas does for Ukraine now, it would be quite good.” Donbas is the name for the region of Ukraine that has been the staging area for terrorists from Russia, organized by the FSB, to seize territory and undermine Ukraine’s central government. Once again, Russia has demonstrated its commitment to global conflict rather than peace and reconciliation.
The FSB defector said that in order to create ISIS, the Russians selected former officers of the Iraqi army and members of the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party. All of them had graduated from Moscow-based “educational institutions,” he said, referring to the time when the Saddam Hussein regime was in a close alliance with the Soviet Union. The overthrow of the Saddam regime was a huge blow to Russian influence in the Middle East. Iran and the Assad regime are the only firm Russian allies left in the region.
Russians Fighting for Terrorist Groups
The Daily Beast ran an article, “Russians Are Joining ISIS in Droves.” But the idea advanced by The Daily Beast that these terrorists are a threat to Russia is not borne out by the evidence. It seems like they are more of a threat to the rest of the world, especially the United States. In what could be seen as an observation or a threat, Putin himself publicly acknowledged that there are an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 Russians fighting for ISIS. By contrast, FBI Director James Comey has estimated that approximately 250 Americans have traveled or attempted to travel to Syria to join ISIS. These potential terrorists are believed to be threats to America.
On December 3rd, the U.S. Justice Department announced that Irek Ilgiz Hamidullin, a Russian national and former Russian army tank commander, had been sentenced to life plus 30 years in prison for conspiring to kill U.S. soldiers and bring down an American helicopter, as well as for “conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction and several other charges relating to an attack that he led against U.S. and Afghan forces in Afghanistan in November 2009.”
It is telling that the U.S., not the Russian authorities, prosecuted him. Perhaps the U.S. was reluctant to turn him over to Moscow. This is reminiscent of the case of the Russian arms dealer and former Soviet military officer Viktor Bout, the legendary “Merchant of Death” who is serving a 25-year sentence in U.S. federal prison. Bout was lured out of Russia, where he was living openly, and arrested in a sting operation in Thailand by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Some of the weapons Bout was selling were for communist Colombian terrorists to use against Americans.
RT has covered the Bout case relentlessly, always in a manner critical of the United States for apprehending and prosecuting him. RT has even highlighted how Bout’s wife has set up The Road Home Foundation to facilitate the return to Russia of Bout and other Russians convicted of crimes abroad.
In another sensational case, the Boston Marathon bombing was carried out by two brothers from Russia, but the Russian connection was immediately discounted on the ground that the Russians had reportedly warned U.S. authorities about the bombers’ travels back and forth to the old Soviet Union. Curiously, RT ran claims by their mother back in Russia that the terrorists were “set up” by the FBI.
It is indeed strange how a Russian connection seems to surface in some of these most sensational terrorism cases.
In the more recent San Bernardino attack, we have a case of two Russian beautiesmarried to Muslim men. A Russian blonde beauty had married into the terrorist’s family, and another Russian woman had married Enrique Marquez, a convert to Islam who bought the weapons used in the massacre.
Nuclear Jihad?
In his June 2015 testimony, Flynn acknowledged that the U.S. intelligence community has had a “mixed” record in one important area—“tracking clandestine nuclear weapons programs.” In this context, it is significant that in his December 9 testimony to Congress, FBI director James Comey made a passing reference to how the bureau had disrupted “a nuclear threat in Moldova,” an Eastern European country and former Soviet republic. There is much more to the story and it directly involves the criminal regime in Moscow.
The story came to light in October, when the Associated Press disclosed that “gangs with suspected Russian connections” had tried on several occasions to “sell radioactive material to Middle Eastern extremists.” AP said the latest known case came in February this year, “when a smuggler offered a huge cache of deadly cesium—enough to contaminate several city blocks—and specifically sought a buyer from the Islamic State group.”
In a follow-up report, the Center for Public Integrity said the nuclear material in the various cases “appeared to have the same origin—a restricted military installation in Russia.” It added that “no one in the West knows exactly who has this nuclear explosive material, and where they may be.”
The group concluded, “It’s a mystery that so far has stumped America’s best spying efforts, in no small measure because the government of Russian president Vladimir Putin has refused to provide needed information on the case—or even to acknowledge that some of the country’s nuclear explosive materials are missing.”
Don’t look for RT to get to the bottom of this.
Posted in Military, Politics, Survival, Terrorism | Tagged AIM, Aldrich Ames, Alex Jones, Anna Chapman, AP, Barack Obama, Bashar al-Assad, Carl Dix, China, Christians, CIA, Cliff Kincaid, Communists, David Satter, Department of State, DIA, DOD, Eduard Shevardnadze, FSB, Gloria La Riva, Harold Nicholson, Intelligence, Iran, ISIS, Islam, Jihad, KGB, Lt. General Michael T. Flynn, Media, Michael Ledeen, Middle East, Military, Muslims, National Security Council, NATO, Noam Chomsky, Nuclear Weapons, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Radical Islam, Revolutionary Communist Party, Robert Hanssen, Ronald Reagan, Russia, Russia Today, Sophie Shevardnadze, Spaulding, Spies, SVR, Syria, Terrorism, Terrorists, The Syrian Network for Human Rights, Turkey, United Nations, United States, Vladimir Putin, War |
Ex-Russian FSB spy exposes Kremlin’s operation of terror, help to Islamic State
Ukraine Today
Hat Tip: Nevin Gussack
The potentially explosive comments were made during a secret interview to a Ukrainian TV journalist
Revelations by a former Russian agent, implicating the Kremlin’s involvement in terrorist activities in Europe and the Middle East. The interview takes place far outside of Kyiv. The account about to be heard bears the hallmarks of a real spy scandal – undercover operations, fake documents and financial donations.
Ukraine Today’s partner news portal TSN. Weekly investigated the story. Such an interview is dangerous for any FSB personnel with high-level access.
The ex-spy codenamed Yevgeniy specialized in terrorist organizations and counter-terrorism activities. The man firstly claimed that radical Islamist groups are staffed with Russian agents – and that Moscow has a real impact on their activity. This is what he told journalist Andriy Tsaplienko.
‘Yevgeniy’, Former Russian Fsb Security Services Officer: “Being guided by good intentions, human rights activists from Europe would help the people being persecuted in their country to flee. Among them were infiltrators with ready documents and a made-up legend. They would actively infiltrate into Muslim communities. With the support of the security services, they made financial donations, thus acquiring prestige and moving up the hierarchy”.
According to Yevgeniy, Russian agents were a tool in attacks in Europe. Their task was to undermine the situation and create so-called multicultural conflict. This started in 2009 in London but according to his account, was most recently seen in Paris.
Andriy Tsaplienko, correspondent: “Is there any proof which suggests that the Russian special services were involved in the terrorist attacks on Paris, or at least they knew about them in advance?”
‘Yevgeniy’: “Given the connections they have in Muslim communities based in Europe, they could not but know that the terrorist acts were being prepared. They knew but did not share…”
Tsaplienko: “Is it complicity?”
‘Yevgeniy’: “It is complicity in acts of terrorism. And the complicity could be direct or indirect. By analyzing their connections, one, of course, will be able to see the ties leading to Russia. Primarily Russia could benefit from this, and the Russian security services had all the possibilities to organize this”.
The Kremlin’s influence also includes terror group Islamic State, also known as Daesh, according to Yevgeniy. After the split of the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization, former officers of the Iraqi army and members of the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party started creating the organisation. All of them graduated from Moscow-based educational institutions.
Tsaplienko: Can one claim that Russia, the Russian special services are involved in the creation of ISIS?
‘Yevgeniy’: “Definitely, and I know that exactly, the Russian special services believed that if a terrorist organization was set up as an alternative to Al-Qaeda and it created problems for the United States as Donbas does for Ukraine now, it would be quite good,”
The former FSB officer’s knowledge of how Russian agents work jointly with Islamic radicals and Donbas militants is invaluable for Ukraine. The anonymous man claims he fled Russia for personal not ideological reasons.
Ukrainian experts have checked his statements with the use of a polygraph twice, and the results appear to show the story was a truthful account.
Posted in Military, Politics, Survival, Terrorism | Tagged Europe, France, FSB, ISIS, Islam, Jihad, Muslims, Paris, Politics, Russia, Spies, Terrorism, Terrorists |
Russian Red Jihad Comes to America
The ISIS-like massacre in California shows the power of what New American magazine writer Christian Gomez calls the “Russian Red Jihad.” In this blockbuster interview, Gomez describes the Russian roots of international terrorism, the conflict between Turkey and Russia, and what a “New World Order” may look like.
Putin’s “War On Terror” Could Backfire
Posted in History, Military, Politics, Survival, Terrorism | Tagged America's Survival, Barack Obama, California, Christian Gomez, Cliff Kincaid, Communism, FSB, ISIS, Islam, Jihad, KGB, Muslims, New American, Russia, Soviet Union, Terrorism, Terrorists, Turkey, Vladimr Putin |
Putin’s Paid and Unpaid Liars
The Dutch Safety Board has issued a report indicating that a Russian BUK missile destroyed Malaysian flight MH17, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew on board, in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. The only question is whether the missile was fired by Russian troops or terrorists under Russian control. In any case, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered an invasion of eastern Ukraine, has blood on his hands.
The Dutch took the lead because most of the dead were from the Netherlands.
The results were not surprising, since circumstantial evidence already pointed to the Russians as the culprits. Russia refused to cooperate with the investigation (led by the Netherlands, Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia and Belgium) and vetoed a U.N. tribunal established to try those responsible.
At the time of the mass murder, Kremlin-financed Russia Today (RT) television tried to obscure the truth about Russian terrorists bringing down the Malaysian plane, even though the facts known at the time implicated the terrorists in eastern Ukraine in the mass murder of nearly 300 people.
RT is carried by such giant media companies as Comcast. But in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, the channel is not carried with disclaimers identifying the material as foreign propaganda. President Obama’s Justice Department is refusing to enforce the law.
As part of the disinformation campaign to divert attention away from Moscow’s bloody hands, RT released a “documentary” entitled “MH-17: the untold story,” claiming that a BUK missile did not hit the MH-17 plane. Instead, it was suggested that the plane went down because of cannon fire from a Ukrainian jet.
The lies were too much to take for Sara Firth, who had worked at Russia Today for five years. She told The Guardian that the channel’s coverage suggesting Ukraine was to blame for the crash was the “straw that broke the camel’s back.” She quit, saying, “It was the most shockingly obvious misinformation and it got to the point where I couldn’t defend it anymore.”
A variation of the Putin propaganda held that Ukraine downed the plane, thinking Putin was on it. Hence, it was an assassination attempt. We noted at the time, “This bizarre piece of disinformation surfaced on RT…[and] was linked to by the popular Drudge Report, used by many conservatives as their homepage, and then picked up by the Alex Jones’ Infowars.com site, a reliable outlet for pro-Russian propaganda.”
We reported in 2010 that RT has been eager to publicize Alex Jones and his various anti-American conspiracies because “they divert attention from the increasingly totalitarian nature of the Russian regime and the military threat that Russia still poses to American interests.” Jones was a regular guest on the RT propaganda channel, and defended Moscow’s invasion of its former Soviet republic of Georgia in 2008.
Matt Drudge, who made his name by posting the story about the stained dress, implicating President Bill Clinton in adultery, is considered a major player in the conservative media but has been living as a virtual hermit and rarely makes public appearances. However, he recently gave an interview to Jones and his Infowars.com show. Drudge, who didn’t allow his face to be seen, raised rumors about Hillary Clinton’s sex life and talked at length about the control of the flow of information, wondering if his website would be shut down. He was concerned that copyright laws could close down his popular site because he links to the work of others. “I had a Supreme Court Justice tell me it’s over for me,” said Drudge. “They’ve got the votes now to enforce copyright law, you’re out of there. They’re going to make it so you can’t even use headlines.”
In one interesting foreign policy exchange in the conversation that lasted about 45 minutes, Jones wondered if Putin was looking good in the Middle East, by claiming to target Islamic terrorists. This time, Drudge didn’t take the bait, and he moved on to other topics. Tina Trent, a commentator who has written about the impact of the Drudge Report, says it appears that Drudge is “dialing back” on his use of pro-Putin material supplied by Jones and other sources like Russia Today. “Maybe he’s travelled the world a bit and understands more about totalitarianism now,” she said.
Picking up the slack, another player in the Putin disinformation network is Don Hank, who claims to be a Christian conservative activist and runs a website. He distributed material claiming that the name of the Oregon killer had been included on a list of 87,000 “known/suspected” Islamic terrorists that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) had “refused last month to accept from Russia.”
Hank told his followers that Putin “was concerned enough about you and me to take time out of his busy day to warn us of a real and present danger!” But the U.S. government, he said, wanted us to die and ignored the warning.
The source of the information was said to be the Russian secret police, the FSB, making the whole thing suspect to begin with. However, the embedded link was to a different story on the FSB website that had nothing to do with the Oregon massacre.
Hank, who lives in Panama, said that the story had appeared in a “filthy rag” known as the European Union Times, and that he should have known better.
When the Dutch Safety Board pointed fingers at a Russian missile for the destruction of MH 17, Hank was up to his old tricks, telling his email list that the government of Ukraine brought down the plane, not the Russian terrorists. His source for this claim was the Moscow-funded RT channel.
The use of dubious sources like RT is what threatens the credibility and viability of legitimate websites that are truly independent and offering real facts and information.
Posted in Military, Politics, Survival | Tagged AIM, al Qaeda, Alex Jones, Cliff Kincaid, Copyright Laws, Don Hank, Drudge, FSB, Hillary Clinton, ISIS, Islam, Jihad, Media, Military, Muslims, Politics, Russia, Russia Today, Terrorism, Terrorists, Tina Trent, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin, War | 1 Comment
Putin’s “Moral Clarity” Disguises Evil Intent
We as a nation are discussing ways to isolate and treat mental illness in society. How do we identify those who are mentally ill and get them help? These questions are also relevant on the world stage, as Russian President Vladimir Putin poses as the savior of the world.
You know that moral confusion is taking hold in society when a conservative website hails Vladimir Putin for his “moral clarity” in the War on Terror, and compares him to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Yet, Dr. Robin McFee, who generally focuses on Weapons of Mass Destruction preparedness as well as medical matters, writes that Putin, who has invaded Ukraine and is now backing the Assad dictatorship in Syria with troops and weapons, “has emerged as the go to global statesmen [sic] on the world stage” because he gave a U.N. speech describing chaos in the Middle East resulting from President Obama’s policies.
Both Obama and Putin have created instability in the Middle East, but that doesn’t mean that one is a statesman and the other is not. It may mean that they are both working in tandem to reduce American influence in the region, just as they partnered on behalf of a nuclear deal with Iran.
Regarding their U.N. speeches, McFee wrote, “Both Netanyahu and Putin shared a refreshing moral clarity, presenting an unvarnished snapshot of the world as it is, the threats awaiting us, and gave an unfiltered insight into the challenges they face, as well as approaches each will take in the protection of their respective nation’s interests and sovereignty.”
The idea that Putin is a leader we should admire is a notion that is nonsensical on its face. He gave asylum to NSA defector Edward Snowden, who still lives in Russia. In a recent edition of The Intelligencer, the journal of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO), Peter Oleson writes about how Snowden’s disclosures have facilitated the activities of the Islamic State—a group that Putin claims he opposes—along with other American enemies and adversaries.
Oleson, a former assistant director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) who served as senior intelligence policy advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense Policy, writes, “The damage to US intelligence has been extensive. Snowden leaked the identities of over 1,000 targets of US intelligence and 31,000 files revealing what US policymakers want intelligence to provide (i.e., a list revealing what the US doesn’t know). His releases contain sufficient detail to identify US and allied intelligence officers. He revealed previously secret details of the US intelligence budget.”
He goes on, “Perhaps even more significant is the exposure of specific sources and methods and techniques US intelligence uses. Snowden has exposed how the US tracks terrorists via e-mails, social media, and cell phones.”
These are some of the same terrorists running wild in the Middle East that Putin says he opposes.
Indeed, Oleson notes that “The MI-5 head warned that the Snowden leaks undermined British security as concerns grow over British Islamists fighting in Syria. He also revealed the hacking techniques of NSA’s Tailored Access Office, the group that focuses on difficult electronic targets. Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s (ISIS) leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has altered his communications to avoid detection. Electronic eavesdropping techniques used against Al Qaeda in Iraq no longer work.”
Summarizing the damage Snowden has done, Oleson concludes that Snowden is a traitor to the United States and quite possibly a spy.
There are other reasons to categorically reject the notion that Putin is a statesman who sees the world like Israel’s Netanyahu. The Russians created the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to destroy Israel. Israel has been terrorized by Soviet/Russian trained terrorists for decades.
But Putin, a former KGB colonel, wanted the world to forget this record of backing international terrorism when he spoke to the U.N.
McFee approvingly quotes Putin as saying in his U.N. speech, “We believe that any attempts to play games with terrorists, let alone to arm them, are not just short-sighted. This may result in the global terrorist threat increasing dramatically and engulfing new regions, especially given that Islamic State camps train militants from many countries, including the European countries.”
She then adds, “Beyond a few glaringly obvious issues, like Russian influence in Iran, and criminal money laundering, nevertheless, Putin highlights important facts.”
“Russian influence in Iran?” Is that how Russian sponsorship of the Iranian regime and its nuclear weapons program is best described?
Relegating “Russian influence in Iran” to a throwaway line ignores the terrorism this alliance has meant for the Middle East and the world. It is the Iranian relationship with Syria and Russia that Putin is determined to support in the Middle East. Iranian-supported terrorist groups are just as lethal as the Islamic State, and Netanyahu knows it. That’s why he has pleaded with Putin, to no avail, to look the other way when Israel bombs Syrian and Iranian supply lines for Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The fact that Putin invaded Ukraine, and that his separatist forces brought down a civilian airliner over areas they control, should also disabuse us of any notion that he is a moral statesman on the world stage. Of course, Putin also kills journalists and opposition figures. But particularly gruesome ways of killing, such as the poisoning of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko, are reserved for those who spill secrets about Putin and his KGB comrades. Litvinenko disclosed Russian training of al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
McFee’s praise for Putin’s “moral clarity on radical Islam at the U.N.” ignores the evidence that the Russians have their fingerprints all over the activities of the Islamic State, not only through facilitating Snowden’s disclosures but through the provision of actual manpower.
The Homeland Security Committee’s recent report on foreign fighters in the Islamic State lists Russia as number four among the top 10 countries of origin. Russia has supplied 1,700 fighters. The United States isn’t even in the top 10. Russia has done little to stop this flow of people to the Islamic State, suggesting that some are leaving under the watchful eye of Putin’s intelligence services. One Islamic State military commander is, in fact, considered a Russian plant.
Russia may not control every faction of the Islamic State, but it’s a sure bet that Putin’s intelligence operatives are in charge of at least some of them. It is significant that initial Russian airstrikes were determined to be hitting opponents of Assad, not Islamic State fighters.
As we have seen by the intervention in Syria, the Islamic State serves Russian interests by giving Putin the opportunity to act decisively on behalf of the Syrian regime, which also benefits Iran. Putin comes out on top no matter which side wins and looks like a statesman in the process. At least he looks that way to some.
It’s time to face reality: Putin is a bloodthirsty killer whose only concern is building up Russian power and damaging the interests of the United States. Disgust for Obama should not blind people to that fact.
It’s time to identify Putin as not only mentally unstable, but so bloodthirsty that he constitutes a threat to the Middle East, America and the world. Putin’s nuclear weapons buildup is so alarming that our top generals have called Russia an “existential threat” to the United States.
We’ve identified the problem. So who among the presidential candidates has a plan to rid the world of this lunatic before thousands, or even millions, of Americans die?
Posted in History, Military, Politics, Survival, Terrorism | Tagged Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, AFIO, AIM, al Qaeda, Alexander Litvinenko, America, Assad, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, Barack Obama, Benjamin Natanyahu, Britain, Cliff Kincaid, Conservatives, DIA, Dr. Robin McFee, Edward Snowden, Europe, FSB, Hezbollah, Intelligence, Iran, Iraq, Islam, Islamic State, Israel, Jihad, Journalists, KGB, Lebanon, MI5, Middle East, Military, Muslims, NSA, Nuclear Weapons, Peter Oleson, PLO, Russia, Spies, Syria, Terrorism, Terrorists, The Intelligencer, Treason, Ukraine, UN, Vladimir Putin, War |
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78 Devonshire Street
840 Sq Ft Above Ground
Welcome to the Devonshire Subdivision which hosts affordable, quality built homes. You'll love this 3 BR 1 bath that has been well maintained for several decades, by the same family. Kitchen is clean with a gas stove and refrigerator with ice and water dispenser. I hear there are hardwood floors under the living room and bedroom carpet. Washer and dryer stay. There is an oversized 2.5 car detached garage with lots of storage. Yard is mostly fenced and flat. Easy to plant a garden or add a play area for children and pets. It is in move-in condition ready for your family. Will be absolutely perfect for a single person, couple, or a family. Note... no basement. See it today. This one won't last! 1-Year Cinch Home Warranty included with accepted offer.
Tammi Ebenhoeh
Ypsilanti Twp
East on Russell North on Devonshire
Ypsilanti Community
Community - Ypsilanti Area
Ypsilanti, and adjacent Ypsilanti Township, with a combined population of about 74,000, are located on Ann Arbor's eastern border. Many of Ypsilanti's residents work at the businesses and industries located in Ypsilanti; others work in Ann Arbor and surrounding communities, or eastward in the greater Detroit area.
View Ypsilanti Neighborhood Videos
Starting in the 1920's, Ypsilanti began to play a role in the development of the automobile, and auto production continues to be an important part of Ypsilanti's economy today. Ypsilanti really hit the map during World War II, when Henry Ford's Willow Run B-24 bomber plant became the first to produce the planes on an assembly line, turning out one bomber roughly every hour. The Yankee Air Museum and its annual Thunder over Michigan air show at the Willow Run Airport are popular destinations recounting the history of that time.
Ypsilanti is home to Eastern Michigan University, founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School; EMU now enrolls about 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students. With 12 parks in the city, and another 30 in the township, recreational opportunities are many. A number of the parks flank the Huron River or Ford Lake, offering access to a variety of water sports. Throughout the year, a number of special events dot the calendar; among the most popular are the Elvisfest and the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival.
Many housing styles and ages are found in the Ypsilanti area, from stately Italianate and Queen Anne examples to newly built neighborhoods.
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Home sales remain at record levels across Metro Vancouver
Posted on May 12, 2016 by Scott Thompson
Last month was the highest selling April on record for Metro Vancouver.
Residential property sales in the region totalled 4,781 in April 2016, an increase of 14.4 per cent from the 4,179 sales recorded in April 2015 and a decrease of 7.6 per cent compared to March 2016 when 5,173 homes sold.
April sales were 41.7 per cent above the 10-year sales average for the month.
“Home buyer competition remains intense across the region,” Dan Morrison, REBGV president said. “Whether you’re a home buyer or seller, it’s important to work with your local REALTOR® to get the information you need and to develop a strategy that will help you navigate today’s market.”
New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Metro Vancouver totalled 6,127 in April 2016. This represents an increase of 3.9 per cent compared to the 5,897 units listed in April 2015 and a 2.4 per cent decline compared to March 2016 when 6,278 properties were listed.
"While we’re seeing more homes listed for sale in recent months, supply is still chasing this unprecedented surge of demand in our marketplace," Morrison said.
The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 7,550, a 39.3 per cent decline compared to April 2015 (12,436) and a 2.6 per cent increase compared to March 2016 (7,358).
The sales-to-active listings ratio for April 2016 is 63.3 per cent. This is indicative of a seller’s market.
Generally, analysts say that downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below the 12 per cent mark, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it reaches the 20 to 22 per cent range in a particular community for a sustained period of time.
The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $844,800. This represents a 25.3 per cent increase compared to April 2015.
Sales of detached properties in April 2016 reached 1,979, an increase of 9 per cent from the 1,815 detached sales recorded in April 2015. The benchmark price for detached properties increased 30.1 per cent from April 2015 to $1,403,200.
Sales of apartment properties reached 2,107 in April 2016, an increase of 33.4 per cent compared to the 1,579 sales in April 2015.The benchmark price of an apartment property increased 20.6 per cent from April 2015 to $475,000.
Attached property sales in April 2016 totalled 695, a decrease of 11.5 per cent compared to the 785 sales in April 2015. The benchmark price of an attached unit increased 22.1 per cent from April 2015 to $608,600.
Download the full stats package by clicking here.
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Back to Glaciation and geological timescales
Glaciation and geological timescales
A module focused on glaciers and glaciation, with two of the lessons dealing specifically with aspects of geology and geological time
The carbon and water cycles, climate and change,
An icy world: glaciers and glacial environments
Not an ice cube: how glaciers work
How glaciers shape the land and what they leave behind
Ice Ages and geological timescales
London: its geological journey and heritage
The Ice Age postponed? Impacts of melting ice in a warming world
Where is most of the world’s ice, and what forms does it take?
What are glaciers and what are the different types?
What are the characteristics of a glacial environment?
Among the many things that make the Earth a planet fit for life is the fact that surface air temperatures span a range that allows H2O to be found in all three states: vapour, liquid, and ice.
The places in the world where H2O is usually in the frozen state make up the ‘cryosphere’: this includes areas of sea ice, frozen ground, snow, and glaciers. You can learn more about the cryosphere on the Discovering the Arctic website.
The cryosphere is a very important part of the Earth’s environment, and can influence people worldwide, even those who live in warm climates, far from places where it snows.
The main reason for this is because changes in the cryosphere cause changes in sea level. More snow and ice on land means there is less water in the oceans, so sea level drops. On the other hand, less snow and ice on land causes the opposite effect, causing problems for people living along coasts as sea level rises. The cryosphere influences the Earth’s climate in many ways that will be explored in Lessons four and six.
So what are the different forms of frozen H2O in the Earth’s cryosphere? Sea ice (frozen sea water) expands and shrinks with the seasons in the Arctic Ocean and in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica (this does not change sea level). Some land areas, e.g. Alaska, northern Canada, and Siberia are so cold for much of the year that soil and rock is always below 0°C and water is frozen in the ground – these are areas of ‘permafrost’. The vast majority of the world’s ice, however, is contained in the world’s ice sheets, primarily the Antarctic ice sheet.
The Antarctic ice sheet contains a remarkable 90% of the world’s glacier ice, enough ice to raise global sea level by over 60 metres! This is on the largest scale of glaciers, which come in many different shapes and size. What all glaciers have in common is that they’re formed from many years of snowfall that eventually compact to form ‘glacier ice’. The environments where glaciers are found today are called ‘glacial environments’ and these include both high latitude areas (the polar regions) and high altitude regions (in high mountain ranges such as the Alps).
Use an atlas (or go to Word Atlas website) to view maps centred on the North Pole and the South Pole. These pole-focused maps are called ‘azimuthal map projections’ because the map is drawn from a single centre point (the pole). While doing this, answer the questions on the Polar geography task download.
You can also download the Arctic and Antarctic outline maps to complete the extension activity on the Polar geography task sheet.
Open the Types of ice PowerPoint download and view the slides of different forms of ice and their locations in both polar and alpine (mountain) regions.
Go to the Discovering Antarctica website and click on ‘ice breaker’ to view the change in the amount of sea ice around Antarctica that occurs with the seasons.
Glacier ice is the type of ice which results from the piling up of many years of snowfall. In particularly cold regions where some of the annual snowfall will survive the summer, a snowfield will build up. As it thickens, upper layers of snow compress the snow below, gradually increasing its density. The sequence goes from: interlocking snowflakes full of air pockets, to denser, more granular snow (firn), and eventually to dense glacier ice several metres below the surface.
Since the glacier ice is under pressure from new layers of snow forming above, it ‘deforms’, and moves downslope. The way this works is the subject of Lesson two. In regions where snowfall is high, such as coastal mountain ranges like those in Alaska and New Zealand, glaciers can form quickly from snowfields (over several years); whereas in polar regions, where annual snowfall is low, glaciers take much longer to form (hundreds of years). Nonetheless, given enough time, glaciers can become enormous. The Antarctic ice sheet has existed in roughly its present size for about six million years. Today, about 10% of the world’s land area is covered by glaciers.
The Glaciers online photo glossary provides a list of types of glaciers, as shown below. Give a short description of each, referring to its general size and shape, as well as the type of environment where it is found.
Cirque glacier (also called a ‘corrie’ glacier)
Valley glacier
Piedmont glacier
Highland icefield
Ice cap
Ice sheet
(For more detail on different types of glaciers you can visit the National Snow and Ice Data Centre website)
The largest ice sheet in the world by far is the Antarctic ice sheet (which is subdivided into the East Antarctic ice sheet and the West Antarctic ice sheet). It covers 98% of the land area of the continent of Antarctica; and in East Antarctica, glacier ice reaches an amazing 4,776 metres thick: a thickness nearly the same as the height of Mont Blanc (the highest mountain in the Alps) above sea level.
Go to the Discovering Antarctica website and try the interactive ‘sizing up Antarctica’.
Glacial environments are, of course, cold environments. However, places with glaciers vary a lot in both temperature and snowfall. It is in the interior of East Antarctica where the coldest surface air temperatures on Earth occur: Landsat 8 satellite measurements show that temperature in this area in the Antarctic winter occasionally drops as low as -94°C! Download the Climate data task spreadsheet and do the following:
Find out the average annual temperature and calculate the total amount of precipitation for each of the three weather stations (two from Antarctica, one from Switzerland). How do they compare? Can you think of reasons for differences? (Also find their locations using Google Maps or Google Earth.)
Download the Glacier type sorting task and review the different types of glaciers.
From the climate data you looked at, you will have seen that precipitation in polar regions is very low, similar to the low levels of precipitation occurring in the world’s great hot deserts, such as the Sahara. This is why the term ‘polar desert’ is used to describe the climate of places such as the interior of Greenland and Antarctica. You could do an internet search to find the amount of annual precipitation for a hot desert of your choice and compare it with the Antarctica data.
Discuss the following questions with another member of your class:
If annual snowfall (precipitation) is so low, why are the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets so thick?
How does cold air compare with warm air in terms of how much precipitation there can be? Can you suggest a reason?
Compare the climate data you looked at for the South Pole with the North Pole where the temperature rarely drops below -30°C (for comparison the inside of your freezer at home is about -18°C!) For what reasons is it so much colder at the South Pole than the North Pole?
From what you have learnt in this lesson about the Antarctic and its environment, write a paragraph or two about why the first expeditions to the South Pole in the early 20th century were so difficult and dangerous. The first team to reach it was a Norwegian team under the leadership of Roald Amundsen. His team arrived at the South Pole in 1911, only about a month before the arrival of the ill-fated British team led by Robert Falcon Scott which perished on the return journey.
You can learn more about the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration by visiting the ‘Journey South’ page of the Discovering Antarctica website.
This resource has been developed as part of the Rediscovering London's Geography project, funded by the GLA through the London Schools Excellence Fund. It seeks to improve the quality of teaching and learning of geography in London’s schools, in addition to encouraging more pupils to study geography
Glaciation Lesson 1 Lesson Plan (.doc)
Glaciation Lesson 1 Antarctic Outline Map (.jpg)
Glaciation Lesson 1 Arctic Outline Map (.jpg)
Glaciation Lesson 1 Climate Data (.xls)
Glaciation Lesson 1 Glacier Sorting Task (.doc)
Glaciation Lesson 1 Polar Geography Task Sheet (.doc)
Glaciation Lesson 1 Types of Ice (.ppt)
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The Rushmore Academy
The World of Wes Anderson
A/V Club
The Wes Anderson Collection
Save Latin
Team Zissou H.Q.
Posted on 19 June 2007 23 June 2007 by EdwardAppleby
Wes Anderson’s ‘Fantastic Fox’ Script Leaks
The (alleged) script for The Fantastic Mr. Fox (March 2007 edit) has been floating around. There was also an (alleged) script for The Darjeeling Limited (at natalieportman.com no less), which has been removed. I have no sense of how developed these scripts are (or if they are legitimate). I don’t plan to post any of these on the site (for personal and legal reasons). There has been some discussion of this subject as of late on the forum.
The script for Wes Anderson‘s stop-motion animated film, “The Fantastic Mr. Fox,” has leaked. The follow-up to the-not-yet-released, “The Darjeeling Limited, ” Anderson and ‘Life Aquatic’ c0-writer, Noah Baumbach adapted the script from the original Roald Dahl children’s novel. George Clooney and Cate Blanchett will voice the lead characters and rumors have it that Anjelica Huston and Jason Schwartzman will join the cast. Celebrated animator Henry Selick, apparently the real force behind “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” was scheduled to work on the film, but has allegedly moved on to other projects (namely Neil Gaiman’s “Coraline”).
URL: The Playlist blog (story)*
I really hope that the news about Henry Selick isn’t true (he is still listed as part of the project at IMDB.com). We, of course, recommend that you read the ‘fantastic’ Roald Dahl book:
* Rodrigo also notes on his blog that Noah Baumbach’s forthcoming (October 12th) Margot at the Wedding will star Jack Black, Nicole Kidman, John Turturro, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
CategoriesFantastic Mr. Fox, Filmmakers, Films, Frequent Collaborators, Henry Selick, The Darjeeling Limited, Wes Anderson
Previous PostPrevious Oops… downtime + yankeeracers.org
Next PostNext Henry Selick at the Platform International Animation Festival
Categories Select Category Art (24) Filmmakers (376) Inspired by Wes Anderson (3) Matt Zoller Seitz (3) Owen Wilson (41) Wes Anderson (355) Films (633) Bottle Rocket (58) Castello Cavalcanti (1) Fantastic Mr. Fox (230) Grand Budapest Hotel (45) Hotel Chevalier (28) Isle of Dogs (9) Moonrise Kingdom (75) Rushmore (85) The Darjeeling Limited (135) The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (58) The Royal Tenenbaums (64) Frequent Collaborators (170) Bill Murray (54) Eric Chase Anderson (7) Henry Selick (6) Jason Schwartzman (92) Luke Wilson (3) Noah Baumbach (22) Waris Ahluwalia (13) Music (76) Jarvis Cocker (11) Mark Mothersbaugh (9) Seu Jorge (3) RA@Facebook (7) Roald Dahl (9) Site News (70) Uncategorized (119) Wes Moments (9) Yankee Journal (2) Yankee Racers (12)
Grand Budapest Hotel Blu-Ray
Grand Budapest Hotel illustrated screenplay
I Saved Latin! A Tribute to Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson Collection
r/wesanderson
Grand Budapest details
Watched tenenbaums last night and got the itch to draw this guy
Some raw BTS footage from the filming of The Royal Tenenbaums
I'd really like to build the Belafonte or the Grand Budapest Hotel out of LEGO
TDL: What is the meaning of the child with a gun, on the right??
All content is © to their respective owners. The site is not associated with or endorsed by Wes Anderson or any motion picture company. It is an unofficial fan site that celebrates the films of Wes Anderson.
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Rwanda New Broadband Provision Model to Be Tested, by Africa50
Digital Economy Featured News
Posted on December 3, 2020 at December 3, 2020 by MobileWorld
Africa50, a pan-African investment platform has announced it is set to pilot a high-speed broadband concept to homes and SMEs in low income and semi-rural areas in Rwanda following an initiative aimed at sourcing innovative solutions, to help increase access to reliable and affordable internet connectivity in under-served areas across Africa.
Recall, according to the financier early this month, announced winners of the first edition of its Innovation Challenge, following the sourcing innovative solutions, with an aim to help increase access to reliable and affordable internet connectivity.
Poa! Internet, a Kenya-based Internet Services Provider providing wireless high-speed broadband to homes and SMEs in low income and semi-rural areas, emerged as the winner of the innovation challenge.
Poa will receive $100,000 dollars as prize money and will be added to Africa50’s investment pipeline.
Poa will be considered for a potential investment, subject to Africa50’s due diligence process and Poa’s fit with Africa50’s investment criteria.
If an investment is approved, Africa50 will seek to launch a pilot program in Rwanda to test the solution’s business model in a rural context and demonstrate its viability to be scaled across the continent.
The project will then be rolled-out in Rwanda as the pilot country, with the intention to scale up to other African countries.
Rwanda-based ARED Group also recieved a Special Recognition Award for its solution, Shiriki Hub and will receive a $50,000 cash prize for its efforts to increase the adoption of internet connectivity in rural areas, through the provision of digital services, tailored to the needs of local communities.
It is a solar-powered kiosk which has a mobile router that provides connectivity and allows offline functionality.
Speaking, the Special Advisor to Africa50 CEO, Carole Wainaina said; “When we initiated the Innovation Challenge in 2019, we were aware of the importance of ICT as a driver of sustainable development in Africa. We believe that solving the continent’s key infrastructure development challenges provides tremendous investment opportunities and it requires new kinds of innovative collaborative approaches that leverage technology”.
The Africa50 Innovation Challenge was launched in 2019 after a global sourcing campaign, attracting 673 solutions, of which 80% were from Africa. The solutions were assessed on their innovativeness, scalability, modularity, sustainability, and readiness. After a thorough assessment process involving 33 experts and technical advisors, Poa! Internet and Shiriki Hub were selected among seven finalists who were announced in July 2020.
Africa50 prioritizes investment in medium-to large scale projects in the power, transport, ICT and midstream gas sectors, providing appropriate risk-adjusted return to investors, while delivering development impact.
by Africa50
Rwanda New Broadband Provision Model to Be Tested
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The Deaths of Two Mayors
Posted on November 25, 2020 by Steve
Two of New York City’s former Mayors died this week. One committed suicide on national TV, melting before our very eyes. The other, the first and only Black Mayor in NYC’s 350+ year history, died a peaceful death, in the privacy of his own home. Both deaths reflected how the Mayors lived their lives.
Rudy Giuliani, the White Supremacist beaten by David Dinkins for the Mayoralty in 1989, during a period of rising racial unrest in NYC, died by his own tormented tongue and hands, choking on his own words as if they were poison pills, in front of millions of viewers. For many of us who have had a front-row seat to witness Rudy the Racist’s rise and fall over the decades, it reminded us of the way he announced he was divorcing his second wife, Donna Hanover — at an unhinged press conference, alone.
David Dinkins, in compelling contrast, a genuinely kind man of great dignity and grace, went gently into the night at age 93, one month after the death of his beloved partner of 67 years, Joyce Burrows Dinkins. Both were graduates of Howard University, the mecca for Black leadership in this country, with Justice Thurgood Marshall, VP-elect Kamala Harris, former Ambassador Andrew Young, writer Toni Morrison and actor Chadwick Boseman, as just a few examples.
Mayor Dinkins continually reminded us that he stood on the shoulders of giants, in the civil rights movement and beyond, who had sacrificed much for this country, and that he was a reflection of the “gorgeous mosaic” that was the diversity of New York. Conversely, by his every action, Rudy rudely reminded us that he stood on the bodies of people who got in the way of his ruthless ambition. Even after Giuliani defeated Dinkins in their 1993 Mayoral rematch, and Dinkins reached out as an act of reconciliation, following a blatantly racist campaign waged against the City’s first Black Mayor, Rudy refused to meet. Giuliani was already ginning up his shivel-souled, small-minded, mean and ghoulish behavior to become Donald Trump’s lawyer later in life, a high-profile position from which he plunged to his death.
During the tinderboxes of the heat of the summer of 1989 — the Central Park 5 arrests, and the Bensonhurst murder of Yusef Hawkins — it was David Dinkins who kept NYC from exploding as he crusaded for Mayor, calling for peace in a town ready to ignite into flames, with private citizen Trump trumpeting racial hate in full-page newspaper ads, and candidate Giuliani lighting matches from the sidelines.
Less than two weeks before the September Democratic Primary where Dinkins would handily beat Mayor Ed Koch for the right to run against Rudy in November, I accompanied Governor Mario M. Cuomo to the funeral of Yusef Hawkins, the 16-year-young Black man killed because of the color of his skin, while he went shopping for a used car in a heavily white, Italian section of Brooklyn.
We were among a light smattering of white faces in a crowd of thousands jamming the streets in front of the Glover Memorial Church on Dean Street in East New York, not far from where I was born. I stood among a group of mostly white reporters covering the funeral, finding an uneasy comfort in the presence of Louis Farakkhan’s bow-tied Muslim soldiers, who lined the streets in front of the church to keep some semblance of peace.
Mayor Koch emerged from his official City car to pay his respects and was pelted with a barrage of boos and screams so intense, I expected his presence to cause a riot. Dislike for Koch was visceral in East NY’s Black neighborhoods, but even Mario Cuomo, generally admired by Black leaders and communities across the City and State, was heckled as he entered Glover Memorial for the funeral service.
Cuomo had been sharply criticized the day before by Brooklyn-born movie director Spike Lee for not visiting Bensonhurst and “talking some sense out there to the Italians.” Lee’s film Do The Right Thing about racism in NYC came out earlier that summer, presaging the lethal price of prejudice. The street taunts toward Mario Cuomo reflected Lee’s sentiments.
Of all the public officials in attendance, only David Dinkins was greeted respectfully, foreshadowing his nine-point primary victory over Koch two weeks later. Dinkins, then the Manhattan Borough President, ran as a “healer” of the City’s simmering racial tensions. Two months later, Dinkins narrowly beat Giuliani for Mayor by some 47,000 votes, one of the closest mayoral elections in NYC’s history. Dinkins won with 90 percent of the Black vote citywide and 70 percent of the Latino vote, while Rudy ran away with the White vote, securing some 70 percent. In Bensonhurst, where Yusef Hawkins was murdered, Giuliani defeated Dinkins by a 10–1 margin.
David Dinkins’ calm, conciliatory manner was just what NY needed at that moment in it’s long, boisterous history. The morning after Dinkins election, I wore my “Dinkins for Mayor” button, with writing in Hebrew to pointedly bring people together, as I rode the E-Train down to the World Trade Center to my job. The feeling of joy and brotherhood, though fleeting, was palpable throughout the subway car. A few fellow commuters, several of them Black, exchanged high-fives with me.
David Dinkins’ quiet dignity rescued the City that day and for a short time into the new decade of the 1990’s. He didn’t have Mario Cuomo’s charisma, nor Giuliani’s ghoulishness, but, in his careful, considerate way, Dinkins showed us what the promise of the future could look like.
Rest in the very peace you sought all of your days, David. You deserve it.
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Home Tags Michigan State University
Florida News: Michigan State University
The Absolute Madness Starts But There Is No Cloud Over The...
Evan Weiner - March 19, 2019
Grey skies are going to clear up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNUtkKl1etQ&t=5s The madness starts as the first game of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Men’s Basketball Tournament is on...
NCAA Boss Worried Legalized Sports Gambling Will Sully A Business That...
Evan Weiner - February 16, 2019
The NCAA has not looked credible lately. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TssxstyRNHU The very last thing that politicians in the states that are figuring out whether to approve legalized sports...
Nassar Conviction, College Basketball Corruption Tops 2018 News
Evan Weiner - December 30, 2018
How did this happen? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQIw-4qgHmE&t=5s It’s time to say goodbye to 2018. But before anyone goes, it probably is worth looking at the top politics of...
USA Gymnastics Needs A Strong Leader Not A Politician
Evan Weiner - October 29, 2018
USA Gymnastics has a credibility problem. The group never bothered to address the allegations that a team doctor, Larry Nassar, was sexually abusing some of the group’s athletes.
The NCAA: Nothing To See At Michigan State
Evan Weiner - September 3, 2018
You have to applaud the National Collegiate Athletic Association for continuing to put sports and sports revenues over integrity on a constant basis.
Michigan Residents Will Put Up Money To Pay Dr. Nassar’s Victims
Evan Weiner - May 17, 2018
Michigan residents are going to pay big money after Michigan State University settled with 332 victims of Dr. Larry Nasser who was a professor at the school and sexually abused hundreds of young girls and women.
The NCAA’s Michigan State Problem Is Growing
Evan Weiner - April 5, 2018
What is Mark Emmert's actual job? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBj3KI4ziW8&feature=youtu.be The President of the NCAA Dr. Mark Emmert is a tough talking leader who seems to fold on every...
A Grand Jury Is Asking Some Questions Of Sports Organizations
Is sports on the up and up? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFNfnSov0Ak As the Winter Olympics competition continues, there are some huge questions that a grand jury in Brooklyn, New...
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Author Archives: St Johns
Admission Policy 2020
Original documents for download:
Admission Policy St. John’s N.S. 2020.
Admission Policy of St John’s National School.
Roll number: 20197K
School Patron: Bishop Ray Browne
This Admission Policy complies with the requirements of the Education Act 1998, the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 and the Equal Status Act 2000. In drafting this policy, the board of management of the school has consulted with school staff, the school patron and with parents of children attending the school.
The policy was approved by the school patron on [date]. It is published on the school’s website and will be made available in hardcopy, on request, to any person who requests it.
The relevant dates and timelines for St. John’s N.S. admission process are set out in the school’s annual admission notice which is published annually on the school’s website at least one week before the commencement of the admission process for the school year concerned.
This policy must be read in conjunction with the annual admission notice for the school year concerned.
The application form for admission is published on the school’s website and will be made available in hardcopy on request to any person who requests it.
2. Characteristic spirit and general objectives of the school
St John’s N.S is a Catholic co-educational primary school with a Catholic ethos under the patronage of the Bishop Ray Browne.
“Catholic Ethos” in the context of a Catholic primary school means the ethos and characteristic spirit of the Roman Catholic Church, which aims at promoting:
the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person of the pupil, a living relationship with God and with other people; and
including the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual aspects; and
a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; and
the formation of the pupils in the Catholic faith;
and which school provides religious education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, and/or such ethos and/or characteristic spirit as may be determined or interpreted from time to time by the Irish Episcopal Conference.
In accordance with S.15 (2) (b) of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management of St John’s National School shall uphold, and be accountable to the patron for so upholding, the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school.
St John’s N.S. Mission Statement
In St. John’s National School we wish to create a nurturing co-educational environment based on Catholic values. We welcome students from all nationalities. All our students are encouraged to develop to their full potential and gifts: academic, social, creative, spiritual, moral and cultural.
It is an all inclusive school where everyone belongs, where diversity is celebrated while developing the individual’s self respect and respect for others. It is a school where successes are acknowledged and where mistakes are seen not as failures but as learning opportunities.
The school values the contribution of all, the students, the teachers, the parents and the wider community. Our students are encouraged to value their role in their local, national, European and global community.
3. Admission Statement
St John’s N.S. will not discriminate in its admission of a student to the school on any of the following:
the gender ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the civil status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the family status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the sexual orientation ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the religion ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the disability ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the ground of race of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the Traveller community ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned, or
the ground that the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned has special educational needs
As per section 61 (3) of the Education Act 1998, ‘civil status ground’, ‘disability ground’, ‘discriminate’, ‘family status ground’, ‘gender ground’, ‘ground of race’, ‘religion ground’, ‘sexual orientation ground’ and ‘Traveller community ground’ shall be construed in accordance with section 3 of the Equal Status Act 2000.
All denominational schools
St John’s N.S. is a school whose objective is to provide education in an environment which promotes certain religious values and does not discriminate where it refuses to admit as a student a person who is not Catholic and it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.
Schools with special education class(es)
St John’s is a school which has established a class, with the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills, which provides an education exclusively for students with a category or categories of special educational needs specified by the Minister and may refuse to admit to the class a student who does not have the category of needs specified.
4. Categories of Special Educational Needs catered for in the school/special class
Mainstream school with a SEN class attached
St John’s N.S. with the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills, has established a class to provide an education exclusively for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
5. Admission of Students
This school shall admit each student seeking admission except where –
a. the school is oversubscribed (please see section 6 below for further details)
b. a parent of a student, when required by the principal in accordance with section 23(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, fails to confirm in writing that the code of behaviour of the school is acceptable to him or her and that he or she shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with such code by the student
St John’s N.S is a Catholic school and may refuse to admit as a student a person who is not Catholic where it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.
School with special education class
The special class attached to St John’s N.S. provides an education exclusively for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the school may refuse admission to this class, where the student concerned does not have the specified category of special educational needs provided for in this class.
In the event that the school is oversubscribed, the school will, when deciding on applications for admission, apply the following selection criteria in the order listed below to those applications that are received within the timeline for receipt of applications as set out in the school’s annual admission notice:
1. Applicants with siblings currently enrolled in the school (including stepsiblings, resident at the same address), priority eldest;
2. Children residing in the parish, priority eldest;
3. Children of staff members, priority eldest ;
4. Random selection (independently verified).
In the event that there are two or more students tied for a place or places in any of the selection criteria categories above (the number of applicants exceeds the number of remaining places), the following arrangements will apply:
– Priority to eldest with the above criteria
6. What will not be considered or taken into account
In accordance with section 62(7)(e) of the Education Act, the school will not consider or take into account any of the following in deciding on applications for admission or when placing a student on a waiting list for admission to the school:
(a) a student’s prior attendance at a pre-school or pre-school service, including naíonraí,
(b) the payment of fees or contributions (howsoever described) to the school;
(c) a student’s academic ability, skills or aptitude;
(d) the occupation, financial status, academic ability, skills or aptitude of a student’s parents;
(e) a requirement that a student, or his or her parents, attend an interview, open day or other meeting as a condition of admission;
(f) a student’s connection to the school by virtue of a member of his or her family attending or having previously attended the school;
(other than, in the case of the school wishing to include a selection criteria based on (1) siblings of a student attending or having attended the school and/or (2) parents or grandparents of a student having attended the school.
In relation to (2) parents and grandparents having attended a school may only apply this criterion to a maximum of 25% of the available spaces as set out in the school’s annual admission notice.
(g) the date and time on which an application for admission was received by the school,
This is subject to the application being received at any time during the period specified for receiving applications set out in the annual admission notice of the school for the school year concerned.
7. Decisions on applications
All decisions on applications for admission to St John’s N.S. will be based on the following:
Our school’s admission policy
The school’s annual admission notice (where applicable)
The information provided by the applicant in the school’s official application form received during the period specified in our annual admission notice for receiving applications
(Please see section 14 below in relation to applications received outside of the admissions period and section 15 below in relation to applications for places in years other than the intake group.)
Selection criteria that are not included in our school admission policy will not be used to make a decision on an application for a place in our school.
8. Notifying applicants of decisions
Applicants will be informed in writing as to the decision of the school, within the timeline outlined in the annual admissions notice.
If a student is not offered a place in our school, the reasons why they were not offered a place will be communicated in writing to the applicant, including, where applicable, details of the student’s ranking against the selection criteria and details of the student’s place on the waiting list for the school year concerned.
Applicants will be informed of the right to seek a review/right of appeal of the school’s decision (see section 18 below for further details).
9. Acceptance of an offer of a place by an applicant
In accepting an offer of admission from St John’s N.S. you must indicate—
(i) whether or not you have accepted an offer of admission for another school or schools. If you have accepted such an offer, you must also provide details of the offer or offers concerned and
(ii) whether or not you have applied for and awaiting confirmation of an offer of admission from another school or schools, and if so, you must provide details of the other school or schools concerned.
10. Circumstances in which offers may not be made or may be withdrawn
An offer of admission may not be made or may be withdrawn by St John’s N.S. where—
it is established that information contained in the application is false or misleading.
an applicant fails to confirm acceptance of an offer of admission on or before the date set out in the annual admission notice of the school.
the parent of a student, when required by the principal in accordance with section 23(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, fails to confirm in writing that the code of behaviour of the school is acceptable to him or her and that he or she shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with such code by the student; or
an applicant has failed to comply with the requirements of ‘acceptance of an offer’ as set out in section 10
11. Sharing of Data with other schools
Applicants should be aware that section 66(6) of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 allows for the sharing of certain information between schools in order to facilitate the efficient admission of students.
Section 66(6) allows a school to provide a patron of another Board of Management with a list of the students in relation to whom –
An application for admission to the school has been received
An offer of admission to the school has been made, or
An offer of admission to the school has been accepted.
The list may include any of all of the following:
The date on which an application for admission was received by the school;
The date on which an offer of admission was made by the school;
The date on which an offer of admission was accepted by an applicant;
A student’s personal details including his or her name, address, date of birth and personal public service number (within the meaning of section 262 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005).
12. Waiting list in the event of oversubscription
In the event of there being more applications to the school year concerned than places available, a waiting list of students whose applications for admission to St John’s N.S were unsuccessful due to the school being oversubscribed will be compiled and will remain valid for the school year in which admission is being sought.
Applicants whose applications are received after the closing date, outlined in the Annual Admission Notice, will be placed at the end of the waiting list in order of the date of receipt of the application.
Placement on the waiting list of St John’s N.S is in the order of priority assigned to the students’ applications after the school has applied the selection criteria in accordance with this admission policy.
Offers of any subsequent places that become available for and during the school year in relation to which admission is being sought will be made to those students on the waiting list, in accordance with the order of priority in relation to which the students have been placed on the list.
13. Late Applications
All applications for admission received after the closing date as outlined in the annual admission notice will be considered and decided upon in accordance with our school’s admissions policy, the Education Admissions to School Act 2018 and any regulations made under that Act.
Late applicants will be notified of the decision in respect of their application no later than three weeks after the date on which the school received the application. Late applicants will be offered a place if there is a place available. In the event that there is no place available, the name of the applicant will e added to the waiting list as set out in Section 13.
14. Procedures for admission of students to other years and during the school year
The procedures of the school in relation to the admission of students who are not already admitted to the school to classes or years other than the school’s intake group are as follows:
Applications for enrolment during the school year will be considered subject to school policy, available space and the provision of information concerning attendance and the child’s educational progress.
Such applications will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis but will normally only be considered for admission on the first day of each new term unless the applicant is newly resident in the area.
The procedures of the school in relation to the admission of students who are not already admitted to the school, after the commencement of the school year in which admission is sought, are as follows:
In the event of there being more applications to the school year concerned than places available, a waiting list of students whose applications for admission to St. John’s National School were unsuccessful due to the school being oversubscribed will be compiled and will remain valid for the school year in which admission is being sought.
Placement on the waiting list of St John’s National School is in the order of priority assigned to the students’ applications after the school has applied the selection criteria in accordance with this admission policy.
15. Declaration in relation to the non-charging of fees
This rule applies to all schools.
The Board of St John’s N.S. or any persons acting on its behalf will not charge fees for or seek payment or contributions (howsoever described) as a condition of-
an application for admission of a student to the school, or
the admission or continued enrolment of a student in the school.
16. Arrangements regarding students not attending religious instruction
Our school is of a Catholic ethos and, in keeping with that ethos, children of all or no other faith are welcome to apply to this school.
We respect the decision of parents to withdraw their child/children from taking part in the religious education curriculum, religious ceremonies, school Masses, etc.
The following are the school’s arrangements for students, where the parent(s)/guardian(s) have requested that the student attend the school without attending religious instruction (etc.) in the school. These arrangements will not result in a reduction in the school day of such students:
A written request should be made to the Principal of the school. A meeting will then be arranged with the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student, to discuss how the request may be accommodated by the school.
17. Reviews/appeals
Review of decisions by the Board of Management
The parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may request the board to review a decision to refuse admission. Such requests must be made in accordance with Section 29C of the Education Act 1998.
The timeline within which such a review must be requested and the other requirements applicable to such reviews are set out in the procedures determined by the Minister under section 29B of the Education Act 1998 which are published on the website of the Department of Education and Skills.
The board will conduct such reviews in accordance with the requirements of the procedures determined under Section 29B and with section 29C of the Education Act 1998.
Note: Where an applicant has been refused admission due to the school being oversubscribed, the applicant must request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998.
Where an applicant has been refused admission due to a reason other than the school being oversubscribed, the applicant may request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998.
Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, the parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may appeal a decision of this school to refuse admission.
An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1)(c)(i) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due to the school being oversubscribed.
An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1)(c)(ii) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due a reason other than the school being oversubscribed.
Where an applicant has been refused admission due to the school being oversubscribed, the applicant must request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998. (see Review of decisions by the Board of Management).
Where an applicant has been refused admission due to a reason other than the school being oversubscribed, the applicant may request a review of that decision by the Board of Management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998. (see Review of decisions by the Board of Management)
Appeals under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 will be considered and determined by an independent appeals committee appointed by the Minister for Education and Skills.
The timeline within which such an appeal must be made and the other requirements applicable to such appeals are set out in the procedures determined by the Minister under section 29B of the Education Act 1998 which are published on the website of the Department of Education and Skills.
The Policy was ratified by the Board of Management of St. John’s National School on:
Signed: _________________________________________
Chairperson, Board of Management.
18/08/2020 Uniforms Order Collections
UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION –
POBALSCOIL IN BHEAR SCÉINE
ST JOHNS NS
26+ 27TH AUGUST 12 – 5 PM IN THE SPORTS HALL
We will be in Kenmare, as usual, for distribution of uniform orders on 26th + 27th August – 12 noon – 5 pm each day
Due to Covid19, and associated restrictions, we will need to implement specific guidelines in the interest of safety and well being of all.
Please have your Order Number in advance of coming to the Hall.
You can get this from the Master Sheet posted here on the relevant school website.
We will post these at the school entrance, on the day, but the less time you spend on collection the better for all.
We will have all orders, along with order sheets, bagged and ready for prompt pick up.
We would ask that only one person per family attend for pick up and further request that no children attend.
We regret but we cannot allow fitting/try on of garments and cannot offer any exchange
Please have the precise monies, in cheque payable to John O’Brien / Money order or Cash, to cover your order – we need minimise the exchange of notes and change as much as possible – we do not have the facility to take credit/debit cards.
We will use a one way system in the hall which will be clearly marked and we will control numbers at entry e.g., through the school entrance as usual and out the rear side door of the hall or vice versa dependent on weather.
Please help us to help you and follow these guidelines for an easy / safe and speedy collection
Any queries – please contact John on 087 984 3321
17/08/2020 Letter from Principal
Dear Parent / Guardian,
RE: Re-opening of St John’s N.S
I hope you and your families are keeping well.
As you are aware, our school has now been closed since March 12th due to the COVID-19 situation. We are now hoping to re-open our school safely for all pupils on September 1st in line with current guidance and recommendations. Please be aware that these guidelines may change.
Re-opening the school safely will require the co-operation of all members of our School Community – BoM, School Leadership, Staff, Parents and Pupils. We will all be called on to play our part in ensuring that re-opening of the school is done in a safe manner which prevents the spread of the virus and allows the vital work of Teaching and Learning to proceed with as little disruption as possible.
We have been working on our plan for the safe reopening of the school for some weeks now and have published the DES COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable reopening of Primary and Special Schools on our school website. The Response Plan gives details of
Physical preparation, signage, hand sanitiser stations,
Advice, procedures and training for the safe return to working in the school for all school staff and pupils
General and specific advice on how all pupils, staff, parents and visitors will prevent the spread of the virus
We have also published our COVID-19 Policy Statement on the school website. We will keep you informed as to the progress of our re-opening plans and provide you with the information required by you to play your part in safely re-opening the school.
I would also like to take this opportunity to inform you all of my intention to retire as Principal of St John’s N.S. on November 1st 2020.
I want to reassure you of my absolute commitment to facilitate a seamless transition to my successor who will be appointed in advance of my retirement. I am determined to afford him/her all the necessary time and support which will enable the new leadership to continue to build the capacity of our school and maintain the critically positive bond that exists between the management, pupils, parents and staff.
For the next few weeks our sole attention will be focused on getting all the children back to a safe school environment where optimum teaching and learning can resume, secure in the knowledge that no matter who is at the helm, St John’s National School’s distinctive reputation as a highly regarded learning environment will not be compromised.
On a practical basis, you can be preparing for return to school by using our online system to pay for books, Arts /Crafts/Insurance.
(See newsletter of June 24th on Aladdin Connect for more details).
School uniforms can be collected on distribution days August 26th/ 27th.
(See separate note from uniform supplier in separate note to follow)
Your child’s class teacher may also be in contact with you on Aladdin Connect with regard to information about their specific class.
We remain hopeful that government advice on re opening of schools will not change as we are really looking forward to welcoming our children back to school and doing all that we can to ensure that the return to school is a safe and enjoyable experience for all. We will be in touch with you again before school re-opens.
Le meas,
Denis Courtney,
The following websites provide further information on COVID-19 and on government advice and recommendations regarding the re-opening of schools: –
https://www.education.ie/en/covid-19/
https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/a128d-back-to-school/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/backtoschool/
APPENDIX 1 COVID-19 Policy Statement
St. John’s N.S., Kenmare
Bunscoil Eoin Naofa, An Neidín
Tel: 0646642598 / 0646642300
web: www.stjohnskenmare.ie
St. John’s N.S. is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our staff and a safe learning environment for all our pupils. To ensure that, we have developed the following COVID-19 Response Plan. The BOM and all school staff are responsible for the implementation of this plan and a combined effort will help contain the spread of the virus. We will:
continue to monitor our COVID-19 response and amend this plan in consultation with our staff
provide up to date information to our staff and pupils on the Public Health advice issued by the HSE and Gov.ie
display information on the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and correct hand-washing techniques
agree with staff, a worker representative who is easily identifiable to carry out the role outlined in this plan
inform all staff and pupils of essential hygiene and respiratory etiquette and physical distancing requirements
adapt the school to facilitate physical distancing as appropriate in line with the guidance and direction of the Department of Education
keep a contact log to help with contact tracing
ensure staff engage with the induction / familiarisation briefing provided by the Department of Education
implement the agreed procedures to be followed in the event of someone showing symptoms of COVID-19 while at school
provide instructions for staff and pupils to follow if they develop signs and symptoms of COVID-19 during school time
implement cleaning in line with Department of Education advice
All school staff will be consulted on an ongoing basis and feedback is encouraged on any concerns, issues or suggestions.
This can be done through the Lead Worker Representative(s), who will be supported in line with the agreement between the Department and education partners.
Dept. Education: COVID-19 Response Plan for Primary and Special Schools
3.-COVID-19-Response-Plan-for-Primary-and-Special-Schools-
22/06/2020 Week 5 Engineering Challenge Results
K-PEP: Kenmare Primary Engineering Project
Week 5 Engineering Challege (Gravity Go Carts) Results
16/06/2020 Week 5 Engineering Challenge (and Week 4 Results)
Week 4 overview:
Week 5 – the competition:
08/06/2020 Week 4 Engineering Challenge – Gravity Go-Carts
K-PEP Challenge 4: Gravity Go-Carts
08/06/2020 4th class Fiona O’Dwyer and James Devane
Please click on the links below:
math-hunt-3-and-4-class (1)
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Seattle's Favorite TV Weather Anchor and Travel Guru Seth Wayne Joins Holland America Line in New Brand Ambassador Role
By: Holland America Line via PR Newswire
Emmy Award-winning Wayne to host new 'HAL Aboard' programming, going 'behind the scenes' of the premium cruise line
SEATTLE, Jan. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As Holland America Line continues to innovate and pave the way as the premium cruise leader, sharing its brand story in new and bolder ways is more important than ever. In an industry first, the cruise line named Emmy Award-winning Seth Wayne as their brand ambassador where he will serve in a versatile role including roving reporter as the cruise line launches "HAL Aboard," a multimedia line-up of "behind-the-scenes" stories and brand highlights.
Wayne comes from Seattle's local ABC affiliate, KOMO-TV where he was known for his engaging personality and incredible passion for cruising. At Holland America Line, under the official title director, communications and content, he will serve as the company's chief story-teller, sharing "behind-the-scenes" stories through social media and other brand channels. He will be a frequent traveler across the fleet and to destinations around the world, sharing the Holland America Line experience both on board and ashore through the stories of both guests and crew. Wayne reports to Sally Andrews, senior vice president and chief brand and communications officer.
"The way we connect with our fans is evolving, and as we looked for new, compelling ways to tell our story we realized that we needed to create a role that didn't exist in our industry," said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. "We're thrilled to have a dynamic and passionate talent like Seth to help develop and host our new concept, which will give us a richer and more personal dialogue with consumers and travel advisors. With our headquarters in Seattle, Seth has been a friend of Holland America Line for years. We're proud to now call him a member of our family."
Wayne was the weather anchor for Western Washington's top-rated morning newscast on KOMO-TV, Seattle's ABC affiliate, and travel reporter for "Seattle Refined," a local lifestyle show on the same network. He produced and hosted "Adventures Await" on KOMO-AM featuring travel destinations and deals, with a focus on cruising.
"There's no doubt that people are looking for more in-depth and engaging content as part of their travel research, especially 'behind-the-scenes' information and advice directly from fellow explorers," said Wayne. "I am beyond excited to have the opportunity to bring these stories to life for Holland America Line and to say this new role as brand ambassador is a perfect fit would be an understatement. There are millions of stories to be told — and together we're going to hop on a wave like never before."
Wayne's foray into the travel industry began in 2003 as a travel and cruise advisor. He's been cruising since he was seven years old and has been on nearly 100 cruises.
Follow Seth on these channels:
Facebook: Seth Wayne Holland America Line
Twitter: @SethonHAL
Instagram: @SethWayne
For more information, contact a travel advisor, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.
Find Holland America Line on Twitter, Facebook and the Holland America Blog. Access all social media outlets via home page at hollandamerica.com.
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]
Holland America Line's fleet of 14 ships offers more than 500 cruises to more than 470 ports in 98 countries, territories or dependencies around the world. From shorter getaways to 128-day itineraries, the company's cruises visit all seven continents, with highlights including Antarctica explorations, South America circumnavigations and exotic Australia & New Zealand and Asia voyages; three annual Grand Voyages; and popular sailings to the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico, Canada & New England, Europe and the Panama Canal. The line welcomed Nieuw Statendam in December 2018. A third Pinnacle-class ship, Ryndam, will be delivered in 2021.
The company's brand evolution in recent years secured its position as the leader in premium cruising. Fleetwide, the ships feature innovative initiatives and a diverse range of enriching experiences focused on destination exploration and personalized travel. Outstanding entertainment fills each evening at venues including Lincoln Center Stage, B.B. King's Blues Club, Rolling Stone Rock Room and Billboard Onboard. The dining experience can be savored at a variety of restaurants with menus that feature selections from Holland America Line's esteemed Culinary Council, comprising world-famous chefs who design dishes exclusively for guests.
pr@hollandamerica.com
View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seattles-favorite-tv-weather-anchor-and-travel-guru-seth-wayne-joins-holland-america-line-in-new-brand-ambassador-role-300990700.html
SOURCE Holland America Line
Carnival Corp Carnival Plc ADR
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Tag Archive for: Handford
You are here: Home / News / Handford
A Kilburn shooting: The interfering mother-in-law
by Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms / June 11, 2013 /0 Comments/in History /
This dramatic picture from the Illustrated Police News show the scene outside 42 Iverson Road on the morning of Sunday 28 July 1889. But there’s a fair degree of artistic license. The four people shown were related by marriage: Leonard Handford who is holding a revolver to his head, was married to Sarah Elizabeth (shown on the ground at his feet). She was the daughter of Daniel Deveson and Elizabeth Deveson, (the couple on the right). Number 42, ‘Kent Villa’, was the Deveson’s family home. Daniel had been born in Kent, hence the choice of name.
Deveson had worked as a butler before running a dairy on the Edgware Road, but he was now retired. His daughter Sarah Elizabeth (born 1855), had been married before to Charles Kohler in 1876. He was a merchant with a violent temper, according to Sarah, and the marriage quickly fell apart. In her divorce papers she said that he had attacked her and she left him after just eight months of marriage. She lived with her parents in Iverson Road. She had met Leonard Bowes Handford (born 1856), when his parents moved from Lambeth to 27 Gascony Avenue. Both families were Baptists, and attending the same Chapel in Iverson Road. Charles’ father Ebenezer was a schoolmaster, turned clerk, and then lithographer.
Sarah and Leonard were married on 20 August 1887 and their son Archibald George Handford was born the following year. Sarah’s second marriage had also not gone well, and by the time of the assault the couple had been separated for several months. Sarah said her husband began drinking soon after Archie was born. In May 1889 Sarah began divorce proceedings. Leonard had moved out of Kent Lodge but he hadn’t gone far, renting a couple of rooms from William Butler at 26 Iverson Road. At his trial it became apparent Leonard couldn’t disconnect from his family – he tried but failed to see his son on his first birthday – and he desperately wanted reconciliation. A local policeman believed there was ‘great sympathy’ for Leonard in the neighbourhood.
The Brondesbury Baptist Chapel stood at the Kilburn High Road end of Iverson Road. Sarah and her parents had been to a Sunday morning service and were walking home. A witness saw Leonard leave Number 26 and approach first Sarah then her mother Elizabeth, shooting them both in rapid succession. Handford then turned the gun on himself, firing a single shot to his temple.
Possibly because the revolver had a small bore, neither woman fell unconscious in a pool of blood, as shown in the illustration above. The news report said Leonard pursued Sarah before shooting her, when she turned to face him. In fact, she was shot before she ran away from her husband. Her mother also managed to put some distance between herself and her attacker after being shot, before collapsing.
Leonard was taken to St Mary’s Hospital Paddington, in a very critical condition. But both women were helped into Kent Villa and attended at home by local doctors. Sarah had been shot through the cheek, the bullet lodging in her soft pallet before she swallowed it. Her mother’s wound was more serious, the bullet having passed through her cheek and out again through her neck. Luckily, neither woman required hospital treatment.
Leonard was considered well enough to appear at the first Magistrate’s hearing in early August 1889 where he was charged with intent to murder and attempted suicide. At the second hearing he still appeared very weak, but his head was no longer bandaged. Although Mrs Deveson was too ill to attend, Sarah’s wound had healed and she gave evidence at a further hearing on 30 August. She said Leonard had threatened to kill her on several occasions by blowing her, and their son Archie’s brains out.
Extracts were read out from letters written by Leonard before the assault, which were discovered by police at his lodgings. He blamed his treatment at the hands of the Devesons for driving him to actions ‘he would not have otherwise have done.’
When he married Sarah and against the advice of friends, he had moved into Number 42, because Elizabeth had been so upset at the thought of loosing her daughter. But he said the Devesons had treated him badly; ‘when my son Archie was born everything I did was laughed at, and they said that I was worse than a Kilburn dustman.’
Leonard accused his father-in-law of being mean while his mother-in-law was both unkind and interfering. So far as Sarah was concerned, Leonard started by saying he had married a ‘splendid woman’ who’d been treated very cruelly by her first husband. But he went on to complain she’d become ‘bad tempered and self willed and on one occasion locked herself and baby in a spare room away from him.’
Sarah had started divorce proceedings, citing his ‘drunken and violent habits,’ which Leonard said were all lies. But he did admit he was sometimes what he called ‘elevated’, and needing a ‘stimulant’ before he could face going home. He ended his letter:
Sorry, sorry indeed, to leave my child an orphan: but a woman who has promised to love and cherish, in sickness and health, rich or poor, and turns on her husband like a worm, is not a fit person to have charge of any child – at least one of mine. I hope he may be well cared for. I always looked on marriage as a very solemn thing. My wife, having been through the fire, evidently thought, to say the least, lightly of it.
Leonard was tried at the Old Bailey on 16 September 1889. His landlord, William Butler, said Leonard had been very depressed when he separated from Sarah. He slept badly, ate very little and had begun drinking heavily. Butler also said he warned Daniel Deveson that Leonard had a revolver. The defence tried to prove that while Leonard had meant to kill himself, shooting at Sarah and Elizabeth had been a spur of the moment decision. Leonard was found guilty, but the jury recommended mercy on the grounds of his health, and he was sentenced to 14 years in prison on the Isle of Portland.
Both mother and daughter recovered from their wounds; Elizabeth died, aged 83, fifteen years after the shooting. Sarah was still living with her parents at 42 Iverson Road, along with her son Archibald, in the 1891 census. They’d moved to 6 Cavendish Road by 1901, where Sarah continued to use the surname ‘Handford.’
She had however obtained a divorce from Leonard in 1890, the court awarding her custody of Archibald as Leonard was ruled unfit to act as his guardian under any circumstances. Despite this, in the 1891 census return for Portland Prison, Leonard described himself as ‘married.’ More curious was his choice of profession, shown as ‘artist/sculptor,’ rather than the clerk he’d always been. After he was released, Leonard returned to live with his parents in St Johns Wood, working as a wool broker’s clerk, and still claiming to be married. He died in Lambeth Infirmary in March 1909 and was buried in his parents’ grave at Hampstead Cemetery. He was still in love with Sarah and he left her £266 in his will, worth about £22,000 today.
Sarah and son Archie were still at Cavendish Road in 1911, when he was working for a photographer. Sarah had inherited a considerable amount of money from her father and when she died on 21 May 1929 at 19 Exeter Mansions Brondesbury, she left £10,786 (today worth about £511,000), to her son. Archie had moved to Croydon and was married there in 1914. He ran a photographic company, Archie Handford Ltd.
Archie at Croydon Camera Club about 1936
In the 1950s he formed ‘Chorley Handford’, a very successful aerial photographic company which was taken over by Skyscan in 2009. http://www.skyscan.co.uk/
They still have a large collection of old photos from Chorley Hanford. Archie died in Croydon in 1979.
Musicians in West Hampstead and Kilburn – part two November 19, 2013
Making Music in West Hampstead and Kilburn September 20, 2013
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The original Saint Andrew’s Church building dates c1310 when a large chancel, nave and two-stage tower were erected. A belfry and clerestory windows were added during 15th century. In 1737 Italian craftsmen remodelled the nave in a Venetian style, installing an elegant marble font, singers’ gallery, new seating and a three-decker pulpit. Restoration in 1897 returned windows to their original shape and the gallery, three-decker pulpit and font were removed.
A fourteenth century arch separates chancel and nave, where, prior to Reformation a magnificent rood screen, outside staircase and loft once stood. In many churches local minstrels used the loft for playing during church services.
Some further interesting facts about St Andrew’s Church:
The arch was restored to its original condition in 1897.
An elegant wrought iron screen was inserted in 1922. Parishioners painted and re-gilded the screen during 2003.
In the chancel can be found a fine example of a pre-Raphaelite window.
Music is played from a Victorian organ built in 1895.
The ring of bells was augmented to six for the millennium. The original tenor, recast in 1860 may date back to c1330.
(contributed by Anthea Robinson)
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If I finish the book I'm reading right now (J.R.R. Tolkien's collection of essays The Monsters and the Critics ) before the end of the month, I will have read as many books in April as I read in the three months preceding it. That's what reading holidays and volcano-induced delays will do for you. Of course, this is far too many books to give any of them an in-depth look, so here are some quick thoughts about some of them. Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente - Valente's latest novel, currently on the shortlist for the Hugo award, took a while to win me over. A portal fantasy in which the fantastic world (the titular city) is reached via sexual contact, with visitors to the city 'infecting' their partners and giving them access to the portion of it that is tattooed on their skin, Palimpsest revolves around four such visitors--a lonely Californian beekeeper, a New York locksmith obsessed with the death of his sister, an Italian antiques dealer infected by h
At long last I am back in the holy land, after a seven-leg, thirteen hour trip comprising four different kinds of trains (one of which, the London Underground, very nearly scuttled all my plans when the tightest change of the lot became a great deal tighter due to a mechanical failure on the Circle line), two countries, and one rather pleasant flight from Paris. Kudos are due to Niall Harrison and Nic Clarke, for opening both their home and their library to me while I was stranded, and to my airline El Al, for handling my (and, from what I've heard, many other passengers') case with impressive grace and efficiency, and making it their priority to get stranded passengers home, or as close as possible to it. Less praiseworthy are my phone company Orange, who threatened to disconnect my phone due to irregular usage, and did so just as I was traversing France, cutting me off from the people in England and Israel waiting to hear about my progress. While it's understandable t
Asking the Wrong Questions, the Blog in Exile
The plan for today was to land in Tel Aviv at an ungodly hour of the morning, get home, sleep for a bit, and then write a post about my journey in the evening. Unfortunately, everyone's favorite volcano Eyjafjallajoekull had other plans, and I have joined the ranks of tens of thousands of other stranded travelers all over Europe. Attempts at securing an alternate route have thus far proved futile--I have a booking for a flight leaving Madrid on Tuesday night, but at present I haven't been able to make train or bus reservations for the London-Madrid leg, and the likelihood that I'll manage to do so grows slimmer by the hour. Happily, my situation is quite comfortable. Not only do I have a place to stay, thanks to the kindness of Niall and Nic, but it is stacked to rafters with books, so that if it weren't for the uncertainty of my situation I would quite happily settle in for another reading week. Plus, if you're going to be stranded in a foreign country, there&
The 2010 Hugo Awards: The Hugo Nominees
Coming to you straight from Eastercon 2010, piping hot Hugo nominations--unless you've already got them from one of the people who were tweeting or liveblogging or webcasting the event, which I considered doing before deciding that that would just not be the AtWQ thing, and that I'd much rather add my thoughts about the nominees to the lists. It has been confirmed that there will be a Hugo voter packet again this year, but I promised myself to cut back on my emotional involvement with this award, and decided I'd only purchase a supporting membership of Aussiecon if there were nominees I truly wanted to see win. As you'll see in a moment, this has not been the case. As usual, I will review the short fiction nominees (assuming the ones I haven't read are made generally available). For those keeping track, there are eight female nominees out of 23 nominated works in the four fiction categories. Best Novel: Boneshaker by Cherie Priest The City & The Ci
Away, Away
This blog has been quiet enough recently that such an absence might go unnoticed, but for the next two weeks I'm going to be on holiday in the UK. This weekend I'll be attending Odyssey , the 2010 Eastercon at the Radisson hotel in Heathrow airport, and following that I'll be visiting friends and hopefully charging up on blogging fodder. I'm participating in a panel, on Sunday the 4th: Writing Meaningful Reviews of TV Shows and Books. 12PM-1PM. Room 41 . Too often reviews of TV programmes (or books) are a knee-jerk reaction condemning (or praising) a production while considering just one or two facets. What should a detailed review consider? How can we analyse more deeply? John Clute (mod), Chris Hill, Abigail Nussbaum and Alison Page. Other than that, I'm trying something new by taking my laptop with me, but will endeavor to spend more time offline than on, so though I may pop up on occasion, normal service won't resume until the middle of the month.
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Rex is a devoted family man having been married to his wife Connie for 33 years. They have one daughter, Morgan, whose three children adoringly refer to Rex as "Papi". Rex is also a great lover of animals and shares his home with his constant companion, Bently.
Trevor is married to his wife Joanna and has 2 daughters, Libby and Annabel. The family also includes their 10 year old Goldendoodle, Wrigley, who does his best to keep up with the girls. Trevor is an avid reader who’s favorite author is Stephen King, but he's willing to read anything that has a good mystery.
Dylan has been happily married for over 21 years to Amanda Qualitza-Roahrig. They have a son, Yeats. Dylan is a pop-culture enthusiast, a love he has passed on to his son. They enjoy attending fan conventions for everything from comic books to horror films to gaming together. Dylan takes his senior yearbook to these conventions, and has had it signed by the likes of Rowdy Roddy Piper, Lance Henriksen, John Waters, and, his personal favorite, Bruce Campbell, among others. He and his family love animals, and share their home with a St. Bernard, a Great Dane, and a cat who is the alpha of the pack.
Ann was formerly the Spencer County, Indiana Clerk for 8 years before she joined the WTH family and moved to Indianapolis. She has three children; Renae in Newburgh, Indiana, Bart in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and, Ally in Speedway, Indiana. She's known as “Grandma Ann” to eleven grandchildren with 6 under the age of four. Ann loves to cook and bake and grows a vegetable garden every summer. Besides being an elected official, she's no stranger to business success given that she won three Mary Kay cars while she was a Director in the company. Ann has also rubbed elbows with the NFL elite. She once lived in a little town named Mariah Hill, Indiana where former Colts tight end Kenny Dilger and former Kansas City Chiefs player Bruce King lived. Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler lived 5 minutes down the road in Santa Claus, Indiana, and was a good childhood friend of her son Bart.
Darrin been happily married to his wife Amy for 11 years. They have 2 boys, Caden and Ryland and a dog named Coco. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends and a favorite activity is going out to eat at different restaurants around Indianapolis. Darrin is a big sports fan and follow the Colts, Pacers, St. Louis Cardinals and Purdue athletics. He is originally from Gibson County Indiana and currently resides in Noblesville, Indiana, but, he likes to get down to Florida as much as possible! In his spare time Darrin enjoys reading books, watching movies and TV and collecting things like Baseball Cards and Comic Books.
Shane is a career Fire Lieutenant & Paramedic for the Goshen Fire Department in Goshen, IN. He has been in Fire/EMS since 2002. He also teaches EMT & Paramedic classes at Ivy Tech Community College. In his off time he enjoys camping and canoeing. He lives in Goshen, Indiana with his wife and two kids.
Jim has been with WTH since 2014. He is married to his wife Maryanne for 36 years. He has two sons, and a wonderful granddaughter. Jim has a public safety background that started with the South Brunswick police in 1995. Jim served as an auxiliary patrolman, 911 dispatcher and eventually the 911 supervisor. The GIS mapping became and continues to be integral part of the day to day operation. Jim's mission is to make sure that all the WTH customers see the benefits in having a map that is fine tuned to their local needs.
Eric comes from a large family in Southern Indiana. His father is the oldest of 11 children. Apparently that's why he and his wife of over 34 years, Sue, only have one son!
Eric is a huge fan of the Andy Griffith Show. In fact, for several years he's traveled the country performing with other "tribute artists" as Mayor Pike. He's been fortunate to meet and perform with several of the original cast. Here's a recent picture with Betty Lynn who played Barney Fife's girlfriend Thelma Lou.
Eric is also active in his church and Emmaus community, he enjoys photography and bluegrass music. He's even been known to bring his guitar and mandolin and play a few tunes at the WTH User Conference Welcome Reception.
Steve is a lifelong runner, persistent gardener and supporter of local coffee shops. He is married with two children and 3 grandchildren. Prior to WTH, he learned all about maps as a land use attorney, developer and community planner. Steve is active in his church and serves on the board of a statewide trails organization. He enjoys local history and learning more about each community's unique places.
Team member biography information not available.
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Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister of Agriculture and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi lighting the lamp during the inaugural ceremony of the 2nd Assam International Agri- Horticulture Show- 2015 at Khanapara in Guwahati on Tuesday. - AT Photo
GUWAHATI, Feb 10 – Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today advocated extensive use of science and modern technology for promoting organic farming in the state which will extend from pothar (field) to pak ghar (kitchen).
Inaugurating the second Assam-International Agri-Horticultural Show-2015 at the Veterinary College playground at Khanapara here today, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said science should be used judiciously for the state to carve out a niche in the field of organic farming in the country.
He also advocated for smart agriculture which will be a right mix of soil management, seed management, ground water management and technology management to enhance agricultural production.
Stating that the foundation of Assam relies on agriculture and farmers, the Chief Minister stressed on taking more schemes for the socio-economic development of the farmers.
He also informed that the Government would launch a scheme after the name of Momai Tamuli Barbarua acknowledging his service in the field of agriculture.
Stating that agriculture and culture are inter-linked, the Chief Minister said that this Assam-International Agri-Horticultural show will prove to be a platform where agricultural and cultural practices of several participating foreign countries will converge with that of Assam.
He also said that organising this mega event in Assam and participation of many foreign countries along with multinational companies is a testimony to improved law-and-order situation in Assam.
Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, while speaking on the occasion, stressed on Centre-State cooperation for the promotion of agriculture and its production. He also reiterated Centre’s commitment to welfare of the farmers and informed that the Centre would provide health cards to all the land-holding farmers.
Laying importance on research for increased agricultural production, the Union Agriculture Minister said that there is greater need for agricultural universities to promote research works in the country to bolster a Green Revolution.
Assam Agriculture, Horticulture and Food Processing Minister Rakibul Hussain while sharing his experience said that the Agri-Horticultural show would lead to innovation, exchange of ideas among the participating countries which will lead to tapping the potential of agricultural sector in the State.
He also said that for the benefit of the farmers, agriculture information centres would be set up in all the Block Development Offices in 219 blocks of Assam.
The Minister also said the ongoing show would facilitate business to business, business to farmers and business to Government activities for the promotion of agriculture in the state.
Assam Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla, Additional Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, Commissioner Secretary, Agriculture Hemanta Narzary, Secretary of Indian Chambers of Commerce Rajiv Singh along with a host other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
The five-day show will witness participation of 12 countries, 25 multinational companies and 425 stalls.
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SC Fastest Growing
Coronavirus-What's Next
The Beach Company Breaks Ground On The Jasper
Aug 08, 2018 04:35PM ● By Kathleen Maris
Image: A rendering of The Jasper, slated for completion in 2020.
The Beach Company broke ground on The Jasper, a new luxury 12-story mixed-use building located in Charleston’s iconic Harleston Village neighborhood slated for completion in 2020. Positioned on more than four acres at the western gateway to Charleston’s historic district at 310 Broad St., the new landmark property will feature stunning views of the waterfront and historic peninsula with premium office space, luxury apartments, and premier dining and retail options.
Setting the architectural standard for large buildings in Charleston’s historic district, plans for the site include 219 luxury multifamily units, 75,000 square feet of AAA-office space, and 25,000 square feet of first-floor retail space with an enclosed parking garage.
“There is no other location on the peninsula – or possibly the Eastern Seaboard – like The Jasper site,” said John Darby, CEO of The Beach Company. “The City of Charleston is the number-one city in the world, the surrounding neighborhood is one of the most desirable on the peninsula, and the city’s Board of Architectural Review has commended the high quality of architecture for this special waterfront project. The Jasper’s combination of location, views, and amenities will set a new standard for luxury living in Charleston.”
Architect Joe Antunovich, president of Antunovich Associates, specializes in historic redevelopment projects in urban environments and is The Jasper’s principle design architect. Antunovich, a recipient of the Legendary Landmark honor given to Chicagoans for contributions to the city's civic and cultural legacy, applied his expertise to create a new landmark building in the historic district.
“In my experience, Charleston’s Board of Architectural Review maintains one of the highest thresholds for architectural integrity in the country. During our numerous meetings with them, no consideration was overlooked for this site,” said Antunovich. “The Jasper sets the bar for mixed-use buildings in historic districts. Its design, massing, and detailing recall the elegance of other cherished neoclassical structures found throughout Charleston, but serves the needs of tomorrow’s resident, neighbor, and office professional. That combination, coupled with top-of-the-line amenities and marvelous views of the Charleston harbor and downtown Charleston, make The Jasper a truly one-of-a-kind legacy project and the finest building in Charleston.”
Centrally located on the peninsula, The Jasper will be a new center of business with premium office space and unparalleled amenities, including onsite dining and shopping, a fitness center, and ample parking.
Residents at The Jasper will enjoy new luxury living in Charleston’s most sought-after neighborhood with first-rate amenities to match, including a rooftop pool and garden, resident club and lounge, enclosed parking, attended lobby, and unmatched views of the waterfront and iconic Charleston skyline.
The Jasper will offer a carefully curated mix of retail offerings, including shopping, services, and dining experiences with outdoor seating, walkways, and parks to create a distinct gathering space for residents, business professionals, and guests.
The Jasper is designed by Antunovich Associates of Chicago in partnership with LS3P architects and DesignWorks of Charleston. The Beach Company is now leasing office and retail space and has opened its residential reservation list.
The Beach Company is also committed to contributing to the restoration and beautification of two parks near The Jasper. The company presented a check for $50,000 to the Friends of Moultrie Playground, an organization overseeing renovations to Moultrie Playground near The Jasper. The company also donated $1 million toward the beautification of Colonial Lake, a 10-acre park adjacent to The Jasper, in 2016.
ONSITE/ONLINE Centering Prayer
9:00am · Bliss Spiritual Co-op
Unity Online Virtual Meditation
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11:00am · Bliss Spiritual Co-op
ONLINE Happiness Workshop
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ONSITE Yin Yoga
6:00pm · Bliss Spiritual Co-op
Charleston Business Magazine
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Founding father of rocketry and astronautics claims UFO’s are spaceships...
Videos that claim to show lifelike Anunnaki mummies 'in stasis'...
Is There A Top-Secret, Black Budget Space Program Built With...
Is There A Top-Secret, Black Budget Space Program Built With Reverse-Engineered Alien Tech?
Conspiracy, Unexplained
There is ample evidence to support theories that suggest there is a top-secret, black-budget space program built with reverse engineered alien technology. In fact, a 1997 US Senate report accurately describe the nature behind these as: “so sensitive that they are exempt from standard reporting requirements to the Congress.”
Does the existence of a top-secret, black-budget space program sound ludicrous? Well, to some it may seem so, but the truth is that there are a lot of things that most of us have absolutely no idea about.
Only in the past couple of years have researchers, former astronauts and military officials opened out about Alien life, UFO’s and otherworldly technology, helping us open our eyes to what is really out there.
The easiest things most of us can do is completely dismiss anything related to UFO’s and aliens thinking it’s a complete hoax.
The truth, however, is that there are things out there that deserve to be properly researched.
Even though there is an ample amount of evidence related to UFOs, Alien tech, and life elsewhere in the cosmos, society has continued to ignore the facts, undermining the idea we are not alone in the universe.
But interestingly, even though we have tried very hard to answer in the last couple of decades whether or not we are alone in the universe, the debate about Alien life isn’t something new to modern times.
Since recorded history, people have asked what if somewhere out there is life similar to that on Earth.
“To consider the Earth as the only populated world in infinite space is as absurd as to assert that in an entire field of millet, only one grain will grow.” – Metrodorus, Greek philosopher of the fourth century B.C.
“We are not alone in the universe. They have been coming here for a long time…” –Edgar Mitchell
The evidence is here, and we only have to be willing to read, research and think about it without prejudice.
“Intelligent beings from other star systems have been and are visiting our planet Earth. They are variously referred to as Visitors, Others, Star People, Et’s, etc…They are visiting Earth now; this is not a matter of conjecture or wistful thinking.” – Theodor C. Loder III, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Earth Sciences, University of New Hampshire.
But perhaps one of the best people to say what’s really going on out there is Dr. Farouk El Baz, a NASA scientist who said that: “Not every discovery has been announced.”
But despite all of the above, society has remained cautious and skeptical when it comes to Alien life, Alien technology, and beings visiting us from elsewhere in the universe.
Why? Mostly because of a fake alien propaganda that has been ‘inducted’ into our lives; Little Green Martians, flying saucers, and the absurd amount of ‘hoaxes’ that circulate the internet.
The truth is that behind all of this, BIG things are happening without us even noticing.
Behind the scenes, high-ranking Air Force officers are soberly concerned about UFOs. But through official secrecy and ridicule, many citizens are led to believe the unknown flying objects are nonsense.” –Former head of CIA, Roscoe Hillenkoetter, 1960 (source)
Professor Hermann Oberth is a German rocket expert considered as the founding father of the space age, rocketry and space travel.
In 1955, he was invited by Dr. Werner von Braun to the United States where he participated with the Army Ballistic Missile Agency and NASA. A year before that, Oberth showed an active interest in UFOs.
On one occasion he said:
It is my thesis that flying saucers are real and that they are space ships from another solar system. I think that they possibly are manned by intelligent ‘observers’ who are members of a race that may have been investigating Earth for centuries.
I think that they have possibly been sent out to conduct systematic, long-range investigation, first of men, animals, vegetation, and more recently of atomic centers, armaments, and centers of armament production. (Oberth H., “Flying Saucers Came From A Distant World,” The American Weekly, October 24, 1954.)
These so-called top-secret, black budget space programs are real and usually referred to as Special Access Programs (SAP).
While these programs do not exist publicly, they are there behind the scenes. Some call them ‘deep black programs.’
Interestingly, a 1997 US Senate report accurately describe the nature behind them as: “so sensitive that they are exempt from standard reporting requirements to the Congress.” (source)
Even more fascinating is the fact that in 1993, during a lecture at the UCLA Alumni Center, Ben Rich, former CEO of Lockheed Martin held a very interesting speech about technological advancements in space engineering in a period of forty years. He concluded his speech with the following quote: “
We now have the technology to take ET home.” – Ben Rich, CEO of Lockheed Skunk Works, 1993
Featured Image Credit
Alien, NASA, Secret Space Program
Hugo Spinoso says:
its possible, however most likely if they are coming here physically the ufo entering orbit will have some kind of selfdestruct device at least for the engines or whatever it is that allows them to fly like that.
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Trauma informed care training
Hi everyone - this is my (Jonathan’s) first blog post as BCJC’s VISTA, picking up where Grace has left off!
On October 21st and 22nd, BCJC volunteers joined us for back-to-back training sessions focused on Trauma Informed Care. The trainings were led by Kylen Velieux, who is the Transitional Services Coordinator with the DIVAS Program (Discussing Intimate Violence and Accessing Support), a project of the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
The first evening was a screening of the documentary Healing Neen (CW: sexual abuse, physical violence, substance use), which follows the recovery of Tonier ‘Neen’ Cain from an early life of trauma and incarceration to her empowering and impactful adult life as an educator and speaker. Through her intense and remarkable story, the film showed the devastation of trauma and the remarkable hope for personal and social transformation through the thoughtful and determined application of Trauma Informed Care. This screening was followed by a short, facilitated discussion of the film.
The following evening, we were privileged to listen to Kylen’s presentation on Trauma Informed Care and how we can bring these frameworks to our roles with the Justice Center. Her presentation covered how trauma changes the brain, how we can better understand and act on the impacts of trauma, and how we can be more effective in advocating for and supporting folks in our community who have experienced trauma.
For me personally, one of my biggest takeaways from the training was around how we think about trauma and healing. One volunteer remarked on how we - as volunteers and restorative practitioners - are not healers, but that we hope to create and hold healing spaces. This perspective may be old news to some of you who have been doing this for longer than I have, but for me it was very profound - and I think I won’t truly understand all that this means in practice for some time.
If you are interested in learning more about trauma informed care, you can follow this link to the CDC’s website. If you’d like to connect with relevant organizations and resources in our community, you can follow this link to our Community Support page. And finally, if you’d like to read a book recommended by Kylen that centers and empowers the voices of incarcerated women in Vermont, you can find that here.
A huge thank you to Kylen and to all the volunteers who joined us! And now to you as well for reading my first blog post! Wishing health and peace to our community in these times.
Happy mid-January y'all! Hope the 20s are treating you well so far. In this blog post we'll be diving into what the CASH Labs series that the Brattleboro Community Justice Center is putting on is all about, where the inspiration behind it is coming from, and how you can get involved.
The Justice Center is looking to change the meaning of CASH into (you guessed it) another acronym: Community, Accountability, Safety, and Harm labs. These words have been picked up from a number of community conversations that folks at the Justice Center have been apart of, attended as an observer, or watched virtually. There seems to be a need for clarity around who we are referring to when we say “the Brattleboro community”, what real, meaningful, and restorative accountability looks like, whose responsibility it is to keep us safe, and how we all can address and repair the systematic harm that is manifesting itself in our day to day lives. Therefore, this lab series is seeking to (1) experiment with how folks relate to the concepts of Community, Accountability, Safety and Harm and (2) to share and practice skills that folks need to prevent, respond to, and heal from instances of interpersonal harm while addressing the harm's systematic roots.
As for the “lab” language being used- the inspiration for this is coming from the work that the Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective (BATJC) is doing with their own series of labs that mean to “practice and build transformative justice in the Bay Area with the people in their everyday lives” (which you can learn more about here). What’s so compelling about the lab language is that it makes the gatherings geared toward exploration and experimentation of these concepts rather than having folks amass a set of skills that are to be deployed at times of conflict. Each lab will allow you to reflect on your current practices around community, accountability, safety, and harm and experiment with ways you can grow and transform in your relationship to each.
The labs also draw a lot of inspiration from INCITE!’s work on Community Accountability, Safe Outside the System’s community based strategies on addressing violence, and the resources provided at Transform Harm.
How can you engage with the lab series?
Join us at a lab! Here’s what we’ve done and have planned so far:
Just finished up with our January Lab on Healthy Communication Lab
In February we’ll be having a Healthy Relationships Lab led by the Women’s Freedom Center - stay tuned to our Facebook for the date/time
In March will be hosting a lab delving into the concepts of Community and Accountability
Check out the resources on Community Accountability and Communication on our CASH Labs page on our website
http://www.brattleborocjc.org/cash-labs.html
Email Grace if you have some skills you want to share (or learn) that fit our goals!
grace@brattleborocjc.org :)
Thanks for reading- and hope to see you at one of the labs!
Restorative Practices Log
By members of the Windham County Coalition for Restorative Communities (WCRC)
We see the value in having public recognition of instances of harm in the community. It’s good to know what’s going on with our neighbors. In reality, however, the information given in the Police Log is coming into a society that meets harm with punishment rather than solutions. Unfortunately, community members who have had contact with law enforcement are often subjected to a public humiliation that is solidified in black ink. We have heard this time and time again from folks who come through our restorative programs. Their friends, family, employers, and fellow community members read the paper’s version of events and often respond the way they’ve been taught: through shaming that person in whatever way they see fit. It takes conscious effort and practice to make our reaction to wrongdoing restorative, and the Police Log doesn’t offer the space necessary for that work to begin.
This is a “Restorative Practices Log,” celebrating both international Restorative Justice week (November 17th-24th) and the successes of people and organizations in the community employing restorative programs and responses to wrongdoing. Restorative Practices focuses on building community and relationships through effective communication and responding to conflict by involving everyone affected by the event and together determining how best to repair the harm done by it. Restorative Practices asks us to work with folks involved in a harmful situation rather than doing something to them or doing something for them. This new restorative narrative sees crime and wrongdoing as people shedding light on greater harms that are at play in the community and putting the responsibility to recognize, address, and repair this harm on the entire community.
Dan DeWalt - Restorative Community Justice of Southern Vermont (RCJSV)
Restorative Community Justice of Southern Vermont has a mission to bring restorative practice skills to everyone on the planet, starting with southern Vermont. RCJSV holds free monthly trainings to develop a corps of volunteers who then are able to do restorative conflict resolution for their friends and neighbors. RCJSV now offers free conflict resolution to anyone who requests it. Our work has ranged from restoring damaged relationships in a school setting, to facilitating circles for police and folks who have done harm, to resolving conflicts in businesses and in the marketplace. Our circles give the parties involved in a conflict the opportunity to meet face to face. Every participant gets a chance to speak fully about themselves and their actions, this includes whomever is seen as the aggressor in the conflict. RCJSV facilitates, but those involved in the conflict are the ones who determine the solutions.
Ginger Driscoll - Greater Falls Community Justice Center (GFCJC)
Suzanne Belleci, Director of Greater Falls Community Justice Center, was invited to present to the local charitable group, 100 Who Care Windham Southeast Vermont. 100 People Who Care is a national trend of local chapters who want to contribute to a better world by starting in their own communities. The group listens to five minute presentations by local community organizations, each followed by a question and answer session. Then they vote to decide which group will receive a donation of $25 from each member. GFCJC was selected as the winning organization at the recent meeting on November 15th. Funds will be used to support fathering classes for those impacted by incarceration. GFCJC is grateful for 100 Who Care’s time and generosity.
Mike Szostak- Restorative Practices at Windham Southeast School District (WSESD)
Restorative justice, or ideally restorative living, does not address all of the ills of our society but it is an active step toward at least offsetting some. This approach places the focus on finding ways to address the harm caused to both individuals and the community as a whole. In a restorative circle, all participants have an equal voice regardless of factors such as gender, race, and income-level. It is not we vs. they, each side armed with lawyers. Instead, it is an approach where all involved parties work together to arrive at a workable resolution, while holding those creating harm accountable in a way that gives realistic hope to redemption and constructive long-term change. We are fortunate to live in a community where the value of restorative justice is being recognized, as evidenced by restorative justice work being done by various organizations throughout our community, including our schools.
Grace Koch - Brattleboro Community Justice Center
The Brattleboro Community Justice Center (BCJC) wraps up the first year of partnering with the Brattleboro Food Co-op, the Brattleboro Police Department, and the State's Attorney for its Restorative Businesses Program pilot. This program has folks come to the BCJC rather than being charged in instances of shoplifting, unlawful trespass, and disorderly conduct at the Co-op. At the BCJC those who have done some sort of harm in the community go through a restorative session (or multiple restorative sessions) with both staff and our community volunteers where they answer the questions: What happened? Who was impacted? How were they impacted? What do you think can be done to repair the harm? This repairing has looked like people returning stolen merchandise, folks paying the Co-op restitution for items stolen, and others working through the harm they have caused through a restorative lens. We hope to expand this program by partnering with other businesses in Brattleboro so that more people are working through harm by being brought further into the community rather than being pushed further away from it.
Indigenous Roots of restorative justice
This is a brief overview of what I’ve read about indigenous[1] peoples’ practices of justice. It is in no way representative of the many diverse native cultures and faith traditions from which restorative justice takes root.
Restorative justice is not new. Well, the name is new, and its practice in the Western world (the colonized Western world) was not born until the 1970s with the “Kitchener experiment” in Ontario, Canada. This “experiment” was conducted by a probation officer who arranged for two teenagers to meet directly with the twenty-two people whose property they had vandalized which ended with the teens agreeing to restitution.[2] But, the roots of restorative thinking can be found in various faith traditions and indigenous cultures dating back centuries.Therefore, we will be diving into the justice practices of a few indigenous peoples’ communities to get a feel for what restorative justice looks like when practiced as a lifestyle rather than an alternative to the United States’ criminal justice system. To do this, we will be following some of the findings from Robert Ross’s book, Returning to the Teaching: Exploring Aboriginial Justice, in which he lays down some underlying themes from his time as a non-native person speaking with Aboriginal people, mostly the Cree and Ojibway First Nations in northwestern Ontario.
The first principle that Ross describes is that "justice involves far more than what you do after things have gone wrong ... instead it involves creating the social conditions that minimize such wrongdoing."[3] A strong healthy community is the bedrock to justice in many indigenous communities, while the Western world might see it merely as a response to wrongdoing. Robert Yazzie, a retired Chief Justice of the Navajo (also known as Dine)[4] Nation Supreme Court, states, “I always say that America responds to crime after the fact, not before the fact.”[5] Therefore, most of the justice work done by the Navajo is rooted in prevention meant to maintain harmony and balance in the community.
Leanne Douglas is the coordinator of the Biiaaban program that is run in the Mnjikaning First Nation community in Ontario, Canada, which works with people who have committed wrongdoing and the people who have been affected by wrongdoing. She states, “If somebody was acting out and not behaving properly, it meant that they were out of balance and that they needed to be brought back into balance. When we talk about balance and harmony within the community I think it comes from that.”[6] By making the principles of balance and harmony the first priority of justice, more time and resources are spent strengthening the community rather than responding to breaches of relationships.
The second principle laid down by Ross is that, “Aboriginal teachings speak of all things in the universe as part of a single whole, interconnected through relationships. The whole includes the physical and the spiritual. Realizing the interrelationships among humans, the Earth and the spiritual builds healthy relationships, which are the foundations of a harmonious society.”[3] Looking at the world from the communal rather than the individual is integral to many aspects of some indigenous folks’ experience, which goes directly against the individualistic philosophy of the colonial Western world. Judge Joseph Flies-Away, formerly chief judge for the Hualapai Tribal Court from 1996 to 1998, states that when someone commits a criminal act, “People say, ‘He acts like he has no relatives” which means that the purpose of law,then, is to bring people back into the fold.” He continues, “People do the worst things when they have no ties to people. Tribal court systems are a tool to make people connected again.”[5] As James Zion, a colleague of Robert Yazzie who has been involved with Indian law since 1975 states, “People are not simply individuals in society. Everyone owes special obligations to others.”[5]
The third, and the final principle we will be examining, that Ross summarizes is, “According to traditional teachings, people will always have different perceptions of the truth and the events that occurred. From this perspective, the truth has more to do with each person's reaction to and sense of involvement with the events in question, for that is what is truly real to them. Thus, objectivity is an illusion and the question of the seriousness of the crime a futile one. The focus of justice, then, is to address the harm done and the causes of the wrongdoing, rather than the severity or the details of the offence.”[3] This is a hefty principle, but each element in it shows how fundamentally different certain types of indigenous peoples' justice are from the adversarial criminal justice system of the West which makes a point of finding the facts and punishing accordingly. This principle also draws from the Navajo concept of K’e, or respect, which is essential to the peacemaking process and what Justice Robert Yazzie states, “means to restore my dignity, to restore my worthiness.”[5] From this perspective of restoration of dignity, we honor all those involved in the justice process more than we honor some agreed upon “truth”.
What struck me most during my (very) short time researching various indigenous peoples' systems of justice was that those I've found are WAY more hardcore than the United States’ criminal justice system. People tend to view restorative justice as a fluffy, altruistic, or even non-realistic alternative to the “tough on crime” criminal justice model of the United States. But this system is not about taking responsibility, as, for example, I learned at temporary staff member Meg Mott’s talk on the Sixth Amendment that more than 95% of felony charges end in plea bargains simply because it’s easier for the defendant than going to trial. No one in our “tough on crime” system is being forced to reckon with what they have done in any real way, therefore there is no accountability and recidivism is high.
Leanna Douglas, the coordinator of the Biidaaban justice program, summarizes why indigenous justice is much “tougher” than the criminal justice system: “When you go to the court system, people in the community really don’t know what’s going on there. But when it’s public and in the community then everybody knows and it can act like a community watch program. So people know that people are watching them and that they need to behave properly. [The people who commit the wrongdoing] are frightened about facing the community. They took responsibility for what they did and apologized, but it was definitely a frightening experience—a lot more frightening than standing in court and not having to say anything.”[6] The United States criminal justice system allows the sense of isolation and individuality to flourish while both Aboriginal and restorative justice creates an environment where accountability is borne out of a recognition of one’s responsibility to the community of which one is apart of.
[1] The words Aboriginal, native, indigenous, and indian are used in this blog post to describe folks that belong to communities who have lived on their respective lands before Western colonization. Most of my use of these words come from the articles I reference, but it’s important to recognize that different folks have different words they use to describe their people.
[2] Staff, IIRP. “3. History.” IIRP, www.iirp.edu/defining-restorative/history.
[3] Leung, May. “The Origins of Restorative Justice.” Www.cfcj-Fcjc.org, 4 Apr. 2001, www.cfcj-fcjc.org/sites/default/files/docs/hosted/17445-restorative_justice.pdf.
[4] Navajo is a name given to the Dine Nation by the Spaniards and the Federal government. The nation voted on changing the name to Dine in 2017, but ultimately decided to stick with the name of Navajo to not confuse community members. This information was taken from this article: https://www.indianz.com/News/2017/04/19/navajo-nation-council-rejects-bill-to-ch.asp.
[5] Mirsky, Laura. “Restorative Justice Practices of Native American, First Nation and Other Indigenous People of North America: Part One.” IIRP, www.iirp.edu/news/restorative-justice-practices-of-native-american-first-nation-and-other-indigenous-people-of-north-america-part-one#endnote1_to.
[6] Mirsky, Laura. “Restorative Justice Practices of Native American, First Nation and Other Indigenous People of North America: Part Two.” IIRP, www.iirp.edu/news/restorative-justice-practices-of-native-american-first-nation-and-other-indigenous-people-of-north-america-part-two.
Brown Bag Lunch Series on the Opioid Crisis: Notes, Thoughts, and Resources
Hi everyone! Again, or for the first time, I’m Grace and I’m the new Americorps VISTA at BCJC. I’ll be writing blog posts bi-weekly on various topics related to Restorative Justice and our work here at BCJC. Here are my four takeaways from the talks given by various organizations on the opioid crisis:
We Can’t Arrest, Hate, or Institutionalize Our Way Out of This Crisis
This was a notion that was impressed upon by all of the facilitators and speakers during the talks. Treating people with force- throwing them out of buildings or businesses or kicking them off the streets and into the jail cell- just doesn’t work. In true restorative fashion, both the police and the hospital have a no arrest policy for those who call 911 and are admitted to the hospital because of an overdose through a Good Samaritan law passed in 2013. Instead, those admitted to Brooks Memorial Hospital will have access to a Recovery Coach from Turning Point (there is one stationed in the emergency room 24/7), harm reduction training put on by the hospital, and information on how to be admitted to the HUB at the Brattleboro Retreat. This system, in part, is thanks to the work done by Project CARE, a collective of organizations that was put together by the Brattleboro Police Department in response to their realization that arresting those experiencing substance use disorder, one more time for emphasis, just doesn’t work.
Community Members Are Part of the Solution
There’s a ton that those in the community that aren’t experiencing substance use disorder can do. One of the first things you can do is familiarize yourself with the signs of an opioid overdose and the administration of NARCAN. This was a 20-minute presentation, so I won’t try to explain it all here. I’ve included links in the resource section with more information, but the main things to look for in an overdose are blue fingernails and lips, slow or stopped breathing, and that the person is unresponsive. Try to wake them up by rubbing your knuckles into their sternum before resorting to the administration of NARCAN.
Second, you can change the way you talk and think about people who are experiencing substance use disorder. At the talks, another thing that was frequently brought up was the stigma that is associated with substance use, and how this creates barriers between people and recovery. So, instead of “addict” you could use “person with substance use disorder,” instead of “oh, don’t worry, she’s clean” use “she’s currently not using substances,” avoid the use of the word “abuse” all together if you can. The first two are examples of person-first language, which is one of the main tactics of the project to de-stigmatize substance use disorder. I’ve included more on this in the resource section.
Finally, do your best to humanize those living with substance use disorder. This can be done with the use of person-first language, making eye contact with those on the street that you might think are experiencing the disorder, and reading/hearing stories of recovery. An opportunity to do this is coming up with “A Beautiful Journey: Stories of Recovery” October 3rd at the Latchis Theatre where people in recovery share their stories, and how you, as community members, can support them.
COSU’s 9 Themes
The Windham County Consortium on Substance Use (COSU) presented at the Wednesday talk and gave 9 themes that they gathered from 30 forums and focus groups they conducted throughout the county centered around the crisis. Here they are:
Full Community Approach Needed
See section above.
This is a complex issue. Throughout their research, COSU has found that a combination of racism, poverty, lack of housing, isolation, and other issues came together to create this crisis.
Stigma and Discrimination
A lot of people expressed that they were discriminated against when applying for housing, jobs, and essential life needs because of their past substance use. We must make society “recovery-ready” so that those who have been helped and are ready to re-integrate into the community can do so.
Harm Reduction and Safe Use
It’s important to meet people where they are at. This came up during Turning Point’s talk as well, as they would literally meet people where they were at with recovery resources by taking to the street. People with substance use disorder need a supportive community and safe ways to use while they are using so that we can keep people alive until they can be treated. Research has shown that harm reduction shortens the period of active use.
Insufficient housing and transportation are issues that contribute to the opioid crisis. Project CARE received a grant from United Way to provide people with transportation to recovery programs, but this is only one part of what needs to be a much larger solution to these issues.
Project CARE is a good example of how collaboration is effective in responding to the opioid crisis. As a community, it is important that we seek more ways to collaborate on this issue.
As mentioned, isolation is a huge component to why people use substances. People, not only in Brattleboro, but all over the world, are lacking purpose and community. More community events, and circles of support were ways that were suggested to address this theme.
It’s important to remember that recovery is a long process. It could take 8 years to fully recover from substance use disorder. Recovery is not easy or a simple path, and it is important that our economy and community are both recovery ready.
COSU’s speakers emphasized the fact that prevention is a goal for the entire community.
How the Opioid Crisis Relates to our work at BCJC
A lot of our core members and guests that we work with here at BCJC have been affected some way by the opioid crisis. When speaking with people with substance use disorder or people affected by someone with substance use disorder, I think education on the sources of the disorder as well as the impacts of the disorder is important to keep in mind. Restorative Justice is about repairing relationships in the community after they have been violated, and many relationships have been violated by the opioid crisis. In order to restore in the wake of this crisis, community members must examine their responsibility to assist in the healing process and recognize that no problem is borne from one source alone. This crisis has been the result of a multitude of issues and therefore no individual holds the blame. At the same time, those that are perpetrating crimes because of a substance use disorder must be held accountable to their actions as well as be provided help as they have been the receiver of societal, communal, or personal wrongdoings themselves.
If you’d like more information, below I have included a PDF with my full notes from the talks, as well as a PDF with all of the resources I gathered at the talks.
Resource Section
restorative justice & race in Vermont
RJ practitioner and former BCJC intern Ethan Hazzard-Watkins, MSW, explores racial disparities at various decision-points in the criminal justice system, whether Vermont RJ programs are currently reducing racial disparities in the adult criminal legal system, and, if not, what could be done to allow RJ programs to have this effect.
Read Ethan's paper below for an exploration of these issues, plus recommendations for aligning our local restorative justice practice with racial justice goals.
You can also download the paper:
restorative_jusice_and_racial_justice_in_vermont.pdf
Is restorative justice effective?
Maybe you've experienced the power of a restorative process yourself but aren't sure whether it "works" on a larger scale. Maybe you're skeptical about whether restorative justice "works." Or maybe you want some data to back up your pitch to a skeptic.
Our BCJC intern and Masters in Social Work student at the University of Vermont, Ethan Hazzard-Watkins, explores some of the literature below on the effectiveness of certain RJ processes.
You can also download this paper here:
restorative_jusice_effectiveness_lit_review.pdf
Racial Justice and RJ: Volunteers Speak
By Christine Colascione
Anne Louise Wagner has been a reparative panel volunteer with BCJC for several months, after first volunteering with the Youth Services Court Diversion Panels for many years. Anne Louise completed independent work with restorative justice and conflict resolution while studying at SIT and continues to work with experiential learning and conflict resolution through her role at High 5 Adventure’s Edge of Leadership Program.
Megan Grove began volunteering with the Brattleboro Community Justice Center through her degree program at SIT in Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation, during which she completed an eight month internship at BCJC. She then continued to intern as a reparative panel assistant and has assisted BCJC in mediation, training and restorative counseling as a freelance consultant.
Both Megan and Anne Louise also work with Lost River Racial Justice, a currently majority-white Brattleboro-based racial justice organization which works uniquely within our rural and small town contexts to transfer power and resources to black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities. Many forms of restorative justice have been practiced by native communities long before beginning to be implemented by the U.S. It is imperative to stay educated on the racist history and present of our current criminal justice system, and make sure that as restorative justice expands and begins to overlap with the current system, that an absolute rejection of white supremacy both internally and externally are actively employed throughout the restorative justice process.
I have asked Anne Louise and Megan a series of questions about the connections between racial and restorative justice:
What intersections do you see between racial justice and restorative justice?
Anne Louise: “The School to Prison Pipeline is an obvious one. Also, restorative practices work against some pieces of white supremacist culture, such as fear of open conflict, either-or thinking (victim vs. perpetrator), and power hoarding. We have to be careful, however, because white supremacist cultural components (for example, paternalism) can show up on reparative panels!”
Megan: “I think both restorative justice and racial justice are rooted in equity so when the word “justice” is used it is not a one-size-fits-all approach but it recognizes each individual’s experiences, needs, and desires. In my view, both restorative and racial justice view justice as something we achieve together in the mantra of “we are not free until all of us are free.””
Have you seen racial justice in action at BCJC?
Anne: “Not at BCJC, however I have an example from another local panel. A black community activist & organizer from Brattleboro came in and got a chance to share their story of why they were arrested during a protest, the differential treatment they received compared to white protesters, and impact the event had on their children who were present, and the long-term complication and challenges. Everyone on the panel agreed racial-bias was at play based on law-enforcement’s behavior. Their process was fast-tracked and the fee was waived; panelists wanted to limit emotional energy required by activist of color.”
Megan: “I think both restorative justice and racial justice are rooted in equity so when the word “justice” is used it is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but recognizes each individual’s experiences, needs, and desires. In my view, both restorative and racial justice see justice as something we achieve together in the mantra of “we are not free until all of us are free.”
What do you see as the biggest obstacle towards increasing restorative justice across the country?
Anne Louise: “The general public needs to trust that it works. Punitive punishment (revenge) mentality makes things seem fair based on people’s current mindset around “justice” [but it isn’t].” Additionally, people need to develop their conversation skills – ability to disagree, ask hard questions, address conflict, be honest and vulnerable, hear other perspectives, developing awareness, etc. Lastly, affected folks [other than the client] need to be more present in process! This is so important but rarely occurs. Everyone needs to be invested/involved!”
Megan: ‘I think there are still a lot of folks who see restorative justice as “letting people off easy”, so perception (or, really, misperception) is huge. I have heard multiple people who, after going through a RJ process, say they thought this would be easier than the alternatives but it was actually more challenging because it made them face themselves, their actions, and their communities. And RJ is more holistic because it not only looks at one incident but at what factors led to it, what can be done to try to make amends, and what plans need to be put in place so a similar incident does not happen in the future. RJ is proactive and preventative. People need to see RJ in action for themselves and they have to want it and push for it. RJ will not work as well if it is implemented from the top down; it must come from the community level up. And since RJ requires different stakeholders from many different sections of society, it can be challenging to get that “buy-in”.
How can restorative justice help dismantle institutional racism in our criminal justice system?
Megan: “This is a huge question and I don’t think restorative justice alone can do it; yet I will try to answer what I think RJ can provide. The principles of restorative justice and restorative practices show us that individuals do not make choices in a vacuum; we are all products of our environments and we have all been affected by systems outside our control. By acknowledging that many truths exist at once, RJ recognizes that people are affected by their environment and factors beyond their control and they can take responsibility for their part in their choices and behaviors at the same time. Where criminal justice sees people as individuals who broke laws against the state, RJ sees people as members of communities who are accountable to and responsible for one another. RJ can help dismantle institutional racism by treating people as human beings who are not disposable and whose lives have been shaped by systems, culture, and history. In the case of U.S. society, this means that African Americans, Latinx folks, Asian Americans, Native Americans, trans folks, folks with mental health issues, folks with disabilities, (and the list can go on and on) face more challenges that white, straight, cisgender, American men. We cannot treat all people equally because that would mean we all have had equal opportunities and starting points. We must treat people with equity, taking into account the ways certain groups in society have been disadvantaged and oppressed for centuries. And, honestly, I don’t think our criminal justice system can do that. I think change will take uprooting the entire system as it exists now and coming up with an entirely new one. The best way to fix a corrupt system is to rid ourselves of the corrupt system and start anew.”
Anne Louise: [Restorative Justice] is a piece of the puzzle, and lessens senseless records that impacts someone’s life trajectory. (I.e. School to Prison Pipeline). White folks are confronted with privileges when you hear people’s stories who are targeted because of the color of their skin. Community-Wide, [restorative justice] leads to community connection, sharing, understanding, and talking about the hard things.”
Lastly, what sustains you in doing this work? What are you hopeful about?
Anne Louise: Connections with others, relating to each other’s challenges and struggles. I see myself in all of the clients and learn with them. Allowing someone to be their whole self – not just “accused.” Clients share about this interest in woodworking, free-style skiing, mentoring young kids, dreams of being a doctor, etc. Opportunity to look forward with them to the future with excitement, not just on the past with shame.
Megan: I am hopeful because of the seemingly small things: the question that elicits a new thought for someone, the change that happens when someone truly hears another person’s side of the story for the first time, the moment when someone catches themselves in a negative/punitive pattern and alters course. I am encouraged by the many people in their daily lives who recognize that conflict is inevitable and natural and that they can approach it as an opportunity. I am sustained by fellow practitioners in the work who encourage and uplift me and with whom I can share my fears, hopes, and mistakes.
Interested in getting involved with Lost River Racial Justice?
Please contact: lostriverrj@gmail.com or join their facebook group
Interested in getting involved with Brattleboro Community Justice Center? Please contact Mel at director@brattleborocjc.org
bcjc blog
Words from local people involved in restorative justice.
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Michel Virlogeux
Michel Virlogeux was born in France in 1946. He graduated from Ecole Polytechnique in 1967 and from the Ecole National des Pontes et Chaussees in 1970. In 1974 he joined the French Highway Administration, SETRA, and over a period of 20 years as Head of the Bridge Division designed more than 100 bridges. In particular he was involved in the design and construction of the Pont de Normandie (1994) over the River Seine adjacent to Le Havre. This was a cable stayed bridge with a main span of 860m (2821 ft) which exceeded the next largest cable stayed bridge the Yangpu Bridge (1993) in China, by 43%. The development of longer spans of bridges is usually carried out in incremental stages so to build a bridge of this scale was a leap into the unknown.
Millau Viaduct, designed by Michel Virlogeux
© By Stefan Krause, Germany (Selbst Aufgenommen) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
In 1995 he left SETRA and became a Consultant Engineer. Since then he has been involved in the Vasco de Gama Bridge (1997) in Lisbon and the 2.5km long Millau Viaduct (2004) in the South of France. He has also worked on the new Pont Bacalan – Bastile Vertical Lift Bridge (2013) in Bordeaux. The opening section of the bridge has a span of 117m (384 ft) and has a clearance of 60m (197 ft) beneath it when in the open position. He is currently working on the new cable stayed bridge across the Panama Canal. Virlogeux has won many international awards for his work and is recognised worldwide for his innovation in bridge design.
Bridges designed by Michel Virlogeux
Millau Viaduct •
← O’Connor Sutton Cronin Mc Carthy & Partners →
Other Bridge Designers
Alexander Stevens
Charles Vallancey
Christian Menn
Eugene Freyssinet
Fritz Leonhardt
George Halpin
George Knowles
George Papworth
Howley Harrington Architects
James Savage
Joe O’Donovan
John Chaloner Smith
Joseph Mallagh
Mc Carthy & Partners
O’Connor Sutton Cronin
Ove Arup
Robert Maillart
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Diversity and Black Poetry
Many of the debates and resentments -- both of which are often covertly expressed or discussed among close-knit groups -- that take place in realms of African American poetry concern issues of diversity...black diversity. Some people claim that more attention should be given to black women poets; some state that spoken word artists should receive more play; some say that "experimental" African American poets have been too often excluded.
Poets, scholars, and general readers with deep interests in Amiri Baraka tend to be different than those with deep interests in Rita Dove. The scholars who explicate the poetry of Harryette Mullen and Yusef Komunyakaa express less interest in the works of Saul Williams and Tracie Morris.
Some poets are adamant that rap is not poetry. Some scholars, rappers, general readers, and listeners aren't so sure. Interestingly, the second edition of the Norton Anthology of African American Literature (2004) includes no "poets" born after 1957, but the anthology does include verse by Rakim (b. 1968), Queen Latifah (b. 1970), Biggie (b. 1972), and Nas (b. 1973).
School teachers and literature professors are far more likely to include canonical poems and poets such as Langston Hughes, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Gwendolyn Brooks on their syllabi, while faculty members in creative writing and MFA programs are more likely, at least by comparison, to assign volumes by contemporary African American poets. Of course, MFA programs favor volumes of poetry and tend to shun spoken word poetry, which tends to receive little academic institutional support. On the spoken word scenes, however, formal poetry receives far less popular support.
Maya Angelou and Nikki Giovanni aren't spoken word poets nor are they revered among the MFA sets, but no African American poets enjoy as much popular support as they do, right? The expansive demographics of African American poets, not to mention the broad and always shifting nature of potential audiences for verse, contribute to the overall diversity (and competing interests) of black poetry.
The Demographics of African American Poetry
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Virgin Galactic takes crew of three to altitude of 55 miles
By AFP Feb 22, 2019 in Technology
Virgin Galactic's spacecraft reached an altitude of more than 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) on Friday, carrying for the first time a passenger in addition to its two pilots.
SpaceShipTwo, built by British billionaire Richard Branson to carry tourists into space, launched from California's Mojave desert and flew to an altitude of 55.87 miles (89.9 kms), the company said.
The US definition of space is anything over an altitude of 50 miles. The Virgin craft made it past that for the first time in December, reaching an altitude of 50.9 miles.
Branson announced with great fanfare at the time that it was the first time since NASA ended its space shuttle program in 2011 that an American vessel had carried humans into space.
However, the Virgin craft still has not crossed the internationally accepted boundary between Earth's outer atmosphere and space, known as the Karman Line, which is set at an altitude of 62 miles (100 kms).
"SpaceShipTwo, welcome back to space," wrote Virgin Galactic as it Tweeted updates throughout the event, without sending out any live footage.
The spacecraft travelled at a speed of Mach 3, or three times the speed of sound in its ascent, and landed without incident at the Mojave spaceport.
It is designed to carry six passengers, but test flights are years behind schedule in large part because of an accident that killed a test pilot in 2014.
Branson told AFP earlier this month that he hoped the test flights would be far enough ahead by July that he would be able to join a flight.
For the first time Friday, the flight carried a passenger, Virgin Galactic's Beth Moses, who will be in charge of training the company's future space tourists.
To take off from the ground, SpaceShipTwo is carried by another larger plane, WhiteKnightTwo, which resembles a combination of two airplanes attached by their wing tips.
When it is high enough, it releases the spaceship which then fires up its own rocket engine and ascends for roughly a minute into space.
At the apogee, its passengers float in zero-gravity for several minutes. It then descends and glides back to the landing strip.
Branson's main rival is Blue Origin, created by billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Bezos told an audience in New York this week that his New Shepard suborbital vehicle would start flying people later this year and to a greater altitude than SpaceShipTwo.
"One of the issues that Virgin Galactic will have to address, eventually, is that they are not flying above the Karman Line, not yet," Bezos said, quoted by Space News.
New Shepard has already flown above the Karman Line, but not with people on board.
More about USA, espace, Industrie, tourisme
USA espace Industrie tourisme
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Review: Sucker Punch Blu-ray
– June 27, 2011Find Others: Blu-ray, DVD, Movie, ReviewGet More: Abbie Cornish, Action, Adventure, Carla Gugino, Emily Browning, Fantasy, Jena Malone, Jon Hamm, Scott Glenn, Vanessa Hudgens, Warner, Zack Snyder
STUDIO: Warner | DIRECTOR: Zack Snyder | CAST: Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Carla Gugino, Jon Hamm, Scott Glenn
RELEASE DATE: 6/28/11 | PRICE: Blu-ray/DVD combo pack $35.99, DVD $29.98
BONUSES: extended cut, Maximum Movie Mode feature, digital copy (all BD exclusives); four animated shorts, featurette on soundtrack
SPECS: PG-13/R | 110 min./128 min. | Fantasy action adventure | 2.40:1 widescreen | Dolby Digital 5.1/DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/ | English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles
RATINGS (out of 5): Movie | Audio | Video | Overall
Zack Snyder’s Sucker Punch is quite an overblown affair. Cool-looking, yes, and filled with moments of well-choreographed action, striking imagery and even a fun performance or two. But it’s simply not entertaining.
There might have been a time when a movie with the highly stylized visual razzle-dazzle of Sucker Punch would have kicked ass at the theaters and then on home entertainment systems. But movies like Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City and Snyder’s own 300 are now more than half-a-decade old and audiences need more than just a visual, er, sucker punch. And while those two films had stories to latch on to, even if they were simple ones, Sucker Punch is a disjointed amalgam of elements and story-telling platforms that are as confusing and abrupt as they are unappealing.
Emily Browning leads her peeps in all-out war in Sucker Punch.
By “unappealing,” I’m referring to the general plotline of a young woman named Baby Doll (Emily Browning, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events) who’s committed to a foreboding New England asylum following a string of family tragedies prompted by her abusive stepfather. In the Shutter Island-ish institution, Baby Doll pals up with four other slinky, young inmates: Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish, Limitless), Rocket (Jena Malone, The Ruins), Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens, Beastly) and Amber (Jamie Chung, Burning Palms).
Not long thereafter, alternative universes kick in (imagined in Baby Doll’s mind), one where the quintet of young ladies are working gals in a high-end bordello and another that finds them toting serious weapons along with their fists and feet of steel as they battle bad guys (including samurai-ish warriors and a dragon) on a World War I-looking landscape.
These alternate scenarios play out like dreams within dreams (Inception, anyone?), but don’t move back and forth and back to each other with any ease or explanation. The splintered narrative approach makes it difficult to hold onto the storylines firmly and everything slooooowwwwsss down, which is hard to fathom in an action-filled fantasy.
And though I’m not quite sure what Snyder is trying to say with these different environments, the implied connection between mental illness, young women, forced prostitution and global war didn’t go down well with me.
The performances by Baby Doll and company are only adequate, though its probably not the actresses’ fault as their characters are best defined by their titillating, leather-and-lace costumes. The most memorable parts are essayed by the “grown-ups,” led by Jon Hamm (TV’s Mad Men), Scott Glenn (Secretariat) and Carla Gugino (Spy Kids), who’s deliciously nasty as a psychiatrist/madam/ballet teacher.
The extended cut of Sucker Puck, a Blu-ray exclusive, adds a hefty 18 more minutes to the film that rasied the PG-13 rating to a solid R. Several of those minutes belong to a fetishy and sort of entertaining musical number that’s presented early on. Additional time is given to the action sequences and some sexier, extended cutaways.
There’s no denying that the visual presentation on the Blu-ray is outstanding. The color palette of Snyder’s computer-generated world leans towards somber grays and silvers, low-register browns and grays, and lots of shadowy blacks — until the pyrotechnics kick in and the numerous explosions, gunshots and fires shine with a comic book-styled iridescence.
Even better is the Master Audio 5.1 audio track, which is truly one of the best I’ve ever heard in a large-scale F/X film. There are a whole lots of rich sounds going on — from thunderstorms to all manner of weapons and explosions to whooshing vehicles to a roaring dragon — and it’s served up with strength and clarity. And that clarity extends to the dialog, which never gets lost on the soundscape.
Leading the supplemental package is the Maximum Movie Mode function, a feature-length “production” on the extended cut that features Snyder appearing in picture-in-picture mode. He’s enthusiastic and lucid as he discusses his film, focusing on the F/X and how he and his team created the film’s look. And Snyder comes fully-loaded with storyboards, interviews with cast and crew, rehearsal footage, stills and more, all of which is seen in picture-in-picture as the movie plays. It’s a well-produced supplemental feature and it’s obvious that a lot of time was spent on it.
If only that knid of time and effort went into the Sucker Punch’s story, pacing and structure…
Buy or Rent Sucker Punch
DVD | Blu-ray |
Instant Video DVD | Blu-ray DVD | Blu-ray
New Release: Sucker Punch DVD and Blu-ray
Blu-ray, 3D, DVD: Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Blu-ray/DVD Release: Watchmen Collector’s Edition
Blu-ray, DVD: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD and VOD Release: Maleficent
Posted June 27, 2011 at 6:45 PM
I wanted to like this movie so much… but alas… no.
But I will say it was cool to look at, both FX-wise and girl-wise 🙂
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Rosalind Franklin: British Molecular Biologist
by Yoon Joung Lee
A British biophysicist, Rosalind Elsie Franklin, was born in Notting Hill, London in 1920. She is well known for her important contribution to molecular structures, X-ray diffraction, DNA, RNA and viruses.
Rosalind was the second one out of five children from an affluent and influential British-Jewish family. She grew up in a very conservative family and her parents believed that girls need an education to get married and they should do charitable social work after marriage. Due to such family’s expectation and belief, Rosalind had some kinds of conflict with her father as she pursued her educations.
She excelled with a great talent in Physics and Chemistry while at St. Paul’s Girls’ School in London. She later attended Newnham College, Cambridge, in 1938 and finished her study in 1941 as she was awarded a research scholarship for her work of gas chromatography. In 1942, she started to work on the microstructure of coke at the British Coal Utilization Research Association to work. She received her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree from Cambridge in 1945.
From 1947 to 1950, she left Cambridge and she went to work with Jacques Mering at the Laboratoire Central des Services Chimiques de L’Etat in Paris to gain experience in X-ray diffraction techniques. There, her work involved the investigation of the changes to carbon fibres when it became graphite on heating. During this time, she published several papers and it became an important part of the work on the physics and chemistry of coal, covered by a current monograph, the annual and other publications.
As a result of her contribution and expertise, she got a phone-call from John Randall at King’s College, London. She joined their research group to study DNA fibers using X-ray crystallography. Her responsibility there was determining the structure of DNA.
With her knowledge of physical chemistry and controlling the humidity while taking an X-ray photograph, she was able to make thinner fibres, which produce more accurate and easier to interpret X-ray patterns. She also discovered A and B forms of DNA. She focused mainly on A. Although A form showed more X-ray spots, it did not show B form and the helical structure. She started to record her discovery and revised thought in her laboratory notebook.
John Randall presented her unpublished current research and data at a routine seminar. Somehow this information was leaked to Watson and Crick. They put all the pieces of the puzzle from various sources including Franklin’s conclusions and data to complete the description of DNA’s structure. Their conclusion for the DNA structure was introduced in the journal Nature in April, 1953. Franklin wrote a supporting article in the same edition.
Franklin kept a good friendship with both James Watson and Francis Crick until she finished her work. Her life ended by ovarian cancer in April of 1958. She was 37. After her death, she left a reputation around the world for her great contribution to the structure of carbon compounds and of viruses. However, what made many people sad was that she was not given credit she deserved for her works in the discovery of the structure of DNA.
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A Letter to the President (Kindle Single)
From the legendary best-selling author of Fear of Flying comes a powerful essay directed at politicians who depend on the women's vote, yet never bother to address women until they need to be rescued. In no uncertain terms, Erica Jong addresses the key issues facing American women — abortion, jobs, economic parity, health care, and more — and makes clear that in return for the women's vote, our President must fulfill his promise to advance the rights of American women. Erica Jong fiercely believes that women's rights are human rights, and a core value of democracy. Jong holds nothing back in this breathless, urgent and necessary call to arms.
The happy fact that Obama has won a second term in no way detracts from her insistence that he look at the electorate differently, rather than turning it all over to Michelle!
Women are not a minority to be appeased. Rather, we are the majority.
Beginning with the worldwide sensation created by her debut novel, Fear Of Flying, in 1973 — which has sold 26 million copies to date -- Erica Jong has established herself not only as an important American novelist and poet, but also as a passionate and compelling commentator on feminist issues. Jong has published eight novels, two memoirs and seven books of poetry.
Buy A Letter to the President
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Praised be Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate!
Icon of the Annunciation in the Grotto of Nazareth
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her,
‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’
(Luke 1: 26-28)
Pope Pius IX, on December 8, 1854, declared as dogma the mystery of the Immaculate Conception. We stated it in these words: "We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful." The Catholic Church believes and teaches that from the very moment of her conception, the Blessed Virgin Mary was free from all stain of original sin. Mary was in a state of grace, sharing in God's own life, and she was free from the sinful inclinations which have marked human nature after the fall. The Immaculate Conception represents Christ's saving grace operating in Mary in anticipation of His redemption of man and in God's foreknowledge of Mary's acceptance of His Will for her.
Virgin of the Smile or Oblate Madonna
Statue of Mary Immaculate blessed by St Eugene de Mazenod on August 15, 1822
According to an Oblate tradition, on August 15, 1822 the statue of Mary Immaculate which was blessed that day in the church of Mission at Aix in France, opened its eyes and nodded its head slightly in the direction of St Eugene de Mazenod while he was praying. The same day St Eugene wrote a letter to his friend and companion, Fr Henry Tempier in which he described what happened to his soul during the prayer before the statue:
Firstly, St Eugene, who from the beginning of his spiritual life considered Mary as his Mother, achieved a deeper understanding of the meaning of this motherhood and what it meant "to place all his hopes in her".
Secondly, he saw the Oblate Congregation in an entirely new light "as it was in reality". He perceived it as beautiful and "of service to the Church".
Thirdly, that day he internalized the call to holiness. He understood that he was to seek the cause of problems in the Congregation, not only in others or in historic circumstances, but also in himself.
Finally, with serenity, he looked realistically at the difficulties his young Institute was facing. He even saw "the obstacles as if drawn up in battle array" and became aware that an enemy wanted "to bring all efforts to naught".
In 1903 when the Oblates were expelled from France they took with them the “Virgin of the Smile”. They eventually placed her in the General House of the Order in Rome. Today it is in the chapel above the main altar.
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Get the latest news from the world of online bookmakers. Bookmakers News section deals with recent merger, sponsorship and partnership deals, plus other industry news. Betting Offer News section contains systematically updated info on bookmakers' websites, e.g. relaunches, layout improvements or new betting offer.
All news Bookmakers news Betting offer newsBookmakers awards
15/12/2016 - 13:17 Sports betting is still getting more and more popular. That is why, the bookmakers introduce new types of bets in their offer. Apart from the traditional sports bets, there are now bets for political, cultural or social events as well as many other. From all the new types of bets, asian handicaps are the most popular among the punters.
09/12/2016 - 11:22 Betting on penalty cards in football matches is getting more and more popular among the punters. That is why, we decided it is good to get some information regarding this subject.
05/12/2016 - 12:34 It is thought that set pieces are the easiest way of scoring a goal. That is why, the players attempt to get as many set pieces as they can. Penalty kicks, free kicks, corner kicks and throw-ins - are the set pieces that every team in the world tries to master. Statistically, up to 40-45% of all goals is said to be scored after the set pieces.
30/11/2016 - 14:27 On Monday, November the 28th, the winners of the most prestigious award in the world of e-gambling - EGR Operator Award, were decorated. This was the 12th edition of the EGR Operator Awards held at the Artillery Garden at the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) in London.
30/11/2016 - 14:21 Emotions are still high after the recent presidential elections in the United States in which an eccentric billionaire, Donald Trump, was voted as the new President of the U.S. Shockingly, Americans have voted for Trump, despite all the polls and forecasts predicting it would be different.
14/07/2016 - 10:47 At the beginning of June the EGR Operator Marketing&Innovation Awards 2016 ceremony was held. One of the most prestigious ceremonies of awards handing in the gambling games industry took place on the 1 of June 2016 in the London Tower hall.
05/05/2016 - 07:38 Watch out for paid websites, offering betting tips, many of them are just fraud and cheats. Adjusted statistics, people’s comments, who supposedly bought the given paid betting tips and earned on them good, are cheated screenshots of winning coupons – these and many other frauds is a usual experience. You want to find a website that offers frequent paid betting tips?
25/11/2015 - 12:48 On Monday, the 23rd of November 2015 we met the winners of this year’s annual prize ceremony of EGR Awards. As it is known EGR Operator Awards is the most important prize in gambling industry. The eleventh ceremony of of Awards EGR took place in Honourable Artillery Company Gardens in London.
18/06/2015 - 09:25 Discover the list of the EGR Operator Marketing & Innovation winners and EGR B2B Awards 2015. It is known that EGR Awards is the most important prize in the gambling industry. The last award ceremony was held on June 16th in London Tower.
Winners of IGB Affiliate Awards 2015
16/02/2015 - 14:03 Meet prizewinners of IGBA Awards 2015, another important event in the bookmaking industry.
Another success of Unibet during IGA 2015
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Under the North Light: Webster book looks at Petersham work as WAAM show highlights it
by TINKER TWINE on Oct 4, 2012 • 5:00 pm1 Comment
In a beautiful, insightful book, Under the North Light, The Life and Work of Maud and Miska Petersham (Woodstock Arts) born of personal experience and skillful research, Lawrence Webster has written the first comprehensive examination of a remarkable pair of artists and the stories and illustrations they created for children during a 40-year career. Since their marriage in 1917, when Maud and Miska Petersham weren’t traveling the world collecting authentic costumes and toys to be translated into pictures, much of their lives were spent facing each other at drawing boards placed next to the north-facing window in their Woodstock home.
Fortuitously, and symbolic of their complementary abilities, Maud was left handed, Miska, right. Maud liked to start the drawings, while Miska enjoyed finishing them. And so they worked, creating a vast oeuvre of colorful images in folk art styles specific to each setting. Their renowned children’s books comprise an even share among illustrations they created for other authors, new editions of classic fairy tales and Bible stories, and textbooks. Their work reached beyond their home at the foot of Byrdcliffe to an international audience, and now spans generations.
The Petershams were an unlikely couple. Maud, daughter of the minister of the Wurts Street Baptist Church in Kingston, graduated from Vassar and went to New York City to study at the New York School of Fine and Applied Art, founded by William Merritt Chase. Miska was born Petrezselym Mihaly in Hungary. The grandson of a shepherd, he arrived at Ellis Island in September of 1912. Webster writes, “He brought with him a degree from the Royal National School for Applied Arts in Budapest, no money, boundless energy, and an expectation of cowboys and Indians in the streets.”
They met while employed at their first jobs, at the International Art Studio on West 42nd Street opposite the New York Public Library. Miska took Maud under his wing and shared his professional secrets with her. They married in 1917, just four years after the famous Armory Show, when modern European art was introduced to America.
These were heady days for young artists, and Woodstock was already a rollicking art colony. It’s not surprising, especially given Maud’s local background, that the pair settled here in 1920. Their only child, son Miki, born in 1923, fit comfortably into their daily routine with the help of Maud’s “Auntie,” Celia Jane Sisson, who lived with them.
The Rooster Crows, a book of American rhymes and jingles won the 1946 Caldecott Medal. In 1942, An American ABC won Caldecott Honors. In the days before the Caldecott awards were established, the Petershams were recognized by the American Institute of Graphic Arts. These awards don’t reveal the sheer volume and consistent high quality of their work, as much of it was done for other writers. Attention to this fascinating couple is long overdue, and no one is better qualified than the author to have written this important contribution to art history. Thanks to the research and warm, well-organized writing of Woodstock native Lawrence Webster, knowledge of the Petershams is accessible to all.
“Children’s books are the most difficult to produce and they’re the most influential on human development,” Ms. Webster said this week. “They’re a reflection of what we wish we were as a society. I think most of us have memories of pictures from books we read as children. I was intrigued with the Petershams because of their unique and long-lasting collaboration and for their unspoken values,” she said. Among the values instilled by the Petershams is the sense of fundamental safety that allows an adventurous youth to go forth in life without undue fear; the coziness of a loving home; a friendly, cooperative spirit and a reverence for nature.
Tags: Children’s books, Maud and Miska Petersham, Woodstock
Next postThe cost of coverage: Fire district unveils 2013 budget
DANIEL GREENE says:
I am looking forward to getting my copy of this marvelous book. Congratulations to Larry for work well done.
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If It's Too Loud...
Tanya Donelly Covers Elliott Smith
Photo via Facebook
As part of the upcoming Say Yes! A Tribute to Elliott Smith, American Laundromat Records is letting us check out Tanya Donelly's cover of "Between the Bars." Having Tanya Donelly (Belly, The Breeders, Throwing Muses) take on any of Elliott Smith's songs is like a dream come true to me. Her version of "Between the Bars" stays perfectly true to the original, except even though there is barely any instrumentation on her version, the original just comes across as even more heartbreakingly sparse. I'm not sure if it's something in the production, or it's just the magic of Elliott Smith. It's a beautiful tribute, perfect for fans of Tanya or Elliott, or just anyone with a soul.
You can listen to Tanya Donelly's cover of "Between the Bars" below. Say Yes! A Tribute to Elliott Smith will be out on October 14 via American Laundromat Records. It will also feature covers by Amanda Palmer, J Mascis, Juliana Hatfield, Yuck, Lou Barlow, and more. You can find more information here. For more on Tanya Donelly's goings on, check out her website.
Posted by Ken at 8:00 AM No comments:
Labels: american laundromat records, between the bars, covers, elliott smith, Ken Sears, say yes, tanya donelly
First Listen: New Releases for September 23
An interesting release week this week:
Album of the Week:
Artist: Beach Slang
Album: A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings
Quick Description: Does what it says on the tin.
Why You Should Listen: You didn't know you wanted to hear this until you got the chance.
Overall Thoughts: This had some buzz around it coming in, and I didn't really expect this sort of garagey punk to resonate, but here we are. I can't say there's a ton specifically to point to in this regard, but as a cohesive whole, this was a fast-paced jolt of energy that was definitely the best listen of the week for me. Won't be for everyone, but you should give it a listen.
Recommendation: The best of the week by far.
Artist: Warpaint
Album: Heads Up
Quick Description: Latest album from the buzzworthy indie act.
Why You Should Listen: Their previous album was a revelation in a lot of ways...
Overall Thoughts: ...even if this one misses the mark. It's not bad, but it's so underwhelming given the quality of their self-titled album. There's just nothing here that impresses in a significant way, and that means that there's nothing that stands out. If you like electronic-tinged indie, you might like this a lot more than I did (and this might be more of a grower, to be fair), but I expected this to jump out at me and it just didn't.
Recommendation: Be wary. Might not work for you.
Artist: Billy Bragg and Joe Henry
Album: Shine a Light: Field Recordings from the Great American Railroad
Quick Description: High quality folk music.
Why You Should Listen: Billy Bragg should be an automatic for you by now.
Overall Thoughts: This is a pleasant traditional stark listen, which is perfect for the purpose behind this project. The album is simply a great listen with a lot of traditional songs (their version of "Railroad Bill" in particular is a highlight), and the overall result is just solid. Not much else to say except to give this the listen it deserves.
Recommendation: A must-hear this week.
Artist: Skylar Gray
Album: Natural Causes
Quick Description: Jarring dark pop from the singer-songwriter.
Why You Should Listen: You're really a fan of her previous work.
Overall Thoughts: I really only checked this out because of my curiosity regarding her artistic transformation, and I can't say I have a lot of positive things to say about this release. I like a lot of the darker pop efforts we're hearing as of late, but this album feels extremely produced and sanitized in a lot of ways. Throw in an Eminem verse early on and the whole thing feels overly convoluted.
Recommendation: Skip this one.
Artist: LVL UP
Album: Return to Love
Quick Description: Solid, grunge-style indie rock.
Why You Should Listen: Feels a lot like the indie rock of last decade.
Overall Thoughts: I wish it was louder. That's my only real complaint about this album, an album that harkens back to a lot of the best grunge-worthy indie rock records of the past. There's lots of distortion, lots of droney melody, and just a lot to love from start to finish. Absolutely worth the nostalgia trip.
Recommendation: One of the best of the week.
Artist: Slaine
Album: Slaine is Dead
Quick Description: Indie rap from Boston.
Why You Should Listen: Sometimes indie/underground rap is exactly what you need.
Overall Thoughts: I want to highlight this less because it's good (because it is), but also because it's well-produced and has a lot going for it for who is known, to me at least, solely as a local artist. I can't compare it to much else (since my knowledge of non-mainstream rap begins and ends at Doomtree), but readers here who enjoy the hip hop owe it to themselves to give this a shot.
Recommendation: Worth it for the right audience.
Artist: Flock of Dimes
Album: If You See Me, Say Yes
Quick Description: Complex alternative synthy rock music.
Why You Should Listen: Flock of Dimes is like a more mainstream School of Seven Bells.
Overall Thoughts: Basically a Wye Oak side project, Flock of Dimes feels very mainstream and polished while still staying firmly outside of the well-trod path. I think the song "Ida Glow" solidified this for me this week, as it has the 80s synth beat going right alongside a crooked melody that wedges itself into your brain and won't come back out. Of all the albums from this week, this is the one I'm most excited to get back to, so I think that ultimately says a lot.
Recommendation: Not for every listener, but might be your favorite if it works for you.
Artist: Merchandise
Album: A Corpse Wired for Sound
Quick Description: Darkish rock music with an 80s tone to it.
Why You Should Listen: If you listen to the opening track, you'll know why.
Overall Thoughts: My one complaint about this album is that it's ultimately forgettable. I get the vibe Merchandise is going for, and this is a vibe that many people might love, but it was fleeting for me. Songs like "Flower for Sex" definitely have some resonance, but then you get songs like "End of the Week" that try to be a little different and end up sounding like a thousand songs you've heard before. Not a lot of bands are doing this right now, to Merchandise's credit, but I'd like to see them do something more to stand out.
Recommendation: If you like the darker stuff, give this a shot.
Also out this week:
* Devendra Banhart - Ape in Pink Marble (nice, but I don't really get Banhart)
* Marisa Nadler - Bury Your Name (another solid EP release)
* Lee "Scratch" Perry - Must Be Free (this is not good)
* Skinny Girl Diet - Heavy Flow
* The Sword - Low Country
Posted by Jeff Raymond at 10:57 AM No comments:
Labels: beach slang, billy bragg, first listen, flock of dimes, holly brook, Jeff Raymond, joe henry, lvl up, merchandise, skylar grey, slaine, warpaint
Walter Sickert Covers Nirvana
Photo by Ken Sears
This is a slightly older cover, but we love cover songs at If It's Too Loud..., and this is Walter Sickert after all, so...
Originally recorded and posted back in 2014 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death, with this past weekend marking the 25th anniversary of the release of Nevermind (we're so old...), Walter Sickert's cover of Nirvana's "Something In the Way" has resurfaced on the band's various social media accounts. It's a haunting cover, but it is Walter Sickert covering a song that's already pretty haunting on its own. Sickert's version stays completely true to the original, and it's the best kind of tribute possible.
For more information on Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys (and with Halloween coming up and a recently released album, now is a great time to start following them) check them out on Facebook.
Labels: army of broken toys, army of toys, covers, Ken Sears, nirvana, walter sickert
Forgotten Fridays - Cherry 2000 - Taint
Forgotten Fridays is an occasional feature here at If It’s Too Loud... where we go back and find the lost records of our glory days. We played these on our college radio shows, put them on countless mix tapes, and then forgot they existed. Once a week we go back and remind you, and help decide if they were any good.
Cherry 2000 were this unbelievably great Boston band that only lasted maybe three years in the late 90s, and somehow just seem to have faded away from memory. Led by Dave Steele (also of Orangutang) and Leah Blesoff, the two traded off vocal duties through the band's 1998 debut, and only, album Taint. That and the loud/quiet/loud dynamic gives immediate comparisons to the Pixies, but the band also draws heavily from Sonic Youth, especially by closing out the album with the nearly 20 minute drone and art fest "Lungfish." There are also strong influences from metal and grunge, making it one of the more aggressive albums to come out of the Boston alternative scene in at the time.
The album bounces around between sounds quite a bit, to its credit. The first real song on the album, "Rodeo Clown," is really melodic and feels like an intended single. It's an artsier version of a lot of alternative power pop bands around that time. It immediately goes into "Purified," which is the best example of their loud/quiet/loud dynamic, like a pogo frenzied Pixies song. I think I played "Blood Red" on my radio show every week for about three months straight. It's a drone happy song, with Steele and Blesoff sharing vocal duties and one of the hookiest guitar riffs you'll ever hear.
Taint is available for purchase on Amazon in both digital and CD format. 18 years later, it's still worth listening to.
Posted by Ken at 8:14 PM No comments:
Labels: cherry 2000, forgotten fridays, Ken Sears, taint
Martyrs - The Great Disturbance
In the age of social media and the internet, it's basically a given that every band will have some form of online presence. Maybe they don't have their very own website, but at the very least they'll have a Facebook or a Bandcamp or a Tumblr, etc. That brings us to Boston's Martyrs. I first wrote about them back in 2014 when they released their debut album. All I knew about them at that point was that Tee Jay from Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys was in the band, but now that he's moved away from the area, I don't even know that. Somehow I know less about a band after being aware of them for two years.
Back on September 8, Martyrs released their second album, The Great Disturbance. This one appears to only be available on YouTube. It somehow manages to cram every single side genre of punk into one sound. It is as heavy as hardcore, but as melodic as emo. (I know a MILLION bands have that in their description, but I really, really mean it here...) There's a thrashy element to it, it's dirty gutter punk, and somehow still sounds polished. I have no idea how they pull it off, but they do.
You can listen to The Great Disturbance below. As far as any other information on Martyrs... I don't know? Word of mouth, maybe?
Labels: army of broken toys, army of toys, Ken Sears, martyrs, the great disturbance
Drive-By Truckers - "Filthy and Fried"
Photo by Danny Clinch
Next week marks the release of the new Drive-By Truckers' album, American Band. The band has released the lyric video for a third song on the album, "Filthy and Fried." Far less political than the previous two songs we've heard from the album ("Surrender Under Protest" and "What It Means"), "Filthy and Fried" and a Mike Cooley sung song more along the lines of your traditional Drive-By Truckers song. What's most interesting about the song is that it sonically follows a verse-chorus-verse format, but lyrically it just goes in it's own direction with only the final line repeated. The only politics it touches on is the right of a woman to go out looking for a sexual conquest the way men always have been able to (which is for some reason a political issue in this country). Maybe it's the organ, but the "chorus" almost has a gospel feel to it. It also includes what is quite possibly one of my favorite Cooley penned line: "Everyone claims that the times are a changing as theirs pass them by."
American Band, the Drive-By Truckers' latest album, will be out September 30 on ATO Records. You can listen to "Filthy and Fried" below. For more information, check out the band's website, and you can pre-order the album on iTunes.
Labels: american band, ato records, drive by truckers, filthy and fried, Ken Sears
A relatively slow week.
Artist: Deap Vally
Album: Femejism
Quick Description: Second album from the bass-heavy indie rock act.
Why You Should Listen: Deap Vally hasn't lost a step from their awesome debut.
Overall Thoughts: The worst thing about this album is its cringeworthy title, which might turn off listeners who would otherwise be really into this sort of proto-Dead Weather/DFA1979-sounding group. There had been some early singles that showed promise, but the whole thing is just a great follow-up to their debut album. Lead track (and lead single) "Royal Jelly" sets the tone for a great listen, and arguably the best of the week.
Recommendation: Absolutely worth a listen this week, a highlight.
Artist: Dawes
Album: We're All Gonna Die
Quick Description: Latest album from the roots-rock act that goes a little less roots and a little more AAA rock.
Why You Should Listen: Dawes knows how to write a good song even if it's not what you expect.
Overall Thoughts: Dawes comes to this fifth album with a lot of baggage. Known as a great live band and having some seriously wonderful songs like "When My Time Comes" and "If I Wanted Someone," they've gone full adult alternative at this point, following a Guster-like trajectory into something a little less interesting. Nothing here especially stands out except for how it ultimately feels somewhat mediocre and mailed-in. For a band with this much going for it and so much talent in songwriting and performing, it's worth setting the bar high, and they unfortunately don't come close to clearing it.
Recommendation: Might be worth trying for a listen, but I doubt you'll want to stick around.
Artist: Preoccupations
Album: Preoccupations
Quick Description: The band formerly known as Viet Cong improves on an already-solid post-punk sound.
Why You Should Listen: Easily the most interesting listen this week.
Overall Thoughts: I didn't love this band's debut, and some issues with the band's admittedly misguided name (both real world and internet) prompted a change to Preoccupations, and with that change seems to be a renewed focus of sorts on some music that is really an interesting listen from start to finish. Nine tracks with single word titles, a lot of fascinating musical choices, and the result is a really solid listen.
Recommendation: A favorite this week. Definitely give this a spin.
Artist: AlunaGeorge
Album: I Remember
Quick Description: Second album from the duo struggles to find its spot.
Why You Should Listen: Their first album was great, and when this is working it is working.
Overall Thoughts: This is an album I really want to take more time with. Even though the first listen did not make a huge impact on me on a whole, their debut album was a really solid album that mixed electronica and R&B in a pretty great way. Since then, a lot of acts are doing a similar thing, and AlunaGeorge hasn't really stepped forward to capitalize until now. The result is an album that I didn't hate, but didn't feel like it did much to stand out, either. We'll see if this is more of a grower, but for now I'm withholding significant judgement.
Recommendation: Certainly worth a listen.
Artist: Amanda Shires
Album: My Piece of Land
Quick Description: Latest album from the folkie turns the acoustics up to eleven.
Why You Should Listen: Shires has yet to produce a bad album.
Overall Thoughts: Down Fell the Doves came out three years ago and it still holds up (as well as still sits in my "saved music" lineup in Spotify even now). In an era where bands and artists tend to abandon the folk for the more mainstream, Shires succeeds in staying true to her sound while still feeling like she's evolving. The comparisons to her husband, Jason Isbell, will surely persist, but I'll come right out and say that this album cements my belief that Shires is the superior artist. This is a great album and should deserve all the recognition it's sure to get.
Recommendation: One of the best of the week. A great listen.
Artist: The Handsome Family
Album: Unseen
Quick Description: Latest album by the folk artists, first since True Detective.
Why You Should Listen: Their dark, brooding folk music hits a lot of our favorites here.
Overall Thoughts: After "Far From Any Road" got picked up as the season 1 theme for True Detective, The Handsome Family got some overdue attention. Unseen continues along the same workmanlike quality that their older albums provide, and their sound continues to have a lot of solid appeal even if there aren't necessarily individual standout songs.
Recommendation: Still a good listen for this week.
Artist: Against Me!
Album: Shape Shift With Me
Quick Description: Latest album from the punk act.
Why You Should Listen: Against Me! continues to be great even with the added attention.
Overall Thoughts: Transgender Dysphoria Blues was a creative feat following Laura Jane Grace's gender transition, and she has quickly become an LGBT icon following that release. It was a valid question as to whether the newfound attention and such would be a creative drag, but the opposite appears to be true. "333" was a great lead single, but the rest of the album is just as solid and urgent. While longtime fans might still think it's too mainstream compared to their earlier work and while it's not perhaps as significant as Transgender Dysphoria Blues, it also means that it's not necessarily letting itself get too dragged down in the gender politics. Overall, a really, really great listen at first blush, and one I look forward to listening to again.
Recommendation: A must-listen this week.
* Phantogram - Three
* Meat Loaf - Braver Than We Are
* Mykki Blanco - Mykki
Posted by Jeff Raymond at 2:36 PM No comments:
Labels: against me!, alunageorge, amanda shires, dawes, deap vally, first listen, Jeff Raymond, preoccupations, the handsome family, viet cong
Hallelujah the Hills Cover The Velvet Underground
Photo by Courtney Brooke Hall
As you've probably noticed, we love cover songs here at If It's Too Loud..., and we're also pretty big fans of Hallelujah the Hills. Imagine my joy when over the weekend, Hallelujah the Hills sent out a link to their email subscribers that included a cover of The Velvet Underground's "Run Run Run." It's a great choice for the band, since Hallelujah the Hills stylistically are quite different from The Velvet Underground. "Run Run Run" is one of The Velvet Underground's more rambunctious covers, and Hallelujah the Hills does is perfectly. The cover is from a live show recorded at the Black Cat in D.C. earlier this year, and you can definitely tell it's a live show based on the quality, but it makes me miss the muddled bootlegs of ye olden days. They do it a little louder and noisier than the original, but it chugs along with the perfect mix of tribute and their own style.
You can listen to Hallelujah the Hills' cover of "Run Run Run" below. To make sure you don't miss out on the fun of being on their mailing list, head on over to their website and sign up. If you happen to be in the Boston area this weekend, they'll be playing as part of The Concert Across America to End Gun Violence at Brighton Music Hall on Sunday. The show also includes Tanya Donelly, Bill Janovitz, Mike Gent, Vapors of Morphine, Marissa Nadler and more.
Labels: covers, hallelujah the hills, Ken Sears, run run run, velvet underground
Wayne Hancock - "Slingin' Rhythm"
Throwback country can almost be a dirty word. Sometimes artists that get stuck with the throwback country label can be pretty hokey and cartoonish. Luckily we have Wayne "the Train" Hancock. He's been at it for over 20 years even though he sounds like he's been at it for at least twice that. His latest single, "Slingin' Rhythm," is an ode to being a traveling, working class struggling musician. It's a bouncy, bare bones track that celebrates the hardships of the road.
Wayne "the Train" Hancock's newest album, also called Slingin' Rhythm, will be out on October 28 via Bloodshot Records. You can order a copy through their website, and listen to "Slingin' Rhythm" below. For more information on Wayne Hancock, be sure to check out his website.
Posted by Ken at 10:00 AM No comments:
Labels: bloodshot records, slingin rhythm, wayne hancock, wayne the train hancock
Friday Freebie: Matt Pond PA - Free the Fawns!
So much for Matt Pond PA being done and over with. Sounds like their label issues are worked out and things are on track for another album later this year. To celebrate, however, they're offering a bunch of demos up on Noisetrade for free download, and they're playing some east coast gigs toward the end of the year (including Great Scott in Allston).
So hop on over to Noisetrade for free music and tour dates, and I'll be looking forward to the new music, given that last year's album was a highlight.
Posted by Jeff Raymond at 8:00 AM 3 comments:
Labels: friday freebie, Jeff Raymond, matt pond pa, noisetrade
Hoots and Hellmouth - "Diction"
Photo by Melissa Madison Fuller
The name Hoots and Hellmouth tells you everything you need to know about a band, right? They're obviously throwback rockabilly with imagery of skeletons and 50s horror movies. Well... this isn't the first time I've been wrong. Hailing from Philadelphia, Hoots and Hellmouth craft beautiful, soulful Americana. Their new song, "Diction," dances on the line between folk and soul. It's definitely not enough of soul to be considered soul, but it's too groovy to be folk. The obvious comparison I'm going to make is Band of Horses, but maybe a little less rock. Somehow Hoots and Hellmouth have taken two of the most common genres of music that get blended, but are just enough in the middle of both to have made a unique sound of their own.
Hoots and Hellmouth's fourth album, In the Trees, will be out October 28. You can watch the video for "Diction" below. For more information on the band, check out their website. Tour dates are also below.
10/05 Beachland Tavern - Cleveland, OH
10/06 Club Cafe - Pittsburgh, PA 10/07 The Ark - Ann Arbor, MI
10/08 Ignition Garage - Goshen, IN
10/09 The Tonic Room - Chicago. IL
10/13 Hi-Dive - Denver, CO
10/15 Rose Music Hall - Columbia, MO
10/16 The Bootleg - St. Louis, MO
10/19 The Basement - Nashville, TN
10/21 Purple Fiddle - Thomas, WV
10/22 The Abbey Bar - Harrisburg, PA
11/11 Gypsy Sally's - Washington, DC
11/17 Atwoods Tavern - Cambridge, MA
11/18 Brooklyn Bowl - Brooklyn, NY
11/20 Musikfest Cafe - Bethlehem, PA
12/02 The Ardmore Music Hall - Ardmore, PA
Labels: diction, hoots and hellmouth, in the trees, Ken Sears
Selector Dub Narcotic - "Hotter Than Hott"
Selector Dub Narcotic is a new project from the legendary Calvin Johnson. In case you don't immediately recognize the name Calvin Johnson, he founded K Records as well as the highly influential bands Beat Happening, Halo Benders, and Dub Narcotic Sound System. Selector Dub Narcotic is his collaboration with hip hop producer Smoke M2D6. Calvin Johnson doing hip hop sounds like a weird, weird combination, and you'd be right. I can't say that "Hotter Than Hott" is a good song. Odd is probably a better description. But it is fun. And highly infectious, especially as it goes on. It's worth at least a few listens. It is Calvin Johnson, after all. But there's also a good chance you'll become obsessed with the song after the third listen. You might thank me (or be furious with me) later.
Selector Dub Narcotic's album, This Party is Just Getting Started, will be out September 16 on K Records, of course. You can watch the video for "Hotter Than Hott" below.
Labels: calvin johnson, hotter than hott, k records, Ken Sears, selector dub narcotic, this party is just getting started
First Listen, Part Two: More New Releases for September 9
Here are the rest of the releases from this week!
Artist: Psychic Twin
Album: Strange Diary
Quick Description: Debut synth pop from Polyvinyl.
Why You Should Listen: Aspects of this stand out in a crowded genre.
Overall Thoughts: Synth pop is so flooded right now that it's hard to break through, but Psychic Twin makes a solid effort this week. While nothing dives out as exceptional at first listen, this does have a raw indie quality to it that's often lacking from a lot of like acts. Definitely worth a shot if this is your genre.
Recommendation: A good listen.
Artist: Okkervil River
Album: Away
Quick Description: Latest album from the popular indie act.
Why You Should Listen: It's probably the best thing they've done since "Lost Coastlines."
Overall Thoughts: I cannot admit to being a huge Okkervil River guy, but I have lots of friends who are really into them. "Lost Coastlines" is a classic, but this album is, I feel, the closest we've gotten to that since that era for the band. So I like it quite a bit in that regard, although I don't really know where it stands in the canon. So it's worth your time, but might not be for all.
Recommendation: Worth your time this week.
Artist: Allah-Las
Album: Calico Review
Quick Description: Retro goodness.
Why You Should Listen: Another crowded genre, the Allah-Las know how to stand out a little better.
Overall Thoughts: This is the third album from the band, and this clearly feels like they've found their form and come out with a superlative album. Seriously, if "Could Be You" can't grab you, nothing will, and this is a rollicking record that's unlike anything out this week or recently. You owe it to yourself to give it a listen.
Recommendation: One of the better releases this week.
Some quick hits to round this out, because I don't have much of anything to say about them:
* KT Tunstall - KIN: Radio-ready adult contemporary music. I miss the old KT, personally.
* Local Natives - Sunlit Youth: Radio-ready, unchallenging. Not worth the listen.
* Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree: I don't know much Nick Cave, but this is interesting and weird. Worth a shot.
* Grouplove - Big Mess
* Jack White - Acoustic Recordings (surprisingly inessential)
Labels: allah-lahs, first listen, Jeff Raymond, kt tunstall, local natives, nick cave and the bad seeds, okkervil river, psychic twin
First Listen, Part One: New Releases for September 9
With a pretty busy week, we're going to make this a two-parter this week.
Artist: clipping.
Album: Splendor and Misery
Quick Description: The science fiction rap opera you didn't know you were waiting for.
Why You Should Listen: This is an "experimental rap" group that includes Daveed Diggs from Hamilton fame.
Overall Thoughts: I actually first got exposed to clipping. via their Song Exploder episode, and I really liked "Work Work," so a new album? I'm on board. This is far from what I'd call an easy album, but it's absolutely unlike much/most of what we're hearing in this genre lately. Some sci-fi storytelling, some political content, some great lyrics and delivery. It's the total package. Even if you're not into rap/hip-hop, this is really a required listen this week, as there's something different and special here, and it's likely to get more attention with Diggs's rise to fame.
Artist: Wilco
Album: Schmilco
Quick Description: Latest album from the seminal act.
Why You Should Listen: Wilco still has a lot of good will saved up...
Overall Thoughts: ...but this is really just a return to the dad rock that made me nearly jump off the bandwagon a few years ago. Star Wars felt fresh and different and this, well, just doesn't. If anything, this album reaffirmed my belief that Wilco hasn't been the same since Jay Bennett left the band and I'm just not into it at all.
Recommendation: Skip this unless you're either a superfan or keep NPR on all the time when you're not listening to music.
Artist: The Head and The Heart
Album: Signs of Light
Quick Description: Radio-friendly folk rock.
Why You Should Listen: The Head and The Heart know how to craft inoffensive melodic folky songs.
Overall Thoughts: I suppose it's bad news that I completely forgot they released an album in 2013, right? The Head and The Heart will always be "Lost In My Mind" for me, but the new album feels like radio-ready Lumineers folk rock, and that's fine for them and I suppose fine for me, too. It's not anything special or groundbreaking, but it's a perfectly pleasurable listen that will be great for those beginning of fall gatherings and likely be part of the rotation in offices nationwide.
Recommendation: It's fine. Worth a listen.
Artist: Teenage Fanclub
Album: Here
Quick Description: Latest album by the indie legends.
Why You Should Listen: Teenage Fanclub always deserves a listen based on reputation alone.
Overall Thoughts: So here's a dirty secret - I don't really know Teenage Fanclub well. I know I've heard (and probably own) Bandwagonesque, but I've mostly forgotten this band in my music brain. So this album was a surprise in that I was expecting something closer to Superchunk than a 70s rock thing. Still, this is a really nice listen, and I can't compare it to their old work but I think you'll like it regardless. A high quality release this week.
Recommendation: A good, solid listen.
Artist: The Ramona Flowers
Album: Part Time Spies
Quick Description: Better-than-typical synth rock.
Why You Should Listen: While they aren't breaking new ground, the sounds here are very well-crafted.
Overall Thoughts: The Ramona Flowers are marching right behind bands like Friendly Fires in terms of their sound, and this means we're not getting anything new from them, but that doesn't matter much. The result here is a pretty fun listen that's worth some time as the only thing like itself in a week with a lot of otherwise uninteresting releases. If there's any criticism, it's that it might be too married to its influences, but if you like the 80s-tinged stuff, this might work for you.
Recommendation: Derivative but not bad.
Artist: St. Paul and the Broken Bones
Album: Sea of Noise
Quick Description: High-quality soul music.
Why You Should Listen: This is definitely the most musically-gorgeous album of the week.
Overall Thoughts: I've said in the past that soul music doesn't really hit me, but there's a lot of reverence for the genre in this album, and it just works. Some beautiful songs from start to finish, and if a song like "All I Ever Wonder" doesn't grab you, well, I don't know what to say. I can't wait to spend more time with this one.
Recommendation: A great listen this week.
* Bastille - Wild World
* Daniel Lanois and Rocco DeLuca - Goodbye to Language
Posted by Jeff Raymond at 9:50 AM No comments:
Labels: clipping., first listen, Jeff Raymond, st paul and the broken bones, teenage fanclub, the head and the heart, the ramona flowers, wilco
Live Shows: Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys and Ruby Rose Fox, The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA 9/9/16
A Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys show is always more of an event than just a mere concert. The month leading up to their album release show last Friday at The Sinclair promised a spectacle that any fan simply had to attend. It was a lot of hype, especially considering some of the shows I have seen of theirs in the past, but I headed out to Cambridge to check it out.
The band chose to play their just released that day album, Come Black Magic, in its entirety from start to finish for the main portion of the set. The album/show opener, "Children of the Cauldron," is more of an intro, clocking in at under 90 seconds of noise with Walter Sickert ranting over it. The performance of the song featured vocalist/percussionist/mandolin player Mary Widow painting burlesque performer Belle Gunz's body, nude except for pasties and a g-string. From there, they broke into the raucous main single, "Come Black Magic." It's easy for the loud songs at a live show to take
all the attention (they are more fun to bop around, after all), but this night some of the more quiet ones were quite memorable. "Behave," about ghost children, really stood out thanks to the relatively new backing vocals of Mary Widow. Another highlight was the ode to The Shining, "Red Rum." That could partially be because it's been a staple of their live show for a few years now, so the crowd was more familiar with it. It did highlight the only disappointment of the show: The movie footage from The Shining played one song earlier than "Red Rum." It's more disappointing not for the crowd, but that planning went slightly wrong. They also played their cover of Bjork's "Army of Me," and told a tale of climbing a mountain to present their cover to Bjork herself. She was so pleased with it, she didn't throw it off the mountain as she did other gifts. [Editor's note: This story has not been verified by Bjork's publicist.]
It's also the only show I've ever been to that was interrupted by a bedtime story for a toddler. Towards the end of the main set, Walter Sickert and Edie Edrie's daughter wandered out on stage for a reading of a board book copy of Jabberwocky. That might seem out of place at any concert, particularly one that goes after midnight and features various levels of nudity. The song before featured another dancer wearing only pasties and a g-string, after all. The Army of Broken Toy's entire catalog is made up primarily of songs involving death, the apocalypse, murder, etc. But, at the heart of it, they are primarily a family band of misfits spreading a message of love, in their own bizarre little way. Not many artists can pull off singing the line "Momma will daddy kill us" with love in their hearts, but the Army of Broken Toys are that band.
Although I didn't catch much of her set, I do have to mention Ruby Rose Fox. People having been raving about
her in the Boston area for years, but she's never really done it for me. Her music, while nice, was a little too mainstream for my personal taste. After seeing her live on Friday? Now I totally get it. Ruby Rose Fox is an insanely talented singer and performer who brings a unique spin on her branch of the new soul movement. It is a wee bit more mainstream than I would normally like, but sometimes pure talent defies personal taste. She definitely had her own fans that showed up very well dressed and singing every word to songs like "Bury the Body." She may have seemed to be an odd choice to open up for a steam crunk/folk/punk/metal/burlesque band, but Friday was more of a celebration of the entire Boston music scene than a genre. I wish more shows were booked like this.
Posted by Ken at 8:30 AM 1 comment:
Labels: army of broken toys, army of toys, Ken Sears, live shows, ruby rose fox, the sinclair, walter sickert
Pony Hunt - "Over You"
Folk has been around pretty much forever. There's really not a whole lot that can be done with it to make it sound familiar. Even "progressive" folk seems to be spinning its wheels lately. The best thing an artist can do to make unique folk is to just tweak it slightly. That's exactly what Pony Hunt have done on their new single, "Over You."
"Over You" starts really traditionally, as far as folk songs go. Just a strummed acoustic guitar and fairly standard vocals. But then the doo-wop backing vocals come in. Not being a music historian, I'm sure someone has combined this in the past, but as far as modern folk goes, it's pure bliss. Bringing such classic American sounds such as sun drenched 60s California country folk and the groove of 50s and 60s doo-wop is being done to perfection by Pony Hunt. And that's even before the horns kick in way in the background.
Pony Hunt's new album, Heart Creek, will be released on October 7. You can listen to "Over You" below. For more info on Pony Hunt, check out their/her website here.
Labels: heart creek, Ken Sears, over you, pony hunt
Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys - "Come Black Magic"
Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys released their new single "Come Black Magic" about 20 years too late. The mid 90s were this magical time where your favorite weirdo band could have a breakthrough single. "Come Black Magic" would have been the perfect single for this. It's just heavy enough for the metal kids to get into, but odd enough for the alternative/college radio crowd to enjoy. There's also actual guitar solos! (Don't worry, you'll still get some killer viola solos. This still is Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, after all...) Plus, the addition of Mary Widow singing backing vocals and harmony adds this crazy layer to the band, and just pulls you into the song even further than before. "Come Black Magic" is Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys' guaranteed hit single. If this had existed in the 90s, there would have been a screwed up video for it that would have started on 120 Minutes, then been a guaranteed Buzz Bin video, and radio airplay on the modern rock stations. Unfortunately, this is 2016 and none of that exists anymore.
You can listen to "Come Black Magic" below. The album Come Black Magic will be released tomorrow, September 9. You can get your copy over at Bandcamp. If you happen to be in the Boston area that day, make sure you head out to the album release show at The Sinclair in Cambridge. It's almost guaranteed to be the event of the year.
Come Black Magic - Single by Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys
Labels: army of broken toys, army of toys, come black magic, Ken Sears, walter sickert
The Needy Sons - Vis-A-Vis
The Needy Sons started a few years back as a bar band that played mostly covers in and around Boston. Granted, they're a bar band that was founded by Bill Janovitz of Buffalo Tom and Mike Gent of The Figgs, but still a bar band. Unexpectedly, at least to us, The Needy Sons just released their debut fill length, Vis-A-Vis.
The Needy Sons, which now also features Ed Valauskas and Eric Anderson, have the distinction of being a Bill Janovitz project that doesn't really sound anything like Buffalo Tom. It's just really good Americana tinged rock and roll, like the kind Tom Petty makes. Right now my two favorite tracks are "Red Line" and ""Chopped Down," although Vis-A-Vis feels like the kind of album that will give you a new favorite track each time you listen. Definitely the two most traditionally rockin' songs on the album, "Red Line" is somehow an ode to the embattled MBTA, or maybe love? I'm bad at the meanings behind songs. "Chopped Down" is a wee bit crunchier with a steady groove throughout, and might be the most 90s sounding song on the album.
Vis-A-Vis is available now via The Needy Sons' Bandcamp. You can also follow them on Facebook.
Vis-A-Vis by The Needy Sons
Labels: bill janovitz, buffalo tom, figgs, Ken Sears, mike gent, needy sons, vis-a-vis
First Listen: New Releases for September 2
A slower week with the American Labor Day holiday, there are still some solid releases to highlight:
Artist: Angel Olsen
Album: My Woman
Quick Description: Latest album by the independent singer-songwriter.
Why You Should Listen: This should rightfully be a breakthrough album for her.
Overall Thoughts: I struggled to categorize her previous album, even though I really liked it, and "Shut Up Kiss Me," a lead release from this new album, failed to grab me. In a full album context, though, it all starts to make sense, as Olsen is flexing her songwriting muscle throughout here, making an off-center-yet-accessible release that should really put her on the map. Give "Sister" a listen, then the entire album, and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Recommendation: Easily the best of the week.
Artist: The Last Royals
Album: Never Be Alone
Quick Description: New album from an indie pop group takes a new route.
Why You Should Listen: When they write a good hooky pop song, it works wonders.
Overall Thoughts: I was obsessed with "Crystal Vases" when their debut EP hit in 2010. Six years since then and the band's sound has shifted to something a little more complicated. It works, but you're going to find less hooky stuff here than in their previous work. It's replaced by some good tunes, but you might not love this.
Recommendation: Give this a shot.
Artist: James Vincent McMorrow
Album: We Move
Quick Description: Irish dream-folky goes a little more mainstream.
Why You Should Listen: This is a move away from the Bon Iverian sound into something more interesting.
Overall Thoughts: I highlight this only because, in a slower week, this is a really interesting listen. I haven't been grabbed by McMorrow up to this point, but this has all the inklings of a major breakthrough, especially given the production values and such. I enjoyed this and need to spend more time with it, but it's a solid listen nonetheless.
Artist: Helms Alee
Album: Stillicide
Quick Description: Loud, brash, heavy post-rock.
Why You Should Listen: You enjoyed ...Trail of Dead and just wished they were heavier.
Overall Thoughts: I shouldn't like Helms Alee, really, because it's just so loud and heavy, but there's an intricacy to their songwriting that just seems to stand out. I considered giving up on this one well into the first opening track, but I'm glad I stuck with it, as songs like "Tit to Toe" just work in that sort of complex way that keeps you guessing. I can't wait to dive back in on this album in particular.
Recommendation: Not going to be for everyone, but this worked for me.
* Cymbals Eat Guitars - Pretty Years
* Nouvelle Rogue - Athol Brose
* Skye and Ross - Skye and Ross (solid, unassuming soul-ish music)
* The Parrots - Los Ninos Sin Miedo (old-style garage rock)
Labels: angel olsen, first listen, helms alee, james vincent mcmorrow, Jeff Raymond, the last royals
Live Shows: The Melvins, Fete Ballroom, Providence, RI 8/29/16
The Melvins are always an interesting band. They tend to release anywhere from 1-3 albums per year, with varying results. Some are absolute classics, while others are... interesting. But their live shows are always a must see. I had missed them earlier this year on the Savage Imperial Death March Tour with Napalm Death and Melt Banana. Luckily for me, they swung through New England again and hit Providence.
A Melvins show can be quite the challenge for a casual fan. The band open up with an instrumental intro with very minimal bass, drums, and occasional guitar that seemed to last roughly three hours. (Ok, it was probably ten minutes, but that's still a pretty long time.) The crowd was rewarded heavily with a fan favorite set that brushed the majority of the band's career. Despite having just released a new (and pretty great) album, Basses Loaded, The Melvins only played two songs off of it, "Hideous Woman" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." They also broke out three covers, Kiss' "Deuce" (sung by bass player Steven McDonald), a Redd Kross cover, and Alice Cooper's "Halo of Flies," a longtime live staple of theirs. "The Kicking Machine" also brought out a great reaction from the audience. The band seemed to poke fun of their fairly rotating line up, with drummer Dale Crover and bass player Steve McDonald wearing shirts with their names on them. King Buzzo might be the only man to pull off a one piece emblazoned with an eyeball. And despite Fete Ballroom having a full array of lighting options, they stuck with an orange theme for the entire evening.
I would also like to apologize to the opener, Helms Alee. Fete has a small side room that is filled with working classic arcade games. I got far too sucked into playing a Judge Dredd pinball and missed the majority of the set. What I heard was great, so definitely give them a better shot than I did.
Labels: fete ballroom, Ken Sears, live shows, melvins, the melvins
American Wrestlers - "Give Up"
Photo by Evan Cuttler
When I first saw there was a band called American Wrestlers on Fat Possum Records, I instantly knew what they sounded like. It was going to be dirty, bluesy punk, obviously. Apparently I'm old (and we missed their debut album from last year), since that doesn't appear to be Fat Possum's thing anymore. "Give Up," the new song from American Wrestlers, is upbeat and poppy as can be. American Wrestlers was started by Gary McClure after moving from Scotland to St. Louis, MO of all places. The song stops just a few steps away from being twee, and are on the more rockin' side of what is now called dream pop.
American Wrestlers' second album, Goodbye Terrible Youth, is due out November 4 on Fat Possum Records. You can pre-order it here. For more information on American Wrestlers, check them out on Facebook and Twitter. You can listen to "Give Up" below.
Labels: american wrestlers, fat possum records, give up, goodbye terrible youth, Ken Sears
Jeff Raymond
Live Shows: The Melvins, Fete Ballroom, Providence...
Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys - "Come B...
Live Shows: Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken To...
First Listen, Part Two: More New Releases for Sept...
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The Significance of Technology in the Evolution of Typography
Posted in Articles, Fonts February 5th, 2015 By Sarbani Sen 2 Comments
Since the invention of the movable type by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century, there have been significant developments in the field of typography. Typography which was once used to stamp royal currency and seals has now turned out to be one of the most crucial elements for intricate works of design.
Thanks to technology, the introduction of Font API’s has led to the rediscovery of how well fonts can be displayed on mobile devices for enhanced user experience. During every stage of the development of typography, technology has certainly played a huge role towards its betterment and acceptability among the viewers as well as users.
The Rise of Western Typography
It is believed that western typography started to evolve mainly during the middle of 15th century when typefaces, fonts and types started to appear. This was mainly due to the fast growth of movable type printing that opened up new opportunities of reproducing texts for western culture. Now, you may be thinking, “what on earth is movable type printing?” Well, type mobility refers to individual letters of different sizes that were cast with the assistance of a device invented by Gutenberg. Reproduction of text was extremely simple as it was only required to arrange the metal letters in different combinations to create meaningful text.
Calligraphic handwriting which was prevalent during those times started to get replaced by the fashionable Gothic hand which consisted of diagonal and horizontal lines, dainty curved lines and heavy vertical strokes. Thus, Gothic letters became the preferred choice for carving blocks during Gutenberg’s times. But, the best part was that, the evolution didn’t stop and it started to take inspiration from various other writing forms. The craftsmen constantly looked for new sources of inspiration like Dark Ages Bibles, Roman inscriptions, etc. so as to create new letterforms. An important thing to note here is that the technology invented by Gutenberg already came to existence in Asia a few centuries back.
What Led to the Need for Typography?
Typography was already starting to establish itself as a very detailed form of human creativity. However, the question that comes to mind is that what led to the need for new and various interpretations of punctuations, letters and numbers? Well, one might agree that legibility has something to do with it. After humans learned to read their brains no longer wanted to make any sense out of single letters. They started to see words in the form of shapes or, the combination of different shapes.
Aesthetic appeal was considered to be one of the other reasons. Similar to the way a building is not built from one only type of brick, a word is also not made of one type of letter. The beginning of the period of Renaissance can be largely contributed to the fact that information revolution had already created a spark where the change seemed inevitable. Slowly time was running towards the modern era. Wooden font molds came into existence which was infrequently used to print large fonts apart from the fonts that could be created by the metal font molds. Technology was getting better and the chances of typography evolving to a huge extent increased considerably. During the 1890’s, the linotype machine was invented which made it possible to compose lines of type at a time with help of a keyboard consisting of 90 characters. This was the first step towards reducing the human effort of manually arranging letters. The great thing was that the letter molds produced could be used immediately. Not only that, it also meant that letter molds could be continuously produced and people could access information more easily and quickly.
During the 17th and 18th century, new trends started to appear giving typography a better look and aesthetic appeal. Greater contrast was being provided to the letters with thin and thick strokes while bracketed serifs turned into straight lines. The transition towards Roman typefaces was evident and a lot of credit goes to Johann Fleischmann, John Baskerville and William Caslon as they are the ones who made notable contributions towards this transition.
Further Betterment and Advancement of Typography
Thanks to the industrial revolution, rapid development started to take place and newer technologies and techniques began to appear. The arrival of printing technology helped a lot of designers to create different types of fonts which would further assist with the evolvement of typography.
Then came the time of the phototypesetting machines through which characters were projected on to photosensitive film or paper and was developed with the help of photo chemicals. It is quite obvious that these technologies offered limited scope of growth but their advent laid the foundation of a bright future for graphic arts. It actually prepared a strong base for the digital type of the present day world. Fully scalable fonts could be produced with the help of these machines which was not at all possible with the physical type.
Similar developments were taking place in the world of information technology where progress was being constantly made towards betterment and advancement of technology. Phototypesetting systems became highly popular and manufacturers like Mergenthaler/Linotype, Compugraphic, Alphatype, etc. fighting hard to capture the market share. But the only problem was that these machines were highly expensive and could only be afforded by big corporations or large type houses.
Two men, Charles “Chuck” Geschke and John Warnock dreamed something big and they did what they had dreamed. In the year 1982, these two men formed ‘Adobe Systems’. At that time, none would have imagined that their contribution to the world of technology will remain immortal forever. They wanted to solve problems in a different manner and the opportunity came knocking to their door. Steve Jobs who was at that time working with Canon to build a LaserWriter required software that would enable him to tie it with the hardware of the device. Adobe gave him the software he required – PostScript. They even came up with the hinting technology for the PostScript so that the appearance of types could be improved on page. However, the bigger part of the story was that the invention of PostScript software enabled printers and computers from different manufacturers to easily work with one another. The era of font libraries and typesetting systems was finally coming to an end. By licensing new and traditional font designs Adobe was able to grasp the world of computing with its products. Gaining licenses for various type styles of Linotype and Monotype helped them to carry forward the conventions and heritage of older typefaces.
This was the phase when the world of printing and type started to revolutionize and can be considered to be the golden era of creating type. Proportions and styles that are still quite prevalent these days received more refinement and started to get popular among designers. Traditional fonts like San-Serif, Scripts, Slab, Serif, etc. were introduced and they became the base for font foundries. Adobe knew what they had to do and their device independent software helped them to quickly capture the emerging market of fonts. Geschke and Warnock understood that in order to carry forward the success of personal publishing they required a great type. This led to the negotiation between International Typeface Corporation and Adobe so as to include fonts within future versions of PostScript. Summer Stone, a renowned typographer was hired by Adobe as the Director of Typography. This further helped Adobe to become the official distributor of typefaces to various companies all over the world.
The Days of Modern Typography
During the early days of computer systems typefaces were primarily based on ASCII consisting only 128 characters. This was proving to be a limitation when it came to the sale of computers. It was obvious that computer systems required a universal character set so as to make things easier and open up new possibilities. This led to the inception of Unicode character set which can be easily incorporated across multi-tiered or client-server applications as well as websites. Slowly things started to take a new direction and typography became a specialized field. With the growth of the internet, the scope of experimenting and introducing new fonts widened to a huge extent. Technology was constantly playing its part to improve and evolve typography in way that receives easy acceptance and appreciation from the readers and users.
In the year 1995, the first Netscape browser was released and that created the opportunity to diversify fonts. With the gradual progress of web standards, the ability to customize as well as utilize different types of web fonts became a lot easier and convenient. On top of that selling and using of personal; computers also became easy with Unicode deployed on the system. The world was gradually moving towards an era where technology would establish itself firmly on every aspect of human life. Typography started to take an effect on graphic design and designers started to infuse text along with graphics to attract and engage the web visitors.
Over the past few decades or so numerous technologies and techniques have been invented which has further assisted with the growth and development of the web and print industry. During the times of HTML, styles and font faces displayed depended totally on the settings of a specific browser being used by the user. However, things took a drastic turn with the introduction of webfonts. These fonts are specifically configured to work in browsers and allowed users to make use of fonts which are not installed in their computers. Credit for this feature actually goes to CSS which helps to search through fallback fonts even if the font is not installed within the system.
In the age of smartphones and tablets, designers have a plethora of options when it comes to choosing the right type of typography. With the continuous growth and expansion of the internet the need for varied and new fonts continues to increase. With several new tools available to designers to design a new font opportunities of showcasing their creativity has vastly increased. After so many transformations and developments, typography has evolved as a design and art form which is being increasingly used by designers to express their creativity and passion for art. Nowadays, one can also see designs being made simply with various types of fonts creating a stunning effect.
It is quite clear from the above discussion that typography and technology has been going hand in hand towards further advancement and development. Since the early days of its invention, typography has not only provided us means to communicate our messages through writing but created a new form of art with endless possibilities of evolvement and growth. However, it is difficult to imagine what would have been the fate of typography had technology not been there at its side at all times. Technology acted as the medium through which typography could express its real beauty and charm to the world. As technological advancements continue to embrace our lives, it needs to be seen how typography will evolve further over the coming years.
Sarbani Sen
I have been working as the project manager of Logo Design India for over 6 years. Apart from my work, I like to stay updated on the latest design trends and share my vast knowledge and experience through various informative posts for professionals as well as amateurs.
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Surya Kumar February 5, 2015
This is very interesting, You’re a very professional blogger. I have joined your feed and look ahead to looking for extra of your excellent post. Additionally, I’ve shared your web site in my social networks..
Sarbani Sen February 10, 2015
Surya, I am glad that you liked my post. Thank you so much for sharing the details and keep dropping by my blog. It always feels good when readers appreciate your work 🙂
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Torah and Commentary: The Five Books of Moses
Translation, Rabbinic and Contemporary Commentary
By Sol Scharfstein
Nominated for the 2009 Jewish Book Award by the Jewish Book Council
Nominated for the Sophie Brody Medal, by the American Library Association "to the author of the most distinguished contribution to Jewish literature published in the United States"
In Jewish practice, the first five books of the Bible, referred to as the Torah, are divided into 54 weekly portions. The central element of the Sabbath service in the synagogue is the public chanting of the appropriate Torah portion for the week. Torah and Commentary: The Five Books of Moses by Sol Scharfstein is a new, highly readable translation of the Torah, Judaism's most sacred text, and is accompanied by interpretations of over 2,000 biblical passages. The interpretations are by classical and contemporary rabbinic commentators, and the translation and commentaries are presented in easy-to-read language. The commentaries cover religious practices, history, theology, laws, customs, and ethical concepts. The volume is beautifully illustrated in color and provides background material about the Torah's place in Judaism, and the various ritual practices related to the Torah and Sabbath services. Also included and illustrated in color are biographical sketches of the most highly regarded biblical commentators, such as Rashi, Maimonides, and others. Sol Scharfstein's own comments relate to the contemporary message of the biblical passages. Torah and Commentary introduces individuals of all faiths to an encounter with the Jewish understanding of the Bible, the spiritual foundation shared in common by all the great monotheistic faiths.
Torah and Commentary: The Five Books of Moses is available for purchase in increments of 100
Softcover : out of stock
Publisher: Ktav Publishing House
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Ktav Publishing House
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IMDb - Grave Encounters
Director(s): The Vicious Brothers
Release Date: 22 April 2011
What is the movie IMDb - Grave Encounters about?
Grave Encounters is a reality television show hunting for the ghosts. With Lance Preston at the head they are shooting their program episode inside the Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital, abandoned long ago. This hospital is famous for the strange events occurring on its territory during many years. The creepy psychiatric hospital is rumored to comprise the phenomenon of the other world. They are ready to do everything for the sake of television! A group of people voluntarily agreed to be locked into the building of a psychiatric hospital and start the investigation of the paranormal phenomena shooting this on camera. Very soon they realize that the building leads its own life and won’t let anyone out alive… the group of scared volunteers is lost in the endless labyrinth-halls of the hospital, where they are terrorized by the ghosts of the used-to-be patients. Soon, the members of the group start losing reason their with nightmare happenings … doubting their common sense, they are getting deeper and deeper into the gulf of insanity of the hospital, even not suspecting that this is their last episode…
IMDb - Grave Encounters Cast
Mackenzie Gray
Juan Riedinger
Sean Rogerson
Merwin Mondesir
Michele Cummins
IMDb - Grave Encounters Pics
Unfortunately, you will not find any IMDb - Grave Encounters HD wallpapers here; these are just the screenshots of the movie. They catch some moments of the movie, so you can get a better idea about the movie before watching it. Click on the image for a larger view.
Paolo @ 02-Aug-2014 11:28 Report a spam
This movie is filmed as a documentary one, and all the events in it are clearly seen through the cameras. A group of young people who were filming a show about paranormal activity, wanted to be closed during the entire night till six am in a hospital for people with mental diseases, there people say that they have seen ghosts. But guys do not believe in their existence, that is why for the sake of their show and ratings they had to do various things and make it look like the ghosts did them, But… Sometime passes and the ghosts are giving a letter of short notice. It is the dinner time, but in the hospital it is very dark, like in the night time, and no one comes to open the door. The food disappeared the next day, and the hospital has become a labyrinth with no way out. So there is only one question, whether guys will find a way out, and anyone will get to be saved. I cannot rate this movie well, because there are too many stupid moments in the movie, when a guy is chasing a ghost with the words that he will come and cut him pieces. But in general the view was capturing, i watched it in the night time, with lots of light in the room.
Kaarle @ 02-Aug-2014 02:07 Report a spam
This movie is not new at all according to its plot! A group of brave people, who are filming a show about paranormal activity have decided to spend the night in a close hospital for the psycho people, in which there are a lot of weird things going on. All the actions of the heroes were filmed on the cameras which were found in that hospital, probably when they started looking for their friends. This movie has a lot of details that are needed for a good horror movie, the group of dying people that are armed and the building that is haunted by the spirits of the psycho people from which there is no way out. The first half of the movie was boring and i almost fall asleep, but later it became more and more captivating! I think in each movie of this genre at some point the heroes get the fix idea “Guys how about splitting up?, and this movie doesn’t become an exception from this rule. I didn’t really understood the end of it. And the other thing i didn’t like is that there were no scary moments in it. It is a good movie for watching it once.
Patrick @ 08-Jun-2014 19:18 Report a spam
I am a great lover of horror movies and watch the on weekly basis, frankly speaking I have grown tired of all the latest horror movies and new trends. Yawn. The 'cringe' factor that is so spread these days is not an entertainment at all. Who wants to spend money on a movie you can't bare to watch?
Having really low expectations, I decided to give “Grave Encounters” a go. I didn’t anticipate the movie will be really scary, so I decided to watch it myself. As the film was progressing I found myself locking the doors, trembling, turning the light on and so on.))) The movie made me looking over my shoulder hours after watching it. Unfamiliar actors surprisingly gripped tense and very realistic emotions…a very believable performance! Give it a go and go on…
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Comparison of the Experimental and Predicted Data for Thermal Conductivity of Fe3O4/water Nanofluid Using Artificial Neural Networks
Reza Aghayari 1
Heydar Maddah 2
Ali Reza Faramarzi 3
Hamid Mohammadiun 4
Mohammad Mohammadiun 4
1 Young Researchers and Elite Club, Shahrood Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran
2 Department of Chemistry, Sciences Faculty, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran
3 Department of Chemical Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Saveh Branch, Saveh, Iran
4 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shahrood branch, Islamic Azad university, Shahrood, Iran
10.7508/nmrj.2016.01.003
Objective(s): This study aims to evaluate and predict the thermal conductivity of iron oxide nanofluid at different temperatures and volume fractions by artificial neural network (ANN) and correlation using experimental data.
Methods: Two-layer perceptron feedforward artificial neural network and backpropagation Levenberg-Marquardt (BP-LM) training algorithm are used to predict the thermal conductivity of the nanofluid. Fe3O4 nanoparticles are prepared by chemical co-precipitation method and thermal conductivity coefficient is measured using 2500TPS apparatus.
Results: Fe3O4 nanofluids with particle size of 20-25 nm are used to test the effectiveness of ANN. Thermal conductivity of Fe3O4 /water nanofluid at different temperatures of 25, 30 and 35℃ and volume concentrations, ranging from 0.05% to 5% is employed as training data for ANN. The obtained results show that the thermal conductivity of Fe3O4 nanofluid increases linearly with volume fraction and temperature.
Conclusions: the artificial neural network model has a reasonable agreement in predicting experimental data. So it can be concluded the ANN model is an effective method for prediction of the thermal conductivity of nanofluids and has better prediction accuracy and simplicity compared with the other existing theoretical methods.
Artificial neural network
nanofluid
Although there are many different methods for heat transfer enhancement, low thermal conductivity of the typical fluids reduces the efficiency of the heat exchangers. Improving thermal properties of these fluids in energy transfer can increase the heat transfer. Mixing small solid particles into the fluids such as water, ethylene glycol, and oil is an innovative method for improving the thermal conductivity of these fluids. Different metallic and nonmetallic powders and polymeric particles can be added to the fluids to form a suspension. According to the obtained results, the thermal conductivity of the fluids containing suspended particles is higher than that of the typical fluids. Liu et al. have investigated the effects of the load resulting from particles concentration, size and flow rate on the pressure loss of this slurry and its heat transfer behavior. In recent researches, micro- and millimeter scales have been used. These coarse particles can cause severe problems such as abrasion and blockade of the channel. Therefore, addition of the large dispersed particles does not increase the heat transfer considerably and it is not economical [1]. Nanoparticles can improve properties and enhance the heat transfer of the fluids. Particles with the diameter below 100nm show different properties from the common solid particles. Compared to the micron particles, nano-powders have larger surface area and higher potential for enhancing heat transfer. Many researchers have tried to produce a high effective heat transfer potential fluid by dispersing nanoparticles in it. Results obtained from the early experiments like the study of Eastman et al. showed a 60% increase in the thermal conductivity of 5 % (v) nanofluids containing water and CuO nanoparticles [2]. Dispersion of nanoparticles into the cooling or heating fluid can cause a significant increase in the heat transfer. This increase can be attributed to the following possible reasons:
Dispersed nanoparticles increase the surface area and thermal capacity of the fluid.
Dispersed nanoparticles improve the effective or apparent thermal conductivity of the fluid.
Contacts between particles, fluid, and surface of the passing flow increase the interactions.
Turbulence of the fluid and mixture increase.
Dispersion of nanoparticles levels the diagonal temperature gradient of the fluid.
When it comes to the stability of the suspension, it has been shown that sedimentation of particles can be prevented by utilizing proper dispersants. Studies regarding the thermal conductivity of nanofluids have showed that high enhancements of thermal conductivity can be achieved by using nanofluids. It is possible to obtain thermal conductivity enhancements larger than 20% at a particle volume fraction smaller than 5% [3]. Such enhancement values exceed the predictions of theoretical models developed for suspensions with larger particles. This is considered as an indication of the presence of additional thermal transport enhancement mechanisms of nanofluids. There are many experimental and theoretical studies in the literature regarding the thermal conductivity of nanofluids. In thermal conductivity measurements of nanofluids, the transient hot-wire technique is the most commonly used method. A modified transient hot-wire method is required in the measurements, since nanofluids conduct electricity. The modification is made by insulating the wire. Some other methods such as steady-state parallel-plate technique, temperature oscillation technique, microhot strip method, and optical beam deflection technique have also been utilized by some researchers [4-9]. Maddah et al. [10] have investigated the thermal and electrical conductivity and viscosity of Al2O3 and Ag nanoparticles dispersed in the water at various volume concentrations, ranging from 0.25% to 5% at a temperature of 15°C. They have found a higher increase in the electrical conductivity and viscosity of nanofluids than their thermal conductivity compared to the base fluid. Artificial neural networks are used for predicting the thermal conductivity of nanofluids. Recently, many researchers have conducted various investigations in this regard and their results are acceptable. Hemmat Esfe et al. [11] have presented an experimental investigation on the thermal conductivity of ZnO–EG nanofluid. They have utilized ZnO nanoparticles with the size of 18nm dispersed in the different volume fractions of ethylene glycol and different temperatures ranging from 24 to 50. In their study, they have used a multi-layer perceptron feedforward neural network for modeling the thermal conductivity of ZnO–EG nanofluid. Out of 40 data obtained from experiments, 28 data were selected for network training, while the remaining 12 data were used for network test and validation. Their results have shown that the outputs of the artificial neural network have a good agreement with the experimental results.
Tajik Jamal-Abadi and Zamzamian [12] have studied, optimized and reported the effects of various parameters such as the ratio of the thermal conductivity of nanoparticles to that of a base fluid, volume fraction, nanoparticle size, and temperature on the effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids using nonlinear optimization methods and artificial neural network. The results for nonlinear optimization methods showed that thermal conductivity of nanofluid enhanced by 32 percent. For the modeling of the thermal conductivity of nanofluid, the feed-forward back-propagation ANN is employed. Results showed the maximum enhancement of 42 percent for thermal conductivity and also, this method is more acceptable since excellent agreement between the predictions and the experimental data is obtained with a MAE (mean absolute error) of 0.30%. In the present study, the obtained results from measurements of thermal conductivity of Fe3O4 in different temperatures and concentrations were evaluated and compared with data obtained from artificial neural networks. Temperature and concentration were used as inputs and thermal conductivity is used as target for ANNs. In addition, the predicted data by ANNs were compared to experimental data. Finally, error difference between predicted and experimental data were also investigated.
Fe3O4 Nanoparticles
Fe3O4 nanoparticles used in this study were 20-25nm in size. First, Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared by chemical co-precipitation method. Then, Fe3O4nanoparticles were weighted for each volume concentration and then, added into the water (base fluid). After that, the mixture was stirred for 60 min using a mechanical stirrer. Next, the suspension was put inside an ultrasonic vibrator for 4h. By utilizing the stirrer and ultrasonic vibrator, the sample was homogeneously stirred in the way that no sedimentation and agglomeration was observed with the naked eyes for a long period. Fig. 1 shows SEM image of the nanoparticles used in this study. Fe3O4 nanoparticles have higher surface area. Moreover, they have a high capability in increasing the heat transfer and producing stable suspension.
Measuring thethermal conductivity coefficient of the Fe3O4 nanofluid
Thermal conductivity coefficient was measured using 2500 TPS apparatus (Hot Disk Co., Gothenburg, Sweden; see Fig. 2) The apparatus performed on the basis of TPS method in which a planar sensor and mathematical model are used to describe thermal conductivity coefficient. These two parameters together with electronic equipment made the apparatus able to measure the heat transfer of material. The sensor consists of a thin twisted tape between two kepton plastic layers subjected to the considered material. Kepton layers acted as an electric insulator and increased the mechanical strength of the sensor. Additionally, during the measurement process, a fluid flow such as air or water entered into the twisted tape and increased the temperature. Heat generated between the sample in the apparatus and two sides of the sensor varied depending on the thermal properties of the studied material. The properties of the tested material were determined according to the recorded temperatures against the reaction time. The ultrasonically dispersed and homogenized Fe3O4 nanofluid was prepared to inject into the metal box and put into the water bath to reach the considered temperature. Once the nanofluid became stable, the measurement was done by Hot Disk requiring the temperature dependent parameters. The thermal conductivity of the Fe3O4 nanofluid (0.05%-5 % (v/v)) was measured.
Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are simple statistical models inspired by biological neural network, which perform functions in parallel. After regulating or training the neural network, it generates a desired response by receiving one or more special inputs. In supervised neural networks, there is a match between input and target values and finally, the output values and target function match, too. Neural networks are used to solve different complex functions. ANNs are applied to predict the output values of different processes. So, the proper selection of input data can generate the desired output value. Initially, the desired data and target values are given to the software for prediction of the output values of neural network. Multi-layer perceptron (MLP) feedforward neural network usually has one or more hidden layers, in which prediction depends on the selection of suitable numbers of neurons for each layer. Neurons in each layer are connected to other neurons by mass coefficients. Outputs of neurons are calculated by an activation functions used to determine the sum of initial weights and orientation of each neuron. In general, the following steps are followed in an artificial neural network:
Generation of the training data for the network.
Evaluation of the different structures for selecting the optimal structure.
Testing the neural network using the unused data in network training.
Oriented neurons are connected to the neurons of next layers to form a fixed direction. The most exact and proper predictions are obtained by tangent function for hidden layer and by pure linear function for output layer. Fig. 3 represents a neural network with two hidden layers consisting of 10 neurons and one output layer. In training algorithms, training data points are inputs and network repeatedly updates the weights and orientations until there is a good agreement between predicted and desired values. In this work, different temperatures and volume fractions of nanoparticles are used as input data and the thermal conductivity coefficients of Fe3O4 nanofluid obtained from experiments are the target or output data. Different topologies and different numbers of neurons were used to investigate the performance of the multi-layer perceptron neural network. In the first step, termination of training networks was done when mean squared error (MSE) was calculated. From all data points, 70% data were used for network training, while the remaining 30% data were utilized for network test and validation. Since the number of neurons in hidden layer is important, a sensitivity analysis was conducted on this parameter. MSE and R were used to assess the obtained results.
According to the obtained results, the neural networks have a good ability for predicting thermal conductivity coefficient ratio. As mentioned earlier, two-layer perceptron feedforward neural network and backpropagation Levenberg-Marquardt (BP-LM) training algorithm were used to predict the thermal conductivity of the nanofluid. Volume fraction and temperature were utilized as inputs and thermal conductive coefficient was used as output (target) parameter. Fig. 3 represents the scheme of structure of the neural network. The number of neurons in hidden layers requires the sensitivity analysis. Therefore, this parameter was evaluated using trial and error method. In this study, hidden layer had 10, 15, and 20 neurons and their results were shown, individually. Using a large number of neurons can make the run time longer and increase the probability of error path in the model. 10 neurons have abnormal error distribution.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Fig. 4(a, b and c) shows the thermal conductivity of Fe3O4/water nanofluid at different volume fractions and different temperatures (25, 30 and 35 °C). The obtained results showed that the thermal conductivity of nanofluids increases linearly with volume fraction and temperature. For example, thermal conductivity ratio of Fe3O4 nanofluid in temperatures 25, 30 and 35 °C is 0.643, 0.65693 and 0.6834, respectively. Increased thermal conductivity can be attributed to the existence of dispersed particles. As seen in Fig. 4 (a-c), thermal conductivity coefficient increases with temperature. This would be a result of an increase in Brownian motion and the contacts of particles. The thermal conductivity of nanofluid strongly depends on the volume fraction. Although, there are semi-empirical correlations for calculating the apparent conductivity of two-phase mixtures, one of the unsolvable problems is the appearance of nonrealistic theories for prediction of nanofluids thermal conductivity. Random migration of nanoparticles is the main reason of increasing the thermal conductivity of nanofluids, because the volume fraction of nanoparticles is so small therefore, such effects are not observed in average volume or average weight. Fine particles have large surface area. Heat transfer between fluid and particle occurs in their interface. Thus, nanoparticles having large surface area increase the thermal conductivity.
Fig. 5 shows the comparison between experimental and predicted results for thermal conductivity. The number of neurons in hidden layer is 10 (Fig. 5a), 15 in (Fig. 5b) and 20 in (Fig. 5c). 10 neurons gave a higher MES. The maximum error value decreases with an increase in the number of neurons, while the correlation coefficient increases. Thus, it can be concluded that there is a good agreement between the predicted and experimental results. This regression value confirms good performance of the network. It is clear in the Fig. 5 that the experimental values agree with the model outputs.
As shown in Fig. 6, the number of the tested samples by the neural network is 36. According to this Figure, there is a good agreement between the thermal conductivity ratios obtained by the neural network and the experimental results. It is clear in Fig. 7 that each sample has one minimum and one maximum error value. According to Fig 7(a), the maximum and minimum error values are not the same. In Figs. 7(b) and (c), the maximum and minimum error values are for the samples 12, 33 and 36, respectively. Therefore, it can be mentioned that the prediction accuracy increases with the number of neurons. The most accurate results were obtained by increasing the number of neurons in hidden layer or the number of training vectors. The number of inputs or their values can be increased. In this work, the maximum error and correlation coefficient values for selected 20 neurons were equal to 0.00098 and 0.99999, respectively.
Fig. 8 shows the thermal conductivity ratio of Fe3O4 nanofluid at different volume fractions. The thermal conductivity of the nanofluid increases with the temperature and volume fraction. As represented in Fig. 8, the thermal conductivity of nanofluid was investigated at temperatures 25 and 30 °C and volume fractions between 0.05-5. Then, the predicted results obtained by neural network for thermal conductivity were compared with the experimental results. According to this figure, there is a good agreement between experimental and predicted results.
Tajik Jamal-Abadi and Zamzamian [12] have modeled the thermal conductivity coefficient of Al2O3 nanofluid using ANN. They have studied nanoparticle size but ignored the maximum error values. In the present study, the maximum error values and utilization of Fe3O4 nanofluid were considered. The temperatures used in our study were different. In another work, Ariana etal. [13] have reported the modeling of the thermal conductivity coefficient of Al2O3 nanufluid using ANN. The number of neurons in their study was 40 but in the present study numbers of neurons used for training were 15, 10 and 20, respectively, to select the best number of neurons with minimum error. Hemmat Esfe et al. [14] have used tansig function as the transfer function in the training process of network but in the present study the effectiveness of network was evaluated using functions tansig, logsig and purelin. In addition, nanofluid used in their study was MgO–water/EG with the volume ratio of 60:40.
In the present study, thermal conductivity of Fe3O4 nanofluid was investigated experimentally. Then, the artificial neural network was used to predict the thermal conductivity. Volume fraction and temperature were considered as network inputs and thermal conductivity ratio as output. The obtained results showed that there is a good agreement between the predicted and experimental results and the sum of MES and R values are desirable.
The author would like to thank Nano Technology Institution, Islamic Azad University of Saveh and also to thank F. Ashori for his helpful comments, which has helped the author in improving the quality of this manuscript.
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this manuscript.
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Aghayari, R., Maddah, H., Faramarzi, A., Mohammadiun, H., Mohammadiun, M. (2016). Comparison of the Experimental and Predicted Data for Thermal Conductivity of Fe3O4/water Nanofluid Using Artificial Neural Networks. Nanomedicine Research Journal, 1(1), 15-22. doi: 10.7508/nmrj.2016.01.003
Reza Aghayari; Heydar Maddah; Ali Reza Faramarzi; Hamid Mohammadiun; Mohammad Mohammadiun. "Comparison of the Experimental and Predicted Data for Thermal Conductivity of Fe3O4/water Nanofluid Using Artificial Neural Networks". Nanomedicine Research Journal, 1, 1, 2016, 15-22. doi: 10.7508/nmrj.2016.01.003
Aghayari, R., Maddah, H., Faramarzi, A., Mohammadiun, H., Mohammadiun, M. (2016). 'Comparison of the Experimental and Predicted Data for Thermal Conductivity of Fe3O4/water Nanofluid Using Artificial Neural Networks', Nanomedicine Research Journal, 1(1), pp. 15-22. doi: 10.7508/nmrj.2016.01.003
Aghayari, R., Maddah, H., Faramarzi, A., Mohammadiun, H., Mohammadiun, M. Comparison of the Experimental and Predicted Data for Thermal Conductivity of Fe3O4/water Nanofluid Using Artificial Neural Networks. Nanomedicine Research Journal, 2016; 1(1): 15-22. doi: 10.7508/nmrj.2016.01.003
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Moon cricket gets NYPD job he was denied due to HIV
The Bobster
http://nypost.com/2017/04/11/man-get...ed-due-to-hiv/
Man gets NYPD job he was denied due to HIV
By Kaja Whitehouse
April 11, 2017 | 4:43pm
Raymond Parker
Gregory P. Mango.
A Brooklyn man who was denied an NYPD techie job because of his HIV has been vindicated — with a new offer of employment and a check for $85,000.
Raymond Parker received the job offer and dough as the result of a settlement between the city and the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office, which sued the city after the NYPD yanked Parker’s job offer due to his HIV.
As part of the settlement, announced Tuesday, the city also acknowledged that it was wrong to have disqualified Parker for a job as a police communications technician because of his HIV, which is a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Parker, 61 , had applied for the job in July 2013 and was given a “conditional” offer of employment shortly thereafter, according to the feds’ lawsuit.
But after he told the city about his HIV during a routine medical exam, the NYPD requested more information about his CD4 count, a measure of health in people with HIV.
In December 2013, the NYPD sent Parker a “notice of medical disqualification” due to his “low CD4 count.”
“I keep myself in shape. I don’t let my body wither. I live life to the fullest. I felt confident I could do the job,” Parker told The Post after the Manhattan US Attorney’s office sued the city in January.
A spokesman for the city’s Law Department didn’t return a request for comment.
“As a result of this lawsuit, the City of New York has acknowledged that HIV status is not a basis to deny an individual employment ,” Acting Manhattan US Attorney Joon Kim said. “We will continue to work to ensure that employers do not discriminate against job applicants with disabilities.”
Those who find the truth hateful just hate hearing the truth.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste.....on a nigger.
If you're not catching flak, you're not over the target.
Find all posts by The Bobster
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How do Satellites Work?
posted Jul 24, 2011, 3:41 PM by Nathan Eliason
Now, when we think of satellites, we see daily services like television and internet using space to deliver better performance. Just more than a generation ago, however, the launch of a satellite would put the nation in a standstill, as the 1957 Russian satellite Sputnik fueled a Race to the Moon. Panic swept through the nation as we feared the potential danger we were in with a potential enemy’s aircraft above our heads.
In reality, a satellite is any object in orbit around another object, whether it is natural or man-made. Currently, there are about 3000 total artificial satellites (man-made) in orbit around Earth, only around 600 of which are reported to be active. They aid us in our everyday lives, and many of us couldn’t live out our lives as we are without them.
A satellite is composed of three basic parts (this is all extremely simplified. This is rocket science, after all): A power source, a control system, and communication capabilities with transmitters and receivers on Earth. These man-made satellites most often include cameras, solar cells, radio receivers and transmitters, rocket motors, rocket fuel, communication and command antennas, and batteries.
To put a satellite in orbit, complicated math is involved. The launch must be precisely planned to create a delicate balance between Earth’s gravity pulling the machine back to Earth, and its own momentum pulling it around and away from Earth. When a ball is thrown, for example, its own momentum pulls it up and away from Earth, yet the gravity from Earth on the ball pulls it back to the ground. Throw it too hard, and it will escape Earth’s orbit and fly into uncharted space with no gravitational pull back to Earth. The trick with satellites is to get in between the two regions, as to where Earth’s gravity will pull it back to Earth, but its own momentum will cause it to move around the planet, causing it to continually “fall” around the Earth. Any slower than 17,000 miles per hour, and the satellite will crash back to Earth’s surface. Too fast (around 13,500 mph), and the satellite will leave Earth’s gravity and become useless.
Satellites in low orbit, closer to Earth, circle the planet about 14 times daily. Its footprint, or viewing area of Earth, is always slightly below half of the planet, like we (at a full moon), can only view nearly half of the moon at one time (and incidentally the same half all the time, but that’s a different story). Satellites that are further from Earth, high-altitude satellites, travel around Earth in the same amount of time as its revolutionary period (one day), meaning that the satellite will always be looking at the same patch of Earth, enabling users on Earth to keep their satellite dishes (such as DIRECTV® and Dish Network®) focused on one location, while the satellite stays in the same spot in our sky (as viewed from Earth) all the time. This requires the satellite to be almost exactly 22,237 miles from Earth’s equator.
For example, your satellite television provider (assuming you have one) launches a satellite into space, which reaches 22,237 miles above Earth and flies around once each day in the same direction our planet is turning. Then, with the satellite dish on your house, they simply calibrate the dish to point exactly to that satellite, and because the satellite doesn’t appear to move from the surface of Earth, you don’t have to move your dish ever.
If you have a satellite-powered GPS, then you use a number of satellites every time you navigate somewhere. There are 24 satellites in low-orbit around Earth, whose location is precisely calculated at all times. Your GPS then finds at least four satellites and measures the time that a signal goes from the GPS to the satellite and back, and then uses that to find the distance from each satellite, giving you your exact position on Earth. Your GPS is actually intentionally inaccurate, to protect civilians for security reasons. The military, however, can rely on their GPS units to be accurate within a centimeter 95% of the time.
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Dr Gemma Allen
Teaching interests
Impact and engagement
Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History
gemma.allen
I read History and English as an undergraduate at St Catherine’s College, Oxford. After working as a researcher for historical TV documentaries (including the RTS award nominated Blitz Spirit), I returned to Oxford for postgraduate study, receiving my doctorate in 2010 from Jesus College. Whilst completing my doctorate, I held a one-year lectureship at Lincoln College, Oxford, and for the following two years I was a lecturer at Pembroke College, Oxford. I joined the OU as a lecturer in early modern history in 2012.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a BBC Expert Woman. I am also the Director of Research for the School of Arts & Humanities at the OU.
My research centres on the political, religious and gender history of later sixteenth and early seventeenth-century England and particularly the study of early modern women.
My book, The Cooke Sisters: Education, Piety and Politics in Early Modern England (2013), explores the lives of five remarkable sixteenth-century women: Mildred Cooke Cecil (1526-1589), Anne Cooke Bacon (1528-1610), Margaret Cooke Rowlett (c.1533-1558), Elizabeth Cooke Hoby Russell (c. 1540-1609) and Katherine Cooke Killigrew (c. 1542-1583). Part of the select group of Tudor women allowed access to a formal education, the Cooke sisters were also well-connected through their marriages to influential Elizabethan politicians. Drawing particularly on their own writings, this book reconstructs for the first time the sisters' humanist education and reveals the extent of their religious and political agency. The book was runner-up for the 2014 WHN Book Prize.
The extensive extant correspondence of one of the Cooke sisters, Lady Anne Bacon, is the subject of my edition for the Camden series. My current research project looks more widely at the political activities of early modern Englishwomen.
I am a member of the steering committee for the Gender and Otherness in the Humanities (GOTH) research centre. I am also a member of the Early Modern Britain and Europe Research Group and the Medieval and Early Modern Research Group at the Open University.
The Cooke Sisters: Education, Piety and Politics in Early Modern England (Manchester University Press, hardback 2013, paperback 2016).
The Correspondence of Lady Anne Bacon, c. 1552-1610 (Camden Society Publications/CUP, 2014).
'The Rise of the Ambassadress: English Ambassadorial Wives and Early Modern Diplomatic Culture', The Historical Journal, 62:3 (2019), pp. 617-638.
Peer-reviewed chapters
‘Women as Counsellors in Sixteenth-Century England: The Letters of Lady Anne Bacon and Lady Elizabeth Russell’ in J. Daybell and A. Gordon (eds), Women and Epistolary Agency in Early Modern Culture, 1450-1690 (Routledge, 2016), pp. 81-95.
‘“a briefe and plaine declaration”: Lady Anne Bacon’s 1564 Translation of the Apologia Ecclesiae Anglicanae’, in P. Hardman and A. Lawrence-Mathers (eds), Women and Writing, c.1340-c.1650: The Domestication of Print Culture (Boydell and Brewer, 2010), pp. 62-76.
Review of Linda Levy Peck, Women of Fortune: Money, Marriage and Murder in Early Modern England (Cambridge, 2018) in The American History Review, 125:4 (2020), pp. 1506-1507.
Review of An Apology or Answer in Defence of The Church Of England: Lady Anne Bacon's Translation of Bishop John Jewel's Apologia Ecclesiae Anglicanae, ed. P. Demers (Cambridge, MHRA, 2016) in Renaissance Quarterly, 70.1 (2017), pp. 361-2.
Review of The Letters of Luisa de Carvajal y Mendoza, edited by G. Redworth (London: Pickering and Chatto, 2012) in The English Historical Review, CXXIX, 536 (2014), pp. 203-204.
Review of Laura Lunger Knoppers (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Early Modern Women’s Writing (Cambridge, 2009) in The English Historical Review, CXXVI, 521 (2011), pp. 934-936.
Review of Melissa Franklin Harkrider’s Women, Reform and Community in Early Modern England: Katherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk, and Lincolnshire’s Godly Aristocracy (Boydell and Brewer, 2008) in The English Historical Review, CXXIV, 510 (2009), pp. 1164-5.
For several years I was the chair of the early modern module, A223: Early Modern Europe: Society and Culture, 1500-1780. I wrote several of the module's chapters, as well as writing and presenting various associated audios and films. I have also contributed to the new level 1 course, A111: Discovering the Arts and Humanities. I am currently writing early modern material for the History MA.
I have previously chaired A200: Exploring History: Medieval to Modern, 1400-1900 and Y180: Making Sense of the Arts. I have also taught and examined for A218: Medicine and Society in Europe 1500-1930.
I welcome PhD proposals in particular on early modern women and gender, sixteenth-century political and religious culture, as well as early modern correspondence and receipts.
I am currently the academic consultant for a new OU-BBC2 coproduction.
I have extensive media training, as in January 2013 I was selected out of two thousand applicants to receive specialist training as a BBC ‘Expert Woman’. Follow this link for details about my recent appearance on BBC R4’s Woman’s Hour. For further information about my media work and my new podcast series, see my personal webpage, http://gemmaallen.com/. You can also find me on Twitter, @DrGemmaAllen.
I was a collaborative project director for the WEMLO (Women's Early Modern Letters Online) project, now embedded as part of the Cultures of Knowledge project.
I am external examiner for the Certificate of Higher Education in History and the Graduate Certificate in History at Birkbeck, University of London.
Gender in the Humanities Research Group Group Faculty of Arts
The Rise of the Ambassadress: English Ambassadorial Wives and Early Modern Diplomatic Culture (2019-09-01)
Allen, Gemma
The Historical Journal, 62(3) (pp. 617-638)
Authored books
The Cooke sisters: education, piety and politics in early modern England (2013-07-31)
Politics, Culture & Society in Early Modern Britain
ISBN : 978-0-7190-8833-9 | Publisher : Manchester University Press
Women as counsellors in sixteenth-century England: The letters of Lady Anne Bacon and Lady Elizabeth Russell (2016-06)
In: Daybell, James and Gordon, Andrew eds. Women and Epistolary Agency in Early Modern Culture, 1450-1690. Women and Gender in the Early Modern World (pp. 81-95)
ISBN : 978-1472478269 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon
"a briefe and plaine declaration": Lady Anne Bacon’s 1564 Translation of the Apologia Ecclesiae Anglicanae (2010-08-19)
In: Lawrence-Mathers, Anne. and Hardman, Phillipa eds. Women and Writing, c.1340-c.1650: The Domestication of Print Culture. Manuscript Culture in the British Isles (pp. 62-76)
ISBN : 978-1-90315-332-1 | Publisher : Boydell & Brewer | Published : Woodbridge
The Letters of Lady Anne Bacon (2014-04-30)
Allen, Gemma ed.
Camden Fifth Series
ISBN : 9781107056541 | Publisher : Cambridge University Press | Published : Cambridge
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Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s back-to-back top-10 finishes are sign of Roush's revival
Date: May 1, 2017 0
One of the biggest questions coming into the season revolved around how Roush Fenway Racing would do after downsizing from a three-car operation to two cars.
With veteran Greg Biffle out of the picture, the pressure fell squarely on the shoulders of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Trevor Bayne.
The year didn’t start off how Stenhouse hoped with a 31st-place finish at Daytona and 33rd-place two weeks later at Las Vegas.
Then something clicked.
Stenhouse has posted two top-fives and has finished 14th or better in five of the last six races.
On Sunday at Richmond, Stenhouse overcame early contact with the wall to battle back for his second fourth-place finish of the season.
“I made it a lot of work for us there getting in the fence later in that first stage and really we were fighting back all day from there,” Stenhouse said of his performance at Richmond. “Had a really good car on the long run, but we bent the splitter bar down. Was on the splitter for five or six laps, so restarts I was just trying to keep as best track position as I could, and once we got to lap 6 or 7, my car kind of came back around to me.
“It was a no‑brainer there to stay out that last caution. I was glad it came out because I thought we missed the opportunity the run before to stay out. It worked out perfect.”
Stenhouse has climbed up the standings in recent weeks and currently sits in the final playoff spot. He’s off to his career-best start to a season with an average finish of 15.6, almost four spots better than his pace through nine races last season.
Add in that his teammate Trevor Bayne has finished 13th or better in seven of nine races and sits 14th in the points standings, and you can see Roush Fenway Racing’s resurgence continue.
gallery: Race results from the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond
Getty Images | Getty Images
For the second time in his career, Stenhouse posted back-to-back top-10 finishes, the first came in his rookie season in 2013 when he finished 10th at Richmond and eighth at Chicagoland.
While the accomplishment isn’t a big one, it’s another indicator that Roush Fenway Racing has improved across the board and has its drivers in position to compete for the playoffs.
“I think we’ve been a top‑15 car on the (1.5-mile tracks),” Stenhouse said post-race at Richmond. “I think you could say we’ve been a 10th‑place car on the short tracks and gambled some and had some good finishes. I think today we were a top‑5 car before I wrecked it. Long runs were definitely top 5.”
Along with cars that can compete for solid finishes on most tracks, Stenhouse has grown as a driver and has learned how to make adjustments throughout a race to increase his chances of a strong finish.
“The less downforce we have, the more you can kind of play with the brakes, play with the gas and throttle and really kind of maneuver your car around a little bit more instead of it being stuck to the racetrack,” Stenhouse said. “You know, I’ve been finding a lot of success in that even if the car is not perfect, being able to change my adjustments and what I’m doing in the car to get the best out of it. It’s getting that way on mile-and-a-half tracks, for sure.
“Even the newer paved ones, but the old ones definitely it’s coming into factor, too. We’ve just got to keep building better cars and bringing faster cars to the racetrack and putting the whole weekend together, not making mistakes.”
gallery: NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 25 drivers after a scorching Richmond race
Rusty Jarrett | © Rusty Jarrett LAT Images www.latphoto.co.uk
FOX Fantasy Auto Form a Racing Team, Compete for Prizes
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Family Planning Media Reproductive Health
Utilize the Media for Reproductive Health
Post date Thursday, December 20, 2007
No Comments on Utilize the Media for Reproductive Health
“To be effective, we need to tell our story in many songs and films.”
David M. Johns, in“Our Real Challenge: Managing Ourselves Instead of Nature”The media are valuable to keep people informed about the problems caused by our growing population. In addition, they can broadcast information about ways to slow our expansion. Even more important is their success in motivating people to change their beliefs and lifestyle.My wife and I recently visited Washington, DC for the Population Institute’s annual Global Media Awards. This column won the “Best Columnist” prize for the article I had written from India about the influence of poverty on population growth.There were thirteen other awardees attending, including people from Canada, Malawi and Cameroon. Except for me, all were professional journalists.The Population Institute (www.populationinstitute.org) has been working domestically and internationally for 38 years to promote interest in the effects of our mounting numbers. It has used education and political lobbying in attempts to slow our growth.One of its techniques has been to encourage coverage of population issues in the media. It runs its own news service to feed information about population to the media. Its annual Awards are given in different categories, including “Best Cartoonist” and “Best Electronic Forum.” The Durango Herald earned an early award. In 1971 the Herald was named “Best Daily in the US.” It is probably the only daily paper that runs a regular column on human population.In the past the Awards have been an excuse to travel. I explored Egypt and Thailand with the PI. Now, with new consciousness about global warming (and limited budgets) the ceremony was held on the PI’s home turf. They are located on Capitol Hill, easy walking distance to the heart of our national government.An advantage of attending the Awards was the opportunity to network. We traded ideas, and I picked up several themes for future columns.One of my goals has been to find a wider readership for this column. From the start Morley Ballantine was kind enough to allow me to keep the copyright to these articles for this purpose—thank you, Morley! I hope that new contacts will help me find new outlets for my writing.The editor of E-Magazine won an award for his story on the “birth dearth”. Some people are upset that many rich countries don’t have enough young people to perform menial labor. In fact, worldwide there is no lack of births, but the vast numbers of babies are born in poorer countries. Jim Motavalli pointed this out in his prize winning article. Jim has suggested that the online version of E-Magazine might be an appropriate medium for this column.My favorite winning entry was “Youth Alert!” from Africa. Victor Gama came all the way from Malawi to accept the award; it was his first time outside of his small, landlocked country. HIV is a serious problem there, as in most of sub-Saharan Africa. About one in seven young people carries the virus. Furthermore, the average Malawian woman bears more than six children.“Youth Alert!” works to keep people in their teens and early twenties safe. The program focuses on fighting pressure to have sex. The “Real Man” doesn’t succumb to peer pressure to have sex too early. Nor does the “Real Woman” yield to pressure from a “sugar daddy”, an older man who offers money or presents in exchange for sex.Delaying sexual debut is the goal for this program, which is described more fully at: www.psimalawi.org/youth_alert.html. The ultimate goal is similar to the failed abstinence-only programs here in the USA. Indeed, the Malawian program is partly funded by our government through USAID. Victor’s approach is playful, however. He held a nationwide competition to find amateur singing groups with songs that had the correct messages. The six winners (three female groups and three male) made professional music videos that will be screened on Malawian TV.Bill Ryerson, founder of the Population Media Center (www.populationmedia.org), won an award for their use of radio and TV soap operas for social change. Empowerment of women, education about contraception and prevention of HIV transmission are the primary goals of their programs in a dozen countries.There are many ways to tell the story of population and reproductive health. Music videos and soap operas can reach wide audiences in developing countries. Fortunately, newspapers and magazines still have devoted readers back home. Thank you for reading this column. May your holidays be wonderful and filled with joy!© Richard Grossman MD, 2007[The article above may be copied or published but must remain intact, with attribution to the author. I also request that the words “First published in the Durango Herald” accompany any publication. For more information, please write the author at: richard@population-matters.org]
Tags award, Media, Population, Reproductive Health
← BOGO (Buy One, Give One) → Accept the Wager
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Blue Guide England
Battle Abbey
Founded by William the Conqueror to atone for the Battle of Hastings (1066), the ruined Battle Abbey lies on the very battlefield that changed English history. Administered by English Heritage, the site includes the abbey ruins, a large expanse of the battlefield, and modern exhibitions about monastic life and the Norman Conquest.
History of Battle Abbey
On October 14, 1066, a Norman duke known as William the Conqueror defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. This decisive victory brought the Saxon period of English history to an end and initiated the Norman rule of England. The Norman Conquest would bring many changes to the island, including a new French style of Romanesque architecture and many new churches and monasteries all over the country.
After the Battle of Hastings, William went on to conquer other important strongholds further north, such as London and York. But in 1070, his attention returned to the battlefield where it all began when, pressured by the Pope, he founded a Benedictine abbey to atone for the thousands of deaths on that field. The new foundation was dedicated to St. Martin, but it has been known almost ever since as Battle Abbey.
Battle Abbey was built right on the battlefield, with the church's altar positioned over the site where King Harold fell. Constructed in the Norman Romanesque style, with a round apse and ambulatory, the church was completed in 1094. It was consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the presence of the Conqueror's son, William Rufus.
The abbey was colonized by four Benedictine monks from Marmoutier monastery near Tours, France. Construction on the remaining abbey buildings, such as the dormitory and cloister, continued throughout the 12th and 13th centuries. The church was extended to the east in the 13th century.
In the 14th century, French raids during the Hundred Years' War required the abbey to improve its defenses. This included rebuilding the gatehouse to the towering edifice that still stands today, beginning in 1338. Later in the same century, the abbey was struck by the Black Death. More than a dozen monks succumbed to the plague and the monastery's incomes suffered.
Battle Abbey was dissolved on May 27, 1538, and the property was given to Sir Anthony Browne. The new owner promptly destroyed the church, chapter house and cloisters, and renovated the abbot's house into a country mansion.
In later centuries the property fell into decline, but it was restored by the duke and duchess of Cleveland, who lived here from 1857 to 1901. Battle Abbey School was founded in the abbot's house after World War I. Both the battlefield and abbey were purchased by the nation in 1976 and the site is now administered by English Heritage.
What to See at Battle Abbey
Entrance to the site is through the towering medieval gatehouse on the High Street of the small town of Battle, which is beautifully lit up at night. Considered one of the finest examples in England, it looks like a miniature castle: it has four round towers with cross-shaped arrow slits, and is battlemented on all sides. Corbel heads decorate the exterior and the passageway; those in the latter include the heads of King Harold and King William.
Today, the gatehouse contains a Museum of Abbey Life, with exhibitions illustrating the lives of the monks at Battle Abbey. The east wing dates from the 16th century and contains the ticket desk and gift shop. Modern buildings to the right (west) of the gatehouse contain a cafe and an exhibition on the Battle of Hastings.
From the gatehouse, visitors first pass Battle Abbey School on the left, which is housed in the former abbot's quarters (remodeled in the 16th century). The school is off-limits to the public.
The path continues south to the Monks' Terrace, a peaceful dirt path overlooking a large meadow - the battlefield where thousands of Normans and Saxons died on October 14, 1066. Illustrated signs along the path bring that fateful day to life. Two hills visible across the valley, Senlac and Telham, are where the Normans camped the night before their attack.
Also along the Monks' Terrace, opposite the battlefield, is the guest range. The guest quarters do not survive, but a tall round tower still stands, as do the 13th-century cellars, used to store food and drink.
The visitor path then leads to the abbey itself, of which sadly little survives today. The great abbey church, the first Norman church built in England, is entirely gone, but its floor plan is marked in the grass. The church had an ambulatory with three radiating chapels, a transept with apsidal chapels, and a nave with seven bays. It is thought to be the first church with radiating chapels to be built in England. East of the high altar area, the radiating chapels of the 13th-century crypt still stand a few feet high.
A modern plaque marks the site of Harold's death. It reads:
The cloister is also outlined in the grass, just south of the church. Traceried windows from the cloister's west range have been preserved in the wall of the abbot's house. The two bays on the left are the earliest, dating from the late 13th century. The remaining bays date from the 15th century.
The only abbey structure that has survived mostly intact is the monks' dormitory and reredorter (latrines). Built in the early 12th century by the first abbot, this is where the monks slept in a very austere fashion. The dormitory is the larger building, stretching north to south. Its grand proportions and lancet windows give it the appearance of a grand church.
The undercroft of the dormitory is a beautiful rib-vaulted area dating from the 13th century. Probably used originally as a novices' room and common room, a hooded fireplace indicates it may have been later used as a warming house.
Extending east from the dormitory is the reredorter, consisting of seats with holes leading into drains in the vaulted arches below. East of the reredorter was the infirmary, which no longer stands.
Battle is located in East Sussex, a few miles north of Hastings on the southern coast of England. From London or the north, take the A21 south to the A2100, following signs for Battle.
Quick Facts on Battle Abbey
Battle Abbey · The Ruins of Battle Abbey
abbeys; Grade I listed buildings
Battle, England
Apr-Sep: daily 10am-6pm
Oct-Nov 3: daily 10am-5pm
Nov 4-Feb 16, Feb 22-Mar 31: Sat-Sun 10am-4pm
Feb 17-21: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm
Closed Dec 24-26, Dec 31, Jan 1
View hotels near Battle Abbey
Personal visit (November 16, 2007).
1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield - English Heritage (official website)
Battle Abbey Pamphlet (PDF) - English Heritage
Battle Abbey: A brief history and virtual tour - Dr. Deborah Vess, Georgia College & State University
Battle Abbey, East Sussex - The Heritage Trail
Ian Ousby, Blue Guide England, 11th ed. (London: A&C Black, 1995), 92.
Battle Abbey, Sussex - Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Britain and Ireland
Battle Abbey Map - Planetware (Baedecker)
Photos of Battle Abbey - here on Sacred Destinations
The Great Gatehouse of Battle Abbey in East Sussex. © Holly Hayes
Site of the abbey church, looking east. © Holly Hayes
Plaque marking the altar site, where King Harold died. © Holly Hayes
Path leading to the battlefield (center background). © Holly Hayes
Path overlooking the battlefield, with undercrofts on the left. © Holly Hayes
Closer look at the undercrofts, originally beneath the guest quarters. © Holly Hayes
Monks' dormitory and reredorter (latrine). © Holly Hayes
Closer view of the reredorter. © Holly Hayes
Vaulted undercroft of the dormitory. © Holly Hayes
Beautiful rib vault in the undercroft. © Holly Hayes
Foundations of the 13th-century crypt chapels. © Holly Hayes
Abbot's House, with remains of the Gothic cloister. © Holly Hayes
Closer look at the cloister. © Holly Hayes
Map of Battle Abbey
Below is a location map and aerial view of Battle Abbey. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.
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Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Elementary School, Forest Hills, New York
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A census of the Catholic population of Forest Hills, New York, taken in March 1912, reveals only 78 persons, 60 adults and 18 children. However, in 1915, plans for a future parish in Forest Hills, New York, took an initial step when the Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn claimed title to twelve lots on the southwest annex of Ascan Avenue and Hoffman (now Queens) Boulevard. The amazing purchase price was only $14,000. Also, in 1915 a wooden Chapel of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs was built, and in 1917 Reverend Joseph R. McLaughlin was appointed pastor. With the vision and energy of a true spiritual leader, Father McLaughlin had, by 1925, outlined the unified group of parish buildings which now exists, including parish school, church, rectory, convent and additional space for later needs. (113)
On January 5, 1928, ground was broken for the school which was the first of the proposed cluster of buildings. The cornerstone of the school was laid on May 30, 1928, at which time Father McLaughlin announced that he expected the building to be completed for the opening of school in September. No one thought this feat could be accomplished--certainly not Reverend Joseph McClancy, the superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Brooklyn Diocese, for it was not until July 3, 1928, that he wrote to Mother Casimir (as if the date were a year, rather than two months, away) as follows:
. . . We have arranged for your Community to staff Father McLaughlin's school at Forest
Hills next September . . . You will kindly interpret this letter as an official invitation onthe part of the Bishop for your Sisters to accept the Forest Hills school . . . (114)
On September 9, 1928, the day before school opened, desks were placed in the classrooms, general cleaning was done, water and light connections were made, and even into the night, barrels, boxes and rubble from construction were being cleaned up and thrown out of the windows into the schoolyard. This beautiful English gothic-style building with its fourteen classrooms, large auditorium, principal's office, library, music room, health room, and science laboratory stood ready to receive its first pupils in the first five grades. Ninety boys and one hundred twenty-one girls, a total of two hundred eleven pupils enrolled, and perhaps no one on that opening day could envision that an over-capacity enrollment of 859 students would, in 1955-1956, fill this school.
The first sisters assigned to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School were Sister Maria Assumpta Clifford, superior and principal, Sister Marguerite Murray, Sister Malachy McKernan, Sister Simeon Walker, Sister Benedictus Philpott, and Sister Maria Angela Orr. These six sisters seem to have fulfilled to a high degree Father McLaughlin's three-fold requirements for his teaching staff: "They should be spiritual women, cultured ladies, and qualified teachers." (115)
A picture of a typical classroom in Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School in June 1929, shows a class of 39 students and the traditional Old English printing on the blackboard setting forth some profound maxims for daily living: “Humility is Truth” and “Idleness is the Strength of Bad Habits.” (116)
In spite of the sobering content of these messages, the atmosphere of this school was one of joy, as related by Sister Benedictus Philpott, one of these first teachers. She was in her first year of teaching and was responsible for grades 1B and 2A, as well as the school music. Sister praised the interest of the pastor in everything being done in the school, the excellence of the faculty of sisters, and the help given to them by a parishioner, Miss Fanning, who was then a public school teacher. She assisted them in the selection of supplementary readers, some of which included fairy tales that could be dramatized by the children. Sister Benedictus' recollections of that year in Forest Hills brought her much joy and, as she expressed it, “I only stayed one year in Forest Hills, being transferred to Marywood, but I loved and enjoyed every day with those children in my first grade.” (117)
Sister Benedictus described the people of Forest Hills as generous, appreciative and highly interested in the school. Parents often stopped in on weekends to view the work of the students that was displayed in the school. In reminiscing, Sister expressed pride in all that was accomplished with children who were only in grades one through five. ''Many opportunities were given to the children to assume responsibility and to take leadership, even though they were very young, " she said. (118)
When one thinks of the grand scale on which all of these parish buildings were eventually to emerge, it is difficult to imagine the little country-like chapel which served as the parish church until fire destroyed it in 1929 or to picture a three-story duplex house, one half of which served as the convent in those early days. This three-bedroom home accommodated the six sisters with some doubling up, with only a very small space available for a chapel. It is obvious that the sisters' joy at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs had its source in other than material comforts. Their own goodness and dedication brought forth many blessings, as the small original group of six sisters was to become sixteen by 1943 and twenty-one by 1955 as enrollment in the school escalated.
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School continues as a vibrant ministry, serving a wide variety of ethnic and culturally diverse students, many of whose parents are employed at the United Nations in New York City.
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You are here: Home / Archives for Rifqa Bary
September 17, 2009 By Seth H. 5 Comments
With America’s eyes turning toward the battle for Rifqa Bary in Florida, it seemed fitting to pull this one out of the vault. Americans are famously clueless about history, but especially so when it comes to the history of Islam and Christianity. When I was in Bar Exam preparation, the lecturer, who was your typical American WASP, aparently felt the need to vent concerning the Crusades. He said the kings and knights went off to “teach Christianity to the heathens” in the Middle East, and how they completely destroyed the “Islamic Culture” there “that had existed for thousands of years.” He then went back to legal matters, but many listening had no doubt been entrenched more deeply in very popular and very dangerous misconceptions. Circumstances prevented me from addressing him directly, but I would have liked to point out that, at the time of the Crusades, “Islamic culture” had existed for about 400 years (Christianity, for the record, had been around for about 1000), that the Crusades had nothing to do with converting anyone or teaching anyone anything, but were about reclaiming territory and securing safe pilgrimages for the already faithful, and that they had hardly been unprovoked.
Kingdom of Heaven (Ridley Scott, 2005) is one of many films about the Crusades. It does succumb to many of the same misconceptions of past films, but represents an improvement. One review commented that the Muslims in the film were put in a surprisingly positive light. The surprise for me was that the Christians were not portrayed as completely barbaric, as tends to be the habit of Hollywood. For instance, the Kevin Coster version of Robin Hood (1992) introduced a new character in Hazeem, a Muslim who follows Robin to England from Jerusalem (Morgan Freeman). Through Hazeem, Muslims get undeserved credit for all kinds of advances in science, including gunpowder, which came from ancient China, telescopes, which were invented in Denmark in the 17th Century, and Cesarean section. Hazeem tends to be juxtaposed against Friar Tuck, a drunken, bumbling (albeit lovable) figure of Christianity. Worst of all, at one point, Robin Makes a speech, during which he declares “One man, fighting for his home, is more powerful than 10 hired soldiers!” He then looks over at Hazeem and says “The Crusades taught me that.”
And so it goes. Throughout history, from the class room to the silver screen, Christianity is portrayed as having spread out violently from Europe, destroying the peaceful, environmentally sound cultures in its path. Will the real story ever be told?
Balian (Bloom) at the Battle of Kerak, courtessy of Wikipedia.
Kingdom of Heaven is a definite improvement. Most of the characters we get to know are on the Christian side. Most of them are admirable. The biggest surprise was that the movie portrayed Muslims, Christians and Jews as living peacefully side by side for much of the story. One knight tells the lead, Balian of Ibelin (Orlando Bloom) that his father, Grodfrey of Ibelin (Liam Neeson) kept Jerusalem as a place of prayer for all faiths, just as the Muslims did before them. (At least now both sides are equally misrepresented.) The villains of the story are Guy de Lusigan (Marton Csokas) and Reynald (Brendan Gleeson), two French knights who want to provoke a war with Syria. (Those who care to check out the DVD extras will notice the real Guy, at least, wasn’t so bad) They succeed about two thirds of the way through, which leads up to the climactic battle (which, I might add, is a great piece of film-making). We don’t see enough scenes on the Muslim side to really like or dislike them. We do see a brief shot of Saladin crying over the bodies of men slain in battle. We see a lot of shots of both sides shouting “God wills it!” as they move into battle.
In the book “Unveiling Islam,” Ergun Caner, a former Muslim, comments that this cry (Dues Volt! in Latin) was only adopted in Europe after centuries of raids and colonization by the Arabs. Other features of Islam seem to have rubbed off on Christians about this time. For instance, the teaching in Islam that one who dies in jihad automatically goes to paradise (Hadith 4:73, 9:93:555) seems to have been adopted by Pope Leo IV, when he promised forgiveness of sins to any who fought the Muslims.
Saladin attacks Jerusalem in a great battle scene.
The heroes of Kingdom tend to be those who acknowledge God’s authority but insist on using cool-headed reason to end conflicts. There is a priest in Christian Jerusalem who comments “thanks to religion, I’ve seen the lunacy of madmen in every denomination be called the will of God. The kingdom God desires is here (pokes Balian in the head) and here (pokes him in the heart).” This evenhanded film is probably characteristic of the post 9/11 era where Americans want to believe all religions are the same. Today, the media can’t seem to fathom that Muslim parents, who’ve cared for their daughter for 17 years, might kill her for apostacy. As she repeatedly told an interviewer, “you guys don’t understand!”
There are a number of battles in history that I have often wished someone would make a movie out of – battles that represent some of Christian Europe’s victories over the Jihad. For instance, the Battle of Tours (A.D. 732), where the French stopped a Muslim army that had pillaged its way across northern Africa and Spain, thus saving western civilization. Or the naval Battle of Lepanto (1571) that broke the Turks’ stranglehold on the Mediterranean and liberated thousands of slaves. Or the valiant defense of Constantinople, which resisted the Ottoman empire (which terrorized the world for about 500 years) for centuries. And then, of course, there were a series of battles late in WWI that marked the final destruction of the Ottomans and the liberation of the Serbs (who are now vilified as oppressors of Muslims). Today, we’re watching the story of a young potential martyr unfold from our livingrooms.
On one hand it seems like a pipe dream to hope that these stories will ever get the remembrance and celebration they deserve in the present climate. Americans can’t seem to fathom a time when western culture was in danger of being overrun. Still, Kingdom of Heaven might be a step in the right direction. Maybe the next Ridley Scott will read this column. Time will tell.
Filed Under: Action, Documentary, Opinion Articles, War Tagged With: 5.0 Stars, brendan gleeson, castles, Crusades, csokas, history, knights, liam neeson, orlando bloom, Ridley Scott, Rifqa Bary
Iron Man 2 (Take-Two)
Guess what? Summer begins early, as it does with the year’s major blockbuster movies. Robert Downey, Jr. is back in action shooting to thrill, and let me just say, “Iron Man 2,” while not coming out blazing, still knocks last year’s hideous kick-start “Wolverine” out of the park. Director Jon Favreau and his star Downey […]
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
By Seth H. 1 Comment
Coppula’s film is to Stoker’s novel what a vampire is to the person he or she was in life.
By Seth H. Leave a Comment
I really hate to down-grade a movie just because it doesn’t fit into an established genre. After all, some of history’s greatest sleeper hits, like The Crow or Dark City, are impossible to find a shelf for. Some, like The Matrix, actually wound up founding their own genre. The problem is, those genres do exist for a […]
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Current statistics of COVID-19 in Malaysia [14 March 2020]
Zulfadli Bin Yusmar March 14, 2020 News
Two (2) cases (35th and 61st cases) have been discharged from the Sungai Buloh Hospital ward. This bring a total of 35 cases that fully r...
Two (2) cases (35th and 61st cases) have been discharged from the Sungai Buloh Hospital ward. This bring a total of 35 cases that fully recovered so far from COVID-19 and being discharged from the ward.
As of March 14, 2020 at 12:00 pm, 41 new cases of COVID-19 infections were reported. All of these new cases have been confirmed by patient under investigation (PUI) (37 cases) and close contact with COVID-19 (4 cases). With the addition of 41 new cases, the number of COVID-19 positive cases in Malaysia increased by 238 cases.
To date, a total of 203 cases are still being treated in the ward with five (5) of them being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and needing respiratory assistance. These cases have also been given anti-viral treatment.
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FORMER ROCK GIANTS MAKE A LIVING WITH CASINO PERFORMANCES
ARCH ENEMY WILL TO POWER
TheRoadhouseLive
Number 1 Rock Radio Liverpool 101.2 FM
22nd January 2018 23rd January 2018 Joshua Storey 5713 Views
This English rock band, also known as Roundabout, came into existence in the year 1968 in Hertford, England. It is considered to be one of the first groups which took up heavy metal and modern hard rock just as soon as these styles of music started gaining popularity in the region. With time, their style of music evolved. Having started out playing progressive rock, they shifted to heavy rock in the seventies. In a 1972 concert, they played such hard rock that they earned themselves the title of world’s loudest band at the time. They even made it to the Guinness Book of World Records as a result of that performance. They have sold over one hundred million of their albums globally.
Type of music they play
In the early years, they played psychedelic rock. They later shifted to progressive rock towards the ends of the sixties era. In the 1970s they took to playing hard rock music and heavy metal rock which they have been playing ever since. They played from 1968 to 1976, before an eight-year break. This pause in their performances was brought about by differences amongst the members which led to changes in the line-ups. They resumed playing in the year 1984 and continued playing ever since.
Current members of this rock band are Rodger Glover, Ian Gillan, Ian Paice, Don Airey and Steve Morse. The band’s past members are Jon Lord, Nick Simper, Ritchie Blackmore, Rod Evans, Glenn Hughes, Tommy Bolin, Joe Satriani, David Coverdale and Joe Lynn Turner.
They have released tons of records during the years which include Machine Head, Infinites, Made in Japan, Burn, Stormbringer, Perfect Strangers, Deep Purple in Rock, Fireball, Come Taste the Band, Who Do We Think We Are and The book of Taliesyn.
tour dates in the UK
Deep Purple plans to tour the UK for three days in 2017, from twentieth November up to the twenty-third. On 20th November, the band will be playing at Motorpoint Arena (3P) at Cardiff. On the twenty-second, the group will perform at SSE Hydro (1P) in Glasgow. Their final performance in the United Kingdom will be at 02 (London) in London. After their tour of the United Kingdom, they will move on to Argentina.
Deep Purple is a band that has undergone various trials and tests during their career and remained stronger than ever. Their music keeps getting better, and their fan base keeps growing. Grab a ticket and seize the opportunity to hear them play live!
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22nd January 2018 Joshua Storey Comments Off on EVANESCENCE
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You are here: Home » Archives for Jeff Holden
Tag: "Jeff Holden"
TALKERS | May 2, 2012
Sirius XM Reports Revenue Up 11%. SiriusXM CEO Mel Karmazin tells analysts the satcaster has seen subscriptions increase by 405,000 compared to the first quarter of 2011. Revenue for Q1 of 2012 was $805 million, an increase of 11% over the same period a year ago. Karmazin states, “SiriusXM is starting the year with tremendous operational momentum. We grew subscribers faster than any first quarter since our 2008 merger of Sirius and XM, and we improved our self-pay monthly churn rate to 1.9% despite implementing a price increase at the beginning of the year. Rising auto sales and our strong execution should enable us to exceed our prior 2012 subscriber growth guidance of 1.3 million, which today we are raising to 1.5 million.” The continued good news for SiriusXM includes: its subscriber growth rate accelerating to boost its subscriber base to an all-time high of 22.3 million; reduced its monthly churn to 1.9%; and was able to show positive free cash flow in the first quarter of a fiscal year for the first time – free cash flow was $15 million for 2012’s Q1. SiriusXM EVP and CFO David Frear states, “Our growing cash flow is reducing our leverage substantially and this improving credit profile should benefit stockholders as we refinance or pay down more than $1 billion of high coupon debt over the next 15 months.”
2012 Q1 Report: CBS Radio Down 2%. CBS Corporation announced its first quarter revenue for 2012 and although the company as a whole was up 12% on revenue of $3.92 billion over the same period a year ago, the revenue for the CBS Radio division was down 2%. Content licensing and distribution revenue were responsible for much of the company’s growth.
Harris to Exit Broadcast Business. Melbourne, Florida-based Harris Corporation employs some 17,000 people worldwide but the bulk of its revenue does not come from the radio equipment sector – not even close. And that’s why the company announces it is divesting itself of the Broadcast Communications arm. The company states a review of its business structure revealed, “the (radio) business is no longer aligned with the company’s long-term strategy. The plan to sell these assets supports our disciplined approach to capital allocation, and we intend to use the proceeds to return cash to shareholders and invest in growing our core businesses.”
KTRH, Houston Talk Host Michael Berry Won’t Be Charged in Fender Bender Case. Former Houston City Councilor and KTRH, Houston talk host Michael Berry will not face charges of hit and run in connection with a parking incident outside an area bar that happened in late January. The District Attorney’s office tells the Houston Chronicle that based on its findings, there will be no charges filed against Berry. It appears there’s no evidence to show Berry’s vehicle hit the car of a club bouncer who told authorities a car matching the description of Berry’s car hit his. The incident happened outside of TC’s Show Bar in Montrose – a club known for gay clientele. The local media made a big deal out of the incident and, in addition to the connection between the conservative Berry and the gay bar, questioned whether the former city councilor received special treatment from authorities investigating the incident. Berry maintained his innocence and excoriated the local media on his radio show for running fast and loose with the facts. He blamed much of the attention he received from the incident on politics.
Merlin Media’s New York Programming Chief Is Mark Austin Thomas. “FM News 101.9” has been without an official programming chief since Liz Aiello was let go in December. Now, it’s being reported that former KABC, Los Angeles news director and news anchor Mark Austin Thomas is in the programmer’s chair. Radio-Info’s Tom Taylor reports an announcement from Merlin Media about Thomas’ status may come as early as this week. All-news WEMP-FM, New York has been holding steady with a .7 share in the monthly PPM ratings.
Dave Milner Named Market Manager at Clear Channel Sacramento. Reports of Jeff Holden’s departure from the building at Clear Channel Media and Entertainment’s Sacramento cluster turned out to be true. The company announces Dave Milner takes over the president and market manager role. Milner has been serving as vice president of sales at Entercom’s San Francisco station group. He previously worked for Clear Channel in the Portland market. Clear Channel EVP of operations, Western Region Susan Karis states, “Dave brings an extensive track record of sales and management expertise with him to the Clear Channel Sacramento market. I’m excited to have him back with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment to lead our business in Sacramento to continued success.”
KFTK-FM, St. Louis Adds Tony Katz to Permanent Weekend Show. Emmis Communications’ KFTK-FM, St. Louis announces regular fill-in talk host Tony Katz gets a weekly Saturday afternoon show airing from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Katz is the go-to fill-in guy for midday talk host Dana Loesch. KFTK-FM program director Jeff Allen says, “Tony is a rising star and I am thrilled that we can launch a fresh, new talent into our Saturday evening line-up. Tony is passionate, informative and most importantly, fun to listen to!” Katz also hosts a regular internet talk program on allpatriotsmedia.com.
Commercials Are Content, Too. The phrase “content is king” may be a cliché but the sentiment is true. However, it’s important to remember that spots are content too and broadcasters should give attention to spot quality, according to H&H Communications president Al Herskovitz. In his latest column for TALKERS, Herskovitz cites examples of commercial copy gone wrong that could have been avoided. Read his piece here.
FM Sports Talker Coming to Twin Falls, Idaho. Lee Family Broadcasting principal Kim Lee tells MagicValley.com that he’ll drop the AC music on KMVX-FM for sports talk on May 24. The station will carry ESPN programming and be the local radio outlet for College of Southern Idaho sports. The school’s radio voice, Jonathan Drew, will join the station as sports director and PM drive host of a local sports talk show.
Odds ‘n’ Sods. Bob Throndsen retires from his news director position at Fisher Broadcasting’s KOMO-AM/FM. Throndsen has worked at KOMO radio and KOMO-TV for much of the past 30 years…..The debut of Michael Patrick Shiels’ new morning talk show based at local Fox TV outlet WSYM-TV, Lansing, Michigan will come not this week but next, according to a piece in the Lansing State Journal. Shiels, who recently left his WJIM, Lansing based program after a contract dispute, plans to syndicate the new show to talk radio outlets across Michigan…..KBJR-TV, Duluth sports director Tom Hansen joins KDAL, Duluth-Superior as co-host of the late morning show alongside Dave Strandberg. Hansen maintain’s his position with the television outlet…..Talk show host Tom Donahue, host of Tom Donahue Reports, announces his new flagship network for his syndicated show is Orion Talk Radio. The program airs live from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm daily.
Broadcasters Foundation of America Announces Second Annual Stu Olds Memorial Golf Classic. The Broadcasters Foundation of America sets June 12 as the date of the second annual Stu Olds Memorial Golf Classic – the fundraiser named in honor of the former Katz Media head who died in December of 2010. Since its inception, the fund has raised more than $500,000 to benefit the foundation. The event costs $250 per player and proceeds go directly to the fund. Reservations to take part in the golf outing can be made by calling Jim Thompson at 212-373-8250 or e-mail info@thebfoa.org.
2012 Presidential Race, Obama Afghanistan Visit, U.S. ICE Scam and Ohio Bridge Terror Plot Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (5/1). The 2012 presidential race; President Obama’s visit to Kabul, Afghanistan and the Taliban violence there; the Immigration and Customs Enforcement scandal; and the Ohio bridge terror plot were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
Rusty Humphries Has Movie Role in “Flicka” Film. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment just released the movie “Flicka Country Pride” starring Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black. Appearing in the role of the announcer at the championship horse competition is Talk Radio Network and WGST, Atlanta talk show host Rusty Humphries. Humphries spent several days last November in British Columbia filming his scenes. He says, “It was an honor to be asked to be a part of a major motion picture and to learn from some of the best talent in the movie making business.” In a scene from the film, Rusty is seen here in his announcer role at the judge’s table. Rusty Humphries’ star continues to rise on a number of fronts. He has proven himself over the years to be like “the little engine that could.” In addition to accruing steadily increasing ratings and affiliations, his marketing campaigns continue to attract industry attention with significant sales of such items as Rusty Humphries Beef Jerkey and Rusty Humphries cigars. His position on the TALKERS Heavy Hundred took a leap from #35 in 2011 to #20 in 2012. Meet Rusty Humphries at the forthcoming New Media Seminar in New York City on Thursday, June 7 where he will be appearing as one of the debaters on the Talk Rumble. The industry-only event is near a sellout. For reservations, hotel or sponsorship information call 413-565-5413.
TALKERS | February 2, 2012
Overnight: The Underexploited Daypart. Consultant Walter Sabo suggests more talk radio operators should take advantage of the overnight daypart – the one it wins by default. Citing a Media Audit report indicating talk radio has the largest overnight audience, Sabo contends that – contrary to conventional wisdom – there is money to be made there and other opportunities on which to capitalize. Read his exclusive TALKERS article here.
Can Radio Afford to be Rated Accurately? That’s really the question that should be asked as Arbitron loses accreditation for five PPM markets. The Media Rating Council is informing Arbitron, Inc. that accreditation for the Portable People Meter in five markets – Cleveland; Portland, Oregon; Riverside-San Bernardino; Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo; and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater – is being withdrawn. The MRC says its board of directors “reached this decision upon consideration of a recommendation from an MRC audit committee based on its review of the 2011 Arbitron PPM service audit results, which showed certain issues related to internal controls of the service and declines in service performance metrics.” Arbitron EVP, service innovation and chief research officer Gregg Lindner says, “Consistent with our long-standing priorities, we will work to retain accreditation where we have it, to regain accreditation where it was withdrawn and to achieve accreditation in our remaining PPM markets. As always, we will continue our work with the MRC in order to address their concerns.” Arbitron says it intends to have all 48 PPM markets undergo MRC audits this year. Currently, nine markets remain accredited: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Houston (DMA), Kansas City, Milwaukee-Racine, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and St. Louis. Although details remain vague, TALKERS suspects the problem faced by Arbitron in getting PPM off and running comes down to sample size – a two-fold challenge at this point. First: To get enough radio listeners to participate in the program and follow it diligently while busy and distracted; second, to expend the money required to have enough units and participants per market needed to achieve statistical accuracy – an investment that ultimately falls on the back of the financially strapped radio business.
CBS Radio Alters WINS, New York Top-of-the Hour Slogan. Some observers will call it a win for Merlin Media CEO Randy Michaels who challenged CBS Radio’s use of the “New York’s One and Only News Station” for all-news WINS. After a back-and-forth of letters from lawyers regarding station slogans and positioning statements in which CBS Radio first asked Merlin to stop using a permutation of its “Give us 22 minutes and we’ll give you the world” slogan, it seems both sides may be moving forward with the business of doing news. That’s probably best since we’re assuming neither desire to spend more on lawyers than necessary. TALKERS legal editor Steven J.J. Weisman says each side could have made a case. Weisman says CBS could reasonably argue that Merlin was infringing upon its trademark and Merlin could make a good argument that CBS’ use of the “one and only” phrase regarding its all-news radio product violated the Lanham Act (false advertising) in light of WEMP-FM’s existence.
Radio Pros Lee Abrams and Steve Saslow Plan Reinvention of TV News. Radio programming legend Lee Abrams and marketing and network radio pro Steve Saslow are teaming up with attorney Brandon Davis to form THINK TeleVisual Network, Inc. In a statement, the trio say they will “elevate the television news playbook into the digital age with a radical reinvention of the way news and information is produced and delivered.” THINK states its programming will be “designed to present one unified televisual news experience across every device category. It represents a profound rewriting of the news/information blueprint where a completely new style of presentation will merge with the magic of 21st century technology and modern American culture.” Lee Abrams says, “News and information is what is steering our 21st century America, the equivalent of what rock ‘n roll was forty years ago. THINK will merge this passion for information, knowledge and insight with the revolution in technology to create an interactive multi-media experience that will redefine how people are informed and enlightened.” Initially funded by the three principals, the venture is currently going through another round of fundraising in collaboration with the Boston-based investment firm Kaufman & Company.
Clear Channel’s KFBK Celebrates 90 Years of Serving Sacramento. News/Talk KFBK-AM/FM, Sacramento is celebrating 90 years on the air serving the people of the region. As part of the commemoration, the station is unveiling an online museum “that will showcase and honor the station’s rich and storied history. The museum will include audio clips, photos and videos that will transport listeners back in time to relive KFBK’s evolution.” Other events throughout the day include Premiere Networks superstar Rush Limbaugh joining KFBK morning news anchors Amy Lewis and Ed Crane live at 8:00 am where Limbaugh will reminisce about his time at KFBK. At 11:00 am, station staff will open a time capsule left by a past generation of KFBK employees and longtime KFBK talk host Tom Sullivan – now syndicated by Fox News Radio but still heard on the station – joining Kitty O’Neal during the KFBK Afternoon News to commemorate the occasion. VP/market manager Jeff Holden states, “The celebration today is recognition and confirmation that the commitment of the employees – past, present and future – is exactly what Sacramentans, at each point in time over the past 90 years, have so welcomingly accepted into their lives. I couldn’t be more proud to be part of such an illustrious and valuable asset to the region and a part of the team that is making history.”
Clear Channel Quad Cities AM Duo Moves to News/Talk WOC; Piped to WMT, Cedar Rapids. Morning show hosts Mark Manuel and Steve Ketelaar have been hosting the morning drive show on Clear Channel Media and Entertainment’s oldies KUUL-FM, East Moline, Illinois for the past four years. Beginning February 20, the duo moves across the hall to handle the morning show on the cluster’s news/talk WOC, Davenport and will be simulcast at CC’s Cedar Rapids news/talker WMT. They’ll replace WOC program director Dan Kennedy as morning host. Kennedy stays in his PD post and will remain on the program as news anchor. Kirk Marske will produce the WOC morning show. According to the Quad City Times, WMT will provide its own news anchor during news cutaways. Clear Channel Davenport operations manager Jim O’Hara tells the paper, “A big thing with us over the past year with Clear Channel in general has been making the best use of our strongest people, our strongest programs. As I’ve thought about that over the last several months, it dawned on me that WOC is one radio station that needs more help, more people.”
Florida Primary Aftermath, Facebook IPO and Earnings Report, U.S. Afghanistan Combat Withdrawl Plan, and Syrian Violence Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (2/1). The aftermath of Mitt Romney’s victory in the Florida primary, the announcement of a pending Facebook IPO and its first public earnings report, plans for an end to the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan and ongoing violence in Syria were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday according to ongoing research from TALKERS.
TALKERS | December 1, 2011
KTRS, St. Louis Personality JC Corcoran Suspended for Twitter Activities. There’s no official word from CH Holdings’ news/talk KTRS, St. Louis but the reports from St. Louis-area media seem to confirm that afternoon host JC Corcoran has been suspended from the station for two weeks after engaging in a back-and-forth Twitter argument with listener-followers in which he used foul language. The incident started when Corcoran declared Cardinals star Albert Pujols would re-sign with the team by November 18. When that didn’t happen, Corcoran was taken to task for his prediction on Twitter and his responses including questionable language went out on the internet. This case illustrates that even though the “letter” of FCC rules applies specifically to over-the-air language on terrestrial radio, the “spirit” of the law can now extend to social media activities as well giving the morals clause found in most talent employment contracts expanded relevance. Talk show hosts beware – you are what you tweet!
News/Talk KFBK, Sacramento Gets FM Signal. As the historic AM station prepares to celebrate its 90th anniversary early next year, Clear Channel announces it is ending the Hot AC on KGBY-FM and begins simulcasting news/talk KFBK on the signal as FM NewsTalk 92.5 today (12/1). Vice president and market manager Jeff Holden states, “Today is a milestone for Sacramento broadcasting as KFBK expands to the 92.5 FM frequency to better serve the local community. The void for quality, local and full service news and talk on FM has now been filled. This will give a younger audience access to one of the most influential stations in, not only, Sacramento but all of Northern California. KFBK has demonstrated leadership over the past 90 years and it continues with the same dedication and progressive nature that makes it unique. KFBK will now reach the nearly 70 percent of the market that doesn’t tune into the AM band.”
WFLA, Tampa Adds Jock Corey Dylan to AM Drive Program. Former WPOI-FM, Tampa DJ Corey Dylan is now part of the morning show at Clear Channel’s WFLA, Tampa. The St. Petersburg Times reports Dylan joins Jack Harris and Tedd Webb as co-host on the “AM Tampa Bay” program and will serve as a lifestyle reporter for the station as well. Program director Steve Versnick tells the paper, “We wanted to change the co-host role and Corey seemed a perfect fit. She’s got a sterling reputation in the market and a broadcast journalism degree. So while it might seem like stretch to go from an ’80s station to news/talk, her background and interest seem perfect.”
Georgia Talk Host Martha Zoller Zeroes in on Congressional Seat. WXKT-FM, Gainesville, Georgia talk host Martha Zoller is preparing to take leave of her talk radio career to run for Congress in Georgia’s newly created 9th Congressional District. Zoller is still heard on Cox Media Group’s WXKT-FM but has exited the Georgia News Network from which she was syndicated across the state. Zoller says Cox attorneys say she can stay on the air until she’s officially qualified as a candidate in May but realistically expects to have to leave her program prior to that time. Zoller reports she has excellent name recognition in the district – 62% of likely primary voters in the conservative district have heard of her – as she will face a battle against State Representative Doug Collins and possibly others in the Republican primary election.
Dial Global’s Bill Press to Remain on San Francisco Affiliate. Yesterday we reported Clear Channel’s plans for its AM talk stations in San Francisco that include the end of progressive talk outlet Green 960 (KKGN). Dial Global notes that although much of the progressive talk that’s currently heard on that station will be relegated to the KKSF-FM HD-2 signal and online, the Bill Press show will be heard in the early morning daypart prior to Premiere’s Glenn Beck on KNEW 960 in the new year.
WGN, Chicago’s John Williams Organizes Holiday Food Drive. Upon learning that food banks and pantries across the country are reporting a shortage of peanut butter, WGN talk host John Williams is organizing the “Peanut Butter & Jolly” drive to rally his listeners to donate peanut butter to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Peanut butter is sought after because of its protein content, appeal to children and long shelf life. All day today (12/1), Williams will encourage listeners to donate to one of the many participating locations around Chicagoland that will be delivered to the depository tomorrow. Williams says, “Everyone wants gifts at Christmas, but these people just need food. If you give to this campaign, we can all say Merry ‘Chrithmath!’”
2012 Presidential Race, European Debt Crisis, Occupy L.A. Ousted and Penn State Abuse Case Among Top News/Talk Stories Yesterday (11/30). The GOP candidates for president in 2012, the ongoing efforts to deal with Europe’s debt crisis, the clearing of the Occupy Los Angeles protesters and additional allegations in the Penn State sexual abuse case were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday. Pictured here is ABC Radio News correspondent Alex Stone covering the Los Angeles Police Department’s breakup of the Occupy L.A. camp.
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The Arendt Circle
Our Next Meeting
By Laws of the Hannah Arendt Circle
2015 Meeting hosted by Texas A & M University
2018 Meeting Hosted by UC Davis
Previous Meetings > 2008 Meeting >
Nietzsche versus Arendt: Furor Philosophicus or Furor Politicus?
It is difficult to deny that Nietzsche has had some influence on Arendt’s treatment of a variety of topics, including her theory of action, her valuation of appearance, her rejection of “the social question”, her critique of utilitarianism and her generally critical stance towards modernity. Nevertheless, it should be equally clear to any serious reader that there are many respects in which these two thinkers stand opposed to one another.
The purpose of this paper is to make the paradoxical claim that Nietzsche and Arendt may − indeed, should − be read together precisely in light of their opposition to one another. This opposition can be variously described as the conflict between the life of the mind and life in the world − in Arendt’s terms, the vita contemplativa and the vita activa − or the conflict between the philosopher and the political thinker, which itself mirrors the ancient conflict between the philosopher and the polis. The relevant point for my purposes is that this conflict is itself a crucial theme in both Nietzsche’s and Arendt’s respective works.[1] Hence Nietzsche famously maintains that “anyone who has the furor philosophicus will have no time whatsoever for the furor politicus” and that “[a]ll states in which people other than politicians must concern themselves with politics are badly organized and deserve to perish from this abundance of politicians”.[2] Arendt agrees with Nietzsche that the very nature of the furor philosophicus stems the philosopher antagonistic towards the furor politicus, although she generally thinks that this reflects badly on philosophers rather than on those who concern themselves with politics. What is more, both thinkers bemoan the suspension of this very conflict in the modern world. Thus Arendt laments that “[i]n the world we live in, the last traces of this ancient antagonism between the philosopher’s truth and the opinions of the market place have disappeared”[3], while remarking later on that “it is only by respecting its own borders that [the political] realm … can remain intact, preserving its integrity and keeping its promises”.[4] Nietzsche in turn offers a telling note that contains the following indictment of modern philosophy: “it destroys because there is nothing to hold it in check. The philosopher has become a being who is detrimental to the community. He destroys happiness, virtue, culture, and ultimately himself”.[5]
In light of these remarks, it seems to me that a good argument for reading Nietzsche and Arendt together would have to take the conflict between them − and, by implication, the conflict between philosophy and politics − seriously, and then go on to demonstrate how this conflict can be made fruitful for understanding their respective projects.
I begin by situating the conflict between Nietzsche and Arendt in the context of their shared criticism of modernity as a form of “desert”, which is itself the most iniquitous outcome of a particular, moral interpretation of the world. I then turn to their respective attempts at overcoming this interpretation, together with the resentment of the world that has been bound up with it. My aim here is to demonstrate that what is at stake in the opposition between Nietzsche and Arendt is the inescapable conflict between two notions of reconciliation between self and world: a worldly – or political – reconciliation (Arendt), and a much more radical, philosophical notion of reconciliation (Nietzsche), that ultimately does away with all distance between self and world. In order to make this claim, I investigate Nietzsche’s conception of amor fati in part two of my paper, which I then contrast with Arendt’s notion of amor mundi in part three. In the fourth and final part, I try to show how the opposition between amor fati and amor mundi relates to the conflict between the furor philosophicus and the furor politicus. My intention in this concluding section of the paper is not to force a choice between these two alternatives − hence: Nietzsche or Arendt, philosophy or politics − but precisely to argue the importance of maintaining the conflict between these two dispositions towards the world and of availing ourselves of Nietzsche and Arendt while doing so.
[1] Nietzsche discusses this conflict in various contexts. See, for instance, “Schopenhauer as Educator” for an extended treatment of the opposition between philosopher and polis, as well as Human, All-too-Human I:§ 235, 438, 465. In Arendt’s case, the essays “Philosophy and Truth” and “Philosophy and Politics” provide extensive accounts of this tension.
[2] Nietzsche, F. “Schopenhauer as Educator”. In Unfashionable Observations, trans. R.T. Gray. Stanford: StanfordUniversity Press, 1995, p. 239.
[3] Arendt, H. “Truth and Politics”. In Between Past and Future. New York: Penguin, 1968, p. 235.
[4] Ibid., p. 263-4; my italics.
[5] Nietzsche, F. Sämtliche Werke. Kritische Studienausgabe in 15 Bänden, ed. G. Colli & M. Montinari. München /Berlin: DTV / De Gruyter, 1988, p. 734.
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Posted on November 3, 2015 November 3, 2015 by Adam Stone
I’d like to be under the sea
Doctor Who : Under the Lake
Under the Lake was a very strong episode and had all of the elements of an instant Doctor Who classic: confined setting, check; small number of characters whom have no idea if they are going to make it out the story alive, check; monsters, check; all the standard base under siege stories that the show has always done really well and this episode was no different.
I liked the fact that the story was set under water which made it a bit different than it being set in space, or on a different planet, which would have been just as effective for a base under siege type of story but a bit different to the standard type set on a spaceship or space station which have really been done to death.
I also liked the look of the mining facility which was a really impressive set and was the perfect setting for a base under siege story as there is literally nowhere else to go, apart from outside the facility which will mean instant and sudden death.
I also liked the fact that one of the main characters in the story was profoundly deaf and that the actress playing them was also profoundly deaf which was a first for the show but really worked in the confines of the story, and it was really nice to see that she was in fact in charge which was also a refreshing change and she was easily the best character in the episode after the Doctor.
Peter Capaldi was excellent in this episode, and was very commanding, spending most of the episode pooh-poohing the very idea of ghosts before admitting, near the end of the episode, that they might actually be ghosts, even after admitting that one of the ghosts was from a rather friendly alien species, last seen in the shape of David Walliams, whom for some reason was dressed like an undertaker for no apparent reason.
For the most part this episode is full of tension and you really feel like you are trapped in a confined space thanks to the tight and claustrophobic direction by Daniel O’Hara who really knows how to ratchet up the tension, and it is interesting in trying to work out who might be the next victim of the ghosts and who will turn into one next, as it really can be anyone of them, as no one is immune to be deaded a ala Bluebottle in the Goon Show (You dirty rotten swine you!).
I also thought the look of the ghosts with the sunken hollow eyesockets were really striking and quite scary and, I can imagine, that if I were a lot younger then I would find this rather spooky indeed and would probably have not been able to sleep after watching this.
Clara was a bit in the background of this episode which was nice considering that most of the time she appears to be the main character with the Doctor as her eccentric co-star and she was pretty much eclipsed in this story by the Cass characters who, I must say, would make an excellent companion.
Toby Whithouse’s script was also good and rather witty and there were some quite funny bits amongst the tension which it has to be said is one of the hallmarks of this episode.
The cue-cards that Clara made for the Doctor, to show empathy to the people around him, are also a hoot especially the “It was my fault. I should have known you didn’t live in Aberdeen.” and “”No-one is going to get eaten / vapourised / exterminated / upgraded / possessed / mortally wounded / turned into jelly. We’ll all get out of this unharmed .”
The end of episode cliffhanger was also very good and not one that I, or Clara judging from her expression, saw coming at all.
It certainly makes for an interesting second episode, given what happened at the end of this one!
Posted in Doctor Who
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Siddhesh Home
Siddhesh Joshi (Editor)
I enjoy creating and spreading knowledgeable content for everyone around the world and try my best not to leave even the smallest of mistakes go unnoticed.
Majid Nizami
Updated on Mar 20, 2018
Occupation editor, columnist
Siblings Hameed Nizami
Role Hameed Nizami's brother
Name Majid Nizami
Born April 3, 1928 (1928-04-03) Sangla Hill, Punjab, British India (now in Pakistan)
Website The Nation profile Official Website
Died July 26, 2014, Lahore, Pakistan
Education University of the Punjab
Majid nizami and peer syed kabir ali shah courageous address 22 march 2012
Majid Nizami (April 3, 1928 – July 26, 2014), was a chief editor and publisher of Nawa-i-Waqt Group of Publications of Pakistan. Nawa-i-Waqt newspaper was founded by Majid's older brother, Hameed Nizami (3 Oct 1915-22 Feb 1962) in 1940, who had later died in 1962 at age 46 in Pakistan. Majid Nizami then stepped in to start managing the Nawa-i-Waqt newspaper in 1962. Majid Nizami was also the chairman of Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust.
Early life and career
After doing his high school education in his local town Sangla Hill, Majid Nizami was educated at Islamia College, Lahore, where he obtained his master's degree in Political Science and then went on to London to study law in 1954. During his student days in British India, he actively participated in the Pakistan Movement working towards the independence of Pakistan in 1947. Majid Nizami was one of the few people who served as an editor of a newspaper group for 48 years, as well as a journalist for 59 years.
Majid Nizami had won 3 different awards from the Government of Pakistan for his services during his lifetime.
Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Order of Excellence) Award
Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award
Sitara-e-Pakistan (Star of Pakistan) Award
Living Legend of Journalism Award in 2010
Lifetime Achievement Award by All Pakistan Newspapers Society in 2011
Majid Nizami Wikipedia
Hameed Nizami
Cinema Is Everywhere
John Briggs (author)
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Author: Al Dominick
I'm a W&L grad ('99) with an MBA from the University of Maryland's Smith school of business ('07). I'm a native Bostonian who went to high school in Dallas (St Mark's) and St. Louis (MICDS) and has twice lived in New York City for extended periods of time. Currently, I live in Chevy Chase, D.C. with my wife and two children. While my role as CEO of a privately held media co. (which includes Bank Director, DirectorCorps and FinXTech) certainly influences my writing, the views I share on my social sites reflect my own personal opinions.
For the past ten years, I’ve entered January with a near-term resolution: to inspire those we host at our Acquire or Be Acquired Conference in special, meaningful ways.
While the Bank Director team spent much of last Summer and Fall planning to host business leaders later this month, CDC warnings about health challenges and post-holiday Covid spikes ultimately led us to postpone my favorite conference.
Yes, we will once again host the industry’s premier banking event. One designed for CEOs, senior executives and board members next January 30th through February 1, 2022 at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge. However, we did not throw in the towel on providing timely & relevant information to this hugely influential audience in 2021.
You see, we are in the final development phase of a new, board-level intelligence package called Inspired By Acquire or Be Acquired. Unlike a virtual conference, this exclusive digital content respects people’s time, interests and curiosity.
By aggregating the type of leadership issues one would find at Acquire or Be Acquired into short-form video segments, we clearly — and concisely — surface current topics, trends, statistics and market insight.
The time-specific information being presented on our new BankDirector.com platform connects officers & directors with key issues and advisers. Inspired By Acquire or Be Acquired helps key leaders get smarter, faster. For instance,
For CEOs, we explore financial growth options in 2021;
For acquisitive types, we look at current pricing models and upcoming expectations;
For those engaging with fintechs, we show what’s new and compelling;
For board members, surfacing issues and ideas that tie into valuation; and
For the C-suite, sharing peer insight on strategic planning during these uncertain times.
The content in this package reflects the ideas and opinions of leading investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, consultants and technology executives. Additionally, we bring industry trends to light with the help of banking’s top executives.
Next week, I film new segments with a number of CEOs. For example, Fifth Third, First Horizon, Cape Cod Five, WSFS, Founders Bank, BrightFi and Make-A-Wish. We talk about the intersection of the tech industry with the financial one... about the challenges of a merger of equals (MOEs)… about supporting small and mid-size businesses… about strategic investments… re-thinking your business model… engaging with partners… and leading with purpose.
Make no mistake, we will miss being with our friends and colleagues in a few weeks. But we appreciate the chance to bring perspectives from really smart men and women together to help and inspire a community we’ve been a part of for 30 years.
To find out more about Inspired By Acquire or Be Acquired, I invite you to take an early look. And if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to email me or connect via LinkedIn.
5 Years Ago!
WASHINGTON, DC — Five years ago, Bank Director published a special supplement to our quarterly magazine — one dedicated to the intersection of banking and technology. A precursor to our FinXTech efforts, this fifteen-page series of case studies explained advances in technology. All, to help bankers address specific business challenges that remain relevant in 2021.
At the time, financial technology elicited grumbles about disruption or displacement… while sparking interest in new applications for mobile banking. In 2015, 68% of American adults connected to the Internet with smartphones or mobile devices. That figure, courtesy of the Pew Research Center, figures to be much higher today.
Five years ago, banks faced pressures to grow revenue and reduce expenses. Time hasn’t changed that equation for banks.
Certainly, there was, and is, money to be both made and saved in banking. Some of the more ambitious companies, who want to stay relevant and solve their customers’ problems, trimmed expenses while growing revenues.
This supplement provides a fun history lesson as to how they did.
On behalf of our Bank Director | FinXTech team, please enjoy this special historical supplement. You will find certain themes as relevant today as they were when this supplement first mailed.
Here’s To The Optimists
Fad diets, self-care recommendations and admonishments to “turn the page.”
We all know what’s coming up in our news feeds. But before we give into these New Year’s cliches, let’s take a minute to appreciate how so many were able to pivot in such unexpected ways.
Knowing that one can successfully change should serve many well in this new year.
While resilience — and perseverance — took center stage in 2020, I find culture, technology and growth showed up in new ways as well.
CULTURE, REVEALED
During the darkest of economic times, I was amazed by examples of creativity, commitment and collaboration to roll out the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. When social issues exploded, proud to see industry leaders stand tall against racism, prejudice, discrimination and bigotry. With work-from-home pressures challenging the concepts of teamwork and camaraderie, delighted by how banks embraced new and novel ways to communicate.
TECHNOLOGY, FIRST
Seeing business leaders share their intelligence and experiences to help build others’ confidence stands out. So, too, does how few shied away from technology, which clearly accelerated the transformation of the financial sector. The rush to digital this spring forced banking leaders to assess their capabilities — and embrace new tools and strategies to “do something more.” As the financial sectors’ technology integration continues, this mindset of finding answers — rather than merely identifying barriers — should benefit quite a few.
GROWTH, POSSIBLE
Many banks considered JPMorgan Chase & Co, Bank of America Corp. and Citigroup as their biggest challenges and competitors entering 2020. Now, I’d wager Venmo, Square and Chime command as much attention. However, competition typically brings out the best in executives; with mergers and acquisitions activity poised to resume and new fintech relationships taking root, growing one’s bank is still possible.
So here’s to the optimists. Leaders are defined by their actions, and many deserve to take a well-earned bow for making their colleagues’ and clients’ lives better. While we leave a year marked by incredible unemployment, economic uncertainties and political scars, I’ve found a negative mindset never leads to a happy life. Rather than lament all that went sideways this year, I choose to commemorate the unexpected positives. As I do, I extend my best to you and yours.
With appreciation,
*This reflection also appears in Bank Director’s newsletter, The Slant. A new addition to our editorial suite of products in 2020, I invite you to sign up for this free Saturday newsletter here.
How A Cat Named Jackson Ties Into the Biggest Tech IPO in 15 Years
As we wind down the year, I’m taking a look back on the biggest tech IPO of 2020.
WASHINGTON, DC — I first ventured into nCino‘s Wilmington, NC headquarters when the pioneer in cloud banking and digital transformation solutions employed less than ten people. Today, that number exceeds 1,000. Since that first flight into ILM, I have met a number of their senior team, enjoyed myself at their annual nSight conferences and heard how cloud-based companies like theirs appeal to bank executives and their boards.
2019’s nSight Conference in Raleigh, NC
Their employment growth parallels the success of their business, one that transitioned from a private company to a public one this summer. As you can see, their IPO (code-named “Project Jackson”) made it on the cover of Bank Director magazine this summer.
I was delighted that our editorial team chose both the story name, and cover art, based on the inspiration behind “Project Jackson.” In addition, proud that we shed light on a much bigger story; namely, how the Covid-19 pandemic impacts the process of going public.
As an early New Years gift, I took this out from behind the BankDirector.com paywall and share the unabridged article, authored by John Maxfield, below.
Project Jackson
Nobody at nCino slept well the night of July 13, 2020. The company, a pioneer of cloud-based services for financial institutions, was going public the next day. Never before had the spotlight shone so intensely on the rapidly growing technology company based in Wilmington, North Carolina. It was a moment of truth. Its leadership team and employees had spent almost a decade building the company — now investors would judge it over the course of a single day. Going public is always a gamble, but never more so than in a global pandemic.
Dory Weiss woke up early the next morning. The 41-year-old vice president of engineering at nCino was scrambling to upload photos onto a mobile app. The app would broadcast images taken by nCino employees onto Nasdaq’s seven-story monitor in Times Square. What better way to mark the occasion, Weiss thought, than a picture of her cats with an nCino-themed pinata that a colleague gave her for Cinco de Mayo? There was only one problem. “Getting cats to do anything you want them to do is a fool’s errand,” Weiss laments. “So there was this laughably bad photograph of the cats and my partner, Katie, trying to stage them.”
Similar scenes were unfolding in hundreds of homes across Wilmington and around the world. Over 900 nCino employees in 12 countries uploaded more than 6,000 photos that morning. They then spent hours watching a livestream of Nasdaq’s giant monitor as it cycled through the images.
Weiss arrived at nCino’s headquarters around 8 a.m. Hundreds of her colleagues would have done the same, but for the social-distancing restrictions enacted to slow the spread of Covid-19. The few dozen who showed up that morning planted themselves in a pair of common areas on the second and third floors, with the rest patched in remotely.
Everyone was watching CNBC.
“There’s an IPO today,” announced David Faber, co-anchor of CNBC’s morning show, Squawk on the Street. “nCino, N-C-N-O. Cloud software for financial institutions — fintech.”
“I want that,” co-anchor and Mad Money host Jim Cramer responded. “What is it? nCino?”
“Yeah. N-C-N-O,” Faber repeated.
“Done. I want 10%.”
After pricing at $31 per share the night before, nCino’s stock opened for trading at $71 two minutes before noon. People erupted into cheers. By the end of the day, nCino’s stock closed at $91.59, good for a 195% surge on its first day as a public company. Only one other technology company in the past 20 years — China’s search engine giant, Baidu, which debuted in 2005 — performed better.
Had this been the height of the tech bubble in early 2000, no one would have been surprised. But this was two weeks after the close of the worst economic quarter in the United States since the Great Depression. Nearly a third of economic output had vanished. Four months earlier, 6.9 million people filed for unemployment benefits in a single week. How did nCino’s share price nearly triple in this environment? And how did its executives, employees and advisors navigate the intricacies of filing an initial public offering — from securing regulatory approval, to enticing investors, to actually listing on the exchange — when they couldn’t meet with each other, let alone investors, in person?
The story of nCino’s IPO — code-named “Project Jackson,” after CEO Pierre Naudé’s cat, which was named after the nCino employee, Reid Jackson, whose car it was found under one day in the company’s parking lot — is compelling on its own. Yet, it also sheds light on a bigger story about how the process of going public may have been permanently altered by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The journey to become a publicly traded company started for nCino at a meeting on the 27th floor of Bank of America Corp.’s building in midtown Manhattan on Sept. 24, 2019. The nation’s second largest bank by assets was acting as its lead underwriter; it’s also an nCino client. “We sat down, talked about the company and mapped out the process, working backward from when we wanted to go public,” recalls Jonathan Rowe, chief marketing officer of nCino.
The original plan was to debut in late May. That way, nCino could benefit from the results of its latest fiscal year, which would close on Jan. 31, yet still beat the summer lull when traders and portfolio managers flee New York City for places like the Hamptons.
The biggest undertaking at that stage was drafting the S-1, the document submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission for an IPO. In nCino’s case, its S-1 ran 322 pages, densely packed with legalese, risk factors, an explanation of the business and financial statements for the preceding three years. “Drafting the S-1 is an incredibly involved process,” says nCino’s chief corporate development and legal officer, Greg Orenstein, who took the lead on the process. “Essentially, we are describing over eight years’ worth of work, product development, innovation and customer success in one document for investors to use to decide whether to invest in our company.” Hours were spent parsing the simplest terms, like how to distinguish between banks that were customers of nCino, and customers of those banks — nCino has “customers,” it decided; its bank customers have “clients.”
Everything proceeded like clockwork in the two months after nCino confidentially filed its S-1 on the Thursday before Christmas 2019. Its IPO working group responded to questions and addressed requested edits to the document from the SEC. Its financial team closed the books on the 2020 fiscal year. And its executives and advisors began preparing the presentation they would use on its roadshow, a grueling two weeks spent flying around the country pitching the company’s stock to institutional investors.
Then Covid-19 struck.
“We were moving along as the virus spread around the country, then the markets started getting hit,” recalls David Rudow, nCino’s chief financial officer. “The speed at which the stock market declined was very concerning. To me, it’s like, ‘The market is discounting some really bad news.’”
By mid-March, the stock market was in freefall. The S&P 500 dropped 9.5% on March 12 — the sixth worst drop in the history of the index. Four days later, it tumbled 12% — the biggest single-day decline since Black Monday on Oct. 19, 1987. All told, the S&P 500 had lost 38% of its value by then. Meanwhile, the Chicago Board Options Exchange’s Volatility Index, or VIX, a measure of expected future stock market volatility, spiked by a factor of five — exceeded in recent years only in the immediate wake of Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy in 2008.
“The arrival of the pandemic and market volatility was really an opportunity to sit back and try to figure out what was going to happen,” says Martin Wellington, managing partner at Sidley Austin’s office in Palo Alto, California, who served as nCino’s outside counsel in the IPO process. “I’ve done IPOs and lots of other capital markets transactions in the midst of market volatility, but the thing that made this fundamentally different was the inability to have physical interactions with people.”
By late March, Rudow says, it became a foregone conclusion. “We said, ‘You know what? We’re just going to hold off.’”
The decision to delay the IPO fell to nCino’s CEO, Naudé, a distinguished-looking South African who’s built like a rugby player and speaks with an Afrikaans accent.
Sharing the stage with Frank Sorrentino (CEO of ConnectOne Bank) and Pierre Naudé at Experience FinXTech
The 61-year-old executive grew up as one of five children of a well-to-do farmer in Worcester, South Africa. From an early age, he fit the psychological profile of an entrepreneur, exhibiting a restless disdain for authority and an appetite for competition. “I always struggled with authority over me, people trying to tell me what to do,” he says. Despite this, Naudé served an obligatory year in the South African military after graduating from high school. He spent three months in basic training and two months in guerrilla warfare training before returning to his hometown for the last seven months to effectively serve as a beat cop. “Nothing ever happened,” he says. “If I think back, still to this day, I think we were as useless as you possibly could get.”
A turning point came after Naudé finished his military service. “I sat back and said, ‘What am I going to do now?’” he recalls. “I literally did not have a plan.” So he applied for a job at a bank — Boland Bank, the equivalent of a regional bank in the United States. He spent the next few months learning how to program, and then the following eight years doing just that. One of Boland’s claims to fame during Naudé’s time at the bank, and a project he was intimately involved in, was stringing together the first ATM network in South Africa. “We wrote lots of code, wrote the core, wrote teller systems, wrote deposit systems, a loan system, et cetera,” Naudé says.
After traveling to the United States to train and scout technology for Boland, Naudé immigrated with his wife and infant daughter to America in 1987. He moved first to Philadelphia, where he worked as a consultant. He then moved to Iowa, working while going to school at Upper Iowa University, before a former colleague from Boland recruited him to work at S1 Corp., a software development company near Atlanta. It was at S1, which specialized in payment processing and financial services software, that Naudé made the connections that later brought him to nCino.
Naudé is a popular leader by all accounts. “Why do I always tear up when this man talks,” commented an nCino employee in an internal chat log provided to the author from a company “all-hands” meeting in April 2020. “For those of you who are starting on your career paths and are fortunate enough to be part of the nCino family,” wrote another, “embrace it and appreciate it. There is no other company that even comes close in culture to what we have here.”
This is intentional. “The thing I want to make sure you understand is that we have never paid a consultant to come and tell us about culture and values and those things,” Naudé says. “I think the benefit of being 30 years old, coming to America, starting at the bottom again, and working for a variety of managers — that experience gave me a deep understanding of the value of people. And so when we started the company, literally after about six months, we probably had 20 people, I thought, ‘Well, it’s probably time to get our values together.’ So I drew them up. They’re the same values that drive us today.”
Among Naudé’s colleagues at nCino, Orenstein probably knows him best. “I’ve been fortunate to know Pierre for 15 years and I consider him a dear friend,” says Orenstein, who had previously worked with Naudé at S1. “Pierre is just Pierre. There’s no pretending to be someone he’s not. He’s just an extremely transparent person, and as you spend time with him, you pick up on that.”
While Naudé decided in early March to delay nCino’s IPO, the project’s working group of executives, legal advisors and investment bankers continued laboring behind the scenes. It was never a matter of if nCino would go public, only a matter of when. One question looming over them was whether it was even possible to pull off an IPO in a pandemic, given that they wouldn’t be able to meet prospective investors in person.
It was proposed in early April that they start testing the waters with investors over video-conferencing platforms like Zoom Video Communications and BlueJeans by Verizon. The initial reaction, Wellington recalls, was, “We’ll never do that. Let’s just wait for this to pass, and then in May, when we can get back together with people, we’ll go around and do the usual testing-the-waters meetings.” Within weeks, however, their perspective had shifted. “We were like, ‘Okay, we’re doing this virtually,’” says Wellington, who advises regularly on IPOs. “The bankers were saying, ‘Yeah, we’ve done one or two, and it seems to work pretty well. But of course, we’ll wait for this to pass before we can do the roadshow, because no one would ever invest in an IPO without being able to meet the management team in person.’”
After the federal government declared the Covid-19 pandemic a national emergency on March 12, the IPO market froze. Not a single company went public for the rest of the month, compared to nine IPOs over the same period in 2019. The market started thawing in April, with new listings slowly trickling out. The pace picked up in May, with seven IPOs in the first week alone. But the breakthrough moment came on May 21.
That day, shares of direct-to-consumer insurance company SelectQuote climbed 35% on its first day of trading. That opened the floodgates. Thirty-seven companies went public in June, nearly a dozen more than in June 2019. Among those was ZoomInfo Technologies, which closed 62% higher in its debut. Far from being an IPO apocalypse, 2020 had become a bonanza.
“We thought in late March and early April that you would never get an IPO done in this market,” Wellington says. “But not only were IPOs getting done, the receptivity to them was surprising, frankly.”
The Federal Reserve is largely to thank for this. By March 15, it had cut the federal funds rate to 0%. That same day, it announced a round of quantitative easing, an unconventional monetary policy tool first deployed in the financial crisis of 2008-09 that floods capital markets with liquidity in order to drive down long-term interest rates. Over the next two and a half months, the Fed purchased $2.8 trillion worth of government bonds and other long-term securities. This lowered bond yields and triggered a deluge of capital into equities — especially technology stocks. Throughout the following four months, despite a steep drop in economic activity and sharp increase in unemployment, the S&P 500 recovered most of its lost ground, led by the likes of Amazon.com, Microsoft Corp. and Apple.
These events coincided with auspicious developments within nCino, too. On May 18, it completed its first-quarter review, capturing the company’s success with the Paycheck Protection Program, a loan program administered by the Small Business Administration designed to help small businesses survive the pandemic. All told, banks originated over $50 billion in PPP loans using nCino’s cloud-based Bank Operating System. New customers purchased its software; existing customers subscribed to new services. The coronavirus crisis had become a proving ground for nCino.
The moment was ripe, nCino’s executives concluded. They decided to pull the trigger after Memorial Day. The company would go public in mid-July.
“We wanted to be one of the companies that helped open the IPO market,” Rowe explains. “We’ve always seen ourselves as a leader in cloud banking, so we brought that same mentality to the IPO process — not only from the perspective of the financial services industry, but for the economy overall.”
The success of nCino through the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic wouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who had followed the company. Amongst its founding software benefits, as it incubated within Live Oak Bancshares in 2010, was facilitating remote work.
The Wilmington-based bank specialized in originating SBA loans to veterinarians, which minimized credit risk because the loans were backed by the government. But to generate enough scale to earn a respectable profit, the strategy had to expand nationwide. In lieu of branches, Live Oak bought a pair of corporate jets — “branches in the sky” — to shuttle loan officers around the country winning business. There was just one catch. To make the vision a reality, the bank needed software that enabled its loan officers to remotely complete loan files from end to end.
Of the millions of lines of code embedded in nCino’s software, Nathan Snell wrote the first one. Even on a video conference call, the 34-year-old chief innovation officer of nCino emits the peculiar breed of confidence that’s born from a union of acute intelligence and knowing success from a young age. As the son of an engineer, Snell grew up surrounded by technology in Santa Cruz, California. His earliest memory is of using a soldering iron to build computers. He taught himself how to program and, at age 11, convinced a popular talk radio host in San Francisco to hire him to design her website.
Snell eventually made his way to Live Oak in 2010, after graduating from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and getting to know the bank’s founder and CEO, James “Chip” Mahan, and president, Neil Underwood. “I wasn’t actually sure if I wanted to join them fully, so I did some consulting to start,” Snell says. “About a week in, I was looking at how they were operating and was like, ‘Wow, there’s a lot of opportunity here.’ I spent a lot of time with Chip and Neil, and they were both just phenomenal. As a budding entrepreneur, I was like, ‘Wow, it would be amazing to be able to work directly with these guys and learn from them.’ So I shuttered what I was doing and joined them full-time.”
In doing so, Snell became nCino’s first employee.
From its earliest days, nCino had grand ambitions. Naudé hung a sign in its makeshift office space declaring it the global headquarters of the worldwide leader in cloud banking. “Every day you walked in and you’re like, ‘Wow, we’re the worldwide leader with only 10 people,’” recounts Rowe, who joined the company eight years ago as one of its earliest employees.
The year 2012 proved to be a seminal one for nCino. After other banks expressed interest in Live Oak’s software, nCino, a play on the Spanish word for “oak,” was spun out as a separate company. By the end of that year, the newly independent company had raised $9 million in capital, hired more employees and signed on 25 customers. It followed that in 2013 by raising $10 million from Wellington Management Co., a prominent institutional investor in the banking space, and hosting its first user conference, nSight, which long-tenured employees look back on as the company’s coming-out party. Over the next five years, nCino would grow to 130 customers and 270 employees.
Originally, nCino focused on the smaller institutions that populate the financial services industry — community and regional banks as well as credit unions. But that changed in late 2014, when SunTrust Banks, a $205 billion bank at the time, became its first enterprise banking client. (SunTrust has since merged with BB&T Corp. to form Truist Financial Corp., the sixth largest commercial bank in the United States. It remains an nCino customer.)
SunTrust was spending north of $20 million a year to digitize its commercial lending system. That’s when Pam Kilday, head of operations for its wholesale bank, came across nCino. “I thought, ‘This is exactly what I’m trying to build for not only commercial loans, but all of business banking,’” Kilday recalls. “We decided to investigate the feasibility of bringing nCino in, doing kind of a co-development, which flew in the face of everything we had been doing. At first, just about everybody wanted to fire me.”
(A year after retiring from SunTrust in 2018, Kilday joined nCino’s board of directors.)
The technology wasn’t the only thing that attracted SunTrust to nCino, Kilday says — it was also the people. “I thought Pierre was the real deal,” she says. “Everything we saw, every commitment they made to us at that time, they delivered. Whether it was documentation on their security setup, whether it was their contractual agreements with Salesforce at the time. Everything they told me was true. If they could do something, they would say it. If they couldn’t, they would tell me.”
That may sound trite, but it’s a frequent refrain of nCino customers. “Our relationship with nCino developed before I got to know Pierre, though I’ll say he sealed the deal as most CEOs can do when they get into a high-pressure situation,” says Frank Sorrentino III, chairman and CEO of ConnectOne Bancorp, a $7.6 billion bank based in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. “But the nCino organization sold the relationship on its own. There’s a great group of people there. They’re committed to building a better mousetrap to help banks provide a level of service that clients will expect in the future.”
By the time nCino publicly filed its S-1 with the SEC on June 22, 2020, it boasted more than 1,100 bank and credit union customers, over 900 employees spread across seven global offices and $138 million in annual revenue.
On July 14, the morning of nCino’s IPO, Rowe woke up at 4 a.m. and walked three blocks to the beach. Nine years earlier, he left a position as a professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington to join the embryonic nCino team. Rowe is a study in contrasts. He masks intensity with levity. He’s an executive at nCino yet takes video calls during the pandemic in the unfinished basement of his house, framed by hastily constructed shelves and insulation falling from the ceiling.
Sitting on the beach that morning waiting for the sunrise, Rowe was more reflective than ecstatic. He had been involved in Project Jackson since the beginning. And now, despite nCino’s decision to go public in a global pandemic, there was little doubt that it would be a success. The evening before, 8 million shares of nCino’s stock, equal to 8.5% of its total outstanding share count, were allocated to institutional investors at $31 per share. The demand for the offering was 49 times oversubscribed. Far from being a hindrance, conducting a virtual roadshow, consisting of more than 50 meetings over five days, proved to be a blessing in disguise. “I didn’t think about it until now,” says Rudow, “but because you’re touching so many more people, it probably helped build the book.”
But Rowe and the marketing team’s work wasn’t done. They mailed over 900 swag boxes to employees, packed with miniature nCino-themed bells to mark the occasion. They repainted and reconfigured Naudé’s office to serve as a makeshift studio for the media interviews he would conduct that day. And along with Nasdaq, they co-hosted an internal broadcast giving nCino employees a behind-the-scenes view of the day’s events, walking them through exactly how a company goes public.
While the stock market opens for trading at 9:30 a.m. EST, it isn’t until later in the morning that newly listed companies on Nasdaq start to actively trade. “We do not open up our IPOs at the same time as the broader market,” explains Joe Brantuk, chief client officer at Nasdaq. “There’s about 8,000 publicly traded companies in the United States and we want to give portfolio managers and traders an opportunity to position their existing holdings at the market open before turning their focus to new listings.”
Instead, Nasdaq reserves a “quotation window” for each new listing on the morning it debuts. This is the on-deck circle, if you will, just before a company’s stock begins trading. During this window, which can last from 10 minutes to multiple hours, Nasdaq’s market makers work with a stock’s underwriters to find an “indicative price” at which there’s a balance between buyers and sellers. If there are too many sellers relative to buyers, the stock could dramatically fall. If there are too many buyers relative to sellers, the reverse will happen. Neither is ideal. To minimize volatility, the goal is to find the price at which approximately 10% of the newly listed shares will trade hands — nCino’s magic number was 800,000 shares.
The quotation window for nCino opened at 10:10 a.m.
At 10:15 a.m., Nasdaq’s market makers were fielding buy orders for 4.7 million shares versus sell orders of 200,000 shares.
At 10:48 a.m., 486,000 shares were paired off at $62.
At 11:15 a.m., the threshold had been reached: 931,000 shares paired off at $70.
Still, they kept going.
By 11:40 a.m., 1.5 million shares were paired at $71 — about 20% of the total raise.
At 11:55 a.m., Jay Heller, head of capital markets at Nasdaq, gave the two-minute warning.
At 11:58 a.m., nCino’s stock opened for trading at $71 per share.
By 4 p.m., when the market closed for the day, nCino’s stock stood at $91.59 per share.
There is no single answer to the question of what makes for a successful IPO. The timing must be right. The story must be right. The market dynamics must be right. And, especially in the case of nCino, which went public in a pandemic, you must make the most of a challenging situation.
There is no question that nCino prevailed on all accounts. It is a company that is leading the digital revolution of one of the biggest industries in America. Its culture and story appeal to investors across the board. And its nimble response to the restrictions imposed on the IPO process from the pandemic — from negotiating the inability to meet with investors in person to orchestrating an IPO experience that nearly 1,000 remote employees could participate in — made it, in many ways, bespoke for this moment.
What APIs Can Do For Your Bank
WASHINGTON, DC — In 2017, Bank Director magazine featured a story titled “The API Effect.” It showed how banks could earn revenue by using application programming interfaces, or APIs. It considered the pros (and cons) of banks turning themselves into technology platforms. And it concluded with a prediction:
APIs will be so prevalent in five years that banks who are not leveraging them will be similar to banks that don’t offer a mobile banking application.
Less than three years later, the banking industry is on a fast track to proving that hypothesis.
Let’s start with the basics. An application program interface, or API, controls interactions between software and systems. As the American Banker recently shared, “APIs are the glue of the internet and allow digital businesses to interact seamlessly. Banks create a digital-first business model by offering services, such as treasury or loan origination, through APIs in an open-banking system.”
So to help bank executives better understand the promise and potential of APIs, our team developed a special FinXTech Intelligence Report. In it, we explore use cases with a focus on banking, and detail the forces driving adoption of the technology among financial institutions of all sizes.
Divided into five parts, we explore:
— Market trends driving the adoption of APIs;
— Actionable API use cases for growing revenue and creating efficiencies;
— An in-depth case study of TAB Bank, which reimagined its data infrastructure with APIs;
— Key considerations for leadership teams developing an API strategy; and
— A map of the API provider landscape, highlighting the leading companies enabling API transformation.
Kudos to the talented Amber Buker for spearheading this effort. As she makes clear, there are several ways for banks to implement APIs. Some will work with their cores (e.g. FIS, Fiserv and Jack Henry) to access the necessary connectivity. Ready-made APIs from fintech providers can quickly address the most common connectivity requirements.
For more complex use cases — like large banks running on old mainframes — the line from systems of record to end users could be longer, with several providers along the path. Regardless of where you are on your journey, understanding the landscape of API providers helps banks get a firmer grasp on the technology and start conceptualizing the scale and design of their potential API project.
To learn more about how banks use APIs, I invited you to download, for free, our FinXTech Intelligence Report, APIs: New Opportunities for Revenue and Efficiency.
What Is FinXTech Connect?
WASHINGTON, DC — Last month, our team celebrated ten years of “Bank Director 2.0.” As I look back on what we’ve accomplished, a few projects stand out. Today, I’m shining a light on the development of our FinXTech Platform, which we built specifically for financial institutions.
Bank Director’s FinXTech debuted on March 1, 2016 at Nasdaq’s MarketSite in Times Square. Positioned at the intersection of Financial Institutions and Technology Leaders, FinXTech connects key decision makers across the financial sector around shared areas of interest.
We initially focused on bank technology companies providing solutions geared to Security, leveraging Data + Analytics, making better Lending decisions, getting smarter with Payments, enhancing Digital Banking, streamlining Compliance and/or improving the Customer Experience.
As our brand (and team) grew, we heard from a number of bank executives about the challenges they faced in discovering potential technology partners and solutions. To help solve this issue, we built FinXTech Connect.
Sorting through the technology landscape is no easy feat. Nor is finding, comparing and vetting potential technology partners. But week-by-week, and month-by-month, we added to this proprietary platform by engaging with bankers and fintech executives alike. All the while, asking (whenever we could) bankers who they wanted to learn more about at events like our annual Summit or Experience FinXTech events.
Banks today are in the eye of a digital revolution storm. A reality brought about, in no small part, by this year’s Covid-19 pandemic. So I am proud that the work we do helps banks make smarter business decisions that ultimately help their clients and communities. To wit, the various relationships struck up between banks and fintechs to turn the SBA’s PPP program into a reality.
As we look ahead, I’m excited to see Bank Director’s editorial team continue to carefully vet potential partners with a history of financial performance and proven roster of financial industry clients. For those companies working with financial institutions that would like to be considered for inclusion in FinXTech Connect, I invite you to submit your company for consideration.
Tech Trends in Banking (Since WFH Began)
WASHINGTON, DC — Since March, I’ve talked with quite a few bank CEOs about their interest in modern and secure technologies. The underlying focus? Improving the experience provided to their customers.
In parallel to such one-on-one conversations, my colleague, Emily McCormick, surveyed 157 independent directors, chief executive officers, chief operating officers and senior technology executives of U.S. banks to understand how technology drives strategy at their institutions — and how those plans have changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
She conducted the survey in June and July — and we just released the results in Bank Director’s 2020 Technology Survey, sponsored by CDW. Here are a few key takeaways:
Focus on Experience
Eighty-one percent of respondents say improving the customer experience drives their bank’s technology strategy; 79% seek efficiencies.
Driving the Strategy Forward
For 64% of respondents, modernizing digital applications represents an important piece of their bank’s overall technology strategy. While banks look to third-party providers for the solutions they need, they’re also participating in industry groups (37%), designating a high-level executive to focus on innovation (37%) and engaging directors through a board-level technology committee (35%). A few are taking internal innovation even further by hiring developers (12%) and/or data scientists (9%), or building an innovation lab or team (15%).
Just 13% of respondents say their small business lending process is fully digital, and 55% say commercial customers can’t apply for a loan digitally. Retail lending shows more progress; three-quarters say their process is at least partially digital.
Spending Continues to Rise
Banks budgeted a median of $900,000 for technology spending in fiscal year 2020, up from $750,000 last year. But financial institutions spent above and beyond that to respond to Covid-19, with 64% reporting increased spending due to the pandemic.
Impact on Technology Roadmaps
More than half say their bank adjusted its technology roadmap in response to the current crisis. Of these respondents, 74% want to enhance online and mobile banking capabilities. Two-thirds plan to upgrade — or have upgraded — existing technology, and 55% prioritize adding new digital lending capabilities.
Remote Work Permanent for Some
Forty-two percent say their institution plans to permanently shift more of its employees to remote work arrangements following the Covid-19 crisis; another 23% haven’t made a decision.
Interestingly, this survey reveals that fewer banks rely on their core provider to drive their technology strategy. Forty-one percent indicated that their bank relies on its core to introduce innovative solutions, down from 60% in last year’s survey. Sixty percent look to non-core providers for new solutions. Interested to learn more? I invited you to view the full results of the survey on BankDirector.com.
The Transformative Deal in Digital Health
WASHINGTON, DC — Over the past few months, I’ve shared several transformative technology deals in the financial sector on this site and in virtual presentations. From Visa acquiring Plaid to MasterCard picking up Finicity, big name players paid big time premiums to acquire technology companies to boost their games with consumers. As CEOs and their boards wrestle with competitive pressures and explore new paths to remain relevant, a huge announcement in the health space caught my attention. In fact, it reminds me of a recent bank M&A deal.
Why This Deal Matters: The Changing Competitive Landscape
Much as last year’s deal between SunTrust and BB&T — which resulted in Truist — reflected the pressures of our digital-first world, so too does one struck in another heavily regulated (and also incredibly important) industry. This one, between Livongo and Teladoc, impacts the whole digital healthcare market, creating a combined entity worth $38 billion.
As shared on CIO.com, Teladoc already has a significant presence in hospitals, many of whom are white-labeling the Teladoc platform for providing telehealth services, often using the Teladoc physician network to complement their network of doctors within the system.
In parallel, Livongo’s success in remote management of chronic care appears a natural complement to that business. Indeed, their whole-person platform empowers people with chronic conditions to live better and healthier lives.
As the merger release makes clear, “the highly complementary organizations will combine to create substantial value across the healthcare ecosystem, enabling clients everywhere to offer high quality, personalized, technology-enabled longitudinal care that improves outcomes and lowers costs across the full spectrum of health.”
Here, two words stand out: technology-enabled.
Put another way, we are talking about digital transformation, which, as I recall, anchored SunTrust/BB&T’s deal.
Another Example That Scale Is Good — But How You Leverage It Is Key
Last February, BB&T and SunTrust Banks’ all-stock transaction (valued at $66 billion) was the largest U.S. bank merger in over a decade. It spawned Truist, the sixth-largest bank in the U.S. by assets and deposits. In the initial press release, both banks’ CEOs cited the desire for greater scale in order to invest in innovation and technology to create compelling digital offerings.
While Teladoc and Livongo have both been acquiring smaller startups to expand their capabilities in virtual care and digital patient engagement, it appears both are falling in Truist’s steps. Together, the new organization promises to offer a broader set of digitally-enabled services and capabilities across an individual’s health journey.
Given the incredible size of the combined digital health entity, I am reminded of a special episode of Looking Ahead with Keith Pagnani of the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell and Andrew Rymer of the investment bank Centerview Partners. Filmed last year at Nasdaq’s MarketSite, the three of us talked about what’s driving healthcare deals and what the regulatory process looks like for transactions. While we focused on the combination of CVS and Aetna, I think you’ll find the rationale applies for Teladoc and Livongo.
*If you’re interested in M&A and IPO activity in the health sector, our DirectorCorps team recently introduced “The Deal on Healthcare.” A bi-monthly communique, it rounds up the most notable announcements. To sign up for this free newsletter, click here.
When Will Bank Mergers Return?
WASHINGTON, DC — The bank M&A market is currently in a deep chill, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is unclear when deal activity will heat up, so who better to ask than Tom Michaud, the President & CEO, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company, as part of Bank Director’s new AOBA Summer Series. In this one-on-one, I ask him about:
The banking industry’s second quarter results;
Why bank stocks have not participated in the overall market recovery;
The medium and long term implications of the pandemic on the industry;
The area of Fintech he thinks will be the hottest for the balance of 2020; and
How the November elections might impact the banking industry.
There are 10 videos in the AOBA Summer Series, with topics directed at C-suite executives or boards. We talk about how important scale has become, given compressing net interest margins, increasing efficiency ratios and climbing credit costs. We explore why banks’ technology strategy cannot be delegated. We observe why some banks will come out of this experience in a bigger, stronger position. And we look at leadership, appreciating that many executives are leading in new, more positive and impactful ways. To watch, click here.
My Conversation with the CEO of Atlantic Union Bankshares
WASHINGTON, DC — Leaders are defined by their actions, especially when facing adversity. In our just-released AOBA Summer Series, three standout CEOs joined us in a series of one-on-one conversations. Each provided a personal view on how their concepts of leadership vary; all, however, described their aspirations to provide exceptional quality and sustained performance.
For instance, Chuck Sulerzyski, President & CEO, at Peoples Bank joined John Maxfield, Editor-in-Chief for Bank Director magazine. They talked about the bank’s response to the unfolding coronavirus crisis and how a bank like Peoples might offset some of the pressure on its earnings.
Stephen Steinour, Chairman, President & CEO, Huntington Bancshares virtually sat down with Jack Milligan, Editor-at-Large for Bank Director magazine. The two explored how he continues to work with the bank’s board of directors to plan for a future beyond the pandemic.
And as you can see here, I had the distinct pleasure of talking with John Asbury, President & CEO, Atlantic Union Bankshares. We talked about leading in new, more positive and impactful ways.
With the U.S. economy slowly recovering from its devastating pause, what we don’t know easily exceeds what we do. But, as we reflect on the COVID-19 crisis and its subsequent impact on the country, a few industry trends are becoming visible. Hence the introduction of Bank Director’s AOBA Summer Series, now streaming for free on BankDirector.com
Streaming Now: The AOBA Summer Series
Dreaming of a trip to Phoenix, and the Acquire or Be Acquired Conference, next January doesn’t seem so odd this summer.
WORKING FROM HOME — For decades, business leaders began to book their travel to the Arizona desert — for Bank Director’s Acquire or Be Acquired Conference — in early August. As evidenced by the nearly 1,400 at the Arizona Biltmore earlier this year, the annual event has become a true stomping ground for CEOs, executives and board members. Many laud it as the place to be for those that take the creation of franchise value seriously. I’ve even heard it referred to as the unofficial kickoff of banking’s new year.
Just seven months ago, Acquire or Be Acquired once again brought together industry leaders from across the United States to explore merger opportunities, acquisition trends and financial growth ideas. With 418 banks represented, participants considered strategies specific to lending, deposit gathering and brand-building. They talked regulation, met with exceptional fintechs and networked with their peers under sunny skies.
Not one openly worried about a global pandemic.
Yet here we are, all of us dealing with fast-moving challenges and unimaginable risks.
So what can we do to help?
This is the question that proved the catalyst for our new AOBA Summer Series. Indeed, we created this free, on-demand, compilation of thought leadership pieces to provide pragmatic information and real-world insight.
With CEOs and leadership teams being called upon to make decisions they have never been trained for, we realized the type of information typically shared in January has immediate merit this summer. So instead of waiting until winter, this new Summer Series provides both color and context to the tough decisions — those with profound long-term consequences — that confront executives every day.
Ten videos comprise the AOBA Summer Series, with topics appropriate for the C-suite’s or board’s consideration. Streaming on BankDirector.com, we talk about how important scale has become in the banking industry… how one’s technology strategy cannot be delegated… how it certainly seems that there will be banks that come out of this in a bigger, stronger state. Here’s a screen-grab of what you’ll come across:
In one-on-one conversations like these, we acknowledge how net interest margins are compressing — which will drive up efficiency ratios — and credit costs are climbing. And we look at leadership, appreciating that many are leading in new, more positive and impactful ways. In addition, this new series provides:
A SNAPSHOT ON CURRENT CONDITIONS
At our January Acquire or Be Acquired Conference, Tom Michaud, President & CEO, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company, provided his outlook for the industry. Now, we ask him to update his perspectives on M&A activity and share his take on the potential implications of the pandemic.
HOW FINTECHS FIT
A growing number of technology companies have been founded to serve the banking industry. Not all of them have what it takes to satisfy bankers. During various sessions we learn how a variety of banks approach innovation — and the specific attributes a leadership team should look for in a new fintech relationship.
THE LEVERS OF VALUE CREATION
With nCino’s CMO, Jonathan Rowe, our Editor-in-Chief talks about the levers of creating value vis-a-vis the flywheel of banking. Together, they explain how certain technologies promote efficiency, which promotes prudence, thereby promoting profits, which can then be invested in technology, starting the cycle all over again.
Hearing from investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, fintechs, investors and — yes, other bankers — about the outlook for growth and change in the industry proves a hallmark for Acquire or Be Acquired, be it in-person or online.
As this new series makes clear, The future is being written in ways unimaginable just a few months ago. We invite you to watch how industry leaders are making sense of the current chaos for free on BankDirector.com.
Who is the Next nCino?
WASHINGTON, DC — With this week’s news that nCino is readying itself for an IPO, I thought to postulate about who “the next nCino” might be in the fintech space. By this, I mean the tech company about whom bank executives cite as doing right by traditional institutions.
For context, nCino developed a cloud-based operating system for financial institutions. The company’s technology enables both customers and financial institutions to work on a single platform that’s optimized for both retail and commercial accounts. In simple terms, they provide everything from retail and commercial account opening to portfolio management for all of a bank’s loans.
In its IPO filing, the company says it works with more than 1,100 financial institutions globally — whose assets range in size from $30 million to $2 trillion. Personally, I remember their start and been impressed with their growth. Indeed, I’ve known about nCino since its early Live Oak Bank days. I’ve gotten to know many on their executive team, and just last Fall shared a stage with their talented CEO, Pierre Naudé, at our annual Experience FinXTech conference in Chicago.
Al Dominick, CEO of Bank Director + FinXTech, Frank Sorrentino, Chairman & CEO of ConnectOne Bank and Pierre Naude, CEO of nCino at 2019’s Experience FinXTech Conference in Chicago, IL.
So as I think about who might become “the next” nCino in bankers’ minds across the United States, I begin by thinking about those offering solutions geared to a bank’s interest in Security, leveraging Data + Analytics, making better Lending decisions, getting smarter with Payments, enhancing Digital Banking, streamlining Compliance and/or improving the Customer Experience. Given their existing roster of bank clients, I believe the “next nCino” might be one of these five fintechs:
While I have spent time with the leadership teams from each of these companies, my sense that they might be “next” reflects more than personal insight. Indeed, our FinXTech Connect platform sheds light on each company’s work in support of traditional banks.
For instance, personal financial management (PFM) tools are often thought of as a nice perk for bank customers, designed to improve their experience and meet their service expectations. But when a PFM is built with data analytics backing it, what was seen as a perk can be transformed into a true solution — one that’s more useful for customers while producing revenue-generating insights for the bank. The money management dashboard built by Utah-based MX Technologies does just that.
Spun out of Eastern Bank in 2017 (itself preparing for an IPO), Boston-based Numerated designed its offering to digitize a bank’s credit policy, automate the data-gathering process and provide marketing and sales tools that help bank clients acquire new small business loans. Unlike many alternative lenders that use a “black box” for credit underwriting, Numerated has an explainable credit box, so its client banks understand the rules behind it.
Providing insight is something that Autobooks helps small business with. As a white-label product that banks can offer to their small-business customers, Autobooks helps to manage business’s accounting, bill pay and invoicing from within the institution’s existing online banking system. Doing so removes the need for small businesses to reconcile their financial records and replaces traditional accounting systems such as Quickbooks.
The New York-based MANTL developed an account opening tool that comes with a core integration solution banks can use to implement this and other third- party products. MANTL allows a bank to keep its existing core infrastructure in place while offering customers a seamless user experience. It also drives efficiency & automation in the back-office.
Finally, Apiture’s digital banking platform includes features such as digital account opening, personal financial management, cash flow management for businesses and payments services. What makes Apiture’s business model different from most, though, is that each of those features can also be unbundled from the platform and sold as individual modules that can be used to upgrade any of the bank’s existing systems.
Of course, these are but five of hundreds of technology companies with proven track records of working with financial institutions. Figuring out what a bank needs — and who might support them in a business sense — is not a popularity contest. But I’m keen to see how banks continue to engage with these five companies in the months to come.
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Trace: • the_nature_of_mass_poverty
How Poverty Is Now Explained
The Political Origins of Error
The Equilibrium of Poverty
Land Reform
What Is Now Explained
The Framework of Policy
Facilitating Escape
Breaking Accommodation
Escape within Poverty
The Industrial Escape
On Migration
The Nature of Mass Poverty, John Kenneth Galbraith, 1979, Cambridge: Harvard University Press
An end to injustice, to remind, is not necessarily or even usually an end to poverty. —page 133
Current explanations of the reasons and sources of mass, rural poverty are highly unsatisfactory, and rarely subjected to serious critical analysis. A summary:
Relatively better explanations
Counterargument and comments
'Naturally' poor (lack of natural resources) Compare rich countries without resources (Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Israel, South Korea) with poor countries with resources (the Middle East); equally with American states (compare Connecticut with West Virginia).
Governmental and economic system The relative poverty of East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Russia have been stubbornly consistent over the last hundred years, as governmental and economic systems have changed back and forth: “For assessing the causes of poverty in Eastern Europe, it is obviously more important to ascertain whether the country or region in question belonged before 1914 to the Austro-Hungarian (or German) empire than to assess the modern impact of Communism.”1)
Relatively poorly thought out explanations
Lack of capital (otherwise phrased as, 'this country is poor because it lacks money!') A confusion of cause and consequence — poor countries don't have these things because they cannot afford them. If they could afford them they wouldn't be poor.
Lack of trained, educated and experienced talent Ditto.
Ineffective, erratic, corrupt or otherwise inadequate government Ditto.
“The greatly mentioned unmentionables”
Race This explanation is curiously ubiquitous in conversation and utterly unmentionable in scholarship.
Climate (latitude) The correlation between latitude and affluence is not seriously in question but existing explanations remain inadequate (most focus on the negative health effects of warmer climates and a negative impact on productivity).
The poor world's explanations
Legacy of colonialism The main problems are (a) the diverse impacts of colonialism on different countries (particularly considering the USA, Canada and ANZ) and (b) the length of time that Latin America has been free of Spain (ignoring US influence). Also a comparison of independent Ethiopia and Thailand with their neighbours.
Producers of agricultural products and raw materials “suffer persistently in the terms of trade with the industrialised lands” The main problems are the USA and Australia. “There is merit in this range of argument, as I will later suggest” but “If to be a producer of primary products… places a country in the Third World, then the United States… is, by a wide margin, the first of the Third World nations.”2)
Until the Second World War there was essentially no discussion of mass poverty or its solution. In the rich world, the poor were irrelevant or voiceless. In the poor, a general assumption prevailed that independence was the self-evident solution, that all else would follow. In the US, the turnaround came suddenly in 1949 with a declaration by Truman, dedicating the US to Point IV, “a promise of a bold programme to place the technical resources and achievements of the US at the service of the less fortunate people of the world”3) and by the extreme and unexpected public response. In the beginning, there was such an absence of existing knowledge of the subject that it was almost impossible to know where to start, and many of those mandated to design programmes recommend no attempt be made to do so. But the public support of the project in large part ensured perseverance, and US overseas aid rose from essentially zero in 1950 to over $5.5bn in 1965. This might have seemed odd in an era in which conservatism so totally dominated American politics, and yet many viewed the need to raise living standards in the poor world as an urgent task in the struggle against Communism. Although to Galbraith, the risk of Third World countries rapidly becoming a threat to the US through economic development under Communist governance was largely if not totally illusionary: “[c]oncern for Communism in the poor world was a major aberration of the foreign-policy and strategic mind.”4) He does not mention the poor world's value as a source of raw materials or strategically valuable territory.
Because of these circumstances — the sudden desire to begin 'curing' poverty in the aftermath of a presidential decree, the paucity of serious literature or study on the matter, the urgency of conservative feeling over the threat of Communism — the analysis proceeded through a somewhat unorthodox logical progression. Essentially, it began with the premise that we must do something, took careful note of what it was possible for us to do, and concluded by inserting appropriate explanations for poverty which would conveniently recommend those remedies which we were capable and willing to offer. “The imperatives of action specified the causes that were not acceptable, and they selected the causes that were.”
Unacceptable causes
Reason it had to be dismissed
The economic system If the cause of poverty was inequality in land ownership or in wealth generally, landlordism, feudalism, or general exploitation in whatever mode of production existed, then the obvious solution smelt far too much like Communism to be palatable.
Climate Washington had no solution.
Race Not only did Washington have no solution, but it seemed politically dangerous to advance the suggestion.
Demographic factors (population growth) In the first instance, because it would have angered Catholics in the developed world. As the urgency of this danger diminished over time (although it still remains a force today), the political difficulty of rich (especially predominantly white) nations telling poor (especially predominantly coloured) nations that the latter ought to curb their numbers also appeared politically dangerous.
Acceptable causes
Reason it was appropriate
Lack of technical expertise Providing technical expertise was one of the cheapest interventions imaginable; it is abundant in the West and easy to provide.
Lack of capital Although not as thrifty as technical expertise, nevertheless capital is abundant and straightforward to provide — but also it tended to support technical expertise. One of the first observations of technical experts accustomed to a First-World environment was 'this organisation lacks capital'.
And thus it was that the dominant analysis of the causes of poverty stemmed expediently from the remedies that were easily available to Western planners.
To an extent, the diagnosis of mass poverty stemming from insufficient capital and backward technology outlived its political expediency. A major reason for this is how readily it fit into the existing economic landscape. A consensus had emerged through Smith, Ricardo, Malthus, Marshall and Keynes that economic growth relied upon
an income in excess of that necessary for consumption, yielding a surplus that can be invested in capital,
a source of new technology enabling the improved productivity of capital and labour,
a system for organising production, distribution and consumption (under a market system this relied upon a political and social system that allows and encourages the individual to increase his wealth in safety; in the socialistic alternative a strong educational system and capable bureaucratic organisation), and
the regulation of aggregate demand by government.
This consensus essentially spanned all capitalist and socialist thought, and had been confirmed by decades if not centuries of experience. The diagnosis that mass poverty was perpetuated by the lack of the capital and technology required to escape it therefore effortlessly slotted the poor world into existing theory.
The reality was quite different. In truth, rich and poor societies were far more different from one another — the rich economy tended towards an equilibrium of improvement, whilst the poor society suffered from an equally strong equilibrium of stagnation, of poverty. These equilibria were powerfully reinforced by motivation — the rich were motivated by rational expectations of improvement, whilst the poor responded rationally to the historical absence of improvement with a lack of motivation to attempt the futile.
A further observation should be made at this point about mass poverty: it is an overwhelmingly rural phenomenon. Estimates place approximately 80 per cent of extreme poverty in rural areas, and furthermore it is rural poverty that is intractable. “Here, people have lived at or near the minimum necessary for survival for a long time; for practical purposes, always… Improving income here is not normal. It is and always has been unknown.”5)
It is here that the circular causation of poverty is clearest. Income barely covers subsistence consumption, there is no surplus for investment. Without investment there can be no improvement in technology — in practical cases technology must be embodied in some form of costly investment, even if the expenditure is minute by the standards of the non-poor. Further, the evidence suggests that the technology in use is usually well tailored to the capital available, and frequently surprisingly innovative subject to binding constraints. There may be individuals with some capacity for saving, “but the meagreness of capital supply remains a ruling fact.”6) Extreme risk aversion must be added — and must not be underestimated — as a disincentive to experiment; it must be emphasised that when failure results in hunger or death it is perfectly rational to eschew experimentation, even if this bias escapes the technical adviser not exposed to the risk.
However, the equilibrium of poverty requires more than barriers to improvement, an equilibrium requires a recuperating force which, in the event of a fortuitous increase in income, will tend to drive incomes back down to, or near, their earlier level. In an environment in which nutritional and medical deprivation ends and shortens lives, and makes the living too sick or poor to procreate, that force is simple. An improvement in income will loosen the restraint on the increase in population, and increasing population will drive per capita income back down to their previous level. Unlike in rich societies, in which continual investments in technology tend to increase productivity of new workers over that of their predecessors, in a poor society with stagnant technology reliant on a limited quantity of land, additional labour will be subject to diminishing returns.
In northern and western India in the last century, the British built vast irrigation works to supplement the insufficient or uncertain rainfall. The acreage so irrigated is still by far the most extensive on the globe. Canal digging for thousands of people on the northern Indus Plain became a way of life, handed down from father to son. And the British also invested heavily in railroads that allowed of a more efficient and equitable distribution of available food resources across the land — much Indian railroad-building was a famine-relief measure. —page p56-57
The result in the short term was an increase in income, in the medium term an increase in population only.
A final hold on the poor is the particularly acute competition between saving and consumption in the poor world. Not only does consumption yield such high utility at such low levels of total consumption, but in the poor world the decision to save must be made by individuals subject to the painful trade off. On the other hand, in the rich world, the decision to retain profits for investment is normally made dispassionately by an organisation at least partly motivated by its own aggrandisement. The rich world, therefore, enjoys a specific bias in favour of investment relative to the poor.
In sum, the poor world is faced with a stable equilibrium of poverty; in the rich world conditions are much the opposite, and an equilibrium of increasing income prevails.
Put simply, 'accommodation' is a natural process by which individuals accept poverty as natural and inevitable, and cease trying to escape it under the belief that such an escape is impossible.
People who have lived for centuries in poverty in the relative isolation of the rural village have come to terms with this existence. It would be astonishing were it otherwise. People do not strive, century after century, against circumstances that are so constituted as to defeat them. They accept. Nor is such acceptance a sign of weakness of character. Rather, it is a profoundly rational response… Poverty is cruel. A continuing struggle to escape that is continuously frustrated is more cruel. —page 62
Accommodation is the natural, rational and justifiable reaction to centuries of experience of stagnant incomes (perhaps with a few instances of temporarily rising incomes ultimately being eroded by the forces detailed in the previous chapter). Over time, accommodation becomes reinforced by culture and religion. All major religions reinforce this accommodation whether explicitly (particularly in Christianity and Hinduism) or implicitly.
There has long been a suspicion, notably enhanced by Marx, that the contentment urged by religion is a design for diverting attention from the realities of class and exploitation — it is the opiate of the people. It is, more specifically, a formula for making the best of a usually hopeless situation. —page 63
Just as rich societies tend to assume that their economic models are appropriate to the poor, so they tend to blithely assume that their attitudes should also be appropriate to the poor. They have historically tended, therefore, to dismiss accommodation as laziness, or as contentment with their lot.
Accommodation is never equal or universal. No matter how poor a society, there will always be a minority who continue to experiment and struggle to escape poverty. Rationally, the proportion of those that have not accommodated to their poverty rises with wealth and with the availability of the opportunity to escape. It has frequently been observed in the context of agricultural extension services in the US that the most effective work was done with a minority of farmers, typically a group least in need of help. These were the unaccommodated minority: most receptive to outside help, and in a context of opportunity, the first to escape poverty. The accommodated remainder are rationally slow to take risks with new methods, and may only adopt innovations after a generation, in response to the example of their neighbours. In this context, accommodation was usually seen as “unworthy and unnatural,”7) but was nevertheless recognised.
There is a tendency to overlook accommodation in the literature, for three main reasons:
It is useful to economists, politicians and planners to take the desire for improvement for granted, because of the difficulties they would face in explaining the need to intervene in people's lives in ways that those people have not sought or requested,
It appears derogatory, by implying that the poor lack ambition or the will to help themselves, and
There is a history of the rich using the contentment of the poor as an excuse for resisting charity — “civilised and compassionate people seek naturally to avoid the guilt of association with such doctrine.”8)
Nevertheless, the reality of accommodation needs to be understood without it being taken as a justification for accepting poverty, or as a sign that the poor are in some way lazy, unmotivated or stupid.
Poverty remains a painful thing whether people have accommodated to it or not. —page 69
The concepts of the equilibrium of poverty and accommodation are sufficient to explain various phenomena, amongst them the disappointing history of land reform. Popular theory has long suggested that by equalising landholdings amongst a population and removing a useless landlord class, the peasant class newly unencumbered by rents or the need to sell their labour can earn sufficient income to save, improve their own productivity and thereby escape poverty. So may be the case in China, South Korea and Taiwan. But elsewhere, the initial poverty was simply too great; the cut taken by the landlord class too small to make enough of a difference when redistributed to overcome the impoverishing forces of accommodation and the equilibrium of poverty. Too often in the wake of land reforms, negligible incomes leapt but remained negligible; infant mortality fell and population grew to negate improvements in income. As with most generalisations, there have been exceptions (Cuba, perhaps, being a case in which the landlord class took such a large cut of production that their expulsion could make a real difference), but the common experience of
Mexico after the destruction of the Haciendas; as in the United States after the emancipation of the slaves; as in Russia after the freeing of the serfs or later after elimination of the landlords; and as in India after the imposition of upper limits on allowable landholdings, the effect of the changed relation of the people to land was not accompanied by the hoped-for improvement in income. For many there was no improvement at all. —page p74-75
Various tendencies mentioned earlier are now more explicable. The association with climate largely comes down to the prevalence of disease, particularly disease which can be overcome through improved nutrition. This exacerbates the equilibrium of poverty, in particular by sharply reducing infant mortality in response to a temporary improvement in income. Additionally, it is possible that the tasks of producing clothing, storing food and building shelter may make the rejection of accommodation more likely.
The association between ethnic difference and poverty is one of the differing histories of different peoples. “An ethnic community that has long been poor will have a strong accommodation to the equilibrium of poverty, and this acceptance will be relatively complete. One that has been less poor will have a less complete accommodation. More of its people will be seen as energetic or enterprising.”9)
The rejection of accommodation is not always voluntary: it can be forced by war, famine, or expulsion. Although people of all incomes are, to some extent, accommodated to their level of income and its rate of change, that accommodation is greater the lower the level of income and the more consistent has been its stagnation.
It is difficult to place responsibility for poverty on the terms of trade between the rich and poor world. The obvious thought-experiment is to imagine a doubling of commodity prices relative to industrial goods. The main beneficiaries would likely be the primary producers of the US, Canada, Australia and Argentina, since they have the largest saleable surplus, and could respond most quickly by increasing yields. The rural masses' “poverty comes less from their adverse terms of trade than from having so little to trade.”10)
The legacy of colonialism deserves a final note, and the judgement is mixed. Certainly, through repression of those outside of the imperial hierarchy seeking political power, colonialism encouraged accommodation. But colonial rule “also had strong tutelary aspects which acted in many and varied ways against accommodation, as also, by example, did the colonial rulers themselves.”11) The various struggles for independence also encouraged the challenge of accommodation.
Would India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh be more developed had the British never come?… Whether… colonialism was a service or a disservice to accommodation and thus to the continuing equilibrium of poverty had best remain a subject for debate… [but] No less a revolutionary figure than Marx was firm in his belief that the British were a positive and progressive force in India. —page 91
The misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all. –Joan Robinson, 1964, Economic Philosophy, Garden City, NY: Doubleday, p45
Ameliorating policy based on the above analysis shall have a dual focus: first, to combat accommodation to seek to enlarge the number of people with the motivation to escape poverty; second, to facilitate that escape. However, the two are very much interdependent. The provision of a way out of poverty, no matter how well-designed, will not be taken by those who have fully accommodated to that poverty. “But an attack on accommodation requires that there be an alternative. To encourage and hold forth a promise of escape that is false commits those who are so persuaded to the cruel frustration that in the past has made accommodation the better solution.”12)
Policy to facilitate escape can itself come in two forms: either to facilitate escape from poverty (by migrating); or alternatively to facilitate escape within poverty (by improving yields). Again, the two are to some extent reliant on one another. The migration of some to the towns reduces the burden of too many workers on too little land and can in many cases be a prerequisite for a more general change in the condition of rural agriculture.
However, rural-urban migration has no shortage of critics. It too often brings poverty and its unsightliness within the sphere of awareness of the more affluent. Its more extreme form, international migration, has long suffered a taboo by tacit agreement of countries on both sides of the divide. And commentators in the rich have often criticised the fascination of poor governments with an emphasis on industrialisation.
In the prescription for human betterment, there is no greater constant than the belief that poor people are better off if they remain very poor but in fresh air. —page 98
The methods by which accommodation is broken are not in doubt. They are trauma and education. —page 100
I hasten to add that only one or the other is necessary. Through education, individuals gain access to the world outside of the culture of poverty into which they were born, and are given an important tool for escaping poverty.
Repeatedly one is impressed with how effectively the untutored instinct of the last century fostered economic development — how much better on occasion it was than the much more careful and deliberate analysis of our own day. The unerring emphasis on transportation as an instrument of economic development is one example. The attention paid to free and compulsory education is another. Education was made compulsory because it was recognised, in effect, that nothing less would break the accommodation of the poorest families to their poverty. —page 101
At this time it was clearly recognised that accommodation and the associated resistance to education increased sharply with poverty.
There was a general and often explicitly stated feeling that education was a dangerous thing — that it made the young “dissatisfied with their lot”, which was to say with perfect accuracy that it was an assault on accommodation. —page 102
Galbraith declines to comment in detail on the content of education, deferring to those with more relevant experience. He only says that there is no viable short-cut in attempting to teach advanced agricultural methods to the otherwise uneducated. It has been tried repeatedly and failed. It is through more gradual and subtle processes that education combats accommodation.
Two features of agricultural extension programmes are necessary: they must follow improvements in education, not precede them, if they are going to exploit the increased number of farmers rejecting accommodation, and they should target those most keen to adopt them rather than trying to reach the poorest, or to attempt universal coverage. This runs contrary to the conventional wisdom:
Nothing in the past has so criticised efforts at agricultural improvement as the charge that “they are reaching only a small minority of producers. They are not reaching the poor farmers. There should be no such effort to reach the indifferent farmers. Agricultural extension should reach only those who resist accommodation… —page 104
The escape from poverty already outlined can, itself, take two forms: either the domestic transfer from the rural to the urban sector, or international migration. The familiar instinct that industrialisation is important to provide a domestic opportunity for escape is sound.
However, almost all poor countries wish to industrialise: the real question is not the importance of industrialisation, but how industrialisation is achieved. Here there is no agreement, and in general, “the counsel that poor countries receive, for all its assurance, [is not] very good.”13)
The worst advice comes from the socialist world, which is unfortunately compelled to urge socialism. One of the poor country's scarcest resources is “administrative talent, with its complementary requirements in expert knowledge, experience and discipline.”14) Socialist governance requires an enormous quantity of this to succeed — ti is therefore an option available only to more developed countries. What's more, Marx (and Lenin, after assuming power) were keenly aware of this:
Marx urged with great and persistent eloquence that economic and political development was firmly sequential. Capitalism was an — essential prerequisite to socialism… No one would have been more attracted than Marx to the view that, in the poor country, administrative capacity is a scarce resource, that this must develop before socialism can succeed. —pp113-4
The most obvious counterargument is based on the experience of China, where a socialistic development model appears to be successful. However, this is due to the unique situation in China, and should not be seen as a model that could easily be transferred to many other countries:
For China, of all the countries in the world, has the greatest experience in organisation, administration, and acceptance of the associated discipline — it had an orderly, centralised, and successful system of public administration when the Western European polity had not proceeded beyond tribal leaders carrying clubs and wearing skins. —p112
The nonsocialist world has tended to urge that all is required for economic development is soundly non-Communist government, with abundant capital in a secure investment climate. “This is egregiously optimistic.”15) In fact, there are four or five basic prerequisites:
Security of property,
Reliable infrastructure (roads, ports, electricity and communications),
An adequate supply of capital (“in practice much of it under public auspices from outside the country”16)) and an efficient, incorrupt system for disbursing loans,
“There probably need to be some publicly sponsored industries”17) from whose example the private sector can draw, such as steel, chemicals or petrochemicals.
Finally, education and training are not really a part of the list, since they are a prerequisite, but “it is reasonable to expect that if all else is available, [education] will be sought and obtained.”18)
For the weakest governments, it will be extremely difficult to meet these requirements, but the more that weak governments attempt, the less they will achieve — so focus and prioritisation are paramount.
These may be prerequisites for industrialisation, but they are not sufficient. It is a common experience for governments to meet all of these requirements and still fail to industrialise. If this were not the case then all countries would industrialise: none would be able for long to resist an obvious and well-travelled path. So although industrialisation offers an opportunity to escape poverty, it remains an uncertain option.
The temptation to socialism arises here: if the state does something, then, seemingly, it gets done. Alas, if the state is weak, this is not the case… if the state apparatus is overstrained by planning and the creation and operation of public enterprises, then these [foregoing] essentials will go by the board. —p118
Although migration is not a panacea, or a uniquely effective solution amongst the strategies available, it is remarkable to note firstly how effective it has been in breaking the equilibrium of poverty in a wide variety of times and places, and secondly how little this fact is appreciated, and the general bias the conventional wisdom gives to alternatives to migration.
There is irrefutable evidence of the crucial role that immigrant labour plays in the advanced industrial economies, most particularly in Western Europe (particularly Switzerland, France, Germany, the Low Countries and Sweden) but also in large parts of the USA (both from within and outside of the US). The United Kingdom is the exception (at the time of writing, 1979, although it had received large numbers from the West Indies, India, Pakistan and Bengal before policy was reversed, and would later open up more rapidly than other nations to migration from other EU member states).
[O]nly one generation divides the Tories who defended the Empire from those who defend the home island from the erstwhile Empire. God must smile. —page 127
It is a common experience within advancing countries that farm labourers do not expect their children to be farm labourers and assembly-line workers do not expect their children to become assembly-line workers. This creates the space within all industrialised societies for a continuous stream of permanent migration, of workers moving from rural poverty into factories and service industries such as hotels, replacing a previous generation of migrants whose children find more rewarding forms of employment. The dependence of industrial economies on this component of the labour force should not be underestimated.
In the autumn of 1976, in Dusseldorf, I asked my luncheon companion, a director of German Ford, if the company could survive without the Turks. He was appalled by the thought… —page 130
In recent years the British automobile industry has been deeply and continuously troubled. One of the less noticed causes is that Britain has been trying to make automobiles… with Englishmen. —page p135-6
There is a further beneficial effect on the recipient economy: migrant labour helps to control inflation and unemployment by providing a means of expanding and contracting the labour supply to suit the economic cycle.
Migration has sometimes been decisive in enabling the communities from which migration occurs to overcome the equilibrium of poverty — amongst the clearest cases are Sweden, Scotland and Ireland. Given the benefits to the both the country from which and to which the migrant travels, the strong political opposition to migration and disregard for it as a development strategy in academia and aid organisations is odd. There are two or three main reasons for this attitude:
“Social disturbance and conflict have usually followed mass movement from poor countries to the rich”19) — although these phenomena tend to be short-lived, or at least more short lived than they are perceived to be.
The widely held, if utterly misguided, perception that there is a fixed quantity of jobs that new migrants 'steal' from those that have already arrived. There is irrefutable evidence that in the advanced industrial economies, migrants cause the economy to expand, with increasing returns. The amount of available employment, and the per capita income, is certainly greater with the migrants than without.
The final resistance comes from the country which migrants leave. There is a certain justification in this — the recognition that those that are leaving are the most motivated and least accommodated. There is also a widespread ambition to 'take care of one's own'.
These attitudes are formidable, no one can doubt. Were they less so, such an old and evident answer to the problem of poverty for those best prepared for rescue would not have been for so long so successfully ignored. It is time, nonetheless, for people who combine compassion with a certain respect for history and economic reality to look candidly at this solution. —page 138
p9.
p20.
pp90-91
p110.
16) , 17)
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Online Bachelor’s in Environmental Science
Environmental science incorporates policy studies with science and other disciplines, such as economics. Its interdisciplinary approach enables graduates to respond to the complex and ever-changing environmental problems of the 21st century. Professionals with environmental science degrees bridge the gaps between scientists, business leaders, and policy makers; they frequently work as ecologists, consultants, mediators, land managers, and conservation biologists.
Why a Bachelor's Degree?
Typical environmental studies online degree programs require four years to complete. As with most undergraduate degrees, environmental science majors usually spend the first two years enrolled in general education courses, followed by two years of environmental science online courses. The best programs offer internships, which allow students to glean real world experience as part of their education.
Inside an Environmental Science Bachelor's Degree Program
Students in environmental science programs typically spend the first two years fulfilling the general education requirement. History, math, writing and literature are commonly required. Many students choose to take introductory courses in other fields that will help with the environmental science major, such as economics and politics. The best programs encourage first and second year students to begin to take geography and geology classes as well.
During the last two years of most programs, students take most of the classes in their major field. Students can expect to get a thorough grounding in American politics, environmental law and policy, and ethics. Many programs offer coursework in geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing, as well as natural resource management. Prior to graduation, many students take advantage of internships and practicums, which are usually valued by potential employers.
What's Next for Environmental Science Bachelor's Degree Holders?
Graduates of environmental science programs have a number of employment options. Some take environmental scientist positions and earn a median salary of $66,250. Those who choose to work in the field as conservation scientists earn a median salary of $60,360 each year, according to the BLS. Many others work as ecologists, making $58,270 annually. Still others find work as geographers and GIS specialists, where they earn a median salary of $76,420.
Knowing that employers in today’s tough job market expect their workers to have advanced degrees, many environmental science graduates choose to continue their education and pursue a master’s degree. The typical environmental studies master’s program will take two years to complete; however, with the degree, graduates have even more opportunities for fulfilling careers. Many graduates of master’s degree programs take positions as policy analysts, where the median salary of $104,920.
Master’s in Environmental Science
Master’s in Environmental Policy
What's Next for Degree Holders?
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NOVA October 16, 2020
Making Boats Fly
Learn how advances in technology allow boats to go faster than ever before in this video from NOVA: “Making Stuff Faster.” Host and technology columnist David Pogue examines two factors that limit speed—energy and resistance—and describes how Oracle Team USA maximizes the speed of its boat. Instead of a traditional sail, the boat has a rigid carbon-fiber wing that acts as an airfoil to create lift and propel the boat forward. In addition, foils on the underside of the boat lift it largely out of the water, which reduces the drag force exerted by the water on the boat. This video is available in both English and Spanish audio, along with corresponding closed captions. CREDITS: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/credits/nvmms.sci.phys.boatsfly/ LICENSE: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/help/full-license-for-section-3c-of-terms-of-use-download-and-share/
The Coriolis Effect Due to Earth's Rotation
Learn how Earth’s rotation causes the Coriolis effect, with this video from NOVA. Use this resource to visualize the abstract concept of the Coriolis effect and to provide opportunities for students to use evidence to support a claim about the influence of the Coriolis effect on hurricanes, jet stre
Personal DNA Testing
In this video from NOVA scienceNOW, take a behind-the-scenes look at the process of personal DNA testing, and hear more about the innovative Personal Genome Project. CREDITS: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/credits/biot09.biotech.concpt.prsnldna/ LICENSE: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/help/ful
How DNA Replicates
This narrated animation from Interactive NOVA: "The Secret of Life" shows the double helix structure of DNA and how the molecule replicates. The segment illustrates how DNA "unzips" to form templates for the new strands and how complementary nucleotides bind together like the rungs of a ladder. This
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Showing posts with label Ravi Kopparapu. Show all posts
Earth is on the edge of runaway warming
Earth within our solar system's habitable zone
How well is Earth's orbit around the sun positioned within the boundaries of the habitable zone? The illustration by the Wikipedia image on the right would give that impression that Earth was comfortably positioned in the middle of this zone.
What is the habitable zone? To be habitable, a planet the size of Earth should be within certain distances from its Sun, in order for liquid water to exist on its surface, for which temperatures must be between freezing point (0° C) and boiling point (100° C) of water.
In the Wikipedia image, the dark green zone indicates that a planet the size of Earth could possess liquid water, which is essential since carbon compounds dissolved in water form the basis of all earthly life, so watery planets are good candidates to support similar carbon-based biochemistries.
If a planet is too far away from the star that heats it, water will freeze. The habitable zone can be extended (light green color) for larger terrestrial planets that could hold on to thicker atmospheres which could theoretically provide sufficient warming and pressure to maintain water at a greater distance from the parent star.
A planet closer to its star than the inner edge of the habitable zone will be too hot. Any water present will boil away or be lost into space entirely. Rising temperatures caused by greenhouse gases could lead to a moist greenhouse with similar results.
The distance between Earth and the Sun is one astronomical unit (1 AU). Mars is often said to have an average distance from the Sun of 1.52 AU. A recent study led by Ravi Kopparapu at Penn State mentions that early Mars was warm enough for liquid water to flow on its surface. However, the present-day solar flux at Mars distance is 0.43 times that of Earth. Therefore, the solar flux received by Mars at 3.8 Gyr was 0.75 × 0.43 = 0.32 times that of Earth. The corresponding outer habitable zone limit today, then, would be about 1.77 AU, i.e. just a bit too far away from the Sun to sustain water in liquid form. Venus, on the other hand, is too close to the Sun (see box below).
Kopparapu calculates that the Solar System’s habitable zone lies between 0.99 AU (92 million mi, 148 million km) and 1.70 AU (158 million mi, 254 million km) from the Sun. In other words, Earth is on the edge of runaway warming.
Image by Kopparapu et al. New calculations show that Earth is positioned on the edge of the habitable zone (green-shaded region), boundaries of which are determined by the moist-greenhouse (inner edge, higher flux values) and maximum greenhouse (outer edge, lower flux values)
Kopparapu says that if current IPCC temperature projections of a 4 degrees K (or Celsius) increase by the end of this century are correct, our descendants could start seeing the signatures of a moist greenhouse by 2100.
Kopparapu argues that once the atmosphere makes the transition to a moist greenhouse, the only option would be global geoengineering to reverse the process. In such a moist-greenhouse scenario, not only are the ozone layer and ice caps destroyed, but the oceans would begin evaporating into the atmosphere's upper stratosphere.
Venus' runaway greenhouse effect a warning for Earth
by Sam Carana - first posted November 28, 2007, at:
http://global-warming.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977189423
Venus was transformed from a haven for water to a fiery hell by an runaway greenhouse effect, concludes the European Space Agency (ESA), after studying data from the Venus Express, which has been orbiting Venus since April 2006.
Venus today is a hellish place with surface temperatures of over 400°C (752°Fahrenheit), winds blowing at speeds of over 100 m/s (224 mph) and pressure a hundred times that on Earth, a pressure equivalent, on Earth, to being one km (0.62 miles) under the sea.
Hakan Svedhem, ESA scientist and lead author of one of eight studies published on Wednesday in the British journal Nature, says that Earth and Venus have nearly the same mass, size and density, and have about the same amount of carbon dioxide. In the past, Venus was much more Earth-like and was partially covered with water, like oceans, the ESA scientists believe.
How could a world so similar to Earth have turned into such a noxious and inhospitable place? The answer is planetary warming. At some point, atmospheric carbon triggered a runaway warming on Venus that boiled away the oceans. As water vapour is a greenhouse gas, this further trapped solar heat, causing the planet to heat up even more. So, more surface water evaporated, and eventually dissipated into space. It was a “positive feedback” -- a vicious circle of self-reinforcing warming which slowly dessicated the planet.
“Eventually the oceans began to boil”, said David Grinspoon, a Venus Express interdisciplinary scientist from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Colorado, USA. “You wound up with what we call a runaway greenhouse effect”, Hakan Svedhem says. Venus Express found hydrogen and oxygen ions escaping in a two to one ratio, meaning that water vapor in the atmosphere the little that is left of what they believe were once oceans is still disappearing.
While most of Earth's carbon store remained locked up in the soil, rocks and oceans, on Venus it went into the atmosphere, resulting in Venus' atmosphere now consisting of about 95% carbon dioxide.
“Earth is moving along the curve that connects it to Venus”, warns Dmitry Titov, science coordinator of the Venus Express mission.
- Venus Express - European Space Agency (ESA)
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Venus_Express/SEMGK373R8F_0.html
- Venus inferno due to 'runaway greenhouse effect', say scientists
http://www.physorg.com/news115477239.html
- Probe likens young Venus to Earth
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/32018
- European mission reports from Venus
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v437/n7062/full/4371071a.html
- Habitable zones around main-sequence stars: new estimates
Ravi Kumar Kopparapu et al. 2013
http://iopscience.iop.org/0004-637X/765/2/131
- Habitable Zone - Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitable_zone
- Earth is closer to the edge of Sun's habitable zone
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2013/mar/25/earth-is-closer-to-the-edge-of-suns-habitable-zone
- Updated model for identifying habitable zones around stars puts Earth on the edge
http://www.gizmag.com/habitable-zone/26051/
Posted by Sam Carana at 5:40 PM 13 comments:
Labels: Earth, global, greenhouse effect, habitable zone, Ravi Kopparapu, runaway, warming, water
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ArtsBeat | In ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,’ a Black Actress Will Play Hermione
In ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,’ a Black Actress Will Play Hermione
December 21, 2015 11:16 am December 21, 2015 11:16 am
From left, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.”Credit Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Brothers Pictures
LONDON — What do Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger look like 19 years after Lord Voldemort has been vanquished? In “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” a play based on J.K. Rowling’s novels about the wizarding world that is to open July 30 in the West End, they will look like Jamie Parker (Harry), Paul Thornley (Ron) and Noma Dumezweni (Hermione), who were announced as the lead actors in the two-part production on Monday.
“I can’t wait to see Jamie, Noma and Paul bring the adult Harry, Hermione and Ron to life on stage next summer,” Ms. Rowling wrote on the website Pottermore. She responded to a Twitter post speculating about how she felt about the casting of Ms. Dumezweni, who is black, saying on Twitter in response: “White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione.”
https://www.twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/678888094339366914
All three actors are well-known in Britain. Mr. Parker, who was in both the stage and screen versions of Alan Bennett’s “The History Boys,” is currently starring in “Guys and Dolls” in the West End, while Ms. Dumezweni recently took over the title role in Penelope Skinner’s “Linda,” when Kim Cattrall dropped out a week before previews began. Mr. Thornley, who has played leading roles in a number of West End productions, recently appeared in the film “London Road.”
“To assure all doubters — Paul is ginger in his soul,” Jack Thorne said on Twitter, referring to Ron Weasley’s red hair. He is a co-writer of the play with Ms. Rowling and John Tiffany.
Mr. Tiffany will direct the play, which picks up from the epilogue in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the final book in the series. “It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children,” reads the synopsis. “While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted.”
Sonia Friedman, who is co-producing the play with Colin Callender, said in an interview in The Daily Mail, that she and Mr. Callender, as well as Ms. Rowling, Mr. Tiffany and Mr. Thorne, were all involved in the casting decisions.
Previews for “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” are to begin June 7. The tickets for the first four months of performances sold out within hours of the tickets going on sale in October.
Correction: December 21, 2015
An earlier version of this post misspelled an actress's surname. It is Kim Cattrall, not Catrall.
A version of this article appears in print on 12/22/2015, on page C4 of the NewYork edition with the headline: In u2018Potteru2019 Play, a Black Hermione.
New Novel From Jonathan Safran Foer Coming in September
Aix Festival Director to Step Down
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Anthony Albanese MP
Leader of the Australian Labor Party Federal Member for Grayndler
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ANTHONY ALBANESE – TRANSCRIPT – RADIO INTERVIEW – ABC RADIO BRISBANE DRIVE WITH STEVE AUSTIN – WEDNESDAY, 1 JULY 2020
LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY
MEMBER FOR GRAYNDLER
ABC RADIO BRISBANE DRIVE WITH STEVE AUSTIN
SUBJECTS: 2020 Defence Strategic Update; Labor’s commitment to reversing ABC cuts.
STEVE AUSTIN, HOST: Anthony Albanese, sorry to keep you waiting. Thanks for coming on.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY: Good to be with you, Steve.
AUSTIN: I want to ask you about the Prime Minister’s speech today, first of all, on the Defence spending increase. The increase in Defence spending announced by the Prime Minister, $270 billion dollars in total, it’s a fair jump over what it was in the last ten years. Is it needed?
ALBANESE: Well, it is a substantial increase. The point is; are we’re getting value for money? And one of the questions that is there is with the rollout of the submarine program. There are major questions to be asked about the Australian contribution, about the amount of jobs that will be created here and about the value from that program. So, that remains outstanding. But in general, we are certainly supportive of the direction that says we need to concentrate more on our region. And that is consistent with the 2016 White Paper.
AUSTIN: I’ve just spoken with Professor John Blaxland from the ANU in Canberra. And he rolled out some of the details of what, sadly, the Chinese Government has been building in the way of submarines and aircraft carriers, quite a high amount. Is there an arms race underway in the South China Sea in the Asian region?
ALBANESE: Well, certainly if you look at the amount of growth in Chinese armaments, it is substantial. And it’s been growing in in recent times, both in terms of naval capabilities, but also in terms of aircraft and also armaments. And certainly, what our Defence capability has to be aimed at, of course, is ensuring our national security. It shouldn’t be a partisan issue, and I don’t seek to make it one. We have been briefed, my Defence Shadow and Deputy Leader, Richard Marles, this morning. We are broadly supportive of the direction that the Government is going. We await, of course, further detail including the Budget figures that one assumes will be included when the October Budget is handed down.
AUSTIN: It was a little nerve-wracking to hear the speech by the Prime Minister, to be honest. And it was also equally nerve-racking to hear how many submarines and aircraft carriers China is building. Are we handling the diplomatic trade relationship with China enough?
ALBANESE: Well, I think there is a question there when we see trade ministers say that they can’t even talk to their trade counterparts. And clearly, there’s an issue there that we need to deal with in our own national interest. Obviously, there’s a lot of jobs dependent upon the relationship, not just with China, but throughout the region. We need to never-ever put economic issues before our own national interest, of course, and our national security. But we do need to be conscious about the need to be engaged economically in the region. Because so many jobs depend on it, not just in terms of natural resources, but also in terms of services. We have seen the major impact, for example, that the pandemic is having on our universities at the moment in limiting overseas students coming and that is having a real economic impact.
AUSTIN: My guest is the Federal Labor Leader in Australia, Anthony Albanese. Would Labor do anything differently when it comes to Australia’s defence, Anthony Albanese?
ALBANESE: Well, one of the things that we are somewhat concerned about is the roll-out of the submarine program. We think that this Government is characterised by putting a lot of effort into the marketing of announcements and perhaps not enough into the delivery of actual programs. And that’s why we’re concerned about that. We think that we need to always ensure, as well, that we maximise Australian job creation from any investment that’s made. And that is why it is a good thing that the submarines weren’t just purchased overseas. But we need to make sure that national interest in terms of the economy is linked to our Defence budget, that it is not just purchasing overseas. That’s something that I would like to see us concentrate on. I think that we made mistakes, frankly, in our region when we cut the foreign aid budget, when the Government changed in 2013. And that clearly has led to a bit of a gap that others have filled in the Pacific.
AUSTIN: My guest is Anthony Albanese, Labor Leader in Australia. On this day in 1932, the Australian Broadcasting Commission, as it was then, was established by Prime Minister Joseph Lyons. You have committed to restoring a funding freeze that’s been placed on the ABC by the Federal Government. What are you going to do, Anthony Albanese, if you are in government?
ALBANESE: Well, we’ll put back the $83.7 million cut to the ABC.
AUSTIN: The Government says it’s a freeze not a cut.
ALBANESE: It is a cut. If it looks like a cut, walks like a cut and quacks like a cut; it’s a cut. And the New South Wales Nationals Leader, John Barilaro, the Deputy Premier of New South Wales, has said that the Prime Minister’s being “disingenuous” and he said, to quote him, ‘I mean, be honest and upfront and say you have frozen the budget for whatever reason because of budget pressures. Tell the truth’. The truth is that they have cut the budget. A freeze means a cut in real terms. And the ABC, this comes on top of previous cuts, of course, and it has resulted in 250 job losses. Now, we’re in the first recession in three decades. Now is not the time to see the ABC being in a position whereby they’re forced to cut employment.
AUSTIN: Other government departments, the ABC is not a government department, but government departments have been required to make efficiency savings for many years. The CSIRO, a very important scientific institution, has had budget freezes placed upon it, universities are facing very real budget constraints as well. Why shouldn’t the ABC tighten its belt?
ALBANESE: Well, the CSIRO shouldn’t be cut either, by the way. But the truth, is the ABC has tightened its belt. Whatever could be cut and made more efficient has been done. What we’re talking about now is that these cuts have directly resulted in job losses. And at a time where, particularly in regional Australia, we’re seeing hundreds of publications, some of which have been around for a very long period of time, including, of course, in regional Queensland, those publications as you go up the coast, you run into the Sunshine Coast Daily and the Rockhampton Bulletin and you run into all those papers, many of whom are going to cease to exist in its previous form. And that is a real issue. The other thing is that during the summer period, we were really reminded of the important role of the ABC during crisis. So, during the bushfires, which occurred, of course, across four states, what we saw was the ABC literally saving lives. People who didn’t have any other form of communication, relying upon being told whether to stay and fight in their homes or whether to leave, relying upon that radio broadcast. And at a time like this, I think the ABC should be seen as an essential service because I think it is.
AUSTIN: This essential service, though, has made a very surprising announcement. It’s going to scrap the pivotal 7:45AM news bulletin. That surprised many people including some long-standing people inside the organisation. What’s Labor’s position about that unique 15-minute peak news bulletin on the ABC?
ALBANESE: Well, I will tell you what, many people make sure they’re getting their breakfast and organise their day around listening to that 15-minute news bulletin. I’ve been listening to it since I was a kid. And it’s something that I’ve relied upon for decades. And so many other Australians have as well. And what you get in that 15-minute news bulletin is the sort of information that doesn’t fit in the sort of brief broadcast that we just heard from you before I started this interview. You get that information. You get to hear different sides of the story.
AUSTIN: So, should ABC management reverse the decision to scrap the 7:45AM news bulletin?
ALBANESE: ABC management should reverse that decision. But they should reverse it, as well, on the basis of the Government saying, ‘This is a bad decision and we’re going to put the funding back to make sure that happens’.
AUSTIN: Anthony Albanese, thanks for your time.
ALBANESE: Thanks very much, Steve.
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Our board members from our member companies equip us with critical insight into our work in the MedTech industry.
Andrew Frye
Chairman, Board of Directors
Senior Vice President and President, APAC
Andrew Frye is senior vice president and president, APAC, for Baxter Healthcare and is the current Chairman of the Board of Directors for APACMed. Andrew ...
Andrew Frye is senior vice president and president, APAC, for Baxter Healthcare and is the current Chairman of the Board of Directors for APACMed.
Andrew joined Baxter in 2017 from DKSH Holdings Ltd., where he served as Global Head of Healthcare from 2015 to 2017. In that role, he oversaw a portfolio of pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter and device products across 13 countries. Previously, he served as vice president of Business Development from 2011 to 2014 for DKSH Healthcare. Earlier in his career, he held a number of commercial roles with increasing responsibility at Abbott Laboratories’ Pharmaceutical and Nutrition divisions.
Andrew received a bachelor’s degree in psychobiology from the University of Southern California and master’s degree in marketing from the Anderson School of Management at the University of California. He resides with his family in Singapore.
Graham McLean
Vice-Chairman, Board of Directors
President, APAC
Stryker has a long and proud record of leadership, commitment and support for the Medical Technology industry in Asia Pacific. Stryker operates in a very broad range of MedTech sectors including theatre ...
Stryker has a long and proud record of leadership, commitment and support for the Medical Technology industry in Asia Pacific. Stryker operates in a very broad range of MedTech sectors including theatre and hospital equipment, beds, surgical consumables, neuro technology and orthopaedic implants (maxillio-facial, spine, joints and trauma).
Graham has worked for Stryker for 14 years with extensive experience across Asia Pacific. Graham’s current role is President Asia Pacific and he sits on the Stryker global Executive Leadership team.
Graham was formerly President of Stryker Australia/New Zealand and sat on the MTAA Board for 3 years, then President of Stryker Japan and sat on the AMDD Board for 2 years. He has front line experience of the challenges and issues in key markets in the region. Graham offers a unique set of skills and experience including 20 years of leadership in food and drinks businesses, consulting, as well as MedTech. He has governance experience, having worked closely with public listed company boards and voluntary organizations, is a member of the Institute of Company Directors and a qualified accountant.
James Lim
Treasurer, Board of Directors
Executive Vice President and President, Greater Asia
James Lim, Executive Vice President and President, Greater Asia for Becton Dickinson (BD), sits on BD’s Global Leadership Management Committee reporting to ...
James Lim, Executive Vice President and President, Greater Asia for Becton Dickinson (BD), sits on BD’s Global Leadership Management Committee reporting to the CEO. Based in Singapore, BD’s regional headquarters, James leads the business operations in China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand, Korea, SEA, India and Pakistan.
James joined BD in 1994 from Seagate International. Starting as an Engineering and Facility Manager for BD Medical (Singapore), after a 3-year assignment in R&D, he became a Plant Manager in 2000. In 2003, he was promoted to the role of the Director of Operations for Asia Pacific, where he was responsible for the regional manufacturing and supply chain functions, overseeing plants operating in Singapore, Bawal, India, and Suzhou, China.
In April 2008, James was appointed as the Vice President for Central and Asia Pacific, holding responsibility for the Central Asia Business Management and support functions for the entire Asia Pacific region.
Four years later, James was appointed as President of Greater Asia and an Executive Member of the company, becoming the first Asian leader to take office in the region’s 30-year history.
A strong believer in developing and retaining the best of talents, James was conferred the Leading CEO award by the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) in 2014. The award was testimony to his championship of innovative and effective HR ideas and practices and demonstration of leadership commitment to talent development within the industry.
James received his early education in Malaysia and continued to study the National University of Singapore, where he graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree.
Married and with two teenage sons, James tries to spend as much time as possible with them between his business travels. He is passionate about automotive and is an avid fitness enthusiast.
Ian Burgess
Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA)
Ian is CEO of the Medical Technology Association of Australia, the national association representing companies in the medical device industry. Ian is a director of the Asia Pacific Medical Technology ...
Ian is CEO of the Medical Technology Association of Australia, the national association representing companies in the medical device industry.
Ian is a director of the Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association, which is headquartered in Singapore, and is also a director and Vice Chair of Red Nose, formerly known as SIDS & Kids, a well-respected not-for-profit organisation that is dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children.
Art Butcher
Executive Vice President & President, Asia Pacific
Art Butcher is Executive Vice President and President for Boston Scientific in the Asia Pacific region, a role he has held since February 2020. Currently based in Singapore, Art is responsible for the overseeing the ...
Art Butcher is Executive Vice President and President for Boston Scientific in the Asia Pacific region, a role he has held since February 2020. Currently based in Singapore, Art is responsible for the overseeing the continued growth of our business across Asia Pacific in line with our company values. He is a member of the Boston Scientific global executive committee.
Art has been with Boston Scientific for over 20 years. Prior to his current role, Art was President, Endoscopy with global responsibility for developing and bringing to market less invasive devices for treating gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions. He was previously Vice President and General Manager, Endoscopy in Japan.
Art has held a variety of marketing and strategic planning management positions within the Endoscopy, Urology and Pelvic Health businesses, including Vice President of Global Marketing (Endoscopy) and Vice President of New Business Development and Strategic Planning (Urology and Women’s Health). He joined Boston Scientific in 1997 as a sales representative in the Urology business.
Art holds a BA in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Columbia University.
Probir Das
Terumo Asia Holdings
Probir has three decades of medical technology industry experience and has extensively worked across medical-surgical, interventional, clinical diagnostics, infectious diseases, ...
Probir has three decades of medical technology industry experience and has extensively worked across medical-surgical, interventional, clinical diagnostics, infectious diseases, ophthalmology, and nutrition domains.
Probir has been with Terumo Corporation since 2012 and is currently responsible for
overseeing its operations across Asia Pacific and India. As the Regional Leader of Asia Pacific & India, he spearheads Terumo’s investments into these emerging markets for purposeful talent and business strengthening, health system scaleup through various skill interventions, and driving the long-term strategy of Terumo in Asia Pacific.
Given his keen interest in policy shaping, Probir is actively engaged in advocacy and sits on the Board of Directors for the Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association (APACMed) and Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI).
Probir also has over a decade’s teaching experience, specifically around strategy, leadership
development, coaching and performance management. His passion towards MedTech sees him mentor start-ups and entrepreneurs.
Probir resides in Singapore and is a frequent visitor to all of the Asia Pacific markets and Japan.
Lam Chee Hong
President, Asia Pacific
Lam Chee Hong is the President and a Member of the Management Board of B. Braun Asia Pacific. As President, he is responsible for the Group’s pharmaceutical and medical technology ...
Lam Chee Hong is the President and a Member of the Management Board of B. Braun Asia Pacific. As President, he is responsible for the Group’s pharmaceutical and medical technology business across the region.
Chee Hong begin his career with B. Braun in 1986 as a medical sales representative. In recognition of his leadership, versatility and business performance, he was continually entrusted with additional key responsibilities and ascended through the levels in the organisation to assume the most senior leadership role in B. Braun Asia Pacific.
Based in B. Braun’s regional headquarters in Penang, Malaysia, he also oversees B. Braun Group’s largest production sites in the world with over 7,700 employees.
Chee Hong graduated with a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Malaya. He is married and has two children.
Senior Vice President and President, Asia Pacific
Chris Lee is Senior Vice President and President of Medtronic, Asia Pacific (APAC) and serves as a member of the Medtronic Executive Committee. He oversees the Medtronic APAC ...
Chris Lee is Senior Vice President and President of Medtronic, Asia Pacific (APAC) and serves as a member of the Medtronic Executive Committee. He oversees the Medtronic APAC region where the company has presence in more than 20 countries with about 10,000 employees across the region. Chris joined Medtronic in 2012 as President of the Greater China region and was named as President of APAC in December of 2017. Under his leadership, the Greater China region achieved five consecutive years of double-digit growth by bringing meaningful innovation and expanding access to more patients locally.
Chris has a strong track record of global leadership in the healthcare industry — both in pharmaceutical and medical technology. He is known for his inclusive leadership style, commitment to meritocracy, and proven business success. During his time in China, Chris developed strategic partnerships with the Chinese government and was a strong supporter of corporate social responsibility — leading the company’s effective relief efforts to respond to the Lushan earthquake in Sichuan Province.
Prior to Medtronic, Chris was Regional Head and Senior Vice President, APAC at Bayer HealthCare where he was responsible for overall operations in the region, including pharmaceuticals, consumer over-the-counter, animal health, and medical devices. Chris has also held roles of increasing responsibility in several multinational companies, including Bristol Myers Squibb and Merck Sharpe and Dohme, while based in APAC and the U.S., respectively.
Chris is a pioneer in the management of workplace happiness and is the author of two bestselling books, one on emotional management and one on marketing. He was also formerly an executive director in the pharmaceutical industry associations of China (RDPAC), Australia (Medicines Australia), and Korea (Korea Pharma).
Chris serves on the board of the Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association (APACMed).
Chris holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, Tucson and a master’s degree from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird). He is fluent in English and Korean, with a good understanding of Mandarin Chinese and Japanese.
Lance Little
Managing Director, Region Asia Pacific
Roche Diagnostics Asia Pacific
Lance Little became the Managing Director, Region Asia Pacific for Roche Diagnostics in 2012. Prior to that, he was the Managing Director of Roche Diagnostics ...
Lance Little became the Managing Director, Region Asia Pacific for Roche Diagnostics in 2012. Prior to that, he was the Managing Director of Roche Diagnostics India (including the Indian sub-region). His experience as Managing Director extends to both Roche Diagnostics Thailand and Roche Diagnostics New Zealand.
Lance joined Roche in New Zealand in 1995 in the technical support and management division of Boehringer Mannheim’s Clinical Chemistry portfolio, before moving on to sales and marketing roles. He was appointed Managing Director of Roche Diagnostics Thailand in 2008 before returning to New Zealand to take up the role of Managing Director in 2009.
Lance started his career as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, specialising in Biochemistry at Auckland Hospital Laboratory in New Zealand. Following that, he spent some time managing the Automation Laboratory at Diagnostic Laboratories in Auckland.
Sanjay Prabhakaran
Regional President, Asia Pacific
Sanjay Prabhakaran joined Hologic in July 2016 with more than 25 years of experience in medical devices, diagnostics and biotechnology across the Asia Pacific region. Mr. Prabhakaran worked at Baxter ...
Sanjay Prabahakaran
Sanjay Prabhakaran joined Hologic in July 2016 with more than 25 years of experience in medical devices, diagnostics and biotechnology across the Asia Pacific region.
Mr. Prabhakaran worked at Baxter International from 2007 to 2016, most recently as President, Asia Pacific, where he oversaw a commercial and manufacturing footprint exceeding $2 billion in sales with over 12,000 employees. From 1997 to 2006, Mr. Prabhakaran worked at Boston Scientific in senior leadership roles. He began his career at Boehringer Mannheim GmBH in India.
He is a member of the board of APACMed and has previously been a board member of AdvaMed in China, and has helped build government partnerships across the region.
He received a Bachelor of Technology degree in Electronics and Communication from Calicut University, and graduated from Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.
Tim Schmid
Company Group Chairman, Medical Devices, Asia Pacific
Tim Schmid is the Company Group Chairman, Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices, Asia Pacific where he leads the company’s efforts to bring market leading surgical, orthopedic and interventional solutions to ...
Tim Schmid is the Company Group Chairman, Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices, Asia Pacific where he leads the company’s efforts to bring market leading surgical, orthopedic and interventional solutions to patients in need across Asia.
Tim has been with Johnson & Johnson for over 25 years and has held diverse leadership positions in sales, strategic marketing and general management across multiple businesses and geographies. Most recently, he served as Chief Strategic Customer Officer, where he led a transformation of Johnson & Johnson’s business-to-business relationships with hospital systems in the US. Prior to this he was President of Johnson & Johnson’s surgery business, Ethicon, where led a major turnaround in the US. This included the integration of five standalone businesses and the implementation of a new go-to-market model to address the rapidly changing needs of both clinicians and health care administrators.
Tim is a global executive who, in addition to leading business transformations across multiple continents, builds strong teams that have a track record of customer orientated solutions, growth and leadership across the medical technology industry. He is a champion for the value of diversity, currently leading the company’s diversity and inclusion efforts across Asia Pacific. He was also instrumental in establishing Johnson & Johnsons global partnership with Operation Smile, focused on bringing safe and effective surgical care to children suffering from cleft lip or cleft palate.
Educated in South Africa, Canada and the United Kingdom, Tim has lived and worked in six countries on four continents. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Western Ontario in Canada, and an MBA from Richmond University in the United Kingdom.
Elisabeth Staudinger
Elisabeth is President for Siemens Healthineers in the Asia Pacific region and is currently based in Shanghai, China. Elisabeth joined Siemens in 1998 and held several roles with increasing responsibility spanning from ...
Elisabeth is President for Siemens Healthineers in the Asia Pacific region and is currently based in Shanghai, China.
Elisabeth joined Siemens in 1998 and held several roles with increasing responsibility spanning from procurement, strategy, manufacturing and R&D, and global CEO of the Refurbished Systems Business of Siemens Healthineers. She moved to Asia in 2013 to lead the business of Siemens Healthineers across the entire portfolio spanning from Diagnostic Imaging, Laboratory Diagnostics, and Advanced Therapies in Asia Pacific. Her mission is to provide access to care and enable healthcare providers to increase value by making medicine more precise, changing the way care is delivered, improving the patient experience, and digitalizing healthcare.
Elisabeth studied in Vienna, Nanjing, and Beijing and holds a master’s degree in Economics from the Vienna University of Economics and Business as well as a master’s degree in Sinology from the University of Vienna. She is married and has one son.
Paul Tan Minjie
Divisional Vice President, APAC
Paul Tan is the Divisional Vice President, APAC of Abbott Vascular Division. Paul joined Abbott in 2014 as General Manager, China. He was promoted to Divisional Vice President & General Manager, Greater China in 2017 ...
Paul Tan is the Divisional Vice President, APAC of Abbott Vascular Division. Paul joined Abbott in 2014 as General Manager, China. He was promoted to Divisional Vice President & General Manager, Greater China in 2017 and to current role in September 2019. Prior to joining Abbott, Paul was General Manager, China for Molnlycke Health Care.
Paul has been in the healthcare industry for over 20 years and has held leadership positions in companies, including Genzyme Corporation as a Commercial Manager and Teleflex as General Manager of Greater China.
Paul holds a master’s degree in structural engineering from Tongji University and a master’s in business administration from China Europe International Business School (CEIBS).
Julie Tay
Senior Vice President and Managing Director
Julie Tay is Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific, responsible for Align Technology’s market development and operational execution of all Align Technology products and services in the Asia ...
Julie Tay is Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific, responsible for Align Technology’s market development and operational execution of all Align Technology products and services in the Asia Pacific region. She is also a member of the Executive Management Committee. She joined the company in March 2013 originally as Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific.
Ms. Tay has more than 20 years’ experience in international management of various segments including consumer healthcare, medical devices and chemical businesses across Asia.
Prior to joining Align Technology, Ms. Tay was regional head of Bayer Healthcare (Diabetes Care) overseeing operations across Asia where she grew the business into a sustainable and profitable operation in three years. Prior to Bayer, Ms. Tay spent 15 years with Johnson & Johnson Medical where she was instrumental in establishing the LifeScan franchise within Asia.
Ms. Tay holds an M.B.A. from Curtin University of Technology (Australia) and a B.A. degree from the National University of Singapore.
Sunil Vasanth
Vice President, Surgical, Asia Pacific
Sunil Vasanth is currently Vice President, Surgical, Asia Pacific with Alcon. In his past four years with Alcon and Novartis, Sunil has held roles of increasing responsibility across the region. ...
Sunil Vasanth is currently Vice President, Surgical, Asia Pacific with Alcon. In his past four years with Alcon and Novartis, Sunil has held roles of increasing responsibility across the region. These have included country leadership (India), cluster leadership (India and South East Asia) and leading the Asia Pacific region with Alcon.
Alcon is the world’s leading eye care company, with excess of $7Bn in sales in its surgical and vision care business.
Sunil joined Alcon in March 2016 from Johnson & Johnson where he spent 21 successful years across a range of leadership roles in commercial and general management across India, Asia Pacific and the United States.
He was worldwide head of Global Strategic and International marketing for Johnson & Johnson’s Neuro business based in Boston, USA.
Sunil is passionate about improving standards of care globally and providing access to medical technologies especially in emerging countries.
Sunil has served on the board of Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) as well as the executive committee of AdvaMed India.
Sunil holds both an electrical engineering degree and MBA from the University of Mumbai and has post-graduate certifications from IMD Business School and Harvard Business School.
APACMed provides a unifying voice for the medical devices and in-vitro diagnostics industry in Asia Pacific. Founded in 2014, APACMed strives to promote innovation and impact policy that advances healthcare access for patients.
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HANSARD 1803–2005 → 1990s → 1990 → November 1990 → 27 November 1990 → Lords Sitting
Planning and Compensation Bill [H.L.]
HL Deb 27 November 1990 vol 523 cc906-48 906
§ 3.9 p.m.
§ Baroness Blatch
My Lords, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.
The main purpose of the Bill can be simply stated. It is to make the planning system both fairer and more efficient. Essentially our present planning system has existed for over 40 years. Some elements of it go back much further. The system has for the most part served us well. In our densely-populated small island it is essential that we have an effective means of resolving how to use the land that we have available. We need houses, factories, offices, shops, roads, railways, football stadia and tennis courts; we need to regenerate rundown urban areas; to maintain our green belts, and to preserve our many beautiful and scientifically important areas of countryside and coastline and our unique historic towns and buildings. Development decisions must be made with care, taking account of these various conflicting needs and of the needs of people who will be directly affected by development.
By and large the planning system, and the related provisions for compulsory purchase and compensation, ensure an acceptable balance. It is neither a developer's charter nor a preservationist's dream. Each individual decision contributes to the balance between conservation and development. The system must work efficiently and must be seen to operate fairly by the people whom it affects. This Bill addresses the problems which over recent years have become evident in this respect.
Parts I and II of the Bill begin with important measures for strengthening and improving the enforcement provisions in our planning Acts in England and Wales and in Scotland. Clauses 1 to 11 for England and Wales and Clauses 27 to 36 for Scotland are based on the recommendations made by Mr. Robert Carnwath QC, in his report entitled Enforcing Planning Control, which my department published in April 1989.
I should like to pay tribute to Mr. Carnwath's report. It gives a clear and succinct analysis of current enforcement problems. His recommendations provide a sound basis for amending legislation, as befits a distinguished planning barrister. I am also glad to say that the recommendations have been generally welcomed, as a package, in the extensive consultation exercise which followed publication of the report last year. It is as a balanced package of improvements that I commend this part of the Bill to your Lordships.
907 What the Carnwath report showed, and what many of us know from personal experience, is that there is a small minority of people who are determined contravenors of planning regulations. It is those people who bring the system into disrepute; and it is their damaging and unwelcome activities—often making their neighbours' lives intolerable—which the enforcement amendments are intended to deter or, failing that, to remedy through increased penalties; new methods for enforcing planning conditions; and improved powers for local authority officers to enter private land for enforcement purposes. But I should like to emphasise very strongly that these amendments are not directed at the ordinary, law-abiding citizen who makes a planning application to the council, has it approved and carries out the development permitted in accordance with the approved plans. People who follow the proper procedures have absolutely nothing to fear from stronger enforcement powers.
The strengthened enforcement powers are balanced in the Bill—as the Carnwath report recommended—by other provisions which are intended to foster co-operation between people who want to develop their land and local planning authorities. For example, the new planning contravention notice, for which Clauses 1 and 27 provide, is meant to encourage developers and authorities to talk to each other in the early stages of the process; so that instead of formal enforcement action having to be taken when communications fail, there is a real prospect of initiating discussion which results in agreement on how land is to be developed.
The proposals in Clauses 10 and 35 are also based on the Carnwath report's recommendations. Their main purpose is to do away with the present out-dated immunity and replace it with a modern and workable concept. I pay tribute to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Law Society for their part in initiating these revised procedures, which we believe will be generally beneficial to owners of land and to practitioners who have to advise their clients on the difficult question whether actual or proposed development is lawful. Later clauses (Clauses 19, 21, 39 and 41) make some parallel enforcement provisions in respect of tree preservation orders, listed buildings, conservation areas and hazardous substances. My final word on this part of the Bill is that it gives all planning authorities the opportunity to make the planning enforcement process work better than it does at present.
I turn now to the changes relating to development control which are also covered by Parts I and II of the Bill. The provisions in Clause 12 were the subject of a consultation paper about planning agreements issued by the department last year. First, they would enable a developer to enter into a plannng obligation by undertaking unilaterally to carry out works or contribute to infrastructure, as an alternative to a planning agreement with the planning authority. This would enable developers to break the stalemate when local planning authorities play for time or hold out for excessive planning gain. Such undertakings would be 908 enforceable by the local authority concerned but would not require its agreement. They should be particularly useful in clarifying the position at appeal.
Secondly, to ensure that planning obligations need not continue indefinitely where they no longer serve a useful purpose, the clause would enable a person who is bound by a planning obligation to apply for it to be modified or discharged. There would be a right of appeal to the Secretary of State.
Thirdly, the Government intend to legislate to enable the Crown to enter into planning obligations. I regret that drafting of this technically rather difficult provision is not yet complete but I intend to introduce a suitable amendment in Committee.
Clause 13 and several of the other development control proposals stem from the department's Efficient Planning consultation paper of July 1989. They are designed to streamline the planning system and make it work more effectively—aims which I know have widespread support. They will enable us to simplify the arrangements for publicising and handling applications for bad neighbour development and for notifying owners and other interests about development proposals.
In order to save the system from becoming clogged up by repetitive applications designed to wear down the resistance of local planning authorities and communities, Clauses 14 and 37 would give local planning authorities the power to decline to determine an application on the grounds that a similar one has been refused by the Secretary of State within the preceding two years where there has been no material change in circumstances.
Clauses 15 and 38 would enable the Secretary of State to dismiss an appeal where the appellant delays unreasonably. Under Clause 24 the Secretary of State would be able to require someone who unreasonably insists that his appeal should be heard at a local inquiry or hearing to pay the costs of the other party to the hearing. We will be publishing for consultation the criteria to be used in deciding whether someone's insistence on an inquiry or hearing is unreasonable.
Clause 16 rescinds the present requirement that all applications for county matter planning permissions—that is, minerals and waste development—should first go to the district planning authority. Applications will be submitted direct to the county council, and this should reduce handling times.
Clause 17 provides the statutory framework for reforming the arrangements under which local planning authorities deem themselves planning permission. This was the subject of a consultation paper this year. The clause would enable the Secretary of State to make regulations governing development by local planning authorities or development of land owned by authorities, including arrangements for the discharge of authorities' functions. We intend in these regulations and other secondary legislation to require that all development proposals by local authorities, or on their land, must be fully advertised and decided in public by a committee not responsible for the management of the land concerned. If a proposal 909 conflicts with the development plan, it must be reported to the Secretary of State so that he can consider calling in the proposals for his own decision.
I believe that these are useful reforms. They will increase local authorities' accountability when deeming themselves planning permission, helping to correct for any possible bias which might arise from their direct financial interest; but they should not restrict authorities unnecessarily in carrying out their statutory functions.
Clause 18 and Schedule 1 amend the provisions concerning mines and waste. They will enable aftercare conditions to be imposed on planning permissions and on revocation, discontinuance, prohibition and suspension orders so that better control can be exercised over mineral waste sites which are often unsightly. This will help to bring the tipping of minerals waste up to modern standards. The schedule would also provide for regulations to abate the compensation payable following revocation, discontinuance, prohibition or suspension orders made in respect of mineral waste sites. We believe that minerals planning authorities will then be more likely to take action to improve the operation of these sites.
Schedule 1 would also extend to all waste disposal sites the power for local authorities to impose aftercare conditions in planning permissions and revocation and discontinuance orders—a power already available for mineral working sites, and an important environmental improvement.
Clauses 20 and 40 would remove doubt about whether certain forms of advertisement such as blinds and canopies on shop premises are within the scope of planning authorities' control of advertising.
Clause 41 would enable Scottish local planning authorities to remove or obliterate illegal placards and posters. A similar power in England and Wales already enables authorities to deal with fly-posting.
I turn now to the provisions in Schedules 3 and 4 to the Bill. The development plan provisions in Schedule 3 will end a long period of debate and uncertainty about the future of the planning system in England and Wales. It is almost exactly four years since the Government published their Green Paper on the Future of Development Plans. That was followed up by a White Paper in January 1989. Those proposals were further modified by my right honourable friend's announcement in September of our decision to retain county structure plans.
At the end of this process we have a package on which I believe there is a wide measure of agreement. Given the many pressures on scarce land resources, we need a rational framework for land use planning which can look at the community's requirements in the round and balance development needs against the importance of conserving what is best in our heritage. The problem with the present system is that it is far too slow and cumbersome. For instance, it currently takes my department almost two and a half years on average to approve a county structure plan. Plans may be overtaken by events even before they come into force.
910 The provisions in Schedule 3 address those issues, with the aim of simplifying and streamlining the system. We intend to retain county structure plans as an essential strategic element in the development plan framework. But the Bill will allow counties to adopt their own plans in future, after due public consultation, rather than have to submit them to the Secretary of State. Of course counties will have to have regard to national policies and regional guidance in drawing up their plans. My right honourable friend will retain the power to intervene if they fail to do so; for example, if the county concerned fails to take a realistic view of development needs. But self-adoption will give responsible counties the chance to revise and update their plans much more quickly than they can at present. We shall be requiring all counties to prepare one plan for the whole of their areas and to confine their plans to a prescribed range of key strategic issues.
At the district level, the Bill will require all district councils to prepare local plans for the whole of their areas. At present the preparation of local plans is discretionary and only about 30 per cent. of the country is covered. This is an unsatisfactory situation. It means that in many areas there is no clear framework against which planning applications can be considered. It has also meant that many structure plans have included development control policies on matters which should properly be for local decision. Extending local plan coverage will help to ensure that county structure plans can focus on the key strategic planning issues. Again, there is provision to ensure consistency between national policy, structure plan and local plan, including reserve powers for the Secretary of State to direct modifications should it become necessary.
Our intention is that counties should be asked to revise and update their structure plans in line with the new provisions within two years of their commencement. Districts will be required to prepare local plans for the whole of their areas within five years of commencement. Of course those who already have up-to-date local plans or who are working on them at the moment will be able to make full use of that existing material in producing the new district-wide plans. We shall be tabling appropriate transitional provisions at Committee stage.
Schedule 3 also makes provisions for development plans in national parks. Structure planning arrangments there will be unchanged. But all national park boards and committees will have a new responsibility to prepare a local plan for the whole of the national park. Again present coverage of local plans in the national parks is very patchy. These new provisions will clarify plan-making responsibilities in the parks and put the basis for development control on a firmer footing.
The Bill will require all counties and national park authorities to prepare minerals development plans for their areas. We are consulting at the moment on the possibility of introducing for Committee stage a similar requirement for waste disposal development plans.
911 Finally, Schedules 3 and 4 also include provisions which will simplify procedures for public consultation on both draft development plans and draft schemes for simplified planning zones. That is a brief sketch of the key provisions in these schedules. I believe that they are provisions which will be widely welcomed.
We are proposing a firm timetable for the completion of development plans. Once the system is up and running we believe it will pay large dividends not only for planning authorities but for developers as well and for all who have an interest in the planning system. It will provide a firmer and clearer framework for decisions on individual planning applications avoiding the need for so many appeals.
The last major component of the Bill concerns compulsory purchase and land compensation. Parts III and IV, like the remainder of the Bill, have the objective of improving both the basic fairness of the system and the efficiency with which it operates.
Broadly speaking, compensation is payable when people's rights over land are taken away or damaged under statutory powers or under the threatened use of such powers. For many years now the statutory code governing the assessment of compensation in such circumstances has rested on the central principle that the claimant should be left neither better off nor worse off than he would have been if the question of compulsory purchase had not arisen. Compensation is accordingly calculated by reference to the proper value of the land in the open market, discounting, however, any effect on that value of the actual proposal for which the land is required.
In continuing to uphold the basic structure of the compensation regime we none the less accept the need to give claimants a better deal. That is the main purpose of the provisions in Part III and IV. In particular, we have concluded that further provision is needed in respect of those who lose their homes as a result of compulsory purchase. Such people are of course compensated on the basis of the market value of their interest in the property and will continue also to be reimbursed in respect of their incidental expenses such as professional fees and removal costs. However, compensation purely for financial loss takes no account of the personal distress which can arise when someone is forced to move from his home in these circumstances. The additional home loss payment to which displaced householders are normally entitled helps.
Clauses 47 and 49 provide a fairer approach by modifying the home loss payment rules so that in future owner-occupiers receive a straight percentage of the value of their property. This we propose should be 10 per cent., subject to a minimum of £1,500 and a maximum of £15,000. The payment for non-owner occupiers will remain at a flat rate of £1,500. However, we are reducing the residence qualification for all claimants from five years down to one, which will substantially increase the number of people entitled to payments. We are also broadening the entitlement in a number of other respects—for example, to include those whose homes are acquired under the statutory 912 blight procedure. These changes are so significant that we have provided for them to take effect from 16th November, the day following the Bill's introduction in your Lordships' House.
I shall not at this stage go into detail on the other compensation provisions. They include, for instance, an extension of authorities' powers to purchase properties which are likely to be badly affected by public works and a significant broadening of entitlement to interest on compensation. No doubt we shall have an opportunity to look at these matters more closely when we reach Committee stage. It may be helpful to your Lordships if I say that for that stage we intend to bring forward certain additional provisions on compensation which because of their complexity are unfortunately not yet complete. One of these provisions will provide for additional compensation to owners in cases where the value of land increases as a result of a planning permission granted after compulsory acquisition. This provision, which involves the revival, with some amendments, of Part IV of the Land Compensation Act 1961, will be substantial. We shall ensure that your Lordships are given adequate time to study these provisions and that appropriate briefing notes are made available. I personally undertake to write to noble Lords on all Benches with as early notice as possible of both the amendment and explanatory notes to that amendment.
As I have said, our main aim in the compensation provisions has been to make the system fairer. If these provisions also have the result of making people less inclined to oppose necessary public development projects so that those projects are less subject to delay, that will be an additional justification. Indeed, this is an instance when the interests of fairness and efficiency are not in conflict.
This Bill applies to England, Wales and Scotland. I have sought to mention the Scottish clauses along with their counterparts for England and Wales. I have also already briefly described Clause 41, which is the only Scottish provision in the Bill which does not reflect provisions for England and Wales.
On the other hand, I should draw your Lordships' attention to a number of areas in which there are no such parallel Scottish measures. Principal among those are the provisons for streamlining the development plan system, since the framework for that system in Scotland differs from England and Wales. The existing Scottish system works well, with complete structure plan coverage and 80 per cent. of local plans either adopted or already finalised. The time taken in preparing and processing structure plans has been halved in the last five years. We therefore propose to retain the existing regime unamended.
Because the planning framework and planning practice differ in Scotland, we have concluded that no Scottish provision is needed in relation to some of the development control provisions, including those concerning planning obligations, local authorities' own developments, applications relating to county matters and the operation of the award of costs in appeal cases. The Bill also contains no Scottish 913 provision relating to simplified planning zones or to the procedures involved in applications for planning permission. These have been the subject of recent public consultations, the outcome of which I would not want to prejudge.
With the particular exceptions that I have mentioned, our general intention is to have our proposals take effect both north and south of the Border. Where the Bill does not yet achieve this we shall be bringing forward appropriate amendments.
Fairness and efficiency are the themes of the Bill as a whole. We have consulted widely on its provisions and in the light of the responses received to those consultations we believe that our proposals command wide acceptance. Some respondents would have liked us to go further in one direction or another but the Government consider that the proposals in the Bill strike the right balance.
I began this speech by remarking on the value of the planning system as an instrument for resolving difficult questions about land use. This Bill is designed to make the instrument work better. That is something we all want and it is in that spirit I commend the Bill to the House.
Moved, That the Bill be now read a second time.—(Baroness Blotch.)
§ 3.31 p.m.
§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
My Lords, the House will be grateful to the Minister for the lucid way in which she expounded the major provisions of the Bill. It has been widely greeted as an uncontroversial Bill. I suggest to your Lordships that it is as remarkable for what it does not include as for what it does. That which it does not include takes two forms.
First, we are glad that it does not include the widespread attack on land use planning and strategic land use planning which existed in Right-wing circles not many years ago. It was only in the early 1980s that government discouraged local authorities from producing local and structure plans unless they were essential for development purposes. We are pleased to see that the Minister and the Government have recognised the value of strategic land use planning and are now proposing that strategic land use plans and local plans be extended as rapidly as possible to cover the whole country. That is in accordance with the thinking in local authority and economic circles that has existed since the war and in some cases before then. After all, it was Lewis Silkin who in the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 set the first framework for planning in this country.
I turn now to the other aspect which is not included in the Bill. It is remarkable that planning legislation has been relatively stable compared with many other aspects of social policy. This Government in particular have found it necessary to bring forward almost annually Bills attacking local government and altering housing legislation. By comparison our planning legislation has been stable. The legislators of the 1968 Act are to be congratulated on the fact that this Bill is the first major revision of that legislation. It also shows that in many respects, which I do not 914 intend to minimise, land use planning is a matter of cross-party agreement on all sides of the House. We are pleased that the Bill does not contain the wilder attacks on strategic planning which have been expressed in some circles in recent years. We are also pleased that in this respect, if in no other, the Government have returned to consensus politics.
There are two possible ways of looking at strategic planning. The first is a concern for development and the efficiency and economy of the process. That concern is paramount in the Government's minds in drafting the Bill. The second is concern for environmental protection. Again I pay tribute to the Government's environmental protection White Paper published in September which made clear that strategic planning is an essential tool of environmental protection. Those two aspects are not necessarily in conflict. However, in looking at the legislation that is required to reform the planning process we should have in mind the needs of the development process and environmental protection.
With the exception of specific occasions, our approach to the Bill will not be to attack its proposals as regards enforcement and compensation. We certainly shall not attack those parts which seek to make enforcement and development control procedures more effective than they are now. However, our approach will be to seek to ensure that environmental considerations come to the forefront of the consideration of planning authorities, developers and all others concerned with the use of the precious land in this country.
In considering environmental protection we shall be dealing with a number of specific points which are not included in the Bill but which must be introduced by way of amendment. For example, the Bill contains no reference to environmental assessment. Noble Lords who are aware of what is happening outside Winchester will know that the proposals put forward by the Department of Transport to drive a road through Twyford Down have gone to Brussels on the grounds that there was inadequate environmental assessment. We do not know the result of the case, but lying behind British law there is a requirement of the European Community that there should be environmental assessment for all major development programmes. The question that we must ask is why the opportunity was not taken to introduce that desirable concept into planning law. This is the first major planning Bill for more than 20 years. Surely it would have been possible to include that concept in the planning procedures and provide in the Bill that planning authorities must take account of their environmental assessment duties.
Secondly, an issue that has come to the fore in recent years has been the need for better public participation in the planning process. Too often our planning process has been seen to be a private duel between local authorities and developers. It is not even a requirement on local authorities to notify the neighbours or surrounding occupiers of land which is the subject of a planning application. However, most local authorities, and all the good authorities, do so as 915 a matter of course. Surely in drafting the Bill the opportunity should have been taken to introduce public participation as a statutory right. Surely, the opportunity should have been taken to ensure that not only notification in advance but participation in the process is available to everyone concerned with the use of the land in the area.
Thirdly, there is the issue of the scope of the planning laws. There are too many exceptions to our existing planning laws. The main exception is agriculture and forestry, but I do not suggest that all changes of use under those headings should be brought under planning control. However, as our agriculture and forestry needs alter, some of those changes should be brought under planning control. The local planning planning authorities should have the opportunity to consider, for example, what happens to agricultural buildings—not merely those of historical interest but those whose existing use is no longer relevant. Therefore, in that respect we shall seek to extend the scope of planning legislation.
We shall seek also to eliminate some of the less justifiable exclusions from the Bill, notably urban development corporations. We shall seek to see to it that proper consideration is given to the specific needs of national parks, of national nature reserves, of the statutory obligations of the National Rivers Authority, of areas of outstanding natural beauty, of sites of special scientific interests and so on. While there is provision in legislation for overall plans by the national parks authorities, we believe that that could be strengthened with advantage.
Therefore, there are many ways in which environmental considerations, in line with the Government's own statement of intent in their September White Paper, could and should be brought within the scope of the Bill.
I want now to deal with some specific problems, not all of which have ready answers. However, they should be debated when considering this Bill. Of course, enforcement occupies a major part of the Bill and we welcome nearly all of the provisions which are made for improved enforcement. There are exceptions which are still unclear but it would not be valuable for me to go into a great deal of detail about those.
As regards the whole issue of planning gain under Section 106, which local authorities still think of as Section 52, we welcome much of the provision made in the Bill and we particularly welcome what the Minister has just said; namely, that an amendment will be introduced to permit involvement of the Crown in those undertakings. However, we are very worried about one particular provision; that is, that developers will be able not only to negotiate planning agreements with local authorities but also to enter into unilateral undertakings which will be a material consideration in any appeal to the Secretary of State.
There are many difficulties about such unilateral undertakings. The first is that local authorities will be excluded in the formulation of those unilateral undertakings. That is what "unilateral" means. 916 However they will not be excluded from their enforcement. Therefore, they will have to enforce undertakings to which they have not been party. Those undertakings are unlikely to pay adequate attention to the land use issues for which local authorities are responsible. They will not pay adequate attention to the complementary provision which may be required from a local authority to take advantage of the undertakings made by developers.
For example, if a developer says, in order to obtain planning permission, that he is prepared to provide land for public open space, that sounds very well but a local authority must maintain that. That will involve expenditure. If he is to provide an access road, that sounds very well but the access road must be maintained by a local authority and the local authority must be sure that the access road is in the right place and is not damaging in other ways. Under the unilateral undertaking proposal, there is no provision for local authorities to perform their real duties in relation to development plans and to the kind of development which will be the subject of the old Section 52 agreement. Therefore, we shall certainly seek major modifications, if not the total elimination of those proposals for unilateral undertakings.
A major cause of anxiety will always be the issue of deemed consent; that is, consent where the local authority owns the land and gives itself permission for some change of use. Some of the more damaging proposals which had been suggested on that subject are not included in the Bill and we are grateful for that. Certainly, the provision that a county council should have to seek consent from the relevant district council where a change of use of county land is proposed, and in particular when the change runs counter to the local plan, is of considerable value.
Again, there is the problem that the restrictions on deemed consent do not apply to urban development corporations. We would wish that anomaly to be removed.
However, there is a particular difficulty as regards metropolitan borough councils and district councils. They are the local planning authorities and have virtually all the powers and responsibilities. They must see to it that what they do with their own land conforms with what their own formulated and published plans provide.
There seem to me to be only two ways to deal with that. The first, by stipulating that any development of that sort must be referred to the Secretary of State or to a third party, would give rise to a quite intolerable degree of centralisation. In effect that would mean that a district council would not be master in its own house.
The other approach, which I prefer and which I think should be provided for in the Bill, is that there should be a measure of self regulation in the use of deemed planning consent. For example, there could be a requirement that the deemed planning consent should be given only after the matter has been considered by committees other than the user committee of the land. It could be a requirement that 917 it should be considered only by the full council so that all interests concerned can be taken into account. It could well be a requirement that there should be particularly stringent requirements for public consultation when deemed planning consent is under consideration. It should certainly be a requirement that there should be a code of practice, possibly even a statutory code of practice, to make sure that there was no abuse of deemed planning consent.
Another issue to which there is no easy answer, although it arises very strongly from the part of the Bill which is concerned with enforcement procedures, is criminalisation. That is a horrible word. However, here we are talking about the difference between making it an offence to carry out a development which is in conflict with planning permission and, as the Bill proposes, making it an offence to be in breach of an enforcement order.
Let there be no mistake that the enforcement order procedure is better than that which we have at present. We believe this to be an improvement on existing provisions and we shall not oppose enforcement procedures. However, the Bill states that a local authority has a discretion as to whether to undertake enforcement. That has led some people, particularly in the town planning profession, to suggest that we do not require a voluntary discretionary enforcement procedure but compulsory enforcement procedures on local authorities. Those people argue—and I see the point—that in the end that would be a better use of local authority resources than the consideration which must be given now as to whether to go in for enforcement orders.
The other approach which has been urged on us by quite a number of people, and which has considerable merit, is to say that it should be the non-conforming development which forms the offence. An analogy is given with building regulations, whereby it immediately becomes an offence to build something which is in conflict with the building regulations. In that case one need not wait for an enforcement order but one can prosecute immediately. I am not sure that the balance of that argument has been fully explored or that we are in a position to come to a conclusion about the matter. However, we can be sure that it will be a subject for debate in Committee and that noble Lords representing particular interests will wish to bring it to the attention of the House.
I referred to the issue of public participation; I do not believe I need go over the ground again. There is still debate regarding compensation. We welcome the provision for increasing home loss payments. We are fully aware of the danger that in going too far along that road we may be damaging development rather than protecting conservation. At the same time, once a development has been agreed it is better that it should be completed quickly and painlessly rather than over a protracted period of time. Therefore we welcome the home loss payments that are proposed.
We question whether the payments go far enough. In France, which has a reputation for sometimes riding roughshod over local opinion but more often for buying local opinion in favour of what it is trying 918 to do, there are compensatory payments of 20 or even 25 per cent. of the market value of the property. That certainly means that matters proceed more quickly. It may mean that there is a saving. Delays in major construction programmes are very expensive. Increased payments however expensive they may be—I note the provision of £50 million for that in the Bill—may be cheaper than unnecessary de lays in carrying out developments already agreed.
Above all we want to examine the whole issue of structure and local plans. I have said how much we on these Benches welcome the Government's determination to see that structure plans and local plans cover the whole of the country as quickly as possible. We believe that at the same time we should be using those plans to better effect. The issue of whether or not a proposed development conforms to a plan should be a major consideration in whether planning procedures are eased or not. For example, whether a development is or is not in conformity with the local structure plan, the two must be in conformity with each other. If the development is in conformity it should go through more quickly and rights of appeal should perhaps be curtailed. Where it is not in conformity with the local plan extra obstacles should be placed upon it.
Rights of appeal should be extended possibly even to the extent of there being a limited right of appeal against planning permission which has been granted; for example, a right of appeal to those who have been statutorily consulted in the planning process. That could include a parish council or town hall community council, the National Rivers Authority, the authorities of national parks or other organisations which must be consulted on the procedure and which, I suggest, should have a right to appeal when their representations are not given adequate consideration. In all those respects the existence of a complete network of plans is to be welcomed. But we must find ways of making those plans more effective than the Bill at present provides.
The final issue which I wish to consider briefly is one which still comes up in the Government's thinking, whether or not they want it. It concerns the tendency towards greater centralisation. I mentioned urban development corporations. It may be that on occasion they have been instituted with the agreement of the local authorities concerned. They perhaps saw no other way of obtaining the money necessary to do the work in their area. Nevertheless, is it not now the case that the exemption from planning control given to urban development corporations has, to say the least, run its time? Perhaps we should now establish a time limit within which we shall get rid of it, making our structure and local plans complete rather than having black holes in them.
Perhaps we should be taking the opportunity in Part I to reduce the role of the Secretary of State in regard to structure and local plans. It is possible that a Secretary of State of ill will—I do not suggest the present Secretary of State is such a person—could limit Part I in such a way that it was concerned only with land use planning and could not be concerned 919 with other issues such as transport energy consumption, the viability of the local economy and so on. Perhaps now is the time for the Secretary of State to abandon the idea of regional planning guidance. Why should there not be encouragement, even, if necessary, enforcement, to see that local authorities get together in regional groups and produce their own regional plans which would be their own responsibility and not subject to the whim of the Secretary of State. It is wrong for such regional planning to come down from Marsham Street rather than being the responsibility of the local authorities in the area.
I have taken up too much of your Lordships' time. There are other examples of centralisation. All I say is that where we find it on the face of the Bill we shall seek to eliminate it. In many ways the Bill, as described by the Minister in her opening speech, is a good Bill. Many parts of it will deserve and receive the support of noble Lords on these Benches. What is sad is the extent to which opportunities have been missed to make it a great Bill.
§ Lord Ross of Newport
My Lords, I also thank the Minister for her explanation and welcome her indication of further amendments which, on the whole, we look forward to; they appear to be on the right lines. It is a Bill which for the most part appears to command almost universal approval among the various interested bodies. I suspect the Minister must be greatly relieved, following her ordeals with Part VII of the Environmental Protection Act, that this Bill is not so controversial.
Planning at both local and county level is once again in favour, following four or more years of virtual blight during the course of which many experienced local planning officers either moved into the private sector or sought early retirement. While there are, no doubt, many excellent qualified people around—there is a lot of redundancy in the professions at the moment—who could be attracted back into local authority planning departments, the ability of the authorities adequately to finance such appointments and obtain the best people to take them up must be questioned, threatened as they are with charge-capping. That is a serious point.
I know the Minister has great experience of local government. My knowledge of the situation is that it is not always easy to ensure that planning departments are adequately staffed. Too many experienced people have left, completely and utterly worn out and dispirited by what has happened over the past few years. That is just one of the many legacies of the former Secretary of State for the Environment.
If enforcement is to succeed extra manpower will be needed. Of course I want it to succeed. One would have liked the scope of the Bill to be wider, particularly in respect of compulsory acquisition and the current code of practice regarding compensation. As a chartered surveyor practising 16 years ago on an offshore island I cannot claim much personal experience of major road and rail schemes. They were 920 not exactly the order of the day in the Isle of Wight, though that may be about to change. However, I know how bitter some owner occupiers may feel when their home or part of it is injuriously affected or due to be acquired through a compulsory purchase order.
For many years in the other place I was pursued by a freeholder from Kent—nothing whatever to do with the Channel Tunnel scheme—who felt that he had been robbed of his home and his wife; she died during the course of the very protracted negotiations. To add insult to injury his property, having been acquired at a figure he thought was derisory, was not in the end demolished due to a change in the road scheme. The Minister spoke in those terms and I sympathise with what she said.
At that time I initiated some research into what could be done to improve matters. For a Private Member's Bill, it is a far too complicated subject. Although I prepared a short three clause Bill I never had the opportunity to present it, and I do not believe it would have made much progress if I had. However, as the Minister said, in April 1989 the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors published a detailed case for simplifying and strengthening the compensation code. One or two of those recommendations, as was rightly indicated, appear in the Bill, particularly the clauses relating to blight. I would, however, be interested to know whether any further changes are envisaged, perhaps in future legislation or amendments to this Bill, following those representations by the RICS and others. They are well thought out and deserve a more serious response than we have had so far.
The additional payment to home owners is very welcome. The fact that these payments will become operative immediately is a helpful and totally just decision. However, should not this concession be extended to all those whose property is compulsorily acquired and not just to home owners? For example, should not business premises be included, with their difficulty in moving staff, travel problems, compensation for people who lose their jobs, and so on? The Bill should be wider than it is but I recognise that the Government have gone a long way in this direction and are therefore to be congratulated.
As one who strongly opposed the whole introduction of charges for planning applications when they were introduced in the other place—I sat on the Committee—I must say that I still feel that they are wrong in principle, more particularly now as they are of a substantial nature in some cases. I am grateful that at least the Government have not come forward with the proposed charges for planning appeals. That proposal has been abandoned, and I am grateful for that.
I also very much agree with the two-year moratorium, but I am not entirely clear on the explanation given. Will it enable an applicant to go back to the local authority within the two years and try his luck again? The authority can say, "No, we are turning this down because it was turned down on appeal so many months ago", but he can come forward again with the application. I suggest that he 921 should not be allowed to come forward with a planning application of any kind on that property while the two-year moratorium exists. To do so would be wasting time.
I have seen cases which have staggered me. In one case a farmer was turned down on a local application for converting a barn into private residences. He failed on appeal but a year later he was selling properties for over £80,000, having gone back again and obtained permission. He must have twisted somebody's arm, but he succeeded. I do not think that he should have been allowed to do that. The local protection societies, the CPRE and other organisations, may possibly have attended the appeal and may even have instructed solicitors or counsel, but they suddenly find that all the arguments that they won on appeal have subsequently failed. Therefore, an amendment to deal with that aspect could be dealt with in Committee. Nevertheless, the moratorium is to be welcomed and it is long overdue. Incidentally, the RSPB would like to see a five-year moratorium.
I am pleased to see that changes are proposed for applications made by local authorities in respect of land in their own ownership. I have never thought that to be right. It is an invitation to create financial resources for all the wrong reasons and should have been dealt with long ago. However, I still believe that the proposed regulations as outlined in the Bill do not appear to be strict enough, so I hope that we shall be able to stiffen up this part of the Bill in Committee.
For my part, as one who supports the introduction of a regional tier of administration for England, I would leave decisions on such matters to such a tier, but I agree that it is a difficult area. The noble Lord, Lord McIntosh, referred to the matter and I have some sympathy for his suggestion that regional structures, with a number of local authorities and counties getting together, might be one way of dealing with the matter. It is not an easy problem.
I hope that I may be pertinent by saying that one of the contenders for the Prime Ministership—I suspect it will be Mr. Heseltine—has some interesting ideas for the future of local government which I totally support. His ideas for a directly elected chief executive is exactly on the right lines. That would give some power back to the towns and counties of this land.
My colleague, my noble friend Lord Hampton, has a Motion down for debate on Wednesday week relating to problems of land use in Britain today. The subject is rightly exercising the minds of many professionals and politicians at present. Incidentally, it is to be featured by the National Housing Forum in National Housing Week next year. I happen to chair that organisation.
In a recent important discussion paper the Town and Country Planning Association reminds us that during the last decade the regional economic planning councils have been abolished and the presumed role of the former metropolitan authorities has been left vacant. Apart from some regional guidance notes, there has been no update in the strategic plans for many parts of the country, including the North West 922 and, for that matter, London and the South East. That is particularly important and pertinent and goes back to 1970.
The RICS has responded to the TCPA paper only this morning, and I have received a copy. The response endorses the concept put forward in the paper, though it makes some corrections. The RICS confirms the view that there needs to be strategic thinking and planning at all levels, including a European dimension, so that planning becomes more than a purely reactive process. It is the form of guidance which gives rise to the problem. Perhaps this is taking us into a field which ought to have been covered in the White Paper on the environment and is beyond the remit of this Bill; though I very much agree with the comments of the noble Lord, Lord McIntosh, on the lack of any provision for environmental assessments. I hope that that, even now, might be taken on board.
Nevertheless, the intention of streamlining the county structure plans is a real step in the right direction and we must be grateful at least for that. However, I give notice that we intend to table amendments in Committee covering some of these matters at least in regard to London, the SSSIs and coastal zone planning. Here, I must refer back to some of the issues raised during the passage of the Environmental Protection Act, particularly in regard to SSSIs. I apologise for doing so, but it is an area which could be covered in this Bill.
A brief given to me by the RSPB states that the NCC's 16th annual report is to be published tomorrow and it shows that over 4,000 acres of SSSI land were damaged by developments where planning permission had been granted. Perhaps we can do something in this Bill about that situation. I am told—I have to be very careful when speaking about Scottish matters and I notice that the Minister was also somewhat cautious—that under Scottish planning regulations any unresolved objections by the Nature Conservancy Council relating to planning proposals affecting certain kinds of SSSIs are to be referred to the Secretary of State for Scotland. The RSPB would welcome an amendment to the Bill which applies the call-in procedure for unresolved objections on any SSSI in the whole of Great Britain. That would enable development proposals affecting an SSSI to be considered in a national and international context.
The report points out—and I know this very well, now that I live in Shropshire—that the NCC has spent some £1.6 million to purchase the Fens and Whixal Mosses SSSI in north Shropshire. In fact, I believe they are mostly in Clwyd in North Wales. That kind of expenditure might not have been needed if we had regulations providing a mechanism for reviewing planning permissions prior to the notification of an SSSI and providing funds to local authorities to enable them to compensate owners following withdrawal of planning permission.
There is a serious case at present in South Wales—whether this Bill will cover it, I do not know—where local residents and small farmers have found that a nationally known minerals company is claiming that it has the right to extract minerals from all over their 923 land arising from a consent given well prior to 1947. The case is going to the High Court and I made a contribution to the appeal made by those who are fighting it. Perhaps that situation could have been dealt with in the Bill. The situation is grossly unfair. The right of extraction did not appear in any of the searches when the people purchased their land. The lawyers and the local authorities are not to blame and it is wrong that the situation should exist.
I also hope to table amendments in regard to coastal zone planning. This matter is of great concern to the country. Again, I understand that the Nature Conservancy Council, before it ceases operations in a Great Britain context, will be publishing a document on the subject, possibly in January. We should like to see a new clause in the Bill which places a duty on local authorities who border coastal and estuarine areas to prepare coastal zone plans to promote the sustainable use of the coasts and foreshores in the area. The pressure in that respect is now off because developers are now rather more cautious about the way they spend their money, but at one time there was an enormous number of applications for marinas, and so on, on our estuaries and coastal areas and there is great concern about the future.
I have some sympathy for Clause 12 regarding planning agreements, but that could be abused with last minute attractive concessions being offered at planning appeals. One can envisage a form of plea bargaining in US terms. I agree that planning gain can produce excellent facilities for local organisations and provide receipts for local government.
There was a case in my old town of Newport, on the Isle of Wight, where we had a brand new football pitch, a marvellous shopping area and about 70 or 80 acres given to the local authority. It worked extremely well and the local authority got what it wanted. However, it had to be properly tied up, which it was. Such schemes must be legally backed and adequate resources made available. That is one of the difficulties of these kinds of bargain. I certainly welcome the amendment which the Minister announced to the effect that Crown land is to be included in these provisions. I realise that in opposition one will always say that a Bill does not go far enough. However, this measure already has 55 clauses and 11 schedules so it is more than a minor Bill. I hope that during the Committee stage we shall make it into a major Bill. I welcome the Bill.
§ Lord Northbourne
My Lords, I intend to speak briefly to lay down markers in relation to certain amendments that will be tabled to Clauses 47 and 48, which relate to compensation. I apologise to the House in advance because I may have to leave before the end of the debate. I shall read the noble Baroness's summing-up with care if I have to leave.
In a transaction between a willing buyer and a willing seller a price is agreed on the basis of three factors—the existing use value, the hope value and what the noble Baroness has described as the personal 924 distress value of having to make a sale in certain cases. The main burden of compulsory compensation relates only to existing use value. There are provisions in the Land Compensation Act 1973 for covering the cost of displacement in relation to farms, businesses and other kinds of land. There is no provision for covering the development and hope value of the land under compulsory purchase or for personal distress value, except in so far as happily the Government have agreed to the principle of an increased level of home loss payments.
The noble Lord, Lord Ross, has already asked whether there is justification for other kinds of loss payments such as farm loss. I believe that he also mentioned business loss payments. In the case of farms and woodlands there is an attachment which would make a reasonable vendor unwilling in many cases to sell at an existing use value.
There is a more serious injustice than that. Land which is compulsorily purchased is often not entirely used to provide a public service for the use of a statutory undertaker. Often parts of the land are used for commercial activities. We all accept that compulsory purchase is absolutely necessary so that various activities can take place for the public good. Surely it is not intended to give windfall profits to commercial enterprises or that compulsory purchase should be used as a tool for cheating landowners of the benefits of the development value which they could reasonably have anticipated.
Therefore, amendments will be tabled at Committee stage relating to land loss payments along the lines of the home loss payments, which will include an extension to farms and woodlands. Amendments will also be set down relating to land acquired by compulsory purchase order on behalf of a commercial enterprise, the whole or a part of which will be used for such an enterprise, suggesting that the vendor should in some way participate in the added value as well as the existing use value.
Another amendment is being suggested, although it may be overtaken by a government amendment to which the noble Baroness referred, to the effect that within five years of acquisition, if planning permission is granted for certain kinds of development, additional compensation should be payable.
§ Lord Montagu of Beaulieu
My Lords, as one who over the past 30 years has suffered considerable problems with the eccentricities of planning and the resulting delays, I welcome this Bill. In declaring my interest as chairman of English Heritage, I note that the Bill is primarily concerned with mainstream planning and not at all with heritage protection. Therefore, while it does not provide an entirely appropriate home for heritage amendments, there are four points concerning the man-built environment which I wish to raise this afternoon. I also give warning that I intend to introduce amendments at Committee stage which I hope will prove non-controversial and acceptable to all parts of the House and the Government.
925 My first point is to seek to amend the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953, which allows English Heritage to assist financially local authorities and the National Trust to acquire buildings so as to secure their preservation. This has worked reasonably well, but it has become increasingly clear over the past 10 years or more that the main agencies for rescuing derelict historic buildings have been the local and county historic building preservation trusts. Therefore, in appropriate circumstances we would like to assist these excellent bodies to acquire important historic buildings, but as the law stands today we are unable to do so. Without this power our work in rescuing buildings at risk is very severely hampered.
English Heritage would like to be in a position to assist financially any person or body concerned with the acquisition, restoration and preservation of what we regard as a suitable building. It may suffice simply to generalise the relevant section of the 1953 Act by removing the reference to the National Trust and substituting a reference to "any person" or to "any building preservation trust".
My second point concerns enforcement. My proposal would be to amend Section 38 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 which empowers a local planning authority to serve an enforcement notice where damaging works are being or have been carried out on a listed building without listed building consent. This power is used when an owner is removing doors, windows or whatever and thereby destroying the character of a building which is on the Goverment's list of protected buildings.
However, as the law stands, the notice has no effect for 28 days after it has been served. Therefore, for 28 days the owner may legally continue with his destructive activities, and often does. English Heritage feels very strongly that it is essential to amend Section 38 to give immediate effect to the enforcement notice. In view of the irreversible nature of the damage which is likely to be caused to listed buildings by unauthorised works, and sometimes the undoubted advantages to the owner or the developer who wants to destroy a building, we consider that a Section 38 enforcement notice should require that the work to which it relates ceases on the date on which the notice is served and that there should be no right of compensation.
My third proposed amendment is to Section 89 of the same Act which empowers local planning authorities and the Secretary of State to require the occupier of any premises to give information, including the names and addresses of all persons having an interest in the premises, to enable the service of a notice or an order under the provisions of the Act. However, historically such notices are not applicable in London. English Heritage requires this power in order to exercise a range of functions under the Act which have been conferred on it in greater London. We have in mind a simple amendment giving English Heritage Section 89 powers in London so that, for example, when we propose to take action over the 926 state of a particular historic building we may readily discover the names and addresses of the persons we should be pursuing.
Lastly, I shall seek to move an amendment to the National Heritage Act 1983. That is the Act which set up English Heritage. As noble Lords will know, the official title is the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England. One of our principal duties, laid down by Parliament, is to secure the preservation of historic buildings and ancient monuments. That fact alone should justify giving power to English Heritage to bring legal proceedings in its own name. When English Heritage was first established, we also assumed that the right to initiate legal proceedings was implicit in the nature of the duties imposed upon us. However, after taking legal advice, we soon discovered that we were wrong in that assumption.
The weapons available to us to defend the built heritage are varied and many; but the absence of this particular weapon from our armoury has proved to be a serious deficiency. What we have in mind is an amendment to Clause 33 giving English Heritage a power to seek injunctions and a general power to prosecute where it appears that unauthorised works have been or are being carried out to a listed building.
Perhaps I may remind noble Lords that such powers are already conferred on local authorities by Section 222 of the Local Government Act 1972. English Heritage, for its part, would seek to exercise the powers either jointly in collaboration with a local authority or, as would be necessary on occasions, in default of action by a local authority.
When we reach the Committee stage, I hope that the Government will look sympathetically on these amendments and that the House will support them. The amendments are not fundamental, but they will certainly help English Heritage to do a better job, which I am sure is the wish of the whole House.
§ Baroness Nicol
My Lords, planning legislation is the ultimate expression of any government's attitude towards the environment. If the provisions in legislation are sensible, clear, comprehensive and are supported by strong sanctions against abuse, then it can be assumed that the intentions of the legislators are firm, clear and determined. General statements of intent are all very well, but it is the planning system which has to guide development, settle conflicts and ultimately ensure that we live in a sympathetic environment, whether that be in the town or in the country. In our over-crowded country it is planning control, or lack of it, which will determine our landscape, our supporting infrastructure and even the survival of our wildlife.
The Government's White Paper This Common Inheritance endorses the principle of sustainable development. It is therefore disappointing that the Bill seems more concerned with efficiency in terms of speed of decision making and financial control than with an environmentally sound result. I welcome the measures to simplify and improve the provisions for the enforcement of planning control, as set out in Clauses 927 1 to 11. As my noble friend Lord McIntosh of Haringey said so eloquently, it is in everyone's interest that breaches should be avoided, and the existence of strong powers backed by appropriate sanctions is a useful deterrent. But it must be mandatory on local authorities to take action once a breach is identified, otherwise the sanctions become meaningless.
There is a need to enhance the status of development plans. In 1988–89 37 per cent. of all appeals were successful in overturning local authority decisions. The Bill should identify development plans as the primary material consideration in determining applications and appeals. That view is supported by the Council for the Protection of Rural England. It also believes that there should be a more positive approach to the issue of the awards of costs on planning inquiries. In its briefing the CPRE says that there should be, an expansion of the procedures to allow costs to be awarded against appellants who withdraw before a public inquiry opens. CPRE is greatly concerned by the current imbalance in the costs procedures. Between 1987 and 1990 local authorities were 6.5 times more likely to have costs awarded against them than appellants". The implications of that statement in local authority terms are very clear.
As my noble friend Lord McIntosh said, it is important that structure plans and local plans should not be in conflict. That may appear to be stating the obvious but there have been occasions when local plans were issued with a certificate of compliance when this was clearly incorrect. Procedures for the examination of applications must be improved. There is a need to achieve a stronger and more coherent approach to nature conservation in the production of all development plans. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has recently completed a study of development plans in England and Wales. It analysed 56 county structure plans for nature conservation implications and it uncovered many shortcomings. The report (which I recommend to your Lordships for some weekend reading) reveals unevenness of approach between counties.
Even sites with important designations, such as sites of special scientific interest, special protection areas and RAMSAR sites, were not assured of a consistent level of protection, and very few counties committed themselves to active conservation measures. Clearly there is a need to raise the profile of nature conservation and to try to achieve some equality of approach between authorities. We have been at pains to establish consistent criteria for the designation of important sites. We had long debates on this subject during the passage of Part VII of the Environmental Protection Bill. This effort will be wasted if consistency of planning protection is not available.
I turn finally to marine areas. In her opening speech, the noble Baroness, Lady Blatch, mentioned coastal areas. I have been unable to find the relevant provisions in the Bill but I am sure the noble Baroness will tell me where they are. During the Report stage of the Environmental Protection Bill I introduced an 928 amendment (at col. 967 of the Official Report of 17th October 1990) which highlighted the need for coastline local authorities to introduce coastal zone plans. The amendment gained support from all sides of the House and was responded to sympathetically by the noble Baroness, Lady Blatch, who answered for the Government on that occasion. She indicated that a review of existing legislation on the marine environment was to be undertaken. This Bill could provide a vehicle for making a start on the unified approach which seems to be required. The Marine Conservation Society has produced a valuable report on the need to find a coherent way to protect the coast and coastal waters. In Committee I intend to pursue some of its suggestions which I hope will be acceptable to the Government.
The Bill provides a rare opportunity to give substance to the Government's many statements about their concern for environmental conservation. We intend to suggest possible improvements in Committee and I hope that many of them will be acceptable to the Government.
§ Lord Wade of Chorlton
My Lords, it is something of a coincidence that I should speak after the noble Baroness, Lady Nicol, who is a delightful person. My emphasis in regard to the Bill will be different from hers. She has emphasised the need for the Bill to protect the environment. What I look for in a Bill of this kind is the encouragement of investment and development.
The noble Baroness seeks to encourage environmental protection, although we probably do not differ so very much about that. I am anxious that we should use planning legislation to encourage rather than to discourage. Those who should decide on these matters are the district councils and the county councils. They will respond to the desires of their areas. As we hear different views on how towns and the rural economy should develop, we may very well find differing views in some county council and district council areas.
People can now come and go more easily. Over the coming years there will be a tendency for some people to live in areas which encourage development and investment, and for others to live in those areas where there are wide open spaces and where the pace of life is a great deal slower. The people to decide that are, above all, the local authorities for the areas in which those people live, who represent, through elections, what people want to do. So I welcome the first part of this Bill relating to the power of local authorities to make their own decisions, and to those decisions not having to be made by the Minister.
I have been one of those who have been unhappy about strategic structural plans. When I was a member of the Cheshire County Council in the early 1970s, I was involved in the formulation of that strategic structural plan which turned out to be exactly the opposite of what was wanted. That was because no one could tell in the early 1970s how matters would develop over the next 20 years. The effect was that that structural plan was set in aspic, by people who 929 thought they knew what would happen, which caused many problems. So in addition to having structural plans which are the responsibility of the local authority, I hope that the plans will be allowed to ebb and flow as circumstances change, because those plans must not be established in such a way that the local community cannot adapt to what they see as changing circumstances and needs.
The other important aspect of this Bill is the compensatory sector. I have been a strong believer that compensation is something which we ought to encourage very much more. The noble Lord, Lord McIntosh, referred to it, as did the noble Lord, Lord Ross; I agree strongly with them that there is room to improve; to increase the compensatory allowance; and possibly to include some more flexibility, so that people can be encouraged to agree with what a local authority wants to do.
That would reduce the enormous delays that are now brought into our planning and development systems because of a very small minority using every possible nook and cranny to cause a delay about something which the vast majority of people want, and more importantly need, for the development of their area. I also strongly support the noble Lord, Lord Ross, in his suggestion that compensation should be widened to include more land and industrial uses, as well as other sections, because that is equally important.
The noble Lord, Lord McIntosh, referred to agriculture and the need to look at planning in that area. If any changes are made in that area, I should like to see farms understood to be industrial units, so that in the event of a farm having to close—and we shall see a lot of this happening over the coming years —there is an automatic assumption that those buildings can be used for another industrial purpose, though not for housing, in order to maintain the economic viability of an area in one form or another. Only last week we debated the rural economy and the need to develop more wealth-creating opportunities in rural communities. Through this Bill, and flexibility in the use of buildings and existing structures in the countryside, we can ensure that extra wealth and development.
I welcome this Bill; but I should like to emphasise that if we move away from the system of having the Minister approve local plans and county council structure plans, we must make sure that he does not interfere and that counties are allowed to proceed quickly. We must also see that the suggestion that he can still intervene, should he feel it necessary, is not used as another delaying process which allows a small minority group to find excuses and to stop a local community from doing what is needed. I hope that through the compensatory system we can improve matters, and take away a lot of the other reasons for people delaying these activities.
§ The Earl of Lytton
My Lords, in this Bill, which I warmly welcome, we have a great number of aspects to deal with and I want to concentrate on just a few of them.
So far as it goes, this Bill puts forward some very valuable new measures; but town and country planning must first be seen as a concept of good and efficient administration, and I question whether in all circumstances that is the case today.
First, there are problems with designations of one sort or another: restrictions that are imposed on uses of land. Those are very often imposed without a great deal of cohesion or unity of purpose. They may be for genuine planning reasons, which is to be greatly applauded and strengthened. But equally many noble Lords will know of circumstances where restrictions of one sort or another, under the terms of the various current planning codes, are imposed with quite ulterior motives in mind; perhaps even to disinvent legal uses without compensation. So the system is capable of being adversely manipulated at present.
In many instances there is inadequate provision for appeals to be dealt with against certain types of designation. I should like to quote one example under Section 3 of the Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act, whereby land can be designated as Section 3 woodland, moorland or foreshore. There is provision for consultation, but there is no provision for any appeal against a designation which a landowner feels is distinctly unfair and incorrect.
There is a tendency these days for there to be creeping preservation, and this Bill adds a certain amount to that. This militates against a fair balance between private proprietorial interests and the undoubted public interest element. Many noble Lords will be aware that there are conflicts of interest which potentially lurk for planning authorities in the discharge of their functions. These can be overcome, and in many ways local authorities strive very hard to avoid them and they do an excellent job. But, with respect, the self-administration of a local planning authority's own planning applications, which is not something that is covered under the terms of this Bill, is something which creates a good deal of public unease.
Local authorities will have to decide whether they are to be impartial promoters of the public good, as indeed they should be, and eschew any suggestion that they should be acting in some way along the lines of a property company. I trust that I do not put it in too uncharitable words if I say that the public perception in many instances is that local authorities in certain areas do exactly that. Forward planning, which I believe this Bill attempts to encourage, is something to be warmly supported, and I welcome the improvements to the structure plan system. But I question a local planning authority's ability to respond, and particularly its resourcing of that aspect of its work.
On planning agreements, a unilateral undertaking, as mentioned in the Bill, is of fairly limited utility. The point behind all this is surely to get this murky 931 business of local planning authorities' shopping lists out of the closet so it can be seen quite clearly that they are for genuine planning purposes and are not being used as some cross-subsidy, some local tax, and therefore something which is not transparent—to use a taxation term. In short, on planning there is a very great deal of anxiety in my mind as to whether public confidence in the fairness with which the system is being administered is being eroded by current practices.
On compensation, there are some extremely good points which will go a long way to alleviate some of the worst injustices that have occurred over many years. I refer to the provisions on home loss payments and the blight provisions in particular. But there are difficulties with the fundamentals of assessing valuations, and the noble Lord, Lord Ross of Newport, touched on these. The Bill cannot overcome those. There are also some significant gaps in, for instance, the designations and controls (to which I referred earlier in my reference to planning) which can very often be imposed without any compensation being payable. I fear that this may get worse under the terms of the Bill rather than better.
The restrictions may be restrictions on what would otherwise be legitimate, legal activities. The noble Lord, Lord Wade, referred to farming. I agree with him wholeheartedly that one has to accept that there are certain base uses and existing user rights which must be treated as touchstones which trigger compensation if they are infringed. I do not see that happening under the Bill or under any other proposals which have been laid before your Lordships' House.
On the issue which has been already mentioned about the other uses to which land which is compulsory acquired may be put if it is not needed for the original purpose, I have to put down a marker that there is a difference between philanthropic aims directed towards society's need and the commercial aim of selling on land for vast profit. That is an injustice which must be remedied. It is an injustice which I see as being identified under the principles of the Crichel Down code. We should do well to carry forward that principle into the realms of compulsory acquisition and compensation. In short, land should be treated as if there were a perpetual covenant limiting its use to a purpose similar to that for which it was acquired.
In general, the Bill makes some significant advances which I support, but it is a question of balance and obtaining public confidence in the measures placed before your Lordships, which I hope will become part of our statute law. The Bill underestimates the degree of unease felt about the planning and compensation system as a whole. It is a matter of restoring public confidence as well as achieving economic efficiency and the abolition of unfair practices. By that I include those who take the law into their own hands and do things on their land for which they have no planning consent, flout the regulations and run rings around local planning authorities. That is wrong, and I 932 deplore that type of activity. In applying additional restraints, the legitimate aspirations of private and company land ownership must be respected.
§ Lord Norrie
My Lords, the Bill allows us to look afresh at the planning system—an opportunity that has not arisen for almost 20 years. It confirms the Government's commitment to the planning system as a way of resolving conflicts over development. It will help restore public confidence in a system which often fails to meet their expectations.
We cannot underestimate the importance of the planning system to this crowded island. By providing a secure means of controlling the development and use of that scarcest of resources—land—it will ensure that it is used in the best public interest. Day in, day out, the planning system is working away to resolve conflicts, acting as a hidden quality control mechanism able to protect the countryside and improve the standards of development.
Although I welcome the Bill, I am disappointed by its limited scope. It moves us in the right direction but lacks the positive vision required to match accelerating public concern for the environment.
The planning system is not just about controlling development or protecting the countryside. It is central to what are popularly known as green issues. Through the tens of thousands of decisions the planning system makes each year it is a key mechanism for converting environmental concern into development which is sustainable. Perhaps the single most important aspect of the Bill is its proposal for the mandatory preparation of county structure and district local plans. That I welcome unreservedly. It will give us a complete planning framework for the first time. Only about one quarter of rural England (by population) has an adopted local plan at the moment.
The benefits of 100 per cent. coverage are unquestionable, but, the Bill could do more to ensure that those plans are implemented once prepared. Public confidence in the planning system reaches its lowest ebb when structure and local plans, agreed after extensive public consultation, are seemingly ignored when dealing with individual planning applications or on appeal. Too often they appear to be but one of many considerations, instead of the central guiding framework for decisions. A simple amendment to identify development plans as the primary material consideration when dealing with applications and appeals would ensure that the true benefits of the Bill's proposals could be secured.
I should also like to see a clearer recognition of the special position of national park authorities in the planning system. The Bill restricts them to the preparation of local plans and minerals plans for their area. That is a step forward, but they need to become joint structure plan authorities with their county council if they are to ensure firm protection of their special landscapes, otherwise our national parks will continue to be subject to damaging pressure from road and other developments beyond their boundaries and outside their control.
933 I turn now to the complex matter of enforcement. The Bill is a welcome response to mounting public and professional concern about the problems of enforcing planning control. It will simplify and strengthen the procedures. However, enforcement action remains discretionary, despite the frequent reluctance of local planning authorities to take action where clear breaches of control have occurred. The Bill should reduce that problem, but it does not go far enough.
I believe that the enforcement of planning control should be compulsory. There is nothing more likely to bring the planning system into disrepute than success for those who disregard it. Compulsory enforcement would ensure that local authorities gave the necessary priority to enforcement work and, most importantly, it would reduce the workload on local authorities in the long term because of its deterrent effect. Breaches would he less likely to occur if those committing them knew that they would be tackled firmly by the local authorities, using the new powers being placed at their disposal in the Bill.
I should like to reassure the House that that would not be a draconian measure. Similar requirements already exist under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for the control of litter and the Control of Pollution Act 1974 for the control of nuisances. Moreover, enforcement action need not result in demolition or financial penalties if a retrospective planning application were to resolve the problem. Local authorities faced with a breach of planning control should be able to choose whether to take firm action or to treat the development as if it were a planning application. That would allow them to approve non-damaging developments, but ensure that they passed through the normal planning procedures.
In the simplest case where a house, for instance, is built without planning permission, it is important that the local authority is required to acknowledge that a breach of the planning system has occurred and either to require a planning application or to take necessary enforcement action.
I am afraid that the Bill omits too much. Perhaps it is too conservative. It does not provide the new powers the planning machine needs to meet the environmental challenges of the future. Most important is the missed opportunity for broadening assessment of the environmental impact of development and introducing environmental assessment directly into the planning legislation. It is ironic that the word "environment" is barely mentioned in one of the most important pieces of environmental legislation we have.
I shall be controversial for a moment. It is widely recognised that environmental assessment is one of the most important developments in environmental policy, and we are required by European directive to make it a formal part of our planning system. Would it not be more prudent, however, to introduce and extend those provisions for environmental assessment directly into our own legislation? That would allow us to extend the scope of environmental assessment throughout the United Kingdom and to lead the way in Europe. We could extend it beyond individual 934 projects to examine the environmental impact of structure and local plans and major environmental programmes.
Such a course would allow decisions to be made over future patterns of development with a fuller understanding of their environmental impact. For instance, the relative merits of out-of-town shopping centres versus high street improvements, or new settlements versus development of urban derelict land could be better assessed in terms of energy consumption, landscape impact and the wide range of other environmental implications.
It could also help to provide the integrated decisions over transport infrastructure with proposals for industrial and housing development recommended by the recent House of Commons Select Committee on Transport third special report entitled Roads for the Future. The environment and the location of development could determine necessary road building and not the other way around.
I am also concerned that the Bill falls short in other areas. It has little to say about how the public might be more involved in the planning process. It is extraordinary that there is no requirement for the public to be notified of most of the planning applications which are made. It does not address the problem that the public has no right of appeal against the granting of planning permission, however bad, unpopular or controversial the decision may be.
I must conclude with a note of concern about the continuing loopholes in the planning system through which major changes to the landscape as a result of agriculture and forestry operations can continue outside planning controls. The grubbing up of moorland, the ploughing of ancient meadows and the destruction of landscapes through large-scale afforestation and woodland clearance are each major land use changes, yet they fall outside the very system which is intended to control land use.
Checks are now needed through the planning system to ensure that the public interest in the countryside is fully protected. Of course, there should be substantial permitted development rights granted for any of the development brought within the planning system to allow small-scale changes without the necessity to apply for planning permission. For example, a farmer wishing to plant a small shelter belt would not need to apply for planning permission, just as he would not need to apply to build a small extension to his house.
I have covered a wide range of subjects. This is a reflection of the scope and importance of the planning system and this Bill. New solutions are needed which adjust our lifestyles more closely to the natural resources available to us. This Bill provides an early opportunity to introduce some of them. The planning machinery needs new oil, but it also needs new parts if we are to develop a responsive mechanism for making choices for a sustainable future.
§ The Earl of Radnor
My Lords, I shall not keep the House long. With any luck, we shall all be able to go to the environment of the tearoom before tea stops being served. First, I wish to thank my noble friend Lady Blatch for the extraordinarily lucid way in which she put across what is to me a rather complicated Bill. I also wish to express the admiration which I always feel for the noble Lord, Lord McIntosh, on his considerable knowledge of the subject, which, I must admit, I do not possess. My only excuse for rising today is that, like others, I wish to put down a marker for an amendment which I hope to bring forward myself or perhaps with others.
I have no complaint at all about the Bill and what it contains. The noble Lord, Lord McIntosh, felt that it was an uncontroversial Bill, but I thought that a number of amendments might flow from his pen which could alter our view later in debate in Committee and on Report.
Various clauses please me, ranging over planning obligations and replacing what I call Section 52 with a more flexible provision. As a beginner, I am not good at town planning and I saw that under Clause 10 one could ascertain what was permissible. As one who receives planning decisions, I find the whole process pregnant with doubt and difficulty, and the alteration must be useful to everybody. The extra payment for disturbance to a home must be right. Later I shall follow the noble Lord, Lord Northbourne, in taking the matter further.
Arising from the debate, I wish to issue a word of warning. People should not get carried away and desire to plan everything. My noble friend who has just left the Chamber veers in that direction, as, with great respect, I believe the noble Baroness, Lady Nicol, does.
I agree that if a farm is abandoned, automatically there should be planning permission for the buildings to serve a sensible and useful purpose. However, let us keep planning out of the cultivation of crops, which is a business. That is a dangerous path to travel and I hope we shall not take it. We are near enough to planning trees, and that comes into the Bill. An amusing difficulty arose when a tree preservation order was placed on my land where there were no trees. The bureaucratic process took so long that Dutch elm disease had overtaken the situation, the trees were felled and there was a frightful stink about the matter. I am glad to say that it was happily resolved.
I wish to raise two points, one of which has been mentioned and one of which has not, and I do not think it occurs in the Bill in any form. I have noticed that with planners and planning law practically everything is covered: the duty aspect, the number of people who might wish to live there, whether there should be factories and so on. However, one process which always seems to go wrong is the examination of the water resources available for developments. All over the country rivers may not be disappearing but they carry less and less water. This might be the 936 opportunity to place some control on the planning authority to take care to ensure that rivers have enough water—that there will not just be another borehole in the chalk, thus reducing the flow of another chalk stream.
In my area, water is syphoned off—I do not know whether that is the right word—and goes to Bath, which is a long way away, to the detriment of the River Wylye. I live on a small chalk stream; I fished on it all my life until I had to stop. It now contains only half the water it had in earlier days and it has ceased to be a suitable stream for fish. I am not sure whether to put an amendment down on the subject, but I thought it sensible to bring the matter up because it is not properly covered in the Bill. I am sorry that my noble friend Lord Crickhowell is not here because I am sure that he would have had an answer to the problem—which may or may not have satisfied me.
I wish to bring up a matter which came at the end of the speech of my noble friend Lord Northbourne and which I have brought up already in your Lordships' House in discussions on the Channel Tunnel Bill—the compulsory purchase of land by the Government or the local authority. The land could subsequently be handed over, either through sale or lease, or however it is, with a third party using the asset to make money and profit from it. I brought the matter up and divided your Lordships' House on the subject on the Channel Tunnel Bill. Noble Lords who were there may remember that I received a dusty answer. That was perhaps understandable; it was difficult for me to debate the point at that time because I owned the portal of the tunnel and only three other people were involved. First, I had to declare a more than strong interest.
Fortunately or unfortunately, all four of us were not paupers so we elicited little sympathy. I felt then that the underlying principle was not noticed. However, it is there. It must be wrong for a planning authority or other body to purchase land compulsorily at the value of its existing use and then to sell it or lease it to another concern that is to make money from it. I believe that my noble friend the Leader of the House referred to service stations on a former occasion and said how difficult the position was in that case as exactly the same situation as I have described arose. Why should the owner of a piece of land, who may not be well heeled or a large landowner, not take some advantage from the person who is to run a service station?
I hope I have made my point clearly. That is the marker that I shall put down, or perhaps I shall add my name to the amendment of the noble Lord, Lord Northbourne. The noble Lord is a trained surveyor and his amendment would probably be better worded than an amendment of mine. In other respects this is a good Bill. The planning legislation must need amendment now and again. Although this is a bulky document, I view it as a useful amendment to the existing legislation.
§ 5 p.m.
§ Baroness Hollis of Heigham
My Lords, this is a welcome Bill. The House enjoyed a most helpful introduction from the Minister. The planning system in a mechanical sense is somewhat under strain. Despite the deregulation of planning, applications to local authorities increased by 12 per cent. in 1987–88 and by 14 per cent. in 1988–89. This increase may now be easing off, but such a number of applications delays decisions. As a result, only about 50 per cent. of local authority planning decisions are determined within the eight-week period. That is far short of the guidance offered by the Department of the Environment, which suggested that 80 per cent. of decisions should be made within that period.
There has also been a surge in appeals. They have increased by 30 per cent. a year, with consequent pressure on planning inspectors, even though 40 per cent. of those appeals are subsequently withdrawn. This position means that local authority time is spent fighting appeals when it could be better used in determining applications.
Further, the planning system itself comes somewhat into disrepute when local authorities have difficulty in making their local planning decisions "stick". I suggest that this position is due to the "fussiness" of planning law, to use Carnwath's phrase, and to the "fragmentation" of remedies. Carnwath suggests that too many decisions have fallen unreasonably at appeal on technicalities: for example, on the grounds that the local authority's decision to limit a market referred to summer time rather than the summer time as determined by the Summer Time Act 1972. There are grey areas where, for example, intensification of use becomes a material change.
Planning decisions do not "stick" either because of the fragmented remedies. Stop notices, for example, require an enforcement notice but, as the noble Lord, Lord Montagu, said, that process introduces unacceptable delays which may not matter when one is trying to control retailing on an industrial site but clearly matter when a local authority is trying to stop demolition. The status of injunctions so far has been unclear. The fragmented responsibility for enforcement, which is shared at the moment by local authorities, the planning inspectorate and the civil and criminal courts, does not help the position. Further, some developers treat the puny fines that may be imposed as levies rather than as a deterrent. Essentially ordinary people do not see why they should be law-abiding citizens when others are not and get away with it.
However, another reason why planning decisions have not always "stuck" is because they have been overturned by the Secretary of State on appeal. This happens largely because of the inadequacy of local plans. As the Minister herself said, these only cover some 30 per cent. of the population. That fault is reinforced by uncertain procedures and by the predilections of an individual Secretary of State: whether he is concerned with the green belt or out-of-town shopping.
938 This Bill is especially welcome because it addresses all three of the issues I have referred to—namely, the strain that the planning system is under; the inability to make planning decisions "stick" because of the fussiness of the law; and, finally, the role of the Secretary of State. The Bill inhibits repetitive planning applications, and should reduce the number of appeals. It strengthens enforcement procedures broadly along the lines of the Carnwath clauses by introducing planning contravention notices, breach of condition notices, injunctions, fines and the like. One should not exaggerate the problem. Carnwath suggests that of the average 500 alleged contraventions that a local authority will deal with, only 25 are likely not to be negotiated by reason and persuasion. Nonetheless we need the enforcement procedures as a back-up. The Bill is also welcome because it makes mandatory local plans, presumes in their favour and thus reduces to an appropriate and modest role the interventionist role of the Secretary of State. Therefore the Bill makes planning less whimsical and more predictable without losing much needed flexibility. Both local authorities and developers will know where they should stand.
I should also like to add that I agree with the comments made by almost every other speaker today that the proposals on compensation payments are universally welcomed.
However, I was intrigued by the Minister's reference to vendors participating in development gain. I hope she will indicate whether she hopes to reintroduce a development land tax. I am sure also that the House would support the comments made by the noble Lord, Lord Montagu, as chairman of English Heritage, with which, as a commissioner, I associate myself. I hope they will be taken up in Committee.
It is a welcome and much needed Bill. However, I wish to make suggestions on a couple of points and register unease on one or two others. My comments are intended to be helpful. I do not wish to sound churlish as there is so much to support in the Bill. Clauses 1 to 11 are the so-called Carnwath clauses. As regards Clause 1, will the Minister consider whether magistrates should have the power to require compliance with planning contravention notices? Clause 5 concerns enforcement notices. Detailed work may be required on its wording, for example on the naming of owners.
Clause 9 concerns stop notices. We may need some help in clarifying the continued vulnerability of local authorities to compensation procedures. Clause 10 concerns certificates of lawful use, and I believe it will have almost universal support. However, it entails extensive work for local authorities. Carnwath proposed fees. The principle has already been accepted for development applications. I hope that the Minister will address that point.
More profound difficulties arise when we leave Carnwath and move on to the clauses after Clause 11. Clause 12 gives most cause for concern. It deals with planning gain. At present the former Section 52, or the new Section 106, make planning gain a matter of 939 mutual negotiation between a local authority and a developer. The Minister said in her opening remarks that the Government seek to foster co-operation in this matter. I am sure she is entirely right in that, but there is no evidence that the former Section 52 is not working or is not successful.
Clause 12 appears to run alongside the former Section 52 a new power for developers to make a unilateral offer of planning gain on a take it or leave it basis. I am sure that good developers will not go down that track because they recognise that local authorities have a wider perspective on land use, for example, than they themselves can hope to have. Most developers also value the process of negotiation which lies at the heart of local authority work. I suggest, however, that this clause will encourage less enlightened developers in their recalcitrance and undermine the process of negotiation. It repositions the emphasis towards the developer in a way that is against the public interest. I hope the Minister can be persuaded to think again on that issue.
On Clause 16, which concerns mineral workings, I hope we can be given some evidence that the measure is necessary. However, I understand the philosophy behind it. Clause 22 concerns structure plans. Despite the Government's White Paper on the future of development plans, the clause reaffirms and almost reinvents the county planning function. Given the question marks that are currently in the air over local government structure, I wonder whether such heavy reliance is wise.
As every speaker has said, it is obviously sensible to have mandatory district local plans and for those to be in conformity with county structure plans without obligatory scrutiny by the Secretary of State. The streamlining of the procedure in the Bill is welcome, as is the discouragement of structure plans becoming too dense and detailed.
If structure plans are not to be scrutinised by the Secretary of State, it is essential that they are in the domain of public debate. I should be delighted to be corrected on this point by the Minister, but as it stands the examination in public of county plans appears to be a matter of county discretion. The Bill refers throughout to "may" rather than "shall". It is not a matter of public right: and surely it should be. If my reading of the Bill is correct, I hope that the Minister will bring forward amendments at the Committee stage.
Regarding simplified planning zones, my noble friend Lord McIntosh referred to the "black hole" of UDCs. Given the research of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies which shows how vulnerable UDCs are to land and to development recession, I suggest that it is essential to integrate them properly into the planning process.
If one accepts, as many noble Lords have suggested, that planning resolves conflicts and protects landscapes and streetscapes, and if it steers development and improves its quality in a way that enhances the environment, I suggest that the Bill has 940 missed some opportunities. The first is a point of natural justice. As it stands, the Bill does not permit any third party appeals. My noble friend Lord McIntosh referred to other statutory bodies, as did the noble Lord, Lord Montagu. The House may also wish to consider the standing of private individuals and companies in cases when, for example, a neighbour is seriously affected by an adjacent development, whether it be a private householder or a major business. At present recourse is only available through the courts.
Secondly, while what is proposed in relation to planning controls is very welcome I believe that the range should be widened. It would be extremely helpful if we could inhibit the demolition of individual significant buildings which, though not listed and outside a conservation area, are important to streetscape. There is growing concern among local authorities up and down the land that within conservation areas all the buildings, including unlisted buildings, are protected from demolition. Victorian terraced housing, particularly which has significant streetscape value, should be protected from disfiguring alterations. If we as trustees wish to hand on our built heritage, we need additional powers to protect where appropriate, unlisted buildings in conservation areas from alterations and unlisted buildings outside conservation areas from demolition.
It may be opportune to mention that satellite dishes should also be brought within the planning regime until technology makes them transparent or recession makes them redundant.
Thirdly, the Bill does not address the issue of twin-tracking—where an applicant simultaneously submits an application and an appeal on the presumption that the application will be rejected. As the planning inspectors have themselves noted, the same local authority officers try to resolve the application while simultaneously trying to fight the appeal. That puts huge pressure on staff and injects major delay into the determination of applications by other applicants.
Fourthly, the Bill places additional responsibilities on local government. The certificates of lawful use or statutory local plans have resource implications for local authorities, as have the measures debated in previous Sessions of your Lordships' House relating to food, litter and dogs. There is no evidence that those additional duties have been foreseen in the recent local authority financial settlement, which is less than inflation. It is not fair to impose new duties, some of which represent a direct saving to the Secretary of State—some £200,000 will be saved as a result of not having to consider structure plans—without either reimbursing local authorities through RSG or allowing local government to charge appropriate fees. We all want developers to have speedy, sensitive and fair handling of their applications, to which they are entitled. However, that costs money and it is not reasonable that that cost should be borne by the poll tax payer.
Finally, I turn to issues raised very effectively by my noble friend Lady Nicol and the noble Lord, Lord 941 Norrie, concerning the missed opportunity regarding the wider concept of planning. The Bill reaffirms the belief in planning. It clarifies the processes and calibrates the procedures. That is all highly welcome, but it is still a concept of planning shaped by the attitudes of the 1970s. The material considerations that a local authority can bring to bear upon a planning application that are deemed relevant are too narrowly drawn. Much of the vocabulary of "Common Inheritance" is missing from the Bill. For example, it does not allow local authorities to take proper account of energy considerations, whether in terms of location or of design. There is insufficient consideration of wider transportation issues, or, as my noble friend Lord McIntosh said, of the implications for the local economy. Nor does it permit local authorities in rural areas to have particular regard to low cost, affordable or social housing.
We need a stronger commitment to access for the disabled. Above all, as my noble friend Lady Nicol and the noble Lord, Lord Norrie, said, we need a proper environmental assessment built into the Bill. It is not fully green. It does not allow local authorities to consider the no-growth option. It does not properly protect landscape from visually disturbing changes; for example, from pasture to arable or afforestation. In passing, I should like to ask the noble Lord, Lord Wade, whether, if agricultural buildings were treated as though they were industrial buildings he would welcome the application of UBR to them.
In conclusion, all Members of the House must surely welcome a Bill of this kind. It has been supported by all the professional associations and by local government. In our view it has one bad clause, Clause 12, other clauses which need strengthening and some significant omissions. However, we give it a warm welcome and hope very much that the Minister will allow us to help her improve the Bill even further.
§ 5.1.7 p.m.
My Lords, perhaps I may begin by welcoming the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis, to the Dispatch Box. I believe that it is the first occasion on which she has spoken from the Dispatch Box and I should like to say from this side of the House what an impressive performance it was. We look forward to meeting her across the Dispatch Box on other occasions. I lost count when she reached her fifteenth question. Therefore, perhaps the noble Baroness will forgive me if I do not pick up all of the points in replying to the debate. I shall make sure that answers are given to most of the questions that have been posed during the debate.
This has been a stimulating debate. It has demonstrated yet again the wealth of experience which your Lordships possess on planning matters. I thank all noble Lords for the general welcome which they have given the Bill. I shall address some of the anxieties that have been raised during the course of the debate.
Let me first reiterate what the Bill is about. It is about making the existing planning process more 942 certain, more efficient and fairer. As has been said by many noble Lords, that need has been generally recognised.
When the Bill was published the Council for the Protection of Rural England leapt in with comments to the effect that it was not green enough and more was needed to protect those parts of our environment which are perceived to be at risk. This is a green measure in every respect.
The enforcement provisions will help to deter unauthorised development. That is essential for the protection of environmentally precious areas. Against a background of full coverage by structure and local plans, the provisions on development control will create greater certainty about what development is acceptable after local consultation and debate. The compensation provisions will ensure that where, after proper consideration, people's property has to be acquired for development those people are sufficiently compensated. In other words, the Bill strengthens the framework in which the environmental concerns of organisations like the CPRE can be considered against the competing claims of developers and others. That can only help the proper consideration of environmental issues arising in the context of development needs and proposals.
The noble Baroness, Lady Nicol, and my noble friend Lord Wade illustrated beautifully the tensions which exist between environmental considerations and considerations of economic development. When my noble friend referred to plans being set in aspic I rather think that he meant set in concrete. My noble friend referred to their lack of flexibility and the need for them to be updated constantly because they should be dynamic documents for an air of realism in their development.
The environment has been a major anxiety. It is argued that there is no case for including provisions on environmental assessment in the Bill. Existing regulations made under the European Communities Act 1972 fully implement the directive and require environmental assessments for projects likely to have significant effects on the environment. We consider that the procedures are generally working satisfactorily. We are also in touch with the House authorities about a new standing order which would require environmental assessments for projects in Private Bills, as proposed by the Joint Select Committee on Private Bill Procedure. That was a point made by the noble Lord, Lord Ross.
The planning system is an instrument for resolving issues and conflicts between development and conservation. How they are resolved depends not upon the law but on the policies applied within it by both central and local government. For example, my department is currently consulting on policy guidance relating to countryside issues. The environmental White Paper also foreshadowed new planning guidance on heritage, wildlife and pollution issues.
The noble Lord, Lord McIntosh, referred to regional guidance. I do not share his anxiety that the county council should be required to prepare regional 943 guidance. It is important that the guidance is seen as an explicit statement of government policy for the region rather than simply an endorsement of material produced by others. The advice prepared by local planning authorities is a crucially important input; but I think it right that the final guidance should come from the Government. We have been giving careful thought to the consultation process leading to the preparation of regional planning guidance. In the South East we propose to hold a conference early next year which will give us the opportunity to hear the views of invited parties before the regional guidance is drafted.
On strategic planning in the national parks—a point raised by my noble friend Lord Norrie—we felt it right that structure plan responsibility should remain with the county councils, but we intend to require those councils to consult the national park authorities in the process of formulating and reviewing their plans. That consultative approach is likely to be more appropriate than elaborate arrangements for joint working. Where there is disagreement on strategic issues, it will be open to the National Parks Authority to seek to have them raised at the public examination of the structure plan. The Bill gives the Secretary of State the power to direct that specified matters shall be considered at the examination in public.
The noble Lord, Lord McIntosh, suggested that plans should be given greater weight. It is true that the first material consideration in relation to any planning application (though not the only one) is the development plan. As recent policy guidance has emphasised, the Secretary of State will be guided by up-to-date development plans in his decisions on appeal. But even where a refusal would be in line with the development plan, the authority cannot rely on that fact as a knock-down argument. It is required to take account of all the material planning considerations, and plans cannot be expected to anticipate positively every need or opportunity for economic development that might arise. We need to guard against over-rigidity. One of the strengths of our planning system is that it permits greater flexibility in the individual case than do systems which operate on more rigid zoning principles. For that reason, I am not attracted by the noble Lord's suggestion that the right of appeal should be curtailed where proposals are not in accordance with the plan.
The noble Lord, Lord McIntosh, was also anxious about UDCs and their relationship with development plans. There was much criticism of the proposal in the 1989 White Paper that UDCs, which are essentially temporary creations, should be excluded from the development plan framework. In the light of that, we now propose that UDCs should normally be included in plans after appropriate consultation between the planning authority and the corporation. We have dropped the black hole proposition, as the noble Lord and the noble Baroness put it. The power to exclude UDCs from plans is essentially a reserve power to deal 944 with special cases whereby a planning authority is seeking to thwart a UDC. We hope that power will rarely be used.
The noble Lord, Lord McIntosh, also spoke about planning and agriculture. We have recently published for consultation proposals for extending prior notification arrangements for farm buildings and increasing the minimum size of holding which qualifies for permitted development rights. We have invited views on the possibility of extending these controls to new farm and forestry roads. If we decide to go ahead with these arrangements, they will be the first major extension of planning controls to agriculture and forestry for over 40 years.
However, the Government are not convinced that new controls for agriculture and forestry operations are needed. That was a point made by my noble friend Lord Radnor. The planning system has to recognise the special operational needs of farming and forestry businesses. All proposals for large-scale afforestation in sensitive areas have been subject to environmental assessment since 1988 under the arrangements introduced by the Forestry Commission to comply with the European directive.
The noble Lord also referred to the re-use of agricultural buildings. When the use is for nonagricultural purposes—for instance, for higher industry—planning permission is already required and the planning authority has an opportunity to consider the appropriateness of the new use.
On compensation, the noble Lord, Lord Northbourne, and many other noble Lords, were keen that the principle of compensation could be extended. The principle of a payment on top of market value compensation should apply in all cases, not just those affecting householders. This is not an argument which commends itself to the Government. The concept of the home loss payment is intended to reflect, as I have already said, the particular problems faced by those who are displaced from their own homes.
The law also provides for farm loss and other payments to assist particular cases, and indeed the Bill improves some of these provisions. But we see no justification for a general supplement over and above market value. For this purpose, market value includes hope value. However, it does not include the value of the scheme for which the land is being taken. We consider this to be right whether or not the scheme generates income for the acquiring body. My noble friend's suggestion could result in huge variations in the amount of compensation paid for different sites of similar size, type and location and would thus appear wholly arbitrary from the point of view of owners. In the Government's view the approach already enshrined in the current legislation is inherently a fair one, and we see no case for abandoning it.
My noble friend mentioned a proposal for additional compensation when a developing body obtains a more valuable planning permission after acquiring the land. The amendment that I have foreshadowed will, I believe, achieve this objective.
945 The noble Lord, Lord McIntosh, and other noble Lords, referred to the French land compensation system. There is a myth in this country that the French pay a vast percentage over market value for all land. The French system is different but not necessarily better. The percentages are usually lower than those quoted. They may in some cases pay as much as 25 per cent.—but on the first 100,000 French francs, which is £10,000. Otherwise, the percentage which varies from case to case is much more like 10 per cent. They do not reimburse many of the costs which are specifically covered by our provisions—for example, lawyers' and surveyors' fees—and they do not pay home loss or farm loss payments. It is by no means clear that the claimants do better in France. While help is given with remedial measures, like double-glazing, no compensation is paid for depreciation as a result of nearby developments, as we do in this country.
The noble Earl, Lord Lytton, argued that planning restrictions should give rise to compensation rights. The law already provides such protection, and therefore we do not believe there is a need to make such provision in this Bill. Compensation is payable if planning permission is revoked or a use is discontinued by order. That also applies, for example, when permission is refused following an article for direction. The Bill repeals some out-dated compensation provisions in this area, and with these changes we consider that the balance between authorities and developers is about right.
The noble Earl, Lord Lytton, also referred to the resourcing of local planning authorities' development plan activities. There will be extra demands on authorities as they extend local plan coverage to the whole of their areas, but there is a lot of enthusiasm for this task. I should like to make two practical points. Where up-to-date plans are in existence, it will be open to authorities to build on them and to incorporate them into their new plans rather than having to start from scratch. Secondly, there will be a pay-off for authorities once plans are in place in terms of a much firmer framework for handling planning applications and appeals. That was a point well made by the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis.
My noble friend Lord Montagu raised a number of matters relating to heritage. On the general point, I am happy to discuss amendments in Committee. However, apart from some technical changes to listed building enforcement procedures consequent to the main provisions on planning enforcement, the Bill is not concerned with matters relating to listed buildings, conservation areas or the powers of English Heritage.
With regard to power for English Heritage to grant-aid persons, bodies or trusts for purposes of acquiring listed buildings in need of restoration, we are broadly sympathetic. But that may not be within the scope of the Bill or of the planning Acts.
His second point related to listed building enforcement notices taking immediate effect, not 28 days after service. Again breach of listed building control is a criminal offence. The noble Lord's proposal would not affect that. His third point referred to powers for English Heritage to require 946 information on ownership of buildings on which it wishes to take enforcement action. The question of how far it is appropriate for English Heritage to have concurrent powers with local planning authorities needs further discussion and thought.
The noble Lord's fourth point related to the power for English Heritage to bring prosecutions or to seek injunctions in its own name. We are sympathetic and hope that, following consultation, it may be possible to give effect to the proposal, if not in the present Bill at least at some convenient future opportunity.
The noble Baroness, Lady Nicol, referred to the consistency between structure plans and local plans. The present procedure under which a local plan must be certified by the county before it can be placed on deposit is not a satisfactory arrangement. It can and does cause serious delay to the processing of some local plans. In its place Schedule 3 proposes a new procedure which will allow local plans to go forward on deposit when the district council chooses but will require them to be accompanied by a statement of conformity from the county council. This statement will say whether or not in the county's view the local plan conforms with the structure plan; and, if not, in what respects there is an inconsistency. That process gives the council ample opportunity to highlight inconsistencies without causing delay to the processing of the local plan.
The noble Baroness was also anxious about nature conservation policies in county structure plans. Again we issued guidance last May on the content of structure and local plans in Planning Policy Guidance Note 15. That refers specifically to conservation in town and country as one of the topics for structure plans. It urges authorities to ensure that full account is taken of the environmental effects of their policies. My department will be commissioning research on best practice in the preparation of structure plans. That should enable us to issue guidance later next year on the best way of approaching particular issues in plans; and environmental issues will be one aspect.
The noble Lord, Lord Ross, spoke about stopping applications from being made during the two-year moratorium. We cannot completely stop an applicant from applying. What would be the sanction on presenting the application? However, the Bill provides a simple procedure to throw out repetitive applications without the painstaking and costly care that needs to be given to the first application.
The noble Lord, Lord McIntosh, tacked about the criminalising of unlawful development. "Criminalisation" is a word that neither he nor I like. I realise that a strong tide is flowing, especially among some elected members of planning authorities, in favour of legislating to make unlawful development a criminal offence. It is not a simple issue where all the arguments lead in only one direction. One of the merits of Mr. Robert Carnwath's report on Enforcing Planning Control is that he analysed the issue very thoroughly in Chapter 6, paragraphs 2.1 to 2.17 before concluding that he could not recommend that change. We find his analysis compelling and his conclusion entirely persuasive.
947 Those who support criminalisation do so mainly because they wish to punish people who deliberately and flagrantly carry out development which they know is unlawful without obtaining planning permission required for it. I can sympathise with that aim. However, it is important to note that the flagrant contravenors are a small minority. While it is true that their activities catch the public eye and make members of planning committees despair, the result of criminalisation would be to bring many others—often very innocent people—within the scope of criminal behaviour. That would include, for example, the houseowner who goes ahead with improvements to his house, perhaps on advice that he does not require specific planning permission, only to find that he has exceeded the permitted development rights. If unlawful development becomes an offence, the innocent person who had prima facie carried out technically unlawful development, would be open to prosecution.
Secondly, we must ask whether criminalisation would in practice be an effective deterrent. Unless the maximum penalty were so substantial, it is doubtful whether the flagrant contravenor would be deterred. That would give us the worst of all worlds. That was a point again well made by the noble Baroness.
That is one reason why we have preferred the alternative approach exemplified in Clause 3 of the Bill of a planning injunction to restrain the most serious breaches of control. If an injunction were granted, the eventual penalty for contempt of court is likely to be far more effective than any other remedy.
I know that I have not touched on a number of other points. My noble friend Lord Radnor, made a point about the NRA and planning concerning water. The NRA is consulted by planning authorities where an application affects them. However, I believe that he was referring to planning concerning water. That is a matter for the NRA. Therefore I have no doubt that it will be taking a very close interest in the Bill.
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister. However, before she moves to her peroration—I appreciate that she has been very fair in dealing with as many points as she can—a number of noble Lords, including myself, raised the issue of unilateral undertakings as opposed to Section 52 agreements. It would be helpful if she could give the Government's response to those matters.
My Lords, I know that unilateral arrangements cause concern. I suspect that at the end of the Bill's progress through the House we shall find ourselves agreeing to differ about the issue. There are many examples where local authorities continue to negotiate. The noble Baroness pressed me on the point of negotiating for planning gain where negotiations are prolonged to the extent that local authorities hang out for greater benefits under Section 52 or Section 106 as it now is. Those prolong and delay a project to the point where a developer can make the decision to act unilaterally. At the end of the day that is also subject to judicial review. If the developer has acted precipitately, if he has acted unreasonably, there 948 would be a mechanism to ensure that a judgment was made about the reasonableness or unreasonableness of that action.
I hope that the noble Lord will allow me to rest on that explanation. On looking at his face, I believe that he is not entirely satisfied with it. However, I know that we shall be coming back to the matter in much greater detail at Committee stage.
Perhaps I shall be forgiven for passing over many other points that have been raised during the debate. It is a varied Bill, as the range of points with which I have dealt testifies. It is an important Bill in matters of detail on many issues, and especially on compensation. There has been no updating of the law for many years. The twin themes of efficiency and fairness which I have emphasised throughout the debate require that detailed attention be given to legislation from time to time. That does not detract from the importance of the themes. I believe that the Bill will improve both fairness and efficiency, and I commend it to the House.
On Question, Bill read a second time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.
Back to Leave of Absence and Lords' Expenses: Select Committee
Forward to Statistics of Trade Act 1947 (Amendment of Schedule) Order 1990
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Posted inHong Kong
Naked woman flees after fighting with boyfriend
It was understood that the boyfriend was jealous after suspecting the woman of having an affair
by Asia Times staff May 23, 2019 February 18, 2020
Tai Po in the New Territories where the naked woman fled. Photo: Google Maps
A naked 25-year-old woman fleeing a domestic dispute ran to a school in Tai Po in the New Territories on Wednesday and asked people there to help her.
The woman claimed she had been hit by her live-in boyfriend while she was taking a shower at an apartment in Tai Yuen Estate in Tai Po, the Apple Daily reported.
The woman fled without clothes and ran to a secondary school about 100 meters away and sought help. Teachers spotted her and immediately covered her body with jackets and called the police.
She had injuries to her eyes and was sent to a hospital for treatment. She told police that her boyfriend had poured kerosene on her and threatened to set her on fire. It was understood that the boyfriend was jealous after suspecting the woman of having an affair.
At 5 pm, her 36-year-old boyfriend turned himself in at the police station. He said he had a dispute with his girlfriend and they hit each other. He claimed he suffered injuries to his chest. He also denied using kerosene.
After an investigation, police arrested the man and the woman for alleged assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The investigation is ongoing.
Tagged: Crime, Domestic dispute, Hong Kong, naked woman, news
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Tag: The Lady of the Tower by Elizabeth St. John
Memoirs from the Tower of London – Elizabeth St. John
April 24, 2018 April 17, 2018 M.K. Tod10 Comments
Today Elizabeth St. John, author of The Lady of the Tower and By Love Divided, gives us Memoirs from the Tower of London.
“All the time she dwelt in the Tower, if any were sick she made (the prisoners) broths and restoratives with her own hands, visited and took care of them, and provided them all necessaries; if any were afflicted she comforted them, so that they felt not the inconvenience of a prison who were in that place.” Memoirs of the Life of Colonel Hutchinson – Lucy Hutchinson, the daughter of Lucy St.John, wrote the memoir and told of her mother’s life.
Gazing from the parlor window of the Queen’s House within the walls of the Tower of London, I could see the chapel of St. Peter, the iconic White Tower…and the site of the executioner’s block. Knowing that I shared this view with my ancestress, Lucy St.John, who occupied this house four hundred years earlier, made me shiver with excitement.
Lucy St.John lived in the Tower of London for thirteen years from 1617 to 1630; not as a prisoner, but as Mistress of the Tower. I stumbled upon the above-quoted biographical fragment from Lucy Hutchinson’s notebook in Nottingham Castle, and I knew I must find out more about her mother. The Memoirs give tantalizing glimpses of Lucy St.John’s life, and further research on the position of Lieutenant of the Tower, Lucy’s husband, Sir Allen Apsley, revealed much more. A book was starting to take shape.
The Lieutenant’s Lodging
Growing up in England within a family that celebrated history and spent more time researching dead ancestors than talking to living relatives, it was crucial that my fiction writing be informed by fact. I also wanted my readers to feel the same thrill of connecting with the past that I do, and to meet and understand my family and their lives as if the centuries did not separate us.
When I decided that Lucy would be the subject of my novel, The Lady of the Tower, I contacted Her Majesty’s Royal Palaces (HRP) and asked if I could possibly visit some of the private locations within the Tower. The Queen’s House is the family home of the Governor, just as it was for Lucy when she moved there in 1617. They readily gave their permission and kindly offered a Yeoman Warder as a guide.
View of Tower Green from Lucy’s Parlour
I was excited to arrive early one winter’s morning, before the crowds, and walk along the old quay by Traitor’s Gate. Peeking over the massive stone walls were the gabled roofs of Lucy’s home – a curious juxtaposition of domesticity and fortress. I used that view and sensation to set the opening scene of my novel, for I could only imagine Lucy’s trepidation upon entering the Tower, and seeing her future home.
As I met my Beefeater, we quickly found a common love of history, and together we entered the Queen’s House. What I didn’t anticipate was the visceral reaction of walking through Lucy’s rooms, standing in her kitchen, looking through her parlor window – just as she had done. The emotional response to treading in her footsteps inspired so much of my work within The Lady of the Tower, and so many small details found their way into my writing.
The house was used for administrative offices too, and as I explored the warren of rooms (the plans to which, alas, are missing), I came across a small corridor. Just a few feet from Lucy’s front hall, great blocks of stone took over from the domesticity of plaster, and in another pace or two, I was standing within the twelfth century Bell Tower. The ambiance was mournful, and it was not at all difficult to think of Thomas More, John Fisher, and the young Princess Elizabeth imprisoned in this bleak chamber. Their view from the narrow slit windows was the same as Lucy’s from her parlor – the execution block.
The Queen’s House from the River Thames
My inspiration from the Tower continued as I walked outside. Lucy was a great herbalist, and her medicinals no doubt eased the lives of many of the prisoners she nursed. In another part of the memoirs, her daughter refers to Lucy’s generosity with her hen-house – she allowed Sir Walter Raleigh to make free use of it to conduct his alchemy experiments when he was under her care and lodging in the Bloody Tower. Needless to say, this took me in another whole research direction.
The Victorians built over Lucy’s garden, but it is still easy to see the old levels of where her gardens were, and how she would access them from her home. She grew up in country houses where it would have been her responsibility to learn simple herbal cures and recipes, and I had a wonderful time researching recipes and including them within my novel. I was even more fortunate that another family member, her niece Johanna, collated a vast collection of remedies in a book that is now in the Wellcome Library in London. Recipes were precious, and freely exchanged between friends and family, so it was no stretch to think that Johanna sourced some of her remedies from her aunt. I liberally borrowed from those recipes to embellish The Lady of the Tower.
Raleigh, of course, was also a great gardener. I couldn’t resist some interactions between him and Lucy involving some “Virginia Potatoes” as they were known. That is the joy of writing historical fiction – we can have these flights of fancy, as long as they are based in a foundation of solid research.
Lucy’s husband is buried within the Tower at St. Peter ad Vincula, and as I explored the chapel, and saw the stone commemorating Anne Boleyn’s burial, so many emotions flooded my thoughts. Although the Tower is a world tourist attraction, and millions of people walk through its environs every year, I feel such a personal connection, knowing that my family lived and worked within its walls. A small votive to Sir Thomas Moore is still kept burning in the Yeoman’s private chapel, and that was an important detail for me to include in my book.
In Lucy’s time, the Liberty of the Tower housed over a thousand families, all of which came under her husband’s jurisdiction. It really was its own small city, for it lay outside of the laws of the City of London (which caused some friction on many occasions). I like to think of Lucy ministering to the citizens of the Tower as well as the prisoners, walking not just in the areas where her aristocratic prisoners were lodged, but among the houses and gardens of the residents who all helped this important institution run smoothly.
The Tower of London played a crucial role in inspiring my first novel, which has become a best-seller in both the US and the UK. One of the most exciting achievements was the day Her Majesty’s Royal Palaces asked if they could stock The Lady of the Tower in the Tower’s gift shop. Two years later, we are still on sale within the White Tower. In her own special way, Lucy has returned home.
Many thanks, Liz for sharing your inspiration and some of your fascinating family history.
Elizabeth St.John was brought up in England and lives in California. She has tracked down family papers and residences from Nottingham Castle, Lydiard Park, to Castle Fonmon and The Tower of London to inspire her writing. Although her ancestors sold a few mansions and country homes along the way (it’s hard to keep a good castle going these days), Elizabeth’s family still occupy them – in the form of portraits, memoirs, and gardens that carry their imprint.
The Lady of the Tower, Elizabeth’s first novel, a Discovered Diamond and a B.R.A.G. Medallion winner, is on sale on Amazon, and at the Tower of London. Elizabeth’s award-winning second book, By Love Divided, is also an Amazon best-seller and follows the lives of Lucy and her children during the English Civil War. Currently working on the third in The Lydiard Chronicles series, Elizabeth is also releasing the audio book of The Lady of the Tower in May, 2018. You can reach Elizabeth at her website on Amazon, Twitter @ElizStJohn and Facebook.
Photos: © Elizabeth St.John 2018
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Posted in Historical Fiction, Researching historical fiction, Transported, writing historical fictionTagged By Love Divided by Elizabeth St. John, historical fiction transports readers in time and place, how authors transport their readers, Lieutenant of the Tower of London, living in the Tower of London, novels about the Tower of London, novels set during 17th century, one writer's inspiration, The Lady of the Tower by Elizabeth St. John, Tower of London inspiration, writing about the Tower of London
A Year of Reading 2016
December 13, 2016 December 13, 2016 M.K. Tod11 Comments
40 books in 2016 – several for research purposes, a number for reviews or articles, and a good number for pleasure – have to have some of those! Some were superb, others I did not finish.
I suspect I’m a ‘hard marker’. Here’s the rating system I used in 2014 and 2015: LR = light, enjoyable read; GR = good, several caveats; ER = excellent, few caveats; OR = outstanding; DNF = did not finish; NF=Non-Fiction; NMT = not my type.
The following are from January 2016 to May. I’ve included links to blog posts and reviews where appropriate. I’ll share the balance in a few days.
Jan Girl on the Train Paula Hawkins DNF Wanted to see what all the fuss was about; after 15% I no longer cared
The House I Loved Tatiana de Rosnay GR Not nearly as captivating as Sarah’s Key
Paris Reborn Stephane Kirkland ER Narrative non-fiction about the rebuilding of Paris; superbly written
Feb At the Existentialist Café Sara Blakewell GR The lives and ideas of famous philosophers like Sartre, de Beauvoir, Camus, Heidegger
Pillars of Light Jane Johnson GR The siege of Akka in the time of Richard Lionheart
The Lost Sisterhood Anne Fortier GR A young scholar risks her reputation to prove that the legendary women known as the Amazons existed
Call to Juno Elisabeth Storrs ER Last of her trilogy set during wars between Rome and the Etruscans
Diary of the Besieged Resident in Paris Henry Labouchere NF A journalist’s diary during the 1870 Prussian siege of Paris
Mar France Since 1870 Charles Sowerwine NF For research purposes
Courtesans Katie Hickman NF For research purposes
Accessories to Modernity Susan Hiner NF For research purposes
The Rosie Project Graeme Simsion LR Very funny; a man with Aspergers conducts a project to find a wife
The Lady of the Tower Elizabeth St. John ER Compelling story of Lucy St. John, wife of the Lieutenant of the Tower of London in 17th century
Apr Tobias Prue Batten NMT Set in the waning years of the Byzantium Empire
Runaway Peter May GR A crime novel set in 1965 and fifty years later
The Ladies Paradise Emile Zola DNF Read to get a feel for 19th century Paris
With Violets Elizabeth Robards GR Based on the premise that Berthe Morisot and Edouard Manet were lovers
May The Nightingale Kristin Hannah ER Two French sisters play their parts in WWII
Wulfsana E.S. Moxon DNF Set in AD433 Britain
The Sands of Kedar Diana Khalil DNF a strong-willed girl in the male-dominated society of pre-Islam Arabia
Oswald: Return of the King Edoardo Albert GR The second book in the author’s Northumbrian Thrones trilogy
Looking back it seems that I was heavily into research during the first few months of 2016 as well as being involved in reviews for the MM Bennetts historical fiction award.
A Year of Reading 2015 – Part 1 and Part 2
M.K. Tod writes historical fiction and blogs about all aspects of the genre at A Writer of History. Her latest novel, TIME AND REGRET was published by Lake Union on August 16, 2016. Mary’s other novels, LIES TOLD IN SILENCE and UNRAVELLED are available from Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Google Play and iTunes. She can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads or on her website www.mktod.com.
Posted in Books I've Read, Historical Fiction, reading historical fictionTagged Call to Juno by Elisabeth Storrs, MM Bennetts Award for historical fiction, Paris Reborn by Stephane Kirkland, reading historical fiction, researching historical fiction, The Lady of the Tower by Elizabeth St. John, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
July 26, 2016 July 22, 2016 M.K. Tod1 Comment
A few months ago, I read The Lady of the Tower by Elizabeth St. John, a wonderful story set during the time of James I. Today, Elizabeth weighs the balance of truth and fiction in historical fiction. Welcome to A Writer of History, Elizabeth.
TRUTH OR DARE: THE PARADOX OF HISTORICAL FICTION by Elizabeth St. John
“The trade of the historical novelist doesn’t seem so reprehensible or dubious; the only requirement is for conjecture to be plausible and grounded in the best facts one can get…Every time the author writes, “He thought that . . .” or “She felt that . . .”, she’s making it up. We never know what people thought or felt, unless they kept frank and full journals. And the world is full of people who lie to their own diaries.” – Hilary Mantel
When I first approached writing an historical fiction novel based on an ancestress’s diary fragment, my biggest challenge was not in the prose (that came later!) but in establishing which parts of the work would be truth, and which I would dare to fictionalize. After re-reading some of my favorite historical fiction authors (Hilary Mantel, Jean Plaidy, Anya Seton, George Garrett, Margaret George) I felt I had a good handle on how to navigate those dangerous waters. What I didn’t want, more than anything, was to be caught in an obvious fabrication of the facts, twisted to suit my own needs.
So, truth based in fact, and dare to be bold in interpreting emotions, motive and outcomes. That was a rule I established and scrutinized my writing against every day. Going a step further, I decided that I would approach my research from two perspectives. Firstly, immersively, where I would read any and every fiction and non-fiction book that caught my eye that was relevant to the period. I was fairly widely read in the preceding 16th century, but most of the action in The Lady of the Tower takes place in the 17th century. I needed to brush up on my Stuarts. This involved a voracious consumption of the driest text books (try Divine Right and Democracy – An Anthology on Political Writing in Stuart England) to the wonderful biographies of Antonia Fraser, Anne Somerset, Paul Sellin, and Roger Lockyer, to reams of good (and not so good) fiction.
What was most fascinating to me were the footnotes, for from there emerged the original source documents. That was my second research methodology – going deep into the contemporary documents of the times. Subscribing to British History Online and the National Archives opened up the world of digitalized manuscripts; and Google Books unlocked the Calendars of State Papers. Now I was humming! The hunt was on for every single character that would be making an appearance in my book, and the riches provided by these online sources were boundless. I quickly realized the need to have a pretty accessible filing system to be able to store and retrieve all the documents that were emerging – letters, pleadings, court appearances, dispatches. Some were written by my characters; others mentioned them in passing. Each provided a clue to the personality and motivation of the people of my book.
The six St. John sisters who feature in The Lady of the Tower, from a Polyptych at St. Mary’s Church, Lydiard Park
Now I could read their own words, or speeches that had been transcribed by clerks, and plot their character arcs. I could start to see why one married another, or how Barbara would always be a survivor, and Eleanor was a sweetheart. I was fortunate to have access to family portraits, and as I wrote, I chose desktops and images to constantly rotate on my computer to inspire me. Each day, they became more real, and their voices more insistent to be heard. The research that I had done fell into the background, a foundational knowledge that dared me to now allow my imagination to take flight, knowing that I had solid groundwork in accurate fact.
Next – the landscapes. I am fortunate inasmuch as having been brought up in England, so my sense of the countryside and climate are innate. But, I still didn’t know how long it would take to ride from Swindon to Castle Fonmon, and the route, and the scenery along the way. This is where Google Maps came in so handy – sitting at my desk in San Diego, I could drop into a footpath in Wiltshire and know exactly how my heroine would have seen the land.
More than anything I felt I owed it to my distant family to bring them to life in an honest account that would retain the atmosphere of the time, without making the writing too inaccessible to the modern reader. This is where, after several false starts, I determined Point of View (First) and a reading / language level that would appeal to my potential audience. I knew I wasn’t writing romance (although there are love stories intertwined), and I didn’t want twenty-first century attitudes and language to creep in. I settled in on…Jane Eyre. Although written a couple of centuries later than The Lady of the Tower, I felt the sentence structure helped convey a sense of an earlier time, while the restrained passion in the writing and the heroine’s character make us relate completely to her and her plight. Of course, lengthy run-on sentences suffered greatly in the editing, but they were fun to write in the first draft.
Finally, I have a confession. Back to the original diary fragment, I had a big problem. Mention is made of the heroine’s first love in the following way…describing his arrival as such… “all the suitors that came turned their addresses to her, which she in her youthful innocency neglected, till one of greater name, estate and reputation than the rest happened to fall deeply in love with her, and to manage it so discreetly that my mother could not but entertain him…”. The problem – his name was never mentioned. So I had a pivotal plot point in the book, but no character’s name. Back out came the research, and after a few weeks of digging around, I found an estate (Charlton Park) close by the location of my work, and a young man (Theophilus Howard, future Duke of Suffolk) that could match the hero. Then, I found that two of his children married into my heroine’s family. That, to return to Hilary Mantel’s credo, was enough fact to establish plausible conjecture. And thus, “Theo” was born.
To summarize, writing this work of historical fiction has been a glorious journey. I’ve read extraordinary books, delved into personal correspondence and diaries, visited their houses, castles, graves, and gardens, and gazed at portraits, daring the sitters to walk out of their frames and talk to me. And, during the three years that it took to write, edit and prepare The Lady of the Tower for publication, I felt that I had honored my ancestors and written a piece that brought them to life. As I say in my summary for the book … it may have been four hundred years ago, but they are not so different from you and me.
The Lady of the Tower by Elizabeth St. John – Orphaned Lucy St.John, described as “the most beautiful of all,” defies English society by carving her own path through the decadent Stuart court. In 1609, the early days of the rule of James I are a time of glittering pageantry and cutthroat ambition, when the most dangerous thing one can do is fall in love . . . or make an enemy of Frances Howard, the reigning court beauty.
Lucy catches the eye of the Earl of Suffolk, but her envious sister Barbara is determined to ruin her happiness. Exiling herself from the court, Lucy has to find her own path through life, becoming mistress of the Tower of London. Riding the coattails of the king’s favorite, the Duke of Buckingham, the fortunes of the St.Johns rise to dizzying heights. But with great wealth comes betrayal, leaving Lucy to fight for her survival—and her honor—in a world of deceit and debauchery.
Many thanks, Elizabeth. I can attest to your ability to create the sense of time and place so crucial to successful historical fiction. Your characters truly came alive for me.
M.K. Tod writes historical fiction and blogs about all aspects of the genre at A Writer of History. Her latest novel, TIME AND REGRET will be published by Lake Union on August 16, 2016. Mary’s other novels, LIES TOLD IN SILENCE and UNRAVELLED are available from Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Google Play and iTunes. She can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads or on her website www.mktod.com.
Posted in Books I've Read, Guest Posts, Historical Fiction, Inside Historical Fiction, Researching historical fiction, writing historical fiction, Writing ProcessTagged a writer's research process, author Elizabeth St. John, how to research for your novel, novels about Stuart England, novels about the Tower of London, novels set during 17th century, The Lady of the Tower by Elizabeth St. John, writing historical fiction
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Saudi Arabia Used Libel Lawyers in Ofcom Complaint
Posted on November 21, 2007 by Richard Bartholomew
Schillings Used by Kingdom and Embassy
The UK television regulator Ofcom has rejected a complaint brought by the police about the Channel 4 documentary Undercover Mosque. As was widely blogged a few weeks ago (and by me here, here, and here), the documentary found extremist speakers and videos at a prominent mainstream mosque. The programme was investigated by the West Midlands police, who unexpectedly decided that the programme-makers had presented “distorted” material, and took the unprecedented step of contacting Ofcom. This rather unfortunate decision brought the police force widespread derision, and of course inevitably gave ammunition to the anti-Muslim right.
Much less attention, however, has been given to a second complainant: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. According to Ofcom:
In summary the complaint stated that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia had been treated unfairly in the programme as broadcast in that:
a) The programme falsely alleged that the complainant was aware of, supportive of and ultimately responsible for the alleged spread of a “radical ideology” of “intolerance and bigotry” to British Mosques and Islamic organisations in Britain. The complainant said the programme suggested that it promotes and condones extremism, when it clearly does not.
The rest of the complaint deals with “right of reply” issues. Channel 4 responded by stating that
Channel 4 stated that it was firmly of the view that the complainant was not entitled to be given any opportunity to respond to the contents of the programme, because no criticisms or allegations were made against either the “Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” or the “Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia”. Channel 4 said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia should not be defined more widely than the Saudi government and/or the Saudi monarchy, and being so defined it could not be authorised to complain on behalf of “mainstream Islam”.
Channel 4 denied that the programme alleged that the complainant was aware of, supportive of, or ultimately responsible for the spread of extremism throughout the British Islamic community. Nor did the programme suggest the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia promoted or condoned extremism. Channel 4 said the programme had been carefully scripted and whilst the programme did allege that the fundamentalist ideology being described “had its roots” in Saudi Arabia and was spreading “from the Saudi religious establishment” the complainant was not implicated.
Ofcom concurred, and rejected the complaint in full.
One worrying aspect of this was that the Saudi Arabians decided to make their complaint through Schillings, a law firm well-known for its aggressive “reputation management” services. Infamously, the firm acts for Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov, and it recently forced a webhosting service to pull a couple of blogs which had reported allegations about his past (another new Schillings client is the MP Nadine Dorries).
Public debate about Saudi Arabia in the UK is already considerably curtailed; Nick Cohen noted in September that
Britain’s repressive libel laws are becoming a threat to security and racial harmony. ‘Saudi money is now a major source of income for London libel firms,’ one lawyer told me. ‘School fees and second homes depend on it.’
At least six books that make allegations about Saudi Arabia and terrorism have been suppressed in the UK, and articles have been pre-emptively spiked by the Economist, the Observer, and the Spectator.
A recent report on extremist literature available in a minority of UK mosques judged that
…it is clear that the influence of Saudi Arabia is both powerful and malign. Much of the material featured here is connected in some way with the Saudi Kingdom – whether by virtue of being written by members of the Wahhabite religious establishment; being published and distributed by official, or semi-official Saudi institutions; or being found in Saudi-funded, or linked, mosques and schools in this country. For this reason, the report argues, there needs now to be a proper audit of the costs and benefits of the Saudi-UK relationship.
How long before report author Denis MacEoin – not to mention a host of other critics of the Saudi regime from across the political spectrum – receives a letter from Schillings?
(Hat tip: MediaWatchWatch)
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Home Socio-Politico Canada Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Pipeline: 9 Reasons We Shouldn’t Be Buying The...
Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Pipeline: 9 Reasons We Shouldn’t Be Buying The Pipeline or The Spin
K Johnson, R Montpellier @Below2C_
Share to raise climate awareness
It was quite a shock when the Canadian Finance Minister announced that the Liberal Cabinet’s solution to Texas-based Kinder Morgan’s pipeline woes was that Canada would buy the Trans Mountain Pipeline outright for $4.5 billion.
Here are 9 reasons we shouldn’t be buying it:
Credit: Directly Affected, Pipeline Under Pressure film
1. Loss of Credibility on Climate Action
With this decision, the Liberals have lost enormous credibility on dealing with climate change.
Following the announcement, BC Green Party leader Andrew Weaver was quick to comment about Trudeau’s decision. “He came into office claiming that he was there as an inspiration for the next generation, claiming he was going to deal with climate change, claiming he was going to be there for the future. He betrayed that today,” said Weaver.
In a recent Globe and Mail op-ed, “The great Canadian climate delusion,” Homer-Dixon and Strauch label Canada’s contradictory climate policies as lose-lose: “Continued investment in the oil sands generally, and in the Trans Mountain pipeline specifically, means Canada is doubling down on a no-win bet.”
They argue: “Canada has no plan to meet its 2030 Paris Agreement emission targets, because it’s virtually impossible to do so if the oil sands’ output rises to Alberta’s cap of 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year.”
2. Inconsistent with Canada’s Commitment to End Fossil Fuel Subsidies
In 2009, the G8 committed to ending fossil fuel subsidies. In The Great Canadian bailout, The Narwhal’s Sarah Cox writes:
“At a G7 gathering two years ago this month in Japan, Trudeau and leaders for the first time set a deadline for terminating most fossil fuel subsidies, saying government support for coal, oil and gas should be discontinued by 2025. Canada and other G7 nations encouraged other countries to join them in eliminating what they referred to as “inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.”
“Trudeau’s Kinder Morgan announcement is an “embarrassment” for the country in light of that commitment,” said Alex Doukas, a spokesperson for Oil Change International. “And that’s not acceptable. That’s not climate leadership.”
3. Undermines Canada’s Global Reputation as a vocal champion of the Paris Agreement and ambitious climate action
In an open letter to PM Trudeau, over 230 groups in 44 countries point out that “Canada has been a vocal champion of the Paris Agreement and ambitious climate action.” And yet, the letter adds, “your unwavering support for the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion runs counter to both of these commitments and undermines Canada’s role as a global leader.” And the use of public money to finance the pipeline “is particularly offensive in the face of the global climate crisis,” concludes the open letter.
Real climate leaders need to plan for a “managed phase-out and just transition away from all fossil fuel production.” But Canada is doing just the opposite. Canada has less than 0.5% of the world’s population but the planned Tar Sands expansion will use up 16% of the world’s carbon budget if the world hopes to keep warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
In his recent piece in The Guardian, Bill McKibben refers to Trudeau as: “the cutest, progressivest, boybandiest leader in the world going fully in the tank for the oil industry.”
4. Are Canadian Taxpayers Paying 4.5 Billion for 1.5 Billion in Assets?
In 2007, Kinder Morgan reported to the National Energy Board that the Trans Mountain pipeline system was valued at $550 million. Kinder Morgan says the work already done on twinning of the pipeline is estimated at 1 billion.
West Coast Environmental Law discusses the deal in detail (included terms where the deal would not be completed) and commented: “According to Kinder Morgan’s 8-K securities filings, its net of tax capital gain is $2.7 billion (i.e. the amount the company expects to make from selling its properties for more than it paid for them). A Royal Bank analysis estimates that Canada overpaid by about $1.2 billion. It is impossible to know exactly how much Canada overpaid because we don’t know the full price of construction, and any future revenues are speculative.”
5. The Real Cost to Canadian Taxpayers Will Likely Be $15 to 20 Billion
Writing in The Tyee, Andrew Nikiforuk exposes the real cost of the new ‘Liberal Pipeline’. “According to economist Robyn Allan, the bill for taxpayers won’t be $4.5 billion as announced but more realistically between $15-20 billion.”
The cost of completing the pipeline twinning was estimated by Kinder Morgan in 2017 as $7.4 billion. Nikiforuk points out that as with all megaprojects, one can expect cost overruns — expect the final cost to escalate to at least $9 billion. Nikiforuk lists these additional unmentioned costs to the pipeline project:
$2.1 billion for a financial assurance fund for land-based spills;
An ongoing Pipeline Safety Act commitment of $1 billion;
Another $1.1 billion imposed by the federal government as a condition of the expansion of the pipeline, and
$1.5 billion for the Ocean Protection Plan every five years.
6. Dwindling Market for Tar/Oil Sands Oil Undercuts the Economic Case
Are Canadian taxpayers investing in a pipeline at a time when markets for Tar Sands oil will soon be in decline?
A recent Energy Mix article points to a grim future for fossil companies which stand to lose US$19 trillion in income by 2040 according to a recent analysis by Oxford-based Aurora Energy Research Ltd. The analysis highlights a green shift to an energy future of mass electrification and new technologies that will lead to “peak oil” demand by 2025.
The bottom line: the Kinder Morgan twinning is an economic pipe dream. “Alberta’s low-grade tar sands heavy oil is expensive to get out of the ground, expensive to upgrade to the quality of conventional sweet light crude and expensive to get to market. The major oil companies have done their homework and decided there are better bets elsewhere. When oil demand starts to decline, the most expensive sources of oil will be the first to go.
7. $15 Billion Benefit Per Year To Canada and the Tarsands to Tidewater Myth
The Trudeau government claims that the purchase of Kinder Morgan is in Canada’s national interest. “We are losing $15 billion a year because we are trapped to the American market”, says Trudeau. Others like Premier Rachel Notley of Alberta and Jim Carr (Minister of Natural Resources) are using the same talking point. It makes for a good sound bite but the number is misleading.
The $15 billion benefit is based on a 2018 Scotiabank report which is deeply flawed according to Allan. “The number is bogus, a mere distraction in the larger debate over Canada’s energy future and BC’s environmental worries. The real number is closer to $7 billion but likely much less.” The bottom line is that there is no waiting market for tarsands oil in Asia or Europe. The 300,000 barrels per day that currently leave Burnaby all go to the United States, because that’s where they can get the best price.
It is a betrayal of the public trust that Trudeau, Carr and Notley so eagerly got behind a $15 billion a year loss from a fundamentally flawed Scotiabank report, without checking first to make sure it made any sense. Robyn Allan
8. 15,000 Construction Jobs is a Myth – the Real Number is 2,500 jobs for 2 years
The jobs argument has been thoroughly debunked. When Trudeau first announced the Trans Mountain approval, he said the project “will create 15,000 new, middle-class jobs – the majority of them in the trades.” But the jobs created will be in the construction phase and the real number is 2,500 workers per year for two years. And permanent jobs will be a mere 40 in Alberta and 50 in BC. The real job numbers were part of the Kinder Morgan application submitted to the National Energy Board (NEB).
9. Free, Prior and Informed Consent with Indigenous Peoples
Credit: Council of Canadians
The Liberal Government’s commitments to truth and reconciliation and indigenous free, prior and informed consent, simply don’t line up with buying and pursuing the Kinder Morgan pipeline.
There Is A Better Way Forward
“More than anything, this decision is about the future versus the past, and Bill Morneau has made a big bet on the past,” writes Kevin Taft in the National Observer. Taft laments what might have been:
“Instead of a Crown corporation investing billions of dollars in a pipeline, imagine a Crown corporation investing billions of dollars in renewable energy partnerships with provinces, First Nations, and communities across Canada, and billions in energy efficiency programs.”
“Instead of hundreds of jobs building a pipeline we’d create thousands of jobs installing solar panels and wind farms.”
“Instead of pitting Canadians against each other we’d bring communities together.”
“Instead of increasing emissions we’d drive them down.”
“Instead of clinging to a fading past we’d embrace the future.”
Conclusion: Prime Minister Trudeau Can Still Get It Right
It’s not too late for the Trudeau government to walk away from the Kinder Morgan deal.
In his The Speech He Never Gave article,Mitchell Beer of The Energy Mix imagines a scenario in which the Prime Minister rises in the House of Commons to announce “one of the most momentous decisions my government will face.” In this scenario, Justin Trudeau makes the right decision by abandoning the Kinder Morgan buy-out. Trudeau recommits to the vision of climate leadership embraced in Paris, the “leadership Canadians deserve and expect, and that the world expects of Canada.”
Previous articleClimate Economic Impacts From Kinder Morgan May Total $8.7 Billion
Next articleTransforming Our Culture Toward Sustainability
Ken Johnson and Rolly Montpellier are the co-founders of Below2°C. They are passionate climate advocates based in Ottawa. Their many climate actions include: blogging, lobbying politicians, writing op-eds and letters to the editor, attending rallies/protests. Below2°C is premised on the Paris Agreement whose goal is to keep the global temperature rise well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
Canada’s Big 5 Banks: The Climate Movement Is Coming For You In 2021
Canada: Falling Far Short On Climate Policy, Emissions Reduction and Energy Transition
Ed Griffith June 24, 2018 At 12:49 pm
Very well said! Trudeau is very much like Obama in talking a good environmental game while being lukewarm about immediate significant change. A lesser of two evils by comparing it to Harper is not what the world needs.
Rolly Montpellier @WellBelow2C June 25, 2018 At 5:53 am
Indeed Ed, certainly not what the world needs at this time.Trudeau is just the by-product of the neo-liberal age where growth is the alter. Under Trudeau, the economy does not go together with the environment. The economy is supreme.
Colette June 27, 2018 At 4:41 am
Hi Rolly,
Well written analysis of Trudeau’s Oil Empire. It seems to me lately that Trudeau has become very adept at speaking out of both sides of his mouth. He is increasingly looking shifty in his approach to public sentiment, pouring oil on troubled waters!
PS- I have changed my email, and forget to go check the old one.
How is the good fight going?
Rolly Montpellier @WellBelow2C June 27, 2018 At 5:14 pm
Trudeau has really wimped out on climate. As bad as it is, his government still represents the best hope for climate action in Canada.
There is a very worrisome swing to the right in Canadian politics. The Trump influence is slowly drifting North and appealing to a 30-40% segment of our population. I remain somewhat baffled by the downright ignorance and frankly the stupidity of voters who elect someone who can only do harm. I just don’t get it.
It’s nice to have you back even if it may be on a more sporadic basis. Hang in there.
Share to raise climate awarenessNatural gas is not the bridge to a clean energy future that fossil fuel companies and governments would have us believe. Natural gas is a bridge to nowhere. This post features a recent media release by Cathy Orlando (Canadian Director for CCL Canada) which highlights the need to focus on greening... Read more
Share to raise climate awarenessThis post features a wide-ranging collection of five positive developments—things to feel good about—at a time when our world is undergoing the most tumultuous and unpredictable period in human history. Daily news about climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, social and economic inequality, racism and violence dominate the headlines. And yet, we... Read more
Share to raise climate awarenessThe world must prevent a post-pandemic carbon rebound that would all but put the final nail in the climate change coffin. We have but a small window of opportunity to avert a climate crisis. Only clean technologies can stop climate change writes Dana Nuccitelli in this article previously published in Yale... Read more
Share to raise climate awarenessFinally we have one politician in Canada with the courage to point out the glaringly obvious truth about the Oil Sands: Canada’s oil sector is in a death spiral. And sinking more money into a dying industry is a gross mismanagement of our tax dollars. Both Jason Kenney (Premier of Alberta)... Read more
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Página 11 dos resultados de 125734 itens digitais encontrados em 0.071 segundos
MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
‣ Benefit from Web services in the mobile Internet industry
Ikeda, Daizo, 1974-
Fonte: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Publicador: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Tipo: Tese de Doutorado Formato: 148 leaves; 6811736 bytes; 6830890 bytes; application/pdf; application/pdf
#Technology and Policy Program.
Over the past five years, mobile Internet services in Japan have seen major expansion as a result of collaboration between mobile operators acting as mobile portal providers, and their complementors, namely, content providers. However, the content business is currently under pressure to become profitable, and major players have found it difficult to differentiate their services from competitors In other words, service has become commoditized, which has resulted in a shift to the mature stage. This thesis suggests Web services as a solution to overcoming the commoditization of mobile Internet services and spurring new development in the industry. This emerging technology allows users to create a combination of Web resources through two fundamental approaches that lead to an innovation. The Web service requester approach enables integration of a variety of Web services as complementary assets from their business partners into their content. System Dynamics modeling methodology is used to examine how Web service requesters could promote product and process innovation as well as outsourcing. The analyses indicate that it is critical to adopt a different strategy under different scenarios of Web services diffusion, taking into consideration the requesters' dependence on Web service providers. The Web service provider approach offers an excellent opportunity to create distribution channels for services. Two case studies are analyzed in depth to understand how the subject companies took advantage of being a Web service provider with the support of complementors as well as users to promote innovation. Finally...
‣ Regulatory issues controlling carbon capture and storage
Smith, Adam (Adam M.), 1978-
Tipo: Tese de Doutorado Formato: 89 leaves; 4735789 bytes; 4745697 bytes; application/pdf; application/pdf
Climate change is increasingly being recognized by governments, industry, the scientific community, and the public as an issue that must be dealt with. Parties are pursuing various strategies to reduce CO₂ emissions. Renewable energy, energy efficiency, cleaner fuels, terrestrial CO₂ sequestration, and geologic CO₂ capture and storage (CCS) are the major efforts underway. This thesis examines some major regulatory and political issues that may affect geologic sequestration projects in the future. CCS is a technology system that captures CO₂ from a point source (e.g. power plant or industrial facility), pressurizes it into liquid form, transports it, and finally injects it underground into a porous geology for long-term storage. Technical and economic issues of capture, transportation, and injection of CO₂ have been relatively well studied over the past decade. The impacts of how current environmental regulation and political action to curb climate change will affect CCS have not been thoroughly explored. This thesis investigates the Environmental Protection Agency's Underground Injection Control Program and several types of protected and restricted land use areas to evaluate where it would be difficult or impossible to site a CCS project. I also explore state-level action on climate change and categorize them based on their attractiveness for CCS projects. I suggest a methodology for incorporating this regulatory information into a geographic information system based decision analysis tool...
‣ Multidisciplinary spacesuit modeling and optimization : requirement changes and recommendations for the next-generation spacesuit design
Jordan, Nicole Catherine
Tipo: Tese de Doutorado Formato: 129 p.; 13695030 bytes; 13694497 bytes; application/pdf; application/pdf
#Aeronautics and Astronautics.#Technology and Policy Program.
The ability for crew members to perform spacewalks is an essential component of human spaceflight. Spacewalks are absolutely crucial for planetary exploration because they enable astronauts to explore their environment, conduct scientific experiments on the planetary surface, construct space-based infrastructure, and perform maintenance activities. The spacesuit is the primary piece of enabling hardware for spacewalks. Given that the United States is embarking on an ambitious mission to return to the Moon and eventually travel to Mars (as mandated by the U.S. Vision for Space Exploration), a new spacesuit will be built. The objective of this thesis is to aid the designers of the next generation spacesuit through critical analysis of existing spacesuits and quantitative optimization of future spacesuit architectures. Spacesuits change substantially over their design lifetimes; for example, the American spacesuit, the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) has undergone over five hundred changes in its twenty-five year operational life. These design changes have been triggered by requirement changes, which in turn were mandated by political and technological changes in the system's environment.; (cont.) This observation points to the fact that the next generation spacesuit must be designed with the ability to cope with the likelihood of changing requirements after it has been fielded. This goal...
‣ Managing software requirements : organizational and political challenges
Rodriguez, Laurie L., 1976-
Tipo: Tese de Doutorado Formato: 32 p.; 1629020 bytes; 1629632 bytes; application/pdf; application/pdf
Requirements management is an extremely critical and challenging part of the software development process. Correctly capturing these requirements is necessary for the user to be satisfied with the final product. Many instances of inadequate requirements management result in subsequent problems with the final product and have organizational sources. The goal of this research is to better understand the organizational processes and problems associated with software requirements management within NASA's human-rated space programs through interviews with experienced professionals within this organization. Some of the major themes that resulted from the expert interviews include: * Software engineering practices, such as the CMM, are starting to be implemented for the larger programs at NASA, however these practices have not been equally pervasive in all parts of the organization. * The main reason for lack of requirements management at NASA is not enough time or people available for the activity. * The reason that was most cited for requirements management tools not being used effectively is that these tools are too manpower intensive for NASA's current organizational situation, and require documentation that is not available. * To achieve improvements in requirements management NASA should hire more people with computer science backgrounds who also have an understanding of aerospace systems. * The lack of complete documentation on NASA projects...
‣ Telematics industry dynamics and strategies for converging technologies
Luis, Rodrigo, 1973-
Tipo: Tese de Doutorado Formato: 123 p.; 9393247 bytes; 9406383 bytes; application/pdf; application/pdf
#Management of Technology Program.
The Telematics Industry faces tremendous challenges for growth. Regardless of the efforts and investment from vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, telematics has not been that profitable industry that many analyst forecasted five years ago; a 40 billion industry by 2003. This paper presents an analysis of the dynamics of the telematics industry and emphasizes on factors affecting the diffusion of telematics innovation. These factors are related to openness of telematics systems and establishment of standards, network externalities effects and attractiveness of complementors, customer's willingness to pay, telematics services pricing, and consumer knowledge of newer technology. Based on an in-depth analysis of the telematics architecture and the technologies converging in the telematics system I suggest a mixed strategy with respect to standards. This strategy favors the growth of this industry. Based on this strategy there are developed some scenarios of how the telematics value network will look like and how the interaction among the players would take place. Finally, a conceptual system dynamic model is presented to illustrate the dynamics of the industry and how the factors influencing the adoption of the telematics all play together to favor or affect the diffusion of the growing telematics industry.; by Rodrigo Luis.; Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology...
‣ Identifying expression fingerprints using linguistic information
Uzuner, Ozlem, 1975-
Tipo: Tese de Doutorado Formato: 200 leaves; 11620170 bytes; 11646101 bytes; application/pdf; application/pdf
#Technology, Management, and Policy Program.
This thesis presents a technology to complement taxation-based policy proposals aimed at addressing the digital copyright problem. The approach presented facilitates identification of intellectual property using expression fingerprints. Copyright law protects expression of content. Recognizing literary works for copyright protection requires identification of the expression of their content. The expression fingerprints described in this thesis use a novel set of linguistic features that capture both the content presented in documents and the manner of expression used in conveying this content. These fingerprints consist of both syntactic and semantic elements of language. Examples of the syntactic elements of expression include structures of embedding and embedded verb phrases. The semantic elements of expression consist of high-level, broad semantic categories. Syntactic and semantic elements of expression enable generation of models that correctly identify books and their paraphrases 82% of the time, providing a significant (approximately 18%) improvement over models that use tfidf-weighted keywords. The performance of models built with these features is also better than models created with standard features used in stylometry (e.g....
‣ Managing technological innovation and sustaining competitive advantage in the digital imaging industry
Ishii, Katsuki
The emergence and adoption of a disruptive technology that replaces an existing industry platform not only has enormous implications to incumbent firms, but also creates business opportunities that is enabled by the newly adopted technology. Firms competing in such an evolving and dynamic industry face great management challenges in its product's technological innovation process. Furthermore, defining strategies to sustain its competitive advantage through the market evolution by transitioning to the new platform is a non-trivial management task. This thesis focuses on the digital imaging industry that consists of input/output/storage devices as well as related software and services. This thesis will -- describe the evolution, transition, and competitive/collaborative environment of the consumer photography industry, both analog and digital, by way of value chain analysis, -- identify current trends that is shaping the digital imaging industry and the challenges it faces, -- explore key factors that influence the expansion of digital imaging, focusing on two platform technologies, specifically the image data format and removable memory card format, -- discuss the strategic implications for a new format to be introduced in a fast growing industry and its diffusion strategies...
‣ The potential for a nuclear renaissance : the development of nuclear power under climate change mitigation policies
Osouf, Nicolas
Tipo: Tese de Doutorado Formato: 115 p.
#Technology and Policy Program.#Nuclear Science and Engineering.
Anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are very likely to have already changed the Earth's climate, and will continue to change it for centuries if no action is taken. Nuclear power, a nearly carbon-free source of electricity, could contribute significantly to climate change mitigation by replacing conventional fossil-fueled electricity generation technologies. To examine the potential role of nuclear power, an advanced nuclear technology representing Generation III reactors is introduced into the Emissions Predictions and Policy Analysis economic model, which projects greenhouse gas and other air pollutant emissions as well as climate policy costs. The model is then used to study how the cost and availability of nuclear power affect the economy and the environment at the global scale. A literature review shows that estimates of nuclear power costs vary widely, because of differences in both calculation methods and cost parameters. Based on a sensitivity analysis, the most important parameters are the discount rate, the overnight cost, the capacity factor and the economic lifetime. The methodological differences affect not only the absolute power costs, but also the relative costs among electricity generation technologies.; (cont.) Acknowledging this uncertainty...
‣ Value network modeling : a quantitative method for comparing benefit across exploration architectures
Cameron, Bruce G. (Bruce Gregory)
In the design of complex systems serving a broad group of stakeholders, it can be difficult to prioritize objectives for the architecture. I postulate that it is possible to make architectural decisions based on consideration of stakeholder value delivery, in order to help prioritize objectives. I introduce the concept of value network models to map out the indirect benefit delivered to stakeholders. A numerical methodology for prioritizing paths through this network model is presented, with a view to discovering the most important organizational outputs. I show how value network models can be linked to architecture models to provide decision support to the architect. I present a case study to examine the connectivity and sensitivity of a test architecture to value delivery. I conclude that a limited subset of NASA's outputs will discriminate between architectures. In this manner, I show how value considerations can be used to structure the design space before critical technical decisions are made to narrow it. A number of organizational implications for value delivery are generated from this analysis. In particular, I show that benefit flows should be aligned to organizational processes and responsibilities, and that failure to map stakeholder input to architecture evaluation can weaken benefit.; by Bruce G. Cameron.; Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology...
‣ Pathways to adoption of carbon capture and sequestration in India : technologies and policies; Pathways to adoption of CCS in India
Narain, Mudit
Tipo: Tese de Doutorado Formato: 87 p.
#Civil and Environmental Engineering.#Technology and Policy Program.
India is the world's second most populous country with a rapidly growing economy and increasing emissions. With the imminent threat of anthropogenic climate change in the coming decades, helping to control India's emissions will have to be a global priority. Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) can play a pivotal role in reducing India's emissions in the future, given India's reliance on coal power and the large coal reserves. The motivation for this dissertation is the need to ascertain the current situation and conditions relevant to carbon capture in India so as to help guide the processes to prepare for large scale adoption if desired in the future. For carbon capture to be undertaken at a significant scale, various pieces will have to fall in to place in sync with each other. The technological capability would have to be complemented by adequate geological capacity under the umbrella of the right policies. Adoption of carbon capture would need a tailored approach for each country and for a diverse country the size of India, these approaches may need to be customized even locally to each region.; (cont.) The objective of this thesis is to increase the understanding of the opportunities, issues and challenges amongst the stakeholders regarding CCS in India regarding the capacity...
‣ Understanding the differences in the development and use of advanced traveler information systems for vehicles (ATIS/V) in the U.S., Germany, and Japan
Sugawara, Yoshihiko
Traffic congestion is becoming a serious problem. As a solution, advanced traveler information systems (ATIS) mitigate traffic congestion by providing real-time traffic information to travelers. ATIS includes various applications such as radio traffic reporting services and websites. Among those, this thesis focuses on more advanced real-time traffic information systems, which provide sophisticated traffic information to drivers via in-vehicle devices such as car navigation systems: we call them ATISN (advanced traveler information systems for vehicles). ATISN has a high potential to mitigate traffic congestion and improve travel for individual drivers. However, in some countries, ATISN has not been accepted well by drivers. To improve this situation, three questions motivate this study: (1) why does ATISN in some parts of the world have more penetration than in others, (2) what can be done to increase the penetration of ATISN, and (3) what kinds of strategic alliances among stakeholders can help to make better ATISNs. This thesis compares three countries, the U.S., Germany, and Japan, by a qualitative analysis of the system dynamics methodology to clarify reasons which have been causing differences in the penetration.; (cont.) Additionally...
‣ Future contactless payment options for transport for London : demand, cost, equity, and fair policy implications
Dorfman, Matthew James
This thesis assesses fare payment technologies for Transport for London in 2015. Based on a survey of technical literature, feasible payments technologies in 2015 include current smartcard technology, contactless bankcards and near-field communication (NFC) mobile phones. Five fare payment options based on these three technologies are proposed. Options 1-3 use contactless bankcards and NFC phones as the fare medium. Option 1 requires tap-in only and uses flat fares; it is a standard retail transaction. Option 2 is like Option 1 but adds a rebate program to approximate the effects of passes and transfer discounts. Option 3 requires users to tap-in and tap-out, and supports traditional transit fares. Option 4 continues the current use of a proprietary smartcard to implement traditional transit fare structures. Option 5 uses a vehicle-based smartcard reader that does not require barriers or fareboxes; it supports traditional transit fare structures and path- and service-based pricing. The five options are evaluated on four dimensions: cost, demand, equity, and fare policy. Options 1-3 have significantly lower costs due to the use of commercial payment media. Option 4's costs are similar to current costs.; (cont.) Option 5 is significantly more expensive and offers few benefits for London. To analyze demand...
‣ A knowledge services roadmay for online learning
Rajagopal, Anand, 1979-
In today's society, there is a need for organizations to have a robust knowledge infrastructure in place, so that they can create or acquire knowledge; store knowledge; disseminate knowledge, and protect and manage their knowledge assets. However, with advances in the publishing media, our ability to generate information has far exceeded our abilities to find, review and understand it, thus leading to "Information Overload". Information overload refers to the inability to extract needed knowledge from existing information due to the volume of information, or lack of understanding of information and its whereabouts, or efficient ways to locate relevant information. These issues could be addressed by having efficient Knowledge Management Systems/Knowledge Services, so that people can create and understand available information, and have services to help them learn effectively and make better decisions. To tackle the new information needs, the use of technologies such as Weblog Services (weblog-enabled knowledge services) offer opportunities for decentralized knowledge creation and dissemination; as such tools put the authors in charge of knowledge creation process without any administration-enforced policies. Learning environments are also typically characterized by challenges such as barriers to use...
‣ Building communities for design education : using telecommunication technology for remote collaborative learning
Yee, Susan, 1966-
#Architecture.
The design studio, as both a learning environment and a social place, is one of the major components of architectural education. Traditionally, the studio has been considered a place for individual design work and one-on-one mentoring between an instructor and a student. With the integration of new information and telecommunication technologies, the nature of the design studio and the learning processes within it are being altered. This new landscape of the design studio offers opportunities for globally distributed collaborative work as well as new interpretations of design processes and studio practices. The technologies and the studio system are interwoven and their symbiotic relationships need to be understood if these technology-mediated long-distance collaborative design studios are to be common, valuable, and creative occurrences in architectural education. In this study, the consequences of integrating telecommunication technologies into the design studio are examined through ten cases. The new studios involve multidisciplinary design participants from separate and distant physical and social environments that are electronically connected for sharing design ideas, creating a common understanding of design practices, and co-constructing design objects. With technology use...
‣ Technology Suuply Chains: An Introductory Essay
Fine, Charles H.; Gilboy, George; Parker, Geoffrey G.
Fonte: MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology Publicador: MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Formato: 33299 bytes; application/pdf
#strategic technology sourcing#organization#technology supply chains
This essay addresses strategic technology sourcing -- the determination of what technologies are strategic to a firm (or nation) and the management of the policy options that follow from this determination. This work is certainly not the first word on this subject, nor will it be the last. In fact, we hope that it will stimulate significant discussion about strategic technology sourcing especially in those organizations where such discussion has been absent, naive, or just shouted down by the manage-by-the-numbers types. In the business press today, outsourcing is the rage. "Restructure and downsize your organization; outsource as many functions as possible" seems to be the message from many of the world's most profitable corporations -- large and small -- as well as their consultant-armies.; MIT: Leaders for Manufacturing, the International Motor Vehicle Program, the Industrial Performance Center, the International Center for Research on the Management of Technology, and the Japan Program; Chrysler; Intel; Sematech; and Texas Instruments.
‣ The State Machine : politics, ideology, and computation in Chile, 1964-1973
Miller Medina, Jessica Eden
Tipo: Tese de Doutorado Formato: 2 v. (392 leaves)
#Program in Science, Technology and Society.
This dissertation argues that Chile's history of computing is tightly interwoven with the history of the Chilean state. It begins by documenting the government use of mechanical tabulating machines during the 1920s and 1930s and concludes with the disbanding of the state computer enterprise known as ECOM in 1991. The dissertation pays particular attention to the period between 1964 and 1973, which was marked by the presidencies of Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei Montalva and Socialist Salvador Allende Gossens. The dissertation addresses three central questions. First, it asks how Chilean economic policies and political events shaped the country's technological history. Second, it asks what we can learn from computers if we treat them as texts for understanding historical processes in Chile, the Latin American region, and the developing world. Finally, it addresses how Chile's political leaders used computing machines in their attempts to control Chile's social, economic, and political development and to forward their plans to modernize the Chilean nation. It argues that computers proved valuable not only in producing the Chile of today but in articulating national goals that changed over time.; (cont.) Government, use of computers both reflected and made possible the ideological programs of developmentalism...
‣ Manufacturing muscle : the hot rod industry and the American fascination with speed, 1915-1984
Lucsko, David Nicholas
Tipo: Tese de Doutorado Formato: 2 v. (437 p.)
This dissertation focuses on the pursuits of a particular subset of automobile users: hot rodders, those who modify their standard production automobiles for improved performance. More specifically, this project examines the history of the speed equipment industry - the aftermarket subsector which manufactures high-performance products for hot rodders - from its infancy in the 1910s through the mid 1980s. The thesis begins by examining the role of technological enthusiasm in the early growth of hot rodding, focusing in particular on the ways in which this enthusiasm led a handful of individuals to begin to manufacture high-performance parts in the 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s. After tracing the wartime experiences of these industry pioneers, the project then explores the ways in which, in the midst of America's postwar affluence, the spectacular growth both of the high-performance industry and of hot rodding itself helped spawn the youth-oriented musclecar movement upon which the Big Three would later feed. In its examination of the 1940s and 1950s, the dissertation closely examines the evolution of this industry's production methods in an attempt to understand the manufacturing dynamics of a market-sensitive, flexibly-oriented, late-twentieth-century industrial sector.; (cont.) The thesis then explores the ways in which this industry dealt with automotive safety and environmental legislation in the 1960s and 1970s. It concludes with a discussion of the fragmentation of the hot rod market during the 1970s and 1980s...
‣ Flesh yours, bones mine : the making of the biomedical subject in Turkey; Making of the biomedical subject in Turkey
Sanal, Aslihan
With the emergence of biomedical technologies, human body parts from living or dead donors have become commodities in the international networks of trade. This dissertation tries to understand religious, political and ethical discourses on this emerging economy and how it creates its subjects in Turkey. By drawing analogies from the early days of anatomy and mental health practices and by using a three-fold-corpus (state, body and law) as a framework, it illustrates how the state, the religious law on the body, and social inequalities turn some subjects to objects of this biomedical practice while extending life for others. Life histories, oral histories, doctors' and patients' accounts, media reporting, urban legends, cinematography, theater, poetry and literature speak of this new biomedical life. The meaning of the cadaver, the brain-dead body, and the living donor are reevaluated. The personhood of suicides, the homeless, the poor, the mentally ill, the immigrant, and women are all questioned with the redefinition of boundaries of life and death. Biomedicine effects this kind of social change.; (cont.) A cultural history of this production sheds a light onto how Turkey has become one of the centers of organ trafficking in the Middle East in the 1990s...
‣ Japan and Taiwan in the wake of bio-globalization : drugs, race and standards
Kuo, Wen-Hua
This is a study of Japan and Taiwan's different responses to the expansion of the global drug industry. The thesis focuses on the problematic of "voicing," of how a state can make its interests heard in the International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). The ICH is a unique project that facilitates the formation of a single global market by creating universal standards for clinical trials and drug approvals. Tracing, through "slow motion" ethnography, step by step, why Japan claims a racial difference requires additional local clinical trials with "Asian bodies," this thesis rejects conventional interpretations of protectionism for Japan's resistance to globalization. It argues that more than protectionism is involved, and that a rich ethnographic understanding of Japan's medical infrastructure is required to understand the claim of biological, cultural, and national differences, as well as biostatistical arguments about the ambiguities of "extrapolation" of clinical data from one place to another.; (cont.) The inherent ambiguities of efforts to create "bridging" studies as a temporary solution to these problematics created a deadlock in the ICH, and provided an opening for Taiwan...
‣ Clean energy investments in an uncertain future
Harrison, Jessica (Jessica Kit)
#Technology and Policy Program.#Civil and Environmental Engineering.
The energy sector faces a multitude of challenges related to climate change and energy security. These challenges will likely prompt considerable changes in the coming decades, including significant investment and new market design. To help fulfill multiple goals and limit the necessary tradeoffs among them, industry and policymakers alike are looking to new technologies. However, uncertainty regarding the challenges, the solutions, and the behavior of the energy system, make it difficult to discern which investment is right for what time. This thesis reviews the potential changes in today's energy system and examines the difficulties of addressing challenges that appear urgent yet elusive. An extensive literature review considers the problems of clean energy investment decision-making in modern energy systems, and evaluates the potential contributions of a real options approach and system dynamics. A case study on the market growth of Gas-to-Liquids technology provides more detail on the use of system dynamics to gauge market uncertainties. Admitting to the lack of appropriate tools to objectively evaluate strategies for tackling today's energy challenges, this thesis helps answer why such questions as the appropriate timing investment are so difficult to answer...
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by Tiff - Blog, Uncategorized - November 11, 2010 January 30, 2013
11/11/2010: Embryonic stem cell research is in jeopardy, but you can help!
We are facing one of the most important battles in the history of embryonic stem cell research in the United States. If you’re not aware of what’s going on and support ethical embryonic stem cell research, here is the situation.Federal funding is in danger of being side-railed because of the critical case Sherley vs. Sebelius – which is essentially two adult stem cell researchers suing the Federal government. If they win, it could ruin hope for millions.
Just when you thought embryonic stem cell research was free of political quagmires thanks to Pres. Obama’s 2009 reversal of the Bush administration policies, everything is in perile once again. If Judge Lambeth decides to side with Dr. Sherely (one of two adult stem cell researchers who say Federal funding of embryonic stem cell research is in direct competition with adult stem cell research), Federal funding of embryonic stem will be no longer. Students and researchers who rely on this support will have no choice but to hault their research.
And most recently with the Republicans recently elected into office, many whom oppose Federal funding of embryonic stem cell research and even some who’d like to ban the research altogether, it’s more important than ever to get involved. AND YOU CAN HELP! How? By signing the petition at the Stem Cell Action Network and sending it to your Congress people, which you can do so here.
Pass this on to as many people as you can. Our only hope it to pass the “Stem Cell Research Advancement Act” (H.R. 4808/S. 3766) in this current session, to authorize and continue federal support for human embryonic stem cell research.
And to help persuade those who don’t fully understand embryonic stem cell research, new ethical guidelines have been passed, which are sure to please many. Under the new NIH guidelines, embryos that were created for reproductive reasons, and donated by the parents, are the ONLY embryos that can be used in Federally-funded research. Help ensure this groundbreaking research continues. Spinal cord injuries, Parkinson, Diabetes, and heart conditions are all on the brink of being cured.
Help now!
Here is a detailed list of the conditions this research holds promise for
ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
Research at Stanford Medical School has shown that transplanted neurons grown from embryonic stem cells are able to form proper brain connections in newborn mice. The discovery, which demonstrates that stem cells can be directed to become specific brain cells, could be used to develop new treatments for nervous system diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as for spinal cord injuries. (HealthDay News, Jan. 19, 2010)
Scientists at the University of California, Irvine, have created an eight-layer, early stage retina from human embryonic stem cells, the first three-dimensional tissue structure to be made from stem cells. It also marks the first step toward the development of transplant-ready retinas to treat eye disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration that affect millions (University of California, Irvine, May 26, 2010).
An international research team led by Columbia University Medical Center successfully used mouse embryonic stem cells to replace diseased retinal cells and restore sight in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. This strategy could potentially become a new treatment for retinitis pigmentosa, a leading cause of blindness that affects approximately one in 3,000 to 4,000 people, or 1.5 million people worldwide (ScienceDaily, Feb. 24, 2010).
Advanced Cell Technology of Santa Monica, Calif., has applied to the FDA to begin human clinical trials on a treatment for Stargardt, an untreatable disease that is one of the most common causes of juvenile blindness. The therapy uses a single injection of retinal cells derived from embryonic stem cells, which has prevented further vision loss without adverse side effects in rats and mice (AFP, Nov. 19, 2009).
Scientists are one step closer to preventing blindness, with a therapy under development that’s aimed at treating degenerative eye diseases. Researchers at Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem transplanted pigment-containing visual cells derived from human embryonic stem cells. The visual cells successfully preserved structure and function of the retina in lab animals (ScienceDaily, Oct. 2, 2009).
Researchers in London have developed the world’s first stem cell therapy to treat blindness caused by age-related macular degeneration. The therapy involves transforming embryonic stem cells into replicas of cells damaged by the disease. The new cells are then placed on an artificial membrane, which is inserted in the back of the retina. The therapy was pioneered by scientists and surgeons from the Institute of Ophthalmology at University College London and Moorfields eye hospital who are seeking approval to begin human clinical trials (The Sunday Times, April 19, 2009).
Blood supply
Scientists have created synthetic blood using human embryonic stem cells, which could aid soldiers on the battlefield and victims of large-scale disasters when blood bank supplies are low. The scientists, who are working with the Wellcome Trust in Great Britain, say their ultimate goal is to create the rare O-negative blood type. It can be given to any patient without fear of rejection, but is produced by only 7 percent of people (Daily Telegraph, Aug. 16, 2010).
A Stanford University study shows that neural cells created from embryonic stem cells helped repair the brains of rats damaged by stroke. The rats, which each lost partial use of a forelimb, showed improvement after they were injected with the early-stage neural cells. The cells traveled to the damaged brain section and incorporated into the surrounding tissue, working to repair damage caused by the stroke (Stanford University, Feb. 20, 2008).
After vaccinating mice with human embryonic stem cells, researchers at the University of Connecticut Stem Cell Institute found that the lab animals developed a consistent immune response against colon cancer cells. The vaccinated mice showed a dramatic decline in tumor growth, compared to the non-vaccinated mice. (University of Connecticut Stem Cell Institute, Oct. 8, 2009).
Scientists at the University of Minnesota found that cancer-killing immune cells derived from human embryonic stem cells completely eliminated cancerous tumors in 13 of 13 mice tested. In the same study, similar immune cells derived from human umbilical cord blood cells eliminated cancerous tumors in five of 13 mice (University of Minnesota, May 4, 2009).
Using mouse embryonic stem cells, researchers at the National Cancer Institute develop a method to evaluate which changes in a particular gene known to increase susceptibility to breast cancer might lead to cancer. The discovery could better inform people predisposed to developing cancer, as well as carriers of other disease-related genes (National Cancer Institute, July 6, 2008).
Cartilage damage
Research at the University of California, Davis, suggests that damaged knee joints might one day be repaired with cartilage grown using embryonic stem cells, as well as adult stem cells from bone marrow and skin. Scientists have already grown cartilage tissue in the lab and are now experimenting with various chemical and mechanical stimuli to improve its properties. Cartilage is one of the very rare tissues that lack the ability to heal itself. When damaged by injury or osteoarthritis, the effects can be long-lasting and devastating (Medical News Today, Oct. 22, 2009).
Biologists at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute report they have directly reprogrammed common cells in the pancreases of living mice into special cells capable of producing insulin and fighting diabetes. The discovery, which was made possible by prior advances from embryonic stem cell research, also could lead to therapies and cures for heart disease and other afflictions in people (Harvard Magazine, Aug. 28, 2008).
Researchers at Stanford University in California have coaxed embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into becoming the hair cells deep inside the ear that are destroyed in hearing loss. Once damaged, the cells cannot be repaired; however, the stem cell advance raises the possibility of treating different types of deafness and hearing loss (Reuters, May 13, 2010).
Heart disease and heart defects
Harvard University researchers have created a strip of pulsing heart muscle from mouse embryonic stem cells, a step toward growing replacement parts for hearts damaged by cardiovascular disease. For years, scientists have been able to turn embryonic stem cells into a variety of heart cells. In the new work, stem cell biologists first isolated a progenitor cell that would only give rise to the working muscle that drives blood around the body, and the tissue that is damaged during a heart attack (The Boston Globe, Oct. 16, 2009).
Scientists at the University of Washington are mixing heart muscle cells and vascular cells derived from embryonic stem cells, with another type of vascular cell derived from umbilical cord cells to develop tissue patches for the damaged hearts of mice (ScienceDaily, Oct. 9, 2009).
Researchers from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute have identified the earliest master human heart cell from human embryonic stem cells, a discovery that could test the effectiveness and safety of new heart medications and, eventually, could help repair heart damage in adults and congenital heart defects in newborn babies (Harvard Stem Cell Institute, July 1, 2009).
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis move closer to a new generation of heart disease treatments that use human stem cells. They report that a gene they’ve been researching in mice starts the development of the cardiovascular system by locking mouse embryonic stem cells into becoming heart parts and getting them moving to the area where the heart forms. The next step is studying whether the gene can help fix damaged hearts in mice (Washington University in St. Louis, July 2, 2008).
Lung damage
Scientists at the Free University of Brussels in Belgium have discovered a new technique for differentiating human embryonic stem cells into major cell types of lung tissue. The breakthrough could provide an alternative to lung transplants for patients with lung injury due to chronic pulmonary disease and inherited genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis (Medical News Today, Nov. 4, 2009).
Memory loss due to radiation treatments
Human embryonic stem cells could help people with learning and memory deficits after radiation treatment for brain tumors, a new study from the University of California, Irvine, suggests. Research with rats found that transplanted stem cells restored learning and memory to normal levels four months after radiotherapy. In contrast, irradiated rats that didn’t receive stem cells experienced a more than 50 percent drop in cognitive function (ScienceDaily, Nov. 10, 2009).
U.S. researchers have pushed embryonic stem cells to produce special cells that might one day repair nerves damaged by multiple sclerosis. The disease damages the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibers, leaving behind scar tissue called sclerosis. MS can also harm the nerve fibers themselves. The damage disrupts the nerve impulses between the brain and body and results in symptoms that vary from person to person and from time to time in the same patient. Fast Forward, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, helped fund the study (U.S. News & World Report, April 9, 2009).
Researchers at Edinburgh University in Scotland announce they are turning embryonic stem cells into a type of cell lost in Parkinson’s patients. The scientists hope to slow or reverse the debilitating disease by injecting into the patients neural cells derived from embryonic stem cells. (The Scotsman, Nov. 3, 2008).
Mice afflicted with a Parkinson’s-like disease are treated with the help of somatic cell nuclear transfer, or SCNT. It marks the first time that SCNT has been used to successfully treat a disease in the same subjects that yielded the initial cells, according to investigators at New York’s Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where the study was conducted (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, March 23, 2008).
In October 2010, a paralyzed patient in Atlanta became the first person to be treated with embryonic stem cells in an FDA-approved clinical trial. Developed by Geron Corp. of Menlo Park, Calif., the treatment has been shown to restore limb function in rats with spinal cord injuries. In this first phase of the clinical trial process, researchers will review the therapy’s safety. Later they will consider its effectiveness (USA Today, Oct. 11, 2010).
Stanford University researchers have shown that neural cells created from embryonic stem cells helped repair the brains of rats damaged by stroke. The rats each lost partial use of a forelimb due to stroke, but showed improvement after they were injected with early-stage neural cells. The neural cells traveled to the damaged brain sections and were incorporated into the surrounding tissue, working to repair the damage caused by the stroke (Stanford School of Medicine, Feb. 20, 2008).
Tissue damage
Scientists have found a way of using human embryonic stem cells to create new skin which could help patients with serious burns. The researchers at the Institute for Stem Cell Therapy and Exploration of Monogenic Diseases in France reported that stem cells grew into fully formed human skin 12 weeks after being grafted onto mice. The skin could solve rejection problems that burn patients now face (BBC News, Nov. 20, 2009).
Scientists at Tufts University outside Boston have developed a skin-like tissue from embryonic stem cells that might someday repair damaged or diseased tissue. The discovery, which is based on embryonic stem cells’ ability to become any type of cell in the body, could be used to treat wounds, as well as skin conditions related to cancer and inflammatory disease. The advance marks the first time scientists have shown that a single source of human embryonic stem cells can produce complex, multilayer tissues similar to those that line the gums, cheeks and lips (Tufts University, July 21, 2009).
This content provided with permission of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures
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Don C. Reed November 11, 2010
Great article– very important information! Today at the California stem cell program another important embryonic stem cell research project was funded. Dr. Leif Havton will be using carefully derived stem cells to try and restore bladder control to test rats. Anyone paralyzed knows what an important goal that it. And, what is particularly wonderful is that the research goal is aiming to work with chronic injuries, meaning those who have been injured for a while– which, in human terms, is everybody with a spinal cord injury.
The decision meant a $1.1 million dollar grant (over three years) for the scientists studying injuries to the spinal tip, which brings paralysis, loss of bowel and bladder control, and much more.
A great day, and thank you for helping make sure there will be more and better days to come.
Advocacy is the only way to make the research happen.
Don C. Reed
Joe Riggs November 11, 2010
Tiffiny, thank you for posting information on the progress of stem cell research to treat many diseases. You are right, we must contact congress to not let the research be stopped. Go to http://www.stemcellaction.org to learn more about the research and to contact congress.
Joe Riggs
Tiffiny November 12, 2010
Thank you Don and Joe! We are soldiers in a fight worth every battle.
Episode 7: Online Dating with a Spinal Cord Injury
Episode 6: Service Dogs for Quadriplegics
Life After Paralysis Podcast Episode #3: Adaptive Camping
Congrats to Ali Stroker! <3
Listen in: Chatting with Bob from Quad Podcast
Podcast Episode #9: Quadriplegic Technology
SCI Superstar: Heidi Herkes
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After winning over Democratic 2020 candidate Elizabeth Warren, members of the extreme left-wing anti-Israel group IfNotNow ambushed Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker with a convoluted question from a nervous activist regarding his support for the “occupation”. The first African-American U.S. Senator from New Jersey didn’t give them the answer that they wanted to hear. This compelled the group to publicly shame Booker on social media saying that “he got visibly frustrated.”
The tactic
The Anti-Israel activists have employed a strategy of overly complementing the candidates in an effort to get them to drop their guard and then putting them on the spot with regards to their position vis-a-vis the presence of Israeli Jews in Judea and Samaria. They do this by falsifying statistics regarding the number of “children” being incarcerated in Israeli military prisons (in the video, the activist claims it’s in the “thousands”).
Watch: Cory Booker vs IfNotNow (courtesy: screenshot)
The activist who only went by the name ‘Becca’, approached Booker saying: “I just wanted to say that you’re really doing amazing work on criminal justice reform. I really looked up to your leadership on that issue. And because of that, it’s been really difficult and painful for me to understand as you’re speaking against mass incarceration, how the imprisonment of Palestinian children, thousands of them in military prisons, is something that you could ever be okay with. I would really love to know an answer to the question: do you think the occupation is a human rights crisis and a violation of International Law?
Booker: So I’m sorry that you think that I’m okay with that. I’m not. And I will continue to do everything I can to address the issue. We may not agree on strategies, but…Becca interrupts at this point
Becca: So – Do you think the occupation is a human rights crisis?
Booker: You’re not gonna get me to address that question as you want and I know that you’re asking every presidential candidate but I’m working on this issue probably more than any other foreign policy issue.
Becca: Well that’s really disappointing because people are suffering and we need leadership. And as a Jew…
Booker: Have you ever been over to Israel?
Becca: I have.
Booker: So you and I both know that suffering first hand.
Becca: Which is why I need to see leadership end the occupation – to create a better future for Israelis and Palestinians
Cory: If that’s your issue, I would understand if you want to support somebody else. But know – I’m just as committed to that as you are, committed to human rights.
At that point, ‘Becca’ walked away with her head down clearly disappointed at her failure to pigeonhole the New Jersey Senator.
Let the shaming begin
IfNotNow also accused the African American candidate of his choice of words saying: “Booker didn’t even use the word ‘Occupation’ once during the exchange — looks like he’s choosing the talking points of groups like AIPAC over the grassroots.”
It should be noted that IfNotNow is backed by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, hardly a “grassroots” organization.
By David Sidman on July 14, 2019 / Israel in the News
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